HOLMBY NEWS
October 13, 2023
From the Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association, serving the Holmby Westwood community since 1960.
1. LAPD Crime Report
2. Artificial Grass – Considerations & Options
3. Fire Station 71 Update
4. Free Classes at Santa Monica College Emeritus
5. Fall Festivals & Events
6. Activities & Things to Do
7. Resident Ads
8. Local Discounts & HWPOA Benefits
9. HWPOA Contact Information
1. LAPD CRIME REPORT
BURGLARY (entry of structure w/intent to commit theft or a felony)
Incident #: 230815363
10500 BLOCK LE CONTE AV | 10/5/2023 @ 3:10 PM
HOT PROWL – Male Hispanic approximately 20 yrs entered 2nd story Window while Victim was at home. Victim confronted Suspect and Suspect demanded Property. Victim refused and ran from the Location.
File a Police Report Online: click here
EMERGENCY: 911
NON-EMERGENCY: 1-877-275-5273
All other City Services: 311
West L.A. Community Police Station –1663 Butler Ave.
James Allen, Senior Lead Officer
Office: 310-444-0741
Email: 39318@lapd.online
West LA Community Police Station Website: click here
LAPD Website: www.lapdonline.org
2. ARTIFICIAL GRASS – CONSIDERATIONS & OPTIONS
The following article was written by a neighbor in Westwood Hills. Thank you to the author and to WHPOA for providing this information.
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I’m a gardener. I know how challenging some locations can be, and I’m sure that before putting in artificial grass, neighbors will have tried their best to find solutions to grow real grass or groundcover. For anyone considering using artificial grass, I’d like to share some thoughts.
Before choosing artificial grass, please consider the following:
- Real roots help infiltrate water into the soil, thus replenishing aquifers, whereas artificial grass, like pavement, encourages water runoff which increases flooding downstream.
- Artificial grass is basically plastic. Even though it is treated against UV and all, it will eventually break down into microplastic particles. The WWF estimates that with all the plastic in the ocean, microplastic particles are now in the food chain, and we currently eat the equivalent of one credit card of microplastic particles per week! The effect on health is still not clear, but it’s clearly not making us healthier.
- Because it is treated, this means even more toxic chemicals polluting our waterways, aquifers, oceans, and ultimately…our drinking water. These chemicals affect hormonal function, fertility and more. Clear drinking water is not only important for humans, but also for wildlife. Here is a whole page of articles and videos from various sources expressing concerns on the human toxicity of artificial turf.
- Under artificial grass is dead soil. Normally, soil is alive: bacteria, fungi, microorganisms, etc… soil life which contributes to feeding the whole food chain: bugs, birds, animals, humans, etc. For example, there are solitary bees which need to have access to digging holes in the ground to make their nests. In short, artificial grass prevents creation of habitat and food for biodiversity.
What I recommend instead of artificial grass:
- Plant a diversity of native plants! Not only are they attractive, low maintenance and low water use, but they provide food and habitat for wildlife, help improve the soil and its capacity to absorb water, thus helping replenish our dwindling aquifers and avoid flooding. You can ask a native-plant expert from the Theodore Payne Foundation for specialized advice for your garden.
- If worse comes to worst, you can always grow succulents.
- Vegetated slopes are usually planted with shrubs rather than a lawn, which could be another option.
Of course, everyone will do as they wish. But as you plan your landscaping, you might want to take into account solutions other than artificial grass, for our health, our children, our wildlife, our future.
3. FIRE STATION 71 UPDATE
HWPOA’s Update on our Fire Station 71 at Beverly Glen and Sunset
Holmby Westwood is covered by 2 fire stations: Station 37 on Veteran Ave. just north of Wilshire that covers the western part of the neighborhood and Station 71 at Beverly Glen and Sunset that covers the eastern part. There are 104 stations serving Los Angeles.
Station 71 has protected our community since 1948. It is an all-risk public safety and emergency service provider. Its mission is to preserve life, protect property, and safeguard our community through relentless commitment to emergency preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery.
Our first responders include 18 firefighters, 6 per shift. On an average day in a 24 hour period, the station averages 2,000 calls. That seems like a huge number but the population it serves includes 85,000 on campus at UCLA and 75,000 to 85,000 residents. The residents are split with Station 37. As expected, the call volume goes up when UCLA is in session.
You might be aware that LAFD has the lowest staffing since 2007. The Dept. lost 90 people to retirement in June and 30 to retirement in July. That puts an additional burden on our firefighters and requires that each live at the station 20% more of the time than before. In other words, they cannot go home and thus, the station becomes their home away from home for days at a time.
The Adopt Fire Station 71 non profit was conceived by a Holmby Westwood POA Board member, Leonard McRoskey, who wanted to provide our firefighters with equipment the city did not provide, upgrades to the station, new kitchen appliances, a new tool room, exercise equipment, outdoor BBQ, and landscaping to name a few needs to make life more comfortable at 71.
The most recently installed gift, made available by a grateful local resident, is a “cold plunge” installed next to the heavily used sauna (see photo below). Cold water therapy can be an effective supplemental treatment for stress relief and it can help reduce anxiety for the firefighters. There are mental and chemical benefits including active recovery of muscles. A huge thank you from the firefighters and the Adopt Station 71 board members to our Holmby Westwood member for this wonderful contribution!!!
If you would like to contribute, please send a check made out to: Adopt Fire Station 71. Mail to:
Adopt Fire Station 71
c/o HWPOA
P.O. Box 49180
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Greatly appreciated!
4. FREE CLASSES AT SANTA MONICA COLLEGE EMERITUS
Santa Monica College’s Emeritus program offers over 140 completely FREE classes in disciplines such as art, music, literature, political science, computer training, health and wellness, and much more. Learn about the available classes at an Open House:
DATE: Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023
TIME: 3 pm – 6 pm
PLACE: Santa Monica College Emeritus Campus
1227 2nd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Please stop in Room 408 to check in and discover all Emeritus has to offer.
PARKING: Free parking in Public Parking Lot 2
MORE INFO: Go to https://www.smc.edu/academics/community-learning/emeritus-program/
A musical performance by pianist Makiko Hiraka will kick off the event at 3 p.m.
5. FALL FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Warner Ave. School – Halloween Haunt
Sunday, October 29, 2023
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Are you ready for the Warner Haunt? This parent-run community celebration is one of Warner’s biggest and spookiest fundraisers! Come enjoy fun carnival games, inflatables, petting zoo, arts & crafts, walk through a Haunted House (if you dare) and much, much more!
Food trucks will be available along with our famous bake sale.
Haunt Packages – https://fundraising.warnerschool.org/product/haunt-packages/
St. Paul the Apostle School Festival
“Totally 80s”
Friday-Sunday, October 20-22
at St. Paul the Apostle School (1536 Selby Ave.)
Games, Food, Rides, and much more!
Website – St. Paul the Apostle School Festival
6. ACTIVITIES & THINGS TO DO
KCET Cinema Series
Tuesdays at 6:30 pm – October 24 through December 12
at the Landmark Westwood Theatre in Westwood Village
Make this fall special with KCET. Return with us to the movie theater for some of the best films from the Cannes, Telluride, and Toronto Film Festivals. Hosted by popular film critic Pete Hammond.
Seven evenings of new dramas, comedies and documentaries – before their release in theatres and streaming. You’ll also enjoy in-person Q&As with the filmmakers.
All at a great price! Register today!
CicLAvia — Heart of LA
Sunday, October 15, from 9 AM to 4 PM
Throughout Downtown Los Angeles
On Sunday, October 15, we’re opening up the streets in the Heart of LA so you can jog, ride, bike, skate, run, walk, skateboard, spectate, and enjoy the route however you want. Our routes are welcoming to people of all ages and abilities! This CicLAvia is presented by Metro.
7. RESIDENT ADS
SEEKING ELECTRICIAN & HANDYMAN
I’m looking for an electrician for some minor electrical work. Please let me know if you have a recommendation.
I could also use a good handyman (or handywoman).
Many thanks.
Andrea Smith
andybabette@gmail.com
HWPOA Communication & Ad Policy:
Please direct all comments, questions or issues regarding the Holmby News to hwpoa@aol.com.
HWPOA members are welcome to post free ads (such as ads for plumbers, housekeepers, garage sales, etc.) in the Holmby News. When placing an ad, please send to hwpoa@aol.com for the Holmby News editor to review. Responses to ads should be directed to the ad placer, not to HWPOA.
8. LOCAL DISCOUNTS & HWPOA BENEFITS
Below you will find links to discounts and benefits that local businesses have offered to HWPOA members. We hope to add more as often as we can. Please let us know if you would like to submit additional discounts for other Westwood retailers.
Current benefits include:
- Campus Shoe Repair – 10% off any shoe or bag repair
9. HWPOA CONTACT INFORMATION
Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 49180
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Phone: (310) 470-1785 (call/text)
Email: hwpoa@aol.com OR info@holmbywestwoodpoa.org
Website: 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.