Cheryl Johnson

Council member Jose Huizar, Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council, Friends of Hermon Dog Park Again Sponsor Major Eastside Pet Festival

Low-cost Health Check-ups and Services for Animal Companions Featured

Hermon (Los Angeles) -- If, as the saying goes, every dog is destined to "have its day" then this summer's "Dog Days of Summer" family festival on July 19, 2008, in the Northeast Los Angeles community of Hermon, may just be that day for dozens of dogs (and cats) -- along with the people who take them home.

For the third year, Sycamore-shaded Hermon Park will be the site of a FREE pet event featuring fun for all the family, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., this time featuring pet adoptions, a "Puppy Party" hosted by Handle With Care Dog Training (for young dogs new to the world of dog parks), veterinary technicians providing low cost health check-ups and services, raffles, and dog agility demonstrations guaranteed to "wow" the audiences hosted by Penny Scott-Fox.

The follow-on to the eastside's most unique pet adoption event -- first celebrated as the "Yappy Bark Day" anniversary of the 2005 opening of the dog park in Hermon -- this year's "Dog Days" event will features new and returning animal rescue organizations, including Los Angeles County Animal Care, City of Los Angeles Animal Services, and the Pasadena Humane Society. Each rescue organization will bring its most eager, adoptable animal companions along, all of them ready to steal hearts.

Top-level sponsors this year again include District 14 Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar and the area's city-certified Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council, which serves the Hermon community and four other nearby Los Angeles neighborhoods in Northeast Los Angeles.

Animal service and care providers are expected to once again include pet sitters, groomers, and trainers, and -- for the first time at Hermon Park -- Vet Care pet check-up technicians offering low-cost animal vaccinations, nail trimming, micro-chipping, and other health services.

The jam-packed event has again been organized by Friends of Hermon Dog Park - the Arroyo Seco-area support organization for the Northeast only dog park facility, located inside Hermon Park.

"Dog Days of Summer" will be held this year around the dog park inside Hermon Park. Enter at the far end of the park driveway, at 5568 Via Marisol, L.A. 90042 (between Monterey Road and the Arroyo Seco Parkway/110 Freeway).

Friends of Hermon Dog Park, created to support the dog park and promotes its use, was established in 2006 as a non-profit organization by original members of the Hermon Dog Park Formation Committee and other local animal and community activists around the Arroyo Seco. The effort to create an off-leash dog park in Hermon traces back to the formation period of the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council in 2002.

Additional information on the organizers and updates on plans for the event will be available at http://www.hermondogpark.com -- as well as on the Websites of select participants.

"Because it's all about the dogs" (and cats).

The Hermon Dog Park is located at 5568 Via Marisol, Los Angeles 90042 (between Monterey Road and the Arroyo Seco Parkway/110 Freeway).

From the 110 (Arroyo Seco Parkway) exit Via Marisol and turn right. Turn left into the Hermon Park driveway and go to the end of the parking lot. Walk under the overpass and you've arrived.

Hermon Dog Park is open everyday, dawn till dusk.

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LOS ANGELES- On July 17, July 31 and August 28 step out of your car or get off the Metro Gold Line on your way home from work for a relaxing evening of live music in an historic atmosphere at Heritage Square Museum. This free event is made possible thanks to support of several local neighborhood councils and the LA County Arts Commission.

Doors open to the public at 4:00 PM with music beginning at 5:00 PM. Arrive at the museum early to see the historic architecture up close. Visitors will have a chance to try local food and drink and shop in the museum store. Costumed docents will be on hand to enliven the evening.


The concerts include an impressive lineup.

July 17 begins with Marie MacGillis and the Toddy Trio, followed by the Pasadena City College Swing Band.

July 31 begins with Groove Session, followed by the Susie Hansen Latin Band.

August 28 begins with the "Sometimes in Tune" band, followed by Orquesta Salsumba.

Mark Holston wrote in JAZZIZ Magazine that Susie Hansen's "violin speaks the language of Latin Jazz with total fluency." A long-time favorite in Los Angeles, Susie and her band play 175-200 live performances per year, including such events as the Playboy Jazz Festival, Fiesta Broadway, San Jose Jazz Festival, LA Salsa Festival and Newport Beach Jazz Festival. She has toured nationally with her band, and has appeared with such big names as Tito Puente.

Opening for Susie Hansen is Groove Session, who won the best jazz category from the 2007 Inland Empire Music Awards. The group has been called a "soul filled genre fused space funk odyssey!"

Marie MacGillis is a seasoned performer who just released her second album with the "Model Millionaires". Marie's style focuses on 1920s and 30s blues and jazz, with forays into Rockabilly.

Dennis Kay leads the Pasadena City College Swing Band, who will play big-band standards, swing favorites, and ballroom classics from the likes of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and many more. Don't let the name fool you - the Pasadena City College Swing Band consists of extraordinary students, faculty and professionals who come together to present a rockin good time!

On August 28, Sometimes in Tune will play bluegrass and American folk music with a fun, energetic twist. Rounding out the series is Orquesta Salsumba, who combine the rhythms of Salsa, Rumba and Latin Jazz to create a contagious energy sure to bring you to your feet! Led by Eddie de la Fey, this 12 piece band is sure to please!

Heritage Square is a living history museum dedicated to telling the story of the development of Los Angeles. At the museum, eight historic structures, saved from demolition and moved to the site, provide a glimpse of Southern California as it looked 100 years ago. The Museum is located at 3800 Homer Street, off the 110 Arroyo Seco Parkway (110/Pasadena Freeway) at Avenue 43, just north of downtown Los Angeles.

For further information, please visit the website at

http://www.heritagesquare.org/concerts.jpg or

http://www.heritagesquare.org/calendar_of_events.htm

Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock proudly presents
Ballet in the Park featuring Eagle Rock Dance Company

Sunday, July 13, 3pm-4pm & Sunday, July 20, 3:30pm-4:30pm
Paquita Variations A 22 minute excerpt from the ballet "Paquita"

Choreography by Marius Petipa
Restages by Melba Morris
Melba Morris, Artistic Director

Eagle Rock Recreation Center 1100 Eagle Vista Drive Los Angeles, CA 90041
Join us picnic style on the grass, bring hats, sunscreen, and chairs. Free Admission! Everyone is welcome!
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock

email: sonja@cfaer.org
web: http://www.centerartseaglerock.org

The second Saturday of every month is Gallery Night in Northeast Los Angeles: Your opportunity to explore the Galleries, Shops, Restaurants and Nightlife in the historic and eclectic neighborhoods of Northeast Los Angeles. Maybe even purchase art for your home or office.

Tour participating galleries this Saturday, July 12, from 7PM - 10 PM. Wrap up the evening with food and drinks at La Casa Blue or Mr. T's Bowl.

More info here: http://www.nelaart.com/

And here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NELAart/

Mr. T's Bowl: http://mrtsbowl.tripod.com/

La Casa Blue: http://www.lacasablue.com/

NELAart is based in Highland Park and consists of galleries and art organizations located in Northeast Los Angeles who are dedicated to increase the visibility of the thriving arts community in the area. Northeast Los Angeles has a long tradition in the arts. Many working artists now continue this tradition by making their homes and having their studios here. The neighborhood is also home to many galleries, alternative arts spaces and arts organizations. NELAart provides a resource to share information and ideas, and assist in promoting galleries and organizations. Please join us in celebrating the arts in Northeast Los Angeles.

Read the full article by Margaret Arnold, News Editor at the Arroyo Seco Journal, Northeast L.A.'s finest local newspaper.

GLASSELL PARK-At 4 a.m. on the morning of June 25, 2008, 500 members of Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies moved into the Drew Estara area of Glassell Park in a major crackdown on the Drew Street clique of the Avenues street gang, in the largest Federal gang takedown in recent L.A. history.

Twenty-eight defendants were taken into custody on criminal charges during the sweep. Four were arrested on immigration charges. An additional 26 defendants named in the indictment were already incarcerated. Authorities are still seeking an additional 16 defendants. Cars and cash were seized during the operation.

Seventy members and associates of the gang had been named in a 157-page Federal racketeering indictment, alledging a long string of drug crimes and violent actions. The gang is said to control drug trafficking activity-and by extension, life in general-in the Drew Estara neighborhood.

The drug crimes include the sale of crack cocaine and methamphetamine.

The violent crimes listed include murder, attacks against police officers, witness intimidation and extortion of local businesses.

LAPD Chief William Bratton promised that "this morning is just the beginning," that day at an afternoon press conference in the Los Angeles Federal Building.

The sweep was not the only anti-gang event of the day. Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo also filed nuisance abatement lawsuits against ten Drew-Estara properties. Nine of the properties are located right on Drew Street. One is located around the corner on Chapman. The suits target both the landlords of the properties and the gang members or associates who use them.

According to Delgadillo, the operation represents the largest scale use of property abatement actions against a street gang in the history of the City. The lawsuits seek to require security guards, security cameras, proper maintenance, tenant screening and eviction of anyone involved in narcotics activities.