Along with the summer heat come some hot issues for Eagle Rock
residents. Two items in particular have been generating a great deal of e-
mail traffic. The two issues are the LA International Charter School’s
(the School) plans to lease the Farley Building (1669 Colorado Boulevard)
for use as a charter high school and the continuing reports of boarding
house type uses in areas zoned for single family dwellings in various
parts of Eagle Rock.
There appears to have been a lot of mis- information circulated about
this proposed School project. Jessica Wethington McLean, current co-chair
of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council Planning and Land Use Committee and
sub-district 2 representative, put together an excellent information sheet
regarding this proposed project. Hopefully the complete document will be
posted on the ERNC website. But in the meantime, I’ve taken most of the
following information from Jessica’s paper.
The LA International Charter High School is currently located at 2109
Merton Way and completed its 1st year of operation as a 9th grade
institution. It is looking to expand and serve 9th and 10th grades in
2006-07; 10th and 11th grades in 2007-08 and grades 9 - 12 in 2008-09. The
school’s charter permits a maximum of 400 students. The plan is to
accommodate 200 students in 2006-07 and school administrators state it is
not certain if maximum capacity will ever be reached. The School reports
most of its students come from Northeast Los Angeles with approximately
35% from Eagle Rock.
The School site is Zone [Q]C4-1XL, in which schools are a permitted
use. The School site is within the boundaries of the Colorado Boulevard
Specific Plan (the Specific Plan). The Specific Plan does not specifically
address schools. All projects within the boundary of the Specific Plan
require a determination by the Director of the City Planning Department
that there is “Project Permit Compliance”, or granting of a “Project
Permit Adjustment” which permits adjustments to some Specific Plan
regulations, or granting an exception to the Specific Plan. All require
the submission of an application and the payment of filing fees.
The Director of Planning (Actually City Planning Department staff)
sends out a written determination of project permit compliance, granting,
denying, or granting with conditions, a project permit. That decision can
be appealed to the East Area Planning Commission, which will hold a public
hearing on the appeal. The Area Planning Commission can reverse or modify
the Director’s decision in whole or in part. Its decision is final,
subject to Charter Section 245, which does allow the matter to be
considered by the City Council under certain circumstances.
Concern has been expressed about parking for the School, as well as
pick-up and drop-off of students and over-all generation of traffic which
may have an adverse impact on adjacent residential streets. The School has
been told by City staff that it will be treated as any other commercial
use in the C4 Zone and will be required to have one parking space for
every 500 square feet of floor area, requiring 30 parking spaces. It was
not clear to me how the School intended to meet its parking requirements.
The City Department of Building and Safety opened Case No. CM2006-0281
on May 19, 2006 and met with school staff and its architects on June 12,
2006 for a preliminary site review to assess Zoning and Building Code
issues prior to the School’s architects finalizing their plans. The main
concerns based on this preliminary site review and plan check are:
1. Parking requirements; 2. Plumbing fixtures and sewer line
infrastructure; and 3. Exit doors and windows.
What’s in the future?
The School hopes to open at its new location in Fall, 2006. The ERNC
Planning and Land Use Committee is going to schedule a special meeting to
discuss the school. The time and date of that meeting will be announced
but should be sometime in the next few weeks. I hope everyone who is
interested will attend. In addition, a discussion of this matter will be
held by the TERA Preservation, Planning and Development Committee on
Wednesday, August 16, 2006. All interested parties are invited to attend.
The Committee will be making a recommendation to the TERA Board. Please
also see the letter in the letters section below, from Pat Viera regarding
a neighbors' meeting to be held on Sunday, July 30th at 11:00 a.m. at 5148
Mount Royal Drive.
Thanks, Jessica, for pulling together so much information in such a
short amount of time. We appreciate the ERNC Planning and Land Use
Commission providing a forum for all parties to learn the facts and make a
decision whether to support or oppose the location of the School at this
location based on the merits of the proposal and its impact on the
surrounding neighbors rather than on rumor, mis- information and
supposition.
The second, continuing, hot issue is commercial and boarding house type
uses in the single family zones around different parts of Eagle Rock. I
received correspondence from a large number of neighbors on Mount Helena
about converting a residence into a 6- bed medical care facility; a use
clearly not envisioned in the R1 Zone any more than is converting single
family dwellings into defacto apartment houses with 6, 8 or 10
individuals, each with their own car, living, playing, partying and
over-burdening the surrounding street and neighborhood. This too will be
discussed at TERA’s PP&D Committee meeting on August 16th. TERA has
taken a position opposing such conversions, as has the ERNC, and TERA will
be making recommendations for the enforcement of the City’s codes and
regulations to halt these practices.
On the good news front, Larkin’s Restaurant is moving towards opening,
hopefully in late summer or early fall. Larkin’s will occupy the former
used car lot and house near Cindy’s Restaurant (1496 Colorado Blvd.). The
owners of Larkin’s state that, “A new era in soul food is the concept for
Larkin’s, an adventure into the old rich recipes of traditional soul and
the dynamic flavors of today. Chef Larking Mackey brings years of
experience combining traditional soul food with his Californian
upbringing. His Latin influences enhance the flavors of his dishes, while
his French and Asian schooling add to the artistic expressing of his
plates. He brings youth and vibrancy without taking away from the comfort
and flavors that make soul food the rich and succulent cuisine that it
is...Nourish the MIND, BODY, and SOUL; this is the basis for Larkin’s, a
place where you will be able to nourish all three.”
Yep, there’s a lot going on in Eagle Rock during these hot summer days.
And that’s really cool!
![scott med TERA logo](http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs059/1101059569372/img/1.gif?a=1101362692754) Michael Tharp,
President
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TERA needs a
few good volunteers! |
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Our membership drive continues. We are looking for volunteers to stuff,
stamp, seal, and mail membership drive envelops. A few minutes of your
time will pay big benefits for resident involvement in Eagle Rock! Please
contact volunteer@tera90041.org for more information.
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Special Thanks
to our Members who have renewed! |
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TERA's membership drive for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2006-June 30, 2007
is in full swing, and we want to thank the 150 households and businesses
who have renewed or started new memberships so far. We would like
especially to thank those members who generously donated at Sustaining
Levels ($50 and above).
Sustaining/Business Associate Members $50
Thomas Craig
Patricia Cross and Don Krotser
Elizabeth and John Wagner
Emilyn and Takeshi Eto
Teri Wahl, Auntie Em's Kitchen
Gwen Everman and Eric Liljestand, Lily Man, Inc.
,p>Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance (UGLA)
Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD)
Sponsor Members $75
Valerie Zavala
Patron Members $100
Ute de Lara, Eagle Rock Montessori School
Don and Katherine Dustin
Eilen Hatrick-Sadeh and Eitan Sadeh
Thank you for your support!
Please renew or start your memberships today: online at www.tera90041.org
or email volunteer@tera90041.org or call 323-259-TERA for a
membership kit.
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Be an Insider
in an Eagle Rock Tradition |
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TERA's Eagle Rock Ecclectic Home Tour Committee needs volunteers. It's
a cool way to spend the hot days of summer!
Please consider volunteering to help with this year's Eclectic Eagle
Rock Home Tour on October 15. Our Home Tour Committee also needs a few
more volunteers. If you'd like to work with a talented, dedicated, and fun
group of Eagle Rockers and meet your neighbors during our signature
community event, please contact Pauline.Mauro@gmail.com, or call
(323) 550-1130 for details.
Docents Guide Home Tour goers through Eagle Rock's architecturally
unique homes. Morning or afternoon shifts on October 15 available. One
docent training session required prior to the Home Tour.
Other Volunteer Opportunities: We need volunteers to help set up, take
down, sell tickets, survey tour goers. Teenagers to retirees welcome!
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Give Your
Business or Group an Eagle Rock Advantage |
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Deliver your message to your Eagle Rock and Northeast neighbors with an
ad in the Eclectic Eagle Rock Home Tour brochure. The Home Tour will take
place on Sunday, October 15, 2006. To place an advertisement in the Home
Tour brochure, please contact Maedale Gongora at 323-255-
1267 and she will get back to you immediately with the
specifications for artwork on 1/8th, 1/4th/ or 1/2 page ads.
The prices are $75 for 1/8th page; $125 for 1/4 page and $250 for 1/2
page. Advertisements will be taken on a first come/first served basis. We
are getting an early start in order to avoid a last minute rush. If you
plan to run an ad this year, please make your arrangements early.
Thank you!
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Construction to
Begin Spring of 2007 on Los Angeles Community College's Northeast
Campus |
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Los Angeles City College plans to create a Northeast campus on the site
of the historic Van De Kamp Bakery Building, according to Dr. Steve
Maradian, president of the college. The façade of the building is a Los
Angeles City Monument and will be preserved as part of the new campus
complex. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2007.
When completed, the historic Van De Kamp bakery site will have two
large-scale buildings at Fletcher Drive and San Fernando Road in Glassell
Park. The first will be the bakery's renovated two- story office
structure, to be used for classrooms and offices. Behind it there will be
a new two-story classroom building. The buildings should be ready for use
in 2008.
A major research effort is underway to design the right academic
programs for the northeast campus, said Dr. Merrill Eastcott, who is
overseeing the academic component of the new campus. The focus will be
workforce preparation with innovative new disciplines as well as general
education and developmental programs. The college's Education Planning
Committee and department chairs will help to develop the new curriculum.
LACC's northeast campus will have approximately 70,000 square feet,
providing space for three dozen classrooms as well as offices. Facilities
will include two science labs, several computer labs, and a fitness
center. The fitness center is being funded by a $236,000 Health and Human
Services grant which was awarded with the support of Congressman Xavier
Becerra.
Plans for the renovation of the one-time bakery and construction of the
adjacent building are both currently being reviewed by the Division of the
State Architect. The design architect for the new building is Steven
Ehrlich Architects, and the firm of Roschen Van Cleve Architects designed
the restoration of the bakery building. The facade and roof of the
historic bakery have been designated a Los Angeles City Monument.
The bid process for construction will start next year, with
construction to begin in April of 2007. Grading and reinforcement of the
site have already been completed. Contractors have dug down 13 feet,
removed old pilings, and compacted the earth for the footprint of the new
building.
The college owns the property's site which was purchased using Prop AA
bond funds. Total cost of the project is $70 million of which $50 million
will be funded through the recent bond issue. After three years of
operation, it is anticipated that the northeast campus will enroll
approximately 2500 full and part-time students. The site will be self
supporting and could even provide resources for the college's main campus
located in Hollywood, according to Dr. Eastcott.
,p>The Van De Kamp bakery office's distinctive Dutch step facade
will be preserved in its restoration. The restored building will house
classrooms, administrative offices and a display on the historic bakery.
The new classroom building behind it will house a library, naturally lit
with vaulted ceiling, as well as a student center. The buildings will also
be the first ever to receive both the European BREAM and American LEED
certification, signifying that the buildings comply with energy
conservation requirements and have a "green" environmental design. This
will mean that more than ten percent of their energy needs will be self
produced through renewable resources, there will be improved wastewater
management, and building materials will come from recycled materials.
Since its purchase several years ago, the Van de Kamp site has gone
through a number of redesigns. Most recently two science labs have been
added to the complex, and the fitness center was relocated. A new central
courtyard is also part of the campus' design.
For more information, contact Fred Piegonski, Executive Assistant to
the President, Los Angeles City College, 855 N. Vermont Avenue, Los
Angeles, CA 90029, (323) 953-4000 ext. 2243 or email
piegonfg@lacitycollege.edu.
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Summer Concerts
in the Park |
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Mark your calendar with the dates for THE EAGLE ROCK CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE SUMMER CONCERTS IN THE PARK, Sundays at 6 p.m.:
August 6: "Hard Day’s Night"
August 13: Summer Swingfest with "Swing Inc." (see next article below)
August 20: Country & Western
August 27: "Jack Lantz Big Band"
The Park is located at 1100 Eagle Vista Drive. All concerts run from 6
to 8 p.m., and there are pre- show activities planned at most of them as
early as 5 p.m. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs, and a picnic dinner or
purchase food from vendors. Thanks, Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce!
------------------------------------------
ER Summer Swingfest Sunday, August 13
Don’t miss the summer’s biggest, best party in Eagle Rock Park, back by
popular demand, the Eagle Rock Summer SwingFest 2006. Swing to the hep
cats from the popular SWING, INC. band. Join the fun, music, dancing and
enjoy FREE ice cream on Sunday, August 13. There will be lots of freebies
and surprises in store so don’t miss it! Festivities start at 5 p.m. and
the band goes on at 6 p.m. Enter the ERNC 2006 Swing Dance Championship
Competition for trophies and prizes! The event is brought to you by the
Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council in cooperation with the Eagle Rock Chamber
of Commerce Summer Concerts in the Park.
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August 12
Women’s Twentieth Century Club Fundraiser |
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SAVE THE DATE!
The Women's Twentieth Century Club's Designer Apparel Fundraiser will
be held on Saturday, August 12th from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. This event
promises to be lots of fun as well as a fantastic fundraiser for our club.
Don't forget to tell friends and family to be there on August 12th.
For additional information, contact Lois Shilts or Helga Thomsen.
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Arroyo Arts
Collective's “The Bird Show" to close Aug 6 |
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Our opening party squawked the house! Come and see what you missed!
There will be a show Closing Party and Art Pick- Up* on Sunday August
6, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
The Big Hen has been re-filled with a limited number of fantastic egg
prizes!
"The Bird Show" is located at the Acorn Gallery, 135 N. Avenue 50, Los
Angeles, CA 90042. Contact arroyoart
scollective.org
*Artists: Please pick up or arrange to have your piece picked up by
4:00 p.m. because we have no storage available.
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Mayor’s Town
Hall Meeting on Education Reform August 8 |
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You are invited to a Town Hall Meeting with Mayor Antonio R.
Villaraigosa on his Education Reform Plans Tuesday, August 8, 6:30 p.m. to
8:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Auditorium, 2201 Griffin Avenue (corner of
Baldwin), Los Angeles 90031.
The Mayor's office encourages you to be part of this historic
partnership between parents, teachers, and education stakeholders united
to dramatically improve the quality of education in Los Angeles. Join
Mayor Villaraigosa and learn about his reform plans to cut the
bureaucracy, move resources into the classroom, and provide real
accountability.
Please RSVP with the Mayor’s Eastside Office at (213) 978-0839 or via
e-mail to carlos.alvarado@lacity.org. Please contact us in advance
if you require childcare.
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In Season at
the Highland Park Farmers Market |
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This week we welcomed a new fresh fish and seafood vendor to the
market, as well as the Bread Bar, a purveyor of high quality artisanal
breads. Make sure to try their highly regarded baguettes and interesting
variations like fig and olive rolls. The market has really been in full
swing the last few weeks with a wide variety of stone fruits to choose
from, including the white nectarines which I've found to be delicious week
after week. Melons of various varieties are now also appearing at the
market from Jaime farms in the City of Industry and Z-ranch in the
Imperial Valley. And even in this heat, Tamai farms continues to bring in
delicious strawberries from their farm in Oxnard. For a complete list of
the produce you can expect to find at the market this week, check out http://w
ww.its.caltech.edu/~sbudick
With the awful heat that we've been experiencing lately, nothing could
make a better dinner than a cold soup and crusty roll from the Bread Bar.
Here's a recipe for a cold avocado-corn soup that takes a bit of work, but
I promise is worth the effort, plus, you can pick up all of the
ingredients from the farmers market. Start by roasting two ears of corn
over your stove's gas burners for a couple of minutes, until the kernels
begin to char. Cut the kernels from the cobs and cut the cobs into thirds
and boil them in 8 cups of water along with 2 cloves of crushed garlic, 1
cups of chopped onions and 3 tsp salt. Boil for about 20 minutes, remove
the cobs, and puree the remaining liquid in a food processor along with 2
chopped serrano peppers and 1 1/2 cups of chopped onions. Strain the puree
into a bowl through a fine sieve, pushing on the mash to get out as much
liquid as possible. Return the liquid to the food processor and puree
again along with the flesh of 2 avocados and 4 tbsp of lime juice. Chill
the soup until cold and trust me you won't be sorry for the effort. To go
all the way, puree 2 cups of cilantro with 1/2 cup olive oil and 1 tsp
salt and then allow the mixture to strain through a sieve into a bowl for
15 minutes, discarding the solids, to make a wonderful cilantro oil to
dribble over the soup along with a few dollops of crema (Mexican sour
cream). Total preparation time is about 45 minutes (recipe from www.epicurious.co
m).
If you'd rather take home dinner from the market you'll have plenty of
options including tamales, "honey pineapple chicken", Korean barbeque,
rotisseried chicken, baked potatoes and yams and roasted corn. And please
don't let the heat keep you from the market as cold shaved iced was
designed for days like these.
Please stop by the market for fresh, field- ripened, high quality
produce from local farmers and spend time with your friends, neighbors and
other community members.
The Highland Park Certified Farmers Market is located adjacent to the
Highland Park Gold Line station at Marmion Way between Ave. 57 & 58.
It operates Tuesdays from 3-8 p.m.
Visit the market website at http://www.oldla.org.
Also visit http://w
ww.its.caltech.edu/~sbudick to see where your produce is coming from!
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Wedding Art at Ave. 50 Studio through Aug.
6 |
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Don't miss the chance to see "Holy Nuptials, A Survey of Artwork Based
on the Theme of Marriage" at Avenue 50 Studio. The show will close August
6.
“Holy Nuptials” features art that speaks to the institution of marriage
and spectacle of weddings. A loaded and contradictory subject, “Holy
Nuptials” is an irreverent, romantic, heartfelt, scary, unsettling and/or
strange exhibit. Participating artists bring to the subject of marriage
and weddings their personal beliefs be they married artists, thrice
married, divorced, or single.
Please join us as we wed fine art with the question of marriage at
Avenue 50 Studio, 131 No. Avenue 50, Los Angeles, CA 90042 (323) 258- 1435
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Vampires,
Giants and Other Folk Tales |
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The critically acclaimed Occidental Children’s Theater will present
“Dracula and the Beanstalk,” an original story, plus three adaptations of
traditional folktales at 10 a.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday
through Aug. 19 in the Remsen Bird Hillside Theater on the Occidental
College campus. Tickets are $9 for adults and $6 for children. Group rates
are available.
In about an hour, a cast of six recent Occidental alumni will perform
four energetic and funny stories without props, sets or special costumes,
relying only on their acting and acrobatic skills. The cast carries it off
with the unflagging charm that has made this reliable company one of the
Southland’s --and the summer’s-- most entertaining children’s theater
offerings, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The scripts and the action for the tales are company-created and the
result of weeks of improvisation and revision. The three traditional
stories are the troupe’s versions of existing folk tales from around the
world. The title story was developed by actors and Jamie Angell, the
theater’s founding artistic director.
The theater company works in the round, so the audience is right on top
of the action. The unconventional material and the absence of props or
costumes force both the actors and the audience to rely on their
imaginations. It’s remarkably different from most anything else you see in
children’s theater today.
For more information, please call (323) 259- 2771.
Occidental College is located at 1600 Campus Road in Eagle Rock. For a
campus map and directions to the college, visit http:/
/www.oxy.edu/MapsDirections.xml.
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HEAT WARNING:
How to Keep Your Dog from Getting Heatstroke |
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THE HEAT CAN TURN DEADLY FOR YOUR DOG VERY, VERY QUICKLY.
Is Your Dog In Danger?
By Sarah Wilson & Brian Kilcommons
Published: August 21, 2005
Courtesy of PARADE magazine
On the evening of the Fourth of July, Hogar, a 16- month-old bulldog,
went outside with his owner for a game of catch. It wasn't especially hot
in their Detroit suburb. But, with the humidity high, Hogar panted
fiercely as he chased a Frisbee (think stampeding canine cannonball).
After about 15 minutes, Hogar came inside, drank some water and flopped
onto the floor. No one thought much of it. Then Vicki Hodgson (Hogar's
grandma, as it were) noticed that his chest was heaving, his mouth was
gaping and his eyes were brick-red. Hogar was in serious trouble.
How Dogs Handle Heat
This summer, record high temperatures have zapped the energy from both
people and their pets. For dogs especially, heat stroke is not uncommon.
"Once a dog's body temperature reaches 107," warns Dr. Eric Hartelius, a
veterinarian in New York, "the cells of the body start to come apart.
There is hope if we get to the animal quickly. But the longer they are
hot, and the hotter they are, the less hope there is."
Why do dogs get so hot? They don't have an efficient system for
handling the heat, and most don't realize that they should decrease their
energy level as temperatures rise. While humans sweat all over, dogs pant
to evaporate moisture from the tongue and inside the mouth. And since they
pant often even when not overheated most owners fail to recognize the
problem.
Remember: A dog's mouth is his air-conditioning system. So the danger
signals emerge as soon as he turns that air conditioner on high. Panting
becomes very fast, and the mouth opens wide to allow maximum air flow. The
tongue hangs low, widens and thins out to create as much surface area as
possible (think "slice of bologna"), while the gums, eyes and tongue may
turn brick-red as blood rushes to the area. Also look for wide, panicky
eyes; stumbling; restlessness; unresponsiveness; and refusal of food and
water.
Any dog can get overheated, but the most susceptible are overweight,
have a heavy coat or a big body (bullmastiff, Rottweiler, some Labradors)
or are excitable and anxious. Short-nosed breeds (bulldogs, boxers and
pugs) have especially poor cooling systems.
We caretakers must be mindful of our dogs' vulnerabilities. "Every
year, well-intentioned owners jog their dogs to death," says Beth
Lockwood, executive director of the SPCA of Pinellas County in Florida.
"Dogs that can normally do the route get into trouble when the heat and
humidity climb. We advise exercising dogs either very early or very late."
As we head toward fall and the heat begins to subside, be aware that
the danger remains, especially when your pet is in the car. Recently, a
dog almost died in the parking lot of the Houston SPCA in Texas. "It was
the last thing that the owner would have wanted," says Patricia Mercer,
president of the shelter. "She parked in the shade with the windows
cracked open." Still, in 10 minutes, it was 118 degrees inside the car.
Swift action by the SPCA staff saved the dog.
Similarly, Grandma Vicki responded rapidly when she realized Hogar the
bulldog was in trouble. "I immediately got cold, wet towels and started
wrapping him," she recalls. "I switched the towels when they stopped
feeling cold. I concentrated on his belly and around his neck and chest.
Now and then, I scooped a handful of water and put it in his mouth."
Vicki may well have saved Hogar's life. And your own care and caution
may save your pet. Pay attention to the changes in your dog's habits and
actions. Those behaviors can tell you a lot, now that you know the signs.
IF YOUR DOG IS TOO HOT:
Get him inside or in the shade. Your canine needs a cool location
immediately.
Wet him down. Use a hose or wet towels. Get him really wet and focus on
hairless areas, especially the belly and mouth.
Increase evaporation. Fans and air conditioning help. Do not put a hot,
wet dog into a closed crate that creates a sauna effect.
Think cool not cold. Skip the ice. It will contract the blood vessels
and, ironically, lock body heat in. You also run the risk of cooling him
too fast.
Let him drink (frequently, in small amounts). If he won't drink, wet
his mouth down often.
Get to a veterinarian! This is an emergency. At high temperatures, dogs
can die. There's no time to waste!
(The authors are noted animal experts, trainers and lecturers.)
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LETTERS |
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Reply from Ken Bernstein
Thanks so much for the very nice write-up on my presentation. Just one
quick correction in case this gets reproduced for the web or your
newsletter: In your paragraph on HPOZs, I wanted to make clear that no one
is asking proposed HPOZ communities to "tax themselves" to pay for
historic resources surveys. Some communities are talking about coming up
with voluntary contributions, or raising outside funds, and some are using
volunteers to work with professional consultants in order to minimize
costs, but there are no proposals for special taxes or assessments to pay
for such studies. I wouldn't want to leave the reader with an impression
that discussion of an HPOZ in Eagle Rock could lead to a tax increase!
Ken Bernstein
Thanks Ken. In the past we've been told by several speakers that
there are unlikely to be City funds available for the necessary survey to
create an HPOZ. There was no intent to state that taxes would have to be
raised to create an HPOZ.
------------------------------------------
Thinking about “mansionization”
Reader Mike Groszkruger suggests that mansionization may not be a huge
problem in Eagle Rock (at least not yet), but residents who would like to
read about this issue may find the article titled, “Measuring McMansions:
How Big Is Your Faceprint?” on the Civic Strategies website of interest.
Using the case of Atlanta, Georgia, it addresses the questions, “Is there
anything wrong with replacing older small houses with newer big ones? And
if there is, how big is too big?” You can read it at www.civic-strategies.com.
Thanks for the suggestion, Mike.
--------------------------------------
Meeting July 30 about charter high school coming to Mt. Royal
Hi,
I was wondering if you folks know about the 5 year lease signed by
Farley Storage Warehouse (corner of Colorado and Mt. Royal) with LA
International Charter High School? Homeowners on Mt. Royal, as well as
Vincent, La Roda and other surrounding streets will be gravely affected by
the addition of hundreds of high school students, plus faculty and staff.
300-500 students are projected to eventually attend this school. The
Farley building has 5 parking spaces. Where will faculty and students
park? There is no yard nor recreation area. Where will the students go
during recess? The answer is Mt. Royal and surrounding residential
streets.
There has been no community input, no environmental impact studies; we
are very, very concerned. We have organized an emergency meeting of area
residents and businesses and have invited local politicians to address
this troubling development.
Please contact me if you wish further details or you may wish to
broadcast the Meeting, it will take place at 5148 Mt. Royal Dr. on Sunday,
July 30 at 11 a.m.
Thank you. Pat Viera
patviera@pacbell.net
-----------------------------------------
Parking and Walking
I was happy to read that the new business/auto parking proposal was
given the "O.K." by the city. Though not perfect, it seems a step in right
direction. It is so frustrating to me that we can be losing new businesses
and redevelopment because of some antiquated "one-size -fits-all" approach
to automobile parking. This is not just the case in Los Angeles, but
happens in most cities. The thinking of yesterday not meeting the needs of
today. As people left cities after WWII and moved to the suburbs and the
automobile became indispensable, many laws and much civic energy began to
be directed by what was best for automobiles rather than what was best for
people (suggest here that if you have never read it, to pick up Jane
Jacobs classic book: The Death and Life of Great American Cities).
The hangover still exits when we see small businesses that people want to
come to their communities (in our case Eagle Rock) excluded because the
parking regulations enacted in another time. People's lives are diminished
to accommodate automobiles? It seems crazy to me. Does government serve us
or serve automobiles?
I understand that with no viable alternative public transport, a car is
a necessity in most of Los Angeles and in Eagle Rock as well (my own trip
to work would be 2.7 hours each way by bus according to the MTA web site),
but we should never lose sight of the fact that in the end, people are
more important than automobiles. Eagle Rock is extremely lucky to have two
appealing main streets (Colorado and Eagle Rock Blvd) which can be reached
by foot by most all the local residents and I would suspect that locals
are the bulk of the local businesses. Yet relatively few seem to choose to
walk. As stated above, I myself have to drive to work, but for most
errands (Trader Joes, banking, grabbing a coffee, popping into the
drugstore, shopping for gifts at local shops, etc. etc.) I walk. I walk
and completely enjoy it. Many if not most weekends, I never even get in my
car.
I would encourage all those physically able to challenge yourself to
try one weekend where you forbid yourself the use of your car and conduct
all your business locally and on foot! Start on Friday evening by walking
to our wonderful farmer's market! The one certain way to alleviate the
parking problems in Eagle Rock is to leave the car at home. On a micro
level, walking has great health benefits for the person through physical
exercise (lowering stress, lowering blood pressure, increasing energy,
increasing stamina, aiding in sleep, etc.). On a macro level, walking
reduces traffic, eases parking, reduces pollution, lowers crime, saves
money and helps decrease our dependence on foreign oil. Then there are the
more esoteric benefits like meeting new friends, discovering new
businesses, interacting with neighbors, giving the dogs a treat (they
certainly appreciate the pleasures of walking!) etc. I suspect that many
of you will, as I myself have discovered, that walking really increases
your quality of life.....and in Eagle Rock we are truly lucky to have a
place that lends itself so well to walking (among many other things that
make Eagle Rock great.)
Mike Groszkruger
-----------------------------------
Hey Michael,
Does anyone know what's up with the giant (but narrow) empty lot on the
north side of Colorado near Wiota? (Across from the new-ish senior
housing, on the way toward Vons.) Folks on this side of The Rock have
heard plenty about the restaurant opening in the shack near Cindy's, but
nada about the giant dirt- strip that's been graded recently. Housing
development? Gas station? Private airport? Inquiring/cringing minds want
to know.
Thanks,
Dave & Rachel
I'm wondering if what you are referring to is David and Helen
Gustavson's (and other volunteers) work on planting and erecting an "Eagle
Rock" monument (welcome to Eagle Rock monument in the shape of the Eagle
Rock), designed by artists Bill Stutz on the north side of Colorado near
Wiota? Or it might be the landing site for the official TERA Harrier Jet,
which I am hoping will be delivered soon. I'll take a look and see if I
can figure it out. Meanwhile, readers are welcome to get me off the hook
by writing.
------------------------------------------
Nice 'couch' cliche -- I can see why you've been elected.
Cheers,
-TJ Welch 2670 Cunard Street. LA, CA 90065
"Don't forget eagle rock isn't just north Colorado BLVD. My house is
pretty old too."
Well, I try to see 'em as I call 'em. And as far as being aware that
Eagle Rock is on both sides of Colorado Boulevard, I live south of
Colorado as does newly elected TERA Vice President Frank Parrello. New
Board member Terri Wahl has a very successful restaurant on Eagle Rock
Boulevard, way south of Colorado Boulevard and the TERA Home Tour is not
only south of Colorado; it's south of Yosemite! And we enjoy dining at
Auntie Em's, Mia Sushi, Senior Fish, and Pat and Lorraine's every bit as
much and as frequently as we do at The Coffee Table, Camilo's Bistro, and
Le Petite Beaujoulais (LPB). TERA is working for a better Eagle Rock and
that means all of Eagle Rock, north, south, east and west.
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