Historic homes, local school’s 100th, First Century and more
Lots of activity was going on around the town in November, all just a precursor to the busy December holiday season.
Our neighborhoods’ venerable Windsor Square Hancock Park Historical Society presented its annual home tour on Nov. 2, this year titled “The Merry Homes of Windsor Blvd.”
SOCIETY DOCENT Jane Gilman (center) welcomes tour guests to Windsor Square’s historic Janss-Chandler house.
Member volunteers registered guests and distributed a handsome and informative program booklet at the Windsor Boulevard home of June Bilgore. Other volunteers served as docents at the four houses on the tour, explaining the homes’ histories and pointing out features of their architecture and interior décor.
WINDSOR SQUARE HANCOCK PARK Historical Society volunteers (from left) Diane Sherwood, Suzanne Branchflower, Diana Braker and Marlene Zweig work the check-in table.
The houses were at 434, 606 and 616 South Windsor and at 455 Lorraine. The first and last (434 and 606) originally were part of a seven-parcel project planned in Windsor Square for members of the Janss family. 606 Lorraine later was named Los Tiempos when occupied for decades by Los Angeles Times publisher Mr. Norman Chandler and Mrs. Dorothy Buffum Chandler.
HOMES TOUR-GOERS listened to a history spiel from docent Bret Parsons in the living room at 616 S. Windsor Blvd..
The other two houses on Windsor (606 and 616) were especially intriguing to tour-goers because the houses originally were part of the same property.
A comprehensive collection of photos from the “Merry Homes” tour is on Flicker at:
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THIRD STREET SCHOOL’S 100th anniversay shindig was on Las Palmas Ave.
PANTHER students debate cupcake merits at Third Street’s 100th celebration.
The next day, Las Palmas Avenue between Second and Third streets was closed for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the adjacent Third Street Elementary School.
The block party, which also extended onto the school campus, featured booths with arts and crafts, face painting, carnival games and prizes. A stage at the end of the block hosted performances, including a visit from the puppets of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, and speeches and presentations from parents and alumni and local dignitaries such as City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky.
FIRST CENTURY Families annual luncheon attendees included locals (from left) Kathleen Zlockovich and her mother, Carolyn Layport, Andrew Woodward, Elita Hotaling Balfour and Henry Woodward.
THE CALIFORNIA CLUB was the setting for the First Century Families luncheon attended by Marilyn Kezirian and her hostess, Windsor Square’s Marilyn Thomas.
Downtown, later in that week, about 175 people gathered on Nov. 7 for the 84th annual luncheon of First Century Families, a group founded 86 years ago to renew friendships annually among descendants of the pioneers who came to Southern California before or during the first 100 years after the founding of the City of Los Angeles on September 4, 1781. Each year, the luncheon attendees also hear a presentation that is recorded and added to other family records preserved for scholars studying Southern California’s growth and progress.
This year’s presenter was James Michael Doyle, who gave an informative and entertaining illustrated talk titled, “The Many Beach Clubs of Santa Monica.”
Luncheon chairman was Hank Hilty of the A.F. Gilmore Company, owner of the Original Farmers Market. Other locals on the luncheon committee were Ynez Violé O’Neill and Chronicle publisher John H. Welborne. Locals attending the luncheon included Andrew Woodward and his son, Henry Woodward; Carolyn Layport and her daughter, Kathleen Zlockovich; and Elita Hotaling Balfour, who grew up on Windsor Boulevard but now lives in Pasadena with her husband, David Balfour, who grew up on June Street and also attended. Windsor Square’s Marilyn Thomas was there and had, as her guest, Marilyn Kezirian.
The beautiful blue and white floral centerpieces were provided by Alyce Williamson, whose de Roulet family home was on June. Among the guests at her table was Marilyn Brant Chandler DeYoung, who grew up on June in a house now part of the Turkish Consul General’s residence and who came down from Montecito for the luncheon. Joann Clark from Windsor Square attended, as did Lisa Hutchins, whose mom, Lucy McBain, came up from the desert for the event. Bettijane Stuppy Pike, who grew up in the historic Victorian house at Fourth Street and Lorraine Boulevard, was there, as were about a dozen members of the Workman family.
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LARCHMONT LOCALS, from left, Michele Sanchez and Make Good founder Ruth Stalford enjoy an afternoon with JLLA President-Elect Dawn Eash and Mistress of Ceremonies Christina Pascucci.
JLLA President Cristina Rivard (far left) and 2024 Harvest Boutique Chair Rafaella Liserre (far right) present the Community Achievement Award to mother-daughter duo Pepper Edmiston and Susan Abrams, founders of Happy Trails for Kids.
MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES and local journalist Christina Pascucci addresses JLLA’s supporters during the luncheon and awards presentations.
Some of the dresses swept the floor. Some were short and powerful. Some sparkled. Some were casual and comfortable. And every one of them showed the power of the women who wore them as members and supporters of the Junior League of Los Angeles (JLLA) who arrived at the Skirball Cultural Center to celebrate the JLLA’s Silver Jubilee Harvest Boutique on Nov. 17. The 500 guests were greeted by an ivy-covered wall of rose-tinted champagne glasses. The boutique vendors sold their wares (perfectly timed for the holidays), giving a portion of proceeds to the nonprofit League. Items included jewelry by French designer Coco Maloo, fine chocolates by Coco Suisse, beaded headbands, scarves, kaftans and toffees. Guests were also treated to silent auction items that included an exclusive HBO experience to attend “The White Lotus” season three premiere, a private wine class, an all-inclusive family escape to Costa Rica and a New York City Broadway experience. Guests noshed on cheese and crackers while perusing the auction items, then were ushered into the soaring Guerin Pavilion for brunch and the program.
The JLLA, built on the idea of an “organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training,” was established in Los Angeles in 1926.
Mistress of Ceremonies Christina Pascucci, a local journalist and yearslong JLLA member, spoke of her own experiences volunteering for the organization. “You show people that they matter, because you’re giving your most precious gift — your time.” JLLA President Cristina Rivard welcomed guests and spoke of the significance of the League. “It really does take a village, and I’m emotional about it for good reason.” Rivard then recognized this year’s awards honorees. Mother-daughter duo Pepper Edmiston and Susan Abrams, who founded Happy Trails for Kids, a nonprofit organization providing overnight summer camps and other year-round outdoor adventures for youth in the Southern California foster care system, received the Community Achievement Award. Dr. Julie Elginer, who has served as a California State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) delegate, JLLA’s public policy director, action learning team coach for the Association of Junior Leagues International and as a sustaining advisor for the League’s Public Policy Council, received the Spirit of Volunteerism Award. Make Good founder and Larchmont local Ruth Stalford spoke about her nonprofit’s collaboration with JLLA. “There are 2,000 kids aging out of foster care each year. We work really hard to make sure those kids get the same things our kids get. Without the JLLA, we wouldn’t be able to do this.”
The mood of the speakers and audience was unanimous, as Julie Elginer shared the Pirkei Avot quote, “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” The JLLA plans to raise $2 million (it is more than halfway there!) during its 2026 Centennial Campaign, and from the enthusiasm at the Harvest Boutique, it is a realistic goal.
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THE KIA WKNDR concept car ties in with the camping-oriented vehicles prominent in the 2024 LA Auto Show’s West Hall at the Convention Center.
SUBARU shows off vehicles in a rural setting honoring our national parks.
OUTDOORS ENJOYMENT is a 2024 Auto Show theme typified by this Volkswagen van.
Finishing off the month was the Nov. 22 opening of the Los Angeles Automobile Show which continues at the Los Angeles Convention Center until Dec. 1.
Always a draw for the car-curious from around Southern California and elsewhere in the world, the show is one of the nation’s most impressive, and this year is no different.
This year’s show fills more than a million square feet at the Los Angeles Convention Center. On view are hundreds of the latest gas, hybrid and EV models from dozens of manufacturers.
The giant West Hall has many displays featuring the great outdoors — artificial trees and projected backdrops of national parks and a wide variety of vehicles tricked out for camping. Learn more at: laautoshow.com.
And now you’re in the Larchmont know!
Category: People