WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2012 Volume 11 Issue 280 Santa Monica Daily Press COSTUMES GONE WILD SEE PAGE 4 We have you covered THE LOCAL HISTORY ISSUE High gas, diesel prices hurt farm industry Lawsuit filed to restore nativity scenes Council violated 1st Amendment when it ended the tradition, lawyer says GOSIA WOZNIACKA Associated Press BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD standing tradition of nativity displays in free speech rights of churches who had cel- Daily Press Staff Writer Palisades Park. ebrated the season with displays for nearly FRESNO, Calif. Farmers in California’s agri- According to the complaint, the City six decades. cultural heartland say record-high gas and CITY HALL An attorney representing 13 Council erred in banning “unattended win- Their action put an end to a fight diesel prices are putting pressure on their local churches has filed suit against City ter displays” in Palisades Park because the between local Christian groups and athe- bottom lines, but economists say it’s unlike- Hall in an attempt to overturn a decision by seven-member board did so specifically to ly that will translate into significantly higher the City Council in June that ended a long- avoid controversy, effectively quashing the SEE SUIT PAGE 11 food prices across the U.S. Keith Nilmeier, a fourth-generation farmer in Fresno County, has cut down on using his farm equipment to compensate for climbing fuel costs. Among other changes, Nilmeier — who grows fruit on 300 acres near Sanger — makes only one pass, instead of three, through the orchards and vineyards with his disking machine linked to a furrower. And he keeps farm supervisors driving smaller, fuel-efficient cars around his fields. “I’m trying to figure out how to get more efficient about using the equipment and sav- ing more fuel,”Nilmeier said. “But we’re get- SEE GAS PAGE 10 Local publishing company buys Variety THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES Santa Monica-based Penske Media Corp., the owner of the snarky enter- tainment website Deadline, has purchased venerable show business publication Variety for $25 million. Reed Elsevier Group PLC announced its sale of the publication on Tuesday. Variety has covered show business since 1905 and is still considered a prominent Photo courtesy Fiondella family entertainment news source. But the publica- BLAST FROM THE PAST: When local celebrity Jay Fiondella opened his iconic restaurant Chez Jay in 1959, he not only hired vivacious show girls. tion has struggled to compete with websites He also rented a circus elephant. The Landmarks Commission has named the historic eatery a landmark, which comes with certain protections. such as Deadline and The Wrap while con- tinuing its longtime rivalry with The Hollywood Reporter, which was revamped in 2010 under new ownership. Commission names Chez Jay a landmark Faced with the onslaught of Web-based news outlets, Variety put its online content BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD future is as uncertain as its past is lively. that frequented it as the physical aspects that behind a “pay wall” in early 2010, ending an Daily Press Staff Writer The hearing was packed as 43 people could be preserved as part of the designa- experiment with free online content that it spoke at the meeting with a nearly unani- tion, according to a report from city officials. began in late 2006. It has about 17,000 sub- CITY HALL The Landmarks Commission mous voice asking the commission to desig- The report relies on a 2009 unpublished voted 6-0 Monday evening to give landmark nate the restaurant a landmark. SEE DEAL PAGE 7 protections to Chez Jay, a restaurant whose The restaurant is as historic for the people SEE LANDMARK PAGE 9 PROMOTE YOUR Gary Limjap SMALL BUSINESS BUSINESS HERE! (310) 586-0339 STARTUP? Yes, in this very spot! 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For 2101 Ocean Park Blvd., 1:30 p.m. more information, visit paranoiahal- Share book selections with fellow loween.com. homeschoolers. October’s topic is mys- tery and horror. For more information, Eyes on America call (310) 458-8681. The Broad Stage – 1208 Sunset Ave., 90405 1310 11th St., 7:30 p.m. Just Listed and Just Sold $1.620 million Mystery within those pages The extraordinary events and people Montana Library that shaped our nation have been cap- – 1730 Pier Ave., 90405 1704 Montana Ave., 7 p.m. tured by America’s greatest photogra- Discussion of Colin Dexter's “The phers and brought vividly to life in an Just Listed and Just Sold $1.425 million Riddle of the Third Mile.” To investigate evocative mix of music and words in a body found in the Oxford Canal, First Person: Seeing America. Works by cell: 310.600.6976 | [email protected] Inspector Morse retraces the victim’s iconic photographers such as Walker route through a London netherworld of Evans, Edward Curtis and Alfred bordellos and topless bars. For more Stieglitz are infused with new meaning information, visit smpl.org. when paired with the text of Langston Hughes, Abraham Lincoln, Carson McCullers, Frederick Douglass and JUST ANNOUNCED! Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012 Studs Terkel, to name a few. These his- Now featuring the candidates for torical works are interpreted by actors California's 50th Assembly district Meet your ballot Bill Pullman and Lily Knight and accom- RICHARD BLOOM and BETSY BUTLER PRESENTS Olympic High School panied by the evocative music of 721 Ocean Park Blvd., 7 p.m. Ensemble Galilei. The League of Women Voters Santa Monica and Los Angeles Universal 2012 Preschool (LAUP) are hosting Meet Friday, Oct. 12, 2012 Your Ballot 2012. This event will give Squirm LOCAL residents of Santa Monica the opportu- Pods of laughter nity to better understand the candidates Sheraton Delfina Hotel CANDIDATES and propositions on the November bal- 530 Pico Blvd., 10 a.m. — 11 p.m. lot. Local measures GA and ES will be The Los Angeles Podcast Festival gath- discussed. GA amends the City Charter ered some of the biggest names in FORUM in order to change the way that the comedy podcasting for a three-day Rent Control Board establishes the extravaganza. In addition to live pod- Night annual general adjustment to rent ceil- casts and a huge standup show, there ings on rent controlled units. ES is a will be a lounge to hang out in and meet bond measure to raise money to mod- your favorite podcaster, enjoy a party or ernize campuses and repair schools so two and listen to panels about podcast- all meet current earthquake and fire ing hosted by experts from both sides Monday, Oct. 15, 6:00 p.m. safety standards. of the curtain. For more information, visit lapodfest.com. THE SANTA MONICA PUBLIC LIBRARY’S So scary MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AUDITORIUM Santa Monica Place Dig the pier’s porch Broadway and Third Street, Santa Monica Pier Featuring 7 p.m. — 1 a.m. 6 p.m. OPENING REMARKS: Dr. Chui Tsang, PRESIDENT, SANTA MONICA COLLEGE During the month of October, the third Unwind on the front porch of Santa floor of Santa Monica Place will be Monica for music and a free movie. Candidates for the State Assembly Race, Santa Monica City Council, transformed into a hair-raising haunted Each Friday night through Oct. 19 the and the Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. attraction where the un-dead will pos- pier will host free flicks and a DJ spin- Answers to the tough questions that face our city posed sess three mazes: “The Infirmary,” ning records. This week’s movie is the by the SMDP editorial staff and most importantly, YOU. “Insomniac Clown Playhouse” and documentary “Exit Through the Gift “Granny’s Manor of Mayhem.” Shop.” For more information, visit san- 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401 Spectators can also enjoy food and tamonicapier.org/frontporchcinema. merchandise vendors throughout the FREE ADMISSION, open to the public, light hors d'oeuvres and beverages. Sponsored By To create your own listing, log on to smdp.com/submitevent For help, contact Daniel Archuleta at 310-458-7737 or submit to [email protected] For more information on any of the events listed, log on to smdp.com/communitylistings For more information call 310-458-7737 Inside Scoop Visit us online at smdp.com WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2012 3 COMMUNITY BRIEFS Presidential campaigns target new citizen voters SMMUSD GARANCE BURKE tial swing states and competitive congressional races. Teachers’ union backs incumbents Associated Press In Florida, which President Barack Obama won by The union representing teachers and other certified employees in less than 5 percentage points four years ago, a new the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District announced Tuesday SAN FRANCISCO From Florida to Virginia, analysis of U.S.