The Argonaut Newspaper - September 8, 2022

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PAGE 4 THE ARGONAUT SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 COMICCONTENTSSTRIP............................. 5 LETTERS...................................... 5 OPINION .................................... 6 FOOD & DRINK ........................ 8 HEALTH ................................... 12 COVER STORY ........................ 14 ENVIRONMENT ....................... 16 VENICE STORIES ..................... 17 ARTS & EVENTS ...................... 18 WESTSIDE HAPPENINGS ....... 22 Visit us online at ArgonautNews.com

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ON THE COVER: Artist Adam Greener’s new exhibition, “See Me After Class: A Spiral Bound Jour ney by Adam Greener,” channels his inner child with intimate and autobiographical works. Photo credit: Chris Mortenson. Design by Arman Olivares.

LETTERS Re: LA City Hall Editor: Jack Schwartz’s article is typical of LA City Hall. They do nothing but collect exorbitant checks and benefits. Guess what? They just voted them selves a raise. I know the difference because I had been receiving great results through 2003 when we had dedicated council members like Nate Holden, then Ruth Galanter who did the job. After that, city work ceased. A left turn signal light at Sepulveda and Palms was approved by the city in 2016. No signal light to date although accidents are occurring. I guess we have to have a death. A four-way stop at Charnock Road and Greenfield is also on record. This is close to Char nock Road Elementary School. Speaking of Charnock Road, I re quested a broken sidewalk and curb to be repaired. The city's answer was: “We don't do road work.” The list goes on. Graffiti removal is so antiquated and slow. I suggested automation as in Santa Monica and the Valley. No response.Yearsago, I suggested that the vacated Parker Center downtown could house Skid Row homeless immediately. City Hall responded that it is not earthquake proof. I did not know that the streets and sidewalks were, did you? Hotels advertise that they are empty. City Hall doesn't read except the amount of money deposited in their accounts. City Hall boasts of its voting $15 minimum wage for LA. How about their living on the same amount? Enough of my experiences with the present City Hall. Voting is in Novem ber. Let's clean house.

Jeanne ParkerPalms 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

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PAGE 6 THE ARGONAUT SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 OPINION

omelessness is nothing new to the Golden State. When people dis cuss major cities like San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles, homelessness often arises as a topic of discussion. And with this topic comes a dilemma and debate over the best way to address what everyone agrees is a challeng ing issue. But what isn't emerging is a workable solu tion. And perhaps that's because the causes of homelessness are often misunderstood or ignored. Many people mistakenly believe that homelessness is a choice. Sadly, this couldn't be further from the truth. If homelessness were a choice, ending it would be as simple as getting those who struggle to "decide" not to be homeless anymore. Yet, most of those who are homeless don't want to be homeless. They just don't have the means to get out of the hole they've fallen into. And they often struggle with mental health issues like substance abuse.According to a report pub lished by the National Coali tion for the Homeless, in 2003 it was estimated that 38% of homeless people were depen dent on alcohol, and another 26% abused drugs. Substance abuse can cause homelessness, and two-thirds of homeless people report that drugs or alcohol were a major reason for their being homeless. When we examine the state's housing market, drug problem, and lack of adequate mental health and substance abuse resources, it may not be that surprising to discover that one-quarter of the country's homeless population lives in California. That's roughly 160,000 people. In Sacramento, where the homeless population was over 5,500 people at the last census in 2019, even the homeless are shocked to see how fast the problem is now growing.There's been a visible explo

Homelessness and Addiction: A California Crisis

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 7 sion in California's homeless population and drug problems since the pandemic began. According to addicted.org, in 2020, the drug overdose rate in California jumped by 20%. Fentanyl, the synthetic opioid making its way west, accounted for 36% of those deaths. And many of those deaths were among adolescents. The link between homeless ness and substance abuse isn't new. When most people picture the homeless of America, they usually conjure images of a middle-aged man, complete with a brown paper bag concealing cheap but strong booze. Yet, 40% of the home less population in the U.S. is comprised of people under the age of 18, and many of them abuse opioids like fentanyl. California alone accounts for one-third of all unaccompanied homeless youth nationally. To make matters worse, the fastest-growing segment of America’s homeless population is women and families with children. Not that anyone is more deserving of help than another, but these recent changes, which include the demographic of the homeless population, may be part of the reason why cities like Sacra mento have become embroiled in conflict over what to do about the issue of homeless ness.Local governments have been throwing billions at the problem of homelessness for years, even financing housing in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country, but the issue has been stubbornly resistant. But now, it's become so bad that many business leaders, neighborhood groups and the general voters have become angry and impatient. They want some thing to be done about the visible issue filling public spaces and spilling out onto the streets.Oneapproach that's quickly becoming less popular is to continue focusing more resources on the mentally ill, including treating substance use disorder and other mental healthAnotherproblems.approach, which has recently been employed in other parts of the country that have historically accommo dated the homeless, involves local officials forcing people to accept housing to get them off the streets. Those who decline the offer of an available bed, of which there are none currently, would no longer be allowed to live in public places. This proposal, which is highly popular with the public, comes before voters this November. In Portland, Oregon, officials recently completed sweeps of the I-5 corridor, where they removed homeless camps and forced out those who were sheltering. And in LA, the city council recently used new laws to ban "camping" in 54 loca tions. Many historically Democratic cities, where the homeless have long been tolerated and even aided, are now changing course and forcing them out. But in each of these cities where the homeless have been dislocated, the problem hasn't become how to keep them out. It's what to do with them now? In Sacramento, there are less than 3,000 emergency shelter beds available to temporarily house the homeless, all of which are nearly filled each night. Since 2019, the number of homeless in the city has been estimated to be well over 10,000 people. Nobody wants to see the homeless, yet no one knows where else they should go. And if officials are going to demand they accept housing, then housing needs to be provided and that costs money. This problem we're witnessing today has resulted from a lack of effective action. The growing homeless problem has long been forced into the shadows. And any time it's become too visible, people have wanted the blight re moved. But "somewhere else" is inevitably someplace where the homeless aren’t wanted, and the problem just continues. If we were effectively treating the causes of homelessness, the problem would improve. Providing temporary shelter helps and is vital, but it doesn't end homelessness. It's a band-aid, much like how needle exchanges and safe injection improve addiction. It pushes the problem further down the road for another day, or another person to handle. We're tackling the wrong problems, and we're not even solving them. The homeless need shelter and aid, but these temporary measures are only opening the door. We must then face the people in front of us and help them effectively with quality drug and alcohol treatment programs and other needed mental health services. If we can help people solve the problems that make people homeless in the first place, we'll start to see a decline in the homeless population. And not from fentanyl overdoses. Rehabilitation gives someone their life back, and the home less need that more than anything. Marcel Gemme is a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist, DATS, that has been helping people struggling with sub stance abuse for over 20 years. His primary focus is threefold: education, prevention, and ArgonautNews.com Saturday, Sept. 10th 9am 3pm & CHILI COOK OFF 8025 W. Manchester Ave Playa del Rey, 90293 Info: 818.441.3488 A portion of the proceeds to benefit Veterans, children with disabilities and community outreach. WestchesterElks.com Elks2050@gmail.com FREE ADMISSION BBQ RAFFLES VENDORS

By Jessica Koslow Most nights, Platform in Culver City is packed with diners, shoppers and people watchers. The community shopping center on Washington Boulevard buzzes with the pulsing energy of a college campus or popular mall food court. After a three-month stint as Little Fiish in a pop-up space, Fiish has expanded and joined the swarm of eateries that makes Platform so appealing.

“We were also lucky that there is a lack of sushi restaurants in the area so it was a well-received concept,” said Chef Colin Whitbread, a professional-surferturned-chef who previously ran a catering business in Los Angeles and San Diego for more than 15 years.“The local community has been so supportive of the new space,” Whitbread said. “There are so many businesses in the area like Apple, HBO and Sony that we are really busy with our lunch crowd and then have a great atmosphere

Helmed by hospitality veteran Jamo Willis and Chef Colin Whitbread, Fiish is a new sustainable sushi restaurant that recently opened at Platform in Culver City.

FIISHOFMARTIN/COURTESYJULIANCREDITS:PHOTO

PAGE 8 THE ARGONAUT SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 FOOD & DRINK

Sustainable Sushi Restaurateur and former pro surfer join forces to open Fiish in Culver City

“The sustainable fish question is the most important aspect of the business for us,” Whitbread said. “To bring ethically sourced or regeneratively raised seafood to customers, and empower them with the information to feel great about their buying decisions, is the future of seafood and for our food system as a whole. By taking the time to bring awareness and transparency to our sourcing, we are allowing ourselves to start the conversation for the sushi world that has been rarely addressed. I want to provide the highest-quali ty seafood with the lowest environmental cost possible. It allows me to feel like we are preparing for the future to ensure that we can have sushi that won't destroy the ecosystem.” Menu items range from salmon chicharron with kani kama and smoked trout roe to maki, nigiri, (Continued on Page 10

The seasonal menu focuses on premium line-caught, ethically sourced fish from local docks and sustainable aquaculture farms that are treated and dry aged in house. and vibe for the nightly dinner service. The locals are the backbone of our clientele and our most frequent repeat customers.” Serving sushi is more than a career path for Whitbread and executive chef Cody Requejo. Serving sustainable fish defines their mission statement.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 9 ArgonautNews.com

Sustainable Sushi (Continued from Page 7) and sashimi made with a seasonal selection of in-house dry-aged (cleaner and more tender) fish. Takeout remains a large part of the business powered by the Lunch Box (16 pieces), Dinner Box (22 pieces), Roll Box (16 pieces), and a Vegan Box (16 piece).“Todo sushi in LA, you have to have a proper vegan menu,” Whitbread said. “About 10 to 15% of our clientele are vegan or plant based. I love doing vegan sushi. It’s so much fun, so beautiful and really fun to prep.” Fiish also serves its own signature branded beer, courtesy of co-owner Jamo Willis. “I always wanted to brew my own beer, and I thought this was the perfect time to do it,” said Willis, who also designed the 2,200-square-foot space that seats 100 people. “I love Japanese beers, but we wanted to put our own little twist on it that really complimented Colin’s sushi. We worked with SLO Brew (in San Luis Obispo) to come up with the flavor profile we liked, and our Fiish beer was Complementing the menu are sake, wine-based cocktails and spritzers, and the restaurant’s signature Fiish-branded beer that is brewed in the Central Coast.

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Ad Wednesday,deadlineSeptember 21 Publishes September 29 born.”Luckily, Whitbread still gets the chance to sneak in a surf or swim one to two days a week. “I feel like we are riding a wave of momentum that we must keep going,” Whitbread said. “The future is beautiful, and together we will be able to grow to whatever heights our imagination can possibly reach. “I love being able to prepare [sushi] in front of people and talk to them about what they are experiencing. I love that food-tocustomer connection and building those relationships with people. I love changing people's minds about fish and what it can taste like. I love destroying the old norms and patterns of sushi. We have no limits or rules about what we can do, and that's what's most exciting about our business. Being able to be the chef and artist I want to be is what keeps me going.” Fiish 8820 Washington Boulevard, Culver 323-272-2262City fiish.co Fiish is located at Platform in Culver City and is a popular spot for lunch and dinner.

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Excerpts from this novel--The Pollinator In His Own Words--read by the author, exemplify the intimate relationship between two art forms: painting and writing. The protagonist of this tale, through the mystic art of surfing, slowly develops the ability to fly. As the story evolves, he discovers that he can, during flight, by way of olfactory engendered clairvoyance, accumulate and store internally essential love; eventually he is able to bestow this love. The following excerpts, inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper, occur in the

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Excerpts from this novel--The Pollinator In His Own Words--read by the author, exemplify the intimate relationship between two art forms: painting and writing. The protagonist of this tale, through the mystic art surfing, slowly develops the ability to fly. the story evolves, he discovers that he can,

Excerpts from this novel--The Pollinator In His Own Wordsread by the author, exemplify the intimate relationship between two art forms: painting and writing. The protagonist of this tale, through the mystic art of surfing, slowly develops the ability to fly. As the story evolves, he discovers that he can, during flight, by way of olfactory engendered clairvoyance, accumulate and store inter nally essential love; eventually he is able to bestow this love. The following excerpts, inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper, occur in the story when the protagonist is beginning to collect such essences of primal bliss. Excerpts from this novel--The Pollinator In His Own Words--read by the author, exemplify the intimate relationship between two art forms: painting and writing. The protagonist of this tale, through the mystic art of surfing, slowly develops the ability to fly. As the story evolves, he discovers that he can, during flight, by way of olfactory engendered clairvoyance, accumulate and store internally essential love; eventually he is able to bestow this love. The following excerpts, inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper, occur in the story when the protagonist is beginning to collect such essences of primal bliss.

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By Michele Robinson W hile many veterinar ians often recom mend anesthetic dental procedures, there is another option for those looking for a safer alternative to sedating their pets. At Smile Specialist Dental Clinics, cats and dogs can receive hygienic oral care without incurring the extra costs and stress of anesthetic clean ings.“Every pet does not need to be put under, especially for something like mild tartar,” said Cindy Blackwell-Smuck, Smile Specialist general manager. “For 19 years, we have provided the option to have your pet’s teeth cleaned without anesthesia.” Smile Specialist provides state-of-the-art ultrasonic machines that are used by many veterinarians for the anesthetic cleanings. While the cleanings are done by a dental hygienist, they are legally required to have a licensed veterinarian supervis

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Mobile clinic provides state-of-the-art dental services HEALTH ing because it is considered a medical procedure. “Using the ultrasonic scaler is a more efficient and effective way of cleaning the teeth,” Black well-Smuck said. “There is a veterinarian on site, supervising the cleanings in our van.” The procedures are fast and easier on the pets than tradition al dental cleanings. Each cleaning takes about 10 to 15 minutes and includes an oral exam. Cleanings are performed on the floor rather than a table to allow for more stability while pets are awake for the cleaning. Each pet is approached calmly and gently. Smaller pets get wrapped in a towel, while larger dogs are laid down on their side so that they are relaxed. All pets receive praise and encourage ment, belly and paw rubs. Most pets behave well with this procedure.“Mostpets are cooperative, it's energy based,” BlackwellSmuck said. “They get lots of love during and after the cleaning. They feel the positive energy.”However, not every pet is an ideal candidate for these dental cleanings and there are some limitations to this service. Some dog breeds, such as Shar-Peis, do not do well with this. The staff is trained to respect each pet and the boundaries they set. They will not push a pet further than what the pet allows so the pets do not get injured. Also, some pets have advanced dental issues and need more extensive work. If this happens, the staff will explain to the Smile Specialist is a mobile clinic that offers hygienic oral care for cats and dogs without incurring the extra costs and stress of anesthetic cleanings.

Introducing Our New Pawrgonaut Pet Page! Next issue on Sept. 15. Pics needed by Sept. 9 A space where you can share your funniest, cutest and most adorable pet photos once a month. Just email to KKirk@timespublications.com Be sure to include your pet’s name, your first name and your town. TUE-THU 11am-7pm • FRI-SAT 11am-5pm • CLOSED SUNDAY & MONDAY 310.574.8777 • 4027 Lincoln Blvd. (NEAR WALGREENS NEXT TO WHARO BBQ) WWW.MARINABAYWATCH.COM Diamond replacement, ring sizing, necklace repair, bracelet repair, pearl restringing, and much more. FREE JEWELRY CLEANING WHILE YOU WAIT! WATCH JEWELRYCENTERSERVICE&REPAIR We Service: Rolex • Omega • Breitling • Gucci Concord • Cartier • Movado • TAG Heuer • Swiss Army Citizen • Seiko • Bulova • Esq • Casio & much more WATCH BATTERY REPLACEMENT WHILE YOU WAIT! ONE PER EXPIRESCUSTOMER.9/30/22 $2 OFF BATTERYWATCH

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 13 owners what is needed. These clients will only be asked to pay a nominal fee for the oral exam and referred to alternative resources.AtSmile Specialist, no preliminary blood test is required. They recommend pets have their teeth cleaned every six months to maintain good oral hygiene. What sets the company apart from others is that they are a mobile service. Before the pandemic, Smile Specialist had one van and would go into pet stores to provide their services. Now they have four vans that go out into the community to reach their patients.Themobile clinic usually parks in front of pet businesses like groomers, daycare/boarding facilities and pet shops so clients can get their pet services done at one convenient location.

They provide state-of-the-art ultrasonic machines that are used by many veterinarians for the anesthetic cleanings, and usually park in front of pet groomers, day care/boarding facilities and pet shops so clients can get their pet services done at one location. ArgonautNews.com 11:30 to 9:30 restaurant hours CLOSED MONDAYS 12604 Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA (310)tfmraw.com90066439-2426 Fish of the Week: John Dory Available in the market while supplies last

“One and done, we go to where the pets are and meet people where they are at,” Blackwell-Smuck said. During the pandemic they were one of the few businesses that were able to stay open and operate because they were fully mobile. Today, they still keep many of the same Covid protocols. For example, owners are not allowed in the van—only pets. Each pet is taken in one at a time and given full attention from the staff. Everything is thoroughly cleaned in-between pet patients. For Smile Special ist, becoming a mobile clinic has been so successful that they plan on continuing this as their business model. “It is a much more controlled and quiet environment,'' says Blackwell-Smuck. “We clean and sterilize the whole work space area and instruments after eachSmileanimal.”Specialist started in Los Angeles and has been expanding their territory to include Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Orange County, Riverside, Ventura and now Florida. Their services can be found in several locations on the Westside including West LA, Culver City, Marina del Rey and Santa Moni ca. They also serve the Arts District in Downtown LA and the Greater Pasadena areas including South Pasadena, La Cañada, Eagle Rock and other locations.Thecompany is also expanding its team. They now have about 20 staff members, including a team of veterinarians, dental hygienists, veterinarian techni cians and support staff. “I am so proud of our topnotch dedicated veterinarians and staff,” said founder and CEO, Kay Douglass. “We are proud of the quality of work we do and the effective results we get from customers who have brought generations of pets to us over the years.” Dental cleaning isn’t the only medical treatment that pets can receive at Smile Specialist. Since there is a licensed veterinarian on site, pets can also get vaccinations and antibiotics.“Customers are grateful to have this service,” BlackwellSmuck said. “We love animals and want to help them.” Smile Specialist smilespecialist4pets.cominfo@smilespecialist4pets.com800-718-8597

Fifteen of his works are featured in an ongoing series from Sept. 14 to Oct. 12 in a show called, “See Me After Class: A Spiral Bound Journey by Adam Greener.” Greener has been developing the series since the early 2000s and he said there is no end in sight as he has a wealth of ideas he wants to explore and play with.

sheets.thatexpressviewers.sizearespiral-bound11-sheetstoWhileandmemories,pre-pubescentputedeverything,withoutcould—notebooksticker-and-scribble-adornedMywasaprivateplaceapersonalretreatwhereIcoloroutsidethelinesrecrimination,controlandbetheundismasterofmyowndomain.”Whileinspiredbyschool-agetheworkisbothfunchallengingforGreener.theworksareintendedlookliketheyare81/2-byofpapertornfromanotebook,theyactually32by40inches,aintendedtotowerovertheGreenersaidpeoplesurpriseuponlearninghecreateseachofthe“Whenpeoplestandinfront of it, they are often confused,” Greener said. “They’re like, ‘Wait, where did you get this giant sheet of notebook paper?’ It shifts their whole reality, which I love. And I love to explain how I do it.” He makes the paper out of two-ply museum board and draws the lines himself. He carves the perforations and holes on the paper by hand in the exact proportions of an 8 1/2- by 11-sheet, but on a 32- by 40-inch board.

From Sept. 14 to Oct. 12, artist Adam Greener’s work will be featured in “See Me After Class: A Spiral Bound Journey by Adam Greener” at Art Unified, a new gallery in Venice.

It’s only when you zoom out or have a person in the photo that you get the context for its size and have a different experience with the work.

It’s one reason that his work is more effective in person than on a website or in a photo. It would be easy to look at it and think that the work was a standard size sheet of paper.

“I love that it is specific to an actual assignment that I remember doing when I was young,” Greener said. Other paintings in the series include book reports about

MORTENSONCHRISBYPHOTOS

By Bridgette Redman F ew people talk about their middle school days with fondness, but that could change if they visit Adam Greener’s exhibition at the new Art Unified gallery in Venice.Withhis oversized spiralbound paper art, Greener engenders a nostalgia for those days when teachers squashed creative detours from assigned work and detentions filled with line writing were all too common.

PAGE 14 THE ARGONAUT SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 COVER STORY See

ClassAfterMe

The first work in the series is one that is still in his collection and was inspired by an elemen tary school task. “The assignment was for the students to draw pictures that expressed why drugs are bad,” Greener said. “I remember just falling in love with this. It was some of my earliest memories of, ‘Wow, I can express myself not in words, which I’m not great at necessarily, but in imagery.’”Herecreated that assignment, albeit on a much larger scale and with his adult skills and perspective. A cartoon-like body built from sad muscles and weeping bones all react to the destructive path of illicit drugs. Along the top, he titled the piece, “Don’t Like Drugs.”

Artist Adam Greener generates nostalgia for the awkward heyday of middle school presidents and their sex parties, math story problems with smart-aleck answers, and lots of written lines with evidence that he is doing the opposite of what the writing lesson is trying to teach such as “I will not bring matches to class” on a paper that is partly burned away or “I will not bring scissors to class” with the word “boobies” cut out of the middle.Invariably, assignments have “You are better than this” or “See me after class” scrawled across the top. The works invoke smiles, but they also remind people of how tough growing up could be. For Greener, his spiral notebook was his sanctuary. “I always struggled with authority and focus; following the rules, doing what I was told, coloring inside the lines, literally and figuratively,” Greener said. “Amid a swirl of hormones, pressures to fit in, and a veritable lack of control over most aspects of my life (including my parents’ di vorce), I — like a lot of kids, I think — felt isolated.

The decision to make them so large evolved through the

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 15 years. He started out working on a smaller scale, but eventu ally enlarged them in the later 2000s to the size they are now.

“The size works best for the stories I’m trying to tell,” Greener said. “By blowing them up, you’re heightening the irony, you’re juxtaposing the childish naivete with the weighty, heighted emotion and the drama of what it is to be a grown up.” He said he wants to make it as authentic as possible to the viewers’ memories of being in class with their little desk and drawing in a notebook. He points out that when you’re a kid, everything seems really big. He hopes that his work restores to adults the feeling of what it is like to look down at your desk and see that sheet of paper. It felt much bigger as a child than it does to adults now and he wants viewers to remember that perspective. Much of the work is autobio graphical, Greener said, and he pulls from imagery and the iconography of being a middle schooler in the early to mid80s. He believes, though, that the imagery is timeless, that it transcends decades by intro ducing the feel of nostalgia and the part these pictures played in everyone’s lives.

“I pull from my own years of being in middle school and what my favorite movies or cartoon characters are,” Greener said. “I love to share my work because of how universal it is. It triggers all these great memories in the viewers.”Greener’s practice began as small-scale drawing and doodling. He loved children’s art and was passionate about creating it in the late 90s. “I’d been doing them for eight or nine years just because I had such a passion for it,” Greener said. “My friends and family would give them out as gifts.” They were always telling him that he should be selling his art. One day, an artist friend of his told Greener about a monthly group exhibition that combined music, food, multi media and art. He was shy about showing his stuff on that kind of a stage, but his friend talked him into it. “It was a surreal experience to be stepping back and seeing six of my pieces being shown for the first time publicly, and a crowd forming around it laughing and pulling their

The exhibition channels Greener’s inner child with intimate and autobiographical works that are memories of his early visual preoccupations and re-presents them with a witty and subversive not-so-grown-up eye. friends into it,” Greener said. “They were sharing the stories I was telling.” He was surprised to see so many people connecting with his work. At the end of the night, all his pieces had sold and he won “Best in Show.” Thus launched the series and his career as a fine artist. Greener’s exhibition is the first to be shown at Art United, a gallery owned by Johan Andersson, a portrait painter who runs a collective with other artists that Greener is a part“He’sof. curated so effectively artists who all share in the same ethos, the same playful ness, pulling on nostalgia strings, unexpected pop culture,” Greener said. “When you walk into his gallery, you get the sense of a shared collective theme that really just feels like the perfect place to be a part of.” He explains that the gallery is a throwback to when Venice was the place for up-and-com ing artists. Greener invites people to experience his work and to hearken back to a simpler time in their lives, a time of adolescence where their world was so small, but yet so big. He wants them to connect back to their own childhood when they experience his work. “(I hope) they laugh and that they’re transported back in time to their younger selves,” Greener said. “And kids can enjoy it as much as adults can. Even though they don’t have the lens of looking back, but there is something that is true today.”OnSept. 14 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the public is invited to come play with his work at the official opening. Nostalgia will rule not only in his works on the wall, but with the presence of an ice cream truck, spiked drinks, nostalgic candy andConsiderrefreshments.aninvitation to re-experience the delightful parts of middle school.

“See Me After School” by Adam Greener WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 14, to Wednesday, Oct. 12, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. WHERE: Art Unified, 1329 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice INFO: adamgreener.comartunified.com,

ArgonautNews.com

PAGE 16 THE ARGONAUT SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

West Basin represents 17 cities in Los Angeles County, including Carson, Culver City, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lomita, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates and West Holly wood. The District is a Metro politan member agency. “We thank you for hearing our calls to save water during this historic drought,” said West Basin board president Donald L. Dear. “We are noticing positive change. Now, espe cially during this emergency repair period, we are asking everyone to keep up your savings efforts.”

West Basin also reminds its recycled water customers that recycled water use is not subject to the temporary suspension of outdoor watering or the ongoing potable water conservation restrictions. Its exemption is a major benefit of recycled water, which helps the entire region save drinking water for drinking, especially during a major drought and in urgent circumstances such as this emergency infrastructure repair. Collectively, West Basin and its recycled water custom ers have saved nearly 250 billion gallons of water.

West Basin Municipal Water District westbasin.org

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY ATTORNEYATTORNEY Everyone is entitled to Medi-Cal Long Term coverage without payback/recovery, if you get your affairs in order. JOSEPH C. GIRARD, ATTORNEY AT LAW (310) 823-3943 • www.LAElderLaw.com FREE CONSULTATION • Medi-Cal Planning • estate Planning DENTURES To advertise in the ProfessionalDirectory,Services Call 310-463-0633 BABY & KIDS (310) 702-6748 email:www.suddsandsunshine.comsudds.sunshinediaperservice@yahoo.com@suddssunshinediaperservice@suddssunshine@sudds_sunshine Better for baby’s bottom and better for the environment!

For any questions about current local permitted water ing days and times, individuals should reach out directly to their retailer. To view local outdoor water restrictions in the service area, visit West Basin’s listing of retailer watering schedules.

Saving Water West Basin calls for no outdoor watering for 15 days

By Kamala Kirk T

he West Basin Munici pal Water District (West Basin) is calling on residents and businesses in the service area to temporarily suspend outdoor watering for a 15-day period from Thursday, Sept. 6, to Thursday, Sept. 20, due to the emergency repair of a major Metropolitan Water District pipeline thar delivers imported drinking water to WestGivenBasin.theregion’s limited water supplies, extreme drought conditions and the need to achieve greater water savings, West Basin supports Metropolitan’s call for no outdoor watering during the shutdown of a critical pipeline for urgent repairs. “This is our uniform message across our service area–we are asking that everyone conserve water outdoors to the maxi mum extent possible during the repair of this critical infrastruc ture,” said West Basin general manager Gregory Reed. “This will allow our region to save and protect our diminishing Colorado River supply during this repair period, and as we also strive to reach our ongoing conservation goals.” West Basin’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan is at a Shortage Level Three, which calls on district retail water suppliers and their respective communities, to achieve a 30% reduction in water usage. Ac cording to recent data submit ted to the State Water Resourc es Control Board (SWRCB) by retail water suppliers, the West Basin service area has achieved a cumulative 3% decrease in water use over the previous 12 months compared to 2020 water use levels.

ENVIRONMENT

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 17

As the process evolved, the world hit a crisis mode with the pandemic, social injustices, economic downturns and other events that plunged the world into a shared depression.

Johnson explained that there are many things we could learn or unlearn if we put ourselves into a collaborative process with a tree. She talks about how she’s learned a lot about how trees have a different death process than we do, that they are on a different time scale. She contem plates how a tree might articulate a core vision for the future and how we as humans could take that into account.

Performing at BroadStage from Thursday, Sept. 8, to Saturday, Sept. 10, the world premiere of “Being Future Being” will take place on stage and outdoors in two site-specific performanc es. The work integrates move ment, story and sound in a way that is uniquely indigenous. Johnson, who belongs to the Yup’ik Nation, created the evening-length performance not only to summon a better future, but to create space for relation ships with the natural world around us. It is a project that has been growing for many years, in part because she said her current work always leads her to the next thing, teaching her what is to come.“My process has always been to work in relationship with people and our more-than-human kin and the land upon which we’re gathered,” Johnson said. “I make work that tries to create space for relationships to develop or to create an opportunity for showing where relationships are not. Part of that project was to work with multiple community members on this visioning of our future.”Thework asks a lot of ques tions: What do people want for their well-being? What do people want for the well-being of their chosen family? What do people want for the well-being of their neighborhood, of the place where they live, of the world?

Emily Johnson/Catalyst’s new evening-length performance, “Being Future Being,” integrates movement, images, story, and sound in a kinetically rich social architecture that centers Indigenous thrivance.

She explores in “Being Future Being” the collaborations and relationships that humans have to the world around them, how they might, for example, connect with a“Thetree. idea here is something as simple and also as grand as, what if we were to see trees, for example, as partners in breathing as opposed to plants that are in our way when we would like to put down a sidewalk,” Bailis said. “What if we were to imagine that we saw ourselves as intrinsically embedded partners in the sustainability of the natural world as opposed to something that is dangerously parasitic?

How do we get ourselves into that mindset and what would that future look like?”

The discussion in this case is drawn from and formed by First Nations’ wisdom and ideology.

JOHNSON/CATALYSTEMILYANDBROADSTAGEOFCOURTESYPHOTOS

ARTS & EVENTS

PAGE 18 THE ARGONAUT SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

By Bridgette M. Redman Many people are eager to leave the present and all its woes behind. Emily Johnson is determined to move beyond wishful thinking and dance the future into being.

“I had this very sudden, ‘Oh, we need this better future now,” Johnson said. “‘Being Future Being’ is a process of conjuring that better future in the present.” “Being Future Being” launches BroadStage's season. Johnson developed it with her company, Catalyst, and they commissioned Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Raven Chacon to create the score.“‘Being Future Being’ imagines a future for human beings on this planet,” said Rob Bailis, execu tive director of BroadStage. “It considers the possibility of a much more symbiotic relation ship between humans and the rest of the natural world.” When Johnson talks about “more-than-human kin,” she is referring to the inhabitants of the natural world. “This is an articulation within indigenous scholarship and communities that we are in relation not only with other humans, we are always in relation to everyone and every thing all the time,” Johnson said. “Thinking about the more-thanhuman kin is every other being in existence, so that is plant and ani mal and tree and air and soil and water. It’s a way of thinking about relationship and relational ity.”

Indigenous performer summons audience into healthier relationships with the natural world

Conjuring the Future

Bailis described Johnson as being equally a choreographer and a land protector who is invested in theseWhilequestions.thework has been in development for many years, the final bit of it is being created at BroadStage. There will be both indoor and outdoor experiences in multiple locations. “A lot of Emily’s work is about gathering in smaller groups and having very specifically tailored experiences before easing into the more performative aspects of her work,” Bailis said. “You might spend an entire weekend learning how to make a salmon skin lantern and then find out about the dance. She is a marvel and we are very excited about that work and kicking off the year with this sort of broader sensibility of what can human

She described how one time she had a work that was 15 hours long—from sundown to sunrise and was outdoors all night. The audience had to work together to make dinner and breakfast. Each person held a different responsi bility. There is a challenge to the audience to ask themselves whether they’ve been taking responsibility and whether they are in relationship with the land. As part of the BroadStage performance, there will be outdoor site-specific events where Johnson introduces the audience to three or more different trees at three different sites. The audience will move between those three areas to “be introduced to those more than humans.” The site-specific activation will take place on the Santa Monica College Main Campus starting at 11:15 a.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. Saturday. The trees they will visit were planted in the 1950s and the audience will be called upon to honor and protect them. Partici pants in this free experience will walk between the three locations and view 20-minute performanc es.Johnson described her collabo ration with the composer, Chacon, as being beautiful and useful. Both, she said, have a way of working deeply. “When I am doing work, I am thinking about the land under neath,” Johnson said. “I don’t know how Raven would describe his work, but I think of Raven’s work like that as well. There was a way in which we complement ed one another. We both have expressions of joy, of rage, of curiosity that comes out in different forms—Raven through sound compositions and mine through movement composi tions.” The work itself is a collabora tion, one expressed as bringing in four inter-related groups: the branch of knowledge (a group of womxn and femmes from nations across the Lenape diaspora), the branch of scholarship (visionary scholars and organizers including those from the nations of Cree, Cherokee and Coast Salish/Sahtu Dene/Scottish), the branch of action (an architecture of the overflow that crafts replicable, locally responsive, indigenouscentered actions) and the branch of making (“Being Future Being's” creative team). Together, these collaborators create a work of art, a work of transformation that draws upon Indigenous power. Their goal is to reshape the way people relate to themselves, the environment and to the human and more-thanhuman cohabitants of our world—to usher into focus a new future.Theperformances are “pay what you choose.” BroadStage announced that they recognize that the land on which they stand is the ancestral unceded territory of the Tongva, Gabrielino and Kizh peoples. As a way of honoring the indigenous caretak ers of these lands, a portion of all ticket sales will be given to a Los Angeles-based, Indigenous-led organization that is devoted to revitalizing indigenous ways of being and knowing. They encourage audience members to consider paying a higher ticket price as a symbolic/nominal land usageMeanwhile,fee. Johnson is ever focused forward. She said that one of her main curiosities now is what happens after these performances.“I’mcurious what will come from this piece because the thing that I’m interested in is listen ing—can we aim to activate a better future together? How do we keep that activation going? What is the overflow from the performance moment? How do we keep tending to the relation ship to the call to action to local land protection efforts, to indigenous local calls for justice?”)

“Being Future Being” by Emily WHEN:Johnson/Catalyst 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8, to Saturday, Sept. 10 WHERE: BroadStage, 1310 11th Street, Santa Monica INFO: broadstage.org ArgonautNews.com

The performance is presented by BroadStage from Sept. 8 to Sept. 10, and will have its world premiere at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 19 beings be that is, in fact, helpful to the survival of the planet.”

Johnson said she thinks of her performances as gatherings, ones in which people come together and try to acknowledge the ways they are or are not in right relationship with one another and with the lands that they are gathered on. There are many ways she expresses this—some times through dance, sometimes through stories, sometimes through exchanges with the audience.“Iaskfor reciprocity,” Johnson said. “I try to make a work where exchange is possible in multiple forms. We might make a very specific ask of the audience.”

Paid to Pursue the Arts

One short film, shown at the graduation, profiled a young man struggling to stay in school. When he finds a toy car from his childhood, a simple but apt motif for time passing and one’s yearning for youth, his life as a young man is put into new perspective as is his struggle to survive.

PAGE 20 THE ARGONAUT SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

ARTS & EVENTS

A former child actor, Keuhl shared in her virtual comments at the graduation: “I under stand how meaningful a life in the creative arts can be but how difficult it can be to get your foot in the door and get your voice heard.” Perhaps the most difficult part about pursuing a career in the creative arts and entertainment is creating the connections needed to help realize these goals. Having the knowledge is one thing, but being paid to use that knowledge is another.

By Oliver Grynberg O n a warm August morning in the sun-filled studio that houses Venice Arts’ main offices and teaching spaces, proud parents, siblings and faculty members gathered to celebrate the graduates of Venice Arts’ summer Film and Digital Media Career Pathways Fellowship.Following a groundbreaking partnership with Los Angeles County, the program’s second graduating class members were the first to receive compensa tion for 160 hours of training and education in visual storytelling, editing and production.“It’sahuge step forward,” said Lynn Warshafsky, founder and executive director of Venice Arts, referring to the paid learning made possible by theFoundedpartnership.in1993,

Students begin with a soft skills workshop, “to help them identify skills they already have and how they can be applied to their career and goals,” said Venice Arts director of education Julia Villarreal.Thenstudents turn to basics of production, visual storytell ing, camera skills and key concepts like continuity, cover, characterization. Yet, the most valuable experience comes in the active practice that the pilot program offers.

“How am I going to get myself in the industry?” she said.Toquell questions like these, she enrolled first in a series of talks and masterclasses with industry professionals offered as an introduction to the career pathways pilot at Venice Arts and continued by applying for the Film and Digital media program. She was accepted and fostered the industry relationships she was looking for. Venice Arts helped her secure an internship with production company Team 626, and the rest was history.

One commercial, also shown at the graduation, was a seamless and richly enticing promotional video for a canned sparkling water. Students leave Venice Art’s pilot program with an impressive selection of tangible skills, but they still face an uphill battle.

Amber Bolden, a participant in the first pilot and a Venice Arts after-school program alumnus, was strapped with doubts after graduating college with a film degree.

“I was an intern for about two weeks, two weeks later I was the executive assistant and now a year later, I'm a program manager,” Bolden said. “I felt that Venice Arts was always looking out for me,” she added, and, for this reason, she has returned as a mentor and Venice Arts' Center for Creative Workforce Equity celebrated the expansion of its Film + Digital Media Career Pathways Pilot, which represents the County's first-ever investment of this scale in creative career development for low-income youth.

ARTSVENICEOFCOURTESYPHOTOS

Venice Arts has been committed to nurtur ing creativity and opportunities in creative fields for lowincome youth for almost three decades.“Weare LA serving and Venice based,” said Warshaf sky on the reach of their afterschool programs, mentor ship work, and creative career development fellowships like the media arts pilot. Beginning with a 10-person photography workshop hyper local to Venice, the organiza tion now works with over 450 low-income youth around LA, charging nothing for its programming.InNovember 2020, six months into the pandemic, Venice Arts received a request for proposal from the LA Film Office for an LA County service contract. A 2018 motion written by county supervisor, Sheila Keuhl, and City Councilman, Ridley Thomas, proposed funding for a creative career development pilot program, which was a perfect fit for Venice Arts’ mission.“Wehave been including elements of creative career development into our curricu lum for decades, but we never had the means to scale it up,” Warshafsky said. “We had 10 days to write a 100-page proposal, and we did it.” With the help of the LA County Department of Eco nomic Opportunity, Venice Arts’ proposal was accepted and their new funding put to use“Weimmediately.gotthecontract in December, we launched the first Digital Film and Media Pilot on Feb. 1,” Warshafsky said.Inan entertainment-centric city like LA, opportunities like Venice Arts’ Film and Digital Media Career Pathways Pilot are deeply needed but rare. “You'd think in LA this would have happened, but it hadn’t,” Warshafsky said. The pilot is the first invest ment of its kind in low-income county youth. For participants, Venice Arts spreads the word about its programs with the help of community partners and its own links to LA’s diverse communities. Open to any low-income youth in the county, the program seeks applications from individuals who show creative promise and commit ment to their development at any level of experience and training. No matter what you know about film and digital media, the pilot program covers all the bases and hinges on honing fundamental skills.

All students write and direct a narrative short with each acting as the Director of Photography for a day. Stu dents cut a documentary from over 10 hours of footage, each edit a commercial, and create three versions of a personal project for YouTube, Instagram andTheTikTok.workproduced is professional, poignant and

Venice Arts’ Film and Digital Media Career Pathways Pilot expands

moving.

Founded in 1993, Venice Arts has been committed to nurturing creativity and opportunities in fields for low-income youth for almost three decades. Los Angeles County, County

If your business is located in

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 21 teaching assistant for Venice Arts’ Spring and Fall programs.

Clerk recently. • Deadline is Friday for publication the following Thursday. ArgonautNews.com News delivered to your email every week. Stay in the know! Go to www.argonautnews.com to subscribe today AdvertisersConnectingtoCustomersforover50Years

we can publish your FBN notice FOR ASSISTANCE ON DBA’S PLEASE CONTACT ANN TURRIETTA AT 626-584-8747 OR EMAIL ANN@ARGONAUTNEWS.COM • Cost is $50 for the required 4 weeks of publication. • You must have filed your FBN statement with the LA

Eventually, Bolden plans to open a nonprofit in South LA doing, as she put it, “What Venice Arts does.” Success stories like these, and the many others that seem to be the bread and butter of Venice Arts’ work, bring deep meaning and a sense of fulfillment to the staff at Venice Arts. “It just warms my heart,” Warshafksy said in reference to the Venice Arts alumni she gets to welcome back as teachers and witness making headway in their creative careers. For many of the students Venice Arts works with, creative arts are first dismissed as viable career options or worthy extracurricular pursuits. To see students legitimize their artistic dreams is one of the most meaningful parts of the work for Warshafksy. With the attention and support of LA County, she hopes to grow the career pathways pilot program and bring the Venice Arts experience to other determined youth around LA. For, in the city with the most largescale entertainment production in the world, there is an equally impressive collection of young artists looking for the opportunity to showcase their talent. Luckily, an expanding Venice Arts provides them with the platform and mentorship they need.

Venice Arts venice-arts.org

7726 West Manchester Avenue, Playa del Rey, 6 Fridays,Dancebaycitiescoinclub.comp.m.,MDRThroughSept.

Compiled by Kamala Kirk

PAGE 22 THE ARGONAUT SEPTEMBER 8, 2022

The car show will display cars from before 1980. There will be food booths, vendors, raffle baskets, t-shirt sales, and music featuring Fireball Time and Car Show Safari. Proceeds from the event will support Westchester Elk Lodge’s activities with children with disabilities, military veterans and other community programs. Beer garden opens at 10 a.m., BBQ opens at 10:30 a.m., pizza opens at 11 a.m., and chili cook-off tasting opens at 11:30 a.m. Car show award presentation begins at 2 p.m. Event is free to the public. Check out the website if you would like to register a car in the show. For more information, call the number below or email Lisa Levine lisalincolnpipe@gmail.com.at 8025 W. Manchester Avenue, Playa del Rey, 818-441-3488, 9 a.m. to 3 Communitywestchesterelks.comp.m.,Restoration

Capping at 50 participants. Vaccination strongly encourage. Please plan to wear a mask if unvaccinated. Visit the website for more information and to sign up. Park behind 303 Culver Boulevard, Playa del Rey, 9:30 to 11:30 Saturday,Venicesantamonicabay.org/eventsa.m.,CarShowSept.10

Suzy Williams – Venice Beats Sunday, Sept. 11 Gerry Fialka hosts a celebration of the Beats in Venice with Suzy Williams “LA’s Diva Deluxe” with Bad Kay, Kahlil Sabbagh, Carol Chaikin, and from The Bonedaddys—Mike Tempo and Rick Moors. Delve deep into Venice West Café and Sponto history, live stellar poets, songs by Jack Kerouac, Philomene Long, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and all the local cats. Attendance is $10. Free souvenir Sponto postcard with each paid admission. 1717 Lincoln Boulevard, Venice, 7 p.m., Sundays,Marinathevenicewest.comDrumCirclethroughOct.16

Movies on the Lawn Sunday, Sept. 11 Jamaica Bay Inn presents a free outdoor movie series every Sunday with seating at 7 p.m. and movie starting at dusk. Warm drinks, snacks and treats are available for purchase. Bring low chairs, blankets and pillows. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. On Sept. 11, enjoy a screening of “Scoob.” 4175 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, 7 Thevisitmdr.com/eventsp.m.,VeniceWestPresents

Saturday, Sept. 10

Come check out the Venice car show at Oakwood Park in celebra tion of Mexican Independence Day! The family-friendly event will include live music, Aztec dancers, food vendors, mariachi, a raffle, and special guest CD candi date Eric Darling. Gates open for cars at 8 a.m. All solo riders and car clubs are invited ($40 car entrance fee). All proceeds go to the Venice Mexican American Traquero monument. 767 California Avenue, Venice, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 'Down by the Hudson' Saturday, Sept. 10 Come to a walkthrough and public opening of “Down by the Hudson” with artist Caleb Stein at ROSEGALLERY. The exhibition of photographs feature a selection of works from Stein’s ongoing project of the same name, which is an ode to the small town of Poughkeepsie, New York. Rendered in black-and-white, his photographs provide an intimate glimpse into the lives of Pough keepsie’s residents amidst the current backdrop of de-industrial ization and political tension in the U.S. The watering hole serves as a neutral zone, a side-step from the day-to-day turbulence of life. It’s a communal ground that provides a place of recreation and refuge. 2525 Michigan Avenue, B-7, Santa Monica, 4 to 7 p.m.

Discover the joy of interactive group drumming in Burton Chace Park! Join Marina Drum Circle on a journey of creating beats and sounds collectively, led by Christopher Ramirez of Freedom Drum Circles. Drums provided by Remo Drums. While in the Marina, enjoy lunch from local waterside restaurants. Offered in 60-minute sessions at two different times. For more information, visit the website, call 424-526-7777 or email: events@ bh.lacounty.gov. 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 marinadelrey.lacounty.govp.m.,MusicMondaysatTallula’sMondays,Weekly Every week, Tallula’s is having local musicians play acoustic, Spanish guitar on its patio. Guests are invited to have a relaxing dinner while talking in the sweet sounds.

WESTSIDE HAPPENINGS

30 Join Dance MDR for a night of dancing in Burton Chace Park. Pick up new dance moves with beginner lessons from LA’s best dance teachers and then groove to the DJ, with a difference dance style every Friday night in September. Everyone is welcome. Each night will feature a different theme, from disco to Bollywood. For more information, visit the website, call 424-526-7777 or email: events@bh.lacounty.gov. 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, 7 to 10 Saturday,Cook-OffAnnualWestchestermarinadelrey.lacounty.govp.m.,ElksLodge22ndCarShowandChiliSept.10

601 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, 7 Wednesday,Reception'Seebit.ly/youthprogramsignupsp.m.,MeAfterClass'OpeningSept.14

PHOTOCOURTESY

Get the inside scoop on the college admissions process, including high school academics and course planning, building a college wish list, navigating the application process, and applying for financial aid. Presented by Diana Hanson of Magellan College Counseling. Register online at link. Event takes place in the multipurpose room.

timespublications.cominformationeventatleast10daysinadvancetokkirk@

118 Entrada Way, Santa Monica, 6 to 8 Therusticcanyonfamily.comp.m.,CollegeAdmissions Process from A to Wednesday,Z Sept. 14

Art Unified presents “See Me After Class: A Spiral Bound Journey by Adam Greener.” The public exhibition explores new and favored works by the artist, highlight concepts of what it means to grow up through a series of ink illustrations created on handmade graphic large “spiral bound notebook” sheets. Channel ing his inner child, Greener’s intimate and autobiographical work are memories of his early visual preoccupations and re-presents them with a witty and subversive not-so-grown-up eye. To commence the event, viewers will be taken back to childhood with an original ice cream truck, spiked drinks, nostalgic candy and refreshments. 1329 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, 7 to 9:30 p.m., artunified.com

Send

PHOTOCOURTESY

Come to a walkthrough and public opening of “Down by the Hudson” with artist Caleb Stein on Sept. 10 at ROSEGALLERY in Santa Monica, an exhibition of photographs that is an ode to the small town of Poughkeepsie, New York.

The Bay Foundation’s Ballona Wetlands Community restoration Project focuses on removing invasive iceplant and other non-native vegetation that can impact native California plants such as pickleweed, salt grass and alkali weed. Participants will help to remove non-native plants by hand. Registration is required.

On Mondays, stop by Tallula’s in Santa Monica to enjoy the sounds of acoustic Spanish guitar on its patio played by local musicians. Have an event for the calendar? Send it to kamala@timespublica tions.com Bay Cities Coin Club Thursday, Sept. 8 The Bay Cities Coin Club is meeting at the Westchester Masonic Lodge. Doors open at 6 pm. and the meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.. There will be Show and Tell, auctions, 50/50, and a raffle. All ages are welcome. There will be gifts for kids as well. For more information, email club@hotmail.com.baycitiescoin

Event at Ballona Wetlands

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION PAGE 23 Stephanie Younger Group 310.499.2020 | DRE stephanieyounger.com01365696|@stephanieyoungergroupCompassisalicensedrealestatebroker(01991628)intheStateofCaliforniaandabidesbyEqualHousingOpportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omis sions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. To reach the Compass main office call 310.230.5478. A YOUNGER HOME GETS NOTICED. 7331 W. 87TH STREET 4 Bed | 3 Bath | $1,749,000 810 MANHATTAN AVENUE 5 Bed | 5 Bath | $4,495,000 5988 W. 76TH STREET 5 Bed | 5 Bath | $3,995,000 6648 W. 80TH PLACE (LEASE) 3 Bed | 2 Bath | $4,900/month 12064 WAGNER AVENUE (LEASE) 4 Bed | 3 Bath | $8,000/month 5811 W. 77TH PLACE 4 Bed | 4 Bath | $1,749,000 7716 HOSFORD AVENUE 4 Bed | 2 Bath | $1,799,000 5836 W. 74TH STREET 7 Bed | 5 Bath | $1,995,000

If you’re thinking about using your home’s equity to buy another house, there’s a distinction you need to first make. Are you buying a second home or an investment?

• You might end up having three mortgages but only two homes. Most home equity loans are second mortgages, so you have to combine this with the loan you’ll need for your second home, meaning three •mortgages.Anotherdownside you’ll have to weigh is the fact that interest payments on your home equity loan will probably not be tax-deductible because of 2018 changes in tax codes.

• You’re vulnerable to housing market shifts, even more so when you own two properties instead of one. You’re doubling your risk if something happens in the housing market. For example, if the value of either of your properties goes down, you might owe more on your home equity loan and your mortgage, overextending you.

Can You Use a Home Equity Loan to Buy a House?

The Downsides

The Upsides

The big takeaway here is that, yes, using home equity to buy a second home is an option and sometimes a very good one. At the same time, there are risks and it’s not always the right decision, so you need to go over the details in your specific situation carefully.

PAGE 24 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 THE ARGONAUT PRESS RELEASES THE ARGONAUT REAL ESTATE BUSINESS

• You can put more toward your down payment. A home equity loan is something you receive as a lump sum payment so that cash can go directly toward a down payment. You’ll be a more competitive buyer, which is essential in the current market, and you’ll get lower interest rates and monthly •payments.Itcanbe harder to finance a second property because there are more stringent down payment requirements, so a home equity loan can be a more affordable solution and also one that’s more convenient.

• If you were to default on your loan, you could lose both properties.

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Call Rebecca Bermudez at 310-574-7655

• A home equity loan is secured with collateral, which is your current home. As a result, you get the benefit of lower interest Ifrates.you’re buying an investment property, using your home equity can be a good wealthbuilding strategy. If you’re buying a second home, you have to consider that it’s not going to bring in income like an investment. That means that you’re going to be tying your home up in a loan and then taking on another loan, so you need to be in a solid financial position to make this work.

In short, yes. You can use a home equity loan to buy a house, but that doesn’t mean it’s always the right decision in every situation. Using home equity can be a way to buy a second home or an investment property with Acaveats.home equity loan is a second mortgage, giving you a way to access the equity you’ve built in your home. Home equity refers to the difference between what you owe and what your home is worth.

Another question people commonly have is whether or not they can use their home’s equity to purchase another property, which we discuss below.

WESTCHESTER BEAUTY

Extensively renovated 3-bedroom, 4-bathroom + den home situated in the highly desirable North Kentwood neighborhood in Westchester. This stunning home has been thoughtfully designed with designer finishes including wide-plank white oak floors throughout, recessed lighting, skylights custom built-ins and an ultra-modern chef's kitchen with Italian kitchen cabinets, built-in fridge by Dacor, Fisher and Paykel double drawer dishwasher, GE cooktop/oven, porcelain Calacatta countertops and extra-large center island with sink. Upstairs the sprawling primary suite offers a vaulted ceiling, private balcony, Hunter Douglas electric window shades, laundry chute, fireplace, massive walk-in closet, & an en-suite spa-like bathroom with heated floors. Property also includes a 2-car garage, 2 balconies, whole house soft water system, solar panels, smart home security system. Close proximity to all Silicon Beach has to offer. Offered at $2,075,000 Jesse Weinberg Jesse Weinberg and Associates 800-804-9132

THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTION CAME FROM: ASHLEY SUTPHIN REALTY TIMES realtytimes.com

WESTPORT HEIGHTS INVESTMENT

When you have equity in your home, you can tap into that and, if you’re strategic, use it as a way to build long-term wealth.

The downsides of using equity to buy an investment property do exist. These include:

• You’re swapping an asset for a debt. You’re taking the part of your home that you own, and then you’re putting it into a loan. Ultimately, no matter the specifics, you will have higher debt, so is that what you want?

There are a lot of ways you can capture equity to build wealth. For example, you can pay off higher-interest debt or make home improvements that ultimately increase the value of your house. You can start a business or you can even invest in the stock market where returns might be significantly more than the interest you pay on your loan.

If you’re planning to buy an investment property, using a home equity loan can give you more liquidity and make it less expensive. Benefits of using equity to buy an investment property include:

Can You Use Home Equity to Buy Another Property?

“Bring your creative eye and investment acumen to this promising property in the heart of Silicon Beach,” says agent Stephanie Younger. “Enjoy airy living room with cathedral ceilings, endless windows and doors that open to a large deck and a quintessential SoCal vista. The dining area opens to the spacious kitchen with original tile counters and extensive cabinetry. Upstairs is a sprawling loft space perfect for a home office or second family room. Each bedroom is substantial with large closets, two of which are walk-ins. The primary suite offers a vaulted ceiling and French doors to a private deck with gorgeous mountain views. Proximity to the freeway, beaches, shopping, and dining, this home offers a prime location, investment potential, and the perfect transformation project.”

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 AT HOME – THE ARGONAUT’S REAL ESTATE SECTION PAGE 25 I N E S C R O W 3 | 2.5 | 1,860 SqFt. 12975 Agustin Pl #112 Offered at $1,399,000 Representing Seller I N E S C R O W 2 | 2.5 | 1,410 SqFt. 6020 Seabluff Dr. #409 Offered at $1,199,000 Representing Seller I N E S C R O W TEAM TAMI L O C A L . F R I E N D L Y . E X P E R T S . alivingrealestate DRE #01745122 home@playavistaliving.com(310)745-1600 I N E S C R O W 2 | 1.5 | 1,635 SqFt. 3615 W 54th St. Offered at $879,000 Representing Seller L o s A n g e l e s I N E S C R O W 3 | 2.5 | 1,812 SqFt. 13173 Pacific Promenade #103 Offered at $1,295,000 Representing Seller I N E S C R O W 6400 Crescent Park E #214 1 | 1 | 790 SqFt. Offered at $749,000 Representing Seller

SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 27 Look Here For JOBS The Argonaut Classifieds Ann@argonautnews.com626-581-8747 626-584-8747 ann@argonautnews.com Drive Traffic to Your Business with Ads that Work! Call Ann: 626-584-8747 to Place an Ad in The Argonaut’s Home & Business Services Directory Your newspaper. Your PleaseYourcommunity.planet.recycleme. Name Change I N T E R E S T E D P E R S O N S : 1 ) P e t i t i o n e r : J A M E S M C CABE filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: a ) WILLI A M J A M E S M C B R I D E t o WILLIAM MCCABE 2 ) THE C O U R T O R D E R S t h a t a l l p e r s o n s i n t e r e s t e d i n t h i s m a t t e r a p p e a r b e f o r e t h i s c o u r t a t t h e h e a r i n g i n d i c ated below to show cause if a n y , w h y t h e p e t i t i o n f o r c h a n g e o f n a m e s h o u l d n o t b e g r a n te d An y p e r s o n o b jecting to the name changes described above must file a w r i t t e n o b j e c t i o n t h a t i n c l u d e s t h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e o b j e c t i o n a t l e a s t t w o c o u r t d a y s b e f o r e t h e m a t t e r i s s c h e d u l e d t o b e h e a r d a n d must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted If no w r i t t e n o b j e c t i o n i s t i m e l y filed, the court may grant the p e t i t i o n w i t h o u t a h e a r i n g N O T I C E O F H E A R I N G : Date: 10/14/2022 Time: 8:30 AM Dept : B The address of t h e c o u r t i s B U R B A N K C O U R T H O U S E , 3 0 0 E a s t O l i v e A v e n u e B u r b a n k , C A 91502 A copy of this Orde r to Show Cause shall be pub l i s h e d a t l e a s t o n c e e a c h w e e k f o r f o u r s u c c e s s i v e w e e k s p r i o r t o t h e d a t e s e t for hearing on the petition in t h e f o l l o w i n g n e w s p a p e r o f general circulation, printed in this county: Los Angeles Ori ginal filed: August 23, 2022 Robin Miller Sloan, Judge of t h e S u p e r i o r C o u r t P U B L I S H : T h e A r g o n a u t 09/01/22, 09/08/22, 09/15/22, 09/22/22 Employment - PT VOLUNTEER DRIVERS NEEDED The Disabled American Vet erans (DAV) A Non Profit Or ganization serving California V e t e r a n s N e e d s d e d i c a t e d V o l u n t e e r D r i v e r s t o t r a n s p o r t V e t e r a n s t o t h e W e s t L o s A n g e l e s V A H o s p i t a l Vehicle and Gas is provided For more information please c o n t a c t B l a s B a r r a g á n a t ( 3 1 0 ) 2 6 8 3 3 4 4 Rooms for Rent 2 bdr Marina del Rey 2 Story Floating House Room to share Util incl on Mother's Beach $1200/mo Call (310) 433 4571 Accounting 2022 QUICKBOOKS Install, Set Up & Train Payroll & Sales Tax Returns Bank Recs Avail for full charge book keeping or temp work C a l l 3 1 0 5 5 3 5 6 6 7 PlumbingHandymanServices Over 30 Years experience Service & repair • StoppageS Floor & Wall Heat SpecialiSt 10% OFF with 310-876-1577ad PLUMBINGSAL’S • Fast Honest & Reliable • Price Match Guarantee • Gas Leaks & Gas Repairs • All Types of Drains • Repairs & Remodels • Senior Discounts • Family Owned and Operated since 1979 • Lic# 537357 • WWW.SALSPLUMBING.COM 3 1 0 - 7 8 2 - 1 9 7 8 & 24/7ROOTERSERVICE Personal Attempting to locate my ex wife Kathy Lankford McLeod she is 83 years old. Possibly renting in the Marina area, 116 Pine street maybe. I want to try and help her financially if she needs it and apologize for our divorce. My trdr11@yahoo.comEmail LOS ANGELES TIMES SUNDAY CROSSWORD PUZZLE “PLUSH” BY GARY LARSON & AMY ENSZ ACROSS 1 Little rascal 6 Crunchy brownie piece 10 Natural bandage 14 Storm relief org. 18 Sierra Nevada lake 19 Connections 20 Skyline obscurer 21 Ruck of “Spin City” 22 Semis followers 23 whereDormitoryhonor roll students sleep? 26 Name of Davy Crockett’s rifle 28 Enjoy again, as a favorite book 29 Cubbies home 30 __ carte 31 “Fun Factory” clay 35 Tuft of feathers 37 Name of B.B. King’s guitar 41 Actor Mulroney 43 org.Santa-tracking 46 Ingredient for discerning brew masters? 48 Jazz lick 51 Sudoku digit 52 Birdie topper 53 Historical record 54 App symbol 55 Suzuki with 10 MLB Gold Gloves 58 photographerValley“YosemiteWinter” 62 Do needlework 64 Dietary fiber 65 Forecast 67 Charge for using, as an apartment 70 Apple platform 71 Take care of eggs by sitting on them? 74 New __: cap brand 75 Cream cheese serving 77 Genre revitalized by SpearsBritney 78 Thicken, as cream 79 Some year-end lists 81 Calf’s suckling spot 82 Turns way up 84 Stadium level 86 inhabitantsRivendell 88 __ Island 90 Tacks on 91 Went platinum? 92 Learns about crops like maize? 98 Lost cause 100 Words on an orange containerjuice 102 “Way to go, fella!” 103 Dodge 106 Edible part of a pistachio 108 Mystery writer Grafton 109 Many pop-ups 111 Refuse 113 handler?Baggage 117 Cheap toupee? 122 Duel choices 123 Morales of “Ozark” 124 With 112-Down, fish story 125 Song that might prompt a “Brava!” 126 Cast 127 Texter’s “until next time” 128 Turow book set at Harvard 129 Burt’s Bees product 130 compoundFragrant DOWN 1 Not in bed yet 2 Parker who was the 2020 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year 3 “Pequod” captain 4 Mexican sauce flavored chocolatewith 5 Fly, e.g. 6 __ alcohol 7 Jueves, por ejemplo 8 Salon goop 9 Subj. for applicantscitizenshipsome 10 Help for a tight fit 11 “Virgin novelistRiver”Robyn 12 nativeTenochtitlan 13 “Joy writer/comedianShtick” 14 Terrif 15 Light-up pumps? 16 Classic TV series set in Korea 17 Averse to 22 Farm young 24 Gift tag word 25 Genesis plot 27 Be in a bee 32 Bustle 33 “Okey-doke” 34 OB-GYNs, e.g. 36 Former Seattle team, familiarly 38 Trap during a winter storm, say 39 False witness 40 Spanish lake 42 Sardine cans 44 “I’ll take that as __” 45 Cub’s home 47 Ticker 49 Fistfight souvenir 50 Circular 53 Go up 55 Sacred Nile bird 56 Colorful clog 57 Weekly night for leftovers? 59 Shoulder muscle, for short 60 Parting words 61 Ready to be recorded 63 Bit 65 To some degree 66 Sealing stuff 68 Home run run 69 Stallion feed 71 HRH part 72 Lightened (up) 73 Drill, e.g. 76 Bite 78 “Julius Caesar” role 80 Kristoff’s reindeer in “Frozen” 82 Dab at, as lipstick 83 British elevator 84 Graffiti signature 85 Rite answer? 87 Emmy“ModernThree-timeFamily”nominee 89 Future JDs’ exams 92 Simple shelter 93 Furniture wood 94 Animal that beats its chest 95 Witness 96 Not as flat 97 rejectionsRussian 99 Govern 101 Smooth engine sound 104 “Likewise” 105 One of filmmakingthe Coen brothers 107 Crack squad 109 Turn off the security cameras for, maybe 110 Roomba target 112 See 124-Across 114 Queens, New York, namesakestadium 115 Dazzles 116 Capricorn critter 118 Hodges MiraclemanagedwhotheMets 119 Chemist’s workplace 120 401(k) kin 121 Not a thing

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