The BCNA has been actively participating in the State and County redistricting commission hearings promoting our community interest. Communities of interests is a vital part of redistricting along with other elements of drawing boundaries, including compliance with the Voting Rights Act and conforming to the requirements of keeping the districts compact and populations equal.

At the State level the boundaries are proposed by a State Redistricting Commission. The Assembly and Congressional boundaries they initially proposed split the area east of the Hollywood Freeway away from the rest of the Santa Monica Mountains. We submitted maps that would keep us together.

At the County level the County Redistricting Commission distributes software that allows anyone to devise new district boundaries. Nineteen plans have been submitted. Several groups promoting a variety of social and racial agendas have submitted plans that divide the Santa Monica Mountains, some using the area east of the Hollywood Freeway as a narrow stepping stone just to link other areas as far a Sylmar and Huntington Park so that the boundaries are contiguous but without any regard to our community interest. The current County boundary has the Santa Monica Mountains all in one supervisorial district.

Of all the proposals submitted, one stands out as the best. That is plan County ID# C1. It keeps the Santa Monica Mountains in one supervisorial district. It is the most compact and is free of all gerrymandering. It conforms to the requirements of the Voting Rights Act and makes the most sense in regards to the communities that it groups together. Time is short in which to participate. There are only three more hearings scheduled, ending on July 13th. Please have your neighborhood association submit a statement of support for plan County ID# C1.

George Abrahams 

The Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Association is holding its Summer 2011 meeting on Thursday, July 21^st at 7 p.m. at the Village Coffee Shop. We are reaching out to Tom Labonge to attend and help us with our discussion around tourism. We will invite our Senior Lead Officers and the General Services Senior Lead (over the Griffith Park area). Issues arise all the time on every block in our canyon. We count on neighbors showing up and sharing their concerns in order to create a workable action plan. Please bring your friends/neighbors and concerns to this meeting. Be prepared to share in a friendly and safe environment and don't forget to bring your sense of humor.

For more information, please email BeachwoodCanyon@sbcglobal.net or call our hotline at 323-462-BCNA (2262)

Okay, we've been on Facebook for some time but we're now getting very active. Please check us out. Go to Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Association and ask to join our group. Need guidance? Write to BeachwoodCanyon@sbcglobal.net or call our hotline at 323-462-BCNA (2262)

My fiancé and I had our home broken into on Monday, June 13^th. Sadly, this was our one-month anniversary of buying our first home on Durand Drive. This break-in happened two days after having our brush cleared by a company that we found online. They had all their licenses and insurance documents together. But when workday came, so did some 8 workers. We felt extremely uncomfortable, unable to watch them all as they scrambled up our hillside taking brush away. At one point, there was even a verbal fight between two of the workers. Meanwhile, they saw parts of our home that no one can see from the street. And that's where the break-in occurred.

In conversation with the business owner, he confessed that one of the workers had a criminal background and two were new hires with no background info. But, he claimed that they had never had any negative reports from clients.

Monday night around 5 pm, we came home to see our front door open and our back patio sliding glass door shattered. A laptop was stolen and closets searched.

We were responsible and had already hired Post Alarm but were in the middle of installation waiting for the technician to get our alarm working.

The police were great, taking fingerprints and our crime report. But, with such a backlog, it's clear that our case won't be reviewed for some time. The fingerprints were not great and even they take months to process.

This is a huge learning experience for us. We are putting in a taller back patio gate with a dead bolt, adding more motion sensor lighting, will never leave the house without knowing the alarm is working, possibly putting in security cameras and thinking about enclosing our car port (right now you can look at our carport and know if we're home).

But the most important thing we will take away from all this is the need to know exactly who is working on our home. We will NEVER hire anyone based on an online search no matter how reputable they may seem. We will ONLY hire someone who comes highly recommended from a friend or neighbor and ask exactly whom he or she are bringing on the job. 

Even with this nasty event, we love our wonderful new neighborhood. We look forward to meeting new neighbors and will always keep an eye open to help keep the community safe.

Lauren Mann

 Return to top 

This Canyon Needs Security

When you think of Patrol in the Canyon, which service do you see the most? When not patrolling, which security service can be found in the Village poised to respond? If enough residents sign up for patrol service through Post, we are promised our own dedicated Post Service vehicle 24/7 for this community. Here's their number: 800-654-7678. Have a conversation and consider our future safety.

http://www.postalarm.com/

Return to top 

Tina Needs a Home ASAP

Tina (A1212686) is only 7 months old. She may be a Jack Russell/chi mix.  Watch her video and get a taste of this perky and happy little girl: http://youtu.be/5E06y_K7HU4

Tina is just a puppy and an extremely playful one at that. She's tirelessly entertaining with a tail that never stops. Kenneled with many other dogs, Tina has enough energy for the pack. She works and plays well with others.

Officially, she needs to be adopted on Thursday, 6-30-11 so please call the shelter and arrange for a face to face with Tina. She is at the South L.A. shelter 3612 11th Ave. L.A. 90018 (213) 485-0117/0119.

Return to top 

This Boy Needs Foster Home

Help please! This is urgent. This little boy's foster situation fell through and he has nowhere to go.

He is nice, friendly and great with other dogs. He weighs only 50 pounds. Please, if you have any leads, ideas, friends with space for him, contact me:

Melissa Bacelar

thenetworkstudiomelissa@gmail.com

Return to top 

Topanga Animal Rescue provides fostering and placement services for lost or abandoned domestic animals. It provides immediate medical field triage and treatment for domestic and wild animals as well as providing local sliding scale spay and neuter clinics for domestic animals. It fosters community education programs concerning the responsibilities of domestic animal care and ownership. This organization also serves as center for training of volunteers and veterinary professionals in emergency animal handling and restraint through out the county.

http://www.topangaanimalrescue.com/disasters.html

We will be highlighting outstanding animal rescue groups each month. If you have a favorite group, please pass that info along to us at BeachwoodCanyon@sbcglobal.net. 

2011 Bike Rides

Dust off the Bike - and RIDE

Please join us for Councilmember LaBonge's Summer Bike Rides! All rides are from 5:30pm to 8:00pm. Starting locations and routes will be posted in advance here on the tomlabonge.com.

While walking on Beachwood, this garden was witnessed thriving between two tall apartment buildings. As a test of perseverance, this garden is an example of what can be. Will you create a raised bed garden on your land, balcony, elsewhere? Would you like some coaching? Let us know: BeachwoodCanyon@sbcglobal.net or call 323-462-BCNA (2262).  

Return to top 

Dearest of friends, if you wonder why I have been EXTRA hard to get hold of lately, it is because I have been busy with a brand new show... THE NAKED TRUTH! A bump and crime murder mystery...Our very first "public" Brain Brew show!

I would like to invite you to our 'Opening Night" on Sunday July 10th at Flappers in Burbank. The show starts at 7 PM

(& you will be on your way home by 8:45 if you are concerned about it being a "school night".)

Tickets are only $20.00. Parking is free. Right in downtown Burbank at Magnolia & First.

FYI - even though it is THE NAKED TRUTH, a BUMP AND CRIME Murder Mystery - it really is a clean, fun, funny G rated tribute to old time vaudeville and burlesque with FABULOUS original music by David Coleman... all wrapped up in a murder mystery of course!

For those who want dinner or snacks, the food is actually GOOD and inexpensive at Flappers.  

For people who want to eat dinner - I suggest arriving closer to 6 & for those who don't. I suggest 6:30ish

Here is some info and an ad AND a link to the Flappers page of our event - where you can get info AND tickets...

Thanks for coming if you can! Our "future" at Flappers depends on our "Opening Night" turnout - and we would love for it to be our monthly home. Bring your family and friends! Love you all!

Here is link to our page on Flappers website:

http://h2f.net/booking/h2f_flyer.php?id=4391

and here for tickets

http://h2f.net/h2fnew/index.php?pg=showdetail_page&meetid=014c517228c18c8&id=4391

If you enjoy getting these emails and would like to know how to get involved in your community, please let us know - write to BeachwoodCanyon@sbcglobal.net or call 323-462-BCNA (2262).