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The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals for an agreement with an entity (Manager) to provide management services for charter boat operations at Dock 55 in Marina del Rey. Selection of a Manager will be based on the qualifications of the applicant, with an emphasis on safety standards, professional experience operating similar recreational programs, operating plans, community service, financial capability, and remuneration.
Applicants must meet the minimum safety requirements as specified by the County. Applicants that do not demonstrate the ability to meet the minimum safety requirements will not be considered.
Applications and instructions are available for download. Visit http://beaches.lacounty.gov and click the Dock 55 Management Agreement RFP.
The deadline for submitting applications will be January 30, 2023 at 11:59 a.m.
The Department also reserves the right to revise the submittal instructions and to modify any and all terms and conditions of the RFP, including minimum requirements. For further information, email atadros@bh.lacounty.gov.
A Poem by Fred Lief
Big line at the front desk, all checking out.
Maybe that’s what this past year was about:
Farewells and exits from the arena.
Krzyzewski queued up as did Serena, Federer, Roethlisberger, Barty, Bird. Brady was in line but soon gave the word
He’s sticking around with still much to do.
Not so the calendar. Time to review.
2022: Some start to the year -Antonio Brown shirtless, stripping his gear.
What weirdness is next? Does make you wonder.
Well, Djokovic packs, bound for Down Under.
Unvaxxed, defiant and fresh off his jet, Tennis and politics meet at the net. No title defense, no exaltation -Back to the airport for deportation.
College football: At last, Dawgs wear the crown.
Kirby Smart this time takes Nick Saban down.
Clemens and Bonds blocked again from the Hall.
Juice stains are tough. Still, Ortiz gets the call.
Clock chimes for Big Ben, the strongarmed Steeler, With age yet again the great revealer. Post from Tom Brady: He says that he’s through.
“Other things” beckon for him to pursue. Can’t thank the Bucs enough for the hire
No mention of Pats or word “retire.” Football rebrand, without slurs or slanders -Washington’s reborn as the Commanders.
Beijing Olympics are one troubled show: Human rights, COVID, fans, sponsors and snow.
Critics take aim with much to beleaguer. For instance, the flame lit by a Uyghur. Mikaela Shiffrin keeps skiing off course. Face of the Games streaked with tears of remorse.
Then Russia’s star skater stumbles and falls.
Rebuked by her coach, she shudders, she bawls.
A sorrowful night at the arena. Better to look toward Milan-Cortina. James Harden to Sixers ends the Big Three.
Nets trim The Beard from Durant and Kyrie.
Super Bowl champ with Hollywood
glamour, Rams, in their palace, bring down the hammer.
Two TDs for Kupp, defense like an ax. Aaron Donald et al make seven sacks. So many weapons for them to exploit. Hey, Matthew Stafford, this sure beats Detroit.
Near Moscow, while trying to board her flight, Griner is busted and drops out of sight.
Daytona: Cindric, a wild racing night. Mickelson sniffs Saudi cash and he’ll bite.
Baffert is stripped of his last Derby win
Medina Spirit out, Mandaloun in. Russian troops strike cities, farmland and ports.
The siege of Ukraine resounds across sports.
Vitali Klitschko, from war no reprieve, The heavyweight champ now mayor of Kyiv.
Baseball ends lockout and numbing debate.
Full season on tap although a week late. NCAA announces its bracket
Not before Brady sets off a racket. That “retirement” post, vaguely defined, Now gets a rewrite: Well, uh, never mind.
Those plans to be home and do other stuff?
It seems 40 days was more than enough. Browns sign Deshaun Watson, get the green light
When two Texas juries fail to indict. Coach Mike Krzyzewski goes dancing once more.
Retirement gift, a last Final Four. But this night the Devils don’t get their due,
Falling to Tar Heels, and Coach K is through.
Kansas, huge comeback as good as it gets,
Down by 16 but it cuts down the nets. Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks, the best and it shows, Rip UConn in final. Dynasty grows.
On a rebuilt leg, can his game resume?
Tiger Woods now walks where azaleas bloom.
But not every weekend’s wrapped in glory.
Scheffler wins Masters, holding off Rory.
A new look for spring at NBA games -Postseason arrives without LeBron James.
Trevor Bauer banned two years -- sordid
tale.
Boris Becker, meanwhile, sentenced to jail.
Who could have seen how this Derby was won?
Late-entry Rich Strike at 80 to 1.
By the time the second jewel is complete
It’s Early Voting in sweltering heat.
A wincing Tiger plays the PGA, But clearly this comes with a price to pay.
The winner? His day held little promise, Yet not wise to count out Justin Thomas.
Euros in Paris, Real Madrid’s day
Amid pandemonium, pepper spray.
Marcus Ericsson, no wins in F1
Swede shows how Indy 500 is won.
Foot aching and numbed, Nadal toughs it out,
Wins French 14th time but future in doubt.
The smell of revolt in golf sweeps the air.
Rebels with sand wedges lurk everywhere.
Saudi oil means the payouts are hefty.
Johnson’s on board with Sergio, Lefty.
PGA Tour draws a sharp battle line: Go stick your Titleists where the moon don’t shine.
Free fall by Angels does Joe Maddon in.
Trainer Todd Pletcher gets fourth Belmont win.
Game 6 of Finals, Steph Curry’s in tears.
Warriors rule for fourth time in eight years.
With Klay Thompson, Draymond, Wiggins and Poole, They knock off the Celts, the art of retool.
Cheers, Matt Fitzpatrick! Brit steps up in class.
It’s his U.S. Open in Brookline, Mass., Stanley Cup Final, no Milestone on Ice.
Lightning, apparently, doesn’t strike thrice.
An Avalanche roars, unstoppable run
Toward team’s first title since 2001,
College sports landscape uprooted again -UCLA, USC to Big Ten.
Protecting their brand, eyes on TV swag, They torch the Pac-12, left holding the bag.
Wimbledon politics, Russian morass -Medvedev, others told, Keep Off the Grass.
Djokovic rules. With Kyrgios dismissed, He’s one shy of Rafa on majors list.
Woods plays St. Andrews, perhaps his last round, His eyes wet with tears on golf’s sacred ground.
Yanks own the best record at All-Star break.
And how good’s Ohtani, for goodness sake?
Bill Russell, the consummate Celtic great, Soared above the game. He was 88.
Days later, Vin Scully. His lyric flights
Painted Dodger summers, October nights.
NFL, Watson walk delicate line: Out for 11 games plus record fine.
Sizing up trade deadline moves in toto?
Stick to the Padres -- they got Juan Soto.
But soon after adding their centerpiece, Eighty-game ban for Fernando Tatis.
In a courtroom cage, facing darkest fears, Griner is hit with a term of nine years.
Serena Williams, nearing 41, Writes she’s “evolving” and hints that she’s done,
Having ascended to rarefied heights
While shaking the game from its tennis whites.
Brady leaves Bucs camp. He says life gets rough, Vulgarly adding he’s dealing with stuff.
College Football Playoff, no great surprise, Fattens its coffers and triples in size.
Serena’s Open, one long ovation, A burning star in the constellation.
Dodger runaway that’s almost absurd.
Storm send off a champion: Thank you, Sue Bird.
New baseball rules in all sorts of places --
Next year shift limits, pitch clock, big bases.
Now Roger Federer makes his goodbye.
The heart’s still willing but the knees less spry.
Elegance long was his signature shot, Holding court in tennis’ Camelot.
MVP A’ja Wilson takes command.
Las Vegas Aces hold a winning hand.
Months from the Finals, Boston upended.
Celts coach Ime Udoka suspended.
Pujols discovers the fountain of youth, Hits 700th, joins Bonds, Aaron, Ruth.
Tua slammed twice, with big repercussions.
Can teams be trusted to spot
Judge hits 62 but what does it mean?
This the real record, the one that is clean?
Warriors begin a new title chase,
With Draymond Green punching Poole in the face.
What fruits do Dodgers get for their labor?
Goosed by the Padres, longignored neighbor.
Phils knock off the Braves; Eagles unbeaten.
Good time to be where cheesesteaks are eaten.
In world of Tom Brady all is not well:
End of the runway for him and Gisele.
Dysfunctional Nets seem on course to crash.
Kyrie tweets links to antisemite trash.
Shades of Don Larsen’s World Series glitter, Astros stop Phillies, combined no-hitter.
Game 6, Alvarez: Crowd sings hosanna
After his blast halfway to Havana.
No garbage cans now, no sign-stealing stain.
World Series champ: Dusty Baker’s domain.
Los Angeles FC now can exhale, Wins MLS Cup, late goal Gareth Bale.
Flightline wins Classic, eyes Horse of the Year.
NASCAR Cup title: Logano,
it’s clear.
Three UVA football players are slain.
Gunfire, grief. Again, how to explain?
World Cup begins and it’s downright bizarre -November kickoff on sands of Qatar.
Full plate of grievances stands in full view: Human rights, migrants, LGBTQ.
How’s this result to shake the arena?
Saudis -- the Saudis? -- rock Argentina.
U.S. beats Iran, Pulisic is clutch
Next round, however, no match for the Dutch.
Mets always knew this posed a clear danger -deGrom deParts, now a Texas Ranger.
But New York’s owner, with the ways and means, Entices Verlander to come to Queens.
College football’s set with its playoff slate: Dawgs, Wolverines, Horned Frogs, Ohio State.
Griner is freed and can take a deep breath, A prisoner swap for “Merchant of Death.”
His school is back. Heisman voters decree: Caleb Williams, quarterback, USC.
More Messi magic, all Argentines hail.
He leads them past France to the Holy Grail.
Mbappé’s three goals can’t offset the score Of a final that’s set in World Cup lore.
Franco Harris, a pause, a mournful day.
Iconic Steeler, immaculate play. Next, it’s Pelé, who set his sport aflame.
The peerless king of the “beautiful game.”
It’s closing time. We’ve touched enough bases, With masks mostly worn on catchers’ faces.
Best to check out with the New Year in sight.
A new line to start. It forms on the right.
Fred Lief retired recently after a career of almost 50 years as a sports writer for the Associated Press and United Press International. For many years, he wrote an end-of-year sports poem for the AP – this is his lyrical look-back at the sports year just passed.
If it takes a village to raise a child, it certainly takes a community’s effort to make a positive change.
Antje Einstein and her family are among those who volunteer their time to keep the parkway at 3321 Grand View Boulevard (located between Stanwood and Palms Boulevard) beautiful.
The participation to keep this 1,000-foot area beautiful has long roots in this community.
“The parkway was originally wild yellow mustard grass,” Antje said. “It was transformed around 20 years ago into what it is today.”
Residents recalled seeing an older gentleman about 20 years ago watering up on the hilltop each week. That person was Isadore Einstein, Antje’s husband.
“It all started with two California Live Oaks,” said Gary Einstein, Antje’s younger son. “Many years ago, two small oak trees were planted, and our father took empty Hawaiian Punch bottles and watered them by hand. Back then they were only up to his knees, but wait until you see them now: they’re 40 feet high.”
Isadore started watering the oak trees because the City planted them and left them without a source of water. He would load up his car with water and drive to the trees every other day for years. This was especially important because the oak trees are a protected tree.
From this humble beginning, it grew into a collective neighborhood effort. The Grand View Parkway team, as they are known, is a subcommittee of the Mar Vista Hilltop Neighbors Association and Ocean View Farms.
They have teamed up with residents, volunteers, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, and even the Little League to transform the barren strip on the hill of Grand View to make it a scenic and beautiful oasis.
“A special thanks to all the neighbors and the help from the Farmers and Little League for making this possible—a real neighborhood effort,” Antje said.
Among those who have spearheaded this undertaking is the Einstein family. Even though “Izzy,” as Isadore was affectionately known, passed away, his widow Antje, his children Gary
and Mark, and his granddaughter Marina have kept up the family tradition of taking care of this special spot.
“Our mother tells us what to do—water, plant, pull weeds, and then, by gum—we do it,” Mark said.
In 2009, the City of Los Angeles provided the Grandway Park Team with a list of plant recommendations. They specifically requested the purchase of “smart plants”—those that require low to medium water use. The team chose the plants, raised funds, and coordinated the planting effort.
Antje recalls presenting to the Mar Vista Neighborhood Council (MVCC) to get the funding for the grant. The team was awarded a $2,000 grant, which they used to buy plants and hoses. She remembers going to three different plant nurseries to get bids.
On Nov. 6, 2009, she bought $1,399.47 of mostly pink grevilleas and sea lavender plants from Yamaguchi Bonsai Nursery in West Los Angeles.
“It was my idea to get the grant, I did all of the work to get the bids,” Antje said. “Nadine Galileo helped guide me through
the system with the grant. I chose the nursery on Sawtelle because they had the special plants.”
On Sunday, April 25, 2010, the new garden was opened for an afternoon showcase tour. On Oct. 17, 2015, the team including Antje and Mark Einstein, Kent Alves and Steve Fox was honored for their efforts at the Mar Vista Community Fall Festival.
“Last year it was voted as one of LA's best walking gardens,” Antje said.
On Aug. 20, 2022, she received a certificate of appreciation from the Mar Vista Hilltop Neighbors Association. The award mentions their thanks for her hard work and dedication to the Mar Vista Little League Parkway, ”and creating a shining example of how good things happen when a community works together.”
For the Einstein family, this place represents beauty in the world. It also represents a sense of community and a love of nature.
“It helps reduce stress and makes me feel better,” Antje said. “I really enjoy doing it. There are lots of nice people who come here to see something
positive.”
Antje recommends the best time to visit the area is in the spring from March to May when the purple sea lavender flowers are in bloom.
Antje, now 84 years old, needs help from the community to continue to make this place special. One of the things needed is a better watering system because she is currently watering by hand and it takes a very long time. Another thing she needs to keep this up is more volunteers.
“I can’t do it all by myself,” she said.“ My main concern is if we don’t take care of it, we will lose it.”
Antje is currently volunteering twice a week. She and her sons can usually be found volunteering on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. She invites the community to come out and help them on Saturdays.
“If you can volunteer just a few hours once a month it would be greatly appreciated,” Antje said.
Mar Vista Hilltop Neighbors Association hilltopneighbors.com
In 2018, Loyola Marymount University (LMU) opened a new Playa Vista Campus. Serving as a creative center for graduate and professional education, the new satellite location aimed to support the highly acclaimed Graduate School of Film and Television and College of Business Administration’s Master of Science in Business Analytics.
Unfortunately, the pandemic hit soon afterward and temporarily shuttered the campus’ doors. Now it is back and better than ever—offering new events, new programs, and new educational opportunities to its students and the community.
“The Playa Vista Campus has given us a physical space to bring LMU students and faculty to the booming tech and creative hub that is Silicon Beach, and we are thrilled to be a part of the collaboration that is happening on and around our campuses,” said Thomas Poon, executive vice-president and Provost.
An exciting aspect of LMU’s Playa Vista Campus includes the outreach events which extend “beyond the bluff.” On Oct. 20, LMU hosted a private reception at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center featuring Misty Copeland. The program was entitled, “Igniting DEI: An Evening with Misty Copeland,” and attracted over 50 guests and furthered DEI initiatives and goals. At the event, participants not only heard Copeland’s inspiring story, but were able to mingle and share their best practices in an informal and relaxed setting.
“LMU is squarely located at the intersection of creativity, technological innovation, interdisciplinarity, and cultural diversity,” Poon said.
This successful event was hosted by Jody Skenderian, LMU’s new executive director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives, and Dr. Emelyn de la Pena, vice president of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. One of the evening’s highlights included announcing the creation of the LMU DEI Consortium. This new initiative will be “an alliance for round table discussions, think tanks,
best practice sharing, and thought partnering with companies,” says Skenderian.
LMU also encourages new partnerships with local businesses. This comprises the Silicon Beach Think Tank, which supports the business community’s involvement in discussing relevant topics. One such upcoming event will be on Dec. 1, featuring alumnus John Attanasio (94), co-founder of ToonStar. NFT Mania - “Hollywood 3.0: Can Web3 Disrupt Hollywood? ToonStar’s ``The Gimmicks Revolutionizes Storytelling” is a panel discussion about the evolution and future of entertainment and technology. This event will be open to the public. To RSVP, visit lmu.edu/hollywood3.
“LMU is well positioned to be the higher education partner of choice for Silicon Beach companies who value DEI, innovation, adaptability, and collaboration,” Skenderian said. “We are partnering with companies and organizations who wish to join LMU in creating the world we want to live in.”
Academically, LMU’s Playa Vista Campus offers two
highly-ranked graduate programs: the College of Business Administration’s Master of Science in Business Analytics, and the graduate programs at the School of Film and Television (SFTV). Ranked 8th in the nation, SFTV in a joint partnership with the Bellarmine College of the Liberal Arts, and the College of Communication and Fine Arts, recently launched the new Media Center for the Arts and a Just Society (MAJS). Here, students interested in producing original podcast content are delighted with the addition of a new podcast studio and booth.
On Dec. 7, LMU will offer a CBA Business Incubator Showcase. The event is from 7 to 9 p.m. and open to the public. It is sponsored by the College of Business Administration’s Fred Kiesner Center for Entrepreneurship. There will be display booths set up around the Playa Vista campus. They will feature a variety of start-up business concepts developed by students and recent graduates who will share their start-up idea through brief presentations. To rsvp for the incubator event, visit cba.lmu.edu/rsvp/busin-
cubshowcase.
“LMU’s business incubator offers aspiring entrepreneurs the workspace and guidance needed to pursue their dreams in the real world,” said David Choi, director of the Fred Kiesner Center for Entrepreneurship. “I am so proud of the students who, with the incubator’s help, have built innovative and promising businesses that are positioned for success in the marketplace.”
The campus hosts other events that are free and open to the community, such as the recent free screening and discussion of “Endangered,” a 2022 documentary film directed by Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing. This program was hosted by the CSJ Center for Reconciliation & Justice.
LMU is also dedicated to supporting conservational efforts by partnering with Playa Vista and the Friends of Ballona Wetlands. This long-standing partnership, the Ballona Discovery Park was constructed. LMU contributed $700,000 towards financing the project and has three staff and faculty on the board each term. The park is an outdoor cultural and learning space that captures the inquisitiveness of both children and adults alike. Combining science and education, the park offers visitors walks through gardens, spying on local wildlife, and acts as a gateway to wetlands. It is open every day from dawn until dusk.
From world-class academics to supporting nature, to screenings and presentations, LMU’s Playa Vista campus is an educational and cultural center point for the entire community that offers something for everyone.
For additional information contact: partnerships@lmu.edu.
The Los Angeles Police Department Chief
Michel Moore has requested that he be reappointed for a second five-year term by the Board of Police Commissioners. On Dec. 27, Moore submitted his request in a letter to the board which highlighted his “strong desire” to remain in his leadership position and the work he believes his term has already accomplished. Moore’s current term will end in June of this year.
“It has been my great honor and privilege to serve as chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. Over the course of the last four-and-a-half years, we have accomplished significant reforms, enhanced training, and expanded transparency and accountability,” Moore said.
“While much has been accomplished, there remains more work to be done. It is my strong desire to continue leading this department as it strives to improve public safety and trust as we pursue the best practices of 21st-century policing.”
Moore is a 40-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department. After he joined the department in 1981, Moore became a Captain in 1998. In 2002, the department promoted him to the rank of Commander, and in 2004 he was promoted to Deputy Chief. From there, Moore continued to rise through the ranks until he was sworn in as the 57th Chief of Police for the City of Los
Angeles in 2018 by Mayor Eric Garcetti.
If Moore is reappointed, his term will coincide with the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics, both of which are high-profile policing challenges.
In response to Moore's letter, Commission President William J. Briggs II scheduled a vote to approve or deny Moore’s application for the next Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting on Jan. 10. However, Mayor Karen Bass stepped in to delay the vote.
The same day Moore came forward with his candidacy, Bass responded to his intent,
stating, “I have been notified of Chief Moore’s request for reappointment. He and I will meet soon to discuss his request and my vision to keep Angelenos safe in every neighborhood.”
Other than securing a delay in the board’s vote, the new Mayor has made no further statements on her views regarding Moore’s candidacy. Moving forward, the Board of Police Commissioners has just less than three months to approve or deny Moore’s application.
Bass’s hesitation on Moore’s swift reappointment comes in
contrast to an email Moore sent to the Los Angeles Police Foundation, informing them of his application for another five-year term. According to published reports, Moore stated he had “discussed (reappointment) with Mayor Bass and enjoyed her full support.”
Moore has since apologized for his statement but emphasized Bass is not the person to decide on his reappointment. That power lies with the LA Board of Police Commissioners, all current appointees of Mayor Eric Garcetti. To earn reappointment, Moore only needs an affirmative vote from three of the five board members.
Bass must, however, approve of the board’s decision and has the power to remove a sitting police chief at any time. With the delayed vote, there is also still time for the LA City Council to weigh in regarding Moore’s reappointment. If ten members of the LA City Council choose to oppose the Board of Police Commissioners' decision, they can veto that vote.
One concern regarding a swift reappointment process is the difficulty administering public comment. Now that the vote is postponed, Angelenos will have additional opportunities to come forward in support or opposition to Moore’s continued leadership.
Public opinion towards the LAPD has improved over the last two years, however, the department is still met with sharp criticism regarding the
profiling and treatment of different racial groups. In a 2022 survey conducted by Loyola Marymount University using questions developed by Study LA, results showed that 66% of respondents felt the LAPD racially profiled Black Angelenos more than other groups.
When asked about reform, an area Moore highlighted as a success of his leadership, only 19.3% of respondents said they felt the LAPD was doing a better job than other departments at implementing police reform. That being said, overall approval ratings of the LAPD have increased over the last two years, with around half of respondents saying they were “somewhat satisfied” with the performance of the LAPD.
“While there are still areas of friction, Angelenos today are more likely to have positive things to say about the police department than in our previous survey,” said Brianne Gilbert, managing director of StudyLA. “It may be that now, two years after high-profile protests and national discussion around police violence, public opinion no longer reflects shock and disbelief.”
Currently, there is no date scheduled for a vote on Moore’s application; however, his candidacy was discussed at the Jan. 10 meeting for the Board of Police Commissioners. Although an agenda has not been published for the LA City Council’s next meeting, the date was also set for Jan. 10 at 10 a.m.
Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM) has opened a fresh chapter with the arrival of its new CEO, Andrew Thomas, a placemaker who spent 10 years working with DTSM as director of operations earlier this century.
“The Board is excited to welcome back Andrew Thomas, whose wealth of experience in the placemaking industry and deep understanding of the core values of Santa Monica will allow him to make an immediate impact in DTSM,” said Barry Snell, chair of the DTSM Board of Directors. “We trust Thomas will help the Board as it embarks on a thorough reassessment of the organization’s programs so we can continue to best serve our community, the property owners and businesses.”
DTSM is a public-private nonprofit that works with the City of Santa Monica to manage services and operations in downtown Santa Monica and on Third Street Promenade. Thomas was hired after a national search following the resignation this past January of Kathleen Rawson, the CEO who served the organization for 25 years.
Thomas, a resident of Culver City, started in the new role on Sept. 1. It’s a position that appeals to him in part because Santa Monica has always had a special place in his heart.
“I was here from 2001 to 2011,” Thomas said. “While I worked here I got married, I had both my kids. Even when I wasn’t working in Santa Monica, we were regulars here as visitors, shoppers, diners, and just general users of the district and community. There was an emotional attachment for me here.”
As someone who has continually worked as a placemaker, Thomas was professionally drawn to Santa Monica because it is such a unique locale.
“It’s a destination that’s known across the world,” Thomas said. “It has an iconic, global brand. When people come to visit Southern California, Santa Monica is always the top of mind. This was an amazing opportunity, and I was thrilled for the opportunity to be able to pursue it.”
While praising Santa Monica as a unique destination, Thomas also acknowledges that the organization is in a time of great challenge coming out of the pandemic and amid other crises in the community.
“There are concerns in our community surrounding vacancy in properties, public safety, the conditions of infrastructure and sustainability,” Thomas said. “All these challenges are pretty exciting and I’m excited to work with our board, our stakeholders, our businesses, our commercial property owners, with residents, with everybody here who calls this community home to see if we can address some of these challenges.”
While he said Santa Monica has changed since he worked for DTSM 11 years ago, it was comforting to return and still see so many familiar faces. Everyone, he said, has been welcoming and demonstrated how much they really love and care about Santa Monica. He is encouraged by the deep investment he sees people have in the district meeting all its promise and potential.
As they move forward, Thomas plans to pursue both foundational and institutional goals for the organization. The foundational ones exist as questions that are central and core to their mission, such as how do they ensure the district is clean and safe? How do they make sure it is welcoming?
How do they make sure that Santa Monica is a front-ofmind destination for everyone? How do they market their district? How do they ensure that they are good stewards and
custodians of the Santa Monica brand?
The institutional goals are tied up in plans to enhance Santa Monica, to ensure that businesses can thrive, that they have first-class activations and events there.
Thomas plans to work hard at rebuilding the organization because they’ve lost several people throughout the past year. There is a need to hire talented people so that they can meet their services agreement with the City of Santa Monica and fulfill their operational plan.
“Then we have an obligation to respond to the needs of our community and our stakeholders,” Thomas said. “There’s no shortage of stakeholders to serve in our district and people to listen to and learn from. I’m excited to do all those things, to ensure that our downtown is the best possible place for everyone to come and experience.”
Because there are so many new people in key positions throughout the city, from the city manager to the police and fire chief, Thomas wants to reinforce existing relationships while building the new ones. He explained that the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for businesses, their organization and their partners.
“Everybody has had to respond to those challenges,” Thomas said. “Now as we sort of come out of these COVID times, how can we find the most optimal ways to work together to deliver services and benefits here in our community? We’re all getting to know each other now. Everybody’s here for the same reason—we want to work hard and deliver for our community.”
While there are challenges, Thomas said he has observed a lot of excitement and seen many reports of new investment and development downtown. Hotels are being built and refurbished, residential housing is planned and other developments are in the works for the next five to ten years.
“That’s encouraging to me in that it really demonstrates a very deep faith and confidence in this community even if we are having challenges with leasing and vacancy,” Thomas said. “People know that this is a special place here in the city,
in the region and beyond.”
A graduate of Tulane University, Thomas was most recently the founding executive director of the Westwood Village Improvement Association for the past 11 years. He managed a budget of $1.7 million annually from assessments on 120 properties within that district. He was also the past president of the California Downtown Association and the former Chair of the Los Angeles Business Improvement District Consortium.
Thomas describes himself as a sincere broker who is patient and doesn’t raise his voice, get upset or hold grudges.
“I believe in leading with kindness and with humility, and an open mind,” Thomas said. “Santa Monica is certainly a place with many voices and many stakeholders. I'm here to listen and try to help and facilitate. I have a track record of that. I hope I can bring people together to really benefit our community, because we all have a stake in it. One of my mantras is that our downtown is really a shared responsibility. DTSM has a role to play and the City of Santa Monica has a role to play and our residents have a role to play and our business owners and our commercial property owners and our real estate brokers, everybody has a role to play in the success of downtown. I hope that I can work to bring people together so that we can achieve our goals and create the kind of downtown that we can all be proud of.”
Several months into his job, Thomas is thrilled to be back at DTSM. He said he was meeting new people every day and planned to continue that outreach as he settles in.
“For the folks that haven’t had a chance to get to know me yet, hang in there,” Thomas said. “Come find me or I’ll come find you. I want everybody to know that I’m here, I’m open, I’m approachable. I expect everyone in our organization to be as well.”
Sustainable jewelry brand
Brilliant Earth, which boasts five brick-andmortar California locations and 25 showrooms nationwide, recently opened its first storefront at Santa Monica Place.
Brilliant Earth has been a pioneer in sustainable and fair trade practices since it began more than 15 years ago when CEO and co-founder Beth Gerstein was searching for a responsibly sourced engagement ring. Sensing a need in the market for jewelry that reflected her values, Gerstein partnered up with her then Stanford classmate, Eric Grossberg, and Brilliant Earth was born soon after in 2005.
Kathryn Money, SVP of merchandising and retail expansion at Brilliant Earth, revealed what makes the company a standout in the industry.
“Our mission is to create a more transparent, sustainable, and compassionate jewelry industry—and that’s what we’ve been doing since the start,” Money said. “We believe in creating beautiful jewelry you can feel good about wearing without ever compromising quality and consciousness. When we couldn’t find a standard that met ours, we created a new one.”
Brilliant Earth maintains high ethical and quality standards, adhering to rigorous protocols when sourcing materials. Most jewelers who sell “conflict-
free” diamonds use the Kimberly Process, which ensures that diamond sales are not used to finance wars against governments. The company’s goal was to go beyond that and account for the environment and labor conditions to ensure that customers only receive ethically and sustainably sourced diamonds up to the highest standards.
Additionally, Brilliant Earth strives to utilize recycled and lab-created diamonds and 100% recycled precious metals to help mitigate the impact of metal mining and its detrimental effects on the environment and miners.
Despite this, quality is never compromised, as recycled metals maintain their integrity throughout production.
To ensure ethical standards, the company employs blockchain technology, which traces a diamond’s origin and ownership. They were one of the first retail jewelers to apply this technology at scale and now offer more than 10,000 diamonds traced with blockchain technology.
In an industry that has historically had issues maintaining sustainable and fair labor practices, Brilliant Earth wants to give back and focus on steering the industry in a positive direction.
“Caring about the planet and its people is part of who we are,” Money said. “That’s why we established the Brilliant Earth Foundation, focused on three critical areas: respon-
sible sourcing, social impact, and climate action.”
In 2015, the company helped fund the Brilliant Earth Mobile School in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which offered education and safe space for children who otherwise might have been working in the diamond mines.
Their newest showroom is just steps away from the ocean and Santa Monica Pier.
“It was important to create a space that felt welcoming, approachable, and relaxing while still delivering an elevated, premium experience,” Money said.
According to a study through IBM: “Purpose-driven consumers, who choose products and brands based on how well they align to their values, now represent the largest segment (44%) of consumers.”
These numbers reflect the majority of Brilliant Earth’s clientele, who care deeply about conscious based consumerism.
“We’re proud to serve a new generation of jewelry consumers who want thoughtfully designed, unique, beautiful jewelry, who care where their jewelry comes from, and who share our vision for giving back and positively impacting the world,” Money said.
Brilliant Earth 395 Santa Monica Place, Suite 100, Santa Monica 424-388-5939 brilliantearth.com
Haley Reinhart looks back on “American Idol” fondly — especially her connection with fellow 10th season contestant Casey Abrams.
Twelve years later, she’s still supporting Abrams, who has suffered from ulcerative colitis since he was young. Recently, he was hospitalized and underwent a life-saving surgery that forced the removal of his entire colon.
Abrams will recover, but he needs two more surgeries. Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune disease for which there is no cure. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to perform for pay since Sept. 6, and that was his main source of income.
Reinhart will perform along with Stephen Kramer Glickman, co-organizer Dylan Chambers and others at “With a Little Help from My Friends,” a benefit for Abrams at 7:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, at The Venice West.
“Casey’s one of my dearest friends and we’ve remained very close and continue to collaborate musically throughout the years,” said Reinhart, who finished third on “Idol.”
“On ‘Idol,’ there were plenty of times he would have to duck out and go to the hospital. I’d have to hold a cutout pick of his head on a stick.”
Recently, friends set up a GoFundMe with a $100,000 goal. They raised $102,124 as of Jan. 9. Reinhart said his surgery was frightening.
“It was very scary,” she recalled. “It wasn’t that much later — maybe three weeks — that we had a huge Thanksgiving jam session and my house, and he was able to sing and play music. It was great to see him on the up and up. I played a show at the Troubadour in LA, and he came out.”
He's doing well, but he “isn’t out of the woods yet,” Reinhart said.
Reinhart and Abrams connected immediately on “Idol,” but didn’t start hanging out and connecting until much later on the show.
“We’re two peas in a pod,” she said. “He seems in a much better place than he was in the
beginning of this challenging time for him.”
Since “Idol,” Reinhart became the first of the show’s contestants to perform at Lollapalooza and earned widespread acclaim for her performances and tours with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox.
Her most notable collaborations include a jazz cover of Radiohead’s “Creep,” which spent 58 consecutive weeks on Billboard’s jazz digital songs chart. Her rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” was used in a commercial for Extra Gum.
Acting has become another
passion. She made her acting debut in Robert Rodriguez’s science fiction superhero film, “We Can Be Heroes,” which was released on Netflix in 2020.
Last September, she released the EP “Off the Ground,” which she called a collection of “new songs and really old songs I love.”
“I hold on to things and wait until it’s right to put them out,” she said. She collaborated with longtime friends Anders Grahn and Tingsek.
“We did (the EP) from afar, from LA to Sweden,” Reinhart recalled.
“It was a challenge during the pandemic. It was just a great challenge to be able to get up at different times of the day and
night and work through it together. But it was nice. I didn’t have anybody breathing down my neck. We took our time. I really wanted to make something that had authentic instrumentation. It brought my tunes I had written to a different level.”
She said Tingsek is “more off the wall, off the beaten path,” but she likes where his creative mind travels.
Reinhart is looking forward to playing some of the songs live. She expects collaborations on stage.
“We’ll perform a few songs on our own and then a bunch of different artists will come together and do a group thing,” she said.
“If we’re lucky, Casey may be up to coming and — who knows — maybe up to performing. He doesn’t want to miss out on this. I hope he’s in a well-enough condition to also be a part of it.”
“With a Little Help from My Friends” with Haley
Reinhart, Stephen Kramer Glickman and Dylan
Chambers
WHEN: 7:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13
WHERE: The Venice West, 1717 Lincoln Boulevard, Venice COST: $15; 21 and older INFO: thevenicewest.com
ngelo Moore is a firm believer in the power of music. As the lead singer/saxophonist of the alt-funk band Fishbone, he has witnessed this firsthand.
“Music saves lives,” said Moore, who lives on the east side. “It saves people’s minds and gives people a different perspective to look at life when there isn’t one. The music is the answer to a lot of people’s problems and prayers.”
Those feelings have kept Moore passionate about music
for more than 40 years. On Wednesday, Jan. 18, he’ll bring Dr. Madd Vibe and the Missin’ Links to the Venice West.
“It’s going to be some upbeat dance music that’s for sure,” he said with a laugh.
“It’s eclectic. I mix all genres — ska, funk and reggae; it’s all soul based. I’m going to have my art gallery there again.
Avant Icons is a collection of my paintings that I did of different icons and I embellish them with poetry and colors and stuff like that.”
His artwork has celebrated
Presidents Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, as well as Billie Holiday, Grace Jones, Louis Armstrong and Rick James. To check out his artwork, visit legacyofangelo.com.
Raised in Woodland Hills, Moore was inspired by the likes of George Clinton, Sun Ra and Jean-Michel Basquiat. The energy of his paintings rivals that of his explosive stage presence.
Besides saxophone, he plays the theremin and Hammond B3. Moore performs as Angelo
Moore & The Brand New Step, which is on Rope-A-Dope records in Philadelphia.
“The Missin’ Link is the more hardcore ensemble,” he said.
“I’m playing the double-tier organ. It’s using a whole new side of my brain. I started playing when a friend of mine said, ‘You need to start playing organ.’
“I’m probably on my fifth or six year into it. I’ve been practicing a whole new set of music. I can sing and play on the organ now. At one point, it was hard to learn, but in the
beginning it’s always hard.”
The set will not include Fishbone songs, however.
“Actually, the majority of these songs are songs I couldn’t get done through Fishbone, so I got them in the Missin’ Link,” he said, alluding to personality conflicts. “I still appreciate Fishbone and I still love it. It’s why I’m the entertainer and the musician that I am today.”
Vibe and the Missin’ Links
WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18
WHERE: The Venice West, 1717 Lincoln Boulevard, Venice
COST: $15; 21 and older INFO: thevenicewest.com
Young dancers between the ages 12 and 17 have the opportunity this week to learn from one of the top Los Angeles ballet teachers and choreographers—and they won’t even have to pay anything for it.
Robyn Gardenhire, the founder and artistic director of City Ballet of Los Angeles and an instructor at Idyllwild Arts Academy, will present a 90-minute ballet masterclass starting at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15.
The class is a chance to learn about ballet from an iconic dancer and to audition for Idyllwild, a private high school focused on the arts. The class will take place at Westside Ballet in Santa Monica.
“I’m hoping they experience a professional way to be in their ballet classes and in life,” Gardenhire said. “Just presenting themselves to other people.”
As the founder of City Ballet of Los Angeles, Gardenhire created a scholarship school that partners with the professional division. It’s an opportunity for students of all economic and racial backgrounds to access an art form that has traditionally had high barriers to participation.
A Los Angeles native who trained with the Los Angeles Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet School, the American Ballet Theatre School and the School of American Ballet, she was the youngest Black dancer to ever be offered a contract with Joffrey Ballet with whom she began performing when she was 16. She later toured Europe and then, when she returned to the U.S., Mikhail Baryshnikov personally invited her to join the American Ballet Theatre. Both with that theater company and throughout her career, Gardenhire was instrumental in introducing children of color to
classical dance. One of the first students to receive a scholarship in her “Build a Ballet” program was Misty Copeland. Gardenhire is featured in the movie, “A Ballerina’s Tale: The Misty Copeland Movie.”
The Master Class will focus on classical ballet with a contemporary combination at the end. There are no requirements to attend the class except age and all are welcome, though RSVPs are required.
The class, Gardenhire said, will be a basic ballet class with bar, bar exercises, center and then variations from different ballets. Dance is something that can benefit young people in many ways, she said.
“Poise and carriage would be the main thing—and confidence,” Gardenhire said.
“Building your confidence and structure is very big.”
She hopes that students will take a serious look at Idyllwild and the opportunities that are
available there.
“The school is just amazing as far as the art instruction, from ballet to theater to music to painting and sculpturing,” Gardenhire said. “I can say a lot of things about the school and the instructors that are teaching there. It’s also an international school, so you have people from all over the world attending there.”
Idyllwild spreads out across 205 acres of pine forest in the village of Idyllwild in Southern California’s San Jacinto Mountains. The school is a multicultural community and a boarding arts high school for more than 250 students from 30 countries. They also offer a summer arts program, camps, workshops and online courses.
While Gardenhire has extensive national and international experience as a teacher and ballet professional, she connected with Westside Ballet many years ago when she was
first starting City Ballet of Los Angeles. She reached out to Westside Ballet’s late co-founder, Yvonne Mounsey, to ask for advice.
“I went to Miss Yvonne Mounsey who was the head of the school to ask her for information on how to do such a thing,” Gardenhire said.
Now she is excited to bring her passion and the opportunity to learn about Idyllwild to Westside Ballet.
Master Class with Robyn Gardenhire
WHERE: Westside Ballet, 1709 Stewart Street, Santa Monica
WHO: Robyn Gardenhire and Idyllwild Arts
WHEN: 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15
INFO: idyllwildarts.org RSVP: mailchi.mp/ idyllwildarts/2023dancetour
The class, which offers a unique opportunity to dance with an icon, will focus on ballet with a contemporary combination at the end.
Certain themes play out over and over again, riding waves of increased relevancy before temporarily fading into the background. In 1991, Peter Galassi curated a group show for MoMA called “Pleasures and Terrors of Domestic Comfort.”
For the past several years, domesticity has once again been thrust into the public consciousness as the pandemic forced people to stay at home and gain new perspectives on the environments in which they live.
It’s why Rose Shoshana, owner and founder of Bergamot Station Art Center’s ROSEGALLERY wanted to revisit the topic with a throwback and tribute to the MoMA show, an exhibition she’s titled “Domestic Fictions: A Life Less Ordinary.”
A show that closes this weekend, the exhibition features Jo Ann Callis, Bruce Charlesworth and Mary Frey, all artists who were part of the original MoMA show in 1991. Each artist has a compelling, sometimes disturbing look at domesticity, creating narratives that question what happens in the home and whether that home is comforting or terrifying, or perhaps both.
“After COVID and everyone spending so much time at home, it came kind of naturally as a decision,” said Elisabetta Setzu, the gallery’s associate director. “We also represent JoAnn Callis, Bruce Charlesworth and Mary Frey.”
All the images these artists photographed are domestic images, but Setzu points out that they are staged, recreating images in a manner that summons a fictitious environment.
While the MoMA show had 70-plus artists, “Domestic Fictions” takes a more focused look, pulling artists from that exhibition who work with suspended narratives.
“When you look at these images, they connect with you because you don’t know what is going on,” Setzu said. “They connect with you because you are actually the one finishing
the story.”
Setzu said the artists re-examine life in a way where the “hero” is missing. Sometimes, she said, you feel overwhelmed by the architectural landscape. Other times, the closest thing to a hero is also a perpetrator, someone who might be a victim of circumstances, posed in ways that feel unnatural and force the viewer to ask questions.
Callis’ works are close-up photos of carefully crafted tiny furniture pieces that “fetishize the banality of interior design, omitting the human subject entirely,” according to the accompanying literature. In a series that she titles “Interiors,” the photos feature very small pieces of furniture surrounded by large frames with distinct patterns. Each bed, chair and swirled curtain exist in a world of her own creation, absent any traditional bedroom or living room setting.
“She created the little furniture and then she actually takes a picture of them,” Setzu said. “She put a matte around the pieces. She said they are houses for a room in your head. They are imagining they’re like a stereotype of a room and she’s stepping away from it to a playful (look). She has always been fascinated with the
miniature and so she’s playing with the illusion of a real room. She has always been very great in transforming seemingly ordinary objects in an extraordinary way.”
In line with the domestic fiction theme, Setzu describes a different feeling observing Callis’ work and the distinct uncertainty that everything is not what it appears to be. Rather, the series transforms what you are seeing into something else. Callis has said that she lived in the same house from the time she was five until she was 15 and that her mother was very style-conscious. She has very vivid memories of her surroundings from when she was a child.
She taps into those memories to create something that is beautiful while still being a sort of theatrical performance, Setzu said.
Charlesworth uses multiple media to create his works, works that he describes as containing characters, dialogue, emotions and narrative.
“I always start in an abstract place,” he wrote about the work he has on display at the ROSEGALLERY. “An idea may begin as a shape, color relationship or directional lines. The architecture will often come next, with characters and
stories evolving out of a sense of place. My themes include lighting and color as visual disruptions, layers created by barriers and screens, extremes of distance and contrasts of vastness with confined space. The anthropomorphic potential of inanimate objects is another recurring theme in my work.”
His photographs in this exhibition typically feature a man in a black suit (though he occasionally loses the suit coat and once appears in a bathrobe). He’s placed in various circumstances that speak of domesticity, but also have an extreme and unsettling vibe to them.
“It’s very important the development of the conceptual framework,” Setzu said. “Everything starts by an idea like we said with JoAnn Callis. Then he moves from the idea to the architecture to the surroundings. Then it’s lighting and color. The lighting helps to actually create these visual destructions.”
The exhibition includes three of his series. Setzu points out that the man in the black suit is as much a perpetrator as he is a victim of circumstances. She refers to a photo of a man reading a newspaper at a breakfast table with a bowl full of cereal in front of him. She
observes that the table feels too small for him and there is just something that makes the viewer feel like things aren’t right.
Everything is slightly askew and instills a feeling of uncertainty bordering on fear.
Frey began her series when she took a photograph of her mother during Thanksgiving bringing the pie from the kitchen—an image that is a part of the Domestic Fictions exhibition.
“After that, she started to make her family recreate some simple images, your everyday images,” Setzu said. “But then she addressed the intimacy, the losing control, anxiety, depression, fear of rejection and not living up to expectations. You feel these people are inviting you into the privacy of their home and you feel that there is something going on, but you don’t know what’s going on or what you are looking at.”
As part of “Domestic Fictions,” Frey has two series: “Domestic Rituals” and “Real Life Dramas.” The first captures domestic rituals in black and white and the second portrays a drama with a caption.
“The point is that she’s penetrating private places and at the same time depriving them
of intimacy,” Setzu said. “Even though the place is familiar, there is no feeling of comfort. The words—is it the voice of reason? Is it the people in the images? Or are you reflecting on your thoughts?”
Setzu said that in the original 1991 exhibit, Galassi opined that people were taking photographs not of epic events like wars or political events, but the home. Everyone had a camera and the home was what they had access to. However, these artists are restaging reality to provide a different perspective. While there are only a few days left to see the exhibition, Setzu hopes people will make the time to see them, because after 30 years, the images are still very
timely.
“Come see the exhibition because it’s beautiful and it’s magical,” Setzu said.
“These images are part of American photography—they are a cornerstone in photography.”
“Domestic Fictions: A Life Less Ordinary”
WHEN: Through Jan. 14, 2023
WHERE: ROSEGALLERY, Bergamot Station Art Center, 2525 Michigan Avenue B-7, Santa Monica
INFO: rosegallery.net
“OPPOSITE
ACROSS 1 Cat’s attentiongetter, maybe 4 Car once advertised as a “well-built Swede” 8 Endpoint for some boots and skirts 13 Like cookies soon after the Cookie Monster spots them 18 Equine parent 20 Anti-censorship org. 21 Provençal mayo 22 Only just 23 Drill sergeant, perhaps? 27 New York, for one 28 Lubricate 29 Return 30 Audrey Hopburn letters 31 Distribution parties 34 Ellington composition 35 Inning’s trio? 36 Collective action by society women? 41 French bread? 43 Part of an underwater forest 44 One-eighty 45 Movie trailer? 47 Pick up 49 Farm bird that never topples? 55 Wrath 56 Honeycomb unit 57 Rep. from the Bronx 58 WWF, e.g. 59 Mountain goats’ terrain 62 Temperamental 63 Org. with the largest-circulation magazine in the U.S. 65 Corner store 66 Amendment proposed by a technophile?
70 Cut and paste, say 71 Ibex range 72 Drops 73 Invite for 74 Gretchen of “Boardwalk Empire” 75 La Liga cheer 76 Contact 77 Carol contraction 78 Like a typical ride on a mechanical bull? 83 Some Japanese TVs 86 “I don’t care!” 87 Terr. divided in 1889 88 Kiwi-shaped 90 Color of Montana’s flag 92 Endure within a group of peers? 97 __ carte 98 “Hair Love” voice actress Issa 100 Strapless bralette 101 “__ Lasso” 102 Passing remark? 104 Slides (over) 107 Hides in plain sight? 109 Death and taxes, per Benjamin Franklin? 114 Contributed 115 French 101 verb 116 Ziggurat level 117 Shoestring catch? 118 Creates a Maillard reaction on a steak, say 119 Gave back, as land 120 Be worthy of 121 Nestlé’s __-Caps DOWN 1 Nintendo : DS :: Sony : 2 Measure typically given in knots 3 Like some data disks 4 Chili-based Vietnamese condiment
5 The “A” of LGBTQIA+, for short 6 The “A” of 30-Across 7 __ cord 8 Maximally vanilla 9 “Howdy there!” 10 Cyclotron particles 11 “I’m rubber, you’re ” 12 That guy 13 Fired up 14 Prefix with Mexico 15 BOGO deal 16 Weather-affecting Pacific current 17 Politburo nos 19 Noblezada of “Easter Sunday” 24 Bumping heads 25 Drops the ball, say 26 __-free plastic 30 Brief “Beats me!” 32 Fit of pique 33 Great Basin native 34 Sends off the soccer pitch 37 Far from relaxed 38 Color TV pioneer 39 Offline, briefly 40 Kenan’s “Good Burger” co-star 42 Sch. that competes against Notre Dame for the Jeweled Shillelagh 46 [Crossing my fingers!] 48 German “first” 49 Bright shades 50 Ye Shoppe 51 Eschew a co-pilot 52 Real talent 53 Wading bird 54 “Au contraire!” 56 Member-owned grocery 59 Espresso froth 60 Free from 61 Fleet of foot 62 Chemistry class model
63 Filling with wonder 64 Children’s song marchers 65 Text in a long-distance relationship, maybe 67 Tibia neighbor 68 Spilled salt, to some 69 Thinking a song is about oneself, say 75 Music store supply 77 Roll the dice, say 79 Pacific Northwest sch. 80 Hawaiian for “white” 81 Texting tech 82 “If we must die, O us nobly die”: McKay 83 Herb used in some smudging rituals 84 Big hands? 85 Word in an Arthur Miller title 87 RPG with a 20-sided die 89 Acid initials 90 Strawberry 91 Highfalutin 93 “All __!” 94 Rolls in yoga class
95 In the office 96 Word after rage or force 97 __ frescas: fruit drinks 99 Passover’s month, often: Abbr. 103 Even once 104 Back up 105 Graceless one 106 Four Tops singer Benson 108 Some laptops 110 __ fly 111 Spy-fi org. 112 Not ’neath 113 Nwodim of “SNL”
Welcome California Coastal home in the heart of Westchester. This North Kentwood traditional 5+3 home features an open floorplan & vaulted ceilings with architectural design details throughout. Includes an expansive open kitchen/family room combo with a chef's kitchen with custom cabinetry & stainless-steel appliances. There is a guest bedroom and bath on the ground level with garden views. Atop the grand staircase are three bedrooms plus a large master bedroom & bathroom en-suite on the upper level. With mountain top views to the north, the master bedroom suite is an enormous space with vaulted ceilings, a massive bedroom sized walk-in closet, and a large bath with a custom dual vanity. Enjoy nearby beaches, Silicon Beach shops and restaurants.
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Is buying a home on your to-do list for this year? If so, it may be time to start addressing your credit score. While it’s possible to qualify for a mortgage with scores as low as the 500s, higher scores will yield you more options and better rates, which means greater affordability and more buying power. While there is no magic bean that will raise your score by hundreds of points overnight, there are some tricks that could help you move into the qualification zone or improve your rate, and make sure you don’t take another hit by making a silly mistake.
Some older collection accounts aren’t worth paying off if you’re strictly looking to boost your score. You may be able to pay newer accounts and see a bump in your score—if you can ensure that the creditor will report the payment to the credit agencies. Financial experts also typically agree that you’re better
off paying the original creditor, not the collection agency. Your lender should be able to help you figure out your best plan of action when it comes to who to pay, and how.
“The second most important factor in your FICO score is the amounts you owe, which accounts for 30% of your score,” said NerdWallet. “In addition to considering how much you owe overall, FICO looks at your credit utilization, or the amount you owe as a percentage of your available credit. The higher your utilization, the more likely it is that you’ll be overextended and may miss payments. Keeping your credit card balance relatively low, then, can provide a significant boost to your credit. Aim for 30% or lower.
Yes, this sounds like the opposite of what you should do when trying to
improve your credit score, but but the right kind of credit can make a positive difference. “A credit card can be a 100% free way to build up your credit, as long as you use it responsibly,” said Credit Card Insider. “
Experian Boost is a new product “that allows you to add utility and cell phone bills to your credit file,” they said. “Most scoring models take into account your payment history on loans and credit cards, how much revolving credit you regularly use, how long you’ve had accounts open, the types of accounts you have and how often you apply for new credit. If you’ve been making utility and cell phone payments on time, there is a way for you to improve your credit score by factoring in those payments through a new, free product called Experian Boost.”
“You should check your credit reports at all three credit reporting bureaus… for any inaccuracies,” said Experian. “Incorrect information on your credit reports could drag your scores down. Verify that the accounts listed on your reports are correct. If you see errors, dispute the information and get it corrected right away.”
Payment history is a huge part of your credit score—35%! With so much at stake, on-time payments should be a priority. We all know that accidents happen. Setting up automatic payments can help you avoid those oopsies. Some companies, like T-Mobile, also offer monthly savings for setting up automatic payments.
Have an event for the calendar? Send it to kkirk@timespublications.com
Creative Writing with Novelist/Broadway Writer Ashley Griffin
Thursday, Jan. 12
Join novelist, Broadway writer and Santa Monica native Ashley Griffin for a creative writing workshop and reading from her debut novel “The Spindle,” a retelling of “Sleeping Beauty” from the dark fairy’s point of view. Find out what it takes to be a professional writer and find your own literary voice as you explore how to tell a story. For aspiring writers ages 10 to 15. 601 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, 4 to 5 p.m.
National Geographic Live: From Shallows to Seafloor Thursday, Jan. 12
Featured as part of the National Geographic Live touring speaker series across North America, which brings to life awe-inspiring stories of National Geographic experts, is “From Shallows to Seafloor” with marine biologist Diva Amon. This event is presented by BroadStage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center. Amon’s research on unusual deep-sea habitats and species has taken her to extraordinary depths in some of the remotest parts of the planet. Dive in with her to get to know the fascinating creatures in each unique layer of Earth’s massive
underwater habitat—from the familiar sea creatures near the surface to their otherworldly, alien-like cousins that wander the ocean floor. She’ll share stories from her work in the Caribbean, the Pacific and beyond, along with images that shine a light on this vast—and vital—reservoir of biodiversity. Tickets start at $55 and are available online, at the box office or by calling 310-4343200.
1310 11th Street, Santa Monica, 7:30 p.m., broadstage.org
Rose Pruning and Care Workshop
Saturday, Jan. 14
Join the Santa Monica community gardeners in January for a free workshop on Rose Pruning and Care, as one of their own community gardeners shares tips and techniques to get the most out of your blooms. Pruning demonstration begins at 10 a.m. Coffee and refreshments and wandering through the gardens starts at 9 a.m. Sponsored by City of Santa Monica Community Gardens Program with the support of Santa Monica Roots. 2318 Main Street, Santa Monica, 9 to 11 a.m.
Local Author Talk at The Book Jewel Saturday, Jan. 14
Artist and author, Terre Reed, will present prints of her paintings and speak about her award-winning memoir, “The Wind Blows and the Flowers Dance.” Through a mixture of story, paintings, and poetry, she will share her process of recreating, redefining, and reinventing herself. 6259 W. 87th Street, Westchester, 3 p.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Monday, Jan. 16
Santa Monica College (SMC) and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Westside Coalition are pleased to announce that civil rights icon Benjamin (Ben) Franklin
Chavis, Jr. will be the keynote speaker at the birthday celebration for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The free celebration will be held at the John Adams Middle School Performing Arts Center. The event – one of the largest and most diverse celebrations of its kind in Southern California – is presented by The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Westside Coalition, a nonprofit coalition whose mission is consistent with Dr. King’s legacy. This year’s celebration marks the event’s 38th anniversary and embraces the theme “When you stand up for justice, you can never fail.” The multi-ethnic, interfaith program will include inspirational readings, speakers, music, and dance. The program also features the presentation of education awards to local students and a Community Light
Award to Pepperdine University’s Foster Grandparent Program. Immediately following the program there will be a Community Involvement Fair presenting informational displays by a variety of community organizations from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the John Adams Middle School Quad. 1601 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, 9 a.m., mlkjrwestside.org
The Santa Monica College Emeritus Art Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of creative works by California master sculptor Charles Dickson. The exhibition will run from Jan. 19 to April 28 in the Emeritus Art Gallery. A free, live virtual Zoom launch event for the exhibition will be held online. The opening reception online will be hosted by SMC Dean of Noncredit and External Programs Dr. Scott Silverman and Emeritus Art Gallery
Curator Jesse Benson. The online event includes a live scroll through the exhibition, a discussion with Dickson about selected works, and a Q&A offering guests the chance to ask the artist questions.
1227 Second Street, Santa Monica, 5 to 6:30 p.m., smc.edu/emeritusgallery
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022268202
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: KEEVE PRODUCTIONS . 928 Marco Place Venice, CA 90291. COUNTY: Los Angeles. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Frederick Keeve, 928 Marco Place Venice, CA 90291. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY an Individual. The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 01/1996. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant know to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000)).
REGISTRANT/CO RP/ LLC NAME: Frederick Keeve. TITLE: Owner. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: December 13, 2022. NOTICE – in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. a new Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Pro-
fessions code). Publish: Published: The Argonaut News 0105/23, 0112/23
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022280179 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: MARINA DEL REY SUMMER SYMPHONY. 7877 Yorktown Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90045 . COUNTY: Los Angeles. Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number: 0553733. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Socal Symphony Society, 7877 Yorktown Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90045 . State of Incorporation or LLC: California. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY a Corporation. The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant know to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000)). REGISTRANT/CO RP/LLC
NAME: David Bromberg. TITLE: Treasurer Corp or LLC Name: Socal Symphony Society. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: December 30, 2022. NOTICE – in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. a new Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions code).
Published: The Argonaut News 0105/23, 0112/23, 0119/23, 0126/23
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022280183 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: CULVER CITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. 7877 Yorktown Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90045 . COUNTY: Los Angeles. Articles of Incorporation or Organization Number: 0553733. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Socal Symphony Society, 7877 Yorktown Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90045 . State of Incorporation or LLC: California. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY a Corporation. The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant know to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000)).
REGISTRANT/CO RP/LLC NAME: David Bromberg. TITLE: Treasurer Corp or LLC Name: Socal Symphony Society. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: December 30, 2022. NOTICE –in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. a new Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions code).
Published: The Argonaut News 0105/23,
0112/23, 0119/23, 0126/23
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022268202
The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: KEEVE PRODUCTIONS . 928 Marco Place Venice, CA 90291. COUNTY: Los Angeles. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Frederick Keeve, 928 Marco Place Venice, CA 90291. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY an Individual. The date registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 01/1996. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant know to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000)).
REGISTRANT/CO RP/ LLC NAME: Frederick Keeve. TITLE: Owner. This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: December 13, 2022. NOTICE – in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the county clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. a new Fictitious Business Name statement must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions code).
Published: The Argonaut News 0105/23, 0112/23
AHMED , for Change of Name. TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1.) Petitioner: HANA AHMED filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a.) HANA AHMED to HENA AHMED 2.) THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the
petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 02/17/23. Time: 8:30 AM. Dept.: L. The address of the court is 400 Civic Center Plaza Pomona, CA 91766. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Los Angeles. Original filed: December 19, 2022. Peter A. Hernandez, Judge of the Superior Court. Published: The Argonaut News 0105/23, 0112/23, 0119/23
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 22PSCP00603
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. Petition of HANA
Santa Monica College
1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405