HOLMBY NEWS
February 12, 2016

From the Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association, serving the Holmby Westwood community since 1960.

1.  L.A. Marathon Street Closures
2.  Street Repair Requests
3.  Article about Holmby Westwood
4.  Warner Ave. Auction Seeking Donations
5.  LAPD Crime Report
6.  Upcoming Community Events
7.  HWPOA Contact Information

1.  L.A. MARATHON STREET CLOSURES

The Los Angeles Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, February 14.  The course stretches from Downtown Los Angeles, up through Hollywood, west through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and continues to Santa Monica.

For more information about specific street closures, please visit:
http://www.lamarathon.com/race-weekend/street-closures

2.  STREET REPAIR REQUESTS

The Bureau of Street Services has scheduled a Small Asphalt Repairs (SAR) truck (which is described as 1 small asphalt repair truck, consisting of 2 workers and asphalt), for the Westwood Neighborhood Council area, to perform small asphalt repairs on March 14, 2016.

The type of repairs that can be addressed with this program include the following:
– Potholes and pop outs
– Skin patching of eroded or cracked areas
– Some repairs on concrete streets

The Westwood Neighborhood Council has asked us to submit suggested locations in our neighborhood for small street repairs. The city will only send the SAR truck to a total of 15 locations in the entire Westwood Neighborhood Council area, so Holmby Westwood will only see a handful of repairs.

If you are aware of any spots in our neighborhood that would be particularly good candidates for this program, please send requests to Dana at hwpoa@aol.com no later than February 28.  Please only send street repair requests, not sidewalks or curbs.

3.   ARTICLE ABOUT HOLMBY WESTWOOD

On Saturday, February 13  Holmby Westwood will be featured in an article in the Los Angeles Times Real Estate section.  The back page of the Coldwell Banker Previews Magazine will feature Holmby Westwood as a residential neighborhood with a unique architectural style.

4.  WARNER AVE. AUCTION SEEKING DONATIONS

Dear Holmby Westwood Neighbors,

WAVE, the parent-teacher organization for Warner Avenue Elementary, is kindly requesting donations for its upcoming Spring Auction on March 5th. Are you a season ticket holder to any professional or college sports events (Clippers, Kings, UCLA, etc.)? Do you have tickets to the Geffen, LA Philharmonic, Center Theatre Group, or LA Opera you can’t use and would like to donate? Also, we are looking for restaurant certificates, room nights at hotels and resorts, stays at vacation homes, spa certificates, fine wines, and other desirable goodies. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated.

If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation, please contact Jeannine Sehati at jrsehati@gmail.com or mail your donation to:

WAVE
615 Holmby Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Attn: Spring Auction

Thank you for supporting your neighborhood school!

5.  LAPD CRIME REPORT

The entire Westside of Los Angeles has seen an increase in residential burglaries over the past few months. These crimes usually occur during the day and early evening while residents are away.

This is a great time to observe your neighborhood, get to know your neighbors and modernize your security and lighting.

EVALUATE YOUR HOME SECURITY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A BURGLAR!

• Is your home easily accessed from your side yard or unlocked gates?
• How easy is it to get to the back yard or a window without observation?
• Are those privacy bushes/fences providing a hiding place?
• Do you have signage letting people know they are under surveillance? (Even if they actually aren’t)
• Does your home have sufficient lighting? Sensor lights will turn on the moment someone steps onto your property.
• Remember, camera systems are available that will alert your smart phone immediately whenever anyone is on your property, and provide surveillance footage.

BE VIGILANT AND MINDFUL OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS!

Look at the cars parked on your street every time you leave your home. Are you familiar with your neighbor’s cars? Is anyone sitting in a parked car, or parked in your neighbor’s driveway? Do you see a rental car? (Check license plate frame and/or bar code stickers in the windows) Rental cars are commonly used by burglars to ‘fit in’ to a neighborhood. If you see an unfamiliar car, write down the license plate number and description.

When you “SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING”. If you see a crime in progress, call 911 immediately! If you see suspicious activity, call the West LAPD at our non-emergency number 877-275-5273.

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS!

Most importantly, do you know your neighbors and do they know you? You and your neighbors can look out for one another: Tell each other when you will be away, and who should be at the home, and who should not.

Have you taught your children and home staff what to do and what not to do? Is there a regular routine around the house, closing and locking windows and doors when leave — even if it’s just a quick trip to the market?

HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION:

• If you see a crime in progress, call 911 immediately.
• Lock your windows and doors every time you leave home.
• Turn on your alarm/security camera system every time you leave home.
• If your alarm is broken, get it fixed.
• If your alarm is outdated, get it updated with security cameras.
• If your neighbor’s alarm is activated, look out the window and be a good witness.
• Report people that you believe are suspicious.
• Be a good witness by recalling basic information. Police dispatchers will ask for a description including race, clothing, and vehicle description. Even if all you see is a “light-colored, four-door car” it gives officers something to look for.
• If you have staff at home, be sure they they know what to do in an emergency.
• If you think you should call the police, do not hesitate. You ARE NOT bothering us.

Robbery Series and Arrest:
Between 9/6/15 and 2/2/16, there were 6 Robberies that occurred in Westwood Village. In each of the robberies, the suspect MO and description was similar. The suspect typically targeted unsuspecting victims on the street mostly using an ATM. On the evening of 2/4/16, plain clothes officers were deployed as part of an undercover robbery surveillance apprehension detail.
Officers observed a possible suspect matching the description loitering in the area of the ATM’s located near Kinross Avenue and Westwood Blvd. Plain clothes officers maintained surveillance on the possible suspect when they observed the suspect approach, interrupt and interact with an individual conducting a transaction at the ATM’s. The suspect then began manipulating the ATM during the in progress transaction. The suspect was detained without incident as he walked away from the ATM.

During the investigation, It was determined the suspect was committing another robbery. Following the investigation the suspect was arrested and charged with 8 counts of Robbery.

Burglary:
10700 block Lindbrook Drive. RD: 0828. On 2/3/16, between 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM, unknown suspect(s) entered unlocked door and removed picture frame.

Burglary Theft from Motor Vehicle:
10600 block Sunset Blvd.. RD: 0815. Between 2/2/16, 2:00 PM and 2/3/16, 9:00 AM, unknown suspect(s) entered unlocked vehicle parked in carport and removed garage door opener and key.

6.  UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

Events at The Crest Theater –The Crest Theater, located on Westwood Blvd. south of Wilshire, hosts a variety of special events and film screenings.  Upcoming events include:

• Elvis Costello – Detour
• Crest Cabaret – Movie Love Songs & Scenes
• Oscar Shorts
• Deconstructing the Beatles

For more information and to purchase tickets:
http://www.crestwestwood.com/

Cash for College Workshops -Saturday, Feb. 20.  The state of California, through the Student Aid Commission, offers several financial aid programs to help students and their families afford the high cost of college tuition. In the next few weeks, there will be several free “Cash for College Workshops” at different locations in our community to help students find out about, and apply for, these grants and loans. To see a list of the dates and locations of these workshops, and for a list of important documents you should bring, click here.

LADWP Customer Service Saturday – February 13 from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.   Come to any Customer Service Saturday at our Crenshaw, Van Nuys, Watts, and West Los Angeles Customer Service Center (CSC) locations and you can expect assistance from staff who are able to take payments, process service order requests, answer billing questions, and resolve billing issues.

There will also be informational tables and displays with helpful information on LADWP programs and services available to customers, as well as sign-up materials. The Crenshaw location will hold informative and helpful workshops in its on-site auditorium. Two locations every month will even have free tree giveaways.  For locations and more information, please click here.

Service Academy Day – Sunday, February 21 from 1p-4p at the Los Angeles Federal building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd, Room C-206, Los Angeles, CA 90024. The Office of Congressman Ted Lieu is hosting their First Annual Bi-Partisan Multi-District Service Academy Day for students 8th-11th grade.

This event is open to students, parents, and community members. A representative from the United States Air Force Academy, United States Military Academy, and United States Naval Academy will be present. Additionally, there will be a student panel and parent panel. Finally, every congressional office in Southern California has been invited to attend and participate.

For more information, please click here: 2.21.16flyer

7.  HWPOA CONTACT INFORMATION

HOLMBY WESTWOOD PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
914 Westwood Blvd. Suite 573
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310-470-1785
Email: hwpoa@aol.com
Web site: www.holmbywestwoodpoa.org