THE
EAGLE ROCK
ASSOCIATION
The Best Investment You Can Make in Your Neighborhood
April 29, 2004
What? You're not yet a member of TERA?
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Click on
http://www.TERA90041.org/teraform.htm
Now more than ever,
please support your residents association --
more than 1,000 members strong, and growing every day!
Please encourage
interested friends and neighbors to send their email addresses
to us at e.letter@TERA90041.org so we
can keep them informed, too.
This week:
President’s Message (item #1)
LA’s Cultural Heritage Commission in
peril (item #2)
Looking out for our very own Ambassador (item
#11)
Table of Contents:
1. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE — JOIN
US!
2. ACTION ALERT: MAYOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET SLASHES LA HISTORIC
PRESERVATION PROGRAM
3. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, TOROS! -- MAY 1
4. LA COUNTY ARBORETUM PRESENTS A
PLANT SALE & GARDEN SHOW — MAY 1 – 2
5. SAVING THE GOLDEN STATE — MAY 8, 15, 22
6. A JAZZY NIGHT AT PASADENA’S NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH — MAY 8
7. “DAHLIA DAYS” IS COMING! AND YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! -- MAY 8
8. BUSINESS IMPROVISATION DISTRICT — MAY 8
9. VISIT THE MANY MUSEUMS OF THE ARROYO — FOR FREE! -- MAY 16
10. TOUR PASADENA’S HISTORIC HIGHLANDS HOMES — MAY 30
11. VOLUNTEER A FEW HOURS AND PRESERVE GENERATIONS OF LOS ANGELES
HISTORY: HELP SAVE THE AMBASSADOR HOTEL
12. WE'VE GOT MAIL
13. THE LAST WORD -- T.S. ELIOT
1. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE — JOIN US!
Join TERA and help us keep up the good fight for Eagle Rock! TERA
is a volunteer organization, which subsists solely on our membership dues and
ticket sales from the Home Tour.
Please renew your membership or join today to continue your subscription to this
e.letter, and to our quarterly newsletter.
Membership is easy! We will be sending current members a renewal letter,
and new members are welcome to join at our website
(http://www.tera90041.org/terajoin.htm) or using the form in our quarterly
newsletter.
The cost per individual is a mere $20, and per household is $25!
If you can, please consider becoming a Lifetime Member at $500. This
investment will help us with major projects. Lifetime Members will be
listed in all of our publications (unless you want to remain anonymous).
We are working with numerous businesses in Eagle Rock to create TERA Member
discounts. We will issue newly-minted TERA Membership cards so that
members may claim these additional benefits once they’re in place.
Please watch for our mail and other notices presenting news of some exciting
new value-added benefits!
Thank you in advance for your support!
-- Hilary Norton Orozco, TERA President
2. ACTION ALERT:
MAYOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET SLASHES LA HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM
From our friends at the Los Angeles Conservancy comes this vital
announcement about a devastating budget cut proposed for the city’s historic
preservation program, and what we can do to stop it.
The Los Angeles Conservancy needs your immediate help to ensure that
Mayor Hahn’s proposed 2004-5 budget does not completely destroy Los Angeles’
historic preservation program.
The Mayor’s proposed budget eliminates all but one staff position from the Cultural
Affairs Department’s historic preservation program and transfer this single
remaining position to the Planning Department, along with the
five-member Cultural Heritage Commission. Presently, the
preservation program has three full-time staff members, plus several staff
members who provide part-time support on crucial preservation projects.
The Cultural Heritage Commission oversees the designation and protection of
over 750 Historic-Cultural Monuments (local landmarks). The Cultural Affairs
Department’s historic preservation division also administers the Mills Act
program, a property tax incentive for owners of historic properties that is the
only meaningful financial incentive for historic preservation at the local
level. Over 180 historic property owners participate in the Mills Act program,
which has helped to spur the adaptive reuse that is fueling housing and
economic regeneration citywide. Under these draconian cuts, the Mills Act
program simply could not continue, and the City’s oversight of our most
cherished historic sites would be lax, at best.
In contrast, the City of New York’s Landmarks Commission has a staff of
over 50. Pasadena, a city about 1/20th the size of Los Angeles, has a
staff of six for its preservation program. Los Angeles, a city of nearly
4,000,000 residents, may soon match the preservation staffing of the City of
Vernon, a tiny industrial city of only 91 residents!
While the City of Los Angeles is facing its most dire budget outlook in recent
memory, it continues to pass up the opportunity to attract outside dollars to
help pay for its preservation program. Los Angeles remains the only large city
in California not to participate in the “Certified Local Government” program of
the National Park Service and the State Office of Historic Preservation, making
the city ineligible for State and Federal funds to support historic
preservation planning. When he ran for office in 2001, Mayor Hahn promised in a
Conservancy interview to support the single ordinance change necessary to have
Los Angeles become a CLG: all that is needed is to pass a proposed amendment,
introduced more than two years ago by Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski,
requiring that at least two of the five Cultural Heritage Commissioners have a
background in architecture, planning, history, or related fields ? a standard today’s
Cultural Heritage Commission already meets! Yet, the current administration has
failed to move forward with this ordinance.
What You Can Do To Preserve Preservation in the
City of Los Angeles
The City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee is about to begin
hearings on the Mayor’s budget proposals, and may recommend changes to the full
City Council. It’s critical that you immediately contact your Councilmember and
the five members of the Budget and Finance Committee: Bernard Parks, Cindy
Miscikowski, Eric Garcetti, Tony Cardenas, and Greig Smith. E-mail links to all
Councilmembers are available from this page on our website: http://www.laconservancy.org/issues/councilmember_email.php4
Please copy the Conservancy (info@laconservancy.org) on your correspondence.
The Council phone numbers now correspond to their Council District numbers, as
follows:
District 1: Ed Reyes, (213) 473-7001
District 2: Wendy Greuel, (213) 473-7002
District 3: Dennis Zine, (213) 473-7003
District 4: Tom LaBonge, (213) 473-7004
District 5: Jack Weiss, (213) 473-7005
District 6: Tony Cardenas, (213) 473-7006
District 7: Alex Padilla, (213) 473-7007
District 8: Bernard Parks, (213) 473-7008
District 9: Jan Perry, (213) 473-7009
District 10: Martin Ludlow, (213) 473-7010
District 11: Cindy Miscikowski, (213) 473-7011
District 12: Greig Smith, (213) 473-7012
District 13: Eric Garcetti, (213) 473-7013
District 14: Antonio Villaraigosa, (213) 473-7014
District 15: Janice Hahn, (213) 473-7015
Thank you for your help!
-- The Los Angeles Conservancy
3. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, TOROS! --
MAY 1
Toros
Pottery
This Saturday marks the third anniversary of one of Eagle Rock’s most
distinctive businesses, Toros Pottery Studio on Eagle Rock Boulevard
(just north of Yosemite.) To celebrate, the studio is inviting everyone
to drop in during their special anniversary hours this Saturday, 4:00 p.m. to
10:00 p.m.
View works created by local studio members and tour the pottery studio
and class area. There will be food, refreshments, music and festivities!
4. LA COUNTY ARBORETUM PRESENTS
A PLANT SALE & GARDEN SHOW — MAY 1 – 2
The fun takes place in the big tent in front of Ayres Hall. The Bonanza
is with Arboretum admission: $6 for adults, $4 for seniors over 62, $4 for
students with an ID, children ages 5-12 are $1.50, and under 5 are free
Here are the some of the event’s highlights:
At 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 1, Jill Vig gives a talk called “Plants I
Have Loved.”
At 11:00 a.m. Steve Goto addresses Heirloom Tomatoes. Steve is
the owner of Goto Nursery, and sells his heirloom tomatoes and vegetables to
many many nurseries in Southern California. Don't miss his Top 25
Tomato Picks for 2004! These are the result of Tomato Tastings that Steve
did last summer and fall. Learn all the tricks to successful planting and
harvesting of the best tomatoes for this area. There will be a great selection
of his wonderful tomato plants at the Plant Sale.
At 1:00 p.m., Gary Jones take a look at "Proven Winners for Your
Garden.” Gary is the former owner of Hortus Nursery, and is now with
Armstrong Gardens. He is editor of the California Gardener. Gary will
talk about why these Proven Winners are some of his favorite plants. He
has an amazing ability to combine plants in unique ways so come to his Garden
Chat and be inspired! The plants will also be available at the Baldwin Bonanza
Plant Sale.
At 2:00 p.m. Sharon and Bruce Asakawa take the stock of a
Summer Garden. Authors of numerous books, including California's
Gardener's Guide, as well as subjects such as roses and perennials, Sharon and
Bruce have a new about-to-be published book, California Gardening Rhythms.
Books will be available for signing. And tune in to The Garden
Compass radio program hosted by Bruce and Sharon and other garden experts;
you can be hear it throughout California and part of Arizona every Saturday and
Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
At 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 2, Jan Smithen talks about The
Mediterranean Style Garden. For 20 years, Jan taught a variety
of classes at The Arboretum, but was most renown for her Fanatic Gardener class
that had a 2-year waiting list! She is also co-author of a fascinating
and glorious book called Sun-Drenched Gardens: The Mediterranean Style, and
speaks frequently on a variety of subjects. This is your chance to hear a
legend without having to be on a wait list! Jan's book will be available
for signing.
At noon, take part in a Floral Demonstration with Wayne Woods. Floral
artist Wayne Woods of The Woods Exquisite Flowers has been delighting
gardeners for the past twenty-five years producing gorgeous, precisely arranged
and selected flowers. Teamed up with his wife Evonne Azar-Woods, a third
generation florist, The Woods has innovated the art of floral design by
introducing new and creative uses for flowers and containers. Wayne will be
discussing basic cut flower care and will demonstrate arrangement composition
with unique container types.
Sunday at 11:00 finds Lili Singer discussing Shade Gardening.
Horticulturist, garden consultant, garden writer with the Los Angeles Times and
other publications, Lili was formerly the publisher and editor of The Southern
California Gardener (1991-99) and The Gardener's Companion (2000-2003),
bimonthly guides to gardening in Southern California. She currently hosts
the Thursday Morning Seminar Series at The Arboretum, informative gatherings
with horticultural specialists, passionate gardeners and landscape
professionals. Lili will discuss the joys and challenges of gardening in
spots with limited sunlight. The session will feature an array of
shade-tolerant flora for moist areas, dry spots and under trees. Plants will be
available at the Baldwin Bonanza Plant Sale.
And, finally, at 2:00 p.m. On Sunday, join Robert Smaus as he looks at
“The Gardener's Year.” Gardening goes on year-round in Southern
California and each month has its special opportunities. There is a natural
flow and rhythm that follows the seasonal changes. This talk looks at when and
why we should do something in the garden and how it fits into the gardener's
year. Robert Smaus was the Garden Editor of the Los Angeles Times for 25
years (and still writes occasional articles), and before that, was the Southern
California Garden Editor for Sunset Magazine. He has won several awards
for his garden writing, including a citation from the American Horticultural
Society, and is the author of three books, including the best-selling 52 Weeks
in the California Garden. He was also the West Coast host for public
television's "The Victory Garden" for 15 years, and does the
occasional guest expert spots for DIY network garden and landscape shows.
His books will be available for signing.
For more information, please phone (626) 821 - 4624. Or email: Jill.Berry@arboretum.org.
A PROJECT OF THE COMMON GROUND GARDEN PROGRAM
Volunteers of the Common Ground Garden Program help low-income and
limited-resource county residents to grow and eat more nutritious vegetables
and fruits. Programs include Master Gardener volunteers (seasonal
gardening presentations) and Fresh From The Garden volunteers (simple nutrition
and food safety presentations). We work primarily with community gardens,
school gardens, seniors, and homeless and battered women's shelters.
5. SAVING THE GOLDEN STATE — MAY 8, 15, 22
Mona Field, TERA member and President of the LA Community College
District Board of Trustees, will teach a Saturday afternoon course at
Occidental College called “California Politics: Can we Save the Golden
State?” The course will be offered in a discussion format that tackles
current issues, including the state budget deficit, upcoming ballot measures,
local government challenges and more.
Mona is a Professor of Political Science at Glendale Community College.
The tenth edition of her book, California Government and Politics
Today, has just been published. For further information, contact
UCLA Extension at http://uclaextension.edu/capolitics or call (310)
825-2272.
6. A JAZZY NIGHT AT PASADENA’S NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH — MAY 8
The
experimental/classical music group The Paul Bailey Ensemble will present
a concert of new instrumental and vocal music featuring music by Paul Bailey
and Sean Ferguson. The evening will include the premiere of a
four-movement extended choral piece, Retrace our Steps,
commissioned by the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Based on a
variety of texts by Gertrude Stein, Guy Debord, and Jenny Bitner,
the work explores the relationships between youthful idealism, consumerism and
job security. Mezzo-soprano Nicole Baker, who serves on the
faculty at Cal State Fullerton, will be featured in the work.
The eclectic nine-member Paul Bailey Ensemble (2 violins, cello, electric
guitar, electric bass, synthesizer, vibraphone, bass clarinet and trombone,)
brings together musicians from the rock and classical worlds. Members
perform with a variety of local professional organizations, ranging from the Los
Angeles Master Chorale and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra to the Pacific
Symphony and the Los Angeles Opera.
Tickets for the concert are $15.00 for general admission and $7.00 for seniors
and students.
For more information visit: www.paulbaileyensemble.org.
SPECIAL OFFER FOR TERA MEMBERS: The Paulo Bailey Ensemble will give a free
CD, “The Paul Bailey Ensemble Live at OCCCA,” to any TERA member who presents a
copy of this e.letter at the show.
7. “DAHLIA DAYS” IS
COMING! AND YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! -- MAY 8
(On Caspar Ave., just off Eagle Rock
and Colorado Boulevards)
The Dahlia Days committee needs vendors and volunteers for this gala annual
event. And there are still plenty of sponsorship opportunities available.
Call (626) 577-9944 or (323) 881-4618!
Dahlia Days is offered with the kind generosity of State Senator Jack Scott,
Assemblymember Carol Liu, Supervisor Gloria Molina, and Councilmember
Antonio Villaraigosa.
For more information and vendor applications, call (626) 577-9944 or (323)
881-4618.
8. BUSINESS IMPROVISATION DISTRICT — MAY 8
The Arroyo Arts Collective, a
grassroots community artists' organization in Northeast Los Angeles presents “BID:
Business Improvisation District,” a site-specific installation project
pairing artists with local merchants debuting on Saturday, May 8. Viewers
will be able to stroll the street and discover work by 23 local artists
situated in stores along two blocks of York Boulevard from Avenue 50 to Avenue
52 in Highland Park. (For those of you unfamiliar with Highland Park’s
eclectic York Boulevard, it runs east and west between the 110 Freeway and
Eagle Rock Boulevard.)
Art will be located inside and outside the premises of an eclectic mix of small
businesses, including markets, beauty salons, party stores and a weaving
studio. Artists will create thematically related works such as sculptures from
vacuum cleaner parts at the vacuum cleaner store, customized brooms for beauty
salons and, at the insurance broker’s office, a million-dollar dress made from
shredded ten and twenty dollar bills.
The opening reception and art walk are free to the
public, Saturday, May 8 from 1 to 4 p.m. (There’s plenty of street
parking.)
Artist’s installations will be available for viewing during participating
merchants' regular business hours in stores marked with the “BID” logo.
Brochures identifying merchants and artists will be available at each end
of the walk. For more information, visit our web site:
http://www.arroyoartscollective.org, or call (323) 850-8566.
9. VISIT THE MANY MUSEUMS OF THE ARROYO — FOR FREE! -- MAY 16
Lummis Home and Garden
Join thousands of Southern Californians on Sunday, May 16 for the Fifteenth
Annual Museums of the Arroyo (MOTA) Day, where five museums stretching from
Los Angeles to Pasadena will open their doors to visitors free of charge
from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This year's special, one-day only event will celebrate art, architecture, music
and history,with free admission at all five arroyo museums: The Gamble
House, Heritage Square Museum, Lummis Home and Garden, the Pasadena Museum of
History and the Southwest Museum. This year’s theme is "Literary
Los Angeles," so be on the lookout for local authors, historians,
regional storytellers, book-making crafts for the kids and more.
Getting there is easy. Take the Gold Line to MOTA Day and jump off at either
the Southwest Museum or Heritage Square station, where members of the Metro Art
Docent Council will welcome you. From there, free shuttles will escort
you to every museum. Or, if you choose to drive, park your car once and
shuttle to the museums of your choice.
For more information, call the MOTA hotline at (213) 740-TOUR (8687) or visit
http://www.museumsofthearroyo.com.
10. TOUR PASADENA’S HISTORIC HIGHLANDS HOMES — MAY 30
Six character homes in a wide range of architectural styles - many of them
never before open to the public -- will be open for viewing during Pasadena
Historic Highland's Tenth Annual Home Tour on Sunday, May 30, from noon to 4
p.m.
Architectural styles featured on this year's Memorial Day Weekend tour will be
Spanish Colonial Revival, Craftsman, English Revival, Colonial Revival, and a
modern interpretation of the Craftsman style. All of the homes on the tour are
clustered on or near Topeka Avenue, one of Historic Highlands' loveliest
tree-lined streets.
Built on land originally owned by two prominent Pasadena pioneers, Historic
Highlands contains an eclectic mix of almost 120 years of residential building
styles. This unique blend has made it a favorite location for commercials,
television, and movies, including "Multiplicity," "Dr. Doolittle,"
"The Wedding Singer" and "Tuesdays with Morrie."
Advance tickets may be purchased for $12.50 online at www.historichighlands.com
<http://www.historichighlands.com> or by sending a check payable to
"Historic Highlands Neighborhood Association" and a stamped,
self-addressed envelope to HHNA, c/o Rex Barry, 1436 N. Michigan Ave., Pasadena
CA 91104. Tickets also are available at Motif, 1389 East Washington Blvd.,
Pasadena, or may be purchased for $15 on the day of the tour at the corner of
Topeka and North Michigan avenues. For more information, call (626) 797-1910.
Located on the Pasadena-Altadena border just five minutes north of the 210
Foothill Freeway, Historic Highlands is bounded by Washington Boulevard on the
south, New York Drive on the north, Lake Avenue on the west and Hill Avenue on
the east. The neighborhood includes the landholdings of David McPherson,
designer and engineer of the Mt. Lowe railroad, and Ezra Dane, an orchardist
who settled in Pasadena in 1883.
Tour proceeds benefit neighborhood street beautification and improvement funds
for Longfellow Elementary School, the local public school whose original
building (still extant) was designed in 1911 by famed architects Greene and
Greene.
11. VOLUNTEER A FEW HOURS AND PRESERVE GENERATIONS OF LOS ANGELES
HISTORY: HELP SAVE THE AMBASSADOR HOTEL
Finally, we close this week’s e.letter with another vital dispatch from the
Los Angeles Conservancy, this one focusing on the Ambassador Hotel, the
historic Wilshire Boulevard landmark that may fall under the wrecker’s ball
unless concerned preservationists step forward now. Here are all the
details, including the Conservancy’s call for volunteers to help anchor this
most worthy effort.
Thank you for your continued interest in the fight to save Wilshire
Boulevard's historic Ambassador Hotel. The Ambassador is the most
significant Los Angeles building to be threatened with demolition since St.
Vibiana's Cathedral in 1996, and we need you to get actively involved as
this moves toward a final vote in the coming weeks. We need volunteers
to help with the Ambassador issue every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
evening, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Conservancy's office, 523 W. Sixth St.,
Suite 826. Please contact Ben Golombek at (213) 430-4217 or bgolombek@laconservancy.org
to schedule an evening when you can help.
The A+ Coalition -- "The Ambassador PLUS Option -- A Better School for
Our Kids" -- now has 45 member organizations ranging from
entertainment industry groups such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences and the Screen Actors Guild (a new coalition member) to the
Latino Urban Forum and California Latina Coalition Political Action
Committee, from business groups such as the Miracle Mile, Silver Lake and
Crenshaw Chambers of Commerce to labor unions such as SEIU Local 347,
AFL-CIO and the Professional Musicians Union, Local 47, AFL-CIO.
See the Conservancy's web site, http://www.laconservancy.org, for a full
list of A+ members and for the coalition's materials, and please let us know if
your organization will join our growing list.
The decision date by the Los Angeles Unified School District's (LAUSD) Board
of Education continues to slip back, and it now appears that the Board's
final vote may not occur until June. Last week, Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles
Times wrote a column expressing some sympathy for preserving the Ambassador,
but arguing against preservation if it cost any more than new construction. But
LAUSD's spin on the cost doesn't tell the whole story. It is important to point
out that:
Finally, you may want to read a lengthy, atmospheric feature article on the
Ambassador that ran in a recent Washington Post Style section:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20943-2004Apr17.html.
We hope to see you as an Ambassador volunteer in the coming days and weeks:
again, please contact Ben Golombek at (213) 430-4217 to set up a time that you
can help.
12. WE'VE GOT MAIL
“My husband and I are residents of Eagle Rock and TERA members. I
am wondering if you or any of your readers might have any suggestions on what I
can do about a problem in my neighborhood. I'll try to keep it short.
“We live in a house just north of Colorado Boulevard. Our home is next to
several businesses that are located on Colorado Blvd. One of the
businesses that moved into the building adjacent to us in November 2003 is
Ameriserv Plumbing. They are turning our neighborhood into a virtual
plumbing contractor’s convention. Their employees park their personal
vehicles, company vehicles (trucks and vans) on our street, loiter in front of
our property, throw trash and cigarette butts, block our driveway and actually
"work" in front of our home transferring material, sawing wood,
cutting pipe, etc. Ameriserv has a very small parking lot (and they knew
how small it was when they moved in,) and obviously do not have the room to
accommodate all of their employees or work vans. However, there have been
instances where the parking lot is empty and there were still several workers
loitering on our street, loading vans, etc.
“I have been in contact with Michael Cathey of Anthony Villaraigosa's office.
However, to date, he has been too busy to visit the owner. My
husband and I paid a call on the owner in January, when we let him know
of the problems. However, nothing has changed. I followed up
with a long letter to the owner (and a copy to Mr. Cathey.) I
received no response from the owner of Ameriserv. I spoke with another
employee, who assured me that in their meeting last Friday, he would put the
word out to employees regarding all of the problems. Still, nothing has
changed.
“I would appreciate any help you can give me in this regard. Although it
only impacts our home and our neighbor directly across the street, it is an
extremely problematic situation for our residential neighborhood that is
turning into a commercial one before our very eyes. Aren't there laws
about parking for businesses in Los Angeles? Perhaps I should contact
Officer Galindo? Any suggestions on anyone else that might be able to
help me would be appreciated.
“Thank you for any help or suggestions you or your readers can give.”
-- Kitty Davis, Eagle Rock
So sorry to hear about your ongoing frustrations with your business
neighbor, Kitty. It’s not supposed to work that way. As far as what
you should do now, you’ve already taken a wise first step in contacting Michael
Cathey, the Eagle Rock district field deputy for Councilmember Villaraigosa’s
office. We’ve always found Michael to be incredibly diligent about
following up on complaints and requests from residents, so it’s a pretty sure
bet he’ll find some answers for you soon. In the meantime, have you been
in touch with your local Neighborhood Watch? If not, that might be a
fruitful next move. In addition to whatever meetings are staged by your
local Neighborhood Watch group, the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Watch also holds a
community wide meeting (to which all are invited, of course,) every month.
Chaired by LAPD Officer Joe Galindo, these meetings are an appropriate
place to address quality of life issues such as yours. The monthly Neighborhood
Watch meetings take place from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Eagle Rock City Hall,
on the northeast corner of Colorado Blvd. and North Maywood Ave.
The next scheduled meeting is set for May 20. For more information,
or to be connected with your local Neighborhood Watch leader, call the City
Council District 14 Field Office at (323) 254-5295.
* * *
“Regarding a sound wall on the 134
freeway:
“Thank you for the current info on the status of construction of a sound wall
in an area north of eastern Eagle Rock, between Mt. Helena Ave and Figueroa St
(not covering that entire area.) However, has anyone noticed that
the same traffic flows to and from the 2 freeway (which has sound walls in the
same area,) and the same sounds do not just become mute at Mt. Helena Avenue.
Has anyone noticed the sound walls on the newly constructed portion of
the 210 all the way to the 15? Well, I certainly have. And wonders
of wonders, the 210 has miles and miles of sound walls that shield flood
control basins, uninhabited areas, and gravel pits. I wonder, if Eagle
Rock was to become a gravel pit, would we get a sound wall as well?”
-- Martha A. Moren, TERA member, Mt. Helena Avenue
* * *
TERA member Tracy King sent the
following note to LAUSD board member David Tokofsky in reference to the school
board’s stewardship of the historic Ambassador Hotel in Mid-Wilshire, and the
LAUSD's ongoing plan to transform the historic property into an LAUSD campus.
“I feel very strongly that the Ambassador Hotel should be spared from
demolition. It would be less expensive and actually a priceless move on
the School Board's part to preserve this icon of American history. I
believe it would be much more important to our children's education to attend
school in an historical building than in a sterile stucco edifice. And if
the board is concerned with creating a school quickly, how much quicker can you
do it than by saving the current building?”
-- Tracy King, Eagle Rock Resident, TERA member, Eclectic Eagle Rock
Home Tour Committee member
Thanks for sharing that with us, Tracy. Readers seeking more
information on the continuing battle to save the Ambassador should see the
final item in the main body of this week’s e.letter, or go to the LA
Conservancy's website at http://www.laconservancy.org. And if you'd
like to send you own note to Board Member Tokosfsky, you may email him directly
at david.tokofsky@lausd.net.
* * *
”Thank you so very much for keeping
everyone on top of what is going on in our various neighborhoods. We are
all from the same region, and it’s important that we know what is going on so
we may assist when we can.
By the way, the mentoring program I’m involved with is looking for a few good
men and women to serve as role models and change the life of a child.
Please check out our website at http://www.hathawaymentor.org.
-- Richard Ledesma, Hathaway Mentoring, Program Coordinator
* * *
We
welcome your comments, complaints and/or compliments on the e.letter or any
other topic of interest to greater Eagle Rock. Please address your
message to e.letter@TERA90041.org, and
include your full name, along with your city, neighborhood or professional
affiliation. Opinions expressed in the e.letter's "We've Got
Mail" section do not necessarily reflect the views of The Eagle Rock
Association (TERA), the e.letter editor, or The Eagle Rock Association Board of
Directors, who reserve the right to publish letters or other materials
submitted to the e.letter at their sole discretion. Letters or other
material chosen for publication may be edited for style, clarity and brevity.
Please let us know if you do not wish to have your comments appear
in the e.letter.
13. THE LAST WORD --
T.S. ELIOT
“April is
the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.”
-- T.S. Eliot (1888-1965)
Distributed weekly via
email and as a regular feature on various internet discussion groups, the TERA
e.letter is read by well over 2000 readers with an interest in Eagle Rock and
Northeast Los Angeles. Please encourage interested friends to send their
full name and email address to us at e.letter@TERA90041.org
so we can keep them informed, too.
If you have changed your email address or would like to be removed from this
list, send us an email to e.letter@TERA90041.org
with the word(s) "remove" or "address change" in the
subject box, as appropriate.
If you have a press release, letter of comment, question or other notice that
you feel might be of interest to the Eagle Rock community, send it to e.letter@TERA90041.org. Your announcement -- in the form of an
email text message, (no attachments, please) -- must be in our hands by noon on
Monday to be considered for inclusion in that week's issue.
TERA -- The Eagle Rock Association -- YOUR COMMUNITY IN ACTION -- http://www.TERA90041.org --
P. O. Box 41453, Eagle Rock, CA 90041 -- (323) 259-TERA -- a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit public benefit corporation
The TERA e.letter
The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)
Vince Waldron, editor
e.letter@TERA90041.org