THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION

-- Invest in Your Community --


TERA

e.letter

August 4, 2005

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

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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.  MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA PRESENTS A DAY OF SERVICE -- AUGUST 6

3.  CITY CONTROLLER LAURA CHICK TO SPEAK AT TERA PUBLIC MEETING -- AUGUST 9

4.  BLEND'S 33RD ANNUAL INSTALLATION LUNCHEON -- AUGUST 10

5.  LARISA STOW AND GATHERING GURU AT THE BLISSFUL SOUL -- AUGUST 6

6.  CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST AT THE EAGLES CLUB -- AUGUST 7

7.  MEET AND GREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 14 CANDIDATES -- AUGUST 8 AND 11

8.  NEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH SIGN APPLICATION AND PROCEDURES

9.  "THE LEGEND OF WHITE SNAKE" -- A MARTIAL ARTS PLAY -- THROUGH AUGUST 13

10.  CD 14 CANDIDATES DEBATE -- AUGUST 15

11.  EAGLE ROCK KICKS IT AT KARATE TOURNAMENT

12.  LETTERS AND E.MAILS

13.  QUOTE OF THE WEEK -- WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

1.  TERA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE -- MICHAEL THARP

My name is Michael Tharp, and I have the good fortune to be the newly elected president of TERA.  In ordinary times, Iıd spend some words telling you a little about myself and what I hope to accomplish as TERAıs president over the next year.  But these are extraordinary times, and what I have to say isnıt nearly as important as what we at TERA and in Council District 14 have an opportunity to do.

I am urging all TERA members and friends to join with me for a Day of Service in Northeast Los Angeles, sponsored by Council District 14, with special guest Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.  We will be joining many other groups, including FUEGO, the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council, the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, Clean and Green, Centro de Ayuda, and others, to work on a number of exciting and innovative projects.

TERAıs e.letter says, 'Invest in Your Community.'  This is your opportunity to invest a little time and sweat (itıs summer, after all!) on August 6 from 8:00 a.m. to noon where you will find friends and neighbors throughout Northeast Los Angeles working in service to our community.  Elsewhere in the e.letter is a more detailed description of the Eagle Rockdale Community Garden, which TERA is sponsoring.  If gardening is not your thing, however, there are lots of other great activities taking place which need your help.  There is an 'Adopt a House' program, where a house in the area is renovated and painted by volunteers and brought into code compliance.  The Reforestation Program will plant 100 new trees in local parks.  The Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, will be carrying out an artistic program with the help of local children, creating a 'Dream with Me' mosaic wall in Eagle Rock Park, and other opportunities abound.

I personally want to thank the CD 14 staff for all that they have done and, in particular, Jennie Carreon-Lacey for all of her work putting together this opportunity for all of us to be of service in our community, and Michael Cathey for his efforts on behalf of TERAıs Community Garden.

As if August werenıt busy enough, on Tuesday, August 9, at 7:00 p.m. at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, Laura Chick, the Controller for the City of Los Angeles, will be speaking at TERAıs August Public Meeting.  There will be the usual delicious food and good company and a chance to sit and rest your weary muscles from Saturdayıs Day of Service, listen to the Cityıs Controller speak, and then ask questions.

We look forward to seeing you on both Saturday the 6th and again on Tuesday the 9th, and Iıll look forward to meeting and listening to all of you over the coming year.
2.  MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA PRESENTS A DAY OF SERVICE -- AUGUST 6

Make a difference in your home town August 6!

Our Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa presents a Day of Service for Northeast LA, Saturday, August 6th from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Meeting Location:
Westfield Eagle Rock
2700 Colorado Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA  90041
(to the left side of Target)

Join us with art mosaic activities, planting trees, community beautification projects, murals and much more!

FREE LUNCH!  FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Put your Day-of-Service efforts into the Eagle Rockdale Community Garden and Art Park!

Among the 10 opportunities for service that morning will be TERA's Eagle Rockdale Community Garden and Art Park, where volunteers will work to finish as much of the project as possible, creating beautiful open space, a community nursery, and a place for people to grow their own organic food.

Join us and count the Community Garden as one of your accomplishments!  More on the Garden:

Grab Yer Pitchforks and Come On Down!

If you're spending the Day of Service in our Garden, we need both you and your tools. We especially need folks with pitchforks and wheelbarrows.

Remember that whatever you bring should have your name or other ID on it.  TERA will not be responsible for lost or "borrowed" items, but we'll keep any leftover tools we do find in a secure area for later pickup.

At the Garden: A Closer Look

If you believe in "think globally, act locally," here's your chance to get busy!  We're totally pumped about the Mayor's Northeast Day of Service on Saturday, Aug. 6, and hope that the Northeast's green space advocates will join us at the Eagle Rockdale Community Garden and Art Park, where we will work to finish as much of the project as possible.

Mayor Villaraigosa and his newly appointed Eagle Rock Deputy for our district, Jennie Carreon, are committed to this project, which will build a closer community while it produces healthy food and more usable green space for our area.  We are thrilled and grateful to have them working with us on the project and look forward to continuing the partnership to benefit Northeast LA.

Join us at Westfield Plaza and then count the Garden as one of your accomplishments. The Mayor WILL be there, and we want him to see our dedication to this worthwhile environmental project.

Please note that we're not depending just on community volunteers -- we'll also be working with the LA Conservation Corps (LACC), a non-profit youth service group that works on environmental projects across Los Angeles, a group that has been with us from Day One.  Also onsite will be members of the city's Clean & Green program, the LA County Master Gardener Program, the LA Community Garden Council, and more.

Here's what we'll be doing.  Please review this task list and decide what you can do to help:

Signage Arch -- Art Committee Chair, ceramic artist and movie costume maker Kacy Treadway ("The Cat in the Hat" and "Superman" -- now filming) is creating our premier art installation for the Garden with a project designed for children and their parents to participate.  Help Kacy create and decorate letters and bring cool "Eagle Rock" artifacts to add texture -- marbles, rocks or other meaningful gifts are welcome.  The letters will be mounted into a mosaic to spell out the name of our Garden as an archway sign to be installed over the main entrance gate.  Years from now, your kid can point to the sign and say "I made the G!"

Fence Installation -- Perimeter fencing for this long, skinny property has been the largest expense for the Garden. That expense is now being provided, courtesy of Mayor Villaraigosa and newly appointed Eagle Rock Field Deputy Jennie Carreon.  Most of the heavy work will be handled by the LACC, but volunteers are still needed to dig post holes.

Irrigation System -- With a water meter paid for by TERA, we need to dig the trenches for all the piping.  We hear that the Eagle Rock High School Football team is coming: this is where they'll be flexing their pecs! If you love to work out, this job's for you!

Brush Clearance - to make way for the fence. We need folks with good skills and appropriate tools. Some tree branches need to be trimmed.

Raised Garden Beds -- 24 individual garden plots (5x10 feet) will be built to serve local families who want to grow their own organic food.  We need help getting these on the ground.

Tree Planting -- a few new trees in the perimeter areas of the Garden and the local park to replace dead specimens.

Be an agent for positive change in Eagle Rock!  Show your love for TERA by giving the Garden a few hours of your time. You'll be glad you did.

Other volunteer projects on the Day of Service are:
Be an agent for positive change in Eagle Rock and the Northeast!  Youıll feel great, meet new friends and enjoy great food!  (Our mayor ALWAYS gives great nosh.)

For more information on the Garden, call (323) 259-TERA or communitygarden@TERA90041.org

For questions and RSVP, please contact (323) 254-5295

Please RSVP by August 4.  Thanks!
3.  CITY CONTROLLER LAURA CHICK TO SPEAK AT TERA PUBLIC MEETING -- AUGUST 9

Be sure to hold the evening of August 9, this coming Tuesday, and plan to attend TERAıs Public Meeting, entitled, "A New Partnership for LA."  Laura Chick, Los Angeles City Controller, will be in attendance and will speak at the meeting.  Also attending and speaking will be Captain Jose Perez, Northeast LAPD Patrol Captain.
TERA Public Meeting
"A New Partnership for LA"
Tuesday, August 9
7:00 p.m.
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock
2225 Colorado Boulevard
Eagle Rock

Laura Chick is the 17th Controller of the City of Los Angeles, having been re-elected on March 8, 2005, with 82% of the vote.  Laura has lived in Los Angeles since 1952 and is the first and only woman in the history of Los Angeles to hold citywide office.

As Controller, she is the chief auditor and accountant for the City of Los Angeles.  Her responsibilities include conducting financial and performance audits of all aspects of City operations, supervising expenditures, including payroll and accounts payable, and issuing various financial reports.  A recent Los Angeles Business Journal feature said, "Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick has emerged as a central voice in the ongoing debate over how the city handles its contracts."  As the May 2004 Los Angeles Magazine states, "Where others couch and evade, she is Ms. Blunt."  It should be an entertaining and informative evening.*

Ms. Chick will speak for about 20 minutes and then will take questions from the audience.  

Refreshments for this event graciously donated by Eagle Rock Businesses!

For more information, please contact Keith Louie at 323-671-2357.  Parking is available on the street and at Bank of America.  We look forward to seeing you there.

*Information taken from City of Los Angeles Office of the City Controller web site.
4.  BLEND'S 33RD ANNUAL INSTALLATION LUNCHEON -- AUGUST 10

Business (and Residents) for Law Enforcement, Northeast Division (BLEND) cordially invites you to attend the 33rd annual Officers Installation Luncheon, Wednesday, August 10, 2005, at the Women's Twentieth Century Club of Eagle Rock, 5105 Hermosa Avenue (corner of Colorado).  We will begin with an 11:30 a.m. social followed by a noon luncheon and program.

William J. Bratton, Chief, Los Angeles Police Department, Keynote Speaker

Tom LaBonge, Councilmember, District 4, Installing Officer

$25 per person, catered by Colombo's Restaurant

RSVP by August 3 to (323) 254-3725 or lgllucy@sbcglobal.net.
5.  LARISA STOW AND GATHERING GURU AT THE BLISSFUL SOUL -- AUGUST 6

³Larisa Stow and Gathering Guru² at The Blissful Soul on Saturday, August 6 from 7to 10:30 p.m.   Larisa Stow is a former recipient of the Los Angeles Singer/Songwriter award.  She integrates the sounds of contemporary music with world-based rhythms and east-Indian devotional call-and-response music.  She says her songs are ³peace prayers,² and our community ­ and our world ­ can surely benefit from those.  Please join us for an evening of inspiring music under the stars.  Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

The Blissful Soul is located at 4870 Eagle Rock Blvd., next door to Curves, 323-258-6900, www.blissfulsoul.com.  We proudly feature jewelry, candles, art, music, books, essential oil blends, incense and baby gifts made by our local artists, marked with the SOLA (Support Our Local Artists) tag.
6.  CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST AT THE EAGLES CLUB -- AUGUST 7

Sunday, August 7, 2005, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fraternal Order of Eagles #2188, will present a CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST at the Eagles Hall, 1596 Yosemite Dr., Corner of Townsend Avenue and Yosemite Drive, from 9 am to 12 p.m.  Cost is $5.00/person.

Music will be provided by acclaimed cellist Peggy Baldwin.

Please call 323.257.8869 for further information.  All are cordially invited.
7.  MEET AND GREET COUNCIL DISTRICT 14 CANDIDATES -- AUGUST 8 AND 11

Monday, Aug 8th - Nick Pacheco

Thursday, Aug 11th - Jose Huizar

Hosted by Mt. Washington Preschool Childcare Centers, here's your opportunity to hear the CD 14 candidates speak on issues of Education and Family Support.  Q and A following the event.
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Location: La Casita Verde at the Historic Zeigler Estate
4601 N. Figueroa St. (323) 222-7114
Light Refreshments will be served

Childcare provided for children 8 years old and under.  Please RSVP for childcare needs.

Mt. Washington Preschool Childcare Centers is a nonprofit organization 501(c)3.  We provide childcare and early childhood education for infants through kindergarten.  We serve families in Northeast LA, from of all socio-economic backgrounds.

*Mt. Washington Preschool Childcare Centers does not endorse any candidates.*
8.  NEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH SIGN APPLICATION AND PROCEDURES

Click on the link below for the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Los Angeles Police Department New Neighborhood watch sign application and procedures.  Please announce and distribute to your neighborhood council, resident association, and civic group members.

DOT is the primary authorizer of neighborhood watch sign installs.  The new procedures will effect new installations and re-installs.  In order to acquire signs, the requester must obtain approval from the LAPD, DOT and Bureau of Street Lighting.    

All signs must adhere to the attached specifications.  Signs can not be altered or have any special logos or verbage, such as names of block clubs, neighborhood watch groups, neighborhood council names and/or logos.

Neighborhood watch signs will be removed by DOT if the installations are not authorized.  Signs will be removed and not returned.  No refunds will be given for the wrong signs purchased or removed.  (See application and procedures.)

Neighborhood watch signs CANNOT be fixed to traffic control and parking signs devices and/or utility poles.

After the requester receives the approval, it will be the responsibility of the requestor to install signs and poles from the following approved City contractors, whom are contracted by the City to install on city property :
Maneri Sign Company  
310.327.6261  
1928 W. 135 th Street
Gardena, CA 90249

and

Traffic Operations
909.865.2935
216 Toby Way
Pomona, CA 91767

Links to assist in establishing a Neighborhood Watch:
National Neighborhood Watch Institute
http://www.NNWI.org or contact 888.669.4872

National Crime Prevention Council
http://www.ncpc.org or contact 202.466.6272

The forms should be available on LAPD Online and http://www.lacity.org next week. The forms will be downloadable and user friendly.

If you have any questions please contact me at the below number.

OFFICER LORI LEE, Community Policing Unit, Los Angeles Police Department -- 213.473.4530

Attachments found on ASNC Public Safety committee site:
http://www.asnc.us/committees/CommPubSafety-agenda.html   
9.  "THE LEGEND OF WHITE SNAKE" -- A MARTIAL ARTS PLAY -- THROUGH AUGUST 13

"The Legend of White Snake," a martial arts play by Hen Ong is presented every Thursday through Saturday up through August 13 at the beautiful outdoor Sylvan Amphitheater in Yosemite Park in Eagle Rock as part of the Sylvan Amphitheater Fest 2005.

Additional parking located at Eagle Rock High School next door.  Amphitheater located behind the pool area.  Picnics and seat cushions are welcome.

Presented by Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, 2225 Colorado Boulevard, Eagle Rock.  Festival information can be found at http://www.centerartseaglerock.org.

Also sponsored by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Council District 14, and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
10.  CD 14 CANDIDATES DEBATE -- AUGUST 15

On  Monday, August 15th, the Mount Washington Homeowners Alliance will sponsor a face-to-face dialogue featuring Nick Pacheco and Jose Huizar, two of the 17 candidates seeking the City Council seat left vacant  by the election of Antonio Villaraigosa as Mayor of Los Angeles.  The meeting will take place at Ramona Hall, located at 4580 North Figueroa St. in Highland Park, at 7:00 PM.

In addition to taking the opportunity to present their positions and qualifications, the candidates will answer questions submitted from the audience.  Donıt miss this opportunity to meet the candidates and get the information you need to make an informed choice -- the winner of the special election will represent your interests before City government. For further information, contact Denise Weinstock at 213-598-6626.
11.  EAGLE ROCK KICKS IT AT KARATE TOURNAMENT

Last Saturday, the Eagle Rock Kyokushin Karate dojo (school) hosted a regional tournament at the American Legion Hall, where our young fighters won seven out of 10 trophies in five divisions.  Four out of five trophies won by our Eagle Rockers were first-place trophies!

Kudos to "Senpai" Jeremy Kaplan "Crunch" and the winning fighters: Amanda "Boom-Boom" Morales, Ruby "The Wrecking Crew" Morales, Chris "Taiko" Tokita, Donald "KO Kid" Kaplan, "Mighty" Malik Walker, Phelan "Action" Jackson, and Steven "Crusher" Kaplan.

Eight out of our nine fighters placed third or above, and this dojo has a record against others at 13 to 2.  Not bad.

This dojo is currently accepting new students (aged 6-15) for its traditional, full-contact program.  Classes are held at the American Legion each Tuesday and Friday (and the first Monday of each month) from 5-7 p.m for a reasonable monthly cost.

Information: (323) 550-1300 or jkapla1@epals.lausd.k12.ca.us
12.  LETTERS AND E.MAILS

"Dear Editor,

As someone involved with the project since day (minus) 1, maybe I can shed some light on the confusion with the name of the happy, yappy, snappy new off-leash dog exercise facility in the 102-year-old Northeast community of Hermon.  It was first suggested to L.A. Rec & Parks as 'Hermon Dog Park,' early in 2003 (about the same time Eagle Rock was considering one, as well).  Funds were then designated in CD14 budgets (after Eagle Rock passed on the project), for 'Hermon Dog Park' and it remained that way on all documentation until a few folks protested that naming a city service after just one community was perhaps unfriendly, or inhospitable, to other neighboring communities that might also use it.  

Ironically, they made these comments in places like the El Sereno Senior Center, the Eagle Rock Library, and so on.

So, to make a long, politically charged story short(er) -- 'officially' the name of the dog park in Hermon is, now, actually (take a deep breath) -- 'Hermon Park in the Arroyo Seco Dog Park' -- as dictated by the CD14 council office (even though no one in any community  in CD14 actually requested that name).  All community organizations in Hermon asked that it be named 'Hermon Dog Park' and the host neighborhood council (Arroyo Seco) voted unanimously to support that name -- twice.

Silverlake Dog Park, Venice Dog Park, Westminister Dog Park, Redondo Beach Dog Park, El Segundo Dog Park. Sierra Madre Dog Park, Long Beach Dog 'Beach,' Calabassas 'Bark' Park . . . 'Hermon Dog Park' just seemed to make sense, plus there are several other 'Arroyo Seco' parks within a very short distance that always cause confusion for neighbors visiting us.  

And, I think I should also point out, that 'officially' the name of the city we all live in and share, is still: 'El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciúncula.' (Let's face it, by the time you say the name 'Hermon Park in the Arroyo Seco Dog Park,' you will probably have driven by it and be well into Montecito Heights or South Pasadena).  Finally, ask yourself this . . . if the dog park had remained in Eagle Rock, as was originally planned, would it/could it/should it have been named anything but. . . . the 'Eagle Rock Dog Park?'  

Thank you for announcing the dog park in Hermon to your readers -- it was always intended to be a welcoming feature into Hermon, for all of our friendly Northeast neighbors, and now it is just that.  Loosen your collar, take off your shoes if you like, we're all neighbors here!"

-- Joseph Riser, Hermon Community of Los Angeles
13.  QUOTE OF THE WEEK -- WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

"Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius.  Love, love, love -- that is the soul of genius."

-- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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