LOCALmotion – Jozelle Smith

Wow – West LA College President Bob Sprague provided the program at last week’s Culver City Exchange Club meeting, and per the club’s newsletter shared that “…he is excited about having our fireworks show at the college. It helps to make the College part of the Culver City Community.” The college is part of a nine-school District. WLAC has had the biggest enrollment growth of those nine schools. They are adding a four-story business center with ‘smart’ technology and a new sound stage for crafting motion pictures.” This will be a great link to its Heart of Screenland neighborhood!
Culver City Rotary Club’s Wednesday, April 20 meeting will be at their “home hotel,” the Historic Culver Hotel, where they’ll be celebrating third quarter birthdays, fining to the max since they did not have ANY fines in March, and collecting for PolioPlus. They’ve been asked to donate at least $l.00, but are raring to do better than that (every $1.00 is matched by $2.00). Interested in all the good things Rotary Culver City does? Stop by the meeting: lunch is at 12:15 p.m. and the meeting 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Wow! Three opportunities to enjoy the local group Mystic Knights Trio (American Roots and Blues) at nearby Gaby’s Mediterranean this week: Wednesday, April 20th, Friday, April 22, and Sunday, April 24, from 7:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. each night. Gaby’s is located at 10445 Venice Blvd., and features great food, music, and you can BYOB. All ages are welcome to relax on the patio and enjoy the evening with Dave, Roger, and Sonny.
Just a reminder: Hodgetts + Fung Design and Architecture Firm will join the Culver City Historical Society at its April General Meeting and Program this Wednesday, April 20th 7:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of Veterans Memorial Building, 4117 Overland Ave. Co-founders Craig Hodgetts and Hsinming Fung will be discussing their exciting renovation plans for the interior of the Culver City High School’s Robert Frost Auditorium, including the expansion of back-of-house spaces, a steel proscenium arch, handicap access and new air conditioning, lighting and electrical systems. The Robert Frost Auditorium, designed by architectural firm Flewelling and Moody and completed in 1963, was futuristic for its time (featured in the science-fiction films “Gattaca” and Woody Allen’s comedy sci-fi film “Sleeper”) and continually heralded as one of the best-designed Modern structures. Time has taken a toll on the building, however, and you’re invited to hear the upgrades planned. Visitors are always welcome to attend the Culver City Historical Society meetings, with parking available just off Culver Blvd., adjacent to the Veterans’ Memorial Building.
The Japanese Cultural Heritage Club is presenting a free Japanese Traditions Workshop on Saturday, April 23 from 3:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at El Marino Language School Auditorium, 11450 Port Rd. Demonstrations and Exhibits include Kimono Wearing; Tea Ceremony; Shamisen Musician; Bonsai Master; Sushi Making; Japanese Traditional Arts; and Traditional Japanese Toys. There will also be food vendors, where you can enjoy Ramen Burgers, Tokyo Doggie Style, and more! This event is funded by the Aratani Foundation.
Everyone’s invited to help Celebrate Earth Day by “Keeping Ballona Beautiful” on Saturday, April 23 from 9:00 a.m. until noon at 303 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey (park in the parking lot behind Gordon’s Market, aka Alka Water). Gloves, tools, water and refreshments will be provided – but you’re reminded to bring your reusable water bottle. There should be ample parking on the gravel parking lot. Once you’ve parked, head towards the black wrought-iron gate in the northeast corner of the lot, where you will find the entrance to the Saltwater Marsh & Dunes reserve. For more information or group registration, contact Ballona friends at (310) 306-5994, or [email protected]. You can visit them online at www.ballonafriends.org. You’ll also need to download and complete a waiver form for you and/or your group in order to participate.
The Culver City city council election took place last Tuesday, April 12, but believe it or not there are ballots still to be confirmed and counted. Lots of Vote by Mail and Provisional ballots, some submitted legally, some with envelopes not properly signed, etc. The plot thickens: will the final results be the same as last Tuesday’s “final” results?? It appears that there are now 1,258 uncounted ballots to process. At 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19 City Clerk Martin Cole has declared that there will be a special counting of vote-by-mail and provisional ballots in the Patacchia Room at City Hall. All members of the public are welcome to observe this process.
Flags will be lowered to half-staff throughout the city this Friday and Saturday as services for former mayor Richard Ross Brundo take place. Visitation will be Friday from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Gates Kingsley and Gates Smith Salsbury Mortuary, 4220 So. Sepulveda Blvd.; Funeral Mass will be Saturday, April 23 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Risen Christ Chapel, 5835 W Slauson Avenue, Culver City; and Place of Rest at 1:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery. Visit www.dignitymemorial.com, go to Obituaries, and enter Dick’s name to view pictures of Richard “Dick’s” life, and to leave a message of remembrance.
Birthday greetings go out this week to Maureen Genteman, Frank Keister, Carly Priebe, Jette Sorensen, Adam Hagely, Malena Dobal Parra, John Patrick Vega, and Jennifer Williams-Rouise. If you’d like your (or a friend or family member’s) birthday mentioned here, just send the information to [email protected] and we’ll be happy to post it!