Women in Business Awards 2007

At the 6th Annual Women in Business awards, three Eagle Rock Women were winners. Sisters Candace Allen Metzger & Mindy Allen,(not shown) daughters of Eagle Rock leader and past Women in business awardee Linda Allen, join fellow awardee Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce President Denise Miller (center), who was awarded the Tami Ginsberg award.They are joined here by State Senator Jack Scott, Assemblyman Paul Krekorian and Assemblyman Anthony Portantino.

Southwest Society Selected

to Head Fundraising,

Vouch for Autry

Mayor Villaraigosa and José Huizar are joined by Autry President John Gray, Native American Representative Paula Starr (left) and veteran Mt. Washington activist and El Pueblo Commissioner Carol Jaques at the announcement of the formation new Southwest Society to restore and revitalize the Southwest Museum and Casa de Adobe.

At a press event held at the Southwest Museum on Thursday, September 27, Autry officials, City officials, and carefully selected community members announced the formation of the "Southwest Society, " a blue ribbon committee created to help raise funds to restore and revitalize the Southwest Museum and Casa Adobe.
Mayor Villaraigosa, Councilmember Huizar and John Gray were there and announced that, according to the Mayor, as a result of, a "very, very tough negotiation" with the Autry by Councilmember Huizar, that the community scored a huge victory. (more on that at the end of this story)
Huizar said, "For years, the community and the Autry have been sizing each other up, trying to figure out whether or not (the merging of the Autry and the Southwest Museum) was a match that will fit. But today marks a turning point, thankfully, in that relationship. Today we proudly stand shoulder to shoulder ... in support of one simple shared vision, to make the Southwest Museum and the Casa de Adobe into a living, thriving destination."
The merging or acquisition of the Southwest Museum by the Gene Autry Museum of the American West in 2002(?), has been accompanied by conflict and controversy from the start. Activists in Mt. Washington and the surrounding neighborhoods have feared that, at the worst, the museum's vast collection of priceless Native American and southwestern United States artifacts would be permanently taken away and the Southwest Museum building would be razed to build condominiums.
The Autry has made many promises as to the preservation and planned use of the Southwest Museum site, but activists say they have gone back on their word again and again.
Over the last five years, first, Antonio Villaraigosa, and then Jose Huizar, were campaigning for Councilman and then Mayor, both swore allegiances to back the community in what by then had turned into a real fight between the community and the Autry.
Over the course of these few years, the community activists organized themselves into the "Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition," and boasted membership of 78 community organizations. They sometimes got into battles in the press, occasionally a little nasty, which prompted Mayor Villaraigosa to ask them both for a gag agreement, a request to step back and hold the public comments for a six month period.
In the summer of 2006, public input meetings were held to gather the opinions and desires of people throughout the city of Los Angeles, regarding the Southwest Museum and its collection. Early this summer, Councilman Huizar hosted a meeting of community members representing 50 organizations in the "friends" coalition.
He says that he took these members' wishes into negotiations with the Autry, and using them, came up with the agreement, the "huge victory," he spoke of today.
What the Autry agreed to was to: (details removed for brevity)
* Expand and maintain the storage and public display of the Southwest Museum's Collections in Mt. Washington.
* Preserve and protect the Southwest Collection of priceless Artifacts.
* Preserve, rehabilitate and maintain the original historic Southwest Museum Building and the Casa de Adobe.
* Expand the educational and programming activities of the Southwest Museum and Casa de Adobe.
* Keep community members and stakeholders well-informed on plans and programming at the Southwest Museum and Casa de Adobe.
* Autry National Center fundraising for the Southwest Museum and Casa de Adobe.
The press event on this day sort of caught me by surprise, as I received the telephone call telling me of the event only a few hours before it was to take place. I expected to see all the local activists, and members of the coalition that I see at all the Southwest Museum events.
As I entered the driveway to the Southwest Museum, I was greeted by two security guards, and saw at least two signs stating that the location was closed for a "private" event. I told the man my name and after he checked over his list, he sent me up the driveway. At the top of the driveway I was again stopped by the guard who again checked my name against a list.
As I entered the courtyard, I scanned all the attendees. The crowd showed some definitely conspicuous gaps in representation. All the "friends" coalition members were missing. Most of the only community members there were the ones who had left the coalition. Let me explain.
The very experienced and active "friends" coalition had previously been tight knit, and completely aligned. They met and tried to negotiate with the Autry every week for months. In June, the very savvy and vocal chairman of the coalition resigned. That was Eliot Sekular. He said he resigned over an "expansion" plan that remaining members of the coalition were trying to force on the Autry. He thought that the plan, and a last resort threat to litigate the matter, would be counter productive to the future of negotiations. Carol Jaques, Tony Scudellari, and Natalie Seaman evidently agreed, as they followed suit, deciding to put 100% of their hopes for the museum squarely on the shoulders of the Mayor and Councilman who had promised to help. Eliot, as vice president of the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council, took it before that board, recommending they change their position to support his, instead of the coalition's. They decided to stay with the coaltion.
But at this event, there were no coalition members there, only the ones who had left the coalition, and decided to align with Sekular and company.
I thought they might have been intentionally kept out of the loop. I snuck away from the courtyard and visited the man at the top of the driveway who had a copy of the guest list. After persuading him to let me see it, I looked over every name. Sure enough, not one coalition member that was still fighting the Autry was on that list. They were not invited. If they had tried to get in, I'm sure they would have been turned away.
I went back into the courtyard just as José asked for questions from the press.
"José, were the critical coalition members were not on the guest list. Were they intentionally kept out?"
"They probably took it upon themselves not to attend," he replied.
As I left I asked the security guard at the bottom of the driveway if he had let in anyone who was not on the list.
"No," he replied with a quizzical look.
I was sure that coalition members, still critical of the Autry, were intentionally kept out. I started calling around to double check. Coalition founders Nicole Possert and Ann Walnum knew nothing of the event. Highland Park Heritage Trust leaders Charlie Fisher and Ann Marie Wozniak knew nothing of the event. Historic Highland park Neighborhood Council President Heinrich Keiffer was kept in the dark, too.
I believe now that this press event was intentionally a stacked deck. It was designed to convince the press that everyone was now in agreement, and that the fight was over. From what I have learned that is far from true.
The latest news is that comments to the 1000 page environmental impact report for the Autry's expansion plans in Griffith Park were filed just in time last month by coalition members. In those pages are statements declaring that there are no plans to use the "Arroyo Seco Campus." Coalition leaders plan to meet next week to discuss their options about what to do next. They still want the Southwest Museum to be the main venue for displaying the Southwest Collection.
New Southwest Society members believe they should give the Autry a chance to do what they promise. They think that the latest plan is acceptable, but caution that they will protest strongly if the Autry tries to go back on its word.
Although Mayor Antonio had stated that Councilman Huizar had come out a winner in hard fought negotiations with the Autry, Autry personnel did not have an answer when I asked them exactly what José had won that was not already offered last year.
Councilman Huizar sent this answer to that same question:
"One of the best elements of the agreement I secured from the Autry was the commitment to keep the artifacts of the Southwest Collection on display at the Southwest Museum on a rotating basis. Over time, the public will have the opportunity to view most of the priceless collection. Having rotating exhibits will help ensure that visitors will come back over and over again to this great museum to see what is new on display.
Additionally, the Autry has now committed to being transparent with the community as the rehabilitation of the building and the collection progresses.
Overall, I am very pleased to have such a clear, specific vibrant vision for the future of the Southwest Museum outlined publicly and in writing. The dynamic of this relationship has changed and we are now able to move forward towards our shared vision of this cherished Museum."
I asked coalition members if the two items listed, rotating exhibits and transparency with the rehab process was something that was a new victory.
They said, "We don't see anything different from what the Autry's been doing all along."

Eclectic Eagle Rock Home Tour 10/14
Spotlights
Re-Restoration

One of the unique and interesting homes on this years TERA Home Tour is the historic Chan-Wong estate.

What do you do if you're halfway through restoring a crumbling, near 100-year-old home to historic landmark status when you decide that you don't want to be stuck in a house with a look that is really not you? If you're the owner of the historic Chan-Wong Estate in Eagle Rock, you refinance and start over again.
Participants in this year's Eclectic Eagle Rock Home Tour, set for Sunday, Oct. 14th from 10 am to 4 pm, will be able to see the "re-restoration" results themselves when they tour the oriental craftsman, one of the homes featured at this year's event. The tour also features five other homes of Spanish Revival, Mediterranean and mixed styles, all lovingly preserved or restored.
Sponsored by The Eagle Rock Association (TERA), the annual home tour serves as TERA's primary fundraising event to support its community service activities throughout the year.
Tour tickets are $20 ($15 in advance for TERA members) and are available online from The Eagle Rock Association (www.tera90041.org). They are also available at three Eagle Rock merchants: Blue Heeler, 5058 Eagle Rock Blvd.; Colorado Wine Company, 2114 Colorado Blvd.; and Pollen, 1583 Colorado Blvd.
Tickets will also be available at the start of the tour at the Eagles Social Hall, 1596 Yosemite Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90041 (corner of Townsend). From the social hall a complimentary shuttle will bring tour attendees to the homes.
Along with the homes, this year's tour will feature demonstrations and displays by artisans and craftsmen. These include: Jeremy Hapner's original stained concrete designs; Celeste Korthase's creations in Venetian plaster, decorative (faux) finishes, metal finishes and hand-painted furniture; glass artist Christi Lyon's custom-designed windows and panels, glass tile, and art glass objects; Charlotte Chen's textile design, with organic materials rendered in bold colors and designs; Scott Nelson of Natural Walls showing American Clay Natural Earth Plasters for interior and exterior surfaces; and botanical designer and orchid specialist Craig Powell of Pollen Studio.
Also on hand will be Creative Green with Deborah Tull, a coaching service that helps people make their lifestyles and environments more eco-friendly; Jill's Paint, a "destination" store in Atwater for contractors and DIY homeowners in search of the widest range of products; All Shades of Green, a green living store, committed to a health-conscious eco-lifestyle; and Eagle Rock newcomer José Vera, whose Fine Art & Antiques offers a collection of Mexican, Chicano, Latin American, European and American art, furnishings, tiles, pottery and decorative arts.
For additional information, visit the TERA web site www.tera90041.com, e-mail hometour@TERA90041.org,or call (323)799-1190.

Eagle Rockdale Community
Garden Art Park

Mary Tokita and Cidne Hart have a leisurely chat at the Eagle Rockdale Community Garden Art Park

I regularly go for long walks around Eagle Rock and Highland Park, and sometimes I spend more time visiting with friends than I do walking. On this beautiful Saturday morning in late September, I found myself nearing the location of the Eagle Rockdale Community Garden and Art Park. I know it is called this because of the beautifully done mosaic archway sign that graces the entrance. As I approached, I spotted my friend Mary Tokita, the founder of the Eagle Rockdale Community Garden. I had been meaning to visit and report on the garden but had not been able to visit when Ms. Tokita was there. This is what I saw.
As I neared the entrance, I crossed the tiny Lanark-Shelby Park, really just a pocket park at the corner of Lanark and Shelby near La Loma Rd. It provides the perfect manicured green entryway into the whimsical world of the Eagle Rockdale Community Garden. As I passed through archway, I remembered that this was once streetcar right of way, where visitors from all over early 20th century Los Angeles could once pass as they brought their family to enjoy a picnic near the base of the Eagle Rock. As I gazed across trying to imagine what thaty would have been like, I noticed how beautiful it is there. Partly shaded by the mature trees and partly by the adjacent hillside, it took me away from the fact that I was only a few miles from downtown L.A. I felt like I was on vacation, maybe up in the gold country, maybe in the coastal mountains of Northern California.
I was brought back to the present by local community garden activist, Mary Tokita, as she came to greet me. She pointed out the rows of neatly laid out "plots" each one uniform in size, about 6 feet wide and 12 feet long. "For forty bucks a year you get a plot, all the water you can use and seeds," Tokita explained.
Years of work and effort went into creating the community garden. Ms. Tokita said she had been searching for a piece of ground for some time, before she found this one. Even then, it took about 3 and a half years to take it from a dream to reality. Help was needed from many different levels. One of the first was the need for a fiscal sponsor. In order to get the available grant money to start the garden, they needed a non-profit organization to receive it. Since Tokita was a long time TERA (The Eagle Rock Association) member and volunteer, it was a mutually good fit to have TERA be the fiscal agent who could help write the grant, (from the neighborhood matching funds program as it was called then) receive the grant money and then spend it where it should be. Just acquiring the use of the property was a big one as well, requiring the help of well connected locals. Putting up the fencing was a big hurdle, too.
Mary continued, "The fence was the biggest expense. We were only going to put it to right about here (about on third of the area). But our Councilman, who became the mayor, pulled some strings, so for $5000 we got a $20,000 fence."
The community garden is also an "art" garden, and it was clear to see where the art came in. Not to overlook the mosaic entry arch created by artist in residence Casey Treadway, the real treat were the benches that adorned the path, recycled from L.A. City use, each one decorated and lettered with their own theme.
"Look at them closely," said Mary. "Each one of them has a quote that was selected for the bench and then the artists came in and had the freedom to do whatever they wanted with that quote."
I read off the first one aloud, "To forget how to dig in the earth and tend to the soil is to forget ourselves." (Mahatma Gandhi). The next was, "Keep a green tree in your heart and a singing bird will come." (Chinese proverb) Each one is charming, thoughtful and whimsical, and well used as the gardeners spend a lot of time picnicking and chatting along with working their plots.
Local art fans got to see it earlier this year when it was included in the NelaArt Gallery night Art tour. "We had 150 visitors that day, and the bicycle people came, too!" said Mary. (The spoke-n-art bike ride that goes with the monthly Second Saturday Gallery Night)
Mary pointed out the Theodore Payne foundation sponsored native garden, with a handsome array of native plants. What else is planted here?
As we walked back along the path, she pointed out squash, pumpkin, zucchini and tomato. "There's two growing seasons in southern California, there's a summer season and a winter season," Mary explained. "So the winter season's coming up and a lot of this will be taken out to plant winter vegetables." She then continued to show me kale, onions, eggplant and more squashes.
Today, new plots were being created, this time using concrete blocks instead of wooden planks, and a few men are sweating over picks and shovels as they level the future plots. There are room for about twenty more over the twenty or so that are already there. Eight people are on the waiting list, ready to join in whenever they can.
When you hear about community gardens, or communal gardens, this is really what it is all about here. Although these folks are clearly interested in organic food and working the soil, it is as much about a place where people get together in nature who share a common interest. Every Wednesday evening in the summer was like a mini-party, they say, with members bringing their favorite snacks and drinks to share. The semi-regular Saturday workdays proceed in a similar fashion. Each member has their own key, and can simply get away for a few minutes during the week to be alone and tend to their plot, or read or just sit and stare into space if they like. The area, once a magnet for illegal dumping, and drinking and partying, is now a cleaned up and a welcome part of the neighborhood.
"They still jump the fence and mess around with us every so often," says Mary. "But we're working with the council office to get new lighting put in here on the park. Basically, we fight back the darkness... we put a positive spin on what land use is."

Sally Maria Peterson

... peacefully passed away from Earth at the age of 86 on August 21, 2007. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she lived in Eagle Rock for eighty years, first with her parents, Sally and Egron Johanson and then with her husband, Harold Albert Peterson. Although she spent the last twenty nine years as a widow, she was constantly blessed by having her daughter, Sally, across the street and her son Hal, daughter-in-law Beverley and grandchildren Alicia and Harold James living next door to her.
Sally Maria was a lifelong banker, retiring from Security Pacific/Bank of America in 1985 after a career that spanned more than thirty years. She was a gracious hostess and loved to research new recipes, especially those from her Swedish heritage. A trained musician, Sally enriched her life with vocal and instrumental music and kept herself busy caring for her dear animals and doing a daily crossword puzzle!
Sally Maria lived and died with great dignity and had her devoted family with her to the very end. She tried to teach her family the conservative principles she was taught by her own loving parents. Her family will always remember the special LOVE that she gave unconditionally and will forever have a truly meaningful bond as a result of having the privilege of growing older with her by their side.
Sally Maria Peterson was an amazingly kind and generous person who deserved far more on this earth, but she will now have all the riches in Heaven as the reward for her faithfulness. Just knowing her was a true inspiration, and she will be missed more than words can possibly describe.
Sally also leaves behind her great friend, Catherine Padgett and son Scott, her loving niece, Gun Beijer and family, and nieces and nephews Geraldine and Ted Reed, Brian and Laurel Russell, and John and Beth Russell and their families.

Eagle Vista Seniors Calendar for October 2007
On October 2, Tuesday, the regular meetings are canceled to accommodate the Senior Action Fair. This will be presented by Juanita Martinez, Field Deputy for Jose Huizar, our Councilman. The event will include a free continental breakfast and lunch from 9: am to 1: pm.
October 9, Tuesday, the board meeting takes place at 9:00 am and the business meeting is at 10:00. Bingo will be played with Lou Agrati, caller.
October 16, Tuesday, the board meeting starts at 9:00 am and the business meeting at 10:00 am. Our guest speaker, John Miller, from the Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society, will give us the story of this organization which is still a viable part of our present area. New members are welcome at any time.
October 18, Thursday, the yearly Appreciation Luncheon will take place at the Olive Garden, 101 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA at noon. This is free for invited guests. Non members $16.00.
October 22 to 24, (Mon. - Wed.) brings the adventure of the Mesquite, Nevada, and Zion Canyon trip! The bus leaves from Glassell Park at 8:45 a.m. The return trip on Wednesday will return members to the same place, Eagle Rock on Wednesday, at 6: pm.
October 23- NO MEETING.
On October 30, (Tues.) we will be treated to a Classical Music Performance by members of the Renaissance Art Academy. Come in Costume and join in the Halloween Costume parade. You may win a prize for best costume! Luncheon will be catered. It is free for members and $5 for guests.

Eagle Rock Book Sale
The Friends of the Eagle Rock Library will hold a used book sale on Saturday, October 27 from 10: am to 3: pm at the library, 5027 Caspar Avenue. Coffee and baked goods will be sold from 9:30 am to 11: am. Most book prices are $1 or less. Only hardback and softback book donations will be accepted on October 26 at the library, no magazines. Call (323)258-8078 for information.
Historical Society: A Tribute to John Rinaldo
The Historical Society is proud to present an evening of jazz, and a special tribute to the legendary John Rinaldo on Tuesday October 23rd at 7pm. Refreshments will be served and admission is free.
It may very well be impossible to talk about jazz and Eagle Rock without the name John Rinaldo in the same sentence. From 1968 to 1987, John Rinaldo was the driving force behind the unstoppable jazz-playing students coming out of Eagle Rock High School. John retired with one of the most impressive legacies any music teacher could ever hope to achieve: many of his students went on to play professionally with some of the world¹s jazz Œgreats¹ (Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Louis Bellson, Ray Charles, Freddie Hubbard, Tom Jones, Charlie Daniels among others), hundreds of trophies were won, his band was the only one ever to be commissioned to perform four concerts for the Olympics, the only band chosen by Disney to play at every "All the Jazz" weekends, the only band to make the finals at the Monterey Jazz Festival 16 years in a row, winner of the Hollywood "Battle of the Bands" sweepstakes award, and the list goes on. John was able to hone professionals out of beginning students over a six-year period and he put Eagle Rock High¹s Jazz program on the map nationally. He was also well known for his "Jazz at Eagle Rock" programs held (usually) every second Sunday of the month. He had great jazz musicians make guest appearances and perform alongside him on Eagle Rock High School¹s stage; such people as Mundell Lowe, Bill Berry, Cat Anderson, Shelly Manne, Oscar Brashear and Art Pepper, to name a few.
That¹s not even beginning to talk about John himself and what he accomplished in his personal music career. John was recognized by former President Reagan, commended by the State of California, the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Jazz Society, Red Calendar, Marshall Royal, and Johnny Mandell. He was even presented with a key to the city of Mobile, Alabama. And we haven¹t even begun to talk about his life before Eagle Rock or his highly successful jazz method books!
Please join us for what is sure to be a wonderful evening of music and memories! Bring all your friends and family and come support the Historical Society! We hope to see you there!

Harvest Festival
Mark your Calendars- Good Shepherd just announced the date for the Harvest Festival Saturday, October 27,2007 from 12 (noon) -6 pm. Enjoy hot food, games and prizes, a haunted house (not for the faint of heart), Scholastic Book Fair, raffle and other exciting surprises. Interested in vending at the Harvest Festival call 323-255-2786.

Dia de los Muertos Celebration
Ave 50 Studios
The Avenue 50 Studio is proud to present a Dia De los Muertos exhibion deadicated to James Brown curated by Sandy Rodriguez entitled "Please, Please, Please Don't Go". The exhibit will consist of altars, video, audio and installations by Yriena Cervantes, Guadalupe Rodriguez, Dj Diablo, Derrick Maddox and Sandy Rodriguez.
Sophia Allison, Shizu Saldamando, Gilbert Magú Lujan, Victoria Delgadillo, Richard S. Duardo and Rebeka Rodriguez are among over a dozen participating artists from L.A., S.F. and Paris. Invited artists are creating shoes and hot pants as offerings to the dead who have influenced their lives. "The souls of the departed will be guided to Highland Park by the smell of pungent marigolds and the offerings. The muertos will pass through the celestial windows to inhabit their offerings in the land of the living. The dead will then join in the danceparty/celebration". The shoes and hot pants will be for sale for collectors and fashionistas just in time for this year's Dia De los Muertos celebrations.
Avenue 50 Studio,131 No. Avenue 50, Highland Park, CA 90042 (323) 258-1435
October 13 – November 18, 2007
www.Avenue50studio.com

Highland Park Book Sale
The Friends of the Arroyo Seco Library, 6145 N.Figueroa St., will be having a Book Sale on Saturday, October 27 from 10am to 2pm.

25 Ways (and More) The Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council is Working for Its Stakeholders!

by Dr. Richard Dyke, First Vice President, HHPNC
The question I get asked most often in the Highland Park neighborhood is what the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council (HHPNC) is doing for its stakeholders. This is a fair question and one that deserves to be answered in detail, because stakeholders not only need to know that the neighborhood council is "out there" in our community, but they also need to know how it is improving the Highland Park neighborhood and the quality of life for all of us. Listed below are 25 important ways in which the HHPNC is improving or has improved our neighborhood in the last three years. There are even more ways if you count all the things individually. Besides administrative committees, the HHPNC has eight very-hard-working committees devoted to public health and safety, city services, housing, land use, arts and culture, economic development, education/human relations/youth development, and outreach. After you read the 25 ways you will have an idea of what the volunteers in the Highland Park community are doing as they work for free many hours each week to address the many issues we face in Highland Park. Hopefully, you will be proud, as we are, of our volunteer accomplishments.
The 25 Ways
1. Have you noticed the new skatepark in Garvanza Park? Your council led the coalition that insisted on a state-of-the-art concrete park (not a modular wooden one) to give our youth a place to skate for years to come. Our council member heard us and gave us the park our youth deserve. There were grim times when the future looked bleak as Council District 14 went through many changes, but we spent that time positively, doing fundraising and trying new alternatives.
2. The Neighborhood Council has planned and funded (or co-sponsored) most of the important and free communitywide events in Highland Park, such as "International Kids Day" each April and the Christmas Posada each December (both on Meridian Street between Avenue 56 and 57), Lummis Day in June, National Night Out in August, the Annual Music Festival in Sycamore Grove Park in the fall, and the Earn-a-Drum Project for youth. In 2005, HHPNC supported and provided volunteers for the Arroyo Fest, a day of bicycling and walking on the Pasadena Freeway, which was closed for 6 hours.
3. The HHPNC is a regular and active annual participant in the Holiday Parade, the oldest Holiday parade in Los Angeles. Intensive planning takes place during the year and HHPNC members attend meetings, assist with planning, and provide and decorate their own float.
4. The HHPNC is an active participant in the weekly Highland Park ("Old L. A.") Farmers' Market. At Easter and Halloween, we provided candy for children at the market. We have a regular booth at the Farmers' Market to let our stakeholders meet us and receive input and concerns.
5. The HHPNC sponsored a "Clean and Green Your Parkway" campaign to make all residents aware of the need to beautify our parkways.
6. HHPNC volunteers have written two successful grants, to develop a butterfly park at the Police Museum and for improvements for the skatepark.
7. The HHPNC has assisted in planting over 100 trees on the streets of Highland Park.
8. The HHPNC has purchased and installed numerous concrete picnic tables and chairs in our local parks, making our parks more accommodating for our families.
9. We have purchased and installed five bulletin boards at our local schools for council and community news.
10. To assist our seniors at the Highland Park Senior Center, our council purchased a treadmill and a digital camera with a picture printer.
11. To give our local students free access to the internet in some areas and to combat graffiti and petty crime, the HHPNC is working closely with Council District 14 to plan and install the very first wi-fi/surveillance camera system in Highland Park.
12. To further beautify Highland Park, the council has also supported or funded the development of several murals and an art project for youth. ----->>>> (NEXT)
13. The neighborhood council has hosted or co-sponsored numerous cleanups in our community, sometimes in conjunction with Council Districts 1 and 14 or with our local Kiwanis Club and schools.
14. To make residents more aware of how to combat graffiti, the HHPNC developed and funded distribution of an anti-graffiti pamphlet now available at City Council offices.
15. The Housing Committee of the HHPNC organized the first-ever homebuyers' fair in Highland Park and this has become an annual event.
16. HHPNC members are part of the coalition to save the Southwest Museum and have provided $2,500 to assist this effort because we want to save Highland Park's museum, the oldest museum in Los Angeles.
17. The HHPNC is proud to have hosted the first-ever Asian American Heritage Month event by any neighborhood council.
18. Responding to stakeholder wishes, the HHPNC successfully fought a new housing development planned for Avenue 45 and persuaded a developer to cut his planned housing development near Burwood and Figueroa nearly in half to avoid congestion.
19. Responding to stakeholder wishes, the council successfully fought installation of a new residential drug treatment home for youth right next to an existing one!
20. For several years, the HHPNC has funded a yearly opportunity for Highland Park students to attend a Legislative Seminar in Sacramento to learn how their government works.
21. The HHPNC obtained city agreement to install a school safety rail at the south end of Burbank Middle School on Figueroa Street to protect our children going to school.
22. The HHPNC has fought to establish several new stop signs, a new bus stop, and an improved crosswalk to decrease dangers from vehicles traveling too fast. The council also supported a new bus route through part of Highland Park.
23. The HHPNC successfully fought a proposal to increase liquor sales hours in Highland Park, which already has more liquor sales establishments than originally planned.
24. The council has established an anti-graffiti grant program for businesses on York Boulevard to assist businesses with graffiti damage and promote a cleaner business district.
25. The HHPNC has assisted and worked with many agencies, organizations, and individuals on a variety of projects in your community, including the Highland Park Ministerial Association, the North Figueroa Business Association, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Highland Park, the Los Angeles Police Historical Society (Police Museum), the Highland Park Heritage Trust, the Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, the Southwest Museum Coalition, Debs Park and the Audubon Nature Center, the Hathaway-Sycamore Family Resource Center, the Arroyo Arts Collective, our 17 schools, and many businesses and residents.
Each of the accomplishments above required volunteers. Even with all of these accomplishments, there is still much to do. We tackle plenty of small problems, too, such as graffiti and trash cans left out more than 24 hours. We need and solicit your help. The Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council welcomes your attendance and input at our bi-monthly meetings (1st and 3rd Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.) at the Franklin High School cafeteria, 840 North Avenue 54. We pledge to listen to your concerns and do what we can, together, to improve the Highland Park neighborhood for everyone who lives or works or owns property there, or attends church or school or just visits once in awhile. Come join us. We are having elections on November 10, 2007 at Franklin High School cafeteria, noon to 6:00 p.m. and there is still time for Highland Park stakeholders to make the decision to be a community volunteer and get elected as a Director on the HHPNC Board. Visit our web site at www.historichighlandpark.org and learn more about us and how to contact us. Our goal is to serve to improve the quality of life for everyone in Highland Park, and by doing that, to help out our neighbors, too.

Cruisin' with Mary

Here we are again, the beginning of Fall in Eagle Rock, my favorite season and weather. Warm, bright afternoons with some cool breezes followed by chilly nights in preparation for my favorite holiday: Halloween!
I start off a little sad this month as I report the passing of one of our former club members, Mr. Ron Jorgensen. You may remember I wrote about him last year to send him the Rockin' Rodders thoughts and get-well wishes. Sadly Ron left this world last month. A touching memorial service was held on Sept. 15 at a union hall in Burbank. It was very well-attended by several hundred on Ron's friends, family car club associates and many community members. Ron's wife Diane asked that all his hot rod buddies bring their cars to the memorial for an informal car show as a final tribute. What a great send off! I counted about 30 hot rods and customs, including Ron's own red truck. It was a fine tribute to a man who was well-liked and respected in the community and is missed as well. God Bless his family… and God speed, Ron….
I need to make a slight correction and add an apology for a photo caption that was in my August article. The black and burgundy car pictured at Concerts in the Park was captioned as a 1967 Bentley Princess. In fact this beautiful car is Rolls Royce Princess, owned by the Trompers' Ken Brice. Now some people may say I'm splitting hairs - that a Rolls Royce IS a Bentley, I don't know for sure, but I don't think so. What do YOU think? You all know I am very partial to limos, Rolls, Bentleys, anything that is large and ostentatious. I love the old-time luxury cars and ancient limos. This is one of the most beautiful and clean cars of this type I've ever seen. You can tell that a lot of care and attention goes into to keeping it so pristine. Ken was nice enough to take pictures of me "partying" in the car, and it was such a joy to pretend I was some rich socialite or rock star. Also pictured this month are some of the cars at Ron's memorial service.
As of this writing, our club is still up in the air about the Eagle Rock Music Festival and participating as a club and providing a car show. There are some possible logistical problems for the cars getting in and out of the venue, which we hope can be resolved. In the meantime, we still will be holding our annual Halloween cruise - bring your decorated car and come in costume. And until then, keep on cruising!

To Permit? Or Not To Permit?
That is the Question.

Dealing with a city's building department can be a nuisance, depending on where you live. The cost of obtaining permits ups the overall cost of a project. However, skipping the permit process can potentially cost you much more.
One homeowner jeopardized a profitable home sale because a significant remodel to the house was done without required building permits. In this case, the renovations added about 1,000 square feet to the building. The buyer's appraiser searched the public record for the recorded square footage of the house.
The public record indicated square footage for the building that was far less than the measured square footage. The appraiser refused to give full credit for the additional square footage unless the seller could substantiate that the work was permitted by the local building department.
Without full credit for the additional square footage, the house would appraise for much less than the contract purchase price. The buyer wouldn't pay the price he'd offered if the house didn't appraise for that price.
To remedy the situation, the seller went to the city building department and took out permits. Penalties were assessed so the permit fees were higher than they would have been if he'd taken permits out to begin with. This seller actually got off easy. The city building inspector could have required that walls be opened up to check the electrical and plumbing installations, which would have cost even more.
HOME SELLER TIP: It doesn't make good financial sense to spend a lot of money on a major renovation without obtaining the building permits that are required by law. The value of the work can be diminished if required permits aren't obtained. In some places, you might be required to undo work that was done without permits. And, you could be stopped from completing a job until you obtain the necessary permits.
To make sure that you don't get into trouble when you sell you home, check with your local city or county building department to find out what, if any, permits are required before you start a home renovation project. Not all projects require permits, and this will vary somewhat from one place to the next.
Generally, permits are required for work that might impact the health and safety of a building occupant, like running a new gas line so that you can relocate your furnace. Structural modifications or additions also usually require permits. You may need several permits for such things as foundation, electrical and mechanical.
Permits can be obtained by homeowners or their contractor. You may be able to save money if you take out the permits yourself and agree to be present for inspections. Some contractors have been known to talk homeowners out of the permit process because it saves the contractor time.
Make sure if you do ask your contractor to take out permits that he actually does it. Some unsuspecting homeowners have discovered after a job was complete that the permits were never obtained. Keep copies of permits and make copies available to buyers when you sell your home.
Sometimes permits for work are obtained, but the final approval is never received. This can have implications for the next person who tries to take out a permit to do work on the house. A San Francisco Bay Area home buyer discovered after closing that a permit to change the furnace had never received the final approval.
She hired a contractor to do termite work, which required a permit. When the contractor went to the city to obtain a permit, he was denied. The outstanding permit needed final approval before a new building permit would be issued.
THE CLOSING: Sellers who do work without required permits, or who don't have permitted work signed off, should disclose this to the buyers before closing to avoid legal problems with the buyers after closing.
Raphael Guerin
Realtor Web Technologist
323-369-5111-CELL
www.raphael- guerin.com
Your privacy and trust are always respected.
Kindly remember to refer me to friends/family.

Glassell Park Improvement Association Celebrates
39 years
The Glassell Park Improvement Association was established in 1968 to promote pride in our community and further the interests of Glassell Park. Through the years, our members have donated their time and energy to plant trees, participate in many community clean ups and various beautification projects in Glassell Park. We have also advocated for needed improvements to our infrastructure and strive to strengthen relations with local, state and federal officials for the betterment of our community and neighboring communities throughout the Northeast.
We will be celebrating our 39 Anniversary at Taix French Restaurant in Echo Park on Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 7pm. Please join us as we celebrate and begin another year of promoting "Pride in our Community" For further information on how to purchase tickets, please check out our web site at www.gpia.org.

Yellow Lab Found
in Eagle Rock
Please help us find the owner or a new home for this gorgeous Yellow Labrador!
He was found wandering in the rain in Eagle Rock on September 22. He was wearing a collar but no identification. The woman who found him posted flyers in the neighborhood, but was not able to locate the owner. Because she already had two dogs, she took him to the North Central Animal Shelter, where he is currently residing.
For interest in adopting this beautiful boy please contact the North Central Animal Shelter at (213) 847-2440 or Email: Ask for Animal ID:A902870/ Cage #61

La Casita Verde Halloween Party
La Casita Verde Preschool, at 4601 N. Figueroa, will hold it's first Halloween party for preschoolers on Halloween evening, from 6 to 8pm. The party is free and open to all families with preschoolers, and will feature holiday activities for preschoolers, such as a Bounce House, pumpkin decorating, pin the nose on the pumpkin, and many more games and activities. Food and drinks for the whole family will be available for sale, and, of course, there will be candy and prizes. This party is especially offered to give families with very young children an alternative to trick-or-treating, with activities related to Halloween, but specifically designed to be appropriate for children not yet in school.
La Casita Verde has recently opened a new Preschool program, in addition to it's existing Infant and Toddler programs, and spaces are still available. La Casita Verde offers full-day child care and early childhood education, and serves all families, races and religions. The curriculum is developmentally appropriate and high quality and the center is licensed under CA. Licenses #192006521 and #198012751 and convenient to the 110 Freeway and the Southwest Museum Gold Line Station. La Casita Verde Child Development Center is a program of Mount Washington Preschool & Child Care Centers, a community-based, nonprofit organization in Northeast Los Angeles whose mission is to create, manage and sustain developmentally appropriate, high quality, accessible, culturally supportive preschool and child care which encourages and supports family and parent participation throughout a child's life. Other programs include a School Readiness program and two downtown child care centers, also serving Infant through Pre-K children.
La Casita Verde is housed in the historic Ziegler Estate, whose renovation was awarded the prestigious National Trust/HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation in 2003. In an attempt to bring back the historic home and provide a top-of-the-line child-care facility for the underserved Highland Park area, an energetic coalition of City departments, the Community Redevelopment Agency, and citizens' groups tapped into a variety of public and private funding sources to restore the historic Ziegler estate. The renewed urban jewel was beautifully reborn into La Casita Verde, a child-care center located near a new light-rail station and bus lines that many neighboring parents use to commute to their jobs.
www.lacasitaverde.org

Little Jane’s Gourmet Cafe

Mt. Washington, Glassell Park and Cypress Park residents have a new restaurant to try that they've probably been waiting for a long time. Located at 3329 Division Street, Little Jane's Gourmet Cafe offers a delightful array of gourmet coffee, breakfast, lunch, soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps that will please anyone interested in fresh, delicious and healthy foods.
After a decade of cooking vegetarian only for herself and friends, Jane spent another 6 years cooking fun food for toddlers and tots. Her kids are 5 and 6 now, and she prides herself by offering only the best quality foods to her customers.
She's been in the area for years, being brought up in Eagle Rock, graduating from Eagle Rock High, is married now, and has put down roots that are here to stay.
After an early career in the garment and textile industry, Jane's friends finally talked her into going professional with her cooking and food preparing talents. At this, her first restaurant, you can still get a hamburger or burrito, but healthy eaters will probably go for the chicken breast or turkey on whole wheat, made with only the freshest and best quality tomato, lettuce, onions and pickles around.
For those that travel by the intersection of Division and Ave. 33 on their way in to work, Jane opens at 7:am with the Starbucks coffee brewing hot and ready. A variety of fresh fruit, muffins, scones and cookies are on hand for those that prefer a continental breakfast to go, and newly created gourmet salads are in the works, coming soon!
Little Jane's is also open at 8:am on weekends. Her location, a former taco stand, is painted and decorated as cute as Little Jane herself, all 4 foot 11 inches of her. The shaded patio is a cool and breezy respit. A great spot for a middle of the work day break. But don't come too late, Little Jane's closes at 2.
You'll definitely want to try her daily specials, and don't forget to ask for her always popular tortilla soup.
There's something for everyone, and always something new to try, at Little Jane's Gourmet Cafe.
Little Jane's Gourmet Cafe
3329 Division
Glassell Park, CA 90065

The 110th Anniversary of The Judson Studios
The Judson Gallery of Contemporary and Traditional Art, and David Judson, presents the exhibition:
William Lees Judson; Artist.
Curated by Prof. Ronald E. Steen, Art Historian and Art Educator, the exhibition features William Lees Judson, the first dean of USC's School of Fine Arts, was an art teacher, craftsman, author, pioneer, activist, and environmentalist, but above all he was an artist. Illuminating his aesthetics, this exhibition presents a selection of Judson's plein air paintings, portraits, drawings, and watercolors. Works in the exhibition are on loan primarily from Judson family collections as well as other private and public collections. A fully illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition. The exhibition dates are Monday, October 15, 2007 through Friday, January 4, 2008. Gallery hours are, Mon.-Fri. 10 to 3, and 2nd Saturdays from 1 to 4.

Carl Matthes Benefit Recital at Center for the Arts

Carl Matthes, a native of Los Angeles, has been teaching piano for over a half-century, with 40 of those years being at his home in Eagle Rock. He has also achieved a reputation as a concert pianist. On Sunday, October 28, 2007 at 4pm, Carl will be giving a Benefit Recital at Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock. Proceeds from the recital will go to the Music Teachers' Memorial Music Scholarship Foundation and its Baroque Orchestra.
Carl will perform an all-Beethoven program: Six Variations in G Major, 32 Variations in c minor and Sonatas Op. 53, "Waldstein" and Op. 57, "Appassionata." He will also play Aaron Copland's Piano Trio "Vitebsk" assisted by Violinist Samvel Chilingarian and Cellist Jennifer Goss. Carl is bringing his newly restored 9' Steinway Concert Grand to the Center for the Arts for the Recital. The piano, originally built in 1982, was personally signed by Henry F. Steinway. A Silent Auction, starting at 3:00 pm, will precede the Recital.
General admission is $25.00; students, under 18, $10.00 and will be at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, located at 2225 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles 90041.
Carl's first performance at Eagle Rock's Center for the Arts was in 1999 (at that time called Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center) when he was asked by the Center's Board of Directors, Linda Allen, President, to give a fund raising concert to help fund the Center first year of operation. In 2001, Carl organized "Joy of Music Day," another Center fundraiser, with the help of the Center's Executive Director Denise Seider. In 2003, Carl produced "Mostly American Music" with the help of Jenny Krusoe, the Center's new Executive Director. Carl was a Board member of the Center for the Arts and was one of the workers and organizers helping Denise Seider start the Eagle Rock Music Festival which, itself, was an outgrowth of Eagle Rock's Dahlia Days.
Carl has performed in Carnegie Hall under the auspices of the United Nations, in Hollywood Bowl, the Seattle Center Coliseum and with Sir Josef Krips and the San Francisco Symphony: "His performance of Prokofiev's 3rd Piano Concerto with Sir Josef Krips and the Symphony showed lively, accurate and sparkling fingerwork... a spirited, bright performance, ending up brilliantly." (San Francisco Examiner)
He appeared as soloist in Royce Hall, UCLA with Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Orchestra, the Fresno Philharmonic, Korean Philharmonic at Wilshire Ebell Theatre and at John Anson Ford Theatre with the Cal-Arts Orchestra. "The Ravel, Chopin, Liszt and Mozart were each immaculately executed, stylistically informed and individually realized... his seriousness and promise are genuine." (Los Angeles Times)
In London, England Carl performed at Wigmore Hall, Lord Clive House and St. Martins-in-the-Fields as well as in The Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Germany. For 15 years he toured in the United States and Canada for Community Concerts. "Beethoven's Appassionata Sonata had the dynamism needed, his Mozart was beautifully sensitive... the Aaron Copland Piano Variations conveyed an authentically American experience, vividly recreated by Mr. Matthes." (London Times)
In 2000, he gave an all-Aaron Copland recital, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Copland's birth, in Zipper Auditorium, Colburn School. In 2001, he gave a recital there to raise funds for the Glendale Branch scholarship fund.
Samvel Chilingarian, violinist, is a native of Armenia, where he began music study at age 5. After receiving a Bachelor of Music from Cal-State University Northridge and a Master of Music from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, he then studied at The Vienna Music Conservatory. There he joined the Pons Artis Chamber Orchestra as Concertmaster and the Kamer Oper as Associate Concertmaster. In 1994, he received an invitation from the Linz Music School to conduct the Linz Summer Festival Orchestra.
Mr. Chilingarian enjoys a varied career as performer, teacher and conductor. He is the Music Director and Conductor of the Verdugo Young Musicians' Association (VYMA) Youth Orchestra and serves on the faculty of Bethesda Christian University. He was the winner of "Most Distinguished Musician Award" at the 2005 IBLA International Competition in Italy, with the Elixir Piano Trio.
Jennifer Goss, cellist, is a native of California, where she received her training from Margaret Rowell and Irene Sharp. She studied in Vienna, Austria with Valentin Erben, cellist of the Alban Berg Quartet, and earned a Concert Diploma in Violoncello from the University of Musik und Darstellende Kunst (Academy of Music). In Vienna, she was active in many chamber ensembles and played in both the ÖRF (Austrian Radio) Orchestra and the Vienna Chamber Opera. Upon returning to the United States in 1981, she served as principal cellist of the Redlands Symphony, the Redlands Bowl Orchestra and Riverside Symphony. Since 1986, Ms. Goss has been a member of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra in Orange County. She maintains teaching studios at both the Colburn School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles and at home in Glendale. She is also active in the freelance world, playing and performing in chamber music concerts. Ms. Goss is a member of ASTA, MTAC, the Los Angeles Violoncello Society and Pi Kappa Lambda.

Scholarships at Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd Lutheran School just announce that there will be scholarships available to new students interested in attending Good Shepherd Lutheran School.
If your interested in a Christian education for your children, now is the time to check it out. Good Shepherd is for everyone and all are welcome. Come and check out what makes Good Shepherd the gem of Highland Park. Small class sizes and high S.A.T. scores make this one of the best schools around. Meet our award winning teachers.
Good Shepherd has a Child Development Center program for kids 2 years and 9 months to 5 years old. Good Shepherd School offers classes from Kinder - 6th grade. Space is limited so hurry.
Good Shepherd Lutheran School
6338 North Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90042
323-255-2786
Website: goodshepherdla.org

Arrest of High School Rape Suspect
The Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles School Police today announced the arrest of a man accused of committing an on-campus sexual assault last Thursday at a northeast Los Angeles high school.
The crime occurred September 13, 2007, around 5:00 p.m., at Marshall High School, 3939 Tracy Street. School employees happened upon the crime in progress as they passed through an isolated part of the school facility. Detectives declined to specify the exact location of the crime. The employees were able to intervene and stop the attack. The suspect fled on foot and his whereabouts were unknown.
On September 18, 2007, Northeast Area Detectives' Criminal Apprehension Team (CAT) received information as to the suspect's whereabouts. Shortly thereafter, Adrian Hunter, 19, was arrested without incident in the City of Inglewood. He is not a student at the school.
The case will be presented for filing to the Los Angeles District Attorney's office.
Anyone with information to contact Detective Marta Ramos at 213-847-4270 or 877LAWFULL

Auto vs. Metro Goldline Train
On Friday, September 21, 2007 at 7:07 AM, 4 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 5 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, and 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, under
the direction of Battalion Chief Chris Logan responded to a Auto vs. Metro Rail Gold Line Train at Ave 50 and Figueroa St. in Highland Park.
When Firefighters arrived on scene, they were immediately confronted with a Metro Rail Gold Line train involved in a collision with an automobile, causing the automobile and the first car of the train to catch fire.
Firefighters immediately began attacking the fire while their colleagues searched the automobile and train for injured people.
The female driver of the automobile, which had been demolished by the train, had been removed by bystanders prior to the Fire Departments arrival. Five individuals aboard the train suffered minor injuries.
All six people, including the driver, were transported to local hospitals, suffering from non-life threatening injuries. The cause of the collision is under investigation.

EAGLE ROCK NEWS

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Student Funds Tapped!

ERHS Parents Irate
Is the Junk Food Ban to Blame?

My phone started ringing on September 20th. It was a parent of a student in the highly acclaimed Eagle Rock High School drama program run by drama teacher Russ Copley. This parent had just heard from his child, as he came home from school, that the powers that be at the school were screwing over the arts departments in favor of athletics. This parent believed (incorrectly, as I was later told) that half of the funds raised by the drama students and the jazz band and the choir was being taken away and given to the athletic departments. Appalling? You bet!
Juicy, huh? My motor started running. How could they do this? Weren't the kids who worked to raise extra money to fund their programs entitled to have those funds spent on what they raised it for? And what in the world would entitle those lazy jocks (not really, but I was kind of a nerd myself and didn't much like the jocks when I was at Eagle Rock) to spend the money that was raised by drama or choir students? Shouldn't they work to make their own money if they needed it? (they do, really) And wasn't this, the City of Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world? Let's see.. No professional football team vs. Hollywood- diesn't that say a lot about where the majority of people in this city would probably want their education dollars going? Well, the whole thing was probably a mistake, but it got me all charged up anyway.
Word on the street is that drama teacher Copley was just short of a saint, or an angel anyway. He had quickly gotten a reputation for eliciting the best dramatic performances from Eagle Rock High School students, and for getting through to students that almost no one else could. He even taught them about the business of entertainment as well as imparting promotion and marketing skills that students could use the rest of their lives. Isn't that great? I thought so, too.
I checked with another parent I found whose kid was in Copley's class. Indeed, she too, was upset at the stories of the wretched unfairness in a directive that came down from the school administration on high. Not only was the money being taken away from arts and given to athletics, (as the story went) but teachers from the athletic program had conspired with the Principal at a private meeting that arts program teachers were kept oput of, to wrest the funds out of the fatigued and bloodied hands (am I going too far?) of the arts students and deliver them on a silver platter to football coaches and players, apparently for servings of caviar at half time, and new multicolored football jerseys made of the finest imported silk. (OK, now I'm just being sarcastic)
I wanted to help, and I asked one parent to smooth the way for an interview with Mr. Copley.
Well, when I showed up late on a Monday afternoon, I knocked on the side door of the auditorium. I waited and watched rehearsal for a few minutes before Copley came over to greet me. We went to the back of the auditorium to chat.
Now the story had changed. Now he said it was, indeed, a long standing LAUSD policy on student fundraising on campus that was the issue. The arts departments were not being kept out of any meeting, and it was actually the athletics who were called in to be reminded about that policy. This had triggered a memo to be sent out to all departments regarding the on campus fundraising.
Copley relayed the message that the arts folks did not attend the meeting because they had been following the proper procedures all along.
When I left I couldn't help thinking there were two possibilities. Either Copley had jumped the gun, and had erred by telling his students things he thought were true, but were not, or Principal Velasco had already got to him and put the fear of God in him by threatening his job and everything else, if he was to repeat what he knew to the local press.
I went to talk to Principal Velasco. He told me about a third possibility I hadn't thought of. That possibility was junk food.
According to Mr Velasco, what really is happening is this. There was indeed a meeting that took place between he and the football coach. This meeting was because football is practicing during the summer. This meeting was to clear up misrepresentations he says were made by some students and parents regarding whether participating in fundraising activities was voluntary or mandatory. (It's voluntary) He says it was not a reprimand but was to clarify the position of the district.
Velasco said that what Copley had told his students about the funds being taken away was incorrect. Copley's misunderstanding was due to the memo that went out to all the activities, sports, drama, band, etc. The memo only stated what the district policy was, and has been. It was sent out at this time because of a funding shortfall due to the lack of junk food sales.
Yes, according to Velasco, the on-campus fundraising policy was not enforced for years because the student fund had plenty of money in it. It was only after new regulations on selling junk food to students came into effect. He says that after sodas, and other "unhealthy foods" were banned from the student store, that the student body fund dropped, making it necessary to enforce the policy that mandates 50% of the profits from any on-campus fundraising must go to the student body fund, which is to be spent for all student needs, he said.
He explained that the money raised on-campus was from a "captive audience". It was money from students that had to be returned back to the students for their needs. He also confirmed that any money that was raised off the school grounds could be used 100% to fund the students' activities, and of course, money raised by outside groups, like the Alumni Association, could be spent any way that they choose.
After Velasco stressed that all student after school activities are respected at the same level, he had this message for the community. "Get involved, come to our games, come to our drama, came to our music festival because (having the community be) present in the audience is why they (the students) do it- all the activities and to see them there."
I tried to check if what Velasco had told me was the truth. After a lot of effort and help from a personal connection in LAUSD I finally got a copy of the guidelines.
Revenues generated through these activities belong to the club/class. However, if the club/class fundraiser is an "on-campus" activity during school hours, then no more than 50% of the profits can be credited to the club/class trust account, (Board Rule 2528)
2528. PROFITS FROM GENERAL STUDENT BODY ACTIVITIES
Profits derived from student body activities which are supported by the general student body organization are general funds of such organization with the exception that up to 50 percent of all profits from club or class on-campus activities may be credited to the trust account of that school or class.
Velasco was straight with me, but the guidelines suggest that funds raised off campus or after hours belong completely to the club or class that raises them.
So, while the calls I received were not accurate on the surface, they did indeed uncover an impactful situation in the fact that banning sodas and other unhealthy food sales from campuses, while possibly having a healthy effect on students' health, has had an ill effect on the financial health of student body funds that help pay for students' needs.

Bob Costa
July 18, 1944 - September 8, 2007

Farewell to a Friend
About 300 attended a memorial for Bob Costa, a well known and liked Eagle Rock businessman. The Costa family has a long history of being a part of the business community in Eagle Rock. Bob's parents, Bob and Mary Ann, owned and operated The Another World comic book store at Townsend and Colorado for many years, and they and Bobby, as he was called, had good businesses and a good lives for themselves here. He was best known locally, though, by all who ever owned, drove or repaired Volkswagen automobiles.
His parts and repair business eventually made him the go-to guy for anything having to do with Volkswagen cars, and his business bloomed as the internet opened his store and his services up to the entire world. It was very emotional for everyone there to say good bye to a man so young. Bob was only 63. Bob was part of a class of people who lived their lives in the service of others. He spent his life making other people's lives work.
He built and rode Harleys for over 40 years, and recently made the trek to Sturgis, South Dakota for the yearly biker meet there. He was an avid water skier as well.
At the service, he was remembered by a friend of his son as "that big bear of a guy," by his daughter's fiancé as someone who gave the best advice, by his closest friends as someone who loved his friends, loved to laugh, and generously shared his wisdom with those that needed it. He was described as the wise Guru that they would come visit just to talk to, and he took the time to talk to them.
The Costa family, not ones for organized religion, invited Buddist monks to perform the ceremony, and bless the friends and family. Those who wanted to, had a bracelet string tied on their wrist, to mark remembrance of the day, and eventually send good wishes and merits along with Bob on his journey when the string eventually breaks and falls off on its own.
He leaves his wife, Linda, his three children, Robyn, Dusty, and Beau, his grandchildren, Ali, Ava, Noina and Soda, his parents Bob and Mary Ann, his sister Carol, his brother Daniel, his aunt Mary Denardo, and his uncle, Gene Costa.

Hermon Pet Adoption Fair

Whether you're looking to adopt a rescued animal, be rescued BY one, or just find better ways to groom, train, entertain, or exercise the ones already at home, the second annual Pet Adoption & Environmental Fair in Hermon Park on Saturday, October 13, 2007, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. may well be your best bet for a free, fun, family outing this season.
New and returning animal rescue and pet adoption groups will again fill one of Los Angeles' most beautiful parks, including Los Angeles City Animal Services, the Pasadena Humane Society, Downtown Dog Rescue, and Beagles & Buddies -- to name just a few.
Now newly expanded in focus, this year's fair will see rescued pets and pet lovers joined by an array of environmental awareness and support groups from throughout the Los Angeles area, bringing together those who appreciate nature and its creatures, in many forms. In addition, the L.A. Zoomobile will offer visitors to Hermon Park a chance to see some of the L.A. Zoo's most unique exhibits in their own community.
Free spay and neuter opportunities at the park that day are courtesy of the Amanda Foundation Mobile Clinic (call for details and reservations, to 1-888-349-7388).
Once again this year, there will be special presentations and on-stage introductions of animals available for adoption from the rescue groups exhibiting. And, also taking a page from last summer's "Yappy Bark Day" first anniversary event at the dog park, organizers have again invited dozens of the area's most talented artists to display their own pet-centric art as part of the Saturday adoption and environmental event.
Animal service and support organizations will include pet sitters, groomers, and trainers, as well as dog walkers, day care centers and more -- from needs to "bling."
Feel lucky? Fair attendees can also take part in a "opportunity drawing" for great prizes, including a two-night stay at any Hilton Hotel, an elegant couch for dogs or cats, and other generous gifts being provided by local and national businesses.
The jam-packed event has again been organized by Friends of Hermon Dog Park, non-profit support organization for the region's only off-leash dog exercise area, located in the historic Hermon community. Last year's popular fair proved to be the largest animal adoption events on the Eastside, with many hundreds of first-time visitors to the park and dozens of adoptions.
Sponsors of record this year include the surrounding area's Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council and District 14 Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar.
The Pet Adoption & Environmental Fair will again be held in the main part of Hermon Park, adjacent to the dog park, at 5568 Via Marisol, L.A. 90042 (between Monterey Road and the Arroyo Seco Parkway/110 Freeway).
Friends of Hermon Dog Park, (www.HermonDogPark.com) created to support the dog park and promote its use, was established two years ago as a non-profit organization by original members of the dog park's 2002-organized formation committee and other local animal and community activists around the Arroyo Seco. Additional information on the sponsors and updated participant listings for the event will be available at the Friends of Hermon Dog Park website, as well as on fair participants' sites.
 

Mystery Couple Revealed and Remembered
The Mystery Couple appearing on the cover of the September Boulevard Sentinel elicited a variety of responses. A childhood friend of Diane Jorgenson thought it was Mr. Sherman who lived on Avoca St. and had two sons that went to Eagle Rock High School in the 1950's.
Charlotte B. Gornto (Ray & Char Gornto, long time residents of EagleRock, former owners of Oxy Blind & Shade, now retired in Palm Desert, CA) wrote,
"I believe the man could be Roy Heimbuch Class of S'40 Franklin High. He was listed as deceased in '50 year book reunion. The woman could be Ruth Gittell, same class. Both my husband & I think that he committed suicide in front of a train in Glassell Park."
But the true identity of the couple, ruled most likely to be correct by Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society President Eric Warren, came from Maxine Mac Learn, a life long Eagle Rock resident. Maxine says that the man in the photo is Rev. Edgar (Ted) Evans & Gladys Evans of the United Methodist Church. Maxine had been a parishioner there as a young girl and her claim is buttressed by the significant amount of photos and other memorabilia related to the United Methodist, also in the possession of the Historical Society's archives.

Eagle Rocker
Dalila Sotelo,
former President of the Los Angeles Fire Commission and the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, has been appointed to the Los Angeles Convention and Exhibition Center Authority. Sotelo, was a senior vice president for Los Angeles operations of McCormack Baron Salazar, Inc. where she coordinated all development activities and managed a project team. Her expertise is in the project coordination of HOPE VI mixed income developments and low income housing tax credit developments. Sotelo previously has served at the Los Angeles Housing Department and Concerned Citizens of South Central.

Roots of Halloween

by Christopher Nyerges
[Nyerges is a manager of the Highland Park Farmers Market, a wilderness field guide, and the author of several books. He can be reached at Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041, or www.ChristopherNyerges.com.]
Whoa!! It's only October and we're already seeing some Christmas ads here and there in Eagle Rock! That is totally unacceptable. Can't the people of Eagle Rock stick to the old-fashioned tradition of waiting til after Halloween to advertise Thanksgiving, and waiting til Thanksgiving is over to advertise Christmas? Or have we totally devolved into a year-round materialistic frenzy in lieu of Holy Day commemoration?
OK, enough of the rant. Hallowe'en is coming. But what's it all about? Today in Eagle Rock, when most people think of Hallowe'en, they think of children getting excited about a costume they're going to wear, and all the food and candy. But still, why do we celebrate this holiday? Is it simply a night of "fun"? How did this get started?
Historically, Hallowe'en had to do with the dead, with ghosts, with spirits. Let's turn back the clock a bit to explore the roots of this All Hallow's Eve.
To the ancient Celts, there were six significant fire ceremonies during the year. The greatest of these were Beltane, the first of May, and Samhain, the last day in October. (Originally, Samhain was celebrated from October 31 through November 2). The Feast of Samhain (meaning "summer's end"), marked both their Feast of the Dead and the Celtic New Year. This time of the year, half way between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice, was a time of decay and death on the earth. This was especially apparent in Western Europe, when the temperatures dropped and the rains fell.
Throughout much of Europe in past centuries, country people (nearly everyone) lived simple lives, and their Old Religion was based on the seasons, and on the recognition of the reality of the spirit world. They relied on their Old Religion with its ritualistic ceremonies for help and for guidance. They believed that on the Feast of Samhain, the spirits of their ancestors could and would rise from the cold barren fields to dwell in the warm cottages. There they must be greeted with food, decoration, and festivity if they were to protect the household.
Thus, in its origin, the Feast of Samhain was a rite designed to protect humans from the "evil" activities of the dis-incarnate. It was a bargain with the dead (and other spirits) so they'd stay away and cause no trouble during the next year.
In the 700s, the Roman Catholic Church authorities accepted the fact that they had failed in their attempts to eliminate the "pagan" Samhain observances within the now-Christianized world. Thus, as has often occurred when New Religion clashed with Old Religion, the names of the holy days were simply changed. By changing the name from Samhain to Hallowed Eve, the Old Religion practice could continue. As a result, the members of the Catholic church were maintained, everyone was happy, and things went on as usual.
The original custom of giving to the spirits spread through all cultures and lands with many variations. Today, the custom manifests by giving candy to the proxies of the spirits, the children who dress up like goblins and witches -- as well as whatever politician's masks are popular. (By contrast, in Mexico's Day of the Dead, there is no intent to keep the spirits away. The deceased spirits are invited back.)
Unlike some religious groups who advocate complete abstinence from any so-called "pagan" Hallowe'en celebrations, my posture is not to turn a blind eye to what society is doing, but to find a way to elevate the day to one of personal growth and insight.
So what are some practical lessons we might learn from Hallowe'en?
In past years, my family and friends have gathered to view the classic "vampire" movie "Nosferatu," both the orgiinal and the 1978 Klaus Kinsie version. We gathered with large bowls of popcorn, and other refreshments, and explored the nature of fear. We remained focussed on finding the science within that movie as to how to deal with our own inner fears. Additionally, "Nosferatu" provides a pictorial view of how each of us succumb to our weaknesses, and how we "become someone else."
Another way to elevate our use of this Hallowe'en time is to re-consider our use of costumes. Do we not invoke the presence of those persons we choose to masquerade as? Rather than invoke the presence of dark entities, why not dress up as our role models, or Heroes, and Saints. Children – and especially adults – can use this time to invoke the presence of such historical great figures such as Florence Nightingale, Gandhi, Sequoia, Sitting Bull, Geronimo, or Abraham Lincoln.
By utilizing the ancient Holy Day of Samhain in this manner, we can rise out of the darkness of our own ignorance. By such practice, we Eagle Rock residents can return to the roots of this ancient commemoration which we today call Hallowe'en.

Raoul De La Sota's Highland Park on Metro Poster

A new poster celebrating Highland Park -- one of many destinations customers can travel to via Metro -- will be on display on Metro buses and rail cars through October.
Commissioned by Metro Art, the new poster is by local artist Raoul De La Sota. As seen through the eyes of De La Sota, dusk covers Highland Park homes and LA freeways while downtown's skyscrapers are silhouetted against a fiery twilight.
De La Sota is Professor Emeritus of Mexican Art History at Los Angeles City College . He has exhibited throughout the United States and Mexico and his artwork has been included in exhibitions at the Laguna Art Museum and the UCLA Armand Hammer Museum . He is the first Chicano artist to be awarded a Fulbright award.
In the tradition of celebrating transportation through colorful travel destination posters, Metro commissions a diverse range of Los Angeles artists to create original artworks for the Metro Neighborhoods poster series. The purpose of the series is to express the distinctive character of neighborhoods and destinations served by Metro. The posters are displayed throughout the Metro system, including on trains and buses and in stations and various other locations. The posters are available for purchase at the Metro Store, www.metro.net/metrostore.
The Highland Park poster is the 14th in a series of posters commissioned by Metro Art. Posters in the series have garnered a Print Magazine Regional Design Annual Excellence Award, a Tranny Merit Award, a "Fresh" Illustrator Award from Illustrations Magazine Annual and a Los Angeles Society of Illustrators Silver Medal.
Metro seeks to change public perception about transit and to transform the customer's experience through excellence in art and design. Central to this objective, Metro Creative Services includes the agency's in-house design studio, which creates Metro's brand communications, and the agency's art and design excellence programs, which commission wide-ranging projects by visual artists and promote overall design quality of customer environments. From intelligently designed, user-friendly customer information, engaging and effective advertising and a newly designed fleet of buses and trains to large scale site-specific artworks by world-class artists and live poetry readings, Metro employs art and design to create a sense of place, engage transit riders, and improve the quality of life throughout Southern California.
For more information about Metro's art programs and it's free docent guided tours, visit metro.net/art or call 213/922-4ART.

Appetite
"Lust"
Charcoal on paper 36" x 42"
Reyes Rodriguez
The Avenue 50 Studio will host a closing party for Reyes Rodriguez's exhibition, "Appetite". The works in this exhibit consist of a series of large charcoal drawings on paper and canvas set in motion by personal and social images evoked by a multiplicity of possible appetites. Closing Party: Sunday, October 7, 2007 at 4:00 pm Co-curated by Diane Gamboa.
Avenue 50 Studio
131 No. Avenue 50
Highland Park, CA 90042
(323) 258-1435

City Gallery Now Free
Villaraigosa Drops Admission Fee
Removing a financial barrier to art for families in Los Angeles, Mayor Villaraigosa today signed an ordinance making admission to the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery free to the public.
"For more than 50 years, the Municipal Gallery has been a first point of entry into the world of art for tens of thousands of Angelenos," Mayor Villaraigosa said. "Today – in making the premier City arts space free to all visitors – we take a long-overdue step toward ensuring that the arts are within the reach of all Angelenos."
The City-run Gallery, which anchors the Barnsdall Art Park in East Hollywood, serves a diverse audience of neighborhood families, public school children, artists and Angelenos from all over the City.
Originally free to the public for more than 25 years after its founding in 1951, admission to the Gallery was raised to $1.00 in 1978; $1.50 in 1996; $5.00 in 2003 and ultimately $7.00 for adult admission in 2006.
Before the Mayor's fee waiver, a family of four visiting the Municipal Gallery this year would have paid more than $20.00 for admission. "The arts should not be a luxury available only to those who can afford them," Mayor Villaraigosa said.
"As the cultural capital of the United States, Los Angeles must strive to ensure the public has unfettered access to the City's arts resources," the Mayor said.
In addition to increasing accessibility, the City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) expects the fee waiver will boost attendance at the Gallery, which has fallen dramatically over the years as admission fees have risen.
Last year 14,591 visitors toured the Municipal Art Gallery, a 60.9% drop from a peak of 37,403 visitors in 1989. According to the DCA, the majority of patrons currently visit the Gallery during its free opening receptions and complimentary "First Fridays."
"The American Association of Museums reports that museums throughout the country that have eliminated their admission fees have had increases in attendance of as much as 200 percent," DCA General Manager Olga Garay said. "Philanthropic contributions also increase as a result of admissions at museums being suspended."
"The Municipal Gallery at Barnsdall Park has been referred to as the best kept secret in LA," she added. "Our hope is that the no admissions policy will reinvigorate this wonderful City resource, and help us better serve the people of Los Angeles."
The Department of Cultural Affairs plans to raise funds to cover the estimated $5,400 loss of revenue from the waived admission fee.
About the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery.
Founded in 1951, the City-operated Municipal Art Gallery is a 10,000 square-foot facility that offers half a dozen temporary exhibitions per year of emerging, midcareer and senior artists from Southern California.
As the City's primary exhibition venue, the Gallery is dedicated to the presentation, interpretation, documentation, promotion, and enrichment of the arts and artists of the culturally diverse Southern California. The curatorial focus includes painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, video, installation, design, and related disciplines that reflect the architectural fabric of Los Angeles.
The Gallery recently opened "humor us," an exhibition of 20 Asian-American artists with ties to Southern California who engage in absurdity, foolery, parody and satire in their artistic practice. By linking humor to Asian Americans, the exhibition is meant to question the parameters of identity, yet recognize the continuing importance of race and representation.