Larchmont Chronicle
vol. 52, no. 5 • delivered to 76,439 readers in hancock park • windsor square • fremont place • Miracle Mile • Park La Brea • Larchmont •
IN THIS ISSUE
Design for Living Larchmont chronicLe maY 2015
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mmerse yourself in liveable, innovative modern architecture and design— from Brookside to the beach—on three Dwell Home Tours 2015. (Turn to page D-2)
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eighborhood gardens were on full display at the annual Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society party.
(Turn to page D-7)
Section 2, D 1-8
FAREWELL.
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WEST ADAMS on tour. 2-3
HELICOPTER complaints? 2-3 For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11 Mailing permit:
May 2015
Welborne takes reins as Chronicle publisher, owner After 52 years, new publisher at helm By Jane Gilman For the first time in the 52 years since its founding in 1963, the Larchmont Chronicle has a new owner. On May 1, the ownership of the paper will be passed to lifelong resident, John H. Welborne. I could not be more pleased than to have John Welborne lead the next decades of the Chronicle. John has worked with me and my co-founder, Dawne Goodwin, for nearly 40 of the paper’s 52 years. John is a strong believer in the important role
Debates set at Park La Brea for Ramsay, Ryu Election May 19 By Suzan Filipek After a victorious election, the winner in the run-off Tues., May 19 for Council District Four will inherit a hefty plate when they take over the reins from Tom LaBonge on July 1. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences is planning a blockbuster venue in the Mile. The L.A. County Museum of Art has world-class architects drawing expansion plans, and CIM Group’s luxury residential development for the 10-acre Farmers Insurance parcel is moving forward. Meanwhile, mansionization, preservation, development, subway construction and other quality-of-life issues are on voters’ minds, such as on a recent Sunday morning. Candidates Carolyn Ramsay and David Ryu met with about 30 residents at a board meeting in Sycamore Square. “Carolyn and David talked to our biggest issues, the top one being mansionization,” said Ann Eggleston, president See ELECTION, p 14
played by small, community newspapers. Welborne is a native Angeleno whose grandparents built a home in Windsor Square in 1918. He commented that “a remarkable feature of the Chronicle is the loyalty of its readers. A number of people who have lived in our community, but have moved away still maintain their ties through the newspaper.” Among the community members and advertisers initially advising John by serving on the Larchmont Chronicle Transition Advisory Board are: Jamie Bennett, Patricia Carroll, Harry Chandler, Regina Chung, Janet Clayton, Lyn McEwen Cohen, Cara Esposito, Elizabeth Fuller, Rudy Gintel, Julie Grist, Mary Hawley, Hank Hilty, Neil Kramer, Patricia Lombard, Lindsay Ratkovich, William Simon and Owen Smith. “Our goal,” said Welborne, “is to steward and perpetuate See John Welborne, p 11
Salute to grads Annual special tosses our hats to this year's graduates in the June Larchmont Chronicle. Advertising deadline is Fri., May 15. For more information contact Pam Rudy, 323462-2241, ext. 11.
LEADING THE LOCAL CAMPAIGN to save water is Farrah Dragon, shown with her daughter Ruby and son Louis.
Block captain aims to save water in Hancock Park Lawn signs point to wasteful landscaping The lawn signs in Hancock Park stating “Brown is the New Green” are a project of Farrah Dragon, the block captain on her street. She is encouraging residents who are as concerned abut the water shortage as she is to place the signs on their lawns. “Actually, my husband and my mother came up with the slogan,” says Farrah. Her mother is a horticulturist, and had been a landscaper at Getty Museum gardens for seven years. The Dragon’s lawn is beginning to show its unwatered look since the family turned off its irrigation system in early April. She thinks the shrubbery around the house
IT'S HERE! Bigger than ever. Big Sunday founder and general go-to guy David Levinson at the Larchmont headquarters. Find out how to get involved, story page 16. Photo Bill Devlin
will survive because the roots are deep and receive ground water. “Fifty percent of our water usage goes to landscaping,” she pointed out. And she is upset that political leaders haven’t stressed the imporSee Saving Water, p 2
Another area on road to historic preservation Sycamore Square to protect area
By Suzan Filipek Following on the heels of its neighbors, the Sycamore Square Neighborhood Association is poised to start the process to protect its area from McMansions. The group’s board voted last month to look into an Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) to prevent further tear downs of singlefamily homes to be replaced with ones too large for the lot, overshadowing neighbors. The board also voted to apply for an Interim Control Ordinance while waiting for zoning protection. The HPOZ is already in place in Hancock Park, Windsor Square and other local neighborhoods. Candidates visit Attending the April 12 board See Sycamore Square, p 5
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