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We may not have had 76 trombones, but Professor Harold Hill of Music Man fame would have been proud of Eagle Rock on November 13. Community spirit was pervasive when TERA and other community organizations participated in the Veteran's Day / Centennial Celebration parade. Not only did TERA march in the parade, but we also used a portion of your membership dues to underwrite some of the costs of the event. I hope you were there and enjoyed the day as much as we did. Go to TERA's face book page for parade photos.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/TERA-The-Eagle-Rock-Association/133657817210 Yosemite Park has been the site of several criminal acts. In response to appeals from the community, the Council Office has organized a task force to address the problem. Marina Rimer, a member of the board, is representing TERA on this task force. Later in the eLetter, you will find Marina's report on the first meeting. The fact that the park is relatively remote from the street and the visibility of casual passer-bys certainly contributes to the fact that it attracts those performing criminal activities. Sadly, too often the solution to criminal acts in parks has been to eliminate or close the parks. In those cases the criminals win, the communities lose. Personally, I strongly advocate keeping the parks open but taking steps to mitigate the criminal elements. I hope that is the strategy that will be advocated by the new task force. Eagle Rock is blessed to have a vibrant small business community. I am constantly amazed by the response "I have never been there, loved the place" that I often receive when I refer friends, especially those who are long-term Eagle Rock residents, to a local business they have never patronized. As you develop your gift lists for the holiday season, please consider buying your gifts locally first. Every business owner has made an investment in our community. Show your appreciation of their support for Eagle Rock by giving them your business. The growth in the number and variety of restaurants in Eagle Rock in the last decade is incredible and wonderful. One of the newest and most attractive restaurants in Eagle Rock is Halong Bay. The food is great. The attention to the décor, down to beautifully carved chopsticks is very impressive. So is the very generous discount (20%) that Ray Nguyen has agreed to give to TERA members. Be part of the cognoscenti when you visit by knowing that this restaurant is named after "Ha Long Bay" a popular travel destination, located in Vietnam. The very beautiful and unusual bay features thousands of limestone formations and isles in various sizes and shapes. See more about this new exciting dining establishment below. On behalf of the entire board of the TERA organization, I want to extend our best wishes to you for a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday.
 Bob Gotham, President
Not a member? Join now at http://www.tera90041.org/join-paypal.htm . Memberships begin at only $15.
Heather Klinger (TERA Vice President and Membership Benefit Coordinator) writes:
Having lived in Los Angeles for over three decades, once Ray Nguyen settled in Eagle Rock in 1990, he put down roots through a variety of his businesses. His big entry into ER eateries began with the ever-popular Lemongrass Vietnamese Restaurant five years ago. After a lengthy, 2 ˝ year process, earlier this year he opened his newest restaurant, Halong Bay.
In Halong Bay, Ray combined French and Vietnamese cuisine into a fresh, flavorful menu sure to please any palate. He is excited to offer TERA members 20% off their bill at Halong Bay to encourage you to check out his labor of love. Ray welcomes your comments and suggestions via email raynguyen2008@gmail.com. Perhaps you won't need to email since you will often find him in one of his restaurants. His passion for the community and his businesses was evident as he described how he and his wife, Jennifer, painstakingly crafted Halong Bay's noteworthy décor, wishing to create a beautiful space for any dining occasion, and add variety to the restaurant offerings in ER. Their menu is very reasonably priced as well, in order to be accessible to every budget. Finally, he has made a point to hire locally, with much of his staff coming from the Eagle Rock and Oxy community. Try Halong Bay soon, you will not be disappointed. Check out the website at
http://www.halongbayrestaurant.com
Discounts are available for TERA Members at the following participating merchants. Just show your active membership card. Click on http://www.tera90041.org/benefits.htm to see the member benefits offered by each merchant.
If you are a merchant and would like to participate in this program, which includes free advertising in the eLetter, please email president@tera90041.org.
Something Now: Making dramatic changes to any major thoroughfare such as Colorado Boulevard is a lengthy process. Conducting a meaningful community dialogue, performing the due diligence analysis, funding, and many other factors preclude over night solutions. Accepting that reality, we looked for the potential for any near-term benefits. For more than a decade, the topic of parking has been a constant point of concern and conversation. Based on feedback from the community a couple of changes that provide some parking benefit are possible in the short-term. The municipal parking lot behind the stores located at the southeast corner of Colorado (Sworks) is not known to exist by many Eagle Rockers. The Council Office has requested that the Department of Transportation (DOT) replace existing signage with new signage that more visibly makes the availability of parking at the Casper and Merton lot more obvious. The inconsistency of the parking meter limits on the north and south side of Colorado is another opportunity for parking improvements that was cited by the community. The Council Office has acquired signatures from the businesses located on the north side of Colorado Boulevard, between Eagle Rock Boulevard and Shearin Drive, to have the limits on those meters increased from one to two hours, consistent with the meters on the south side of the street. The request to change the meters has also been submitted to the DOT. Signage changes and parking meter updates are expected to be completed in the next four to six weeks. The plan is that these changes are the first of many that, over time, will improve how Colorado Boulevard serves our community. Survey: This survey (link below) is your chance to participate in the dialogue regarding how Eagle Rock's Colorado Boulevard can be improved to better serve the community. If you haven't already participated in the survey, please do it now!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TakeBacktheBoulevard Next General Meeting: Thursday, January 19, 7:00 p.m., at the
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock:
The goal of the first meeting in September was to introduce the topic of boulevard improvements, to encourage the community to begin to consider the ways in which Colorado Blvd. could better serve Eagle Rock, and to provide initial feedback to the Steering Committee. At our second meeting in January, we will ask the community to more specifically identify the things they would like see changed in Colorado Boulevard. Based on the feedback from the first meeting, and the results of the on-line survey, the participants will be asked to examine a list of alternative changes and ultimately identify the most wanted improvements. Recognizing that the needs of Colorado Boulevard may vary based on what part of the boulevard is being considered, the boulevard will be broken up into several segments, allowing for the unique characteristics and needs of each section of the boulevard to be considered. Please save the date on your calendar. Your participation is important.
Pillarhenge, as the DHM lofts on Colorado are called by many, continues to be Eagle Rock's most visible example of blight. For those not familiar with this project, it is represented by the project on the south side of Colorado just beyond the 134 freeway entrance / exit, close to Figueroa. Two facts are certain regarding this abandoned project. It has been allowed to diminish the image of Eagle Rock for too long and whatever the solution is, it will not be simple.
The latest update from the broker, attempting to sell the property, is that the initial prospect no longer has an interest and another prospect has been identified. As the broker articulated, all property will sell when the price is right. Based on cursory TERA research, and understanding the considerable liability any buyer will acquire with this property, it is not clear that the asking price ($2.5 million), although $1 million dollars less than 2010, represents a price a willing buyer would find attractive. More to come on this topic.
Marina Rimer writes: The kick-off meeting for the newly formed Yosemite Park Task Force was held on Wed. Nov 9th, at the Yosemite Park Recreation Center. Representatives from law enforcement, the recreation center, Councilman Huizar's office, Eagle Rock High School, Occidental College, key civic organizations, and neighborhood stakeholders were in attendance. The goal of this task force is to address quality of life, safety, and security issues that have challenged the family-friendly environment of the park in recent years.
Examples were given of actions that have already been taken to try to curtail illegal activities in and around the recreation center and park:
While these improvements are welcomed by the community, the residents in attendance said that it just isn't enough. Tagging, drug use, and other unacceptable behaviors are regularly witnessed by park users. Officers from LAPD and the General Services Department (GSD) stated that their response time depends in part on how a call to 911 may be prioritized, as well as the availability of personnel. In addition, monitoring of the security cameras at NELAPD headquarters is hampered by an outdated DSL connection.
Officer Joseph Orlanes, of the NE Hollywood District of the GSD, added that of the 100+ city parks covered by his ONE patrol team, Yosemite Park is in the top 5 in number of patrols. Other suggestions for improving park safety were for additional lighting, instilling pride in ERHS students toward the park, and posting signs with the phone number for the General Services Department Office of Public Safety.
Of course there were questions of funding. Neighborhood Council President, Michael Larson, brought up the possibility of obtaining monies from the over $197,000 a year, that the LAUSD pays to the city for the use of the Yosemite Park pool.
The TERA board will also be discussing ways in which to support significant and sustained improvement of the park.
In the meantime, word from Kai Newkirk, Field Deputy for Councilman Jose Huizar, is that signage with the contact info directing people to call the GSD is in the works. The next task force meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec 7th at 1 p.m.
On Saturday Nov. 26, from noon till 9 p.m., the shops on Eagle Rock Blvd. present their 1st Holiday Eagle Rock Boulevard Block Party in conjunction with Small Business Saturday. The 2nd annual Small Business Saturday (http://www.SmallBusinessSaturday.com/) is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. SHOP SMALL and make a huge impact on the economy! Join the small shops on Eagle Rock Blvd. (between Colorado Blvd.and Fair Park Ave.) and start your holiday shopping while having fun!
Each shop will be hosting their own festivities with drinks, treats, discounts, raffles, gifts with purchases, designer trunk shows, free nail wrap, live music performances, pajama story hour lounge area and more!
PARTICIPATING SHOPS: Owl Talk, Green Bean, Kumquat, Media Noche, Double O Salon, The Snivling Sibbling, Leanna Lin's Wonderland, Letters From LA, Wildwood, Lady, Read Books and Toros Pottery.
Lounge area will be hosted by WILDWOOD! So put down your bags, hang out, meet other locals and grab some complimentary wood-fired oven appetizers and Brazilian BBQ! Also take your picture at the photo booth hosted by YELP. Down the street, grab a bite at Pie n' Burger truck! They'll be parked in front of Lady/Read Books/Toro's Pottery from 6-9 p.m.!
Please see http://www.facebook.com/events/199908393417120/ for more details on what each shop will be doing.
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock Welcome winter and join us for an afternoon of shopping!
Enjoy a Holiday Arts Festival featuring artists selling their creations.
Peruse jewelry, ceramics, glass, soaps, knits, and other fine wares available for purchase directly from the artists.
Holiday photos by Oh Snap! First print free, additional prints $5
10% of all sales benefit Center for the Arts Eagle Rock
40th Annual Children's Olde Fashioned Christmas The Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce invites you and your family to attend the 40th Annual Children's Olde Fashioned Christmas. This wonderful family event and Eagle Rock tradition features the lighting of Eagle Rock's Holiday Tree with Councilmember Huizar, performances by the Patsy Metzger Dancers and the Eagle Rock High School Youth Choir, and free hot chocolate and cookies. Santa Claus will also be present with gifts for all the children. Children 12 years and under must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, contact the CD 14 Northeast office at 323-254-5295.
Peter Choi sent me a link to his song dedicated to Eagle Rock. Thanks much Peter. Eagle Rockers - enjoy!
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