Farewell

S.L.O. Gallindo!

A potluck for retiring L.A.P.D. Eagle Rock Senior Lead Officer Joe Galindo took him by surprise last month, as he held his last Eagle Rock Block Captain’s meeting at the Eagle Rock City Hall. He’s been on the force for 35 years. Here, he accepts congratulations and plenty of food to go from Betty Tyndel, Mary Moon, and the other ladies of the Neighborhood Watch.

For a Inside look at the City's Neighborhood Council System

This is the Glassell Park NC last month, May 15, 2007

Above, the Board in Sworn-in by Councilman Huizar on May 15

Hear the Glassell Park Board Members Bully the woman who is video taping the meeting- misinforming her about her rights to record Government Meetings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev7lrO5aURk

CAUGHT ON TAPE!
GPNC Violates Citizen’s Rights- Ejects Videographer
At the May 15 meeting of the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council, board members questioned, attempted to intimidate and finally ejected a woman who was videotaping their public meeting.
Video of the attempted intimidation, and the subsequent ejection was uploaded to U-tube, and links were sent to politicians, reporters and free speech advocates statewide, who then freely viewed the tape at their leisure. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev7lrO5aURk or follow link on Boulevard Sentinel Website, at www.boulevardsentinel.com)
It is an amazing video of a portion of the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council's May 15, 2007 meeting, when discussion of stakeholder videotaping of the meeting took place. In this video, Bradley, President of the GPNC, states categorically that the stakeholder has no legal right to videotape and that he has confirmed this not once, but twice, with the city attorney's office.
Earlier in the meeting, Board Members Paula Bagasao and chairman B. Bradley, with no legal authority, had insisted that the videographer (former GPNC board member Melanie Roffol) and Tom Topping, Boulevard Sentinel newspaper publisher who was there audio recording, must identify themselves.
Topping had already left when board members were caught the on tape insisting that Ms. Roffol MUST share a copy of the tape with the board, that she MUST obtain a release from each board member before she can videotape, and ultimately, Bradley tells the videographer to either stop taping or leave, so she then leaves.
There is absolutely no doubt that California law does indeed give anyone the right to record or film an open public meeting (GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 6091 - provided that cameras and other equipment used at the meeting or hearing must operate silently and not require auxiliary lighting).
Intentionally or through ignorance, the GPNC Board obliterated a handful of California laws that allow recording, photography and filming of government meetings. The violations are not criminal, but can carry severe monetary penalties if pursued through civil court as well as nullifying any action the board might take while denying lawful rights.
Aside from the public meeting laws ignored were board member's contentions that they could not be filmed without first obtaining their consent, possibly under California CIVIL CODE SECTION 3344-3346, but they ignored the exemption, part (d) that says, "use of a name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness in connection with any news, public affairs, or sports broadcast or account, or any political campaign, shall not constitute a use for which consent is required." This night's activities definitely fell squarely within the public affairs category.
Although all the Neighborhood Councils in the City of Los Angeles have been faced with challenges in complying with open meeting laws, Glassell Park is one of the first to be caught blatantly abrogating citizen's rights to record their open and public meetings. It is blow to the mission and purpose of the entire L.A. City Neighborhood Council system, whose primary purpose is to increase participation in public affairs and give people a voice at City Hall.of the tape with the board, that she MUST obtain a release from each board member before she can videotape, and ultimately, Bradley tells the videographer to either stop taping or leave, so she then leaves.
There is absolutely no doubt that California law does indeed give anyone the right to record or film an open public meeting (GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 6091 - provided that cameras and other equipment used at the meeting or hearing must operate silently and not require auxiliary lighting).
Intentionally or through ignorance, the GPNC Board obliterated a handful of California laws that allow recording, photography and filming of government meetings. The violations are not criminal, but can carry severe monetary penalties if pursued through civil lawsuit as well as possibly setting aside any action the board might take while in violation of the law.
Aside from the open meeting laws ignored were board members contentions that they could not be filmed without first obtaining their consent, possibly under California CIVIL CODE SECTION 3344-3346, but they ignored the exemption, part (d) that says, "use of a name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness in connection with any news, public affairs, or sports broadcast or account, or any political campaign, shall not constitute a use for which consent is required." This night activities definitely fell squarely within the public affairs category.
Although all the Neighborhood Councils in the City of Los Angeles have been faced with challenges in complying with open meeting laws, Glassell Park is one of the first to be caught blatantly abrogating citizen's rights to record their open and public meetings. It is blow to the mission and purpose of the entire L.A. City Neighborhood Council system, whose primary purpose is to increase participation in public affairs and give people a voice at City Hall.

Jack and Denny Smith Library and Community Center

Grand Opening
Community Showcase at Mt. Washington Elementary School
The Grand Opening of the Jack and Denny Library and Community Center will be held on June 2, 2007 from noon to 9:30 p.m., and is free to all, including arts, entertainment, food and drinks! The opening of this unique building represents not only the final completion of this nearly 80-year old school, by adding a library, computer lab and multi-purpose room. It also represents a new venue for the community arts, performances and associations at the Mt. Washington Elementary when school is not in session. All performances and participation from the community for this event has been donated.
The school is found at 3981 San Rafael, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Entertainment will include children's performances, sing-a-longs, story telling, theater, dancing, mimes, professional musicians who are local residents, comedians from the Ice House Comedy Store in Pasadena and performances by two world renowned groups that will highlight the program.

Silver Tea at the Ebell

Northeast Police Explorers each received $500 scholarships from the Highland Park Ebell Club. Here, the awardees receive another round of applause as Francis Choate and Sara Hanan (seated) make the presentation.

Twice a year, a lovely little lady by the name of Francis Choate organizes a little get together called the Silver Tea. It is held at the Highland Park Ebell Club, of which Francis is President. Don't let her diminutive size fool you, for her heart is as big as all outdoors, and she shows it twice a year at this fine event. Thousands of dollars are given away each year, from the profits from the rentals at the famous Highland Park Ebell Clubhouse throughout the year.
This year, Community Grant recipients were, Friends of Project 10, Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents, Victory Outreach of Eagle Rock, Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation, Sheriff's Relief fund # 209, Christ Church in the City, Pillar of Fire School and Church, Don Wyatt of Milo Terrace Baptist Church, and Vox Feminina, an all women's choir in Los Angeles.
Present to accept the grants were Pastor William Cruver of Pillar of Fire School and Church, Don Wyatt and Pastor Clark for Milo Terrace Baptist and Suzy Brown for Vox Feminina.
The real rewards for the afternoon, came from the Student Scholarship recipients. The scholarships are awarded based on the recommendation of people ranging from school counselors and representatives, to Northeast Police Explorer leaders, to the local fire station 12, the President of the Ebell Club herself, Francis Choate and her assigns. From Franklin High School, the awards went to Michael Moran and Lauren Romero. Fire Station 12 Explorers getting the Scholarships were, Antonio Aguilar and David Rodriguez.
Representing the best of the Northeast Police explorers were Ignacio Cmacho, and Pricilla Hamad. From the Optimist High School, Ana Villalobos and Yonathan Virgen received the grants. Emily Ganley from the Los Angeles County College of Nursing won her scholarship. From the Hollenbeck Police Explorer Post, Jessica Moreno and Ernesto Meza received the awards.
The next category of recipients were chosen for the Community Scholarships. They were:
Michael Cornejo, Mirna Gonzales, and Nathan Miranda. More of the Community winners were Timothy Williams, Nicholas Coviribus and Alex Walker. Receiving awards and accepting them in person were, Naomi Rivera Reyna, Ashly Stanfield, ValerieLira, Helen Jimenez Corea, Giovani Armando Ayala, Eloisa Vasquez and Jimmy Padilla. After the ceremony, all were treated to a buffet luncheon, with plenty of food to go around and all of it delicious.
It is hard to imagine what a well placed $500 can do in the hands of a promising student or beneficial community organization. But if it ever should stop, the impact will surely be felt beyond just the boundaries of Northeast L.A. All the thanks and praise given to the hardworking and generous ladies of the Highland Park Ebell pales to the impact their work has had on all of us. Thank you.

ER Elementary Teacher Retires

Mrs. Smith

Long time Eagle Rock Elementary School teacher Susie Smith is retiring after 39 years at our local elementary school. Mrs. Smith began her teaching career while completing her credential work at Occidental College. She student taught in grades one and five in the Spring of 1968, and remained at the school as a full time teacher the following September. Through the years, Mrs. Smith has taught all the elementary grades, from kindergarten through sixth, but has a special spot in her heart for the middle grades. The changes she has seen at the school have been incredible, with the school growing from about 700 students to the school it is today with over 1000 students.
Besides her position as a classroom teacher, Susie has served in many other capacities. She has been a part of TEAB (Teacher Education Advisory Board) at Occidental College, and trained numerous student teachers through Oxy's program and that of Pacific Oaks. She was a demonstration teacher for Occidental in her early years, and has found working with their students one of the true highlights of her career. Susan also served on the Board of Directors of Crestview Elementary in La Canada for eight years, and has been a member of ALOED and EduCare (Occidental's and USC's educational societies.) She has held a wide variety of leadership positions at Eagle Rock as well. For a period of four years, she left the classroom at Eagle Rock Elementary to take a position as the Coordinator of the Gifted and Highly Gifted Magnets, which are also located on the campus. She returned to the classroom after that brief sojourn, as she realized that, for her, the joy of teaching came from working directly with the students. The majority of her teaching years have been spent teaching students in the GATE program at Eagle Rock.
Although Mrs. Smith is eager to move on to the next phase of her life, she cannot express enough appreciation to the parents and students at Eagle Rock. She feels her teaching career has brought her immense joy and fulfillment, and is thrilled to have been a part of the Eagle Rock community and to have had the support and love of so many students and parents there.

Doris Winifred Eckerle
1920-2007

Doris Winifred Eckerle, long time resident of Canyon Lake, passed away in her sleep on May 24th at the young age of 87. Doris was born April 17, 1920 in Detroit, Michigan to Eva and Donald Blakeslee. She met her husband, Paul Eckerle, during WW II while working at a war assembly plant ( she was a "Rosie Riveter" ) . Doris and Paul celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1994. Mom and Dad to 2 daughters, Sue and Nancy. (Sue Eckerle Gibson is a resident of Canyon Lake. Nancy Eckerle Seruto lives in San Dimas.)
Doris and Paul moved to Eagle Rock, Ca. in 1959. Doris worked at the Northeast Newspapers from 1961 till her retirement in 1996, a total of 35 years. They retired to Canyon Lake, Ca. in 1997. Doris was active in her favorite Canyon Lake clubs;
The Twirlers square dancers, Go Go Girls, Seniors, Bunco, and Monday Gals Cards.
While a very private person, she was a fun loving soul who looked far younger than her age and her many friends and family members including 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren loved to have her company. She always had a smile, loved every aspect of life, and will be missed and remembered by everyone whose lives she touched.
The memorial service will be held June 3rd, 2:30 PM at Miller Jones Mortuary, 26770 Murrieta Rd., Sun City, Ca. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to a Battered Woman's Shelter in your area.

Fat Dog
Turns Tail;
Leaves Town
Richard and Susan Mandaville, prospective creators of the Fat Dog lounge have decided to call it quits and leave town. The controversial project which would have opened a 150 seat, full alchohol serving, late night establishment with no parking was opposed by neighboring home and business owners along Colorado, Townsend, Vincent and Dahlia streets.
According to Tim Yalta, owner of the building the Mandavilles leased, they said it was because of the Sentinel coverage that they pulled out. No news yet on who the next interested tenant will be.

Jessica Salas Named 2007 GIF Spring Spirit of Sport
 

Jessica Salas

Award Winner Jessica Salas, a life long Eagle Rock resident and senior at Bravo Medical Magnet High School has been named as the Spring 2007 recipient of the prestigious CIF Spirit of Sport Award. Jessica will receive the award and be recognized at the year end CIF Federated Council dinner May 4 in San Jose. Jessica will receive $500 and a Spirit of Sport medal. The CIF Spirit of Sport recognizes student athletes who have demonstrated the 16 principles of Pursuing Victory with Honor, are active school activities, perform community service and exhibit leadership qualities. Jessica is a four year member of the Bravo softball team. She has been on the high honor roll throughout high school and has had perfect attendance for the last three years. Jessica is a member of the California Scholarship Federation and the National Honor Society. As a junior, she was a Wendy's High School Heisman honoree and has received academic awards in Social Studies, Math and Spanish. She is a member of Bravo's Real Rhythms club and MEChA. Jessica's community service includes volunteer teacher at St. Dominic's School and Irving Middle School, Los Angeles Zoo volunteer, soup kitchens, blood drives and other local community activities. Jessica plans to attend college and pursue a career in medicine.

Eagle Vista Seniors
The June Calendar for the Eagle Vista Seniors
On June 5, the Board Meeting will be held at 9:00 p.m., followed by the Business Meeting for all members at 10:00 a.m. Dr. Mark Manz, Psychologist, will speak on a cheerful subject, "How to Get More Out of Life."
One member who obviously knows all about that subject will be honored with a special Birthday Cake for this latest festive occasion- her 100th birthday. Happy Birthday to Venita Picinich, from us all!
On June 12, there will be BINGO! Alan Miller will be the caller.
On June 19, Michael Kearnes, from the Eagle Rock Center for the Art, will enlighten us on the state of the arts in this area.
June 26 will bring more BINGO! Lou Agrati will be the caller.
NOTE: Sign up with Ann Eaton for the coming Independence Day Celebration Barbeque (to be held on July 3rd Cost is $8.00 per person

THE GREAT GLASSELL PARK
CYPRESS PARK WALKABOUT
Dear community member,
I'd like to inform you about our Walkabout and invite you to join us. A Walkabout collects and documents information to inventory elements that contribute, or detract, from the health and viability of a community. It's an effective outreach tool that brings divergent sectors of a community together, on common ground, to share a sense of place and mutual ownership. It creates a strong tie to community and supports consensus building while working toward a pedestrian friendly, even pedestrian seductive, streetscape.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 9. The community will meet at 8:00am at the Glassell Park Community/Senior Center to be welcomed by Council President Garcetti, Councilmember Reyes, and Councilmember Huizar before breaking into 25 groups and being shuttled to locations along the 12.5 miles we'll be documenting. Our intent is to have a facilitator in each group who has a background, or experience, in city planning.
We'll have checklists to document our experience. We will also have aerial maps for each group along with street stripping maps. Our documentation will be quite thorough, as we will be measuring, photographing, and experiencing our neighborhoods step by step. Our Walk Audit will review the current build out of the street VS the street designation of each street as well as the land uses and urban form.
Our two communities are poised for renewal and physically well positioned to accommodate mixed use, higher density along our transit corridors, and creating an environment conducive to economic development. So it's important that we pause to document and recognize our history and character. To support that aspect of the Walkabout we'll be creating a photomontage of every inch of all the streets that we'll be covering.
Also important, given the incoming Community Design Overlay for Cypress Park and Glassell Park, is the opportunity to outreach and educate community members to help them engage in an informed dialogue with the City and to connect with their neighbors to advocate for safe, healthy, livable neighborhoods.
We've hired Deborah Murphy; associate AIA in Urban Design & Planning, who organized the Hollywood Walkabout. Deborah has been 'hands-on' since the beginning. She'll be facilitating all the community meetings, the core group training, and will provide the summary analysis.
Please join the scores of volunteers on this one special day to mark this seminal event. Come to one of the two community outreach meetings or become part of the core group and be involved in all aspects of the project.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS 2007
Senator Jack Scott ­ Assemblymember Paul Krekorian ­ Assemblymember Anthony Portantino
State Senator Jack Scott and Assemblymembers Anthony Portantino and Paul Krekorian are seeking nominations for the 8th Annual "Women In Business" Awards to be held September 28 at the Castaway in Burbank. This is a chance to honor businesswomen in the local area who contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.
Nominees must live or work in either the 21st Senate District, or the 43rd or 44th Assembly Districts which include Altadena, Arcadia, Burbank, Duarte, Glendale, La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Monrovia, Pasadena, Eagle Rock, parts of Los Angeles, San Gabriel, South Pasadena, Temple City, Toluca Lake, and portions of S.F. valley.
There are 11 different categories for nominations from corporate business to non-profit and inspirational. The deadline for nominations is May 30. You may request information at 626.683.0282 n
Office of Senator Jack Scott
(626) 808-7783

IN A BOX – An Assemblaged Installation
Caridad Barragan
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 9, 2007 from 7-10 pm
The Avenue 50 Studio is proud to present its newest exhibition, "In a Box", an installation by artist Caridad Barragan. This will be the Avenue 50 Studio's very first installation show. Given that an assemblage is "a collection of persons or things, an artistic composition made from scraps, odds and ends (as of paper, cloth, wood, stone, or metal)", Barragan's assemblaged boxes contain thoughts, sensations, and dreams -- sometimes literal, other times, abstract or symbolic. Often, incongruent symbols situate next to each other. To Barragan, the message isn't important; rather to think and feel and experience the poetry that is all around us. Each fragment is reflectively placed to convey a nostalgic atmosphere of loss or remembrance, and through varied symbols, we sense, feel, and smell a memory.
"Boxes contain the idea of enclosure. Everyone has to ask themselves, what do you enclose, what do you safeguard or treasure? Anything precious is contained in a box." C. Barragan
Caridad Barragan, a native of Southern California, is an artist living and working in Amalia, Italy for the past 7 years. She has been the recipient of the Cultura 2005 European Community Culture Grant in Padua Italy, and was awarded 4th place in the Third Visual Arts Biennial of Venice.
The Avenue 50 Studio would like to give special thanks to the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council and CD1 Councilman, Ed Reyes for support in making this exhibition possible.
When: Opening Reception: Saturday, June 9, 2007 from 7-10 pm
Where: Avenue 50 Studio, Inc., 131 No. Avenue 50, Highland Park, CA 90042
Duration: June 9 through July 8, 2007
www.avenue50studio.com http://www.avenue50studio.com

ADA Tax Breaks Help Small Businesses Stay Accessible
by Elizabeth Gaudio, NFIB Legal Foundation
You may have heard about the Americans With Disabilities Act and wondered how it might affect your business. Perhaps you've heard about predatory plaintiffs using the ADA to extort small businesses in "drive-by" lawsuits. Even if you haven't heard of the ADA , the reality is that you have obligations to make your small business accessible for the disabled. Instead of waiting for a lawsuit to hit you, why not take care of some accessibility issues ahead of time? Fortunately, Uncle Sam offers a variety of incentives to help you become ADA compliant, taking a proactive approach that won't break the bank.
IRS incentives
The Internal Revenue Service offers tax credits and deductions that qualified businesses can use every year to make their shops more handicapped accessible. Remember, a tax credit is like a refund you get on taxes you already owe, and a deduction means you get to subtract that amount from your revenue when figuring out what is taxable.
How the credit works
The first incentive, the credit for disabled access, can be used only by a small business. In this case, the IRS defines a small business as a business that has less than 30 employees or $1 million or less in gross revenue in the past year. So, even if your business grossed $4 million, if you only have 20 employees, you can qualify as a small business. On the other hand, if you have 40 employees, but grossed less than $1 million, you are still eligible for the disabled access credit.
The disabled access credit for small businesses lets you take a credit for 50 percent of costs for certain ADA compliance expenditures over a total $250. This means that for every dollar you spend on ADA compliance over $250 a year, you get 50 cents back. The maximum you can get back per year on this credit is $5,000. To receive the maximum, you would have to spend at least $10,250 on compliance like barrier removal or provision of auxiliary aids and services to disabled customers or employees. Practically speaking, this could take the form of wheelchair ramps or Braille menus, as long as the modifications comply with the ADA guidelines.
How the deduction works
The second incentive, the tax deduction, can by used by every business, every tax year. All businesses can get a deduction of up to $15,000 on all expenditures removing physical barriers to the disabled. It works by allowing you to expense that $15,000 of barrier removal instead of counting the removal in the capitalized or depreciated column. Physical barriers could be either architecture- or transportation-related. Removal might include widening doors, putting wheelchair lifts on delivery vans or installing handrails. Check with your accountant if you have questions about precisely which barrier removal falls under the IRS deduction or see Internal Revenue Code Regulation 1.190-2.
Other incentives
Your state may also offer additional tax incentives for making your business more ADA compliant. In addition, if you want to go the extra mile, there are federal tax credits for hiring disabled individuals of certain targeted groups. For example, hiring individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income or vocational rehabilitation referrals may mean a tax credit of up to $2,400 a year.
Warnings
Unfortunately, there are unsavory businesses out there that may entice you to buy their products while claiming the purchase would benefit from one of the tax breaks above. This may or may not be the case, and you still need to examine the ADA guidelines and speak with your attorney or accountant to make sure you'll get the credit or deduction.
Also, there is no safe-harbor provision for businesses and ADA compliance. This means there is no guarantee that modifications will completely guard your business against an unscrupulous plaintiff. That being said, if you do make concerted efforts to be ADA compliant, those who need accessibility are likely to notice and give you the benefit of the doubt. Check with your attorney for specific questions about your business' obligations under the ADA .

L.A. COUNCIL
PROTECTS AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Loophole Allowed Demolition of Affordable Units to Escape Rent Stabilization
By a unanimous vote, the Los Angeles City Council adopted an ordinance to close a loophole threatening the city*s supply of rent-stabilized apartments.
Under a California law known as the Ellis Act, landlords may exit the business of renting residential property by converting their property to commercial or for-sale residential, with some restrictions. This has resulted in a loophole allowing property owners to demolish their rent-stabilized apartment buildings and build new apartment buildings with no rent restrictions.
"Los Angeles has the country's worst housing crisis," said Council President Eric Garcetti. "By hearing from all interested parties in a series of open hearings, this council has passed a law that, without placing undue burden on property owners, will stop people from bending the rules to evict low-income tenants and will encourage the production of new affordable housing."
"Our goal was to find something that was balanced and fair without penalizing the most vulnerable residents of this city, who are running out of options on where they can live," said Councilmember Ed P. Reyes.
"Democracy and public policy were well-served by this ordinance," said Councilmember Bernard C. Parks. "It allows for the preservation of necessary critical and affordable housing, but does not eliminate the issues that create the construction of new housing."
"The new revision clarifies the rights of tenants and the rights of property owners," Councilmember Bill Rosendahl said. "We now have more options to protect renters and preserve affordable housing."
If a landlord evicts the tenants of an apartment building with the intent of leaving the rental property business, demolishes the building, and builds a new rental building, the ordinance adopted by the council provides two options:
1. The owner may raise the initial rents to market levels. Further rent increases in the new building are then regulated under the terms of the Rent Stabilization Ordinance.
2. The owner may designate up to 20% of the building's units affordable to tenants earning 80% or less of the area median income. A building with 20% affordable units may then take advantage of the available building-envelope incentives regarding parking, setbacks, and height.
Properties with four units or fewer where the owner occupies one of the units are exempt from these provisions.

Optimist Youth Homes Career Day
At-risk teenagers served by Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services (OYHFS) got the chance to look to the future at the non-profit agency's 5th Annual Career Day.
During the half-day May 17 event, which was themed "Moving on Greatness", some 150 teens from various OYHFS programs met with representatives of about 36 companies and organizations representing a multitude of career choices and providing them with introductions to a variety of job opportunities that await.
Among the companies attending were Apple One Employment Agency, Art Institute of California, Boeing Aircraft Operations, Brooks College, Airport Authority of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena, Chase College, Los Angeles Job Center, Forestry division of the L.A. County Fire Department, L.A. Trade-Technical College, Pasadena City College, Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel and the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles Job Corp.
Career Day provides an opportunity for at-risk youth served by Optimist to learn about employment possibilities that can lead to their independence once they leave OYHFS care. The information given them by representatives of participating organizations increased their awareness of the many choices they have in considering career and life goals.
"This is a serious step in the emancipation process of our teenagers who get a glimpse of the real world and the importance of making informed decisions," said Silvio John Orlando, executive director of the agency. "We are very thankful to the participating organizations who realized the potential of making a big difference in many young lives."
Founded in 1906 and based in the Highland Park area of Los Angeles, Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services annually cares for thousands of abused, troubled and neglected youth and juvenile offenders on probation and their families throughout California and is one of the largest such private centers in the region.
Accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services, OYHFS also operates five group homes, a non-public high school, a foster care and adoption agency and multifaceted mental health programs for youth and their families.

"Struggle and Liberation" Photography Exhibit at Carlotta's Passion
Opening June 9th (NELAart 2nd Saturday)
Carlotta's Passion Fine Art is pleased to present "Struggle and Liberation: Photographs of Seminal Events and Icons of the 1960s - 1970s"
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, June 9th - Sunday, July 1st
Opening: Saturday, Saturday, June 9th, 7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.
In the 1960s and 1970s, a complex set of inter-related cultural and political events occurred in the United States. Great strides were made in numerous liberation and social justice movements. Important conflicts occurred, which resulted in some positive changes to American society.
As the socio-political pendulum swings in our current time away from the direction of ultra-conservatism, we invite you to celebrate images from the last period of the 20th Century, which served as a key catalyst for struggles that continue to this day.
Featuring the fine art photography of:
Oscar Castillo: Celebrated Southern California freelance photographer. Con Safos photographer in the 1970s.
Steve Fine: Photographer, writer, Los Angeles area peace activist.
Jesus Manuel Mena Garza: Award winning fine art, documentary, and commercial photographer.
Cidne Hart: Artist. Former photographer for the Liberation News Service.
George Rodriguez: Legendary Hollywood and social justice photographer.
Carlotta's Passion Fine Art
2012 Colorado Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90041
(at Maywood St. in Eagle Rock)
323.259.1563
rs@carlottaspassion.com
carlottaspassion.com
Artists Represented: Patssi Valdez, Gilbert "Magu" Lujan, Frank Romero, Diane Gamboa, Martin Charlot, Mark Bryan, Margaret Garcia, Leo Limon, Alfredo de Batuc, Irene Carranza, Mark Vallen, David Flury, Tony de Carlo, Sergio Hernandez, Hector Silva, James Osorio, J. Dudley Slay III, and Paul Ygartua.

NORTHEAST SENIOR LEAD OFFICERS (SLO) SUMMIT
Thursday, June 7, 2007 6-8pm
Glassell Park Community and Senior Center 3750 Verdugo Road, Los Angeles, California 90065 (Glassell Park)
All of the SLO's for Northeast Los Angeles have been invited to speak with the community. For more information, please contact Laura Gutierrez, President of the GPIA, at 323-223-0117.

 

Cruisin' with Mary

.

Bob McGibbon brought his customized Prowler

Hello again, Eagle Rock
Summer is rolling around again although sometimes Los Angeles can't decide whether it is still winter, spring or summer. We'll call it summer. Our May cruise in at Oinkster had a low attendance, probably because so many folks were away for Memorial Day, but I fully expect to have a full parking lot for the June cruise in. The food goods donations for the Highland Park Senior Center were also a little low, again probably because of the attendance. People don't forget your canned items, even if you only bring one!
One of the things I truly like about the Eagle Rockin' Rodders cruise-ins is that aside from our club cars, we get a truly diversified showing of all types of hot rods and customs from our guests. In one space there will be a pristine, finished roadster or something very exotic like a Pantera, and parked a few spaces away will be a classic but unfinished truck from the 50's or a muscle car from the 60's or 70s'. This variety is what makes hot rodding so fun. Everyone has a different idea of what looks good, and this is evident in even "under construction" vehicles, or those whose owners have chosen to leave the paint flat black or gray. At least until paint time.
That being said, I want to talk about June's pick of the month. Many of you know Bob McGibbons who has a repair shop down on York Bl. He has been a long-time supporter of the Blvd. Sentinel, and of the Eagle Rockin' Rodders. He brought his 1999 Dodge Prowler to the cruise in, and boy was it a show-stopper. First of all, the car is painted what I call Gibb Red, a version of tomato red, which has a slight orange tint to it. I'm sure the color has a technical name, but I don't know what it is. Many of the cars Bob has owned have been painted this color, including one of his Mustangs and the vintage truck painted with his business logo.
Did you know that red is considered the number one color of car that cops pull over? Anyway, Prowlers by nature are low to the ground, and very sinister looking. Bob customized his by removing the front and back fenders and then changing the roof to an after market, almost bubble looking roof. The cost of that roof would feed a family in a third world country for a year. The rear window is quite small and does have limited visibility. The car is just beautiful, what you might call a chick-magnet. And like many of Bob's collection he also has his traditional personalized license plate Mc Gib 99.
For this type of hot rod, which is almost a sports car (to me), I much prefer the style of cars like the Prowler, Stealth and Viper over the older traditional hot sports car/hot rods like the Ferrari and Lotus. Just my preference. This car looks fast and exotic. Bob said it best when he told me "This car is fast even when I'm stopped at a light."
Don't forget to stop by our June cruise in at Oinkster, on June 30. Concerts in the Park will kick off this summers series Sun. July 8 at Eagle Vista Park with a live 50's music concert. The Eagle Rockin' Rodders will host our 10th car show and all types of vehicles are welcome. Show cars need to enter starting at 3:00 and the concert will kick off after 6:00. Don't forget your picnic dinners, blankets and chairs.
In closing I would again like to thank our loyal raffle sponsors, Verdugo Hardware, Tritch Hardware, Sir Michaels, and Galpin Ford as well as Nestle in Glendale. Your generosity allows the Rockin' Rodders to give back to Eagle Rock. 'Til next month, don't do anything I wouldn't do, and keep on cruising'!

Late Night Puppet Cabaret
Saturday, June 2, doors open at 8 pm, shows begin at 9 -
Late Night Puppet Cabaret, with three great shows: Marsian De Lellis presents "Growing Up Linda: The Life and Times of Linda Carvel, Heir to the Throne of the Carvel Cake Empire," Miguel Olivares and Mythic Productions present "The Enchanting Lummpets Fall in Love," and Al Guerrero presents "Puppets from Hell!"
The Space Ark Gallery, 106 S. Ave. 58, Highland Park, CA 90042 (Adults)
Marsian De Lellis' show uses tabletop puppets, projections and performing objects to tell the tale of the fictional Linda, daughter of a famous ice cream cake mogul. Miguel Olivares and company set their story in the legendary Harlemed Park. They describe their show as a mix of Punch and Judy, slapstick, Romeo and Juliet and Mr. T's. Al Guerrero's puppets combine elements of Mexican folk art with a decidedly modern, urban sensibility.

Sunday, June 3
(times to be advised-please see Lummis Day Program) -
Three puppet shows in conjunction with Lummis Day: The Puppets and Players Little Theatre presents "Puff, the Magic Dragon," Rene and his Marionettes present "Variety in Miniature" and Carol Colin and Ted Waltz's workshop and performance, "Puppets Tramp Across the Continent"
Sycamore Grove Park, 4900 N. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90042
(All Ages)
The Puppets and Players Little Theatre is a totally self contained, European-style marionette theatre on wheels. Featuring marionettes, hand puppets, delightful songs and a live pirate, this show is sure to delight.
Rene Zendejas is a legendary figure In Los Angeles puppetry. His puppet shows at Olvera Street in the late 1940's helped to revitalize this LA landmark. Rene is a master showman, and his puppetry style is described as both dynamic and elegant. Rene's puppets have appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, in Rene's 1970's TV show, "Domingo," in McDonald's commercials and in the film, Team America.
Artists Carol Colin and Ted Waltz invite Lummis Day participants of All Ages to create puppets and put on a puppet show based on the life of Charles Lummis (workshop followed by performance 12-4 pm)

Tuesday, June 5, 3:30 pm -
Scott Land and his Marionettes present a marionette show featuring literary characters.
Cypress Park Branch Library, 1150 Cypress Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90065 (All Ages)
Scott Land's marionettes are renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship and lifelike movement. His marionettes have appeared in films, at the Magic Castle and aboard cruise ships.

Friday, June 8, 8 pm -
MaRia Bodmann presents, "Shadows of Bali." Art in the Park, 5568 Via Marisol, Hermon, CA 90042 (All Ages). MaRia Bodmann's lyrical shadow puppets shows reinterpret the traditional shadow theatre of Bali for contemporary audiences. "Shadow of Bali" includes live music and a rare opportunity to peer behind the scenes of a shadow puppet stage.
 

Autry Expansion in Griffith Park to Relocate
the Southwest Museum -
The City's approval process for Autry to relocate the Southwest Museum to Griffith Park has begun. This is not a "done deal", even if Autry makes it sound so. Remember when the powers-that-be said the Cornfields would become warehouses... that the deal was done? Today, due to a determined group of community leaders, Los Angeles is blessed with a new State Park.
1) Want a real future for the Southwest Museum here in Northeast LA? Take a look at the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition's Alternative Plan that would reduce the Griffith Park expansion project (and its related impacts) and invest in a vibrant and economically viable MUSEUM in Northeast Los Angeles. There's
no reason that the public cannot benefit by seeing all those priceless artifacts at the original location, in our neighborhood:http://www.friendsofthesouthwestmuseum.com/newsite/Brochure051907.pdf
Mark your calendars and get informed:
2) take a close look at the environmental analysis just posted online today by the Dept of Recreation and Parks for the proposed Autry expansion project in Griffith Park. Object? Oppose? Attend the Public Meeting. A second meeting was just added for June 11th and the comment period extended until June 28.
http://www.laparks.org/environmental/environmental.htm
3) Information provided by the Save Griffith Park webmaster:

PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING ON AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER'S AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR EXPANSION IN GRIFFITH PARK
Attached is the notice from the Department of Recreation and Parks announcing the first Public Scoping Meeting of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process for the proposed expansion of the Autry National Center. (May 29, 6:30 pm, Autry National Center). The Autry, a privately held institution, is situated on 10 acres of public land in Griffith Park which it leases from the City of Los Angeles for $1 (one dollar) a year. Both its location on dedicated parkland and its potential environmental impacts on its host, Griffith Park, make the Autry's expansion a matter of public interest.
The letter and conceptual plan diagrams provided indicate that the institution is seeking to increase its built area by 129,000 square feet. Additionally, it is seeking to move a large portion of its parking to the south and east portion of its existing South Lawn thereby obliterating half of this green space and eventually, in Phase II of their conceptual plan, constructing an additional building above this newly created parking lot.
At first look, this seems to contradict assurances from the Autry that they do not intend to increase their footprint in Griffith Park, as was reported in the L.A. Times. The word footprint," however, which is commonly understood to mean the space a building occupies on a parcel of land, has been redefined admittedly by the Autry to mean the land itself -- all 110 acres of their leasehold. Contradicted as well, it seems is the Autry's longstanding and oft-repeated public promise never to remove the green space afforded by their South Lawn. By relabeling the leftover section of turf as "South Lawn" on the diagram, the reality that half the lawn has been lost is obscured.
Because this is a matter of public interest, the project will require various approvals which may include an amendment to its existing ground lease, a conditional use permit with a height allowance (does this mean a zoning variance?) and more. The potential environmental impacts are listed and they are considerable.
We urge you to attend the meeting and to voice and mail in your comments to the Environmental Supervisor.
 

Driving into the 21st Century- and Beyond! One Stop Auto Care

Gerry Vicario of One Stop Auto Care stresses professionalism in his shop and employees,

If you're looking for a place to get your car serviced that's kept up with all the latest technology, you should go see Jerry Vicario at One Stop Auto Care. After he took me on a tour last month of the latest equipment and diagnostic tools he has at his shop, I was left with a feeling that he can handle just about anything that might come his way.
Gone are the days when a mechanic and a box of tools were all that were needed to fix a car. Today, there are so many complicated systems, that even on a typical economy car, the local auto repair shop is hard pressed to handle the most basic of jobs. And today, in auto repair, as in most professions, computers are playing a bigger and bigger role.
Jerry showed me the shop management system that he uses, a computer program called Mitchell One. Mitchell used to be the company that sold the repair manuals and the labor rate manuals. To give an estimate, a shop used to look up the time required for a particular job, then call and get a price on the parts. Now, by browsing through a few screens and menus, the modern automotive technician identifies the customer's car, picks a repair, and all the labor times and parts required, along with their prices pop up on the screen. The system even communicates with parts suppliers, hooking up to their computer systems, getting the current prices and even checking stock at the local parts store. The system will create an accurate, printed estimate in very little time, and print it to give to the customer.

Jerry explains how computers and the internet are now an essential part of the professional’s toolbox.

When Jerry enters the vehicle and customer information, the complete history of car comes up on the screen. It shows exactly what repair or service was done and when. All this is not free, however, and requires a subscription of about $200 a month, and is updated every quarter with the latest information. Customer service is just one of the ways computers are put to work to repair your car.
Most drivers are aware that the modern automobile may have up to a half dozen computers on board, from the computer that manages the running of the engine and the shifting of the transmission, to the one that controls the heater and air conditioning system and even the computer that dims the mirror when a bright headlight shines on it. A few realize that to repair any of these systems requires another computer, called a scanner, that can communicate with the on board car computers. One Stop keeps up with the latest on that as well, by purchasing all the scanner updates once a year. The cost? Close to $4000 last year.
One of the most fascinating new ways auto repair shops use the technology of computers and the internet is for diagnosis.
"Ten years ago, everybody had to pinpoint and use their knowledge to find a little problem," said Jerry. "It was kinda scary." With complexities in automotive systems comes greater complexity when it comes time to repair them. Luckily, through the internet, a concept that once was only available to new car dealerships is now offered to the independent. In the past, automotive new car dealers would receive TSB's, or technical service bulletins. They would be mailed or faxed to each dealer and end up in loose leaf binders, for mechanics to search through them to find what the common problems were for a particular make and model of car and what it took to fix it. Now that same idea has been adapted to the internet and made available to all auto techs (for a price, of course). It is completely amazing to see how this new tool allows automotive professionals to work together. Jerry says, "This one is Identifix- it's pretty much a forum where everybody sends how they fixed a car." He points to the screen and continues, "These are the most common repairs needed for this type of car."
The way it works is that an auto repair dealer subscribes, and you can look through the different repairs made to a particular year, make and model of car, and try to match up the symptoms of the problem the car you're fixing to previous fixes on a similar make and model. "If we can't find it there, and our technician finds the problem, he can submit it and get $50, " explained Jerry. The service costs $130 month.
Another network is iATN, the International Automotive Technicians Network. It is a global system for getting auto repair diagnostic help. Here, when an auto technician gets stuck, he can put out a call for help that shows up in member's e-mail boxes. To qualify for membership, a tech must agree to try and help other mechanics in need.
Speaking of auto technicians, or mechanics as they once were called, the education and training required is vastly more important than ever before.
"I think we have to go to school more often than a lot of people in different careers- doctors, lawyers, they go to seminars, they go to classes to keep up with the times. We do the same thing. We go to seminars, we go to classes, we take classes online; we got to keep up with things," Jerry added.
One thing that has also changed, is the relationship between the consumer and his repair shop.
"I think the relationship with the customer in the shop is more professional these days," said Jerry. "The customer is not coming to a place that's all oily and you're afraid to shake his hand because his hand is all full of oil, it's no longer like that. You've got to keep it nice and clean and it gives the customer a very good impression of your place." Indeed the entire shop at One Stop is clean uncluttered and the floor is painted bright white.
The last stop was the wheel alignment rack, which looked like it could have been from the set of Star-Trek. With the latest reflector system, all the technician has to do is mount the reflectors to each wheel and enter the vehicle information into the computerized work station. It then checks the alignment of all four wheels and provides a print-out of how close or far off the vehicle's wheels are from the proper alignment. It is a leased machine costing about $400 a month.
If you feel a little shocked adding up all these expenses, you're not alone. Put these together with all the expenses of running any kind of business, and you can certainly see why it costs so much to fix cars these days. Jerry, however, was not fazed. "It's a benefit to the customer and to ourselves. We always put money into the business because that's the only way to serve the customer better and also for us to make it profitable. You know, the faster we do the work, and the more accurate, it's better for everybody."
One Stop Auto Care does most repairs on most cars. They have the latest equipment for doing wheel alignment, air conditioning, trouble shooting, brakes, tune-ups and the rest. If that pesky "check engine light" is turned on, they have what it takes to track down the problem, fix it and send you back out on the road good as new.
One Stop Auto Care
4695 Eagle Rock Blvd.
(323) 257 5876

VOICE IN THE EAGLE ROCK WILDERNESS

By Christopher Nyerges
[Nyerges is the manager of the Highland Park Farmer's Market on Tuesdays. He is the editor of Wilderness Way magazine, and the author of How to Survive Anywhere. He can be contacted at Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041, or www.ChristopherNyerges.com]
Some things seem like no-brainers to our small group that sat around the table drinking coffee at Cindy's. We should not have daily savings time. We should not have substances added to our drinking water that have absolutely no water purification value (i.e., flourine). We should not allow our public officials, who feed at the public trough, to arbitrarily give themselves raises without voter approval.
And, consider the shamefully low turnout at the last election: in Council District 14 of Los Angeles, there are 78,426 registered voters. Of those, a mere 13,376 (17%) even found it worth their time to get up out of their lazy chairs in front of "Everyone Loves Raymond" re-runs in order to vote. Painfully shameful and a sign that we have met the enemy and he is us. In some countries that had been denied the vote for decades, you see 80%+ of the eligible voters get to their polls, and sometimes this is amidst gunfire and the possibility of assaults. We Eagle Rock folks have become apathetic, passive, and therefore able to be swayed by whatever small majority does choose to take the initiative to vote.
Is it possible that a Tuesday election day is part of the culprit? It is a "work day," after all. We should strongly consider moving our voting day to a day when obviously more people have the ability to get to the polls readily. How about Saturday or Sunday voting?
Does anyone know why we vote on Tuesdays? OK, it is based on some law and some tradition. Voting on Tuesday is like Mosque on Friday, Temple on Saturday, Church on Sunday, market on Thursday, laundry on Friday, peanuts at the Dodger game, mom's apple pie, right?
Regardless of the roots of this particular tradition, is there any real compelling reason why we should stick to it? Wouldn't it be most advantageous for the most people if we voted on Saturday? Or Sunday? Or both days? Christians might object to a Sunday vote. Some Jews might object to a Saturday vote.
Unfortunately, the sanctity of one Holy Day has been so compromised over the last few decades that I suspect no one would so much as blink at the prospect of a weekend vote. I think one of the last remnants of respecting the sanctity of a Holy Day is the Tournament of Roses folks over in Pasadena who refuse to hold their parade on Sunday. When January 1 falls on Sunday, the parade is always on Monday – good for them!
It is an impossibility to please all the people all of the time, but we can try to get close. Elections on Saturday or Sunday would likely please far more people than the current Tuesday elections. It would inconvenience the least.
Many countries have weekend elections. We could do the same if we felt it served our interests. There is nothing sacrosanct about a Tuesday election.
And if we had to choose one day where it would be most convenient to the most, and the least inconvenience to the most, that day would have to be Saturday. A Saturday vote would have the greatest benefit with the least complaints.
Of course, there are still many deadbeats who are qualified to vote but who still will not bother to do so, despite making it easier and easier. After all, anyone can still request an absentee ballot if they truly cannot get to their neighborhood polling place. This is my opinion. What do you think?

MEMORIAL DAY:
WHO WERE THE GREATEST SPIRITUAL AND MORAL WARRIORS?

By Christopher Nyerges

 I participated in a WTI-sponsored Memorial Day gathering with a small group of seekers who were intent on learning some of the ways in which the universe operates. We read and discussed a list of approximately 100 individuals throughout history who provided living examples that all us should emulate.
Before reviewing each individual, we considered those traits that nearly everyone considers very important or necessary for successful living and/or heroism. This list included consideration of some of the more mundane aspects of daily life as dollar production, self-sufficiency, diet and nutrition, social reputation, home ownership and upkeep, published writings as well as such traits as having an intense focus upon "the voice of Conscience," refusal to compromise in matters of Rightness, a zealous adherence to the highest principles, persisting despite "impossible" odds, and at least a dozen other traits.
Needless to say, I was considering how well I do, or don't, live my life as a pioneering thinker, or scientist, and how easily I may be thwarted by ridicule or opposition. This was an extremely humbling experience in the way we addressed it, since it is very clear that good intentions about "living a good life" is one thing, and the hard work of actually making personal progress in the areas of one's choice is quite another. I was tempted to feel both guilty and hypocritical about myself for often talking about "principles" of ideal living, when I have not perfected these in my own personal life. But I was quickly roused out of my self-indulgent "poor me" thoughts when I accepted the idea that I continue to be a student and seeker, and that "perfection" is not a noun, but a verb of ongoing action.
Here is a partial listing of some of these people who were described as some of our greatest spiritual and moral warriors. We did not know everyone on the list, and so we had a thick encyclopedia handy to get the quick synopsis about each person.
The list included Solzhenitzyn, Gorbachev, Jacobo Timmerman, George Washington, Jimmy Carter, George Marshall, Abraham Lincoln, Mountbatten, Florence Nightingale. It included Sun yat-sen, Jesus, Muhammad, Abraham, Moses, Gauthama, Martin Luther, Gandhi, Joan of Arc, Quetzalcoatl, Musashi. It included Chief Seattle, Red Cloud, Sequoyah, Heowenta, Deganawida, Black Elk, Crow Dog, Germonimo, Sojourner Truth, and Malcolm X. There were many others, some of whom were "mythical" and who provided valuable lessons for our daily life. The list included people from all walks of life and cultures, those whose actions made them spiritual and moral warriors.
It was an exciting insight, a reminder to me of the life paths we should all be studying and emulating, and a reminder of what we are failing to teach in our schools today.
This report will eventually be written up as a booklet, and made available for those who want their own study copy.
CLASSES
For the schedule of on-going Wild Food Outings and other classes, see www.ChristopherNyerges.com, or write to Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041.
FLINT AND STEEL
For awhile we were out of stock of the flint and steel kits for practicing primitive fire-making. We have them now, and you can check out the web site, or purchase by sending $15 to our web site at Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041

click on ads to enlarge
 

EDITORIAL - The Pendulum Swings Back
Glassell Park NC going from NIMBY to Pro-Development? What are they trying to hide?

In Glassell Park, an area of Los Angeles where the concept of anti-development community activism had practically been raised to an art form, the pendulum may have now swung back the other way, as pro-development forces seem to have taken over the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council, and are now circling their wagons to keep out anyone who may disagree or expose their sometimes heavy handed tactics as they work to protect their rights to develop hillside property in Northeast L.A.
I found out about this quite by accident. I went down to Glassell Park Neighborhood Council meeting because I was curious how things were going there since the big "takeover".
Takeover?
Well, what I knew is that folks at Victory Outreach Church were dissatisfied with the actions of last year's Glassell Park Neighborhood Council (GPNC), and had worked to get their own people into the elected positions on the council, or so I thought. I thought they did this because the previous board shot down their proposal to build a very tall sign to advertise their church. I thought that the leaders and members at Victory Outreach refused to give up, and used their legitimate rights as stakeholders to sign up candidates and bring in dozens of church members to vote them into office.
There was evidence to support that hypothesis as about a hundred of their church members did attend the meeting last July, showing up in force to support their sign application, and since the voter turnout for the latest GPNC election was pretty high, it seemed likely that they packed the voting booths as they had packed the meeting room that night. Several of their people were elected to the GPNC board. Some say that seven of the new board members are affiliated with Victory Outreach. "Good for them," I thought. "If they're willing to work for it, they deserve it."
Consequently, when I attended the GPNC on the evening of May 15, I expected to find the GPNC meeting in a rather church-like setting. I expected quiet, reserved, respectful and reverent behavior. I thought everyone would be speaking in low tones with the preacher/ chairman waxing poetic, as he took the meeting through each agenda item. I thought it might be great to have a handful of good, moral, church-going folks participating in a Neighborhood Council. I thought it might add a bit of what many of the Councils have been needing. I was wrong.
As I walked in the door, I didn't find that. I found Bradley. Bradley was running the meeting. Bradley was the chairman.
If you don't know, you should know that Bradley is a rather unique guy. "Bradley who?" you may ask. It's just Bradley. He's only got one name. Like Cher, Madonna, Elvis or Donovan. "Just Bradley," he often says when asked about his name.
I've gotten along fine with Bradley in the past. He's usually quite cheerful, comical, smart, and does a good job as a local activist. I relate to him because I've done my share of fighting the NIMBY-ism (Not-In-My-Back-Yard) issue in Eagle Rock over the years. He's been known to work for developers.
He was one of the people who started "PROH-LA," an incorporated advocacy group (that operates out of Bradley's home address) created to fight the City's Interim Hillside Control Ordinance (ICO). GPNC Board member Paula Bagasao is also in the PROH-LA camp appearing at public hearings and on petitions opposing the ICO. Many hillside property owners were upset about losing some of their buildable rights and joined together in PROH-LA to fight this ordinance.
So why did I find PROH-LA running a meeting I expected Victory Outreach church to be running?
What I think happened is that Bradley came up with the idea to gather support for PROH-LA and takeover the Glassell Park Council by using Victory Outreach Church. They both had had a problem with the GPNC in the past, so it was practically inevitable for them to join forces.
But tonight, Bradley is the Chair, and a meeting could do worse, as he is quite articulate and moves as quickly as possible through each agenda item. But in the words of one attendee who wrote, "I have heard the GPNC being accused of being pro-developer. Based on this past meeting (May 15), I would say there is some truth to that." Bradley is not exactly impartial.
What I'm expecting tonight, is just another boring neighborhood council meeting, and it is for the most part, until board member Paula Bagasao says, "For those of you in the room, we are being filmed today, and tape recorded... Can we have the individuals (doing the recording/ filming) introduce themselves?"
What?
This is not a part of any government meeting I've been to in the 11 years I've been going. Even in the most one-sided, crooked, kangaroo court meetings like in the Glendale City Council, never have I witnessed councilmembers ask that people who are recording or filming identify themselves.
Later, the woman who is filming the meeting is ejected completely from the meeting.
The question is, why?
I e-mailed Bradley and asked a series of questions about that night, and he answered each question in a very slick politician style non-answer answer kind of way. (He would not admit or deny he told the lady she couldn't film, but the film obtained later clearly shows that he did)
But one question he (or other GPNC officials I asked) did not comment on was my hypothesis that the only reason government officials, (and the GPNC Board Members are government officials) would have a problem with recording and filming their meetings is that they do not want to be accountable for what they say and do as government officials.
There is no other possible reason. They must be doing something they know is wrong and they're trying to hide it.
What else could it be? What are they up to?
What could pro-development forces accomplish with a Neighborhood Council if no one was watching?
Let me know what you think they're up to.

Dear Fellow- Pursuer of
“the best truth that's fit to print”
May 15, 2007
CONGRATULATIONS! on your formidable achievement of founding The Boulevard Sentinel 10 years-- ago "alone," then relentless-persistently becoming a cohesive "voice of the community" for us Northeast Angelenos. Your web logo says it best: "This newspaper is put together by people who are dedicated to finding out the truth, and dedicated to the proposition that they're not gonna publish any misinformation." It really is pride-inducing to see such a well-written, informative "little" paper representing our local community. No one would expect such well-rounded quality in a "local press." But there it is - regularly - deep-digging informative articles on political and Community-minded issues we all need to educate ourselves about in order to be informed citizens. With the addition of Christopher Nyerges' unique perspectives in every issue, we say you have a gem of literary upliftment.
It so happens that I was a similarly-situated editor and co-publisher of "the Scene" weekly newspaper that covered The Sunset Strip in the mid-1960s. When you're a "staff of one," soliciting, writing, and formatting ads in addition to sniffing-out and writing all the "news," then working with the printer each week to make it appear as "artistic" as possible (with fewest number of mistakes missed by their proofreaders), it's a 25 hour-a-day "slavelabor of love." So, I really "feel with you" in your yeoman (usually "thankless") efforts.
Should you ever need unique, nowhere-else-found, data for any of your research or for backup in any of your article-writing, please give us a call, and we'll gladly give you a tour of our one-of-a-kind research library. It too was built (over the past 50 years) with the goal of "finding out the truth," and you might find many data that could be assistive to your work. When you visit we'll treat you to the best-in-Los-Angeles cuppa-coffee (our unique "elixirated" style) that most of our staff and visitors say is the best they've ever tasted. Just call us for an appointment and and we'll get right back to you to set the time thats best for all of us.
Supportively for Com-Unity
Richard E. White

Dear Tom:
Congratulations to you as owner and publisher of The Boulevard Sentinel on your 10th anniversary of publication.
You've lived in Eagle Rock and were schooled here. As a longtime neighbor, your mom, Pat, and I shared many years of attending local PTA and other community meetings. Your dad operated a successful auto repair business for many years at the corner of Hartwick Street and Colorado Boulevard. So you are deeply rooted in the Eagle Rock Community.
In the early 1990's Oran Asa, the owner and publisher of the Northeast Newspapers retired and sold the newspaper. That paper's circulation served 16 local communities, so it was quite a loss to the area. We have had several tries by other publishers to make a go of local coverage, but they have never lasted.
As stated in the May issue of your Boulevard Sentinel, you began working on news coverage in 1997. You have had a long, mostly successful, and certainly interesting journey into the field of journalism.
Your vision to provide the community with a newspaper that covers local events as well as pertinent city and state issues is accommodated by your skills as a writer and your own active involvement in community activities.
It takes courage and tenacity to publish any newspaper these days. There is always an array of legal hurdles to consider in the reporting of news. For ten years you have been tested at every level.
Tom you are the local young man with a vision who started out a bit naïve but nonetheless determined to give the approximately 35,000 folks of Eagle Rock current local news coverage in an interesting format. A newspaper that started with only a few pages is now entering its eleventh year with 24 pages.
You are truly a success story, a man with vision and grit.
Yours truly,
Shirley A. Minser

Dear Fat Dog Supporter:
As far as we are concerned we will NOT gladly WELCOME this establishment.
Being the OLDER GENERATION, we are not BLIND, but insulted beyond belief. How dare you. Never been around fine dining? So wrong, the best, and the music still plays on. We have our eyes wide open to the YOUNGER generation.
We saw the trolleys cars running down Eagle Rock Blvd. and there was hardly any pavement yet. Tritch Hardware, us old folks go there still. Still family owned, (the same family). On Colorado and Argus was a miniature golf course. I could go on and on, but you couldn't comprehend. If you don't appreciate automotive shops visible, Ma & Pa stores, then you don't like small business.
We watched and help grow this town that you want to make into another Hollywood. By the way, where are all the patrons going to park?
Go and ask the families that lived (some over 40 years) near Townsend and Vincent. People from the pizza parlor in the past have parked in their driveways. So you would not mind this at your house?
Do you even live close to the area? Take a look at Old Town Pasadena. NO residential homes. How many more places need to be open before Eagle Rock looks over-done and out of business?
Groups like TERA have been here long before you arrived and will be here long after you leave. We have lived here over 50 years, my children and grandchildren grew up here and are in the area, like many of the people living on these streets that you seem to think need more traffic and problems.
Tell ya what, have Fat Dog move in front of your property, and while your at it, open another 24 hour coffee shop with it.
Ehme & Audrey Bienhoff

Glassell Park Elementary Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. The School, built in 1924, is of Spanish Colonial Revival Style with Public Works Administration Moderne-style modifications added in the 1930's to repair damage following the Long Beach earthquake and to comply with new state and local building earthquake safety codes. The structure is made of concrete and steel with a stucco exterior and a mission clay tile roof, designed by Edward Cray Taylor. The preservation effort was spearheadedby Glassell Park Resident Alisa Smith.
Winning this designation caps a months-long effort and included many letters of support from local residents, students and teachers; plus letters from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the L.A. Conservancy. "The school is a beautiful, stately building and not only represents a significant era in Los Angeles Architecture, but that of the national Public Works Administration style as well," said Smith, who traveled to Placerville at her own expense to attend the hearing of the nomination. "Glassell Park Elementary is a vibrant, active center of our community. A listing on the National Register helps us recognize a jewel in our neighborhood that has been appreciated by many generations of families." The designation also honors its excellent condition; which is maintained (at times with valiant effort) by the principal of the school, Ms. Sandra Carter, who grew up in Glassell Park.
Thank you to all the community members and GPIA members who wrote letters in support of this designation!
Glassell Park Elementary
2211 W. Ave 30

CDO Workshops
Workshops for the proposed Community Design Overlay for the Cypress Park and Glassell Park communities are as follows:
Cypress Park CDO:
Wednesday, June 20 6:30 pm
LA River Center
570 W. Ave. 29
OR
Saturday, June 30 at 10:00am
Glassell Park Community/Senior Center
3750 N. Verdugo Road

Glassell Park CDO:
Monday, June 18 at 6:30pm OR
Saturday, June 20 10:00am
Glassell Park Community/Senior Center
3750 N. Verdugo Road

City Brings Peace to Some Owners of Lost Pets
Community Leaders work with Council Office to Ensure Los Angeles City Dead Animal Collection Unit Gives Notice to Owners
In a new citywide program, all Bureau of Sanitation Dead Animal Collectors now carry microchip scanners to upload identification information or will take tags on any dead animals collected. This information is brought to the Department of Animal Services, who then try to contact the owners of these pets.
This new procedure, spearheaded community volunteers, addressed a tragic gap in the cities services. Prior to the new policy, owners of tagged or micro chipped pets picked up by Dead Animal Collections never knew that their lost pets had been disposed of.
Andrew Garsten, a member of the Echo Park Animal Alliance (EPAA) and Board Member of the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council (GEPENC) said it was a posting in June 2005 on the EPAA Yahoo discussion board regarding a dog that was killed on Glendale Boulevard that started it off. In the discussion, Christine Peters, co-founder of the EPAA and also a Board Member of GEPENC pointed out a tragic fact that the Bureau of Sanitation Dead Animal Collection unit did not scan dead animals for microchips (tiny embedded chips that contain unique identification information), nor did it take tags from tagged animals and forward the information to Animal Services.
"When people heard about this oversight they were justifiably mortified," said Garsten. "They were saying `What if Fido got lost, I was looking for him at the shelter, but he already had been found by the city, dead in the streets? I would never know what happened to him.'"
Garsten and Peters got together shortly after the online discussion to discuss the situation, and immediately sought the support of local LA City Council Member Eric Garcetti (CD13). Mitch O'Farrell currently the District Director for Constituent Services for CD13 was at the time designated the unofficial "Animal Deputy," and took up this issue.
O'Farrell lobbied for the necessary changes in procedures and proper equipment for the Dead Animal Collections Unit.
"We all knew that getting this done would take some time, so we checked in with Mitch every couple of months to see what the progress was," said Peters. In the summer of 2006, Garsten, Peters and O'Farrell were informed that the Dead Animal Collection unit had begun a pilot program to scan and collect information at its Central Division.
Early this month, Garsten again checked in with O'Farrell to see what the progress was. "Mitch called the Bureau of Sanitation and got back to me that the program was now being implemented citywide! We were so surprised because they did not notify anyone," said Garsten.
"The initial report we had was that they have not found a lot of animals with microchips or tags," said O'Farrell.
"But for the pet owners who do find out the final disposition of their animals, for us to allow them to stop the worrying, to make peace with the passing of their companions, it is something we just had to do."

Trash Day Changes For Some
The Department of Public Work Bureau of Engineering Sanitation and Collection Services is changing the dates for Trash Collection for the Black, Green, and Blue (or for some-yellow) Refuse Containers effective June 6, 2007. Notices were hung on doors and mailboxes informing you that your trash collection day will be moved from Tuesday to Wednesday - effective in three (3) weeks. The Bureau of Sanitation is adjusting its collection routes to accommodate the growing number of homes in the area that require service. Streamlining trash collection routes today will make for a better tomorrow for all City Residents. If you have any further questions, comments or remarks, please contact 800.773-CITY (2489) OR 311.

ArtStorm Artists Paint A Bright Future For The Community
The Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council and ArtStorm announce the 1st free public Aerosol ArtPark with canvas and paint in Highland Park; Saturday, May 26, 2007.
HP is a culturally and artistically rich community. It deserves a proven, ongoing commitment to discover and assist its young artists to get up on canvas.
This free ArtPark is an artistic way to build strong relationships between all the stakeholders and create a stronger social infrastructure. We now have met dozens of locals, with every style and skill level. We've been lucky to meet some of the most talented young artists ArtStorm has ever seen in Highland Park.
The ArtStorm Aerosol ArtPark at Highland Park is made possible by the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council, an executive-level group whose commitment to the people of Highland Park is proven.
Working together, the HHPNC and ArtStorm have pioneered a new model in tagging prevention strategies while increasing opportunities with constructive programming. If we all worked together, taggers and masterpiece artists, owners, business, schools, volunteers, government and politicians could all claim they did their part to help graffiti artists stop tagging by doing something tangible in the form of the ArtStorm ArtParks.
Imagine how the ArtStorm ArtPark can accomplish great gains for the common good and show the world the people of Highland Park are uncommonly good.
The ArtStorm Aerosol ArtParks at the Highland Park Senior Citizen Center is Saturday, May 26, 2007, from noon to 6:00 pm at 6152 North Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA 90042 Phone: (323) 256-6866

Take a Walk on the East Side -
The Renaissance of Highland Park's York Boulevard
YORK BOULEVARD, one of two main streets of Los Angeles's Highland Park community is currently going through a renaissance as the latest "best kept secret" destination point for both long-time locals and seekers of the next unique area to discover. Highland Park is in the middle of a growth spurt. York Blvd has recently undergone a new traffic layout, creating a more pedestrian friendly thoroughfare and business environment.
Joining established Highland Park familiar sights VINTAGE TATTOO, PETS WITH FEZ WEAVING STUDIO, ZEPPLIN MUSIC and the restaurants ITALIANO'S PIZZA and EL ARCO IRIS (both newly renovated and expanded); VILLA SOMBRERO (known for their margaritas), HUARACHE AZTECA (yum!),and the new, warm and welcoming HIGHLAND PERK COFFEE (soon to be serving beer and wine), are a slew of original and inspired independent businesses.
Within the next few weeks York Blvd. will become the home of three new gathering spots: JOHNNY'S BAR at 5006 York Blvd., THE YORK at 5018 York, and MARTY'S at 5137 York Blvd. Each brings to the area a fresh individual take on where to go with friends or out-of-town visitors in this eclectic and culturally diverse neighborhood.
Johnny's is a small classic neighborhood bar in the tradition of a 30's speakeasy. With exposed brick walls, painted tin ceiling, brass topped and trimmed mahogany curved bar and art-deco details. Johnny's presents a comfortable and cozy yet stylish watering-hole for old-time Highland Park residents and hipster newbies alike. Johnny's offers a full bar with a rounded selection of tequilas, vodkas and scotches as well as a wide array of beers both on tap and bottled. Opening night for Johnny's Bar is scheduled for Friday evening, May 18th, 2007.
The York, at the former site of The Wild Hare (previous to that, The Dragon) will be an up-dated version of an English Pub, with a full bar and featuring a wide menu of British and American cuisine.
Marty's is the latest offering from the owner of Mia Sushi in Eagle Rock. Formerly El Chubasco, this small eating and drinking establishment will serve from a concise menu highlighting steaks and side dishes.
Art galleries as well, such as DAVID PATTON GALLERY and PARK PROJECTS have sprung up in many of the formerly vacant storefronts. There are still a few vacant buildings along York Boulevard, but they won't last long. Highland Park is officially on the map as the coolest "always been there" neighborhood in Los Angeles. The secret is out.
The Highland Park section of YORK BOULEVARD is located between Avenue 50 and Figueroa Boulevard in Los Angeles 90042.

Pizza Night / Open Mike, Center for the Arts, ER
The Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock will host a PIZZA NIGHT / OPEN MIKE on Thursday June 7th, 2007 from 6pm-8pm to Outreach to the Community members and interested parties regarding the Eagle Rock Music Festival, scheduled in October, 2007.
This will be an information sharing opportunity to address any concerns of neighbors, businesses and other stakeholders and to keep the community involved in the planning process for the 9th Annual Eagle Rock Music Festival, scheduled to take place on October 6, 2007
Occidental Children's Theater Presents!
Occidental Children's Theater presents "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Rogers" conceived and directed by Jamie Angell performs Thursday, Friday and Saturdays at 10am July 5 through August 18 in the Hillside Amphitheater at Occidental College.
Tickets are $9 adult and $6 children. Group rates are available. Call (323) 259-2771 for more information.
Also, OCT is pleased to bring back:
The Summer Institute of Fun, an acting camp for children 8 to 13 years old. This year we added a special session for older kids only, session 5 is for children ages 11-15. The Institute includes: Dynamic physical theater; Group improvisation; Basic tumbling & movement techniques; Positive and fun learning environment; and A free t-shirt. Each week culminates with an informal folktale performance. Individual attention guaranteed by limited enrollment.
Classes are held in Keck Theater on the Occidental College Campus.
Session 1: 7-16 through 7-22;
Session 2: 7-23 through 7-27;
Session 3: 7-30 through 8-3;
Session 4: 8-6 through 8-10;
Session 5: 8-13 through 8-17;
Special session for 11- 15 year olds!
All sessions run from 1pm to 4pm. Students may be picked up during supervised mat time: 4pm to 5:15pm. Fees: $160 one session; $300 two sessions (less $20); $440 three sessions (less $40); $560 four sessions (less $80); $680 five sessions (less $120). 10% discount for each additional sibling.
Please call (323) 259-2771 for more information or visit http://departments.oxy. edu/theater/

Eagle Rock Bids Farewell to Jenny Krusoe
Since 2001, Executive Director Jenny Krusoe served the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock with tireless leadership and an eye toward strengthening the arts community in Northeast Los Angeles. This June, Ms. Krusoe will leave the center to lead the planning stages of Legacy L.A., a project of Community Partners, which is a collaborative community organization dedicated to building a legacy for the communities of Northeast Los Angeles. Although, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) will miss her creative energy and ability to effect change, DCA looks forward to future collaborations.
The Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock serves as an incubator for producing performing arts workshops that subsequently move on to bigger venues. During Ms. Krusoe's tenure, the Center quadrupled its budget and outreach; increased its audience from 7,260 to 34,000; collaborated with local arts organizations to bring at-risk youth programs to Los Angeles' northeast communities; and produced four new major performance arts works by Ken Roht ("Growing with Ghosts"), David O ("Dadme"), Jane Tsong ("Time by the Rock"), and Linda Dowdell and Peter Wing Healey's opera, "The Tree." The artists exhibited during this period include Mike Kelley, Jim Shaw, and Liz Young; curators include Magu and Mika Cho. Additionally, Grant Gershon volunteered his time to conduct community choirs at the Eagle Rock monument to help celebrate the "Rock Is Art" installation.
Ms. Krusoe's visionary leadership and ability to nurture community partnerships resulted in a pilot program preserving eight murals in Boyle Heights that engaged both youth and the original artists; a safe place for children to experience arts programming after school; a comprehensive arts education program comprised of free after school training in dance, music theater and digital video for middle and high school students; and the Eagle Rock Music Festival which includes student bands from local schools. Jenny Krusoe's creativity extends beyond the arts and into the community. Her innovative techniques helped integrate broad audiences and increase access to youth programming and adults who otherwise might not work together to improve their community's quality of life. As a result, LA Artcore, an organization dedicated to providing exhibition space and continuing dialogue between artists with diverse cultural backgrounds, named Ms. Krusoe their 2007 honoree. Ms. Krusoe engaged local businesses, social service organizations, elected officials, universities and residents exemplifying best practices and the vision articulated by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
About the Department of Cultural Affairs The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) generates and supports high quality arts and cultural experiences for residents and visitors to the City of Los Angeles. DCA advances the social and economic impact of the arts and assures access to arts and cultural experiences through grant making, marketing, public and community arts programming, arts education, and creating partnerships with artists and arts and cultural organizations in every community in the City of Los Angeles.
DCA grants $3.4 million annually to over 300 artists and nonprofit arts organizations and awards the Artist-in Residence (A.I.R.) and City of Los Angeles (C.O.L.A.) Individual Artist Fellowships. It provides arts and cultural programming in numerous Neighborhood Arts and Cultural Centers, theaters, and several arts and education programs for young people. The Department directs public art projects and manages the City's Arts Development Fee, Art Collection, and Murals Program. DCA markets the City's cultural events through development and collaboration with strategic partners, design and production of creative promotional materials, and management of the culturela.org website.