Blank Theatre Company celebrates 20 years in our community

This morning we celebrated the Blank Theatre Company's 20th anniversary. For two decades, this non-profit organization has brought more than 30 productions to our community.

In addition to producing high quality plays for its Hollywood stage, the company also established a Nationwide Young Playwrights Festival for people age 19 and younger. It also has a workshop series to develop promising new talents.

Check out the website here!

9/11 remembered

I would like to acknowledge the victims and first responders of 9/11 and the people across the Southland who took time to remember them on the 10th anniversary attacks this weekend.

Today, a new tower is rising from the smoldering rubble in New York, and as we commemorated this solemn occasion, events around Los Angeles also served to raise our spirit as a community. The seal of our great nation reads: e pluribus unum -- out of many, one. Here is a brief look at just a few of the events that brought Angelenos together this weekend:

The Museum of Tolerance held a ceremony at which the names of all 9/11 victims were read and candles were lit in their memory.

The Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Islamic Center of Southern California held a special ceremony, "Honoring America's Bravest," to recognize Los Angeles's first responders.

The Los Angeles Fire Department paid tribute to America's first responders.

And I was honored to work with the Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders and clergy from around Southern California to present One Light, a gathering of hundreds of representatives from diverse houses of worship.

Youth Art Show in Elysian Valley

The Elysian Valley Arts Collective is coordinating a neighborhood youth art show in conjunction with the Frogtown Artwalk on September 24. The show is being made possible through a grant from the Elysian Valley Neighborhood Council.

The EV Arts Collective will award youth art work in various age categories. Prizes include gift certificates for school and/or art supplies and cash awards.

Work must be submitted by September 19 to the Gallery Frogtown at 2808 Newell Ave in Elysian Valley. Artwork will be judged on September 23, and the awards will be presented from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on September 24 just prior to the Frogtown Artwalk.

Echo Park California Coastal Clean-Up Day

Please join the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council on Saturday, September 17, for the Echo Park California Coastal Clean-Up Day.

Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the following locations:

• Vista Hermosa Natural Park (100 N. Toluca Street at First Street)

• GEPENC Office and Community Center (1572 Sunset Boulevard at Echo Park Avenue)

The Neighborhood Council will provide lunch to event participants at these locations.

To register for the event, please visit www.healthebay.org/ccd

Elysian Valley community yard sale -- Saturday, September 17

Come to the Elysian Valley community yard sale on Saturday, September 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Elysian Valley Recreation Center (1811 Ripple St.).

Elysian Valley residents will be selling a variety of items including toys, books, clothes, bicycles, and tools.

Residents who are interested in having a booth to sell items at this event can contact the Rec Center at 323-666-5058 to ask for an application. The booth fee is $15.

Volunteer musicians needed for this Saturday

The Silver Lake-based Pay It Forward volunteer band is seeking musicians to perform at nursing homes throughout Los Angeles this Saturday, September 10, in honor of National Grandparents Day.

More than 100 Pay It Forward members -- including professional musicians, students, and amateurs -- volunteer time to play music as part of smaller ensembles. They typically perform jazz or nostalgic music for seniors living in nursing facilities.

If you are interested in participating, please contact band director Gary Gamponia at 213/388-8500.

FREE job fair in Hollywood

The Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council will host a free community job and resource fair on Thursday, September 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will take place at the Yucca Community Center (6671 Yucca Street) in Hollywood.

Candidates of all ages, experience levels and industries are encouraged to attend. Companies will be looking to fill full-time and part-time positions. Participants should bring resumes and dress professionally.

Council passes motions on Filipino veterans

This morning the City Council passed two resolutions by Councilmember Richard Alarcon that put Los Angeles officially on record in support of two pieces of state legislation related to Filipino veterans. Assembly Joint Resolution 6 supports H.R. 210 - the Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011, which would provide the benefits that were promised to Filipino veterans who fought alongside American soldiers during World War II. Assembly Bill 199 would encourage teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District to include the history of Filipino veterans in World War II as part of social science lesson plans.

We must make sure our courageous Filipino veterans and their families get the benefits they were promised and earned. And we must teach the next generations about this important part of our American history so that their story is never forgotten.

Silver Lake stoplight activated

Thank you to members of the Silver Lake community who joined me and Councilmember LaBonge during the Labor Day weekend to activate the new stoplight on the 2300 block of Silver Lake Boulevard. The new light will make it safer and easier for pedestrians to access the Silver Lake Meadow and the jogging/walking path around the reservoir.

Thank you to PAVA volunteers for cleaning up Hollywood!

Thank you to the hundreds of young people who volunteered their time to help clean up Hollywood last weekend. Volunteers from the Pacific American Volunteer Association (PAVA) picked up trash around Hollywood, Thai Town, and Little Armenia. My office was proud to partner with PAVA on this clean-up day.