Larchmont Chronicle
VOL. 61, NO. 2
• DELIVERED TO 76,439 READERS IN HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT •
IN THIS ISSUE
New mayor hard at work English-California choral n Homelessness tops her agenda; move-in underway for Getty House in Windsor Square
VALENTINES tell how they met. 9 to 12
MAYOR Karen Bass.
EAGLE SCOUT project helps veterans. 13
COOKIES are on their way. 14
PARK LA BREA holds annual meeting. 2-6 For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11 Mailing permit:
FEBRUARY 2023
New on Larchmont: bakery, stores n New wine buyer also made wines
By Casey Russell Larchmont Village Wine, Spirits & Cheese has found a new wine buyer: Jesse Mangiagli. Since 2014, Mangiagli has been travelling the world making wine in such places as Oregon, Central California, Napa Valley, South Africa and New Zealand. This is the wine aficionado’s first foray into the retail side of the wine business. Said Mangiagli, “I became passionate about wine through tasting. I was interested in viticulture and farming… [and] originally went to Napa Valley College to get into grape farming.” When asked what some of his favorite wines are, Mangiagli replied, “I like most things. I really love natural sparkling wine and cool-climate single vineyard wines, generally.” The new wine buyer said Village Wine, Spirits & Cheese is known for carrying products that people can’t get in other stores. He likes to bring attention to wines that have a See Larchmont, p 2
Miracle Mile 2023
Our year-round guide to lifestyle, entertainment, residential and business news, “Miracle Mile 2023,” will be published in the March issue of the Larchmont Chronicle. Advertising deadline is Mon., Feb. 13. For more information contact Pam Rudy, 323462-2241, ext. 11.
By Suzan Filipek and Casey Russell Before Mayor Karen Bass left for the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. in mid-January, she spoke with us about her rapid-fire actions to help alleviate homelessness since taking office just one month before. The solution will take “all hands on deck,” she said on the telephone conference call with Larchmont Chronicle editors. She connected with us from Getty House, the city’s official mayoral residence on Irving Boulevard in Windsor Square. Since taking office, Bass has reached out to Gov. Newsom and President Biden, as well as to members of the Los AngeSee Mayor Bass, p 8
concert plus jazz, Feb. 11
By Suzan Filipek Choral works from the golden ages of composition of Tudor England and the European Renaissance will be reflected upon in new, contemporary California compositions, both being featured in a concert on Sat., Feb. 11, at 8 p.m., presented by The Golden Bridge, the professional singing consort based in Southern California. Masterpieces from the English Reformation, some 500 years ago, will join modern commissions in the ensemble’s ninth season. The single performance will take place at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 504 N. Camden Dr., in Beverly Hills. “We’ve really struck gold this year with five new com-
Tom LaBonge honored with a native plant forest
n Atop Mt. Hollywood in Griffith Park By John Welborne Four score, or more, hikers headed from Griffith Observatory up to the top of Mt. Hollywood on Jan. 7 to dedicate the Tom LaBonge Memorial Forest. Family and friends including former Mayor Eric Garcetti saluted the late, revered councilman of the former Fourth District. It was the second anniversary of his unexpected death in 2021. Installed as a project of the nonprofit Los Angeles Parks Foundation, the planting area consists of native shrubs and trees that
FORMER Mayor Eric Garcetti at the hike for Tom LaBonge.
Photo by Gary Leonard
have been added to the space where LaBonge is said to have personally carried and sown baby California live oak trees. See Memorial forest, p 3
CONDUCTOR and founder of The Golden Bridge, Suzi Digby.
Photo by Andreas Grieger
missions (Latin American and jazz vibes — and L.A.’s wunderkind, Samuel Siskind, aged 17! He’s L.A.’s Mozart),” Golden Bridge founder and artistic director, Suzi Digby, said in an email. On Feb. 11, Digby, who is a visiting adjunct professor at USC, will conduct 20 professional vocalists from Los Angeles as they explore together the relationship between the two choral traditions. This is an annual project that Digby produces as part of her duties as a professor of music at USC, where she teaches graduate choral studies, especially English choral literature, for about half a semester each year. At home in England, where she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2007, Digby is the founder and artistic director of ORA Singers. Learn more at orasingers. co.uk. Grant Gershon, artistic See Golden Bridge, p 26
Trees fall, streets flood, in heavy storms
n City clean-up crews respond quickly
By Suzan Filipek Local streets and sidewalks were flooded during the downpours of mid-January, toppling trees and spreading debris. Crews from the city Public Works and Recreation and Parks departments reacted quickly, cleaning up most of the impacted areas by the next day, before new storms arrived. A mature pine tree fell, pulling down an adjacent utility See Rain, p 6
FALLING tree and utility pole struck a car as it entered the intersection of Larchmont and Third Street. No one was injured in the incident. Photo by Vivian Gueler
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