Maria meets the press

Echo Park's beloved goose, Maria, met the press and showed off his new digs at the L.A. Zoo today. He (yes, Maria is male) was joined by his best human friend Dominic, an Echo Park resident with whom he developed a deep friendship.

Earlier this year, Maria moved to the zoo in advance of the start of a major rehabilitation project at Echo Park (you can read more about the project here). In addition, the media attention around his potential homelessness led to threats to his safety.

Now Maria has a private lawn and pool in the Winnick Family Children's Zoo. Dominic visits him nearly every day and is happy that he's in a safe environment where he'll make thousands of new friends.

Central City Action Committee rummage sale

Come to the Central City Action Committee’s four-day rummage sale taking place July 5 through July 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Edgeware Road Fire Station in Echo Park to support the non-profit youth program’s summer recreational programming.

Central City Action organizes youth graffiti removal and provides recreational programming and guidance to kids to keep them on track to success.

Women’s Transportation Technician Training Opportunity

Los Angeles Trade Tech will offer a special transportation training program to prepare women for careers in sustainable transportation. The summer program is designed specifically to help women thrive in this non-traditional female employment role.

Participants must be at least 18 years of age, and must meet one of the following categories: unemployed or underemployed, high school non-completer, or previous offender.

The session runs Mondays through Thursdays from July 18 to August 24 from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Interested women must complete the interest questionnaire here. For further information, please contact the LATTC Bridges to Success Center at 213-763-5560 or at http://www.college.lattc.edu/bridges.

Government 101 workshop

Are you interested in learning about the legislative process and becoming a more effective advocate for your neighborhood? Please join Council President Garcetti at Government 101, a free workshop for community residents. The workshop will take place at City Hall (200 N. Spring Street) on Wednesday, July 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. .

The event is free, but RSVPs are required. RSVP here or via email to marta.segura@lacity.org or by phone at 323-957-4500.

Los Feliz Village Street Fair

Mark your calendars for the 18^th Annual Los Feliz Village Street Fair on Sunday, July 24, from 11 A.M. to 10 P.M on Hollywood Boulevard (between Vermont Ave. and Hillhurst Avenue)!

Enjoy fabulous food from Los Feliz restaurants, wine and beer gardens, live music, dancing lessons, artistic exhibits, street painting displays, a ‘Green Scene’ eco-showcase, a mind-body-spirit pavilion and a fashion festival with runway shows. Bring the whole family -- there will be carnival rides and other attractions for kids.

For more information, click here.

Hunger Action LA Fundraiser

Help combat hunger in Los Angeles while you fill up on a delicious Haitian meal at Tigeorge’s Chicken (309 N. Glendale Blvd.) on Friday, July 8, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Proceeds will help fund Hunger Action LA’s Veggie Voucher program, which helps more than 1,000 low income families obtain fresh produce.

Tickets may be purchased for $20 in advance or for $25 at the door. To RSVP please call 213-388-8228 or email frank@hungeractionla.org.

Survey LA coming to Echo Park

The Office of Historic Resources will be hosting a SurveyLA Community Workshop on Thursday, June 23, at the Edendale Branch Library (2011 Sunset Blvd) from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

SurveyLA is the city's first-ever comprehensive effort to identify places with important social, historic, or cultural associations in Los Angeles. This workshop will inform participants of how they can provide information about locations to include in this survey.

To RSVP or for more information, please contact Bryan Fahrbach or Robby Aranguren at 626-793-2400 or myhistoricla@gmail.com.

Sustainable Silver Lake presents "What is the Electric Car?"

On Saturday, July 2, Sustainable Silver Lake will host a free screening of What is the Electric Car?, a new feature length documentary about Electric Vehicles (EVs) soon arriving in dealer showrooms. The film presents an inside view of an industry expected to grow to over $200 billion in revenues the next 15 years and features interviews with key manufacturers, vendors, drivers and pioneers in the EV industry, and many more.

The screening will begin at 11 a.m. at the Silver Lake Public Library (2411 Glendale Blvd). Following the screening, there will be a question and answer session with the film's producer and a free (one ticket per film attendee) raffle give-away of a new ZAPino 100% Electric Scooter

PAVA in the Hollywood Christmas Parade

This morning I was very pleased to welcome Pacific American Volunteer Association (PAVA) as the first Korean American showcase entry in the Hollywood Christmas Parade. PAVA’s entry will be include more than 180 youth dancers, drummers, and other musicians. The parade is seen by millions of people around the country and provides great opportunity to show off our city’s diversity and the Korean American community’s dynamic cultural contributions to Los Angeles.

PAVA is a volunteer organization that encourages Korean Americans to participate in community service with an emphasis on our environment. Their involvement in the parade will be a terrific addition to this long-time community tradition.

New state-of-the-art production facility opens in Historic Filipinotown

This morning I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for Occidental Studios’ new state-of-the-art production facility. The soundstage is approximately 14,000 square feet with an additional 6,000 square feet of office space, conference rooms, dressing rooms, and hair and make-up rooms. It is conveniently located in Historic Filipinotown, just west of Downtown Los Angeles.

Keeping filming in Los Angeles is important to our local economy -- not only employing those who work on productions, but supporting jobs in related industries such as catering. The new soundstage will help us reaffirm Los Angeles as the world's entertainment capital and help keep our city working.

Glassell Park Community Garden Block Party

Come celebrate the grand opening of the Glassell Park Community Garden (3304 Drew Street) with Council President Eric Garcetti at a block party on Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A dedication ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. and tours and activities for kids will take place throughout the morning.

For more information, please contact Sally Martinez at (323) 478-9002.

Hope to see you there!

Hollywood Farmer's Kitchen presents Pickle University

Love pickles? Come to the Hollywood Farmer's Kitchen's “Pickle University” class to explore the world of pickling on Saturday, June 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Farmer’s Kitchen (Sunset & Vine complex, at the corner of Selma Avenue and Morningside Court).

Participants will go home with at least one jar of homemade pickles. The class fee is $80. Reserve your space by clicking here.

Free Financial Literacy Workshop in Glassell Park

The Cypress Family Source Center will hold a free financial literacy workshop next Thursday, June 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Glassell Park Recreational Center (3650 Verdugo Rd).

For more information, please call the Cypress Family Source Center at (323) 266-1682.

Sign up now for 826LA workshops

Middle and high school students can have fun and show off their creativity while boosting their literacy skills at one of 826LA East's summer camps. Workshops include playwriting, journalism, and even rock opera.

All classes are free. Some classes are available for students as young as 6 years old.

For more information about summer camps, please click on the flier at right.

Silver Lake Improvement Association Annual Meeting - June 27

The Silver Lake Improvement Association will hold its annual meeting on Monday, June 27, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Cathedral (650 Micheltorena Street).

Echo Park Lake Birdwalk this Sunday

Join your neighbors in the Echo Park Lake Birdwalk this Sunday, June 19. The fun begins at 8 a.m. when participants will gather at the Echo Park Lake Boathouse to begin the walk, which will end at 11 a.m

According to event organizers, summer birds at the lake include Mallards, great-tailed grackles, robins, American coots, sparrows, finches, great egrets, black-crowned night herons, green herons, blackbirds, hawks, and various gulls and doves.

Beginning birders as well as children accompanied by their parents are encouraged to participate.

The walk is free. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, a bird guide, water, and a hat.

For more information, please contact judycalifornia@yahoo.com or 323-663-6767.

What's that construction on First Street?

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is installing a new trunk line to improve water service to its customers. The work will mean that stretches of First Street/Beverly Boulevard between Dillon and Van Ness will be intermittently closed between now and July 2012.

Work is currently being completed on First Street between Catalina and Vermont. Next month, crews will be working between Vermont and Madison.

Local access for residents, businesses, and schools will be provided.

For more information about the project, click here to go to the LADWP website.

Make your voice heard on DWP rates!

The LA Department of Water and Power (LADWP) will hold seven regional community meetings to get input on setting its water and power rates. Participants will have an opportunity to learn more about the LADWP's budget and to voice their opinion on proposals that could impact water and power rates. A summary session will be held July 20 at LADWP’s downtown headquarters.

The dates and locations of the community meetings are listed below. You can click here to RSVP for any of the meetings.

East San Fernando Valley:
Wednesday, June 15, 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Marvin Braude Constituent Center (Van Nuys City Hall)
14410 Sylvan Street
Van Nuys 91402

West San Fernando Valley:
Thursday, June 16, 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Holiday Inn – Warner Center
21101 Ventura Boulevard
Woodland Hills 91364

North San Fernando Valley:
Saturday, June 18, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Los Angeles Mission College
13356 Eldridge Avenue
Sylmar 91342

East Los Angeles:
Monday, June 20, 2011, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Boyle Heights Technology Youth Center
1600 E. 4th Street
Los Angeles 90033

South Los Angeles:
Tuesday, June 21, 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
California African American Museum-Exposition Park
600 State Drive
Los Angeles 90037

West Los Angeles:
Wednesday, June 22, 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Stephen S. Wise Temple
15500 Stephen S. Wise Drive
Los Angeles 90077

Port of Los Angeles:
Monday, June 27, 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor
601 S. Palos Verdes Street
San Pedro 90731

Summary Session- Downtown Los Angeles:
Wednesday, July 20, 6:30 – 9 p.m.
LADWP Headquarters, A-Level
111 N. Hope Street
Los Angeles 90012

Berry preservation workshop

On Saturday, the Hollywood Farmer's Kitchen presents a berry preservation workshop. Students will learn a number of techniques such as canning, freezing, drying and pickling. They will also take home a preserved berry item

The class will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hollywood Farmer's Kitchen (1555 N. Vine). The fee is $80.

Click here to sign up today by 5 p.m.

Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council Honoring First Responders - June 16

The Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council will host a community reception honoring Echo Park's first responders from LAPD's Northeast and Rampart Stations, LAFD Station #20 and the General Services Office of Public Safety.

The reception will be held on Thursday, June 16, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the St. Paul Cathedral Center (840 Echo Park Avenue). It is free and open to the public.

My office is proud to support this event. Other organizations involved are the Echo Park Security Association and the Positive Energy Group as well as other elected leaders.

RSVP by Tuesday, June 14 to Lisa Baca-Sigala at (323) 660-7234 or via email at bacasigala@earthlink.net

KCRW's Guest DJ

Council President Garcetti's appearance on KCRW's Guest DJ Project will be previewed on Morning Becomes Eclectic.

Tune in around 11:00 a.m. if you're interested!

(You can also click here to listen online now.)

Global Green's 15th Annual Millennium Awards

Over the weekend I attended the Global Green Millennium Awards where I had the pleasure of presenting the L.A. Business Council (LABC) with the California Environmental Leadership Award.

The LA Business Council was recognized for its long commitment to creating and retaining environmentally clean energy jobs. Among their efforts, the LABC is collaborating with Global Green on establishing a solar feed in tariff for Los Angeles. It also hosts an annual Sustainability Summit to bring together business leaders, government leaders, and environmental experts to share best practices on incorporating sustainability into business models.

30th Anniversary of Centers for Disease Control report recognizing what would become the AIDS epidemic

This morning I joined leaders in Los Angeles's fight against HIV/AIDS to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that recognized what would eventually become the AIDS epidemic. The year after the report was released, the term "AIDS" was coined and the following year researchers discovered HIV.

I was honored to introduce Dr. Michael Gottlieb, the report's primary author, who today reminded us that "now is exactly the wrong time to back off" in our efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS.

Although it's a solemn occasion, this anniversary is a time to reflect on the progress we've made toward addressing the health and service needs of those living with HIV/AIDS and to recommit to meeting the tremendous challenges that remain.

For more information about the City of Los Angeles's efforts on HIV/AIDS, please visit the website of the AIDS Coordinator.

Thank you, Consul General Dayan!

On Friday, the City of Los Angeles bid an official and fond farewell to outgoing Israel Consul General Jacob Dayan, who has served in the Los Angeles post since 2006 and has a long and impressive history of public service.

While in our city, Mr. Dayan has been a pillar in the Jewish community and the diplomatic corps as well as a friend to Los Angeles, working to promote a deeper understanding of our people, cultures, and countries. We thank him for his service.