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.