Westchester/Playa HomeTown News March edition

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Race for Success to draw biggest crowd yet to raise money for schools Community members, students and supporters of education will convene on LMU’s campus on Saturday, March 8 for the 7th annual Race for Success, which raises money for local public, charter and privates schools in Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. The race includes a 5k at 8 a.m. and a Kid’s 1k Race at 10 a.m. According to race organizer Mathu Matthews, who co-founded the race with Tina Ayala, this year’s race will be the largest yet, with more than 2,000 confirmed participants. Matthews and Ayala, local moms and Westchester school alumni, started the race in 2008 as a way to help support the education community.

Said Matthews, “It is so nice to see three communities of schools and businesses come together to show our children how important their education is to us. We are coming together to show our kids their communities are ready to support them and make up for any cuts that may happen.” All Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista schools are invited to participate in the race, and since its inception Matthews estimates that the race has raised more than $200,000 for local schools. The money is split evenly between the participating schools and (continued on page 21) At right: Runners compete in last year’s Kid’s 1K at the Race for Success.

Community thanks hero for rescuing Westchester boy Jesus Delgado’s life will never be the same after an act of bravery has made him a hero in the Westchester/Playa community and beyond. Wednesday, February 26 started off as a normal day for Delgado, who works as the daytime lead supervisor at Westchester’s T2 Tacos. When Delgado heard screams coming from the corner of Manchester and Loyola, however, he raced from behind the restaurant’s counter to find out what the commotion was all about. Delgado found a Westchester nanny dazed from being punched in the face, screaming for help because one of the children in her care had been kidnapped. The other boy had run home to tell his father that his brother had been taken. Delgado quickly sprang into action running after the man and caught up with him in front of the tennis courts at Westchester Park. Although the man told Delgado that the issue wasn’t any of his business,

Delgado was able to snatch the child from his arms and hold the suspect until police arrived on scene. Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets students including Dominique Daniels, Nicholas Hall, Ryiah Carcamo and Anthony Lucero also helped thwart the kidnapping attempt by blocking the alleged kidnapper’s path and calling 911. “Jesus Delgado and the Good Samaritan students from Westchester High who helped stop a kidnapping last week are bona fide neighborhood heroes,” said Councilman Mike Bonin. “I, like so many other members of the Westchester community, am incredibly thankful for the quick thinking and bravery they demonstrated. Jesus and the students who rushed to help last week embody the notion that our neighborhoods are better places to live when neighbors look out for each other, and they all have my sincerest (continued on page 4)

At left: Jesus Delgado was honored at the March NCWP meeting. NCWP board members Geoff Maleman (far left) and Cyndi Hench present Delgado with a commendation for his bravery.

A look inside your

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06 “Binding Desire” puts collection of artists’ books on display 10 Construction begins at IMAX facility at Playa Vista

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T h i s M o n t h B r i n g s Yo u March Features Neighbors need to work together to prevent crime 05 06 Binding Desire puts artists’ books on display BID’s annual meeting to discuss updates to Sepulveda 08 12 LMU NAC meeting tries new approach to format 13 AMCS honors long-time supporters at fundraiser To Do/Calendar 16-17 22-23 In Pictures

Monthly Features Community Random Notes/Opinion Looking Back... To Do

Calendar Happenings Pictures Business and Professional

Connect with the HTN Mailing Address: 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 110 #745 Westchester, CA 90045 Phone: (310) 641-1016 Email: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com or htn@thehtn.com Website: http://www.thehtn.com Facebook: facebook.com/thehtn

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HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Stephanie Davis, Publisher, Editor Fay Craton, Contributing Writer David “Duke� Dukesherer Sr., Looking Back

Nora Lee Owens, Humor Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer Jack Younger, Contributing Cartoonist

Advertisers’ Directory Brooklyn Water Bagel 10 Business & Professional 21 California Mentor 12 Carenet LA 06 Covenant Presbyterian Church 09 Custom Design and Construction 05 Daily Grill 11 Drollinger Properties 10 Food Pantry, LAX 09 Guilded Cage 06 Kevin and Kaz Gallaher 18 LA Arts Collective 08 LAX Airfield Tour 08 Loyola Marymount University 04

Neighborhood Council 24 Nora Lee Owens 18 REAL | LA 22 Socal Sports and Fitness 13 South Bay Brokers 20 Vergari & Napolitano 13 Westchester Farmers’ Market 13 Westchester First Fridays 09 Westchester Lutheran 07, 22 Westchester Town Center BID 03 Westchester/Playa Village 22 WISH Charter School 11 Zacha Homes 19

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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.

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The deadline for submissions is the 22nd of the month. Cor r ection: In the T hur sday, Fe br uar y 6 edition in the stor y entitled: “Pilot yo g a pr o gr am launches at K entwood,� the cor r ect name of the instr uctor should hav e been listed as Melvin Boyce.

March 2014

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Community thanks hero for rescuing Westchester boy (cont’d) (continued from page 1) appreciation for their heroism.” According to T2 Tacos co-owner Billy Tompkins, who also owns Tompkin’s Square with his brother, Jeffrey, he is not surprised Delgado or “Chuy” as he is affectionately called, a father himself to a three-yearold daughter with special needs, raced to rescue the four-year-old Westchester boy, Grady O’Brien. “I’m not surprised he went into action. I’m surprised more people didn’t get involved,”said Tompkins who describes Delgado as a kind, soften-spoken man with a passion for food. The alleged kidnapper, who has been identified as a 33-year-old North Hollywood man has been charged with one count of kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury and indecent exposure according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office. If convicted as charged, he could face up to 12 years in prison. The O’Brien family, members of the Moms of Westchester and Playa del Rey group and Councilman Bonin convened at the restaurant late February 26 to discuss crime in the area and to express their gratitude for Delgado’s bravery and thwarting the kidnapping attempt. Since the incident, the story of Delgado’s quick thinking has been picked up by both local and national news and the story has even reached as far as the United Kingdom. According to Westchester mom Julie Zaller, who is an administrator of the Moms of Westchester and Playa del Rey group Facebook page, after hearing what Delgado did, she posted a suggestion for people to

Delgado (third from right) was recognized at the NCWP meeting along with student Nicholas Hall (far right).

stop by T2 Tacos to say thanks and perhaps leave a nice tip at the restaurant. That idea quickly turned into fellow Westchester mom Jennifer Wiacek setting up a page on a crowd-funding website to help raise money for Delgado as a way to say thank you and also to help care for his family. Said Zaller, “After finding out what Jesus did for one of our neighborhood children and that he has a daughter with severe health issues, the moms decided to help him with medical bills by setting up a ‘GoFundMe’ account. We are pleased how fast the account grew, but we knew the community wanted to do something to thank him for his bravery.” While the goal was originally to raise $1,000, as donations poured in from both people locally and across the country, the

amount quickly snowballed. As of press time, more than 600 people had donated more than $24,000 in just five days. While the media whirlwind has been intense– Delgado has been interviewed by numerous news outlets and was invited to a hockey game by the Los Angeles Kings– Tompkins say it’s important that Delgado gets the recognition he deserves. Delgado and the WESM students were guests of honors at the standing room only Tuesday, March 4 Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa board meeting where they received commendations for their bravery. Tom O’Brien, Grady’s father, was also on hand to share his family’s gratitude. He said although both of his boys are understandably shaken-up and a little traumatized, they are working with a child

psychologist to help ensure that there is no long-lasting trauma. The boys’ nanny is also recovering and doing “pretty well.” “It’s amazing…Jesus stepped in there and the high school kids stepped in and the people in the community that were able to put themselves at risk without regard for their own safety to help my sons,” said O’Brien. “There are no words that I could use to thank them for that.” Tompkins says business at T2 Tacos has been booming since word of Delgado’s heroic action has spread throughout the community. Delgado has even become somewhat of a celebrity with people asking to have their picture taken with him. Although Delgado is humbled and overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the tight-knit Westchester/Playa community, Tompkins is not surprised by how the neighborhood has rallied to support his heroism. “We are so proud to be neighbors in this community. We are proud of the support we’ve received,” said Tompkins. “Thank you to the community for supporting Jesus and us. You’ve changed his life forever.” Donations for Delgado are still being accepted at www.gofundme.com/Jesus-Westchester-Hero. At the meeting, Delgado, a quiet man, expressed his appreciation for the outpouring of love and recognition that the community has shown him and his family over the last week. “I’m very happy with the support,” said Delgado. “These are very good people. I am very excited for my family and my daughter.”

Where learning never ends

March 2014

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Cyndi Hench discusses crime with Senior Lead Officers Richardson (left) and Garcia late last year.

Neighbors must work together to help prevent crime By Cyndi Hench, NCWP president and Neighborhood Watch captain Opinion: In recent weeks and months, the communities of Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista have experienced a number of crimes and what seems like an uptick in burglaries. According to the L.A. Times crime statistics, a spike occurred in November 2013 and has been coming back down and was about “average� for the area in January and February. That does not mean that there is no crime in the area, however. In the past three months, on a weekly average, Westchester has had 36 property crimes and 1.7 violent crimes; Playa del Rey has had 3.8 property crimes and .3 violent crimes; Playa Vista has had an average of 3.2 property crimes and .2 violent crimes per week. Property crime consists of burglary, motor vehicle theft, burglary/theft from a motor vehicle and personal/ other theft. Violent crime consists of homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Keeping population numbers in mind, in the week ending March 1, there were 8.4 crimes per 10,000 people in Westchester; 1.8 crimes per 10,000 people in Playa del Rey and 11.6 crimes per 10,000 people in Playa Vista. It is also important to keep in mind that these numbers for Westchester include LAX and the Century Corridor, which largely serves LAX travelers. In recent weeks, the residents of our communities have experienced a big awakening about crime in our area following the release of a surveillance video of a burglary in Westchester. It was aired on every news channel in Los Angeles. It was brazen and alarming, but it was unfortunately not too dissimilar to burglaries that occur all over Southern California every day. And as if this event was not shocking enough, on Wednesday, February 26, we learned of an attempted kidnapping at Manchester Avenue

March 2014

and Loyola Boulevard. Both of these events were jarring to our senses and have served to shine a light on crime in our community. While unsettling for many, it may also serve as a reminder for us to get involved with our neighbors to help prevent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. Through Neighborhood Watch, thousands of homeowners who want to take intelligently planned action to decrease crime statistics in their areas have discovered that they have a ready, willing and highly qualified partner in their Los Angeles Police Department and Senior Lead Officers. These homeowners now know that the LAPD would rather work with citizens to prevent crime than spend time and manpower investigating it after it occurs. It is a fact of life that relationships in many of today’s communities have become less personal than they were years ago. Families are more transient, children have more activities that take them and their parents away from home and there are more families with both parents working. The oncefamiliar sight of families visiting with each other on front porches while keeping a watchful eye on children and activities in the neighborhood is a rarity in most communities today. This trend away from personal contact in the neighborhood and the decrease in time families spend at home are two of the essential ingredients that make communities ripe for crimes of opportunity, such as burglary. Starting a Neighborhood Watch begins with talking to your neighbors on your block and sharing with them why you want to start a Watch group. Gather contact information for your neighbors and set up a block meeting with your LAPD Senior Lead Officer (SLO). You can find your SLO below, by calling the LAPD Community Relations/SLO Office at (310) 2024515, or through the Neighborhood (continued on page 11)

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“Binding Desire” puts special collection of artist books on display

By Meg Linton Otis College of Art and Design presents the exhibition “Binding Desire: Unfolding Artists Books” through March 30 in the Ben Maltz Gallery and Millard Sheets Library. “Binding Desire” displays a sampling of 125 works from the library’s special collection of artists’ books dating from the 1960s to the present. This teaching collection is one of the largest in Southern California with over 2,100 objects, and it includes artwork by such international luminaries as Vito Acconci, Joeseph Beuys and Arnaldo Pomodoro, as well as distinguished Los Angeles artists like Alexis Smith, Ed Ruscha and Larry Bell. It also features significant work from major production centers like Beau Geste Press in England, Red Fox Press in Ireland, Printed Matter and Women‘s Studio Workshop in New York, Paradise Press in Santa Monica and Pie in the Sky Press in Los Angeles. A foundational strength of the collection is its holdings of artists books made in the 1960s and 1970s— a time when this material was often not collected by libraries or museums because so much of it was hard to define, catalog and house. The lead curator of the show is Cathy Chambers, Assistant Director of the Otis Library and Special Collections Manager. She shared that the Otis

Artists’ Books Collection was founded by art curator and writer Joan Hugo when she was hired in 1957 as the Director of the Library. Under her leadership, the collection developed from her interest in the counter-cultural art movements of the 1960s. According to Hugo, “The development of the library’s collection coincided with several sixties’ art phenomena: the use of multiples—of which the book was just one; the popularity of graphics workshops; and—with increased access to inexpensive methods of reproduction— the production of the democratic book, the book produced to be given away or sold at low-cost in order to circumvent the hierarchies of distribution and to connect directly with the viewer.” Although Hugo passed away in 2006, her emphasis on multiples and the concepts of accessibility and democracy continue to guide the mission and purchasing philosophy of the collection today. The gallery and library wanted the exhibition to reflect the diversity and mission of the collection in the areas of typography, papermaking, graphics, bookmaking, binding, design, and creative writing. Chambers led the curatorial charge and worked with a support team of distinguished Otis faculty and library staff including Guy Bennett, Professor in Liberal Arts and Sciences and Graduate Writing;

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An exhibition view of “Binding Desire: Unfolding Artists Books” at Otis College of Art and Design. The show runs through March 30. PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER WARREN.

Rebecca Chamlee, Associate Professor in Book Arts; Linda Dare, Otis Lab Press Manager; Sheldon Forbes, Circulation Manager and Catalog Designer; Sue Maberry, Director of the Library and Instructional Technology; Barbara Maloutas, Associate Chair, Communication Arts; and JT Steiny, Senior Lecturer in Illustration. The team also enlisted the assistance of Kathleen Walkup, Professor and Book Art Program Head at Mills College in Northern California; renowned book artist Susan E. King; and The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation. The project team intentionally created an eclectic selection of artwork to reflect both the faculty’s current teaching emphasis in the classroom/ studio, as well as their personal areas of expertise and interest. Using the history and mission of the collection as a guiding principle for selection, the team developed the following overarching themes: “Democracy/ Accessibility,” meaning economic and user friendly production and distribution methods; “Disappearing/ Reappearing,” the idea that the physical book is fading into the digital realm while self-publishing, scrapbooking and fine art book making

are emerging; and “Legacy,” the passing of knowledge, production and access through the generations. Within these larger categories emphasis was also placed on form, technique, collaboration, personal narrative, non-traditional narrative and reader determined experiences. On view through the end of March, “Binding Desire: Unfolding Artists Books” provides the public with opportunities to examine the history of artists’ books in Los Angeles; explore the resurgence of artists’ books and get a peek at the future of book arts, as artists manipulate and stretch our notions of what a book can do and be. With that in mind, the gallery created a reading room in the exhibition and a section in the show called “Curricular Connections” to highlight the work of Otis students. Admission and parking are free, and the gallery is open Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The gallery’s weekend hours are 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Meg Linton is the Director of Galleries and Exhibitions at Otis College of Art and Design and is a contributing columnist on the arts in the community.

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March 2014

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BID’s annual meeting to discuss updates to Sepulveda The Westchester Town Center Business Improvement District (BID) will hold its annual General Meeting at 9 a.m. on March 20 at Truxton’s American Bistro, located at 8611 Truxton Avenue in Westchester. The meeting is open to the public and will include a light breakfast, as well as a overview of the BID’s accomplishments in 2013 and its goals for 2014. Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin will attend, and the BID will recognize a number of city employees who have had significant roles in enhancing Westchester. “The annual meeting is a great opportunity to take a look at the many ways in which the BID is positively impacting the neighborhood we serve,” said Executive Director Don Duckworth. “I’m not sure everyone knows everything we do, so this is a way to not only share what we are doing but also to exchange ideas about what projects we can undertake in the future.” Duckworth said the BID will show a before and after video presentation of the Westchester Landscape Entry Project. That project, several years in the making, is designed to help enable pedestrians, and especially children, to more easily navigate the stretch of sidewalk along

Sepulveda Boulevard north of Manchester Avenue that has been severely damaged by tree roots. Federal funds, along with a public-private partnership, have paved the way for plans for a meandering sidewalk and new trees that will not destroy the sidewalk for nearby residents who want to walk this stretch of Sepulveda in Westchester. The design plan is to eventually extend the street improvement and landscaping south to Westchester Town Center and north to Howard Hughes Parkway. Improvements are currently under way on the east side of Sepulveda Boulevard, from 79th Street to 83rd Street and include removing and replacing damaged sidewalks, removing ficus trees and installing a new irrigation system, landscaping and planting new street trees. The BID maintains landscaping, trash and beautification efforts It is a more than $625,000 along Sepulveda and the downtown Westchester business district. project. The BID’s annual meeting in Westchester. The BID has worked will also include a report about the closely with People Assisting the BID’s efforts to manage homelessness Homeless (or PATH), an organization

that provides critical supportive services, including employment assistance, healthcare, counseling, substance abuse treatment, legal aid and more to help people in need get back on their feet. At the meeting, BID representatives will report on its on-going streetscape maintenance services and survey attendees about priorities for the coming year. Formed by a coalition of property and business owners to provide improvements to revitalize and enhance the Westchester central business district, the BID has played an important role in revitalizing the commercial core of the community, as well as one of the major gateways of Los Angeles. The BID accomplishes this mission by providing a broad range of services including: maintenance and beautification; marketing and promotions; new business attraction; and, policy development and advocacy. The center piece of the BID’s mission has always been to implement and maintain an attractive and comfortable, pedestrian-friendly, main street environment for the benefit of property and business owners, customers, visitors, tourists and local residents.

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A lo o k back at We s tch es ter/ P l ay a. . . • your community newspaper • your community By David J. “Duke” Dukesherer, Sr.

Shopping Local is important to community...* My three older brothers and I worked locally in the grocery business. It was a great job for a teenager. My first job was at Royal Market in Culver City. My brothers worked at Lucky’s, Royal, Ralph’s and Hillmart. U.S. grocery stores are descended from trading posts, which sold not only food but clothing, household items, tools, furniture and other miscellaneous merchandise. These trading posts evolved into larger retail businesses known as general stores and later neighborhood markets and supermarkets. They are the heart of all towns and communities, and trading locally is fundamental to a town’s success. I sure do miss Hillmart. It was a great “mom and pop” store. They were known for featuring Manning’s Beef, which was the very best money could buy. The Fireside on Lincoln Boulevard famous for prime steaks, and now the location of Tompkin’s Square, also featured Manning’s Beef. In uptown Westchester until the 1970’s, the main grocery store was a Mayfair Market. It was also the home of the annual Westchester Easter Egg Hunt, held every holy Saturday before Easter morning. Hundreds of kids would line

Von’s Market La Tijera 1950s. Directly to the left of Von’s you had Ade’s Pipe Shop. Other stores in this center included; Rite-Way Drugs, Hellman’s Hardware Store, St Moritz Bakery, La Tijera Bootery, Crocker Citizen’s Bank, Toy Castle, The King’s X Restaurant, Jule’s Auto Supply, Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors (still there and awfully good), and a Marina Federal Savings and Loan. The Van de Kamp’s bakery ladies dressed in cute little Dutch costumes with paper hats and they gave you a free cookie with a smile. PHOTO COURTESY WESTCHESTER, CALIFORNIA, THE AUTHOR.

up early and at 9 a.m. the doors opened and in they rushed. Candy eggs were literally piled in the aisles of the market and all you had to do was scoop them up. It was organized chaos. In October of 1964, Arden Farms acquired the Mayfair Markets, thus becoming Arden-Mayfair, Inc., which later became a subsidiary of the Arden Group. Around the same time, Arden also acquired a small chain of supermarkets from the Gelson

Brothers. It nearly burned to the ground on May 16, 1969, but was rebuilt. A few years later it was torn down and the entire shopping center was redeveloped. From the 1960’s through the 2000’s, we annihilated most of the shopper’s choices in this town. Gone are: Hillmart (pet store), Boy’s Market (condo’s?), Safeway (Pep Boy’s), Dorr’s Market (Arbor Vitae), Von’s La Tijera (discount store), Ralph’s Sepulveda (Staples), Thrifty’s (Citibank), Alpha Beta (Bristol

FOOD PANTRY, LAX

Farms), Dales, Jr. (local market), Mayfair Market and probably a few more that I missed. There are thankfully a few local/ specialty markets, such as Bristol Farms, Robert’s Market, Trader Joe’s, Howe Mart, and so on, but other than the Baby Von’s, we now have exactly two supermarket shopping choices: Ralph’s Sepulveda (where Mayfair Market was) and Ralph’s Lincoln (Shopper’s/Lucky’s). These are great stores, but the only two left standing, nonetheless. Many local residents drive to neighboring towns to get their bread and milk. Speaking of baked goods, this rambling correspondent is happy to report that we still have an operating “scratch” bakery in town. Westchester Bakery is located at 6216 W 87 St. and open seven days a week. It’s just a few doors from a dollar store (and formerly a produce store and Karl’s Stationary and Toys). That’s walking distance to Spring Cleaners, the Coffee Company, Staples, Paco’s, El Tarasco, Brooklyn Bagel and dozens of other great local shopping spots and excellent banks, doctors, dentists and other professional services. Everyone of us should patronize these stores. *This article is reprinted from our March 2013 edition. A new article will appear next month.

Please email comments to: dukepdr@gmail.com

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It’s not only the Irish that have the corner on luck! We here at Drollinger Properties are fortunate to work in a vibrant community and we invite you to join us. Please call us and we’ll help you follow your rainbow and ¿QG \RXU SRW RI JROG KHUH LQ :HVWFKHVWHU 7RZQ &HQWHU

– Karen Dial, President

City officials and IMAX representatives break ground on the new IMAX facility that will be located in Playa Vista. From left to right: IMAX Corporation Chief Administrative Officer Mary Ruby; Los Angeles Councilman Mike Bonin; IMAX Corporation CEO Rich Gelfond; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; IMAX Corporation Senior Executive Vice President & IMAX Entertainment CEO Greg Foster; Lincoln Property Company Executive Vice President David Binswanger; and Lincoln Property Company Vice President Rob Kane.

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Playa Vista’s burgeoning technology and entertainment district will soon welcome one of the industry’s biggest players. IMAX Corporation broke ground on February 27 on a new West Coast facility, an approximately 66,000 square-foot state-of-theart office building in the heart of Playa Vista’s commercial campus. The modern, creative office space will promote team building and collaboration, enabling IMAX to grow its regional presence and enhance post-production opportunities for its clients. Lincoln Property Company, which has constructed more than 800,000 square feet of office space at Playa Vista and is currently developing the $260 million Runway project in the heart of the community, will build the office space for IMAX over the next 12 months. During the first half of 2015, all 120 employees in IMAX’s current Santa Monica office are expected to transfer over to the new facility, which offers space for additional growth. “This new office represents how far we’ve come as a valued partner to studios and filmmakers in Hollywood and around the world,” said Richard L. Gelfond, CEO of IMAX. “Our growth is largely the result of our evolution from film to digital, which has enabled us to be in 57 countries, do roughly 35-40 movies a year, and have DMR [digital remastering] facilities in both Toronto and LA. This has necessitated new and different requirements for our office space.” “I am proud to welcome IMAX Entertainment to the City of Los Angeles and thank them for bringing more than 100 new jobs to our city’s economy,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “IMAX is known for big things, such as their big cameras and screens, and I wish them big success here in the entertainment and creative capital of the world.” Gensler, a leading global design

firm, designed the three-story building that will be located at the corner of Westlawn Avenue and Millennium Drive, adjacent to the Spruce Goose Hangar in the Campus at Playa Vista. The heart of the office building will feature an interior amphitheater with a large skylight above that will serve as the hub for collaboration, interfacing with clients and socializing. The building will also house two large screening rooms with a formal prefunction area that serves as an event space for IMAX’s private production screenings. Both the production space and screening rooms will accommodate evolving technology in the film-making industry. A grand lobby will connect two workplace floors by an interior atrium with enclosed glass conference rooms cantilevering above, all looking out to the landscaped private courtyard. The elliptical courtyard will feature moveable seating to accommodate impromptu gatherings, activities and special events. “For over 45 years, IMAX has continued to look for new ways to push the boundaries of technology and entertainment to create a more immersive experience for moviegoers and to help filmmakers bring their creative vision to life,” said Greg Foster, Senior Executive Vice President of IMAX Corp and CEO of IMAX Entertainment. “Playa Vista is an area that shares our spirit of innovation. We are excited to be a part of this emerging high-tech hotspot and dynamic business community.” Playa Vista and nearby areas are home to growing technology, internet and entertainment companies, including Facebook, YouTube, Electronic Arts, Sony, Fox Sports and Belkin, as well as leading ad agencies Chiat/Day and Deutsch, socially conscious manufacturers like Tom’s (continued on next page)

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News

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Now accepting applications for 6th & 7th Grades for Fall 2014

WISH Charter MIDDLE SCHOOL The commitment of the WISH Charter Middle is to provide an academically rigorous, personalized education for students in grades 6 - 8. OPEN HOUSE INFORMATION SESSIONS March 12, 2014 @ 9:00am The state-of-the-art facility is expected to be completed in the first half of 2015 and all 120 employees in IMAX’s current office in Santa Monica are expected to transfer to the new location. ARTIST RENDERING COURTESY OF GENSLER.

IMAX at Playa Vista (cont’d) (continued from page 5) Shoes, and the legendary Hercules Studio—the film stage for Avatar and Iron Man 3. The new headquarters building will help anchor the next phase of development in the Playa Vista community, a process that is well underway. The next phase, which already has completed residential properties, will have 2,800 homes, new office space and Lincoln Property Company’s Runway project that is expected to open by the end of 2014.

“IMAX is one of the most wellrecognized entertainment and technology brands in the world, and the addition of their new West Coast facility is a significant boon for Playa Vista,” said David Binswanger, Executive Vice President of Lincoln Property Company. “We look forward to making their vision for a stateof-the art office a reality over the next year, and positioning IMAX at the epicenter of the Silicon Beach movement, which appears to be gaining more momentum each day.”

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Neighbors need to work together to prevent crime (cont’d) (continued from page 5) Council’s “Community Links” at www.ncwpdr.org/Community-Links. More information about Neighborhood Watch can also be found on the Neighborhood Council website at www.ncwpdr.org/ PublicSafety. Working together and with the LAPD, the residents in Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista can help to make our community a less attractive target for thieves and robbers by being more diligent about keeping our homes secured, using our house alarms if we have one, keeping our cars cleared out of all personal items and being the “eyes and ears on the street” for LAPD. We are warned not to approach individuals who are acting suspiciously, but to call 911. Call 911 to report all emergencies and suspicious behavior. Request that the dispatch operator send a car immediately or at the very minimum transmit an “Information Broadcast” about suspicious activity. An “information broadcast” is a general radio announcement for LAPD. Provide as detailed and specific information as possible when making the call, but make the call. Through

March 2014

our collective efforts with LAPD, we can make the difference. If you are interested in learning about where crime is occuring in the neighborhood, information can be found at www.crimemapping.com. Below, please find the contact information for the area’s senior lead officers and other important numbers: • Westchester East of Sepulveda: Senior Lead Officer John Richardson (310) 622-3976; email 35362@lapd. lacity.org • Westchester West of Sepulveda and Playa del Rey: Senior Lead Officer Ruben Garcia (310) 6223978; 33236@lapd.lacity.org • Playa Vista: Senior Lead Officer Gregg Jacobus (310) 622-3971; email 35162@lapd.lacity.org • In an emergency and to report suspicious activity call 911 • LAPD non-emergency dispatch 1-877-ASK-LAPD • LAPD Pacific Community Relations Office: (310) 202-2890 or (310) 202-4515 • LAPD Pacific Burglary Detectives (310) 482-6313 • LAPD Pacific Front Desk (310) 482-6334

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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News

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LMU’s Neighborhood Advisory Meeting tries new approach to format After almost two years since its inception, a new format was rolled out at the Thursday, February 13 LMU Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) meeting. The new format was announced at the beginning of the meeting by LMU’s Director of Community Relations Grace Yao, and was immediately met with opposition from many of those in attendance. Some attendees questioned the purpose of the new format and expressed anger over not having a say on how the meeting was arranged. Yao, however, stated that she had wanted to “try something new” and the committee had agreed to try a different format, a statement that committee member Linda Kokelaar vehemently disagreed. “As the new Community Relations Director, February was the first time I would chair the NAC meeting and I saw this as an opportunity to try something different, with a goal of increasing community participation,” said Yao. “By enabling the participants to break up into smaller groups and engage in real dialogue around a particular topic, I think we saw new ideas being generated. Now, the university can explore these ideas and address some of the concerns we’ve been hearing about. Also, the new format created an atmosphere where residents who approached me early on and told me that they never felt comfortable speaking in front of a crowd or sharing an opinion that differed from some of the more vocal attendees, could really have their voices heard. I think it’s fair that we listen to all voices, not just the loudest voices.” The previous format involved the committee, which is made up of community members appointed by

The Student Life break-out group discusses ways to improve relations between students and Westchester neighbors at the February NAC meeting.

the councilman’s office and LMU representatives, giving updates on the university and its Master Plan, followed by an hour or more of public comments. The new format called for break-out session groups after the NAC committee gave its updates. While around ten people in the audience left in protest of the meeting’s format over concerns that they would not be able to participate in multiple group discussions even if they had issues to raise with more than one break-out group category, the majority of those in attendance gathered to discuss “Campus Operations,” “Communications,” “Parking and Transportation” and “Student Life.” The groups were facilitated by LMU employees and consultants who took notes, which are now posted on the university’s community page. Not surprisingly, the largest group to

break-out was regarding “Parking and Transportation.” Group members offered ideas on how to increase the number of cars parked on campus instead of on the streets surrounding the university. Ideas included charging less for a parking; offering free campus parking after 5 p.m. and on trash day; not charging a parking fee to students who live within walking distance of the university or to those that can prove they use alternative transportation; and limiting after hours athletic events. The issue of residential permit parking districts remained largely unpopular with those in attendance, although Councilman Mike Bonin’s Deputy District Director Nate Kaplan informed attendees that the 7900 block of Fordham had submitted paperwork to create a permit parking district for their street.

At the meeting it was also announced that LMU would not be closing or restricting pedestrian access at its Loyola Blvd. gate. Yao stated that after an internal team studied the issue and considered comments from the community and LMU stakeholders, university president David Burcham issued his decision on February 10. Although Councilman Bonin, who asked Burcham to look into the feasibility of closing the gate was not in attendance, his Planning Director, Tricia Keane, was at the meeting to express Bonin’s “disappointment” regarding the decision. Since there wasn’t a public comment period during the meeting, attendees were invited to write down their questions and submit them to the university. Yao agreed at the meeting to include the questions and the answers on the university’s website at community.lmu.edu. While the community and LMU have yet to come up with an idea to resolve the parking issue that both sides are happy with, Fordham resident Jessica Echeverry is optimistic that progress can be made as long as the university is willing to listen and take responsibility for providing solutions to the parking problem. “We love the campus and we use it as our own [resource] for home schooling. It’s not a problem having it here,” said Echeverry. “For me it’s about accountability and they need to be accountable for the decisions that they make and they need to make better decisions. Personally, I think parking should be free and they should increase tuition.” The next LMU NAC meeting will be held Wednesday, May 14 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Westchester Senior Center, located at 8740 Lincoln Blvd.

In Loving Memory...

Betty Jane Nabors

Betty Jane (Anderson ) Nabors passed away on February 12. She was 93 years old. Her strong spirit and cheerful determination were an inspiration to all.

Betty and her husband John retired to Spring Valley Lake, Victorville after more than 20 years in Westchester, where they raised their 3 children, Joan Diette, Jim Nabors and Joy Nabors. After John’s passing in 2000, she moved with her son Jim’s family to Oak Hills. Betty was born on May 2, 1920 in Oak Park, IL. She married John P. Nabors in 1943 and they moved to Oahu, Hawaii, where they worked as civilians for the Navy at Pearl Harbor. After the war they returned to Oak Park, where they opened “Nabors Corner”, a family diner-style restaurant. John was recruited by Hughes Aircraft Company and the Nabors family moved to

California in 1955. When the “3J’s” were old enough, Betty went to work as a secretary, eventually retiring from Control Data Corp.

Besides her children, she is survived by loving daughter-in-law Cindy (Gardner) Nabors. In addition she was greatly loved by 4 grandchildren, Jennifer (Diette) Morgan and husband Scott; Michael Diette and wife Nicola, Matthew Nabors and Ray Nabors and 5 great grandchildren, Jake Morgan, Carlie Morgan, Hanna Diette, Andrew Diette and Sophia Nabors. Private graveside burial services are pending. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Alzheimers Association (alz.org) American Red Cross or your preferred Veteran Organization.

S tay u p - to-date with ne w s and e v ent s by liking us at Face book.com/the htn March 2014

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News

AMCS honors long-time supporters at fundraiser Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS) is hosting its annual Spring Event fundraiser on March 22 at Loyola Marymount University. The event will honor David and Nancy Iben and the Iben Family Foundation as its 2014 Community Builders. David and Nancy endowed the Iben Family Support Center, which is operated by AMCS on site at The Boys and Girls Club of Venice. The Center offers services aimed at supporting adults in their roles as parents; enhancing family stability; and promoting the healthy development of children through individual and group therapy. Nancy is a former Clinical Director for AMCS with a keen interest in keeping families intact. David is CEO of Kopernik Global Investors, a Tampa, Florida based asset management firm. David and Nancy’s commitment to providing therapeutic services to families that have little or no access to mental health care has made them long-time supporters of AMCS. The organization, a non-profit, provides affordable mental health services and training for pre-licensed therapists and has received funding from David and Nancy and the Iben Family Foundation for its At-Risk Kids Program since 2004.

Page g 13

C elebrating 20 years i

te n Westchestil r... And S l Growing

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Nancy and David Iben will be honored at the March 22 event at LMU.

Said Eden Garcia-Balis, Executive Director of AMCS, “By endowing the Iben Family Support Center, David and Nancy are giving the gift of hope to at-risk kids and their families.� The Spring Event will include a reception and silent auction followed by a program headed by Brian Kiley, an Emmy award winner and head monologue writer for the Conan O’Brien Show. Tickets are $135 per person and weekend parking is free on the LMU campus. For further information, to reserve seats, or to inquire about a sponsorship or silent auction donation, please contact Eden GarciaBalis at (310) 670-1410.

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Random Notes/Opinion Pick up the HTN at any of the following locations:* Drollinger Building Lobby (8929 and 8939 Sepulveda building) Westchester Family YMCA Covenant Presbyterian Church The Guilded Cage Airport Office Center Chase Bank The Coffee Co. Lucky Cleaner Ayara Thai Cuisine Ted’s Hair Design Truxton’s American Bistro Soundsations Needlepoints West Councilman Mike Bonin’s Office Loyola Village Library Senior Center Loyola Village Library Elks Lodge Westchester Lutheran Kentwood Elementary School Orville Wright Middle School Visitation School The Real Estate Consultants Office Dario’s Carpet Tower Pizza Chase Bank Paradise Building LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce Wells Fargo Westchester CenterPointe Club Playa Vista Library Picnik Dinah’s Restaurant Playa Vista Urgent Care Coffee Bean Cantalini’s Howe’s Liquor Ace Cleaners Coin Laundry Felicia’s Coffee Garden The Shack Prince of Wales Tanner’s Coffee Holy Nativity Westchester United Methodist Zacha Homes Airport Marina Counseling Service Burton Chace Park Wagz’ Custom Hotel Playa del Rey Florist El Dorado Bowl Westchester Playhouse La Tijera Church Matilla Village Center Togo’s Westchester Head to Toe Salon * partial list of drop-offs

To make your business a drop-off location, please email us at westchesterhometown @ yahoo.com March 2014

It must be a sign of aging By Nora Lee Owens Opinion: You know you have become a boring person when you say out loud while watching The Westminster Kennel Club Show, “Wow, this is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.” Seriously. I did that. I happened upon the show at 5 p.m. live from New York, thought I would watch just the Hounds Group with my Beagle (we both love that group best), but ended up watching the entire first night of the show and then raced home to watch night two the next day. What could be better, I thought, than relaxing in front of the telly with my precious Archie, watching his relatives beautifully perform. Of course, some of the best parts were when they ignored their handlers and either stretched or veered off in search of a treat someone left behind, proving dogs will be dogs. Or maybe you know it’s time to pay bills on-line when you write a check for the wrong amount and write the correct amount in your check register. Did that, too. My first reaction was to

say, “Well, those dummies, my check was cashed.” But the numbers didn’t match. I haven’t figured out who the real dummy is yet, but I fear it may be me. Should I mention my very bad habit of procrastination? Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow becomes dangerous when you have continuing education books to read and wake up one morning and realize you barely have time to read them. Uh huh. Did that. I have promised myself never to do that again, but for some reason I keep putting off until tomorrow getting the numbers ready for my taxes. I know that there is no IRS fairy who is going to miraculously appear at my house and put the numbers together for me, and I know the amounts aren’t going to change if I wait longer, but numbers give me a headache and, well, I would rather work a crossword puzzle. One of my fears is that when I take my final bow, people will come into my house and say, “This was an old person’s house,” something I hear a lot on Tuesday caravans. I want

my house to be fresh and new and modern, smell good and not need paint or carpeting. That said, I look at my out-of-date bathroom, aging carpeting and wallpapered bedroom and say to myself, “Well who really gives a darn” (not the actual word used). If people don’t like my house the way it is, they don’t have to visit me. Then someone will tell me that my house looks like it is right out of Pottery Barn (I do have some glasses from there), and I start to feel like maybe I had better try harder to really get it to look that good, but I don’t have the energy this week. I used to dance, write my checks correctly, get everything done on time and my house was dust-free. Then I bit off more and more to chew and found myself always muttering about needing to catch up. Maybe it’s time to smell the roses, hang out at the ballpark or watch a dog show guiltfree. I know I’ll never be the picture of perfection, though I have tried for years. Sorry, Mom.

Senior Health: Driving and older adults is an important topic By Freddi Segal-Gidan Opinion: Driving is often seen as routine, but in reality it is a complex task. As one ages, driving can present unique challenges for older adults, families and health care providers. Age-related changes when coupled with an increasing number of medical problems and medications to manage, can place older adults at an increased risk for harm, to both themselves and others, when operating a motor vehicle. Safe driving involves more than knowing the traffic laws and understanding road signs. Older adults need to be proactive about their “driving health” and should routinely discuss with their health care provider the impact of their medical conditions on driving. Common age-related vision problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration, can make it difficult to see clearly or drive at night. Common chronic medical conditions, like diabetes, heart arrhythmias, seizures and cognitive decline are also known to increase driving risk. It is important to discuss with your health care provider the potential impact of any medical condition on driving. This might include adjusting the treatment plan or restricting

driving. Many medications (prescribed and over the counter) can affect driver safety, even when you’re feeling fine. Any time a new medication is prescribed, ask whether it will have any impact on your ability to drive. Read the medication labels so that you know what to expect from each medication you take. Don’t drive if you’ve taken medications that cause drowsiness or dizziness. If you’re concerned about side effects or the impact on driver safety, talk about it with your provider and pharmacist. As one ages it is important to know your physical limitations and make adjustments. You might need a referral to an occupational therapist who can recommend assistive devices such as higher seat cushion, larger mirror, steering wheel pad or suggest specific exercises to help overcome limitations. Car Fit, an educational program sponsored by AAA, AARP, and AOTA, can assess the car and make recommendations for both the driver and the vehicle. Vehicles that feature larger, easierto-read dials on the dashboard are a popular feature with older drivers. Features such as large mirrors, power windows and door locks can be helpful, too. This month’s Silver Seminar Series topic is “Driving Tips for Seniors,” which will be held on

Tuesday, March 25 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Westchester YMCA Annex, located at 8020 Alverstone St. in Westchester (please see the “To Do” section on page 16 for details about this free program). Additionally, older drivers should consider taking a refresher driving course, such as “55 Alive” sponsored by AARP. Updating driving skills might even earn a discount on car insurance, depending on your policy. Lastly, it’s important to know when it’s time to consider other alternatives. If you’re concerned about your ability to drive safely– or loved ones or others have expressed concern– it might be best to stop driving. There are many alternatives such as hiring a driver, using taxi service, and in our community, one of the many benefits offered by Westchester Playa Village is transportation for its members. Giving up the car keys doesn’t mean an end to independence. Instead, it’s a way to keep everyone safe on the road. Freddi Segal-Gidan, PA, PhD is a Physician Associate and Gerontologist. She is also a member of the board of directors for Westchester-Playa Village.

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News

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How to bring fitness success to your work environment By Jeff Blair Opinion: I can personally attest that the workplace can be brutal on your fitness level. When I was working in an office, I gained about 30 pounds. There are few worse feelings than feeling your pants get progressively tighter….and then having to buy bigger ones. Much has been written lately about the dangers of sitting and most of us know this first-hand. We sit in our cars on the way to work, we sit behind computers and we sit in front of the t.v. when we get home. I was able to experience a fitness transformation and maintain it for many years now, and here are six tips to help you do the same. 1. Change Your Mode of Transportation. It is not possible for everyone to do this, but some people can actually ride a bike or even walk to work. If you can incorporate either of these into your lifestyle, you can make great progress on developing a fitness routine in a short matter of time. A friend regularly rides his bike to and from work. Not only does he get a solid workout in, he enjoys his commute much more than

sitting in traffic and dealing with other road challenges. 2. Exercise at Lunch. My fitness transformation began with walking 20 minutes at lunch a few times per week. That was far from an intense workout routine, but it was the start I needed to get me back on track. I later progressed to more challenging workouts, but the first step can be the hardest step. You can also improve your post-lunch mental clarity and give yourself an energy boost. 3. Stock up on Monday. Take a few minutes each Monday and stop by the market on your lunch break. Buy some healthy snacks and keep them in your desk or somewhere easily accessible. Rather than eat one of the cupcakes brought in by Sue from accounting, reach for an apple or a handful of almonds. If there is a big “eating meeting” at work, eat something healthy before you attend the meeting. If you are not hungry when you go to the meeting, it will be much easier to say no or at least eat in moderation.

Days per Week. If you are committed to making a successful change, I recommend bringing your lunch four or even five times per week. When we eat out, we usually get excess calories and sodium without even trying. Of course, there are always bread baskets and other mindless calories as well. If you have a weekly outing with your friends for lunch, keep that one day for social connections but bring your lunch on the other days. In addition to reducing caloric intake, you will also save money: a true win-win! 5. Look for Small Ways to Move More at Work. Can you take that conference call while standing? Can you get your co-worker to walk with you to discuss your joint project rather than sitting at the conference table? Can you read the latest report standing rather than sitting? Can you park in the back of the parking lot rather than near the door? Each of these steps is admittedly small in the big picture, but several small changes can add up over time. Look for small ways to move and you will feel and work better.

4. Bring your Lunch at Least Four

6. Limit or Eliminate “Nutritional Disaster Days.” An occasional “cheat meal” will not cause your fitness routine to stall, but “nutritional disaster days” can hurt your progress. Rather than eating several slices of pizza and two desserts during a cheat meal, eat one piece of pizza or one dessert. My personal experience and the experience of my clients is these disaster days are most likely to occur when you are very hungry, so try to eat regular meals at regular times. By adding these six tips to your workplace routine, you can improve your fitness level, your self-esteem and your health. You will sacrifice a little short-term pleasure, but the pay-off is definitely worth it. You can do it! Before starting this or any fitness routine, consult your doctor. JEFF BLAIR (M.S.) owns a personal training studio located in Westchester. He was voted “Best Of” Personal Trainer in the Hometown News 2013 Readers’ Poll. Jeff has been featured in “Men’s Fitness” and as a “Fitness Expert” on ABC’s “Everyday Health.” Email jeffblair@jeffblairfitness.com for fitness story ideas or comments.

The magic of being you By Fay Craton Opinion: Tales of magic abound. You watch a movie or listen to a song and magic can occur. A story captures your imagination and events unfold resonating in your heart. Perhaps, over insurmountable odds, you witness the unfolding of a relationship. Or, you hear a narrative telling about a seemingly impossible happening. Suddenly, you transcend to a different awareness than what you had been experiencing a few moments before. Profound moments can happen to you. Magical moments are not limited to what you listen to or watch in others. Magic happens when a piece of the authentic you makes it past all of the negative chatter, and perhaps shame, to emerge as part of your expression of you in this world. So what does this mean? You are a perfect and unique person with strengths to express in this world. In psychology, this is sometimes referred to as the “authentic” you. For most people, sharing from their authentic self can be difficult. From the time you were little until the age you are now, you were taught how to view the world around you from parents, relatives, teachers, friends, co-workers, peers and significant people in your life. You also learned from both happy events, as well as some scary situations. All of this learning has created within

you a map you use to view and navigate the world. The map includes beliefs, mind chatter and conditioned habits of thinking. Included in the map are emotions such as pride, joy, fear, shame, anger and more. Your authentic self has to navigate past all the “map stuff” to which you are conditioned. Some of the stuff supports who you are. However, much of the stuff is negative, damaging and keeps you from expressing as your authentic self. Magic happens when your authentic self transcends your map stuff. When this happens, who you really are is expressed for others to see and experience. Some people confuse who they are because of the map stuff. They may think, “I am what my conditioning says I am.” It takes courage to let go of conditioning, trust and behavior based on who you really are. It also may take practice, especially if your conditioning tells you not to trust the words and actions of other people. Or, if as perceived by your conditioning, the words and actions of another person is canceling out what you are attempting to say or express, it can leave you feeling frustrated or even worse, like an old dead log. Getting to know your own authenticity takes quieting the negative internal voices undermining your trust in who you are. You may even be asking yourself, “what will happen if I trust?” It may take having a safe

place to explore, learn the language and practice who you really are before expressing it in a larger social context. It takes a willingness to let go of false beliefs about who you are. Often, once a person learns to safely express from their authentic self, there is no need to change a setting. Instead, the setting and the people in the setting become acceptable. Magic happens and you transcend to a different awareness about the situation. Your authentic self begins to express and connect to others in a satisfying manner. Your experience shifts and the seemingly impossible happens. My wish for you is that you discover your authentic self. I want you to thrive in this world, knowing contentment and even joy. It is okay for the experience to unfold in stages. Sometimes while exploring you hit upon a rich vein of discovery and make a major leap. Other times the exploration happens slowly. To make the discovery, you need to set up regular opportunities for you to listen to your deeper self. Meditation and journaling about new awareness discovered while meditating can be a way to move forward. What works for one person, may not work for another. There are many paths. Another route may be to take a good hard look at where and how you tamp down feelings and joy. A healthy version of letting yourself feel does not

translate to living in drama, constant rage, or emotionally flooding during conversations. Healthy experience of feelings may need to be learned. You block your authentic self when you do not let yourself experience feelings and express them in a healthy manner. When you block feelings, ask yourself what you are afraid will happen if you allowed yourself to feel. Find a safe place to explore your feelings, your strengths and your essence, as well as what you must let go of in order for your authentic self to be present. A safe place could be talking with a trusted friend, or it could be to a therapist. Laws and ethical standards bind licensed therapists to keep what you say confidential, plus licensed therapists have many years of education, practical training and experience in keeping what you say confidential or secret. Whether you use a therapist, or a friend, your place of discovery needs to be a place where you know you are safe to explore. Find a person who completely hears you and can see the perfection in you. You are valuable. Your strengths are needed in this world. 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. Contact her at (310) 645-6762.

Vi si t u s online at thehtn. com and l i ke us on Fa c e b o o k . c o m/ t h eh t n March 2014

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News

Page 16

To Do

• your community newspaper • your community news • your community newspaper • your community news

Ongoing monthly events: Rotary Club of Westchester The Rotary Club of Westchester meets every Wednesday at 12 noon for lunch at the Crowne Plaza LAX Hotel, 5985 W. Century Blvd. in Westchester. The cost of lunch is $20 and validated self parking is free. Guests are most welcome! Reservations are not required. For information regarding the upcoming luncheon programs, visit www.rotary-westchester.org. Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club Join the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club at its Wednesday morning meeting at 7:15 a.m. at the Marina Club Restaurant, located at 4333 Admiralty Way, Center Tower, 3rd Floor in Marina del Rey. The cost of the meeting is $25, which includes breakfast and a guest speaker. Guests are welcome and reservations are not required. For more information, visit www. playasunrise.org or call (310) 4293808. Community Garden Days Volunteers are welcome at Community Days at the Emerson Ave. Community Garden! Join the garden the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Orville Wright Middle School, located at 6550 W. Emerson Ave. in Westchester. Join the group for exercise, camaraderie and helping make a positive impact in Westchester. Harvest Westchester Looks for partners Holy Nativity, in partnership with Food Forward, is re-energizing and revitalizing its Harvest Westchester program and is looking for local residents interested in donating to the program. Harvest Westchester is designed to help ensure the extra fruit on your backyard trees does not go to waste while donating to a good cause. While many with fruit trees or that grow vegetables often have a surplus that is given to family and friends or left unpicked and eventually rots, Harvest Westchester will help pick your excess fruit and deliver it to local food pantries to help feed those who do not have enough to eat. Harvest Westchester will send a team of volunteer pickers to your yard to harvest your fruit trees, and 100% of the fruit will be delivered to the local Food Pantry LAX or, if there is more fruit than they can use, it will be delivered to other food distribution centers nearby. If you have fruit trees and want to donate the excess, please call the church office at (310) 670-4777 or visit holynativityparish.org and leave your name and a call-back number. Rotary offers scholarship opportunities to high school seniors Each year, the Rotary Club of Westchester, through the Westchester

March 2014

Rotary Foundation, offers a $500 scholarship in memory and honor of Jim Hill, a former member who was exemplary in his service to the youth of our community. The scholarship will be awarded to a graduating high school senior demonstrating outstanding leadership in community service, who either resides in Westchester or Playa del Rey and/or attends one of the Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnets or St. Bernard High School. The application is due by April 30th and may be obtained by emailing Cozette@laxlawyers.com. The applicant will be asked to write a one page essay. Speakers by the Sea Toastmaster’s Group Improve your public speaking skills every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. by joining the Speakers by the Sea Toastmaster’s Group. Visitors are always welcome. The meeting takes place at 12000 Vista del Mar in Conf. Room 230A in Playa del Rey (one traffic light South of Imperial Highway on Vista del Mar). For more info, please call (310) 5592834. March events: Drawing Class at REAL|LA Interested in reconnecting with your creative side? Join REAL|LA for a free figure drawing class on Friday, March 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the new REAL Creative Space, located at 6207 W. 87th Street in Westchester. Parents and their children can reconnect with their creative-side and each other during this free figure drawing event. REAL|LA will provide the supplies or you can bring your own. The class is facilitated by figure painting expert, Brian Biedul. The event will take place during the Westchester First Friday Food Truck event, so plenty of food will be available for purchase. For more info, please visit www. REALCreativeSpace.com. Chakra Clearing and Balancing Class Join Divine Blessings for relaxation and stress reduction classes every Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Divine Blessings Yoga Inspired Clothing Line studio located at 8601 Lincoln Blvd. Suite #2-192 in Westchester. Donations are appreciated. Please call Divine Aubry at (310) 714-9704 to reserve your spot. Fall Risk Reduction Classes Westchester Playa Village (WPV) and LMU’s Department of Health and Human Sciences will be offering free senior fitness and mobility assessments, followed by a series of fall risk reduction exercise sessions in March. The following are classes scheduled for this month: · Thursday, March 13, Senior Fitness Assessment · Thursday, March 20, Mobility and Balance Assessment

· Thursday, March 27 Fall Risk Reduction Exercise and Education Series begins (additional classes will be held on April 3, 8, 24 and May 1). Classes will take place at Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 6323 W. 80th St. in Westchester. For more information, please contact WPV at (310) 695-7030. Meals in Minutes Cooking Class Patricia K. Rose of Fresh Food in a Flash will lead a hands-on cooking class on March 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Holy Nativity Community Hall in Westchester. Items on this month’s menu include Penne Arrabiata, “Caesar” Brussels Sprouts, Strawberry Shortcake and Moroccan Butternut Squash. The dinner the group made will be served after the class. The class fee is $40 when you reserve by March 10 and $45 at the door. To reserve your spot, please email Patricia@FreshFoodinaFlash.com. Holy Nativity Episcopal Church is located at 6700 W. 83rd Street in Westchester. WDRLL to hold Fundraiser for “Clothes for the Cause” The Westchester Del Rey Little League (WDRLL) Girls’ Softball League is holding a “Clothes for the Cause” fundraiser on March 15 from 9 a.m. to noon. The fundraiser will take place at Mace Field, located at 6000 Will Rogers Street in Westchester. Bag up your unwanted household textiles in a large kitchen or trash bags and bring them to the field. The group will collect the following items in good, soiled and/or torn condition: shoes (single or pairs), clothing, purses, hats, towels, bed linens/comforters, stuffed animals etc. All items must be kept dry. For more info, please contact Pam at pam.tomlinson04@gmail.com. Women’s Republican Club Meeting Join the Westchester-Del Rey Republican Women on Tuesday, March 18 at 11 a.m. for their lunch meeting at KJ’s Diner. The diner is located at 8731 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester. The cost of the luncheon is $17.50. Presentation by guest speaker follows lunch. Reservations are not required. Plenty of parking is available. For more information, please contact Carol at (310) 641-9726. Kentwood Players Present “Fiddler on the Roof” Kentwood Players will present the Tony Award winning musical “Fiddler on the Roof” from March 14 to April 19. Performances will be held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The Westchester Playhouse is located at 8301 Hindry Ave. in Westchester. The heart-warming musical “Fiddler on the Roof” is based on tales by Sholem Aleichem, centering on the milkman Tevye and his family eking out a living in the Jewish community

of Anatevka in 1905 Tsarist Russia. Tevye strives to keep up the traditions of his faith, race, and culture against the backdrop of discrimination and prejudice in addition to the love, conflict and humor of finding husbands for his three eldest daughters, especially when their choices of husbands moves him further away from the customs of his faith. Tickets are $23. To purchase tickets, please call (310) 645-5156 or visit www.kentwoodplayers.org. Driving Tips for Seniors Take preventative measures to reduce the risk of accidents and losing the freedom to drive by attending the March Silver Seminar Series workshop “Driving Tips for Seniors.” The Silver Seminar Series is for community members age 50 and above and is free for attendees. Join the workshop for a discussion with Bob Christy, owner of Drive Drivers Training, and learn about driving retraining, safety tips and how to survive the DMV– vital information for seniors and community members who are stroke or cancer survivors. The workshop takes place on Tuesday, March 25 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Westchester Family YMCA Annex, located at 8020 Alverstone St. in Westchester. For more information, call Westchester Playa Village at (310) 6957030. Movie Night at the YMCA Youth and Teen Movie Night presents “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” at the Westchester Family YMCA on Friday, March 28 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. This event is open to the community. This event is free for youth and teens age 10 to 14. Popcorn and beverages will be available free of charge. Additional snacks will be available for purchase. Bring your own comfortable chair to sit on. “Movie Night” takes place monthly at the YMCA’s Annex, located at 8020 Alverstone Ave. in Westchester. For questions, please contact the YMCA at (310) 670-4316. Westchester-Playa Democratic Club Candidate Forum The Westchester-Playa Democratic Club and the LAX Area Democratic Club will co-host a democratic candidate forum on Saturday, March 29 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Fire Station #5 Community Room, located at 8900 South Emerson Ave. in Westchester. Candidates participating in the forum are running to replace termed out Assemblyman Steve Bradford. The forum will provide an opportunity for voters to hear the candidates answer questions that are critical to the 62nd Assembly District. The forum is free and the general public is welcome and encouraged to attend. For more info, please contact Odysseus Bostick at (424) 225-1504.

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News

Page 17

COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS

March Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday Community Garden Days @ Emerson Ave. Community Garden Farmers’ Market @ Playa Vista “Binding Desire” @ Otis (through March 30)

1 NCWP Meeting @ Westchester Community Center

Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park

NCWP Candidacy Application Opens (through April 3)

Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey

First Friday @ 6200 87th Street

Race for Success @ LMU

Free drawing class @ REAL|LA

Farmers’ Market @ Playa Vista

Life story writing class @ YMCA Annex

2

3

4

5 Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park

9

10

“Fiddler on the Roof” @ Westchester Playhouse

16

11 Republican Woman’s Club @ KJ’s Diner

17

18 Silver Seminar Series @ YMCA Annex

“Fiddler on the Roof” @ Westchester Playhouse

Fall Risk Reduction Class Series @ Covenant Presbyterian Church

Open house @ WISH Charter

“Picturing Paradise” opening @ LMU

12

March 2014

25

13

7 Opening night of “Fiddler on the Roof” @ Westchester Playhouse

8 “Fiddler on the Roof” @ Westchester Playhouse WDRLL fundraiser for “Clothes for a Cause” @ Mace Field

14

15

The secrets to a BID annual meeting @ “Fiddler on the Roof” successful remodel @ Westchester Truxton’s seminar @ Playhouse Custom Design and NCWP Forum on Construction Speakers by the Sea SB1818 @ Westchester “Rent” @ LMU “Fiddler on the Roof” Community Room @ Playa del Rey @ Westchester Playhouse Fall Risk Reduction Life story writing class Class Series @ @ YMCA Annex AMCS Spring Covenant Presbyterian Fundraiser @ LMU Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park

19

Westchester Farmers’ Market @ Westchester Park

Life story writing class @ YMCA Annex

24/31

Cooking class @ Holy Nativity

Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey

Speakers by the Sea @ Playa del Rey

23/30

6

20

21

22

“Fiddler on the Roof” “Fiddler on the Roof” Fall Risk Reduction @ Westchester @ Westchester Class Series @ Covenant Playhouse Playhouse Presbyterian Church Movie Night at Democratic the YMCA @ candidate forum @ YMCA Annex Fire Station #5 “Rent” @ LMU

“Rent” @ LMU

26 27 28 29 Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News

Page 18

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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News

Page 21

Race for Success to draw biggest crowd yet (continued) (continued from page 1) each school is free to use the money at their discretion. Many use the funds to supplement their budgets in an era of cuts and shortfalls. This year’s title sponsors are the William H. Hannon Foundation and Loyola Marymount School of Education. Since the race has been held on the university’s campus, Loyola Marymount has donated the full use of its campus, delayed its roads, offered

its public safety officers, provided tables and chairs and provided a sound system and a stage on the day of the event. Other major Race for Success sponsors include the Drollinger Charitable Trust, the Westchester Family YMCA, Anachem Laboratories, City National Bank, Playa Vista/ Brookfield Residential, The Argonaut, Google, The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa, Stephanie Younger

and Smile Street Pediatric Dentistry. The HomeTown News is also a proud sponsor of the event. The Howard Hughes Center is hosting the packet pick-up this year and Whole Foods Venice will be providing racers with food, water and participant bags. After the 5k and 1k, runners are invited to stick around to participate in the after-race expo. Attendees can visit with more than 50 community booths

that will be set-up. Those interested in still signing-up to participate in this year’s race can stop by the Howard Hughes Promenade fountain area between 12 and 4 p.m. on Friday, March 7. Racers can also sign-up the morning of the race from 7 to 7:30 a.m. at LMU. For more information on the race, please visit raceforsuccess5k.org. Donations are also accepted all-year long.

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Idea for a story? Curious about your Community? We want to hear from you! Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thehtn • Email us at: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com Visit us at: thehtn.com • Call us at: (310) 641-1016

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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News

Page 22

In Pictur es

• your community newspaper • your community • your community newspaper • your community •

Walk This Way. Join us for your Lenten walk this year.

Freedom reedom from doubt. Freedom from fear fear.

Enjoy the support and energy of new friends who, Join oin usare at journeying Westchester Lutheran Church, Church like you, to meet the Easter King.

and embrace the freedom found in a

lo oving, with forgiving relationship theLentWorship us on Sundays. Then,with join our Lord. ord. Join newonfriends in a nights, celebration en Drama Series Wednesday as we of everything verything that is possible you live combine drama, comedy, music, when and Scripture in a in n harmony withofthe unique exploration the Word. lessons of Lent. Don’t be lost in the wilderness. Be found among friends.

All are welcome. All celebrate are welcome. Come with us!

Weekly Worship and Sunday School, Sundays at 10 a.m. Confirmation, High School & Adult Sunday School, Sundays at 8:45 a.m. Weekly Worship a.m.p.m. Ash Wednesday Communion Service,Sundays March 5atat107:30 Summer Choir Rehearsal Sundays at 9 a.m. Lenten Drama Series, March 12 through April 5, Wednesday at 7 p.m. Vacation Bible School July 29-August 2 On This Rock/Friday Night Youth Fellowship, Fridays at 7 p.m.

#' ( ( %& %& $ www wlcs org www.wlcs.org

Valentine’s Luncheon. More than 70 people attended Westchester Playa Village’s inaugural “Bring a Friend Valentine’s Day� luncheon. Attendees included WPV members and volunteers, as well as community

partners, donors and guests. Attendees enjoyed lunch while learning about WPV’s services. Entertainment was provided by the Red Ribbon Squares square dancers.

Lions Club Speech Contest Winner. Westchester’s David Citrin was named the winner of the Venice Marina LAX Lion Club’s annual speech contest. This year’s theme for speeches was “Community Service: What Does It Mean and Why Does It Matter?� Citrin gave his speech to the club at its Wednesday, February 19 meeting at Whiskey Red’s in Marina del Rey. Citrin, a senior at Hamilton High

School, is now headed to the zone level of competition. Pictured (left to right): Sibyl Buchanan, speech contest chair; Angelica Mahboob, immediate past club president and current zone “D� chair; Sara Clark, Lions Club president; David Citrin and judges Mitch Poris and Christina Davis pose for a picture after the speech contest was held.

Part of the NaĆ&#x;onal

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OLDER ADULTS Village members enjoy being part of a special, growing community, and can receive assistance from wonderful volunteers. x Programs and social events x TransportaĆ&#x;on x Help with grocery shopping/errands x Trash bins put out/in x Help around the home x Friendly visits/walking buddies

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WPV would like to give a special thanks to Alejo’s, Dinah’s, Melody Bar & Grill, Sizzler and Subway for their generous donations to WPV’s “Bring Friends� Valentine’s event held at Covenant Presbyterian Church.

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Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News

Page 23

Rotary 8th Grade Scholarship Recipients. Last month at LA Arts Collective, the Rotary Club of Westchester held an arts competition for 8th grade students and awarded 14 scholarships for a total of $2,775. Students were able to enter in the areas of art, dance and music. The first place scholarship went to Spencer Lemann, currently attending Windward School. The second place scholarship was awarded to Nicole Kohut, also from

Westside Neighborhood School Rocks. Westside Neighborhood School (WNS) recently introduced the Little Kids Rock program into its elementary music curriculum. The Little Kids Rock program helps revitalize music in the classroom by providing an innovative program for teachers that includes free music lessons “aimed to engage and excite young students.” The Little Kids Rock method of teaching is progressive, involving immersion techniques similar to learning a language. Through the program, students are encouraged to learn by playing instruments and getting a truly handson experience. Thanks to generous funding from WNS families for new child-sized acoustic guitars, what

Winward School. Three third place scholarships were awarded to Brendan Craig, Westside Neighborhood School; Kelsey Gomez, Westchester Lutheran Middle School; and Felix Massey, Westside Neighborhood School. Nine merit scholarships were awarded to Chyna Davenport, Westchester Secondary Charter School; Camilo Encina, Wright Middle School; Diego Goldsby, Saint Anastasia Catholic School; Renzo Joao Mena, Wright

started out as a dream for Westside Neighborhood School music teacher Paul Cummings, is now a reality. At WNS, the Little Kids Rock program will be taught to fourth grade students. Though the students will start out learning on the new acoustic guitars, the program includes learning keyboards, bass and digital drums. Head of School, Brad Zacuto is excited about this new addition to the curriculum. “We are thrilled to add this new program to our elementary music curriculum,” said Zacuto. “The style of learning that Little Kids Rock promotes blends perfectly with our active learning philosophy at WNS as well as our emphasis on the arts in our curriculum.”

Middle School; Alicia Quille-Strickland, Westside Neighborhood School; Zoe Raad, Westside Neighborhood School; Katherine Velasquez, Wright Middle School and Parker Weldon, Palms Middle School. The scholarships were funded by the Westchester Rotary Foundation, with matching funds from the Jim Bunch Memorial Fund and an additional contribution from the Travelodge Hotel at LAX. Cozette Vergari, Treasurer of

Dave & Buster’s Westchester is now Open. Dave & Buster’s Westchester opened on February 19 in the Howard Hughes Promenade. The location combines a full-service restaurant, drinks, games and entertainment. For the 21-and-older crowd, there are numerous beers on tap, as well as signature cocktails like the Million Dollar Margarita and original adult snow cone. Guests of all ages can entertain themselves with more than 170 of the most popular arcade games, including Temple Run, Cut The Rope, Dark Escape and Dizzy Chicken. The location also includes a 360-degree sports bar filled with large-screen, high-definition televisions. The Dave & Buster’s Westchester

the Westchester Rotary Foundation, and Lance Lipscomb, representing the Jim Bunch Memorial Fund and the Travelodge Hotel at LAX, presented each student with his or her scholarship. The event was hosted by LA Arts Collective director, Lisa Hamor, and coordinated by Rotarians Lisa Margulies, Richard Moon, Herman Pass, Lek Pollard and Cozette Vergari.

location features private event spaces that can hold between 15 and 1,800 people. These rooms feature stateof-the-art audio visual and lighting systems, modular furniture and mobile bars. The spaces provide a great atmosphere for parties, corporate meetings and any other celebration. Dave & Buster’s Westchester is located at 6081 Center Drive in Westchester. Hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. After 11 p.m., the location is 18 and older. For information on Dave & Buster’s, please visit daveandbusters.com.

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Page 24

NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL OF WESTCHESTER / PLAYA Neighborhood Council Seeking Candidates for May, 2014 Election

Neighborhood Council Pushes City to Change How It Implements SB1818

The Neighborhood Council system evolved out of the reform of the Los Angeles City Charter in 1999, as a means of making local government more accessible and representative of the communities that make up the city. The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa was DPRQJ WKH ÂżUVW WR EH FHUWLÂżHG LQ DIWHU D WZR \HDU organizational process. There are 31 members on the Board of Directors, representing the various stakeholders in the Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista community. Today, the NCWP has stakeholders, who E\ WKHLU SDUWLFLSDWLRQ KHOS LQĂ€XHQFH WKH GLUHFWLRQ RI RXU community.

Developers have found “the best kept secret on the Westside� – and the way the City of Los Angeles implements the affordable housing elements of SB1818 means taller, denser buildings for our community.

There are many ways to get involved with your Neighborhood Council, whether as a board member or by joining a committee as a stakeholder. Board members are selected by election or appointment. Elections occur every two years, and half of the board seats are on the ballot. Once elected, board members serve for four years. Board members are expected to complete all required training, attend monthly board meetings, actively serve on at least one of the NCWP committees and proactively participate in matters within our community. Fifteen of the NCWP board seats are reserved for residents only while the remainder are reserved for other segments of our community, including education, business, clergy, youth, seniors, community and fraternal organizations.

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Stakeholders who do not want to serve as a board member can volunteer to serve on one of the NCWP committees. Stakeholders are invited to attend all of our meetings and to sign up to receive the agendas and to stay informed. The upcoming Neighborhood Council election will be KHOG RQ 0D\ IURP D P WR S P DQG ZLOO be held in the Community Room of the Westchester Municipal Building at 7166 Manchester Ave. in Westchester. Stakeholders who are interested in serving on the NC board are encouraged to complete the FDQGLGDF\ DSSOLFDWLRQ GXULQJ WKH SHULRG RI 0DUFK through April 3. The application will be available through our website, www.ncwpdr.org, or the City of Los Angeles website, www.empowerla.org. Scan the QR code below for more information. Please visit the Neighborhood Council website at www.ncwpdr.org to learn more about the Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa and to learn about upcoming informational meetings related to the election.

Over the past few years there have been several key corner parcels that were put on the market which have created opportunities for developers to come into Westchester and Playa del Rey and build bigger and taller than we have seen before. Some of this development has been welcome in that it replaced old, tired and blighted properties, which became homes for the homeless or less desirable uses, but some have presented options that have made us question WHY?

Why do they get to build four stories when the zoning says they can only build three?

Planning Forum Set for March 20 In an effort to encourage everyone in the community to learn more about planning issues and the impacts of SB1818, the NCWP Planning and Land Use Committee has invited key speakers to join us to explore and learn. The forum will be held from S P WR S P RQ 7KXUVGD\ 0DUFK LQ the Community Room at the Westchester Municipal Building, 7166 W. Manchester Ave. This meeting is free and open to the public. All are invited.

:K\ GRQÂśW WKH\ KDYH WR SURYLGH JXHVW SDUNLQJ ZKHQ WKH\ EXLOG ]HUR ORW OLQH KRPHV" 7KH\ ORRN OLNH FRQGRV WR XV Why don’t we get a “better restaurant than that?â€? Over the past few years, it has become apparent that lawmakers in the city and the state clearly believe there is a QHHG IRU ORZ DQG PRGHUDWH LQFRPH KRXVLQJ %XW LW LV FOHDU WKDW WKH HIIRUWV WR DGG PRUH DIIRUGDEOH KRXVLQJ PD\ QRW coincide with how we, as neighbors, view the Community Plan of our neighborhood. In an effort to create this affordable KRXVLQJ ODZPDNHUV KDYH EHHQ VR XQFOHDU LQ WKHLU GHÂżQLWLRQV WKDW GHYHORSHUV KDYH EHHQ TXLFN WR OHYHUDJH ORRSKROHV DQG WDNH DGYDQWDJH RI GHQVLW\ ERQXVHV DQG RWKHU EHQHÂżWV OHDYLQJ RXU QHLJKERUKRRG KROGLQJ WKH EDJ DQG GHDOLQJ ZLWK WKH WUDIÂżF QRLVH DQG RWKHU LPSDFWV RI WKHVH ODUJH GHYHORSPHQWV In particular, the passage of SB1818, which encourages incentives for developers to build bigger by providing density ERQXVHV LI WKH\ LQFOXGH DW OHDVW VRPH ORZ LQFRPH XQLWV DV SDUW RI WKHLU SURMHFW FDPH ZLWKRXW VWUXFWXUH DV WR KRZ WKLV W\SH of legislation is to be implemented at the local level. 3UHGLFWDEO\ WKH &LW\ RI /RV $QJHOHV KDV FKRVHQ WR OHDYH WKH UHTXLUHPHQWV RI 6% XQGHÂżQHG VD\LQJ LW ZLOO KDQGOH SURMHFWV RQ D FDVH E\ FDVH EDVLV 2I FRXUVH WKH RXWFRPH LV LQFRQVLVWHQW DSSOLFDWLRQ RI WKH UXOLQJ DQG PDVV FRQIXVLRQ coupled with a lot of unhappy neighbors. At the March Neighborhood Council board meeting, the NCWP Planning and Land Use Committee presented to the board of directors a request to support a letter to Councilmember Mike Bonin asking him to confront the issues VXUURXQGLQJ 6% DQG WKH XUJHQW QHHG IRU WKH FLW\ WR GHÂżQH LWV LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ LQ RXU FRPPXQLW\ DQG WKURXJKRXW WKH city. We should not have to accept that we are helpless against the developers, who in their own defense, are just doing what the city is allowing them to do under SB1818. If there is enough of an outcry from Neighborhood Council leaders, UHVLGHQWV DQG RWKHU FRPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV &LW\ +DOO PD\ ÂżQDOO\ EHJLQ WR OLVWHQ WR WKH FRQFHUQV RI WKH VWDNHKROGHUV ZKR DUH being impacted by SB1818 developments. Most recently, the community has been faced with two developments in our community that sought to implement the 6% GHQVLW\ ERQXV (DFK RI WKHVH ZHUH GHYHORSHUV ZKR GHVLJQHG PL[HG XVH SURMHFWV WKDW LQFOXGHG JURXQG OHYHO UHWDLO with several levels of apartments and subterranean parking. Instead of being forced to accept these developments that are borne out of SB1818, we need for our Councilman to lead the City Council and the rest of City Hall to a workable program for our communities. Let’s not allow lazy planning and lack of foresight doom us to overly dense development in the name of creating more affordable housing.

www.ncwpdr.org March 2014

Westchester • Playa del Rey • Marina del Rey• Playa Vista HomeTown News

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