Photo by Mike Harriel.
Happy Birthday, Westchester It’s been a great 75 years on this bluff with you. When others saw dirt, we saw neighborhoods and classrooms. When they called us ‟remote,” we bulldozed runways. When they said there was nothing out here, we raised earth, foundations, and families. Now, our future is brighter than ever as
Page 2 • October 2016
the world’s tech and creative giants move in down the hill, and the NFL is knocking on our back door. We established this town together and we look forward to many more exciting, collaborative years continuing to grow a world-class, forward-thinking, global community alongside you.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
This Month Brings You A look inside your HTN Westchester has always been a great place to live Yours for a Greater Westchester The Best of Westchester
07 10 18
HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Davis, Publisher, Editor Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer Fay Craton, Contributing Writer
David “Duke” Dukesherer Sr., Looking Back Rebecca Hill, Secret Recipes of the Inn
Advertisers’ Directory
Airport Marina Counseling Amy Nelson Frelinger Team Ayara Thai Bob Waldron Bruno For Assembly Cantalini’s Salerno Beach Covenant Presbyterian Church Decron Properties Drollinger Properties El Segundo 5-Minute Carwash Food Pantry, LAX Gateway to GO! Jane St. John Kevin and Kaz Gallaher LA Arts Collective LAX Coastal Chamber Loyola Marymount Marina del Rey Hospital Neighborhood Council Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Playa Vista/Brookfield
37 05 33 29 22 38 37 39 06, 29 29 37 29 34 34 31 16 02, 04 40 28 22 19
Regatta Capital Group 33 School Expo 22 Socal Sports and Fitness 31 Southland Vinyl 27 St. Anastasia School 25 Stephanie Younger Group 13 The Real Estate Consultants 24 Tompkins Square Bar and Grill 38 Tony P’s Dockside Grill 27 Vergari and Napolitano 30 Visitation School 17 Vistamar School 26 Westchester Elks Lodge 36 Westchester Farmers’ Market 25 Westchester Lutheran 03, 08 Westchester Town Center BID 03 Westchester Watch Works 25 Westside Neighborhood School 31 Westside/Pacific Village 30 WISH Charter School 23 Zacha Homes 35
About The HomeTown News (HTN)
The HomeTown News is a monthly community newspaper dedicated to providing information about the people, events and happenings of Westchester, Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey and Playa Vista. Look for the HomeTown News the first Thursday of the month at your home or at one of our drop-off locations.
Connect with the HTN:
Mailing Address: 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 110 #745 Westchester, CA 90045 Email: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com • Phone: (310) 641-1016 Website: thehtn.com • Facebook: facebook.com/thehtn
The deadline for submissions is the 22nd of each month.
Start the theCelebrate New Year Year looking lookingFreedom! in the the right right direction...Up! direction...Up! Start New in
Let’s celebrate!
Celebra Start the New Year Year lo lo Start the New Happy 75th Birthday, Westchester!
Star theStaNrethweNYeewarYeloarlokinkignginintthheerirgihgthdtiredcirtieonc.tiUopn!. Up! We’ve been here, almost since the beginning, as a cornerstone of the community, as a prime destination for worship and fear. Freedom from doubt. Freedom from education, as a member of the family.
Freedom! Start the theCelebrate New Yearuslooking looking in the the right right direction...Up! direction...Up! Start New Year in Join at Westchester Lutheran Church, As Westchester continues to grow and evolve, so do we, and embrace theevents freedom in aand developing programs and to respondfound to the needs loving, forgiving relationship with the cares of our members and our neighbors.
Lord. Join new friends in a celebration of Freedom from doubt. Freedom from fear.
Come to our worship service any Sunday morning, findlive everything that is possible when and you yourself welcomed by people who care about each other and Join us at Westchester Lutheran Church, in harmony with the Word. andfuture embrace freedom found in a about the of our the community – and our world.
loving, forgiving relationship with the
Join new friends celebration Come Lord. to the school’s Open Housein onaSunday, Octoberof23, everything that is possible when you live and meet the faculty and administration who are dedicated to in harmony with the Word. educating the children who will shape that world.
All are welcome. Come celebrate us!for, so We have so much to celebrate, so much towith give thanks Allwith are us. welcome. up with us. Come look up Our doors are open.Our are open. Come celebrate hearts with us!
much in common. Come look
All are welcome.
Weekly ComeWorship look up up with with us. us. Sundays at 10 a.m. Come look Summer Choir Rehearsal Sundays at 9 a.m.
School Open House, Sunday, October 11:30 a.m. Vacation Bible School July23, 29-August 2 to 1 p.m. Weekly Worship Sundays at 10 a.m. WeeklySummer Worship Sunday School, Sundays at 10 a.m. Choirand Rehearsal Sundays at 9 a.m. Vacationand Bible Adult School Bible Study, July 29-August 2 Confirmation Sundays at 8:45 a.m. Midweek Bible Study, Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
7831 S. Sepulveda Blvd. 90045
Enrolling
7831 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Westchester, CA Westchester, CA 90045 310.670.5422 310.670.5422 www.wlcs.org www.wlcs.org
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
October 2016 • Page 3
At left: Me at Kentwood Elementary School. Go Koalas! At right: My favorite neighborhood hangout growing up: the Westchester Fair AKA the Antique Mall.
Happy Birthday, Westchester! Like most of our readers, Westchester has a very special place in my heart; in fact, it’s my hometown! My parents purchased a cute and cozy blue house with a white picket fence on 87th Place in the 1970s, and I loved growing up in Westchester, airport noise and all. Some of my fondest memories include walking down my street to attend Visitation’s carnival, going with my mom to volunteer at Councilmember Ruth Galanter’s office and picnicking at LMU. As I became more independent, I’d strap on my rollerblades and head all over town, with the caveat I had to be home by the time the street lights came on. More often than not, I’d head over to visit my mom at work at Mervyn’s (now Kohl’s), and then make my way next door to my favorite hangout: the Antique Mall (now the
location of Ross). I’d save my money and buy a burger and fries and browse the top level for $1 trinkets, before making my way downstairs to look at all of the relics from days gone by. Unaccompanied children were not allowed in the antique section by themselves, but luckily a teacher’s aid from my alma mater, Kentwood Elementary School, worked there and would always allow me to peruse the old treasures without any trouble. I’d spend an hour there before heading back to my street to play with all of the neighborhood kids before hearing my mom yell my name and say it was dinnertime. I learned to swim at the Westchester Pool and the Westchester Family YMCA, had my girl scout meetings at the Westchester Townhouse and had a pretty successful stint as a catcher for the one season I signed up for softball to try to live up to my older sisters’ Westchester All Star legacies (I didn’t). As you can tell, with so many early memories rooted in this town, Westchester means a lot to me. And from speaking to people that grew up here, many of them still residents, I
know a lot of these experiences are shared and remembered fondly. The fact that Westchester is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, almost went by unnoticed. Thankfully, a look through some of the Westchester/Playa Historical Society’s items produced a copy of the Westchester News celebrating the community’s 50th Anniversary in 1991. In that issue, a group of longtime Westchester residents and the historical society designated 1941 as when the first foundations were poured for the community that would become known as Westchester. We are using their designation to mark this year the 75th anniversary. A committee made up of community leaders was formed in March to help plan a year-long celebration of events and activities to help commemorate this momentous occasion. With the theme, “Our Little Piece of Paradise: Celebrating 75 Years of Westchester,” the 17th Annual Fourth of July Parade kicked-off the celebration. Since then, other community groups have partnered with the committee to show their
Westchester pride. Upcoming events will hopefully include a “Westchester Day” at City Hall, a dedication to some of Westchester’s founders and pioneers and a community art project. If your group is interested in getting involved, please email us at westchesteranniversary@gmail.com. This month, the community is invited to celebrate at the official 75th Anniversary event, a cocktail reception held at LMU on Thursday, October 27 (more info on page 12). This issue is dedicated to Westchester and all of the great people, businesses, organizations and places that help make up this wonderful community. With so many stories, facts and trivia about Westchester, this issue gives a mere snapshot of the community. If you’d like to share your story, memories or experiences about this “little piece of paradise,” email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com. Happy 75th Birthday, Westchester! I’m proud to be part of this community and to call Westchester my hometown! -Stephanie Davis, Publisher
Sunday, November 6 LMU’s University Hall Booth Expo: 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Guest Speaker: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Guest Speaker Dr. Anna L. Fisher (NASA Astronaut & first mother in space)
Science Challenge for Junior High & High School Students (Sponsored by Boeing)
Aviation & Aerospace Expo
Complimentary Lunch
Presented by
www.lawa.org/dayofdiscovery Page 4 • October 2016
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Happy 75th Anniversary Westchester! BUILDING COMMUNITY ONE HOME AT A TIME
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As a fourth generation Californian, 30 year Westchester homeowner, Westchester H.S. grad and active community volunteer, I am proud to call Westchester my hometown. We are a small team of professionals. With caring and personalized service, we are always focused on helping you achieve your real estate goals. A customized plan for selling your home delivers great results because not all home sales are the same. We invest our time and our resources to shepherd you through the entire process and net you the most money possible with the best possible terms. We are here for you!
Amy Nelson Frelinger Team | 310.951.0416 | amy.frelinger@telesproperties.com | BRE# 01484711 Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
October 2016 • Page 5
Photo by Mike Harriel. Page 6 • October 2016
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Photo courtesy the Westchester/Playa Historical Society.
By Cozette Vergari I was born Cozette Estell Chattin and moved into the home my parents built shortly after I was born. My father was discharged from the Army at the end of WWII, went to work for Northrop, met my mother and 3 months later they were married. Ten months later I was born. My parents, Bill and Gladys Chattin, had purchased a lot in Westchester, that now sits on the southeast corner of Agnew and 80th Street. Then, however, there were no other houses and no paved streets. I remember a picture of me sitting on a large plow horse, as a very small child, in my backyard. The horse was plowing the yard for the planting of corn, other vegetables and fruit trees. I grew up in that home, a home with many wonderful memories. I remember the open spaces in Westchester. Orville Wright Middle School had not been built. And, when it was, it opened to house both high school and junior high school students. It was not until the Westchester High School campus opened in the late 50s, that the campus was dedicated exclusively to Orville Wright Junior High School. Other homes were being built and the community exploded with new young families. There were seven public elementary schools and five little league baseball fields to accommodate the baby boomers living in the area. Visitation Parish, the first church built in Westchester, also had an elementary school, as did St. Anastasia, St. Jerome and Westchester Lutheran. There were children everywhere. At first, the teenagers in the late 40s had to travel outside the area to attend high school. I recall some went as far away as Dorsey High School. Westchester Park was soon built and provided lots of after school and weekend activities. There were fireworks at the park on the Fourth of July. I remember playing in another park that was located at the corner of Sepulveda Boulevard and 80th Street
that was small but “hilly and woodsy.” The YMCA now sits on that location. The Westchester Townhouse was built. I remember the Westchester Lariats, an international folk dance performing group, of which I was a part, practicing at the townhouse with Dr. Tillman Hall. You could only join if you came in as a partner, so lots of girls dragged their male friends along. Today many of them are still in touch with one another. The airport sat on the east side
of Manchester and Sepulveda, across the street, was Tiny Naylor’s, a classic 50s drive-in diner with waitresses on roller skates. Milton’s Department Store (now Kohl’s) had roof-top parking with a view restaurant and other retail shops on the second level. Milton’s, Newberry’s and Woolworth’s all had escalators. There were many small retail stores serving the thriving and growing community. Thrifty’s was the first drug store in town. What is
Thrifty’s was located in the 8800 block of Sepulveda. Here it is pictured in 1952. of Sepulveda. I remember flying on board a commercial propeller plane to Chicago, by myself, when I was 8-years-old. I was one of the first unattended minor children to travel on a commercial flight. There was only one terminal, which still stands and can be seen from the 105 Freeway. Downtown Westchester was booming with two movie theaters. The Paradise Theater, on the southeast corner of Westchester Parkway and Sepulveda Boulevard, housed movie premieres due to its close proximity to the airport, with the large search lights shining into the skies over Westchester. North just a few blocks was the Loyola Theater, close to the southeast corner of Manchester Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard. Right on that corner, where the statue of the horse and rider watches over the busy intersection, was a bank building and now the IHOP. Saturday matinées at the movie theaters cost 25 cents for a double feature. If you took another quarter, you could have a hot dog and drink. My first kiss was in the Loyola Theater, when I was in the sixth grade. On the northeast corner
now called Mayfair Square was named after the Mayfair grocery store that sat on 89th Street, now Howard B. Drollinger Way, across the street from what is now Togo’s. My parent’s owned a cleaners on 89th Street. When my father passed away, I was only 32, a mother of one with Chase Chattin Vergari, then age 2, and pregnant with my second son, Ryan Americo Vergari. Within a very quick series of events, I became the new owner of the home I had grown up in and my mother became the owner of the home behind me on the corner of Agnew and 80th Street. We tore the wall down which divided the two properties, enabling my sons to grow up with open space to run back and forth between home and grandma’s house. I had grown up with my maternal grandfather and my paternal grandmother living in my home after they had each lost their respective spouses. It seemed so natural to continue the pattern of three generations. My sons were very close to their grandmother. Recently, I spent four days with 11 of my Westchester girlfriends, who all graduated from Westchester
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
High School in June of 1963 and were members of Lydians, a girls’ service organization on campus. We meet every year in the fall to share stories, old and new. Some of these girlfriends lived in homes now gone, due to the expansion of the airport in the sixties. Some went to Airport Junior High, which is also now gone, as it sat under the landing path for the airport. Some of them had homes, also now gone, that were located in what is now the sand dunes area in Playa del Rey, just west of the airport, between Pershing and Vista del Mar. Before the expansion, we could drive from Pershing midway between Manchester Avenue and Imperial Highway, curving through what are now the terminals at LAX, ending up on Main Street heading into El Segundo. The day we graduated, we counted 32 airplanes takeoff throughout the ceremony on the football field of WHS. I am thankful for my Westchester friends and their continuing comradery. Westchester is a community of families and friends. I must thank three of my teachers who shaped my life and remained my friends throughout their lives. My 5th grade teacher at Kentwood Elementary, Paul Hissey, my junior high school leadership teacher at Orville Wright, Roy Hefner, and Grace Kweller, my drill team and cheerleading advisor and coach at Westchester High School. As I look back, the better parts of my character were molded by them, along with my wonderful parents and grandparents, and my two sons, Chase and Ryan. I have seen many changes in Westchester over the years. I love Westchester for what it is today and for what it has been to me for 70 years. It is still a unique “small town” community that sits inside a sprawling metropolis that affords us a wealth of multicultural experiences, including its history, its people, sports and the arts. Every young person has exposure and opportunity to pursue his or her dream. Westchester has always been a great place to live. October 2016 • Page 7
Page 8 • October 2016
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Westchester is 75 years young this year. The town is home to a prestigious college and university, and at one time its borders included all of present day LAX and Playa Vista. The history of the area begins with the establishment of native villages, which benefited from the fertile land around what would later be called the Los Angeles River and today is called Ballona Creek. The largest of these villages, named S’aanga, was located on and under the Westchester Bluffs where today sits Loyola Marymount University and Playa Vista. With the arrival of the Europeans in 1769, these villages eventually became parts of large Spanish land grants. The area then became part of Rancho Sausal Redondo, which was later carved into smaller Mexican land grants which included Rancho Centinela. The Christian friars established two large Missions in the area, which governed and controlled the farming and ranching operations that existed here. It is of note to remember, that all of this was done prior to the first shot being fired on Bunker Hill, which marked the beginning of the American Revolution. The primary governing mission, Mission San Gabriel, was founded on “The Feast of the Birth of Mary,” September 8, 1771. The issue was transport. No reliable overland routes existed at the time and to get to our shores Europeans would have to endure the arduous journey by ship around the Horn and up the coast of western South America to Lower and Upper California. There was an additional sea and overland route across the Isthmus of Panama, and thousands of eager pioneers died of disease in the mosquito infested jungles before ever reaching California. So our area remained a remote outpost of the Mexican government until the defeat of the Mexican army and the cession of California to the United States with the 1848 signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Sparked by the California Gold Rush of 1849, and with modern ship building techniques, fast sailing vessels known as clipper ships changed all that. Pioneers flocked to California by the thousands. When the Transcontinental Railroad opened in 1869, the population of the area increased five-fold. Although parts of Rancho Sausal Redondo and Rancho Centinela changed hands many times, it took the vision of Canadian immigrant Daniel Freeman to consolidate the area. Arriving in 1873, Freeman moved his family into the Centinela Adobe, which is locat-
Wheat fields in the Westchester area in 1880.
ed on Midfield Avenue in present day corners of the world and he became one Westchester. of the most respected businessmen in But the task rapidly growing of turning the Los Angeles. raw farm and Freeman ranch land developed was no easy the town of task. Plagued Inglewood, and by droughts, shortly thereFreeman at after, in 1901, one point lost Playa del Rey 22,000 head began of cattle and development, sheep and but the land would eventu“in-between,” ally revert to continued to risky dry-farmbe a nameless ing, planting farming area. thousands of On the acres of wheat southern and barley all border of across the still our town, barren land of the Bennet The Westchester Welcome Wagon welcomed new residents, seen here in 1950. Westchester. Brothers had His bet paid off, been conducting and his crops were shipped to the four successful farming operations for many
years and in 1928 they leased 640 acres to the City of Los Angeles and Mines’ Field was established. In 1937, the city purchased the title for the airfield for $2.2 million and in 1941 it was officially called Los Angeles Airport, or as we know it LAX. Also in 1928, a group headed by Playa del Rey’s Fritz Burns and the Dickinson and Gillespie real estate company, and the Father of Culver City, Harry Culver, donated land to the Society of Jesus to be used to erect a new Loyola University, located at the time near downtown Los Angeles. At this point, not including some run down barns and other farming structures, less than 30 scattered homes existed in the area. In 1938, the tenacious real estate and marketing genius Fritz Bernard Burns, along with his colleague William Hannon, began to show interest in the notion of acquiring parts of the Rancho. Partnering with several banks, investors and other like-minded developers such as Nowell, Marlow, Ayres, and Kaiser, streets began to be imagined and development began in earnest. And then everything changed. With the United States entry into WWII, a critical housing shortage was plaguing the area. Burns and company took up the task, and by 1942 the new town was born and development was running at a 24 hour, 7 day a week pace. Massive war manufactures such as North American Aviation and Hughes Aircraft now called the Westchester area home, but the workers needed places to stay and the demand for real estate and newly built affordable homes turned into a frenzy. At one point, lotteries were held to determine the lucky homeowner. The airport too became a key asset to the war movement, and in the end, Westchester was the home of over 60% of all American aircraft designed or constructed for WWII. As the town grew, so did the infrastructure to support the new residents. A central shopping center was erected on Sepulveda Boulevard, and theaters, markets, libraries, schools and churches seemed to spring up on every corner. The 1950s and 1960s saw continued development, where at the area north and west of Lincoln Boulevard many custom homes were erected and similar places of commerce, banks, markets and even a first class hotel the Airport Marina Hotel (later the Furama, now the Custom Hotel) was built. Today, Westchester is home to some 40,000 souls, and it is hard to imagine what the town will look like in another 75 years. Comments: dukepdr@gmail.com.
William H. Hannon (second from right) at the chamber of commerce in the 1960s.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
October 2016 • Page 9
Top photo courtesy the Centinela Valley Historical Society. Bottom photos Courtesy the Westchester/Playa Historical Society.
By David “Duke” Dukesherer
Middle photo courtesy the Westchester/Playa Historical Society.
From left to right: Howard Drollinger at the Fourth of July Parade; Breakfast at Westchester’s Jim Dandy market in the 1950s; and current Drollinger Properties President Karen Dial.
By Geoff Maleman In an era when most women dared not engage in business, politics or anything that took them outside the home, a farm girl from Illinois broke barriers and ultimately changed the course of Westchester forever. Ella Lewin was born in 1891, the only daughter of Robert and Alice Lewin, who immigrated to the United States from the Isle of Man in England. Robert arrived in 1856 with just a third-grade education and a deep admiration for statesman Abraham Lincoln, who would soon become president. He eventually found his way to the Land of Lincoln, Illinois, where he worked as a farmhand and eventually saved enough money to purchase his own farm. Robert had two children, Fenton and Ella, with his second wife, Alice, and the family worked hard raising soy beans, corn and even pigs. As the successful farm began to grow, Robert passed away and Alice became sick. Ella, now in her early 20s, accompanied her mother to Southern California–a spot where the mild winters would be easier on her failing health. Settling in the Pasadena area, Ella saw to it that her mother regularly visited her doctor, and it didn’t hurt that the doctor’s son was a handsome, young eligible bachelor. Ella soon struck up a romance with and married Howard Drollinger, Sr., who provided a nice life for his wife and two sons–Howard, Jr., and Robert–as a real estate investor. But while the boys were still in school, Howard, Sr., passed away suddenly, and Ella found herself in the unenviable situation of being a single mother scrambling to make ends meet. “She said, ‘I have two boys to raise, so I better start investing,’” recalled Karen Dial, Ella’s granddaughter. Using some money her husband left behind, Ella contacted a real estate advisor that had previously helped her and her husband purchase property near Pico and Robertson. He told her Page 10 • October 2016
about a burgeoning area near the coast that was just starting to take shape. “He told her, ‘Someday, Mines Field will become one of the biggest airports in the world,’” Dial recalls. At the time, there was not much more than bean fields and some roughand-tumble roads stretching up and down the coast and toward Downtown L.A., but Ella could see the vision. The United States was in the midst of World War II, and airports were a critical cog in the war machine. Aircraft manufacturing companies all wanted to be close to airports and
but Ella persisted. Eventually, her determination and charm won out, and the Jim Dandy Market, Westchester’s first commercial building, opened its doors in 1943. “She had a great business mind,” Dial remembers. “She was a no-nonsense woman, and even though they tried, no one could ever pull something over on her.” As Ella was laying down business roots in Westchester, her son, Howard, was working his way through school. Howard hoped to be a mining engineer and spent two years attending mining
From left to right: Ella Drollinger, Jewel Drollinger, Karen Dial and family member Esther Eisenhower in 1956. with those companies came thousands of employees. While other developers such as Fritz B. Burns and William H. Hannon focused on creating housing for all of those workers, it was Ella Drollinger who envisioned a Westchester filled with stores, restaurants and offices to serve the bedroom community that was growing up around the airport. When a nearby Jim Dandy Market burned to the ground, Ella lobbied long and hard for the company to rebuild its new store in Westchester. She received low-ball offers, and many men in the company dismissed her because she was a woman,
school at the University of Arizona, where he spent summers working in the copper mines outside Brisbee, Arizona. But the war soon came calling. Howard enlisted in the Army Air Corps, becoming a decorated World War II veteran who flew 50 successful combat missions over Italy as navigator in a B-24 Liberator. Howard was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, four air medals and a Presidential Unit Citation while serving in the 15th Army Air Corps. When the war was over, Howard, changed his focus and finished school as a business major, earning his degree
from the University of Southern California. In 1947, he joined his mother as a developer, starting the H.B. Drollinger Company. Not one to hand even her son anything on a silver platter, Ella retained her Ella L. Drollinger Company until Howard had earned his stripes. “She kept her entity separate,” Dial said. “She wanted to make sure he worked hard and knew what he was doing.” Surveying the hustle and bustle of today’s Sepulveda Boulevard on a warm, autumn day, Dial just looked around and smiled. “She’s responsible for all of this. She was an unbelievable visionary, who achieved all of this at a time when real estate was a real man’s world.” Eventually Ella and Howard merged their companies and continued to work together to achieve her vision of a booming business community. Perhaps influenced by his grandfather’s love of Lincoln, Howard was an active Republican and met his future wife, Jewel, at a Young Republicans meeting. The couple were soon married and had two children. “I was born in 1953,” said Dial, who recalled many happy days with her dad checking on the family business. “He would do what he called ‘building inspections’ with me. I brought my pad and pencil, and we wrote down all the things that needed doing at each building. I loved that one-on-one time with my dad. He never thought of it as work, he enjoyed it so much.” Those who knew Howard knew that he rarely went anywhere without a notepad and pen to keep track of everything that needed doing. Whether it was a squeaky door or a broken piece of tile, it all found its way into Howard’s notepad. Also remarkable was the way Howard treated each and every person he encountered–a trait learned from his mother, who, though she grew up on an Illinois farm, attended one of the area’s finest finishing schools.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
“He taught me all about kindness,” said Dial with a twinkle in her eye. “He was always kind to everyone, no matter what their job was or what their station in life. He knew everyone’s name and all of their families, and he especially cared about the little tenants. He figured the big ones could take care of themselves.” So, it comes as no surprise that Howard routinely offered rent relief to some of his struggling mom-andpop tenants. He looked for ways to refer new business to them, and to create relationships among his tenants that would benefit everyone. “He was always willing to give the little guy a shot,” Dial said. But in the mid-1970s, he took a shot of his own. Tiny Mines Field had grown into Los Angeles International Airport, and that meant it needed more space. The airport purchased hundreds of homes surrounding LAX, eliminating many of the shoppers who helped the area flourish. In what Howard called a “double-whammy,” 1975 was the same year Fox Hills Mall (now Westfield Culver City) opened in Culver City, siphoning away some of the best retail tenants who wanted to be part of the area’s newest development. Westchester, which was once featured in Life magazine as a bustling post-World War II community where a collection of drug stores, restaurants and clothing stores boomed in the post-war economy, was suddenly reeling. The area took a turn for the worse as boarded-up shops and lesser tenants filled the once-bustling Sepulveda Boulevard corridor. “I never lost faith in Westchester,” Howard said in a 2002 interview. “I knew this community would get through that double whammy.” “He loved Westchester, and he stayed steadfast while others left,” Dial recalled. “He took some big financial hits, but he was going to make sure Westchester succeeded no matter what.” Howard’s commitment to the community was evident in every letter he wrote. For more than five decades, he signed his personal correspondence, “Yours for a Greater Westchester,” and he put his money where his mouth was. While other property owners sold, Howard continued to buy. By the early 1990s, Drollinger owned a significant portion of the Central Business District and began redeveloping the area. He oversaw the development of the Westchester Village Center, which today includes CVS, Ralph’s and scores of smaller retailers. In 2003, he built the $25 million The Parking Spot-Sepulveda parking structure to serve airport travelers. He continued to own and manage various office and
commercial buildings throughout the Westchester area until he passed away in 2006 at the age of 84, earning the nickname “Mr. Westchester.” “It makes no difference how many buildings you build or the individual success you might achieve,” Howard said at an event where he was being honored as the 2006 Loyola Marymount University Entrepreneur of the Year. “What really matters, what people will remember, is how you treat your fellow man.” Known as a hard-nosed businessman, Howard certainly had a soft side and treated his fellow man
supporter of many organizations that formed the crux of the community, including the Westchester Family YMCA, the Westchester/LAX– Marina del Rey Chamber of Commerce (now the LAX Coastal Chamber), Loyola Marymount University, Airport Marina Counseling Service and scores of local youth sports teams and schools. In addition, his generous donations through the Westchester Rotary Foundation assisted in sending young scholars to other countries for educational purposes, clothing underprivileged children, repairing the local fire station, teaching
with compassion and generosity. He was known for giving a helping hand to fledgling entrepreneurs and for supporting those who shared his passion for the community. A Westchester Rotarian since 1952, Howard donated millions of dollars to local organizations. His contributions had an immeasurable impact on the community, helping to do everything from feed the hungry and provide additional educational materials to local schools to provide services for the mentally ill and recreational opportunities for adults and children. He was a longtime contributor and
students to read, painting out graffiti and many other initiatives. His contributions to Rotary International helped to promote international projects, including the organization’s goal of eradicating polio from the entire globe–a mission that is nearly complete. Drollinger served as President of the Westchester Chamber of Commerce, was Honorary Mayor of Westchester and President of the Rotary Club of Westchester, where he maintained perfect attendance for more than 50 years. He also served as a member of the City of Los Angeles Board of Zoning Appeals,
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Mayor Tom Bradley’s Committee on Capital Improvements and was a founding member of the Westchester Vitalization Corporation. He was honored by scores of organizations for his efforts and was the recipient of the 2005 Fritz B. Burns Outstanding Community Service and Leadership Award, the Rotary Club of Westchester’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Westchester Family YMCA’s Community Builder Award and the chamber’s Helmsman Leadership Award. “Howard was a Westchester institution who gave tirelessly for the benefit of the community he called ‘home,’” said Kathleen Aikenhead, President of the William H. Hannon Foundation. “My uncle would tell me how he and Howard would ‘challenge’ each other on donations to various civic groups. My uncle would donate, if Howard donated, and vice versa. They had fun together as they were both Westchester pioneers.” Dial took over the family business in 2006 and shares her time between Westchester and Missoula, Montana. At the helm of Westchester’s oldest and largest property management firm in Westchester’s central business district, Dial has overseen beautification improvements to numerous properties, including most recently, the Paradise Building on Sepulveda Boulevard, which has a new sign that boldly proclaims the historic building’s name. The company’s newest acquisition is a corner property in the Westchester Triangle that will house Gatsby’s Westchester–an independent book store that will have a café and book readings. Today, Dial, her brother Jim Drollinger, and their families carry on the Drollinger commitment to philanthropy and community through the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation. Though the Foundation does not actively seek grant applications, Dial said the family is focused on what is most important to them. “We like to donate to the organizations that are local and mean something to us,” she said. “You often lose track of where your money goes and what it does when you give to a national organization. It’s more fulfilling to give back to the community that raised us.” The Foundation has helped support everything from community mental health efforts at the Airport Marina Counseling Service to providing yoga classes to our local schools. Last month, the foundation was the title sponsor for the inaugural WAM Block Party. “It’s all about making a difference in our back yard,” Dial said. “That’s certainly what my dad and my grandmother would have wanted.” October 2016 • Page 11
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Photos courtesy the Westchester/Playa Historical Society.
Mary Lou Crockett moved to Westchester in 1948, when the town still had wide open fields to play in and kick-the-can and hideand-go-seek games could go all day. It is these fond memories of growing up in Westchester that led Crockett, who passed away in 2004, to found the Westchester/Playa Historical Society. Crockett and other members of the organization worked in a “race against time” to try to collect and memorialize the history of the area, as many of the original residents of the community began to pass away. Thanks to the efforts of Crockett
and the historical society, the group was able to amass a large photo collection, newspaper clippings, scrap books and memorabilia–some of which dates to the turn of the last century. These items were once housed and displayed in the Fritz B. Burns Room in the LMU Library, but are now in storage waiting to be discovered by a new generation of local historians. The photos on these pages help give a small snapshot of life in Westchester in the 1940s-1960s. Although the clothing and the haircuts may have changed (and there are a lot more homes and
people now), these photos prove that the people of Westchester have always worked to create a strong sense of community by participating in neighborhood fundraisers, activities and events–just look at that long line to get into the Westchester Fair! While the historical society has been relatively silent in recent years, the 75th anniversary has brought a renewed interest in the history of the area and community members have enjoyed the traveling display of photos that has popped up at neighborhood events. Photos like these will
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soon have a place to be displayed, thanks to Karen Dial and Drollinger Properties, who have donated a room for the historical society in the Westchester Triangle. The hope is to have the room ready to open by the end of the year. Historical photos, scrapbooks and mementos will also be on display at the Westchester 75th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, October 27 (more info on page 12). Those interested in getting involved with the historical society are encouraged to visit facebook. com/westchesterplayahistory. View page 16 for more photos. October 2016 • Page 15
Photos courtesy the Westchester/Playa Historical Society.
Page 16 • October 2016
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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
October 2016 • Page 17
Photo by Anna Cody. From left to right: Cyndi Hench, John Ruhlen and Judith Ciancimino.
Westchester’s Ayara Thai.
The People In our 2016 Best Of Readers’ Poll, we asked our readers what they loved the most about Westchester, and it was no surprise when they chose the people! Since there are so many great people working to make Westchester a better place, it would be impossible to list them all here. There’s Cyndi Hench, who, in addition to volunteering countless hours in her role as Neighborhood Council President, is a public safety advocate who keeps the neighborhood informed about crime trends and promotes neighborhood watch. There’s Westchester Rotary’s Citizen of the Year, Garrett Smith, who is the epitome of altruistic community service and signs up to help at almost every community event. There’s Gwen Vuchsas, who has taken the idea of the Fourth of July Parade and made it into a yearly event that all of Westchester can be proud of. There’s John Ruhlen, who has worked tirelessly to
The Food
help beautify Westchester’s streets, especially Sepulveda Blvd., with new sidewalks, new landscaping and new paint and was named NCWP’s 2016 Star of the Neighborhood. There’s Judith Ciancimino, who has volunteered with countless organizations over the years, including the Westchester Elks, and is always willing to lend a hand. While these are just a handful of volunteers who donate their time and expertise year after year, there are countless unsung heroes who work staffing the little league concession stands and coaching the youth sports leagues; who create flyers for school carnivals and raise money to improve their children’s elementary schools; help beautify the neighborhood with community gardens and those that pitch in when and where they can. Thank you to all of the volunteers that help create a sense of community in Westchester!
While Westchester isn’t known for its food per se, there are some restaurants I’d travel miles to dine at. Although there are numerous El Tarasco’s throughout the L.A. region, none of them can beat the one in Westchester. You just can’t go wrong with a simple bean and cheese burrito or the Super Deluxe. The Westchester Triangle area is home to some of the best food in the area. There’s often a line out the door for the Coffee Co., Ayara Thai, Truxton’s and the Ramen Joint. If you’re in the mood for pizza, there’s always old school favorites like Tower Pizza and Vinny’s or the relatively new Melody Pizza and LaRocco’s on Sepulveda. Of course, there’s always the world-famous In N’ Out Westchester, if you feel like waiting with hundreds of tourists for a burger and a vanilla shake. I will say, however, there is something charming about sitting outside while planes fly over heard, even if you’re a local. (Continued on page 24)
Thank you to the Westchester 75th Anniversary Committee Judith Ciancimino
Christina Davis
Patty Crockett
Stephanie Davis
Page 18 • October 2016
Lisa Hamor Kirby Israelson
Anna Kozma Kena Liggins
John Loussararian Geoff Maleman
Andy O’Reilly Cozette Vergari
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Happy 75TH ANNIVERSARY, Westchester! Congratulations on your diamond birthday, Westchester! Playa Vista loves being your neighbor. Nestled below the Westchester Bluffs, Playa Vista is where you’ll live by parks, open space and the newest hip restaurants and shops. Where you’ll work out or relax in the resort-style club or explore it all since you’re always minutes from Venice, Santa Monica and Manhattan Beach. With recent mentions in Travel + Leisure, Bloomberg and The Hollywood Reporter, it’s no wonder Playa Vista has become the Westside address of choice.
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October 2016 • Page 19
Photo courtesy Westchester/Playa Historical Society.
Fritz B. Burns arrived in Los Angeles in 1921 to serve as vice president of the real estate firm Dickinson & Gillespie and was responsible for buying and selling what is now Playa del Rey. After losing his fortune in the stock market crash, Burns, and his associates, bet on the need for homes for GIs returning from the war and began subdividing, building and selling homes near the airport. Burns and his protégé William H. Hannon are credited with naming the community “Westchester.” Burns passed away in 1979 at the age of 79.
William H. Hannon has left a mark on Westchester, from the homes he helped develop, the library at LMU that bares his name and the foundation that carries on his legacy through donations and providing local schools with the ability to sell raffle tickets for a Hawaiian vacation. Hannon attended what is now LMU on a handshake deal to pay back the university when he become employed. He joined Fritz B. Burns & Associates in 1937 and was responsible for many real estate projects in the area. A devout Catholic, he is remembered for giving back to a variety of local causes, especially Catholic schools. He passed away in 1999 at age 86.
Shirley Pfeil was one of Westchester’s biggest cheerleaders and campaigned for years for locals to use “Westchester 90045,” instead of Los Angeles. Pfeil moved to Westchester in 1947 and never stopped promoting the community she loved. Thanks to a greeting service she owned, she helped welcome tens of thousands of residents to Westchester. She was active in numerous organizations including the Woman’s Club, the chamber, the YMCA and AMCS. She founded the Holiday Home Tour and along with her husband, Bud, paid for the original “Welcome to Westchester” sign that is now in the park next to In N’ Out. She passed away in 2007 at age 90.
Morrey Plotkin spent decades volunteering his time and donating his money to help local organizations thrive. Plotkin was a founder of the Flight Path Museum and was the visionary behind the organization placing plaques along Sepulveda Boulevard to honor the community’s aviation history. Plotkin was also a longtime supporter of numerous community organizations, including the Westchester Family YMCA, EmpowerTech, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Westside Pacific Village and the LAX Coastal Chamber. Plotkin passed away in 2014 at the age of 97.
Photo by Glenn Marzano.
The following are twelve people who have helped shape Westchester into the community that it is today through their vision, volunteerism and entrepreneurial spirit. Their hard work and dedication to the community has helped cement Westchester as a unique community that retains its small-town feel, relishes in community spirit and has some of the most active, dedicated volunteers working for the greater good that any neighborhood could ask for. In honor of Westchester’s 75th celebration, the Anniversary Committee was tasked with creating a list of individuals that could be considered Westchester founders and pioneers. While there are many great individuals who have made a positive impact in Westchester since its founding with their time, talent and treasure, this first round of people will be recognized at the Westchester 75th Anniversary Celebration on October 27 at LMU. The committee hopes to create a lasting tribute to these individuals in the future. The goal is to have a group like the Westchester/Playa Historical Society continue to add names to this Westchester “Hall of Fame” in hopes of creating a more complete picture of the people who have been instrumental in the history of the community.
Howard Drollinger signed his correspondences, “Yours for a better Westchester,” and worked for almost 60 years in strengthening and enhancing the community’s business district. Credited with putting “Westchester on the map,” by L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan, his company (now called) Drollinger Properties is the largest land and property owner in the Westchester business district. Drollinger was a proud member of the Westchester Rotary Club and had perfect attendance for more than 50 years. He also supported a number of community organizations, often through anonymous donations. After passing in 2006 at the age of 84, he had a street in Westchester named after him. Page 20 • October 2016
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Lloyd Hild moved to Westchester in 1951 and immediately started working to make his community a better place to live and work. Hild was a 61-year member of the Westchester Rotary Club, served as the chamber’s president in 1981 and was Westchester’s honorary mayor in 1984. He also served as vice chairman of the Westchester Family YMCA Board of Managers, was active in the Howard Hughes Spruce Goose conservation and was instrumental in lobbying to get an extra traffic lane built on the 405 Freeway in preparation for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Hild passed away in 2015 at the age of 92.
Mary Ellen and Alan Cassman moved to Westchester in 1951 and made it their mission to help make Westchester the wonderful place it is today. The Cassmans were one of a handful of founding families that helped raise money to build the YMCA and were instrumental in founding the Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS)–with Alan writing its Articles of Incorporation and Mary Ellen serving as its executive director for 17 years. Although Alan passed away in 2013, Mary Ellen continues her volunteerism and is active with a variety of community groups, especially the YMCA and AMCS.
Mary Lou Crockett moved to Westchester when she was 9 and was dedicated to creating a strong, vibrant community. Crockett was the founder of the Westchester/Playa Historical Society and was the visionary behind the Fourth of July parade as a celebration of the year 2000. Despite her status as a top realtor in the Westchester/Playa area, she never slowed down her volunteer efforts with dozens of community groups including the Friends of the Westchester/Loyola Library, Westchester Vitalization, NCWP, the Board of Airport Commissioners, the YMCA and the chamber. Crockett passed away in 2004 at 66.
Photo by Mike Harriel.
Hugo Francis moved to Westchester in 1950 and marveled that there was no YMCA, at a time when YMCAs served as the center of communities. After land was deeded by the Kentwood Home Guardians for the YMCA in the 1950s, Francis got to work raising $650,000 through $100 pledges to build the Y’s swimming pool, offices and meeting rooms, so Westchester residents could enjoy the organization that he credited with giving him role models. Often referred to as the “heart and soul of the YMCA,” he spent decades supporting the organization by flipping pancakes, selling Christmas trees and serving on its board. Francis passed away in 2003 at age 82.
Photo by Glenn Marzano.
Ella Drollinger was a pioneer developer and built Westchester’s first large commercial building in 1943. The Jim Dandy Market was Westchester’s first grocery store and was located roughly at the site of current day Bed Bath & Beyond. Building the market at a time when resources were low due to the war effort was difficult, but Drollinger successfully made the case that the defense workers who lived in the community needed a place to shop for food for their families. In 1947, her son, Howard Drollinger, joined the family business, which is now led by her granddaughter Karen Dial.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Rowena Ake has been helping blaze the trail for women in the Westchester area since the 1950s. Ake was the first female president of the LAX Coastal Chamber and the first female member of the Westchester Rotary Club, as well as its first female president. She has owned several businesses in the community, including dry cleaning establishments and Rowena Ake Properties. Ake also served as the longtime president of the Flight Path Museum and has been honored as a Women of Distinction from the Senate for her volunteer work with business and community organizations.
October 2016 • Page 21
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The Organizations There are many organizations that help form the crux of the community in Westchester. One of these is the local rotary club. Since 1950, the Westchester Rotary Club has taken on the task of improving the community with club projects. In the early years, their projects helped the Westchester playground, the Westchester Townhouse and the YMCA, but in the last few years the nonprofit group, which meets Wednesday afternoons, has been praised for their “Makeover Project.” Mostly recently they helped transform the Westchester Senior Center with new paint, new kitchen, furniture and refurbished floors. Another organization that works to keep the community strong is the chamber. More than just a
Page 24 • October 2016
The Institutions
business organization, the LAX Coastal Chamber totes itself as the “perfect blend of business and community.” While it does advocate for business, it also supports a variety of community events, especially when it comes to education. The chamber hosts the Teacher Eddy Awards, the School Expo and a robust Education Committee. The chamber’s biggest gift to the community, however, is the Fourth of July Parade it has organized for the last 17 years. Lastly, since 2001, the NCWP has helped keep the community informed on a variety of issues that impact the quality of life in Westchester/Playa. They also host a variety of forums throughout the year on topics like education and community safety.
Although the relationships haven’t always been easy, Westchester wouldn’t be what it is today without LAX and LMU. Both were built when there was virtually nothing here, and around these two institutions a great community was formed. LAX and LMU are both huge economic engines in the area, with almost everyone in town having a connection to one or the other. A recent agreement with LAX and the Alliance for a Regional Solution to Airport Congestion has the proposed north runway move halted indefinitely, a huge win for Westchester. Meanwhile, LMU
continues sponsoring events like the Fourth of July Parade, Race for Success and the Jet to Jetty. The university is also a huge resource when a local school needs help or the community needs a coyote expert. One thing is for certain, a community is stronger when all of its neighbors work together for the common good.
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Proud to call Westchester home for the past 63 years Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
October 2016 • Page 25
Westchester was once home to two premier movie theaters: the Loyola and the Paradise. The Loyola Theater, with its 1,200 seats, opened in 1946 to much fanfare. After a brief stint as an art house theater in the 1980s, it closed it doors in 1982, was gutted and turned into an office building. Luckily its ornate facade is still intact, making the building a Westchester landmark. Down the street, the Paradise Theater, which also had a bowling alley and a cocktail lounge, opened in 1950 with 1,300 seats. Although the theater closed in 1978, the building still contains mementos of its glamorous past as a site for red carpet movie premieres: bronze plaques with time capsules buried below them commemorating award-winning movies can still be seen in the building’s front entrance. The Paradise is now also an office building, and it recently had its facade spruced up with a new sign.
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family of 5 boys there. Bob graduated Westchester School, attended college and returned family of 5 boys there. Bob graduated fromfrom Westchester HighHigh School, attended college and returned to to Westchester to begin his career in estate. real estate. Starting Realty and now Coldwell Banke Westchester to begin his career in real Starting withwith KentKent Realty and now withwith Coldwell Banker, Bobbeen has been serving Westchester's real estate needs for decades. During heseen has seen Bob has serving Westchester's real estate needs for decades. During that that time,time, he has Westchester is a very special place to Bob. Bob's parents moved to Westchester in 1948 and raised their Westchester and transform theWestchester vibrant and thriving community it and is today. Westchester grow and there. transform into into thefrom vibrant and thriving community it is today. family of 5grow boys Bob graduated High School, attended college returned to
Westchester to begin his career real estate. Starting with Kent Realty now with Coldwell Banker, Proud of Westchester's 75inyear history and thankful toand a part it all for all these yea Proud of Westchester's 75 year history and thankful to be abe part of itof for these years! Bob has been serving Westchester's real estate needs for decades. During that time, he has seen Westchester grow and transform into the vibrant and thriving community it is today.
Proud of Westchester's 75 year history and thankful to be a part of it for all these years!
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October 2016 • Page 29
By Rebecca Hill They say “the eyes are the windows to the soul,” but I think Halloween costumes are the real windows to the soul. When you give someone license to be whatever they want to be for a day, you often see their alter-ego (or perhaps it’s their true self) emerge. When I see someone dressed as a giant M&M, I know this person is a lovable, friendly, laid-back soul. When I see someone dressed as something scary and holding a machete it makes me pause (and, in truth, cower behind the kids I take trick-or-treating every year). And when I see someone dressed as Little Bo Peep or a sexy sailor, I think–ah, yes, I remember being in my 20s! The Inncrowd and I asked our Westside friends and neighbors what they would be for Halloween if they could be anything. Here’s what they said: Toni Sanchez, the new owner of Curves Marina del Rey, said, “I would be invisible. I’m scared of scary things so I wouldn’t want them to find me!” Her husband, Marco, said he’d “be a vampire” and added, “I’m afraid Toni would be out of luck, because my wife is never invisible to me!” Michael Coulter, of Playa del Rey, said, “I’d be Neil Diamond so I could walk around singing ‘Cracklin’ Rose’ all night long.” I’ve heard Michael and his band sing at the Prince O’Whales so this would actually be a real treat!
Photo by Liz Hall.
Recipes from the Inn: Halloween edition
Add some store-bought icing to make these pumpkin muffins extra scrumptious.
Barbara Bean, of Del Rey, said, “I’d be a cat because they’re elegant, beautiful, stealth and independent.” And theater director Kathleen Rubin, of Marina del Rey, said, “I’d be something that would make me totally unrecognizable and a bit scary because my mother always said Halloween was about being scary. There were no fairy princess costumes in our family!” Here at the Inn at Playa del Rey, I’m trying to convince the Inncrowd to dress as superheroes and villains. I’ve already gotten our manager, Liz Hall, committed to being Bat Girl and I’m
going to be her sidekick, Robin. One of our co-workers is considering being Cat Woman, but no one wants to be The Joker. My plan is to have a “Super Heroes Luncheon” on Halloween Day before we go to work, so if you think you see a cape swoosh by at Mo’s in Playa del Rey or you see my black convertible (AKA the “bat mobile”) parked outside Tony P’s in the Marina, you’ll know I was successful! If you don’t see a gang of superheroes roaming the neighborhood, you’ll know I gave up and am equally happy baking these awesome, homemade,
Pumpkin Muffins. Happy Halloween, y’all! May Schoenfeld’s Pumpkin Bread Ingredients: • 3 ½ Cups flour (sifted) • 3 Cups sugar • 2 Tsp. baking soda • 1 Tsp. salt • ¼ Tsp. ground cloves • ½ Tsp. ginger • 1 Tsp. ground nutmeg • 1 Tsp. cinnamon 1. Sift all dry ingredients into a large bowl. 2. Then add: • 2/3 Cups water • 1 Cup vegetable oil • 4 Eggs • 2 Cups pumpkin puree 3. Fold in 1 cup chopped nuts if desired. 4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake in muffin tins for about 18 minutes or until tester comes out clean. Enjoy! The Inn’s recipes have been lovingly collected over the past 20 years. Some are original recipes, others are wellknown recipes that have been adapted and some are recipes that have been handed down by our innkeepers’ mothers and grandmothers over the years. Rebecca Hill is an innkeeper at the Inn at Playa del Rey and a published writer. Her stories have appeared in Redbook magazine and in over a dozen Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies.
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Carol Oike Kitabayashi Executive Director, WPV
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October 2016 • Page 31
Calendar Ongoing monthly events: Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club Join the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club every Wednesday morning at 7:15 a.m. for its weekly meeting. The club meets at Whiskey Red’s, located at 13813 Fiji Way in Marina del Rey. The cost of the meeting is $25, which includes breakfast. Guests are welcome and reservations are not required. For more info, visit playasunrise.org or call (310) 429-3808.
Rotary Club of Westchester The Rotary Club of Westchester meets every Wednesday at 12 noon for lunch at the Crowne Plaza LAX Hotel, located at 5985 W. Century Blvd. in Westchester. The cost of lunch is $25 and validated self parking is free. Guests are most welcome! Reservations are not required. For more information or to reserve a seat at the luncheon, please contact Bob Smith at (310) 643-9350.
LAX Kiwanis Club The LAX Kiwanis Club is looking for new members. The club meets every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel, located at 9620 Airport Blvd. in Westchester. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world, one child and one community at a time. The LAX Kiwanis raise money every year for such causes as providing scholarships, holiday baskets for needy families and back to school shopping sprees. For more information about the club or to RSVP to attend one of their meetings, please email laxkiwanisclub@gmail.com.
October events: Kentwood Players present Wait Until Dark Next up for Westchester’s Kentwood Players is Wait Until Dark a suspenseful thriller by Frederick Knott. The play is a suspenseful thriller set in 1944 Greenwich Village. Susan Hendrix, a blind, yet capable woman, is imperiled by a team of men in her own apartment. Aided by her difficult young neighbor Gloria, and Mike, her husband’s Marine buddy, Susan must fight for her life against ruthless criminals, led by a sociopath, Roat. The men believe she has a doll hidden somewhere in her apartment that is more than just a toy, and they do not want to play. As the tension builds, Susan discovers her blindness might be the key to her escape, but all must wait until dark to play out this classic thriller’s chilling conclusion. The play runs through Saturday, October 15. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays Page 32 • October 2016
TheHTN.com at 2 p.m. Performances take place at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Ave. in Westchester. Tickets are $20. To purchase tickets, please call (310) 645-5156 during box office hours or buy online at kentwoodplayers.org.
Neighborhood Cleanup Join Councilman Bonin, LMU, the Game Sports Bar & Grill and the Westchester Rotary for the 4th annual La Tijera Community cleanup! The cleanup will take place on Saturday, October 8 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and those interested in helping are asked to meet at the DWP Substation Lawn located on the corner of La Tijera Blvd. and Airport Blvd. in Westchester. RSVP at 11thdistrict.com/la_ tijera_cleanup_2016.
Westchester Community Oven Baking Day On Saturday, October 8, bake the best pizza you’ve ever tasted at Westchester’s Wood-Fired Community Oven. Pizza baking will take place from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Bring pizza dough, share recipes and toppings and tastes. Watch your pizza cook to perfection in 90 seconds. Bread bakers are invited to bring their unbaked bread loaves for a 2 p.m. bake. The Westchester Community Oven is located in the garden of Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, located at 6700 83rd. Street in Westchester. The event is free and the oven is fired up the 2nd Saturday of every month.
Discover Marina del Rey You’re invited to see what’s happening in the marina at the Department of Beaches and Harbors annual Discover Marina del Rey. The event runs Sunday, October 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free to attend and family-friendly. Activities include community booths focusing on health, safety and the environment, live music and food trucks. A $5 wristband gets you access to rides, games, water events, inflatables, arts & crafts and more. Discover Marina del Rey takes place in Burton Chace Park, located at 13560 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey. Event parking is available for $7 in county lots near the event. For more info, visit marinadelrey. lacounty.gov or call (310) 305-9545.
YMCA Pancake Breakfast The Westchester Y Service Club is hosting its Fall Pancake Breakfast to assist needy families to enjoy the benefits and facilities of the Westchester Family YMCA. At the breakfast, Y Club volunteers
will be serving pancakes, sausages, oatmeal and beverages from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 22. The event will take place in the YMCA’s parking lot, located at 8015 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester. Tickets are available at the YMCA front desk or the day of the event for $5 per person.
Westchester 75th Anniversary Cocktail Reception The community is invited to celebrate Westchester at a cocktail reception hosted by the Westchester 75th Anniversary Committee, the LAX Coastal Chamber and Loyola Marymount University on Thursday, October 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.. Guests can enjoy drinks, appetizers, dessert and photo booth, while enjoy a display of Westchester/Playa Historical Society items and photos. Recognition of community members past and present who have made an impact on Westchester, as well as a cake-cutting ceremony will take place. The event will be held at the Loyola Marymount University’s Roski Dining Hall, located at 1 LMU Drive inside University Hall. The cost to attend is $10 and parking is available at LMU for $10. RSVPs are required and can be made by calling (310) 645-5151 or online at laxcoastal.com.
Halloween/Fall Events Look no further for fun fall and Halloween-themed events in the neighborhood. Here’s a list of our top October picks: For more info, visit playavista.com • Saturday, October 15, Boo Fest at Playa Vista Elementary School from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring the whole family down to PVES for games, prizes, a haunted house, bake sale, food and more! PVES is located at 3150 Bluff Creek Dr. in Playa Vista • Friday, October 21, LMU Children Center’s Fall Festival, 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Join the LMU Children Center for its annual Fall Festival. Activities include live entertainment, petting zoo, bounce house, games, rides, prizes and more. Admission is $25 presale and $30 at the door. Children under 12 have free admission with adult. Admission includes dinner, a drink and desert. Children also receive five complimentary game/ ride tickets. The event will take place on Hannon Field on the campus of LMU, located at 1 LMU Drive in Westchester. For more information call (310) 258-8900 or visit facebook.com/ lmucc. • Saturday, October 29, Harvest Fest at Concert Park in Playa Vista from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests can enjoy a costume contest, music, food trucks and activities for the whole family.
Concert Park is located at Concert Park Drive and Seabluff Drive in Playa Vista. • Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30, Harvest Days & Haunted Nights, times vary. Head to the Marina for a family-friendly harvest celebration by day, but be prepared if you stick around too long the event transforms into a spooky Haunted Nights event recommended for those ages 13 and up. At Harvest Days from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., visitors to Burton Chace Park can enjoy a pumpkin patch, face painting, train ride, food, games and a costume contest. Haunted Night guests can enjoy haunted pirate ship tours, hay maze, zombie pirates, food, a master pumpkin carver and more. Haunted Nights run Friday, October 28 from 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, October 29 from 6 to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, October 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. Burton Chace Park is located at 13650 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey. For more info visit marinadelrey. lacounty.gov.
Save the Date: Holiday Home Tour Join the Westchester Mental Health Guild for its 34th Annual Home Tour that will feature five distinctive houses in Westchester and Playa del Rey decorated for the holidays, on Sunday, November 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. After the tour, attendees can enjoy a festive reception at the Westchester Elks Club, where there will also be a special one-day holiday marketplace with a variety of vendors, selling everything from jewelry to dishtowels to chocolate. The reception and marketplace will be open noon until 5 p.m. The Holiday Home Tour has always been the Guild’s largest fundraiser of the year. Net proceeds from the event support AMCS, which provides thousands of hours of child, adult and family mental health counseling services annually to people in our community, with fees established on a sliding scale. The clinic has also established outreach programs to local elementary and high schools, providing child therapy and preventive intervention. AMCS also trains mental health therapists. Tickets can be purchased online at eventbrite.com with a small service fee; purchased on Tuesdays and Saturdays in October from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Team Crockett office, located at 8816 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 105, and at the Westchester Farmers’ Market on October 16 and October 19 and October 30. Tickets are $30. For more information, email hometour16@gmail.com.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
School News Westchester 75th Anniversary Student Art Contest. Calling all student artists! In honor of Westchester’s 75th birthday, the Anniversary Committee is hosting an art contest open to all local students and residents ages 5-18. The theme of the contest is “Our Little Piece of Paradise: Celebrating 75 Years of Westchester” and drawings should artistically and colorfully illustrate Westchester and promote its 75th anniversary. The winning drawings will be featured at the Westchester 75th Anniversary Celebration and at Councilman Bonin’s Westchester office. The deadline to participate is Thursday, October 13. For more information and to receive the contest form, please email westchesteranniversary@gmail. com. Westport Heights Helps Raise Awareness for African Elephants. The first grade students at Westport Heights recently answered a call for global environmental awareness by OrigamiUSA and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Students at the school made origami elephants to help raise awareness about the plight of more than 35,000 African elephants that are killed each year for their tusks. OrigamiUSA and the Wildlife Conservation Society have encouraged people throughout the U.S. to get involved with their campaign to fold an origami elephant, with the goal of collecting 35,000 to break the Guinness World Record (the current record is 33,764) Movie Night at Visitation. Visitation is holding a Movie Night Under the Stars with a screening of “Zootopia” on Friday, October 14. The cost to attend is $20 per family of four and $5 for additional guests. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. with the movie screened at 7:30 p.m.
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Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Seats must be reserved at visitationschool.org/movienight. Visitation is located at 8740 Emerson Ave. in Westchester. Getting Ready for Kindergarten? The Westchester Parents Nursery School is holding its annual Kindergarten Roundup on Tuesday, October 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. Many representatives from Westchester/Playa and the surrounding areas’ schools will be represented at the forum. This event is an opportunity to hear what different schools have to offer and to speak directly with parent volunteers and teachers/administrators about what makes their school great. The event will take place in the Loyola Village Elementary School Auditorium, located at 8821 Villanova Ave. in Westchester. Neighborhood School Expo. The LAX Coastal Chamber and the Westchester/Playa Education Foundation are hosting the third annual Neighborhood School Expo on Tuesday, October 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. The expo will take place at the Westchester Family YMCA Annex, located at 8020 Alverstone Ave. in Westchester. Attendees will learn the difference between public, private, charter, magnet and parochial schools and get a chance to speak one-on-one with education administrators. Kids activities at the event include free treats from Yogurtland Westchester, Melody Pizza and face painting. For more information, please contact the LAX Coastal Chamber at (310) 645-5151. Have information to share about your school? Email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
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Random Notes/Opinion Building a lasting relationship By Fay Craton
Opinion: Do you watch Dancing with The Stars? Each week the contestants and their partners show off newly learned dance skills. This requires each dancer embracing his or her own capabilities while learning new skills. Each dance routine has definite techniques, body stances and moving, while dancers mirror the movement of their partners. Learning new skills takes fully paying attention to new information and then doing a lot of practice. While learning, each dancer experiences both failures and successes; after all, you cannot reach success without missing the mark sometimes. A great amount of knowledge can be learned by failure and then trying again. The journey for each contestant on the show is demonstrated in the improvements in skill, techniques and in each dancer’s ability to confidently share their own personalities. Dance can be a wonderful metaphor to learn about meaningful connection with others. Humans by nature are social beings, needing both boundaries and connection while doing a communication “dance” with one another. In dance, partners support one another through a mirroring of one another’s movements. In real life, we support one another through
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mirroring someone’s words, moods, or perhaps, by validating an experience. In the very best dances, reflection and support of one another creates an experience greater than what one person alone normally achieves. Using the example of the dance competition, you can gain insight about how meaningful and healthy relationships are created. Everyone who agrees to participate has common goals. Clear intentions and agreements are made before the show commences. Everyday healthy relationships start with common goals combined with an intention to have a mutually satisfying dynamic. This includes exchanging thoughts, life perspectives, personal goals, needs, compassionately accepting both strengths and struggles, as well as deciding if you like the “chemistry” when being with another person. Learning about people can help create healthy relationships. When you have enough information, you can make sound decisions through which you choose the kind of relationship you desire with a given person. You choose whether or not you want to have a “passing” relationship or a deeper meaningful relationship. Long-term, meaningful, satisfying relationships require having a foundation built upon knowing a great amount of information about another person in combination with
acceptance of that individual. You achieve this learning process by being curious. Questions are asked and truthful responses are provided. Slowly a connecting trust is established. Solid relationships are not built upon halftruths, avoiding sharing your feelings and/or thoughts, or from a belief you can change or mold the other person. Sustainable relationships demand acceptance and support of one another. To be fully present for another person, you must start with being fully present and accepting of yourself. Some people are very good with open, easy sharing. However, if this is difficult for you, you are not alone. I find many people struggle in this area. Too often those struggling look at those who appear to express easily and find themselves lacking. The negative inner judgement created by judging yourself as lacking makes it even harder to express yourself. Building a good foundation will require for you to learn how to share about what is important to you. It may also require learning how to listen when another person is sharing. Once a good foundation is in place, it takes continued commitment to keep an honest, open, compassionate flow of communication in which thoughts and feelings are respected. You need a solid foundation to survive the occasions when difficulties
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arise. Everyone occasionally experiences challenges. A shaky foundation makes it much harder to make it through the tough periods of life. Life always includes changes and the need to adapt. Sometimes goals and agreements need to change. If you have not learned the skills to create a solid foundation, it will require learning them to survive the difficult periods experienced in all relationships. My wish for you is that you have the skills to form and sustain healthy relationships. Just as learning to dance takes paying attention to the learning process and a lot of practice, so does learning to build healthy foundations in your personal relationships. The difference between a dance competition and your life is that in the competition, only one dance partnership can win. Strong sustainable relationships are not about competing. If you put in the effort, you can build healthy, sustainable relationships. Good relationships are possible in every aspect of your life. Fay Craton, M.A. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (mfc40011), which is the psychology license specializing in relationships (with ourselves or with others), and she has an office in Westchester. For more info, visit communicationtriangle.com or contact her at (310) 645-6762.
Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News
Your unique path to fitness success
By Jeff Blair
Tony’s workout routine has allowed him to drop dozens of pounds and Opinion: I often hear fitness traincreate great strength. ers say, “You MUST do X, Y or Z to Wendy Connor is a local teacher, succeed in fitness.” Depending on mom of two and a wife. She lifts who is talking, the X, Y and Z can be weights three times per week, as completely different. well as running and walking several These statements remind me of other times throughout the week. She those ads you see on the Internet that competes in various road races and say, “7 Foods You Must Never Eat!” has improved her cardiovascular and My experience is there can be many strength levels dramatically over the different paths to success and a “one past year. size fits all” approach is pretty much Martin Casaus is a CPA, husband the opposite of everything I believe. and father of two. His primary workHopefully, these short fifteen out has been weight-lifting lately, and Westchester success stories can exhe has built his strength to high levels. plain how fitness success can come in Casaus said he felt “like an old man” many different forms. when he started working out again, Cesar Alvarez is a busy attorney, but now feels completely different. husband and father. He grew up with Dena Vatcher is a wife and mom a dance background. In addition to of two young boys. She lifts weights working out with weights, he now twice per week and likes to walk with does indoor cycling several times per exercise partners. She started with week for cardiovascular training. He serious back pain a few years back, has dramatically improved strength but that is really a distant memory and lowered his body fat levels over now. She is very active and did more the past few years. than 40 consecutive push-ups on one Jackie Carr is a busy salesperson. of her recent birthdays. She lifts weights several times per Mike Scott is an IT professional, week, hikes and walks the neighdad and husband. In spite of spending borhood. She has completely translong hours in front of a computer, formed her body and her life over Scott works out with weights twice a the past decade. She has definitely week and referees youth soccer. He “turned back the clock” in a dramatic has probably tripled his strength level way. over the past few years while managRich Barsumian works in accounting the challenges of work and family. ing and incorporates swimming Laura McGaughey is a retired edinto his exercise routine along with ucation professional who works out resistance training. He has spent a lot with weights twice a week along with of time and effort working on his apher husband Don. Her strength and proach to nutrition. Rich has greatly fitness levels continue to increase and improved strength and added muscle, Don can perform more weight on one while becoming leaner in a several exercise (the “pullover”) than almost year period. any person at my studio. He also rides Worship Service 10:30 am Cyndi Hench is the Neighborhood his bike frequently for cardiovascular Council President. She mountain fitness. Canines@Covenant 5:00 pm Sunday bikes, skis and lifts weights. Hench Cuyler Tremayne is a local busiCovenant is on the corner of 80th and Sepulveda Blvd. has become incredibly strong (recent- nessman, husband and father of two. ly performing eight reps of a dumbTremayne has completely changed his bell row at 60 pounds). If you don’t posture and dramatically increased Church School for Young People during Service. know, 60 pounds is a lot! Hench is strength levels over the past three We have an Orchestra and Adult, Youth and Children’s Choirs. another person who has dramatically years through resistance training and Email: cpoffis@pacbell.net transformed herself from a couch stretching. Childcare is provided-For more information, Call (310) 670-5750. potato to one of the strongest women Pete Nyquist is an attorney, father in Westchester! of two and husband. Pete lifts weights Mike Mertens is a husband, rethree times per week and enjoys tired and works part-time at a golf snow skiing. Pete’s consistency has course. Mike has probably doubled produced fantastic strength improvehis strength and added muscle over ments over the past few years. the past months while improving his As you can see, each of these knee function. Mike lifts weights and success stories has found a different plays golf. path to fitness success. Just like we all Emergency Food Distribution to those in need. Tammy Stanton works in education have different DNA, we all have diffinance and is a mom of 2 and a wife. ferent fitness paths. Follow the path Sponsored by the Westchester Clergy Association Tammy works out several times per that most interests you and remain Open Tuesday & Friday, 10am-12pm week with weights and also performs open-minded along the way. Try to 355 Beach St., Inglewood Barre classes. Tammy has dropped slowly expand your fitness program many inches and pounds and has and you can feel and look completely greatly increased her strength over different. Bring donations of non-perishable food to Covenant the past year. Before you start this or any fitness Presbyterian Chuch. Volunteers and money donations also Tony Palermo is co-owner of Tony routine, consult your doctor. welcomed and encouraged! P’s restaurant, a husband and dad to Jeff Blair is 5-time “Best of” Hometwo daughters. In addition to 3 weight town News Personal Trainer. He has For more information, please call (310) 677-5597 workouts per week, Tony gets on the operated a personal training studio in Ad donated by the Covenant Presbyterian Church elliptical machine every morning. Westchester since 2011. Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey • Playa Vista HomeTown News October 2016 • Page 37
Come Join your Friends at
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YOU CAN HELP! FOOD PANTRY, LAX
Photo courtesy the HTN and the EACG.
The inaugural WAM (Westchester Arts and Music) Block Party held on Saturday, September 24 was a huge success. Organized by local nonprofit group the Emerson Avenue Community Garden (EACG) to merge art, music and community, the event featured live music and dance performances by a dozen groups, community booths and food trucks. The group’s garden was also transformed into a kids’ zone full of arts & crafts, face painting and planting workshops. In the afternoon, organizers wowed attendees with a cake cutting ceremony featuring a specially made Westchesterthemed cake in honor of the community’s anniversary. The crowd sang “Happy Birthday, Westchester!” before title sponsor Karen Dial, president of the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation, and Councilmember Mike Bonin, cut into the cake. Kudos to the EACG, volunteers and sponsors on an awesome new community event!
Page 38 • October 2016
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