THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION

-- Invest in Your Community --


TERA

e.letter

August 25, 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 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE -- MICHAEL THARP

2.  TERA'S NEXT GARDEN WORKDAY -- THIS WEEKEND! -- AUGUST 27

3.  TERA'S COUNCIL CANDIDATE "MEET AND GREET" -- SEPTEMBER 6

4.  GET YOUR EAGLE ROCK FLAGS HERE!

5.  IMIX BOOKSTORE PRESENTS MAYAN DAYKEEPER DON PASCUAL YAXON -- AUGUST 26

6.  "KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT COUNTS" -- ORDERLY FINANCES -- AUGUST 26

7.  ST. BARNABUS YARD SALE -- AUGUST 26 AND 27

8.  JOIN US FOR AN EAGLE WALK -- AUGUST 27

9.  FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY -- AUGUST 30

10.  DEADLINE TO REGISTER AS ERNC CANDIDATE -- AUGUST 31

11.  FINAL ERNC CANDIDATE INFO WORKSHOP ­ TONIGHT -- AUGUST 25

12.  CHECK OUT SWORK'S UPGRADED WEB SITE -- HTTP://WWW.SWORK.COM

13.  UPDATE ON FULL-TIME KINDERGARTEN PREPARATION AT EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

14.  LETTERS AND E.MAILS

15.  QUOTE OF THE WEEK -- RUTH ROSS

1.  TERA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE -- MICHAEL THARP

Eagle Rock is a community that is blessed with an abundance of "participators."  People participate at a family level, they participate at an organizational level, they participate at a Citywide level, and beyond.  The latest example of a "participator" expanding her area of participation is Dalila Sotelo, a former TERA Board member, who is largely responsible for my involvement in TERA, served as past president of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, and who now has been appointed to the City of Los Angeles Board of Fire Commissioners by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.  Congratulations Dalila, and thank you for serving.  

There have been others who have served on City wide commissions.  Michael Nogueira is Vice Chair of the City of Los Angeles Housing Authority, and Kaye Beckham has been on the Cityıs Cultural Affairs Commission.  Art Mattox served on both the Police Commission and the Ethics Commission.  In addition, Kaye sits on the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan Design Review Board, and Michael has served on the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council.  Both are active in their own community organizations as well as running their own businesses in Eagle Rock.  All of us owe them our thanks for their work, past and present, to make our community and our City a better place.

But, the recognized participation of the few does not let the many off the hook.  The more who sit at the table, the bigger the feast.  There are hundreds, if not thousands, of ways to participate in building a better block, neighborhood, Eagle Rock, or City, whether itıs supporting an organization such as TERA with your membership dues and actions, or by turning out to work on the Community Garden or a community day of service.  But, cutting to the chase, right now there is a way for those who believe that Eagle Rock has a special place within the greater City of Los Angeles to participate in the governance of the City and to join with other parts of the City in having a say in budgeting, land use, and policy decisions.  To steal a phrase from the local recruiters, the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council is looking for more than a few good women and men.  

Neighborhood Council elections are scheduled for October 1, and there is a great need for good people who are able to work together to bring their skills and their visions of a better Eagle Rock to the table and participate in the ongoing efforts of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council.  If you think you are interested in running for one of the many open positions, go to the information and training session held by the ERNC  on August 25 (TONIGHT -- see item No. 11) to see what is involved.  Talk to your friends and neighbors, get their support for your ideas, listen to their ideas, and then run for one of the open positions to make sure those ideas are represented.

It is true that all politics are local, and Eagle Rock needs your participation to make sure it has a seat at the larger, Citywide table.  If youıve been thinking about it, do it!  If you havenıt been thinking about it, maybe you should be!
2.  TERA'S NEXT GARDEN WORKDAY -- THIS WEEKEND! -- AUGUST 27

How TERA's Garden has grown!  The Eagle Rockdale Community Garden and Art Park is no longer a dream, but fast becoming a reality!

Be part of the progress by joining the crew at 1045 Rockdale Avenue from 9:00 a.m. to noon this Saturday, August 27. Make no mistake -- there's no air conditioning and you'll get a thorough workout -- we'll be digging irrigation trenches, clearing the last brush away, and filling our Garden plots with good soil.  Bring your own gloves and brush-clearing tools if you have them.

You'll have the satisfaction of knowing you've created a permanent improvement to the neighborhood, transforming empty space into a beautiful and productive oasis for growing things.  You can also sign up for your very own Garden plot!

Progress Report on the Garden:


To find the Garden -- going east on Colorado, split off to the right on La Loma Road (at the Sav-On) and take La Loma east of Figueroa Street one short block.  Go right at Lanark Street (just across from those huge electrical towers).  Park in the gravel lot to your left or continue to Shelby Lanark Park, just one block further south and park on the street.  The Garden begins directly behind the park and continues along a narrow tract for hundreds of feet along the old Yellow Car right-of-way that used to bring folks to the Eagle Rock to picnic about 100 years ago.  Very cool.  We're literally building on our history.

Look for TERA's Board members Keith Louie, Hilary Norton Orozco, Michael Tharp, Mary Tokita, and Liz Wagner.  We'll be very glad to see you!  Join us!

For more information, call (323) 259-TERA or e.mail communitygarden@TERA90041.org.
3.  TERA'S COUNCIL CANDIDATE "MEET AND GREET" -- SEPTEMBER 6

Please join TERA on September 6 in our quest to help you choose the best candidate to represent Eagle Rock and the rest of Council District 14 in the upcoming election on November 8.

Council District 14 "Meet and Greet"
Tuesday, September 6
7:00 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock
2225 Colorado Boulevard
Eagle Rock

It appears the deadline has passed for qualification and that we have a total of 10 candidates for the November 8 ballot.  Come meet them all!  We hope to see you there.
4.  GET YOUR EAGLE ROCK FLAGS HERE!

If you've traveled west on the 134 freeway approaching Glendale in the late afternoon when the breezes are up, you've seen the Eagle Rock flag flying proudly alongside the California and United States flags on the Rusty Pelican property.  Our flag-raising event on Flag Day, June 14, was wonderful to behold!

Well, now you can have your own version of the Eagle Rock flag.  The flag comes in two sizes:  a small version in 4" x 6" for $5.41, or a larger version (to fly in front of your home, for example) in 3' x 5' for $54.13.  Both prices include sales tax.

We will be selling both sizes of flags at our September 6 "Meet and Greet" event (please see item No. 2 above), or you can order a flag by calling (323) 259-TERA.
5.  IMIX BOOKSTORE PRESENTS MAYAN DAYKEEPER DON PASCUAL YAXON -- AUGUST 26

Join IMIX Bookstore for a unique learning experience with a Daykeeper of the Mayan Calendar, Don Pascual Yaxon.  History comes alive when Don Pascual speaks about the development of our humanity.  Presentation on Mayan consciousness and philosophy will be in Spanish with English translation for those that need it. Don Pacual was born in the Atitlan area in Guatemala.  He is native speaker of Quiche and Kaqchikle.

When: Friday August 26
Time: 7:30 - 8:30 PM
Donation

IMIX Bookstore
5052 Eagle Rock Blvd.
Eagle Rock, CA 90041
323 257 2512
http://www.imixbooks.com
6.  "KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT COUNTS" -- ORDERLY FINANCES -- AUGUST 26

Please join us next Friday, August 26, 2005, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, for a short but informative workshop on how we can better handle our personal information and finances.  Elizabeth Rowan, professor of Accounting and Finance at the University of La Verne, has prepared a handbook, entitled "Keeping Track of What Counts," to help us get our personal finances in order.  This handbook is designed to help us organize all our personal information in case of an emergency.  When Ms. Rowan prepared this handbook, she was thinking of stolen wallets, burglaries, deaths, accidents, medical emergencies, etc.  Being realistic, we know that any of these things can happen to us, and being prepared will help us better deal with emergencies when and if they occur.

Elizabeth will talk to us about her handbook, then will have a period of questions and answers.  The workshop costs only $10, and includes the price of the handbook.

Please RSVP by TODAY, Thursday, August 25, if you will be attending.

What:  Workshop on "Keeping Track of What Counts"
When:  Friday, August 26, 2005, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm,
Where:  Avenue 50 Studio, Inc., 131 No. Avenue 50, Los Angeles, CA  90042 (323) 258-1435
Cost:  $10 (includes the price of the handbook)
7.  ST. BARNABUS YARD SALE -- AUGUST 26 AND 27

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church is having its "Back-to-School, End-of-Summer, Raise-Some-Dough, Make- Some-Space, Just-for-the-Heck-of-It" Yard Sale on Friday, August 26, from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday, August 27, from 8-2 p.m.  Come and find that gently loved piece of furniture, retro and contemporary clothing styles, and lovely collectibles galore.  We're ready to make you a deal!  

2109 Chickasaw, 2 blocks south of Colorado and 1 block east of Eagle Rock Blvd.
Call Father Tom for more details at (323) 254-7569.
8.  JOIN US FOR AN EAGLE WALK -- AUGUST 27

Enjoy one of Eagle Rockıs most beautiful neighborhoods -- and get fit at the same time!  Join Janiss Garza, the editor-in-chief of the popular Internet fitness magazine, http://www.allspiritfitness.com, on a Saturday morning!

EAGLE WALK
Saturday, August 27, 2005
8:30 a.m.

We will meet by City Hall, on the Corner of Colorado Boulevard and Maywood Avenue.  Ms. Garza will take you on an easy two-mile fitness walk past some of Eagle Rockıs historic homes.  We will end at Swork, at the corner of Colorado and Eagle Rock Boulevards, where we will stretch out, and Ms. Garza will answer your questions about exercise, fitness and weight loss.

This is a beginnerıs level fitness walk that almost anyone will be able to accomplish easily.  Youıll be surprised at how fun a little activity can be!  If you have any questions about the walk or would like to R.S.V.P. (preferred, but not necessary), please call 323-258-2660.
9.  FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY -- AUGUST 30

Occidental College invites you to find out more about Social Security, August 30, 2005, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The events will take place at the College in Thorne Hall, 1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock.

Keynote speaker:  Xavier Becerra, Congressman 31 District
MC:  Consumer advocate, David Horowitz, "Fight Back with David Horowitz"
Also featured will be Occidental College president Ted Mitchell
Workforce issues: YWCA Greater L.A. CEO, Faye Washington
Occidental students, economists and former Social Security Administration officials featured.

Music, pizza, fruit, and cake at no charge.  Parking available on campus and in surrounding residential areas.  All are invited to attend the informational festivities.
10.  DEADLINE TO REGISTER AS ERNC CANDIDATE -- AUGUST 31

If you are interested in running for an ERNC office, the very last day to submit your candidate filing form and 125-word personal statement is WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31.  Items must be postmarked by this deadline.  Candidate filing forms have been mailed to households throughout Eagle Rock.

If you need an ERNC candidate filing form, you may:
  1. Pick one up at the Candidate Information Workshop on Thursday Aug. 25th at the Eagle Rock Library
  2. E.mail elections@eaglerockcouncil.org to have one sent to you by mail
  3. Or print the candidate filing form located at: http://www.eaglerockcouncil.org/?view=elections

Frequently Asked Questions

11.  FINAL ERNC CANDIDATE INFO WORKSHOP ­ TONIGHT -- AUGUST 25

The final ERNC Candidate Information Workshop will be held THIS THURSDAY, August 25, at 7pm at the Eagle Rock Library, 5027 Caspar Avenue in Eagle Rock.  If you are interested in running for ERNC office or if you want to get more information before deciding, then a workshop is for YOU!  **PLEASE NOTE: The workshop location has changed. The workshop will be held at  the Eagle Rock Library, not Eagle Rock City Hall.

Thursday, August 25, at 7pm, at the Eagle Rock Library, 5027 Caspar Avenue.

NOW is your chance to become a community leader and take part in shaping the future of Eagle Rock by running for a position on the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council.  The ERNC is in its third year and evolving all the time.  We look forward to new vision, new energy and new goals, which will be brought to the ERNC by people like YOU.  There has never been a better time to get involved, and your participation is what itıs all about!   

WORKSHOP WILL COVER:
IMPORTANT:  The deadline to file as a candidate is August 31.  Workshops are strongly encouraged, but are not mandatory in order to run.  For further elections info and a candidate filing form, go to:      www.eaglerockcouncil.org/?view=elections
12.  CHECK OUT SWORK'S UPGRADED WEB SITE -- HTTP://WWW.SWORK.COM

Swork is Eagle Rock's pioneering coffeehouse.  We had NONE before Swork, and we owe proprietor Tricia Neal a deep debt of gratitude for helping us turn our town around in a positive commercial direction.

Tricia had a dream, researched, designed, worked hard, battled the usual city barriers, and realized her vision for a good business that Eagle Rock sorely needed.  She took a HUGE risk, and it paid off.

The introduction of Swork four and a half years ago to Eagle Rock was the beginning of what TERA has been working so hard toward since the mini-mall madness of the mid-1980s.  And Eagle Rock's business district has been getting steadily better ever since.  Thank you, Tricia!

The following is what appeared in the TERA e.letter after Swork's grand opening in January 2001.  Boy, was the scene on the street vastly different then!  Love the title, because it was SO TRUE!

RARE SIGHTING: NIGHTLIFE IN EAGLE ROCK

Tricia Neal has almost single-handedly created evening (and daytime) street life in our town.  Her coffeehouse and cyber cafe Swork had its grand opening Saturday, January 27, and from the moment it opened in the morning until it closed its doors that night, it was packed to the rafters inside while people mingled on the sidewalk in front.

It was and still is terrific to see patrons of all ages actually walking to get there (signs of the pedestrian-oriented boulevard TERA's been working so hard for!).  On the following otherwise-sleepy Sunday afternoon, it was still hopping!  Monday at 10:15 a.m., it brought out folks not often seen around town -- interesting, edgy, arty types -- the presence of whom can make good things happen in our community in countless ways.

Tricia clearly has had the entrepreneurial intelligence and ability to recognize, target, and fill one of many needs in Eagle Rock's business district.  She has worked extremely hard over many months, appropriately placing a high priority on aesthetics and quality.  And, she's done it right, down to the very last detail, to successfully fill that need.

TERA congratulates you, Tricia, and we thank you!  We are so pleased you chose Eagle Rock for your home and business!

SWORK
Caffeine / Conversation / Cyberspace on Planet Earth
2160 Colorado Boulevard
Corner of Eagle Rock and Colorado Boulevards in Eagle Rock
(323) 258-5600
http://www.SWORK.com

Well, the rest is history, and, as one friend so aptly puts it, "we're on our way."  Please patronize our local, home-grown businesses, especially Swork.  They're the ones that really make our town the great and inviting place it is and is becoming more and more each day!
13.  UPDATE ON FULL-TIME KINDERGARTEN PREPARATION AT EAGLE ROCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Since many parents have been concerned and written in about the introduction of full-time kindergarten at Eagle Rock Elementary School and the school's readiness schedule as it pertains to the installation of playground equipment and other necessary preparations, below is a report sent to us from LAUSD 5th District Board member David Tokofsky:

Playground Equipment: The playground equipment for Eagle Rock Elementary School, purchased by the Anne and Kirk Douglas program, is on site.  It has been inspected and is ready to be installed.  The contract to install the equipment has been executed and the contractor is mobilizing and starting construction on Friday.  Once the equipment is installed, a second contractor will pour the rubberized matting.  We are making every effort to ensure the playground will be ready for the kids by Tuesday, September 6th, but with more certainty by the end of that week‹barring any major unforeseen circumstances.

Painting the Kindergarten Area:  The painting contractor, currently on site, is planning on starting the kindergarten building on August 25th and plans to complete the work in the kindergarten area by the start of school.  This work is part of a much larger interior and exterior pre-paint repair and painting project ($600,000). The contractor is currently working in the main office area. Work commenced on this project in June in order to complete as much work as possible over the summer shutdown and the total paint project is scheduled to complete in November.

Additional Projects:  New carpet is also being installed in the kindergarten area and this is scheduled to be complete prior to the start of school.  There is also a window sash replacement project ($170,000) working in conjunction with the painting that started in June and is scheduled to complete prior to the start of school.  And, finally, there is a Safety and Technology project ($973,000) (could include an upgrade of any of a Public Address system, alarm system, ability to dial 911, computer network, etc. ) that is 85% complete and scheduled to complete in October 2005.

I have provided this information to the principal, Jane Sierra, and she has agreed to communicate with the parents and teachers.

Bruce Kendall
Deputy Chief Executive, Existing Facilities
Facilities Services Division
Los Angeles Unified School District
Office (213) 633-7523

14.  LETTERS AND E.MAILS

"Thanks for all the great information."

-- Denise Campos, Eagle Rock resident
15.  QUOTE OF THE WEEK -- RUTH ROSS

"There are only 3 colors, 10 digits, and 7 notes; it's what we do with them that's important."
Got graffiti? Contact the City of LAıs Operation Clean Sweep Graffiti Removal Hotline:  3 - 1 - 1.
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.

POLICY ON SUBMITTING A NOTICE:  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) -- should be in our hands by noon on Tuesday to be considered for inclusion in that week's issue.

İ2005 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