"Eagle Rock: Where land use and planning is a contact sport"

 

THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION

 

-- e.letter --

 

October 18, 2001

 

 

In this issue:

 

1.  WALGREENS IN EAGLE ROCK? -- LET THE DEVELOPER KNOW WHAT YOU THINK -- OCTOBER 30

 

2.  TOP HOLLYWOOD DIRECTORS TO DISCUSS IMPACT OF TERRORISM ON MOVIES, TV AT OCCIDENTAL POLICY FORUM -- OCTOBER 22

 

3.  COUNCIL MEMBER NICK PACHECO -- EXTENDED OFFICE HOURS -- OCTOBER 22

 

4.  EAGLE ROCK'S 90TH ANNIVERSARY -- MARK YOUR CALENDARS -- OCTOBER 27

 

5.  EAGLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL HAS A LOT TO BE PROUD OF!

 

6.  NEWS FROM GALLERY FIGUEROA -- CALL FOR ENTRIES -- EXHIBIT DECEMBER 9 TO JANUARY 13

 

7.  CAREERS IN EDUCATION AT GLENDALE COLLEGE -- NOVEMBER 1

 

8.  SUSTAINABILITY "GREEN" BUILDING PUBLIC FORUMS

 

9.  JOIN TERA'S HOME TOUR COMMITTEE!  NEXT MEETING -- NOVEMBER 14

 

10.  LETTERS AND E.MAILS

 

11.  QUOTE OF THE WEEK

 

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1.  WALGREENS IN EAGLE ROCK? -- LET THE DEVELOPER KNOW WHAT YOU THINK -- OCTOBER 30

 

The One-Day Paint & Body Shop is located in the historic building originally built in the 1940s as the flagship store for the Shopping Bag Grocery chain.  It appears that the FCD Realty & Development, LLC, plans to demolish this historic building and locate a new Walgreens Drug Store and potentially other stores (maybe Starbucks) in the same location.  It is unfortunate that the building has been denied Cultural Monument status. The development company is holding a community meeting to discuss the project.

 

TERA's concerns regarding this project are as follows:

 

Diversity of merchants: It is to the benefit of existing merchants as well as residents to have an appropriate mix and diversity of merchants in a community.  Eagle Rock currently is well served by many other pharmacies and sundry stores such as Sav-On, Rite Aid, Albertson's, Vons, local merchants Hiana, Eagle Rock Drug, ABM Pharmacy and the proposed Sav-on at the La Loma triangle (next to McDonalds).  Notice that there likely would not be more pharmacy/sundry business in Eagle Rock just because a new Walgreens opens.  The net result could be to diminish the revenue at existing competitors and to remove the property from consideration by other types of merchants not well represented in Eagle Rock.  It potentially increases the chance that profits at one or more of the existing merchants, who have already made a commitment to Eagle Rock, will no longer be profitable, and we could be faced with another empty storefront.

 

Historic Property: The old Shopping Bag building represents an important part of Eagle Rock's commercial history.  It is likely that the developer will simply demolish the building and erect a typical structure for Walgreens (usually a cinder block rectangle).  TERA feels that it is to the benefit of this community (from both historic and visual perspectives) to encourage the integration of the Streamline Moderne architectural aspects of this structure into whatever new development takes place.

 

TERA enthusiastically supports the redevelopment of this property. We hope, however, that it will be done with a sense of what is best for existing merchants, the new merchant(s), and the residents of Eagle Rock.

 

The meeting will take place Tuesday, October 30, 2001, at 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center (across the street from the site in question), 2225 Colorado Boulevard, here in Eagle Rock.  Please attend and let your thoughts and opinions be known.  A lively discussion is always healthy.

 

For information, please call the Eagle Rock/Highland Park field office of Council member Nick Pacheco at (323) 254-5295.

 

If you can't attend, please let Council member Pacheco know how you feel at npacheco@council.lacity. org, and please copy Michael Southard, chair of TERA's Historic Preservation Committee,  EVEN IF YOU HAVE WRITTEN HIM  ALREADY ABOUT THIS MATTER (directly or through me), at lavalodge@earthlink.net.  Please write Michael even if you do attend the meeting.

 

Please invite your friends and neighbors.  Sign-language interpreters, assistive devices, or other auxiliary aids provided upon request.  Call TDD (323) 982-0872.

 

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2.  TOP HOLLYWOOD DIRECTORS TO DISCUSS IMPACT OF TERRORISM ON MOVIES, TV AT OCCIDENTAL POLICY FORUM -- OCTOBER 22

 

Some of Hollywood's top directors and writers will discuss the impact of last month's terrorist attacks on the entertainment industry on Monday, Oct. 22 in the debut of the Occidental College Policy Forum.

 

The distinguished panel includes Academy Award winning director and producer Sydney Pollack (Out of Africa, Tootsie, Presumed Innocent); Aaron Sorkin, creator of the critically acclaimed television series "The West Wing"; producer-director Edward Zwick (The Siege, Traffic, "Once and Again"); writer-director Gary Ross (Pleasantville, Big, Dave); and writer-director Kevin Sullivan (How Stella Got Her Groove Back).

 

Occidental Senior Fellow Matt Miller, a syndicated columnist and host of KCRW's "Left, Right & Center," will host the 4:30 p.m. discussion in Occidental's Keck Theater. The event is free and open to the public with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. A question-and-answer session will follow the panel discussion.

 

"This is an important early chance for some of the nation's cultural leaders to help us all grapple with the meaning of September 11," says Miller.

 

Sydney Pollack's 18 films have received 46 Academy Award nominations, including four for Best Picture. His 1985 film Out of Africa won seven Oscars, including best picture and best director for Pollack. As a producer and director, his other films include Tootsie, Presumed Innocent, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Sense and Sensibility, and The Talented Mr. Ripley.

 

Aaron Sorkin's acclaimed series "The West Wing" swept last year's Emmy Awards, setting a new record for the most Emmys - nine - in a single season, including best drama series. The series garnered wide attention last month with a specially written episode exploring issues surrounding the roots of terrorism and the U.S. response.

 

Director and producer Edward Zwick's films include The Siege, with Denzel Washington as an FBI agent dealing with a terrorist attack on New York, and the Academy Award-winning films Traffic and Glory. His television series include the acclaimed "Once and Again," "My So-Called Life," and the Emmy Award-winning "thirtysomething."

 

Writer of the Oscar-nominated screenplays for Big and Dave, Gary Ross made his directorial debut in 1998 with Pleasantville, the feature he wrote and produced that critic Roger Ebert called "one of the year's best and most original films."

 

Actor-writer-director Kevin Sullivan made his feature directing debut with How Stella Got Her Groove Back, the 1998 film that swept the NAACP Image Awards, including being named outstanding motion picture. Writer, producer and director of the ABC series "Knightwatch," he won six CableACE awards in 1996 and 1997 for his directorial work on HBO's "Soul of the Game" and "America's Dream."

 

The Occidental Policy Forum was created to give senior fellows the means to convene leading cultural, political and economic figures to address vital public issues. The position of senior fellow at Occidental was created through an innovative grant from the J. Paul Getty Trust to support solution-oriented public journalism.

 

Maps and directions to the Occidental campus can be found online at http://www.oxy.edu/oxy/welcome/directions/index.html>. A full transcript of the program will be posted on the Occidental website.

 

For more information, please contact Jim Tranquada at (323) 259-2990 or jtranq@oxy.edu.

 

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3.  COUNCIL MEMBER NICK PACHECO -- EXTENDED OFFICE HOURS -- OCTOBER 22

 

Council member Nick Pacheco invites you to visit him during his extended office hours at the Eagle Rock/Highland Park field office, located in the Eagle Rock City Hall, 2035 Colorado Boulevard, in Eagle Rock, on Monday, October 22, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  No appointment is necessary.  For more information, please call (323) 254-5295.

 

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4.  EAGLE ROCK'S 90TH ANNIVERSARY -- MARK YOUR CALENDARS -- OCTOBER 27

 

Join the celebration on Saturday, October 27, at one of Eagle Rock's architectural treasures, the Women's 20th Century Club, at the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Hermosa Avenue.  A gala celebration will be held in this 1914 craftsman masterpiece.  The evening begins with a jazz combo and a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m.  Following dinner, big band dancing will be featured.  Proceeds of the event will be used toward the restoration of this extraordinary historic structure.  Tickets for open seating are $50 each.  For reserved tables of six or eight people, tickets are $60 each and wine is included with dinner.  For further information regarding tickets, please call (323) 257-2652 or e.mail jcatdamon@aol.com.

 

The celebration continues Sunday, October 28,  with a Family Festival from 11:30 to 5:00.  The festival, which will feature arts and crafts, food, rides for children, and entertainment, will be held at Merton and Caspar Streets (the location of the weekly Farmers Market).  Bring the whole family and join with the community and celebrate the history of our vibrant town!

 

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5.  EAGLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL HAS A LOT TO BE PROUD OF!

 

Contact:  Stephen Williams

October 15, 2001

 

Eleven students at Eagle Rock High School have been named AP Scholars by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level AP Exams.  Only about 13 percent of the more than 840,000 students in 13,680 schools who took AP Exams in May 2001 performed at a sufficiently high level to merit such recognition.

 

Students take AP Exams in May after completing challenging college-level courses at their high schools.  The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on the number of year-long courses and exams (or their equivalent semester0long courses and exams).

 

At Eagle Rock High School one student qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average grade of 4 or higher on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.  This student is Lea Hildebrandt, currently a senior.

 

Two students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.  These students are Lea Hildebrandt and Evan Rushton (currently a freshman at Caltech).

 

Nine students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Examinations with grades of 3 or higher.  The AP Scholars are:  Mylene Flojo, Alicia Frescas, James Gutierrez, Danielle Jovanelly, Christine Lazo, Diane Louie, John Pan, George Siu, and Erika Villaruel.  These students all graduated from ERHS in June, 2001.

__________________________

Stephen Williams

College Counselor

Eagle Rock High School

1750 Yosemite Drive

Los Angeles, CA 90041

323/254-6891 ex 159

fax:  323/255-3398

http://the-rock.lausd.k12.ca.us/College/homepage.html

 

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6.  NEWS FROM GALLERY FIGUEROA -- CALL FOR ENTRIES -- EXHIBIT DECEMBER 9 TO JANUARY 13

 

Attention, artists! Gallery Figueroa seeks submissions for "Peace by Piece: A Response to World Events." Exhibition dates are Dec. 9, 2001 to Jan. 13, 2002.

 

The tragedy of Sept. 11 unleashed not only a terrifying chain of world events, but also a tremendous amount of personal emotion. Anger, grief, fear, patriotism -- many of us are still trying to sort it all out. "Peace by Piece" is about our individual efforts to make sense of the chaos.

 

Peace by Piece is also about freedom — freedom to express our beliefs and deepest convictions that no innocent blood should be spilled in the name of revenge. Let justice take the form of rational decisions and wisdom. Let tolerance for our fellow Americans — regardless of religion or ethnicity -- be the banner that we waive. Let peace prevail.

 

To submit work for consideration for "Peace by Piece," please download guidelines from our web site at www.galleryfigueroa.com. For more information, call (323) 258-5939.

 

Gallery Figueroa is located at 6122 N. Figueroa St. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, or by appointment. Currently on display are oil paintings and monoprints by Los Angeles artist Lori Markman. Please join us for a closing reception and discussion with the artist at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27.

 

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7.  CAREERS IN EDUCATION AT GLENDALE COLLEGE -- NOVEMBER 1

 

Glendale College is hosting an evening for HS seniors and their parents regarding Careers in Education.  The evening includes speakers and information about special Teacher Reading Development Partnerships with Glendale College, CSULA, CSUN and much more.

 

Learn about a program that pays for your college if you plan to teach.

 

Free and open to all HS seniors (and even juniors who are thinking ahead!)

 

Thursday, November 1st

6-8 p.m.

Refreshments will be served

 

Glendale College

JW Smith Student Center, room 212A

 

Please call for parking information.  (818) 240-1000 ext 5534 (Tracy or Katie).

 

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8.  SUSTAINABILITY "GREEN" BUILDING PUBLIC FORUMS

 

NOTE THE ADDITION OF A FORUM ON SAT OCT 20 AT HARBOR COLLEGE.  SEE BELOW.  OTHER FORUMS REMAIN AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED.

 

Those who wish to speak can just show up and sign up there.  No need to sign up in advance.  Please come and support sustainability for our colleges!

 

Sustainability "Green" Building Public Forums

 

The Los Angeles Community College District Proposition A Bond program team will be conducting 3 Sustainability "Green" Building Public Forums. The goal of the forums is to hear comments on the bond program master design criteria for sustainability and greening.

 

The forum sessions will convene at the following places and times:

 

                 Thursday, October 18, 2001, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

                 Radisson Downtown Hotel, 3540 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles

                 (213) 748-4141

 

                 Saturday, October 20, 2001, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

                 Los Angeles Harbor College, 1111 Figueroa pL.

                 Wilmington

 

These public forums will provide an opportunity for interested members of the general public to discuss the District's approach to this subject including the LEEDS certification process, potential payback, and long term benefits.

 

If you should have any questions, please contract Mr. Randall Duncan, Program Director, DMJM/JGM by telephone at 213 - 593 8462, or via FAX at 213 593 8621, or via e-mail at randall.duncan@dmjmhn.com.

 

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9.  JOIN TERA'S HOME TOUR COMMITTEE!  NEXT MEETING -- NOVEMBER 14

 

You have no excuse not to plan for this and join us, since there's plenty of time.  This is your chance to get involved!  Come and be a part of TERA's next Home Tour Committee meeting on Wednesday, November 14, to be held at the home of Maedale Gongora, 1250 Hill Drive, at the intersection of Las Flores Avenue and Hill.  We're a good group, we have fun, and we serve one (among many) of the most important purposes for our community, which is bringing positive attention to the great town that we are.  For more information, please call Home Tour Committee chair Tracy King at (626) 844-2256 or by e.mail at tracyking5@cs.com.

 

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10.  LETTERS AND E.MAILS

 

"Hi -- my name is Christopher.  I am truly excited about the activities and improvements that Eagle Rock is making.  If yoga [Yoginis on Eagle Rock Boulevard] made it this far, who knows what will move in next?  EAGLE ROCK IS ROCKING!!!

 

I hope we can get more funding to make mass improvements."

 

-- Christopher Lee, Eagle Rock resident

 

 

"Thanks for publishing a great e-letter.  There is a lot of good info on Eagle Rock on a weekly basis available from your e-letter on the TERA website.

 

Keep up the great work in promoting all the great virtues of Eagle Rock!  I grew up in the Mount Washington/Eagle Rock area and it is great to see how this community is growing and expanding over the past few years.

 

Thanks --"

 

-- Mike Fong, former area resident and TERA e.letter fan

 

 

"Thanks -- I'm really enjoying your newsletter. I will take the announcement of the walk-through [9/19] to my neighbor whom I told of the [Shopping Bag] building just yesterday.  Maybe she can make it."

 

-- Anita Bartlett, TERA e.letter fan

 

 

"Just in case I haven't shown or told you lately, I think you're a gift to the community.  We've been through a lot of family stuff the last few years.  It's comforting to know that there are the guardians of the community that can stand watch when we are not able to participate.  You are one of those guardians.  David and I know we're very lucky to have you and people as committed as you are, working to make life better for all of us." 

 

-- Helen Gustavson, Eagle Rock resident and loyal TERA member

 

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11.  QUOTE OF THE WEEK

 

"The ultimate measure of a [woman] man is not where [she] he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where [she] he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

 

-- Martin Luther King

 

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Joanne Turner <artburn@earthlink.net>

President, The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)