All Things HERMON . . . 12/1/11

Fri, 2 Dec 2011 21:14:19 -0800

All Things HERMON. . . (11/30/11)

*** Here comes our super-sized Hermon weekend!

-- This Friday night, December 2nd, we all bundle up and gather at 6:30 in front of Hermon Church (5718 Monterey Rd) to welcome in the holidays -- Hermon style. Santa will be there straight from his workshop, with candy canes for all the good little (and some not so little) boys and girls. The church will have nice hot drinks for you, and Monterey Donuts is sending over their yummy donut holes. Add to that Christmas caroling and catching up with neighbors, and we’ve got a pretty good thing going. Soon Councilman Jose Huizar arrives to join in the festivities. Together we all countdown to light the big Deodre Cedar on the Monterey Road median, and then suddenly it’s Christmas time. You can watch last year’s countdown at www.HermonLA.org   Then, the party moves inside the church to hear the Bushnell Way Elementary School Orchestra and the Los Angeles International Charter High School Band (they’re really good, too). Happiest holidays to us.

-- Saturday, we change into clean-up mode with our monthly “Clean Team,” which is now kicking off its 10th year. We meet at 8 a.m. by Monterey Donuts at Avenue 60 (just east of Monterey Road), chow down on some donuts, then we grab a couple of huge bags, some gloves and we’re off all over Hermon to pick up trash. At the same time every year in December, the Hermon Safety Committee creates “Don’t Let the Grinch Steal Your Chirstmas” fliers that we put on all the cars along Monterey Road, reminding everyone to not leave any valuables visible (even at night) in their cars and to lock their doors and shut their windows. You can help pass out those fliers, just meet us there at 8 a.m. We’ll have a donut waiting for you.

-- Sunday, the 4th, it all just gets silly as dozens of Hermon Dog Park dogs and their people dress up for the holidays and march together as the “Santa Paws Squad” in the Northeast Los Angeles Holiday Parade, down Figueroa Street across the Arroyo in Highland Park. You can join in! Just meet at 12:30 p.m. by the dog park, (at the end of Hermon Park). It’s good to arrive a little early and let you’re dogs run off a little steam in the dog park so they can handle the stop-and-go of the parade. And you’ll be on cable TV for your 10 seconds of fame . . .

*** You probably know that the Arroyo Seco Parkway (110 Freeway) has been designated as a National Scenic Byway; cool, right? Well, now a Corridor Management Plan is being prepared with a series of meetings to get community input from local neighborhoods about the needs and possibilities for improvements and enhancements in the corridor area. Topics of interest include transportation (pedestrian, bicycle, bus, rail and auto), historic and cultural attractions, neighborhoods and business districts, nature/open space, and recreation and tourism.

The meeting/community workshop is this coming Monday, December 5, 6:30 p.m. to 8: 30 p.m.at the Highland Park Ebell Club, 131 S. Avenue 57, L.A. 90042. Refreshments will be served.

*** “Nightime Wonderland,” a community art show, will be Friday, December 9, beginning at 7 p.m. at 5800 Monterey Road. Everyone’s invited – there’ll be hors d’oeurves, live music, and all art is specially priced – nothing will be more than $100. There’ll be something for everyone, with lots of little pieces perfect for stocking stuffers. And all the artists are giving a percentage of their profit to the Hermon Church’s community food bank.

*** Several weeks ago, almost 40 Hermon neighbors took part in a short impromptu meeting where the possibility of Hermon becoming its own L.A. City certified neighborhood council was discussed. There was overwhelming consensus that we should move ahead with the process of creating a brand new neighborhood council – one just for the Hermon community. Very exciting. The “letter of intent” to begin the process was read to the full board of the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council (for the past 9 years our “coalition” neighborhood council of 5 communities), on Monday evening at it’s monthly Board of Representatives meeting and has also been mailed to the City’s Department of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE). That department would be responsible for reviewing the application that will now need to be prepared, before it would go before the City’s Board of Neighborhood Commissioners for their approval.

The next community meeting in this process is Sunday, December 11, 4 p.m., at Hermon Church, 5718 Monterey Road (at Wheeling Way). We’ll update you on where we are, discuss some of the reasons why the community now seems ready for the steps ahead, and plan how we will do extensive outreach for the fullest possible stakeholder involvement. Please talk to your neighbors about this new opportunity to continue to grow Hermon’s voice to the City . . . and then bring them along with you on December 11.

Because it’s all good . . . in Hermon
        where quirky works,
        families return,
        and dogs sleep all night long.

Wendi

All Things HERMON . . . 11/22/11

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 01:59:48 -0800

All Things HERMON. . . (11/22/11)

*** You owe yourself a little trip to Zosa Café, on Monterey Road at Redfield Avenue. Say hello to Daniel behind the counter and then order their very special Pumpkin Latte that, oh my goodness -- can only be described as Thanksgiving in a cup. The balance of subtle spices, lightly sweetened, the earthy pumpkin flavor, and cream all in a perfect cup of coffee . . . just delish!

*** So here’s the story. Back in December of 1908, Los Angeles Seminary (which founded the Hermon community, around the school) “seeing that the students . . . have no field for play or proper place for recreation and feeling that their physical training should form an important part of all education, asked the question, was it not possible to build a gymnasium for the benefit of the students.” And so a Student Association was formed to raise funds for the building and equipment. Soon construction began on a 39-foot by 60-foot, two-story wood plank structure (where the outdoor amphitheater is now on the historic hillside campus). By the 1909-1910 school year the building was completed for $500, with a large “manual training” room, dressing rooms, and showers on the first floor and a gymnasium on the upper floor.

Basket hoops were hung on either side of the upstairs gym and outside lines were placed only down the sides – this made it so players could actually jump up onto the outside walls and use it to help them shoot a basket while still staying “in bounds.” (There must have been some really different rules back then). The side walls were hinged doors approximately 10-feet by 10-feet which could be swung out and up. For one Homecoming game, the doors were pushed clear up and out, and then seats were dug in the adjacent hillside to watch the game (where Monterey Hills now begins).

However, on the evening of January 21, 1926, a defective heater started a fire that crept up the side of the building and across the roof. The roof collapsed but the equipment was saved and the fire was put out before the entire structure was engulfed. Here’s the very cool part . . . some of the 1909 gymnasium’s remaining timbers were used in the nearby Sumner home.

Now, jump ahead 76 years. Bethesda Christian University (owner of the property that Los Angeles International Charter High School shares), now has a demolition crew set to demolish that same home. However, the lead architect has agreed to have the crew save several outside trim boards from the house, originally from the first gymnasium, to help the Hermon community preserve part of its earliest history.

All this great info on Hermon’s unique past was gleaned out of “Echoes from Half a Century,” written in 1961 by Edna F. Goodhew about Los Angeles Pacific College and the surrounding community.

*** Recently, a neighbor that lives on Wheeling Way, near Ebey Avenue, wrote that though he felt we had a very safe community, he wanted to warn people about what had just happened to him. His Toyota CJ-7 was vandalized and the spare tire was taken. It’s hard to tell if his vehicle was chosen at random, or if it was because of the make and model, but there are other CJ-7’s around the neighborhood, and he just wanted people to be aware. What was kind of strange was that the robbers left the tire cover and lug nuts behind. All for a word to the wise . . . park in your driveway if possible and have a motion sensitive light aimed at your car, or a motion detection alarm on your car. Use a wheel-lock device, don’t leave any valuables visible, and always lock your car doors and windows. If there is a crime, it’s very important to report it to Hollenbeck police, because that is what they use to determine future patrol levels.

*** If you’re seeing the large tree at the Avenue 60 end of the Monterey Road median and thinking that sadly it must be dying as it’s leaves turn a foxy red-brown-- not to worry, it’s a Dawn Redwood, one of just a few redwoods that are deciduous. The tree is native to the Sichuan-Hubei region of China and was re-discovered in 1944. In 1948 an expedition to China collected seeds and soon seedling trees that were then distributed worldwide. Two interesting bits of information . . . the tree can actually grow in water, which could explain its happy growth amidst the many artesian wells in Hermon. Secondly, even if the tree were to be cut down, it will not die, but instead would grow many new leaders. Very Hermon-esque, don’t you think?

Please have a wonderful Thanksgiving, with time to appreciate the very best in your family and home. And when I stop to give thanks, I think of you . . .

Because it’s all good . . . in Hermon
        where quirky works,
        families return,
        and dogs sleep all night long.

Wendi

All Things HERMON . . . 11/16/11

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:17:15 -0800

All Things HERMON. . . (11/16/11)

*** You love our community, right? Join in on an intriguing grass-roots discussion forum on our Hermon community and its future empowerment through the City of L.A. The meeting is this Sunday, 4 p.m., at Hermon Church Fellowship Center, 5800 Monterey Road (at Wheeling Way). The conversation began at a specially held mini-meeting of the community last Saturday -- and further exploration was unanimously supported. A great group of volunteers stepped up to continue the community’s discussion to help determine our intent for the future of Hermon.

Very interesting.

*** Los Angeles International Charter High School (LAICHS), right here in Hermon, will have an open house this Saturday, November 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for new student enrollment for school year 2012. Please join them for a tour of the school and to obtain additional information about enrolling your student. LAICHS is located at 625 Coleman Avenue, L.A. 90042 (enter off Lomitas Drive, south of Via Marisol).

LAICHS is a free, public charter high school accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) with a curriculum focused on preparing students for college and university studies. LAICHS graduates currently attend many distinguished universities, including UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, Mount St. Mary and other fine schools.

LAICHS also provides a comprehensive after-school program that includes daily tutoring sessions, urban art, music classes, sports, cheer squad, fashion design, and much more . . . all at no cost to enrolled students.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Mr. Torres by cell at 323-804-5696, or call the school at 323-257-1499.

*** Huge thank you’s for a huge job well done. This year’s Bulky Item Drop-Off, thanks to Mika Color’s generosity in letting us use their parking lot, was great. Special thanks to the strong muscles of Alex, Cliff (and son), Vaughn, Jose, Cesar, Hans, Beth, and Pablo. Once again, lots of people cleaned out their garages, back yards, and storage sheds, loaded up the two huge City bins and tidied up Hermon just a bit more.

*** The Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council’s emergency preparedness drill, held here in October, received lots of good feedback from LA Fire Department Battalion Chief Kevin Pearson. Of note, it was recommended that for safety reasons the Neighborhood Survival Area be moved back to the property owned by the Bethesda Christian University and home to LAICHS.

*** A few days after you enjoy what will hopefully be a Thanksgiving shared with people you love, food to be thankful for, maybe a football game, and a good long nap . . . Christmas will begin to sneak into town. The Saturday right after Thanksgiving, November 26, we’re walking fliers to all our neighbors about our upcoming annual Christmas Tree Lighting. Please meet us at Hermon Church at 10 a.m. and pick up some fliers to deliver to your street. You’ll work off some of that second piece of pie . . .

*** Get out your calendar – the first Friday in December, the 2nd is our big Christmas Tree Lighting, 6:30 p.m. in front of Hermon Church on Monterey Road. There’ll be lots of smiles and candy canes.

Saturday, December 3 is Clean Team. Meet at 8 a.m. by Monterey Donuts in the Monterey Plaza. Join us! It’s also when the Hermon Safety Committee sponsors delivering “Don’t let the Grinch steal your Christmas” fliers reminding our neighbors along Monterey Road to keep packages and any other valuables out of sight in their vehicle, as well as to close windows and lock doors. It’ll help keep the Merry in Christmas.

Friday, December 9, at 7 p.m. everyone is invited to the Hermon Fellowship Center for a FREE community art show, “Nighttime Wonderland” featuring works by local artists, live music, appetizers, and hot drinks. Here’s the great part – the artists are giving 20 percent back of what they sell that evening to the Hermon Community Food Bank. There will be original art and prints, framed photography, boutique trinkets and more -- from $5 to$100. There’ll be something for everyone.

*** Look at this – Jolino Byrd, the artist commissioned by the Friends of Hermon Dog Park to do a sculpture above the Hermon Dog Park along the Avenue 60 northbound on/off ramp wrote the following project description as we begin the City’s public art approvals process . . .

        “I did some research on the history of Hermon to find out how the area got its name.   I discovered that in 1903, Hermon’s Free Methodist residents established the community of Hermon, named after Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights near the border of Syria and Israel. I decided to create a mascot for the park: a welcoming dog named ‘Hermon’ balancing on a ball. The sculpture will be covered in mosaic in patterns inspired by the fantasy creatures of Oaxaca. It will reflect the variety and balance of dogs and people that make up the community of Hermon and this jewel of a park.

        “I’ve named the piece: ‘Hermon on the Ball.’

        “The sculpture of the dog will be approximately 5-feet tall and the ball will be 18 inches in diameter . . . . The mosaic will include a variety of tile and ceramic dishware. The ball will be covered in tile and mementos from the residents (pieces of dog bowls and dog tags).”

How COOL is that?

It’s all good . . . in Hermon
        where quirky works,
        families return,
        and dogs sleep all night long.

Wendi

Recent Crimes in Hermon

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:14:59 -0800

Hello, Gentle Readers and Hermon Residents

I wanted to just share some information, I am a resident and concerned citizen here within Hermon. I live here on Wheeling Way, Corner Home at the top by near the school. Since the holidays are near and for reasons other than being skeptical, crime here within Hermon seems to be relatively low and I would assess that we have a safe community. One of my vehicles was vandalized and the spare tire on my Toyota CJ-7 was taken from the mounted bracket behind vehicle. I often check on police blog and any news that our community website provides on any concerned information that is happening in our community. I am not certain if my vehicle was chosen at random or if it is because of the vehicle make and brand. Either way, I have some other CJ-7’s (Toyotas) around the neighborhood and just wanted people to know. What was strange about the ordeal was that the robbers left the tire cover and had the audacity to leave the lug nuts of the vehicle there as if to make a statement. Anyway, this is setting me back $800 dollars.

Much Thanks,

Hermon Resident

ALL THINGS HERMON (11/3/11) ....

Sun, 6 Nov 2011 00:38:47 -0700

All Things HERMON. . . (11/03/11)

*** This Saturday, Hermon’s big ol’ annual “Bulky Item Drop-off” event kicks off at 9 a.m. and goes to 3 p.m. (or whenever the two huge bins are full). We’re waiting for you at our generous host’s parking lot, Mika Color --6000 Monterey Road (enter off Avenue 60). Some of Hermon’s strongest will help you empty your vehicle of all its bulky un-wantedness. We can take almost anything -- except . . . oil, paint, TV’s, electronics, car parts, batteries. or tires. Most of those can be taken to the City’s S.A.F.E. Center, every Saturday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 4600 Colorado Blvd. (L.A. 90021). Tires, without rims can be taken to the City’s North Central District Yard at 453 N. San Fernando Road (L.A. 90031) Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your current DWP billing statement and your driver’s license to verify L.A. residency.

About this Saturday -- don’t wait to bring your discards, because once our two big bins are full, we will close up, and we won’t do this again ‘til next year. You can of course always call in bulky items to 311 on the Friday before Monday’s pick-up. You have to tell them what you have, and have it to the curb by 6 a.m., Monday. But if you want to get all those things out at once, this Saturday’s drop-off is the deal. Have bulky items but no truck? Come by Mika’s on Saturday between 9 and 10 a.m. -- give us the address (only in Hermon) and we’ll pick them up, thanks to Cliff Moseley with Los Angeles International Charter High School and his handy truck. (Sorry, we can’t accept commercial dumping loads).

*** Hermon’s monthly Clean Team is Saturday as well, starting at 8 a.m. Meet by Monterey Donuts for the delicious pre-clean “taking of the donuts.” After which there’s grabbing bags, gloves, and heading out all over Hermon to pick up trash from curbsides, parkways, and public lands to clean up the town.

*** Think you’ve imagined seeing Hermon Christmas-tree lights in the Monterey median? It couldn’t be, right? It’s early November. So chalk it up to a weird dream or city workers checking out the lights for December . . . which brings up our real Christmas Tree-lighting Party – Friday, December 2, 6:30 p.m., outside Hermon Church, at 5718 Monterey Road. Santa, candy canes, music, hot drinks, and yummies . . . and so much more fun. Circle the date on your calendar!

*** A week from this Saturday, November 12, is our bi-monthly Hermon Local Issues meeting of the City-certified Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council, at 9 a.m., at Hermon Church Fellowship Center, 5800 Monterey Road. Because it’s on Veterans’ Day weekend, there’ll be a time to recognize and honor those who serve and have served our country, discussion of basketball courts in Hermon Park, lights on our Hermon Monument sign, introductions to neighbors who “spin” at their studio, and so much more good . . . all for our stakeholders -- anyone who lives, works, owns property, has a student at Hermon school’s or has a vested interest in our community . . . .

Have something you’d like to put on the agenda -- for discussion or possible neighborhood council action? Contact Local Issues Chair Darlene at Darlene@HermonChurch.org by this Sunday, at 3 p.m.

*** “Criminal Minds” (the television show) comes to Hermon! Maybe you saw the trailers and catering trucks set up at Mika Color, the filming at Zosa Café or the bright night-time lights up in Debs Park last week? That was “Hollywood” loving Hermon’s quaint coffee house for their coming January 18 episode of that crime series. TV criminal profilers Dr. Reid and Emily Prentiss played out their scene at Hermon’s neighborhood coffee house. Daniel of Zosa said that with all the takes, he pretty much had their script memorized by the time they wrapped the shoot. Once again, Hermon shines with the stars . . .

*** Speaking of crime, there has been a reported crime trend -- in nearby Highland Park along Figueroa Street -- of criminals ripping gold jewelry necklaces off shoppers as they walk down the street. With the high price of gold, it should make us all mindful of what and where we decide to wear our valuable, and/or sentimental keepsakes.

*** www.HermonLA.org is our community website -- check it out, it’s really cool. But our wonderful volunteer webmaster would now like us to find someone else who has web-talents and time to enjoy and further all that Hermon has become, by keeping the site up-to-date. The transfer would be in January. Interested? Contact me at WendiRiser@cs.com

*** So have you tried the spicy tuna roll, Bento lunch special, or the comforting udon noodle soups at Hermon’s Aki Sushi and Roll Japanese Cuisine restaurant in the Monterey Plaza, on Monterey Road between Via Marisol and Avenue 60? De-lish. You can eat in or take out. How about the curries, noodles, spicy sweet basil stir-fries, or glass noodle salad at Thai Fantasy, also at the Monterey Plaza? Yum, with a side of heat; eat in, take out, OR delivery. Yep, tired and want dinner? Give Thai Fantasy a call at 323.257.0580, and they’ll bring you a yummy dinner in just a few. From experience, it hardly gets better than that after a long day. Just so you know, I own no stock in these restaurants, only the idea that everyone in Hermon deserves a good restaurant to eat at, celebrate at, and enjoy the food from at home with people you love.

Because it’s all good . . . in Hermon
        where quirky works,
        families return,
        and dogs sleep all night long.

Wendi

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