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Health & Fitness

Eric Garcetti Starred in the Encino Little League

The sign outside the Encino Baseball Complex on Havenhurst Avenue says," We Make LA a Better Place." Now the Encino Little League's most famous alumnus, Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti is in a position to turn that motto into reality. Garcetti played in the Encino Little League 30 years ago when his family lived on Woodley Avenue, north of Ventura Blvd. The baseball coach that Garcetti played for was restaurateur Bob Spivak, chairman of the Daily Grill family of restaurants. What kind of Little Leaguer was Erik Garcetti? Spivak says, "He was a good baseball player and a great kid. He was very smart and quite likeable. He is one of the few kids, besides my daughter, that I truly remember because he was so outstanding in every way. He comes from a very nice and supportive family." When the Garcetti family lived in Encino during the 1980s, Gil Garcetti was L.A. County's District Attorney. Woodley Avenue is a wide tree lined street that still has the feel of a country road. "It was much quieter when the Garcetti's lived here," said Jan Waterfield a long time resident who was shushing her schnauzer while talking to a reporter. "Still it's sort of a thrill to know that the new mayor lived on this street.," she added. (Waterfield is the widow of famed Los Angeles Rams quarterback Bob Waterfield.) The Garcetti home was sold in 1987 to Babs Bemel's family. The house sits at the end of a straight back driveway, glass walls give the home an open air feel as it sits among tall trees and greenery. Standing in front of the house, you can see the backyard pool through the glass walls. "We would always tell visitors that the Garcetti's lived here. That gave the house a certain distinction," said Bemel, standing in her doorway. "We've upgraded the place and renovated parts of it." Other people who lived on the street include Astronaut Gordon Cooper, and actor Fred Willard. Both Jan Waterfield and Babs Bemel say they voted for Eric Garcetti. During the mayoral race Wendy Grue

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