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Summer heat is back with us into the Labor Day weekend. There are long
lists of summer chores that still need to be done. The deck on the back of
the house needs a new coat of stain to help it last through the winter, as
does all of the redwood patio furniture. And we need to rig something up
to keep the dogs off it while it dries. The gutter on the guest house
still hangs at a crazy angle from where that huge branch from the
Eucalyptus tree tore it off, just missing the roof. And the dogs need to
be bathed again from their encounter with Pepe Le Peu last weekend.
Nature’s Miracle took the edge off, but one pooch in particular still
reeks of “Eau de Skonk”.
But some things did get done this summer. Thanks to Gina and the many
young men and women who joined Carol and I, led ably by Denise Campos from
Councilmember Huizar’s office, for cleaning both sides of Figueroa
Boulevard between Eagle Vista and Colorado Boulevard. The sidewalks were
lined with trash bags filled to the rim with trash and weeds and some
unspeakable yuck accumulated over the years. I received a cynical e-mail
stating that this community clean-up was just a political ploy of some
kind. My response is that it was an opportunity for a bunch of young
people and too few of us geezers to show up and clean up various parts of
our town that no one else was cleaning up. Regardless of motives, results
count and there are some areas of Eagle Rock that are clean and will
remain clean for at least a few weeks thanks to the efforts of those who
showed up. Also present were members of The Collaborative Eagle Rock
Beautiful, with John Stillion applying his green thumb to the planted
medians of Eagle Rock and The Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce, among
others.
Earlier this summer the City Department of Public Works, Bureau of
Engineering declared the first phase of the Eagle Rockdale Community
Garden and Art Park completed and the requirements of the Neighborhood
Beautification Grant fulfilled. Mary Tokita is busy planning phase II of
the garden, which took over a strip of remnant right-of-way, filled with
weeds and trash, and with the help of many in the community, turned it
into 20 raised beds with irrigation, a garden shed, a California Native
Plant display area, and picnic tables under some beautiful oak trees.
And, like so many other things that are not quite finished, TERA
participated with ERCPR in pushing through an innovative parking ordinance
that will the use of parking credits for businesses along a portion of
Colorado Boulevard, hopefully leading to the preservation of older,
desirable commercial buildings for reuse, continuing the commercial
revitalization of Eagle Rock. That ordinance was approved by the City
Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee and is now undergoing
some final revisions before going before the full City Council. In
addition, TERA’s August public meeting hosted Ken Bernstein, the City of
Los Angeles’ recently appointed Director of Historic Preservation. Mr.
Bernstein spoke of preservation efforts past and present and of his
commitment to completing a citywide historical building survey.
Looking forward, as part of its 20th year of service to Eagle Rock,
TERA will be hosting Councilmember Jose Huizar, who will be giving his
“State of the Town” report and answering questions, at its fall public
meeting on September 26, 2006 at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock at
7:00 p.m. And on October 15, 2006, just one week after the Music Festival,
will be TERA’s Eclectic Eagle Rock Home Tour, focusing this year on
mid-century modern and modern houses in an area south of Colorado
Boulevard, as well as a couple of fabulous homes built early in the last
century.
Hmmmm, maybe there will be time to repair the gutter after the Home
Tour?
Michael Tharp,
President
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Thanks to the
Neighbors and Youth who Helped with Cleanup |
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The Eagle Rock Community Cleanup sponsored by Councilmember Huizar last
weekend resulted in cleaner streets for our community (and a few sore
backs for the older volunteers!)
TERA, the Chamber, the Eagle Rock Beautiful Collaborative, and other
community organizations were represented; however, an unscientific
"eyeball survey" suggested that most of the volunteers were youths who
were participating with community centers or other programs in which they
were involved. Though we heard a little grumbling about not getting to
sleep in on a Saturday morning, they worked hard, by and large, and we'd
like to congratulate them for the contributions they made to improving our
community! We'd also like to thank the Council Office staff for doing the
legwork to make the community cleanup happen.
Now it's a job for all of us to help KEEP IT CLEAN.
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ER ECLECTIC
HOME TOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED |
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TERA's Home Tour Committee Needs a Few Good Volunteers ASAP!
Please consider volunteering to help with this year's Eclectic Eagle
Rock Home Tour on October 15. Our Home Tour Committee also needs a few
more volunteers. If you'd like to work with a talented, dedicated, and fun
group of Eagle Rockers and meet your neighbors during our signature
community event, please contact Pauline.Mauro@gmail.com, or call (323)
550-1130 for details.
Docents Guide Home Tour goers through Eagle Rock's architecturally
unique homes. Morning or afternoon shifts on October 15 available. One
docent training session required prior to the Home Tour.
Other Volunteer Opportunities: We need volunteers to help set up, take
down, sell tickets, survey tour goers. Teenagers to retirees welcome!
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Not too Late to
Become a Sponsor of TERA Eclectic Eagle Rock Home
Tour |
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The Seventh Annual Eclectic Eagle Rock Home Tour is set for Sunday
October 15, 2006. You can help make this year's Home Tour the best. If you
are willing to express your pride in our unique community's cultural
heritage and support our ongoing efforts to preserve our legacy, please
sponsor the Eclectic Eagle Rock Home Tour today! All sponsors are
recognized in our official Tour Program.
Donate at the Associate Level ($50 to $99) and receive a
complimentary Tour admission (valued at $20).
Friend Level ($100-$249) entitles you to two complimentary Tour
admissions and TERA Household membership (valued at $45).
Contributor Level ($250-$499) entitles you to two complimentary
Tour/after-party admissions and TERA Sustaining membership (valued at
$95).
Benefactor Level ($500-$749) entitles you to three complimentary
Tour/after-party admissions and TERA Patron membership (valued at $140).
Patron Level ($750+) entitles you to four complimentary
Tour/after-party admissions and TERA Patron membership (valued at $180).
To make this tax-deductible donation, please email
treasurer@tera90041.org or mail in your check along with how you would
like your name(s) to read in the Home Tour Program by September 1 to:
TERA, PO Box 41453, Eagle Rock, CA 90041, or call (323) 259-TERA.
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YOU'RE INVITED
TO A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR LA |
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Join Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa in the 225th Birthday Celebration of
the City of Los Angeles on Monday, September 4, 2006!
September 4th, 2006 is the 225th Birthday of the City of Los Angeles.
To celebrate, the City has planned a series of exciting events for you to
take part in marking this historic day.
During the first week of September 1781, eleven families left Mission
San Gabriel and proceeded nine miles down a dusty trail to the river.
There, on September 4, 1781, they established El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora
la Reina de Los Angeles - today, the great City of Los Angeles.
Each year since our Bicentennial in 1981, walkers representing a broad
cross section of our city’s diverse cultures have re-enacted the original
founding with the Pobladores walk to Los Angeles. This year we will carry
on the tradition with a full program of activities. At 7:00 a.m., we will
begin the celebration with a program and kick-off rally at the San Gabriel
Mission.Participants will then walk nine miles to the El Pueblo Historical
Monument in downtown Los Angeles. After the walk, the festivities will
continue with a cake ceremony, food, a program with multi cultural
entertainment, and a Children’s Fun Zone sponsored by Disney and the
Department of Recreation and Parks. It will truly be an event to remember!
Here’s the Schedule:
- 7:00 a.m. Pobladores Walk, 9 miles. Kick off rally at San Gabriel
Mission. 428 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel. (Shuttle to Mission
available.)
- 9:00 a.m. Lincoln Park, 3 miles. Join the walkers from the Mission at
the second starting point of the Walk. 3501 Valley Blvd., Los Angeles.
- 10:30 a.m. Birthday Cake Ceremony & Festival at El Pueblo
Historical Monument. 125 Paseo de la Plaza, Los Angeles. (Shuttle back to
Mission available.)
For more information please call (213) 485-8372 or e-mail:
225@lacity.org . To register for the walk and learn more about this
historic re-enactment, please visit the official Los Angeles Birthday
website at www.lacity.org/225
.
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Community
Organizations Invited to Mayor’s Budget Day |
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Mayor Villaraigosa's Annual Community Budget Day will take place on
Saturday, September 9, 2006. Budget Day kicks off the opportunity for
Neighborhood Councils to have a voice in City of Los Angeles budget
decisions.
On Budget Day, the Mayor will partner with community members to shape a
vision for Los Angeles in the coming year and discuss how the City budget
can help achieve that vision. Neighborhood Councils, community based
organizations, and community members are invited to participate in this
discussion.
This year, the City is encouraging Community Based Organizations to
“meet and greet” the Neighborhood Councils in their communities. This
Budget Day will be a favorable occasion for Neighborhood Council
representatives and community based organizations to communicate regarding
common goals and begin forming partnerships on issues impacted by the City
Budget.
Translation will be provided if requested at least 72 hours in advance
of the event. Please RSVP no later than September 7, 2006. You may click
on the link below to RSVP/register online. www.laci
tyneighborhoods.com
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Ms.
Anataly De Jesus at 213-485- 1360. The City hopes to see you there!
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IN SEASON AT
THE HIGHLAND PARK FARMERS MARKET |
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In addition to the familiar summertime stars of the farmers market such
as tomatoes, corn and peaches, Sidney Spencer, our avocado guru, brought
in white sapotes for the first time last week. The word sapote is derived
from the Aztec "tzapotl" which describes all soft sweet fruit, so you may
have encountered fruits called sapotes which are not actually related to
the white sapote. Native to Mexico and Central America, white sapotes are
green and about the size of a small peach. They have a thin edible skin
surrounding a creamy white fleshed interior. The flavor is sweet and mild
and has been eloquently described as like "banana flan with a bit of
mango" (http://tinyurl.com/lwq
tv). To me, the rich avocado-like texture of the white sapote is what
really stands out. Sapotes are delicious by themselves and I've also been
adding them to strawberry and peach smoothies, giving them an amazing
full-bodied texture. To top it all off, sapotes are a great source of
vitamin C.
Another development last week at the market was the return of apples
from V&V farms in the Central Valley. The first crop of Gala apples
has just reached maturity, even though it might seem too early to welcome
this harbinger of fall as we enjoy the last weeks of summer. Fortunately,
the market is still well supplied with fantastic summer stone fruit like
the delicious white nectarines I've been raving about for the last few
months and which continue to be delicious. For a list of all the produce
you can expect to find at the market this week, check out http://w
ww.its.caltech.edu/~sbudick.
In addition to our produce vendors, the market continues to host Bill's
Bees fresh honey and honey products as well as fresh bread and artisanal
fruit preserve makers, so if you haven't been down to the market in a
while, please stop by. As always, you can pick up a dinner of rotisseried
chicken, Korean barbecue, tamales or honey pineapple chicken.
Please stop by the market for fresh, field- ripened, high quality
produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and
other community members.
The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the
Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58
and operates Tuesdays from 3-8 p.m.
Visit the market website at http://www.oldla.org.
Also visit http://w
ww.its.caltech.edu/~sbudick to see where your produce is coming from!
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Chicano:
Pronouncing Diversity |
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An Art Exhibition at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock is proud to present Chicano:
Pronouncing Diversity, an art exhibition celebrating the work by
artists of Mental Menudo, curated by Magu. This Chicano exhibit presents
artworks that refer to a complex cultural diversity and to the Mental
Menudo process of constructive dialogue among artists. Over forty emerging
and established Chicano artists are included in this exhibition. The
exhibition will be surrounded by a sound art installation.
Magu describes the purpose of this exhibition as follows:
In the sixties, the Latino community mounted a challenge to being
second-class citizens. This resulted in the use of the term 'Chicano' as a
descriptiive banner of defiance and reactionary angst against racism,
colonization and economic slavery. Many Spanish-speaking cultural groups
in the U.S.A. who experienced similar difficult acculturation patterns
joined in this multiple cultural-social attitude and movement. Since that
time, Raza has generally made significant social strides such as moving
from isolated and insulated communities into mainstream society. Our
contemporary social circumstance suggests the need for a forum between
those who experienced those previous cultural and political
transformations and those who did not or have not yet done so. Connecting
our communities, especially artists, is thought to be a necessary
objective for the building, and positive validation of our evolving social
status. This Chicano exhibit presents artworks that refer to a complex
cultural diversity and to the Mental Menudo process of constructive
dialogue among artists.
Chicano: Pronouncing Diversity opens on September 9th with a
reception, which begins at 3:00 p.m. The public is invited to come
celebrate these artists. The reception will feature the music of Conjunto
Los Pochos and unique food and drink. The Center Staff and Magu are
striving to create a reception full of surprises and discussion.
For more information call Joe Carlos Perez at the Center for the Arts,
Eagle Rock, 323.226.1617. The Center is located near the corner of Eagle
Rock Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard at 2225 Colorado Blvd. http://w
ww.centerartseaglerock.org
Chicano: Pronouncing Diversity will close November 4th, 2006. The
Center is opened Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on
Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
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MUSIC FESTIVAL
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! |
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As you might know the Music Festival is right around the corner on
Saturday, October 7. We are making this year's Festival bigger and better
than ever, but we can't do it alone. Please call us at 323- 226-1617 for
more information, or email Brian Martinez at
brian@centerartseaglerock.org. Thanks again for your support.
Jenny Krusoe
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock
email: brian@centerartseaglerock.org
phone: 323 226 1617
web: http://w
ww.centerartseaglerock.org
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St. Barnabas'
Book, Music and Fine Art Sale |
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On Saturday, September 9, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. St. Barnabas Church will host
the 2nd Annual St. Barnabas' Book, Music and Fine Art Sale to benefit the
parish organ fund. The albums/tapes will include seventies pop, classical,
and movie scores.
All are welcomed. For more information contact the church at
323/254-7569 or email us at stbarnabaseaglerock@earthlink.net.
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SW HILL COUNTRY
WESTERN STORE SEPTEMBER HAPPENINGS |
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SW Hill Country Western Store will host a Musician Trade Day and
Parking Lot Sale on Saturday, September 16, 9:00 a.m. to noon. Bring
those guitars, amps, drums, old records, new CDs, anything musical that
you would like to trade, barter, sell or buy to our parking lot sale for a
1 day music gear swap meet! SW Hill Country will be offering special
musician discounts and raffle items on great western wear for one day
only. Free Refreshments! 1412 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock, 90041. For more
info, call 323-256-2500.
Back to School Classic Car Show and Rockabilly Band Showcase,
Saturday, September 30, Car Show 4:00 p.m., Music 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Eagle Rock's own Bad Luck Bandits will kick off the show, with a special
surprise guest band to follow. Stop by for the cars, music, special store
discounts and a great clothes raffle, too. If you're interested in
showcasing your car, call 323-256-2500 to reserve your spot. 1412 Colorado
Blvd., Eagle Rock, 90041.
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Calling All
Local Authors |
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The Blissful Soul, 4870 Eagle Rock Blvd., seeks all local authors,
particularly those that are self- published, to bring your books into our
burgeoning bookstore! The Blissful Soul was primarily a candle and gift
store when we first purchased the existing merchandise from Smellzgood,
the store that previously sat in our location. We have expanded the
product lines considerably, and books are fast becoming our best sellers.
In keeping with our “Support Our Local Artists” theme, we would like to
showcase local authors. If you have a book and you would be willing to do
a reading / book signing event at our store, please contact Cheryl at 323-
258-6900 or 818-398-4995.
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WOMEN ARTISTS SHARE VISIONS OF FEMINISM |
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30 Los Angeles women artists have joined together in an exploration of
the spectrum in all its brilliance and subtlety. The exhibit, "The Women's
Show 2" will open for an extended run at Cactus Gallery in Eagle Rock,
with a reception for the artists on Saturday, September 16, 2006.
The participants in the exhibition span generations, cultures, and
artistic media, but they find themselves brought together both as women
and as artists who express themselves through color, photography and
sculpture in all its subtle and startling complexity. The works are bold
and thought provoking. This should be a "must see" show on every art
aficionado¹s list.
Cactus is a vibrant space for creative people. We seek to inspire &
enliven the community by giving opportunities to experience the eclectic
diversity that is the arts. In our creative space, we've enjoyed the
spontaneity of live drawing; live painting and live music. Cactus is ever
evolving and ready for the next idea.
"The Women's Show 2" will run from September 9 through October 13,
2006, with an Artist's Reception scheduled for September 16, 7:00-10:00
p.m.
Cactus Gallery is located at 4534 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock, CA.
Call 323-256-6117 for appointments and more information. Or check out
their website: www.eclecti
ccactus.com/.
Participating Artists:
Linda Allen, Teresa Avini, Lernie Beuler, Nara Cavalcanti, Ione Citrin,
Mary Clark-Camargo, Natalie Egnatchik, Tatiana El-Khouri, Claudia Galván,
Viktoria Gaw, Guadulesa, Cidne Hart, Maricruz Huerta, Lisa Jones, Sophia
Louisa Lee, Heather Lloyd, Vanesa Martinelli, Candace Metzger, Andrea
Monroe, Claire Morales, Ángela María Ortíz S., Sarah Pavsner, Lori Pond,
Denise Reyes, Barbara Romain, Joy Rotblatt, Lola Scarpitta, Donnalda
Smolens, Nora Elena Stefanescu, Ingrid Sundberg, Kelly Thompson, and Mary
Kay Wilson
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"Le Deuxieme
Sexe?" Exhibit at Carlotta's Passion Fine Art |
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"Le Deuxieme Sexe?": All-Women Artist Exhibit at Carlotta’s Passion
Fine Art, September 9th - September 24th
Carlotta’s Passion Fine Art is pleased to present Le Deuxieme Sexe?, an
all-women artist exhibit from September 9th to September 24th. The
artist’s reception is Saturday, September 9th, from 7:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.
The exhibit includes works by Diane Gamboa, Margaret Garcia, Linda
Arreola, Mari Cardenas, Judith Duran, Simone Gad, CiCi Gonzalez, Fei Lu,
Poli Marichal, Isabel Martinez, Lucia Maya, and Audri Phillips, each a
powerhouse in her own right.
The artwork is as diverse as the worlds of the artists are unique. Gad
and Gamboa share bold personal expressions with strong touches of pattern
and design. Garcia graciously defines herself and her community while
Gonzalez presents both narrative figuration and gravity-free abstraction.
Arreola combines social commentary with spiritual awareness. The potent
works of Marichal and Lu also address vital issues of the day. Both are
influenced by their families. Marichal’s father having been a Spanish
Civil refugee and Puerto Rico's most famous theatrical scene designer and
Lu’s grandfather a famous Chinese propaganda artist during the reign of
Mao Zedong.
Maya is a brilliant Mexican lithographer whose work is heavily
influenced by dream structuring. Similarly, Phillips produces
dreamscape-like oeuvres "where the outer continues into the inner, the
visible into the invisible.”
From September 10th until September 24, Carlotta’s Passion Fine Art is
also offering an all- women writers series. Both the writers and the dates
on which they will read are soon to be announced.
The opening, the exhibit, and the writers series are all free of
charge. We look forward to seeing you!
Carlotta’s Passion Fine Art is located at 2012 Colorado Blvd., Los
Angeles (Eagle Rock), CA, 90041. The cross street is Maywood. Hours:
Wednesday - Sunday, 12:00 - 9:00 p.m. Tel: 323.259.1563. email:
rs@carlottaspassion.com
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LETTERS |
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Walking around Eagle Rock
A while back Mike Groszkruger, wrote a nice letter about walking in
Eagle Rock. It is a nice place to walk - lots of things to see. Of course
you have to drive if you are planning to pick up 20 lbs of dog food, but
again he's right on when he says 'plan your trips'.
One thing I really, really would like is coffee shops that provided
service - ordering paying and delivering the coffee - outside. I like to
walk the dogs. So do a lot of other people. We walk in the morning or
early evening. It would be nice to be able to stop and have a cup of
coffee or tea or whatever. None of the coffee shops are dog-friendly nor
do they provide outside service. You have to go in, order,pay and
pickup,then go back outside. This is okay if you are walking the dog(s)
with a friend or spouse. If you are walking by yourself, which most of us
do, you're stuck.
Can the coffee shops give us some feedback on why they don't provide
this service? I would note in passing that there are coffee shops not too
far away who cater to the dog walkers. They offer coffee, etc for the
humans and water for the dogs and seem to be doing a land office business.
Thanks,
Julie Martin
I agree that it would be nice to be able to stop in with dawgs for a
cuppa joe, but will confess to having this amusing image of myself with my
"dog team from hell", having a combined weight of somewhere around 350
lbs. and still smelling of skunk no doubt, sending water bowls and coffee
cups flying as they eagerly greet now wide eyed patrons trying to get
their morning fix of caffeine. If you give me the names of the dog
friendly places that serve coffee, I'll run them next week.
--------------------
No lights on the football field
Dear Michael,
I live on Vincent behind the football field of Eagle Rock High. I read
in your most recent e-mail newsletter Councilmember Huizar is considering
lights in the Eagle Rock High field. What can we do to prevent lights from
going in for night games? This would be so disruptive to our beautiful
street and neighborhood. What we really need is cameras installed all
around the school to prevent the ongoing tagging around the campus and
more police patrolling the neighborhood to deter both tagging and speeding
on Yosemite.
I will write Councilmember Huizar regarding this issue but would love
to know what else I can do to prevent this from happening?
Sincerely,
Amy Sloboda
The Council Office is the first stop, but I know this matter will
receive lots of input from all sides before it is decided.
---------------------------------
Colorado strip
Hi Michael,
As I was driving down Colorado this week I noticed that there are more
and more advertisements on the beautifully done strip in the middle of the
street. I find that ugly and wondered if you know the rules on that kind
of display. I spoke to one of the businesses last year some time regarding
the sign they routinely put out to notify them that is was dangerous
because it's painted with a reflective paint that blinds you when the sun
hits it, but they still put it out every day. Maybe this is something that
needs to be explored.
Thanks,
Karie Prescott, TERA member
It will be on the agenda of the next TERA Preservation, Planning and
Development Committee meeting!
--------------------------------
Sad Cleanup
Hey Michael,
Forgive the macabre topic of this letter, but I can't be the only one
thinking about it, so--
Even though I don't live on any of the affected streets, I'd be willing
to pitch in some serious $$$ for a good steam-cleaning of the [blood
stains] that run from Fatty's up to Hill Drive and around the corner.
According to my unofficial poll of friends from outside the area, [people
are discussing Eagle Rock's association with a tragedy rather than its
other qualities.] Not so cool if you own property in Eagle Rock, alas. And
it's not going away, either, unless we pitch in and do something about it
as a community. A few extra passes with the City's street-sweeper ain't
gonna cut it. It's there permanently until someone steam-cleans or
chemically dissolves it.
I'm sure there are readers who know of a company that can do this on
such a large scale, and how much it'll cost. (My amateur guess is the same
companies who steam-clean or sandblast the facades of downtown office
buildings.)
Anyone? It would be great to get this done don't you think?
Thanks,
Dave Greene
I received several requests regarding this matter and contacted the
Council Office. Frank Aguirre in the Eagle Rock/North East District Office
wrote to tell me he would check with LAPD and then, if it was ok with the
PD, send a crew out. I'll let you all know when I hear something more.
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