Boulevard Sentinel

VOLUME XIV ISSUE 2

News and Views

for Northeast Los Angeles

June 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marching for Peace

in the Northeast


May 15, 2010 - Highland Park, CA - The 3rd Annual Peace in the Northeast March gets off to an energetic start along North Figueroa in front of the Luther Burbank Middle School. The effort brings together local churches, Neighborhood Councils, government agencies, community groups, business owners and local residents committed to ending gang violence and promoting peace in Northeast Los Angeles. Peggy Soto photo.

HHPNC Election Challenged

by Tom Topping

    Community members breathed a sigh of relief last month, as a new board was elected to replace the previously dysfunctional board of the HHPNC (Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council). That sigh was a bit premature however, when the election was challenged by outgoing President, Dr. Richard Dyke.
    The April 29th election was challenged on May 6th for a slate of issues ranging from incorrect ballots, to ineligible voters, to use of L.A. City and HHPNC logos on election materials and conflicts of interest. While some of the issues are clearly important, others seemed merely nitpicking.
    One nitpicky issue was the complaint about inclusion of spaces for write-in candidates on the ballot where no write-in candidates were running. Dr. Dyke contends that this led to confusion for voters and resulted in incorrect votes. The fact is, all of the neighborhood council elections had ballots with spaces for write-in candidates whether or not any write-in candidates existed. As a voter who experienced all of these elections first hand, I did not find it confusing, but acknowledge it might be for some who can't or don't bother to read the instructions. (Should they be allowed to vote in that case?) I can't, however, think of any way it could have been done better, as it was quite a formidable task for anyone to format and deliver dozens of different ballots for all the region G elections on the same day. They were all uniformly done.
    A more serious problem was the separate issue director positions being all lumped into one category of issue director. It would not have been a problem but it seems to run afoul of the HHPNC's bylaws that specify which issue positions directors are running for. Instead of the voters deciding who has the expertise to fill a position to take on specific community issues and concerns, the HHPNC board will instead dole out the issue positions among the elected "issue directors" according to whatever process they deem appropriate. This, I think, does disenfranchise the voters and is important.
    Another complaint was the contention that the HHPNC election committee, led by newly elected Vice President Richard Marquez, operated as a de-facto campaign committee, who not only took the responsibility of helping the city clerk organize the election, but campaigned for their slate of preferred candidates as well. My analysis is that even if they did, and although it would be unethical to do so, it would not be grounds to overturn the election because even if the election committee removed their committee hats, and wore their campaign hat a minute later, they were, and should be, as free to do so as any community member is free to campaign for whomever they might choose. It is similar to the built-in advantage any incumbent politician has when running for re-election. We may not like it, but there is really no way around it.
    If, however, the official HHPNC e-mail list or funds or any other asset was used by HHPNC board members or committee members to campaign for certain candidates, that clearly would not be right, but no evidence was submitted to suggest that.
    Another of Dyke's contentions was that the election committee meetings were held in violation of state open meeting laws. He claims they were not held in a properly noticed, agendized, open and transparent manner, and the committee members resisted any oversight by the HHPNC board and operated in what appeared to be a level of secrecy. I believe all of this is true, considering my experience with the people involved. However, I don't think it amounts to anything that the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, the election review panel or the L.A. City Clerk would care about. The L.A. City Clerk put on the election, not the HHPNC.
    Another complaint was the use of L.A. City and HHPNC logos on campaign materials. I believe it was probably done, is typically done and I doubt the election review panel will worry much about it.
    One issue was concerning the eligibility of candidates. This one centered around Election Outreach committee members who became candidates. While it is true that it violates the spirit of the conflict of interest rules, in a system where most of the local neighborhood council elections had seats that no candidates even ran for, it wouldn't make sense to eliminate people from serving who are interested enough to volunteer to help. I don't think the election review panel will care.
    A final issue was regarding the eligibility of voters. Dyke's contention was that while only those who were at least sixteen were allowed to vote, any Franklin High Student that showed a valid student ID was allowed to vote. Dyke complained that "not all" student ID cards show the person's age, and were not monitored closely enough, allowing students to vote who may not have been eligible.
    I can't see how the City election review panel would do anything but applaud the turnout of about 1/3 of all the HHPNC voters coming from the local high school, and dismiss this issue as little more than sour grapes.
    Finally, 2008-2010 President Dr. Dyke concludes his election challenge by asking for specific remedies.
1. Hold a new election.
2. Assuming a new election, none of the election outreach committee members should be allowed to run to make sure the outreach activities are "candidate neutral."
3. Assuming a new election, a uniform method should be used to check stakeholder age.
4. Assuming a new election, the ballot format should be corrected so as not to be confusing.
5. Recount write-in votes and discount any that have errors or omissions in the names written.
6. Provide stakeholders in the HHPNC area with an explanation of the provisional ballot process, where voters with questionable status are allowed to vote and checked later to determine eligibility.
7. Finally, Dr. Dyke's last remedy seems more like a witch hunt than an election remedy as he asks that HHPNC election Chair Richard Marquez be called before the Election Review Panel to determine who his election outreach committee members were and who of those ran for election. He further alleges that Marquez and his supporters have prevented the HHPNC members from inquiring about this during their meetings by preventing them from placing those items on the agenda. (Believable considering that Marquez's wife, Gemma, chairs the agenda committee separately!)
    My guess is that the election will not be a do-over. If anything, they may suggest ways to distribute the issue chair positions among the issue chairs that enable stakeholders to have some say. The election challenge could also engender new policy and procedures for NC elections in the future that would address some of the problems or issues identified by Dr. Dyke in his complaint. In a complaint that numbers 56 pages with all the attachments, I doubt the election review panel will even be very happy about having to take the time to read the election challenge.
    So why did Dr. Dyke take the time to make it?
    In a country that was founded over principles and process, it is a never ending battle to push for fair, open and honest means and methods of government to prevail over the natural desires of people to simply "get things done" in the most direct way possible. We all owe a debt of gratitude to the few, who, like Dr. Dyke, willingly bear the burden of ridicule, anger and the possibility of violence in order to preserve and protect all of our rights to be informed and have a say on what our government is doing FOR us, and sometimes TO us.
    It may make us a little crazy once in a while, but it is definitely well worth it.


Eagle Rock

Trader Joe's Robbed

by Tom Topping

    The Trader Joe's store in Eagle Rock was the victim of an armed robbery on Sunday evening May 30th, when three black men robbed the store of an unspecified amount of cash. As employees cleaned and re-stocked the store after a busy memorial day weekend, two of the robbers, one armed, entered the store demanding access to the safe sometime after 10:00 p.m. One of the employees attempted to thwart the robbery by swinging a wine bottle, hitting the suspect with the gun as they went to the safe.
    The employee received a gunshot to the leg for his effort, and the two suspects took the cash and joined the third in the dark colored sedan for their getaway. The young man who was shot had his wound treated at a local hospital and was released the next day. He is expected to fully recover.
    Police are searching for the suspects and are hopeful that video from the store and the boulevard surveillance cameras will yield clues as to their identity.

Genevieve Cloys 1914- 2010

    Genevieve Cloys was born in the family home on August 6, 1914, in Flint, Michigan. Genevieve was raised in Santa Paula California and graduated from Santa Paula High School in 1932.
    Genevieve was married to William Archie Cloys on December 14, 1940 in Alhambra, California. They were married for 60 years until Archie's death on December 10, 2000.
Genevieve was a member of the Eagle Rock Baptist Church for 70 years where she taught Sunday school for several years.
    She worked at Occidental College for 27 years along with Clancy Morrison in the food service department.
    Genevieve had many hobbies; one was making Recycled Christmas Cards for the Los Angeles Youth Authority.
    Genevieve passed away peacefully at home on May 3, 2010 at the age of 95 with family close by.
    She is survived by daughter Wilma and Son Wesley. Genevieve had 7 Grandchildren, 11 Great Grandchildren, and 7 Great-Great Grandchildren.
    A private burial took place May 10, 2010 at Valhalla Cemetery in North Hollywood. A Memorial Service was held at Eagle Rock Baptist Church on May 22, 2010.
    Genevieve was a friend to all and her front door was always open.
    In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mission's Fund, Eagle Rock Baptist Church, 1499 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90041.

June at Descanso Gardens:

Cool evening, hot jazz and camellia cocktails!
    There are activities for everyone this June at Descanso Gardens in La Canada which will offer extended summer hours until 8 p.m. so visitors can enjoy the gardens in the cool of the day!
    Midweek Summer Hours begins on June 22 and will take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings until September 9. Walk, stroll and discover the gardens anew. Regular admission fees apply for Midweek Summer evening hours: $8 adults, $6 senior/students and $3 children 5-12.
    In addition, Descanso kicks off its eight-week Summer Evening Jazz Concert series "The Evolution of American Jazz" on Thursday, June 24 with the infectious Latin rhythms of Louie Cruz Beltran. Showtime is 5:30 p.m. and concertgoers are welcomed to bring blankets and picnics (normally not allowed) and settle back to savor the music and atmosphere. All Thursday Evening Jazz concerts are free with admission. Check website for artist lineup.
    Another plus for Midweek Summer visitors: Descanso's Japanese Full Moon Tea House will be transformed into the Camellia Lounge, a hip, soothing and exotic location to enjoy signature cocktails and small appetizers under starry skies. Admission to the Camellia Lounge is free with regular admission. Lounge hours are 3-8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays from June 24 to Sept. 9.
    And…bring dad to Descanso on Father's Day, June 20,  for food, flowers, foliage and entertainment!
    Kick back and enjoy a free concert by Grammy © nominee Lisa Haley and the Zydecats on Descanso's Main Lawn from 1-3 p.m. Lisa and her high-spirited band have been "the most joyful Americana/Cajun/Zydeco act on tour today."
    The day also features barbecue selections from Patina Catering from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Limited table and chairs are available so bring blankets and folding chairs to dine among the trees. (No outside picnics are allowed.)
    For more information, call (818) 949-4200 or visit www.descansogardens.org.
Medical Marijuana Music Night!!!
Sunday, June 6th
at the All Star Lanes Bowling Alley
    Cannabis Clubs "United with the Community" invites you to come and join the community in rock'n the night away with the Medical Marijuana bands of Phamzig, Mutiny and Plexikill.
    June 6th 2010 Sunday 7:00 – 11:00 pm at the
All Star Lanes Bowling Alley
4459 Eagle Rock Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
    The City of Los Angeles will be shutting down the local Medical Marijuana Collectives and sending 10,000 patients back into the dangerous and violent Black Market. The local Collectives have been given a deadline of June 7th to close their doors and inform their patients that from now on they will have to obtain their herbal remedy from the drug cartels, drug gangs and drug pushers in the back streets and alleys of our City. This night is open to all of you who want to show your support for this persecuted minority of our fellow citizens who find relief in a common herb that has been known for over 5,000 years to have amazing medicinal benefits.
    For more information, please contact our e-mail at: info@cannabisclubsunited.org

Amazon Drops in Eagle Rock

by Tom Topping
    The phrase "Think Global- Act Local" has almost become a cliché, that no one hears or listens to anymore, but when it comes to saving the world, you never know who you might find on the front lines of that fight, what they are doing or where they are doing it. However, in little cubby holes all over the world, you can find people who are making a difference in a big way- some of them in our own back yard.
    Welcome to Amazon Drops.
    It may not look like they're doing much to help fight global warming, but Amazon Drops, who will open their first retail store in Eagle Rock this month is just one piece of a much large story, although it may be the start of a new chapter. The story starts 25 years ago in the Amazon rain forest of Brazil.
    The healing powers of plants from the rain forest are quite well known. It is estimated that 25% of the world's pharmaceuticals come from plants in the rain forest. Indigenous peoples and farmers have healed themselves and their families for generations using these plants and herbs.
    The use of these substances is not new, but as there are many small farmers in the Amazon rain forest, who are very poor, and need money, they found they could earn $5 for every tree they would cut down. That was fine for the moment, but after the trees were gone, so was the money. Someone had an idea instead to put these small farmers to work harvesting and collecting seeds, using the rain forest in a sustainable way, which would replenish naturally every year, allowing them to survive indefinitely, and Amazon Drops is a part of that.
    With the help of the founder who was a doctor of chemistry, cooperatives were formed to buy the seeds from which all these wonderful products could be created. From these seeds Amazon Drops makes the most wonderful concentrated handcrafted essential oil products. They are all made with the knowledge of generations of natural healers, scientifically combined using modern methods. From over 200 species of plants comes this line of butters, balms, therapeutic oils, body oils, soaps and lip balms (58 products so far). In the process they have also saved over half a million trees.
    The proprietor of Amazon Drops, Leda Bittencourt, knows about what she is selling. Already successful in supplying beauty spas, massage therapists and aroma therapists throughout Southern California, she grew up on a farm in Brazil. She was 18

before she ever saw a  doctor of "western" medicine, her family relying on age old home remedies made from natural herbs and plants.
    "They have a herb for everything," she said referring to the country healing methods she grew up with. When she first started with the company, she worked in helping teach the small farmers to use the more sustainable methods, as she used to travel into the rain forest to gather these small farmers together to show them the more sustainable ways of making a living.
    The products, marketed under the name "Amazon Drops" are an out growth from the original Amazon Oils company that was created in 1985. All of the products are all natural- no chemicals or preservatives are added.
    I tried a little on my skin and although it started off as a solid, it quickly rubbed right in. I could immediately see why aroma therapists like it, as the scent presented an uplifting, yet calming effect.
    She showed me "Heni" an age defying facial balm, the name meaning a plant with miracle healing powers.
    Next was Uni Oba, a moisturizer that translates into "water face."
    The face balm named "YKUE" is named for nectar of the gods.
    Because there are no preservatives, Amazon drops will not stock more than a three month supply to assure freshness, but Leda assures me that the products will still have a shelf life of a year after leaving the store.
    Aside from helping curb destruction of the Amazon, (which helps fight global warming) why would you want to buy these products?
    Leda answered, "When you buy a regular product with chemicals, you're not going to be doing any good for your skin. Amazon Drops products are made to restore the skin. It's a natural product- no chemicals. It's not going to harm your skin and it will make your skin beautiful. And these are affordable products."
    Indeed they are as one jar of concentrated skin balm, which should last for a year, sells for about $45.
    If that's not enough to get you in, you may want to take advantage of the dads and grads opening month discounts.
    And lastly, because the products are also popular with patients suffering from serious diseases like cancer, 20% of the sales will go toward providing massage oils and balms to cancer patients who cannot afford them.
    If you want to think globally and act locally, save money and keep your skin in tip top shape, Amazon Drops is where you need to be.
    The store is located at 2120 Colorado Blvd., unit three, 1 block east of Swork. (between the 4Cafe and Remax realty) and is open from 9 am to 7 pm seven days a week for the opening month of June. Telephone is 323 551 5861.


Looking Back by Joe Walker

110 years ago this month-Highland Park-1910
    Motorman H. Kuykendahl, a conductor on what we know to be the old Red Cars but which in reality was an intricate set of train and trolley lines that ran all over Los Angeles, was the conductor on the Garvanza line. He was changing ends on his trolley on Jun 27, 1910, when he spotted a large bag next to a seat. He lifted it and found it was rather heavy, and hoping it contained something of value, he looked inside. He was shocked, and so were his fellow train drivers when he ended his route, when he showed them all a cleanly severed human foot in the bag. They brought it to the Central Division of the LAPD, who told them to take it to the Central Receiving Hospital. Doctors in attendance said they believed it was taken by a medical student and either accidentally or deliberately removed from class. They disposed of it and the mystery was never solved.

90 years ago this month-Highland Park-1920
    Driving by 442 N Ave 56, you see today several older houses. The back part of the property is where Abbott Place dead ends, with Franklin High School wrapping itself around various homes and parcels nearby. What a casual observer would never know what that on June 18, 1920, hundreds of local residents presented a petition to City Hall to extend Abbott Place through this property all the way to Ave 56. While the residents claimed it was all in the interest of smooth traffic flow, the truth was they wanted just one lot taken out and one set of homes destroyed, and those homes just happened to belong to the fist Chinese-American family in Highland Park.
    Earlier that year, the former owner of the property, William Waggoner, had sold the home that he lived for 15 years. Neighbors did not see new residents move in, and Waggoner was quiet about who he sold to. When trucks pulled up with Chinese names on the sides, neighbors became curious. Then they met Mr. Thomas Chung, an American born citizen who moved his large family and flock of chickens and other assorted pets. Word was that he was a well off owner of the Seventh-Street Market downtown, and was well educated. Local residents tracked Waggoner down, asking why he sold to Chung, but he said it was handled through a third party and he was not responsible for who bought his former house. Every local property owner signed the petition, and the following month, they presented it to the City Council. (See Augusts' column for more on this story).

60 years ago this month-Highland Park-1950
    The corner of York and Figueroa was cleared for a five day "Highland Days Carnival" starting June 13, 1950 and ending with the crowning of the Miss Highland Park on the last evening. Sponsored by the Highland Park Junior Chamber of Commerce


60 years ago this month-Eagle Rock-1950
    Dr. Roy Laurin preached his first sermon at the Eagle Rock Baptist Church on June 4, 1950. Laurin had just completed 10 years as the pastor of the San Gabriel Union Church, had extensive experience in Christian broadcasting, and had written several books on Christianity.

50 years ago this month-Highland Park-1960
    Donald England, a 16 year old boy living at 6824 N. Figueroa St, Highland Park, was severely injured by bullet fired by a .22 caliber rifle in the city of Redlands. It is believed that he survived.
    Tragedy struck the resident of 6120 Monterey Rd, Hermon, on June 9, 1960, when Mrs Helen Anderson, 65, burned to death in her small home. The 1504 square foot residence, was built in 1927 and still stands.
    Not all news in Hermon was tragic this month. Seven young people from Hermon Free Methodist Church left on June 19, 1960, for a Seattle and then onto a summer missionary trip aboard the boat Willis Shank.
    This former WWII minesweeper was converted into a 135 foot yacht and would take Christian missionaries to minister to isolated Native Alaskan villages.

50 years ago this month-Eagle Rock-1960
    Panic struck the Gassen home at Ellenwood Drive, Eagle Rock, on the night of June 23, 1960, when nine year old Arno Gassen, failed to return home when darkness fell. Police and community members searched for him all night, fearing the worst but also realizing that this boy who was active in the Woodcraft Rangers and loved the outdoors and camping was just exerting a little independence and enjoying the first warm summer nights. Everyone's fears were soothed the next morning when police found him heading home for a plate of his mom's homemade breakfast. She promptly put him in the bathtub and gave him a good scrubbing, while local newspapers happily snapped pictures of the embarrassed and bewildered wanderer. 50 years later, Arno is alive and well and was contacted about this article. If he is willing, we would love to hear "the rest of the story".

45 years ago this month-Highland Park-1965
    Beauty can sometimes make a person crazy, but nothing can be more tragic than when it results in family violence. On June 7, 1965, Maria Elena Kelsey, 24, of 5730 Fayette St, Highland Park, had a confrontation with her father, Geroge Kelsey, 56. She went to sleep but her father's insane jealousy over her plans to get married made her father so violently jealous that he retrieved his .22 caliber rifle and shot her while she slept. He then turned the gun on himself. The deaths were discovered by Franklin High School student William Kelsey, 17, at 8:30 AM when he returned from an early morning job. The wife and mother, Mary Helen Kelsey left for work shortly before the 7:15 a.m. murder.
    The Highland Rivera West and Highland Riviera East apartment complexes, built for a total of $500,000 opened on June 27, 1965. The buildings, located at 412 and 612 San Pascual Avenue, featured 14 two bedroom units and two two bedroom units with a den. The units had built in electrical appliances, and were designed by architect Jack Chernoff, and featured Greek traditional decor at the The Highland Rivera West complex, and a Renaissance design at the Highland Riviera East structure.
    Los Angles Pacific College ended its 62 year old presence in the Hermon district on June 23, 1965, as 40 Bekins moving vans carted away the colleges furniture and papers. According to Wikipedia, "Los Angeles Pacific College was a four-year liberal-arts college founded in 1903 by a group of ministers and laymen of the Free Methodist Church. The college ceased to exist as an independent accredited entity in 1965 and was merged with another college to eventually form Azusa Pacific University." The school later was made into a high school, and named Pacific Christian High School. Pacific Christian closed in 2004.

30 years ago this month-Highland Park-1980
    Larry Hatler, the president of the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce announced an agreement on when a $3 million Northeast LA Medical Clinic would be built at the Corner of North Figueroa Street and Ave 60. Numerous sites were discussed before the final location was agreed upon. Original plans were for the clinic to service over 50,000 local residents per year.
    Carlos and Opal Inzalaco of Terrace 52, Highland Park, were shocked when a City of Los Angeles trash truck caught on fire in front of their home on June 23, 1980. What made it worse was that although the fire was put out, three tons of garbage and trash was dumped in her yard. It took two days and calls to the media and to Mayor Bradley's office before a replacement truck was sent to pick up the refuse.

Questions or comments can be directed to Joe_Walker_2000@yahoo.com

Expansion and Renaming of the Highland Park HPOZ to:

"Highland Park – Garvanza HPOZ"

    The City Planning Department of the City of Los Angeles is holding a Public Workshop and Public Hearing for the proposed expansion and renaming of the Highland Park Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) to "Highland Park – Garvanza HPOZ." You have been mailed this notice because you own property or reside within the proposed HPOZ boundaries or within a 500-foot radius of the proposed boundaries (see map included in this notice), or because you have indicated interest in the proposed expansion

Background

    On October 22, 2007, a City Ordinance became effective that created temporary prohibitions on building permits for the Garvanza neighborhood ("Garvanza") while a Historic Resources Survey ("Survey") was conducted to determine the neighborhood's eligibility for an HPOZ. Garvanza is situated at the edge of lower Arroyo Seco, approximately 6 miles northeast of Downtown Los Angeles, and lies entirely within the Northeast Los Angeles Community Plan Area. A portion of Garvanza lies within the existing Highland Park HPOZ. Based on analysis and results from the Survey, the Department of City Planning is recommending the expansion of the existing Highland Park HPOZ boundaries to include Garvanza properties, as well as the renaming of the HPOZ to "Highland Park – Garvanza HPOZ".

Proposed Project

    The proposed project is the expansion of the existing Highland Park HPOZ and the renaming of the resulting HPOZ to "Highland Park – Garvanza HPOZ" (please refer to the map included in this notice). The proposed Highland Park – Garvanza HPOZ is comprised of two non-contiguous geographic areas. The first area, comprising most of the existing Highland Park HPOZ, is generally bounded by York Boulevard to the north, the Pasadena Freeway and Berenice Avenue to the east, Avenue 35 to the south, and Glenalbyn Drive, Marmion Way and Avenue 56 to the west; the second area, comprising the rest of the existing Highland Park HPOZ and properties in Garvanza, is generally bounded by the City of Pasadena to the north, the eastern side of Avenue 66 to the east, East Ave 64 to the south and Avenue 63 to the west. The boundaries of both non-contiguous areas are irregular at all parameters. HPOZs are intended to preserve and enhance buildings, structures, landscaping, natural features and sites having historic, architectural, cultural, or aesthetic significance. The Highland Park – Garvanza HPOZ, if adopted, will expand the existing Highland Park HPOZ boundaries. A Workshop will take place on Wednesday, June 23 , during which the Planning Department will present draft recommendations along with handouts and maps, and City staff will be available to answer your questions. Members of the public may stop by anytime between 6:00 and 9:00pm. The Workshop is intended to allow the community to (1) provide input on the proposed Highland Park – Garvanza HPOZ boundaries and (2) review the Draft Historic Resources Survey, which has been prepared by Architectural Resources Group, Inc. ("ARG") as a basis for establishing the HPOZ. The Survey includes an update for a portion of the existing Highland Park HPOZ that currently lies within Garvanza. The official Public Hearing will take place on Wednesday, July 7th beginning after 7:00PM. It will be conducted by a Hearing Officer, who will take public testimony and accept written comments regarding the proposed project. Following the Public Workshop and Public Hearing, any necessary revisions/corrections to the Survey will be made. The Survey will then be presented to the Cultural Heritage Commission for certification.
    In order that all viewpoints may be presented at the Public Hearing, speakers may be limited in the length of their comments. Because of time constraints and to minimize repetition, the Department of City Planning encourages testimony by representatives of organized groups in-lieu of many individual speakers. Comments may also be submitted in writing prior to the Public Hearing. Written correspondence may be mailed to: Community Planning Bureau, Attn: Hearing Officer c/o Jason Chan, Los Angeles Department of City Planning, Room 667, 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Please cite the case number stated at the top of this notice on any correspondence. Any written correspondence delivered to the Department before the City Planning Commission's action on the matter will become a part of the administrative record. The complete file will also be available for public review upon request in the Community Planning Bureau Office, City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street, Room 667, Los Angeles, CA 90012. If you challenge this matter in court, you may be limited to those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence on the matter delivered to this agency at, or prior to the public hearing. Note this may not be the last hearing on this matter. Before the proposed HPOZ takes effect, it must be approved by the City Planning Commission and the City Council. For further information, questions, or written comments regarding this project, contact Jason Chan at (213) 978-3307 or email at jason.chan@lacity.org
City Planning Case Nos.: CPC-2010-943-HPOZ, ENV-2010-944-CE
Council Districts: 1 & 14

CALIFORNIA ROUTE 66 STUDY

KICK-OFF

    The California Preservation Foundation (CPF), the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program (NPS), and the consultant Mead & Hunt will be holding informational presentations June 14-17, 2010 along Route 66. This will be the first visit by the Project Team to the Route during a year long process to complete a National Register Multiple Property Documentation Form.
    "We are encouraging all Route 66 enthusiasts, historians and communities leaders along the route to participate in the project" says Jennifer Gates, Field Services Director for CPF. "These presentations are intended to kick-off the project and to inform those interested about the process and how they can participate."
Local community presentation:
Monday June 14, 2010 at 6:00 PM
South Pasadena Public Library
1100 Oxley Street
South Pasadena, CA 91030
    At the end of the process CPF and NPS will submit a Multiple Property Documentation Form to the National Register as part of an ongoing effort to document the history and significance of Route 66 to National Register standards. The Multiple Property Documentation Form provides the historical and architectural context and registration requirements to nominate individual Route 66 properties in California to the National Register, the United State's official list of historic places worthy of preservation. The pilot surveys and a National Register nomination, also completed as part of this study, will be used to test and inform the identification and evaluation methods of the Multiple Property Documentation Form and to establish a methodology for future surveys.
    For more information on this project, please contact Jennifer Gates, Field Services Director for the California Preservation Foundation at 415-495-0349 or by email at jgates@californiapreservation.org, or go to California Preservation Foundation's website at www.californiapreservation.org.

Women's 20th Century Club Installation

    The Women's Twentieth Century Club of Eagle Rock will hold its 56th Installation of Officers and Dinner on June 10th. The evening will begin with a no-host social hour at 6pm with a BBQ dinner catered by Rattlers following at 645pm. Installation will begin at 730pm. Cost for the dinner is $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. RSVP by June 7 to Holly Nieto by email hnieto@oxy.edu, or phone (323) 259-2598.
The WTTC is proud to honor the women elected to office:
Anne Wolf - President
Linda Allen - 1st VP
Tina Cruz - 2nd VP
Roe Muzingo - 3rd VP
Holly Nieto - 4th VP
Sharon Gould - Recording Secretary
Virginia Paulson - Corresponding Secretary
Shirley Pascal - Treasurer

Directors Appointed by incoming President Anne include:
Karen Warren - Historian
Martha Hidlado and Lois Lowrey - Hospitality
Jocelyn Simpson and Kimberly Uribe - Membership
Lani Stapp and Dottie Boyd - Philanthropy
Christine Richards - Publicity

Advisors to the Officers and Directors are:
Eugenie Nogueira - Immediate Past President
Billie Spinat - Parliamentarian

    In February 1903, a small group of women in the Eagle Rock Valley met at the home of Mrs. Phillip W. Parker. These women, like their contemporaries in cities and towns across America, were inspired to create a club for self-improvement, public service and mutual support of ambitions that reached far beyond their immediate households. Since that time 47 different women have been honored by the membership and elected to serve as President.

Guillermina Romero Student Teacher Award

    Guillermina Romero of Highland Park was honored with a $100 Student Teacher Award by the Gamma Lambda chapter of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International on May 19, 2010.
    Romero is currently a senior at California State University at Northridge with a major in education. She plans to pursue her teaching credential next year. Romero is an alumna of San Pascual Elementary School where she is currently employed as a teaching assistant and afterschool playground supervisor. Romero was nominated by this award by San Pascual teachers Josephine Yadegar and Sharon Nakata for her outstanding performance both in the classroom and for her award-winning afterschool sports programs.
    Congratulating Romero (middle) are Gamma Lambda co-presidents Fran Benedict (left) and Josephine Yadegar (right).
    The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.


CRUISIN’ WITH MARY

    Warm greetings, Eagle Rock. Our May cruise-in typically has a low turn-out due to the Memorial Day Holiday, and this past month was no exception. Attendance was low, but a good time was had by all (except the swap meeters who had to be told to leave). Many thanks to Corner Pizzeria for the lovely large pizza they sent us, compliments of the owner! The spirit of Eagle Rock lives on!
    Last month I promised I would keep you posted on Concerts in the Park for this coming summer, especially the one with the Eagle Rockin' Rodders car show. I have good news for everyone! It looks like the concert series at Eagle Vista Park is on! You may remember that a couple months ago the car show and whole series was in jeopardy due to the city's budget problems. Apparently they have the money to lay down a new basketball floor at the gym at the park (for the few people who use the court), but there was no money to be had for Eagle Rock at-large for our annual free concert series. The concert series will proceed after all the budget rhetoric...
    The Eagle Rockin' Rodders have proudly donated $500 towards the car show/concert on July 4. The big attraction this year besides our car show, will be the addition of fireworks. This is very exciting to those of us who grew up here in Eagle Rock, and remember the good old days when we would go to Yosemite Park, sit on the field and the fireworks were shot up over the pool. Many of us have great memories of 4th of July as kids in Eagle Rock. I'm no historian (Charlie? Eric?), so I don't really remember "why" those fire works were stopped, but by my count, its close to 40 years since we had fireworks here. A great new chance for new family memories, with a custom car show to top it off! If I sound excited, I am!
    I need to tell you of a few changes for the car show, however, so there are no surprises. This year the car show and concert will be down on the big field (the one with the three baseball diamonds). The Fire Dept. and the City need it to be there this year for various "reasons" I don't really understand. Please Note: show cars must enter from Figueroa St., not Eagle Vista as in past years. We can get in as early as 2:30 but the gate will be locked at 4:30. There will be NO ins and outs at the car show as this is a safety issue. If you plan to bring a car and picnic and party with us, you cannot leave until the fireworks are over at around 9 p.m. Don't forget your chairs, food and sunblock! Please, no alcohol (yeah I know, but I have to say it, ok?) As in the past, vendors with food, drink, and other treats will be on hand. The band this year is a surf-tribute band called Surfin' Safari. We are very excited and honored to be involved in the concert series and car show for the 13th year as the Car Club That Gives Back to the Community.
    In closing, don't forget the Trompers cruise-in at Carrows on June 4, the Road Kings picnic and show at Johnny Carson Park on June 13, and the wonderful Brand Blvd. Cruise in show on July 17. 4th of July is very hard on pets- please remember to keep them inside with plenty of water on the holiday as statistics show more dogs get "lost" on this holiday weekend than any other time of the year. Dogs should have a collar and ID tag. My closing question- does anyone know why the City would pave over a perfectly good sewer manhole cover after doing street repaving? Keep on cruising and see you at our next cruise-in at American Tires on June 26.


Voice in the Wilderness

Hiking Trails in the Arroyo Seco

by Christopher Nyerges

[Nyerges is the author of "Self-Sufficient Home," a member of the local environmentally-focused non-profit WTI, and an occasional blogger of current events. He can be reached at Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041, or www.ChristopherNyerges.com].
    The Arroyo Seco trail is one section of what is called the Gabrielino National Recreation Trail, a 28-mile route from Altadena, through Red Box, and eventually down to Chantry Flats in Sierra Madre. Gabrielino Indians once lived in this canyon, collecting acorns, black walnuts, and other seeds, and hunting the abundant deer. At one time, there were seven village sites in the Arroyo Seco where they worked with stone, produced food, made clothing, and produced woven goods. Their annual migratory route involved collecting acorns in the mountains during the fall, and then hiking down the  Arroyo to where it met the Los Angeles River, and then to the beaches of Long Beach. If you know the foods and plants that the early Gabrielinos used, it will make your journeys all the more interesting as you spot those same plants today.
    There are at least three ways to begin our trek into the Arroyo:
    The easiest is to begin at the west end of Altadena Drive in Altadena where the street deadends and a horse path begins. Hike down the dirt horse path to the asphalt road and head up the canyon.
    A second way is to begin at the west end of Ventura Avenue in Altadena. This is about a half-mile below Altadena Drive, so you just have to hike up a little further on a paved forest access road. There is a large parking area on the west end of Ventura Ave. where it meets Windsor.
    A third way is to drive to Hahamongna Watershed Park (formerly Oak Grove Park) and park near the ranger station. Follow the hiking path up the canyon, along the east side of JPL until you get behind JPL.
    As you'll hike north of JPL, you'll soon encounter a smaller side canyon off to your right. You can hike up this stream, eventually reaching Millard Canyon picnic site and the waterfall after several miles of hiking.
    As you continue northward up the Arroyo Seco, you'll eventually pass the green houses where the U.S. Forest Service employees live. You'll hike by numerous ruins consisting of stone stairways, foundations, and occasional fireplaces -- the last remnants of the cabins that lined this canyon a century ago. Generally, you can spot the old homestead sites because they are overgrown with the ivy and periwinkle vines that were planted about a century ago.
    The hiking is easy and flat, and always interesting as you hike through the tall trees, along the swimming holes, and passing various patches of blackberries or wild grapes. Large oaks cover the hillsides which are otherwise covered with chaparral, grasses, and the ubiquitous poison oak.
    The first marked picnic site you'll encounter in the Arroyo Seco is Gould Mesa, approximately two miles from the beginning of the trail. At Gould Mesa, there is an outhouse and a large picnic area which truly feels like you're in a forest. This picnic area was planted with fast-growing trees about 15 years ago and is now quite    pleasant, visited by hawks, owls, woodpeckers, and other wildlife.
    At the river at Gould Mesa, you'll see a large swimming hole where children often frolic. From Gould Mesa, you can also hike up to the Angeles Crest Highway if you wish. If you hike out of the canyon at this point, you'll be at the Angeles Crest Highway two miles north of La Canada.
    Onward in the Arroyo, you continue on the dirt road, always following the stream as you pass by old cabin ruins and beautiful scenery. Just beyond Gould Mesa is a row of towering eucalyptus trees, probably over a century old. You'll encounter Nino in approximately 3/4 of a mile, a small picnic site with benches at the river's edge. Further along, the trail narrows and gets rockier and the canyon seems even narrower and steeper. In another mile or so, you'll come to Paul Little picnic area, a great place to stop for lunch, though no fires are permitted here. Paul Little is the site of the so-called "waterfall," actually an old flood control dam. At the right spots, you can look up and see the Angeles Crest Highway.
    Continuing, you cross over the dam and then the canyon widens considerably. The trail follows typical river vegetation for another mile to Oakwilde camp. Oakwilde is the site of an old resort which remained until the 1930s. You'll see numerous cement foundations and steps and benches from this once-popular resort. Oakwilde is as far as you can go without having to climb, and it's a great place to spend the night. Oakwilde is perhaps the only place where I have consistently seen deer every time I have camped there. It's a wonderful, and generally very quiet spot.
    The next stop beyond Oakwilde is Commodore Switzer's Camp, a dusty 4-mile climb out of the canyon.
    Total distance to Oakwilde from the west end of Altadena Drive is approximately five or six miles depending on whose figures you believe. A hike all the way to Switzer's Camp can be a vigorous day hike if you leave early -- it all depends on your own ability, how fast you walk, and how many stops you make.
    Incidentally, you can hike up to the Angeles Crest Highway from Oakwilde Camp. There are two ways to do this. One is a rather steep trail on the west wall of the canyon directly west of Oakwilde which goes straight up the hill. Suggestion: Make sure your canteen is full before attempting this one. Novice hikers will cry! The other way -- well, there used to be a road called the CCC Road which came right into Oakwilde from the Angeles Crest Highway. The lower half washed out many years ago, and it was never repaired. So the easiest way out is to hike right up the massive ridge that empties into Oakwilde. Eventually, you'll come to the top portion of the CCC Road and you can hike out to the Crest Highway.
    Should you choose to do a one-way hike, you can have someone either drop you off, or pick you up, at the Angeles Crest Highway.

Hathaway-Sycamores Community Garden

Garden at Hathaway-Sycamores' Highland Park Family Resource Center
Will Reap Edible Rewards and Grow Life-Shaping Benefits
Collaborative green-thumb project brings together at-risk youth and caring community organizations.
    On two recent, consecutive Saturdays in May, an overgrown slice of seemingly useless earth was transformed into what will become an extremely useful, edible garden. Located on the perimeter of Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services' Highland Park Family Resource Center (840 N. Avenue 66), the soon-to-be-bountiful garden is a joint effort of students serving on Hathaway-Sycamores' Youth Leadership Council along with adolescents participating in Hathaway-Sycamores' Gang Reduction and Youth Development Program. Working alongside the youngsters were health and nutrition educators from Hathaway-Sycamores' Promotoras Comunitarias Program, as well as more than two dozen employees of Pasadena investment-services firm Western Asset Management. Western Asset installed the watering system and provided supplies for this endeavor.
    The goals of this collaborative, green-thumb project—which involved weeding the overgrown plot, preparing the soil, installing a timed irrigation system, and planting a plethora of fruits and vegetables—are several-fold. First, the project presented members of the Hathaway-Sycamores' Youth Leadership Council—who are bilingual students from Eagle Rock and Franklin High School—and participants from Hathaway-Sycamores' Gang Reduction and Youth Development Program who attend Burbank Middle School, with a hands-on opportunity to experience the rewards of volunteerism and making a positive, local difference.
    For 17-year-old Andrew Coronel, who attends Franklin High School and serves as treasurer for Hathaway-Sycamores' Youth Leadership Council, the project was unquestionably meaningful. "I'm really proud of this project," he said. "It builds courage and integrity when you volunteer for the community." And that spirit of volunteerism will continue, as members of Hathaway-Sycamores' Youth Leadership Council have committed to ongoing maintenance of the garden.
    Once the fruits and vegetables are ready to harvest, another benefit of the bounty will be realized. Specifically, educators with Hathaway-Sycamores' Promotoras Comunitarias Program will use the garden produce in nutritional cooking classes that are offered for youngsters and adults through Hathaway-Sycamores' Family Resource Center. Currently, some 180 such cooking classes are provided at the Family Resource Center and in 35 schools throughout northeast Los Angeles. For information about the cooking classes, please call: 323-257-9000 ext. 7151.
    As for Western Asset's involvement in the garden-creation project, Terri Hendler, Manager of Office Services, said, "We want to give back to organizations in the community. One of the parameters of our philanthropic outreach is working with organizations that help children. Hathaway-Sycamores," she added, "is an agency that we have identified to support. This garden project is a way for our staff to get more involved with hands-on volunteering."
    About the Highland Park Family Resource Center:
The Hathaway-Sycamores' Highland Park Family Resource Center provides: after-school enrichment programs for children; individual and family counseling; adult education classes; access to community technology centers; and other prevention programs that are designed to enrich and empower families and their communities.
About Hathaway-Sycamores:
    Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services, the largest provider of children's mental health services in Los Angeles County, provides a comprehensive continuum of services to more than 11,500 children and families annually through a network of facilities stretching across the greater Los Angeles area including the San
Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, and the Antelope Valley. Services include: a residential treatment center for youth ages 6 through 18; foster care and adoption services; a nonpublic school; school-based and outpatient mental health services; wraparound and in-home counseling services; a transitional living program for teens; a family resource center; and a grief and loss center for children. The agency is licensed by the California Department of Social Services, certified by the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health, and accredited through The Joint Commission. To learn more about the organization go to www.hathaway-sycamores.org.

Guillermina Romero Student Teacher Award

    Guillermina Romero of Highland Park was honored with a $100 Student Teacher Award by the Gamma Lambda chapter of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International on May 19, 2010.
    Romero is currently a senior at California State University at Northridge with a major in education. She plans to pursue her teaching credential next year. Romero is an alumna of San Pascual Elementary School where she is currently employed as a teaching assistant and afterschool playground supervisor. Romero was nominated by this award by San Pascual teachers Josephine Yadegar and Sharon Nakata for her outstanding performance both in the classroom and for her award-winning afterschool sports programs.
    Congratulating Romero (middle) are Gamma Lambda co-presidents Fran Benedict (left) and Josephine Yadegar (right).
    The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.

News from 1911- The City of Eagle Rock is Incorporated!


                                                )
IN RE INCORPORATION    )
OF THE CITY OF                  )
EAGLE ROCK                       )
AND ELECTION OF             )
OFFICERS                             )
                                               )

OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1911
The Board met in regular session. Present, Supervisors R.W.Pridham, Chairman presiding, C.D.Manning, S.A.Butler and C.J.Nellis; and H.J.Lelande, Clerk, by A.M.McPherron, Deputy Clerk, Absent, Supervisor H.D. McCabe.
Upon motion of Supervisor Manning, duly seconded, and carried by the following vote, to-wit: Ayes, Supervisors Manning, Butler, Nellis and Pridham; Noes, none, it is ordered that the following be and the same is hereby adopted:
WHEREAS, at a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles, County, California, held on this 7th day of February 1911, a good and sufficient petition, in due form, signed by H.C.Galloupe and 68 others, qualified electors of the county of Los Angeles and residing within the limits of the proposed corporation, praying for the incorporation of the town of Eagle Rock, in said county as a city of the Sixth Class-- said petition having attached thereto the affidavit of three qualified electors residing within the limits of the proposed corporation-- was presented and read; and an affidavit having been filed herein, showing that said petition and notice stating the time when said petition would be presented to this board had been duly published as required by law; and
WHEREAS, Upon said hearing, on the 7th day of February, 1911, said Board did duly establish and define the boundaries of said proposed corporation, as follows: (legal description of the boundaries not included)
And did ascertain and determine that the number of inhabitants residing within said boundaries as established and defined was eight hundred. And,
Whereas, Said Board of Supervisors did, on said 7th day of February, 1911, order an election to be held within said proposed corporation on the 25th day of February, 1911, for the purpose of determining whether the same shall become incorporated, and did give due and legal notice in the manner and for the length of time required by law; and
WHEREAS, In pursuance of said notice and said order and said proceedings, an election was duly held within said boundaries on the 25th day of February, 1911, and the returns thereof duly made and forwarded to said Board of Supervisors, which said returns and votes cast at said election were, by said Board of Supervisors, on the Monday succeeding said election, ti wit: the 27th day of February, 1911, duly canvassed: and
WHEREAS, Upon said canvass it appears that a majority of the votes cast at said election are for the incorporation of the City of Eagle Rock.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, and this Board by its said order does declare, that all the territory situated in the County of Los Angeles, State of California, and embraced within the boundaries hereinbefore described in this order, is a is a duly incorporated municipal corporation of the Sixth Class, under the name and style of the "CITY OF EAGLE ROCK."
It also appearing, upon the canvass of said votes, that John T.Bailey, C.W.Young, W.K.Cowan and J.E.Kincheloe received, severally, the highest number of votes cast for the board of Trustees; That J.S.Pitman received the highest number of votes cast for Clerk; that Fred E.Biles received the highest number of votes cast for Treasurer, and that George Hare received the highest number of votes cast for Marshal, of said City of Eagle Rock: Now this board, by its order, does declare the aforesaid John T.Bailey, C.W.Young, W.K.Cowan and J.E.Kincheloe duly elected to the office of Members of the Board of Trustees, J.S.Pitman duly elected to the office of Clerk, Fred E.Biles duly elected to the office of Treasurer, and George Hare duly elected to the office of Marshal, of said incorporated City of Eagle Rock."







 

 

 



 

EAGLE ROCK NEWS

 

 


 



An accident on Colorado Blvd. at the corner of Genevive street totaled at least one car and left three others badly damaged. Here, the water gushes from the fire hydrant hit.

Case of TB at ERHS?LAUSD tries to keep secret

by Tom Topping

    Parents of Eagle Rock High School students were concerned last month after rumors of a cheerleader with tuberculosis (TB) spread throughout the school. Those rumors, it turned out, were more difficult to confirm or bust than one might imagine as school officials drew a curtain of silence around the issue.
    Tuberculosis is an infection that is spread through the sputum (coughs, sneezes). It often affects the lungs and can be fatal if left untreated.
    Apparently fearing a panic, Eagle Rock school officials hastily deferred all media inquiries to the LAUSD press office. Press deputies would not give any information citing the confidentiality if the HIPA laws (relating to patient privacy). They said they could not even confirm if there was a case at the school, or even in all of LAUSD.
    Some parents had been called to alert them that their child had been in close contact with the suspected TB patient, and to arrange for the free testing of their child. Others who had heard about the sick child had called and were told that free testing was only available to those children who were on the list of those known to have close contact with the suspected TB student, but they were welcome to arrange for their own outside tests.
    After being stonewalled by the HIPAA claim of confidentiality, I made a thorough review of the HIPAA law quoted, and found that it only prevents disclosure of "individually identifiable" health information from people or entities entrusted with holding health information. I was not asking for individually identifiable information.
    After the press department was contacted again and allegations of a cover-up were made, the top person of the press department said that indeed, the press deputy was incorrect, (or did she lie?) but that the LAUSD could not say whether or not the person had TB because LAUSD did not possess any testing equipment to confirm or deny it. (I later discovered I should have asked if there had been a "suspected" case- they could have answered that.)
    In the meantime, I had been on a string of phone calls from the Federal, State and finally the County Health department, telling them I was a parent who had a right to know if TB was in my child's school, and that the LAUSD would not answer my questions.
    The county health department called and had the LAUSD head nurse call me to confirm that a "suspected" case of TB had in fact been found at the school.
    She explained that the county had a process of what to do in case a communicable disease is found at a school in the county, and that indeed, the policy is to only contact and test those known to be in "close" contact. I asked what if my child was in front of the sick child in the close, yet anonymous, contact of the snack line or restroom, or the elevator or enclosed stairways at Eagle Rock High, and was told if I was worried, to get outside testing of my child.
    To assuage my worries I was told that if I was on a flight to Las Vegas (about 30 minutes) with someone with TB, it was unlikely that it would be transferred to me, but that if I was on a flight from Hong Kong, (about 12 hours) I should be concerned.
    In New York City, for many years, and possibly some still existing concrete sidewalks had the warning cast into them warning against spitting to prevent the spread of TB, which was a great cause of death many years ago.
    The HIPA laws only prevent the dissemination of individually identifiable health information by those who collect and store health information or treat illness. The main point of the law was to help you keep your health insurance.



The Eagle Rock Association is on the warpath again, this time going after the Eagle Rock Plaza management over their ugly and ill-maintained perimeter fence.

Dear Tom:

I want to thank you for your article on the burgeoning number of cellular antennas in our community. With all due respect to you and councilman Huizar, however, I believe you both missed the crux of the problem. The problem is not that these antennas are an ugly nuisance. The point is that there is some proof that living close to these antennas may increase a person's chance of getting cancer. I thought it was interesting that our lawyer/councilman would not directly speak "on the record" regarding these dangerous antennas. Studies funded by the industry have shown no danger, but several independent studies have shown increased levels of cancer around antennas as well as high power electrical lines.
David Drum, taxpayer, Eagle Rock
PS. For your information, I am enclosing a newsletter from the American Institute of Stress on this topic.

Dear Sir,

My wife went to a convalescent hospital and never returned home. She was exposed to the MRSA bacteria and died. I miss her very much.
George Ogg, Eagle Rock

 

Concerts in the Park 2010

July 4th - Fireworks Spectacular with a Tribute to the Beach Boys, by Surfin' Safari - 4:00  to 9:p.m.
July 18th - Ronny and the Classics- 50's and 60's Rock and Roll  6 to 8:30 p.m.
August 1st - Tribute to Santana  6 to 8:30 p.m.
August 15th - Tribute to Neil Diamond  6 to 8:30 p.m.
August 29th - Jack Lantz Band
at Eagle Rock Recreation Eagle Vista and Figueroa


 


Their Rights & Nothing Less:

A Celebration of Women's Suffrage - June 19

Exhibit to Celebrate the 90th Anniversary of Woman's Suffrage

    Due to the incredible volume of artifacts being displayed, Heritage Square Museum's latest exhibit, Their Rights and Nothing Less: A Celebration of Women's Suffrage will now open on June 19th. Complete with original, rarely-seen ephemera from the early years of the suffrage movement, a special section of the exhibit will be dedicated entirely to the efforts women in Los Angeles who led the fight for equality 9 years before its ratification at the National level. The exhibit runs through September 26th.
    The year 2010 marks the 90th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution giving women the right for women to vote. More accurately, the language does not reference women in the affirmative; what it does is not deny the right to vote based upon gender.
    "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."
    The 19th Amendment was proposed on June 4. 1919. Ratification was completed on August 18, 1920 by Tennessee, by a one-vote margin. It was certified on August 26, 1920.
    Of course, the fight for women's rights began much, much earlier. In 1792, AVindication of the Rights of Woman: With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects was published by Mary Wollstonecraft, which responded to an issue even more basic and immediate than voting rights—the right—indeed the necessity for women to receive an education. Although almost inconceivable to think of now, this was considered a radical position which provoked a dramatic, although not necessarily negative, response. Starting with this simple idea, women have been fighting for equal rights ever since.
    Curated by Mitzi March Mogul, Their Rights and Nothing Less will take a critical look at the incredible effort it took to gain that right and will include original artifacts from the early years of the struggle. Including ephemera and artifacts from a never-before-seen private collection, the exhibit is a must for every woman...and man.
    Celebrating 41 years preserving and interpreting the history of Southern California, Heritage Square is a living history museum whose eight historic structures to tell the story of the development of Los Angeles like no place else. Heritage Square Museum is open for regular tours Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 12:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The exhibit is included in the museum's admission fee: $10/adults, $8/seniors, $5/children ages 6-12.
    The Museum is located at 3800 Homer Street, off the 110 Pasadena Freeway at Avenue 43, just north of downtown Los Angeles. For further information, visit our website at www.heritagesquare.org or the museum blog at http://heritagesquare. blogspot.com.  

THE KNIGHTSBRIDGE THEATRE and THE NATIONAL AMERICAN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY present

"SODA POP"

    Happy Days are yours and mine at Pop's Soda & Candy Shop! Join the gang from The Knightsbridge Theatre's Youth Company as they scramble to get a date for the senior prom in this hilarious 1950's musical comedy spoof. Prepare to Rock 'n Roll and have a blast with "Soda Pop," Opening Friday May 28 2010.
    Being a perfect 1950's teenager is hard work. "Soda Pop" is the preposterous tale of the eight perfect teenagers from Thomas Jefferson High School who frequent Pop's Soda and Candy shop. Audiences will tap toes, roar with laughter and question their very sanity as their memories of High School are mercilessly skewered. "Soda Pop" will charm with its sweetness as Pop's wholesome teens dance, sob and even lip-sync their way through the horrors and thrills of being a perfect teen in 1959. Take a trip back in time, and sing-a-long to some of your favorites tunes from the 50's, featuring such songs as; Lesley Gore's "It's My Party," Del Shannon's "Runaway," Patsy Cline's "Crazy" and The Big Bopper's "Chantilly Lace."
    "Soda Pop" is the Knightsbridge Theatre's Youth Company's first endeavor as a production run entirely by Los Angeles' youth. Director, Vicki Conrad, is excited to assemble and oversee this talented teen production. With the help of a teen stage manager, teen makeup designer, teen costume designer, teen lighting designer, teen choreographers and a teen co-director Conrad's goal is to bring these focused, talented and committed youth to the Los Angeles community. "Soda Pop" has allowed this new generation to take a blast to the past and see how fun life was in the 50's, but also see this story still is relevant in today's times.With the help of just a handful of adults the Knightsbridge Theatre is excited to present and support its youth company's creativity and to see just where it takes them.
    The Knightsbridge Theatre and N.A.S.C. are comprised of dedicated, talented individuals sharing a deep, undying respect for the performing arts. We explore classical and contemporary plays, musicals, and experimental pieces, encouraging an environment of growth and exploration. By embracing the complexity and beauty of the human condition, we hope to entertain our audiences and inspire change in ourselves, and the world around us. Los Angeles's Knightsbridge Theatre Company has been producing the most exceptional theatre that literature has to offer since 1991.
    The Knightsbridge Company includes over 80 talented and passionate actors, directors and writers. To date, the Knightsbridge Theatre has produced over 300 plays and has been the seed for many other theatre companies in the United States and abroad. Our continued goal is to support and encourage the growth and production of live theatre.
    "Soda Pop" runs Friday, May 28 through Sunday, June 27. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Family Friendly. Appropriate for all ages. Tickets: $20 for adults; $18 for students/seniors over 65 (I.D. required). Members of the press will be admitted for free, with one guest. Knightsbridge Theatre is located at 1944 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90039, near the 2 and 5 freeways. For information and reservations, call 323.667.0955 or visit www.knightsbridgetheatre.com.
   

Voice of Van deKamps Coalition

Mayor and LACCD's Improper Placement Of Gang/Union/Workforce Programs At Van de Kamps Site Endangers High School Students Attending The Same Site
Editorial by Miki Jackson and Laura Gutierrez of the Van de Kamps Coalition
    More than a decade of work with Northeast Los Angeles communities to plan, fund, design, build, and open a Satellite Community College Campus of Los Angeles City College at the historic Van de Kamps Bakery has been trashed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Board of Trustees of the Los Angeles Community College District. A year ago, Trustee Sylvia Scott-Hayes privately rejoiced to LACCD staff that the Van de Kamps Community Steering Committee was shut down and she did NOT want any further engagement of the community – people from her own neighborhood. She and others at LACCD had another vision and it did not include the community Van de Kamps was intended to serve.
    The Mayor and LACCD Board members like Sylvia Scott-Hayes say they know "better" than the community what we need. And what we apparently need is to take the brand new $72 million community college campus away from Northeast Los Angeles minority communities and instead offer short-term certificate training programs to ex-gang members, recently released criminal offenders, criminal record expungement classes, and similar unemployment office-type services to thousands of people from all over the City. The Van de Kamps campus is about to become a perverse type of "magnet school" for the most desperate of job seekers in Los Angeles – many with a criminal record.
    At the May 26, 2010 Board meeting, just prior to approving this plan, Scott-Hayes gave the virtual "finger" to her own community by falsely claiming that the state budget crisis justifies LACCD grabbing the campus away from the competent LA City College faculty and handing the buildings to these very narrowly-focused workforce programs pushed by the Mayor. Scott-Hayes knows she is tossing in the trash can multiple economic feasibility plans for Van de Kamps that are not dependent upon state funding during the current crisis. There is a way to operate it without dependency on the state's budget, but Scott-Hayes stubbornly refuses to acknowledge its existence. So instead false claims about the impact of the budget crisis flow from her lips.
    The loss of the Northeast Satellite Community College Campus began on July 15, 2009, over strenuous objections from the representatives of Northeast Los Angeles organizations in the Van de Kamps Coalition. On that day, openly endorsed by Deputy Mayor Larry Frank, Scott-Hayes and fellow board members Mona Field and Georgia Mercer led the effort to hand off a brand new community college classroom building to the Alliance for College-Ready Public Schools – a private non-profit entity on whose advisory board Richard Riordan sits.
    The Alliance Charter School lease will pour cash into LACCD's coffers to allow the District to offer community college classes at other locations across the county but not at Northeast Los Angeles. Although LACCD promised the voters, in return for approval of bond measures, it would open a community college campus in Northeast, it is to be snatched away by the Mayor in another appalling and crooked deal. Apparently, Northeast LA, which has a history of incompetent and shameful neglect by these same Board members, shall continue to be discriminated against in the use of our own bond funds. Our young adults are not worthy of a full program of credit and non-credit community college classes taught elsewhere (including some Workforce activities). We will be expected to continue to pay the taxes on our property but that money will be used to open community college facilities in other parts of town. This disparate impact of services offered by LACCD is discriminatory.
    So there will be for at least five years, and probably much longer, a charter high school that has no business whatsoever being located at this taxpayer-funded community college site. Could the Alliance High School go somewhere else to clear the way for community college courses for the intended beneficiaries of the campus? You bet. Will Alliance leave? If you just stepped into a $24 million new classroom building built by the taxpayers for someone else who had been pushed out for you, would you want to move? Hell no. Life is so sweet at the VDK!
    But as the sad sack history of LACCD political intrigue will soon demonstrate, the Alliance Charter High School and the parents of the children there are about to get a rude awakening. The adaptive re-use of the second building, the historic Van de Kamps Bakery building, is almost complete. And Trustees Sylvia Scott-Hayes and Mona Field have a surprise for the parents.
    They are pushing a City of Los Angeles lease of this building, located a few feet from the charter high school, to improperly install more non-community college activities. And they are trying to hide from the public the target beneficiaries of these programs: expungement classes for former criminal offenders, including sexual offenders; job search computer terminals for the most desperate low-skilled workers of the City; the training of solar panel installers to be shuttled into the ever-growing Department of Water and Power union control of IBEW 18 and "boss" Brian D'Arcy; and similar health care programs in the County Health Department under the union control of SEIU.
    We and the communities of Northeast LA support and value the workforce and second opportunity programs being funded by a massive infusion of funds from the Federal government. These programs are properly placed at more than 18 Worksource locations throughout the county including some a mile down San Fernando Road from Van de Kamps. None of those Worksource centers are immediately adjacent to or in the same buildings where young ninth grade high school students are present. They will be at Van de Kamps.
    We wonder if the parents of the students of Alliance High School have been told who are the target users of the historic Van de Kamps building. Are they comfortable with such a configuration? Are they demanding answers about who thought up such a plan? Do they know it was the Mayor and LACCD officials? Will they cheer when Villaraigosa shows up for the inevitable photo op or will he be booed as happens so often these days?
    And what are the taxpayer/voters of Northeast Los Angeles thinking as they write their check to the County Tax Collector? They already know that LACCD staff illegally used $7.1 million of community college bond funds to DESTROY CLASSROOMS at this site so that the Mayor's program administrators could have their own private executive administrative office space in the bakery building. Are they wondering if more competent candidates to replace Sylvia Scott-Hayes and Mona Field will throw their hats in the ring?
    The Van de Kamps Coalition is not going to rest until this campus is properly used by the LACCD for those it is intended to benefit. Learn more at www.VanDeKamps.org

Scammers Targeting the Spanish-Speaking Community Including Lotto Scam

    Los Angeles Police Department Northeast Area detectives are asking for the public's help in identifying and locating a group of suspects who are working in pairs to target Spanish-speaking individuals, walking alone or at bus stops in the Highland Park area.
    During the last few months in 2010, Spanish-speaking con artists were duping unsuspecting victims into giving up large sums of money with the promise of earning a large return for their involvement. Once the suspects engaged the victim in a conversation, they were using various scams to enlist the victim's financial help in return for a substantial profit.
    One scam includes the claim that the suspects are in possession of a winning lottery ticket but need the victim's help to cash it. Other ruses include: convincing victim that they have a sick relative and need money for their care; that they need help in cashing a check they are carrying; or telling the victim they have gold bars worth thousands of dollars and will provide them to the victim in exchange for cash. Ultimately, in some cases, victims are scammed out of their entire life savings.
    Detectives are warning the public to beware of strangers approaching them and claiming they are in need of large amounts of cash or claiming to have a winning lottery ticket.
    The suspects are identified only as male Hispanics and one female Hispanic, age range from mid-twenties to mid-fifties.
    Anyone with information on these suspects or who believes he or she may have been a victim of these scammers is asked to contact LAPD Northeast Area Detective S. Carrasco or Officer G. Juarez at 213-485-2566. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters "LAPD." Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

REP. BECERRA VOTES TO CLOSE WALL STREET TAX LOOPHOLES

    Today the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4213, the American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act to promote job creation and restore fairness and accountability to the tax code. Representative Xavier Becerra (CA-31), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, voted for the bill.
     "America's families work hard and deserve a government that works hard for them. The American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 ensures that those knocked down by this recession receive their unemployment benefits in their time of need. And with this bill we get tough on corporations and close the tax loopholes they use to ship American jobs overseas," Rep. Becerra said.
    The bill ensures that Wall Street pays its fair share, while helping growing small businesses gain access to much needed credit. This bill will extend health and unemployment benefits to those who have been hardest hit by this recession, and build on the job-creating legislation enacted by this Congress that is turning the economy around.
    Among its provisions, H.R. 4213 extends the Recovery Act Small Business Administration lending program that has made small business loans more affordable and accessible. This program has already helped small businesses create or retain over 650,000 jobs. The bill also includes provisions that will help boost investment in infrastructure and help create jobs for individuals with the greatest need.
    H.R. 4213 is paid for by closing loopholes that allow wealthy fund managers to pay a lower tax rate on some of their income than working families do on their salaries. Specifically, the bill closes the carried interest tax loophole, which allows investment fund managers to pay capital gains tax rates on their income instead of the ordinary income tax rate that middle class Americans pay. The bill also prevents corporations from using foreign tax credit rules to subsidize shipping jobs overseas.


Mt. Washington native, Sarah Kholos, two-time California State Champion, goes on to the University of Wisconsin to join the Blue Devils this fall. "I'm happy and look forward to the coming challenge of collegiate competition," said Kholos. Sarah is a senior at Renaissance Arts Academy in Eagle Rock.

Rare and Vintage Automobiles at Heritage Square Museum

    Bring your favorite car enthusiast and view the evolution of the automobile as Heritage Square Museum presents its annual Vintage Automobile and Classic Car Show.
    On Saturday, June 12, from 11 to 4 p.m., visitors of all ages may marvel over the engineering and quality of various car styles from the Model T to the early hot rods of the 1950s and beyond.  Juxtaposed against the beauty of the historic structures at the museum, the event is an opportunity for lovers of great architecture and historic automobiles to come together. Scheduled to appear are car clubs such as the Screenland Model A's, the Harbor Marc Club, the Eagle Rock Trompers, and the San Fernando Model A's, plus appearances of a 1956 Packard 400 from the Packard's International Club, a convertible 1929 Ford Model A Phaeton, a 1935 Peugeot 302, a and the rare 1941 Tatra T87.
    Celebrating 41 Years of Preservation and Interpretation of the History of Southern California, Heritage Square Museum is an open-air, living history museum dedicated to telling the story of the development of Los Angeles. The auto show is included in the museum's admission fee: $10/Adults, $8/Seniors, $5/Children ages 6-12. The museum is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 12 to 5 PM. Admission is free for museum members.
    Heritage Square is located at 3800 Homer Street, off the 110 Arroyo Seco Parkway (110/Pasadena Freeway) at Avenue 43, just north of downtown Los Angeles. For further information, the public may call 323/225-2700 or visit our website at www.heritagesquare.org or the museum blog at heritagesquare.blogspot.com.