HOLMBY NEWS
August 27, 2021
From the Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association, serving the Holmby Westwood community since 1960.
1. Update on SB 9 & SB 10 Housing Bills
2. Metro Work Near Wilshire & Veteran
3. Holmby Westwood Green Team Update
4. Metro Bus Schedule Changes
5. Volunteers Needed – Westwood Connect Day
6. Westwood Village Rewards Program
7. Activities & Things to Do
8. HWPOA Contact Information
1. UPDATE ON SB 9 & SB 10 HOUSING BILLS
Thanks to our neighbors in WHPOA for this write-up:
Unfortunately, both SB 9 and SB 10 have passed in the State Assembly. Because they were amended in the Assembly, they need to go back to the house of origin, which is the Senate, where they are also expected to pass.
United Neighbors asks that we move our lobbying efforts to the Governor, and call to ask him to promise now to veto these two bills if they come to his desk. Since he is facing a recall in three weeks, this may provide some leverage to get him to commit publicly to preserving single-family neighborhoods by vetoing these two bills. It is easy to leave a message for him — please take the time to call 916-445-2841.
We’ll keep you apprised of any future matters pertaining to these bills.
2. METRO WORK NEAR WILSHIRE & VETERAN
Metro contractors began pile installation in UCLA Lot 36 earlier this week. The piles support the walls underground for the future Westwood/UCLA Station. Piling in Lot 36 will take approximately 3 weeks and then the crew will begin piling on Wilshire Blvd between Westwood Blvd and Veteran Ave. There will be intermittent lane reductions on Wilshire Blvd and Veteran Ave as deliveries come to Lot 36.
3. HOLMBY WESTWOOD GREEN TEAM UPDATE
The Holmby Westwood Green Team is addressing issues related to our parkway trees in the HWPOA newsletter. Please send your questions and comments to Marnie Bodek at mossbodek@msn.com or Allyson Bunting at Allyson.bunting@gmail.com
The Green Team would like to share some tree related resources with Holmby Westwood residents.
- Fallen Street Trees and Branches
To report a fallen street tree or branch, please call the City at 311. You will need the address/location of the problem as well as details of the issue. You can also report the problem on the City’s MYLA311 app.
. - Sidewalk Repairs
Sidewalk repairs can be complicated because of our street trees. We will write more about this in a coming newsletter. In the meantime, if you have a small, problematic off-grade sidewalk condition, you may contact the Bureau of Street Services at 800 -996-CITY and request a Small Asphalt Repair (SAR). You will need the address and location of the problem. You can also make a SAR request at 311. (phone and app)
. - Tree Species Information
The Green Team tree arborist, Lisa Smith has recommended an excellent book for us to use as we develop an updated street tree plan for Holmby Westwood. “Street Trees Recommended for Southern California” is published by Street Tree Seminar. It is easy to read and has excellent pictures. You can order this book for $39 at http://streettreeseminar.com/book.aspx
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The Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (UFEI) is dedicated to improving management of urban forestry in California. SelecTree is their interactive online tree selection guide with over 1500 tree species. https://selectree.calpoly.edu
. - Banana Peel Tea for Your Garden (not to drink)
At a recent tree care and maintenance workshop, TreePeople staff recommended Banana Peel Tea as an excellent all-natural fertilizer for trees and plants. Bananas are rich in potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. To learn how easy it is to make the banana peel tea, watch this YouTube video
. - Free Mulch
LA Sanitation offers free mulch at 11 locations in Los Angeles on different days of the week. One of the sites, Lopez Canyon Environmental Center, offers mulch every weekday from 7:00am – 5 pm. Bring your own shovel, bag, or pick-up; load up your own containers and take as much as you need. For more information call 1 800 773-2489 or https://www.lacitysan.org/cs/groups/public/documents/document/y250/mda4/~edisp/cnt008922.pdf
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The Griffith Park Composting Facility also offers free mulch daily at 5400 Griffith Park Drive, Los Angeles 90027 (Griffith Park) This facility has been in operation since 1966 and is designed to compost the organic material from the regional park. This YouTube video explains the process used by the facility for making mulch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frpFDbQ_e5w
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Some city mulch sites have been closed during the pandemic so check schedules before making the drive.
. - Tree Stakes
The Green Team has noticed that numerous street trees in the neighborhood still have their original planting stakes. Tree stakes are not intended to be a permanent addition to newly planted trees. Because stakes can damage a growing tree, they should be removed as soon as possible but generally to later than two years after planting. In certain circumstances they can be removed as early as 6 months after planting. Remove the stakes when a tree is stable in windy conditions and the tree trunk is comparable in dimension to that of the tree stake. Failure to remove stakes could prevent a tree from developing its’ natural girth and strength.
. - Holmby Westwood Green Team
Contact the Green Team at mossbodek@msn.com about any street tree related issues, questions, or concerns. Please notify us of any street trees that fall and are removed by the City or new street trees that are planted by homeowners. Your assistance will help us keep our street tree inventory up to date.
4. METRO BUS SCHEDULE CHANGES
Metro normally updates schedules every June and December, but as we recover from COVID-19 and restore bus service to pre-pandemic levels, we’re making another update in September.
Beginning Sunday, Sept. 12, we’re adjusting some routes and adding more bus trips to accommodate returning students and other riders. Some bus stops have also been removed to improve travel times.
Check for changes to your bus line with our online tool at:
https://mybus.metro.net/
5. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – WESTWOOD CONNECT DAY
Connect Days are community events that bring service providers, community partners, governmental agencies, and dedicated volunteers together so that individuals experiencing homelessness can be connected to an array of services simultaneously.
At our Westwood Connect Day, there will be housing resources, legal assistance, medical services, hygiene kits, showers, haircuts, new clothes, and everyone will be provided both breakfast and lunch.
Volunteers will assist with setting up the event, working the check-in table, helping guests navigate the event, organizing and distributing donated items, and serving meals.
Westwood Connect Day
Tuesday, September 28th, 2021
9:00am to 1:00pm
WESTWOOD REC CENTER
1350 S Sepulveda Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS AT THE EVENT!
OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE:
- Setting up the event
- Organizing and handing out donations
- Serving meals
- Assisting our guests navigate through our providers and services
- Shower coordination
- Working the check-in table,
- Handing out hygiene kits
- Taking down the event
6. WESTWOOD VILLAGE REWARDS PROGRAM
You can now earn rewards for shopping and dining in Westwood Village! We are thrilled to announce our Westwood Village Rewards program. Exclusive offers, promotions, and other incentives are now available in many restaurants, shops, and businesses in Westwood Village. So easy to use, too, you can access all of these rewards from your mobile device!
Visit www.WestwoodVillageRewards.com and register for a list of promotions, rewards, and other incentives offered by local retailers. No extra steps are required, and no apps to download!
How it works:
- Step 1: Sign up! Create an account and link your credit card. The process is 100% secure and takes just minutes.
- Step 2: Shop! Discover local businesses and shop using the credit cards you already used that are linked to your account.
- Step 3: Get rewarded! Get instant rewards when you shop and know you are helping local businesses.
- Step 4: Redeem! Cash in your points for gift cards, discounts, and other great perks!
New merchants and rewards are added each week, so be sure to check www.WestwoodVillageRewards.com for updates.
Questions? Call us at 310-470-1812.
7. ACTIVITIES & THINGS TO DO
Hammer Projects: David Hartt
Open through Jan 2, 2022 at the Hammer Museum
A multimedia installation examining the relationships between culture, geography, and colonial histories in the Americas in the 19th century.
David Hartt’s The Histories (Old Black Joe) centers on two Jacquard-woven tapestries and a quadraphonic soundtrack arranged by the legendary musician Van Dyke Parks. Hartt’s installation questions the underlying myths of modernism in the Americas, examining the lasting effects of colonial empire and the complex interplay between geography and culture in the shaping of these narratives.
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Weekend Activity Guide
From the Westwood-Century City Patch
Looking for things to do in person and virtually this weekend in Southern California? Patch has you covered. Patch has rounded up fun, interesting and entertaining events throughout Southern California.
Whether you opt for an activity close to home, a mini day trip or a virtual event, see what’s slated this weekend from Saturday, Aug. 28 to Sunday, Aug. 29. Click here for this week’s activity guide.
8. HWPOA CONTACT INFORMATION
HOLMBY WESTWOOD PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
P.O. Box 49180
Los Angeles, CA 90049
310-470-1785
Email: hwpoa@aol.com
Web site: www.holmbywestwoodpoa.org
Pay Membership Dues: https://squareup.com/store/hwpoa
You Are Invited . . .
- To attend our monthly Board Meetings*
- To let us know your concerns about our community and your ideas about how we might work to improve it
- To become involved in our Association.
*Board Meetings are usually held the second Tuesday of each month. Please confirm prior to attending.