VHGC TOWN HALL MEETING!

Tuesday, July 7th at 7pm

North Valley City Hall

Come get all the latest details. Learn about the Draft EIR, the EIR process, and how to make comments!

Rich Toyon will present a community friendly project alternative including ideas how the Verdugo Hills Golf Course property could be expanded with additional recreation, rather than the 229 homes proposed by the developer. Our community friendly alternative would preserve the Golf Course, the trees, and the watershed, with the use of ecologically sound land management and conservation of natural resources.

Speak out now or lose the golf course forever!

We’ll see you Tuesday night.

See the savethegolfcourse.org page for more details.

VHGC Developer Refuses To Meet With Public!

In the latest strange turn of events, the developers who are seeking to transform the VHGC into housing are now declining to meet with the very community the proposed project will affect!  MWH/Snowball West Investments has declined to share information with the public during the public comment period for the Draft EIR.  A presentation by the developers would help the community to better understand what is proposed at the golf course, but the developers have decided otherwise. It appears that any type of presentation would raise more questions than it answers so the developers want to play it safe and avoid public inquiry until the comment period for the Draft EIR is complete.  How’s that for avoiding scrutiny? Shame on you MWH/Snowball . This proposed housing project will destroy our beloved golf course and transform the entire TCB/LA Tuna Canyon corridor, and the developers are hiding! For detailed information on the VHGC and how you can contribute to saving the golf course, please visit the wonderfully put together website by VOICE at  SAVETHEGOLFCOURSE.ORG.

New Use For Abandoned Car

Well, seeing how this car has sat abandoned on Tujunga Canyon for months and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, I guess we may as well get some use out of it! And no, we don’t know who the creative person is behind the signs, but we think it’s pretty funny and it makes a good statement.

Tujunga Wash Bridge Re-dedicated

Councilmember Wendy Greuel along with city engineers, local leaders & residents commemorated the opening of the bridge with a ceremony on Friday.

Here’s a few pictures of the re-dedication.

STA Meets With Councilmember Wendy Greuel

The STA met with Wendy today for the last time, or at least for the last time that she is a Councilmember. She moves to her new post as City Controller on July 1.

The hour long meeting included Sheri Smith, Abby Diamond and Joe Barrett from the STA, Cindy Cleghorn and Tomi Lyn Bowling from the STNC,  and Dale Thrush and Jim Dantona from CD2.

The hot topic of discussion was the Verdugo Hills Golf Course. We discussed the progress (or lack of)  in acquiring funding to purchase the property,  and the Draft EIR.

We haven’t given up our effort for a 90 day review, and requested Wendy’s assistance to extend the comment period for the DEIR. Funding has become a delicate issue as there are numerous factors involved. In addition to the multi-jurisdictional and multi-funding sources that have to be coordinated, there is also the matter of the property owners willingness to sell.  We’ll have more details to report at our next STA meeting.

Another topic was the Tujunga Wash and how the homeless camps have suddenly returned after being cleared out about a month ago. Wendy explained that the camps will need to be monitored and regular sweeps will be performed to deal with the problem. We expect to see a second sweep very soon. This is a difficult issue for all of us, because no one wants to see more problems for the homeless folks, but unfortunately these camps ravage the wash, bringing in huge amounts of trash. The homeless that camp there also cause extensive damage to the native flora.

We also presented Wendy with a list of recommendations for her new job as City Controller. We would love to see audits of the LA Department of Building & Safety and City Planning. Let’s hope we get our wish!

Finally, we thanked Wendy for the great job she has done as our Councilperson, and for her extraordinary efforts in our successful campaign against Home Depot.  Joe called the last  5 years “an adventure”!

Wendy promised she will be close-by, and still has an interest in CD2 happenings, and even tho her job title will change, she still wants to be included in our community events.

We wish her the very best in her new endeavor, and look forward to working with her as the City Controller of Los Angeles. Now we have to make sure whoever replaces her as our Councilmember meets up to the standard that she set, and gives Sunland-Tujunga the attention we deserve.

Casserole Contest Postponed!

We regret to announce that we are postponing the Great Casserole Cook-off that was scheduled for June 27.

We need this time to focus on the Draft EIR for the Verdugo Hills Golf Course.

We will be holding a major fundraiser probably in September. Until then, please know that we are always accepting donations as we rely on community funding to keep our organization alive & kicking!

Report on the CEQA Workshop

We had a great day!

The Workshop presented by the Planning and Conservation League was very informative and productive.  We had a full house, with participants from all over the region, including Azusa, Claremont, Ventura, Glendale and Pasadena.  Many friends and neighbors from our local Neighborhood Councils and other homeowner associations were there as well.

I think everyone who attended got something useful out of the day. Doug Carstens, a local land use attorney, was extremely patient and answered everyone’s questions with candor and expertise. I found it very refreshing to work with someone who understands the law, the CEQA process, and various City policies, yet has the ability to see the public’s point of view.  The Verdugo Hills Golf Course Draft EIR was used as a teaching tool, so those of us who will be writing comments are doubly pleased!

Here’s another round of applause for Doug Carstens, and many thanks to Melanie and Paul from the PCLF, Marc Stirdivant, Cindy Cleghorn, and Ed Rock,  who helped put it all together! Our compliments to Kris from Old Town Cafe on Commerce for the great lunch, too.

Remember, community empowerment begins when we educate ourselves on the processes involved!  Today, we armed ourselves with knowledge!!! -Abby

The Great Cemetery Cleanup!

Put this on your calendar! This Saturday, June 6th, from 9 am till noon, we will be joining Mary Lou Pozzo in a clean-up of the Verdugo Hills Pioneer Cemetery! Come on down, bring a rake, some gloves, and a weed-whacker if you have one! You will learn a lot from Mary Lou about the fascinating  history of this cemetery and you’ll be doing your part to help preserve this important site.  This is a great opportunity to teach your kids the importance of community involvement and they will get a history lesson as well!  We’ll see you there!

Get Ready for A Busy Summer! 5/20/09

Here We Go!  Mark Your Calendar for Saturday, June 6 & Sunday, June 7.

This summer promises to be action-packed! The Draft EIR for the Verdugo Hills Golf Course has been released and is ready for review. You can access it by clicking HERE.  The Summary alone is 80 pages. There’s a lot to read, and already we’ve noticed a discrepancy about the comment period. We’ll be making some calls tomorrow and let you know what we find out.

So, (as we planned it) the DEIR is just in time for our upcoming CEQA Workshop on Sunday, June 7.  If you would like to participate in the CEQA Workshop, you must register in advance. There are still a few Community Scholarship Registrations available (the $35.00 materials fee has already been paid) for those who will commit to submitting a response to the Draft EIR. This is a fabulous opportunity to learn about the CEQA process in general, and learn to write effective comments specifically for the Verdugo Hills Golf Course DEIR. Click HERE to read about the Workshop. And click HERE to download the flyer and registration form.

Saturday, June 6

Please join us for Community Beautification and Clean-Up at the Verdugo Hills Pioneer Cemetery. We’ll be there from 9:00am-Noon. Bring your hat, gloves, water, sunscreen, shovel, rake, clipper, weed whacker with gas, your truck, trailer, garbage bags, and Community Spirit.

Mary Lou and Richard Pozzo have been shouldering this job by themselves for years! Let’s pitch in! We’ll be there the first Saturday of the month as long as people are willing to show up.

It’s a great experience for the whole family! We’ll see you there.

STA Meeting Monday Night!

Just a reminder! We have a lot to report and many things to talk about!

Here’s the info:

Monday, May 11th

7pm (if you want to eat dinner, order between 6-6:45pm)

Olde Towne Cafe

10024 Commerce Ave
(818) 951-2700

Tell your friends & neighbors. See you there!

LA City Council May Cut Neighborhood Council Funding!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!

LA City Council Proposal Threatens to Shut Down Neighborhood Councils

LOS ANGLELES, CA – 9 May 2009: A budget proposal being voted on by LA City Council on Tuesday 12 May removes millions in allocated funds for Neighborhood Councils, the volunteer bodies that coordinate many civic projects, such as beautification and zoning, that normally cost thousands of hours of City employee time or just don’t get done for lack of manpower. Opponents of the move say the threatened budget cuts could wipe out Neighborhood Councils completely by denying them even the tiny budgets they’ve been working with up to now.

Neighborhood Council members throughout the city are protesting the move, saying that it will reduce the budgets of the Neighborhood Councils by 80%. They point out that the city council is ignoring the millions of dollars the city is saving by keeping these programs completely funded.

“Most of the budgets of these NCs go right back into the city, and have resulted in a huge wave of community volunteerism unlike any other program in history,” says Tomi Lyn Bowling, Land Use Committee Chair & 1st Vice President and long time member of the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council. “The tiny budget that keeps these Neighborhood Councils going is actually saving the city millions more for work now done by unpaid volunteers.”

The reduction to these budgets may in fact see the end of a program that has been hailed as a huge success and a model for the rest of the country. Currently the NCs each receives a meager $50,000 per year, most of which is used to fund school projects, pay for police equipment, and community improvement. The proposed cut would leave them each with just over $11,000. That is scarcely enough to cover their meeting space rental, let alone comply with their charter requirements of outreach into their communities. In short, this cut could shut the NC program down completely.

One NC Vice President submitted the following in a letter to the LA City Council in response to the proposed cut:

“…This city is so large and composed of so many different townships that it is so easy to become a lost voice and so hard to get anything done. The NC system was the remedy for that giganticness. The promise from the mayor at the time secession was looked at was that the NC system would be strengthened to give Angelenos the ability to get things done in their communities.

…

When adding up the thousands of volunteer hours that have gone into city projects as a direct result of the NC system it is unconditionally clear that this program not only doesn’t cost much but it saves millions of dollars in what would otherwise cost the city in labor and equipment…”

The LA City Council Budget Committee meets Tuesday May 12th at City Hall. Those who have benefitted from the NC programs are urged to attend and make your voices heard, or write to your city council members by email or fax www.lacity.org for contact info.

CONTACT:

Tomi Lyn Bowling
Email: tomi@tomirealty.com

Phone: 818-353-9143

Angeles National Golf Club Update

There has been some action on the 280 acres of open space that the community has been working to have transferred to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. Here is an update from Tomi Lyn Bowling, chairman of the STNC Land Use Committee:

Angeles National Golf Course Update
Mountains Recreation
Conservation Authority
Passes Motion

The motion before the MRCA today was:

“Consideration of resolution authorizing all actions necessary to accept approximately 260 (*editor note, its 280 acres)-acre Big Tujunga Wash open space dedication including entering into agreements with the Angeles National Golf Club to fund maintenance and required environmental mitigation measures and acceptance of funding for all said purposes.”

After several motions like this at several earlier meetings this motion was at last passed.  One more crucial step on the road to complete dedication of this 280 acre parcel.

There are some details to work out still but all are hopeful that the negotiations will be complete soon and that both parties will be satisfied with the terms.

Concurrently Los Angeles Police Department in coordination with Council District Two staff and Matt Bennett of Angeles National Golf Course with his crew of roughly eight maintenance staff, plowed through the land in question in the Tujunga Wash today cleaning up everything in sight.  The trash bin at Oro Vista was full!  The project to clean up this part of the Tujunga Wash started late last week with the Los Angeles Homeless Authority visiting transients and offering them shelter and various kinds of aid.  The Homeless Authority visited again on Monday making their offers again and finally LAPD issued verbal and written warnings to alert the trespassing residents that the area would be vacated and cleared and so it was.

Update from Joe Barrett:

The LAPD, in cooperation with CD2 and the ANGC did a sweep through the wash earlier today. Besides a general clean-up, it appears that several homeless camps are now vacant as well. I took a walk through the area this afternoon and 2 camps that I am familiar with are now abandoned. See the pictures below.

STA Meeting!!!

Time To Catch Up!

It’s been quite a while since we’ve met as a group and we are looking forward to this one. We have many topics and issues to cover including the upcoming CEQA workshop, the future of the K-Mart site, and The Pioneer Cemetery monthly cleanup. We will also be planning a fund raising event. Casserole Contest anyone? Put on your thinking caps and bring your ideas!

Here’s the info:

Monday, May 11th

7pm (if you want to eat dinner, order between 6-6:45pm)

Olde Towne Cafe

10024 Commerce Ave
(818) 951-2700

Tell your friends & neighbors. See you there!

Verdugo Hills Cemetery 5/3/09

We Made a Dent in the Pioneer Cemetery Clean-Up

Also known as the Hills of Peace. This local historic gem has a “view to die for” as Mary Lou Pozzo likes to say! A bunch of us locals spent many hours this weekend helping to clear weeds and clean up around the property. The weather was perfect! The great thing about working in this cemetery was being surrounded by so much history. Mary Lou is a walking, talking, repository of local history and she would break up the work by launching into story after story. We are going to try to get her to speak at an upcoming STA meeting! Stay tuned for more info on that.

There’s More Work To Be Done

Mary Lou has been the caretaker for many years, practically all by herself.  Those of us who participated, somehow convinced Mary Lou to let us help out a little more.  So, if you’ve been looking for something to do, or even just wondering about the graveyard, here’s your chance.

Monthly Cemetery Clean-up & Maintenance
First Saturday of every month
9:00 am – 12 noon
Starting with June 6th .

Everyone is Invited to Join In!

Volunteering and being part of the community has many rewards; an improved neighborhood is only one benefit. It feels good to help out and make new friends at the same time.  We’ll see you there next month!

To see a slide show of this weekend’s clean-up go to:http://sunlandtujungaalliance.com/slideshow.html

To read The Foothills Forum thread about all this go to:

The Foothills Forum

It’s Not Old, It’s Historic! 4/27/09

Be Sure to Attend these Free Local Events!

Little Landers Historical Society will offer an opportunity to learn about SurveyLA on May 9th. SurveyLA is a new program established by the City to document our historic landmarks. We need to identify and protect our historic properties!  Be sure to attend this event and learn how the program works. There will be a speaker, video, and discussion. Click to download the flyer HERE.

Another Volunteer Opportunity!

Sunland-Tujunga Community Beautification Day! Visit Historic Landmark #946. Our very own Pioneer Cemetery is LA’s newest Historic Landmark! Clean-up will take place on Saturday, May 2, and Sunday May 3, from 9am-2pm. 7000 Parsons Trail in Tujunga. Bring your hat, gloves, sunscreen, garden tools,weed whacker and gas. For more info call 352-3420.

Be Involved! Stay Informed!

CEQA Workshop Announcement 4/21/09

On June 7, 2009, the STA, STNC, VOICE and the Planning and Conservation League Foundation will present a Community Guide to CEQA Workshop. This is an exciting opportunity to learn about CEQA and the Environmental Impact Report process. Please check out the VHGC tab (above) for more info, the flyer, registration form,  and links to the PCL Foundation.

Update from Abby 4/16/09

Women’s Self Defense Workshop!

Assemblymember Paul Krekorian sent this announcement today.  We’re invited, even tho we’re not even in his district! Its useful information and its FREE! Click HERE for a larger version of the flyer.

Be sure to say thanks to Assemblymember Krekorian!

District Office:
300 E. Magnolia Blvd., Suite 504
Burbank, CA 91502
Tel: (818) 558-3043
Fax: (818) 558-3042

Update from Joe 4/15/09

Breaking News!

Sex Offenders Have Been Removed From Oro Vista House!

Well that was fast. We received a message from Nina Royal that she spoke with the State Parole Officer in charge of these men and he told her they were being removed from the house immediately. Additionally, he stated that the home would not be rented out again to house sex offenders.

I drove by the house around 4:30 pm and it is indeed empty (see photos). All of the blinds have been raised as if to show the neighborhood that these guys are gone.

A witness told me that she had watched an RV being loaded up earlier today.

Nice work everyone! We’ll try to get more details on how this all came to pass so quickly. My initial thought is that the large turnout at Chapel of the Hills Church and the subsequent TV coverage had a lot to do with the swift eviction of these dangerous criminals.

Update from Joe 4/14/09

Sex Offenders Being Housed By The State In Sunland!

A crowd of around 100 gathered at Chapel of the Hills Church tonight to learn about and discuss the 4 registered sex offenders that are being housed almost directly across the street from the church and preschool. There were also representatives present from LAPD and REACT (the police group that monitors sex offenders). Both KNBC and KCBS covered the meeting and had reports about the story on their respective newscasts later in the evening.

It’s also interesting to note that these offenders are considered serious enough that they have been equipped with GPS monitoring devices to keep track of their every move.

It is obvious that there is a lot of anger about these sex offenders being placed in our community, and tonight residents were looking for a way to remedy this situation.  The STA will be promoting a letter writing campaign in the next few days and looking at all legal options.

Stay tuned, there will be more on this story!

Neighborhood Update 4/13/09

We received this notice from a local resident and are posting it here because this is an important issue that affects every one of us in Sunland-Tujunga!

On Tuesday, April 14, at 7pm, at Chapel of the Hills Church at 11120 Oro Vista, there will be a very important meeting regarding two houses that recently were filled with violent sex offenders/child molesters by the State.  One of our corral members took a picture of the hole that was cut out of the shade so that now there is a clear view of the children who attend the private school directly across the street from this half way house for violent sex offenders. There are now 4 offenders in the house and they are planning on bringing in 2 more. Another house on Owen Street in Tujunga, has been housed with four more violent sex offender/child molesters. It has been reported that men from that house have been walking around the neighborhood at all hours. They are one block away from the trails in Big Tujunga, across the street from a school and 1 1/2 blocks from another school.

Please share this information with anyone else who has children or would otherwise be interested. It’s necessary for us to have a large turnout tomorrow night to protest the State putting these people in our neighborhood.

Update from Abby 4/12/09

We Love Our Oak Trees!

As part of the effort to Save the Verdugo Hills Golf Course, we will be reviewing the Draft EIR. The property owners did a tree evaluation for the Environmental Review process, and we feel it is necessary to do our own survey of the Oak population for comparison.

This past Saturday, Joe Barrett, Gary Knowlton and I cataloged, measured, evaluated, noted, and photographed the Oaks in one section of the grounds.

You might know Gary, he’s our local professional Certified Arborist, who specializes in Oaks and is highly qualified for the job, with over 33 years of experience in the field. He knows these particular trees well; he used to be the tree-caretaker for the prior owners of the Golf Course.

The area we studied was a significant, established native Oak woodland. The majority of the trees we surveyed were in very good condition. There were numerous trees with a trunk circumference of greater than 20 inches, and several trees having trunks as large as 30 inches circumference. The area was abundant with life – critters, ferns, and plenty of poison oak!

There’s a lot more to do, but we made a good start.  We had fun, too!

Update from Abby 4/8/09

Lots of Stuff Going On!

I went to the STNC meeting tonight.  For starters, we offer our congratulations to Tomi Lyn on her new position as Vice-President! (Business Rep position is now available.)  There’s a lot to report, so settle in and get comfortable!

The K-Mart Site

Here’s a little background. As you may already know, Mission Community College is interested in building a satellite campus in Sunland-Tujunga.  Thanks to the voter’s approval of Measure J, the College District has funds available for site acquisition and development of satellite campuses. They have been looking at various locations around town for the past couple of years, and now have their eye on the old K-Mart site.

Judith Valles, President of Mission College, spoke briefly to introduce Larry Eisenberg, Executive Director, Facilities Planning & Development for the Community College District. Mr. Eisenberg was a lively and informative speaker, and he took many questions from the audience. The representatives from the College are committed to being responsive to the needs and wants of the community. They are full of ideas for what the college campus could provide and mentioned specifically a Culinary Program with a Restaurant. The College is interested in sharing the site with … keep your fingers crossed … TARGET! They have been in recent contact with Target, and hope to have a formal response soon. We’ll keep you posted, for sure.

Here’s a Brief Review of the Q&A Answers

The college is interested in purchasing the property, rather than leasing it. They are reluctant to use Eminent Domain, but as a public agency, they could. (It really didn’t seem they would.)

Minimum site requirements would be 15,000 sq. ft. but that would only provide 10 classrooms, a small library, student lounge, and Administration facility. 30,000 sq. ft. would provide optimal usage,  not including the restaurant.

They have $25 million for purchase and construction costs, but need operating capital, which would come from partnering with retail development.

Many people had plenty of ideas for the site, including something for the kids, and Mr. Eisenberg loved hearing what people had to say. He promised Town Hall meetings to gather formal input from the community. All in all, it was a great presentation. We’re looking forward to a positive relationship with the College and Target.

Other Items of Interest

ACTION ALERT – Mark your calendar for Wednesday, April 15, 6:00pm, City Hall, Downtown. There will be a meeting to discuss the possibility of mountain bikes being allowed on all trails in all City Parks. This will be a dangerous situation for hikers and equestrian uses. We’ll have more info on this in a day or so, so check back for details.

Fun Stuff To Do

Got socks and underwear? Bolton Hall will open a new exhibit this coming Saturday, with an informative lecture at 1:00pm. Find out everything you wanted to know about Victorian Womens Underwear!

Little Landers Historical Society is having their Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, April 25, from 9am-1pm, in the alley behind Rio Clothing Store located at 9929 Commerce Ave. As always, there will be all kinds of plants starting at 25 cents! Plant donations may be made on Friday April 24 between 9:30am-3:00pm. Call Lloyd Hitt for more info. 951-1041

Volunteer Opportunity!  Community Beautification Day! Visit Historic Landmark #946. Our very own Pioneer Cemetery is LA’s newest Historic Landmark! Clean-up will take place on Saturday, May 2, and Sunday May 3, from 9am-2pm. 7000 Parsons Trail in Tujunga. Bring your hat, gloves, sunscreen, garden tools,weed whacker and gas. For more info call 352-3420.

Land Use Updates - In Brief

The 4.75 acres at Oro Vista and Big T has made the first cut for Prop 84 funds. Many thanks to Elaine Brown, Mary Benson, and Cindy Cleghorn for their dedication and filling out the extensive paperwork. The next step is to wait for a site inspection.

The Canyon Market Cell Phone Tower proposal was heard by the Zoning Administrator earlier this week. CD2 recommended against the proposed 60 ft. tower, stating the law only allows 45 ft. and requested the ZA require additional landscaping with a forest of real trees if the mono-pine tower is approved. No determination has been made yet.

It appears that the Angeles National Golf Club and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy are close to an agreement for guardianship of the 260 acres of open space that borders the golf course. CD2 will be working with LAPD, the Golf Club and a social service foundation to remove and relocate the homeless people.

The Verdugo Hills Golf Course Draft EIR is expected to be released at the end of this month. Some progress has been made in terms of funding for acquisition of the land, but the owner is not forthcoming with a price. One million $ in Prop K funds may be available, but State funds are frozen. The STA, STNC, and VOICE  are planning a CEQA Workshop which will be geared specifically towards the DEIR in early June.

Stay tuned! We’ll be posting more info and details on many of these  important issues in the days to come.

Update from Joe 3/30/09

Department of Fish & Game Releases Scathing Report on the Failure of Angeles National Golf Course to Meet Mitigation Measures and Conditions of Approval!

Wow It’s a doozy! Read it Here!

Update from Tomi 3/19

We need to alert the community to the impending dedication of 260 acres of open and protected space, adjacent to Angeles National Golf Course and the rules that will be set into motion regarding the Tujunga Wash from Oro Vista at the east end to Foothill Blvd at the west end and spanning both hill ranges on the south and north (the north includes about half way up the hillside by the Conover fire road). It becomes, essentially, a park, a natural habitat, when the dedication is completed. The golf course were required to donate this land to an official preservation body as part of the requirements to obtain their final permits for the clubhouse (clubhouse is nearly complete).

A Chief Ranger, from the MRCA (Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority) came out for a walk in the wash today. Matt Bennett from Angeles National Golf Course was there for part of the trip and Angela Motta was there for most of it. The purpose was to see how much land there is to maintain and what kind of man power would be needed, what services, to bring it up to a maintenance program and how many man hours per week to patrol it and keep the area preserved. MRCA have much experience in management and preservation of open space as they are the ranger force that handles all land dedicated to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. They also have an excellent repute and program for cleaning out the encampments.

There are a few things that he felt you should all be aware of if the MRCA takes this on.

1. Intervention & assistance as needed by the LA Homeless Authority.

2. Its an “all or nothing” kind of deal when it comes to recreational use that is public and enforced. Its open from sun up to sundown.

3. No smoking.

4. No fires. Use of fireworks, guns or anything like it is strictly prohibited.

5. No motor vehicles of any kind. Equestrian is fine, walkers, hikers, bicycles are fine.

6. Dogs must be leashed.

7. No BMX trails (his name). That means no building up of mounds of dirt so that bicycles can ride & jump them (they do this now at the far east side by the 4 McMansions).

8. No littering. Its a park.

9. No dumping of any kind.

10. No overnight camping.

11. No removal of any vegetation or stones, dirt, or animals, its a preserve & natural habitat. Community clean up in the area is strongly advised against because there are so many active encampments. He said we do not want community members out there picking up trash until an initial sweep of the area is done as it is currently very dangerous and hazardous due to the nature of uses out there right now. One needle prick of someone and it can turn into a nightmare.

He also explained that they are NOT the police. 911 emergencies are not for the park rangers, that is still a 911 call. The community at large needs to understand that along with the dedication comes rules. The community is invited to comment or voice their concerns about any of the above or others issues concerning this issue to the STNC by fax 951-7412 or email BusinessRep@STNC.org or in person at the next STNC meeting, April 8th.

Update from Tomi 3/17/09

Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy – Angeles National Golf Course – Land Dedication- Resurrection

On Monday, March16,  a handful of Sunland-Tujunga citizens, representing various groups and interests, drove way out of their own territory up to a meeting of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy with the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority. The meeting was held in Thousand Oaks.

What would prompt such travel by these locals?

The possible dedication of 260 acres of protected land in the Tujunga Wash that was being considered by SMMC and then was summarily removed from the agenda but was brought back for one last go around.

The community members included Nina Royal, Elaine Brown, Ricky Grubb from the STNC,  Abby Diamond, Joe Barrett of Sunland-Tujunga Alliance, Tomi Lyn Bowling as the Land Use Committee Chair and a mountain of letters from others that could not attend but spoke their words of support.

The community members were only given short notice of the very far off meeting so the troopers had little time to prepare. But prepare they did! They came armed with power points, drawings, photographs and words of wisdom. The MRCA has taken the matter under reconsideration and a representative from their Ranger Corp is meeting with ANGC, Tomi Bowling and Mr Dale Thrush tomorrow or Thursday afternoon to walk the wash and work out an estimated cost to care for this land. Mr. Thrush was not at the meeting but has spoken to the LUC chair extensively regarding this issue and has been given the communities understanding and reasoning behind wanting the MRCA to accept this dedication over the city of LA doing so.

In short the city lacks resources and is already stretched too thin to maintain the park areas they currently have. This is by far not over. Please keep sending your letters of support and recommendations to the city Planner (who is considering whether or not the golf course has complied with the list of 72 conditions) David.Weintraub@lacity.org and dale.thrush@lacity.org and edelman@smmc.ca.gov

Stay tuned for the next few events this week!

Update from Abby 3/12/09

We’re Being Used!

We’ve been alerted to an email going around, and it says the sender is No Home Depot. The content of the email is about whether Wendy’s successor for the CD2 Council seat will be appointed or elected.

Well, that’s not us. We are not sending any email around. It’s being sent from this email address: sunlndt@yahoo.com.    Hmmph!

We do not approve!

If you receive that email, please respond saying that the No Home Depot Campaign does not approve the message or the method, and is not affliated with the sender.  And they should take our name off of it. Thanks so much!

Update from Abby 3/11/09

We have a little news about the Kmart Site!

On Monday, March 8, a few community leaders were invited by CD2 to attend a small meeting with developers representing the Los Angeles Mission College. The rumors are true; the College is scouting for a location and is interested in opening a satellite campus here in S-T. They are very interested in the Kmart property and would include an anchor retail development along with the college. There is bond money available from Measure J (from last years election) to purchase and develop new sites for the Community College District, but they would have to include other uses. That’s where the questions come in – what anchor would be willing or able to combine resources with the college.

Basically, they wanted to hear what the community has to say, and wanted to know what type of development we would support. It was refreshing; they were very good listeners and they seem like they would be good neighbors. Community leaders who attended were Joe Barrett, STA Chairman, Dan McManus, President STNC, Tomi Lyn Bowling, Chair/STNC Land Use Committee, Cindy Cleghorn, Secretary, STNC, and yours truly, moi.

No decisions were made, and there is nothing going on other than discussion about our hopes and dreams.

What about Target?

The College District has been in discussion with the Target folks and we can only hope Target will decide to share the site. We understand that Target is “crunching the numbers” to see if it would be viable for them to come in here – but at this point, they have indicated they would want the entire site, as their format calls for 10 acres or more.  NOTHING is ruled out, but at the same time, there is really NOTHING to report as far as any decisions.

Where do we go from here?

You can be assured, we’ll keep you posted as soon as any solid information comes along. There will definately be Town Hall meetings for input from the community at large as this moves along. Stay tuned!

Update from Abby 3/9/09

More Voter Alert Info From the STNC

This past election, March 3rd, had some reported difficulties associated with polling places in Sunland Tujunga. These difficulties ranged from the wrong polling place written on the Sample Ballot to poor signage and other difficulties in finding polling places. If you experienced any difficulty please let us know. Email: BusinessRep@STNC.org and please send a copy to our LA City Clerk Karen.Kalfayan@lacity.org

Thank you, Tomi Bowling, Business Rep Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council

We’re Famous!

Check out this great little story about our town and the No Home Depot Campaign on the Big Box Tool Kit website. It’s a great site with lots of information about towns all over the country who are fighting big box stores. They followed our story and we corresponded with them on and off over the years.

Update from Abby 3/5/09

Voter Alert! Did you have trouble finding your polling place?

Did you have trouble finding your polling place on Tuesday? Did you know your usual polling location was changed for this election?

There was no official notice given to those people whose polling place was changed. Mine included. We are hearing from people about trouble they had finding their polling place because the polling places weren’t signed and visible, as well.

Did you decide not to vote because your polling place was hard to find? Or maybe you didn’t even know it was changed and you showed up to your usual location? These situations could mean the difference for those close calls in some of the races.

The one race we are watching closely is the School Board seat for our district. Louis Pugliese is only 481 votes short of a tie with the other candidate. With that kind of close call, every vote counts! Well, every vote counts anyway, but if you had trouble voting, it could make a big difference.

If you had a bad polling place experience, please send an email to Louis and let him know – his email is lpugliese@earthlink.net

Thanks for your participation in the democratic process!

Update from Abby 3/1/09

We’ve got some catching up to do! Here’s some tidbits of news.

What’s happening with the Kmart site?

In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a big ol’ sign at the Kmart site! Its most definitely available for lease or lease for sale. We’ve heard that there is a lot of interest in the site, but no solid offers. We haven’t got any details about any  negotiations to report, but we’ll keep you posted if we hear anything.  But it’s true, Target and Mission College are both interested. Mission College understands our retail needs, and they have indicated they would share the site with commercial retail. Let’s try not to get our hopes up just yet. Please attend the STNC Land Use Committee meeting on Monday, March 2, 7:00, at North Valley City Hall, or the general STNC meeting on Wednesday night, March 11, 7:00, also at North Valley City Hall (usually at Mt. Gleason). You can find out about any updates or new information there.

More Open Space

Last week, Councilmember Wendy Greuel dedicated 229 acres of open space in La Tuna Canyon! CD2 partnered with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to purchase and preserve this land for all eternity.  Many thanks to all who helped make this happen!

There’s still time to write your letter!

We’ve been in contact with City Planning and still no word about when the Draft EIR for the Verdugo Hills Golf Course will be issued. So if you haven’t written your letter requesting a 90 day review period, we urge you to do so NOW! See the VHGC tab, above this post, for all the details.

Take a stroll down memory lane.

A little while ago we asked if you would take the time to share your memories about the No Home Depot Campaign. After 4 years, there’s a lot to remember!  We’d love to hear from you about your  personal experiences and thoughts. Click on the NHDC tab, above, for more inspiration.  You can send us an email – explodingsun AT gmail DOT com – or abby AT abbydiamond DOT com. Thanks!

Update from Abby 2/19/09

Attend this great performance and raise funds for a local environmental organization at the same time! Glendale-Crescenta Volunteers Organized in Conserving the Environment (V.O.I.C.E.), a main supporter in the cause to Save the Verdugo Hills Golf Course, in cooperation with the Sierra Club and Glendale Arts,  is presenting this very special event. This is one you won’t want to miss. Lee Stetson, a versatile and charming actor, performs as the great naturalist, John Muir. Click HERE for a full sized version of the flier and visit the VOICE website. I’ve already reserved my tickets. I’ve seen other performances by Lee Stetson, and I wouldn’t miss this one for anything! Make your reservations early, this is sure to be a sold-out show! See you there!

Update from Abby 2/17/09

HAVE YOU WRITTEN YOUR LETTER YET?

The Draft Environmental Impact Report for the VERDUGO HILLS GOLF COURSE will be coming out sometime this month. TAKE ACTION by writing a letter to Councilmember Greuel and City Planner, David Somers, requesting a 90 day comment review period for public input. Click on the VHGC tab directly above to see more info – the flyer, letter writing tips, and addresses.

THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD WRITE THAT LETTER

If we don’t make a fuss about this, they won’t give us the extended time to review the documents.  The usual time is only 30 days, or maybe 45 days. The DEIR will be a large document, full of technical jargon, and require careful scrutiny by the public. As a community, we are pretty savvy about these kinds of things, but we are not experts. This is a complex and crucial part in the process of saving the golf course and preserving the open space, wildlife corridor and historic local recreation opportunity. The CEQA guidelines give us the right to have input on environmental issues. Let’s exercise our rights!

Just think about it — the developer has proposed 229 homes to go in there!

Update from Abby 2/14/09

Angeles National Golf Club Under the Microscope!

On Friday, the Planning Department heard public testimony regarding  compliance by the Angeles National Golf Club of conditions and mitigation measures (or lack thereof) required before a Certificate of Occupancy can be issued.

Public Comment Period Extended for 30 Days.

The Planning Department issued an extended 30 day written comment period to allow additional comments from all interested parties. You can read more about the environmental concerns at an earlier post on this site, and details of the 10 year history of this project at the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council website.

Take Action! Write to the Planning Department.

Click HERE to see the official notice from the Planning Department, with the address and Case #. Comment period closes March 20, 2009.

And We Love Our Oak trees!

I heard that today’s talk at Bolton Hall with Gary Knowlton, local certified arborist and Oak tree expert, was a great success. I wasn’t able to attend …

I hope you enjoyed the day!

Update from Elaine 2/11/09

PLEASE READ THIS UPDATE ABOUT THE ANGELES NATIONAL GOLF COURSE. WE HAVE URGENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

PLEASE ATTEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT!

The Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council Land Use Committe has been holding meetings with Angeles National Golf Club, Council District 2 and interested community members.  The first meeting was held on January 26, but the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, California Fish & Game, and the National Park Service were unable to attend so a second meeting was held on February 3.  The Foothill Trails District Neighborhood Council Watershed Committee joined the STNC/LUC in holding this second meeting and representatives from CD 2 and all the agencies attended along with community members from both Neighborhood Councils, equestrian and home owners groups.

A hearing is scheduled for Friday, February 13, 2009 at 1 p.m. at the Marvin Braude Bldg. in Van Nuys to determine if the ANGC has met the 72 Conditional Use Permit conditions and the 256 mitigations required by the Environmental Impact Report which were approved on April 28, 1998.  These meetings were held to discuss the two-foot stack of documents which was submitted to the two NCs in November, 2008.  Several documents were missing regarding pesticide applications and water monitoring amongst others.  The Tujunga Ponds are not healthy and this makes the pesticide applications and water monitoring reports of primary concern.

In 1998, the community fought very hard to make sure that the Sensitive Ecological/Environmental Area that exists in the Big Tujunga Wash where the golf course is located was not destroyed.  After looking over the documents, many questions arose.  In particular were questions about the severe decline of the habitat of the federally endangered Slender Horned Spine Flower.  ANGC agreed in those original conditions to protect this habitat, to keep the property clean, to deter trespassing, and to prevent dumping.  This has not been done.  Two years ago, the ANGC built a restroom which was not part of the approved conditions and installed a long sewer line which may have violated the Spine Flower habitat.

ANGC also agreed in the conditions to construct two equestrian trails and one biking/hiking path across the property from Foothill to Oro Vista.  The trails not only have not been constructed, but the golf course does not intend to allow the south trail which was to run along the bottom of the bluff on the south and to provide a Wildlife Corridor.  Without access and cover the wildlife can not travel across the property.  In 2008, there were two puma sightings during daylight hours east of the property.  ANGC has built a driving range which was not approved in the original conditions in that area which extends right up to the bluff and cuts off the access.  Nor does ANGC want to build the northern equestrian trail, but rather to call the Conover fire road located on the bluff the northern trail.  Neither of these solutions are acceptable to the community.  The National Park Service says that Conover Road can not be considered a trail.

There are also concerns about the conditions which required that 240 acres were to be dedicated to the SMMC prior to ANGC pulling their grading permits.  This required the dedication of the land or the establishment of a conservation easement or a habitat preserve.  These conditions have not been met.

Finally, there were a number of questions as to why the clubhouse which was approved for 8,100 sq. ft. was allowed to be built to 25,000 sq. ft.

The draft letter with conclusions and recommendations will be brought before the STNC board for approval at the monthly meeting at Mt. Gleason Middle School, Wednesday, February 11. To write a comment letter or to obtain more information, come to the STNC meeting or go to their website at STNC.org

Update from Abby 2/09/09

There’s lots going on!

Remember that Action Alert from last week? If you haven’t written your letter, please write it now! Time is running out to request the 90 day review period for the Verdugo Hills Golf Course Draft Environmental Impact Report due out later this month. Let’s all join together to Save the Verdugo Hills Golf Course. We can’t afford to lose this precious and historic gem that provides great recreation for our Foothills Communities. And just imagine what it would be like if those 229 proposed residential units were actually approved! Oh, the traffic! Please see the VHGC tab for more information. We’ve provided some letter writing tips and a link to a flyer you can download and distribute to your neighbors. It’s now or never!

Here’s something fun and informative to do on Valentine’s Day!

Our favorite local tree expert and Certified Arborist, Gary Knowlton, will be talking about Our Precious Oaks on Saturday, February 14, 1:00, at Bolton Hall. Admission is free and light refreshments will be served. Always lively and informative, Gary will teach you everything you need to know about Oak trees.  Click HERE for a printable version of this flyer!

Update from Abby 2/07/09

Yet Another Bake Sale Success!

We had a great turn-out for today’s fund raiser. The Baking Angels did it again! What an amazing assortment of home baked goodies! There was so much to choose from, I had a hard time deciding.  I ate some cinnamon coffee cake with my tea and bought some cute little banana loafs with nuts and chocolate chips to take home, and a pumpkin bread, too. There were pretty pink chocolate heart shaped lollipops, all kinds of cookies, 7 layer cookies, lemon tarts, pear tarts, homemade fudge, caramel popcorn and more than I can remember. The room was filled with that fresh-out-of-the oven aroma. Really remarkable.

Many, many thanks to everyone who contributed their baking talents today, and it was fun to see so many friends, neighbors, and TFFers at the Wired Cafe.  Of course,  none of this would be possible without the enthusiasm and organizing abilities of Paula and Tomi, so here’s a big Thank You to both of you. And a big thank you to everyone who helped out. I’m sure I’ll miss someone, but here goes – Thank you, Sharon, Sheri, Pat, Norma, Terry, and Tony! Oh, and a big thank you to Emerson for, once again, supporting the STA by providing the Wired Cafe for our event.

Go see the Photos from today HERE.

Did I mention the jars of homemade apple jam and the dark chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese inside? I brought some of those home, too.

Update from Abby 2/2/09

The Bake Sale is this Saturday!

Come on down to the Wired Cafe and join us for another fun filled  gathering with your friends and neighbors! The baking angels have been busy and they have lots of goodies lined up. I can’t wait!

Did you see the NHDC website?

Yes, it’s true. We’ll no longer be making daily updates on the NHDC website. I know, I know! It’s kinda sad. But it’s good, it’s good because there is no need for it anymore. From all the emails we’ve received, it seems that some of you will have an adjustment period … we understand … your daily viewing habit has been cut-off. Here’s a big shout out to Joe for all his dedication to keeping us informed. And we’re still here for you at this website! We’ll keep you up to date on any developments (pun intended) about what is happening with the old Kmart site right here. What a long strange trip it’s been! Many thanks to everyone for their strong support of the No Home Depot Campaign over the past 4 years.

Perhaps some yummy home baked goodies will help you thru the transition. We’ll see you on  Saturday!

Update from Abby 1/29/09

ACTION ALERT REMINDER

Back on January 22, we issued an Action Alert. We’ve asked everyone who is interested in saving the Verdugo Hills Golf Course to write a letter to Councilmember Greuel requesting a 90 day review period for the Draft EIR that is expected in mid-February. If you haven’t already written a letter, please click on the VHGC tab, located directly above, and … well … take action!

Update from Tomi 1/27/09

STNC Land Use Committee Update

The Land Use Committee held a meeting specifically for the Angeles
National Golf Course the evening of Monday Jan 26th.

Our guests of honor, the State Department of Fish and Game, notified us late in the afternoon that they would not be able to make it.

The Land Use Committee went ahead and held the meeting anyway; many questions were asked regarding specific conditions that are listed as requirements for the Golf Club to follow, which have not been met, partially been met, or there is some concern regarding the conditions status.

The long story shortened.

In order to fully answer all of the questions and resolve all of the issues regarding some of these conditions, a meeting with Dept of Fish & Game AND the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, as well as the City Council office and Angeles National Golf Course is necessary. One question inevitably leads to another, so a question for one agency, may actually be mitigated by another.

Here is a fictitious example:

Department of Sidewalks requires installation of a sidewalk that is ten feet wide all around the perimeter of a new park. Department of Waterways will not allow a ten foot sidewalk within twenty feet of a body of water and there is a lake at the edge of the perimeter making it three feet from the proposed sidewalk. Department of Parks is trying to comply with the requirement from Department of Sidewalks and meets with them, but cannot resolve the issue without someone from the Department of Waterways so they can work out a solution.

It’s complicated.

And it gets more complicated trying to get all the right people in one place at the same time.

However, everyone who did attend Monday’s LUC meeting participated in a well organized and intelligent meeting.

A meeting new date has been set!

With swift planning and cooperation, a new meeting schedule has already been worked out. Everyone has confirmed for the first week in February, and will meet at the Golf Club. Representatives from ANGC, CD2, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and the Dept. of Fish & Game will attend. Also, Larry Martinez, our Senior lead officer from LAPD, has been asked to join the group.

Got Questions? Contact Tomi

If members of the general public would like to attend, please contact Tomi Lyn Bowling at 353-9143, or email her at tomi@tomirealty.com

Update from Abby 1/25/09

Take A Stroll Down Memory Lane!

We’d like to hear your thoughts, memories, personal stories and experiences from the past 4 years. Please click on the No Home Depot Campaign tab above to see a few questions to help you get started.

Nooo. It’s not a test! It’s good to have personal stories for historical purposes.

I’m looking forward to reclaiming some space in my garage, so I’ll be rummaging thru the many file boxes of paperwork and documents we’ve written and accumulated. There’s stuff everywhere, actually, not just in my garage – there’s stuff in  my living room, my car, my office and even under my bed. And I’m not the only one who has this problem! Spring cleaning will come a bit early this year.

We’ve made history.

We’ll bring a bunch of stuff over to Bolton Hall and see if the official, local historians want any of it for the archives – yes,  all of us have contributed to another memorable chapter in the colorful history of Sunland-Tujunga!

Update from Abby 1/23/09

Which Golf Course? This post is about the Angeles National Golf Club. I know, I know! Wouldn’t it be nice if we could focus on one thing at a time? Well, at least it would be nice if we could focus on one golf course at a time.

Please plan to attend the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council Land Use Committee meeting this coming Monday night. This meeting will be one topic only. There will be information, discussion, and recommendations to prepare for the upcoming City Planning Commission Public Hearing.

The City Planning Commission hearing (in February) will be to examine the effectiveness of the existing conditions imposed by the Conditional Use Permit, and possibly, a final plan approval. The ANGC is an 18-hole golf course, club house and practice area located in the Tujunga Wash.

Hundreds of mitigations and conditions were imposed at the start of their project, and the upcoming hearing will review compliance with the original conditions, mitigation monitoring conditions and a proposed revision to Condition 25, regarding the trail system.

Details about the Public Hearing will be posted soon. Check back here often.

For now, we’ll hope to see you Monday night to learn more about what’s happening with the Angeles National Golf Club. After 10 years, it is time for the City to review the conditions and mitigations imposed on the Golf Club for their development. This is our opportunity for public comment. Many concerns have been raised – several of our neighbors have been studying the issue and are well informed about what’s been happening. Representatives from the Golf Club will be in attendance. Staff from state and local agencies will also attend.

Be informed! Stay involved!

7:00 PM

Monday,  January 26, 2009

North Valley City Hall                                                                                                       7747 Foothill Boulevard

Update from Abby 1/22/09

Never a dull moment!

We’ve got a lot going on. Be sure to click on the other pages of this blog for fun information and important updates. It’s easy – see the “tabs” up at the top? That’s it. Just a click away!

The Draft EIR for the Verdugo Hills Golf Course is expected in February. Click on the VHGC tab to see the Action Alert! We are asking everyone to write a letter to Councilmember Greuel requesting a 90 day comment period.

You wouldn’t want to miss the BAKE SALE coming up on February 7!  So  be sure to Scroll Down on this page to find out all the details.

And yes, the Kmart site. Click on the In the Neighborhood tab and share your wildest dreams.

Update from Abby 1/21/09

What do you envision for the former Kmart site?

Click on the In The Neighborhood tab above, and you’ll see email, snail mail or FAX info for the Business Rep for the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council. Let Tomi know what you’re thinking.

This is the fun part! I can’t wait to see the results.

Update from Abby 1/19/09

There it goes! Yesterday’s Big Community Celebration Party was a huge success. My favorite theme for the day was that it is OKAY to wear orange again. You can see lots of photos at our other website. www.no2homedepot.com.  There was a great turn-out despite the police activity that closed off Foothill and the helicopter flying overhead didn’t disturb our sound. Presentations and speeches were part of the festivities and the Bluegrass Billionaires provided great tunes, as usual.

Phil Tabbi, Jim Moore and crew fired up the BBQ for Hot Dogs & Hamburgers. Our baking angels contributed homemade salads and Arnie’s Cafe provided some delicious pastas, salads and fish tacos.

Many thanks to all who contributed to make the party at McGroarty Arts Center such a great success! Our shuttle service was much appreciated and many extended their compliments to Mike Jones, our safe and courteous driver!

The question has been asked, “How did you manage to beat the Home Depot?” Well, the bottom line is that the community came together because we wanted to improve the quality of life in our neighborhood. We spent the time to educate ourselves, stuck to the facts, didn’t resort to below-the-belt tactics, and we relied on truth and reason. We also had the support of our Councilmember, Wendy Greuel, whose conviction and integrity throughout the long 4 year process was paramount.

Okay, the economy helped the perfect storm that contributed to Home Depot’s decision, I agree. But even with the bad economy, our town is ready to shop locally! Some smart developer will see the potential here, and hopefully, get busy talking to us and see what we’d like at the former Kmart site. Sunland-Tujunga is open for business!

Stay tuned, we’ll keep posting as things develop. Pun intended!

Update from Abby 1/13/09

Community Unity Celebration

Please join us for a Hot Dog & Hamburger BBQ and music from the Bluegrass Billionaires!

Come early, Wendy Greuel will be there right at Noon! We have a lot to celebrate!

We’ll need help setting up chairs and doing stuff in the kitchen. Please let Regina know if you’ll be there to help out.  951-9654 or hrh.regina@verizon.net

The STNC is providing a shuttle service between North Valley City Hall and McGroarty.

You know, parking is limited and its uphill from the street. So if you don’t want to drive, the shuttle car will be traveling back and forth, starting around 11:30 or so from NVCH. The car is generously being provided by Allright Car Rental in Sunland!

Update from Abby 1/10/09

Update from Abby 1/9/09

Wow!  What A Week!

Well this will be a week we’ll never forget! Home Depot has pulled out of S-T and it all happened so fast that it’s still sinking in. There is detailed information on the NHDC site that chronicles the events, and links to all the ensuing media coverage.

What I wanted to announce here is that we will be throwing a huge Community Unity Celebration Party on Sunday, Jan 18th from Noon til 3 pm at McGroarty Arts Center! Details in the next 24 hours!

Thank you to everyone who has worked towards this great and historic victory! Thanks for your emails and phone calls offering congratulations!

Come celebrate with us on Jan 18th and please come to the STNC meeting on Jan 14th at Mt Gleason Middle School (Wendy Greuel will be there).

Also,  we are having another one of our famous Bake Sales on Saturday, Feb 7,  from 8am til 11:30 am at the Wired Cafe. Baking Angels Needed!

Call Tomi Lyn at 353-9143.

Update from Abby 12/31/08

A New Year Already? 

We’ve had so much excitement this past year, I hardly know where to begin. I’ll state the obvious, to start. We’re changing the look of our website here. It’s now a Blog. We’ve added some “tabs” you can click on and see updates for specific topics. You’ll see at the top there, we have NHDC or VHGC. We’re fond of shortening titles, you probably know what these stand for – but just in case – NHDC is the No Home Depot Campaign and VHGC is the Verdugo Hills Golf Course. These are the 2 main causes the STA has been working on for the past several years, as you already know if you have been around S-T for a while.

We’ve also added a tab for Neighborhood stuff. When you click there, you’ll find interesting tidbits about things in the Neighborhood – events, happenings, fundraisers, other causes, maybe even some gossip. You can send us tips or simply post a comment.

We’re looking forward to next year. May the year be filled with hope, prosperity, joy and peace!

STA Site is Changing!

We’re in the process of shifting our files from the SunlandTujungaAlliance.com site to here, and this will soon become the official STA site! Yay, no more HTML!
Check back often, we will be bringing this site up to date within the next few days.

Update from Abby 12/05/08

What a Day!

The day started out with an email from City Planning at 8am. It’s been a whirlwind ever since. We’ve received many emails and phone calls celebrating this good news that Home Depot’s application for categorical exemptions was denied!

Everyone is guessing what HD’s next move will be. Your guess is as good as mine. We hope they get a grasp on reality and decide to sub-lease the space to an appropriate developer … but we’ll have to wait and see.

On Tuesday, Home Depot has an appointment with the Judge who agreed to the Stipulation Order to Stay Litigation. They will have to report that they have no progress on their project application. If you remember, this is the Stipulation that ordered the Dispute Resolution Program and put us all thru Mediation Hell. Anyway, we’ll be there on Tuesday to see what Home Depot has to say to the Judge. As usual, we’ll report on our field trip later.

For now, we’re pleased that City Planning did the right thing and upheld environmental law that is in place to protect the people!

On Another Note

More Pancakes! Every Sunday, December 7, 14, 21. The Wired Cafe is having a FREE Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Bailey Center. The Bailey Center is a local food bank that helps those in need. This is a great way to support a good cause and have some fun with your neighbors.

The Wired Cafe is located at 10045 Commerce Ave, Tujunga. Pancakes will be served from 8am- 11am. Bring donations of canned, non-perishable food or cash! The Wired Cafe has great coffee, computers and comfy places to hang out. They are strong supporters of the No Home Depot Campaign and a great addition to our town!  We’ll see you this Sunday!