HOLMBY NEWS
September 13, 2019
From the Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association, serving the Holmby Westwood community since 1960.
1. Westwood Village Survey
2. LAPD Crime Report
3. Residential Burglary Prevention Tips
4. Tree Care & Maintenance Day – This Saturday
5. UCLA Botanical Garden
6. Help Stop “Wish-Cycling”
7. Census Goodwill Ambassador Program
8. Firefighter Camp for Girls
9. Upcoming Community Events
10. HWPOA Communication and Ad Policy
11. Resident Ads
12. HWPOA Contact Information
1. WESTWOOD VILLAGE SURVEY
Yesterday, HWPOA sent out a survey to our members regarding what changes and improvements they would like to see in the Village. We have already had a great response to the survey — thank you to everyone who has responded with your ideas.
We hope everyone will participate in the survey and look forward to your response.
Thank you,
The Westwood Village Committee of HWPOA
2. LAPD CRIME REPORT
WEST L.A. CRIME MAPS
Below is a map of the most recent crimes throughout West LA. At the top, right, you can adjust the dates as needed. Please note, map may be slow to load on your computer.
Sign up at www.crimemapping.com to receive alerts when crime is reported in your neighborhood.
PACKAGE THEFT
A homeowner on Holmby Ave. reported that on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 11, a thief took a package from the front porch. The package had been delivered by UPS about a half an hour earlier but could not be seen from the street. The incident was captured on Ring video and shows that the suspect is approximately 20-30 years of age; Caucasian; over 6 ft. tall. He was wearing a grey hoodie so face cannot be seen; dark running shorts; tennis shoes and socks. This incident has been reported to the LAPD.
Package thefts are a continuous problem throughout the region. If residents receive frequent deliveries to their home, the LAPD highly recommends that the deliveries are arranged when someone will be available to receive the package at the residence or install a secured steel package drop box. Other options are having the deliveries delivered to a UPS Access Point, Fed Ex Store, or Post Office Box location.
3. RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY PREVENTION TIPS
Make sure your doors and windows are always locked. And I mean all windows. Even bathroom windows. It has been speculated that more than half of break-ins occur through first-floor windows. So, securing these should be a top priority. Second floor windows are also vulnerable, much more so than you would expect. People leave ladders and other items like patio furniture, etc., that burglars make use of to hoist themselves onto the 2nd floor balcony and right into your open bedroom window. And don’t forget to secure side doors and garage doors as well.
Thorny bushes under windows will make thieves think twice before going in that way. Also, keep your bushes and hedges trimmed to a minimum; don’t give thieves a place to hide while they scope out your place. Gravel and loose stones can also alert you (or a dog) that someone is approaching your house. And make sure your yard is well-lit during the night!
Get a dog. Burglars are considerably less likely to burglarize a home where there are dog(s) inside than not. Dogs are a lot of responsibility and they can be expensive. I have three dogs and they’re a lot of work. Please only get a dog if you’re truly going to care for it as it deserves.
Make sure your valuables are hidden from passerby’s. Use privacy curtains (sheer curtains that let in light but block the view) so people can’t see in while you’re away at work.
Experts say that a third of burglars come in right through the front door. If your front door is all or partially made from glass, they can easily reach in and turn a regular indoor deadbolt. Double key deadbolts are the kind that require a key not only to enter, but also to exit. With a double key deadbolt lock, if thieves do break in, getting your stuff out is going to be very difficult unless they break the door down. The downside to double key deadbolts is they can be dangerous in the event of an emergency, such as a fire. Consider this carefully before installing one. If you do put one in, keep the key very close to the door in a hiding place that’s easy to remember. You should also have a lock far away from any windows that are a part of your door.
Security experts say most thieves don’t want to smash sliding-glass doors because that’s too noisy. They’d much rather slide it open. To prevent this, secure your sliding door by placing a sawed-off broom handle in the track to prevent it from opening.
If you’re going away for a week, don’t tell people on your answering machine or social media accounts that you’re out of town. Also, don’t tell the taxi or Uber/Lyft driver that you’re going out of town. If you have luggage, I just mention to the driver that my whole family is inside and I couldn’t get any of them to give me a ride to the airport. If you’re going to be away, make sure you purchase a timer that will automatically turn on lamps when it gets dark. Also, either put a temporary stop on your mail, or have a neighbor pick up your mail, packages, and newspapers so your home doesn’t look vacant.
Make sure you religiously back up your computers and laptops in the event those items are stolen. And again, keep valuables out of sight. Take pictures or video of your valuables. Know serial numbers, the model numbers and purchase prices of your most expensive items. The insurance company will want this information if it’s stolen.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, in today’s day and age, you want to be notified instantly to your Smart Phone if someone is at or entering your house or property. There are various inexpensive and easy to install systems that do just that and provide you footage of the person that is stored up in the ‘Cloud.’ With these systems, you can also call 911 immediately and give a detailed description of who’s doing what at your home, even if you’re away at work or on vacation.
If you do discover that your home has been burglarized:
- Don’t go into the house. If you’ve already walked in, leave immediately. The thieves may still be inside, and it’s not worth your life to find out.
- Call the police from your cell phone or from a neighbor’s house.
- Don’t touch anything. The thieves might have left fingerprints.
4. TREE CARE & MAINTENANCE DAY – THIS SATURDAY
TREE CARE AND MAINTENANCE DAY
Saturday, September 14 at 9:00 AM
REMINDER: The Green Team invites all Holmby Westwood homeowners to join us at our first Tree Care and Maintenance Event tomorrow, Saturday, September 14 from 9 am to noon. Under the supervision of TreePeople we will divide into teams to prune, mulch water, adjust tree stakes and ties and rebuild the berms on our 26 newly planted trees on Malcolm and Manning Avenues.
We are meeting at 801 Malcolm Avenue. No experience required but bring your own hat, water, sun protection and wear closed-toe shoes. All are welcome, even those who just want to check things out and cheer us on!
5. UCLA BOTANICAL GARDEN
UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden is a 7.5 acre garden, outdoor classroom, and research facility on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles, California. This living museum contains a diverse collection of plants from around the world. Come explore this urban oasis, free to the public daily.
Upcoming Events:
Holmby Westwood UCLA Botanical Garden Tour
Saturday September 28th 10:00am – 11:00am
UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion (707 Tiverton Drive)
Join us for a guided tour of the Garden! Travel the world as we explore the diverse collection of plants that live in this urban oasis. We’ll discuss the history of the Garden as well as plans for the future. We would love to hear more about how we can serve your community as a resource for education, connection with nature, and more. All ages are welcome. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and bringing water. This event is free–please RSVP with number of guests by emailing Jules at: julesc@ucla.edu
UCLA Botanical Garden Plant & Book Giveaway
Sunday September 29th 10:00am – 2:00pm
UCLA La Kretz Garden Pavilion (707 Tiverton Drive)
We are carefully curating our potted plant and book collections, and have identified several hundred plants and books which we no longer need. That means that we are giving them to you! Donors, members and current volunteers (within the last 6 months) will get early access from 10am-11am. From 11am-2pm we’ll be open to the general public. Learn more about how you can support the Garden and get early access by becoming a member. We’ll have unusual plants, books, and other botanical curiosities that need a loving home. Happy hunting! The Botanical Garden is free admission and open 9am-5pm to explore! Learn more and RSVP here
6. HELP STOP “WISH-CYCLING”
Wish-cycling contributes in a big way to contamination, which is when an incorrect item or material is added to a specific waste stream, in this case the recycling stream.
When a batch of recyclables is contaminated, there’s a good chance it’ll be rejected and end up in the landfill. In other words, because of that one problematic thing you tried to recycle, tons of properly recycled items could get landfilled.
Read the full article here:
https://recyclecoach.com/blog/item?id=96
Learn what goes in the blue bin in LA:
www.lacitysan.org/bluebin
7. CENSUS GOODWILL AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
The goals of the Census 2020 Initiative are to recruit, train, and deploy volunteers to educate and motivate hard-to-count populations before the 2020 Census count begins.
Census Goodwill Ambassadors (CGAs) will be on-the-ground in our neighborhoods, reaching out to Angelenos to educate them about how census data determines federal funding for our schools, social and health services, and infrastructure.
Please consider signing up to be a volunteer for the 2020 Census to help your community gain the funding and representation it deserves at: https://census.lacity.org/outreach-resources/volunteer
8. FIREFIGHTER CAMP FOR GIRLS
Ever wonder what it’s like to be a Firefighter?
Girls ages 14 to 18 are invited to experience L.A.’s bravest job with a two-day weekend program taught by our very own female firefighters and cadets.
Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21-22
8:00 am to 5:00 pm
(this program is not an overnight camp)
Deadline to register:
Wednesday, Sept. 18
Click here for more information.
9. UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
Village for Vets – Women’s Council Luncheon – September 17, 2019 at the Napa Valley Grill. Please bring interested friends with you to learn about how to support Village for Vets and our Vulnerable Veterans in Los Angeles. There is still time to buy tickets! CLICK HERE to buy tickets and for more information.
Film Screening: Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am – Wed., Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m. at the Hammer Museum. This film weaves together art, history, and literature to cover author Toni Morrison’s many critically acclaimed works as well as her time teaching at Princeton University and her role as an editor of iconic African American literature. Click here for more information.
10. 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 lost and found pets, traffic alerts and similar situations will 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.
11. RESIDENT ADS
SEEKING HOUSEKEEPER
Recommendations for a reliable, English-speaking housekeeper would be appreciated. I need someone once a week, preferable on Thursdays. The person should have his/her own transportation. References required.
Contact information: 310.497.1876
sunkab@earthlink.net
Thank you.
12. HWPOA CONTACT INFORMATION
HOLMBY WESTWOOD PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
P.O. Box 49180
Los Angeles, CA 90049
310-470-1785
Email: hwpoa@aol.com
Web site: www.holmbywestwoodpoa.org
Pay Membership Dues: https://squareup.com/store/hwpoa
You Are Invited . . .
- To attend our monthly Board Meetings*
NEXT MEETING – OCTOBER 15
- To let us know your concerns about our community and your ideas about how we might work to improve it
- To become involved in our Association.
*Board Meetings are usually held the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm at Belmont Village (10475 Wilshire Blvd.). Please confirm prior to attending.