Larchmont Chronicle
presort standard u.s. postage
paid
south gate ca. permit no. 294
AUGUST 2011
vol. 48, no. 8 • delivered to the 76,439 readers in hancock park • windsor square • fremont place • park labrea • larchmont village • Miracle Mile
Capt. Tina Nieto takes the Bikeway plan to impact helm at Olympic Division two 4th St. intersections
Wofomen Larchmont
Capt. Matt Blake promoted to commander
Jennifer DeVore
Julie Grist
2011 Joanne Medeiros
d Kathleen Mulligan
d
SECTION THREE
SECTION ONE LIBRARIES book more hours. 9 THE LEAF was worth the wait. 10 SHAMROCKS stay at Bergins' makeover. 11 Larchmont Chronicle's
Wilshire Center 2011
Capt. Tina Nieto, former commanding patrol office at the Olympic Division station, has been promoted to commanding officer. She takes over for Capt. Matt Blake, who oversees six stations in his new role as commanding officer of the Operations West Bureau. The Olympic Division covers most of Windsor Square, Wilshire Park and Windsor Village. Nieto, who became the first Hispanic female captain in L.A.P.D’s history in 2008, has a master’s degree in leadership and management from the University of La Verne and a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Cal State Fullerton. Capt. Nieto says her leadership philosophy is three-fold:
A proposal to place stoplights at two intersections in Hancock Park is meeting with opposition from residents. The lights proposed at 4th St. and Highland Ave. and 4th St. and Rossmore Ave. are to permit bicycle access. Preliminary plans call for signals at both locations, said Tim Fremaux, transportation engineering associate with the city Dept. of Transportation, Capt. Tina Nieto
civic responsibility, taking action even when it is not the popular choice, and engaging others to make a difference for the good of the community.
Redistricting splits neighborhood Congressional, senate districts impacted NEW DEVELOPMENT coming to Vermont and Wilshire.
SCHOOLS, park open at Ambassador site. Page 17
FRESH produce at the Metro. Page 18
Page 14
DINING. Check out the best choices. Page 19
SPECIAL section. 13-20 PLAYING for our troops. 21 TENNIS is a back at LA High. 25
A group of residents are seeking to keep the centuryold Greater Wilshire neighborhood intact. The area’s 15 residential associations are threaten to be divided, with the eastern and western portions split into separate Congressional, Assembly and Senate regions by the California Redistricting Commission. “I was more than disappointed in what I learned
Lights proposed at Highland, Rossmore
from the final maps,” said Jane Usher, member of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council. “The western boundary is and has been La Brea Ave. and its eastern boundary is and has been Western Ave.— for the past 100 years,” Usher wrote to the Commission. A public review period continues until Mon., Aug 15 when the Commission is scheduled to vote.
Bikeways Section. The signals would turn red when a bicyclist approaches the intersection. The plan also calls for right- turn only restrictions at the two sites. Impact on traffic would be a disaster, said Cindy Chvatal, Hancock Park Homeowners Association president. Councilman Tom LaBonge is planning a meeting in September to get community input.
Judge orders mediator to hear Larchmont Bungalow case Both sides asked to resolve issues A superior court judge has ordered the owners of Larchmont Bungalow and city officials to try to resolve their differences with a mediator. Judge Soussan Bruguera said at a July 25 hearing she had a 19-page tentative ruling involving the two parties. “But she would not let us see it. She wants to see if the other judge can get us to settle,” said city attorney Kim Westoff. “She said it would be in everyone one’s best interest to reach a settlement agreement,” said Bungalow attorney Fred Gaines. A superior court judge will be appointed and a date for
the mediation hearing will be scheduled early this month. “If they mediate, let the community have its say,” said Patty Lombard, founder of ilovelarchmontblvd.com. See Bungalow, p. 3
Back to School Hit the books with our special section in the September issue. Advertising deadline is Mon., Aug. 15. Please call 323-462-2241 ext. 11.
On the Boulevard Glimpses by Jane
SECTION TWO Real Estate
Sample food, drinks at 19th annual event on Mon., Aug. 22
Home & Garden
DUKE AND Duchess slept here. 2 TOUR City Hall.
Taste of Larchmont benefits food pantries
5
ROSSMORE apartments—plain, but good hearted. 7 For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11
The 19th annual Taste of Larchmont Village on Mon., Aug. 22 beginning at 6 p.m. will help ensure food distribution at Hope-Net's 14 food pantries. Guests will sample food and drinks from restaurants, pizza parlors, coffee and sweet shops and a wine store mainly south of Beverly Blvd., and enjoy music that harkens back to the Roaring 20s. About 100 volunteers help put on the Taste event, which includes a raffle for a $1,000 cash prize. According to a recent artiSee TASTE, p. 8
ROARING 20s is the theme of this year's event. Proceeds ensure food distribution at Hope-Net's 14 food pantries.
It’s been a lazy, hazy summer for Larchmontians, and August looks to be more of the same. We met up with Mike Gilman and his daughter Allison at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Allison will be returning to Seattle University for graduate study. But before that, she and Ignacio Izquierdo will be getting married, Mike told us. * ** A November wedding is in the offing for Lisa Graeber and Glenn Rudy. Glenn proposed when they were vacationing in Kauai on Shipwreck Beach, we learned at Le Petit Greek. *** Doug Woods, wife Allegra, and youngsters Christopher and Lauren were coming out See BLVD., p. 30
www.larchmontchronicle.com ~ Entire Issue Online!