A good example of the Spanish style. Los Nietos Drive, Los Feliz. Photo by Richard Stanley

Did you know that about half the homes in Los Feliz are either “Spanish” or “Mediterranean” style?  There’s a reason for that, and it has to do with the era in which most of the houses in our neighborhoods were built and the popular styles of architecture prevalent then.

Sometimes I think that half the houses I’ve sold were built in 1923 alone—not surprising when one considers that the population of Los Angeles more than doubled during the ‘20s to nearly 1.25 million.  All those newcomers had to live somewhere, and that “somewhere” included the burgeoning neighborhoods in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains such as Los Feliz and Silver Lake.

So why were the Spanish and Mediterranean houses so popular in the ‘20s?  Let’s take a look:

Background

Spanish and Mexican era structures used indigenous materials and their simple application to solve the basic need for shelter.  Adobe bricks, rough-hewn timbers, reeds and tar were used by the Spanish to build an everyman’s house that was relatively warm in winter and cool in summer.  Scaled-up, these materials, along with clay tiles, were used for the famous chain of California missions.  By the mid- to late-19th Century, the humble houses of earlier times were not sophisticated enough to meet the tastes of ambitious, self-made Angelenos, many of whom were transplants from the East and Mid-West.  The preferred style then was what we generally call “Victorian” today—actually a mélange of many historical revivals.

A California Style

By the late 19th Century, professional architects and local boosters were searching for a unique and appropriate style for California.  Its debut was the California Building at the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893.  This “Mission Revival” building was widely admired and copied, as in our own Herald Examiner Building downtown.  Look for clean, white stucco walls; scalloped parapets that evoke the campanario, or bell towers, of the missions; arches and arcades, especially at entrances; low-pitched tile roofs or at least tile-capped low parapets and cast ornaments.  This style lent itself to everything from humble “Mission” bungalow courts to train and gas stations and was popular from the 1890s to the 1920s.  A good example is the circa1905 house at Kellam Avenue and Douglas Street.

Another fair, this one, the San Diego Panama-California Exposition in 1915, featured extravagant Spanish and Cuban architectural forms designed by Bertram Goodhue (of downtown library fame) and Carlton Winslow (who lived in Los Feliz). The style proved so popular that not only were houses in new developments required to subscribe to gabled, tiled roofs (as in Moreno Highlands in Silver Lake) but whole cities were given over to this style, as when Santa Barbara, leveled by a major quake in 1925, rebuilt overnight into an old Spanish town.

Look for these traits:  broad, white or creamy stucco surfaces (sometimes conspicuously textured) with few openings, usually deeply cut in; low, pitched, tile roofs; extensive use of arches, ironwork and glazed and unglazed tile flooring and ornamentation; much indoor/outdoor access via French doors; shallow upper-story balconies and, occasionally, Moorish influences.  The whole effect is asymmetrical and flamboyant.  This style lasted into the early 1930s, then fell out of favor.  By the 1940s, through the 1970s, the Spanish style houses were distinctly passé.  Fred MacMurray’s line in 1944’s film, Double Indemnity, about Barbara Stanwyck’s Los Feliz Spanish house, “must have cost somebody about thirty thousand bucks,” is, after all, said mockingly.  This classic Spanish house stands at Quebec and Creston Drives in the Vine Hills.

Spanish Relatives

A first-cousin to the Spanish house, was the Pueblo Revival, or what we might call today, Santa Fe.  This style, with its heavy stucco and projecting vigas, parapeted roofs, tree trunk columns and beehive fireplaces, was rare locally, but a good example exists on Avon Park Terrace near Park Drive.

A popular 1930s successor to the Spanish house was the Monterey Colonial style.  Look for American Colonial influences especially around entrances; shutters; interior trim and built-ins.  The most salient characteristics of the Monterey Colonial are the overall rectilinear form with the upper story projecting balcony that is often the full width of the house.

The Mediterranean house co-existed with the Spanish house, however, its inspiration came from Tuscany and Provence, not Iberia.  Look for smooth stucco on clean, almost austere, facades.  The symmetric, rectilinear form has a low-pitched tile roof.  Casement windows often have shutters.  The conspicuous entrance might bear the sole ornamentation.  As the Spanish style is flamboyant, the Mediterranean is formal.  Still, many so-called Mediterranean houses flirted with Spanish elements.

Market Importance

Today, vintage Spanish and Mediterranean homes are the gold standard of local buyer preference.  Rarely do I hear a buyer tell me not to show them Spanish or Mediterranean house.  Even buyers of highly-styled Modern, or “Architectural,” houses will buy a Spanish or Mediterranean house “with integrity,” meaning one that is in authentic condition.

Lately, I have heard west side brokers say that their buyers are looking for a “Los Feliz Spanish” house—proof that what was once in vogue, and then passé, really can be new and in demand again.

Richard Stanley can be reached at (323) 906-2417 or rstanley@coldwellbanker.com.

90026 Single Family Residences

2855 EFFIE ST $712,000
3324 BERKELEY AVE $544,000
1446 LAKE SHORE AVE $543,000
1312 N OCCIDENTAL BLVD $300,000
333 PARKMAN AVE $220,000
312 N MOUNTAIN VIEW AVE $162,000 

90027 Single Family Homes

3471 GRIFFITH PARK BLVD $1,375,000.00
3743 AMESBURY RD $1,365,000
4526 MELBOURNE AVE $665,000
3221 GRIFFITH PARK BLVD $627,000
4011 CAMERO AVE $585,000 

90039 Single Family Homes

2555 IVAN HILL TER $760,000
2311 LAKE VIEW AVE $560,000
2153 EWING ST $425,000
3150 GRACIA ST $413,500
4036 BEMIS ST $341,500
2116 EWING ST $275,000

3958 GOODWIN AVE $228,000 

90068 Single Family Homes

3060 BELDEN DR $1,835,000
2320 LORENZO DR $900,000
5880 LOCKSLEY PL $896,000
6128 RODGERTON DR $890,000
2806 SUNDAY TRL $851,500
5871 CAROLUS DR $796,000
3339 N KNOLL DR $765,000
3326 CHARLESTON WAY $750,000
6408 DIX ST $649,000
6148 GLEN TOWER ST $550,000
3216 BENNETT DR $148,500

Sales are from the previous month.  Source: Great American Real Estate Solutions

Councilmember Tom LaBonge talks with Silver Lake Residents concerned about the rise in crime near the Landa Steps.

SILVER LAKE—Local residents living near the Landa Steps are asking the Los Angeles Police to put a stop to years of drug use, vandalism, auto break–ins and sex in parked cars.

Over 50 residents gathered in February at the top of the public staircase that connects Landa St. to Redesdale Ave. to meet with representatives from the Los Angeles Police Dept. and Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge.

“The lack of response from our calls is really irritating,” said resident Mike Falcon. “I come home late at night after teaching classes and I’ve seen people on the steps smoking dope or crack in crowds 12-15 deep.” 

The view from the top of the steps, police said, attracts both the good and bad.

“People are looking for those spots to come and sit with a view of something,” Senior Lead Officer Al Polehonki told the crowd. “But along with that some of the bad guys are looking for an area a little darker, a little quieter, where it’s hard with our limited resources to cover them all of the time.”

Polehonki told the crowd there were 833 crimes in the Silver Lake area last year, mostly non-violent “crimes of opportunity.”

“We really are afraid we’re on the cusp,” of attracting more types of crime, said resident Diana Hamann underscoring the fears felt by some that the Landa Steps has become a known spot where police do not bother kids.  

Residents recalled an incident in January where teenagers had to be dispersed from the area, with the help of patrol officers and police helicopters.

More reporting of crimes and an increased police presence in the area were discussed as possible solutions. Additionally, LaBonge promised to look into additional street lighting, parking restrictions, and the quicker removal of graffiti.

Decoy cars were also discussed as a tactic that has worked in other neighborhoods such as the Hollywood Hills.

“Small things lead to big things and there’s a beautiful vista but it has become a place for people out here drinking and smoking and vandalizing,” said LaBonge.

Polls open Saturday, March 20th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

GREATER GRIFFITH PARK:
Hollywood Lutheran Church, 1733 N. New Hampshire Ave.

ATWATER VILLAGE:
Christ’s Church at Griffith Park: Wilson Hall, 3852 Edenhurst Ave.

SILVER LAKE:
Silver Lake Recreation Center: Arts & Crafts Room, 1850 W. Silver Lake Dr.

Billy, the sole elephant at the Los Angeles Zoo, reaches out for a banana-tree snack from handler Scott Haist, in this photo from February 2009. Photo Credit Michelle Kunz

Zoo May Slip From City Control

LOS FELIZ—As the city faces massive budget cuts and layoffs now totaling 4,000, Griffith Park, will be forced to cut services and programs. The Los Angeles Zoo will continue with cuts to services and reductions in staff, already in place since last summer, and faces the possibility of a change in governance.

The Los Angeles Dept. of Recreation and Parks will lay off an additional 125 positions this fiscal year leaving the department with a total of 1,400 employees, down from 2,100 in June of 2008.

This will mean a reduction in services in the neighborhood, said John Mukri, General Manager of the Dept. of Recreation and Parks.

“Senior programs, the aquatic programs, may [face] cuts for the summer [or] reduced hours,” he said. And while the specifics may not yet be clear, it’s certain that “there will be cuts in programming across the board, and some programs will be totally eliminated.”

Griffith Park itself is “mostly passive,” said Mukri, meaning that the park won’t face many changes. The primary concern among residents and city officials is safety, and maintaining the number of rangers available to patrol the park.

“We have a small contingent of rangers that’s been shrinking,” said Mukri, and “our rangers that patrol our large urban parks are going to [continue to] shrink.”

The final number of safety officers in the park will depend on cuts made not just to the Dept. of Recreation and Parks, but also from police departments and elsewhere since park rangers are pulled from various departments.

Some of the park’s most prestigious activities will face major changes, too.

The Griffith Observatory will likely be closed an extra day of the week—probably Tuesdays—beginning in a few months.

And the Los Angeles Zoo, which has already seen a scaling back of activities, will continue to be evaluated for privatization.

Currently, the zoo is funded through city revenue and private donations.

According to John Lewis, General Manager and Zoo Director, the zoo’s private fundraising arm—the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Assoc. (GLAZA)—is likely to take over at least partial control of the facility. 

“We’d like them to be new government,” said Lewis.

By loosing some control from city government, Lewis said he hopes the zoo will be more profitable. According to Mukri, most cities already operate their zoos privately.

“We are one of the only municipal governments that still operate the zoo through tax dollars,” he said.

However, GLAZA is not the only group interested in governing the zoo.            

“The problem is not going to be finding interested parties,” said Mukri. “It’s going to be how quickly we can go out in a formalized, competitive procurement process and get the best return back to the taxpayers.”

In the meantime, programs and services at the zoo are suffering. The contact area in the children’s zoo has been cut, as has a program that allows students from the zoo’s magnet school to train with zookeepers.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge, in whose district Griffith Park lies, acknowledged the challenges facing the park, and said that he and other city officials are looking for grants and contributions that may help keep services intact.

“These are challenging times that we all live in,” he said.

I love a good Cappuccino and by far one of the best places to get that rich delectable brew is at Caffe Etc, located on Selma and Caheunga.

The café is owned by husband and wife team Viviana Benharoche and Brian Pollack, a writer/producer on such shows as Cheers.

While having my morning “cuppa,” I noticed some amazingly cool photographs of the most iconic rock and rollers of our time: Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Joni Mitchell and Jerry Garcia.

It turns out that Pollack knows the photographer, Kim Gottleib-Walker, as she was the production photographer on Cheers. After Gottleib-Walker posted on Facebook that she had sold a Bob Marley photo, Pollack got the idea to have her exhibit her photos at his café.

Photo © Kim Gottlieb-Walker www.Lenswoman.com

“I thought that people coming through here would really appreciate them. This is her audience,” he said.

Within two months, a dozen photos were hung, all of which are for sale.

Gottlieb-Walker’s book “Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae” is due in September.

“I consider myself an opposite of a paparazzi,” she is quoted as saying in an interview in PHOTOgraphic Magazine in 2005. “Rather than ‘take” photos, the process is one of giving. The subject entrusts themselves to me and in return, I respect their privacy and sensibilities and do my best to capture them at their most beautiful and expressive—a mutual act of giving.”  

Caffe Etc.,  6371 Selma Ave. (323) 464-8824,
www.caffeetc.com.

Also check out Kim Gottlieb-Walker’s website: www.lenswoman.com

CHICAGO, IL—I’ve never been to Chicago so when I needed to be there for a documentary film shoot, I was excited. 

Buying a three-day Chicago Transit pass ($12) was definitely the way to get around inexpensively, plus, getting around using public transportation helps you to really get to know the city.

We stayed at The Willows, a historical landmark with its old world European charm located two blocks from Lake Michigan in the Lincoln Park-Lakeview area.

After a short walk to the bus stop, we headed downtown for dinner to meet my cousin and 92-year-old aunt who served in the South Pacific during WWII and is one of the subjects of the documentary about military nurses. The hustle and bustle of Carmine’s, a Chicago mainstay, proves its enduring popularity with its pure southern Italian fare.

Filled with ethnic neighborhoods, Chicago’s truly a “city,” but it’s a slower-paced, mid-western town that is unlike any other. Known as the birthplace of the steel skyscraper and situated on Lake Michigan, it’s a blend of nature and hardware.

Since we hadn’t been here before, we took a Gray Line tour of the city. What a mistake! It was terrible and I highly recommend you steer clear of it. We should have taken the Chicago Architectural Boat Tour that so many had recommended but it was too cold for us Californians. Gray Line’s bus driver/guide seemed bored with his job. He recited facts, offering personal opinions on how expensive the condos are and condemning the city for building unaffordable housing. We came away knowing where Oprah Winfrey’s guests stay but had very little knowledge of Chicago’s deeply rooted place in American history. It was odd to say the least.

No trip would be complete without seeing Marshall Fields. Granted, it’s now called Macy’s but we still took pictures next to the original plaque at its entrance. Not far from there is the 60-year-old Garrett’s Popcorn. Though it sounds crazy, the Chicago mix of caramel and cheese popcorn is so habit forming, we bought bags to take home. You can order online, should you get a hankering.

We ate Chicago pizza (crust stuffed with cheese), dinner at the lovely French Bistro 110 and topped off the night with drinks atop the Hancock Tower—but it was a restaurant in the neighborhood near our hotel that was a real find. Chilam Balam offers innovative, sustainable Mexican cuisine. The name refers to the “awakening of consciousness and spirituality. It’s not the end; it’s a new cycle of naturalism and peace.”

Owned by Soroya Rendom, who came to America at 18 with a couple of hundred dollars in her pocket and Chuy Valencia, a former sous chef at the famed Frontera, the grilled hangar steak in guajillo sauce was a real winner that I’m still craving and the crispy chicken flautas with chipotle-mezcal sauce was perfect to share. Valencia wants to open up in L.A., asking my advice as to where: I told him he would clean up in Silver Lake (but then I have my selfish motives).

We left Chicago hoping Valencia’s aspirations come true; satisfied we’ll be seeing him in our own neighborhood soon.

SILVER LAKE

The digital billboard at the corner of Silver Lake Boulevard and Effie Street had raised particular ire from local residents who complained about the sign when it first went up two years ago.

But for more than a month now the billboard has ceased running ads, and it appears complaints from local residents have convinced Clear Channel Outdoor, which owns the billboard, to turn off the lights—at least for now.

“In response to concerns of some local residents, and on a temporary basis, Clear Channel Outdoor has turned the sign dark as it evaluates options,” said Clear Channel spokesperson Sharon Oh.

Static billboards started being digitized across the city as a concession by the city in a 2006 lawsuit with CBS Outdoor and Clear Channel Outdoor.           

Los Angeles City Council President, Eric Garcetti, who also represents the area, has called the settlement agreement “a mistake.”

Last November, a Superior Court judge invalidated the city’s settlement which could, in effect, force all the digital billboards to go dark.

However, Julie Wong, with Garcetti’s office said, until all the legal issues are resolved, the city will not start taking down the digital billboards.

DAY CAMPS

Silver Lake Beach Camp

Adventures in Nature Summer Day Camp
Adventures in Nature is the Natural History Museum’s summer camp where children have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of Museum topics — Earth’s features, creatures, and cultures from around the globe.

Natural History Museum
900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA,
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Dates: 7/5 -/8/27
Ages:  K-8th Grade
Schedule: 9:00 – 3:00 with extended care available
Cost: $240-$275 depending on whether the session has a field trip, with member discounts
First day to register: 4/1/10
www.nhm.org/site/activities-programs/adventures-in-nature
213-763-3348

Aloha Beach and Surf Camp
Aloha Beach Camp is L.A.’s most comprehensive aquatic sports day camp offering more than 200 safe and fun aquatic activities including surfing, boogie boarding, jet skiing, wakeboarding, ocean swimming lessons, beach ecology and more.  Boys and girls ages 3-7 enroll in the Keiki program at Paradise Cove. Campers between 8-11 are enrolled in the Kahuna program and campers ages 12-15 are enrolled in High Action Camp, both of which take place at Castaic Lake and Zuma Beach. Pick-ups and drop-offs are at pre-determined meeting points around Los Angeles.

Dates: 6/21 – 8/20
Ages: 3 to 15
Schedule:  9:30 am – 3:30 pm plus transportation time
Cost: $75 to $107/ day depending on when you register and for how many days.
First day to register: Now.
First open house is 3/14/10.
www.alohabeachcamp.com
818-932-4600

Art Center for Kids Summer Workshops
Center for Kids offers students conceptually based art and design classes that promote innovation, critical thinking, and visual literacy.

Art Center College of Design
950 South Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105
Ages:  Grades 4 – 8
Dates and Schedule: Sunday classes
6/5 – 8/14, 1 pm – 4 pm
Weekly Summer Workshops 7/5 – 8/14,
9 am – 12 pm.
Cost:  $260/week; scholarships are available.
First day to register: 5/24/10
www.artcenter.edu/kids
626-396-2319, Option 3

Audubon Center at Debs Park
The Audubon Center’s camp is called the Arroyo Adventure.  Weekly programs focus on the plants and animals of Debs Park and the Arroyo Seco.

Debs Park
4700 North Griffin Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90313
Dates: 6/28-7/30
Weeks 1-3: Ages 6-10;
Week 4: Ages 9-11.
Schedule: 9 am – 4 pm
Cost: $200/week
First day to register: April 1, 2010
www.audubondebspark.org
323-221-2255

Autry Museum of the American West Summer Camp
Campers will get a unique perspective on the past through interacting with artifacts, enjoying stories of real people and discovering their connection to history.  Camps will feature crafts, discussions, games and activities along with tours of the museum galleries.

4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA, 90027-1462
Dates: 6/28 – 7/30
Ages: 5-12
Schedule:  9 am-12 pm. and 1 pm-4 pm, with pre- and post-camp care and supervised lunch time available.
Cost: $185 for half-day weekly session, $300 for full day weekly session, with member discounts available.
First day to register: Now
www.autrynationalcenter.org
323-667-2000

California Science Center
Hands-On Science Camp offers exciting activities covering physics, chemistry, biology, space and earth science in more than 25 courses.

700 Exposition Park Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, CA 90037
Dates: 6/28 – 8/20
Ages: Pre-K – 8th Grade
Schedule: Varies with age, from two hours to six hours a day.
Cost: $150-$350 per week; member discounts available.
First day to register: Now
www.californiasciencecenter.org
213-744-7400

DayJams: Rock Music Camp
DayJams’s professional musician instructors teach everyone from beginners to advanced players how to play guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, vocals or horns. Campers will play in a band, write an original song, perform in a rock concert and record a CD.

American Jewish University
15600 Mulholland Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90077
Dates: July 5-9 and July 12-16
Ages: 8 – 15
Schedule: 9 am – 5 pm Monday – Friday.  Drop off 8 am – 9 am; pick up 5 pm – 5:30 pm.
Cost: $620/week, with discounts for multiple weeks.
First day to register: Register now
www.dayjams.com
800-295-5956

Enterprise Farms Riding Camp
Week long riding camps feature safety oriented instruction on how to work around horses, basic horsemanship skills, grooming, bathing, tacking and exercising. Camps close with a horse show and awards ceremony where campers demonstrate their newly developed skills for family and friends.

Paddock Riding Club
3919 Rigali Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90039
Dates: 6/21 – 8/30
Ages: 6 and up
Schedule: M – F 9-4
Cost: $495 per week
First day to register: Register now
www.enterprisefarms.com
(323) 665-8977

Golden State Gymnastics
Children with years of gymnastics experience or novices will be able to learn new gymnastics skills, work towards potential and achieve their personal best at this nonprofit gymnasium.  Daily activities will include gymnastics, arts and crafts, games, outdoor water play.

1828 N. Keystone St., Burbank, CA 91504
Dates: 6/7 – 8/13
Ages: 3 and up
Schedule: 9 am – 12 pm, 1 pm – 4 pm, or 9 am – 5 pm; aftercare available.
Cost: Full-day $260 per week; Half-day $155 per week.  M, W, F and T, Th also available.  Sibling discounts and multiple week discounts also available.
First day to register: Register now
www.goldenstategym.com
818-558-1177

Huntington Explorers
The classes celebrate the wonders of the Huntington through garden explorations, hands-on activities, gallery investigations and educational fun.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108
Dates: July and August
Ages: 5 – 12
Schedule: 9:30 am – 12 pm, 1 pm – 3:30 pm, or 9:30 – 3:30; extended care available.
Cost: Check in April.  Member discounts available.
First day to register: 4/10
www.huntington.org
626-405-2104

Karate for Kids USA
Karate for Kids camp is for all ages and all levels.  The camp is designed to be fun and offer instruction in basic karate. Activities include martial arts, games, dodge ball, arts and crafts, paper airplanes, library trips, general mayhem and major chaos.

5215 Bakman Ave., North Hollywood, CA 91601
Dates: 6/21 – 8/27
Ages: 4 – 16
Schedule: 9 – 3; full and half-days available.  Sign up by the day or week.
Cost: Payment available by the day or week.  Tuition price includes lunch.
First day to register: 5/1/10
karate4kidsusa.com
818-755-4573

Kidspace Children’s Museum
During this one week nature-themed enrichment camp children will experience all that Kidspace has to offer, including engaging activities in the gardens, art projects that bring out the creative side of campers and nature hikes in the Arroyo Seco.

480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103
Dates: July 26 – 30 for ages 5-8; August 2 – 6 for ages 7-10
Ages: 5 – 9
Schedule: 9 -2, 2-5 or 9-5
Cost: $185 – $315
First day to register:  Now
www.kidspacemuseum.org
626-449-9144

LACMA Summer Art Camp
Kids explore the museum and their creativity in painting, drawing and mixed-media projects. With more than 100,000 works of art to discover, each week’s art adventure will be different!

Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
Dates: 7/12 – 8/27
Ages: 6 – 13 (note that some weeks are only for certain ages)
Schedule: 10 – 3
Cost: $275 per week; member discounts available.
First day to register: Register now; by mail only
www.lacma.org/programs/ArtCamp.aspx
323-857-6139

Ecole du Soleil
Live an international summer in L.A. Choose from three different age-based programs focusing on language and fun activities including field trips. Previous exposure to the French language is not required; a fun and valuable experience is offered to all children.

Lycee International de Los Angeles (LILA)
4155 Russell Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027
Dates: 6/21 – 7/30
Ages: Pre-K – 5th Grade
Schedule: 9-3:30, with complimentary extended care
Cost: Register by the week or single days; cost varies by program.
First day to register:  3/1/10
Lyesse Tsamen 323-665-4526

Silverlake Beach Camp
Silverlake Beach Camp features trips each day to the beach, hikes, museums, parks, gardens, swimming pools, etc.

Drop off and pick up at Mt. Hollywood Church in Los Feliz
Mailing Address:  920 Silverlake Blvd. #18, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Dates: June 28th – September 3rd
Schedule: 8:30 – 5:30
Cost: $275 per week
First day to register: 3/1/2010
SilverlakeCamps@hotmail.com
213-445-3790 or 213-948-4757

Silverlake Recreation Center Day Camp
Children will participate in a variety of activities daily including sports, arts and crafts, and cooking.  Children seven and up will swim once a week, and there’s an optional field trip every Friday.  Detailed information will be available mid-March.

1850 W. Silver Lake Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90026
Silverlake.RecreationCenter@lacity.org
323-644-3946

Summer With Shakespeare

Stage Time Los Angeles
Summer Theater Camp for Pre-Teens
Boys and girls, ages 8-12, will help write an original theater piece based on a “Choose Your Own Adventure” theme filled with warlocks, wizards, princesses and more! Basic acting fundamentals will be introduced through improvisational theater games, voice work, scene study, dance and music. A final performance will be held for friends and parents at the end of the week. Based in Silver Lake.

Silver Lake Community Church
2930 Hyperion Ave.
Los Angeles, CA  90027

Pre-Teen Acting Camp I
Dates: Monday-Friday, July 19-July 23
Schedule: 9am-3pm
Cost: $200

Pre-Teen Acting Camp II
Dates: Monday-Friday, July 26-July 30
Schedule: 9am-3pm
Cost: $200

First day to Register: e-mail: info@stagetimelosangeles.com or call
1-800-530-9524
www.stagetimelosangeles.com

Summer @ Chandler
Summer @ Chandler takes place at Chandler School, an independent K-8 school. There is a day camp for students entering grades K-6, and enrichment classes for students grades K-8. Summer @ Chandler offers a relaxing, trusting, and fun atmosphere where all children are encouraged to pursue their own interests and develop friendships.

1005 Armada Drive
Pasadena, CA 91103-2802
Dates: 6/14 – 7/25
Ages: K- 8
Schedule: 8 – 3 with some longer days for enrichment activities.  Extended care available until 6.
Cost: Varies by program
First day to register: Returning campers and Chandler students receive priority registration until 3/12.  All others: 3/15.
www.chandlerschool.org
626-795-9314 x127

Summer Acting Camp
Summer Acting Camp provides a wide range of specialized courses which students take every day, including acting, singing, tap dance, movement, improvisation, stage combat and on-camera technique.  Each session ends with a performance.

La Canada Playhouse
La Canada High School
4463 Oak Grove Dr.
La Canada, CA 91011
Dates: 6/21 – 7/9; 7/12 – 7/31
Ages: 5 and up
Schedule: 8 –  5 with free extended care from 7:30 am and until 5:30 pm.
Cost: $600 per session
First day to register: Register now; early bird discount until 3/15.
www.summeractingcamp.com
818-957-1619

Summer Sports Camp 2010
Participants can play tennis and/or soccer. With a staff of seasoned, high-energy pros, your child will get superior training and have lots of fun!  There’s also an option to cool off in the swimming pool. Every Friday is “Healthy Lunch” day, where we provide a nutritious lunch for the kids.

3401 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles, 90027
Dates:  6/21 – 8/20
Ages: 6 to 14
Schedule: 9 – 4
For tennis: call 323.663.6060 or visit
www.latennis.com
For soccer: call (310) 926-7668  or visit
www.hollywoodsocceracademy.com
camp@latennis.com

Summer with Shakespeare
Spend the Summer with Shakespeare at A NOISE WITHIN, Glendale’s own classical theatre company. In this fun three-week camp, kids will learn Shakespeare, acting games, improvisation, safe stage combat, voice and speech, movement, and more! Camp culminates in a presentation for family and friends.

A Noise Within Theatre Company
234 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91204
Dates: 7/6 – 7/24
Ages: 10-18; children are split into groups of similarly aged kids.
Schedule: 10 am – 4 pm
Cost: $750
First day to register: Register now
www.anoisewithin.org
818-265-7961
education@anoisewithin.org

Summerkids
Summerkids Camp and Summer Challenge are both conducted at The Angelus Mountain Center, a privately-owned, secure, 56-acre campground of beautiful meadows, wild and wooded areas, a stream, lodge, cabins, pool, amphitheater, sports fields and lots of room and resources.

3697 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Altadena, CA 91001
Dates: 6/15 – 9/10
Ages: Summerkids Camp: K-6th grade; Summer Challenge Camp: 7th – 9th grade (6/5 – 8/25)
Schedule: 9 am – 3 pm with extended care available.  Sessions vary in the number of days or weeks.
Cost:  Varies depending upon the number of days per week and number of weeks registered.
First day to register: Returning families have priority until 3/1, when enrollment opens to new families.
www.summerkids.net
626-577-9979
info@summerkids.net

Swordplay Studios
Swordplay’s Summer Camp program offers week-long opportunities for kids to improve their fencing skills.  This year the camp is offering sessions of Star Wars themed Jedi Training Camp, Fencing Camp, Shakespeare Camp and Warriors of the Centuries.

64 East Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank CA 91502
Dates: 6/14 – 8/20
Ages: 4-16
Schedule: Varies by weekly program
Cost: Varies by weekly program
818-566-1777
www.swordplayla.com

Theatre 360 Summer Camp
Each two-week session will focus on a different series of shows, styles, historical periods, composers, and choreographers. Campers will learn songs, scenes, monologues, and dances from a variety of theatrical sources. More intensive acting, dance and voice programs are also available, as is a special program for children ages 3-5.

75 N. Marengo Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
Dates: 6/14 – 8/27
Ages: 3 – 19
Schedule: Five two-week, M-F sessions for ages 6-19; five two-week M, W & F sessions for ages 3-5, and two intensive two-week M-F sessions for ages 13-19.
Cost: Varies per session
First day to register: Register now
www.theatre360.org
626-577-5922

Tom Sawyer Camp
Tom Sawyer Camp provides horseback riding, swimming instruction, pressure-free sports, group games, and a rugged outdoor program that acquaints the campers with the local wilderness areas. Transportation is provided for campers from their homes to camp except for those children living outside the normal pick-up areas or in inaccessible areas.

Hahamongna Watershed Park
707 West Woodbury Rd, #F
Altadena, CA 91001
Dates: 6/21 – 8/27
Ages: Pre-Camp ages 3 – 5; Day Camp 1st – 5th grades; Outpost Camp 6th – 9th grades
Schedule: Choose 2, 3 or 5 days a week.  Hours vary by Camp.
Cost: Price varies by number of days and weeks registered.
First day to register: Register now
www.tomsawyercamps.com
626-794-1156
info@tomsawyercamps.com

Wizard of Art
Week-long summer art workshops at the Los Feliz art school feature drawing, painting, cartooning and sculpting in clay. All ages are welcome, and single-hour classes are also available through the summer.

1947 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles CA  90027
Dates: Mid-June through August
Ages: 4 and up
Schedule:  Weekly sessions M-F, 9 am-12 pm
Cost: $230 per week
First day to register: Register now
323-661-0341

Zoo Camp

Zoo Camp
Children will have the time of their lives going ape over the Zoos hundreds of amazing animals. ZooCamp is for children independent of their parents and provides a safe and fun social setting where youngsters can focus on making both human and animal friends.

Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Dates: 7/5 – 8/27
Ages: 4 – 12
Schedule: 9 – 3 extended care available
Cost: $300 per week; member discount
First day to register:  4/1/10
www.lazoo.org/education
323-644-4224

OVERNIGHT CAMPS

Astrocamp
Campers train like NASA astronauts, explore space with state-of-the-art telescopes, simulate rock climbing on Mars, and more.  Facilities include zip lines, a ropes course, and an indoor pool.  Astrocamp’s campus is comprised of rustic lodge-style buildings set in mountainous Idlyllwild.

26800 Saunders Meadow Rd. Idyllwild, CA 92549

Explorer
Ages: 8 – 14
Dates: 6/12–6/18; 6/19–6/25; 6/25 –7/2
Cost: $925

Voyager
Ages: 10-17
Dates: 7/3 – 7/16; 7/18 – 7/30
Cost: $1,800

First day to register: Register now
www.guideddiscoveries.org
800-645-1423

Camp Ramah
Camp Ramah is an accredited, coed, residential, overnight, sleep-away summer camp affiliated with the Conservative Movement and National Ramah Commission. Camp Ramah seeks to develop kids’ leadership skills, forge lasting friendships and create a strong Jewish consciousness.

Ojai, CA
Dates: 6/22 – 8/18
Ages: 3rd – 10th grades
Schedule: Choose one-to-four week programs depending on age.
Cost: Varies by number of weeks.
First day to register: Register now
www.ramah.org
888-CAMP-RAMAH or 310-476-8571
info@ramah.org

Catalina Sea Camp and Junior Sea Camp
From SCUBA to Sailing, Marine Science to Seafood Cookery, Catalina Sea Camp offers courses for all levels and interests. Whether you’re a complete beginner or already an expert, the challenging programs will advance skill-level and knowledge.

Toyon Bay, Avalon, Catalina Island
Dates: Junior Sea Camp 6/12 – 6/18; 6/19 – 6/25; 6/26 – 7/2; Sea Camp 7/4 – 7/23 and 7/25 – 8/13
Ages: 8 – 13 and 12 – 17
Schedule: Junior Sea Camps are one-week sessions; Sea Camps are three week sessions.
Cost:  Junior Sea Camp is $1,295; Sea Camp is $3,600/three weeks
First day to register: Register now
www.guideddiscoveries.org
800-645-1423
info@guideddiscoveries.org

Camp Cottontail
Climb on the rock climbing wall, take a dip in the pool, spend time in the Arts and Crafts area,  or spend a fun filled day at nearby Zuma Beach and learn to surf!  The real fun comes after dinner when Evening Activity gets under way.

1666 Las Virgenes Canyon Road, Calabasas, CA 91302
Dates: 6/27 – 7/31
Ages: 6 – 16
Schedule:  Choose one, two or three weeks sessions
Cost: Varies by number of weeks registered
First day to register: Register now
www.campcottontail.com
818-880-8100

Griffith Park Boys Camp
Griffith Park Boys Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association. It is located in the heart of beautiful Griffith Park. They provide an exciting residential camping experience and field trips for boys aged 7-14, with counselor training programs for older boys.

4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
First open house: March 7
www.laparks.org/dos/camps/griffith.htm
323-664-0571

Hollywoodland Girl’s Camp
Camp Hollywoodland is located in Griffith Park, nestled between the Hollywood Sign and the Griffith Park Observatory. The camp is designed to provide girls with camping and recreational programs in a mountain atmosphere. Weekly themes and field trips are provided.

3200 Canyon Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Dates: 6/28 – 8/20
Ages: 6 – 14
Schedule: Weekly sessions M-F
Cost: $180 – $275/week
First day to register: Register now
www.laparks.org/dos/camps/hollywoodland.htm
323-467-7193

YMCA Camp Surf

YMCA Camp Surf
Camp Surf has a strong focus on ocean activities, but campers also participate in many other activities like rock climbing, archery, games, campfires, skits and dances.

560 Silver Strand Blvd., Imperial Beach, CA 91932
Dates: Weekly sessions 6/20 – 8/20
Ages: 3rd Grade – 11th Grade
Cost: 3-tiered voluntary pricing structure
First day to register: Register now
www.camp.ymca.org
760-765-0642

YMCA Camp Marston
Kids play and explore over 200 acres of trails and forests, including a lake, swimming pool, climbing tower, archery range, and more.  Arts and crafts, sports, dance, drama, hiking and more.
4761 Pine Hills Road, Julian CA 92036
Dates: Weekly sessions 6/20 – 8/20
Ages: 2nd Grade – 11th Grade
Cost: 3-tiered voluntary pricing structure
First day to register: Register now
www.camp.ymca.org 760-765-0642

YMCA Raintree Ranch

YMCA Raintree Ranch
YMCA Raintree Ranch is a small specialty camp focused on riding, caring for horses and camp fun.  Campers learn to ride, and get to know horses care and feeding for an unforgettable experience.

2315 Frisius Road, Julian, CA 92036
Dates: Weekly session 6/20 – 8/20
Ages: 4th Grade – 12th Grade
Cost: 3-tiered voluntary pricing structure
First day to register: Register now
www.camp.ymca.org
760-765-0642

SUNSET JUNCTION

On Feb. 2nd, Gustavo Rodriguez, 42, was found dead on the 1100 block of Manzanita St. Police said they believe his death was the result of botched robbery.            

According to Det. Harold DiCroce of the Los Angeles Police Dept.’s Northeast Homicide Division, the incident began after Rodriguez lured a tow truck driver to his location by telling him he wanted to sell him an abandoned vehicle.

According to police, Rodriguez then entered the passenger side of the tow truck and pulled out a gun.

“The driver [of the tow truck] told him to get out or the truck would blow up, so [Rodriguez] jumped out of the truck and the driver sped off,” DiCroce said. As the tow truck driver sped away, DiCroce said, he accidentally ran Rodriguez over.

The LAPD Central Traffic Division has taken over the case. DiCroce said he does not expect the District Attorney will file charges against the driver.

Also, on Feb. 22nd, two shots were fired behind Dangerbird Records on Sunset Blvd.Both shots hit the building but no injuries were reported.

The incident prompted a community meeting, attended by City Council President Eric Garcetti and city councilmember Tom LaBonge, the following night at the location to discuss safety in the area.

GRIFFITH PARK

Last year’s event raised $50,000 to support the research, education and services offered by the American Cancer Society. 

The theme of this year’s event is “sponsor more birthdays.” Locally, to join a team, start a team or volunteer, e-mail: relaygpc@gmail.com. 

Relay For Life is a 24- hour event. Join Chair Brigid LaBonge, and your neighbors in celebrating cancer survivors and remembering friends and loved ones that have died. For information: www.relayforlife.org/GriffithParkCA

GREATER GRIFFITH PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

District A

Laura S. Howe
Current board member Laura S. Howe, owner of Matrushka on Sunset, is running for a second term. Ms. Howe served as co-chair for the GGPNC’s Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Committee, and worked with the Griffith Family trust towards gaining cultural landmark status for Griffith Park. An avid runner, Ms. Howe is concerned with working on density, safety, business and education issues.

Jeff Gardner
No information was provided by the candidate.

Mio Vukovic
A resident of Los Feliz since the age of seven, Mr. Vukovic hopes to address concerns such as over-development, historical preservation and zoning laws. Mr. Vukovic has been an active volunteer at Franklin Elementary, and according to his candidate statement, is “proud to be part of their ongoing success, raising the quality of public education.”

Frank W. Masi
Mr. Masi works in fine art photography and was a member of the GGPNC Planning Zoning and Historical Preservation Committee from November of 2006 until February of 2009. He has studied city planning in Los Angeles and hopes to bring change to the GGPNC. “Change is inevitable.  I want our neighborhood to get the best change possible,” he said in a e-mail.

Robert J. Menz
Originally from Long Island, New York, Mr. Menz graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2000, served as a Captain in the US Army for 5 years, including 21 months in combat zones, then moved to Los Feliz with his wife in July 2006. Mr. Menz runs an independent financial planning and insurance company in Los Feliz and is heavily involved in the community as a founding member of the GGPNC Business Committee, President of the Hollywood/Los Feliz Kiwanis Club and is a graduate of the Community Emergency Response Team training.

District B

David A. Uebersax
The current treasurer of the GGPNC board, Mr. Uebersax began his tenure as a member of the board’s Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Committee and the Neighborhood Improvement/Culture and Events Committees in 2008. Originally from Agoura, Mr. Uebersax served there on City Advisory Committees and as the Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Uebersax stated in an e-mail that “those elected to the Board have the utmost integrity, so that the stakeholders can be assured that their voices are heard, their interests safeguarded, and their votes counted.”

Ron Ostrow
A current board member, Ron Ostrow is a professional actor who moved to Los Feliz in 1993. He and his wife have managed the building they live in for almost 15 years. Originally from New York, Mr. Ostrow stated in an e-mail that he “regards public service as an honor…[and hopes] to continue to represent the interests of his district, specifically renters, and will work hard to restore accountability and responsibility to the council.”

Christina A. Khanjian
A resident of Los Feliz, Ms. Khanjian looks to find workable solutions to the problems that the neighborhood faces, and states in her candidate statement that she is “ready to take this on for a better community.”

John F. John, Jr.
The current chair of the GGPNC Transportation committee, Mr. John has lived in Los Feliz for nearly ten years. A theater and restaurant aficionado, Mr. John seeks to use his experience at finding creative solutions for resolving differences as a member of the GGPNC board.

District C

Alexander C. De Ocampo
A current board member, Mr. De Ocampo is a lifelong resident of Los Feliz. Through his campaign for re-election, he hopes to promote local shopping, giving residents a voice, and introducing a new level of change “to be effectively represented at City Hall,” according to his candidate statement.

Daniel S. Sandman
The current chair of the GGPNC’s public safety committee, Mr. Sandman has worked with the Los Angeles Fire Dept. to train nearly 100 community volunteers in disaster response and preparedness techniques by organizing CERT training in Los Feliz, beginning in January of this year. Mr. Sandman lives with his wife in Los Feliz, and seeks to continue to prioritize public safety programs within the neighborhood council.

Andrea M. Iaderosa
As a long-time Los Feliz resident, Ms. Iaderosa announces her candidacy with the hopes of becoming involved with graffiti clean-up, traffic and parking issues and safety concerns, including local disaster preparedness. According to her candidate statement, Ms. Iaderosa “love[s] our community and see[s] becoming a board member for the GGPNC as a way to become more involved.” Ms. Iaderosa is a property manager in Los Feliz.

Dominic Patten
A journalist, broadcaster and forthcoming author, Mr. Patten has written about everything from politics to pop culture for publications such as the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and Salon.com among others. As a resident of Los Feliz, Mr. Patten stated in an e-mail that “it is more important that ever to have Neighborhood council members who are not only committed to serving our community passionate and effectively but also being able to communicate Griffith Park’s concerns forcefully.”

Harpreet K. Malhi
Ms. Malhi quotes the famed John Lennon song in her candidate statement: “’Imagine’…a truly walkable community…local families assured their children are getting a quality public education…ample parking…” Ms. Malhi states that all these ideas and more are a possibility, and hopes to make them a reality if elected.

District D

Sarah A. Latier Napier
Current chair of the GGPNC’s education committee, Ms. Napier is seeking re-election for her second term. She became involved with the GGPNC after retiring from a career in the Glendale public schools as an administrator. As a resident of Los Feliz for over 38 years, Ms Napier is also concerned with keeping Los Feliz clean, safe and healthy, limiting densification, enhancing schools, libraries and educational venues, and improving transportation.

Tomas O’Grady
Mr. O’Grady is running for his second term. He served as Treasurer on the board, and is involved with Farm Feliz. Mr. O’Grady, who lives in Los Feliz with his wife and five children, formed Friends of King, a nonprofit corporation whose goal is to support the education and wellbeing of the children at King. Originally from Ireland, Mr. O’Grady states in his candidate statement “I want to keep improving our schools, protecting our environment, and helping our neighborhood.”

Thomas P. Wilson
Mr. Wilson, a current member of the GGPNC, has been a resident of Los Feliz for nearly twenty years. He has worked on the GGPNC’s Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation (PZHP) committee and believes Los Feliz should not become overdeveloped. He is the President of Los Feliz-based Nobody Productions, which he owns with his wife, Adele.

John Q. Lee
Formerly the Deputy Chief of Staff for the L.A. City Council President, Mr. Lee served as a city hall appointee from 1984 through 2004. In addition to his time as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Lee worked as the Assistant Deputy Mayor and as a mayoral advisor on public safety, housing and city budget. A Los Feliz resident for 23 years, Mr. Lee hopes to bring the voice of Los Feliz to the forefront of the city budget crisis.

Leslie Vankeuren
With a “background in management and sustainability,” according to her candidate statement, Ms. Vankeuren seeks to increase residents’ ability to walk, bike and take public transportation throughout the city. Ms. Vankeuren has lived in Los Feliz since 2006. She spent three years working as the General Manager of Gingergrass restaurant and currently runs a business based in Los Feliz that is “dedicated to improving restaurants’ environmentally responsible efforts and guiding their path toward sustainability,” she said in an e-mail.

District E

Mark F. Mauceri
A current GGPNC board member Mr. Mauceri is seeking reelection for his second term. Mr. Mauceri served as the council’s secretary until 2009, and states in his candidate statement that Los Feliz lacks parks and recreation, particularly for young people, and that he plans to “work on establishing recreation places like Venice, Hollywood and Pan Pacific enjoy, but Los Feliz doesn’t.”

Charley M. Mims
The current President of the GGPNC, Mr. Mims was a member of the GGPNC formation committee in 2001. He served as President in 2002, 2004-2008, and presently. A longtime resident of Franklin Hills, Mr. Mims helped to develop the landscaped median island on Franklin Avenue, supported the closure of the Sunset-Pacific Motel to reduce crime, and served on the Bridge party committee. He cites maintaining the character and integrity of Griffith Park and the surrounding neighborhood as key concerns.

Jessica C. Kornberg
Ms. Kornberg is the executive director of Ms. JD, a non-profit dedicated to advancing women in the legal profession. An avid volunteer with local organizations including Farm Feliz, Ms. Kornberg is interested in bettering the fiscal management of the GGPNC’s funds.

James M. McEwen
A resident of Los Feliz and the surrounding area for 20 years, Mr. McEwan has worked in the film industry throughout his career. After losing his second home in the Angeles National Forest to the Station Fire, Mr. McEwen became interested in public service as a way to increase community involvement and outreach. In his candidate statement, Mr. McEwen states that “citizen participation is more crucial than ever…I would like to be part of these efforts.”

ATWATER VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

Thirteen candidates have filed with the City Clerk’s Office to contest for the council’s 14 elected positions. In addition, the council will appoint three additional “special interest” representatives to the board after the election.

Statements from the candidates are below.

Central Atwater Resident Representatives (Two positions)

Pat Kane
Pat Kane lives in Atwater Village, works for Forest Lawn, and wants to encourage her neighbors to “stay local.” A current member of the AVNC, Kane decided to run for reelection to help make sure the neighborhood keeps moving in a progressive direction.

Amy Honey
Amy Honey moved to Atwater Village with her husband in August of 2007. Last year, they became parents, and Honey said that experience is what has motivated her to get more involved in her community. In a candidate statement, Honey said she wanted to help make Atwater “an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Robert Smith
Current AVNC Co-chair, Robert Smith, has been an Atwater Village homeowner since 2007. “Our community is only as good as what we collectively put into it, and I am willing to do my part,” Smith said in a candidate statement. “I will do my level best to keep making forward progress in the face of constantly changing challenges.”

North Atwater Resident Representatives (Two seats)

Francisco Sanchez
No information was made available by the candidate.

Alex Ventura
Alex Ventura moved to Atwater Village just over a year ago, when he and his wife purchased their first home. When he first arrived, he said he was surprised by the sense of community he encountered. “As a representative, my hope is that Atwater Village can become a safer place with strong community bonds, where diversity, creativity and happiness prosper,” Ventura said in a candidate statement. “I see this neighborhood as I see the home I bought: It is classic Los Angeles—beautiful, charming, and in need to TLC.”

South Atwater Resident Representatives (Two seats)

Leonora M. Gershman Pitts
Current AVNC Co-chair Leonora Gershman Pitts calls serving on the neighborhood council one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of her life. “We have worked hard to bring you the Fall Festival, the Annual Tree Lighting, the Atwater Village Voice, and many community improvement projects,” Gershman Pitts said in a candidate statement. “We support our local schools, our local businesses, and we continue to fund our Farmers’ Market and Director of Animal Welfare Services.”

Reuben Martinez
Reuben Martinez has lived in Atwater Village for more than 20 years. As a real estate agent specializing in the Los Feliz and Atwater areas, Martinez said he knows the community very well. “I have seen Atwater develop into the beautiful city it is today,” Martinez said in his candidate statement. “I feel as though I can bring a new energy and tons of ideas to our neighborhood council.”

Church/Religion Representatives (Two seats)

Nicholas L. Warnes
Nick Warnes moved to Atwater Village from Pasadena with his wife last August, and is in the process of developing a new church in northeast Los Angeles. “Since I am a newbie,” he wrote in his candidate statement, “I am looking forward to humbly learning, listening, and asking lots of questions to the people that surround me in an attempt to best serve the neighborhood council.”

Bruce A. Fleenor
Current AVNC treasurer, Bruce Fleenor, calls serving on the neighborhood council one of the most accessible ways of participating in the democratic process. “We currently have very committed and passionate people who truly value your participation and input,” Fleenor said in a candidate statement. “We all look forward to moving ahead together in the future.”

Community Group/Non-profit Representatives (Two seats)

Ginger Damon
Ginger Damon moved from Hollywood to Atwater Village a year ago and immediately became involved with the AVNC.Damon has also worked on projects with the Community Police Advisory Board and created Community in Action.

Merchant Representative (Two seats)

Lisa Robey
Lisa Robey owns Violet Willow boutique on Glendale Boulevard. She said her experience running a retail business will help her as a member of the neighborhood council. “I have a vast retail business knowledge, great organizational skills, creative talents and a positive ‘can do’ attitude,” Robey said in her candidate statement.

School Representatives (One seat)

Lara M. Pranger
Lara Pranger has lived in Atwater Village for two years, and served on the AVNC since May, 2009. “I have actively participated in many neighborhood events, including Movie Nights, Fall Festival and the Tree Lighting,” Pranger said in a candidate statement. “I believe that our world, our city, and our neighborhood are made better when each of us is an active participant in the community.” Last year, Pranger also co-founded Friends of Atwater Avenue Elementary School, a non-profit dedicated to supporting the school.

Parks and Recreations Representative (One seat)

No candidates.

SILVER LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

In Silver Lake, all 21 of the council’s seats are up for grabs, with 26 candidates contesting for them. There are 14 regional representatives—two from each of Silver Lake’s seven regions—plus seven at-large representatives on the council.

Region 1 Representatives

Seat 1

Scott Crawford
Scott Crawford, who has lived in Silver Lake for 20 years, is currently the co-chair of the council. Issues that he has been involved with include and helping to repair Silver Lake’s historic stairs; the tearing down of the Sunset-Pacific Motel on Sunset Boulevard. If re-elected Crawford hopes to have the council work more with other key organizations such as the Silver Lake Improvement Assoc. and the Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Seat 2

Clint Lukens – write-in
Clint Lukens is a current SLNC board member who said he helped “put $10,000 back in the community’s hands,” in 2009. “I look forward to continuing this trend,” he said in his candidate statement. Mr. Lukens owns property and a business in the region.

Region 2 Representatives

Seat 1

Adam Marvel
Adam Marvel, has lived in Silver Lake for two years. “The Neighborhood Council offers a great deal to our community and I think my experience and attitude would be an addition to it,” he said in his candidate statement.

Gonzalo Hernandez
At 19-years-old, Gonzalo Hernandez would be the youngest member of the board.  He decided to run when one of his neighbors—current SLNC board member Tenaya Wallace—encouraged him to get involved. “I’m up for it because I’m just a caring person, and I want to help out my community in any way, shape or form,” he said.

Seat 2

No candidates.

Region 3 Representatives

Seat 1

Anthony Crump
Anthony Crump has been a board member since 2009. According to his candidate statement, he has experience with local planning, land use and environmental issues as well as over 10 years’ experience in community relations. “I offer you the following: A pragmatic approach to working with businesses, residents, our city government,” he said in his candidate statement, “[and] a commitment to maintain, celebrate and promote the diversity of our community.”

Seat 2

Joseph Malone
Joseph Malone is a Silver Lake resident. He attended the Univ. of Maryland and after graduation worked as a reporter for a community newspaper covering town meetings and developing relationships with community leaders and representatives. “Those relationships taught me the need for genuine caring and investment in local politics,” Mr. Malone wrote in his candidate statement.

Faisal Alserri
If elected, Mr. Alserri said he plans to hold regular meetings with all local residents to address public safety, traffic safety, pedestrian and community design improvements. “I want to tackle unsafe traffic intersections, install crosswalks at street crossings, organize neighborhood watch programs and graffiti removal, sponsor tree planting events, and adopt specific community design guidelines to improve the look and feel of our streets,” he said in her candidate statement. Mr. Alserri has professional experience in local government and studied urban planning at USC.

Region 4 Representatives

Seat 1

Rusty Millar
Rusty Millar is a current board member on the SLNC. For the past 6 years he has been involved in a number of local environmental issues including proposing a ban on plastic bags and Styrofoam. He also states that he worked with other neighborhood council leaders in stopping a 18% water rate increase from LADWP.  Additionally, he has worked to include alternate transportation modes to city planners and for five years has helped shape the highway 2 terminus project to include mitigating measures including air quality and local needs on cut through traffic.

Seat 2

Gale Jaffe
A Silver Lake resident since, 1987, Gale Jaffe says she became interested in the Neighborhood Council after a proposed development would have destroyed one of architect, Rudolf Schindler’s works in her neighborhood. More recently, Ms. Jaffe has been fighting construction of T-Mobile Cell towers on an adjacent apartment building in the area. Ms. Jaffe is a member of the Urban Design and Preservation Committee as well as the Silver Lake Improvement Association.

Meg Taylor
Meg Taylor, a local caterer, was instrumental in introducing zero waste practices to the Sunset Junction festival and has produced an Earth Day event and a sustainable speaker series. She is currently the co-chair of GGPNC’s green committee. Through Farm Feliz, she teaches Thomas Start King Middle School students sustainability and is a member of the Silver Lake and Los Angeles chambers of commerce.

Region 5 Representatives

Seat 1

Amanda Berman
Amanda Berman moved to Silver Lake four years ago, a month before starting a dual masters degree at USC in urban planning and public art studies. “There is no better place to live in Los Angeles as a student of urban planning, as Silver Lake truly exemplifies the principles of what the late, great Urbanist Jane Jacobs believed to be a complete neighborhood,” Ms. Berman wrote in her candidate statement.

Seat 2

Dale Benson
No information was made available by the candidate.

Region 6 Representatives

Seat 1

Patricia McGrath
Patricia McGrath, a licensed marriage, family and child counselor, has served on the SLNC for the last 3 years and has been a resident of Silver Lake for 40 years. Ms. McGrath co-chairs the SLNC’s history collective, and helped produce “The People of Silver Lake,” a documentary about the community. McGrath hopes to start a food pantry in the area and develop “A Taste of Silver Lake,” in conjunction with the chamber of commerce, to benefit it.

Annemarie Ralph
Annemarie Ralph has worked as a Science and Health teacher at Thomas Starr King Middle School for 10 years and is currently the School for Advanced Studies (SAS) Coordinator at King Middle School. She has been active in working with community volunteers at King to make a sustainable garden program on campus.

Seat 2

Susan Hutchinson
Susan Hutchinson has lived in Silver Lake for 6 years, with her husband and 8-year-old son, a student at Ivanhoe Elementary. She started the farmers’ market at L.A. City Hall and has organized several farmers’ markets and green events in Los Angeles. If elected, she plans to advocate for sustainable initiatives: safe pedestrian and bike passageways, bike days, a Silver Lake Dash, planting trees and community gardens and public safety as well as finding creative ways for the neighborhood to support our local public schools.

Region 7 Representatives

Seat 1

Renée Nahum
Renee Nahum has served on the SLNC the past two years. She is active in many SLNC committees, and co-chairs a new committee the “Friends of Silver Lake Animals.” She also was instrumental in spearheading the effort to purchase and plant 10 trees around the Silver Lake dog park. “I respect the interests of the community while always trying my utmost to get things done,” she wrote in her candidate statement.

Seat 2

Michael Masterson
Michael Masterson is a 21-year resident of Silver Lake. His concerns center on “helping build a community both respectful of its past and focused on the future.” He has worked for three years with the Silver Lake History Collective and says he will bring business acumen, experience in consensus-building and a strong sense of community activism to the board if elected.

At-Large Representatives (seven seats)

Sunshine Crawford – write-in
Sunshine Crawford hopes to bring “a parent’s perspective” to the board of the SLNC. She is a founding member of Friends of Thomas Starr King Middle School and a volunteer teacher for Farm King. “Public Schools succeed with parents and community participation,” she wrote in her candidate statement. She additionally said if elected, she hopes to increase awareness of community and green initiatives.

Elizabeth Bougart-Sharkov
Elizabeth Bougart-Sharkov, with her background in architecture, is currently the chair of the Urban Design and Preservation Committee of the SLNC. “Your strong support has given me the opportunity to serve you and fight for Silver Lake on many fronts, most importantly on how proposed new development affects the environment and quality of life in our area,” she wrote in her candidate statement.

Leonardo Chalupowicz
Leonardo Chalupowicz has lived in Silver Lake for 17 years where he has an architectural practice with a focus on sustainability. He is a member of Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Silver Lake Library and a founding member of Sustainable Silver Lake. If elected, he wants to work to raise awareness of sustainability issues and to focus on issues such as public education, public transportation and bicycle rider awareness, among others.

Charles Merman-Wurmfeld
A filmmaker by trade and a musician, Charles Merman-Wurmfeld said he is “an avid gardener, yogi and Silver Lake pedestrian.” If elected he said he would: “practice the Four Agreements in sitting on council: 1) impeccable with my word 2) make no assumptions 3) take nothing personally 4) do my best.”

Sarah Dale
Sarah Dale has lived in Silver Lake for 15 years, and for the last 10 has owned Pull My daisy on Sunset Boulevard. “I’m coming from the perspective of having a small business,” she said.             Sarah said she hopes to get “the younger generation” involved in local politics. “I bring a different voice, a little younger, a little sassier.”

John Stoneburner
John Stoneburner has lived in Silver Lake for four years. He is a former Special Education Teacher who now works for a non-profit fighting for educational equity in Los Angeles. “My work in education has reinforced my belief in the power of community, and as a council member, my focus will be on enriching and maintaining Silver Lake’s vivaciousness,” he wrote.

Claudia Vázquez
Claudia, Vazquez is currently the SLNC’s Vice-Chair and co-chair of the Arts/Culture Committee. While on the board, she said she has increased support of the arts, strived to make meetings more “green,” and collaborated to promote the installation of stop signs on a dangerous intersection, among other accomplishments.

Paul Neuman
Paul Neuman is currently as co-chair of the SLNC. He also co-chairs the governmental affairs committee and in that role helped create a neighborhood council alliance (with about 20 councils represented). He also has started a neighborhood watch and worked for a state assembly office for four different city council offices, including currently, Council District 5.

Janet Cunningham
After running twice previously, Janet Cunningham was first elected to the SLNC in 2008. “I’m running in order to continue to serve, and because the new council is going to be more generous, more valuable, and more visible,” Cunningham said. Cunningham touts the council’s decision to give up its office space, which cost $17,000 a year, among the current board’s biggest achievements.

Polling Information and Locations

Polls open Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

GREATER GRIFFITH PARK: Hollywood Lutheran Church, 1733 N. New Hampshire Ave.

ATWATER VILLAGE: Christ’s Church at Griffith Park: Wilson Hall, 3852 Edenhurst Ave.

SILVER LAKE: Silver Lake Recreation Center: Arts & Crafts Room, 1850 W. Silver Lake Dr.

Will Fry, a former member of the Church of Scientology, speaks at the Feb. 12th news conference, while the other panelists listen. Photo Credit: Michelle Kunz

LOS FELIZ—Six former members have claimed allegations of physical and emotional abuse against the Church of Scientology, including workplace abuse, forced detention, isolation from outside family and friends and coerced abortion.

The panelists—all of whom have left Scientology—also claimed the church made them sign “billion year” contracts—pledging the rest of their lives to it and its teachings.

The allegations were made on Feb. 12, at a news conference at the Steve Allen Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. That date is the anniversary of the formation of the Internet group, “Anonymous” which claims similar allegations.

The panelists spoke of mistreatment within the church’s “Sea Organization,” and poor conditions at the organization’s audio-visual production facility, Golden Era Productions, in Hemet, CA.

At least one of the panelists, Marc Headley, has filed a lawsuit against the church and has recently published a book about his experiences as a scientologist.

Headley, who said he had been run off the road when he “escaped” from the organization, is seeking back payment for hours worked at the facility from 1990 to 2005. During that time, he claims he worked 100 hours a week for $50 a week. He is also refusing to pay an invoice he received, after he left, from the organization for over $100,000.

“In a lot of cases, those who escape are intimidated and harassed so much they wouldn’t dare speak to the media about what goes on,” Headley said. “Finally, in the past year, more and more people have had enough courage to say what happened to them. They’re not afraid to back down from intimidation.”

Another panelist claimed the church pressured her into having an abortion when she was 17. Later, she said, she “gulped bleach” so that they would think she was emotionally unfit and let her leave.

“I signed my billion-year contract when I was seven or eight years old,” said Laura DeCrescenzo, who left the church in 2004. “I left my parents and moved to L.A. to work for the church at age 12.”

But church officials, in an interview with the Ledger, disputed many of the panelist’s claims.

“You need to measure these six people against the 20,000 Scientology staffers around the world,” said Linda Simmons, who works for the church’s Hollywood Boulevard location and is a member of the Sea Organization. “These are disgruntled ex-members.”

Simmons called claims that members were barred from leaving the church, or forced to have no contact with family members, “ludicrous.”

However, she did say that Sea Organization members, including herself, signed “billion-year” contracts, work long hours, and are sometimes assessed with bills for services if they leave.

“We have a billion year contract and what that symbolizes is that this is an eternal commitment,” said Simmons. “The Sea Org is for the most dedicated Scientologists. It’s a volunteer job, and a great honor. They provide what we need to live, and give us a small stipend.”

As part of its practice, the Church of Scientology—which has a reported 8 million members worldwide— offers classes called “enhancements” to its members, for which monetary donations are expected.

“When people get a lot of services and don’t produce much in exchange and then leave, that’s where the tradition of the bills came from. It’s highly variable from one individual to another,” said Simmons.

“Although the downpours recharged our groundwater tables to a degree,” she said, “this was not enough to make up for the last three years of drought.”

The WRD hopes eventually to drought-proof our region—a tall task, considering the desert-like terrain. As part of National Groundwater Awareness Week (March 7th-13th – a new one on my calendar!), it will host a Groundwater Festival to inform visitors about the valuable liquid treasure beneath our feet, how it is stored (in aquifers that make up water basins) and how we can help conserve it (by using less in our homes and gardens). The Festival will take place Sat. March 13th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4040 Paramount Blvd. in Lakewood.  Information booths, free food, prizes and games will make this fun family adventure well worth the drive (see www.wrd.org).

Sustainable Saturdays at the Silver Lake Library

Boost your Home’s Water & Energy Efficiency, Sat. March 6th at 11 a.m., a talk with Natalie Freidberg, a Certified Green Building Professional and a Certified National Sustainable Buildings Advisor. Free. RSVP: www.sustainablesilverlake.org or call (323) 913-7453.

She began her career in the era of Fred and Ginger as a Hollywood tap and flamenco dancer and concluded as a pioneer in aerospace electronics. 

Carthay Center School opening. Courtesty of LAPL

But her tenure on the Cold War-era Los Angeles Board of Education was the most striking period of her life as far as Los Angeles history is concerned.

“I got more votes than Poulson,” she boasts of her April 8th, 1953 re-election when Rep. Norris Poulson ousted long-sitting Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron. 

Confronting the board were issues reflecting the times like flushing out Communist influence and accommodating the baby boom by utilizing $130 million provided for school construction in a 1951 bond issue.

An avowed conservative, Cole and the board considered an issue which today seems of minor consequence—whether teachers could present information from a guide provided by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: UNESCO.  For some, the idea that there would be an organization uniting leaders of the world, free and not at all free, was radical, especially when such an idea was introduced to children. 

“One World” programs, as the Los Angeles Herald Express called UNESCO, were “subtle indoctrination of young children on controversial issues.”  To oppose the guidebook would represent “true Americanism.”

Cole’s most vivid memory of the fracas was the day she called upon the editor of the Herald Express, the leading evening newspaper in metropolitan Los Angeles at the time, at his Spanish style home on Los Feliz Boulevard. 

“We can’t get anything done if you are going to be so hard on us,” she told him.  “He was very intimidating,” Cole’s daughter Cecilia recalls.  “He had a bull whip over his desk and he was very gruff.”

Someday it will be determined just who the Hearst editor was, but his paper’s coverage of the board’s decision lives on in clippings in Cole family albums. 

“The ultimate decision,” Cole recalls, “that we didn’t advocate UNESCO, but we taught that there was such an organization, was very popular.”

Cole’s leadership parlayed her into the board’s presidency. But two years later, she lost her bid for re-election to a UCLA professor backed by a coalition called the Better Schools Committee.  The race was covered in the Christian Science Monitor. Characteristic of her open-mindedness, Cole preserved a clipping of the Monitor’s coverage which was not especially sympathetic to her views. 

“Parents should be brought into the classroom and told ‘this is what we want to accomplish,” she says today. “Parents should be told what they need to be doing semester by semester.”  

Some ideas will always remain timeless.

This is a fast paced, 90-minute play.

“This production has a lyrical energy, a poetic force that is very exciting, very theatrical,” said co-artistic director Steven Sachs. And the Fountain Theatre is well-known locally  for its professional productions. 

Although the play was originally scheduled to end March 20th, previews have gone so well and ticket sales so brisk that there is talk that the play will be extended into April.

 “The Ballad of Emmett Till,” runs Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets $25; Seniors, $23; Students $18.  Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain at Normandie Ave. (323) 663-1525 or www.FountainTheatre.com

SILVER LAKE

Dr. Neutra, with wife Peggy Bauhaus, read from correspondence between his parents, Richard and Dionne Neutra, written during the time the young architect was traveling to America, while his young bride stayed home in Vienna, attending their recently-born first son.

The poetic letters were a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift.  Afterwards, Dion Neutra, Richard Neutra’s second son—who succeeded his father in practice upon Richard’s death in 1970—conducted a tour of the VDL Research House (the Neutra family home).

The VDL Research House is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. It was bequeathed to the California Polytechnic University at Pomona after the elder Neutra and his wife Dione died.

Currently, the house is in disrepair. A recent Getty grant accurately determined the cost of these repairs and renovations. Since 2008, $90,000 has been raised: $30,000 of this from Saturday tours at the compound. A recent grant will allow the repair of two roofs, but about $120,000 is now needed to fix the roof with a reflecting pond. The sale of signed and numbered Julius Shulman prints will contribute to this end.

 For information, visit www.neutra-vdl.org

Ice wine (also known as ‘icewine’ in Canada or ‘Eiswein’ in German) is made from grapes that are very ripe—to the point of being frozen while they are still on the vine—usually several months past regular harvest. It’s a big gamble because they must be monitored constantly, and if winter’s first frost comes too late, the grapes may well expire first. Also, if the freeze is excessive, the juice may be lost.

Combine the risk with the laborious overhead, and you get a product that can be quite pricey, but also very enjoyable.

Ice wine actually traces its modern roots back hundreds of years in Germany, but it’s really only been in the last 20 years or so that it has developed a devoted following. And that’s happened most significantly on this side of the Atlantic, in Canada.

By far the country’s most lauded producers and household names in this growing industry is Inniskillin. Ever since the Niagara-based winery won the Grand Prix d’Honneur at the 1991 Vinexpo (basically, best in show), it’s been at the forefront of the movement. Today, Inniskillin produces three ice wines: the flagship Vidal, a thick-skinned hybrid white grape with notes of tangerine and lychee; the sweet and tart Reisling; and the unusually fruit-punch hued, strawberry-centric Cabernet Franc.

Tara de Lis is a freelance writer based in Hollywood.

Zalagens rescued her first dog in 1993 and came up with this idea last year when a client expressed interest in buying a German Shepherd from a breeder. Zalagens introduced him to the world of rescue animals and paid the $300 adoption fee.

“People don’t realize that the current housing crisis has forced a lot of struggling homeowners to give up their dogs,” says Zalagens. Shelters across the U.S. have seen as much as a 30% increase in owner abandonment.

But what if a client isn’t interested in adopting a dog? Zalegens will still make a $300 donation (the typical adoption fee) to dog rescue organizations.

 For more information contact Sandy Zalagens at sandyz@kw.com

SILVER LAKE

There’s no better place for a romantic dinner, and even casual gatherings of friends will appreciate the leafy rear patio with a giant ficus in the middle.

With plenty of heaters and a roaring elevated firepit, the large patio is the center of activity nearly every night of the year. There’s perfectly fine indoor seating too, but it’s used mostly for overflow crowds or damp evenings.

Open more than five years, Cliff’s Edge has settled in as a reliable date-night destination with solid, if not terribly special food. Designed by Silver Lake nightlife entrepreneur Dana Hollister and run by Pierre Casanova, formerly of the Little Door and Les Deux Cafes, Cliff’s Edge is unassuming on the outside but impressive once through the gate.

On the Mediterranean menu, bistro classics like escargots and mussels meet up with Italian-inflected seafood risotto and pumpkin ravioli. A full page of rotating specials are worth a look, since some of the more creative dishes reside there.

Creamy burrata cheese makes a flavorful starter paired with tomatoes confit, polenta squares and a touch of pesto; while classic Caesar salad is crisp and fresh. Pappardelle noodles are topped with plenty of rich, satisfying braised oxtail. Traditional moules mariniere are available on the bar-only menu, but the mussels with tomato, fennel and Pernod on the regular menu are spiced with a bit too much kick. Several other fish dishes fit the Mediterranean setting, including black cod, ahi tuna, barramundi and oysters on the half-shell. Other proteins are cast with the usual players: filet mignon, shortribs and chicken breast.

Desserts are also a fairly standard selection, from tiramisu to creme brulee and apple tart. A special of peach/apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream was OK, but the attractive diners aren’t really a dessert crowd.

You pay for the setting, of course—pastas are around $18, while mains are $23 to $28. The wine list has quite a few selections in the $30 to $35 range, while cocktails are mostly $12.

Plenty would make Cliff’s Edge even better—an updated menu, good bread, better beer choices—but really, pourquoi? It’s pretty idyllic back there on the patio just as it is.

Brunch is also served on weekends.

Cliff’s Edge, 3626 Sunset Blvd., 323-666-6116.

The scene during downtown’s Art Walk.

More than 10,000 people are estimated to wander the streets, crowding galleries and lining up for numerous sidewalk taco tables and the legion of food trucks that are parked. Restaurants, like Bottega Louie, are standing room only. However, the art is just one element: impromptu musical performances, over-flowing restaurants and bars and even the retail spaces, such as Bolt Barbers, are part of the mix. The sidewalks are packed and it’s not uncommon to run into friends, neighbors and scenesters from all eras.

Also open during ArtWalk are downtown’s major cultural institutions including the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Museum.

At FIDM the 18th annual exhibition of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition is on display until April 17th. Among the highlights in the exhibit of handcrafted designs are four of this year’s Academy Award nominated films for costume design including Sandy Powell’s vibrant gowns for The Young Victoria and the fantastical work of Monique Prudhomme for The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. Casey Storm’s monsters and little Max’s wolf suit seen in Where the Wild Things Are demonstrate the film’s artistry; Silver Lake’s KK Barrett created the film’s memorable production design. Also from a local: costume designer Mona May’s contemporary look for Aliens in the Attic, is on display.

Wear comfortable shoes and plan on walking a lot to experience downtown’s most vibrant night. www.downtownartwalk.org.

Eastside Eye: Picks for March

Manifest Equality in Hollywood—Art, activism and universal equal rights come together March 3rd – 7th in the former Big Lots’ space on Vine St. The exhibition promises to promote equal rights for all Americans and features an art contest, performances and plenty of artworks in the midst of Oscar week hoopla in Hollywood.

1341 Vine Street 
www.manifestequality.com

Piñatas: A Lecture—Always eclectic art-and-event space Machine Project in Echo Park hosts a lecture on those candy-filled delights— piñatas. Sarah Bay Williams will explain the history, process, materials, resources, human nature and meanings behind piñata-making plus a live demonstration.

March 18th at 8 p.m.
Machine Project 
1200 D. North Alvarado St.
www.machineproject.com

Steve Abee stands in his English/Language Arts classroom at Thomas Starr King Middle School in Silver Lake before a white board filled with “Good Words.” Photo by: Colleen Paeff

SILVER LAKE—Steve Abee’s classroom at Thomas Starr King Middle School is a feast for the eyes. Student projects on “systems”—think: digestive, emotional, communication—line the walls. Dioramas and Day of the Dead alters for various well-known artists, perch atop cabinets and on shelves. Hundreds of words cover two huge dry erase boards at the front of the classroom, under the heading “Good Words.” And behind Abee’s desk, a handwritten sign directs students to “Question Everything!”

Abee has been teaching English/Language Arts at King for 15 years. In fact, this was his very first job after graduating from UCLA with his teaching credential.

Was the job what he had expected?

“I didn’t have any expectations, oddly enough,” Abee said. “It was difficult. I didn’t know how to manage a classroom. I was younger, so I didn’t have as much patience.”

And now?

“I know what I’m doing. I know I’m good at it,” he said. “But, also, I have great students who will work with me.”

Abee works with his students a lot. He’s sponsored a writers club at King for the last 12 years. And since 2004, he has organized four Poetry Slams each year, in which students take to the stage to read their poetry aloud before a packed auditorium and a panel of judges.

A novelist and published poet, this is Abee’s first year as a creative writing teacher at King.

“We turned the classroom into a coffee house,” Abee said. “Students invited friends. It was great.”

In his classes, Abee stresses critical thinking, working with systems, and analysis rather than “teaching to the test.”

Abee comes across as the kind of teacher students will remember for a lifetime. But, when asked about his impact on his students he shies away from praising himself.

“The thing is, it’s like, they’ve impacted my life and I just try to give that back to them. I learn so much from these kids. It’s a great gig. I tell you, man… I’m a lucky guy.”

Bernadette Soter

LOS FELIZ—Longtime Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council (GGPNC) board member and chair of the GGPNC’s Parks, River and Open Space (PROS) Committee Bernadette Soter is not seeking reelection in the upcoming March 20th election.

A longtime environmental activist, Soter joined the GGPNC in 2004 as chair of the PROS committee. During her tenure, she worked to maintain open space and free use of the park for residents, and to limit new building within its boundaries. Soter also oversaw the PROS committee’s involvement with the revitalization of the L.A. River. 

Since 2005, Soter was the voice of the GGPNC as a member of the Griffith Park Draft Master Plan Working Group, a team responsible for revising the city’s controversial draft of the Griffith Park Master Plan.

“Bernadette Soter is focused on preserving what is best in Griffith Park,” said Charley Mims, GGPNC President, in an e-mail. “Only a few [people] like Bernadette struggle to keep the interior of Griffith Park an urban wilderness for the benefit of both nature and our harried urban residents. We will miss her wise counsel on the Board of the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council.”

 Soter is also affiliated with the Los Feliz Improvement Association, Friends of the Los Angeles River, Friends of the Observatory, and the Sierra Club, Angeles Chapter.  She has been a vocal advocate of the park and surrounding areas, appearing on radio shows including CNN and KCRW.

Added Bruce Carroll, Vice President of the GGPNC, in an email: “Every blade of grass in Griffith Park, especially those that would have been paved over, can thank Bernadette Soter for her dedication and hard work through the GGPNC to protect and preserve the park.”

Ms. Soter could not be reached for comment.

LOS ANGELES

The merger of the two departments would allow the city to layoff all 27 DONE employees and save the city $2 million this year, if approved by the City Council.

Neighborhood councils citywide have banded together to oppose the cuts, joining together to create Budget LA, a grassroots group of neighborhood council leaders.

Leonora Gershman-Pitts, co-chair of the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council (AVNC) and an active participant with Budget LA, said she is worried about the fate of the neighborhood councils without DONE.

“I’m trying to remain optimistic, but it’s really hard,” she said. “I’m refusing to believe that the neighborhood council system would ever completely dissolve, because it’s one of the great things that the city of L.A. has done.” 

Budget LA had come up with a number of alternative proposals for reducing neighborhood council budgets, including allowing neighborhood council volunteers to assist DONE staff in a permanent capacity, and allowing neighborhood councils to keep funds—for one year—that they do not use.

“The cuts would drastically effect what our council could do,” said Robert Smith, also a co-chair with the AVNC. “It’s already time-consuming to get checks processed for payment for anything we have done. If they cut staff, that could make it much more difficult to get anything done on the financial side.”

Do something about it! Neighborhood Councils are tackling these issues and more and you are invited to participate by voting in the upcoming elections, making your voice heard at meetings and working on committees to make a difference in your neighborhood.

Neighborhood Councils were created by voters in the City Charter Reform of 1999. Each council is run by officially elected board members who are volunteers. They have a budget provided by your tax dollars of $45,000 a year to pay for administrative and outreach costs. The purpose of the councils is to give you a say in the future of your community, to increase government responsiveness, and to create a way for communities to pull together to make a difference.

The Atwater Village Neighborhood Council helped make the Sunday Farmer’s Market a reality with funding and support in the permitting process. The council has sponsored events that bring the community together including the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Fall Festival which created a safe environment for trick or treating children. In the coming year, the board will be focused on the 100th anniversary of Atwater Village and the “Shop Atwater First” Campaign. Both are about building community and helping local small businesses, according to AVNC Co-Chair Leonora Gershman-Pitts.

Griffith Park became an Historical Cultural Monument due, in part, to the efforts of the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council. This designation will protect the park from potential developments inconsistent with the character of the park. The council continues to speak out about the need for Park Rangers to protect the park and the public. Going forward, the council is focused on revising the Hollywood Community Plan that will direct the density of future developments for years to come, says Rosemary DeMonte, GGPNC Vice President.

The Silver Lake Neighborhood Council promotes the arts locally and has been taking on proposed developments that would change the face of the community. The SLNC has made many recommendations for the pending Gateways Project and will continue to monitor it. But the real issue before the council is parking, according to Elizabeth Bougart-Sharkov, SLNC Urban Design and Preservation Committee Chair. Parking for new restaurants and businesses are an ongoing concern. The lack of available parking requires creative solutions to serve businesses and minimize impacts to neighbors.

Elections will be held Sat., March 20th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information on all the three councils is available at www.NC2010.ning.com, www.EmpowerLA.org, or http://cityclerk.lacity.org/election/ncdocs/website.pdf.

You do not have to be a citizen or be registered to vote. You may vote in a neighborhood council election if you are a stakeholder of the area. A stakeholder is defined as a person who lives, works, or owns property in the neighborhood or who declares a stake in the neighborhood and can affirm the factual basis for it. Please bring documentation to prove your stakeholder status to the polls.

The AVNC will have a Candidate Forum March 11th, 7 p.m. at Christ’s Church, 3852 Edenhurst Avenue. The GGPNC will host two candidate forums: March 13th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hollywood Lutheran Church, 1733 New Hampshire; and on March 18th, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, 2060 No. Vermont Ave.

Election Locations:

Atwater Village will hold their election for 14 of the 17 council members each running for two year terms at Christ’s Church at Griffith Park: Wilson Hall, 3852 Edenhurst Avenue, Los Angeles, 90039. You must be 16 to vote.

Greater Griffith Park will hold their election for 10 of the 19 council members each running for two year terms at Hollywood Lutheran Church: Hoick Hall, 1733 New Hampshire Ave., Los Angeles CA 90027. You must be 13 to vote.

Silver Lake will hold their elections for all 21 council members each running for 2 year terms at Silver Lake Recreation Center: Arts & Crafts Room, 1850 West Silver Lake Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90026. You must be 14 to vote.

Wendy L. Moore is an independent Los Angeles based stakeholder communications specialist for EmpowerLA.org, which provides support for neighborhood councils.

Games will be held Saturdays and Sundays at the fields at Riverside Drive and Exposition Park. Play is for children ages 4 ½ to 13.

Currently 140 players are registered but there are still openings in some age groups. Call (323) 687-7355 for more information.

We learned that bees are important for all vegetation. They carry pollen from flower to flower and also to fruits and vegetables. One third of the food we eat is dependant on pollinators like bees. If we didn’t have bees, we wouldn’t have any vegetation.

Leonardo brought us honey from the bees before it’s processed. Also, he brought a smoker that’s used on bees to make them get drowsy because they think there’s a nearby fire and they eat a lot of honey.

For the seniors, the Kairos Retreat starts early in the month and provides an opportunity for those attending this spiritual event to reconnect with both themselves and their fellow students. Another group of IH students will be traveling to the South for the “Sojourn to the Past” program, which allows participants to tour historic sites and meet heroic individuals involved in the Civil Rights Movement.

March also features the annual Mother-Daughter Luncheon and Fashion Show, which is a wonderful afternoon for students to bond with their mothers, godmothers, and other relatives. On this very special day, guests travel to Universal City’s Sheraton Hotel, where fashions are modeled by members of the senior class after everyone enjoys a tasty lunch and silent auction. Later in the month, the freshman class experiences its first day of recollection, a retreat designed to promote relaxation and peaceful prayer with fellow classmates.

Capping the month is the school’s annual spring production. This year’s musical is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, featuring our students singing and dancing for an evening of absolute fun. Directing the production is our drama teacher, Heather Chesley, whom we anticipate will stage a fabulous show—as always. The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. Thurs., March 25th, in the school auditorium for four performances.

Those interested in attending should contact the school for ticket information.

Last year, LILA played its long time rival, Lycée Français, and won. On March 3rd, we will play US Talence, the French club created by Boris Diaw, the NBA player for the Bobcats. Talence will be flying in from France and will be staying with host families for a week in Los Angeles, and will practice with us.

The event will feature the highly anticipated LILA/Talence matchup, as well as the Clippers game later on that evening as they take on the Phoenix Suns. As with last year’s event, LILA students will sing the National Anthem at the start of the Clippers game.

An international sporting event at the Staples Center is rare, and my teammates and I are excited to seize the moment and bring a LILA victory at Staples two years in a row.

Also, a special thanks to Patricia Polacco. She came to read one of her many books to the elementary students. There was a special lunch for her, which I had the opportunity to attend. I got to interview her about her books and how she makes them.

There is a new Tasty Tuesday program where all of the school can try local organic fruit like kiwi, dates, and pomelos (so far). The High School had their trip to Cedar Lake. Also, there was a Chinese New Year celebration at the Empress Pavilion in Chinatown. All of the kids taking Chinese performed or recited. 

Coming up is the 7th grade trip to Joshua Tree. I am especially excited about this one because I get to go! Pilgrim’s Art Center will be opening soon! The Multicultural potluck luncheon is coming up!

The 5th graders scored six points on the 6th graders. The 6th graders scored only two goals in the first half, but made an incredible comeback in the second half, where they scored 3 goals in a very short time.

The game started when Gabe Giammarco, 5th grade, immediately scored two goals. But for the rest of the first half, the 6th grade goalie, (me), didn’t let in another goal. The 5th grade goalie, Isabel Clements, also only let up two goals in the first half, and made an amazing number of saves.

Goals made by the 5th grade in the second half were made by Gabe Giammarco (2) and Connor McCain. But then the 6th grade made a comeback. Henry Mitz scored an amazing goal, followed by another goal from Zoe baxter, her second in the match. David Henrriquez scored a goal, making the score tied. But finally, Aydin Yalniz, 5th grade, scored a goal with one minute left.

 Q: What will our new library look like?

Our library will be twice the size of the current library. It will include new furniture, bookcases and story steps. We will incorporate the designs that students came up with last year when we applied for the grant.

Q: How is it coming?

We have floor plans for the library and are currently raising the additional funds needed to make our library unique to our school. The estimated opening date is Fall 2010.

Q: How much money do we need to raise?

The total cost of the library will be at least $120,000. We already have some of the money raised, but will need to raise at least $15,000-$20,000 more so that we can buy the special tables, chairs, and other items that will make our library unique. We are also hoping to get some money from our school board member Yolie Flores Aguilar.

I know that the kids are excited for the new library because they told me at my interview.  I interviewed Diego age 10, Jaelen age 8, Liberty age 9 and Melanie age 9.  Liberty’s favorite book is Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume. Diego likes to read Goosebumps and Jaelen and Melanie’s favorite books are by Dr. Seuss.

The Adopt the Library fundraiser at Micheltorena Elementary will start on March 1st. Please go to www.micheltorena.org for more information.

The recommendations of Miguel Santana, City Administrative Officer, in his “Three-Year Plan for Fiscal Sustainability” report to the Mayor and the City Council on January 29th spelled out the alarm in 273 pages. LA’s economic woes are mainly due to the economic recession beginning in 2008 as a consequence of our local real estate downturn, which has been severe, and the unemployment rate higher than in all previous recessions. The revenue that mainly comes from, sales, business, hotel, communication users, and gas user’s taxes, hasn’t been enough to cover the costs.   Currently, the City Council and the Mayor are struggling to come to agreement on the recommendations. 

Because of my involvement with Los Angeles Dept. of Recreation and Parks at the Griffith Park Adult Community Center (GPACC) I am paying attention to this crisis a little more than usual. The department is asked to reimburse the general fund for their utility costs, which has not been done in the past, and for their pension costs. As a result of these and other recommendations, the department may end up with a different sense of itself in order to live within the budget. However, these recommendations raise the specter of potentially hurting the recreational function of the department.

Already, layoffs have started with Recreation Coordinators, Child Care programs, and Therapeutic Centers. The early retirement of some Facility Directors may mean no replacement, and a group of current Facility Directors has been warned of possible layoffs by July. There are more than 390 sites, including 28 senior centers that provide recreational opportunities in Los Angeles. The idea that quality recreation programs can operate with limited staff is not very reassuring. Not only that, if there is not enough experienced and trained staff within these programs, the recreation part of “Recreation and Parks” will suffer.

I would say it is letter-writing time. We should remind councilmembers that cost-saving decisions must not result in the substantial reduction or the potential elimination of the recreation function of the department. Los Angeles deserves better.

The SLNC Board voted in February against the Gateways Project. Courtesy: SilverLakeNC.org

SILVER LAKE—Following an hour of emotional testimony from local residents—and heated debate between members of the board—the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council (SLNC) voted Feb. 3rd to recommend against allowing the Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center to undertake a construction project that would have added three beds to the residential facility.

The issue drew the largest crowd of the year to one of the council’s monthly meetings, with most of the audience speaking against the Gateways project.

“There are people living in cars that belong to the Gateways project,” said David Ramirez, a local resident who lives near the Gateways facility at 440 Hoover St. “I’ve had to pick up drug paraphernalia, and I only see security once in a while.”

Debate was heated, though civil, between the board members as well. Elizabeth Bougart-Sharkov, chair of the SLNC’S Urban Design and Preservation Committee drafted the motion to oppose the construction project.

“It’s not just three extra beds,” she said. “They’re moving 15 people across the street, outside of the campus. We recommend putting beds within the campus, behind a fence, with no entrance to the public street and no impact on residents in the neighborhood.”

SLNC board member Anthony Crump, who represents Region 3, where the Gateways facility is located, also voiced strong opposition to the proposed development.

“This area is becoming a dumping ground for services for the mentally ill,” Crump said. “I have concerns about adding more violent and mentally ill felons to the neighborhood.”

SLNC board member Patricia McGrath, however, argued for showing compassion to those who need help.

“I’m appalled at this motion,” McGrath said. “I think it’s ridiculous that we’d even slow this down for people who aren’t able to take care of themselves in the community. Gateways is a very respected facility, and would not house people who are going to go out and harm the community.”

Representatives from Gateways made arguments similar to McGrath’s, but still the motion to oppose the development project was approved.

Gateways will now seek approval from the city Planning Dept. as the addition it seeks is not in accordance with current zoning laws. The facility had only hoped to have support from the SLNC to help its cause with the city.

Gateways operates several in-patient and out-patient mental health facilities around Los Angeles county. The Hoover Street facility can currently accommodate 38 patients, in addition to providing out patient services.

Donna Matson leader of "Save-Our Library Coalition" presents a $10,000 - Platinum donation to Mark Stong, President of the Friends of Los Feliz Library.

In 1989, a bond issue was passed to fund libraries in Los Angeles, and at last, $4.5 million was earmarked for the Los Feliz Branch Library.

This would replace the cracker-box structure located on Hillhurst Avenue, which had served our community for over 60 years. At that time, the boundary between Los Angeles City council districts 13 and 4 was just below Los Feliz Boulevard. Mike Woo was the Councilman for district 13; John Ferraro was for the 4th.

The old library and the possible sites for the new library were both located in Wooís district. However, Woo had aspirations to become the next mayor of

Los Angeles, and felt that the location of the new library would be a political advantage to be located in Barnsdall Park in a more densely populated area. So he and his followers fought long and hard for the Barnsdall Park location.

Upon learning that Woo had sent a letter to the Library Commission requesting the branch be located in Barnsdall Park, the “Save-Our Library Coalition” was formed by Philip Homsey and Donna Matson (the former Los Feliz Improvement Association’s President and Vice-President) to keep the new library in the flats of Los Feliz.

It was a long and bitter battle that lasted several years.                            

The Library Commission, who would make the final decision on the location, was appointed by then Mayor Tom Bradley. One of its commissioners was Doug Ring, a successful developer and well paid lobbyist in the city.

And it happened that Woo was the most active member of the city’s Planning Committee—a body that approves or denies permits and variances for both lobbyist and developer.

Ring was very supportive of Woo’s position on the library location as were many at City Hall. Many also felt Woo would indeed be the next Mayor and, as such, would be making political appointments and influencing projects and budgets.

Town hall meetings were held by the Library Dept. at Los Feliz Elementary on Dec. 13, 1990 and at Franklin Avenue Elementary School on May 30, 1991. The auditoriums were overflowing with proponents from both sides.

Meanwhile the “Save Our Library Coalition” attended every meeting of the Library Commission and the Recreation and Parks Commission for over a year. At each meeting they presented information supporting the Los Feliz location, not Barnsdall.

In order to have the new library located in Barnsdall Park the location had to be approved by the Recreation and Parks Commission which had two commissioners running for mayor: Stan Sanders and Richard Riordan. There was a concentrated effort by the “Save our Library Coalition” to get the Recreation and Parks Commission to reject the Barnsdall Park site.

The key to success for the “Coalition” was to get the support of city Los Angeles City Council President John Ferraro.

Members of the “Coalition” met with Ferraro to seek his support. This was not easy since the possible library sites were not in his district. But Councilman Ferraro did agree that the library should remain in the Los Feliz area. However, when asked for a letter he was hesitant. But, after more than a month he finally gave us a letter stating his support.

We presented Ferraro’s letter at the next Recreation and Parks Commission meeting. It was moved that the Barnsdall location be rejected. The Commission voted 5-0, in favor of the motion.

The “Coalition” members then went to the Library Commission and presented the letter. And who should make the motion to accept the Hillhurst at Franklin site? No one but our strongest adversary, Doug Ring.

The Commission approved the motion 5-0. The bitter battle was over and at the meeting on Oct. 10, 1991, Library Commission President, Frank Terry said that the proponents of the Hillhurst site had made the strongest and most effective community effort of any he had experienced during his many years on the Library Commission.

In April of 1999 the Los Feliz Branch Library opened to the public. Thank you John Ferraro, wherever you are.

Donna Matson was the leader of the “Save of Library Coalition.”

Andrew Westall

LOS ANGELES—Former Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council board member and current senior deputy for Los Angeles City councilmember Herb Wesson (CD10), Andrew Westall, has ended his race for the 43rd Assembly seat after the death of his colleague Charmette Bonpua.

Bonpua, who served as Wesson’s chief of staff, was Westall’s immediate supervisor.

“This has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever made in my life, and I make it without reservation, regret or purpose of evasion,” Westall wrote in a prepared statement to the news media.

Bonpua, who was 44, died Feb. 14th, in Las Vegas, of complications of a brain aneurism. She had been visiting Las Vegas on a family trip.

Westall worked with Bonpua for almost seven years as a member of the staff of the Speaker of the Assembly and now councilmember Wesson’s office.

Mike Gatto, an attorney and Nayiri Nahabedian, a Glendale School Board member, remain in the race for the seat.

The 43rd Assembly District includes the cities of Burbank and Glendale, as well as the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, Laurel Grove, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, North Hollywood, Toluca Lake, Toluca Woods, Toluca Terrace, Valley Glen and Van Nuys.

Last October, the Mayor and City Council worked closely with the Coalition of City Unions, which represents a majority of city employees, on an unprecedented agreement that saved $80 million and prevented massive layoffs.

But our national recession continues to severely impact our revenues. Even with thousands of employees voluntarily agreeing to early retirement and many more being furloughed, the City of Los Angeles still faces a $200 million budget gap in the current fiscal year, which ends in June.  Worse yet, our budget analysts predict that gap will more than double next year if we do not take swift action that will provide ongoing savings that will help us live within our means rather than a quick one-time fix.

In February, the City Council met in daily marathon sessions to review our financial situation.  We passed a number of motions, including those that will encourage more employees to voluntarily retire and move as many employees from jobs funded by our general fund into jobs funded through grants, special funds, or other revenues.  We approved moving forward with partnerships with private or non-profit organizations to operate some of our assets, such as the L.A. Zoo and the L.A. Convention Center.

In addition, we instructed city department leaders to identify 4,000 positions that can be eliminated and the city’s Personnel Department manager to move forward with preparations for those layoffs.  Mayor Villaraigosa concurred that we must move forward with preparations. Of course, we do not want to add to our regional economic woes by putting more people out of work.  Layoffs are our last option, but we cannot waiver from taking action now to protect future jobs and services.

As this discussion continues, there are many ways for Angelenos to get information, including media and blog coverage, but none as direct as following along first-hand. City Council meetings are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays beginning at 10 a.m. and are televised locally on the city’s cable station (Channel 35) as well as streamed online.  All Council motions are available online at http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/.

All eyes are on City of Los Angeles leaders as we grapple with the challenge of closing this year’s budget gap and addressing the next – and that’s a good thing to the extent that it allows Angelenos to stay informed and encourages them to engage in the debate about our future as a city.

The City Council is fully committed to working together and with our Mayor, city leaders, union leaders, and community stakeholders to close the current year budget gap as well as provide laser-like focus on planning for future years.  Our goal will be to protect core services and maintain our city’s financial health.  Failure is not an option.

Operations will begin at Silverlake Community Church, 2930 Hyperion Ave., on Wed. March 3rd and will be open Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“We have thought about the need to help alleviate hunger for some time and now with Hope-Net’s assistance we are poised to do something about it,” said Pastor Randy Lovejoy.

The pantry at Mt. Hollywood Congregational Church, 4607 Prospect Ave., will begin service in March and will be open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (Please check the Los Feliz Ledger website for the exact opening date.) Mt. Hollywood Congregational Church will partner with Metropolitan Community Church on Franklin Avenue to ensure sufficient volunteer involvement.

“We are really pleased to be working with these congregations in serving an area that has been underserved for a long time,” said Douglas Ferraro, Hope-Net Executive Director.

The two new pantries bring the Hope-Net network of pantry sites to 13.  In 2007, Hope-Net’s volunteer-operated pantries served 110,000 persons; in 2008 that number increased to 140,000.  Last year, the Hope-Net pantries served over 270,000 persons, an increase of almost 100% in one year.

For information on Hope-Net and its food pantry outreach, please call (213) 389-9949 or visit www.hope-net.info.  To volunteer call Mt. Hollywood at (323) 663-6577 or Silverlake Community Church at (323) 663-3151.

LOS FELIZ

The group counts among its numbers several existing GGPNC board members—including Thomas O’Grady and Mark Mauceri, who have been outspoken opponents of some of the board’s practices—several individuals who ran but were not appointed in the GGPNC’s selection process last September, and several community activists who are new to the process.

“We joined together because we felt Los Feliz deserves better,” said Alex De Ocampo, a member of the group and current GGPNC board member, in an e-mail. “We need a neighborhood council listening to the community, standing up for fiscal responsibility, valuing our schools and businesses, and most importantly, [a board] committed to positive change.”

The GGPNC’s election for 10 board seats is Sat. March 20th.

In all 23 candidates are vying for election. The remaining 13 candidates on the ballot include existing board members seeking re-election, several more candidates who ran but were not appointed in September, and several newcomers.

The address of the workshop is: 4591 Santa Monica Boulevard.

Toftness’s theory is that many adults, as children, missed the basic understanding of fundamental math, thereby making comprehension difficult.

“[The workshop] was awesome, because a valid point was made during the seminar. The reason I was so terrible at math when I was younger is because I didn’t understand the words. The fact that Mr. Toftness went over math problems and touched the four basic areas of math was amazing. Now I can explain it better to my children,” said one student who attended a similar workshop given at the Los Angeles City College.

For information, contact R.J. Toftness at rjpublishers@yahoo.com

He fought racism with peace, love, and non-violence, like Mahatma Gandhi did.  Since I am bi-racial (African American and Indian), the things that he fought for are important to me. 

Recently, I went to Atlanta, Georgia with my family and visited Dr. King’s memorial.  It made me sad because he died at an early age. 

If Martin Luther King, Jr. were alive today I would talk about how to make the world a better place.  I would ask him if he was afraid when he went to jail and stood up for what was right. 

When I visited Dr. King’s church, though it was closed, it was like I could hear his voice and feel his presence. When I visited his memorial, I sat near his headstone and took a moment to be quiet. Then, I bought some of his books because he was inspiring.

If it weren’t for Dr. King, I wouldn’t go to the same school as some of my friends. I consider Dr. King to be a true hero.

The location is: 1660 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz. Lunch will be served.

To reserve a spot: (323) 300-1074

Forage

Eagle Rock Brewery, the first production brewery to open in the L.A. city limits in many years, has started supplying local bars including Pure Luck, El Prado and the Verdugo. Located off of San Fernando Road in Glassell Park. 

The owner’s of Sunset Boulevard’s Thai restaurant Rambutan are branching out with beer and wine bar Covell opening in March or April in a former Hollywood Boulevard driving school space. Also planned is a brewery in back of the restaurant, to be called District 13 after Eric Garcetti’s city council district.

LOS FELIZ

The decision, made Jan. 12th, was a reversal of the Zoning Administrator’s denial of the request last year.

A number of community members spoke in support of the Hillhurst Avenue restaurant at the hearing, including employees and neighbors. 

Additionally, according to attorney Darin Margules, who is representing restaurant owners, Aram Serobian and his wife, Vardui “Rose” Petoyan, five members of the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council (GGPNC)—which originally voted to oppose Home’s request for expansion—spoke in favor of allowing the restaurant’s requests to go through.

“On closer inspection,” said Mark Mauceri, GGPNC board member, “many of the Parking, Zoning and Historic Preservation Committee’s [PZHP] assertions turned out to be based on hearsay, unfounded allegations and were spurious at best.”

Members of the PZHP Committee were also present at the hearing, and continued to speak out against the request for expansion. The group originally cited noise and parking concerns as their opposition.

Representatives for the GGPNC’s zoning committee could be reached for comment.

Following the GGPNC’s initial opposition to their request, the Serobians filed a grievance with the city, claiming, in part, that the GGPNC overstepped its bounds as an advisory board, committed slander against the Serobians and discriminated against them based on their Armenian ancestry.

Now, said Marguiles, they are “considering their options.”

LOS FELIZ

The board’s events committee, created in January, met last month to discuss the fair’s future. The committee is currently considering holding the event on July 18th, between the 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Hollywood Boulevard.

According to board member Heather Arndt, however, the date is not definite at this time, as some logistical concerns need to be addressed.

New York has the Statue of Liberty, San Francisco has the Golden Gate Bridge and Los Angeles has the Hollywood sign. 

This iconic symbol of our city is the first place many people visit when they step off the plane at LAX.  This sign, which is situated in Griffith Park, is nestled on a pristine natural hillside in the Eastern Santa Monica Mountains.  It is that hillside that I want to protect and I hope you will help me by visiting:  www.savehollywoodland.org.

The hillside, Cahuenga Peak, is 138 acres of pristine land that is west of the Hollywood sign.  I believe this property would make a wonderful addition to Griffith Park. Right now, though, it is in private hands and has been on the market for luxury housing development. 

I’ve worked for the last nine years to set aside about $4.3 million from various park bond measures to acquire this land before it is developed.  Now, my office is working with the Trust for Public Land to raise the $12.5 million asking price to acquire the land for the City. 

The fundraising deadline is April 14th so we must move quickly.  With several significant private donations, including $1 million from the Tiffany & Co. Foundation, we have about $8 million. We need your help to raise the remaining $4.5 million.

In February, the Hollywood sign was temporarily covered in a mesh banner that read “Save the Peak.”  It was a high profile way to let the world know that the greatest symbol of our city is threatened, and that we must act now. 

Please visit www.savehollywoodland.org to learn more about our effort to acquire this land to expand Griffith Park for future generations of Angelenos.

ART  

‘Art Against Empire’

Carol A. Wells, the founder and executive director of the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, curates this poster exhibition documenting artwork opposing American military, political and economic intervention in foreign affairs. The show features more than 100 posters from around the world. Opening reception Wed., Mar. 10th, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions, Wed., Mar. 10th, to Sun., Apr. 18th.
6522 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
Information: (323) 957-1777;
www.welcometolace.org

“Eat,” by Tomi Ungerer (1967), featured in Art Against Empire

BOOKS

‘Los Angeles Noir 2’ and ‘Orange County Noir’
Seven distinguished mystery authors will convene at Skylight to introduce two new books in the popular Akashic Noir series: Los Angeles Noir 2 and Orange County Noir. Denise Hamilton and Gary Phillips, the editors of the respective anthologies, will be joined by Susan Straight, Robert S. Levinson, Robert Ward, Jervey Tervalon, and Naomi Hirahara, who will read from their work.

Skylight Books, Sat., Mar. 27th,
5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz
Information: (323) 660-1175;
www.skylightbooks.com

WriteGirl Teens Read From ‘Silhouette’
A number of unique young voices will be heard at this group reading featuring members of WriteGirl, a nonprofit program providing mentoring and creative-writing instruction to teenage girls. The girls will read selections from Silhouette, the new anthology of their work.

Skylight Books, Sat., Mar. 13th,
5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz
Information: (323) 660-1175;
www.skylightbooks.com

COMMUNITY

Echo Park Time Bank Workshop
This free workshop will provide an introduction to the Echo Park Time Bank, a volunteer co-op that seeks to bring the local community together through the mutual exchange of services. Time banking aims to connect people by encouraging them to share their unique skills, talents and resources with each other. A member potluck will be held afterward from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Echo Park Time Travel Mart,
Sun., Mar. 14th, 5 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
1714 W. Sunset Blvd., Echo Park.
Information: (213) 413-3388,
www.echoparktimebank.com

HEALTH

What You Should Know About Arthritis
One in five adults in the U.S. have doctor-reported arthritis. In this free seminar, rheumatologist Ramesh Kesavalu will help attendees understand the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis. Registration is required.

Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center,
Tues., Mar. 9th,
12 noon to 1 p.m.
1420 S. Central Ave., Glendale.
Information: (818) 502-2378;
www.glendalememorialhospital.org

KIDS

Budding Botanists: Plant a Pizza
Because kids are never too young to start learning about good food: Children ages 6 to 10 will learn how to plant their own pizza-friendly mini-garden and then take it home. Participants will also prepare a pizza to bake at home. $12 per child; membership and registration required.

Descanso Gardens
Sat., Mar. 20th, 10 a.m.
1418 Descanso Drive,
La Cañada Flintridge.
Information: (818) 949-7980;
www.descansogardens.org

Weekend Western Workshops for Kids: Clay
The Autry’s fun and educational weekend workshops teach children ages 8 to 12 all about Native American and Western arts and crafts. In this four-part class, kids will interact with museum teachers, examine artifacts and create a take-home clay project of their own. The fee for the four workshops, including materials and supplies, is $60 for Autry members and $75 for non-members. Registration required.

Autry Museum of the American West,
Sat., Mar. 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
4700 Western Heritage Way,
Griffith Park.
Info: (323) 667-2000, ext. 336;
www.theautry.org

    
LIVING    

 Sustainable Saturdays
This series presented by the library and Sustainable Silver Lake teaches folks all about eco-friendly living. This month’s installment, Boost your Home’s Water and Energy Efficiency, will feature a talk with Natalie Freidberg, a certified green building professional and national sustainable buildings advisor. The discussion will cover reducing water and energy consumption, thereby reducing monthly bills.

Silver Lake Branch Library
Sat., Mar. 6th, 11 a.m.
2411 Glendale Blvd.,
Silver Lake.
Information: www.sustainablesilverlake.org

MUSIC

Bolivia Corazón de América & Andes Manta
Two noted South American performance groups will appear as part of the Music Center’s World City program, which features free shows by internationally renowned artists at the W.M. Keck Foundation Children’s Amphitheatre. Bolivia Corazón de América is an award-winning company known for its dynamic dancing and costumes; Andes Manta is a band of four brothers who perform traditional music of Ecuador on more than 35 different instruments.

Walt Disney Concert Hall,
Sat., Mar. 20th, 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.
Information: (213) 972-8000;
www.musiccenter.org

Delta Mirror
Local indie-rock trio the Delta Mirror will play the Echo’s free Monday night residency this month. Their debut LP, Machines That Listen, is due out in April.

The Echo, Mon., 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, 8:30 p.m.
1822 W. Sunset Blvd., Echo Park.
Information: (213) 413-8200;
www.attheecho.com

‘Welcome to All the Pleasures’
The Metropolitan Master Chorale and special guests the Glendale Philharmonic Orchestra will explore the theme of pleasure—of the senses, of the heart and even of music itself. This is the second program in the chorale’s inaugural season. Pre-concert discussion at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance ($25 at the door) for general admission; $15 in advance ($20 at the door) for students, children, seniors and the disabled.

Hollywood United Methodist Church,
Sat., Mar. 28th, 7 p.m.
6817 Franklin Ave., Hollywood.
Information: (323) 342-2263;
www.metrosings.com

THEATER AND DANCE

RhetOracle Dance Company will perform at Celebrate Dance 2010.

Celebrate Dance 2010
This award-winning annual dance showcase has a lineup of nine talented dance troupes. The show will feature a number of Los Angeles debuts as well as exciting new work. Performances will include contemporary, ballet, aerial, modern and jazz dance, all illuminated by the acclaimed lighting designer Eileen Cooley. Tickets: $17 to $35, discounts for students, seniors, children and Friends of the Alex members.

Alex Theatre, Sat., Mar. 13th, 8 p.m.
216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale.
Information: (818) 243-2539;
www.alextheatre.org

‘Tales of Spirit’
David LeBarron, a performer best known for his comedy work, presents an evening of storytelling based on themes of pagan mythology and the human spirit. The program will feature four stories: a creation myth, two tales about the power of words and magic, and a Native American tale about wisdom. The show will be held Casita Del Campo’s Cavern Club Theater. Admission is $5; proceeds will go to the National Storytellers Network.

Casita Del Campo,
Mon., Mar.15th, 8 p.m.
1920 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake.
Information: (323) 662-4255;
www.cavernclubtheater.com ]]> http://www.losfelizledger.com/2010/03/events-calendar-march-2010/feed/ 0 http://www.losfelizledger.com/2010/03/religion-spirituality-taize-comes-to-los-feliz-for-lent/ http://www.losfelizledger.com/2010/03/religion-spirituality-taize-comes-to-los-feliz-for-lent/#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:54:07 +0000 admin http://www.losfelizledger.com/2010/03/religion-spirituality-taize-comes-to-los-feliz-for-lent/

LOS FELIZ—Taizé, a small village in France, also refers to an international ecumenical spiritual movement. It’s a way of prayer and a way of life practiced worldwide.  Now it will begin to be practiced regularly in Los Feliz as well.

For a little taste of Taizé, people began meeting at Hollywood Lutheran Church, on Feb. 25th to share a simple bowl of soup followed by a half hour of meditation and music.

“This is a spiritual expression for everyone,” said Bishop Robert Clement from the American Catholic Church, one of the group’s organizing the practice. 

For several years now, there’s been talk about starting a Taizé group in Los Feliz.  The discussion moved to action after Pastor Dan Hooper, of Hollywood Lutheran Church and his partner Carl Hunter, visited the famous Chapel of the Holy Cross— an architectural masterpiece designed by Marguerite Brunswig Staude—in Sedona Arizona.

Owned by the Catholic Diocese, the only services held there are the Taizé services.  The chapel is said to be perfectly suited to serve the Taizé movement, given its focus on ecumenism, bringing together all faiths, while the chapel itself is a stunning symbol of unity, simplicity and peace.

Reflecting on his experience in Sedona, Pastor Dan pointed out, “People simply want to live out this unity.”

Describing the Taizé service, he laughed. 

“It is so simple. There were five or six musicians, and it had the feel of a jamming session, interspersed with candle lighting.”

From its inception, Taizé was an interfaith and international community, with services usually held in several languages. Often identified with Catholics, in fact its founder, Brother Roger, was Lutheran. Resisting fascism in Europe by sheltering Jews and other refugees, Brother Roger and his sister, Genevieve, bought the property in Taizé with a house and a few outbuildings with no running water.  They had to go to the village well, so the food they served was simple, mainly soups made from locally milled corn flour.

Now in this small village every year from March to November thousands of young men and women join the Taizé community, live in tents, in profound simplicity and in prayer. 

Sadly, in this place of peace Brother Roger was murdered a few years ago at the age of 80. The community continues with the unflinching conviction of their founder who never denied the power of evil; he simply affirmed that love was stronger. 

For information on the Taize Movement visit www.Taize.fr.

For information about the Taizé meetings at Hollywood Lutheran Church, call (323) 667-1212.

Holy Shroud of Turin Series at St. Mary’s

 LOS FELIZ—As part of the Lenten program, St. Mary of the Angels is offering a three-part series on the Holy Shroud of Turin following the 10 a.m. mass and parish lunch (start time approximately 12:30): March 7th: “What Does the Shroud Have to Say for Itself?”; March 14th: “The Evidence from Art History & the Shroud – The Case for an Unbroken Thread?” and March 21st: “Modern Scientific Examination of the Shroud.” 4510 Finley Ave. 

St. Casimir’s Concert Set for March 28th

St. Casimir’s Parish Choir will hold its 56th annual Palm Sunday Religious Concert, March 28th at 2 p.m. A light lunch with wine will follow in the parish hall.

Performing with the choir will be soloists from the Los Angeles Opera, the Women’s Quartet and a guest organist. Excerpts from Rossini, DuBois, Verdi, and Sibelius will be heard.  Donation: $25

2718 St. George St., at the corner of Griffith Park Blvd., across from John Marshall High School.

The brightest planet, Venus, becomes easy to see in the west this month, low in the twilight sky after sunset. Venus will become brighter and more noticeable through the spring and summer months. Mercury will appear 3 degrees to the lower right of Venus on the last three nights of March.

The copper-hued planet Mars, in Cancer the Crab, appears bright and high in the south during the evening. Notice how it fades during the month as its distance from earth quickly increases.

Saturn, in Virgo the Maiden, is visible all night, moving from the eastern sky when darkness falls to the western sky at dawn. A telescope will show a narrow view of the rings, tilted only three degrees from edge on to us.

The moon is at last quarter on March 7, new on March 15, first quarter on the 23rd, and full on the 29th. It appears near Venus on the 16th, Mars on the 24th, and Saturn on the 2nd and 29th.

Daylight Saving Time goes back into effect on the morning of Sunday, March 14, when 1:59 a.m. Pacific Standard Time is followed by 3:00 a.m., Pacific Daylight Time.

Spring starts at 10:32 a.m., P.D.T. on March 20, marking the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator.In the southern hemisphere, this is the start of autumn.

The concept of healing is in flux these days. A wide spectrum of conflicting beliefs and opinions about it are held simultaneously.

People suffering from ill health are often on one extreme. They assume they need healing. They are desperate for someone to fix them. They not only seek advice and information from experts, they seek healing itself from some external source, unaware that it’s possible to access healing from within. They have no clear sense of their own power, responsibility and choices.

At the opposite end are those highly evolved people who have risen above healing. They scoff at the backward notion of healing from some unwanted situation. You don’t ever want to energize that—you might attract it!

(It’s bad to have negative thoughts. Oh no! That was a negative thought! Oops, I said negative again, darn it! Now I’ve gone and created a bad reality. I better wash my mouth out with biodegradable soap, say three “I think I cans” and make five vision boards, to counteract all that negativity I just put out there.)

Of course, I’ve been at both both extremes. I’ve probably come off as needy and haughty! But life is flux. Sometimes we need healing from experts. Sometimes we transcend need, to a state of wholeness where healing is unnecessary.

Reality oscillates, with an average somewhere in the middle. You can raise that average to a much higher vibration. You can learn to meet a huge proportion of your healing needs yourself. Find that healing dimension within. Activate it now – by “entering” a command to do so, to your center (spine area). Notice what changes occur.

Email me and let me know! I’d love to hear your experiences. info@nowhealing.com

Elma Mayer is a healer and teacher of energetic healing in Silver Lake.  www.nowhealing.com  (323) 309-7687.