Northeast Veteran’s

Parade Success

Northeast Community Salute to Veterans

50 foot American Flag raised in Honor of our Veterans

Colorado Blvd. in Eagle Rock as a GreenStreet

Troy Drive-in Crash Kills One- Injures Three

Survelliance video on Youtube shows the restaurant just before and a few seconds after a car plowed through the wall, killing one woman and injuring three.

Atwater Village to L.A. City Council- "We're not Blighted!"

Eagle Rock Centennial Calendars Available

Rob and Katrina's Journey

From waiting tables to selling homes.

Holidays on Route 66

    The 66th Northeast Los Angeles Holiday Parade will officially bring in the holiday season on Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 1 p.m. The city's second oldest annual holiday parade offers has become a great attraction for entertainers and audience alike! Our list of participants has multiplied in the past two year, offering more marching bands, drill teams, dancers, musicians, floats, equestrian units, celebrities and community representatives. As in year's past, Santa Clause has already confirmed his visit to Northeast L.A. and will be accepting letters from children as part of the Holiday celebration.
    This annual volunteer organized community parade is being presented by the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce with collaboration from Los Angeles City Councilmen Ed Reyes (CD 1) and Jose Huizar (CD 14) as well as City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and numerous local businesses and organizations.
    The parade will proceed from North Figueroa Street and Avenue 60, southbound to Sycamore Grove Park where Winterfest activities continue, offering live music and the announcement of the award winning Parade entries. Accessible by the Metro Rail Gold Line, the parade also introduces visitors to the Northeast area's cultural and historic facilities and unique shopping experience.
    For more information, please call parade producer, Rosamaria Marquez at (323) 635-9125 or write rockroseproductions@yahoo.com or Yolanda Nogueira at (323) 256-3151or write xmanxins@sbcglobal.net
Eagle Rock Comedy Festival
    Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock and Bobbie Oliver's StandUp Productions proudly present the first Eagle Rock Comedy Festival. The festival takes place at various venues two nights in Eagle Rock on Wednesday December 8th and Thursday December 9th from 8:00-10:00pm. The final performance takes place Sunday December 12th at 9:00pm at the Ice House in Pasadena.
    With 10 venues and over 100 comedians, there will be something for everyone (including improv. at All Star Lanes and clean shows at Colombo's and The Capri). Venues including Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock (Thursday); Corner Pizzeria (Thursday); All Star Lanes (Wednesday); The York (Wednesday); Colombo's (Wednesday); The Capri (Wednesday); Larkin's; Swork; Coffee Table; Dave's Chillin-n-Grillin; Brownstone Pizzeria. Venues participate both nights unless otherwise specified. Admission is free, though guests are encouraged to support the businesses by buying food and drinks.         The Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock show on December 9th, the second night of the festival, brings to the stage Komal Bhojwani, Cornell Reid, Johnny Pemberton (Megadrive), DJ Douggpound (Tim and Eric), Eric Andre (The Awkward Comedy Show), Bobbie Oliver (Entertainers with Byron Allen), Jackie Kashian (Comedy Central), Baron Vaughn (The Awkward Comedy Show), Eddie Pepitone (The Sarah Silverman Show), and will be hosted by Eric Dadourian. Doors open at 7:30pm, and the show begins at 8:00pm. A five-dollar suggested donation to support the Center can be made at this show.         Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock is a nonprofit 501 (c)3 arts organization whose mission is to provide innovative and multicultural arts programming to the communities of Northeast Los Angeles. For more information about Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock please visit: www.centerartseaglerock.org or call 323-226-1617. The Eagle Rock Comedy Festival is sponsored by Black Boar and the Ice House Comedy Club in Pasadena, and is co-produced with StandUp Productions. StandUp Productions is a comedy production company owned and operated by veteran comedian Bobbie Oliver. Based out of the legendary Ice House, StandUp Productions produces live stand-up comedy shows featuring Los Angeles's hottest-up-and-coming comedians. For more information about StandUp Productions, please visit www.standupproductions.net.

Looking Back

Garvanza Book Signing

    A large crowd gathered on a wonderful Autumn Saturday evening in November for the release party of Charles Fishers' newest book, "Garvanza".  Many Garvanza residents crowded the Figuroa Market to stand in line and get Mr. Fishers autograph on their copies of the hot off the press publication.  As always, Fisher was more than willing to chat with everyone about all things Garvanza and Highland Park related.

HHPNC Send Nine Franklin Students to Sacramento

Stan Moore
    After a hiatus of two years the HHPNC will once again send nine Franklin High School students to the otherwise all-college Sacramento Legislative Seminar in late February. Two years ago in 2008, because of the stock market crash, the participating sixteen participating colleges voted to cut their operating budgets between 15 and 20 percent and canceled the Sacramento Legislative Seminar (SLA). For the first time since its start in 1954 the SLS Conference was not held. Then in 2009, because of internal fighting, the HHPNC's budget was frozen by the City of L.A. and Franklin students could not be sent to the SLS Conference. Last year, at the very last minute, Dr. Fernando Guerra, head of two political science programs at Loyola Marymount University AND at graduate of Franklin High School offered to pay for the Franklin students but Luis Lopez, then principal at Franklin, said the offer came too late for the school to participate.
    Franklin students are the only high school students in California permitted to attend as a gift by his former colleagues to Dr. Stanley Moore, former president of the SLS for twenty years, and now, for the past eight years, a member of the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council (HHPNC).
    The students are selected by the teachers at Franklin under the direction of Professor Yim Tam of the Transportation Academy of Franklin and Dr. Moore. The students must have good academic records and write a 500 word essay on "How I would try to improve Highland Park if I had the power to do so." The written essays are then available to any member of the HHPNC to read and to, hopefully, get some ideas for the HHPNC as it tries to represent the area before the officials of the City. The HHPNC also requires the students to attend a meeting of the HHPNC upon their return and give a report on their trip to the Conference.
    INTERESTED? Know a high school student living in Highland Park who should go to the Sacramento Legislative Seminar? Help us get the word out to eligible Sophomores and Juniors! NEED MORE INFORMATION? CALL Dr. Stanley W. Moore at (323) 256-1024. COME to an HHPNC meeting on the first or third Thursdays of January at 7 p.m.! Meetings are now held at the Senior Center at the corner of York Blvd. and Figueroa next to "Veterans' Square." This is a wonderful opportunity annually to reward some of our better students and to give them visions of how they might make a difference in our community. Dr. Fernando Guerra always gives the students some special attention during the Conference and provides them with a good role model of a Franklin graduate.

Oxy Expert's New Book out on Food Justice Movement

Occidental News Service
    Two experts from Occidental College's Urban & Environmental Policy institute have written Food Justice, the first major account of the emerging social movement to transform the nation's food system from seed to table.
    Robert Gottlieb, the Henry Luce Professor of Environmental Studies and director of Occidental's Urban & Environmental Policy Institute, and Anupama Joshi, co-director of the institute's National Farm to School Network, chronicle America's food inequities and excesses, the country's deteriorating state of food production, distribution and consumption, and grassroots efforts to change the system.
    "This is the first comprehensive inquiry and study of this emerging social movement,"
Gottlieb said. "Our book profiles dynamic food justice groups and organizing efforts and the new politics around food, from how it's grown to where it's sold and what we eat."
    Gottlieb will speak about Food Justice (published by MIT Press) on Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 4:30 p.m. at Whittier College's Diehl Hall, Room 118. He will also give a reading and book signing on Sunday, Nov. 21, at 3 p.m. at the Progressive Jewish Alliance in Santa Monica. The events are free and open to the public. For more information, go to: http://www.foodjusticebook.org/?page_id=28.
    Food Justice details how farm workers face hazardous conditions, low-income neighborhoods lack supermarkets but abound in fast-food restaurants and liquor stores, food products emphasize convenience instead of healthfulness, and the international reach of American fast food has been a major contributor to the "globesity" epidemic.
    In addition, Gottlieb and Joshi describe current efforts to improve the food system, including community gardens and farmer training in Holyoke, Mass.; middle-school students in New Orleans revamping their cafeteria fare to include locally sustainable food; farm-to-school programs across the country; and the advocacy that led to the Los Angeles public school system's elimination of sugary soft drinks from its cafeterias. The authors also tell how food activism has succeeded at the highest level, with a food justice program like farm-to-school becoming a priority initiative for the Obama White House.
    In its review, the American Library Association's Booklist stated that Food Justice "offers attainable examples of ways consumers, farmers, manufacturers, merchants, and legislators can correct system-wide injustices."
    Carlo Petrini, founder of the nonprofit group Slow Food International, goes a step further, writing that the book "tells us that growing and eating food are political acts that challenge a system that is neither good, nor clean, nor fair."
    For more information about Food Justice, go to: http://www.foodjusticebook.org.

"Still Cruisin" with The Eagle Rockin' Rodders

Greetings,friends and neighbors,

    Thank you to everyone who attended our last cruise-in of the year, despite the very cold weather.  Half way through it started raining so we moved to the covered tables where we continued the raffle in our "can do" manner.
    Although the turn out was our smallest by far since moving to Tommy's Burgers the toy drive was very successful!  We were blessed when Trompers members Bob Bean, Tim Dodd, Dean Ferrari, Ken Keys, and Michael Rickman, stopped by to drop off toys.  Also, special thanks to Rex and Rene Jarimillo, Rick Tokiyeda, Al and Sandy Reyes, Mary Garson-Amhrein, and Gordon Salomon, who not only brought toys but braved the cold and stayed till the end.  Anne Nankil, and Audrey Bienhoff, also contributed toys.  Fire Station 42 was pleased with our donations and surprised we had collected so much despite the weather.  This just proves why Eagle Rock is such a great town.  It has great people!
    As mentioned last month, the focus for our charitable donations this year was on the children of Eagle Rock.  With so many out of work and times being hard we looked to the elementary schools to help us identify families in need.  We purchased 21 complete turkey dinners from the local Vons. Each school received 7 certificates along with instructions for picking up their pre-cooked meal.  Every dinner feeds 8 and includes a turkey, potatoes, gravy, cranberries, pie, stuffing, and a dozen rolls.  This adds up to a total of 168 people in our town that won't be hungry this Christmas. 
    On hand to accept on behalf of the schools were Amanda Millett (ER Elem. PTA rep), and Maria Briseno (Dahlia Heights Elem. PTA Pres.).  They told us "this year there is more of a need then ever".  Rockdale Elem. will also be receiving certificates but unfortunately their rep. Dianne Jorgenson, was unable to attend.
    This months' pick of the month is owned by Jim and Sue Sanford. It's a black, 1948 Dodge, Club Coop.  Jim bought this car 25 years ago from the original owner.  The car was in one piece but he has restored it all back to "original" from the ground up.  It's all stock including the flat head six motor and 3 speed fluid drive transmission.  Most of the work on the car was done by Jim and his friends with the exception of body work and paint job.  It's a beautiful car that has appeared in four movies and the only modification Jim has made was tucking a CD player under the dash, since cars did not come equipped with a radio back in the day.  Thank you Jim and Sue, for bringing it out and for the pleasure hanging out with your family!
    There will be NO cruise-in in December or January due to the cold weather but we will be back at Tommy's Burgers, the last Saturday in February.  As we say farewell to 2010 we once again say a special thanks to our wonderful sponsors Tritch Hardware, Sir Michaels, La Abaja Restaurant, Pale Fire, The Boulevard Sentinel, Tommy's Burgers, and Nestle'.  Have a safe and Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year to one and all!

ERHS Hall of Fame Inductees

Tim Alexander - Much More than an Athlete

    Tim Alexander left quite an impression on his S'57 classmates and other ER graduates at that time. After speaking with many Eagle Rock Alumni and reading numerous Sports Hall of Fame nominations, they painted a splendid portrait of a truly great graduate. One recurring theme was that of a "real gentleman" . Several individuals stated that in high school Tim was really a "man among boys". That word MAN really summarizes these comments; and words starting with the letters in the word Man (M, A, and N). truly capture his qualities and explain why he was not only nominated for the ER Sports Hall of Fame but also selected:
M - Mount Washington
    He lived on the top of Mt Washington and rode his bicycle round trip to ER - all the way down and up those steep 900 foot elevation hills until his senior year.
Mature - Words such as polite, kind, helpful, and a leader kept reoccurring.
Modest - When I called him regarding his selection he stated "I do not even deserve the nomination." He also said many others were more worthy, and referred to himself as "just another old geezer."
Model - He was President of the Student Body, Boys League, and Lettermen's Club - truly a role model for other students.
A - Athletic
    Football For the 1956 season he was the Captain of ER's only undefeated and untied team since the school began in 1927 . He was named Northern League Most Valuable Player, and selected First String All-City End. Head Football Coach Roy Jae described him as "the best defensive end in LA". Finally he was a participant in the California North- South All Star Game (the highest honor for any player in the Golden State).
Baseball - He was Captain of the 1957 team and selected as the First Team All-League and All-City Left Fielder. During his senior year he hit 500. A teammate described him as having "a long powerful swing, a good arm, and deceptive speed." Being selected first team All City in two sports is very rare.
Academic - His scholastic record was tops, and he was admitted to Stanford University.
Achiever - He worked in the Library of Congress, performed ground and surface water modeling, consulted with the Stanford University Engineering Dept., in 1983 was a pioneer GPS technology, and numerous other vocational accomplishments.
N - Natural
    One friend referred to his inability to "put on airs and not be himself".
Neutral - Several Alumni described his objective manner.
Nurturing - He was very supportive of teammates, classmates, and friends.
    Imagine if your vehicle's GPS system could direct you to the location of people with specific characteristics. If you inputted the following factors and started your engine and drove, it would be very easy to determine where your vehicle would head.
Description - MAN
High School - Eagle Rock
Category - Student
Graduation year - 1957
Command -Find
Results - If it was 1957 your vehicle would go directly to the top of Mt Washington, but today you would arrive at Tim Alexander's address in New York City. Yes, Eagle Rock's "Big Eagle" is now in the "Big Apple". New York City is very fortunate to have this truly remarkable MAN.

Rick Carey - A Versatile and Record Setting Competitor

    Rick Carey S'63 was one of the few ER athletes who lettered in four varsity sports (baseball, basketball, football, and track & field) while attending ER from 1957 through 1963.
Baseball - In his sophomore year he was an outfielder on Coach Joe Kelly's 1961 team. He was noted for his speed and defensive skills and probably would have developed into one of ER's greatest ballplayers; however, his success and concentration in his signature spring sport (Track & Field) prevented that.
Basketball - As a junior he started on the Jr. Varsity team, but his jumping and rebounding ability caused coach Morey Elmore to promoted him to the varsity basketball team. He helped the team qualify for the LA City playoffs.
Football - In Rick's sophomore year he was a member of the B football team, but he did not play again until his senior year. With no varsity experience, he joined the 1962 football squad and made a big impact. He was named First- String All-Northern League as an end. He was surprised to receive the honor since he did not score one touchdown all season. His only chance was foiled by the great Lincoln High running/defensive back Tony Kochinas. Tony came out of nowhere to tackle Rick when he had a clear path to pay dirt. At the October 23rd Sports Hall of Fame Program Tony surprised Rick on the 48 year anniversary of "that famous tackle".
Track & Field -     Rick's accomplishment in the prior three sports pale in comparison to his achievements as a Senior on the 1963 Track & Field Team. A team that placed third in the LA City Finals (the highest level in school history). He participated in three events - the High Hurdles, High Jump, and the Pole Vault. In the 120 HH he ran 15.1, then the fourth best time in school history. He finished second in the Northern League behind Bob Jones (the greatest High Hurdler in ER's 83 year history). The High Jump and Pole Vault proved to be his signature events. He set school records at 6' 5 3/4 & 13' 9" and finished first place in the Northern League in both events. However, it is ---->>>>
what his subsequent achievements that served as the crowning accomplishments for his induction in ER's Sports Hall of Fame. In the LA City meet he finished second in the high jump, and tied for second in the pole vault. At the State meet he placed fifth in the High Jump and ninth in the pole vault.
    After the State Meet, Rick was invited to participate in the National Invitational Track Meet featuring the best High School athletes in the Nation. At that meet he placed first in the high jump. He is the only ER athlete to achieve this notable feat. Perhaps, the words to Carley Simon's 1977 song "Nobody Does It Better" best describes Rick's jumping and vaulting achievements - "No one at ER did them better" - combining the High Jump and Pole Vault to the great heights. Not too bad in the high hurdles either!

Bill Renison - Eagle Rocks Remarkable Running Back

    Pound for pound Bill Renison W'60 was the greatest Eagle Rock running back in the 20th century. He was also a very good Track & Field competitor. Two factors contributing to his success may been heredity, and geographical location. His Uncle Bill S'32 set the Eagle Rock 100 yd. dash record. His father Bob was a Championship baseball player at Franklin and later starred for the Eagle Rock Merchants. Regarding geographical location, his residence on Vincent Ave might also have been a benefit. His back fence was a gateway to the Eagle Rock football/track field - one hop over that fence and a great Eagle Rock athletic wonderland beckoned.

Track and Field - As a Class C participant in1957 he set school records in the 180 yd. dash and the long jump. He was Northern League Champion and a City medalist in both of those events. In the Varsity competition he was Northern League 100/ 220 yd., and the Long Jump champion. In the long jump he came within 1/2 inch of the school record. These accomplishment are remarkable, but football was his main focus.

Football - Eagle Rock
    A quote from an L.A. Times 1958 article says it all - "Alan Shields, presently a Trojan freshman ...didn't figure to be forgotten until Bill Renison, a junior, went on the greatest CIF and city scoring binge of the season in ringing up six touchdowns against Belmont ... though he played only in the first and third periods." This performance and many others over the 57, 58, and 59 seasons were remarkable. At only 5' 6" and 150 pounds he was one of the smallest, quickest, smartest, and yet strongest back to cary the pigskin for ER. He was chosen Northern League Player of the Year, and All City. Head Football Coach Roy Jae stated that Bill's work ethic, and sense of balance were remarkable and he had not "encountered a tougher or stronger high school player of the same size. Renison;s good now. Watch out when he grows some more. He'll be playing college ball for sure." Despite a serious injury during his Senior Year he was still offered several college scholarships, but chose to attend Glendale Jr. College. Factors leading to this decision were - too many ER friends, the community, and living next to "the Eagle's field"

College - At Glendale Bill set football rushing records, was a Jr. College All American for two years, and was called the greatest running back in school history. He was chosen to the Glendale College Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. In addition to football he was also Glendale's top sprinter and long jumper. This lead to a football scholarship to USC. During his tenure at USC he was a great contributor to some championship teams of the 1960's. Almost any other time he would have been the Star running back or flanker; but USC happened to have a Heisman Trophy winner and future NFL running back (Mike Garrett) and a flanker named Rod Sherman who later starred in the NFL. When I asked Bill about his limited playing time he said that of course he would have enjoyed being a starter but those two (Mike and Rod) deserved to start and were probably the two hardest workers on the team. He is proud to have been a Trojan, played on some great teams, and received a outstanding education.
    Eagle Rock High School can very proud of Bill Renison - the hard wording, modest, and remarkable athlete.

Voice in the Wilderness

DISCOVERING THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS
Christopher Nyerges
[Nyerges is the author "Self-Sufficient Home," "How To Survive Anywhere," and other books. He can be reached at
www.ChristopherNyerges.com or Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041]
    Sometimes we get so caught up in the problems of now and tomorrow that we simply disable ourselves to live in the moment and enjoy the miracle of life. I'd been so focussed on solving my own and other people's problems, of growing older, of seeing friends die, of the consequences of financial mismanagement. I'd barely realized I'd fallen down the rabbit hole of not seeing the incredible that is before me.
    After a late night meeting, I drove home, nearly mid-night, through the Arroyo Seco and along the Rose Bowl. The coolness of the night was refreshing, invigorating. I breathed deep and found myself looking anew at the enchanting hillside landscape that has always been hidden in plain view. I realized I'd been looking but not seeing. A lone coyote runs along the rode. Further along, a skunk hides from view by swiftly descending a storm drain. A melodic bird sings. The landscape is alive and bright, and I marvel at the late-night runners still engaged in their exercises.
    Though my body aches with the scars of aging, I found that my mind was fresh, young, awakening again after a long sleep. I felt 17 again (or was it 14?) when I felt that I was immortal, eternal, a part of all things. I breathed deeply, and found great joy in the Eternal Now that was before me, the Eternal Now which always is. I experienced this same Eternal Now when running and motorcycling through the Arroyo Seco years ago, and when I would stand in the rain and feel its miracle.
    I had been feeling anxious, worried, concerned, and though nothing had changed, I now felt free, hopeful, curious. I wanted to share, and I began to sing and think of poetry. But I quickly realized there is nothing that needs to be done. To experience the moment is sufficient, to go fully into the beauty of the moment, and to feel the past, and present, and future, all ripe with possibilities and discoveries, all in this moment.
    I could now see the lights of the city and the peaks of the Angeles Forest with its occasional twinkling lights. I come by here every day, but somehow this was a new land, a magical land, the land of my mind. I began to wonder about the lot of man, working endlessly at jobs that are not enjoyed, to pursue more and better things, never defining real goals except maybe "retirement," which is not a real goal. I felt sad, and a gust of wind sobered me up, telling me to be concerned about my own choices, to refine my own daily actions and not to dwell on whatever it is that other people do or do not. The wind freed me of yet another pointless anchor - the thinking about what "other people" do or don't do.
    Be here now. Wasn't that the title of an old hippie book? Be here now. Easy to say, hard to do. But it has become the main dictum in my inner religion, and though I have no church, the Arroyo Seco is the closest I've found. It is my homeland, my place of work and dreams, my place of endless adventures and ongoing discoveries. It is my Walden Pond, my Field of Dreams, my Golden Pond. It is simultaneously nothing and everything. It is a vehicle through which I continually find myself, still that same Self, still in that same body (for now), still eager to learn and to grow.
    I finally got home and stood outside looking at the stars, feeling the cool evening wind. It felt good to be "up," and to know the fight is not over. I could feel the meaning of Bodhi - Dharma's insightful words: "Fall down seven times, get up eight! Life starts from NOW."
    And I began to realize, isn't that the Christmas message? To rise again from the darkness, to be reborn again from the depth of the winter, to rediscover our inner self and our neighbor in this darkest time of the year? I felt a deep inner appreciation for whatever it was that provided me with this insight, this knowledge that I am apart of everything and everyone. I realized then that to truly experience the real meaning of Christmas I needed to create the environment so that the Christ-within can be born again within my own soul.

EAGLE ROCK NEWS

Topping it Off

Will the Eagle Rock Chamber Survive Argueing and Apathy?

by Tom Topping

    I go to the Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce meeting every month, and I always hear a wide variety of community news and information when I'm there. I also get to hear the reports of the elected officials as to what they're up to, so it's usually well-worth my time to go. The Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce has a mixed reputation though. They do some really good things, but sometimes the meetings can be a little frustrating if you're the type that likes to see that things get done.
    For the first time (ever, I think) they failed to gather a slate of candidates for their yearly election of officers. Instead of knocking themselves out over it, they accepted a motion to postpone the elections until the spring (that was easy). However, with no election, there will apparently be no January installation dinner either, which has been quite a yearly social event on Eagle Rock's civic calendar for some time.
    It seems that the Chamber has had diminishing attendance and participation for quite a while. The monthly 4th Tuesday at noon meetings used to be standing room only, and you had better RSVP it if you want to have lunch. Lately, almost half of the seats remain empty, with barely enough board members attending to get through whatever necessary business they need to.
    Of course, it's the same with any all-volunteer organization. A small handful of the members doing all the work. City council candidate Rudy Martinez has been very vocal lately about what the Chamber needs to do to bolster its membership.
    "I challenge each of you to bring a new member to the meeting next month!" he proclaimed. Sounds great, but no one did it, not even him.
    The next month it was, "I'll commit right now to walk the streets and talk to every business in town," he said with certainty and conviction. A month later it was, "I didn't do it, but I did talk to 15 or so of my business friends." At least he was honest. However, he did hit on an old point that was nonetheless was a good one.
    "They can't come to a meeting at noon," he said. "They agreed that if the meetings were at a different time like 7:00 a.m. they could make it."
    This statement was met with rather blank stares, however, as the tradition of the noon luncheon would be as entrenched and as difficult to change as the monthly closed sessions were. (The closed sessions were why I stepped down as a Chamber board member a couple years ago. I believed them to be unnecessary, and gave the Chamber a perception of doing things in secret, which I found I could not be part of.)
    I had an idea to award non-chamber businesses for their stellar product service or appearance, as a way to get them to come to a Chamber meeting, but that idea was not welcomed by the Chamber, who usually only supports Chamber members.
    However, non-Chamber businesses did not like the idea either.
    Huh? Why?
    Why wouldn't the nicest and bestest Eagle Rock businesses want to accept an award from the Chamber?
    Would they even come to a meeting to accept the award?
No.
    But a chamber of commerce is a good thing, isn't it? Don't they know the good the Chamber does?
Not really, but they have definitely heard about the Eagle Rock Chamber.
    Do they want to improve their business district?
Yes.
    Do they believe that working together is a good way to do that?
Yes.
    Do they believe that being in a business association can help with things like having local government officials listen to your concerns?
Yes.
    Do they believe that the Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce is the way to do that?
No.
    Aside from the Women's 20th Century Club, the Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce is the oldest continuously operated organization in town. The question is, has it run it's course? Should the community keep it going, or let it fade away?
    Or should it be reborn with new ideas and new leadership, and let go of all the entrenched traditions that have nothing to do with businesses working for the good of business for the good of the community?
    Hmm... Let's see... No Chamber = No more Farmer's Market.
    No Chamber = No concerts in the park.
    No Chamber = No Children's Old Fashioned Christmas.
    Hey! Wait a minute! I don't want to see those things go away! Do you?
    Eagle Rockers, what do you think should happen?

Gentlemen,   

THANKS for a terrific paper! I am always pleasantly surprised to read how much is going on, in and about ER!
    Has the Sentinel noticed all the nice stone lion statues popping up around town? They seem be be prowling (or guarding?) residences mostly north of Colorado. On my daily walk along Hill Dr and the feeder streets, I have noticed quite a few. Is this a cooincidental theme, or are stone lions becoming an unoffical mascot of ER?
    I think it is real cool, and was just wondering if you or anyone else has noticed it.
    Keep up the great work! Sincerely, Edward

Hey Tom,

    I always get a chuckle from your paper because every other issue seems to have an article about the parking problems for businesses along Colorado. I've also watched as the Hill people drove auto businesses out and replaced them with cute little shops and restaurants that are now suffering from slow traffic and parking problems.
    I know the powers that be would like to see Colorado Blvd transformed into something like Old Town Pas or Montrose, but as I see it there's two huge problems to overcome before anything like that can happen. The first issue is the Colorado Freeway.
    As long as I've been here that stretch of Colorado has been little more than a freeway between Glendale and Pasadena with average speeds of 50 mph in both directions. It's my understanding that the original 210 plan had a ramp planned up at the end of ER Blvd, but the locals pitched a hissy fit until it was deleted from the project. Now we have the daily clusterf__k at the Wilson ramp that extends all the way past the mall. Brilliant planning, eh? So that's the first problem, alleviating the traffic and slowing it down.
    The second obstacle is parking. The most obvious difference between Old Town and our stretch of Colorado is parking structures. If we want people to stop and get out of their cars to spend money, we have to provide a place to park that doesn't put pressure on our adjacent neighborhoods. I would suggest parking structures at both ends of the boulevard or one huge one in the center. Two would be better. Solving problem one could maybe even slow traffic enough to have a trolley of sorts down that center median. Solving problem two would actually bring about the change in Eagle Rock that so many people want.
    Yeah, I know, these ideas cost money. Lots of it. But until these things happen we'll be spending all our time at neighborhood meetings complaining about parking and quibbling over the hours that local businesses can operate. That's so much more fun, isn't it? Joe Moguin

Chicken Boy Wins Historic Preservation Award

Glassell Park Tree Lighting

Children's Old Fashioned Christmas - December 3

Festival of Trees, Saturday, December 4

Hi Tom.

New GPIA Officers

Mt. Washington PTA Brings in the New School Year 2010-2011

Join the

"Santa Paws Squad"

Los Angeles State Historic Park

Where to Begin  Building High-speed Rail?

Hi Tom:

Thanksgiving cheer from Legionnaires