LOCALmotion – Jozelle Smith

Starting this Monday, March 30, please don’t try to go barreling down the Bike Path Access Ramp at Duquesne Ave: it’ll be closed intermittently between Monday and April 10, and then closed all day, every day, between April 16 and April 20. (Use the access points at Overland and National) This will allow for the restoration of The Rivers of the World (“ROW”) mural on the bike path access ramp at Duquesne on the north side of Ballona Creek. In 1998, Culver City (with the support of the Ballona Creek Renaissance – BCR) received a grant from the Los Angeles County and the beautification project was completed in 2000 by the artists who employed 9 – 12th grade CPHS students plus the talents of community volunteers. The mural consists of 214 linear feet of ceramic mosaic, painted tiles, and acrylic paint. There are 700 square feet of paint and 700 square feet of hand-painted glazed ceramic that captures the attention of visitors traveling by bike, walking home from school, or walking to attend cultural or sports events. Over time the mural has sustained graffiti damage and vandalism and now comes the opportunity for volunteers to work with original artist Lori Escalera and Lucy Blake-Elahi to return the mural to a protected and near-original state. Volunteers high-school age and older can participate from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. April 16-20, and brushes, paint, snacks and drinks will be provided – volunteers should bring their own hat, sunglasses and sunscreen (plus a lunch if they plan to stay all day). For more information or to register, visit [email protected] or [email protected].

Once again joining forces (besides USC/UCLA pre-game festivities, etc.), President Dr. Jay Shery announced that the Culver City Exchange Club is co-sponsoring a luncheon with the Culver City Rotary Club this Wednesday, April 1, to honor our own Culver City Police Department officers. The co-club salute will take place at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel. The Exchange Club’s regular Tuesday meeting has been cancelled and members will attend this luncheon instead.

The Culver City Democratic Club lost a dedicated member (and former Club President) with the passing of Lee Sanders. Locals Herb and Diane Rosenberg attended Lee’s memorial service in Ojai, hosted by his school alumni and relatives, associates and lifelong friends were all in attendance. According to Diane, there was a moving memorial service given by his school alumni, and Lee’s sister, brother-in-law and many of his lifelong friends and associates attended as well. As Diane remembers, “Everyone had many good things to say about Lee and it was clear he was well-liked in the community. Apparently Lee was very fond of being President of the Culver City Democratic Club. Giving Lee the plaque honoring his service to the Club was one of the best things we could have done for him. When he was in the hospice the only thing that he held on to and kept close to him was the plaque that the Club presented to him at our August General Meeting.” Rest in peace, Lee!

Join the fun at the Culver City Healthy Family 5K Run/Walk and YMCA Healthy Kids Day coming up on Sunday, April 26, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at West LA College. The 5K Race starts at 9:00 a.m., the Family Fun Walk at 9:30 a.m., and Healthy Kids Day 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Gates open 8:00 a.m. The general 5K course will run through the campus and the hills around the college for a somewhat challenging course. This is a joint venture event by West LA College and the Culver City Rotary Club to benefit the Culver-Palms Family YMCA, the Boy Scouts, and the Teen Center. There will be booths from sponsoring companies and organizations, health and fitness information, healthy snacks, youth games, participation medals for everyone registered and much more. Register online for the 5K race today! bit.ly/19651QT or call the CPY at (310) 390-3604.

The public is invited to meet at Dr. Paul Carlson Park, 10400 Braddock Drive, this Saturday, April 4th from 11:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m. for free Food Trucks, free Easter Egg Hunts, and free Family Portraits! The event is being hosted by the gospel-centered Renew Church LA. For more information call Pastor Dihan Lee at (703) 963-4221.

As we blow into April, birthday celebrants are ramping up the celebrations this week, including Rafia Cooper, Jody Hall Esser, Beverly Peterson, Colleen Jones, Claudia Van de Ven, and Ken Jaffe. If you’d like to have your (or a friend, neighbor or family member’s) birthday noted here, send the info to [email protected] and we’ll post it!

Calories be danged as we wish our Jewish friends a happy Passover, beginning at sundown this Friday, April 3 and a happy “hopping down the bunny trail” for those folks celebrating the Easter holiday starting bright and early this Sunday, April 4!