Serving the CommunitieS of Serving the Communitiesof Northeast Los Angeles

8/14/2019 Serving the CommunitieS of Serving the Communitiesof Northeast Los Angeles

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Volume 1 | Issue 4 | July/August 2009 | $6.50

Journal

TheArroyoSeco

www.a

sjournal.net

Serving the communities ofNortheast Los AngelesServingthecommunitieSof

SkirmiSheSand StandoffS:

the Battleforthe SouthweSt muSeum2003-2009

Also:

Labor Disputesat

Fresh & easy

Luther burbankgets

aFaceLiFt!

ceLebrating Lummis Day

FuLL photo spreaDinsiDe!

Summer

in Surf

City!


2/28

All Day and All of the Night.The Coffee Table bisTro

Serving Breakfast, Lunch,

Dinner and Desserts

Organic Coffee

Supporter of Local Schools

Weekend Breakfast Specials

Free Wi-

Best Cupcakes in Town!

The Coffee Table lounge

Over 150 Premium Bottled

Beers

20 Premium Rotating Draft

Beers

Lounge Menu

Sports and Entertainment

8 x12 Projection Screen 2 50 Plasma Televisions

Patio coming Soon!

1954-1958 Colorado BlvdEAGLE ROCK CA 90041323 255-2200 BISTRO

323-257-2245 LOUNGE


3/28

3

_JULY 30

Susie Hansen Latin Band

The Susie Hansen Latin Band returns

to Heritage Square for what promises

to be yet another unforgettable live

performance. Electric violinist Susie

Hansen plays fiery Latin Jazz and

Salsa, creating music that brings

audiences to their feet, dancing in

the aisles!

30

_JULY 16

Mariachi Divas

The all-female Mariachi Divas are

making big waves on the national

music scene. In 2009, the group won

the American Grammy award for

Regional Mexican Album for their

latest CD, Canciones De Amor.Mariachi Divas are a unique, multi-

cultural ensemble imbued with the

true flavor of Los Angeles.

16

NON-PROFIT. DESIGN.

Heritage Square Museum

3800 Homer Street

Los Angeles, California 90031

For more information, please contact Heritage Square

at(323)225-2700 or [email protected]

Bringing together history, architectureand entertainment with free evenings

of great live performances on fourconsecutive Thursday evenings in July

at the SquareConcerts

JournalThe

ArroyoSeco

ww

w.asjournal.net

Serving thecommunities ofNortheastLosAngeles

Media SponSor


4/28

4

is published byThe Verdugo Group

PO Box 50236Los Angeles, CA 90050 USA

Editorial: 323.230.8355Advertising: 213.308.5337

ServingthecoMMunitieSof

northeaSt LoS angeLeSandbeyond

pubLiSher/editoriaL director

Edward Rivera

newS editor

Margaret Arnold

SaLeS Manager

Deborah Ray

art & deSign

John Bowers

MuSic

Desiree Garcia

contributing writerS

David Auslender, Mark Barawitz, Ronald Bello, Karen Daly,Candace Merrill, Jessica OByrne, Linda Overly, Ashley Sier

photography

Joel MonroyArt VillanuevaCaryn Gilbert

The arroyo Seco JournaL magazine is a proud member/supporter o The HighlandPark Chamber o Commerce, The Eagle Rock Chamber o Commerce, The NELA

Rotary Club, TERA, The Highland Park Heritage Trust, The Lummis DayCommunity Foundation, NELA Art, The Arroyo Arts

Collective, the Eagle Rock Center or the Arts, and the Rock Rose Gallery.

Journal

TheArroyoSeco

www.asjournal.net

Serving the communities ofNortheast Los Angeles


5/28

5

JuLy/auguSt 09

LabortroubLesat Freshand easy?, Luther burbank MiddLe schooL GetsaFace LiFt. news editor MarGaret arnoLdreports.

skirMishesand standoFFs: the battLeoverthe

southwest MuseuMFornearLysixyears, the northeast LacoMMunityhasFouGhtovertheFutureoFthe southwest MuseuMinhiGhLand park. nowperhaps, theendoFthewarisnear. orisit?

ceLebratinG LuMMis dayanother LuMMis dayisceLebratedonadayoFperFectweather, perFectFood, perFectMusicandtheperFectaudience. whattodonextyear?

itMiGhtnotbethe FirstpLaceyouthinkoFwhenyouGotothebeach, buttheoriGinaL surF cityhasMuchtooFFer, eveniFyoureatotaLhodad.

david ausLendertakesusaFewMetrostopsto pasadena, where LaGrandeoranGeisservinGbreakFastandeverythinGeLse.

pLus: wheeL LiFeMand suMMer concertsatheritaGe square!

LocaL News 7

oNthe cover 10

LocaL aNgLes 18

traveL 20

FoodieLicious 25

southwestMuseuMphotobyMarthabenedict


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6

Sorry were a little late. Weve been traveling and seeing the

world a long way rom Figueroa Street. So, given the vagarieso the Internet, Italian train schedules, and the time-spacecontinuum, our theory that we can do this rom anywhere hasbeen severely tested.

But here we are.And nowhere else will you fnd our coverage o lo-

cal news, such as News Editor Margaret arnoLdS expansive look at the long struggle ovethe ate and uture o the Southwest Museum. A last-minute and long-overdue move bCouncilmember Jose Huizar may bring some closure to the battle. Or it may not. The sbegins on page 10.

Also in local news, Fresh and Easy Markets are the target o a new internatiocampaign on the part o organized labor with support rom notable politicians such as

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, President Barack Obama, and Fresh and Easy employees in countries. The frst Fresh and Easy in the United States opened in 2007 on Eagle Rock Blevard in Glassell Park.The chain is being accused o ailure to pay its employees livabwages and o blocking attempts by employees to join unions. Right now this is about thonly place youll see this developing story in print.

Luther Burbank Middle School is also getting a acelit this all. Ater too mayears o bad news and discontent within the school, its nice to report good news rom campus. Margaret Arnold has the story.

We didnt orget about Lummis Day, o course. Weve seen that summer is mestival season all over the world, and its nice to see that Northeast LA is no exceptionYoull see a couple pages o terrifc photos by art viLLanueva to bring some great memoback. And, next summers event will be here in a blink.

While were on the subject, weve also got some photos o Heritage SquareMuseums summer concert series. Its continuing through August. Get there.Speaking o summer and going places, we visited the original Sur City back

June. and while Orange County may not be the frst place you think o visiting, there is to see in Huntington Beach, and it isnt all just surfng.

We also took the Metro a ew stops north a while back, and came back with story about one cool dining spot in nearby Pasadena. dave auSLender is all over it.

Speaking o dining, weve recently merged with our riends at Pasadenanow.cor a series o special issues to be released this summer and all. The frst is the arroySeco dining guide, which will be available August 15. Upcoming special issues will eaturestate, travel and a holiday shopping guide, since every day is almost Christmas, it see

Candace Merrill is driving cars or us while Im away. You can check out her on the Toyota Highlander Hybrid on page 22.

Weve seen a lot o cities in our travels this summer, and you can catch up wwhere we are when, at www.JuStaguyintheworLd.bLogSpot.coM. You can also fnd additional nand updated listings at our news blog, www.arroyoSecoJournaL.bLogSpot.coM.

Until next month, do everything.

Edward RiveraEditorial Director, The Arroyo Seco JournalMadrid, SpainSummer 2009

Sometimes Late, Always Great

deadLine


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7

LocaL newS

yMargaretarnold

exclusivetothearroyo seco

ournal

Were dealing with a

ompany that is acting like

n imperial power, says Los

Angeles City Councilmember

Richard Alarcon regarding the

Fresh and Easy Neighborhood

Market chain and its parent

ompany, British retail giant

Tesco.

Fresh and Easy

Markets are the target of a

ew international campaign

n the part of organized labor

with support from notable

oliticians such as Mayor

Antonio Villaraigosa and even

President Barack Obama,

nd with the involvement of

Fresh and Easy employees in

2 countries. Tesco is being

ccused of failure to pay its

mployees livable wages

nd of blocking attempts by

mployees to join unions.

TherstFreshand

Easy in the United States

pened in 2007 on Eagle Rock

Boulevard in Glassell Park.

Tesco is the worlds

hird largest retailer with 2,282

tores in the United Kingdom

nd 4,308 worldwide. These

tore range in size from

onvenience Express stores

o mega Superstores. Inddition to food, Tesco sells

lectronics, furniture and do-

t-yourself products in the

UK. Other Tesco operations

nclude Tesco Mobile,

telecommunications

usiness, and a corporate unit

elling motor and household

nsurance. The company is

ven in the process of opening

Tesco Banks offering

accounts and mortgages. Itsretail operations are rapidly

expanding;arecentnancial

report indicates that Tesco

plans to open over 11.5 million

square feet of new space this

year, 80% of it outside the

UK.

Campaign organizers

say that, while Tesco workers

havegoodunionbenetsin

the United Kingdom, in other

countries, notably the United

States, Thailand and South

Korea, Tesco wont talk with

unions.

President Obama,

while the Democratic Party

presidential nominee, urged

Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy to

meet with union organizers,

writing, I am aware of

Tescos reputation in Britain

as a partner to unions. I would

hope that you would bring

those values to your work inAmerica, and I again urge

you to consider your policy

on non-engagement in the

United States and advise your

executives at Fresh and Easy

to meet with the UFCW [the

United Food and Commercial

Workers Union].

Locally, Mayor

Villaraigosa has attempted

to reach out to Leahy and,

according to Deputy MayorLarry Frank, has been

rebuffed.

On an international

level, the union campaign

is coordinated as the Tesco

Global Alliance under the

auspices of the UNI Global

Union, which is based in

Switzerland and includes

under its umbrella 900 trade

unions, which collectively

represent more than 20 million

workers.

According to Phil

Bowyer, UNI Deputy General

Secretary, UNI began the

international Tesco campaign

18 month ago as an outgrowth

of its belief that fundamental

workers rights do not stop

at borders. 140,000 United

Kingdom Tesco workers are

union members, but once it

moves out of the U.K, Tesco,

according to Bowyer, takeson the worst of industrial

relations in other countries.

Professor John Logan

of UC Berkeley, who compiled

a recently-released report for

UNI on Tescos practices in

the United States, says that

Fresh and Easy employees are

mostly part time and salaried

at $10 per hour. He says when

employees do get enough

hours work to qualify for thecompanyshealthbenets,the

cost to an employee is high for

thelowbenetsreceived.

If a typical part time

employee were to manage to

put 10% of his or her earnings

into the companys highly

touted pension plan, Logan

says that the cap on Fresh and

Easys matching contribution

would be $300 annually.

Further, in what UNI believes

is a deliberate attempt to

discourage employees from

unionizing, Fresh and Easys

printed pension plan materials

overtly state that union

members are barred from

participation in the 401(k)

plan.

Logan contends that

what Fresh and Easy offers

inhours,salaryandbenets

stops short of being a livable

wage package.

The UNI report

states that, In response to

challengesfromtheoor

at Tescos Annual General

Meeting in 2008, the CEO, Sir

Terry Leahy, told shareholders

that employees in the USA

were free to join a union if

they wished to, but that the

evidence was that employees

did not want to.

UNI campaignorganizers used the

Huntington Beach Fresh and

Easy as a test case. According

to Logan, when a majority

of store employees asked

to organize, Tesco rejected

the request outright and has

consistently refused to meet

with UFCW representatives.

(The UFCW is the United

States largest private sector

Not so Fresh or EasyLabor Organizes against Tesco Chain

UNI Deputy General Secretary, UNI began the international

Tesco campaign 18 month ago as an outgrowth o itsbelie that undamental workers rights do not stop atborders. 140,000 United Kingdom Tesco workers are

union members, but once it moves out o the U.K, Tesco,according to Bowyer, takes on the

worst o industrial relations in other countries.


8/28

8

trades union.)

Michael McBride

of the UFCW contends that

Tesco has workers believing

they could lose their jobs if

they attempt to organize. The

UNI report states that pro-

union employees have been

isolated from co-workers, that

anti-union printed materialhas been distributed and that

management has used the

daily huddle at the start of

each shift to convey the same

anti-collective bargaining

message at all stores,

suggesting that the message

originates from the companys

executive level. The name of

oneredpro-unionemployee

in Huntington Beach has

reportedly been invoked asan indirect warning regarding

what can happen.

In May, Fresh

and Easy enacted a non-

solicitation policy, which

has the effect of preventing

employees from talking to

fellow employees about union

membership on company

premises. Union organizers

conducting home visits in Las

Vegas initially found workersto be receptive, but they now

meet with what seems to be

a standard, scripted threat to

call the police if they dont

leave immediately. The union

reports having received a

number of letters from Fresh

and Easy employees asking

that they not be visited at

home. The letters are from

workers in Las Vegas,

Nevada, but are postmarked

El Segundo, California, home

of Fresh and Easys corporate

ofces.

Four Fresh and Easy

employees, wearing their

bright green company t-shirts,

joinedlaborandcityofcials

at a recent City Hall press

conference announcing therelease of the UNI report.

One of them spoke of seeing

attempts to go union met by

intimidation of workers.

They are so scared

they are going to lose their

jobs, said Dana (who gave

onlyherrstname),andthey

cant in this economy.

Deputy Mayor Frank

added that, when Fresh andEasy opened its distribution

warehouse in the Inland

Empire,itspecicallysought

out supervisors with union

avoidance experience. The

UNI report quotes a 2006

Tesco advertisement for an

employee relations director

as reading, The incumbent

has primary responsibility

for management of employee

relations, maintaining non-

union status and union

avoidance activities. After

publishing the ad twice, Tesco

said that it was a mistake.

However, the company

also recruited, as its chief

legal advisor, the general

counsel who led Ralphs into

a 53-count federal indictment

for locking out 19,000 union

employees and illegally

rehiring 1,000 under false

identities with fake social

security numbers.

Fresh and Easy has

alsocomeunderreforits

use of scanning equipment in

lieu of human checkers in its

stores.

I dont want a robot

togureoutifateencanbuy

beer or not, says Alarcon.A study by the Los

Angeles Alliance for a New

Economy (LAANE) has

found that many teens are

quiteprocientatby-passing

controls when self-checking

out liquor. A pending measure

by State Assemblymember

Hector De La Torre will,

if enacted, mandate ID

vericationviaaface-to-facetransaction when alcohol is

purchased. De La Torres bill

has passed the Assembly and

is currently pending before the

State Senate.

The Eagle Rock

Boulevard Fresh and Easy

has been no stranger to

controversy. On November 7,

2007, as dignitaries gathered

inside for a grand opening

gala, politicians, labor

advocates, union members

clergy and Occidental Col

students were among a cro

of about 100 outside callin

on Tesco to sign a commu

benetsagreement,puttin

in writing promises made

in conjunction with the

corporations entry into th

U.S. marketplace to create

good jobs, to locate stores

in underserved areas and t

operate in a manner respec

of the environment. A

communitybenetsagree

would be a legally binding

contract designed to ensur

that local residents share in

benetsofmajordevelopm

Tesco has refused to negot

such a document.

Local CityCouncilmember Jose

Huizar and local State

Assemblymember Anthon

Portantino both sent

representatives to the 2007

event, during which a

delegation, including Huiz

then-Chief of Staff Joe Av

walked to the store to deliv

a letter to company execut

urging them to negotiateacommunitybenets

agreement. They were blo

at the parking lot entrance

by the VIP partys contrac

head of security. The secur

chief did agree to go inside

and see if an executive wo

come out to receive the let

However, he returned quic

with the report that everyo

was too busy.

(LA City Councilmember Richard) Alarcon, who is serving as the local chair or thTesco Global Alliance, is mincing no words in describing his

attitude toward the corporate giant.

This company is trying to take over the world, said the Councilmember at the City press conerence. Do not be ripped o by these imperialist thinkers.

Frank reerred to Tesco as a huge international conglomerate that moves caacross national boundaries.

In May, Fresh and Easy enacted a non-solicitation

policy, which has the eect o preventing employees romtalking to ellow employees about union membership oncompany premises. Union organizers conducting home

visits in Las Vegas initially ound workers to be receptive,but they now meet with what seems to bea standard, scripted threat to call the police

i they dont leave immediately.


9/28

9

That they cant

end one representative,

nly security, sent the wrong

message, said Avila after the

vent.

At the press

onference marking the release

f the UNI report, Alarcon and

thers spoke of the changing

ole of retail as an employer

n American life. Alarcon said

hat his mothers employment

n the retail sector enabled

is family to live a middle

lass life style and provided

is family with health care

enets.Hegrewupwitha

ense that union membership

quated with quality of life.

At one time, a worker

n the United States could

easonably hope to take an

ntry level job while youngnd move up through the same

ompany until retirement. That

spiration has changed.

They make you

ot want to grow with the

ompany, said Dana of Fresh

nd Easy.

Alarcon, who is

erving as the local chair for

he Tesco Global Alliance,

s mincing no words in

escribing his attitude towardhe corporate giant.

This company is

rying to take over the world,

aid the Councilmember at the

City Hall press conference.

Do not be ripped off by these

mperialist thinkers.

Frank referred to

Tesco as a huge international

onglomerate that moves

apital across national

oundaries.Labor is building

hose same international

elations, the Deputy Mayor

aid of the Tesco campaign.

UNI is releasing its

Tesco report in Britain, in

n attempt to create public

wareness and bring pressure

o bear on the corporation on

ts home turf.

The United States

has apparently not been the

market place that Tesco hoped

for. According to Logan,

whenTescoopeneditsrst

U.S. store in Glassell Park,

its plan was to quickly build a

chain of 1,000 Fresh and Easy

Neighborhood Markets with

200 stores open by the end of

2008. It has opened only 121

with four more coming this

summer.

Glassell Park

customers have noticed some

rethinking of retail offerings

lately,reectingmoreofa

discount bent.

Forthescalyearthat

ended in February, Fresh and

Easy reported year-on-year

losses of $208.5 million

reportedly wildly higher

than Tesco budgeted for as itestablished a foothold in the

United States.

Tesco is losing

moneyhandoverstinthe

United States, says Logan.

New Look Plannedor Burbank Middle

SchoolLuther Burbank Middle

School is about to get a new

look.TheLosAngelesUnied

School District has unveiled

plans for a campus make-

over that will include a new

multi-purpose building, a

gymnasium, classrooms and

considerable outdoor space.

A new entrance to the

school will be built on North

Figueroa where Tyler Hall, theschools auditorium, is now.

The entrance will feature a

gateandasocialspaceanked

by parking for teachers and

staff.

The decision to

set buildings back from the

street and put parking to the

front will have the effect of

moving structures occupied by

students off of the Raymond

Earthquake Fault. School

Districtofcialsstressthat

no building on the Luther

Burbank campus has been

declared unsafe. However,

experts do believe that a quake

of magnitude 6 or larger on

the Raymond Fault could

break ground, and the district

is taking the prudent step

of rearranging the campus

designwhile adding a

considerable number of new

amenities.

Beyond the entrance

area, a new Tyler Hall

multi-purpose building with

an auditorium, a practice

stage and drama, music and

choral classrooms will be

constructed. A new gym will

feature event seating, practice

courtsandweightandtnessand dance and aerobic rooms.

The new classroom building,

comprised of 12 classrooms

in two stories, and a garden

will be located to the rear of

the campus, where banks of

portable classrooms are now.

Asbetsaschool

named for a botanist, the new

Luther Burbank campus will

feature a lot of plant life.

Senior Project Designer DevanMitchell of the architectural

rmgkkworksismaking

ready access to an outdoor

environment an integral part

of the learning community.

The classrooms will open

onto a large outdoor area, with

classes able to move outdoors

readily. A teaching garden

will include native plant

specimens, planting beds,

an outdoor classroom, a rosespecimen garden and natural

habitat. There will be lots of

shade on campus, a feature

that Mitchell points out is

lacking in the current campus

design. The botanical elements

of the design will even carry

over into graphic motifs on the

new buildings.

The trees of the

current outdoor quad on the

campus will be kept, but

a raised platform will be

added, providing a place for

graduations and other events.

Concerns have been

raised by some parents and by

Board of Education Member

Yolie Flores Aguilar as to

how the new campus design

will be integrated with the

planned conversion of Luther

Burbank Middle School into

a campus of small schools.

Pursuant to a plan crafted by

Flores Aguilar and passed

by the board a year ago, by

2020 any district campus with

1,000 or more students that

doesnotspecicallyoptout

is to be divided into several

smaller school campuses.

Small campuses promote

better, more personalizedrelationships between faculty

and students, and according

to Flores Aguilar, have been

shown to produce a host of

benetsrangingfrombetter

academic performance and

higher teacher satisfaction

to increased parental

involvement and better

campus safety.

At a parents meeting,

where design plans werepresented, Flores Aguilars

Director of Community

Partnerships, Ron Palacios,

told parents that the board

member is indeed committed

to seeing Luther Burbank

become a school of small

schools. Palacios praised

the current principal, John

Samaniego, for turning the

school around, and he readily

acknowledged the need foramelioration of earthquake-

related issues. But he also

passed around The total

building project is expected

to take about 2 years to

complete. Work will begin in

August, and completion of all

plan aspects is hoped for by

February, 2012.


10/28

10the southweestunderwraps-2008

For years now, a struggleover the merger of The

Southwest Museumin Mount Washingtonand The Gene AutryMuseum of WesternHeritage in GrifthPark has resembleda circling of wagontrains. But June 30, in asurprise development,a committee of the LosAngeles City Councilannounced a zero-tolerance policy for theWestern movie model andsought to usher in a newway of doing businessone that does not rely onWinchester Ries versusbows and arrows so muchas diplomacy.

I dont think thisproject can move forwardunless both museums areon a sure footing, saidCouncilmember Bernard

Parks. At issue is theAutry National Centersdesire to dramaticallyenlarge its Grifth Parkfacility--mainly to creategallery space to house aworld class collection ofAmerican Indian artifactsrelocated from MountWashington. The AutryNational Center wasformed through the 2003

merger of The Museum ofWestern Heritage and TheSouthwest Museum.

There are basicallythree camps in theconict:

The Autry NationalCenter, under theleadership of ExecutiveDirector John Gray, wantsto see the Autrys GrifthPark campus expandedand the Southwest

collection largelyrelocated. The Autry h

prominent supportersincluding familymembers of CharlesLummis, who foundedthe Southwest Museumover a century ago; anumber of Americanleaders includingAnthony Morales, TribaChairperson of theGabrieleno/Tongva of SGabriel; Rudy Ortega, JTribal Administrator ofthe Fernandeo TataviBand of Mission Indianand Paula Starr, ExecuDirector of the SoutheCalifornia Indian Centeplus members of theSouthwest Society, aBlue Ribbon Committeof local political, arts,American Indian andcommunity leadersannounced by Mayor

Antonia Villaraigosa,Mount Washingtons CiCouncilmember JoseHuizar and Gray in 200(The Southwest Societwas originally chargedwith raising funds torestore and revitalize tSouthwest, but is nowdescribed by Huizar asformed to monitor theAutrys progress with tSouthwest Museum.)

Across the aisleis The Friends of theSouthwest MuseumCoalition, with itsmembership of about 8organizations includingneighborhood councilspreservation groups,homeowner organizatioarts collectives andvenues. The coalitionwants to see MountWashingtons Southwe

the Battleoverthe

SouthweSt muSeum:

2003-2009withperhapSatreatyinhand, iSthewarover?

whowon? moreimportantly, itSeemS, wholoSt?

Bymargaret arnold

StandoffSand SkirmiSheS:


11/28

11

Museum campus retaineds a full-scale museumas they were led to

believe it would be whenhe original mergergreement was signed)

nd has gathered over7,000 signatures fromupporters.

The list of

takeholders impactedby the Autry expansionlso includes a thirdroupmembers ofommunity groups from

neighborhoods nearGrifth Park, most ofwhom want to see thepark kept as undevelopeds possible and fearrafc and commercial

uses associated with aarger Autry facility.

As the Autry isocated on public landn Grifth Park, whicht leases from the Cityor $1/year, approvalof the Environmentalmpact Report (a heftytate-required document

necessary before anynew construction begins)normally would be theesponsibility of the Citys

Recreation and ParksBoard. However, whenhe City Attorney found conict of interest inhe board chairs statuss a retired partner inhe Autrys law rm, the

matter was punted to theCity Councils Board ofReferred Powers, whichonvenes when a board

or commission is unableo act. Hence, after years

of struggle, the matterwas placed in the handsof City CouncilmembersHahn, Cardenas, Parks,Reyes and Rosendahl.

Hundreds of

people showed up atCity Hall for the Boardof Referred Powershearing, and they arrived

in wagon train-circlingmode. Long before themeetings scheduled starttime, the large Boardof Public Works SessionRoom was lled tocapacity. Members of theFriends of the SouthwestMuseum Coalitionsorganizations milled inthe hallway, watchingwith mounting annoyanceas a City Hall securityguard blocked their wayat the hearing roomdoor while admittingsupporters of the Autryexpansion. Fortunately,coalition members insidewere able to negotiatea move of the meetingto the even larger CityCouncil Chamber. Eventhere, the situationquickly became standing

room only, and, with buta few exceptions, it wasAutry camp on the left,Southwest camp on theright.

There are,however, certain thingsall parties agree on.

One is that theSouthwest Museumcollection of more than240,000 American Indianartifacts is a major

treasure of internationalnote. A second is thatmuch of the collectionwas, before the merger,in grave danger at theSouthwest Museum,where there are notproper climate controlsand where rain andsilversh have already

taken a heavy toll onpopular dioramas andthe basket collection.The galleries of theSouthwest campus arecurrently closed to thepublic. The store is openweekends, and thereare special events suchas artist exhibits thesecond Saturday eveningof each month, butthe galleries are being

used for cataloging andpreservation work. Theclosure is a sore point,but the fact that theSouthwest collectionneeded professionalintervention was never indispute.

A third pointof nearly unanimous

agreement is the

worthiness of Autryarchitect Brenda Levinscredentials. Levin hasguided the historicpreservation andadaptive re-use work onsome of the Citys mostsignicant architecture,including The GrifthObservatory, MyronHunt-designed buildingsat Occidental College andeven City Hall itself.

Levins designfor the expansion of theAutry National Center inGrifth Park would doublethe current amount ofexhibition, storage andgallery space withoutany expansion beyondthe centers current landparcel. It features open

collections and visiblestorage that reveal theinner workings of themuseum. Levin refers tothe design as not rootedin a particular culture orperiod of time, but as

nding its form fromthe land, with a uidrelationship betweenoutdoor park and indoormuseum spaces. Theexpansion is to be built

in accordance with highlysustainable principlesout of local and recycledmaterials.

But agreementstops cold when it comesto two very fundamentalissuesthe continued useof the Southwest site onMount Washington and

the appropriate scope of

development in GrifthPark.What was and

is at issue is wherethe collection willbe displayed afterthe preservationand restoration arecompleted. The AutryNational Center intendsto move most of it toGrifth Park. At theCity Hall hearing, Grey

As the Autry is located on public land in Grith Park, which it leases rom the City

or $1/year, approval o the Environmental Impact Report (a hety state-required

document necessary beore any new construction begins) would normally bethe responsibility o the Citys Recreation and Parks Board. However, when the

City Attorney ound a confict o interest in the board chairs status as a retired

artner in the Autrys law rm, the matter was punted to the City Councils Board o

Reerred Powers, which convenes when a board or commission is unable to act.

There are, in act, certain things all parties agree on.. One is that the SouthwestMuseum collection o more than 240,000 American Indian artiacts is a major

treasure o international note. A second is that much o the collection was, beore

the merger, in grave danger at the Southwest Museum, where there are not proper

climate controls and where rain and silversh have already taken a heavy toll on

popular dioramas and the basket collection.


12/28

12

addressed the insufcientspace at the MountWashington site andspoke of the need forspace for interactiveexhibits, not dustystorage bins.

On the other

hand, the Friends ofthe Southwest MuseumCoalition nds thetwo rooms that will bemaintained at the currentsite (with the rest of thebuilding devoted to anot yet clearly denededucational purpose) tobe entirely insufcient.It contends that themerits of the collectionare inseparable fromits site overlookingthe Arroyo Seco, andthat the building, theoldest museum in LosAngeles, should itself beconsidered among the

artifacts. The coalition,therefore, insists thatthe Mount Washingtonbuilding must bereopened as a fullyfunctioning museum thatwill meet all standardsfor accreditation and forschool eld trips.

The Southwestbuilding has beenundergoing over $7million worth of repairs

Meets the Third Tuesday of Every MonthWHEN: 6:30 pm Dinner - 7:00 pm Meeting begins

WHERE: Aragon Elementary School, 1118 Aragon Ave.

SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS:* The Cypress Park Walkabout

* Jobs for Cypress Park youth* Land Use issues affecting Cypress Park

* Cypress Park Community Design Overlay Plan* New Books for the Cypress Park Library

We have helped support:* Cypress Park Community Center

* Cypress Park Recreation Center* Lummis Day Celebration

* Elyria Canyon Clean & Green Cleanup

Free child care is available: first-come, first-served.

For more information:

Call (323) 221-4740 or Visit www.gcpnc.info

GREATER

CYPRESS

PARKNEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

WE INVITE YOU TO COME AND BRING YOUR

COMMUNITY ISSUES AND CONCERNS!

Cinco de Mayo Celebration organizing meetings-held 2nd and 4th Thursdays at the Cypress Park

Community Center - 929 Cypress Avenue

Got Issues with L.A. City Hall?

GET INVOLVED!P.O. BOX 50791,

HIGHLAND PARK, CA 90050

On the Web: WWW.HISTORICHIGHLANDPARK.ORG

Phone: (323) 256-8921Fax: (323) 315-9358

MEETINGS HELD EVERY FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAY

OF EACH MONTH, 6:30 P.M.

AT FRANKLIN HIGHSCHOOL (Cafeteria)840 N. AVENUE 54

Bringing City Hall Closer Your Front Door toLos Angeles City government!to Home

2008-2010 Officers

President Dr. Richard W. [email protected]

First Vice President - Dr. Stanley W. [email protected]

Second Vice President Dr. William E. [email protected]

Secretary Jessica D. [email protected]

Treasurer - Jesus Jesse [email protected]

COMMITTEE CHAIRS:

Yvonne Sarceda Arts and Culture [email protected] Smith City Svcs./Transp. [email protected] Marquez Eco. Development [email protected] Demeter Housing/Com. Dev. [email protected] Godoy HumRel/Edu/Youth [email protected] Lee Baird Land Use [email protected] Amezquita Outreach c_b_amezquita2yahoo.comDr. Nicole Gatto PublicHealth/Safety [email protected]

AT-LARGE DIRECTORS:

Mauro Garcia [email protected] Zuniga [email protected] Phelps [email protected]

Vanessa Ruiz [email protected] Espinoza [email protected] Crouch Call (323) 256-8921Miriam Escobar Call (323) 256-8921Humberto Escobar Call (323 256-89 21

HISTORIC HIGHLAND PARK

NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

since the merger,including the justcompleted stabilizatioits tower.

The Autry hassaved the SouthwestMuseum, Gray told thBoard of Referred Powmembers.

A number of th

Autry supporters whospoke at the hearingwere originally amongsome of the mergersharshest critics, but threported having beenwon over by the Autrysupport for AmericanIndian cultural expresand by the Autrysexcellent treatment ofthe Southwest artifact

David Goldberg

a partner in the Autrylaw rm, Latham andWatkins, presented whwas before the Boardof Referred Powers aslimited in scope, involva proposed amendmeto the Autrys 1987lease agreement withthe City of Los Angeleand acceptance of theEnvironmental ImpactReport.

Nothing inthe lease mentionsthe Southwest,said Goldberg. TheSouthwest Museum isbefore you today.

Not so, counteNicole Possert,representing what Boaof Referred Powers ChJanice Hahn referredto as the organized

opposition.With the 2003merger, the Autrybecame an entirely neinstitution, said Possewho chairs the Friendsthe Southwest MuseumCoalition and representhe Highland ParkHeritage Trust.

According toPossert, the Autry hadno stated plans for

Activist Nicole Possertof the Friends of theSouthwest MuseumCoalition


13/28

13

Press Release goes here.

Please re send in text format.

Could not open as is.

We are now doing orthodontics.

Celebrating31 Years

in eagle roCk!

expansion before itacquired the SouthwestMuseum collection.Clearly the expansionand acquisition are tiedogether, and therefore,he coalition feels, the

effects on the MountWashington campusmust be included

n any discussion ofenvironmental impacts.

And the effects,according to the coalitionpresentation, would beenormous.

According tocoalition members,he structure and the

collection are interlinked.Possert asked the CityCouncil members tomagine the Watts Towerswithout artwork on them,or the Gamble Housewithout its furnishings, orhe restored Los Angeles

Public Library buildingwith only the childrensbooks left.

CEQA (theCalifornia EnvironmentalQuality Act) requiresanalysis of direct andndirect impacts, saidattorney and MountWashington HomeownerAlliance representativeDaniel Wright.

Wright contendedhat, if the collection

were to be removedrom Mount Washington,

there would be impactsin two CEQA categories,land use and culturalresources, that the Autryis failing to examine.

The Autrysanalysis of the situationis based on a contentionthat the NortheastCommunity Plan--a city-

adopted document withthe weight of law, whichspecically states thatcity decision makers maytake no action that wouldresult in the removal ofthe Southwest Museumfrom its present locationin Mt. Washingtondoes

not apply.The Board

of Referred Powersreceived, however, a20-page analysis fromthree Northeast Planexperts: 25-year CityPlanner Terry Speth, whooversaw the revisionand implementationof the plan and Miki

Jackson and DianaBarnwell, NortheastLos Angeles residentswho participated in theCommunity Plan AdvisoryCommittee for 13 years.

The EIR goes toextraordinary, indeedpreposterous lengths,to deny that the Projectin Grifth Park hasany relationship to theSouthwest Museums

Native American dancers at the 2007 funeral of theouthwest Museum.


14/28

14

Arroyo Seco campus,the analysis says. Thereason for the forcefuldenials of any linkbetween the Project andthe Southwest Museumcampus is palpablytransparent. If the Cityand Autry conceded thatthere is a signicant

negative land use impactfrom implementation ofthe Project as proposed,either of the optionscontained in the Autrys2004 RehabilitationReport for the SouthwestMuseum [a reportoverseen by Levin,which concluded that theSouthwest is sound forrehabilitation to meetmuseum standards and

could generate at least38% of its operatingcosts, which is withinthe norm for museums]would mitigate sucha signicant land useimpact. CEQA wouldrequire the City to selectthe 2004 RehabilitationReport plan if theEIR nds a potentialsignicant land useimpact, and as weunderstand the politicsof this issue, Autry,particularly its mostsignicant donor, Mrs.Autry, does not want acontinuing obligation topreserve the SouthwestMuseum site on MountWashington as a partof the Autry NationalCenter. We are of theopinion that the elephant

in the room is that theAutry and the City bothKNOW there will be apotential negative impactif the Autry is allowed toremove the Southwestscollection and thereforethe museum land usefrom Mount Washington

Accordingly,the analysis concludes,Autrys legal advisors,Latham & Watkins, and

Autrys EIR consultant,PCR Corporation,have conducted anintellectually dishonesteffort to draft falseand misleading EIRdocuments andcorrespondence with theCity claiming that thereis no land use impact on

the Northeast CommunityPlan.

Residents nearthe Grifth Park Projecthave land use concernsas well.

The Autryis a welcome partof our community,Greater Grifth ParkNeighborhood CouncilPresident Philip Gasteiertold the councilmembers.

That does not give theAutry or anyone elsea blank check to do

whatever they want inGrifth Park.

Gasteierpresented a numberconditions neighborhoodresidents would haveto see met beforethey could supportAutry expansion. Theywould want to seeproof of the availabilityof full nancing forthe completion of the

expansion. (A year agothe Southwest Coalitioncommissioned a studyby an outside expert innonprot administrationwho determined thatthe Autry does not seemto have the assets itclaimed at the timeof the merger.) Theywould need to see anaccounting of impactson Park Rangers and

security plus informationon how any additionalcosts to the City wouldbe handled. Theyhave concerns aboutbuilding height andbulk and the use ofsupergraphic signsnotonly as regards theAutry expansion, but as

precedent setting forGrifth Park as a whole.

There is a concernon the part of many inthe area that facilityexpansion would endup being nanced byincreased rental of thecenter to outside entities(such as a July 25 BrewHaw Haw Beer TastingFestival). They thereforewant restrictions placed

on use of the facility forcommercial events.

The Autry

National Center islocated in City CouncilDistrict 4, representedby Councilmember TomLaBonge. The SouthwestMuseum site is in CouncilDistrict 14, representedby Huizar, (with the Casade Adobe, a 1918 modelof a traditional SpanishRancho house run by theSouthwest, located in EdReyes CD 1.)

LaBonge whole-heartedly supports theAutry expansion. HisChief of Staff, ReneeWeitzer, attended thehearing, where she calledthe proposed designbeautiful and said that itrepresents an expansionof green space in thepark.

Huizarsparticipation in the

struggle has been farmore complicated. Ththird councilmember trepresent the districtsince the mergeragreement, Huizar, in2006, told the ArroyoSeco Journal that hesupported keeping theSouthwest Museum

open for a museumuse and keeping thesubstantial part [of thcollection] here [CD 1In 2007, however, hejoined his predecessorMayor Villaraigosa, inaccepting a commitmmemo from the AutryNational Center layingout the Autrys planfor rehabilitating theSouthwest building, b

maintaining only 10%the available space foexhibitions.

At the Board ofReferred Powers heariHuizar appeared inperson and sat througthe long processamong the communitystakeholders. When hturn to speak came, tcouncilmember cited t2007 memo as providfor keeping the currenSouthwest campusopen as a museumwith regular hours andaccreditation. Huizartook many present bysurprise when he askethat the memo be mainto a legal documentand included in therevised lease agreemeHe asked for a master

plan for the Southwesbuilding and for furthediscussion as to howmuch of the Southwescollection will bedisplayed in CD 14.

The SouthwesMuseum is undeniablypart of the Northeastcommunity, said Huiz

A page seemedto be turning in a longsaga. However, Georg

The Autry is a welcome part o our community,. That does not give the Autry or

anyone else a blank check to do whatever

they want in Grith Park.

-Greater Grith Park Neighborhood Council President Philip Gasteier


15/28

15

Mihlsten, a partner inLatham and Watkins,peaking on behalf of the

Autry National Center,esponded to Huizarsomments by saying,We cant agree to theease amendment.

I was looking tomove forward with this,aid Board Chair Hahn.

Hahn commendedHuizar for looking tond a way forward,nd concurred that the

greement needed to beodied.

The pre-nupshave not been completelyealed, I dont feel this

marriage is ready toake place, said the

Councilmember, addinghat the 2007 memo was beautiful statement

of vision, but that stepsneeded to be taken toensure that it did notbecome just a piece ofpaper.

You got it for bargain, actually,

Councilmember BillRosendahl said of theAutrys acquisition ofhe Southwest Museumollection.

I dont want tobe here one day and ndobjects were moved out

of one facility and used toaise money for another,aid Parks.

Board memberslso had concerns aboutrafc and transit-relatedevelopment issues.

Reyes spoke of themillions and millions

of dollars the City hasnvested in the corridorhrough Northeast L.A.,ncluding $25 million in

a Southwest MuseumGold Line Station alone.Parks worried that 19deciencies found in theAutrys trafc circulationplan by an outsideconsulting group werebeing glossed over.

Every treatyin this country hasbeen broken, saidCouncilmember TonyCardenas, making itunanimous on the partof the Board of Referred

Powers members thatthis meeting was goingto signal a new andenforceable means ofcooperation, replacingany winners versus losersmodel.

Hahn closed the312 hour hearing bypointing out one morepoint all present couldagree on.

You are all herebecause of your love ofmuseums, Hahn said.

Huizar and theAutry were given fourweeks to attempt towork out an agreement.However, it has sincebecome apparent thatits going to take a littlelonger than that.

It has becomeclear that the LosAngeles City Councilis prepared to requireAutrys compliance with

the promises it made inthe merger agreement,said Wright the dayafter the hearing. Thatwould be a compromise,including an enforceablecommitment to maintainthe Southwest Museumas the primary site toexhibit its fabulous

collection in MountWashington.

Huizar has sincesought public support forhis negotiations with theAutry National Center.He has requested that

community memberswrite to the Autry, askingthe center to standby its word and put itscommitments to LosAngeles rst museumin writing, in a legallybinding document.

I have beenacting in good faith tobring agreement and/or compromise to the

issue at hand, Huizarhas written to the Boardof Referred Powers.However, I do notbelieve that the Autryhas taken seriously theBoard of Referred Powersinstructions to work outwith me options for alegally binding document.The Autry Center hasessentially threatened toabandon its expansion

project at Grifth Parkaltogether if I continueto pursue with themany document whichlegally binds them to itscommitments made tome and to the City of LosAngeles.

Representatives ofCD 14-based community

organizations have metwith Huizar, and theFriends of the SouthwestMuseum Coalition hasissued a statementsaying, We agreed withthe Councilmember that

the three key itemsneeded were: 1) legallybinding commitment thatcould be accomplishedin various forms; 2)12,500 sq ft. of exhibitionspace for the SouthwestCollection at the historicmuseum facility; 3) atimeline for re-opening.

On its part theAutry National CenterBoard has adopted aresolution that reads,The Autry shall notagree to any condition orrequirement imposed bythe City of Los Angelesor any other third partyon the Grifth ParkImprovement Project orthe amendment to the

Lease, which requiresthe Autry to make anycommitments, nancialor otherwise, withrespect to the Southwestfacilities and collection inMount Washington.

The matter will bereturning to the Boardof Referred Powersin September at thesoonest.

uizar has since sought public support or his negotiations with the Autry NationalCenter. He has requested that community members write to the Autry, asking the

enter to stand by its word and put its commitments to Los Angeles rst museum

in writing, in a legally binding document.

The pre-nups have not been completely sealed, I dont eel this marriage is ready

to take place, said Councilmember Hahn, adding that the 2007 memo was a

beautiul statement o vision, but that steps needed to be taken to ensure that it did

not become just a piece o paper.

Board members also had concerns about trac and transit-related development

issues. Councilmember Ed Reyes spoke o the millions and millions o dollars the

City has invested in the corridor through Northeast L.A., including $25 million in a

Southwest Museum Gold Line Station alone.


16/28

16

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19/28

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20/28

20

SURF CITY!

Travel

by edward rivera

If only there was aneasier way to get there.

HuntingtonBeach, one of the best,and one of the mostnoted surng beachesin Southern California,sits along Pacic CoastHighway, if you want tohead straight south on 1until nally reaching itsbeckoning sands.

Take the 405 toHarbor or Warner andit seems like all youredoing is driving. But ifyouve committed toweekend of sun andsurf, you do what youhave to do.

We visited thebeautiful Hilton Water-front Resort in June, andcouldnt have asked for

either better weather,nicer accomodations, or

a better weekend over-all.

The recentlyrenovated resort over-looks the Pacic Oceanand from our balcony,we could see coastline,sea and sand from thisend of the horizon tothat one.

This AAA four-diamond-rated Hil-

ton hotel and resortfeatures 209 roomslarger than my wholeapartment,with a varietyof amenities included.All include private, fur-nished balconies, mostwith postcard views ofthe coastline.

We dined at theaward-winning Shades

Restaurant and Bar,which featured a spe-

actular buffet on ourrst evening, and exceptfor a meal of smores onthe beach, every otherevening as well, withequally delicious results.

The evening buf-fet is wide-ranging andalmost evil in its attrac-tiveness. Executive chefJeff Littleeld presidedover a gold mine of

grilled meats and vega-tables along with a smallfortress of desserts,including the inevitablered velvet cupcakes. En-tertainment is furnishedby a rst-rate guitaristand singer who accom-panied himself tastefullyto pre-recorded tracks.

The combinationof the poolside location,

the food, the welcomcompany and sunset

over the Pacic was dliriously seductive.

The Hiltonsrooms were huge, wiluxurious drapes andfurnishings, a small ba couch (!) and a largplasma screen TV.

Any hotel is onas good as it details,and its in these detathat the Hilton Wa-

terfront Resort revelsand triumphs. We wegreeted with a smallplastic sand bucket ashovel, should we deto venture in to beaccastle constructionand development ovethe weekend.Also inthe bucket were skewers, chocolate, grahacrackers, and all of th

The waves at Huntington Beach are long-celebrated. But you dont have to get your feet wet if you dont want to.

Huntington BeaCHHaSalottooffer,

evenifyoureatotalHodad


21/28

21

necessary ingredients formores, a beach imperative.

Our rst morn-ng found us cruising thetrand on beach cruisers (ofourse) with Hilton managerD Shafer and chef Little-

eld, and reveling in theun, especially since it wasaining in LA that afternoon.

The executive chefhelped with the smores,t was that kind of swankweekend.

After a bountifulbreakfast at Shades, the ho-el restaurant, we boarded crazily decorated bus for aide to the Bolsa Chica Wet-ands preserve, one of the

argest such bird sanctuariesn the country.

Along the way, westened to the traditional

historic native music of theocals, as performed by theBeach Boys and Jan andDean. (Dean Torrance, heof the famous 60s surf duo,till resides in HB, and is an

unofcial ambassador of theommunity.

Thousands of migrat-ing and native birds lledthe skies over the Bolsa Chi-ca wetlands, as we strolledacross a wooden walkway towatch the aviary display.

From there it was on

to our beach cruiser ridewhere we joined membersof the Hilton staff for lunchand our memorable smoresfeast.

The HuntingtonBeach Surng museum wasa particular treat for meSaturday afternoon, the na-tive music being one of mypersonal favorites. Therewe saw displays of famous

surfboards, watch surngvideos.There was surf rockgod Dick Dales guitar, alongwith a host of other surf no-tables. Kowabunga indeed.

Saturday eveningwas another world-classdinner chosen from a menuof glorious grilled meats andseafoods. I think I had oneof everything. Okay, maybeI didnt. It only felt like it.

You might choose theHilton Waterfront Resort asyour only mini-vacation thissummer, as frankly, its notcheap. But econonics beingwhat they are, you can stillget a reasonable rate online,and the hotel provides ahost of promotions to makeit a little easier.

The surf is up.

The 411

Huntington Beach is rated the mostheavily sured beach on the West

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Huntington BeachSurfng Museum411 Olive Avenue

Huntington Beach, Caliornia 92648714 - 960 - 3483

12 to 5 pm, monday through riday11 am to 6 pm, saturday and sunday

Bolsa Chica Wetlands [email protected]

Entrance at Warner Ave. and PCH

(opposite Bolsa Chica State Beach)Huntington Beach, CATel: 714 846 1114

Hilton Waterront Beach Resort21100 Pacifc Coast Hwy,

Huntington Beach, Caliornia,United States 92648-5307

Tel: 1-714-845-8000Fax: 1-714-845-8424


22/28

22

by candace MerriLL

We recently had the op-portunity to test drivethe new Toyota High-lander Hybrid, a full-size family-style SUV.Having never drivena hybrid before, I wascurious about howexactly it worked andhow it would perform.

Our test model was fullyloaded with most of thecool options the modeloffers, like a back-upcamera, rear dvd playerand a GPS navigationsystem. It has two rowsof rear seats that can befolded down for carryingcargo. This is one bigautomobile.

Most US car

buyers probably knowthat the term hybriddoesnt always meanthe same thing. THerare full hybrids that can

actually be propelledfrom a stop on electricpower alone, and thereare mild hybrids thatjust shut off the gasengine when the vehicleisnt moving. The much-

improved 2009 ToyotaHighlander Hybrid is afull hybrid.The 2009 Toyota High-lander Hybrid is virtually

identical to the LexusRX 400h: a 3.3-liter V-6paired with two elec-tric motors where thetransmission would go,plus an electric motor todrive the rear wheels.

I was pleasantly sur-prised at how maneuverable it was. The cpractically turned itseAt times I forgot I wadriving an SUV.

The model Idrove had a keyless mote and the rst timpushed the starter buton, I didnt think it w

on. There was no soujust some lights anda friendly reminder todrive carefully. The mentertaining part of tinterior was the dia-gram that showed whpower was being useAt very low speeds, tcar ran on full electripower, at higher speethe gas engine engag

tHe HigHlander HyBridtoyotaS full Size Suv revealS

a few SurpriSeS

Its a powerul car, but its not quick. It seemedto lack some serious pick-up, and you couldreally eel and hear it when the gas engineengaged. It was all a bit disquieting. And

because the car is so big and heavy, even withthe hybrid engine, I was only getting about 24 to

26 miles to the gallon around town.


23/28

23

and at times theelectric engine wasassisting the gas en-gine. It was all verynteresting.

Its a power-ul car, but its notquick. It seemedo lack some seri-

ous pick-up, and youould really feel and

hear it, when the gasengine engaged. Itwas all a bit disqui-eting. And becausehe car is so big and

heavy, even with thehybrid engine, I wasonly getting about24 to 26 miles to thegallon around town (Iknow this because itells you

your gasmileageon thedash).

The High-anderHybriduses a208-horsepower3.3-liter V6 enginealong with three

electric motors.One motor startshe gas engine andecharges the SUVs

nickel-metal hydridebattery pack. Theothers provide thedriving power andwork as genera-ors during braking.

There are a total of270 horses and the

all-wheel drive and scontinuously variabletransmission (CVT)are both on the stan-dard menu. EPA fueleconomy estimatesare 27 mpg in thecity and 25 mpg onthe highway; goodbut not great for theeld, but below thoseof popular car-basedhybrids like the Prius,which are of course,much smaller.

There arethree energy-con-serving modes. Nor-mal and Accelerationmodes are indicatedon the power meter(the tachometer)

showing where peakfuel economy residesin the power band.The EV mode lets yourun electric if yourejust running to thestore and back, anddont plan on racinganyone to get there.

If you reallyfeel the need to drive

a tank, the ToyotaHighlander is a goodchoice. It gets bet-

ter gas mileage thanmost SUVs in itsclass and is highlymaneuverable. But ifyou dont have fourchildren and a soc-cer team, perhapsyou might consider asmaller car if youreconcerned about gasmileage and the envi-ronment.

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by david ausLender

From one train stop

to another. Board theMetro Goldline at theSouthwest Museum orAvenue 57 stops, andhead north to Pasa-dena. There youll ndyourself at one of thecoolest little restaurantsin the areaLe GrandOrange, re-eastablishedat the original Del MarSouthern Pacic railroad

station, now of course,a Metro stop.

We sat down theother day with ChefJorge Gomez, execu-tive chef, and AllisonShashock, restaurantspokesperson. It wasearly afternoon, be-tween the meal shifts.We took a table andbegan to chat. Chef

Gomez looked so amaz-ingly young, I just hadto enquire.

Im 27, saidGomez, I started cook-ing professionally at 17.Ive been in the kitchen,since I was like 10 or12. My Grandma andGrandpamy family isin the restaurant busi-ness all around. Its a

part of me.He likes to say

Food is memories. Itseasy to see why.

LGO Hospitali-ties has been holding onto Gomez for over fouryears, and hes becomea part of their family aswell. Hes cooked in Ari-zona, at Radio Milanoand worked as a Sous

Chef at Chelseas Kitch-

en, both LGO establish-ments owned by

Now Chef Gomeznds himself content-edly working in a beau-tiful kitchen built insideof the historic Del Martrain station in a re-cently renovated sectionnear Old Town Pasa-dena. He walks to work,

loves his wife, and justbecame a daddy. This ismost denitely a manyou want cooking yourfood.

So what are theChefs favorite dishes?

I like the Reu-ben, he admits.Plainand simple, he says.Just the way he likes it.He also admits a taste

for the restaurants newRoasted Chicken dish.

It takes 16 to17 minutes to cook, butits worth it. Its tenderjuicy meat held togetherby a crispy skin.

Allison likes thefried chicken becauseits white meat, and itshealthy and light, unlikethe common conception

of greasy fried chicken.The bonus is that youeat it with a cinnamonroll instead of bread,which apparentlymeans that you still alsoget to order desert.

One dish thatonly used to be serve

in the winter -The Brsels Sprouts Salad became so popular thit is now made yearround.

But the customers favorite, is undouedly the French Dip.Each prime rib sandwis sliced to order. Nonare ever assembledahead of time. Chef

Gomez makes absoluly sure of this. He sincerely cares about thcommunity he servesa philosophy reectethe company itself.

LGO has alwaybeen about connectin

FoodieliciousLe Grande Orange: Tradition and

Surprises Just a Few Stops Away

A Simple Idea. Well-Executed

M.A.N. Insurance AgencyYolanda Y. Nogueira

5000 York Blvd. Highland Park

[email protected]

Serving Northeast LA Since 1954.


25/28

25

o the community, saysShashock, and Le GrandeOrange Caf is intention-ally structured for justhat purpose.

Monday andTuesday nights are whathey call Neighborhood

Night, which means buy

one entre and the sec-ond one is only $5!

Everyday until6pm kids eat free froma special menu consist-ng of Mac and Cheese,Grilled Cheese, andother fun foods that areo much healthier thanhe fast food kids eat so

much of these days.On the weekend

evenings, youll ndPasadenans as well asAngeleno twentysome-hings crowded aroundhe bar sipping White

Sangria and grooving tohe music.

In the morning,

nd commuters drows-ily and hungirly eat fromthe new breakfast menubefore hopping on thetrain to work.Le GrandeOrange Caf is a com-

munity restaurant smackdab in the middle of amajor commuting hub.

Call it Americanfood in a small townsetting complete with afriendly well-trained staff.

Its a customized diningexperience, with an eyeto tradition. And speak-ing of tradition, dontforget to try the greatEnglish mufns.

Oh hey, theres mytrain. Gotta run!!

coMing auguSt 15:

the arroyo Seco dining guide:reStaurantSof paSadena

and northeaStLa


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26

Neighborhoods

SummernightSatheritage Square muSeumThere is something about summer. Of course, its the weather, but maybe theres something abouthe air that makes it the perfect time for music outdoors. As weve been traveling a lot this summweve been fortunate enough to see music in so many forms in so many places. But its never thesame as home, as the people at the Heritage Square Museum know so well. Their free summer ccert series, sponsored by a host of community organizations, including the arroyo seco journaL, hbeen a big success this year. If youve been there, here are some memories. If you have not, her

are some reasons to go in August.All photos provided by Heritage Square Museum, 4500 Homer St. LA 90032.


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27

WELIVEIN THEHOUSE WEALL

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Every decision we make has consequences. We choose what we put into our lakes and rivers. We choose what

we release into the air we breathe. We choose what we put into our bodies, and where we let our children run

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our air, our land and yourself at earthshare.org. Earth Share supports more than 400 environmental and conservation

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