Englander E-News: Advocating in D.C., Supporting Vets in Chatsworth, and More ...

COUNCILMEMBER ENGLANDER'S E-NEWS
March 15, 2013

Advocating for the City of Los Angeles in Washington, D.C....

This week I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. with a multi-pronged agenda for the City of Los Angeles. I was able to meet with several members of Congress and United States Senators to brief them on the devastating consequences that a current proposal to eliminate or cap the tax free status of municipal bonds would have on the City's infrastructure. The most crippling effect would be that the cost of borrowing would increasesignificantly - thereby increasing the cost of all of the city's capital projects. In addition, this proposal would be retroactive, and create a hardship for the city's bond holders who had counted on the tax-free nature of their investment. Since the majority of these bonds are held by seniors, this is an especially bleak scenario.

I also attended the National League of Cities and assumed my position as a member of the National Public Safety Committee. As the Chair of the City Council's Public Safety Committee and a Reserve LAPD Officer, it is my duty and honor to be able to serve on behalf of the City in this capacity, at the national level.

Finally, I led a delegation of business leaders from the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) to promote the City of Los Angeles and share its unique concerns with our federal representatives.

- Mitchell Englander, Councilmember, Twelfth District

Honoring Armenian-Americans in our Community…

 I was proud to present the North Valley Armenian National Committee of America with a Certificate from the City of Los Angeles recognizing their efforts in advancing the needs and concerns of the Armenian-American Community. Their work promoting civic engagement and political participation have had a tremendous positive impact strengthening community relations and increasing viability within in the Twelfth Council District and the City of Los Angeles.

Last year, I was happy to support a motion to make the Armenian, Russian, and Farsi languages available on election ballot materials beginning in 2015.

-Mitchell Englander, Councilmember, Twelfth District

Providing Support to San Fernando Valley Veterans...

A new Veterans Resource Center recently opened on Devonshire St. in Chatsworth. The Chatsworth Center services veterans in the West San Fernando Valley and surrounding area.

The Center provides employment referrals and resume workshops to aid veterans as they venture into the workforce. Work-study allows veterans going to school under the GI Bill to receive a stipend to work while attending classes. These veterans gain real-world experience in administration and garner skills that they can take with them into their future careers.

Beyond helping veterans enter the labor market, Veteran Resource Centers also provide emotional support. Group therapy and readjustment counseling are available to those in need, as well as marriage and family counseling. Many of the counselors are veterans themselves. The Center also offers recreational classes like art, yoga, and hiking. The Center welcomes individuals and organizations willing to donate their time to teach additional classes. There are three-hundred Veterans Resource Centers nationwide with five located in Southern California. Council District 12 is proud to have two Veterans Resource Centers available to serve our nation’s heroes.

Chatsworth Veterans Resource Center
20946 Devonshire St.
Chatsworth
(818) 576-0201

Sepulveda Veterans Resource Center
9737 Haskell Street
Sepulveda
(818) 892-9227

The Center gratefully accepts monetary donations to help supplement supplies not provided by the Veterans Administration.

For more information on how to donate time and resources, contact Byron Rodriguez at (818) 892-9227 or email at byron.rodriguez@va.gov.

Year of Healthy Living March Event - Grand Opening of Aliso Canyon Park!

Please join me in celebrating the opening of Aliso Canyon Park on the Granada Hills/Porter Ranch border on Saturday, March 16!

We are proud to open up this new park to the community. The park is the first public equestrian arena in the Northwest San Fernando Valley. It also features an outdoor pavilion and picnic area, a pedestrian bridge over the small creek to protect the riparian habitat, a naturally landscaped meadow with native, drought-tolerant plants, equestrian parking and staging area, regular parking area, restrooms, and improved trailheads and markers for the trails through the canyon.

Saturday, March 16
10:00 am
Aliso Canyon Park
18041 Rinaldi St. (Between Reseda Blvd. and Zelzah Ave.)

We secured grant funding to purchase and make improvements to Aliso Canyon Park and worked with Granada Hills North, Granada Hills South, and Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council and equestrian and hiking groups to determine the design of the existing park. We look forward to bringing this new park to the community!

The opening of Aliso Canyon Park is our March Year of Healthy Living event. By opening this new park, we are expanding the trails that are available for community members to have a place to walk, run, hike and enjoy nature. Having easy access to outdoor recreation and nature is important to the health of the community. We invite all communities to come out for a healthy walk or hike at the new Aliso Canyon Park! 

As part of our Year of Healthy Living, we are holding a community activity or event every month to offer families in the community a fun way to get healthy. The events range from community hikes, walks and bike rides, to informational events on nutrition, healthcare and financial health.

- Mitchell Englander, Councilmember, Twelfth District

Join the LAPD and the LAFD to Celebrate St. Baldrick’s Foundation…

The men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department and Los Angeles Police Department invite you to join them for a local celebration of St. Baldrick’s. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity that funds childhood cancer research grants. You won’t want to miss this special 10th Anniversary event. Enjoy a free IHOP pancakes and sausage breakfast along with Starbuck’s coffee while being entertained by Magic Castle Magicians, face painters, celebrity guest barbers, and tunes by 93.1 JACK FM! The LAFD and LAPD will have equipment and apparatus on display for tours and photo opportunities.

Saturday, March 16
7:30 am to 3:00 pm
Fire Station 89
7063 Laurel Canyon Blvd.
North Hollywood

Visit St. Baldrick’s online at www.stbaldricks.org.

African American Music Festival…

The African American Music Association presents the Fourteenth Annual African American Music Festival. The yearly event celebrates the musical heritage of Spirituals, Gospel, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Blues, Steppn’, and Liturgical Dance. In addition to the fantastic music there will be great food and special activities for children.

Saturday, March 16
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
California State University Northridge
Cypress Hall
18111 Nordoff Street
Northridge
All Events are Free and Open to the Public
CSUN Campus All Day Parking $6

For additional information please call (818) 834-2555.

Women of the Northridge United Methodist Church Annual Spring Boutique...

The annual Spring Boutique will be presented by the Women of the Northridge United Methodist Church featuring handmade crafts from members of the community.

Sunday, March 17
8:00 am to 12:30 pm
9650 Reseda Blvd.
Northridge

Proceeds go to support Valley organizations that provide assistance to families, and especially to women and children.

For additional information please visit www.northridgeumc.org or call (818) 886-1555.

CD 12 Non-Profit Summit - “Enriching the Community with the Arts”...

We invite all community-based organizations and non-profit organizations in the Northwest San Fernando Valley to join us for our next CD 12 Non-Profit Summit, “Enriching the Community with the Arts.”

Monday, March 18
10:00 am to 11:30 am 
Devonshire PALS Youth Center
8721 Wilbur Ave.
Northridge

Our office strongly supports the arts by working with local artists on community projects, cultivating strategic partnerships, and promoting local arts events. We have successfully partnered with local artists to conduct a public art event at our Valley Family Festival and have transformed our new Community Service Center into a community art gallery.

Three great organizations are partnering on this Non-Profit Summit - the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and Arts for LA.

The panelists will provide information on grants and funding opportunities, programs available for artists, and ways for artists to learn advocacy and civic engagement. Organizations will share experiences and best practices.

Please RSVP to Semee Park via email at Semee.Park@lacity.org or by calling (818) 882-1212.

Free Waste Collection Event...
The City is holding a free waste collection event in in the San Fernando Valley to offer residents a convenient place to safely and properly dispose of used motor oil, oil filters, and electronic waste that are illegal to throw away in the regular trash.

Saturday, March 23
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Anheuser-Busch, INC.
Budweiser Parking lot (on Haskell Ave.)
15800 Roscoe Blvd.
Van Nuys 91406

For more information and future waste collection events and locations click here.

Two Great Events from the New Horizons Foundation…

The New Horizons Foundation is proud to bring two free and informative workshops to the community.

Tuesday, March 19 - “Speak Up For Yourself” presented by USC / University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Learn helpful tips for expressing yourself, and getting your needs and wants met.

Thursday, March 28 - New Horizons and the Federal Food and Drug Administration are offering the opportunity to learn great safety tips about food and medication.

Programs begin at 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm
Sam’s Café, New Horizons
15725 Parthenia St.
North Hills

Sign Up Now for One-On-One Help With Representatives of City Departments at Our Community Service Center.. .

We are now taking reservations for community members to meet one-on-one with representatives of City Departments at our Community Service Center in Chatsworth.

We have regularly scheduled time slots for community members to meet with the Planning, Police, Transportation (LADOT), Housing, Community Development and Neighborhood Empowerment Departments and the Bureau of Sanitation. This will offer community members a chance to get information and assistance in Chatsworth without having to travel all the way to Downtown.

The following Departments are currently taking appointments: 

Community Development Department- Friday, April 5.
(Offers economic, social and employment opportunities for individuals, families and neighborhoods in need.)

We will announce in our newsletter the service hours of the remaining Departments once they have been established.

Our Community Service Center is located at 9207 Oakdale Ave., Second Floor, in Chatsworth.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (818) 882-1212 or email Melody Jaramillo at Melody.Jaramillo@lacity.org.

Northridge Library Used Book Sale…

The Friends of the Northridge Library are having a Used Book Sale. Proceeds from the sale will go to the Northridge Library to help fund programs and new book purchases. The event will be held in the Meeting Room at the Northridge Branch Library on Darby Ave. Come out and buy some great books and support the Northridge Library.

Saturday, April 6
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
9051 Darby Ave.
Northridge

For additional information please call (818) 886-3640.

The Golden Hour Guild’s Annual Spring Brunch…

The Golden Hour Guild’s Annual Spring Brunch is coming up soon! Since 1985, The Golden Hour Guild has helped raise funds to support the Northridge Hospital Trauma Centers. Over the last twenty-eight years, The Golden Hour Guild has raised more than $800,000 for the Trauma Center which provides emergency care to trauma patients. Help support everyday miracles and join the Golden Hour Guild for their Spring Brunch.

Sunday, April 7
10:30 am 
The Odyssey Restaurant
15600 Odyssey Dr.
Granada Hills
Tickets are $55

For more information or to be a sponsor, please call the Northridge Hospital Foundation at 818-885-5341, ext. 2.

The Northridge Women's Club Charity Fundraiser…

The Northridge Women's Club is having their annual Charity Fundraiser to benefit The San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission. The Rescue Mission has provided food and shelter to the homeless for more than 39 years. The event will be held at the Odyssey Restaurant and includes entertainment by “Wendy and Rik” and lunch. 

April 18 
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
The Odyssey Restaurant
15600 Odyssey Dr.
Granada Hills
$60 Donation.

Please RSVP by April 10th to Hattie Spiegel by calling (818) 886-5271.

ONEGeneration’s 2013 Senior Symposium…

The 2013 Senior Symposium is a free event for Baby Boomers and Seniors, proudly sponsored by Heritage California ACO. The symposium will feature great speakers, workshops on aging, over fifty vendors, health screenings, prizes, giveaways, and more! 

Saturday, April 20
8:00 am to 4:00 pm
ONEGeneration Senior Enrichment Center
18255 Victory Blvd.
Reseda

Register now by calling (818) 705-2345. For Vendor Information call: Cathy Carpenter at (818) 708-6605. 

Discover Recycling Open House...

Save the date for the Discover Recycling Open Houses coming up in the San Fernando Valley!

Families and children of all ages will have the opportunity to meet trash truck drivers, see trash truck demonstrations and tour trash facilities while learning about recycling and the environment.

Saturday, April 27
9:00 am to 2:30 pm
East Valley District Yard
11050 Pendleton St.
Sun Valley

Saturday, May 18
9:00 am to 2:30 pm
West Valley District Yard
8840 Vanalden Ave. 
Northridge

Chatsworth Historical Society Presents A Garden Festival…

The Chatsworth Historical Society is celebrating Chatsworth’s 125th birthday with A Garden Festival featuring Roses and Crafts. Festival attractions include tours of Minnie’s Cottage, a bake sale, live plant sale, arts and crafts, afternoon tea in the Duchess Tea Room, a quilt display from the Veteran’s Quilt Project, and much more! All Proceeds go to the Chatsworth Historical Society for the preservation of the Minnie Hill Palmer Homestead Acre and the Virginia Watson Chatsworth Museum.

Sunday, April 28
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
The Homestead Acre
10385 Shadow Oak Dr.
Chatsworth
$5 Admission Donation
Children $1, Kids Under 5 Free

For additional information please call (818) 882-5614, emailchatsworthhistory@gmail.com, or visit www.historicalsocieties.net. 

Reports From Our Staff:

Our District Director, Megan Cottier, reports that the Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce and Facey Medical group are presenting the Unforgettable Educator Book Drive. New and used children’s books will be accepted through April 12th and donated to the Child Care Resource Center.

The goal is to collect 100,000 books in 2013 to give to the children of low income families in our area. Books will be collected at all participating schools and at the Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Office at 10038 Old Depot Plaza Road in Chatsworth. Participating schools include, Beckford Elementary, Castlebay Elementary, Chatsworth Hills Academy, Darby Elementary, Egremont Schools, Nobel Middle School, Porter Ranch Community School, and Superior Elementary. The top three schools that collect the most books win cash prizes. All participating schools will receive new supplies.

The winning schools will be announced at the Chamber’s 13th Annual Unforgettable Educator Recognition Dinner on April 18th.

Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce
Unforgettable Educator Recognition Dinner
April 18
The Odyssey Restaurant
15600 Odyssey Dr.
Granada Hills

For more information, contact the Chamber Office at (818) 341-2428 or emailexec@chatsworthchamber.