Two Board Members Resign, One Joins the Board

    Directors Cindi Wood and Mark Barrionuevo resigned while Mr. Jerry Askew is the newest stakeholder to the GHSNC. Mr. Askew will become the board's newest Member-at-Large. 

    We would like to make special thanks to Mr. Mark Barrionuevo and Ms. Cindi Wood for their service to the community. Mr. Barrionuevo, in particular, helped implement many community improvement projects such as Graffiti Watch, "Keep Granada Hills Clean and Green" tote bags, the ghsnc.org website's "Stakeholder Spotlight", and the hiring of a security company, Security Specialists, to patrol the area during the night to assist in keeping us safe and our community crime free. Mr. Barrionuevo also spearheaded the GHSNC's donating of $500 to assist in Tulsa Street Elementary's Beautification Day, $500 to help the "Salute to Recreation", $500 to purchase entertainment for the Annual Spring Egg Hunt at O'Melveny Park, and he co-sponsored the December Tree Giveaway in support of the City of Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa's Million Tree Giveaway program. Moreover, Mr. Barrionuevo authored three resolutions to help combat blight and protect the environment. As Outreach Chairman, Mr. Barrionuevo used simple means (e.g. nameplates, the website, polo shirts, and even free refreshments) to reach out to Granada Hills stakeholders and let them know that the Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council is here to serve them. "I'm just grateful for the opportunity to have served and left Granada Hills better than when I moved here," Mr. Barrionuevo said. Having been accepted to a Top 20 law school, he with his wife and two sons are headed to the east coast.  

 Adopt-A-Tree

   The Friends of O'Melveny Park have started a program called "Adopt-a-Tree". Because the city of Los Angeles mandated that all parks be watered only twice per week for 15 minutes each watering, the Friends of O'Melveny Park ask each resident to adopt a tree or bush or flower patch in a park. When you go hiking or walking through the park, please bring a one gallon jug of water and help water the foliage. The little you do will make a great impact.

 Security Notice - Thieves posing as DWP employees

   Please help us to spread this information to the elderly and all residents in the SF Valley. It is imperative that no one is allowed into your home, unless you personally scheduled the workers or have first verified that they are properly identified as who they say they are. All DWP Personnel carry identification and are glad and happy to answer your questions. If not, then call "911".

Graffiti Watch Program

   The Beautification Committee is launching a Graffiti Watch program. Your help is needed to stop graffiti now. When you see graffiti, contact Your Local "Graffiti Watchers" and have graffiti removed in 48 Hours:

·         Call 311

·         Or, County Supervisor (graffiti in flood control channels) at (818)993-5170

·         Or, Councilman Greig Smith's Office at (818)756-8501

·         Or, submit a graffiti removal request online at www.lacity.org/bpw/OCS/grsr.htm.

Ground Breaking Ceremony for New Valley Region High School #4

     LAUSD recently held the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the New Valley Region High School #4 at the site of the Granada Hills Community Hospital. There were performances by the James Monroe Cheerleaders, Mayall Elementary Dance Team, and LA’s Best Dance Team, with music played by the John F. Kennedy High School Band.  Administrative dignitaries in attendance were Jean Brown, LAUSD District 1 Superintendant, the Honorable Tamar Galazan LAUSD Board Member District 3, Julie Korenstein LAUSD Board Member District 6, Scott Folsom, Vice-Chair of the LAUSD School Construction Bond Citizens’ Oversight Committee, Guy Mehula, LAUSD Chief Facilities Executive, and many others.
    The speakers let the guests in attendance know how excited they were to finally get this project started, in order to begin working toward making sure that the children with not have to go through a track school calendar, but return to the traditional two semester calendar. This new school will create more jobs for the community, and will help relieve some of the overcrowding occurring at Kennedy High, Granada Hills High, Monroe High, and Northridge Academy High. The project is set to begin this summer with completion estimated for the summer of 2011, some three years later.

 Stakeholder Spotlight

     Consuella Mackey, a resident of Granada Hills for over 24 years, has been chosen to be our first Stakeholder Spotlight.  She will be featured in the August issue of North Valley Community News.