Politics & Government

Englander E-News: Working to Increase Revenue Collection, and More ...

Remembering Jeannine Engelhardt, who worked for many years as the administrative assistant in the District 12 office in Northridge.

COUNCILMEMBER ENGLANDER'S E-NEWS

May 4, 2012

Working to Improve the City's Collection of Revenue...

We introduced a motion this week calling for the Fire Department to report back on the status of the Field Data Capture System, which is part of the City's Emergency Medical Services Billing System. The system utilizes handheld electronic devices to replace manual paper based forms, making it faster and more accurate.

The Field Data Capture System was implemented in the previous fiscal year to reduce billing errors and improve the City's ability to collect on ambulance service billing. Emergency ambulance service is a crucial part of the City's ability to protect public safety. At a time when the City faces over $200 million budget deficit and every City service is impacted, we must watch every dollar. The system is expected to increase ambulance billing revenue by $5 million. 

RIP Jeannine Engelhardt...

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

It  is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear friend and colleague Jeannine Engelhardt, who worked for many years as the Administrative Assistant in our District Office in Northridge.

She is survived by her beloved sister Rayma, her son Dale and daughter in law Melissa, who are expecting their first child this year, as well as nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews. 

Jeannine grew up in Santa Monica, California and lived much of her life in the San Fernando Valley. Jeanine worked for many years in public service, including for former Congresswoman Bobby Fiedler. She started her career with the City of Los Angeles and Council District 12 working for former Councilmember Hal Bernson, and continued serving the community in District 12 under former Councilmember Greig Smith, and current Councilmember Mitchell Englander.

Jeannine was an avid sports fan, was a devoted San Diego Chargers fan, and loved watching baseball and football games surrounded by friends and family. She was adored by her nieces and nephews, who all called her Aunt Neen, and she rarely missed a baseball or football game that they played in.

Family, faith and service to the community always remained the most important things in her life.

She was beloved by us for her endless enthusiasm, laughter, love of her work and competence at her job. She always approached the problems and situations that she responded to every day with empathy and understanding. This endeared her to the countless community members whom she helped, some of whom she spoke with on the phone on a daily basis.

Jeannine Engelhardt will always be deeply missed but fondly remembered. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.

If you were a friend or acquaintance of Jeannine and would like to share any thoughts or memories with her family, they would greatly appreciate it. You can send messages to Councilmember.Englander@lacity.org and we will send them to her family. 

Congratulations to Granada Hills Charter High School for Winning Second Consecutive National Academic Decathlon Title...

We are proud to congratulate Granada Hills Charter High School's Academic Decathlon Team and their coaches, parents, teachers and fellow students on capturing their second consecutive national title!

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

Granada Hills broke a large number of records at the national competition on April 28 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, including the highest ever point total for a school in the history of the National Academic Decathlon competition.  Granada Hills remains the only charter school to claim the national champion title in over 30 years of the National Academic Decathlon competition and the third school ever to win back-to-back national titles.

Granada Hills beat out a crowded field of over 30 teams including past national champions. Academic Decathlon is a grueling two-day competition that tests participants on a range of topics from math and science to art and literature in all kinds of formats. There are multiple choice, fast-paced trivia questions, essays, speeches and interview competitions. The teams are made up of three "A" students, three "B" students and three "C" students.

Congratulations to team members Christian Koguchi, Stella Lee, Priscilla Liu, Kimberly Ly, Hamidah Mahmud, Lev Tauz, Julia Wall, Sean Wejebe, and Jimmy Wu, and their coaches Mathew Arnold, Spencer Wolf and Nick Weber.

Devonshire PALS Art Exhibition...

The LAPD Devonshire Youth Center will be hosting its first PALS Art Exhibition and Reception on Friday, May 4 at the Youth Center in Northridge.

Friday May 4
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
LAPD Devonshire
Youth Center
8721 Wilbur Ave.
Northridge

The exhibition will feature art work by kids participating in the PALS (Police Activity League Supporters) after-school program at the Youth Center. This exhibition of over 100 pieces of original artwork is being directed by PALS art instructor Ingrid Skillman-Hudshon.

Ingrid is a resident of Northridge and accomplished artist whose work has been displayed at the New Orleans Museum of Art and the California State Senate First Contemporary Art Collection, and in solo and group exhibitions. She has volunteered her time and talents at the PALS Center for two years to teach young people basic skills and a love for fine art.

The PALS programs at the Devonshire Youth Center offer at-risk kids in our community after-school mentoring, educational, artistic and sports activities, and helps create positive relationships between the community and the Police.

For more information about the art exhibit, or about how you can volunteer or donate to support the Devonshire PALS program, call Sue Bruno at (818) 885-6432.

Test Runs of Canoga Ave. Extension...

In preparation for the grand opening of the Canoga Ave. Orange Line Extension this summer, Metro is running tests for approximately three weeks starting on Monday, April 23.

During this period, buses will run intermittently for testing purposes only between 4:00 pm and midnight on the dedicated busway along Canoga Ave. between Vanowen St. and Chatsworth Depot Metrolink Station. Construction work will continue during this testing period.

Metro issued traffic safety tips for this testing period
Obey ALL warning signs and traffic signals when crossing the busway intersections. Be alert at all times when near the busway. Watch for buses from both directions. Never walk, run, ride bicycles, or drive on the busway. Remember to press the pedestrian crossing button at the crosswalks to activate the “Walk” signal so that you can cross safely. Always cross only at the crosswalks.

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.

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 5, 9:00 to 4:00 pm
Saturday, May 12, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
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/.

Big Sunday Weekend at Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park…

Volunteers from the Sepulveda Basin Off Leash Dog Park are teaming up with Big Sunday to host Big Sunday Weekend at the dog park on Saturday, May 5.

Saturday, May 5
8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park
17550 Victory Blvd. (at White Oak Ave.)

There will be free onsite spay/neuter services, microchipping and vaccines with a $70 voucher from LA Animal Services. ($65 without voucher). Services are by appointment only, and space is limited, so please call (310) 574-5555 to make an appointment. Be sure to mention the Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park to receive this special one-day only price.

There will be dog adoptions from 10:00 am to 4 pm with low-cost vaccinations and pet licensing on-site. There will also be craft tables where you can help make chew toys for shelter dogs and paper mache flower pots for nursing home residents. Guest speakers Jillian Boyd and Russ Avison, Co-Hosts of Atomic Dog Radio will discuss training tips and Brenda Barnette, General Manager of Los Angeles Animal Services, will discuss Spay/Neuter, Adoption and Licensing.

Volunteers will be gathering earlier in the morning to plant 25 trees and help clean the park. The first 75 volunteers to sign up for a four hour shift will receive a Big Sunday T-shirt, free continental breakfast, and
a chance to win great prizes!

For more information or to volunteer please email Jill at sboldp@gmail.com.

LAFD Firefighters Bowling Benefit...

Come out for a fun night of bowling and pizza and join Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters to help raise funds for the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen's Fund.

Sunday, May 6
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Corbin Bowl
19616 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana


Your $40 per person donation includes pizza, three games, and a raffle ticket. Four people per lane. For more information, visit http://givetoahero.org/bowling.

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 10 - 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.

DWP Holding Community Meetings to Discuss Its Proposed Water & Power Rate Increases...

The L.A. Department of Water & Power (DWP) has announced it is holding seven community meetings across the City starting this week to discuss its proposed power and water rate increases. DWP General Manager Ron Nichols and DWP Senior Managers will present the proposed rate changes during the meetings, answer questions and take comments from community members.

West L.A. 
Thursday, May 10
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Stephen S. Wise Temple, South Taub Annex
15500 Stephen S. Wise Dr., Los Angeles

For more information, including dates and locations of all of the meetings, click here .

Fundraiser to Support CEMP Search & Rescue...

Come for a delicious dinner and help support a great organization, at the fundraiser night for C.E.M.P. Search & Rescue at Marie Callendars Restaurant in Northridge on Friday, May 11.

C.E.M.P. Search & Rescue is an all-volunteer search and rescue team that serves the LAPD and other agencies in the San Fernando Valley and beyond. They primarily assist the LAPD with locating missing people. Because they are an all-volunteer team they rely completely on donations.

Print out the flyer and present it to your server and Marie Callendars will donate 20% of their proceeds to C.E.M.P. Click here to see the flyer.

Friday, May 11
7:00 am to 10:00 pm
Marie Calendars
Tampa Ave., between Nordhoff St. and Parthenia St.

For more information, call (866) 448- 3212 or visit www.CEMP.org.

Gun Buy Back Program...

Do you have an old, non-functional or unwanted firearm that you'd like to get rid of safely and responsibly? Turn it in at the City of Los Angeles 2012 Anonymous Gun Buy Back Program for a valuable gift card on Saturday, May 12 and you'll be helping the Police Department to keep guns off the street. 

City residents are invited to turn in firearms at any of six locations and receive up to $200 in gift cards from Ralphs, no questions asked.

$100 gift cards for handguns, shotguns and rifles. $200 gift cards for assault weapons. While supplies last. The firearms must be transported unloaded and in vehicle trunks. There is no limit to the number of firearms per person, however, the number of gift cards per person is limited.

Lost or stolen guns will be returned to rightful owners, and the remainder of the surrendered guns will be destroyed by the LAPD.

Saturday, May 12
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Central Los Angeles – Northeast Area
LAFD Fire Academy
1700 Stadium Way
Los Angeles

Mid City – Olympic Area
Korean Evangelical Zion Church
2149 West Washington Boulevard
Los Angeles

Valley – Mission Area
Facey Medical Center Parking Lot
11165 Sepulveda Blvd.
Mission Hills

South Los Angeles -77th Area
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
7900 South Western Ave.
Los Angeles

South Los Angeles – Harbor Area
Park & Ride Parking Lot
1300 West Pacific Coast Highway
Wilmington

South Los Angeles – Southeast Area
Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church
10435 South Central Avenue
Los Angeles

Free Tire Collection Days 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 days 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.

Child Care Seat Safety Event in Northridge...

Northridge Hospital Medical Center is holding a child car seat safety events 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.

Shepherd of the Hills Car Show...

Come check out the hot rods, motorcycles, race cars, classics and other rare and beautiful vehicles at the Shepherd of the Hills Car Show on Saturday, May 12 in Porter Ranch. The event, co-sponsored by Galpin Motors, Just Dashes, California Car Cover Co., and Cooner Wire & Cable, is also a fundraiser to support a project to build water wells in a village in Africa. There will also be live music, food trucks, and lots of fun activities.

Saturday, May 12
8:00 am to 3:00 pm
Shepherd of the Hills Church
19700 Rinaldi St., Porter Ranch
Admission is free.

For more information on participating in the show, call (818) 831-9333 ext. 401 or email carshow@theshepherd.org.

Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive...

The downturn in the community has forced many residents in our community to have to choose between putting food on the table or paying their bills. More and more people depend on food banks. A simple way to help is to participate in the National Association of Letter Carrier’s Stamp Out Hunger National food Drive on Saturday, May 12.

On May 12, leave non-perishable food items outside by your mail box and your Postal Service Letter Carrier will collect them and deliver them to local food banks. The best food items to donate are canned goods such as vegetables, soups, beans, chili, or proteins, or dried goods such as rice.

For more information visit www.helpstampouthunger.com.

If you are organizing a food drive, or know of one in our community, or are seeking information about food banks or other resources for struggling families in our community, please call Melody at (818) 882-1212 or email Melody.Jaramillo@lacity.org.

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.

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 Info: www.valleygreekfestival.com(818) 886-4040

West Valley PALS/West Hills Chamber Memorial Day 5k Walk...

Join the West Valley PALS (Police Activity League Supporters) team at the Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber of Commerce Memorial Day 5k Walk/Run and help support the PALS programs. Half of your registration fee will go directly to PALS, whose valuable after-school programs offer at-risk kids positive alternatives to gangs, drugs and crime.

Monday, May 28
8:00 am
Quimby Park
7008 De Soto Ave., Canoga Park


To register online visit http://5kmemorialdayrun.com.

If you can't be there to participate in the Walk/Run, you can still support PALS by making a donation at http://westvalleypals.org.

For more information about the event, call the Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber at (818) 884-4222.

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 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 Performers and Booth Sponsorship for the Valley Family Festival...

You can be part of making our Valley Family Festival happen! We are seeking musical, dance and other performances by talented community members for this wonderful family event.

If you are a community member, cultural organization or school group and would like to preform on stage at the Valley Family Festival, please contact Semee Park at semee.park@lacity.org or (818) 882-1212.

We are also 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.

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 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 Northrdige Sparkle's own Andrea Alvarado) led by Charlie Harrison, Music Director of El Rancho. 

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

Free Guide to Greening Your Business...

Our Field Deputy Erik Richardson conducts much of our office's business outreach, and he frequently sends information and resources to companies in our Chatsworth / Northridge Industrial Zone. This week he reports on a free guide filled with resources and assistance available to small and medium sized businesses located in the City of Los Angeles to help them go green.

"The Guide to Green" is a directory produced and distributed for free by Liberty Hill Foundation as a community service featuring financial and technical assistance programs from local, state and federal government agencies to assist private companies. The guide lists programs to help companies become more energy or water efficient, reduce impacts on worker or public health and implement new technolgy or efficiencies to reduce environment impact and save companies money. 

The resources in the guide consist mostly of technical assistance, training, tax credits, rebates, loans and grants, along with contact information for the public agencies that sponsor these programs. 

To see the guide, visit http://www.libertyhill.org/document.doc?id=250.

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 16: Crowbar
Not many people realize that a crowbar can be a crucial tool to keep in your home. If a major earthquake strikes, the shifting of the structure of your home can jam all of your doors shut. If you have to get outside because of a fire or a gas leak following an earthquake, you could be trapped inside your home. A heavy crowbar will allow you to force a door open or get it off the hinges completely to allow you to escape. Crowbars are available at any hardware store, and can usually be purchased for under $25. To see examples visit http://tiny.cc/908mdw.

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


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