The Weekly Newspaper of El Segundo Herald Publications - El Segundo, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 106, No. 47 - November 23, 2017 Inside This Issue Certified & Licensed Professionals.....................14 Classifieds............................4 Crossword/Sudoku.............4 Entertainment......................6 Legals..................................12 Pets......................................15 Police Reports.....................2 Politically Speaking..........11 Real Estate.....................7-10 Sports.............................. 5,13 Weekend Forecast Chevron’s Women’s Network Bake Sales Support Walk With Sally Chevron’s Women’s Network held bake sales at the Chevron refinery throughout the month of October. All the proceeds, $1,300, were given to Walk With Sally for programs supporting children whose parents, guardians or siblings have cancer or have succumbed to cancer. Chevron did a check presentation with Walk With Sally last week. Those in the picture include Casey Stokes, RSD Operations Manager and Women’s Network Management Sponsor; Diane Reed, Human Resources Manager; Women’s Network Leadership Team members; Michele McRae, Director of Development Walk With Sally, Page Sacks, Special Events & Communications Manager, Walk With Sally; and Nick Arquette, Founder and Executive Director, Walk With Sally. Photo Provided by Chevron. Wiseburn School Board Meets for the Final Time at Aviation Office By Duane Plank Last Thursday evening’s meeting of the Wiseburn School Board was probably the final meeting that will take place at the old office, ensconced in somewhat tight quarters, on Aviation Boulevard. For the second meeting in a row, parents showed up to voice their concerns about pre-school and after-school programs currently in the Wiseburn Unified School District (WUSD). Superintendent Tom Johnstone is keenly aware of the challenges faced by parents, especially working parents, as they try to juggle all the balls tossed their way and guarantee that their young learners are getting the best care possible. Said Johnstone, at the start of the meeting: “We have drafted a plan, which is very, very tentative right now.” Johnstone talked of current wait lists to take advantage of the District’s before- and after-school programs, intoning that residents would be ahead of the game to get their children into the programs--vis-a-vis permit students who are taking advantage of opportunities offered by the District Johnstone reported that the District is looking at long- and short-term solutions to the daycare challenge, “which include expanding capacity by hiring more staff.” Added Johnstone: “Don’t despair, and know that your pleas are not falling on deaf ears. This has been on our radar.” Johnstone See Wiseburn, page 13 Friday Partly Cloudy 76˚/59˚ Saturday Partly Cloudy 73˚/58˚ Sunday Partly Cloudy 71˚/58˚ Council Hears from Residents on Candy Cane Lane Safety Issues By Brian Simon One of the community’s most storied holiday traditions going back half a century has become a source of growing controversy, as a procession of residents on the adjacent block to Candy Cane Lane came to Tuesday night’s El Segundo City Council meeting to voice concerns about safety during the increasingly popular nightly event that runs in the 1200 block of Acacia Street for two weeks in December. At the previous Council meeting, Scot Nicol—an El Segundo Planning Commissioner who also lives in the 1100 block of Acacia—made a plea on behalf of his neighbors to convert his street to a one-way configuration during Candy Cane Lane to slow traffic and improve pedestrian safety. But the City’s Traffic Committee, which includes Public Works Director Ken Berkman as well as Police Department members, denied the request—feeling it would only expand the problem to other streets and neighbors. “One-way streets would create a mall parking lot feel,” Berkman explained. Candy Cane Lane, where homeowners thematically decorate their properties and put up dazzling light displays, draws large crowds annually. The numbers have grown significantly in recent years primarily due to social media publicity, resulting in more impacts on the surrounding neighborhood. Even so, El Segundo Police Acting Captain Ray Garcia said his department reported no incidents on the 1100 or 1200 blocks of Acacia last year. The public speakers begged to differ. “Kathy Rutledge [an 1100 block resident] called the police three times,” Nicol said (and later other residents noted that they had also contacted the police on multiple occasions). “You guys don’t live there—you don’t see it. It’s a disaster.” Teresa Lanphere Ames worried about “children darting across the street” and the potential for a tragic accident. She asked for a police presence to control the traffic and crowd. “It’s like opening night every night,” Michael Batton said of Candy Cane Lane’s growing attendance. He also spoke of drivers making U-turns in the middle of the street as well as extreme sidewalk congestion. Suzanne Leance thought the 1100 block, where most of the residents also decorate their properties, should be officially included as part of Candy Cane Lane. “People don’t know we’re not a part of it and walk right down the middle of the street,” she said. “You need to close our street. We have to protect our children… Our street is Candy Cane Lane, Jr.” Kimberly Nicol emphasized that she (and her neighbors) do not wish to shut down Candy Cane Lane. “The issue is about safety,” she said. “My own son almost got hit by a car.” The Council (with member Carol Pirsztuk absent) had earlier opted to go with the Traffic Committee recommendation to deny the one-way street request, but directed staff to look into an increased police pres- See City Council, page 4
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