John Gillespie

Ventura County Sheriff John Gillespie has a toy gallows on his desk labeled "Executive Problem Solver." The black-humor touch provides a clue to both his personality and his crime-fighting philosophy. One moment, Gillespie cracks a smile, remembering himself as a young Claremont policeman assigned as a bodyguard to Jane Fonda during her frequent visits to Tom Hayden at anti-war demonstrations in the Claremont area. "I think I was there when love was born," he said.

John Gillespie, the self-proclaimed "intercultural specialist" who defended Japan's closed and anti-competitive business practices (Commentary, Dec. 18), ignored a few pertinent facts and demonstrated some pretty faulty logic. Since becoming the largest shareholder in Japan's Koito Manufacturing nearly two years ago, my requests have been rather simple. As a 26% owner of the company, I want the opportunity to participate in the long-term management of the company. I believe I'm entitled to the same representation rights Japanese shareholders expect when they acquire Columbia Pictures, MCA or other American companies.

John Gillespie, the self-proclaimed "intercultural specialist" who defended Japan's closed and anti-competitive business practices (Commentary, Dec. 18), ignored a few pertinent facts and demonstrated some pretty faulty logic. Since becoming the largest shareholder in Japan's Koito Manufacturing nearly two years ago, my requests have been rather simple. As a 26% owner of the company, I want the opportunity to participate in the long-term management of the company. I believe I'm entitled to the same representation rights Japanese shareholders expect when they acquire Columbia Pictures, MCA or other American companies.

Ventura County Sheriff John Gillespie has a toy gallows on his desk labeled "Executive Problem Solver." The black-humor touch provides a clue to both his personality and his crime-fighting philosophy. One moment, Gillespie cracks a smile, remembering himself as a young Claremont policeman assigned as a bodyguard to Jane Fonda during her frequent visits to Tom Hayden at anti-war demonstrations in the Claremont area. "I think I was there when love was born," he said.

Forging ahead with plans to set up a "tent city" for minor drug offenders, Ventura County Sheriff John V. Gillespie said Wednesday that he has located a site for the encampment at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme. Gillespie said he met Wednesday morning with the commanding officer of the Seabee base, Capt. R. J. Pearson III, and that he has obtained his support for the proposed encampment, which would consist of two to four tents that would hold 80 inmates each.

I have been thoroughly enjoying the daily "Readers Remember," especially since I have lived through most of the events described. On Dec. 21 I was touched by Christopher Magee's piece about his brother, John Gillespie Magee, the RCAF pilot who wrote one of my favorite poems, "High Flight." Thank you for sharing the personal details of his untimely death and the history of the poem. I appreciate it. SISTER RITA ANGERMAN Northridge

Increasingly, Chardonnays, Pinots and Cabernets are sharing shelf space at your local store with some unusual names - such as Bodacious Brunette red and Buxum Blonde and Angel Food whites. Veteran wine collectors might turn up their well-trained noses. But the wineries promoting such brands aren't targeting those buyers. With many of their best customers nearing retirement age and starting to cut back, American vintners are going after younger consumers in a bid to keep their $33-billion industry growing.

Got wine? The wine industry hopes you do, and to stir up demand for its products, it plans a campaign of generic advertising, much as the dairy industry does with milk and cheese. The ads are being developed by Bozell Worldwide, the agency that dreamed up the "milk mustache" ads featuring athletes and other celebrities. "We're taking a humorous approach to attract infrequent wine drinkers," said John Gillespie, president of the Larkspur-based Wine Market Council, which is behind the campaign.

Sheriff John Gillespie is recognized throughout the state for the quality of his leadership and, in particular, for the innovative approach he brings to law enforcement. Recent news stories indicate John Gillespie is at it again. In his 1990 "State of the Jails" report, Gillespie proposed a "tent city" with a boot-camp regimen set up at the Seabee base at Port Hueneme to house convicted drug users whose time would be served working on public works projects. This could well be a refreshingly direct and cost-effective solution to a host of interrelated problems: relief of jail crowding, substance-abuse counseling, efficient supervision of inmates and the separation of misdemeanor offenders from felons and violent criminals.

A 24-year-old man visiting from England fell to his death as he was taking pictures at La Jolla Cove on Friday morning, Deputy Coroner Jack Larkie said. Andrew John Gillespie, of Swindon Wiltshire, England, was found floating in the ocean near the 500 block of Coast Boulevard in La Jolla by lifeguards. He was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:43 p.m.

Forging ahead with plans to set up a "tent city" for minor drug offenders, Ventura County Sheriff John V. Gillespie said Wednesday that he has located a site for the encampment at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme. Gillespie said he met Wednesday morning with the commanding officer of the Seabee base, Capt. R. J. Pearson III, and that he has obtained his support for the proposed encampment, which would consist of two to four tents that would hold 80 inmates each.

Ventura County Sheriff Larry Carpenter will officially announce his entry into the 1994 county sheriff's race Thursday. This will be Carpenter's first bid for an elected position. A former undersheriff, the lifelong Fillmore resident was appointed to the sheriff's post Jan. 1 by the county Board of Supervisors. Carpenter, 47, is serving the remaining two years of former Sheriff John Gillespie's term. Gillespie retired in 1992, citing health reasons. "I'm not a politician," Carpenter said.

An early morning joy ride in a New York City bus ended Wednesday when the alleged thief unwittingly tripped an emergency switch, flashing the message "CALL POLICE!" on the bus's destination sign, authorities said. John Gillespie, 26, of Queens Village in the borough of Queens, was arrested by a Nassau County police officer who spotted the bus just outside city limits, said Officer Frank Messana, a spokesman for the suburban police force.