Thank you to ALL our great volunteers who came out bright and early in the morning and stayed through the heat!
More than 60 volunteers checked in at the Laurel Canyon/Webb traffic median cleanup and tree care today.
In addition to our favorite basketball team, the Wildcats, Councilman Tony Cardenas, State Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes, People-in-Progress, the Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Council, TreePeople, and Vulcan sent their teams to boost Sun Valley’s pride.
A big thank you to the TreePeople team – Marcos, Pam, Michelle, Julie, Oscar – for showing us how to care for our trees and worked alongside our neighbors. More importantly, Marcos explained how the trees benefited from each step of the “tree pampering” process.
Crown Disposal got there before all of us and delivered the 20 yard roll-off container. Sue and Danny of SV Graffiti Busters were not that much behind Crown when they brought tools that we needed. Sun Valley Equipment let us use the wheel barrels again.
Vulcan’s team – Jose, Art, George – provided water for the critical final step of tree care. We were so glad to see your sweeper out there!
For all the donuts, snacks, fruit, water, Subway sandwiches,we thank Ken & Virginia Beck, Councilman Cardenas, Donut Den, and Waste Management!
SHERMAN OAKS, CA – August 26, 2010 – It is with great sadness and sorrow that we announce [VICA] President and CEO, Bruce Ackerman passed away today after a 6 1/2 year battle with cancer. Bruce touched so many lives and had a profound impact on those he worked with to further economic development in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County or the state. He was passionate about causes and sat on numerous not-for- profit boards for organizations focused on improving the quality of life for all Angelinos. Bruce worked tirelessly and was willing to give of himself. He left his indelible mark on everything and everyone he touched.
Bruce began his career as a leader of chambers of commerce and economic development organizations more than 30 years ago at the San Fernando Chamber of Commerce. He later matriculated to the Greater Van Nuys Chamber of Commerce in 1976 as its Executive Vice President/General Manager where he honed his skills in economic development. Then in 1987, he moved to the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce & Civic Association as its CEO. During his tenure with each organization, Bruce helped them grow to the next level.
Following his stint in Pasadena, Bruce opened his own consulting practice in 1993, concentrating on executive-level management services for chambers and similar organizations. That eventually led him to the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership in 1997 as its President & CEO. He successfully concentrated the SGVEP’s attention on marketing the region’s economic attractiveness, which brought new businesses to the fold.
The last phase of his professional career commenced in 2000 when he joined the Alliance, taking over the reins from Bill Allen, one of the Alliance’s founders. Thus began the love affair that we mourn today with Bruce’s passing. As President & CEO of [the] Economic Alliance, as he liked to say, he extended the organization’s reach beyond business assistance to include workforce preparedness, improving the quality of education and other equally important endeavors. That confluence led to the Alliance’s motto, “Better businesses. Better jobs. Better communities.” Bruce simultaneously smoothed edges while still promoting the Alliance’s ideals.
Throughout Bruce’s life, he was also committed to helping others through his volunteer efforts. Whether at economic development organizations like CRA, CalEd or LAEDC, or with not-for-profits like West Hills Hospital, Project GRAD, the Boys & Girls Club or Valley Interfaith Council, Bruce gave of himself. He committed to causes that bettered the lives of everyone around him. As he said, “When you give to yourself, it goes with you; when you give to others, it’s eternal.”
One of Bruce’s favorite sayings told so much about him and his Midwestern roots: You either were part of the solution or you were the problem. It’s an attitude he exuded and imparted on others. Combine that with his effervescence and style – his pace wasn’t leisurely; it was a million miles an hour – and you have the formula for Bruce’s success and life. He never missed anything during his 64 years.
We know you join us in extending condolences to his wife, Cathy, mother, children, grandchildren, sister and brothers, and extended family. There can be no question: He will be deeply missed by many!
To the Wildcat Basketball Community, Please enjoy this END of the SUMMER EDITION of the Wildcat Basketball newsletter. We appreciate your continued support. -Coach Fernandez
In 2006, the Sun Valley Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) was completed as a prerequisite to allow public and private entities to sponsor projects eligible for federal assistance under certain programs sponsored by the United States Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA). Examples include public infrastructure improvements or construction of industrial and business parks.
The CEDS Report presents economic problems, opportunities, goals and objectives, discusses strategies to alleviate poverty and create new high-paying jobs, and identifies priority projects for implementation within the Sun Valley community. EDA requires the CEDS document to be updated to reflect recent socio-economic trends, revised goals if applicable, and the status of previous implementation projects and potentially new ones.
The Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) East Valley Region has initiated an update to the 2006 Sun Valley CEDS. As a Sun Valley Community Stakeholder, CRA/LA invites you to participate in a consultation session to provide input on potential strategies for economic development in Sun Valley:
DATE: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 TIME: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. LOCATION: Van Nuys Civic Center
Marvin Braude Constituent Services Center 6262 Van Nuys Boulevard, Van Nuys, CA. 91401 First Floor Area Planning Commission Hearing Room
The meeting agenda shall include the following items:
1.Update on the CEDS Process 2.Identify Strategies for Economic Development 3.Catalysts for Change: Identify CEDS Projects & Investments
For further information and to RSVP your attendance, please contact Gerald Gubatan, Senior Planner, CRA/LA East Valley Region, at (818) 623-1069 or ggubatan@cra.lacity.org
Mission Valley Bank together with the Sun Valley Area Chamber of Commerce invite you to join us for a Summer Mixer With A Mission Join us in support of the Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission by bringing urgently needed canned foods & supplies to the Summer Mixer with a Mission!
Music – Fun – Food & Helping Someone Else… Thursday – August 12th 5:30pm to 7:30pm Mission Valley Bank 9116 Sunland Boulevard – Sun Valley in the parking lot! Please R.S.V.P. to Carrie Burrell – 818.394.2334
I just wanted to send a quick reminder that E-Mail Scams are still going around. I was recently reminded of these dangerous, to-good-to-be-true scams that are out there as over the past day I have received 2 in the Chamber Inbox. So I am sending out a few general tips on computer safety:
Most E-Mail Scams involve some sort of promise of money. Usually they will play on your heartstrings with some sad story of how they were wronged, are at odds with a corrupt government, trying to fulfill the last wishes of a deceased family member..etc. etc. Some other red flags are also when they ask you to "tell no one of this offer", ask for personal information including your name, any bank account information, telephone number, address, social security number, or they offer to (and will) send you a check (they can get your bank account information off of the 'cleared' check, which in most cases will bounce in a week).
Another tip is to check the actual "from" e-mail address, if the address appears to be a random set of numbers and letters and there appears to be not even the slightest resemblance of order, 99.9% of the time it is a fake or one time use account, usually these will be from a free webmail account like yahoo. This is not always the case as they will often use a hacked account, which usually will come from someone you know, or a legitimate looking 'fake account'. So although it is a red flag it is not the end-all tell of a scam e-mail.
In the case of a hacked account: look at the writing style the person is using and ask yourself "is this something that this person would send me?" or "does this sound like this person?" if the answer is no ... then they most likely have been hacked, and therefore don't open any attachments. The other tactic with a hacked account is to send a blank e-mail with just an attachment, with the hacker hoping you will "just open the attachment from your friend". Also don't be a victim of hacking - REMEMBER TO CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS OFTEN and use a password that contains at least one capital letter and one number, and the general rule is that if you can find the word in the dictionary - don't use it.
As Businesses the Rule "Don't open unless you know the sender" is hard to apply, however, the rule should apply to any attachments that you receive. And it is important to remember that just because your virus checker says it's clean, doesn't mean that it is! If you were not expecting the attachment - it is generally a good idea to NOT open it.
Virus Checks only scan for KNOWN viruses, so it is no good against unknown or new bugs - which is another point. If you are in charge of your own data management - please remember to update your virus/anti-spyware software often. Usually this is done automatically when the computer is turned on and connected to the internet, however, it is a good practice to occasionally open the software and perform a manual update. It is also a good practice to manually start a full system scan with these products at least once a month.
Keith S. Richman, MD Former Assemblyman ~ State of CA
Cards & Letter can be sent to: Lakeside Healthcare777 A Flower Street Glendale, CA 91201
In Lieu of Flowers~ Donations In Memory of Keith can be made to: Pet Orphans of Southern California 7720 Gloria Avenue Van Nuys, CA91406 Or Providence Holy Cross Foundation Care Can’t Wait Capital Campaign - New Wing and expansion P.O. Box 9600 Mission Hills, California 91346-9600
Keith Stuart Richman (November 21, 1953–July 30, 2010) was a California Republican politician. From 2000 to 2006, he served in the California State Assembly representing the 38th Assembly District based in Northwest Los Angeles County.
Born in Syracuse, New York, Richman graduated from Birmingham High School in 1971 and earned his Bachelor of Science in 1975 from the University of California, Davis, where he played baseball and was named an All-Conference pitcher. As part of the 1972 UC Davis baseball team, he was named to the UC Davis Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1998, he was named the Collegiate Alumnus of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
In 1978, Richman earned his Master of Public Health from the UCLA School of Public Health and his M.D. from the UCLA School of Medicine.
After graduating from UCLA, he was a medical doctor and served as the Chairman of the Board of Lakeside HealthCare, Inc., a health-care provider. In January 2005 he received California's Radical Centrist of the Year Award from RadicalCentrism.org.
Richman was elected to the Assembly in November 2000 replacing Republican Tom McClintock and won re-election in 2002 and 2004. Richman was elected Mayor of the City of San Fernando Valley in 2002, but was unable to take office, as the San Fernando Valley's bid to secede from Los Angeles failed after voters in the remainder of Los Angeles rejected independence for the Valley.
In 2006 he sought the Republican nomination for California State Treasurer but lost to Board of Equalization member Claude Parrish 56%-44%.
With his father, Dr. Monroe Richman, who had also previously held elective office (as a member of the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees), he practiced internal medicine in Sun Valley. He also chaired the Valley Community Clinic Board.
Richman died at Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center on July 30, 2010, after a battle with brain cancer.
