Notes and updates

What's going on at the corner of Hayvenhurst Ave. and Ventura Blvd., where the Barnes & Noble bookstore used to be? The building was supposed to be taken over by CVS Pharmacy after Dec. 31, 2010, but so far there's no sign of a drugstore moving in. Now, there is a large sign in the window which faces Ventura that reads, "For Lease, 3,999 square feet." Not sure if this just a portion of the store or the whole space that appears to be available. ...

******

A baseball fan from Encino reported on the police presence at Dodger Stadium this past weekend. A group of Alpha Phi sorority sisters attended the Dodgers-St. Louis Cardinals game on Sunday and one member said there were more LAPD officers there than she had ever seen in one place.

Some newspaper and TV reports have speculated that the Dodgers sagging attendance--last Sunday's crowd at Chavez Ravine was the lowest Sunday turnout since 2003--may be attributed to the overwhelming number of cops at the ballpark.

******

add Dodger Stadium: It was mentioned in an earlier post on long home runs that Willie Stargell and Mike Piazza hit round-trippers that went out of the ballpark. It should be noted that Stargell hit two balls out of Dodger Stadium, one in 1969 and another in 1973. Along with Stargell and Piazza, Mark McGwire also cleared the yard with a home run that landed outside the ballpark.