Englander E-News: Lock It, Hide It, Keep It ... and More

COUNCILMEMBER ENGLANDER'S E-NEWS

Aug. 31, 2012

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

Lock It, Hide It, Keep It...

On Thursday August 30, I held a press conference with Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Devonshire Area Detectives to announce Operations Valley Bureau’s theft prevention campaign “Lock It, Hide It, Keep It.”

The goal of this campaign is to bring awareness to the problem of theft and to educate the public on how to prevent them from becoming a victim of crime. My office, in partnership with LAPD, California State University-Northridge Police, California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles Unified School District and the AAA Automobile Club of Southern California, is encouraging the community to “Lock It, Hide It, Keep It.”

Theft is a crime of opportunity and can be easily deterred by remembering to lock your car and hide your valuables. In the 2 years LAPD Devonshire Division has implemented this prevention campaign, we have seen a reduction in grand theft auto crimes by 14% and break in theft from vehicles by 20%.

By increasing awareness, we can prevent crime, reduce insurance claims and save taxpayers millions of dollars in losses.

The Shops at West End in Chatsworth Present a Summer Art Walk...

Shops and restaurants on Devonshire St. near Topanga Canyon Blvd. and local artists have come together to host the West End Chatsworth Summer Art Walk. They have already organized Art Walk events in June and July, and the final event of the summer is on Friday, Aug. 31.

Friday, Aug. 31
5:30 pm to 9:00 pm 
At businesses, restaurants and shops on Devonshire St. between Topanga Canyon Blvd. and Owensmouth Ave.
Chatsworth

Come support our local businesses and artists, and explore the hidden artistic talents right here in our backyard. Enjoy refreshments, door prizes including tickets to the Hollywood Bowl, see a variety of original artwork by local artists, and meet your neighbors.

For more information on the artists, a map of the ArtWalk and more, visithttp://www.facebook.com/events/447724788580791/.

Get Involved in Your Community! Participate in the Upcoming Neighborhood Council Elections...

Looking for a chance to get more involved in your community? Participate in the upcoming election for Neighborhood Council Board Positions in the Northwest San Fernando Valley.

Joining your local Neighborhood Council is a great way to make a meaningful, positive contribution to your community, meet others who are engaged in the community, and get involved in rewarding community projects and events. 

Each neighborhood council will conduct their own election with various processes. For more information about the Neighborhood Council you're interested in, see links below and contact them directly.

Sept. 6, 2012 Town Hall Selections for:
Northridge South Neighborhood Council
Town Hall Selection Meeting:
Northridge Middle School Library
17960 Chase St., 
Northridge, CA 91325
6:00 pm
http://empowerla.org/nsnc/

Sept. 8, 2012 elections for:
Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council
Polling Location:
Granada Hills Recreation Center
16730 Chatsworth St.,
Granada Hills, CA 91344
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
http://empowerla.org/ghsnc/granada-hills-south-nc-elections/

Northridge East Neighborhood Council
Polling Location:
Northridge Recreation Center- Arts & Craft Room
18300 Lemarsh St., 
Northridge, CA 91325
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
http://empowerla.org/nenc/northridge-east-nc-elections/

Northridge West Neighborhood Council
Polling Location:
Topeka drive Elementary School
9815 Topeka Drive. 
Northridge, CA 91324
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
http://empowerla.org/nwnc/northridge-west-nc-elections/

North Hills West Neighborhood Council
Polling Location:
Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society
9550 Haskell Ave., 
North Hills, CA 91343
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
http://empowerla.org/nhwnc/north-hills-west-nc-elections/

Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council
Polling Location:
Shepherd of the Hills Church
19700 Rinaldi St., 
Porter Ranch, CA 91326
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
http://empowerla.org/prnc/porter-ranch-nc-elections/

Sept. 29, 2012 elections for:
West Hills Neighborhood Council
http://empowerla.org/whnc/west-hills-nc-elections/

Reseda Neighborhood Council elections
http://empowerla.org/rnc/reseda-nc-elections/

For complete rules and guidelines, information about acceptable forms of ID, candidate guidelines and frequently asked questions, visit the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment's website at http://empowerla.org/elections or call (818) 293-8683.

National Preparedness Month Course: Assessing Earthquake Damage…

September is National Preparedness Month, so the L.A. Fire Department Battalion 18, in coordination with your CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is providing information, demonstrations and preparedness drills on four Sundays in September. These courses could make all the difference for you and your family before, during and after a disaster.

Assessing Earthquake Damage
Sunday, Sept. 9 
10:00 am to 12:00 pm 
Temple Beth Am
1039 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles

This course is a must-attend day for anyone who wants to learn what to do immediately following a major earthquake. It covers: how to recognize the damage done to any structure; the location and shut-off procedures of all utilities; how to evaluate whether it is safe to enter structures; how to communicate the information so that professional rescue teams can best evaluate what to do; which emergency officials need to be informed. Emergency preparedness supplies will be available for purchase.

This valuable information can affect when and how emergency professionals will respond. For more information visit www.ntp-la.com or email info@ntp-la.com

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, Sept. 6
East side of Tampa Ave. 
Between Lassen st. and Plummer st., 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.

For more information contact Jo Ann Phillips at (818) 304-4989 orjaphillips1@yahoo.com or visit www.NorthridgeWest.org.

Insurance Brokers & Agents of the San Fernando Valley invite you to attend A Community Gala...

Insurance Brokers and Agents San Fernando Valley (IBA SFV) is an affliated trade chapter of IBA West, representing insurance agents and insurance brokers in the San Fernando Valley. IBA SFV will be hosting a Community Gala to benefit LAPD Devonshire PALS. 

Thursday, September 13
5:30 pm to 9:00pm 
Warner Center Marriott
21850 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills

The evening will honor a member agency for their community involvement, former Councilmember Greig Smith and LAPD Assistant Chief Michael Moore for their tremendous contributions to LAPD Devonshire PALS.

For sponsorship information please call (818) 220-8408

Join the Friends of Music of the Northridge United Methodist Church for the LACT Sanctuary Choir Gospel Concert...

The Lincoln Avenue Celestial Temple Sanctuary Choir is a regional winner of Verizon's "How Sweet the Sound" competition to find the best in gospel choir in the nation. Come and enjoy the winning songs as they present a program of traditional gospel with a dollop of praise gospel!

Saturday, September 15
7:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Northridge United Methodist Church
9650 Reseda Blvd., Northridge 

Admission is free with $10.00 suggested donation. For tickets and additional information please visit:

http://www.northridgeumc.org/ or call (818) 886-1555

Join Ride with Pride’s Concert in the Canyon...

Ride with Pride will be hosting the 3rd annual Concert in the Canyon on Saturday, September 29. Enjoy a fun filled evening with community members while helping to raise money for Ride with Pride's programs.

Saturday, September 29
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm 
Browns Canyon Ranch
12051 Browns Canyon Rd., 
Chatsworth

Ride with Pride specials in therapeutic horseback riding. They are a group of professionals and volunteers who work together with horses as a means to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities.

For additional information please visit: http://www.ridewithprideth.org/newsRoomUpcomingEvents.html
For sponsorship information contact Pat UpdeGraff at (818) 885-8138 

West Hills 25th Anniversary Community Picnic and Elections...

We are proud to co-sponsor the West Hills 25th Anniversary Picnic and Neighborhood Council Elections at Shadow Ranch Park in West Hills. 

West Hills 25th 
Anniversary Picnic
Saturday, Sept. 29
1:00 pm to 6:30 pm
West Hills Neighborhood Council Elections
2:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Shadow Ranch Recreation Center
22633 Vanowen St., West Hills 

The event is hosted by the West Hills Neighborhood Council and co-sponsored by West Hills Hospital, Grossman Burn Center, Fairwinds West Hills Retirement Center, The Boeing Co., Foundation for Arts and Community Events (FaCE)/Cinema Heritage Project and the Department of Recreation and Parks. 

There will be live rock and roll bands, picnic games, a community resource fair, petting zoo, bouncers, health screenings, and gourmet food trucks. At 7:00 pm, there will be a free outdoor screening of the classic film The Wizard of Oz. 

For information or to reserve a booth, please call Ed Young at (818) 704-1505or email Ed19357@Yahoo.com. 

Workshops for Disability Rights, Education and Advocacy...

The Family Focus Resource & Empowerment Center  in partnership with Gold Standard Advocates is offering several workshops for community members, focusing on children with Special Education needs and their families.

Family Focus Resource & Empowerment Center (FFREC) assists families of children who have special needs.  FFREC is a non-profit organization and is a sponsored project of the Michael D. Eisner College of Education at California State University, Northridge. For more information, visithttp://familyfocusresourcecenter.org/.

Gold Standard Advocates is a Los Angeles-based Special Education Advocate group specializing in individuals with disabilities. For more information, visit  http://www.theiepadvocates.com/

"Transition from Early Intervention Into Pre-School"
Wednesday, Sept. 12
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Councilmember Mitchell Englander's 
Community Service Center
9207 Oakdale Ave., Chatsworth
RSVP to (818) 677-6854 

"Special Education & IEP Rights"
Saturday, Sept. 15
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
LAFD Fire Station 87
10124 Balboa Blvd., Northridge
RSVP by Sept. 13 to (818) 677-6854 

"Insurance Coverage for Autism-Related Services"
Thursday, Oct. 4
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Councilmember Mitchell Englander's 
Community Service Center
9207 Oakdale Ave., Chatsworth

For questions or to RSVP to any of the workshops, contact Theresa Quary at(818) 677-6854 or Theresa.quary@csun.edu. 

Support the Granada Hills Rotary Foundation Blood Drive...

Give the gift of life! Give blood! The Granada Hills Rotary Foundation is holding a blood drive in two locations in Granada Hills on Saturday, September 29 in an effort to raise at least 500 pints of blood. Free lunch will be provided to all donors. 
 
Saturday, Sept. 29
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Granada Hills Recreation Center
16730 Chatsworth St.,  Granada Hills
North Valley Youth Sports Complex
13100 Balboa Blvd., Granada Hills

An appointment is required. To make an appointment visitwww.rotarygivesblood.org
 
For sponsorships opportunities and additional information email John Weitkamp at jweitkamp@aol.com 

Keep Los Angeles Beautiful Grants...

Submissions are now being accepted for Keep Los Angeles Beautiful (KLAB) Grants, competitive matching grants that are awarded to community groups for neighborhood beautification projects. The deadline for project submissions is Sept. 21. 

KLAB has $30,000 in total, and each project can be awarded a maximum of $5,000. KLAB is run by the Department of Public Works and its aim is to engage residents, businesses and community organizations in a collective effort to prevent litter, promote the reduction of waste and beautify neighborhoods. 

For more information call Salyna Cun at (213) 978-1041 or emailSalyna.Cun@lacity.org. To apply for a KLAB grant, visit http://bpw.lacity.org/ocb/KLABGrant.html.

Be Ready for Heat Waves ...

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. The air-conditioned facilities offer residents cold water, and a place to rest indoors. For more information on where all the cooling centers 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 visitwww.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. Take a cool shower or bath. 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, or go to an air-conditioned shopping mall, where there are plenty of places to sit. 

Be Aware of Symptoms 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 
Emergency Management Department:http://www.emergency.lacity.org/ 

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 31:  
Being prepared for emergencies also means knowing what to do after the incident. Here are some reminders concerning electrial safety.

Never touch a downed or dangling wire or anyone or anything in contact with it. Always assume a downed line is still energized. Report any downed power lines immediately by calling the LADWP at 1-800-DIAL-DWP.

If a power line falls on your car, stay in the car and wait for help.  If standing water is present, stay in your car and wait for help.  If you must get out, make sure you do not touch the metal parts of the car and the ground at the same time.  The safest exit method is to open the door, stand on the door sill and jump free without touching the car.

If there is damage to the connection from the power pole to your house, you should go to the electrical box and turn off the main switch or shut off the fuse switch. Again, always assume electric lines are live.

In case of an electrical emergency, stay calm and think before you act. Don't become a victim while trying to help others. Call 911.

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

Pioneer Day at the Homestead Acre in Chatsworth... 

Our Field Deputy Melody Jaramillo reports this week on a great Northwest San Fernando Valley tradition coming up - the 22nd Annual Pioneer Day on Sunday, Oct. 7 at the Homestead Acre in Chatsworth.

Sunday, Oct. 7
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Homestead Acre
Chatsworth Park South
10385 Shadow Oak Dr.
(At the west end of Devonshire St.)
Chatsworth

This wonderful, family-friendly event celebrates the rich history of our community, and includes tours of the Virginia Watson Chatsworth Historical Museum and the historical Minnie Palmer Cottage. There will also be the famous Chili Cook-Off, a bake sale, and demonstrations of wood-carving, arrowhead making, weaving, panning for gold, quilting, blacksmithing, Native American artifacts, and more. 

There is free parking and a shuttle service to and from the park at Chatsworth Depot Metrolink Station, located at 10038 Old Depot Plaza Rd. (Enter from Devonshire St. between Canoga Ave. and Owensmouth Ave.). 

$5 donation for adults. $1 for kids. Proceeds support the Chatsworth Historical Society. 

For more information, visit http://www.historicalsocieties.net/.