Los Angeles Borders

Calabasas is exactly 60.3 acres too small for Mayor Dennis Washburn--the size of a smallish but extremely popular notch of land coveted by the city but owned by Los Angeles. So Calabasas is positioning itself to make a second bid to take over the only portion of the folksy, lumber-fenced Old West throwback known as Old Town Calabasas that it does not own.

Mayor Dennis Washburn believes his city is exactly 60.3 acres too small--the size of a smallish but extremely popular notch of land coveted by Calabasas but owned by Los Angeles. Calabasas is positioning itself to make a second bid to overtake the only portion of the folksy, lumber-fenced Old West throwback known as Old Town Calabasas that it does not own.

Mayor Dennis Washburn believes his city is exactly 60.3 acres too small--the size of a smallish but extremely popular notch of land coveted by Calabasas but owned by Los Angeles. Calabasas is positioning itself to make a second bid to overtake the only portion of the folksy, lumber-fenced Old West throwback known as Old Town Calabasas that it does not own.

Calabasas is exactly 60.3 acres too small for Mayor Dennis Washburn--the size of a smallish but extremely popular notch of land coveted by the city but owned by Los Angeles. So Calabasas is positioning itself to make a second bid to take over the only portion of the folksy, lumber-fenced Old West throwback known as Old Town Calabasas that it does not own.

A turf war is being waged between tax collectors in Culver City and Los Angeles over a sweeping effort by L.A. tax officials to raise business license revenues by charging fees to companies outside Los Angeles' borders who conduct business in the city. Los Angeles officials have mailed notices to more than 7,000 businesses nationwide that conduct business in Los Angeles for at least seven days a year.

Calabasas Creek Park, a one-acre Victorian-style sanctuary from city life that is considered to be Old Town Calabasas' crowning jewel, opened this weekend. The park, on Calabasas Road next to the Sagebrush Cantina, is heavily shaded and is fronted by a white picket fence. On the grounds are an antique drinking fountain, paths along Calabasas Creek and more than 250 rosebushes.

Billy Corgan's still feuding with former Smashing Pumpkins manager Sharon Osbourne (their mutual lawsuits are still pending). But the singer will appear on an album due from the new label owned by Osbourne and hubby Ozzy and distributed through Priority Records. Corgan is one of the vocalists on "Iommi," a solo album by Ozzy's Black Sabbath bandmate, guitarist Tony Iommi. Due Oct.

Borders Inc., a national chain of book and music super-stores owned by Kmart Corp., will open its first store in Orange County, possibly as early as midsummer, the Mission Viejo Co. said Thursday. Borders, whose mega-bookstores are popular in other areas of the nation for their vast selection, homey feel and in-store coffee bar, has closed escrow on land for a 30,000-square-foot store in a new Mission Viejo mall, the company said.

Los Angeles City Council members Wednesday proposed banning a behavior that much of the world views as a quintessential L.A. activity: zooming down city streets with a cellphone clamped to one ear. Officials offered few specifics on the idea, except to say that hands-free cellphones would still be permitted. Yet to be decided are what penalty scofflaws would face, and how such a rule would be enforced.

POLICE CHIEF WILLIAM J. BRATTON'S recent dismissal of an officer who beat a suspect with a large metal flashlight didn't make a lot of news, which is unusual in its own way. There was no public struggle with the police union; the discipline system seemed to work as it ought to.

The road to their financial ruin is paved with good intentions. That's what dozens of West Hollywood merchants are saying as a $35-million project to turn their city's main street into "the Champs-Elysees of the West" plows along. Some businessmen say they are on the verge of closing because shoppers are scared off by torn-up pavement and sidewalks along a three-mile stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard that is midway through a two-year beautification effort.

Stephanie Simpson had just finished breast-feeding her 10-month-old daughter, Chloe, when she noticed the ice rink manager approaching. Customers were complaining, said the employee of the Oxnard Ice Skating Center. Wouldn't Simpson be more comfortable relocating to a locker room? the manager asked. Simpson, 32, lashed out, threatening a lawsuit.