Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl has released a video reflecting on the legacy of the late Harvey Milk, the first openly gay public official in California.
Harvey Milk, the first openly gay public official in California, was born May 22, 1930, and became a martyr for the cause of gay rights upon his assassination in November 1978. Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, the first openly gay man elected to the Los Angeles City Council, reflected Tuesday on Milk's life and legacy in this video. Rosendahl's 11th District includes Venice, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Playa del Rey, Brentwood and Pacific Palisades.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
A brief look into astronomical eclipses’ and their impact in ancient history
The west coast will be the best coast in America to view the solar eclipse this Sunday, and one of the few places on Earth where it can be seen. See tips for viewing the solar annular eclipse safely and where to watch in and around Los Angeles here. The astronomical phenomenon that we call an “eclipse” has been viewed by many throughout history and has played a critical role in both mankind’s spiritual evolution and its scientific understanding of the natural world. For the Navajo, the word for eclipse means “eating the sun.” Considered an auspicious event, many tribe members would not only avoid catching a glimpse of the ring of fire, but would fast and cease activities altogether. Ancient China: Hsi and Ho, 2137 B.C. The earliest …
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Do you know the origins of Mother's Day?
I'm looking forward to sleeping in and waking up to a delicious home-cooked breakfast on Sunday, but Mother's Day was not always about breakfast in bed, or even the second-most expensive day to buy flowers. The first American Mother's Day was in 1870, created by suffragist and abolishionist Julia Ward Howe. Howe is most remembered for writing the Battle Hymn of the Republic, but after witnessing the continuing horrors of the Civil War, she called on women to work toward peace: As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war, Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead. Let them solemnly take counsel with…
Monday, May 7, 2012
Police enforcement does nothing to solve the problem of homelessness and affordable housing is the fundamental solution to solving it, writes Steve Clare of the Venice Community Housing Corporation in a recent opinion piece.
Los Angeles has been relying on law enforcement as a "poor substitute for effective social policy" in dealing with its homeless problem, wrote Steve Clare, the executive director of the nonprofit Venice Community Housing Corporation, in a recent opinion piece on CityWatch. The article was titled "Here’s Why We’re Not Finding Real Solutions to LA Homelessness" and argues that increasing affordable housing is the "fundamental solution" to a problem that has made Los Angeles the homeless capital of the country. The cash-strapped city should consider short-term measures to help alleviate the number of homeless on the streets, Clare wrote. He suggested the city resume its subsidy program that funds the acquisition and refurbishment of small …
Urban gardens and local foods yield edible results through Urban Green’s mission.
At the intersection of Grandview and Pacific at the Sunday Mar Vista Farmers’ Market, a humble vegetarian and vegan food-service booth called Urban Green serves up a much bigger message. Rickey Smith, founder of this social entrepreneurship, calls his message a CLEAR one: “Urban Green combines Cuisine, Land use, Environment and Architecture and makes everything Regenerative.” The food Urban Green serves at the Mar Vista Farmers’ Market is essentially a way to reach out to the community, a chance for people to get to know their food and their mission. I spoke with Rickey about all that Urban Green does for the community. The retail, for-profit component of Urban Green LLC makes pesto, salads, and granolas for Whole Foods Markets. The …
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
A parent of two middle school students at Palms Middle School sends an open letter to Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy.
Dear Dr Deasy: She told us she'd go down with the ship, ... but you've forced her to walk the gang plank. WHAT IS GOING ON HERE??!! You have on Los Angeles' very own Westside, snuggled smack dab within the boundaries of LAUSD District 3, a "Model School Of Excellence" by your very own designation. Palms Middle School is a learning community of identified gifted-learners (GATES) and local neighborhood learners all rolled into three fabulous, seamless, Schools That Work. Children at Palms Middle School are learning by any measure you take, and measure them you have. They spend an inordinate percentage of their school lives being sized up and scrutinized and measured out for the tailored suit of standardized rote learning that cloaks them. …
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Gridlock traffic on the Westside has some residents ready to move.
This was written and submitted by Lisë Davis. Patch accepts opinion pieces on any relevant local topic. Your submission may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a piece to Patch, email it to the site editor. My husband and I moved from two miles east of the 405 Freeway to two miles west of the 405 Freeway nearly four years ago. In the past three years, the traffic situation in our new neighborhood has only steadily gotten worse, and to the point where we are thinking of leaving Los Angeles. I was born here. My husband has lived here for over 40 years. I cannot imagine leaving, but I cannot imagine staying here if something does not change for the better. To travel east from our home in Brentwood after 2:30 p.m. is beyond painful and…
Thursday, April 19, 2012
April 19 marks Holocaust Remembrance Day. As we remember those who perished, the president of Jewish World Watch notes that despite the adage “Never Again,” there have been 46 genocides since the Holocaust.
A few years ago, my father-in-law, David, stood on a corner in the small Ukrainian village of Tuchin and pointed to the spot where he last saw his mother, Chaya, his sister, Rachel, and her three small children in November 1941. The Nazis had invaded the Ukraine in June and by November it was clear that they were advancing on Tuchin. Chaya sent David off by foot to outrun the Nazis; as bad luck would have it, her daughters' children were suffering from the measles and had high fevers. The plan was for Chaya, Rachel and the children to join David on the eastward trek a few days later. Chaya waved goodbye to David, knowing that they would only be separated for a few days. Within hours of David's departure, the Nazis invaded. David's family…
Monday, April 9, 2012
Sustainable living ideas - and over 90 gardens - are on display at the Mar Vista Green Committee’s Green Tent.
Every week at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market, the Green Committee schedules guest presenters at the Green Tent to help residents learn how to live more sustainably, but these days the committee members are busy getting ready for the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase, coming up on April 21. More than 90 gardens will be open for viewing on the fourth annual garden tour. I spoke with Green Committee co-chairs, Sherri Akers and Jeanne Kuntz one Sunday morning at the Farmer’s Market. They told me that this year’s giant eco-festival is comprised of six self-guided walking or biking tours to address sustainability in daily living, and it’s all free. Attendees will get the chance to meet do-it-yourself gardeners who willingly share their …
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Enjoy Passover with these easy recipes for gelfite fish, charoset, prime rib, pizza and even a seven-layer cake.
There are another seven days to get through before the end of the Passover holiday and you can't just eat matzah. Here are five different suggestions to help you survive the week. Gelfite Fish An Asian twist to the traditional dish. Ingredients For Garnish: Directions Traditional Charoset Traditional dish with no added sugar. Ingredients Directions Garlic Prime Rib Scrumptious entree for the holiday. Ingredients Directions Passover Pizza An easy and tasty snack for kids and adults. Ingredients Directions Passover Seven Layer Cake A no-bake, Kosher cake for the holidays. Ingredients Directions Thanks to AllRecipes.com and Holiday Eats for Passover recipes.
Tuco
5:56 pm on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The law needs to be enforced and these criminals need to have stay away orders. Feeding programs need to be shut down. Drug laws enforced. Social services budgets cut. Housing programs budgets cut. Residents are going to have to invest in private security firms to help out. New leadership VNC voted out, Rosendahl and his ban of social service voted out. Get these dead beats out of Venice. more ›