Hello Neighbors,
Can you believe it's almost 2023?!?
As we wrap up the year, the Alma Park Neighbors coordinators met to reflect on what the group accomplished in 2022, and plan priorities for 2023. The result of our retreat will be shared in our January 2023 newsletter, and on our website.
Holiday Sing-Along - Part 1
In a wonderful display of community unity, 14 neighbors met at Gray School of Music on December 9 to participate in a Holiday Sing-Along. The neighbors caroled their way to Alma Park, and were met with clapping and cheering along the way. In Alma Park they enjoyed homemade hot chocolate, a raffle, and some friendly conversations with their neighbors.
Holiday Sing-Along - Part 2
So much fun was had decided to do a Holiday Sing Along part 2! So join us at the picnic tables in the park on Saturday, December 24, 2022, at 5:00 pm for some hot Christmasy drinks, singing, and holiday cheer. For more details, check out our event page.
Start your New Year right!
Are you planning on making a New Year's resolution to get into better shape? Or maybe to get to know your neighbors better? Well, join our brand new weekly walking group! Our first neighborhood walking group will occur on Saturday, January 7, at 4 pm. The group will meet at the picnic tables in Alma Park.
Community Emergency Response Team Trainings
In other news, after a long lull due to COVID-19, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training courses are being provided again. Two classes are running starting in January. The first is at the LA Yacht Club right here in San Pedro, and the second is in Harbor Gateway. These trainings are FREE, and a great way to help ensure you, your family, and your community are prepared in an emergency. Please take a look at the links for details about the schedule.
Here's what you can expect to find in this month's issue:
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Our previous meeting
Twenty-one neighbors met in Alma Park on December 3, 2023. Gift bags were handed out to attendees as an end-of-the-year thank you for attending and helping keep our community vibrant.
We celebrated two of our coordinators' birthdays with cupcakes and sang happy birthday.
The volunteer team who cleaned the park before our meeting started provided their cleanup report. The park was in excellent shape, with very little litter and no vandalism. Several bags of figs were removed from the playground area. Neighbors reported that two of the three lights were out on the shed in the park. Also, a discussion was had about how dangerous coyotes can be, especially after the local news showed a two-year-old girl being dragged across a yard by a coyote in Woodland Hills. It was also noted that the light post on the park's north side has trees growing over it.
Neighborhood coordinators drafted the list of three concerns and sent it to the LA Recreation and Parks department. We specifically asked:
- For the lights on the shed to be repaired
- To have warning signs installed letting people know about the presence of coyotes (similar to the signs that can be found at Point Fermin)
- The trees around the light post to be trimmed
We are happy to report the lights on the shed have already been repaired, and a sign warning about coyotes has been installed.
There has been a package theft in the area, mostly down in the 28-30th streets by Alma Street. As the holiday season approaches and as we get more gifts and packages delivered, it's important to remember a few safety tips:
- If you aren't going to be home, please ask a neighbor to help take your packages in.
- Consider having your packages delivered to an Amazon locker.
- If you see something suspicious, please take pictures or videos and report the activity to (877) ASK-LAPD.
Lastly, neighbors discussed the fence falling down on the south side of the park near the shed. Neighbors have been continuing to reach out to the LA Recreation and Parks department to get this safety issue resolved. Information about our efforts to date has been provided to Tim McOsker, our newly elected city council member, in the hopes that he can help us cut through the red tape.
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Our next meeting
Our next meeting will take place on Saturday, January 7, 2022 at 9:30am. We meet in Alma Park by the picnic tables. Officer Melody Shortle, our senior lead officer from the Los Angeles Police Department, plans to attend. She will provide a crime update and also answer any community questions.
Coffee and light refreshments will be served. Please come join us!
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Emergency Prep tip of the month
Dealing with emergencies can be very stressful, and that's even more true if you are already stressed to start! Therefore, maintaining a healthy day-to-day stress level is an important "prep." Bonus: you don't have to find a place to store this prep!
With the holiday season upon us, stress levels tend to elevate; as things get hectic, a lot of unexpected issues pop up (did you remember to buy batteries?) So put this prep into practice, and make sure you take some time to relax and take care of yourself!
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Pet Talk
Cats! Cats! And POLACATS!! The Port of Los Angeles Cat Alliance Team (POLACAT) was established in 2021 and is run entirely by a group of local (and dedicated) volunteers. POLACAT is a non-profit organization that partners with other non-profits, law enforcement, local shelters, and private parties to improve conditions for all cats at the Port. Many of those cats have lived their entire life at the Port, while others have been abandoned there - or worse - dumped due to age, illness, injury, or pregnancy.
POLACAT volunteers provide resources for medical care, coordinate spay-neuter services with shelters and local veterinarians, transport sick and injured cats to treatment facilities, and, best of all, REHOME as many cats and kittens as they can.
Did you know? *One non-neutered male cat can be responsible for over 400,000 kittens in five years! And, according to 2021 environmental impact reports, there are an estimated 1 million to 3 million stray and feral cats in the City of Los Angeles alone!
See our next Newsletter for POLACAT PART II. We will introduce some of their special volunteers and share their stories. And we will take a look at their ongoing efforts in support services and the hard task of education and outreach on the importance of spay and neutering.
Ever wonder what brought cats to the Port and Terminal Island? You can find out that, and more, in our next Newsletter. You can also check out POLACAT's website by clicking here.
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Upcoming events
Here is a list of upcoming events taking place in our neighborhood:
- Saturday, December 24, 2022 at 5:00 pm: Holiday Sing Along Part 2! Meet at the picnic tables in Alma Park! For more details, click here for details.
- Thursday, January 5, 2023 at 1:00 pm: The first in a series of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trainings at LA Yacht Club. See link for details.
- Saturday, January 7, 2023, at 9:00 am: Alma Park Deep Clean. Join your neighbors, have some fun, make friends, and make a difference!
- Saturday, January 7, 2023, 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, January 7, 2023 at 4:00 pm: Join us for our weekly neighborhood walking club! We will meet in Alma Park at the picnic tables!
- Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 5:30 pm: AlmaNet radio check-in! For more information on participating, please check out this article on our website.
Be sure to check out our Events page for the latest information about the schedule.
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How you can help!
This month, we have a very simple way you can help.
Please take a look at our events page above, and try to attend any single one of our events, or recommend an event to a friend.
Thank you for another great year in the Alma Park neighborhood. Best wishes for a safety and happy new year!
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