Switching districts in midstream: As the only...

Switching districts in midstream: As the only Republican hopeful in L.A.’s 30th Congressional District, Morry Waksberg can breathe easy about the primary. So he didn’t make a big fuss about the flyers he brought to a candidates’ meeting in Los Feliz.

Waksberg, an ophthalmologist with offices in Beverly Hills and Yucca Valley, merely crossed out the sentence that announced his previous intention--to run for a seat in Riverside County.

Retreat, hell: OK, so now the Defense Department says it’s going to rebuild the South L.A. Military Entrance Processing Station, which was destroyed during the riots. There had been talk of it being relocated because the area was too dangerous.

Well, guess what next-door neighbor never considered retreating?

The Marines, that’s who.

“It’s just that no one from the media ever asked us,” said Gunnery Sgt. R. D. Torres, a spokesman for the slightly damaged L.A. Marine Recruiting Station at 5051 Rodeo Road.

Torres said the Marines were back at work “the first Monday (after the riots)” and declared the situation “well in hand.”

The station is open every day, except Sundays. Even the Marines take an occasional break.

Not so well in hand: The Montecito Times found a recently arrived family along the side of a road, displaying a sign that said: “L.A. Riot Victim Need Help Please.”

The family, which left Lynwood in its motor home during the riots, hasn’t received many handouts in the Santa Barbara community because passersby “think this is a joke,” said Tony Hill, the father of two children. One exception was actor Richard Widmark, who gave them $20.

125--It’s a speed we can live with: Apparently, officials are already setting up signs on Long Beach’s Shoreline Drive for next year’s Grand Prix.

Admiral of the freeways: Arnold Bowsher and a few other readers asked why a Santa Monica Freeway landmark--the Christopher Columbus Transcontinental Highway sign--had disappeared. Another anti-Columbus move?

The highway designation, you may recall, was conceived years ago by ex-Caltrans boss Adriana Gianturco, who hoped other states along Interstate 10 would post similar markers. (None ever did.)

It turns out that the sign was uprooted only because of construction in the area. It’s been reinstalled nearby, which is good news. In heavy traffic, we find the landmark reassuring and always recall Columbus’ famous words: “I plow ahead, no matter how the winds might lash me.”

For winds , the freeway mariner can substitute car fumes .

miscelLAny:

Among the nation’s earliest supermarkets were an Alpha Beta in Pomona and a Ward’s in Ocean Park, each of which opened about eight decades ago.