The Real Meaning Behind Spanish Names Is Not So Romantic

In our last class, you’ll recall, we mentioned the Leisure World community that feels its name belies the vigor of the residents.

This led to a discussion of other Southland place names that aren’t entirely accurate, such as misspelled and grammatically incorrect Mission Viejo, which should be Mision Vieja.

That brought notes from some readers about not-so-romantic translations of euphonious Spanish names.

* Scott McKenzie, for instance, was surprised to learn from a visiting Chilean acquaintance that “verdugo” meant “executioner.” Verdugo Hills suddenly acquired an eerie connotation.

“For 20 years, living in La Canada, I associated it with verdant, verde, greenery, etc.,” said McKenzie. “Who knew?”

* Jim Glass, meanwhile, pointed out that Restaurant Row is on scenic Swamp Boulevard, or La Cienega, which should be spelled Cienaga.

* I’m sure the residents of Las Pulgas Road in Pacific Pali- sades are proud to tell visitors their street name means Fleas Road.

* And those (people, not fleas) on El Vago Street in La Canada-Flintridge bask in their status as the dwellers of Vagrant Street.

Parking can be such street sorrow: As the late San Francisco writer Herb Caen once said.

Adding to the literature on this subject are three warnings with varying approaches (see photos).

* Jim Wilson of Nuevo spotted a lot that must be for extremely small buses.

* Sherwood Hoogveld of Simi Valley found another lot that was blatantly discriminating against Mini Coopers (not an entirely bad idea).

* And finally, Byron Myhre of Palos Verdes Estates noticed a vet who is very territorial. Down, boy!

No issue has unanimous backing anymore: Fred Miller of Harbor City reacted this way toward a sign he saw at a hardware store (see photo): “I don’t understand their position. I’ve always been strongly anti-pain myself.”

How serious are the gasoline and steroids crises? NBC funny guy Jay Leno said that gas is so expensive, “I saw Jose Canseco and Barry Bonds carrying their cars.”

miscelLAny: Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times, who obviously keeps a close eye on L.A.’s hapless pro basketball team, reports: “Laughter is a key to a healthy heart and thus a longer life expectancy, according to a study conducted by the University of Maryland medical school.

“Who says it doesn’t pay to watch the Clippers?”