GOLD LINE-1; LIMO-0

The First Gold Line collision. A minor collision at Ave. 52 and Marmion Way left the commuter trolley with
light damage and the limo nearly totalled. (Stunt performed by professional drivers. Don’t try this at home kids!)
 

ERCPR Keeps
Parking Secret

by Tom Topping
The Eagle Rock Community Preservation Revitalization Board and (ERCPR) is at it again. They are trying to keep a secret of information that is, for all purposes, public. At their meeting last month held at Dilbeck Realtors in Eagle Rock, this reporter had no choice but to leave at the demand of Dilbeck employee, Luis Malaga, who was in charge of the building at the time.
As you may remember reading in the July Issue of the Boulevard Sentinel, the revitalization board had hired the Valley Economic Development Center (VEDC) to do a "Parking Study" of Eagle Rock's commercial district. The greater purpose of the study was to provide possible solutions for parking in Eagle Rock. The board had agreed to pay the VEDC for this study. $10,000 (now raised to $14,000) of state taxpayer money, was spent for this study. It was part of a $300,000 grant earmarked to improve the look of Eagle Rock's storefronts,
You might expect that when your tax dollars are spent, you have a right to at least see the product of those dollars. If that is what you expected, you would be disappointed.
As the weeks turned into months, we waited for the study. I was keeping their regular first monday of the month meeting date open on my calendar every month so I could be among the first to see it and report on its findings as well as its possible impact it would bring to businesses and residents.
On November 7, 2003, Linda Allen, the President of the Revitalization Board wrote in this e-mail:
Dear ERCPR Board Members:
Our next regularly scheduled meeting is next Monday, Nov. 10, at 7pm. This is a private board meeting for the discussion of the parking study provided by VEDC. There will be no other guests, other than Michael Cathey from the (14th district) Council office and Teresa Acosta from Senator Scott's office, plus our consultants. Demetra Constantinou (author of the survey) is unable to be present in person as we have re-scheduled this meeting a couple of times, and she had a previous committment. Therefore, we will be meeting at the office of Dilbeck Realtors, 2251 Colorado Blvd Eagle Rock, in their conference room, to accomodate a speaker phone situation with her. Andrew Barerra from
VEDC will be present in person. Please eat before coming to the meeting as there will be no food. Please respond if you will be coming.
A reminder, this is private meeting, so that the board can understand the recommendations of the document and decide a strategy and task force for going forward. This information is not for publication or for community dissemination until we have made a plan, and met with the councilman. Then we will present it to the community, probably in January.
Thanks, Linda Allen
There is nothing more intriguing to a reporter than to be told he cannot go. Add to that the $14,000 of public money spent on this study would qualify it in most minds as something that the public has a right to attend.
I called Linda and asked her why it had to be a closed meeting. "A private board has a right to meet in private," she said over and over again, insisting that the situation was akin to a board meeting of the 20th Century Women's Club.
I explained that the difference was that the Women's Club is not engaging in activities that will directly impact the lives and livelihoods of business people and residents along Colorado Boulevard. They are not disseminating public funds in a quasi-governmental role. And they also weren't created by a governmental body (the Los Angeles City Council).
I did not talk to the representatives of the City Council office or the State Senator. However, they apparently were smart enough to stay away from a meeting like this. I suspect that they know that attending a private meeting such as this, while not legally an infringement of state open meeting laws, would be viewed by voters as a violation of the spirit of such laws designed to keep all government activities in the open.
Our phone call ended with neither one of us deterred from our position, nor convinced of the other's. I did, however, come to understand that if I was in her position I could see some possible reasons to keep it private.
Possible reason #1.
"If we don't agree with the study, we can change it." This possibility seemed to make sense. Ms. Allen had been pushing for angle parking on Colorado Blvd. for years, and perhaps she wanted to make sure her wishes received due consideration within the report, and if not, the report should be changed to reflect that.
I talked to the VEDC representative that afternoon, Mr. Andrew Barrera. I relayed my concerns about the possibility of the Board changing the facts of this fact-finding study. He said it was already final and there was no way for them to change it. OK, that's good. Then why keep it hidden?
Possible reason #2.
"We have to make sure the study does not upset anyone like the resident association, or the councilman's office, etc." This makes a lot of sense, considering the fact that Ms. Allen's entire civic history in Eagle Rock can be described in four words; "get-along go-along." However, if you hire a firm to find facts, you should be willing to accept them, regardless of who they might upset.
Possible reason #3.
"We need to prepare a battle plan so we can attack by surprise." In the last paragraph of Ms. Allen's e-mail, she uses the words ''stategy" and "task force," which are quite militeristic terms. Read it again.
"A reminder, this is private meeting, so that the board can understand the recommendations of the document and decide a strategy and task force for going forward. This information is not for publication or for community dissemination until we have made a plan, and met with the councilman."
What do you think are her concerns? Do her words reveal expectations that there will be considerable community opposition to the plan, or knowledge that the proposed plan is in opposition to the community?
Possible reason #4.
Every leader (term used loosely) in Eagle Rock is scared to death of releasing any little bit of power they think they have. This seems to make the most sense of all, especially when you consider what the actual content of the study is. Yes, I have a copy and I have studied it at length. I'm not going to report on it directly now. Let's just say it really isn't earth shattering. Anyone with above average intelligence could have come up with the same thing by spending a few hours in the area. It contains no silver bullets, no new ideas. But it's their study. Their baby. They have to control the what, when, who, and how because it is their turf.
The Eagle Rock Community Preservation Revitalization Board meeting of November 10, 2003, would have come and gone with barely a mention in the Boulevard Sentinel, had it not been for the insistence on it being private and confidential.
As I left the building I said, "If you had let me stay I probably would have left anyway, these meetings are always so damn boring, but now that you've kicked me out I have a story!" Hillary Norton Orozco, president of the resident association, started shouting as I left, saying that because they (the board) had bought space in the paper, that somehow it meant that I owed them something. As I stepped out I turned and answered, "I'm not that cheap."
Mrs. Orozco continued her tirade as I walked to my car, well out of earshot. When Luis, who had seen me to the door, returned to the meeting room, he said, "Hillary, he's gone," at which time she finally stopped her yelling and let the meeting continue.

Taming the Mean Streets of Eagle Rock
by Bob Thorpe
Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council is divided into 8 Sub districts, and a meeting of Sub district 2 residents provided much needed information regarding pothole repair, street cleaning, and sidewalk repair. Jessica Wethington McLean, the Sub district representative to the ERNC invited John Sapone, the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services local person in charge of potholes and street cleaning for the Eagle Rock area.
The meeting on November 17 began just a little after 6:30 with 14 stakeholders present. John introduced himself and said that while he would try to answer all questions his responsibility is mainly potholes and street cleaning. There is 1 pothole truck with 2 employees for the Eagle Rock area.
The discussion started with definitions: potholes vs. popouts. Potholes go down to the lower structure as opposed to popouts, which only affect the top layer of the pavement.
Although some street damage may look like a pothole, not all damaged areas are potholes. Examples of damage which is not a pothole include erosion of asphalt next to gutters, low spots resulting from utility repairs, and "alligator cracks" caused by temperature changes, and named because the resulting crack pattern resembles alligator skin.
A typical pothole is the result of water seeping under the road through cracks in old or weakened asphalt, which causes the roadway to erode as passing vehicles force water through the soggy roadbed, and finally the asphalt breaks and sinks into the eroded portions of the roadbed.
The repair process includes sending the crew to investigate the location for repair. A pothole must qualify for the program, and is given an estimate of cost at time of qualification. Issues involve the pothole depth and location in the street – the worst potholes are repaired first.
To initiate a pothole service request dial 311, the new number in Los Angeles for City services, or 1-800-996-2489 for the Service Request Section, and the location will be assigned a request number.
Questions from stakeholders regarding sidewalks and curbs were answered in part by a City handout on the Sidewalk Repair Program. According to the State of California Improvement Act of 1911, City responsibility for repair covers the curb only, but the City may place asphalt to correct uplifted sidewalks.
Sidewalk construction and repair is the responsibility of owners. If repairs are not made, the City may make repairs and assess the owners for the cost. However, homeowners are exempted from responsibility for repairs due to tree root growth.
Since there is a severe backlog of repairs citywide, the Bureau of Street Services encourages voluntary repair by property owners through the issuance of a No-Fee "Class A" permit for construction.
The topic of discussion then turned to street cleaning. Residents wondered about the schedule for sweeping Norwalk Avenue, and were informed of the difference between posted versus open routes.
The City is funded for only a certain number of posted routes, which are cleaned weekly. Other routes are cleaned every 4 weeks. Only 25% of city was posted in 1978, now another 1000 miles have been added.
Posting means having signs restricting parking during the time street sweeping will take place. This is necessary to allow the street sweepers complete access to the roadway. Non posted routes must qualify for posting by being 25% parked up. Inspectors check. Other qualifications for posting apply.
Some residents had questions about speed bumps, and the speaker referred them to the City Department of Transportation. Speed continues to be an issue on local streets, including Genevieve, where problems with radar made that kind of enforcement impossible.
Trash dumping continues to be a problem in some locations – Jessica discovered that businesses must have a No Trespassing Letter on file with the City in order for No Dumping to be enforced on private property.
Jessica is now publishing a Sub district 2 Newsletter – available by e-mail. Contents include upcoming neighborhood events, what's happening in the area, City info on street light and speed hump programs. Also included is information on Operation Cleansweep – graffiti removal in 3 days guaranteed – another service available through the City's 311 number.
 

Constance Vileta (Thompson) 1942-2003

The Community was saddened and shocked to hear of the sudden passing of our friend Connie Vileta. Her bright smile and knowing wink brought good cheer to everyone whose life she touched. Born Constance Thompson, she passed away on Tuesday the 25th of November. She is survived by her mother Elsie and stepson Bill Vileta. She was an active member of the Ladies Auxilliary of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Eagle Rock. A memorial event held at the club on Sunday November 30th, was filled with a near capacity crowd of friends and loved ones.

Crime Report
by Tom Topping
At the last Block Captains meeting of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Watch, officer Chris Cooper was there to field the questions from the meeting because senior lead officer Joe Gallindo was on strike duty. There was a lot of concern about some errant car parkers that are parking strange cars in folks neighborhoods.
High on the list of priorities for the Northeast Division of the Los Angeles Police Department last month was a purse snatcher working the boulevard areas of Eagle Rock and Highland Park. Fortunately, the task force assigned to it was sucessful as there was an arrest last week. Actually there were two men arrested, who police say were working together.
Auto thefts are up in the neighborhood. The area bounded by Colorado on the north, Eagle Rock Blvd on the west, Yosemite on the south and Eagle Vista to the east have been hard hit in the last reporting period. Only cars parked on the street were among those stolen. York Blvd. and Figueroa in Highland Park are also the hot spots for auto theft. Out of the 177 cars stolen in the division, the top two brands of stolen cars are Toyota at 54 and Honda with 47.
Officer Cooper said that those arrested for robbery are not being punished. Since the majority are drug users stealing to get drugs they are going into drug diversion and being released shortly after, only to repeat their offenses. He said they have to get caught three times before they get any punishment.
He reminded all to be aware of their surroundings, and for ladies to keep their purses zipped up when they are doing their shopping, as pick pockets are prolific during the crowded holiday shopping season.
Later that evening, at the Glassell Park Improvement Association Public Safety forum, officer Cooper had more good advice. He outlined some strategies that have worked for citizens to "take back" their neighborhoods.
First of all, they must talk to each other. Then, they can organize a community meeting, at some location out of their neighborhood. There are some simple things that a neighborhood can do, when a gang has taken over their streets. For instance at a certain time every day, all the neighbors can come out to water their lawns, or wash their cars. It is a tactic that while not directly confronting gang members, will make them a bit uncomfortable, and likely to start to congregate elsewhere.
The real revelation of the evening, however, was to find out what happens when a citizen writes a letter to the Police Chief or Local Captain, to complain about police services. It seems that the letter gets sent back down the chain of command to the officer responsible for the community policing in that area. Then he has to write a response to the citizen letter for the Chief or Captain to sign their name to before being sent back to the citizen who wrote the letter in the first place. It is a process that can take an officer off the street for a full day. He suggested that we can all help by trying to contact our senior lead officer first when we have such issues, and giving him (her) a chance to work on it before going "over his head."

About three hundred and fifteen dinners were served at the annual Eagles Club Thanksgiving Day Community Dinner. Thanks to Von's for donating six turkeys and Galco’s Old World Grocery for donating four big frozen turkeys. Here, Herb Ellis, ‘Indy’, Steve Compton and Roger Vonk celebrate the feast.

Congress Forgets Americans

by Representative Xavier Becerra
Six-and-a-half million families, 12 million children, and perhaps most egregiously, the families of thousands of military personnel serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones were forgotten when Congress, on a party-line vote, passed the ironically named Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 back in May. This ill-structured tax cut failed to cover all American families with the child tax credit provisions it included, making it essentially a giveaway to the wealthiest Americans that cost the Treasury $350 billion.
The Children's Defense Fund estimates that one million children from active military or veterans' families are ineligible for the expanded credit. The news is even worse for the children of the 200,000 men and women currently serving in Iraq, Afghanistan or other combat zones. Those men and women receive a combat pay exclusion. The combat pay exclusion benefits many, but it has the perverse effect of increasing, not decreasing, taxes on those who have children and a family income below $26,000 (the threshold to benefit from the expanded tax credit). This exclusion eliminates the benefit of the per-child credit for those families despite having such a low family income, making them worse off – not better.
The Senate recognized the inequity of this treatment of the families of our soldiers serving in combat zones around the world and included a bipartisan provision to address the problem, which passed by a vote of 94 to two. Surprisingly, the House bill fails to include this provision. My colleagues and I have offered up motions to include this Senate provision in the latest tax bill being considered by Congress (H.R. 1308), but have been voted down along party lines – 25 times.
Who else was left out? The children of janitors and maids who clean the places where we live and work; the cooks and kitchen workers in our cafeterias and restaurants; farmers and farm workers who grow and harvest the food we eat; teachers who educate our sons and daughters; child care workers whom we entrust with our kids while we work; nurses and caregivers who care and comfort the sick; bus, truck and cab drivers who get us home, get us to work, and move goods across our great land.
Who benefited from this year's tax cut legislation signed into law by President Bush? While working families lucky enough to meet the income requirements received an average child tax credit increase of $615 this year, tax filers with incomes of more than $1 million will receive on average an additional $93,500 in tax breaks.
Meanwhile, the poverty rate has increased and the number of jobs available continues to decrease. In my congressional district, over half the families received not one cent from the president's tax cuts. These families are those dedicated workers – a mother, a father, or both – that have put in full-time hours at minimum pay, make less than $26,000 a year, and pay taxes on every dollar they earn. The parents have contributed enough to deserve a break, a break that would enable them to buy new school clothes for their children, put a little money in the bank for an emergency, or maybe pay for that long-postponed trip to the pediatrician or dentist. The holidays are rapidly approaching and these well-intentioned parents will want to get a little something for their children – they deserve the opportunity to do that without falling further into debt.
But rather than spend the $3.5 billion that would adequately correct this inequity, the House once again wreaked havoc to our fiscal bottom line by passing $80 billion in additional, unpaid tax cuts for wealthy benefactors. It sounds like the punch line of a bad joke -- $80 billion spent to solve a $3.5 billion problem. Worse, it is a joke put forward at a time when the Treasury is suffering under the weight of annual deficits exceeding $400 billion for years to come.
This Congress and the president have failed our children and working families. We, however, have the power to change all that. It is time to end this impasse and make the child tax credit work for all Americans.

Local News:
Walgreen's Development
Grading should be starting sometime this month at the site of the new shopping center complex that will house the much anticipated and maligned Walgreen's Drug Store. The "For Lease" signs on the property are for other tenant spaces that will be offered.
Senior Apartments
Six years in the process, the senior/retail project designated for the corner of Colorado Blvd. and College View is scheduled to break ground on January 15.
Eagle Rock Flag
The Eagle Rock Flag that was intended to be displayed from one of the Cell Phone Poles next to the 2 freeway is in limbo again. Everything was proceeding until it was time for a check to be made for the purchase of the flag. At that point AT&T said Verizon would be handling it. Verizon claims to know nothing about it.
St. Dominic's Music Festival
The Christmas Music Festival will kick off on Friday, December 5th with the Occidental College Glee Club at 8:00pm. On Wednesday December 10th at 1:00pm and 7:00 pm will be the "First Noel" performed by St. Dominic School. Finally, the St. Dominic Parish Choirs will present the "Joyful Sounds of Christmas" on Saturday, December 20th at 7:00 p.m.
St Dominic Catholic Church is located at 2002 Merton Avenue in Eagle Rock.

La Posada
The Yearly La Posada event will start at St. Dominics Church, 2002 Merton Ave., at 4:00PM. From approximately 5:00 to 6:30PM the candlelight procession that reenacts Joseph and Mary's search for shelter for the birth of Jesus, will travel west from St. Dominic's to Eagle Rock Blvd, up Colorado to Argus, crossing to the north side of the boulevard there, and travel back down to complete the journey at RANTZ Auto Center, at 1941 Colorado. Music and refreshments will be available there.

Nutcracker Ballet
Ballet Of The Foothills proudly presents THE NUTCRACKER at the Historic Alex Theatre, 216 North Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA. On Saturday December 6th at 8:00pm and Sunday December 7th at 1:00pm & 4:00pm. The show features the Kalinin Russian Dancers, Steven Woodruff as Doctor Drosslmeyer and Arsen Serobian as The Cavalier.
Tickets: $25-$20-$15(student, senior, children & DRC). Available through Ballet Of The Foothills 818-790-5775, Or The Alex Box Office 818-243-2539, or visit www.AlexTheatre.org

Dear Glassell Park Residents,
I am happy to announce that TreePeople is donating free fruit Trees to Glassell Park. A group of volunteers will meet at 9am, Saturday the 17th of January of 2004 and go over to TreePeople to the pruning, prepping and pick up the Trees. If you can help us please meet us at the parking lot of the Rec. Center at 9am and we will ride share to TreePeople's headquarters. The Rec. Center is located at 3650 Verdugo Rd. in Glassell Park, Ca. 90065 just south of Eagle Rock Blvd.
Thank you and have a fruitful 2004!
Alonso Calderon

ERHS Homecoming

by David Crocket
Eagle Rock High School celebrated its 2003 homecoming on Friday, November 7, squaring off against Belmont High on an afternoon that could be described as chilly by Southern California standards. The teams battled inexorably for sixty minutes; to the delight of Eagle Rock's alumni, student body, and homecoming royalty, the Eagles prevailed by a sliver, topping the Belmont Sentinels by a final score of 21-20.
The Eagles drew first blood with a 30 yard touchdown dash with 9:34 remaining in the opening quarter. Up 7-0, the home team rapidly relinquished their early advantage on the following Belmont drive. After returning the kickoff to the Eagles' 21 yard line, a costly pass interference penalty sliced Belmont's distance from the goal in half, and Sentinel quarterback Ken Ceballos zipped in a touchdown pass from five yards out. The ensuing extra point attempt, however, sailed far to the right, and the Eagles held the lead by the narrowest of margins.
Eagle Rock's next drive yielded little, as the homecoming heroes relinquished possession after failing to convert a fourth down and two attempt. Meanwhile, the Belmont band could be heard wailing Offspring's "Pretty Fly for a White Guy," an obvious tribute to your humble scribes man. Belmont duplicated Eagle Rock's failed drive by faltering on a fourth down conversion attempt of their own.
Early in the second quarter, the Eagles' bruising defense laid a series of punishing hits on Belmont's Ceballos, sidelining him for the remainder of the game. The Eagles and Sentinels spent the majority of the second quarter continuing their game of gridiron ping pong, showing some signs of life on offense but relatively little, and exchanging possession time after time. Charles Cole, the replacement quarterback for Belmont, stirred things up a bit by converting a fake punt deep in Sentinel territory for a first down, but the drive abruptly ended when Eagle Rock's Sammy Villanueva picked off a pass with 3:45 left in the half. The Eagles, unable to gain much ground, were forced to punt shortly thereafter, but Sentinels gave up a costly fumble with just 1:24 on the clock, and the home team found itself clutching a golden opportunity. They capitalized. Following a pass interference call against Belmont, Eagles quarterback Camacho lasered a touchdown pass to Villanueva, and kicker Paul Zuber triumphantly booted the extra point to put Eagle Rock up 14-6.
The half-time festivities paid homage to Eagle Rock alumni and students alike; a caravan, which included a fire truck, a pick up truck, and seven convertibles, circled the field before introducing the homecoming royalty and grand marshals to the ebullient crowd. The bleachers were festooned with various posters, most of which read: "Go Eagles," or some variation of that. In the second half, Belmont rallied to knot the game up at 14 apiece with 10:04 remaining in the third quarter of play by striking a 53 yard touchdown pass and converting the two point conversion. The visitors, salivating over the prospect of ruining Eagle Rock's homecoming, built their momentum by recovering an Eagle fumble on the subsequent kick off. Back to back offsides penalties stunted Belmont's drive, and having to settle for a field goal attempt, the Sentinels watched kicker Edward Fuentes shank the kick, preserving the tie.
With just one minute in the third quarter, Belmont handed the ball back to Eagle Rock after enduring a loss of downs. The Eagles, however, allowed another fumble to find its way into the hands of the Sentinel's defense, and with just over forty seconds in the quarter, Benitez of Belmont galloped into the end zone from 42 yards out. Belmont's detrimental kicking game let them down again on the extra point; heading into the final period, Belmont led by a tally of 20-14.
After several futile drives, Eagle Rock mounted their decisive end zone march with just under six minutes to play. Camacho lassoed a 20 yard pass to John Brown, landing the Eagles on the Belmont 42, and Camacho connected with Trevino shortly thereafter, tying the game at 20. Eagle Rock's extra point kick was booted directly between the uprights, paving the way for a very happy and joyous homecoming. Belmont refused to capitulate, playing hard and aggressive until the very end, but a loss of downs with 1:26 cemented their fate and an Eagle win.

Speed Hazards on N. Avenue 64

Recently, residents of Highland Park and Pasadena gathered to discuss speed violations and threats to public safety at a community meeting. This is a letter of thanks to those in our community of Highland Park/Garvanza who came out in support of a community effort to organize and to affirm a longtime need to prevent speeding on N. Avenue 64.
The meeting held on Wednesday, November 21 at Hillsides Home at 7pm was attended by 20+ local residents comprised of Los Angeles and Pasadena residents. Our effort was acknowledged by the presence of Deputy Monica Garcia of District 14 Councilman's office and by a local journalist from the Boulevard Sentinel who was kind enough to hear our story.
Our goal is focused on slowing speeds and tailgating on N. Avenue 64 from La Loma Rd. in Pasadena to Meridian St. in Los Angeles and to promote safe pedestrian crossings at the intersection of N. Avenue 64 and Church Street by installing Stop Signs and clearly marked crosswalks.
This is a Tale of Two Cities working together to promote public safety for motorists, local residents, and pedestrians crossing our streets. If you can relate to our issues and can help us in our effort, please attend our next meeting on:
Wednesday, January 21, 2004 from 7pm to 830pm at the Hillsides Home's Community Room located at 940 N. Avenue 64. Your presence or a letter of support would be appreciated.
Letters can be sent via email to armez@gte.net which will be printed out and submitted to the Departments of Transportation of Pasadena and Los Angeles. Please include your Name and Address when corresponding.
Your attention in this matter is greatly appreciated.
Ana Meza
armez@gte.net

Eagle Vista Seniors
Happy Holidays from the Eagle Vista Seniors who will begin their December calendar, on Tuesday, the second, with their 9:30am Board meeting, followed by the 10:00am business meeting. Birthday Cake will be served for members born in the month of December.
On Friday, Dec. 5, luncheon and the "Wonderful World of Christmas" show at the Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theater will be their destination. The bus leaves the Eagle Rock Recreation Center at 10am and will return about 5pm.
Dec. 9-11 (Tuesday through Thursday) is the Annual Laughlin Christmas Trip. Bus leaves 8: am and returns travelers on Thursday at 6:30pm.
The Seniors Christmas party will take place on Friday, Dec. 16, at the Glendale Elks Club, 120 E. Colorado Blvd., at 10:00am. Officers for the coming year will be installed at this meeting. They are: Patricia Miller, President; Arthur Gibson, Vice-President; Thelma Iglauer, Recording Secretary; Patricia Saul, Corresponding Secretary; Joanne Hartman, Treasurer; Annabelle Christian, Parliamentarian.
A one-woman show by Rose Calis will feature music of George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Rodgers & Hart, as well as a sing-a-long. The cost of the noon luncheon is $11.50 for all. Attendees are requested to bring a $5 wrapped gift to be exchanged during the festivities.
No meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 23.

Baptist Church Choir
The Seasonal Choir of Eagle Rock Baptist Church will be presenting "Treasures of Christmas" at 6:30 p.m. on December 21, 2003. Under the direction of Worship Minister, Steven Brooks the choir will be presenting a collection of traditional and contemporary music celebrating Christmas.
"Treasure of Christmas" continues the unique and highly acclaimed Christmas collections from Phil Barfoot and Lari Goss. This collection contains ten new contemporary arrangements crafted to make a powerful impact throughout this Christmas season. Each song in "Treasures of Christmas" was chosen by ministers of music across America. The creativity and passion for meaningful worship at the heart of this series shines through each arrangement.
"Treasures of Christmas" will be performed in the Worship Center of Eagle Rock Baptist Church. There is no charge for admission and all the community is invited. Eagle Rock Baptist Church is located at 1499 E. Colorado Blvd.

Optimist Homes Festive Event
Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services, a leading education and treatment center for at-risk youth, rings in the 2003 holiday season with its 51st annual Festival of Trees in Burbank.
The popular Opti-Mrs. Festival of Trees will be held Monday, Dec. 8 (10 a.m.) at the Hilton Burbank Airport & Convention Center (2500 Hollywood Way). The colorful event costs $45 and includes luncheon, fashion show and an opportunity to win one of the 50 decorated and gift-laden holiday trees. Proceeds benefit the agency's programs and services.
Founded in 1906, Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services annually cares for thousands of abused, troubled and neglected youth and juvenile offenders on probation and their families from around California and is one of the largest such private centers in the region.
The agency is also appealing to the public to help fulfill the holiday wishes of the children and families it serves year-round on its residential campus and in the community. Items being sought include:
* Infants: Clothing, developmental and light-up toys, activity sets, blankets and teething rings.
* Preschoolers (girls and boys): Toys, blocks, books and car sets.
* Young Children: dolls of all ethnicities; toy car sets and remote control vehicles; electronic handheld games; board games; books; radios, walkmans and CD players; and sports equipment (basketballs, soccer balls).
* Female teens: Bracelets, earrings and bath products.
* Gift certificates to music, clothing and department stores.
Accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services, Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services also operates seven group homes, a private high school, a foster care and adoption agency and multifaceted programs for community youth and parents.
For further information about the Festival of Trees, call Gretchen Mucci at (323) 443-3022 or Dee Gadbury at (661) 252-7313. For details about the gift giving, please call Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services at (877) 74-YOUTH.

To the Editor,
Is it just me or does there seem to be a rash of serious (and not-so-serious crime) in the Eagle Rock area lately? In the last month, I personally know one woman whose family was robbed at gun point in front of their home, another woman whose apartment was broken into and all of her valuables stolen, still another friend's car was stolen two weeks ago and there have been two sexual assaults on the Occidental campus, where I work. Compared to this list, the proliferation of graffiti I've noticed around the neighborhood seems like small potatoes, but is worth mentioning as well. I would appreciate some statistics on recent crime in Eagle Rock this fall to see if this is truly a crime storm or if it is only a cloud hovering over my friends' heads!
Thank you,
Erica Murray

CLEAN and GREEN –

November 2003 -- Participants in one of several work groups from the "Clean Team" in the Northeast Los Angeles neighborhood of Hermon, surround a dozen of the many large bags of trash collected this year during monthly Saturday morning clean-ups. For the past year, Hermon residents and friends from nearby communities have donated two hours on the first Saturday of each month and collected nearly two tons of trash, removed illegally dumped items, planted greenery, and scrubbed out or painted over graffiti throughout the neighborhood. In 2003, Hermon celebrated its 100-year anniversary (established in 1903; a part of the City of Los Angeles since 1912), by collecting 100 bags of trash (weighing an average of 30-35 pounds each) from neighborhood streets and parks and planting more than 100 new parkway and home shade trees throughout the Arroyo Seco community. The historic Hermon community of Los Angeles is located between El Sereno, Highland Park, and the town of South Pasadena on the east side of the arroyo and the 110 – Pasadena Freeway. Since July 2003, volunteer workers' time has also been "matched" by L.A.'s Neighborhood Matching fund program that will add new trees and a permanent community marker to Hermon's centrally located Monterey Road grassy median area between Avenue 60 and Via Marisol.
-- Hermon Neighborhood Association Photo

AIDS Day Art Exhibition
Sunday, December 7, 2003, 1-4 PM, Los Angeles, CA --- The Eagle Rock Community Cultural Association, now doing business as The Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, will host a reception for the artists of An Art Exhibition In Recognition of World AIDS Day. The reception will include entertainment and refreshments. Admission is free.
The artists are Alex Aleixo, Peter Delgadillo, horea, David Johnson, David King, and Pedro Soto. Entertainment will be provided Gregory Cruz Guitar Duo. The Board and the Staff of the Center are very proud of the work of these artists and would be pleased for all to come and celebrate their work..
For more information call Lui or Jenny at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, 323.226.1617. .

World famous “Uncle” Max Norris serves up free community Thanksgiving dinners at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Club, on Yosemite Drive.

Yosemite Rec. Center Holiday Events
Winter Wonderland & Holiday Performance
This is a free event open to the public on Saturday December 20th. The performance starts at 1pm and the Winter Wonderland activities go from 2:30-6:30pm. Activities include falling snow, arts & crafts, games, Santa Claus, snow slide rides, snack bar, temporary tattoos and more. The first 200 kids to attend will receive a free stocking.
Need a day to shop till you drop... but what are you going to do with your kids?
On Saturday, December 13th we will be having a One Day Winter Camp for ages 6-12 years for only $65 from 9am-6pm. The CLASS Parks program will also be sponsoring a day of Christmas crafts, lunch, games, and a movie for teens 11-13 years old on Saturday December 6th from 11am-5pm for only $25.
Winter Camp for Ages 6-12 years
Week # 1 – Dec. 22nd-26th (1/2 day Dec. 24; No camp on Dec. 25th)
Week # 2 – Dec. 29th-Jan. 2nd (1/2 day Dec. 31; No camp on Jan.1st)
Week # 3 – Jan. 5th-9th
Cost: $70 per week including the field trips
Ice Skating, Disney on Ice, Knott's Berry Farm dates TBA. Opening of NEW Gymnasium: coming soon.
Registration for the Winter Basketball League will begin December 12th, 2003. In attempt to RAISE THE BAR (Achieving gender equity through a continuous commitment to girls & women in sports.), we are offering a winter girls only league starting in January. In addition we are offering a youth coed basketball league for ages 5-12yrs. in the winter. On Fridays 9-11pm we are having a Late Night Hoops League for teams ages 16-25yrs. On Thursday nights adult teams of 6'5" & under can play basketball in Yosemite's brand new gym. We offer quality leagues & officials in a well organized environment. (Other classes & leagues in the new gymnasium TBA.)
Mobile Skate Park: At Yosemite Park on the 2nd Sat. of October (11th), November (8th), & December (13th). On November 18th participants can register to win free Grind T-shirts, a Vans Sweatshirts and other great prizes. (Must be present to win.) Helmets and pads are required & youth under 18 yrs. must have a parent signed waiver. Equipment will be available for check out.
Teen Club: For ages 11-16 yrs. Monday through Friday 3-7pm. Community service, educational, and volunteer opportunities - Earn fun field trips – Daily tutoring 3-4:30pm – Cooking – Arts & Crafts – Movies – Social events – Teen only basketball times and leagues – Tregnan Golf Academy.
Need a location for your next birthday or family party? Call Yosemite Recreation Center and ask for a use of facility form to receive information about availability and pricing. Indoors or outdoors and we offer theme parties for only $300.00. Inquire today!!!
Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call me at 323. 257. 1644. or you may e-mail me at cbruno@rap.lacity.org.

Workers Comp Meeting
The Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce has rescheduled the meeting with Assemblymember Carol Liu. It will be held on Monday December 15 at Solheim Lutheran Home 2236 Merton Ave.
The meeting will begin at 2:30pm and will address the impact that the current compensation insurance increases have had on businesses in our community. We will hear what Assemblymember Liu can do to help before the next scheduled increase takes place at the first of the year. There will be a question and answer period. The meeting will conclude at 3:30pm.
Everyone is welcome to attend. We especially encourage local businesses and those businesses in the nearby area to join us. This meeting is for you. Please let us know that you will be there by replying to this email or calling Kaye Beckham 323-254-9163 no later than Friday December 12th.

Dinner with my Polish Grandmother

by Mme. La Bouche
My family isn't big on Thanksgiving -- I mean the dinner, not the sentiment. Mom doesn't really like to eat, let alone cook, and my brother insists that restaurant staff do unspeakable things to your food when they are forced to serve customers on Thanksgiving day. So unless I pull a meal together, we go to the movies. But this year, after dining at Polka a couple days after the holiday, I feel as if I've spent an afternoon at my long-lost Polish grandmother's house for a truly remarkable family meal that rivals anyone's idea of a Thanksgiving feast in sheer volume, density, quantity and quality, without the concomitant threat of marshmallow-topped canned yams, televised football or drunken uncles.
Step out of the mini-mall parking lot on York and Verdugo and into this eclectic homey restaurant where the family drama (the good, edible kind) immediately begins. You may be reminded of Grandma's brand of aggressive hospitality when a bowl of searing-hot soup du jour appears simultaneously with the menu and is plopped down on the vinyl tablecloth before you. On the day I dined at Polka I enjoyed a rich, broth-based mushroom soup flavored with Maggi, a mildly piquant commercial seasoning used often in Europe that remains an exotic revelation in America. By request and at an additional charge, you can alternately enjoy their "flaczki" soup (julienned beef tripe), a Polka specialty, which can also be ordered in a larger bowl with fresh rye bread and eaten as a meal in itself.
Try to remember the names of the French versions of song standards wafting about as you slurp up the delicious soup, which is included in the price of every meal, as is the salad that soon follows: refreshing shreds of carrot and jicama, lettuce, red onion, and black sesame seeds served in a bowl, reminiscent of a Japanese sunemono salad with its delicate, slightly sweet, palate-cleansing dressing.
Like the best grandmotherly cuisine, food preparation at Polka is skillful, not pretentious: they really know how to work their ingredients. Hand made pierogi made of potato flour pastry wrapped around a combination of beef, pork and chicken are no less juicy and tasty than those artfully stuffed with sauerkraut and mushrooms. One of the latter is featured on the vegetarian "Jarosz Plate" overflowing with vegetables, along with a buttery potato and cheese pierogi, a generous pile of moist dumplings, and the potato dish of the day which happened to be a satisfying casserole of paprika-infused, cubed spuds on the day I tried it.
When my dining companion's entrée arrived, it looked like someone had mistakenly breaded and pan-fried a beret. This was the "kotlet schabowy," Poland's answer to schnitzel, described on the menu as breaded loin of pork. No pork loin slice could have been pounded into a cutlet that large, however, or tasted so flavorful. It was more likely cut from the leg, and just as tender and moist on the inside as it was crunchy and Frisbee-sized on the outside.
The menu isn't vast but it is extremely well balanced, and there really is something for everyone. While Polish cuisine does tend toward the satisfyingly starchy, Atkins dieters can find satisfying solace in the variety of meat items. But the gut-warming brilliance of the carb-laden potato dishes are hard to turn down, especially since they are a perfect foil for the juicy, sauced meats, all capably prepared: homemade kielbasa; tender braised, broiled, and boned chicken thighs or chicken livers; and "ryba," a perfectly cooked salmon filet served with stewed mushrooms. Other good choices are "pieczen," unbreaded, braised pork, "gulasz," beef stew with dumplings, and "klopsy," large, ground beef/pork/chicken meatballs that are more like uber-Salisbury steaks topped with gravy and nestled on potatoes. I didn't try the stuffed cabbage, but my companion did: aromatic bundles of spicy beef, pork and chicken, served over potatoes or steamed rice.
All menu items are served on what first appear to be dauntingly large oval plates, until you realize that half the space is filled with vegetables, all cooked in flavored broth. The only clinkers are the canned corn and peas which can't hope to compete with the bright, sweet slices of fresh carrot, cooked just until done and finished with butter.
The dinner menu is identical to the lunch menu but the prices are higher by $2.00 per entrée, though still extremely reasonable. The quality is absolutely consistent day into evening, however, and proprietors Kathy and Andrew Dabrowski would have it no other way. Their strong family feeling shows in the way almost every one of their eight to ten tables seats more than two, and groups up to eight or more can be accommodated in the compact space. Children's meals are half sized and half price versions of the regular menu. Yeoman types can band together and order three of the entrees (one from each of the Daily, Special and Royal Entree menu price categories) and eat as much as they can handle for $15.00 per person. The only logistical drawback to coming with a crowd is that Kathy and Andrew don't take phone reservations, but they will reserve a table for a given day and time if you stop by in person.
Bring your own beverage or wine which you may enjoy as long as you buy the price of another Polka beverage at $.99 per person, which amounts to the least expensive corkage fee anywhere. Beverages here are mostly soft drinks or teas, with an entire menu panel devoted to various herbal medicinal infusions. I was quite taken by their "Polka Tea" (a milder version of black Russian tea) which provides a bracing end to a fortifying meal.
Smart folks will ignore the token dessert array and order food to take home with them after their meal, or call in their take-out order on another day. Hosts-with-the-most-brains will call immediately and book Polka to cater their holiday gathering at home or the office. Or spread your gratitude for a fine Polish meal around by tucking Polka gift certificates ($15.00 each) into your family's or employees' holiday stockings.
In this busy season, after a hard day hitting the malls, even when you can hardly move, take the time to Polka. You will be grateful that you did.
- Polka 4112 Verdugo Road (at York) 323-255-7887 11 AM 9 PM Wed - Sun.
Please send your Northeast area restaurant discoveries addressed to "One Toque Over the Line" c/o The Boulevard Sentinel for consideration for review in the future.

Southwest Museum
Exhibition, Sale and Las Posadas
On Saturday, December 6, from 6 to 8:00 p.m., celebrate the holidays with one of the museum's oldest traditions. At nearby Casa de Adobe, Las Posadas reenacts Joseph and Mary's search for shelter. Guests join in a dramatic candlelight procession with traditional music presented by Martin Espiño and his group of musicians and singers. The casa is lit with soft light from luminaries, and nacimientos (nativity scenes) from community families will be displayed in the chapel. Following the procession, a piñata will be broken and light refreshments served. Reservations are required. Las Posadas admission is free for museum members, $5 for guests.
The Four Centuries of Pueblo Pottery exhibition features over 100 pieces of rare ceramics created by the Pueblo Indian people of New Mexico and Arizona. The exhibit runs through February.
Members of the Southwest Museum get bonus shopping opportunities this year. They have the opportunity to shop special discount days at the Southwest Museum Store, and the museum has arranged with the Skirball Museum and the Japanese American National Museum for reciprocal discount shopping for their members. Members will receive 20% off all purchases except consignment and sale items. Don't miss the "sale table" piled high with incredible bargains!
The Southwest Museum is across the street from the Southwest Museum Station on Los Angeles' fabulous new light rail. Follow the signs to the Museum's Tunnel Entrance and elevator. The Southwest Museum is located at 234 Museum Drive, right off Marmion Way. For information, please call 323-221-2164, ext. 221.
Museum Hours: (Mt. Washington) Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Mondays and major holidays Telephone: 323-221-2164
Admission: Adults $6.00
Seniors & Students $4.00
Youths (7-18) $3.00
Southwest Museum members and children under 6 free AAA Member discount
Discounts for: AARP, KCET, KCRW, KUSC, CEELA, LA Arts, L.A. Philharmonic and L.A. Master Chorale

Occidental-Foothill Chorale
presents all-Beethoven Winter Concert
The Occidental-Foothill Master Chorale and Orchestra Camerata will present a winter concert featuring three Beethoven masterpieces - Mass in C Major, Choral Fantasy and Meerestille und Gluckliche Fahrt - at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 in Thorne Hall on the Occidental College campus. Alan Steinberger will be the featured piano soloist.
General admission tickets are $20 ($10 for students) and can be purchased at the door or by calling (323) 259-2879. They can also be bought online at www.oxybookstore.com <http://www.oxybookstore.com>. For maps and directions to Occidental, visit www.oxy.edu/oxy/welcome/directions <http://www.oxy.edu/oxy/welcome/directions>. For more information, call the music department at (323) 259-2785.
The Occidental-Foothill Master Chorale is a large oratorio chorus dedicated to the performance of major choral works with orchestra. It is open by audition to all singers with choral or instrumental experience from the local community.

Toyz for Tots Car Show
Goodtimes Car Club event at Elysian Park from 11:00am to 3:00pm - bring a toy - trophies awarded for Best Bomb, Best Lowrider, Best Euro & Truck, Suv, & Bike, and best Hot Rod

Help-U-Sell Lets You Choose
With an industry teeming with Internet and computer technologies, "unbundling", the real estate concept of offering menu-driven, fee-for-services is causing consumers to take a hard look at the way the whole real estate sales process has traditionally been packaged. "In the past, the real estate procedure can be likened to going to a restaurant, ordering an entrée and then getting billed for everything on the menu," reports Jesse Moreno of the new Help-U-Sell office in Eagle Rock. "Unbundling allows us to offer consumers the services they need and not have them pay for services they don't need or want. In this way, they can save thousands of dollars and protect the equity they've built in their home."
Help-U-Sell Real Estate has been at the forefront of unbundling and is one of the only national companies offering services of its kind. "We give homebuyers and sellers the best of both worlds," reports Jesse Moreno, "They can choose the things they want to do, like showing their own home, and we back them up with professional services that they can't do or choose not to do on their own."
Real estate author and unbundling proponent, Julie Garton Good adds "Consumers have been serviced to death," she says, reporting on the mounds of paperwork they receive from traditional real estate salespeople, "Homeowners go where they get results. Help-U-Sell gets results."
The newest Help-U-Sell office in Eagle Rock is located at 4159 Eagle Rock Blvd. Unit B and will cover the Northeast Los Angeles, Glendale areas. Consumers who are interested in learning more about ways they can save money when buying or selling a home, should give them a call at 323-255-9036.
Jesse Moreno, previously with Dilbeck Realtors in Eagle Rock simply thought the time was right for home sellers in the Eagle Rock area to save thousands when selling their home. "Today's consumer wants to spend his hard earned money where he wants. As consumers, we will spend thousands on a trip to the Caribbean or Europe and then shop for toilet paper at Costco to save a few bucks. Why? Because we want to choose where we spend our money. Help U Sell does exactly that, it lets you choose."