Free Haunted House at Hoover Recreation Center

Children who visit the Hoover Recreation Center , 1010 West 25th Street, Friday night from 4-9 p.m. will be in for a real treat. The Norman Topping Student Aid Fund of the University of Southern California is hosting its annual Safe Halloween, a one-night Halloween extravaganza with inflatable games, a haunted house and candy. The event, a joint effort between the City's Department of Recreation and Park and NTSAF scholars, aims to provide a safe celebration for children in the University Park community.


WHAT: Annual Safe Halloween event
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 31, from 4-9 p.m.

WHERE: Hoover Recreation Center, 1010 West 25th St.Los Angeles, CA 90007
Phone: (213) 749-8896

Reyes, Leaders Break Ground on Children's Meadow

Councilmember Ed P. Reyes recently joined the Westlake community and elected leaders to break ground on a Children's Meadow at MacArthur Park. When the synthetic playing field opens in Summer 2009, it will be a destination point to people throughout Los Angeles.

Reyes Greens "L.A.s Central Park" With Children's Meadow

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Monica Valencia (213) 473-7001
monica.valencia@lacity.org

City, community break ground on $2.45 million synthetic field at MacArthur Park TODAY, Thursday, Oct. 23, at 10:30 a.m.

WHAT: Councilmember Ed P. Reyes will join with elected leaders, City departments and parents to break ground on a Children’s Meadow at MacArthur Park. The $2.45 million project involves transforming a dirt lot into an outdoor destination for families in one of the most densely- populated census tracts in the country.

“In many ways, MacArthur Park is L.A.’s Central park,” said Councilmember Reyes. “MacArthur Park lies in one of the nation’s most densely-populated areas and near a major transit hub. The Children’s Meadow at MacArthur Park, as it evolves into a world class park, will provide one of the few green spaces in the area for thousands of locals and vistors to enjoy.”

The renewal project, scheduled for completion in one year, includes a synthetic Children’s Meadow, picnic area and historic lighting. It is the latest of Reyes’ efforts, including the refurbished bandshell, lighting and increased Los Angeles Police Department patrols, to revitalize the historic park.

WHO: Councilmember Ed P. Reyes, First District
Debby Rolland, Superintendent Metro Region, Recreation and Parks
Jose Maciel, MacArthur Park Director
Congressman Xavier Beccera, 31st District
Assemblyman Fabian Nuñez, 46th District
Gary Lee Moore, City Engineer

WHEN: Thursday, October 23 at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: MacArthur Park, 2230 W. 6th St.Los Angeles, CA 90057
(Groundbreaking ceremony to be held on dirt lot near the bandshell)

Metro Red Line accessible: Westlake/MacArthur Park exit

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Free Movie Screening at L.A. River Center

Councilmember Reyes invites you to the L.A. River Center this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. for a free community screening of "The Blue Hour." The L.A. River Center, at 570 West Avenue 26, is in the Cypress Park community. The film, an official selection at both San Sebastian and Torino International Film Festivals, intertwines four short stories of diverse Angelinos to the Los Angeles River. The ensemble includes a Mexican graffiti muralist, an Armenian camera repairman, an African American Blues guitarist and an English pensioner living in a working-class neighborhood by the L.A. River.
A Q&A and reception will follow the screening with catering provided by Homegirl Café.
RSVP with JHwang@FilmIndependent.org
Entrance is on a first-come, first-served basis
Thursday October 23
7:30 p.m.
Los Angeles River Center and Gardens
570 West Avenue 26
Los Angeles, CA 90065
(323) 221-9939

Reyes Celebrates Edward R. Roybal Learning Center

Councilmember Reyes joined the community and elected leaders Saturday to cut the ribbon on the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center in the Temple-Beaudry community. The new Los Angeles Unified School District(LAUSD) home of the Roybal Titans is a breath of fresh air in a densely-populated area of the First District, which reaches 50,000 people per square mile in some pockets, Reyes said.

The school, which serves about 2800 students, is named in honor of the late U.S. Congressman Edward R. Roybal, one of the most prominent Latino civil rights leaders of the 20th century. Reyes joined Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, daughter of the community champion, and LAUSD Board President Monica Garcia, both photographed above, in the celebration.

The opening of the Roybal Learning Center allows the neighboring Belmont High School to return to a traditional two-semester calendar for the first time in 26 years. The 10.5-acre Vista Hermosa Park, which Reyes opened this summer, sits adjacent to the Roybal Center.

Edward R. Roybal Learning Center
1200 W. Colton St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 580-6400

Reyes, Community, Open Edward R. Roybal Learning Center

Councilmember Reyes joined families, community and elected leaders to celebrate the opening of the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center in the Temple-Beaudry community. At the Oct. 18 event, Reyes noted how valuable the community input was to completing the new high school.

Reyes Welcomes Family Center to Pico-Union Neighborhood

Councilmember Ed P. Reyes joined families and children to celebrate the opening of Magnolia Place Family Center in the Pico-Union community. Magnolia Place is a place where families and children can receive high quality education, health care and legal services. Reyes was joined by city and county leaders, including Los Angeles Police Department Chief William Bratton, in the October 10 grand opening of the $23 million center, an initiative of the nonprofit Children's Bureau. Magnolia Place Family Center, 1910 Magnolia Ave. (corner of Washington Blvd.), (213) 342-0100.

Reyes Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Philippe, The Original

On October 6, 2008 Philippe, The Original celebrated its 100th anniversary. Located in the First Council District, Councilmember Reyes was on hand to join with hundreds of hungry well-wishers as Philippe's offered its renowned French Dip sandwiches at its original price of 10 cents.

Reyes, Sandwich Lovers, Celebrate 100th Anniversary of Philippe, The Original

Hundreds of loyal customers packed Philippe, The Original, to celebrate the restaurant's 100th anniversary with original menu prices of its renowned sandwiches and tasty coffee.

Sandwiches, normally priced from $5.35 to $6.50, today sold for 10 cents, and coffee cost a nickel.

Philippe is still the only restaurant in Los Angeles where you can order a 10-cent cup of coffee. The restaurant, an icon in the City, embodies what is right in business and commendable in customer loyalty.

As part of today's celebration, I joined with public officials and three generations of the extended Los Angeles family, including the Binder and Downey family members, responsible for the restaurant's longtime success, to dedicate the street sign designating Philippe as a historic monumental business. Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilmembers joined me in honoring them.

Philippe, The Original, is located at 1001 N. Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90012. Tel. (213) 628-3781. The restaurant is located one block north of UnionStation, Olvera St., and the Hollywood 101 Freeway at Alameda and Ordstreets. More info at: http://philippes.com/

Reyes, Community Join Governor at Taylor Yard for Historic Bill Signing

Rio de Los Angeles State Park, known to many of us affectionately as Taylor Yard, is an excellent example of how green space can revitalize communities.

Today, I joined here with community groups, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assemblymembers Kevin de Leon and Anna Caballero and State Parks Director Ruth Coleman in a historic bill signing.

The bills, AB 31 and AB 2494, help secure significant funds to renew park communities in California, especially those in Los Angeles, which has some of the most park poor areas in the nation.
AB 31 (De Leon) will provide $400 million from Proposition 84 for new parks directed to those communities most in need.

AB 2494 (Caballero) will help renew park-poor communities that lack affordable housing. It rewards local governments that meet affordable housing goals with $200 million from Proposition 1C to build parks and recreation facilities.

I thank the following, who particpated in the Governor's bill-signing, for their support: City Dept. of Recreation and Parks, ANAHUAK soccer, Northeast Trees, Clean and Green, Los Angeles Conservation Corps, El Centro de Pueblo, Central City Action Committee, greater Cypress Park Neighborhood Council, Friends of Cypress Park Community Improvement Association, Glassell Park Improvement Association, Mt. Washington Homeowners Alliance, Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council.

Public Memorial this Friday, Oct. 3, for Dr. Dionicio Morales, Founder of Mexican American Opportunity Foundation

A memorial will be held in Los Angeles this Friday for Dr. Dionicio Morales, who ran a non-profit from his garage that would grow to become the nation's largest Latino-based nonprofit organization, the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation(MAOF). Dr. Morales died September 24 at the age of 89 in Montebello, CA from kidney failure.

The public memorial will be held Friday, October 3, at 9 a.m. at the Los Angeles Cathedral, 555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles.

As we mourn this tremendous loss, I joined with the Los Angeles City Council to adjourn today's meeting in loving memory of Dr. Morales.

Known throughout the Latino community as an "urban Cesar Chavez," Dr. Morales engaged in several causes to protect his fellow Latinos. After graduating from U.C. Santa Barbara, Dr. Morales began his career fighting on behalf of farm workers during the bracero era, when Mexicans were allowed to work in the United States about the time of World War II.

In 1963, he founded MAOF, which provides Los Angeles area residents with early-education programs, senior programs, food banks, and job training.
The Montebello-based non-profit serves more than 100,000 Californians annually in seven counties.

When asked how he could work with Democrats, Republicans, Mexican and American politicians, Dr. Morales would reply: "My dear friend, I have only one political party, 'The Brotherhood of Man,' and one agenda, 'Equality and Justice For All.'"

We are truly blessed with Dr. Morales' works, wisdom and words that will guide us for generations to come.

In lieu of flowers, the Morales family has requested donations be made to the Dionicio Morales Destiny Fund, 1317 Del Norte Road, Suite 150, Camarillo, CA 93010.