Spring Garden Tour 2018 Recap

 

I had the awesome pleasure of attending the 2018 Spring Garden Tour “Blooms With A View” hosted by View Park, Windsor Hills, and View Heights residents.  The tour showcased beautiful gardens and a wonderful vendor fair filled with art, crafts, plants and more.  The Spring Garden Tour is a bi-annual event that first began 19 years ago in efforts showcase the luxurious gardens right here in our own backyards, literally.  I would like to thank all the participants for opening their yards and sharing them with us.  See you guys again in 2020!  Check some of the Vendors below.

Inspired Garden Artistry

Vendors

Cultural Interiors – 323.292.1500

Floral Visions – floralvisions@sbcglobal.net – 310.667.1113

GreenArt Landscape Designs – 323.939.9281

Kersey Girl Creations – 323.792.4243

La Placita – 12710 Washington Blvd, 90066 – 310.350.7110

MB Landscaping & Nursery – 310.619.4170

Ricardo’s Nursery – 562-428-7252

Enkone Art That Breathes – Enkone@ymail.com

South Los Angeles’s A C Bilbrew Library Getting $4.4-Million Makeover

A C Bilbrew Library of South Los Angeles is about to undergo $4.4-million transformation, slated to begin April of this year.  Located at  150 East El Segundo Blvd, the 21,000-square foot facility will receive a drastic renovation/well needed improvements.  I must stop and commend Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, this man does not take a break.  Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas has made amazing strides for our community and should be praised and applauded for all his accomplishments.  Lead by the Chair, The county Board of Supervisors approved $4.4-million plan to refurbish and update much of the interior and exterior of the library using environmentally friendly materials and sustainable design techniques. Workers will use recycled materials, incorporate energy-efficient lighting, cooling and heating systems and other consumption-reducing measures. They will also install new walls and custom cabinetry, replace the carpet and ceiling, and update the data systems and public restrooms.

The library was named after Madame A C Bilbrew, a community leader, poet, musician and deputy to the late Los Angeles County Supervisor James Hahn. She was also a radio pioneer, becoming the first black person in the country to have her own radio show.  A C Bilbrew Library houses the Black Resource Center, which supports research and study on social, historical, musical and cultural aspects unique to the black experience. It has hosted the Los Angeles County Public Library system’s African American History Month Celebration since 1980.

A C Bilbrew Library to Receive Huge Renovation

A C Bilbrew Project Approved

Urban Gardens of LA

Have you ever dreamed of turning a blighted empty lot into a thriving edible oasis of health, well you may have your opportunity now.  Under the Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones Act 8600 empty lots could be turned in thriving community gardens.  LA City Council passed a motion to encourage landowners to lease their underused land to people who want to grow their own food in trade for a property tax adjustment.  The law which was passed last year is a great way to push health eating in the urban  community’s and can’t wait to see this initiative actually take effect.

LA Council Introduce Tax Breaks For Community Garden Space

Round Up: Hills Park Heights 2014 Spring Garden Tour

I would like to applaud the maginifecent floral design and retirate how awe struck I was while attending  the Windsor Hills, View Park, Ladera Heights 2014 Spring Garden Tour.  The eclectic landscape design  of the gardens was amazing.  The beauty of these gardens was very relaxing and tranquil.  The Vendor Fair, which takes places Monteith Park in View Park, was in full swing by the time I arrived and it was jam packed with extremely creative and talented people right here from our own communities.  I met several very creative vendors, Mira, Loni, Cynthia, and Rhoda.  Mira was in the middle of creating something awesome. Mira says she been painting all her life and says she “derives her inspiration on creating positive images of women.”  Loni, whos been painting for 15 years has a more abstract style.  He’s been known as Black Picasso.  Loni recreates forms and shapes and dubs his style a classy culture.  Cynthia, another vendor, who works with gourds, yea gourds, isn’t that awesome.  Cynthia who was inspired by her mother, uses every bit of the gourds.  She makes purse, bowls, magnets, vases, leather cuffs, and more.  Rhoda, who has a high love for gardening and succulents created and sold vertical gardens.  Rhoda also is the Founder of “The Factory, Inspirational Yard Art & Garden Artistry by Rhoda.”  I also had the privelage of meeting the the Ladera Heights Girls Scout Troop who educated me on earthquakes and how to prepare for them.  The Ladera Heights Girl Scouts are working toward the hightest badge ther is for Juniors, the bronze badge so Good Luck Girls!!! Check out the pictures I was able to snap of yet again another awesome Garden Tour, see you guys again in 2016!  For any information on the vendors or the Garden Tour email Team@inspiredgardenartistry.com.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Crenshaw Greenscape Plans

The Crenshaw Boulevard Streetscape Plan, designed to go hand in hand with the construction of the Crenshaw-to-LAX rail line, lays out an ambitious vision that will transform the look and feel of this historic street from concrete-heavy and car-centric, to “green” and pedestrian friendly.

The plan, which was funded by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority but created by the Los Angeles Department of City Planning calls for renovations and street beautifications that will stretch for 8.5 miles– from I-10 Freeway to 79th Street – with the aim of supporting vibrant neighborhoods around transit stations, where people can live, work and shop, all within a safe and pleasant walk to transit stations.

Although residents and commuters will experience some inconveniences during the construction of the rail line, set to begin this year, there are efforts underway to heed community concerns, including the creation of a small business mitigation plan to help businesses affected by the construction.

Plans for Crenshaw Blvd Streetscape

Earth Day South LA

Together we envision an annual Earth Day event where community residents come together in a safe environment to have fun, celebrate our foods and cultures, learn about and participate in sustainable practices, and connect with each other and organizations working to make positive change in our neighborhood.

3655 S Grand Ave Ste 240 Los Angeles California 90007

Saturday, April 12

at 11:00am – 6:00pm

Martin Luther King, Jr. Hospital Campus Community Master Plan

Board Chairmen Mark Ridley-Thomas has pulled a rabbit out of his hat with this one, and if he actually pulls it off this man needs to be Knighted!  Check out the awesome video on Chairmen Mark Ridley-Thomas Website what could possibly transform the community around MLK Jr. Hospital into urban oasis.  Plans for the new Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital campus received a thumbs up from the Board of Supervisors, as they unanimously approved the master plan for an expansive health and wellness campus in South Los Angeles which is well needed.  

The new hospital scheduled to be completed early this year along with the existing Multi-Ambulatory Care Center would be the center of the new master plan and would push  a new mental health urgent care center, mixed-use retail space, medical office space, connected community gardens, safe pedestrian walkways and recreational facilities to promote wellness and physical activity, among other suggestions.

Stated on the Chairmen Mark Ridley-Thomas Website, “the master plans is a roadmap, not a hard and fixed requirement, but it seek to anticipate the future direction of healthcare and prepare for that new day. It also lays out a vision for the entire 142-acre Willowbrook community that surrounds the campus.”

Mark Your Calendar’s, SouthLA Is Starting The Year Off Right!

 Pull out those red pens and mark your calendar, we got some meetings to attend.  The Coalition For An Active South Los Angeles is starting the year off right, with meetings.  Doesn’t sound so great but people we’re planning our own, our kids, and our grandkids future here so please try to attend what can.  Well between The Coalition For An Active South Los Angeles and Community Health Council its looking like January is going to be busy.  Events and Meetings are as follow:

Coaliton For An Active South Los Angeles Meeting

January 23, 10am – 12pm

Community Health Councils

3731 Stocker Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90008

 

Food Policy Roundtable, Making SouthLA Healthier

January 24, 10am – 12pm

Community Health Councils

3731 Stocker Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90008

 

The Weight Of The Nation

(Screening for a New HBO Documenterary)

February 2, 10am – 12pm

Childrens Collective

915 West Manchester Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90044

 

and don’t forget 

Call To Action January 15th

Open House and Public Hearing for the West Adams-Baldwin Hills-Leimert Park

Tuesday, January 15, 2013 5pm-9pm

 Nate Holden Performing Arts Center

4718 West Washington Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90016

 

 

2013 Fruit Tree Giveaway

The Social Justice Institute, along with Inglewood Unified School District and Tree People are sponsoring a free Fruit Tree at the 2013 Fruit Tree Giveaway Festival Saturday, January 26th, 2013 from 10:00am – 4:00pm.  The Friut Tree Giveaway Festival will be held at Morningside High School (10500 Yukon Ave. Inglewood, CA 90303) .  Be sure to apply for your free friut tree http://www.sjli-cp.org/FTDP, call 323.952.3466 or email dsteele@sjli-cp.org to reserve your tree TODAY!

Orchards of Del Aire

Del Aire Park, located at 12601 S. Isis Ave. in the unincorporated area of Del Aire, was unveiled to today  with a renovated community center and a new baseball field along with what is said to-be the state’s first public fruit park.  Del Aire Park spans over  seven-acre of open space are and now boasts young apricot, nectarine, peach, plum and pluot trees that will eventually bear fruit for the public to harvest at no cost.  Del Aire is located beteween the 105 Freeway and Rosecrans Avenue and lies along the 405.   The “urban orchard” consisting of trees, grape vines and herbs was planted with county civic art dollars, in coordination with Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas’ office, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, community volunteers and the artists’ collaborative Fallen Fruit.

Fallen Fruit

2nd District’s Del Aire Park