A Politically Incorrect Blog About Living in Woodland Hills, California

Barry Manilow Of Woodland Hills Donates $100k To LAUSD For Instruments

Okay, people make fun of Barry Manilow but I’ll tell you what – I’m a fan! Manilow, who is apparently a resident of Woodland Hills, donated $100,000 to the Los Angeles Unified School District for the purchase of instruments.  That rocks – pardon the pun!

Examiner.com writes:

Legendary vocalist Barry Manilow has donated $100,000 to the Los Angeles Unified School District, and is touted on the LAUSD website for his generosity. In a front page greeting titled ‘Thank you Mr. Manilow’, Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines thanks Mr. Manilow for the donation, which will go to purchase “clarinets, flutes, saxophones, trumpets, trombones and other instruments”.

Manilow, of Woodland Hills CA, made news among Ron Paul supporters when it was noted that he donated $2300 to Ron Paul’s presidential campaign in 2007. Manilow also donated to four Democractic presidential contenders Obama, Clinton, Biden and Edwards.

Cortines notes on the LAUSD website that Manilow “is determined to make sure that our students continue to receive that kind of instruction despite round after round of state budget cuts”.

From the LAUSD site:

Thank You Mr. Manilow

One of my favorite Barry Manilow songs is “Can’t Smile Without You.” Thanks to his generosity, many of our students will be smiling when they receive new clarinets, flutes, saxophones, trumpets, trombones and other instruments his foundation, The Manilow Music Project, is donating to the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Barry Manilow remembers how music education changed his life in school. He is determined to make sure that our students continue to receive that kind of instruction despite round after round of state budget cuts.  A special, first-ever solo concert Barry Manilow performed Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Hollywood Bowl raised $100,000, along with the GRAMMY Foundation, for music instruments for LAUSD students.

I joined my old friend Barry Manilow on stage where he presented me with a $100,000 check. Music reduces dropout rates and increases graduation rates in Los Angeles as soon as you put an instrument in a student’s hand. Music and the arts are essential for a well-rounded education.

Thank you Barry Manilow for this generous donation on behalf of our students, teachers, administrators and District. Can’t smile without you.

Ramon C. Cortines, Superintendent

While Mandy is a favorite of mine, this is for you, Mr. Cortines:

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Topanga Station One Year Anniversary Event Nov 20th at the Hilton

Did you ever think that the same blog that told you to “watch out for the Po Po” would also be recommending that you buy a ticket for, and go check out, the one year anniversary shindig for the LAPD’s Topanga Station on November 20th at the Hilton?  Well, neither did I, but maybe I’m all growns up!

Event details:

We’ll be celebrating the first anniversary of the grand opening of our Topanga Station with style and lots of fun. We are planning a great event. All food, live entertainment, and refreshments* are included… PLUS FREE PARKING.

Let’s show our appreciation to the men and women at our Topanga Station who serve and protect our community.

Entertainment highlights:

AN EXCITING LINE UP OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Scottish Bag Piper •  CSUN Brass Band • Comedian Bruce Fine
LAPD Helicopter Ride Live Auction • Dance Dimension
• Barbershop Quartet

A Little Something for Everyone!

Tickets to the event require a $55 donation.  Check out the Topanga Boosters site for more details, reservation, and payment information.  You also download the event invitation (PDF) here.

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The LAPD’s Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Program Can Be Very Helpful

I decided to do a little outreach today to the LAPD in an effort to let them know who I am in case I turn up dead in a dumpster one day.  You see, I got a couple of angry phone calls and messages today from a certain dead guy’s girlfriend and she was none too happy about one of the articles that I wrote.  But, I’ll save that story for another time.

I ended up getting a referral from a friend that the guy I wanted to talk to over at LAPD’s Topanga Division was Senior Lead Officer Brent Rygh.  I spoke to Officer Rygh and he was very helpful and clued me into all the different people I need to speak to for various issues that might come up.

His job function is very interesting.  He is what the LAPD refers to as a Senior Lead Officer (SLO).  Topanga Division’s service area is divided into several portions, and each SLO handles one of them.  Rygh’s area is Woodland Hills west of Topanga Canyon Blvd.  Here’s a map of what the area boundaries are, and which Senior Lead Officer handles them:

Officer Rygh described the program to me as a liaison between the department and the community.  For instance, he explained, if a resident is having repeated problems with crimes as to where simply having a patrol car come out and take a report, or issue a citation isn’t solving the root cause of the problem, the Senior Lead Officer can work with the parties to come to a resolution, conduct further investigations, and move the issue along to resolution or escalation as needed.  From  the LAPD website:

Each SLO is responsible for a small portion of the community known as a Basic Car Area, and will address local issues to help keep you safe and informed.

It actually really good to know the LAPD has a program like this.  Because as we all know, sometimes issues are more complex than can be dealt with by simply having the police come once.  Issues like consistently noisy neigbhors, repeated vandalism, etc. can sometimes require a different approach to reach a resolution.

Officer Rygh also made me aware of the Topanga Area LAPD newsletter, which you can access here.  Rygh wrote a story for this month’s issue where he describes the end of an era, as the weekly gathering of car lovers and their amazing vehicles on Muholland Drive is being relocated, apparently to the Northridge Mall’s parking lot.  Here’s his article:

“SUPERCAR SUNDAYS”

For nearly 5 years some of the world’s most beautiful cars have gathered together on Sunday mornings in Woodland Hills at 23351 Mulholland Drive. From Lamborghinis and Ferraris, to Nash Ramblers and custom street rods, the lot would fill with cars that most of us can only dream of owning. The drivers sip a cup of coffee as they show off their cars and admire others before taking a drive through the canyons or off to the beach. Photographers, spectators, and car enthusiasts came from miles around to catch a glimpse of their favorite cars and the occasional appearance celebrities like Jay Leno.

This impromptu car show recently became the victim of its own success and outgrew the capacity of the parking lot, particularly on the last Sunday of the month when hundreds of cars came from all over Southern California.   The lack of parking combined with the occasional exhibition of speed drew the ire of some customers and businesses which has led to the closure of the lot to any and all car show activities by the property management company. A few other venues have opened their parking lots to people who wish to continue this event at a new location. For details, email Senior Lead Officer Brent Rygh at 30450@lapd.lacity.org.

Check out the full newsletter in PDF format below.  If you have any issues that you feel like Senior Lead Officer Rygh can help you with, contact him at (818) 731-2581.  His eastern Woodland Hills counterpart is Senior Lead Officer Dinse, who can be reached at (818) 731-2568.

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