John Riordan was a founding and inaugural member of the Palms NC (2004) and, on behalf of his business, "John Riordan Plumbing" on Venice Blvd., served as a Business Representative on the Council.

He was a revered and beloved member of the Palms community, but also a well-known philanthropist and volunteer in Culver City as well.

Beatrice McGowens Jett

April 17, 1932 - May 1, 2024

A descendant of American slavery, Beatrice (middle name Yvette) was born during

segregation in Coffee County, Alabama, to James McGowens and Ethel Mae Carter

McGowens. She was the second of five children born to them: Ann, Beatrice, Howard

(James), Jerrie, and John.

Her first memories of service were alongside her mother Ethel, who volunteered for

churches, community, and schools. As a teen, she spent two summers in Far Rockaway, New York, as a nanny for a Jewish family who owned a fashionable clothing business.

A leading student in her high school class, with aspirations to become teacher,

Beatrice graduated from Alabama State University in Montgomery (class of 1955),

where she majored in Business Education and was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha

Sorority (Beta Xi chapter). After college, she became a teacher in a Negro school in Linden County, Alabama.

In her late twenties, while visiting Los Angeles for the first time for a two week vacation, Beatrice decided to make the city her home. In summer 1960, she met and

became roommates with Edwina, who was also from Alabama and who would become her closest friend for life.

Beatrice found a job at the city library downtown, and later a job as a substitute teacher. In May 1965, she married John Jett at the Congregational Church of Christian

Fellowship. They had a son, who they named Quintus ReNoal.

While an employed mother and wife, then custody-parent following divorce, Beatrice had an extensive run of civic participation and service for others, in many forms.

During her first twenty-five years in Los Angeles (1960-1985): she became an assistant principal at Los Angeles County Juvenile Court Schools, and she earned a Masters in Education Administration from USC in 1974. Locally, she became an active participant and leader in numerous organizations, such as the YMCA, the Urban League, Central City Mental Health Clinic, and the National Council of Negro Women.

In AKA Sorority’s Alpha Gamma Rho chapter, she served on hospitality and other committees, and she served as president of Los Angeles Pan Hellenic Council.

We honor and remember our dear friend and colleague, Ron Migdal, who we recently lost as a cherished Board member of the West Los Angeles Sawtelle Neighborhood Council. It is with heavy hearts that we reflect on the incredible legacy Ron leaves behind — a legacy marked by dedication, service, and a profound love for his community.

Ron served on the Board of Directors with the West Los Angeles Sawtelle Neighborhood Council for eight remarkable years, from June 2016 until his untimely passing. His commitment to local governance and community initiatives was unparalleled. Ron's passion for improving our neighborhood and his tireless efforts to bring about positive change were evident in everything he did. He was a beacon of hope and a source of inspiration for all of us who had the privilege of working alongside him.

Shauna Scanlon, is a retired LAUSD teacher.  She taught in the inner city of Los Angeles for 32 years and I speak Spanish. For the past few years she have been teaching kindergarten at a local community cottage school in Sunland.

She had many experiences in my professional and personal life to listen and respond to people's needs.  Shauna always worked very closely with parents -- building trusting relationships, as children are our future.

She is from and deeply fond of the Foothill Community, having lived there for more than 25 years.

Shauna is a hard working patriotic citizen who strongly believes in community involvement.  She attended STNC Outreach Meetings and have volunteered at our local National Night Out at the outreach table.  She also participated in singing patriotic songs with her singing groups to support our veterans and pay homage to our flag.

The very best way to respect and strengthen our country, state and community is to volunteer locally and unite the neighborhood with whom we live and work.

BJ Mynatt was the first Chairperson of the Harbor Gateway North Neighborhood Council serving on the Board from 2002 to 2007. She was great leader in representing the community on planning and land use issues, emergency preparedness, and community outreach events, including annual health fairs.

Betty Biers was a director on the Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council for over 4 years. She was a very dedicated board member, volunteering for any and all community events. Betty so loved being involved with the Granada Hills stakeholders and served her community with grace and dedication. She was up for re-election in the June, 2020 Neighborhood Council elections and would have surely been voted back her Neighborhood Council board, but unfortunately passed away in May of 2020, one month prior the Neighborhood Council Elections.

Betty also served her community of Granada Hills by working as the Administrator of the Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce for several years prior to her passing. Betty has a long history of community involvement, as she also volunteered and served on the Granada Hills Community Group for many years prior to the inception of the Neighborhood Council system. Her recent service on her Neighborhood Council was engaging and meaningful to her community. Betty always had a smile on her face and served her community with determination and grace. Her positive attitude towards her family, her friends, and her community made her stand out amongst her peers.

Everyone who knew Betty loved her. She was so endearing that once you met her, she became your friend. Betty is survived by her son, who lived with her in her Granada Hills home. Betty Biers will be sorely missed. She was an asset to our Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council, the Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce and all who had the privilege of knowing Betty.

Passed 9/11/2022

Katy served the community as a board member for over 10 years. She also volunteered with various organizations giving back to the community.

Passed March 2022

Agustin Cebada was a former member of the Echo Park Neighborhood Council. A founding member of East LA-based Chicano Movement leaders the Brown Berets who published the group's newsletter and helped organize the Chicano Moratorium, Augustin brought his considerable experience and finesse as a community organizer to his role as a Neighborhood Council board member, and continued to actively participate in NC meetings as a stakeholder after serving on the board.

Passed Away 1/15/2022

Olivia served for over a decade on both Neighborhood Councils, including as Chair of the Outreach Committee.

A founding board member of Mid City West, Ken Draper was well-known as the publisher of CityWatchLA, in addition to being a pioneer of news radio.

EmpowerLA interviewed Ken about his Neighborhood Council history for an episode of the EmpowerLA Podcast (Click to listen). And CityWatchLA published a comprehensive memorial about Ken, which includes thoughts shared by many NC leaders, and highlights of his media career: Click to view

Max Flehinger (1931 – June 23. 2022) was a beloved and well-respected member of the Tarzana Neighborhood Council (TNC) from its inception. He was on the Formation Committee for the TNC in February 2003 and then served in various officer positions for the TNC for 20 years, including Chair of the Transportation Committee and Executive Secretary. He also was a long-time member of the Tarzana Property Owners Association.

Max and his family fled Nazi Germany in 1937. He found a life-long home in Los Angeles—a city which took him in and which he wished to never leave. He was a proud product of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), attending Hoover St. Elementary, Virgil Junior High, and Belmont High School. Graduating from Belmont in 1949, he received numerous district and private foundation awards for his musical and mathematical skill.

Max attended UCLA as an undergraduate for two years before enrolling in dental school at the University of California (later UCSF), where he received his dental degree and met the love of his life, Eleanor Allen (herself a native Angeleno). Following his graduation, he served three years as an officer in the Air Force, including an overseas tour in Japan. His time in dental school and the military were the only years he would live outside of Los Angeles after his arrival.

After returning from the military, he settled in the San Fernando Valley, living in Tarzana and practicing dentistry for four decades in Van Nuys. He and his wife raised two sons, Kurt and Brett Flehinger (both graduates of the LAUSD), and he has a daughter-in-law, Jami Floyd, and four grandchildren.

Following his retirement, Max had a second career as a certified financial planner, as well as a volunteer for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic and the Audio Internet Radio Service of Los Angeles. However, his greatest passion in the second half of his life was for public service, as demonstrated by his service on the Tarzana Neighborhood Council and the Transportation Committee. As well as making sure the streets, traffic signals, crosswalks, and other transportation in Tarzana were well maintained, Max worked to stop street racing and save lives. Max had much to do with the formation of an L.A. Police Department Task Force to stop dangerous street racing.

Max will be greatly missed by his family, the Tarzana Neighborhood Council, and all who knew him.

Board Member, President

Passed away January 2022

Board member & Treasurer in the early 2000s

Passed 9/9/2022

This week we lost a true Community Leader and Advocate for our Neighborhood Councils. Sarah Ramsawack was Passionate about her Community and the Mission of the Neighborhood Councils. She was the founder of the of the very Successful Strathern Street Neighborhood Watch. Sarah always said there’s a Solution to every problem let’s find it and fix the problem. And she was usually Right.

Sarah was fierce in her Commitment and her her Beliefs in wanting to Better her Community through the Neighborhood Councils. Sarah was Elegant, Strong, Committed a, Leader in fixing our System, City and Community. And “NO,CAN’T AND WON’T” were not answers she ever accepted from anybody. And anybody that thought those three Answers would shut her up were sadly mistaken. She was Relentless in wanting to know WHY you used one of these answers.

But above all she was a Leader, Mentor, and one of the most Loyal Friends Ever. And I will miss this Elegant, Committed, in your face (she very proper even then) warrior. I will miss her love and and Her Commitment to our Community. But most of all I will miss her Friendship, phone calls and help she always gave when I needed it.

RIP Our Friend, NoHo West will cover it now!!!!

Passed Away 4/9/2022

Passed 2021

Board Member

Uday’s picture

Passed August 2022

Board Member and Treasurer, 2018-2022

Candy’s Picture

Jean was a founding member of the West LA Sawtelle Neighborhood Council. She was beloved by all

Mary was a former board member of the North Hills West Neighborhood Council.

Jennifer was board secretary of the Northridge South Neighborhood Council since 2013

Sidonia was a board member of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council for many years.

Sheldon was a board member of the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council since 2018

Longtime Board Member, Allen Nelson, is missed dearly.