Have a safe and sane 4th of July! |
Observatory Closed to Fireworks Viewing on July 4th.
Griffith Observatory will close early on Tuesday, July 4 for public safety reasons. The south-facing terraces and roof will close at 6:00 p.m., the building will close at 7:00 p.m., and DASH bus service to the hilltop will end at 7:30 on July 4, 2023.
Visitor traffic will be heavy. We are expecting large crowds all weekend.
Extra staff and enforcement will be deployed.
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Fourth of July Resources Deployed to Beachwood Canyon
[Note: this is an abbreviation of the Councilmember's Press Release. CLICK HERE for the entire document.]
As we approach the July 4th weekend, we want to provide you with the necessary resources for a safe holiday celebration. Here's what you need to know:
Fireworks are illegal in Los Angeles and pose a threat to wildlife and parks. Check out the following safer fireworks shows in the area.
Traffic and Safety Deployment in Hollywood Hills: Our office, in collaboration with the Office of Mayor Bass and City departments, has increased traffic and parking management in the Hollywood Hills and Beachwood Canyon. This aims to ensure smooth traffic flow and enhance safety during the holiday period.
July 1st:
Traffic Control Officers:
- Beachwood Drive & Ledgewood Drive
- Deronda Drive & Rockcliff Drive
- Ledgewood Drive & Rockcliff Drive
- 6100 Mulholland Hwy
- Canyon Lake Drive & Mulholland Hwy
- Canyon Lake Drive & Tahoe Drive
- Runyon Canyon Upper Lot
Parking Enforcement Patrol Officers:
LAPD Motor Division Patrol:
- Canyon Lake Drive at Lake Hollywood Park
July 2nd, 3rd and 4th: The same schedule but Security Officers will be added at Lake Hollywood Park.
Please note that real-time changes may occur based on staffing requirements. We will be monitoring the situation throughout the long weekend.
If you encounter any issues or concerns, please contact CD4’s Deputy District Director, Walker King, at walker.king@lacity.org or leave a voicemail at 213-473-7004. Our staff will address time-sensitive requests during the holiday weekend.
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Beachwood Canyon 100 Years Ago |
Click on the image above to watch short vintage footage.
"Wow. I just finished watching “AMERICA IN COLOR” on Smithsonian channel and my mind was completely blown watching construction workers erect the Hollywoodland sign exactly 100 years ago. I never knew this footage existed. To think that 40,000 lightbulbs were also placed on the sign at the time. It flashed in successive segments HOLLY - WOOD - LAND. I can’t imagine what that must’ve looked like at night. As we know, the sign was originally erected in 1923 as a temporary advertisement for a local real estate development. Still, due to increasing recognition, the sign was left up to reflect the industry and no longer the land. Once again, I’m just blown away by this footage! Check it out!"
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Hollywoodland as a Gated Community?
Hey there, Beachwood Neighbors!
We just wanted to fill you in on some recent developments regarding Hollywoodland and the Hollywoodland Homeowners Association (HHA). It seems that the HHA is considering a proposal to gate and privatize Hollywoodland, which could have some significant implications for our community.
Their plan involves installing six gates to limit access for non-residents, both vehicles and pedestrians. Additionally, they want to cut off all entry points from Hollywoodland into Griffith Park. Basically, they want to turn all neighborhood streets into private property, making it possible for unauthorized individuals to face trespassing charges.
Now, here's where things get interesting. The process of privatizing city streets is known as "vacation." According to the city's document explaining this process, which you can find here, the consent of all property owners adjacent to the public right-of-way proposed for vacation is required.
Here's the catch: it's practically impossible to obtain unanimous agreement from the approximately 550 homeowners in Hollywoodland for this gating scheme. The HHA's 78-page study conveniently doesn't address this crucial constraint.
Here's what we'd like you to do. While the Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Association has never supported such a plan, it's important for you to express your opinion on the matter. We encourage you to reach out to Councilmember Raman and let her know how you feel about this proposal. She has only heard from the HHA so far, and it's essential that she hears a variety of perspectives. You can send your point of view to contactCD4@lacity.org.
Let's make sure our voices are heard and ensure that any decisions made about our neighborhood are fair and inclusive. Together, we continue to be an inclusive and united Beachwood Canyon!
BCNA approves this message.
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Councilmember Nithya Raman Has Introduced Motions Addressing Hollywood Sign Tourist Impacts |
For Immediate Release: June 29, 2023
LOS ANGELES -- Councilmember Nithya Raman introduces motions to tackle Hollywood Sign tourism impacts on residents. The motions aim to improve safety and ease the strain on Hollywood Hills infrastructure caused by tourists accessing the Hollywood Sign.
Install Permanent Fencing on Mulholland Highway
Councilmember Raman requests the Bureau of Engineering (BOE) to replace temporary fencing on Mulholland Highway with permanent fencing. The goal is to prevent cars from stopping on the road and congesting traffic, offering a safer alternative and a walking path for pedestrians. [Motion]
Implement Public Safety and Traffic Improvements at Canyon Lake Drive/Mulholland Highway
Councilmember Raman urges the BOE to study and implement improvements to the intersection of Mulholland Highway and Canyon Lake Drive. The current roadway is difficult to navigate, causing traffic congestion. The proposed improvements aim to enhance public safety and traffic flow. [Motion]
Conduct Parking Study on Canyon Lake Drive
Councilmember Raman directs the Department of Transportation (LADOT) to manage parking demand at Lake Hollywood Park. The study aims to address traffic congestion caused by tourists waiting for parking spots, improving turnover and generating revenue for infrastructure projects. [Motion]
Conduct Tour Bus Study East of the 101
Councilmember Raman requests the LADOT to analyze the impacts of tour buses in
communities east of the 101 freeway. The study aims to address issues such as obstructed views, blocked lanes, and strain on roadways caused by heavy tour buses. [Motion]
Improve Access to Popular Hiking Destination
Councilmember Raman proposes an extension to the Wonder View Trail near the
Hollywood Sign. The extension would provide hikers with a safe access point, located approximately 1,200 feet west of the current trail head.
Note: For the full text of the press release, CLICK HERE!
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Renters Rights, A Message from Councilwoman Raman |
Do you rent your home in Beachwood Canyon? As renters — or tenants — you have rights and protections against certain rent increases, evictions, and more.
The landscape is constantly changing, and knowing what protections apply to you can be confusing — but we’re here to help.
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Beachwood Canyon
Red-Tailed Hawk Family
by Allison Brooker
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For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the LA Raptor Study. Sponsored by Friends of Griffith Park. The Los Angeles Raptor Study engages volunteers all across Los Angeles to monitor raptor nests (hawks, owls, and falcons) during spring and summer to learn how these birds are adapting to the urban environment.
In each of the years I have been monitoring the same Red-tailed Hawk (RTH) nest. In 2021 the pair successfully raised three chicks. In 2022, there were two. Everything was going along as per usual this year, observing a hawk incubating eggs in the nest. Then on March 16, when I visited and the nest, I found it had been destroyed by the weather! I alerted the Raptor Team to the news. This is my assigned nest, so I continued to check to see if the pair were coming back and hopefully rebuilding. For more than a month, nothing. No sign of them.
In a funny twist of fate, Beachwood Neighbor Eric Smith submitted a photo to this newsletter which published the 1st of May. Gerry Hans, President, Friends of Griffith Park saw the photo, reached out to Eric for the location and recognized this is the same RTH pair in a new nest location. I was thrilled to be introduced to the new nest on the 5th of May to continue to monitor the nesting pair. Happily, I can report there are currently two chicks thriving in the nest. They are now in the “jump-flapping” phase. Jump-flapping is one of the exercises the young chicks do to prepare for their first flight. The young birds jump in the air and flap their wings as if preparing to take off. They will do this many times a day to make sure their muscles are strong and able to sustain flight. This is the most entertaining part of the survey program. At some point, the birds will actually take flight and then off they go! But we are a few weeks from that at this point.
I got involved with the LA Raptor Study because in May of 2020, I found a Great Horned Owl sitting on the ground while walking my dogs. I knew that was not a normal thing to find an owl doing on a bright sunny morning. I immediately called a resource who instructed me what to do, who to contact and where to take it. It only took a few minutes to make this happen and for my friend, husband and I to secure the owl in the car. In the time it took me to run in my house and get my purse, the owl sadly passed.
Later that day, FoGP president, Gerry Hans contacted me to bring him the owl realizing it should be tested for rodenticides. Because of the pandemic, it took months for the necropsy results to come back. When they did, Gerry Hans let the community know the young owl was a female, and that UC Davis CAHFS confirmed in their report the cause of her death was rat poison: anticoagulant intoxication. In this case a super-high level of second generation anticoagulant rodenticide (Difethialone) and traces of others. Likely, a mouse or rat ate the poison from a “bait box” and then the slow-moving rodent was nabbed by the owl.
Then and there I decided to become an active citizen scientist member of our community to keep an eye on our raptors and help spread the word about the dangers to wildlife from rodenticide. Los Angeles Raptor Study is an amazing group of people to be involved with, from the brilliant and inspiring Team Leaders to each of the volunteers. We are asked to commit to monitoring a nest(s) at least twice a month and report the data regularly to one of the study coordinators. That is all there is to it and so much is learned from the data collected through our involvement.
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Cougar Crossing Update
The National Wildlife Federation’s #SaveLACougars campaign and its partners at the Cougar Conservancy are excited to announce the launch of a docent-led tour of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing. The program will inform, engage, and empower tour participants on the importance of coexisting with our local wildlife and give people a closer look at what will be the largest wildlife crossing in the world.
The program is free and community members are invited to register in advance for the tours scheduled for Sunday, July 9th or Saturday, July 22nd – by visiting the Cougar Conservancy Eventbrite page here. Additional tour dates throughout 2023 will be added to the page.
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Wanna be a Docent?
PART 1: Docent Program Informational Session (Virtual)
WHEN: July 10, 2023 from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. PT
PART 2: National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Volunteer Orientation (Virtual)
WHEN: July 10, 2023 from 6:35 to 7:45 p.m. PT
WHAT: Upcoming Docent Training (In-Person)
WHEN: July 29, 2023 from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM PT
LOCATION: Calabasas & Agoura Hills
REGISTER: You will be invited to register for this training once you have been onboarded as a NWF Volunteer.
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Neighbors Meeting Neighbors! |
Eda Hallinan and Larry Markes at the BCNA table.
Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Association (BCNA) and the Hollywood Orchard board members came together in front of the Beachwood Market to meet and greet neighbors. During the event, the BCNA proudly unveiled their new banner.
Throughout the day, many Beachwood neighbors stopped to chat creating opportunities for engaging conversations. It became evident to everyone involved that this event was highly valuable, fostering community connections. As a result, both the BCNA and the Hollywood Orchard are currently discussing the possibility of hosting similar events every month. Once they finalize the schedule, they will announce it here.
Additionally, representatives from the city set up a booth and provided information about the OrganicsLA project. They shared the initiative's details and distributed compost buckets to interested individuals. The city representatives expressed their enthusiasm about returning to the Village in the future.
Overall, the event was a success, fostering community engagement, promoting environmental initiatives, and strengthening the bonds between neighbors and local organizations.
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Trail Trash Patrol
Monday, July 10
5 - 7 p.m.
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Meet at Crystal Springs Picnic Area
Griffith Park
(4659 Crystal Springs Dr, LA 90027)
We love Crystal Springs. This picnic area hosts the Heritage Sycamore – a large, old tree that’s previously sheltered many a picnickers. This area is loved by groups large and small, and so we help to keep it clean for everyone!
By now you know that FoGP provides trash buckets, and trash pick-up tools. Please bring gloves (although we also provide them) don your old clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting dirty.
We hope you’ll join the cleanup – believe us, the camaraderie at these events makes for a whole lotta fun!
If you’ve attended any of our volunteer activities in the past and have a volunteer agreement on file, you don’t need to fill another out!
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Hollywood Orchard
Mural Project
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Wall 3 is next. The Indigenous Culture wall was guided by local Gabrieleño-Tongva teachers. Please donate to help us finish this worthy project.
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Hollywood Orchard is creating a natural and cultural history of Los Angeles in the form of four murals covering three buildings on the campus of Cheremoya Elementary at the base of Beachwood Canyon.
Mural #3 (see above) will begin in August. Please follow our Instagram page for updates.
We are grateful for the community support and hope that neighbors will continue to donate so we can complete Mural #3.
We are a 501c3 non profit organization , so your contributions are tax-deductible.
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Forrester is Looking for His Furever Home |
This beautiful boy Forrester is looking for his forever home. He’s two-years-old and great with people and other dogs. His neuter had to be temporarily postponed because he’s currently underweight but as soon as he puts on a few more pounds, we’ll be getting that taken care of. Although he’s a little underweight, he’s been fully vetted, vaccinated, and otherwise declared completely healthy! He’d love to find his forever family and he’s ready to connect and bond with his people!
ABOUT HOLLYWOOD HUSKIES
Beneath the glittery glamour of Hollywood lies a dark tragedy. Every month thousands of animals are euthanized in the shelters of the greater Los Angeles area, including many adoptable beautiful Huskies who simply did not get a home before their death “due date.” Siberian Huskies are an amazing breed – in addition to their stunning beauty, they are highly intelligent, friendly and good-natured, engaging, and each one has a unique personality. If you’re thinking about bringing a husky into your life, there are some facts you should know, and can be found at this LINK.
If you would wish to donate to Hollywood Huskies for many dogs in their care, here is how to donate:
Venmo:
Hollywood-Huskies (last four digits associated with the account are 9128)
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In Loving Memory
Gary Michael Ledwidge
9/21/1940 - 6/26/2023
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Our beautiful neighbor of the Beachwood Canyon area, Mr. Gary Ledwidge, has passed away at the age of 83. So many of you wonderful neighbors have donated to Gary. During Covid when his tv broke, he was presented with a new one thanks to the good people of our community.
Gary was a Hollywood resident for over 50 years! He loved animals of every kind, and had the best stories. Thank you to all of you for your kindness to him over the years.
Neighbor and friend, Liz Rowley
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Band of Singers Summer Mini Workshop!
Led by Maesa Pullman
Thursdays Starting on July 6th
5:00-6:30 PM
at the BirdHouse
ALL LEVELS WELCOME
Join us in the garden where we will hone a handful of songs, sing them into fullness, and let our voices bloom in a Summer bouquet of harmony!
$120 for the four sessions.
Email Maesa with any questions or to inquire about a work-trade exchange.
The Band of Singers is a non-traditional, all levels welcome, interdisciplinary, community choir collaboratively creating original song and story performance-like experiences in the name of biophilia (the love of all living things).
~~~
Also, Friday, July 21, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Summer; The Dance of The Divine Feminine and the Sacred Masculine
With Linda Gibbs
All Activities at The BirdHouse Community Garden
2460 N Gower St, Los Angeles, CA 90068
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Please click on the graphic to download a flyer. Please share this flyer via email to your friends and family. |
We hope you like these newsletters. We are happy to hear your thoughts and suggestions. If you have an event or something that you would like to submit for publication, please send the information and graphics to the following:
If you haven't joined our neighborhood association, it's only $20 per year per household and you can do it online. We continue to work hard behind the scenes and offer virtual and live meetings more often this year.
Click on the Logo to become a member.
Or go to the website to see other ways to join and be added to our newsletter distribution.
President
Or mail your donation check to:
BCNA, 1920 Cheremoya Ave #201, L.A., CA 90068
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Hi Neighbors,
We appreciate those who continue to share events with us. Keep it coming!
ATTENTION GMAIL USERS: To view this newsletter with all the valuable links and articles, scroll to the bottom and click "View Entire Message" OR click HERE! (This is a new limitation imposed by Gmail.)
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COVID-19 Info:
Visit the link below or call 311.
District Ofc: 213-473-7004
CD4 Field Deputy
213-573-3226
Associate CD4 Field Deputy
213-500-6903
Senior Lead Officer
Heather Mata
213-308-0455
Neighborhood Prosecutor
Anthony King
New! Our West Traffic Officer is Mark Buck
Official Twitter of LAPD Hollywood Division: @LAPDHollywood
Hollywood Police Captain
213-972-2900
Hollywood Police Captain I
Captain Benedict Fernandes
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Organization and Resource Links:
(New Link!)
Helicopter Noise Line:
424-348-4354
Gigi DeSouki 323-868-0444
213-500-3867
(Rapid Antigen Test at your home for a small fee and recommended by Wellness on Wheels)
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