THE STUDY OF WILD FOODS Seeking the Path of Practical Ecology Christopher Nyerges During nearly every weekend for the past 30+ years, I have been out on the trail, teaching students of all ages how to identity edible wild plants … Continue reading
Environmental Review Process Starts for Colorado Blvd. Bike Lanes
An EIR Scoping meeting will be held locally on July 18, 2012 from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Los Angeles River Center & Gardens, California Building, 570 West Avenue 26 Los Angeles, CA 90065
Eagle Rock, CA July 10, 2012 -
As part of a regional bike lane planning process, the City of Los Angeles is exploring whether to install bicycle lanes along Colorado Boulevard, similar to those that exist on Eagle Rock Boulevard south of Westdale Avenue, and on York Boulevard. The TERA-led Take Back the Boulevard effort supports this study.
A final decision will not be made and bike lanes will not be installed until the City completes an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to analyze all the potential impacts of the bike lanes. The City has begun the formal EIR process, and seeks community input about potential impacts the EIR should study. Comments must be submitted to the Planning Department by July 30, 2012.
If you have ideas and thoughts about the proposed addition of bike lanes to Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock, the time to get involved and start to speak out is now.
This initial public process includes gathering input from the public regarding what areas or questions will be studied. For example, you might want to know if bike lanes are likely to increase traffic congestion and, if so, on what stretches of Colorado and at what times of day. Some have expressed concerns that traffic might be diverted to Yosemite Avenue or Hill Drive, or that on-street parking might be affected. At this stage, the focus is not whether you support or oppose bike lanes, but what should be studied.
An EIR Scoping meeting will be held locally on July 18, 2012 from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Los Angeles River Center & Gardens, California Building, 570 West Avenue 26 Los Angeles, CA 90065
The formal notice about the EIR is available on-line at ENV-2012-1470-eir.pdf. Send your comments to:
David Somers, Department of City Planning, 200 N. Spring Street, Room 667, Los Angeles, CA, 90012 or e-mail him at David.Somers@lacity.org.
Please cc the boulevardsentinel@gmail.com with your messages to Mr. Somers.
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Posted in CD14, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Highland Park, NEWS 2012
World Renowned Galco’s Soda Pop Stop
Hosts Second Annual Summer Soda Tasting on July 22, 2012
**** Just added*******
******Performance by Don & Bunk*****
· All Proceeds To Support Friends Of Southwest Museum
· Humorist Charles Phoenix Serves Poptails and a Seven-Layer Soda Pop Rock Cake
· Dublin Bottling Works To Unveil a West Coast Line of Sodas
· New White Rose Soda Flavor To Be Announced
· Performance By Native American Comic/Actor Dakota Black
· Music By Artichoke, Mele Ohana Ukulele Ensemble, Greger Walnum Blues Band and Genesee Hall
Celebrate the summer enjoying sodas with the “King of Pop” when Galco’s Soda Pop Stop hosts its second annual Summer Soda Tasting from 5-8 p.m. on July 22, 2012.
The family-friendly event will feature a myriad of soda samples, live music, comedy, and a chance to chat it up with Galco’s owner John Nese, aka the “King of Pop.”
Just added to the entertainment lineup is a performance by Don & Bunk, original members of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention who played, recorded and toured with the eclectic jazz/rock musician during the late 60s.
All proceeds from the Summer Soda Tasting 2 will go to Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition (FoSMC). “I am pleased to be part of the Friends of the Southwest Museum, fighting to have Los Angeles’ first museum as well as the Casa de Adobe opened once again to the public full time and permanent,” says Nese.
This year’s soda selections will feature soda debuts as well as spotlighting unusual flavors for a soda smorgasbord.
Being unveiled at the Summer Soda Tasting will be a West Coast launch of a national line of sodas from Dublin Bottling Works – the bottler that had been producing cane sugar Dublin Dr Pepper since 1891 until it was shut down by Snapple Dr Pepper Group this winter. In addition, Galco’s will announce and sample the newest flavor in its White Rose line of soda pop (proceeds of sales of all White Rose sodas benefit the FoSMC).
Other samplings at press time include:
· Old Dominion Root Beer (based on a historical recipe from the Library of Congress)
· Mr. Q Cumber (soda of the year winner and first distributed at Galco’s)
· Sweet Blossom line of floral sodas: rose, lavender, elderflower and jasmine
· Ginger soda by Bruce Cost: fresh ginger, jasmine green tea and pomegranate
· French sodas from Rieme (company has been producing sodas since 1921)
· Volcanic Mineral Refresher water (better for athletes than Gatorade; also helps hangovers/headaches)
In between soda tastings, guests can enjoy a variety of entertainment, including an appearance by author /humorist Charles Phoenix who will be at mixing and serving two new “Poptails” and his latest Test Kitchen creation, a Seven-Layer Soda Pop Rock Cake, made with sodas and candies found on Galco’s shelves.
In addition to Don & Bunk, other musical acts at the Summer Soda Tasting 2 include Artichoke, the Mele Ohana Ukulele ensemble, teenage singer sensation Genesee Hall and the Gregor Walnum Blues Band.
Dakota Black, Native American standup comic, actor and author will also perform a family-friendly set.
Tickets for the Summer Soda Tasting are $12 in advance, $15 the day of the event and will be available for purchase at Galco’s or online via the Friends of the Southwest Museum, www.friendsofthesouthwestmuseum.com/
In addition to soda tastings, the Galco’s store will be open so people can stock up on any soda, candy, beer, wine. Proceeds from all store sales at the event will also be donated to the Friends of the Southwest Museum by Galco’s.
Galco’s is located at 5702 York Boulevard, Highland Park, 90042. For more information, call (323) 255-7115.
Note: Images for publication can be downloaded at www.friendsofthesouthwestmuseum.com/media/html.
Calendar listing
“Galco’s Summer Soda Tasting 2” 5-8 p.m. Sunday, July 22, 2012. Galco’s Soda Pop Stop, 5702 York Boulevard, LA CA 90042. The famed soda pop store hosts the second soda tasting event that will feature author/humorist Charles Phoenix and his seven-layer soda pop cake; live music; a set by Mothers of Invention musicians Don & Bunk; comedy by Native American standup Dakota Black; and other soda-related fun. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Southwest Museum. $12 advance/$15 at event. More information and tickets at www.friendsofthesouthwestmuseum.com; tickets are always on sale in person at Galco’s (323) 255-7115.
About Galco’s Soda Pop Stop
Devoted to the art of soda pop and supporting the small businesses behind each bubbly drink, Galco’s Soda Pop Stop features more than 500 flavors of soda at its Los Angeles storefront and nationwide through its website at www.sodapopstop.com.
Beginning in 1897 as an Italian grocery store, Galco’s changed “flavors” when son John F. Nese took helm of his father’s store in 1995 and lined the shelves with classic, small-batch, exotic and hard-to-find sodas. With a mission to support small soda makers, Galco’s motto is “Freedom of Choice” which mirrors Nese’s determination that customers have the right to choose from more than just a handful of mass-produced, big-business selections.
Today, sodas from all over the world can be found at Galco’s – brewed from Brazil to Jamaica, from Germany to Australia – and sought out traditional brands that use 50s, 60s and 70s recipes with cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup/corn sugar. Walking the aisle, sodaphiles can find flavors as diverse as cucumber, coconut and rose petals as well as traditional colas, ginger beers and sarsaparillas that are brewed by hard-to-find smaller bottlers. Galco’s features 450 unique micro beers, 60 types of bottled water, a selection of old-time candies and toys as well as a complete deli and its famed “Blockbuster” sandwich.
For more information on Galco’s Soda Pop Stop visit www.sodapopstop.com or call 323-255-7115. Nese discusses his views on soda pop in a popular online video at http://www.chow.com/food-news/55189/obsessives-soda-pop/
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Posted in Arroyo Seco, Arts and Entertainment, CD14, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Events, Highland Park, Mount Washington, NEWS 2012, PEOPLE
Eagle Rock, Blvd. and Merton Ave. 10:10 am
Suspicious Package Brings Bomb Squad
A report of a suspicious package near the City Bank building on the corner of Eagle Rock Blvd. and Merton prompted a call to LAPD. Their customary routine is to come out and look att it, then call the bomb Squad to investigate more thoroughly. Such incidents are usually benign (empty 12 pack?) but officials cannot take any chances. The bomb squad rolled out onto Colorado Blvd. last week when a citizen dropped off unused fireworks to the Eagle Rock fire station 42.
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Posted in CD14, COMMUNITIES, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS, NEWS 2012
Strike a blow against Citizens United
The U.S. Supreme Court’s disastrous Citizens United v. FEC ruling has unleashed a torrent of anonymous campaign spending into our political system. Corporations have been able to exert a massive influence on our electoral process without being subject to any accountability for that influence.
Progressive champion Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is fighting back by pushing Congress to pass the DISCLOSE Act. And he has asked the public to join him as citizen co-sponsors.
Become a citizen co-sponsor of the DISCLOSE Act of 2012 to end secret election spending.
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Posted in Arroyo Seco, CD14, Cypress Park, Eagle Rock, Education, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Glassell Park, Hermon, Highland Park, Montecito Heights, Mount Washington, NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS, NEWS 2012
VOICE IN THE EAGLE ROCK WILDERNESS
INTERVIEW ON CZECH TELEVISION
Christopher Nyerges
[Nyerges is the director of the School of Self-reliance, a member of the local non-profit WTI, and author of “How To Survive Anywhere,” and other books. He can be reached at Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041, or www.ChristopherNyerges.com]
Recently, I was interview by a journalist from the Czech Republic who saw my appearance on the National Geographic’s “Doomsday Preppers” show. He wanted to learn about some of the practical skills that I teach to prepare individuals for emergencies and disasters, such as the identification of wild foods, making fire, and methods of being more self-reliant in the home. We went to a wild area near Eagle Rock, and I shared all these skills as positive ways to enhance one’s daily life and to improve one’s survival quotient without a focus on fear or panic.
As we were finishing, he asked me something to the effect of “What was your worst and most painful experience?” I had to think a minute, and I recalled why I got interested in survival skills in the first place.
The very beginning of my studies involved agriculture (all my mother’s brothers were farmers), and the claim that the U.S. feeds the world. I can recall the various frightened predictions of famine in the U.S. in the 1970s, based upon the fact that way we deal with land management was worse in the 1970s than it was in the 1930s which led to the Dust Bowl.
I began to study botany and wild foods partly because I was worried about the larger conditions which might impact myself and my family. This dovetailed well with my interest in Native American living skills, where the average person knew all the uses of every plant that grew in your area. The idea of rekindling those bygone skills appealed to me. If I had to, I wanted to be able to find my food, medicine, tools, weapons, etc., from what nature has provided.
I told the reporter, Michal Kubal of Ceska Televize, that I have gone into the mountains many times with no food, and enjoyed doing it. But, I told Kubal, my primary goal has been to avoid pain and discomfort and untimely death in the first place. I’ve enjoyed traveling into the wilderness and knowing that I could take care of myself. But my motivating interest was the survival of my society, and my country, and the sustainability of the systems that we all depend upon.
Thus, any knowledge of self-reliance and survival builds strength into the community. Individuals who are knowledgeable and trained in survival tend not to have a victim mentality and tend to be a part of the solution. That has been my goal, and what I attempt to teach.
The various uses of wild foods that I collected and ate while on a short walk with Michal Kubal were the very foods I’d eat if there were no stores to go to, for whatever reason. My simple salad consisted of plants that were then in season: wild radish leaves, mustard flowers, lambs quarters, curly dock leaves and some amaranth leaves. All these plants would make a delicious stew if simmered slowly in a miso broth.
I also showed the reporter the many hand-operated tools that would allow life to continue if there was no electricity. In fact, the kitchen tools I showed Kubal were taken from my own kitchen, things like hand-operated can opener, juicer, coffee grinder, grater, etc. Though I don’t have anything against good electrical kitchen appliance, I have experienced enough black-outs to know that the hand-tools will never go out of style.
We also looked at some of the very simple and inexpensive tools that are commonly available to provide electricity from the sun, which were lamps, radios, battery chargers, etc.
I don’t know when my segment on Czech Television will air, but I will post it on my website if possible. My short interview reminded me that these skills are direly needed in a society that is always growing larger, in which we are increasingly dependent on others for everything. The simple solutions to any disruptions to our society are the focus of my classes, the schedule of which you can see at www.ChristopherNyerges.com
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Posted in Eagle Rock, Voice in the Eagle Rock Wilderness
The Elliott Caine Quintet (EC-trumpet, Carl Randall-tenor sax, Scott Oakley-piano, Trevor Ware-bass, Quentin Dinnard-drums) performs at The York, 5018 York Blvd., LA 90042 (Highland Park) on Sunday,July 15, from 7:30 to 10pm. No cover charge. For more information, please phone: 323-255-9675.
The Elliott Caine Quintet at The York
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Posted in Arts and Entertainment, Highland Park, LOCAL BUSINESSES, PEOPLE
Save Glassell Park Pool It’s your pool. Don’t let it close.
Follow the link to sign the petition
Click here to sign the petition
It’s your pool. Don’t let it close.
Due to budget cuts, Glassell Park Pool, a gem of the community will no longer be available as a year round resource to the communities around it. Only you can stop this closure. This site will be dedicated to sharing the updates and methods by which community members can voice their concern and help save the Glassell Park Pool.
\Call to Action
Contact City Hall
Sally Martinez (Senior Caseworker in Eric Garcetti’s office)
Sally.Martinez@lactiy.org
Trish Delgado (Acting Supervisor, Aquatics)
trish.delgado@lactiy.org
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Posted in Cypress Park, Eagle Rock, ELECTED OFFICIALS, Glassell Park, NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS, NEWS 2012
