OAKS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION SUMMER 2016 NEWSLETTER Notes from the President
I’m waiting to get on a plane and I just or limb. The quiet moments are many but looked at my weather app. Rain in New too often interrupted by the thick York City for the next four days. Oh well. pounding drumbeat of helicopters But this morning before I left for the swooping down on us, drowning out all airport I gazed out my kitchen window to conversation. Griffi th Park is an immense see a brilliant blue sky and a Scrub Jay of source of pleasure but the crowds the same color perched on the fence. I felt sometimes wreak havoc with our ability a slight twinge. I’m leaving the Oaks for to get in and out of the neighborhood. just a few days, but I’m already missing it. So what does all this have to do with the We live in such a special place. The board of the Oaks Homeowners greenery, the winding roads, the quiet Association? Well, the board is trying to moments, the proximity to a vast and tip the scales by taking on the helicopter wild park. But life is full of trade-offs noise, the traffi c bottlenecks in Griffi th and most things that bring us joy also Park, the unwanted cell towers, the have their downsides. The lush greenery rising crime in the neighborhood, and of stakeholders, politics, and policy of the Oaks can’t be sustained in a the congestion at Franklin and Bronson. makers. The progress is uneven and the drought so I’m seeing more brown lawns Tipping the scales means writing letters, victories are infrequent: it’s two steps and drought-tolerant landscaping. Bravo, going to meetings, talking with our forward and one step back. The key is Oaks residents! You don’t need me to tell Councilmember, engaging with City never to lose sight of the brilliant blue you that you’re doing a great job. agencies, planning, strategizing and sky and the Scrub Jay of the same color listening to all of you. sitting on the fence. The winding roads are quaint and delightful to walk along except when These problems — traffi c, noise, Linda Othenin-Gerard people come whizzing around blind technological intrusion — are complex President corners at 50mph with no regard for life and not easy to solve. They involve layers Oaks Homeowners Association
WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT PROPERTY CRIME IN THE OAKS by Kathy Richards A true story... Three months ago, I came home, unlocked my front door, and was surprised that the security system did not beep as usual. I entered my home cautiously and determined that no one was there. But the alarm was not on and the water was running full on from the kitchen tap. What happened? A burglar had managed to crawl in my kitchen window (which had been left unlocked after having some repairs done – my bad) and came into my home after having turned off the electricity from the back of my house in the hope that that would turn off any alarms. He then entered the house, but obviously came into the rooms that have motion sensors which sounded and scared him off. Why am I telling you about this? Because of my lessons learned. Always lock your windows and doors and be glad if you have an alarm system! There have been other such incidents reported in the Oaks over the past few months and it does seem as if there is an uptick in property crime. However, the fact remains that the Oaks neighorhood north of Franklin Avenue is one of the safest areas in Hollywood — or even all of Los Angeles. But despite having beautiful Griffi th Park right in our backyard, we do live in an urban area and unsavory elements are attracted to Hollywood. Some of them may target our homes. Continued on Page 2 Continued from Page 1 • Close blinds and drapes when you’re not at home to prevent adapted to the fi nch’s tiny bill. According to our own Senior Lead Offi cer Manny Sanchez, the criminals from looking for activity in your home. Inside goes Nyger seed which are most important things we can do to reduce crime are to take small shiny black seeds that the • Equip your home with a comprehensive home security system. preventative steps, stay alert and report suspicious behavior or fi nches pick out very delicately The prevention of theft could well pay for it several times over. actual incidents. The Los Angeles Police Department takes My Goldfinch from the feeder. But my question suspicious activity reports very seriously and uses them to help • Be mindful of individuals who knock on your door or ring the was “How will the fi nches fi nd map areas that need extra attention and additional patrols. doorbell. Criminals do this to see if you are home. If you don’t the Nyger feeder?” Scott told me Thieves are opportunists and where they see a security answer, they may try to break in, which is why having a Obsession to place the feeder in a shady area weakness, they take advantage. Conversely, where they see a security system with movement sensors inside your home is and tie a yellow ribbon to the top. strong security presence, or a neighborhood that’s alert and critical. They will generally hightail it out of there when the by Linda Othenin-Girard And wait. actively reporting on crime, they tend to look elsewhere for alarm goes off. Ever since I read the novel “The Goldfi nch” by Well, I waited and waited. Two easier marks. Bottom line: use your common sense and don’t Donna Tartt I’ve been obsessed with this bird. weeks went by and no fi nches. I set your property up to be robbed. • If you can, install a camera system that surveys your property. Criminals just hate to be caught on camera as it can lead to Not that the actual bird fi gured so heavily in the changed the position of the feeder their identifi cation and arrest. book (it didn’t) but the picture on the cover always and two more weeks went by and intrigued me. When I heard from birding friends just as I was about to give up, a • Dogs are actually a great burglar deterrent, but if you have that I could attract goldfi nches to my yard, I was delighted. I went fi nch appeared and then two and then ten. Sometimes there are open doggie doors, they can allow access to your home, so to my favorite store for bird enthusiasts, Wild Wings in Sherman up to fi fteen birds on the feeder, grabbing onto the netted cylinder, lock them at night and when you are away from home. Oaks, and asked owner/bird expert Scott Logan what I needed in daintily plucking out one seed at a time. They perch in the tree then SECURE. • Lock your gates. Secure your backyard so it is more diffi cult order to attract goldfi nches. He pointed me to a special bird hover over the feeder singing their hearts out and then dive down for the burglar to get to your pet door. feeder made from a cylinder of woven metal that’s specifi cally onto the feeder. Try it. All obsessions should be so easily satisfi ed. • Consider motion-sensing lights which can deter burglars by ALARM. startling them. Excuse me, how do you get to the • Your car can be very attractive to criminals so always lock your Hollywood Sign? vehicles and hide any valuables inside out of plain sight. BEWARE. by Gerry Hans offer help to tourists who become lost on their directional signs show the distance Be alert, be smart and report suspicious activity. quests to get close to the Hollywood Sign or at with arrows pointing to various Likely it’s the most frequent question we all least to a good vantage point. Oaks residents destinations, including several hear from strangers “How do you get to the may be aware that the brunt of Hollywood Hollywood Sign viewing points. Hollywood Sign?” Four new trailhead signs RECORD. Sign selfi e-seekers is now being borne by and twenty-two directional signs on nearby Trailhead signs were placed at upper Griffi th Park itself, particularly around the trails can’t do anything but help save us Fern Dell, the Observatory, Mount Griffi th Observatory (see the Park Traffi c Hollywood Drive gate, and at the REPORTING Mitigation article on page 5). REPORT. end of Bronson Park. In an emergency, don’t hesitate to The new signs are similar to what you might call 911 see in our National Parks: simple, low-profi le and rustic. Yet they are highly graffi ti-resistant To report non-emergency suspicious Here are some specifi c tips that you can use to protect your and sturdy. The larger trailhead signs feature a residence: activity, call our Lead Off icer Manny Sanchez at (213) 793-0710 or park map and park rules. The smaller • Ensure that all doors and windows are locked and secured e-mail him at [email protected] before you leave your home. Or Call 877-ASK-LAPD
New signage features a large map and rules of the park. from these people who are always asking! VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT The wayfi nding signs were installed the last week of April by the Department of www.oakshome.org Recreation and Parks. To fi nd contact information for Oaks Board Members, please click Contact on top of the home page. It’s hoped that eventually this same style and Directional signs show the distance system of signage will be employed throughout between points with arrows pointing to Griffi th Park, but the City’s fi rst priority is to key destinations. 2 3 by Joan Young Yield: 1 slab pie that serves up to 16 people REC & PARKS MOVES TO ADDRESS I would say that pie is my favorite dessert to eat as well as my favorite dessert to bake. But what do you do when your guest list is more than eight people, which is about how many INCREASED TRAFFIC IN THE PARK SLAB can be served with a standard 9-inch pie? Well, you could make hand pies (I will be serving some of those fi lled with greens and feta at the Oaks Picnic), but those are very by Gerry Hans 2. Further study of Fern Dell traffi c will important existing asset for passive time consuming. The solution: make slab pie! Not a very attractive name but it solves continue. Parking on the west side of Fern recreation such as hiking and biking. The controversy continues over the the problem of more mouths to feed. A slab pie is a shallow pie that’s made in a rimmed Dell Drive from Black Oak Drive to Los FRUIT shifting of Hollywood Sign tourism traffi c There are many ways that the detrimental baking sheet, such as a jelly roll pan. It feeds more guests than a standard 9-inch pie and Feliz Boulevard will be prohibited to away from impacted residential areas west impacts from tourists’ unrelenting can be cut into 16 or more squares. For the Oaks Picnic this year I will be making four of allow for two lanes, one each for right and of the Oaks, eastward into Griffi th Park. affection for the Hollywood Sign can be them - two cherry pies and two blueberry pies. If you like them, here’s the recipe I developed left turns onto Los Feliz Boulevard. PIE For the Oaks, this shift has resulted in reduced, such as establishing viewing for them. The crust recipe is a little unorthodox as it fully incorporates the butter rather than serious traffi c problems with greater 3. A more robust shuttle system than platforms on buildings in Hollywood or leaving it in pea sized pieces — but with proper chilling, it makes a very workable dough. If using numbers of cars entering Bronson Canyon originally planned will be employed. having a Visitor Center in Hollywood. It’s frozen cherries, thaw them fi rst and pour off (or drink) about half the juice that accumulates. Park, signifi cant traffi c snarls in Fern Dell, an important issue for the Oaks. And it is 4. Mount Hollywood Drive, an interior and vehicular chaos on upper Western the responsibility of the City to address park road closed to vehicular traffi c since Canyon Road. And within Griffi th Park this problem, which the City created. CRUST tablespoon at a time, only enough that the them together decoratively. Make 1992, will continue to be closed to personal there has already been habitat degradation 4 cups all-purpose fl our (1 lb), sifted, dough forms loosely into a ball. Flatten several decorative slashes in the dough cars and shuttles. This action preserves an plus more for dusting the pastry into 2 rectangles, one slightly for steam to escape. Brush the beaten as tourists go off-road and off-trail to get 1 tablespoon kosher salt larger than the other, wrap in plastic wrap egg all over the top crust. Turn oven to the best possible view of the Sign from 4 sticks cold unsalted butter (1 lb), and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight. down to 375° and place pie in the oven the Griffi th Observatory. IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS cut into 1/4-inch dice on the bottom rack. 1/2 - 3/4 cup ice water 3. Meanwhile prepare the fi lling. In a The most important goal is clear: to reduce Hollywood Community Police Station 1358 Wilcox Avenue, Hollywood CA 90028 large bowl toss together the blueberries 6. Bake until the crust is golden brown the number of cars entering the park. lapdonline.org/hollywood_community_police_station FILLING or cherries, cornstarch, sugar and lemon and the fi lling is bubbling, about 45 to 55 Realistically this can only be accomplished Crime Statistics Information: www.lapd.epolicing.org 1/2 pounds fresh or frozen blueberries zest and juice (for cherry pie, also add minutes. Cool pie on a rack until just by taking folks there via shuttles, thus (8 cups) or 3 pounds fresh or almond extract). warm. Cut into desired number of pieces eliminating many cars. Hollywood division @lapdhollywood frozen cherries and serve. This pie is best eaten the same The Department plans to establish high- 1/4 cup cornstarch 4. Preheat the oven to 400°. Have ready a day, but it can be kept at room temperature tech parking kiosks, likely with hefty fees, LAPD EMERGENCY DISPATCH 911 ADDITIONAL CITY PHONE NUMBERS 1/2 cup sugar 10” x 14” jelly roll pan or a half sheet pan CITY DIRECTORY 311 for 2 days or frozen for 2 months. at the Observatory parking lot and on the 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest, 12” x 18” (this is what I used). Allow the Council District #4 – David Ryu arteries leading up to it, including Western Hollywood Station Phone List (213) 473-7004 plus 3 tablespoons lemon juice dough to warm at room temperature for –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Canyon Road and Observatory Road. Front Desk 1/2 teaspoon almond extract about 20 minutes. Unwrap and dust the Department of Transportation (DOT) Parking fee income would fund shuttles to (213) 972-2971 (213) 485-4184 (for cherry pie only) slightly larger piece of dough on both (213) 972-2972 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– provide free service from the Greek 1 egg, lightly beaten sides with fl our. On a lightly fl oured (213) 972-2973 Parking Violations Bureau Theatre area and other outlying lots. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 3333 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 3337 surface roll the dough into a rectangle two Non-emergency Dispatch DASH shuttle service will also be Los Angeles, CA 90010 EQUIPMENT inches wider and two inches longer than (877) ASK-LAPD (866) 561-9742 your pan size. Carefully place the dough enhanced from Metro stops. 275-5273 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Stand mixer –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– LA Animal Services • 10” x 14” or 12” x 18” Jelly roll pan in the pan allowing the edges to hang over Oaks Homeowners provided input Community Relations Offi ce (888) 452-7381 the side and pressing the corners to fi t. If (213) 485-4316 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– • Rolling pin during the outreach process. The fi nal –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Small Claims Court • Pastry brush you have to patch in places, not to worry environmental document, is soon to be Vice 110 N. Grand Ave., LA 90012 (213) 972-2996 — this part will not be seen. If at any time released and likely approved. In it, some –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– (213) 974-6613 1. In the bowl of a standing mixer fi tted –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– the dough begins to fall apart or become of the enhancements for which Oaks Narcotics Hollywood Beautifi cation Team (HBT) with the paddle, mix 2 cups of the fl our (213) 485-4318 too soft, return it to the fridge for 15 lobbied are expected: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– (323) 463-5180 with the salt. At low speed, add the butter minutes to chill. Gang Unit –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 1. Paid parking on Western Canyon Road Hollywood Tow Service (OPG) pieces, a handful at a time. When all of (213) 972-2943 1015 N. Mansfi eld Ave., LA 90038 5. Pour the fi lling into the dough-lined will terminate at a point just north of the –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– the butter has been added, increase the Gang Detectives (323) 466-8583 pan, spreading evenly. Dust the second One-Mile Tree area. The remainder of the –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– speed to medium and mix until the butter (213) 957-6805 Domestic Violence Hotline piece of dough with fl our on both sides road, all the way south to Fern Dell, will –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– is completely incorporated. Reduce the Records Unit (800) 978-3600 speed to low and add the remaining 2 and on a lightly fl oured surface, roll out be posted “No Parking”. This will reduce (213) 972-2977 http://da.lacounty.gov the dough to the the size of the pan you –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– cups of fl our, mixing just until blended. the adverse impacts to habitat around this Suicide Hotline are using. Drape it over the fi lling. Fold Hollywood Jail area and lower the number of unprepared (213) 972-2975 (800) 273-8255 2. Mix in 1/2 cup of the ice water just the edge of the bottom dough over the –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– people trekking the ridgelines and peaks Park Ranger Dispatch until thoroughly incorporated, then a top dough for a rustic tart look or crimp Senior Lead Police Offi cer, Manny Sanchez where rescues in recent times have been (213) 793-0710 (323) 644-6661 frequent. 4 5 if there isn’t improvement, there is some hope. Currently there is 85 Helicopters Over Nearby special attention focused on problem spots such as ours near the Hollywood Sign tour route, on shoreline tour routes, and in Griffi th Park Area in One Day! Torrance where the world’s largest helicopter manufacturer A Short History of Bronson Caves pumps out fi fty or more units monthly. The FAA’s “automated noise complaint system” (courtesy of AKA “The Bat Cave” By Gerry Hans legislative pressures) allows every resident the opportunity to On days like Saturday, February 13th, vastly too many noisy report low or noisy helicopter traffi c of any kind. Our zip code, helicopters are in the airspace near us traversing LA’s most 90068, has consistently been producing around THREE TIMES popular tourist venues. Using the Federal Aviation the number of complaints each month as any other zip code in Administration’s own interactive fl ight tracking system, I the County! Clearly, 90068 residents are alert to the problem. identifi ed and fi led reports on 85 helicopters fl ying between 200 There are four ways to quickly fi le a complaint: 1) WebTrak and 900 feet above Griffi th Park, the Hollywood Sign, and the (interactive web), 2) web form, 3) by phone, and 4) by Griffi th Observatory in a single 14-hour period. This averages smartphone (free app). You can report anonymously, if you like. one fl ight every 10 minutes! The most detailed complaint information is obtained by using There is little doubt that the vast majority of these persistent the WebTrak system. little helicopters were tour operators. These helicopters are not Go to the coalition’s website www.LAhelicopternoise.org and fi ghting fi res or hunting criminals or patrolling for the public click the complaints tab. safety. They are disturbing the peace and quiet offered by Griffi th Park and our hillside residential homes. Flying below 1,000 feet By Kathy Richards Ranger, Gunsmoke, The Wild Wild West, The Dukes of Hazard, is too low, but helicopters have no minimum altitude regulations. Have Gun Will Travel, and Rawhide. Feature fi lm credits for It’s up to the pilots to decide what’s safe. I recently had out-of-town guests and wanted to show them the caves include a 1933 version of The Three Musketeers, some interesting Los Angeles sites, while getting in a little 1951’s Flame of Araby, 1962’s Ride the High Country, 2002’s Helicopter aviation is basically self-regulated. The helicopter exercise. Luckily for them, the hike to Bronson Caves, more The Scorpion King and the original Invasion of the Body industry has been able to avoid FAA regulations by promising to famously known as The Bat Cave is a fun and easy hike from Snatchers (1956). There are also dozens of other fi lms less establish its own noise abatement program. The industry our Oaks neighborhood. And, you get a sort of two-for-one well-known and more ridiculous. Example of the ridiculous? from this excursion: after you visit the Bat Cave there is a How about 1968’s They Saved Hitler’s Brain? Or 2011’s Mega rather stupendous view of the Hollywood sign. What I love Python vs Gatoroid? ARE YOU ANNOYED BY HELICOPTER NOISE? about the Bronson caves and the area just beyond, is that you truly feel like you are out in the middle of nowhere and it’s The history is rich and it’s a nice hike, so take a morning this LET THE FAA KNOW ABOUT IT! almost impossible to imagine that the city of Los Angeles is summer to visit the caves. Just be on the lookout for a jumbo We encourage you to make extensive use of the AUTOMATED just around the corner. I always feel like the Lone Ranger and python and a big-ass alligator. COMPLAINT SYSTEM shown below to report excessive helicopter noise you experience. It will tell the FAA how much Tonto are about to gallop off in a cloud of dust and shout, “Hi- the quality of life in The Oaks is being affected by noisy and yo Silver”! low-fl ying helicopters. The more we report, tthe more pressure After this last hike to the caves, I became curious about their there is to achieve restrictions on helicopter traffi c over our history, because the only thing I really know about them is that hillside neighborhood in the future. Here’s how to report helicopter noise: they were used as the Bat Cave exit in the 1960’s Batman television series. It turns out that they have been used for much fi ll out a complaint form on http://heli-noise-la.com/ more than that. or call (424) 348-4354 or track and report the fl ight at http://heli-noise-la.com/webtrak/ The Bronson Caves are man-made and were created in 1903 produced the Fly Neighborly Guide and it includes by the Union Rock Company as part of a quarry (in what was recommendations such as, “Avoid residential areas where then called Brush Canyon) to provide crushed rock to be used possible” and “Fly as high an altitude as possible over scenic in the construction of city streets. The quarry ceased operation and recreational areas such as parks and beaches.” However, the in the late 1920s, leaving the caves behind. The caves became industry’s noise abatement program is also completely voluntary. known as Bronson Caves after a nearby street, giving the area The competitive nature of Los Angeles helicopter tour operators its more popular name of Bronson Canyon. is illustrated by website claims such as “The Hollywood Sign, so close you can almost touch it.” To receive the best tips from While most famous for their use as the Bat Cave, the Caves customers, pilots are clearly tempted to push the limits. have also appeared in countless other movies and TV series. You might recognize them in reruns of Bonanza, Star Trek: With an LA County coalition focused on reducing helicopter Voyager, Fantasy Island, Little House on the Prairie, The Lone noise and supported by Federal legislation mandating regulation 6 7 Oaks Homeowners Association P.O. Box 29155 Los Angeles, CA 90029-0155 www.oakshome.org
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SIDEWALK REPAIRS — YOUR INPUT NEEDED Walking along Bronson Avenue and Canyon Drive north of Foothill Drive is in some spots like mastering an obstacle course. Many sections of the sidewalks along that route have been buckled by the roots of street trees. After years of debate, the City has fi nally decided to do something about it. During the coming summer months Street Services crews will start repairing damaged sidewalks — hopefully some in Bronson Canyon and wherever else in the Oaks the need is. Councilmember David Ryu has asked that we provide him with a priority list for our neighborhood. You can help us compile this list by letting us know which location(s) you believe are in the most urgent need of repair. Please send your suggestions (indicating the street address closest to the damaged area) to [email protected]. Thanks for helping with this important work.
Don’t Miss the Oaks Family Picnic! Saturday, June 18th, 2016 • 11:30 am – 2:30 pm Bronson Park (at the end of Canyon Drive) across from the playground Kids games and entertainment • Great “chef prepared” picnic food and desserts Bouncy Bounce • Arts & Crafts • Meet new neighbors and connect with old friends For HOA members only. Not a current member? Join at the picnic! Annual dues are only $40 per family. We look forward to seeing you there! Picnic Menu DEVILED EGGS • SUMMER VEGETABLE SALAD • GREEK ORZO SALAD MAC ‘N CHEESE • QUESADILLAS • GREEK HAND PIES WITH GREENS BBQ CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS • HUMMUS & PITA CHIPS CHERRY & BLUEBERRY SLAB PIE • WATERMELON WEDGES • GELATO