THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION

-- Invest in Your Community --


TERA

e.letter

May 12, 2005

Learn more about us
and how we are changing our community for the better.

Are you a TERA member yet?
Join the in-crowd now!  Here's how:

Click on

http://www.TERA90041.org/teraform.htm


Now more than ever, please support your residents association --
well over 1,000 members strong, and growing every day!

Please encourage interested friends and neighbors to send their email addresses
to us at e.letter@TERA90041.org so we can keep them informed as well.

This week:


1.  TERA WANTS YOU -- TIME FOR BOARD ELECTIONS!

2.  LOS ANGELES RIVER DAY -- MAY 13

3.  SUMMER'S COMING, AND SO ARE TERA'S COMMUNITY GARDEN WORKDAYS -- MAY 14

4.  WAKE UP, LA! -- VOTE MAY 17

5.  LAPD NORTHEAST SEMI-ANNUAL BASIC CAR DISTRICT MEETING -- MAY 18

6.  THE ARROYO ARTS COLLECTIVE PRESENTS "THE SHIRT OFF OUR BACK" -- MAY 21

7.  MUSEUMS OF THE ARROYO DAY -- MAY 22

8.  HEATHER'S STORE IS HOT! -- EDITOR'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

9.  MIGUN EAGLE ROCK CENTER OPENS

10.  EAGLE ROCK REALTY BUSINESS MENTIONED IN LA TIMES

11.  LETTERS AND E.MAILS

12.  QUOTE OF THE WEEK

1.  TERA WANTS YOU -- TIME FOR BOARD ELECTIONS!

WHAT IS TERA?


… TERA is a strong, broadly-based organization of concerned community members who have come together to safeguard and enhance the quality of life in Eagle Rock.

… TERA has developed a vision of the future of Eagle Rock that focuses on insuring responsible growth.  This vision enables the community to meet the opportunities as well as the challenges of growth.

… TERA seeks to secure a decisive voice as well as a definitive and ongoing role for the community in planning its future.  TERA works with city, state, and federal agencies to accomplish this goal.

… TERA reaches out and joins hands with other community organizations, institutions, and individuals who share the same dedication to the purpose of people working together for the quality of life in their own community.

DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS

The TERA Board of Directors consists of at least five (5) but not more than 15 members, all of whom serve a renewable three-year term.  The TERA membership votes every year for one or more new Board members, depending on the number of positions open.  The annual addition of new Directors promotes a fresh exchange of ideas, and it encourages new and creative solutions to problems.  These conditions are vital to the health, welfare, and advancement of a well-run civic organization.

Directors must pledge to uphold TERA's mission and purposes (stated below), and they must have been TERA members for at least one (1) year prior to election.  Directors shall be residents and/or property owners in the Eagle Rock community.  No member may be elected Director who holds a federal, state, county, city, or other public office representing Eagle Rock or be a salaried appointee of an elected official representing Eagle Rock.  No member may be elected Director whose business consists primarily of land development, representation of land developers, or activity in zoning or planning or land-use matters, which would conflict with TERA's mission and purposes.

MISSION

The broad mission of this organization is to work for improvement of the quality of life in the Eagle Rock Community in Los Angeles, California, by providing research and education about Eagle Rock, participating in land-use planning activities, and promoting positive community growth and beautification.

PURPOSES

The specific purposes of TERA are as follows:

1.  CHARACTER.  To work to retain the community character of the Eagle Rock area, the Association's geographical focus, by participating in and initiating activities suited to that end.

2.  PRESERVATION.  To encourage preservation of single-family low-density residential land use, open space, ecologically important areas, cultural resources, historical sites and landmarks, aesthetic integrity, safety, and the high quality of life in the Community.

3.  PROTECTION.  To protect the entire Eagle Rock area from incompatible land uses and encroachment upon its basic residential character and its best qualities as a place to live.

4.  DEVELOPMENT.  To seek and abet harmonious development of land and buildings within the Community that is consistent with the character and history of the neighborhoods, and to foster harmonious relationships between Community residents and developers pursuing those same ends.

5.  COOPERATION.  To promote cooperation among Community residents and Community organizations concerning land use, planning and zoning matters and other matters affecting the quality of life in the Community, to disseminate data and information on pertinent problems and issues, and to cultivate good relationships with other communities in the Northeast Los Angeles District, the surrounding cities of Glendale, Pasadena and La Canada Flintridge, as well as all communities citywide.

6.  KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING.  To promote comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the Community and its heritage, and of the need to protect the area's "small town" atmosphere and character.

7.  GOVERNMENT.  To work with the City and County of Los Angeles and the State of California toward the implementation and enforcement of legislation pertinent to the Association's objectives and welfare.

8.  LOCAL SCHOOLS.  To work with all parts of the community to improve local schools within Eagle Rock.

9.  EDUCATION.  To promote public awareness and education of issues affecting Eagle Rock.

The TERA Board meets the second Tuesday of every month.  Each elected Board member is expected to head a TERA committee and/or have an ongoing specific responsibility.  TERA holds public meetings quarterly at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock.  Board member attendance at public meetings is expected.  All nominees are asked to submit a biographical statement of 150 words or less explaining their qualifications, experience, skills, and what they can offer to help TERA reach the goal of high quality of life for all who live in Eagle Rock.

If you know a TERA member who meets the foregoing qualifications and who would be willing to devote a certain amount of time and energy furthering TERA's goals, any TERA member may submit that individual's name for nomination.  The Nominating Committee determines a final slate of nominees.

Please call (323) 259-TERA or e.mail boardelections@TERA90041.org with your submissions.  The deadline for the submission of nominees and their bios is June 15, 2005.
2.  LOS ANGELES RIVER DAY -- MAY 13

Save the date!

The City of Los Angeles will be proclaiming Friday, May 13, 2005 as Los Angeles River Day.  The Ad Hoc Committee on the Los Angeles River will be honoring the recipients of the 2nd Annual River Day Awards:
- Lewis MacAdams - Los Angeles River Advocate
- Maria Lopez - Los Angeles River Public Employee Advocate
- Center for Law in the Public Interest - Los Angeles River Community Advocate
- Los Angeles Riverfront Park, Studio City: Department of Public Works-Bureau of Engineering, Department of Recreation and Parks, NUVIS, Metro Builders & Engineers, and the local volunteer neighborhood committee under Prop K for Kids - Los Angeles River Project

Please join the Ad Hoc Committee Councilmembers, city staff, residents, and river advocates in celebrating the day and congratulating the winners.
9:00 am Welcome/Social Reception: Friday, May 13, 2005 Bradley Tower, 27th Floor -City Hall
9:30 am Board of Public Works Board Meeting- Citations - Room 350 - City Hall
10:00 am LA City Council - Resolutions - Council Chambers, 3rd Floor - City Hall
Pictures afterwards

Please call Wendy Johnson at 213-473-8230 to RSVP and for complimentary parking. You should allow one (1) hour for parking, security clearance and elevator time.

Ad Hoc River Committee
(213) 473-8230
lariver@council.lacity.org
3.  SUMMER¹S COMING, AND SO ARE TERA'S COMMUNITY GARDEN WORKDAYS -- MAY 14

Beginning this lovely month of May, the Eagle Rockdale Community Garden and Art Park will begin hosting monthly Saturday workdays.  The first one, to clean up the Lanark xeriscape garden in an adjoining open space near the Garden, is this Saturday, May 14, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Participants are invited to come to the Garden site, located just south of Shelby Lanark Park (1 block east of Figueroa at La Loma ­ across from Vons).

The Garden¹s additional workdays will be held on a Saturday of each succeeding month.  Please check dates below.  All participants¹ work will contribute needed hours toward the matching grant to complete Phase 1, and create a space for local families to grow veggies and connect with nature.  Those dates are:
THIS Saturday, May 14 -- 9:00 a.m. to noon!
Saturday, June 18
Saturday, July 9
Saturday, August 13, and
Saturday, September 10

Mark your calendars, and join us!

For additional information, call TERA at (323) 259-TERA (8372) or e.mail communitygardens@TERA90041.org.
4.  WAKE UP, LA! -- VOTE MAY 17

NEW "VOTER MINUTE" SERIES AIMS TO BOOST ELECTION TURNOUT

As community organization and neighborhood council leaders, it is hoped you'll spread the word to your stakeholders about a new way to explain what's at stake in our upcoming May 17th mayoral elections.

With three out of four registered Los Angeles voters opting to skip the March mayoral primary election, many Angelenos clearly don't believe the next mayor is relevant to their daily lives.  To underscore the urgency of the issues at stake in this month's runoff election, LA36, Los Angeles' citywide educational channel (Channel 36 on all cable systems in Los Angeles) has launched a new nonpartisan "Voter Minute" series, a pioneering project to provide information to voters via both television and the Internet at http://www.la36.org.

No single individual has more impact on our daily lives here in Los Angeles than our city's mayor.  This series of six 90-second spots has been created to explain succinctly what's at stake on May 17th, and the segments have been filmed in an eye-catching style to capture the attention of the more sporadic voter.  Each of the "Voter Minute" films addresses what the mayor can do to improve the daily lives of Los Angeles residents: in crime, traffic, jobs, housing, arts and culture, and education.   

LA 36 will be giving the "Voter Minutes" saturation coverage over the next two weeks: they will air at every station break on the hour and half-hour between today and May 17.  

In addition to the telecasts, all six "Voter Minute" segments are available for viewing 24 hours a day on the LA36 website, http://www.la36.org, through pioneering technology licensed by LA 36 last fall to manage streaming content in the government and educational access arena.  Windows Media player is required.  

We hope that this will give you, your community organizations, and neighborhood councils the tools you need to overcome voter apathy.  Be sure to get out and vote May 17th!
5.  LAPD NORTHEAST SEMI-ANNUAL BASIC CAR DISTRICT MEETING -- MAY 18

Please attend this important meeting regarding Police Service in Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Mt. Washington, Glassell Park, and Cypress Park!

Where:

Police Museum
6045 York Blvd.
Highland Park


When:

Wednesday, May 18th 2005
6:30pm (18:30)
GUEST SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE:
Capt. Morris Smith
City Attorney Jeanne Kim
Officer Rich Colenzo
Officer Susan Carrasco
Motor Officer Mike Belmonte from Central Traffic Division representatives from council 1,13, 14

INVITED:
Chief William Bratton
Council Members Antonio Villaraigosa, Eric Garcetti, Ed Reyes
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg
Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority

INVITE Your Neighbors and Friends to this meeting.  TOPICS include Neighborhood Watch, Neighbor to Neighbor Program, Homeless, Graffiti, etc.  Question and answer to follow.

Definition: "Basic Car System" --
The Los Angeles Police Department, working in conjunction with community organizations, businesses, neighborhood residents, and area elected officials, has apportioned the City into eighteen geographic areas. This system allows the LAPD to deliver the highest quality police service to our constituents while at the same time tailoring law enforcement and public safety efforts to individual community needs. Each of the City’s 18 geographic areas is served by a Community Police Station.   These stations themselves are further apportioned into small neighborhood units, referred to as Basic Cars. There are roughly eight to ten Basic Car areas per Community Police Station and each Basic Car area has one patrol car permanently assigned to provide service in that neighborhood. Additional patrol units may be assigned during periods of increased workload.
http://www.lapdonline.org/get_involved/neighborhood_watch/neighborhood_watch_main.htm#%A0Basic%20Car%20Plan
6.  THE ARROYO ARTS COLLECTIVE PRESENTS "THE SHIRT OFF OUR BACK" -- MAY 21

The Arroyo Arts Collective Presents
The Shirt Off Our Back
Silent and Live Auction of one-of-a-kind artist made t-shirts

Where:        2000 North Figueroa Street
When:         Saturday, May 21, 3-6 PM
                    Silent Auction 3-5:30 PM; Live Auction at 4:30 PM

Where else can you find an affordable piece of unique art by one of your favorite Northeast artists AND spend an enjoyable afternoon eating delectable morsels prepared by Douglas Johnston & Really Good Food AND hear great live music AND be entertained by the always charming Charles Phoenix as auctioneer?

Please join us at ³The Shirt Off Our Back,² the Arroyo Arts Collective¹s Auction Fundraiser, and collect some original designs utilizing American Apparel cotton t-shirts. Participating artists include Alexis Abrams, Raoul de la Sota, Samantha Harrison, Leo Limon, Daniel Peacock and Suzanne Siegel.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Advance tickets are available at Galco¹s Old World Grocery, 5702 York Boulevard, Highland Park. For more information, call 323.550.8000.
7.  MUSEUMS OF THE ARROYO DAY -- MAY 22

Local museums will celebrate arroyo culture on May 22, 2005.  This one-day event will feature exhibits, special events, crafts and family fun -- free shuttle, free admission to five area museums.

Like great art, architecture, music and family fun with some historical discoveries thrown in for good measure? How about it all for free?

Mark your calendars for the 17th annual Museums of the Arroyo (MOTA) Day where five museums located along the celebrated Arroyo Seco in Los Angeles and Pasadena open their doors for a free day of dance, storytelling, art, crafts and entertainment:
On MOTA Day, folks can visit one or all of the museums during the day at no charge, with free and continuous shuttle service running between museums. Visitors can park their cars once and then shuttle to the museums of their choice.

Performers scheduled to appear at this year's MOTA Day include Grammy-award winning Tin-Pan Alley pianist and ukulele virtuoso Ian Whitcomb at the Gamble House and Arigon Starr and Debora Iyall presenting contemporary Native American music at the Southwest Museum.

For more information on the 16th annual MOTA Day, please call the MOTA hotline number at (213) 740-TOUR (8687) or visit http://www.museumsofthearroyo.com.
8.  HEATHER'S STORE IS HOT! -- EDITOR'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Heather's Store, which now occupies the former site of Catfish Bite across the street from Trader Joe's, has been open in Eagle Rock for over a year, yet I never walked in until Mother's Day.  Was I pleasantly surprised!

I purchased a beautiful hand-made all-leather journal for my mom, and she loved it!  Still, the store offers so much more -- baby stuff, funky housewares, decorative items -- you name it.  No cutesy here.  All class and with-it design know-how.

Owner Heather Strauss, whose motto is "fun things, happy life" (who could argue with that?!), is also an event coordinator and gift basket maven to the stars!  I've seen her work first-hand, and she's amazingly talented.  Recently, actress Teri Hatcher, of "Desperate Housewives" fame, ventured into Heather's little Eagle Rock venue and dropped a bundle (over $500) for all the cute (NOT cutesy -- there IS a distinction) and fabulous things that appealed to her.

Heather's is a must for all who appreciate the wonderfully different.  Go there.
Heather's Store
1565 Colorado Boulevard
Eagle Rock
(323) 550-1625
http://wwwheathersstore.com

-- Joanne Turner
9.  MIGUN EAGLE ROCK CENTER OPENS

Steve and Ligaya Watkins, long-time residents of Eagle Rock and community activists (and TERA members), are delighted to announce the opening of their new business, MIGUN EAGLE ROCK CENTER, on Monday, April 25, 2005.  Located inside the "Philippine Village/Tri-Media Building" at 4515 Eagle Rock Boulevard, Suite 146, MIGUN EAGLE ROCK CENTER (MERC for short) will be retailing FDA-approved Migun HY-7000 and HY-7000U thermal massage beds.

This is a DEMONSTRATION CENTER, however, so you are invited to come in and try the beds for a FREE 30-minute massage that will leave you feeling refreshed, relaxed, and stress-free.  First come, first served.

MERC is open from 9:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M, Mon. - Fri., and 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Saturdays.  It is closed on Sundays.  Special appointments are available.  There are 15 free massage sessions each day, Monday through Friday, and nine sessions on Saturday.

For more information about Migun and its products, sign on to their website at http://www.migunworld.com
10.  EAGLE ROCK REALTY BUSINESS MENTIONED IN LA TIMES

Eagle Rock's own David Steven Company of Coldwell Banker was quoted in the Real Estate section of the LA Times recently.  The storefront has been updated very tastefully and truly adds to our commercial district's always-improving visual appeal.  You can find the company at 2122 Colorado Boulevard, Eagle Rock.
11.  LETTERS AND E.MAILS

"Just discovered the Colorado Wine Company. It has been open for only eight weeks. It's located only a few doors east of Camilo's restaurant.

They have an extensive wine selection at fairly reasonable prices. There is also a wine bar in the rear of the store which is open from 4 - 9pm. If you leave them your e-mail address, they will let you know when they will be doing a wine tasting, apparently most Fridays and weekends -- http://www.cowineco.com, 323-478-1985."

-- Lyn Winter [courtesy of nelalist Digest No. 1266]

"Hi Joanne --

Thanks again for your wonderful e-letter.  We are still looking for a nice place for our weekly Rotary meetings. Hope you can look into this issue so that we can keep our local service group from moving away from Eagle Rock.  Thanks."

-- Dr. R. K. Chetty, Eagle Rock business owner [and this editor's dentist]
12.  QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"You've got to ac-CEN-tuate the positive, e-LIM-inate the negative."

-- Harold Arlen, 1905-1986, who also wrote the music to "The Wizard of Oz" and composed many of the best-known tunes of the Great American Songbook
Got graffiti? Contact the City of LA¹s Operation Clean Sweep Graffiti Removal Hotline: (800) 611-2489.
Distributed weekly via e.mail and as a regular feature on various Internet discussion groups, the TERA e.letter is read by well over 2,000 readers (and probably more) with an interest in Eagle Rock and Northeast Los Angeles.  Please encourage interested friends to send their full name and e.mail address to us at e.letter@TERA90041.org so we can keep them informed, too.

If you have changed your e.mail address or would like to be removed from this list, send us an e.mail 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, letter of comment, question or other notice that you feel might be of interest to the Eagle Rock community, send it to e.letter@TERA90041.org.  Your announcement -- in the form of an e.mail text message, (no attachments, please) -- must be in our hands by noon on Monday to be considered for inclusion in that week's issue.

©2005 The Eagle Rock Association

TERA -- The Eagle Rock Association -- INVEST IN YOUR COMMUNITY  -- 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)
Joanne Turner, Editor
e.letter@TERA90041.org