Larchmont Chronicle
presort standard u.s. postage
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south gate ca. permit no. 294
NOVEMBER 2009
vol. 46, no. 11 • delivered to the 76,439 readers in hancock park • windsor square • fremont place • park labrea • larchmont village • miracle mile
SECTION ONE 20
iningGuide09 DEntertainment &
DINING & ENTERTAINMENT 17 - 32 MIRACLE MILE residents met.
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ENDING hunger one restaurant at a time. 12 WOMAN lawyer named president. 14 SILENT SOCIETY reels. 27 ROSSMORES rock. 28
in single-family zone By Suzan Filipek Etz Chaim Congregation was denied a conditional use permit for daily prayer gathering at the single-family home at 303 S. Highland Ave. last month by the city Planning Dept. Rabbi Chaim Rubin sought continued use and maintenance of a religious use at the home in Hancock Park, a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone. But associate zoning administrator Albert Landini wrote the location was not suited for religious uses in his 42-page report. He also denied a request for a zone variance to permit two parking spaces in lieu of the required 12 for the 8,100-square foot home. A shortage of parking would only increase traffic and parking issues, he wrote. Supporters of the zone change numbered members See Etz Chaim, p. 46
Windsor Square annual meeting November 12 LOCAL HOME hosts U.N. gorilla spokesman. 42
SECTION TWO Real Estate Home & Garden
HISTORIC remodel in St. Andrews Square. 2 CHANDLERS' Times.
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For Information on Advertising Rates, Please Call Pam Rudy 323-462-2241, x 11
Hancock Park airs marijuana, crime at meeting
Temple at 3rd, Highland denied religious uses
Water mains, board vote on agenda Broken water mains, stop signs and crime prevention are among issues expected to be raised at the annual Windsor Square Association meeting on Thurs., Nov. 12 at The Ebell, 743 S. Lucerne Blvd. at 7 p.m. Mike Genewick, president, said police officials Capt. Matt Blake of the Olympic Station and Eric Davis of the Wilshire station will be on hand to address concerns. Councilman Tom LaBonge will speak on city issues, and on the Q condition affecting Larchmont Blvd. Minah Park, Deputy District Attorney, also will speak. An update on the streetlight project is on the agenda as well as emergency preparedness. The annual “Squeaky Wheel” See Windsor Square, p. 5
New City attorney Trutanich welcomed
FUN FOR aLL. Madison Oracion was among the thousands of visitors to the annual Larchmont Boulevard Associationsponsored Family Fair on Oct. 25. Pony rides, slides, games and food booths provided entertainment for all ages.
Protesters picket restaurant operating as a takeout Larchmont Bungalow violates zoning, they say “We’re mad as hell and we’ve had enough.” That was the rallying cry when dozens of area residents passed out flyers protesting the opening of a restaurant posing as a “takeout” at 107 N. Larchmont Blvd. Larchmont Bungalow is operating under false colors, said Patty Lombard, a Fremont Place resident. She and other community members picketed in front of the restaurant during the Larchmont Family Fair on Oct. 25. They claim the Bungalow with its profuse number of ta-
bles and chairs inside and on the sidewalk is in violation of the Q Condition. The zoning law limits the number of restaurants on Larchmont Blvd. between Beverly Blvd. and First St. Before opening this month, the property owner Albert Mizrahi signed a Covenant and Agreement with the city forbidding tables and chairs and dining on the premises. Mizrahi has said at community meetings that other takeouts on the boulevard have seating and some are operating as restaurants. See PROTESTERS, p. 5
By Chris H. Sieroty Reporter A year ago, a relatively unknown candidate for city attorney sought the political support of Hancock Park residents in his campaign to replace outgoing City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. On Oct. 20, Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich returned to thank Hancock Park residents for their support. He was guest speaker at the Hancock Park Homeowners Association annual meeting at Marlborough School. He spoke on several key issues, including a new ordinance regulating medical marijuana shops. However, Trutanich said he couldn’t comment on the ongoing controversy over an Orthodox temple at 303 N. Highland Ave. because it may go to appeal. In 1996, the Etz Chaim congregation applied to the city zoning administrator for a variance to use a residence as a synagogue. For the last 13 years, the case has made its way through the court system as a result of several lawsuits. The congregation was recently denied See Hancock Park, p. 33
On the Boulevard Glimpses by Jane
RESidENTS piCKETEd in front of Larchmont Bungalow to call attention to a zoning violation. They are, from left, Patty Lombard, Bill Simon, Wendy Savage, Patty Carroll and Linda Lennon.
Fair warning: the holidays are right around the corner. We can’t believe how fast the days are going. Meanwhile, sports fans are torn between watching the world series, college football, the Lakers and Clippers and the Kings (thank goodness for Tivo). Friends are planning to welcome Cammie King Conlon back to the area for a book signing at Chevalier’s in December, we learned from Sharon DeBriere at Rite Aid. Cammie, who played Baby Blue in “Gone with the Wind,” has written a book on her ex-
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See BLVD., p. 13