WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2003
Volume 2, Issue 144
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Santa Monica Daily Press A newspaper with issues
L O T T O FANTASY 5 01, 06, 12, 18, 30 DAILY 3 Afternoon picks: 7, 4, 9 Evening picks: 9, 0, 1 DAILY DERBY 1st Place: 12, Lucky Charms 2nd Place: 05, California Classic 3rd Place: 10, Solid Gold Race time: 1:47.67
NEWS OF THE WEIRD by Chuck Shepard
■ A 6-year-old boy was permanently expelled from elementary school (after 18 months of failed discipline) as being too unruly and dangerous (but who, at home, is an angel, according to his dad) (Ashton, England). ■ Officials of the prestigious Crufts dog show began an investigation of whether its current Supreme Champion (the Pekingese, Danny, which beat out 20,000 challengers) had had an illegal facelift (London). ■ Florida family welfare officials finally put their foot down and suspended a woman who had become the fourth child protection investigator recently dating or marrying accused or convicted criminals (this one a convicted killer and accused child-support dodger) (Largo, Fla.).
QUOTE OF THE DAY “Most Texans think Hanukkah is some sort of duck call.” — Richard Lewis
INDEX Horoscopes Sag, soak away stress . . . . . . .2
Local Community briefs . . . . . . . .3
Opinion Incites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
State Health crisis issues . . . . . .7
National U.S. in major debt . . . . . . . .8
International Mayhem in Nigeria . . . . .10
Sports Lakers eat Wolves . . . . . .11
Classifieds $3.50 a day . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Calendar Movie listings . . . . . . . . . . .15
Pavilions trial now in defense’s hands Grocery store accused of overcharging customers BY JOHN WOOD
undercover investigation revealed the grocery store was allegedly overcharging customers on sale items.
Daily Press Staff Writer
City prosecutors argued in front of a Malibu jury Tuesday that Pavilions on Montana Avenue is guilty of overcharging its customers. The city rested its case against the Santa Monica grocery store Tuesday afternoon in what is expected to be a two-day trial. Defense attorneys are scheduled to present their case this morning. The Vons Company, which owns Pavilions, faces six counts of overcharging customers and one count of false advertising. If convicted, it could face more than $20,000 in fines, officials said. Criminal charges were filed by the consumer affairs unit of the Santa Monica City Attorney’s office after an October 2001
“This case is about a big corporation taking advantage of its unsuspecting customers.” — EDA SUH Deputy City Attorney
City attorneys claim that Pavilions charged full price at the checkout register for items that were advertised on tags displayed in the aisles as on sale. “This case is about a big corporation taking advantage of its unsuspecting customers,” said See TRIAL, page 5
Board ranks issues facing downtown Cleanliness, safety and vagrancy are top priority BY JOHN WOOD Daily Press Staff Writer
A group of officials charged with managing downtown recently ranked the most critical issues facing businesses in Santa Monica. As in years past, the cleanliness and safety of the Third Street Promenade are the biggest concerns for merchants, residents and tourists. The board of directors for the Bayside District Corp., a nonprofit organization that runs downtown with the city, recently placed cleanliness and vagrancy as their top priorities, followed by parking and traffic issues. With a macro perspective in mind, officials said they can now make the most of their limited resources. Balancing the mix of retail and restaurant merchants downtown came in as the third priority, accord-
ing to a tally of board members’ votes. Bayside plans to increase its marketing efforts, which is its fourth priority. Strengthening Bayside’s relationship with neighboring communities and the Santa Monica Pier placed as the fifth priority. “This is the top of the list,” said John Warfel, chair of Bayside’s board. “This is where we want to focus our energies going forward.” Board members said they ranked cleanliness and vagrancy first for a number of reasons. Because of its aging infrastructure, the Promenade requires daily maintenance to keep it competitive. The long-standing vagrancy issue comes from complaints by tourists and business owners who say consumers are turned off by excessive panhandling, and apparent safety and health concerns posed by Santa Monica’s large
Carolyn Sackariason/Daily Press
Above: (Left to right) Actor Martin Milner who appeared on the famed television show, “Route 66,” Hampton Hotels vice president of marketing Judy Christa-Cathey and Jim Conkle unveil a new sign on Tuesday dedicating Palisades Park as the end of “America’s Main Street.” Below: The decorated RV with a map of Route 66 is Conkle’s home for the next 66 days as he travels the road to Chicago.
Historian gets his ‘kicks on Route 66’
Preservationist’s 66day journey starts in Santa Monica
BY CAROLYN SACKARIASON Daily Press Staff Writer
It was the beginning of the end for Jim Conkle on Tuesday when he set out for a 66-day journey across the country on Route 66. Conkle, a Route 66 historian and preservationist, made Palisades Park, widely known as the “symbolic ending” of America’s most famous road, the beginning point See BAYSIDE, page 6 for his 2,448-mile journey.
Conkle is using the trip as a pilgrimage to mark historic landmarks along the route and bring awareness to the road most commonly referred to as “America’s Main Street.” On the journey in his decorated RV, Conkle and a handful of other Route 66 enthusiasts will make more than 60 stops to post new Route 66 “Roadside Attraction” signs that tell the story of the historic sites, treasured landmarks and vintage establishments. The first sign was put up in Palisades Park on Tuesday. Route 66 is much more than a just a road, Conkle said. The communiSee ROUTE 66, page 6