SLIA News

SLIA Annual Meeting with Councilmembers Eric Garcetti & Tom LaBonge
Tuesday June 29th @ 6-8pm
Holy Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Cathedral Church
650 Micheltorena St.
(South of Sunset between Marathon & Bellevue)
Come meet your neighbors & share light refreshments.
Bring your questions for Eric & Tom and hear from our local LAPD Senior Lead Officers
For more information call 323.664.4653
SLIA Membership Drive – Please ask your friends and neighbors to join SLIA.
Email us at SLIAboard@gmail.com

4th Annual Father’s Day Children’s Kite Festival
A Free Community Event with Live Music
Sunday, June 20th 11am-5pm
Los Angeles State Historic Park
1245 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(Adjacent to Chinatown/Gold Line Station)
Come enjoy the park, bring the kids & dog
Featured events include comedy & magic, arts & craft, juggling lessons.

Come to Councilmember Tom LaBonge’s
11th Annual Summer Solstice Sunset Hike
including a Pot-Luck International Dinner at the Top of Mount Hollywood
Monday, June 21st 2010 @ 6 pm
Griffith Observatory
Please Enter on Vermont Avenue and follow up to Griffith
Observatory parking lot. Staff will be on hand to direct you. We’ll hike
up the Charlie Turner Trail, a gentle 1.5-mile climb to the summit
where we’ll view the City of Angels, share a meal until sunset and
enjoy the twilight descent. Special transportation will be provided for
those who may need assistance.
RSVP: 213.978.0638 or contact Kamilla Blanche at
kamilla.blanche@lacity.org

Griffith Park Adult Community Center Events
1. Gourmet Potluck
Wednesday, June 23rd Bea Gold’s Home 12-3pm
2. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Class
Tuesday, June 29th
The class will run 7 weekly sessions from 1:30 to 4:00pm
Free Classes
3. Lecture “Breaking the WWII German Code”
Wednesday June 30th 2-4pm (Originally scheduled for June 16th was postponed)
4. Day Trip – Lavender Fields Monday, June 28th
5. Day Trip -San Diego and Coronado Trip Wednesday, July 14th

Please call GPACC at 323.644.5579 for more information on any of these events or go to http://sites.google.com/a/gpacclub.com/griffith-club/Home

Senior Dining Site Pilot Program
Bellevue Recreation Center.
826 Lucille Ave
All those 60 and over welcome.
If you know of anyone that might be interested in the program,
please contact Nicole Bernal at Bellevue Rec Center (323.664.2468)
to register. As soon as the required number of people sign up
(between 40 and 50), they will be contacted with the program start
date. We hope this will be in the early fall. There is a $1.75
donation but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Free Tree Planting
If your street lacks trees, we can help. The SLIA is working with
other Farm Feliz and the GGPNC Green Committee to get more
trees planted on the city’s parkways. If you would like a tree planted
in the public parkway in front of your home or apartment, (at no cost
to you), please contact David Hessell at (323) 793-9554 or
dhessell@gmail.com.

We will work with the city to get the tree planted. We need you to
agree to water the tree for the first few years to get it established. If
the parkway is currently covered with concrete, we will work with our
partner organizations to have the concrete cut so the street trees
can be planted. Please help us make Silver Lake a greener
neighborhood. Request a street tree today.

SLIA Meeting Calendar
July – No General Meeting but Special Music Box Steps Day

Planning Meeting July 8 at Bar Keeper 3910 West Sunset Blvd for Music Box Steps

August – General Meeting August 2 Laguna Apartments

September – General Meeting September 13 Laguna Apartments

SLIA June 2009 Community News Blast

SLIA

Welcome to SLIA’s June 2009 Community News Blast!

This coming Wednesday evening, June 10th, you’re invited to SLIA’s Annual Meeting. We’re also kicking off our first-ever Food Drive that night.

The Annual Meeting will take place at the Holy Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church Meeting Hall, 650 Micheltorena, between Bellevue & Ellsworth.  Just look for the SLIA Banner on the fence. (Off street parking is available in the adjacent lot.)  The meeting starts at 6:30 pm.

Confirmed speakers include City Council President Eric Garcetti and City Councilmember Tom LaBonge.  Get to the meeting on time to hear Tom – he’s squeezed us onto his hectic schedule and has to leave by 7:15pm.  And Eric’s time is tight, too — he needs to be on his way by 7:30.

Come meet your neighbors, get local news and ask the questions you need answered about City government.  Light refreshments will be served.  For more information about the Annual Meeting, contact genelle521@yahoo.com or 323.664.4653.

Our Food Drive benefits the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic (HSFC). The HSFC recently celebrated its 40th year in Silver Lake.  Its clients include the working poor, homeless persons, those who have recently found themselves out of a job – people in need rom our community.  As a result of the economy many of the clinic’s – our neighbors – are struggling just to put food on the table.

If you’re attending the Annual Meeting, we ask that you bring a food donation.  The list provided by the Clinic includes:  Dry Goods — rice, beans, pasta; Canned Goods — tomatoes, tuna, beans, fruit, vegetables, soups; and Sundries — toothpaste, soap, dry baby formula and shampoo.

Twenty local businesses have also agreed to accept food donations from June 11th through June 30th.  Look for the blue donation box at each location. (For a list of drop-off spots go to www.slianews.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/food-drive.)  Thank you.

And…there’s still time to volunteer for the Food Drive. We’re hosting a table at Gelson’s next Saturday, June 13th. Sit with us for a couple hours as we ask customers to leave donations on their way out of the store.  Would you like to host a drop-off spot in your neighborhood?  We can provide flyers and a donation box. And we also need help leafleting the Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings.

For more information on the Food Drive, contact silverlakecares@aol.com
or 323.683.2132.

See you Wednesday evening!

OK, on to a few Announcements and a few Safety Tips.

Announcements:
– June 9th, 11th & 16th Route 2/Glendale Freeway Meetings
– June 9th Senior Lunch Program at Bellevue Park Begins
– June 20th Kites Over Silver Lake Festival, Bellevue Park
– June 26th Independent Shakespeare Company Kicks Off Its 2009 Season

FYI (Safety Tips):
– Recognizing a Stroke
– Summer Health Tips
– Parents’ Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Brochure

Event Announcements:
Route 2 Meetings:  CalTrans is holding Community Workshops and a Public Hearing for comments on the State Route 2 Initial Study/Environmental Assessment Document.  The meetings involve proposed designs for reconfiguring the end of the 2 Freeway and may be of interest to those living nearby.  Two public information meetings are scheduled: June 9th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Mayberry Elementary School, 2414 Mayberry Street and June 11th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Barlow Hospital, 2000 Stadium Way.

A public hearing will be held on June 16th to take verbal pubic comments at Mayberry School from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Public comments are due by July 2nd.  The Draft Environmental Impact Report for the project is available online at www.dot.ca.gov/dist07.

Senior Lunch Program:  A Senior Dining Site Pilot Program will start on Tuesday, June 9th at Bellevue Park, 826 Lucile Avenue.  The Program will be offered on Tuesdays only from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.  The suggested donation is $1.75 per meal.  An application must be completed to participate.  The program is funded by the City of Los Angeles, the Assistance League of Southern California and the Hollywood Senior Multipurpose Center.  For more information, contact Facility Director Nicole Bernal at 323.664.2468.

Kites Over Silver Lake:  Join the fun at the Third Annual Kites Over Silver Lake Festival, Saturday, June 20th, 12 Noon to 5:00 pm.  The free event will feature Face painting, story telling, kites for children both to paint and to fly and a Children’s Art Exhibit.  All this will take place at Bellevue Park, 826 Lucile. Note that there’s a parking lot off Marathon, but parking is limited.  Walk or carpool if you can.

But wait, there’s more.  Entertainment from 3:00 to 5:00 pm features music, dance, a magician and juggling lessons. ENJOY!

Independent Shakespeare Company:  On Friday, June 26th, the Company kicks off its 2009 summer season.  Come see “The Tempest” at 7:30 pm in Barnsdall Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd. (at the top of Olive Hill, between Vermont and Edgemont).  Admission is free but donations are greatfully received.  Reservations are highly recommended.  To reserve your seat:  www.independentshakespeare.com or call (323) 836-0288.

FYI (Safety Tips):
Recognizing a Stroke:  (from the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association.  For additional information, go to www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identi)

“KNOW HOW TO RECOGNIZE A STROKE. BECAUSE TIME LOST IS BRAIN LOST.
A stroke is a medical emergency. Know these warning signs of stroke and
teach them to others. Every second counts:

– Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
– Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
– Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
– Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
– Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

“If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs, don’t delay!
Immediately call 9-1-1 or the emergency medical services (EMS) number
so an ambulance (ideally with advanced life support) can be sent for
you. Also, check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms
appeared. It’s very important to take immediate action. If given within
three hours of the start of symptoms, a drug called tissue
plasminogen activator (tPA) can reduce long-term disability for the
most common type of stroke.”

Summer Health & Safety Tips:  The recent cool weather notwithstanding, make no mistake.  Summer’s coming.  And with the sun shining ever so brightly it’s easy to get carried away and forget basic tips for health safety while having fun.  Staying hydrated is very important as well as wearing sunscreen.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has a sheet on its website with some great summer safety tips for children. These can also be adjusted to suit adults as well:  www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/summertips.cfm

The Red Cross notes that approximately 400 Americans die each year from summer’s sweltering heat. Everyone’s at risk when temperatures rise above 90 degrees, but especially the very young and the elderly. Check out Red Cross Safety Tips at:
http://http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.1a019a978f421296e81ec89e43181aa0/?vgnextoid=a69ff6c5fd47b110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD

Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety:  Santa Clara County has published an easy to read brochure for parents. The pdf is downloadable at http://www.ots.ca.gov/pdf/BicyclePedSafetyBrochure.pdf.

WELL, THAT’S IT FOR THIS MONTH,

See you at the Annual Meeting –
THE SILVER LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

SLIA

May 7, 2009

Welcome to SLIA’s May 2009 Community News Blast.

In this issue:
Announcements:
– May 9th Gun Buy Back in Echo Park.
– May 12th CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Training
– May 14th Women’s Self-Defense — Free Workshop
– May 15th Film Fest 43 at the Alex Theatre
– May 19th Statewide and Consolidated Election
– May 30th Zero Waste Conference
– May 30th Observatory Star Party

Recap:
– April 18th Community Meeting re: 4000 Sunset

FYI:
– Mailboxes in Silver Lake
– Sunset Junction Plan
– SLIA Blog: http://www.slianews.wordpress.com

SLIA Stuff:
– SLIA Newsletter
– SLIA Annual Meeting, Wednesday, June 10th, 6:30 pm
– Street Tree Offer
– SLIA Position regarding the Sunset Junction Street Fair
– Free Clinic Food Drive

Event Announcements:
– 2009 Gun Buyback Initiative: The City of Los Angeles is trying to get more guns off the streets. On Saturday, May 9, guns can be dropped off at locations citywide between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm in exchange for grocery store gift cards or Visa cards valued at $100 (for handguns) and $200 (for assault weapons). Weapons can be turned in anonymously with no questions asked. The local drop off point is at the north end of Echo Park, at Park & Lemoyne. Go to http://www.kcal9.com for more information.

– CERT Training: You can still sign up for the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training offered by the LA Fire Department. Volunteer teams are taught decision-making and physical skills on how to prepare and respond to a disaster. Class sessions take place Tuesdays from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm at the Russian Church, 650 Micheltorena, with the next class on May 12th. To register and for more information contact Joanna Paden at (818) 216-0797.

– Women’s Self Defense Workshop: Assemblymember Paul Krekorian invites you to attend free safety workshops. Learn how to protect yourself and discuss legislation on women’s issues and safety. Instruction provided by SHIELD Women’s Self Defense. The workshop will take place on Thursday, May 14th, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Citibank at 1965 Hillhurst Ave., second floor in Los Feliz. Additional workshops will be held on the following Thursdays in North Hollywood and Burbank. Call (818) 558-3043 to RSVP and for more information.

– FilmFest 43: Assemblymember Paul Krekorian is sponsoring this second annual festival of high school films. It’ll feature movies in four categories: animation, music video, documentary and narrative. Thirteen schools from six parts of 43rd Assembly District sent in films. All will compete for the vaunted Best of Show award that will be given to the top film. The event takes place on Friday, May 15th at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, starting at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call (818) 558-3043 or visit www.assembly.ca.gov/krekorian.

– Election Day, May 19th: Voters decide on six State Measures dealing with the budget. And among other races choose a new City Attorney in a run-off election. Vote by mail applications must be received by the Registrar/Recorder by May 12th. Polls are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. For additional information go to www.lavote.net.

– Zero Waste Conference: On Saturday, May 30th the 4th Citywide Zero Waste Conference will take place at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels downtown. This is an excellent opportunity for you to help Los Angeles achieve its Zero Waste goal. Attendees can comment on and ratify the Draft Programs, Policy and Facility Options Plan. The event also features a Recycled Art Fashion Show, a complimentary continental breakfast and lunch, environmental vendor booths, and information displays about green living and zero waste. The event takes place from 7:30 am – 1:30 pm at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, 555 West Temple St. Admission is free, but reservations are required. For more information and to RSVP, call Tony Torres at (323) 349-0661 or email tony@victorgriego.com.

– Observatory Star Party: Also on Saturday, May 30th a star viewing party will be held at the Griffith Park Observatory form 2:00 pm to 9:45 pm. The monthly event is organized with the help of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society and the Los Angeles Sidewalk Astronomers. There is no admission fee, and everyone in attendance has a chance to look at the sun (technically a star), moon, visible planets, and other objects; to try out a variety of telescopes; and to talk to knowledgeable amateur astronomers about the sky and their equipment. For more information about the observatory, go to www.griffithobs.org.

Recap:
– 4000 Sunset Blvd. Project: On April 18th our Neighborhood Council (the SLNC) held a Community Meeting regarding a proposed new 98-unit apartment building at the southwest corner of Santa Monica & Sanborn. The meeting was well attended, with speakers from the SLNC, SLIA, CD13 and the projected applicant, Frost-Chaddock. As of the 18th Frost-Chaddock had not yet submitted its application to the City.

Of the 98 rental units proposed, 8 are reserved for very low income households. As a result the applicant will be applying to make use of Density Bonus incentives that allow 35% more units (25 added units for a total of 98), 35% more height (15′-9″ additional for a total of 60′-9″ in height) and approximately 86% more floor area (appr. 38,000 sq ft additional for a total of appr 81,800). Almost all of the units will be studios or one-bedrooms, with the typical unit size around 600 – 700 sq ft. A small amount of retail space is planned, including a restaurant on the second level at Sanborn & Sunset.

Earlier the same week a trial court judge threw out the City’s Density Bonus ordinance, a complicating factor. (Per CD13 there is as yet no indication of how this might affect the project.) The applicant announced the intention to proceed as planned and to voluntarily conduct an Environmental Impact Report. This will take approximately a year, with the process offering a number of points at which the community can provide input.

There was a lengthy and spirited Question and Answer period. Among the issues raised: the size of the proposed building, its compatibility with the neighborhood, what some saw as the welcome inclusion of rental units, whether the restaurant will sell alcoholic beverages, the displacement of existing tenants, and the possible historic significance attached to the old Sanborn Junction site and to the site of the first A Different Light Bookstore.

FYI:
– Mailboxes in Silver Lake: There never seems to be a mailbox around when you need one. Over the years it seems the Postal Service has taken many if not most of the blue metal boxes off our streets. There’s a temptation to leave mail out for pickup by the local postal carrier. But beware – an SLIA Board member reports that a neighbor who did this had a bank account stripped by identity thieves. One website that provides information on mailbox location by zip code: www.payphone-project.com/mailboxes/states/CA/LOS_ANGELES.html – please note this site is not perfect – it missed the one in front of the 99 Cent Store on Sunset (that accepts mail up to 4:00 pm).

– Sunset Junction Streetscape & Transportation Vision: Last year the County
Metropolitan Transportation Authority held a number of workshops regarding streetscape improvements in the Sunset Junction area. The primary goals of the project were:
1. Strengthen the Sunset Junction area business core and identity.
2. Improve transit integration and efficiency.
3. Improve the walkability and the pedestrian experience.
4. Improve bicycle facilities and markings.
The lengthy final report is posted at www.compassblueprint.org/tools/sunsetjunction.

In a related action, Eric Garcetti’s office has applied to Metro for funds to improve the intersection of Santa Monica & Sunset, by rerouting Santa Monica onto what is now Manzanita Street (in front of the 4100 Club). A transit plaza would be created on the land now occupied by the last block of SMB plus the Jiffy Lube site. SLIA has gone on the record as expressing qualified support for this, with our main concerns being: no sunken plaza, design coordination with any project at the 4000 Sunset site, preventing cut-through traffic onto Manzanita south of Santa Monica and involving the public in the final design.

– SLIA Blog: SLIA has a new blog: http://www.slianews.wordpress.com. We’ve posted all of our email blasts here. Items that might be of continued interest are the links to sites that might help those affected by the recession (March) and the tips on preventing residential burglaries (April).

SLIA Stuff:
– SLIA Newsletter: Our latest newsletter went out to members in April. Not a member? Pick up a copy at Bar Keeper, 3910 Sunset Boulevard (between Sanborn & Hyperion).

– Annual Meeting: Mark your calendars. SLIA celebrates its 20th Anniversary on Wednesday, June 10th, 6:30 pm at the Holy Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church Meeting Hall, 650 Micheltorena (between Bellevue & Ellsworth). Off street parking available in the adjacent lot.

Confirmed speakers include City Council President Eric Garcetti and City Councilmember Tom LaBonge. Get there on time to hear Tom – he’s squeezed us in to his hectic schedule. And Eric is renowned for willingness to stay for a lengthy Q & A period.

Come to meet your neighbors, to get local news and to ask the questions you need answered about City government. Light refreshments will be served.

– Street Tree Offer: Street trees offer shade, cleaner air and can just plain be nice to look at. As a result of past efforts, the SLIA is responsible for the planting of over 300 trees locally. Would you like street trees planted on your block? The Hollywood Beautification team (HBT) will evaluate your street and just a modest effort is required on your part. Then the HBT will arrive at your doorstep to cut the concrete, dig the hole – all that’s required to bring a little greenery to your neighborhood. Contact SLIA President Genelle LeVin for more information – genelle521@yahoo.com.

– Sunset Junction Street Fair: The SLIA Board has voted to support City Council President Eric Garcetti’s position that the Sunset Junction Street Fair should not be held this year unless:
– The physical layout of the Fair is returned to its former configuration, with an entrance at Edgecliffe and Fair activities extended up to that street;
– There are changes in the pricing and the admission policy for both local residents and for the employees of local businesses;
– There is a change in the Fair’s management.

SLIA asks you to consider adding your voice to those who have signed an on-line petition regarding the fair. The petition site features numerous comments posted by those who have signed the petition. And you can review these before deciding whether to sign. Here’s the link: www.petitiononline.com/SJF2009/petition.html.
And following is a statement from Joe Keeper, one of the petition organizers:

“As you may be aware, the annual Sunset Junction Street Fair has changed radically the last few years. For example, it went from a ‘suggested donation’ to a mandatory $20 per person entry fee. The year before last (2007), the businesses in Sunset Junction were excluded entirely from the festival and last year (2008)…

“Over the last several years, many of the businesses in Sunset Junction have participated in meetings with the organizers through Eric Garcetti’s staff in our City Council Office 13. Unfortunately we haven’t had luck negotiating with the promoter.

“As a last resort, we have created a petition asking that the Sunset Junction Street Fair stop.

“Please understand that many of us love what the Sunset Junction once stood for- ‘celebrating the diversity of the neighborhood!’ It has become, in my opinion, a music festival that excludes the majority of what we are all about. It is my hope that the festival, as it has become, will go away for a year and return in the future as an event more like it once was!”

– Food Drive: The Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic (HSFC) recently celebrated its 40th year in Silver Lake. The HSFC logs over 80,000 patient visits a year. Its clients are the working poor, homeless persons, those who have recently found themselves out of a job – people in need from our community. With the depressed economy, HSFC staffmembers have noted a marked increase in the number of clients requesting food assistance.

SLIA is organizing a food drive for the HSFC. If you’re interested in helping out, the organizing meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 16th, at the Sunset Triangle Park, (Sunset & Edgecliffe) at 10:30 am. Bring your ideas and your enthusiasm! The Food Drive will be formally kicked off at our Annual Meeting on June 10th. See our blog — slianews.wordpress.com to take a look the list of needed items provided by the HSFC. And for more information, contact silverlakecares@aol.com.

SO LONG,
That’s all for this month. See you at the Annual Meeting –
THE SILVER LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

Community News Blast, April 2009

Welcome to SLIA’s April News Blast. You don’t have to be a member of the SLIA to receive these – though of course that’s appreciated. Feel free to forward this to friends and neighbors.

In this issue:
Announcements:
– April 18th 4000 Sunset Project Open House/Community Meeting, 11:00 AM
– April 18th Path Pals Clean-up on Armstrong Avenue, 8:00 AM to Noon
– April 19th Benefit for the Silver Lake History Collective, 2:00 to 8:00 PM
– May 2 – 3 “Big Sunday” is America’s biggest regional community service event

Recaps & Crime Report:
– Council District 4’s March 25th Community Congress
– The March 28th Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Simulated Disaster Drill
– Crime report, including news from Silver Lake’s SLO’s — Al Polehonki (Northeast) & Justin Stewart (Rampart), news on an April 8th attempted kidnapping of a minor and home security tips.

Getting Involved:
– SLIA Food Drive

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

– 4000 Sunset Blvd. Project: An Open House/Community Meeting will be held on Saturday, April 18th at 11:00 AM regarding a new 94-unit apartment building proposed for the southwest corner of Santa Monica & Sanborn. The meeting will be held in the parking lot on Santa Monica Blvd. between Sanborn and Manzanita (across from Jiffy Lube). The Developer and Architect will be present and questions can also be sent to 4000sunset@frostchaddock.com.

– Armstrong Avenue Cleanup: Silver Lake’s Path Pals have scheduled a spring cleaning on Armstrong on Saturday, April 18th, from 8:00 am to Noon. They’ll be joined by students from the LA Conservation Corps. Please mark this on your calendar and make an effort to join in, even if for just part of the morning. Remember there are precious few municipal resources out there to help. Contact the Path Pals at silverlakepathpals.corg.

– Silver Lake History Collective Benefit: This art and dance event will be held on Sunday, April 19th, at the Black Gate Space, 1052 Manzanita Street, from 2:00 to 8:00 pm. Local artist Peter Liashkov will exhibit his collaborative efforts with 12 L.A. artists, followed by a tango from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. All individual art works in the exhibition are for sale at a base price of $500.

– Big Sunday: Below are just a few of the more than 400 service events taking place on the weekend of May 2nd. For details and to sign up for an event (some of which may be full), go to http://www.bigsunday.org.

#17 – Spiff up the Studios at Inner-City Arts (Downtown) — Inner-City Arts is a learning oasis in the heart of Skid Row where professional artists teach students in a real studio environment. Since it’s inception, Inner-City Arts has served more than 150,000 of the city’s most at-risk kids at no cost to the students! This year they’ve asked us to help them clean and paint some of their studio spaces, as well as the exterior of their buildings. Needless to say, we’re thrilled to help! (Even better – they’re providing all the paint and brushes. These guys are too good to be true!) Sunday, May 3rd, 9:00 AM TO 12:00 PM, 18 and up.

#38 – Host a Barbecue at PATH (Near Silver Lake) — PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) offers a huge variety of terrific programs to help homeless people all over the city. Big Sunday volunteers have enjoyed working with them for years. (And this year is no exception! We’ll be working with PATH groups all over town!) At PATH’s Eastside hub, we’re throwing a big barbeque for PATH residents. There will be a huge variety of fun games, nice prizes, good food and great times. At their request, we’ll also be bringing things to donate, including clothes to wear to job interviews. Sunday, May 3rd, 10:00 AM to 02:00 PM, All ages

#180 – Build a Learning Garden at Thomas Starr King Middle School — Come by and help out as they clean and green their space. On Big Sunday we’ll be installing a beautiful and peaceful new learning garden. Not only will we be installing a learning garden we will also be painting and cleaning the Fountain Avenue Breezeway entrance. We will host a “recycled clothing store” with proceeds going to Children’s Hospital. We will host a health and wellness fair, a community outreach fair, a book exchange and a safe play space for young children so everyone can get involved. All the while there will be live music and tasty healthy food to feed the soul. It’s a big school and there’s lots to do. We’re expecting a big crowd which is good – because there’s a lot of work to do! Sunday, May 3rd, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

#238 – Help Out a Home for People with AIDS (near MacArthur Park) — Project New Hope has five nice residences in the L.A.-Long Beach area for low-income and homeless people, particularly those living with HIV/AIDS. And this year we’re going to all of ’em! This year we had a special request to help at Our House, near Downtown. We’ll paint bedrooms. Paint a fence. Stain kitchen caibnets. Clean up. Fix up. Hang some new blinds. Help out wherever they need us. Our House could also use some new living room furniture. And 10 desk lamps. (Not as tough as it sounds! Sunday, May 3rd, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Adults

RECAPS & CRIME REPORT:

March 25th Council District 4 Community Congress: The main topic was the City of Los Angeles budget and the impact of the federal economic stimulus plan. A crowd of approximately 250 people filled the LA Zoo Auditorium representing numerous neighborhood groups from Hollywood, Studio City, Griffith Park and Silver Lake. The tone of the evening was somber, as Councilmember LaBonge and other LA City officials laid out the data from the City Budget and the monetary shortfall the City is facing. LaBonge engaged the audience in finding ways that their neighborhood organizations can help the City save money and suggest ways how City bureaus could become more efficient to also save money. A draft budget from all the City bureaus will be presented to Mayor Villaragosa in April and he will present the City Council his budget in June.

If anyone is interested in viewing the budget PowerPoint presentation by Ray Ciranna (Interim City Administrative Officer), have any thoughts or questions regarding the meeting, or about the City budget, please contact Councilmember LaBonge’s office

Councilmember.labonge@lacity.org or Ms. Jeanne Min at Jeanne.min@lacity.org 213.473.7004.

March 28th CERT Simulated Disaster Drill: The event was sponsored by the Neighborhood Council’s Public Safety Committee. The exercise was well attended and per LAFD evaluators, well organized. CERT volunteers got experience in the very complex task of responding to a disaster. This included coordinating various teams (including transport, first aid and triage), staffing a command post, working within a chain of command and using communications devices.

The LA Fire Department’s CERT Program trains volunteer teams on how to prepare and respond to a disaster by giving people the decision-making and physical skills to offer immediate emergency assistance to family members, neighbors and associates. A new seven-week training session starts on Tuesday, May 5th at 7pm. Classes will be held at the Russian Church Meeting Hall. To register, contact Joanna Paden at (818) 216-0797.

From Northeast Division SLO Al Polehonki (Northeast Division covers Silver Lake north of Sunset):
– Around March 22nd rocks were thrown from a passing vehicle at people walking around the Reservoir. A bicyclist also suffered minor injuries after being dragged to the ground when a young male in a passing car grabbed his computer bag. Subsequently, three teenagers were arrested in the area near King Middle School. They were in possession of a stolen car in which rocks were found and on which the license plates had been switched. Al noted that a number of stolen cars with switched plates were also found in the same general area.

Car break-ins continued to be the most common offense in the Franklin Hills and Silver Lake areas covered by Northeast Division.

Captain Murphy has recently started a “foot beat” along the Sunset Blvd. commercial strip. Not officers on foot, but stationed in patrol cars more or less dedicated to the local area – they are not required to handle radio calls outside the area. This assignment recognizes that the Sunset Junction area is our “downtown” –and also month in and month out the local commercial area in which the most offenses are committed.

A neighborhood watch has just been started in the Kor condominium complex on Sunset.

Al noted that there’s been a string of car break-ins in the Griffith Park area. Women, who often leave purses and bags in their vehicles before setting off on hikes, appear to be especially targeted. The PD has deployed undercover officers in the area.

There have been no additional robberies connected to the January cluster. The suspects who were arrested for those crimes remain in custody.

For those interested in information on local crimes, Al suggested signing up for “e-policing,” and described the procedure for doing so. Go to lapdonline.org and hit the “e-policing” button on the left menu.

Officer Polehonki can be reached at (213) 793-0763.

April 8, Attempted Kidnapping of Minor
Northeast Robbery detectives are investigating the attempt kidnapping of a 14-year-old student from Thomas Starr King Middle School.

On April 8, 2008, at around 7:00 a.m., the young female was walking to school on the 1100 block of Hoover Avenue in the East Hollywood area of Los Angeles. The suspect exited his vehicle and followed the victim. The suspect grabbed her from behind and the victim yelled for help. The victim was able to get away from the suspect’s hold and ran for safety. She immediately notified school administrators who then called the Los Angeles Police Department.

The suspect was described as a Caucasian male, 30-40 years of age. He Stands 5-6/5-7 and weighs approximately 130/140 lbs. His car was described as a dark grey, 2008-2009, 2-door Honda Accord.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Northeast Robbery detectives at (213) 847-4270. After hours or on weekends, calls may20be directed to the Northeast Watch Commander at (213) 485-2563, or a 24 hour toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or the texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD. Tipsters can also submit information on the LAPD website http://www.lapdonline.org. All tips are anonymous.

From Rampart Division SLO Justin Stewart (Rampart Division covers Silver Lake south of Sunset)
– Our March blast mentioned that two persons were arrested on March 11th at Marathon and Dillon in connection with a burglary. Officer Stewart filled in the details. After clusters of burglaries on Descanso and on streets just east of Silver Lake Blvd., Rampart Division Explorers were sent out to distribute a flyer asking residents to report suspicious activity.

– An 80 year old resident received the flyer and called in a report on March 11th. A police helicopter was dispatched, and the suspects were observed leaving a residence near Parkman and Marathon. They were then arrested and both are still in custody. Certificates have been awarded to both the Explorers and to the resident who called in the report.

– The Explorers will be distributing flyers in the neighborhood west of Silver Lake Blvd. as early as this week (their schedule permitting).

– As in Northeast, the most frequent offense is car break-ins. Officer Stewart notes that portable GPS devices and catalytic converters are items that are frequently taken.

– Officer Stewart can be reached at (213) 793-0770.

– Below is the burglary flyer, prepared by the Rampart Crime Analysis Detail:

“ATTENTION AREA RESIDENTS
THIS PARTICULAR AREA IS EXPERIENCING A NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES. THESE CRIMES ARE OCCURRING MOST FREQUENTLY ON MONDAYS THROUGH FRIDAYS BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:00 AM AND 7:00 PM. BURGLARY SUSPECTS UTILIZE VARIOUS METHODS TO GAIN ENTRY TO RESIDENCES. MANY BURGLARIES ARE CRIMES OF OPPORTUNITY, WITH SUSPECTS OFTEN ENTERING HOMES THROUGH UNLOCKED WINDOWS, UNLOCKED SLIDING GLASS DOORS OR UNLOCKED GARAGE DOORS.

THE LAPD IS MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO COMBAT THIS PROBLEM. SINCE COMMUNITY AWARENESS IS THE KEY TO PREVENTION, WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE….

HOME SECURITY TIPS
– LOCK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS INCLUDING REAR AND GARAGE DOORS, BEFORE LEAVING THE RESIDENCE.
– ENSURE THAT SLIDING GLASS DOORS HAVE STRONG WORKING LOCKS.
– RECORD THE SERIAL NUMBERS OF OUR ELECTRONIC AND COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND KEEP THESE IN A SECURE LOCATION
– IF YOU OBSERVE SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, CONTACT THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY BE CALLING 911 (EMERGENCY) OR 877-ASK-LAPD (NON-EMERGENCY).
– OBTAIN A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT(S)’ PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, ACTIONS AND ANY VEHICLE DESCRIPTIONS INCLUDING LICENSE PLATE UMBERS. DO NOT CONFRONT SUSPICIOUS INDIVIDUALS.
– FOR MORE BURGLARY PREVENTION INFORMATION LOG ON TO LAPDONLINE.ORG.

IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR CAN PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THESE LOCAL CRIMES, PLEASE CONTACT RAMPART ARA BURGLARY DETECTIVES AT (213) 484-3490, OR SENIOR LEAD OFFICER STEWART AT (213) 793-0770. WEEKENDS AND AFTER HOURS, CONTACT THE RAMPART AREA WATCH COMMANDER AT (213) 484-3050.”

GETTING INVOLVED:

– SLIA Food Drive: The Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic (HSFC) recently celebrated its 40th year in Silver Lake. The HSFC logs over 80,000 patient visits a year. Its clients are the working poor, homeless persons, those who have recently found themselves out of a job – people in need from our community. With the depressed economy, HSFC staffmembers have noted a marked increase in the number of clients requesting food assistance.

SLIA is in the preliminary stages of organizing a food drive for the HSFC. If you’re interested in helping out, please contact Wes at wesjoe@aol.com.

SO LONG,
That’s all for this month. See you in May — THE SILVER LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

Food Drive

(updated June 4, 2009)

The Hollywood-Sunset Free Clinic is located at 3324 Sunset, just east of the Micheltorena Steps. The Clinic recently celebrated its 40th anniversary serving the Silver Lake community.   Its clients include the working poor, homeless persons, those who have recently found themselves out of a job – people in need from our community.

The HSFC logs over 80,000 patient visits a year — that’s on average over 250 people every day they’re open.   With the depressed economy, HSFC staffmembers have noted a marked increase in the number of clients requesting food assistance.  In response, the SLIA is initiating our first Food Drive.

The Drive will kick off on June 10th at our Annual Meeting, which will be held at the Russian Orthodox Church, 650 Micheltorena Street at 6:30 pm.  If you can, please bring as many of the items listed below as you can on June 10th. 

Gelson’s Market is generously allowing us to host a donation table at the market on Saturday, June 13th. If you’re shopping at Gelson’s that day, please remember those in need and drop off a few items off the Donation List on your way out the store.

Would you like to volunteer?  Right now, we could use more boxes. Also, volunteers for leafletting at the Saturday Farmer’s Market, for sitting at the table at Gelson’s on June 13th, and for hosting Drop-Off sites within the residential neighborhoods.  (We’ll make a special run of leaflets with your address, for distribution only within your neighborhood.)  Call 323.683.2132 or email  silverlakecares@aol.com.  Or just let us know at our Annual Meeting on June 10th.

Below, following the Donation List, is the current list of drop-off sites, which will be updated continually.

For more information on the Clinic go to www.hsfreeclinic.org

FOOD DRIVE DONATION LIST
Dry Goods
Rice
Beans
Pastas
Canned Goods
Tomatoes
Tuna
Beans
Fruit
Vegetables
Soups
Other
Baby Formula
Toothpaste
Soap
Shampoo

FOOD DROP OFF LOCATIONS — Bring your Donations Here:
The Clinic itself, 3324 Sunset (next to the Micheltorena Steps).

Sunset Blvd:
Andiamo Restaurant, 2815 Sunset
Sun Lake Drug, 2860 Sunset
Gogosha Optique, 3208-1/2 Sunset
Four Paws & A Tail, 3726 Sunset
Pazzo Gelato, 3827 Sunset
Pull My Daisy, 3908 Sunset
Bar Keeper, 3910 Sunset
Gilly Flowers, 3936 Sunset
Tsunami, 4019 Sunset
Malo Restaurant, 4326 Sunset

Silver Lake Blvd (SLB):
Monkeyhouse Toys, 1618 SLB
YOLK, 1626 SLB
7-11 Store, 1647 SLB
Modem Salon & Spa, 1712 SLB
Irina Tsoy, LAc., Acupunturist, 1751
 
West Silver Lake Drive:
Silver Lake Health & Professional Center,
Dr. Cheryl Revkin, DC, 1724 West Silver Lake Dr
 
Hyperion:
Body Builders Gym, 2516 Hyperion
The Fix Burgers, 2520 Hyperion

Rowena:
The Coffee Table, 2930 Rowena

Glendale Blvd:
Silverlake Coffee, 2388 Glendale

Santa Monica Blvd:
Mi Alma, 4016 Santa Monica

MORE WAYS TO HELP OUT
Clinic Website – HSFC needs someone knowledgable with Dreamweavers
Clothing Donations @ the Clinic Thrift Shop, 3506 Sunset
(next to Alegria & Baskin-Robbins)
Direct Donations to the HSFC via their website, www.hsfreeclinic.org

Community News Blast, March 2009

Welcome to the Silver Lake Improvement Association’s first email news blast. We hope that you’ll find it useful.

This edition includes:
— A March 11th account of the arrest of burglary suspects in south Silver Lake.
— An announcement regarding the March 21st Silver Lake Library Book Sale
— An invitation to the March 25th Council District 4 Community Congress
— An announcement regarding the March 28th Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Simulated Disaster Drill and Public Safety Forum
— Information from Councilmember Garcetti on sources of help for those who might be affected by the current economic crisis.

Feel free to respond with your comments. We plan on sending blasts out at least once a month….Happy St. Patrick’s Day and the best to everyone as we slip into Spring, The SLIA Board

OK, HERE’S THE NEWS:

From Rusty Millar, Silver Lake Neighborhood Council (SLNC) Board Member, dated March 11th
“At 3:30 this afternoon the Rampart police busted two Hispanic males, both under 18, who have been involved with many burglaries in the Parkman/LaFayette Place/Occidental area (SLNC region 3). Both of the suspects were caught with goods they had stolen on Lafayette Place this afternoon.

The police have been canvassing this area door to door and passing out flyers but have not made it west of SLB at this point. In fact they caught the suspects at the intersection of Marathon and Dillon. A police airship and 3 TV copters were overhead at the time of the arrests. The LAPD has been after these guys big time according to the Senior Lead Officer who I spoke with. This was high priority to them. At this point the LAPD is still looking for 3 more suspects, male African Americans around 17 years of age. One with corn rows. A woman whom the LAPD spoke with yesterday was the one who noticed the suspects and called police.”

March 21st Event
From the Friends of the Silver Lake Library (FOSLL)
The Silver Lake Branch library construction is on schedule and we’re looking forward to a late summer or early fall Grand Opening. FOSLL is having a used book sale on SATURDAY, MARCH 21 from 10-2 in the community room at Citibank (Silver Lake and Glendale Blvds), across the street from the new library. If you’re a current FOSLL member, you can enter early at 9 am. If you’d like to donate books, you may do so at Citibank on Friday, March 20 from 2-8 pm or anytime during the sale. Proceeds from the book sale will benefit Friends of Silver Lake Library (FoSLL), a 501c3.

March 25th Event
From Councilmember Tom LaBonge
You’re invited to the Council District 4 Community Congress on the 2009-2010 City Budget
Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 6 p.m. (Dinner) 6:30 p.m. (Program)
Witherbee Auditorium Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Dinner and Refreshments will be served. RSVP to (213)978-2616 or Jeanne.min@lacity.org.

March 28th Event
From the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council:
You’re invited to the SLNC’s CERT Simulated Disaster Drill and Public Safety Forum.
Where: The Russian Orthodox Church Parking lot
650 Micheltorena (3 blooks west of Silver Lake between Marathon & Bellevue)
When: Saturday March 28th
8am – 11am: Simulated Disaster Drill
11am – 1pm: Public Safety Forum
Meet our local CERT members and see them in action. Get a chance to play “victim” of a simulated natural disaster and be rescued by CERT members. At the forum, find out how to get involved in a CERT training program. To volunteer to be a “victim,” or to RSVP for the Forum, contact Barbara Dakin at (213) 413-4221 or bdakin@pacbell.net

And last but not least:
excerpted from a March 12th message from Councilmember Eric Garcetti:
“The private sector and our fellow citizens have important roles to play in the current economic crisis, and with that in mind I wanted to share with you links to a combination of governmental agencies and private organizations with which we regularly partner that can be of enormous assistance to everyone in times of need. If you know of anyone in trouble — whether they are on the verge of homelessness, facing foreclosure, or have lost their job — I encourage you to share the links below with them”.

Health and Safety:
• LA Regional Food Bank: http://www.lafoodbank.org/
• LA County Dept. of Mental Health: http://dmh.lacounty.gov/dmh_hotline.asp
• Suicide Prevention: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
• Healthy City: http://www.healthycity.org/c/resource#/mode/cat_drill/geo/zip/zt//cat/||||/yk/071
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: http://www.ndvh.org

Foreclosure:
• LA Neighborhood Housing Services: http://www.lanhs.org
• Operation Hope: http://www.operationhope.org

Job Training:
• Los Angeles Workforce Investment Board: http://www.lacity.org/wib
• California WorkSource Centers: http://www.worksourcecalifornia.com/centers/WS_find_a_center.htm
Well, that’s it. Hopefully this was useful. But we understand that some may not want or need these messages. So if you’d like to “opt out,” please just let us know and we’ll make sure that you do not receive any of the upcoming blasts.

Welcome to the SLIA’s News Blog

Welcome to the Silver Lake Improvement Association’s News Blog.

This year we’re celebrating our 20th anniversary of serving the Silver Lake community.  All our invited to our Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 10th at 6:30 pm, at the Russian Orthodox Church meeting hall, 650 Micheltorena (between Ellsworth & Bellevue).  Off-street parking is available in the adjacent lot.

Both Councilmember Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Tom LaBonge have confirmed their attendance on June 10th.  (Get there on time to hear Tom, who’s squeezing us into a busy schedule.)  And Eric is renowned for his lengthy Q & A session with the crowd.  Come meet your neighbors, enjoy some light refreshments and perhaps volunteer to help us out with some of our activites.

SLIA sponsors the annual Music Box Steps Day children’s film festival and supports other cultural activities such as the June 20th Kite Festival in Bellevue Park.  We publish a bi-annual Newsletter and send out monthly Community News Blasts.  Our monthly meetings are attended by our local LAPD Senior Lead Officers and representatives from our elected officials. 

This year we’re sponsoring a Food Drive to benefit the Hollywood-Sunset Free Clinic (which just celebrated its 40th year in Silver Lake last fall.)   The Drive will kick off at the Annual Meeting — see the “Food Drive” post to see which items to bring that evening.

Send us a note at silverlakecares@aol.com if you want to know when we post new entries to the Blog.  And please check out our past and current Community News Blasts, which will be posted here.

Once again, Welcome!  Hope to see you soon.

The Silver Lake Improvement Association