The City Council took action in support of Councilman Krekorian’s recommendation that NC elections not be postponed until 2014, but be available in Fiscal Year 2012-13.  The next step will be deciding how to pay for it.

The Department was asked to report back to Council on a plan to administer elections along with a budget request.  General Manager Kim responded that a report could be . . . → Continue Reading: City Council Approves Temporary Transfer of NC Elections from City Clerk to Dept. of Neighborhood Empowerment]]>

The City Council took action in support of Councilman Krekorian’s recommendation that NC elections not be postponed until 2014, but be available in Fiscal Year 2012-13.  The next step will be deciding how to pay for it.

The Department was asked to report back to Council on a plan to administer elections along with a budget request.  General Manager Kim responded that a report could be ready for City Council consideration as soon as 4-6 weeks. A timely decision on funding is critical so that planning can begin to offer elections within the desired time.

For more information see CF 11-1912.

The Mayor’s Office, in collaboration with the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates, is proud to present to you this year’s Mayor’s Community Budget Survey!!

The link to the Mayor’s 2012 Community Budget Survey is: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012LABudgetSurvey

A hardcopy of the survey can be found on the Mayor’s budget website at: http://mayor.lacity.org/Issues/BalancedBudget/index.htm

Below is the link to the background information.

Budget . . . → Continue Reading: Mayor’s Budget Survey Is LIVE]]>

The Mayor’s Office, in collaboration with the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates, is proud to present to you this year’s Mayor’s Community Budget Survey!!

The link to the Mayor’s 2012 Community Budget Survey is:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012LABudgetSurvey

A hardcopy of the survey can be found on the Mayor’s budget website at:
http://mayor.lacity.org/Issues/BalancedBudget/index.htm

Below is the link to the background information.

Budget Survey Background Information

The Mayor’s Office and the Neighborhood Council Budget Advocates hope to get a good understanding of the budget priorities.  This will be very helpful for us as we work to identify the budget priorities and needs of your community.

Do you know of a special place that has architectural, historical, social, or cultural significance in your neighborhood? Visit MyHistoricLA.org to share your ideas!

MyHistoricLA.org is a program of SurveyLA, the citywide Los Angeles Historic Resources Survey project (www.surveyla.org).

MyHistoricLA.org is a new and innovative public participation tool that allows you to contribute information about important . . . → Continue Reading: City of Los Angeles Launches MyHistoricLA.org]]>

Do you know of a special place that has architectural, historical, social, or cultural significance in your neighborhood? Visit MyHistoricLA.org to share your ideas!

MyHistoricLA.org is a program of SurveyLA, the citywide Los Angeles Historic Resources Survey project (www.surveyla.org).

MyHistoricLA.org is a new and innovative public participation tool that allows you to contribute information about important historic resources in your community. This information is used by professional survey teams as they systematically conduct field surveys over a multi-year period.

MyHistoricLA.org is currently engaging in the following conversations…

• Can you tell us about a place in your neighborhood that makes it special?
• Can you identify and tell us about a club house or meeting hall that played an important role in Los Angeles history?
• Do you know the location and story of any buildings, structures, or landscapes associated with the agricultural history of the San Fernando Valley?
• What Los Angeles neighborhood do you think is the best example of Post WWII residential development and suburbanization?

It’s easy to sign in and join this exciting new citywide conversation. Please spread the word — through posts, tweets or old-fashioned emails — to all of your friends and neighbors who care about Los Angeles’ history and architecture.

This morning, Councilmember Mitchell Englander, Decathletes Celine Ta and Diego Rivera, Coach Spencer Wolf, and Executive Director Brian Bauer were hoisted up in a cherry-picker truck to unveil a street sign congratulating Granada Hills Charter High School (GHCHS) for winning the 2011 National Academic Decathlon.  Also in attendance were student and family members of the national winning Academic Decathlon Team, parents, teachers and community . . . → Continue Reading: Councilmember Mitchell Englander Unveils Street Sign Congratulating Granada Hills Charter High for Winning the National Academic Decathlon]]>

This morning, Councilmember Mitchell Englander, Decathletes Celine Ta and Diego Rivera, Coach Spencer Wolf, and Executive Director Brian Bauer were hoisted up in a cherry-picker truck to unveil a street sign congratulating Granada Hills Charter High School (GHCHS) for winning the 2011 National Academic Decathlon.  Also in attendance were student and family members of the national winning Academic Decathlon Team, parents, teachers and community members.

“Granada Hills Charter could not be prouder of our National Champion Academic Decathletes and their three coaches,” said Bauer. “The Zelzah Avenue street sign fittingly placed near the entrance to our campus will serve as a permanent reminder of their achievement and the recognition they brought to Granada Hills Charter.”

“It’s a great day when we can unveil a sign telling the world that a school in our community is the best in America,” said Councilmember Englander. His 12th District includes Granada Hills and he is a long-time supporter of Granada Hills Charter High School. “I am so proud of this amazing achievement by the brilliant kids on the Granada Hills Charter Academic Decathlon Team. I want the sign that we are unveiling to be a message to every student, parent and teacher in my District that by working together, studying and persevering, kids can get a great education in Los Angeles and reach their dreams.”

On April 30, 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Granada Hills Charter High School took first place in the National Academic Decathlon competition in a crowded field that included 35 state teams and past national champions J. Frank Dobie High School (Texas) and Waukesha High School (Wisconsin). Granada Hills Charter was the first charter school to capture the national title in the 30-year history of the United States Academic Decathlon competition. The team earned 52,113 points (out of 60,000), almost 1,700 points more than the 2nd place team.

Granada Hills Charter High School, the largest charter school in the nation, is an independent public school in the San Fernando Valley. GHCHS made history over eight (8) years ago when almost all of its employees – teachers, classified staff, and administrators – along with more than 2000 parents, signed its charter petition for independence from Los Angeles Unified. As a fiscally independent conversion charter school, GHCHS has a student enrollment this year of over 4200 and a wait list of over 2000. The school’s student body is considered one of the most diverse, with over 40 languages other than English spoken at home and over 60 nationalities represented.

GHCHS is a 2011 California Distinguished School with a 2011 API of 876, the top API of any comprehensive high school in Los Angeles.

For additional information about the school or this release, please visit our website at www.GHCHS.com or contact Maribel De La Torre at 818.360.2361 or mdelatorre@ghchs.com.

The Bureau of Sanitation is urging L.A. residents to place palm fronds and tree branches that have blown down in the recent heavy winds next to the green bins to be picked up.

If palm fronds and branches are placed next to the green used for residential yard trimmings on regular trash collection days, they will be picked up together with the green waste and . . . → Continue Reading: Place Palm Fronds and Tree Branches Next to Green Bin]]>

The Bureau of Sanitation is urging L.A. residents to place palm fronds and tree branches that have blown down in the recent heavy winds next to the green bins to be picked up.

If palm fronds and branches are placed next to the green used for residential yard trimmings on regular trash collection days, they will be picked up together with the green waste and turned into mulch. This will help residents to keep their yards, streets and sidewalks clean in the wake of the strong wind storms.

Last Saturday, Sanitation crews conducted sweeps to clear palm fronds through Los Angeles. Additional Saturday sweeps are planned until the wind-related debris is cleared. For more information, or to report downed trees, palm fronds or branches, please call 3-1-1 or Bureau of Sanitation at (800) 773-2489.

This week the City Council changed the City’s ordinance regulating nuisance dogs, establishing a new hearing procedure and fine structure.

http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2011/11-0922_ord_181930.pdf

Before, a citation could only be issued for licensed dogs because the citation was attached to the license. The owner first had to be forced to get a license. Under the new code, Animal Control officers can now issue citations even if . . . → Continue Reading: Putting Teeth into the City’s Barking Dog Ordinance]]>

This week the City Council changed the City’s ordinance regulating nuisance dogs, establishing a new hearing procedure and fine structure.

http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2011/11-0922_ord_181930.pdf

Before, a citation could only be issued for licensed dogs because the citation was attached to the license. The owner first had to be forced to get a license. Under the new code, Animal Control officers can now issue citations even if the dog is unlicensed. (The dog owner must still get a license.)

A dog is a “nuisance” if it barks continuously for 10 minutes or for 30 minutes in a three-hour period. The owner first receives a written warning allowing them to improve the situation. If it persists, a hearing is held where the owner could get a $250 fine for the first offense, $500 for a second offense and $1,000 for a third offense.

To report nuisance barking dogs, please call West Valley Animal Care Center at  (888) 452-7381.

Please watch this movie about the Food Trucks in Granada Hills. Please remember that you can still submit your comments to the Granada Hills South NC at board@ghsnc.org. We look forward to hearing what everyone thinks about the food trucks.

VRHS#4 is a Zone of Choice school. As such, students who live within the boundaries of Cleveland, Granada Hills Charter, Kennedy, and Monroe High Schools may apply for enrollment at VRHS#4. Letters have been mailed to over 10,000 homes in the Zone of Choice area. The last group of letters went out Monday, March 28, and should arrive at homes by Wednesday, March 30. . . . → Continue Reading: Enrollment Process at Valley Regional High School #4]]>

VRHS#4 is a Zone of Choice school. As such, students who live within the boundaries of Cleveland, Granada Hills Charter, Kennedy, and Monroe High Schools may apply for enrollment at VRHS#4. Letters have been mailed to over 10,000 homes in the Zone of Choice area. The last group of letters went out Monday, March 28, and should arrive at homes by Wednesday, March 30. If parents do not receive a letter and are interested in applying, they may pick up an application by bringing a gas or electric bill to verify they live in the Zone of Choice area to the Local District 1 Office at 6621 Balboa Blvd. The office is located between Vanowen Ave. and Victory Blvd. on the west side of Balboa. Their office hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. This year VRHS#4 is enrolling incoming 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students. They are anticipating an enrollment of 850 students.

Interested parents and students are invited to join us for more information and a tour of the school on Thursday, March 31, at 5:00 pm or Saturday, April 2, at 9:00 am or 12 noon.

Please feel free to contact interim principal, Cheryl Mueller, (contact info below) if you have other questions.

Cheryl Mueller
Interim Principal VRHS#4
Local District 1
(818)654-3644
cheryl.mueller@lausd.net

The Sixth Annual Citrus Sunday held on May 15, 2011 broke all records for collection of fresh citrus fruit destined for local San Fernando Valley food banks.  This year eight Neighborhood Councils participated, in addition to a number of community groups and religious organizations and local schools.

This innovative community volunteer effort annually collects thousands of pounds of fresh fruit which are then . . . → Continue Reading: Citrus Sunday 2011 Review]]>

The Sixth Annual Citrus Sunday held on May 15, 2011 broke all records for collection of fresh citrus fruit destined for local San Fernando Valley food banks.  This year eight Neighborhood Councils participated, in addition to a number of community groups and religious organizations and local schools.

This innovative community volunteer effort annually collects thousands of pounds of fresh fruit which are then delivered to food banks to benefit needy San Fernando Valley families.  This year an estimated 18 tons of fresh fruit was donated and delivered.

If you have fruit trees but were unable to pick the fruit for the Citrus Sunday event, there is an organization called “Food Forward” who will pick the fruit for you. They are looking for residents with mature fruit trees, multi-tree private orchards or gardens with excess fruit and vegetables to share with those in need in our own community: 100% of all fruit harvested by Food Forward is donated to local food pantries. All donors will receive a charitable contribution tax receipt.  There is no charge for Food Forward volunteers to harvest your tree(s). For more information regarding Food Forward, visit their website at www.foodforward.org. or call them at 818-530-4125.