Politics & Government

Englander E-News: Saturday Is Packed With Events

New FIRESTAT-LA data system urged to track fire department response time.

COUNCILMEMBER ENGLANDER'S E-NEWS

May 18, 2012

Support for Our FIRESTAT-LA Proposal in Response to Problems with Fire Department Response Times...

As Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, I have been highly concerned about the recent news that the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) reported faster response times than it actually was achieving.

The response times are the most crucial measure of the City's ability to ensure public safety. A statistics specialist appointed by the Mayor released a report about the LAFD response times on Monday, May 14 that supports my proposal to create FIRESTAT-LA, a system for the Fire Department based on the LAPD's highly successful COMPSTAT system. The report calls for LAFD to end the use of its flawed data system and implement a system like COMPSTAT. To see my FIRESTAT-LA motion visit http://tiny.cc/gxc1cw. To see the Chatsworth Patch article on LAFD response times, click here

My motion, which was approved by the City Council on Tuesday, April 17, would implement a system modeled after the Police Department's COMPSTAT. FIRESTAT-LA will enable us to use today’s leading-edge technology and innovative management techniques to make the best Fire Department in the country even better. It is based on the principles of accurate and timely intelligence clearly communicated to all, rapid concentrated deployment of resources, and constant follow-up and assessment to find efficiencies and make improvements. Near real-time data collection and mapping of incidents would be combined with frequent meetings to open more dialogue between all levels of the Fire Department.

I applaud the men and women of the LAFD who risk their lives every day to protect our homes and our families. FIRESTAT-LA will make the nation's greatest Fire Department even better. 

    -  Councilmember Mitchell Englander, Twelfth District

Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Kiwanis Club of Chatsworth Adopt-A-Street Clean-Up...

Join the Kiwanis Club of Chatsworth's clean-up day this Saturday, May 19 in Chatsworth as part of their Adopt-A-Street project. Come out and help remove trash, remove weeds, paint over graffiti and irrigate the landscaping. It's a great way to  meet your neighbors, get some fresh air and exercise and be part of a community effort to keep our neighborhood clean! 

Saturday, May 19
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Chatsworth St. between Mason and De Soto, Chatsworth

The Adopt-A-Street program is a great partnership between the City Bureau of Street Services and community members and groups who are dedicated to keeping our community beautiful. The program was started under former Councilmember Greig Smith and we continue to support it. It allows neighborhood groups, businesses, and residents to "adopt" a stretch of street which they commit to keeping clean with regular clean-up activities such as trash pick-up, weed and graffiti removal. The City provides a sign with the name of the group that adopts the street and provides brooms, rakes, shovels, trash bags, gloves, safety vests and trash pick-up.

If your group is interested in signing up for Adopt-A-Street, please call the CD 12 Community Service Center at (818) 882-1212.

To RSVP or for more information, visit http://www.chatsworthkiwanis.org or visit the Chatsworth Kiwanis Facebook page, or call (818) 489-6423.

Santa Susana Mountains State Historic Park Trails Day...

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The Foundation for the Preservation of the Santa Susana Mountains invites you to come out for a day of discovery in the beautiful Santa Susana Mountains State Historic Park. There will be educational stations with environmental, habitat, and historical information, several different guided hikes, information about local Chumash Indian history and western film history, and more. 

Saturday, May 19
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Meet at the Larwin
entrance to the
Santa Susana State Historic Park
(On Larwin St. one block south of Devonshire St. - click here for a map

Bring sunscreen, shoes appropriate for hiking, sun hat and water. The open house is from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Guided hikes will depart every hour, on the hour.

Electronic Waste & Used Clothing Collection Event...

Bring your unwanted or broken computers, TVs, toys and other electronic devices to be safely and properly disposed of at the Chatsworth Kiwanis Club's electronic waste and used clothing collection event on Saturday, May 19 at Los Toros Mexican Restaurant in Chatsworth.

Items that will not be accepted include refrigerators, fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, damaged TVs and monitors.

Saturday, May 19
11:00 am to 4:00 pm 
Los Toros Mexican Restaurant
21743 Devonshire St., Chatsworth

Enter to win a 7 inch Android tablet when you drop off e-waste. The winner will be picked and contacted on the day of the event.

To learn more about the Chatsworth Kiwanis Club and their activities in our community, visit www.chatsworthkiwanis.org/. For more information on the event, call (818) 489-6423.

Free Tire Collection Day in the San Fernando Valley...

Bring your old tires to have them safely and properly disposed of and recycled for free at the upcoming tire collection day in the San Fernando Valley.

Saturday, May 19
West Valley District Yard
8840 Vanalden Ave., Northridge
9:00 am to 2:30 pm

Every person who brings in tires will receive a coupon for 15% off their next purchase of Firestone or Bridgestone tires. This event is limited to City Los Angeles residents only. The collection event will not accept tires from businesses, tires on rims, tires for large trucks, or more than nine tires per person.

For more information, call (213) 485-3568.

SOLID Pancake Breakfast...

SOLID's annual All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast is coming up on May 19, so save the date! Proceeds benefit SOLID (Supporters of Law Enforcement in Devonshire), which provides non-City supplied materials and equipment needed by the Police Officers at Devonshire Division.

Saturday, May 19
7:30 am to 1:30 pm
Devonshire Community
Police Station
10240 Etiwanda St., Northridge
$7 per person.

Regency Theatres in Granada Hills has generously donated 25 pairs of movie tickets to be given away to guests in a prize drawing. Free child photo-IDs are provided by Hollywood-West Valley Masonic Lodge. Free facepainting for kids!

For more information, visit http://soliddevonshire.org.

“Living Well” Senior Symposium at OneGeneration...

OneGeneration Senior Enrichment Center is holding its Fourth Annual Senior Symposium on Saturday, May 19.

Saturday, May 19
8:00 am to 4:00 pm
OneGeneration
18255 Victory Blvd. 
(1 block  west of Lindley St.)
 
Speakers and workshops cover mental, emotional and physical health, eating healthy on a budget, working past age 60, legal issues, and remaining active in the community. Motivational speaker Jackie Goldberg (Pink Lady) will kick off the day with her keynote, “Get Up, Get Out, Get a Life.”

Canoga Park, Encino, Lake Balboa, Northridge South, Reseda, Tarzana, Winnetka and Woodland Hills/Warner Center Neighborhood Councils are co-sponsoring this event.

More than fifty vendors will offer goods and services to the senior community. The all-day event is free, but RSVP is required.

To RSVP, please call (818) 705-2345 by May 12.  For more information please Denyse Selesnick at Denyseselesnick@yahoo.com.

Community Hike...

Friends of the Santa Susana Mountains and the Sierra Club are holding a free community hike on the historic Stagecoach Trail in Chatsworth this Sunday, May 20. Join Lee Baum from the Sierra Club on a hike up “The Devil’s Slide” trail  and learn about the history of the stagecoach line and the indigenous peoples and native plants of Chatsworth. 

Sunday, May 20
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Meet at the Larwin entrance
to the Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park
(On Larwin St. one block south of Devonshire St. -
click here for a map

Wear shoes and clothes appropriate for hiking, and bring a sun hat, sunscreen and water. For more information, call Lee Baum at (818) 341-1850.


Independence High School Blood Drive...

Student volunteers at Independence High School in Van Nuys are organizing an American Red Cross Bloodmobile blood drive on Monday, May 21. Give the gift of life! Give blood!

Monday, May 21
8:00 am to 2:00 pm
6501 Balboa Blvd., Van Nuys

For more information, call (818) 881-7737.

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!

May 24 - east side of Wilbur Ave. at Kenya 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 provides the refreshments and tools.

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

Vietnam War Memorial for Students at Granada Hills Charter High School...

The Vietnam War Memorial at Granada Hills Charter High School has been renovated and will be re-dedicated in a ceremony on Friday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day.

The memorial commemorates former Granada Hills High students who passed away serving our country in the Vietnam War. The renovation will add the names of six young men that were not on the memorial when it was originally dedicated in the 1970s.

Friday, May 25
12:30 pm
Granada Hills Charter
High School
10535 Zelzah Ave.
Granada Hills

The school is seeking family members or friends of those honored on the memorial to invite them to attend the re-dedication. If you know any of these veterans or their friends families, please contact Douglas Smith at douglas@socal.rr.com or Carrie Boutros at cboutros@ghchs.com.

The veterans on the memorial are:
Frank Allender, John Bafile, Brent K. Baker, Frederick Barrett, Michael Barrett, Glenn Blankenbiller, William J. Bradford, Geoffrey M. Brown, Roger L. Duce, Robert Easton,  Jerome Dennis Elkin, Patrick C. Gollinger, Joseph L. Jacobs, Peter Jakobsen, Richard R. Manemann, Robert P. Mathias, James A. McMurdo, Karl D. Porter, Gregory L. Rice, Larry D. Strouse, Michael C. Uhlig, Malcolm Douglas Whiting, John C. Yager.  

St. John Eudes Church Summer Carnival...

St. John Eudes is holding its annual Summer Carnival, with lots of great family friendly activities, May 25 - 27 in Chatsworth. This community festival features bingo games, silent auction, free live entertainment, delicious food, a beer garden for the grown ups, a drawing for great prizes, and lots of carnival games and rides!

Friday, May 25
4:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Saturday, May 26
12:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Sunday, May 27
12:00 pm to 10:00 pm
St. John Eudes Church
9901 Mason Ave., Chatsworth

Free admission, free entertainment, and free parking!
Description  Family fun for all at St. John Eudes' annual 3 day
Carnival.  Rides, games, food & more. For more information, call (818) 433-5359 or  click here

Volunteer or Donate to Operation Gratitude...

Volunteer or donate to help Operation Gratitude assemble and ship care packages to our troops serving overseas. Operation Gratitude is a San Fernando Valley-based non-profit organization that has sent over 775,000 care packages to bring letters of support and the comforts of home to U.S. military personnel serving in war zones abroad.

They hold major assembly and shipping drives every spring and winter, and volunteers and donations are needed year-round.

Weekdays
Mondays & Fridays, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
CLOSED: Memorial Day, Monday, May 28

Weekends
Saturday, May 26, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunday, June 3, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Saturday, June 16, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunday, June 24, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Saturday, June 30, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Gourmet lunch trucks sell a variety of delicious food for lunch in the parking lot from 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm, and the truck operators each donate 10% of all proceeds to Operation Gratitude. This activity qualifies for Community Service Hours.

Anyone over 12 years old can volunteer, but anyone under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult. If you would like to volunteer please send an email to OpGratVolunteer1@yahoo.com with the subject “Operation Gratitude Volunteer.” To make a donation, visit https://www.operationgratitude.com/donate/.

Child Care Seat Safety Event in Northridge...

Northridge Hospital Medical Center is holding a child car seat safety event on Saturday, May 26.

Car Seat Check Up
Saturday, May 26
9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Northridge Hospital Medical Center
Education Auditorium
18300 Roscoe Blvd., Northridge

By appointment only. Call (818) 885-8500 ext. 3437 to schedule or for more information. The car seat check-ups teach parents, hands-on and in your own car, how to correctly use a child’s car seat or seat belt. The checkups are run by trained and certified child passenger safety technicians.

St. Nicholas Valley Greek Festival...

Don't miss the 39th Annual St. Nicholas Valley Greek Festival, the biggest Greek festival in all of Los Angeles, coming up May 26 to 28 at St. Nicholas Greek Church in Northridge.

May 26, 27, 28
1:00 pm to 9:00 pm
St. Nicholas Greek Church
9501 Balboa Blvd., Northridge

This San Fernando Valley tradition features Greek music, dance, food, culture, games, booths and more.

For more information, call (818) 886-4040 or visit www.valleygreekfestival.com.

Memorial Day in Canoga Park...

As part of Canoga Park's Centennial Celebration there is an entire day
of events planned for Memorial Day Monday, May 28.

The Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber of Commerce's Memorial Day 5K Run/Walk starts at 9:00 am at Quimby Park and goes along the route of the Annual Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade, and then back to Quimby Park for the awards ceremony.

Then at 11:00 am, the Annual Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade begins, featuring bands, cars, equestrians and floats. Follow the last fire truck of the parade back to Quimby Park for food, entertainment and vendors.

Monday, May 28
Quimby Park
7008 De Soto Ave., Canoga Park

To register for the 5k Walk/Run online, click here.
For more information about the event, call the Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber of Commerce at (818) 884-4222 or click here.

Save the Date for the Valley Family Festival...

Get ready for a day of family-friendly fun in the park at the Valley Family Festival and Movies Under the Stars, coming up on Saturday, June 2 at Northridge Park.

We are proud to host this event in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Northridge and the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks. There will be live music and dance performances, vendor booths, food, games, and a free outdoor screening of the animated family film Puss in Boots.

Saturday, June 2
3:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Northridge Park
18300 Lemarsh St., Northridge

Call for Booth Sponsorship for the Valley Family Festival...

You can be part of making our Valley Family Festival happen! We are offering opportunities for local businesses, non-profit organizations and other community groups to help support this great event and be part of the celebration. For information on booths, sponsoring, or donating to the event, please contact Megan Cottier at megan.cottier@lacity.org or (818) 882-1212. Click here for the sponsorship and booth forms.

9th Annual Still Saving Lives Car Show...

The 9th Annual Still Saving Lives Car Show & Family Traffic Safety Fair is coming up on Saturday, June 2 at Warner Center Park in Woodland Hills.

Saturday, June 2
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Warner Center Park
5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills

This annual free event is sponsored by the LAPD Valley Traffic Division and the Valley Traffic Advisory Council. There will be over 300 classics, hot rods, race cars, motorcycles and other beautiful and rare vehicles, as well as food trucks, games and vendors. The LAPD's SWAT, K-9 Unit, Motorcycle Drill Team and Bomb Squad will have demonstrations and vehicles on display.

For more information, visit www.VTAC-VTD.org.

Imagine Job & Resource Fair...

We are proud to co-sponsor the “Prepare Fair” and the “Imagine Job & Resource Fair” at Shepherd of the Hills, a great free event offering many valuable resources to help job seekers get ahead.  
 
Speakers and workshops at the “Prepare Fair” will coach attendees free of charge to improve their interview skills, perfect their resumes and optimize online searches and applications to help find a great job! 

Prepare Fair
Monday June 4
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Shepherd of the Hills
19700 Rinaldi St., Porter Ranch

At the “Imagine Job & Resource Fair” job seekers will have the opportunity to meet with as many as 100 hiring employees from a wide variety of industries. In addition, the resource area will offer valuable tools and services for the soon-to-be-employed.

Imagine Job & Resource Fair
Tuesday, June 5
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Shepherd of the Hills
19700 Rinaldi St., Porter Ranch


Any qualifying person who finds a job through the job fairs will receive clothing and gasoline vouchers to help until their first paycheck arrives, courtesy of WorkSource! Co-sponsors include WorkSource California, the Valley Economic Alliance, the Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce, the Valley Economic Development Corp., the North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce and Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council.

For more information please visit www.imaginejobfair.com..

Public Meeting on DWP's Proposed Rate Increases...

The Department of Water and Power (DWP) will be holding a
meeting on Wednesday, June 6 at LAPD Devonshire PALS Youth Center to
present information on proposed power and water rate increases. Senior
Managers from the DWP will be on hand to answer questions and take
comments regarding the proposed rate increases.

Wednesday June 6
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
LAPD Devonshire PALS Youth Center
8721 Wilbur Ave., Northridge

For more information click here.

Northridge Village Beautification Project Fundraiser at El Rancho...

The efforts of the Northridge Sparkle Campaign to beautify the business corridor on Reseda Blvd. between Nordhoff St. and Parthenia St. in Northridge have evolved into "Northridge Village Beautification." The group is holding "A Night on Broadway," a fundraiser concert at El Ranch Cordillera Del Norte on Saturday, June 9 to raise funds for the revitalization of the Historic Reseda Boulevard Business District.

Saturday, June 9
4:00 pm - silent auction
5:00 pm - show begins
6:30 pm - wine & appetizers
El Rancho Cordillera del Norte
9015 Wilbur Ave., Northridge
$25 donation. Free Parking.

The event features nine great singers (Annie Grimes, Meggan Taylor, Gina Mitchell, Sue Fountain, Joe Green, Dave Berges, Carl Nakamura, Terry Lieberstein, and Northridge Sparkle's own Andrea Alvarado) led by Charlie Harrison, Music Director of El Rancho. Sponsored by Northridge South Neighborhood Council.

Seating is limited so RSVPs are required. To reserve, please email  northridgebeautification@gmail.com or call (818) 885-0825.

New Horizons 5K Walk...

Join New Horizons for their Fifth Annual Walk on the Horizon 5k Walk to benefit developmentally disabled people in our community on Saturday, June 23 at Woodley Ave. Park.

Saturday, June 23
Registration - 7:00 am
Run - 8:30 am 
Walk 9:00 am  
Woodley Park
6350 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys

Map - http://g.co/maps/uuhvv

Take a little walk, or run, and make a big difference for New Horizons’ programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The event will feature a 5k run and a non-competitive walk around Woodley Park in Van Nuys, followed by an awards celebration with food, and live music by the band Arrest My Sister.

For 57 years, New Horizons has empowered individuals with developmental disabilities such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy and autism to fulfill their dreams.

For more information on Walk on the Horizon, or to register, visit www.newhorizons-sfv.org/walk or call John Thornton at New Horizons (818) 221-0644 or email jthornton@newhorizons-sfv.org

Traffic Disruptions Possible During Final Period of Construction On Canoga Ave. Orange Line Extension...

With construction nearly complete on the Canoga Ave. Orange Line Extension, MTA is now working seven days a week including some evenings. Paving, utility, traffic signal and other work is being done on each street along Canoga Ave. from Vanowen St. to Devonshire St. Some traffic disruptions and congestion can be expected between now and the end of May.

When the Canoga Orange Line Extension is complete, it will provide a fast, safe connection between Chatsworth Depot Metrolink Station and the endpoint of the Orange Line Busway at Warner Station in Woodland Hills. It will provide Northwest Valley commuters vastly greater public transit options and alleviate traffic congestion on our streets.

For further questions, please call (818) 701-2827 or email molextension@metro.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 18: A Flashlight in Every Room
We all know by now that every house and workplace needs to have flashlights (preferrably handcrank or other types that do not require batteries) in case power goes out following an earthquake or other disaster. It's also a great idea to have a flashlight in every room in your home. If the power goes out and it is completely dark, you may have a very hard time making your way through your house to get to your flashlight. There may broken glass and overturned furniture obstructing your way as well. If you have a flashlight in every room in your home, you will always be able to reach one if the power goes out.

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

Chatsworth / Porter Ranch Farmers Market Every Saturday...

Our Field Deputy Semee Park is a strong supporter of healthy eating as well as supporting locally grown agriculture. She reports this week on a great farmers market in our community where you can find delicious fruits, vegetables and more every Saturday year-round. 

The Chatsworth / Porter Ranch Farmers Market offers a great selection of delicious fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, local honey, fresh baked goods, flowers, and a variety of arts and crafts booths. Come enjoy some live entertainment while enjoying delicious hot food including Korean BBQ, Greek Mediterranean, tamales, southern BBQ, Mexican, roasted corn, crepes, and bacon wrapped hot dogs and sausages.

Every Saturday
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church
10347 Mason Ave., Chatsworth
There is plenty of free parking in the church parking lot.

For information, call markget manager  Manny Hernandez at (818) 447-5191.


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