Two Women, Three Men Who Helped Crime Victims Honored in Pasadena Ceremony, See P.13 Thursday, May 14, 2015 - May 20, 2015
elmonteexaminer.com
Volume 19, No. 20
Community News, Arts & Opinions Since 1996
Lengthy Lawsuit Between City, Sierra Madre Couple Slowly Approaches Trial Date by joe taglieri
After five years of legal wrangling, a contentious lawsuit featuring Sierra Madre's Building and Planning Department versus a local pair of aspiring wine entrepreneurs appears to be heading toward the home stretch — an actual courtroom trial that yields a definitive verdict. The case is scheduled to begin in September at the state Superior Court's Burbank venue, according to sources familiar with the lawsuit. The time frame for Jeff and Taryn Hildreth's project to convert their Montecito Avenue residence into an art cafe and wine storage and bottling business dates back much further than the lawsuit — to the late-1990s, when Jeff began excavating the 1910-era home's lower portions with the goal of creating a subterranean wine cellar. The Hildreths claim they had all necessary permits, copies of which they provided to the Sierra Madre Weekly, and were in compliance with the city's building protocol when, more than 10 years down the line, the project came to an abrupt halt. Development Services Department officials levied an order to stop work based on numerous but nonspecific code infractions and their apparent inability to locate the Hildreths' permits, the couple contends in a 2013 court document. Making matters worse, they allege officials ignored their repeated requests for direction on corrections necesSEE PG. 16
Jeff and Taryn Hildreth outside their dream home on Montecito Street in Sierra Madre. Due to ongoing litigation against city hall, their dream has become a veritable nightmare. – Photo by Terry Miller
Shooting Death An Interview With El Monte Police Chief David Reynoso By Nick Kipley in South El Monte Monday
SEE PG. 15
LOCAL NEWS
Suspects Arrested for Attempt Robbery and Possession of Stolen Property P. 15
- Courtesy Photo
Los Angeles County Sheriff Department Homicide Detectives are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of a man in South El Monte. On Monday, May 11, 2015, at 5:30 a.m., deputies responded to the 2500 block of South Continental Avenue, El Monte (Unincorporated) in response to a gunshot victim at the location. Upon their arrival, they discovered the victim, a male Hispanic, 31 years old, lying on the floor of his apartment suffering from a gunshot wound. Witnesses heard the victim arguing with another person outside his apartment. A few seconds later they heard a
This past Saturday, May 9th, the El Monte Police Officers’ Association held a meet and greet for members of the community to get acquainted with their new Chief of Police, David Reynoso. Although the Examiner couldn’t make it out for the free hotdogs, we were able to secure an interview with the Chief who outlined definitions of community police practices that he believes makes a department great. Chief Reynoso told the Examiner over the phone that El Monte practices what is known as community policing. Which, according to the Chief, should be “a philosophy; not a program or a set of programs. Every man or woman who works within the El Monte Police Department—officers, detectives, dispatchers, everyone—views it as their job to try to build a partnership SEE PG. 14
entertainment
opinion
BUSINESS
Play Review: Beauty and the Beast
Martin A. Gordon: Are We At War?
Business Profile: Old Town Barber Shop
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