Please Be Careful

As a witness to a horrific fatality last Thursday morning at Genevieve and Colorado, in which a pedestrian was hit and then run over by an SUV, I am begging everyone reading this to PLEASE only cross at lights and/or crosswalks and to always, always be very cautious when doing so. I know you don't need me to remind you how to cross the street, but I also bet everyone at one time has jaywalked (in fact my dog and I had done that just 2 blocks earlier) but seeing this tragedy really brought home what the consequences can be, so I am on a mission to do everything I can to stop these situations from happening.

And please consider that even though legally it is okay to cross corner from corner (which the victim was doing) it really isn't a good idea, at least not on Colorado Blvd.

Also, if you drive with your dog in the car, think about keeping him on leash or restraining him or her within the car in some fashion (you can buy harnesses that link into seatbelts at pretty much any pet store). After the accident, the driver, understandably hysterical, got out of her car, leaving her door open and her dog, scared, jumped out and ran into traffic. Luckily neither the dog nor the driver, who blindly chased after her dog, was hit, but it just added panic to an already shocking situation. Finally, I urge all businesses, especially "111 Colorado Boulevard", to make sure you display ALL the numbers of your address. When I called 911, "111 Colorado Blvd" was directly across from me so that was the location I gave dispatchers, not realizing that it was missing the last number of its address, so there was a few potentially crucial moments of delay as the dispatcher tried to figure out where I was, exactly.

Thanks, hope in some small way this makes a difference!

--Name withheld upon request

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Illegal Dumping at Eagle Rock Recreation Center

The dumpsters located in the parking lot at Eagle Rock Recreation Center seem to have become an unofficial free community dump. Besides being unsightly, some of the material that is dumped is household hazardous waste and/or E-waste. I've personally seen televisions, car tires, car batteries, and construction materials piled into or near the dumpsters. Park personnel recognize the problem and told me that they thought some plans were in the works to make the dumpsters less accessible. I contacted Councilman Huizar's field office via e-mail regarding this matter in April, but I have yet to hear from them.

Does TERA have any information about this issue? It seems that a good first step would be the posting of "No Dumping" signs.

Along with the increasing line up of shopping carts along the Figueroa side of the park, the overflowing dumpsters certainly do not give visitors a good first impression of Eagle Rock.

Michele Markota

We are certainly aware of the dumping problem at the park and it's time to redouble our efforts to acheive a solution. I've now been to at least two meetings where people who should know have told me the problem is finally going to be taken care of, an yet it persists. And so we too must be and shall be persistent until it is resolved.

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Delevan Elementary

I can totally relate with Al Jimenez' letter last week re: "the lack of a sufficient space to safely pick up and drop off students". I live on Yosemite Way, which borders Delevan Elementary School. Every day (during the school year) between 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., traffic stops on Yosemite Way, just off of Delevan/Wawona streets. The street is narrow and has one-way traffic (when cars are parked). Parents anxious to pick up their children stop their cars in the traffic lane and wait (where signs are posted "no parking, no stopping") - which prevents those of us trying to pass through. They seem to have no conscience when you are behind them, waiting.

My question is - who is responsible for rectifying this situation? The school or law enforcement? I have witnessed showdowns, where those stopped refuse to move forward or back to allow traffic to pass. I would hate to see what this could escalate to.

From: noval@earthlink.net

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Eagle rock music crawl

Hello. Can you tell me when is the eagle rock music crawl this year, and where do I enquire about having my band play that night?

vic

Vic, The Center for the Arts Eagle Rock website notes that Music Festival Eagle Rock will be on Oct. 7. You might want to give the Center a call at (323) 226-1617 or visit the website at http://w ww.centerartseaglerock.org

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OLD WHARTON'S PROPERTY

Does anyone know what's happening to the property on ER Blvd. which used to be the old Wharton's Nursery on ERB & Fair Park? Besides the concrete retaining wall that was built somewhat around the property -- it looks haphazard and a place to collect debris and junky sidewalk sales. I don't think that was a vision in city planning for Eagle Rock Blvd.

I've been told that the site is soon to be developed with a commercial building. I don't know any specifics. Perhaps one of our well informed readers can fill us in?

Thanks TERA for all you do.

Marilyn Mason, Las Colinas Ave, ER

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Michael,

Just sent off my TERA renewal for CoWineco and again, after reading the letter, I feel every penny is completely worth it. The shopping cart thing is infuriating and weekly, we walk a cart around to a side street to a neutral area that isn’t directly in front of someone’s property. I’ve seen people use these carts, leave them in front of their neighbor’s house, and bring their groceries inside. It’s a remarkable lack of pride in your community and is detrimental on the level of broken windows that go unrepaired. I’ve lived in many cities for my age and I’ve never seen this problem before. I think your idea of returning them for ransom is a great idea. Something has to force the grocery stores to be more responsible. And offering a free pick-up truck service to retrieve them is just fueling this practice.

- John

John Nugent

Colorado Wine Co.

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Dear Michael Tharp,

I am one recipient of the e.letter who chooses to received ONLY plaintext e-mails (no HTML etc). your e.letters are among the largest files I receive each week. it shouldn't be assumed that all subscribers (and members) want images with their e.letter.

I'm surprised that Eagle Rock has the lost shopping cart problem you describe at the head of the 28 July letter. many markets now have ways of ensuring that the wheels "freeze up" once they pass a certain (electromagnetic) line at the edges of their properties. surely that technological fix is available in California, as it is here in Massachusetts.

-- john mcvey

Cambridge Ma, 02138 www.jmcvey.net jmcvey@tiac.net, (617) 661-4276

Nice to know that you are still concerned with what is going on here in Eagle Rock while being in Cambridge MA (our fair city, as Click and Clack of NPR fame would say). I know solutions exist that can help keep shopping carts on the site. The issue is giving the business owners the "proper incentive" to implement those solutions for the benefit of the community. And I will be more careful about making sure there is a text description (not 1,000 words, I promise) to go along with any pictures. Thanks for calling it to my attention.

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