EPIAn Ways February 2009

Trees need rain. They grow a lot better with a few good downpours when they’re planted. Yes, trees need rain. People, not so much.

The handful of people who recently met in Hazard Park, near Lincoln Heights, really didn’t need the soft drizzle that lasted all morning as they worked outdoors in rain and showers to get a hundred and fifty new fruit trees ready for planting. The volunteer workers would have been just as happy without the water dripping on their heads and the puddles underfoot.

The bare root fruit trees, little more than sticks, were, on the contrary, very pleased with the wet weather on Saturday morning, January 24. They were being prepared by EPIA members for distribution to Echo Park residents the next day and a nice, soggy start suited them down to the ground.

The trees were donated to the community by

TreePeople and their preparation was supervised by staff of NorthEast Trees.

After two cold, wet hours every sapling was trimmed, wrapped and packed off to Echo Park, thanks to EPIA volunteers Steven Arthur, Darren Hubert, Matthew DuBois, Caesar Betanzos, John Borden and Susan Borden.

On Sunday a corner of the Echo Park Walgreen’s parking lot at 1625 Sunset Boulevard was turned into a nursery by EPIA president Rosie Betanzos and her helpers. Tangerine, orange, apple, pear, peach, plum, and apricot trees lined up waiting for their new homes. Fortunately for the many local residents who came to pick up one or two of the bare root fruit trees for their gardens, it was a fine, sunny day!

February-March 2009 Echo Park Improvement Association newsletter Volume 16 Issue 1

Mail for EPIA: P.O.Box 261021, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Message Phone (323) 882-4835

Echo Park Improvement AssociationEcho Park Improvement AssociationEcho Park Improvement AssociationEcho Park Improvement Association Meets at 7 p.m. the 1st Thursday of each MonthMeets at 7 p.m. the 1st Thursday of each MonthMeets at 7 p.m. the 1st Thursday of each MonthMeets at 7 p.m. the 1st Thursday of each Month

in Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital 2000 Stadium Way in Elysian Park in Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital 2000 Stadium Way in Elysian Park in Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital 2000 Stadium Way in Elysian Park in Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital 2000 Stadium Way in Elysian Park

IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA…! by Susan Borden

Download the EPIAn ways at http://www.echoparkimprovement.org/Download the EPIAn ways at http://www.echoparkimprovement.org/Download the EPIAn ways at http://www.echoparkimprovement.org/Download the EPIAn ways at http://www.echoparkimprovement.org/

Ceasar Betanzos finishes loading prepared saplings into truck to transport to Walgreen's parking lot for the EPIA Annual Fruit Tree Giveaway

With instructions and two saplings in hand, mother and daughter leave the EPIA Fruit Tree Giveaway to do some planting on a sunny Sunday.

February-March 2009


NEWSLETTER CREDITSNEWSLETTER CREDITSNEWSLETTER CREDITSNEWSLETTER CREDITS

EDITORS: EDITORS: EDITORS: EDITORS:

LYNN BARBÉLYNN BARBÉLYNN BARBÉLYNN BARBÉ

STEVEN M. ARTHUR STEVEN M. ARTHUR STEVEN M. ARTHUR STEVEN M. ARTHUR

ADVERTISINGADVERTISINGADVERTISINGADVERTISING

ROSIE BETANZOSROSIE BETANZOSROSIE BETANZOSROSIE BETANZOS

DESKTOP PUBLISHING:DESKTOP PUBLISHING:DESKTOP PUBLISHING:DESKTOP PUBLISHING:

S.M.ART SYSTEMSS.M.ART SYSTEMSS.M.ART SYSTEMSS.M.ART SYSTEMS

PRINTING: PRINTING: PRINTING: PRINTING:

DAVCO PRINTINGDAVCO PRINTINGDAVCO PRINTINGDAVCO PRINTING

ENERGY EFFICIENCY SOLAR ELECTRIC SOLUTIONS

The sun never sends a monthly bill!©

We help you with the LADWP rebates call for a

free site visit & estimate

(909) 865-8561

www.eesolar.com

EXPERT • EXPERIENCED • ENVIRONMENTALY AWARE

Steven Arthur, Efficient Energy Specialist

MAKE YOUR OWN ELECTRMAKE YOUR OWN ELECTRMAKE YOUR OWN ELECTRMAKE YOUR OWN ELECTRICITYICITYICITYICITY

Copyright by Echo Park Improvement Association 2008

Echo Park Film Center “Your friendly neighborhood media arts organization!”

*cinema

*store

*school

1200 N. Alvarado St., Los Angeles, CA 90026

213-484-8846 www.echoparkfilmcenter.org Hours: Wed/Thur/Fri 2 – 7pm, Sat noon – 5pm

*Thursday Night Cinema Series: 8 – 11 pm *50% off equipment rentals for EPFC Members *Free filmmaking classes for Seniors and Teens EPFC is a 501(c)3: donations are tax deductible.

Los Angeles Citywide Service Directory

a single toll-free phone number to contact City of Los Angeles officials

for any nonnonnonnon----emergencyemergencyemergencyemergency public service: Dial 311


February-March 2009

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Read the EPIAn ways online at http://echoparkimprovement.orgRead the EPIAn ways online at http://echoparkimprovement.orgRead the EPIAn ways online at http://echoparkimprovement.orgRead the EPIAn ways online at http://echoparkimprovement.org

Echo Park neighborhood is a community filled with different trees from native to rare, from flowering to the beautiful evergreens. Parkway trees are a signifi-cant and highly visual portion of the urban forest, a vital infrastructure system that defines the essential character and quality of life in the urban environment of our neighborhood and City of Los Angeles.

The lush greenery that surrounds our businesses and homes is what defines the elemental look and pride of our town. I speak of our town because, yes, it is our home, the location where many of us spend hours. “Our” stands for you and me. You may be a resident, an employee or business owner within this community, but in the end the Echo Park neighbor-hood belongs to us all. It is our responsibility as a stakeholder to protect our street trees and the sur-roundings.

Recently one business owner took it upon herself to order the removal of one of our lovely and healthy ficus tree. (See the accompanying photo.) A neighbor-hood activist was able to bring the business owner’s gardeners down from the tree, saving part of the tree. Another ficus was illegally butchered in front of the Bank of America. Without a permit this is not allowed.

Since it is understood that sometimes trees do need to be trimmed here is some information about how to deal with street trees.

1.Don’t cut or trim a parkway tree. Do call The Bu-reau of Street Services (BSS) to request for the tree trimming. You can request a trim by calling 3-1-1 or the Urban Forestry Division. You can find more infor-mation on trimming of oaks, and sidewalk issues con-cerning parkway trees and the pruning cycle at http://www.lacity.org/BOSS/UrbanForestryDivision/index_calipeppertreeinfo.htm

2.To obtain a BSS Permit for sidewalk tree trimming (it is free), or more information and guidelines take a look at http://bsspermits.lacity.org/treeprune/

3.When you see illegal street trimming or cutting call 3-1-1 to alert Street Services. You can also call 1-877-ask-LAPD. It is vandalism and a misdemeanor act.

4.Join Echo Park’s community online forum. It is a place where you can ask for advice and give advice or just be updated with information. It is free to the pub-lic. Hear from our very own community arborist Mi-chael O’Brian. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EchoElysianNCForum

In a nutshell folks, Echo Park is home to all of us. Take the time to respect and appreciate it. Let’s keep it beautiful for generations to come.

NNNNOTESOTESOTESOTES FROMFROMFROMFROM THETHETHETHE ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘HOODHOODHOODHOOD by Rosie Betanzos, EPIA President

Ficus tree on Sunset Blvd. shows damages after illegal trimming

February-March 2009


1911 SUNSET BOULEVARD

LOS ANGELES, CA 90026 (213) 484-1265

Download the EPIAn ways at http://www.echoparkimprovement.org/Download the EPIAn ways at http://www.echoparkimprovement.org/Download the EPIAn ways at http://www.echoparkimprovement.org/Download the EPIAn ways at http://www.echoparkimprovement.org/

1800 W Sunset Blvd • (213) 989-1558 • www.masaofechopark.com


February-March 2009

The Echo Park Lake team counted thirty-three spe-cies during the annual Christmas Bird Count, plus an additional five during count week, setting a new record for numbers of species at the lake at one period. The 12-person team needed about two hours on a clear and cold day to achieve its count, which totaled 542 indi-vidual birds.

While the species count was up, the total of birds was way down – in 2007 the team counted more than 1150 birds at the lake at one time.

But there was dedication to counting every last bird. Two hours after the end of the main count, one birder returned and located the elusive Ross’s goose, making this four years in a row that this solitary Ross’s has been at the lake. Two other birders, experienced in gull identification, also came by and ID’d two species that were overlooked in the morning.

The Echo Park count team was comprised of Susan Borden, Mary Brooks, Joelle Dobrow, Langdon Faust, Jocelyn McFaul, Stephanie Morris, Judy Raskin, Anthea Raymond, Kathie Riedel, John Schulps, Marian Siu, and Jonathan Williams.

A few hours later, McFaul, Riedel and Raskin headed

over to Vista Hermosa Park, where they were joined by fellow birders Sheila Anthony and Suzi Rogers for the first Christmas Bird Count at this new park. The team identified 12 species and 49 individual birds. In time, as the plantings mature and the trees get larger and higher, additional species are expected to take up resi-dence at the park.

The highlight of the Vista Hermosa count was the discovery of a flock of seven Western meadowlarks. These small birds – about 9” long, pale gray-brown overall, whitish or yellow-ish flanks – have found a home in the shrubbery in the northeastern most part of the park, where the fence separates the property from the Roybal Learning Center. They have about ten different “songs,” but tend to re-peat one many times be-fore switching, so identi-fying them by sound is possible.

BIRD COUNTERS IDENTIFY 33 SPECIES AT ECHO PARK LAKE, MORE AT VISTA HERMOSA

by Judy Raskin

West Meadowlark by Terry Spivey

USDA Forest Service

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT Sunday, February 15, 2009

Echo Park Lake Boathouse, 9:00 a.m. Vista Hermosa Park, 12:00 noon

Discover the birds in your backyard, schoolyard or park. It’s fun, it’s free and it helps the birds. All ages and skills welcome.

Whether you are brand new to birding or an expert, your count counts! Your checklist will contribute valuable information for science and conservation.

Join the Echo Park Lake bird team on Sunday, February 15, 9:00 a.m. Meet at the Boathouse (Echo Park Ave. and Laguna Ave.) Time: about 2 hours.

Vista Hermosa Park, 100 N. Toluca St. (parking lot), 12:00 noon. Time: about 1 hour.

For more information, contact Judy Raskin at [email protected] or call (323) 663-6767.

February-March 2009


Event Date Location Comments

EPIA Meetings 1st Thursday, 7:00 pm

Mar 5, Apr 2, May 7 Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital, 2000 Stadium Way in Elysian Park

Call EPIA message phone for additional information.

EPIA Steering Committee Meetings

2nd Monday, 7:15 pm

Mar 9, Apr 6, May 13 Call (323) 882-4835 for location

Take an active part in EPIA. Join the Steering Committee

Community Safety Meeting

2nd Thursday, 2:00 pm

Hosted by Echo Park Security Association. Call 323-860-9914 for meeting location.

Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park

1st Wednesday, 7:00 pm

Mar 4, Apr 1, May 6 Williams Hall at Barlow Hospital, 2000 Stadium Way in Elysian Park

Call 213-666-9651 for meeting location

Echo Park Chamber of Commerce

3rd Thursday, 7:00 pm and every Wednesday 1:30 pm

Taix Restaurant. Call 213-630-3032 for further information.

Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council Meeting

4th Tuesday, 7 pm

See Website www.gepenc.org

Call (213) 413-3196 for info or visit www.GEPENC.org

Edendale Library Friends Society >=> ELFS <=<

2nd Wednesday, 7 pm

Feb 11, Mar 11, Apr 8, May 13 Edendale Branch Library Community room

2011 W. Sunset Blvd.

Join the library’s support group and find out how you can help your neighborhood’s branch.

Positive Energy Group of Echo Park and Silver Lake Area

4th Wednesday , 6 pm - 7 pm Feb 25, Mar 25, Apr 22

Edendale Branch Library Community room

For info : e-mail [email protected] or our blog www.positiveenergygroup.blogspot.com

Or call (323) 860-9914

EP Farmers Market

Every Friday, 3pm - 7 pm parking lot #663 -- half a bock south of Sunset Boulevard 323463-3171 x13

Edendale Book Club

3rd Monday, 6:30 pm Feb 16, Mar 16, Apr 20

December is "The Soloist" by Steve Lopez

Edendale Branch Library Community room 2011 W. Sunset Blvd.

Deadline February EPIAn ways

Sunday, March 22 Send submissions to EPIA, Attn: EPIAn Ways Editor

SPECIAL EVENTS

ECHO PARK CALENDARECHO PARK CALENDARECHO PARK CALENDARECHO PARK CALENDAR


February-March 2009

CLEAN-UP

Abandoned Vehicles 311

Cars Parked in Yards 1-888-524-2845

Hazardous Waste Disposal Information 1-800-988-6942

Parkway and Median Maintenance 1-800-996-2489

Storm Drains 213-485-5391

Trash and Bulky Item Pick Up 1-800-773-2489 FAX 213-847-2261

L. A. Fire Department Brush Clearance 818-374-1111

GRAFFITI RELATED ISSUES

Central City Action Committee 311

Free Paint 311

CITIZEN COMPLAINTS

Department Building & Safety 888-524-2845

Department of Health 1-800-427-8700

Department of Transportation 213-580-1177

Department of Water & Power 800-342-5397

Parking Enforcement 311

Loose/Stray Animals/Barking Dogs 888-452-7381

LA County Department of Consumer Affairs 213-974-1452

Legal Aid Client Referral 1-800- 399-4529

Operation Bright Lights 311

Street Lighting Repairs 311

Professional Helicopter Pilots Association 213-891-3636

POLITICAL

1st District Ed Reyes 213-485-3451

13th District Eric Garcetti 323-957-4500

Congressman Xavier Becerra 213-483-1425

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard 213-628-9230

State Senator Gil Cedillo 213-612-9566

Assemblyperson Kevin de Leon 323-225-4545

LA County Supervisor Gloria Molina 213-974-4111

Mayor’s Office [email protected] 213-978-0600

Neighborhood Prosecutor Program 213-847-8045

POLICE

Police Emergency: Need Police Car 911

Spanish Line 213-928-8222

Narcotic Hotline 1-800-662-2878

Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-540-4000

Police Non-Emergency 1-877-275-5273

LAPD Air Support Division 213-485-2600

RAMPART DIVISION

Rampart Police Division Desk 213-484-3400 ext 1

Rampart Vice Unit 213-485-4080

Rampart Division Watch Commander 213-485-4062

Senior Lead Officer Ford 213-793-0775

Community Relations 213-484-3400 ext 2

China Town Sub-Station 213-621-2344

NORTHEAST DIVISION

Northeast Desk 213-485-2563

Northeast Report Unit 213-485-2563

Senior Lead Officer Bobby Hill 213-793-0760

Senior Lead Officer Al Polehonki 213-793-0763

Northeast Detectives 213-485-2566

Northeast Community Relations 213-485-2548

Northeast Gang Detail 213-847-4263

Northeast Youth Referral Program 213-847-3375

Northeast Records 213-485-2568

Release of Impounded Vehicles 213-485-2566

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Copies of Crime and Traffic Reports 213-485-4193

El Centro del Pueblo 213-483-6335

Echo Park Library 213-250-7808

Echo Park Recreation Center 213-250-3578

Echo Park Chamber of Commerce 213-630-3032

Dodger's Security 323-224-1363

Dodger's Neighborhood Focus 323-224-2636

Dodger's Community Affairs 323-224-1435

Central City Action Committee 213-241-0908

North Central Animal Shelter 213-847-1416

L.A City Department of Aging 800-834-4777

Elysian Park Ranger 323-913-4688

Los Angeles City Information website www.lacity.org

Edendale Library 213-207-3000

Los Angeles City Information 311

February-March 2009


ECHO PARK LIBRARY Library HoursLibrary HoursLibrary HoursLibrary Hours Mondays 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Tuesdays 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Wednesdays 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Thursdays 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Fridays 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Saturdays 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Sundays CLOSED Library AddressLibrary AddressLibrary AddressLibrary Address Echo Park Branch Library 1410 W. Temple Street Los Angeles CA 90026 Phone Phone Phone Phone 213.250.7808 FAXFAXFAXFAX 213.250.3744

EDENDALE LIBRARY Library Hours Library Hours Library Hours Library Hours

Mondays 10:00 am – 8:00 pm Tuesdays 12 noon – 8:00 pm Wednesdays 10:00 am – 8:00 pm Thursdays 12 noon – 8:00 pm Fridays 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Saturdays 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Sundays CLOSED Library Address Edendale Branch Library 2011 W. Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90026 Phone (213) 207-3000 FAX (213) 207-3097

World Wide Web Address World Wide Web Address World Wide Web Address World Wide Web Address http://www.lapl.org • 24 Hour Renewal:24 Hour Renewal:24 Hour Renewal:24 Hour Renewal: 888-577-LAPL

1) Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle: 'Take two aspirin' and 'Keep away from children.' --Author Unknown

2) When I die, I want to die like my grandfather-who died peacefully in his sleep. Not screaming like all the passengers in his car. --Author Unknown

Sensible Observations


February-March 2009

Saturday Special Typical Haitian Food

Mon — Sat 11 am — 7 pm Sundays — Group of 10 or more by Reservation Wood Burning Rotisserie

309 N. Glendale Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026

www.tigeorgeschicken.com Email: [email protected]

We Roast our own HAITIAN Coffee

EPIA can be contacted at [email protected]. Of course, you can continue to reach us through the EPIA message phone at (323) 882-4835.

In a very short time Echo Park Recreation Center and Echo Deep Pool have come to life. With dedica-tion to providing recreation and sport opportunities to the community of Echo Park, partnerships with com-munity organizations have already blossomed to make Echo Park a better place for youth and families.

Partnering with the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council for the annual Fright Night event, on October 31st, at Echo Park Recreation Cen-ter, they were able to spook almost 1,000 local resi-dents. Partnering with Lake Street Recreation Center, basketball is being played by almost 200 youth in the community. With registration now beginning, Echo Park Recreation Center, Royball High School, and LAPD are partnering to bring the Metropolitan Pony Baseball League to Echo Park's Youth. Focusing on traditional baseball rules, youth are given the founda-tion needed to succeed in baseball in High School and beyond.

Echo Park Recreation Center (EPRC) offers classes in dance, art, skateboarding, sports, fitness, as well as an Afterschool Club that picks up children from Betty Placensia Elementary and Our Lady of Lo-retto schools. For ages 12-17 EPRC also has a free Teen Club which focuses on community involvement and field trip rewards, as well as fun weekly activities only for members. Echo Deep Pool provides daily lap swimming, team sports, such as synchronized swim-ming and water polo for youth, swim lessons, aquatic fitness classes and lifeguarding training programs. All recreation programs are available to residents of Echo Park and neighboring communities.

For more information, please contact: Echo Park Recreation Center, 1632 Bellevue Avenue, Los Ange-les, 90026 (213) 250-3578 and/or Echo Deep Pool, 1419 Colton Street, Los Angeles 90026 (213) 481-2640.

Echo Park Recreation Comes to Life by Cassandra Bruno Reyes

Senior Recreation Director, Echo Park Recreation Center

We pour our own HAITIAN Coffee - Try some!

February-March 2009


THIS SPACE IS THIS SPACE IS THIS SPACE IS THIS SPACE IS WAITING for WAITING for WAITING for WAITING for

YOUR ADYOUR ADYOUR ADYOUR AD

Call the EPIA (323) 882Call the EPIA (323) 882Call the EPIA (323) 882Call the EPIA (323) 882----4835 for 4835 for 4835 for 4835 for InfoInfoInfoInfo

PROFESSIONAL SECURITY

OFFICERS

SECURITY PATROLS

OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICERS

LOSS PREVENTION

DEDICATED

MANAGEMENT & STAFF

24 Hour Dispatch Center: (213) 403-0111

Office: (213) 384-3643 - Fax: (213) 384-3652

3470 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 885Los Angeles, CA 90010

Through flood, storm and fire, Peggy Kelly has worked to keep Elysian Park an oasis of nature in our urban neighborhood for the past eighteen years. Maintaining the hundreds of acres of trees, hillsides, playgrounds and trails in Elysian Park has been her responsibility. As the park’s Maintenance Supervisor her job has included ensuring that playing fields are irrigated, trails are usable, overgrown brush is trimmed, and the park’s trees are healthy. Peggy is also the Recreation and Parks official who cooperates with local community groups, especially the Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park.

Soon, however, Peggy will be only an occasional visitor to Elysian Park. She has accepted a promotion within the Department of Recreation and Parks and begins work in the Cheviot Hills/Rancho Cienega district as the Senior Park Maintenance Supervisor in charge of brush clearance—a vital position—on January 20, 2009.

Scores of well-wishers gathered for a farewell luncheon at the Elysian Park service yard at 835 Academy Road on Thursday, January 15 to say goodbye and to plant a tree in Peggy’s honor.

The sapling will one day become a full-grown tulip tree shading the red brick office and reminding both park staff and local residents of Peggy Kelly’s long tenure in Elysian Park.

COME BACK ANYTIME—WE MEAN THAT! by Susan Borden


February-March 2009

Ahhhhhh, the holidays are over. Don’t like to take all the decorations down, kind of makes the place look drab. Both Maryanne and I enjoy the lights and frills of the season. Oh well, a new year brings new Ideas and soon it will be Valentines Day, so we can put up new decorations.

As usual our holiday season was a huge success. We made sure to participate in all the events held in Echo Park. We even made it to a few events outside of our immediate area. School is back in session and there about 7 seniors who are busy making their ap-plications for college. Some will be going away and some will be attending institutions of higher learning in or near Los Angeles. We wish each and every one the kids the best of luck in their future endeavors.

When you work with kids there are always ups and downs. But I must tell you about Friday, January 16, 2009. Earlier in that week, a little boy, Roberto Lopez was shot and pronounced dead at the hospi-tal. Echo Park residents rushed to be of service to the family. Local restaurants donated food for the family in their time of need and bank accounts were opened to help the family pay the bills for the fu-neral. Well on that particular Friday around 2 p.m. I observed David Bermudez making a box to collect money for the family of Roberto. He told me he was going to sit outside under an umbrella and ask for donations from passing cars. Much to my surprise he had already put signs on the side of the fire sta-tion. I told him that as soon as the kids got to the center I would send them outside as I knew he was going to pick up a food basket from the Farmers

Market at 3 p.m. to take to the family. I found some jars and tied blue ribbons on them and as the kids came in I directed them outside. Maryanne came downstairs and we placed one of our kids at each stop sign. One of our kids started to make more signs.

I was watching and explaining that when some-one stopped to ask them for a donation. Well, after the first few cars stopped and reached into their purses or wallets, every car was stopping. People at the bus stop walked over to the kids and made dona-tions. I saw a woman with small child stop and sit down in front of the fire station. She began searching her bag for money and pulled out coins so her child could make a donation. I wish you could have seen how the kids put their heart and soul into collecting money. When I left all the jars were full of money.

The kids did so well on Friday that they decided to do it again on Saturday. What I saw was a bunch of kids from the neighborhood trying to make a dif-ference. Their efforts should be applauded. On Satur-day David, Maryanne and our friend Angelica along with the kids went to the family’s residence and gave them $1400 which our kids had collected. Seeing the center’s kids participating in this worthwhile pro-ject makes me proud to be a part of their life. Spe-cial thanks to Rudy, Jennifer A., Arturo, Patricia, An-gel O., Maynor, Jennifer M., David, Richard, Eddy, Juan, Angel H., Stephanie, Esmeralda and Kimberlin.

Nothing more I can say about our kids!! They are the best.

Central City Action by GloriaGloriaGloriaGloria

ECHO PARK SECURITY ASSOCIATION Join us for a safe, secure and crime-free

Echo Park and Angelino Heights.

Since 1991. Alarm response included (24-hour)

Low cost. Lowered crime rate

Endorsed by EPIA. Close relationship with police

Volunteer run Founded by EPIA members.

‘Dedicated’ patrol allows an officer to patrol Echo Park

and Angelino Heights exclusively (during patrol hours) To sign up, send name, address, phone, to:

ECHO PARK SECURITY ASSN.

P.O. Box 26201, L.A., CA 90026

Or call 323-860-9914

February-March 2009


Opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Echo Park Improvement Association

Williams Hall, a wonderful old craftsman-style building on the campus of Barlow Respiratory Hospital, has been the Echo Park Improvement Association’s monthly home almost since the group formed in the late 1980s. Except for a hiatus when 1994 earthquake damage to the 1910 meeting hall was being repaired, EPIA members have met there regularly. With its brick fireplace, its wood paneling, the lofty, open beam ceiling and the distinctive cushioned window seats that line the front and back walls, Williams Hall is uniquely comfortable and wel-coming.

All of which made Williams Hall an easy choice as the place to host EPIA’s Decem-ber reception for the VIPs of the Echo Park Holiday Pa-rade.

Local officials and com-munity celebrities taking part in the annual event were in-vited by EPIA to attend a fes-tive buffet at Williams Hall before the start of the Satur-day, December 13th parade.

It was a morning that threatened—but fortunately didn’t deliver—rain. EPIA members in Santa hats and EPIA-logo aprons arrived early to prepare for their guests. They covered the ta-bles with colorful cloths and hung children’s holiday draw-ings on the walls. Towering over the hall’s baby grand piano, a nine-foot Christmas tree, lighted and decorated by Barlow Hospital staff, certainly helped to set a cheerful scene.

Echo Park’s bakeries and restaurants pitched in too. No one went hungry thanks to donations that included freshly-brewed coffee from FIX Coffee Co, baked goods from Masa of Echo Park and from Delilah Bakery, tamales from Barragan’s

Mexican restaurant, taquitos from Rodeo Mexican Grill, as well as hors d’oeuvres from Les Freres Taix, and bagels from Brooklyn Bagel Bakery.

Among those enjoying the buffet were 45th District Assem-blyman Kevin de Leon; C.D.1 Councilman Ed Reyes; C.D.13 Councilman Eric Garcetti; parade Community Ambassador Manuel Ponce, former Clifford Street school principal; parade Community Ambassador Lynn Andrews, Allessandro Street school principal; the family of award winning artist Leo Politi; 21st District State Senator Carol Liu; and former Los Angeles Dodger Lee Lacy.

After his appearance at the reception Kevin de Leon rode in the parade as its Grand Marshal. Councilman Reyes wanted to participate but was called away to a press conference announc-ing an arrest in the case of murdered sheriff’s deputy Juan Escalante. Councilman Eric Garcetti was a surprise guest—he dashed over when a prior commitment ended unexpectedly early. Others present included Ann Stal-cup, author of a book about Leo Politi, and artist Elora Dorn, winner of the parade’s student drawing competi-tion.

After the speeches were applauded, convertible cars arrived for the honored guests. The VIPs were whisked away to wave to excited crowds watch-ing the parade along Sunset Boulevard. The volunteers tidied up Williams Hall and wished one another Happy Holidays!

Thank you—Steven Arthur, Lynn Barbe, Rosie Betanzos, Bill Campbell, Lawrence Fried, Darren Hubert, Phyllis Lundine and Suzi

Rogers.

A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Susan Borden

Volunteers Darren Hubert, Lawrence Fried and Steven Arthur ready to welcome VIP’s before Echo Park community Parade

EPIAn Ways February 2009

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