Englander E-News: West Hills Joins Council District 12 on July 2

COUNCILMEMBER ENGLANDER'S E-NEWS

June 29, 2012

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Welcome to the New Council District 12...

Starting Monday, July 2, the new boundary lines will take effect for Council District 12 based on the recently completed redistricting process. The City Charter requires the City to redraw council lines every 10 years to reflect changes in the the US Census.

As it has for decades, Council District 12 will still encompass the communities of the Northwest San Fernando Valley. The biggest change redistricting brings is that there will be fewer communities that are divided into more than one Council District. I strongly believe in keeping communities and their Neighborhood Councils whole. Split Neighborhood Councils dilute accountability and limit communities and Council offices from effectively working together. 

Before the changed District boundaries, District 12 represented eight Neighborhood Councils entirely and the six others partially. Under the new boundaries, there are nine Neighborhood Councils that are entirely within Council District 12 and just one that falls within two Council Districts. 

I am also proud that Council District 12 now contains the entire community of West Hills. Council District 12 has long represented West Hills north of Roscoe Blvd. Uniting West Hills into District 12 (together with Chatsworth) will help us to ensure that the Chatsworth Nature Preserve, the only nature preserve within the City of Los Angeles, will remain as a treasure of open space and natural habitats for future generations.

West Hills is also the community where I was born and raised. I grew up near Platt and Vanowen, graduated from Justice Street Elementary School, and was Bar Mitzvahed at Congregation Beth Kodesh, which later merged into Shomrei Torah Synagogue. I am honored to serve a community that has given so much to me and my family.

My deepest gratitude goes to the people who live and work in Council District 12’s portions of Canoga Park, Winnetka, Encino and Lake Balboa. It has been an honor and privilege to represent these communities as Councilmember and Chief of Staff to the former Councilmember. While I never wanted to lose any part of our current District, I support the new District lines which will have the populations of these great neighborhoods each represented by a single Council District.

Click here to see a map of the new Council District 12.  
Click here to see an interactive map from the LA Times which allows you to enter an address to find out which district it is in. 

    - Mitchell Englander, Councilmember, Twelfth District

Grand Opening and Free Rides for the Public on the Canoga Ave. Orange Line...

The Metro Orange Line Extension — a four-mile addition to the popular Orange Line busway — will open to the public on Saturday, June 30 with community celebrations and free rides for the public from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

In addition to free rides for the public all day, the grand opening will include community events at the Chatsworth and Canoga Stations. Chatsworth Depot will have a country/western theme, while the Canoga Station will feature eco-friendly booths, food trucks and other fun activities.

There will also be a Providence Blood Donor Center blood drive at Chatsworth Depot from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. All donors will receive a gift certificate for a pint of Baskin Robbins Ice Cream! For more information call (818) 926-6245.

Saturday, June 30
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Chatsworth Depot
Metrolink Station
10446 Old Depot Plaza Rd.
Enter at Devonshire St. between Canoga Ave. and Owensmouth Ave.

Canoga Station
Canoga Ave. & Victory Blvd.
Woodland Hills

We have supported and worked on the Canoga Ave. Orange Line Extension from its inception in order to offer fast, safe, convenient public transit and make the entire regional public transit system more available to Northwest Valley commuters, while alleviating traffic congestion and pollution.

The busway will feature four new stations at Sherman Way, Roscoe Blvd., Nordhoff St. and Chatsworth Depot Metrolink Station. New platforms are being added at the Canoga Station. An elevated crossing at Lassen St. will keep the busway safely separated from the railroad tracks. All stations will include beautiful public art. A beautiful bikeway and pedestrian path landscaped with native, drought-tolerant plants will run parallel to the busway, and will connect to the long bike and walking path along the Orange Line. There will also be a new park-and-ride lot at the Sherman Way Station and additional parking at Chatsworth Depot.

To see photos of the Metro Canoga Orange Line Extension under construction and for more information, visit www.metro.net/projects/orangeline.

Canoga Ave. Orange Line Extension Construction Updates...
Metro 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 until the entire project is completed.

For more information, please call (818) 701-2827 or email molextension@metro.net.

Welcome to Our LAPD Senior Lead Officers Serving Our District in West Hills...

Starting July 2, 2012, the recently re-drawn City of Los Angeles Council District boundaries are in effect, which have placed all of the community of West Hills in Council District 12.

We offer a warm welcome to LAPD Officers Cunningham and Sabra, Senior Lead Officers serving the West Hills area out of Topanga Division. Both have been serving as Police Officers for 14 years, and have worked many parts of the San Fernando Valley in the Devonshire and Topanga areas. Officer Sabra covers the West Hills area north of  Sherman Way to Plummer St., and Topanga Canyon to the county line west of Valley Circle. Officer Sabra covers the West Hills area south of Sherman Way to Oxnard St., and Topanga Canyon to the county line west of Valley Circle.
 
Contact information for LAPD Topanga Station:
21501 Schoenborn St., Canoga Park
Main Desk (non-emergency, general inquiries): (818) 756-4800
TDD for Hearing Impaired Callers: (818) 756-5899
Click here to go to the website.
Officer Cunningham: (818)731-2578  email: 34966@lapd.lacity.org
Officer Sabra: (818) 731-2558   email: 34819@lapd.lacity.org
 
Public Pools in Los Angeles Open This Weekend!

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.

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

Weekends
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/.

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 5
Devonshire St. between Tampa Ave. &Corbin Ave.
Park on Tunney Ave., west of Tampa Ave.

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 or japhillips1@yahoo.com or visit www.NorthridgeWest.org.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore Grand Opening… 

Habitat for Humanity is holding a grand opening for its new "ReStore" location on Saturday, June 30 in Chatsworth.

ReStore is part of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles and is meant to be a self-sustaining funding source and also offer our community a place to find low-cost building and home improvement materials. 

Saturday, June 30
10:00 am
9606 DeSoto Ave.
Chatsworth 
 
The ReStore sells donated materials including new and gently used furniture, appliances, lumber, hardware, vintage and other unique items. All prices are at least 50% off retail value and all proceeds go toward the Habitat for Humanity mission to end sub-standard housing and provide high quality housing for struggling families. 
 
For more information call (818) 914-8633 or click here. 

Call for Submissions - Artwork Made By Local Artists for a District 12 Art Exhibition...

The Council District 12 office is putting out a call for submissions of artwork by Northwest Valley artists to be part of a community art exhibition in our Community Service Center in Chatsworth.

We will display the artworks for up to six months. There is no cost involved, and the artists will receive 100% of any sales of their artwork. The works will be by artists living or working in Council District 12 in the San Fernando Valley, and they will be related to the unique culture, landscape, people, places and life of our community or the City of Los Angeles as a whole.

If any artist wishes to donate proceeds from the sale of their work to support the arts in our community, our office will match the donation. For more information, call Semee Park at (818) 882-1212.

If you are an artist in the Northwest San Fernando Valley, please submit your work for review! Click here to see the guidelines and the entry form.

14th Annual Shepherd of the Hills 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular…

Don't miss the 14th Annual Shepherd of the Hills 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch. This free family- friendly Valley tradition is one of the largest public fireworks displays anywhere in Southern California.
 
Wednesday, July 4
Gates open at 4:30 pm
Shepherd of the Hills Church
19700 Rinaldi St., Porter Ranch
 
In addition to amazing aerial fireworks, there will be  bouncers, face-painting for kids, delicious food for sale, and live music from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm. There will also be a patriotic Color Guard presentation by the Civil Air Patrol Cadets to honor military service men and women on Independence Day. 
 
Seating is on the grass area. Be sure to bring lawn chairs and blankets, but no BBQs, alchohol or personal fireworks. Free parking is available at the northwest corner of Rinaldi St. and Porter Ranch Dr., in the Town Center parking lot and on the East side of Corbin Ave.
 
For more information, visit http://www.theshepherd.org/4th or call (818) 891-9333.

Public Meeting on “Measure R” Transportation Funding... 

The San Fernando Valley Council of Governments is presenting an informative meeting about the proposed extension of “Measure R”.

Monday, July 9
10:00 am
Woodbury University
Fletcher Jones Auditorium
7500 Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank

The State legislature and Metropolitan Transportation Authority are considering a plan that would extend “Measure R,” the half-cent sales tax enacted by the voters in 2008, to continue beyond its original sunset date of 2039. This is a multi-billion dollar proposal intended to alleviate congestion, improve mobility, conserve energy and enhance air quality.

All community members are encouraged to attend to discuss and review several possible forms the measure could take and give their input over the best way to move forward. Moderated by Ara Najarian, Chairman, San Fernando Valley Council of Governments.

Admission is free, but RSVP 48 hours in advance is required. For more information, or to RSVP, call (818) 712-9500 or email info@sfvcog.org .

33rd Annual Devonshire PALS Golf Tournament...

Save the date for the 33rd Annual LAPD Devonshire PALS (Police Activity League Supporters) Golf Invitational on Monday, July 9. This great day of golfing raises funds for Devonshire PALS, which provides valuable after-school programs to give at-risk youth positive alternatives to gangs, drugs and crime. The PALS Youth Center in Northridge offers sports, mentoring and homework assistance to kids while building positive relationships between the Police and the community.

Monday, July 9
7:30 am- Registration
Porter Valley Country Club
19216 Singing Hills Dr., Northridge

The $200 registration fee includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, hole-in-one prize opportunities, golf cart, entry for raffle prizes, awards and goodie bags.

For more information, call (818) 349-1706.

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.

Safety Alert from the LAPD at Topanga Station...

Lieutenant Dave Storaker, Commanding Officer of Topanga Area Detectives offers this safety alert to San Fernando Valley residents about "distraction burglaries."

Distraction burglaries are when criminals work in teams - one knocks on the door, and distracts the homeowner, often by having them lead them to the side of the house, or back yard, supposedly to inspect something like electrical wiring. Meanwhile, their partner in crime sneaks in the open front door and steals valuables from the house. It is a strategy commonly used against eldery residents home alone in quiet neighborhoods.

Lt. Storaker warns elderly residents to be on the lookout for people knocking on their door when they are home alone, offering some kind of sale, service or inspection. He advises to check their identification and write their name and information down, or even take a picture of them or their ID card with a cell phone. Call the phone number on their business card or materials to verify they are who they say they are. 

Ask a lot of questions about who they work for, what they are doing there, and why they need to speak to you. Ask to see paperwork indicating your address, with official letterhead, and call the phone number to check its legitimacy. If you are home alone, and are uncomfortable about who the people are, let them know you are home, but do not open the door. Speak to them through the door or window. When in doubt, REFUSE entry to your home or yard. Ask them to RESCHEDULE for a time when you are not home alone. If they are legitimate, they will agree to this.

If you suspect someone is attempting to rob your home, please call the Police. Devonshire Division: (818) 832-0633. Topanga Division: (818) 756-4800. If it is an emergency, call 911.

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 24:  Drop, Cover and Hold!
We live in earthquake country, and everyone needs to be prepared and ready to act because quakes will strike without any warning. Earthquake experts agree that when an earthquake occurs, you should "Drop, Cover, and Hold On." 

DROP down onto your hands and knees (before the earthquakes knocks you down). This position protects you from falling but allows you to still move if necessary.

COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table or desk. If there is no shelter nearby, only then should you get down near an interior wall (or next to low-lying furniture that won't fall on you), and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.

HOLD ON to your shelter (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around.

To learn more, visit
http://www.earthquakecountry.info/dropcoverholdon/

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

Operation Splash - Public Private Partnership Supporting Our Public Swimming Pools...

Our District Director, Megan Cottier, handles parks issues in our District. She reports this week on a terrific public private partnership that is helping to support top notch public swimming pools in our community.

Operation Splash, now in its seventh year, is a partnership between Kaiser Permanente and the Department of Recreation and Parks Aquatics Division to help fund free swim lessons, Junior Lifeguard training, and an extended summer pool season at public pools in Los Angeles. 

Operation Splash is part of Kaiser's Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) program to help reduce obesity by increasing the opportunities for healthy eating and exercise in the community. HEAL also advocates for less consumption of sugar-loaded beverages. Kaiser's Operation Splash has provided $2.5 million over the last seven years to support great, public pools and programs in the City of Los Angeles.  

In our Council District, Operation Splash helped fund the Northridge Pool and its awesome two-story-tall waterslide, and the pool at Granada Hills Recreation Center. (Information about both pools is listed in this newsletter above.)

To learn more, click here.