THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION
The Best Investment You Can Make in Your Neighborhood
December 11, 2003
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Please encourage interested friends and neighbors to send their
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to us at e.letter@TERA90041.org so we
can keep them informed, too.
This week:
Results of the Eagle Rock Parking Survey are in (item
#1)
Eagle Rock schools move to the head of their class
(items #2, 3)
Light up the skies for a needy child (item
#6)
Table of Contents:
1. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: ERCPR'S
TRAFFIC AND PARKING STUDY IS COMPLETE!
2. EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY IS NOMINATED FOR A BLUE RIBBON!
3. ...AND EAGLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL RANKS IN THE TOP FIVE!
4. A POSTCARD FROM OAKLAND'S BIG BUNGALOW
5. YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY GIFT
SALE -- DECEMBER 13
6. THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS BURNS BRIGHT ON FIRST STREET --
DECEMBER 13
7. CHICANA POETRY READING AT AVENUE 50 STUDIO -- DECEMBER 14
8. OCCIDENTAL-FOOTHILL MASTER CHORALE PRESENTS BEETHOVEN IN WINTER --
DECEMBER 13
9. CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN MEXICO -- DECEMBER 18
10. AVENUE 50 STUDIO TAKES YOU HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS -- THROUGH
DECEMBER 28
11. THREE RING EXHIBIT AT GALLERY OPHELIA -- THROUGH DECEMBER 31
12. WE'VE GOT MAIL
13. THE LAST WORD -- JEAN PIAGET
1. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: ERCPR'S TRAFFIC AND PARKING STUDY
IS COMPLETE!
The Eagle Rock Community Preservation and Restoration (ERCPR) is a
non-profit organization created to manage a $300,000 state grant from Senator
Jack Scott, with $250,000 being allocated for matching grants for facade
improvements and $50,000 dedicated to a traffic and parking study.
Representatives of TERA, Occidental College, the Eagle Rock Chamber,
Eagle Rock automotive businesses, and other business owners comprise the ERCPR
board.
Thanks to a study prepared by the Valley Economic Development Corporation
(VEDC), and community responses to a questionnaire regarding parking options
for Colorado and Eagle Rock Boulevards that was facilitated by TERA, the Eagle
Rock Neighborhood Council, the Eagle Rock Chamber, and numerous local
businesses, a definitive new study is ready for further discussion. The
ERCPR recently convened in closed session to review the initial draft of that
traffic study report, so that the final report, which instantly becomes a
public document, would be without error. The meeting was held at Dilbeck
Realtors rather than Colombo's, its usual location, to facilitate a conference
call by speakerphone to the consultant and author of the traffic study.
The ERCPR will be working with Senator Scott, Assemblymember Carol Liu, and
Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa's office -- as well as TERA and the other
groups on ERCPR's board -- to conduct a community meeting in January, in order
to create some lasting parking solutions for our commercial district.
Thank you to all who continue to work constructively toward positive
improvements in Eagle Rock. We'll look forward to further discussion on
this important topic in January!
Anyone who would like a copy of ERCPR's study should contact ERCPR President
Linda Allen at Gallery Ophelia, or me, ERCPR VP, in care of this e.letter.
-- Hilary Norton Orozco
2. EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY IS NOMINATED FOR A BLUE RIBBON!
From the press office of the Los Angeles Unified School District comes this
bit of good news about our own Eagle Rock Elementary:
The California Department of Education has named Eagle Rock Elementary
School as a nominee for the national 2004 No Child Left Behind
Blue Ribbon Schools Program, making it one of only 35 schools in the state
to be so honored. The announcement of California's nominees for the
prestigious national prize was made on Tuesday.
The U.S. Department of Education has recognized schools across the
country for outstanding academic performance and for providing excellence and
equity in education since 1982. This year, under the federal No Child
Left Behind legislation, nominees are selected based on school data
provided by each stateıs department of education. For the past six years,
Eagle Rock Elementary has demonstrated steady improvement in Californiaıs
Academic Performance Index, scoring 806 points this year. School
principal Jane Sierra credits Eagle Rock Elementary's success to the schoolıs dedicated
teachers, staff, and the "students who apply themselves and work
hard," as well as the parents who offer their children so much support.
Sierra sees the key to Eagle Rock Elementary Schoolıs success stemming
from a combination of dedicated literacy and math coaches, the Open Court
reading program, and the schoolıs teaching structure. She also cites the
myriad extracurricular programs that enrich student learning. ³Strong
arts programs have a demonstrable and positive effect on academic improvement,²
notes Sierra. ³At Eagle Rock Elementary, we provide structured 12-week
art lessons in music, dance and visual arts.²
Schools that garner this prestigious award must demonstrate a strong commitment
to educational excellence for all students. Schools are nationally
identified and recognized, and will share information and best practices with
other teaching institutions across the country, and will also provide
research-based data for self-assessment and improvement.
In 2003, Blue Ribbon School awards were presented to 32 public and 6 private
schools in California. United States Secretary of Education, Rod Paige,
will announce winners in mid-2004.
-- LAUSD Office of Communication
3. ...AND EAGLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL RANKS IN THE TOP FIVE!
Lest anyone get the idea that Eagle Rock Elementary is the only
school of distinction in our town, we also found out this week that Eagle
Rock High School ranks among the top five high schools in the entire Los
Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
Eagle Rock High School's overall test score for this year is 671, a 42-point
increase over two years ago, which unofficially places Eagle Rock in fifth
place among all high schools in the LAUSD!
The top five LAUSD high schools, with their scores, are:
1. Granada Hills -- 761
2. El Camino Real -- 759
3. Palisades -- 736
4. Taft -- 674
5. Eagle Rock -- 671
In addition, our school has met all 2003 Phase I and Phase II Adequate Yearly
Progress criteria. Phase I includes our Annual Measurable Objectives
(AMOs) and Participation Rate. Phase II includes our school Academic
Performance Index (API) criteria and the graduation rate.
Thanks to Eagle Rock High School Principal Juan Flecha for passing along this
most welcome information.
4. A POSTCARD FROM OAKLAND'S BIG BUNGALOW
Our friend and onetime TERA board member Suzanne Prieur recently traveled to
the Bay area, where she dropped in on Arts and Crafts expert, author, and
recent TERA guest lecturer, Jane Powell, whose books include Bungalow
Bathrooms and Bungalow Kitchens, among others. Here's
Suzanne's full report:
I had the pleasure to visit Jane Powell's "bungamansion," a huge Arts
and Crafts house which she is restoring in Oakland. Jane is working on
her next three bungalow books, and has many great shots of Eagle Rock
houses which we hope will make the final cut. Jane looks forward to her
next trip to Eagle Rock.
Her latest book, Linoleum, was recently published by Gibbs-Smith
Publishers, and is every bit as invaluable as Bungalow Kitchens
and Bungalow Bathrooms. Jane is an amusing writer as well
as a curious and dedicated researcher, so her new book is both informative and
engaging. It's also packed with photographs of amazing no-longer-made
linoleum patterns. We can only hope that their appearance in her book
will encourage manufacturers to start producing some of them again.
I also recently attended The Beauty of Life: William Morris & the Art of
Design at the Hungtington Library and recommend it highly. Morris was
a founder of the Arts and Crafts movement and a proponent of beauty in everyday
life.
Dennis and the kitties and I are off to Florida in about a week, but are
grateful we'll have the e.letter to keep us in touch with home.
-- Suzanne Prieur
5. YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY GIFT
SALE -- DECEMBER 13
Need gifts for the holidays? Looking for bargains? Well, look no farther
-- the Greater Los Angeles Agency for Deafness (GLAD) is holding a massive year
end holiday gift sale at their Laverna Avenue bookstore. You'll find
fashion items, jewelry, candles, kid's crafts and much more...all at 50% off.
Childcare will be provided, so bring the entire family.
For more information, contact GLAD at (323) 478-8000 (voice or TTY connection.)
6. THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS BURNS BRIGHT ON FIRST STREET --
DECEMBER 13
Join Mayor James K. Hahn and Councilmember Antonio R. Villaraigosa
for a holiday bridge lighting celebration and community toy drive this
Saturday. You'll find food, holiday carolers, and real snow for the kids!
You'll also have the opportunity to make this holiday season a
memorable one for a needy young person in our community by donating a new,
unwrapped toy to the holiday toy drive.
This event, which is brought to you by Mayor James K. Hahn, Councilmember
Antonio R. Villaraigosa, The Department of Water and Power, and The Department
of Public Works, is free and open to the public.
For more information, please call (213) 473-7014.
7. CHICANA POETRY READING AT AVENUE 50 STUDIO -- DECEMBER 14
Poetry
reading and book signing
Sunday, December 14, 2003
4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Avenue 50 Studio
131 No. Avenue 50
Highland Park
Avenue 50 Studio is pleased to present Evolucion de la
Mujer: Chicana Poetry & Song. Los Angeles poets Naomi
Quiñonez, Reina Prado and Liz Gonzalez will read from their latest
collections. The reading represents the evolution of several generations
of chicana writers in Los Angeles. The audience will be treated to a
variety of chicana poetic styles and presentations. Musician and singer Margarita
Klineman will accompany the poets and perform her own music.
For more information, contact Kathy Gallegos, (323) 258-1435. Or visit
Avenue 50 Studio online at http://www.avenue50studio.com.
8. OCCIDENTAL-FOOTHILL MASTER CHORALE PRESENTS BEETHOVEN IN WINTER
-- DECEMBER 13
The Occidental-Foothill Master Chorale and Orchestra Camerata will present a
winter concert featuring three Beethoven masterpieces: Mass in C Major, Choral
Fantasy and Meerestille und Gluckliche Fahrt. Alan Steinberger will be
the featured piano soloist. The Occidental-Foothill Master Chorale is a
large oratorio chorus dedicated to the performance of major choral works with
orchestra. It is open by audition to all singers from the local community
with choral or instrumental experience.
General admission tickets are $20.00, $10.00 for students. Tickets may be
purchased at the door, or by calling (323) 259-2879. They will also be
available online at: http://www.oxybookstore.com.
For maps and directions to Occidental, visit http://www.oxy.edu/oxy/welcome/directions.
For more information, call the Occidental College music department at
(323) 259-2785.
9. CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN MEXICO -- DECEMBER 18
3:30
p.m.
Thursday, December 18
Eagle Rock Public Library
5027 Caspar Avenue
Eagle Rock
Celebrate Las Posades with stories, songs and surprises when the Eagle Rock branch library presents
"Christmas in Mexico" with Alina Mendez. All ages are invited.
For more information, contact Children's Librarian Mary Wynton at (323)
258-8078.
10. AVENUE 50 STUDIO TAKES YOU HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS -- THROUGH
DECEMBER 28
December
6 through 28
Avenue 50 Studio
131 N. Avenue 50
Highland Park
What if you didnıt have a home to go to for the holidays? That's the reality
for thousands of Southern Californians whose houses were destroyed in the
October wild fires, and itıs a way of life for thousands more who call Skid Row
home. But is "home" simply four walls and a roof, or is it
something more? "Shelter: Coming Home" at Avenue 50 Studio
presents 28 artists from downtown LA's skid row to South Africa, all exploring
the meaning of home in an exhibit of paintings, assemblage, photography, and
sculpture. Through their vision we see that, at its core, shelter is a
place that provides solace and refuge from the world at large.
"Shelter" delivers a powerful message about our universal need for
home. Sadly, satisfying that need is elusive for too many. For
those who live in houses with running water, air conditioners, and soft beds,
"Shelter" will serve as a timely reminder to give thanks for their
blessings.
"Shelter" showcases the work of professional artists and artists
living in the streets. Participants include Susan Giblan, O.G. Man,
Joacquin Roebuck, Marie B., Jessica Grossbard, and Stephanie Hunter.
Additionally, the show will feature the work of Edith Abeyta and Charlene
Roth, Abel Alejandre, Katrina Alexy, Linda Arreola, Victoria Taylor Alvarez,
Rex Atienza, J.B. Bryte, Nicky Cacavas, Beau Daignault, Carlos Garcia,
Michael Gullberg, Tina Gulotta, Deborah Hosking, Jennifer Murphy, Angela Ortiz,
Suzanne Siegel, Fortune Mduduzi Sitole (from South Africa), Virginia
Valdes, Mona Vatamanu, Florin Tudor (from Bucharest, Romania) and Nan
Wollman. This exhibit has been curated by Jennifer Rowlan.
Avenue 50 Studio is open Tuesdays through Thursdays, from 10:00 a.m. to
noon, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
11. THREE RING EXHIBIT AT GALLERY OPHELIA -- THROUGH DECEMBER 31
Through
December 31
Gallery Ophelia
2114 Colorado Boulevard
Eagle Rock
Sisters Candace J. and Miss Mindy present a series of
delightfully humorous and somewhat serious paintings and collages inspired by
the circus, girlhood memories, dreams, and all sorts of other things.
To see more of Candace and Mindy's work, visit them on the web at:
http://www.galleryophelia.com/pages/art_sale.html
The exhibit runs through December 31st.
For more information, dial (323) 982-9945. Or visit Gallery Ophelia on
the web at http:// www.galleryophelia.com.
12. WE'VE GOT MAIL
"Any idea what's happening with that new CalTrans building that's
going up where the 134 and 2 freeways cross? I pass it twice a day and it
looks as if construction has been halted for some time now. Just
wondering, thanks!"
-- Katie Taylor, Eagle Rock
Thanks for asking, Katie. We forwarded your inquiry to State
Assemblymember Carol Liu's office, where Suzanne Reed was kind enough to send
the following reply:
"I have inquired of Caltrans about the status of Route 134/Route 2
construction and their initial response is that projects have been delayed due
to budget shortfalls. However, I have asked for greater detail on what
the expected timeframe for resuming work and completing the project is. I
have yet to hear back, but will renew my request for more information and keep
you posted."
--Suzanne Reed, Chief of Staff, Assemblymember Carol Liu, 44th District
* * *
"While surfing cable TV last night, I heard about the LA City Council's
plan to stage simultaneous Holiday Tree Lighting ceremonies throughout the city
this weekend, including one scheduled for December 4th at Eagle Rock City Hall.
The TERA e.letter is usually so good at covering neighborhood events,
I was surprised not to see this one in this week's issue. All the
same, I hope to see all our friends and neighbors there to start off the
holiday season."
-- Frank Parrello, Eagle Rock
Thanks, Frank, for your expression of confidence in our ability to keep up
on all that's happening in our community. But, as much as we try, there
are inevitably local events that simply slip past us for one reason or another,
as was the case with the Tree Lighting Ceremony you mention. Still, we're
glad you wrote, as it gives us an opportunity to encourage our readers to keep
us posted on events and items of interest to the greater Eagle Rock community. We
can't run every item we receive, but we consider everything that comes our way.
It helps if you get us word of your event as far in advance as possible.
The e.letter is emailed to more than 1500 subscribers every Thursday
morning, and our deadline for submissions is two days earlier, on Tuesday night
at 9:00 p.m. If you're sending us a press release or other notice, please
try to include your announcement as a text message within an email (and
preferably not as a separate attached document.) We look forward to
hearing from you.
Speaking of keeping us in the loop, here are two different messages that each
contain the kind of tip we love to share with others in our community:
My partner and I recently moved to Highland Park near Occidental College.
Our garden is, well, more of a dirt farm. On a recent trip to the York
Boulevard Nursery (at 6015 1/2 York Boulevard, just east of Aldama,) we
found such friendly and helpful service that we thought everyone should know
about them. Grace, one of the owners, was wonderful. She helped us
choose a fruit tree, offered explicit instructions on how to plant and care for
it, and encouraged us to call her or stop by with any other questions or
problems. We also chatted about the neighborhood, discussed politics and
shared a laugh. She was so welcoming and positive that it made us feel
great about buying our first home here. She described Highland Park as
the center of a flower, with all these beautiful petals extending from it!
Please patronize local businesses and encourage everyone to visit Grace
at York Nursery for all your garden needs.
-- Nina Landey, Highland Park
* * *
"Check out the neat new mural on the grocery store at the
northwest corner of York and Avenue 56. The artist is Gwen Freeman, a Mt.
Washington resident. The mural was arranged for by Councilman
Villaraigosa and his aide, Carmen Duran."
-- Andy Jardini, Mt. Washington
* * *
"A few weeks ago, you mentioned that TERA was offering copies of this
year's great Eclectic Eagle Rock Home Tour poster for sale. If any
e.letter readers are interested in seeing one of these up close, I have the
large bus bench style poster displayed on the window of my office at Coldwell
Banker, 388 South Lake Avenue in Pasadena. Anyone who wants to see how it
looks can stop in during office hours. No appointment is necessary; just
tell the receptionist you want to see my office window and they'll direct you
to it. It really looks great."
-- Tracy King, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
Thanks, Tracy. If anyone's interested in buying one of the TERA Home
Tour Posters designed by Rebecca Johnson and Jeff Klarin of Bughouse studios,
they should send an email to us here at the e.letter with the words "Home
Tour Poster" in the subject heading.
* * *
"I want to start by saying thanks for this newsletter. It's
encouraging to see that a community is so interested it its own survival and
improvement. One can only hope that the care and interest given to the
"public face" of Eagle Rock on Colorado and Eagle Rock boulevards
will eventually spill over into the residential community behind these
businesses.
I have a question that you may be able to help me with. I'm interested in
finding out more about the new owner of the Eagle Theater and what the plans
for this building are. The theater was already closed by the time my wife
and I moved into the area, so I've never been inside, but I'm curious about the
opportunity of a venue for community theater. We've been involved
both onstage and backstage with a number of groups in the LA
area, but we'd love to see about bringing community theatre to Eagle
Rock. Thanks, and keep up the good work!"
-- Steven Kirk, Eagle Rock
Thanks for the note, Steven. We'd love to see the Eagle Theater converted
to use as a venue for live theater. As the new owner sorts through
his options, perhaps he'll take your notion under advisement.
* * *
"Thanks for your informative letter.
I am always glad to hear positive news about Eagle Rock and am very happy for
all the energy that is making it better. On a recent trip to the public
library on Casper Avenue, I noticed graffiti on the front glass door and in the
female restrooms. Can anything be done about that? It makes that
fine library look shabby."
--Nancy Shannon-Sinclair, Eagle Rock
Thanks for telling us about that situation, Nancy. We've passed your
concerns along to our city councilmember's office. Also, it's worth
noting that the City of Los Angeles sponsors an aggressive graffiti removal
program that can be used to report vandalism of public and private property
alike. Operation Clean Sweep's Graffiti Hotline number is (800) 611-2489. There's more information about the program on the
Los Angeles Community Policing website at http://www.lacp.org/2003-Articles-Main/ReportGraffitiLosAngeles.html.
* * *
As mentioned earlier, we welcome your
comments, complaints and/or compliments on the e.letter or any topic of
interest to greater Eagle Rock. Please address your message to e.letter@TERA90041.org, and include your full
name, along with your city, neighborhood or professional affiliation.
Opinions expressed in the e.letter's "We've Got Mail" section
do not necessarily reflect the views of The Eagle Rock Association (TERA), the
e.letter editor, or The Eagle Rock Association Board of Directors, who reserve
the right to publish letters or other materials submitted to the e.letter at
their sole discretion. Letters or other material chosen for publication
may be edited for style, clarity and brevity. Please let us know if you do
not wish to have your comments appear in the e.letter.
13. THE LAST WORD
"The principle goal of education in
the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new
things, not simply repeating what other generations have done; men and women
who are creative, inventive and discoverers, who can be critical and verify,
and not accept, everything they are offered."
-- Jean Piaget (18961980)
The TERA e.letter is
distributed weekly to more than 1500 subscribers with an interest in Eagle Rock
and Northeast Los Angeles. Please encourage interested friends to send
their full name and email address to us at e.letter@TERA90041.org
so we can keep them informed, too.
If you have changed your email address or would like to be removed from this
list, send us an email to e.letter@TERA90041.org
with the word(s) "remove" or "address change" in the
subject box, as appropriate.
If you have a press release or other notice that you feel might be of interest
to the Eagle Rock community, send it to e.letter@TERA90041.org.
If possible, please send your announcement in the form of an email text
message, (not as an attachment). Submissions must be in our hands
by 9:00 p.m. Tuesday to be considered for inclusion in that week's issue.
TERA -- The Eagle Rock Association -- YOUR COMMUNITY IN ACTION -- http://www.TERA90041.org --
P. O. Box 41453, Eagle Rock, CA 90041 -- (323) 259-TERA -- a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit public benefit corporation
The TERA e.letter
A publication of The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)
Vince Waldron, editor
e.letter@TERA90041.org