Not all plastic bags fall under the new ordinance, though. Produce bags used for bagging vegetables, fruits and meats and pharmacy bags will still be allowed. In addition, restaurant to go bags, hardware stores bags, elect retail stores bags and pet store bags are exempt under the new ordinance.

 

VAN NUYS - School officials at Pinecrest are moving ahead with the sale and razing of its campus, clearing the way for new housing and a park, after a City Council panel approved the proposal last week.

Pinecrest School sold its 62-year-old campus recently to developers whose plans include four traditional single-family homes and 131 single-family homes, as well as parks and open space.

"With the private sale of Pinecrest School, my office and the community were faced with a decision on what use for that site would best serve the neighborhood's interests," Councilmember Paul Krekorian said.

"My office worked with the developer to pare down a project that would have been out of step with the neighborhood, and together we have struck a balance that provides housing and open space in a part of the Valley in need of single-family homes and parks."

Pinecrest has been operating on the campus since 1951 and plans to transfer its 400 students and staff members to one of the other eight campuses, reports the Daily News.

Jeri Dye Lynch, president and chief executive of Pinecrest Schools, said three generations of her family have worked at the Van Nuys campus.

"After great deliberation, we made the difficult decision to sell the Van Nuys campus after receiving an extraordinary and unsolicited offer from a real estate development company for the property at 14111 Sherman Way," she told the paper.

A portion of the sale will be used to improve facilities and enhance programs at other Pinecrest campuses, she said.

 

Pinecrest is located at 14111 and 14135 Sherman Way and 7235 and 7301 N. Hazeltine Avenue.  

 

STUDIO CITY - Three moms are on a mission to help young kids get in shape, one school at a time.

 

Outside in Enrichment, Inc., a Studio City based non-profit, is the brainchild of Alison Marin, Dyan Conway and Dana Romick, each advocates in their own right who created a specialized physical education program for schools in Southern California.

 

Outside In Enrichment, Inc. currently hosts programs in two San Fernando Valley elementary schools - Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies and Victory Elementary school in North Hollywood. The nonprofit group, however, hopes to expand to more than a dozen Southern California elementary schools if funding materializes.

 

The impetus for the group lay in the state of physical education. Although California elementary schools require P.E. programs at the elementary school level, many institutions lack structured classes with credentialed instructors to lead a well-developed wellness course.

 

That's where Outside In Enrichment comes in. Through a uniquely crafted program, the group has reached more than 500 kids, incorporating sportsmanship, teamwork, nutrition along with anti-bullying and self-esteem.

 

"All students deserve an enriched atmosphere," the group states on its website. "Until all elementary schools provide structured physical education programs during the regular school hours and have hands-on science labs, they will not stop. With their perseverance and knowledge, [Marin, Conway and Romick] know it can be done."

 

For more information about the organization or to help the program increase its outreach, visit www.outsideinenrichment.org.

 

LOS ANGELES - The Fourth of July is a festive time for our country as families, friends and neighbors gather to celebrate the independence of our nation and watch fireworks light up the sky. But one family member in particular may need extra attention during this festive occasion - your pet.

 

The excitement and noise fireworks create can be a frightening time for many pets, who may go to great lengths to escape their normal surroundings, jump fences or go into a state of panic and distress. More runaway and lost pets end up in animal shelters on this holiday than any other time of the year, according to animal control officials.

 

[See a list of neighborhood 4th of July activities
 throughout Los Angeles by clicking here]

 

To ensure your pets do not cause harm to themselves and their surroundings - and stay home - follow these safety tips to ensure an enjoyable holiday for everyone:

• Keep your pets indoors at all times. Letting your pets go outside during fireworks may cause them to panic and could result in them running away.
• Leave your pet at home when going to a fireworks display. The combination of large crowds and loud fireworks may distress your pet, leading them to desperately seek shelter. Locking them in the car is also not a good option as your pet could suffer brain damage and heat stroke;
• Never light fireworks around your pet. Lit fireworks can pose a danger to curious pets and potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws, not to mention fireworks are illegal in the city of Los Angeles;
Make sure your pet is properly identified. A pet wearing a license tag can be identified and returned to you, or safely sheltered at your local animal control until you can reclaim it;

Fireworks also present hazards for people. In 2008, seven people died and an estimated 7,000 were treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries in the United States. The body parts most often injured were hands and fingers (1,400 injuries), eyes (1,000 injuries), and legs (900 injuries). More than half of the injuries were burns while bruises, cuts and other bodily harm is an all too regular occurrence.  

 

To stay safe, follow these simple tips.

 

For more pet safety tips, visit www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/july-4th. And find other 4th of July safety tips by visiting www.safejuly4th.org.

  

LOS ANGELES - The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control advises residents to take precautions and report any incidents of West Nile virus cases as the summer's mosquito breeding season heats up. 

To prevent mosquito related disease, the organization recommends the following tips to protect yourself and your family from being affected by the virus:

• Eliminate or report standing water on your property because that's where mosquitoes breed;
• Avoid outdoor activities when mosquitoes are most active during dusk and dawn;
If you are outdoors when mosquitoes are biting, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and apply insect repellent containing EPA-registered active ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, and Oil of lemon eucalyptus.

At this point, Vector Control has already found one confirmed case of West Nile virus in the San Fernando Valley; 13 total positive samples have been confirmed throughout L.A. County.  Find out more about the West Nile virus and tips on how to protect yourself, by visiting the information section on the Vector Control website. 

 

This note is from Studio City Residents Association:  

The SCRA has an opportunity available for an 11th or 12th grade high school student to serve on the SCRA board as a non-voting junior member. The term of this position begins in September, 2013 and ends in August, 2014. The student must be a resident of Studio City and be interested in community affairs and governance. The SCRA will coordinate with the student's high school advisor if public service hours or academic credit are needed.

 

Please send a resume to:

Studio City Residents Association

Attention: Martha Hanrahan

P.O. Box 1374

Studio City, CA 91614

Do you want to list something in our CD2 Community Bulletin Board? Email [email protected] today!