Greetings Alma Park Neighbors!

May has brought plenty of rain to our area and it really feels like spring with the overcast days and the flowers blooming. It’s a great time to open the windows, air out the house and finish (or start) “Spring Cleaning”. We have noticed so many beautiful gardens around the neighborhood with a variety of colorful flowers. It always feels good to get outside, clear out the winter brush from the yard and turn over the dirt for new growth. Spring cleaning your garden is a great way to give your house a fresh, updated look.

Here is a spring garden clean-up checklist:

• Prune shrubs
• Remove winter mulch
• Brush back leaves on top of plants
• Pull any dead annuals
• Remove dead growth from perennials
• Clean up your vegetable beds
• Pull the weeds
• Edge your garden bed

If you would like, post your before and after pictures in our Facebook page.

As May comes to a close, we are in full planning mode for our July 1st, 2023, Alma Park Picnic. We have an exciting event planned with music from various local musicians including interactive Taiko drum sessions, an art show featuring talent from San Pedro students, FIRE ENGINES, radio demos, awesome raffle items, HOT DOGS and more! It is going to be quite the event. We hope you can make it!

If you are interested in volunteering, we would appreciate your support. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors and spend a fun afternoon at the park. Here is the link if you want to volunteer.

Oh, by the way, we are looking for any lost socks. That is, socks that are lonely, discarded or haven’t found their match. We plan to have a sock puppet activity. Don’t worry, we will wash and bleach all those stinky guys. Send us an email and we can pick them up from you.

• Our Previous Meeting
• Our Next Meeting
• Emergency Prep Tip of the Month
• Pet Talk
• Upcoming Events
• How you can help

1. Asking visitors for ID
2. If ID can't be provided, you should inform the visitor you will call the police.
3. Call (877) ASK-LAPD to report the visitors.

With summer, and warmer weather finally approaching, it’s time to think about things like sunscreen and bug repellents. 

Sunscreen should be at least SPF30, water resistant, and be broad spectrum, which means it protects against UVA and UVB rays. The American Cancer Society has good information on selecting sunscreen and other ways to protect your skin.

Insect repellents for your skin should be either DEET, Picardin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalpytus. Picardin or a repellent called Permethrin can also be applied to clothes (but don’t use Permethrin on your skin!) 

You can read about how to choose which repellent is the best for your family on the Insectlopedia. 

Once you’ve chosen the best sunscreen and repellent for your situation, make sure you include some of each in your emergency kit and go-bag. Remember - an emergency can happen in any kind of weather, and some emergencies may require you to be out with the sun and the bugs for long periods of time!

DOGS!  DOGS!  DOGS!  I love dogs!  I grew up with dogs - and only dogs.  Some of my fondest childhood memories centered around dogs - all breeds, large and small.  I love “all things” dogs: they are quick to greet you with a wagging tail and big wet kisses, happy to lap cuddle or playfully fetch a ball, provide that quiet comfort when you are not feeling well or sad, and have you ever lovingly gazed into your dogs’ eyes? - only to see them looking back at you in the same way, resolute.  Modern technology can now use dog brain scans to gain a deeper understanding of what they experience, and it turns out dogs have similar emotions to people.  So, as I am often told (and believe) there is a dog ‘knowing’, especially with rescued or shelter dogs that finally find their forever home - a look of gratitude with, yes- smiling, kisses, tail wags, unconditional love, and protection.

I have read and seen dogs in action too!  As service or therapy dogs in a hospital or senior living setting, bringing comfort and joy to patients and seniors; as guides to help persons with physical challenges navigate their daily living activities, as police K-9 units that assist our law enforcement officers in apprehending criminals.  Dogs help to keep us safe from explosives, illegal drugs, or other dangerous objects at airports and other transit locations.  And let’s not forget those dogs that are used for disaster recovery, or dogs specially trained to assist our military in sniffing out improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in war torn countries.

And with all the unconditional love and joy they bring us, there will be heartbreak and sorrow when a member of our beloved pet family passes on.  Understandably, it can be a long grief but such is the cycle of life - until we are ready for our new companion.

Having read this Pet Talk piece, you could rightly conclude that I am dog biased.  Well, I WAS…….but then a black cat showed up in our yard a little over a year ago!  Stay tuned for Pet Talk, June Edition and CATS!  CATS!  CATS!

• Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 9:00 am: Alma Park Deep Clean. Join your neighbors, have some fun, make friends, and make a difference!
• Saturday, June 3, 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, June 3 AND EVERY SATURDAY! at 4:00 pm: Join us for our weekly neighborhood walking club! We will meet in Alma Park at the picnic tables!
• Saturday, June 10, 2023, at 4:00 pm: This month we'll be combining our AlmaNet radio check-in, our weekly walking club, and our Annual Graffiti Walk! Bring your radios and meet us at 21st and Gaffey!
• Saturday, July 1, 2023: from 10am-2pm: the Alma Park Picnic!

1. Volunteer during the July 1st Picnic or hand out postcards about the Picnic. Sign up here to join our awesome group of Picnic volunteers!
2. Participate in the June 10th Graffiti Walk.
3. If you see or hear suspicious activity, please call it in. Potential immediate threats to people or property should be called into 911. Other issues should be reported via the non-emergency line. The wait time can be long, but please don't hang up! It's important to get all issues recorded, even if LAPD can't address them at this time.
4. Learn how to use 3-1-1, visit this web page to learn more about how MyLA311 app can help keep our neighborhood looking beautiful!