The Argonaut Newspaper — April 22, 2021

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Local News & Culture

The Westside’s News Source Since 1971 CONTACT US (310) 822-1629 Letters, News, Tips & Event Listings: kkirk@timespublications.com EDITORIAL Executive Editor: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski christina@timespublications.com Editor: Kamala Kirk (310) 574-7654 kkirk@timespublications.com Contributing Writers: Bridgette Redman, Elizabeth Johnson, Sara Edwards, Srianthi Perera Editorial Interns: Holly Jenvey, Katie Lulla, Alex Hutton, Sofia Santana, Haley Beyer ART Graphic Designers: Arman Olivares (310) 574-7656 Kate Doll (310) 574-7653 Staff Photographer: Luis Chavez

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(Continued on page 8)

VICE PRESIDENT: Michael Hiatt PRESIDENT: Steve Strickbine

Visit us online at ArgonautNews.com

Corona by the numbers & local updates Compiled by Kamala Kirk Cases and deaths by neighborhood as of April 18: Culver City: 2,198 (deaths 106); Del Rey: 2,000 (deaths 32); El Segundo: 709 (deaths 6); Marina del Rey: 376 (deaths 3); Mar Vista: 2,044 (deaths 36); Palms: 2,577 (deaths 62); Playa del Rey: 110 (deaths 1); Playa Vista: 593 (deaths 8); Santa Monica: 4,738 (deaths 182); Venice: 1,668 (deaths 14); Westchester: 2,486 (deaths 48) Total Westside cases: 19,499 Total Westside deaths: 498

Total confirmed cases in LA County: 1,228,997 Total deaths in LA County: 23,623 Total new cases as of April 18: 466 Total new deaths: 3 Hospitalizations: 470 Positivity rate (seven-day daily average): 1.2% Total number of people tested: 6,311,592 (Source: Los Angeles County Department of Public Health)

APRIL 22, 2021 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 3

L E T T E R S Opposing Placement of the Proposed ‘Traquero’ Monument Editor: I am writing to offer our support for the Mexican American Traquero Monument Project, while also indicating our opposition to its proposed location on the Windward Circle island.

I appreciate that a significant amount of thought and work have gone into the plans for this monument. Certainly, it is proper to have the contributions of the Traqueros honored.

However, the installation of the monument with a water feature at this site is highly problematic. The issues any public monument will face at this site are security, pedestrian safety and conflict-of-use with storm water storage at the site. The current use of the island to exhibit Venice artist Robert Graham’s sculpture must also be considered.

The sponsors of the project were apparently unaware that the site was earlier the home to a replica of the original gondolas that Abbot Kinney constructed for the enjoyment of visitors

to the Venice Canals.

Several years ago, the Venice Historical Society installed the gondola on the traffic circle median. That gondola was viciously attacked on numerous occasions by vandals, various decorative ornaments were stripped off, it was gouged, and at some time it was partially shoved off the circle into the street in what appeared to be an attempt to steal it.

Eventually, the Historical Society felt it had no choice but to put it into storage until a more secure location was found nearby on fenced-in U.S. Postal Service property. Without fencing or a barrier of some type, any new monument will certainly be the target of graffiti and acts of vandalism.

The Department of Transportation has long banned visitor access to the island and has installed signs directing visitors on foot to travel on the sidewalks and crosswalks around the outer edges of the traffic circle, not to cross by means of the island. This ban on foot traffic to the island results from the risk of pedestrians being hit by cars traveling around the circle

where lines of sight are obscured by large bollards placed around the perimeter of the island.

I recently forwarded the Traquero Monument Project to Brian Gallagher, Principal Transportation Engineer at the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s District Operations Bureau, and asked his opinion. He replied on December 21, 2020: “LADOT does not want to put anything in that median island that would require us to provide pedestrian access. I’m sure that LAPD and the Neighborhood Prosecutor’s Office will agree with us.”

There is a large storm water reservoir beneath the island that requires frequent visits by large city public works trucks to maintain and repair the antiquated pumping equipment. These trucks, usually two at a time, park just next to where the Traquero monument is slated to be installed. This will routinely detract from the public’s view of the monument.

As I mentioned in my remarks when the project was before the Venice Neighborhood Council,

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the Traffic Circle (and the storm water reservoir underneath it) were originally part of Lake Ballona, a long, narrow coastal lake that sat east of Venice’s coastal dunes. Abbot Kinney used it as the anchor for the first canal system he created. From 1905 to roughly 1929, the circle was a boat basin and the center of a network of canals. The primary rail lines were on Venice Boulevard and Electric Avenue, not Grand, or Venice Way, or Windward.

Speaking for myself and my organization, I would like to see the circle further commemorated as the site of the Venice Lagoon and the center of the “Lost Canals” district. I also would like to suggest two alternate Venice locations for the monument, which have higher visibility and receive more public visits: 1. Just west of the intersection of Venice Boulevard and Abbot Kinney Boulevard, on the original Pacific Electric Red Car line, is an open area on the median. An extant portion of the Red Car line has been preserved there. The Venice Heritage Museum is proposed for just

west of site I am suggesting, which would include a refurbished Red Car (veniceheritagemuseum.org/the-museum-campus). What better place for a monument to railroad workers than next to the very tracks they laid and a historic rail car? Access to the median is available from either crosswalks at Abbot Kinney Boulevard or the Venice Library’s parking lot.

2. Windward Plaza, just west of the Venice Sign, currently contains a prominently placed 60-foot metal sculpture by Mark di Suvero. A news story was published last year that claimed the sculpture is going to be dismantled and trucked to another site in northern California. This site, between the boardwalk and the ocean at the foot of Windward Avenue, is probably the most visited site in all of Venice Beach and there are no safety issues with traffic.

I will close by noting that aesthetically, I think the Traquero monument will clash with the Robert Graham sculpture now located on the island, in both style and purpose. I would note that Mr. Graham is one of the most famous members of the

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CREDIT: AJA BUFKA

Venice Art Colony of the 1970s and 1980s and its only Mexican member. He and his sculpture deserve the “stage” offered by the Windward Circle island to himself.

Thank you for your consideration of our views on the location of this monument.

Mark Ryavec President, Venice Stakeholders Association Re: Ballona Wetlands Editor: My zoology degree is only a B.A. but I cannot fathom how respecting Nature’s healing the area best she could can be dismissed as merely a highly emotional response. Destroy the village to save it? Oh, please!

Lisa Edmondson Los Angeles

Public art in Mar Vista.

Oppose the Anti-Turkish Acrimony in California Legislature Editor: I am deeply concerned about the recent wave of anti-Turkish acrimony in the California legislature. Leaving aside all critical issues amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, three

state legislative bills (ACR 26, AB 1019, AR 21) based on the allegations of Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire and on the Armenian territorial claims against Turkey and Azerbaijan have been introduced since February.

ACR 26 and AB 1019 seek to institutionalize California’s economic warfare against Turkey for the country’s rejection of the Armenian narrative regarding the World War I era atrocities. AB 1019, specifically, seeks divestment of the California public employee retirement funds from Turkey by accusing it of the crime against humanity based on the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.

However, all actual genocides, such as the Holocaust, those in Srebrenica and Rwanda, have been tried in an appropriate international court tribunal. In contrast, the WWI era atrocities in the Ottoman Empire were never legally assessed, the intent to exterminate Armenians was never established.

Furthermore, the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights - “Switzerland vs.

Perincek” (2013, 2015) and

“Mercan and others vs. Switzerland” (2017) concluded that the allegations of Armenian genocide are a matter of legitimate debate with clear historical and legal distinctions from the Holocaust.

The attempts to drag our state legislature, public education, economic and criminal justice institutions into the anti-Turkish travesty constitute an abuse of our representative democracy.

While recognizing a crime against humanity may be an act of moral authority, issuing judgements without a trial is not. I urge our elected representatives to consider these facts while formulating their position on the aforementioned legislative bills.

Anonymous Redondo Beach

We Want to Hear from You! Being in print is a lot more meaningful than grouching on Facebook.

Send compliments, complaints and insights about local issues to kkirk@timespublications.com

APRIL 22, 2021 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 5

O P I N I O N

Sustain California’s Future Keep businesses open to restore our economy and sustain cities COURTESY MARCEL RODARTE

By Marcel Rodarte For Californians weary of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s ample reason these days to be optimistic for the future.

Experts tell us the end of this nightmare is within our grasp, and we could soon be back to the normal lives we all deeply miss.

However, the pandemic devastated our state and our city’s economy, and we need to start taking steps now to ensure that it can thrive in the future.

The most important way to sustain California’s economic future is to allow businesses to remain open and paying their employees. Businesses are the engine of every great economy, and with their help the Golden State’s will be shining once again.

A year ago, when COVID-19 first entered our communities, our leaders made the difficult call to shut down some businesses in an effort to protect public health. The virus was historically deadly and unlike anything we’d ever faced, so it was wise to be cautious.

However, these shutdowns had their own devastating consequences, especially here in Los Angeles. At one point, one in five Angelenos were out of a job, lines at local food banks swelled and small businesses shuttered. It shows that, while necessary short-term, economic shutdowns are unsustainable both for the business community and for the municipalities they serve.

The shutdowns that were

Marcel Rodarte is the executive director of California Contract Cities Association. implemented last year could also have devastating implications for local city budgets. LA is already facing a budget shortfall north of $750 million and ongoing business closures could make that worse.

Key properties like offices and retail have seen their property values plummet, which means tax revenue vital to citywide funding is likewise falling drastically. If more shutdowns were enacted, this crisis would only grow, meaning critical

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programs go unfunded and city employees are laid off en masse.

Thankfully, Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Eric Garcetti have lifted the strictest restrictions, allowing businesses

to operate under common sense guidelines. This is a smart move that recognizes how far we’ve come since the first round of shutdowns.

A year ago, we knew very little about how to handle this virus, but that’s not the case today.

Businesses have adapted to our new reality with proper PPE for employees, social distancing measures, and thorough cleaning techniques. It doesn’t make sense to shut down these businesses anymore, considering they can now adequately follow CDC guidelines protecting customers and staff.

Put simply, we now know that all businesses – not just those that were originally deemed “essential” – can operate safely.

While those standards helped guide our shutdowns a year ago, we know enough now to keep them open with the right precautions. To institute additional lockdowns now or in the future would ignore this reality and leave millions of people suffering.

We should certainly not ignore the ongoing spread of COVID-19, but we should recognize that the situation isn’t as dire as it once was. Since mid-January, new cases, hospitalizations and deaths have plummeted in California and

across the country. Vaccines are going into arms faster than anyone predicted. Additionally, President Biden’s American Rescue Plan will bolster our fight against the virus even more.

Instead of locking down our economy any further, our leaders should continue allowing businesses to reopen safely in accordance with CDC guidelines – especially as case numbers hopefully fall further.

This will allow businesses to hire more Californians in need of work, and ensure that cities and municipalities in Southern California and elsewhere avoid an immense budgetary crisis.

This has been a challenging time for our state and our country, but hope springs eternal, and there’s a lot to be optimistic about. The end of the pandemic is coming, and we have a chance to build our state back quickly. To do that will require an understanding that when businesses thrive, we all thrive. To thrive, businesses need to stay open. There is no reason to believe we can’t keep businesses open while also keeping our residents safe.

Marcel Rodarte is the executive director of California Contract Cities Association.

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C O M M U N I T Y

Road to Recovery Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce presents annual State of the City

By Haley Beyer The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Santa Monica recently presented its annual State of the City.

The virtual event aired live on CityTV Channel 16 and was streamed on the City of Santa Monica’s YouTube channel. In keeping with this year’s theme, “Our Community Road to Recovery”, the keynote speaker was Congressman Ted Lieu who offered his insights on the path to recovery on a national level.

Chamber president Laurel Rosen pointed out that 130 privately owned businesses in Santa Monica have permanently closed during the pandemic. To help businesses that are still open but struggling, a “small business relief fund” will be put in place once funding becomes available, and small business strike teams will be introduced to settle conflicts such as permitting issues.

Attendees watched a short video,

“Santa Monica Shines”, about an assurance program on how to make customers and employees of businesses feel safe in the workplace, and to guarantee health and wellness for all involved with safety and comfort in mind.

Interim city manager Lane Dilg mentioned that “135 members of the community have been lost to the virus” yet “Santa Monica has had among the lowest COVID-19 numbers of the LA area.” More than 7,000 residents are currently unemployed and 72% of the

businesses that are open are struggling to stay in business. The city’s three main focuses are mental and physical health, homelessness and lack of food availability.

Between the damage caused by the riots following George Floyd’s death and the pandemic, the City of Santa Monica now understands what areas need improvement.

There are over “600 with rental assistance” and “over 100 within senior living homes with rental assistance” that show how the human right to shelter has become a big problem. Though the budget is balanced, city staff has been reduced by 300 members and economic activity is low due to the lack of tourism and so forth.

Outdoor areas around the city are being redesigned to accommodate social distancing while offering spaces for members of the community to enjoy. The north beach trail was widened, new protected bike lanes have been added and final touches have been put on Belmar Park, to name

a few.

Funding is also going towards various art initiatives to maintain the spirit of Santa Monica. A new form of financial aid, “We Are Santa Monica”, has been created to gather money to give to the community. The goal is to raise enough funding to support 1,000 small businesses.

Between the pandemic and the response to the systemic racism, the number of individuals dealing with a mental health crisis has increased drastically. Santa Monica mayor Sue Himmelrich stated that her goal is to give everyone the option to “step outside the walls of their houses and into the sunshine of Santa Monica with respect and hearts full of love” when it is safe to do so. She is hopeful for a future where small businesses help run the town.

Two of Himmelrich’s main goals include preventing rental eviction by “walking the road of recovery together” and providing access to affordable housing. The commu-

nity has truly come together as there has also been an increase in food distribution centers and a significant rise in helping seniors get signed up for COVID-19 vaccinations. Himmelrich also shared that the local farmers market and animal shelters are places that need more volunteers.

Next, Lieu discussed the stimulus relief package including the need for $1.9 trillion in funding for unemployment and housing with $27 million going directly to Santa Monica for the pandemic. This money would cover setting up testing and vaccination areas, business owners, rental protection, child care, health care and frontline worker job protection. Lieu mentioned current legislation that he is working on including subnational diplomacy and brought up the need for $5 billion from the federal government to help the homeless community.

To make a donation to We Are Santa Monica, visit calfund.org/ wearesantamonica

FINAL EXHIBIT & ART SALE

By Local Artist Ken Marsh

His compositions and color schemes would elevate and enliven any contemporary setting.

(Masks and Social Distancing, of course.)

Saturday, April 24, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Sunday, April 25, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Location: Grand View Fine Art Studios 3871 Grand View Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90066.

(Call for private showings at other times throughout April.)

310-903-2173

“At 81, finding aging inescapable, I am mounting my last exhibition with the help of friends as I depart from the studio I have had in — KEN MARSH LA since 2006.”

The work is priced to sell. Offers are invited.

Special freebies to take.

Works on sale will be many sizes, from 4’ x 4’, to 4’ x 6’, on down to plenty of smaller works as well.

APRIL 22, 2021 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 7

E N V I R O N M E N T

Young Environmentalist Westchester youth helping the planet, protecting important habitat PHOTOS COURTESY OF JUSTIN SATHER/DANIELA FRANCO

By Elizabeth M. Johnson Justin Sather is an environmental activist who works tirelessly to save endangered frogs, protect the rainforest and reduce plastic pollution in the ocean. In just under five years, he’s raised nearly $25,000 to save the planet. And he’s only 10 years old.

Sather, who lives in Westchester and is a fourth grader at Westside Neighborhood School, has loved frogs since he was a baby. His favorite frogs are the mossy frog, strawberry poison dart frog and the glass frog. In kindergarten, he learned that nearly one-third of the world’s frogs are close to extinction and that they are dying because of pollution in the air and water.

“Frogs breathe and drink through their skin, so they are sensitive to their environment.

Scientists say that frogs are indicator species. This means the frogs are telling us the world needs our help,” Sather said.

Focusing on frogs

Sather wanted to help the frogs but didn’t know how a little kid could make a difference. His mom, Sheri, read him the book “What Do You Do with an Idea?” by Kobi Yamada, which tells kids that one idea can change the world.

Yamada’s follow-up book, “What Do You Do with a Chance?” gave Sather additional courage to be brave and take action even when it seems hard.

Sather started selling toy frogs to his family, friends, baseball teammates and neighbors. For his birthday, he held a cleanup party at the Ballona Wetlands and told his friends about the importance of frogs. He even designed frog-themed shoes that were sold by PLAE shoes, which donated a portion of the shoe sales to the SAVE THE FROGS! organization.

Through his efforts, Sather was able to present SAVE THE FROGS! founder Kerry Kriger with a check for $1,000.

GoFundMe named Sather one of its Kid Heroes, which enabled him to reach more people with his message and to raise more money to save the frogs.

When Bravery Magazine featured Sather as a “Brave Kid,” he was invited to San

Ten-year-old Westchester resident Justin Sather is an environmental activist who is dedicated to saving endangered frogs, protecting the rainforest and reducing plastic pollution in the ocean.

Francisco to meet Dr. Jane Goodall, which he called one of the most rewarding parts of being an environmental activist.

“She told me to continue to be brave,” Sather said. “She also told me to help with plastic pollution, because by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean.”

Protecting the planet from plastic

Sather began looking for ways to reduce plastic pollution. He discovered that making small changes can make a big difference. For instance: • He taught his classmates not to use plastic baggies or plastic straws, and he used some of the money he had raised to provide each student with metal straws and reusable baggies — one sandwich size and two snacksize for each kid.

• He collected plastic toothbrushes (which end up in the ocean and in landfills) and replaced them with eco-friendly toothbrushes made from recycled yogurt cups (another source of plastic pollution).

PAGE 8 THE ARGONAUT APRIL 22, 2021

• He collected 200 pounds of plastic bottle caps, which were shredded, melted and turned into a buddy bench for his school.

• He encouraged students to switch from bottled water to reusable water bottles.

Sather’s activities have even brought him new friends across the world. On Earth Day 2019, Forbi Perise, a 22-year-old environmental science student in Cameroon, reached out to him for ideas to deal with plastic pollution in his community. The two became pen pals and started “The Parallel Projects.”

Through this project, they went on social media and asked young people around the world to suggest ideas for what could be done with discarded plastic bottles.

“We came up with so many ways to make things out of plastic bottles,” Sather said.

“You can turn bottles into arts and crafts like toy cars and boats, planters, bird feeders, earrings, bottle cap art, all kinds of stuff. Turning trash

into treasures is just like magic.”

In addition, Sather and his third grade classmates drew pictures of their favorite endangered animals, which were displayed on reusable water bottles and sent to Perise’s class in Cameroon.

Sather even recycled enough plastic bottles from his community’s Fourth of July parade to help pay Perise’s college tuition in Cameroon (about $120).

Plastic recycling has become a family affair. Sather’s dad, Kyle, purchased a plastic shredder and oven. The set up in the family’s garage is used to shred plastic, melt it down, and fabricate colorful plastic bowls that can be sold to raise money for Sather’s environmental projects.

Saving the rainforest, acre by acre

Sather’s current focus is saving the rainforest, which is home to many of the frogs he loves, as well as many other endangered animal species. He is a member of the Reserva

Youth Council, a group of 50 kids and young adults who share a goal of protecting 30% of the planet by 2030.

“Half of the world’s rainforests have disappeared and could be gone in 100 years,” Sather said.

“We’re buying acres of land to protect it from being developed, to save it for nature.”

Sather was the youngest member of the Reserva Youth Council until a month ago, when his little brother Tyler, 8, joined the group. Most of the members, who come from the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ecuador, Pakistan, India, Poland, Kenya and Cuba, are in their late teens and early 20s.

Together, they are working to raise enough money to protect a 244-acre area of Ecuador’s Choco rainforest — the first youth-funded reserve in the world.

“It costs $730 to buy an acre of land, and I’ve raised enough for two acres,” Sather said.

Sheri surprised Sather with the news that her birthday fundraiser on Facebook had raised enough to buy a third acre. The

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“FORCING THE ISSUE”

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Sather with his mom, Sheri, and the books that inspired him to be brave and take action.

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CALL TODAY: 310.574.7655 In just under five years, Sather has raised nearly $25,000 to save the planet.

Youth Council’s fundraising is matched by the Rainforest Trust, doubling the impact of their efforts.

Sather tracks his fundraising efforts by coloring in a picture of a frog he drew. For each acre he completes, he is using a different color — red, green, yellow.

Sather is asking kids and young adults (26 and younger) to write a letter explaining why they like nature and want to protect it. The Reserva Land Trust will match each letter with a $3 donation that goes toward the Choco Rainforest Project.

“My goal is to collect 243 letters that will buy another acre of land,” Sather said.

“Then we want to share the letters with world leaders to get their attention and show how much people care about the planet.”

A froggy future

Sather shares his message and recruits new young environmentalists by talking with school classes, scout troops and other organizations (currently over Zoom because of the COVID-19 pandemic).

He uses Facebook (The Parallel Projects) and

Instagram (@justinsfrogproject) to share his latest activities.

Eventually, he would like to work with an eco-friendly company, like Lush or Shore Buddies, to create a frog plush toy from recycled materials and sell it to raise money for environmental projects.

“I want to protect the land, and I want to make sure lakes and oceans are clean for animals and for the next generation,” Sather said.

Help Sather save the planet by writing a letter, taking a pledge to reduce plastic pollution or making a donation at fortheloveoffrogs.com.

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APRIL 22, 2021 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 9

B U S I N E S S

Helping Small Businesses Grid110 supports entrepreneurs with a no-cost no equity accelerator program

H E A L T H

weeks focus on identifying the challenges that the companies might be facing. The rest of the meetings feature workshops and panels with advice and information, as well as smaller group and one-on-one meetings with Grid110 employees.

Diversity and inclusivity are especially important to Grid110, and the organization places an emphasis on helping businesses run by women and people of color.

“We’re moving toward a majority-minority country,” Reynolds said. “So our community should reflect that. The support that we’re giving to entrepreneurs and what the startup ecosystem looks like, it should be more skewed to what the majority is looking like.”

Grid110 has been able to help a wide range of people and companies through the Residency program. Reynolds specifically cited Venice software company Repeat, Santa Monica-based mobile app AudioCardio, and

&

COURTESY OF GRID 110

By Alex Hutton Since it was founded in 2015, nonprofit Grid110 has used a variety of initiatives to bolster small businesses and entrepreneurs in Los Angeles. Throughout April, the organization is accepting applications for its Residency program, a cohort that meets once a week throughout the summer to accelerate small businesses and their founders.

Grid110 was started by a group of seven LA workers and residents who felt like they could fill a niche in the community.

“We wanted to build the type of startup ecosystem that we wanted and felt like didn’t exist at the time,” said Grid110 executive director Miki Reynolds. “One that better reflected our community (and) the founders that we knew that lead with values like generosity and empathy.”

The Residency program is one of Grid110’s signatures, and it features Grid110 working with about 20 businesses over a 12-week period. The first few

Since 2014, Grid110 has supported businesses and entrepreneurs.

West LA-based mobile app Struct Club as examples of businesses that have benefited from Grid110’s help.

“Each company comes in with unique milestones that they’re trying to accomplish in the program,” Reynolds said. “We don’t try and dictate what success should look like for them or

where they should be when they end the program. It really is around them identifying the milestones and then us helping them get there.”

Unsurprisingly, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted operations. The programs have historically been in person, which was beneficial for those attending.

“It was a really important aspect of community building, just the organic and authentic relationships that were able to develop with people coming in to work out of the coworking space that we were at,” Reynolds recalled.

“They had free space for the time of the program, getting lunches together, and meeting before and after sessions.”

The most recent programs have been held online, mostly through Zoom, but have still been effective. Grid110 was still able to reach entrepreneurs and impart the knowledge that has always been the driving force behind its work.

“We didn’t have to change

anything on our schedule,” Reynolds said. “We met people exactly where they were at, and I think it was at a time when people really needed the support the most because they were trying to adapt to circumstances of the pandemic, both for their business as well as personally.”

Right now, Reynolds and the rest of Grid110’s workers are exploring the possibility of expanding in LA and putting a greater emphasis on Black and Latino founders. But Reynolds thinks that the organization can eventually achieve even greater heights.

“Because of the virtual aspect of our program, it’s really shined a light on what could be possible in terms of expansion beyond LA,” Reynolds said. “So we’re exploring some things for later this year that may not be cityspecific, that could be opened nationally, and are excited about finding partners that want to support us in that work.” grid110.org

W E L L N E S S

Making a Difference, One Deodorant at a Time Type A is a line of clean self-care products that help the planet COURTESY OF TYPE A

By Haley Beyer Everyone struggles with finding the right beauty and hygiene products that work well with our individual bodies. Often what works for someone else might not work for you. This was the same problem that Playa del Rey resident Allison Moss had time and time again.

Moss began her journey with an undergrad degree in communications and marketing. She worked in PR in New York and then eventually made her way into the beauty industry. She worked for multiple companies and started overanalyzing the products that she was working with.

“They all seemed to have the same things in common, mistakes in the formula of the product paired with mediocre results,” Moss said.

Because of this, Moss took matters into her own hands and founded Type A in 2018. The

Type A is a line of self-care products that are rooted in safe ingredients. idea of creating her own hygiene line came in 2017, after bouncing business ideas back and forth with her husband.

From that point on, the thought was put into action and is now a Certified B Corporation, meaning the product is good for the people using it, has a meaningful purpose and helps

PAGE 10 THE ARGONAUT APRIL 22, 2021

the planet all at the same time. B Corp also guarantees a positive workplace through kindness for the employees and employer, and strong morals to instill trust among customers.

The name Type A came from the overall concept of the product itself. The brand strives to overachieve, pay attention to every detail and provide safe products that actually work.

Moss made sure to cross each and every necessity off the list before releasing the deodorant, including perfecting the texture, guaranteeing nourishing ingredients, creating a formula that doesn’t stain clothing, and putting a special focus on how quickly it is able to absorb moisture.

After some trial and error, Type A made the perfect formula for its deodorant. The ingredients are all safe for the human body, as they are synthetically clean

(not to be confused with all-natural). The formula also offers a “works when you need it” approach with sweat-activated technology, because it is triggered by moisture and slowly releases its benefits, including the pleasant scents, throughout the entire day.

“We wanted to create a product that was high performance with safe ingredients and was fun to use,” Moss said. “And once we created the perfect formula, we patented it to keep our approach safe.”

Type A offers more than just deodorant. There are wipes, bar soap, hand cream, hand sanitizer and sets, each with an emphasis on hydration for the skin with no toxic ingredients (including no aluminum). All the ingredients for the base formula and for each scent are listed on Type A’s website.

Moss worked hard with her

team to figure out what exactly worked together to have the perfect combination for the different scents. A new scent featuring charcoal and spearmint was recently released. After positive reviews on the vanilla almond milk scent in other products, a vanilla almond milk deodorant is coming out at the end of April.

On top of all of that, Type A is also an environmentally-friendly brand. All the ingredients are naturally sustainable and eco-sourced. Type A is doing as much as possible to decrease its carbon footprint by participating in carbon neutral manufacturing.

Moss and her team have taken any possible step they could to help the planet while they help people, too.

“If everyone does their part, we can make a difference together,” Moss said. typeadeodorant.com

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Bringing Sustainability to the Westside CompostableLA is a successful female-owned food waste pickup service PHOTOS BY LUIS CHAVEZ

CompostableLA’s mission is to close the loop in our food systems by turning former waste into future nutrients.

By Sofia Santana What began as a final project idea for the UCLA Sustainability Certificate program has evolved into a successful compost pickup service founded by and for Westsiders.

The program, CompostableLA, was founded in 2019, with its first customers being Westsiders eager to sustainably manage their food waste.

“We are a community-based compost pickup service that keeps all the resources hyperlocal so people can have access to that soil and the produce grown with that soil. They can visit the farm spaces and really create a whole community around something that is traditionally invisible to us, which is our waste,” explained Monique Figueiredo, who founded CompostableLA while living in Playa del Rey. “CompostableLA is truly a Westside-born company. Our boundary south is Playa del Rey and Westchester, and out

of all the neighborhoods we serve, Venice is currently our most popular neighborhood with the most subscribers,” Figueiredo said.

When she moved to LA, Figueiredo noticed a lack of “microhaulers” or communitybased compost services that pick up food waste directly from homes, so she sought to create opportunities for smarter food waste management in her own community.

But along with its compost pickup service for LA residents, CompostableLA does advocacy work around environmental justice and community composting.

“The original ethos of the company was to divert food waste and create healthy soil, and when I brought Jamie Renee Williams on as co-owner, it has really evolved into a lot of environmental justice work,” Figueiredo said. “Composting, healthy soil, environmental and social justice work are really

interconnected, so it seemed like a natural progression for the company to take.”

CompostableLA has already expanded into the Valley and Eastside LA, but Figueiredo hopes to expand into Central and South LA, where sustainability and composting programs are less accessible.

“I want to make sure that people feel like they can connect to a compost community in LA,” Figueiredo said.

CompostableLA is also on its way to becoming a Certified B Corporation, meaning it is legally obligated to do what is best for its finances, the environment and the community, something that is extremely important to Figueiredo.

“This really grounds you in true sustainability, because you have to frequently report and be very transparent on how you are working toward the economy, equity and the environment,” Figueiredo said. “I like to tell people that we are not organized

as a nonprofit, so if people would like to get involved, volunteering with our nonprofit partner LA Compost, the ones that process our compost, would be the best way to help the movement.”

CompostableLA is paving the way for community-based compost services to grow and thrive in LA — and doing so as a women-in-waste run company.

“We have a fully-run female organization right now, “ Figueiredo said. “It’s not like this was the original ethos of the company, but I love that this is the direction the company has taken.”

With major expansion plans in store and a shift into the environmental and social justice advocacy realm, CompostableLA is looking to grow and reach even more Angelenos, whether that be through education or the services it provides.

“If people want to get more involved, they can sign up for our service, follow us on Instagram, tell other people about our service,

and volunteer with LA Compost,” Figueiredo said. “There’s lots of different ways to help. If you want to be a word spreader, if you want to gain knowledge, if you want to get your hands dirty, there are all these different things you can do.”

Figueiredo is excited and hopeful for CompostableLA’s future and wants to continue to educate residents about the power of sustainability and composting.

“I hope to cultivate an environment in LA that is equitable and accessible for people who want to compost,” Figueiredo said.

“That encompasses us reaching more areas, diverting resources to people who are in the environmental justice industry and field, increasing education and knowledge around composting.”

CompostableLA compostablela.com @compostable.la

APRIL 22, 2021 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 11

A R T S

&

E V E N T S

Let the Bad Times Roll The Offspring reflects current events on latest studio album version of that song, he’s not hiding his voice behind the heavy bass, guitar and drums.

That was a risk for him. He wasn’t entirely sure he would be comfortable doing it. But fans have been asking us to do that song in the studio. That’s one example of when his voice is a little different.”

Noodles explained The Offspring’s goal on this record was to focus on one song at a time in the studio. Once they had a group of songs, they decided which ones worked together. If there was a hole, they would write a song to fill it.

“It had been a long time since we put out an album,” Noodles said.

“We didn’t want to reinvent ourselves. That would be a dumb move at this point. Fortunately, there’s a certain kind of music we love, and we always gravitate toward. It’s easy for us to do a record we thought for sure would be an Offspring record.”

Noodles worked on “Let the Bad Times Roll” during the pandemic, but otherwise he didn’t handle COVID-19 very well. In the beginning, he drank a lot, but is unsure if it’s uncommon.

“My wife and I started watching ‘Top Chef’ and the two chefs have said the same thing,” he said.

“They weren’t handling it well in the beginning. I thought I have to pull myself together and live a little healthier.”

The Offspring is already talking about writing more new music, as it’s been an inspiring time.

“Once the press assault is over, we go back to writing music,” Noodles said with a laugh. “We just love playing music together. I can’t wait to do it in front of an audience again.”

The Offspring offspring.com Tracklisting “This is Not Utopia” “Let the Bad Times Roll” “Behind Your Walls” “Army of One” “Breaking These Bones” “Coming for You” “We Never Have Sex Anymore” “In the Hall of the Mountain King” “The Opioid Diaries” “Hassan Chop” “Gone Away” “Lullaby”

PAGE 12 THE ARGONAUT APRIL 22, 2021

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE OFFSPRING)

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski The Offspring lead guitarist Noodles finds the punk ambassador’s latest album, “Let the Bad Times Roll,” timely. The collection was just about wrapped when the pandemic dawned, but “It’s all inspired by things we’ve seen happen in the world the last few years,” said Noodles about The Offspring’s first new album in 10 years.

“The pandemic certainly put it into perspective. There’s so much division in the world right now. People are so angry.

There’s a lot of injustices and we’re seeing that play out. The subsequent reaction to the injustices. We touched on this a little on the record and more.”

Released April 16, The Offspring’s 10th studio album features the first single and title track “Let the Bad Times Roll.”

Written in 2019 and recorded in 2020, the song reflects the country’s ongoing challenges. The tune charted at No. 11 and No. 25, respectively, on the rock and alternative radio charts, and was the No. 1 most-added song on rock radio for two weeks. It has been streamed 4 million times.

The SoCal band has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, won countless awards, and have toured consistently, playing more than 500 shows in the last decade. Besides Noodles, The Offspring features singer Dexter Holland, drummer Pete Parada and new bassist Todd Morse.

“Let the Bad Times Roll” was just about finished before the pandemic, according to Noodles.

“The pandemic, though, allowed us to take a little deeper look at some things. We polished it up here and there. It’s a solid, really good record.”

The Offspring was, admittedly, a little hesitant about releasing a record when it couldn’t tour on it. But, Noodles said, it had to hit the market.

“We couldn’t withhold it anymore,” he added. “We wanted the fans to hear it.”

The album opens with the political, “This is Not Utopia.”

“It, to me, sounds like vintage Offspring, but Dexter may be singing in a different key or range,” Noodles said. “That’s something we’ve experimented with over the last couple records.

“For example, on ‘Gone Away,’ his vocals are kind of out there.

When we did a stripped-down

The Offspring had been asked by fans to record an acoustic version of “Gone Away,” which it did on its new album, “Let the Bad Times Roll.”

W E S T S I D E

H A P P E N I N G S

Compiled by Kamala Kirk Captain Danger Livestream at Harvelle’s, 7 p.m.

LA-based funk-rock trip Captain Danger is taking the stage on Earth Day at the legendary music venue Harvelle’s in Santa Monica for a live streaming event with a sure-to-be energizing performance serving as a reminder that live “Record Release Party” kinds of events are still within the realm of possibility in the age of COVID-19 – especially at a venue that has embraced possibilities, still forging ahead after 90 years.

Launching from the enthusiasm of their amusing new sci-fithemed music video “Holly”, the band has dubbed the evening at Harvelle’s “Back-to-Earth Day.” RSVP for the live stream at facebook.com/events/ 1148599095649931

Saturday, April 24 Marina del Rey Farmers Market, 8 to 9 a.m. (seniors), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (general public) This weekly outdoor event allows Westside residents to support local produce sellers and other vendors. Food from a wide variety of businesses is available for purchase. Masks are required and only 40 people are allowed to shop at any one time. Held in parking lot 11 at 14101 Panay Way. More information is available at beaches.lacounty.gov/ mdrfarmersmarket

On April 25, LA Walking Tours will present a virtual discussion about Abbot Kinney’s vision for Venice and the counterculture movements that have made the city world-famous.

Sunday, April 25 Beach Cleanup, 10 a.m.

To honor Earth Day 2021 and its theme “Restore Our Earth,” Daana Blue, a Venice Beachbased ocean conservation organization, will host a beach cleanup in Santa Monica. The event will be hosted by local surf schools Learn to Surf LA and Go Surf LA. No signup is required but volunteers are asked to fill out a waiver form.

Volunteers will meet at 10 a.m. on the beach by Lifeguard Tower 20 near Bay Street for the cleanup. All participants are asked to bring a mask and maintain social distancing.

There will be a raffle at the cleanup with some great prizes.

Make sure to have the necessary supplies for cleanup including gloves, a bag or bucket, trash picker, and a plan to recycle and dispose of the trash collected. daanablue.com Venice: From Kinney’s Vision to a Counterculture Mecca, 11:30 a.m.

In this entertaining and surprising event presented by LA Walking Tours, they will explore Abbot Kinney’s vision for Venice-of-America, longforgotten relics of a bygone era and the counterculture movements that have made Venice world-famous! Was Kinney’s vision ever realized or did Venice evolve into something completely unrecognizable to him? This will be an interactive virtual discussion in which you can engage and share your thoughts with the live host. Cost is $10 per person.

To register, visit lawalkingtours. com/venice-discussion Paul Cornish Make Jazz Culminating Concert, 7 p.m.

18th Street Arts Center is pleased to present a culminating concert of new compositions from pianist Paul Cornish, live streamed from the World Stage in Leimert Park. Cornish is 18th Street Arts Center’s 2021 Make Jazz Fellow and brings his dedication to community engagement and music education to a new body of work he will create while in residence at 18th Street Arts Center. These never-before-heard compositions will be presented in a multimedia experience and he will be joined

by Jon Hatamiya (trombone), Aneesa Strings (bass) and Malachi Whitson (drums).

18th street.org/event/ paulcornish-2021

Wednesday, April 28 Hanukkah in Santa Monica, 5 to 6 p.m.

In the latest installment of the Mosaic webinar series, Stephen J. Sass, president of the Jewish Historical Society of Southern California, will trace the development of the Jewish migration to the promised sand of Santa Monica and the lasting impact it has had on the commerce, politics and creativity of the city – and on Jewish life. See the Jewish community’s historic settlement patterns throughout the Los Angeles region. Discover what Jewish life in Santa Monica and Venice was like in the 1860s.

And explore the preserved places of the Jewish community today –including those still-thriving delis west on Wilshire and a reborn shul at the shore in Venice. The event is free for members and $10 for the general public.

For more information, visit smconservancy.org

Santa Monica Democratic Club Meeting, 6:30 p.m. welcome, 7 p.m. program behins There have been many different proposals over the years about the structure of Santa Monica’s system of government. Any such change would require a ballot measure vote to amend the City charter; indeed, such votes have occurred in decades past. This month on Zoom, the club will be looking at three proposals to reform the structure of the City government: district elections presented by Councilmember Oscar de la Torre; hybrid district/ at-large system presented by SDMC Membership VP Michael Soloff; and directly elected mayor and city attorney presented by Santa Monicans for Democracy Steering Committeemember Craig Miller. Attendees will also hear from special guest Aura Vazquez, their new representative on the California Democratic Party Executive Board, and consider passing several resolutions proposed by the membership as well as the endorsement of state and federal legislation.

RSVP at forms.gle/ Bxkdn6GD5PK8Cd6D7 “Clueless” and “Pulp Fiction” at Rooftop Cinema Club, 8 & 10:30 p.m.

Rooftop Cinema Club announces their return to The Drive-In at Santa Monica Airport, debuting a new line-up of screenings celebrating the magic of film and cinema. RCC’s Drive In brings viewers together for an exceptional and socially-distanced film experience fit for the entire family – back with a new look and roller-skating servers. Tickets

range from $32 to $48 per vehicle. On April 28, there will be a screening of “Clueless” at 8 p.m. and “Pulp Fiction” at 10:30 p.m.

Tickets are now available at rooftopcinemaclub.com/ santamonica

Thursday, April 29 Fair Housing During COVID-19 Virtual Workshop, 5 to 6:30 p.m.

The Public Rights Division of the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office is commemorating the 53rd anniversary of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 with the virtual workshop Fair Housing During COVID-19. The online workshop will cover new topics including pandemic-related issues in fair housing, rental assistance programs for tenants and landlords, and source-of-income discrimination laws, which protect Section 8 voucher holders and some users of rental assistance. The presenters will include Chief of the Public Rights Division Eda Suh, deputy city attorneys Gary Rhoades, Andrew Braver, Autumn Rindels and Jonathan Erwin-Frank.

Pre-registration is required at smconsumer.org

Send event information at least 10 days in advance to kkirk@ timespublications.com COURTESY OF ROOFTOP CINEMA CLUB

COURTESY OF 18TH STREET ARTS CENTER

On April 25, 18th Street Arts Center is pleased to present a culminating concert of new compositions from pianist Paul Cornish, live streamed from the World Stage in Leimert Park.

COURTESY OF LA WALKING TOURS

Thursday, April 22

Rooftop Cinema Club has announced its return to The Drive-In at Santa Monica Airport and will debut a new lineup of screenings on April 28.

APRIL 22, 2021 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 13

CALIFORNIA LIVING WITH OCEAN VIEWS “Gorgeous Mid-Century Modern in Culver City with ocean views,” say agents Kelley and Todd Miller. “Completely refurbished. No expense spared. Four bedrooms, including two master suites, and separate office with his and her desks. Epic backyard with incredible hillside deck with heated lounge, patio area and hot tub, all with sunset views.

Custom outdoor kitchen with gas and Santa Maria BBQs. Custom kid’s fort with swings and slide. Gourmet kitchen with Thermador appliances, marbled quartz counters, pantry with wine fridge, center island and sliding glass window that opens kitchen to backyard. Three panel sliding glass door, opens for indoor/outdoor living with outdoor living room with firepit and heated outdoor dining area. Sports court, gorgeous landscape design, attached garage, all on its own private hillside with only one neighbor and access Culver City’s award-winning schools.”

PAGE 14 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION APRIL 22, 2021

Offered at

$3,199,000

I N F O R M AT I O N :

KELLEY & TODD MILLER KW SANTA MONICA

310-923-5353 10600Flaxton.com

kelleyandtodd.com

BRE #01711844/ BRE #01389620

Visit Us Virtually

Visit our website for videos and 3D tours of all our listings

12822 Manhattan Ct #105, Hawthorne

2 bed | 2.5 bath | $875,000 Coming Soon

5178 Etheldo Ave, Culver City 4 bed | 3 bath | $2,150,000 Coming Soon

7776 Toland Ave, Westchester 3 bed | 2 bath | $1,199,000 Coming Soon

6201 W 74th St, Westchester 3 bed | 2 bath | $1,399,000 Coming Soon

12975 Agustin Pl #103, Playa Vista 2 bed | 2.5 bath | $939,000 Quintessential SoCal Living

8224 Sunnysea Dr, Playa del Rey 5 bed | 4 bath | $2,250,000 Rare Mid-Century Modern

8180 Manitoba #237, Playa del Rey 2 bed | 2 bath | $749,000 Coastal Oasis

8037 Dunbarton Ave, Westchester 3 bed | 2.5 bath | $1,995,000 Modern Farmhouse Ranch

In Escrow

In Escrow

In Escrow 1149 Alvira St, Pico-Robertson 4 bed | 2 bath | $1,799,000 1930s Spanish Home

In Escrow 5458 W 76th St, Westchester 4 bed | 3 bath | $1,699,000 Chic Farmhouse Modern Design

In Escrow 6463 W 82nd St, Westchester 3 bed | 2 bath | $1,399,000 Private and Charming Oasis

7965 W 83rd St, Playa del Rey 4 bed | 4 bath | $2,195,000 Montecito Style Home

In Escrow 8416 Alverstone Ave, Westchester 4 bed | 2 bath | $1,349,000 Kentwood Neighborhood

7522 W 88th St, Westchester 3 bed | 2 bath | $1,299,000 Updated Ranch Home

In Escrow 928 Fairing Pl, El Segundo 4 bed | 3.5 bath | $1,799,000 Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Living

In Escrow 6479 Nancy St, Westchester 4 bed | 4 bath | $1,995,000 Resort-Style Home

FIND YOUR PLACE The Stephanie Younger Group 310.499.2020 | DRE 01365696 stephanieyounger.com | @stephanieyoungergroup Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified.

Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. If your property is currently listed for sale this is not a solicitation.

APRIL 22, 2021 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION PAGE 15

Enjoy the Real Estate Experience You Deserve!

Era Matilla rEalty 225 CulvEr Blvd.

Playa dEl rEy

Manager BrE#1323411

Broker assoc.

BrE#01439943

THE ARGONAUT PRESS RELEASES VILLA MARINA IN MARINA DEL REY

KENTWOOD ENTERTAINER'S DREAM

WESTCHESTER SPANISH HOME

CONDO IN PLAYA VISTA

“Treat yourself to this fabulous 2BD/2BA condo, ” says agent Jesse Weinberg. “This airy and spacious residence showcases high ceilings, two fireplaces, a beautifully updated kitchen featuring a sunny breakfast area, stainless steel appliances, granite counter-tops and custom cabinetry. The spacious living room opens to an expansive wrap-around terrace perfect for indoor/outdoor living. The sumptuous primary suite offers a fireplace, spa like bath with soaking tub and separate shower, large walk-in closet and wardrobe closets. Unit also includes in unit laundry, ample storage and two-car parking.”

Offered at $1,099,000 Jesse Weinberg Jesse Weinberg & Associates 800-804-9132

“With its classic peaked roofs, timber clapboards, black picket fence and natural synergy, this 3BD/3BA modern farmhouse ranch is the gold standard,” says agent Stephanie Younger.

“The kitchen opens onto the dining area and living room and connects to the stunning outdoor space while the white beamed ceilings, chefs oven, wine fridge and built-in pantry speak to the endless entertaining potential. Meticulously landscaped front and back grassy yards include a redwood deck and an outdoor lounge. The finished two-car garage is the perfect flex space, home gym or office.”

Offered at $1,995,000 Stephanie Younger Compass 310-499-2020

“Very new (1-year old) condo available for purchase in the newest Seabluff building,” say agents Dennis Hsii and Kofi Nartey. “This 2BD/2BA is on a single-level, with 1,170 SF. Modern and convenient living at its finest. Next to Concert Park, Coffee Bean and retail/restaurants in Playa Vista.

Washer/dryer in unit. Two side-by-side parking spaces and separate storage closet.”

Offered at $1,035,000 Dennis Hsii & Kofi Nartey Playa Vista Partners (844) 99-PLAYA

“Spanish elements dominate the exterior of this 3 level, 4BR/3BA, home,” says agent James Suarez, “Built in 2010, this magnificent home stuns with high ceilings throughout, tons of shimmering natural light, an organically flowing layout and amazing views of the bay and mountains from all floors. Open concept kitchen featuring a stainless-steel gas range. Relax in the master bedroom which includes balcony access, and walk-in closet. Ascend up through the atrium via a spiral staircase and burn the midnight oil in the top-level loft or view the stars from the adjoining outside space.”

Offered at $2,500,000 James Suarez The Suarez Team/Keller Williams Realty 424-404-5300

THE ARGONAUT REAL ESTATE Q&A What are some quick improvements to help my home sell in this incredible sellers’ market?

Each year, as we enter spring, I get this question. As many homeowners recognize the premium pricing available in todays’ market, and concern for missing out on the opportunity, people are deciding that they don’t want to take any chances and want to get their home on the market asap. In a sellers’ market, with strong demand and low inventory, especially locally, sellers feel they are in the drivers’ seat. That’s true, but don’t make the mistake of not putting your best foot forward. Take a look at the many homes that have, despite the moment, been sitting on the market and let’s make sure yours doesn’t become one of them. While overpricing is sometimes to blame, it’s not always the reason.

Many of our buyers, you know who you are (Millenials), are putting an extraordinary value on turnkey properties. These buyers are willing to pay a premium when they see a home they just want to move right into.

Although newly remodeled homes are a big hit, it’s not as necessary as you might think.

Your home does not have to be brand new or perfect to be a hit with buyers — as long as it does give a great first impression. It’s all about the vibes.

This is why staging can be so critical. When a prospective buyer comes in to see your home, or even views pictures of your home

online, it’s the overall style and feel that draws them in. Maybe your floors are a bit worn, bathrooms are dated, or your view isn’t so good. We don’t want to hide those things, but we do want to emphasize other aspects. A dreamy mid-century décor is going to make these buyers want to move right into that Instagram-worthy vision.

Beautiful art on the walls, tasteful of the moment furnishings, rugs that tie it all together- you are selling a lifestyle, not just a piece of real estate. Staged homes sell faster and are the ones often fought over.

Full staging isn’t always practical, though.

When you are living in your home, you can use the same principles of selling a lifestyle straight from the buyers’ vision board! Here are some of my key tips on how to make your home appealing to buyers: Paint your kitchen cabinets — a fresh, clean white is appealing and current, don’t be afraid to add a color, with a section in grey, blue, green, or even red.

Next, replace all of your cabinet hardware and doorknobs — brass is the metal of the day, and you will be surprised how one trip to Home Depot will immediately transform your look. As a certified Green Realtor, I can tell you that smart features, big and small, are perks to buyers.

Install a “smart” thermostat, door lock,

PAGE 16 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION APRIL 22, 2021

and doorbell so we can rave about your home’s modern features. Spruce up your curb appeal with lots of flowers. Have a big spring cleaning done — baseboards, carpets, windows — make it sparkle!

Now, let’s go to some small but important details that transform your home into the one your buyers have pictured for themselves. Time to Marie Kondo your closet. Yes, buyers are looking inside. I don’t care if your purge your items for real or have stashed them in a storage unit, but we are going to make your closet glow. It is so important to not have your clothes squeezed in and unorganized.

Consciously or not, an appearance that there is not enough storage space can’t be undone. Transform your closet into a high-end boutique by de-crowding your beloved clothes so you can see what you have, arranging them by color, and top it off with a life-changing box of black felt coated hangers for about $15 from Costco. Trust me, transformed.

Next, you are going to apply the same philosophy to your kitchen pantry. You may not be a Kardashian, but you too can stack your oreos in practical, eye-pleasing containers. Again, time to purge so that buyers promise themselves they can keep it just as beautifully, making them want

to offer you $100k over listing price. Pull everything out and throw out all expired items and rarely used ingredients. Buy canisters to store all of your pantry items to organize and replace- clear, simple, canisters- this is the kitchen your buyers want for themselves.

For finishing touches, don’t forget the throw pillows (I’ve been known to show up at clients’ homes with my car bursting with pillows) new and inviting throws and pillows for indoor and outdoor seating areas to create the picture-perfect vision of a Sunday at home. My advice is to make the effort to create the overall picture of a lifestyle that your buyers want.

The house doesn’t have to be perfect when it speaks to the heart. Now you are ready to break some sales records this spring!

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION WAS ANSWERED BY

LISA PHILLIPS, ESQ Lotus Estate Properties

Lisa Phillips is an active Realtor in the Los Angeles area, with more than twenty years as a practicing real estate broker and attorney. Lisa is also a member of the National Association of Realtors “Green Resource Council”, and achieved its “GREEN” Designation. www.LisaPhillipsRealEstate.com.

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This private, quiet condominium has an elegant and thoughtful design with upgrades throughout. This top-floor unit has expansive Marina, Lagoon and area views. A gourmet kitchen, two fireplaces, central heating / air conditioning, and a work / study area off the master bedroom grace this home. Located in a secure, gated community, this unit has secure parking, 12 guest spots, and a newer elevator. Easy access to roof top deck with white water views of the entire coast. This secure community is ideally located, with easy access to the beach, bike path, LAX and Silicon Beach companies.

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jon.grogan@vistasir.com

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Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated

Westside Farmers Markets T U E S D AY S

S AT U R D AY S

Culver City 2 to 7 p.m.

Santa Monica Downtown 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Main Street, between Venice and Culver boulevards

culvercity.org

Arizona Avenue, between 2nd and 4th streets, Santa Monica

W E D N E S D AY S

smgov.net/portals/ farmersmarket

Santa Monica Downtown 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Arizona Avenue, between 4th St. and Ocean Ave.

smgov.net/portals/ farmersmarket

F R I D AY S

The Argonaut has you covered.

Santa Monica Pico 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Virginia Avenue Park, 2200 Virginia Ave., Santa Monica

S U N D AY S Mar Vista F 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

500 Venice Blvd. (at Venice Way), Venice

Venice and Grand View boulevards

venicefarmersmarket.com

marvistafarmersmarket.org

S AT U R D AY S

Santa Monica Main Street 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Marina del Rey 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Heritage Square, 2640 Main St., Santa Monica

Via Marina at Panay Way

smgov.net/portals/ farmersmarket/

beaches.lacounty.gov/ mdrfarmersmarket Playa Vista 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. www.farmermark.com/ playavista

Buying or selling beach-front real estate?

smgov.net/portals/ farmersmarket

Venice 7 to 11 a.m.

12775 W. Millennium Drive, Runway at Playa Vista

SCAN FOR DETAILS

Westchester Farmers Market 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Triangle, 6200 W. 87th St.

westchesterfarmersmkt.com

Call Rebecca Bermudez at 310-463-0633 or rebecca@argonautnews.com

Where healthy food is always in season APRIL 22, 2021 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION PAGE 17

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Classifieds / Legals

DEADLINE: Monday at 11am for Thursdays CALL ANN: 626-584-8747 or EMAIL: ann@argonautnews.com

Legal Notices T-Mobile intends to modify existing telecommunications antennas and associated equipment collocated on the building located at an address 2221 Lincoln Boulevard, Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, CA 90405 (N 34° 00' 35.7", W 118° 28' 46.7"). T-Mobile is publishing this notice in accordance with Federal Communications Commission regulations (47 CFR § 1.1307) for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Parties interested in commenting on this Federal undertaking or with questions on the proposed facility should contact Impact7G, Inc., Attn: Ms. Andrea McCool at 9550 Hickman Road, Clive, IA 50325 or call 515-473-6256 (Ref. Impact7G #659 CA).

PUBLISHED: The Argonaut Newspaper 04/22/21

Name Change ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 21SMCP00126 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. Petition of REBECCA KENDALL KNAPP, for Change of Name. TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1.) Petitioner: Rebecca Kendall Knapp filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a.)

Rebecca Kendall Knapp to Rebecca Knapp Tsao 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: 05/28/2021. Time: 8:30 AM. Dept.: K. The address of the court is 1725 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90401Santa Monica Courthouse. 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: March 24, 2021. Lawrence Cho, Judge of the Superior Court.

PUBLISH: The Argonaut Newspaper 04/01/21, 04/08/21, 04/15/21, 04/22/21

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 21STCP01121 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. Petition of MARCO ANGEL VELASCOBARRAGAN, for Change of Name. TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1.) Petitioner: MARCO ANGEL VELASCO-BARRAGAN filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a.) Marco Angel Velasco-Barragan to Angel Ari Velasco 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: June 7, 2021. Time: 10:00 AM. Dept.: 74. The address of the court is 111 N. Hill St. Los Angeles, CA 90012. 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: March 14, 2021.

Michelle Williams Court, Judge of the Superior Court.

PUBLISH: The Argonaut Newspaper 04/22/21, 04/29/21, 05/06/21, 05/13/21

626-584-8747

ann@argonautnews.com

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PAGE 18 THE ARGONAUT APRIL 22, 2021

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case No. 21SMCP00153 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. Petition of HEIDI ELIZABETH SMELKER, for Change of Name. TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: 1.) Petitioner: Heidi Elizabeth Smelker filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a.) Heidi Elizabeth Smelker to Heidi Smelker Johnson 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: June 18, 2021. Time: 8:30 AM. Dept.: K. The address of the court is 1725 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90401. 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: April 08, 2021.

Hon. Lawrence Cho, Judge of the Superior Court. PUBLISH: The Argonaut Newspaper 04/22/21, 04/29/21, 05/06/21, 05/13/21

Fic. Business Name FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2021079683 Type of Filing: Original The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: HOUSE OF ZEN PILATES & WELLNESS; 4136 Del Rey Avenue Suite 635 Marina del Rey, CA 90292. COUNTY: Los Angeles. REGISTERED OWNER(S) Donna J. Slatton, 4136 Del Rey Avenue Suite 635 Marina del Rey, CA 90292. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED BY an Individual. The 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. /s/: Donna J. Slatton. TITLE: Owner.

This statement was filed with the LA County Clerk on: April 5, 2021. 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 violaFor Classified rates and tion of the rights of another under info, federal, callstate, Ann ator common law (see Section 14411 626-584-8747 or et seq., business and profesann@argonautnews.com sions code). Publish: The Argonaut Newspaper. Dates: 04/15/21, 04/22/21, 04/29/21, 05/06/21

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). Publish: The Argonaut Newspaper. Dates: 04/15/21, 04/22/21, 04/29/21, 05/06/21

Employment - FT

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Please apply by visiting the Careers page of our website www.inhomecarela.com or by calling our office at (310) 8782045.

VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED

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ann@argonautnews.com

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2 bdrm, 2 ba, Villas Del Rey condo, w/d in unit, large patio, $2995/mo, 1 year lease, 1 pet maybe, email rwitkin@gmail.com

CLASSIFIEDS and LEGALS Deadline: Monday at 11am for Thursday Contact: Ann Turrietta (626) 584-8747

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Payroll & Sales Tax Returns.

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ASSURANCE HOMECARE SERVICES We provide in-homecare for seniors and disabled adults in Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Playa Vista, Culver City and Playa del Rey. We have experienced caregivers to help clients at the comfort of their homes with: • Doctors appointment • Errands • Medication reminder • Meal preparation • Light housekeeping • Personal care • Laundry • Quality oversight and caregiver matching

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LOS ANGELES TIMES SUNDAY CROSSWORD PUZZLE “EXTRA BEDROOMS” By ROLAND HUGET ACROSS 1 Bleak genre 5 Monthly bill 10 Keep time, in a way 14 Mosey 19 Locale of the Tomb of Akbar the Great 20 Set boundaries for 21 Tanning target 22 “The Sound of Music” matriarch 23 Toaster oven user?

26 Steinbeck migrants 27 Mounted security system component 28 Dr. Al Robbins on “CSI,” e.g.

29 Stressed out 30 Coil of yarn 32 Pearly coating 33 “1984” working class 34 Barbecue guests?

38 Milwaukee MLBer through 1965 39 Student in English class?

40 Shed item 41 Certain hip-hop dancer 43 Breakfast choice 46 “Wanna __?”

47 Section that doesn’t include the sax, surprisingly 49 Looks rudely at 51 Team golf event 52 Fraternity news contacts?

55 Hindu title 56 Fred Flintstone’s boss 59 Geeked, so to speak 60 Rachel Brosnahan’s “Marvelous Mrs.” 62 First name in design 63 Winter Palace

rulers 66 Really ticked 68 Little bit 69 Use Listerine, say 71 Deep sleep 73 Progressive decline 75 It shares a small border with BC 76 Really dangerous edge?

80 Abate 82 Idyllic places 83 Drake production 84 Pre-holiday time 87 It might be picked 88 Holiday desserts 89 iPad assistant 90 Red or Card 91 Tribe also called the Wyandot 93 Structural pieces for a tiny Christmas village?

97 Storied 99 Writer __ Rogers St. Johns 101 Slow-moving tree dweller 102 Words on some Québec road signs 103 Creative kind of thinking 106 Tía’s mom 109 Author Calvino 110 Ship’s rope?

112 Pisa landmark 113 Neglect 114 The “five” in “take five,” e.g.

115 Impressed?

116 “The Planets” composer 117 Spoil, with “on” 118 Taps feed them 119 Red ink DOWN 1 Collars 2 Fairy tale baddie 3 Removes, as wrinkles 4 Abrasion result 5 Service leader 6 Half of a vacation

rental app 7 Admired coll. guy 8 Slimming surg. procedure 9 Timeless 10 Uncertain 11 Soda bottle size 12 Cherish 13 Word in many rates 14 Supreme Egyptian god 15 Create a new look for 16 Dirt at the stable?

17 Feudal subject 18 Relaxes 24 Yule tune 25 Color at the stable 29 Nashville attraction 31 Jots down 34 The other half of 6-Down 35 Future fish 36 Dance in a pit 37 Mug for a selfie 38 Winter pear 41 Like a darker purple 42 Immortal catcher with “-ism” associated with his first name 44 Nephew of King Arthur 45 The __ Company: Walmart foe in 2000s lawsuits 47 Maidenform purchase 48 No-good 49 Mexican mama bear 50 “Make it happen, sister!”

51 Free TV spot 52 Place for a post 53 “Wheel of Fortune” action 54 Ipecac, for one 56 Jimmy __, Saul’s real name on “Better Call Saul” 57 Truckers’ competition

58 Fight among poor pool players?

61 “No harm done” 64 Remark to the audience 65 Gift to a Valentine 67 La Brea formations 70 Backtalk 72 Delivery room docs 74 Boxing match unit: Abbr.

77 Style of expression 78 Composer Satie 79 Unfurnished 81 Luau instruments 84 One who finesses the tab, facetiously 85 Notch shape 86 Hesitant sounds 88 Whale groups 89 Hieroglyphic beetles 90 One with inborn talent 92 One might begin, “Oh, yeah?”

93 Small dress size 94 Couturier Cassini 95 Shuts out, in baseball 96 Stark heir on “Game of Thrones” 97 Religious belief 98 Threepio’s pal 99 Enterprise competitor 100 Lifeboat crane 104 Bell town in a Longfellow poem 105 Property claim 107 “None of it is true!”

108 Puts in 110 Auction gesture 111 Furniture wood

NEEDLE IN A BAE STACK I am a 31-year-old woman, and I can’t figure out why I’m having such a hard time finding a man. I am attractive (in good shape and considered pretty); have a master’s degree; am successful in a competitive business; and I love to read and talk about news, history and ideas. I have wonderful friends; I’ve worked hard to resolve my issues; and I do my best to be a kind person. I just want my match: someone who’s smart, highly educated, equally successful or more so, attractive (tall – at least 6-foot-1 – and masculine), passionate, wellread and a good person. What’s wrong with me that, even with online dating, I rarely find men even in the ballpark of what I want?

— Miserable Grocery shopping’s easy when your list has generic items – “beer,” “chips” and “cheese” – and not “cheese from free-range Albanian yaks raised by monks, whispering positive affirmations to them as they graze”: “You are loved, loving and lovable, and you manifest perfect health by making smart choices.”

You’re looking for “that special someone,” not “that random anydude.” You’ve developed yourself (advanced degree, cool job and smartgirl interests), which sharply narrows the pool of equally achieving men you have to choose from. Being a woman likely adds another layer of difficulty through “hypergamy.” This is the strong evolved female motivation to “marry up” – or at least date partners of a higher socioeconomic status (the guy in the corner office over the corner barber).

Women, in general, are the vastly choosier sex in the mating market – in online dating and beyond. This aligns with evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers’ 1972 theory of “parental investment.” Trivers predicted that the members of a species – typically the lady ones – who have the greatest possible costs from having sex (pregnancy and offspring to provide for) would be the most selective in choosing partners.

Countless scientific findings – across species – support Trivers’ theory, including recent research delving into the ratio of heterosexual male versus female “super-likes” on Tinder. (A super-like – by swiping up on a profile – unlike a simple swipe-right “like,” triggers an automatic notification to the up-swiped person.) Belgian economics doctoral candidate Brecht Neyt, with his adviser, Stijn Baert, found that women on Tinder super-liked only 4.5% of the men’s profiles, while men

super-liked 61.9% of the women’s. This is effectively digital beer goggles – worn by a big chunk of the straight male population.

And recall hypergamy, women’s preference for partners of higher status: a sign a man’s likely to have continuing access to resources to provide for any children. Neyt found women liked profiles of men with a master’s degree 91% more often (over those with a bachelor’s), while men liked women with a master’s only 8% more often.

Unfortunately, there’s been a highered “gender gap” for decades, with fewer men applying to and graduating from college. In 2003, for example, four-year colleges in the U.S. graduated 1.35 women for every dude who found his way out. As of 2013, women outpaced men in college enrollment 1.4 to 1, and the gap has continued to widen – translating to an increasingly shrinking supply of those highly desired men with master’s degrees (or Ph.Ds.) This is a problem because evolved female emotions are your matechoice watchdog, motivating you to go for high-status men and making you feel bad about dating a man who’s a kind but ambitionless slacker, or even one who’s just moderately achieving. (Male-evolved psychology, on the other hand, works to ensure that men don’t shove aside hot, fertile 20-year-olds to go hit on that very attractive grandma with a lovely personality.)

In other words, you can’t just tell yourself you shouldn’t care about the job or education level a man has: make yourself be as hot for a successful plumber as you are for a successful lawyer. However, you could give your “list” of man minimums a hard look: see whether there are any you could live with cutting, thus increasing your pool of possibilities. For example, because height – tallness – is one of the strongest female preferences for male appearance, there’s probably an undertapped stock of sexy, successful, really good men who are on the shorter side: uh, “condensed, dark and handsome.”

If you can’t scale back your standards, you should make peace with the likely outcome: You’ll probably continue to have a tough time finding the sort of man you want. Like other women looking for love who are high climbers on the career ladder, you might eventually come to the conclusion that you have two choices: a nice, loving, hardworking guy a few rungs below you or one of those body pillows that you draw a face on and name Ted.

GOT A PROBLEM? Write to Amy Alkon at 171 Pier Ave, Ste. 280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or email her at AdviceAmy@aol.com. ©2021, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Alkon’s latest book is “Unf*ckology: A Field Guide to Living with Guts and Confidence.” Follow @amyalkon on Twitter or visit blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon.

APRIL 22, 2021 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 19