2009 (2008) (2008a) (2010) (2000-2010) (2010-2020) Table of Contents
Sources:
Martin Astin The Long Lost The Long Lost, Ninja Tune Zen CD133, 2009 Mojo April 2009 See Text
Philipp Blom, The Vertigo Years, Basic Books: New York, 2008, Briefly Noted: The New Yorker, 5 January 2009, 1900s, See Text
Communitas Awards, 2009,
Santa Monica Mayor Ken Genser [1949-2010] See Text
17 May 2009 8:45 p.m. Earthquake USGA Cal Tech See Map
Wendy Gilmartin Daedelus, Peanut Butter Wolf at the Echoplex Los Angeles Weekly, 18 June 2009
Elinor Graham [ -2009] See Text
Richard E. Howe [1926-2009], See Text
Honoring Mary Kay Kamath See Text
Mark Laird and Alicia Weisberg-Roberts (eds.) Mrs. Delany and Her Circle, Yale Center of British Art and Sir John Soane's Museum in association with Yale University Press: New Haven and London, 2009. 294 pp. See Notice
Mary Leipziger Fourth of July Photo Suite, 4 July 2009
The Passing Parade (2009 Fourth of July Parade), See Photo
Not to be Overlooked (2009 Fourth of July Parade), See Photo
Passing Fancy (2009 Fourth of July Parade), See Photo
By-Passed (2009 Fourth of July Parade), See Photo
The Long Lost Album by The Long Lost (Audio CD-2009)
Pam Maloney, The 2009 President Barak Obama Inauguration, 2009 See Text
Alyssa Navopanich Photography Collection, 2009 See Titles2009 Navopanich Photos
2219 Ocean Avenue Santa Monica Conservancy Tour See Image and Text2009 2219 Ocean Av.
Suzye Ogawa, Sculpture Contemporary Crafts Market, November 6-8, 2009, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica, CA, KR 2009 See Image
High & Low Tides, 2009: "Easy Read" Tide Book" For the Los Angeles Area Wilkins Printing: Atascadero, CA 93422, 16 pp., 2009
Honoring Irene Wolt [1946-2009] See Text2009 Wolt [1946-2009]
Roger Yung General Homer Lea [1886-1912] (See Link)
Ruth Y. Goldway and the Seattle Times, Docia Zavitkovsky 2010, 2009 See Text
Business Cards, News, Notes:
The Ocean Park Association's monthly meeting is Monday, December., the 14th at 6:30 pm in the community room at Joslyn Park.
Dec 19 Jo Todd and Yoly Tolentino caroling 11:30 am John Muir Antique Faire $1, 721 Ocean Pk/ Lincoln, enter on Pine 310.396.4418
Dec 19 Jo Todd and Yoly Tolentino caroling 3:30-5:30 pm UnUrban Coffee House donation, 3301 Pico (across from Trader Joe) 310-396-4418
Dec 22 Senior Celebration Sing-a-long Holiday songs led by vocalist Jo Todd Mt. Olive 11:30 am, 12:30 pm pot-luck lunch, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd (enter 14th St) 310.452.1116
Jo Todd WOMEN SPEAK-Other Voices Prods
310. 396-4418
Elinor Graham [ -2009]
Many of you know that Elinor Graham has not been well.
Recently she was admitted to the hospital, and her health declined rapidly during this past week.
I am sorry to inform you that she passed away this evening.
Our hearts are with her family and her extended family and her many, many friends.
We [COP] will let you know when services will be held.
The Ocean Park Branch Library, 2601 Main St., Saturday, November 14, 2009
Poetry at Ocean Park: Steve McDonald and Judith Pacht, 2 p.m.
Saturday Evening Poetry Series:
The Church in Ocean Park, 235 Hill Street on the northeast corner of Hill & 2nd in Santa Monica.
Saturday, November 14, 7:30 pm the Church in Ocean Park hosts editors Suzanne Frost, Sojourner Kinkade Rolle, G. Murray Thomas and selected writers from Sage Trail Publications two-year history.
jadis, : 11/10/09
Last Call with Carson Daly
from Jadis on Main Street
NBC 1:30
after Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon
Suzye Ogawa, Sculpture. Contemporary Crafts Market Postcard.
Contemporary Crafts Market, Unused postally, KR 2009
November 6-8, 2009, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica, CA. KR
Suzye Ogawa Sculpture
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium 1855 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90401 Novemeber 6-8, 2009, 10am to 6 pm Daily. Contemporary Crafts Market is our name and creativity is our game. Invite a guest to visit over 250 of America's finest jewelers, photographers, ceramicists, leatherworkers, furniture makers and fiber artists as they present and sell their work. Make this holiday special.
December 7, 2009 PBS News featured Jane Golden talking about her mural project in Philadelphia, and it's relevance to the national recovery.
Among the works chosen by the Obamas from the Smithsonian collections are works by Richard Diebenkorn, Sam Francis and Ed Ruscha, artists who's worked in Venice and Ocean Park . . .
The show, Mrs. Delaney and Her World, Alicia Weisberg-Roberts curated in New Haven is written about
http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/now-showing-mary-delany-a-force-of-nature/
Calenders, Events, etc.:
A funeral ceremony, honoring Irene Wolt [1946-2009], was held at 3 p.m. Friday, July 24 at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 Centinela Ave., Los Angeles. The gathering to follow will be held at the home of SMC employees Jim and Christina Galligan,
12807 Stanwood Drive, Los Angeles.
Dear College Community,
I am sad to inform you that Irene Wolt - a passionate advocate for our
students with disabilities who converted books, films and other
materials into formats that were accessible to these students - died
Tuesday at the age of 63.
Ms. Wolt was SMC's alternate media specialist with the Center for
Students with Disabilities for seven years, five of them as a consultant
before being hired as an employee.
Born and raised in the New York area, she received her B.A. degree in
psychology and liberal arts from Antioch University in Ohio.
A perfectionist who believed that disabled students deserve the very
best adaptations possible, she was an expert in the tedious work of
captioning films for deaf students and converting books so that blind
and learning disabled students could hear them. Colleagues say she was
tireless in her diligence, dedicated to keeping current with the latest
technological changes, and driven to make sure the students got the best
from her. Many students credited her with their success in classes.
Ms. Wolt also had an interesting life before and outside Santa Monica
College. She spent her entire adult life as an activist and chronicler
of civil rights movements that flourished in the 1960s and beyond, first
in New York and later in Santa Monica and Los Angeles. She worked with
several printing collectives and as an archivist in the anti-war
movement, the feminist movement, and the gay and lesbian rights
movement. She was also a writer, teacher, and media specialist. Her
personal collection of posters (itself a gold mine of activist history)
will reside in the Center for the Study of Political Graphics in Los
Angeles.
She is survived by her 95-year old father and many friends.
A funeral ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, July 24 at Hillside
Memorial Park, 6001 Centinela Ave., Los Angeles. The gathering to follow
will be held at the home of SMC employees Jim and Christina Galligan,
12807 Stanwood Drive, Los Angeles.
Chui Tsang
President
I thought you all would want to see what was sent out to the College
community today. Judy S.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Daedelus, Peanut Butter Wolf at the Echoplex
The always delightful and surprising Alfred "Daedelus" Darlington weaves his compositions together by pure instinct, knowing the uncanny connections between found sound, cinematic samples and his own instruments, combining them via a God-given sense of timing and spectacular segues. Peanut Butter Wolf, on the other hand, loots the mausoleum of rock's cadavers to build a funky Frankenstein monster that becomes as much about guessing what comes next, as it is a project that comes from his pure love and obsession for music. PWF is doing his choppy video editing set here, burning up DVD players like turntables and mixing visuals into a contorted social history of MTV. The two DJs are together tonight launching "Friends of Friends," a chain-letter label of sorts in which an artist is invited to join by signing on to do a split EP; they in turn invite another musician to complete the release or to commission a designer to create the EP's artwork or maybe a limited-edition T-Shirt. Interesting, no? Ecstatic joy awaits. (Wendy Gilmartin)
There will be a gathering in celebration of francEyE's life Sunday, June 21st at 1:00 pm at the Church in Ocean Park. (See Announcement)
Long Beach Camerata Singers have a yummy program of all Broadway musical numbers coming up on Saturday May 16-choral, solos, and small ensembles, old an new. At 7 PM there is a reception with light hors d'oeuvres plus a silent auction benefiting the programs and services of Camerata. The show itself is at 8 and will be well worth the price of admission.
Saturday, May 16, 2009 • 8 p.m.
Daniel Recital Hall at CSU Long Beach
Tickets: $30
http://www.longbeachcameratasingers.org/
(562) 522-1045
ContactUs@longbeachcameratasingers.org
David Avshalomov's latest instrumental work:
Los Angeles Clarinet Choir, Margaret Thornhill, director.
Premiere of THREE OUTSIDE, set of three highly-contrasting pieces projecting three different types of energy--mechanical, natural, human--in three different outdoor settings.
Movements;
Magic Fountain (for the eye and mind, mostly about harmony)
Moonsong (for the heart, mostly about melody)
Hill Dance (for the body, mostly about rhythm)
Written for this group; first movement was premiered last fall.
Performance materials completed with assistance from a Durfee Foundation Completion Grant.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
8:00 PM
South Pasadena Library community room
1175 El Centro, South Pasadena
Free will offering.
If you are in town, I hope you will be able to come hear this. I have taken some interesting chances in this piece, especially in the first movement.
Best, David
The Long Lost, Dakota Lounge, (formerly The Temple Bar), 9 p.m., 15 January 2009
Daedelus Meets Dance, 7:30 p.m., 18 January 2009. Edye Second Space, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401 http://www.TheBroadStage.com
The Obama Inauguration in Washington, D.C., January 2009 The Presidential Inauguration, See Text
2219 Ocean Avenue Santa Monica Conservancy Tour
Conservancy members are invited by the owners of the Little Yellow Cottage at 2219 Ocean Avenue to visit the interior and to hear the dramatic stories of its rescue from proposed demolition.
On Sunday, November 15, from 3-5 pm, members and friends may tour the house, learn how the neighborhood coalition organized to Save the Cottage, and how owners John and Donna Heidt protected and restored this historic structure.
It's been a long journey from a dilapidated turn-of-the-twentieth-century cottage to its charming and historical presence in Ocean Park, one that involved collaboration and dedication. Refreshments served, and parking is available in adjacent beach lots.
Tickets for members are $25, the general public $30. Pay online now. Checks payable to the Santa Monica Conservancy may be sent to P.O. Box 653, SM 90406.
If space is available, tickets will be available at the door; please bring exact change or a check.
Ben Wendel CD Release Tour "Simple Song," Sunnyside Records, Thursday, March 19th @ The Jazz Gallery, Manhattan, NY;
Ben Wendel CD Release Tour "Simple Song," Sunnyside Records, March 24th, 2009, The Jazz Bakery, Culver City, CA
Ben Wendel-Saxophones/Bassoon
Adam Benjamin-Piano/Fender Rhodes
Nir Felder-Guitar
Ben Street-Bass
Nate Wood-Drums
Opher Mansour Triumph and Punishment: Caravaggio's Victorious Cupid and its Metamorphoses, Caravaggio: Reflections and Refractions III, The Renaissance Society of America, Los Angeles 19-21 March 2009
Ben Wendel CD Release Tour "Simple Song" coming out on Sunnyside Records, March 24th, 2009
www.myspace.com/benwendelmusician
Sunday, March 29, 3:00 PM, Camerata Bach Festival, Jonathan Talberg, director,
Premiere of "There's a Wind" by David Avshalomov, commissioned by Camerata.
Plus three great motets of Bach, short works by Morley, Elgar.
Los Altos UM Church, 5950 E Willow St, Long Beach (right by the 405).
Free parking in church lot.
Tickets $25, discount for students and (this concert only) music educators.
This is a fine choir with a marvelous conductor, and it is going to be a good performance!
I hope you can attend. Please come say hello if you do!
Best,
David Avshalomov
I am trying to learn how to convert this Claris Home Page Manifestation into a more commodious, more modern platform capable of running on OS10. I've run out of space more the moment. . . . If you have advice I would appreciate you forwarding it to Kelyn@roadrunner.com
September 30, 2009 Tsunami Warning . . .
17 May 2009 8:45 p.m. Earthquake
Documents:
Martin Astin The Long Lost The Long Lost, Ninja Tune ZenCD133, 2009 Mojo April 2009
The Long Lost ****
If Nico had met Caetano Veloso instead of Lou Reed . . .
ignore the Ninja Tune associations-although half of Santa Monica's The Long Lost is Alfred Darlington, aka edgy electronica rover Daedelus, this liasion with his wife Laura is rooted in bossa nova beauty.
The backdrop to Laura's flawless, misty vocal is simple-acoustic guitar, double bass, pastel horn/woodwind/synth shades (Past Perfect's flutey counterpart is exquisite), sometimes shuffling drums (Ballroom Dance Club is almost drum 'n bass), even sampled speech.
Amiss, though, is pure 1966.
Alfred's occasional doleful vocal is John Cale to Laura's Nico with strings lopped into a hypnotic lull.
Siren Song updates Nico's Chelsea Girl sound.
Ballroom Dance Club, meanwhile, revisits United States of America.
The only fault to be found, after 14 tracks, is an eventual melodic sameness, but mood-wise-as befits high school sweethearts, who only reconnected years later-it's giddy, hopelessly romantic; a perfect antidote to domestic ennui.
Martin Astin
**** = good
Philipp Blom, The Vertigo Years, Basic Books: New York, 2008, Briefly Noted: The New Yorker, 5 January 2009, 1900s
"Blom's engrossing history begins with an invitation: "Imagine yourself looking at the years 1900 to 1914 without the long shadows of the future darkening their historical present." His imaginative re-creation of this period argues that speed-both literal and figurative-came to typify and, ultimately, define modern life. This was the age that gave rise not only to Futurism and Vorticism but also to car racing and the electric chair. Precipitate change also ushered in an age of uncertainty and attraction to the seeming stability of the past. The book's strength is also its charm-a multifaceted, panoramic approach animated by vivacious narration of individual stories, such as that of Eugene Sandow, the wildly popular Prussian bodybuilder and pioneering fitness mogul who counted George V and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle among his friends."
I finished Guy W. Finney . . . the Great Los Angeles Bubble, Forbes, 1929, 203 pp.
Richard E. Howe [1926-2009]
Noticed in Muskegon Chronicle on 4/29/2009
Mr. Richard E. Howe (Husband of Mary Ann) Norton Shores: Early Saturday morning, Richard Howe died. Preceding him, his son, David, parents, Edgar and Tillie, sister, Virginia Brown, brothers, Ned and Jim, brothers-in-law, Hugh Brown and Richmond Roberts, and grandson, Anthony Bacon. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; daughters, Lori (Jeff) Rohen and Mary Howe; step-children, Rosanne (Tony) Pace, Linda (Kevin) Bacon, Jaclyn Hitsman, John Anderegg, David (Melissa) Anderegg; and 13 beautiful grandchildren, as well as his ex-wife, Mackie Howe. Richard was born on September 11, 1926 and was raised in Grandville, MI. Following high school graduation, he joined the Navy and served his country honorably during the closing days of World War II. He returned to Michigan after the war and attended Michigan State University on the G.I. Bill. After graduation, he began his long career in the Michigan public schools, first teaching at the high school and elementary levels, then serving 25 years as an elementary principal. During that time, he earned graduate degrees from both Michigan State University and Western Michigan University. Richard loved children, admired teachers, and believed passionately in the public schools. He was an advocate for children-a true educator. In 1987, he retired from Mona Shores Public Schools and worked for a time for Western Michigan University as a Student Teacher Coordinator. The following years were devoted to volunteering in the Muskegon Heights Elementary Schools, playing tennis, reading, gardening and traveling with his wife, Mary Ann. He was a man with many interests-a kind, generous person with a brilliant intellect, and a wonderful sense of humor-a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and an excellent friend.
-4/29/2009-
From: oppenhoff@earthlink.net
Subject: Mary Kay
Date: October 16, 2009 4:44:04 PM PDT
To: kelyn@adelphia.net
Dear Friends,
A long-time Malibu community activist and dear friend to many of us,
Mary Kay Kamath died at home in Santa Barbara on August 22, following
a long illness.
Mary Kay served three terms on the Santa Monica/Malibu school board and briefly on the college board
(before the two split). She was only the second person from Malibu to serve and the first to come from the
school community having been a long time leader and tireless volunteer
in the PTA. She was on the board when the decision was made to close
Madison Elementary and Pt. Dume School , where her own children had
attended and she voted to establish Malibu High.
Mary Kay was an early member of SMRR even though she lived in Malibu.
She frequently chaired or served as parlimentarian for the annual
meetings of some of Santa Monica's neighborhood organizations. Accused
of being a handmaiden to Tom Hayden by a conservative opponent when she
first ran for election in 1981, she disarmed the audience by saying
that she had never met Mr. Hayden (pronounced like the classical
composer) but that she certainly intended to vote for him.
Mary Kay believed that one's self-interest was best served by doing the
right thing rather than the convenient thing. She believed strongly in
tolerance but was most intolerant of selfish behavior, bigotry and
hypocrisy. She was a careful listen
er who commanded respect when she herself spoke. Mary Kay believed in the essential need for people to do good, in spoiling children, in baking homemade cookies and in using one tea bag for the entire day. Becoming a friend of Mary Kay was, for me, love at first sight.
Having survived breast cancer in the mid 70's, Mary Kay regarded the
rest of her life as a precious gift. It was indeed to all of us who
knew her. Her husband, Sanjiv has said that Mary Kay did not want a
memorial service, but that if people wished to act in her memory, they
should donate to the charity of their choice.
With gratitude, love and deep respect,
Connie Jenkins
Roger Yung
General Homer Lea [1886-1912], 2009, 1993, 1912, 1904, 1886
http://www.homerleasite.com/Site/Welcome.html
The Long Lost Album by The Long Lost (Audio CD-2009)
Pam Maloney, The 2009 President Barak Obama Inauguration, 2009
Friends, clients, patients, colleagues and relations,
I want to share with you the amazing experience I am being swept up in!
The now World Famous Agape International Choir has formed an ensemble for the Presidential Inauguration activities. It is composed of the Agape Children's Choir, the teen choir named Joy, and a handful of us in the International Choir. I sing alto in the choir. I am ecstatic to be part of this monumentally historic event, the manifestation of our values formed in my teens!
At the inauguration we will be singing backup to former Black Eyed Peas member, Will I Am. We sing three songs, "It's A New Day", "Yes We Can", and "America Is Beautiful". We are also performing at three of the evening Balls in Washington, DC.
Earlier this week, we recorded a music session for the Oprah Show produced by David Foster. (Herbie Hancock and Ramsey Lewis were sitting in studio with us).
You can definitely see us on TV at the actual Inauguration, and on the Oprah Show, live in DC. The details of when the earlier music session taping will be aired are still unconfirmed, but it is my understanding it will be aired sometime next week.
Sunday Afternoon we will likely sing at the Lincoln Memorial free concert, as Will I Am sings. This is not confirmed as yet. It is broadcast on HBO.
Sunday night we are confirmed to sing with Rickie Byers Beckwith (our musical director) at the Om Ball with Ram Dass, Michael Beckwith, Toni Childs, Neal Donald Walsh, James Twyman & several other remarkable individuals.
On Monday night we are confirmed to sing back up for Will I Am at the Green Ball at the Smithsonian Museum, hosted by Al Gore. Later that same evening, we will perform at the Huffington Ball (Arrianna Huffington). Talk about a busy night!
There is a surprise Monday afternoon performance, which details have not been provided yet. I suspect we are to be on the Oprah show live, as I overheard David Foster speaking with our assistant Musical Director to that effect. They seem to need to keep the really big things secret until the last minute for security reasons. I'll just keep my fingers crossed!
Monday evening the Agape Children's Choir sing without us at the Children's Ball hosted by Michelle Obama and Joe Biden.
Tuesday we are confirmed with security passes and all to again sing back up for Will I Am at the official Presidential Inauguration Ceremony. "It's A New Day" has become the theme song for the event, so we will definitely be a part of the broadcast.
What a whirlwind of activities! I am in the back row of the choir because of my height, but you can't miss the red hair. I hope you catch more than a glimpse of me in the days to come. I am honored to be a part of this historic event and to share with you my exciting news!
The Agape International Choir, based in Culver City, CA, is scheduled to sing at the Obama Inauguration in Washington, D.C., January 2009
Washington - the center of The Center of the Known Universe these next few days. Here is a bit of news:
First, I want to let you know that we are confirmed for the Oprah Show on Monday. Watch for us!
And, secondly, a correction. We are not performing at the Inauguration itself but, rather, at the first-ever Neighborhood Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center. This event will be broadcast live on ABC.
The Green Ball, hosted by Al Gore and at which we will perform, will be broadcast live on Current TV.
- Pam Maloney at the Inauguration
Thank you for the very many email responses and phone calls from you in response to my last mailing. When I get home I will share with you all the details of this whirlwind adventure.
Alyssa Navopanich Photography Collection, 2009, 1940, 1937, 1930s 1923, 1921, 1920, 1908
Frisco Bakery Suite, 1908:
Mr. Erickson and Erik Rydgren, Frisco Bakery Deliveries 1908
Frisco Bakery, Pier Ave., Ocean Park, Mr. Erickson, 1908
Pier Ave., Frisco Bakery Delivery, 1908
Pier Ave. and Main St., Automobiles, 1908
Erick Rydgren and White Horse, 1908
Bert's Stand, Santa Monica Pier, c. 1931, Alice Pourray and Karl Rydgren. Photographer unknown. Photograph from the collection of Alyssa Navapanich.
McKinley School Kindergarten, including Karl Rydgren, 1920 Photographer unknown. Photograph from the collection of Alyssa Navopanich, 1920
McKinley Elementary School 1923, Karl Rydgren's Class, Unknown photographer. From the collection of Alyssa Navopanich.
Alice Pourray, c. 1931, Santa Monica Yacht Harbor Ocean Frontage Sign. Photographer unknown. Photograph from the collection of Alyssa Navapanich.
Clara Erica Rydgren and two of her sons, at the beach, 1921 Photographer unknown. Photograph from the collection of Alyssa Navapanich.
Karl Rydgren, Santa Monica Police Officer, c. 1940, Photographer unknown. Photograph from the collection of Alyssa Navapanich. 1940
Santa Monica Canyon Flood, 1937, Eric Rydgren is one of those near the popcorn stand. Photographer unknown. From the collection of Alyssa Navapanovich.
Santa Monica High School Post Card, 1930s
Ben Wendel (2009)
www.myspace.com/benwendelmusician
There will be a gathering in celebration of francEyE's life
Sunday, June 21st at 1:00 pm at the Church in Ocean Park.
The church is located at 235 Hill Street at the corner of 2nd and Hill Streets in theOcean Park district of Santa Monica. francEyE's three ministers, Rev. Janet McKeithen, Rev. Sandie Richards, and Rev. Jim Conn, will be conducting the memorial with music, poetry, and sharing from the community.
Parking and bus information: There is meter parking 1/4 block west of Main Street, $.75/hr to 10 hours and free parking from 4th Street and east. The Church is on the bus lines: Big Blue Bus #s 1, 2, & 8 and MTA #33.
Elinor Graham [ -2009]
Mark Laird and Alicia Weisberg-Roberts (eds.) Mrs. Delany and Her Circle, Yale Center of British Art and Sir John Soane's Museum In association with Yale University Press: New Haven and London, 2009. 294 pp.
Stevon Spurgeon-Assembly, Flight Test & Sales NightFlyer: The colorful high flying UFO that returns to you. impulsewave@msn@man.com
The Ocean Park July 4 Parade, The Ocean Park Association (Photos by Mary Leipziger 2009)
The Passing Parade (2009 Fourth of July Parade, Mary Leipziger, Photo)
Passers-by (2009 Fourth of July Parade, Mary Leipziger, Photo)
Not to be Overlooked (2009 Fourth of July Parade, Mary Leipziger, Photo)
Passing Fancy (2009 Fourth of July Parade, Mary Leipziger, Photo)
By-Passed (2009 Fourth of July Parade, Mary Leipziger, Photo)
Communitas Awards, 2009
Ken Genser
After Ken Genser graduated from college, he came to Santa Monica to continue his studies in architecture. His choice to live in Ocean Park was a natural one. Ocean Park was where, as a young boy, he spent weekends with his grandmother, and where his parents-both immigrants-lived in their youth, met and married.
Ken grew up in Beverlywood and Ladera Heights. At Inglewood High School he and his friends organized a discussion group to bring progressive topics and speakers to school. At an early age, Ken knew that he wanted to study architecture, which he did at the College of Environmental Design at the University of California, Berkeley, and later at Sci-Arc in Santa Monica
Ken see the events of his life as a series of unfolding experiences where he continualy learns from being in community with others. While living at the Sea Castle in the mid 1970s, he worked with his neighbors to establish a tenants' union after the building was put into receivership. Their goal was to purchase the building as a limited equity cooperative and preserve it as affordable housing in perpetuity. Although that effort was not successful, he met other like-minded people who wanted to preserve affordable housing and maintain the diversity of the community. It was with the group of people, working in conjunction with the Ocean Park Community Organization (OPCO), that Community Corporation of Santa Monica (CCSM) was founded with Ken serving on the first board of directors.
In the early 1980s Ken was appointed to a city task force to work on Santa Monica's Housing Element where he chaired the subcommittee on goals and policies. Next, he served on the city's Planniung Commission and later he became a director of the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation to help reconstruct the landmark pier damaged in the 1983 storms. A commitment to perservation with a mind towards providing access to a diverse group of people has guided Ken's decisionss.
In response to development policies he thought were inappropriate for Santa Monica, Ken ran for the City Council and was elected to his first term in 1988. Since then, he has served almost 21 years, and has been elected Mayor three times. But, when addressed as "Mayor Genser," he typically says, "Call me Ken."He says it's more important for people to understand that he has been elected as a resident-representative in the city government, and as such the formality of a title can only serve to obscure that job. Ken believes that the energy and vision of Santa Monica's people are the driving force behind the best programs of the City, including education and support for youth, housing, environmental sustainability, social services, and historic preservation. He describes as a key role of the city the provision of the infrastructure to nourish and manifest these creative energies from residents.
Ken's philosophy is that Santa Monica must strive to be a city of inclusion. When people get to know each other, traditional barriers fall and there is a greater potential for people of diverse backgrounds to form a sense of shared responsibilty. Through zoning, housing policy, urban design, cultural and recreational programs, and social services, cities can make it more or less likely for people to interact with their neighbors or a greater sense of community is a major driver of Ken's decisions as a council member.
As Ken works in community with others, he sees these as the top three accomplishments of the City:
1) Support for afforable housing. "We do a remarkable job here in Santa Monica, particularely in view of the high price of real estate. The effor began in the late 70s and early eighties with the adoption of policies to direct significant resources into affordable housing, and to adjust regulations to require and/or encourage its production and preservation. In addition, the people wisely enacted rent control."
2) Support for youth and our public schools. "Most cities do not provide local support for public education. We do. Additionally, we support a range of programs and services to provide young people programs and services that help them grow up in a more positive environment. These include support for child and infant care, recreational programs, homework assistance, cultural activities, and job training."
3) Environmental sustainability. "The city has a comprehensive sustainability plan that establishes meaningful goals to reduce our adverse impact on the environment. Sustainability is required in just about every decision of the city. Sustainability is considered in just about every every decision of the city. Areas of success include water conservation, sewage reduction, alternate fuels for vehicles, ocean pollution prevention, purchasing of goods and materials, and green buildings."
When asked what local buildiing he most identified with, Ken chose the 1940 Aero Theater on Montana Avenue. His grandfather was the contractor who built it in the style of French Norman architecture for Donald W. Douglas. His father worked there when it opened, and Ken had his first fundraiser there ("actually a fund-loser") when he ran for office in 1988. [see the same note in 1939 and 2010]
As Council person Richard Bloom describes, "Ken has been a driving force for preserving the things we cherish about Santa Monica. These include affordable housing, maintaining the scale and character of our residential community, and compassion and inclusion for everyone in our city. Ken encouraged and inspired me to get involved politically in Santa Monica and it has been an honor to serve with him on the City Council. Ken's sense of humor and sharp intellect are among his greatest assets. I am proud to be both his friend and colleague and commend him on this well deserved honor."
The honorable Ken Genser has shown a steadfast commitment to the living wage movement, city workers, and neighborhood groups in Santa Monica while giving tireless service on the City Council. Santa Monica and its residents are indeed fortunate that he has chosen this city to live, work and give.
Ruth Y. Goldway, Docia Zavitkovsky 2010
By the way, Docia Zavitkovsky (see the clip below) was one of the first people I met in 1976 when I was organizing my run for the state assembly. She was a wonderful fighter for what is right and had a significant national impact in the area of early childhood education. We've got lots more work to do to make our city and our country a better place. Here's a pause and a thank you to all those who went before us and those worked with us before we continue on in our own ways.
"Docia Zavitkovsky has passed away. Professor Zavitkovsky served as director of the school district's early childhood program for 39 years and was also the first full-time faculty member in Child Development at Santa Monica College. In her twenty years of service to the College, she was instrumental in the development of what is considered to be one of the best Early Childhood Education programs in California. Since her retirement in 1978, she has remained a valued resource not only to Santa Monica College and to the Santa Monica Child Care and Early Education Task Force but to child development and child care programs throughout the state and the nation. "
Docia was past president of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and served on the National Advisory Board for Early Childhood Today. She was a strong and influential leader in early childhood education and a beloved mentor and teacher for many people in our community. Our community's strong commitment to high quality early childhood education is, in part, her legacy.
Docia Zavitkovsky [1913-2009], Published in The Seattle Times, January 10 to January 11, 2010
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Docia Zavitkovsky [1913-2009] Beloved early childhood educator and leader for over 60 years, died peacefully on December 24, 2009 at the age of 96 [1913-2009]. For more than 30 years, Docia was Director of Children's Centers in Santa Monica, California. Under her leadership, the centers achieved national recognition for program excellence at the White House Conference on Children. She taught child development for many years at Santa Monica College, served as President of the National Association for the Education of Young Children from 1984-1986, and was a founding member of the Council for Professional Recognition which administers the Child Development Associate Credential. A tireless advocate for recognition of early childhood as the foundation for a rich and satisfying life, Docia continued her advocacy for children into her nineties as founding mother of Play Matters, a non-profit organization supporting programs in placing play at the heart of the early childhood curriculum. Docia received an honorary doctorate from Bank Street College of Education, was named Woman of the Year by the Santa Monica YWCA, received the CEASE Peace Award in 2008, and was honored by the California Association for the Education of Young Children in 2009 for her lifelong contributions to the field. Perhaps her greatest accomplishments, however, were the countless lives she touched as a mentor and friend. During the final weeks of her life Docia was lovingly cared for by her daughter Ann Zavitkovsky, Ann's partner, Parker Lindner, and a host of devoted friends. Memorial services will be January 15 at University House in Seattle, and on February 28, 2009 [2010] in Los Angeles. Memorial gifts may be made to Play Matters, Group Health Hospice, or Mercy Corps children's health kits.