October 28 - November 24, 2022
Fire Along Venice Canals Destroys Home and Damages Three Others Cause of October 2 fire remains under investigation by LAFD By Sam Catanzaro A fire earlier this month destroyed a home under construction and damaged three other houses along the Venice Canals. The incident was reported on October 2 around 11:50 p.m. at 421 Carroll Canal. Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) crews arrived on the scene to find a three-story home under construction “fully involved in fire with exposures on all sides.” It took over 100 firefighters to put out the blaze in 80 minutes with no injuries reported. The fire, however, destroyed the three-story home of origin and damaged three nearby residences.
Glenn Searle lives across the alley from the house that burned down. He told CBS that over the weekend he saw several homeless individuals in the property the day before the fire. “The activity is all night long – people going through our garbage, people living here, people do drugs here,” Searle told CBS. “I’m not sure what part the homeless had in here, but I can say that all day before there were homeless living in here and using the toilet all day.” Martin Cassindorf, the owner of the burnt property, told Fox 11 that he is thinking of selling the property instead of rebuilding it. He and his wife had lived on the property for 24 years. “It’s pretty horrifying and I’m still trying to process this,” Cassindorf told Fox. “Horrible flames that I’ll remember all my life, watching all my possessions, family albums and pictures and mementos of a lifetime going up in flames. Rather than rebuild, I’m actually thinking of tearing it down, selling the lot, and moving away from all these homeless people because
Photo: Citizen App A fire burns along the Venice Canals October 2.
it could happen again.” The LAFD has not released anything about the cause of the fire. When reached for comment asking if the Department had any
indication the fire was started by a homeless, an LAFD spokesperson said the Department had “no comment.”
Honor a Venice High School Student With a Jacket of Excellence! Annual Venice High School Jacket of Excellence Awards returns to award up to 118 students By Sam Catanzaro The annual Venice High School Jacket of Excellence Awards, now in its 38th year, returns to celebrate exceptional students who have demonstrated the best attributes of being a Gondo. The awards, organized by the Venice Chamber of Commerce and the Venice High School Alumni Association, will award up to 117 students.
“The tradition to honor the scholastic achievement of Venice High School Seniors with a custom Jacket of Excellence and celebratory Award Ceremony began in 1984. Since then, over 1,200 jackets have been awarded – all of which would not have been possible without community support!” the Chamber said in announcing the awards. “The Venice Chamber of Commerce enthusiastically champions continuing this tradition and ask for your help.” Sponsoring one Jacket of Excellence is $125 while sponsoring two is $250, though any donation amount is accepted. Donors will receive recognition in the program and are invited to attend the awards ceremony. A reception will follow the ceremony in December where donors will have the opportunity to meet and talk with the students. For more information visit venicechamber. net/jackets