Wrigley Association

Wrigley Association News - December November 2005

Sep 16, 2008

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By Joan Greenwood

A joyous holiday season to all! I especially want to thank Maria Norvell and all of the wonderful volunteers and sponsors that work so hard to make the Daisy Avenue Christmas Tree Lane one of the most outstanding events in the City. Unlike other City parades, this one is truly a neighborhood effort. Come to the Association Christmas Party on December 5th and thank Maria for her dedication and many contributions to the betterment of our community. If only I could clone her.

WRIGLEY ASSOCIATION CHRISTMAS PARTY

On December 5, 2005, the Wrigley Association will hold its annual Christmas Party instead of the usual general meeting at Veterans Park. The Board of Directors invites all of you join in the holiday spirit with friends and neighbors. The party starts at 7 p.m. and lasts until around 9 p.m. There's so much good food donated by local restaurants. We still welcome a favorite dish or two that anyone else would like to offer to the group. So save the date and share in some good tidings!!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR WRIGLEY FUNDRAISER

The Wrigley Association will sponsor another Apparel Fundraiser on Saturday, December 17, 2005 to help settle our legal debt (see enclosed flyer). I need one person to help from 8:45 until 11:30 a.m., and two people to help from 11:30 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. ?¿½ assisting with sign-ins, collecting entrance fees or restocking clothing. It's really a lot of fun. If you have the time and inclination to help us out, please call Jill Hill at 562-599- 1822.

Building on Success for a Brighter Future
By Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga


For many residents, the winter months may bring thoughts of cozy fireplaces and favorite blankets, but for much of the City staff, it will be an active time with important projects and special events to work on. It has certainly been a very busy year for the 7th District Office with much more to ahead for us to look forward to. I want to take this opportunity to give you an update on some of our accomplishments in 2005 and give you a sneak peek into next year.

The preservation of open space continues to be one of my highest priorities for the 7th District. I believe that increasing the amount of passive and active recreational opportunities is vital for improving the quality of life for our residents. I am proud of what we have achieved, in spite of our budget deficit, on expanding the amount of available open space and maintaining necessary recreational programs for the entire community to enjoy. I am pleased to announce that work has finally begun to improve the small city owned property along the LA River, between Hill and 21st Streets. These improvements will create a friendly passive space for area residents?¿½without playground equipment and other amenities?¿½to minimize impacts to adjacent homeowners. This is an important project that the Wrigley Association has supported and I am delighted to see it move forward.

Another park project that is moving forward for the 7th District is the Citywide Sports Complex. The Planning Commission recently certified the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project with the condition that City staff meet with opponents of the proposed use to incorporate additional passive open space. The Sports Complex currently envisions six softballs fields, four soccer fields and other active recreation uses. Opponents advocate for more passive uses, such as wetlands restoration. The City Council will be required to decide on the final project within the next few months. This project has been envisioned for some 20 years with discussions on the current site commencing nearly 5 years ago. Regardless of the ultimate decision on the site plan, I am thrilled that this project will finally come to the City Council for consideration.

Yes, it has indeed been a very busy year. The City achieved it?¿½s targeted budget reductions and reduced the structural deficit to just $10 million. This is a tremendous achievement that I am proud to be a part of. For the third year in a row, the 7th District Council Office made significant reductions in our budget. The 7th District holds the distinction of being to only Council Office to make reductions this year while still providing core services to our residents. One of the services that I am committed to continuing is my staff support for the Daisy Lane Christmas Parade. The Parade is a model of effective partnerships between the City and the community. My family eagerly anticipates participating in the parade every year and it is my pleasure to help continue this cherished tradition.

As we conclude another successful year, please take a moment during holidays to contribute what you can to those less fortunate. We all have our individual strengths and weaknesses, but together, we can make 2006 a year of phenomenal achievements for the entire community.

WRIGLEY MEMBERSHIP DRIVE!

Ask your neighbors and friends to join the Wrigley Association and be rewarded handsomely!

Our membership contest will come to a close at our Janaury 9, 2006 meeting. The member who recruits the most new members by 7:00 p.m. on Janaury 9thth will win a $25 gift certificate to Starbucks!

Membership in the Wrigley Association is $15 per year and includes receipt of the bi-monthly newsletter, delivered straight to your door. When the Wrigley Association takes a stand on issues that affect our quality of life or invites public officials to address issues that concern you and your neighbors, we get results. A big part of our ability to get results is the numbers behind us. The more people who belong to the Wrigley Association, the more weight our collective voice carries. Please ask your neighbors to sign up today! $15 is not a lot to support the improvements we have seen in our neighborhood over the years. (Submitted by G. McKiernan)

NIS HOSTS PERFORMANCES AND POT LUCK DINNER

The South Wrigley Neighborhood Improvement Strategy (NIS) meeting is on the 2nd Thursday of the month at Lafayette Elementary at 6 p.m. This group normally hosts city officials who present valuable information about programs and services available to residents. Elected officials also appear to get feedback from the community on what they need to work on to continue to make this a better place to live.

In November the NIS group took a break from the more serious topics and hosted a community event complete with a full thanksgiving style dinner. Two dance groups from local schools Lafayette and Grant appeared. Local residents and business owners donated food for everyone to enjoy. Rebecca Rankins put it all together. It was a great evening for young and old.

At this meeting, residents also bid a sad goodbye to Commander Keith Kilmer who has served this area well as the head of the West Division of the LBPD. Kilmer will be moving on to another position within the department and Commander Quach will be taking over. For information about future NIS events and meetings, please email wrigleyvillage@hotmail.com to be added to their email list. (Submitted by G. McKiernan)

NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY GROUP
QUARTERLY CLEAN UP PROGRAM

The Neighborhood Advisory Group, which meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at the Community Police Center at 2023 Pacific Ave at 6p.m., hosted another of its quarterly clean ups recently. This one focused on the ally ways on either side of Pine from 23rd down to PCH. Dozens of residents, city officials, and community service workers chipped in to make the day a success. The police department helped out at the end of the day by rolling our their BBQ and cooking up lunch for all the participants.

For information about future Neighborhood Advisory Group events and meetings, please email wrigleyvillage@hotmail.com to be added to their email list. (Submitted by G. McKiernan)

An Update from the Chair of the Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy
By Councilmember Frank Colonna

The RMC continues to be a regional leader in conservation and protecting our environment. This fall we have been dealing with a number of legislative priorities. I am elated to report that RMC supported Senate Bill 153, the Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks and Coastal Protection Act of 2006, was still under consideration in the legislature and may move forward in the spring.

We are also hard at work with our DeForest Wetlands project that will restore historic river wetlands along the lower Los Angeles River here in Long Beach. The project will convert about 38 acres of land into a river parkway with multipurpose wetlands, wildlife habitat, recreational trails and amenities, and interpretive enhancements. The project borders DeForest Park on the north and Del Amo Blvd. on the southern end. This project will add much-needed public open space and wildlife habitat in a highly urbanized community, where opportunities to provide open space and restore habitat are extremely limited.

Total project cost is estimated at $10 million. On October 17, 2005, a grant application for $6 million for Phase I of two phases was submitted to the California Resources Agency, through the California River Parkways Grant Program. The City expects grant notification in the spring of 2006. The remaining $4 million is currently unfunded, with the City researching other possible funders. Construction of Phase I, which includes major site grading to create the wetlands, connection to the river as a wetlands water sources, and limited planting can begin as soon as funding is secured. Phase II funding includes complete habitat planting, recreational trails and amenities, and interpretative signage.

It is our hope that this project will be an incredible new asset for our residents on the Westside of Long Beach.

We also continue to work with our community partners in the acquisition of the Wrigley Oil Fields land. It is our hope to convert this large parcel to an active and beautiful piece of open space for our Westside residents. In particular, those in the Wrigley neighborhood would benefit greatly from this new city parkland. As more progress is made on this project, we will continue to keep you informed.

Thanks for giving me an opportunity to provide this report to your community. Without the efforts of Wrigley residents, this Conservancy might never have been formed!

17TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LANE CELEBRATION
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Chairperson Maria Norvell - 427-5021

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

WORKDAY: Saturday, DECEMBER 3, 2005, 10 a.m. 'till we're done!
(Assemble at Hill and Daisy, Lunch provided)

PARADE: Saturday, DECEMBER 10, 2005, at 5:00 p.m.

BEST DECORATED HOME CONTEST: Friday, DECEMBER 9, 2005, 7 p.m. (WILLOW TO PCH Along DAISY)

ENTERTAINMENT NIGHTS: DECEMBER 11, 16, 17 AND 18,
7 P.M. TO 9 P.M. (20th and Daisy)

SANTA AT 20TH & DAISY: DECEMBER 11, 16, 17 AND 18,
7 to 8 p.m.

TAKE DOWN: DECEMBER 26, 2005, 10:00 a.m. 'till done(Assemble at Hill and Daisy)

Please you mark your calendars and try to come out and help ?¿½especially, WORKDAY, ENTERTAINMENT NIGHTS and TAKE DOWN!