The Oaks Newsletter Winter 2005 In this issue: Notes from the President |
| NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT Gerry Hans |
Are we obsessing over Griffith Park? Some of us are going to meetings twice a week! We hear interviews by Warren Olney on the radio, and special Griffith Park editions of the LFIA Observer are delivered in the mail to us. No we are not obsessed; there are simply a lot of Park issues that are converging at the same time. Living in the Oaks makes us all highly affected and vulnerable to Griffith Park issues. MASTER PLAN: After a two year wait for a publicly-released draft of the 25-year Griffith Park Master Plan, we have been handed an expensive($$) 190-page document that has little in common with the wants and wishes of the public, especially Park users themselves. The draft haunts us with words like “promenades”, “themed areas”, “user fees”, “kiosks”, “private funding”, “private relationships”, and “aerial trams.” Thankfully, neighborhood empowerment has afforded us the opportunity to overhaul the Master Plan before it is put in place. A “Master Plan Working Group” of eleven people from the community is cooperating with Recs and Park and Council District 4 in this process, a “zero-budget” project that is expected to take six to nine months. Three people from the Oaks have taken on the task: Susan Swan, Lucinda Phillips (as an alternate), and me, Gerry Hans. I am happy to report that there already is a much improved draft for the “Visions” section of the Master Plan, with language speaking of an “Urban Wilderness identity”, with emphasis on natural habitat preservation and rehabilitation. As more of LA’s citizens learn about the issues, it becomes increasingly clear what the community wants! Go to www.SaveGriffithPark.org or talk to any board member about this topic. Sign/mail the Urban Wilderness petition. Over 5500 have been received by Recs and Park already! OBSERVATORY REOPENING: The date for the Observatory reopening is set for May 14, 2006. Friends of the Observatory and Recs & Park are releasing results of their “Visitor Access Study.” They expect that initial visitor demand will be a whopping figure of 17,000 people per day! The building capacity for a safe, timely, and pleasant experience is set at 10,000 people per day. That’s right… 7,000 will need to postpone their visits! Without a management strategy, the number of visitors and vehicles would be two or three times what prior levels were. Obviously, that is a number that can not be accommodated. The result is a strategy/mitigation plan that include these and other measures: 1) Timed entry passes for all visitors are mandatory no matter whether coming by car, by shuttle, or by foot. Passes are checked at the Observatory entrance. 2) Shuttle (first of two starting points) from Zoo parking lot, with shuttle route going either over MT. HOLLYWOOD DRIVE (now closed), or Los Feliz Blvd to Vermont. 3) Shuttle (second choice) from Hollywood Blvd/ Highland Ave parking lots via Franklin or Hollywood to Western Canyon Road. 4) Checkpoint gates at Western Canyon Drive (above Fern Dell upper lots), and on Vermont Drive (near Greek Theatre area), allowing ONLY THE SHUTTLES TO PASS, except for very early morning (before 7:30am or so). Handicapped visitors would be allowed to pass at checkpoints. 5) Park users (hikers, for example) are allowed access with cars prior to checkpoint opening time, are required to leave Observatory lot by 8 am (or so), and are allowed to park at Greek lots for their daytime hiking needs. 6) Public information campaigns will help deter non-ticketed visitors. Media advertising, freeway and street signs are to be used. There will not be intentional advertising to attract visitors for the initial opening period. These measures are expected to be needed for perhaps a two year period, and some of the measures could become permanent, depending upon their success. The Oaks Homeowners Association has made our voice heard on two concerns regarding these proposed strategies: 1) We have asked that the “Checkpoint Gate” above the upper Fern Dell parking lots be RELOCATED to Red Oak Drive / Fern Dell at Sunset until Park closing time each evening. This is absolutely necessary in order prevent the return of crime and nuisance activities that have previously plagued Western Canyon Road prior to the institution of the Sunset-Sunrise gate closure. 2) Because we are strongly committed to the urban wilderness identity for Griffith Park, we are recommending that a Mt Hollywood Drive shuttle route not be used. That would re-introduce significant traffic through the most wild and natural portion of the Park. One of the most significant improvements ever to Griffith Park occurred about 13 years ago when Mt Hollywood and Vista del Valle were closed to vehicles, a feat that a young Tom LaBonge helped affect. Now, hikers, bikers, and naturalists have these routes to enjoy the natural aspects of the Park. Besides, Mt Hollywood Drive would be very expensive to rehabilitate. Also, the ride may make visitors turn “green” with the hills, curves and long trip! Although, Los Feliz Blvd is stressed already with car volume, perhaps the parking lanes could be restricted during the peak period of the day. Watch for notices of upcoming Public Workshops regarding the reopening of the Observatory, posted on this website. THE PAYOFF: Our efforts to watch over the important issues at Griffith Park will pay off now and for our future generations. In a recent LA Times article, D.J. Waldie says, “In a city where much seems the same, parks aren't like other places. Nothing in a proper park is for sale, nothing clamors for attention, nothing reminds you that you're late for something else, nothing is poised to enrage or humiliate. It is in our nature to long for these liberating places.” |
| Franklin Avenue Musings John Purcell |
You will get this issue close to Halloween, so I wanted to talk about something really scary. Driving. This will not be a standard, "LA traffic is nuts!" bit, that bad stand-up comedians who just moved here from New York do (I believe the Tamarind Theater is currently featuring several one man shows on the topic). Quite the contrary, our terrifying feature today is for experienced LA drivers only. So, prepare yourselves to have your hearts quicken and hair stand up as we explore the horror that is: "THE TEN SPOOKIEST THINGS ABOUT DRIVING IN LOS ANGELES." 1. National Boulevard. It's a Westside thing, but scary nonetheless. The street is shaped like a small intestine, with all sorts of twists and turns. If you go straight on National, you will surely get lost because it makes a couple of 90 degree turns without every bothering to let you know. I once tried to return a movie at a place on National and wound up at LAX. 2. Arbitrary Name Changes: Streets in LA change from block to block. Fremont Place turns into Rossmore and then into Vine. Are the ancestors of the Rossmores and the Fremonts so powerful that the whole thing just can't be Vine Street? Ninth Street becomes James M. Woods Place and they never even tell you why. Pacific Street in Venice turns into Neilson Way as it moves north, then into Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. Couldn't the whole street be Ocean Avenue? I mean, it's pretty clear what ocean they're talking about. Or you could just go with Pacific, and people could figure out you meant the Pacific Ocean as opposed to Pacific Theaters. And I don't think the Neilson Way part is necessary at all. We are all mindful of Brigitte Neilson's contributions to Western culture, but it's not 1984 anymore and I think this particular tribute has outlasted its purpose. 3. Hollywood Bowl Parking Paranoia. I get so wound up about the potential for getting stuck in the parking lots at the bowl. When they put our car in, and the other cars start getting parked around it, I feel like the guy in the Telltale Heart who got bricked behind the wall. 4. Unrepentant Cell Phone Nitwits. We've all been in the situation where we stayed on the phone a bit longer than we should have from a traffic safety standpoint. But it's the people who almost killed you, and then you see them a couple of minutes later and you just know they're still on the phone telling someone about how they almost caused a vehicular homicide. That's just wrong. You should put the phone down when you've been bad. 5. Eastbound Los Feliz Boulevard. On any given day, Eastbound Los Feliz Boulevard looks like footage of people fleeing a natural disaster. Westbound, delightful, but going East, Crazy. What is the manic attraction of Glendale that causes people to head there like lemmings? They do have a nice mall. 6. The Area between the Hollywood Exit on the 101 and Franklin Boulevard. One time I was exiting with my niece, and as I tried to point her attention to someone who looked like a wizard asking for change, she urgently pointed to a car which had somehow trapped a live seagull in its windshield wiper. This was not an unusual day. After all, there is a rogue's gallery of shops catering to various vices on the North side of the street: Massage Parlor, Bong Store, Tattoo Parlor, Vegan Restaurant, Cut- Rate Liquor Store, Tommy's Chili Burgers. (The song "One of These Things Is Not Like the Others" should have started in your head about mid-way through that list, by the way). It's a tribute to the rough and tumble nature of that stretch of Hollywood Boulevard that when you go North on Bronson a couple of blocks, and arrive in front of the Scientology Celebrity Center, you feel like you are back in the "normal" part of town. 7. The "Oak" Streets. The scariest thing of all is the number of "Oak" streets. There are too many of them and none of them are straight. I have an easier time understanding which Baldwin brother is which. In fact, I propose we call Red Oak, Daniel Baldwin Street. Pin Oak should be Stephen Baldwin Place and Spring Oak should be Alec Baldwin Way. 8. Adam Baldwin, from My Bodyguard fame, is not an actual Baldwin Brother and will not be included in my street changing plan. 9. The Oaks Board has asked that I remind the readers that these opinions are not those of the Board itself. They have also refused to consider my proposal to change their name to the Baldwin Board. I hope we didn't scare you too much. Happy Halloween. |
From our new Security Director Jeff Copans |
As residents in the Oaks for almost a decade Lynn and I have seen the crime rise in and around our neighborhood. Most of the crime has not been that of “front page” news worthiness and for that we are all thankful. At this time we are embarking on a very important mission that must receive the attention that is critical to thwarting crime in our neighborhood. There are insufficient resources available to protect the homeowners from the types of crime that are on the rise. This responsibility of protecting the homes in the OAKS has largely consisted of hiring a private patrol company. We have plans to visit with all homeowners in an attempt to put together a neighborhood watch team for our community. We hope you all will participate in helping make our OAKS a more safe and secure place. Being proactive and visible will be our best chance of detouring crime in our community. |
| STOP SIGN MEANS STOP! |
I’ve learned my lesson! Even if it is at 7:15 on a Thursday morning coming home from the gym… Even if I did a “California Stop”, applying my brakes for a brief second… Even if I was driving well within the speed limit on Canyon Drive… Where did this incident occur? There’s a three way stop sign at the intersection of Canyon Drive & Canyon Cove. Officer awaits potential violators in his police car on Canyon Cove and tickets the offender driving up Canyon Drive. I’ve learned that I am not the only guilty party. Five members of the current Oaks Board have also been ticketed at this intersection in the early morning hours! So please be careful and be certain to come to a complete Stop at this and all Stop Signs. It’s the right thing to do and will help keep our neighborhood safe for us all. An anonymous early morning driver |
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE OAKS |
Come meet and mingle with your neighbors! We hope everyone will put these exciting events on their calendars. HALLOWEEN WALK Monday, October 31st • 5:30p – 7:30p Intersection of Alto Oak & Hill Oak The annual parade of small ghosts, monsters, pirates, Harry Potters, princesses and other creatures will begin in front of Mike Lyon’s house at the intersection of Alto Oak and Hill Oak. The annual table of holiday treats and beverages and fun holiday spookiness marks the meeting spot. The route, noted on the map will be protected by neighbors with lights and cones to control traffic. Come join us for Halloween fun! SPECIAL ELECTION DAY Tuesday, November 8th • 7:00a – 8:00p 1711 North Van Nuys Ave. The Polling Place for the Oaks is located at The Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1711 North Van Nuys Ave (just north of Hollywood Blvd.) 323-462-0010. If you have any trouble accessing the polling place, please contact the California Elections and Voter Information hotline at: (800) 815-2666 or (800) 481-8683 and www.smartvoter.org |
Barnsdall Art Park Extravaganza |
Mark your calendar for Saturday night, November 5! This is the first official fundraising party for the Barnsdall Art Park since it re-opened this year! You can be a part of it! A special evening of art and architecture has been planned! Expect gourmet food, a jazz trio featuring Frank Lloyd Wright's grandson, cocktails, art exhibit of Gil Garcetti's work, piano performance by Eric Garcetti, and much more. The event will feature a silent auction of fantastic treats and gift certificates from local restaurants and shops and a brief live auction emceed by Cassandra Peterson and Tom LaBonge for three very special items. Look for your invitation in the mail and come support our very own architectural treasure, Hollyhock House and the great children's art classes taught at the park. All funds raised go to the non-profit Barnsdall Art Park Foundation to support the park. Join us for an evening of merriment and fun. For more information call 323- 661-7299 or by email at bapf2005@yahoo.com. |
The Neighborhood Beat |
| The Nine O’Clock Players |
The Nine O’Clock Players present Jack And The Giant opening on Sunday, October 30th at 2:00 pm preceded by a costume parade. Subsequent performances will be on Sunday afternoons in November and on Saturday, November 19th. They are located at 1367 North St. Andrew’s Place. You may contact them at 323-469-1970.
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| BUTTERBALL TURKEY TALK-LINE |
Thanksgiving - Need help with your Turkey? 2001 Butterfield Road, Downer’s Grove, IL 60515 800-288-8372 bbturkeyco@aol.com
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| NOV 24 - DEC 30 Griffith Park Light Show |
Between 5:00pm - 10:00pm The annual DWP light show takes place on Crystal Springs Drive in Griffith Park with a 1-mile tunnel of holiday light displays. The show is specially designed to be seen with 3D glasses. Don’t forget to bring an unwrapped toy for the LA Fire Department’s annual toy drive! Insider tip: if the line-up is too long, park and walk the show! 323-913-4688 ext. 9
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| NOV 27 Hollywood Spectacular Parade |
| 5:00pm
The annual holiday parade starts in front of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd., 323-469-22337. The route runs around a two-mile stretch of historic Hollywood, a local tradition since 1928! Spectators are free and grandstand seating is $25-$30. Put on some tennis shoes and walk down!
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| DEC 17 The Oaks Holiday Party |
SAVE THE DATE! December 17 2:00pm - 5:00pm Come join your neighbors for some holiday cheer! Look for your postcard to arrive in the mail, or check back on this site. |
Certificate of Recognition for our Park Ranger! |
Our Ranger Patrick Joyce is one of the four brave souls from the Park Ranger Division who answered Mayor Villaraigosa's call for civil servants to go to Louisiana. The rangers worked for almost 24 hours a day for four straight weeks in horrific conditions to help the people of Louisiana. The Recreation and Parks Commission has honored them with well deserved Certificates of Recognition at a meeting this month. |
