"Eagle Rock: Where land use and
planning is a contact sport"
THE EAGLE ROCK
ASSOCIATION
-- e.letter --
November 8, 2001
In this issue: IMPORTANT SURVEY BELOW
1. WALGREEN'S/SHOPPING BAG BUILDING -- AN
IMPORTANT SURVEY -- PLEASE RESPOND!!
2. NECRCC
DISCUSSION -- "EMPOWERING COMMUNITY -- NOVEMBER 8
3. NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL "AD HOC"
COMMITTEE MEETING -- NOVEMBER 10
4. COLLABORATIVE EAGLE ROCK BEAUTIFUL
"PAINT OUT" -- NOVEMBER 10
5. THE
AVENUE 50 STUDIO PRESENTS L.A. REAL -- RECEPTION NOVEMBER 10
6. ROCK AT THE ALL-STAR LANES -- NOVEMBER 10
7. JOIN TERA'S HOME TOUR COMMITTEE! -- NEXT
MEETING -- NOVEMBER 14
8. VAN DE KAMP'S/LACC UPDATE -- DESIGN REVIEW
MEETING -- NOVEMBER 15
9. "TRANSFIGURED BACH" TO BE
PERFORMED AT OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE -- NOVEMBER 16
10. EAGLE ROCK COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER
CHALLENGE GRANT CAMPAIGN
11. NECRCC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING --
NOVEMBER 8
12. SPOTLIGHT ON TRAVEL -- ANZA-BORREGO
13. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
14. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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1. WALGREEN'S/SHOPPING BAG BUILDING -- AN
IMPORTANT SURVEY -- PLEASE RESPOND!!
It is
evident many of you previously did not receive this survey, which was contained
in last week's e.letter of November 1.
We hope you receive this one, because we badly need your input on a very
important issue that could really change our town, perhaps for the much
worse. Read on --
Although TERA was aware of the Walgreen's project,
which was brought up to Council member Pacheco at TERA's "State of the
Town" presentation in September, we were only recently shown the site
drawings of the proposal for a new Walgreen's drugstore proposed to be built at
the site of the One Day Paint & Body shop (otherwise known as the historic
Shopping Bag building) and the Brick's restaurant near the intersection of
Colorado and Eagle Rock boulevards. Current plans call for both of these
existing buildings to be demolished.
The
new Walgreen's building will be 15,140 square feet in size sitting on the
farthest corner back in the property which is 85,700 square feet. The building is set back over 100 feet from
Colorado and Eagle Rock boulevards, the proposed Walgreen's would sit in a sea
of asphalt, lacking any pedestrian orientation or contact to the boulevard. The main traffic flow will come onto
Colorado Boulevard directly adjacent to the Shell station. This project will have main entries to both
Boulevards and Merton.
Two
small retail buildings approx. 20' wide front both boulevards with over 140
feet of frontage on Colorado Boulevard alone open to the parking lot and
lacking any building wall to the street.
The tenants of these smaller buildings have not yet been identified; it
was stated by the developer that Starbucks may be one of the lessees.
It is
essential that our community has proper input regarding this proposal. Please take a few minutes to answer the
following questions:
1. Do you believe that Eagle Rock needs the
addition of a large drugstore at this location?
2. Do you have any concerns about the addition of
Walgreen's and other tenants to this area?
To this block?
3. Is there another tenant that you would like
to see instead of Walgreen's?
4. If you support the proposed project, what if
any changes would you like to suggest as improvements to the project such as
more extensive landscaping, pedestrian walkways, linkages with other businesses
or maintaining the historical facade?
Send us your survey answers by e.mailing them to artburn@earthlink.net. (Or just press "reply" -- DO NOT
press "reply all.") Your
comments will be personally delivered to Council member Nick Pacheco and the
developer of this project. They need to
hear from YOU.
**Check
out what other communities have to say about Walgreen's by visiting this Web
site: http://www.burrows.com/rocknews.html
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2. NECRCC
DISCUSSION -- "EMPOWERING COMMUNITY -- NOVEMBER 8
The
Northeast Community Resources Coordinating Council invites you to a Special
Executive Committee Discussion
"EMPOWERING
COMMUNITY"
Thursday,
November 8, 2001
11:30
am - 1 pm, Lunch included
1:00
- 1:30 pm, Tour of Police Museum
LAPD
Historical Society, 6045 York Blvd.
Please
RSVP to Nancy Blaine at (323) 257-9600 x208 or nancyblaine@hotmail.com
Join
us at an open discussion with our neighborhood partners!
How
can we support neighborhood leaders to improve quality of life in Northeast
L.A.?
What
have we learned from such efforts as focus groups, community meetings,
leadership training, block parties, and community improvement projects?
How
can the coordinating council be more responsive to community issues?
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3. NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL "AD HOC"
COMMITTEE MEETING -- NOVEMBER 10
This
is a reminder that the Neighborhood Council "Ad hoc Committees" for
the community of Glassell Park, Highland Park, and Eagle Rock will be meeting
Saturday November 10th at Denny's Family Restaurant located at 3060 San
Fernando Road from 3:30pm to 5:00pm to finalize issues regarding boundaries as
defined in the "Plan For The Citywide System Of Neighborhood Councils
(Adopted 5/20/01).
The
Glassell Park Neighborhood Council (GPNC) is pleased to have these fine
community leaders in our neighborhood and we appreciate their continued cooperation, shared friendship,
and common goal to "Empower Our Communities!" Michele Cuevas, Sr. P.C. from DONE
(Department of Neighborhood Empowerment) will be attending as a silent
participant and to offer any needed dialogue regarding "Goals and
Objectives" of the N.C. Plan.
Please
RSVP if you would like to attend! We
await your reply.
Bradley,
GPNC Adv.Committee Chairman
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4. COLLABORATIVE EAGLE ROCK BEAUTIFUL
"PAINT OUT" -- NOVEMBER 10
In
lieu of the regular Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful meeting on Saturday,
November 10, 2001, we will be dedicating our efforts and supporting the
Graffiti Committee by joining them in a "Paint Out." Our objective for the morning will be
cleaning street signs with solvent. If
possible please bring a step ladder and wear old clothes. All other supplies, solvent, rags and gloves
will be provided by the city. We will
meet at Eagle Rock City Hall at the corner of Colorado and Maywood at 9:00 AM
and work until 11:00 AM.
Fighting graffiti is a top priority for the
Collaborative. Come and support Eagle
Rock's efforts to keep our town "beautiful." Should you have any questions, please call
Esther Monk (323) 255-4052.
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5. THE AVENUE 50 STUDIO PRESENTS L.A. REAL
-- RECEPTION NOVEMBER 10
L.A.
REAL at the Avenue 50 Studio
Meditations
on Los Angeles -- Recent works by Ernesto de la Loza
Saturday,
November 10, 2001ļ7-11 p.m.
The
Avenue 50 Studio
131
No. Avenue 50
Highland
Park, CAļ90042
323/258-1435
This
Exhibit runs through the month of November and is free to the public.
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6. ROCK AT THE ALL-STAR LANES -- NOVEMBER 10
Lies
Like Truth's upcoming show info:
DATE: November 10, 2001
DAY/TIME: Saturday at 8 p.m.
ADMISSION: $10
INFORMATION
#: 323/254-2579
LOCATION: All Star Lanes
4459 Eagle Rock Blvd.
Eagle Rock, CA
The
information sent last week listed the day as "Friday, November 10th."
That was just plain wrong. The show is on Saturday. We will have way too much
fun.
Hope
to see you there.
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7. JOIN TERA'S HOME TOUR COMMITTEE! -- NEXT
MEETING -- NOVEMBER 14
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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8. VAN DE KAMP'S/LACC UPDATE -- DESIGN
REVIEW MEETING -- NOVEMBER 15
A
"Design Preview" (Community Meeting) will be held on Thursday, November
15, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Washington Irving Middle School, 3010 Estara
Avenue (nearest cross street is Fletcher Drive). The purpose of the meeting is to "preview" the plans
for the Van De Kamp's Satellite Campus and to listen to suggestions from the
community.
Your
local LACC Satellite Campus is being developed! Come see a preliminary plan o the Van de Kamp's campus! For more information, please call Katherine
Padilla, Community Outreach Manager, at (323) 254-8865.
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9. "TRANSFIGURED BACH" TO BE
PERFORMED AT OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE -- NOVEMBER 16
"Transfigured
Bach," a concert featuring works by J.S. Bach transcribed for other
instruments, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 at Herrick Chapel
on the Occidental College campus. General admission is $10. Tickets for
students and senior citizens are $5.
The
concert will include two-part "Inventions" originally scored for
keyboard, but played on two marimbas by James Babor and Perry Dreiman; and the
"Goldberg Variations," also originally scored for keyboard but
performed by a string trio that includes Akiko Tarumoto on violin, Ingrid
Hutman on viola, and Gloria Lum on cello. The performance will also include
"Musical Offering" by Gary Woodward on the flute, Elizabeth Baker on
the violin, and Rowena Hammill on cello.
For
more information, call Andy Faught at (323) 259-2534. Occidental College is
located at 1600 Campus Road in Eagle Rock.
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10. EAGLE ROCK COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER
CHALLENGE GRANT CAMPAIGN
Solheim
Lutheran Home Director of Development Nancy Ackerman writes:
As an "honorary" Eagle Rocker, I'm
writing to ask if you would mention the E.R. Community Cultural Center's
challenge grant campaign. Council
member Pacheco has made $2500 in matching funds from the city available to the
ERCCC. All that's required is for the
ERCCC to first raise $2500 through its own efforts
The
many artists, musicians, and poets showcased at the ERCCC know the wonderful
work Denise and Luis do, bringing the arts to the forefront in this
community. The workshop attendees know
the broad range of classes available.
This grant is the chance for Eagle Rock residents to demonstrate how
important the arts and arts education are in Eagle Rock.
I
urge all TERA members to join me in supporting the ERCCC through this wonderful
opportunity to double your gift. For
more information, please call the Cultural Center at (323) 226-1617.
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11. NECRCC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING --
NOVEMBER 8
We
would like to remind you of this upcoming event:
NECRCC
(Northeast Community Resources Coordinating Council)Executive Committee
Meeting.
Date:
Thursday, November 8, 2001
Time:
4:30PM - 6:00PM PST (GMT-08:00)
Please
join us for the bi-monthly executive committee meeting. The meeting will be held at Hathaway Family
Resource Center, 840 N. Ave. 66, Los Angeles (Highland Park), CA 90042
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12. SPOTLIGHT ON TRAVEL -- ANZA-BORREGO
My
husband and I have pledged to go to the desert every year for his birthday, in
the beginning days of November. Last
year it was Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree, and we've spent many a fall (or
spring) season in fabulous Death Valley (mountain biking down Titus Canyon is
the best). This year we ventured
into the Anza-Borrego Desert, which we had not visited before, and we went with
our good friends Jim and Nancy from Pasadena.
What a trip. There is real
beauty in desolation.
We
stayed in the town of Borrego Springs at a wonderful place called the Borrego
Valley Inn, about which we had read twice in the LA Times, once in the
travel section about two years ago, and more recently (March of this year) in
the Los Angeles Times Magazine.
My good friend John Stillion also recommended the Borrego Valley Inn, so
we figured it must be good. It was.
Well
appointed, very low-key, and visually stimulating, the Inn was everything we
expected, and more. Built in recent
years in the pueblo style with 14 extremely comfortable, spacious rooms with
private patios and lovely grounds full of cactus, succulents, ocotillo,
creosote bush, acacia, California pepper, etc., we have rarely come upon a
place at which we could spend four consecutive nights and feel at home. Proprietors Allisen and Grant are recent
transplants from New York, and they love the climate and what they now do (they
were an investment banker and TV producer, respectively). They are very gracious hosts and know what
good taste is -- they replaced the previous owner's plastic tables and chairs
on the communal patio with wrought iron chairs, and tables that have custom
Italian mosaic tops. Each one is
unique, and beautiful.
Happy hour is an occasion to meet other guests and
occurs nightly between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m., although you currently must bring
your own alcohol if that's what you're into.
Allisen and Grant are in the process of applying for a liquor license,
but in the meantime they serve juices and wonderful hors d'oeuvres which vary
each night. There is a pool and jacuzzi
that is open all day and night, and another more secluded European-style
(clothing optional) pool and jacuzzi available for use by guests of the
Inn. A wonderful breakfast bar is also
included every morning. They plan to
build more private "casitas" on the property to accommodate even more
guests. I believe they will have many
more guests.
For
more information about the Borrego Valley Inn, please visit http://www.borregovalleyinn.com
or call 1 (800) 333-5810. We
recommend it, and will definitely return, perhaps in the spring when the desert
flora are in full bloom -- a site not to be missed.
We
met a very nice couple from Santa Monica staying at the Inn, she a marketing
guru, and he an "executive motivator." My husband, who works for Disney, asked the motivator whether he
could possibly give Michael Eisner a soul.
We had just missed another couple who hailed from neighboring Mt.
Washington.
What
does Borrego Springs have to offer?
Well, we went mountain biking, hiking, swimming, four-wheel driving
(whee!), and overall desert exploring, all in about four or five days. There is a terrific visitors center. We ate at the local dining spots, one of
which is notable, called Carlee's. It
is basically a sports bar with incredibly tacky plastic-covered plaid booths,
which match the lamp shades shedding bad "bar" light, which also
match the clientele, and has a great, very attentive bartender/waitress named
Darlene (I haven't heard that name since the days of the Mickey Mouse Club). She wore a shirt with various drinks printed
on it, and she was so great my husband wanted to paint her portrait but didn't
want to ask. I offered to ask her for
him, but he wouldn't let me. The food
is very basic, but extremely well done for very basic. It is one of those places that is in many
ways so bad it's really good. We ended
up eating there two nights in a row, so what does that tell you. The second night Darlene wore another,
different shirt with other, different drinks on it.
On
our way home, we left Borrego Springs going east, toward the Salton Sea. Did you know the Salton Sea was formed by
the blunders of early 20th century water hogs?
In an effort to irrigate (probably illegally) certain parts of the
Imperial Valley, a cadre of questionable folk tried to divert water from the
Colorado River, and the levies broke and flooded the Salton Sink, an ancient
ocean seabed. (I read all about it in
state librarian Kevin Starr's California history series -- Mr. Starr is working
on the next one (from the 1940s on), and I'll be the first to buy it -- very
good reading, if you like California history.)
Well, now it's the Salton Sea, and it's saltier than the great Pacific.
I
hadn't been to the Salton Sea since I was on a trip there as a Camp Fire Girl
many years ago, and I wanted to see it again, just for old times' sake. As we approached Salton City on Highway S22,
the road suddenly became "bouncy," and really fun. It was like that for a quite a while. We laughed hysterically as we lurched up and
down, back and forth, and it gave our new tires and not-so-new shocks a good
workout. My husband said they must have
been drunk when they laid it.
("It's a road . . . no . . . it's a theme park!") We arrived in town, if you could call it that,
and came upon the local Chamber of Commerce building but couldn't see hide nor
hair of a business district that it allegedly represents. Most apparent was the low-tide aroma. Yes, there CAN be real beauty in desolation
. . . . but not there. It made me
really glad we stayed in Borrego Springs and that we live in Eagle Rock.
Hoping
just to see what we hadn't seen before, we then turned north toward a town
called Mecca, and when we arrived there, it was anything but. My husband, camera in hand, was really
hoping to encounter a great abandoned railroad station, some burned-out
buildings, or perhaps some interesting piles of rusty stuff, none of which we
found. If we'd spent a bit more time
there, I'm sure we would have come across those burned-out buildings. I knew they were there somewhere. We instead found some not very interesting
piles of other stuff. It's not a place
we would recommend. Gee, I'm REALLY
glad I live in Eagle Rock.
Traveling
north on highway 86, we saw either several huge blank freeway billboards in a
row (not even advertisers wanted to go there) or casinos. Of course, once we caught the 10 west, there
were those rows and rows of gigantic eerie wind turbines Huell Howser has such
an affection for, looking as if they're angry alien armies marching toward
you. All the huge freeway billboards
now boasted of fabulous stays in Palm Springs, or escort services.
Okay. Let's hi-tail it back to Eagle Rock.
We
zipped down the freeway listening to Radiohead, Cake, The Monochrome Set, Beck,
and The Sugarplastic. We did not stop
at Hadley's, a tradition with many, but we're not traditional types. We prefer to go nuts at our local Trader
Joe's.
We
arrived home just in time to pick up the kids from school. We had a great time, but it's good to be
back in Eagle Rock, as always.
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13. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
"Thanks
for all you've done for Eagle Rock. I
really want to help out as much as I can.
I plan on staying closer to home for awhile."
--
Larry Brown, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"Thanks
for all you do and your constant effort of energy and creativity that goes into
this newsletter. Your fan and friend --"
--
Vanessa Estrada, Eagle Rock resident, TERA member, and former TERA Board member
"Thanks
for the e newsletter. I enjoyed
it. Keep it coming. Let's keep in contact."
--
Victor Griego, 1999 run-off candidate for 14th District City Council seat
"Thanks
for the wonderful TERA e.letters and all you to to make Eagle Rock a vital
community."
--
Nancy Ackerman, AIM, Director of Development, Solheim Lutheran Home
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14. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"No woman has ever so comforted the distressed
or distressed the comfortable."
--
Claire Booth Luce (on Eleanor Roosevelt)
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We
welcome your comments. Please include
your name.
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Joanne
Turner <artburn@earthlink.net>
President,
The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)