THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION
The Best Investment You Can Make in Your Neighborhood
TERA
e.letter
July 8, 2004
Learn more about us
and how we are changing our community for the better.
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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:
Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa’s annual report (item
#2)
Oxy’s annual summer theater program
launches this morning (item #4)
Yoga Essence saved, The Coffee Table
set! (item s #3, 5)
Table of Contents:
1. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE —
JULY 8, 2004
2. COUNCILMEMBER VILLARAIGOSA, ONE YEAR DOWN, SEVEN TO GO
3. YOGA ESSENCE FINDS A BUYER!
4. WOLFMAN TAKES SPOTLIGHT IN NEW OXY KID’S SHOW! YOU’LL
HOOOWWWL WITH DELIGHT! — OPENS TODAY, JULY
8
5. AT LAST! THE COFFEE TABLE IS HERE! -- FRIDAY, JULY 9
6. BIKE ON THE RIVER — JULY 10
7. SUMMER’S BACK, AND SO ARE THE EAGLE ROCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONCERTS
IN THE PARK! -- SERIES KICKS OFF THIS SUNDAY, JULY 11
8. TAKE A BITE OUT OF
CRIME AT ERNC’S SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING — JULY 12
9.
ONE SCOOP OR TWO? GET SOCIABLE -- JULY 18
10. THE LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL PAYS A CALL! — JULY 21
11. A SPAGHETTI DINNER FOR YOU, A SAFE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM FOR OUR
KIDS — JULY 23
12. TAKE A WALK THROUGH HISTORIC ECHO PARK — JULY 24
13. WOMEN’S TWENTIETH CENTURY CLUB RENOVATION: BIDS SOUGHT
14. THE ARROYO ARTS COLLECTIVE’S OCTOBER SURPRISE — PROPOSALS DUE
AUGUST 1
15. WE'VE GOT MAIL
16. THE LAST WORD — T.S. ELIOT
1. PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE — JULY 8, 2004
Congratulations to Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa on his first
anniversary as Councilmember for the great 14th District!
Please see the e.letter item that immediately follows for a link to
Antonio’s first annual report on the accomplishments he and his superb staff
have already undertaken.
While we’re on the subject, TERA would like to take a moment to thank the
Councilmember for the following deeds he’s accomplished over the past year:
Looking ahead, please make plans to join us for TERA's annual State of the
Town address by Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa this September!
Please also see today's item by Joanne Turner, TERA President Emeritus,
on the opening of the Coffee Table this Friday! I’m sure you’ll
all want to support this great establishment, which has really hung in there
through the long permit process. Congratulations to TERA board member Michael
Zamarripa for opening those beautiful doors at last!
And, finally, for those ready to celebrate Joanne Turner's birthday this
month, hold tight! We are postponing her gala party until later this
year. But be sure to wish her a Happy 50th Birthday on August 1st.
Have a wonderful week!
-- Hilary Norton Orozco, TERA President
2. COUNCILMEMBER VILLARAIGOSA’S FIRST YEAR
Hard to believe it’s been a year since Councilmember Villaraigosa was sworn
in as our representative in City Council. But we did indeed receive the
following letter from the Councilmember, who just published his One Year Report
online. Here’s his letter, along with a link to the full report. Congratulations,
Antonio!
“Last Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of my service as your Los
Angeles City Councilmember. It has truly been an honor to represent the
14th Council District communities of Boyle Heights, Eagle Rock, El Sereno,
Hillside Village, University Hills, Hermon, Garvanza, Monterey Hills, and parts
of Highland Park, Mount Washington, Glassell Park, and Downtown Los Angeles.
“Over the past 12 months my office has worked with local residents, businesses,
and City departments to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods.
“I have included a link to ‘Strengthening Our Communities: A One Year
Report from the 14th Council District.’ The report includes information
on the success that we have had working together to improve the quality of life
for the residents of the 14th Council District.
“To view the one-year report, go to:
http://www.lacity.org/council/cd14/press/cd14press74920978_07022004.pdf
“The report is divided into 10 sections and includes accomplishments in the
following areas:
“I am very proud of our accomplishments over the past year and I hope you will
take a moment to review them.
“I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of the 14th Council
District in the days to come. As always, feel free to contact my office
if we can be of assistance to you.”
-- Antonio R. Villaraigosa, 14th District Councilmember
3. YOGA ESSENCE FINDS A BUYER!
Good news from Krista Neumann at Yoga Essence, the yoga salon that’s
directly across the street from Trader Joe’s. As announced in a recent
e.letter, Krista decided to leave the business not long ago, and has been
actively searching for a new owner. As of late last week, it looks as if
her search may have come to an end. Here’s Krista with the details:
“With great love and respect I am happy to announce that a miracle has
happened. An angel named Hilary Lachoff has purchased Yoga
Essence. Our doors will not be closing.
“I have confidence that Hilary has what it takes to see Yoga Essence through to
prosperity. I know you will welcome her with open arms and support her as
she gets to know the business and all of you. July will be our transition month
and then Hilary will officially take over August 1st.”
-- Krista Neumann, Yoga Essence, 1577 Colorado Blvd, (323) 550-8182
4. WOLFMAN TAKES SPOTLIGHT IN NEW OXY KID’S SHOW! YOU’LL
HOOOWWWL WITH DELIGHT! — OPENS TODAY, JULY
8
The critically acclaimed Occidental College Children's Theater
presents "The Boy Who Cried Wolfman," conceived and directed
by Jamie Angell, for an extended run starting July 8 and closing on
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.
As is the case every year, the script for "The Boy Who Cried Wolfman"
will be the result of cast improvisation, said Jamie Angell, the theater's
artistic director since its inception. "We work in the round,”
notes Angell, “so the audience is right on top of the action. The
unconventional material and the absence of props or costumes force both the
actors and the audience to rely on their imaginations. It's remarkably
different from most anything else you see in children's theater today."
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.
5. AT LAST! THE COFFEE TABLE IS HERE! -- FRIDAY, JULY 9
The news so many of us have been waiting for is here. And here’s TERA
President Emertitus Joanne Turner to tell us all about it:
After many years, many hassles,
and a lot of anticipation, The Coffee Table will open in Eagle Rock this
Friday, July 9, at 7:00 a.m. One of the very few restaurants in our area
that will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, The
Coffee Table will ensure that Mondays will no longer be so dry a dining day in
our little town.
The Coffee Table is located in a beautifully restored zig-zag Art Deco building
at 1958 Colorado Boulevard, right across from the Eagle Rock City Hall.
The restaurant’s interior is incredible, and the menu has been expanded
from that of the long-established and well-known Coffee Table in Silver Lake.
We've heard that the salad dressing is so good, owners Mike and Brett
won't even tell their closest friends what's in it.
We'll be there Friday night to gorge and celebrate!
-- Joanne Turner, TERA President Emeritus
6. BIKE ON THE RIVER — JULY 10
“Biking the Arroyo Seco”
The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (www.labikecoalition.org)
invites you to join us as we tour the Arroyo Seco. The tour showcases
existing and missing connections for bicycle travel in the Arroyo Seco.
The casually paced tour is about 15 miles and will take between 1 1/2 and
2 hours to complete. Families are welcome. The route is relatively flat
with a fair amount of riding on streets. Please bring the proper bike and skill
level. A short safety and rules of the road refresher briefing will be held
just prior to departure.
Please plan to arrive at 9:45 a.m. and have your bike ready to go so we
can depart on time. Bring water, wear sunscreen and a bike helmet.
This event is offered free of charge. In case of rain, the event
will be cancelled.
For more information e-mail Chuck Arnold at: chuck.arnold@mrca.ca.gov
or call (323) 221-9944 x183---Look forward to seeing you!
7. SUMMER’S BACK, AND SO
ARE THE EAGLE ROCK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONCERTS IN THE PARK! -- SERIES KICKS
OFF THIS SUNDAY, JULY 11
A Rock’n’Roll Concert and Classic Car Show
It's summertime in Eagle Rock, time
to gather the family together and head down to the Eagle Rock Recreation
Center for the first of the season's open air Concerts in the Park,
a collaborative program of the Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce, the Office
of City Council District 14 and other local businesses and civic
organizations. All are invited. The music is sizzlin', and the
company couldn't be better.
This Sunday, July 11, join Eagle Rock’s own Rockin’ Rodders for a free Classic
Car Show at 3:00 p.m., followed by an evening of irresistible rock’n’roll
starting at 6:00 p.m. There’ll be lots of great food and drink, plenty of
friends and even a few special surprise guests. We'll see you there!
8. TAKE A BITE OUT OF CRIME AT ERNC’S SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING —
JULY 12
The Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council's Public Safety Committee invites
you to attend a town hall meeting to evaluate the surveillance proposal
at Yosemite Recreation Park. Help your Neighborhood
Council deter crime in our public parks. Bring your ideas to
the table. Help determine the future of surveillance in our hometown.
Our Public Safety Ad hoc Committee will determine the outcome based on your
voice. If you have any questions, or you cannot attend but would still
like to give us your thoughts, please call Marlene Schmidt at (323)
257-6381.
9. ONE SCOOP OR TWO? GET SOCIABLE -- JULY 18
Take a break from the heat and join your friends and neighbors at the 4th
Annual Eagle Rock Ice Cream Social, sponsored by the Eagle Rock Valley
Historical Society. This old-fashioned event is a community
favorite and fun for the whole family. Enjoy ice cream sundaes,
home-baked goods and lemonade while being entertained by Organ Grinder Peter
Breede.
There is no charge to attend. Tickets for ice cream and other treats can
be purchased on the spot. Raffle tickets will also be available with gift
certificates and prizes donated from local businesses. All proceeds
contribute to the preservation and education funds of the Society.
For more information on Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society membership, call
Pat Topping at 256-4258.
10. THE LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL PAYS A CALL! — JULY 21
El Sereno
Councilmember Antonio R. Villaraigosa and the full City Council
will be meeting in Council District 14 on July 21 at the Los Angeles Christian
Presbyterian Church, where there’s plenty of free parking on-site.
For more information, please call: (213) 473-7014. Or
visit http://cd14.lacity.org
11. A SPAGHETTI DINNER FOR YOU, A SAFE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM FOR OUR
KIDS — JULY 23
From our friends at the Eagle Rock Elementary Education Foundation comes
this mouth watering announcement:
The Eagle Rock Elementary Education Foundation (EREEF) is a new parent and community driven
organization that hopes to raise funds and develop other resources to obtain,
maintain, and strengthen needed and desired programs, services and improvements
at Eagle Rock Elementary. Our ultimate goal is the establishment of a
certified, supervised and safe After-School Program for the 1,100 students
on the Eagle Rock Elementary School campus. And you can help us
reach that goal by accepting our invitation to our Spaghetti dinner on the
23rd. Your $5 ticket also gets you a chance at our raffle. See you
there!
Tickets now being sold every Friday evening at the Eagle Rock Farmer's
Market.
For more information, please visit our website at www.ereef.org
12. TAKE A WALK THROUGH
HISTORIC ECHO PARK — JULY 24
Explore Echo Park’s most prominent historic landmarks during a walking
tour of the neighborhood’s business district and Echo Park Lake on
Saturday, July 24. The 1 -1/2 hour tour, organized by the Echo
Park Historical Society, will include the colorful histories of prominent
neighborhood buildings and institutions, including many that have been
recognized by local and national agencies as historic and cultural treasures.
The outdoor tour features Angelus Temple, Jensen’s Recreation Center and
the restored "Lady of the Lake" statue.
The tour group is limited to 20 people. A $3 donation is requested for adults.
There is no charge for children under 12 or historical society members.
For tour information and reservations please call (323) 860-8874.
Or visit the historic society’s web site at www.HistoricEchoPark.org.
13. WOMEN’S TWENTIETH CENTURY CLUB RENOVATION: BIDS SOUGHT
The Women’s Twentieth Century Club of Eagle Rock (WTCC) is
undertaking a renovation and restoration project of its historic
building, located at 5105 Hermosa Avenue. The WTCC would like to employ local
contractors to participate in the project. We are currently accepting bids
from carpenters, plumbers, masons, tree trimmers, glazers, roofers, drywallers,
painters, floor refinishers, and general contractors.
Please contact Roe Muzingo for details about the renovation
jobs that are open for bid and to be scheduled in August 2004 at (323)
478-1883 or ROEMUZ@webtv.net. All
bids must be presented in writing, addressed to the attention of the
Restoration Committee and mailed to PO Box 41-2218, Los Angeles, CA 90041.
14. THE ARROYO ARTS COLLECTIVE’S OCTOBER SURPRISE — PROPOSALS DUE
AUGUST 1
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 1st. 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
(Español.) 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.
15. WE'VE GOT MAIL
“I love the idea of working on getting the movie theatres [in the
Westfield Shoppingtown] reopened in Eagle Rock. Might we be able to lure
a Laemmle complex here? That would be amazing. I was just dreaming
about that last week before I even read the newsletter. Please let me
know what I can do to assist in any of these efforts.”
-- Jennifer Root, TERA Member, Eagle Rock
”Well, I'm not too excited about the Chuck E. Cheese [that’s applied to open a
new restaurant on the second floor of the Eagle Rock Westfield mall,] but the
theaters? Yes! I was about 13 when the Eagle Rock Plaza -- I hate the
shopping center’s new name -- was built. I loved the theaters. They
were so convenient, and definitely less stressful than going into Glendale.
-- Manijeh Nava, TERA Member, Eagle Rock resident
“A Laemmle or Landmark would be nice, if we could be so lucky...”
-- Paul Vandeventer, Eagle Rock
Thank you all for sharing your enthusiasm. As TERA President Hilary
Norton Orozco stated at last week’s TERA Membership meeting, the multiplex
movie theaters that for many years operated on the lower level of the Westfield
Shoppingtown Eagle Rock mall are apparently still intact, and a move is afoot
to find a theater operator willing to manage the theaters and bring movies back
to Eagle Rock. Like all of such TERA projects, the success of our efforts
to “lure” a theater operator to Eagle Rock depends largely on how much energy
and support for these efforts TERA receives from members like you. We’ve
already passed your names along to Hilary, who has no doubt already contacted
you about serving on — and perhaps even chairing — a TERA movie theater task
force. Hilary also raised this matter at the ERNC Land Use Committee,
where there is a lot of support for the idea.
If you’re an Eagle Rock film fan who wonders why you should have to drive to
Glendale or Pasadena to get your cinematic fix, we invite you to join us in our
efforts to get the popcorn popping in Eagle Rock once again! Just send a
message to the e.letter with the topic line “Ready to help get movies back in
ER.” Let us know where and when we can call you. We’ll take it from
there. Thanks!
* * *
“Not sure if anyone there can help me, but my husband and I need some referrals
for exterior housepainting, someone to build a wood fence around our property,
and a tile setter for interior floor. Any suggestions on where to start
would be great. We just don't know where to begin our search.”
-- Kitty Davis, Eagle Rock
How about right here? Local contractors and e.letter readers with
recommendations should contact the Davises directly by sending a message to
Kitty_Davis@cacb.uscourts.gov.
* * *
“Just a thought...
“Almost every time I read anything from TERA I find myself wondering, ‘Now
where is that?’ I just wish you’d be able to include very basic maps to
refresh the reader’s memory; often if I can’t visualize where the building,
cell tower, problem area, etc. is, so I quite naturally move on with my
reading. You guys do such a great job keeping everyone knitted together,
I just thought a little help for the visually oriented might be good.
-- Patti Garrity, Eagle Rock
A great suggestion, Patti. Unfortunately technical limitations of the
e.letter’s current email format make it difficult to include attachments such
as maps or photographs without burdening our subscribers who receive the
e.letter over slower speed dial-up connections. However, we have been
talking for some time about moving the e.letter to a combination email and
dynamic online format, using some combination of Web Blog and email software,
which would make the publication of maps, illustrations and even documents a
much more practical matter. We can’t say when we’ll have time to
make the changeover to this new format, especially since our e.letter
production staff is already stretched pretty thin. But if any e.letter
subscriber reading this has the time and expertise to help us make the
transition from weekly email to weekly email with links to an online web log,
we heartily invite you to get in touch. Thanks!
* * *
“The newly redesigned Arroyo Seco Journal
will be featuring the Eagle Rock Summer Music Festival in its July 10 edition.
The festival will be the cover story in our 110 section, our pullout
guide to Northeast LA arts and entertainment. We are doing a larger press
run, and offering home distribution throughout Eagle Rock. We will also
be distributing the 110 section at the festival.
“We are offering deeply discounted one-time advertising for this special
issue—1/4 page ads are only $100, 1/2 page ads are only $150, and ONE full page
ad is available for only $200. These prices represent a 50-75% discount
off our normal rates.
“We've been long grateful to the Eagle Rock business community for its support.
We would be grateful if you would let your membership know of this
offer. See you at the festival!
-- Edward Rivera, Editorial Director, Arroyo Seco News Group, (323)
397-2030, editor@arroyoseconewsgroup.com
* * *
”Just a reminder that we at Swork are
happy to welcome members of The Eagle Rock Association to Swork, where you may
enjoy a 15% discount on your order when you show your current TERA membership
card at the time you place your order.”
-- Trish Neal, Swork owner, TERA member, Eagle Rock
Thanks, Trish, for that reminder. And thanks for making it so easy for
TERA members to enjoy Eagle Rock’s freshest cup of brew at a 15% savings!
If you’re reading this and you’re not yet a member of TERA (or have
yet to renew your annual TERA dues, which are payable now,) there’s still
plenty of time to take advantage of the benefits of membership. For
all the details, visit the TERA website at http://www.TERA90041.org and click
the membership link. You can fill out a form and mail in your payment, or
pay for your annual membership on the spot using our Paypal link. See you
on the site!
And that wraps it up for another week. 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.
16. THE LAST WORD —
T.S. ELIOT
“I have measured out my life with coffee
spoons.”
-- T.S. Eliot (1888–1965)
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
The TERA
e.letter
A publication of
The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)
Vince Waldron, editor
e.letter@TERA90041.org