Blowtorch Starts Blaze at Magic Castle WeHo Council Considers

Transcription

Blowtorch Starts Blaze at Magic Castle WeHo Council Considers
WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM
INSIDE
• Adult day care
cuts prompt
concern. pg. 3
Partly cloudy,
rain possible
on Friday
Volume 21 No. 44
• Metro evaluates
safety. pg. 4
Serving the West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities
November 3, 2011
Blowtorch Starts Blaze at Magic Castle WeHo Council Considers
Expansion of Fur Ban
n Ironic Fire Occurs
on Halloween
n Amended Ordinance Now Extends to Gloves,
BY AARON BLEVINS
A
blowtorch being used in a
construction project at the
Magic Castle has been
blamed for starting a fire on
Halloween that has closed the
two-story nightclub until at least
Friday.
Erik Scott, a spokesman for the
Los Angeles Fire Department,
said the fire started at approximately 12:45 p.m., and 120 firefighters extinguished the blaze in
a little more than an hour.
“The firefighters were very
aggressive in their actions to keep
as much of this historic landmark
unscathed,” Scott said.
He said the Magic Castle, located at 7001 W. Franklin Ave., is
very compartmentalized, which
made fighting the fire complex.
Scott said it was difficult to find
photo by Aaron Blevins
the origin of the blaze, but it was
Firefighters
battled
a
fire
in
the
attic
of
the
Magic
Castle
on Halloween,
contained to the structure’s attic
and
the
facility
has
now
been
closed
temporarily
for
repairs.
and some adjacent walls. A full
fire sprinkler system helped, and
“The specific damage is annoyfirefighters tried to minimize their the blowtorch was the culprit, but
water usage in hopes of salvaging declined to further discuss the ing but not show-stopping,”
Cowley said.
as much of the landmark as possi- construction project.
The fire forced the Magic
He said the building was mostly
ble, he said.
Scott said the incident is still Castle to close on Halloween, one affected by water damage. The
under active investigation, but is of the facility’s biggest nights. As Magic Castle’s museum survived,
considered accidental. Rick of Wednesday, it was still closed, and the only losses were personal
Cowley, secretary of the Magic though its owners hope to open items belonging to Magic Castle
Castle’s board of directors, said again in the very near future.
See Fire page 19
Paramount Pictures Lays Off 120 Workers
n Approximately 80
Employees Cut at
Melrose Studio
Scarves and Other Apparel
BY AARON BLEVINS
T
he West Hollywood City
Council has opted to further
alter its fur ban ordinance,
and is scheduled to vote on the matter on first-read during its Nov. 7
meeting. The city would not release
copies of the new ordinance before
3 p.m. today.
West Hollywood Chamber of
Commerce president and chief
executive officer Genevieve
Morrill said the ban has been
expanded, and she is calling on
chamber members to voice their
opinions at the Nov. 7 meeting.
She said “apparel” has been
defined to include hats, gloves,
scarves and more. In a recent study
by the Fur Information Council of
America, 46 percent of West
Hollywood fashion retailers carry
some kind of fur apparel, a total of
more than 90 stores. With a broader
definition of “apparel,” that number
is likely to increase, Morrill said.
“We think … the impact is a lot
greater,” she said. “We are pleading
with the council to listen to the
business community.”
Morrill said chamber representatives recently sat down with some
council members and suggested
alterations to the ordinance. The
chamber representatives asked for a
longer transition to prepare for the
n Park Labrea News
I
and Beverly Press
Move to Wilshire Blvd.
BY EDWIN FOLVEN
A
photo by Adam Popescu
The studio has announced cuts to staff at the facility on Melrose Avenue.
owner Ryland Engelhart said.
“Logistically it makes sense that
it will probably be an impact, but I
think what we’re doing, serving
really good, healthy fresh food in a
loving way…I have faith what
we’re doing is speaking to the
greater L.A. area,” Engelhart said.
However, wait-staff at the restaurant acknowledged that to go orders
from the studio account for a lot of
See Paramount page 22
See Council page 22
photo by Aaron Blevins
Arcade Boutique is one of the
stores in West Hollywood that
would be affected by the fur ban.
Now Reporting from
the Miracle Mile
BY ADAM POPESCU
nternal restructuring has led
Paramount Pictures to eliminate
120 employees, with 80 of those
cuts coming at the L.A. based studio at 5555 Melrose Avenue.
Locally, some of the biggest entities hit by the move are the studio’s
neighbors, like restaurants that rely
on the film company’s business to
fill seats.
“Lunchtime for us is based on
Paramount, so if they cut employees, we’re going to be affected,”
Phillipo Cortivo, the owner of
Osteria Momma on 5732 Melrose
Ave., said. The Padua, Italy native
estimates his restaurant hosts several dozen studio patrons each day.
A few blocks away at Cafe
Gratitude at 639 N. Larchmont
Blvd., the restaurant’s attitude is
“the glass is always half-full,” co-
ban and to remove wool for the
council’s fur definition, she said.
The chamber also proposed some
alternatives to the ban: fur-free certification programs, public relations
campaigns against animal cruelty
and consumer education label programs, such as Origin Assured.
Morrill said some suggestions were
fter spending the last 12
years at 6720 Melrose
Ave., the Park La Brea
News and Beverly Press have
moved into a new office at 5150
Wilshire Blvd., Suite 330.
The new Miracle Mile office
places the publications in the
heart of the communities they
serve. Publishers Michael and
Karen Villalpando purchased the
Park Labrea News in 1990, and
have proceeded to build the
newspaper into a top source for
community news in the West
Hollywood, Wilshire, Hancock
Park and Hollywood areas. The
newspaper office was located for
many years at 626 ½ N. La Brea
Avenue, where La Brea Bakery
and Campanile Restaurant are
now located. After that building
was sold, the newspaper moved
to 142 S. Fairfax Ave. in the
Original Farmers Market. That
building was razed as part of the
construction of The Grove, and
the offices of the Park Labrea
News and Beverly Press moved
in the fall of 1999 to Melrose
Avenue.
The newspaper has undergone
many changes over the decades.
Prior to the Villalpandos taking
the helm, it had been published
bi-weekly and focused on social
news and events. Shortly after
taking ownership, circulation
increased and the focus turned to
hard news. The Beverly Press
See Newspapers page 22
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
2 November 3, 2011
4 Benefit Book Sale
Calendar
T
he Friends of the John C.
Fremont Library is holding its
monthly book sale on Friday, Nov. 4
from 12:30 to 4 p.m., and Saturday,
Nov. 5 from noon to 5 p.m.
The sale includes rare books, CD’s,
audio books, DVDs and videos, and
book donations are accepted. 6121
Melrose
Ave.
(323)962-3521.
(310)601-2422.
Youth Symphonies
T
he Los Angeles Philharmonic
Association’s “Toyota Symphonies
for Youth” (TSFY) concert series will
be held on Saturdays, Nov. 5 and 12 at
11 a.m. at the Walt Disney Concert
Hall. The performances are titled
“Mendelssohn’s Mystical Landscapes”,
an original production about composer
Felix Mendelssohn’s journey through
foreign and exotic landscapes, and his
beloved sister Fanny. Dudamel Fellow
Mihaela Cesa-Goje will conduct the
philharmonic. Tickets are $28.25. 111
S. Grand Ave. (323)850-2000,
www.laphil.com.
‘Craig Pomranz’
V
ocalist Craig Pomranz will perform on Friday, Nov. 4 and 5 at 9
p.m. at the Gardenia Restaurant and
Lounge in West Hollywood.
Pomranz’s voice is reminiscent of
Johnny Mathis, Chet Baker and Little
Jimmy Scott, and he will perform in a
new show titled “Love and the
Clock”. Tickets are $15, with a twodrink minimum. 7066 Santa Monica
Blvd. (323)467-7444. www.CraigPomranz.com.
Artisans Marketplace
A
5 E-Waste Collection
T
he City of West Hollywood will
host a free document shredding
and electronic waste collection event
on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. at West Hollywood City Hall.
Items accepted include televisions,
DVD players, computers, laptops, fax
machines, cell phones, stereos,
microwaves, printers and more. 8300
Santa Monica Blvd. (323) 848-6404,
www.weho.org.
West Adams
Crime Tour
E
sotouric presents the “Weird West
Adams” crime bus tour on
Saturday, Nov. 5 from noon to 4 p.m.
The tour explores the criminal lore of
one of L.A.’s oldest neighborhoods,
and includes tales of Jazz Age bootleggers, the “Krazy Kafitz Family’s”
murder-suicides, attempted husband
slayings, Byzantine estate battles and
mad bombings, and the shortest street
in Los Angeles, the 15-foot-long
Powers Place. Tickets are $58. The
tour departs from the Benny H. Potter
West Adams Avenues Park, 2413 2nd
Ave. www.esotouric.com/westadams.
Art Exhibits
J
ack Rutberg Fine Arts presents
concurrent exhibits titled “Claire
photo courtesy of the Nine O’Clock Players
The Nine OʼClock Players Theatre for Children presents a production of
“Jack and The Giant” running from Sunday, Nov. 6 through Dec. 11. The
play stars Andrea Saccone (left) as Jack, and Alison Korman as the
Bean Seller, and is a musical based on the English folktale. Showtimes
are at 2 p.m. on Sundays, Nov. 6, 13, 20, and Dec. 4 and 11; and on
Saturdays, Dec. 3 and 10. Tickets are $12. Assistance League of
Southern California, 1367 N. St. Andrews Pl. (323)469-1970,
www.nineoclockplayers.com.
Falkenstein: Intimate Relations” and
“Hans Burkhardt: Within & Beyond
the Mainstream” running from
Saturday, Nov. 5 through Dec. 24. The
Falkenstein exhibit includes the
artist’s jewelry, small sculpture and
drawings, while the Burkhardt exhibit
includes pieces spanning the artist’s
six-decade career. 357 N. La Brea
Ave. (323)938-5222, www.jackrutbergfinearts.com.
Free Legal Clinic
T
he Beverly Hills Bar Association
Barristers are hosting a free legal
aid clinic in the community on
Saturday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to noon
at the Roxbury Park Community
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attorneys will answer basic legal
questions about consumer law, landlord-tenant law, small claims, business disputes, family law, and wills
and trusts. 471 S. Roxbury Dr.
new Parisian-inspired outdoor
market will be held on Saturday,
Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at
Hollywood High School. The market
will offer antiques, vintage items and
hand-made goods from 75 local artists
and designers, as well as food and live
music. A portion of the proceeds will
benefit Hollywood High School. 1521
Highland Ave. www.openmarketplace.com.
‘Brandenburg
Concertos’
T
he Los Angeles Chamber
Orchestra will perform a complete
cycle of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos
on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. at the
Alex Theatre, and Sunday, Nov. 6 at 7
p.m. at UCLA’s Royce Hall. The program will be led by concertmaster
Margaret Batjer. Tickets are $24 to
$105. Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand
Blvd., Glendale; Royce Hall, 340
Royce
Dr.
(213)622-7001,
www.laco.org.
Kids Fun at
The Petersen
T
he Petersen Automotive Museum
is holding its “Discovery Day”
event for children on Saturday, Nov. 5
from 1 to 4 p.m. The event includes
“Turkey Day” arts and crafts, and at
2:30pm, actors from L.A. BookPALS
will read stories. 6060 Wilshire Blvd.
(323)964-6308, www.petersen.org.
6 ‘Our Town’
A
free staged reading of Thornton
Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning
play, “Our Town”, will be held on
Sunday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at Theatre
West. The play is about the citizens of
the small town of Grover’s Corners in
early 20th Century America. 3333
Cahuenga Blvd. West. (323)8517977; www.theatrewest.org.
Media Awards
T
he Women’s Political Caucus is
holding the Exceptional Merit in
Media Awards on Sunday, Nov. 6
from noon to 3 p.m. in the Ahmanson
Ballroom at the Skirball Cultural
Center. The event will be attended by
celebrities, community leaders and
members of the media. Tickets are
$175. 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
(202)785-1100, www.NWPC.org.
7 LGBT Plays
T
he L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
presents an encore performance of
“Standing on Ceremony: The Gay
Marriage Plays” on Monday, Nov. 7 at
8 p.m. at the Renberg Theatre at the
Village at Ed Gould Plaza. The
evening includes a collection of short
plays held in support of freedom to
marry for same-sex couples. Tickets
are $20. 1125 N. McCadden Pl.
(323)860-7300, www.lagaycenter.org.
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
3 November 3, 2011
Cuts to Adult Day Care Could Force Closures
n Councilmember
Rosendahl Wants
Report on Impacts
BY AARON BLEVINS
I
photo by Adam Popescu
An estimated 400,000 people attended the West Hollywood
Halloween Carnaval, which featured colorful costumes of all types,
Only two arrests were reported in West Hollywood.
Hollywood Halloween Revelry
Results in 20 People Arrested
n Only Two Arrests
are Made at
WeHo Carnaval
BY EDWIN FOLVEN
A
pproximately 400,000 people flocked to West
Hollywood’s
Halloween
Carnaval on Monday night, and
tens of thousands more crowded
the sidewalks around Hollywood
Boulevard, but there were much
fewer violent incidents than last
year, when five people were shot
in Hollywood on Halloween.
According to Lt. Michael
Oreb, with the Los Angeles
Police Department’s Hollywood
Division, the only significant
violence occurred inside the Red
Line subway station at Western
and Hollywood Boulevard.
Around 4:35 a.m., an unknown
African American male suspect
slashed and stabbed two victims
on the mezzanine level of the sta-
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!95+6/46 4968 6*+6 4 tion. The Los Angeles County
Sheriff’s Department, which provides
security
for
all
Metropolitan
Transportation
Authority (Metro) properties, is
handling the investigation. Sgt.
Michael Thomas, with the
Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau,
said the victims were a man and a
woman, and they were hospitalized in stable condition and are
expected to survive. The male
victim reportedly had a slash
wound to the throat, while the
woman
suffered
puncture
wounds. It was reported in the
media that a bystander dressed in
a clown costume provided medical aid until sheriff’s deputies
arrived. The motive is believed to
have been an argument between
the suspect and victims.
“The on-site investigation took
several hours, and the train traffic
was set to bypass the station until
around 8 a.m.,” Thomas said. “
The investigation will be ongoSee Arrests page 19
n June, Gov. Jerry Brown signed
the 2011-2012 budget, which
eliminates adult day healthcare as a
Medi-Cal state plan options benefit.
The move is estimated to save the
state $160 million, but service
providers are worried that the
Legislature’s budget cut may nip an
artery.
In response to those concerns,
Los Angeles City Councilmember
Bill Rosendahl, 11th District, drafted a motion to ask city staff to
research the possible impact of the
adult day healthcare budget cut.
The council was scheduled to vote
on that motion on Wednesday.
However, some service providers
aren’t sure any council action can
counteract the budget move, which
has been delayed until Dec. 1. For
some, their hope relies on a federal
court case filed by Disability Rights
California, an advocacy group trying to halt the elimination of the
adult day healthcare program.
“That’s our Hail Mary pass,” said
photo by Aaron Blevins
The daycare programs at Arcadia of Hollywood include exercise and
socialization for senior citizens.
Dr. Jeff Vallandingham, president
and program director of Arcadia of
Hollywood Adult Day Health Care,
located in the 800 block on North
Highland Avenue. “But nonethe-
less, we have to prepare for the
worst.”
Vallandingham said the cut could
force his business, which serves
See Adult Daycare page 21
City Faces Hurdles in Switching Email Providers
BY ADAM POPESCU
I
n October 2009, the city of Los
Angeles decided to switch its
email
software
from
the
GroupWise system to Google’s
gmail, a decision supported by a
unanimous city council vote.
That decision resulted in the city
awarding Google a $7.2 million
contract to provide its email services to the city’s 30,000-plus
employees. But more than two
years later, the city is still juggling
two email systems as the
Department of Justice has blocked
the use of Google by the Los
Angeles Police Department,
according to city staff. The DOJ has
cited privacy and security issues as
a cause for the hold-up, specifically
whether or not Google can house
sensitive data on criminal offenders.
Google has argued that cloud
computing, wherein information is
stored on a remote server rather
than locally, circumvents the current legal requirements of data protection. The Mountain View,
California based company has also
stated that some of those regulations only came to light after the
contract with the city was signed.
While this issue is vetted, the
LAPD has been operating the for-
mer email software, which Google
is paying for.
“It’s an issue with lack of ability
to maintain security,” said Los
Angeles Councilmember Dennis
Zine, 3rd district. “We’re paying
Google, and they’re using the dollars to pay for the GroupWise system.”
In an effort to solve the issue,
Zine has filed a motion requesting
the city attorney’s office to provide
a status report on the contract.
“It’s my nature to question,” said
Zine, a 33-year veteran of the
LAPD.
The matter is next up for discusSee City page 19
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
4 November 3, 2011
Planning Department to Review Metro Board Calls for ʻCulture of Safetyʼ
n Review Prompted by
Beverly Grove Overlay Issue
Chatsworth Train Crash
n Councilʼs Move is
First Step in
Long Process
BY EDWIN FOLVEN
T
he Los Angeles City Planning
Department will consider a
proposal to limit the size of new
home construction in the Beverly
Grove area — or “mansionization” — after the city council
voted Tuesday to begin the planning review process.
The proposal by City
Councilmember Paul Koretz, 5th
District, seeks to limit the proliferation of oversized residences built
out to the property lines. Koretz
said the proposal is still in the
early stages, and the council’s
decision is the beginning of what
he anticipates will be a “long
process” that could take more than
a year. Koretz has also increased
the maximum size proposed for
“The real battle
will occur in
planning.”
-Beverly Grove resident
Charles Tarlow
new homes in the area to 3,000
square feet, up from 2,378 square
feet in an original proposal. The
area being considered is between
Colgate Avenue to the north,
Hayworth Avenue to the east,
Lindenhurst Avenue to the south,
and San Vicente Boulevard to the
west. The proposal specifically
calls for an overlay zone, which is
an area with more restrictive rules
than the current zoning laws in
place in a particular area.
Koretz said he proposed the
limitations because some residents in the area had complained
about people buying and demolishing residences, and replacing
them with homes they claim are
too large for the lots.
“They really change the character of historic neighborhoods.
There is a question of whether
they decrease property values, and
I believe putting up some of these
large houses may reduce the value
of neighboring properties,”
Koretz said. “What we proposed
is that planning look at it further.
We have received some feedback
from residents, and we have
responded to those comments.”
Koretz’s proposal caused a significant amount of opposition in
August, primarily from residents
who disagree that a majority of
people in the neighborhood are in
support of home size regulations.
Koretz circulated a survey on the
proposal to approximately 600
single-family homes in the area,
and 376 were returned. Of those
surveys, 226 were supportive of
an overlay zone, or approximately
60 percent, he said.
Beverly Grove resident Charles
Tarlow, who said he has lived on
Colgate Avenue for 63 years, said
he will continue to fight the proposal “tooth and nail”, and added
that he is part of a group of residents that has collected more than
300 signatures against an overlay
zone. He also claimed Koretz is
sidestepping the will of residents
by proposing the overlay zone. An
overlay zone can be created either
by a 75 percent majority of residents, or by a vote of the city
council at a councilmember’s
request.
“He can’t get a super majority
in the neighborhood, but there is a
loophole that allows a councilman
to go around it,” Tarlow added.
“We plan to present the signatures
to him. When it goes to planning,
anybody is a stakeholder, and we
are hoping more people will
oppose the plan. The real battle
will occur in planning.”
Koretz added that the planning
department will now examine and
compare lot sizes for all of the
properties in the area, and will
draft a formal ordinance. There
will then be hearings held where
the public can weigh in on the
draft plan. Later, the plan will go
to the city council’s Planning and
Land
Use
Management
Committee, before going for a
vote of the full city council.
“It’s just the beginning,” Koretz
added.
and Age of System
BY ADAM POPESCU
C
iting a need for an improved
culture
of
safety,
the
Metropolitan Transit Authority’s
(METRO) Board of Directors
unanimously passed a motion by
Los Angeles County Supervisor
and Metro Vice Chair Michael
Antonovich, 5th District, ordering a
full audit of Metro’s safety measures.
An aging transport system, and
lingering painful memories of the
2008 Chatsworth train crash that
killed 25 people, were both major
catalysts to bring about the audit,
Antonovich’s transportation deputy
Mike Cano said.
The expansion of the Expo Line
to Culver City, the Crenshaw/LAX
line, and regional connectors and
extensions all were factors in the
proposal.
“We went through a comprehensive process in the wake of the
crash,” Cano said. “One of the pressures the board always has is to
expand or maintain a system.
Safety tends to slip in priority —
we want to make sure (it doesn’t.)”
The city’s aging systems include
the 20 year-old Blue Line, the Gold
Line which is almost eight years
old, the Green Line which is more
than 12 years old, and a Red Line
that was built between 1993 and
2000, Cano said. Every month, 38
million passengers ride the rails and
buses operated by Metro in the
greater L.A. area.
The Antonovich motion directs
Metro CEO Art Leahy to provide a
report in 60 days to the board, and
an independent safety review with
recommendations for improvements within 90 days. As part of the
new culture of safety, the operations committee’s name will be
changed to the Systems Safety and
Operations Committee, which will
deliver monthly reports on corporate and system safety to the board.
Quarterly safety reports will be
delivered by Leahy to the board, as
a means to update progress.
Additionally, with each board
report and agenda item, the CEO
will attach an assessment of the
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The Metro Board has called for a full audit of the transportation agencyʼs
safety measures.
item’s impact on system safety and
the new safety culture.
All meetings will be open to the
public and will be held on the third
Wednesday and third Thursday of
every month, according to Cano.
For
information
visit
www.metro.net.
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
6 November 3, 2011
Occupy LA Protesters Stay Put at City Hall
BY ADAM POPESCU
W
hen Los Angeles Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa said last
week that members of Occupy L.A.
“cannot continue indefinitely” to
camp out, it set off a media backlash
purporting that the movement had
lost favor with city leaders.
Not so, said Los Angeles City
Councilmember Richard Alarcon,
7th District. Alarcon, along with
Councilmember Bill Rosendahl,
11th District, crafted the just-passed
Occupy L.A. referendum, and holds
steadfast to his support.
“Nobody has made a definitive
statement that they must leave,”
Alarcon said. “I think people should
not lose sight of the concerns being
raised by this group...my position
has not changed since day one…as
long as it’s safe — if anybody’s
health is threatened, or not safe, my
views will change.”
The Los Angeles City Attorney’s
Office, however, is a little more
definitive in its stance on the occupation that started in New York,
before spreading across the country
and then globally. Of these Occupy
movements, the Los Angeles movement has been markedly peaceful
and cooperative with both law
enforcement and city officials,
something other Occupy groups
cannot say.
“The city law is clear: camping or
sleeping in city parks is not allowed
after 10:30 p.m.,” Los Angeles City
Attorney’s Office spokesman Frank
T. Mateljian said.
Despite the passed referendum in
support of Occupy L.A., the city
attorney’s office referred to the Los
Angeles municipal code, preventing
overnight camping in public parks.
Still, civic leaders like Alarcon are
pushing for the preservation of the
group.
“What they’re saying is important,” Alarcon stated. “In the time of
our worst economy, I think people
should not lose sight of concerns
photo by Adam Popescu
being raised by this group. It’s a
The Occupy LA participants have shown no sign of leaving city hall.
reflection of concerns.”
Bird in WeHo
Tests Positive
for West
Nile Virus
A
dead bird found in the City of
West Hollywood has tested
positive for West Nile Virus, and
residents are encouraged to report
dead birds to the Los Angeles
County West Vector & VectorBorne Disease Control District at
(877)968-2473.
The bird was found within the zip
code 90069, and was the first found
in the city this year. Birds routinely
travel many miles from their nesting
locations to feed, and although a
dead bird tests positive for West
Nile Virus, it does not definitively
identify a specific city, zip code, or
location as the site where the infection occurred. West Nile Virus is
spread through mosquito bites, so
individuals should use an insect
repellent with DEET; drain any
standing water around the house,
and make sure windows have tightfitting screens. The periods around
dawn and dusk are when mosquitos
are most prevalent. For information,
visit www.lawestvector.org.
New Police
Inspector
General
Appointed
T
he Los Angeles Police
Commission has selected
Alexander Bustamante to serve as
the inspector general. Bustamante,
currently an assistant U.S. attorney
in the Central District of California,
will assume the role on Nov. 16. The
position reports to the police commission and is responsible for monitoring the discipline and complaint
systems of the Los Angeles Police
Department.
Bustamante has been with the
U.S. Attorney’s Office since January
2002. As an assistant U.S. attorney,
he has investigated and prosecuted
federal white collar crimes, civil
rights violations and violent crimes
cases. He has also served as the
financial fraud coordinator for the
Major Frauds Section since 2008.
Prior to his service with the U.S.
attorney, Bustamante was a captain
in the U.S. Army, serving the Judge
Advocate General’s Corps for more
than two years in Kosovo.
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Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
8 November 3, 2011
Tree Trimming: A Little Off the Top
Regional Export Council Launch Announced
O
n Oct. 31, Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa announced the
launch of the Los Angeles Regional
Export Council, a public-private
partnership between government,
business and educational institutions that will coordinate export
services in the Los Angeles region.
The export council will streamline the region’s export support ser-
vices and help businesses reach
international markets, where 95
percent of the world’s consumers
will soon be located. Research indicates that every $1 billion in
exports creates 5,500 jobs.
The public-private partnership
will streamline the region’s export
support systems by creating a single entry point for businesses inter-
ested in selling goods and services
abroad.
The export council will focus on
firms that are already exporting, or
have the capacity to start exporting,
and will target a dozen key growth
industries — everything from fashion apparel to food processing to
clean tech.
Baird Appointed to Jail Violence Commission
L
photo by Ari Bussel
The large trees along Burton Way are being trimmed through a grant
from the cityʼs Urban Forestry Division, and the Office of City
Councilmember Paul Koretz, 5th District. The city hired a private contractor to complete the work from Burton Way to 3rd Street, and from La
Cienega Boulevard to Oakhurst Drive. The work began last week and will
continue until the work is completed, likely next week. Afterwards, additional trimming is expected to take place in the area bounded by Gardner
Street, Highland Avenue, Melrose Avenue and 3rd Street. Waste, Fraud and Abuse Hotline Opens
I
n an announcement last week,
Los Angeles City Controller
Wendy Greuel said the city’s Fraud,
Waste and Abuse Hotline can now
accommodate for whistleblower
tips in more than 150 languages.
This feature is being promoted following reports of bribery and misconduct in the city’s housing
department that had initially gone
undetected because a rogue city
employee was preying on victims
who primarily spoke Korean.
“Whistleblowers need a place to
go and be heard so that their concerns do not fall by the wayside,”
Greuel said. “It is our responsibility
to the taxpayers of this city that Los
Angeles conducts its business with
the utmost integrity and transparen-
cy. Having a multi-lingual hotline
sends a message that we are serious
about investigating credible tips
and rooting out fraud, waste and
abuse.”
The announcement falls on the
heels of Greuel’s efforts to strengthen a city ordinance requiring
departments to report any and all
instances of waste, fraud and abuse
and recent efforts to evaluate how
successful city departments have
been in implementing audit recommendations. The Hotline is accessible in scores of languages, including Armenian, Arabic, Cantonese,
German,
Hebrew,
Japanese,
Korean,
Mandarin,
Persian,
Portuguese, Russian, Spanish,
Taiwanese and Vietnamese. The
os Angeles County Supervisor
Zev Yaroslavsky has appointed
retired federal Judge Lourdes G.
Baird to the Citizens Commission
on Jail Violence.
Baird has served with distinction
in the federal and state courts.
Following her previous appointments as a U.S. attorney and as a
judge in the Los Angeles Superior
and Municipal Courts, she served
for 13 years in the U.S. District
Court in the Central District of
California. Baird is also fluent in
Spanish.
County Mayor Michael D.
Antonovich
applauded
Yaroslavsky’s appointment of
Baird to the commission.
“Her solid reputation and extensive judicial record make Judge
Baird a superb choice to serve on
this commission,” Antonovich said.
Baird will join Antonovich’s
appointee to the commission,
retired Federal Judge Dickran
Tevrizian.
“These two distinguished judges
bring vast knowledge and objective
viewpoints for a thorough evaluation and corrective actions to
restore the public trust,” he said.
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Statue Celebration Held In L.A.
!
photo courtesy of the Fourth Council District
Office
City officials recently celebrated
the 125th anniversary of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty,
including City Councilmember
Tom LaBonge (third from left), 4th
District, and French Consul
General David Martinon (third from
right). The group also included
Diana Martinez-Lilly, assistant
general manager of the El Pueblo
Historical Monument; Juliette
Durand, executive assistant to
LaBonge; Robert Andrade, general manager of the El Pueblo
Historical Monument; and Brittany
Wagner, Miss Turismo Latino. The
Statue of Liberty was officially dedicated on October 28, 1886 in New
York Harbor, and LaBonge wanted
to recognize the gift from France
and celebrate the long-standing
friendship between the two countries.
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
9 November 3, 2011
Something Wicked This Way Comes ʻHermetically Sealedʼ
S
omething terrible has happened
to the ravaged family in
Kathryn Graf’s “Hermetically
Sealed”, which just opened at the
Skylight Theatre on Vermont
Avenue.
Tessie, played with intensity by a
marvelous Gigi Bermingham, has
the look of a frightened deer caught
in the headlights. Long ago deserted by her husband, this mother of
sons, sporadically employed by
party planners to sweeten the
palates of their clients with sugar
love and mango tarts, is bereft of all
joy. While Maria Callas’ heavenly
voice singing Puccini’s “Butterfly”
spills over the cakes and tarts,
Tessie mourns for her life. Conor, a
remarkably together 15-year old
Nicholas Podany, slouches in his
room with his eternal videos, not
eating, sleeping, or communicating. Older son, Jimmy, his own sad
mystery in tow, passes through the
kitchen on his way to a distressing
solitude that lets in no light.
The secrets between these three
are as palpable as the incoherent
sadness. There’s much more than
meets the eye in Kathryn Graf’s
moody, but intensely demanding
first play.
The repulsive Dale Jr. and Dale
Sr., Tessie’s employers, (Julia
Prud’homme and her equally crass
husband, satisfyingly played by
Brendan Patrick Connor), themselves coarse and ugly in appearance and behavior, cannot resist
tearing apart the fragile bond that
helps Conor and his mother keep
their heads above the murky waters
of a torn and dishonored family.
Director Joel Polis finds all the
levels in this absorbing, though
complex play.
There’s passion here, and a lot of
love gone wrong, which plays like
the silent electricity that sings, or
moans through the overhead power
lines that dominate the serenity of
nature’s bounty. We’re disturbed…but we’ re glad we are seeing and hearing Ms. Graf’s oeuvre.
Even with all its secrets.
“Hermetically Sealed” is a seem-
New Music
Center VP Named
T
hor Steingraber has been
appointed as vice president of
programming for the Music Center,
effective immediately.
Steingraber was formerly the
senior vice president of strategy
and planning for the Kimmel
Center for the Performing Arts in
Philadelphia, and will be responsible for complementing the Music
Center’s resident companies with
new and innovative programs.
“As we approach our fiftieth
anniversary, the Music Center is
more committed than ever to
advancing its role as an arts leader
and vital cultural hub for the
County of Los Angeles,” Music
Center executive vice president and
COO Howard Sherman said.
“Adding Thor to our senior team as
vice president of programming is
an important step in realizing that
goal.”
The Music Center is home to the
L.A. Philharmonic, the Center
Theatre
Group, L.A. Opera and Los
Angeles Master Chorale. For more
information, visit www.musiccenter.org.
Beautifully played by the amazing
Bermingham, who can tear out
one’s soul with her gaze, while protecting her nestlings with a mother’s passion, ably supported by
Podany, who presents as having
wisdom…and talent far beyond his
years.
Presented by the Katselas
Theatre Company at the Skylight
Theatre, 1816 N. Vermont Ave.
by Madeleine Shaner
Showtimes are at 8 p.m., Fridays
and Saturdays; 7 p.m., Sundays
through Nov. 20.
ingly small play, about an enorFor tickets or information, call
mous subject, telling and painful,
(702) KTC-TKTS (702-582-8587)
stark and sorrow-filled, with “the
or visit www.ktctickets.com.
calamity of so long life” at it’s core.
Mad About
Theatre
photo by Ed Kreiger
Julie Prudʼhomme (left) and Gigi Bermingham star in the Katselas
Theatre Companyʼs “Hermetically Sealed” at the Skylight Theatre.
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
10 November 3, 2011
ʻPuss in Bootsʼ Proves More
Childish than Family Fun
T
he “Shrek” franchise began its
long descent into mediocrity
after a very strong peak in Part 2 ––
that hysterical film with a clever
take on Prince Charming and, of
course, Puss in Boots — otherwise
known as the Booted Cat or Master
Cat — wonderfully voiced by
Antonio Banderas. He’s a gato
with a cape, a long brimmed hat
and (you guessed it) some mighty
fine boots. It only makes sense to
follow up the final chapter of our
favorite animated ogre with one of
the property’s most memorable
characters. Who can resist those
eyes or remain unimpressed by his
fencing abilities? He’s like
Reepicheep (that British mouse
from Narnia), but higher up on the
food chain.
Now in his solo flick, “Puss in
Boots” tells an un-Shrek-related
tale about this hip feline’s tragic
past. Rising from orphan to hero,
Puss wanders the world, looking
for the next big score. But he really desires the legendary magic
beans that lead to the castle that
houses the Golden Goose. Only
then can Puss return home with a
golden egg to pay back the city he
once “accidentally” robbed, thanks
to his old friend, Humpty Dumpty
(Zach Galifianakis).
But an unexpected encounter
with Kitty Softpaws (Salma
Hayek) leads to the awkward
reunion of the former BFFs. Cue
some back story info followed by a
hesitant team up. The dynamic trio
takes on notorious criminals, Jack
(Billy Bob Thornton) and Jill
(Amy Sedaris), who spend much
of the film arguing the merits of
settling down to raise children
because they’re kinda like puppies.
Next up, get ready for the giant
bean stock. But if things were that
easy, this wouldn’t be a very long
film (I’ve said too much).
“Puss in Boots” is a definite step
up from “Shrek the Third” and
“Shrek Forever After”, but
nowhere near the former glory of a
film series gone awry. Props to
director Chris Miller for partially
redeeming his last film (“Shrek the
Third”). It’s a little too straightforward with a predictable twist.
Again, the Adam Adamson-directed “Shrek” and “Shrek 2”
should’ve set the standard here.
Instead, there are several fun
moments, but no real sense of wonder or awe. The magic of this
remarkable world has mutated into
exhausted ideas, recycled concepts
void of joy.
“Shrek” was at its best when the
stories combined multiple ideas
from fairy tales, accumulating in a
clever tale both familiar and
unique: the ogre replaces Prince
Charming, who then becomes the
villain, or the Muffin Man creates
the ultimate gingerbread man for a
final showdown. Sadly, “Puss in
Boots” stays on the surface of the
fantasy genre, stuck somewhere
between a Spaghetti Western and a
kids’ fairy tale. And the mix/match
of this prequel feels less refreshing
than overdone. In short, I’ve seen
this film before...when Banderas
starred
as
Zorro...twice...or
“Rango” earlier this year.
For the kids, “Puss in Boots” is
sure to be the fun riot expected.
The action scenes are well crafted,
and the antics are perfect for children. As for adult viewers, there’s
little here. While the other “Shrek”
films, along with most additions by
Pixar (save the far-too-kiddish
“Cars 2”), offer something younger
viewers might miss, the crying toddlers reflect all too well the expected audience.
It’s difficult to gauge the worth
of performances in digital animation. I’d like to say that for all the
talented voice actors involved —
Banderas and Hayek back together
just like their glorious team up in
“Desperado” (“Once Upon a Time
in Mexico” doesn’t count), Billy
Bob Thornton, the always funny
Galifianakis and Guillermo del
Toro (normally a renowned director) as Moustache Man and
Comandate — it’s shocking how
basic it all is. But the real problem
isn’t the voice cast but the minds
behind the audio and visual.
DreamWorks Animation has
milked this cash cow dry and it’s
time to move on.
This could’ve been a hit-or-miss
project, but “Puss in Boots”,
instead, is somewhere between
enjoyable and “who cares.” It’s
anyone’s guess what DreamWorks
will do next with this narrative universe (perhaps a “Donkey” film),
but the greater issue remains, it’s
time to come up with a new idea.
photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Antonio Banderas returns as the voice of the titled character in “Puss in
Boots”.
photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Kitty Softpaws, Humpty Dumpty and Puss are reunited in “Puss in
Boots”.
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www.messob.com
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Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
14 November 3, 2011
and La Jolla at 10 p.m.
POLICE BLOTTER
The following information was reported to the West Hollywood Sheriff’s
Station and the LAPD’s Wilshire Division between Oct. 25, 2011, and Oct.
30, 2011. If you are a victim of a crime, here are the telephone numbers of
local law enforcement agencies; Los Angeles Police Department, Wilshire
Division (323)485-4022 and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department West
Hollywood Station (310)855-8850.
The following crimes occurred in
West Hollywood and the areas
patrolled by the LAPDʼs Wilshire
and Hollywood Divisions between
Oct. 25 and Oct. 30, and were compiled from www.crimemapping.com.
Oct. 25
At 12:05 a.m., an unknown suspect
committed a grand theft in the 8400
block of Sunset.
An unknown suspect burglarized a
vehicle parked in the 400 block of S.
Curson at 3:30 p.m.
At 10:30 p.m., an unknown suspect
burglarized a vehicle parked near
the corner of Clinton and Harper.
An unknown suspect stole a vehicle
parked in the 8900 block of Sunset
at 11:30 p.m.
Oct. 26
At 12:30 p.m., an unknown suspect
burglarized a business in the 300
block of N. La Brea.
An unknown suspect committed a
petty theft in the 300 block of S. La
Cienega at 1:24 p.m.
At 6 p.m., an unknown suspect
committed a burglary in the 400
block of N. Alfred.
An unknown suspect burglarized a
vehicle parked near the corner of
8th and Mansfield at 5:15 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m., an unknown suspect
burglarized a vehicle parked in the
8300 block of DeLongpre.
Oct. 27
At 12:01 a.m., an unknown suspect
burglarized a vehicle parked in the
1300 block of Londonberry.
54-year-old man has been
charged with murder for
allegedly fatally stabbing his girlfriend with a knife at her Beverly
Hills apartment on Oct. 26.
James Duane Grzeslo allegedly
used a knife to fatally wound his
girlfriend, 58-year-old Cathy Ann
Carrasco-Zanini. Beverly Hills
police apprehended Grzeslo two
days later on Oct. 28.
Grzeslo, of Los Angeles, next
faces arraignment on Nov. 28 in
Oct. 29
At 2 a.m., an unknown suspect
committed a robbery near the corner of La Cienega and Oakwood.
An unknown suspect committed a
burglary in the 400 block of
Burnside at 4 a.m.
At 1:40 p.m., an unknown suspect
committed a petty theft in the 7800
block of Santa Monica.
An unknown suspect committed a
petty theft at a business in the 6300
block of W. 3rd at 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 30
At 12:36 a.m., an unknown suspect
committed an assault near the corner of Hilldale and Santa Monica.
LAPD Warns Residents of Bogus
LAFD Inspection Letters
T
he Los Angeles Police
Department is warning homeowners about bogus letters being
sent that advise residents that their
home is scheduled to be inspected
by the Los Angeles City Fire
Department (LAFD).
On Oct. 26, investigators
received a report from a homeowner who said he had received a letter
stating that his home was due to be
inspected for hazardous materials,
mold, exits, and fire alarm systems.
The letter was printed on City of
Los Angeles letterhead with dated
information, including identifying
James K. Hahn, who left office in
2005, as the Mayor of Los Angeles.
The letter was signed by former
Fire Chief William Bamattre, who
retired from the department five
years ago.
Homeowners should call 911 if
anyone comes to their door presenting themselves as a member of the
LAFD and requesting to perform an
inspection. Detectives are trying to
determine the letter’s sender, but
are also warning that these types of
scams often target the elderly, and
are used as a ruse to gain access to
homes to commit burglaries and
other crimes.
Anyone with information is
asked to call (818)834-3115.
During weekends and off hours,
call the LAPD’S 24-hour, toll-free
hotline at (877)LAPD-24-7.
An unknown suspect burglarized a
vehicle parked in the 8700 block of
Dorrington at 7 p.m.
" ! "!
At 9:30 p.m., an unknown suspect
burglarized a vehicle parked in the
1400 block of Laurel.
Oct. 28
At 2:10 a.m., an unknown suspect
assaulted a victim in the 800 block
of Larrabee.
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business in the 900 block of N.
Fairfax at 3:30 p.m.
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At 9 p.m., an unknown suspect
assaulted a victim in the 7900 block
of Santa Monica.
An unknown suspect stole a vehicle
parked near the corner of Melrose
Man Charged For Fatal Stabbing of
Girlfriend in Beverly Hills
A
At 11:29 p.m., an unknown suspect
assaulted a victim near the corner of
Fairfax and Olympic.
Beverly Hills Superior Court, with
a preliminary hearing set for Dec. 1.
Deputy District Attorneys David
Zygielbaum and Linda Loftfield
will prosecute the case. They have
recommended bail at $1.020 million. If convicted for murder,
Grzeslo faces a maximum sentence
of life in prison.
This is the first homicide in
Beverly Hills since the Ronni
Chasen murder last year.
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#! Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
16 November 3, 2011
Tavlin Memorial
Service Held
Belmont Portrait Exhibit Opens Nov. 9
A
ʻFalling Backʼ in 1972
photo by Thomas Sanders
Belmont Village Senior Living of Westwood presents a new photography
exhibit titled “American Heroes: Portraits of Service” opening on
Wednesday, Nov. 9.
The exhibit includes 37 portraits of WWII veterans, including U.S. Army
private Harold Klein (above), accompanied by comments about their service. The images were taken by photographer Thomas Sanders at
Belmont Village facilities. There will be a special ceremony and reception
on Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Belmont Village Senior Living of Westwood is located at 10475 Wilshire
Blvd. RSVP requested to Laurie Nussbaum at (310)475-7501, or visit
www.belmontvillage.com.
Crossword Puzzle
Across
1. Shuttlecock
5. Ho Chi Minh City
11. Calendar abbr.
14. Brother of Jacob
15. Burning
16. Chemical ending
17. Developer
19. Pilot’s announcement, briefly
20. Watery motion
Karen Lindsey, Miss Greater Los Angeles Press Club, was pictured on the cover of the Oct. 26, 1972 issue of the Park La
Brea News, reminding readers to set their clocks back one
hour at the end of Daylight Saving Time. In 2007, Daylight
Saving Time was extended to the first Sunday of November.
This year, it ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6, so donʼt forget
to “fall back”.
33. Crumb
35. Plane, e.g.
37. Parked oneself
38. Real estate listing information,
often
41. Cow or sow
43. Kind of palm
44. Low card
45. Microscope part
47. Study, say
49. Medieval light
53. Four Corners state
54. Ancient alphabetic character
56. Before, of yore
57. End of boyish period
61. Potato measurement
63. Track action
64. Commodore’s lyric, “She’s
____” and home description
66. Be off base
67. Ending
68. Boxer Spinks
69. Jamie Foxx’s legend
70. Out of it
71. Sheltered, at sea
21. Watch the bottom
23. Tree under which Buddha was
born
24. Storage cylinder
26. Textile designer and
printmaker Albers
27. 1545 council site
29. “Cheaper by the dozen”
actress, Hilary
32. Kind of room
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dispatch service
Down
1. Bidding
2. Meteorologist’s line
3. Talk aimlessly
4. The Everly Brothers
composition
5. Riyadh resident
6. Away from home
7. Under the weather
8. Moves restlessly
9. Foreboding
10. Roman fiddler
11. Gentleness
12. Wave catcher
13. One not wearing rose colored
glasses
18. Eating places
22. St. Louis pro
25. Alfresco
28. Parent’s order
30. FYI part
31. Contractor’s measure
34. Ski lift
36. Opposite of sophisticated and
advanced
38. All the renters on an estate
39. It may need massaging
40. Jersey call
41. Type of party
42. Greek woman who was a
social climber
46. “Quiet!”
48. Clout
50. Fill up the tank again
51. Defoe character
52. Satellite of Saturn
55. A natural juice
58. Clods
59. Life lines?
60. Bond opponent
62. Kind of nut
65. 007 creator Fleming
Answers page 22
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8 *% memorial ceremony for the
late activist Marv Tavlin was
held on Sunday, Oct. 23 at the
Claude Pepper Senior Citizen
Center on La Cienega Boulevard.
More than 100 residents and
local officials attended the ceremony for Tavlin, a longtime advocate
for worker and seniors’ rights, who
died on Aug. 19 at age 96.
Before moving to Los Angeles,
Tavlin served as the president of the
Steelworkers local union in
Chicago. He later became a leader
in the National Council of Senior
Citizens, and the California
Alliance for Retired Americans.
Tavlin was also cited as a strong
advocate and leader in the Social
Security movement. Among the
many speakers recalling his service
was Phillis Dudick, former director
of the Claude Pepper Senior Citizen
Center who had worked with Tavlin
in advocating for seniors. Dudick
recalled that Tavlin actively participated in many celebrations in honor
of U.S. Sen. Claude Pepper, a tireless advocate for senior citizens.
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2&1" ,0 +$")"0 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
17 November 3, 2011
Pixarʼs Lasseter Receives 2,453rd
Star on Hollywoodʼs Walk of Fame
Page School Hosts Book Drive for Elementary
photo courtesy of Hana Hong
Page Private School of Hancock Park recently held a book drive benefitting Futuro College Prep
Elementary in El Sereno, and the Page School student council delivered hundreds of childrenʼs books
to the school. At the event, student council vice-president, YeBin Lee (above), read from one of the
books to a group of Futuro second graders.
“We reached our goal of collecting more than 1,500 books. It took a lot of time and energy but it was
worth it,” said Lee, an 8th grader at Page Private School. “It was such an amazing experience to interact with the students and see how eager they are to read. We would like to thank the Page family and
the local community members for all of their support.”
Dozens of books were provided by members of the local community, and John and Lyn Luzwick, former Page parents, donated more than 1,000 books after reading about the book drive. Page Private
School, which was founded in 1908, has six campuses serving infants through 8th graders. The
Hancock Park campus is located at 565 N. Larchmont Blvd. For information, call (323)463-5118.
photo by Aaron Blevins
Two-time Academy Award-winning director John Lasseter received the
2,453rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday. The Hollywood
native directed “Toy Story”, the first-ever feature-length, computer-animated film; “A Bugʼs Life”; “Toy Story 2”; “Cars”; and “Cars 2”.
Lasseter also was the executive producer for “Monsters, Inc.”, “Finding
Nemo”, “The Incredibles”, “Ratatouille”, “Wall-E”, “Bolt” and “Up”.
Under Lasseterʼs supervision, Pixarʼs films have earned several accolades and film-industry honors. He received a Special Achievement
Oscar in 1995 for “Toy Story”, and the crew as a whole earned an
Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Lasseter was joined during the ceremony by several celebrities, including Owen Wilson, Brad Paisley, Patton Oswalt, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech
Marin and Don Rickles. Two characters from “Cars”, Lightning McQueen
and Mater, also made an appearance.
Before his star was unveiled, Lasseter made a tribute to the late Steve
Jobs, who purchased Pixar in 1986. The Apple co-founder died Oct. 5.
Lasseterʼs star is located outside El Capitan Theatre.
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Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
18 November 3, 2011
Pinkʼs Goes Pink for Breast Cancer
Students, ʻSenior Buddiesʼ Have Halloween Lunch
photo courtesy of Dan Steinberg Photography
Beverly (left) and Gloria Pink, of Pinkʼs Hot Dogs on La Brea Avenue,
participated in a “Breast Cancer Awareness Day” celebration on Oct. 27
at iFly at Universal CityWalk. The event included a pink ribbon-cutting
symbolizing support for breast cancer research, a proclamation from City
Councilmember Tom LaBonge, 4th District, and free Pinkʼs hotdogs. The
skydiving simulator, iFly, donated a portion of the proceeds from the
sales of a special breast cancer t-shirt, and every flight logged during
October, to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. For information, visit www.iflyhollywood.com.
photo by Linda Goldfinger
Autry National Centerʼs American
Indian Art Market is Upcoming
The residents and staff of the City View Villa assisted living facility on La Brea Avenue joined students
from the Hollywood Schoolhouse on McCadden Place on Oct. 28 for a special Halloween luncheon. The
event included stories, Halloween jokes and songs, and the children, dressed in their costumes, brought
each resident a card with information about themselves.
City View Villa hopes to continue its intergenerational program with the Hollywood Schoolhouse, and the
relationships between the students and their “Senior Buddies”. City View Villa is located at 515 N. La Brea
Ave. for information, call (323)938-2131, or visit www.cityviewvilla.com.
Visit Our Showroom for the
Largest Selection of
Tarkett Flooring
photo by Dianne Klebanow
Colorful pottery, jewelry, weavings and baskets will be featured at the
Autry National Centerʼs annual “American Indian Arts Market” on
Saturday, Nov. 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Native American artists from across the country will showcase their art
and demonstrate the traditional techniques, with performances by Native
American dancers, musicians and storytellers, as well as hands-on activities for children, and Native American food.
The Autry National Center is located in Griffith Park at 4700 Western
Heritage Way. For information, call (323), 667-2000, or visit
www.theautry.org.
VISIT LINOLEUM CITY
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Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
19 November 3, 2011
Arrests Made at Halloween Celebrations
From page 3
ing, and there is no new information.”
The suspect was described as
being approximately 25 years old,
six-feet-tall and around 200
pounds. Thomas said he fled the
station and was still being sought as
of Wednesday. Anyone with information is asked to call (800)2228477.
Oreb described the scene on
Hollywood Boulevard as “very
busy” all weekend and on the holiday. The LAPD command staff had
anticipated the large crowds and
approximately 400 officers were
deployed. Oreb said there was no
official estimate of the crowd size,
but said it was comparable to last
year, when 150,000 people reportedly came to Hollywood during the
Halloween weekend. In 2010, five
people were shot in three separate
incidents on Hollywood Boulevard.
All five victims survived, and the
incidents were determined to be
gang related.
Oreb credited the large deployment of officers with preventing the
violence this year, and said officers
on foot, motorcycles, horses and
cars worked together to control the
crowds. Twenty people were arrested, primarily for misdemeanor
offenses involving drinking in public or public intoxication. One person was arrested for grand theft, a
felony, but Oreb did not immediately have information about what was
allegedly stolen. Another person
was arrested after he reportedly
threw an empty liquor bottle at one
of the mounted officers.
“We had officers on loan from
divisions all over the city,” Oreb
said. “It’s never enough for something like that, but we were able to
keep the crowds out of the street,
and made sure everyone was safe.”
Oreb added that although there is
no official Halloween event in
Hollywood, tens of thousands of
people flock to the area because of
the bars and nightclubs, or just to
walk the sidewalks. The deployment of extra officers began on
Friday evening. On Saturday night
and Sunday morning, numerous
fights were reported near
Hollywood Boulevard, and one
victim was allegedly beaten unconscious near the corner of Las
Palmas Avenue. Oreb said he was
not aware of any arrests relating to
the weekend fights, but added that
there were also sporadic fistfights
on Halloween night. Oreb also said
one of the most challenging locations was the intersection of
Hollywood
Boulevard
and
Highland Avenue, where officers
were posted at all four corners to
keep large groups of people from
spilling into the street.
“In the past few years,
Halloween fell on a Friday or
Saturday night, but this year it landed on a week night, so it was much
more drawn out,” Oreb added.
“There are a lot of nightclubs with
Halloween events that they post on
photo by Adam Popescu
The crowd at the West Hollywood Carnaval included everything from
superheroes to soldiers.
social media or promote in other
ways. It’s L.A.’s version of Las
Vegas, so we were expecting a lot
of people.”
The scene in West Hollywood
was much different, according to
authorities, and only two arrests
were made for theft and fighting.
As was the case in Hollywood,
hundreds of deputies were
deployed for the West Hollywood
event, which is billed as the largest
Halloween celebration in the
world.
Fire Erupts at Magic Castle City Still Working on Changes to Email
From page 3
From page 1
staff, Cowley said.
No injuries were reported in
the fire, which closed the intersection of Franklin Avenue and
North Orange Drive. Many
passers-by and neighbors stopped
to watch the firefighters work the
blaze.
The Magic Castle, a membersonly nightclub that caters to
magicians and magic enthusiasts,
has a reputation in Hollywood for
being haunted. Ironically, the
Magic Castle’s Halloween celebration had been named, “Inferno
at the Castle”. The building is 102
years old.
“It’s a landmark,” resident
Jason Lee said. “It’s very recognizable.”
One of the older buildings in
“It’s a landmark.
It’s very
recognizable.”
-Hollywood resident
Jason Lee
the area, the Magic Castle draws
visitors from all over the U.S. and
abroad, he said. Lee said the fire
could affect patrons, who make
reservations months in advance.
He lamented that the “landmark”
caught fire on Halloween, one of
its biggest days.
“It’s going to be pretty devastating to them,” Lee said.
sion in a city council closed session.
When the city initially approved
the contract, Randi Levin, the city’s
chief technology officer, wrote a
lengthy memo that appeared on the
official Google Enterprise blog. In
it, she explained the city’s reasoning, which included improved collaboration, easier remote access,
and expanded storage.
“In addition to empowering
employees across the city, everyone
will benefit from Google’s security
controls, which will provide a higher level of security for city data than
exists with our current system,”
Levin wrote in 2009. Two years
later, everyone is yet to benefit.
Representatives for Google were
unavailable for comment.
Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
21 November 3, 2011
Adult Day Care Cuts to be Studied
From page 3
approximately 300 seniors, into
bankruptcy.
He
said
the
Legislature’s decision could end up
costing the state more in the long
run, as seniors will seek resources
elsewhere, such as more expensive
acute care facilities.
“The local impact is huge,”
Vallandingham said, adding that the
cut would also put many people out
of work. “It’s devastating.”
According to Rosendahl’s motion,
75 licensed centers operate in Los
Angeles, with more than 10,000
seniors participating in the program.
Vallandingham said that number
will eventually be compounded by
the Baby Boomers, whose population is expected to boost the number
of residents age 65 and older by 60
percent by 2020.
“I never thought it’d actually be
eliminated,” he said, referencing
past attempts at cutting the program.
“I don’t understand it at any level.”
Vallandingham said he opted to
purchase Arcadia in 2008 after witnessing his father’s dealings with
nursing homes. He said he was
impressed with the business model,
which aims to keep its patients from
becoming institutionalized.
“It was a personal revelation for
me,” Vallandingham said. “This is a
very preventative and proactive
model.”
If the program is eliminated as
planned, the responsibility of managing seniors’ care will likely rest on
their sons and daughters, some of
whom are going to struggle to provide adequate care, he said. Brown
has said home healthcare companies
may be able to pick up the pieces,
but “they can’t do it all,”
Vallandingham said.
“There’s such a domino effect
here regarding the family unit,” he
said. “It’s quite astounding.”
Many seniors may end up leaning
on agencies such as the Jewish
Family Service of Los Angeles,
chief program officer Vivian Sauer
said. She said that when services are
eliminated, people tend to go back to
what they know: agencies. Jewish
Family Service, however, only has a
handful of slots for new patients.
“I think we’re all going to feel the
impact,” Sauer said.
Although the organization closed
its adult daycare program approximately 18 months ago “for several
reasons,” staff members place new
patients in other programs or refer
them to other centers, she said. Sauer
said Jewish Family Service may be
able to provide some patients with
some meals or care management,
but that’s the extent of its openings.
She predicted that seniors will
receive a “patchwork” of services
and resources from various entities,
including senior centers.
“It’s not going to take the place of
the services they were getting,”
Sauer said.
Furthermore, the seniors who participated in adult daycare may be
more at-risk when the funding runs
out, she said. There will likely be
more danger of abuse or neglect,
more emergency room visits and
more falls as a result, Sauer said. It
will also put strain on caregivers.
“This is going to have a signifi-
photo by Aaron Blevins
The adult daycare programs at Arcadia of Hollywood offer seniors an
opportunity to socialize and play games.
cant impact on them as well,” Sauer
said.
A bill reached the governor’s desk
last session that would have replaced
the funding, but Brown vetoed the
bill in July. In his veto message, he
said his administration seeks to keep
adults from being institutionalized,
but AB 96 wouldn’t address “the
immediate need to transition adult
day healthcare beneficiaries to other
home and community-based services.” Brown said he asked the
Department of Health Care Services
to work with the Legislature and
other stakeholders to ensure a
smooth transition to appropriate services.
According to Rosendahl’s motion,
at least 18 adult daycare centers have
closed since the funding cut was
announced.
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#! Park Labrea News/Beverly Press
22 November 3, 2011
Paramount Cuts Jobs
Council Considers Changes to Fur Ban
From page 1
From page 1
business, which they feared may
drop with the cuts.
“Definitely sad for individuals losing their jobs,” Engelhart
said. The Cafe, which opened in
March, “is not depending on
them (Paramount) for success,”
he said.
In a prepared statement,
Paramount chairman and chief
executive Brad Grey said the
move was made “to best adapt
to the global evolution in the
movie business.”
The cut amounts to about five
percent of Paramount’s 2,400member workforce. Of the 120
employees being shown the
door, 40 are in the London
office. In September, the studio
announced they would move the
formerly London-based international division headquarters to
L.A in a bid to consolidate home
entertainment, digital and film
operations. Paramount is also
closing its Brazil-based Latin
American office, moving those
duties to L.A. as well.
Founded in 1912, Paramount
is the oldest U.S. studio, and is
currently owned by parent-company Viacom.
Amy Powell, Paramount’s
senior vice president of interactive marketing did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Newspapers Move to Wilshire
From page 1
was then launched, expanding the
coverage area to the West
Hollywood, Wilshire, Hancock
Park and Hollywood areas. In
2009, the newspapers entered into a
partnership with the Los Angeles
Times for distribution. Today, the
Park Labrea News and Beverly
Press are delivered every Thursday
with the L.A. Times to subscribers.
The latest breaking news can also
be found online at www.beverlypress.com or www.parklabreanews.com.
The newspaper staff can still be
reached at (323)933-5518, or via
the primary editorial e-mail
address
of
[email protected].
The mailing address also
remains the same: P.O. Box
36036, Los Angeles, CA, 90036.
' &! "'#! '
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While it appreciated the opportunity to give input, chamber representatives are still opposed to the
ban, which they say will hurt the
city’s fashion industry in the midst
of a poor economic climate. Morrill
said it is also concerning that the
council is trying to dictate morality.
“When government begins to do
that, it can become muddy,” she
said. “It’s about a fashion industry
in a district that’s being singled out
to ban fur and make a political
statement.”
Ed Buck, one of the founders of
Fur Free West Hollywood, was
pleased to hear that the ban had
been expanded in some ways. He
said the ban is symbolic and should
raise the consciousness of consumers in the area.
“We are having a moral debate
with the cash register,” Buck said.
He said the ban is necessary,
because education can only go so
far. At the end of the day, a wellinformed individual could still
make a poor decision, Buck said,
adding that he disagreed with the
opponents’ assertions that the ban
wouldn’t save any animals.
“This is going to save thousands
and may lead to millions,” he said.
Buck dismissed Origin Assured,
“which is kind of like the tobacco
companies saying their kind of cigarettes won’t cause cancer.” He also
denied the fur council’s study,
which he said is biased.
West Hollywood businesses will
be affected, but Buck doesn’t
believe the impact will be as significant as the chamber alleges. He
said fur only makes up for more
than 10 percent of sales in two West
Hollywood stores, and no retailer
sells fur exclusively.
photo by Aaron Blevins
Stella McCartney is a retailer in West Hollywood that does not offer fur
products, instead offering clothing made of organic cotton and nonleather material.
“Doing the right thing has a
price,” Buck said.
He said some stores have already
pulled their fur items off the
shelves, and some, like Stella
McCartney on Beverly Boulevard,
refuse to sell fur anyway.
Overall, Buck believes the ban
will be a “net positive,” with additional humane shoppers and events
coming to West Hollywood as a
result.
“The humane movement has
spoken,” he said.
Answers From Page 16