THE EAGLE ROCK
ASSOCIATION
TERA
-- e.letter --
September 20, 2001
In this issue:
1. OCCIDENTAL WEB SITE FOR ALUMNI INVOLVED INT
HE RECENT DISASTER
2. GREAT ARTICLE ON WHAT WE CAN DO
3. EDITORIAL FROM THE MIAMI HERALD
4. CLARIFICATION ON CANADIAN EDITORIAL
5. TERA RECEIVES YET ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD
MATCHING FUND GRANT!
6. SCHOOL FUNDRAISING
7. EAGLE ROCK SNAPSHOT DAY WANTS YOU! --
SEPTEMBER 26
8. WATTS TOWERS REOPENING CEREMONY -- SEPTEMBER
28
9. LOCAL "HEROES" HONORED BY ROCK
TEEN CENTER -- SEPTEMBER 28
10. FRIENDS FOR PETS DALMATIAN SHOWCASE --
SEPTEMBER 29
11. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
12. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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1. OCCIDENTAL WEB SITE FOR ALUMNI INVOLVED
IN THE RECENT DISASTER
This is in from Jim
Tranquada of Occidental College:
Occidental has created
a new Web page that allows college alumni living in New York and Washington to
check in and let everyone know they are okay after last week's disaster. The address of the Web page is http://www.oxy.edu/oxy/news/terrorist.attack/locate.oxy.html.
Thus far we have more than 75 alumni and faculty whom we have confirmed are
okay, including three alumni who escaped from the World Trade Center and a
fourth who was safely evacuated from the Pentagon.
We are encouraging
everyone with direct knowledge of the whereabouts and well-being of Occidental
alumni in New York and Washington to contact me, Jim Tranquada, at jtranq@oxy.edu
or (323) 259-2990. Thanks.
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2. GREAT ARTICLE ON WHAT WE CAN DO
This has been sent to
us from Paula Johnson, TERA e.letter reader:
Hey, this article
suggests some logical reactions to our nation's recent crisis: http://www.msnbc.com/news/628351_asp.htm#BODY
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3. EDITORIAL FROM THE MIAMI HERALD
The following Miami
Herald editorial was forwarded to us by TERA member Norma Gonzalez, also by
Jim Galloway, Bungalow Heaven resident, and again by TERA Board member Mary
Tokita:
By Leonard Pitts
"We'll go forward
from this moment
It's my job to have
something to say. They pay me to provide words that help make sense of that
which troubles the American soul. But in this moment of airless shock. When hot
tears sting disbelieving eyes, the
only thing I can find to say, the only words that seem to fit, must be
addressed to the unknown author of this
suffering.
You monster. You beast.
You unspeakable bastard.
What lesson did you
hope to teach us by your coward's attack on our World Trade Center, our
Pentagon, us? What was it you hoped we would learn? Whatever it was, please
know that you failed.
Did you want us to
respect your cause? You just damned your cause.
Did you want to make us
fear? You just steeled our resolve.
Did you want to tear us
apart? You just brought us together.
Let me tell you about
my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome family, a family rent by racial,
social, political and class division, but a family nonetheless. We're
frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotional energy on pop
cultural minutiae -- a singer's revealing dress, a ballteam's misfortune, a cartoon mouse. We're wealthy,
too, spoiled by the ready availability of trinkets and material goods, and
maybe because of that, we walk through life with a certain sense of blithe
entitlement. We are fundamentally decent, though -- peace-loving and
compassionate. We struggle to know the right thing and to do it. And we are,
the overwhelming majority of us, people of faith, believers in a just and
loving God.
Some people -- you,
perhaps -- think that any or all of this makes us weak. You're mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we
are strong in ways that cannot be measured by arsenals.
IN PAIN
Yes, we're in pain now.
We are in mourning and we are in shock. We're still grappling with the
unreality of the awful thing you did, still working to make ourselves
understand that this isn't a special effect from some Hollywood blockbuster, isn't
the plot development from a Tom Clancy novel.
Both in terms of the awful scope of their ambition and the probable
final death toll, your attacks are likely to go down as the worst acts of
terrorism in the history of the United States and, probably, the history
of the world. You've bloodied us as we
have never been bloodied before. But
there's a gulf of difference between making us bloody and making us fall. This
is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the last time anyone hit us
this hard, the last time anyone brought us such abrupt and monumental pain.
When roused, we are righteous in our outrage, terrible in our force. When
provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any suffering, pay any cost,
go to any length, in the pursuit of justice.
I tell you this without
fear of contradiction. I know my people, as you, I think, do not. What I know
reassures me. It also causes me to tremble with dread of the future. In the days to come, there will be recrimination
and accusation, fingers pointing to determine whose failure allowed this to
happen and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. There will be
heightened security, misguided talk of
revoking basic freedoms. We'll go forward from this moment sobered, chastened, sad. But determined,
too. Unimaginably determined.
THE STEEL IN US
You see, the steel in
us is not always readily apparent. That aspect of our character is seldom
understood by people who don't know us well. On this day, the family's
bickering is put on hold. As Americans
we will weep, as Americans we will mourn, and as Americans, we will rise in
defense of all that we cherish.
So I ask again: What
was it you hoped to teach us? It occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to
know the depths of your hatred. If that's the case, consider the message
received.
And take this message
in exchange:
You don't know my
people. You don't know what we're capable of. You don't know what you just
started. But you're about to learn."
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4. CLARIFICATION ON CANADIAN EDITORIAL
The terrific editorial
we quoted in the Special Edition e.letter from Canadian writer Gordon Sinclair,
it ends up, was written back in 1973 as a response to anti-American sentiment
involving the Vietnam War. We've received
several messages confirming this. Mr.
Sinclair apparently died back in 1984; but, in our opinion, his words are no
less meaningful in light of our current national crisis.
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5. TERA RECEIVES YET ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD
MATCHING FUND GRANT!
This just in from Mary
Tokita, Chair of Community Gardens, the Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful:
Dear Greening Buddies:
Just wanted to share
with you that we received another NMF Grant for Eagle Rock; I got the package
in the mail today [9/15/01]. I had written this one off (literally and
figuratively), thinking that it had not been accepted, since I had not heard
anything from Operation Clean Sweep.
But we're getting it
after all: $3500 to beautify the ugly gravel lot (owned by the city) off La
Loma Street just south of the old Annandale Nursery site. My proposal was to build berms and plant
trees and xeriscapic gardens there with the Collaborative and my neighbors in
the area. I must confess that this is a case of YIMBY: 'Yes, in my Backyard,'
since it's just down way from my house, but this place really merits a
makeover. It's been a dumping ground, dust producer and eyesore for way too
long.
So, together with two
other NMF grants, Susan Sides' 'art in the garden' project for the [Eagle Rock]
elementary school and Dalila Sotelo's median beautification on Colorado, Eagle
Rock now has the 'juice' to create more positive change.
Yee-haw! Can't wait to
get started...
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6. SCHOOL FUNDRAISING
Here's a great way to
support your community...support your local elementary school! Eagle Rock Elementary needs your help. Here are some easy and FREE ways to support
the school.
escrip: Simply by registering
your credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, AMX, Discover, ATM/Debit), Grocery Cards
(Vons, Pavillions) , your SAVON card and your Chevron card, AND shopping at
participating merchants like Bristol Farms, Payless Shoes, Baja Fresh, Eddie
Bauer (and lots more) YOU can help us earn money. It's this easy: resgister
your cards online at http://www.escrip.com, or call it in at
1(800)592-0942. Our Group Number is
140827939 -- we are Eagle Rock Elementary, and we need your help!
http://www.schoolcash.com:
Shop online? Use http://www.schoolcash.com
as a portal to hundreds of merchants like Old Navy, The Gap, J.Crew, Office
Max, The Learning Network, Toysrus (loads more), designate Eagle Rock
Elementary and participating merchants donate a percentage of your purchase
back to the school. Easy AND FREEEEE.
Target: Here's the good
news...Target is coming soon to Eagle Rock.
Here's the better news...Target will donate a percentage of all
purchases made on their Guest Cards IF you designate Eagle Rock
Elementary. Sign up for a Guest card at
ANY Target store, make sure you designate Eagle Rock Elementary, and just keep
shopping. The best news of all is that
Target will donate a whopping $5,000 to the top 100 schools who participate
between now and the end of October. For
more info, check out their web site at http://www.target.com.
Okay, here's the
not-free way to help us. Follow the
hugely generous lead of Gwenn Everman, a local Eagle Rock resident who recently
donated her tax refund to the Eagle Rock Elementary PTA. Gwen and her husband don't have kids yet,
but they felt that they should put their money where it was really needed and
they looked no farther than their community public school -- an inspirational
act of generosity for which we are so grateful. It's our hope that Gwen's and her husband's spirit will inspire
others to simply make a donation. There
is no amount too small or too big for us to gratefully accept. Questions?
Leslie Hope at leslieannhope@hotmail.com. Wanna just mail that check? Make it out to ERE PTA, Eagle Rock
Elementary, 2057 Fair Park Avenue, Eagle Rock, CA 90041, Attention Leslie Hope
or Mary Tokita. Thanks!
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7. EAGLE ROCK SNAPSHOT DAY WANTS YOU! --
SEPTEMBER 26
If you've ever wanted
to get to know your community of Eagle Rock, here's your chance. Please join us in creating a committee to
organize the 2nd Eagle Rock Snapshot Day, which will take place in spring,
2002.
Four years ago, the
inaugural event drew more than 300 participants and was covered by two local
news stations and NBC Network News. The
event, in a nutshell, consists of anyone and everyone going out on a specified
date (TBA) and taking pictures of a day in the life of Eagle Rock. After the participants process their film,
they may submit their favorite images to the photo contest portion of the
event, in which prizes will be awarded in various categories. The winners will then have their photos
displayed around Eagle Rock.
The committee needs
people to: coordinate with the area schools to get plenty of student
involvement; solicit prizes and processing discounts from local businesses;
write press releases to the media; design and distribute flyers and posters;
contact local businesses and government leaders for donations of funds,
supplies and prizes; find locations to display the winning photos; and finally,
we need people who may not think they have any of these skills, but are
energetic, have great ideas, and are willing to help out.
Our first meeting will
take place at the home of Lori and Michael Pond on Wednesday, September 26 at
7pm. Please call or e-mail Lori for
directions and more information. (No
calls before 9am or after 10pm, please).
(323) 256-1329 or pond@artnet.net.
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8. WATTS TOWERS REOPENING CEREMONY --
SEPTEMBER 28
The City of Los Angeles
Cultural Affairs Department and The Friends of the Watts Towers Arts Center
present the Watts Towers Lighting Ceremony on Friday, September 28, 2001, from
7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p:m. The Watts
Towers Arts Center is located at 1727 East 107th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90002.
The following day will
feature the 20th annual Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival, on Saturday,
September 29, 2001, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Featured performances by Emikeke, Vinx, #10 Tin Can Band, Korean
Classical Music and Dance Company, JazzAntiqua Dance and Music Ensemble,
featuring Munyungo Jackson and Babalade Olamina, Kinnara Taiko, Da Lion,
Cihuati-Tonali, Da Real Punjabiz, and Ndugu Drum Ensemble.
And, on Sunday,
September 30, the 25th Annual Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival will
happen from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Artists featured will be Clara Ward Singers, Henry "the
Skipper" Franklin and His Crew, Harold Land Quintet featuring Hubert Laws
and Oscar Brashear Quetzal, LA Multi-School Jazz Band, Poetic Prophets, Dwight
Trible Ensemble, and Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Pineiro.
Simon Rodia was a man
of uncommon vision. Using only
tile-setter's tools, the Italian immigrant worked alone for 34 years to build
one of the largest works of art ever created by a single individual. The structures he called Nuestro Pueblo (Our
Town) are now famous globally as the Towers of Simon Rodia in Watts, or Watts
Towers. Simon Rodia left these magical
towers as a material testament to the power of the dream, inspiring us to reach
for our own dreams and search for excellence.
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9. LOCAL "HEROES" HONORED BY ROCK
TEEN CENTER -- SEPTEMBER 28
On Friday, September
28, 2001, Reach Our Community Kids (ROCK) will host a benefit reception at Occidental
College's Branca Patio, in the Johnson Student Center. The desert reception, which begins at 7 PM,
will include an address by Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley
and an awards ceremony. Master of Ceremonies, Reverend Paul Ferguson, will
present ROCK's Passion for Youth award to local Eagle Rock resident, John Lee,
and Rockdale Elementary Schoolteacher, Micki Lazaruz. Both honorees are being recognized for their long history of
extraordinary service to youth. In addition, Michael Stout, a freshman at Eagle
Rock JR/SR High School, will be awarded a prize for his winning entry in the
ROCK's Passion for Youth essay contest.
The evening's agenda also
includes a teen talent showcase, featuring Monica Cifuentes, Debbie Miller,
Maggie Salmanca and Kim Sicam. Musical
interludes will be provided by a student quartet, including Justin Gray, Brian
Martinez, Sevan Sadeh, and Rachel Schiff.
In addition to entertainment, reception-goers will have an opportunity
to hear the empowering words of author and motivational speaker, Sara Armstrong,
a Pasadena resident. A silent auction
of art, tickets, jewelry, and other items donated by local merchants and the
organization's supporters closes the evening's program.
Proceeds from the event
will benefit the ROCK Teen Center, a nonprofit recreation and training program
for Northeast Los Angeles youth. The organization relies 100% on community
support to deliver its services. Local
youth between the ages of twelve and eighteen, regardless of race, religion, or
ethnicity are welcome to visit and use the volunteer adult-supervised teen
center, Mondays through Thursdays from 3 PM to 6PM.
Tickets to the benefit
reception may be purchased in advance at the ROCK office, located at 1597
Yosemite Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90041,
for $25 or at the door for $28 on the night of the event. A table for eight guests may be reserved
in advance of the September 28th event for $150. To donate items for the silent auction, purchase tickets, reserve
a table, or inquire about volunteer opportunities and the teen center, contact
Cathy Miller, Executive Director, at 323-257-6102 or through the website
at http://www.rockids.org .
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10. FRIENDS FOR PETS DALMATIAN SHOWCASE --
SEPTEMBER 29
Friends For Pets, the
Eagle Rock Fire Station, and Councilman Nick Pacheco, will host "A
Dalmatian Showcase" on Saturday, September 29th at the Eagle Rock
Firehouse on 2021 Colorado Boulevard in Eagle Rock from 2PM to 5 PM. There will
be Dalmatians available for adoption, free pet care information, tours of the
firehouse and fun for the entire family. For more information please call
Friends For Pets Foundation at818/767-5919.
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11. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
"I thought you
would get a kick out of this note that now appears at the bottom of Oxy press
releases. I don't know how long they have included the specific locale
(especially up front), but I know that a few years ago they studiously avoided
any reference to it, and preferred any excuse to mention Pasadena. Go Eagle
Rock! Go TERA!
(Some Oxy
administrators think that Eagle Rock gets its reputation from the College's
reputation. They may think what they wish, but their capacity for
distinguishing fact from wishful fiction is more open to doubt as a result. YOU
have had far more to do with it than has Oxy!)
Located in the Eagle
Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, 114-year-old Occidental College is a
selective, nationally ranked college of the liberal arts and sciences. Its
1,700-member student body combines diversity with academic excellence, having
won three Rhodes scholarships and scores of other national awards over the past
10 years."
-- Dr. Timothy Sanders,
Professor Emeritus of Physics at Occidental College, former TERA president,
many-year resident of Eagle Rock, former CPAC member responsible for much of
the positive change in planning in the City of Los Angeles, terrific human being, and mentor to yours truly
"Hi, I have been
receiving your e-letter for months now, probably from Marino's NELA list. It's great!! Although I live more in the Silverlake vicinity, I'm very
interested and involved in what happens in all of these communities, and I
appreciate all your efforts to keep us informed. I'll be at the Van de Kamp's ceremony tomorrow [8/29/01], maybe
you'll be there too? [Yes -- it was
great.]
Thanks --"
-- Carol Cetrone,
Silverlake resident, fellow activist, and TERA e.letter fan
"Way to Go
Girl! Sunday LA Times Magazine."
--Sharon Lilly,
Glassell Park resident and activist
"My heart and soul
remain very much in Eagle Rock as I have very dear friends who remain there and
are Darn Proud of this fine community.
In fact, a group of us 'flamed' some misinformed individuals who were on
the ClassMates.com message board. They
were bagging on Eagle Rock without just cause, and that just got our Irish
up!
I'm going to ask our
webmaster if we can add TERA's website to our list of links. Inquiring minds need to know what's going
on! Anyway, thank you very much for all
that you do for the community. It is
highly appreciated by many. Take
care. Sincerely --"
-- Anita Garcia, Temple
City resident and ERHS Alumni Association secretary
"You look FABULOUS
(really, fabulous) in the LA Times photo!!"
-- Annie Wareham, Eagle
Rock resident, Eagle Rock Elementary School parent, terrific grant writer, and
TERA member
"I want TERA --
I'm a recent ERHS grad ('01). I'm going
to college in NY so it will be nice to hear some news from home every once in a
while -- especially after the horrific events on Tuesday [9/11/01]. I'd like to have a piece of home with me
here in Manhattan as I sort through the chaos in my new surroundings. Thanks --"
-- Krischelle Qua, ERHS
graduate and incredible lead trumpet player in the ERHS Senior Jazz Band last
year [you should hear her play the lead in Miles Davis's "All Blues"
-- amazing!]
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12. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Love deeply and
passionately. You may get hurt, but
this is the only way to live life to the fullest [however short it might
be]."
-- by whom we don't
know, but it was passed on by the folks at Swork (to whom it was passed on by
someone else, also who is apparently unaware of the author)
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We welcome your
comments. Please include your name.
Please encourage
interested friends to send their e.mail addresses to us at artburn@earthlink.net so we can keep them informed, too.
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Joanne Turner <artburn@earthlink.net>
President, The Eagle
Rock Association (TERA)