Westchester/Playa Hometown News December 2025 Edition by Westchester/Playa del Rey HomeTown News

CENTURY NACHOS

A LOOK INSIDE THIS MONTH'S HTN

A LOOK INSIDE THIS MONTH'S HTN HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS

HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS

Stephanie Davis, Publisher

Shanee Edwards, Contributing Writer

ABOUT THE HOMETOWN NEWS

Sylvia Wilson, Contributing Writer

Jeff Blair, Contributing Writer Zsuzsi Steiner, Photos

ABOUT THE HOMETOWN NEWS

MONTH'S HTN HOMETOWN STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS

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, including The Book Jewel, Westchester Family YMCA, Playa Pharmacy, Loyola Village Library, Playa Vista Library, Truxton’s American Bistro and Cantalini’s Salerno Beach.

ABOUT THE HOMETOWN NEWS

CONNECT WITH THE HTN:

Mailing Address: 8939 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Ste. 110 #745 Westchester, CA 90045

Email: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com

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Story ideas & Advertising: westchesterhometown@yahoo.com

Front page: Westchester/Playa Girl Scouts pose for a photo with some of their favorite reading material to help promote a holiday book drive. The books will be used to create a library for a new affordable housing building opening next month in Westchester.

by Zsuzsi Steiner

Shop Local in 2025!

The Westchester Town Center BID is home to great businesses, restaurants, retail and service providers! Check them out for all your shopping needs!

Please make “Shop Local” your mantra for 2025– it’s not just a slogan, it helps keep the businesses we love thriving!

Photo

From book drives to flying Santa, local acts of kindness brighten the holidays

By Shanee Edwards

As the holidays arrive in Westchester and beyond, the community is once again proving that generosity shines brighter than any string of lights. From Girl Scouts rallying to build a library for families in need, to neighbors filling Triangle Park with toys and pet supplies, to the spirited glow of Nardian Way’s holiday display, residents are coming together in ways both heartfelt and uniquely homegrown. These traditions, some new, some decades old, remind us that small acts of kindness can light up an entire neighborhood. Girl Scouts launch communitywide book drive to build a library

When Westchester welcomes its first 100 percent affordable-housing development this January called Red Tail Crossing, local Girl Scouts will be among the first to extend a helping hand. Girl Scouts across the Westchester/Del Rey Service Unit are rallying together to create a new community library for the building’s residents, collecting books, board games, and gift cards to help families feel at home from day one.

The project started small.

“I was approached to see if my own troop would want to do a book drive,” says longtime troop leader Becky Cunningham. “But as we were looking at it, we thought we could just have a bigger impact–both on our girls and also on the greater community–if

we made it Girl Scout–wide within Westchester.”

The effort now includes all troops in the Westchester/Del Rey Service Unit, a region that covers kindergarten through 12th-grade troops across Westchester, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Del Rey, and parts of Inglewood and Hawthorne. It’s a uniquely diverse, boundary-crossing collection of girls who come from public, private, independent, magnet, and Catholic schools but who all share one mission: service.

Red Tail Crossing, located on Airport Blvd., will offer 102 affordable apartments for low-income families, seniors, and individuals with special needs. The building is owned and operated by Community Corporation of Santa Monica, a nonprofit developer known for maintaining its buildings long-term, says Becky.

“Their business model is different,” she says. “They continue to own it and manage it. It’s not part of the business structure to sell after 10 years.”

For Becky, this project resonates deeply. As a volunteer in the local public schools, she learned that many LAUSD employees who support area schools endure long, unpredictable bus commutes. More local affordable housing could remove barriers for those workers and strengthen schools at the same time.

“Not having more affordable housing hyper-local, within our own

neighborhood, is causing us problems,” she says.

While Red Tail Crossing will have a community room, the Girl Scouts quickly realized that a library tailored to residents’ everyday needs could become a vital resource.

“We sat down and chatted about, ‘What are the books that, if you were living in your car, you maybe didn’t have?’” says Becky.

Surprisingly, one answer was cookbooks. The Girl Scouts are also collecting children’s books, including bilingual English-Spanish titles, for toddlers through teens, as well as activity books and games.

To support the drive, The Book Jewel in the Westchester Triangle immediately stepped up as a partner. Its manager, Jay Paulson, will help review donated titles and ensure they’re in good condition. The Book Jewel will also store overflow books and divert titles that aren’t a good fit for the Westchester Rotary’s annual Memorial Day Book Sale.

Residents can drop off new or gently used books or purchase a gift card at The Book Jewel (located at 6259 W. 87th Street in Westchester) to support the drive and contribute to the library. Donations are requested by January 20, so that Red Tail Crossing’s community will be fully stocked and ready for young readers when they host their ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 23.

The Girl Scout troops see this effort as just the beginning.

“This could be the start of a really long, beautiful opportunity for the Westchester community,” says Becky. “It’s about supporting our new neighbors and teaching our girls the importance of showing up for their community.”

(continued on page 10)

Local Girl Scouts promote their holiday book drive benefiting Red Tail Crossing. A donation box for new and gently used reading materials is located at The Book Jewel through January 20th.

Photos by Zsuzsi Steiner

Jane St. John and Felicia St. Denis share a fun moment in Triangle Park while collecting toys and pet supplies donated by the community.

Playa del Rey

Rey

Business & Nonpro t News

Elementary students partner with Coast Academy for beach clean-up and fun in the sun. On November 6, Coast Academy, a beach sports camp, led third, fourth and fifth grade students from Visitation in a clean-up at Toes Beach. Thanks to their efforts, more than a dozen oversized trash bags were filled. During the field trip, Coast Academy founder Devin Bonney—a third-generation Westchester resident—shared insights about ocean safety, exploring the shore, and the role citizens of all ages play in protecting these ecosystems and the environment. In between rounds, students also had fun playing games pulled from Coast Academy’s list of summer beach-and-sand activities.

Get festive at Holiday Fun Run and donate to a local toy drive. Get moving with the Westchester Family YMCA on Sunday, December 7 at 11 a.m. for the Westchester Holiday Fun Run/Walk. The community is invited to meet up at the YMCA Annex, located at 8020 Alverstone Ave. for a 1.5 mile journey through the neighborhood! Wear your best holiday sweater—or just bring a jolly attitude—to partake in the fun. Attendees are also invited to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the YMCA’s toy drive.

Looking for other opportunities to donate this season? Check out a list of locations and organizations holding gift drives:

• 23rd Annual Playa del Rey/ Westchester Toy & Animal Shelter Drive on Saturday, December 6 from 9 a.m. to noon at Triangle Park (located at Waterview & Trask in Playa del Rey). Hosted by Jane St. John and Felicia St. Denis, the drive collects new and unwrapped toys for Children’s Hospital and pet supplies to benefit Pet Harbour. Donations can also be dropped at the Saturday Stroll: Holiday Edition (6200 block of 87th Street in front of The Book Jewel) on December 6 from 4 to 7 p.m.

• WISH Academy students Joseph and Luke Hood are teaming up with the school to collect toys to support nonprofit Deaf Latinos Y Familias. Donation boxes are available at WISH Academy High School, WISH Community School and at the Starbucks located at 8400 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester.

• St. Margaret’s Center is asking

Four local Westchester dancers will perform in Westside Ballet of Santa Monica’s 52nd annual Nutcracker Season at The Broad Stage, including nine public performances and three special community shows for local charities and fifth-grade students. Pictured left to right: Drew Cortez (16) performs the Doll and Peppermint Candy; Christopher Toledo (16) performs one of the main characters as the Prince and Drosselmeyer’s Nephew; Leela Asis (8) is an Angel; and Alexandra Toledo (13) is a Russian Side Dancer. The production features New York City Ballet principals Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia.

the community to donate toys for its 37th Annual Christmas Program to serve 500 low-income families. This year’s program will take place on December 20 and each child who attends will receive gifts to take home, while enjoying holiday entertainment and games. Visit smcxmas.org to learn more, to purchase toys via St. Margaret’s wish list and to find volunteer opportunities.

RUNWAY Playa Vista is hosting its Sixth Annual Wonderland Toy Drive benefiting the LAPD Pacific Division’s toy giveaway. Donations of new, unused unwrapped toys and books for kids ages 2 and up are being collected through December 14. Donations can be dropped off at boxes at various RUNWAY

businesses, including at Wild Child Gym, Urban Plates, Starbucks and Micro Kickboard.

RUNWAY is located at 12775 Millennium Dr. in Playa Vista.

The Concert Singers ready for holiday performance.

Join Westchester’s Concert Singers for their upcoming holiday concert on Sunday, December 14 at 4 p.m. Attendees will enjoy a selection of traditional holiday songs like “Deck the Halls” and “Eight Days of Lights,” plus other tunes, including a showstopping Broadway medley. Tickets are available for a $25 donation and can be purchased at the door. The concert will take place at Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 6323 W. 80th Street in Westchester. For more information, visit theconcertsingers.com.

Photo courtesy Devin Bonney

Photo by Sarah Maddison Photography

Santa Fly-in heads to LAX. Join Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) in welcoming a special guest from the North Pole at its annual Santa Fly-In on Saturday, December 20th from 9 to 11 a.m. During the event, Santa will arrive at LAX and greet attendees at the Flight Path Museum. Other festivities include crafts, a photo booth, a DJ, and of course, cookies and milk! The Santa Fly-In will also feature a toy drive to support the Westchester Family YMCA. Visit page 11 for more event info, and page 22 of the HTN for a special coloring page to bring to the event to receive a prize, courtesy of LAWA.

(continued from previous page)

LAXCEF hosts “Celebration” Art Show & Competition.

Next time you visit the Westchester Triangle, check out the artwork displayed at The Book Jewel, Westchester Bakery, Tanner’s Sewing and Vac, and the old State Farm office! Created by local K-12 students with the theme, “Celebration,” the artwork is on display as part of the LAX Coastal Education Foundation’s Sixth Annual Art Show & Competition and will be up through December 17.

The drawings will be judged by local artists, and the top student artists in each category will be announced next month and receive a prize.

Next up for the foundation is the Rock Roll & Run for Education. Save the date for March 7 for the 5K fun run/walk and community expo, which takes place at LMU. Learn more at laxcef.org!

Have info to share about your business or nonprofit? Email us at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com for a chance to be featured.

L ocal acts of kindness (

(continued from page 4)

Playa del Rey/Westchester Toy & Animal Shelter Drive brings community together

For more than two decades, a small patch of green at the corner of Waterview and Trask in Playa del Rey, affectionately known as Triangle Park, has become the locale for one of the community’s most heartfelt holiday traditions. The Playa del Rey/Westchester Children’s Hospital Toy Drive and Animal Shelter Collection returns this year on Saturday, December 6 from 9 a.m. to noon, inviting neighbors to kick off the season with generosity and compassion.

The event began roughly 23 years ago when residents on surrounding streets, including community member Pam Stacey, set out collection tables in the park. What started as a small neighborhood effort quickly grew. Local leaders like former Councilman Bill Rosendahl would stop by each year, and before the pandemic, volunteers served coffee, treats, and even pizza, turning the donation hub into a community gathering place.

About 15 years ago, Pam Stacey approached Jane St. John and asked if she would take over organizing the event.

Since saying, “yes,” she has become the energetic center of a drive that now gathers hundreds of toys and cars full of pet items annually. Part of the event’s success lies in its broad appeal.

“There are lots of people who are motivated by giving things to children, but there are an equal number of people who are animal lovers, so we combined it,” said Jane.

Toy donations are delivered to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where the Volunteer Bureau manages a yearround toy room.

“If I’m a 5-year-old and I’ve just had a very serious, painful kind of procedure today, I get to go to the toy room and pick something out,” Jane says. “It’s emotional for all of us to think about little ones in hospitals during the holidays, but what we do in December supports the toy room year-round.”

Children’s Hospital also maintains a “needy family program,” where donated gift cards for stores like Ralphs, Target and CVS are included in gift baskets for families of patients.

Jane’s dedication to the cause is personal.

“I spent a lot of time in the hospital as a child,” she says, noting how much simple comforts meant to her during stays. “Things like Play-Doh and crayons are very special.”

On the animal side, the event collects new beds, blankets, leashes, toys, and food for Pet Harbor, a devoted rescue organization located in the South Bay.

“They’ll take just about everything,” Jane says, adding that clean blankets and towels are also helpful. For both collections, new items are preferred.

Jane’s valued partner in service, Felicia St. Denis, owner of Flowers by Felicia, oversees much of the animal collection.

“She has always been an animal lover,” Jane says.

Felicia’s shop at 200 Culver Blvd. in Playa del Rey currently has a collection bin for anyone who can’t make it to the drive. A true family affair, Felicia’s son Spencer helps transport donations to the shelter.

Community members can drop off the new, unwrapped toys and new animal supplies (as well as clean, gently used blankets and towels) to Triangle Park on December 6. For questions or to arrange item pick-ups, donors can contact Jane St. John (310-567-5971) or Felicia St. Denis (310-305-1200).

Each year, Jane says, the generosity of Playa del Rey and Westchester neighbors amazes her.

“These are wonderful small communities that are very generous,” she says.

Nardian Way’s flying Santa: a homegrown tradition that keeps Westchester glowing For more than two decades, neighbors

on Nardian Way in Westchester have transformed their block into a glowing corridor of Christmas lights, anchored by a spectacular handmade display of Santa and his reindeer flying over the rooftops. The tradition, says longtime resident Katie Rampen, has its roots in an earlier moment of national heartbreak: the tragedy of 9/11.

“There was this whole surge of patriotism,” Katie says.

Her then-husband, Ernst, built a big American flag out of Christmas lights, and put it on the roof.

“That was the very first big display he did,” she says.

Katie and Ernst moved to Nardian Way in 1998 and quickly realized this was a block that took holiday decorating seriously.

“We were like, ‘Game on!’” she says with a laugh.

A friendly competition sprang up between a few houses in the middle of the block, including the Johnstone and the Ronay families. Over time, the decorations, and the sense of community, grew.

The now community-famous flying Santa display was literally dreamed up at a neighborhood block party.

“The story goes that the guys were all sitting around and somebody said, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we had Santa and his reindeer flying over our houses?’”

Katie says. “[Ernst] took this to heart.”

A few years later, he constructed a reindeer out of wire, bending it by hand. Over time, he added an entire team of reindeer, along with Santa in a huge sleigh, all outlined in lights. The finished display now spans four houses,

anchored to chimneys on either end. Later, giant presents spilling out of Santa’s pack were added.

Now, on every Sunday after Thanksgiving, residents hoist Santa, the reindeer and the presents into place. A neighbor hosts a potluck that evening to celebrate flipping the switch.

“We really have that sense of community on the street,” says Katie, a two-time breast cancer survivor and breast cancer awareness advocate. “We look after each other. It’s what neighborhoods used to be.”

Keeping the tradition going is a labor of love. Katie and her son Duncan, who was born and raised in Westchester and went all the way through WISH, spend hours each year repairing strands of old-fashioned incandescent lights.

“I couldn’t do it without my son. He really helps,” says Katie.

There are costs, too: higher electric bills, the price of replacement strands, and now the slow transition to more efficient LED lights. Neighbors pitch in where they can. One even donates lights. But Katie has resisted setting up a fundraiser to help offset the increasing costs of helping run the dazzling display.

“I feel like, who am I to do a GoFundMe for Christmas lights when there are people who don’t have food on their table?” she says.

What keeps her going are the stories.

“I literally have people who say, ‘We love your lights. Our tradition is we get our kids in their pajamas every Christmas Eve and drive down your street,’” Katie says.

During the pandemic, the lights meant even more.

“People couldn’t go to parties, but they could get in their cars and drive down the street and have that sense of Christmas joy,” she says.

Now, in another uncertain year, she feels that same urgency.

“There’s so much fear in the world right now, there’s so much angst. I think it’s really critical this year, because a lot of people are struggling,” she says.

For Katie, the tradition has also been an anchor through personal upheaval, including a recent divorce.

“There’s something very healing in those traditions we have every year,” she says. “It’s just Christmas lights, but it spreads a little bit of joy and brings the community together.”

Katie and her son Duncan check every light strand to make sure everything is in working order for their street’s holiday tradition.

Look for our activity on page 22!

IN THE SPIRIT OF HOLIDAY GIVING, PLEASE JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THE WESTCHESTER FAMILY YMCA’S ANNUAL TOY DRIVE BY DONATING A NEW, UNWRAPPED TOY. SPACE IS LIMITED, PLEASE REGISTER BY DECEMBER 18. SCAN THE QR CODE FOR EVENT LOCATION AND PARKING INFORMATION.

The Westside’s Favorite Real Estate Team

Once again, we are honored and grateful to be voted a Favorite Real Estate Team on the Westside of Los Angeles*. Thanks to our clients and fans!

Invested in your vision, your success, and our community.

Amy Nelson Frelinger

Realtor® | DRE# 01484711 M 310.951.0416 amy.frelinger@elliman.com amyfrelinger.com | @amyfrelingerrealestate

elliman.com

A LIFE BUILT ON CURIOSITY AND CONNECTION

From small-town roots to global perspectives, Kim Rory blends psychology and statistics to bridge the gap between companies and consumers.

By Sylvia Wilson

Growing up in Canfield, Ohio, a town of just 5,000 nestled outside Youngstown, life for Kim Rory was safe, familiar, and idyllic. But for the youngest of four siblings, it often felt too small.

“I couldn’t wait to leave,” Kim recalls. With parents still in Canfield and siblings scattered across Indiana, Washington, and Ohio, the family remains close-knit, bound by shared childhood memories and the resilience of a mother who quietly defied expectations.

Her mother, a nurse from an even smaller Ohio town, pursued undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology while raising four children in the 1970s and 80s, a time when working mothers were often judged harshly in the Midwest.

“It took me a long time to see it, but my mom was my biggest inspiration,” Kim says. “She never bowed to expectations. She pursued what she wanted and assumed her accomplishments mattered just as much as being a mom.”

Books were another early influence, offering glimpses of worlds far beyond small-town Ohio. They planted the seeds of curiosity that would later shape her career and passions.

A career in understanding.

As a child, Kim dreamed of becoming a librarian, imagining herself surrounded by shelves of stories. Later, she followed her mother’s path into psychology, earning a master’s degree from Loyola Marymount University. But counseling wasn’t the right fit.

“I realized I wasn’t patient enough to be a good counselor,” she admits with a laugh.

Instead, a want-ad in the newspaper, during the recession of the early 1990s, led her to a small market research firm. She didn’t know what market research was, but the company’s culture and people drew her in. Leadership noticed her drive, gave her increasing responsibility, and eventually offered her a marketing role. Nearly three decades later, she’s still there, where she’s now a Senior Vice President and Client Partner at Material LLC (formerly LRW).

Her work in consumer insights blends psychology and statistics, designing surveys and interviews to understand why people buy what they buy.

“I ended up inadvertently using my degrees after all,” she says.

The company has grown nearly 100-fold since she joined, but she stayed, drawn by its evolution and the opportunities it continues to offer.

Kim sees her role in marketing research as being the voice of the consumer. For her, the job is about bridging the gap between corporate strategy and everyday human experience.

“Real people don’t always think or speak in the same way corporations do,” she explains. “My job is to translate what clients are trying to achieve into the language of everyday life—what motivates people, what makes them want to buy something or not, what makes them like or dislike a product.”

This philosophy underscores her commitment to grounding business decisions in authentic feedback from shoppers.

When asked about her most memorable project, Kim recalls an early assignment ideating for a packaged food company.

“It was fun brainstorming because we paired creative ideas with names that made people smile. We weren’t in the kitchen ourselves, but we collaborated closely with the culinary team,” she shares. “It was fascinating, pairing creative recipe ideas with fun, engaging names. It was a joyful process of thinking about what would be tasty, engaging, and brand-appropriate.”

Though she can’t share client details, Kim emphasizes how energizing it is to combine creativity, humor, and market research in shaping products.

Home and heart.

Kim met Dennis on her second day as an undergrad at UC Santa Cruz, where he was a couple of years ahead. They were friendly throughout college, but didn’t date until years later. Now, after 37 years of knowing each other, 31 together, and nearly 25 years married, she calls him her best friend and biggest supporter.

“I don’t think I would have taken nearly as many chances without him cheering me on,” says Kim.

Though they don’t have children, their four cats are spoiled enough to fill the role. With 12 nieces and nephews, and now a grandnephew, Kim embraces her role as the “eccentric aunt” who lives in the big city.

“It’s perfect,” she says. “They come to visit, and I get to be part of their lives without having kids myself.”

Westchester: A Midwest spirit in Los Angeles.

Beyond her professional life, Kim treasures her Westchester neighborhood, where she has lived with Dennis since 1994. Back then, “It was unhip, but it had heart.”

“Westchester is a bit of the Midwest in L.A.,” she explains. “Friendly people, neighbors who look out for each other, but without the small-mindedness that can plague small towns.”

Her reflections reveal how place and people have shaped her sense of belonging.

Kim describes herself as naturally solitary, yet deeply inquisitive. Whether through her work or her neighborhood connections, she values the balance between introspection and community. Her passion lies in observing, listening, and translating, whether it’s consumer behavior for clients or the rhythms of everyday life in Westchester.

“I think of myself as more of a ‘hi-wave neighbor’ than a chatty one. But over time, the friendliness of Westchester has pulled me out of my natural solitude. The people are relentlessly friendly,” she says. “You can’t help but connect when people greet you every day with a smile or a good morning.”

She delights in the local gems: Kanpai Sushi, the Westchester Family YMCA, The Manchester on Lincoln,

by Zsuzsi Steiner

the cheese island at Bristol Farms, The Book Jewel, Ayara Thai, and walks along Bluff Creek. Dennis’s parents, Jim and Carolyn Rory, live just blocks away, making family gatherings easy and frequent.

Hobbies, passions, and play. Her thirst for knowledge spills into hobbies. Baking, cooking, vintage jewelry and interior design, each have had their season. Currently, she’s immersed in miniature dollhouses, creating elaborate tableaus, including a “true crime obsessive’s room,” complete with a tongue-in-cheek murder board featuring family photos.

“I’m running out of room, so I’ll have to move onto something new soon,” she jokes.

Travel is another passion. After Dennis suffered a stroke, they paused international trips until his mobility returned. Now, they make it a point to travel abroad at least once a year, alongside regular visits to Mexico.

“There are too many places to see and never enough time,” Kim says. Reading, however, has been the one constant hobby. Romance and mysteries fill her Kindle, bedside table, and audiobook queue.

“I’m all about escapism,” she admits.

From small-town Ohio to the bustle of Los Angeles, from psychology to market research, from dollhouses to global travel, Kim’s story shows that even the most ordinary moments–from a neighbor’s wave to a new recipe idea–can build an extraordinary life.

Photo

Kim poses with her cat, Mythical, in her Kentwood home.

Fisherman's Village

The Westchester Rotary Club has been serving the 90045 community since 1950, and for its 75th anniversary year, the club was looking for the perfect nonprofit partner for its bi-annual Makeover Project. In the past, the club has partnered with neighborhood hubs like the Westchester Senior Center, the Emerson Avenue Community Garden, Safe Place for Youth (SPY), the Westchester Townhouse and others, to renovate, enhance and beautify their spaces to create more welcoming and usable environments.

This year, the club, led by President Nicole King, selected the Hawthorne-based A Sense of Home (ASOH) for its service project. ASOH’s mission is to prevent homelessness by creating first-ever homes for displaced individuals and families–many of them youth that has aged out of foster care. Nicole says the nonprofit provided a meaningful opportunity for Westchester Rotarians to roll up their sleeves and do what they do best–volunteer!

“It was an honor to work with ASOH for the club’s 2025 Makeover Project,” says Nicole. “Knowing that we could play a part in supporting a family to have a fresh start, safety, peace and ‘a sense of home,’ was such a great way to give back this holiday season. It was also a powerful reminder about

the power of Rotary and that people working together can make a positive impact in the lives of those around them.”

As part of the club’s “Home Creation Makeover Project,” Rotarians went to the ASOH warehouse to carefully pick pieces of decor that reflected the family’s modern boho style and build furniture for the family and others. Club members also purchased and wrapped holiday gifts.

Right before Thanksgiving, more than a dozen members of the club, as well as former ASOH Home Creation recipients, helped move the family into their new space, carry furniture, put up curtains, hang paintings, and find the perfect location for every furnishing.

“Together as a club, whether it was wrapping gifts, documenting the project, furniture building or designing, we contributed to something magical and potentially prevented homelessness,” says project chair Warren Bobrow. “A special thank you to our sponsors, the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation and the William H. Hannon Foundation.”

Learn more about the Westchester Rotary, its upcoming projects, and membership by visiting facebook.com/ WestchesterRotary90045. Connect with A Sense of Home at asenseofhome.org.

Photos by A Sense of Home and David Maury

Get Involved in Your Community Through NCWP

The Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa (NCWP) is you.

A quasi-governmental agency created by the City of Los Angeles Charter, NCWP is intended to give those who live, work or own property or otherwise declare a stake in our area a stronger voice in the governance of the City. Our board is composed of people just like you – people who live, work and play in Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. We eat at local restaurants, use local parks and send our children to our neighborhood schools. Working together, we provide insight and ideas to our local elected officials and select worthwhile community benefit

projects to support with the limited funds we receive every year from the City.

The NCWP is a part of the City’s neighborhood council system that was established in June 1999 following the passage of the new Los Angeles City Charter. 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 by their participation help influence the direction of our community.

The NCWP Board members are elected by the area’s

stakeholders – those who live, work or own property or otherwise declare a stake within our boundaries. The responsibility of the members of the Board of Directors is to determine and to communicate to the pertinent city officials those issues, needs and concerns of importance to the stakeholders. As such, the NCWP serves as an integral part of how local government operates, providing a direct line of communication between the community and its elected officials and City departments.

The Board meets on the first Tuesday of each month and the public is invited to attend all meetings of the board and its committees.

Playa del Rey

Tree Lighting at LMU

Friday, December 5 from 5 to 8 p.m.

LMU is getting ready to usher in the holiday season with their annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, taking place on the campus’ Regents Terrace! Before the lights come on, community members are invited to take in the sights and sounds of the evening with cocoa, pictures with Santa, crafts for the kids, music, student vendors and general merriment!

LMU is located at 1 LMU Drive in Westchester. For those planning on parking on campus, please visit the pay station to purchase a parking pass. Learn more at lmu.edu/christmas.

Holiday Stroll in the Triangle

Saturday, December 6 from 4 to 7 p.m.

The Saturday Stroll: Holiday Edition is heading to the Westchester Triangle! Visit the 6200 block of 87th Street for a festive evening, featuring music around the Christmas tree with DJ Big Rob and the LMU Jazz Quartet; ornament making with Church Playa and WPNS; drop off letters to Santa with help from Visitation and more! Santa will be making a special visit and ready for photos, courtesy of the Stephanie Younger Group, and the Hometown News will be sponsoring the claw machine for guests of all ages to have a chance to win a prize, including a Jelly Cat! There will also be free yummy treats, including churros, tamales, a crostini bar, and a hot cocoa station, hosted by the Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club.

While snow falls down, enjoy special offerings from Triangle businesses, check out the LAX Coastal Ed Foundation’s K-12 art show, and don’t forget to bring a new, unwrapped toy to benefit Children’s Hospital presented by Jane St. John.

Annual Holiday Lights Tour and Contest

Friday, December 12 to December 28 from 5 to 9 p.m.

Grab a ticket, stock up on treats and hit the road with your family and friends to experience the Sixth Annual Holiday Lights Tour & Contest hosted by the Westchester Mental Health Guild! This is the Guild’s biggest fundraiser of the year and the money raised supports mental health services at AMCS! For a $15 donation, community members will get a list and map to some of the community’s best decorated homes. While you’re singing along to “Jingle Bell Rock,” make a note on which house you’d like to vote for as a “Fan Favorite!”

The Guild is also offering a VIP experience on December 19 and 21, featuring a guided tour in a comfortable coach for $50 per person. Space is limited! To learn more and purchase a ticket, visit 2025holidaylightstour.eventbrite.com.

Winter-Fest at Westchester Park

Saturday, December 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Westchester Park will be transformed into a snow-filled wonderland with the help of Councilwoman Traci Park, the CD11 team, local businesses and nonprofits at the inaugural Winter-Fest!

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., families can partake in sledding and a snow-play area, watch a skate tournament, eat a yummy pancake breakfast, get a photo with Santa and make arts & crafts!

Westchester Park is located at 7000 W. Manchester Ave. in Westchester.

63rd Annual H o liday B o at Parade

Saturday, December 13 from 5:45 to 8 p.m.

Head to the Marina for a magical night of lights and wonder, thanks to Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital’s Holiday Boat Parade!

With the event falling on the 13th, organizers went with “A Nightmare Before Christmas,” theme, and the festivities will kick off at 5:45 p.m. with a drone show. Boats will begin circling the marina at 6 p.m., and some of the best viewing locations include Burton Chace Park and Fisherman’s Village. Restaurateur Tony Palermo, who retired this year after running the beloved MdR eatery Tony P’s for nearly 30 years, will serve as the parade’s Grand Marshal. Get all the details, including parking info at mdrboatparade.org

by Elaina Taylor

by Venice Paparazzi

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Santa is coming to LAX on December 20th! Complete the word search and color the images below. Bring this sheet with you to Santa Fly-In and receive a special prize!*

Join us in raising a glass to a brighter future for LMU students.

A fundraiser to support the LMU Arthur P. Carroll Jr. Endowed Scholarship

Featuring wines from: Arns Barnett Black Stallion Foxen Krupp Brothers Lewelling O’Shaughnessy Progeny Saddleback Tensley ZD And more...

Buy tickets and learn more at lmu.edu/wineclassic or scan the QR code.

Wine Tasting and Silent Auction | 2–5 p.m.

Random Notes/Opinion

Functional training can improve real-world strength

By Jeff Blair

Opinion: Carrying groceries was probably a breeze when you were in college, but now it may feel challenging. Over time, people lose muscular strength, and this can make activities more difficult than they once were.

Functional strength training can improve real-world strength, and this can make everyday tasks feel much more manageable. This month, I will dig in to three fundamental ideas underlying functional strength training and discuss how they can improve your life.

“Wax on. Wax off.”–Mr Miyagi.

In the 1980s classic movie, “Karate Kid,” Daniel trained his muscles and improved his coordination by repeating movements in his training that would carry over to his competition.

Functional training uses a similar idea: performing certain exercises in the gym can improve your capacity to meet realworld challenges by increasing strength and coordination to perform specific daily tasks, improving balance and targeting core muscles.

The deadlift exercise can improve

this exercise noticeably increases their strength, often within a few weeks. The squat exercise simulates rising from a chair, again emphasizing large leg and hip muscles. Holding a weight while doing the exercise can increase leg strength quickly. A step-up is a third functional training exercise. The step-up simulates stair-climbing. Incorporating this exercise into your routine can improve the strength needed to climb inclined terrains, such as hiking or hill-climbing, which you might do on a vacation.

Increasing strength to perform regular daily activities is one benefit of lifting weights. Picking up bags of mulch, moving household items and climbing stairs are examples of day-today activities that can become more manageable once you start a weight training program.

Improving balance is a common goal of many adults and most of our clients. The already mentioned step-up exercise is one good way to work on this. Performing other exercises while standing on one foot is another balanceimprovement strategy. Performing a

left leg. Adding a controlled element of faster movement to certain exercises is another way to make progress in this area. When performing a step-up exercise, moving 10 percent faster than normal can introduce nervous system training to a functional training program. This faster-moving exercise strategy is called “power training.”

Power training can improve the body’s ability to respond quickly, which is needed when balance is challenged in a real-world situation, like tripping. When this happens, your body should be able to move quickly to pull you back to safety.

Improving abdominal and core strength is another central component of functional training. Core training often involves maintaining strong posture while resisting weight or band pressure. A stronger core is essential to moving better and maintaining strong posture as you walk and move in a variety of environments. The Paloff Press, band chop and ball curl up are three abdominal and core strengthtraining exercises that we use regularly in the gym.

When you incorporate the ideas of modeling and training real-world movements, improve balance and increase core and abdominal strength,

you are using some fundamental functional training concepts. Imagine Susan taking her large dog for a walk and feeling stronger and more confident than before. She then realizes moving a heavy item in her garage is much easier as well. When she travels, she notices she has no problem putting her luggage into the overhead bin. These are actual client examples of how functional strength-training has made tasks easier. Functional training does not require two hours per day in the gym. I would recommend two hours per week as a starting point. Nearly every major medical organization recommends strength-training twice per week to improve health and reduce disease risk. Try to improve incrementally by first learning proper form before trying to increase how much weight you’re lifting. Strength training can increase your confidence and improve your ability to perform many physical tasks. The end result is a higher quality of daily life and more opportunities to enjoy a variety of recreational and fun activities.

Happy Holidays!

Jeff Blair (M.S., C.S.C.S) is a certified personal trainer and founder of the SoCalSport Personal Training Studio in Westchester. Reach him at jeff@ socalsport.com for article comments.

Decron is honored to be recognized for Best Places to Work in L.A. Thank you to all our employees for making Decron a great place to work! Together we are Decron Strong!

Therapy Corner with Ann O’Brien

By Ann O’Brien

Opinion:

Greetings my lovely community! As we enter another holiday season here in our hometown, I’ve been reflecting on what truly makes this time of year meaningful. In my work as a therapist, I hear so many stories, both about holiday hopes, as well as its challenges. This season can be joyful, of course, but it can also feel overwhelming. Between the bustle of gatherings, the pressure of gift giving, complicated family dynamics, and the inevitable sugar overload or one too many hot toddies, many of us end December feeling more drained than renewed.

So this year, I invite us all to pause and approach the season with intention. A little foresight can go a long way in helping us create a season rooted in connection, steadiness, and meaning.

Navigating difficult family dynamics.

Many of us have a family member who strikes a nerve. Instead of recoiling, try reframing your dread as a chance for growth. Ask: “What gets activated in me”? And “How can I care for that activated part of myself?”

Don’t fret if you don’t get it right the first time. Years of hurt may not be reconciled in one holiday season, but the effort matters. With gentleness and practice you can learn how to stay grounded in yourself and be less thrown off-balance in a difficult person’s presence.

You might also explore what acceptance or forgiveness could look like. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting; it might instead mean releasing the hope that someone will become who you wish they were. It may mean making space for more empathy for the path they’ve walked. Sometimes that softening is what frees us and makes space for whatever joy is possible in the relationship.

The busy-ness of the season. Ask yourself: “What brings me the most joy and meaning at this time of year?” Making gifts for neighbors? Quiet evenings by the fire? Turning down the noise of everyday life and leaning into rest, connection, and generosity?

Honor what matters most. Make room for it. Say no to what matters less. You don’t have to do everything. In fact, doing less on purpose often brings more peace. As I often tell clients: the greatest present is presence.

Holiday “unhealth.”

Yes, I made up the word. The holidays can flood us with sweets, late nights, and routines that go off the

rails. It’s hard to show up emotionally when your body is running on sugar and fatigue.

About 10 years ago, I did a threeweek ultra-clean reset between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not festive, and perhaps you could’ve called me the Grinch, but I arrived at Christmas feeling genuinely well. I’m not recommending any specific plan, but I am giving you permission to set boundaries that support your body and spirit. Say “no,” to holiday “unhealth.” Say “yes,” to feeling steady, joyful, and present.

As we move forward.

This season, I invite you to enjoy, appreciate, and pay attention. For me, this will be my first holiday season without my dad. While there will be sadness in that, there is also a deep sense of gratitude, not just for his love and spirit, but also for the love I have for those still with me.

In his honor—and in honor of his Irish roots—I leave you with an Irish holiday blessing:

“May love and laughter light your days and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world

with joy that long endures.

May all life’s passing seasons bring the best to you and yours.”

Wishing you a season filled with warmth, presence, and connection.

Ann O’Brien, LCSW, MSc, is a Playa del Rey resident and therapist, specializing in relationships. Contact her with questions or comments at ann@annobrientherapy.com or visit annobrientherapy.com.

You can also visit her Substack, Relational Insights: at annobrientherapy.substack.com.

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Looking back at 2025 ...our fav ite momen and st ies

In January, we started off the year with a feature on Cantalini’s to celebrate 25 years of the restaurant serving Playa del Rey. Owner Lisa Schwab shared that she was humbled to be part of the community and so many families’ milestone moments at her eatery.

In a March story we went “behind the mic” with Kelli Tager, a talented voiceover actress who combines her love of performing with literature. The article also marked the first column by Sylvia Wilson, highlighting talented locals with interesting careers.

After 28 years in Marina del Rey, and a partnership that spanned five decades, Tony Palermo and Danny Ringwood served their last round of mai tais when their beloved restaurant–Tony P’s–closed its doors on June 29 so the duo could retire.

In a business spotlight, we featured the Westchester Triangle’s Trans Port Station, a bike shop that is leading what owner John Breza calls the “micromobility revolution,” championing electric bikes and tricycles as great alternative transportation for Angelenos.

In honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, Marisa Peters, a rectal cancer survivor, Broadway vocalist turned producer, keynote speaker, author and women’s health advocate, reminded readers to get screened if you have any symptoms.

In July, the LAX Coastal Fourth of July Parade celebrated its 25th anniversary with the theme, “We Love L.A.” The Westchester Family YMCA, with the help of volunteers, led the charge to build an 18-foot float to honor the Grand Marshals: L.A. firefighters.

As the Palisades and Eaton fires grew, the Westchester Family YMCA wasted no time springing into action. The Y quickly mobilized to become a donation site, and then a distribution center, which eventually aided more than 1,500 individuals with the help of more than 2,500 volunteers.

Our May cover story spotlighted the team and the story behind the Westchester CA Team Challenge, a half-day celebration of community, camaraderie and creativity–all in the name of beautifying the streets in Westchester.

During August we cheered on the Westchester Del Rey Little League’s Major Softball All Star team for earning a coveted spot representing the “West” in the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina.

In February, Courtney Kohl Paulson and Sue Kohl shared their heartbreaking experience with the Palisades Fire, which destroyed thousands of businesses and residences, including the one Sue had lived in for over 30 years, and one that Courtney called her second home.

The Northenors shared their story–and brought the fun to their photoshoot–in our spring “family feature.” Proud of their Westchester roots, they plan to keep nurturing their little corner of town through school, sports and building community.

Summer marked the launch of the inaugural Second Saturday Stroll, a series of events to celebrate all things Westchester. With 87th Street in the Triangle closed to cars, families enjoyed live music, art activities, dancing, treats and specials from local businesses.

The 10th Annual Westchester Arts & Music Block Party brought thousands of community members to Emerson Ave. on Saturday, September 20 for a festive day of live music, dance performances, familyfriendly activities, shopping and more, all to raise money for teen mental health at the Y.

The Book Jewel team, and mascot Paiges, graced our September cover to recognize their fifth anniversary as the community’s independent bookstore. Since opening in 2020, the store has become not only a place to shop, but also a neighborhood hub that has something for everyone.

In October, we spotlighted Westchester artist and LMU and Otis senior lecturer David Russell who has transformed blank walls into vibrant canvases that bring the community’s story to life. His latest mural at Tomat pays homage to beloved local landmarks in a bold, pop-art style.

In our November nonprofit highlight, we shared about a community gem, Ballona Discovery Park. Located at the base of LMU’s Westchester bluffs, where sagebrush meets sidewalk and hawks soar over tech offices and family homes, the park invites visitors to slow down, learn and be present.

Photos by Zsuzsi Steiner ( unless otherwise noted)

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Elaina Taylor

KEEP ON WRITING COMEBACK STORIES

We see our success in the lives we help turn around. For us, winning comes from the many futures returned and families made whole. That’s why, from performing over 2,700 heart transplants to the first human bladder transplant, our story is about more than breakthroughs. It’s about all those we help to write more chapters of their own.