Rocio Rivas has won the race to represent Highland Park and other nearby communities on the L.A. Unified school board. | Image from Facebook

Election 2022: Rocío Rivas wins local school board seat in a race with big implications for public education

By T.A. Hendrickson

Rocío Rivas, an expert in education policy, has won the Los Angeles Unified school board race to represent District 2, which includes Highland Park, Cypress Park and other communities in and near Northeast Los Angeles.

Rivas’ victory signals a shift on the seven-member school board because it creates a 4-3 majority of members who favor unionized traditional public schools over generally nonunion charter schools, . . .

Continue Reading

In her own words: An interview with Eunisses Hernandez, NELA’s new city councilmember

Los Angeles City Councilmember-elect Eunisses Hernandez, who unseated incumbent Gil Cedillo in June to represent Council District 1, spoke recently with Ava LaLonde, a freshman at Occidental College and a participant in the Boulevard Sentinel/Occidental Neighborhood Reporting Partnership.

Here are excerpts from the conversation.

Continue Reading
L.A. County Supervisor-elect Lindsey Horvath will join NELA’s Supervisor Hilda Solis and three other women on the powerful Board of Supervisors. | Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Election 2022: Women will continue to run L.A. County following wins in races to represent NELA and the San Fernando Valley

By T.A. Hendrickson

Los Angeles County made history in 2020 when an all-female Board of Supervisors took the reins of county government.

This year, history has repeated itself.

Two of the Board’s five seats were up for election this year and both were won by women, ensuring an all-female Board for at least another two years.

Continue Reading
Hugo Soto-Martinez, councilmember-elect for Council District 13, and Eunisses Hernandez, councilmember-elect for CD 1, will represent several communities in Northeast L.A. | Photo composition by Mike Mera.

Election 2022: What the City Council vote results mean for Northeast Los Angeles

By T.A. Hendrickson Come December, much of Northeast Los Angeles will be represented by two new Los Angeles City Council members.  Hugo Soto-Martinez, a labor organizer, has unseated incumbent City Council member Mitch O’Farrell in Council District 13, which includes Atwater Village, Elysian Valley and parts of Glassell Park, according to vote tallies released on […]

Continue Reading
Dunsmoor in Glassell Park has been named one of the best new restaurants in Los Angeles by several restaurant critics. | Wonho Frank Lee/Eater L.A.

The 12 best restaurants in Northeast L.A.

By Bill Hendrickson

Eating out is in again and Northeast Los Angeles is a dining hot spot, according to L.A.’s restaurant reviewers. Here’s a rundown:

Bub and Grandma’s in Glassell Park and Dunsmoor, also in Glassell Park, have made the lists of best new restaurants in L.A. by Eater L.A., the Infatuation and Timeout.com.

Continue Reading
The Eagle Rock Eagles’ quarterback, senior Tanner Erwin, sets up to fire the pass for the winning overtime touchdown against San Pedro. | Image from Twitter

The football playoffs: Eagle Rock advances. Franklin suffers defeat.

By Dave Abbott of NELA Sports One In an upset victory, #8-seed Eagle Rock defeated the top-seed San Pedro Pirates on Thursday night, 38-31, in overtime. The Eagles will advance to the semifinals for the city championship in the Los Angeles City Section of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). The Open Division is the highest […]

Continue Reading
Eagle Rock senior Madisson Calma serving against San Fernando. The Eagles made it to the semi-finals in the Division 1 playoffs. | Photo by Dave Abbot/NELA Sports One

Girls volleyball wrap up: Local teams make it to city semi-finals

By Dave Abbott of NELA Sports One The Marshall Barristers had an undefeated regular season, with a 10-0 record in Northern League play and an overall record of 25-13. In the playoffs, they competed in Division 1, defeating both the Banning High Pilots of Wilmington and the Cleveland Cavaliers of Reseda, before losing in the […]

Continue Reading
Panther junior Benjamin Villareal. The game shown here, against Lincoln, was one of the 10 victories in Franklin’s undefeated season. | Photo by Dave Abbott/NELA Sports One

Franklin and Eagle Rock to compete at the highest level for football city championship

By Dave Abbott of NELA Sports One Undefeated in the regular football season with an overall record of 10-0, the Franklin Panthers of Highland Park will compete for the city championship in the Open Division, the highest level of competition in the Los Angeles city section of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).  The first Franklin […]

Continue Reading
A scene from the New York premiere of “Seize the King.” The play is being performed at Occidental College this weekend. | Richard Termine/The New York Times

Five ways to have more fun this weekend

By Pablo Nukaya-Petralia

For theatergoers, record buffs, art lovers, film fans, here’s what’s happening in and near Northeast Los Angeles this weekend.

Several of the events are free though may require advance tickets. All the events are taking place in person; masking protocols apply.

Continue Reading
Three of about 65 residents who showed up on Tuesday, Nov 23 to urge Glendale City Council to reject GWP proposal to build a power plant atop the Scholl Canyon dump. | photo by Hans Johnson

Health of local environment hinges on upcoming vote on Scholl Canyon

By Bill Hendrickson

Some 65 residents of Glendale and Eagle Rock protested this week at Glendale City Hall against the plan by Glendale Water and Power to build a biogas power plant at Scholl Canyon in the hills above Eagle Rock.

The protest, on Nov. 23, came in advance of a crucial meeting on Nov. 30, when the Glendale City Council will decide on whether to give GWP a go-ahead to proceed with the plant, which would convert methane from decaying garbage into electrical power.

Continue Reading
Jen Wilder (left) and Marcy Guevara-Prete (right), owners of The The Plus Bus Boutique on York Boulevard in Highland Park. | Photo by Lila Hempel-Edgers/The Occidental

The Plus Bus Boutique is a ‘dream closet’ for plus-size people

By Angela Guglielmino,

For a while after moving to Los Angeles, Myjah Moon, the owner of Pressed By Jess nail care, said she just didn’t feel sexy. Then, in August, she went to The Plus Bus for the first time and found the blue-sequined outfit she wore for her birthday photoshoot. It brought her confidence back. At no extra charge. Want inspiration, Read on. It’s right here in Highland Park.

Continue Reading

JOIN THESE ONLINE COMMUNITY MEETINGS about transforming Eagle Rock with Walkable, Bikeable, Safer and Greener Streets

YOU ARE INVITED to ROCK THE BOULEVARD Sunday, December 5 at 3:00 PM & Thursday, December 9 at 5:30 PM JOIN THESE ONLINE COMMUNITY MEETINGS about transforming Eagle Rock with Walkable, Bikeable, Safer and Greener Streets. What is Rock the Boulevard? The Rock the Boulevard (RTB) project will improve and revitalize Eagle Rock Boulevard to […]

Continue Reading
The Eagle Rock girls cross country team, with coach Richard Martinez, won the Division II city championship on Saturday and will compete at the state level this week. Top L-R Ixtlalli Chavez, Marielle Williamson, Coach Richard Martinez, Keely Miyamoto, Tory Yetter, Iliana Garcia-Lana. Bottom L-R: Elizabeth Corrigan, Celeste Corrigan, Kiana Andrada. | Photo by Dave Abbott/NELA Sports One

Sports Monday: In cross country, Eagle Rock girls team advances to state final and a Franklin runner wins individual city championship; in 8-man football, Sotomayor wins city title

By Dave Abbott of NELA Sports One Local teams thrived at the cross-country city championships on Saturday at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, while Sotomayor’s big victory in 8-man football has brought the school its first ever city championship. The Eagle Rock girls cross country team won the Division II city championship in the CIF-Los […]

Continue Reading
City and state officials hold $4,750,000 check for improvements at Rio de Los Angeles State Park. From Left: Councilmember Gil Cedillo, Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo, an invited guest from the community, State Senator Maria Elena Durazo, and General Manager Michael Shull of the L. A. Department of Recreation and Parks. | Photo by T. A. Hendrickson/Boulevard Sentinel

Major improvements coming for soccer and football fields at Rio de Los Angeles State Park

By Bill Hendrickson

In an exemplary display of cooperation between community leaders and state and local officials, $7.5 million has been secured to upgrade three soccer fields and other facilities at Rio de Los Angeles State Park in Cypress Park. To know more about the improvements to the Park both to the playing fields and the related park facilities, read on.

Continue Reading
The Throop House in Garvanza will be considered for historic cultural monument status. | Photo by Charles Fisher

Throop House in Garvanza clears first hurdle on way to historic cultural monument status

By T.A. Hendrickson

The Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC) of the city of Los Angeles voted unanimously on Nov. 18 to consider the nomination of Throop House in Garvanza for Historic Cultural Monument status, the Highland Park Heritage Trust announced today.

The vote is an important hurdle to clear, but there are more hurdles to come. There’s more. Read on.

Continue Reading
Councilmember Gil Cedillo in front of the Champions of Change mural in Lincoln Heights. "It is important to have murals that educate ourselves and others about our history," he said.

New mural honors the greats of Lincoln Heights

By T. A. Hendrickson The newest mural in Los Angeles, by artist Sergio Daniel Robleto, is arguably the most inspiring.  Located in Albion Riverside Park in Lincoln Heights and entitled “Champions of Change,” the mural depicts six people from Lincoln Heights who have changed the world for the better. “The Champions of Change mural is […]

Continue Reading
LAPD responded Friday morning to a phone call reporting a shooter on campus at Franklin High School. There turned out to be no sign of a shooter or other threat. | Photo by the new York Blvd

Report of a shooter on Franklin High campus was a “crank call,” say police; lockdown lasted about 20 minutes as police responded

By Pablo Nukaya-Petralia and T.A. Hendrickson

Franklin High School in Highland Park is calm this afternoon after a call to the LAPD on Friday morning reported a shooter on campus.

Continue Reading
Eagle Rock quarterback Tanner Erwin, a junior, in the city quarterfinal against Reseda on Nov. 12. | Photo by Dave Abbott/NELA Sports One

Sotomayor advances in 8-man football; for other NELA teams, playoff season ends in defeat

By Dave Abbott of NELA Sports One

The Sotomayor Wolves of Glassell Park advanced to the city finals in 8-man football last week by defeating the Jordan Bulldogs of Watts in the semifinals, 50-6. We’ve got more sports news from Dave Abbott / NELA Sports One.

Continue Reading
Aerial view rendering of the homeless shelters planned for 7570 N. Figueroa St in Eagle Rock, across from the Eagle Rock Recreation Center.

Sponsored Content: TONIGHT! EAGLE ROCK TINY HOMES PRESENTATION BY UNION STATION HOMELESS SERVICES

Have Questions about the Eagle Rock Tiny Homes?  

Join our Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council Housing and Homelessness Committee meeting on Monday, November 15th at 6pm to ask questions of representatives of Union Station Homeless Services and Council District 14. 
For instructions on how to join the meeting, on Zoom or by phone, please click on the picture above.

Continue Reading
Derek Steinorth, a veteran teacher and administrator, is the new principal of Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School. | Photo courtesy of LAUSD

Derek Steinorth is the new principal at Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School

Mr. Derek Steinorth has been selected as the Principal of Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School. He will begin this assignment on December 1, 2021.  

Mr. Steinorth brings over 30 years of educational experience as a middle and high school teacher and administrator. Read more about Mr. Steinorth here.

Continue Reading
Ilka Perkins using a pottery wheel | Photo courtesy of People’s Pottery Project

At the People’s Pottery Project in Glassell Park, formerly incarcerated people find employment, acceptance, community

By Angela Guglielmino In 1993, when Ilka Perkins was 17, she woke up in a state prison lying on a cold slab of metal facing 15 years to life in prison. She was released 26 years later, in 2019, at age 43. Since then, Ilka and her wife, Domonique Perkins, whom she met in prison, and […]

Continue Reading
The Eagle Rock High girls volleyball team commemorates its city championship in Division II of the CIF L.A. City Section. The team advances to the state playoffs, starting on Nov. 9. | Photo by Eric Owens

Eagle Rock High girls volleyball team advances to state playoffs; Eagle Rock football team advances in city playoffs

By Dave Abbott of NELA Sports One Fortune smiled on Eagle Rock last week with playoff victories in girls volleyball and football. The same can’t be said for the football teams at Franklin in Highland Park and Wilson in El Sereno, which ended the season with playoff losses. The Eagle Rock High girls volleyball team […]

Continue Reading
Kevin de León, city councilmember for Council District 14, will head the Homelessness and Poverty committee. | Photo by David Butrow/L.A. Times

Kevin de León named to head Homelessness and Poverty committee; appointment is significant for policy and politics

By T.A. Hendrickson 

Councilmember Kevin de León has been appointed chair of the Los Angeles City Council’s Homelessness and Poverty Committee. He replaces Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas who was suspended from office after his recent indictment on federal corruption charges.  Read what KDL had to say about his appointment here.

Continue Reading
The Soul Bowl with shrimp at Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen on Eagle Rock Blvd.| Photo courtesy of Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen

Survive, then thrive: How three local restaurants that opened during the lockdown are doing today

By Olivia Fishman 

If launching a restaurant is a leap of faith, launching a restaurant during a pandemic is a gravity-defying vault. 

And yet, the owners of the three restaurants profiled in this story pulled it off. Here’s how they did it and how they’re doing now.

Continue Reading
Eagle Rock senior Harrison Funk in the quarterfinals playoff match, in which the Eagles defeated the San Pedro Pirates. | Photo by Dave Abbott/NELA Sports One

Eagle Rock advances in boys water polo and girls volleyball; football playoffs start this week

By Dave Abbott of NELA Sports One Update (Nov. 3): This story was updated to reflect the Eagle Rock Eagles’ win in the semifinals of girls volleyball on Nov. 3. The finals are Nov. 6. Update (Nov. 5): This story was updated to reflect the Eagle Rock Eagles’ win in the quarterfinals of boys water […]

Continue Reading
This house in Glassell Park sold recently for $1.225 million, a big premium over the seller's asking price.

The two fastest selling homes in NELA in September were priced to sell at just under $1M

By Jeffery Marino

Ever since last May, when the median sale price for a home in Northeast Los Angeles hit the $1 million mark, sellers have been taking the “just under” pricing approach: Put the house on the market for just under $1 million and count on buyer competition to push the price into seven figures. 

This strategy clearly has worked. See how it worked for the sellers of the two houses featured in this report.

Continue Reading
Michelle Williams at the Highland Park Farmers Market holding a crystal that decorates her booth. (The market is open Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.) | Photo by Christopher Nyerges

The healing fairy of Highland Park

By Christopher Nyerges Highland Park resident Michelle Williams is a “healing fairy,” a term she came up with a few years ago. “A fairy,” says Williams, “is a spirit which takes care of the earth and everything that lives on the earth and protects it.  A healing fairy also provides uplifting energy which makes people […]

Continue Reading
This 2-bed, 1-bath home on Cunard St. in Glassell Park sold recently for $1.07 million, fully 25% more than the asking price.

Faster pace, higher prices for recent NELA home sales

By Jeffery Marino

Another month, another record. In September, the latest data available, the median sale price for a house in NELA continued its steep climb, rising 14% year-over-year, to $1.065 million. September was the eighth straight month of double-digit annual price growth.

Prices are up because inventory is low and falling.. The home sales market dynamically complex. Get the main point here.

Continue Reading
Yolanda González (above) will have a solo exhibition of her paintings and prints at the Bermudez Projects art gallery in Cypress Park, Nov. 14 to Dec. 26. | Photo by John S. Rabe

Art in NELA now: Where to buy it, view it, create it

Picks from the people who bring you the Boulevard Sentinel Here’s how to experience art in NELA now:  The Bermudez Projects art gallery in Cypress Park is a focal point this holiday season for buying and viewing art.  A major artwork from a major exhibition is on display now in the seating area of Go […]

Continue Reading
The four new owners of Pop-Hop in Highland Park, including Jonathan Hinton (above), are reimagining how the bookstore can best serve the community. | Photo by T.A. Hendrickson

Stories of hope, community and social justice from NELA’s bookstores

By River Lisius
Throughout the pandemic, bookstores in Los Angeles have closed, transitioned to curbside pickup and finally, partially reopened. Despite financial stress and other pandemic-related challenges, the bookstores in and near NELA have continued to serve their communities in troubling times.
Here’s a rundown:
1. Pop-Hop| Highland Park: ‘Knowledge is going to move a revolution’

This July, Pop-Hop on York Boulevard reopened as a nonprofit bookstore, specializing in social justice, community education and the arts.

Continue Reading

NELA Neighborhood Reporting Partnership: The Boulevard Sentinel and The Occidental announce local reporting collaboration

The Boulevard Sentinel is pleased to announce the NELA Neighborhood Reporting Partnership (NELA NRP), a professional collaboration between the Sentinel and the Community News section of The Occidental, the campus newspaper of Occidental College.

NELA NRP represents an investment both in student journalists and in reliable journalism for the communities of NELA.

Continue Reading
The Groundbreakers - From left: LADOT Centrol District Engineer Mehred Moshksar, Public Works Board Commissioner Teresa Villegas, Councilmember Jose Huizar, Streets LA Executive Director Adel Hagekhalil, TERA President Greg Meredith, ERNC Board President Jesse Saucedo \ Photo by Bill Hendrickson

Improvement Project Underway for Colorado Blvd in Eagle Rock

Groundbreaking both literal and ceremonial for the Take Back the [Colorado] Boulevard Improvements Project took place Nov 14 in Eagle Rock. Read more here about who was present for the ceremony and what has already started out on the Boulevard.

Continue Reading