CM presents Vons employee donation to hospital that treated his wife Brigid

Brigid and Tom LaBonge hold $100,000 check to USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, joined by Tina Pakfar of USC/Norris, Dr. Oscar Streeter, and store manager Leticia Perez.

Councilmember Tom LaBonge joined Vons employees in presenting a $100,000 check to the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Tuesday at the Pavilion’s supermarket at the corner of Melrose and Vine. The Councilmember’s wife Brigid LaBonge, who was successfully treated at the center, attended the event as well.

“I’m very grateful to the good people at USC/Norris for taking care of my wife Brigid during a difficult time for our family,” the Councilmember said. “I’m also grateful to Vons employees and shoppers who raised this money.”

Mrs. LaBonge, who has been cancer-free since October, 2006, said the event had a certain synchronicity for her because she has been both a Vons shopper and USC/Norris donor for decades.

“They’re two places who really take care of me coming together to make an impact,” Mrs. LaBonge said.

The event was held in the store’s florist area with about a dozen employees gathered around. The employees and customers of several regional Vons-owned stores (including Pavilions) raised the donation money in a variety of ways during the annual month-long breast cancer fundraising campaign held every October. The check presentation was held in March to coincide with Women's History month and at Vine St. Pavilions to be in the Fourth Council District.

Dr. Oscar Streeter, the radiation oncologist who treated Mrs. LaBonge, said breast cancer treatment has become much more successful in recent years, but fundraising has become more difficult. He and Tina Pakfar, executive director of development for USC/Norris, said they were grateful to Vons employees and shoppers for the generous donation.

NoHo Groundbreaking

Councilmember LaBonge joined Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Developer Jerry Snyder, Movie Theater owner Bob Laemmle and many others in breaking ground on a new office/theater/restaurant complex in North Hollywood on March 24th. The project is a public-private partnership between the City of Los Angeles, the JH Snyder Company and Laemmle Theaters. "What a great day this is for NoHo," the Councilmember said. "This project creates a nexus of culture and commerce at the transit crossroads of this very important part of the San Fernando Valley." This third phase of North Hollywood’s NoHo Commons project will include a seven-screen movie theater, 182,000 square feet of office space and restoration of a historic, San Fernando Valley diner under approvals granted Thurs., March 20, by the Board of Commissioners of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA). The NoHo Commons project was approved in 2001. Developed by J.H. Snyder, Phase I was completed December 2006 and contains a 438-unit mixed-income residential rental project. Phase II, completed June 2007, contains 292 units of loft and live/work rentals and 60,000 square feet of retail/commercial space including How's supermarket, a bank, mobile phone store and several restaurants.

CM LaBonge Announces $50,000 Reward in Freeway Shooting

Councilmember LaBonge stands with the family of Bunthan Roeung, who was tragically killed in a freeway shooting on March 1. Mr. Roeung's sister Nikki held a photo of her 26-year-old brother, saying, "He was a good boy. Please help us."

Councilmember Tom LaBonge and Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Alan Hamilton announced the offer of a $50,000 reward today for information leading to the conviction in the murder of Bunthan Roeung. Standing in front of the North Hollywood police station, the Councilmember announced the reward while surrounded by Mr. Roeung’s family.

“Here it is the first day of Spring, a beautiful day, a day of renewal which has been denied to Bunthan and his family because of this tragic crime,” the Councilmember said. “There are people out there who have information on the murder of this young man, who was known as T. I hope this reward persuades them to step forward and do the right thing.”

Mr. Roeung, a 26-year-old architectural draftsman from the San Fernando Valley, had been riding in a friend’s vehicle on Hollywood Boulevard on March 1, when suspected gangmembers pulled up next to their car. Words were exchanged and Mr. Roeung’s friend tried to drive away quickly by getting on the 101 Freeway. The suspected gangmembers followed in a gray or black Cheverolet Monte Carlo with red pinstrips and a possible “F-1 motor sports” paper license plates.

Moments later, the Monte Carlo pulled up next to Mr. Roeung’s friend’s car and fired gunshots into the car, killing Mr. Roeung.

Councilmember LaBonge’s motion to provide the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction in the murder Mr. Roeung was approved by the City Council on Wednesday, March, 19. Anyone with information about this shooting should call Detective Richard Wheeler in North Hollywood Homicide at (818)623-4075.

Vote for Griffith Park!

If you think that Griffith Park is one of the greatest things about Los Angeles (and who doesn't?), make your voice heard! Vote in Los Angeles Magazine's "64 Greatest Things about Los Angeles" survey. Visit http://www.lamag.com (Click on ³64 Greatest things in L.A.²) or call 1.800.915.1303.
Whichever path you take, do it now. Polling ends on Monday, March 24th for this round of voting. Happy trails...

Hancock Park Elementary School is Distinguished

Hancock Park Elementary School has been recommended for honor by the state Department of Education as a California Distinguished School. This much sought-after award recognizes exemplary and inspiring public schools. The honor lasts for four years. Councilmember LaBonge visited Hancock Park School to honor Principal Dr. Judith Perez and LAUSD Area Superintendent Richard Alonzo for the commendation.

Groundbreaking for Robert Burns Park Play Area

Residents of Windsor Square and Larchmont Village helped Councilmember LaBonge break ground on Thursday for a series of upgrades to Robert Burns Park on Beverly Boulevard on March 13. “We’re making this park nicer for the community and looking to create John Ferraro Park to the east of Western Avenue to take some of the pressure off of this park,” Councilmember LaBonge said. Besides installing new playground equipment, the Dept. of Recreation and Parks also plans to plant new trees and grass. New security lighting and water fountains have already been installed. The installation is scheduled to take eight weeks so that it is ready in time for summer.

Spring Equinox Hike - Thursday, March 20 at 4p

Join Us! Councilmember Tom LaBonge’s Spring Equinox Hike Thursday, March 20 at 4 p.m. Park at the Griffith Observatory Meet Tom at the the Charlie Turner Trailhead at the north end of parking lot. See you there!

St. Patrick's Day Parade and Concert on Monday, March 17 Downtown

Join Councilmember LaBonge, the world-renowned Irish rock band, the Young Dubliners, and thousands of others for the 9th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on Monday. The parade begins at 11:30 a.m. at the corner of Main and Arcadia streets, travels west to 5th St. and turns north to Pershing Square. The parade and concert are free for all ages. The St. Patrick's Day Parade will feature:

• Thousands of spectators and participants!
• The Laker Girls
• Irish bagpipers
• Marching bands & Color guards
• Celebrities including actors Robert Patrick, Erik Estrada of “CHiPs,” Perry King, Dan Haggerty, Luenell (from “Borat”), Home Improvement’s Mickey Jones, and many others.
• Leprechauns
• Celebrities
• Historic LAFD & LAPD vehicles
• Police Choir Boys
• LAFD Fire Hogs
• L.A. Park Rangers
• L.A. City Councilmembers & City officials

PARADE: 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Main St. & Arcadia St. to 5th St. & Pershing Square

YOUNG DUBLINERS CONCERT: 12:30 P.M. Pershing Square (Olive St. between 5th St. & 6th St.)

IRISH & AMERICAN FOOD FARE - $1 O'DOUL'S Available for purchase at Pershing Square at 11 A.M.

For more information, visit www.lacity.org