The Editor’s Notebook contains a calendar of fun things to do, important things to know, ways to get involved and events to put on your calendar.
Kudos
Starting this school year, Fletcher Drive Elementary in Glassell Park is fully certified as a “STEAM” Magnet school. STEAM Magnet programs offer a curriculum focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics in addition to the range of other subjects covered by the regular public school curriculum. Magnet schools also let children from outside the school zone enroll, giving parents more choices about where to send their children to school. Moreover, a Magnet designation leads to more resources for the school, which “benefits both the magnet and non-magnet programs at Fletcher Drive and the community overall,” says Dr. Saul Duarte, the school’s STEAM Magnet coordinator.
So far, 70 students have enrolled in Fletcher Drive’s STEAM Magnet program, which is capped at 76 students. Late enrollment for this school year is still open and enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year will start on October 1, 2019
To learn more about the program, visit: fletchermagnet.com or talk to Dr. Duarte directly at 323-547-0797. To request a tour, call 323-254-5246. You can also attend Back to School Night at the school, located at 3350 Fletcher Drive, on Thursday, Sept. 5. / 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
The Wall-Las Memorias
Headquartered in Highland Park, recently received the LGBTQ Champion Award from UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino nonprofit advocacy organization (formerly the National Council of La Raza). The Wall-Las Memorias was recognized for its 25 years of service to Latino, LGBTQ and other underserved populations to prevent HIV/AIDS and substance abuse and to promote wellness.
Photo courtesy of Andres Magaña
The Wall-Las Memorias also learned recently that the L.A. Recreation and Parks Commission has approved a major renovation of the Las Memorias AIDS Monument in Lincoln Park in Lincoln Heights. Dedicated in 2004, the monument is the only publicly funded monument to victims of AIDS in the nation.
And on Saturday, Sept. 21, The Wall-Las Memorias will hold its 25th Anniversary Gala at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in downtown L.A., with cocktails, dinner, dancing, art installations, awards and live entertainment from disco legend Thelma Huston. Tickets are $150 per person. For information on full-table purchases, email erika.reyes@twlmp.org or call 323-257-1056. To purchase tickets, visit: thewalllasmemorias.org/25thgala.
Kudos also go to four restaurants in NELA.
These four were hand-picked by the L.A Times to participate in “The Taste,” the paper’s annual festival of Southern California’s best restaurants held over Labor Day Weekend at Paramount Studios. Three of the restaurants are in Highland Park – Café Birdie, Donut Friend and Triple Beam Pizza. Another, Salazar, is in Elysian Valley.
Health Fair
Manos Que Sobreviven, a health-related nonprofit with a focus on families with special needs children, will hold a health fair in Cypress Park on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Health care providers will offer screenings for dental problems, high blood pressure, Hepatitis C, HIV and other health risks and provide information on flu shots, diabetes, diet, nutrition and mindfulness. Referrals will be available for vision care, as well as for legal and housing assistance. There will be free food and snacks and raffle prizes, too. / Cypress Park Recreation Center / 2630 Pepper Ave. / 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. / For more information, contact Frank Martinez at 323-399-4883.
Electric Cars and You
Bring your driver’s license to test drive a variety of electric and plug-in vehicles at Charge Up L.A. 2019. Sponsored by the L.A. Department of Water and Power, the daylong event is also a chance learn about incentives and rebates for electric cars, home chargers and other “green” products and programs for cars and homes.
And you can have fun in the process: Charge Up L.A. 2019 will feature food trucks, vendors, displays, games, raffle prizes and giveaways. / Saturday, Sept.14 / Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center (the firefighter academy near Dodger Stadium) / 1700 Stadium Way / 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. / Free admission / Free parking at Dodger Stadium parking lot #13 / For more information, visit driveelectricweek.org.
Shopping
The historic Huron SubStation, the circa 1906 building that once housed electrical equipment for the L.A. Railway Yellow Cars, will be the site of Station Market, a weekend-long pop-up boutique featuring curated and luxe goods by local artists and designers.
You’ll find apparel, textiles and linens, fine art, jewelry, home furnishings and other useful and decorative objects. Station Market will also include demos, workshops and an art bookmobile inside a vintage red Cadillac convertible. / 2640 Huron St. / Cypress Park / Saturday, Sept. 14 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. / Sunday, Sept. 15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. / Free admission / For more information, visit: huronsubstation.com
Celebrations and Festivals
Fiesta Patrias on Olvera Street is one of city’s largest and liveliest celebrations of Mexican Independence Day, filled with music, performances, food, arts and crafts and historic displays. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14 and 15 / 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. / For more information, visit elpueblo.lacity.org / Free
Final Fridays is a food truck festival on the grounds of the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, with moon bounces and foot golf thrown in for extra family fun.
The last Final Fridays for this year will be on Friday, Sept. 27 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. / Free admission, though some activities charge a fee. For more information, including the participating food trucks, visit: rosebowlstadium.com
Helping Others
Casa de la Familia, a non-profit that helps victims of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault, is offering a five-day, 40-hour training and certification program in domestic violence counseling. The program, $200 for individuals and $175 for students and seniors, meets the certification requirements to pursue volunteer or job opportunities as a domestic violence counsellor. The program is also open to anyone who wants to learn more about domestic violence. / Friday through Sunday, Sept. 13, 14 and 15, and Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20 and 21, at the LAPD Olympic Community Police Station / 1130 S. Vermont Ave. in Pico Union / For details and to register, visit: casadelafamilia.org.
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T.A. Hendrickson, a native of Eagle Rock, is the editor of the Boulevard Sentinel and a former member of the Editorial Board of the New York Times.
