December 18, 2009 - Los Angelesens.lacity.org/council/cd12/legweekinreview/cd12legweekinreview... · Plan to Recycle Your Christmas Tree This Holiday Season Have a green holiday season

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Communities of: Canoga Park,

Chatsworth, Encino, Granada Hills, Lake Balboa, North Hills, Northridge, Porter

Ranch, Reseda, West Hills, West Van Nuys,

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Public Safety Chair

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Public Works Member

Ad Hoc RENEW LA Chair

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Efficiency Member

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December 18, 2009

Email [email protected] to request official City services orinformation, and please include your address.

COMMUNITY NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Defeat of Las Lomas Mega-Development Reaffirmed by Courts... The California Supreme Court has denied the final final appeal of the Las Lomas mega-development and upheld the Lower Court's ruling in favor of the City of Los Angeles. This move finally exhaust Las Lomas' ability to move forward with their project, which proposed building 5,500 homes, 2 million square feet of commercial space, a 300-room hotel in the north San Fernando Valley where the 5 and 14 Freeways converge. The project site is in an environmentally sensitive and seismically active arethat is a huge traffic bottleneck for the region. Our office led the fight to defethis project together with a large, diverse coalition of opponents including hundreds of community members and groups, Neighborhood Councils, environmental advocates, elected officials, public safety officers and many others.

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12/18/2009http://simplesend.com/simple/viewnewsletter.asp?SID={B9A3E300-2709-40BC-A83B-...

RENEW LA, CouncilmanGreig Smith's

plan to increase recyling and lead Los

Angeles out of landfills

Upcoming Events

Saturday, Dec. 19 Animal Adoption Events There will be pet adoption events at animal care centers throughout the L.A. area on Saturday, Dec. 19. Several of the events are in the Valley.

FoundAnimals is coordinating with the L.A. Department of Animal Services to hold Save-A-Stray, offering reduced prices on all pet adoptions. 9 am to 2 pm Valley Locations West Valley Animal Care Center 20655 Plummer St., Chatsworth (cross street Lurline Ave.)

Van Nuys Recreation Center 11409 Vanowen St., Van Nuys (cross street Van Nuys Blvd.)

For more information click here or call (877) 580 7387.

Saturday, Jan. 9

Help Operation Gratitude Ship Their 500,000th CarePackage to Bring the Holidays to Our Troops Overseas...

Help our troops stationed overseas have a brighter holidaseason by joining Operation Gratitude's holiday care packagassembly effort on Saturday, Dec. 19 and shopping at their yard sale Sunday Dec. 20. Throughout the year, OperationGratitude, a non-profit based inthe Valley, mobilizes hundredsof volunteers who assemble donated items such as toiletriesbooks, videos, snacks, handwritten letters of support and other items. The care packages offer some of thcomforts of home to our militamen and women serving overseas and let them know theare not forgotten.

At this regularly scheduled care package workday, Operation Gratitude will also celebrate its 500,000th care package. The hundreds of volunteers will bjoined by military and civillian officials, special supporters and corporate sponsors. Santa Claus will arrive with this year's special gift which will go tolucky person serving overseas. At the yard sale, every $11 spent will pay for one care package to be shippedto troops. Most items cost just $1. Care Package Assembly Saturday, Dec. 19 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Yard Sale Sunday, Dec. 20 6:00 am to 3:00 pm At California National Guard Armory 17330 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys (corner of Victory and Louise)



2010 Fruit Tree Give-Away

Rosemary & Thyme Community Garden will give away free fruit trees on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010 on a first come, first-served basis. Rosemary & Thyme Garden 10161 Jordan Avenue, between Craggyview Street & Romar Street in Chatsworth, will be giving away fresh fruit trees on a first come, first served basis on Saturday, January 9 from 9 am to 3 pm/until all trees are gone. Please call Estella Taylor at (818) 700-8940 or (818) 993-0746 for more information.

Ongoing

Plan to Recycle Your Christmas Tree This

Holiday Season

Have a green holiday season and plan on recycling your Christmas tree this year, in addition to recycling wrapping paper, boxes and gift packaging. The City of Los Angeles offers residents the opportunity to recycle Christmas trees. Instead of going to landfills, where they contribute to

Lunch will be served for all the volunteers and guests. For more informationcontact Marty Martin at (310) 476-5653 or email [email protected]. Participants Needed for Canoga Orange Line Extension Art Advisory Group... Community members are invited to serve on the Art Advisory Group for Metro's Orange Line Extension Art Program. Each station on the Canoga Ave. extension of the Orange Line busway, which will connect the Warner Center terminus in Woodland Hills with Chatsworth Depot Train Station, will feature a unique piece of public art. Members must either live or work in the project area. Candidates should havan active interest in the arts and be involved in the community, and must commit to attending at least six meetings. The Art Advisory Group will help develop a community profile as a resourctool for the artists, advise the board, committees, artists and staff, share resources and information, and participate in community open houses and workshops. A representative of the Art Advisory Group will serve on the artist selection panels. To apply to serve on the Art Advisory Group, send an email to Zipporah LaxYamamoto at Metro Creative Services at [email protected] expressingyour interest and involvement in the arts and the community, and your qualifications. Please include a resume. Applications are due by December 22009. Holiday Crime Prevention Tips from the LAPD...

Every holiday season, the LAPD sees increase in the number of "smash and grab" thefts and other crimes of opportunity, many of which can be



green house gases that cause global warming, the trees will be turned into mulch and re-used in landscaping. Remove all ornaments, decorations and the tree stand, cut the tree into pieces and place in the green waste bin. If it does not fit, place it at the curb, or bring it to one of the City’s pick-up locations. To see a list of all pick-up locations and more info click here.

Download "The Parks of CD 12" Pamphlet

We have produced an overview of the many outstanding parks in our District, including its location, features and amenities.

It is available on our website for anyone to download, print out or email on to others.

Our parks offer everything from a professional level skateboarding park, to three full-sized municipal golf courses, to fishing, rock climbing, hiking and horseback riding. We even have an off-leash dog park.

To see "The Parks of CD 12" visit www.CD12.org and click "The Parks of CD12"

prevented. Shoppers who are loaded down with gifts and are distracted with holiday shopping often leave gifts, wallets, purses, phones, GPS navigation devices and other valuables in their cars in shopping center parking lots. This makesthem vulnerable to "smash and grab" thieves who prowl mall parking lots during the holidays and won't hesitate to break a car window. Remember to remove all valuables when you park your car. Use credit cards when possible and avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Avoid using ATM machines at night or in isolated areas. All Police Stationhave secure ATM machines available to the public. The gifts and packages that delivery services leave at the doorstep of absent homeowners are also an easy target for thieves. If you expect to receipackages at home: Leave a note on your door instructing the deliverer to return at a later time; arrange to pick up the package at a distribution center; or ask a neighbor who stays at home during the day to remove andhold any packages delivered to your door. LAPD also reports an increase in theft from mailboxes during the holidays, when large numbers of credit cards, gift cards, coupons and money are sent bmail. Many mailboxes have latches. Install a small padlock on your mailbo Don't make it easy on criminals - even small obstacles can cause thieves to think twice. To see more crime prevention tips from the LAPD visit www.LAPDonline.org/prevent_crime/content_basic_view/1175.

Battle of the Badges Blood Drive Sponsored by LAPDValley Bureau & LAPD Valley Traffic Division... Give the gift of life, give blood! Donating a pint of blood can save three lives. U.S. hospitals need 38,000 units of blood for transfusions on any given day, but there is a chronic shortage. You can help by donating blood at the LAPD Valley Bureau and Valley Traffic Division Blood Drive on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010 in the San Fernando Valley. Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010 10:30 am to 4:30 pm



LA Parks Foundation Improving and

Preserving Our Parks

The LA Parks Foundation has launched a new website that makes it easy for community members, groups and businesses to support parks. The Foundation provides materials, equipment and projects that the City can't supply. It raises funds to improve Los Angeles park facilities, enhance park environments, preserve and restore historic elements in our public parks, support sustainability projects and purchase property for future parkland. The Foundation also streamlines the process of adopting a park or placing a commemorative bench, and creates a way for residents, businesses and community groups to donate funds to support parks. Visitors to the Foundation's website can pick any park in the City of Los Angeles and donate on line to support specific equipment, improvements at that park.

Dedicate a Memorial Brick for the Granada

Hills Veteran's Memorial

The Granada Hills Rotary

Valley Traffic Division 7870 Nollan Place, Panorama City Bloodmobile in parking lot To schedule your appointment, call Antoinette Vasquez at (818) 644-8030 oOfficer Adrianna Gonzalez at (818) 644-8070. All donors will receive a Battof the Badges t-shirt, a coupon for a free appetizer from Mimi's Cafe and a voucher for two tickets to a Los Angeles Clippers game. $5 processing fee pticket. $10 total fee.

Save the Date - Come Help Kick Off Northridge100...

Bring your friends and family and join us as we kick off Northridge100, the year-long celebration of Northridge’s 100th anniversary, on TuesdayJan. 19 at Northridge Park.

Northridge100 is a partnershipproject with the Museum of thSan Fernando Valley, CSUN, Northridge East, West, and South Neighborhood Councils, North Valley RegionChamber of Commerce, Northridge HospitThe Valley Economic Alliance, the NEW Vision Committee and other local groups. Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010

5:30 pm to 7:30 pm Northridge Park Recreation 18300 Lemarsh St., Northridge You can be a part of this historic community effort. All community stakeholders are invited to participate. The events and programs will celebrathe history, character, people and places of Northridge and lay the groundwofor future activities. The kickoff event is your chance to learn about what kinds of activities will taking place, and how you can participate. There will fun activities as well afree food and refreshments.



Club is offering the opporunity to place a memorial brick in the walkway of their Veteran's Park memorial on Zelzah Ave. and Chatsworth St. in Granada Hills.

We helped the Granada Hills Rotary Club secure funding for its project to install new landscaping and plants, a walkway, military flags, decorative lights, irrigation, and gazebo on the traffic triangle. With a $125 contribution, you can have a brick inscribed with a message of your choice to create a lasting memorial or recognition for a friend or loved one in the walkway.

For info call John Weitkamp (818) 363-3144.

Councilman Greig Smith

Links

Press Release Archive

Archived Editions of Councilman Smith's Weekly Briefing Council District 12 Community Guide Request Information

Contact Information

Council District 12 Neighborhood

Participants are encouraged to bring a photo of Northridge taken in the last 100 years to be incorporated into the Northridge100 Photo Wall which will bdisplayed throughout the year. (The photos will become part of the Museum"Northridge100 Collection" & will not be returned.) For more information on the kick-off event or how individuals or groups canparticipate in Northridge100, call (818) 756-8501 or email [email protected].

REPORTS FROM OUR STAFF

Volunteers Needed for Crisis Response Team...

As a volunteer LAPD Reserve Officer, our Chief of Staff Mitch Englander frequently hears from thLAPD about the tremendously valuable service that the Crisis Response Team (CRT) provides. He reports that community membeare needed to volunteer to serve onthe CRT. People who speak Spanisor Korean in addition to English arespecially needed. CRT volunteersoffer an extremely valuable serviceto people who have undergone traumatic situations sucas accidents, disasters and crimes. Anyone looking for an opportunityto make a tremendous contributionto the lives of people in need are encouraged to apply. Please note that this involves committment andtraining. CRT volunteers respond to traumaincidents at the request of the Policand Fire Departments and provide



Council Links

Canoga Park

Chatsworth

Encino

Granada Hills North

Granada Hills South

Lake Balboa

Northridge East

Northridge West

Northridge South

Porter Ranch

North Hills West

Reseda

West Hills

Winnetka

Council District 12 Chambers of

Commerce Links

Canoga Park/West Hills

Chatsworth

Encino

Granada Hills

North Valley Region

immediate on-scene crisis intervention, attend to survival and comfort needsacts as a liaison between the victim and emergency personnel and provide victims and their families with referrals to additional services and assistance Volunteers must be at least 21 years old and in good physical condition. CRTvolunteers participate in 48 hours of intensive training over eight weeks starting Tuesday, Feb. 2 at the LAPD Academy in Westchester. For more information or to volunteer for the Crisis Response Team call Jeffrey Zimerman, Crisis Response Team Manager, at (213) 978-0697 or email [email protected]. You Can Serve Your Community by Participating In L.A.'s Neighborhood Council Elections... Our Deputy District Director John Bwarie works closely with many of the Neighborhood Councils in our District. He reports that the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment is encouraging community members to participate in the upcoming Neighborhood Council elections. Filing for the March 2, 2010 Neighborhood Council elections is open for all candidates between Dec. 2, 2009 and January 4, 2010. For details on your Neighborhood Council elections and how you can becoma candidate for office in your Neighborhood Council, visit cityclerk.lacity.org/election/ncdocs/website.pdf or call (213) 978-0444. Youmay also visit the website of your Neighborhood Council for more information. The following NCs are having their elections: Canoga Park www.canogaparknc.org (818) 824-6432 Chatsworth www.chatsworthcouncil.org (818) 464-3511 Granada Hills North www.ghnnc.org (818) 831-0578 Granada Hills South www.ghsnc.org (818) 668-5969 North Hills West www.nhwnc.org (818) 892-8899 Northridge East www.nenc-la.org (800) 772-9132 Northridge West www.northridgewest.org (818) 360-7163 Porter Ranch www.prnc.org (818) 217-0279 West Hills www.westhillsnc.org (818) 719-8656 Winnetka www.winnetkanc.com (818) 648-6219



This message was sent to by: Councilmember Greig Smith 18917 Nordhoff Street, Suite 18 Northridge, CA 91324 (818) 756-8501



Documents

December 18, 2009 - Los Angelesens.lacity.org/council/cd12/legweekinreview/cd12legweekinreview... · Plan to Recycle Your Christmas Tree This Holiday Season Have a green holiday season