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Annual Garage Sale July 18th

The Annual Block Party and Art Walk 

Remember to bring your family to the 28th annual neighborhood block party on Sunday, June 28th from 5:00 -9:00 PM. There will be games and entertainment for the young folks including last years hit, The Cowboy Max Show starring Shelby Bond. Also, David Chuchian with the Middle Road Church band will be back. Ed Roane, with the help of 13 year old chef Connor Resnick, will be donning his chef's hat and manning the BBQ. WTLRA will supply the drinks and all the picnic staples. Please bring a salad, side dish, or dessert to share.

Spotlight on Emily Lechner

A former cheerleader for the Baltimore Colts (1960-65) during the era of Johnny Unitas and Raymond Berry, Emily moved to North Hollywood 1965, then to what is now West Toluca Lake in May 1968. The mother of four sons, who grew up on Hortense Street, Emily has worked for the LAUSD for over 22 years. She retired in 2002 and for the past four years, she has worked part-time for one of the District board members in the Chatsworth Field Office, As the Vice President of the WTLRA Board Emily championed the Vineland beautification project, an on-going concern still close to her heart. She is an active member of St Charles Church where she volunteers at the church and school. Emily is a member of two senior travel groups and loves to country line dance and going to the gym. But the true loves of her life are her husband Jim and her family that now includes two wonderful grandsons

Singing star “Fergie” was immortalized in a new music video on April 14th here in West Toluca Lake. Thanks to location manager Barry Gremillion, who has worked with the neighborhood in the past, a large production company descended on Al Hansen’s empty house next door to his own on Sarah. The company was surrounded by interested neighbors, particularly youngsters to whom the star was generous with autographs and when she wasn’t shooting her video. The company set up catering trucks at Sid Flynn’s on Bellflower (where we vote) and a party atmosphere was evident all day. The video, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” can be found at:  www.youtube.com.

. A backlot in our own backyard! The ABC TV series “Desperate Housewives” filmed exterior shots in our neighborhood on Kling Street September 30th. The production crew, who worked quickly and quietly, made a generous donation to the Association as most production companies do, because the neighborhood is so supportive to such efforts. For fans of the show, watch for appearances of the Sheehan home at 11122 Kling and the Reigels’ at 11151.

BBQ, GAMES, MUSIC AND A FIRETRUCK, TOO Almost two hundred friends and neighbors gathered last June for the 26th annual West Toluca Lake Block Party. Nothing fancy, just friends meeting friends. But they keep coming back! A vote of thanks to Eddy Roane for his tantalizing barbecue, to Gretchen and Roger Schreck for their unstinting efforts to make the party better every year, to Jeff Johnson and Ron Santoyo for making the games work, Kevin and Karen Colliers, she for controlling the membership booth and he for his nonpareil sound mastery and Emily and Jim Lechner for myriad details, Tracy Johnson, Pam Flynn, Sid Flynn and the generosity of Janet and Mark Madrigal for the use of their vast lawns year in and out.

We’d also like to thank Fire Station 86 on Vineland for sending their magnificent engine which became the delight of the younger citizens. And finally Dave Chuchian and his musical aggregation. Probably many more who deserve thanks, so to all, we love you!

WTL’s own Randall Carver was recently honored with the Medallion Award by TVLand for his work on the classic comedy series “Taxi.”

The Board is hopeful that we can create a committee to help in adding a more impressive look to the Inner Vineland median. The city is helping with watering three days a week and there is a clean-up crew periodically trimming and raking, as many have no doubt noticed. With help from the Neighborhood Council, we plan to beautify this entry to North Hollywood along Vineland…  In late August, the WTL Board will host an outdoor family “Movie Night” where a surprise movie will be projected on the large North wall at our voting place, 4650 Bellflower. There will be plenty of popcorn… The new California Credit Union office and the much anticipated opening of the drive-in Starbucks at the corner of Tujunga and Camarillo will take place in early summer. People will be filling-up just like when there was a gas station on the property…   … Keep your eyes on the new house built on Hortense Street. Word has it designer Christopher Lowell had a hand in the creation of the home. Currently for sale, camera crews followed the construction process from its inception.  

Food for thought: We are hoping to initiate a service to haul toxic waste from the neighborhood to the right toxic waste dumps. We’re still working this out but we’ll pass out information on it when we work out details. We’re still working on a neighborhood outdoor movie night while the weather is still warm and comfortable. Any thoughts on aspecific titles, etc, will be appreciated. If you have an idea you’d like to share with us, call Harry or Pam Flynn. Update

ATTENTION KIDS AND PARENTS   Two of our local teens have recently been stopped and ticketed by the police for not wearing helmets while riding their bicycles.  One teen went to court and had his ticket dismissed when he showed the Court he did indeed own a helmet.  Otherwise, the ticket would have been $150.00 - $250.00.  You have been warned!   BE SAFE!!! WEAR A HELMET IT IS THE LAW!

Heather Farquhar and Todd Riley, Realtors whose names you’ve seen on signs in our neighborhood, have invested a lot of time and energy into updating our West Toluca Lake web site.  The site features news about WTL as well as helpful resources you’ll find informative and entertaining. The site is linked to the Multiple Listings Service and there is additional information on homes for sale as well as other home evaluation and loan tools. But the best part of the site is the photo album featuring many of our residents and their homes (some decorated for Halloween.) There is also an archive with information from our past newsletters and a map you can share with friends when they want to know where the heck is West Toluca Lake? See what we’re talking about at www.westtolucalake.com