Beagle and Chihuahua dumped in a vacant ocean lot along Shepherd Street.

A  YOUNG BEAGLE AND CHIHUAHUA DUMPED AT A VACANT LOT ALONG THE OCEAN NEED A HOME; PROPOSED TACO BELL EXPANSION RECEIVES CONDITIONS; GLORIA LOCKHART STEPS DOWN FROM TOBERMAN AND SLOTS STILL OPEN IN  A FUN WRITING CLASS FOR CHILDREN AGES 6 to 14

PUPS

Two young pups dumped by a woman in a vacant lot in San Pedro near the Pacific ocean survived alone for six  weeks until a rescuer rounded them up and placed them in the kennel.

Rebecca Chambliss, who is among 10 others vying for the Los Angeles council seat vacated by Janice Hahn, said once her friend called and she spotted the wandering twosome – an inseparable beagle and Chihuahua – her heart forced her to help.

“When I saw the beagle find a banana peel and bring it back as food for the Chihuahua, my heart was broken and I knew I had to help,” said Chambliss, a realtor who also runs a non-profit mastiff rescue.

Because of the closeness of the two dogs, Chambliss wants to find a home that will take both of them in.  According to the realtor, a woman drove down to the lot near Shepherd Street and Pacific Avenue, got out of her car, took out each dog and abandoned them in the scruffy, ocean cliff property while exasperated witnesses looked on.

The two are together at a kennel which Chambliss uses to rescue mastiffs. She’s currently asking those interested in adopting the dogs to get in touch with her.

For more information, Chambliss can be reached at chamb@cox.net or 310-998-4466.

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MOST RESIDENTS HAPPY WITH REGULATIONS ON TACO BELL EXPANSION

Many residents, faced with the proposed doubling of the size of a troubling Taco Bell in San Pedro, are pleased with the restrictions the city of Los Angeles has imposed on the eatery.

While one resident is appealing the proposal, others said they were happy once a variety of restrictions were placed on the expected 1,474 square foot Taco Bell at Gaffey and 11^th Streets. In order to gain approval, Taco Bell needed a variance to reduce its current number of parking spaces.

“We really did get everything we wanted,” said Leslie Jones, who owns the nearby Omelette and Waffle Shop with Mona Sutton. “We are happy with the 24 hour surveillance, but we will support our neighbor” in the appeal.

Long a community problem for loitering teenagers and gang members along with deafening noise in the evening and early morning hours , Taco Bell officials remained uninterested for years in curbing the facility’s  security issues. Repeated complaints from the community at large went ignored.

Through a conditional use permit, however, residents were able to curtail opening and closing times, expedite graffiti removal, and enforce the eatery to have a 24 hour surveillance camera along with a 24 hour hot line to record residents complaints.

Sutton and Jones along with residential owner, Sal DiConstanzo, aided their neighbors to make sure the remodel was in the best interest of the surrounding community. Credited for help were Los Angeles mayoral aide, Ricardo Hong, and the Central Neighborhood Council.

Some of the conditions, which would go into effect if the development is approved,  include:

--Installing a 24-hour hot line to take residents complaints that must be recorded with a date and time. The phone number must be given to surrounding schools, neighbors and the Neighborhood Councils and be visibly posted inside the restaurant.

--Installing a 24-hour video surveillance camera along with retaining the recordings in one-month increments that police can request at any time.

--All graffiti must be removed within 24 hours from the time it appears and the paint used must match the colors of the restaurant.

--The restaurant can only serve food indoors  and from 10 a.m. to midnight daily; The drive-thru can only operate from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. There will be no outside seating.

 --An eight foot wall must be built along the alley to buffer residents from the drive-thru sounds along with shrubs and other plants about two feet tall. Such shrubbery must also be planted in the front and maintained year-round.

--Taco Bell is responsible for all loitering on the property.

The proposed expansion faces one more  obstacle.

One resident, whose garages face the alleyway shared by Taco Bell traffic, is seeking an appeal. She wants Taco Bell to install new garages on the side of her house and away from the alley.

-- Toberman’s Gloria Lockhart Steps Down

Gloria Lockhart announces her December departure from Toberman.

Gloria Lockhart, who has shepherded Toberman Neighborhood Center in San Pedro for the past six years, has announced she will retire in December.

Toberman’s president and chief executive officer said she plans to become a consultant in organizational development and will continue to work on her autobiography.

As the head of Toberman, a 108-year-old facility that services the poor of all ages, Lockhart said she believes she’s pointed the center in the right direction.

 “I believe I left Toberman in a really good place,” said Lockhart, 64, who added that she wants to complete “The Unmasking, A Woman’s Journey” and shop it around to agents.

The center is known for programs such as feeding needy families, gang intervention and after school activities for students.

 “It has been a privilege during the past six years to serve as Toberman’s President and Chief Executive Officer,” Toberman wrote in her resignation letter. “I know that my time and work is complete and it is the season to make this change.

“During my tenure, there has been tremendous change and challenges toward becoming a mission-driven organization…Toberman has much to be proud of.”

Lockhart will officially leave Dec. 31 after helping to train her replacement.

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Fun and Nurturing Writing Classes Available at the Corner Store

Does your child need help in writing or ways to blossom even more in the craft?

Consider this:

Diana Chapman, a longtime Los Angeles writer, teaches kids not just how to write but how to have fun while doing it.

In a nurturing environment at the Corner Store, students are taught the Seven Golden Secrets to Writing – and develop their skills consistently – each  Wednesday from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m (minus holidays).

To attend, show up at the Corner Store on Wednesday or email Chapman at hartchap@cox.net.

Costs are $60 for a six-week session or $10 per class for drop-ins. There are no refunds.

The Corner Store is located at 1118 37^th Street.

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