Los Angeles Downtown News 01-17-22

January 17, 2022 I VOL. 51 I #3

Symphonic Ellington

LA Philharmonic addressing musician’s legacy with concert miniseries

Custom Neon DTLA company is ‘powered by passion’

+ LAPD use-of-force

policies under review

Eye on Education February 14, 2022

FROMPRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL TO FROM TO POSTGRAD POSTGRAD

For more info. contact Michael Lamb 213-453-3548 • mlamb@timespublications.com or Catherine Holloway 213 -308-2261 • cholloway@timespublications.com

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DT Christina Davis named executive director of PBID

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Covered NEWS California will help

By Kamala Kirk LA Downtown News Staff Writer fter 17 years as the president/CEO for LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce, Christina Davis accepted the executive director role for The Gateway Los Angeles Property Business Improvement District (PBID). Her last day with the chamber was Jan. 14.

PBID oversees 40 properties adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport where property owners tax themselves to make their community cleaner, safer and more vibrant for visitors, employees and businesses.

“Christina has been a dynamic CEO, and I know that our membership will miss her leadership in the organization,” board Chair Rae Lamothe said. “Under her leadership, the chamber has flourished and become a vital organization for local businesses to join.

Her leadership will be missed, but we know she will continue to contribute to the chamber in new ways.”

Davis started her career with the chamber in December 2004 and was promoted to the role of president/CEO in April 2006.

During her time at the chamber, she has

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grown the organization’s budget, membership numbers and prestige, earned the chamber countless awards and accolades, and launched a multitude of programs to support small and large businesses.

She also continued to grow the chamber’s community initiatives, including the beloved LAX Coastal Fourth of July Parade and the Teacher Eddy Awards. During the pandemic, she led her team through the quick move to virtual programming, creating a robust offering of ways businesses could connect, network and find support while keeping the membership and budget stable.

“The LAX Coastal Chamber and the communities we serve hold such a special place in my heart,” Davis said. “The chamber has made great strides during my time here, and it has truly become a force in supporting business and community in our area and beyond.

“I am incredibly pleased with the work we have accomplished, but what I am most proud of is our financial stability, Leadership Academy program, and the formation of the LAX Coastal Education Foundation. I feel truly blessed to have been given the oppor-

LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Christina Davis recently accepted the position of executive director of The Gateway Los Angeles Property Business Improvement District (PBID).

Submitted photo

tunity to lead the chamber and work with some wonderful business leaders.”

Most recently, Davis and incoming board Chair Joe Coleman helmed the organization’s first comprehensive strategic plan, ensuring the organization continues to thrive, remain relevant and serve its 500-plus members.

“I always say our chamber is about building relationships with people,” Davis said.

“I have been honored to serve in this role and be able to connect so many wonder-

ful people and businesses together to create a stronger community. In my new role at Gateway, I will continue to be an advocate and fierce supporter of the chamber and its programs, including Leadership Academy.”

Chad Maender, vice president of membership, has been promoted to the role of president/CEO for LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce. He previously served as executive director of the Mid-Valley YMCA, running an operating budget of over $3 million annually.

“Shifting into the CEO role, I plan to build on the incredible foundation that Christina has built during her tenure,” Maender said.

“Christina has left a profound impact on the many businesses and organizations across our community and has built this chamber from the ground up. All of the great qualities of our organization came from the culture she created. It’s an exciting time in LA, and in particular the LAX Coastal community, as we are set to be the ‘front door’ to the world in the next seven-plus years. We will be maximizing our resources to be a relevant and strategic partner so that all of our businesses can thrive and benefit.”

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Covered NEWS California will help Westlake community garden receives upgrades after NFL grant

By Andres de Ocampo LA Downtown News Staff Writer Westlake community garden that provided an estimated 10,000 pounds of organic produce during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to the local community received a grant from the NFL Greening Program, allowing for upgrades to the 0.16-acre garden that is centered in community engagement and upliftment.

The grant awarded the community garden is from NFL Green, the football league’s environmental program since 1993 working to mitigate environmental impacts in communities that host major NFL events — in this case, the upcoming Super Bowl LVI in Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium.

Susan Groh, director with NFL Green, said the program’s focus for this Super Bowl was to focus on planting more trees and creating or contributing to community gardens in lower-income areas, especially in communities deeply impacted by the pandemic. “( The Westlake community garden) came up several times,” Groh said about the NFL Green Grant. “When we reached out and talked to them and heard their mission, we were sold. We love what they do. Anytime we can help people plant trees or create community gardens in their community, it’s a win.

“We love to see people get involved in their communities. NFL Green here for Super Bowl and then we’re on to the next place, but these greening organizations are doing fantastic work all of the time,” she said.

The Westlake garden is operated by CultivaLA, a nonprofit focused on environmental justice, community upliftment and social enterprise, and has been open to the community since 2019.

With the NFL Green grant money, CultivaLA is planting 24 tangerine and gua-

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Jose Miguel Ruiz, executive director with CultivaLA, stands next to the Mancilla family under the nonprofit’s new vertical garden pergola structure, built with the NFL Green grant that seeks to contribute to green community spaces.

Photo by Andres de Ocampo

va trees on-site and built a pergola that incorporates 32 planter boxes into the build, transforming the structure into a vertical garden that grows strawberries, cilantro, purple onion and other produce.

The garden serves as a community landmark, not only providing a space that connects people with their existing or new-found interest in agriculture but also serving as a resource for local-grown, fresh produce.

Jose Miguel Ruiz, executive director of CultivaLA, said the garden is open to the community on Tuesday and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and is involved in multiple ways that engage the community, on top of the food distributions the nonprofit began doing during the pandemic.

“The food distribution was serving over 500 people a week. The commu-

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nity garden is serving as a landmark for Ruiz explained that although he is resources. We do a vaccine drive each thankful for the grant opportunity from month where we served 350 people, and NFL Green, “We need more resources, not collectively we’ve done over 2,000 vac- just from the NFL but from the federal cines at the garden,” he said. level as well. My hope is that we continue Though the garden is frequently har- to bring other partners in like Wells Farvested and provides the community with go, who we worked with in the past. It’s locally grown produce on a regular basis, about investing in communities like the Ruiz emphasized the importance of be- Westlake neighborhood, making sure it’s ing resourceful to meet the needs of the not a one-time deal but that a structure community. remains to benefit the community.”

“Even if we use every square inch of Ruiz welcomes anyone to be a part EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski space in the garden, it’s not enough, of the Westlake garden and encourages STAFF WRITERS: Andrew Checchia, Andres De Ocampo, Julia Shapero which is why we haveWRITERS: the new vertical people CONTRIBUTING Sara Edwards, Kamala Kirkto visit the CultivaLA website to garden. That’s where the opportunity get a better understanding of the nonART DIRECTORS: Arman Olivares, Stephanie Torres comes in toSTAFF get PHOTOGRAPHER: creative and Luis findChavez other profit’s work to potentially get involved CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Myriam Santos types of growing.

But, for now, we have and volunteer.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Michael Lamb to buy foodFOUNDER and utilize CultivaLA’s “To do a food distribution for 500 peoEMERITUS: Sue Laris2-acre farm in El Monte and our 1-acre farm in ple, it takes an army. We work with a lot Rosemead to supplement what’s being of volunteers, but the hope is that we grown at the garden,” Ruiz said. know who they are, they come to work

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Christina Fuoco-Karasinski STAFF WRITERS: Summer Aguirre, Andres de Ocampo, Kamala Kirk CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Haley Beyer, Bridgette M. Redman, Kirk Silsbee, Ellen Snortland STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Chris Mortenson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER: Alberto Camacho ART DIRECTORS: Arman Olivares, Stephanie Torres ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway (213) 308-2261 Michael Lamb (213) 453-3548 FOUNDER EMERITUS: Sue Laris

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and have purpose. … Our aspiration is that the community gets inspired and the kids can get exposed to what wellness looks like and become familiar with what a community and green space is,” he said.

Ruiz explained how little green areas there are in Los Angeles and is hoping to contribute to a healthier future of Los Angeles and the youth. Growing up in the Westlake area, Ruiz said that starting the garden was personal and that he started the nonprofit because of “the disconnect” he had working in the finance industry.

“It was this rewarding career. You make money but these professions are only for you. If all it took for me to give back was leveraging some sponsorships, sending some emails, I was willing to do that,” he said.

Another aspect of the community garden, Ruiz explained, is the Free Mercado Al Aire Libre, or FREE Farmers Market, which is CultivaLA’s concept for social enterprise. “The idea is that people can come grow the food, then take it home.

It’s a model where we cut the transportation. You can sell it, bring it and eat the produce here,” he said.

Maria Santiago, a local Westlake-area resident who helps organize with the community for CultivaLA events, has been growing produce in a section of the lot as one of the garden’s active garden-

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ers, or “cultiva-doers,” for a year and a half.

Santiago, leaving the garden with a bag full of fresh herbs after watering and harvesting produce and planting more seeds for a rotating harvest, said, “This garden has helped my family a lot. Since I started here, I haven’t needed to buy any of this from the store.

“What helps me destress is coming here and connecting with the earth or the soil. It’s fulfilling when I come here and harvest and take the produce home,” Santiago said about her experience with the community garden.

“Unfortunately, there are not a lot of green spaces in this area. There’s a lot of focus on building new housing and apartments with no community gardens,” she said.

Santiago is not the only Westlake community member getting fulfillment and finding a space that provides a holistic outlet to destress.

Jimmy Mancilla and his family started coming to the garden during the pandemic to get fresh air, and it has since “made a big difference” in their lives, becoming a regular location for them as active members of the garden, he said.

“I feel like a lot more people need something like this as an outlet that can be good. The area itself, it’s not always great, but something like this, it’s changing that,” Macilla said about the garden.

The garden, which started as an op-

portunity for Mancilla and his family to get outside for fresh air, slowly became a place serving as a therapeutic outlet, and even a place for learning and bonding for them.

“It serves us a lot,” he said. “Not just an outlet but a closer connection to the community. … Even when the garden isn’t open, we tend to hang around here.

We come and look at the plants. It does something to us, positively.”

Mancilla said his family helps out at the garden with “the whole nine yards, whether it be planting, harvesting, watering, planning events. “(CultivaLA) hosts events with the city, vaccinations for the community, and seasonal events. We’re pretty involved.”

Another reason the garden became a regular place for Mancilla and his wife is because of the healthy environment it provides for their two children.

“This is a place where they can run around and stay healthy and talk to people and practice social skills,” he said.

“If my kids are doing good because of their mental health, and the impact of COVID hasn’t really hit them, it’s because of this (garden). … Because it’s an open space, it made a big difference for my children during the pandemic quarantine,” he said.

Mancilla notices how happy the garden makes his children and said, “Sure enough my kids come and they get ex-

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cited looking at the fruit grow and become ripe. … They’re walking around watering plants. Their minds are occupied by something other than being stuck at home with electronics or being out on the street, meeting the wrong people. I think it’s essential for people to have that in communities.”

“This garden is an intervention for the kids growing up,” he continued. “Due to the area, it’s not the best area ever. Prior to coming to the garden, I was worried about my kids. This garden has given me some peace of mind, because I know they’re into this.”

Though unexpected, being around the garden has also helped Mancilla reflect on his life.

“This garden connects me back to my mother. She grew up in Mexico, and she grew up with agriculture. She still grows plants in her apartment. When I come here, I feel like I’m connected with my mom,” he said.

Speaking about how he plans on continuing to incorporate gardening into his family’s lives in the future, with plans of prospecting homes with a backyard space where his children can continue their exploration agriculture, Mancilla said, “(CultivaLA) brought something to our lives. They have a farm out in El Monte, and because it brings a lot to our well-being, we drive out there (from the Westlake area). We look for it now.”

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Covered NEWS California will help

LAPD use-of-force policies under review

By Andres de Ocampo LA Downtown News Staff Writer APD use-of-force policies will be immediately reviewed because of an increase in officer-involved shootings, the Board of Police Commissioners president said during a Jan. 13 press conference.

William Briggs II joined Mayor Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, District 7, and LAPD Police Chief Michael Moore to speak about LA crime in 2021 and initiatives for 2022.

An LAPD report documents that officer-involved shootings rose from 27 incidents in 2020 to 37 in 2021, with 18 fatalities by the end of year. “ The year-over-year increase was made up entirely of incidents which involved individuals armed with weapons other than firearms,” the report reads.

“More than half of the officer-involved shooting incidents involved individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, while a quarter of the incidents involved a person experiencing homelessness.”

The most recent officer-involved shooting was Dec. 23 when LAPD was dispatched to a North Hollywood clothing store where suspect Daniel Elena-Lopez, 24, was assaulting customers with a bike lock. An LAPD officer, who has not been identified, opened fire on Lopez, striking him. A stray bullet hit 14-year-old Valentina Orellana-Peralta in

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a dressing room. Elena-Lopez and Orellana-Peralta were pronounced dead at the scene.

“The fact that most people in these (officer-involved shooting) incidents did not have guns have led us to work with our commission, city council and chief to put fresh eyes on what we are doing,” Garcetti said at the press conference.

“I’ve asked the leadership of our commission and in the department to closely re-examine our use-of-force policies, to honestly evaluate existing reforms and to be candid in identifying to address problems that remain.”

The mayor outlined two other actions.

The first, Garcetti said, is to “ensure and expand transparency and accountability,” which includes a full accounting of Orellana-Peralta’s death, and a report from the inspector general, an independent civilian oversight of policing meant to promote impartiality in police actions.

The LAPD’s last action is “scenario-based training” to provide officers with more experience when dedicated to incidents not involving firearms or incidents involving mental illness, he said.

“The increased number of officer-involved shootings is of concern to not only Angelenos, the department, but also the commission,” Briggs said before elaborating on the use-of-force policy review.

LAPD Police Chief Michael Moore addresses an uptick in officer-involved shootings in 2021 at a press conference about LAPD crime over the past year and initiatives moving into the new year.

Photo courtesy of Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office

Mayor Eric Garcetti recaps Los Angeles crime in 2021 at a press conference during which he announced a review of the city’s use-of-force policies.

Photo courtesy of Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office

“ The review will include dialogue from community members, organizations and other law enforcement agencies to further balance the need for police response and community trust.

After this, the Board of Police Commissioners will consider new policies designed to preserve life.”

Briggs highlighted recommendations adopted by LAPD from After-Action reports after the 2020 civil unrest throughout the city following George Floyd’s death.

“Some of those recommendations have been implemented already with regard to less-lethal force. Some of those recommendations include more training for officers so they know about crowd control and they know when to use less-lethal force when there is no imminent danger,” Briggs said.

The 2021 LAPD crime report also addressed a hot-button issue: increasing the number of officers in the coming year. The report notes a decrease in the department’s police force — from 9,804 sworn personnel in 2020 to 9,561 in 2021 — “due to budget constraints and a hiring freeze,” with plans of focusing on recruitment.

Amid activists’ calls to defund the police, the report mentions a commitment in 2022 “to focus every available resource to field operations and visible patrols while staffing critical support functions such as training, recruitment and our accountability systems.”

“It’s a combination of what level we need versus what we can afford. We want to restore at least back to levels that were authorized in this budget, and we are well under that. … I want us to be at a level to meet the challenges that we have, and we need more officers to do that,” Garcetti said.

Garcetti’s budget for 2021-22 earmarks $3 billion for the LAPD. The mayor also mentioned he has authorized LAPD for expedited hiring of future sworn personnel candidates.

“We need policing and a sufficient number of officers so they have time to work in our communities and build relationships,” Moore said.

Moore argued that having more officers, while utilizing programs like Community Safety Partnership — a collaboration between the CSP Bureau and the Housing Authority of the city of Los Angeles to place officers in neighborhoods long term to strengthen community ties to law enforcement and lower crime rates — is ultimately necessary for improving trust between police officers and the public while lowering crime.

“What is critically important is, when we look at the instances of gun violence and police involvement in that, what can we do to change our numbers and how can we lead in American policing to eliminate these increases (in officer-involved shootings). … The ideal number for officer-involved shootings is zero,” Moore said.

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PROPOSITION 65 / PROPUESTA 65

WARNING / AVISO

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California Electroplating, Inc. emite cromo hexavalente (un producto químico conocido por el estado de California para causar cáncer también se sabe que causa defectos de nacimiento u otros daños reproductivos). Las personas dentro del área que se muestra dentro de la línea gruesa en el mapa están expuestas al cromo hexavalente a un nivel determinado por el Estado para requerir una advertencia

California Electroplating, Inc. 3510 East Pico Blvd., LA, CA 90023 323-268-9154 For more information go to www.p65warning.ca.gov

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

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Covered HEALTHCalifornia will help

The California Hospital Medical Center’s new patient care tower will feature four stories of additional space with advanced medical technology and individual private rooms for emergency beds.

Submitted photo

CHMC looking forward to new patient tower

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor his time next year, California Hospital Medical Center will introduce its new patient care tower to the public and the facility’s staff.

The centerpiece of a $215 million campus expansion and modernization project, it was designed to keep up with the growing and diverse needs of the greater Downtown Los Angeles community, according to Alina Moran, the chief executive officer of Dignity Health California Hospital.

The new 150,000-square-foot, four-story tower will provide added space, pri-

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vacy and advanced medical technology, while greatly enhancing the hospital’s capacity and accessibility for emergency, trauma and maternity services, she explained.

All emergency beds will be in private rooms. CHMC operates the busiest private trauma center in Los Angeles, Moran said.

“It will also allow us to really attract new talent here at the hospital,” Moran said. “We’re going to expand our services and strengthen our role as a major regional teaching hospital. It will meet many different needs for the community and staff.”

The tower will have its own water sup-

ply, sewer storage and generator fuel capacity to be able to continue operating for up to 72 hours in the event of a largescale catastrophe. This is especially critical because CHMC is a designated LA County disaster resource center.

The new tower will also house an enhanced neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), labor and delivery, and postpartum services. There will be private NICU and postpartum rooms.

The staff is hosting hard-hat tours so the staff and stakeholders can understand the dynamics of the project.

“We’re very excited,” she said. “We are one of the busiest private trauma centers

in the country. Based on location, we’re right near the freeway, in the middle of Downtown, so we get a lot of trauma cases that come into our hospital.”

The $215 million campus expansion is being funded through a $165 million investment from Dignity Health and a capital campaign seeking a local philanthropic investment of $50 million. As of December, the campaign has raised over $36 million.

“We’re excited about continuing those efforts and serving the community,” Moran said. “We’ve been in this community for 130 years. To continue that legacy is a wonderful thing.”

The 150,000-square-foot tower will also have its own water supply, sewer storage and generator fuel capacity to operate for up to 72 hours in the event of an emergency.

Submitted photo

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HEALTHCARE SPOTLIGHT

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Gynecological specialists care at California Hospital

By California Hospital Medical Center Good health should always be a priority, but for women who lead busy lives with family and work, this could be difficult.

Whether it’s dedicating their time and energy to children and families, pursuing successful and meaningful careers, or helping those in need, women often forget how important it is to take time for themselves.

At the Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health at Dignity Health — California Hospital Medical Center, we understand that every woman is unique. That’s why we bring together nationally recognized doctors, nurses and staff who provide high-quality, compassionate care.

From experts in routine gynecological care to the most complex services, our providers partner with you to offer the personalized attention you deserve.

This ultra-modern center was designed with women in mind with soft colors that create a calm, spa-like environment. It offers a wide array of women’s wellness services, including: • Bone density assessment.

• Breast health, including mammography; ultrasound; and cancer testing, treatment and

The lobby at the Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health. management.

• Female pelvic reconstructive surgery.

• Genetic testing.

• Gynecologic health, including ultrasound, cancer screenings, biopsies and surgical procedures.

• Urinary tract health.

This year, make it a priority to care for your

PhPhoooPPhoto courtesy of California Hospital Medical Center

needs rather than pushing them back. Your family, friends and loved ones depend on you, and your health makes it possible to continue being such an important part of their lives.

Contact the Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health at 213-270-1046 to schedule an appointment. To learn more, visit https://dignityhlth. org/3nqpWq5.

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DOWNTOWN NEWS 11

10 reasons to donate blood

By PIH Health Every 2 seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, according to the American Red Cross. Blood donations are used for accident victims, as well as cancer, organ transplants and surgery patients. People with chronic illnesses also need blood. Blood donations help people of all ages and can very literally save a life.

Here are 10 reasons to roll up your sleeve: You help others. Giving blood is one of the most selfless acts you can perform. Your donated blood can potentially help save up to three lives.

You’re among a select minority. Less than 38% of the population is eligible to give blood or platelets, so if you’re one of them, consider yourself among the chosen few.

You get a free health checkup. Before you give blood, a nurse will check your blood pressure, pulse, temperature and hemoglobin levels. Your blood may also be checked for HIV, hepatitis and other diseases. So, it’s like getting a mini checkup just for doing something good!

It burns calories. You can’t replace your regular workout with a blood donation, but you can burn about 650 calories while donating 1 pint of blood.

Your body will make new blood. Think of it like a tuneup for your body. When you donate blood, you generate new blood. It takes about 24 hours to replace the plasma and four to six weeks to replace the red blood cells from your donation.

It may improve your heart health. Donating blood temporarily lowers the iron in your blood. Elevated levels of iron may increase the risk of heart

Before donating, blood pressure, pulse, temperature and hemoglobin levels will be checked.

PhPhoooPPhoto courtesy of PIH Health

disease in men. According an article by the American Journal of Epidemiology, men who donated blood at least once a year had an 88% lower risk of heart attacks than men who were not donors.

It promotes well-being. Giving blood can make you feel good about yourself, reduce stress and improve your emotional health.

It only takes an hour. The process of donating blood is simple and quick. You’ll likely be there about an hour, although the actual blood donation only takes about 10 minutes.

It doesn’t really hurt. You may feel a slight prick when the needle is inserted into your arm, but the process is relatively painless. And when you consider the benefits it provides, the minor discomfort is well worth it.

You may need a blood donation one day. It’s estimated that about 25% of people will need blood at least once in their lives. Although there’s no direct correlation between giving blood and receivADVERTORIAL

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Blood donations help people of all ages.

PhPhoooPPhoto courtesy of PIH Health

ing it, you may be as grateful one day as someone else currently is for the donation.

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Covered California CONSIDER THIS will help

jANUARY 17, 2022

SMITH’S OPINION

Women’s History Month 2022 starts now

By Ellen Snortland LA Downtown News Columnist ommy, my legs hurt.” I was crying in the foyer of our home in Huron, South Dakota, after coming home from school. During second grade, I walked to and from school like all-town kids did. It was at least 20 below zero on many winter days, yet my school required girls to wear dresses. My knees and thighs, now absent of color, stung and ached! My mother, a usually chill person — adjective used advisedly — looked enraged as she rolled down my tights. “That’s it! You’re wearing pants to school tomorrow.”

If you look up frostbite, toes, fingers, noses and cheeks are mentioned as likely targets. There’s nary a word about little girls’ legs on the Great Plains of the U.S. I wore pants to school the next day, but rules are rules — I was sent home to change. Mom sent me back with pants under a dress. I sat in the principal’s office while my mother and the white male principal wrangled.

My mom finally prevailed, and the little girls got to wear pants as long as they were worn under skirts or dresses. It was also stipulated that they remove their trousers in the changing room for school and only put them back on for walks home.

Geez, Louise! Who possibly benefited from girls showing their legs in the dead of winter? Dress codes have always discriminated against girls; the boys simply jumped in their dungarees and ran to school and back.

Freedom!

Why am I connecting frostbite, grade school and mother to March, Women’s History Month? You don’t have to hold your breath. Historically, women of all colors have been rejected, discriminated against, burdened by, and harassed based on their looks and attire. I have a longer view of women’s history than many of my friends, since that’s been my passion for decades.

March has been Women’s History Month ever since the early ’80s. The 501(c)(3) board I currently serve on, aptly named the National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA), was founded by the unstoppable Molly Murphy MacGregor. She rebelled against the virtual invisibility of women in history and vowed to devote her life to bringing women into the curriculum at all levels of schooling.

And now I’ve taken up the torch with my dedication to making a big deal out of Women’s History Month. I’m envious of February, Black History Month because big cor-

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Ellen Snortland porations have decided it’s good business to promote and sponsor it. They also have the big bucks to do so. Do they apportion similar funds to Women’s History Month?

No, they do not, and it grinds my butt. Half of the world’s population qualifies, and people often assume that if the women are missing, it’s because they are not important. However, I am pleased that the Black history advocates are thoroughly inclusive of women. We all benefit from knowing about the histories of women of color.

Lying in bed one night recently, my husband pointed out a heartbreaking and eye-opening Washington Post op-ed by high school student Micaela Wells. She felt compelled to point out that her history books in Advanced Placement U.S. history classes devote a single paragraph to women, and that’s it. She then gave her peers a survey and found they could only name a handful of significant women, and always the same ones. And, my friends, that’s deep in our psyche. For the most part, their parents and teachers don’t notice that women are missing either, or if they notice, they have not done anything practical to include women as a matter of course.

In the spirit of Micaela’s findings, I challenge you to learn about women in various fields who you may not have heard of before. My goal is to inspire and/or infuriate, and I’m including men in this, too. Another place to look is your family history, whether written or anecdotal. My gentle, introverted, infuriated mother changed grade school for us gals, at least in Huron, South Dakota, and you’ll never read about her in a book. Are there women in your family who did something to shake up the status quo?

You don’t know if you don’t ask!

My editor, Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, and I have two challenges for March that start right now. If I plug March events

only in March, it’s too late for most folks to participate. For adults: Does your corporation have a speaker’s series? Does your union commemorate women? Your bank or service organization? Your place of worship? Send me the suggestions you’ve given to these places and actually implemented. We’ll consider publication if you write a 600- to 800-word essay about it. If you’re in high school, I am opening up a contest for you to write and submit an essay on Wom-

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en’s History Month that’s at least 600 words and no more than 850. “Why Women’s History is Important” is a good place to start for an essay. Send it to me no later than midnight on Wednesday, Jan. 26 — go! During March, the winner(s) will be published here in my “Consider This…” slot.

Ellen Snortland has been writing a gender column for decades. Contact her at ellensnortland@mac.com.

Covered LETTERSCalifornia will help Running again?

Editor: America is looking straight into the eyes of a tornado-style political year in 2022 and an even bigger one in 2024. How did democracies in the past handle situations where deeply divisive personalities on the political scene were disruptive to peace and good order?

Ancient democracies like Athens and Rome practiced preventative medicine.

Their legal systems required that populist demagogues interested in personal rule be sidelined from political activity. Those excitable personalities were actually required to leave their native soil for a number of years until they could remember how to act like good citizens. A famous case of ostracism/ exile was Marcius Coriolanus in Rome.

The practice was so important to ancient democracies that even the best leaders who stumbled badly just once were affected. For example, Moses in ancient democratic Israel was excused from the Promised Land when he alienated God and civil society near the end of the Exodus journey in the wilderness.

Modern America did a similar thing in the early West. Sheriffs “warned out” disruptive criminals, advising them to leave town and territory or face more severe consequences.

Even monarchies like that of Queen Elizabeth I understood the need for wild political figures to be reigned in or, actually, reignedout. When Sir Walter Raleigh got too rambunctious on British soil, the queen essentially exiled him to explore the new world.

Kimball Shinkoskey

Hey you! Speak up!

Downtown News wants to hear from people in the community. If you like or dislike a story, let us know, or weigh in on something you feel is important to the community.

Participation is easy. Go to downtownnews.com, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “Letter to the Editor” link. For guest opinion proposals, please email christina@timespublications.com.

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Normand Boyle drinks his magic mushroom potion during a scene in “Mondo Hollywoodland.”

Two women hang out poolside at the home of Normand Boyle throughout the film “Mondo Hollywoodland.”

Photo courtesy of Janek Ambros

Photo courtesy of Janek Ambros

Psychedelic movie tips hat to ’60s cult film

By Bridgette M. Redman LA Downtown News Contributing Writer f an alien were to visit and ask, “What is Hollywood?” would the answer be “mondo”?

That’s the answer Janek Ambros has in his new film, “Mondo Hollywoodland,” a tribute to the 1967 documentary by Robert Carl Cohen, “Mondo Hollywood.”

Ambros shot the 105-minute psychedelic film entirely on his smartphone. It had its U.S. premiere at the DTLA Film Festival, where it won the Creative Vision Award. Internationally, it made its debut at the Innuendo International Film Festival in Milan, where Ambros won best director.

Following a limited theatrical release, “Mondo Hollywoodland” is available on Amazon Prime.

Ambros got the idea for it when one of his favorite directors, Paul Thomas Anderson, presented the original “Mondo Hollywood,” at a film festival. He said he was then in his mid-20s and trying to get his first feature film financed.

“I thought, what if I did a newer version of that?” Ambros said.

His original idea was to shoot the movie in virtual reality with a VR camera.

“Then, all of a sudden, I started working on it more in 2017 and 2018 and I started to be like, what if I did it like a regular movie?”

He wrote with Marcus Hart and Chris Blim, the latter of whom starred in it as Normand Boyle, the magic mushroom dealer at the center of the story. The other two writers also appear, with Ambros as the antagonist.

The film follows Boyle as he searches for his cat, Zappo. He tries to rid his attic of rats and provides drugs to three groups of Hol-

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lywood types — the titans, the weirdos and the dreamers. Interspersed are shots of iconic Los Angeles locations in DTLA and Venice.

The shooting was intentionally low budget with attention poured into the editing stage to add the psychedelic effects. Most of the time, he said there were the actors and only two crew. He’d have the audio equipment in his backpack, and he and Blim would shoot.

“That gave us a lot of abilities to shoot in place and situations we would never be able to budget for if we did it traditionally,” Ambros said.

When Ambros and Hart first start writing it for virtual reality, they came up with the idea of the three Hollywood types.

“Those were the three cohorts of Hollywood we wanted to discover,” Ambros said.

“Marcus wrote the narration, and the script became more narrative. When we started to shoot, we had a general framework.”

Wild detours ruled the filmmaking process, though. One night, they were celebrating Blim’s birthday at a bar and a car exploded on the street. Because the shooting was all done on the iPhone, he ran out, filmed footage and incorporated the explosion into the story.

“I ran up to the car and started shooting,” Ambros said. “It was a freak accident — no one was hurt. That’s an example. Then we had footage of a car explosion, so we went over and changed the script. It’s a very strange way to make a movie.”

In the edit room, Ambros chipped away at the task to “get to the destination from all the footage that we had.”

He said each section has a three-act structure amid the multilayered craziness.

“We were writing the script as we were shooting,” Ambros said. “We wanted to stay true to the psychedelic nature of the era. It wasn’t traditional or formulaic.”

They wrote, shot and edited it before the pandemic, but screenings were delayed due to COVID-19.

“Watching it during the pandemic, I remember looking at what this world is — everybody is hanging out — and wondering, ‘Is it ever going to be like this again?’”

Ambros said he comes from an editing background and is influenced by old Russian editors known for creative styles and montages.

He went frame by frame, correcting colors and adding trippy sequences in the editing room, using tricky editing techniques rather than paying for special effects.

Ambros’ first feature film was “Imminent Threat,” a documentary on the war on terror.

The executive producer was James Cromwell, an actor best known for “Babe,” “Star Trek: First Contact” and “The Green Mile.”

“I reached out to him because he’s very politically involved — animal rights, human rights and political issues,” Ambros said.

“When I made this film (‘Mondo Hollywoodland’), I didn’t tell him about it, but I sent it to him and said, ‘Do you like it? Would you like to produce it?’ I was surprised that he said yes. And he was so into it.”

Cromwell lent his name to the film and championed it, which thrilled Ambros.

“For this type of film, there are always a lot of insecurities — what are people going to think?” Ambros said. “Having him behind us is very encouraging. It can go a long way.”

Ambros has been shocked at the positive feedback and reviews.

“I hope that people embrace the strangeness of it and go along for the ride,” Ambros said. “It’s not for everyone. But for those who get it, they’ll have fun and watch it a few times. There are weird, little strange layers to it that have some rewatch value.”

He also hopes that people pick up on the film’s subversive political aspect.

“It has an antifascist point of view,” Ambros said. “There is a villain in the movie who represents a malignant force within the United States.

“Underneath the absurdity and chaos and silliness there are some things politically that it is trying to say. I hope people find that interesting and amusing in the wake of so much political discourse.”

Movie theaters are overrun with thrillers, dramas and comedies, but unlike the ’60s, ’70s and even the ’90s, there aren’t as many bizarre, experimental films.

“It doesn’t take itself too seriously and has fun,” Ambros said. “I’m going against film language and tradition. I think that is why some people resonate with this. Even if you hate the movie, I think people will say it is unique, it’s so weird. I think usually the weirdness is what attracts people.”

“Mondo Hollywoodland” Trailer: https://bit.ly/MondoHollywoodlandTrailer Official website: mondohollywoodland.com

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Covered TRAVELCalifornia will help

For safer travel during COVID-19, Travellers Autobarn offers budget-friendly camper van rentals with unlimited mileage.

Photo courtesy of Travellers Autobarn

Travellers Autobarn camper van rentals offer budget-friendly getaways with unlimited mileage

By Haley Beyer LA Downtown News Contributing Writer uring his travels, Peter Burke saw plenty of backpackers who benefited from a camper van.

Inspired, he founded Travellers Autobarn, which rents camper vans with unlimited mileage.

The company launched two years ago in the United States but was established in Australia and New Zealand in 1993 and 2016, respectively.

Through the creation of Travellers Autobarn, Burke learned the true meaning of “It’s not work when you’re having fun.”

“My favorite part about the camper vans is the freedom they provide,” Burke said.

“Some of the best stories include the most unexpected things because they weren’t planned. I want people to detour. Take turns off your route. COVID-19 taught us that we need to look for true freedom again. A road trip is one of the last true forms of adventure, in my opinion.”

Travellers Autobarn’s most popular camper van model is the Kuga, which sleeps up to three people comfortably and has a kitchen space with a microwave, fridge, sink and gas stove — all powered by solar panels, decreasing the need to stay at a powered campsite to recharge batteries for the fridge and lights.

The camper vans also include an extra preparation pack in the winter to help keep campers warm, including space heaters, an extra battery pack and hot pads.

Camper vans are a better option compared to regular RVs, fifth wheel campers, tents and motel/hotel stays because of how practical and simple they are.

“These camper vans are our own design, and they were built for the renter rather than for luxury or style,” Burke said. “If something’s not needed, it’s not in the van.”

Other rental options include the HiTop campervan, which fits two to three people and has functional cooking and storage areas, as well as the minivan, which suits up to five people and can be used as a cheap car rental solution while camping. Travelers also have the option to rent a living equipment pack for $45. It includes a tent, camping chairs, table, gas cooker and cooking equipment.

Prices vary depending on the trip, but the per-day cost goes down the longer the vehicle is rented.

The average cost for a 10-day trip is approximately $89 per day, and there is a minimum rental requirement of four days.

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The average cost for a 10-day trip is roughly $89 per day, with a minimum rental requirement of four days.

Photo courtesy of Travellers Autobarn

Customers tend to rent the vehicles for five days, but one paid for eight months.

“The longer you go, the cheaper it gets,” Burke said.

Adding to its convenience, Travellers Autobarn’s camper vans do not need to be returned to the rental location.

There are pickup/drop-off locations in San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Las Vegas and in Los Angeles right by LAX. Burke recommended several popular travel spots that are just a few hours’ drive from LA, including Idyllwild, Lake Arrowhead, Oak Glen, Joshua Tree, Palm Springs and Big Sur. Travellers Autobarn also provides itineraries on its website for those without a specific location in mind.

Renters must be 21 or older and provide a driver’s license and credit card for security purposes. Booking can be done online via Travellers Autobarn’s website.

Travellers Autobarn travellers-autobarnrv.com

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DTLA financial adviser competes on ‘Supermarket Sweep’

By Summer Aguirre LA Downtown News Staff Writer V viewers will see Los Angeles financial adviser Stanton Roseman bring his knowledge to the grocery store for the Leslie Jones-helmed ABC primetime game show “Supermarket Sweep on Sunday, Jan. 30.

Roseman teamed up with his older sister and nurse educator Jeni Coxson of Spanish Fork, Utah, for Team Virgin Margaritas.

The experience gave them a chance to step away from their everyday lives and do something “over-the-top exciting.” No matter the outcome, they just wanted to have a good time.

“I’m just honored to be up there,” he said.

“I think in a time when there’s so much negative news, watching the show is such a positive thing.

“Just because it’s 100% pure entertainment is what it is. It’s something that people can do without really having to worry about anything difficult or straining.”

“Supermarket Sweep,” the third revival of the 1960s grocery store-themed game show, premiered in October 2020 and is in its second season.

In each episode, three teams of two contestants face off in a series of trivia, fun

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facts and timed challenges. Winners of the minigames earn time to their clock for the final race, where competitors must collect as many high-value items as possible. The top team wins the dollar amount of their items in addition to a $100,000 prize.

Roseman likes game shows for their excitement, which is what inspired him to apply. He initially applied to another series but received a call about “Supermarket Sweep,” one of the shows he grew up watching in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Auditions began in July 2021, and Roseman said much of the process was held via Zoom due to COVID-19 protocol. Filming for the episode began at the end of August 2021.

“I just can’t say enough positive things about how professional the whole experience was and how professional the entire team was,” he said. “I would recommend it to anyone that has ever had in their hearts that they should be trying out for a show.”

On the set, the staff was firm about health protocol and maintaining a level of safety.

Roseman said the experience was a bit intimidating with so much action, adding that he got so excited to be on the show that his Apple Watch even warned him

Financial adviser Stanton Roseman teamed up with his older sister Jeni Coxson for the ABC game show.

Submitted photo

about his heart rate.

“It’s a little daunting,” he said.

“And to see a celebrity (Jones) hosting the show, it’s a little overwhelming, but she makes it super comfortable. She’s super fun and she helped put you at ease, and the staff is just there with you all the way.”

A Utah native, Roseman has lived in California for six years and works for Merrill Lynch in Downtown Los Angeles. He is an alumnus of Dixie State University, where he

earned a bachelor’s in business administration. He earned an MBA from Notre Dame.

“Most of my day is taking care of people’s millions or helping them plan toward retirement or helping them plan for some major event,” Roseman said.

“It (the show) was a chance for me to do something exciting and something different than what I normally do every day, which is something that’s kind of off the wall.”

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Ellington fans jumping for joy over shows

By Kirk Silsbee LA Downtown News Contributing Writer hough it may have interfaced with the music of Duke Ellington in passing over the years, the Los Angeles Philharmonic is addressing the Ellington legacy in a meaningful way this month with a miniseries of concerts at the Disney.

“Robert Glasper Reimagines Ellington” saw the shape-shifting jazz wizard bring a decidedly contemporary perspective on Jan. 15.

The LA Philharmonic, conducted by Thomas Wilkins, undertake the rest of the evenings: “The Symphonic Duke Ellington” plays selections from long-form opuses, with guest soloist, pianist Gerald Clayton, Thursday, Jan. 20, and Friday, Jan. 21. And they play selections from Ellington’s Sacred Concerts, Saturday, Jan. 22, and Sunday, Jan. 23.

In his 50-year career, Ellington (1899-1974) always looked for new formats to compose for and new ways to present his orchestra.

One of his most significant achievements was the six-month musical “Jump for Joy,” which ran in 1941 at the nearby Mayan Theatre on Hill Street. The show was a provocative revue of social topics, featuring the best comics, singers and dancers to be heard in LA. It was a program that changed weekly, which drew audiences back. (Teenage saxophonist Zoot Sims, living in Hawthorne, saw “Jump for Joy” six times.) At the time of his death, Ellington was at work on a musical he called “Queenie Pie,” with the aim of landing on Broadway, the one venue he could not penetrate.

Thomas Wilkins has conducted the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra since 2014. He’s conducted Ellington’s music with organizations around the country, like the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He came to Ellingtonia in his native Norfolk, Virginia, through the teachings of his teacher, jazz organist Reginald Walker.

The son of a single mother in a housing project, Wilkins was taken with orchestral music early on and pursued it with determination.

“Through what Reggie showed us, I could hear the orchestral elegance and sophistication in Duke’s music,” Wilkins said from his home in Michigan.

“When I started seriously investigating his orchestral scores, I saw that he wrote for strings the way he would for horn sections.

The string orchestra is part of the fabric of the music, and it sounds as though it belonged there all along.”

Ellington’s band was the one orchestra that never folded, nor took an extended hiatus, after the big band era (roughly 1935 to 1955) had ended.

He kept the band working, even if it meant through grueling tour schedules. The night after Duke was honored at the Nixon White House in 1969, the Ellingtonians played a high school. He populated his band with players who were often one of a kind and, sometimes, otherwise unemployable. If he heard

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something special in the way they played, he had a spot for them in the band. His epochal band of the early 1940s was full of instrumentalists with distinct regional voices — from New York, Kansas City, Chicago and New Orleans — and it excited Duke to craft instrumental settings for his men.

That generosity of spirit enabled Ellington to take on a writing and arranging partner, the gifted Billy Strayhorn, who came onto the band in 1941. Their symbiosis was such that Duke could tell him that he needed a 64 bar middle section with a particular mood in a specified key — on a cross-country phone call — and marvel at how the completed Strayhorn section would dovetail neatly with his own introduction and ending. The grinding performance schedule allowed Ellington a luxury few composers enjoy: He could hear his music played after it was written the night before in an ice cream reverie (Will Wright’s vanilla bean was his favorite flavor).

Ellington and Strayhorn were complementary, but there were distinctions in what each man brought to the table. Duke was a largely self-taught talent, who displayed bold color in his writing. Strayhorn had some formal training and brought a harmonic lushness that added an entirely new strata to the Ducal canon.

Strayhorn, not Ellington, wrote one of the themes most associated with the band — “Take the A Train.” Where Duke’s masterpieces of blues arrangement like “Harlem Air Shaft” and “Koko” jump and rock, Strayhorn’s themes could move very slowly (“Chelsea Bridge” and “Blood Count”) but are full of harmonic portent.

“Ellington’s music is something we’ve gotten into before, a little bit, with the LA Philharmonic,” Wilkins said. “We have a history of looking for music that outside of the proscribed concert box.”

Reminded of LA’s exceptional caliber of musicians, many of whom work in the recording studios or aspire to, Wilkins said.

“Los Angeles, New York and Boston have some of the best musicians you will ever hear in your life. The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra is especially great at grasping all different kinds of rhythm; we might play a Sibelius piece and then a Stevie Wonder tune right after it. Those players can actually see a rhythm, and they know just how it should be phrased. Our motto at the bowl is: ‘We can play anything the second time.’ But I find with younger musicians — they listen to absolutely everything.”

During his lifetime, Ellington the pianist was condescended to, if not dismissed outright. As a piano-playing bandleader, he seldom put his instrument in the spotlight. But there was Duke — vamping until the band’s prima donnas found their places on the bandstand, constructing layered introductions to the tunes, setting the tempo, giving the downbeat, cueing the soloists, supporting them, calling the more energetic players back

Thomas Wilkins conducts the LA Philharmonic.

Submitted photo

to the arrangement and supplying musical connective tissue — all from the piano bench.

As his mentor, stride piano icon Willie “the Lion” Smith declared: “The guy’s a great modern pianist!”

As with his writing, Ellington’s piano playing was distinctive — full of harmonic color and strong rhythm, with occasional dissonance. His pianistics strongly influenced subsequent innovators Thelonious Monk, Herbie Nichols, Cecil Taylor, Andrew Hill and others. Each one took Duke’s blueprint in an entirely personal direction.

Pianist Gerald Clayton will play “Night Creature” and selections from large pieces “New World A-Comin’” and “Black, Brown and Beige” at the Jan. 20 and Jan. 21 concerts.

“He’s one of the pillars of this music,” Clayton said about Ellington’s role from a tour stop in Budapest.

“Duke’s own playing may be overlooked within the orchestra, but as you familiarize

yourself with those recordings, you can hear how fundamental it is — not only to their music but to the larger music. What I’m trying to do in my music is connect those pillars like Duke of the past to the artists of today.”

“When you hear the Ellington piano trio recordings. It’s easier to hear the connections to Monk and Andrew Hill and the others Duke profoundly influenced. He had an approach to arpeggiation that was almost magical in that it has a sense of fullness, yet it’s full of space and transparency — and then in the bass clef he had that solid left hand that was keeping the rhythm.

Wilkins said he loves that audiences are hungry for this music.

“We’ll be playing ‘Brown’ from ‘Black, Brown and Beige,’ and that music not only swings — it absolutely struts. One of the things I picked up early on from Ellington is that he was an important voice of the Harlem Renaissance, and his music was full of Black pride.”

Symphonic Ellington: New World A-Comin’ with Gerald Clayton WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, and Friday, Jan. 21 Symphonic Ellington: Sacred Concerts WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23 WHERE: Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles COST: Tickets start at $99 INFO: laphil.com

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Craig Winberry honors George Michael with new show

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor rowing up in the MTV era, Craig Winberry was inspired by George Michael’s looks, moves, attitude and music.

“He was not afraid to take risks and had an air of confidence and left a legacy,” Winberry said.

The Piggott, Arkansas, native is now starring as the late singer in “The Life and Music of George Michael,” which comes to The Theatre at Ace Hotel on Friday, Jan. 21.

“Now that people are venturing out to concerts and shows, I wanted to be a part of that,” Winberry said, giving an additional reason for joining the show.

“I wanted to be a part of that. It’s a great opportunity to get back out. I’m happy to hit the road and share his legacy across America.”

The concert-style show follows Michael’s career through his hits, including those from Wham! and his solo career.

“When I was presented this wonderful opportunity, I was prepared,” he said.

“Over the years as a singer, I had been singing some of George’s tracks, like ‘Careless Whisper’ and his own spin on Queen’s ‘Somebody to Love,’ which was hugely popular.

“What I have found challenging was the overall lyrical content — the emotions and where George was in his life. It’s been so fascinating. Through the beginning of his career, the middle and up to his unfortunate death, to see the growth of a gay man coming out of the closet and standing in his truth was amazing.”

Singing “Jesus to a Child” and learning of the backstory brought Winberry to tears. The song is a tribute to Michael’s Brazilian lover Anselmo Feleppa, whom the singer met while performing in Rio de Janeiro in 1991. Two years later, Feleppa died from an AIDS-related brain hemorrhage. During his grieving, Feleppa penned “Jesus to a Child” in about an hour.

“It’s sad understanding Anselmo’s tragic death from HIV/AIDS and George taking

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his pain and sorrow and channeling it into art,” he said. “When you understand what the song was about and what he was going through, it’s tragic. It’s a very intimate story that George was sharing with us.”

Winberry’s love affair with performing began at an early age when he took part in his hometown school’s production of “South Pacific.”

From that point on, he knew there would always be a Broadway stage in his future. He expanded on that as actor, singer and songwriter, and in television, film and live theater after moving to NYC eight years ago.

“When I made that choice, I was becoming an entertainer later in life,” he said about the move in his 30s. “I did it differently. I got married and raised kids, then, when we moved to New York, I decided to jump headfirst into the arts and storytelling. I’m so happy that I did.

“It was scary at first, but I’ve had an amazing support system around me. I looked at people like George, and he was literally the only one of his generation who was out and open. He was closeted at the beginning of his career. I see his life and legacy as a guiding light to standing your truth.”

Before the pandemic in 2019, Winberry was performing with Abby Payne for “Christmas Spirits: Neat Edition” at Feinstein’s 54/Below on 54th Street in New York City. He held “random TV jobs” but was mostly focusing on live entertainment.

“New York City is the holy grail of comedy cellars and cabarets,” he said. “Broadway and off-Broadway, that’s where my life has been.”

The Life and Music of George Michael WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21 WHERE: The Theatre at Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway, Los Angeles COST: Tickets start at $39.99 INFO: 213-623-3233, acehotel.com

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Covered ARTS & California CULTUREwill help

DTLA champion to sing for Value Schools

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski LA Downtown News Executive Editor hether Michael Chipman is passing along the finer points of singing at the Colburn Community School on Grand Avenue or finessing the larger muscles of his students at Lagree213 — both within blocks of his apartment — he is the ultimate teacher and a passionate champion of DTLA. Chipman’s passion for DTLA will take musical form at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, when he performs a one-man show, “Take Me to the World,” at Colburn’s Zipper Hall.

“I live and work Downtown, so this concert is a very personal gesture of gratitude to my new ‘hometown’ of Los Angeles — a city that has been so good to me. I want to give back in whatever way I can. And what better way than to raise money to educate the kids who live here?” he said.

The show is a benefit concert for the Los Angeles Value Schools and will feature selections from the Broadway stage, as well as television and film.

“When I learned about the Value Schools’ mission to help inner-city kids get into and through college, I knew I wanted to help them in any way I could,” said Chipman, who moved to DTLA in August 2018.

Music has long been a part of Chipman’s life. His experience includes singing in church choirs, as well as taking piano lessons starting at the age of 8.

In high school, he fell in love with singing Broadway songs at first, and that segued into classical chorale music. In college, he studied art song and opera.

“I fell in love with the art of singing, the power of the human voice to communicate intense emotion in a large theater without amplification, like you would see in classical music performance.

“I wanted to get really good at it. I spent my 20s searching out the best teachers I could find across the country and ended up in New York for five years. I did graduate school at Oberlin in Ohio. I just had an incredible adventure and pursuit in mastering the art of singing.”

He is a trained classical baritone with degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and the University of Utah. He joined the voice faculty of the Colburn School in 2017.

In his work at Colburn, Chipman spends much of his time and energy helping aspiring young singers get accepted to top music schools and conservatories with scholarships, which inspired him to write the book “Sing Your Way Through College.”

The book’s publication led to a presentation to the Value Schools about musical training and college prep.

“It was amazing to see how my passion for helping kids get into college aligned with the values and mission at Value Schools,” Chipman said. “This concert is the organic outgrowth of that alignment.

The benefit is a challenge for Chipman, who has performed frequently but “never had a huge performing career.”

“Because of my pursuit of learning how to sing, I learned how to teach, and it took me by surprise,” he said.

“Teaching and mentorship is a big part of our music career. Now I spend 90% of my professional life teaching young people how to sing and perform. I have a big adult studio at Colburn, too.”

The event’s theme, “Take Me to the World,” is based on a song by Stephen Sondheim that’s sung from the perspective of a young girl who yearns to see the world. Chipman said that aligns with his and the school’s beliefs.

“The school and I broaden the young children’s horizons,” he said. “I take them to the world in a way they wouldn’t otherwise know how to do. This is my life’s work. This is really my big singing debut in LA. It’s a chance for me to put myself out there as a singer and hopefully do it well.”

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Michael Chipman will perform a one-man show at Colburn’s Zipper Hall on Saturday, Jan. 29.

Photo by Alberto Camacho

“Take Me to the World:” A Benefit Performance for Value Schools Starring Michael Chipman, baritone WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29 WHERE: Colburn School’s Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles COST: $55 for general admission; $10 for students INFO: valueschools.com

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Covered will help PHOTO California PAGE

Martha Amaya helms Mom’s Products.

Maria Llamas serves fresh tamales from her booth, Me Gusta Mexican Food Specialties.

Pershing Square Farmers Market

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ocated in Downtown LA near the historic jewelry district, Pershing Square Farmers Market hustles and bustles during lunchtime, offering the community all their needs for the shopping list, and delicious hot lunch options. The Pershing Square Farmers Market, held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays, is located at 532 S. Olive Street. For more information, visit rawinspiration.org/locations. Photos by Chris Mortenson.

Dried seeds and fruit were aplenty at The Fruit Patch.

Pershing Square Farmers Market patrons shop for vegetables from JM Produce.

HB Family Farms’ produce.

Apricoty owner Kevork Douzadjian creates his products from beeswax and apricot oil.

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Covered California will help BUSINESS

DTLA Custom Neon company is ‘powered by passion’

By Bridgette M. Redman LA Downtown News Contributing Writer t only took three years for an Australian couple to turn their $500 investment for a maternity leave side job into an $11 million empire with offices around the world.

Custom Neon, the creation of Jake and Jess Munday, has now landed in Downtown Los Angeles. The city is serving as their gateway into the U.S. market.

The business, which makes custom LED neon lights for customers of all sizes, realized it had a market here when they started to get big-name orders.

Facebook ordered a neon “Like” icon sign for its Playa Vista office building. Then they started getting customers such as Elon Musk, the Grammys and the Olympics. They recently provided neon signs for Paris Hilton’s wedding.

Kit Henseleit, the global operations manager, discovered the company on Instagram when it was less than a year old. Henseleit has spent several months in Los Angeles setting up the U.S. office and training its staff.

“Since our American market has just grown so rapidly, it was essential for us to have team members here in Los Angeles so that we can better serve our U.S. customers in the same time zone,” said Henseleit, who plans to return home this month.

“It’s so we are responsive, so we have people ready to help out our customers.

It’s really important to us.”

In the competitive neon sign market, Custom Neon provides top-notch handbuilt products and a quality team to match, she said.

“We can be contacted by phone, email, live chat and Instagram,” Henseleit said.

“We’ve got physical offices with teams in them ready to help our customers. We also have a world-class custom design tour on our website that allows customers to type in whatever they want, choose from 36 fonts and 18 colors and check out directly from the website. The sign will arrive at their door in three to five weeks. If they don’t want to talk to people, they don’t have to. If they do, we’re right there waiting.”

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Growing despite COVID-19 Launched in 2018, Custom Neon saw its largest markets—weddings and events—wiped out overnight when the pandemic hit. So, the staff pivoted to providing businesses with its products.

Henseleit said there was high demand because those that were open, wanted to attract business. Custom Neon made helped boost their visibility.

The goal for 2022 is to grow by another 50%. She said they love their spot on 1601 Vine Street because it is a beautiful office building, has a lot of cool eateries nearby and there are incredible views from their sixth floor space.

“We’re in the thick of it, which is where we want to be,” Henseleit said. “Being in Los Angeles is a great place for me to fly into being from Australia. It’s a direct flight.”

Custom Neon uses LED flex with most of its work that replaces the older-style neon signs made with glass tubes. This product is safer, cost efficient and lasts longer. They are lightweight and easy to install as well.

The Mundays’ mission is to be the most loved and trusted LED neon supplier. It’s important to be approachable and on-trend.

“We place a high importance on the customer getting the product they were intending to get,” Henseleit said. “We keep the customer in the loop. It’s three to five

Harry Christie and Kit Henseleit hold a Custom Neon sign.

Photo by Chris Mortenson

weeks for standard orders. It is important they know what is going on through the entire process.”

Design and consulting services are free and available, she said. The staff culls from customers the size, how the piece will be used and their budget.

Joining the LA community Henseleit said the Los Angeles staff is thrilled to be a part of Downtown, and they plan to support local businesses and charities. One of Custom Neon’s values, she explained is “We are powered by passion.”

In December, the newly hired team traveled to Skylight Books, where they each chose a book for a child experiencing homelessness. The books were chosen, based on the child’s gender and age. They wrapped and delivered the books to The Good Shepard Center in DTLA for Christmas.

Even the staff holiday party supported their small business neighbors. They took a pottery class at Throw Clay, went bowling at X-Lanes and had an immersive dinner experience at BITE. “We’re excited to keep exploring what Los Angeles has to offer,” Henseleit said.

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Covered YOUTH California will help

LA County Girl Scouts kick off 2022 cookie season

By LA Downtown News Staff irl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles kick off the 2022 Girl Scout Cookie Season this month, taking orders starting Tuesday, Jan. 18.

Girl Scouts will be back to selling cookies, taking action in the community, and practicing their entrepreneurial skills for this tradition through Sunday, March 13.

Consumers are encouraged to support their local Girl Scout entrepreneurs by purchasing their favorite cookies — and trying the newest cookie to join the lineup: Adventurefuls, which joins the portfolio of eight other iconic Girl Scout Cookies including favorites like Thin Mints, Samoas and Tagalongs.

Adventurefuls is an indulgent brownie-inspired cookie with caramel-flavored crème and a hint of sea salt.

“Like everyone, our girls have persevered through some very tough challenges this year, and we are all so excited for another season of cookies,” said Theresa Edy Kiene, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles chief executive officer.

“In true Girl Scout fashion, they have adapted, stayed hopeful, and supported each other and now they launch their beloved annual cookie traditions. This season

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is particularly special because it comes as we kick off our council’s centennial celebration. It is a big year for us, and we couldn’t be happier to share all of that excitement with the whole Greater Los Angeles community.”

This season, Girl Scouts will continue selling cookies in creative, socially distant and contact-free ways to keep themselves and their customers safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Many Girl Scouts will also run their familiar outdoor cookie booths in the community, all of which follow local, state and CDC guidelines.

As part of a research-based curriculum, girls identify their passions, issues they care about and changes they want to make in their communities. They work with their troops to decide which adventures to pursue or projects to take on and use the proceeds from cookie sales to put their ideas into action. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls are empowered to explore and get a taste of what it’s like to be an agent for change and an entrepreneur.

They learn five curriculum-based online and offline business skills that are appropriate for each age level and set them up for success in life.

To purchase cookies, visit girlscouts.org.

Adventurefuls is an indulgent brownie-inspired cookie with caramel-flavored crème and a hint of sea salt.

Photo courtesy of the Girl Scouts

The first few years of a child’s life are critical for their development. Children at risk of a developmental delay, or showing any signs of delay, may qualify for intervention and services through the Early Start program of California.

Across the state of California, the Early Start program is coordinated by all 21 regional centers. With the guidance of service coordinators, an individualized plan for services and supports can make a difference in a child’s development.

For individuals over the age of 3, the regional centers also provide lifelong services and supports from the school age years through adulthood, including service coordination, individual service planning, education related advocacy and training In partnership with the Family Resource Centers, parents and family members may receive parent-to-parent support, guidance, information and referrals to community resources.

Due to the decline in referrals during the COVID-19 State of Emergency, it is important to know that your local regional center remains open and is accepting referrals. Although some regional center staff may be working remotely, they continue to work hard to ensure your child is receiving the services they need.

To find out exactly which regional center would serve your family, please visit dds.ca.gov/services or dds.ca.gov/listings Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center 3303 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (213) 383-1300 or (213) 252-5600 kyrc@lanterman.org | www.lanterman.org

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Covered SPORTSCalifornia will help

Anže Kopitar, centerman for the LA Kings, and Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings face off for the ceremonial puck drop with LA Lakers star Dwight Howard.

LA Kings welcome Dwight Howard

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he LA Kings invited LA Lakers great Dwight Howard to participate in the ceremonial puck drop before the Jan. 8 game against the Detroit Red Wings. The Kings crushed the Red Wings at Crypto.com Arena 4-0. Photos courtesy of the LA Kings.

Los Angeles Best Advertising Source ’ ‘In the Heights

film Emotional, upbeat d recalls old Hollywoo

LA Lakers star Dwight Howard has a laugh on the ice before the Kings-Red Wings game.

Vegan chain selling kits plant-based BBQ

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a Advertising is Keep Great Way to rs Your Custome Informed The Los Angeles Downtown News publishes a wide array of special sections and quarterlies throughout the year on topics like Health, Education, Nightlife and Residential Living.

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Veteran DTLA Realtor Randelle Green: ‘Local Experience is Priceless’

By LA Downtown News Staff Since 2005, local Realtor Randelle Green has been servicing Downtown LA buyers and sellers since 2005.

That’s more than 15 years of dedicated and committed service to Downtown residences, over 15 years of playing a major role in the continued renaissance of our beloved urban core.

From his early days of managing sales teams at the Pan-American Lofts in the Historic Core and South Park’s “Mega-Complex” of Elleven, Luma & Evo, to the financial district’s Roosevelt and the Arts District, Green has been and continues to be a fixture of our booming market.

His powerful DTLA boutique brokerage, The Randelle Green Group, has gained national attention since he brought his dream to fruition back in 2015. He alone has sold over $18 million in lofts and condos since 2016 (per the MLS).

When asked what makes his company different, Green said the idea of working with a local specialist who lives and breathes the market, works one on one with clients, is accessible and, perhaps most importantly, intimately knows the different districts, buildings and developers throughout the sprawling and constantly emerg-

The RandelleGreen Group PhPhoooPPhoto courtesy of Randelle Green

Broker-CEO Randelle Green

PhPhoooPPhoto courtesy of Randelle Green

ing downtown area.

Green spoke about the early days, before LA Live, Ralphs, CVS & Whole Foods, before The Bloc, The Row and all the trendy restaurants and lounges. A time when the handful of local Downtown Realtors, to which he points out only a few remain, did not have many options for the buyers in DTLA. Oh, but how times have changed, Green said, ADVERTORIAL

“Nowadays it’s different. Downtown buyers must decide if they are new construction, high-rise people leaning toward a South Park condo or soft-loft, historians looking at Mills Act buildings in the Old Bank District, the theater crowd interested in the burgeoning Bunker Hill District or more secluded artists flowing into The Arts District. How fun it has become, facilitating and directing those dreams One thing is for sure, I was there yesterday, and I will be here tomorrow and remember. I put my name on it.”

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