Building a Team Against Crime

This is the City. It’s a busy area, not really a quiet residential-only area. There are residents here and non-residents. Most are well-intentioned, but some are not.

So what can you do? For yourself, first be aware when you are out, not distracted. When leaving your car, lock it and don’t leave items visible through the windows. Close and lock windows and doors at home.

And we can also team up against crime. Melrose Action Neighborhood Watch has been working on this for many years, and has been doing even more recently.  In addition to advancing their Block Captain program, there is MAPP — the Melrose Action Patrol Program. There will be an opportunity to learn more about this program and sign up this Saturday afternoon, October 14th from
4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the comer of Waring Ave. and Curson Ave.

An article in last Thursday’s Park LaBrea News | Beverly Press looks at recent crime in our area and what Melrose Action is doing, including MAPP.

Also,  Melrose Action’s next Meeting on Crime & Public Safety — Wednesday evening, October 18th at Blu Jam Café — will include a look at MAPP.

 

 

 

 

Melrose Trading Post & Greenway Arts Alliance 20th Anniversary October 8th

The Melrose Trading Post, open every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fairfax High School, is a program of the Greenway Arts Alliance. And on Sunday, October 8th they are celebrating their 20th Anniversary, so there will be special events and fundraising as part of the Melrose Trading Post activities. The non-profit Greenway Arts Alliance (GAA) runs the Greenway Court Theatre (a professional 99-seat theater on Fairfax Ave.), the Greenway Institute for the Arts (an arts education program at Fairfax High School, Title 1 high school in Los Angeles), and the Melrose Trading Post (a weekly open-air arts-based marketplace).

This special day will start with a musical tribute brunch starting at 10 a.m., honoring Greenway community partners, and attended by GAA’s Board and supporters, community members and students and staff of Fairfax High School. Joining the tribute are Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz, West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman, LAUSD Superintendent Cheryl Hildreth, and many others. General admission tickets for the Donor Brunch and Live Musical Tribute are available at $55 each and include both the brunch and performance. A VIP Suite for 2 for $500 includes brunch, performance, a serving steward, and eclectic designer living room seating. Sponsorship seating is available at the $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 levels includes brunch, performance, eclectic designer room seating plus additional benefits. Tickets and sponsorships are available at GreenwayArtsAlliance.org. For additional information about sponsorships, email sponsorships@GreenwayArtsAlliance.org or call 323-655-7679.

Market Mash, an eclectic pop-up festival for Melrose Trading Post shoppers and visitors, will start at 12 noon. Performances, exhibits, attractions, meet & greets, and photo opportunities will take place on the main stage, on a smaller stage and throughout Melrose Trading Posting. Maps and complete listing will be available at Melrose Trading Post the day of the event. The Market Mash festival highlights include pop icon Angelyne, a kids area sponsored by Tesla featuring miniature electric Tesla cars for kids to test drive, Fantastic Fig, one of the best close-up mind-reading magicians, and much more. Kids can also enjoy arts and crafts led by Melrose Trading Post vendors and Greenway Arts Alliance volunteers. For up-to-date listings visit GreenwayArtsAlliance.org. Also, Shoppers and visitors looking for this year’s Halloween costume can visit The Costume House pop-up boutique.

The entrance fee for Melrose Trading Post is $3 per person and includes the Market Mash festival highlights and can be purchased at the event.

The Greenway Court Theatre will be having special shows for the next month in honor of Greenway Arts Alliance’s 20-year milestone. The Theatre will be presenting Amy Ludwig’s adaptation of Sandra Cisneros’ The House of Mango Street, directed by Alexandra Meda. The production is in conjunction with Greenway Institute for the Arts’ Greenway Reads program. Greenway Reads is a professional production that is directly related to the curriculum at Fairfax High School. The production runs from September 29 to October 28 at Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles. Tickets are $30 for general admission and $15 for a student/senior discount and are available at GreenwayCourtTheatre.org.

 

 

PARK(ing) Day Café: Friday, September 15th

The third Friday in September is PARK(ing) Day. So a pop-up park is being created next Friday, September 15th, on Stanley Ave. just north of Melrose Ave., from Melrose to the alley. The event goes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

And it’s not only a “parklet,” but also a Café, as Chef Josette LeBlond from Normandie Bakery will present treats for us. Chef Josette will be opening a new restaurant here in Melrose Village, so come see what she can do.

PARK(ing) Day is an annual worldwide event where artists, designers and citizens transform metered parking spots into temporary public parks.

This special event is being presented by the Melrose Business Improvement District and the Mid City West Community Council.

 

Coffee with a Cop next Wednesday morning

Next Wednesday, September 13th,  from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. LAPD is having a Coffee With A Cop event at the Starbucks at 7624 Melrose Ave, on the southeast corner of Stanley Ave.

Most of the Senior Lead Officers for LAPD Wilshire Division will be in attendance along with detectives from various crime sections.

This is an opportunity to meet LAPD officers and find out how LAPD works. So mark your calendar and come on down!

 

 

UPDATE: Wednesday Meeting on Crime at New Location!!

IMPORTANT UPDATE:
In order to have more room, tomorrow’s Meeting on Crime will be held in the Gymnasium at the Poinsettia Park Recreation Center, 7341 Willoughby Ave. (at Fuller Ave.)  The meeting still starts at 7 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, September 6th.
The Gymnasium is in the building just north of the open space off Willoughby.

The other information shown at our previous post —
Meeting on Crime Wednesday Sept. 6th — remains the same.

 

 

Meeting on Crime Wednesday Sept. 6th

The next Melrose Action Neighborhood Watch Meeting on Crime will be held next Wednesday, September 6th, at Blu Jam Café, 7371 Melrose Ave., at 7 p.m. 

Various topics of pubic safety in our area are planned. These include disaster preparedness, discussions regarding private security for portions of the area, updates (if any) on the recent murder on Sierra Bonita.

As usual, representatives from various City of Los Angeles departments are expected.

Be sure to check out the Melrose Action Neighborhood Watch website and follow on Twitter and Facebook.

City Roots Concert Saturday evening, July 29th

On July 29th at 7 p.m., two featured acts will perform at this month’s City Roots Concert at Hope Lutheran Church, 6720 Melrose Ave., on the southeast corner of Melrose Ave. and Mansfield Ave.

The Hardly Sisters are a band whose beautiful harmonies and high energy roots music will have your heart singing and your toes tapping.

Terry Okey writes interesting and moving lyrics and melodies accompanied by some pretty fine slide and nylon guitar playing.

There is also a delicious home-cooked dinner, drinks and desserts.  And then after the concert, a song circle takes place where yon can join in and even play.  All this for a $15 donation or whatever you can give for the musicians. Enter at the main door at the Melrose/Mansfield corner. And there you can pick up parking passes to park in the permit parking spaces in the area.

First Annual Groundlings Diversity Festival July 29 and 30

Next weekend, July 29th & 30th, the Groundlings Theatre and School will be presenting their First Annual Groundlings Diversity Festival.  The Festival will include free workshops, panels, shows, giveaways, and more.  There will be a (Root) Beer Garden featuring free root beer sponsored by Reed’s Root beer.

The Festival will be held at the Groundlings School & G3 Stage located at 7280 Melrose Ave., on the southeast corner of Melrose Ave. and Poinsettia Pl.  Note that the shows are free and are on a first-come first-served basis.

Sponsors of the Festival include NBC, Nickelodeon, and Virgil’s//Reeds Sodas.

 

 

Meeting On Crime Wednesday, July 26th

In response to the recent sexual assaults and other crimes in our area, Melrose Action Neighborhood Watch will hold a Meeting On Crime at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26th, at Blu Jam Cafe, 7371 Melrose Ave.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire Station, the office of Los Angeles City Council member Paul Koretz, and the Mid City West Community Council are all co-sponsors and their respective representatives will be there.

Senior Lead Officer Inga Wecker will be there along with a lead detective specializing in sex related crimes. Seating is limited — Those attending are advised to arrive early.

A special thank you to Kamil Majer and the staff at the Blu Jam Cafe for their amazing generosity and ongoing support!

[Click on the image below for a printable pdf file.]

National Night Out: Tuesday, August 1st at Poinsettia Park

National Night Out (NNO) is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, better places to live. NNO takes place all across the country on the first Tuesday of August each year.  Our local National Night Out will take place on Tuesday, August 1st — from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. — at Poinsettia Park Recreation Center, mostly on the south lawn with the entrance where Fuller Ave. meets Willoughby Ave.

This event is being organized by Melrose Action Neighborhood Watch in coordination with LAPD Wilshire Division and the office of our local City Councilmember Paul Koretz. There will be food, music, presentations, free giveaways and more. It’s fun and educational as you can learn from safety experts and others to help or community.