FRIDAY
9.25.15 Volume 14 Issue 272
@smdailypress
Haggen to close local stores
WHAT’S UP WESTSIDE ..................PAGE 2 LAUGHING MATTERS ....................PAGE 4 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ............PAGE 5 MOVIE REVIEW ................................PAGE 6 MYSTERY PHOTO ..........................PAGE 13
Santa Monica Daily Press
smdp.com
SMMUSD separation would likely take at least three years County official outlines roadmap for possible split
Oregon based company says it will focus on Pacific Northwest stores BY JEFFREY I. GOODMAN Daily Press Staff Writer
The Santa Monica-Malibu school district took another step towards possible separation last week when the local Board of Education examined the complex procedures for splitting the district. A county education official laid out for the school board the numerous layers of review and regulation involved in the process, which has gained support among some SMMUSD stakeholders in recent months. The presentation by Allison Deegan, regionalized business services coordinator for the L.A. County Office of Education, came as the district continues facing a
VOLLEYBALL:
Nicholas Salazar
OPEN FOR NOW: The store on Lincoln Blvd., could close as Haggen wants to leave the state.
BY MATTHEW HALL Daily Press Editor
Haggen has announced plans to abandon the Pacific Southwest market, meaning the chain will close or sell all of its California locations including the Santa Monica store. The company filed for bankruptcy on September 10 and at that time announced some store closures. However, in a September 24 announcement the company expanded the list of closures and said it would realign operations around 37 core stores with one standalone pharmacy in the Pacific Northwest as part of its Chapter 11 process. Haggen said it has been actively working to explore market interest for its store locations in California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and Nevada. Haggen was a small grocery chain based in
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Washington State in 2014 that exploded almost overnight when it said it would purchase 146 stores that Safeway/Albertsons were forced to sell when the two giants merged. Haggen grew from 18 stores with 16 pharmacies to 164 stores with 106 pharmacies; from 2,000 employees to more than 10,000 employees. The company ran into trouble almost immediately and was unable to turn a profit from many of its new stores. At the time of purchase, Haggen said it would rely on cooperation from the newly merged Albertsons/Safeway to facilitate the transition process. However, Haggen contends that Albertsons actively derailed the transition process the two have filed lawsuits against each other as a result of the sale. In a statement, Haggen said it is asking for SEE CLOSURE PAGE 10
Pacifica girls enter season on Cloud Nine With nine seniors, Seawolves hunting for ninth-straight league title BY JEFFREY I. GOODMAN
SEE SCHOOL PAGE 11
A musical anniversary Music director at First UMC to be honored for 50 years of service BY JENNIFER MAAS Daily Press Staff Writer
It can be very confusing when coach Bronson Oliveira gives instructions to the Pacifica Christian girls volleyball team,. His 12-player roster has two players named Liz as well as two Samanthas, not to mention a Maddie and a Maddy. “A lot of times we’ll go by numbers in practice: ‘8 over here, 10 over there,’” he said. “Nobody has nicknames. They’re not helping me
This Sunday the congregation of First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica will celebrate Dr. James “Jim” Smith's 50th anniversary as director of music for the church. The church has invited everyone to worship at 10 a.m. in the church sanctuary, where their chancel choir will debut a new anthem created by “world-renowned” composer Kirke Mechem, which was commissioned by the church to honor Smith. Throughout his time at First UMC, Smith “has supported
SEE SPORTS PAGE 8
SEE ANNIVERSARY PAGE 9
Daily Press Staff Writer
Gary Limjap (310) 586-0339 In today’s real estate climate ...
Experience counts! garylimjap@gmail.com www.garylimjap.com
slew of potential challenges, including bond allocations and centralized fundraising as well as chemical testing and cleanup. The regional impacts would be “significant,” Deegan said of splitting the district into Santa Monica and Malibu entities. Deegan explained that there are several ways to get the ball rolling on separation, which would likely take at least three years. One is a petition with signatures from registered voters, and Deegan said having 10-percent participation among voters in the district could expedite the process slightly. The signatures are then vetted by county registrar officials.
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