Information submitted by the libraries.

ECHO PARK LIBRARY

Write Stuff College Preparation Series for High School Students

This free 5-week series of writing workshops, led by professional presenters, will strengthen students’ writing skills for greater success in college. Attendees will work on personal statements for college applications during the first three sessions, so seniors are strongly encouraged to join (and juniors will have a one-year head start). The final two weeks cover methods of essay composition, and expression of ideas through creative writing.

Participants encouraged to attend all 5 sessions. Ages 12-18 welcome. Space is limited; registration required. Contact Echo Park Library at (213) 250-7808, or wmcpher@lapl.org

WEEK 1: Wed., Sept. 25, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Personal Statement for college app

WEEK 2: Wed., Oct. 2, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Personal Statement for college app

WEEK 3: Wed., Oct. 9, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Personal Statement for college app

WEEK 4: Wed., Oct. 16, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Essay writing: Polishing Your Skills

WEEK 5: Wed., Oct. 23, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Creative Writing: For Students Who Think They Can’t Write

SAT Test Preparation Series for High School Students

This new free series, offered at only a handful of libraries throughout the city, is the comparable to a month-long SAT cram course worth hundreds of dollars. After taking the SAT test the first week, students get their scores and return on following Saturdays for intensive study. With the focus each week on a different subject, participants receive individualized guidance with the goal of an improved score. The final week they all take the “Do-Over” test to gauge improvement. Students encouraged to attend all sessions for maximum benefit.

Space is limited; registration is required. Contact Echo Park Library at (213) 250-7808, or wmcpher@lapl.org

SAT Practice Test:

WEEK 1: Saturday, Nov. 9, 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM: Take the Full-Length Test

SAT Follow-up Sessions:

WEEK 2: Saturday, Nov. 16, 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM: Improving Your Math Score
WEEK 3: Saturday, Nov. 23, 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM: Improving Your English Score
WEEK 4: Saturday, December 7, 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM: Improving Your Written Essay Score

DO-OVER:

WEEK 5: Saturday, Dec. 14, 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM: Re-take the SAT Practice Test for a Better Score

Echo Park Library is located at 1410 W. Temple St., Los Angeles CA 90026

EDENDALE LIBRARY

Throughout September, the Los Angeles Public Library will be exploring Moby Dick with events to be held all over the city. The Edendale Branch Library is participating with a book discussion, two film screenings, a short story contest, oceanic origami, and a free concert. Here are the events for this week:

A Discussion of Moby Dick with the Edendale Book Club – Thursday, 9/5, 6:30 p.m.
If you would like to share your experience of this famous novel, please join us. All are welcome. If you come and enjoy yourself, consider coming to our regular monthly meeting on the first Thursday of every month.

Melville, Moby, and Music: a free concert with the Premiere Brass Ensemble – Saturday, 9/7, 12 noon
Music to bring the book and it’s setting to life with sea shanties and other music of the sea. A program for all ages.

The Edendale Branch Library is located at 2011 W. Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park. More information about these programs can be found at whateverhappenedtomobydick.org.

by Kelly Erickson

Towering above the 1600 block of Lemoyne Street is an Echo Park landmark – an enormous glass sculpture taking shape of Madonna, or “The Giant Glass Virgin of Guadalupe.” Neighbors know this sculpture well, but even though artist and owner Randlett Lawrences started the installation in 2001, a lot of Echo Parkians have yet to experience it.

“Phantasma Gloria” aka Randyland is constantly being expanded, but the sculpture is about 24 feet high and 50 feet wide. It’s made from over 1,000 bottles and strung together with beads, rebar and wire. The swirls of colored glass refract light from the sun, as well as distort and twist the landscape beyond as you look through the water-filled vessels.

Check out www.facebook.com/RandylandLA for the location and artist information.

by Kelly Erickson

It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly two years since I’ve walked along the shores of Echo Park Lake, and it won’t be long until we can all enjoy it again. Recently, the final Echo Park Lake Oversight Committee meeting took place before the grand opening, where representatives from the Bureau of Engineering and Council District 13 joined community members in providing the final details on the project wrap-up. The good news? The lake will reopen mid-May! Plans are to have a grand opening open to the public. A few notes on the rest of the items, including festivals, the Lotus blossoms, and more below:

Lady of the Lake

The Lady of the Lake statue was reinstalled just earlier this year. This time she is at her original place, moved from the east side of the lake to the north side, and is also now facing north in the original position. She also has her fingers again after some vandals took a liking to the statue in 2010.

Lake Pathways

The pavement around the perimeter of the lake is made up of a porous pavement (a concrete mixture) and is a light tan color. Bicycles will not permitted on the path.

Lotus Plants

Currently the lotus bed, along with some of the other planted areas, have a thin netting around/over them. This is to ensure the plants have enough time to establish without the birds eating them away before they get big enough. The netting is temporary, but will take approximately one year before it is removed. Blooms of the now one-year old lotus plants will likely occur next spring, depending on the weather. There were over 300 of the Nelumbo Nucifera species planted at the lake.

Fish and fishing

As always before, catch and release is the name of the game. While mosquito fish have already by introduced into the lake (for obvious reasons), fish will be stocked regularly in a year or so as long as the water quality is deemed good. That is, after all, the whole point of the lake rehab! “Fish condos” will also be installed in a couple of weeks.

No festivals, for a while

The landscaping and sod are the final pieces to go into place before the lake opens, and needs some time to establish. This means the Lotus Festival, set to make its come-back this year, will not be happening at the Lake nor any other location. Other events like the annual Cuban Music Festival will also be delayed until next year.

The Boathouse

The Department of Recreation and Parks has release the Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the boathouse. They expect that in two months, more information will be available. However, the boathouse won’t be open for the lake opening.

The Island

I’ve never actually been on that small piece of land connected by the famous bridge, nor on the bridge itself. The plan is to open the bridge and island to the public only on special occasions because of the bird life, but some community members requested it be kept open. Stay tuned for details on the grand opening in the coming weeks!

Published in the April-May 2013 issue of EPIAn Ways and on Echo Park Now

by Peter Lassen

Community members have been complaining for years about the broken sidewalk around the bus stop at Echo Park Avenue and Sunset Boulevard. The roots of the two ficus trees that shaded the bus stop had undermined the sidewalk, and it was a lawsuit just waiting to happen. Realizing that inevitability, the bureaucracy finally sprang into action.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) received a community complaint. METRO then gave money to the City to remove the two ficus trees and fix the sidewalk. Since its budget is tight, the City could not have reacted this fast if the work was to been done with City money. Furthermore, the work would not have been done on the weekend, as the City doesn’t authorize overtime. Once the money had been authorized, the tree removal was approved.

Was there no other way to fix the problem sidewalk? Indeed there was! Root pruning has been shown to be effective in keeping tree roots from undermining sidewalks. And enlarging the tree wells along the curb would provide more space for the roots to grow. Further, root pruning would confine the surface roots to the well without destroying the walk.

While the Council Office was told of the removal, no public notice was required. By City rules, public notice of tree removal is not necessary for fewer than three trees. The trees were taken down on one weekend, and the sidewalk was replaced the following week.
The shade that the ficus trees provided was a welcome break from the heat generated by Walgreen’s parking lot. Bus riders and the Echo Park community mourn the loss of the ficus trees and the dense shade they provided.

Published in the April-May 2013 issue of EPIAn Ways

Submitted by Becky Mazel, Parent, School Site Council Secretary, FoEHES Treasurer

Staff, students and parents have a lot to be proud of at Elysian Heights Elementary School, an LAUSD public school serving pre-K (four year olds) through sixth grade students in Echo Park, as well as many students from beyond the Echo Park district of Los Angeles. With an API score of 825, they must be doing something great because enrollment is increasing in spite of several new charter schools opening in the area in recent years.

Elysian Heights benefits from a number of critical elements of a good school. Its Principal, Veronica Herrera Lynch is a child-centered, involved administrator who is encouraging of parent-involvement in all levels of the school’s operations including classroom support, traditional school events and extra-curricular activities. Ms. Herrera personally runs two afterschool enrichment clubs including the Running Club, and the Book Club. Seasoned, dedicated teachers are also a hallmark of the Elysian Heights staff, each of who provides the school with value-added including class and school-wide art projects and free after school classes in Gardening, Ballet, and Japanese.

The school is steeped in traditions with an annual Halloween Festival and Multicultural Dance Festival. A hub of parent involvement, there are a variety of ways that parents can contribute to the students’ learning environment. A dedicated “parent center” plays host to office, classroom and school event support activities, and fundraising operations as well as providing parents a place to socialize and build community. The school’s PTO Friends of Elysian Heights provides another avenue for parents who are interested in fundraising for unmet needs.

To find out more about Elysian Heights Elementary School, please contact the school at (323) 665-6315, check out the school’s webpage elysian-lausd-ca.schoolloop.com, or on the website at friendsofelysianheights.wordpress.com