Regime Change in the 14th

June 28, 2003 - Los Angeles, CA - Incoming Council Member Antonio Villaraigosa is sworn in by California Supreme Court Justice (and Eagle Rock Resident) Carlos Moreno, as family members watch. "I do solemnly swear, that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of California, and the Charter of the City of Los Angeles, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of the members of the City Council, according to the best of my ability."

The Ground is No Place for a Champion
A prayer by Rabbi Steven Jacobs for incoming Councilmember Villaraigosa
To the leaders of this great city and fellow citizens. The tapestry of the twenty first century has been stained by violence hatred and suspicion of one another. We have not fulfilled the biblical commandment; thou shalt not hate thy brother or sister in thine heart. The world looks different for us, the world feels different, we are forced to examine the meaning of our lives in this often times cruel world. Our values, our priorities, our belief systems in what we want from our leaders. This is a season of transition, and we thank God for the experience of a group of people this great day.
In the midst of transition, putting our faith in Antonio; to raise up the vision and hope for the poor, the marginalized, the desperate, as well as those who are comfortable, to attain a more just city, a more just environment, and a more just society.
Behold Antonio, the dreamer, cometh!
These are the times that do not just try our souls, they are the times that define our souls. That determine our character that demonstrate who we really are.
Shakespeare said, "What a mighty work is man." The Psalmist said, "What is man? We who are mortal vulnerable human beings that God is actually mindful of us. Calling to us, summoning us, to look up and come to a higher level of life. A better way of loving, a finer way of being.
Antonio, you are the dreamer, the lover of life. You are a finer way of being. And this is why we love and respect and admire Antonio. And listen to this something you remember.
Remember Ali got knocked down one night; and about the count of five he started wobbleing, Ali got knocked down, and at about seven he grabbed one leg. Grabbed the rope at about nine, he stood up and said I got to keep, I got to keep... and they said stop! He said, "I can buy time until it's over." He weaved, he bobbled until it was over and gone to the corner, and he put cold water on his face, and he began to be revived and he went on and he remembered he won the fight. Pained, but he won the fight. And when the announcer said Ali, you were down, you could have just stayed there. You were hurt. He said "I was sir." The announcer said, "but your trainer said stop!" And Ali said, "I know."
"So why did you get up?"
And Ali said, "Because the ground is no place for a champion."
Antonio knows the ground is no place for a champion. Champ, you are the winner! God bless you, we will stand with you.
Antonio, we will stand with you as you organize, as you prioritize, as you strategize, but don't compromise on your will as the champions that you cause. For justice; for freedom; for peace and for the poor, God bless you as begin this next step on your incredible journey in this City of Angels, God bless you brother... How good and how pleasant it is that we gather together today in harmony! God bless you!

Federation of NC's
By Tom Topping
Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn and First District Councilman Ed Reyes invited Northeast Neighborhood Council leaders to Ramona hall last month to participate in the East Los Angeles Federation of Neighborhood Councils. Representatives from Silverlake, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Highland Park, Echo Park, Glassell Park, Cypress Park, Eagle Rock and Boyle Heights attended.
The crowd of about 100 folks appreciated seeing the mayor come to Highland Park. They all patiently listened as he and Councilman Reyes gave their address.
"I don't think anything should be off limits to Neighborhood Councils," said Mayor Hahn.
The heart of the meeting, for the Mayor, was to hear to the issues and concerns that community members had about their neighborhoods. The first to speak was a representative from Silverlake. They had a concern about a city storage facility located there. The mayor said they would look at finding another place for the facility.
There was a concern from the Lincoln Heights folks about, new school facilities, and where to put them. Mark Woodsmall from LA 32 Council (El Sereno) talked about the areas major thoroughfares, Valley Boulevard and Huntington Drive, and their desire to see some economic development and revitalization there. They also asked for conditions more friendly to businesses.
Hahn mentioned that mixed use, where residences and business exist in the same building is a concept embraced by the "great world cities." He said that long ago Los Angeles leaders chose to separate those uses, and those policies should be changed to allow the mixed use for Los Angeles.
Reyes explained that a new tool, similar to a B.I.D., where businesses agree to tax themselves, is now available where it can include a
residential area as well. Business and residents in an area are assessed, and the business leaders decide how best to spend that money to make improvements to the area.
As the topic of the Hollenbeck police station came up, it gave the mayor a chance to mention the positive changes that have been coming to the Los Angeles Police Department since Chief William Bratton has taken charge. The force had a net gain of 325 new officers in the last year, the first time in years that has happened.
A very hot topic for Highland Park at the moment is the group home being built at 524 Avenue 54. Highland Park leaders were very concerned about the community impact that young men, fresh out of jail or mental institutions, would make on the area right next to Franklin High School. The mayor explained the history of group homes, such as this, and how they relate to state law.
The group homes such as these are a necessity to fill a gap in-between institutions and the street. However, no one wants one of these places in their neighborhood. In more affluent neighborhoods, community members were successful in using city laws and process to keep them out.
So successful were these communities in making sure no group homes were close to them, that these establishments were only opening in poor or blighted communities. "The pendulum swings back and forth, but it rarely stops in the middle," said the Mayor. As a result, the state legislators had to pass laws preventing cities from having any jurisdiction over these facilities. Hahn explained that when he was City Attorney, he tried to get the State law changed on this issue, but was unsuccessful.
Councilman Reyes, in whose district this problem resides, said, "It's on the radar screen to be dealt with. We have to make sure we respect the process." He suggested that he thought there was something that the city could do about it.
Christine Peters from Echo Park brought up the very hot issue of cell phone towers. She suggested that a strong cell tower policy was needed. We were somewhat stunned to hear that state law has prevented cities from raising issues of health when is comes to regulating cell phone towers. Mr. Reyes mentioned that, ironically, although the community does not want to look at these towers, it is consumer demand for better reception that is driving the push for more cell towers.
Cypress Park leaders, while being somewhat at odds lately with Councilman Reyes, decided not to cause a ruckus and instead fell in with the general tone of the meeting by expressing their concerns about the still unopened Taylor Yard park, and the perpetual gang problem in the area.
Although the Mayor's answer of "Intervention and Prevention" sounded a little cliché, his statement of, "I want our young people to graduate from school," was well heard.
Glassell Park Council President Helene Schpak listed her communities issues. Crime and safety, land use issues, and the lack of a high school were paramount. However the lack of, or delay of the city neighborhood council funding to the Glassell Park council was a concern as well.
Dalila Sotelo from the Eagle Rock Council had questions about the city process, when it came to setting budget priorities. She asked that, even though the "early warning system" (by which councils and community members can be alerted to issues affecting their neighborhoods) was in place, that the city formalize the education of and access to that early warning system. She said that the Eagle Rock Council was challenged by the lack of space for an office and for file storage. She finished by advertising the upcoming clean-up and public safety forum to all at the meeting.
As the mayor rushed off to another meeting, northeast neighborhood council presidents checked their calendars and set a date to meet in the next few weeks. According to Eagle Rock neighborhood Council President Dalila Sotelo, It was basically an introduction meeting where everyone went around the table and summarized some of the important issues going on in their communities.

Class of 2003-04
By Tom Topping
I watched the first Council day of the new Los Angeles City Council on TV this week. As I tuned in, Cindy Miscikowski of district 11 was just being unanimously voted in as new Council President. She has been Council person for 6 years, and has only two more years to go before term limits kick her out.
There was a lot a ceremony, as one would expect at the first day of school. After going to the big Villaraigosa swearing in at Union Station the weekend before, I about had my fill of ceremony for the month. But it was a touching event, as each new council member introduced his family members in attendance there. 6th district councilman Tony Cardenas, a former state assemblyman from out in the San Fernando Valley, was very emotional as he acknowledged the contributions his parents made, who were deceased, to the man he is today. Antonio Villaraigosa, gave a glowing acknowledgment of fellow new council member for the 10th district Martin Ludlow. He is a a former staffer of the east side councilman from when he was in the State Assembly.
Ludlow spoke briefly about his personal, professional and family history. He was adopted by an educated and religious family, who were advocates for the rights of workers. He returned the compliment to Mr. Villaraigosa, saying he was one of the few people he had met who shared his values of family and a belief of living life in the service of others.
After posing for the "Class" photos, current President and 7th district councilman Alex Padilla announced that the council would be out of session not just on July 4 for the holiday, but also on Wednesday. Most of the Council Members would be traveling to Sacramento to lobby State legislators for the interests of the City of Los Angeles. They still have not yet passed a state budget for the new fiscal year.
There seems to be a good energy, a positiveness refreshing to see among our city leaders. Even former Police Chief, Bernard Parks of the eighth district, seemed to be a kinder and gentler version of himself.

Arroyo Seco Library Opens

On Monday, June 30, the new Arroyo Seco Regional Branch Library opened. This is the third Library to be on this site, originally paid for with a grant from the Carnegie Foundation. Architect Tom Michali of M2A designed the 14,000 square foot building, built from from proposition DD funds, a 1998 library bond. A mural entitled “Libraries Educate”, created by Luis Becerra in 1995, has been reinstalled in the southwest corner of the new facility parking lot.
It is a beautiful facility built to emulate the craftsman homes commonly found in the Northeast Los Angeles area. The children’s library is large and well stocked, with computers and software tailored to the skils and interests of kids.

Concerts in the Park
July 13, 27
The Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce Concert in the Park Series will get off to a strong start on July 13. The Bob Fetherolf band will be playing 50s and 60s Rock and Roll (6 p.m.) with a pre-concert (4 p.m.) Eagle Rockin' Rodders classic car show.
On July 27, We the People—music from the 70’s to the present sponsorted by Dilbeck GMAC Realtors will perform at 6 p.m. The Chamber of Commerce Summer Series takes place at the Neutra Amphitheater of the Eagle Vista Recreation Center, Eagle Vista Drive near North Figueroa.
The August concerts will be on the 10th and 24th.

Parking Study/Plan
By Tom Topping
On page 10 of this issue are two questionnaires that should be of great interest to the residential and business communities. They are both part of a parking needs assessment that will go into the creation of a Eagle Rock Commercial District Parking Study/Plan.
The ERCPR (Eagle Rock Community Preservation and Revitalization Corporation) has contracted for the creation of this plan with the Valley Economic Development Center (VEDC). The VEDC is the parent organization for the Northeast Business Development Center (of which our friend and Highland Park Chamber President Andrew Barrera operates).
Among the services the VEDC will provide:
1. Conduct a Parking Needs Assessment of Colorado Blvd. from the 2200 block to the 1500 block.
2. Address the historical characteristics of the target area, past and present parking trends, & projected parking needs
3. Categorize specific parking needs
4. Identify zoning and parking restrictions
5. Identify business locations that are exempted from parking
6. Detail all feasible parking solutions
7. Explore the imposition of a universal parking variance
8. Identify all potential parking locations
9. create and submit a owner participation list of business and property owners willing to participate in a parking program
10. Will offer a hierarchy of parking problem solutions
11. Identify potential funding available
The surveys on page 10 are only part of the overall tasks that the VEDC has been hired to perform. Originally, they were to be paid $10,000 for this parking study. Later the ERCPR agreed to pay an additional $2,500 to include the portion of Eagle Rock Boulevard that runs from Colorado to Addison Way.
If you are one of those community members who must have a voice when it comes to the future of the commercial areas of Eagle Rock, you may want to consider filling out the survey, (and feel free to include another sheet of paper if you are smart, creative, and innovative enough to come up with the best ideas that are going to solve this parking dilemma for the whole community).
If you live within a block of Colorado or Eagle Rock Boulevards, you may want to make sure your voice is heard as well. There could be a solution that makes an impact on all those residents, just like the impact residents face now, who are unlucky enough to live on Vincent Avenue near Casa Bianca.
The money for this study was provided as part of a grant that the ERCPR received from the State of California. The "Storefront Improvement Program" is ear marked for the majority of the $300,000 granted funds. Progress on that program has been perceived as slow, but it is continuing.
Last year, 2002, the ERCPR paid out $10,960 to business and property owners to improve their storefronts. The consultants were paid $34,507.25. One property owner who originally applied for the matching funds pulled out after discovering, what he believed, too many unnecessary regulations attached to it.


Eagles Events
On July 6, the Ladies Auxiliary will be putting on their All-American Breakfast.
They will be serving eggs any style, bacon, sausage, ham, hash brown potatoes, and biscuits & gravy. The Mens breakfast will be on Sunday the 20th and will include your choice of made to order omelets, hash browns, bacon and sausage all served with Pepe’s famous homemade Salsa.
Planning is in high gear for the annual Hawaiian Luau, and the planning for the yearly free community Thanksgiving Dinner is off to a great start. The Eagles Clubs is at 1596 Yosemite Drive. 323 257 8869

Pet of the Month

Three-year old Maggie is a charming, active, lively girl with plenty of love to give. She loves to sit at the window and watch the world go by, and never met a feather she didn't like. She can be an indoor/outdoor cat, she's very self-sufficient. She likes to rule the roost, and would prefer to be an only cat.
Spayed, all shots, excellent veterinary care. This beloved kitty needs a home only because her elderly owner died.
For more information, please call 323 255 1053

Ice-Cream Social
On Sunday, July 13 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. the Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society will hold its Annual Ice-Cream Social at the Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center, 2225 Colorado Boulevard.
The Ice-Cream Social, now in its third year, is quickly becoming a favorite summertime community event in Eagle Rock. The dessert bar consists of award-winning ice cream and "endless toppings," a delectable range of home-baked cookies and treats, fresh fruit kabobs and icy-cold lemonade. Music, face painting, ERVHS souvenirs and fabulous raffle prizes are also part of the festivities.
This year the Historical Society is pleased to have with us famous local photographer and former actor Delmar Watson, presenting his photographic retrospective When America Had Heroes, featuring a selection of photographs from 1900 to the present taken by ten members of the Watson photo journalistic dynasty.
The Watson family has a deep history of involvement in the early years of Hollywood film making. Father Coy Watson, Sr. was a stuntman and assistant director, and Delmar appeared in more than 50 films, including Heidi, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and the Our Gang Follies of 1936, before becoming a photographer for the Herald-Express, which would later merge with the Examiner to become the Herald-Examiner.
Over the years, ten members of the Watson family have earned recognition in the field of photojournalism, including several lifetime achievement awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, while building an archive of more than two-million photographic images, one of the greatest collections of local photography in existence. The Los Angeles Public Library is now exhibiting many of these images in 100 Years of Hollywood: Photographs from the Delmar Watson Family Archive, through August 17 at the downtown Central Library.
Tickets for the ERVHS Ice-Cream Social can be purchased in advance at the Cultural Center, at Tritch Hardward, 1620 Colorado Boulevard, or by calling Event Chair Melody Peterson at 258-1647. Ice-Cream Social runs from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.; "When America Had Heroes" begins at 4:00 p.m.

BLEND Installation
BLEND (Business (and Residents) for Law Enforcement, Northeast Division) will host its annual installation luncheon at the Women's 20th Century Club, 5105 Hermosa Avenue, Eagle Rock, on Wednesday, July 16, 2003, at 11 :00 AM.
Lunch will be served at 11 :30 AM and is being catered by Colombo's. La Dell Stapp, former owner of Stapp's Auto, and active community member will be installed as President! Our Keynote Speaker will be Deputy Chief of Special Operations Bureau Michael Hillmann.
Chief Hillmann was at the Northeast Division some years back and is an interesting and dynamic speaker! The cost is $25 per person. For reservations and/or information, please call Lucy Spurgeon (323) 254-3725 by July 9, 2003.
LUCY SPURGEON, Vice President BLEND,INC.

Eagle Vista Seniors
The Eagle Vista Seniors celebrated July 4th on the first of the month with a barbecue, catered food, and were entertained by singer Leslie Anderson. Member's cost $5.00
July 5 (Saturday) brings the annual fund raiser - this year a trip to see the delightful musical "The Music Man" at the Glendale Center Theatre. Tickets are $17 if still available from Mary Yelinek.
July 8 (Tuesday) the Board meeting will take place at 9:30 a.m., succeeded by the members meeting at 10:00 a.m.
Members born in July will be feted with birthday cake, as is usual.
July 15, Julie Springbine, representative from Dogs for the Deaf, will describe the wonderful tasks these dogs can perform for their owners.
July 22, a lively Luau with catered lunch and entertainment with music and dances by O Aloha. Attendees are urged to wear their Hawaiian shirts and skirts. See Joanne Hartmen for further information.
July 29, Bingo! Caller will be Lou Agrati.
Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. at the Eagle Vista Recreation Center, 1100 Eagle Vista Dr., unless otherwise noted.
 

Dear Mr Topping:
I am a newcomer to Eagle Rock I moved here about a year ago, I live in the southwest section of Eagle Rock close to the Occidental College and also work in this community in a software firm located right on on the corner of Eagle Rock Blvd. and Colorado, and in this short time I have grown very fond of this community.
The reason of this e-mail is my uneasiness of what's happening down the street from Armond's restaurant, there is a clinic there, and all these men just hang around there, either just seating on the sidewalk and leaving all kinds of garbage there,
I spoke with the owners of Ruby's bakery next to that clinic and they don't know what goes on there, as I was leaving the bakery and this elder lady was very distraught at the men seating on the sidewalk outside this clinic.
Is there an agency or a place where we could report this sort of things, I think this is ruining the image of this area specially now that things seemed to be improving with the advent of new businesses in the area.
Yours Truly
Douglas Ortiz

Rentals Allowed in Single Family Zoning
R-1 Zoning changes to R-2 Overnight!
State law AB 1866 which went into effect on July 1, 2003 requires local governments to use a ministerial process for approving second housing units and prohibits them from applying any development standard that would have the effect of precluding an affordable housing development from receiving a density bonus and concessions.
Although state law requires that cities and counties allow for at least some second units, many cities and counties have restrictive requirements. Supporters of this bill point out that the Public Policy Institute of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) issued a report on second units that found that, (second) units have the potential to assist older homeowners in maintaining their independence.
Other potential benefits include companionship, the opportunity to negotiate for home maintenance or personal services in return for reduced rents, and increased personal security. However, AARP found that "zoning ordinances that prohibit (second) units or make it extremely difficult for homeowners to create them are the principal obstacle to the wider availability of this housing option."
Opponents argue that AB 1866 is designed to silence public discussion when a homeowner decides to build a second unit in their backyard. The opponents object to the provision that prohibits a hearing regarding second unit approval. Construction of rental units in single-family neighborhoods can be controversial and generate concerns about property values, parking issues, design standards, privacy or views of adjacent neighbors, quality of life and other concerns. They object to having no opportunity to voice concerns.

Ride on the Gold Line Free!
The MTA Board of Directors approved free rides on the new Metro Gold Line for the opening weekend of July 26/27. The Los Angeles to Pasadena Metro Gold Line, set to open this month spans 13.7 miles linking Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and Sierra Madre Villa in East Pasadena via Chinatown, Highland Park, South Pasadena and Pasadena.
The opening of the Metro Gold Line expands Metro Rail to 73.1-miles. Patrons using Metro Rail will have a variety of travel options as the system crisscrosses portions of Los Angeles County from Long Beach to Los Angeles, Redondo Beach, Norwalk, Hollywood, Universal City, and North Hollywood as well as Pasadena.
The Metro Gold Line has 13 stations and will operate every 10 minutes on weekdays during peak morning and afternoon rush hours. Trains will then operate every 12-minutes during the mid-day and every 20-minutes during the late night hours. On the weekends, early morning and late night trains will operate every 20 minutes. Midday service until approximately 7 p.m. will operate every 12 minutes. The hours of operation will be from 3:35 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week.
Fares for the Metro Gold Line following the free weekend rides will be the same as all MTA-operated Metro Bus and Metro Rail trains costing just $1.35 one-way (cash) or 90 cents using a pre-purchased discount token. Monthly passes good for unlimited travel are $42.
In the first year of operation, the Metro Gold Line is expected to carry between 26,000 and 32,000 average weekday boarding passengers.
As you may have heard, you can now register with the government for the national "Do Not Call" registry, which will help stop most telemarketers from calling your telephone number if placed on this national registry. You can register your home and mobile phone numbers for free. Your registration will be effective for five years.
If you would like to register now, go to:
http://www.donotcall.gov/register/Reg.aspx
You can register up to three phone numbers at one time. If you share any of these telephone numbers with others, please remember that you are registering for everyone who uses these lines.
Understandably, there have been reports that the website has been overwhelmed and during peak hours doesn't have the bandwidth to support the demand. If that happens to you, keep trying - don't give up if you get a "page cannot be displayed" message. And, if you are an early bird or a night owl, try again during off hours.

Dear Friends,
As Councilmember Nick Pacheco closes shop, I just wanted to thank him publicly and share with you twelve (12) accomplishments that have changed (or will change) the City of Los Angeles.
1. Celebrating A Clean Community/Celebrando Una Comunidad Limpia (Environmental Fairs)
He felt that the only solution to bring cleaner streets in our neighborhoods was through a joint venture with the community. Coordinated volunteer effort and concluded the "spring cleaning" season with an environmental fair involving CBOs, environmental groups, and Public Works. This program started in CD 14 and has spread to 6 more council districts in the City.
2. Neighborhood Prosecutor Program
Everyone knows that after 9/11 the Councilmember championed the funding of this program. Everyone, now, loves the program and it will be a Los Angeles institution. He always said, "the only good idea is a funded idea."
3. Open Space Taking (Moon Canyon)
As far as I know, the Councilmember was the first to directly use the eminent domain process to ensure an area stayed as open space. The residents of Mt. Washington love him for funding the appraised value of "Moon Canyon." Every community, from now on, will challenge their elected officials to show this type of commitment to preserving open space.
4. Washington Boulevard Bulky Item Drop Off Center
The Bulky Item drop off center was Lloyd Monserratt's idea and the Councilmember fought hard to get it funded, working with Mayor Hahn. Nick put $2.4 million dollars into next year's budget so that South Los Angeles, Hollywood and the Valley can get their requested bulky item drop off centers.
5. Y.O. Program and Youth Center
The Councilmember fought hard to make sure that Los Angeles received a Youth Opportunity grant from the Department of Labor. He convinced then Mayor Riordan to add $1 million into the application for a new City facility in Boyle Heights to eventually house the YO program. The program has grown into the Valley and will be a permanent City program.
6. Evergreen Cemetery Jogging Path
The Evergreen Jogging Path is the most creative project I have ever worked on. The sidewalk surrounding Evergreen Cemetery (1.4 miles) was torn out and replaced with a rubber/cement compound made of recycled automobile tires. The project was designed to minimize rain run-off into the storm drains. I can see the City replicating this type of project and embracing the use of rubber/cement sidewalks everywhere.
7. CRA GIS system and Public Improvements
I spearheaded a work group for the 1st street corridor that focused on the new light rail line, new Housing Authority units and the Adelante Redevelopment Project Area from the river to the County line. The Council member spent close to $500k to develop a GIS system for both sides of the streets to immediately be able to model (at scale) any developer proposals in that corridor. This GIS shell will soon be available to all the project areas in the City.
He also pushed CRA to think "outside the box" when he funded traffic engineers for the corridor to bring more traffic improvements (signals) and repaired all the sidewalks in the business corridors as a commercial redevelopment project.
8. Doña Street Signs
The City will no longer misspell Dona Teresa; it will be correctly labeled as Doña Teresa. The Councilman received international press on this item.
9 Automated Toilet Program ("European Style" Public Toilets)
He visited San Francisco with Commissioner Woody Fleming and returned with the goal to have these self-cleaning toilets in Los Angeles, especially for areas with larger number of homeless or tourists. They will soon be all over the City.
10. Affordable Housing Trust Fund ($100 Million Dollar Motion)
He was asked by the housing advocates to create a housing trust fund in 1999. They were not optimistic but he convinced then Mayor Riordan to start one with $5 Million for 2000-2001 and then doubled it for 2001-2002. In July of 2002 the Council adopted his motion to pursue $100 million in the fund. .
11. Neighborhood Leadership Institute
The Council member, working with City departments (especially Public Works) trained average residents on how to access City services. Council District 13 began a similar program after ours was initiated and other District Offices are considering following this model.
12. Transition Memo for Incoming Council member
The Council member produced a road map for the incoming Council District, and I believe, set a standard for all other elect officials who leave the Council.
It has truly been an honor and privilege serving the residents of the 14th Council District under the leadership of Nick Pacheco.

SUMMER FUN MEETING
Los Angeles—Award-winning ice cream, live music from neighborhood bands, world-class storytelling, rare and unusual soft drinks and neighborly good cheer will all be served at The Mount Washington Association's annual "Summer Fun Meeting" at the Southwest Museum, Sunday, July 20 from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. with free admission and refreshments open to all Mount Washington residents as well as residents of neighboring Northeast Los Angeles communities.
Community residents are invited to bring their families, construct their own ice cream sundaes and root beer floats, and mingle with their neighbors, elected representatives and members of the fire and police departments.
Mount Washington Association board member Grayson Cook, a noted practitioner of the storytelling art, will lead the telling of tales. Information on community activities and issues will be available at booths manned by a variety of community groups.
"The Association is extending a special welcome to new Mount Washington residents as well as to our friends and neighbors from adjoining communities," said Carol Jacques, Mount Washington Association president. "The summer meeting is all about having fun, getting to know each other and making use of one of our great community resources: the grounds of our historic and beautiful Southwest Museum."
Ice cream and root beer connoisseurs will note that frozen treats for the event will be the purveyed by Fosselman's Ice Cream Company, the Alhambra-based ice cream maker that has been serving the Arroyo area since 1924. Galco's of Highland Park, which boasts the world's largest retail selection of root beers and other traditional soft drinks, will provide exotic soft drinks, including a selection of rare, premium root beers.
Community groups are invited to participate by manning a booth at the event. (Organizations wishing to take part may call Natalie Seaman, Mount Washington Association activities chair, at 323-223-0996).
The Mount Washington Association was formed in 1955 to protect, foster and develop the rights and interests of the community and to encourage a sense of community pride through better community relations and family participation in community issues.
Moon Canyon
Dear Friends,
Today the City Council in Item 14, Instruction #40 allocated $550 thousand dollars to eminent domain the 911 Museum site (Moon Canyon). 
This should preserve the space as open space and the incoming Council member can work with the community to acquire appropriate funds for ongoing maintenance, as minimal as they will be for passive space.
Congratulations to everyone in the community who worked so hard to make this happen, especially my staff members.
Please tell all your friends to continue monitoring this situation; at least now the money is there to move forward on acquisition.
Nick Pacheco

Occidental College Children's Theater
"Goldilocks and the Three Tenors" will be performed outdoors in the Hillside Theater on the Occidental campus every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. from July 10 through Aug. 23. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. Group rates are available. For ticket information, call the Occidental Box Office at (323) 259-2922.

Intersection
a convergence of art and community
Eight diverse Los Angeles artists from the Arroyo Arts Collective will show their work and meet their neighbors at "Intersection," an art exhibit in Highland Park.
Exhibit dates: June 29 - August 9, 2003 - 2:00PM - 7:00PM
Closing reception, featuring a live musical performance by Flanders Johnson, an electro-lounge duet, 7 - 10 p.m. Saturday, August 9, 2003
Place: Arroyo Seco Park, 5568 Via Marisol, Los Angeles, CA 90042
Artists: Kris Barker, Acton Chin, Michael Gullberg, Leo Limon, Manuel Martinez, Pamela Mower-Conner, Jennifer Murphy, and Karen Neubert
Gallery hours and information, call (323) 259-0555. For information about the Arroyo Arts Collective, call (323) 850-8566
The exhibit will be held in a funky 1930s country clubhouse located within Arroyo Seco Park. In this historical setting and festive atmosphere, artists and local families can mingle-intersect to learn about and gain greater appreciation for each other. Festival goers will have an opportunity to see a broad range of styles, including Barker's bold figurative paintings, Chin's richly textured works inspired by music, Gullberg's vibrant "internal landscapes," Limon's symbolic paintings, Martinez's striking polaroid images, Mower-Conner's lush surreal scenes, Murphy’s intricate conceptual work, and Neubert's beautiful monoprints.

"Penetration"
Tri-cultural evocations of monsters, orgies and divinity
From July 7, 2003 through July 31, the Avenue 50 Studio in Highland Park will be filled with a peculiar series of paintings, drawings and sculpture. Drawing from contemporary, popular and traditional cultures, three emerging artists, Arturo Romo, Carolin Hager and Sean Paul will be exhibiting diverse work that, through various paths of investigation, penetrates mind, body and spirit.
German artist, Carolin Hager creates sensuous paintings and small 3-dimensional works which seem to breathe with their own life and fragility. L.A. artist, Arturo Romo draws from occidental religion and popular Mestizo traditions to produce intensely dreamlike drawings, paintings and sculpture. Salt Lake City artist, Sean Paul uses sexuality as an entry point for his paintings, depicting organisms in flux and arousal.
The Avenue 50 Studio unites Hager, Romo and Paul in a tri-cultural meshing of mind, body and soul, providing these artists with the forum to craft their trans-cultural investigations. "Penetration" runs from July 7, 2003 through July 31, 2003 and is free to the public. Studio hours: Tuesday through Thursday 10-12 noon, Saturday and Sunday 10-4 p.m. Sponsored in part by the California Arts Council. Reception is Friday, July 11, 2003, 7:00 to 11:00 p.m.
The Avenue 50 Studio, 131 No. Avenue 50, Highland Park, CA 90042 (323) 258-1435 email: ave50studio@msn.com

 Business Expo
It is Summer 2003! Time for The 1st Annual Northeast Los Angeles Business Expo. In order to better serve the business community regionally the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Valley Economic Development Center and the City of Los Angeles will be hosting this annual Business Expo in order to provide local businesses with greater access to a variety of business assistance services and resources that includes governmental, technical and financial.
The Expo will include a number of City, State and Federal Institutions and business assistance agencies prepared to answer your business questions. Including; Small Business Administration (SBA), Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Los Angeles Mayor Hahn's LA's Business Teams, City of Los Angeles Community Development Department (CDD), Councilman Ed Reyes, Enterprise Zone Specialist, AQMD, Northeast Los Angeles Business Assistance Center, Department of Water & Power and numerous other public sector business assistance agencies.
The highlight of the Expo will feature several "Breakout Workshops" to educate those businesses and individuals in attendance on the following business opportunities and incentives. The Breakout Workshops will include:
· Access to Capital (SBA & SBDC)
· Business Incentive Program (City of Los Angeles)
· Government Procurement (City of Los Angeles)
· Special Speaker
(Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce)
With the recent improvements and revitalization efforts taking hold in Northeast Los Angeles it is important that we keep the positive momentum going and keep the business community viable. I encourage your participation on behalf of the Northeast Community, and eagerly await your visit on Expo Day !!! If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at (323) 340-1525.
Your Friend,
Andrew Barrera,
President Highland Park Chamber of Commerce

Blue Ribbon Fund
As you may know, on June 25, 2003, at about 7:30 p.m., Homicide Detectives Abiel (Abe) Barron and Detective Andy Teague were traveling eastbound on Highway 138 in an unmarked police vehicle, two miles west of the 15 freeway. A pick-up truck heading westbound on Highway 138 struck the detectives' vehicle head-on when the driver crossed over the double-yellow center line of the two-lane highway in an attempt to pass two big rigs in a no-passing zone. Detective Barron died at the scene; Detective Teague was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
A Blue Ribbon Fund has been set up for Detective Barron's family. If you would like to contribute, please make checks payable to: "ABE BARRON BLUE RIBBON FUND"
send it to: Abe Barron Blue Ribbon Fund c/o
LAPD - Northeast Division
3533 San Fernando Road
Los Angeles, CA 90065
Any questions or for more information, please call LAPD's Northeast Division at: (213) 485 2549