By John Sanders and Lilly Roseburrough, Playa Vista Staff Writers “A Spring Soiree” MAY 7 Westside Pacific Villages, a local volunteer non-profit composed of individuals who assist older neighbors in maintaining their independence at home, is hosting a fundraiser. Westside Pacific Villages particularly focuses on widowed older adults and those living alone or far from […]
Cold Weather, Hot Place: Discover the beauty of Door County, Wisconsin
By Karen Schaffner, Playa Vista Staff Writer Lake Michigan ice is breaking up in Door County, Wisconsin. The shanty towns are coming down, but the lake was covered in ice just a few months ago. Located on a strip of land jutting into the lake, Door County gets the brunt of bad weather. During an […]
Full-Circle Moment: Cara Stevens helps to spark an interest in writing
By John Sanders, Playa Vista Staff Writer Lifelong author and marketing specialist Cara Stevens returned to Playa Vista with her husband after the two spent years in New York. The empty nesters set back out for the seaside community in what Stevens describes as a “full circle.” “What drew us here then still holds true […]
Have Fun This Summer: Camp activities for children run the gamut
By Zev Black, Playa Vista Staff Writer Whether kids are into theater, sports or crafts, there is a summer camp to keep every child entertained. Here is a sampling of what’s offered this year. UCLA Recreation Summer Camps Various locations campregistration@recreation.ucla.edu recreation.ucla.edu/summercamps2024 UCLA Recreation Summer Camps are scheduled to run from June 16 to Aug. […]
Summer of Fun: What’s new at local amusement parks
By Dylan Lotts, Playa Vista Staff Writer As summertime quickly approaches and children are nearly finished with school, local amusement parks like Disneyland, Universal Studios, Legoland and Knott’s Berry Farm have plenty of new attractions to make this break unforgettable. Whether it’s celebrating Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, celebrating pop culture at Universal Studios’ Universal Fan Fest […]
Team Tami: It’s about interactions, not transactions
By Jessica Koslow This year marks 19 years since Tami Humphrey began her real estate career in Playa Vista. Over nearly two decades, she has witnessed the community’s tremendous growth firsthand. “I started working in Playa Vista and the surrounding areas when I moved here in 2006,” Humphrey shared. “I love this community so much, […]
Focusing on Well-Being: Eden Garcia-Balis cares for the community
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Eden Garcia-Balis firmly believes everybody deserves quality mental health care, regardless of socio-economic status. After working as a case manager, she wanted to do more, so she decided she needed to earn her master’s degree in counseling. “I’ve always been drawn to community mental health,” she said. “I earned my license and […]
‘Keeping It Real’: Integrity is key to Aileen Smollins’ career
By Jessica Koslow After spending years running her own all-inclusive resort-based travel company, Aileen Smollins discovered a new talent flipping houses — which quickly blossomed into her next career. It’s been an amazing journey, she said. It was her calling. Her first house was a craftsman in the Jefferson Park area of Los Angeles. “I […]
Portrait of a Visionary: Assil Gaur Eye Institute is taking Lasik, eye care to the next level
By Ed Condran When LeBron James returned quickly from a torn tendon in his right foot in 2023, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar was asked about his recovery. “I went to the LeBron James of feet,” James replied. Well, when James aimed to improve his vision with Lasik surgery, the future NBA Hall of Famer […]
Clear sky, clear thoughts: Take time out at luxury ranch
By Karen Schaffner Talk about living your best life. At work, the phone doesn’t stop ringing, there’s one crisis after another and, because of it all, it’s time for a break. About 66 miles northwest of Phoenix, Rancho de los Caballeros in Wickenburg, Arizona, is the place to refresh and hear yourself think again. The […]