Where to Cedars Opens New Tarzana Offices Free Exhibit of Celebrate This Academy-Award Celebrate Page 14 Valentine’s Day Nominated Valentine’s Day Costumes Locally See Pages 6 & 7 See Page 9 Volume 37, Number 50 Serving Warner Center Since 1982 February 6, 2020 ***When stripping in - take out date line below Valley Vantage - we’re getting double lines!!! News in Brief What’s In a Name? How Flora, Favorite Daughters, Failed Travels L A S V I R G E andN E More S ALed Nto Cities’D Monikers By Christopher James and Pacoima are the If you have ever most obvious examples wondered about where of this storied heritage. the names of the different Surprisingly, Tarzana is not. CALABASASneighborhoods E and citiesNTERPRISE Encino was shortened Volume 49, Number 50 Servingin the CalabasasValley came Since from, 1963 Februaryfrom “Los 6, Encinos,” 2020 which you may be surprised by was shortened from “El the historical, economic, Valle de Santa Catalina de Calabasas Creates Kobe Crash Memorial political and even accidental Bononia de Los Encinos,” ways our various areas which the locals probably In memory of the January 26 helicopter crash in got their identities. decided was too long to fit Calabasas that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven Take for example the on a sign before the words others, the City of Calabasas has planted nine roses in De city of Calabasas. It was “car wash.” Encino means Anza Park. The park became an informal memorial in the named by accident, literally. “oak” in Spanish and the first days following the crash, and the cards, memorial gifts Allow me to explain... Spaniards to meander and messages left there were collected and sent to Bryant’s First off, how many of into the Valley came Mamba Sports Academy, which is coordinating delivery of you know that the land by way of the now- those items to the families. According to Calabasas Mayor of the Kardashians and named Sepulveda Alicia Weintraub, there are future plans to pay tribute to the the Sagebrush Cantina Pass and were amazed victims in a more permanent manner. loosely translates into, by the number of “The place where oak trees in the area the pumpkins fell?” that is now Ventura While that may seem and Sepulveda. As like a better title for was customary, the a Hemingway novel Spanish friars and than an upscale soldiers threw in bedroom community, the name of a saint, it’s the loose Spanish this time Catherine translation of Calabasas. of Bologna who is the patron That’s right. In Spanish saint against temptations. “calabaza” translates into either They reportedly chose her pumpkin, gourd or squash and AFTER a gut busting and as the legend goes an Oxnard fatty lunch at Jerry’s on Petit. farmer on his way to the markets The same Spanish explorers Going the Way of the Catalogue... of the Los Angeles Pueblo were also responsible for naming spilled a wagonload of pumpkins Van Nuys. It was named after a The old Sears building at Westfield Topanga is coming somewhere in the area between local farmer turned real estate down. According to Dan Hill, Senior Vice President of what is now Parkway Calabasas developer, Isaac Newton Van Development for Westfield, the 150,000-square-foot building and Valley Circle Boulevard. Nuys, who owned the land in is being torn to the ground and a completely new three-story The mushed pumpkins released partnership with another farmer, structure built that will open November 2021. Tenants in the new Clockwise: A Calabasas monument their seeds into the dirt and sign, Marian Otis, the Reseda Isaac Lankershim. Lankershim building, slated to be a dining and entertainment experience, got the raw end of the deal winds and the next spring wild Oderata plant, and a will be announced in the next few months, according to Hill. pumpkin patches had sprung up apparently, as he just got a street Woodland Hills street sign. As to the Promenade Mall, he said that Westfield is making all over the area. Now, for all of while his partner plastered his modifications to the original plan, including the design and you Calabasas residents shocked name on the whole damn town. tenancy of the proposed stadium. He said that the company to find out that your fancy- The Spanish theme is a Call me crazy but I think there was in discussion with possible operators, including a women’s schmancy community was named common one in the Valley seeing could have been some town soccer team and various music promoters. Whether the venue after a vehicle accident involving as how after the indigenous name that would have worked will be an open- or closed-roof facility is not yet determined, a lowly gourd, just be grateful Chumash and Tongva Indian for both of them….Hmmm… but Hill said most operators they have spoken with want it it wasn’t named “Oh s&!t”, or tribes, the Spanish were the let me think….hmmmm…. closed. A hearing on the Promenade will be held March 26 in “Mierde” after the wagon driver’s first Europeans to visit the Tarzana, if it had a regional Van Nuys. probable reaction to the wreck. region. Encino, San Fernando (Continued to page 16) Page 2, Valley News Group, February 6 , 2020 FEBRUARY COMMUNITY COMMUNITY CALENDAR WOODLAND HILLS: Poets David del Bourgo and Jacqueline Tchakalian lead a poetry workshop on Saturday, February 8, from 12 to 2 pm that gives writers a chance to share their poems-in-progress and to hear Vacation constructive critique and suggestions. Bring 10 copies of your poem so others will be able to read along. WEST HILLS: Community open gym basketball is played in the gym at West Valley Christian Church, Thursdays at 8:30 pm at 22450 Sherman Way. ibes alues! CALABASAS: V & V Learn to utilize digital services with your library card 1 for free at a special session at the Calabasas Library on Thursday, February 13, at noon. Free streaming video options available include GET UP TO $100 IN VALUE PER BOOKING e-books, audiobooks, Kanopy, Acorn TV and more! Bring your devices ON PLEASANT HOLIDAYS AAA VACATIONS®! and after the lecture there will be time to help you! For more info, call 818-225-7616. WEST HILLS: The Foundation for the Preservation of the Santa Susana Mountains continues its training series for park docents, naturalists and hike leaders on Saturday, February 8, from 10 am to 1 CHOOSE FROM DESTINATIONS LIKE: pm. This session is “Birds of the Santa Susanas,” led by Ranger Frank Hoffman and Art Langdon of the Audubon Society. Meet at the former Hawai’i site of the Santa Susana Field Lab at the top of Woolsey Canyon Road. 2 Cost: $50 for the series, $15 per class for drop-ins. RSVP required: • 5 nights from $797 LAND ONLY [email protected]. WOODLAND HILLS: Join long time meditator Doug Frankel at the Caribbean 3 Platt Library on Saturday, February 8, from 11 to 12 pm as he offers • 5 nights from $558 LAND ONLY this engaging workshop on how to use the practice of meditation to transform the heart. Learn how to let go of anger, fear and worry in order to create more harmonious relationships, improve work and USA 4 home environments, and experience a deep sense of personal peace • 5 nights from $782 LAND ONLY and love. The workshop will include a short meditation session. YOUR VACATION MAY INCLUDE: CALABASAS: The City of Calabasas will hold their City Council Daily Breakfast; Kids Stay Free5; Resort Meeting on Wednesday, February 12, from 7 to 10 pm at 100 Civic Coupons; All-Inclusive Meals & Free Wi-Fi! Center Way. This meeting will be streamed live on CTV. WEST HILLS: The weekly West Valley breakfast meeting of the Southland Regional Association of Realtors Outwest Group takes place at Weiler’s West Hills Deli (22323 Sherman Way at Shoup) Friday mornings at 8:30 am. The meeting is open to all real estate agents, trades people and anyone else who is interested in real estate. BOOK NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 29, 2020! ASK YOUR AAA TRAVEL AGENT ABOUT CURRENT OFFERS AND OTHER DESTINATIONS AAA TRAVELS WITH YOU CALL: (800) 741-1605 CLICK: AAA.com/TravelBenefits VISIT: Your Local Auto Club Branch O'AHU, HAWAI'I 1Must be booked by February 29, 2020 with travel complete by December 31, 2020. Minimum five night stay at participating AAA Vacations® properties required. $100 activity voucher is nonrefundable, nontransferable, has no cash value and applies to the following destinations: Mexico, Hawai‘i, Central & South America and select Caribbean destinations. Savings not reflected in rates shown and applies to the following destinations $50 savings: USA (excluding Hawai’i), Canada; $100 savings: Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia, select Caribbean destinations (Anguilla, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Grand Cayman, Grenada, Martinique, St. Barts, St. Croix, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Martin and St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Turks & Caicos), Tahiti (French Polynesia), Fiji and Cook Islands. 2Rate is per person, land only, based on double occupancy, for check-in on May 4, 2020 in standard king room accommodations at Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort in O’ahu and includes government taxes. 3Rate is per person, land only, based on double occupancy, for check-in on May 4, 2020 in deluxe tropical view room accommodations at Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa Unlimited-Luxury® in Dominican Republic and includes government taxes. 4Rate is per person, land only, based on double occupancy, for check-in on May 7, 2020 in guest room accommodations at INNSIDE by Meliá New York NoMad and includes government taxes.