The TERA Board extends its deepest sympathy to Kathleen Long, longtime TERA Board member, and her husband, John LeBlanc, on the death of their daughter, Jacqueline.

The hour is late and a lot is going on in Eagle Rock this week so I shall try to be brief. There is a community clean-up scheduled for this Saturday morning. Everyone should meet at Eagle Rock City Hall, at 2035 Colorado Boulevard at 9:00 a.m. We will work until about noon and then Councilmember Huizar has said that there will be food and refreshments. A few hours out of the weekend spent with your neighbors to make the place we live and work a little better doesn’t seem like too much to ask.

I attended a meeting with Councilmember Huizar on Wednesday night, along with representatives from the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, the Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful, Occidental College, The Center for the Arts Eagle Rock, and ERCPR. The Councilmember discussed his contribution of $10,000 to the 20th Century Women’s Club, future plans (next year) to have stage lights for the Concerts in the Park, and the installation of security cameras on Eagle Rock and Colorado Boulevards. He also stated that he is working to find an alternative and more appropriate location for the International Charter School, which has received so much recent publicity about their plans to move into the Farley Building, located at Colorado Boulevard and Mount Royal Drive. He also mentioned that there was work afoot to get lights for the football field at Eagle Rock High School so that night games could be played, but was cautioned by those present that such a step would be controversial in the surrounding neighborhood. And the Councilman said that graffiti complaints could be dealt with much faster by calling them into his Eagle Rock office directly. Such complaints are normally are dealt with in 24 - 48 hours when they are called in to 311. They are dealt with in less than 24 hours when they are called directly into the Council office. That number is 323- 254-5295.

The Councilmember asked for input on other issues. I told him that TERA is continuing to work on the issue of inappropriate use of single family dwellings as business enterprises and boarding houses and asked for his support in dealing with those issues. High on TERA’s list this year is the continuing revitalization of Eagle Rock Boulevard, especially now that the road construction and sewer replacement project are winding up. We are also looking for support on the second phase of the Eagle Rockdale Community Garden, which will require bench placement and additional art work, as well as more planting beds.

It was the first such meeting and there was a good deal of input and information traded. The intent is to hold at least one meeting a quarter with representatives from the various community groups.

Other things happening in the neighborhood:

The new restaurant, The Oinkster, located at the site of the former Jim’s Burgers on Colorado Boulevard, hopes to be opening soon. They have applied for a CUP for the sale of beer and wine and the remodeling of the building and patio is starting to look very complete.

For those of you who have been wondering, the Minx restaurant, former home of the Rusty Pelican, nearby in Glendale, has opened and a review from the Los Angeles Times is below. Of course, with all of the great places open and opening in Eagle Rock, it might be hard to go as far away as Glendale just to try a new restaurant.

Another date to hold is September 26, 2006 when, at 7:00 p.m. at the Center for the Arts Eagle Rock when Councilmember Jose Huizar will give his “State of the Town” report and answer questions at TERA’s next public meeting.

Remember that the Eagle Rock Music Festival will be coming up in October. This year it will be a huge street party with great music and entertainment. This will be followed shortly thereafter by TERA’s own Eclectic Home Tour on Sunday, October 15th. This year features a great mix of mid-century homes and homes from the 1920's in the southeast quadrant of Eagle Rock. To volunteer, see the information below. This is one of Eagle Rock’s most fun and popular events, and following on the heels of the Music Festival should make for lots of chances to meet and greet your neighbors on the streets and sidewalks of Eagle Rock.

Under the theme of “advanced notice” Jessica Wethington McLean, Subdistrict 2 Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council Director, advises that the Outreach Committee of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council is planning a parade on Eagle Rock Boulevard on November 11th.

And Jim Tranquada from Occidental College has been making the rounds to various community meetings to present and discuss the college’s work on a master plan for the college. The new dorm is currently under construction and preparation of an environmental impact report is now underway for the complete master plan. While no increase in the size of the student body is planned, the master plan will focus on remodeling and adding buildings that are more along the lines and design of architect Myron Hunt, who originally designed much of the existing campus and on making the campus more accommodating to pedestrian traffic. We will invite Occidental to present its plans at one of our public meetings once the EIR is completed and plans have finalized a bit more.

Carol and I will be working on the clean-up this Saturday morning and hope you will join us.