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Hello Neighbors,
As you all know, we are a welcoming community with a beautiful park for families to enjoy. However, we sometimes have questionable visitors who wander through our neighborhood, occasionally overstaying their welcome. Such individuals may trespass, tip over trash cans, peer in windows, or worse. If you observe someone exhibiting unlawful behavior, we ask that you call 877 ASK LAPD (call 911 if someone is dangerous or you feel unsafe). Be patient and prepare to wait when you call 877 ASK LAPD; our police force is overworked and understaffed. Remember, the more calls we make, the more patrols visit our neighborhood which increases neighborhood safety.
It’s also helpful if you let us know what’s going on by emailing almaparkneighbors@gmail.com or posting in our Facebook group so that we can coordinate with law enforcement or other public services if necessary.
In a recent incident, numerous calls were made to the police, paramedics, and mental health services over the course of three days regarding one neighborhood visitor. The repeated calls for service, and because neighbors were able to explain to responding services what was going on, eventually led our visitor to accept an offer from the Department of Mental Health to be taken to a facility for a few days of treatment. Let's hope he gets the help he needs.
Let's stay safe everyone, and keep communicating!
Here's what you can expect to find in this month's issue:
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Our previous meeting
September 3rd was a hot Saturday morning and also the start of a long holiday weekend. Yet, despite the heat, six neighbors participated in the monthly Alma Park cleanup, and 24 neighbors showed up at the monthly neighborhood meeting.
The park cleanup team mentioned a larger than usual amount of trash found throughout the park this month. However, the team was pleased that the LA Recreations and Parks department remediated most of the vandalism that appeared earlier in the week.
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Officer Melody Shortle, our neighborhood's Senior Lead Officer, spent some time with us, providing a crime update and answering questions. One issue that has been on her mind for a while now is the continued theft of catalytic converters and car break-ins.
Officer Shortle also handed out some informational resources:
- First, an offering by the LA City Attorney called the Dispute Resolution Program. The program provides FREE, voluntary, and confidential mediation services to residents and businesses in Los Angeles. A link to the program can be found here.
- A pamphlet outlining when to call 911 or the (877) ASK-LAPD non-emergency number.
- A tri-fold on the Genesis Older Adults program from the LA Department of Mental Health. The GENESIS Older Adult Program offers field-based outpatient mental health services for older adults living with a severe mental illness who cannot access services due to impaired mobility, frailty, or other limitations. Here is a link to the brochure.
- A tri-fold from the Department of Mental Health which provides information about mental health resources. Here's a link to the document.
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Our next meeting
Our next meeting will take place on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 9:30am.
Coffee and light refreshments will be served. Please come join us!
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Emergency Prep tip of the month
Have you ever looked up "go-bags" or "bug out bags" on the Internet, found a lot of discussion about preparing to hike into the wilderness and living off the land for a week, or lists of 300 ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL items, and just given up out of confusion?
If you have, you're not alone. A lot of "prepper" information these days seems to focus on extreme, semi-fantastical scenarios, and sometimes zombies. The reality is the emergencies we're likely to face are earthquakes, fires, chemical spills, storms, floods, and so on. When we face those kinds of events requiring us to leave our homes quickly, we'll most likely be going to family, friends, or an evacuation shelter, and most of us won't be hiking for three days to get there.
To help our neighbors get started, we are holding a "Ready, Set, Grab Your Go-Bag!" event on October 22. We'll provide you with a pre-filled bag with some essential items and a list of what you'll need to add to it, and we'll go over *why* those items matter. We aim to help our neighbors understand what they need, gain some momentum for preparing, and hopefully have some fun.
There's a small cost of $10 if you want to come and get a bag, but you'll be getting much more than $10 worth of gear. Unfortunately, we only have 25 bags, so you'll need to register to get one. (But if you just want to come for the info, that's free.)
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Water Conservation Tip of the Month
Drought alert! California is in a water crisis. In these drier seasons, we normally rely on other water sources such as reservoirs and melted snowpacks - but these remain at very low levels. Yet, there is some promising news: California Water Service (CalWater) reports its customers have made good strides in reducing water use in its service areas by 11.6% compared to last year. And according to new data from the State Water Resources Control Board, statewide water usage is down 7.6% from last year. So let’s continue doing our part to conserve!
So, Get in the habit of:
- Taking 5-minute showers
- Turning off the water when brushing teeth or shaving
- Washing full loads of clothes and dishes
- Fixing leaks
- Using a broom to clean outdoor areas instead of using a hose
And, Spread the word by sharing how you save water (and why) on social media. Use the hashtag #saveourwater and share those posts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
There are a number of websites, videos, and books on California’s water conditions. And speaking of books, check out Alma Park Neighbors Facebook page, under the TIME TO READ post, what’s your favorite book? There are a few books and articles I've read recently that come to mind: California Water - The New Gold (free online library), Water! The Twisted, Tortured Tale of California’s Gold, and The Dreamt Land: Chasing Water and Dust Across California, both by Mark Arax.
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Upcoming events
Here is a list of upcoming events taking place in our neighborhood:
- Saturday, October 1, 2022, at 9:00 am: Alma Park Deep Clean. Join your neighbors, have some fun, make friends, and make a difference!
- Saturday, October 1, 2022, at 9:30 am: Alma Park Neighbors monthly meeting IN-PERSON! Join us at the picnic tables in Alma Park for some light refreshments.
- Saturday, October 8, 2022, at 5:30 pm: AlmaNet radio check-in! For more information on participating, please check out this article on our website.
- Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 10:00 am to noon: Ready, Set, Grab your Go-Bag! Come get your very own emergency go-bag started! More details can be found at the event page. This popular event is selling out fast, so please register today!
Be sure to check out our Events page for the latest information about the schedule.
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How you can help!
Alma Park Neighbors is hosting a fun and important event called Ready, Set, Grab Your Go-Bags! on October 22, from 10am to noon. The event is designed to help people prepare a bag that is ready to grab in the event that they have to leave their home for an emergency, such as a disaster or an unexpected trip to the hospital.
We ask that you share the news about this event with your friends and neighbors. More information can be found at our event web page: https://www.almaparkneighbors.org/events/ready-set-grab-your-go-bag
Also, if you are a Facebook user, we are trying to create some fun engagement in the Alma Park Neighbors Facebook group. Here are a couple of the conversations that are taking place, if you feel inspired to chime in that would be great:
- TIME TO READ
- A brief interview with the Chori Man!
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