7/11/2013 - Park Labrea News and Beverly Press

WWW.BEVERLYPRESS.COM 

INSIDE 

Temps in the 

80s, sunny 

this weekend 

Special hot 

dog section, 

pgs. 12-17 

Volume 23 No. 28 Serving the West Hollywood, Hancock Park and Wilshire Communities July 11, 2013 

Patrons rally to save Tom Bergin’s 

n Tavern owner 

addresses Mid-City 

West audience 

By AAron Blevins 

Supporters and patrons of Tom 

Bergin’s Tavern on Tuesday 

expressed their grievances 

regarding the closure of the 77- 

year-old hangout to the Mid-City 

West Community Council. 

The restaurant and bar, known 

for its atmosphere, history and 

the shamrocks hanging from the 

ceiling and walls, closed on 

Sunday, less than a week after its 

owner announced his decision. 

Marisa O’Brien, a New York 

native, was first brought to Tom 

Bergin’s by her brother after she 

moved to Los Angeles 12 years 

ago. She would eventually go on 

to work there as a bartender and 

server. 

“That’s how I was introduced, 

and it just felt like home,” she 

said. “There’s nothing else like it 

in L.A.” 

Among her group of friends, 

three marriages and six babies 

have their roots at the restaurant 

and bar. O’Brien said regulars 

and staff members also came out 

in droves to support her fight 

against breast cancer. 

“It was family,” she said. “It 

was home.” 

Patron Matthew Meltzer said 

n Fireworks spark 

increase in shelters’ 

populations 

Although the Fourth of July may 

be a celebration of independence 

for American citizens, that is not the 

case for American pets, some of 

which are susceptible to running 

away due to the explosive sights 

and sounds. 

In fact, July is one of the busiest 

— if not the busiest — times of the 

year for area animal shelters. Los 

Angeles Animal Services’ shelters 

received 149 new dogs following 

the holiday, a significant decrease 

from 2012 (309 dogs) and 2011 

(295). 

Best Friends Animal Society 

(BFAS) has been “extremely busy,” 

said Marc Peralta, the executive 

director of the organization’s adoption 

center in Mission Hills. To 

accommodate, BFAS waived the 

fee for adoptions the weekend 

photo by Aaron Blevins 

Tom Bergin’s Tavern closed on Sunday, much to the dismay of regulars 

and patrons who have formed many memories in the 77-year-old Irish 

pub on Fairfax Avenue. 

the relationships that he has created 

at Tom Bergin’s have 

“enriched my life immeasurably.” 

He called on the council to 

do what it can to retain the tavern. 

before the holiday, and approximately 

100 animals were adopted. 

“It’s a lot of very scary and very 

loud and very unfamiliar sensory 

“Please don’t let them turn that 

bar into a Verizon store or condos 

or anything like that,” Meltzer 

said. “Any regulatory hurdle you 

Animal shelters swamped after holiday 


See Tom page 24 

photo by Erik Bianchi/Best Friends Animal Society 

This terrier mix was among the dogs that Best Friends Animal Society 

rescued from city animal shelters the week of July 4. 

things going on with the animals all 

at once,” Peralta said regarding animals’ 

reaction to fireworks. In pre- 

See Fireworks page 26 

West Hollywood resident 

captures Flight 214 chaos 

n Two die in crash at San Francisco airport 


From the sixth floor of her San 

Francisco Airport Marriott 

Waterfront hotel room last 

Saturday, West Hollywood resident 

Irene Benavente witnessed the 

chaotic aftermath of the Asiana 

Airlines Flight 214 crash. 

Benavente said she was in the 

midst of wrapping up a “fabulous” 

trip to visit her grandchildren, and 

was to fly back to Southern 

California at 7:10 p.m. that day. At 

n Developers no longer 

know if proposal is 

‘viable’ after decision 

By edwin folven 

A mixed-use residential and 

retail project near La Cienega 

and Beverly boulevards faces an 

uncertain future after the Los 

Angeles City Council’s Planning 

and Land Use Committee 

(PLUM) recently voted to limit 

the building’s height to 50 feet. 

The developer, Beverly La 

Cienega LLC, had sought to 

build a 45-unit, five-story building 

that was 56 feet tall. Nearby 

residents objected to the height, 

and advocated that the building 

not exceed 45 feet, which is the 

maximum allowed under the 

area’s community plan. Los 

Angeles City Councilman Paul 

Koretz, 5th District, met with 

residents and the developer, and 

supported a compromise of 50 

approximately 11:30 a.m., she 

looked outside of her hotel window. 

“You see the smoke. You see the 

flames. And you think, ‘Oh my 

god, who can survive this?’ …It 

was just horrendous — the whole 

thing,” Benavente said. 

Although she saw people running 

from the scene, she hadn’t 

seen the news and believed that 

none of the passengers had survived 

the plane crash. According to 

See Eerie page 26 

photo by Irene Benavente 

West Hollywood resident Irene Benavente captured this photo after the 

Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash last Saturday. 

Proposed development 

knocked down six feet 

feet. Some residents said they 

were satisfied with the compromise. 

Joel Miller, vice president 

and principle of Psomas, a consulting 

company representing the 

developer, said the height reduction 

of six feet would result in the 

loss of a fifth story. He added that 

the developer will have to reevaluate 

the plan. The full city 

council is expected to vote on the 

project at a hearing tentatively 

scheduled on Aug. 6. 

“Even the loss of one foot 

means the loss of a story, which 

means nine units. I don’t know if 

it is a viable project,” Miller said. 

“It’s already very tight. A couple 

of feet will make a difference.” 

A couple of single-story businesses 

and a billboard are currently 

located at the site, located 

in the 300 block of North La 

Cienega Blvd. Miller said the 

developer planned to replace the 

buildings and sign with a building 

that would help spark a revitalization 

of La Cienega 

See Development page 25

2 July 11, 2013 Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 

12 ‘Sherman Show’ 

Entertainer Michael Sherman performs 

the songs of Al Jolson and 

Bing Crosby in the “Sherman Show” 

on Friday, July 12 at 1 p.m. at the 

Fairfax Senior Center on Fairfax 

Avenue. Sherman will also perform 

impersonations of Jack Benny, 

George Burns, Ed Sullivan and more. 

7929 Melrose Ave. (323)653-1824. 

Outdoor Jazz 

Pianist and composer David 

Ornette Cherry, son of legendary 

jazz trumpeter Don Cherry, salutes 

his father’s work during a performance 

on Friday, July 12 at 8 p.m. at 

the Los Angeles County Museum of 

Art. Cherry will also perform his own 

new works during the show, which is 

part of the “Jazz at LACMA” series. 

BP Grand Entrance, 5905 Wilshire 

Blvd. (323)857-6000, 

www.lacma.org. 

Comedy Show 

Comedian Tom Rubin brings his 

new one-man comedy show 

titled “Success Guru” to the Dorie 

Theatre on Santa Monica Boulevard 

from Friday, July 12 through Aug. 30. 

Rubin’s show was inspired by his 

experiences in the hyper-competitive 

worlds of the Ivy League, corporate 

America and Hollywood. Showtimes 

are at 9 p.m., Fridays. 6476 Santa 

Monica Blvd. (323)960-7780, 

www.plays411.com/successguru. 

‘The Manor’ 

Writer, actress and musician 

Katherine Bates’ play “The 

Manor” returns to Greystone 

Mansion in Beverly Hills running 

from Friday, July 12 through Aug. 30. 

The play, produced by Theatre 40, is 

an iconic drama of history, mystery 

and intrigue. Audiences follow actors 

through several decorated rooms of 

the Greystone Mansion’s first floor as 

murder, madness and dark secrets are 

revealed. Tickets are $55. 905 Loma 

Vista Drive. (310)694-6118. 

13 ‘Grease’ 

Sing-a-Long 

Join Sha Na Na and actress Didi 

Conn for a night of singing and fun 

at the “Grease” Sing-a-long on 

Saturday, July 13 beginning at 7:30 

p.m. at the Hollywood Bowl. Sha Na 

Na, which appeared in the 1978 film 

as the group, Johnny Casino and the 

Gamblers, will perform at 7:30 p.m. 

Conn, who played “Frenchy” in the 

film, will host the show, where the 

audience sings-a-long to a screening 

of the film at 8:30 p.m with subtitles. 

Tickets start at $14.50. 2301 N. 

Highland Ave. (323)850-2000, 

www.hollywoodbowl.com. 

Art Exhibit 

The public is invited to view an 

exhibition of mixed media 

works by Iranian-born artist Fariba 

Ameri titled “The Beauty of Inner 

Truth” running Saturday, July 13 

through Sept. 1 at the JNA Gallery in 

the Bergamot Station Art Center, 

C a l e n d a r 

photo by Michael Lamont 

Fans of musical theatre are invited to a production of the Tony awardwinning 

production “Nine” running from Friday, July 12 through Aug. 18 

at the MET Theatre in Hollywood. The musical is produced by the DOMA 

Theatre Co. and based on Federico Fellini’s classic film, “8½”. It follows 

the story of world famous film director Guido Contini, played by David 

Michael Treviño (above), who attempts to come up with a plot for his 

next film while trying to balance the numerous women in his life. 

Showtimes are at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m., Sunday. Tickets 

are $30. 1089 N. Oxford Ave. (323)802-4990, www.domatheatre.com. 

Santa Monica. Ameri’s work is 

influenced by her personal experiences 

as a woman with a diverse, 

multi-cultural heritage. She draws 

upon Persian and mythological 

themes, as well as symbolic objects, 

to highlight the contrast between 

things that can be seen and things 

that are hidden. 2525 Michigan Ave., 

Ste. D4. (310)315-9502, www.jnagallery.com. 

 

 

Book Discussion 

Author Jim Gladstone, executive 

vice president of Lionsgate 

Entertainment, will sign and discuss 

his new book, “The Man Who 

Seduced Hollywood: The Life and 

Loves of Greg Bautzer” on Saturday, 

July 13 at 5 p.m. at the Larry Edmunds 

Bookshop in Hollywood. The book 

has a foreword by actor Robert 

Wagner, and is drawn from exclusive 

 

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interviews with people whose lives 

intersected with Bautzer’s. 6644 

Hollywood Blvd. (323)463-3273. 

14 ‘Moulin Rouge!’ 

Families and film lovers can enjoy 

a free outdoor screening of 

“Moulin Rouge!” on Sunday, July 14 

at 8 p.m. in the Beverly Cañon 

Gardens in Beverly Hills. The screening 

is part of the city’s “Sunday Movie 

Nights”, with additional installments 

scheduled on July 28, and Aug. 11 and 

25. 241 N. Cañon Drive. (310)285- 

6830, www.beverlyhills.org. 

Doggie Festival 

Dog lovers are invited to the 2nd 

annual Doggie Street Festival on 

Sunday, July 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

at the Westfield Century City shopping 

mall. Participants can receive pet 

information, listen to live music. 

Enjoy food and see the latest in pet 

products. 10250 Santa Monica Blvd. 

www.doggiestreetfestival.org. 

Shakespearean 

Comedy 

Fans of Shakespeare will enjoy a 

production of “A Midsummer 

Night’s Dream” running from Sunday, 

July 14 through 28 in the Japanese 

Garden at the VA West Los Angeles 

Healthcare Center campus. The 

Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, 

under the artistic direction of Ben 

Donenberg, is producing the version 

of The Bard’s romantic comedy. 

Showtimes are at 8 p.m., Tuesday 

through Sunday. Tickets start at $25. 

11301 Wilshire Blvd. (800)838-3006, 

www.shakespearecenter.org. 

17 Holocaust Film 

Learn about the plight of Jews in 

France during World War II during 

a free screening of the film “La Raffle 

(The Roundup)” on Wednesday, July 

17 from 11:45 a.m. to noon at the 

National Council of Jewish Women, 

Los Angeles’ Council House on 

Fairfax Avenue. The film commemorates 

the anniversary of the Vel d’Hiv 

Roundup in 1942, when more than 

13,000 Jews from Paris and its suburbs 

were arrested, confined to the 

Velodrome d’Hiver bicycle stadium 

and later deported to German concentration 

camps. Only 25 returned to 

France at the end of the war. 543 N. 

Fairfax Ave. (323)852-8503, 

ruth@ncjwla.org. 

Crime Meeting 

Members of the public are invited 

to a meeting on crime in the 

Melrose District on Wednesday, July 

17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Blu Jam Café. 

The Melrose Action Neighborhood 

Watch is hosting the meeting, which 

will cover topics such as a recent stabbing 

of a tourist on Melrose Avenue. 

Senior Lead Officer Art Gallegos, of 

the LAPD’s Wilshire Division, will be 

the special guest. 7371 Melrose Ave. 

www.melroseaction.com. 

Jazz at The Bowl 

Jazz legends return to the Hollywood 

Bowl with a performance by Sergio 

Mendes, and Herb Alpert & Lani Hall, 

on Wednesday, July 17 at 8 p.m. The 

artists will perform a concert of sublime 

jazz and irresistible Brazilian 

rhythms. Alpert and Hall lend their 

inventive sophistication and style to 

jazz standards and selections from the 

Great American Songbook. Mendes 

closes out the show with his Rio-pop 

grooves. Tickets start at $2. 2301 N 

Highland Ave. (323)850-2000, 

www.hollywoodbowl.com. 

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Park Labrea News/Beverly Press 3 July 11, 2013 

Carousel to get 10k upgrades 

photo by Edwin Folven 

The Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round will soon undergo renovations 

after Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge, 4th District, allocated 

$10,000 from his office’s discretionary fund for upgrades. 

The merry-go-round is located in the Park Center area off Crystal 

Springs Drive, south of the Los Angeles Zoo and municipal golf courses. 

Built in 1926 and opened in Griffith Park in 1937, it has been one 

of the park’s premiere attractions for decades, according to LaBonge. 

Although the merry-go-round was partially restored approximately 10 

years ago, some of the original murals above and behind the horses that 

were not restored have now faded or peeled. 

“The funding will go to restore all of the murals around the top of 

the historic merry-go-round,” LaBonge said. “It is a beautiful attraction.” 

The $10,000 comes from the 4th District’s share of AB 1290 funds, 

which are paid by developers when projects are approved. The funds 

are to be used for projects that improve quality of life within the council 

districts. 

The merry-go-round has 68 horses. Each is carved with jewelencrusted 

bridles, detailed draped blankets and decorated with sunflowers 

and lion’s heads, according to the city’s Griffith Park website. 

A Stinson 165 Military Band Organ, reported to be the largest merrygo-round 

band organ on the West Coast, provides music for the 

carousel. It is open year-round from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, 

and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on summer weekdays. For information, 

visit www.laparks.org. 

LaBonge proposes ‘bike pool’ for city employees 


City employees may soon have a 

new way to get around the civic center 

downtown through a bike-sharing 

program proposed by Los 

Angeles City Councilman Tom 

LaBonge, 4th District. 

The motion calls for a government 

“bike pool” that would provide 

bicycles that could be used by city 

employees who need to travel 

between Los Angeles City Hall, City 

Hall East, City Hall South, the C. 

Erwin Piper Technical Center, 

Figueroa Plaza, the Los Angeles 

Public Works Building and the 

Central City Yards. The councilman 

said the program would have a positive 

impact on employee fitness and 

the environment. Similar programs 

are in place at some movie studios, 

where employees often need to 

move between one end of the property 

to the other several times a day. 

“The movie studios are often way 

ahead of government,” LaBonge 

said. “In downtown L.A., you have 

city hall and several satellite buildings. 

Instead of having a motor pool, 

we are trying to establish a bike 

pool.” 

LaBonge said it has yet to be 

determined how the city would 

acquire or pay for the bikes, and 

admitted that the idea is in the formative 

stages. He said he hopes to 

start a discussion on the feasibility of 

such a program. The motion 

instructs staff at the Los Angeles 

Department of Transportation to 

report back to the council on the 

potential cost and funding sources. 

“I love my bike,” said LaBonge, 

who hosts weekly bicycle rides for 

constituents during the summer. “I 

want to see how we can get [a bike 

pool] into the bloodstream.” 

New city attorney Feuer announces appointments 

Los Angeles City Attorney Mike 

Feuer has named members of his 

incoming team, including his chief 

of staff and chief deputy. 

Leela Ann Kapur, chief of staff, 

has 24 years of experience in the 

Office of the Los Angeles County 

Counsel, most recently as chief 

deputy. In the County Counsel’s 

Office, she represented and advised 

the Board of Supervisors, other 

county officials, departments, 

agencies and commissions on a 

wide variety of legal issues. As 

chief deputy, she was responsible 

for the administration of the office 

and assisted the county counsel in 

managing all of the county’s 

diverse legal matters. 

Jim Clark, chief deputy, has more 

than 38 years of civil litigation 

experience, was a long-time partner 

at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, is a 

Fellow of the American College of 

Trial Lawyers and has handled a 

multitude of complex civil litigation 

matters at every level of the 

California and federal courts. 

Capri Maddox, special assistant 

city attorney, previously served as a 

Los Angeles deputy city attorney 

where she worked in the Central 

Trials, Neighborhood Prosecutor 

Program, Complex Litigation and 

General Counsel Section units. 

Before returning to the office of the 

city attorney, she was president of 

the City of Los Angeles Board of 

Public Works. 

Alex Ponder, director of policy 

and inter-governmental relations, 

served as deputy chief of staff and 

district director for Feuer when he 

was in the State Assembly. 

Previously, he was a legislative 

advocate for the National League 

of Cities and chief of staff to Los 

Angeles City Councilwoman 

Cindy Miscikowski. He also 

worked for Feuer when he was on 

the city council. 

Rob Wilcox, director of community 

engagement and outreach, is 

the former director of communications 

for the California High-Speed 

Rail Authority, the California 

Citizens Redistricting Commission 

and Los Angeles City Controller 

Laura Chick. 

Nicole Carcel, deputy for community 

engagement and outreach, 

was senior field representative for 

Feuer in the State Assembly.


Eric Garcetti sworn in as mayor 

photo courtesy of Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office 

Mayor Eric Garcetti was sworn in as the 42nd mayor of Los 

Angeles on Sunday while standing next to his wife, Amy Wakeland, 

on city hall’s Spring Street steps. A community celebration in Grand 

Park with food, games, live entertainment and information booths followed. 

Last week, Garcetti announced the appointment of former 

Councilwoman Jan Perry as interim general manager of the Economic 

Development Department, Doane Liu as deputy mayor of city services 

and Rich Llewellyn as counsel to the mayor. 

“I’m excited that Jan Perry and I will be working closely together 

on getting people back to work and helping businesses open and 

grow,” Garcetti said. “Jan’s work in revitalizing Downtown and South 

Park exemplify the kind of leadership and expertise we need to 

turn this department into a true economic engine for our city.” 

Liu was chief of staff to Councilman Joe Buscaino and previously 

served as chief of staff for Councilwoman Janice Hahn, deputy mayor 

for Mayor James K. Hahn and district director for Congresswoman 

Jane Harman. As deputy mayor of city services, he will oversee the 

city departments that directly impact neighborhoods, such as the 

DWP, Recreation & Parks, Transportation and Department of Public 

Works. 

Llewellyn was most recently chief of staff to Councilman Paul 

Koretz. He was Garcetti’s first council chief of staff and was special 

counsel to District Attorney Gil Garcetti. Llewellyn will continue as 

transition director, and as counsel will provide legal advice and serve 

as a senior advisor to the mayor on a host of issues. 

Garcetti also announced the staff appointments of Kelli Bernard, 

interim chief of economic development; Stephen Cheung, director of 

international trade; Eileen Decker, interim deputy mayor for public 

safety; Borja Leon, director of transportation; Martha Preciado, director 

of scheduling; Heather Repenning, director of external affairs; and 

Yusef Robb, director of communications. 

District proposes longer school year 

In June, the Los Angeles Unified 

School District (LAUSD) Board of 

Education directed Superintendent 

John Deasy to look into extending 

the 2014-15 school year by nine 

days or more. 

LAUSD students spend 180 days 

in the classroom. Now, with 

California school districts receiving 

more public financing, the board 

may grow the academic year to 200 

days, which would add another 

month to the school calendar. 

“This is an 

important step 

toward preparing 

our children to 

compete in the 

global 

marketplace.” 

Tamar Galatzan 

LAUSD school board 

vice president 

“We must explore all strategies 

to increase the pace of achievement 

in Los Angeles,” Board president 

Mónica García said. “We know 

research shows students do better 

with more time spent learning and 

achieving.” 

The superintendent is scheduled 

to report back to the board in 120 

days. 

“I look forward to seeing a plan 

from the superintendent that would 

allow the students of LAUSD to 

have a longer school year,” board 

vice president Tamar Galatzan said. 

“This is an important step toward 

preparing our children to compete 

in the global marketplace.” 

The resolution quoted President 

Barack Obama — “The challenges 

of a new century demand more 

time in the classroom.” To make the 

case, the measure also referenced 

the ground-breaking 1983 report, 

“A Nation at Risk: The Imperative 

for Educational Reform”, which 

recommended 200 to 220 days in a 

school year. 

Citing more than 100 U.S. school 

districts that have already “extended 

learning time strategies to 

increase student outcomes,” the 

resolution also anticipated additional 

state funding to pay for a longer 

academic year. The improving state 

budget provides a catalyst for the 

recommendation, which comes two 

years after severe cuts forced the 

LAUSD to shorten the academic 

year from 180 to 175 days. 

For the upcoming academic year, 

with the exception of one multitrack 

campus, students are scheduled 

to return to school on Tuesday, 

Aug. 13, and get out on Thursday, 

June 5, 2014. 

Tom Bergin’s deserves 

another chance, with 

Guinness on tap 

[Re: “Tom Bergin’s closed on 

Sunday”], My wife Katy and I frequented 

Bergin’s and felt that the 

new owners had wildly overpriced 

everything from the drinks to the 

bar food to the dinner food. It was 

delicious but too expensive. The 

worst decision was to stop serving 

Guinness. We didn’t go back after 

that. All of that aside, the restoration 

was magnificent and the pub 

was one of the nicest. The place 

deserves another chance with realistic 

prices and Guinness on tap. 

Kenneth M. Phillips 

Los Angeles 

More Tom Bergin’s 

support needed 

Your voice is needed to keep 

Tom Bergin’s open. 

“Whenever one door closes I 

hope one more opens, 

Promise me that you’ll give faith 

a fighting chance, 

And when you get the choice to 

sit it out or dance, 

I hope you dance, I hope you 

dance, 

I hope you never fear those 

mountains in the distance, 

Never settle for the path of least 

resistance, 

Livin’ might mean takin’ 

chances, but they’re worth takin’.” 

[An excerpt from the song, “I 

Hope You Dance”, by Lee Ann 

Womack.] 

Developers may be 

winning this round 

Bill White 

Los Angeles 

Millennium obviously covered 

up the active fault line issue, and 

are getting away with it, so far [“If 

Millennium project site is unbuildable, 

who is at fault?”, July 4 

issue]. 

Caltrans wrote letters to [then 

Councilman] Garcetti and the city 

about the inadequate traffic study, 

and the unsafe traffic situations. 

All letters were ignored. 

Two unresolved problems are 

putting lives at risk. Life [and] 

death issues [are] ignored at every 

political level. Maybe because so 

many have been funded by 

Millennium. They bought 

Hollywood from Villaraigosa, and 

Garcetti enabled and helped broker 

this deal. And they enabled two 

mayors to get elected. 

By having Millennium voted on 

July 24 [when the full council is 

scheduled to examine the project], 

with a new council, Garcetti succeeded 

in washing his hands of the 

whole problem, while claiming he 

got them to scale down the 

heights. They most likely always 

planned on 39 stories anyway. Not 

only did he deny their existence 

until the final hours, he lied about 

being opposed to them, pandering 

for votes as it became apparent 

how huge the opposition was all 

across L.A. Once again, choosing 

developer money over his constituents. 

Bill Miller 

Hollywood 

Letters to the Editor 

Building the Millennium 

project would be 

reckless 

California is where earthquakes 

happen. They kill people. Building 

two [towers] on Vine Street in 

Hollywood near a seismic fault is 

absurd. Earthquakes don’t happen 

in New York, so that’s where skyscrapers 

belong. 

Duke Russell 

Hollywood 

Celebrity treatment for 

teens with potentially 

terminal illnesses 

Thank you so much for covering 

the No Worries Now Prom for teens 

with life-threatening illnesses on 

June 20 [“Unique prom provides a 

night to remember”, June 27 issue]. 

We have received a lot of comments 

about the wonderful piece 

you did, and the exposure has 

brought in a lot of donations that we 

will put towards next year’s prom. 

More importantly, having cameras 

at the event made our patients feel 

like they were real celebrities on the 

red carpet. Thank you so much! 

Michael Belcher 

No Worries Now 

Delancey Street 

deserves all the praise 

it receives 

This article [“From substances 

to sustenance”; Dec. 6 issue] is a 

fact, and the quotes by the residents 

are very true. I should know 

because I was a resident and now I 

am a graduate of this prestigious 

organization. Delancey Street was 

the only place that was able to correct 

my thinking and now I have a 

successful family oriented life. 

Dave Durocher and Clarence 

Taylor were the two people that 

made the largest impact on my life 

while I was a resident. I am forever 

grateful to the organization that 

Mimi Silbert created to assist people 

with a new life. 

‘So, you might be 

Spider-Man?’ 

I enjoyed Aaron Blevins’ article 

on Career Day at Selma Avenue 

Elementary School [“Among you 

could be the next Steve Jobs,” 

May 30], and I sincerely believe 

that Aaron is both “Peter Parker” 

and “Spiderman.” How else can 

we explain his ability to be in so 

many places, seemingly at once? 

Just look at his incredibly timely, 

on-the-scene photos of local fires, 

auto accidents, celebrities, and 

area happenings. It must take the 

agility of a true superhero to cover 

them all! 

Many thanks for the superb coverage. 

Jean Dickinson 

Alzheimer’s Association 

California Southland Chapter


The Vermont is ‘topped off’ 

photo courtesy of the J.H. Snyder Company 

A topping out celebration was held on June 27 at The Vermont, a 

464-unit apartment project being constructed by the J.H. Snyder 

Company at the southeast corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Vermont 

Avenue. Construction workers poured concrete at the highest point 

of the apartment project’s twin towers, and hoisted a steel beam — 

signed by approximately 300 construction workers and the development 

team — to the top. The 23 and 29-story apartment towers, 

designed by the Jerde Partnership, are anticipated to be completed 

in mid-2014. The project is comprised of residential, retail and recreational 

spaces surrounding a one quarter-acre central courtyard. 

Approximately 40,000 square feet of ground floor space will accommodate 

restaurants, a grocer, bank and coffee house, as well as public 

parking. 

Governor signs 2013-2014 budget 

Gov. Jerry Brown on June 27 

signed a balanced, on-time budget 

that directs additional resources to 

California’s neediest students and 

continues the implementation of 

federal health care reform, while 

continuing to pay down debt and 

build a significant reserve to prepare 

for future uncertainties. The budget 

is projected to provide long-term 

fiscal balance with operating surpluses. 

The budget builds on significant 

progress in chipping away at the 

state’s “Wall of Debt.” It commits 

$2.6 billion to continue to pay down 

budgetary borrowing of prior years. 

From its peak of $34.7 billion at the 

end of 2010-11, the outstanding 

debt is $26.9 billion at the end of 

2012-13. Under the budget signed 

on June 27, that debt will be paid 

down to $4.7 billion over the next 

four fiscal years. 

In 2010, the state budget deficit 

was $26.6 billion. Now, California 

has a budget surplus, and general 

fund spending stands at $96.3 billion. 

The budget act signed on June 

27 also establishes a budget reserve 

of $1.1 billion. 

The budget adds $2.1 billion for 

first-year implementation of the 

Local Control Funding Formula, 

which replaces the state’s overly 

complex, inefficient and inequitable 

finance system for California’s K- 

12 schools. 

Building on California’s early 

establishment of a health benefit 

exchange and the early coverage 

expansion through the “Bridge to 

New loan to save district $4 million 

The Los Angeles Unified 

School District (LAUSD) has 

acquired a loan to pay off a new 

warehouse 15 years early, saving 

$4 million in borrowing costs, the 

district’s top financial officer said. 

In late June, the LAUSD 

secured $24.8 million in credit. 

That amount replaced funds lent 

years earlier to build a central 

warehouse in Pico Rivera. Interest 

rates on the new loan were far less 

than the old one. 

With finance rates at historic 

Reform” waiver, the budget aligns 

with the federal Affordable Care Act 

(ACA) in a prudent way while 

maintaining a strong public safety 

net. 

The budget establishes the firstyear 

investment in a multi-year stable 

funding plan for the University 

of California and the California 

State University systems. Each system 

will receive a 5 percent increase 

of $125.1 million — the first stage 

of a four-year funding schedule that 

will result in a 20 percent general 

fund increase for the systems. 

Lastly, the budget invests significantly 

in improving energy efficiency 

at California’s K-12 schools and 

community colleges by directing 

$381 million in Prop. 39 funds to K- 

12 schools and $47 million for community 

colleges. 

For information, visit www.ebudget.ca.gov. 

lows, the district agreed to a new, 

fixed rate loan at 2.29 percent 

interest for 15 years. As a result, 

the LAUSD estimates it will save 

about $4 million in borrowing 

costs over the lending term. 

The district will save about 

$315,000 annually over the length 

of the loan to its General Fund 

budget. 

TASHMAN 

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Benefit raises $185,000 for 

HIV/AIDS programs 

photo by Josh Patterson 

Representatives of the entertainment industry and the L.A. arts community 

recently gathered to fight HIV/AIDS at the 4th annual “Art 

Project Los Angeles” fundraiser. The evening blended music, art and 

fashion, and raised over $185,000 for AIDS Project Los Angeles 

(APLA) programs. 

Celebrities such as Bruno Amato (The Internship), Tess Broussard 

(Kroll Show), Deanna Lee Douglas (The A-List), Richard Grieco (21 

Jump Street), Carolyn Hennesy (True Blood), and Richard Herd 

(Seinfeld, V, Star Trek: Voyager) attended the event at Bonhams in 

Hollywood. More than 200 art works were donated to the auction, 

ranging from an original Polaroid photograph taken by Andy Warhol, 

to original Shepard Fairey prints and Takashi Murakami lithographs. 

For information, visit apla.org/artproject. 

New community support services 

available at Youth Policy Institute 

Thousands of underserved Los 

Angeles families will have access to 

a new level of support services, as 

the Youth Policy Institute (YPI) officially 

launches the Los Angeles 

Promise Neighborhood, a coordinated 

service delivery program 

based on the Harlem Children’s 

Zone. 

Created with a $30 million U.S. 

Department of Education grant, the 

Los Angeles Promise 

Neighborhood will provide cradleto-college-and-career 

services for 

underserved children and their families 

in Hollywood and Pacoima. 

“The Los Angeles Promise 

Neighborhood will transform nineteen 

neighborhood schools into fullservice 

community schools, where 

students access academic tutoring, 

enrichment, digital literacy training, 

nutrition, wellness, and other services,” 

YPI executive director 

Dixon Slingerland said. “They’ll 

have access to services like 

Hollywood’s 

one-stop 

FamilySource Center, which offers 

children services such as tutoring 

and arts programs at the same place 

that parents attend job training or 

financial literacy classes.” 

Families can begin accessing a 

broader range of services at schools 

and community centers within the 

Hollywood and Pacoima Promise 

Neighborhood areas. As the project 

continues to roll out, students and 

families in the target areas will be 

assigned case managers who will 

coordinate services, ensuring a “cradle-to-college-and-career” 

continuum 

of programs to serve every need. 

At the same time, YPI will raise a 1- 

to-1 match of private funds to support 

the integrated services offered 

through LAPN — striking a cumulative 

$60 million blow to poverty in 

Hollywood and Pacoima. 

By comprehensively addressing 

students’ economic disadvantages 

and their families’ additional needs, 

Promise Neighborhood will reinforce 

educational gains and support 

students more effectively than classroom-only 

reforms. The Los 

Angeles Promise Neighborhood’s 

cross-sector partnership comprises 

60 nonprofit, government and corporate 

organizations in a wide offering 

of the services that children and 

their parents need most. 

Governor announces appointments 

Gov. Jerry Brown Jr. has reappointed 

Los Angeles residents 

Karen Pines to the California 

Board of Behavioral Sciences, and 

Lavanza “Kercheryl” Butler to the 

California State Board of 

Pharmacy. 

Pines has served on the 

California Board of Behavioral 

Sciences since 2011. She was also 

formerly special programs director 

at the Didi Hirsch Community 

Mental Health Center from 1999 to 

2002, and the Family Service of 

Los Angeles from 1992 to 1999. 

The position requires Senate confirmation. 

Butler has served on the 

California State Board of 

Pharmacy since 2013. A licensed 

pharmacist, she has served as vice 

president and union representative 

at United Food and Commercial 

Workers International Union Local 

770 since 2002. She was also formerly 

a head pharmacist at Rite 

Aid Pharmacy, and is a member of 

the California Pharmacists 

Association. The position does not 

require Senate confirmation. 

Community mourns passing of Arline Land 

Arline Godfried Land, mother of 

West Hollywood Mayor Abbe 

Land; Jon Land, of Savannah, Ga.; 

and Lisa Land Maloney, of Hull, 

Mass., died on July 9. She was 79. 

She is survived by her grandchildren, 

grandnieces and grandnephew; 

also Starr Micholson 

Godfried, Magnolia, MA; beloved 

nephew Andrew (Tara Glynn) 

Godfried, of Danvers, Mass.; and 

friend and cousin Claire Glovin, of 

Boston. 

Land was preceded in death by 

parents Morris and Edith 

(Schlossberg) Godfried; brother 

Mark Godfried, of Magnolia, 

Mass.; and former husband, Harvey 

Land, of Philadelphia. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has 

requested donations to Temple 

Ahavat Achim, 86 Middle St., 

Gloucester, MA 01930; Aid for 

Cancer Research, P.O. Box 376, 

Newton Center, MA 02459, aidforcancerresearch.org; 

The Open 

Door, 28 Emerson Ave., Gloucester, 

 

 

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photo courtesy of the city of West Hollywood 

Arline Land (center) is pictured with daughters Lisa Land Maloney (left), 

and West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land. 

MA 01930; and The Trevor Project 

8704 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 

200, West Hollywood, CA 90069. 

A memorial service will be held 

at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 12, 2013 

11:00 am at Temple Ahavat Achim, 

86 Middle St., Gloucester. The 

family requests no flowers. A reception 

will be held after at the home of 

Starr Godfried in Magnolia, Mass. 

WeHo launches bulletin on community development 

The first edition of the quarterly 

news bulletin from the City of West 

Hollywood’s Community 

Development Department is now 

available. The focus of “W|H 

Cityscape” is West Hollywood’s 

built environment. It will highlight 

opportunities for community participation, 

provide updates on longrange 

planning efforts, major 

development projects, building and 

permitting trends, and new technology 

improvements within the 

department. The bulletin will also 

provide links to city and community 

resources that are relevant to 

planning and development in West 

Hollywood. 

Additionally, “W|H Cityscape” 

presents a broader picture of what’s 

happening in urban planning, and 

emerging trends that are influencing 

community development. The 

bulletin will also highlight innovations 

and best practices in the field 

from other cities, and ask for community 

input on some of these cutting-edge 

techniques. 

“W|H Cityscape” is available as 

both an e-bulletin and in hard-copy 

form. To sign up for the “W|H 

Cityscape” e-bulletin, visit 

www.weho.org/cityscape, or text 

“cityscape” to 22828. Hard copies 

of the bulletin are available by calling 

(323)848-6475.


Police increase reward for ‘Teardrop Rapist’ 


Los Angeles Police Department 

investigators have announced a 

$100,000 reward for information 

leading to the arrest and conviction 

of a suspect dubbed the “Teardrop 

Rapist,” who has allegedly committed 

35 sexual assaults since 1996. 

The suspect commits the assaults 

between 5 and 8 a.m., and targets 

women walking alone. The rapes 

have occurred in an area stretching 

from Melrose Avenue to the north to 

Manchester Boulevard to the south, 

and from Western Avenue to the 

west and Alameda Street to the east. 

The case is being investigated by the 

LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide 

Division, Special Assaults Section. 

The FBI provided $25,000 for the 

reward, in addition to $75,000 allocated 

by the city of Los Angeles. 

“We do believe he is still out 

there. We stopped receiving tips, and 

we believe the only way to find this 

guy is with help from the public,” 

Det. Sharlene Johnson said. “He’s 

not going away.” 

Johnson said victims have reported 

that the suspect wears clean 

clothing and is friendly. He generally 

engages them in conversation, 

and after gaining their trust, pulls out 

a weapon and forces them into 

secluded areas where the sexual 

assault occurs. He has been armed 

with a knife or a handgun during different 

assaults. Johnson said investigators 

have linked the cases with 

DNA evidence, but could not be 

more specific because of the ongoing 

investigation. The last assault 

attributed to the suspect occurred in 

South Los Angeles in 2012. 

Many witnesses have reported 

seeing a teardrop tattoo on the suspect’s 

face, which are popular 

among individuals who have served 

time in prison. Johnson said investigators 

are trying to downplay the 

teardrop, however, because some 

victims have reported it being on the 

left side of his face, while others 

reported it was on the right side, or 

that there was no teardrop tattoo. 

“We are actually trying to get 

 

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photo courtesy fo the LAPD 

Investigators have released multiple police sketches of the “Teardrop 

Rapist” with the hope someone can identify him and turn him in to 

authorities. 

away from focusing on the 

teardrop,” she said. “We’ve had 

multiple victims tell us he had one, 

but it is possibly a mole or a scar. If 

it is a tattoo, he could have had the 

tattoo removed.” 

One of the sexual assaults 

occurred in the Wilshire Division in 

2001, near Normandie Avenue and 

Clinton Street, just south of Melrose 

Avenue. Four additional assaults 

occurred in the Koreatown area. 

Nearly two dozen other attacks 

occurred in South Los Angeles and 

the surrounding areas within the 

LAPD’s Southwest, Southeast, 

77th Street, Rampart and Newton 

divisions. Three of the incidents 

were reported in areas in South L.A. 

under the jurisdiction of the Los 

Angeles County Sheriff’s 

Department. 

The suspect is described as a 

Hispanic man 40 to 55 years old, 5 

feet 2 inches to 5 feet 6 inches tall, 

and 130 to 170 pounds. He has 

brown eyes and brown hair, and a 

light complexion. He has been seen 

wearing a gray or dark-colored 

hooded sweatshirt. In some 

instances, he has been seen wearing 

a bandana, black baseball cap or a 

dark-colored beanie. 

Johnson said authorities have 

established a Facebook page at 

www.facebook.com/lapdsas where 

people can provide tips. Information 

can also be submitted at 

(877)LAPD247, or emailed to rhdsas@lapd.lacity.org. 

Tips can also 

be made via www.lapdonline.org, or 

by texting TIPLA, plus the information, 

to CRIMES (274637). 

“We want to make it as easy as 

possible for people to provide information,” 

Johnson added. 

“Hopefully with their help, we will 

catch this guy.” 

BUILDING 

BLOCKS 

A Rent Stabilization & 

Housing Educational Series 

City of West Hollywood 

July 2013 Seminars 

(All Seminars Are Free) 

Calculating Rent Increases 

July 18 (Thurs.) 6:30 p.m. 

July 24 (Wed.) 10 a.m. 

July 31 (Wed) 6:30 p.m. 

City Hall Community Conference Room 

Maximize your knowledge about proper rent increases. 

Learn how to calculate the annual general adjustment, 

how to provide notice of proper rent increases, and when 

the increases may or may not be taken. 

Rent Stabilization staff will lead the discussion. 

New legislation will allow 

temporary prison transfers 

Superior courts can order state 

inmates to be temporarily transferred 

to a county jail as part of a 

criminal investigation, thanks to a 

bill by Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) 

that was signed into law on July 3. 

“This common-sense measure 

saves money and increases public 

safety,” Lieu said about SB 162, 

which takes effect on Jan. 1. “This 

measure increases the flexibility of 

law enforcement officials at a time 

of tight budgets amid scientific 

improvements that help investigators.” 

With the increased use of DNA 

and other forensics to reopen cold 

cases, it is crucial that local law 

enforcement officials have access 

to a state prison inmate for interrogations, 

lineups, forensic testing 

and other procedures that cannot 

reasonably be done at prisons, he 

said. 

In the past, local officials would 

obtain a court order showing they 

have probable cause and petition 

the court to order these inmates 

The Los Angeles County 

Metropolitan Transportation 

Authority (Metro) has launched a 

new smartphone app that will 

allow patrons to report transit-related 

crimes and suspicious activity 

on buses and trains. 

The new L.A. Metro Transit 

Watch smartphone app is part of 

the new www.transitwatchla.org 

website that enables the public to 

assist Los Angeles County 

Sheriff’s Department personnel in 

protecting employees and patrons. 

“With this new smartphone app, 

if anyone wants to report graffiti, if 

an elevator or escalator is not operating 

correctly, or if a person needs 

assistance, it can be reported 

temporarily transferred to a county 

jail. A 2012 Court of Appeals decision, 

however, citing a lack of 

statutory authority, struck down 

the process. 

SB 162, in response, would provide 

the superior court with the 

statutory authority to order 

inmates transferred to the temporary 

custody of a local law 

enforcement agency. 

Without this, the only available 

option for local law enforcement is 

to go to the prison and meet with 

the inmate, which involves travel 

and related logistical issues that 

are problematic, costly and delay 

justice. 

Additionally, traveling to a 

remote state prison creates difficulties 

when trying to arrange a 

lineup so witnesses can participate 

or identify a suspect or view evidence 

difficult to transport. 

All costs associated with the 

temporary transfer of the inmate 

will be paid by the county agency 

requesting the transfer. 

Metro launches new tool linking 

riders with law enforcement 

securely and anonymously,” Metro 

CEO Art Leahy said. “Metro 

remains committed to providing 

the region with safe, clean, reliable 

and convenient public transit service.” 

The free security application is 

available at the Apple App Store 

and Google Play for iPhone and 

Android devices. Search LA Metro 

Transit Watch. Once downloaded, 

patrons can report suspicious activity, 

incidents that require law 

enforcement’s presence and crimes 

that occur on board Metro buses 

and trains. The user can be connected 

by telephone to the Sheriff’s 

Dispatch Center, or send a photograph 

via email. 

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Dodgers host 

discussion 

and screening 

of ‘42’ 

The Los Angeles Dodgers will 

host a screening of the film “42” 

following the team’s game against 

the Colorado Rockies beginning at 

4:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 13. 

Academy Award-winning director 

Brian Helgeland; actors Chadwick 

Boseman and John C. McGinley; 

and Dodger great Don Newcombe 

will participate in a question and 

answer session prior to the screening 

of the film about Jackie 

Robinson. Prime Ticket’s Jim 

Watson will host the discussion, 

which will be recorded for broadcast 

on Prime Ticket prior to the 

Sunday, July 14 telecast of the 

Dodgers vs. Rockies game. 

The first motion picture to be 

shown on Dodger Stadium’s new 

hexagonal high definition video 

screens, “42” depicts the true story 

of an American legend and Hall of 

Fame Dodger, who was the first 

African American to play in Major 

League Baseball. Tickets to the 

game include the discussion and 

screening. For information, call 

(866)DODGERS, or visit 

www.dodgers.com/tickets. 

Page Private School holds open house for prospective parents 

Students will soon be returning 

to Page Private School in Hancock 

Park as it welcomes the beginning 

of a new school year. Prospective 

parents are invited to attend the 

school’s open house series from 

Monday, July 22 through 26 from 9 

to 11 a.m., and on Saturday, July 27 

from 10 a.m. to noon. Page Private 

School in Hancock Park is located 

at 565 N. Larchmont Blvd. 

Last year, students began to use a 

one-to-one iPad program that complemented 

the renovated computer 

lab and the school’s “smart 

boards”. During the 2013-2014 

school year, preschool students will 

also be able to use the iPads as part 

of their curriculum. 

Additionally, students last year 

ventured outside the classrooms 

and planted a community garden 

(right). Continuing during the next 

school year, preschool through 5th 

grade classes will plant and grow 

flowers, fruits and vegetables. 

Emphasis is placed on the importance 

of responsibility, teamwork 

and helping the environment. The 

creation of a school garden has provided 

the basis for student-centered 

and hands-on learning. 

Page Private School serves students 

ages 2 through 5th grade. For 

information, call (323)463-5118, or 

visit www.pageschool.com. 

photo courtesy of Page Private School 

Lawyers Phil 

returns to 

Disney Hall 

Gary S. Greene, Esq., founderconductor 

of the Los Angeles 

Lawyers Philharmonic and the 100- 

plus-member Legal Voices, will 

lead the groups in their 4th annual 

“Concert Extraordinaire” on 

Saturday, July 20 at 8 p.m. at the 

Walt Disney Concert Hall. 

Actress June Lockhart will be the 

master of ceremonies. The 

Philharmonic and chorale group 

will perform Dvorák’s “New World 

Symphony” and Beethoven’s 

“Choral Fantasy”, as well as choral 

works from the Verdi operas “Il 

Trovatore” and “Nabucco”. The 

group will also perform in the 

world premiere of arias from a new 

opera based on a book by the Hon. 

Arthur Gilbert, presiding justice of 

the California Court of Appeal, as 

well as selections from Bizet’s 

Carmen. 

Tickets start at $20.The Walt 

Disney Concert Hall is located at 

111 S. Grand Ave. For information, 

visit www.LALawyersPhil.org. 

APLA presents 

‘Concrete Hero’ 

AIDS Project Los Angeles 

(APLA) presents its “2013 

Concrete Hero” event on Sunday, 

July 14 at the Los Angeles State 

Historic Park. 

The event is a benefit for APLA, 

and participants move through a 

course with more than 10 “LAthemed” 

obstacles. The event benefits 

APLA’s HIV/AIDs programs. 

The race starts and finishes at 

Los Angeles State Historic Park, 

1245 N. Spring St., downtown. 

For information, visit 

www.la13.concretehero.org.


RESTAURANT NEWS 

By Jill Weinlein 

Kendall’s Brasserie 

and Bar 

Celebrate Bastille Day on July 14 

with a festive menu in true French 

fashion while sitting in an authentic 

brasserie setting. Chef Jean Pierre 

Bosc is serving a three-course, full 

French experience in the plush dining 

room or on the patio for an al 

fresco atmosphere. The $55 menu 

includes eggplant terrine, salad 

frisee Lyonnaise, bouillabaisse 

Marsellaise or Colorado lamb sirloin. 

Finish with a strawberry chaud 

froid or poached lemon verbena 

peach with whipped chantilly 

cream. This one-of-a-kind menu is 

offered from 3:30 to 9 p.m. Valet 

parking is available for $8 for dinner 

only on Grand Avenue in front of 

Patina at the Walt Disney Concert 

Hall, with Kendall’s validation. 135 

N. Grand St. (213)972-7322. 

FIG & OLIVE 

Come on Bastille Day weekend, 

July 13 and July 14, for a threecourse, 

prix fixe brunch for $28 per 

person. Pair it with a Bastille Day 

cocktail or glass of Rosé wine for $9 

each. In the evening, “La Fête 

Nationale” revelers can enjoy a special 

summer aperitivo menu featuring 

$7 small plates and $9 happy 

hour cocktails and wines from 5 to 7 

p.m. FIG & OLIVE’s resident 

celebrity DJ, Julian Nolan will be 

spinning his signature downtempo 

music. FIG & OLIVE is featuring a 

special dineLA menu for $25 per 

person at lunch, and $45 per person 

for a three-course dinner from July 

15 through 26. 8490 Melrose Place. 

(310)360-9100. 

The Hawthorne at 

Umami 

Come try a beef patty with 

cognac-infused parsnip purée, 

cognac fondue, hatch chiles and 

crisp hatch chile straws. The burger 

was launched last October solely at 

Umami Urban in Hollywood. 

Named after singer Mayer 

Hawthorne, the burger is back to 

honor the release of Hawthorne’s 

album, “Where Does This Door 

Go”, on July 16. The Hawthorne 

burger is offered at two Los Angeles 

locations. It’s also available at 

Umami San Francisco, Umami 

South Beach and soon Umami in 

New York City. Hawthorne will be 

teaming up with the Umami truck 

for surprise appearances in Los 

Angeles, distributing slider versions 

of the burger in person. Fans are 

encouraged to follow Umami’s and 

Hawthorne’s social media feeds for 

times and locations. The Umami 

Truck is scheduled to make various 

stops around Los Angeles on July 

10 and 17. Come hear Hawthorne’s 

music and eat his burger at the same 

time at Umami Burger at The Grove 

and Umami Urban. 189 The Grove 

Dr. (323)954-8626; 1520 N. 

Cahuenga Blvd. (323)469-3100. 

Wine Tasting at 

Patina 

Chef and founder Joachim 

Splichal, Executive chef Charles 

Olalia, and sommelier Silvestre 

Fernandes unveil their first summer 

sommelier series tonight with pours 

from Portugal priced at $55 per person. 

The event takes place on 

See Restaurant News page 23 

Now Pouring Golden Road Hefewizen, Point The 

Way IPA & Get Up Offa That Brown 

$3.50 a pint during the Tatse of Farmers Market 

Estancia Pinot Grigio & Primai Roots Red Blend 

$4.00 per glass during the Tatse of Farmers Market 

The Original Farmers Market 3rd & Fairfax 

6333 W. 3rd St. • Los Angeles, CA 90036 

323.939.7792 

447 N. Canon Dr. • Beverly Hills, CA 90210 

310.274.7300 

1260 3rd Street Promenande 

Santa Monica, CA 90404 

310.587-1166


New summer films are fun, but hardly amazing 

‘Despicable Me 2’ 

Who doesn’t love those Twinkieshaped 

Minions speaking in a surprisingly 

understandable gibberish 

language? Well, Illumination 

Entertainment (I bet you thought 

this was a DreamWorks film, right) 

definitely listened to the fans, making 

them more prominent characters 

in the highly anticipated sequel. But 

much of what made the first installment 

so delightful appears absent 

here. Alas, 75 percent of 

“Despicable Me’s” charm still outdoes 

most animated films. 

The once international villain, 

Gru (Steve Carell), is a changed 

man, placing all his energy into caring 

for his three adopted children — 

Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith 

(Dana Gaier) and Agnes (Elsie Kate 

Fisher). But as Marlon Brando 

learned so many years ago, once 

you’re out you always get pulled 

back in. Anti-Villain League agent 

Lucy (Kristin Wiig) recruits — or 

rather “lipstick-tasers” — Gru into 

unmasking an unknown foe bent on 

world domination. Sure, a diabolical 

evildoer might be lurking in the 

underground of a nearby mall 

(apparently that’s where true terror 

brews), but the real tension resides 

in Gru’s inability to communicate 

with the opposite sex –– a problem 

originating in his youth. 

The plotline is weaker than the 

first, and the nemeses somehow 

more caricatured than Vector from 

the first. I use the term “mysterious” 

lightly to describe the true identity 

of the villains here; it’s all rather 

obvious and more childish than 

adult. The real story occurs between 

Gru, as a single parent, and Lucy. 

Will this unlikely pair realize that 

opposites — hero and villain — 

attract. But as a shorter film, too 

much happens in very little time. 

This is a franchise built around 

adorable characters. Between the 

many antics of Gru’s legion of minions 

and his children (how will we 

ever forget Agnes jovially declaring, 

“It’s so fluffy.”), the mischief 

overshadows narrative depth. Sadly, 

the antics of the first film are more 

memorable. “DM2” is loads of fun 

for children, and it might even 

evoke a few smiles from older 

viewers. But it feels more like a 

bridge film between the first and 

the “Minions” spinoff set for next 

year. We’ll see. 

‘The Lone Ranger’ 

Director Gore Verbinski (the 

“Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy 

and “Rango”) unites with A-lister 

Johnny Depp for the fifth time. 

This isn’t their worst film together 

(I count two weaker “Pirates” lost 

at sea) — it even contains a few 

charms — but several breakdowns 

in common sense might make you 

wonder if Verbinksi and his team 

ever took a screenwriting class or 

just hoped going over budget 

(adding up to somewhere in the 

neighborhood of $215 million) 

would make up for narrative illogic 

and unnecessary subplots. 

What’s in a name? Not much for 

“The Lone Ranger”. Far from 

“lone,” this masked vigilante 

storms the countryside with the 

quirky Comanche outcast, Tonto 

(Depp). Sure, this might be a 

“Lone Ranger” origin story — 

highlighting lawyer John Reid’s 

(Armie Hammer) transformation 

from within the law to above it — 

but Tonto is the star. 

“The Lone Ranger” is almost a 

fun film, but it doesn’t understand 

its audience. Structured like “The 

photo by Disney Pictures 

Tonto (left), portrayed by Johnny Depp, joins the Lone Ranger, played by 

Armie Hammer, in “The Lone Ranger”. 

Princess Bride”, the story begins in 

the 1930s at a fair in San Francisco, 

where a young boy in a Lone 

Ranger costume meets an aged 

Tonto, who tells the child of the 

great hero’s legend. I imagine the 

screenwriters (in a film this big and 

rather disastrous, it’s difficult to pin 

down the byline) include these odd 

futuristic cutaways to establish a 

youthful audience, but such a move 

makes little sense in a film so awkwardly 

violent at some moments 

and childish at others (the use of 

the original theme song is very, 

very corny). Over-the-top outlaw 

Butch Cavendish (William 

Fichtner) eats the heart of a Texas 

Ranger; two other outlaws lose 

their heads to an enormous wood 

beam that gives them the worst 

kind of flattop. Scenes like this thematically 

conflict with the many 

goofy ones with Depp somehow 

channeling Jack Sparrow as an 

American Indian. 

Rumor has it the original script 

included more supernatural elements 

like werewolves. That 

would’ve been far more interesting 

than a half-mast plotline about silver 

mining and railroad expansion 

coupled with some generic 

American Indian spiritualism. 

“The Lone Ranger” is fun like the 

second two “Pirates” films. 

Unfortunately, Depp’s charm and 

some spectacular digital effects 

can’t create a story worth re-watching, 

or a universe revisiting. 

The Minions return in “Despicable Me 2”. 

photo courtesy of Universal Pictures 

 

 

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Police Blotter 

The following information was reported to the West Hollywood Sheriff’s 

Station and the LAPD’s Wilshire Division between July 2 and July 5, 2013. 

If you are a victim of a crime, here are the telephone numbers of local law 

enforcement agencies; Los Angeles Police Department, Wilshire Division 

(213)473-0489 and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department West 

Hollywood Station (310)855-8850. 

The following crimes occurred in 

West Hollywood and the areas 

patrolled by the LAPD’s Wilshire 

and Hollywood Divisions between 

July 2 and July 5, and were compiled 

from 

www.crimemapping.com. 

July 2 

At 12:46 a.m., an unknown suspect 

committed a burglary in the 

8300 block of Sunset. 

An unknown suspect stole a vehicle 

parked in the 1700 block of 

Camino Palmero at 1:30 a.m. 


assaulted a victim in the 6500 

block of Hollywood. 

An unknown suspect burglarized 

a vehicle parked in the 400 block 

of Westmount at 5 a.m. 

At 10 a.m., an unknown suspect 

committed a burglary in the 7000 

block of W. Sunset. 

An unknown suspect committed a 

burglary in the 8600 block of 

Burton Way at 1 p.m. 

At 1:10 p.m., a suspect assaulted 

a victim during a domestic violence 

incident in the 7400 block of 

Hollywood. 


a vehicle parked near the corner 

of Clinton and Beachwood at 1:30 

p.m. 

At 2 p.m., an unknown suspect 

committed a petty theft in the 700 

block of Hollywood. 


parked in the 1300 block of N. 

Mansfield at 3 p.m. 

At 3:30 p.m., an unknown suspect 


block of S. Burnside. 

An unknown suspect stole a bicycle 

near the corner of Wilshire and 

Fairfax at 3:30 p.m. 


robbed a victim in the 300 block of 

S. La Brea. 


petty theft in the 100 block of S. 

 

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Fairfax at 6:30 p.m. 



block of W. 3rd. 


petty theft in the 8900 block of 

Santa Monica at 8:58 p.m. 





a residence in the 600 block of 

Sweetzer at 9:28 p.m. 


burglarized a vehicle parked 

in the 7600 block of DeLongpre. 

An attempted robbery was reported 

near the corner of Yucca and 

La Brea at 11:40 p.m. 

July 3 


committed a grand theft in the 

1600 block of Schrader. 


parked near the corner of 

Fairfax and Santa Monica at 8:49 

a.m. 



block of N. Hudson. 



of N. Sweetzer at 4 p.m. 



block of El Cerrito. 



Santa Monica at 7:30 p.m. 


burglarized a vehicle parked in the 

1200 block of Sweetzer. 



of N. Irving at 9 p.m. 

July 4 



block of Santa Monica. 

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An unknown suspect assaulted a 

victim near the corner of 

Cahuenga and Hollywood at 1:45 

a.m. 


burglarized a vehicle parked near 

the corner of Lorraine and 2nd. 


petty theft in the 600 block of San 

Vicente at 7 a.m. 


burglarized a vehicle parked near 

the corner of 1st and Wilton. 



Beverly at 2:25 p.m. 


assaulted a victim in the 300 block 

of S. Arnaz. 


victim near the corner of 

Poinsettia and Santa Monica at 

7:25 p.m. 


committed a petty theft near 

Sycamore and Romaine. 

An unknown suspect physically 

assaulted a victim in the 6200 

block of Hollywood at 11:16 p.m. 

July 5 


with a knife assaulted a victim in 

the 8900 block of Santa Monica. 



Hollywood at 11:15 a.m. 



block of Melrose. 


burglary in the 7400 block of 

Melrose at 7:30 p.m. 


physically assaulted a victim in the 

1200 block of Laurel. 



of Santa Monica at 11 p.m. 

July 6 





victim in the 6600 block of 

Hollywood at 8:10 p.m. 




A theft was reported in the 6700 

block of Sunset at 11 p.m. 

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Police seek burglars posing 

as cable television installers 

 

 

 

# " ! $ " 

# " " ! 

# ! ! 

# ! ! 

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!! )' ($+ 

 

Police have arrested a suspect 

who allegedly posed as a cable 

worker and burglarized houses, 

but are still searching for his 

accomplice. 

On May 28, a suspect who 

police identified as Armando 

Geuerrero allegedly knocked on a 

door at a residence in 700 block of 

East 85th Street. The suspect 

claimed to be a cable installer, and 

had been at the victim’s house two 

months earlier, so the victim did 

not think twice in letting the suspect 

inside. Unknown to the victim, 

the suspect previously 

worked for a cable company, but 

had been fired due to reports of 

thefts from customers. After the 

suspect entered the home, he 

allegedly stole valuables. 

The suspect allegedly continued 

the burglaries at other locations, 

and included another former 

cable installer who was also fired 

for thefts. 

On June 13, the two suspects, 

posing as cable installers, went to 

another victim’s home in the 1500 

block of West 51st Street claiming 

they needed to fix cable connections 

in the home. The victim had 

not had any problems with the 

cable and had not called for service. 

After letting 

them into 

her home, she 

observed jewelry 

missing. 

One of the 

s u s p e c t s 

returned to the 

victim’s home 

because he 

had forgotten 

some of his 

tools, and officers took the suspect, 

identified as Guerrero, into 

custody on two counts of burglary. 

The second suspect, identified 

as Leonardo Vasquez, remains at 

large. He is wanted on six counts 

of burglary and one count of possession 

of a machine gun. He is 

described as a Hispanic man, 29 

years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall and 

approximately 180 pounds. He 

has black hair and brown eyes, a 

tattoo of a Playboy bunny on his 

right hand, and a tattoo of lips on 

the left side of his neck. 

During the investigation, detectives 

identified six additional incidents, 

and there may be more victims. 

Anyone with information is 

urged to call Det. L. Hoffman at 

(213)485-4177. 

Former real estate agent gets 

five years in prison for fraud 

A real estate agent and selfdescribed 

real estate investor was 

sentenced on July 1 to five years in 

federal prison and remanded into 

federal custody. 

Celia Gallardo, 42, was sentenced 

in the fraud case by United 

States District Court Judge Dean 

D. Pregerson. During the sentencing 

hearing, Pregerson described 

the fraud as a “pure rip off,” and 

cited the need for punishment as a 

deterrent. He stated that the victims 

present at the sentencing had the 

right to see Gallardo be remanded 

into custody. 

Gallardo pleaded guilty last 

October to wire fraud, admitting in 

court that she defrauded investors 

Leonardo 

Vasquez 

from September 2007 through 

September 2008 by falsely promising 

them high rates of return for 

investing in her purported real 

estate program. 

Gallardo admitted that instead of 

investing victims’ money in real 

estate transactions, she spent the 

vast majority on house payments, 

foreign luxury travel, cash withdrawals, 

and Ponzi-syle payments 

to earlier investors. 

Pregerson also ordered Gallardo 

to pay $2.3 million in restitution to 

dozens of victims, who primarily 

resided in California and Arizona. 

The case against Gallardo resulted 

from an investigation conducted by 

the FBI. 

' # ($ %&$* 

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Farmers Market offers a ‘Taste’ of its cuisine 

The Original Farmers Market, 

corner of 3rd and Fairfax, is celebrating 

its 79th birthday with the 

“Taste of Farmers Market”, a roving 

feast on Tuesday, July 16 from 

5 to 9 p.m. offering the best food 

and beverages from the Market’s 

restaurants and grocers. 

Attendees can taste a world tour 

Crossword Puzzle 

of cuisines, from Philly to Paris to 

Peking, with entrées, salads, sides, 

snacks, sandwiches, nuts, beer, 

wine and desserts. Many of the 

Market’s retail merchants will also 

offer 79th birthday gifts and specials 

at throughout the week. 

The menu includes mini-chicken 

pot pies, stuffed mushrooms, pear 

gorgonzola flatbread, jumbo wild 

shrimp, kale Caesar salad, orange 

chicken, pork belly BLTs, chocolate 

mousse, pastrami sandwiches, 

gumbo ya-ya, Brazilian BBQ, 

Nutella crepes, falafel and tri tip 

sandwiches. Guests can also enjoy 

toffee, doughnut holes, root beer 

floats, fancy mixed nuts and beer 

and wine samples. 

Participating merchants include 

Short Order, Monsieur Marcel, 

Huntington Meats & Sausage, 

Pampas Grill, Gumbo Pot, 

Moishe’s, Bob’s Doughnuts, 

Bennett’s Ice Cream and The 

French Crepe Company. 

“We’re especially pleased that 

the Market’s newest gourmet eateries 

are participating in ‘Taste of 

Farmers Market’,” Farmers Market 

marketing director Ilysha Buss 

said. “Now, the party is the perfect 

way to discover our brand new Zia 

Valentina’s delicious, healthy granitas 

and Fritzi Dog’s superior 

gourmet hot dogs.” 

Advance registration is $35; $40 

at the door. Tickets allow access to 

all “tastes” and two drink tickets for 

non-alcoholic beverages. Tickets 

are available at the Farmers Market 

Office store, upstairs inside Gate 

One. Reserve by phone to 

(323)933-9211, or visit www.farmersmarketla.com. 

Tom Bergin’s closes its doors 

Tom Bergin’s Tavern, a fixture on Fairfax Avenue for 77 years, 

closed its doors last Sunday. Tom Bergin’s was a longtime advertiser 

in the newspaper, as pictured in an ad from the June 26, 1952 issue of 

the Park Labrea News. Many customers are sad to see the tavern 

close, and some posted comments on the Park LaBrea News/Beverly 

Press website; see page 4. Many are hopeful Tom Bergin’s will reopen 

in the future. For the full article, see page 1. 

Across 

1. Guitar attachment 

6. ___ cut 

10. Lund or Cavet 

13. It often contains a seasonal refer 

ence 

14. Son of Rebekah 

15. Notice 

16. Philosophical belief 

19. Bearded beast 

20. It’ll never fly 

21. Attitude on the job 

30. Coin with 12 stars on it 

31. Court contest 

32. ___ Getz (“Lethal Weapon 2” 

role for Joe Pesci) 

33. Come again 

35. Cape 

36. Race unit 

37. Red ink amount 

40. Hot pot 

42. Astern 

45. Certain typeface 

47. Saw 

51. ___ maison (indoors): Fr. 

52. Dessert toppers 

55. Rajah’s mate 

56. Dedication to improving man’s 

welfare 

59. It has moles: Abbr. 

60. Carbonium, e.g. 

61. Personal appeal 

70. Mouselike animal 

71. Frown 

72. Heart single 

73. “___ Time transfigured me”: 

Yeats 

74. Cartoon bear 

75. Striplings 

Down 

1. Cow or sow 

2. Custom 

3. Swindle, slangily 

4. Archaeological site in Mexico 

5. Rid of sin 

6. Addle 

7. Full of: Suffix 

8. Blanched 

9. Certain musician 

10. Kind of particle 

11. Good times 

12. Sock hop locale 

15. Jewish month 

17. Research facility: Abbr. 

18. Put together 

21. The “p” in r.p.m. 

22. Bewail 

23. Mythical monster 

24. Unfair? 

25. B & B 

26. Half of binary code 

27. Down 

28. Yellow, for one 

29. Floor cleaner 

34. Deciduous trees 

38. In a convivial manner 

39. Open, as an envelope 

41. Previse 

42. “Won-der-ful!” 

43. Bird ___ 

44. Flat hat 

46. Kind of test 

48. Clavell’s “___-Pan” 

49. Starfleet Academy grad. 

50. Headlight setting 

53. African talisman 

54. Municipality in France 

57. Height 

58. Concerning 

61. Hail, to Caesar 

62. NATO member 

63. French Guiana’s Royale, e.g. 

64. Jersey call 

65. Calendar abbr. 

66. Piece of pipe 

67. Elvis Presley’s “___ Lost You” 

68. Capitol Hill V.I.P.: Abbr. 

69. “___ Miniver” 

See Answers Page 26 

LACMA forms partnership for art history training 

The Los Angeles County 

Museum of Art (LACMA) and the 

University of California, Los 

Angeles are partnering to create a 

new curriculum for training doctoral 

students in art history. 

A $600,000 grant from the 

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation 

has been awarded to the university 

and the museum to create the 

UCLA-LACMA Art History 

Practicum Initiative, a first-of-itskind 

partnership on the West 

Coast. 

“Thanks to this generous gift, 

we are enhancing our world-class 

art history program in response to 

the changing needs of this competitive 

job market,” UCLA Dean of 

Humanities David Schaberg said. 

“By connecting research with 

careers, UCLA and LACMA will 

educate the modern leaders of the 

art world.” 

UCLA’s art history program 

trains scholars in specialized fields 

ranging from Renaissance art to 

the art of Asia, Africa and the 

Americas. The new program integrates 

the classroom and the museum. 

“Education is a primary component 

of LACMA’s mission. In 

many ways our galleries are classrooms. 

The art on view is a window 

into history and into cultures 

from around the world, as 

described by the artists who were 

there,” LACMA CEO and Wallis 

Annenberg Director Michael 

Govan said. 

Currently, the basic requirements 

for a Ph.D. in art history at 

most major universities is proof of 

proficiency in two or more foreign 

languages, a minimum number of 

graduate-level courses, written 

and oral exams, and the completion 

of a dissertation. 

Starting this fall, incoming graduate 

students in the art history program 

will pursue a curriculum that 

splits their time between UCLA 

and LACMA. In addition to working 

alongside museum professionals, 

students will participate in 

seminars designed by faculty and 

museum staff focusing on the 

museum’s collection, exhibition 

and display, materials and techniques 

of art-making, and curatorial 

practice. 

LACMA is located at 5905 

Wilshire Blvd. For information, 

call (323)857-6000, or visit 

www.lacma.org. 

 

 

 

 

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L.A. CHECKER CAB 

FAST & ON-TIME TO LAX 

Professional • Courteous • Reliable 

(800) 300-5007 

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Restaurant News 

From page 19 

Patina’s al fresco patio from 5 to 7 

p.m. Guests will tour some of the 

restaurant’s most sought-after and 

rare vintages. The next two events 

are on Aug. 1 and 15, with 

Fernandes educating guests about 

the prized cellar finds, including 

selections from Peter Michael winery. 

Flights are paired with canapés 

from Chef Olalia. 141 S. Grand 

Ave. (213)972-3331. 

Wolfgang Puck 

Catering 

Pick up your easy to carry picnic 

boxes at the Hollywood Bowl shuttle 

stop in the orange court at 

Hollywood & Highland. Choose a 

two- or four-person southern comfort 

box filled with crab-deviled 

eggs, rosemary brined buttermilk 

fried chicken, potato salad, charred 

corn salad with basil and tomatoes. 

Cole slaw, peach hand pies and red 

velvet twinkles complete the meal. 

It’s $40 for two people and $60 for 

four concert goers. The small bites 

box has grilled summer vegetables, 

fire roasted eggplant spread with 

toasted pita, assorted charcuterie, 

quinoa tabbouleh, summer berries, 

assorted cheese, Marcona almonds, 

dried fruit, crackers and sliced 

baguette, homemade chips with 

caramelized onion dip and assorted 

cookies for $50 or $80 for four people. 

The California gourmet box 

offers a variety of delightful picnic 

fare for $60 per box for two people, 

or $100 for four guests. 6801 

Hollywood Blvd. Ste. 513. 

(323)491-1250. 

Fleming’s Prime 

Steakhouse & Wine 

Bar 

An innovative two-course, prix 

fixe menu is available through Aug. 

31 for $40.95 per person. Begin 

with chili lime prawns with ancho 

pepper sauce, followed by a filet 

mignon with warm rosemary and 

goat cheese mousse paired with 

pecan-crusted Scottish salmon with 

Dijon mustard tarragon sauce. It’s 

accompanied with seasonal asparagus. 

The special summer dish goes 

nicely with a Caribbean rum punch 

for $9.95, and a decadent chocolate 

cake with chocolate ice cream and 

Chantilly cream for an extra $7.95. 

Fleming’s L.A. LIVE, 800 West 

Olympic Blvd. (213)745-9911; 252 

N. Beverly Dr. (310)278-8710; 

6373 Topanga Canyon Blvd. 

(818)346-1005; and 2301 

Rosecrans Ave. (310)643-6911. 

Table; Suzanne Goin, of Lucques, 

of Tavern and The Larder at Burton 

Way; Neal Fraser, of BLD; and 

Sang Yoon, of Father’s Office and 

Lukshon, will offer special prixfixe 

lunch and dinner menus at 

three different price ranges. Lunch 

menus range from $15 to $25, 

while dinner menus are $25 to $45. 

American Express will offer a $5 

statement credit to diners who register 

an eligible American Express 

Card at www.amexnetwork.com/dineLA 

through July 

26. Spend $21 or more with the 

registered card at a participating 

restaurant during dineLA’s 

Restaurant Week to receive the 

credit. To make reservations or for 

a complete list of participating 

restaurants, 

visit 

www.discoverLosAngeles.com/din 

eLA. 

Participating hotels in Los 

Angeles are sweetening the deal by 

offering a $50 American Express 

gift card when guests book two 

nights or more during dineLA’s 

Restaurant Week. 

Chez Soi 

A modern café just opened in the 

Metlox Plaza, with chef-owner 

Mark Gold, formerly of Eva. He 

hired L.A. mix master Shane 

Croughan as the house mixologist 

and bar manager. Croughan, a protégé 

of award-winning mix master 

Julian Cox, is also well-known 

within Los Angeles’ trendy cocktail 

and lounge scenes. Croughan 

has introduced new-for-summer 

libations on the restaurant and 

lounge bar menus. One of the concoctions, 

Thyme for Peaches, is 

made by muddling half of a ripe 

peach and fresh thyme sprigs, 

adding spirits of blended scotch 

and elderflower liqueur. Happy 

hour at Chez Soi runs daily from 4 

to 7 p.m., with $4 specials on 

selected handcrafted cocktails, 

craft beers and wines by the glass. 

Featured small plates are $6. 

Beginning tonight, every Thursday 

and Friday nights will feature live 

DJ-spun tunes in the lounge from 

10 p.m. to closing. 451 Manhattan 

Beach Blvd. (310)802-1212. 

Delphine Restaurant 

and Bar 

Executive Chef Sascha Lyon’s 

contemporary California inspired 

cuisine offers a focus on fresh and 

local organic ingredients. A hotspot 

for locals, industry insiders and 

travelers, the expansive indoor-outdoor 

space makes for a premier 

summer dining destination. New 

standout dishes include a classic 

lobster roll with tarragon aioli and 

brioche, charred Brussels sprouts 

with la quercia lardons, and an 

Asian beef salad with rice noodles, 

carrots, green onions, Napa cabbage 

and citrus soy vinaigrette. 

6250 Hollywood Blvd. (323)798- 

1355. 

dineLA Restaurant 

Week 

The Los Angeles Tourism & 

Convention Board and American 

Express have announced the summer 

lineup for dineLA Restaurant 

Week, scheduled to take place from 

July 15 through 26. Some of the 

city’s most sought-after restaurants 

have joined the record-setting list 

of more than 330 venues participating 

in the 12-day dining event. 

Newcomers include Silver Lake 

Gastropub; Black Hogg, a 

Hollywood hotspot; littlefork, Los 

Feliz; MESSHALL; and Abbott 

Kinney darling, Willie Jane. Some 

of Los Angeles’ most acclaimed 

chefs: Bryant Ng, of The Spice


Tom Bergin’s closure stuns patrons, staff 

From page 1 

can throw their way, please do it.” 

Michael O’Dwyer said he had 

bartended at Tom Bergin’s for 

approximately 23 years. He told 

several stories, most notably one 

about a divorced woman who was 

“husband hunting.” One day, a 

man sat down near her, and 

O’Dwyer said he could tell something 

was not right about the individual. 

The woman asked the man 

if he was OK, and he admitted that 

he had just killed his wife, the bartender 

said. 

“And she said, ‘So you’re single?’ 

Little things like that go on at 

Bergin’s all the time,” he said, generating 

lots of laughs. “We want 

more of it. We don’t want anybody 

else killed, but we want more of 

that fun. So do whatever you can; 

keep this freaking place open. I 

need a job.” 

Warner Ebbink, the current 

owner of Tom Bergin’s, also 

spoke. He said he agreed with the 

sentiments already expressed by 

the other 12 speakers, but the 

restaurant could not sustain itself. 

Ebbink said he put $4 million 

into the renovations, and since the 

restaurant and bar re-opened a year 

and a half ago, he was losing 

$20,000 to $30,000 per month. 

“I’m sorry I went out of business,” 

he added. “It was never my 

intention.” 

Whether it was the economy or 

that the patrons didn’t like the 

changes that were made, the business 

wasn’t enough, despite people’s 

enthusiasm for the tavern, 

Ebbink said. He referenced his 

dentist, who called him the day of 

the closure. His dentist said he 

loved Tom Bergin’s, but he had 

only visited the tavern once since 

college. 

“I said, ‘You’re 63 years old. 

You haven’t been back in forty 

years, but you love it.’ I think 

that’s great, but it doesn’t translate 

into a business,” Ebbink said. “For 

that, I’m sorry. I thought it was a 

slam-dunk. I thought for sure it 

would happen. And I apologize 

that it didn’t happen.” 

Some in the audience were 

The City of West Hollywood is 

co-sponsoring Relay For Life West 

Hollywood, featuring individuals 

and relay teams of walkers and runners 

that will stay in motion for 24 

continuous hours to raise money for 

the American Cancer Society. 

The Relay For Life West 

Hollywood event will launch from 

Rosewood Elementary School, 503 

N. Croft Ave., at 9 a.m. on Saturday, 

July 27, and run through Sunday 

morning, July 28. However, additional 

team members and donations 

are needed prior to the event. 

Relay For Life West Hollywood 

gives participants the opportunity to 

celebrate the lives of people who 

have battled cancer, remember 

loved ones lost and help fight back 

against the disease. 

Relay For Life has grown into 

one of the biggest fundraisers in the 

world. It began in 1985 when Dr. 

Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in 

Tacoma, Wash., walked and ran 

around a track for 24-hours to raise 

money for the American Cancer 

Society. Since then, the event has 

grown into a fundraiser embraced 

by more than 4 million people in 20 

pushing for the council to consider 

working to have the restaurant and 

bar designated as historical. 

Ebbink said the designation will 

only retain the building, not what 

is inside. He said he is actively 

searching for someone to take over 

the operations. 

“Nobody’s in escrow to buy it 

right now,” Ebbink said, adding 

that Tom Bergin’s is not involved 

in the nearby Shalhevet High 

School project proposal. “There’s 

a lot of people who want to buy it, 

and I’m looking at those people. 

But I want it to be an operator 

who’s going to continue Tom 

Bergin’s. I didn’t sink $4 million 

into it to tear it down.” 

Tim Deegan, chairman of the 

Mid-City West Community 

Council, said Mid-City West 

would refer the historical designation 

proposal to the council’s landuse 

committee if stakeholders 

requested it. He said the committee 

would request that any new 

owners come before the committee 

to discuss their plans for the property. 

“It’s just good business in any 

event,” Deegan said during an 

interview. “If the stakeholders ask 

Mid-City West to have a hearing at 

the land-use committee, we would 

certainly try to do that at the July 

22 meeting.” 

While several Tom Bergin’s 

patrons showed up at Tuesday’s 

meeting, even more visited the 

restaurant and bar over the weekend. 

On Friday, many mourned the 

loss of the tavern while remembering 

the good times. 

“I have faith that maybe something 

good will happen, you 

know? Somebody will buy it and 

make it historic or reopen it or 

something like that,” patron Steve 

Judge said on Friday, when many 

came to Bergin’s to pay their 

respects. “It’s sad. I can walk here 

from my house. It’s quiet on the 

weekends. You can sit and read 

and write, and nobody bothers 

you.” 

John Kephart had been visiting 

Tom Bergin’s for the last 33 years, 

countries. 

For more information about the 

event, to make a donation, volunteer 

or to join a team, visit 

www.relayforlife.org/WestHollywo 

Relay organizers seek more team members, donations 

odCA or call Ian Owens, deputy to 

West Hollywood Councilman John 

Duran, at (323)848-6460. For the 

deaf and hard of hearing, call 

(323)848-6496. 


Steve Judge drinks a beer and eats fish and chips at Tom Bergin's on 

Friday. 

and he has a shamrock on the ceiling, 

as many regulars do. On 

Friday, he came to visit employee 

Chris Doyle, whom he befriended 

at the tavern, on Doyle’s last day 

of work. 

“It’s really a tragedy,” Kephart 

said. “This place was an icon.” 

He said his office used to be 

nearby on Wilshire Boulevard, and 

Tom Bergin’s was a great place for 

lunch or an after-work drink. Over 

the years, its employees and regulars 

have become like family, 

Kephart said. 

“It’s just so sad,” he added. 

Kephart has many memories of 

the tavern. He recalled when the 

tavern was owned by former USC 

football player Mike Mandekic, 

and a drunk and upset patron 

grabbed Doyle by the tie. 

Mandekic punched the man in the 

chest, sending the man backpedaling 

about 10 feet until he hit the 

door and fell outside, Kephart said. 

“That was pretty memorable,” 

he added. 

Kephart also mentioned when 

actor Pierce Brosnan entered the 

tavern and ordered a Harp, an Irish 

lager. He told the “GoldenEye” 

actor that he would have bought 

his drink had Brosnan ordered a 

martini — shaken, not stirred. 

Kephart said he spent the rest of 

the night drinking and socializing 

with Brosnan. 

He said several celebrities, such 

as actor Kiefer Sutherland, also 

frequented the tavern. Many were 

“very approachable” and “very 

friendly,” Kephart said. 

As far as the menu, he will miss 

the Bergin Burger, which was 

made with a secret ingredient — 

peanut butter. 

“It sounds horrible, but it was 

actually really good,” Kephart 

said. 

Larchmont resident George 

Plato had been visiting Tom 

Bergin’s for 40 years. He too was 

among the patrons to visit the tavern 

one last time, though many 

hope that is not the case. 

“This was our hang-out,” Plato 

said. “We came here after basketball 

games. We came here after 

dates. We’d all drop off our dates 

and meet here for the last round. 

Barney was our bartender. He was 

great.” 

When he married his wife, 

Marion, she also became accustomed 

to the tavern. She said many 

people in the community have 

fond memories of Tom Bergin’s. 

“It’s like a ‘Cheers’ bar, where 

you go in and everybody knows 

you,” Marion Plato said. 

In fact, according to the Tom 

Bergin’s Facebook page, the tavern’s 

horseshoe bar was the inspiration 

behind the bar in “Cheers”. 

Since 1949, Tom Bergin’s has 

been located on Fairfax Avenue, 

and in 1973, it was sold to T.K. 

Vodrey, who then sold it to Ebbink. 

The restaurant and bar had 

closed for renovations in 2011 and 

reopened more than one year later. 

George Plato visited after the 

reopening, and noticed a big difference. 

He said the food was “bad,” so 

he called the owner to share his 

concerns. George Plato said the 

owner promised him a gift card, 

but he wasn’t interested in using it. 

“It was not good the night we 

were here,” he added. “It was disappointing. 

…Maybe they were 

just going through changes, and 

you always give people in restaurants 

second chances [but it was] a 

bummer. I hope they can sell it to 

somebody who can take it over. 

…I hate to see it go.” 

Los Angeles City Councilman 

Tom LaBonge, 4th District, was 

not a regular at the tavern, but he’s 

had its Irish coffee and has dined 

there with family several times 

over the years. He’s hopeful that 

new owners will take over and 

retain the tavern’s appeal. 

“I do believe there’s an opportunity 

to open up, if the right person 

comes along,” LaBonge said, 

adding that he and his seven brothers 

had dinner there approximately 

three years ago. “Everybody loves 

Tom Bergin’s.” 

As Steve Judge sipped his beer, 

he said although he is a new regular, 

he hoped it wasn’t his last beer 

at Tom Bergin’s. 

“If this is forever, like a permanent 

close, then rest in peace,” he 

said. 


Tom Bergin’s owner Warner 

Ebbink speaks during Tuesday’s 

meeting.


Development in question after PLUM vote 

From page 1 

Boulevard, north of Beverly 

Boulevard. The plan called for the 

project to be reduced to 45-feet 

toward the rear, where it would 

face neighboring structures. 

“I think it is a pretty marginal 

commercial area, and I think this 

project would have improved La 

Cienega,” Miller said. 

He added that the developer 

may now consider adding affordable 

housing to the project, which 

could enable him to build higher 

than city zoning laws allow under 

a state law, SB 1818. The state law 

allows for density bonuses — 

which translate into more units — 

in exchange for the addition of 

affordable housing. 

Koretz could not be reached for 

National Braille Challenge held 

photo courtesy of the National Braille Challenge 

Blind students from across the United States and Canada on June 22 

met in Los Angeles to put their knowledge of the braille code to the 

test in The National Braille Challenge, held at the Braille Institute’s 

headquarters, 741 N. Vermont Ave. 

Sponsored by Braille Institute of America, the competition serves to 

encourage blind children of all ages to fine-tune their braille skills, 

which are essential to their success in the sighted world. The participants, 

ages 6 to 19, competed in challenging categories requiring them 

to transcribe, type and read braille at a furious pace using a device 

called a Perkins Brailler. 

Most of the competitors were born blind, though others lost their 

sight due to cancer or viral infections, but they all share a tenacity that 

drives them to succeed in spite of their challenges. They were chosen 

from among more than 1000 blind students — representing 39 states 

and three Canadian provinces — during the preliminary round at 

Regional Braille Challenge events held across the country. 

Each category of challenge was designed to test participants’ braille 

skills in several areas — reading comprehension, braille spelling, chart 

and graph reading, proofreading and braille speed and accuracy — all 

of which blind students need to master in order to keep up with their 

sighted peers. The first- through third-place winners in each age group 

received awards ranging in value from $250 for the youngest group to 

$2,500 for the oldest. In addition to prizes, Freedom Scientific Corp. 

donated the latest adaptive equipment for the winners — the Focus 40 

Blue — an adaptive computer device with a refreshable braille display. 

And all first place winners received an iPad, sponsored by Palmer 

Langdon, to help them stay connected to the digital world. 

City reaches WellPoint settlement 

Los Angeles City Attorney 

Carmen Trutanich announced on 

June 20 that a settlement has been 

reached with WellPoint Inc. that 

will resolve the city attorney’s civil 

enforcement action filed against the 

company and its California subsidiaries, 

Anthem Blue Cross and 

Anthem Blue Cross Life and 

Health Insurance Company. 

The enforcement actions was the 

result of unlawful business practices 

with respect to the company’s 

insurance underwriting and rescission 

practices in the individual 

insurance market. In filing the complaint, 

Trutanich alleged that 

WellPoint conducted illegal postclaims 

underwriting of health insurance 

plans and policies triggered by 

various medical conditions and 

diagnoses. WellPoint denies any 

wrongdoing. As part of this settlement, 

WellPoint has agreed to pay 

$6 million to resolve this matter, as 

well as comply with all laws relating 

to health insurance underwriting 

and rescission. 

In 2008, the City Attorney’s 

Office filed civil law enforcement 

action against WellPoint, Inc. and 

its California subsidiaries. 

comment. Shawn Bayliss, a planning 

deputy for the councilman, 

confirmed that Koretz supports the 

50-foot height limit. 

Harald Hahn, president of the 

Burton Way Foundation, which 

represents local property owners 

near the proposed project, said he 

was pleased with the PLUM 

Committee’s decision. 

He said a 56-foot building 

would be “out of character” with 

other structures on that stretch of 

La Cienega, and could set a “bad 

precedent” when additional developers 

seek to build in the neighborhood. 

“There has to be a balance within 

the community,” Hahn said. 

“We are not opposed to development. 

It has to fit with the other 

buildings in the neighborhood. If 

you go higher that forty-five to 

fifty feet, you’re overpowering the 

other buildings in the neighborhood.” 

Lorelei Shark, a resident of 

Alfred Street, which runs parallel 

to La Cienega behind the proposed 

project site, said she was also satisfied 

with the compromise. She 

agreed that a building taller than 

50 feet would not have fit with the 

character of the neighborhood, and 

added that it would have towered 

over Alfred Street residents’ back 

yards. 

“He can build a fantastic building 

there at fifty feet,” Shark said. 

“He can do an awful lot there.” 

For the second consecutive year, 

the KLCS original monthly program, 

“Families Matter”, has been 

nominated for an Imagen Award, 

an honor that recognizes positive 

portrayals of Latinos in television 

and film. Owned and operated by 

the LAUSD, the family-themed 

show was selected as a 2013 

Imagen Award nominee in the category 

of Best Local Informational 

Program. 

The nominated episode, 

“Getting Ready for College”, 

focused on the district’s goal to 

graduate 100 percent of its students 

college-prepared and career-ready, 

while also guiding parents on how 

photo Edwin Folven 

A new development would raze the existing buildings on the east side of 

La Cienega Boulevard if approved. 

City’s Summer Night Lights shining once again 

The start of the 2013 season of 

the Summer Night Lights (SNL) 

program, an expanded series of 

after-hours events in 32 public 

parks located in areas with high 

rates of violent gang-related crime, 

commenced on June 26. 

Since its implementation in 

2008, SNL has successfully 

reduced violence in communities 

most impacted by gang activity by 

extending park hours until midnight 

four days a week (Wednesday 

to Saturday) during summer 

months. The program aids violence 

reduction by providing meals, mentoring 

and activities, including athletics 

and cultural enrichment, during 

peak evening hours for gang 

activity. 

“As one of my final acts as 

mayor, I am proud to kick off 

another season of Summer Night 

Lights,” former Mayor Antonio 

Villaraigosa said. “This program 

has been a catalyst for change in 

our neighborhoods, providing 

hope, safety and opportunity for 

local youth. It has become a model 

for combating gang violence 

nationwide, and I am proud to have 

been a part of it.” 

Summer Night Lights also provides 

at-risk youth with the opportunity 

for employment and professional 

development. Youth Squad 

members undergo training on a 

variety of relevant topics prior to the 

start of Summer Night Lights and 

receive a stipend for their work 

implementing the programs. This 

year, training took place at 

KLCS receives Imagen Award 

their child can prepare for and 

achieve a higher education. 

Sporting their college gear and 

surrounded by university and college 

banners in the October 2012 

episode, the hosts of “Families 

Matter” — Mónica García, 

LAUSD board president; Maria 

Casillas, chief of school, family 

and parent/community services; 

and board member Nury Martinez 

— emphasized that preparation for 

college begins in the home and in 

our schools. 

“We are proud and honored to be 

nominated for the Imagen award,” 

García said. “We continue to push 

for more positive representation of 

California State University, Los 

Angeles, providing many members 

with their first exposure to a college 

campus. 

“We remain committed to enriching 

the lives of the youth in our city 

by providing them with safe and 

successful alternatives to gang violence,” 

LAPD Chief Beck said. 

“The continued partnership with our 

youth organizations and our community 

members has undoubtedly 

helped bring about positive change 

in youth culture. This program has 

been extremely effective, and we are 

excited about making this summer’s 

program another success.” 

Summer Night Lights will run 

from June 26 to Aug. 9, every 

Wednesday through Saturday, from 

7 to 11 p.m. 

Latinos in the media. Our goal has 

been to build awareness and consciousness 

in our communities 

about the opportunity to access services 

and support our children’s 

success.” 

The hosts stressed that college 

counselors offer invaluable support 

in navigating college admission 

policies. Providing specific steps, 

Neena Agnihotri, a college counselor 

at Monroe High School, 

shared strategies and tips on how 

to guide students toward higher 

education early in their educational 

journey. 

KLCS-TV — The Education 

Station — is a noncommercial educational 

television station licensed 

to the LAUSD and is a member of 

the Public Broadcasting Service. 

Senate bill aims to protect journalists from ‘invasions’ 

California reporters and their 

news organizations would have 

five days’ notice of any subpoenas 

of their records, such as 

phone calls, or other invasions of 

their newsgathering communications 

under a Sen. Ted Lieu (D- 

Torrance) measure that passed its 

first policy review on a bipartisan 

vote on June 23. 

“California journalists, and the 

public, should be extremely troubled 

by recent reports showing 

that the federal government 

secretly collected the phone 

records of the Associated Press,” 

Lieu said about SB 558. “It’s 

essential for a free citizenry to 

have a free, unhindered press.” 

The wiretaps of AP phone 

records included calls from several 

East Coast bureaus and more 

than 20 lines, including personal 

phones and AP phone numbers in 

New York; Hartford, Conn.; and 

Washington, D.C. 

The records potentially reveal 

communications with confidential 

sources across all of the newsgathering 

activities undertaken by 

the AP during a two-month period. 

Lieu said his measure would 

specifically apply to so-called 

“third-party vendors.” 

In the case of AP, this would 

have required the Justice 

Department to notify AP at least 

five days ahead of time that the 

communications firm handling 

AP phone records would be subpoenaed. 

In addition to phone companies, 

other third-party vendors 

would include internet service 

providers, hotels and car-rental 

agencies. 

California already has a shield 

law that requires law enforcement 

to give five days’ advance notice 

to news organizations for subpoenas 

served on the actual news 

company or reporter. 

“But the U.S. Department of 

Justice just gave a roadmap on 

ways to bypass the shield law by 

going after firms like telephone or 

communications companies that 

have personal and work related 

information of journalists,” Lieu 

said. 

SB 558 will next be reviewed 

by the California Assembly 

Appropriations Committee, 

which could consider the bill as 

soon as this week.


Fireworks lead to animal shelter issues 

From page 1 

vious years, he has actually slept in 

the bathroom with his dog on the 

Fourth of July. “It was bad — like 

break through doors kind of bad.” 

Not only have shelters seen an 

increase in new animals over the 

last week, it is the middle of “kitten 

season,” Peralta said. 

“[There] just seems to be a huge 

influx of intake during this time of 

year,” he added. 

With shelters taxed for both 

space and resources, the public can 

help in a variety of ways. Peralta 

said shelters could “really utilize” 

individuals who are willing to be 

foster parents for pets for a couple 

weeks. Of course, shelters could 

also benefit from additional pet 

adoptions, he said. 

“That’s the perfect time to go to 

the shelters because they’re overflowing,” 

Peralta said. 

Donations are always helpful, as 

are volunteers. Peralta said many 

BFAS volunteers on July 4 stayed 

all night to calm and relax the animals, 

which were “just terrified.” In 

addition to the organization’s 

overnight staff, the volunteers kept 

media reports, two of the 307 people 

on the plane died and more than 

100 people were injured. 

“It was just a horrible feeling 

inside. …It could have been 

worse,” Benavente said. 

Flight 214 had departed from 

Seoul, South Korea, and was scheduled 

to land at San Francisco 

International Airport. According to 

media reports, the Boeing 777 landed 

short of the runway, and struck a 

seawall. The cause of the plane 

crash is still under investigation. 

A professional photographer, 

Benavente grabbed her Nikon 

D300 and shot photos of the wreckage 

through a 180-millimeter lens. 

She estimated that she was approximately 

one mile away from the 

crash site. 

According to her website, the 

Amsterdam native is internationally 

known for her floral photographs. 

Benavente has won several photography 

awards, including the FUJI 

Masterpiece Award and the 

Photographer of the Year Award 

from Professional Photographers of 

Los Angeles County. 

She lamented the fact that she 

had not brought her Nikon D800, 

House Energy and Commerce 

Committee ranking member 

Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and 

several other legislators on June 

24 called for regulatory action by 

the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) in light of 

the 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision 

in Mutual Pharmaceuticals v. 

Bartlett. 

The decision held that a New 

Hampshire woman who suffered 

devastating injuries after taking 

the generic version of an antiinflammatory 

drug may not sue 

the generic manufacturer for her 

injuries, because her claim is preempted 

by federal law. Waxman 

and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) 

filed an amicus brief before the 

an eye on BFAS’ 200 dogs and cats, 

ensuring that the animals did not 

injure themselves seeking to escape 

their crates. 

Peralta said the increase of shelter 

animals can be costly, especially 

if the animals are in need of medical 

care. However, the issue is 

more serious than that, he said. 

“It’s more than financial,” Peralta 

added. “It’s the influx of intake that 

could eventually cause animals to 

lose their lives.” 

If a shelter has 250 animals and 

only 200 kennels, the staff will be 

forced to make a decision on 50 

animals’ lives, he said. 

“That’s exactly how it works,” 

Peralta said. “The city shelters are 

going to do the best they can to 

make a bad decision the best bad 

decision. …Ultimately, they’re 

going to have to resort to killing 

animals.” 

He said those that perish will 

likely be “perfectly good, adoptable” 

animals. So, BFAS is striving 

to spread the word about the potentially 

dire fate of those in shelters 

during the summer months, Peralta 

‘Eerie’ atmosphere after crash 

From page 1 

but still captured images of smoke 

billowing out of the Asiana airplane, 

passengers fleeing the scene 

and first responders putting out the 

flames. 

“It was horrible,” Benavente 

added. 

Unlike many travelers in San 

Francisco that day, the West 

Hollywood resident was able to fly 

out of San Francisco via Virgin 

Airlines, albeit more than three 

hours late. She said the airport’s 

restaurants were closed, and the 

facilities were deserted. 

“It was eerie,” Benavente added. 

She said she loves flying, 

although witnessing the Flight 214 

tragedy was sobering. Benavente 

said she was not too nervous flying 

back to Southern California the 

same day of the crash. 

“I’m a good sport,” she said. “I 

don’t mind that. I saw my chances 

now were less of getting into an 

accident.” 

Benavente said she was lucky to 

fly back last Saturday, and she was 

happy to be back in West 

Hollywood, where she’s lived for 

six years. 

“I love it here,” she added. 

FDA urged to act on generics 

court in that case. 

The decision in Mutual 

Pharmaceutical Co. v. Bartlett 

mirrors the Supreme Court’s 5-4 

decision in the 2011 case, PLIVA 

v. Mensing, in which the majority 

held that manufacturers of generic 

drugs cannot be held liable 

under state tort law for inadequate 

labeling. Together, these 

cases mean that patients who take 

the generic version of a prescription 

drug may be left without a 

remedy if they are injured — 

even though consumers who take 

the brand-name version of the 

drug may seek recourse for their 

injuries. Waxman also filed an 

amicus brief in PLIVA v. 

Mensing. 

said. 

However, in certain parts of the 

city, the Fourth of July celebration 

persists, as leftover home fireworks, 

which are illegal, continue 

to explode in the sky. Peralta suggested 

“tucking the animal away” 

and keeping it in a safe spot. 

The Humane Society of the 

United States recommends turning 

on a radio or TV to block the noises. 

Veterinarians can also recommend 

medications and techniques 

to help alleviate the fear of fireworks. 

Peralta said the issue of pets running 

away on the Fourth of July is 

not confined to Southern 

California. He said he has worked 

with animals in several states 

across the country. 

“It’s that way everywhere,” 

Peralta added. 

Los Angeles Animal Services 

representatives did not return additional 

requests for comment. 

To help the cause, visit 

www.bestfriends.org or www.laanimalservices.com. 

Last week, U.S. Sen. Dianne 

Feinstein (D-Calif.), a senior 

member of the Senate Judiciary 

Committee, and Congressman 

Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the top 

Democrat on the House Judiciary 

Subcommittee on the 

Constitution and Civil Justice, 

reintroduced the Respect for 

Marriage Act, a bill to repeal the 

discriminatory Defense of 

Marriage Act (DOMA). 

“Today’s ruling by the 

Supreme Court clearly establishes 

that one class of legally married 

individuals cannot be denied 

rights under federal law accorded 

to all other legally married couples,” 

Feinstein said last 

Wednesday. “Our legislation is 

photo by Erik Bianchi/Best Friends Animal Society 

Best Friends Animal Society rescued approximately 100 dogs from city 

shelters last week, including this Chihuahua mix. 

Legislation aims to repeal Defense of Marriage Act 

necessary because inequities in 

the administration of more than 

1,100 federal laws affected by 

DOMA — including social security 

and veterans benefits — will 

still need to be fixed. It is time 

Congress strike this discriminatory 

law once and for all.” 

Nadler agreed that Congress 

has more to do in regards to 

DOMA. 

“The court has ruled that 

Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional, 

but Congress still must 

repeal the law in its entirety,” 

Nadler said. “That is why we are 

reintroducing the Respect for 

Marriage Act, which repeals 

DOMA in its entirety and sends 

DOMA into the history books 

where it belongs. This bill 

ensures repeal of section 2 of 

DOMA, which was not at issue in 

the Windsor case and purports to 

excuse the states from even considering 

whether to honor the 

marriage of a gay and lesbian 

couple performed by a sister 

state.” 

He said the bill also provides a 

uniform rule for recognizing couples 

under federal law, ensuring 

that all lawfully married couples 

will be recognized under federal 

law, no matter where they live. 

The bill has 161 original 

cosponsors in the House and 41 

original cosponsors in the Senate. 

For information, visit www.feinstein.senate.gov. 

Local student Hyla Rachwal enters scholars program 

Hyla Rachwal, a Mid-Wilshire 

resident, has accepted an offer to 

be enrolled in the President’s 

Scholars Program at California 

State University Long Beach 

beginning in the fall 2013. 

For the 2013-2014 academic 

year, the president of the university 

has selected only 26 students 

out of 692 applicants to the program. 

Rachwal was also appointed as 

one of two student ambassadors to 

the Advisory Commission on 

Special Education (ACSE) for the 

State of California for a two-year 

term starting this month. 

The commission provides recommendations 

and advice to the 

California Board of Education, the 

superintendent of public instruction, 

the Legislature and the governor 

in new or continuing areas of 

research, program development 

and evaluation in California special 

education. 

The ACSE consists of members 

appointed by the speaker of the 

Assembly, the state Senate, Gov. 

Jerry Brown and the California 

Board of Education. 

The group includes parents, persons 

with disabilities, special education 

administrators, teachers and 

legislative representation from the 

Assembly and Senate. 

Skirball center to open new exhibit 

The Skirball Cultural Center is 

celebrating the new exhibition 

“Gary Baseman: The Door Is 

Always Open” with an after-dark 

party, titled “Into the Night: Secrets 

and Truth” on Friday, July 12 

beginning at 9 p.m. 

The group Hunter Hunted, 

known for intricate vocal harmonies 

and melodies, will headline 

the event. Fitz and the Tantrums 

will perform in the Skirball’s outdoor 

courtyard, and the group, 

Harriet. 

The evening also includes an 

appearance by Baseman, a Fairfax 

High school graduate, as well as an 

art performance created exclusively 

for the event by Baseman and 

choreographer Sarah Elgart. 

The Skirball Cultural Center is 

located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. 

For information, call (310)440- 

4500, or visit www.skirball.org. 

Additionally, Rachwal was 

selected as junior staff for the Los 

Angeles-Southern California 

Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership 

Seminar. 

The seminar is a three-day leadership 

development program that 

brings together approximately 230 

students from across the region. 

Students learn individual leadership 

styles, group dynamics and 

leadership in society — all with a 

focus on leadership for service to 

their communities. 

Rachwal recently graduated 

from Westview School, where she 

was the student body president and 

valedictorian. 

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