[Editor’s Note: In honor of the laudatory life and Wednesday’s death of civic leader Vince Motyl, the newspaper has prepared a three-story tribute.] The first time I sought to do business with Vince Motyl was 13 years ago last spring when the print edition of this newspaper debuted. Entering his Washington Boulevard office, I pitched him on becoming an advertiser … Read More

Vince Motyl, businessman and civic leader for decades in Culver City, died on Wednesday afternoon at Cedars-Sinai following surgery. He was 75 years old. No funeral plans have been announced. One of the most familiar (non-employee) faces around City Hall, Mr. Motyl was a regular at community events. “This is a sad day for Culver City,” Mayor Jeff Cooper said … Read More

The Most Awaited Publication this week in Culver City is not Hillary’s newest. It may or may not be more stimulating than Hillary’s book – but it is 120 pages thicker. The hottest EIR in America – the almost breathlessly awaited draft environmental impact report on new regulations for a corner slice of the Inglewood Oil Field – will be … Read More

Early on Monday morning in the quietest residential neighborhood in Phoenix, I was preparing to say goodbye to my fiancé Shira before driving home. Without warning, she uttered the eight sweetest, most mellifluous words ever to swim into my ears: “I can’t wait to start living with you.” Like a snowball sunning himself in the Arizona desert, I melted. Even … Read More

Third in a series One of the most amazing aspects of the life story of the late and amazing Ross Hawkins, film documentarian, was his ordinary entry into show business. “He had a wonderful history of working behind the scenes,” says Tyler St. Mark, a writer-producer. Mr. St. Mark was Mr. Hawkins’s closest professional associate in the last 10 years … Read More

Second in a series Re “Ross Hawkins Is Dead at 77” Although the terms “Hollywood” and “film” and “movies” instantly project glamourous images, film historian Ross Hawkins – who died last week — turned such assumptions on their well-coiffed haircuts. He was workingman all the way. He looked and acted that way. The Ocean Park neighborhood native spend his younger … Read More

Legalized marijuana is supposed to be the most scintillating topic in the community – but only a magician who can slickly make numbers appear, could prove it. The astute international businessman Goran Eriksson, a member of the City Council, was in the audience last week when an executive from a cannabis management firm addressed a Chamber of Commerce breakfast open … Read More

First in a series Film documentarian Ross Hawkins, who tirelessly devoted decades to unearthing and publicizing Culver City’s forgotten prominence in the early years of the Hollywood motion picture industry, died at his Culver City home on Wednesday morning.  He was 77 years old. Funeral arrangements have not been made. Mr. Hawkins eventually will be buried by the side of … Read More

First in a series It may be comparable to roam about a mammoth space that is completely dark. Two months after Sentinel Peak Resources dramatically ducked out of a debate with the City Council over new rules for the Inglewood Oil Field, their sudden disappearance remains a mystery. One reason: The company has ducked interviews. To make their point with … Read More

First in a series The City Council has indicated that the emotionally awaited draft environmental impact report for the city’s corner of the Inglewood Oil Field may be ready by the end of next week. What can/should an effective community activist such as Tom Camarella be doing? First, he noted, Sentinel Peak Resources, operator of the field, “has said they … Read More