Candidates John Choi and Mitch O'FarrelJust one day remains before Tuesday’s general election that will choose a new councilmember for the Hollywood-to-Echo Park spanning City Council District 13 (CD13) for the next four years. In preparation, candidates John Choi and Mitch O'Farrell have been walking precincts and knocking on doors, hoping to win voters’ support in the 11th hour.

EDITOR’S NOTE: BECAUSE OF AN EDITING ERROR OF THE ORIGINAL INTERVIEW, THIS STORY HAS BEEN EDITED TO TAKE OUT THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE BY O’FARRELL RGARDING THE MILLENNIUM PROJECT: “Although needing significant revisions, the Millenium proposal is appropriate for the neighborhood.”

This close runoff in what was once a heavily crowded race has become contentious over the past month, with accusations raised of intimidation tactics and voter fraud from both sides. Facing such heated political friction, much conversation as of late has turned away from the issues and onto political rhetoric of either blame or absolution. But when the dust clears, the neighborhoods of Hollywood, Silver Lake, Atwater Village and Echo Park will need to look to the contest’s victor for leadership and direction. And hopefully they may do so with confidence the right man was elected for the job.

O’Farrell, 52, a longtime community activist and former aide of 10 years to the currently termed out CD13 representative and mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti, received nearly 19% of the district’s votes on the March 5th primary election that had 12 candidates running. Choi, 32, a former Dept. of Public Works commissioner and economic development director of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, received nearly 17% in that race.

For voters to better decide between the candidates, the Los Feliz Ledger asked both candidates to best define their stances on 10 key issues facing our community. Here’s what they said:

Development in CD13

John Choi: It should be transparent, appropriate to the community, and include community and resident input. It should not favor development over preservation, and should prioritize open space, parks, and transit-friendly development to reduce traffic… I will not support projects that don’t fit the character of neighborhoods. The communities need to be at the beginning, middle and end of the process. And we are going to direct development where it is best suited: Silver Lake is a largely residential, small business, type neighborhood. Same with Echo Park and Atwater Village. I wouldn’t expect to support major developments in these areas that would completely change the nature of these [neighborhoods].

Mitch O’Farrell: Development will happen in CD13 but I bring a more direct approach in getting the community involved. This is especially critical when there is a significant development in terms of scale or a critical location. Also, I have learned over the decades that people who care deeply about their built environment have pretty good ideas when it comes to the aesthetics and functionality of their neighborhoods. Everyone understands that in America’s 2nd largest city, there will be trade offs as we grow. But what is important here is that we do not have to—and should not—sacrifice what is special in our neighborhoods for the sake of progress.

The Los Angeles River

Choi: It is a precious resource and should be accessible to residents. I will continue to restore the river, complete the L.A. River trail, restore natural bottom and habitat, and build more river-accessible and environmentally friendly parks like North Atwater Park.

O’Farrell: From 2002 to 2012 I worked on Policy and Improvements at the Los Angeles River. The ad hoc Committee on the L.A. River must continue, and I would like to chair it. I’ll lead the way in continuing implementing improvements outlined in the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan.

While on staff with Councilmember Eric Garcetti, I set in motion the plan to create a Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) for capital improvements at the river. A study is currently under way in the Community Development Department to evaluate this plan. I’ll see that it’s adopted and becomes a long-term revenue source for the revitalization at the river. It’s time we work on keeping some of our increased tax revenues here, working for us.

I’ll have an environmental deputy on staff that will reconvene the River Management & Maintenance Taskforce at the River, which I started in 2005 and facilitated until I left the office in 2012. The work we did resulted in making the river safer, cleaner, and more inviting to people. We stopped gang crime and narcotics sales, and we made sure homeless encampments didn’t return, saving lives during the rainy season.

And I’ll work aggressively with my colleague in the 1st Council District, and City and County leadership, to construct the ambitious multimillion-dollar “demonstration” project at Taylor Yard/Rio de Los Angeles. This visionary project will modify the channel for environmental and recreational purposes for the first time since it was built in the 1930s—and it will set the tone for all future work at the River.

Digital billboards in CD13

Choi: They are only appropriate in the most heavily commercial entertainment areas. They are not appropriate in residential communities, and the needs and input of residents must be prioritized over billboard companies. I will oppose billboards that cause blight, increase traffic, or degrade the quality of a neighborhood.

O’Farrell: I oppose any new electronic signs in the district, calling them a public safety issue. I think they are blight and they’re distracting for drivers. And I promise to fight Lamar’s demand for a digital billboard at Glendale Boulevard and Fletcher Drive in Silver Lake.

Privatization of Griffith Park/LA Zoo

Choi: Zoos are basic public institutions in large cities like libraries and parks. They should be available to the public at reasonable prices and not major profit making ventures.

O’Farrell: No on privatization of Griffith Park but I will monitor the zoo proposal closely as it moves forward. We need to get in the business of promoting our wonderful zoo and perhaps having a private/public partnership, as long as all employees’ jobs there are protected, [it] is something we can negotiate.

Advertising in Griffith Park

Choi: Absolutely not. I will never agree to turning Griffith Park into a giant billboard— period.

O’Farrell: No wholesale advertising. Some corporate assistance where feasible and appropriate related to active recreation, perhaps… Our Recreation and Parks budget is woefully and perpetually in jeopardy. Partnerships may be a way to help serve the public, as I said, when appropriate.

Barlow Hospital Project

Choi: The project is too large. It has to be more compatible with surrounding residents’ vision, preserve open space, and be consistent with the character of the neighborhood. The project as it stands is a non-starter, and must be reworked, rethought and move forward with consistent and meaningful input from the community.

O’Farrell: It’s important to draw a distinction as to where density is appropriate and where it is not. The Barlow Hospital redevelopment plan in Echo Park is woefully inappropriate for that site. I will work with my colleague in CD1 to assist Barlow and the community on a project that can work there but what they have currently planned is a non-starter for me.

Millennium Hollywood Project

Choi: This project is too much, and there is a reason more than 40 neighborhood groups, associations, and homeowner associations oppose it. The current plan is not suited to the community, the impact on traffic, public safety, and quality of life will be severe, and the developers are heavy handed and vague. They have spent tens of thousands to oppose me because of these views, but I will not stop opposing a project I view as ill suited and destructive to the community.

O’Farrell: The site plan is good, but the towers are too tall. I will work with the community and the development team on a project that is acceptable, if not widely embraced. Downtown Hollywood needs a good development on this four-acre, surface parking lot. It’s been that way for nearly 60 years. That’s not good.

Parking

Choi: We need more. I will make parking accommodations the highest priority for any new projects. We also need to implement more zoning and permit requirements that consider resident needs. We should be making it possible for tourists to use transit and our residents to park within a reasonable distance of their homes. It’s just common sense. If your business cannot identify parking for tourists, then parking must be a component of your development plan.

O’Farrell: We need to eliminate all one-hour parking meters. They should not be less than two hours anywhere. Conversely, we need parking enforcement to crack down on scofflaw commercial vehicles, tour buses, and big rigs parked at our meters. We need an escalating fine system for these frequent violators, but we need to reduce the fees for the simple violations that happen easily to the everyday person. We cannot and should not try and balance the city budget on the backs of everyday people who get parking tickets. We also need more parking in Silver Lake at Sunset Junction. The residents are getting squeezed, as are the merchants, as this area becomes more and more of a destination place.

Transportation

Choi: We must become a more multimodal community and we must do better for our outlying residents. That’s why I support building the Crenshaw line and expanding the DASH short-haul, low cost commuter program to areas like Atwater and Elysian Valley. We should put serious resources into subway, bike and commuter lanes. The city with the best weather in the U.S. should have more options that do not involve sitting hours in traffic.

O’Farrell: It’s never been more important to solve our budget deficit crisis so we, as a city, can create additional neighborhood-serving DASH lines. They are a great, low-cost form of public transit that helps ease traffic congestion… I will work with the bicycle community and our neighborhoods on implementing the bicycle master plan across the District and the city. There’s much more we can do now, with existing limited resources, such as creating ‘Sharrow’ lanes. That basically means placing a bicycle icon image on the street pavement so motorized vehicles and bicycle riders know to share the street.

Public Safety

Choi: A community policing approach is best, which means we need the resources to have police in all neighborhoods that understand those neighborhoods and have local contacts. The answer is not a generic number of cops for a political sound bite but an appropriate number of cops to cover our neighborhoods and understand the particular problems in those communities.

O’Farrell: I am firm on keeping our City safe, and I will not support any reduction in public-safety services under any circumstance… Once we solve our budget deficit crisis, I’ll champion the continued hiring of more police officers… As Councilmember, I won’t be satisfied until we achieve a sustainable budget for gang-reduction efforts—along with a verification system that proves this work makes a difference. Nothing is more important than making our neighborhoods safer. And investing in the lives of young people—who sometimes feel they have no alternative to gang life—creates a public-safety foundation for the future. Everyone matters in our society.

The Los Angeles Fire Dept. resource-reduction plan was uneven: it resulted in seven fire stations absorbing most of 25% of all reductions in the citywide 106-station system. These reductions were put in place in 2011 and especially compromised our high-fire-danger hillside neighborhoods from El Sereno all the way to Silver Lake. I’ll make sure these services are restored with a reduction plan that’s more equitably distributed across the City, while working hard to get back to the full deployment and resources we had before the plan was recklessly imposed.

For more information on tomorrow’s election, including polling place locations and hours, and sample ballots, visit LAVote.net

LOS ANGELES – Eric Garcetti today endorsed Mitch O’Farrell to succeed him as the Councilmember representing the 13th Council District.

“Mitch O’Farrell is the best choice to carry on the work I’ve been doing in the 13th District. He deserves your vote,” Garcetti said. “John Choi is a fine public servant with a track record of accomplishment. But Mitch brings unmatched experience in the district to continue our forward momentum.”

O’Farrell worked in Garcetti’s Council office for ten years and served every part of the 13th District. He worked on creating the Silver Lake Meadow, restoring Echo Park lake, helping small businesses, cleaning up the streets, making communities safer and protecting the unique character of district neighborhoods.

Thirteenth District neighborhoods like Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park and Atwater Village have been dramatically revitalized during Garcetti’s tenure. Today, the district is ranked number-one in job growth; violent crime is down 2/3; there is an after school program for every school; and there are triple the number of parks – 31 new parks in the district with the least land.

And that can only mean area neighborhood block parties are in the works. One popular one, drawing 200 to 250 attendees, is Los Feliz’s set for June 8th this year. Pictured is Woodie Wade of Woodie’s Kitchen preparing his signature sliders for the 2012 Los Feliz Block Party. See story, page 13. Photo: Michael Locke.

GRIFFITH PARK

According to Los Angeles City Council District 4 Councilmember Tom LaBonge’s Field Deputy Mary Rodriguez, motorists headed towards Mt. Sinai Memorial Park and Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuaries stop to buy flowers from the illegal vendors at a cheaper rate than the cemetery florists. This has caused traffic at times to snarl on the on and off-ramps.

More dangerously, though, according to Rodriguez, the cellophane that the flowers are wrapped in makes a crinkling sound and also reflects light, spooking horses in the park. This has resulted in thrown riders, many of whom are novices renting horses at the nearby stables.

When approached by police and park rangers, vendors often ditch their inventory and run into one of the nearby equestrian tunnels that run under the freeway. On one instance, pursued by a park ranger, Rodriguez said the vendors assaulted him with rocks.

All of this has resulted in a large amount of trash around the park as well. On a recent cleanup, Rodriguez said, they filled more than two truckloads of debris leftover by the vendors.

The issue was brought to the attention of LaBonge’s office in late-January. Since then, Rodriguez said CD 4 has been working with the Dept. of Water and Power to install fencing around the Headworks Reservoir that runs adjacent to the area. There has also been communication with the Los Angeles Dept. of Transportation about installing signage indicating that motorists cannot stop there. Additionally, State Assemblymember Mike Gatto’s office is also working with the California Dept. of Transportation to install fencing around the on and off-ramps as well as adding additional signage there as well. And the Los Angeles Police Dept. is stepping up efforts to keep the area patrolled.

“It’s a collaborative effort,” said Rodriguez.

When narrowing your list of recommended attorneys, look for experience, personal rapport, and accessibility.

“You want a lawyer who will work hard on your behalf and follow through promptly on all assignments,” said Los Angeles attorney, Anahid Agemian.

As with any professional service, it pays to work with a lawyer who knows the field.  Agemian met Yuen Fang, while attending Loyola Law School, in Los Angeles, before establishing Agemian & Fang Attorneys at Law in 1989.

Together, they specialize in all aspects of civil litigation, appellate and transactional matters, with an emphasis on real estate, business formation, and litigation. Combined, the two women have confidently represented clients for over 50 years. That Agemian is bilingual, fluent in English and Armenian and Fang is fluent in English and Mandarin, Chinese, serves a vital role in the community.

“A lot of law firms don’t last this long,” said Fang. “We discuss things and knock around ideas.  We’ve always prided ourselves for being up front with the client.”

Both Fang and Agemian take a hands-on approach and clients can generally reach them right away.

Agemian has spent her career gaining a deeper understanding of all aspects of the process. As an arbitrator, she has lectured on and trained attorneys for arbitrations and has tried both jury and non-jury trials.  Her experience sitting as a temporary Judge in the Los Angeles County Court system has given her a studied perspective.

“I thought it would make me a better attorney… to see the other side,” said Agemian. “When [a client] walks out they should feel like they got a fair hearing even if they don’t win. That’s the basis of justice.  You have to feel the process wasn’t rigged.”

In helping to make decisions, Agemian and Fang put their knowledge and experience to work for their clients. Giving them an understanding, they coach clients, anticipating and leading them through the best course.

“Call it ‘enlightened self interest.’ You’ve got to pick a firm because you feel more confident.  That can only be a better beginning.”

http://agemianfanglaw4u.com

Gilmore received a certificate from Gatto that reads: “California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition Presented to: Charlotte Gilmore. Ivanhoe Elementary School.  Congratulations on having your writing piece “Our New Principal and More News” published in the Los Feliz Ledger. Your hard work, determination, and efforts are truly commendable and will open many doors in your future.  I wish you many more years of academic success.”

Gilmore is a regular student contributor to the Los Feliz Ledger. See more student reports this month online at losfelizledger.com

After a painful 15 hour flight we touched down in Israel, and boarded a huge bus that took us to our sister school, Tzahala, where we were greeted by a screaming mob of friends waiting to welcome 12 tired sixth graders to their homes and families.

The differences between Israel and Los Angeles are quite drastic. One day, we went to various classrooms to answer student’s questions about Los Angeles and life in America. One student asked what we do during bombings. I answered by saying that we had no bombings in L.A., and so he told me what to do during a bombing. This came as a shock to me. The fact that they drill children in bombing procedures seems almost scary to me, but it seems as though it is not scary to people in Israel.

Another difference is how free and unattended the children are. Every day you see kids walking down the streets to school, and dance class, and the pool. In L.A. I don’t think I have ever seen a child walking alone on the streets.  It’s just not safe. But in Israel, it absolutely is.

ART

Mark Gleason, Dave Dexter & Vicki Berndt
La Luz De Jesus highlights the work of three painters this month: Mark Gleason, in Darklands; Dave Dexter, in Round Eye and the Switch; and Vicki Berndt, in Idle Worship. An opening reception will be held Friday, May 3rd, 8 p.m.-11 p.m.

La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Fri., May 3rd-Sun., June 2nd
4633 Hollywood Blvd., Los Feliz. Information: (323) 666-7667; www.laluzdejesus.com

Eat.Drink.Art
L.A. Municipal Art Gallery hosts its annual benefit and silent auction showcasing work by more than 60 established and emerging artists. The event will also feature live painting, performance art, beer and wine tastings, and food trucks. General admission tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door and include three drink tastings. Must be 21 or older to attend.

Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Sat., May 4th, 8 p.m.
4800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Feliz. Information: (323) 644-6269; www.lamag.org

BOOKS

Architecture & Beyond
Glen Creason, the map librarian at the downtown Central Library, will return to the Los Feliz branch to discuss “an amazing discovery of maps in Los Angeles.” He will also sign copies of his book Los Angeles in Maps, which explores the city’s rich cartographic history.

Los Feliz Library, Thu., May 16th, 6:30 p.m.
1874 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz. Information: (323) 913-4710; www.lapl.org
Joyce Carol Oates
The acclaimed author will read from and sign copies of her new historical novel, The Accursed, which tells the story of a curse afflicting the town of Princeton, N.J., in the early 20th century. Also appearing at Skylight this month are Richard Lange (Fri., May 17th, 7:30 p.m.), Tom Drury (Thu., May 23rd, 7:30 p.m.) and Cecil Castellucci (Sat., May 25th, 3 p.m.).

Skylight Books, Mon., May 6th, 7:30 p.m.
1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. Information: (323) 660-1175; www.skylightbooks.com

COMMUNITY

Los Angeles Breakfast Club
For more than 85 years, this club has gathered folks from all walks of life to enjoy a meal and each other’s company. Check the website for up-to-date information about guest speakers. Breakfast is $7 per person and free for first-time visitors. Annual club membership is $100.

Friendship Auditorium, Wed., 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, 7 a.m.
3201 Riverside Drive, Los Feliz. Information: (213) 665-1154; www.labreakfastclub.com

HISTORY

Jews in the Los Angeles Mosaic
This new exhibition explores the diverse and dynamic history of Los Angeles’ Jewish community and how its members helped shape the city. Featuring more than 150 stories, documents, objects and images. Also at the Autry this month are a work-in-progress preview of the documentary series Whitewashed Adobe: The Rise of Los Angeles (Sun., May 5th, 2 p.m.) and the Native Voices Festival of New Plays (Wed., May 29th-Fri., May 31st, 7:30 p.m.). General admission is $10.

The Autry, Fri., May 10th-Sun., Jan. 5th
4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park. Information: (323) 667-2000; www.theautry.org

MOVIES

PXL This
Now in its 22nd year, this film festival celebrates movies made with the beloved black-and-white Fisher-Price PXL-2000 camcorder of the 1980s. Director Gerry Fialka will attend and participate in a discussion. Also at the EPFC this month are an open screening (Thu., May 2nd, 8 p.m.) and an evening with the experimental filmmaker Barry Spinello (Thu., May 16th, 8 p.m.). Suggested donation $5.

Echo Park Film Center, Thu., May 23rd, 8 p.m.
1200 N. Alvarado St., Echo Park. Information: www.echoparkfilmcenter.org; (213) 484-8846

MUSIC

Fleetwood Mac
The Hollywood Bowl’s summer season officially opens in June, but this month the enduring rock band Fleetwood Mac will perform at a stop on their current world tour. Tickets are $60-$320.

Hollywood Bowl, Sat., May 25th, 8 p.m.
2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood. Information: 323-850-2000; www.hollywoodbowl.com

Cinco de Mayo Festival
The Greek Theatre kicks off its 2013 season and celebrates Cinco de Mayo with performances by Los Lobos, Los Super 7, Willie G., El Chicano, Kinky and more. Tickets are $25-$69.50.

Greek Theatre, Sun., May 5th, 6:30 p.m.
2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. Information: (323) 665-5857; www.greektheatrela.com

Ludovico Einaudi
Having released his latest album, In a Time Lapse, earlier this year, the Italian pianist and composer will stop by the Ford to perform with his ensemble. Tickets are $45-$59.

Ford Theatres, Fri., May 31st, 8 p.m.
2580 Cahuenga Blvd. E., Hollywood. Information: (323) 461-3673; www.fordtheatres.org

SCIENCE & NATURE

Cosmic Musings
Jacqueline Landry, the head of school at Marymount High School, will discuss attracting young women to STEM fields: science, technology, engineering and math. Tickets are $25, and reservations are required. Also at the observatory this month are All Space Considered (Fri., May 3rd, 7:30 p.m.) and a Public Star Party (Sat., May 18th, 2 p.m.-9:45 p.m.).

Griffith Observatory, Mon., May 20th, 7:30 p.m.
2800 E. Observatory Road, Griffith Park. Information: (213) 473-0800; www.griffithobservatory.com

THEATER & DANCE

Hae Kyung Lee & Dancers
Choreographer Hae Kyung Lee “explores the aesthetics and spiritual strengths of her Korean ancestry” while incorporating both modern and ancient influences. This performance features an original score by Wes Hambright. Tickets are $15.

Bootleg Theater, Fri., May 10th-Sat., May 11th, 7:30 p.m.
2220 Beverly Blvd., Westlake. Information: www.bootlegtheater.org

Vaudeville in the Park
The Independent Shakespare Co. presents a concert to benefit its annual Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival. The afternoon will feature comedy, vaudevillian entertainment, special guest John C. Reilly performing with Dr. Pinch and the Pinchtones, and of course the Bard. Tickets are $30.

Griffith Park Old Zoo, Sun., May 19th, 3p.m.-5 p.m.
4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Griffith Park. Information: (818) 710-6306; www.independentshakespeare.com

Garnering first place and $1,000 was Immaculate Heart senior Maura Turcotte of Glendale, with Immaculate Heart senior Nicola Willoughby of Silver Lake taking second place and $750.

The Cabrini Literary Guild, a philanthropic organization, announced the awards, including cash scholarship prizes ranging from $100 to $1,000, during a luncheon presentation April 11th at the Oakmont Country Club in Glendale. Approximately 89 entries from Catholic high schools in the Los Angeles area addressed this year’s essay topic on the value of an education.

In March, the Theodore Payne Foundation came to our school to help us plant native plants in our school.

Lisa Novick, a specialist from the foundation, gave a presentation about how important native plants are for the wildlife in California. Native plants are those not brought from different places. Most animals depend on native plants to survive and the plants need only rainwater.

Ms. Novick taught us many different facts about native plants.  For example, some plants provide berries and seeds. When the flower dries up, seeds are available for the animals to eat.

We planted: coffeeberry, wild cascade, creeping sage, ceanthus, verbena, passion vines and manzanita. We look forward to seeing our garden grow.

Known for being a silent killer, cancer is one of the leading causes of death in dogs. Fifty percent of dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer. So how can owners know if something is amiss? There are many telltale-warning signs that can lead to correct diagnoses.

Some of the more obvious signs of concern include weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained bleeding and a persistent cough. Other, less noticeable changes may include a distended belly and straining to urinate. Any kind of suspicious lump should be biopsied, especially if it has recently changed in size or texture. Swollen lymph nodes, foul breath and lameness or swelling in the bones can also signal cancer. Purebred pooches have higher rates of cancer, due to inbreeding (another reason to adopt that pound mutt).

Treatment for canine cancer is the same as for humans. A veterinarian will discuss options such as chemotherapy and radiation or simple excision of tumor if that is a possibility. New tumor vaccines are being developed that will revolutionize dog cancer treatments.  And of course there are alternative therapies available as well including hydrotherapy, acupuncture, acupressure and massage.

While all of the signs can be terrifying, early detection is critical to halting the advancement of cancer. The best way to stay on top of your dog’s health is to maintain regular veterinary appointments, stay up to date on all vaccines and brush your dog’s teeth regularly.

When I first moved to Southern California, I found the coffee culture here very confusing. I remember an early visit to Starbucks, when my colleague ordered a “Grande Latte 2%” and I had no idea what that was!

Fifteen years later, although I’m still a bit baffled by the complex language of coffee, I’m more concerned with consuming coffee with minimal environmental impact. But this too can get complicated.

First, it’s important to buy “fair trade” coffee, made from beans bought directly from the coffee growers, because this benefits the farmers—and not the middlemen. Second, since coffee is the most heavily sprayed food crop in the world, we should buy organic. Third, rather than coffee grown in large plantations, it’s better to buy “shade grown coffee,” as these beans are grown in jungles and promote natural ecological relationships between different trees, plants, resident and migratory birds. It’s a lot to remember.

I read about a super-green coffee company in Canada that delivers its beans in reusable mason jars by bicycle. This eco-friendly option may not be available here yet, but with sustainable coffee companies like Cafecito Organico (www.cafecitoorganico.com), Groundwork (www.groundworkcoffee.com) and Caffé Vita (www.caffevita.com” www.caffevita.com) in our neighborhood and more grocery stores stocking fair trade, organic and even shade-grown beans, I don’t have to worry as much about how green my coffee is.

Now, I can get back to deciding whether to have a tall decaf 2% cappuccino or a grande blended frappuccino with agave syrup!

At our Griffith Park Adult Community Center “Community Celebration” in April, we had a talent show created and directed by one of our members, Peter Bonerz, who is an actor and director best known for his role as the dentist on “The Bob Newhart Show.” The participants were part of GPACC. Besides being entertaining, it was a pleasure to see energy and talent still present in spite of being “past one’s prime.” It definitely reinforced the concept that retirement or a certain age should not be the criteria for not following your passion.

The show reminded me of the recent movie I saw. A 2012 British comedy-drama film, “Quartet,” filmed in England and directed by Dustin Hoffman, is about a retirement home for gifted musicians, patterned after the real-life Casa di Riposo per Muscicisti founded by Guiseppe Verdi. The residents continue to be engaged in their former profession, either through teaching the young or creating music with each other. The plot centers upon their need to raise funds to keep the home going and their hope that the yearly concert presented by the residents on Verdi’s birthday would be the answer.

This movie was Dustin Hoffman’s debut into directing. And since Mr. Hoffman moved into directing at 75, he was the subject of an article in the aarp.org/magazine for February/March 2013. The interview naturally inquired about his reaction to the theme of “Quartet” which is about aging and “the mortality hovering over the characters and binding them.” The film was impressive since in addition to the stars, it also featured musicians over 70.

For Dustin Hoffman, he referred to life as a three-act play and that beyond retirement, it would be considered the second-act when you are pursuing your interests in spite of possible body limitations. The third act would be “something that alters you, some infirmity or whatever,” he said. However, when he shared that sentiment with the cast, somebody responded, “Maybe it’s a Shakespearean play with five acts.”  According to Mr. Hoffman, that pleased him as he then had three more acts.

Consider this quote attributed to writer W. Somerset Maugham: “When I was young, I was amazed at Plutarch’s statement that the elder Cato began at the age of eighty to learn Greek. I am amazed no longer. Old age is ready to undertake tasks that youth shirked because they would take too long.”

For most of us, there is sadness upon losing what you used to do or be, but at the same time, you can’t just go to bed. You move on to those interests that engage you, and you use talents or experiences that had been with you in your earlier life to create new or reinvented passions.

When the 35-year old Village Coffee Shop closed in late 2011 after 35 years, former Millie’s and Edendale Grill owner Patti Peck came in to give the worn cafe a makeover with the help of architect Barbara Bestor.

Chef Minh Tran revamped the menu to hit standards like bacon and eggs, BLTs and burgers, but added Asian accents, vegan and vegetarian choice and an emphasis on farm-fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Dinner dishes range from the $12 Angus burger (with fries or kale salad) to Dover sole with glass noodles and tamarind-ginger broth ($23). Some selections are well under 500 calories, like a smallish but nicely-roasted Jidori chicken breast ($16) with cauliflower-garlic puree and house made cranberry sauce.

At breakfast, black rice congee with ham hock and fried egg ($10) is a successful Asian-styled dish, with plenty of crispy pork cubes and shreds enriching a comfortingly murky broth inflected with pickled jalapenos. The Beachwood Café is a fine spot for the laid-back ladies and gentlemen of the canyons and their well-dressed offspring to hang out. And it’s always a treat to have a meal in one of L.A.’s secluded canyon restaurants.

Beachwood Café, 2695 N. Beachwood Dr., 323-871-1717

Recently, I stood on a brand-new Rowena Avenue with a group of local stakeholders, pleased to inaugurate bike lanes on a totally remade street. What was formerly a four-lane speedway is now a street, with sidewalks, parking, bike lanes, a turn lane, and a car lane in each direction.

I can’t claim credit for this Rowena redo. The idea came from a local resident, Michael Groszkruger, and happened only with immense community support.

A bikeable, walkable Rowena Avenue will be an especially large benefit to students at local Ivanhoe Elementary. At our groundbreaking event, the bike lanes were full of children biking with their parents to school.

The Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power (LADWP) must also be credited. While the impacts of the River Supply Conduit Project have been large, it was only because of the LADWP’s work that the street was redone so quickly.

There is still much more work to be done on Rowena Avenue and other streets before Silver Lake and Los Feliz are truly multi-modal communities.

What do you think of the Rowena road diet? I have promised to revisit Rowena after 90 days to see whether congestion levels are acceptable and these road improvements are well used. Email me at tom.labonge@lacity.org with your opinions.

On another note, I want to remember Sal Castro, who died April 15th at the age of 79. Sal impacted the lives of tens of thousands of students. His 1968 walkout, begun at Lincoln High School, brought attention to issues of equality and sparked change. He was a neighborhood person, a local, and a kind soul. Sal is survived by his wife Charlotte, two sons, and two grandchildren. Let’s remember Sal as we educate our own children and grandchildren.

In an age when mixology has been parodied on everything from Parks & Recreation to Portlandia, it’s refreshing to see an old favorite like the Daiquiri trending.

But a true Daiquiri doesn’t refer to the slushy-style, blended concoction popular at tropical resorts. A classic Daiquiri doesn’t require a blender, and it also shouldn’t come pre-bottled or with “insta”-anything. Instead, it’s a straightforward mix of rum, citrus and sugar. And there are some great bars in and around the neighborhood serving this refreshing sipper that’s an ideal pre-summer drink.

MessHall, still a relatively new addition to Los Feliz, located in the longtime Louise’s Trattoria location, is known as much for its cocktail program as it is for its comfort food. There are actually two versions of the Daiquiri here: one with clear rum and one with aged rum. Both feature simple syrup derived from evaporated cane juice.

At Big Bar, also in Los Feliz, every bartender is trained in the art of classic cocktails, including the hand-shaken daiquiri. Coincidentally, an upcoming specialty cocktail—name undecided—will riff on it, with the addition of house-made pineapple shrub.

Silver Lake’s The Virgil is another hot spot for creative libations. A traditional Daiquiri was on the original cocktail list, but as of late has become more of a chalkboard special. There’s also an Air Mail, which is based on a Daiquiri, but comes honey syrup, fresh-squeezed lime-juice and is topped with sparkling wine.

Tara de Lis is a freelance writer based in Hollywood.

Allison Cohen Ferraro

It’s hard to imagine Eric Garcetti not being at the helm of Los Angeles City Council District 13, but certainly that will be case when his successor—either Mitch O’Farrell or John Choi—will be decided May 21st in the city’s general election.

We’ve produced an extensive amount of coverage on the CD13 race, including in this issue, where we look closer at endorsements of O’Farrell and Choi as well as delving further into fundraising by both candidates. Also, only online this month, is a complete news analysis of the race, which has been the most contested city council seat—once having a candidate pool of 20—in this election cycle. Please read more at losfelizledger.com

With regret, the Ledger will not be able to have a monthly column on handwriting as we indicated a couple of months back. Thank you to the many who sent in handwriting samples.

Out of an astounding 12 candidates—more than any other local race—Mitch O’Farrell won first place in the primary while John Choi placed second. They head to the May 21 runoff.

The most underperforming of all candidates was Matt Szabo, coming in at a humiliating 6th place despite having the endorsement of such heavyweights at Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former Mayor Richard Riordan—a firm testimony that in Los Angeles, grassroots support often takes precedence over fame and riches.

What makes this race intriguing is the very complexity of the district, which is territorially the smallest but the most densely populated out of all the 15 districts in Los Angeles. If Los Angeles is considered the most ethnically diverse city in the country where over 200 languages are spoken, CD13 is home to speakers of at least 100 of those languages. In essence, CD13 is similar to a United Nations where people of a remarkably large number of ethnicities, races, religions and socio-economic backgrounds live, many of whom congregate in their own enclaves or corridors.

While much of Los Angeles is very diverse and expansive, navigating and leading CD13 is as complex as trying to run a separate city. In fact, with its quarter of a million people, CD13 has a population greater than that of neighboring Glendale, the third largest city in Los Angeles County after Los Angeles and Long Beach.

This is precisely where the professional grounding and background of a candidate becomes vital, to determine who can best manage the district and help meet its multifaceted needs. Mitch O’Farrell, a former field Deputy and Senior Advisor of 10 years to Eric Garcetti, has been a resident of CD13 for the last 31 years. John Choi, a former director of the L.A. County Federation of Labor and Public Works Commissioner, moved into the district just last year to run for office.

While Mitch O’Farrell has a decade of experience working in the district meeting the direct needs and challenges of its constituents, John Choi has been unknown to residents except for his recent billboards that dot the district and dozens of mailers cluttering voters’ mailboxes. The latter is a result of an amassing of enormous campaign funds, in large part due to support Choi has received from the powerful labor movement.

Meanwhile, Mitch O’Farrell, has spent just one-fifth of the funds of his opponent, relying solely on grassroots support and local donations.

Given the dire needs of Los Angeles and particularly a district that is lacking in jobs, public funds and resources, and where crime and poverty are rampant, residents throughout echo calls for a local councilman who knows and understands their needs.

The seat for CD13 is not for sale and its residents, including myself, are against its confiscation by external forces. While it is inappropriate and unethical to fittingly move into any district or locality in pursuit of political ambitions, L.A.’s CD13 is particularly the wrong district to impose oneself and embark on such a disingenuous path. This is why I have joined Mitch O’Farrell’s campaign, to ensure that we do not become a vassal district to outside influences.

Harout Harry Semerdjian is a Board Member of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council. He holds M.A. degrees from UCLA, The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University, and is a PhD candidate at the University of Oxford.

The day before the contest, we calculated the surface area of our egg packages. This helped the judges determine the smallest surviving package and also taught us a bit about gravity, air resistance and what makes an object drop slower or faster.

It was fun to see what my classmates came up with for this challenge. Many had unusual shapes and some used fun materials like jello, a stuffed animal and candied popcorn.

This event was a great way to learn about math, science and design.  We all learned from each other’s successes and failures.

Los Feliz based Indie rockers The Airborne Toxic Event got their start playing Silver Lake and Echo Park’s clubs. The quintet’s 2008 hit song, “Sometime Around Midnight,” propelled the group into the music mainstream. Over two weekends, the band played the 90,000-strong 2013 Coachella Music Festival’s main stage—one of several local groups that made the scene, including the children’s choir from the Silver Lake Conservatory of Music, who backed Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

Lead singer and songwriter Mikel Jollett describes the desert festival as the crown jewel of Southern California rock festivals.

“If you play Coachella, you’re part of the music culture in general. It’s great to be a part of it, it’s great to feel vindicated and that you’re adding your voice to pop culture,” said lead singer and songwriter Jollet, when reached on tour in Kansas. Because the festival does not cater to one niche, the mix of modern music and spectacle sets Coachella apart from other shows, as does its “massiveness,” said Jollett. He found the two weekends very similar, although the second weekend show, he said, was more relaxed and “less nerve wracking.”

The band is in the midst of a tour to promote its third album Some Hot Blood. Recorded in Nashville’s, Blackbird Studios, it’s available April 30th. There was a good response from Coachella fans to the new material according to Jollett, who said the goal with the new record was somewhat cinematic. Like a film, the songs are filled with varied emotions from pathos to levity, with an ongoing story line. “It was always the goal, that the record would unfold like a movie. Listening, you are participating in a story, spending time with these ideas and characters and getting lost in them,” he said.

The band came up through the Silver Lake music scene, playing gigs at Spaceland and Sunset Junction early on. Jollett counts Fitz and the Tantrum’s Michael Fitzpatrick among his friends—they can often be found at LA Mill when they’re not touring.

The Airborne Toxic Events’ live album was recorded at Disney Hall during the Philharmonic’s 2012 West Coast, Left Coast series that celebrates local artists.

“It was an incredible privilege to play Disney Hall and we wanted to live up to it,” Jollett said who brought in a children’s choir and the Belmont High School Marching Band as backup. “The idea was for it was wide: it was such a great opportunity and we wanted to involve artists in community,” he said and reflect the city’s many aspects, nationalities and mix of cultures.

For touring information:  www.theairbornetoxicevent.com. Their name: inspired by a passage in novelist Don DeLillo’s White Noise.

Inspired by our exposure to the Primrose Hill Block Party in Silver Lake, a neighborhood happening since 1994, my wife Donna and I began hosting a block party for our neighborhood four years ago. The party was successful beyond our wildest expectations with approximately 200 to 250 participants each year.

The event has traditionally been held on the second Saturday in June (this year on June 8th, from 2 p.m. 5 p.m.), the weekend before Father’s Day and before summer vacation generally starts for most families.

This year the event will be highlighted by the dedication of two homes as Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monuments: the Sherwood House, an English Tudor Revival style house designed by Architect Charles M. Hutchinson in 1929 (HCM#1026) and our own home, the Durex Model Home, a Spanish Colonial Revival Style home designed by Koerner & Gage in 1928 (HCM#1025). Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge has promised to be on hand to do the honors.

Neighbors who live within walking distance of Griffith Park Boulevard and Amesbury Road or don’t mind carpooling or taking a chance on finding street parking are cordially invited to attend.  RSVP to mjlocke@pacbell.net or call (323) 644-3338 and leave a message. Potluck.

A serendipitous story about the greatest map gift ever made to the Los Angeles Public Library will be told by map librarian Glen Creason at the Architecture and Beyond Lecture Series Thurs., May 16th, 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the Los Feliz Library, 1874 Hillhurst Ave.

Creason, who was put on the Los Angeles map scene with his 2010 book, Los Angeles in Maps, will lecture on “A Gift for the Ages: The Story of the House Full of Maps Given to the Los Angeles Public Library.” More than 100,000 maps were given to the library from the John Feather Collection found in his Mt. Washington home destined for demolition. The maps would have been destroyed, along with the house, until realtor Matthew Greenberg contacted the map librarian.

Skylight Books will have copies of Creason’s book for purchase and signing at the event. Free. For more info, call the Los Feliz Branch Library at (323) 913-4710.

LOS FELIZ—Thomas Starr King Middle School’s 10th Annual Animation and Film festival will take place Sun., June 2nd at the Vista Theatre from 9:45 a.m. until 12 noon. All are invited to this free event.

The event showcases on year-long animation and film projects, including cartoon, written and produced by students. For the 10th Anniversary version of the festival, there will again be 3D Animated feature-ettes, history films and other films from the Gifted Technology-Arts Magnet.

“It has been an extremely satisfying and enjoyable experience seeing students create their own cartoons, since they have been able to prove time and time again how very creative they have been, and are able to work with software that is complex and difficult to use,” said Kirk Palayan, King’s Computer Animation Teacher and organizer of the festival.

As part of their study, students also visited studios such as Dreamworks Animation Studios, Film Roman (producer of the Simpson’s) and Sony Studios Animation.

For information: www.animationandfilmfestival.com

Former candidates Sam Kbushyan and Matt Szabo have endorsed O'Farrell and Choi, respectively.

Garcetti Remains Silent

A number of former City Council District 13 (CD13) candidates have stepped up to endorse the race’s two remaining competitors—John Choi and Mitch O’Farrell.

It’s likely these once-contestants could each bring with them a section of the district’s voters for the May 21st general election, according to Raphael Sonenshein, Executive Director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at California State University Los Angeles. But in what was once the city’s most contested seat earlier this year with a candidate pool of 20 before narrowing down to 12 for the March primary election, at only two candidates today it’s a very different race.

Sam Kbushyan surprised many in that primary election, as a candidate the press widely overlooked, he received the third most votes and led early in the night as vote-by-mail ballots were counted. In all, he received 11.36%—2,731 total—of the district’s votes, thanks largely to his engaging the Armenian-American community in East Hollywood’s Little Armenia. Now he has publicly endorsed O’Farrell in the runoff election and has been active in encouraging his support base to choose O’Farrell too.

A longtime neighborhood activist, Kbushyan said the district’s Armenian-American community has been historically overlooked and his campaign helped to unite it politically. It is a community of immigrants, he said, many of whom were first time voters he helped register, and in so doing “gave them tools to exercise their democratic rights.”

Kbushyan added that his father, a former restaurateur and soup kitchen owner, is now also helping O’Farrell’s campaign by walking the precinct as well.

“These are the things that are important,” Kbushyan said. “People have known my family for many years… We can unite the people behind the councilperson who truly represents their spirit and their soul and their needs.”

Matt Szabo, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s deputy chief of staff, has publicly put his support behind Choi. He said O’Farrell’s work in the district for more than a decade as current-CD13 Councilmember and mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti’s former senior aide would not translate as well to the city-level politics as Choi’s experience as Public Works Commissioner or at the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor before that.

“You are only as affective a councilmember to the extent that you can build coalitions and pull levers on behalf of your constituents in City Hall,” Szabo said. “You need to be able to persuade seven colleagues, and the mayor, and in some cases the city attorney.

“Mitch has done a lot of work in the community but he hasn’t done anything without Eric Garcetti. Without a city councilperson able to deliver, the field representatives have no power and Mitch was working under one of the most effective councilmembers in City Hall… It’s important to know the community, but in order to represent your community you need to be able to move you agenda through City Hall.”

However, if Garcetti wins the mayoral election, and “all pieces fall into place,” former CD13 candidate Mike Schaefer pointed out, “Mitch will have a professional working relationship with the new Mayor.”

Schaefer has also endorsed O’Farrell. He finished 11th in the primary race with 1.89% of the votes.

Throughout the election there has been a strong narrative pitting local candidates who have lived in the district for some time against newcomers or so-called “carpetbaggers” who only recently moved in to run for office. That story has continued to be at play in the runoff. O’Farrell has lived in the district for more than 20 years, while Choi just moved to Echo Park in 2011 and is being characterized as an outsider by many.

That divide was interestingly highlighted by some former candidates’ early endorsements when Szabo and Assistant Fire Chief Emile Mack both stepped up to back Choi. Both those candidates were widely viewed previously to fall in that transplant category as well. Meanwhile, the so-called “neighborhood candidates,” Kbushyan and attorney at the California Department of Justice Josh Post, had announced their backing O’Farrell.

“I believe the new councilmember needs to be someone who has, in a sense, paid his dues in the community through community advocacy and participation,” said Post, calling O’Farrell a true grassroots candidate. “Mitch has done this. And to be frank, while John Choi may be a nice guy, no one in our community had heard of him six months ago.”

But Choi’s recent endorsements by former candidates Jose Sigala and Robert Negrete should likely win him some local points.

“These are folks that have been in the district I’d say far longer than Mitch has been in the district. And those are the type of people I think are supporting my candidacy,” said Choi.

Recently, O’Farrell added Sheriff Lee Baca and Congressman Xavier Becerra, as well as current Councilmembers Tom LaBonge, Jan Perry, Bill Rosendahl and Bernard Parks to his list of backers.

Noticeably absent from that list has been O’Farrell’s former boss, Garcetti, which could make a massive difference in the race were he to speak up.

“We can just chalk it up to [Garcetti] being a candidate,” said O’Farrell. “I know this: we communicate regularly, we support each other, and we are facing some of the same opposing factors that are funding our respective opponents’ races.”

Choi’s list of supporters is growing increasingly long as well.

Mayor Villaraigosa, Speaker of the State Assembly John Perez, Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, and Los Angeles City Councilmembers Paul Krekorian, Jose Huizar and Joe Buscaino have all backed his campaign. Choi has also received the support of Dolores Huerta, Co-Founder of the United Farm Workers and State Senator Ricardo Lara, as well as the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and Young Democrats organizations.

Pictured left to right: Clement von Franckenstein, Rebecca Balding, Brenda Dietlein, Kate Landro, Andrew Prine, Mark Christopher Tracy. Photo courtesy: Glendale Centre Theater.

Sometimes it’s fun to go to a play that has no deep inner message, no pondering of the meaning of life and no inner psychological angst. That’s why I enjoyed the Glendale Centre Theatre’s production of “The Man Who Came to Dinner.”

The play was a hit when it appeared on Broadway in 1939 and was also a successful movie in 1942. The playwrights, Moss Hart and George S. Kaufaman, wrote the comedy using their friend Alexander Wolcott, a 1930s radio star and theater critic, as the prototype for their central character, the egocentric and domineering Sheridan Whiteside.

When shortly before Christmas during a speaking tour Whiteside slips on ice and injures his hip outside the Ohio home of prominent citizen Ernest Stanley and his wife, he moves in and takes over, meddling in the lives of everyone he meets.

Set in December 1939, the play has many references from that time that might go over the heads of some audience goers.  Some may not know of Zazu Pitts, True Story Magazine and legendary Broadway actress Kathryn Cornell. Nevertheless, the fast paced comedy, some of it rather corny, keeps the attention of  the audience in tow.

This is a community theater—meaning many of the actors are talented amateurs.  However, for this production the role of Sheridan Whiteside is played by Equity actor Andrew Prine, whose impressive resume includes lead roles in many films and guest spots on many television programs. His interpretation of the irascible Whiteside keeps the action moving.  He adeptly maneuvers himself around the set in a vintage style wheelchair. Brenda Dietlein portrays Whiteside’s long-suffering assistant Maggie Cutler with style.

The audience loved the antics of Banjo, Whiteside’s movie actor friend who appears in the second act and played by a second Equity actor, Mark Christopher Tracy. Some of the other characters interpreted their characters in a rather broad manner that at times came a tad close to exaggeration. The play is directed by Heather Lowe

When it comes to period pieces, I am rather picky about costumes and set.  Angela Wood was able to glean effective costumes from the company’s extensive collection to recreate the 1930’s. The small central stage was effectively designed to capture the feeling of an Ohio home in the 1930’s.

“The Man Who Came to Dinner,” Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m.  Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. through May 11th.  All ages. Glendale Centre Theatre, 324 N. Orange St., Glendale.  $21 to $23.  Reservations: (818) 244-8481 or www.glendalecentretheatre.com.

GRIFFITH PARK—This year looks likely to go on record as the fourth driest in Los Angeles’ written history, and that has Griffith Park on high alert for brush fires.

According to Carol Smith, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, downtown Los Angeles has received 5.14 inches of rain this year whereas a normal year would be 14.42 inches.

With the spring rainy season that lasts typically through March or April passed, she said there is cause for concern.

“I wouldn’t be hopeful for a whole lot more rain,” she said.

Smith said the beginning of the year started out with average rain levels but fell off in January. However, she said, the threat of a draught is not imminent because statewide there has been plenty of precipitation.

“In some places it was the closest to the wettest ever,” Smith said referring to Central and Northern California.

But in Los Angeles’ largest park, the memory is still fresh of the May 2007 wildfire that burned more than 817 acres—nearly a fifth—of its property. Only this past winter did the park’s bird sanctuary finally reopen.

That there were only a few smaller blazes during the years following the fire, is a mixed blessing, said Captain Rodrigo Fuentes for Fire Station 56 of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), which is the first responder to fires at Griffith Park.

“It’s good and its bad,” he said, “because now that brush is really thick and drying up. So now when we do have [a fire] hopefully it won’t be a windy day, but it’s going to burn very fast and hot.”

Fuentes said the “brush is ready” for fire in Griffith Park and said its dryness is comparable now to what it would normally be in August.

“It looks scary,” he said.

To prepare, his station and the entire LAFD does annual brush training each spring and review company and department standard operating guidelines.

In Griffith Park there is a water system setup with hydrants around the property. Also, he said, at the ranger station at the park’s base, there are two water tenders that are portable water tanks for areas that do not have hydrant access.

Several factors go into the park’s evaluation of any given day’s fire threat, according to Senior Park Ranger Albert Torres, including relative humidity, wind, temperature and whether or not there is a cloud cover. On days when the danger level is rated critical or extreme, more park rangers are assigned for duty.

According to Torres, the park’s brush growth has been constant and he sees the most potential threat within open spaces where wild chaparral grows. “In those communities of plants there is the propensity for brush fire,” he said.

But basically, he continued, the entire area is at risk because of fire-friendly characteristics such as the “steep terrain and great open space that is Griffith Park.”

Already fire season in the greater Los Angeles area has started with more than 100 acres charred in Monrovia.

Rain is measured starting July 1st. The driest year in Los Angeles’ recorded history was 2006-07, when just 3.21 inches of rain fell. The record before then was in 2002-03, when 4.42 inches fell. The third-driest year was 1961 with just under 5 inches. With this year, three of the city’s four driest years in the last 135 years will have occurred in the last decade.

To prevent fires, Torres said park patrons should adhere to the ordinance that prohibits smoking anywhere in Griffith Park and help to educate tourists on this as well. He added that everyone should be aware and prepared.

“At our entrances we try to project that Smokey the Bear attitude of, ‘Only you,’ and there’s just a little warning at the entrance of what the day’s conditions are,” Torres said.

Experts advise citizens to check the LAFD.org website for red flag notifications on particularly hazardous days and to make sure to park their cars leaving enough space for fire department vehicles to get by if needed.

Come support me and my fellow actors and enjoy a night of Casablanca, meets Cabaret, meets The Mambo Kings!

We’ll be at the bungalows behind the Hollywood Lutheran Church, 1733 North New Hampshire Avenue: May 10th- 12th at 7:30 p.m. and May 16th-18th at 7:30 p.m.

According to a police report filed, with a 24-year-old field manager, two of candidate John Choi’s 17-year-old high school supporters were canvassing Little Armenia in East Hollywood April 22nd when a confrontation arose over their political affiliations.

John Choi

The police report filed by Choi’s staff said claimed canvassers were approached on the street by two men and told the area in which they were working was supportive of the other candidate, Mitch O’Farrell. When an argument arose, an unaffiliated man who lives in the neighborhood approached and brandished a gun, asking Choi’s volunteers, “Do we have a problem here?”

There is skepticism from the O’Farrell campaign over whether the incident actually occurred this way or even at all, but the accusation has brought Choi to speak out against what he calls “intimidation on the campaign trail”.

Such accusations have been dismissed by O’Farrell’s campaign as an attempt to change momentum in a race they see leaning in favor of their candidate.

“That crosses the line of any type of campaign back-and-forth and tactic that I’ve ever experienced or heard of,” said Choi. “It’s really frustrating and I think for the bottom line for us, as frustrating as it is, as disheartening as it is, that this is the type of politics that are happening right now.”

O’Farrell, however, said he and his campaign were taking this incident very seriously.

“The intimidation of violent threat is unacceptable under any circumstance,” said O’Farrell. “We understand the allegations that have been made but we also understand that the story has shifted here and there, but we take it very seriously. Violence and intimidation is never OK.”

This event transpired on the first day the City Clerk’s Office mailed out absentee ballots, as volunteers on behalf of both campaigns were encouraging voters to cast their votes early. In this, additional accusations have been made on both sides about illegal handling and manipulation of early vote-by-mail ballots in this and other under-engaged, less-informed communities around the district.

But of all the story lines in this campaign, the hardest to shake has been that of an outsider Choi with high reaching, labor-backed political aspirations facing off against the longtime community activist, former CD13 staffer and local favorite, O’Farrell.

And it’s hard to dispute.

Mitch O'Farrell

Because of his years of experience in the community, O’Farrell has the majority support of improvement associations, chamber of commerces and neighborhood council board members in Echo Park, Silver Lake, Atwater Village and elsewhere. He also has the endorsements of CD13′s neighboring city councilmembers Tom LaBonge of District 4 and Ed Reyes of District 1. The Los Angeles Times and LA Opinion have also endorsed O’Farrell.

“This image that I’m some outsider, quite frankly is offensive to me,” said Choi. “The fact that I have so much support in the community, the fact that I have 4,000 people that voted for me in the primary and dozens and dozens of community leaders all throughout the district who are supporting my candidacy— I think it’s a shame that Mitch O’Farrell would dismiss them as outsiders, new arrivals, foreigners and special interests. It’s really alarming to me. And I think that we’re going to see over the next couple of weeks is more and more people stand up and express outrage at that type of dismissal.”

One may look at the March 5th primary election for further proof of O’Farrell’s strength in Echo Park, Silver Lake and Atwater Village: Amongst the 12 candidates running then, O’Farrell received, three times the amount of votes Choi did in Echo Park—1,028 to 342, respectively. In Silver Lake, the race was closer but still substantially lopsided as O’Farrell raked in 2 ½ more votes than Choi—1,334 to 566. By these numbers, clearly Choi’s support is not drawn from around his home in Echo Park, where he moved last year from Downtown. In Atwater Village, O’Farrell received 1 ½ times the amount of votes as Choi—486 to 316.

Choi contends O’Farrell is ignoring the district’s lower income neighborhoods, in favor for the more affluent hillside communities of Echo Park and Silver Lake. He said neighborhood organizations in those areas run by volunteers and business people who don’t represent working-class voters and without the spare time or energy to get civically engaged.

But even south of Sunset Boulevard—a commonly used marker to indicate a division of the neighborhoods’ wealth—Choi faired worse than his opponent, although not as dramatically. South of Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake, O’Farrell received nearly double the votes that Choi did. In Echo Park, again South of Sunset Boulevard, the race was much closer but only 82 total votes were cast between these candidates—44 for O’Farrell and 38 for Choi.

The May 21^st election is a new race, though. Choi and O’Farrell only shared 35.5% of the district’s votes between them in the March primary election, meaning there are plenty of votes up for grabs. In a candidate pool of 12, Choi pointed out, the constituency was widely divided between several Latino, Asian-American and LGBT candidates.

“Now that we have sort of removed the clutter of 12 candidates, a much clearer message and a much clearer understanding and vision about who I am is going to come across,” said Choi. “And we feel good about being very competitive in every neighborhood… This district isn’t just about Hollywood and Silver Lake, it’s a lot more than that.”

Former candidate Matt Szabo, a deputy mayor to Antonio Villaraigosa, said Choi’s commitment to the underrepresented regions of the district are why he chose to offer him his endorsement for City Council.

“One of the most beautiful aspects of the 13th District is it’s very much a tale of 200 cities,” Szabo said. “It’s the most diverse district in one of the most diverse cities in the world, and the councilperson representing that district has to have the ability to cross all lines and represent everybody. I’ve known John [Choi] for years and I know who he is and I know what his values are. He is going to win the race with a broad coalition of the 13th District’s diverse communities, and I think he’s going to win in large part because he’ll be backed by the middle- and lower-income neighborhoods.”

Given O’Farrell’s existing support in the district, Szabo is probably accurate in that Choi is unlikely to find a win in the politically active and engaged hills of the district. Choi has additionally accused O’Farrell of indebted interests to real estate developers, touching on one of the district’s soft spots: gentrification over the past couple decades. It’s a potentially divisive tactic but one that could yield results should he push it.

“If I’m supported by a Korean American community that wants a political voice and if I have the support of working families that are janitors and security guards and teachers and firefighters, then I’d rather have the folks that are supporting me than folks that are really looking at, ‘How do we continue to develop and possibly overdevelop neighborhoods?’” said Choi. “I don’t know why that hasn’t been a focus, to me it’s indicative of [O’Farrell] being someone that’s really supported by downtown and insider politics.”

However, the accusation that O’Farrell is ignoring these edged-out communities may be misguided. His track record shows a personal relationship with and dedication to small business across the district. And a major point in O’Farrell’s campaign has been to revisit the city’s inclusionary zoning ordinance that failed to materialize nearly a decade ago to secure long-term affordable housing in the area.

Meanwhile, although Choi may be attempting to depict O’Farrell as an insider politician, he’s going to have a hard time using that tactic to distract from his transplant, outsider status in the district and own insider history: Appointed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as Public Works Commissioner, following a position with the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. And since last winter’s Service Employees International Union endorsement meeting Choi’s been haunted by his own words: “I’m sick and tired of helping to elect politicians who abandon their friends when the going gets rough,” Choi said. “We don’t need politicians that answer the door only when we bang on it. If you endorse me, you’re going to be on the inside. We’re going to decide together who to open the door for.”

Along with mayoral contendor Wendy Greuel and a candidate in each city council district with a seat up for grabs, labor has made its preferences known in this year’s municipal elections. But in a year of budgetary crisis as well as looming union raises and pension negotiations, some voters are skeptical to the unions’ interests and that any candidate they help elect could act with complete independence.

Still, citywide, labor’s efforts are paying off. Of the seven city council candidates The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor has supported, four have already won elections, leaving just Council Districts 1, 9 and 13 still open in the runoff. And although Greuel seems to be trailing CD13′s current councilmember Eric Garcetti in the mayor’s race, this too could help candidates such as Choi. Should the unions decide Greuel’s chances of winning Los Angeles’ mayorship have become too slim, they could focus their funding on the city council elections instead.

Certainly, labor’s support will continue to help Choi’s visibility and name-recognition. So far, it has bought him more than 60 pieces of mail and literature, as well as posters and billiards around the area.

Meanwhile, Garcetti’s lead could also weigh in O’Farrell’s favor. As the councilmember’s former senior aide, O’Farrell is tied to Garcetti’s perceived success in the district. Further more, according to O’Farrell, after 10 years working together the two would have a strong relationship in City Hall should they both be elected.

“It was really great to collaborate with Eric [Garcetti] on a lot of policies that he’s known for,” said O’Farrell. “And he also knows that I’m very independent-minded in my approach and so he’s very supportive of me in that way.”

But Choi asserts O’Farrell’s experience and success is tied to Garcetti’s, and calls him on taking personal credit for Garcetti’s successful terms in CD13 “disingenuous.”

“I think it’s riding on the coattails of someone who’s obviously very popular in the district, and it’s clear that that’s his game plan,” said Choi. “I mean when everything about yourself is wrapped up in what someone else has really done, I think that’s a false story.  And so I think that’ll become clear again over the next couple of weeks.”

As a member of the existing city council system, O’Farrell has also been criticized for being responsible in the city’s ineffective, bureaucratic governance. The difference, he said, is that he has been in the background of politics, working in the community, not in a position of policy decision or voting making.

“I have served over 10 years and had the great privilege of seeing where there are weaknesses and where there are strengths,” O’Farrell said. “And I think that my experience, in the field in the district, has prepared me best for bringing forth ideas [and] solutions that’ll make the city run more smoothly, that’ll make us more economically sound. I would argue that I have exactly the training that is needed to become a good council member.”

LOS FELIZ—The Los Feliz Improvement Association (LFIA) honored long-time volunteer Margret Lohfeld by planting a deodar cedar tree in her honor at 4126 Los Feliz Blvd. in a tree dedication ceremony April 13th. Lohfeld served as chair of LFIA’s Beautification Committee for two decades during which time she was responsible for the planting of nearly 50 deodars along the boulevard.

“We can’t think of a more deserving and dedicated person to honor with one of the deodars that so represents our community,” said Faith Ford, who serves as LFIA’s current Beautification Committee chair.

In my English class with Ms. Munoz, we’ve learned more about energy usage by writing a research paper on the topic. Our overarching question for our project was, “Why should we save energy and how will we do this in our homes, school and community?”

We used classroom iPads, conducted interviews and surveys, created outlines, citations and Works Cited pages for essays.  Last, we made a creative, informational comic strip and flyer.

This experience was important because I learned that using less energy can save and preserve valuable resources for our future generations.

As of the April 6th filing period, that race had nearly $1.5 million in total campaign contributions raised by all of the 23 candidates it once held. Since then, with Choi and O’Farrell actively campaigning, this figure is significantly greater now.

Senior Fellow at the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy Sherry Bebitch Jeffe said in today’s political environment that total is not extraordinary.

“You spend as much as you can,” she said. “Whether or not it works is another matter.”

Choi is hoping his labor support pays off.

As of April 6th, he had received more than $400,000 in total donations and nearly matched that with another $380,000 in independent expenditures from labor unions. Of those independent contributors, his former employer, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, was the most generous of all. By the time the race is over, Choi will have run a campaign easily costing more than $1 million.

Also, as of April 6th, however, having spent more than $466,000 already on his campaign, Choi had less cash on hand than O’Farrell. Thanks in large part to a $77,676 boost from the city matching funds and about half the total reported expenses of Choi’s campaign, on April 6th O’Farrell had more than $136,000 cash on hand compared to Choi’s $120,000.

Following the primary election, Choi’s reported fundraising is roughly $112,000 to O’Farrell’s almost $70,000. O’Farrell has received no independent expenditures in this time, whereas Choi’s labor support has continued to be strong coming in at $142,000.

Still, as it has been throughout the race, O’Farrell’s fundraising efforts within the district—which runs from Hollywood to Echo Park—has been drastically superior to his opponent’s. About $75,000 has been raised on behalf of O’Farrell within zip codes that fall within the CD13 boarders, equaling about 47% of his total contributions. In contrast, Choi has raised $34,000 in these zip codes, accounting for only 8.5% of his total campaign contributions.

Choi responded to his lack of local funds by attributing about half of his contributions to the broader Korean-American community. About $65,000 of his contributions has come from within Koreatown’s zip codes, of which there is minor overlap with CD13. If elected, Choi, a Korean immigrant, would be the city’s first Korean-American City Councilmember.

“Over half of the funds that I’ve received throughout the election have come from the broader Korean-American community,” he said. “A community that has tremendously long history with the city of L.A., has contributed to its culture, to its economy, and has never had a voice. And I’m speaking about the broader [Asian Pacific Islander] community, in terms of it having been over 20 years since we’ve had any Asian American representation in the city of L.A. That to me is not indicative of a special interest that’s trying to buy the seat. That’s indicative of a community that wants some political voice in the nation’s second biggest city.”

This is not without its political issues, however. Choi’s campaign received $2,100 from Pastor Richard Shin of Glory of Jesus Church congregation, Shin’s wife, and another pastor there. The former president of Council of Korean Churches of Southern California, Shin has been an outspoken opponent of gay marriage and supporter of 2008’s controversial Yes on Prop 8 campaign. Upon learning of this, rather than returning the money, Choi said his campaign donated the funds to the nonprofit Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

“I didn’t know about his comments,” said Choi. “I believe his comments are out of line. In fact, they’re outrageous. I don’t agree with his view, I’m a full supporter of marriage equality, equal rights and benefits, absolutely there’s been no question.”

But there are more issues within the Korean-American community. Though Choi is campaigning on labor dollars, he has also received donations from various companies with a history of workers rights violations. Among those is $3,600 from Forever 21 staff and the Chang family that owns and operates the clothing retail chain, which has had a history of sweat-shop conditions reported at contracted factors overseas in countries such as China, India, Pakistan, and Vietnam, but also in Los Angeles according to a 2011 expose in BusinessWeek that found a local sweatshop where seamstresses earned about 12 cents per garment. That company is also under investigation for violating minimum wage, overtime or child labor standards.

Another contributor who has maxed out donations to the Choi campaign at $1,400 is Dae Lee, the owner of Joia Trading Inc., which last year was indicted for selling jewelry imported from Asia that contained metals which are potentially toxic especially to young children. Choi has also received $700 from Have Fashion, Inc., which in 2010 was ruled to have violated the fair labor standards act. And donor Jin Chil Jhung has donated $500 to Choi’s campaign, a trader for the Royal Imex., Inc. subsidiary of Henan Rebecca Hair, which has been reportedly tied to working with Chinese Falun Gong slave labor camps to manufacture its products.

This is all pretty far removed from Choi and does not incriminate the candidate, said Choi’s campaign manager Mike Shimpock.

Turning attention to O’Farrell’s fundraising, of note is $700 donated by federal bank fraud felon Juri Ripinsky’s Continental Development Group. Ripinsky has been in the news lately for donating funds to Eric Garcetti’s mayoral campaign as well. Continental Development Group’s donation is just one of many the O’Farrell campaign has seen from developers or other real estate and property interests around the city. Others include $3,500 from developers E M Caplow & Associates, $2,650 from the family of Hollywood developer Ferris Wehbe, and $1,650 from Paramount Contractors & Development.

Choi said such donations suggest O’Farrell will be beholden to these developers, but O’Farrell contests this is untrue.

“I’ve put everything out there,” said O’Farrell. “I talk about affordable housing, I talk about rent control, I talk about affordable housing ordinances. This is always what real estate developers see, so I think that everyone who supports me, both financially and with votes, realizes that at the end of the day I will do what’s fair and what’s best—what’s best for the city, what’s best for the district.”

We came back with eight participation medals; one special medal from the Navy, and, including myself, four Honorable Mention medals.

I was proud to represent Our Mother of Good Counsel and hope the school can participate next year and bring home more medals.

The Wax Museum is a good way to learn. Each student has to know their subject so well that they can pretend to be them in a speech and allows students to work on public speaking. It combines an educational book report with creative expression.

Some that have been presented in the past: Vincent Van Gogh, Georgia O’Keefe, Harriet Tubman, George Washington, Nadia Comaneci, Princess Diana and Michael Jackson.