EL SEGUNDO HERALD September 1, 2016 Page 3 Letters Big Thanks to Marsha Hansen I just had to write and thank Marsha Hansen and her cast of characters (Rotary, Volunteers, etc) for their dedication and commitment to an amazing series of Art Walks. It was like trick or treat for adults. What a wonderful opportunity to have businesses open their doors and the community to come together and visit while enjoying some amazing artwork in so many genres. It seemed like the town glowed with the party-like atmosphere. The owners of the businesses who participated were eager to share their wares and meet prospective customers, as well as old friends. Just when you thought you were happy with living in El Segundo, we have the Car Show. Marsha, the Chamber and friends executed another fabulous over-the-top event. Again over 300 vehicles were displayed and literally hundreds, if not thousands, strolled Main St. to enjoy the efforts of car owners and their precious rides. Restaurants were bubbling over with customers, people were happy. I have lived in El Segundo for a long time, and it’s events like the ArtWalk and Car Show that demonstrates, that El Segundo is the friendliest city, and that efforts of the organizers paid off. This is a great place to live. Thank you to all who worked the events. – Beth Muraida Some Compassion, Please I read Brian Simon’s report on the City Council’s considering measures addressed at oversized vehicles parked in town with a sinking heart. In a town where 3-bedroom houses are selling for more than a million dollars, I wish that we citizens of El Segundo could approach the oversized vehicles problem by asking “what can we do to help the people that are living in these vehicles” instead of asking “how can we rid our streets of them”. – Maria Montag El Segundo Cares Once again the community has shown they care about our veterans by their generous donations sent to the Wilshire hospital on August 26. This was our third visit this year with the clothing, grooming items and treats. Also donated and eagerly received, were numerous ink pens, pencils, notebooks, Crossword puzzle books and numerous interesting reading pocket books. Their gratitude was overwhelming, so thanks to all. A big thank you to the volunteers that transport the donations and hand them out. They are the greatest. Chevron employees are scheduled to take a collection of donations to the hospital on September 23. This will be their second time, their first trip was unbelievable. Thank you, you are wonderful. It is with great pride to have so many people working together, showing appreciation for the time and effort our men and women vets have given to protect America’s freedom. El Segundo Cares will also be there on September 23, and our last visit in 2016 will be in November. – Jan Cruikshank Go Metro on Game Day to see the LA Rams, USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins play. 17-0382ps_sby-ie-17-002 ©2016 lacmta Go Metro to LA Football The Bruins take over the Rose Bowl and the Rams and Trojans share the Coliseum this fall – Metro wants to get you there. Metro provides frequent bus and rail service to both stadiums, so you won’t get caught in tra;c or miss a minute of the action. To plan your trip and >nd the route that’s best for you, visit metro.net/gameday. Help Us All Travel Safely With the combination of our law enforcement o;cers, Metro’s state-of-the-art security system and your help, we can create a safe and pleasant ride for everyone. If you see any suspicious activity while riding, report it immediately by calling 1.888.950.SAFE, using the LA Transit Watch app or using the intercom on trains and at Metro Rail stations. To learn more, visit metro.net/security. Go Metro to See the Dodgers Join Metro sta=, riders and supporters on Wednesday, September 7th, as we celebrate MSRC/Metro Night at Dodger Stadium! The special event ticket package includes your ticket, Metro activations, entertainment and the opportunity for pre-game center>eld recognition. Purchase tickets at dodgers.com/metro. Metro Reminds You to Pay Your Fare Each year, Metro loses millions of dollars to riders who don’t pay their fares. Help us keep our fares low and maintain a balanced budget by remembering to pay each time you ride a Metro bus or train. Failure to pay could result in a >ne of up to $1000. For a list of fares and to apply for a reduced fare, visit metro.net/fares. metro.net @metrolosangeles losangelesmetro School Spotlight The Joy of the El Segundo Art Walk from a Teen Perspective Story and Photos by Cece Jane Stewart, a senior at El Segundo High School It was as if being transplanted to some hip neighborhood in SoHo as I went on my first El Segundo Art Walk on Thursday, Aug. 18. As a senior at El Segundo High School, Smoky Hollow, has always been that part of El Segundo that you drive through, never really observing. Smoky Hollow is the area between Grand and El Segundo Blvd, which along with a number of locations in Downtown, is home to a plethora of creative businesses, which hosted pop-up galleries for El Segundo Art Walk. As an art lover and museum connoisseur, I was truly astounded by the creativity that abounds throughout El Segundo. The El Segundo Art walk has been a summer activity for two summers now, with one event each month in June, July and August. From 5 to 9 p.m. 30 pop-up galleries open to display an eclectic array of art, with a complimentary shuttle that will take you from venue to venue if you don’t want to walk. Although I will say that it was a beautiful evening, and the night air was the perfect California evening. I saw people of all ages, from babies in strollers to seniors, and many families enjoying the evening together. In addition to the pop-up galleries, five creative spaces offered music and I particularly enjoyed the music at South Bay Customs, a motorcycle Artwork that features a lifeguard tower overshadowed by a palm tree, all done in pinks and blues with an entire background of symmetrical polka dots. shop which is really a cool sight to be seen. It was also a treat, when visiting Smoky Hollow Studios to enjoy the array of food trucks where a hungry walker can stop and order a Life-size black and white polka dotted giraffe wearing pearls. See School Spotlight, page 8 Unconstructed, geometric drawings of people often without facial features but with overlays of extra body parts, and pops of color. South Bay Physician Takes Whole Person Care to New Heights By Brian Simon While serving his internship in Fresno in the late 1970s, young physician in training Ira Byock had an interaction with a patient that would forever change his life. The exchange seems rather nondescript at first glance. “How are you doing this morning, Mr. Rodriguez?” Dr. Byock had asked. “I’m well,” Mr. Rodriguez replied. That was it. And yet, the patient was dying and knew very well that his days left on this planet were severely numbered. The moment left Dr. Byock perplexed. “At first, I didn’t know what to do with it,” he said. “Was Mr. Rodriguez just being polite, or was he in some euphoric state from painkillers? But then I realized that it is possible to express a sense of well-being even if you know you are dying, may be sad about it, or are physically uncomfortable. The concept fascinated me and I knew then and there that I wanted to help other people achieve that feeling.” Fast forward 37 years or so and Dr. Byock is now one of the nation’s foremost figures in the world of palliative medicine (specialized, multi-dimensional care for those with serious illnesses, with the focus on improving quality of life for both patient and family). He is the author of three acclaimed books (Dying Well, The Four Things That Matter Most, and The Best Care Possible) with countless essays under his belt as well as a 10-year directorial stint at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire that paved the way for his 2014 move to the South Bay to head up the Providence Institute for Human Caring at the Torrance-based Providence Health & Services. The Institute’s mission (as noted on the website IraByock.org) is to “help people understand how they can be more engaged in their own care, how to support loved ones who are experiencing medical issues and how best to cope with the strains of caregiving, and later, the strains of grief.” The Institute’s staff of 16 includes physicians, nurses, educators and data analysts who work closely with doctors, hospital leaders and other health care professionals encompassing a 50-hospital, seven-state system to give them the tools to provide the best possible whole person care. As Dr. Byock explained, “Individuals are not just defined by their diagnoses and need for treatment, but as people with emotional, interpersonal, social and spiritual components. We want to attend to their needs and maximize their comfort and well-being including during difficult times of illness. There is clear agreement that American mainstream medicine often does more to people who are dying than is in anyone’s best interest. We are finding that by focusing on people’s well-being and not just their disease that they tend to live longer and feel better—and costs are down because they get their needs met more often at home.” To further elaborate the difference between the old and new models of care, Dr. Byock presented two different versions of a particular patient case study: “Let’s say someone has surgery on his heart valve, but has a stroke during the surgery. The family is shocked. The patient is on a ventilator, can’t speak, is sedated and on powerful drugs. It’s common for the family members to not know what to do and they are unable to speak with any authority about the patient’s wishes. By default, the patient stays in ICU. If they don’t get better, they transfer to long-term acute care or die in ICU. In contrast—under highly personalized care, the risks are well-discussed before surgery with the patient and family members on what they would want to have happen if there is a stroke or other complication. See Dr. Byock, page 8
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