THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION
The Best Investment You Can Make in Your Neighborhood


TERA
e.letter

July 29, 2004

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

What? You're not yet a member of TERA?
Join now!  Here's how:

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

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

And don’t forget to encourage interested friends and neighbors to join TERA
so that they, too, may enjoy the many benefits of membership, including
a complimentary subscription to the TERA e.letter.

This week:

 Movies in Eagle Rock: an update
(item #1)

   Rock’n’roll‘n yard sale (item #5)

A Night Out for the community   (item  #7)


Table of Contents:


1.  PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

2.  TERA BOARD NOMINEES SOUGHT — DEADLINE: AUGUST 1

3.  FROM THE WATERING HOLE: HIGHLAND PARK WELCOMES THE WILD HARE

4.  WOMEN’S 20TH CENTURY CLUB SEEKS VENDORS FOR HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR

5.  A ROCK’N ROLL’N YARD SALE AT THE ROCK TEEN CENTER — JULY 31

6.  SALVAGE USEFUL INSIGHTS AT THIS WEEK’S ECHO PARK RESTORATION WORKSHOP  — AUGUST 1

7.  CELEBRATE MIDSUMMER WITH A NIGHT OUT — AUGUST 3

8.  THE ARROYO ARTS COLLECTIVE’S OCTOBER SURPRISE — PROPOSALS DUE AUGUST 18

9.  MARK YOUR CALENDAR: EAGLE ROCK PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL COMING TO SYLVAN AMPHITHEATER — AUGUST 18-21, 25-28

10.  AVENUE 52 HIGHLAND NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH FESTIVAL — AUGUST 21

11.  WOLFMAN CHEWS SCENERY IN NEW OXY CHILDREN’S SHOW!  YOUNGSTERS HOOOWWWL WITH DELIGHT!  — THROUGH AUGUST 21

12.  ”REVISITING THE RED CAR” WITH THE FRIENDS OF ATWATER VILLAGE — SEPTEMBER 10

13.  CALL FOR TALENT: UPTOWN GAY AND LESBIAN ALLIANCE CABARET 2004

14.  WE'VE GOT MAIL

15.  THE LAST WORD — DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER



1.  PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

MOVIES IN EAGLE ROCK -- SOME EXCITING PREVIEWS! 
Tonight’s meeting at the Coffee Table was fantastic!  TERA members Gloria Jones, Margaret Siegel, Eileen Mendoza, Andrew Hindes, Marlene Schmidt, Mary Tokita, Jennifer Morgan, John Nugent and I all came together to discuss the potential for movie theatres at the Westfield Mall or The Eagle Theatre to reopen in Eagle Rock.  Many more of you have expressed interest in helping us make our case to the right people, and we appreciate your time, effort and research. 

Andrew Hindes, a former writer for Variety, provided some very useful insights as to what is needed in order to have first-run movie theatre chains consider opening a theatre here.  But there is also a strong desire for classic children’s movies, classic films, Latin films, and Filipino films.  Mary Tokita brought up the idea of approaching the Dean of the UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television to consider showing their film archive.  We all agreed that Occidental College is a crucial partner in this effort.  We will be contacting our elected officials and the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, to partner in our efforts to create some very unique screening experiences. 

One very interesting new development has arisen in our effortsThe Eagle Theatre is once again for sale!  The entire building has been put on the market for $1.3 million, and the listing states that the church lease runs until November 2007. 

Thank you so much to all of you who continue to send your ideas and support for this effort!  Hopefully, the more we can all talk (and, clearly, dream) about it, the more we can potentially achieve it!     Thanks also to Michael  Zamarripa for letting us meet at The Coffee Table!

COLOMBO'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Vic Parrino of Colombo's
told me that he is going to throw an absolutely amazing shindig on Saturday, August 7th in honor of their 50th Anniversary.   Make sure to look for their flyers and further information, and come celebrate some of the best food and entertainment Eagle Rock has to offer!  Colombo’s is located at the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Hermosa. 

EAGLE ROCK BOULEVARD, EAGLE ROCK INTERCEPTOR SEWER, AND TERA LAND USE COMMITTEE
If you are wondering what is going on with the lane closure on Eagle  Rock Boulevard, come to the TERA Land Use Committee and find out!  Members of the Eagle Rock Interceptor Sewer (ERIS) team, including the project engineer and the community education staff, will make a presentation to TERA's Land Use Committee on Wednesday, August 18, 6:30 p.m., at the Eagle Rock Library.

A TOAST TO THE COLORADO WINE COMPANY
I was pleased to have dinner this week at Camilo’s with John Nugent and Jennifer Morgan of the Colorado Wine Company.   Eagle Rock is so lucky to have them in our midst.   Not only are they creating an intriguing art and wine space, they will be helping us all learn to buy the right bottle at the right price.  The Colorado Wine Company will open their shop in the former Gallery Ophelia space at  2114 Colorado Boulevard by the end of the year, so put some great wine at the top of your holiday lists.

TAKE A BITE OUT OF CRIME … TWICE IN ONE WEEK!
I hope you made reservations to see Chief Bratton today at Colombo’s for BLEND’s Installation event, and for National Night Out: America’s Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, August 3rd at the Los Angeles Police Museum.   It’s crucial that we all continue to support those LAPD officers and community members who help make our streets safe every day.  TERA will be donating food and manning a booth at National Night Out.   See you there! 

FINALLY, A SPECIAL THANKS TO DEPARTING E.LETTER EDITOR VINCE WALDRON
Words fail me as I try to think of a way to appropriately thank Vince -- who leaves us this week as editor of TERA’s weekly e.letter -- for all the hard work, wit and diligence he’s displayed while serving in that post.  Each and every Wednesday night, Vince worked until 2, 3 and sometimes even 4 in the morning, trading e.letter drafts back and forth with Kathleen Long and I by email, hoping with each draft to make that week’s e.letter just a little bit better than the one before it—and, more often than not, succeeding at that very tall order.  What a gift to have an Emmy award-winning writer grace us with his talents each week.  How we all will miss his puns, his wry responses to letters from our readers, and the clever quotes of the week he always seemed to dig up.  We will do our best to continue the e.letter in the tremendous manner in which Vince leaves it, but he will be sorely missed in the wee hours of Thursday morning.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, from all of us, Vince! 

Have a nice week, and Happy 50th Birthday, Joanne (August 1st)! 

-- Hilary Norton Orozco, TERA President



2.  TERA BOARD NOMINEES SOUGHT — DEADLINE: AUGUST 1

With summer in full swing and the fall season right around the corner, TERA is seeking nominees for our Board of Directors.

The TERA Board consists of at least five, but not more than 15 members, all of whom serve a renewable three-year term.  Each year, the membership of TERA elects one or more new Board members, depending on the number of open positions.  The annual addition of new Directors promotes a fresh exchange of ideas, and  encourages new and more creative solutions to problems.  Such regular injections of new ideas, perspectives and energies are vital to the health, welfare, and advancement of any 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 and PURPOSE

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 and planning activities, and promoting positive community growth and beautification.

The specific purposes of TERA are as follows:

1. CHARACTER.  To work to retain the community character of the Eagle Rock area, 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 first Tuesday of each month, and we hold public meetings at The Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock (Cultural Center) approximately four times each year.  Attendance at public meetings is expected.  It is highly desirable for Board members to be computer-savvy, have email capability and access to the Internet.  Additionally, every Board Member has an area of responsibility that complements their experience and skills.  Some areas in which we would like to augment the Board’s current expertise include: Technical experience in computer hardware, software, and Internet applications; Finance and Accounting; Special Event Organizers; Legal and Business Affairs; Archivists/Librarians; Membership and Volunteer Management; Researchers; Fundraising and Grant Management; and, Operations and Administrative Support.

All nominees are asked to submit a biographical statement of 150 words or less explaining their qualifications, experience, 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 are a TERA member who meets the foregoing qualifications and you would be willing to devote your Volunteer time and energy to furthering TERA's goals, we invite you to submit your name for nomination.  It is also possible for any TERA member to submit the name of any qualified candidate for nomination.  A final slate of nominees is determined by the Nominating Committee, consisting of at least two, but not more than five Board members, excluding the president.  Please call Nominating Committee Chair, Kathleen Long at (323) 259-TERA, or email her at KTLN@aol.com with your submissions.  Deadline for submission of nominees and their bios is August 1, 2004.

 -- Kathleen Long, Chair, TERA Nominating Committee



3.  FROM THE WATERING HOLE: HIGHLAND PARK WELCOMES THE WILD HARE

From time to time we cast a spotlight on new businesses that we think our readers might like to hear about, and Highland Park’s new Wild Hare tavern seems to fill the bill.  A new bar and restaurant on the site a former Chinese restaurant on York Boulevard, we heard about the Wild Hare from e.letter reader and TERA member Apryl Lundsten, who was kind enough to file the following report:

The Wild Hare Restaurant & Bar
5018 York Blvd. (between 50th and 51st Avenue)
Highland Park
http://www.thewildhare.net

Hours:
Monday - Friday
Bar: 4 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Food: 4 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Saturday & Sunday
Bar: 12 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Food: 12 p.m. - 1 a.m.


I just wanted to let people know what happened to the Dragon Chinese Restaurant that used to be on York Avenue between Ave 50 and 51 -- it became a great new bar! It's called The Wild Hare, and it has 12 beers on tap, including Stella Artois, Pilsner Urquell, Warsteiner Pils, Hefeweisse and Chimay, among others.   They’ve also got a small but great menu that includes a sausage plate, a hummus and tapenade plate, a cheese plate, some salads and other things.  It's kind of a modern twist on a pub.  When we dropped in the other night, one of the owners introduced herself to us.  Turns out she worked at the Red Lion Tavern in Silver Lake for years.  Anyway, thought I'd update you and give the place a well-deserved plug.  It's def a great addition to the hood.

-- Apryl Lundsten, Eagle Rock

Thanks for the review, Apryl.  If you’re an e.letter reader and you’d like to share news of your own favorite area shop, dining spot or other local discovery, feel free to forward your item to us at the address that appears at the bottom of this e.letter.



4.  WOMEN’S 20TH CENTURY CLUB SEEKS VENDORS FOR HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR

The Women's 20th Century Club of Eagle Rock is in the planning stages of their upcoming Holiday Boutique & Craft Fair, which will be held on Novermber 6.  If you are interested in a vendor spot at the Club on that day, please contact Roe Muzingo (323) 255-4438, or email her at Roemuz@webtv.net.



5.  A ROCK’N ROLL’N YARD SALE AT THE ROCK TEEN CENTER — JULY 31

Here’s the director of Eagle Rock’s ROCK Teen Center to tell us all about her organization’s giant yard sale on July 31st:

The ROCK Teen Center
Yard Sale
1597 Yosemite Drive
Saturday, July 31st
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.


Please visit us at the ROCK Teen Center,1597 Yosemite Drive, on Saturday, July 31st for a great, big Fundraising Yard Sale.  100% of the proceeds will go to support the after-school program at the ROCK (Reach Our Community Kids) Teen Center, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit, serving the youth of Eagle Rock.

If you’d care to take this opportunity to clean out your own garage and donate a few saleable items to this most worthy cause, you can drop off your donation Thursday, July 29th, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Friday, July 30th by appointment. Please call Cathy Miller at (323) 257-6102.

-- Donna Robey-Sullivan, Executive Director, Reach Our Community Kids, The ROCK Teen Center



6.  SALVAGE USEFUL INSIGHTS AT THIS WEEK’S ECHO PARK RESTORATION WORKSHOP   — AUGUST 1

The Echo Park Historical Society Workshop
"Shopping For Salvage: What to Buy and Where to Buy It"
Sunday, August at 1 p.m.
For location and details, RSVP to: ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org


The Echo Park Historical Society invites you to attend the latest in the group’s homeowner workshop series, "Shopping For Salvage: What to Buy and Where to Buy It."  The session begins at 1 p.m. and will be held at a local salvage yard.
    
 Next Sunday, August 8 at 1 p.m., the series' final class will be offered: "Old Home Hardware: Its Care and Repair."

 Both workshops are free to members of the society or $5 for all others.  Please RSVP by e-mail to ephs@HistoricEchoPark.org or by calling (323) 860-8874. They will reply with a confirmation and the workshop locations.

 For further information, please visit the Preservation Section of their site at http://www.HistoricEchoPark.org.



7.  CELEBRATE MIDSUMMER WITH A NIGHT OUT — AUGUST 3

National Night Out
America's Night Out Against Crime
Tuesday, August 3rd
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
The Los Angeles Police Historical Museum
6045 York Boulevard
Highland Park

Join Councilmember Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Northeast Community Police Advisory Board, Northeast LAPD and your neighbors in Northeast LA in celebrating National Night Out: America's Night Out Against Crime.  There’ll be lots of food, beverages and fun, along with safety information for you and your family.   Mayor James K. Hahn is scheduled to speak, and the evening will end with a flashlight group walk to the Veteran's Memorial at York and Figueroa.

For more information call The Police Museum at (323) 344-5240, or Barbara Lopez at (323) 256-1319.



8.  THE ARROYO ARTS COLLECTIVE’S OCTOBER SURPRISE — PROPOSALS DUE AUGUST 18

This is our city, let's live in it!

October Surprise is calling on all Artists, Activists, Social Interventionists, Architects, Gardeners, Solar Engineers and others to submit proposals for site-specific projects that celebrate the past, present and possible futures of Northeast LA.   Projects may be situated throughout Northeast LA: along the boulevards and arroyos, as well as in other public spaces and even private homes.

Projects will be on exhibit over the long weekend of October 8, 9, and 10, 2004.  Documentation of the events will remain in the gallery through October into the first week of November and Election Day.  (Ongoing projects are encouraged.)

The Arroyo Arts Collective at 135 N. Ave. 50 in Highland Park will serve as a meeting space where participants can present and discuss their work.

Please submit your proposal by August 18th.  We’re not looking for a fancy resume--just articulate your ideas and tell us how you connect to this place called Northeast LA.   Contact us with questions and proposals via email at opencall@theoctobersurprise.org.  Or you can call us at (323) 449-9019 (English,) or (323) 227-5861 (Espańol.)   You may also mail your proposal to:

October Surprise
c/o Flor y Canto
3706 N. Figueroa Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90065

This is a non-juried exhibition, but we would like to have a basic participants list for organizational purposes (including fundraising, publicity, and a possible catalogue.)  

Questions? Stop by Flor Y Canto any Friday night and ask for Jennifer.



9.  MARK YOUR CALENDAR: EAGLE ROCK PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL COMING TO SYLVAN AMPHITHEATER — AUGUST 18-21, 25-28

Arts at The Sylvan Amphitheater
Eight Nights of Free Entertainment
August 18-21st, and August 25-28th
Sylvan Amphitheater
Yosemite Recreational Park
Eagle Rock


The Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock will play host to an exciting new performing arts festival in the historic Sylvan Amphitheater in Eagle Rock’s Yosemite Park.  Constructed in 1930 by otherwise unemployed workers,(using funds from the Los Angeles County relief fund,) the site will soon be revitalized into a showplace for all disciplines of performing arts.  As many as 2,000 arts lovers will be treated to eight nights of free events over the festival’s two-week period.  

Programming includes t4.com's presentation of a "The Sound of Music" sing-a-long; a night of classic film including cartoons and shorts; a night of choreography by four Southern Californian artists, curated by Anita Pace; an Open Gate Theater production of “Dionysus in the Underworld;” a performance by the Los Angeles Vocal Artists “LAVA”; and an evening of spoken-word featuring local poet Lisa Sandoval, along with much, much more.  The 2004 Sylvan festival’s guest programmer is accomplished actor Randy Kovitz, who is the notable creator/writer/vocalist for performance band “Lies Like Truth.”

Co-sponsors of this event include Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa, The Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, Adelphia Communications, The City of Los Angeles Park and Recreation Department, The City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, The Kaplan Foundation as well as local businesses and arts and service organizations

The Center for the Arts is a non-profit organization, supported solely by grants and donations, which provides low-cost art, music, dance and computer classes to children and adults of Eagle Rock and the surrounding areas and communities.  

For more information, call the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, (323) 226-1617, or check the Center’s website at http://www.centerartseaglerock.org.  

Finally, if you or your organization are in a position to support this ambitious venture with underwriting or other forms of financial support, your help is most welcome.  For a sponsorship or individual donation package, please call (323) 226-1617.  



10.  AVENUE 52 HIGHLAND NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH FESTIVAL — AUGUST 21

The Avenue 52/Highland Neighborhood Watch Group
Neighborhood Awareness Festival
11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 21, 2004
1800 block of North Avenue 52
(between Coringa Drive and Phillips Way)


Highland Park’s Avenue 52/Highland Neighborhood Watch invites you to join them on August 21, for a gala community event.  The group promises a great opportunity to come out and meet your neighbors and to get ideas of how to get your own Neighborhood Watch going.  Present will be representatives from the 14th District office, the LAPD and many other city offices.  



11.  WOLFMAN CHEWS SCENERY IN NEW OXY CHILDREN’S SHOW!  YOUNGSTERS HOOOWWWL WITH DELIGHT!  — THROUGH AUGUST 21

The critically acclaimed run of the Occidental College Children's Theater’s latest presentation, "The Boy Who Cried Wolfman," conceived and directed by Jamie Angell, continues through August 21st.  Performances will be in the Remsen Bird Hillside Amphitheater outdoors on the Occidental campus.

In about an hour, a cast of Occidental students, alumni and professional actors will perform without props, sets, or costumes, relying only on their acting and physical skills. "This dynamic company of talented actors ... is as fresh and entertaining as ever," the Los Angeles Times says.  

Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 12 and under.  Group rates are available.

For ticket information, call the Occidental Box Office at (323) 259-2771.

Occidental College is located at 1600 Campus Road, in the Eagle Rock section of Los Angeles.  For a campus map and directions to the college, please visit http://www.oxy.edu/oxy/welcome/directions.



12.  ”REVISITING THE RED CAR” WITH THE FRIENDS OF ATWATER VILLAGE — SEPTEMBER 10

The Friends of Atwater Village asked us to pass along word of an exciting event they’ve got planned for the fall, a gala benefit that promises to transport you back to the glory days of the Los Angeles red cars!  The Friends were formed in 2000 to battle the planned demolition of the historic Van Kamps Bakery building, and since them they’ve been a dynamic force in the Northeast community.  Among their other good works, the Friends have provided vital assistance to TERA on a number of occasions.  We urge you to mark the date of their fundraising gala in calendars, and to plan on attending what promises to be a worthwhile event.

Friends of Atwater Village
present
"Revisiting the Red Car"
Friday, September 10th, 2004
7:00 p.m.
Los Angeles River Center & Gardens


Join us for an evening along with Sky City Productions as we take a ride back in time with The Red Car.  Whether you rode Southern California’s legendary rail system in your past, or you simply would like to make a vibrant connection with our city's colorful past, you will not want to miss this event.

Tickets are $45.00 per person which includes: admission to our screening of Sky City Productions’ documentary, "This Was Pacific Electric,” as well as light fare by Netty's, a no host bar, a silent auction, coffee and conversation with the film makers and area rail historians .

Visit us online at http;// www.friendsofatwatervillage.org to purchase tickets.  Or make your check payable to Friends of Atwater Village and mail it to:

Friends of Atwater Village
3371 Glendale Blvd, Unit 110
Los Angeles, CA  90039

For more information, dial (323) 913-2999.



13.  CALL FOR TALENT: UPTOWN GAY AND LESBIAN ALLIANCE CABARET 2004

On Saturday, September 18, the Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance (UGLA) will hold auditions for its 14th annual fund raiser, Cabaret 2004, in Eagle Rock.  Singers, dancers, comics, instrumentalists, illusionists, groups, etc., are encouraged to try out.   If interested, please call Carl Matthes at (323) 254-2726 or Joan Potter at (323) 258-2555.  Or  e-mail UGLA at UptownGLA@aol.com.

Cabaret 2004 will be held at the Womens 20th Century Club on October 16.  Funds raised by Cabaret 2004 will go to support UGLA's community charitable, educational and visibility programs.

For more information about UGLA, visit http://www.ugla.org.



14.  WE'VE GOT MAIL

“Thank you so much for including the link to the City of Los Angeles Operation Clean Sweep’s Graffiti removal hotline [in last week’s e.letter.]  What a fantastic timesaver for me to be able to file a graffiti report online in my quiet time.  I also feel more comfortable that I don't have to rely on a person taking a voice message and possibly getting it wrong.  Another bonus is that I can print out my confirmation of the report so I have a record of it.”

-- Chris Kurte, Garvanza

Thanks for the feedback, Chris.  We’re glad to hear that you’ll be using Operation Clean Sweep’s internet site, but did you know that folks who feel more comfortable reporting graffiti by telephone can now simply dial 311 to file their request for removal?  Here are all the details, direct from the assistant director of Operation Clean Sweep:

“Thanks for running information in last week’s e.letter about Operation Clean Sweep.  Please note that the graffiti abatement hotline number you listed has recently been changed to 3-1-1, and that the toll free number you included will soon be phased out.  The new 311 hotline is answered 24 hours a day, so you’ll always have a live operator ready to take your request.  As before, graffiti may also be reported online at http:/www.lacity.org/bpw/OCS/grsr.htm.”

-- Paul Racs, Assistant Director, Operation Clean Sweep, City of Los Angeles-Dept of Public Works             
   

   * * *

Can you enlighten me as to the brand new loss of one northbound lane on Eagle Rock Boulevard that came into effect today, July 27?  My wife is a subscriber to the e.letter and she always keeps me apprised of  events in our town;  but this one seems to have slipped under our radar.  Please tell me this is some sort of temporary road work that will soon revert back upon completion of whatever project they are the midst of.  Please!”

--
Jack Fitch, Eagle Rock

Happy to comply, Jack.  The Eagle Rock Boulevard street work is part of a storm drain repair and upgrade project which is expected to take three months to complete.  The City has promised to make a presentation on this project at the next TERA Land Use Committee meeting, which takes place at 6:30 p.m. on August 18 at the Eagle Rock Library.

   * * *


“Can someone tell me what the Movie Meeting [you mentioned in your recent e.letter alert] is about?  I would love to attend if it is a discussion about the eternal filming activity that appears to have turned Hill Avenue and various other residential streets in my neighborhood into a Hollywood backlot.  Thanks!

-- Pat Viera, Eagle Rock

Thanks for writing, Pat.  The Movies in Eagle Rock committee, (whose first meeting Wednesday night is one of the subjects of the President’s Message above,) is actually geared toward films at a little later stage of production than the ones that seem to be wreaking havoc in your neighborhood.  As for the issue of the rise in location movie production in our town, that's a topic for a whole new discussion.  And what better place to get it started than here?  Readers with something to say about the challenges and/or potential benefits of TV and film  location shooting in our community are encouraged to send their thoughts to us by email to the address that appears at the bottom  of this e.letter.  We look forward to hearing from you!

   * * *


Hi!  I just want to say that I really enjoy the e.letter.  It's a great way for a working/commuting person like me to keep up with what's going on in the neighborhood.  I have one request, though: could the newsletter be reworked so the email file size is not so large?  The e.letter currently takes up so much space in my limited email inbox that if I forget to delete a few of them, they can quickly fill it up to capacity!”

-- Jenny Butler, Eagle Rock

We strive to provide a filling product, Jenny, but you’re right: pushing the capacity of our readers’ inboxes to the bursting point might be a bit much!   

Actually, we’ve heard from other e.letter readers who’ve experienced similar challenges downloading or storing the e.letter in its current format, especially from those who receive their email via dial-up connections.  As it turns out, the problem isn’t specifically related to the amount of text we run in a given issue, but rather to the amount of HTML code we have to use to relay all the graphics, font and layout information that makes the e.letter so colorful and pleasing to the eye.  Alas, all that eye candy carries a price, with the tariff, in this case, being an e.letter that takes some readers the better part of a cup o’ swork’s best to download.

There are a couple of ways around this problem, but the most practical solution we’ve found would involve migrating the bulk of the e.letter’s weekly content to a dynamic web site, similar to those used by the internet bloggers  who seem to be all over the net these days.  Employing such a format would allow us to post the e.letter’s news and calendar items to a central web page throughout the week, followed up by a short — and easily downloaded  --  e.letter that would serve as a digest of that week’s newly posted items, and would include direct links to the log page, where the full text of each item would appear.  Although we’re already busy laying the groundwork for this next evolution of the e.letter, we don’t expect it to occur overnight.  Rather, we look forward to evolving it over the coming weeks and months, as we find time, funding and volunteer help to assist us in this move.

There are other exciting changes afoot, one of which is, alas, somewhat bittersweet: the departure of our regular e.letter editor, Vince Waldron, who as of this issue, steps down from his weekly duties as e.letter editor to devote more time to his own work as a writer and author.  Vince has had a ball working on the e.letter, and he’d like to thank the TERA Board for giving him the opportunity to do so, especially President Hilary Norton Orozco and Vice-President Kathleen Long -- who have both worked closely, and tirelessly, with him on the weekly production of the e.letter, and who will continue to serve in that capacity going forward — and Joanne Turner, TERA President Emeritus and e.letter founder, and the person who slyly roped him into this volunteer assignment when he was still too new to town to know any better (a ruse which he thanks her for pulling to this very day.)  But most of all, he thanks you, his fellow TERA members and Northeast L.A. neighbors, for exhibiting an unbridled passion for your community that makes him proud to be a part of it.  

See you in seven!

   * * *

We welcome your comments, complaints and/or compliments on the e.letter or any other 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 — DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."

-- Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969)


Distributed weekly via email and as a regular feature on various internet discussion groups, the TERA e.letter is read by well over 2000 readers 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, 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 email text message, (no attachments, please) -- must be in our hands by noon on Monday 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


Got graffiti?  Contact the City of LA’s Operation Clean Sweep Graffiti Removal Hotline: (800) 611-2489.


The TERA e.letter
A publication of
The Eagle Rock Association
(TERA)
Vince Waldron, editor
e.letter@TERA90041.org