Boulevard Sentinel

Northeast Los Angeles News

All that's happening in Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Mt Washington, Glassell Park and surrounding Areas

June 1, 2002

Suspect Hits, Runs, Gets Caught

A high speed traffic accident and a three hour police hunt for the suspected hit and run driver occurred on Monday, May 27, 2002, Memorial Day morning. Nearby residents reported hearing extended tire screeching followed by an extremely loud crash at around 9:30 a.m. A witness having breakfast at Cindy's restaurant reported seeing a blue Chevy van lose control while negotiating the Colorado Blvd. turn at high speed, perhaps 80 MPH. It clipped the rear of a blue minivan before plowing into another parked white minivan, street tree and crossing tunnel cage in front of the Rose Bowl motel. The driver, a young man in his twenties, attempted to get away but was tackled and held by citizens until paramedics arrived. The paramedics from station 55 treated the driver at the scene by putting a splint on his broken arm..

"When the paramedics got here he seemed to mellow out," said Dave Rodriguez, a Loleta Street resident. "But as soon as the first police car pulled up, he jumped up and took off running.!" That triggered a dragnet that lasted till about 12:30 p.m. A resident of the 5100 block of Townsend heard some noise in a backyard laundry room. She spotted him looking out of the window and dialed 911. The L.A.P.D. sealed off the block and started thoroughly searching the neighborhood yard by yard.

The police helicopter was brought in and soon spotted him in that same backyard. "First I saw him looking out the window," said the resident. "Then I saw him out side throwing rocks at the helicopter!" After a K-9 unit showed up, with officers ready to enter the yard, the suspect gave up, walking out into the front yard where he was arrested. Paramedics were then recalled to take the suspect for treatment of the broken arm received in the crash. The driver of the blue minivan, who works at the nearby Daybreak Health Foods Store, was shaken and sore but had no serious injuries.

Neighborhood Council Certification

Where there's smoke there's probably fire.

Surviving a grueling six and half hour meeting of the Board of Neighborhood Commissioners (BONC)held at Frankin High School on May 28, 2002, the end result was certification of the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council, certification of 3 contested boundaries for the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council and a delay and extension of the application for the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council.

Earlier that night, many Arroyo Seco representatives made presentations regarding the hard work they did to formulate their Council. Defining boundary lines and reaching out to residents and stakeholders are only two of the many tasks that had to be performed and documented. The Arroyo group, led by long experienced Mt. Washington activists, was apparently very thorough.

The Historic Highland Park representatives, although having a bit of trouble getting their presentation on screen, treated the audience to a pretty slick video of Mr. Rivera and company defining historic boundaries and documenting their outreach. After these two groups finished, the real show began.

The Public Hearing

The Arroyo NC proposal which includes 7 communities and 35,000 people had included in its application the community known as Cypress Park. There were some Cypress residents there to express support for their inclusion in the Arroyo Council. Some of the residents of Cypress Park, however, did not desire to be a part of the Arroyo Seco Council.

They felt that their own Council would best be able to deliver what their needs were. Some of the Cypress protestants were extremely fearful that the well organized Mt. Washington "machine" would over rule Cypress Park much like they over look them from their hilltop homes now. They claimed that some Cypress Park signatures were fraudulently gathered and that petitioners used "loaded" questions to influence respondents answers. They were dissatisfied that in the Arroyo's plan each community would have two representatives, which would give them only 10% of the voice while they had 35% of the population. There also seemed to be a deep historic resentment stemming from past school district decisions that prevented Cypress Park children from attending Mt. Washington Schools.

Hilltop Arroyo representatives were boiling mad over the Cypress flatland protesters claims and were heard muttering obscenities as they listened to them talk. Both sides claimed the other had not negotiated in good faith toward creating an acceptable solution. The commissioners, in considering the Arroyo application, generally agreed that probably the interests of Cypress would be best served by being part of the larger council, while department staffers recommended a separation of the two. They then asked Arroyo representatives to state their preference between two options: should the BONC certify an Arroyo Council that for the time being left out Cypress Park, or should the proceedings be put on hold in order to allow time for both sides to unify? Arroyo chose the latter and will wait until then for certification.

Representatives from the Eagle Rock Council finally got their chance to be heard. They had brought well prepared maps showing the locations of residents within disputed areas who declared their preference to be part of Eagle Rock. Although Highland Park had conceded most of the disputed areas Eagle Rock wanted, they put up a last ditch effort to keep the area south of York Boulevard that includes Sparklets Water Company. Earlier, they had lost their claim to include Heritage Square within the Historic Highland Park Council, and this time they lost again. Although Eagle Rock won the contested area it still was a victory for Highland Park as the Commissioners voted and certified the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council.

At 1:30 a.m. one of the commissioners expressed that something would have to be done about the late hours that the meetings were lasting until. As city staffers ended the meeting with their routine reports, groups of bleary eyed community members made their way out of Franklin High School and then home.

Design Review Board Meeting #1

Walgreens Issue Not Settled Yet

The newly appointed Design Review Board for the Colorado Blvd. Specific Plan met for the first time on Thursday, May 23. The design review board was mandated by the Specific Plan to ensure that the community has some say on the development and usage of Colorado Blvd.'s commercial areas. They are able to consider these issues and make recommendations to the Director of Planning, who is the real decision maker.

At this, their first meeting, they had four issues to consider. Two were requests for approval of

(Please See DRB page 10)

DRB continued

signage, one for the new Target store at the Eagle Rock Mall, and the other for the Cingular store near Colorado and Eagle Rock Boulevards. After the board asked a few questions to gain clarity, both of the plans were approved.

A third item was just a consultation for incoming Camilo's Restaurant regarding their proposed signs, alcohol license and an exception to allow them to operate past 9:00 p.m. They received a positive recommendation.

Since many people were expected to speak on the Walgreen’s modification proposal, it was moved to the end of the agenda.

The developer, Mr, Marino, started out by showing the modifications he had made to his plans since the last public meeting, held before Christmas last year. He talked about the intentions of the proposed modifications, namely by extending the building that fronts on Colorado to 75% of the street frontage to meet the Specific Plan requirement. He said, "The covered patio... our thought is to create an active environment for people to enjoy the retail (restaurant) that might be here... tables ... umbrellas ... give the street some life ... with people." "We continue to be in the development of this patio area." Board members carefully questioned the developer to clarify some of the finer points of the submitted design.

The covered patio, or "canopy" was designed to meet the letter of the law as it has been interpreted by city bureaucrats, and apparently does as far as they are concerned.

Delila Sotelo, Interim President of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council asked, "Let me understand how this canopy qualifies as a 'street wall'... Talk to me about the rationale for that."

Mr Marino answered, "We did go to building and safety to get a definition of (what a building is). Building and Safety has defined a building as having a roof and columns, and this complies." Delila pressed further for him to explain how the proposal met the 'plan' requirements of a 'Street Wall'. He said, "Our understanding is Building & Safety's interpretation is the building does not have to have a wall." It was a statement which elicited laughter from many of the meeting's attendees.

John Stillion was concerned about the appearance of the development from the rear, which faces the Solheim Lutheran Home on Merton Avenue. Planning staff reminded him that that was not in this board's jurisdiction, only the proposed modification of the development was being reviewed.

Linda Allen, president of the Eagle Rock Community Preservation and Revitalization group (ERCPR ) offered some suggestions. "I think people are concerned that the cars (in the parking lot) are not screened." "I like the idea of having some patio area and having that part of what is built here. But I would like to see more building, I would like to see it better screened." She also suggested more vegetation, and screening, "so that you see people enjoying themselves but you don't see cars."

The residents who spoke were acknowledged with resounding applause. They were not satisfied with the modifications the developer offered. Board member Phillip Chiao, echoing their concerns said, "I do think there is a very fundamental issue that's been missed here." He went on to say that it didn't meet either the spirit of the plan or the definition of a wall or transparency or streetwall. He finished by asking, "Would this be allowed in Pasadena?" which resulted in a resounding NO! from the audience.

City planner Luis Rodriguez reminded the board that, "the owner has buildable rights." He also mentioned that the only issue before the board was the modification to the part of the original plan that had been approved of in error. Board members drove home the point that they wanted a more complete picture of the proposed streetwall/patio, and gave many more suggestions of what they would like to see regarding architectural features and landscaping.

Without a vote, the developer was sent back to the drawing board to work to create a modification that the majority of the board could live with. The board did not vote to affirm or deny extending the review period. They also did not vote to affirm or deny that there was a solution to the streetwall / canopy / patio dilemma that existed that they could approve. A board member the next day was asked if he thought it was possible that a plan modification incorporating the input of that evening could or would be passed. The answer was no.

Death of a Coach

by Marcelo Araujo

Gilbert Espino, teacher in physical education and history at Eagle Rock High School died on May 21st in the Boy’s Gym office during lunch period. Espino suffered a heart attack; a day after his 51st birthday.

Coach Espino was second youngest of five children; Espino was born and raised in Monterey Park. No one in his family was over 5’5 and the Espino family was known as the house of the seven dwarfs.

Espino coached Frosh-Soph football in the late 80' ad early 90's, but he was primarily known as the track coach. Espino's smiling face (see ESPINO page 2)

(ESPINO) with personality and humor brighten up any student's day. "Coach Espino was a great man, I'm only sorry I never took the time to know him better." Said, Kenny Javakula, who ran the 100 and 200 meter dashes. "But I know he was a great man from all the students and faculty at ERHS who loved and respected him. His short jokes cause embarrassment to me in front of my friends by saying how I goofed up. He will be forever missed."

At his services held on May 22nd and 23rd at Rose Hills Cemetery in Pico Rivera, over 400 hundred students, teachers, staff, friends, and family attendant to say goodbye. Many memories caused laughter to echo through the hallways at his wake. At his burial many students were in tears as they spoke of how Coach Espino impacted their lives. Former homeroom student Alex Foster said, "Coach Espino encouraged me to take on challenges. He was one of the driving forces that made me go into educating and helping out students in special education."

Eagle Rock High School is holding a memorial for Coach Espino, Wednesday June 5th in the auditorium at 3:30. All are welcomed to attend the memorial service. Later will be a banquet put on by the Track Team in the cafeteria from 6 to 8:00 p.m. Coach Espino's legacy will live on by his wife, Eleanor, son Joshua, daughter Marissa, and all those whose lives he touched at Eagle Rock High School.

Mr. Smith will go to Washington

Representative Xavier Becerra announced the winners of this year’s 30th congressional art competition at a reception on May 18th at the Southwest Museum.

The first place winner was Lawrence Smith, 16, an 11th grader at Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services in Highland Park. He will join Rep. Becerra in Washington D.C. on June 25 for the national congressional art competition awards ceremony. His artwork, “With This Torch,” a painting on canvas coupled with an original poem, will hang in the Capitol for one year.

Smith was overjoyed when he learned that he was this year’s winner. “I never expected to make it that far,” Smith said. “It was like magic. I wasn’t expecting to win, I was just expecting to be there (at the reception) to see who won.”

The September 11 tragedy served as the inspiration for Smith’s painting. Normally a writer of poetry, “With This Torch” was Smith’s first painting, and the 30th congressional district art competition was the first contest he ever entered. “I’m working on a poetry book right now called ‘The Eagle’,” Smith said. “It will be a compilation of 150 of my poems, and I plan to feature ‘With This Torch’.”

Other winners included Michael Guerrero, an 11th grader from Optimist Youth Homes, whose artwork was awarded second place; Juan Carlos Comia, a 12th grader from Bravo Medical Magnet School was awarded third place, and Habiba Khanam an 11th grader from Bravo Medical Magnet School who received honorable mention for her painting. All four winners will attend the Dodger - Red Sox game on June 21 with Rep. Becerra and will be recognized on the field before the game.

Rep. Becerra was impressed with all of this year’s submissions. “Artistic creativity runs deep in our schools here in the 30th district,” Rep. Becerra said. “Determining the winners of this year’s competition was a difficult task for the judges, and I commend all the artists who took place in our competition.”

Hollenbeck CPAB

by Dave Macpherson

At the May meeting of the Hollenbeck Area Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB) the Senior Lead Officers (SLOs) reported on recent developments in the area. One thing that several of the SLOs reported was a significant improvement in officer morale. With the change in leadership and with the department moving forward on its mission, officers seem to be hopeful about the future. Not so many are planning to leave LAPD for positions in other police agencies.

It was also reported at the meeting that the "Adopt-A-Block" program is being restored in the Hollenbeck area, with distribution of a brochure by officers describing the program and inviting participation and involvement of community residents with the police department.

The purposes of the Adopt-A-Block program is to identify residents who can become partners with police officers in community policing. It will help residents to meet the officers assigned to their communities and to see them as genuinely committed to protect and serve the community.

In recent meetings representatives from the emergency telephone center shared information with CPAB members and stressed the need for letting the public know that the 911 number is strictly for life or death emergencies, requiring immediate dispatching of police, paramedic or fire department personnel.

For other situations requiring action by the police department, but not emergencies, (such as noisy parties or perhaps a group of juveniles loitering in front of your house) there is another telephone number to call: l-877-ASK LAPD. There is also a Hollenbeck Area TIP LINE (323-526-3817) to report any problem directly to the station. The TIP LINE operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (While they would like to be able to call back to report the results of the call, it is not necessary to identify yourself if you prefer to remain anonymous.)

As we reported last month in these pages, the Hollenbeck CPAB meets monthly at 6:00 p.m. in the community room at Hollenbeck Community Police Station, 2111 E. First Street. Any resident is welcome to attend the meetings and the board is seeking participation from residents of Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno and Montecito Heights.

For more information, call the Hollenbeck Community Relations Office at (323) 526-3188.

Glassell Park Joins Tree People

On Wednesday, June 5th at 7:00 PM the Glassell Park Improvement Association (GPIA) is meeting with TreePeople (a non profit tree planting organization) to work out details on planting trees throughout the community. The meeting will be at the L.A. River Center and Gardens, 570 west avenue 26. This was organized by Alonso Calderon, GPIA Improvement Chair and a citizen forester for TreePeople. If you are interested in finding out more about the organization please call 818/623-4865. If you would like to join at the meeting please email MOfarrell2@aol.com and you will be added to the list.

Glassell & Cypress Clean-up Sat, June 15th

Councilmen Ed Reyes of CD1, Eric Garcetti of CD13, Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg of district 45 and "L.A. Bridges II" are sponsoring simultaneous clean ups in Glassell Park and Cypress Park. The Glassell Park Improvement Association will be participating in this event as will the Neighborhood Council. We will meet at 9:00 AM in the parking lot of the Glassell Park Elementary School (on Carlyle Street). The address of the School is 2211 west avenue 30. The clean up is from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and free tee-shirts and lunch will be provided for the volunteers! From 12:00 PM to 3:00 there will be a "fun fair," skateboarding park and entertainment at St. Bernard's Church, 2500 East Ave. 33.

School Playground Dedicated

Eagle Rock Elementary benefits from parents hard work.

It was beautiful May day in Eagle Rock. All of the students and many of their parents were on hand at Eagle Rock Elementary School for the dedication of the Anne and Kirk Douglas playground, the first one in Eagle Rock. Anne and Kirk Douglas were there in person to attend the dedication ceremony. It was a touching and emotional moment when the school's students yelled a surprisingly well synchronized "Thank You Anne and Kirk Douglas!" Many of the VIP's spoke, but it took a real showman, Mr. Douglas, to step out of the shade so he could be well seen and photographed as he gave a short speech. He said ,"Don't make my wife angry," as he comically explained how she repeatedly had sent him back to work to make more money to fund more of the grants.

The Anne & Kirk Douglas Foundation has provided matching funds to improve children's play areas since 1997. They have funded over 150 playgrounds. The new playground equipment at Eagle Rock Elementary replaced climbing and play structures that had been there since the 1950's.

The heart of the story though, is the work and effort put by parent volunteers, especially Eagle Rock native Ann E. Wareham, who pursued the grant and saw it through successfully. She had known about the Ann and Kirk Douglas Award for some time, and one day she was met at the school by PTA representative Gail Ivins who handed her a piece of paper. It was the application for the playground grant. Ann E.("Anny" as she is known) had met Ann Douglas through her job at the Center Theater Group, in Los Angeles, and had been around grant writing there as well. She took this opportunity to jump in and make it happen. She has nothing but the highest praise for the Douglas's and the organization they have created to help applicants through the process. They provide many invaluable resources to help applicants through the process.

The grant requires that parents raise a significant part of the matching funds to give them ownership of the playground, which the Eagle Rock parents accomplished well. The L.A. Unified School district helped too, coming through with a sizable part of the funds. To top it off, the playground equipment was well researched, and the final purchase and installation reflects the highest safety and longevity. The Eagle Rock Elementary Ann and Kirk Douglas playground will continue to serve the children and grand children of the students playing there now.

Michael Angel Nogueira

December 5, 1921-May 19, 2002

Michael Angel Nogueira was born on December 5, 1921 in EI Paso, Texas to Carmen and Hermongenes Nogueira, sixth of seven children, four sisters and two brothers and after being orphaned at the age of three and separated from his brothers and sisters, lived with foster parents.

"Mickey" as his brothers and sisters called him were reunited with the assistance of Mickey's oldest sister, Mary, where they lived together with Mary and Uncle Julius. Michael served in the

United States Air Force during World War II, as an Aerial Engineer, Gunner and Airplane and Engine Mechanic and was honorably discharged.

Owning and managing a hotel in the late 40's he met Linda Lopez, bandleader and musician who was playing the piano at Club Brazil on North Broadway. He fell in love with Linda's music and the three-year courtship began. They were married in 1954 and bought their first home in Glassell Park in 1955.

Mickey and Linda had five children, Victor, Michael, Peacha, Yolanda and Charlie and have five grandchildren; Priscilla, Angel, Ferrari, Danny and Douglas. Michael Angel Nogueira was active in his Forty Seventh year of his Insurance and Real Estate business located at 5000 York Blvd. in Highland Park.

Michael Angel Nogueira served the people of the Northeast community in various leadership roles. He served the people of Greater Los Angeles in prominent positions and he received many awards and honors throughout his life.

His wife, two sisters, two brothers, seven children, and eight grandchildren survive Michael. He was a loving husband, father, friend and humanitarian. He gave unconditional love and understanding to those around him. He never judged others and accepted people for who they are. May he sleep with the angels and watch over us until we see him again.

In the past week, both the Los Angeles City Council and the California State Legislature have been adjourned in his name.

OrangesSardines

OrangesSardines is a gallery of contemporary art andculture presented by artists Ted Waltz and Carol Colin.

Southern Lights, Carol Colin will be on display until June 8. Visit their online gallery for more virtual exhibits, the history of the window gallery and other previous activities.

Most of the artwork on the website is for sale. Please email them for prices and shipping information. Visit it the gallery at 5400 Monte Vista Street in Highland Park or www.OrangesSardines.com.

Cruisin’ with Conrad

Hello Eagle Rock,

The start of summer is here. With the running of the Indy 500, Coca Cola 600 and the big drag race of the weekend, to us car nuts, Memorial Day weekend is like all the bowl games at the end of the year, to the football nuts. Also for the custom car nuts there is the leadsled gathering at Paso Robles. A full holiday weekend for us car buffs.

Well the politicians are at it again, hell when aren’t they. A couple of months ago, I reported on the bill to Congress to do away with old cars. Now the fuzzy heads in Sacramento are trying to get AB1058 to give the Air Resources Board more power. Now don’t you think that they have enough power already? This bill would give them the power to regulate the emissions of so called green house gases. No provisions for cars not originally designed not to emit so called green house gases to be exempt. It could mean that that the old hobby would be dead after 1/1/05. It really gets to me that I and you are these government employee bosses, our taxes supply their paychecks, and they get to tell us what to do. Something is wrong here. What do you think?

Cruise night came off well this month. Tim Dodd got his 51 Ford Coupe running and brought it down. A 41 Willys former gasser showed up too. Michael Charelian came with his pristine 60 Plymouth Fury. He is the gentleman who won the best of show 2 years ago, at Concerts in the Park Car Show.

Just cruisin, Conrad

Eagle Vista Seniors

The Eagle Vista Seniors have a full schedule for June:

On June 4, the board will meet at 9:30 a.m. followed by the regular meeting at 10:00. Birthday cake will be served in honor of members born in June.

June 11 a guest speaker from the Alzheimer Association will discuss this troubling disease.

On June 18, Helpful advice on health education, HMO insurance and “Exercising Your Memory” will be concerns at this meeting.

To finish up the month BINGO! Art Gibson will call.

All meetings will take place at the Eagle Vista Recreation Center, 1100 Eagle Vista Drive on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m., unless otherwise noted.

Yearly Fundraiser Scheduled

Highlands Preschool will be holding their Annual Flea Market June 22nd at the Albertson’s Market located at Figueroa and Avenue 45. Come and check out quality clothing, toys and furniture all at reasonable prices.

Lois Magnuson to Retire

By Genine Sauer

Lois Magnuson, former graduate of Eagle Rock High and Director of Christian Education at Eagle Rock Covenant Church for the past 14 years is about to set forth on a new adventure. RETIREMENT.

Normally, a person retires and it’s no big deal, but with Lois - she makes it different. Lois has been devoted to Eagle Rock Covenant Church as a member since 1949. She has touched hundreds of lives with the quiet love only she is capable of giving. Upon her retirement this month, Lois will be moving to Mount Miguel Covenant Village in San Diego. Many others and myself will sorely miss her.

MEN'S SOFTBALL - Wednesday night league in Pasadena is starting on June 8, 2002. Intermediate skill required to play, ages 20-50. $40 per player for league fees. Call 323-257-6477 before 6/8/02 if interested.

Will Proposed New Amendment be an Attack on Liberties?

Washington D.C.

Saying it would deprive millions of families of their most fundamental rights, the American Civil Liberties Union last month denounced a new proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution as an unwarranted attempt to limit liberty in the United States.

“With only a few exceptions, most of the anti-gay attacks in Congress are the legal equivalent of sticks and stones,” said Christopher E. Anders, an ACLU Legislative Counsel. “This amendment is the legal equivalent of a nuclear bomb. It will wipe out every single law protecting gay and lesbian families and other unmarried couples."

The amendment will be introduced today at a Washington news conference. The ACLU said the new proposal would deprive the families of lesbians and gay men - and all other unmarried couples - of all legal protections for their relationships by overriding any federal or state constitutional protections and federal, state and local laws.

The ACLU said that the impact of the amendment would be extremely harmful. Specifically, the amendment would invalidate all state and local domestic partnership laws, including those in at least eight states and in more than 100 counties, cities and towns across the country. “The extreme measure would even prohibit state and local governments from making their own decisions on providing benefits to their employees,” Anders said.

During the presidential campaign, Vice President Dick Cheney explicitly said that “people should be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to enter into.” He added: “different states are likely to come to different conclusions, and that’s appropriate. I don’t think there should necessarily be a federal policy in this area.”

The ACLU said the proposed amendment would undermine state adoption, foster care and kinship care laws. In many states, the ACLU said, unmarried persons - including unmarried relatives, heterosexual couples, gay and lesbian couples and even unrelated clergy members - have the same rights as married persons to jointly adopt or provide foster care or kinship care.

The proposed amendment would also reverse the tradition of protecting - not harming - individual liberty through constitutional amendments and of allowing states to adopt stronger civil rights protections.

“The few amendments to the Constitution that have been adopted in the last 200 years are the source of most of the Constitution’s protections for individual liberty rights,” Anders said. “The proposed amendment, by contrast, would deny all protection for the most personal decisions made by millions of families.”

Occidental Children's Theater

to launch seventh summer season

The critically acclaimed Occidental College Children's Theater will present "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Duckling," an original tale, plus three unique adaptions of traditional folktales for a seven-week outdoor run starting July 11. Performances will be in the Remsen Bird Hillside Theater on the Occidental campus.

In about an hour, a cast of six Occidental students, alumni and professional actors will perform a series of original, thought-provoking and funny stories without props, sets, or special costumes, relying only on their acting and physical skills.

As is the case every year, the script for the featured play, "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Duckling," will be entirely the result of weeks of improvisation by the cast, who draw their inspiration from

folk tales from around the world, said Jamie Angell, the theater's artistic director since its inception.

"We work in the round, so the audience is right on top of the action," Angell said. "The unconventional material and the absence of props or costumes force both the actors and the audience to rely on their imaginations. It's remarkably different from most anything else you see in children's theater today."

In addition to "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Duckling," the Children's Theater troupe will present three improvised adaptions of international folktales. Those productions are still to be determined.

Beginning July 11, "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Duckling" will be performed outdoors in the Hillside Theater every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. through Aug. 24. All seats are shaded

from the sun. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. Group rates are available.

For ticket information, call the Occidental Box Office at (323) 259-2922.

Rock Rose Art Gallery

The Rock Rose Art Gallery is presenting ‘From Rags to Riches - From the Scrap Yard to the Gallery” until June 15. Ellard Alfred fabricates birds, animals and figures out of parts you will not believe unless you see it.

The Gallery is located at 4108 North Figueroa, in Highland Park. For information please call Rosamaria Marquez at 222-4740.

Metro Gallery Presents

The Metro Gallery is proud to present the works of Michael Rosenfeld. Box Top Heroes is a collection of thirteen paintings is exhibited at the Metro Gallery 64 North Raymond Avenue in Old Pasadena thru June 9.

For information and gallery hours, please call (626) 440-7379.

Gallery Ophelia

Gallery Ophelia is pleased to announce the works of Kimmy McCann - Featured Artist for June. With an impressive group of new pieces, McCann's work explores the communicative power of painting as a transcendental language that crosses gender barriers.

This new show ‘I’m just a girl - paintings about power’ showcases works utilizing symbols, employing contemporary design principles and materials dominate in the urban landscape.

The show will be exhibited from June 3 to June 30 and the opening reception will be held on June 21 from 7 to 10 p.m.

The gallery is located at 2114 Colorado Boulevard, in Eagle Rock. For additional information and hours please call (323) 982-9945 or visit them at www.galleryophelia.com.

Oranges Sardines

OrangesSardines is a gallery of contemporary art and culture presented by artists Ted Waltz and Carol Colin.

Southern Lights, Carol Colin will be on display until June 8. Visit their online gallery for more virtual exhibits, the history of the window gallery and other previous activities.

Most of the artwork on the website is for sale. Please email them for prices and shipping information. Visit it the gallery at 5400 Monte Vista Street in Highland Park or www.OrangesSardines.com.

Gallery Figueroa Events

On display until June 16 are the works of “Landescape," paintings by Michael Gullberg. "I want people to find a new place to go every time they look at my paintings," says Gullberg. "I want them to see something they didn't see before - both in my work, and in themselves."

A self-taught painter, Gullberg originally wanted to be a writer. The process of writing, rewriting, and rewriting again was unsatisfying, however, and one day he picked up a paintbrush. The pencil and paper have long since languished; the paintbrush continues to flourish.

The Gallery Figueroa is located at 6122 North Figueroa Street in Highland Park. Gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, nd Sundays, and by appointment. For more information, contact Gallery Figueroa at (323) 258-5939.

Safe Harbor - Finding A Way Around Drugs

By Genine Sauer

“I started Safe Harbor to educate people on non-drug alternatives for mental health problems”, said Dan Stratford, founder of Safe Harbor.

Safe Harbor was founded in 1998 in the wake of growing public dissatisfaction with the unwanted effects of orthodox psychiatric treatments such as medication and shock therapy. Seeking to satisfy the desire for safer, more effective treatments, Safe Harbor is dedicated to educating the public, the medical profession, and government officials on research and treatments that, minimally, do no harm and, optimally, cure the causes of severe mental symptoms. The primary thrust is education on the medical causes of severe mental symptoms and the use of nutritional and other natural treatments.

When Mr. Stratford was a kid, he watched his father (William, who passed away this last March), go through numerous drug treatments including shock therapy when he had a nervous breakdown. His father became a shell in his own body. When he returned home from the hospital, his memory was devastated.

Over $5 million dollars is spent each year on Ritalin or similar type drugs. It is more popular than cocaine. It seems to be the easy fix cure for any ‘problem’ a child is having. The school often tells parents that they need to medicate their child so he is not disruptive to the class.

Kids (and adults) change constantly, but, it seems like medicating is the easiest solution. Why is it that kids just are not allowed to be kids anymore??

Safe Harbor IS NOT trying to say medication is bad. “Under extreme circumstances medication is a wonderful thing”, stated Mr. Stratford, “But, why would you not try changes in diet or ruling out thyroid problems or food allergies such as red dye before sticking a child on drugs.”

Safe Harbor will be sponsoring a “Non-Pharmaceutical Approaches to Mental Disorders” seminar on June 15 and 16 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles (Sat 8:00 to 6:00, Sunday 8:00 to 5:00). (This will count for continuing education credits)

For registration, fees or additional information please call:(818) 893-1862, (818) 897-9913(Fax) or visit the web at www.Alternative MentalHealth.com

Investment Clubs versus Mutual Funds

Investment clubs can help individual investors who don't want to make a go of it alone, or at least not completely. When investing in stocks, such a club can combine money from its members and therefore afford a better variety of stocks than each member could alone, much like a mutual fund. Although typically these clubs aren't oriented toward mutual funds, they can be used the same way for those mutual funds whose initial minimum investment far exceeds what some individuals can afford.

Investment clubs and mutual funds also share certain other similarities. Both provide you with a diversified stock portfolio, although often to differing degrees, and both allow you to withdraw money at any time. (Most clubs use the evaluation unit system of accounting, which makes it similar to cashing in shares of a mutual fund. And just like mutual fund shares, the value of club "shares" changes over time.)

But there are several differences between investment clubs and mutual funds. An investment club's portfolio is diversified over time, as the members purchase stocks. Investing in a mutual fund provides instant diversification. Each member of the investment club shares in the role of the mutual fund manager, researching industries, individual companies, and the potential they hold for investors. But unlike mutual fund managers, who have extensive knowledge of economics and industry sectors as well as easy access to company historical performances and analyst predictions, members of an investment club rarely have any background in investing. Oddly, this is one of the greatest benefits investment clubs have to offer: They serve as an introduction to the stock market.

Investment clubs are a great place to learn and ask all the questions you may feel shy about asking a financial adviser. On the other hand, if your time is restricted, you may want to stick with investing in mutual funds so you won't have to research each stock.

Pop-Up For Reading

The Los Angeles Library will present “LA Kids Read” Summer Festival on Saturday, June 8, from Noon to 4 at the Central Library located at Fifth and Flower in Downtown LA. Families from Eagle Rock and Highland Park interested in taking a FREE bus to the event should call the Eagle Rock Branch Library at 258-8078 for reservations. The festivities will include circus clowns, magic, pop music and lots of crafts.

Northeast L.A.

Nightlife Directory

Colombo's 1833 Colorado

323 254-9138

Every Week 7:00 p.m.

Sun-Mon - Brian the Fisherman on Guitar

Tues-Thurs - Eric Ekstrand on Piano

Fri-Sat - Linda Lopez on Piano

Eagle Rock Lanes 4459 Eagle Rock

323 254 2579

Karaoke on Sun & Tues through Fri

June 1 -Rockin’ in the Rock- Lunatics on Parole -Allergic -Kittens for Christmas

June 8 - Bowl-a-Rama -8:pm to 1:30 am

Bowl all night for $12 -

Includes shoe rental & live bands:

Mr T's Bowl 56212 N. Fig.

323 256 7561

Music Hotline: 323 692 3136

DJ every Monday

May 31 - The Fire Ants - Tadpole - Kryptic Intentions - Sugar Puss

Toppers Tavern 1620 Colorado

323 257 0386

Karaoke Mon through Wednesday

May 31 - June Bug - Henpeckers

June 1 - Painted Mule

June 7 - Mohogroove Sun City

June 8 - Joe’s Band

June 14 - Poormans

June 15 - Cody’s Band