Tuesday, December 29, 2009

L.A. Heritage Day 2010 Set for April 11th

The L.A. Heritage Alliance will be presenting the 3rd Annual Los Angeles Heritage Day event at Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles on Sunday, April 11, 2010.

This event promises to bring together at one location 100 heritage organizations that tell the story of Los Angeles. Further details will be release in early 2010, including free admittance tickets, performance schedule, and more.

To be a sponsor of the event, please contact the LA Heritage Alliance via email (see contact information at right).

Monday, December 21, 2009

L.A. Conservancy Preservation Award Nominations Due Feb. 1

The Los Angeles Conservancy seeks nominations for our 29th Annual Preservation Awards, which recognize outstanding achievement in the field of historic preservation in L.A. County. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. PST on Monday, February 1, 2010.

Downloadable application (MS Word): http://www.laconservancy.org/awards/PA10_application.doc
General information: http://www.laconservancy.org/awards/index.php

Preservation Award winners range widely, from sensitive restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse projects, to groundbreaking advocacy and education efforts by individuals and groups. We encourage submissions from throughout Los Angeles County that illustrate the value and power of historic preservation. Construction projects may be commercial, residential, or institutional. We also encourage nominations for historic landscape projects and significant contributions to preservation education or program development.

Past recipients include the Dr. Ralph J. Bunche Peace and Heritage Center, Oaklawn Bridge and Waiting Station, Palomar Senior Apartments, Point Fermin Lighthouse, City of Huntington Park Historic Preservation Ordinance, and Valley Municipal Building, among more than 200 others.

To qualify, projects must have been completed by December 31, 2009, be located in Los Angeles County, and meet nationally recognized standards for the treatment of historic properties and landscapes (in the case of construction or landscape projects).

Winners will be selected by an independent jury of leading experts in architecture, historic preservation, and community development. The awards will be presented at a luncheon in May 2010.

The deadline for submitting nominations is February 1, 2010. Each nomination has a non-refundable application fee of $50. You can download a nomination form below or from our website, or request one by calling the office at (213) 623-2489.

Downloadable application (MS Word): http://www.laconservancy.org/awards/PA10_application.doc
General information: http://www.laconservancy.org/awards/index.php

Thanks, happy holidays, and best wishes for a great 2010.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Free Training for Executive Directors

Enrollment Open for January, February, March 2010
Apply NOW—Only 135 Spots Available

The Annenberg Foundation is seeking leaders who aspire to nothing less than greatness, and want to connect those leaders with valuable resources and training so that they can lead their organization towards transformational change.

Alchemy is a free organization and leadership development program. It is focused on building the capacity of small to midsized nonprofit organizations and their leaders. Enrollment is open to qualified nonprofits with operating budgets of up to $2 million serving Los Angeles County.

-Executive Director and Board Chair must attend. The program is FREE but both must commit to two day-long training sessions, followed by a half-day 3 months later. These sessions are led by nationally respected facilitators and local practitioners.

-Include one more board member. You may bring an additional Board member, aka your “Board Champion,” so each organization is allowed to have three individuals in attendance.

-Critical topics covered. Alchemy will tackle Board effectiveness, fund development, public involvement and accountability. You will receive implementation tools, mentoring, and a connection to a network of regional peers to support you on an ongoing basis.

-Training in two phases. The first phase of Alchemy begins in January, February and March 2010. Upon completion, participants will be invited to apply to the second phase, Learning Laboratory, which is a deeper dive into issues of sustainability with a series of roundtables and ongoing services such as technical assistance and a small grants program.

Alchemy exists to reach aspiring leaders and align the Executive Director and Board Chair in common purpose. By connecting them to resources that will support their ability to produce results and readiness to lead, we will create a strong, resilient, and vibrant Los Angeles.

For more information and to apply Please visit www.annenbergalchemy.org or call (213) 403-3030.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Grants for PLANNING Historic Projects

From GrantStation...

National Endowment for the Humanities: Interpreting America's Historic Places: Planning Grants
This program provides funds for public humanities projects that may need further development before applying for implementation. The Deadline to apply is January 13, 2010, but you need to register with grants.gov to be able to apply for Federal Funding.

About the Grant:
Interpreting America’s Historic Places grants support public humanities projects that exploit the evocative power of historic places to explore stories, ideas, and beliefs that deepen our understanding of our lives and our world. The Division of Public Programs supports the development of humanities content and interactivity that excite, inform, and stir thoughtful reflection upon culture, identity, and history in creative and new ways. Interpreting America’s Historic Places projects may interpret a single historic site or house, a series of sites, an entire neighborhood, a town or community, or a larger geographical region. Grants for Interpreting America’s Historic Places should encourage dialogue, discussion, and civic engagement, and they should foster learning among people of all ages. To that end, the Division of Public Programs urges applicants to consider more than one format for presenting humanities ideas to the public.

Monday, November 23, 2009

2nd Annual "Walk It Off" Tour of NoHo: Sat. 11/28

From the Museum of the San Fernando Valley...

We are pleased to extend an invitation to another North Hollywood “NoHo” historic walking tour.

2nd Annual NoHo Historic “Walk It Off” Tour
Saturday, November 28th 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Tour attendees will learn about real cowboys, pioneer families, movie television and recording stars, the Spanish conquest, Mexican ranchos, great steam trains, vast ranches and orchards, land barons, wars, architecture, and much more! Additional tour highlights include:
-Amelia Earhart Statue
-Security Trust and Savings Bank (1924)
-Amelia Earhart Library (1928)
-El Portal Theatre (1926)
-St. Paul’s First Lutheran Church
-NoHo Arts District
-NoHo Fire Station #60
-Lankershim Arts Center (1939) (S. Charles Lee, architect)
-So. Pacific Railroad Depot (1896)
-Commonwealth Savings & Loan Building
-Weddington Family History
-North Hollywood Masonic Temple Lodge 542
-Lankershim Elementary School (Marilyn Monroe attended)

RSVP: 1-818-347-9665 or email at TheMuseumSFV@gmail.com
Please leave name, address and phone number (walk-ups welcome too!)
Cost: $10 per person suggested donation
Parking: Street and metered parking in area

Sponsored by the Universal City/North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Reservations for the tour are on a first-come, first-served basis. Tour meets at Amelia Earhart Statue; NW corner of Tujunga St. & Magnolia Blvd.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Updated IRS Form 990 Training

NONPROFIT GOVERNANCE & THE REVISED IRS FORM 990 - A SERIES OF FIVE WEBINARS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU FILL IN THE BLANKS.

Your organization’s Form 990 is one of your most important documents. It is the world’s window into your organization. The IRS, donors, funders and the press review your Form 990 to determine such information as:

-Do you have an independent board of directors overseeing your operations?
-Does your organization maintain high ethical standards and a culture of transparency for your donors, volunteers, clients and employees?
-How much of each donation does your organization pay its outside fundraisers and how much does it keep for its mission?
-Is your executive compensation in line with organizations in your area of similar size and with a similar mission?

In recent years the IRS has adopted a specific focus on nonprofit governance as part of its oversight of nonprofits exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The revised Form 990 requires nonprofits to describe in detail their governance practices, including such issues as how the nonprofits manage conflicts of interest and set executive compensation.

The five-part webinar series is designed to help you understand and comply with the new disclosure requirements. Each webinar in this series will discuss in-depth one of the new disclosure requirements. It will assist you in developing policies and procedures that will allow your organization to follow best practices and help inspire confidence in your funders and the general public that your organization is well run.

This series is designed for members of the board of directors and senior executives of nonprofits, as well as attorneys that counsel nonprofit organizations on governance matters.

The webinars are held once a month. They begin at 9 am and last approximately 60 minutes – and you never have to leave your office! Please feel free to forward this invitation to your nonprofit partners. For more details, please click here. To register, please click here.

Free Lunch: Oral History as Research and Archives

ICW "In Conversation" series presents:

Telling Stories: Oral History as Research and Archives
Friday, December 4, 2009
Noon to 1pm

The Overseers’ Room, Huntington Library

A conversation between historian David Igler of UC Irvine and:
-Lisa Rubens, Historian and Academic Specialist at the Regional Oral History Office, a research unit of The Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley
-Ana Elizabeth Rosas, a Postdoctoral Ford Foundation Fellow in the department of Black Studies at UC Santa Barbara
-Natalie Fousekis, Director of Cal State Fullerton’s Center for Oral and Public History (COPH) and an Associate Professor in the History Department

This seminar will explore the use of oral history as a research method and the basis of many recent path-breaking historical studies. How and when should scholars conduct oral histories? What are the limitations of oral histories as source material? What are the best oral history archives in California? Three scholars will discuss the possibilities and problems associated with oral history.

This conversation is part of a brown bag luncheon series sponsored by ICW.

The event is open to any who wish to attend, and a limited number of lunches will be available upon a first come/first served basis. To reserve a seat, please respond to Kim Matsunaga at kmatsuna@usc.edu by November 30.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Final LAHA meeting of 2009: November 7

The final LA Heritage Alliance meeting for 2009 will be held on Saturday, November 7 at the Pico House at
El Pueblo (at the southern end of Olvera Street and the plaza) in Downtown LA. The meeting will begin at 10am and will be completed by 12noon so you can enjoy a lunch or a tour on your own at Olvera Street. (A special thanks
goes to El Pueblo and the City of Los Angeles for hosting our meeting.)

The topics we will cover include:
-an update on the online calendar and LA Heritage Day 2010,
-a discussion and creation of an action plan addressing the structure of the LA Heritage Alliance and its future
-county-wide preservation alerts,
- a short workshop on effective outreach techniques

This meeting will be full of useful information for your organization, so make sure you take the train or Metro or drive bike or walk to the heart of the City to participate.

Please share this information with other staff and/or board members and leaders of your organization.

We look forward to your input and collaboration as we set a direction for the future as we celebrate our past.

Please make sure you RSVP by November 5th at 5pm by emailing laheritage[at]gmail[dot]com.

“DIA de LOS MUERTOS" at the Andres Pico Adobe

From the San Fernando Historical Society:

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

&

CULTUAZTLAN

INVITE YOU TO

CELEBRATE

“DIA de LOS MUERTOS"

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2009

11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

ANDRES PICO ADOBE PARK

10940 SEPULVEDA BLVD. (AT BRAND BLVD.)

SPECIAL GUESTS

MARIACHI AZTLAN * VIOLETA QUINTERO

ALEJANDRO MOLINA * BALLET OLLIN
DANZA AZTECA CUAUHTEMOC
EL MAESTRO DEL CABALLO ROSENDO SOLIS
DANZA AZTECA MICTLANTECUHTLI
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO MARIACHI TESORO
CONJUNTO TENOCELOMEH

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO RESERVE ALTAR SPACE

818.257.4072 OR 818.448.0511


Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Tour Sixties Sites in the South Bay on November 8

From the Los Angeles Conservancy...

"It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod City"
Sunday, November 8, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

$30 ($25 L.A. Conservancy members; $10 kids 12 and under)
Click here for details and tickets

Join the L.A. Conservancy and our Modern Committee on a "magical history tour" of unique sites from the sixties! This one-time-only event offers a rare chance to visit 1960s gems that helped fuel Los Angeles’ growth into a modern metropolis.

You'll drive yourself to each of the official tour stops (carpooling encouraged), at your convenience and armed with a booklet full of interesting sites to see along the way. When you get to an official stop, you'll receive a docent-led tour of the site.

Focused on the South Bay area of Los Angeles, the tour includes:
  • The iconic LAX Theme Building, with access to its observation deck for the first time since 2001
  • Flight Path Learning Center and Museum at LAX, with a special display of '60s airline uniforms just for tour day
  • The former IBM Aerospace Headquarters, designed to resemble a 1960s computer punch card
  • St. Jerome Catholic Church, a remarkably intact example of sixties religious architecture
  • The Proud Bird Restaurant, a first-rate example of the "destination restaurant" fad popular in the sixties and seventies

The tour is part of The Sixties Turn 50, the Conservancy and ModCom's nine-month program celebrating Greater L.A.'s rich legacy of 1960s architecture. If your organization is holding a sixties-related event between now and June 2010, let us know and we'll add it to our calendar! (E-mail Cindy Olnick at colnick@laconservancy.org).

Click here for tour details and tickets. Hope to see you there!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Free Training for Non-Profits to File New IRS - 10/22/09

From Public Counsel's Community Development Project...

Revised form 990 Seminar offered October 22, 2009

Public Counsel’s Community Development Project is co-sponsoring a free seminar, called “The Revised Form 990 – Preparing For A New World,” on October 22, 2009 from 7:30 AM – 12:30 PM. The seminar will be hosted at the offices of DLA Piper LLP in Los Angeles, 550 South Hope Street, Suite 2300, Los Angeles, CA 90071. As you know, the redesigned IRS Form 990 significantly changes the reporting requirements for many nonprofit organizations. Now, the IRS wants to know in more detail how your organization sets executive compensation and how much it is paying its executives; how it handles potential conflicts of interest; and whether it has a record retention policy, independent directors and a whistleblower policy. This seminar is designed to walk you through all the new requirements so you will be prepared when you have to file the revised form. Please click here for more details, including RSVP information.

*****

SAMPLE FORM 990 POLICIES NOW AVAILABLE

Through the release of the revised Form 990, the IRS indicated its intent to continue its scrutiny of the corporate governance policies and procedures of nonprofit organizations. One of the changes to the new Form 990 is that it includes a new section on corporate governance which asks, among other things, whether the organization has adopted a written conflict of interest policy, a whistleblower policy and a document retention policy. Although not required by tax law, the IRS increasingly views such policies and good governance practices as a means to establishing transparency and ensuring compliance.

Public Counsel’s Community Development Project, with the support of the Annenberg Foundation, has designed a sample conflict of interest policy, whistleblower policy and document retention policy for nonprofit organizations seeking to adopt or amend such policies and the pro bono attorneys who represent them. These samples are annotated with explanatory endnotes, including citations to applicable laws, alternatives and recommended practices. To access these sample policies, please click on the links below.

Conflict of Interest Policy – www.publiccounsel.org/cdp/coi_policy.pdf
Whistleblower Policy – www.publiccounsel.org/cdp/wb_policy.pdf
Records Management and Retention Policy – www.publiccounsel.org/cdp/records_policy.pdf

Friday, October 2, 2009

Paving the Way: The Stories Behind the Names of L.A.'s Streets

From Heritage Square Museum...

On October 4th at 4:00 PM join us for a special living history presentation of Paving the Way: The Stories Behind the Names of L.A.'s Streets.

See the characters from Heritage Square’s latest exhibit come to life before your very eyes. Witness as they recount their various tales of fame, fortune, heartache and triumph. Stick around after the presentation to discover why the streets we all travel today are named after these fascinating individuals.

Admission to this very special presentation is $10 for the general public and free for museum members. Seating is limited, so be sure to RSVP by calling (323) 225-2700 ext. 221.

Paving the Way: The Stories Behind the Names of L.A.’s Streets is generously supported by Morley Builders and curated by Mitzi M. Mogul and Laura Meyers.

Celebrating 40 Years of Preservation and Interpretation of the History of Southern California, Heritage Square is an open-air, living history museum dedicated to telling the story of the development of Los Angeles. Heritage Square Museum is located at 3800 Homer Street, off the 110 Arroyo Seco Parkway (110/Pasadena Freeway) at Avenue 43, just north of downtown Los Angeles. For further information, visit our website at www.heritagesquare.org or the museum blog at heritagesquare.blogspot.com.

New Preservation Funding Opportunity for L.A. County

From the National Trust for Historic Preservation...

Seed Grants for Los Angeles County Historic Preservation Projects


New Funding Opportunity From the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Contact: pr@nthp.org, 202-588-6141 or
Melita Jureša-McDonald/Elizabeth Boylan/Hugh Rowland, Western Office, 415.947.0692

San Francisco (September 23, 2009)–The National Trust for Historic Preservation announces a grant program targeting historic preservation across Los Angeles County. Grants from the newly created Los Angeles County Preservation Fund will provide seed monies (typical award $5,000 to $10,000) to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for preservation, stewardship, and community revitalization involving historic resources.

Initial funding for this Los Angeles County opportunity has been made possible by support from the Getty Foundation, matched by additional funding from the Ahmanson Foundation. Uniting funding from two visionary Los Angeles philanthropic institutions, the Los Angeles County Preservation Fund provides a dedicated fund to support preservation and community revitalization across Los Angeles County. The newly established fund will showcase and build awareness of historic preservation efforts in the nation's most populous county.

City governments, government agencies, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply and the application deadline for the inaugural grant round will be November 6, 2009. Individuals and private, for profit businesses are not eligible to apply.

Grant awards will support activities and projects such as:

-Providing consulting services in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation or land-use planning, economics, fundraising, organizational development, media relations, education, and law
-Sponsoring workshops or community forums
-Designing, producing, and marketing printed materials or other media communications to advance historic preservation
-Bricks-and-mortar construction activities at designated historic sites and structures Surveys and inventories of historic resources
-Funds may not be used: to acquire property or purchase equipment; to conduct academic research; for salaries, operating, or overhead expenses; or to raise general operating funds towards capital campaign goals.

The catalytic seed grants are intended to build credibility, leverage additional support, and provide momentum to get community preservation projects off the ground, providing capital in early stages and at critical junctures. Cash awards ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 will be distributed to assist governments and government agencies, fledgling grassroots groups, and seasoned organizations: contract for professional services; conduct planning to overcome obstacles; restore historic properties; take steps to reinvigorate historic neighborhoods; and build public awareness of historic preservation activities in Los Angeles County. For the application for Los Angeles County Preservation Fund, as well as complete guidelines and instructions, please see: www.preservationnation.org/lapf.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation considers its national program of providing seed grants to historic preservation efforts a hallmark of its work to bring people together "to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them."

Los Angeles County's 4,084 square miles are home to an inspiring range of irreplaceable heritage resources; its 88 contributing cities hold 421 National Register-listed resources, 91 state monuments, 6 California Register sites, over 900 Historic-Cultural Monuments (local landmarks), and 22 Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (Historic Districts). Like heritage resources nationwide, cherished and distinct community landmarks across Los Angeles County -- humble to magnificent -- are at risk: threatened by demolition, natural disaster, urban sprawl, and deferred maintenance.

The Los Angeles County Preservation Fund will be coordinated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation Western Office, in San Francisco, in collaboration with the Los Angeles Conservancy, a Partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Applicants are required to contact the National Trust for Historic Preservation Western Office for assistance in identifying an appropriate eligible project prior to submitting an application.

The Getty Foundation fulfills the philanthropic mission of the Getty Trust by supporting individuals and institutions committed to advancing the understanding and preservation of the visual arts locally and throughout the world. Through strategic grants and programs, the Foundation strengthens art history as a global discipline, promotes the interdisciplinary practice of conservation, increases access to museum and archival collections, and develops current and future leaders in the visual arts. The Foundation carries out its work in collaboration with the Getty Museum, Research Institute, and Conservation Institute to ensure the Getty programs achieve maximum impact.

The Ahmanson Foundation serves Los Angeles County by funding cultural projects in the arts and humanities, education at all levels, health care, programs related to homelessness and underserved populations as well as a wide range of human services.

The Los Angeles Conservancy is the largest membership-based local historic preservation organization in the country and is dedicated to the recognition, preservation, and revitalization of the architectural and cultural heritage of greater Los Angeles.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Historic Home Tour in Oxnard: Sunday, Sept. 27

From the Oxnard Autumn Historic Home Tour...

For Immediate Release
Public Contact: Oxnard CVB, 805-385-7545 or 1-800-269-6273;
web: www.visitoxnard.com

Oxnard’s Historic & Cultural Side is Highlighted during the Annual Oxnard Autumn Historic Home Tour... New Trolley Tour Packages are Offered

Oxnard, Calif. – Oxnard is best known for its beautiful beaches, agricultural riches and varied museums. But, Oxnard also has a historic and cultural side that is highlighted every year during the Oxnard Autumn Historic Home Tour, scheduled Sunday, September 27, 2009.

Visitors can step back in time and visit the unique collection of early 20th century homes within the Henry T. Oxnard National Register Historic District. The event features docent-led tours of five distinctive homes, guest speakers, demonstrations, plus a Vendor Market Faire featuring antiques, collectibles, plants and art in a garden boutique environment. The “Topa Topa Flywheelers” will also display their vintage tractors along the tour route in addition to classic cars from local car clubs. And, this year a new, exciting element has been added – Trolley Tour Packages.

To participate in the Trolley Tour Package, individuals may either drive or take Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Train (No. 763), which departs Los Angeles Union Station at 9:05 a.m. The train arrives into Oxnard’s Transportation Center at 10:40 a.m. where visitors will catch the trolley at 10:50 a.m. For those arriving by car, the trolley is available for pick-up at the California Welcome Center (CWC), 1000 Town Center Drive, Suite 135 in Oxnard at two departure times (10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.).

The Trolley Tour Package itinerary includes a two-hour stop at the Henry T. Oxnard Historic District where individuals can tour up to five historic homes and visit the Vendor Marketplace before boarding the trolley for the next stop. The second stop includes a visit to historic Heritage Square where individuals will enjoy a prepared lunch al fresco catered by La Dolce Vita Restaurant and wine tasting at Rancho Ventavo Cellars. Guests can learn about Oxnard’s history provided by a Heritage Square docent and stroll the beautiful gardens before boarding the trolley back to the designated departure points.

Homeowners, Barbara and Mary Kay Hartley who own a Victorian home at 235 South E Street, are participating in the Autumn Home Tours for the first time this year. “We are looking forward to being part of this historic event,” stated Barbara Hartley. “Our home is currently undergoing renovation with a goal of restoring it to its original design,” she added. The Hartley’s home was built between 1903 and 1906 and originally owned by Jacob Walter Rose, who worked in Oxnard’s Sugar Beet Factory, which was the foundation of Oxnard’s early beginnings.

Laurie Chacon, owner of 235 South E Street, is also a first-time participant on the Autumn Home Tour. She is part of a third generation family with her parents and grandparents also residing along “F” Street. With her father’s help, she is restoring her 1910 Craftsman home into its original design. “I grew up in this neighborhood and it’s fun to participate in such a great event that showcases Oxnard’s wonderful historic assets,” stated Chacon.

The cost for the Trolley Tour Package is $45 per person in advance, and $50 at the door (California Welcome Center departures only). The package includes the trolley, home tour and lunch – (Amtrak rate is not included – Amtrak reservations can be made by calling 1-800-872-7245 or online at www.amtrak.com).

Visitors can also tour the Historic District on their own. General admission for the home-only tour is $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the event. Tickets purchased on the day of the event can be obtained at the CWC or Carnegie Art Museum at 424 South “C” Street starting at 10 a.m. Advanced reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 805-988-0717 or 1-800-269-6273.

Oxnard is an easy drive up the coast from Los Angeles or from the northern portions of California. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy Oxnard’s uncrowded beaches, open agricultural fields and explore the many diverse attractions and outdoor adventures that are unique to the area. For overnight stays, a wide variety of hotel accommodations are available ranging from mid-priced rooms to oceanfront and seaside settings. A list of accommodations and Oxnard visitor information can be found on the Oxnard Convention & Visitors Bureau’s website at www.visitoxnard.com

Free Tours of the Million Dollar and Morosco (Club 740) Theatres

From the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation...

Saturday, 9/26, - Free Tours of the Million Dollar and Morosco (Club 740) Theatres
Broadway Theatre History Review

Program begins at 11 am, Million Dollar Theatre (3rd & Broadway)
presented by the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation

The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation (www.lahtf.org) celebrates the first year of our popular All About… theatre docu-tours on Saturday, September 26, 11am, at the Million Dollar Theatre at 3rd & Broadway. Admission is free and the public is invited.

On the Big Screen, Theatre historian Ed Kelsey will present highlights from the PowerPoint theatre histories he created so artfully for our stops over the past 12 months at the Orpheum, Million Dollar, Los Angeles, Palace, Globe/Morosco, Rialto, Tower, Mayan and Belasco. Comprehensive projection booth-to-backstage-to-basement walking tours of the Globe/Morosco and Million Dollar will round out the event.

The All About Anniversary Tour provides an opportunity to re-visit two popular but seldom seen historic theatres and give newcomers who missed earlier All Abouts… a chance to “catch-up”. Future All About… tours are set for October 17 and November 21.

The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to protecting, preserving and sustaining the operation of Southern California’s historic theatres. For additional information, visit our website at www.lahtf.org .

LA Valley College Museum Open House

From the LAVC Historical Museum...

Dear LAVC Friends,

Please join us for refreshments at the LAVC Historical Museum Open House on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 2 pm. Exhibits are also availble for viewing including the Voices of Valley Veterans (sponsored by the California Council for the Humanities), Thirsty Valley (sponsored by the Metroplitan Water District), and Mr. Whitsett's Office. Please RSVP to (818) 947-2373 or carpenb@lavc.edu.

Event Details
Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Time: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Free Admission
Location: Bungalow 15 & 16 adjacent to Burbank Blvd.
(see attached link of Valley College Map)
Parking: Available on Lot H

Please RSVP to Bill Carpenter at (818) 947-2373 or email at
carpenb@lavc.edu

Free Non-Profit Trainings

CAPACITY BUILDS L.A.
2009 Fall Series

The L.A. Community Development Department is offering free classes for non-profits in or serving the City of Los Angeles. From their site:

You are invited to participate in a FREE training series created to instruct individuals starting a non-profit, and to enhance the effectiveness of existing non-profits, including faith-based. The invitees to the series are those whose intent and services are to enhance the lives of poor and low to moderate income children, youth and families living in the City of Los Angeles.

Space is limited and reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Food/Refreshments provided.

They offer two tracks of topics, but you don't need to attend all of the classes. On Fridays, they office Specialty Topics from 9am to 12pm and on Thursdays, the offer Basic Series from 9am to 4:30pm.

Click on the above titles for the topic details, dates, locations, and registration information, or contact David Thompson at David.L.Thompson@lacity.org or 213-744-7140.

Monday, September 14, 2009

"The Sixties Turn Fifty" Kicks Off Sept. 30 with Free Panel Discussion

In 2010, buildings from the 1960s will start reaching the ripe old age of fifty -- an important milestone for their preservation. To celebrate, the Los Angeles Conservancy is launching a nine-month series of events and activities showcasing greater L.A.'s rich legacy of sixties architecture.

Help us kick off this exciting program with a free panel discussion exploring the challenges and opportunities of preserving 1960s architecture. We hope to see you there!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009
8:00 p.m. (doors open at 7)
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Building (1965)
111 N. Hope Street, downtown Los Angeles, 90012
Light reception to follow
Free; reservations required -- click here for details and reservations

If your nonprofit organization is holding any events featuring the 1960s between September 2009 and June 2010, please let us know! We'd be glad to help promote it as part of the "Sixties Turn Fifty" program. Send your information to Cindy Olnick at the Los Angeles Conservancy - colnick@laconservancy.org, (213) 623-2489.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Update on the L.A. City Cultural Heritage Ordinance

On September 10, 2009, the L.A. City Planning Commission voted on the proposed amendments to the City's Cultural Heritage Ordinance. (This is the ordinance that guides historic landmark designations and protections in the City of Los Angeles and was first adopted in 1962.)

Below is the email from Ken Bernstein, Manager of the Office of Historic Resources in the City of Los Angeles Planning Department, regarding what actually took place, the outcomes, and the next steps in this process.

****

September 10, 2009

Today, the City Planning Commission voted 7-1 to approve the staff recommendation on the proposed amendments to the Cultural Heritage Ordinance.

Most of the discussion focused on the review of interior spaces in Historic-Cultural Monuments. The Commission supported the staff recommendation, which emerged from meetings of a Working Group on Interiors, to go back to the status quo on interior review. Under this proposal, all interior permits would continue to be referred to the Cultural Heritage Commission and the Office of Historic Resources for review, as has occurred since 1962. As in the current ordinance, the CHC could not deny approval of interior work altogether: it could only object to the issuance of the permit for no more than 180 days, with a possible 180-day extension of the objection period upon approval of the City Council.

We felt that this compromise lessened any potential burden on property owners, while still protecting Monuments whose significant interiors are often inseparable from the building's overall architectural significance. The new ordinance would require that exterior work, additions, or new construction be subject to a "Certificate of Appropriateness" that could be denied. The ordinance version approved today also maintains our staff recommendation to enhance protections for historic properties by giving the Cultural Heritage Commission the power to deny demolition requests for
Monuments.

Next, the ordinance will go to the City Attorney for review and possible refinement. The City Planning Commission also voted to request that the City Attorney and Department of City Planning staff review and refine how the Cultural Heritage Ordinance provisions will interact with requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Because these reviews may take a few months, we anticipate that the ordinance may not proceed to the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee and City Council for final approval until early 2010.

Ken Bernstein

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Funding for Museums from MetLife

MetLife Foundation is offering grants to art museums, and many heritage museums could fall into that category. Additionally, by establishing partnerships or collaborations with other art institutions, there may be an opportunity for funding. Take a look and see what you can do in the next month; the deadline is October 9, 2009.

from their site:

Museums are a vibrant force in our communities. They play an important role in helping people experience and understand our world and in educating individuals of all ages. Recognizing the important contributions and educational value of museums, MetLife Foundation has awarded grants totaling over $25 million in recent years to museums across the country.

MetLife Foundation created the Museum and Community Connections program in 2007 with the objective of strengthening communities, broadening programming and promoting museums as centers of education without boundaries. The program has awarded $2 million in grants during the 2007 and 2008 funding cycles.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
In 2009, under Museum and Community Connections, MetLife Foundation expects to award grants totaling $1 million. The purpose of the program is to encourage art museums to reach out to large numbers of people of all ages and backgrounds through imaginative programs and/or exhibits that help us understand and appreciate each other and our world.
This Weekend! Historic L.A. Scavenger Hunt

The Los Angeles Conservancy and Out of the Box Events team up this weekend for the first in a series of scavenger hunts exploring the historic areas of greater Los Angeles. Join us this Saturday, September 12 for The Secrets of San Pedro, to explore the history and stories behind this great community on the coast.

Participants will work in groups of two to six, with maps of the area and a list of clues to solve. Teams will walk around the neighborhood, collecting answers by the deadline. Each correct answer will earn points, with bonus points awarded for creativity and prizes for the winning team!

This is a great chance to get out in the community, learn more about one of our great historic neighborhoods, and benefit a good cause. We hope to see you there!

"The Secrets of San Pedro" Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, September 12
2 - 5 p.m.
$30 general public; $25 for L.A. Conservancy members
For reservations, call 323-799-1374

Happy hunting!

Pasadena Museum of History Fall Events

From the Pasadena Museum of History...

Calendar of Events: Fall 2009

470 W. Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91103; Free Parking.
Information/Reservations: 626.577.1660, ext. 10, or at www.pasadenahistory.org.


EXHIBITION

FAMILY STORIES: SHARING A COMMUNITY’S LEGACY
Six longtime Pasadena families share their personal, multi-generational chronicles in Pasadena Museum of History’s groundbreaking exhibition, Family Stories: Sharing a Community’s Legacy. The stories of the Duncan, Gertmenian, Lowe, Stevenson, Kawai, and Mejia families will help the Museum shed light on the experiences of our African-American, Armenian-American, Chinese-American, Euro-American, Japanese-American, and Latino communities, respectively.
Hours:12:00 - 5:00 pm Wednesdays through Sundays through January 10, 2010 at Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W. Walnut St., Pasadena 91103.
Admission: $5 General, $4 Seniors & Students (with I.D.), free to Museum members and children under 12. For additional information, please visit www.pasadenahistory.org or call 626-577-1660, ext. 10.

PUBLIC PROGRAMS

ONE OF A KIND HATS - SHOW & TELL
Sunday, September 20, 2 pm


The Museum’s Textile Arts Council presents the first of several fall programs highlighting textile traditions of the ethnic communities featured in our current exhibition Family Stories. Join Sonja Robinson and her daughter Meeka Robinson-Davis as they share the one-of-a-kind hats they have created for the play “Crowns” and for celebrity clients including Patti LaBelle, Tyra Banks, and Vivica Fox. Their designs have been featured in the L.A. Times and Elegant Bride.
Tickets: Textile Arts Council Members $5; Museum Members $10; Non-Members $15. Reservations suggested, 626-577-1660, ext. 10.

LECTURE AND BOOKSIGNING WITH VINCENZA SCARPACI
Thursday, September 24, 7:30 pm; Galleries open at 6:30 PM

Dr. Vincenza Scarpaci will guide us through her book The Journey of Italians in America, a photographic approach towards unraveling the history and legacy of Italians in America. Since the beginning of the new Republic, millions have immigrated to the United States, bringing with them a distinct set of beliefs, traditions, and customs. In conjunction with our exhibition Family Stories, the Museum is exploring the contributions of various groups to our unique American experience.
Tickets: Museum Members Free; Non-Members $5; Reservations suggested, 626-577-1660, ext. 10.

ARTNIGHT PASADENA
Friday, October 9, 6:00 to 10:00 pm

Be sure to make Pasadena Museum of History a stop during this free, City-wide, cultural open house featuring 14 different venues. Enjoy the Museum’s current exhibition, Family Stories: Sharing A Community’s Legacy plus a special performance by the a cappella gospel group Spiritual Voices. For information about other participating ArtNight locations, free shuttles, maps and directions, go to www.artnightpasadena.org.
Tickets: Free

A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY – FREE DAY
Sunday, October 11, 12:00 noon to 6:30 pm
Join us for this community gathering with special programs inspired by the exhibition Family Stories: Sharing a Community’s Legacy. Enjoy an on-going line up of live entertainment including internationally-known African-American tap dancer and singer Arthur Duncan; Mexican-American singer and guitarist Adriana Mejia with the Trio Tesorito; and the multi-ethnic theater troupe We Tell Stories. View the exhibition and pick up a free Family Preservation Packet with tips on how to research and preserve your own family history. Visit information tables to learn about other Southern California cultural institutions that explore ethnic diversity. From 5:00 to 6:30 pm, Pasadena Star-News editor, Larry Wilson, will moderate a panel/community discussion about the exhibition. Sponsored by the Paloheimo Foundation, the Ann Peppers Foundation, and the United States Census 2010.
Tickets: Free.

AN EVENING AT PASHGIAN BROTHERS
Thursday, October 15, 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Beautiful hand made oriental carpets have graced the homes of Pasadena residents for over a hundred years. Many of the early local dealers were Armenian immigrants who brought to America the trading skills they had developed in ancient Armenia, situated at the crossroads of the Ottoman, Russian, and Persian empires. By 1903-4 brothers John and Moses Pashgian had established their rug business as the first in Pasadena. Join fellow textile lovers in their showroom for a discussion and showing of antique and modern oriental rugs. At 993 East Colorado Boulevard, east of Lake Avenue.
Tickets: Textile Arts Council Members $10, Museum Members $15, Non-Members $20; Reservations suggested, 626-577-1660, ext. 10. Purchase tickets for this event online at www.pasadenahistory.org.

PASADENA 1940-2008: LECTURE AND BOOKSIGNING WITH PATRICK CONYERS
Tuesday, October 20, 7:30 pm; Galleries open at 6:30

Author Patrick Conyers will speak about the making of modern Pasadena and show images from the book he co-authored with Cedar Phillips, Pasadena: 1940-2008. He will highlight some of the people and events that have shaped our community. Many changes came about because of the unique artistic, scientific, and entrepreneurial culture of the city. Tremendous technological innovations were made in Pasadena, first to aid the war effort and later to contribute to the country’s sprawling Military Industrial Complex. In addition to a general discussion of the narrative arc of Pasadena’s history since 1940, Conyers will delve more deeply into some of the notable technological advancements that have been launched from Pasadena.
Tickets: Members Free; Non-Members $5; Reservations suggested.

LUNCHEON/DISCUSSION WITH AUTHOR LISA SEE
Saturday, October 24, 12:00 noon

A family style Chinese meal at Fu-Shing Restaurant with author Lisa See. Following lunch, Lisa will discuss the obstacles and challenges her family (On Gold Mountain) and her characters (Shanghai Girls) have faced as 19th and 20th century Chinese immigrants to the United States. She will explore a variety of topics illustrating how identity may be affected by the processes of assimilation and acculturization. Copies of these two books will be available for purchase, but guests may bring any of her other works to be signed. At Fu Shing Restaurant, 2960 East Colorado Boulevard, east of San Gabriel Boulevard.
Tickets: Members $30; Non-Members $35; Reservations required, 626-577-1660, ext. 10. Purchase tickets online for this event at www.pasadenahistory.org.

Japanese Temari
Sunday, October 25, 2:00 pm
Temari’s evolution over 1,000 years has produced some of the finest and most fascinating forms of art stitchery. A child’s toy ball, wrapped with fabric strips and threads over a core of rattan or rice hulls, one of the humblest of home crafts, was probably disregarded and discarded after hours of happy play. Author/collector Diana Vandervoort will demonstrate temari’s incredible achievement of astounding precision with an elegantly simple application of proportional measuring and will share pieces from her personal collection.
Tickets: Textile Arts Council Members $5, Museum Members $10, Non-Members $15. Reservations suggested, 626-577-1660, ext. 10..

ONCE UPON A TIME IN MY LIFE: WRITING WORKSHOP WITH AUTHOR
NAOMI HIRAHARA
Saturday, October 31, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon
Are family members encouraging you to write stories about your life but you are unsure how to start? Come to this special three-hour writing workshop led by Naomi Hirahara, who is a Pasadena-based Edgar Award-winning mystery writer, biographer, and editor/publisher of several personal and organizational history books. Bring a pad of paper, pen, and photograph of a family member or former residence. There will be two writing exercises and sharing time with the other participants.
Tickets: Museum Members $20; Non-Members $25. Participation is limited. Pre-paid reservations required, 626-577-1660, ext 10. Purchase tickets online for this event at www.pasadenahistory.org.

FIESTA DE OTONO
Sunday, November 1, 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm

Celebrate Latino traditions with the whole family. Enjoy delicious food, lively music, and dance performances. Listen to guest singer and guitarist Adriana Mejia and the Trio Tesorito. Enjoy the crafts workshop and face painting for children. Join us for story-telling with special guests, City Council Member and Vice Mayor, Victor Gordo, and Assistant City Manager, Julie Gutierrez. View Family Stories: Sharing a Community’s Legacy, a Dia de los Muertos display, and a special exhibition on Mexican-American history exhibition organized by the Pasadena Mexican-American History Association. Try delicious food dishes from Cabrera’s, Margarita’s, and Ranchero Mexican restaurants. The Pasadena Mexican-American History Association has organized this as a benefit for PMH with special sponsors DeVry University and King’s Ranch Markets.
Tickets: Free admission; fees for food, beverages, and special workshops.

CALIFORNIA AND THE AUTOMOBILE: LECTURE AND BOOKSIGNING WITH KEVIN NELSON
Tuesday, November 17, 7:30 pm; Galleries open at 6:30

Author Kevin Nelson will discuss his latest book Wheels of Change: From Zero to 600 m.p.h.: The Amazing Story of California and the Automobile. With the aid of images from his book, Nelson traces the narrative of California’s car culture: from the early days of racing, the adventure and romance that Hollywood piled on, to the designers and innovations that Southern California car studios have developed.
Tickets: Museum Members Free; Non-Members $5; reservations suggested, 626-577-1660, ext. 10

TRADITIONAL OAXACAN AND OTHER MEXICAN INDIGENOUS CLOTHING
Sunday, November 22, 2:00 pm
Join Pasadena’s Folk Tree Gallery owner Rocky Behr as she discusses Mexican traditional clothing with examples from her personal collection. She says, "I think Oaxaca has the richest tradition of textiles in Mexico. My first trip there took place in the 80’s. I soon found myself wanting to learn more about the various techniques employed in dyeing and creating the wide variety of embroideries and weavings I saw. I read about the areas of the state where the unique types were made and worn. My collection also includes textiles from other areas of Mexico, among them huipils and blouses from Chiapas, shawls from Michoacan and San Luis Potosi, and embroidered blouses from Michoacan."
Tickets: Textile Arts Council Members $5; Museum Members $10; Non-Members $15. Reservations suggested, 626-577-1660, ext.10.

HOLIDAY MADness (Member Appreciation Days)
Saturday and Sunday, November 28 and 29
Receive reciprocal free admission and shopping discounts at 23 participating cultural venues from Los Angeles to San Diego as a member of any one of the organizations. Pasadena Museum of History is proud to partner with the following as a way to thank our members for their ongoing support: Autry National Center/ Museum of the American West, California Science Center, Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, Chinese American Museum, Claremont Museum of Art, Craft and Folk Art Museum, Fowler Museum at UCLA, The Getty Center, The Getty Villa, Hammer Museum, Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles Public Library Store, Museum of Contemporary Art, MOCA Pacific Design Center, The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, Orange County Museum of Art, Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena Museum of California Art, San Diego Museum of Art, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Skirball Cultural Center, and Southwest Museum.
Information: Please contact the individual venues for hours and details of this special offer.

TOURS

Family Stories: Tastes, Tales and Tidbits
Fridays through November 30; Tours 12:15 pm; Lunch 1:30 pm
Docent-led one-hour tours of the Family Stories exhibition to explore one of the six featured communities. Each session will include a brief overview of the exhibition, an in-depth look at the local history of one featured community, a story sharing time with a family or community member, and a preservation tip related to family objects such as photographs, documents and letters, textiles and costumes. Visitors may complete the cultural immersion with an optional special lunch at a restaurant of the featured ethnicity.
Tour Schedule:
African-American Museum Exhibition Tour/Luncheon at Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles – September 25, November 6
Armenian-American Museum Exhibition Tour/Luncheon at Sahara Restaurant – Fridays, September 11, October 23
Chinese-American Museum Exhibition Tour/Luncheon at Fu-Shing Restaurant – Fridays, October 2, November 13
Euro-American Museum Exhibition Tour/Luncheon at The Raymond – Fridays, October 9, November 20
Japanese-American Museum Exhibition Tour/Luncheon at Japon Bistro – Friday, October 16
Latino Museum Exhibition Tour/Luncheon at El Portal – Fridays, September 18, October 30
Tickets for the tour are $4 for Museum Members and $8 for Non-Members. Reservations and pre-payment are required due to space limitations. The optional luncheon is $20, payable at the restaurant (cost includes a $4 tax-deductible contribution to the Family Stories exhibition). For additional information and reservations, please call 626.577.1660, ext. 15.

Las Angelitas: General Meeting featuring Nat Read

Las Angelitas Del Pueblo extends the following invitation to all L.A. heritage groups:

Las Angelitas Del Pueblo
Cordially Invites You to Actively Participate in our
Members to Actively Participate in Our

September 21, 2009
General Meeting and Potluck Luncheon

10:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.
After the business portion of the meeting, there will be a presentation by

Nat Read

The Topic Will Be Nat’s Book:

Don Benito Wilson – From Mountain Man To Mayor

The meeting will be held in The Hellman Quan Building
(Next To The Pico House) at El Pueblo (Olvera Street)

Park in Lot 2 next to The Plaza Church

Please RSVP to Ian D. Gass
By September 17, 2009, either at
Iandavidg@Att.Net or (626) 799-7913

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Call To Action: Preservation Ordinance Could Exept Interiors!

From West Adams Heritage Association:

AN ACTION CALL FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATIONISTS -
A MESSAGE FROM WEST ADAMS HERITAGE ASSOCIATION

Planning Commission Hearing on Cultural Heritage Ordinance
Thursday, September 10, 8:30 a.m.


If you’ve ever wanted to do something truly meaningful for historic
preservation, now is the time to do it.

On Thursday, Sept. 10, Los Angeles’ Planning Commission will decide
whether to stop protecting the interiors of more than 900 of the city’s
most treasured historic structures. We need your voice – in writing and in
person – to urge the commission not to make such a horrible mistake.

For 47 years, L.A.’s Cultural Heritage Ordinance has made no distinction
between interiors and exteriors of Historic Cultural Monuments (HCM). Both
have been equally protected. Now a small group of downtown building owners
is dangerously close to ending that protection, promoting amendments that
would allow monument interiors throughout the city to be altered or gutted
with no consideration of their historic value.

After weeks of discussion with preservationist groups, some of these
owners continue to argue that ANY regulation of building interiors is a
violation of property rights. Their argument ignores longstanding
building, zoning and health regulations that limit the use of privately
owned interiors throughout the nation.

Incredibly, these owners say restrictions on interior spaces might be
acceptable for private homes, but not for “private” spaces in commercial
buildings! It’s hard to imagine such a lopsided, dual standard standing up
in court.

Ironically, we may be victims of our own success. At the commission’s last
meeting, in July, preservationists argued so passionately for residential
interiors that commission members may have thought that was all we cared
about. In fact, we believe the ordinance must continue to protect worthy
interiors of all monument buildings, not just residential ones.

Now we’re asking you to support WAHA and historic preservation with your
own appeal. The more personal you make it, the better. Here are some
things you might say:

* For 47 years, the city’s ordinance has applied to buildings in their
entirety, making no distinction between exteriors and interiors. We need
to continue that 100 percent protection.

* Some buildings are actually more significant on the inside than on the
outside. Preservation officials should continue to review all monument
interiors, so they can determine which elements merit preserving.

* Protection of interiors does not mean an automatic ban on alterations.
It simply allows experts to judge what should be preserved, and to
recommend changes that would cause the least harm.

* City officials have proven themselves more than reasonable in dealing
with historic interiors. In recent years, dozens of downtown commercial
buildings have been converted to apartments while appropriately preserving
their most historic features.

* The opponents of interior review represent a small minority of monument
owners – far fewer than the hundreds of owners represented by the West
Adams Heritage Association, Hollywood Heritage, Highland Park Heritage
Trust and other organizations that support interior preservation.

* There are approximately 880,000 land parcels in the City of Los Angeles,
and fewer than 1,000 of them are historic monuments. For those who can’t
tolerate the ordinance’s restrictions, there are 879,000 non-monuments to
invest in.

Please e-mail your comments to:

* Ken Bernstein, manager, Office of Historic Resources:
ken.bernstein@lacity.org
* AND the Planning Commission at cpc@lacity.org,
* AND a copy to WAHA at news@westadamsheritage.org.

In your comments, please reference “Proposed Amendments to the Cultural
Heritage Ordinance, CPC-2008-4918-CA.”

Now here’s an even bigger request. We need to get as many people as
possible to attend the Planning Commission meeting this Thursday, Sept.
10, to make their point in person. We don’t know what the speaking format
will be, but at the last meeting, speakers were limited to one minute
each. If you really don’t like speaking in public, just being there will
help.

The meeting will start at 8.30 a.m. in Room 1010, on the 10th Floor of
City Hall, but you might arrive a little earlier to sign the speaker’s
list. Also, you’ll need to go through security screening and show ID when
you enter the building.

The official address is 200 N. Spring St., but the entrance is at 200 N.
Main Street, one-half block north of Temple. Street parking is iffy, but
there is a large public parking lot 2 and a half blocks away, on the
southeast corner of Los Angeles and First streets. It’s $7 or $8 a day, so
you might want to carpool.

Please do what you can. This revised ordinance will be with us for many
years.

Thank you.

Jim Robinson, President
West Adams Heritage Association

P.S. Technically, if the Planning Commission does not retain landmark
designations and protections for HCMs' interiors, then the city needs to
prepare an Environmental Impact Report. Right now city officials hope to
push through an environmental clearance called a "Categorical Exemption,"
which basically says there would be no conceivable negative outcome of any
changes to the ordinance. Of course, we can all recognize that if the city
strips historic designation from Monument interiors and some of the
buildings are then gutted, that would be an "impact."

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Pioneer Day in Chatsworth

Chatsworth, known as Los Angeles' last frontier town, plays host to Pioneer Day on October 4, 2009 from 11am to 4pm. This annual event is hosted by the Chatsworth Historical Society at the Minnie Palmer Homestead Acre nestled in the foothills of the Santa Susana Pass. The event features a chili cook-off for amateur chefs, exhibits and displays in the Chatsworth Museum and Homestead Cottage; panning for gold; blacksmithing; Indian artifacts; woodcarvers and rockchippers; "chores of yore"; food and entertainment; and lots more!

More details can be found here.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Free Tax Assistance Seminar for Non-Profits

State Controller John Chiang is hosting a free tax seminar for non-profits and exempt organizations on Friday, September 11, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. in Los Angeles.

Topics Include:
The New Form 990
Compliance for Existing Non Profit Organizations
Employment Taxes
Recent Developments in Charity Law
Sales and Use Tax for Non Profit Organizations.

This is a valuable resource you should take advantage of. All the details are at the State Controller's site, and you must RSVP.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Mission & Rancho Dance Instruction at Rancho Dominguez

From the Rancho Dominguez Adobe Museum:

SUNDAY, September 20, 2009: Early California Dance Workshop – Rancho Dominguez Adobe Museum

Mission & Rancho dance instruction in preparation for Fandango at Dominguez Battle Reenactment on Oct 10th, and in honor of 225th anniversary of 1784 First Spanish Land Grants. Free; donations accepted. Costumes admired but not required. Singles couples all ages welcome. 18127 S. Alameda St., Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220.

Contact Museum Executive Director: Alison Bruesehoff at (310) 603-0088 or abruesehoff@dominguezrancho.com or dance instructor Irene.Ujda@gmail.com

Websites:
http://dominguezrancho.org/
www.yesteryearsdancers.com

225th Anniversary of LA-area Spanish Land Grants

From Yesteryear Dancers and Los Pobladores 200:

The 225th Anniversary Year of "1784 Spanish Land Grants" in the Southland starting October 2009 and beyond

We encourage any historical/heritage/cultural sites within the original 1784 First Spanish Land Grants in California to join in celebrating our mutual 225th anniversary year, and to include this milestone as an underlying banner announcement in their publicity for any upcoming events during the next 12 months.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rancho_San_Pedro granted in 1784 to Juan Jose Dominguez: The original Spanish land grant included what today consists of the Pacific coast cities of Los Angeles harbor, San Pedro, the Palos Verdes peninsula, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Manhattan Beach, and east to the Los Angeles River including; the cities of Lomita, Gardena, Harbor City, Wilmington, Carson, Compton, and western portions of Long Beach and Paramount, and Dominguez Hills.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rancho_Los_Nietos granted in 1784 to Manuel Nietos: Today, parts of Long Beach, Lakewood, Downey, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Bolsa Chica State Beach, Seal Beach, Anaheim, Buena Park, Garden Grove, Artesia and Cerritos are located on what was once Rancho Los Nietos.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rancho_San_Rafael granted in 1784 to Jose Marie Verdugo: Today, the rancho includes the present day cities of Glendale, Eagle Rock, La Canada, Montrose, and Verdugo City "Los Pobladores 200" descendants of the 1781 Founding Families of El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles are enthused about participating as much as they are able, including providing advice about 18th c as well as 19th c history of the Southland, and Yesteryears Dancers are willing to help local docents with Colonial New Spain / Californio Mission era music & dance, if any site wishes to have a special commemoration, either for a new event or as part of an existing event.

Fall Harvest Progressive Dinner, Home Tour, and Wine Tasting in South Pasadena

From the South Pasadena Preservation Foundation:

Fall Harvest, Progressive Dinner, Home Tour, and Wine Tasting - Saturday Oct 10

The South Pasadena Preservation Foundation is offering this Fall’s popular home tour in two versions. On Saturday evening, October 10, ticket holders will be superbly wined and dined at each of five elegant homes in a well-manicured estate area of South Pasadena.

Featured properties will include architecturally significant homes representing a varied selection of historic styles: most notably, Craftsman and Period Revival. All homes on the tour are within easy walking distance of each other and ample street parking is available.

The $80 per person price includes home tours, with a separate dinner course at each location, but also provides the opportunity to sample a different premium wine with each course. All wines are selected from the increasingly popular Central California coast appellation of Paso Robles.

The Progressive Dinner Tour is limited to 60 diners in each of two tiers: the “Twilight Tour” will begin at 5:30 pm and the “Starlight Tour” will start at 7 pm. Each complete dinner tour should take approximately three and a half hours.

Tickets for the dinner tour are expected to go quickly. Paid reservations will be accepted in the order received, up to the maximum of 120. Then it will be “That’s all, folks!”

Sensational South Pas Estates Home Tour – Sunday, October 11

On the following day, Sunday, October 11, the homes will again be open for tour from 11 am to 3:30 pm (without the meal or wine), for $20 per person. Anyone ticketed for the Progressive Dinner is invited to come back on Sunday at no additional charge.

Tickets will be available by September 15, but reservations for the Saturday Progressive Dinner tours and the regular home tour on Sunday can be made immediately via www.sppreservation.org or by phone (626.799.9089).

HAIR-RAISING EVENT ON HALLOWE’EN NIGHT, SAT. OCT 31

HAIR-RAISING EVENT ON HALLOWE’EN NIGHT, SAT. OCT 31

There has long been speculation about whether the Andres Pico Adobe is haunted. Several people have indicated over the years that “occurrences” have happened within the walls of this historic site. It stands to reason that “something” might be in the atmosphere, after all, the Adobe is more than 175 years old; there’s bound to be a story or two these walls could tell….

On the evening of Saturday, October 31, the Board of Directors of the San Fernando Valley Historical Society will welcome back investigators of the American Paranormal Research Association (APRA) for a very special and exciting fundraising event. The APRA has spent four nights at our Andres Pico Adobe conducting scientific research sessions over a period of seven months. On this night, they will present background information about their scientific work, and share their findings about our Adobe. (You could be one of the first witnesses to Adobe phenomenon!). Afterward, the APRA members will lead breakaway sessions with small groups of participants and conduct further studies of the Adobe.

Due to the size of our facility, we are limiting the number of participants to 20 persons. There will be special (substantial) refreshments provided throughout the night, beginning at 7:30 P.M. and concluding at 3 A.M. The cost is $80 per person for an unforgettable evening. Reservations are being taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. This is a unique, exclusive special event with proceeds going toward building a structure to shelter the old farm equipment on display outside the Andres Pico Adobe Museum.

Everything you will see and hear is 100% real. All evidence was reviewed and analyzed by a panel of professionals in various scientific and respected fields. Take what you will from the evidence presented, and draw your own conclusions whether ghoulies and ghosties haunt our Adobe!


Date: Saturday, October 31
Time: 7:30 P.M. until 3:00 A.M. (although you may leave at any time)
Cost: $80 per person (Advance reservations and payments due Sept. 30. There will be no refunds.)
Special refreshments and a unique experience will be provided.
TO RSVP and/or for more information, contact Tesa at sfvhs@verizon.net.

One of APRA’s prior cases:
The American Paranormal Research Association (APRA) surveyed the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach over a 4-day span during Winter 2007. They concentrated on the ship’s boiler rooms, first-class swimming pool, engine room, cargo hold, and former infirmary. Unexplainable activity immediately started to pick up within the first 30 minutes of investigation, and the group collected the first-ever hard evidence in photos and videos that proved the great ship was “haunted.” Perhaps they will do the same for the Adobe.

NoHo Historic Walking Tour: Sat. September 5

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley is pleased to present another historic walking tour of North Hollywood “NoHo.”

NoHo Historic Walking Tour
Saturday, September 5th 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
[Click on the flyer for details.]

RSVP: 1-818-609-1665 or email at museumsfv@gmail.com
Please leave name, address and phone number
Cost: $10 per person suggested donation
Parking: Street and metered parking in area

Reservations for the tour are on a first-come, first-served basis. Tour meets at Amelia Earhart Statue; northwest corner of Tujunga St. & Magnolia Blvd.

Tour will be led by historian Richard Hilton, docent of the Los Angeles Conservancy and board member of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

Friday, August 7, 2009

LAHA Meeting: Saturday Aug 8, 2009

The next quarterly meeting of the LA Heritage Alliance for all heritage groups in L.A. is this Saturday, August 8, 2009 at the McCarty Church on Adams and 11th (just south of the 10 between Arlington and Crenshaw). The meeting will start promptly at 10am.

For more details, contact John at laheritage@gmail.com.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Funds to Host Field Trips

If you would like to increase your attendance and outreach to students in the area and beyond, the following information from Target might be helpful.

Target offers funding for field trips (up to $800) for 5,000 classes this next year.
The Target Field Trip Grants program provides funds for K-12 field trips in
order to give students throughout the country the opportunity to explore more of
the world outside the classroom. For the 2009-2010 school year, 5,000 grants of
up to $800 each will be awarded to educators, teachers, principals,
paraprofessionals, and classified staff who are employed by accredited K-12
public, private, or charter schools. Types of eligible field trips include art,
science, and cultural museum visits; community service and civic projects; and
career enrichment opportunities. Funds may be used to cover trip-related costs
such as transportation, ticket fees, resource materials, and supplies. Online
applications will be available from August 5 through November 3, 2009.

You would not receive these funds directly, but you could use this information to target schools in your area (and beyond) to attend your historic site. This is a great reason to contact local principals, school districts, and teachers to remind them about your programs and how they CAN afford to attend a field trip at your location. As mentioned, they would receive the funds directly, but if you charge admission, the grant could cover that.

More information is on the Target webpage.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Association for Preservation Technology 2009 Conference to be Held in L.A.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             

June 17, 2009

 

For further information contact:

Dana Saal, Conference Manager

217.528.2460 or dana@apti.org

 

Nathela Chatara, Administrative Director

217.529.9039 or info@apti.org

 

APT LA 2009 Conference Registration Open

 

The Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) is accepting registrations for its Annual Conference scheduled for November 2–6, 2009 in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Registration can be completed on-line at www.apti.org. Rates increase after September 7 and again after October 18.

 

Los Angeles represents the quintessential American city of the late 19th and 20th centuries. Technological and social changes allowed an interconnected, yet scattered, collection of towns and villages to grow (sprawl) into one of the world’s major metropolitan regions comprising five counties; more than 200 towns, cities, and municipalities; and more than 15 million residents. At the hub of this metropolitan agglomeration, Los Angeles invites rigorous debate between those seeing an urban utopia—complete with fast cars, movies stars, high-tech jobs, surf boards, fruit orchards, and mountain resorts—and those who envision a dystopian nightmare of race riots, air pollution, traffic jams, endless sprawl, and rapidly increasing density. Somewhere in the middle, for better or worse, lies the real Los Angeles, the model for the post-war 20th century American metropolis and (sometimes considered jaded) blueprint for the World City.

 

Now that we have moved into the 21st Century, both philosophical and pragmatic questions arise regarding the conservation and management of the World City…

  • How do we wisely use and improve a now historic built environment that was conceived under a set of assumptions that are no longer sustainable?
  • How do we evaluate decisions as to whether or not preserve materials that were not designed for permanence and, and, if so, how?
  • What constitutes appropriate technology in a world where the pace of technology development is increasing and where technological tools that once took generations to change now evolve day-by-day?

 

The APT LA 2009 Conference in Los Angeles will address the scientific, engineering and technical ramifications of preserving the modern metropolis and its expansive body of historic resources through the four Conference tracks in the program.

 

Conference Highlights

Keynote Speaker

Tuesday, November 3

Preservation in an Age of Economic Challenge—More Necessary Than Ever

Kevin Starr, University Professor and Professor of History at the University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA, USA, will argue that the preservation of historic structures at a time of economic challenge, such as we are now experiencing, makes more than mere economic sense.


College of Fellows Lecture

Wednesday, November 4

“First Principles” in the Conservation of Asia’s Heritage: Lessons Learned from the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Awards Competition

Richard A. Engelhardt, UNESCO Charge de Mission, Senior Advisor to the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, UNESCO Professor of Heritage Management, will discuss how we balance the preservation of the unique heritage significant of our built environment with the transformations required by modernization and sustainable development.

 

Paper Sessions

Wednesday, November 4 and Thursday, November 5

The peer-reviewed paper presentations will feature experts discussing their work in four tracks:

  • Material Matters: Preservation of Historic Building Materials
  • Preserving Modernism and Post War Heritage
  • The Public Domain: Infrastructure of Urban and Suburban Landscapes
  • LA Unconfidential: Lessons Learned in Preserving the World City

 

Workshops and Symposium

Monday, November 2–Tuesday, November 3

Workshops offer hands-on experience in

  • Architectural Ceramics
  • Advances in Seismic Retrofit
  • Injection Grouts

The symposium—Capturing the Past for Future Use: Integrating Documentation with Repair, Design and Construction Practice in Historic Buildings—will establish the background context for recording of existing buildings, and introduce the state of the art in the documentation techniques, as they relate to the design and management of change to historic buildings.

 

Field Sessions

APT Field Sessions offer participants the opportunity to see unique aspects of the conference host region while gaining valuable insight into local preservation history. This year the choices are:

Wednesday, November 4

  • Frank Lloyd Wright’s Textile Block Houses in Hollywood Hills
  • Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco Landmarks
  • Mid-Century Modern Houses by Rudolf Schindler and Richard Neutra
  • Preserving Synergy of Natural and Modern Landscapes and Architecture
  • An Afternoon at the Getty Conservation Institute

Friday, November 6

  • Fernando Rey de España and Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
  • The Desert Bloomed Modern—Palm Springs in the 20th Century

 

Tours

APT Tours offer participants a glimpse into LA just for fun:

Tuesday, November 3

  • Fernando Rey de España and Mission San Gabriel Arcángel
  • The Desert Bloomed Modern—Palm Springs in the 20th Century

 

Invitation

All industry professionals—preservationists, architects, engineers, conservators, consultants, contractors, craftspersons, curators, developers, educators, historians, landscape architects, students, technicians, scientists, and others—are invited to join APT in this culturally-rich city where you can learn about the latest in preservation technology from around the world. Registration can be completed on-line at www.apti.org.

 

Created in 1968 in Québec as a joint venture between preservationists in Canada and the United States, APT continues to be the premier international outlet for sharing technical preservation information. Headquartered in Springfield, Illinois, APT is a nonprofit organization in both the US and Canada, with regional chapters across the continent and in Australia.