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It's April 15 as I begin to write this
e.letter and it's impossible to ignore that
this is "Pay Your Taxes" day. Two rituals
define Tax Season for us. Our visit to an
Eagle Rock CPA, who has been doing our taxes
for years, is the first ritual. The friendly
familiarity and trust that kicks in the
minute we sit down with our accountant makes
me so glad we found him and challenges me to
accept that it was twelve months ago when we
last visited him. It also is another success
in spending our money locally. We usually
have to write generous checks to Uncle Sam at
the end of the visit. The pleasant
personality of our accountant is the only
positive aspect of this meeting. The second ritual, which ends very
differently, is an unusually focused visit
from the kids, who will always be called
"kids" even though they are in their late
twenties - early thirties. I have finally
convinced them that they don't need to pay a
professional to fill out a 1040EZ. I find
the forms on-line for them and then they
enter the information. Being fairly early in
their careers, for the kids paying taxes is
an annual event that they welcome - it means
refund. I hope the outcome for you this year
was not too painful. The Neighborhood Council elections for
Eagle Rock will be held on Thursday, April
29, 2010 and it's important that you
participate in the selection of our future
representatives. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Wrap-up: On Saturday, March 13, TERA held
a Thank You gathering for all those who
hosted dinner guests for the Guess Who's
Coming to Dinner fundraiser. The event was
held at the Coffee Table Lounge and
generously hosted by the owner and former
board member, Michael Zamarripa. The most
frequent comments were that the hosts had a
really good time, they want TERA to do it
next year, and they want to have their turn
as a guest at someone else's home. Board
Member Rich Puz put together a wonderful
slide show that captures the spirit of the
event. Here's the link to the slide show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkXNfhYqAwQ.
Assuming we do this again, which I strongly
suspect we will, I hope you will consider
being a dinner host next hear. Below you
will find the reflections of one of our
hosts, Val Zavala who shared hosting duties
with Mark Greenfield. A reduction of the Medical Marijuana
Dispensaries finally seems to be on the
horizon. Latest news indicates that an
action by the mayor is needed to begin the
process of reducing the number of
dispensaries. This is due to happen in the
beginning of June. TERA greatly appreciates
the consistent support from the Council
Office in supporting the notion of
significantly reducing the number of
dispensaries in Eagle Rock. Clean Up the River: The notion of
projects that give a large number of
volunteers an opportunity to give back to the
community is very attractive. However,
developing those opportunities is not as easy
as it should be. We have such an opportunity
in this eLetter. Board member Rich Puz has
agreed to coordinate the involvement of Eagle
Rockers in a Clean Up the River event. Be
sure, note the invitation below, and join
this very worthwhile effort to improve the
greater community.
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock:
The arts are one of the significant defining
elements of Eagle Rock. We are very
fortunate that so many artists call Eagle
Rock their home. Their presence and
influence on the fabric of life in this
neighborhood is invaluable. In the best of
times, arts struggle to survive financially.
These are certainly not the best of economic
times. Please take notice of the events
listed below for the Center for the Arts,
Eagle Rock. Support them in whatever
capacity you can. It can be by your simple
presence. If you have the ability, please
support them financially.
Spring is here. Let's enjoy the renewed
vitality in our gardens. More importantly,
let's hope that jobs for the unemployed will
also enjoy resurgence.
 Bob Gotham, President
The Friends of the Los Angeles River
(FOLAR) are sponsoring The Great LA River
Cleanup again this year and we are
encouraging Eagle Rockers to join in on
Saturday, May 8, from 9 am until noon.
Volunteers will be walking the river channel
collecting trash and clearing dead brush.
Additional information on the activity, with
photos from past years, is at http://folar.org/?page_id=5
Make a difference in our city by joining a
TERA cleanup group from Eagle Rock. Please
complete the form at:
https://rjp-online.dabbledb.com/page/tera-rivercleanupvolunteers/mEjKQaGy
Contact Rich Puz for further info,
323-627-4665 or richpuz@gmail.com
Guess Who Came to Dinner - Wonderful
Neighbors We Hadn't Met Before So you're thinking of hosting a dinner
next year? Afraid some uncouth tipsy guest
will break your good wine glass? Afraid
someone will have an allergic reaction to
your gumbo and get sick in the bathroom? Not
to worry. If our experience - and the
experience of 17 other hosts - is any
indication, you have nothing to worry about.
We hosted six fun and interesting people
in our not-very-big dining room. One worked
at the District Attorney's office. Another
was a former court bailiff who now owns and
runs car washes with his wife. Another was a
former cop now back in graduate school.
Another was a retired accountant. And
finally a Tesla Motors materials expert.
They were all interesting and so much fun.
We were warmed up with a home tour which
culminated in my boyfriend's art studio where
they saw his latest intricate pen and ink
work. They also saw his impressive
collection of globes and Cooties.
Then it was on to the wine tasting to see
if our guests could tell the difference
between a $3.99 bottle, a $28 bottle and a
$50 bottle of wine. The $50 bottle stood
out. But half our guests chose the $3.99
bottle of "Afrika" over the $28 merlot. So
if you want a really good $4 bottle of wine
head to Trader Joes for a bottle of "Afrika."
"Ok everyone. Please take a seat." Mark
served up his gumbo. This dish is labor
intensive, but most of the labor is up front.
Once it was in the pot, he could relax.
(Hint to future hosts: Make something that
doesn't have to be served in the knick of time.)
Our conversation ranged from jobs, to
families, to life in L.A. We topped off
dinner with homemade sweet potato pie and
lemon cream cheese pie. (The lemon pie was
soooooo easy. If you want the recipe let me
know.) Then just when you thought it was
safe to drive home, out came a bottle of
Mark's best tequila, as smooth as a bowling
ball. So by the end of the evening we had
all confessed to something embarrassing -
like taking a fork to an annoying brother's
forehead. (No, that wasn't me.)
So there you have it. Just another
evening in "Happyland" - the former nickname
for Eagle Rock, and a very appropriate one at
that.
Here's to next year's "Guess Who's Coming
to Dinner."
From the Arroyos and Foothills
Conservancy: Dear friends: 2010 marks an exciting milestone for the
Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy (formerly the
Altadena Foothills Conservancy). We're
inviting you to help us celebrate our 10th
year of protecting open spaces and watershed
lands in the San Gabriel Mountains with a
birthday party on Saturday, May 1,
2010, at the home of Pasadena Mayor Bill and
Claire Bogaard. This gala event will serve
both as a celebration and kick-off for our
land trust fund campaign, where we seek to
raise $250,000 to support vital open space
acquisition and stewardship in the foothills
and arroyos, wildlands and urban fringes of
the San Gabriel Mountains. We are excited
that we have already received a $56,000 gift
from the Dale Harbour Champion Fund to launch
this important fund-raising endeavor.
Please join us as a sponsor for our 'May
Day' Birthday Party and help us reach our goal!
As a sponsor, you will be recognized in our
marketing materials both for the event and
throughout 2010 as one of our 10th
Anniversary Partners.
Your leadership is an investment in our
future, leveraging efforts by many to keep
open spaces free for recreation, education,
habitat, watershed protection, and as scenic
vistas.
Thank you for your past support of land
conservation. We look forward to your
participation in our 10th Anniversary
Celebration!
NOW ACCEPTING SUMMER CAMP
APPLICATIONS! Make your summer plans
early and enroll in Center for the Arts,
Eagle Rock Summer Art Camp! Bookmaking *
Ceramics * Cooking * Dance * Drawing *
Painting * Theatre * Yoga * and Much More!
Ages 6-11. Weeks fill up fast! Pre-register
now through May 22, 2010. Or join us
on Registration Day: May 22, 2010
10am-12pm. For more information, contact
Director of Education, Nate Garcia at nate@cfaer.org or
323.226.1617 ext 2525 Special Art Auction Preview Week
Events: Join us for an afternoon of art and
complimentary appetizers and a no host bar in
Eagle Rock 's historic former Carnegie
Library to celebrate and support Center for
the Arts, Eagle Rock - one of the last
remaining non-profit community cultural
centers serving Northeast Los Angeles! Enjoy
the silent auction of artwork from over 100
established and emerging artists, a sampling
of local nibbles from Four Café, and the
no-host bar. Tickets are $25 per person
presale or $30 per person at the door --
contact Renee Dominique, Director of
Development: 323.226.1617 x 5621 or renee@cfaer.org If you are unable to attend the auction,
but would still like to support the Center,
bid by proxy forms will be available.
Artwork will be on view at the Center during
the preview week from 11:00a.m.-5:00p.m. or
by special arrangement. Select artwork can be
viewed online beginning April 12, 2010.
EAGLE ROCK CENTENNIAL PRESENTS "EAGLE
ROCK'S GOT TALENT"...A fundraiser for Eagle
Rock's Centennial Celebration
Talent show finalist will perform on
May 15, 2010 7pm - 10pm at the Women's
20th Century Club. Adult admission: $25
suggested donation at door or $15 pre-sale.
Children (4 - 12 years of age) $5.
YELP LA is offering a Passport to Eagle
Rock April 19-April 25. It's an
occasional promotion offered by this popular
website that lets its readers "discover"
great new neighborhoods. This means that
you'll be seeing new faces around town all
week long. They'll be getting lots of special
discounts and offers at our great local
restaurants and shops. Don't let tourists have all the fun. Eagle
Rockers need YELP too. So get your passport
here:
http://www.yelp.com/events/los-angeles-passport-to-eagle-rock But here's the TERA challenge: Have your
own little adventure without leaving town.
Read the Yelp reviews and test 'em against
your own experience. Or visit a place you
haven't been before. Or write a review of
one of your all-time favorites that no one
yet appreciates.
Then go join the folks savoring the flavor of
our cool little town.
Attention: ERHS Classes of 1968-1972! You are especially invited to join us at
Homecoming on Saturday, October 23,
2010. We plan on making this our special
Hometown Homecoming reunion. Plan on hanging
out with those folks that you roamed the
halls with at Eagle Rock High! Share old
memories and create new ones within our
hometown. We ask that you pass along this
information and any updates that you receive
to any and all interested folks. Contact person will be Julie Scott, S'70
714-334-9831 or juliescott3@verizon.net
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