“Newsies, Jr.” Opens this Weekend

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

The cast of “Newsies” is ready to entertain residents.
Photo: Lesly Hall

If a resident wants an uplifting experience, plan to attend the Theatre Palisades Youth production of “Newsies, Jr.” which opens on Thursday and will run the next two weekends at the Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Road.

Palisades residents had a sneak preview because the youth rode in the Palisades 4th of July parade and entertained people along the route with their exuberance and musical selections.

Forty-two youth actors in third through eighth grade will perform in different roles.

One parent said that they love TPY’s director Lara Ganz because she double and triple cast roles, which means “more actors get opportunities they might not get elsewhere because she wants everyone to shine.”

“Newsies” is based on the Newsboys strike of 1899 in New York City. Orphans and street kids sold the New York Journal and the New York World. Called newsies, they went on strike on July 20 against Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst and other publishers who tried to take more than their fair share of the kids’ earnings.

The children’s working conditions were terrible. They were on their feet all day walking city streets. These children did not go to school because they were trying to sell papers on the streets, in brothels, or saloons – the newsies were not reimbursed for any papers left unsold.

When publishers wanted to raise the rates, a newsie leader, Dave Simons, convinced the kids to strike. That action also brought to light the impact of child labor and the poor working conditions.

Director Ganz said, “It is a musical that depicts children bravely standing up for what’s right and ACTUALLY effecting change.

“Our young TPY actors have shown great vulnerability and courage while preparing for this production,” she said. “I have been humbled by the children’s commitment and overcome with emotion while witnessing this AWESOME cast pouring their literal blood, sweat and tears into every rehearsal.

“Our rehearsals included many long, hot days in the sun, bee stings, butterflies, French fries and chocolate shakes from Garden Cafe, band-aids, dance-offs, two lost teeth, fairy visits and ice packs. The cast even exercised what they learned from the musical and organized an actual ‘actors strike’ when I forgot to get their afternoon popsicles!

“Young actors would wander around, singing the rousing choruses of Alan Menken’s anthemic and urgent score,” Ganz said. “We would laugh at these moments, however, every once in a while, we would catch a glimpse of their understanding that this show is more than just a story about a newsboy strike, but that it reflects the world they exist in today.

“I think this was most profoundly experienced during our morning journaling,” Ganz said and noted, “An actress in our cast, Anna Rose Barker, an 8th grader and one of our Katherines, inspired all of us when she shared her spontaneous journal excerpt.”

Barker wrote: “To me, Resistance means fighting; 

To me, Resistance means I stand tall and make my voice heard; 

To me, Resistance means not letting men decide what I can and cannot do; 

To me, Resistance means Katherine Pulitzer not letting power stop her from doing what is right; 

To me, Resistance means a woman belongs everywhere a man is; 

To me, Resistance means I know who I am.”

Ganz wrote, “the story of the newsies is a great inspiration to them and to us, to ‘stare down the odds and seize the day!’ We MUST stand up for what’s right and have faith that even the smallest and the youngest have, within their power, to change the world.”

Shows will be Thursday, July 14 and 21 at 7 p.m., July 15 and 22 at 7 p.m., July 16 and 23 at 2 and 5 p.m. and July 17 and 24 at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit: theatrepalisades.org. General admission is $22, and seniors/students are $17.

Members of the “Newsies” cast rode, sang and performed  in the 4th of July Parade.
Photo: Morgan Genser

 

Posted in Arts, Kids/Parenting, Schools | 1 Comment

Cardboard City Provides Reuse Alternatives for Recycling

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Art, such as the “Terminator” is made using cardboard.

Story and Photos By CHAZ PLAGER

Everyone who is concerned about the environment has learned the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The first and last, anyone can do. But the second, Reuse, is a little more difficult. Just how is one supposed to use an empty Gatorade bottle or a used battery for anything important?

There are places which help combine the idea of reusable materials with fun activities, such as Cardboard City, which has a popup location at the Santa Monica Place Mall, off Third Street.

Cardboard City is actually found in several locations, including Culver City and Eagle Rock. One employee said its mission is “to reduce waste and spread the joy of cardboard sculpting.”

The Wall-E was made with cardboard.

As the name implies, CC encourages visitors to use cardboard (and other recycled materials) to create art. From simple things like a bow, to massively complex creations like the giant 8-foot Terminator overlooking the workshop, there are no limits.

Is there a reason for Cardboard City to exist?

Do people really not recycle enough to justify using only recycled materials?

Statistics say yes. According to Rubicon, 80 percent of waste that goes to landfill could be recycled. That’s 116.88 million tons of solid waste, according to the EPA.

But that raises another question: How much can Cardboard City really help? To be cynical: not much. But that’s not the fault of Cardboard City. Rather, they’re doing more to help this problem than the average American, whose yearly waste usually has 30% of it that could have been recycled.

If one looks at people like Cardboard City doing their best to inspire people, one’s first reaction should not be a dismissive “They can’t really do anything.”

Maybe this is a way to encourage people to take a long hard look at personal recycling habits. California’s government has financial incentives to recycle, and you can often turn in used cans for a profit. You are losing actual money by not taking give seconds to put that can in the correct bin. This should be a no-brainer, right?

So, if you want to find a fun way make a difference, head to Cardboard City and be inspired. The site is open from noon to 6 p.m. every day except Tuesdays.

Some examples in the studio, such as working mechanical sculptures to the one-fourth scale Iron Man suit, are sure to inspire you to work on your project.

The CC staff is helpful and can assist you with anything you need. And if you find the art cool, but don’t have the knack to put it together, you can always purchase sculptures from their merchandise section.

CC’s T-shirts and bags are also made from 100% recycled material. If saving the environment and making art are two interests of yours, Cardboard City is the place to visit. Come by soon though– the popup closes August 14 – but they might stay open longer if they get enough visitors.

This full-scale robot was made with  cardboard.

Posted in Arts, Environmental | 1 Comment

Redoing VA Building 207 Could Cost Upwards of $24 Million

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

UCLA was allowed to construct an artificial turf baseball field on the West L.A. Veterans Administration, next to the Jackie Robinson Stadium. It is unclear how this practice field helps homeless veterans. A youth baseball camp was being held on the field and those funds go to UCLA.

 

By REECE PASCOE

Driving on San Vicente past the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration (VA) last year there were at least 40 tents on the sidewalks, and lawlessness was rampant. Two members of the encampment were murdered.

Last November, under L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and his Homeless Outreach Service Team, veterans were finally moved inside the fence and housed in 48 tiny homes. The encampment outside the VA was taken down.

The homeless were put in tiny homes, because although Deputy Director for the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Robert McKenrick acknowledged that in the 2016 Master Plan, there were supposed to be 500 units of housing by fall of 2020, they were not ready.

The tiny homes on the West L.A. VA campus were surrounded by police cars and a security tent.

The newest proposal is retrofitting Building 207, which will cost more than $24 million, and uses HHH funds. When finished, it will house 59 Vets.

A brief history of the VA is needed to understand why there are homeless veterans.

The VA land was gifted in 1888 by businesswoman Arcadia Bandini Sterns de Baker and Senator John P. Jones to disabled veterans under the condition that “be thereon so located, established, constructed and permanently maintained.”

The VA was a place where Veterans would come from all over the United States and was initially intended for the soldiers who fought in the Civil War but expanded to those who fought in wars against the Indians.

In 1909, the property housed 3,000 Vets and was functioning as was intended.

In February 1971 the 6.5 Sylmar earthquake hit, and according to a February 2020 L.A. Times (“The 1971 Sylmar Quake Is Keeping Veterans Homeless in L.A. in 2020. That May Change Soon”), on January 1972, 30 of the 236 buildings were declared inhabitable and 1,460 residents were ordered to evacuate.

Congress appropriated more than $100 million to retrofit the buildings. The money went to a contractor who only retrofitted one building, and $35 million was spent on a kitchen for the hospital. The other buildings were left vacant.

Leases on VA land followed, which allowed UCLA to build the Jackie Robinson Stadium, Brentwood School to build its football stadium and athletic facilities, a laundry-services company to take over a building, a soccer club, a rent-a-car company, bus parking, a dog park and Breitburn Energy to drill for oil (the company donates just 2.5% of its revenue).

Now more than 100 years later, the property houses around 235 veterans, and when or if the 2020 Master Plan gets completed, it supposedly will house 1,200.

Why has housing capability been decreased by 60% – is it lack of housing, zoning or possible simply good-old fashioned corruption?

In 2018, Richard Scott who leased parking lots on the land was imprisoned for embezzling more than $13 million, and Ralph Tillman, a VA contract officer, was jailed for taking more than quarter of a million in bribes from Scott.

In 2019, Councilmember Mike Bonin made a motion to the L.A. City Council that VA Building 207, would issue housing bonds, not to exceed $24.3 million for renovating Building 207, located at Vandergrift and Bonsall Avenues. Building 207, an existing two-story structure, would have 59 units of affordable housing and one manager unit (visit: click here).

Now in 2020, the West L.A. VA Building 207 Project is authorized to receive $17 million in tax-exempt bonds and an additional $8.26 million from Prop. HHH with interest decreased from three percent to one percent. (Los Angeles voters passed Proposition HHH in 2016, which enabled City officials to issue $1.2 billion in bonds for the development of permanent supportive housing units.) click here

Construction source funding include Wells Fargo, HHH, NPLH, Reserves, a Developer Loan and 4% tax Credit Equity.

The $17 million comes from Wells Fargo. About $6.26 million will come from HHH.  Another $5.750 million will come from No Place Like Home (NPLH). In reserve is $462,665 and the developer loan is for $2.1 million.

Other sources of finance will pay off some of the Wells Fargo loan, such as the California Community Reinvestment Corporation (CCRC) who will pay $5.9 million, HHH will pay $8.26 million, NPLH will pay $5.75 million, a Deferred Developer Fee is $1,314,900. And Wells Fargo receives a 4% tax credit equity at $12,171,408.

The total to renovate a building to provide 60 units comes to $33,417,279, or $556,955 a unit.

The finances seem complicated going from an initial cost of $24.3 million to going to the $17 plus the $8.26 million from HHH to now $33 million.

It is the interest on the various loans. The first is a 2.6 % loan on the $17 million for 28 months, then the loan will be paid off from various sources.

Next the California Community Reinvestment Corporation (CCRC) will provide a new tax-exempt permanent loan in the amount up to $6.05 million. The CCRC permanent loan will have a 18/35-year term/amortization and a currently indicative interest rate of 3.4%.

The last is a loan on the HHH, HCIDLA will review and may approve an interest reduction from 3% simple to a minimum 1% simple interest rate for the Proposition HHH funds if determined necessary to strengthen the financial viability of the project.

All 59 housing units will be targeted to households whose median income is at or below 50 percent of the area median income.

About 13 units will be set-aside for formerly homeless Veteran seniors and 13 units will be set aside for formerly chronically homeless Veteran seniors. That means there will still be 33 units available, but one must be 62 or older to be considered.

The developer for the 207 Building is Thomas Safran & Associates Development, Inc. with more than 70 properties and 40 years of experience in construction.

The architect is KFA, LLP was founded in 1975, and lists more than 300 housing projects.

There are estimates that there are 3,600 homeless vets living in Los Angeles – on the low end – that make up about 10% of total homeless.

Housing 1,200 is the current VA goal, and officials said that, by the end of 2022, the area will have 235 “permanent housing beds” for veterans and another 315 by the end of 2024.

Yet financing is questionable and housing for Vets is behind schedule. The allotted projects will not house the number of reported homeless vets.

No wonder many advocacy groups don’t agree with the project. Dick Southern, director of the Vietnam Veterans of America regional chapter said, “all while indefinitely delaying the housing of disabled Veterans dying throughout Los Angeles’ finest neighborhoods.”

Building 205 (at the corner of Bonsall and MacArthur on the way to the Heroes Golf Club) on the VA campus is also under renovation.

Posted in City/Councilman Mike Bonin, Homelessness | Leave a comment

Crime in the Palisades: LAPD Crime Report from June 6 through July 2

Posted on July 11, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Towne was the site of a burglary on July 9.

This past weekend, once again rumors were rampant in town as one version of a crime was compounded with what “someone thought they heard” and “then other crime tales were added to the narrative.”

When in doubt, go to the source before repeating what you may have heard from someone who supposedly heard it “someplace.”

A brazen burglary occurred at Towne by Elyse Walker on July 9. None of the other stores in the Caruso complex were targeted. CTN contacted Captain Jonathan Tom, who even though he was on vacation, still responded.

“In that incident, four male Black suspects wearing hoodies and masks went into the store and took several high-end handbags,” Tom said. “There was no reported force used by the suspects. They were in and out in a matter of a minute or less.”

A second story revolved around Beech Street restaurant, whose owner Bobby Mackston posted on Nextdoor, “Beech Street Cafe was broken into two nights ago. This is the third time this past year. I’m thinking of closing.”

CTN asked LAPD if a report had been filed. No, but LAPD called Beech Street on July 10. They reported to CTN that “the manager said someone tried to break into their restaurant when they were closed. He said he hasn’t been able to file a police report yet.”

LAPD told the manager they would be happy to take a report.

The Beech Street Restaurant (right) had an attempted break-in, but no police report had been filed.

Captain Tom explained that an attempt to break into Beach Street was not a robbery but an attempted burglary at most and a vandalism at the least.

“Many people get missed up on the terminology but for the media and law enforcement, words have meaning,” Tom said.

“A Robbery occurs when someone uses force or fear to take the property of another. A Burglary occurs when someone enters a structure with the intent to commit any theft or felony.

“The terminology matters because they are legal terms, and because a Robbery is categorized as a violent crime while a Burglary is categorized as a property crime,” Tom said.

Yet, another rumor was started that LAPD was not reporting crimes. They are and those reports are being sent to local news publications and interested parties.

Weekly, CTN has received the crime report from senior Lead Office Brian Espin. (See below).

JUNE  6 to 11

ASSAULT

June 6, 2:30 p.m. at Temescal Canyon and PCH. The suspect pepper sprayed victim during verbal altercation and then fled.

June 7, 8 to 9 a.m. in the 1000 block of Tellem. The case involved family violence and elder abuse. The suspect is an unemployed son who demanded money from the victim. The suspect wrapped pants around victim’s neck and tried to strangle victim. The suspect threw the victim to the ground causing injury to her head, shoulder and ankle. The victim called for help, and a neighbor called for an ambulance.

BURGLARY

June 9, 4:10 p.m. in the 100 block of Entrada Drive.  The suspects smashed two windows entered the restaurant location and ransacked it.  Suspects smashed cash registers.  They fled when they encountered cleaning service workers. No property was taken.

ROBBERY

June 10, 10:20 a.m., in the 15000 block of Sunset Boulevard at the Shell gas station.  The suspect, armed with a handgun, entered the store, demanded money, took currency and fled. The suspect, a male Hispanic with brown eyes is described as 5’5” tall, 120 pounds, 26 to 35 years old, wearing a black sweater and blue jeans.

THEFT

June 5, 3:05 p.m., in the 1000 block of Swarthmore. Unknown suspects concealed store merchandise and exited store without paying.

JUNE 12 TO JUNE 18

ASSAULT

June 12, 7:30 p.m., in the 1000 block of Will Rogers State Park Road. This case involved family violence and a minor. The minor went missing for several days and the victim, the mother, became aware of narcotic usage. She tried to stop the suspect from leaving and he hit her multiple times. They fell to the ground fighting and the suspect got an empty glass bottle and struck the female on the head, stating “I’m gunna kill you bitch.” Another person intervened and wrapped a piece of rope around the suspect’s legs, while the victim called the police.

BURGLARY

June 15, 9:27 p.m., in the 1000 block of Vista Grande Drive. The Suspect used an unknown tool to smash rear glass door. The suspect entered the residence, ransacked it and fled with unknown property.

BURGLARY THEFT FROM VEHICLE

June 14, 4:30 to 7:50 a.m. in the 500 block of Spoleto Drive. The victim left vehicle in driveway and forgot to lock car. Victim’s Ring Camera captured suspect entering car.

June 15, 9 to 11:30 a.m. in the 15000 block of Pacific Coast Highway. Victim parked vehicle in an area for a commercial shoot. The victim had a prop in a trunk and was filming nearby. Victim returned to trunk and noticed prop was missing.

June 16, 7 to 8:30 p.m., in the 500 block of Marquette Street. Property taken from vehicle.

GRAND THEFT AUTO

June 16, 1:50 to 4 p.m. in the 15000 block of Sunset Boulevard. The vehicle was taken from the street or driveway and was recovered.

 

JUNE 26 TO JULY 2

BURGLARY THEFT FROM VEHICLE

June 29, 5 to 5:48 a.m. in the 400 block of Los Liones Drive. The victim parked vehicle and went for a hike. When victim returned, property was missing.

July 1, 3 a.m., in the 500 block of Almar Avenue. The victim discovered the credit card was stolen from the victim’s vehicle.

July 2, 9:15 to 10:30 a.m., at Pacific Coast Highway and Temescal Canyon. The Victim parked vehicle and left a key on rear driver side tire. When victim returned, property had been stolen from vehicle.

GRAND THEFT AUTO

June 26, 10:05 a.m., in the 14800 block of Pacific Coast Highway. Vehicle taken from highway, later recovered.

RAPE

June 28 to 29, 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. in the 1700 block of Pacific Coast Highway. The suspect and victims knew each other. All consumed alcohol and were under the influence. The suspect had nonconsensual sexual contact with both victims.

THEFT

June 29, 4:43 to 6:50 p.m. in the 1400 block of Allenford Avenue. The suspect took package from the porch.

June 30, 11:15 a.m., in the 15600 block of Sunset Boulevard. Victim said wallet was knocked out of vehicle into parking lot.

 

If you are a victim of crime, remember to file a report. Many reports can be done online. Pacific Palisades Senior Lead Officer is Brian Espin and his contact information is [email protected] or (310) 444-0737.

 Residents can also check crimemapping.com  for daily information of crime in the area.

Posted in Crime/Police | Leave a comment

The YMCA’s Float Took the Prize in the First Annual Auxiliary Award

Posted on July 10, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Auxiliary President Gina Jakel (second from right) presented a check to YMCA’s Jim Kirtley. Looking on were PAPA President Matt Rodman (left) PAPA Treasurer Daphne Gronich and Cindy Simon (center). “Jugheads,” designed by Simon, and held by Rodman, Gronich and Kirtley, were on the float.

This was the First Annual Auxiliary Award, and was given to a float in the Pacific Palisades 4th of July Parade. The Palisades-Malibu YMCA received the top prize of $1,000.

Judges agreed that the float was creative, original and whimsical. Cardboard artist and resident Cindy Simon had fashioned more than 100 “jugheads” using recycled materials. When landscaper Traci Price saw them, she suggested that they should go on the Y float.

Y Executive Director Jim Kirtley said, “Absolutely, let’s do it.”

Kirtley explained that “The Y is a community team, and our float was another example of involving the community with families and kids who decorated the float.”

Then, kids, group exercise participants, grandparents and community members rode on the float. “There were so many who are involved with the Y waving to us on the parade route,” said Kirtley, who drove the float.

The prize money will be used to provide financial assistance to kids attending day summer camp at Simon Meadow.

The Y float took first for its patriotism and unique look.
Photo: Joy Daunis

This was the first year that an award had been made for the best local parade entry. One of the Auxiliary’s tenets is Americanism and members are asked “to promote patriotic holidays.”

Auxiliary Unit 283 members decided they wanted to make the 4th of July Palisades parade even more memorable and hoped by offering prize money it might encourage decorating.

Members had watched two local nonprofits the Woman’s Club and the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness work at concession stands at the Genesis Open Golf Tournament to earn money, so they realized that the prize money is not only to incentivize participation in the parade, but also to reward those service organizations who give back so much to the community.

Simply by registering with the Palisades Americanism Parade Association (PAPA) and riding in the parade, most Palisades service organizations/schools/nonprofits entries were eligible.

All floats were considered. They included Troop 223’s Armada of boats, Theatre Palisades entry which promoted its last weekend of “Harvey” and the Landes Family with its beautifully decorated golf cart.

The Alphabet Streets Spectacular, which has been an annual float, this year included Sven the goat and several “puppies” who all urged for a Palisades Dog Park.

The Alphabet Street float had children playing “dogs.”
Photo: Morgan Genser

The Resilient Palisades float came complete with tips on how to handle the drought. It included drought-tolerant plants tied to the hood of the vehicle, and also provided “eye candy” to many with a semi-naked vegan body builder in the shower.

One judge particularly liked the Theatre Palisades Youth group. Actors danced and performed, and the judge noted “they were so cute.” Their summer show “Newsies, Jr.” opens July 15.

The Kiwanis Club of Santa Monica placed patriotic decorations on a vehicle and noted that they will be hosting a chess contest later this month.

Chabad sponsored a float with “happy” campers waving flags from the windows, and the Palisades Baseball Association floats highlighted the World Series Championship teams.

Jimmy Dunne led a group of Bocce Players as they “played” their way down the street with a makeshift bocce court.

One resident commented that it seemed like there were more floats this year and wondered if the prize had provided extra encouragement.

PAPA President Matt Rodman said, ““The Palisades Americanism Parade Association hopes that the American Legion Auxiliary Award for the Best Community Organization Float will become an annual part of the 4th of July Parade. We thank the members of the Auxiliary for their sponsorship of this award. We look forward to the diamond anniversary of the Parade next year, and the second annual Auxiliary Award.”

The Resilient Palisades float urged for water conservation:
Photo: Morgan Genser

Posted in Holidays | 3 Comments

PaliHi’s Bud Kling Inducted into Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

Posted on July 10, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Palisades High School tennis coach Bud Kling was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

 

Legendary Palisades High School tennis coach Bud Kling was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on June 26.

The honorees include high school, college, professional and amateur standouts, media representatives and community members. The Hall of Fame, which was established in 1990, honors men and women who have played a significant role in shaping the sports history of the Southern California community. More than 200 outstanding sports personalities are included in the Hall of Fame honor roll.

Kling joins several Palisadians who have been previously honored, including Kathy Kohner (Zuckerman) aka Gidget (surfing), Geoffrey and Mitchell Schwartz (Palisades High School standouts, who went on to play in the NFL), Gene Selznick (volleyball) and Amy Alcott (golf).

Kling, who leads all coaches in the City Section with 50 team titles (including boys and girls teams), was inducted into the Los Angeles City Section Hall of Fame in 2017.

Kling grew up on the Westside and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UCLA in 1969 and 1972, respectively.

He came to Palisades High School in 1977 as a substitute teacher and by the next year he was full-time. He had previously coached football at University High, but became the boys tennis coach at Pali and over the years his teams have won four national championships.

In 1984, Kling also took over the girls program, coaching until 2008. He returned as coach in 2015. During those 26 years, his teams took 17 City titles.

Kling is a two-time State Coach of the Year and has been a finalist for National Coach of the Year.

He and wife, Cheryl, have two children, Ryan and Alex, both of whom played for Kling at PaliHi.

In a 2019 UCLA Alumni story, Kling said, “Over the length of my career I have had a lot of great kids. I’ve watched them grow up and I have been able to keep up with many of my past players on our own alumni page on Facebook. It’s a thrill to watch players work hard and improve. Since tennis is an individual sport, for many it is their first time being on a team. They learn a lot on how to work as a group and depend on each other.”

 

Posted in Sports | 3 Comments

Alan Eisenstock’s Playlist: The Children

Posted on July 10, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

(Editor’s note: Palisadian Alan Eisenstock’s 20th book, “Fierce Love,” came out May 3. He wrote it with Sonya Curry, the mom of NBA Legend Stephen Curry – there are copies available at Collections Antiques and Books at 15326 Antioch Street.

When Eisenstock is not writing, he pursues what he calls “a crazy labor of love side project” that he started in March 2020: sending a weekly Covid-themed playlist of songs to his family and friends. These playlists, which can be downloaded on Spotify – click here – span rock ‘n’ roll and pop music from the 1950s to 2020, and Eisenstock adds one or two lines of commentary about each song that is clever, amusing and informative.)

 

Hi, Everyone,

It’s official! Children from the age of 6 months to 5 years are now eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine. In half the country, that means a collective sigh of relief. In the other half, not so much. What to do? Idea. Here are 20 songs with “child” or “children” in the title. Listen up!

 

  1. “Little Child” The Beatles. From 1963 and their album With the Beatles. A nice opening romp for the playlist, even though Paul referred to the song as “album filler.”
  2. “Mother and Child Reunion” Paul Simon. It was 1972. Paul had gone solo and had fallen in love with reggae music. He trekked to Jamaica and recorded this hit with members of Jimmy Cliff’s band playing behind him and Cissy Houston singing backup. LOVE.
  3. “Little Children” Billy J. Kramer, The Dakotas. English pop singer William Howard Ashton changed his name to Billy J. Kramer, teamed up with the Dakotas, and had a string of hits in the 1960s. This 1964 hit was written by J. Leslie McFarland and Mort Shuman. Brian Epstein managed both the Beatles & Kramer so Lennon & McCartney would often give Kramer songs they didn’t want to record, the most notable being the #1 hit “Bad to Me.”
  4. “O-o-h Child” The Five Stairsteps. A family R&B band out of Chicago, called “The First Family of Soul.” The group consisted of five of Betty and Clarence Burke’s six children. Stan Vincent wrote this song, their biggest hit, in 1970.
  5. “Where Do the Children Play” Cat Stevens. British folk singing sensation made this the opening track from his 1970 album Tea for The Tillerman. My wife and I were obsessed with the Cat Man. The band Garbage covered this song fairly recently.
  6. “Sweet Child ‘O Mine” Sheryl Crow. Singer-songwriter and high school track star. In 1998 Sheryl covered this 1988 Guns N’ Roses song, which was probably their biggest hit. The song appears in the teaser for the classic film Thor: Love and Thunder. 
  7. “Honey Child” Bobby “Blue” Bland. R&B, jazz, and, yes, blues. Robert Calvin Bland aka Bobby “Blue” Bland was known as “The Sinatra of the Blues.” On this 1965 “child” song I hear a strong similarity to Ray Charles.
  8. “I Am a Child” Buffalo Springfield. Neil Young, Stephen Stills, and Richie Furay were the main forces behind this legendary L.A. band. Neil wrote this great song in 1968. LOVE. Nah, nah Spotify. I snuck in Neil Young!
  9. “Trouble Child” Barbara Mason. R&B and soul queen from Philly. Barbara wrote this song in 1965, from her album Yes, I’m Ready. She started her career when she was a teenager and was produced by Curtis Mayfield.
  10. “Friday’s Child” Them, featuring Van Morrison. This rock & soul band out of Belfast introduced a lead singer named Van Morrison. Van wrote this obscure rocker in 1965.
  11. “Motherless Child” Hootie & The Blowfish. The composition of this traditional Negro spiritual has been credited to Harry Burleigh. Everyone has covered this song, but I love this 53-second version by Darius Rucker on the H&TBF album Cracked Rear View. 
  12. “Society’s Child” Janis Ian. Janis Eddy Fink aka Janis Ian was born in New Jersey and wrote this song when she was fourteen. Janis has won a couple of Grammys and also writes science fiction. Fourteen???
  13. “Motherless Children” Rosanne Cash. The eldest daughter of Johnny Cash, a blues, rock and country maven. Rosanne covers this blues classic that many attribute to Blind Willie Johnson in 1929. Rosanne included this song on her 2009 album The List, which was based on a list of 100 essential songs her father gave her.
  14. “Child’s Song” Tom Rush. Son of a preacher man from Portsmouth, NH, folk singer, and one of my favorites. Here Tom covers Murray McLauchlan’s achingly beautiful 1970 song. LOVE.
  15. “Child of Mine” Carole King. One of the greatest songwriters ever, Carole worked at the famous Brill Building in New York. She wrote this 1969 song with her husband Gerry Goffin. “So glad you are a child of mine…”
  16. “The Obvious Child” Paul Simon. Our second Paul Simon song in this playlist. This one Paul wrote and performed in 1990, backed up by the Brazilian drum collective Grupo Cultural Olodum. It was the lead single from his album The Rhythm of The Saints. 
  17. “No Children” The Mountain Goats. The Goats are sometimes folk singer John Darnielle and a band, sometimes just John alone. This is a 2002 song about a married couple who hate each other. “I hope if I found the strength to walk out, you’d stay the hell out of my way.” Touching.
  18. “Only Children” Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit. Michael Jason Isbell, formerly of the Drive-By Truckers, is another favorite. Folk singer and alt-country rocker supreme, he wrote this tremendous song as a single from his 2020 album Reunions.
  19. “Teach Your Children” Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. One Canadian (Young), One Englishman (Nash), and two Americans (Stills & Crosby) make up one of the best ever supergroups. This 1969 classic is a must for the playlist. While Spotify continues to ban Neil Young, we snuck him in again. Ha, ha Spotify!
  20. “God Bless the Child” Blood, Sweat & Tears. Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog, Jr. wrote this song in 1939 and Holiday recorded the original a few years later. BS&T, the rock-jazz-classical collective, recorded their version in 1969. A fitting close to our playlist.

There you have it–20 “child” and “children” songs. Some advice:

Don’t Forget to Disinfect and… PLAY IT LOUD!!

The link again: click here.

Fact Check

Paul McCartney did refer to the song “Little Child” as “album filler.”

Janis Ian did write “Society’s Child” when she was fourteen. Fourteen!!!

 

LAST WEEK’S POLL QUESTION:

“Lies” by The Knickerbockers destroyed “True Love Ways” by Buddy Holly.

 

THIS WEEK’S POLL QUESTION:

Battle of the ampersands! “Teach Your Children” by CSN&Y or “God Bless The Child” by BS&T.

 

Have a great week, everyone,

 

Alan Eisenstock

Thank you,

 

Alan

alaneisenstock.com

 

Posted in Music | 1 Comment

Westchester Park Safe Parking to “Sunset” October 2

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

 

The Safe Parking lot in Westchester Park by the swimming pool is generally empty: it can hold 25 vehicles. This photo was taken  around 5:30 a.m. Since the area is fenced in, it cannot be used for patrons who want to use the Westchester Swimming Pool.

At a July 7 Zoom meeting, the Los Angeles City Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners approved a three-month extension for the Safe Parking program located at the Westchester Recreation Center swimming pool parking lot.

Initially, 25 parking spaces were granted to Community Partners to be used from July 2021 to October 2021. An extension was granted until July 4, 2022. It has now been extended for another three months. It will expire on October 2, 2022.

Westchester/Playa Neighborhood Council President Paula Gerez told commissioners that the NC had never been approached or asked about the initial program implementation.

She said City boards/commissions should respect or at least listen to community input through Neighborhood Councils, which the City implemented for that purpose.

In a July 7 letter to Commissioners, she wrote “We have received hundreds of letters from our constituents opposing Safe Parking in Westchester Park.”

Gerez asked commissioners to deny the latest extension because this is the only park in Westchester, and it serves more than 40,000 residents.

“The Safe Parking program near the recreation pool and ballfields uses 25 of the 50 parking spaces in that lot,” Gerez said. “Yet the fenced in Safe Parking area is nearly empty many nights and has at most 10 cars using the fenced in lot.”

Commissioners were sent photos from different days and different times that show a mostly empty lot: many photos show the gate open and no attendant. (Safe parking is supposed to be closed after a certain time and there is supposed to be an attendant on site. Additionally, those who use the lot are supposed to be registered, and the City is supposed to be helping them find permanent housing.)

Gerez said that because of the fenced lot for Safe Parking, there are only about 17 parking spaces for those using the swimming pool.

“The NCWP does not oppose Safe Parking programs in general,” she said. “However, we strongly oppose the use of any parking lot in Westchester Park for a Safe Parking program because it uses precious parking spaces, and it attracts homeless people who live in the park full time.”

Commissioner Nicole Chase said, “I try to keep balance in mind. We have to keep the community in mind and acknowledge the community’s concern.”

Commissioners Tafarai Bayne and Lynn Alvarez said they wanted to hear from Community Partners [safe parking] in August about the progress of alerting the people who are using Safe Parking that the lot will go back to park patrons.

Commissioner Joe Halper wondered if so few people were using Safe Parking, if the timeline for taking the fence down could be expedited.

July and August are months which generally get the highest pool usage. Not having ample parking for swimmers and families is problematic.

The parking lot on the other side of the pool/senior center is a municipal lot and not under park jurisdiction. One caller said she supported Safe Parking and thought people got confused because of that lot, where there are no rules or regulations and some homeless had taken over, making it dicey to park. It is off that lot that Councilman Mike Bonin has put up barbed wire fencing.

Commissioners were clear that by passing the extension until October 2, 2022, it would not be extended: that the lot would return strictly for patron use.

Although gates are supposed to be closed during certain hours for Safe Parking, the Westchester lot does not observe locked gates.

Posted in General | 1 Comment

PaliHi Students Delve into Climate Change with Loggers and the Forest Service

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Palisades High School students measured the forest canopy and discussed crown density.

By LAUREL BUSBY

Special to Circling the News

This spring, 12 Palisades High students took a deep dive into climate change and the state’s wildfire crisis at the Forestry Challenge Championship in northern California’s Tuolumne County.

With input from lumber mill representatives, Cal Fire (the state’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection), and the U.S. Forestry Service, the students gained a broad array of perspectives as they tackled the competition’s challenges, which included data collection and speaking with stakeholders about forestry and wildfires.

“When you throw in climate change and the drought and the fires we’ve been having lately, it kind of makes it a really big deal,” said PaliHi teacher Steve Engelmann, who oversaw the students’ competition efforts over the school year. “A big focus was talking to various stakeholders. A lumber company sees things differently from someone there for recreation who sees the issues differently from a homeowner.”

In April, the students toured a lumber mill, where they viewed “gigantic logs being flipped around,” Engelmann said. They heard about the science behind wildfires. They visited a recent burn site. They were able to query representatives from state and federal agencies as well as people who make their living cutting down trees.

The stamp of climate change pervaded the issues, Engelmann said. For example, both heightened winds and drought conditions stem from climate change and drive the intense fires that have devastated the state’s forests. In addition, the dry conditions have stressed trees, making them more susceptible to bark beetles, a natural enemy that they can normally fend off, but which have killed a vast number of trees in recent years.

In addition, Engelmann noted, more than 100 years of fire suppression has created forests that are prone to fire and so crowded that it’s easier for bark beetles to spread.

“We have unnatural forests from years of suppressing every single fire,” he said. “Climate change is making it a lot more difficult for trees to fight off their natural predators, which have been here forever.” He added that the increase in vacation homes means that at times “when the Forest Service might prefer to let a fire burn, where it might be good for the forest to let the forest burn, they have to jump in there and save structures. Their job is to protect lives and property.”

The students considered controlled burns, which have been one way to address the crowding of the forests, Engelmann said. These burns aren’t intended to burn trees as much as reduce the fuel so that unplanned fires don’t reach the crown layer of the trees. In addition, forests might be thinned by seeking out trees infested by bark beetles, while leaving healthy trees.

Maintaining healthy forests, which requires different actions based on the type of trees involved, such as pine versus oak, was another issue to consider, he noted. Trees help fight climate change not only by removing carbon dioxide from the air, but also by pulling water from the ground and releasing it into the air, which is one cause of precipitation.

“When the forest is gone, the climate changes,” Engelmann said.

To help the students learn more about the issues, the U.S. Forestry Service “gave the students a behind-the-scenes view of the complicated issues of managing California’s forests. Some people think they’re cutting down too many trees. Some people think they’re not cutting down enough. They’re trying to find that right balance based on science. There are interest groups on all sides. It’s a complicated issue and a struggle to resolve.”

Three teams of four students each had earned an invitation to the event through their high scores at a regional competition in San Bernardino County, won by the PaliHi team of Samuel Javidanfar, Andrew Wu, Andrea Arreortua and Diana Ovod (which finished fifth at the state championship). The team of Maya Millner, Stella Becir, Jenna Barad and Livia Rosenmayr came in fifth in San Bernardino but earned second place at Pinecrest with a score of 197.7 points versus Foresthill High School’s 199.3 total. The third Pali team (Ella Taghibagi, Cleo Waxman-Lee, Maren Carere and James Lewis) placed ninth in the finals.

PaliHi team participated in the Forestry Challenge Championship in Tuolumne County. Some students experienced snow for the first time.

A key benefit of the Tuolumne County event was the chance for the students to interact with people who hold opposing viewpoints to theirs, Engelmann said. For example, some of the students spent time discussing environmental issues with a man who they perceived with shock to be a climate change denier.

The next day Engelmann chatted with this man, and the fellow told him, “I really liked hanging out with the kids. Sometimes we old folks, we get stuck in our ways. Maybe we need to change a bit.”

While the people who deal with resource extraction, whether loggers, fishermen or ranchers, tend to be more conservative, Engelmann said, “when you meet them in person, these are nice people. I can have a conversation with them…. We need to have these conversations. They’re not crazy. We’re not crazy. We just need to talk.”

PaliHi science teacher Steve Engelmann (left) speaks with a Forestry Service provider at the camp.

Posted in Environmental, Schools | 5 Comments

The Legality of Using City Email List Questioned

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

(Editor’s Note: This CTN editor has four emails. One is personal, one is with Circling the News, but two are from prior newspaper jobs from about 2003 to 2017. The emails are not used, but kept for contacts. Prior to the June 7 primary, this editor received Councilman Mike Bonin’s candidates suggestions on all four emails. Although it was stated at the bottom that he and not his office had sent the email, how did he get the emails he was using? From his office? Is that legal? I asked a writer to research it.)

BY REECE PASCOE

I like many residents was a little overwhelmed with this past primary election. The ballot was eight pages long with more than 100 candidates – most of whom I had never heard of.

It gets tough researching every candidate and trying to vote for the best candidate, especially when many of them don’t have a website or way to see who they are or what they stand for.

District 11 Councilmember Mike Bonin 11 took care of that. The CTN editor received an unsolicited email from Mr Bonin, not once but four times.

Mr. Bonin’s email was in high praise of Erin Darling stating all his accomplishments especially focusing on the eviction stay of renters during Covid. Bonin was also favorable to Karen Bass.

Did Bonin break the law by sending out emails to a list that was most likely compiled from his Council Office? Is that legal?

One might remember a couple of years back President Donald Trump came under fire because his administration violated the Hatch act. The Hatch act was sponsored by New Mexico Senator Carl A. Hatch and signed into law by FDR in 1939.

The Hatch Act was implemented after the Senator, learned that New Deal-era government programs were using federal funds overtly to support Democratic Party candidates in the 1938 election.

“The Hatch Act generally prohibits Federal employees from engaging in political activities while on duty, in a government room or building . . . Under the Hatch Act, ‘Political activity’ is defined as any activity directed toward the success or failure of a political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group.”

The Hatch Act states a government employee “May not use official authority to interfere with an election or while engaged in political activity” and “May not use email or social media to engage in political activity.”

President Barak Obama signed the Hatch Act Modernization Act of 2012, which modified penalties under the Hatch Act and clarified the applicability to the District of Columbia of provisions that cover state and local governments.

Any violations under the Hatch Act include removal, debarment from federal employment for a period not exceeding 5 years, and a penalty not to exceed $1,000.

It seems that Bonin may have violated the Hatch Act at least in two ways. It appears he used taxpayer money to promote various candidates using his private email and that he mass distributed to the public.

One can fill out an affidavit and send it off to the Office of the Special Consul to see if they would look into the L.A. City Councilmember. Then they will review it – and then what? The Hatch Act has almost no enforcement/penalty teeth, especially when that person in question in leaving office.

The reason that people should care is Bonin is using his email list, which is compiled from his Councilmember email list to promote “name recognition.”

Even after a voter has done all the research before voting, if they can’t find information, most likely they will vote for a name they may have heard before.

One example of name recognition is Rick Caruso. Everyone in Pacific Palisades knows his name, mostly from his Caruso Palisades Village Project.

Did everyone in the City who voted for him like his polices above other candidates or was it from name recognition and other advertising that helped him?

Councilman Mike Bonin (left) and developer Rick Caruso at Palisades Village ground project’s groundbreaking.
Photo: Bart Bartholomew

L.A. City Ethics was contacted and asked if it was legal for Councilman Mike Bonin to sell, rent or borrow his email list to Mike Bonin, an individual. If it is legal, does he have to declare the sale?

According to the ethics website click here,  a person who makes or distributes a campaign, officeholder, or legal defense communication to 200 or more persons shall file a copy of the communication with the Ethics Commission. Did Bonin do that?

The LA ethics site notes that “An elected City officer may not use a social media account or Web site for campaign purposes if the account or site is paid for, sponsored by, or hosted by the City.

“If an elected City officer communicates about campaign activity or City business using a social media account or Web site that is not City sponsored, the home page for the account or site shall include the following statement: ‘This [account or site] is not paid for, sponsored by, or hosted by the City.” This statement shall be prominent, in a typeface that is easily legible to an average reader and in a color that contrasts with the background on which it appears.’”

Mr. Bonin’s message urging people to vote for his choices did not include that statement.

If L.A. City Ethics responds, this story will be updated.

Posted in Councilman Mike Bonin | 1 Comment