Lorraine Wells - Mar Vista Community Fall Festival & Silent Auction Honoree

We would like to extend our greatest congratulations to this year's Mar Vista Community Fall Festival & Silent Auction honoree, Lorraine Wells.

Honoree Lorraine Wells with Councilmember Mike Bonin

Lorraine has resided in  Mar Vista for the past fifteen years after moving from West L.A. where she managed the Mole Hill Gift Shop in the Westside Pavilion. Her commitment to the community became quickly  evident when she went to work at Trash and Treasures on Venice Blvd.  She managed the store for over fifteen years. Now retired, Lorraine keeps busy making sure our beautiful neighborhood continues to prosper and come together. Lorraine is devoted to the Mar Vista Community Council and the many outreach programs that make Mar Vista a truly special place.

Lorraine Wells & MVCC Board Member Yvette Molinaro

Working alongside others, Lorraine was passionate and devoted to the creation of the Mar Vista Farmers' Market that we have all grown to love.

For more than a year prior to the Mar Vista Farmers' Market grand opening in 2006, Lorraine lined up support and worked tirelessly  to convince  every community group and organization in the greater Mar Vista area that the market was a good idea. Since the opening of the Farmers' Market, Lorraine, a founding board member, continues her passion by volunteering at the market most every Sunday and dedicating herself to community outreach. Her most devoted effort is personally shopping  for the Neighborhood Youth Association after school snack program. She ensures that the children have the best locally sourced fruits and veggies compliments of  the Mar Vista Farmers' Market each and every week.

Lorraine Wells & Master of Ceremonies Nathan Dana Aldrich

While her community outreach efforts have truly changed the lives of many Mar Vista residents, Lorraine's ongoing involvement in the Mar Vista Community Council and the North Westdale Neighborhood Association continues to benefit larger Mar Vista.  She has a special way of reaching out to people and creating a sense of caring and interest in her Mar Vista neighbors and goings on of the neighborhood. Today we thank and appreciate Lorraine for her steadfast devotion and commitment to  the people and the place we proudly call, Mar Vista.

Tom Ponton, Sharon Commins, Lorraine Wells, Mike Bonin, Albert Olson,
 Diana Rodgers and Len Nguyen - photo by Roy Persinko

Bill Rosendahl, the Ultimate Councilman

Bill Rosendahl, the UltimateCouncilman

Many of us in Mar Vista first met Bill Rosendahl in a packed auditorium at Venice High School in September of 2004.  Over 1,000 Mar Vista residents came to protest the massive development being planned for Playa Vista.  Bill walked over to Venice High School from his Mar Vista home with many of his neighbors. Not yet our councilman, Bill stood up and spoke in support of the people. The following year, we elected him as our Councilman and we have never regretted it.

As our former District Eleven Los Angeles City Councilman, Bill fought the big developers, promoted environmental causes, supported Native Americans, helped create homes for the homeless, promoted mass transit, and pushed hard for a more open and responsive city government. Even with all that, Bill has always made time to be out in his district with his constituents.

Bill truly emulates what it means to be a man of the people. He has been seen at virtually every block party and neighborhood gathering in the district, not just talking, but listening to his neighbors. He has joined rallies to protest Mar Vista dogs locked out of the Santa Monica Dog Park and other rallies to protest jet air pollution from the Santa Monica Airport. He used some of his district money to improve Venice Blvd and his offices to collect school supplies for the needy and clothing for the homeless. Bill fought against LAX expansion and cuts to Fire and Police service while downtown, then found time to volunteer for Meals on Wheels back in our neighborhood.

From the impromptu meetings in his Mar Vista home, complete with a dog in the house and chickens in the backyard, to the regular Sunday visits at the Mar Vista Farmers’ Market chatting with neighbors and picking up greens for the chickens, Bill has become a staple in our community.

We are proud to have Bill Rosendahl as our beloved friend.

Thank you Bill, from all of Mar Vista and all of humanity.

Bill Rosendahl, Paul Koretz, Tom Ponton and Mike Bonin - Photo by Roy Persinko