7/11/2013 - Park Labrea News and Beverly Press
7/11/2013 - Park Labrea News and Beverly Press
7/11/2013 - Park Labrea News and Beverly Press
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WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM<br />
INSIDE<br />
Temps in the<br />
80s, sunny<br />
this weekend<br />
Special hot<br />
dog section,<br />
pgs. 12-17<br />
Volume 23 No. 28 Serving the West Hollywood, Hancock <strong>Park</strong> <strong>and</strong> Wilshire Communities July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong><br />
Patrons rally to save Tom Bergin’s<br />
n Tavern owner<br />
addresses Mid-City<br />
West audience<br />
By AAron Blevins<br />
Supporters <strong>and</strong> patrons of Tom<br />
Bergin’s Tavern on Tuesday<br />
expressed their grievances<br />
regarding the closure of the 77-<br />
year-old hangout to the Mid-City<br />
West Community Council.<br />
The restaurant <strong>and</strong> bar, known<br />
for its atmosphere, history <strong>and</strong><br />
the shamrocks hanging from the<br />
ceiling <strong>and</strong> walls, closed on<br />
Sunday, less than a week after its<br />
owner announced his decision.<br />
Marisa O’Brien, a New York<br />
native, was first brought to Tom<br />
Bergin’s by her brother after she<br />
moved to Los Angeles 12 years<br />
ago. She would eventually go on<br />
to work there as a bartender <strong>and</strong><br />
server.<br />
“That’s how I was introduced,<br />
<strong>and</strong> it just felt like home,” she<br />
said. “There’s nothing else like it<br />
in L.A.”<br />
Among her group of friends,<br />
three marriages <strong>and</strong> six babies<br />
have their roots at the restaurant<br />
<strong>and</strong> bar. O’Brien said regulars<br />
<strong>and</strong> staff members also came out<br />
in droves to support her fight<br />
against breast cancer.<br />
“It was family,” she said. “It<br />
was home.”<br />
Patron Matthew Meltzer said<br />
n Fireworks spark<br />
increase in shelters’<br />
populations<br />
Although the Fourth of July may<br />
be a celebration of independence<br />
for American citizens, that is not the<br />
case for American pets, some of<br />
which are susceptible to running<br />
away due to the explosive sights<br />
<strong>and</strong> sounds.<br />
In fact, July is one of the busiest<br />
— if not the busiest — times of the<br />
year for area animal shelters. Los<br />
Angeles Animal Services’ shelters<br />
received 149 new dogs following<br />
the holiday, a significant decrease<br />
from 2012 (309 dogs) <strong>and</strong> 20<strong>11</strong><br />
(295).<br />
Best Friends Animal Society<br />
(BFAS) has been “extremely busy,”<br />
said Marc Peralta, the executive<br />
director of the organization’s adoption<br />
center in Mission Hills. To<br />
accommodate, BFAS waived the<br />
fee for adoptions the weekend<br />
photo by Aaron Blevins<br />
Tom Bergin’s Tavern closed on Sunday, much to the dismay of regulars<br />
<strong>and</strong> patrons who have formed many memories in the 77-year-old Irish<br />
pub on Fairfax Avenue.<br />
the relationships that he has created<br />
at Tom Bergin’s have<br />
“enriched my life immeasurably.”<br />
He called on the council to<br />
do what it can to retain the tavern.<br />
before the holiday, <strong>and</strong> approximately<br />
100 animals were adopted.<br />
“It’s a lot of very scary <strong>and</strong> very<br />
loud <strong>and</strong> very unfamiliar sensory<br />
“Please don’t let them turn that<br />
bar into a Verizon store or condos<br />
or anything like that,” Meltzer<br />
said. “Any regulatory hurdle you<br />
Animal shelters swamped after holiday<br />
By AAron Blevins<br />
See Tom page 24<br />
photo by Erik Bianchi/Best Friends Animal Society<br />
This terrier mix was among the dogs that Best Friends Animal Society<br />
rescued from city animal shelters the week of July 4.<br />
things going on with the animals all<br />
at once,” Peralta said regarding animals’<br />
reaction to fireworks. In pre-<br />
See Fireworks page 26<br />
West Hollywood resident<br />
captures Flight 214 chaos<br />
n Two die in crash at San Francisco airport<br />
By AAron Blevins<br />
From the sixth floor of her San<br />
Francisco Airport Marriott<br />
Waterfront hotel room last<br />
Saturday, West Hollywood resident<br />
Irene Benavente witnessed the<br />
chaotic aftermath of the Asiana<br />
Airlines Flight 214 crash.<br />
Benavente said she was in the<br />
midst of wrapping up a “fabulous”<br />
trip to visit her gr<strong>and</strong>children, <strong>and</strong><br />
was to fly back to Southern<br />
California at 7:10 p.m. that day. At<br />
n Developers no longer<br />
know if proposal is<br />
‘viable’ after decision<br />
By edwin folven<br />
A mixed-use residential <strong>and</strong><br />
retail project near La Cienega<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>Beverly</strong> boulevards faces an<br />
uncertain future after the Los<br />
Angeles City Council’s Planning<br />
<strong>and</strong> L<strong>and</strong> Use Committee<br />
(PLUM) recently voted to limit<br />
the building’s height to 50 feet.<br />
The developer, <strong>Beverly</strong> La<br />
Cienega LLC, had sought to<br />
build a 45-unit, five-story building<br />
that was 56 feet tall. Nearby<br />
residents objected to the height,<br />
<strong>and</strong> advocated that the building<br />
not exceed 45 feet, which is the<br />
maximum allowed under the<br />
area’s community plan. Los<br />
Angeles City Councilman Paul<br />
Koretz, 5th District, met with<br />
residents <strong>and</strong> the developer, <strong>and</strong><br />
supported a compromise of 50<br />
approximately <strong>11</strong>:30 a.m., she<br />
looked outside of her hotel window.<br />
“You see the smoke. You see the<br />
flames. And you think, ‘Oh my<br />
god, who can survive this?’ …It<br />
was just horrendous — the whole<br />
thing,” Benavente said.<br />
Although she saw people running<br />
from the scene, she hadn’t<br />
seen the news <strong>and</strong> believed that<br />
none of the passengers had survived<br />
the plane crash. According to<br />
See Eerie page 26<br />
photo by Irene Benavente<br />
West Hollywood resident Irene Benavente captured this photo after the<br />
Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash last Saturday.<br />
Proposed development<br />
knocked down six feet<br />
feet. Some residents said they<br />
were satisfied with the compromise.<br />
Joel Miller, vice president<br />
<strong>and</strong> principle of Psomas, a consulting<br />
company representing the<br />
developer, said the height reduction<br />
of six feet would result in the<br />
loss of a fifth story. He added that<br />
the developer will have to reevaluate<br />
the plan. The full city<br />
council is expected to vote on the<br />
project at a hearing tentatively<br />
scheduled on Aug. 6.<br />
“Even the loss of one foot<br />
means the loss of a story, which<br />
means nine units. I don’t know if<br />
it is a viable project,” Miller said.<br />
“It’s already very tight. A couple<br />
of feet will make a difference.”<br />
A couple of single-story businesses<br />
<strong>and</strong> a billboard are currently<br />
located at the site, located<br />
in the 300 block of North La<br />
Cienega Blvd. Miller said the<br />
developer planned to replace the<br />
buildings <strong>and</strong> sign with a building<br />
that would help spark a revitalization<br />
of La Cienega<br />
See Development page 25
2 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong><br />
12 ‘Sherman Show’<br />
Entertainer Michael Sherman performs<br />
the songs of Al Jolson <strong>and</strong><br />
Bing Crosby in the “Sherman Show”<br />
on Friday, July 12 at 1 p.m. at the<br />
Fairfax Senior Center on Fairfax<br />
Avenue. Sherman will also perform<br />
impersonations of Jack Benny,<br />
George Burns, Ed Sullivan <strong>and</strong> more.<br />
7929 Melrose Ave. (323)653-1824.<br />
Outdoor Jazz<br />
Pianist <strong>and</strong> composer David<br />
Ornette Cherry, son of legendary<br />
jazz trumpeter Don Cherry, salutes<br />
his father’s work during a performance<br />
on Friday, July 12 at 8 p.m. at<br />
the Los Angeles County Museum of<br />
Art. Cherry will also perform his own<br />
new works during the show, which is<br />
part of the “Jazz at LACMA” series.<br />
BP Gr<strong>and</strong> Entrance, 5905 Wilshire<br />
Blvd. (323)857-6000,<br />
www.lacma.org.<br />
Comedy Show<br />
Comedian Tom Rubin brings his<br />
new one-man comedy show<br />
titled “Success Guru” to the Dorie<br />
Theatre on Santa Monica Boulevard<br />
from Friday, July 12 through Aug. 30.<br />
Rubin’s show was inspired by his<br />
experiences in the hyper-competitive<br />
worlds of the Ivy League, corporate<br />
America <strong>and</strong> Hollywood. Showtimes<br />
are at 9 p.m., Fridays. 6476 Santa<br />
Monica Blvd. (323)960-7780,<br />
www.plays4<strong>11</strong>.com/successguru.<br />
‘The Manor’<br />
Writer, actress <strong>and</strong> musician<br />
Katherine Bates’ play “The<br />
Manor” returns to Greystone<br />
Mansion in <strong>Beverly</strong> Hills running<br />
from Friday, July 12 through Aug. 30.<br />
The play, produced by Theatre 40, is<br />
an iconic drama of history, mystery<br />
<strong>and</strong> intrigue. Audiences follow actors<br />
through several decorated rooms of<br />
the Greystone Mansion’s first floor as<br />
murder, madness <strong>and</strong> dark secrets are<br />
revealed. Tickets are $55. 905 Loma<br />
Vista Drive. (310)694-6<strong>11</strong>8.<br />
13 ‘Grease’<br />
Sing-a-Long<br />
Join Sha Na Na <strong>and</strong> actress Didi<br />
Conn for a night of singing <strong>and</strong> fun<br />
at the “Grease” Sing-a-long on<br />
Saturday, July 13 beginning at 7:30<br />
p.m. at the Hollywood Bowl. Sha Na<br />
Na, which appeared in the 1978 film<br />
as the group, Johnny Casino <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Gamblers, will perform at 7:30 p.m.<br />
Conn, who played “Frenchy” in the<br />
film, will host the show, where the<br />
audience sings-a-long to a screening<br />
of the film at 8:30 p.m with subtitles.<br />
Tickets start at $14.50. 2301 N.<br />
Highl<strong>and</strong> Ave. (323)850-2000,<br />
www.hollywoodbowl.com.<br />
Art Exhibit<br />
The public is invited to view an<br />
exhibition of mixed media<br />
works by Iranian-born artist Fariba<br />
Ameri titled “The Beauty of Inner<br />
Truth” running Saturday, July 13<br />
through Sept. 1 at the JNA Gallery in<br />
the Bergamot Station Art Center,<br />
C a l e n d a r<br />
photo by Michael Lamont<br />
Fans of musical theatre are invited to a production of the Tony awardwinning<br />
production “Nine” running from Friday, July 12 through Aug. 18<br />
at the MET Theatre in Hollywood. The musical is produced by the DOMA<br />
Theatre Co. <strong>and</strong> based on Federico Fellini’s classic film, “8½”. It follows<br />
the story of world famous film director Guido Contini, played by David<br />
Michael Treviño (above), who attempts to come up with a plot for his<br />
next film while trying to balance the numerous women in his life.<br />
Showtimes are at 8 p.m., Friday <strong>and</strong> Saturday; 3 p.m., Sunday. Tickets<br />
are $30. 1089 N. Oxford Ave. (323)802-4990, www.domatheatre.com.<br />
Santa Monica. Ameri’s work is<br />
influenced by her personal experiences<br />
as a woman with a diverse,<br />
multi-cultural heritage. She draws<br />
upon Persian <strong>and</strong> mythological<br />
themes, as well as symbolic objects,<br />
to highlight the contrast between<br />
things that can be seen <strong>and</strong> things<br />
that are hidden. 2525 Michigan Ave.,<br />
Ste. D4. (310)315-9502, www.jnagallery.com.<br />
<br />
<br />
Book Discussion<br />
Author Jim Gladstone, executive<br />
vice president of Lionsgate<br />
Entertainment, will sign <strong>and</strong> discuss<br />
his new book, “The Man Who<br />
Seduced Hollywood: The Life <strong>and</strong><br />
Loves of Greg Bautzer” on Saturday,<br />
July 13 at 5 p.m. at the Larry Edmunds<br />
Bookshop in Hollywood. The book<br />
has a foreword by actor Robert<br />
Wagner, <strong>and</strong> is drawn from exclusive<br />
<br />
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interviews with people whose lives<br />
intersected with Bautzer’s. 6644<br />
Hollywood Blvd. (323)463-3273.<br />
14 ‘Moulin Rouge!’<br />
Families <strong>and</strong> film lovers can enjoy<br />
a free outdoor screening of<br />
“Moulin Rouge!” on Sunday, July 14<br />
at 8 p.m. in the <strong>Beverly</strong> Cañon<br />
Gardens in <strong>Beverly</strong> Hills. The screening<br />
is part of the city’s “Sunday Movie<br />
Nights”, with additional installments<br />
scheduled on July 28, <strong>and</strong> Aug. <strong>11</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
25. 241 N. Cañon Drive. (310)285-<br />
6830, www.beverlyhills.org.<br />
Doggie Festival<br />
Dog lovers are invited to the 2nd<br />
annual Doggie Street Festival on<br />
Sunday, July 14 from <strong>11</strong> a.m. to 5 p.m.<br />
at the Westfield Century City shopping<br />
mall. Participants can receive pet<br />
information, listen to live music.<br />
Enjoy food <strong>and</strong> see the latest in pet<br />
products. 10250 Santa Monica Blvd.<br />
www.doggiestreetfestival.org.<br />
Shakespearean<br />
Comedy<br />
Fans of Shakespeare will enjoy a<br />
production of “A Midsummer<br />
Night’s Dream” running from Sunday,<br />
July 14 through 28 in the Japanese<br />
Garden at the VA West Los Angeles<br />
Healthcare Center campus. The<br />
Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles,<br />
under the artistic direction of Ben<br />
Donenberg, is producing the version<br />
of The Bard’s romantic comedy.<br />
Showtimes are at 8 p.m., Tuesday<br />
through Sunday. Tickets start at $25.<br />
<strong>11</strong>301 Wilshire Blvd. (800)838-3006,<br />
www.shakespearecenter.org.<br />
17 Holocaust Film<br />
Learn about the plight of Jews in<br />
France during World War II during<br />
a free screening of the film “La Raffle<br />
(The Roundup)” on Wednesday, July<br />
17 from <strong>11</strong>:45 a.m. to noon at the<br />
National Council of Jewish Women,<br />
Los Angeles’ Council House on<br />
Fairfax Avenue. The film commemorates<br />
the anniversary of the Vel d’Hiv<br />
Roundup in 1942, when more than<br />
13,000 Jews from Paris <strong>and</strong> its suburbs<br />
were arrested, confined to the<br />
Velodrome d’Hiver bicycle stadium<br />
<strong>and</strong> later deported to German concentration<br />
camps. Only 25 returned to<br />
France at the end of the war. 543 N.<br />
Fairfax Ave. (323)852-8503,<br />
ruth@ncjwla.org.<br />
Crime Meeting<br />
Members of the public are invited<br />
to a meeting on crime in the<br />
Melrose District on Wednesday, July<br />
17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Blu Jam Café.<br />
The Melrose Action Neighborhood<br />
Watch is hosting the meeting, which<br />
will cover topics such as a recent stabbing<br />
of a tourist on Melrose Avenue.<br />
Senior Lead Officer Art Gallegos, of<br />
the LAPD’s Wilshire Division, will be<br />
the special guest. 7371 Melrose Ave.<br />
www.melroseaction.com.<br />
Jazz at The Bowl<br />
Jazz legends return to the Hollywood<br />
Bowl with a performance by Sergio<br />
Mendes, <strong>and</strong> Herb Alpert & Lani Hall,<br />
on Wednesday, July 17 at 8 p.m. The<br />
artists will perform a concert of sublime<br />
jazz <strong>and</strong> irresistible Brazilian<br />
rhythms. Alpert <strong>and</strong> Hall lend their<br />
inventive sophistication <strong>and</strong> style to<br />
jazz st<strong>and</strong>ards <strong>and</strong> selections from the<br />
Great American Songbook. Mendes<br />
closes out the show with his Rio-pop<br />
grooves. Tickets start at $2. 2301 N<br />
Highl<strong>and</strong> Ave. (323)850-2000,<br />
www.hollywoodbowl.com.<br />
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<strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong> 3 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong><br />
Carousel to get 10k upgrades<br />
photo by Edwin Folven<br />
The Griffith <strong>Park</strong> Merry-Go-Round will soon undergo renovations<br />
after Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge, 4th District, allocated<br />
$10,000 from his office’s discretionary fund for upgrades.<br />
The merry-go-round is located in the <strong>Park</strong> Center area off Crystal<br />
Springs Drive, south of the Los Angeles Zoo <strong>and</strong> municipal golf courses.<br />
Built in 1926 <strong>and</strong> opened in Griffith <strong>Park</strong> in 1937, it has been one<br />
of the park’s premiere attractions for decades, according to LaBonge.<br />
Although the merry-go-round was partially restored approximately 10<br />
years ago, some of the original murals above <strong>and</strong> behind the horses that<br />
were not restored have now faded or peeled.<br />
“The funding will go to restore all of the murals around the top of<br />
the historic merry-go-round,” LaBonge said. “It is a beautiful attraction.”<br />
The $10,000 comes from the 4th District’s share of AB 1290 funds,<br />
which are paid by developers when projects are approved. The funds<br />
are to be used for projects that improve quality of life within the council<br />
districts.<br />
The merry-go-round has 68 horses. Each is carved with jewelencrusted<br />
bridles, detailed draped blankets <strong>and</strong> decorated with sunflowers<br />
<strong>and</strong> lion’s heads, according to the city’s Griffith <strong>Park</strong> website.<br />
A Stinson 165 Military B<strong>and</strong> Organ, reported to be the largest merrygo-round<br />
b<strong>and</strong> organ on the West Coast, provides music for the<br />
carousel. It is open year-round from <strong>11</strong> a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends,<br />
<strong>and</strong> from <strong>11</strong> a.m. to 5 p.m. on summer weekdays. For information,<br />
visit www.laparks.org.<br />
LaBonge proposes ‘bike pool’ for city employees<br />
By edwin folven<br />
City employees may soon have a<br />
new way to get around the civic center<br />
downtown through a bike-sharing<br />
program proposed by Los<br />
Angeles City Councilman Tom<br />
LaBonge, 4th District.<br />
The motion calls for a government<br />
“bike pool” that would provide<br />
bicycles that could be used by city<br />
employees who need to travel<br />
between Los Angeles City Hall, City<br />
Hall East, City Hall South, the C.<br />
Erwin Piper Technical Center,<br />
Figueroa Plaza, the Los Angeles<br />
Public Works Building <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Central City Yards. The councilman<br />
said the program would have a positive<br />
impact on employee fitness <strong>and</strong><br />
the environment. Similar programs<br />
are in place at some movie studios,<br />
where employees often need to<br />
move between one end of the property<br />
to the other several times a day.<br />
“The movie studios are often way<br />
ahead of government,” LaBonge<br />
said. “In downtown L.A., you have<br />
city hall <strong>and</strong> several satellite buildings.<br />
Instead of having a motor pool,<br />
we are trying to establish a bike<br />
pool.”<br />
LaBonge said it has yet to be<br />
determined how the city would<br />
acquire or pay for the bikes, <strong>and</strong><br />
admitted that the idea is in the formative<br />
stages. He said he hopes to<br />
start a discussion on the feasibility of<br />
such a program. The motion<br />
instructs staff at the Los Angeles<br />
Department of Transportation to<br />
report back to the council on the<br />
potential cost <strong>and</strong> funding sources.<br />
“I love my bike,” said LaBonge,<br />
who hosts weekly bicycle rides for<br />
constituents during the summer. “I<br />
want to see how we can get [a bike<br />
pool] into the bloodstream.”<br />
New city attorney Feuer announces appointments<br />
Los Angeles City Attorney Mike<br />
Feuer has named members of his<br />
incoming team, including his chief<br />
of staff <strong>and</strong> chief deputy.<br />
Leela Ann Kapur, chief of staff,<br />
has 24 years of experience in the<br />
Office of the Los Angeles County<br />
Counsel, most recently as chief<br />
deputy. In the County Counsel’s<br />
Office, she represented <strong>and</strong> advised<br />
the Board of Supervisors, other<br />
county officials, departments,<br />
agencies <strong>and</strong> commissions on a<br />
wide variety of legal issues. As<br />
chief deputy, she was responsible<br />
for the administration of the office<br />
<strong>and</strong> assisted the county counsel in<br />
managing all of the county’s<br />
diverse legal matters.<br />
Jim Clark, chief deputy, has more<br />
than 38 years of civil litigation<br />
experience, was a long-time partner<br />
at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, is a<br />
Fellow of the American College of<br />
Trial Lawyers <strong>and</strong> has h<strong>and</strong>led a<br />
multitude of complex civil litigation<br />
matters at every level of the<br />
California <strong>and</strong> federal courts.<br />
Capri Maddox, special assistant<br />
city attorney, previously served as a<br />
Los Angeles deputy city attorney<br />
where she worked in the Central<br />
Trials, Neighborhood Prosecutor<br />
Program, Complex Litigation <strong>and</strong><br />
General Counsel Section units.<br />
Before returning to the office of the<br />
city attorney, she was president of<br />
the City of Los Angeles Board of<br />
Public Works.<br />
Alex Ponder, director of policy<br />
<strong>and</strong> inter-governmental relations,<br />
served as deputy chief of staff <strong>and</strong><br />
district director for Feuer when he<br />
was in the State Assembly.<br />
Previously, he was a legislative<br />
advocate for the National League<br />
of Cities <strong>and</strong> chief of staff to Los<br />
Angeles City Councilwoman<br />
Cindy Miscikowski. He also<br />
worked for Feuer when he was on<br />
the city council.<br />
Rob Wilcox, director of community<br />
engagement <strong>and</strong> outreach, is<br />
the former director of communications<br />
for the California High-Speed<br />
Rail Authority, the California<br />
Citizens Redistricting Commission<br />
<strong>and</strong> Los Angeles City Controller<br />
Laura Chick.<br />
Nicole Carcel, deputy for community<br />
engagement <strong>and</strong> outreach,<br />
was senior field representative for<br />
Feuer in the State Assembly.
4 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong><br />
Eric Garcetti sworn in as mayor<br />
photo courtesy of Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office<br />
Mayor Eric Garcetti was sworn in as the 42nd mayor of Los<br />
Angeles on Sunday while st<strong>and</strong>ing next to his wife, Amy Wakel<strong>and</strong>,<br />
on city hall’s Spring Street steps. A community celebration in Gr<strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>Park</strong> with food, games, live entertainment <strong>and</strong> information booths followed.<br />
Last week, Garcetti announced the appointment of former<br />
Councilwoman Jan Perry as interim general manager of the Economic<br />
Development Department, Doane Liu as deputy mayor of city services<br />
<strong>and</strong> Rich Llewellyn as counsel to the mayor.<br />
“I’m excited that Jan Perry <strong>and</strong> I will be working closely together<br />
on getting people back to work <strong>and</strong> helping businesses open <strong>and</strong><br />
grow,” Garcetti said. “Jan’s work in revitalizing Downtown <strong>and</strong> South<br />
<strong>Park</strong> exemplify the kind of leadership <strong>and</strong> expertise we need to<br />
turn this department into a true economic engine for our city.”<br />
Liu was chief of staff to Councilman Joe Buscaino <strong>and</strong> previously<br />
served as chief of staff for Councilwoman Janice Hahn, deputy mayor<br />
for Mayor James K. Hahn <strong>and</strong> district director for Congresswoman<br />
Jane Harman. As deputy mayor of city services, he will oversee the<br />
city departments that directly impact neighborhoods, such as the<br />
DWP, Recreation & <strong>Park</strong>s, Transportation <strong>and</strong> Department of Public<br />
Works.<br />
Llewellyn was most recently chief of staff to Councilman Paul<br />
Koretz. He was Garcetti’s first council chief of staff <strong>and</strong> was special<br />
counsel to District Attorney Gil Garcetti. Llewellyn will continue as<br />
transition director, <strong>and</strong> as counsel will provide legal advice <strong>and</strong> serve<br />
as a senior advisor to the mayor on a host of issues.<br />
Garcetti also announced the staff appointments of Kelli Bernard,<br />
interim chief of economic development; Stephen Cheung, director of<br />
international trade; Eileen Decker, interim deputy mayor for public<br />
safety; Borja Leon, director of transportation; Martha Preciado, director<br />
of scheduling; Heather Repenning, director of external affairs; <strong>and</strong><br />
Yusef Robb, director of communications.<br />
District proposes longer school year<br />
In June, the Los Angeles Unified<br />
School District (LAUSD) Board of<br />
Education directed Superintendent<br />
John Deasy to look into extending<br />
the 2014-15 school year by nine<br />
days or more.<br />
LAUSD students spend 180 days<br />
in the classroom. Now, with<br />
California school districts receiving<br />
more public financing, the board<br />
may grow the academic year to 200<br />
days, which would add another<br />
month to the school calendar.<br />
“This is an<br />
important step<br />
toward preparing<br />
our children to<br />
compete in the<br />
global<br />
marketplace.”<br />
Tamar Galatzan<br />
LAUSD school board<br />
vice president<br />
“We must explore all strategies<br />
to increase the pace of achievement<br />
in Los Angeles,” Board president<br />
Mónica García said. “We know<br />
research shows students do better<br />
with more time spent learning <strong>and</strong><br />
achieving.”<br />
The superintendent is scheduled<br />
to report back to the board in 120<br />
days.<br />
“I look forward to seeing a plan<br />
from the superintendent that would<br />
allow the students of LAUSD to<br />
have a longer school year,” board<br />
vice president Tamar Galatzan said.<br />
“This is an important step toward<br />
preparing our children to compete<br />
in the global marketplace.”<br />
The resolution quoted President<br />
Barack Obama — “The challenges<br />
of a new century dem<strong>and</strong> more<br />
time in the classroom.” To make the<br />
case, the measure also referenced<br />
the ground-breaking 1983 report,<br />
“A Nation at Risk: The Imperative<br />
for Educational Reform”, which<br />
recommended 200 to 220 days in a<br />
school year.<br />
Citing more than 100 U.S. school<br />
districts that have already “extended<br />
learning time strategies to<br />
increase student outcomes,” the<br />
resolution also anticipated additional<br />
state funding to pay for a longer<br />
academic year. The improving state<br />
budget provides a catalyst for the<br />
recommendation, which comes two<br />
years after severe cuts forced the<br />
LAUSD to shorten the academic<br />
year from 180 to 175 days.<br />
For the upcoming academic year,<br />
with the exception of one multitrack<br />
campus, students are scheduled<br />
to return to school on Tuesday,<br />
Aug. 13, <strong>and</strong> get out on Thursday,<br />
June 5, 2014.<br />
Tom Bergin’s deserves<br />
another chance, with<br />
Guinness on tap<br />
[Re: “Tom Bergin’s closed on<br />
Sunday”], My wife Katy <strong>and</strong> I frequented<br />
Bergin’s <strong>and</strong> felt that the<br />
new owners had wildly overpriced<br />
everything from the drinks to the<br />
bar food to the dinner food. It was<br />
delicious but too expensive. The<br />
worst decision was to stop serving<br />
Guinness. We didn’t go back after<br />
that. All of that aside, the restoration<br />
was magnificent <strong>and</strong> the pub<br />
was one of the nicest. The place<br />
deserves another chance with realistic<br />
prices <strong>and</strong> Guinness on tap.<br />
Kenneth M. Phillips<br />
Los Angeles<br />
More Tom Bergin’s<br />
support needed<br />
Your voice is needed to keep<br />
Tom Bergin’s open.<br />
“Whenever one door closes I<br />
hope one more opens,<br />
Promise me that you’ll give faith<br />
a fighting chance,<br />
And when you get the choice to<br />
sit it out or dance,<br />
I hope you dance, I hope you<br />
dance,<br />
I hope you never fear those<br />
mountains in the distance,<br />
Never settle for the path of least<br />
resistance,<br />
Livin’ might mean takin’<br />
chances, but they’re worth takin’.”<br />
[An excerpt from the song, “I<br />
Hope You Dance”, by Lee Ann<br />
Womack.]<br />
Developers may be<br />
winning this round<br />
Bill White<br />
Los Angeles<br />
Millennium obviously covered<br />
up the active fault line issue, <strong>and</strong><br />
are getting away with it, so far [“If<br />
Millennium project site is unbuildable,<br />
who is at fault?”, July 4<br />
issue].<br />
Caltrans wrote letters to [then<br />
Councilman] Garcetti <strong>and</strong> the city<br />
about the inadequate traffic study,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the unsafe traffic situations.<br />
All letters were ignored.<br />
Two unresolved problems are<br />
putting lives at risk. Life [<strong>and</strong>]<br />
death issues [are] ignored at every<br />
political level. Maybe because so<br />
many have been funded by<br />
Millennium. They bought<br />
Hollywood from Villaraigosa, <strong>and</strong><br />
Garcetti enabled <strong>and</strong> helped broker<br />
this deal. And they enabled two<br />
mayors to get elected.<br />
By having Millennium voted on<br />
July 24 [when the full council is<br />
scheduled to examine the project],<br />
with a new council, Garcetti succeeded<br />
in washing his h<strong>and</strong>s of the<br />
whole problem, while claiming he<br />
got them to scale down the<br />
heights. They most likely always<br />
planned on 39 stories anyway. Not<br />
only did he deny their existence<br />
until the final hours, he lied about<br />
being opposed to them, p<strong>and</strong>ering<br />
for votes as it became apparent<br />
how huge the opposition was all<br />
across L.A. Once again, choosing<br />
developer money over his constituents.<br />
Bill Miller<br />
Hollywood<br />
Letters to the Editor<br />
Building the Millennium<br />
project would be<br />
reckless<br />
California is where earthquakes<br />
happen. They kill people. Building<br />
two [towers] on Vine Street in<br />
Hollywood near a seismic fault is<br />
absurd. Earthquakes don’t happen<br />
in New York, so that’s where skyscrapers<br />
belong.<br />
Duke Russell<br />
Hollywood<br />
Celebrity treatment for<br />
teens with potentially<br />
terminal illnesses<br />
Thank you so much for covering<br />
the No Worries Now Prom for teens<br />
with life-threatening illnesses on<br />
June 20 [“Unique prom provides a<br />
night to remember”, June 27 issue].<br />
We have received a lot of comments<br />
about the wonderful piece<br />
you did, <strong>and</strong> the exposure has<br />
brought in a lot of donations that we<br />
will put towards next year’s prom.<br />
More importantly, having cameras<br />
at the event made our patients feel<br />
like they were real celebrities on the<br />
red carpet. Thank you so much!<br />
Michael Belcher<br />
No Worries Now<br />
Delancey Street<br />
deserves all the praise<br />
it receives<br />
This article [“From substances<br />
to sustenance”; Dec. 6 issue] is a<br />
fact, <strong>and</strong> the quotes by the residents<br />
are very true. I should know<br />
because I was a resident <strong>and</strong> now I<br />
am a graduate of this prestigious<br />
organization. Delancey Street was<br />
the only place that was able to correct<br />
my thinking <strong>and</strong> now I have a<br />
successful family oriented life.<br />
Dave Durocher <strong>and</strong> Clarence<br />
Taylor were the two people that<br />
made the largest impact on my life<br />
while I was a resident. I am forever<br />
grateful to the organization that<br />
Mimi Silbert created to assist people<br />
with a new life.<br />
‘So, you might be<br />
Spider-Man?’<br />
I enjoyed Aaron Blevins’ article<br />
on Career Day at Selma Avenue<br />
Elementary School [“Among you<br />
could be the next Steve Jobs,”<br />
May 30], <strong>and</strong> I sincerely believe<br />
that Aaron is both “Peter <strong>Park</strong>er”<br />
<strong>and</strong> “Spiderman.” How else can<br />
we explain his ability to be in so<br />
many places, seemingly at once?<br />
Just look at his incredibly timely,<br />
on-the-scene photos of local fires,<br />
auto accidents, celebrities, <strong>and</strong><br />
area happenings. It must take the<br />
agility of a true superhero to cover<br />
them all!<br />
Many thanks for the superb coverage.<br />
Jean Dickinson<br />
Alzheimer’s Association<br />
California Southl<strong>and</strong> Chapter
6 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong><br />
The Vermont is ‘topped off’<br />
photo courtesy of the J.H. Snyder Company<br />
A topping out celebration was held on June 27 at The Vermont, a<br />
464-unit apartment project being constructed by the J.H. Snyder<br />
Company at the southeast corner of Wilshire Boulevard <strong>and</strong> Vermont<br />
Avenue. Construction workers poured concrete at the highest point<br />
of the apartment project’s twin towers, <strong>and</strong> hoisted a steel beam —<br />
signed by approximately 300 construction workers <strong>and</strong> the development<br />
team — to the top. The 23 <strong>and</strong> 29-story apartment towers,<br />
designed by the Jerde Partnership, are anticipated to be completed<br />
in mid-2014. The project is comprised of residential, retail <strong>and</strong> recreational<br />
spaces surrounding a one quarter-acre central courtyard.<br />
Approximately 40,000 square feet of ground floor space will accommodate<br />
restaurants, a grocer, bank <strong>and</strong> coffee house, as well as public<br />
parking.<br />
Governor signs <strong>2013</strong>-2014 budget<br />
Gov. Jerry Brown on June 27<br />
signed a balanced, on-time budget<br />
that directs additional resources to<br />
California’s neediest students <strong>and</strong><br />
continues the implementation of<br />
federal health care reform, while<br />
continuing to pay down debt <strong>and</strong><br />
build a significant reserve to prepare<br />
for future uncertainties. The budget<br />
is projected to provide long-term<br />
fiscal balance with operating surpluses.<br />
The budget builds on significant<br />
progress in chipping away at the<br />
state’s “Wall of Debt.” It commits<br />
$2.6 billion to continue to pay down<br />
budgetary borrowing of prior years.<br />
From its peak of $34.7 billion at the<br />
end of 2010-<strong>11</strong>, the outst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />
debt is $26.9 billion at the end of<br />
2012-13. Under the budget signed<br />
on June 27, that debt will be paid<br />
down to $4.7 billion over the next<br />
four fiscal years.<br />
In 2010, the state budget deficit<br />
was $26.6 billion. Now, California<br />
has a budget surplus, <strong>and</strong> general<br />
fund spending st<strong>and</strong>s at $96.3 billion.<br />
The budget act signed on June<br />
27 also establishes a budget reserve<br />
of $1.1 billion.<br />
The budget adds $2.1 billion for<br />
first-year implementation of the<br />
Local Control Funding Formula,<br />
which replaces the state’s overly<br />
complex, inefficient <strong>and</strong> inequitable<br />
finance system for California’s K-<br />
12 schools.<br />
Building on California’s early<br />
establishment of a health benefit<br />
exchange <strong>and</strong> the early coverage<br />
expansion through the “Bridge to<br />
New loan to save district $4 million<br />
The Los Angeles Unified<br />
School District (LAUSD) has<br />
acquired a loan to pay off a new<br />
warehouse 15 years early, saving<br />
$4 million in borrowing costs, the<br />
district’s top financial officer said.<br />
In late June, the LAUSD<br />
secured $24.8 million in credit.<br />
That amount replaced funds lent<br />
years earlier to build a central<br />
warehouse in Pico Rivera. Interest<br />
rates on the new loan were far less<br />
than the old one.<br />
With finance rates at historic<br />
Reform” waiver, the budget aligns<br />
with the federal Affordable Care Act<br />
(ACA) in a prudent way while<br />
maintaining a strong public safety<br />
net.<br />
The budget establishes the firstyear<br />
investment in a multi-year stable<br />
funding plan for the University<br />
of California <strong>and</strong> the California<br />
State University systems. Each system<br />
will receive a 5 percent increase<br />
of $125.1 million — the first stage<br />
of a four-year funding schedule that<br />
will result in a 20 percent general<br />
fund increase for the systems.<br />
Lastly, the budget invests significantly<br />
in improving energy efficiency<br />
at California’s K-12 schools <strong>and</strong><br />
community colleges by directing<br />
$381 million in Prop. 39 funds to K-<br />
12 schools <strong>and</strong> $47 million for community<br />
colleges.<br />
For information, visit www.ebudget.ca.gov.<br />
lows, the district agreed to a new,<br />
fixed rate loan at 2.29 percent<br />
interest for 15 years. As a result,<br />
the LAUSD estimates it will save<br />
about $4 million in borrowing<br />
costs over the lending term.<br />
The district will save about<br />
$315,000 annually over the length<br />
of the loan to its General Fund<br />
budget.<br />
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<strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong> 7 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong><br />
Benefit raises $185,000 for<br />
HIV/AIDS programs<br />
photo by Josh Patterson<br />
Representatives of the entertainment industry <strong>and</strong> the L.A. arts community<br />
recently gathered to fight HIV/AIDS at the 4th annual “Art<br />
Project Los Angeles” fundraiser. The evening blended music, art <strong>and</strong><br />
fashion, <strong>and</strong> raised over $185,000 for AIDS Project Los Angeles<br />
(APLA) programs.<br />
Celebrities such as Bruno Amato (The Internship), Tess Broussard<br />
(Kroll Show), Deanna Lee Douglas (The A-List), Richard Grieco (21<br />
Jump Street), Carolyn Hennesy (True Blood), <strong>and</strong> Richard Herd<br />
(Seinfeld, V, Star Trek: Voyager) attended the event at Bonhams in<br />
Hollywood. More than 200 art works were donated to the auction,<br />
ranging from an original Polaroid photograph taken by Andy Warhol,<br />
to original Shepard Fairey prints <strong>and</strong> Takashi Murakami lithographs.<br />
For information, visit apla.org/artproject.<br />
New community support services<br />
available at Youth Policy Institute<br />
Thous<strong>and</strong>s of underserved Los<br />
Angeles families will have access to<br />
a new level of support services, as<br />
the Youth Policy Institute (YPI) officially<br />
launches the Los Angeles<br />
Promise Neighborhood, a coordinated<br />
service delivery program<br />
based on the Harlem Children’s<br />
Zone.<br />
Created with a $30 million U.S.<br />
Department of Education grant, the<br />
Los Angeles Promise<br />
Neighborhood will provide cradleto-college-<strong>and</strong>-career<br />
services for<br />
underserved children <strong>and</strong> their families<br />
in Hollywood <strong>and</strong> Pacoima.<br />
“The Los Angeles Promise<br />
Neighborhood will transform nineteen<br />
neighborhood schools into fullservice<br />
community schools, where<br />
students access academic tutoring,<br />
enrichment, digital literacy training,<br />
nutrition, wellness, <strong>and</strong> other services,”<br />
YPI executive director<br />
Dixon Slingerl<strong>and</strong> said. “They’ll<br />
have access to services like<br />
Hollywood’s<br />
one-stop<br />
FamilySource Center, which offers<br />
children services such as tutoring<br />
<strong>and</strong> arts programs at the same place<br />
that parents attend job training or<br />
financial literacy classes.”<br />
Families can begin accessing a<br />
broader range of services at schools<br />
<strong>and</strong> community centers within the<br />
Hollywood <strong>and</strong> Pacoima Promise<br />
Neighborhood areas. As the project<br />
continues to roll out, students <strong>and</strong><br />
families in the target areas will be<br />
assigned case managers who will<br />
coordinate services, ensuring a “cradle-to-college-<strong>and</strong>-career”<br />
continuum<br />
of programs to serve every need.<br />
At the same time, YPI will raise a 1-<br />
to-1 match of private funds to support<br />
the integrated services offered<br />
through LAPN — striking a cumulative<br />
$60 million blow to poverty in<br />
Hollywood <strong>and</strong> Pacoima.<br />
By comprehensively addressing<br />
students’ economic disadvantages<br />
<strong>and</strong> their families’ additional needs,<br />
Promise Neighborhood will reinforce<br />
educational gains <strong>and</strong> support<br />
students more effectively than classroom-only<br />
reforms. The Los<br />
Angeles Promise Neighborhood’s<br />
cross-sector partnership comprises<br />
60 nonprofit, government <strong>and</strong> corporate<br />
organizations in a wide offering<br />
of the services that children <strong>and</strong><br />
their parents need most.<br />
Governor announces appointments<br />
Gov. Jerry Brown Jr. has reappointed<br />
Los Angeles residents<br />
Karen Pines to the California<br />
Board of Behavioral Sciences, <strong>and</strong><br />
Lavanza “Kercheryl” Butler to the<br />
California State Board of<br />
Pharmacy.<br />
Pines has served on the<br />
California Board of Behavioral<br />
Sciences since 20<strong>11</strong>. She was also<br />
formerly special programs director<br />
at the Didi Hirsch Community<br />
Mental Health Center from 1999 to<br />
2002, <strong>and</strong> the Family Service of<br />
Los Angeles from 1992 to 1999.<br />
The position requires Senate confirmation.<br />
Butler has served on the<br />
California State Board of<br />
Pharmacy since <strong>2013</strong>. A licensed<br />
pharmacist, she has served as vice<br />
president <strong>and</strong> union representative<br />
at United Food <strong>and</strong> Commercial<br />
Workers International Union Local<br />
770 since 2002. She was also formerly<br />
a head pharmacist at Rite<br />
Aid Pharmacy, <strong>and</strong> is a member of<br />
the California Pharmacists<br />
Association. The position does not<br />
require Senate confirmation.<br />
Community mourns passing of Arline L<strong>and</strong><br />
Arline Godfried L<strong>and</strong>, mother of<br />
West Hollywood Mayor Abbe<br />
L<strong>and</strong>; Jon L<strong>and</strong>, of Savannah, Ga.;<br />
<strong>and</strong> Lisa L<strong>and</strong> Maloney, of Hull,<br />
Mass., died on July 9. She was 79.<br />
She is survived by her gr<strong>and</strong>children,<br />
gr<strong>and</strong>nieces <strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>nephew;<br />
also Starr Micholson<br />
Godfried, Magnolia, MA; beloved<br />
nephew Andrew (Tara Glynn)<br />
Godfried, of Danvers, Mass.; <strong>and</strong><br />
friend <strong>and</strong> cousin Claire Glovin, of<br />
Boston.<br />
L<strong>and</strong> was preceded in death by<br />
parents Morris <strong>and</strong> Edith<br />
(Schlossberg) Godfried; brother<br />
Mark Godfried, of Magnolia,<br />
Mass.; <strong>and</strong> former husb<strong>and</strong>, Harvey<br />
L<strong>and</strong>, of Philadelphia.<br />
In lieu of flowers, the family has<br />
requested donations to Temple<br />
Ahavat Achim, 86 Middle St.,<br />
Gloucester, MA 01930; Aid for<br />
Cancer Research, P.O. Box 376,<br />
Newton Center, MA 02459, aidforcancerresearch.org;<br />
The Open<br />
Door, 28 Emerson Ave., Gloucester,<br />
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photo courtesy of the city of West Hollywood<br />
Arline L<strong>and</strong> (center) is pictured with daughters Lisa L<strong>and</strong> Maloney (left),<br />
<strong>and</strong> West Hollywood Mayor Abbe L<strong>and</strong>.<br />
MA 01930; <strong>and</strong> The Trevor Project<br />
8704 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite<br />
200, West Hollywood, CA 90069.<br />
A memorial service will be held<br />
at <strong>11</strong> a.m. on Friday, July 12, <strong>2013</strong><br />
<strong>11</strong>:00 am at Temple Ahavat Achim,<br />
86 Middle St., Gloucester. The<br />
family requests no flowers. A reception<br />
will be held after at the home of<br />
Starr Godfried in Magnolia, Mass.<br />
WeHo launches bulletin on community development<br />
The first edition of the quarterly<br />
news bulletin from the City of West<br />
Hollywood’s Community<br />
Development Department is now<br />
available. The focus of “W|H<br />
Cityscape” is West Hollywood’s<br />
built environment. It will highlight<br />
opportunities for community participation,<br />
provide updates on longrange<br />
planning efforts, major<br />
development projects, building <strong>and</strong><br />
permitting trends, <strong>and</strong> new technology<br />
improvements within the<br />
department. The bulletin will also<br />
provide links to city <strong>and</strong> community<br />
resources that are relevant to<br />
planning <strong>and</strong> development in West<br />
Hollywood.<br />
Additionally, “W|H Cityscape”<br />
presents a broader picture of what’s<br />
happening in urban planning, <strong>and</strong><br />
emerging trends that are influencing<br />
community development. The<br />
bulletin will also highlight innovations<br />
<strong>and</strong> best practices in the field<br />
from other cities, <strong>and</strong> ask for community<br />
input on some of these cutting-edge<br />
techniques.<br />
“W|H Cityscape” is available as<br />
both an e-bulletin <strong>and</strong> in hard-copy<br />
form. To sign up for the “W|H<br />
Cityscape” e-bulletin, visit<br />
www.weho.org/cityscape, or text<br />
“cityscape” to 22828. Hard copies<br />
of the bulletin are available by calling<br />
(323)848-6475.
8 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong><br />
Police increase reward for ‘Teardrop Rapist’<br />
By edwin folven<br />
Los Angeles Police Department<br />
investigators have announced a<br />
$100,000 reward for information<br />
leading to the arrest <strong>and</strong> conviction<br />
of a suspect dubbed the “Teardrop<br />
Rapist,” who has allegedly committed<br />
35 sexual assaults since 1996.<br />
The suspect commits the assaults<br />
between 5 <strong>and</strong> 8 a.m., <strong>and</strong> targets<br />
women walking alone. The rapes<br />
have occurred in an area stretching<br />
from Melrose Avenue to the north to<br />
Manchester Boulevard to the south,<br />
<strong>and</strong> from Western Avenue to the<br />
west <strong>and</strong> Alameda Street to the east.<br />
The case is being investigated by the<br />
LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide<br />
Division, Special Assaults Section.<br />
The FBI provided $25,000 for the<br />
reward, in addition to $75,000 allocated<br />
by the city of Los Angeles.<br />
“We do believe he is still out<br />
there. We stopped receiving tips, <strong>and</strong><br />
we believe the only way to find this<br />
guy is with help from the public,”<br />
Det. Sharlene Johnson said. “He’s<br />
not going away.”<br />
Johnson said victims have reported<br />
that the suspect wears clean<br />
clothing <strong>and</strong> is friendly. He generally<br />
engages them in conversation,<br />
<strong>and</strong> after gaining their trust, pulls out<br />
a weapon <strong>and</strong> forces them into<br />
secluded areas where the sexual<br />
assault occurs. He has been armed<br />
with a knife or a h<strong>and</strong>gun during different<br />
assaults. Johnson said investigators<br />
have linked the cases with<br />
DNA evidence, but could not be<br />
more specific because of the ongoing<br />
investigation. The last assault<br />
attributed to the suspect occurred in<br />
South Los Angeles in 2012.<br />
Many witnesses have reported<br />
seeing a teardrop tattoo on the suspect’s<br />
face, which are popular<br />
among individuals who have served<br />
time in prison. Johnson said investigators<br />
are trying to downplay the<br />
teardrop, however, because some<br />
victims have reported it being on the<br />
left side of his face, while others<br />
reported it was on the right side, or<br />
that there was no teardrop tattoo.<br />
“We are actually trying to get<br />
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Investigators have released multiple police sketches of the “Teardrop<br />
Rapist” with the hope someone can identify him <strong>and</strong> turn him in to<br />
authorities.<br />
away from focusing on the<br />
teardrop,” she said. “We’ve had<br />
multiple victims tell us he had one,<br />
but it is possibly a mole or a scar. If<br />
it is a tattoo, he could have had the<br />
tattoo removed.”<br />
One of the sexual assaults<br />
occurred in the Wilshire Division in<br />
2001, near Norm<strong>and</strong>ie Avenue <strong>and</strong><br />
Clinton Street, just south of Melrose<br />
Avenue. Four additional assaults<br />
occurred in the Koreatown area.<br />
Nearly two dozen other attacks<br />
occurred in South Los Angeles <strong>and</strong><br />
the surrounding areas within the<br />
LAPD’s Southwest, Southeast,<br />
77th Street, Rampart <strong>and</strong> Newton<br />
divisions. Three of the incidents<br />
were reported in areas in South L.A.<br />
under the jurisdiction of the Los<br />
Angeles County Sheriff’s<br />
Department.<br />
The suspect is described as a<br />
Hispanic man 40 to 55 years old, 5<br />
feet 2 inches to 5 feet 6 inches tall,<br />
<strong>and</strong> 130 to 170 pounds. He has<br />
brown eyes <strong>and</strong> brown hair, <strong>and</strong> a<br />
light complexion. He has been seen<br />
wearing a gray or dark-colored<br />
hooded sweatshirt. In some<br />
instances, he has been seen wearing<br />
a b<strong>and</strong>ana, black baseball cap or a<br />
dark-colored beanie.<br />
Johnson said authorities have<br />
established a Facebook page at<br />
www.facebook.com/lapdsas where<br />
people can provide tips. Information<br />
can also be submitted at<br />
(877)LAPD247, or emailed to rhdsas@lapd.lacity.org.<br />
Tips can also<br />
be made via www.lapdonline.org, or<br />
by texting TIPLA, plus the information,<br />
to CRIMES (274637).<br />
“We want to make it as easy as<br />
possible for people to provide information,”<br />
Johnson added.<br />
“Hopefully with their help, we will<br />
catch this guy.”<br />
BUILDING<br />
BLOCKS<br />
A Rent Stabilization &<br />
Housing Educational Series<br />
City of West Hollywood<br />
July <strong>2013</strong> Seminars<br />
(All Seminars Are Free)<br />
Calculating Rent Increases<br />
July 18 (Thurs.) 6:30 p.m.<br />
July 24 (Wed.) 10 a.m.<br />
July 31 (Wed) 6:30 p.m.<br />
City Hall Community Conference Room<br />
Maximize your knowledge about proper rent increases.<br />
Learn how to calculate the annual general adjustment,<br />
how to provide notice of proper rent increases, <strong>and</strong> when<br />
the increases may or may not be taken.<br />
Rent Stabilization staff will lead the discussion.<br />
New legislation will allow<br />
temporary prison transfers<br />
Superior courts can order state<br />
inmates to be temporarily transferred<br />
to a county jail as part of a<br />
criminal investigation, thanks to a<br />
bill by Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance)<br />
that was signed into law on July 3.<br />
“This common-sense measure<br />
saves money <strong>and</strong> increases public<br />
safety,” Lieu said about SB 162,<br />
which takes effect on Jan. 1. “This<br />
measure increases the flexibility of<br />
law enforcement officials at a time<br />
of tight budgets amid scientific<br />
improvements that help investigators.”<br />
With the increased use of DNA<br />
<strong>and</strong> other forensics to reopen cold<br />
cases, it is crucial that local law<br />
enforcement officials have access<br />
to a state prison inmate for interrogations,<br />
lineups, forensic testing<br />
<strong>and</strong> other procedures that cannot<br />
reasonably be done at prisons, he<br />
said.<br />
In the past, local officials would<br />
obtain a court order showing they<br />
have probable cause <strong>and</strong> petition<br />
the court to order these inmates<br />
The Los Angeles County<br />
Metropolitan Transportation<br />
Authority (Metro) has launched a<br />
new smartphone app that will<br />
allow patrons to report transit-related<br />
crimes <strong>and</strong> suspicious activity<br />
on buses <strong>and</strong> trains.<br />
The new L.A. Metro Transit<br />
Watch smartphone app is part of<br />
the new www.transitwatchla.org<br />
website that enables the public to<br />
assist Los Angeles County<br />
Sheriff’s Department personnel in<br />
protecting employees <strong>and</strong> patrons.<br />
“With this new smartphone app,<br />
if anyone wants to report graffiti, if<br />
an elevator or escalator is not operating<br />
correctly, or if a person needs<br />
assistance, it can be reported<br />
temporarily transferred to a county<br />
jail. A 2012 Court of Appeals decision,<br />
however, citing a lack of<br />
statutory authority, struck down<br />
the process.<br />
SB 162, in response, would provide<br />
the superior court with the<br />
statutory authority to order<br />
inmates transferred to the temporary<br />
custody of a local law<br />
enforcement agency.<br />
Without this, the only available<br />
option for local law enforcement is<br />
to go to the prison <strong>and</strong> meet with<br />
the inmate, which involves travel<br />
<strong>and</strong> related logistical issues that<br />
are problematic, costly <strong>and</strong> delay<br />
justice.<br />
Additionally, traveling to a<br />
remote state prison creates difficulties<br />
when trying to arrange a<br />
lineup so witnesses can participate<br />
or identify a suspect or view evidence<br />
difficult to transport.<br />
All costs associated with the<br />
temporary transfer of the inmate<br />
will be paid by the county agency<br />
requesting the transfer.<br />
Metro launches new tool linking<br />
riders with law enforcement<br />
securely <strong>and</strong> anonymously,” Metro<br />
CEO Art Leahy said. “Metro<br />
remains committed to providing<br />
the region with safe, clean, reliable<br />
<strong>and</strong> convenient public transit service.”<br />
The free security application is<br />
available at the Apple App Store<br />
<strong>and</strong> Google Play for iPhone <strong>and</strong><br />
Android devices. Search LA Metro<br />
Transit Watch. Once downloaded,<br />
patrons can report suspicious activity,<br />
incidents that require law<br />
enforcement’s presence <strong>and</strong> crimes<br />
that occur on board Metro buses<br />
<strong>and</strong> trains. The user can be connected<br />
by telephone to the Sheriff’s<br />
Dispatch Center, or send a photograph<br />
via email.<br />
"/, (71 ()7,( ,
10 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong><br />
Dodgers host<br />
discussion<br />
<strong>and</strong> screening<br />
of ‘42’<br />
The Los Angeles Dodgers will<br />
host a screening of the film “42”<br />
following the team’s game against<br />
the Colorado Rockies beginning at<br />
4:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 13.<br />
Academy Award-winning director<br />
Brian Helgel<strong>and</strong>; actors Chadwick<br />
Boseman <strong>and</strong> John C. McGinley;<br />
<strong>and</strong> Dodger great Don Newcombe<br />
will participate in a question <strong>and</strong><br />
answer session prior to the screening<br />
of the film about Jackie<br />
Robinson. Prime Ticket’s Jim<br />
Watson will host the discussion,<br />
which will be recorded for broadcast<br />
on Prime Ticket prior to the<br />
Sunday, July 14 telecast of the<br />
Dodgers vs. Rockies game.<br />
The first motion picture to be<br />
shown on Dodger Stadium’s new<br />
hexagonal high definition video<br />
screens, “42” depicts the true story<br />
of an American legend <strong>and</strong> Hall of<br />
Fame Dodger, who was the first<br />
African American to play in Major<br />
League Baseball. Tickets to the<br />
game include the discussion <strong>and</strong><br />
screening. For information, call<br />
(866)DODGERS, or visit<br />
www.dodgers.com/tickets.<br />
Page Private School holds open house for prospective parents<br />
Students will soon be returning<br />
to Page Private School in Hancock<br />
<strong>Park</strong> as it welcomes the beginning<br />
of a new school year. Prospective<br />
parents are invited to attend the<br />
school’s open house series from<br />
Monday, July 22 through 26 from 9<br />
to <strong>11</strong> a.m., <strong>and</strong> on Saturday, July 27<br />
from 10 a.m. to noon. Page Private<br />
School in Hancock <strong>Park</strong> is located<br />
at 565 N. Larchmont Blvd.<br />
Last year, students began to use a<br />
one-to-one iPad program that complemented<br />
the renovated computer<br />
lab <strong>and</strong> the school’s “smart<br />
boards”. During the <strong>2013</strong>-2014<br />
school year, preschool students will<br />
also be able to use the iPads as part<br />
of their curriculum.<br />
Additionally, students last year<br />
ventured outside the classrooms<br />
<strong>and</strong> planted a community garden<br />
(right). Continuing during the next<br />
school year, preschool through 5th<br />
grade classes will plant <strong>and</strong> grow<br />
flowers, fruits <strong>and</strong> vegetables.<br />
Emphasis is placed on the importance<br />
of responsibility, teamwork<br />
<strong>and</strong> helping the environment. The<br />
creation of a school garden has provided<br />
the basis for student-centered<br />
<strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s-on learning.<br />
Page Private School serves students<br />
ages 2 through 5th grade. For<br />
information, call (323)463-5<strong>11</strong>8, or<br />
visit www.pageschool.com.<br />
photo courtesy of Page Private School<br />
Lawyers Phil<br />
returns to<br />
Disney Hall<br />
Gary S. Greene, Esq., founderconductor<br />
of the Los Angeles<br />
Lawyers Philharmonic <strong>and</strong> the 100-<br />
plus-member Legal Voices, will<br />
lead the groups in their 4th annual<br />
“Concert Extraordinaire” on<br />
Saturday, July 20 at 8 p.m. at the<br />
Walt Disney Concert Hall.<br />
Actress June Lockhart will be the<br />
master of ceremonies. The<br />
Philharmonic <strong>and</strong> chorale group<br />
will perform Dvorák’s “New World<br />
Symphony” <strong>and</strong> Beethoven’s<br />
“Choral Fantasy”, as well as choral<br />
works from the Verdi operas “Il<br />
Trovatore” <strong>and</strong> “Nabucco”. The<br />
group will also perform in the<br />
world premiere of arias from a new<br />
opera based on a book by the Hon.<br />
Arthur Gilbert, presiding justice of<br />
the California Court of Appeal, as<br />
well as selections from Bizet’s<br />
Carmen.<br />
Tickets start at $20.The Walt<br />
Disney Concert Hall is located at<br />
<strong>11</strong>1 S. Gr<strong>and</strong> Ave. For information,<br />
visit www.LALawyersPhil.org.<br />
APLA presents<br />
‘Concrete Hero’<br />
AIDS Project Los Angeles<br />
(APLA) presents its “<strong>2013</strong><br />
Concrete Hero” event on Sunday,<br />
July 14 at the Los Angeles State<br />
Historic <strong>Park</strong>.<br />
The event is a benefit for APLA,<br />
<strong>and</strong> participants move through a<br />
course with more than 10 “LAthemed”<br />
obstacles. The event benefits<br />
APLA’s HIV/AIDs programs.<br />
The race starts <strong>and</strong> finishes at<br />
Los Angeles State Historic <strong>Park</strong>,<br />
1245 N. Spring St., downtown.<br />
For information, visit<br />
www.la13.concretehero.org.
<strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong> 19 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong><br />
RESTAURANT NEWS<br />
By Jill Weinlein<br />
Kendall’s Brasserie<br />
<strong>and</strong> Bar<br />
Celebrate Bastille Day on July 14<br />
with a festive menu in true French<br />
fashion while sitting in an authentic<br />
brasserie setting. Chef Jean Pierre<br />
Bosc is serving a three-course, full<br />
French experience in the plush dining<br />
room or on the patio for an al<br />
fresco atmosphere. The $55 menu<br />
includes eggplant terrine, salad<br />
frisee Lyonnaise, bouillabaisse<br />
Marsellaise or Colorado lamb sirloin.<br />
Finish with a strawberry chaud<br />
froid or poached lemon verbena<br />
peach with whipped chantilly<br />
cream. This one-of-a-kind menu is<br />
offered from 3:30 to 9 p.m. Valet<br />
parking is available for $8 for dinner<br />
only on Gr<strong>and</strong> Avenue in front of<br />
Patina at the Walt Disney Concert<br />
Hall, with Kendall’s validation. 135<br />
N. Gr<strong>and</strong> St. (213)972-7322.<br />
FIG & OLIVE<br />
Come on Bastille Day weekend,<br />
July 13 <strong>and</strong> July 14, for a threecourse,<br />
prix fixe brunch for $28 per<br />
person. Pair it with a Bastille Day<br />
cocktail or glass of Rosé wine for $9<br />
each. In the evening, “La Fête<br />
Nationale” revelers can enjoy a special<br />
summer aperitivo menu featuring<br />
$7 small plates <strong>and</strong> $9 happy<br />
hour cocktails <strong>and</strong> wines from 5 to 7<br />
p.m. FIG & OLIVE’s resident<br />
celebrity DJ, Julian Nolan will be<br />
spinning his signature downtempo<br />
music. FIG & OLIVE is featuring a<br />
special dineLA menu for $25 per<br />
person at lunch, <strong>and</strong> $45 per person<br />
for a three-course dinner from July<br />
15 through 26. 8490 Melrose Place.<br />
(310)360-9100.<br />
The Hawthorne at<br />
Umami<br />
Come try a beef patty with<br />
cognac-infused parsnip purée,<br />
cognac fondue, hatch chiles <strong>and</strong><br />
crisp hatch chile straws. The burger<br />
was launched last October solely at<br />
Umami Urban in Hollywood.<br />
Named after singer Mayer<br />
Hawthorne, the burger is back to<br />
honor the release of Hawthorne’s<br />
album, “Where Does This Door<br />
Go”, on July 16. The Hawthorne<br />
burger is offered at two Los Angeles<br />
locations. It’s also available at<br />
Umami San Francisco, Umami<br />
South Beach <strong>and</strong> soon Umami in<br />
New York City. Hawthorne will be<br />
teaming up with the Umami truck<br />
for surprise appearances in Los<br />
Angeles, distributing slider versions<br />
of the burger in person. Fans are<br />
encouraged to follow Umami’s <strong>and</strong><br />
Hawthorne’s social media feeds for<br />
times <strong>and</strong> locations. The Umami<br />
Truck is scheduled to make various<br />
stops around Los Angeles on July<br />
10 <strong>and</strong> 17. Come hear Hawthorne’s<br />
music <strong>and</strong> eat his burger at the same<br />
time at Umami Burger at The Grove<br />
<strong>and</strong> Umami Urban. 189 The Grove<br />
Dr. (323)954-8626; 1520 N.<br />
Cahuenga Blvd. (323)469-3100.<br />
Wine Tasting at<br />
Patina<br />
Chef <strong>and</strong> founder Joachim<br />
Splichal, Executive chef Charles<br />
Olalia, <strong>and</strong> sommelier Silvestre<br />
Fern<strong>and</strong>es unveil their first summer<br />
sommelier series tonight with pours<br />
from Portugal priced at $55 per person.<br />
The event takes place on<br />
See Restaurant <strong>News</strong> page 23<br />
Now Pouring Golden Road Hefewizen, Point The<br />
Way IPA & Get Up Offa That Brown<br />
$3.50 a pint during the Tatse of Farmers Market<br />
Estancia Pinot Grigio & Primai Roots Red Blend<br />
$4.00 per glass during the Tatse of Farmers Market<br />
The Original Farmers Market 3rd & Fairfax<br />
6333 W. 3rd St. • Los Angeles, CA 90036<br />
323.939.7792<br />
447 N. Canon Dr. • <strong>Beverly</strong> Hills, CA 90210<br />
310.274.7300<br />
1260 3rd Street Promen<strong>and</strong>e<br />
Santa Monica, CA 90404<br />
310.587-<strong>11</strong>66
20 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong><br />
New summer films are fun, but hardly amazing<br />
‘Despicable Me 2’<br />
Who doesn’t love those Twinkieshaped<br />
Minions speaking in a surprisingly<br />
underst<strong>and</strong>able gibberish<br />
language? Well, Illumination<br />
Entertainment (I bet you thought<br />
this was a DreamWorks film, right)<br />
definitely listened to the fans, making<br />
them more prominent characters<br />
in the highly anticipated sequel. But<br />
much of what made the first installment<br />
so delightful appears absent<br />
here. Alas, 75 percent of<br />
“Despicable Me’s” charm still outdoes<br />
most animated films.<br />
The once international villain,<br />
Gru (Steve Carell), is a changed<br />
man, placing all his energy into caring<br />
for his three adopted children —<br />
Margo (Mir<strong>and</strong>a Cosgrove), Edith<br />
(Dana Gaier) <strong>and</strong> Agnes (Elsie Kate<br />
Fisher). But as Marlon Br<strong>and</strong>o<br />
learned so many years ago, once<br />
you’re out you always get pulled<br />
back in. Anti-Villain League agent<br />
Lucy (Kristin Wiig) recruits — or<br />
rather “lipstick-tasers” — Gru into<br />
unmasking an unknown foe bent on<br />
world domination. Sure, a diabolical<br />
evildoer might be lurking in the<br />
underground of a nearby mall<br />
(apparently that’s where true terror<br />
brews), but the real tension resides<br />
in Gru’s inability to communicate<br />
with the opposite sex –– a problem<br />
originating in his youth.<br />
The plotline is weaker than the<br />
first, <strong>and</strong> the nemeses somehow<br />
more caricatured than Vector from<br />
the first. I use the term “mysterious”<br />
lightly to describe the true identity<br />
of the villains here; it’s all rather<br />
obvious <strong>and</strong> more childish than<br />
adult. The real story occurs between<br />
Gru, as a single parent, <strong>and</strong> Lucy.<br />
Will this unlikely pair realize that<br />
opposites — hero <strong>and</strong> villain —<br />
attract. But as a shorter film, too<br />
much happens in very little time.<br />
This is a franchise built around<br />
adorable characters. Between the<br />
many antics of Gru’s legion of minions<br />
<strong>and</strong> his children (how will we<br />
ever forget Agnes jovially declaring,<br />
“It’s so fluffy.”), the mischief<br />
overshadows narrative depth. Sadly,<br />
the antics of the first film are more<br />
memorable. “DM2” is loads of fun<br />
for children, <strong>and</strong> it might even<br />
evoke a few smiles from older<br />
viewers. But it feels more like a<br />
bridge film between the first <strong>and</strong><br />
the “Minions” spinoff set for next<br />
year. We’ll see.<br />
‘The Lone Ranger’<br />
Director Gore Verbinski (the<br />
“Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy<br />
<strong>and</strong> “Rango”) unites with A-lister<br />
Johnny Depp for the fifth time.<br />
This isn’t their worst film together<br />
(I count two weaker “Pirates” lost<br />
at sea) — it even contains a few<br />
charms — but several breakdowns<br />
in common sense might make you<br />
wonder if Verbinksi <strong>and</strong> his team<br />
ever took a screenwriting class or<br />
just hoped going over budget<br />
(adding up to somewhere in the<br />
neighborhood of $215 million)<br />
would make up for narrative illogic<br />
<strong>and</strong> unnecessary subplots.<br />
What’s in a name? Not much for<br />
“The Lone Ranger”. Far from<br />
“lone,” this masked vigilante<br />
storms the countryside with the<br />
quirky Comanche outcast, Tonto<br />
(Depp). Sure, this might be a<br />
“Lone Ranger” origin story —<br />
highlighting lawyer John Reid’s<br />
(Armie Hammer) transformation<br />
from within the law to above it —<br />
but Tonto is the star.<br />
“The Lone Ranger” is almost a<br />
fun film, but it doesn’t underst<strong>and</strong><br />
its audience. Structured like “The<br />
photo by Disney Pictures<br />
Tonto (left), portrayed by Johnny Depp, joins the Lone Ranger, played by<br />
Armie Hammer, in “The Lone Ranger”.<br />
Princess Bride”, the story begins in<br />
the 1930s at a fair in San Francisco,<br />
where a young boy in a Lone<br />
Ranger costume meets an aged<br />
Tonto, who tells the child of the<br />
great hero’s legend. I imagine the<br />
screenwriters (in a film this big <strong>and</strong><br />
rather disastrous, it’s difficult to pin<br />
down the byline) include these odd<br />
futuristic cutaways to establish a<br />
youthful audience, but such a move<br />
makes little sense in a film so awkwardly<br />
violent at some moments<br />
<strong>and</strong> childish at others (the use of<br />
the original theme song is very,<br />
very corny). Over-the-top outlaw<br />
Butch Cavendish (William<br />
Fichtner) eats the heart of a Texas<br />
Ranger; two other outlaws lose<br />
their heads to an enormous wood<br />
beam that gives them the worst<br />
kind of flattop. Scenes like this thematically<br />
conflict with the many<br />
goofy ones with Depp somehow<br />
channeling Jack Sparrow as an<br />
American Indian.<br />
Rumor has it the original script<br />
included more supernatural elements<br />
like werewolves. That<br />
would’ve been far more interesting<br />
than a half-mast plotline about silver<br />
mining <strong>and</strong> railroad expansion<br />
coupled with some generic<br />
American Indian spiritualism.<br />
“The Lone Ranger” is fun like the<br />
second two “Pirates” films.<br />
Unfortunately, Depp’s charm <strong>and</strong><br />
some spectacular digital effects<br />
can’t create a story worth re-watching,<br />
or a universe revisiting.<br />
The Minions return in “Despicable Me 2”.<br />
photo courtesy of Universal Pictures<br />
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<strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong> 21 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong><br />
Police Blotter<br />
The following information was reported to the West Hollywood Sheriff’s<br />
Station <strong>and</strong> the LAPD’s Wilshire Division between July 2 <strong>and</strong> July 5, <strong>2013</strong>.<br />
If you are a victim of a crime, here are the telephone numbers of local law<br />
enforcement agencies; Los Angeles Police Department, Wilshire Division<br />
(213)473-0489 <strong>and</strong> Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department West<br />
Hollywood Station (310)855-8850.<br />
The following crimes occurred in<br />
West Hollywood <strong>and</strong> the areas<br />
patrolled by the LAPD’s Wilshire<br />
<strong>and</strong> Hollywood Divisions between<br />
July 2 <strong>and</strong> July 5, <strong>and</strong> were compiled<br />
from<br />
www.crimemapping.com.<br />
July 2<br />
At 12:46 a.m., an unknown suspect<br />
committed a burglary in the<br />
8300 block of Sunset.<br />
An unknown suspect stole a vehicle<br />
parked in the 1700 block of<br />
Camino Palmero at 1:30 a.m.<br />
At 1:30 a.m., an unknown suspect<br />
assaulted a victim in the 6500<br />
block of Hollywood.<br />
An unknown suspect burglarized<br />
a vehicle parked in the 400 block<br />
of Westmount at 5 a.m.<br />
At 10 a.m., an unknown suspect<br />
committed a burglary in the 7000<br />
block of W. Sunset.<br />
An unknown suspect committed a<br />
burglary in the 8600 block of<br />
Burton Way at 1 p.m.<br />
At 1:10 p.m., a suspect assaulted<br />
a victim during a domestic violence<br />
incident in the 7400 block of<br />
Hollywood.<br />
An unknown suspect burglarized<br />
a vehicle parked near the corner<br />
of Clinton <strong>and</strong> Beachwood at 1:30<br />
p.m.<br />
At 2 p.m., an unknown suspect<br />
committed a petty theft in the 700<br />
block of Hollywood.<br />
An unknown suspect stole a vehicle<br />
parked in the 1300 block of N.<br />
Mansfield at 3 p.m.<br />
At 3:30 p.m., an unknown suspect<br />
committed a petty theft in the 400<br />
block of S. Burnside.<br />
An unknown suspect stole a bicycle<br />
near the corner of Wilshire <strong>and</strong><br />
Fairfax at 3:30 p.m.<br />
At 5:20 p.m., an unknown suspect<br />
robbed a victim in the 300 block of<br />
S. La Brea.<br />
An unknown suspect committed a<br />
petty theft in the 100 block of S.<br />
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Fairfax at 6:30 p.m.<br />
At 7:45 p.m., an unknown suspect<br />
committed a petty theft in the 6300<br />
block of W. 3rd.<br />
An unknown suspect committed a<br />
petty theft in the 8900 block of<br />
Santa Monica at 8:58 p.m.<br />
At 9 p.m., an unknown suspect<br />
committed a petty theft in the 6400<br />
block of W. 3rd.<br />
An unknown suspect burglarized<br />
a residence in the 600 block of<br />
Sweetzer at 9:28 p.m.<br />
At 10:10 p.m., an unknown suspect<br />
burglarized a vehicle parked<br />
in the 7600 block of DeLongpre.<br />
An attempted robbery was reported<br />
near the corner of Yucca <strong>and</strong><br />
La Brea at <strong>11</strong>:40 p.m.<br />
July 3<br />
At 3 a.m., an unknown suspect<br />
committed a gr<strong>and</strong> theft in the<br />
1600 block of Schrader.<br />
An unknown suspect stole a vehicle<br />
parked near the corner of<br />
Fairfax <strong>and</strong> Santa Monica at 8:49<br />
a.m.<br />
At 9 a.m., an unknown suspect<br />
committed a burglary in the 700<br />
block of N. Hudson.<br />
An unknown suspect burglarized<br />
a vehicle parked in the 1200 block<br />
of N. Sweetzer at 4 p.m.<br />
At 5:30 p.m., an unknown suspect<br />
committed a burglary in the 1700<br />
block of El Cerrito.<br />
An unknown suspect committed a<br />
petty theft in the 8300 block of<br />
Santa Monica at 7:30 p.m.<br />
At 8:15 p.m., an unknown suspect<br />
burglarized a vehicle parked in the<br />
1200 block of Sweetzer.<br />
An unknown suspect burglarized<br />
a vehicle parked in the 200 block<br />
of N. Irving at 9 p.m.<br />
July 4<br />
At 1:30 a.m., an unknown suspect<br />
committed a petty theft in the 8900<br />
block of Santa Monica.<br />
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per every gallon of gas with a<br />
car wash purchase<br />
An unknown suspect assaulted a<br />
victim near the corner of<br />
Cahuenga <strong>and</strong> Hollywood at 1:45<br />
a.m.<br />
At 4:30 a.m., an unknown suspect<br />
burglarized a vehicle parked near<br />
the corner of Lorraine <strong>and</strong> 2nd.<br />
An unknown suspect committed a<br />
petty theft in the 600 block of San<br />
Vicente at 7 a.m.<br />
At 8 a.m., an unknown suspect<br />
burglarized a vehicle parked near<br />
the corner of 1st <strong>and</strong> Wilton.<br />
An unknown suspect committed a<br />
petty theft in the 8400 block of<br />
<strong>Beverly</strong> at 2:25 p.m.<br />
At 3 p.m., an unknown suspect<br />
assaulted a victim in the 300 block<br />
of S. Arnaz.<br />
An unknown suspect assaulted a<br />
victim near the corner of<br />
Poinsettia <strong>and</strong> Santa Monica at<br />
7:25 p.m.<br />
At 7:52 p.m., an unknown suspect<br />
committed a petty theft near<br />
Sycamore <strong>and</strong> Romaine.<br />
An unknown suspect physically<br />
assaulted a victim in the 6200<br />
block of Hollywood at <strong>11</strong>:16 p.m.<br />
July 5<br />
At 1:20 a.m., an unknown suspect<br />
with a knife assaulted a victim in<br />
the 8900 block of Santa Monica.<br />
An unknown suspect committed a<br />
petty theft in the 6900 block of<br />
Hollywood at <strong>11</strong>:15 a.m.<br />
At 1:30 p.m., an unknown suspect<br />
committed a burglary in the 8000<br />
block of Melrose.<br />
An unknown suspect committed a<br />
burglary in the 7400 block of<br />
Melrose at 7:30 p.m.<br />
At 8:05 p.m., an unknown suspect<br />
physically assaulted a victim in the<br />
1200 block of Laurel.<br />
An unknown suspect burglarized<br />
a vehicle parked in the 8700 block<br />
of Santa Monica at <strong>11</strong> p.m.<br />
July 6<br />
At 5:20 p.m., an unknown suspect<br />
committed a petty theft in the 6200<br />
block of W. 3rd.<br />
An unknown suspect assaulted a<br />
victim in the 6600 block of<br />
Hollywood at 8:10 p.m.<br />
At 10 p.m., an unknown suspect<br />
committed a petty theft in the 6700<br />
block of W. 3rd.<br />
A theft was reported in the 6700<br />
block of Sunset at <strong>11</strong> p.m.<br />
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Wax, Underbody Flush,Tire Dressing,<br />
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Police seek burglars posing<br />
as cable television installers<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
# " ! $ " <br />
# " " ! <br />
# ! ! <br />
# ! ! <br />
# <br />
!! )' ($+<br />
<br />
Police have arrested a suspect<br />
who allegedly posed as a cable<br />
worker <strong>and</strong> burglarized houses,<br />
but are still searching for his<br />
accomplice.<br />
On May 28, a suspect who<br />
police identified as Arm<strong>and</strong>o<br />
Geuerrero allegedly knocked on a<br />
door at a residence in 700 block of<br />
East 85th Street. The suspect<br />
claimed to be a cable installer, <strong>and</strong><br />
had been at the victim’s house two<br />
months earlier, so the victim did<br />
not think twice in letting the suspect<br />
inside. Unknown to the victim,<br />
the suspect previously<br />
worked for a cable company, but<br />
had been fired due to reports of<br />
thefts from customers. After the<br />
suspect entered the home, he<br />
allegedly stole valuables.<br />
The suspect allegedly continued<br />
the burglaries at other locations,<br />
<strong>and</strong> included another former<br />
cable installer who was also fired<br />
for thefts.<br />
On June 13, the two suspects,<br />
posing as cable installers, went to<br />
another victim’s home in the 1500<br />
block of West 51st Street claiming<br />
they needed to fix cable connections<br />
in the home. The victim had<br />
not had any problems with the<br />
cable <strong>and</strong> had not called for service.<br />
After letting<br />
them into<br />
her home, she<br />
observed jewelry<br />
missing.<br />
One of the<br />
s u s p e c t s<br />
returned to the<br />
victim’s home<br />
because he<br />
had forgotten<br />
some of his<br />
tools, <strong>and</strong> officers took the suspect,<br />
identified as Guerrero, into<br />
custody on two counts of burglary.<br />
The second suspect, identified<br />
as Leonardo Vasquez, remains at<br />
large. He is wanted on six counts<br />
of burglary <strong>and</strong> one count of possession<br />
of a machine gun. He is<br />
described as a Hispanic man, 29<br />
years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall <strong>and</strong><br />
approximately 180 pounds. He<br />
has black hair <strong>and</strong> brown eyes, a<br />
tattoo of a Playboy bunny on his<br />
right h<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> a tattoo of lips on<br />
the left side of his neck.<br />
During the investigation, detectives<br />
identified six additional incidents,<br />
<strong>and</strong> there may be more victims.<br />
Anyone with information is<br />
urged to call Det. L. Hoffman at<br />
(213)485-4177.<br />
Former real estate agent gets<br />
five years in prison for fraud<br />
A real estate agent <strong>and</strong> selfdescribed<br />
real estate investor was<br />
sentenced on July 1 to five years in<br />
federal prison <strong>and</strong> rem<strong>and</strong>ed into<br />
federal custody.<br />
Celia Gallardo, 42, was sentenced<br />
in the fraud case by United<br />
States District Court Judge Dean<br />
D. Pregerson. During the sentencing<br />
hearing, Pregerson described<br />
the fraud as a “pure rip off,” <strong>and</strong><br />
cited the need for punishment as a<br />
deterrent. He stated that the victims<br />
present at the sentencing had the<br />
right to see Gallardo be rem<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
into custody.<br />
Gallardo pleaded guilty last<br />
October to wire fraud, admitting in<br />
court that she defrauded investors<br />
Leonardo<br />
Vasquez<br />
from September 2007 through<br />
September 2008 by falsely promising<br />
them high rates of return for<br />
investing in her purported real<br />
estate program.<br />
Gallardo admitted that instead of<br />
investing victims’ money in real<br />
estate transactions, she spent the<br />
vast majority on house payments,<br />
foreign luxury travel, cash withdrawals,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Ponzi-syle payments<br />
to earlier investors.<br />
Pregerson also ordered Gallardo<br />
to pay $2.3 million in restitution to<br />
dozens of victims, who primarily<br />
resided in California <strong>and</strong> Arizona.<br />
The case against Gallardo resulted<br />
from an investigation conducted by<br />
the FBI.<br />
' # ($ %&$* <br />
' # ')&<br />
! * # #* &$#"#(
22 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong><br />
Farmers Market offers a ‘Taste’ of its cuisine<br />
The Original Farmers Market,<br />
corner of 3rd <strong>and</strong> Fairfax, is celebrating<br />
its 79th birthday with the<br />
“Taste of Farmers Market”, a roving<br />
feast on Tuesday, July 16 from<br />
5 to 9 p.m. offering the best food<br />
<strong>and</strong> beverages from the Market’s<br />
restaurants <strong>and</strong> grocers.<br />
Attendees can taste a world tour<br />
Crossword Puzzle<br />
of cuisines, from Philly to Paris to<br />
Peking, with entrées, salads, sides,<br />
snacks, s<strong>and</strong>wiches, nuts, beer,<br />
wine <strong>and</strong> desserts. Many of the<br />
Market’s retail merchants will also<br />
offer 79th birthday gifts <strong>and</strong> specials<br />
at throughout the week.<br />
The menu includes mini-chicken<br />
pot pies, stuffed mushrooms, pear<br />
gorgonzola flatbread, jumbo wild<br />
shrimp, kale Caesar salad, orange<br />
chicken, pork belly BLTs, chocolate<br />
mousse, pastrami s<strong>and</strong>wiches,<br />
gumbo ya-ya, Brazilian BBQ,<br />
Nutella crepes, falafel <strong>and</strong> tri tip<br />
s<strong>and</strong>wiches. Guests can also enjoy<br />
toffee, doughnut holes, root beer<br />
floats, fancy mixed nuts <strong>and</strong> beer<br />
<strong>and</strong> wine samples.<br />
Participating merchants include<br />
Short Order, Monsieur Marcel,<br />
Huntington Meats & Sausage,<br />
Pampas Grill, Gumbo Pot,<br />
Moishe’s, Bob’s Doughnuts,<br />
Bennett’s Ice Cream <strong>and</strong> The<br />
French Crepe Company.<br />
“We’re especially pleased that<br />
the Market’s newest gourmet eateries<br />
are participating in ‘Taste of<br />
Farmers Market’,” Farmers Market<br />
marketing director Ilysha Buss<br />
said. “Now, the party is the perfect<br />
way to discover our br<strong>and</strong> new Zia<br />
Valentina’s delicious, healthy granitas<br />
<strong>and</strong> Fritzi Dog’s superior<br />
gourmet hot dogs.”<br />
Advance registration is $35; $40<br />
at the door. Tickets allow access to<br />
all “tastes” <strong>and</strong> two drink tickets for<br />
non-alcoholic beverages. Tickets<br />
are available at the Farmers Market<br />
Office store, upstairs inside Gate<br />
One. Reserve by phone to<br />
(323)933-92<strong>11</strong>, or visit www.farmersmarketla.com.<br />
Tom Bergin’s closes its doors<br />
Tom Bergin’s Tavern, a fixture on Fairfax Avenue for 77 years,<br />
closed its doors last Sunday. Tom Bergin’s was a longtime advertiser<br />
in the newspaper, as pictured in an ad from the June 26, 1952 issue of<br />
the <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>. Many customers are sad to see the tavern<br />
close, <strong>and</strong> some posted comments on the <strong>Park</strong> LaBrea <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong><br />
<strong>Press</strong> website; see page 4. Many are hopeful Tom Bergin’s will reopen<br />
in the future. For the full article, see page 1.<br />
Across<br />
1. Guitar attachment<br />
6. ___ cut<br />
10. Lund or Cavet<br />
13. It often contains a seasonal refer<br />
ence<br />
14. Son of Rebekah<br />
15. Notice<br />
16. Philosophical belief<br />
19. Bearded beast<br />
20. It’ll never fly<br />
21. Attitude on the job<br />
30. Coin with 12 stars on it<br />
31. Court contest<br />
32. ___ Getz (“Lethal Weapon 2”<br />
role for Joe Pesci)<br />
33. Come again<br />
35. Cape<br />
36. Race unit<br />
37. Red ink amount<br />
40. Hot pot<br />
42. Astern<br />
45. Certain typeface<br />
47. Saw<br />
51. ___ maison (indoors): Fr.<br />
52. Dessert toppers<br />
55. Rajah’s mate<br />
56. Dedication to improving man’s<br />
welfare<br />
59. It has moles: Abbr.<br />
60. Carbonium, e.g.<br />
61. Personal appeal<br />
70. Mouselike animal<br />
71. Frown<br />
72. Heart single<br />
73. “___ Time transfigured me”:<br />
Yeats<br />
74. Cartoon bear<br />
75. Striplings<br />
Down<br />
1. Cow or sow<br />
2. Custom<br />
3. Swindle, slangily<br />
4. Archaeological site in Mexico<br />
5. Rid of sin<br />
6. Addle<br />
7. Full of: Suffix<br />
8. Blanched<br />
9. Certain musician<br />
10. Kind of particle<br />
<strong>11</strong>. Good times<br />
12. Sock hop locale<br />
15. Jewish month<br />
17. Research facility: Abbr.<br />
18. Put together<br />
21. The “p” in r.p.m.<br />
22. Bewail<br />
23. Mythical monster<br />
24. Unfair?<br />
25. B & B<br />
26. Half of binary code<br />
27. Down<br />
28. Yellow, for one<br />
29. Floor cleaner<br />
34. Deciduous trees<br />
38. In a convivial manner<br />
39. Open, as an envelope<br />
41. Previse<br />
42. “Won-der-ful!”<br />
43. Bird ___<br />
44. Flat hat<br />
46. Kind of test<br />
48. Clavell’s “___-Pan”<br />
49. Starfleet Academy grad.<br />
50. Headlight setting<br />
53. African talisman<br />
54. Municipality in France<br />
57. Height<br />
58. Concerning<br />
61. Hail, to Caesar<br />
62. NATO member<br />
63. French Guiana’s Royale, e.g.<br />
64. Jersey call<br />
65. Calendar abbr.<br />
66. Piece of pipe<br />
67. Elvis Presley’s “___ Lost You”<br />
68. Capitol Hill V.I.P.: Abbr.<br />
69. “___ Miniver”<br />
See Answers Page 26<br />
LACMA forms partnership for art history training<br />
The Los Angeles County<br />
Museum of Art (LACMA) <strong>and</strong> the<br />
University of California, Los<br />
Angeles are partnering to create a<br />
new curriculum for training doctoral<br />
students in art history.<br />
A $600,000 grant from the<br />
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation<br />
has been awarded to the university<br />
<strong>and</strong> the museum to create the<br />
UCLA-LACMA Art History<br />
Practicum Initiative, a first-of-itskind<br />
partnership on the West<br />
Coast.<br />
“Thanks to this generous gift,<br />
we are enhancing our world-class<br />
art history program in response to<br />
the changing needs of this competitive<br />
job market,” UCLA Dean of<br />
Humanities David Schaberg said.<br />
“By connecting research with<br />
careers, UCLA <strong>and</strong> LACMA will<br />
educate the modern leaders of the<br />
art world.”<br />
UCLA’s art history program<br />
trains scholars in specialized fields<br />
ranging from Renaissance art to<br />
the art of Asia, Africa <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Americas. The new program integrates<br />
the classroom <strong>and</strong> the museum.<br />
“Education is a primary component<br />
of LACMA’s mission. In<br />
many ways our galleries are classrooms.<br />
The art on view is a window<br />
into history <strong>and</strong> into cultures<br />
from around the world, as<br />
described by the artists who were<br />
there,” LACMA CEO <strong>and</strong> Wallis<br />
Annenberg Director Michael<br />
Govan said.<br />
Currently, the basic requirements<br />
for a Ph.D. in art history at<br />
most major universities is proof of<br />
proficiency in two or more foreign<br />
languages, a minimum number of<br />
graduate-level courses, written<br />
<strong>and</strong> oral exams, <strong>and</strong> the completion<br />
of a dissertation.<br />
Starting this fall, incoming graduate<br />
students in the art history program<br />
will pursue a curriculum that<br />
splits their time between UCLA<br />
<strong>and</strong> LACMA. In addition to working<br />
alongside museum professionals,<br />
students will participate in<br />
seminars designed by faculty <strong>and</strong><br />
museum staff focusing on the<br />
museum’s collection, exhibition<br />
<strong>and</strong> display, materials <strong>and</strong> techniques<br />
of art-making, <strong>and</strong> curatorial<br />
practice.<br />
LACMA is located at 5905<br />
Wilshire Blvd. For information,<br />
call (323)857-6000, or visit<br />
www.lacma.org.<br />
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<strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong> 23 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong><br />
Restaurant <strong>News</strong><br />
From page 19<br />
Patina’s al fresco patio from 5 to 7<br />
p.m. Guests will tour some of the<br />
restaurant’s most sought-after <strong>and</strong><br />
rare vintages. The next two events<br />
are on Aug. 1 <strong>and</strong> 15, with<br />
Fern<strong>and</strong>es educating guests about<br />
the prized cellar finds, including<br />
selections from Peter Michael winery.<br />
Flights are paired with canapés<br />
from Chef Olalia. 141 S. Gr<strong>and</strong><br />
Ave. (213)972-3331.<br />
Wolfgang Puck<br />
Catering<br />
Pick up your easy to carry picnic<br />
boxes at the Hollywood Bowl shuttle<br />
stop in the orange court at<br />
Hollywood & Highl<strong>and</strong>. Choose a<br />
two- or four-person southern comfort<br />
box filled with crab-deviled<br />
eggs, rosemary brined buttermilk<br />
fried chicken, potato salad, charred<br />
corn salad with basil <strong>and</strong> tomatoes.<br />
Cole slaw, peach h<strong>and</strong> pies <strong>and</strong> red<br />
velvet twinkles complete the meal.<br />
It’s $40 for two people <strong>and</strong> $60 for<br />
four concert goers. The small bites<br />
box has grilled summer vegetables,<br />
fire roasted eggplant spread with<br />
toasted pita, assorted charcuterie,<br />
quinoa tabbouleh, summer berries,<br />
assorted cheese, Marcona almonds,<br />
dried fruit, crackers <strong>and</strong> sliced<br />
baguette, homemade chips with<br />
caramelized onion dip <strong>and</strong> assorted<br />
cookies for $50 or $80 for four people.<br />
The California gourmet box<br />
offers a variety of delightful picnic<br />
fare for $60 per box for two people,<br />
or $100 for four guests. 6801<br />
Hollywood Blvd. Ste. 513.<br />
(323)491-1250.<br />
Fleming’s Prime<br />
Steakhouse & Wine<br />
Bar<br />
An innovative two-course, prix<br />
fixe menu is available through Aug.<br />
31 for $40.95 per person. Begin<br />
with chili lime prawns with ancho<br />
pepper sauce, followed by a filet<br />
mignon with warm rosemary <strong>and</strong><br />
goat cheese mousse paired with<br />
pecan-crusted Scottish salmon with<br />
Dijon mustard tarragon sauce. It’s<br />
accompanied with seasonal asparagus.<br />
The special summer dish goes<br />
nicely with a Caribbean rum punch<br />
for $9.95, <strong>and</strong> a decadent chocolate<br />
cake with chocolate ice cream <strong>and</strong><br />
Chantilly cream for an extra $7.95.<br />
Fleming’s L.A. LIVE, 800 West<br />
Olympic Blvd. (213)745-99<strong>11</strong>; 252<br />
N. <strong>Beverly</strong> Dr. (310)278-8710;<br />
6373 Topanga Canyon Blvd.<br />
(818)346-1005; <strong>and</strong> 2301<br />
Rosecrans Ave. (310)643-69<strong>11</strong>.<br />
Table; Suzanne Goin, of Lucques,<br />
of Tavern <strong>and</strong> The Larder at Burton<br />
Way; Neal Fraser, of BLD; <strong>and</strong><br />
Sang Yoon, of Father’s Office <strong>and</strong><br />
Lukshon, will offer special prixfixe<br />
lunch <strong>and</strong> dinner menus at<br />
three different price ranges. Lunch<br />
menus range from $15 to $25,<br />
while dinner menus are $25 to $45.<br />
American Express will offer a $5<br />
statement credit to diners who register<br />
an eligible American Express<br />
Card at www.amexnetwork.com/dineLA<br />
through July<br />
26. Spend $21 or more with the<br />
registered card at a participating<br />
restaurant during dineLA’s<br />
Restaurant Week to receive the<br />
credit. To make reservations or for<br />
a complete list of participating<br />
restaurants,<br />
visit<br />
www.discoverLosAngeles.com/din<br />
eLA.<br />
Participating hotels in Los<br />
Angeles are sweetening the deal by<br />
offering a $50 American Express<br />
gift card when guests book two<br />
nights or more during dineLA’s<br />
Restaurant Week.<br />
Chez Soi<br />
A modern café just opened in the<br />
Metlox Plaza, with chef-owner<br />
Mark Gold, formerly of Eva. He<br />
hired L.A. mix master Shane<br />
Croughan as the house mixologist<br />
<strong>and</strong> bar manager. Croughan, a protégé<br />
of award-winning mix master<br />
Julian Cox, is also well-known<br />
within Los Angeles’ trendy cocktail<br />
<strong>and</strong> lounge scenes. Croughan<br />
has introduced new-for-summer<br />
libations on the restaurant <strong>and</strong><br />
lounge bar menus. One of the concoctions,<br />
Thyme for Peaches, is<br />
made by muddling half of a ripe<br />
peach <strong>and</strong> fresh thyme sprigs,<br />
adding spirits of blended scotch<br />
<strong>and</strong> elderflower liqueur. Happy<br />
hour at Chez Soi runs daily from 4<br />
to 7 p.m., with $4 specials on<br />
selected h<strong>and</strong>crafted cocktails,<br />
craft beers <strong>and</strong> wines by the glass.<br />
Featured small plates are $6.<br />
Beginning tonight, every Thursday<br />
<strong>and</strong> Friday nights will feature live<br />
DJ-spun tunes in the lounge from<br />
10 p.m. to closing. 451 Manhattan<br />
Beach Blvd. (310)802-1212.<br />
Delphine Restaurant<br />
<strong>and</strong> Bar<br />
Executive Chef Sascha Lyon’s<br />
contemporary California inspired<br />
cuisine offers a focus on fresh <strong>and</strong><br />
local organic ingredients. A hotspot<br />
for locals, industry insiders <strong>and</strong><br />
travelers, the expansive indoor-outdoor<br />
space makes for a premier<br />
summer dining destination. New<br />
st<strong>and</strong>out dishes include a classic<br />
lobster roll with tarragon aioli <strong>and</strong><br />
brioche, charred Brussels sprouts<br />
with la quercia lardons, <strong>and</strong> an<br />
Asian beef salad with rice noodles,<br />
carrots, green onions, Napa cabbage<br />
<strong>and</strong> citrus soy vinaigrette.<br />
6250 Hollywood Blvd. (323)798-<br />
1355.<br />
dineLA Restaurant<br />
Week<br />
The Los Angeles Tourism &<br />
Convention Board <strong>and</strong> American<br />
Express have announced the summer<br />
lineup for dineLA Restaurant<br />
Week, scheduled to take place from<br />
July 15 through 26. Some of the<br />
city’s most sought-after restaurants<br />
have joined the record-setting list<br />
of more than 330 venues participating<br />
in the 12-day dining event.<br />
Newcomers include Silver Lake<br />
Gastropub; Black Hogg, a<br />
Hollywood hotspot; littlefork, Los<br />
Feliz; MESSHALL; <strong>and</strong> Abbott<br />
Kinney darling, Willie Jane. Some<br />
of Los Angeles’ most acclaimed<br />
chefs: Bryant Ng, of The Spice
24 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong><br />
Tom Bergin’s closure stuns patrons, staff<br />
From page 1<br />
can throw their way, please do it.”<br />
Michael O’Dwyer said he had<br />
bartended at Tom Bergin’s for<br />
approximately 23 years. He told<br />
several stories, most notably one<br />
about a divorced woman who was<br />
“husb<strong>and</strong> hunting.” One day, a<br />
man sat down near her, <strong>and</strong><br />
O’Dwyer said he could tell something<br />
was not right about the individual.<br />
The woman asked the man<br />
if he was OK, <strong>and</strong> he admitted that<br />
he had just killed his wife, the bartender<br />
said.<br />
“And she said, ‘So you’re single?’<br />
Little things like that go on at<br />
Bergin’s all the time,” he said, generating<br />
lots of laughs. “We want<br />
more of it. We don’t want anybody<br />
else killed, but we want more of<br />
that fun. So do whatever you can;<br />
keep this freaking place open. I<br />
need a job.”<br />
Warner Ebbink, the current<br />
owner of Tom Bergin’s, also<br />
spoke. He said he agreed with the<br />
sentiments already expressed by<br />
the other 12 speakers, but the<br />
restaurant could not sustain itself.<br />
Ebbink said he put $4 million<br />
into the renovations, <strong>and</strong> since the<br />
restaurant <strong>and</strong> bar re-opened a year<br />
<strong>and</strong> a half ago, he was losing<br />
$20,000 to $30,000 per month.<br />
“I’m sorry I went out of business,”<br />
he added. “It was never my<br />
intention.”<br />
Whether it was the economy or<br />
that the patrons didn’t like the<br />
changes that were made, the business<br />
wasn’t enough, despite people’s<br />
enthusiasm for the tavern,<br />
Ebbink said. He referenced his<br />
dentist, who called him the day of<br />
the closure. His dentist said he<br />
loved Tom Bergin’s, but he had<br />
only visited the tavern once since<br />
college.<br />
“I said, ‘You’re 63 years old.<br />
You haven’t been back in forty<br />
years, but you love it.’ I think<br />
that’s great, but it doesn’t translate<br />
into a business,” Ebbink said. “For<br />
that, I’m sorry. I thought it was a<br />
slam-dunk. I thought for sure it<br />
would happen. And I apologize<br />
that it didn’t happen.”<br />
Some in the audience were<br />
The City of West Hollywood is<br />
co-sponsoring Relay For Life West<br />
Hollywood, featuring individuals<br />
<strong>and</strong> relay teams of walkers <strong>and</strong> runners<br />
that will stay in motion for 24<br />
continuous hours to raise money for<br />
the American Cancer Society.<br />
The Relay For Life West<br />
Hollywood event will launch from<br />
Rosewood Elementary School, 503<br />
N. Croft Ave., at 9 a.m. on Saturday,<br />
July 27, <strong>and</strong> run through Sunday<br />
morning, July 28. However, additional<br />
team members <strong>and</strong> donations<br />
are needed prior to the event.<br />
Relay For Life West Hollywood<br />
gives participants the opportunity to<br />
celebrate the lives of people who<br />
have battled cancer, remember<br />
loved ones lost <strong>and</strong> help fight back<br />
against the disease.<br />
Relay For Life has grown into<br />
one of the biggest fundraisers in the<br />
world. It began in 1985 when Dr.<br />
Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in<br />
Tacoma, Wash., walked <strong>and</strong> ran<br />
around a track for 24-hours to raise<br />
money for the American Cancer<br />
Society. Since then, the event has<br />
grown into a fundraiser embraced<br />
by more than 4 million people in 20<br />
pushing for the council to consider<br />
working to have the restaurant <strong>and</strong><br />
bar designated as historical.<br />
Ebbink said the designation will<br />
only retain the building, not what<br />
is inside. He said he is actively<br />
searching for someone to take over<br />
the operations.<br />
“Nobody’s in escrow to buy it<br />
right now,” Ebbink said, adding<br />
that Tom Bergin’s is not involved<br />
in the nearby Shalhevet High<br />
School project proposal. “There’s<br />
a lot of people who want to buy it,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I’m looking at those people.<br />
But I want it to be an operator<br />
who’s going to continue Tom<br />
Bergin’s. I didn’t sink $4 million<br />
into it to tear it down.”<br />
Tim Deegan, chairman of the<br />
Mid-City West Community<br />
Council, said Mid-City West<br />
would refer the historical designation<br />
proposal to the council’s l<strong>and</strong>use<br />
committee if stakeholders<br />
requested it. He said the committee<br />
would request that any new<br />
owners come before the committee<br />
to discuss their plans for the property.<br />
“It’s just good business in any<br />
event,” Deegan said during an<br />
interview. “If the stakeholders ask<br />
Mid-City West to have a hearing at<br />
the l<strong>and</strong>-use committee, we would<br />
certainly try to do that at the July<br />
22 meeting.”<br />
While several Tom Bergin’s<br />
patrons showed up at Tuesday’s<br />
meeting, even more visited the<br />
restaurant <strong>and</strong> bar over the weekend.<br />
On Friday, many mourned the<br />
loss of the tavern while remembering<br />
the good times.<br />
“I have faith that maybe something<br />
good will happen, you<br />
know? Somebody will buy it <strong>and</strong><br />
make it historic or reopen it or<br />
something like that,” patron Steve<br />
Judge said on Friday, when many<br />
came to Bergin’s to pay their<br />
respects. “It’s sad. I can walk here<br />
from my house. It’s quiet on the<br />
weekends. You can sit <strong>and</strong> read<br />
<strong>and</strong> write, <strong>and</strong> nobody bothers<br />
you.”<br />
John Kephart had been visiting<br />
Tom Bergin’s for the last 33 years,<br />
countries.<br />
For more information about the<br />
event, to make a donation, volunteer<br />
or to join a team, visit<br />
www.relayforlife.org/WestHollywo<br />
Relay organizers seek more team members, donations<br />
odCA or call Ian Owens, deputy to<br />
West Hollywood Councilman John<br />
Duran, at (323)848-6460. For the<br />
deaf <strong>and</strong> hard of hearing, call<br />
(323)848-6496.<br />
photo by Aaron Blevins<br />
Steve Judge drinks a beer <strong>and</strong> eats fish <strong>and</strong> chips at Tom Bergin's on<br />
Friday.<br />
<strong>and</strong> he has a shamrock on the ceiling,<br />
as many regulars do. On<br />
Friday, he came to visit employee<br />
Chris Doyle, whom he befriended<br />
at the tavern, on Doyle’s last day<br />
of work.<br />
“It’s really a tragedy,” Kephart<br />
said. “This place was an icon.”<br />
He said his office used to be<br />
nearby on Wilshire Boulevard, <strong>and</strong><br />
Tom Bergin’s was a great place for<br />
lunch or an after-work drink. Over<br />
the years, its employees <strong>and</strong> regulars<br />
have become like family,<br />
Kephart said.<br />
“It’s just so sad,” he added.<br />
Kephart has many memories of<br />
the tavern. He recalled when the<br />
tavern was owned by former USC<br />
football player Mike M<strong>and</strong>ekic,<br />
<strong>and</strong> a drunk <strong>and</strong> upset patron<br />
grabbed Doyle by the tie.<br />
M<strong>and</strong>ekic punched the man in the<br />
chest, sending the man backpedaling<br />
about 10 feet until he hit the<br />
door <strong>and</strong> fell outside, Kephart said.<br />
“That was pretty memorable,”<br />
he added.<br />
Kephart also mentioned when<br />
actor Pierce Brosnan entered the<br />
tavern <strong>and</strong> ordered a Harp, an Irish<br />
lager. He told the “GoldenEye”<br />
actor that he would have bought<br />
his drink had Brosnan ordered a<br />
martini — shaken, not stirred.<br />
Kephart said he spent the rest of<br />
the night drinking <strong>and</strong> socializing<br />
with Brosnan.<br />
He said several celebrities, such<br />
as actor Kiefer Sutherl<strong>and</strong>, also<br />
frequented the tavern. Many were<br />
“very approachable” <strong>and</strong> “very<br />
friendly,” Kephart said.<br />
As far as the menu, he will miss<br />
the Bergin Burger, which was<br />
made with a secret ingredient —<br />
peanut butter.<br />
“It sounds horrible, but it was<br />
actually really good,” Kephart<br />
said.<br />
Larchmont resident George<br />
Plato had been visiting Tom<br />
Bergin’s for 40 years. He too was<br />
among the patrons to visit the tavern<br />
one last time, though many<br />
hope that is not the case.<br />
“This was our hang-out,” Plato<br />
said. “We came here after basketball<br />
games. We came here after<br />
dates. We’d all drop off our dates<br />
<strong>and</strong> meet here for the last round.<br />
Barney was our bartender. He was<br />
great.”<br />
When he married his wife,<br />
Marion, she also became accustomed<br />
to the tavern. She said many<br />
people in the community have<br />
fond memories of Tom Bergin’s.<br />
“It’s like a ‘Cheers’ bar, where<br />
you go in <strong>and</strong> everybody knows<br />
you,” Marion Plato said.<br />
In fact, according to the Tom<br />
Bergin’s Facebook page, the tavern’s<br />
horseshoe bar was the inspiration<br />
behind the bar in “Cheers”.<br />
Since 1949, Tom Bergin’s has<br />
been located on Fairfax Avenue,<br />
<strong>and</strong> in 1973, it was sold to T.K.<br />
Vodrey, who then sold it to Ebbink.<br />
The restaurant <strong>and</strong> bar had<br />
closed for renovations in 20<strong>11</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
reopened more than one year later.<br />
George Plato visited after the<br />
reopening, <strong>and</strong> noticed a big difference.<br />
He said the food was “bad,” so<br />
he called the owner to share his<br />
concerns. George Plato said the<br />
owner promised him a gift card,<br />
but he wasn’t interested in using it.<br />
“It was not good the night we<br />
were here,” he added. “It was disappointing.<br />
…Maybe they were<br />
just going through changes, <strong>and</strong><br />
you always give people in restaurants<br />
second chances [but it was] a<br />
bummer. I hope they can sell it to<br />
somebody who can take it over.<br />
…I hate to see it go.”<br />
Los Angeles City Councilman<br />
Tom LaBonge, 4th District, was<br />
not a regular at the tavern, but he’s<br />
had its Irish coffee <strong>and</strong> has dined<br />
there with family several times<br />
over the years. He’s hopeful that<br />
new owners will take over <strong>and</strong><br />
retain the tavern’s appeal.<br />
“I do believe there’s an opportunity<br />
to open up, if the right person<br />
comes along,” LaBonge said,<br />
adding that he <strong>and</strong> his seven brothers<br />
had dinner there approximately<br />
three years ago. “Everybody loves<br />
Tom Bergin’s.”<br />
As Steve Judge sipped his beer,<br />
he said although he is a new regular,<br />
he hoped it wasn’t his last beer<br />
at Tom Bergin’s.<br />
“If this is forever, like a permanent<br />
close, then rest in peace,” he<br />
said.<br />
photo by Aaron Blevins<br />
Tom Bergin’s owner Warner<br />
Ebbink speaks during Tuesday’s<br />
meeting.
<strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong> 25 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong><br />
Development in question after PLUM vote<br />
From page 1<br />
Boulevard, north of <strong>Beverly</strong><br />
Boulevard. The plan called for the<br />
project to be reduced to 45-feet<br />
toward the rear, where it would<br />
face neighboring structures.<br />
“I think it is a pretty marginal<br />
commercial area, <strong>and</strong> I think this<br />
project would have improved La<br />
Cienega,” Miller said.<br />
He added that the developer<br />
may now consider adding affordable<br />
housing to the project, which<br />
could enable him to build higher<br />
than city zoning laws allow under<br />
a state law, SB 1818. The state law<br />
allows for density bonuses —<br />
which translate into more units —<br />
in exchange for the addition of<br />
affordable housing.<br />
Koretz could not be reached for<br />
National Braille Challenge held<br />
photo courtesy of the National Braille Challenge<br />
Blind students from across the United States <strong>and</strong> Canada on June 22<br />
met in Los Angeles to put their knowledge of the braille code to the<br />
test in The National Braille Challenge, held at the Braille Institute’s<br />
headquarters, 741 N. Vermont Ave.<br />
Sponsored by Braille Institute of America, the competition serves to<br />
encourage blind children of all ages to fine-tune their braille skills,<br />
which are essential to their success in the sighted world. The participants,<br />
ages 6 to 19, competed in challenging categories requiring them<br />
to transcribe, type <strong>and</strong> read braille at a furious pace using a device<br />
called a Perkins Brailler.<br />
Most of the competitors were born blind, though others lost their<br />
sight due to cancer or viral infections, but they all share a tenacity that<br />
drives them to succeed in spite of their challenges. They were chosen<br />
from among more than 1000 blind students — representing 39 states<br />
<strong>and</strong> three Canadian provinces — during the preliminary round at<br />
Regional Braille Challenge events held across the country.<br />
Each category of challenge was designed to test participants’ braille<br />
skills in several areas — reading comprehension, braille spelling, chart<br />
<strong>and</strong> graph reading, proofreading <strong>and</strong> braille speed <strong>and</strong> accuracy — all<br />
of which blind students need to master in order to keep up with their<br />
sighted peers. The first- through third-place winners in each age group<br />
received awards ranging in value from $250 for the youngest group to<br />
$2,500 for the oldest. In addition to prizes, Freedom Scientific Corp.<br />
donated the latest adaptive equipment for the winners — the Focus 40<br />
Blue — an adaptive computer device with a refreshable braille display.<br />
And all first place winners received an iPad, sponsored by Palmer<br />
Langdon, to help them stay connected to the digital world.<br />
City reaches WellPoint settlement<br />
Los Angeles City Attorney<br />
Carmen Trutanich announced on<br />
June 20 that a settlement has been<br />
reached with WellPoint Inc. that<br />
will resolve the city attorney’s civil<br />
enforcement action filed against the<br />
company <strong>and</strong> its California subsidiaries,<br />
Anthem Blue Cross <strong>and</strong><br />
Anthem Blue Cross Life <strong>and</strong><br />
Health Insurance Company.<br />
The enforcement actions was the<br />
result of unlawful business practices<br />
with respect to the company’s<br />
insurance underwriting <strong>and</strong> rescission<br />
practices in the individual<br />
insurance market. In filing the complaint,<br />
Trutanich alleged that<br />
WellPoint conducted illegal postclaims<br />
underwriting of health insurance<br />
plans <strong>and</strong> policies triggered by<br />
various medical conditions <strong>and</strong><br />
diagnoses. WellPoint denies any<br />
wrongdoing. As part of this settlement,<br />
WellPoint has agreed to pay<br />
$6 million to resolve this matter, as<br />
well as comply with all laws relating<br />
to health insurance underwriting<br />
<strong>and</strong> rescission.<br />
In 2008, the City Attorney’s<br />
Office filed civil law enforcement<br />
action against WellPoint, Inc. <strong>and</strong><br />
its California subsidiaries.<br />
comment. Shawn Bayliss, a planning<br />
deputy for the councilman,<br />
confirmed that Koretz supports the<br />
50-foot height limit.<br />
Harald Hahn, president of the<br />
Burton Way Foundation, which<br />
represents local property owners<br />
near the proposed project, said he<br />
was pleased with the PLUM<br />
Committee’s decision.<br />
He said a 56-foot building<br />
would be “out of character” with<br />
other structures on that stretch of<br />
La Cienega, <strong>and</strong> could set a “bad<br />
precedent” when additional developers<br />
seek to build in the neighborhood.<br />
“There has to be a balance within<br />
the community,” Hahn said.<br />
“We are not opposed to development.<br />
It has to fit with the other<br />
buildings in the neighborhood. If<br />
you go higher that forty-five to<br />
fifty feet, you’re overpowering the<br />
other buildings in the neighborhood.”<br />
Lorelei Shark, a resident of<br />
Alfred Street, which runs parallel<br />
to La Cienega behind the proposed<br />
project site, said she was also satisfied<br />
with the compromise. She<br />
agreed that a building taller than<br />
50 feet would not have fit with the<br />
character of the neighborhood, <strong>and</strong><br />
added that it would have towered<br />
over Alfred Street residents’ back<br />
yards.<br />
“He can build a fantastic building<br />
there at fifty feet,” Shark said.<br />
“He can do an awful lot there.”<br />
For the second consecutive year,<br />
the KLCS original monthly program,<br />
“Families Matter”, has been<br />
nominated for an Imagen Award,<br />
an honor that recognizes positive<br />
portrayals of Latinos in television<br />
<strong>and</strong> film. Owned <strong>and</strong> operated by<br />
the LAUSD, the family-themed<br />
show was selected as a <strong>2013</strong><br />
Imagen Award nominee in the category<br />
of Best Local Informational<br />
Program.<br />
The nominated episode,<br />
“Getting Ready for College”,<br />
focused on the district’s goal to<br />
graduate 100 percent of its students<br />
college-prepared <strong>and</strong> career-ready,<br />
while also guiding parents on how<br />
photo Edwin Folven<br />
A new development would raze the existing buildings on the east side of<br />
La Cienega Boulevard if approved.<br />
City’s Summer Night Lights shining once again<br />
The start of the <strong>2013</strong> season of<br />
the Summer Night Lights (SNL)<br />
program, an exp<strong>and</strong>ed series of<br />
after-hours events in 32 public<br />
parks located in areas with high<br />
rates of violent gang-related crime,<br />
commenced on June 26.<br />
Since its implementation in<br />
2008, SNL has successfully<br />
reduced violence in communities<br />
most impacted by gang activity by<br />
extending park hours until midnight<br />
four days a week (Wednesday<br />
to Saturday) during summer<br />
months. The program aids violence<br />
reduction by providing meals, mentoring<br />
<strong>and</strong> activities, including athletics<br />
<strong>and</strong> cultural enrichment, during<br />
peak evening hours for gang<br />
activity.<br />
“As one of my final acts as<br />
mayor, I am proud to kick off<br />
another season of Summer Night<br />
Lights,” former Mayor Antonio<br />
Villaraigosa said. “This program<br />
has been a catalyst for change in<br />
our neighborhoods, providing<br />
hope, safety <strong>and</strong> opportunity for<br />
local youth. It has become a model<br />
for combating gang violence<br />
nationwide, <strong>and</strong> I am proud to have<br />
been a part of it.”<br />
Summer Night Lights also provides<br />
at-risk youth with the opportunity<br />
for employment <strong>and</strong> professional<br />
development. Youth Squad<br />
members undergo training on a<br />
variety of relevant topics prior to the<br />
start of Summer Night Lights <strong>and</strong><br />
receive a stipend for their work<br />
implementing the programs. This<br />
year, training took place at<br />
KLCS receives Imagen Award<br />
their child can prepare for <strong>and</strong><br />
achieve a higher education.<br />
Sporting their college gear <strong>and</strong><br />
surrounded by university <strong>and</strong> college<br />
banners in the October 2012<br />
episode, the hosts of “Families<br />
Matter” — Mónica García,<br />
LAUSD board president; Maria<br />
Casillas, chief of school, family<br />
<strong>and</strong> parent/community services;<br />
<strong>and</strong> board member Nury Martinez<br />
— emphasized that preparation for<br />
college begins in the home <strong>and</strong> in<br />
our schools.<br />
“We are proud <strong>and</strong> honored to be<br />
nominated for the Imagen award,”<br />
García said. “We continue to push<br />
for more positive representation of<br />
California State University, Los<br />
Angeles, providing many members<br />
with their first exposure to a college<br />
campus.<br />
“We remain committed to enriching<br />
the lives of the youth in our city<br />
by providing them with safe <strong>and</strong><br />
successful alternatives to gang violence,”<br />
LAPD Chief Beck said.<br />
“The continued partnership with our<br />
youth organizations <strong>and</strong> our community<br />
members has undoubtedly<br />
helped bring about positive change<br />
in youth culture. This program has<br />
been extremely effective, <strong>and</strong> we are<br />
excited about making this summer’s<br />
program another success.”<br />
Summer Night Lights will run<br />
from June 26 to Aug. 9, every<br />
Wednesday through Saturday, from<br />
7 to <strong>11</strong> p.m.<br />
Latinos in the media. Our goal has<br />
been to build awareness <strong>and</strong> consciousness<br />
in our communities<br />
about the opportunity to access services<br />
<strong>and</strong> support our children’s<br />
success.”<br />
The hosts stressed that college<br />
counselors offer invaluable support<br />
in navigating college admission<br />
policies. Providing specific steps,<br />
Neena Agnihotri, a college counselor<br />
at Monroe High School,<br />
shared strategies <strong>and</strong> tips on how<br />
to guide students toward higher<br />
education early in their educational<br />
journey.<br />
KLCS-TV — The Education<br />
Station — is a noncommercial educational<br />
television station licensed<br />
to the LAUSD <strong>and</strong> is a member of<br />
the Public Broadcasting Service.<br />
Senate bill aims to protect journalists from ‘invasions’<br />
California reporters <strong>and</strong> their<br />
news organizations would have<br />
five days’ notice of any subpoenas<br />
of their records, such as<br />
phone calls, or other invasions of<br />
their newsgathering communications<br />
under a Sen. Ted Lieu (D-<br />
Torrance) measure that passed its<br />
first policy review on a bipartisan<br />
vote on June 23.<br />
“California journalists, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
public, should be extremely troubled<br />
by recent reports showing<br />
that the federal government<br />
secretly collected the phone<br />
records of the Associated <strong>Press</strong>,”<br />
Lieu said about SB 558. “It’s<br />
essential for a free citizenry to<br />
have a free, unhindered press.”<br />
The wiretaps of AP phone<br />
records included calls from several<br />
East Coast bureaus <strong>and</strong> more<br />
than 20 lines, including personal<br />
phones <strong>and</strong> AP phone numbers in<br />
New York; Hartford, Conn.; <strong>and</strong><br />
Washington, D.C.<br />
The records potentially reveal<br />
communications with confidential<br />
sources across all of the newsgathering<br />
activities undertaken by<br />
the AP during a two-month period.<br />
Lieu said his measure would<br />
specifically apply to so-called<br />
“third-party vendors.”<br />
In the case of AP, this would<br />
have required the Justice<br />
Department to notify AP at least<br />
five days ahead of time that the<br />
communications firm h<strong>and</strong>ling<br />
AP phone records would be subpoenaed.<br />
In addition to phone companies,<br />
other third-party vendors<br />
would include internet service<br />
providers, hotels <strong>and</strong> car-rental<br />
agencies.<br />
California already has a shield<br />
law that requires law enforcement<br />
to give five days’ advance notice<br />
to news organizations for subpoenas<br />
served on the actual news<br />
company or reporter.<br />
“But the U.S. Department of<br />
Justice just gave a roadmap on<br />
ways to bypass the shield law by<br />
going after firms like telephone or<br />
communications companies that<br />
have personal <strong>and</strong> work related<br />
information of journalists,” Lieu<br />
said.<br />
SB 558 will next be reviewed<br />
by the California Assembly<br />
Appropriations Committee,<br />
which could consider the bill as<br />
soon as this week.
26 July <strong>11</strong>, <strong>2013</strong> <strong>Park</strong> <strong>Labrea</strong> <strong>News</strong>/<strong>Beverly</strong> <strong>Press</strong><br />
Fireworks lead to animal shelter issues<br />
From page 1<br />
vious years, he has actually slept in<br />
the bathroom with his dog on the<br />
Fourth of July. “It was bad — like<br />
break through doors kind of bad.”<br />
Not only have shelters seen an<br />
increase in new animals over the<br />
last week, it is the middle of “kitten<br />
season,” Peralta said.<br />
“[There] just seems to be a huge<br />
influx of intake during this time of<br />
year,” he added.<br />
With shelters taxed for both<br />
space <strong>and</strong> resources, the public can<br />
help in a variety of ways. Peralta<br />
said shelters could “really utilize”<br />
individuals who are willing to be<br />
foster parents for pets for a couple<br />
weeks. Of course, shelters could<br />
also benefit from additional pet<br />
adoptions, he said.<br />
“That’s the perfect time to go to<br />
the shelters because they’re overflowing,”<br />
Peralta said.<br />
Donations are always helpful, as<br />
are volunteers. Peralta said many<br />
BFAS volunteers on July 4 stayed<br />
all night to calm <strong>and</strong> relax the animals,<br />
which were “just terrified.” In<br />
addition to the organization’s<br />
overnight staff, the volunteers kept<br />
media reports, two of the 307 people<br />
on the plane died <strong>and</strong> more than<br />
100 people were injured.<br />
“It was just a horrible feeling<br />
inside. …It could have been<br />
worse,” Benavente said.<br />
Flight 214 had departed from<br />
Seoul, South Korea, <strong>and</strong> was scheduled<br />
to l<strong>and</strong> at San Francisco<br />
International Airport. According to<br />
media reports, the Boeing 777 l<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
short of the runway, <strong>and</strong> struck a<br />
seawall. The cause of the plane<br />
crash is still under investigation.<br />
A professional photographer,<br />
Benavente grabbed her Nikon<br />
D300 <strong>and</strong> shot photos of the wreckage<br />
through a 180-millimeter lens.<br />
She estimated that she was approximately<br />
one mile away from the<br />
crash site.<br />
According to her website, the<br />
Amsterdam native is internationally<br />
known for her floral photographs.<br />
Benavente has won several photography<br />
awards, including the FUJI<br />
Masterpiece Award <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Photographer of the Year Award<br />
from Professional Photographers of<br />
Los Angeles County.<br />
She lamented the fact that she<br />
had not brought her Nikon D800,<br />
House Energy <strong>and</strong> Commerce<br />
Committee ranking member<br />
Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) <strong>and</strong><br />
several other legislators on June<br />
24 called for regulatory action by<br />
the Food <strong>and</strong> Drug<br />
Administration (FDA) in light of<br />
the 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision<br />
in Mutual Pharmaceuticals v.<br />
Bartlett.<br />
The decision held that a New<br />
Hampshire woman who suffered<br />
devastating injuries after taking<br />
the generic version of an antiinflammatory<br />
drug may not sue<br />
the generic manufacturer for her<br />
injuries, because her claim is preempted<br />
by federal law. Waxman<br />
<strong>and</strong> Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)<br />
filed an amicus brief before the<br />
an eye on BFAS’ 200 dogs <strong>and</strong> cats,<br />
ensuring that the animals did not<br />
injure themselves seeking to escape<br />
their crates.<br />
Peralta said the increase of shelter<br />
animals can be costly, especially<br />
if the animals are in need of medical<br />
care. However, the issue is<br />
more serious than that, he said.<br />
“It’s more than financial,” Peralta<br />
added. “It’s the influx of intake that<br />
could eventually cause animals to<br />
lose their lives.”<br />
If a shelter has 250 animals <strong>and</strong><br />
only 200 kennels, the staff will be<br />
forced to make a decision on 50<br />
animals’ lives, he said.<br />
“That’s exactly how it works,”<br />
Peralta said. “The city shelters are<br />
going to do the best they can to<br />
make a bad decision the best bad<br />
decision. …Ultimately, they’re<br />
going to have to resort to killing<br />
animals.”<br />
He said those that perish will<br />
likely be “perfectly good, adoptable”<br />
animals. So, BFAS is striving<br />
to spread the word about the potentially<br />
dire fate of those in shelters<br />
during the summer months, Peralta<br />
‘Eerie’ atmosphere after crash<br />
From page 1<br />
but still captured images of smoke<br />
billowing out of the Asiana airplane,<br />
passengers fleeing the scene<br />
<strong>and</strong> first responders putting out the<br />
flames.<br />
“It was horrible,” Benavente<br />
added.<br />
Unlike many travelers in San<br />
Francisco that day, the West<br />
Hollywood resident was able to fly<br />
out of San Francisco via Virgin<br />
Airlines, albeit more than three<br />
hours late. She said the airport’s<br />
restaurants were closed, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
facilities were deserted.<br />
“It was eerie,” Benavente added.<br />
She said she loves flying,<br />
although witnessing the Flight 214<br />
tragedy was sobering. Benavente<br />
said she was not too nervous flying<br />
back to Southern California the<br />
same day of the crash.<br />
“I’m a good sport,” she said. “I<br />
don’t mind that. I saw my chances<br />
now were less of getting into an<br />
accident.”<br />
Benavente said she was lucky to<br />
fly back last Saturday, <strong>and</strong> she was<br />
happy to be back in West<br />
Hollywood, where she’s lived for<br />
six years.<br />
“I love it here,” she added.<br />
FDA urged to act on generics<br />
court in that case.<br />
The decision in Mutual<br />
Pharmaceutical Co. v. Bartlett<br />
mirrors the Supreme Court’s 5-4<br />
decision in the 20<strong>11</strong> case, PLIVA<br />
v. Mensing, in which the majority<br />
held that manufacturers of generic<br />
drugs cannot be held liable<br />
under state tort law for inadequate<br />
labeling. Together, these<br />
cases mean that patients who take<br />
the generic version of a prescription<br />
drug may be left without a<br />
remedy if they are injured —<br />
even though consumers who take<br />
the br<strong>and</strong>-name version of the<br />
drug may seek recourse for their<br />
injuries. Waxman also filed an<br />
amicus brief in PLIVA v.<br />
Mensing.<br />
said.<br />
However, in certain parts of the<br />
city, the Fourth of July celebration<br />
persists, as leftover home fireworks,<br />
which are illegal, continue<br />
to explode in the sky. Peralta suggested<br />
“tucking the animal away”<br />
<strong>and</strong> keeping it in a safe spot.<br />
The Humane Society of the<br />
United States recommends turning<br />
on a radio or TV to block the noises.<br />
Veterinarians can also recommend<br />
medications <strong>and</strong> techniques<br />
to help alleviate the fear of fireworks.<br />
Peralta said the issue of pets running<br />
away on the Fourth of July is<br />
not confined to Southern<br />
California. He said he has worked<br />
with animals in several states<br />
across the country.<br />
“It’s that way everywhere,”<br />
Peralta added.<br />
Los Angeles Animal Services<br />
representatives did not return additional<br />
requests for comment.<br />
To help the cause, visit<br />
www.bestfriends.org or www.laanimalservices.com.<br />
Last week, U.S. Sen. Dianne<br />
Feinstein (D-Calif.), a senior<br />
member of the Senate Judiciary<br />
Committee, <strong>and</strong> Congressman<br />
Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the top<br />
Democrat on the House Judiciary<br />
Subcommittee on the<br />
Constitution <strong>and</strong> Civil Justice,<br />
reintroduced the Respect for<br />
Marriage Act, a bill to repeal the<br />
discriminatory Defense of<br />
Marriage Act (DOMA).<br />
“Today’s ruling by the<br />
Supreme Court clearly establishes<br />
that one class of legally married<br />
individuals cannot be denied<br />
rights under federal law accorded<br />
to all other legally married couples,”<br />
Feinstein said last<br />
Wednesday. “Our legislation is<br />
photo by Erik Bianchi/Best Friends Animal Society<br />
Best Friends Animal Society rescued approximately 100 dogs from city<br />
shelters last week, including this Chihuahua mix.<br />
Legislation aims to repeal Defense of Marriage Act<br />
necessary because inequities in<br />
the administration of more than<br />
1,100 federal laws affected by<br />
DOMA — including social security<br />
<strong>and</strong> veterans benefits — will<br />
still need to be fixed. It is time<br />
Congress strike this discriminatory<br />
law once <strong>and</strong> for all.”<br />
Nadler agreed that Congress<br />
has more to do in regards to<br />
DOMA.<br />
“The court has ruled that<br />
Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional,<br />
but Congress still must<br />
repeal the law in its entirety,”<br />
Nadler said. “That is why we are<br />
reintroducing the Respect for<br />
Marriage Act, which repeals<br />
DOMA in its entirety <strong>and</strong> sends<br />
DOMA into the history books<br />
where it belongs. This bill<br />
ensures repeal of section 2 of<br />
DOMA, which was not at issue in<br />
the Windsor case <strong>and</strong> purports to<br />
excuse the states from even considering<br />
whether to honor the<br />
marriage of a gay <strong>and</strong> lesbian<br />
couple performed by a sister<br />
state.”<br />
He said the bill also provides a<br />
uniform rule for recognizing couples<br />
under federal law, ensuring<br />
that all lawfully married couples<br />
will be recognized under federal<br />
law, no matter where they live.<br />
The bill has 161 original<br />
cosponsors in the House <strong>and</strong> 41<br />
original cosponsors in the Senate.<br />
For information, visit www.feinstein.senate.gov.<br />
Local student Hyla Rachwal enters scholars program<br />
Hyla Rachwal, a Mid-Wilshire<br />
resident, has accepted an offer to<br />
be enrolled in the President’s<br />
Scholars Program at California<br />
State University Long Beach<br />
beginning in the fall <strong>2013</strong>.<br />
For the <strong>2013</strong>-2014 academic<br />
year, the president of the university<br />
has selected only 26 students<br />
out of 692 applicants to the program.<br />
Rachwal was also appointed as<br />
one of two student ambassadors to<br />
the Advisory Commission on<br />
Special Education (ACSE) for the<br />
State of California for a two-year<br />
term starting this month.<br />
The commission provides recommendations<br />
<strong>and</strong> advice to the<br />
California Board of Education, the<br />
superintendent of public instruction,<br />
the Legislature <strong>and</strong> the governor<br />
in new or continuing areas of<br />
research, program development<br />
<strong>and</strong> evaluation in California special<br />
education.<br />
The ACSE consists of members<br />
appointed by the speaker of the<br />
Assembly, the state Senate, Gov.<br />
Jerry Brown <strong>and</strong> the California<br />
Board of Education.<br />
The group includes parents, persons<br />
with disabilities, special education<br />
administrators, teachers <strong>and</strong><br />
legislative representation from the<br />
Assembly <strong>and</strong> Senate.<br />
Skirball center to open new exhibit<br />
The Skirball Cultural Center is<br />
celebrating the new exhibition<br />
“Gary Baseman: The Door Is<br />
Always Open” with an after-dark<br />
party, titled “Into the Night: Secrets<br />
<strong>and</strong> Truth” on Friday, July 12<br />
beginning at 9 p.m.<br />
The group Hunter Hunted,<br />
known for intricate vocal harmonies<br />
<strong>and</strong> melodies, will headline<br />
the event. Fitz <strong>and</strong> the Tantrums<br />
will perform in the Skirball’s outdoor<br />
courtyard, <strong>and</strong> the group,<br />
Harriet.<br />
The evening also includes an<br />
appearance by Baseman, a Fairfax<br />
High school graduate, as well as an<br />
art performance created exclusively<br />
for the event by Baseman <strong>and</strong><br />
choreographer Sarah Elgart.<br />
The Skirball Cultural Center is<br />
located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.<br />
For information, call (310)440-<br />
4500, or visit www.skirball.org.<br />
Additionally, Rachwal was<br />
selected as junior staff for the Los<br />
Angeles-Southern California<br />
Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership<br />
Seminar.<br />
The seminar is a three-day leadership<br />
development program that<br />
brings together approximately 230<br />
students from across the region.<br />
Students learn individual leadership<br />
styles, group dynamics <strong>and</strong><br />
leadership in society — all with a<br />
focus on leadership for service to<br />
their communities.<br />
Rachwal recently graduated<br />
from Westview School, where she<br />
was the student body president <strong>and</strong><br />
valedictorian.<br />
Answers From Page 22