Larchmont Chronicle
VOL. 61, NO. 9
• DELIVERED TO 76,439 READERS IN HANCOCK PARK • WINDSOR SQUARE • FREMONT PLACE • MIRACLE MILE • PARK LA BREA • LARCHMONT •
IN THIS ISSUE
BACK TO SCHOOL Section 3
WHO really saved historic Los Altos? 2-2
THIRTY YEARS! Mais oui! 2-10
Enjoy ‘Taste’ of Boulevard Mon., Sept. 18
In his words: Franco speaks about his life off the streets By Helene Seifer Franco Iervolino, formerly known as Giorgio when his home was a bus bench and his haunt was Larchmont Boulevard, was forcibly removed from the Boulevard on April 20, 2022. A host of county outreach workers made it happen (as first reported in “Giorgio, taken for help by County dept.,” Larchmont Chronicle, May 2022, page 1.) He was taken to County USC Hospital (now named Los Angeles General Medical Center) for assessment, then moved to Gateway Hospital and Mental Health Center in Echo Park for interim care. In July 2022, Franco, 65, was placed in a senior care facility in the Fairfax neighborhood. He now has a conservator to oversee his financial arrangements and care, a public defender to represent him in court, a team of social workers and free access to medical and mental health care. At the end of his first year in the senior care facility near Fairfax and Olympic, Franco See Franco, p 13
n HopeNet food pantries’ 31st benefit
FOURTH-GRADERS Elsie Mohr and Lola Kessler check out their new school on orientation day at Hollygrove@Selma. See our Back to School Section 3.
Bring the family: Larchmont Family Fair returns Oct. 29
n Rides, costume contest back at local tradition By Casey Russell The 58th annual Larchmont Family Fair, produced by the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA), will take place on Sun., Oct. 29, from noon to 5 p.m. The 2023 Family Fair’s theme is: Fun for Everyone! As in past years, there will be rides for children, a stage with entertainment and food and booths organized by non-
Finding homes, shelter is key to solution, says councilmember PADDLER extraordinaire for WWF. 3-10 For information on advertising rates, please call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11 Mailing permit:
n Street safety is also on Yaroslavsky’s agenda
By Casey Russell The Chronicle recently spoke with CD5 Councilwoman Katy Young Yaroslavsky about her first eight months in office. Here are excerpts from that interview. Yaroslavsky told us that she and her team have been hard at work on both homelessness and street safety. The councilwoman said that Mayor Bass’ Inside Safe program is working well for CD5. Inside Safe
Halloween & Harvest
Our annual Halloween & Harvest section will be featured in the October issue of the Larchmont Chronicle. Advertising deadline is Mon., Sept. 11. For more information, contact Pam Rudy, 323462-2241, ext 11.
SEPTEMBER 2023
aims to move people out of homeless encampments and into interim housing while long-term housing is found. CD5 has benefited from two Inside Safe cleanups this year — on Sixth Street behind the Academy Museum and on San Vicente Boulevard between Third Street and Wilshire Boulevard, plus points south on San Vicente. Yaroslavsky told us that the mayor’s office has been helpful in bringing together all the necessary departments for Inside Safe’s success. Partnering with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the CD5 team was also able to remove an encampment on Jasmine Avenue near Culver City in front of a school and day care center. “We have a lot more work to do,” said Yaroslavsky. But the councilwoman is pleased that there hasn’t been repopulation in the three areas mentioned. See Yaroslavsky, p 6
profit organizations, schools and LBA merchants. A new addition to this year’s fair is a version of the usual Sunday farmers’ market, to be located in the parking lot of Bank of America at First Street. Larchmont, between First and Beverly, will be closed to traffic, and admission to the fair will be free. Rides and food will require payment. The fair serves as a fundraiser for Boulevard gardening, holiday decorations and more. For more information about the LBA, visit Larchmont.com. To reserve a booth — while they last — contact sharonsweeney@fairwaygroupadv.com prior to Oct. 1.
By Suzan Filipek Enjoy the end of summer while sampling sushi, dining on pizza and savoring bakery treats at HopeNet’s 31st annual Taste of Larchmont on Mon., Sept. 18, from 6 to 9 p.m. Enter under a colorful balloon arch in the parking lot by the clock (209 N. Larchmont Blvd.) to pick up or buy your passport to 19 participating eateries on the Boulevard. The paper passport is your ticket to sample food from restaurants and sidewalk booths and to enjoy desserts and coffee offered under canopies at the parking lot. See Taste of Larchmont, p 4
Wilshire Blvd. to close for six weekends
Wilshire Boulevard will be closed beginning the weekend of Sept. 29 and continuing for up to six weekends as Metro continues its work on the Purple (D) Line Extension project. The design-builder will be removing concrete deck panels on Wilshire between La Brea Avenue and Detroit Street. The work begins on Friday nights at 9 p.m. and continues through 6 a.m. the following Mondays. La Brea will also be closed at Wilshire in both directions.
‘Summer Soiree’ honorees
YMCA Summer Soiree at the local Anderson Munger Family YMCA featured (from left) honorees Scot Clifford and Jane Gilman, Board Chair Chase Campen, Soiree Co-Chairs Patti Carroll and John Winther, honoree Michael Pak and Executive Director Rae Jin. Learn more in “Around the Town” on Page 8.
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