Category: 2020

Sonoko Sakai in the “soba room” of her studio in Highland Park | |Philip Cheung; Assistant: Kali Vineburg

Local Food Scene Gains Wide Acclaim

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By Mary Lynch
Chefs, restaurants owners and other culinary artists from NELA have recently garnered major media attention. Here’s a sample:

Sonoko Sakai, (pictured above) who lives and works in Highland Park, has been named one of the “15 Creative Women for Our Time” by T: The New York Times Style magazine for her groundbreaking cookbooks and masterful classes on Japanese cooking.
Read more about Sakai and four other NELA standouts here.

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Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar, center, shown arriving at the federal courthouse in downtown L.A. in August. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Huizar Trial Delayed, More Charges Against More Defendants Expected

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By T.A. Hendrickson
The corruption trial of Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar, initially set to start on September 29, has been postponed until June 22, 2021.

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Entrance to Scholl Canyon dump by Figueroa St in Los Angles. Photo by T. A. Hendrickson

Eagle Rock in Harm’s Way from Scholl Canyon Biogas Project, New Report Shows

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By Bill Hendrickson
Unfortunately, the path forward to assert Eagle Rock’s interest in what happens at Scholl Canyon is fraught. Residents and environmentalists in Eagle Rock have generally worked through their City Council District 14 office to pressure and influence Glendale on Scholl Canyon issues. But with Eagle Rock’s city councilperson, José Huizar, under arrest on federal corruption charges, Council District 14 is not in a position to mount a firm response to the DEIR. 

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At Scoops ice cream on York Boulevard in Highland Park, owner Tai Kim says that his ailing business will suffer even more without an influx of students this fall from Occidental College | Photo by Matthew Reagan

Local Businesses Struggle to Hang On As Occidental College Closes for the Fall

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By Matthew Reagan
Businesses in Northeast Los Angeles, already battered by the pandemic and recession, took another one-two punch in July. The blows have called their survival into question.  Matthew Reagan spoke with a few of the businesses on York and Eagle Rock Boulvards. He reports on the thoughts of those local storeowners in this edition of the Boulevard Sentinel.

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Your walk becomes a workout – and your reward is this beautiful view – when you ascend the 196 steps of the Eldred Street stairs in Highland Park. | Photo by T.A. Hendrickson

10 Ways to Turn a Walk into an Adventure

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Picks from the people who bring you the Boulevard Sentinel If you have been taking walks to stay fit and alleviate boredom during the pandemic – or if you haven’t been walking but need to get moving – here are 10 ways in or near Northeast L.A. to turn a walk into an excursion or […]

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THE INITIAL SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE MEETING

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MEETING LINKS for Tuesday, August 25

VIA ZOOM: Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device: Please click this URL to join: https://zoom.us/j/95364965067
VIA PHONE: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or 833 548 0282 (Toll Free) or 877 853 5257 (Toll Free) or 888 475 4499 (Toll Free) or 833 548 0276 (Toll Free) Webinar ID: 953 6496 5067

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If found guilty as charged, José Huizar could spend the rest of his life in prison | Photo Los Angeles Downtown News

Mr. Huizar, How Do You Plead?

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By T.A. Hendrickson    José Huizar is scheduled to enter his plea to federal corruption charges on Monday, August 3 at 11:30 a.m. at the Edward R. Roybal federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. Huizar, the L.A.  City Councilmember for Council District 14, is expected to appear via videoconference.    Huizar, 51, stands accused of running a criminal enterprise from his perch at City Hall, enriching […]

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Katherine “Kaye” Marie Beckham

Remembering: Kaye Beckham, 1942-2020

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Katherine “Kaye” Marie Beckham – loving wife, mother, nana, great-grandmother, daughter, sister – and pillar of the Eagle Rock community, died on Sunday, July 19. She was 78. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1942, the daughter of Michael and Josephine Stech, Kaye was nine years old when her family moved to Eagle Rock. The Steches […]

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Joe Roice Hagemier 1952 – 2020

Remembering: Joe Roice Hagemier, 1952-2020

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Joe Roice Hagemier, lifetime resident of Eagle Rock and Glendale, passed away on June 16, 2020, shortly after being diagnosed with leukemia. He was 67. Joe, who went by both “Joe” and “Roice,” was born in 1952, the son of Joe G. Hagemier and his wife Roma Speirs Hagemier. The elder Joe Hagemier worked as […]

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Keeping Kids Busy in August: Help from the Park and the Library

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By Mary Lynch Keeping kids occupied during summer is challenging under the best of circumstances; pandemic conditions have only made the challenge more difficult. The parks and the library can help: DAY CAMP The first two weeks of August are the last two weeks of day camp for children ages 6 to 14 at several […]

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“Buy Local” sweepstakes winner Pete Jimenez (center) with $50 Barcade gift certificate, compliments of the Boulevard Sentinel. Local journalists Bill and T. A. Hendrickson celebrated with Jimenez.

Three Winners Chosen in Local Sweepstakes

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By T. A. Hendrickson
Pete Jimenez, a lifelong resident of Highland Park, and two Eagle Rock residents – Jane Demian and Ethan Metcalfe – are the winners in the Boulevard Sentinel’s “Buy Local” sweepstakes.

The Sentinel awarded each winner a $50 gift certificate to the merchant of their choosing from among the 21 merchants who participated in the sweepstakes.

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Alexandra Noel, "Can you bring everything with you?", 2019 Oil and enamel on panel. 8 ¼ x 10 ¼ in. (21 x 26 cm). Courtesy of the artist and Bodega, New York

Major Exhibition Featuring NELA Artists to Open in the Fall

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By T. A. Hendrickson Made in L.A. 2020 has been delayed but not waylaid. The high-profile exhibition of Los Angeles-based artists, originally scheduled for this summer, is now set to run from early September through January 3. This is great news for the 30 artists in the show, a group that includes five artists from […]

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Governor Newsom announcing renewed closures on July 1 | Photo courtesy of esq.com

The Coronavirus in NELA: An Update

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By T. A. Hendrickson
It’s summer and Northeast Los Angeles – like the rest of the city, state and much of the nation – is in the grip of a worsening coronavirus pandemic.
On July 1, Governor Newsom announced a three-week halt to indoor visits to restaurants, wineries, entertainment centers, card rooms, museums, zoos and movie theaters. Bars were closed by an earlier order.
Elected and public health officials are also imploring residents to stay at home as much as possible, wear masks, keep distance and refrain from parties and private gatherings.
Here’s an overview of the local situation:

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U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Nicolas T Hanna discusses the charges against L.A. City Councilmember Jose Huizar

U.S. Attorney and FBI Detail the Charges Against L.A. City Councilmember Jose Huizar

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From the horses’ mouths: We post here the video of the U.S. Attorney and FBI discussing the arrest of L.A. City Councilmember Jose Huizar.

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Left to right: Chloé Renée Ziegler of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council discussing and sharing resources at the Yosemite Shelter with Shelter worker Gloria Vazquez, volunteer Daniel Strebin and Shelter Director Jennifer Rockwell.

Bringing relief and renewed confidence to people living unprotected on the streets of Eagle Rock

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by ERNC

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Broken store window at LA Thrift on Eagle Rock Boulevard in Glassell Park | Photo by T. A. Hendrickson

Black Lives Matter Brings Brick Through Window in Glassell Park

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By T. A. Hendrickson
A brick was hurled through the “Black Lives Matter” sign painted on the glass storefront of L.A. Road Thrift Store on Eagle Rock Boulevard in Glassell Park.
Surveillance footage shows the vandalism occurring at 12:30 a.m. by a person wearing a bandana mask and driving a blue Prius, said Matt Troyer, the store manager.

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Images by Bill Hendrickson, Graphic presentation by Boulevard Sentinel.

More Scrutiny for Nursing Homes Hit by Coronavirus

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By T. A. Hendrickson and Emily Jo Wharry

Nursing homes, ground zero for coronavirus cases and deaths in Los Angeles County, will soon come under the scrutiny of an inspector general, a new position created recently by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.

The mandate of the inspector general – to determine what must change to improve nursing home conditions, oversight and enforcement – will extend to all skilled nursing facilities in the county. CLICK THE IMAGE TO READ MORE.

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Slow Streets signs at the end of Maywood Avenue and Yosemite Drive | Photo by Bill Hendrickson

Up for Debate

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Are “Slow Streets” a good thing for Eagle Rock? “Slow Streets” is a program that restricts a street to local traffic only so people can walk or bike without crowding the sidewalk. In Eagle Rock “Slow Streets” are in effect on stretches of Ellenwood Drive, Fair Park Avenue and Maywood Avenue. The decision to establish […]

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Photo: Los Angeles Downtown News

Huizar Former Aide to Plead Guilty to Federal Racketeering Charge

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Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office Central District of California FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, May 27, 2020 Former Aide to L.A. City Councilmember Agrees to Plead Guilty to RICO Charge Stemming from ‘Pay-to-Play’ Corruption Scheme           LOS ANGELES – The former special assistant to a member of the Los Angeles City Council has agreed to plead guilty […]

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Photo: Erin Clarke/Globe Staff

California to Provide $75 Million in Disaster Relief Assistance for Undocumented Immigrants

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Undocumented immigrants impacted by the corornavirus shutdown can now apply for cash assistance from the state of California — $500 per adult up to $1,000 for a household. In Los Angeles, the following organizations are handling applications for disaster relief assistance for undocumented immigrants. Note: Be prepared for high call volume. Los Angeles Central American […]

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Ramona Sierra (left) and Suzanna Bermudez when they aappeared at a City Planning hearing in May of 2019 to ask to be able to stay in their homes | Photo by Bill Hendrickson

It took a pandemic, but the City of Los Angeles has created more tenant security against eviction and rent increases

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By Bill Hendrickson

It took a pandemic, but two Eagle Rock seniors living under threat of eviction for more than a year have gotten a reprieve.

Ramona Sierra, 91, and her 66-year old neighbor, Suzanna Bermudez, have lived in their rent-controlled bungalows at 4542-4544 Eagle Rock Boulevard for 41 years and 10 years, respectively. In December 2018, they learned that the new owner of the bungalows was proceeding with re-development plans that could lead to their eviction. READ MORE

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The volunteers at Iglesia de la Comunidad Presbyterian Church in Highland Park carry boxes from the food delivery truck to the food pantry, where the groceries are packed for distribution. | Photo by T.A.Hendrickson

Keeping Hunger at Bay, NELA Food Pantries Face New Challenges

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By Emily Jo Wharry

The surge in unemployment amid the coronavirus pandemic has led to longer lines at food pantries in Northeast Los Angeles and, at the same time, new distributions methods to maintain social distance.

The dual need – for food and for distance – poses a logistical and spiritual challenge: At the twice-monthly pantry run by Iglesia de la Comunidad Presbyterian Church in Highland Park, what used to be a two-hour shift for volunteers now takes a full day of work, said Pastor Roberto Ramierez.

The story is similar at Iglesia Pentecostal Esmirna, also in Highland Park, which runs a food pantry once a week. A third local pantry, at Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services in Highland Park, recently switched to distribution by appointment.

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The academic decathletes of Franklin High posed for this team photo shortly before school closed in March. From left: Principal Regina Marquez-Martinez, Raquel Alegria, John Bermudez, Julian Martinez, Benicio Rivera, Henry Reyes, Bienn Viquiera, David Coronilla, Michael Sanchez and Coach Egon Trujillo

Franklin Competes with Distinction in State Academic Decathlon, Competition Took Place Online

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By Mary Lynch Franklin High School in Highland Park ranked first out of 20 schools in its division and 14th out of 65 schools overall in the recent California state finals of the Academic Decathlon. Franklin’s achievement in the state finals followed a fifth place showing in February among 55 teams from the Los Angeles Unified […]

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Chili's, like many other restaurants, is now offering alcohol to go.

Alcohol To-Go Raises Concerns

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By T. A. Hendrickson Alcohol Justice, the coalition that has led the fight against later closing times for bars in California, has expressed alarm over new state rules that let restaurants sell beer, wine and mixed drinks for pickup and delivery. The new rules, in effect since March 20,  are intended to help the alcohol […]

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Universal Waste Systems is the designated trash hauler for Northeast L.A. under RecycLA.

The Garbage Wars in L.A. Are Not Over Yet

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By Mary Lynch The Apartment Owners Association has lost a round in its long fight to roll back RecycLA, the city’s garbage collection/recycling system for businesses and apartment buildings put in place in 2017. There is one more round to go. The loss for the apartment owners came on April 3, when they dropped a […]

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Illustration by Yarek Waszul for the New York Times

Coronavirus: Assistance for the self-employed, business owners and independent contractors

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The state will begin implementing new federal benefit payments of $600 on top of the weekly benefit received by California workers starting this Sunday

Californians have filed more claims in the last four weeks than in all of 2019

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Creating Extraordinary Realities with Carolyn Caswell, MFT, M. Msc.

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Advertisement Dear Readers,  This month, we’re going to Look Into an often misunderstood word, “Apocalypse” and address the questions: “What is the Apocalypse?, “Are we in the ‘Time of the Apocalypse’ now?” And if so, what will happen to us? The word Apocalypse is often popularly used in the Biblical context of “the End of […]

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Creating Extraordinary Realities with Carolyn Caswell, MFT, M. Msc.

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Advertisement Dear Readers,  I hope you are well and taking whatever safety precautions you are directed from Within to take. This month, I would like to introduce you to one of my favorite Mentors, Barbara Marciniak, best-selling author of Bringers of the Dawn, Earth, Family of Light and Path of Empowerment, from which I have […]

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Creating Extraordinary Realities with Carolyn Caswell, MFT, M. Msc.

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Advertisement Dear Readers, This month, I’m sharing just a little of my Sacred Dialog with the Masters of Wisdom who are guiding our Work. C: Respected Masters, Please advise me about the face mask and protective gear issue? You have assured me of my own safety, but what about Other­ Selves and those who follow […]

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Creating Extraordinary Realities with Carolyn Caswell, MFT, M. Msc.

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Advertisement Last month, we looked into the idea that while we may not control  events  in  life, we can choose our perceptions of them . (For example, An event happens (**Say, Covid-19). For some people it is perceived as a disaster, others experience it as a rousing challenge to be survived or conquered, still others […]

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Creating Extraordinary Realities with Carolyn Caswell, MFT, M. Msc.

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Advertisement (Coco’s Intuitive Meetups Are Suspended Due To a State of “Emergency”– ”Emerge And See!” in the year of “perfect sight” 2020.) The Deeper Meanings of “The Corona Virus: Covid-19” We’ve been discussing a truth that if a problem presents itself to us, it doesn’t mean we are necessarily the problem, but are responsible for […]

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