February Events at the Hollywood/Wilshire YMCA

There are many activities and events scheduled this month at the Hollywood/Wilshire YMCA. Here are just a few:

Take a Hike

February 13, 2010

Enjoy Big Santa Anita Loop with its great views, lush, shady woods and 50-foot high Sturtevant falls. Enjoy an easy/medium 6-mile round trip with a maximum time of 4 hours. Dogs are welcome. Meet at the REI parking lot in Santa Anita at 9:00 a.m.

Please email RicardoEspinoza@ymcala.org or call 213-639-7547 for more information.

Open House

February 17, 2010

Try Aerobics, Gravity, Yoga and Studio Cycling classes all day long and a receive a 7-day pass to try the Y! Refreshments will be served from 9:00 a.m. –11: 30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Visit the YMCA website for class times.

Email RicardoEspinoza@ymcala.org or call 213-639-7547 for more info.

Red Cross Blood Drive

February 17, 2010

Help others in need from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This is open to everyone.

Sign up at the Red Cross website.

Hydrostatic Body Fat Testing

February 23, 2010

Find out exactly what percentage of your body is lean mass versus fat! Testing runs from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Email Josephjimenez@ymcala.org or call 213-639-7569 for more info.

$45 members, $49 for non-members

Global Green USA's 7th Annual Pre-Oscar Party is March 3

Global Green's 7th Pre-Oscar party will be held on Wednesday, March 3. Proceeds will benefit Global Green USA and its national initiatives to fight climate change by creating healthy green homes, schools, and communities.

The evening will including special performances by Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, Mia Maestro, and others to be announced. Hosts include Orlando Bloom, James Cameron and Suzy Amis Cameron, and Salma Hayek.

The party is at the Avalon Hollywood (1735 Vine Street). More information and tickets are available here: www.globalgreenpreoscar.eventbrite.com

Atwater Village Chamber hosts A Night on Casitas

The Atwater Village Business Community is sponsoring A Night on Casitas on February 23 at the Atwater Playhouse (3191 Casitas Avenue) starting at 6:30 p.m.

Appetizers and refreshments will be provided by Revo Cafe and Patricia Aleman.

For more information, visit the Atwater Village Chamber website or contact the Chamber at 323-251-5967 or board@atwaterchamber.org.

Join my Echo Park clean up!

On Saturday, February 27, my office will host our first beautification day of the year in Echo Park. We need your participation, enthusiasm and action as we make our neighborhood a little cleaner and brighter.

Interested volunteers should meet at the Walgreen's parking lot in Echo Park (northwest corner of Sunset Boulevard and Echo Park Avenue) at 8:45 a.m. for refreshments and instructions followed by 2 hours clean up.

If you have any questions, contact Alejandra Marroquin at 323-957-4500 or alejandra.marroquin@lacity.org.

Great Backyard Bird Count 2010

On February 14, celebrate Valentine's Day with the Echo Park Lake Bird Team. Come explore the natural environment of Los Angeles and discovering birds that live in our own backyard.

Those who are interested should meet at the Echo Park Lake Boathouse (Echo Park Avenue and Laguna Avenue) at 9:00 a.m.

For more information, contact Judy Raskin at 323-663-6767 or
judycalifornia@yahoo.com. You can also visit the Bird Count website.

A few photos from the Bradley Tower this morning

Opening of Youth Policy Institute Hollywood Family Source Center

Tomorrow, come celebrate the opening of the Youth Policy Institute's (YPI) Hollywood Family Source Center (5500 Hollywood Boulevard). The ribbon cutting will be at 2:00 p.m. followed by an open house from 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

There will be delicious food donated by ¡Lotería!, and a chance to see a useful and reliable center that helps to lift families and individuals out of poverty.

YPI was originally founded in 1983 as part of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Fund in Washington, DC, and moved to Los Angeles in 1996. YPI strives to lift low-income families out of poverty by offering education and training resources with after school programs, job training, early childhood education, physical education, ESL, computer literacy, charter schools and college preparation.

Women's History Month celebration

Come and celebrate Women's History Month on March 11, 2010 at the Latino Museum of History, Art and Culture (514 South Spring Street) at 6:30 p.m.

Pieces from the Museum's Permanent Collection by Latina artists will be featured at the event.

Admission is free, but please RSVP by calling 213-626-7600 or emailing events@thelatinomuseum.com.

Latina breast cancer survivors research study needs participants

The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Latina Task Force of Partnered for Progress are seeking participants for a research study on breast cancer care. Latinas who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are 6 months to 10 years after being diagnosed are needed for the project.

Volunteers will be asked to participate in a focus group where they will talk about their experiences with other breast cancer survivors. The focus group will last no more than 2 hours, and participants will receive a $50 Target gift card at the conclusion of the event.

To learn more about this program, call Jenifer at 1-877-303-1131.

Haitian Relief-LA Echo Park Concert

On February 14, 2010, Haitian Relief LA will host a concert at Echo Park Lake from 11:oo a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Come and celebrate Valentine's Day by lending a hand to those affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Enjoy food from Tigeorge's Chicken and Project Plus Gourmet Sandwiches while listening to music and spoken word artists. Read poetry and look at art native to Haiti and watch the documentary film The Road to Fondwa.

For more information, visit Haitian Relief LA's website.