Meetings To Be Held Wednesday on Development and Safety

After two teenagers were killed last week, the Venice Neighborhood Council has organized a community meeting for Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Penmar Recreation Center.  Penmar Park Director, Juan Guzman, will attend, as will Capt. Jon Peters of LAPD's Pacific Division. The co-chairs of the VNC's Public Safety Committee will attend.

At Oakwood Rec Center, will hear a presentation by representatives from Kalnel Gardens, LLC, about plans to raze the old church on Venice Boulevard to make way for 12 town homes. T to a frustrated and skeptical crowd. The presentation at LUPC is an outreach effort by the developers. LUPC will not vote on any aspect of the project Wednesday night. The full meeting agenda can be found here.

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Millage Peaks announced his retirement this week. The 35-year veteran of the LAFD will step down on July 10. Prior to his installation at the head of the department in 2009, Peaks served as Battalion Chief for an area that includes Venice, LAX and Mar Vista. In a press release, the department said, "The change that occurred under his watch is visible across the community as a 47% reduction in fire fatalities, greater educational opportunities for our youth and increased public-private partnership in support of the LAFD. The full benefit of these changes will be felt for years to come." 

Last week, the Rotary Club of Playa Venice Sunrise welcomed a new president for the 2011-2012 year. Gail Goldstein was installed at the group's annual “Demotion Party,” where they thanked outgoing president Armando Diaz. The club also announced that Goldstein was  awarded Rotarian of the Year for 2010-2011. A new award, Rotarian at Heart, was introduced at the celebration. That award is to be given to non-Rotarians who have supported the Club and its activities through the dedication of “time, treasure and talent.” The inaugural winners were Judith Ciancimino, Nadine Rosales and Robert Bird.

Finally, in the obligatory celebrities behaving badly category (which Venice seems to perform well in), former ESPN personality Jay Mariotti has been ordered to stand trial on a felony count of stalking his ex-girlfriend, City News Service reported Tuesday. Mariotti pleaded no contest in September to charges involving the same woman, and was sentenced to a year-long domestic violence course and 40 days of community labor.

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