LFIA Book Offer:
Los Feliz - An Illustrated Early History
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LFIA News Archive 2009
LFIA Hosts Photo Day Dec. 5
Have any old photos in shoe boxes in your closet? Bring them to the annual LFIA Photo Day Saturday, Dec. 5, from 2-5 p.m. at the Los Feliz Library. LFIA’s History Committee is collecting old photos of Los Feliz neighborhoods, landmarks and residents, prior to the 1980s.
The History Committee members will scan your photos right on the spot and return them to you. After, of course, we ask you questions about the history and significance of the snapshots. Complimentary tea and cookies will be served. Any questions, call (323) 660-1914 or e-mail history@LFIA.org.
Ambrose Terrace Kids—This neighborhood photo of Franklin Elementary students was taken circa 1955 in the cul-de-sac on Ambrose Terrace. It was donated by Andy Quarress, who went on to graduate in the Class of 1965 from John Marshall High School.
LFIA members elected directors at the general membership meeting at the Autry National Center on May 18. Newly elected directors are Jennifer Schlosberg and Demian Wyma. Jennifer is an author of books on parenting. Demian is an LAPD detective. Also reelected were incumbents George Abrahamian, Margie Bird, Marilyn Bush, Dennis Chew, Ricardo Gomez, Norman Mennes, Hilary Misiano, Donald Seligman, Michael Tunick, and Donna Zenor.
Newly elected directors Jennifer Schlosberg and Demian Wyma
The LFIA Board of Directors elected new officers at the June 23 board meeting. The officers for 2009-2010 are L to R: First Vice President - Michael Widman; President - Don Seligman; Second Vice President - Ricardo Gomez; Coordinating Secretary - Chris Laib; Recording Secretary - Tess Nelson; Treasurer - Donna Kolb.
The Greek Theatre has established coffee hours as a way for residents who are affected by the Greek Theatre operations to meet with the management on a casual basis to speak to them about their concerns. The time alternates between morning and evening so that those who work during the day have an opportunity to attend.
The schedule is:
Thursday May 28 7:00 pm
Tuesday June 23 10:30 am
Thursday July 30 7:00 pm
Thursday Aug. 27 10:30 am
Thursday Sept. 24 7:00 pm
Thursday Oct. 29 10:30 am
Monday Nov. 30 7:00 pm
A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held Friday, October 23 for the brand new track & field at John Marshall High School. The ceremony will coincide with the Homecoming 2009 - Star Struck! Councilmember and former Marshall football player Tom LaBonge will give a tour and dedicate the new track at 4:00 pm. Meet at the Big Blue M at the corner of Griffith Park Blvd. and St. George St. The new entrance to the field is on St. George St.
You can join in all the Homecoming activities:
11:10 - 12:29 Homecoming Rally & Crowning of King & Queen
3:00 Frosh/Soph Game
4:30 - 5:15 VIP Reception in cafeteria area
5:15 - 6:00 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
6:00 Varsity Football Game
The awards were presented at a luncheon at the historic Biltmore Hotel on Thursday, May 14.
Chris Hetzel -ICF Jones & Stokes, Clare Darden - Griffith Trust, Marian Dodge - LFIA, Bernadette Soter - GGPNC, Daniel Paul - ICF Jones & Stokes, Griffith Trust attorney Jan Chatten-Brown, Rick Starzak - ICF Jones & Stokes. 
On the first weekend in June the LFIA will participate in the American Cancer Society's 2009
Relay For Life. The Relay is the American Cancer Society's signature annual
event and an important source of funds for this organization's important
work. The Relay offers everyone an opportunity to participate in the fight
against cancer. The Relay operates by individuals or community groups
forming teams that raise money and take turns walking or running around a
designated track or path. The Relay is 24 hours in length; representing the
reality that cancer never sleeps. By participating, we honor cancer
survivors, pay tribute to the lives we've lost to the disease and raise
money to help fight cancer in our local communities. This year, teams in the communities surrounding Griffith Park will walk/run around the famous Mulholland Fountain. The Relay will begin on Saturday, June 6 at 8:00 AM and continue through Sunday, June 7 at 8:00 AM. The day will be filled with activities and special programs.
You can support any of the local teams participating in the Relay (including Team LFIA), and the important work of the American Cancer Society, by making a contribution via the Relay's website. Click on the team of your choice and follow the directions to donate.
Griffith Park was dedicated as Historic-Cultural Monument #942 at a ceremony on Thursday, March 12. Read and see more about it here. (3/13/09)
The Los Angeles Improvement Association is very proud of its latest book offering, “Los Feliz: An Illustrated Early History” by Donald Seligman. This book attempts to supplement our previous books by concentrating on the earlier history of Los Feliz, from prehistory to 1940, illustrated by an expanded collection of historic photographs and other graphic material. It is the first book to address the early history of the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles which predates even the city’s own founding in 1781.
Los Feliz was home to a major Native American settlement before Jose Vicente Feliz brought his family to the Los Angeles basin in the first expedition to bring secular settlers to California in 1776. Over the next 20 years, Feliz had the major responsibility for establishing the new pueblo of Los Angeles and was rewarded for his efforts as the governor’s Comisionado with the Rancho Los Feliz granted to him by Spanish King Carlos III around 1800. ... [continued here]
On a crystal clear perfect southern California morning the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to designate Griffith Park a Historic-Cultural landmark! Councilmember Tom LaBonge shepherded the motion deftly through Council fending off last minute requests to weaken the language of the nomination.
LaBonge’s introductory remarks were followed by the staff report from the head of the Office of Historic Resources Ken Bernstein. Rec. & Parks General Manager Jon Kirk Mukri stated that he was 100% in favor of the designation. ... [continued here]
Fire Station 35, 56, and 82, serving the Los Feliz neighborhood, were very appreciative of the Annual Holiday dinners delivered by the Police, Fire, Safety Committee, of the Los Feliz Improvement Association.
Mrs. Claus was Margret Lohfeld, an LFIA Board Member. Elves were Mark Stong, Co-Chair of LFIA's - Police, Fire, and Safety Committee, and Raymond Coty, Board Member of the Friends of the Los Feliz Library. The team whistled holiday tunes while preparing colorful Holiday papered boxes, filled with turkey and all the trimmings. The sleigh delivered the huge gifts to each station on Saturday, December 20, 2008.
The brave men and women of the Northeast Division, of the Los Angeles Police Department were also given LFIA's Annual tasty token of appreciation. Their Annual Holiday dinner was held on December 15,2008. (1-24-09)
Van Griffith, great-grandson of the donor of Griffith Park, and Councilmember Tom LaBonge at the PLUM meeting in City Hall.
Griffith Park moved a step closer to being designated a Historic-Cultural Monument on Tuesday, January 13. There was a full house at the Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM) in City Hall. Councilmember Tom LaBonge spoke first and strongly supported the landmark designation. He introduced Van Griffith, great-grandson of the original donor, who brought his son Trevor from their home in Central California to support the nomination.
John Gray, CEO of the Autry National Center expressed strong support for the historic preservation of the park, but wanted no additional approvals required for the Autry. Marty Adams of the DWP wanted the DWP Headworks project exempted from review. Special language negotiated by Jan Chatten-Brown, the attorney for the Griffith Charitable Trust, Bill Delvac, the attorney for the Autry, and Ken Bernstein of the Office of Historic Preservation will clarify that projects in noncontributing areas of the park which are already in the approval process such as the Autry’s expansion will be exempt from review. Rec. and Parks with have a six-month grace period on maintenance while they establish protocol.
Numerous speakers representing the fifty organizations who support the nomination including LFIA President Marian Dodge urged PLUM to recommend the nomination to City Council. After many had spoken, PLUM chair, Councilmember Ed Reyes, asked if he could expedite matters by having all those who supported the nomination to rise. The committee then voted to agree with the staff report and recommend Griffith Park as a Historic-Cultural Monument!
At the same PLUM meeting the nomination of the Moreton Bay fig trees on N. Vermont Avenue was also recommended as a Historic-Cultural Monument. Both items will go to City Council for a vote on Tuesday, January 27. Mark your calendars now to attend the City Council meeting, Tuesday, January 27, 10:00 in City Hall, room 340.
Many thanks to all of you who attended the meeting or wrote letters and e-mails. It is your support that made it happen. (1-14-09)
Landscape architect Patricia L. Smith will discuss urban design and streetscape improvements. Smith’s most recent projects include the Vermont Triangle Boulevard Garden, the Downtown South Pasadena Streetscape Improvements, and the Archive Landscape, Academy of Motion Pictures. She has prepared more than twenty landscape plans for elementary, middle and high schools with an emphasis on replacing asphalt with play fields and strategic tree plantings.
The library is located at 1874 Hillhurst Ave. on the corner of Franklin Ave. For more information, please call the library at 323-913-4710 during regular business hours.
The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Los Feliz Library, merchants of the Los Feliz Village BID and Skylight Books. Skylight Books will provide related architecture books for purchase.
1965 Hillhurst, Los Angeles CA 90027