Englander E-News: Here's Your Invite to the Council District 12 Open House

COUNCILMEMBER ENGLANDER'S E-NEWS

July 20, 2012

Follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Mitch_Englander

Open House and Community Art Exhibition to Celebrate Our First Year in Office...

Please join me, the Council District 12 staff, and your fellow community members for an open house and community art exhibition to celebrate our one year anniversary!

Monday, July 23
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
CD12 Community
Service Center
9207 Oakdale Ave.,
Second Floor
Chatsworth
 
In our work in the community and in City Hall over the last year, we have met with, worked with, and consulted countless neighborhood groups and individuals in our District. We’ve listened as you have conveyed your concerns, needs and ideas to preserve and improve the high quality of life we enjoy in our community.
 
For our Open House, we are converting our Community Service Center into a gallery space to display over 150 pieces of original artwork by San Fernando Valley artists, most of which depict or touch on life in the Valley. Through this collaboration, we also hope to help showcase and stimulate the many highly talented artists living in our community. All of the art work on display is for sale, and 100% of any sale goes directly to the artist. Most of the artists will also be guests at the open house.
 
I hope you can join us and celebrate a year of great achievements, and partnerships. For more information or to RSVP, please call (818) 882-1212 or email Semee.Park@lacity.org.

-- Mitchell Englander, Councilmember, Twelfth District

Be Ready for Summer Heat Waves ...

Temperatures reached over 100 degrees in the San Fernando Valley this week before cooling off. More heat waves will come this summer, so be ready!

During extreme heat, the City opens up hundreds of facilities to be utilized as cooling centers, including Senior Citizen Centers, most Recreation and Parks facilities, and City Libraries. They offer residents cold water, and a place to rest indoors in the air-conditioning. For more information on where all the cooling are located, call 3-1-1 or click here. 

Senior Centers: (213) 202-2700 or visit http://www.laparks.org/dos/senior/senior.htm .
Libraries: (213) 228-7000 or visit http://www.lapl.org/branches/ .
Recreation & Parks Facilities: (213) 202-2700 or visit www.laparks.org.

Tips to Beat the Heat
DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. If you plan to be outdoors, take precautions to protect yourself from the sun and heat. Avoid the sun from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm when the sun's burning rays are most intense. Reduce physical activity. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and light- colored, lightweight, loose-fitting clothes. Avoid hot, heavy meals and alcohol. Drink Gatorade or other non-caffeinated drinks with electrolytes. If you do not have air-conditioning, visit one of the City's public pools, go to a public park to sit in the shade. Go to a shopping mall. You do not need to purchase anything, and there are plenty of places to sit. Take a cool shower or bath.

Be Aware of Symptons of Dehydration and Heat Stroke
Symptoms of dehydration and heat stroke include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps and increased thirst. To learn more, click here.

Never Leave Pets or Kids Unattended in a Vehicle
Leaving a child or a pet in a closed vehicle on a hot or sunny day, even with the windows cracked, can be fatal. On hot or sunny days, the temperature inside a car can be 50 degrees hotter than outside.

Heat Wave and Other Emergency Information:
UpdateLA : http://www.updatela.com/
ReadyLA: http://www.readyla.org/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/readyla
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/readyla
Emergency Management Department: http://www.emergency.lacity.org/

Volunteers Needed for the West Valley PALS Back to School Resource Fair...

West Valley PALS (Police Activity League Supporters) needs volunteers to assist throughout the day for their Back to School Resource Fair on Saturday, July 21 in Reseda.

Saturday, July 21
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
St. Catherine of Siena School
18125 Sherman Way, Reseda

The event is 10:00 am to 2:00 pm but volunteers are needed starting at 7:00 am to help set up and until after 4:00 pm to help clean up after the event.  There are morning and evening shifts available, and volunteers are needed to supervise the moonbouncers and haircut booth, staff the registration table and backpack table, and to help with clean-up at the end of the event.

West Valley PALS' after-school programs offer at-risk youth in our community positive alternatives to crime, gangs and drugs. PALS offers sports, mentoring, arts, education and other great activities, and helps build positive relationships between the community and the police.  To learn more about West Valley PALS, visit  www.westvalleypals.org.

To sign up or for more information email Rana Ghadban at   exec@chatsworthchamber.com or call (818) 341-2428.

Supporting Local Businesses...

Councilmember Englander continued his site visits to businesses in the Chatsworth/Northridge Industrial Zone at Specter Offroad Inc. The Chatsworth-based automotive company specializes in providing parts and customization for Toyota Landcruiser owners and collectors worldwide.

Marv Spector started his business 30 years ago in Chatsworth, and now has three facilities and 22 employees. Councilmember Englander toured the facility with Marv and discussed the challenges and opportunities local businesses face, City services, and ways that we can help businesses thrive, create jobs and boost our economy.

Online Calculator to See How DWP Proposed Rate Increases Would Affect You...

The Department of Water & Power (DWP) has launched an online tool that allows customers to calculate how DWP's proposed rate increases will impact their water and power bill. To use the tool and for more information, visit http://www.ladwp.com/rates.

For over a year DWP has been conducting public outreach to inform its customers about its proposed power and water rate increases, which DWP says are needed to make critical investments to meet legal mandates and replace aging infrastructure.

On the power side, the average increase is expected to be about 1.4 cents per kilowatt hour over two years, or about 10.8%. For typical residential customers using 500 kWh per month, the increase will be about one-half that, or 5.4% in total over the two years, which is about $3.55 per month on the typical residential bill of $65.79.

The average water customer would see their rate increase approximately 4.8% over two years, excluding a temporary pass-through increase for purchased water due to this year’s near record dry winter. The additional revenue will allow DWP water system to ramp up investment in developing local water supplies to reduce the city’s reliance on more expensive imported water purchases from the Metropolitan Water District, replace aging infrastructure, and meet state and federal water quality regulations.

The power and water rate proposals are currently being reviewed by the LADWP Ratepayer Advocate. They are expected to be considered by the Board of Water and Power Commissioners in August, and thereafter by the City Council.

Free Jazz Concerts in Granada Hills...

First Presbyterian Church of Granada Hills is holding a series of free outdoor jazz concerts this summer starting this weekend.

Saturday, July 21
John Daversa
Saturday, July 28 
Terry Harrington
7:00 pm
First Presbyterian Church
10400 Zelzah Ave. (at Devonshire St.)

At this fun, free family event, there will also be gourmet food trucks offering delicious food and snacks.

For more information, call Dan Ohlson at (626) 419-1489 or email danohlson@gmail.com.

Free Outdoor Movie Series at CSUN...

California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is screening free outdoor movies for the community all summer. The next free film, on Thursday, July 26, will be "Ghostbusters." (It was originally announced that the film would be "Star Wars, Episode IV.")

Thursday, July 26
7:00 pm
CSUN
Sierra Quad Lawn
18111 Nordhoff St.
Northridge

Bring your whole family, and bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnics, but alcohol or BBQs are not allowed.  There will be free activities for kids, including a balloon artist, face painting and raffle. Vendors will offer popcorn, lemonade, and other snacks for sale.

Parking is free for CSUN students, faculty and staff who have current valid CSUN parking permit. Flat fee parking permits are $6 per vehicle, and are available from machines in all of the campus lots.

CSUN will be screening "Lilo and Stitch" on August 2, and "Hairspray" on August 9, and "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone" on August 16. For more information, visit www.csunas.org or www.facebook.com/events/403032776408568/ .

West Nile Virus Found in the San Fernando Valley...

Greater L.A. County Vector Control has discovered mosquitos carrying the West Nile Virus in four communities, including Northridge and Winnetka. West Nile Virus is transmitted to people and animals through mosquito bites. There is no cure, and one in five persons infected with West Nile Virus will actually experience symptoms.

Symptoms usually occur between five and 15 days and can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea or a skin rash. The symptoms can last for several weeks to months. About one in 150 people infected with the virus will require hospitalization. To learn more about West Nile Virus, click here.

To report standing water, green swimming pools, mosquitos, or dead birds, call Greater L.A. County Vector Control at (562) 244-2648 or visit www.glacvcd.org.

You can help reduce threat of West Nile Virus
Eliminate standing water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs or anything that holds water for more than a week.

- Ensure that swimming pools, spas and ponds are clean and maintained.
- Change the water in pet dishes, birdbaths and other small containers weekly.
- Request free mosquitofish from your Vector Control for use in spas and ponds. - Report mosquito activity around vacant or foreclosed homes and report neglected (green) swimming pools and other large bodies of standing water.

Become a Volunteer Reserve Animal Control Officer...

If you love animals and would like to make a real difference in the community, check out the Reserve Animal Control Officer (RACO) program. RACOs are trained, certified, and serve in the same capacity as regular Animal Control Officers.

The program requires a commitment of 16 hours of volunteer service
per month for three months at any one of the six Animal Care Centers before the first training class begins. Candidates will learn about care and handling of a variety of animals, how to work with
Animal Center, medical and field staff, supervisors and become familiar with day-to-day operations of an Animal Center.

For those that are already volunteers at Animal Service Centers, you're on the way! The next class beings in the fall, and space is limited.

To learn more about the requirements and the application process,
call (213) 482-9558 or click here.

Northridge Hospital Community Grants Helping Organizations Do Good in Our Community...

Northridge Hospital Medical Center (NHMC) has announced their 2012 Community Grants Program, which is funded by contributions from
Dignity Health member hospitals, the parent organization for Northridge
Hospital.

The 2012 Community Grant Program supports organizations
within the Northridge Hospital Service Area whose missions are to increase
healthcare service for the community's vulnerable and under-served
populations. Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000. For more details about how to apply and whether your organization qualifies for the grant program, visit www.chwhealth.org/communitygrants.

If your organization wishes to apply for a grant, you must submit a letter of intent by Friday, July 27.

For more information or questions, call (818) 885-5339 or email
teddi.grant@dignityhealth.org.

Public Pools in Los Angeles Open Through Aug. 12!

The summer swimming season is here and L.A.'s 48 public pools are open now and will remain open through August 12! Admission is free for kids under 17, seniors and people with disabilities. The pools are open 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on weekends, and are open 11:00 am to 6:00 pm on weekdays.  

Our public pools are a wonderful resource, offering kids and adults in the community a great, economical way to cool off, get exercise and have fun!

The City’s Aquatics facilities include regular public swimming pools with a wide variety of amenities, programs, sports and classes for children, adults and people with disabilities and competitive athletes in training. The City also offers a Junior Lifeguard Training Program designed to prepare young people who are interested in pursuing a career as a Lifeguard.

L.A. Public Pools in the West San Fernando Valley
GRANADA HILLS POOL
16730 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills
Click here for a map.

NORTHRIDGE POOL
(818 ) 709 – 7475
10058 Reseda Blvd., Northridge
Click here for a map.

CANOGA PARK - LANARK PARK
(818) 756-9364
21817 Strathern St., Canoga Park
Click here for a map.

VAN NUYS/SHERMAN OAKS WAR MEMORIAL PARK
(818) 783-6721
14201 Huston St., Van Nuys
Click here for a map.

To learn more about all of the City’s Aquatics facilities click here.

You Can Sponsor A Low-Cost Summer Camp For Kids...

The West Valley Boys & Girls Club, which offers valuable after-school programs to at-risk youth in our community, is seeking corporate and individual sponsorships for its Summer Camp scholarship fund. 

You can help the Club provide a safe place for kids to learn, play, and make friends at summer camp by sponsoring a kid for a week, a month, or the whole summer.

The Club's Summer Camp costs $75 a week or $450 for six weeks and includes nutritious lunches and snacks. While the Club's Camp is affordable for most families, more than half of the participants cannot afford the cost. The Club offers scholarships to low-income families, and no children are turned away for their inability to pay.

The West Valley Boys and Girls Club has been offering mentoring, sports, education, art classes, and other activities to help at-risk youth stay away from crime, gangs and drugs, and stay on the path to success in life since 1992.  

To make a donation click here. To learn more, visit http://www.wvbgc.org.

Join Northridge West Neighborhood Council's "Clean Sweep" Weekly Clean-Up and Help Make Northridge Shine!

Join Northridge West Neighborhood Council's Clean Sweep community beautification project every Thursday!

Thursday, July 26
East side of Corbin Ave.  between  Lassen St. and Mayall Ave.
Northridge

At 8:00 am the crew will review the game plan with free refreshments provided by Northridge West Neighborhood Council. Bring gloves if you have them, sunscreen,a sunhat and appropriate shoes for outdoor work. Northridge West Neighborhood Council provides the refreshments and tools.

Yogurtland has generously offered to give volunteers their first 3 oz. of frozen yogurt free after the clean up! 

For more information contact Jo Ann Phillips at (818) 304-4989 or japhillips1@yahoo.com or visit www.NorthridgeWest.org.

National Night Out & Movies Under the Stars...

Save the date for National Night Out and a free outdoor movie as part of our Movies Under the Stars summer film series, coming up on Tuesday, August 7 in Northridge.

Tuesday, August 7
7:00 pm
Northridge Park
10058 Reseda Blvd.

Community members in the Northwest San Fernando Valley are invited to join thousands of communities nationwide for the 29th Annual National Night Out event.

National Night Out raises awareness about preventing crime and builds positive relations between the community and the Police, strengthens pride and engagement in the community, and sends a message that neighborhoods are organized and are fighting back against crime. To learn more, visit http://www.nationaltownwatch.org/nno/.

Our office in coordination with LAPD Devonshire Division, S.O.L.I.D. (Supporters of Law Enforcement in Devonshire) and Target are proud to invite you and your family to join us! We will be holding a FREE screening of the animated kids movie Kung Fu Panda 2 as part of our Movies Under The Stars outdoor film series, now in its seventh year. There will be free sodas and hot dogs (while supplies last), free kids activities, public safety information, and more!

For more information call Melody Jaramillo at (818) 882-1212 or email melody.jaramillo@lacity.org.

The Relay for life is coming to Northridge!

Get ready for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life in Northridge! This 24-hour event raises funds to support the American Cancer Society, which works for cancer research and treatment and support and programs for cancer victims and their loved ones.

Relay for Life Northridge
August 11 and 12
Calahan Elementary School
18722 Knapp St., Northridge

For Relay for Life Northridge, thousands of families, friends, local businesses, schools and community-based organizations form teams and walk the track at Calahan Elementary School for 24-hours to raise funds. There are also Relay events coming soon in Chatsworth, North Hollywood and other parts of the San Fernando Valley.

During the event, cancer survivors are honored by taking the first lap around the track, and there is a Luminaria (candle) Ceremony, as well as many other activities, both happy and somber throughout the 24 hours. There will also be food vendors, information booths, games, and other activities.

You can form a team, join an existing team, sponsor a team, donate to a team, or donate directly to Relay for Life to help support this important cause. 

For more information on the Northridge Relay for Life, call Karen Rubenstein at (818) 738-3464 or email Karen.rubenstein@cancer.org or visit www.relayforlife.org/northridgeca. 

North Valley Jewish Community Center's Day of Shopping and Games...

 Join "The J" - the North Valley Jewish Community Center - for a fun-filled day of gaming, shopping and a delicious buffet lunch at the San Manuel Casino and Resort on Sunday, August 12. 

Sunday, August 12
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Temple Ahavat Shalom
18200 Rinaldi Place

The trip will raise funds to support "The J" programs. To learn more about "The J" visit www.NVJCC.org.

The trip departs from the Temple Ahavat Shalom parking lot, located at 18200 Rinaldi Place (at the 118 Freeway between Reseda Blvd. and Zelzah Ave.), Northridge, at 10:00 am and will return at 4:00 pm. 

The $20 donation includes the roundtrip bus ticket, snacks and a $10 San Manuel Casino card good for games or food. RSVP and payment are required by August 1. To register or for more information, call (818) 360-2211 or e-mail karoooon@sbcglobal.net.

A Year of Emergency Preparedness...

On January 17, the 18th anniversary of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, we kicked off our Year of Emergency Preparedness in Los Angeles.

Throughout 2012, we will be working on legislation, programs and public awareness efforts to help the residents of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley be prepared for natural or man-made disasters.

Every week, our newsletter will feature a new item in an Emergency Preparedness Checklist. These are simple steps that everyone in Los Angeles should take in order to be prepared for any disaster. If you follow each item on this checklist, you will be highly prepared at the end of the year.

Week 26: Learn to Prepare Your Home for Floods and Mudslides...
Every year during heavy rains, floods and mudslides threaten lives and properties, especially in hillside areas following wildfires that strip away vegetation. If you live in a hillside area, the L.A. Fire Department recommends that you get sandbags and learn how to use them in advance of the rainy season. During heavy rainstorms, all neighborhood Fire Stations have sandbags available for residents, and some have sand available. To find your local Fire Stations, visit
http://lafd.org/find-a-fire-station/275-fire-station-locator. You can call the Fire Stations to find out if they carry sandbags.

To see the Emegency Management Department tips on how to prepare for floods and mudslides, click here. To see the Building and Safety Department's guide on protecting your home from floods and mudslides, with information on how to make sandbag barricades as well as other tips, click here.

The Bureau of Sanitation makes sandbags and sand available at many of its facilities. To look up which facilities carry them, visit http://bss.lacity.org/resurfacing/storm.htm.  

To see our printable Emergency Preparedness Checklist, with every week's entry, click here or visit our website at www.CD12.org.

Learn How to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft at LAPD Community Meeting...

Our Public Safety Deputy Jim Dellinger is a former LAPD Police Officer with over 26 years on the force, and he serves as the CD12 liaison with our local Police. He reports this week on an LAPD Basic Car Community Meeting focusing on Internet, credit and identity security. 

Thursday, Aug. 23
6:45 pm
St. John Eudes Church
9901 Mason Ave.

Guest speaker Robert Rebhan is an internationally recognized expert on financial crimes, is a former LAPD Detective, and was Director of the American Express Fraud Prevention Program. He will discuss how to protect yourself from Internet fraud, identity thefl, bank and credit fraud, financial scams and more. 

For more information, call Carol Jensen at (818) 341-3327 or email cei2@mail.com.