November

Transcription

November

& the Neighboring Communities of N. Hollywood,
Valley Village
November 2010
No.26
This Magical “Cinderella” is a Family Affair
By Marci Marks
Saturday, November 6
The St. Francis de Sales Choir and the
Wagner Ensemble, under the direction of
Jeannine Wagner, will perform their Sixth
Annual All Souls Day Concert: A Concert
for Peace featuring Lux Aeterna by Morten
Lauridsen, accompanied by orchestra. Additional sacred choral classics will round
out the program. Tickets are $15. The concert will take place in the St. Francis de
Sales Church sanctuary, renowned for its
beautiful mid-century architecture and
acoustic excellence. Reception immediately
follows in the St. Francis de Sales School
Auditorium. 7 p.m. 13360 Valleyheart Dr.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 For tickets and
information call 818-342-5233.
Sunday November 7
Come join members of Theatre West for a
refreshing take on Bingo. Cash prizes total
over $1,000. Bring your friends. 2pm - 5pm.
Sherman Oak’s Women’s Club; 4808
Kester Avenue, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403.
For more information, please contact Theatre West at (323) 851-4839;
TWMusicalBingo@gmail.com
Monday November 8
Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council
meets second Monday of each month.
6:30pm. Sherman Oaks Elementary School
Auditorium. 14755 Greenleaf ST. 818-5032399
Tuesday November 9
Studio City Residents Association. Meets
the second Tuesday of each month. Reception 7:00pm meeting 7:30pm. Beverly Garland Holiday Inn Theater. 4222 Vineland
Ave.
Cont. Pg 18
What’s Inside
Shuman at Large......................5
Scoops....................................... 14
Wendy Greuel.......................... 7
Tamar Galatzan...................... 7
Paul Krekorian........................ 5
iTeen......................................... 19
Ellen Vukovich........................ 6
Gerald A. Silver........................ 6
White Sofas...............................8
Cibo Città................................. 10
HOT Recipes............................ 10
Talk DVD.................................. 17
Grigware’s Curtain Call..........16
Kris Lythgoe’s three year old son George
was the inspiration for the version of
“Cinderella” coming this month to the El
Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. There
were no family Christmas shows to which
Lythgoe could take George, so he decided
to put on his own show. It wasn’t much of
a stretch because, after all, entertainment is
the Lythgoes’ family business.
Father Nigel is the producer of “Pop Idol”
and its American cousin “American Idol”
as well as the creator, executive producer
and a judge on “So You Think You Can
Dance” and mother Bonnie is a noted director as well as a producer on the first three
series of “American Idol” before moving
on to “So You Think You Can Dance.”
The Lythgoes moved here from England
to launch “American Idol.” Kris settled in
Studio City six years ago when he realized
it was just a short drive to CBS Television
City and everything he needed, Bonnie is
also a local and Nigel has a favorite Indian
restaurant on Ventura Boulevard in Studio
City so he is in the SC quite a lot.
Kris Lythgoe envisioned the beloved fairy
tale as a family Christmas show that would
be a magical experience for children but
also fun for adults. He was influenced by
the old time English theatrical tradition of
producing a holiday entertainment for the
The show is still a family affair with
mother Lythgoe handeling the direction.
The handsome Prince Charming is played
by Freddie Stroman, the young actor featured in “Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows, Part 1” of the final two installments in the wildly popular Potter franchise releasing this month. Stroman, a
recent Brit transplant, is dazzlingly good
looking, truly charming and he just graduated from University with a degree in
neuroscience thrown in for good measure.
Cinderella is played by sixteen year old
Veronica
Dunne, who was chosen from
The Lythgoes: Nigel, Kris and Bonnie
over 700 aspirants in a local talent search
who were whittled down to 30 girls who
sang and performed with Stroman before
judges Bonnie and Neil Patrick Harris
(“How I Met Your Mother”).
With Jerry Mathers of “Leave It to Beaver” fame playing Baron Hardup, Jennifer Leigh Warren as the Fairy Godmother,
choreography by Mark Ballas of “Dancing With the Stars,” this extravaganza
promises to deliver a magical interactive
experience.
That is because it includes real magic
directed
by professional magician Ed
Jennifer Leigh Warren, Freddie Stroman and Veronica Dunn
Alonzo, real ponies pulling the pumpkin
local children when nobody had money to buy pre- coach, a High Tea at intermission and
sents. The result? a modern musical extravaganza even a British Confectionary stand.
that blends hit pop songs with Lythgoe’s original In the spirit of holiday giving that inscript.
Cont. pg. 21
Neighborhood Organizations Panic over Planning Simplification
Neighborhood Council, and the
Homeowners of Encino, promptly went on
public record opposing the draft ordinance.
To their credit, Rothmann and City
Planning’s Deputy Director, Alan Bell, are
eager to clear up any misunderstandings and
promote dialogue with neighborhood
groups. They have scheduled four public
workshops in November to bring activists
and city planners together in a joint effort
to revise the zoning code.
Yet that did not keep neighborhood groups
from writing about their displeasure. “This
ordinance,” claims Gerald Silver in a stern
letter from Homeowners of Encino, “removes protections afforded residents and
property owners... limits public involvement in the review of projects that have
negative impacts... [ will] roll back wellestablished environmental protections, and
reduce public accountability.” (See the rest
of Silver’s comments on Page 6. Ed.)
John Walker, president of the Studio City
Neighborhood Council, in a memo warns
the City Planning Commission that “it is impossible for the public to evaluate the ordinance because there’s no way to determine..
the scope and impact of the entire project.
By Christopher Davidson
LA City planner Tom Rothmann has met
the enemy and it is us. Rothmann is spearheading the first comprehensive effort to
modernize Los Angeles zoning code since
over the last 65 years the original 1946 84page document has ballooned to over 600
pages. It now contains 113 separate entitlements and processses that builders must
follow when they propose new projects,
based on 349 “findings” of fact.
On October 14, Rothmann unveiled the
first of nine planned zoning simplification
ordinances at a packed public hearing before the City Planning Commission.
Rothmann’s controversial revision is smallscale. It says nothing about decision-making processes, which are largely spelled out
in the city charter. It leaves 266 “findings”
alone, rewrites 39, deletes 37, and relocates
6.
But even these minor changes were
enough to raise hackles among the local
neighborhood groups. Neighborhood councils and homeowners associations all over
Los Angeles, including the Studio City
This is a violation of CEQA [the California
Environmental Quality Act].”
Walker then goes on to offer 61 detailed
critiques of the ordinance that he claims
cannot be evaluated. Two of his important
critiques are: The original ordinance says:
“there are special circumstances applicable
to project or project site which make strict
application of specific plan regulations impractical.”
The revision says: “ the project will enhance
the environment in the surrounding neighborhood or will perform a service that is
essential or beneficial to the community,
city or region.”
Walker claims that this revision is more
subjective than the original, because it allows a zoning director the latitude to decide alone, without any input from the community, whether a project enhances the environment. It is clear, however, why Walker
believes this. In the original version, the
“special circumstances” that might make it
impractical to comply with the zoning code
are also subject to interpretation.
In a later critique, Walker criticizes a revision by Rothmann for the opposite rea-
Mad as Hell Doctors Protest Pg. 4 / Nonagenarian book reception on Nov 6 pg 9 / Crespi HS Drama pg.19
Studio City Sherman Oaks Encino News November, 2010
1
Cont. pg. 18
2
3
Celebrities, Doctors and More Get Mad At Health Insurers
By Jennifer Leavens
The Mad As Hell Doctors (MAHD), a group
of activist physicians, nurses and other
health care providers who are fighting for a
Single Payer National Health Insurance Program for all Americans, came to IATSE Local 80 in Burbank on Friday night, October
First as part of their California tour, for a
crowd of passionate supporters. The tour
began September 23 in Arcata and ended in
Sacramento on Tuesday October 12.
Celebrities such as Valerie Harper, Laraine
Newman, Melinda Peterson, Susan Savage
and Mimi Kennedy came to support the event
and to promote the California One Care
Campaign www.californiaonecare.org.
The actors all volunteered their time, their
names, and their faces to the
COC Campaign which is working to bring
single-payer, Medicare-for-all, to California.
They stressed their continued support for
single payer as the best solution to our broken health care system.
The Mad As Hell Doctors and members of
Physicians for a National Health Plan
(PNHP), as well as local doctors from the
San Fernando Valley spoke passionately
about their personal, first-hand experiences
with the broken for-profit health insurance
system.
Dr. Carol Paris, a psychiatrist, described a
“condition” her patients have which she
called “PIISD” (pronounced “pissed”) or
Private Insurance Induced Stress Disorder.
Symptoms include headaches brought on by
constant premium increases and anxiety over
lack of real coverage. Dr. Bruce Hector, a
family practice physician in the
San Fernando Valley, gave 20 reasons why
he is mad as hell. For example: “I am mad as
hell because for 20 years I have had to appeal to Wall Street employed nurses and
managers to allow me to care for
my patients in the manner that I determine to
be in my patient’s medical best interest I am
mad as hell because Americans spend twice
as much on healthcare per person and rank
39th in health statistics.”
The “Billionaires for Wealthcare”
(www.billionairesforwealthcare.com ), a
tongue-in-cheek group of performers and
musicians, performed songs such as ‘Cause
We’re on Your Side to the tune of My Country ‘Tis of Thee (“Raising your premiums,
Raking in ghastly sums, Coverage denied…”).
Victims of the for profit system run amok
gave accounts of the pain, burdens and the
deadly consequences of insurance denials.
Major sponsors of the event included Health
Care for All-California-San Fernando
Valley(www.facebook.com/HCASFV ), a
chapter of the statewide grassroots group, the
Saralee
and
Carol
Foundation
(www.saraleeandcarol.org) a Sherman Oaksbased non-profit that helps women with cancer receive treatment even when their insurer
denies claim and Labor United for Universal Healthcare, a group of over forty labor
organizations aligned to establish a sustainable, secure, and just healthcare system.
Jennifer Leavens is co-director of Health Care for All –
San Fernando Valley (818) 430-9050 jennifer@hca-sfv.org
4
From the Publisher
The days are shorter, winter is coming. Will
it be another dry one? In our September issue, master gardener Nancy Nickerson urged
us to rip out our thirsty lawns and plant edible gardens. This month SOHA columnist
EllenVukovich tells us she and her husband
did just that. It’s ironic how the DWP asked
us to conserve water and we conserved so
well that they had to raise our rates so they
could make more money. Our contributing
columnist Councilmember Paul Krekorian
opposed the most recent DWP rate hike that
we are now seeing reflected on our bills. He
tells us that last week the City Council approved his legislation for an independent
DWP ratepayer advocate, which we the voters will be asked to approve in the March
2011 election.
Those stressed out over health insurance
will want to read Jennifer Leavens article on
the Mad As Hell Doctors rally. As many here
see it, the problem with the health care bill is
that it didn’t go far enough, but after all, we
are proud to live in California, a state where
voters go their own way and won’t be bought
by the highest bidders.
If you are cooking this Thanksgiving, check
out Anna Terra’s recipes for Italian sausage
stuffing and candied yams. Or leave the cooking to professionals, as Cristina Wheeler lets
us know the best restaurants serving a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings, no cleanup required. Either way,
Happy Thanksgiving.
The
Council
member
Speaks...
Shuman At Large
CYNICAL
By Paul Krekorian
We don’t need to pass a City Council motion to know how frustrating the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power can be.
A nearly all-consuming economic collapse
has made rising utility rates even more troubling as some continue to fear that the DWP
is not operating with as much transparency
as possible.
For that reason, I opposed multiple DWP
rate increase proposals months ago and continued my advocacy on behalf of ratepayers
Tuesday, Nov. 2. That day, as the City Council discussed much needed reforms that
could bring long lasting change to the DWP,
we unanimously approved my legislation
to form a truly independent and robust ratepayer advocate.
Included in this packet of reforms is an
initiative that would ask voters to create an
Office of Public Accountability staffed with
a ratepayer advocate who would evaluate
the need for proposed rate increases and investigate complaints of fraud, abuse and
waste.
Under my motion, the ratepayer advocate
would be appointed by a commission comprised of 12 citizens that would include
business and residential ratepayers, and
consumer and environmental advocates.
Four commissioners would be selected
ADDRESS: 263 W. Olive Ave. #305
from the city’s neighborhood councils, four
Burbank, CA 91502
www.shermanoaksstudiocitynews.com by the Mayor and four from the City Council.
PHONE: 818.982.5002 (advertising)
E-MAIL: bigvalleypublications@gmail.com
Currently, DWP policy is set by the fiveStaff
member Board of Water and Power ComPublisher / Editor : M. L. Marks
missioners appointed by the mayor.
Associate Publisher: Jim Kaplan
The creation of a ratepayer advocate in
jimkaplan@mac.com
Associate Editor / Graphics / Production
the City Charter is a crucial step forward in
Stephen Phenow
bringing accountability and transparency to
Senior Writer: Christopher Davidson
Website Manager: Brandan Scott
the DWP. To be effective, though, the ratemagictreeproductions@yahoo.com
payer advocate must be independent. The
Contributors:
selection process I have proposed will enWendy Greuel
Phil Shuman
sure that independence, and will ensure that
Paul Krekorian
the ratepayer advocate will remain focused
Gerald A. Silver
Ellen Vukovich
on serving the interests of the ratepayers.
Tamar Galatzan
Voters will eventually need to approve my
Jon Epstein
Vicki Stern
motion – and the others the council adopted
Don Grigware
Anna Terra
– in March 2011, but rest assured that we
Cristina Wheeler Terra
are step closer to a new era of accountabilMichael Mann
Stephen Phenow
ity and transparency.
The SC SO ENC NEWS is published monthly, and
delivered to 20,000 homes in Sherman Oaks, Studio City, & Encino areas.
Delivered by Great Western Adv. Dist. INC.
Delivery problems? Call (213) 627-0539
All Contents Copyright 2010 BVP
All Rights Reserved.
By Phil Shuman
Okay, call me cynical. I admit it. Part personality, part profession. So having said that
let me say this. After the election insanity
we’ve all endured for the past few months,
nothing will change. Oh sure, there will be
different people in different offices on the
state and national level. Some of the initiatives here in California will pass and some
will have been defeated. My point is that
here, in our communities, nothing much will
really change in our day to day lives, and
that’s kind of sad since so much has been
said, spent, and fought over.
ety free of partisan fighting, and on the whole,
it’s been a major disappointment. He wasn’t
even funny when he was on with Jon Stewart.
The future we’ve been waiting for, or whatever that saying was, has arrived and it’s all
a big giant yawn. And last time I checked
we’re still fighting two wars he was going to
get us out of. That wasn’t even subject matter for debate during this election cycle. You
wanna get sick? Read the accounts of all the
young people killed in Iraq and Afghanistan
on the back pages of the Sunday LA Times
California section.
We’ll go on dealing with worries over how
to pay the mortgage, how to fight our nightmare traffic, how to manage our fear of
crime, and we’ll still be trying to figure out
how to pay the private school and college
bills. We’ll worry about our jobs and our
retirement and whether or not the stock
market will continue to come back and
whether or not California will get its mojo
back or fall into the ocean.
I do have one concrete positive suggestion
that I would love for someone to put on a
future ballot. For every dollar a candidate
spends on a campaign, at any level, they’d
have to donate a matching dollar to the charity of their choice. Then when we want to
throw something at the flat screen after the
7th consecutive political attack ad, we could
at least take comfort in the knowledge that
deserving people will benefit from the incredibly expensive and counterproductive assault
on our senses that modern day political campaigning has become.
Sure, there will be someone different in the
Governor’s office in Sacramento, and the
makeup of Congress will likely change dramatically, but after untold hundreds of millions in elections expenses and those increasingly obnoxious , confusing, and in
some cases mean spirited and worthless
commercials, so what?
The new Governor might raise or lower
taxes a bit, the new Congress might modify
the newly passed health care reform which
we didn’t really comprehend in the first
place, but will that change your life in Studio City or Sherman Oaks or Encino? I don’t
think so. So what was all the fuss? There
may be new laws about greenhouse gases
or bank regulation, or breaks for big business or even an attempt at immigration reform but, same question. What’s new?
So are you with me? How about if I promise not to send the job of writing this column
overseas?
I’m Phil Shuman and I approved this message.
Phil Shuman is a Fox 11 News Reporter who lives with his family in Studio City. You can email Phil at Phil.Shuman@Foxtv.com
Dr
hD
.C
Dr.. Ter
errr y Ric
Rich
D.C
.C..
Serving the East
Valley for 15
years
Day to day, we go on, from carpool to
Starbucks to the freeway to work to school
to practice to home. This isn’t a bad thing,
because most of us have pretty good lives
here. It’s more likely that those on the extreme high and low spectrums of society are
going to be hit by whatever the new folks
propose and eventually pass.
Councilmember Paul Krekorian represents Los Angeles’ Second Council District, which includes the east
San Fernando Valley and the foothills. His website is
cd2.lacity.org, where you can sign up for news updates
or visit him on Twitter (@Paul Krekorian) or Facebook.
The phone number for his North Hollywood Field Office is (818) 755-7676..
Here in Southern California, gas prices will
still be higher that other parts of the country, Sheriff Baca will still do whatever he
wants because he can, the LAPD will still
be asking for more cops, the City Council
will essentially continue doing nothing to
improve the quality or our lives, and Mayor
V will, fortunately, continue battling for
money to build the subway of tomorrow today. I could be wrong, but it seems to me
none of this was affected by November 2nd
elections. Yes I know these were state and
national races, but you’d think there would
be a good old fashioned trickle down effect. I don’t envision it.
So what’s the point of it all? I’m not sure.
The last great hope we had was two years
ago when we all helped elect Barack Obama,
who promised visions of a new Great Soci-
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injury cases accepted
Planning Commission thinking
about weakening Zoning Code
The Los Angeles City Planning Commission
is considering the first of nine ordinances that
collectively will undermine the City’s Zoning
Code. On October 14, 2010 the Commission
took up the Planning Department’s Recommendations Report known as “Core Findings”.
The proposed revisions will reduce the current zoning standards in neighborhoods all over
Los Angeles. The proposed ordinance will roll
back well-established environmental protections and reduce public accountability.
In zoning cases the City must make findings
of fact in order to justify a zoning exception,
variance or conditional use permit. The proposed Core Findings ordinance would consolidate findings “that have the same intent but
different phrasing, clarifies ambiguous finding language, deletes duplicate findings, deletes unnecessary findings, and improves findings and moves findings to more appropriate
places in the Zoning Code.”
These changes suggest that only clerical
modifications will be made in the Zoning Code
with no substantive modifications. However,
the proposed revisions make major substantive changes to the Zoning Code that many
believe should require a full EIR, significant
public input and widespread public debate
before any actions are taken. The issuance of
a Negative Declaration would clearly be in
violation of CEQA.
The Planning Department documents claim
the purpose of the new ordinance is to “improve the quality of development citywide by
providing a better framework for analyzing the
merits of proposed projects that require dis-
One of the pleasures of owning a home is
the opportunity to re-create one’s environment, inside and outdoors. Recently my husband and I decided to remove much of our
water greedy front lawn to make way for an
edible front yard garden. It’s an idea whose
time has come, because lawns are relics from
the past that harm the environment by using
too much water and harmful chemicals that
pollute our declining watershed. Fortunately,
there are some excellent timely alternatives
to make this transition, such as artificial turf,
stone and/or drought tolerant plants.
Our new garden will feature vegetables,
fruits, herbs and flowers. Not only we will
reap the benefits of home grown organic produce, we will become a bit more self-sustaining. By eliminating our lawn, along with the
other water conservation and recycling measures we’ve undertaken the past year, our
water usage has been noticeably reduced
which means we are saving water and, oh,
yes, money too!
Money aside, we do live in a semi-desert,
are experiencing a protracted drought, and
are seeing the cost of a once-taken for granted
resource (water) become a priceless commodity as the earth’s population continues to
grow.
The Department of Water and Power and
City Hall have been issuing very mixed messages about the need to conserve water apartment buildings and office buildings are
exempt from water restrictions while
homeowners have to worry about the DWP
“Drought Busters” cruising their neighborhoods for sprinklers and hoses running at the
wrong times and days.
The City Council recently rejected the
DWP’s request for another water rate increase
as homeowners pay more and more for water and power. Our city leaders are boldly considering eradicating just about every land use
protection put into place (specific plans, zoning codes, etc.) without failing to address the
burden on our already failing above and below the ground infrastructure that leads to
broken water mains, sparking electrical poles,
and overflowing sewage pipes spilling into
the ocean.
What’s wrong with maintaining and upgrading before allowing more infill density? And
By Gerald A. Silver
cretionary reviews.” In application the Core
Findings Ordinance will undermine current
planning standards, entitlement standards for
zoning adjustments, Specific Plan exceptions
and conditional use standards.
If one takes a short-run, narrow view of the
language in the Core Findings proposal, one
might easily conclude that this is simply a clerical reworking of the City’s Core Findings, with
little or not impacts. The new Core Findings
are very substantive. There are many nuanced
and subtle changes that are proposed that are
not easily seen by a narrow review of the documents.
The ordinance removes protections afforded
residents and property· owners in all of the
City’s Specific Plan areas. It reduces the
applicant’s need to comply with existing Specific Plan requirements for land use entitlements. The ordinance limits public involvement in the review of projects that have negative impacts.
Local zone changes, including code amendments, must be made by legislative bodies, not
administrative boards including planning commissions. Only the Los Angeles City Council
can authorize zone changes or amend the local zoning code. Authority to approve zone
changes and amend the zoning code within
Specific Plan areas and Community Plan areas will essentially be transferred from the City
Council to the Planning Department. Specific
Plans will lose protections. New projects and
alterations to existing buildings will not have
Cont. Pg. 18.
The View from CD5
The City of Los Angeles is taking crucial
steps to emerge out of fiscal crisis. As Chair
of the Audits and Governmental Efficiency
committee, I’m making sure we crack down
on governmental waste, saving millions of
tax dollars as a result. Still, one major structural problem needs to be addressed, and
that’s our out-of-whack city pensions.
That’s why the City Council has passed the
most sweeping pension reform in City history, unanimously requesting the City Attorney draft ballot language for voters to consider in the March 2011 City election, potentially toughening the City’s pension system for sworn officers with the Los Angeles
Police Department and Los Angeles Fire Department.
The proposed changes – which must be approved by the voters – would save an estimated $152 million over 10 years, by requiring new hires to work longer and pay more
into retirement and health care systems than
current workers. Current firefighters also
agreed for the first time to contribute more
now to their retirement health costs.
I joined my colleagues in approving these
changes and now urge our residents to pass
this measure. Some argue for even greater
roll backs in pension benefits – further
changes may be considered by the Mayor and
Council over time but only after voters consider the current measure: first things first.
While changes to the City’s Police and Fire
pension system require voter approval, voter
approval is not required for the City Council
and Mayor to make changes to the pension
From the Desk of SOHA
By PAUL
KORETZ
system for the City’s civil
employees (librarians, custodians, attorneys, etc.) who
are members of the City’s LACERS pension
system.
The City’s Chief Administrative Officer last
week issued a report recommending that the
Council and Mayor adopt pension reforms
for the City’s LACERS newly-hired employees. The Council is expected to consider
these reform proposals in coming weeks.
Finally, the City Council voted overwhelmingly to further study giving jurisdiction over
the DWP’s pension plan to the City Council,
effectively removing oversight authority
from the Board of DWP Commissioners.
Under the City’s Charter, as with any
changes to the City’s Police and Fire pension system, this proposal would have to
obtain
voter
approval.
Many
Councilmembers, myself included, agreed
that this idea – which has had no actuarial
study and no analysis from the City’s City
Administrative Officer, Chief Legislative
Analyst or members of the current governing board – needed more study. This issue
was subsequently referred to committee for
further deliberation.
Still, we’re taking big strides, not baby
steps.
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By Ellen Vukovich
isn’t it about time that new large-scale developments pay their fair share for adding
to an already stressed out system? None of
this has to conflict with the city’s platform
that we need more development because it
brings jobs (actually it’s more tax revenue
to sustain the city). It’s about maintaining a
balance.
When I was writing this column, I was serenaded by the piercing background whine
of several gas powered blowers that all gardeners use. Gas powered blowers serve as
great example of a contributing factor towards our declining quality of life. They
spew dust, debris and toxic fumes and make
too much noise when a rake and broom used
to do the same job. Yes, I know they save
time. But that’s not the point. They speak to
a greater need, the need for all of us to realize we are a priceless commodity like our
planet.
Ralph’s update: The Planning Commission
approved the project. SOHA is considering
filing an appeal before the City Council. Our
objections have nothing to do with the store
requiring a much-needed update. It’s about
the city following its own Specific Plan.
Our annual Toy Drive (and our last - at the
convenient Ralph’s, Ventura and Hazeltine)
is December 5, from 11am. to 2pm. Join city
leaders, fire and LAPD personnel when you
drop off a toy for underprivileged children
in LA County (it’s the only gift these children receive). Refreshments.
Hard to believe it’s our last Community
Meeting of the year. Come listen to City
Controller Wendy Greuel on Wednesday,
November 17, Notre Dame High School,
Riverside and Woodman. Refreshments 6:15
followed by the meeting at 7:15p.m. Our next
meeting will be January 17, 2012.
Ellen Vukovich is a SOHA Boardmember and a
Sherman Oaks Homeowner.
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Making Per-Pupil Funding By Tamar Galatzan
school police and mainteWork for Our Schools from
nance to special education and elec-
The PRLP Needs an Overhaul
By Wendy Greuel
There are currently 32 red light cameras
set up at intersections throughout the City
as part of the Photo Red Light Program
(PRLP). They are designed to catch drivers
who illegally run red lights, but they are also
meant to deter accidents from occurring
because they are clear for drivers to see. My
office recently conducted an audit to look
at the effectiveness of these cameras.
The most troubling finding of the audit in
my mind is that the cameras have not actually been placed at the 32 most dangerous
intersections in the City.
For example - two intersections – La Brea
Avenue & 6th Street, and Hayvenhurst St.
& Nordhoff Ave. – where there were a combined 24 accidents and 2 fatalities from
2003-2005 were not selected. However the
intersection of Whittier Blvd. and Lorena
Street, where there were only 2 accidents
and no fatalities during the same time period, was selected. If public safety is the
number one priority of the Photo red light
program, then the most dangerous intersections should be selected.
Unfortunately we found numerous reasons
why this didn’t occur. This included placing at least one red light camera in each of
the Council Districts, weak infrastructure at
some locations and not wanting to conduct
the additional analyses required for State
controlled-intersections. Regardless of the
reasons, the cameras are only effective if
they’re placed at the most dangerous inter-
Having fidgeted through some dull board
briefings, it’s only fair I mention one that was
anything but. Last month, my colleagues and
I received a fascinating presentation from the
Budget Office on revenue allocations for socalled per pupil schools that has major implications for the financial prospects for all
LAUSD students.
The per-pupil model, which I embrace, allows schools to make many of their own budgetary decisions, rather than having them
come out of the central administration. You
might think of it as the LAUSD version of
the federal government granting more power
to the states. My support for per-pupil funding is based on the simple premise that in the
end principals, teachers, parents, and site
councils know best the needs of their own
schools. I am fully aware that not every one
will be pleased by each decision, but it’s better that these disagreements take place inside the family rather than with a downtown
bureaucrat with a one-size-fits-all answer.
The budget presentation, which charted the
flow of money from the District to the
schools, triggered a discussion over funding
priorities that could someday result in more
dollars at the school site. The District’s Budget Office arrives at a per-per-pupil rate by
taking program resources and dividing by Average Daily Attendance, and then subtracts
the amount of funds that are allocated to District-wide programs. For 2010-11, the original allocation was $6,178 per pupil, but after LAUSD took its share to fund everything
sections.
Ultimately the primary goal of the cameras is to increase public safety by reducing accidents. While we found that there
have been no fatalities at monitored intersections since the current contract was
implemented in 2006, overall we could not
document conclusively that the red light
cameras had increased public safety.
We also found that over the last 2 years it
has cost the City $2.6 million to manage
this contract. Now I believe any program
that can prevent accidents and that can prevent even one fatality from occurring is
worthwhile. It’s also important to note that
having these cameras allows police officers to help fight crime in other parts of the
City.
Overall, I think this is an important program that has shown some benefit and can
protect Angelenos if the cameras are placed
at the right intersections, but it’s important
that it not be viewed as a moneymaker – or
even as cost neutral – for the City the way
it’s currently designed
Wendy Greuel is the current City Controller of the
City of Los Angeles
REGULATING WALL STREET’S
ABUSES
I helped write the Wall Street Reform and
Consumer Protection Act – a set of historic
reforms to protect the economy of our country and the financial security of our neighbors in the San Fernando Valley. I’ve outlined some of these important reforms below.
The Act is a Tough Regulation for Wall
Street: The financial crisis exposed many
abuses by giant Wall Street firms. Consumers were targeted by unfair practices, ranging from deceptive credit card rates to risky
subprime mortgages. That is why I worked
with my colleagues on the Financial Services
Committee to ensure that the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (HR
4173) contained the strongest consumer protections. The bill creates a new, powerful
watchdog called the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, which will ensure that the
products and services sold by Wall Street to
consumers are fair and marketed honestly.
No More Bailouts: I also led the effort to
oppose TARP, the bailout for big Wall Street
banks, which unfortunately was adopted in
late 2008. As originally proposed by the Treasury Department last year, the financial reform bill contained provisions that would
have given the Treasury Department permanent, unlimited authority to bail out Wall
Street giants using taxpayer dollars.
However, I was able to lead a successful,
By Congressman
Brad Sherman
bipartisan effort to remove these bailout provisions — and the bill ends TARP immediately, thus returning $215 Billion to the
Treasury, which could otherwise fund additional Wall Street bailouts.
Requiring Fair Credit Ratings: As you may
know, bond rating agencies are the businesses that grade the creditworthiness of
private and government debts. I have long
argued that perhaps the single greatest cause
of the financial meltdown was the practice
of the credit rating agencies giving high ratings to bonds backed by questionable mortgages. Together with U.S. Senator Al
Franken (D-MN), I worked to successfully
amend the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to end conflicts of interest in the selection of rating agencies by
bond issuers. My amendment requires an
independent agency to assign credit rating
agencies impartially. Thankfully, we will
end the system where credit rating agencies
compete with each other to secure large fees
from bond issuers by giving high ratings to
bad bonds.
Congressman Brad Sherman represents roughly half of the San
Fernando Valley.
7
tricity, that figure dropped to $3,612
per pupil.
To accompany the presentation, board
members were provided with an extensive
list of district-wide programs, services, and
personnel that are funded out of the original
$6,178 allocation.
It was here where the discussion got very
interesting. As far as I am concerned, the most
thought-provoking conversation on the horizon is what programs or services should
schools be able to opt out of, and what need
to stay a district-wide priority.
Certain costs must be shared by every
school, such as insurance, school police, vehicle repairs and replacement, and hazard
mitigation. Failure to do so could destroy the
District from within, as well as lead to legal
action against LAUSD.
But why should schools with their own vibrant recycling program be required to contribute a portion of the $8.3 million — $15
per pupil – that goes toward rubbish and trash
disposal? Should schools be asked to contribute equally toward athletics, when not all
of them have the same number and level of
programs? Can the Academic Decathlon stay
alive at LAUSD if the $1 per student allocation is made optional?
I realize that this is a sensitive discussion,
which could degenerate into a dispute between schools, local districts, and even board
members. We need to be transparent and honest about any possible shifts in the funding
Cont. pg. 18
White Sofas and Other
Stupid Parenting Mistakes
Sometime in the last couple of years, without my noticing it, I turned into an ATM.
My teenage son’s own personal ATM. Going to the movies? Stop by Mom, get some
cash. Heading off to the mall? Pull a few
twenties out of Mom. This was no way to
teach a kid how to manage his money. First
of all, it was MY money and second of all,
he wasn’t managing it, all he was doing was
spending it.
I had to do something to teach him how to
be fiscally responsible otherwise he’d grow
up to become a politician. So, a few months
ago my husband and I decided to give our
13-year old an allowance.
Well, actually, our first thought was he
should get a job, but apparently there are
these pesky “child labor” laws in place that
prevented us from sending our little one over
to the nearest IHOP to earn his keep. I read
somewhere, in one of those “I’m a great
parent, here’s how you can try and be more
like me” books, that when giving a kid an
allowance, it shouldn’t be tied to doing
chores around the house.
The philosophy being that kids should do
everyday chores so they can feel like a part
of the household community. My son does
very few chores around our little burg yet
he has no trouble feeling like its Mayor.
My husband and I didn’t want to completely ignore the sage advice of those wise
self help authors, just in case they guessed
right. But we also didn’t want to keep handing over a bunch of unearned money to our
kid because, frankly, he seemed to be doing
better in this economy than we are.
So, we came up with a compromise. We instituted a weekly allowance as well as a list
of weekly chores that our son needed to do.
But, now here’s the brilliant part, we told him
they weren’t related to each other. We also
took the opportunity to let him know that he
had to manage his money. We expected him
to buy certain things (ie: his entertainment,
non-essential sports equipment, anything that
required a trip to Best Buy, and all items that
fall under the heading “It’s for my girlfriend”)
and we didn’t expect him to come ask for
more of the green stuff if he ran out of it before he got paid again.
It’s too soon to tell if it’s working. His
clothes are hung up and the dog is fed but
I’ve noticed he now has a waterbed and I
know I didn’t buy that…
Vicki Stern used to be funny when she was a writer/producer of sitcoms
for TV. Now she’s a Mom and she’s not funny anymore...just ask her kid.
Aging Parents’ Issues Surface During the Holidays
SC Firm Wins Regional Competitions
Special to the News
By Terry Stevens
Dirt Diva Designs, a Studio City
landscape design firm, recently won back-toback awards for landscape design
in two prestigious regional competitions.
The first award, from the City of Santa
Monica’s Office of Sustainability
and the Environment, was for Best Sustainable Demonstration Garden design in
the Santa Monica Airport Demonstration
Gardens Design Contest.
For the City of Santa Monica competition,
garden designs were judged on
overall design and criteria management; entries were voted on by more than
4,000 experts and community members.
Designs had to include a wide variety of
materials and techniques, including
Mediterranean plants, outdoor rooms, sustainable materials, permeable paving
and drip irrigation, as well as more technical
specifications
such
as
soil
preparation, rainwater capture and
hydrozones.
“I am so pleased to be a part of the movement toward conscious environmental
design,” said Francesca Corra, owner of Dirt
Diva Designs. “I am passionate
about sustainability and environmental beauty
and am thrilled to be able to
share my vision with the community.”
Ms. Corra’s garden design, along with two
others, will be installed at the Santa Monica
Airport.
The firm was also awarded first prize in the
“Small Residential Garden” category and second prize in the “Xeriscape” category from
By Vicki Stern
Baby boomers visiting aging parents during the holidays may be in for a shocking
surprise, warns Certified Senior Advisor and
owner of Encino based Comfort Keepers,
Sharon Sherbert. The pristine house and yard
of the past now look shabby and neglected.
Dirty dishes fill the sink and the kitchen table
is covered in crumbs. Unopened bills are
stacked haphazardly all over the
countertops. Mom seems unfocused and
Dad is having trouble getting around. It’s
clear that help is needed but what should
family members do?
Sherbert encourages clients to take advantage of the time when everyone is gathered
together to initiate a conversation with parents and family members about “what if”
scenarios and health and financial concerns.
The holidays are a good time for family
members to be alert for signs that elderly
relatives may need help. The most important thing is to look for signs of change in
mood, health and living conditions. Checkthe California Landscape Contractors Asso- ing in with people who visit the relative freciation (CLCA) for a residential property quently can indicate whether there have been
recent changes.
located in Sherman Oaks.
“It is so important to get to know your clients and get a feel for how they
live and what they love,” said Ms. Corra.
“Often it’s what they don’t think to tell you,
the thing you discover for yourself, that ends
up bringing in the magic.”
Some signs to look for include:
Personal hygiene problems
Home in disarray or needing to cleaned
Weight loss or weight gain – check for
spoiled food or insufficient food at home
Failure to manage medications or medical
appointments
Increased difficulty with mobility (such as
climbing stairs or using a bathtub)
Changes in judgment, mood or overall behavior
www.dirtdivadesigns.com
8
Increased forgetfulness – check for unopened
mail or unread newspapers
Missed bill payments or other financial difficulties
Unusual or extravagant purchases that are out
of character
Decreased social activities or failing to maintain friendships
This is a good time to talk about concerns
and ask parents what kind of help they would
like. When family or friends aren’t available,
a dependable Comfort Keeper is always
nearby.
Comfort Keepers provides in-home companion care for individuals needing assistance with activities of daily living. Services
are tailored to the individual needs of each
senior that allows them to continue living
safely and in the privacy of their own home.
Services include companionship, meal
preparation, light housekeeping, grocery
shopping, transportation, laundry, and recreational activities as well as personal care
services including bathing/showering, incontinence care, medication reminders and so
much more!
For more information or to schedule a free
in-home visit, call (818) 776-5060 or visit
them on the web at www.comfortkeepers.com
Real Estate Corner
Book Release Reception, Nov 6th as Ninety Year Old Studio City
Resident, Publishes his First Book of Short Stories
By Sylvia H. Goulden
Winfield Goulden, 90, and a Studio City
resident for over 50 years has published his
first book.
The former advertising agency executive, an
original ‘Mad Man’, announces the release
of his book of short stories titled
“GLIMPSES”. These stories, part fact, part
fiction, part autobiographical, take the reader
on an emotional rollercoaster, leaping back
and forth through time.
Starting his writing career as a copyboy with
the “New York Daily News,” Goulden later
moved to the Mutual Broadcasting Radio
Network as Press Representative, then
moved into the advertising agency field and,
for over 35 years was an Advertising/Marketing Vice President with major agencies
in New York and Los Angeles.
by Matt Epstein
The Best Time To Sell Your House
Last month my article noted that the summer
months were the worst time to sell your home
due to the extreme heat in the valley which
keeps many of the west side buyers away. I
know that you’ve been wondering, since the
last column, when the best time to sell your
home is. There are actually two times during
the year that are the BEST TIMES TO SELL
YOUR HOME.
The holiday season of November, December and January is actually one of the best
times to sell your home. A lot of people take
their homes off the market during this time
because they feel that the holidays wouldn’t
be a good time to sell. Some real estate agents
convince their clients to wait and not sell their
homes during the holidays. They might want
to go on vacation or be with their families
during this time. Because of these two reasons, the inventory of homes goes way down.
Buyers have fewer choices which makes your
home not only more appealing to those in
need, but more likely to sell at the price that
you’re looking to get. This year with mortgage rates as low as they are, there actually
might be more buyers than ever before during
this time, since no one is sure how long these
amazing rates will last. Some of my highest
sales have occurred during the holiday months.
A lot of people also think that they need to
wait until spring to list their house. They think
that there are more motivated buyers at this
time. Well, there are more buyers, and there
are more sellers, which means that the inventory is at its highest. If you’re a seller, consider putting your home on the market in Feb-
Goulden was born in Stamford, Connecticut in 1920, attended Rutgers University and
served in Europe during World War II as a
combat paratrooper and glider pilot, fighting in Normandy, France, Holland, Belgium
and Germany.
A release, book signing and Story Reading
reception with Goulden will be on Saturday,
November 6, 2010, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
at VIVA Art Center, 13261 Moorpark Street,
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. For more information: 818-761-9392.
“Glimpses” will also be available online
soon at the following locations:
www.iuniverse.com,
www.barnesandnoble.com &
www.amazon.com
Winfield Goulden
9
ruary or March instead of
waiting until spring. Once
again, because there is less inventory, you can call your shots and your
price. Now remember, there will not be as
many buyers during this time, but if your
home does sell, you are more likely to get
the price you were hoping for. And if you
don’t get your price, well then your house
will already be on the market during the
spring rush.
Another important thing to remember is that
we are still in a down market and it is very
important to price your home realistically.
Next month I will cover the age old question: To stage or not to stage?
Please send any questions or comments to
SOMATT@aol.com
Cibo Città
By Cristina Wheeler Terra
It wasn’t until 1863, in
the midst of the Civil
War, that President
Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national
Thanksgiving Day to be
held each November.
Fall is my favorite time
of year. Who says California doesn’t have seasons? I definitely feel a shift in the weather.
The leaves are changing and the air is crisp,
filled with the scents of cinnamon and pumpkin. Autumn is here and the Holidays are
among us. As a lover of food, I am proud to
say that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite
days of the year, for all of the delicious reasons. I have so much to be thankful for, and
am so excited for my mom’s incredible candied yams and my dad’s famous sausage
stuffing.
For the culinary challenged, I have done my
research and found the restaurants that are
serving Thanksgiving dinner. That’s right,
your pristine oven can stay clean and shiny.
These menus are exceptionally mouth-watering. If I didn’t love to cook so much I’d be
first in line to try one of these scrumptious
dinners. Some of these restaurants don’t have
the final Thanksgiving menu and prices just
yet, I have added their phone numbers so be
sure to call and find out the details when the
Holiday gets closer!
Sportsmen’s Lodge: 12825 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City 91604 (818) 769-4700
Sportsmen’s Lodge is a cozy hotel, perfect
for Thanksgiving Dinner. Two can dine for
just $39.95 and this includes: sliced fresh
roasted turkey, sitting on a bed of cranberry
stuffing glazed with special champagne
Chambord liquor sauce. Candied yams,
mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh vegetables,
and bread and butter are also included.
Wine Bistro: 11915 Ventura Blvd. Studio
City 91604 (818) 766-6233 One of my favorite bistros in Studio City will be serving
Thanksgiving dinner! The menu showcases
French gourmet Thanksgiving offerings, such
as Butternut Squash soup with fresh ginger
and green apple chips, sweet corn and bell
pepper torte with Mache, roasted walnuts and
pomegranate seeds, free-range roasted tur-
key with brioche and sage stuffing, whipped
Idaho potatoes, country cranberry sauce, and
top it all off, pecan, pumpkin, or apple pie
topped with Dandy Don’s French Vanilla Icecream, all for a mere $27 per person. Ask for
JB, he is the fabulous owner who is known
for pairing the perfect wines with your meal.
Bucca Di Beppo: 1000 Universal Studios
Boulevard. Universal City 91608 (818) 8246576 Mangia! Bucca Di Beppo is so fun and
entertaining, you almost forget how delicious
the food is! Buca serves family-style dishes
in an eclectic, vintage setting. Thanksgiving
Dinner is served ala Italiano, with selections
such as Turkey, Spicy Italian Sausage stuffing flavored with garlic sage and parmesan,
and cranberry for just $24.99. Top it off with
a Pumpkin Canoli: $10.95. Che Buona!
“HOT” Recipe of the Month
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and
spending too much time in the kitchen can
take time away from family and friends.
Streamline your Thanksgiving meal planning
with these easy side dishes.
Glazed Yams
Cooking along side of my Italian mother, she
taught me this quick and easy way to prepare delicious holiday yams. Save room and
time in your oven for your pies and turkey.
These stovetop yams are not your typical way
of preparing this side dish. It’s quick, easy
and delicious, these yams can be used as a
side dish anytime of the year! The buttery
flesh and brown sugar flavor makes them a
memorable dish!
Daily Grill: Burbank Marriott Hotel: 2500 Ingredients 4 medium yams (unpeeled)
N Hollywood Way. Burbank 91505
(818) 840-6464 If you’re craving a traditional
4 tablespoons butter
Thanksgiving dinner, the Daily Grill offers
1/8 cup orange juice
just that. The special Thanksgiving menu offers items such as Sweet Butter Roasted Tur3 tablespoons brown sugar
key served with Stuffing, Red Mashed Potatoes, Glazed Carrots and Cranberry Sauce. Be
Pinch of salt
sure to make reservations, this restaurant is
sure to be busy.
Boil or microwave yams until cooked. Do not
Gyu-Kaku Sherman Oaks:14457 Ventura
Blvd. Sherman Oaks 91423 (818) 501-5400
Gyu-Kaku is a fun restaurant with shared
plates and entertaining atmosphere. This is
great place for a family who likes to nibble
off of each other’s plates. Gyu-Kaku has created delicious courses for your Holiday Dinner. Be sure to call or check out their website
for further information. www.gyu-kaku.com
over cook. Slice yams in half, lengthwise.
In a large skillet, melt butter over medium
heat. Add orange juice and brown sugar.
Heat until all ingredients become glazed,
about 2 to 3 minutes. Stirring constantly.
Place yams slice side down in skillet. Let
cook for two to three minutes, spooning the
mixture on top on the yams. Then turn yams
Henry’s Hat: 3413 Cahuenga West. Studio City 91604 (323) 512-2200 Henry’s Hat
is perfect for those who are craving comfort
food. The menu features all of the familiar
dishes for lunch, dinner, and brunch. There is
also a full bar, with innovative and classic
cocktails. If you’d like to watch the football
games while dining, there are 15 televisions
conveniently located throughout the restaurant. Enjoy!
Pinot Bistro: 12969 Ventura Blvd. Studio
City 91604 (818) 990-0500 Pinot Bistro is
outing a gourmet twist on the traditional
Thanksgiving dishes. The Thanksgiving menu
items include Roasted Pumpkin Soup,
Roasted Turkey with Sweet Potato Gratin and
Pumpkin and Hazelnut Religieuse. Just $45
Cont. pg. 21
10
With Anna Terra
www.annaterra.com
over and continue to cook for
2 minutes. Place yams on
platter and drizzle juices from
skillet on top. Serves 4
Stuffing with an “Italian Twist”
Mix up the old traditional stuffing with
Italian Sausage. Replace ground beef with
a touch of Italy! You can use the hot or
sweet sausage, or combine the both.
These flavors absorb into the bread and
create a very unique flavor!
Ingredients
1 lb. Italian Sausage, Hot or Mild
1 large onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, diced
1 914-oz) package stuffing
2 ½ cups chicken broth
½ cup melted butter
¼ cup dried cranberries (optional)
Directions
In a large skillet over medium heat, crumble
sausage. Add onion and celery and cook,
stirring occasionally until sausage is brown.
In a large bowl, place cubed stuffing. Add
Cont. pg. 21
BANQ
UETS CA
TERING WE DELIVER
BANQUETS
CATERING
www.VitellosRestaurant.com
11
No 14
A Wonderland of Sweets and Treats
is the only upscale boutique in
greater LA for women size 12 and
up. From classic clothing, with a
flair, to the unusual fun and funky.
From comfortable business to casual or dressy special occasion;
Abundance has it all!
ABUNDANCE
A Plus-size Boutique
13604 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks
818.990.6128
Sweet Harts is a one stop sweet shop that is sure to satisfy even
the pickiest sweet tooth! Our selection of goodies is endless.
We offer frozen yogurt, sorbet, gelato, ice cream, a wide variety of baked goods, hot beverages, and even walls of candy.
Sweet Harts also boasts a unique party room that is perfect for
birthday parties, fundraisers, bachelorette parties, baby showers, company events, and so much more. To top it off, we are
now offering gift baskets, boxes, and bags that are both premade and made to order with anything and everything found
in our shop. Sweet Harts truly is the perfect destination for kids
and adults of all ages. Just come in and see for yourself!
13704 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, 91423 818.788.5004
11am-10pm Weekdays 10am-11pm Weekends
http://www.sweethartssweets.com/
www.taylrzjoynt.com
taylrzjoyntboutique@yahoo.com
12
November 2010
13
Wise, Donna Russo from the Sportsmen’s
Lodge Hotel, realtor Dios DiLorenzo and
Guy and Diane Weddington, who was honored for setting up the Key Clubs at East
Valley and North Hollywood High Schools.
The owners of Skinny’s Lounge are Jeremy Thomas, Jeff Stein, and Simon Jones,
three guys that have lots of experience with
clubs. Thomas and Stein operated the successful Burgundy Room and then The Room
The boys of Skinny’s
in Hollywood, two cocktail lounges that presaged the Mad Men cocktail craze and were
influential in the revitalization of the
Cahuenga club corridor in Hollywood.
Simon Jones was involved with Beauty Bar,
also on Cahuenga, where a girl could have a
manicure and a martini at the same time. The
three opened Skinny’s three years ago on
Lankershim Boulevard at the southern entrance to the Noho Arts District. The club
features live music and dancing and Thomas
told me they are very open to supporting the
local arts and will feature different types of
entertainment on different nights. On weekends there can be a line so best to go on a
Monday or Wednesday when you can see
some live music by singer
songwriters and bands. The owners were on hand to host a party
and a ribbon cutting on Oct. 25 as
the Universal City North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
President Jack Witt wielded the
giant scissors. Chamber members
were introduced to the swanky but
comfortable night club by being
treated to a free cocktail. We can
report that the lemon drop was superb and the Cadillac margarita
was also mixed to perfection. Drinks were
paired with a selection from several food
trucks parked outside. A plate of marinated
pork on plantains from Café Con Leche, the
new food truck from Miami, was a fan favorite.
DiLorenzo and Goodman
grader Ani Hesse from the San Fernando Valley Professional School entertained the officers, directors, members and guests that included President Carson Schreiber, Vice
President Joe Goodman, publisher Barry
The second annual Installation and Awards
dinner for the Kiwanis Entertainment Industry Group of Studio City was at Carla’s Café
at CBS Studio Center on Wednesday, October 13. Alumnus Ashley Madison and fifth
On Saturday, October 23, artist Edward
Walton Wilcox unveiled at HotRod a limited edition run of his art on t-shirts, decks
(skateboards without the trucks (wheels) )
and a few limited edition giclees. The show
at the West side shop was a joint venture of
Wilcox and HotRod’s Cameron Postforoosh.
The art available included “Trashed,”
“Monocle” and the iconic “The Hollywood
Sign.”
Owner Cameron explained to me that
HodRod was a store that allowed collectors
to buy items of limited issue, like one-of-akind basketball shoes, limited run sunglasses, and art items. Once the items are
no longer available, their owners auction
them off on E-Bay for big bucks.
Meg Whitman would be proud.
Cameron hopes to do more with
Wilcox in the future.
Seen around the SC: Shannon
Sheeley Burg, son of songwriter
Sharon Sheeley, songwriter and
girlfriend of rocker Eddie
Cochran, getting a sandwich at Studio Sub in Tujunga Village.
Postforoosh with Wilcox showing a deck with Wilcox’s “Trashed”
14
Health Care Innovation Debuts in the Valley
By Christopher Davidson
going to cost prior to
Have you received a
doing it. This makes
medical bill recently
it nearly impossible
and nearly had your
to shop around for
own medical emerthat cholesterol
gency due to the unexblood test or MRI
pected, high cost of
of
the spine.
your treatment?
HealthyPrice.com is
Many people who are
a revolution in this
uninsured or have high
regard. Users simply
deductible plans find
go online, select the
their out-of-pocket
procedure they need,
costs for medical care
view the list price,
skyrocketing.
and purchase it via
S t u d i o C i t y
credit card.
Urologists Michael Hyman (L) and Philip
Weintraub founded HealthyPrice.com earlier this year.
resident,Michael
Hyman, MD and his partner Philip
HealthyPrice.com prices range from a
Weintraub, MD decided to do something general doctor visit ($95) to a specialist conabout it and recently launched an innova- sultation ($135) to a blood cholesterol lab
tive company called HealthyPrice.com.
test ($7) to a CAT scan ($400). All doctors
HealthyPrice.com provides discounted must pass a rigorous screening process. “Inprices for physician visits, specialists, lab surance companies pre-negotiate their fees.
tests, MRIs, and hundreds of procedures and Why shouldn’t cash-payers also get distests
purchased
through
the counted pricing?” said Dr. Weintraub.
HealthyPrice.com website. The providers
“HealthyPrice.com gives cash-paying paare in the Burbank-area as well as Whittier tients access to reasonable prices and great
and Torrance. “Many of our patients have doctors.”
lost their insurance coverage,” said Dr.
By avoiding the expensive and time-conHyman.
suming collections process required by in“They are paying cash for their medical surance companies, doctors view
care. We felt there had to be an easier way HealthyPrice.com as a win for them and
for them to get reasonable pricing and to their patients.
know upfront how much their care is going
to cost.” A major issue in the medical field
is transparency in pricing—you just can’t
find out how much a procedure or a test is
15
Freelance Writers Wanted
Don Grigware
Valley Curtain Call With
www.grigwaretalkstheatre.com
To be frank, John van Druten’s works, which include I Am a Camera and The Voice of the Turtle,
as well as Bell, Book and Candle, may be considered dated, because sadly plays are no longer
written with such style and wit. And who dotes on
love and just being human in the 21st century?
There’s no time; it’s unheard of! The Colony Theatre in Burbank proudly presents van Druten’s
amusing and cherished play about witchcraft, Bell,
Book and Candle, that may very well have inspired TV’s Bewitched, with a delightful cast under Richard Israel’s nourishing direction through
November 21.
Once you accept the fact that Gillian (Willow
Geer) is a witch, who is out to get what she wants
to the perilous consequences of others, and that
her entire family, including brother Nicky (Will
Bradley) andAunt Queenie (Mary Jo Catlett) have
magical powers, you’re hooked. There’s also a
handsome neighbor, Shepherd Henderson
(Michael A. Newcomer) that Gillian wants - especially when she learns that her despicable former
college roommate is engaged to him, and an enchanting author Sidney Redlitch (Benton
Jennings) who, through a spell, comes into and
touches all of their lives. It’s great fun!
Geer as Gillian is a gem of an actress. She plays
the alluring, conniving element divinely and beautifully manages to convey the humanity that suddenly consumes her. Newcomer is attractive, appealing and completely likeable as Henderson.
Bradley does well underplaying Nicky - a difficult rather nondescript role that an actor could
easily push for laughs as did Jack Lemmon in the
film. Bradley makes him his own without going
over the top. Catlett is sheer delight as Aunt
Queenie, adding touches of eccentricity here and
there, but , like Bradley, keeping her within control. Jennings makes his few scenes as Redlitch
memorable by playing an unpredictable oddball.
Stephen Gifford has designed a
classy 50s New York apartment and Sharon
McGunigle’s period costumes are effectively colorful, especially Gillian’s satiny dresses and
Queenie’s spiritualist-like headgear, caftans and
wraps. With indifference and selfish isolation rampant in our contemporary world,Bell, Book and
Candle is a gentle and graceful reminder of how
much we need to open up and be human. Plus,
it’s the perfect holiday treat!
Stephanie Zimbalist is essaying Katharine
Hepburn in Matthew Lombardo’s play Tea at Five
at the Falcon Theatre through November 14.
Lombardo’s script is crisp and well written, laced
with abundant humor, and clearly separating the
young fiery, insecure Hepburn from the older
more stable one. Jenny Sullivan’s direction of
Zimbalist is admirable. The pacing is brisk and
she keeps the actress in perpetual motion.
Zimbalist is a miraculous actor, who immerses
herself fully in the characterization, never fearing
to dig deep. Her performance is nothing short of
brilliant, so catch it as well!
Sterling’s Upstairs @ Vitello’s presented Cissy
Conner in The Farewell Tour on Sunday October 24 with musical director Shelly Markham.
Conner is one of my favorite actresses, for she is
fearless and goes where others fear to tread. The
same is true of her nightclub act, in which she
does some hilarious impressions of Kate Hepburn,
Cher, and Loretta Lynn- talking and singing. She’s
the best! Upcoming in November @ Sterling’s
are Barbara Van Orden on November 7 and
Maura Smith on November 14!
Get involved in your local community. The Studio City
Sherman Oaks Encino News Writers seeks writers to
report on local events, news, politics, and school sports
for our monthly newspaper.
Some writing experience preferred. Send writing
samples to bigvalleypublications@gmail.com
Studio City Sherman Oaks Encino News
JOIN US
We’re looking for ONE outside salesperson to represent the
NEWS to all the merchants in the east valley.
If you love the NEWS and think getting to know your local merchants could be fun, call us.
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.
Make your own hours. Commission only.
Email resume to Bigvalleypublications@gmail.com
Happy, happy Thanksgiving!
Ne
xt Adoption Ev
ent: Dec 12 2010
Next
Event:
16
New Releases
The Pacific Ten
Part Mini Series
Cast
Joseph Mazzello
James Badge Dale
Jon Seda
Ben Chisholm
Chris Milligan
Ashton Holmes
Rami Malek
Tom Hanks
This 10-part miniseries from the creators of “Band of
Brothers” tells the
intertwined stories of three Marines ( John
Basilone, Eugene Sledge, Robert Leckie) and
their battles with the Japanese during the Island hopping campaign in the Pacific during
World War II. While it is a fine looking study
of men at war and the horrors both physical
and mental that these men must face, the series falls rather short.
“The Pacific” is Hanks and Spielberg’s 200
million dollar HBO WWII miniseries. But
it is not the brilliant 2001 WWII series “Band
Of Brothers” that was their first miniseries.
In “Band Of Brothers” the viewer follows a
paratroop company through the last two years
of the war in Europe with a tight, well written narrative. In “The Pacific,” from Pearl
Harbor to VJ day the viewer follows three
Marines who are not even together, but separated in three divisions. Not only does this
make the series rather rambling, it also tends
to be confusing as hell, even to me and I’m a
military historian.
The reason for the disconnect is that the Pacific” has a last minute feel to it, like it was
thrown at the last minute because the men
who were to take part in the opening sequences ie, the men who took part in the actual fight, were either dying or were already
dead of old age. Basilone himself was killed
at Iwo Jima in 1945, and the other two,
Sledge and Leckie died before filming
started.
Because of this, there is no personal bond
between viewer and protagonist like there
was in “Band of Brothers.” Instead the
viewer is treated to a few old guys, talking
about how tough the Island war was and not
the main characters who are dead. So there
is no personal involvement. As far as the
audience is concerned, these guys could have
come from Central Casting just as easily as
they could have known Sledge, Leckie, and
Basilone.
The basic premise is flawed since the narrative is based primarily on two memoirs
“With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa” by Eugene Sledge and “Helmet for
My Pillow” by Robert Leckie. Basilone (Jon
Seda) is included only because he won the
Medal of Honor at Guadacanal in the
Solomon Islands, which was the US Marines
first action in the Island Campaign. Since
Eugene Sledge, (an excellant Joe Mazzello)
and Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale) were
not even in the Marines yet, they saw their
first action in 1943, but no Marine would ever
do a series about the Pacific War without including the hell above ground of the ‘canal
so Basilone had to be inserted. Besides, his
actions were heroic and deserve mention.
But, because the other two men are in
seperate divisions we never see the three together. What is lacking in the series is the
intimacy of knowing the two of the characters. The viewers are kept at a distance almost as if the character (Basilone) doesn’t
want to let you in.
The best part of “The Pacific” happens
when that changes by Episode IV. At last we
are introduced to Sledge and instant sympathy and connection with him is achieved, here
is this shy, awkward eighteen year old desperately longing to fight in a war but unable
to do so thanks to a heart murmer. His determination gets him through. When the sole
focus is on Sledge this series reaches its incredible potential and becomes something
truly amazing, Sledge and his journey is really the heart and soul of this series. Joe
Mazzello’s Sledge has such intense and
subtle power: his character goes from a naive teenager to hardened killing machine full
of rage, Sledge is beginning to lose himself,
he has become ruthless.
Yet face to face with his darkness while killing Japanese civilians on Okinawa he regains
his humanity, his compassion and his redemption. I cannot close this section without making mention of Rami Malek who
plays Corporal Merriell Shelton or “Snafu”,
a highly intriguing character who forms a
close friendship with Sledge. Shelton is a
racist “good ole boy” from the South, and he
is a born killer. His character is incredibly
creepy and odd, numbed by the horrors of
the war, but yet there is something there that
is likable. Malek becomes the role, every
mannerism, twitch, blink of the eye is perfect. His deadpan delivery of lines such as
“I like to watch the new guys sweat.” are said
with such odd intensity it’s attention getting.
He certainly deserves an Emmy. We shall
see.
The series as a history is oddly flat. Some
of the biggest Pacific battles like Tarawa are
excluded since none of the protagonists’ divisions were there. Iwo Jima is only mentioned in passing since it is Sgt. Basilone’s
last battle. Yet, it shows that the Pacific theater was a different kind of war than that of
the fighting in Europe. It is a gritty, gory depiction of a war against not just the
Japanese,who are alien; both mysterious and
ferocious, but also the elements as well. What
makes “The Pacific” good is the intense realism which brings the viewer into the battle
from the safety of the arm chair. If one wants
to experience there is hell on earth, it will be
found here.
So, even though it suffers from major flaws,
the series is still a haunting experience, one
of horror, humor, sadness, and joy. Stick
with it through the first three episodes and
see then for yourself.
after the last one. Does this mean the francise is stale, a letdown, or over the hill? Not
really. TS3. arrives in competent, functional
3-D, still works. There is humor, sadness,
sheer joy, and pathos all wrapped up in a
single film.
TS3 is not just for kids. No, you can see it
with your family or see it by your self. The
scriptwriter hits every beat and lifts the
viewer up on clouds of visual atmosphere.
Pixar recognizes that we were all kids once.
And they feed that yearning the way
Spielberg has done for years, by creating a
sense of childhood fantasy. It is that suspension of disbelief we willingly accept as kids,
but have forgotten in cynical adulthood. Fear
not. Pixar animation allows us to find it once
more.
The story is rather simple. Cowboy Woody
(Tom Hanks) and astronaut Buzz Lightyear
(Tim Allen) lead a band of toys in peril.
Andy, their owner, has grown up and is leaving home, for college. Like most young
adults coming of age, he has left his playthings behind.
However, because of sentimental reasons,
he arranges for them to be placed in the attic. Misguided parents who arbitrarily decide that a clean break is best (who wants
old toys in an attic, anyway?) kicks them to
the curb. Literally. The toys are put in trash
bags and left to be picked up on the street.
Writer Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine) through a clever piece of story manipulation equates that the toys enter the “system” paralleling unwanted children entering
social services. The system in this case is
the Sunnyside Day Care Center, where unwanted toys go to be destroyed by cynical
kids. (The underlying theme here is interesting, children will take care of their own
toys, but will eagerly dismantle those that
they are not responsible for.) The problem
Toy Story 3
D: Lee Unkrich
Cast (Voice)
Tom Hanks,
Tim Allen
Timothy Dalton
Michael Keaton
Ned Beatty
John Ratzenberger
Joan Cusack
Wallace Shawn
Don Rickles
Estelle Harris
Jodi Benson
Kristen Schaal
Pixar’s animated Toy Story franchise will
release Toy Story 3, (TS3) DVD 11 years
is that Lightyear and Cowboy Woody are old
in toy years. As are their compatriots. The
kids believe that old means that they are disposable. While new means they should be
preserved.
Andy’s toys, besides ducking grasping pulling hands and stomping shoe heels, are going through their own angst. Why would
Andy, who they were devoted to, abandon
them to this hell? What did they to deserve
this. It is almost like a band of worshippers
who have been forsaken by their God. What
can they do to make it right? Even the sage
Cowboy Woody is confused while Buzz
Lightyear has had his speech module
switched to Spanish so he is no help at all.
When it is apparent that the battered toys
will be disposed of by incineration, Woody
decides it is time for a jail break. The adventures that the toys undergo on their journey towards home is both scary one moment,
and hilarious the next.
Most of the original cast have returned, including cowgirl Jessie (Joan Cusack), Hamm
(John Ratzenberger), T-Rex (Wallace
Shawn), the Blonde Barbie (Jodi Benson)
and the Potato Heads (Don Rickles and
Estelle Harris). However, at the Center they
meet new toys like the foolish triceratops
Trixie (Kristen Schaal) a Shakespeare-spouting hedgehog (Timothy Dalton) while Barbie
meets up with Ken, gaily voiced by Michael
Keaton who has spent way to much time in
the closet. (It also confirms what I suspected
about Ken, but I digress).
TS3 is a good time. Still, this richly detailed storyline is much more emotional than
its predecessors. Lee Unkrich has given us a
dark complex story with heart break, yet
shows that hope springs eternal. It is one of
the year’s best.
Stephen Phenow is currently writing a horror script
forLimelight Productions
Expires
11/17/10
Not to be combined with any other offer
17
Burbank) Suggested donation: $15. For info/
reservations/group discount sales - 818 886SING
Cont.from Pg. 1
Studio City www.studiocityresidents.org
Thursday November 11
Encino Chamber of Commerce monthly
mixer at Larsen’s Restaurant, 16101 Ventura
Blvd., Suite 270, Encino 5:30-7:00pm.
For
info
call
818-789-4711.
www.encinochamber.org
The Valley Watercolor Society meets the 2nd
Thursday of the month at the Encino Community Center 4935 Balboa Blvd. Encino.
Donation $5, Refreshments served. Call 818407-0828 for more info.
Friday Saturday November 12-13
The Friends of the Encino-Tarzana branch
of the Los Angeles Public Library will hold
their Used Book Sale. 10 am to 5 pm. There
will be a broad selection of fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, cds, dvds and audio
books — all at bargain prices. 18231 Ventura
Blvd., Tarzana, CA 91356. 818-343-1983.
Saturday,
November
13
Women on the Move will perform at the
Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio
City,12355 Moorpark St Studio City,CA.
Enjoy music of love & laughter along
with songs of the beloved Joni Mitchell.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For Further information call the office at 1-818-769-5911.
Saturday Sunday November 13-14
8th International Student Film Festival features 65 films from students around the
world. Open to the public. Beverly Garland
Hotel, 4222 Vineland, Studio City
Wednesday November 17
Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association The
Meeting begins at 7:15 p.m. with a Social
Hour starting at 6:15 p.m. The Meeting is
held at Notre Dame High School located at
13645 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks. Special guest, City Controller Wendy Greuel discusses City Audits – is Anyone Listening?
And The City Budget – What Needs To Be
Done. Info at 818-377-4590
Studio City Neighborhood Council. Board
of Directors meets the third Wednesday of
each month. CBS Studio Center Annex 1
Meeting room. 4024 Radford Ave. Studio
City enter Gate A to be directed to the meeting. All Council meetings are open to the
public. You are welcome participate and encouraged to attend. Meeting agendasare
posted at least 72 hours before each meeting
on this website, the Studio City Public Library, outside the gate of CBS Studio Center, Carpenter Elementary School and Studio City Recreational Center. 818-655-5400
Thursday November 18
Universal City North Hollywood Chamber
of Commerce is having their After-Work
Mixer at the Sportsmen’s Lodge Hotel. Executive chef Bryan Gross will be serving
some special dishes for mixing and mingling
pleasure. 12826 Ventura Blvd. Studio City.
5:30-8pm. 818-508-5155 for info.
Sunday November 21
River Oaks Chorus Annual Show
“Dreams of Broadway” - A musical revue
featuring songs from on (and off) Broadway
2 P.M. Hall of Liberty, Forest Lawn, 6300
Forest Lawn Drive(Hollywood Hills/
Saturday November 27
Book sale Friends of the Studio City Branch
Library. 12511 Moorpark Street 10am-2pm
Ongoing
Every Tuesday
Studio City Sherman Oaks Rotary Club
meets for lunch every Tuesday at the
Sportsmen’s Lodge Hotel. 11:45. 12825
Ventura Blvd. For more info call John at 818981-0339
.RiverOaks, a 4-part, female barbershopstyle a capella performance chorus welcomes
guests and potential members to weekly
Tuesday night rehearsals at 7-9:30 p.m. at
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Auditorium,
14646 Sherman Way, Van Nuys.
www.riveroakschorus.org.
2nd and 4th Wednesday
Studio City Kiwanis Entertainment Industry
Group meets at Aura Nightclub. 6pm, 12215
Ventura Blvd., Studio City.
Classes & Lectures, Sports & Recreation
Meditate at Valley Institute of Visual Arts
Weekly on Mondays, 7:00pm–8:30pm
The Britanny Foundation Precious Dogs
Adoptions at Encino Farmers’ Market, 8am1pm Sunday - August 22, September 19,
October 17 17400 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys,
CA 91406 (Between Balboa Blvd. and
White
Oak)
Info
Web
site:
BrittanyFoundation.com
Small, Medium & Large dog adoptions, Every Saturday, noon to 6pm at the Book Star,
12136 Ventura Blvd., Studio City 91604
(1/4 block west of Laurel Canyon Blvd.) See
Web Sites: Kinder4Rescue.org &
ProjectFlyingChihuahuas.org
Through Dec. 4 25PPH (Plays per hour)
The rebirth of the “Super-Short,” Theatre
Unleashed will showcase 25 short original
plays featuring a handful of the company’s
premiere actors playing over 50
characters…in one hour. Fusing comedy,
drama and everything in between, these
amazing pieces are set in a specific order to
provide an emotional crux and unique thruline to create a theatrical journey for you the
audience in 60 minutes or less. It’s speed
theatre at its best! Fridays and Saturdays, 8
p.m.
Followed each night by performances of
Merry Filthy Christmas No show on Friday,
Nov. 26 or Saturday, Nov. 27
Sidewalk Studio Theatre, 4150 Riverside Dr.
Toluca Lake, CA 91505
For further information call: (818) 849-4039
www.theatreunleashed.com
RETROFITTING & REO
FIX -_UP SPECIALISTS
(818) 340-3060
License No. #505706
Cont.from Pg. 1
Streamline
son; he believes it limits the power of the zoning administrator. In a section that specifies
conditions for opening a restaurant, the original code says: “The zoning administrator
shall require and make all the following
findings...that the use will be compatible with
the surrounding neighborhood.... and the
hours of operation [of the restaurant] will not
negatively impact the surrounding neighborhood.”
The revised code reads “The zoning administrator shall find... that the hours of operation [of the restaurant] shall not adversely
affect or further degrade the neighborhood.”
Walker writes: “The goal of the Director
should be to determine that the project should
not only be compatible with the surroundings but also that it enhances them. We disagree that the threshold for approval should
be that the project... does not “further degrade” its surroundings.”
This section of the zoning code, however,
is very specific about the conditions for opening a restaurant, both in the original form and
in Rothmann’s revision. Other provisions in
the section state that the kitchen should contain a kitchen and tables for sit-down patrons,
and be located more than 600 feet from a hospital, church, school , park, playground or
youth facility. This is very specific and not
general language. It leaves little room for interpretation by a zoning administrator, and
the comment that a project “should enhance”
the neighborhood is actually suggesting a
change that’s more general, and leaves more
latitude.
Hopefully the workshops will clear up these
Cont. from pg. 6
Christopher Davidson is a Studio City resident.
He can be reached at cdmitridavidson@gmail.com
Silver
projects and alterations to existing buildings
will not have to comply with existing Specific Plan requirements. This will apply to
all Community Plan areas in the City. New
projects and alterations to existing buildings
will not have to comply with existing Community Plan requirements.
Specific Plan exceptions granted by the
Planning Department will become more difficult to overturn. The new applicable standard will become: “Does not further degrade
the neighborhood.” On this basis, zoning
adjustments in Community Plan will be significantly more difficult to appeal.
Neighborhood Councils will no longer receive Early Notification notices of many
major land use projects in their areas. This
will abridge their charter-protected right to
advise the City on significant issues. Oversized density-bonus projects, homeless shelters, recycling centers, mini-shopping centers and other projects with negative impacts
will be easier to build because of the lower
standards for approval.
The proposed ordinance prepared by the
Planning Department takes an atomistic approach by parsing the zoning code changes
into nine separate ordinances. This will make
it more difficult for the public to understand
and recognize overall project impacts.
The proposed ordinance will result in significant environmental impacts including increased traffic, reduce scenic views, building shadow impacts, degraded infrastructure,
more air pollution, water reclamation and
storm water runoff impacts that have not been
identified by the City.
The consequences for growth and environmental degradation in Los Angeles are significant. State law requires that significant
18
misconceptions. In an interview at City Hall
a few days after the Oct. 14th hearing, Bell
said: “We think this is a great opportunity
for people to get engaged in the planning process, and make it more clear and accessible.”
Rothmann and his staff are still drafting zoning simplification ordinances two through
nine, and they plan to present three of these
drafts for comments during the November
workshops.
“The zoning code uses arcane language,”
Rothmann said. “It’s not a good guide for
development. In order to comply, we often
have to answer the same question in five different ways. Since we can’t afford to hire a
consultant to rewrite the code completely,
we’re drafting ‘bandaid’ fixes for the most
problematic sections.”
Workshops will be held in Harbor City on
Wed. Nov 11; West LA on Sat. Nov 13; The
San Fernando Valley on Wed Nov 17, and
Northeast LA on Wed Nov 20. The San
Fernando Valley workshop on November 17
takes place from 5 PM to 9 PM in the first
floor meeting room of the Van Nuys City
Hall, AKA Marvin Braude Center, 6262 Van
Nuys Boulevard in Van Nuys. The workshop
will include a welcome and overview of the
Code Amendments, and three 45-minute
breakout sessions to discuss each proposed
group of revisions — Core Findings, Multiple Approvals, and Planned Unified Development.
environmental impacts be identified and mitigated before any major new initiatives are
implemented. There has been no mandated
review of the cumulative impacts of the nine
ordinances and little or no effective public
outreach of this proposed ordinance. In this
era of public distrust of government it is incumbent upon the Planning Department to
maintain the highest standards of transparency.
Perhaps the City should slow down the entitlement process, rather than speed it up with
the Core Findings changes. This would help
meter the flow of new construction, and allow for a more thoughtful and analytical
study of new developments and their environmental and infrastructure impacts.
Given the obvious significant environmental impacts that the Core Findings Ordinance
will create, an EIR is clearly needed, rather
than the flawed Negative Declaration. The
Planning Commission should reject this
flawed ordinance and remand it to the Planning Department to prepare a full and thorough EIR The proposed ordinance prepared
by the Planning Department takes an atomistic approach by parsing the zoning code
changes into nine separate ordinances.
Gerald A. Silver is President of Homeowners of Encino. He
serves on the Ventura Blvd. Specific Plan Review Board (PRB).
He can be reached at gsilver4@earthlink.net.
Cont.from pg. 7
Galatzan
formula. But it’s a discussion that must take
place – especially in the midst of a terrible
budget crisis. This District and Board must
do all it can to offer students the best education that a dwindling pool of money can buy.
Tamar Galatzan represents more than 100 Valley
schools on the LA Unified Board of Education.
iTeen
Turkey, potatoes, family, relaxing, and having a good time is what comes to mind when
Thanksgiving is thought about. Like many
people, that is what I do during thanksgiving. This year for Thanksgiving, my family
and I are traveling up to Auburn, CA to have
a good time and turkey at my aunt and
uncle’s house. We have traveled up to their
house for the past two years, and this is what
almost everyday consists of. Day 1: Arrive
at 3pm. Sit down. Talk. Eat dinner. Sit back
down. Talk again. Play Cards. Watch a
movie. Fall asleep. Day 2: Hike. Breakfast.
Play Cards. Talk. Cook turkey. Have turkey.
Talk. Talk. Go to bed.
This is really fun for me, because I rarely
get to see my cousins that live up there, and
it is also a great time to hang out with my
family. I believe that the most important aspect of Thanksgiving is that it has no ties to
any religion, and there is no giving of gifts
during this holiday. As much as I love getting gifts, it is nice to have a holiday where
everyone can participate.
Every year when my family sits around the
table and says what we are thankful for, that
is the most important thing about this holiday for me. I love this so much because as
messed up as our country is in this economic
downturn, we are still thankful. I am thankful for life, my family, my friends, my happiness, my freedom in the U.S., my religion,
By Jon Epstein
age 13
my imagination, and I am the
most thankful for being loved.
If you would like to share
what you are thankful for,
please email me, I would love to hear from
you. Thanksgiving has been around for hundreds of years, and is still a tradition today,
but this year, my family is going to change
the tradition. We are still having a turkey, but
the main event is going to be the Mac &
Cheese cooking contest. We are going to see
who can make the best Mac & Cheese. I have
a great recipe, but if any one of you readers
think that your recipe is better than mine, I
would love a challenge.
If you send me
a recipe, I will try it out, and then next month
will reveal the best Mac & Cheese out there.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Questions? Comments?
jjoonnyy16@aim.com
Contact
me
at
Crespi Drama Outgrows Its Walls
By Christopher Aichler
In the past five years, Crespi Drama
has been slowly building a reputation as
one of the San Fernando Valley’s foremost drama programs. The past two
weeks’ performances of Bram Stoker’s
classic “Dracula” have certainly lived up
to that reputation, selling out every night
of the six performances.
This year’s production saw a lot of
changes from the previous years, using
a scrim backdrop instead of the traditional set structure. “I wanted to give it
a dream-like quality” said director Brian
Sheehan, a Julliard alumnus and previous member of the New York Theatre.
The lighting and sound took a step forward, using new systems to further the
theatre experience. “Dracula” undoubtedly used far more components than any
prior production, with assistant director
Chris Knabenshue orchestrating a Chris
Angel-esque levitation trick. Some of the
technical innovations were still new,
however, and unsteady.
Nonetheless, Crespi easily found its
footing with its ability to create energy
onstage. Scenes such as the first battle
between Dracula and Van Helsing took
one out of the play and put them somewhere much darker.
Sheehan and Knabenshue received extra help this year with directing from
actress and Crespi mom Melissa Gilbert.
Gilbert, (“Hawthrone”) fresh from a
Broadway performance of “Little House
on the Prairie,” decided to get involved
after her son elected to join Crespi
Drama. Gilbert said that she immediately
felt welcomed into the community and
that she hopes to do it again next year.
In light of the phenomenal box office
sales, technological advancements, and
excellent acting, Crespi Drama has received confirmation to use an outside
theatre for performances. As it stands
now, Crespi Drama has outgrown its
walls.
19
Free Delivery Now Available
Local High School Varsity Update
With Michael Mann
The lights are shining bright on Fridays as usual as our local high school near the midpoint of their football season. For more information
on your local high school sports check out http://sfvalleyvarsitysports.tumblr.com/.
Campbell Hall
(Studio City) Private
Coach: Russ Gordon
2010-11 Record: 5-3
11-14, they beat Jordan 51-8, Clovis West
34-33, Chula Vista 52-6, Vista Murrieta 4531, and Taft 53-47. Then then lost two
straight to Bishop Amat 28-31 and Alemanay
17-28. They face Loyola next and with Notre
Dame waiting for them in the season finale.
League: Alpha
After starting 4-0 the Vikings dropped 3 of Harvard-Westlake
their last 4 games. They have two remaining games left against Kilpatrick (Malibu, (Studio City) Private
CA) and Montclair Prep (Van Nuys, CA).
Coach: Vic Eumont
2010-11 Record: 2-5-1
Notre Dame
Sherman Oaks (Private)
Coach: Kevin Rooney
2010-11 Record: 2-6
League: Serra
The Knights of Notre Dame High School
continue their rebuilding year.
Their remaining games are against Almenany
(Mission Hills, CA) and Crespi. You can bet
Notre Dame will put up a good fight against
the Celts.
League: Mission
The Wolverines have really struggled this
season. There obviously have not adjusted
well to the higher level of play in the Mission league. Their final two games will be
played against St. Paul and St. Francis in the
season finale.
Varsity High School football plunges towards its final games in November.
Notre Dame High School Cross Country
Runner Killed by Car
North Hollywood
(North Hollywood)
Public
Coach: Andrew Kasak
2008 Record: 1-6
Crespi
League: East Valley
Encino (Private)
The Huskies first win of the year came
against Sun Valley who they walloped 48-0.
Coach: John Mack
2009 Record: 5-3
League: Serra
Recently 16 year old Connor Lynch was struck and killed by a driver at the Woodman
and Riverside intersection. Yahoo Rivals columnist Cameron Smith wrote that multiple
news outlets reported that Lynch was struck by a hit-and-run driver and died on impact.
Later, the driver who fled the scene was indentified as 18-year-old Moran Biton, who
turned herself in shortly thereafter and now faces felony charges. Apparently Biton stopped
a block up the road when she saw a police officer and admitted she hit a pedestrian.
However, according to local authorities, since she did not immediately stop and try to
help Lynch, Biton ran afoul of the hit-and-run law.
High schools around the area frequently allow their cross-country athletes to train for
competitions by running around the surrounding areas of their schools. Schools generally hold practice after classes are done which is around the beginning of rush hour
traffic which is 3:30 – 4:00pm. “It’s a danger inherent in that sport,” Lake Balboa
Birmingham cross-country coach Scott King told the Los Angeles Times. “[An accident
like Lynch’s is] My greatest fear as a coach. I never feel good until everyone is back.”
The running community in Los Angeles has taken notice of this tragic event. Local
schools have also stressed for their cross-country runners to wear brightly colored clothes
and to run on sidewalks whenever possible. Most notably drivers should exercise extreme caution around school zones during the hours when schools are letting out.
After losing the season opener to Dominguez
Rocco’s Italian Restaurant 12514 Ventura Blvd, Studio City 818.985.9876
20
Cont. from Pg 10.
HOT Recipes
sausage mixture. Sprinkle with poultry seasoning, sage and nutmeg. Add cranberries.
Pour broth and butter over the top and toss
to combine. Spoon mixture into a 9x13 inch
baking dish; cover. Bake at 350 degrees F
for 45 minutes. Serves 4 to 6
Simple Cranberry Sauce
Instead of the same old canned cranberry
sauce, try this quick, easy time saving
recipe! Delicious on top of any holiday dish,
and decorative too!
Ingredients
1 bag (12 ounces) frozen cranberries
1 jar (12 ounces) red-currant jelly
1 tablespoon orange juice
Directions
In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, jelly and orange juice. Bring to a boil,
reduce heat to a simmer, and cook, stirring
occasionally, until cranberries have burst
and liquid has reduced to syrup, about 20
to 30 minutes.
Transfer to a serving dish, and let cool.
Cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours
until ready to serve. Serves 6
Buon Appetito!
Anna
www.annaterra.com
Look for my new cookbook, “HOT”.
Available in all major bookstores now!
RIDING LESSONS
Private - Group - Show Team
Birthday
Parties
SATURDAY CAMP
9am - 3pm
For More Information Call:
818.768.5470
Los Angeles Children’s
Riding Center
Cont. from Pg 10.
Restaurants
for three courses. Bon Appétit!
McCormick and Schmicks Seafood: 3500
West Olive Ave. Burbank 91505 (818) 2600505 McCormick and Schmicks never disappoints when it comes to delicious Americana meals. Enjoy a Traditional 3-Course
Thanksgiving Dinner with all of the sides and
trimmings for $22.95. Hours: 11:30Am 10:00 Pm
Odyssey: 15600 Odyssey Dr. Granada
Hills 91344 (818) 366-6444 The Odyssey
is a gem of the San Fernando Valley, featuring fine dining and breath-taking panoramic
views of the city from any table in the dining
room. Located on top of the hills in Granada
Hills, this restaurant is great getaway from
the busy Los Angeles streets. You and your
family will be sure to enjoy a private Thanksgiving dinner at this fabulous eatery. Thanksgiving Day will feature a champagne brunch
buffet from 9am-8pm, Adults $36.95, Children $15.95. The Odyssey also has an early
bird special from 9am-10am, $5 off of your
meal.
A great selection to chose from above, I am
sure they will satisfy all of your Thanksgiving cravings! So pull out your cozy sweaters, scarves, and embrace a memorable holiday of the year with family and friends. I hope
you all enjoy Thanksgiving to your heart’s
desire!
May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs! ~Author Unknown
Cont. from pg. 1
FAMILY
spired the show, the producers will provide
free bus transportation to the El Portal Theatre for any public school requesting it.
A Red Carpet Gala VIP Opening Night,
with all proceeds going to the after school
program, LA’s Best, will be attended by
celebs including rock and roll power couple
Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale and their
family. Other celebrity couples with their
families will be there as well no doubt. For
the normal working family, there are family
value packs for the rest of the run.
When Kris takes George to the park, there
are so many young families in the area that
there is often a wait to use the swings. It is
Kris’ fondest wish that these families will
treat their children to the musical as well.
After all why should George have all the fun?
Studio City Sherman Oaks Encino News Editorial Submission Policy:
The Studio City Sherman Oaks Encino News welcomes
your letters and articles.
Letters to the Editor should be no more than 300 words,
although the News reserves the right to make exceptions to this policy.
Hand written letters are acceptable only if they are legible. Letters must contain the writer’s telephone number and address for verification purposes only.
“Cinderella” starts November 27 and runs
until December 19th at The El Portal Theatre. Call 818.508.4200 for reservations.
www.elportaltheatre.com
9211 Del Arroyo Drive, Sun Valley
21
The Studio City Sherman Oaks Encino News reserves
the right to accept, reject or edit letters and other editorial material. The SC SO ENC News does not return letters, photos or other editorial submissions.
Editorial material of 500 words or less may be mailed
to Big Valley Publications, 827 Hollywood Way, Suite
233, Burbank CA 91505 or
emailed to
bigvalleypublications@gmail.com. The deadline is the
second week of the month. Advertorial
22
23
4367 Hayvenhurst Ave Enc - $1,750,000
Secluded& private Ranch/Spanish compound Encino Estate on
an enormous 1.3 Acre all FLAT lot on one of Encino’s most
renowned streets blocks to Ventura Boulevard. Fix or build
your own private retreat. 3Bd+3Ba in 2213 SqFt. 1.3 acre lot.
12949 Blairwood Dr SC - $1,695,000
Longridge Estates with a breathtaking views. Studio City up a
private gated driveway. Country cabin feeling w/ hardwood &
granite floors. Large upstairs master suite. 3Br+3Ba in 3400
SqFt. on a 33,700 SqFt. Lot.
4258 Shadyglade Ave SC $995,000
Fantastic Traditional located in the heart of Studio City with
hardwood floors, 2 sided fire place, smooth ceilings, recessed
lighting plus formal dining and a gourmet galley kitchen with
granite counters. 3Bd+3Ba in 2400 SqFt.
5030 Matilija Ave SO - $759,600
This open floor plan features formal living and dining rooms,
gourmet kitchen and Master suite with pool views. Plus a private back yard.
3Br+2Ba in 1691 SqFt. On a 8,775 SqFt Lot.
14645 Round Valley SO - $1,750,000
15729 Sutton St Enc - $1,699,000
5846 Hillview Park Valley Glen $1,699,000
Modern, sophisticated & sexy. Live & entertain in style.
Stunning Contemporary home w/ incredible views from
every room! Gourmet kitchen, media room, gym and gorgeous
master suite. 4Br+5Ba in 4774 SqFt.
Mid Century Modern South of Ventura Boulevard. Gourmet
kitchen with granite counters & stainless Steel appliances. Open
floor plan with Great room and walls of glass. 4Bd+5Ba in
3967 SqFt, 13,992 SqFt Lot.
Gorgeous Mediterranean built in 2009 in Hillview Park Estates.
This Magazine Quality Estate features extensive use of designer
upgrades. Large Master Suite, formal dining & living rooms +
pool & spa. 5Br+6Ba in 5208 SqFt, 12,957 SqFt Lot
3905 Alta Mesa Dr SC - $1,475,000
12651 Sarah Street SC - $1,250,000
4146 Weslin Ave SO $1,200,000
Dramatic Architectural home w/ Impressive 2 story
Foyer entry, State of the art kitchen, Pella Windows, 2
Master Suites, Formal Dining & views from several decks
& patios. 5Br+5Ba in 3740 SqFt. 11,000 SqFt. Lot
Beautifully maintained traditional. 2 fireplaces, Hardwood
floors, Gourmet kitchen, lush back yard with lagoon style
pool, spa and waterfall. 4 car garage and an 800 sq.ft. studio/
bonus room. 4Br+3Ba in over 3,500 SqFt. on a ¼ acre lot.
Fabulous contemporary Sherman Oaks view home built by architect Les Makowski. South of the boulevard with incredible
valley & canyon views. Living room w/ fire place, large Master
Suite w/ walk-in.+ Den & office. 5Br+3.5Ba in over 3500 SqFt.
5018 Fulton Ave SO - $899,000
11639 Kling Street Valley Village - $899,000
4077 Farmdale Ave SC - $799,000
Great Buy in Sherman Oaks! Private, gated mini compound.
This traditional/contemporary home has been updated throughout. Large master suite, marble floors. Open floor plan & plenty
of room for entertaining 5Br+4Ba 3608 SqFt., 9335 SqFt Lot
Recently renovated Valley Village traditional w/ full guest house.
Main house w/ 4Br+2Ba in 1985 SqFt. on a 11,927 SqFt. lot.
The Guest house is a 1Br+1Ba w/ full kitchen. Large back yard
with salt water pool & spa.
Wonderful Colfax Meadows traditional home located on a
desirabletree lined street. Hardwood floors, living room and
den both with fire places. Plus a detached bonus room with
½ bath. 2Br+1.5Ba in 1,261 SqFt. 6750 SqFt. Lot.
4532 Mary Ellen Ave SO - $699,000
15235 Morrison St SO - $449,900
Fabulous Traditional Sherman Oaks home with Formal
dining, updated plumbing, electrical & windows. Entertainers
paradise back yard w/ Pool & spa w/ resort style spill way &
waterfall, seating area and Glass block fire pit. 3Br+1.5Ba in
1583 SqFt.
Charming cottage style home in Sherman Oaks close to
Ventura Boulevards shops, restaurants, freeways and houses
of worship. Hardwood floors under carpet, formal dining,
master suite & large living room w/ fire place. 2Br+2Ba in
1250 SqFt.
24
5257 Ben Ave #5- $255,000
Clean, charming and bright upper unit with open floor plan in a
small desirable complex. This unit will not last long. Close to
shops and freeways, it’s a must see . 2Bd+2Ba in 984 SqFt.

November

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