THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION
The Best Investment You Can Make in Your Neighborhood
December 4, 2003
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Now more than ever, please support your residents association --
more than 1,000 members strong, and growing every day!
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can keep them informed, too.
This week:
Oxy helps us ring in the holiday season with glee (item
#3)
Councilmember Villaraigosa invites you to join him in
a Day of Community Service (item #5)
It's the Northeast Los Angeles Holiday Parade! (item
#8)
Table of Contents:
1. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: A REWARDING DAY
2. SHOPPER'S CORNER: PETS ON FEZ WEAVING STUDIO, A GREAT PLACE FOR
WARP AND WOOF
3. OXY GLEE CLUB HOLIDAY CONCERT -- DECEMBER 5, 6
4. FRIDAY NIGHT FILM AT FLOR Y CANTO: "UNCOVERED: THE WHOLE
TRUTH ABOUT THE IRAQ WAR" -- DECEMBER 5
5. 14th DISTRICT DAY OF SERVICE: COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP --
DECEMBER 6
6. MOUNT WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE -- DECEMBER 6
7. AVENUE 50 STUDIO TAKES YOU HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS -- DECEMBER
6 -- 28
8. CELEBRATE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE NORTHEAST LA HOLIDAY
PARADE -- DECEMBER 7
9. BE A PART OF THE HOLIDAY PARADE: VOLUNTEER TO PLAY AN EMERGENCY
RESCUE SPECIALIST -- DECEMBER 7
10. WORLD AIDS DAY EXHIBITION AT THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, EAGLE ROCK
-- DECEMBER 7
11. GALLERY OPHELIA RECEPTION: MEET CANDACE J. AND MISS MINDY --
DECEMBER 9
12. OCCIDENTAL-FOOTHILL MASTER CHORALE PRESENTS BEETHOVEN IN
WINTER -- DECEMBER 13
13. CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN MEXICO -- DECEMBER 18
14. WE'VE GOT MAIL
15. THE LAST WORD -- OLIVER HERFORD
1. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: A REWARDING DAY
On Saturday, December 6th, we have a tremendous opportunity to show
TERA's commitment to beautifying Eagle Rock. Please join us as we help
Councilmember Villaraigosa and groups throughout the 14th Council District
beautify York Boulevard.
We will meet at the Big Lots parking lot, 5610 York Boulevard, at 8:00 a.m. and
sign up as the TERA teams and then get to work! Mary Tokita of the TERA
board will be selecting our projects. It will be a very rewarding day.
I look forward to seeing you there!
-- Hilary Norton Orozco
2. SHOPPER'S CORNER: PETS ON FEZ WEAVING STUDIO, A GREAT PLACE
FOR WARP AND WOOF
Time for another installment of Shopper's Corner, our irregular survey of
unique shops and other businesses in Eagle Rock and its environs. This
week, TERA board member Mary Tokita spins a yarn about one of her favorite
local shops, Highland Park's Pets with Fez Weaving Studio.
Pets with Fez Weaving Studio at 5123 1/2 York Boulevard is one of those
amazing places that make Northeast LA such a rewarding, amusing place to live.
The studio offers spinning and weaving classes, an assortment of yarns and
other textile materials/equipment, and boasts a fully equipped teaching studio
with several looms and spindles. In addition, Pets with Fez owners Babajan
and Nanette sell fabulous hand-woven crafts direct from their studio, as
well as a select assortment of antiques, sacred objects, incense, jewelry,
artwork and crafts.
A consultant to the Smithsonian and other great museums, master weaver Babajan
is an expert in the traditions of Turkey, Iran and India; he has proudly
celebrated his own Assyrian/Kurdish heritage as a teacher and weaver since
1971. Babajanıs classes include Weaving I, Weaving II, Tapestry,
Spinning, Persian Rug Weaving, and an 8-day "Krash Kourse."
Between classes, students are free to use studio equipment as needed. Special
classes are available upon request.
To learn more, call the studio at (323) 478-1969. Or even better, stop by
the studio and meet Nanette and Baba from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through
Saturday; or from noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. (The studio is closed
Mondays.)
Oh, and in case youıre wondering, Pets with Fez is named in honor of the
proprietors' dogs (not unlike Fattyıs, the cat-named store here in Eagle
Rock).
-- Mary Tokita
3. OXY GLEE CLUB HOLIDAY CONCERT -- DECEMBER 5, 6
The Occidental Glee Club and the Women's Glee Club present two
concerts of traditional Christmas carols and seasonal masterpieces on
December 5 and 6th at St. Dominic's Church and the college's Herrick Chapel.
The shows will include works by Britten, Holst, Vaughan Williams,
Byrd and Bach, as well as a rare performance of John Tavener's "Village
Wedding."
The 97-year-old Occidental Glee Club has enjoyed a national reputation for
choral excellence since the 1950s. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Robert Shaw
held regular choral workshops with the Glee Club, and in 1959, when there were
separate men's and women's ensembles, the group made a recording with Bruno
Walter at the maestro's request. In 1969, the Glee Clubs were chosen to
represent the United States at the Second International Collegiate Music
Festival, sponsored by the Lincoln Center.
Donations will be accepted at the December 5 concert at St. Dominic's.
General admission for the December 6 concert at Oxy's Herrick Chapel is $12.00,
$6.00 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.
4. FRIDAY NIGHT FILM AT FLOR Y CANTO: "UNCOVERED: THE WHOLE
TRUTH ABOUT THE IRAQ WAR" -- DECEMBER 5
From our friends at the Flor y Canto Bookstore in Highland Park comes news
on their next Friday night film.
Just released, this controversial and arresting film takes you behind the walls
of government, as CIA, Pentagon and foreign service experts speak out, many
for the first time, detailing the lies, misstatements and exaggerations that
served as the reasons to fight a "preemptive" war that wasn't
necessary. Executive Producer Robert Greenwald also produced
"Unprecedented," which documented the theft of the 2000 presidency.
The screening is sponsored by Neighbors for Peace and Justice Northeast
as part of their weekly Friday night potluck and a movie series at Flor y
Canto. The gathering begins at 8:00, with the movie starts at about 8:45.
All are welcome.
Flor y Canto Community Space and Bookstore is at 3706 N. Figueroa in
Highland Park, between Marmion Way and Avenue 37, three blocks from the
Heritage Square Station on the Gold Line.
5. 14th DISTRICT DAY OF SERVICE: COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP --
DECEMBER 6
14th District Councilmember
Antonio Villaraigosa invites you to join him in a Day of Service / Community
Clean-Up on York Boulevard this Saturday, December 6. This is one in
an ongoing series of community service days, each of which will target a
different part of the community. Bring your family and join the Eagle
Rock Neighborhood Council, school and community groups and individuals from
throughout the northeast area. Get to know your neighbors while doing a
good deed for your community. We especially need team leaders to head up
organizing efforts for a certain quadrant of the boulevard.
Plenty of great food, water and other goodies will be on hand for all
volunteers during this event.
If members of your group would like to form a team, please call to get set up!
For more information, or to volunteer as a team leader, contact Michael
Cathey at the District 14 Field Office, (323) 254-5295.
6. MOUNT WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE -- DECEMBER
6
The Mount Washington Association is once again sponsoring their annual Holiday
Food Drive to benefit the North East Mental Health Center and local
families in need. They welcome donations of all kinds of nutritious,
non-perishable food items such as rice, beans, pasta, canned vegetables, canned
soups, etc. Canned tuna and chicken are especially appreciated.
There are two opportunities for you to participate. You can bring
your items to the upcoming Mt. Washington Association General Membership
meeting, or you can drop them off this Saturday, December 6, between the
hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at the corner of Elyria and San Rafael.
For more information, please call Maria Gray at (323) 225-4256.
7. AVENUE 50 STUDIO TAKES YOU HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS --
DECEMBER 6 -- 28
December
6 through 28
Avenue 50 Studio
131 N. Avenue 50
Highland Park
Artistsı reception:
Saturday, Dec. 6, 7:00 10:00 p.m.
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.
8. CELEBRATE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AT THE NORTHEAST LA HOLIDAY PARADE
-- DECEMBER 7
Grab the kids and come on down to Figueroa this Sunday afternoon for the gala Northeast
Los Angeles Holiday Parade. This year's theme is Holiday Fantasies
and Dreams. A genuine homegrown effort from the top down, the
Northeast Holiday Parade is an all volunteer event staged by local volunteers
working in cooperation with local businesses, schools, civic organizations and
our city council members. The parade starts at noon at Avenue 60
and Figueroa Street, and proceeds south on Figueroa to Sycamore Grove Park, where
a Winterfest Carnival will take place.
If you're interested in volunteering to help make this massive event a
rousing success, the parade's Logistics chair, Heinrich Keifer, tells us he can
still use people to serve as Judges, and to help facilitate line-up,
registration, security and lots of other tasks. Volunteer check-in will
be at Arroyo Vista Family Health Center, 6000 N. Figueroa Street. (Look
for the white canopy in front.) Heinrich has also posted lots of
information and instructions for volunteers at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASNCAlert/files/Other/.
Please call Heinrich at (323) 258-7920, or email him at
HKeifer101@ aol.com.
Also, our local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) has issued an urgent
call for volunteer actors and actresses to take part in their
organization's parade entry. For more information, see the item
below.
9. BE A PART OF THE HOLIDAY PARADE: VOLUNTEER TO PLAY AN EMERGENCY
RESCUE SPECIALIST -- DECEMBER 7
Marlene Schmidt, organizer of our local Community Emergency Response Team
(CERT) is looking for volunteers to take part in her organization's safety
demonstrations during Sunday's Northeast Los Angeles Holiday Parade.
She needs people willing to play members of the response team, as
well as disaster victims. The CERT team will provide participants with
helmets, vests and other needed props. So, if you've ever dreamed of
walking alongside--or riding in-- a shiny red fire engine in a televised
parade, you may not get a better opportunity than this.
CERT also needs two convertibles for their parade entry, so if anyone
can loan their car to CERT for the day, please contact Marlene Schmidt at (323)
257-3333 as soon as possible.
Finally, the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council (ERNC) needs volunteers to
help staff their booth on Sunday. If you are interested in helping,
please telephone Marlene Schmidt at (323) 257-3333.
10. WORLD AIDS DAY EXHIBITION AT THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, EAGLE
ROCK -- DECEMBER 7
Sunday,
December 7
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock
2225 Colorado Blvd.
Eagle Rock
The Eagle Rock Community Cultural Association, now doing business as The
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, will host a reception for the artists of An
Art Exhibition In Recognition of World AIDS Day. The reception will
include entertainment and refreshments. Admission is free.
This World AIDS Day art exhibition, curated by Lui Sanchez, will honor six
artists of different disciplines who are living with HIV. World AIDS Day
is an international collaboration of events that recognizes the impact of AIDS
on individuals and cultures throughout the world. The artists are Alex
Aleixo, Peter Delgadillo, horea, David Johnson, David King, and Pedro
Soto. Entertainment will be provided Gregory Cruz Guitar Duo.
The Board and the Staff of the Center are very proud of the work of these
artists and would be pleased for all to come and celebrate their work.
The exhibition continues through January 2, 2004.
11. GALLERY OPHELIA RECEPTION: MEET CANDACE J. AND MISS MINDY --
DECEMBER 9
Artist
Reception for The Allen Sisters
6:00 - 9:00 p.m., December 9
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. 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.
13. 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.
14. WE'VE GOT MAIL
In his recent letter regarding the East Los Angeles Area
Planning Commission's decision to deny McDonald's a conditional use
permit to open a drive through restaurant in Glassell Park, Stephen Watkins
insists that the 'good-for-nothing-good-guys' who fought this project 'were
condemning Glassell Park and the surrounding areas to another 10-20 years of
worsening urban blight." "They were smoking opium," he went on
to say, "if they felt that another company other than McDonald's was going
to 'ride in to the rescue' and develop the site...'
"That comment is very similar to what was said when TERA and others
successfully fought off the very same McDonald's drive-through fast food
concept that the fast food giant proposed to build at the corner of Eagle Rock
and Colorado boulevards a few years ago. I suppose we must also
have been smoking opium, because, lo and behold, another company -- Blockbuster
-- did finally move into that location. And they've done a land office
business since the day they opened.
"Interestingly, TERA and others worked with Blockbuster to obtain
exceptions to the Colorado Specific Plan that would allow them to expand their
hours and alter some of the signage rules. But we held fast in our
opposition to Blockbuster's insistence that they be allowed to install a tall
pole sign, which they claimed was absolutely necessary to draw customers to
that location. They didn't get their pole, and they've still done quite
nicely at that corner.
"Don't listen to everything you are told by these corporations, with their
market studies and single-minded methods. Northeast Los Angeles is
diverse and unusual. We simply don't conform to a national corporation's
demographic studies."
-- Tracy King, TERA member and Eagle Rock resident
* * *
"Thanks for running the announcement about Catfish Bite's Closing
Clearance Sale, which was originally scheduled to end November 30. As
it turns out, our landlord has given us a few more weeks for our customers to
take advantage of these savings, so Catfish Bite is extending the sale to
December 23. We our offering bedding at the lowest price we can: 60% off
the price of our outlet price, and 35% off the gift items.
"I'd like to thank those of you who have been supportive of Catfish Bite
through our stay here in Eagle Rock; we've been in business here for three and
a half years. I talked my daughter Gina into opening the store here, and
it was fun to be able to see our friends so often, and to touch base with so
many new friends in the neighborhood. For those of you who don't know
much about us, I have been in Eagle Rock for 59 years, and raised 5 children
here, including Gina. I also owned a business here for 14 years, called
Roe's Corner. Catfish will continue operating our wholesale business out
of Dallas, Texas and Culver City, and we hope to re-open another outlet store
in the spring. I would like to express the need for mom'n'pop businesses
in Eagle Rock, but most of all the neighborhood needs to continue to support them."
-- Roe Muzingo, Eagle Rock
* * *
"I just wanted to send you this little note of appreciation for the
good work you do with the TERA newsletter. I love to find out what's
going on in our community, and this is a wonderful way to get that information
in a timely manner. Thanks for your contribution to a healthy Eagle
Rock."
-- Marti Kowal, Eagle Rock
You're welcome, Marti!
* * *
As always, 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.
15. THE LAST WORD
"We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in
September,"
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.
-- Oliver Herford (18631935)
The TERA e.letter is distributed weekly to more than 1600 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
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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