HOLMBY NEWS
January 8, 2016
From the Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association, serving the Holmby Westwood community since 1960.
1. HWPOA Board Meeting
2. Weekend Traffic Alert – Golden Globes
3. El Nino Tips and Resources
4. Helicopter Noise Initiative
5. LAPD Alert – Residential Burglaries
6. Support Fire Station #71
7. Westwood Library – January Events
8. HWPOA Communication and Ad Policy
9. Resident Ads
10. HWPOA Contact Information
1. HWPOA BOARD MEETING
On Tuesday, January 12 at 8:00 PM, the HWPOA Board of Directors will hold its monthly meeting at Belmont Village (10475 Wilshire Blvd.). Members of the community are welcome to attend, though space is limited. Please let us know if you plan to attend. Email Dana at hwpoa@aol.com
2. WEEKEND TRAFFIC ALERT – GOLDEN GLOBES
The 73rd Golden Globe Awards are set for The Beverly Hilton this weekend and Beverly Hills Police are warning residents to expect traffic delay on both Saturday and Sunday:
- Santa Monica Boulevard will be closed in both directions from Wilshire Boulevard to Moreno Drive.
- Traffic on Wilshire Boulevard between Santa Monica Boulevard and the west city limits, near Whittier Drive, will be reduced to two lanes in each direction.
- Whittier Drive from Lomitas Avenue to Wilshire Boulevard will be closed to traffic. However, residents who live on Whittier Drive between Wilshire and Elevado Avenue will be allowed street access to their homes in a lane along the east curb.
- Parking will be restricted in the surrounding streets.
Police personnel will be present to control the flow of traffic.
3. EL NINO TIPS AND RESOURCES
Our City Council Office has put together some tips and resources that should bring you some ease during this wet season. In addition, The City of Los Angeles has worked tirelessly in preparation for the season and the following links are a compilation of websites that offer sign ups for alert messages, emergency kit lists, pet care tips, homeless shelter maps, sand bag giveaways and many other helpful resources.
Click on the following links to view useful information and tips:
– http://www.lamayor.org/elnino
– http://www.elninola.com/
– http://www.lacounty.gov/elnino
Here are some tips at a glance to prepare for upcoming storms:
1. Create an Emergency Kit– prepare an emergency kit for home, work and your car. Include enough food, water, medications and anything used daily to last for 72 hours. Keep water, non-perishable food, blankets and an extra set of warm clothes in the car.
2. Check your house– Clear drains and gutters of any leaves, dirt or debris. Cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structure during the storm. If it looks like debris will prevent water from flowing into the storm drain in your neighborhood, please call LA Sanitation Customer Care Center at (877) 773-2489, which will be open 24/7 to receive emergency issue calls.
3. Pick up sandbags at local fire stations– Sandbags can be used to protect your home or property from flooding as well as improving traction. You can visit any neighborhood LAFD fire station to pick up sandbags.
4. Keep pets/companion animals inside– Please remember to keep our animal friends inside and make sure to include pet food, water, leashes, medications in your emergency kit. As well as having your pets up to date on their vaccinations and micro-chipped can ensure that they can be recovered if at any point are separated from you. Please click here if you would like more information on licensing, vaccinations, and micro-chips.
Councilmember Koretz and The City of Los Angeles thank you for taking part in preparing for El Niño.
4. HELICOPTER NOISE INITIATIVE
Each week the FAA receives more complaints from zip code 90024 than from 69 to 70 of the 71 zip codes in LA County reporting helicopter noise disturbances. We are in the eye of the problem, and relief is more likely if we broaden and deepen our concern about this blight on quality of life and property values.
Less than 8% of helicopter flights over Holmby Westwood are going to and from UCLA Medical Center, where they average 1.9 landings/take offs a day.
The vast majority of helicopter disturbances over Holmby Westwood are sightseeing tours highlighting the Getty, UCLA, and the Spelling and Playboy mansions before showing tourists the Hollywood sign, Hollywood Bowl, and Griffith Park. The tour operators’ itineraries are evident by googling “Los Angeles helicopter tours.”
Most tourist helicopters are easily identifiable by their small size, uniform white, dark blue, or red paint, and tall rotor masts. One owner has painted his helicopter to mimic the appearance of the LAPD helicopters.
Learn more and sign up for the Los Angeles Area Helicopter Noise Coalition monthly newsletter at www.lahelicopternoise.org
Report every helicopter you hear. It takes just a few seconds using the smartphone app, HeliTracker, which is now free. Encourage your neighbors, who may not receive or read this newsletter, to do the same.
5. LAPD ALERT – RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
There has been an increasing trend of Residential Burglaries occurring throughout the West Los Angeles area. The Burglaries have been occurring in just about every residential community to include the hillside communities north of Sunset Blvd. between Bel Air across to the Beverly Crest region.
It is important that homeowners and residents take all the available measures to prevent as well as detect crime in and around their homes should an intrusion occur. Given the current trend of property related crimes it is equally important to ensure that you secure all personal belongings and valuables while you are away from home, to include property or valuables that may be left in your vehicle.
I have included two links from recent news stories on residential burglaries that have occurred that highlight prevention and detection technologies. These stories also highlight one of the primary MO’s that have been used in the majority of the Burglaries occurring.
Prevention: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/12/16/local-company-helping-police-fight-crimes-with-smart-doorbell/
A common MO that has been occurring is suspects who typically knock or ring the doorbell to determine if the resident is home. When there is no response, the suspects enter the side or rear of the residence and force entry by smashing the window or door glass to gain entry. Suspects are targeting the master bed and bath areas of the home and removing Jewelry and small electronics.
If you are home when someone knocks on the door or rings the doorbell, announce yourself to let them know that someone is home but do not open the door unless you verify who they are and you know the person at the door.
Another Burglary trend that has been occurring is construction site thefts and break ins. Items of value being targeted are construction tools, equipment, appliances and building materials. If you observe after hours suspicious activity at a construction site or major remodel location, call 911 immediately!
Christopher Ragsdale
Senior Lead Officer
West Los Angeles Community Police Station
Office: 310-444-0741
Email: 26690@lapd.lacity.org
6. SUPPORT FIRE STATION #71
Sparky says thanks to all his neighbors who have helped him over the years to keep Fire Station #71 in tip-top shape. He would like to remind you that your tax-free donation should be made out to Adopt Fire Station #71.
Sparky’s mailing address is:
Adopt Fire Station #71
914 Westwood Blvd., Suite 573
Los Angeles, CA 90024
7. WESTWOOD LIBRARY – JANUARY EVENTS
Happy New Year from the Friends of Westwood Library! Looking forward to a new year of book sales, Fiato String Quartet performances, and programs for all ages.
For a list of upcoming events at the library, please click here:
http://www.friendsofwestwoodlibrary.org/news/
8. HWPOA COMMUNICATION AND AD POLICY
Please direct all comments, questions or issues regarding the Holmby News to hwpoa@aol.com.
Ads for plumbers, housekeepers, garage sales, etc. will be posted in the weekly News. Emergency situations such as coyote sightings, lost and found pets, traffic alerts and similar situations will continue to be published during the week as received.
When placing an ad, please send to hwpoa@aol.com for the Holmby News moderator to review. Responses to ads should be directed to the ad placer, not to HWPOA.
9. RESIDENT ADS
YOGA CLASSES
Begin the year with yoga! New classes are starting at the Village Church in Brentwood Glen. This month will concentrate on the fundamentals….bringing relief to neck, shoulders and back. Yoga gives the gift of well being.
During the month of January the first class for new students will be no charge.
Thursday Yoga Classes – slower paced, 9 – 10:30 AM
Saturday Yoga Classes – Beginning, 9 – 10:30 AM
Sunday Restorative Classes (second Sunday of each month) – Calming, restful, 2 – 3:30 PM
Restorative is happening this Sunday, 1/10
Namaste,
Judy Summers Brown
Certified Iyengar Teacher
310-422-9673
jlsummersb@gmail.com
westwoodhillsyoga.com
10. HWPOA CONTACT INFORMATION
HOLMBY WESTWOOD PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
914 Westwood Blvd. Suite 573
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310-470-1785
Email: hwpoa@aol.com
Web site: www.holmbywestwoodpoa.org