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.