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Park Advisory Board meeting tonight canceled

The Park Advisory Board meeting for tonight has been canceled, a new date has not yet been set for the meeting. There are some new things going on with PAC, however, including new director! Dan Hammett took over recently, and we look forward to meeting him at the next meeting!

Some other news coming up:

Heal the Bay at the Echo Park Farmers Market

Friday, July 30 from 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Heal the Bay will have a booth at the Farmers Market to share information on:

  • Marine Protected Areas
  • Banning of Plastic Shopping Bags
  • Gulf Oil Spill

California Coastal Clean Up Day in Inland Echo Park

Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
751 Park Avenue at Park Avenue and Lemoyne
The  community is invited to join this clean up extravaganza. 80% of trash found on beaches comes from an inland source. Echo Park is one of 80 sites organized by Heal The Bay. Site Co-Captains in Echo Park are Central City Action Committee and Echo Park TAP (Trash Abatement Project).

To register: Call Central City Action Committee at (213) 241-0908, or Heal the Bay at 800-HEAL BAY or www.healthebay.org/CCD

There will be more events coming up in August and September, stay tuned for more info on Echo Park Now!

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Help clean up the Butterfly Garden in Elysian Park

Flicker photo by A.C.Thamer

The Department of Recreation and Parks needs your help! Some of our favorite spots in Elysian Park need a little TLC, including the Butterfly Garden, Childrens Arboretum, and the Marion Harlow Grove.

Rec and Parks are specifically asking for help cleaning the weeds and trimming the plants at the Butterfly Garden in Upper Angels Point (by the Peter Shire sculpture) in Elysian Park.

You will have to fill out a Volunteer Application, be fingerprinted for safety and liability reasons, and report to the Rec and Parks staff when you work in the garden. For more information, please call Mark Jackson, Park Maintenance Supervisor, at (213) 485-3287

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826LA’s Spelling Bee for Cheaters

The event is still almost three weeks away, but fundraising and pledging has already been going on for several weeks in preparation of 826LA’s Spelling Bee for Cheaters. Here’s how it works:

  1. Sign up in teams of two or more. It’s free and anyone can join!
  2. Raise money for your team.
  3. On Saturday, August 14 each team sends one member to represent them at the spelling bee. You can use the funds you’ve raised to order from a menu of cheats. The more money you raise, the more you can cheat!

All the money raised will go towards 826LA’s free writing and tutoring programs for kids.

The spelling bee will take place on Saturday, August 14 from 2:00 to 6:00 pm at Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica. This year, Spike Jonze, John Krasinski, Judd Apatow, Dianna Agron, and others are scheduled to appear. Will YOU be there to out-spell and out-cheat the competition?

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Elf Cafe Reopening After Renovations

Elf Cafe is re-opoening tomorrow, July 28 (according to the sign on the front door), after a week-long closure for renovations. While we haven’t gotten the final word from the restaurant about what exactly is going on with renovations, they told the Huffington Post last February of plans to expand the restaurant into the space next door (perhaps Branche Boutique, pictured above), which they had just acquired.

We’ll have to see what happens when Elf Cafe re-opens tomorrow!

Elf Cafe is located at 2135 W Sunset Blvd. Click here for the menu.

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Tuesday: GEPENC Meeting, Community Outreach Agenda

Community Concerns, Outreach, Housing and Transportation Committee Meeting Agenda

Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 8:00 pm

GEPENC Office and Community Center: 1572 Sunset Boulevard

ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS:

  1. Call to Order
  2. Roll Call – Committee Members
  3. Adoption of Committee Meeting Minutes

PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS**:

Comments from the public on non-agenda items within the Committee’s jurisdiction. Two minutes per speaker.

REPORTS:

  1. Chair
  2. Vice Chair
  3. Committee Members

MOTIONS & RESOLUTIONS (Discussion Items/Possible Committee Action):

  1. Discussion and/or Possible Action on development of a GEPENC Outreach strategic plan.
  2. Discussion and/or Possible Action on request for the committee to recommend the allocation of neighborhood council funds for outreach materials and collateral.

FUTURE COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEMS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ADJOURNMENT

Click here to view the GEPENC website page. The Board of Governors is also meeting tomorrow, same location, at 6:30 pm.

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Tonight: GEPENC Executive Committee Meeting

The Executive Committee of the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council (GEPENC) will meet tonight, Thursday, July 22, at 7:00 pm

Meetings take place at the GEPENC Office and Community Center located at 1572 Sunset Boulevard

The agenda is extremely long, click here for the full agenda. Here are some “highlights”:

Allocation of NC funds of:

  • $1,650 for the 2009 and 2010 Echo Park Community Parade
  • $750 for the 2010 Echo Park National Night Out Festivities, which takes place on Tuesday, August 3 from 5-800 pm
  • $2,500 for the upgrade and maintenance of the GEPENC website (which is so badly needed!)

And a couple of other action items:

  • Discussion on the approval of a full liquor license at Rodeo Grill, as well as on proposal to extend hours to 7:00 am-1:00 am.
  • Discussion on the approval of establishing a monthly district “walk to focus on identifying bulky items, graffiti and other public works needs in the GEPENC area.”

The public is welcome to attend Executive Committee meetings (speaker cards are provided).

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Iconic Echo Park Lake statue missing fingers

Photo by The Eastsider LA

Some Echo Park residents have noticed this as recently as the Lotus Festival: It appears the Lady of the Lake statue at Echo Park Lake is missing a few digits. The fingers of both hands have fallen off the 76-year-old statue (or perhaps broken off by vandals), which has been repaired as recently as May of 2009.

It seems the Neighborhood Council took on paying for restoration in prior years, and there seems to have been some drama revolving its restoration. An August 2008 article on Chicken Corner has the back story behind it all, including the story about how the neighborhood in the late ’90s  got the graffiti-marred statue back after being stored for 13 years.

UPDATE:
GEPENC President Jose Sigala commented on The Eastsider LA article on the subject, saying:

I join with others in expressing my anger over the defamation of the artistic history and cultural icons of our neighborhood. I see no difference when a developer tears down a cultural and historical home or structure with the mindless vandalism of the Lady of the Lake. Both actions impact the reason why we live here in Echo Park.

Given the city’s budget financial crisis, I am not sure where the funding many come from to repair the lady of the Lake.

I am not sure what the cost may be to replace the statue’s hands but I would like to commit to work with other community members in identifying and raising the funds to restore her hands.

I will ask to see if any of the funding that is dedicated to the rehabilitation of the lake may be used to assist in repairing the statue.

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Los Angeles Libraries to close on Mondays

Flickr photo via indigo imposter

This coming Monday, July 19, will be the first Monday all 72 Los Angeles libraries will be closed as the result of city budget cuts and the reduction of library staff. Library branches, such as the Edendale and Echo Park Libraries, are now closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Holidays.

Branch hours and web-based resources are available 24 hours a day at www.lapl.org

Flickr photo via Nickels_Photography

There will be a demonstration and program to protest the closing of the libraries on Monday and those reduced hours listed above. “Unslam the Doors: Keep the Library Open” takes place on Monday, July 19 at 9:30 am at the entrance of the Central Library (630 W. 5th Street).

We have some information from the event organizers:

Please come out and show your support for Los Angeles Public Library. On July 1, the Mayor and City Council laid off 160 library workers, forcing service hours to be cut an additional day. This Monday, July 19th marks the first day the library will be closed on Mondays in LA history. If we don’t take a stand now, there are likely more layoffs and more cuts to come.

For more information, go to savethelibrary.org

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Echo Park Lake Rehab Project Meeting

A  meeting on the Echo Park Lake Rehabilitation Project has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 4 at 6:30 pm at Barlow Hospital.

Pollution and much-needed updates to the filtration systems are behind the Prop O funded rehab project, which is scheduled for next year – the lake will be gated up in January 2011 in preparation for the construction, and in April construction will be at full speed ahead.  They will drain the 13 acre lake and haul out approximately 50,000 cubic feet of soil from the bottom, replace the lake liner, rebuild the wetlands, and replant other vegetation (including the lotus bed). They filtration systems will also be updated, as the lake does collect water runoff from the city, and will help reduce the amount of city water used to keep the lake levels high.

Wildlife activists and bird lovers have been concerned with the state of the migratory birds once the lake is drained. It seems a compromise has now been reached, and the engineers will include four temporary pools for migratory birds.

A draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was recently released, but is not yet available online. You can click here for the initial study on the City’s website. Hard copies of the draft EIR are currently available at the following locations:

  • Echo Park Branch Library, 410 West Temple Street (available in the reference section)
  • Edendale Branch Library, 2011 West Sunset Boulevard
  • Office of Council President Eric Garcetti, Hollywood District Office, 5500 Hollywood Boulevard
  • Office of Council President Eric Garcetti, Glassell Park District Office, 3750 Verdugo Road

We will also post a downloadable version as soon as it’s available.

The public is welcome to review the draft EIR and send comments by August 30 at 5:00 pm. Send comments to:

Via mail:
City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering, Environmental Management Group
Attn: Maria Martin
1149 S. Broadway, Suite 600, Mail Stop 939, Los Angeles, CA 90015-2213

Via fax to (213) 847-0656, Attn. Maria Martin

Via email to Maria.Martin@lacity.org

For more information about the upcoming event, feel free to contact Olga Morales at 213-485-5933, or email at Olga.Morales@lacity.org

Related articles:

  • “Cleaning up Echo Park Lake is going to be a big mess for residents,” September 14, 2009. The Eastsider LA
  • “City engineers make room for bird baths during Echo Park Lake rehab project,” July 15, 2010. The Eastsider LA
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Arrest Made in Shooting at The Echo

Photo via ChinaShop Magazine

The Eastsider LA is reporting that police have made an arrest in relation to the June 21 shooting outside of The Echo nightclub in Echo Park.

The incident occurred around 2:00 am on Monday, June 21. A Rampart Division officer told us in an update that the suspect supposedly shot at a security guard after being denied entry into the club. The suspect was described as: “a stocky White or Latino male standing 5′-8″ to 5′-11″ tall and weighing between 200 to 230 pounds, according to preliminary reports.”

The shooting injured three people, two were released from the hospital after being treated, the third was shot in the torso and was hospitalized (we have no updates on his condition at this time).

Lt. Wes Buhrmester with the LAPD Rampart Division told The Eastsider LA today: “Our gang unit followed a bunch of leads and made an arrest in that shooting at the Echo, which occurred on June 21. They just did so a little while ago after serving a search and arrest warrant.”

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Tonight: GEPENC Committee Meeting Agenda

Tonight, Tuesday, July 13 at 6:30 pm is the GEPENC Education Families Recreation and Library Committee meeting. The agenda is as follows:

Location: GEPENC Office and Community Center at 1572 Sunset Boulevard (entrance off of Echo Park Avenue)

ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS:

  1. Call to Order
  2. Roll Call – Committee Members

PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS**:
Comments from the public on non-agenda items within the Committee’s jurisdiction.  Two minutes per speaker.

REPORTS:

  1. Chair
  2. Vice Chair
  3. Committee Members

MOTIONS & RESOLUTIONS (Discussion Items/Possible Committee Action):

  1. Discussion and/or Possible Action on Logan Elementary summer actions
  2. Discussion and/or Possible Action on local public and charter school situations
  3. Discussion and/or Possible Action on summer recreation activities
  4. Discussion and/or Possible Action on library programs and issues
  5. Discussion and/or Possible Action on GEPENC community programs
  6. Discussion and/or Possible Action on future meeting logistics
  7. Discussion and/or Possible Action on Committee relevant budget issues

FUTURE COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEMS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ADJOURNMENT

* Time allocations for agenda items are approximate and may be shortened or lengthened at the discretion of the Chairperson.

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Tonight: Dodger Stadium Fireworks

The Dodgers were away last night at Arizona (we won 3-1) for 4th of July, but tonight the Stadium is putting on an Independence Day fireworks show when the team comes back to play the Florida Marlins. Here’s the low-down from Noel Pallias, Dodgers Neighborhood Relations Manager, from an email last week:

Please note that prior to the start of this upcoming Monday evening’s game against the Florida Marlins – which is scheduled for 6:10PM, there will be a flyover at approximately 6:00PM and a 15-20 minute fireworks show after the conclusion of the game. As always, the safety of those attending the event, our neighbors, the surrounding community and the firefighters themselves is of paramount concern to us. Therefore, as is our policy, should the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) request that we cancel the fireworks due to weather concerns, or any other concern for that matter, we will comply. Decisions on this will be made right up until the time of the show. Finally, LAFD personnel (including a water truck as is required by the fire safety code) and, as an added precaution, we will wet down the hillside closest to the demonstration area. Finally, Stadium management will be on site to manage the event.

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Should you have any concerns relative to these events, please call our Neighborhood Focus Line at (323) 224-2636.

The Stadium did have tickets available for Echo/Elysian Park and Solano Canyon residents for the game, but all available tickets were claimed within an hour of the announcement.

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Echo Park Crime Updates

At last night’s Echo Park Improvement Association’s Town Hall meeting, we had a rep from both the Northeast and Rampart Divisions to provide us with an update on crime in the Echo Park area. Some notes worthy of mention are:

  • Officer Hill says the Yankee Game weekend enforcement went well, that they were citing people for public drinking as early as 10:00 am in Elysian Park. Northeast also had a DUI task force in place near stadium exits for drunk drivers.
  • Two significant arrests were made Wednesday in relation to recent burglaries (one on Clifford by the elementary school). Approximately four or five people retrieved their stolen property from that bust.
  • From the Rampart Division, there are no new updates on the robbery at the Higher Path Dispensary last week.
  • July 4th is on Sunday, and we were reminded that fireworks are illegal in Los Angeles. Anyone who has lived in Echo Park during a 4th of July knows the havoc that goes on at the Lake. Officers will be responding to calls if residents notify 311 (or 911 if it’s an emergency) of any illegal activity.
  • Update on the shooting at the Echo a couple of weeks ago: the Rampart officer at the meeting last night says apparently someone had been denied entry into the club, so he came back and shot at a security guard.

And from Captain Bill Murphy, we have some information to share from the Northeast Division E-Policing Newsletter we received yesterday:

National Night Out will take place in Echo Park at the Walgreens on Tuesday, August 3 from 5-8:00 pm. “National Night Out is a fun and informative event with entertainment provided at each site.”

Dodger Night: “On Wednesday July 28, 2010, from 6-9:00 pm at the Dodger Stadium Stadium Club overlooking the right field and first base lines. The Dodgers recently renovation the Stadium Club and it now has an overhang deck with a spectacular view of the ballpark. Everyone is invited to this event and free parking will be provided in lot L. Come hear from your Captains, SLOs, and elected officials regarding the ‘State of Northeast Area.’ Make sure you get there early as last year several hundred people attended this event.”

Neighborhood Crime Update:

Echo Park

Over the last week the crime looks good. Over the past 28 days there are some property crimes occuring along the Sunset corridor mostly from late PM hours through daybreak (a few car break-in and GTAs). We had a bad burglary problem that I spoke about in the last newsletter. This has been cleaned up tremendously with several arrests of burglars over the past four weeks.

Elysian Valley

Very clear over the past week – only a few property crimes over the past 28 days.

You can contact Captain Murphy at 26152@lapd.lacity.org. To sign up for the E-Policing Newsletter, go to lapdonline.org. Then click on E-Policing in the navigation. All you have to do is provide your email address and you’re set!

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EPIA meeting tonight to address lake swap meet

The Echo Park Improvement Association Town Hall meeting tonight is an important one – there’s been a recent surge of conversation about the Echo Park Lake Sunday swap meet/vendors on the Echo Elysian Neighborhood Council forum, and the EPIA is addressing the issue tonight with some special guests to speak to residents about the issue. Come get informed!

Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 7:00 pm

Barlow Hospital – Williams Hall at 2000 Stadium Way

TOWN HALL AGENDA

  1. Welcome and Introductions
  2. Council District 1 & 13 reports
  3. Northeast & Rampart Police Reports
  4. Select Patrol
  5. Town Hall discussion on Echo Park Flea Market
  6. Elections
  7. Annual meeting review – goals and future agendas
  8. Treasurer report
  9. Fundraiser – EPIA Dodger night
  10. EPIAn Way – next issue – articles needed
  11. Neighborhood Issues committee report (NIC)
  12. REPORTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS: To make an announcement, sign a card when you come in, giving your name and topic.  Cards are collected and given to the moderator.
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GEPENC Planning and Land Use meeting tomorrow

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 29 at 7:00 pm is the GEPENC Planning, Public Works, Parks and Land Use Committee meeting. An item of interest is the motion/action about a 64-unit complex going up at 2229 Sunset Blvd in Echo Park. This is the site of the former community garden, now possibly the site for the 65,000+ square foot residential complex.Go to the meeting if you’re interested in learning more!

Also, according to agenda item D-2, Rodeo Grill might be getting a full liquor license (they upgraded to beer and wine at the end of last year). I’m all for it as long as the margaritas are tasty!

Here’s the meeting agenda from the GEPENC website:

COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 – 7:00 p.m.
GEPENC Office and Community Center
1572 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90026
(entrance off of Echo Park Avenue)

A. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS:

  1. Call to Order
  2. Roll Call – Committee Members
  3. Adoption of Committee Meeting Minutes

B. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS**:

Comments from the public on non-agenda items within the Committee’s jurisdiction. Two minutes per speaker.

C. REPORTS:

  1. Chair
  2. Vice Chair
  3. Committee Members

D. MOTIONS & RESOLUTIONS (Discussion Items/Possible Committee Action):

  1. Discussion and/or Possible Action on new 142,126 Square Foot mixed use project of 64 residential units with a new floor area of 65,437 square feet, a net commercial area of 9,609 square feet and garage/storage/circ. Area of 67,080 square feet and density bonus with a 2 on Menu incentives; Transition over a Zone Line, FAR and One off Menu incentive for height at 2229 Sunset Boulevard. (CPC-2009-3488-DB-DPR)
  2. Discussion and/or Possible Action on request for Conditional Use to upgrade to a Full Line of Alcohol at an existing restaurant (Rodeo Grill) located at 1721 West Sunset Boulevard with 90 seats, and to extend the hours of operation from 7:00 am to 1:00 am, in the [Q]C2-1L-CDO Zone. (ZA-2010-644-CUB)
  3. Discussion and/or Possible Action on request to establish a monthly district walk to focus on identifying bulky items, graffiti and other public works needs in the GEPENC area.
  4. Discussion and/or Possible Action on request for the GEPENC Board of Governors to approve the establishment of a District Bulky Item – Roll Off Bin Pick Up program and using neighborhood council budgeted funds for outreach, food and refreshments.
  5. Discussion and/or Possible Action on request for GEPENC to formally participate in the 2010 California Coastal Clean Up event in Echo Park.
  6. Discussion and/or Possible Action on the establishment of a monthly committee meeting date and time.

E. FUTURE COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEMS

F. ANNOUNCEMENTS

G. ADJOURNMENT

* Time allocations for agenda items are approximate and may be shortened or lengthened at the discretion of the Chairperson.

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