Recently in Palos Verdes Estates Category

I couldn't get in touch with Palos Verdes Homes Association President Philip Frengs before deadline last week to get him to comment on his apparent legal victory over the Palos Verdes Peninsula school district.

PVHA had no alternative but to mount a vigorous defense of the governing documents. The District fought their battle not only in Court, but in a failed public relations campaign.

If you want to learn more about the Lloyd Wright-designed home in Palos Verdes Estates -- the one known as the "Moore House" that preservationists are rallying around -- the city's environmental report is online.

I had a short story about today being the last day for comments on that report.

The Los Angeles Conservancy has encouraged fans of modern architecture to write letters to the city to get the home saved. But it's not clear that local residents want the out-of-place home to remain as-is on Paseo Del Mar.

A fancy Palos Verdes Peninsula home makes today's regular "View From Your Window" feature on commentator Andrew Sullivan's blog at The Atlantic. 

Anybody on The Hill want to claim this gorgeous view? Or cop to reading "The Daily Dish"? I can do the latter, but obviously not the former.

Wait, is that Melahat Uzumcu's house on Paseo del Mar? Omg, I think it is.

Tomorrow is the big MTA meeting at which the twin fates of the Crenshaw Line and the South Bay extension of the Green Line will be decided.

It seems at this point almost a foregone conclusion that the MTA board will vote to move ahead with environmental work on both projects, but South Bay leaders are heading downtown just to be sure.

Among those expected to attend are El Segundo Mayor Kelly McDowell, Rolling Hills Estates Mayor Judy Mitchell, Palos Verdes Estates Mayor Ellen Perkins, Redondo Beach Councilman Steve Diels and Torrance Councilwoman Susan Rhilinger. In other words, the full-court press.

South Bay leaders are allied in this effort with activists from South L.A., who see the Crenshaw Line as a major jobs generator. From the South Bay perspective, it's important that the Crenshaw Line be built as a light-rail line -- as opposed to a dedicated busway -- because that will facilitate expansion of the Green Line into Torrance.

Electeds will be gathering at 8 a.m. at the Marine Station where they will board the Green Line, which goes to Watts, where they will transfer to the Blue Line, which will take them downtown where they will transfer to the Red Line subway, which they will take to Union Station, where the MTA headquarters are located a chartered bus. (That's a little transit humor for you.)

Readers, wake up from your turkey and retail coma to catch up on local news:

Plans for a high-density senior housing complex in the heart of Torrance have resurfaced.  Again.

How did you spend Thanksgiving? Volunteers at Torrance church offered food, comfort and friendship to South Bay folks.

Bravo shoppers for bucking a dismal economy and flooding stores this morning in search of bargains. Our own business columnist Muhammed El-Hasan shares his Black Friday experience from last year.

And while you're out shopping, why not pick up an athletic ball to bring to the Breeze's annual holiday ball drive, which supports local youth-focused nonprofits?

A jury has found that William Sadowski was legally sane when he killed a Los Angeles International Airport police officer in 2005. Now, he's headed for a lifetime in parole, rather than a mental institution.

One Palos Verdes Estates young lady has reached what could be the highest echelon of academic honor, earning a prestigious Rhodes scholarship.

After more than a year of fighting for a dog park on The Hill, it looks like a Palos Verdes Estates couple is finally starting to see some success.

Thanksgiving is sooo yesterday. Bring on Christmas, and visits from Santa Claus throughout the South Bay.

Readers, let's hit it:

A state panel charged with selecting a recommended plan for creating marine preserve delayed making a decision Thursday, but appeared in favor of allowing fishing off the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

A group of South Bay environmentalists are joining the global movement of dancing to the Michael Jackson classic "Thriller" in Rolling Hills Estates on Saturday. Oh, yeah. They'll be wearing plastic bags in an effort to raise awareness about ocean pollution.

Check out pictures of the group's practice.

A man who worked as a janitor at Los Angeles International Airport has been charged with making four telephoned bomb threats that required airport officials to search terminals.

Palos Verdes High's running back is a 5-foot-7-inch powerhouse. See pics of this small wonder.

The city of Carson has approved the conversion of Colony Cove Mobile Estates to a resident ownership.

An inventive Redondo Beach chiropractor will stretch your spine.

Arraignment was postponed this morning  for woman who has been charged in relation to allegedly renting out her Palos Verdes Estates home to weddings and events.

Melahat Uzumcu asked for her hearing to be postponed so that she may hire an attorney.

A Torrance Superior Court judge gave her until Oct. 22, when she will be arraigned on charges of violating the zoning code, creating a public nuisance and operating a business without a license. If convicted of all four counts that she faces, she could serve up to two years in jail and pay a fine of $4,000.

As reported in Monday's Breeze, Uzumcu's seaside Paseo Del Mar home has been the site of repeated weddings that have upset residents in the surrounding area, city officials and neighbors have said.

City code does not allow a residential home to be used for commercial events.

Readers, let's get this news party started:

Some Torrance residents are nearly croaking over the possibility of placing a whimsical frog statue recently donated to the city by a former mayor in a seaside park. Children might play on the bronze statue and hurt themselves!

Police are investigating a hit-and-run accident allegedly committed by an off-duty Torrance police officer over the weekend.

Los Angeles County is set to pay $305,000 to settle a medical malpractice lawsuit brought on by the family of a man who died at County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center near Torrance after a hang-gliding accident two years ago.

San Pedro's Salvation Army Family Store has closed. You know it's a bad economy when even thrift stores are shutting down.

Public hearings over a proposed new public transit plan that could relieve South Bay traffic begin this week.

After three appearences at CIF semifinals in as many years, Palos Verdes High's girls tennis team is aiming for a title this year. Check out pictures.

Let's get to it, readers:

The city of Palos Verdes Estates is prosecuting a wealthy divorcee for renting out her 7,000-square-foot estate for weddings and tourists -- not a cool move in a city that is pursuing a counter suit against the folks they proscuted earlier this year for too elaborate Halloween decorations.

Some Westchester moms are taking to technology to fight crime in their neighborhood.

Johnny Torres clawed his way out of a life of gangs and drugs in a South Bay housing project to turn his life around in the military, and start classes last week at UCLA.

Bicycle thefts are apparently way up in the South Bay beach cities.

Speaking of which, some Redondo Beach children's beloved pet turtle has been stolen.

Gardena and San Pedro high schools, two of the most underperforming institutions in the South Bay, could be taken over by independent operators under a Los Angeles Unified School District reform plan.

Hey, while you're flying through Los Angeles International Airport, why don't you get your seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccine? Shots are available starting Thursday.

South Bay real estate prices slipped 2.5 percent overall last month, recent figures show.

We are deep into prep football season, so why don't you check out our local sports coverage?

Readers, we are chockablock with news today:

Signs indicate the recession might be ending, but food pantries have seen a 34 percent increase in need compared to the same time last year.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn has formed a committee to explore the possibility of her running for lieutenant governor in 2010.

Meanwhile, political consultant Mattie Fein is preparing to run against Jane Harman as a Republican in the 36th Congressional District.

John Bogert's son is learning to drive!

The ruckus over how South Bay Botanic Garden board members spent a surprise donation has apparently settled down.

El Segundo has given its school board an extra $150,000 cash payment, but the high school still wants more lucrative filming time.

Three more South Bay post offices, including Hermosa's and another in Redondo Beach and Torrance, have been added to the list of possible branches set for closure in an effort to cut United State Postal Service costs.

Cal-OSHA has levied nearly $33,000 in fines upon Exxon-Mobil over the April death of a worker at its Torrance refinery.

A Manhattan Beach man will take the helm of Northrop Grumman once its current CEO steps down Dec. 31.

Palos Verdes High School's boys water polo team apparently has a got shot at a title this season.