The Weekly Newspaper of El Segundo Herald Publications - El Segundo, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 105, No. 49 - November 24, 2016 Inside This Issue Certified & Licensed Professionals.......................7 Classifieds............................4 Community Briefs...............2 Crossword/Sudoku.............4 Entertainment......................6 Legals............................ 13,14 Pets......................................15 Police Reports............... 2,14 Real Estate.....................8-12 Sports....................................5 Weekend Forecast The Plunge Turns Seventy-Five! City and business leaders as well as community members came out on the evening of November 11 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the iconic Urho Saari Swim Stadium—aka The Plunge—that opened on Mariposa Avenue in 1941. The event included a special presentation of historical photos and a commemorative giveaway as well as an update on the new aquatics center. From L-R Mayor Pro Tem Drew Boyles, Councilmember Carol Pirsztuck, Gilda Dyckman and Lee Davis at The Plunge celebration with Olympic torches from Atlanta, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Photos courtesy of El Segundo Recreation and Parks. • El Segundo Gears Up For Holidays with Multiple Events By Brian Simon The cliché “time flies” certainly applies in El Segundo because just like that, the holiday season is already upon us with a slate of December public events on the docket beginning next week. To officially get the ball rolling, the annual Tree Lighting Friday See Holidays, page 4 Sunny 67˚/51˚ Planning Commission Looks to Simplify Home Construction and Remodeling By Liz Spear In a move to simplify remodeling or building a new home in El Segundo, the Planning Commission directed city staff to draft a zone text amendment to the R-1, single-family residential zone at the November 10 meeting. The newly draft amendment, which still has to go through the public hearing process and be approved by the City Council, is expected to be on the Planning Commission agenda on November 8. In other news from November 10, the Planning Commission heard a report on parking and traffic pertaining to the new In-N-Out Burger in a shopping center at Sepulveda Boulevard and Mariposa Avenue and cleared the way for Smoky Hollow property owner Jon Ramey of Ramey Roofing to demolish the existing buildings, two of which are quonset huts, on his property at 140 Sheldon Street at the corner of Franklin Avenue and build a two-story office/warehouse that includes landscape fronting the street. Single-Family Residential Construction The proposed R-1 changes, namely eliminating lot coverage and second-story modulation, would alter a single-family home’s Floor Area Ratio (FAR) from 0.53 to 0.60 and allow for no more than 0.25 FAR of the 0.60 to be used for a second story for lots larger than 25 feet wide. Current setbacks would remain and the ceremony, sponsored by the El Segundo Recreation and Parks Department, will take place Thursday, December 1 at 5:30 p.m. at the City Hall Plaza. The El Segundo City Council will lead the countdown to light the giant Christmas tree in the front area of the Plaza. The pre-lighting festivities will include the Holiday Craft Boutique at 3 p.m. as a special addition to the weekly Farmers Market; Candy Cane Kid Zone; train rides; and live entertainment including holiday music and carols performed by high school students and community groups. Santa Claus will also be present, and youngsters in attendance will receive a toy courtesy of Mattel, Inc. while supplies last. After the Tree Lighting, the El Segundo Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Holiday Mixer at Citizens Business Bank (5:30-7:30 at the corner of Main and Grand) with food by El Segundo Catering Company, drinks, a silent auction and raffle prizes. An El Segundo holiday tradition dating back to 1949 when local resident Ken Bailey aimed to bring community members together by displaying a Christmas tree at the end of the cul-de-sac on the 1200 block of Acacia Avenue, Candy Cane Lane is still going strong 67 years later. Thousands of spectators from all over the Southland now visit the street over a two-week period to see how homeowners decorate and light up their properties to showcase a winter wonderland. Candy Cane Lane’s kickoff proceedings will be on Saturday, December 10 from 5 to 10 p.m., with Santa in a firetruck officially ushering in the season with his signature “light it up” command. That first evening will also feature a snow-covered Christmas village at the end of the cul-de-sac and live music. The street will then be closed off nightly from vehicle traffic through December 23. “I couldn’t imagine a year without Candy Cane Lane,” said El Segundo Police Captain Bob Turnbull, who has lived on Acacia’s 1200 block for the past 17 years. “It provides an opportunity as a resident to give back to the community that has been so good to my family in a way that words can’t describe. See Commission, page 7 Saturday Mostly Sunny 63˚/50˚ Sunday Partly Cloudy 61˚/49˚
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