In this Issue:
    ASNC Certified
        Unhappiness at GLAD
            Bye Bye Bowling Alley?
Collaborative Awards
    Your Calendar

CAN WE ALL GET ALONG?
Arroyo Seco Council Certified Despite Overwhelming Opposition

    On Wednesday October 2, The Board of Neighborhood Commissioners (BONC) voted to certify the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council(ASNC). It includes communities of Mt. Washington, Cypress Park, Montecito Heights, Monterey Hills, Hermon, and Sycamore Terrace.
    This was the second hearing for the Arroyo Seco certification. The first attempt, held on May 28 at Franklin High School, was aborted when Cypress Park Activists displayed a strong opposition to it.
Commission President Bill Christopher described the process for the evening, "I'm going to ask the applicants from Arroyo Seco to come forward and spend no more than ten minutes talking about what they've done since the last hearing, then I'm going to invite the prospective Greater Cypress Park Neighborhood Council to come spend five minutes and explain their views of the Arroyo Seco Application. Then I'm going to open up the hearing for public testimony."
    Luis Quiarte and Jim Thompson, had prepared everything they wished to say in advance and completely ignored the request to tell about what the ASNC had done since the first hearing. They spend a great deal of time responding to what they thought would be said by those opposing the ASNC. Then, there was a lot of fumbling around with paperwork, maps and a display stand that didn't want to stay up. After they spoke, the BONC had a question for the Arroyos about the 'Cypress Park overlap issue'. At first, no one responded, they were paying scant attention to what the BONC had to say.
    John Edwards, Cypress Park Council leader, had an answer for the BONC's inquiry about what the ASNC had done since the first hearing. "We had two dialogues with them, that quite frankly, were a waste of time." He decided to join in on the mudslinging, that really displayed the tone of the whole evening. "If you disagree with them (ASNC) they do not want to negotiate with you... They say I'm pure filth, because I disagree with them."
    The ASNC supporters then had their chance to come to the microphone and speak. Carol Jacques, president of the Mount Washington Association had words of conciliation when she said, "You should know that I've been working with this organization for a year now. I've met people from all these wonderful communities and there's a synergy that's taken place. No, we haven't gotten along all the time, we've fought, we've been angry, but we've learned to work together."
    As the supporters of the ASNC continued, Monterey Hills resident and Sierra Club activist Donald Week said, "I've never seen the conflict and hatred like exists in Mt. Washington... The Mt. Washington Neighborhood Council sponsored a motion to boot me off the Bylaws committee because I was neutral." He, however voiced his support of the ASNC "because the representation is balanced."
    The Center for Self Realization (SRF), a religious institution that has existed on top of Mt. Washington for around seventy years, has been a point of angry contention among Mt. Washington residents in recent years. It is often brought up as the Neighborhood Council drama has unfolded. Wendy Riser said, "There's a strong undercurrent of fear and intolerance, against a religious group, the SRF." She criticized a group calling themselves CANDOR, created to fight the recent expansion plans of the SRF. They are thought to be opposing the ASNC as well. "When you exist to fight one cause, and win, you have to invent new villains to pursue in order to keep your power," said Mrs. Riser. She supported certification because the ASNC stood for "inclusiveness."
    "I feel like I stepped into a Norman Rockwell painting in this community meeting here," said Patrick Harper, Mt. Washington resident and artist speaking against the ASNC certification. "I didn't know everybody was so pissed off in his paintings though."
    "I came here with the feeling that something may be rammed down my throat that I didn't want," said Tom Alas. "There's some serious opposition that doesn't necessarily have to do with bitter personal conflicts that have been expressed tonight."
    Richard Guerrero of Cypress Park said "The tactics they (ASNC) have been using for recruitment have been nothing but lies in Cypress Park... we do not want to be part of the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council and we ask you to not certify."
    Elliot Sekular, member of the ASNC Steering Committee took on the task to rebut the statements of opponents. "We respect the feeling of our neighbors on both sides of the issue, but we're gonna look at the facts now." He went on to say, "The separatist groups tell us tonight they want to focus on issues specific to their own neighborhoods... Activists from the six communities have already found that we can accomplish really terrific things by working together."
    The BONC closed the public hearing and started deliberations. Commissioner Lucente said "It needs to be clear to this community that this board is not certifying individuals. We are certifying a structure, a set of bylaws, specifically that will govern this neighborhood council long after these individuals are gone." As to the question of size, he said that the proposed ASNC that includes the six communities, is by far not the largest compared to other certified councils in the city, and is smaller than the average one. He, however, was not satisfied with the bylaws submitted in the application. "I feel that the bylaws do not address two significant issues," he said. "The bylaws does not adequately address the balance between large issues that would confront the entire boundaries, and specific community issues.        Furthermore they don't adequately address representation." He went on to delineate problems he had with the bylaws that would need to be addressed before he could vote for certification.
    Commissioner Pat Hererra had some problems with the Bylaws as well. "Anything that seems as though, gives the appearance of excluding or making people feel uncomfortable as though they have to have membership... we need to really really be careful of... that is not the spirit of the Neighborhood Councils."
    Commissioner Mary Louise Longoria said, "the main issues I heard (tonight) are about people not getting along with each other; or respecting each others ideas... That kind of spirit, if we go into neighborhood councils with that kind of spirit, they're bound to be doomed to failure... I think you have to listen to each other a little harder." Her message was akin to Rodney King's "Can we all get along?"
Commissioner Stone was torn. "If we certify what's before us, we will be certifying with more speakers in opposition than any application we've heard. I think this is probably the toughest one we've had to date."
    Commission President Bill Christopher said, "This is one of the tougher ones... this is clearly why we don't get paid the big bucks to do this." (The audience laughs.) Joining some of the other commissioners he said, "There is a lot of concern up here of some of the bylaw provisions contained in the Arroyo Seco application." He asked, "Why are there so many people here that don't like the idea? It primarily comes down to two issues: one is the question of proportional representation, and whether the structure of the Neighborhood Council adequately addresses the interests of the independent neighborhood groups within it."
What he was referring to was the ASNC's proposed formula for representation of those communities, currently being two representatives per community. The second was how the council would address needs of the entire council area versus the needs of the specific communities it includes.
    The commission was against certifying any proposed Council that had less than 20,000 stakeholders. The question of size, specifically whether Cypress Park and Mt. Washington could form their own smaller councils was an important one. Although three Neighborhood Councils had been certified with less than the required 20,000, the average size certified in the city so far was 43,000. They reasoned that if all the councils were 10,000 or so there would be over 500 in the city, a number that would dilute the council's voices to the point of being only "background noise" to city officials.
    Commissioner Christopher said, "The Charter Commission and by extension the City Council... did not envision a series of exceptions in a contiguous area...
    From that perspective it doesn't make the best sense to me to be looking at smaller neighborhood councils in that context, both from a standpoint of equity throughout the city and the intent of the ordinance(plan for Neighborhood Councils)."
    The commission asked the ASNC representatives to come to the podium to see if they would accept proposed changes to their bylaws as a condition of certification. They had quite a list. The rules for membership would have to be changed. The internal boundaries of the six communities would have to be delineated in the bylaws. A provision that a board member can be removed for any reason was removed was itself removed. Finally, a new formula for representation was suggested and agreed to. No longer would the 6 communities have 2 representatives each. Both Cypress Park and Mt. Washington would have two extra reps, 4 each. Bill Thompson, representing the ASNC agreed to those conditions.
    Satisfied with the changes in the proposed ASNC structure, the commission President called for a motion, then a vote. It was passed 4 to 2. Unfortunately, the majority of the people attending the meeting were not satisfied. "They made them change their bylaws just to be certified- they went along with it just to get out of here," said Richard Guererro. Many of the Cypress Park supporters surged to the front of the room, trying ion vain to convince the commissioners to change their mind.
Mount Washington Association President Carol Jacques said, "We must continue to build bridges with every body so we can come together."

No Elections in Sight
by Alexandra Henry
    At Tuesday's meeting, the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council (ERNC) still had not set a date for the first official elections of the board. As of the last ERNC meeting, held Tuesday September 17, the elections were scheduled for January. However, the interim board decided to extend them to February so that they can address many outstanding issues that need to be resolved in order to hold completely fair elections. While the temporary board members are concerned with filling all the vacant seats that represent each of the eight regions in the Eagle Rock neighborhood, they should be focusing on getting the election procedure itself started. Since the board is temporary, filling the other temporary seats just to arrange elections when immediately there after the seats will change again, just does not make sense. The current board's focus has to be getting the ERNC officially up and running so it can activate and distribute the $100,000 budget that the LA City Council has agreed upon. Furthermore, once the ERNC has an elected board, it can begin acting as a watchdog and will be able to address issues and concerns of the community members.
    The ERNC has been a certified neighborhood council since last April. Since certification, hardly any progress has been made toward holding elections, much less forming a committee to organize election procedures.
    Elizabeth Macias, program coordinator for the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, said "Within four months of certification a neighborhood council can be ready to hold elections."
    She attended the ERNC meeting this week to give advice on certain agenda items such as filling vacant seats, how to deal with absent members, and commented on the results from the election meeting held last Wednesday.
    "The ERNC will use these next five months to increase volunteer participation and to notify senior citizens, physically challenged or home bound citizens and Latino stakeholders of the upcoming elections" said Macias.
    However, these are things that should have been happening from the very start. The ERNC had tried to become certified in February of this year but ran into difficulty when applying to the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment. There was a boundary dispute between Highland Park and Eagle Rock that was brought up before ERNC had even applied to become certified. Why it had not been addressed earlier it is not clear, however, at the end of May everything was squared away and the ERNC could begin to almost fully function as a certified neighborhood council. The next logical step was to arrange and amend the by-laws in the neighborhood council constitution in order to begin the election procedure.
    Six months later, at the beginning of October, the by-laws have not been revised, no election procedure has been agreed upon and the outreach program is still trying to divvy up the phone tree list. The ERNC needs to take hold of its own reigns and kick itself into gear. They need to trade in their hesitance for full-on action. They want to do good things for the community. They want to make Eagle Rock a great and safe place to live. They want to bring together the business owners, Oxy students and residents together in a peaceful surrounding. They also want to ensure that everyone who wants to run for office will have the opportunity to do so. This is also covered under the outreach program, headed by Marlene Scmidt who serves as the temporary representative of region 4. But the more time they waste on petty issues, such as who is going to temporarily represent region 1, 2, 5 and 6 until February, the longer it is going to take to realize their vision of a better Eagle Rock.
    So what can be done to advance the elections or at least hold them indefinitely in February? The ERNC council wants to project their image as an outgoing institution that is willing to help the community through sponsoring events and holding open forums so citizens' voices can be heard. But how can they project such an image when they find themselves confused about basic organization? How can they justify making unilateral moves such as deciding to organize a group of citizens that will eventually lead and help the betterment of the community? How can they decide when and where elections will be held and who will be able to vote in them without the consensus of a majority? These are the questions they have been tiptoeing around for six months. They have been searching for the most rational way to establish this institution as respectable and un-bias. Instead of searching, they need to continue the experiment of establishing an organization in a diverse community that is not immune to criticism.
    The ERNC needs to understand and accept that their main focus should be holding the elections on time regardless of the lack of notification or glitches in the absentee ballots. Criticism is guaranteed, so the ERNC should already be mentally prepared for it.
"Although the envious nature of men, so prompt to blame and so slow to praise, makes the discovery and introduction of any new principles and systems as dangerous almost as the exploration of unknown seas and continents, yet, animated by that desire which impels me to do what may prove for the common benefit of all, I have resolved to open a new route, which has not yet been followed by any one, and may prove difficult and troublesome, but may also bring me some reward in the approbation of those who will kindly appreciate my efforts." Machiavelli, Discourses.
    The ERNC needs to realize that with out an election nothing will get done. The $100,000 budget from the city that goes to officially-elected and certified neighborhood councils will be dispersed elsewhere and then the Eagle Rock community will really have something to complain about.

No Room for Extra Space?

Artist Rendering of proposed “Extra Space” storage.
    The Eagle Rock bowling alley, All Star Lanes, is facing the wrecking ball as plans for a new self-storage facility are underway. At a recent community meeting to present developers plan's to the community, local residents and antidevelopment activists were there to speak out long and loud their opposition to the plan to build an "Extra Space" storage facility there.
    It was an unusual meeting in that people who use the bowling alley, were joined by those who had fought the Public Storage project in Glassell Park, as well as the regular crowd of anti-everything activists who are known to always be against anything.
    The developer described the reputation of the bowling/entertaiment center which also houses a nightclub/bar with live entertainment and karaoke nights, as well as a recently remodeled Chinese restaurant. "Numerous homicides have occurred there," he said. He informed the meeting that self storage businesses have one of the lowest instances of crime for any business type.
    A resident who lives nearby told about how every night at 12:30 a.m., the silence of the neighborhood is disrupted by yelling, screaming and the screeching of tires caused by patrons of the Bowling Alley who are leaving.
    Some in attendance were infuriated that the property had been in escrow for two months and no one had told them.
    Others asked that if a development that fits the description of the All Star Lanes was what was being proposed to be built, how many of those people there to oppose the Extra Space Storage would oppose a bowling center to be built with a full bar, late night live entertainment and video arcade?

DON'T GET MAD JUST LEAVE GLAD by Diane Russon
    DON'T GET MAD JUST LEAVE GLAD read one of the many picket signs of the members of the Deaf Community Alliance of Greater Los Angeles for Social Justice. As scheduled the deaf community did have their rally on Saturday morning, September 23rd, the question is where were the Board members of Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness, GLAD?
    "Any and all subsequent advisory council meetings will be on hold until the board can be reassured that safety is in order and threats, real or perceived, will not occur against CEO or any GLAD personnel," the agency stated on its website.
    Two of the past presidents of GLAD both agree that this rally was a way to communicate to GLAD that the interests and needs of the community in which this non-profit organization were meant to serve are not being met. "This is not a power struggle, we want no power, we want the unethical behavior to stop for the good of GLAD," according to Larry Fleishcer signing through an interpreter.
    Some of the reasons listed to present to the Board of GLAD include wrongful termination of GLAD personnel, lack of sensitivity for diverse opinions in the Deaf Community, as well as, constant refusal for open communication with the Los Angeles Deaf Community.
The issue at the forefront is the failure of GLAD Agency Board to cease unacceptable reprisals made by interim GLAD CEO, Sheri Farinha Mutti, toward some GLAD employees and distinguished deaf community leaders. The history of concerns between both parties has stretched out for far too many years.
    The need to resolve and bridge the gap is the main goal of those who rallied for their community this past weekend. Gregg Brooks, former President of GLAD signed their simple purpose, "We cherish our programs and want them to continue."
 

Deaf Community Says “GLAD” Not Listening
By Tom Willard
    As strange as it may sound, the Los Angeles deaf community is struggling to take back its own social services agency -- the Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness, Inc. (GLAD) -- and it's all happening right here in Eagle Rock.
GLAD is headquartered in the old Women's Christian Temperance Union building between Laverna and Norwalk Avenues. The four-story building, built in 1927, served as a women's residence for 65 years before closing in 1992. There was talk of razing the building, but the Eagle Rock Association filed a successful application with the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission to declare the building a historic monument.
    When GLAD purchased the property in 1994 (the agency's 25th anniversary), they set up offices in two single-story wings that had been added in the 1940s and 1960s and launched a fundraising campaign to renovate the building. After hosting a grand opening in September 1998, GLAD's longtime CEO Marcella Meyer retired -- and things started to go downhill.
Her replacement was on the job less than a year before being fired. He sued for wrongful termination, claiming that he had been set up to take the blame for GLAD's financial problems. The case was settled out of court, but not before a group of deaf advocates began to take a closer look at GLAD.
    Five former presidents of the GLAD Council of Organizations banded together to form the Deaf Community Alliance in Greater Los Angeles for Social Justice. While the group initially focused on the CEO's termination, over the past three years their goals have expanded.
Today, their efforts focus on the dismissal of Interim CEO Sheri Farinha Mutti, whose initial three-month appointment in 1999 has stretched into its fourth year. Ms. Mutti, who runs a similar organization in Sacramento, receives $40,000 annually from GLAD while working on site only 2-3 days per month. The Alliance wants the board to replace her with a leader who will be here for GLAD every day.
    Practically no new programs, services or initiatives have been launched under Ms. Mutti. She has terminated GLAD employees and retaliated against community members with a cold indifference. Equally disturbing is her neglect of the former WCTU home. Whereas the previous administration had the ability to acquire and renovate the property, Ms. Mutti can't even fix a pothole in the parking lot.
Paint peels from the windows. Banners droop and fade. A rusty old van sits outside, unused. The "community garden" is two big boxes of dirt. Large dead trees greet visitors at both entrances. The wings were abandoned four years ago when the staff moved into the renovated building, and today serve as little more than a repository for junk. A 1,200-square-foot house on the property has remained vacant since 1998. Plans to renovate it for an on-site property manager fell through last year -- for no apparent reason.
    Following the recent termination of yet another GLAD staffer (this writer, who gave up a home, family and friends back East to join GLAD two years ago), the Deaf Community Alliance has cranked up its efforts to reform the agency. On Saturday, Sept. 21, nearly 50 community advocates gathered outside GLAD headquarters, marching and listening to a series of speakers.
    They had planned to demonstrate during the agency's quarterly Advisory Council meeting, but no one from GLAD was there to hear them. When informed about the rally plans, GLAD promptly cancelled its own meeting. It just goes to show: the largest agency for deaf people in Los Angeles is deaf to the community it serves.
    Tom Willard lives in Eagle Rock with his wife and two children. For more information on the Deaf Community Alliance, visit www.deafy.com. GLAD's website is www.gladinc.org.

Letters
    Picked up a copy of Boul/Sent at Carrow's on York the other day. Just what I've been missing since the old NE papers became extinct. All the nitty-gritty (at least some of it) of our little hood that's not in the LAT. My $25 ck is in the mail.
    What really convinced me was your terrific web site, not just the ability to read current and past issues of the paper but a virtual town hall meeting with potential for connecting all the vital elements of our community. With links to Oxy (my alma mater ' 63) and the Neighborhood Councils, discussion boards and the community calendar, the door is now open for "virtual community activism" where we can just open the web window to be informed and participate to the extent we wish. (Will this eventually ease the problem of scarce attendance at community meetings?)
    Realizing your budget must be limited, may I make some suggestions? Is there a reason you do not include the traditional "police log"?    You can edit out the "barking dogs" and give us significant events and trends to be alert to. Major accidents alert us to dangerous conditions (your feature on TJo was excellent preemptive journalism). Major commercial developments alert us to changing patterns and opportunities (new Target at ERPlaza, new SavOn at Fig/Colorado). Profiles of local leaders/activists are always interesting (John Nese at Galco's Grocery on York - ask him about his vision for John Phillip Souza concerts at the Sycamore Park bandshell on Fig. as the core of a cultural festival, including SW Museum, Lummis Home, Heritage Park etc. to mark the opening of the Gold Line).    
    Maybe you can try flyers in stores/schools/parks inviting residents to your web site. And do keep the brief, concise and unbiased summaries of community meetings.
    Norm Nielsen, Highland Park  (lifelong resident)

Highland View Tree Project
    The parkways which line the homes of residents on the 4900 block of Highland View Avenue are now a little bit nicer thanks to The Department of Water & Power and their program Trees for a green LA. It was a joint effort to plant the 27 trees. Neighbors dug and planted side by side with the Los Angeles Conservation Corps. Special thanks to Leilani Johnson, Kim Macfarlane, and Columba Rascon who made it all possible. A good time was had by all. If you are interested in free trees to make your block a more beautiful place, email kmacfarlane@lacorps.org

COLLABORATIVE EAGLE ROCK BEAUTIFUL

    Golden Eagle Award recipients Eagle Rock Car Wash and Patti and Roger Renick’s home on Highland View
On Saturday, September 28th, the Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful held its first meeting of the fall season, and welcomed an enthusiastic crowd of more than 60 to its new home at the Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center with a lovely continental breakfast. Mary Tokita then introduced the Center's new Director, Jenny Krusoe, who spoke about her background in the theater, some of her thoughts about Eagle Rock, and how her own ideas concur with those of the Collaborative.
    Doris Thelan then talked about the history of the Beautification Awards in Eagle Rock, and of our being adopted by Pasadena Beautiful as a sister city. This initiated the presentation of six Golden Eagle Awards. The first three were given to local businesses for their excellent landscape or interior design. LAPD Officer Richard Wills presented an award to Glen-Rock Car Wash for its beautiful landscaping, which was accepted by Manager Pedro Carvajal; Lucy Spurgeon, representing the Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce, presented awards to Linda and Mindy Allen of Ophelia Gallery, and Debra Boudreau and Tim Yalda of Townsend Frame and Galley, for their beautiful and innovative interior design.
    Three ER residents whose landscapes were designed in harmony with the architecture of their homes also received awards. Scott Wilson presented an award to Elizabeth Thurber for her lovely home on El Roble Drive, Mark Liles made a presentation to Patti and Roger Renick for their home on Highland View Ave, and Angelina and James O'Neill's home on Granada Ave was recognized. In addition to the Award, each was also presented with a photographic collage of their business or home. The marvelous photographic displays are the work of volunteer Marla Conti, who is doing her thesis on the history of the Eagle Rock Valley.
    Angel Coral then spoke about his years of working with CalTrans and other governmental agencies regarding noise abatement and landscaping on the 134 Freeway between Glendale and Figueroa Street.
    Master Gardener Mary Tokita spoke about the many needs of the community, from community gardening, a dog park, skate park, median landscaping, and graffiti abatement, to the proposed cellular towers. She urged all volunteers to help in any way possible to make Eagle Rock a better place for all of us. Mary also provided hundreds of packets of flower and vegetable seeds, and from Trader Joe's, fresh flowers.

Crime Prevention Fair & Open House
    The LAPD Northeast Division, Community Police Station will be holding their annual Crime Prevention Fair & Open House on Saturday, October 12, 2002 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 3353 San Fernando Road. This is a free community resource awareness event.
    Free Hot Dogs for all Kids twelve and under. Fun for the whole family. Carne Asada BBQ, Popcorn, Snow Cones, Drinks. Free Bounce House for younger children, Dodger pitching machine, Dodger History Museum Trailer, giveaways. Live broadcast by K-Big 104.3 Radio featuring "Charlie Tuna," Live demonstrations, Youth performances and guided tours of the police station.
    Community service booths like American Red Cross, LA Street Services, Department of Sanitation, Local and State Political Offices, Senior Services, Fingerprinting and Child Identification, LAPD Swat, Scientific Investigation Division, Bomb Squad, Montrose Search & Rescue, Volunteer Surveillance Team, Problem Solving Unit, D.A.R.E., Public Health Services, Los Angeles Fire Department, Police Historical Society Museum trailer and much, much more.
    Parking off San Fernando Road, look for directional signs. Co-Sponsored by: Council Districts #1, 4, 13 and 14, State Senator Jack Scott Assembly Members Carol Liu & Jackie Goldberg, Congress member Xavier Becerra and Mayor James Hahn.
For more information: Call Heinrich Keifer 323-258-7920 or Community Relations Officer, Rita Vallejo at 213-485-2548.

Eagle Vista Seniors
    The Eagle Vista Seniors calendar for October began promptly on October 1. Art Gibson announced the slate of officers for 2003.
On October 8 there will be no regular meeting because, at 10 a.m., a "Fashion Show by Rags for Dolls" will be held at Ramona Hall in Highland Park. Eagle Vista members will be modeling clothes, and tea and sandwiches will be served. Cost $6.00 members, $7.00 non-members. (Each table furnishes its own teapot and all attendees bring their own teacup.)
    On October 14 (Monday) An Appreciation luncheon will be held at the Glendale Elks Club from noon to 2:00 p.m. Honorees have received personal invitations by mail. The Van Bloem Singers will entertain.
    No meeting October 15.
    October 22 - BINGO! - Art Gibson, caller.
    Another festive occasion on October 29 - Halloween Party. Get out your costumes because there will be prizes and fun and a catered lunch. Cost: $7.00 members, $8.00 non-members.
    The Eagle Vista Seniors meet every Tuesday, 10:00 a.m. at the Eagle Vista Recreation Center located at 1100 Eagle Vista Drive, unless otherwise noted above.

Hat's Off to Veterans
    The first shift of volunteers from the Friends of Cypress Park Community Improvement Association begin preparing the ground at a traffic median in Cypress Park (where Cypress Avenue meets Avenue 28) for use as a small "green" area and walkway to nearby bus stops. Blacktop was removed in late August, with preliminary plans to include a veterans' memorial plaques with flagpole for the community. Work continues on the plot most weekends as part of a community matching grant program organized by FOCP leaders.       Friends of Cypress Park members are supporting the certification of the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council that will include Cypress Park in a coalition along with similar resident and community improvement organizations from five other small interconnected Northeast communities surrounding the Arroyo Seco and 110 (Pasadena) freeway. The Friends of Cypress Park meet monthly at the Los Angeles River Center on Avenue 26 to plan work projects for the community and support of other concerned activist groups in Cypress Park.

Free Depression Screening
Do you ever get the blues and cannot figure out why? Are you spending more time than usual sleeping? Have you gone from an occasional snack to being on a first name basis with "Sara Lee Cheesecakes"? Perhaps you are depressed. National Depression Screening Day is October 10th this year. Free depression screening is being offered at St. Dominic Catholic Church. The screenings will be performed in the Community Center, 2002 Merton Avenue beginning at 7pm. This is a no charge service provided by the Parish Health Ministry.

Glassell Park Neighborhood Council Meetings
The topic on the table for the Monday, October 7 meeting will by 'The Election Process'. The meeting will be held at the Glassell Park Elementary School located at 2211 West Avenue 30 (in the auditorium).
On Tuesday, October 15th we will be meeting at the Washington-Irving Middle School located at 3010 West Estara Avenue (in the auditorium) to discuss the 'Candidates Forum'. Both meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.
 

Cool Water
by Nicole Speed
    On the weekend of September 28-29th, the contemporary art group, NewTown, hosted their second exhibition at Pasadena's Lower Arroyo Park, entitled Trail Markers II: What Desert? Inspired by last year's hundred degree-plus temperatures, the concept behind this year's art installation was to create on-site pieces incorporating cool, clear water into a parched landscape. The artists provided twenty unique and refreshing contributions, alternately playing with and against the beautiful Arroyo environment.
Said Pat Gomez of NewTown's board of directors: "Our purpose is to bring visual, media and performing arts to nontraditional locations to attract new audiences. This changes the art experience for the viewer and provides opportunities for site-specific artists to show their work."
    The half mile trail leading through this native California desertscape was scattered with ceramic fish, guiding the observer through the physically far-flung exhibition. Hidden among indigenous oaks, scrub brush and wild sage, observers discovered a series of sensual oases: a wave rising out of the dirt surrounded by currents and ominous shark fins, "meteors" of ice containing brilliant color photographs (from a water-rich "parallel universe") cascading down a rocky slope, and the replicated bones of a Miocene baleen whale found, of all places, in Lincoln Heights near the LA River.
    As luck would have it, Saturday was a rare cool and overcast September day in Pasadena, which challenged the intent of many of the installations. Bernard Perroud's Homage to White, for example, featured a tall white slab, which was meant to reflect searing sunlight into a shallow pool of water surrounded by delicate bamboo reeds. He also provided a tent for shelter from the sun. The piece was an instrument for the "blinding white" of the sun, sand and heat he experienced in his first visit to the Park, but which never materialized on Saturday.
    Like many of the artists, Francisco J. Ramirez created his piece on-site, at the Arroyo. El Imaginario Espejismo del la sed features a trio of thirsty, blazing gold and orange papier mache figures emerging from an impossibly shallow rivulet. "I don't like to work in the studio [for this project]. I need to be in the space."
    The desolate Arroyo made an ideal backdrop for the surreal. From beyond a thicket of brush, a barker bellowed over calliope music, hearkening the traveler into the Wondrous, Wandering Museum of Water. The "museum," as it turns out, was an abandoned bathroom featuring "mermaid fetuses," toilet bowl bouquets, LA tap water for review under the microscope ("fit for human consumption?"), a tureen of "sacred cow urine," numerous homages to bathroom humor, plus free peanuts.
    Further on, a mighty California oak dripped with pods of frozen water containing feathers and twigs, evoking a dreamlike rainfall. A spiral pathway ending in a small water pump and bench led an appreciative participant to comment, "the path leads to life and beauty."
A remarkable recital entitled The Rainbird Suite took place at the casting pool, performed by the unlikely duo of "The Irrigator" (a.k.a. Gregg Johnson, a virtuosic world music percussionist) and a common lawn sprinkler. Drawing upon a battery of exotic percussive instruments, Johnson punctuated the "chack chack chack chack chack chack chack skabadabadaba" of the sprinkler, which was rigged with a microphone and a PA system.
    Suburban Oasis, a piece by Marc Landes, was a perfect representation of Southern California: an anomalous stamp of green sod with a shade umbrella and sunken wading pool pasted on top of a brown wasteland. The installation revealed the artist's fondness for California suburbia even as it underscored it's artificiality: A red-checkered table offered peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a thermos full of purple kool-aid. On the thermos, a note reads, "Aww! Help yourself to some snacks - Mom."
    Further along the trail one encountered disappearing water shadows and the startling "camp" of the L.A. MUDPEOPLE tribe. Clad in grotesque earthen masks and loin cloths, this mute race of clay-covered water worshippers waved various divining rod-type devices over the dry brush. Despite the intended bizarreness of the scene, The MUDPEOPLE had the last laugh; for the first time in recent memory the rain fell heavily that night.
    Look for "Reels on Wheels 3: What a Drag", another illuminating NewTown event on October 27th at the Irwindale Speedway. The multimedida event features custom cars, music, short car films drag cars and drag strip attire!

Lenora L. Mason
    Lenora Mason, age 94, passed away at Solheim Lutheran Home in Eagle Rock on Monday, September 16. She was born as Lenora L. Hills at Novinger, Missouri on April 25, 1908.
    At an early age, she and her family moved to Des Moines, Iowa where she completed high school. In 1929 she married Pete Mason of Adel, Iowa.
    Lenora's husband was a civil engineer and as such, they made many moves around the country from project to project until permanently locating in Los Angeles in 1940. They initially lived in Lincoln Heights, then Highland Park and ultimately Eagle Rock. Lenora worked for the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office as a clerk typist achieving a rate of 100 words per minute and was a terrific speller.
After retirement, she became very active for some thirty years in Eagle Rock Women's 20th Century Club. She was a member of the Eagle Rock Baptist Church and the Eagle Rock Women's Republican Club. Lenora supported the local PTA at both elementary and high school levels. She was an avid bridge player.
    Daughter Shirley and son-in-law Wayne Misner, who reside in Eagle Rock, survive Lenora. She has two grandchildren, Karen Prescott of Escondido, California and Karl Minser of Los Gatos, California and four great grand children.
Lenora was interned on Monday, September 23 with her husband at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.

Fall Craft Faire
    The Annual Fraternal Order of Eagles, Ladies Auxiliary Craft Faire is scheduled for Saturday, November 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Local artisans will be selling their crafts, unique gifts and decorations for the upcoming holidays. There will also be a bake sale and hot dogs and nachos will be on sale through out the day.
    A portion of the proceeds will go to local charities. The event will be held at the Eagles Hall, 1596 Yosemite Drive in Eagle Rock.
For more information, please contact Pat Moore 255-8544 or the Eagles at 257-8869.

Farmers Market Parking Advisory

    Market Organizers have been forced to tow several cars lately on the Friday afternoon’s Eagle Rock Certified Farmer’s Market days. Please remember to move your car.