Don’t Forget About The Ventura Blvd Tree Planting Tomorrow, 3/27
Don’t forget about the tree planting on Ventura Blvd tomorrow, Saturday March 27th at 8am. I did a drive-by of the general area the other day, and it is interesting to see all the voids in the sidewalk where there should be trees. Makes me wonder how or why they were removed over the years. It will be nice to see them restored.
Dennis Zine writes:
Dear Community Member,
For many years, Ventura Boulevard has been experiencing a decline in the number of healthy trees on its sidewalks due to aging trees or their illegal removal. Community activists have decided to take action by coming together to form the Woodland Hills Community Coalition and together address this issue. Thanks to the generous financial support of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Chamber of Commerce and the Million Trees LA initiative, 22 large young trees will be planted and cared for on Ventura Blvd. between De Soto Ave. and Canoga Ave. on March 27, 2010 at 8am. (Please see attached flyer for more details).
We would like to request your most enthusiastic support toward this project and invite you to come out with your family, friends, and co-workers to plant trees and have an overall great time with the neighborhood. These will be your trees and we want you to be a part of this great project.
If you have any specific questions about this project, please contact any of the following coordinators:
Diana Williams, Woodland Hills-Tarzana Chamber of Commerce at (818) 347-4737 Lisa Sarno, Office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at Lisa.Sarno@lacity.org Octaviano Rios, Office of Councilman Dennis P. Zine at (818) 756-8848Thank you for your care of the community and we look forward to seeing you there.
Sincerely,
DENNIS P. ZINE Councilman, Third District
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LAPD Issues Urgent Warning To Woodland Hills Residents
Well, not sure what to make of this exactly. Maybe the guy just really needed directions to Chipotle. Wherever you live, it’s always safer to walk in pairs, especially for women. Live it, people.
LAPD Topanga writes:
Threat to Children Suspect
Citizens of Woodland Hills area: Be on the lookout for a suspect who was annoying a child.
The victim (female, 17 yrs) was walking in the vicinity of Martha Street and Jumila Avenue when the suspect drove up in his vehicle and yelled to the victim, “I want to talk to you.” The suspect exited his vehicle and grabbed the victim by the arm. The victim pulled away from the suspect and ran away screaming. The suspect then fled in his vehicle.
Suspect: Male/Hispanic, Black hair, 5-09 to 5-11, 160-180lbs 30-35 years. Short cropped hair, with a well-groomed appearance.
Suspect vehicle: Newer model Mercedes, 4-door, silver or gray color, unknown license plate number.
If you are approached by or see the suspect please call 911 immediately. Anyone with information regarding the suspect is asked to contact Detective Alviani, at Topanga Police Station (818) 756-3371. During off-hours, contact the Detective Information Desk at 877 LAPD 247. CALLERS MAY REMAIN ANONYMOUS. To send anonymous web tips, log onto http://www.lapdonline.org/and click on “Anonymous Web Tips.”
Please pass this on to friends and neighbors and encourage them to sign up for E-Policing and Nixle alerts.
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Woodland Hills Tree Planting Along Ventura Blvd Saturday March 27th
Diana Williams from the Woodland Hills Tarzana Chamber of Commerce writes:
Join us on March 27th at 8 AM at the Holiday Inn Woodland Hills. We are planting 22 trees on Ventura Boulevard! Councilman Dennis Zine, Million Trees Los Angeles and the Woodland Hills-Tarzana Chamber of Commerce with Special acknowledgement to the Woodland Hills, WHHO (Woodland Hills Homeowners Association) and Warner Center Neighborhood Council.
Spring is upon us, so plant your seed a tree and leave a lasting legacy in Woodland Hills!
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Is a Zoning Battle Brewing Over Pawn Shop Variance At Ventura & Don Pio?
My spider sense tingled today when I received this e-mail message:
Important Woodland Hills NC Board Meeting Wednesday Feb. 10, 2010
Please pardon this intrusion.
As citizens of Woodland Hills a matter regarding zoning of a pawnshop on Ventura Boulevard will be of interest to you. Come and be heard and/or email me at jockbaird@aol.com.
As candidates for and members of The Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council Board
I’m asking you to attend Wednesday’s Neighborhood Council meeting at Woodland Hills Academy (formerly Parkman Junior High School) across De Soto from Kaiser Hospital, 20800 Burbank Boulevard from 6:30 – 9:00.
This is an extremely important meeting for you and the NC. A zoning variation regarding a pawn shop’s proposed move on Ventura Boulevard will be discussed. This is an item of great importance to the citizens of Woodland Hills.
Thank you!
Jim Anderson
Area 2 Co-ordinator
Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council
Then, later in the afternoon I drove by the former location of “Anzhlika Bridal” at 21840 Ventura Blvd and observed a few public notices in the window. Upon examing the notices, I realized that this was the undoubtedly “pawn shop” location in question.
To anyone who is observant, it is readily evident that this now abandoned storefront’s entryway often serves as a lounging spot for various vagrants and degenerates. I have personally witnessed drunken and/or crystal meth fueled arguments between these folks at this very spot.
I’ll have to hear what the Neighborhood Council’s general position is on the pawn shop situation, but I personally don’t think have the place there would be all minuses. Having it empty isn’t great either. I’m amazed that with the advent of eBay that pawn shops still exist. But, perhaps drug addicts looking for a quick fix aren’t Power Sellers and/or have difficulty getting PayPal accounts.
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LAPD Ramming Home Their Warnings About Door To Door Salesmen
Not even a month has gone by since the last strong warning about these door to door salesmen and LAPD has already issued another stern warning to area residents. Note that in the notification they refer to “West Hills south of Ventura Blvd” – however, since no such place exists, I’m assuming they really mean Woodland Hills.
They write via Nixle:
Monday February 8, 2010 19:13 PM PST
Recent increase in burglaries in West Hills and south of Ventura Boulevard may be related to door to door salesmen.
LAPD Topanga Area has recently seen an increase in residential burglaries south of Ventura Blvd. At the same time, we have had numerous community complaints of aggressive door-to-door salespeople.
A common modus operandi for residential burglars is that they knock on the door of a house. If someone is home, they move on. If there is no one home, they go into the back yard, break into the house through a back door or window, enter, and steal at their leisure. The burglars are often seen by neighbors, often as they are removing property. The neighbors often think that there is something strange going on, but do not report it to the police. Later, when the police canvass the neighborhood for witnesses, a neighbor is located who can give a good description of the suspects.
Last month, a Winnetka woman was viciously attacked inside her own home by a door-to-door salesman when she opened her door to him. Even though he was located and arrested by LAPD Topanga officers later that same day, both the police and the community were shocked by the crime. The assailant was discovered to be associated with a magazine sales “crew,” consisting of mostly out-of-state “salespeople” put up at a local motel and sent out every day to various neighborhoods to sell subscriptions. The assailant had an extensive criminal history and officers learned that there is little or no screening process for these people.
What can YOU do to protect yourself and your family?
If someone comes to your door and you don’t know them, DO NOT ANSWER THE DOOR. You should yell through the door and tell them to leave. That way they know someone is at home and will probably just leave. If they don’t leave, call the police, they may be dangerous. If you can see the person through a window, write down a description of him/her and a description of any vehicle associated with the person(s) and put it in a safe place, just in case later the police come to your door and ask about persons knocking on your door. If the person(s) appears suspicious (looking around, entering a neighbor’s back yard, etc.), immediately call your local police station and report the incident, preferably while the suspect(s) is still in the neighborhood.
What are your local police doing to protect you?
We have sent officers out to the motels where these sales groups typically stay to identify the salespeople. We are stepping up patrols in the affected neighborhoods and overall, we are getting the word out about how people can protect themselves. Please pass this information on to your neighbors, family and friends.
Be safe.
You should also read this excerpt from Topanga Station’s February newsletter:
The next time you see SLO Cunningham, make sure you give him extra kudos for a recent outstanding arrest that perhaps you may have read about in the L.A. Times. For those of you who are not aware, on December 17, 2009, Officer Cunningham arrested a door to door salesman who had robbed and attempted to rape a woman.
In the past, there had been several burglaries which Cunningham being in-tune with his area SLO that he is, knew of. While patrolling his area, Officer Cunningham conducted a pedestrian stop on two males who identified themselves as “Door-to-Door Magazine Solicitors.” The next day (12/17/09) he responded to a “Hot Prowl, Attempt Attack, and Robbery Home Invasion.” Based on his prior contact with the salesmen he conducted a follow-up investigation. Thanks to Cunningham’s great investigative skills, a male suspect was taken into custody. With two witness field show ups and a victim’s field show-up, all were positive the suspect was the one who carried out the attack.
The suspect was arrested for home invasion robbery and attempt rape. His bail was set at $5.6 million dollar bail for burglary, home invasion robbery, attempt rape and kidnapping, to name a few. Officer Cunningham, thank you for taking this BAD person off our streets!!
Download the entire newsletter from LAPD’s site by following this link.
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CHIME Charter Elementary School Holding “Walk-N-Roll-A-Thon” Friday Jan 29
A concerned parent and reader of the blog wrote in to let me know that CHIME Charter Elementary School in Woodland Hills needs our help to save their music program.
She writes:
CHIME Charter Elementary School Walk-N-Roll-A-Thon to save Music Fri, Jan 29th. The proceeds go 100% toward supporting our beloved music program. The kids each need to collect sponsors, either at a set donation or a per lap rate. Checks can be made to Chime Charter Elementary and must be in by race day. You can also call in a pledge to 818 346 5100 and select option 3, to pay by credit card. We appreciate your support. Thank you!’
On Friday, Jan. 29, more than 320 kindergarten through fifth grade students are going to run, walk and roll their wheelchairs around the school track in an effort to save their music teacher’s job. They are asking their friends and family members to support their efforts by pledging a flat amount or an amount per lap.
“The amazing thing about this event is the community support and care for music instruction. The commitment of these families and their children to ensuring that we have a music program is literally demonstrated with the rubber hitting the road,” said Julie Fabrocini, the elementary school’s principal and executive director of the institute’s schools program.
The Walk-N-Roll-A-Thon is scheduled to take place from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m. at the school located at 19722 Collier St. in Woodland Hills. The kindergartners will begin their quest at 1:15 p.m., followed by the first through fifth graders at 2 p.m.
Braving rain and mud last year, the elementary school students ran, walked and rolled their wheelchairs around the school track and raised more than $48,000 in pledges and donations. They were able to save their music program through June 2010.
But the state budget’s situation in many ways has gotten worse, and the music program’s future in the 2010-2011 school year, and beyond, is threatened again.
“The state’s budget crisis has impacted our ability to pay for high-quality classroom teachers,” Fabrocini said. “As always when we have to weigh the state’s requirements against children’s needs, the arts end up on the chopping block. What is most difficult about this is that we have no choice in the matter. Without these kids and their parents, we would continue to have no choices.”
Here’s a video where you can learn more about CHIME Charter Elementary School:
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LAPD Topanga Station Warns Us To Watch Out For Door-To-Door Scumbags
We are again seeing a crime trend in the West San Fernando Valley with male suspects, 18-30 years old, posing as magazine salesman, curb painters or attempting to sell other goods or services.
After being rejected by the homeowner, they will aggressively demand money. Or, if they find out you are not home, they may try to burglarize your home.
We suggest that you do not open your door, but make them aware that someone is home. If they continue to knock or attempt to break in, call 911.
If they leave safely, monitor their activity and alert other neighbors. If they act suspiciously, make note of their physical description, clothing and license plate, if possible. Then contact police, non-emergency dispatch a 1-877-275-5273 (1-877-ASK-LAPD).
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