The Neighborhood News Online

Ron Finley Mr. Greenjeans of the 10th District

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Category: Featured Resident

Published on Friday, 14 October 2011 23:13

Written by Deborah Charles

Perhaps many of you will remember the popular children’s television show, Captain Kangaroo; for those of you who don’t, it’s worth a Google!  Mr. Green Jeans was the Captain’s soft spoken sidekick and taught us about the importance of taking care of the earth by planting seeds.

Ron Finley is definitely the quintessential “Mr. Green Jeans” of the 10th District. He is a talented artist of many disciplines but his greatest passion is advocating the planting of vegetable gardens in our community. He is one of the co-founders of an organization called L.A. Green Grounds whose mission is to plant gardens in communities where there is lack of access to fresh produce.  He planted an unfenced garden on his local parkway and filled it with the most beautiful and colorful vegetables, everything from collard greens to red Swiss chard to purple Japanese eggplant and edible flowers. During a visit to his garden he tested my ability to identify vegetables by pinching off a leaf or an edible flower and urging  me to taste it.

He engages his neighbors in conversation as people young and old walk by, fascinated by vegetables growing in a public place in the middle of the community.   The garden generated conflict when the city questioned the legality of planting on the

parkway. The press including the L.A. Times and the Sundance Channel online blog, Sunfiltered, the 10th district Council office and most importantly, the community supported Ron and his garden and as of this date his hearing has been postpned indefinitely. Viewing this as a victory there is now an effort to plant gardens on parkways throughout the city. Ron believes gardens bring the community together, encourages healthy eating and lifestyles.

Want to start a garden in your yard or on your parkway?  Email Ron at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and/or visit  www.laGreenGrounds.org.

Eric Bronson Preservation Activist

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Category: Featured Resident

Published on Wednesday, 07 September 2011 16:39

Written by Dianne Lawrence

West Adams Heritage Association (WAHA) presented its annual Martin Weil Historic Preservation Award to longtime preservation activist Eric Bronson of Harvard Heights.

Eric approaches historic preservation in a low key but effective manner.  He is always there when someone has a question whether it is the WAHA Board, the Historic Preservation Committee or a member.  For many years he, with Tom Florio, headed the WAHA Zoning and Planning Committee. He has rehabilitated many homes in West Adams and lead numerous

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Celia Bell Says Goodbye To Beloved Community

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Category: Featured Resident

Published on Thursday, 16 June 2011 22:03

Written by Dianne Lawrence

Gracie Santana            Celia Bell

Before her recent move to Las Vegas, forty-six year Council District 10 resident, Celia Bell, was a tireless community activist. Her work as creator and President of the Longwood Highland Neighborhood Watch, representative of Region 5 on the Mid City Neighborhood Council, and member of Women for Wesson allowed her to keep her local neighborhood informed, active and connected.

Celia had an active professional life working with the County for thirty-seven years as Head of Internal Affairs of the Department of Public Social Service. Longtime friend Lottie Taylor tells us

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Donna Jones, West Adams SheRo

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Category: Featured Resident

Published on Thursday, 16 June 2011 21:35

Written by Jeff Camp

On Sunday, May 15, 2011, West  Adams Avenue's Donna Jones was awarded the annual SHEro Award from Senator Curren D. Price, Jr. (26th Senate District). Donna was one of 26 women who received the honor based on her demonstrated leadership, volunteerism and commitment to her community. During the ceremony, Donna received her SHEro Award from Senator Price himself and was praised by Michaela Periera from KTLA-TV's Morning Show.

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Grandmaster Walter Goode

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Category: Featured Resident

Published on Thursday, 07 April 2011 20:11

Written by Dianne Lawrence

Teaching Kids To Master Themselves

Behind the humble façade on Jefferson Blvd. you will find a humble man with a big name, Grandmaster Goode, founder and owner of World Championship Karate Sports Academy.

But the self-effacing Walter Goode has every reason to crow. He holds black belts in four karate techniques, is an inductee of the National Black Belt League Hall of Fame and elite Ninja Ryu Club, and 2007 Grandmaster of the Year, among other distinctions.  Considered one of the #1 karate schools nationally,  the walls of Goode’s studio are lined with his and his students’ numerous trophies from hundreds of tournaments.

Grandmaster Goode could have set up shop anywhere in Los Angeles and command large fees but he was on a spiritual mission. He wanted to give kids in underserved communities an alternative to gangs and wrong choices. It is his countless community awards that are most impressive.

Originally from New Jersey, Goode moved to L.A. in the 1980s to find  greater opportunities and ended up on Venice Beach performing amazing brick-breaking techniques.  He went on to open his own karate program in 1990 infusing his practice with Christian principles.

More than a martial arts instructor, Goode is also advisor and friend to his students, expecting to see the kids’ report cards, encouraging college attendance, and even visiting schools if his students are in trouble.

One of Goode’s adult students Connie White, an L.A. Police Officer, explains that Goode lets in many kids who can’t afford the academy tuition.  “He has lots of respect from the community.  Lots.  He will even drive his students home if needed.”   

Another pupil Latonya Edwards studies kickboxing at the studio while her two children, Jaedeh and Khaliah,  take other martial arts classes:  “It feels more like a family here than a studio.  Grandmaster took time to bring my daughter Khaliah out of her shell.  Now her self-esteem is constantly rising.”

“He’s just a big-hearted guy -- huge heart.  He cares, he truly cares,” commends Officer White.

Goode’s mission is simple  “To teach kids and adults greater wisdom and knowledge”  This dedication has been honored by too many city, county and state awards to cite here but here are some examples...for “commitment and dedication to youth”, for “outstanding achievement,” for  “community service”, for “pioneering accomplishments,” for “honors youth program,” and simply as “hero.” 

When Goode is not teaching at the Academy, he instructs at the neighborhood Holy Name Catholic church school, and also serves as a celebrity bodyguard. Another bright Star in our community.

The World Championship Karate Sports Academy is located at 1994 W. Jefferson Blvd, phone (323) 620-1003

Black History Month Leo Branton Jr.

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Category: Featured Resident

Published on Thursday, 10 February 2011 19:14

Written by Renee Montgomery

inspired Branton to study law at Northwestern, after traveling with a repertory company and military service. The tireless attorney who has won numerous distinctions and is a sought-after speaker, was one of the first to hire a consultant to psychologically profile juries and to demand fairer diversity of juries. Other legal distinctions include winning cases upon appeal at the U.S. Supreme Court level. His persuasive closing argument in the case of People v. Angela Davis (where he served as Chief Counsel) is still used for instruction in law schools. Branton is most proud of his 40 year effort to free death row inmate Robert Wesley Wells.

Although retired for ten years, Branton, continues to do pro bono work, graciously accepting cases for individuals arrested on bogus charges who cannot afford representation on their own. He points to a painting on his wall by renown artist Edward Biberman expressing the equality of working people despite color difference – one of many museum-quality artworks adorning his modest home, including works by Charles White.   However despite his 62 year career in civil rights (Branton was awarded the ACLU’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009), it is his late wife, Geraldine Branton, which he credits as his greatest inspiration: “When she saw a wrong, she tried to solve it.” He encourages young black people to take better advantage of the greater opportunities achieved through the Civil Rights movement. Branton has three sons and grandchildren. Despite macular-degeneration, at age 88, the very vital and sharp attorney shows no signs of slowing down and is planning an autobiography.

David Raposa, Restoring West Adams One Property At a Time

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Category: Featured Resident

Published on Tuesday, 03 August 2010 22:32

Written by Mitzi March Mogul

Recently “This Old House” magazine sited West Adams as California’s best place to buy an old house. The revival of this historic community owes much to the efforts of local realtor David Raposa.

As a young man growing up in Boston, David Raposa was always interested in architecture, checking out houses that were for sale or under construction, sketching the homes and floor plans he had seen and sometimes even creating his own designs.

Graduating from Harvard University in 1980 with a Masters in Business Administration, David became a CPA, working in New York City. He eventually found work with a large financial institution and soon found himself on a plane to Los Angeles to help manage their West Coast office.

With a mind for business and a love for beautiful things, David began buying property, a home on the edge of Palm Springs, a Spanish-style duplex in the Pico Robertson area and by 1986 he was devoting himself full time to real estate and historic architecture.His interest and his professional background merged when David purchased City Living Realty in the mid-1980’s.

It was an ad for vintage houses that brought David to the West Adams District.

Enchanted by the quality and diversity of design, he felt a connection to the community. David’s commitment to Historic Preservation has been more than mere rhetoric. Literally putting his money where his mouth is, David bought difficult homes and meticulously restored them to their original luster. The first property he purchased in West Adams was a house designed by noted architect FrankTyler, which had been chopped up into nine illegal units. David restored it to a glorious single-family residence. He rescued another neighborhood nuisance that had been used as a crack house. Another had been clad in aluminum siding, painted bright pink, and had serious foundation problems. Many of these are now listed as either City or National historic monuments.

David has served on the Board of Directors of West Adams Heritage Association (who recently awarded him the Martin Eli Weil Historic Preservation Award), the Los Angeles Conservancy and he currently serves on the Board of the North University Park Historic Preservation Overlay Zone. He and his partner, Ed, live in a beautifully restored Craftsman home designed by the Heinneman Brothers.

Gary Phillips Mid-City Noir

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Category: Featured Resident

Published on Wednesday, 02 June 2010 22:35

Written by Renee Montgomery

Who better to profile in the TNN than long time  Mid-City resident and acclaimed local writer Gary Phillips?  It was Phillips’ short story that was chosen to represent the Mid-City section of the best-selling anthology Los Angeles Noir.

Characters from several of his internationally-known novels operate from our area -- peppered with references to places like Oki-Dog, The Cork and the day laborers at Lucy’s drive-thru.  In his blog, Phillips waxes eloquent about Magee’s Donuts, and Pico Boulevard, which he calls “The Boulevard of Desire” typifying how “this city grew in its slap-dash manner . . .  a mélange of auto body and auto repair shops side-by-side with beauty parlors, yoga studios, tropical fish stores, and tony tchotchke shops,” . . . where one can get their “yard bird” on at Golden Bird Chicken.

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Ron Hutchinson International Playwright

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Category: Featured Resident

Published on Sunday, 04 April 2010 04:49

Written by Renee Montgomery

Out of all the neighborhoods, in all the towns, in all the world, he chose ours.

When acclaimed screenwriter/playwright Ron Hutchinson describes his block in Kinney Heights in West Adams, he uses descriptions like “a web of relationships” and “a little family”.

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Barbara Bottner Favorite Children's Author

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Category: Featured Resident

Published on Thursday, 18 February 2010 21:51

Written by Renee Montgomery

It must be the Adams first law-of-physics that our charming neighborhood should attract a charming children’s book author. Barbara Bottner, five-year resident of Western Heights is the author and/or illustrator of over 36 books for children and young adults.

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