'Think 91311' on 9/13/11 and Help Celebrate Hometown Chatsworth

Behind all the fun and merriment of "Think 91311" is a classic example of how a community comes together to celebrate itself.

This once-in-a-lifetime event will include attractions underground, above ground and in the sky, all of them marking the confluence of the Julian calendar and the U.S. Postal Service ZIP code. And, interestingly enough, it all started at a Wells Fargo bank in Beverly Hills.

Just more than a year ago, Vicki Briskman, a member of the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council, had family business to conduct at the Beverly Hills bank.  "We walk in and they have a huge table of cakes and cookies and balloons," she told Chatsworth Patch. "And every store on Rodeo Drive had all this stuff."

Puzzled at the festivities on what seemed like an ordinary day, Briskman asked for an explanation. She quickly learned that the goodies were to celebrate Sept. 2, 2010 which, translated into the numerical 9-02-10, which coincided with the famous Beverly Hills ZIP code.

"So on the way home I thought, well, we're 91311. We should do something," she said. And the result of her work and that of many others is "Think 9-13-11," beginning 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

"I went to certain people I'm friendly with and who belong to different groups in the community. I didn't want this to be an event put on by a single group," she said.

Before long, Briskman had obtained the backing of the Chatsworth Historical Society, the Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce, the Chatsworth Kiwanis Club, the Chatsworth Business Improvement District, Councilman Mitch Englander, Freedom Church, Rocky Hill Riders Corral 54, Oak Springs, Naya Fresh Body Spa and the Neighborhood Council. In addition to being a sponsor, St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, 20121 Devonshire St., agreed to host the celebration on its grounds.

Briskman guessed there may be 1,000 people turning out for this free event that appears to have something for everyone.

Proceeds will be donated to Young Masters Performing Arts Academy, a nonprofit that offers instrumental music instruction to those between the ages of 7 and 19. "We are asking people who have instruments at home in the closet that are not being used to donate them. They'll fix them up and the students will be able to use them," Briskman said.

"We're going to have a children's area with two jumpers and a face painter," she said. There will be a "Taste of Chatsworth" with samples from Chatsworth restaurants for purchase. A vendor area will offer a variety of products. There will be a raffle and a silent auction for items including tickets to the Lakers, Kings and Dodgers. Musical groups will perform throughout the four-hour celebration and the Kiwanis will be grilling hot dogs and hamburgers.

Overhead, at about 5:15 p.m., a helicopter will snap aerial pictures of attendees sprawled out on the grass--one extra large group photo.

A time capsule will be buried, as well, to be opened in 2063. Councilman Mitch Englander said he will place an item in the capsule but declined to say what it would be. "You'll have to show up," he said.

With Englander's help, the City Council is expected to pass a resolution declaring Sept. 13 the Day of Chatsworth.

"It's great to celebrate such a wonderful community and such great history and culture, culture that's fought off development to protect and preserve the rural nature and character of Chatsworth," he said.

"That's the great part of Los Angeles," he added. "We're such a big city but, with the community names and identified areas of the city, people really take part and pride in their area and their community."