tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10349639965174332932012-02-16T15:03:58.455-08:00Sights and sites in the San Fernando ValleyRosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.comBlogger801100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-29886999058800678882011-03-27T11:40:00.000-07:002011-03-27T11:40:25.213-07:00

Reliable scientists tell us that the small amount of radiation that has reached us from the disaster in Japan is not significant. That is probably true. But what about the large amounts that will reach us when our own nuclear plants are damaged? Does anybody know how to create nuclear power systems that are safe? Can existing plants be retrofitted with improved safety systems that will protect us

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-67180574158315983652011-03-20T17:09:00.000-07:002011-03-20T17:09:51.386-07:00

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-35941216936967335662011-02-02T12:40:00.000-08:002011-02-02T12:41:22.766-08:00

I found this one in the shower this morning. It appears to be an example of the woodlouse spider (Dysdera crocata). They specialize in eating the woodlouse (known locally as pillbug or sowbug). They will bite, but their bites, while possibly a bit painful, are not dangerous. They are sometimes mistaken for the poisonous brown recluse spider, but they don't really look alike.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-87026412605345124582011-01-07T15:29:00.000-08:002011-01-07T15:29:19.849-08:00

According to a story posted today on KTLA's website, "Operation Pothole" will begin this weekend. Street repair crews will attempt to reach the goal of filling 10,000 potholes in two days. The story blames the proliferation of potholes on the recent storms, but anyone who has driven in the Valley during the past few years is painfully aware that, while storms may make things worse, our streets

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-21532631331345860262011-01-05T19:09:00.000-08:002011-01-05T21:10:35.067-08:00

The following is an edited version of a press release issued by Councilman Grieg Smith's office: In a major victory for the community, the City began towing mobile advertising trailers from L.A. streets after Councilman Smith’s legislation to regulate the blight of unhitched trailer billboards went into effect on Jan. 1, 2011. “This is a huge success in our efforts to protect the quality of

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-68863762644739715382011-01-04T06:51:00.000-08:002012-02-02T21:47:40.160-08:00

When we lived in Granada Hills, there was a great horned owl that regularly perched in a big pine tree on the property. Once during the daytime I saw a young hawk in the same tree, screaming at the owl in fear or fury. The owl just sat there, apparently unperturbed, while the hawk gradually backed away and eventually flew off. Usually, though, the owl was only seen at night; we'd spot it in

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-70403346885317309062011-01-01T15:00:00.000-08:002011-01-01T15:00:27.809-08:00

This morning on the way to a fast-food breakfast I saw an apparently homeless man lying by the side of the road, passed out next to the plastic bag that held his extra-large beer can. I could have snapped his picture and then used it to illustrate a blog post about the problems of homelessness, alcoholism, or just the good fortune that last night's temperature in the Valley did not drop below

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-59232411002938035392010-10-22T22:04:00.000-07:002010-10-22T22:06:55.913-07:00

A few weeks ago some of these signs appeared along one of the sections of Topanga Canyon Blvd. that has been plagued by those horrible parked billboards for the past few years. This is a step in the right direction. That block can now be cleaned by the street sweepers, residents can park there, drivers have a clear view, and the visual blight is gone. But nearby blocks are still available, so

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-23289396107728746532010-08-30T13:24:00.000-07:002010-08-31T14:45:29.073-07:00

We may not see them, but they are there. The Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus), also known as the sewer rat, brown rat, etc., thrives in and around human habitats. This one was seen foraging among the fallen birdseed under one of our feeders. It looked fat and healthy. But beware: Rats and squirrels are among the many animals linked to plague, rabies and other nasty diseases here in South

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-47179860129552388452010-08-07T12:06:00.000-07:002010-08-07T12:06:57.140-07:00

The number of lost pet signs in our neighborhood has increased a lot in recent months. This sign appeared a couple of weeks ago on a corner where I have often seen both coyotes and the rabbits they hunt. (On the other side of the fence is a large expanse of undeveloped land.) Coyotes are not new here, but I suspect they have become bolder over time. And a lot of people somehow manage to remain

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-44550489722922152222010-07-01T21:28:00.000-07:002010-07-01T21:31:11.050-07:00

Yes, I know, this isn't in the Valley. But everyone should see this.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-52947985766645383802010-05-29T13:49:00.000-07:002010-05-29T13:49:00.125-07:00

A male house finch stuffs himself at the feeder.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-57319689786899917292010-05-12T13:47:00.000-07:002010-05-12T13:47:29.877-07:00

Goldfinches enjoy the feeder in my garden.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-54883026080507949892010-02-21T14:26:00.000-08:002010-05-12T13:52:05.600-07:00

I now completely understand why so many qualified individuals never get involved in public service. Having passed the preliminary screening (along with over 25,000 other Californians), I've learned what is required to continue applying to be on the new redistricting commission. I could certainly write answers to the essay questions and provide a resume. They want to know all about me, which is

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-16768663237618590292010-01-16T15:47:00.000-08:002010-02-07T11:40:01.811-08:00

Today I was on the Cal State Northridge campus to take a test. One of the administrators proudly pointed out that the classroom was filled with lovely, newly-purchased desks. Every single one of them was a RIGHT-HANDED desk! There is absolutely no excuse for this. Two-sided desks have been available for decades. Other schools purchase them. Why in the 21st century would a public institution be

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-71110425348396705442009-10-13T17:23:00.000-07:002009-10-13T17:28:24.319-07:00

Last week I attended a class in the Cal State Northridge Library. I moved the mouse to the left-hand side and then attempted to reverse the mouse buttons. Normally I simply use control Panel to change the mouse settings. But Control Panel was not visible on the library’s computer. There was an “Accessibility” menu, but none of the things listed there had anything to do with making the computer

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-22853846496441495582009-09-02T14:00:00.001-07:002009-09-02T14:00:58.489-07:00

I have been on "hiatus" for a while, but will return to blogging when things settle down a little.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-89134965708469050662009-07-20T06:00:00.000-07:002009-07-20T06:00:07.693-07:00

It's amazing, the things you can learn just browsing through a university catalog. Our own Cal State Northridge offers a minor in gerontology. One of the required courses is, of course, "Introduction to Gerontology". It covers some of the things you might expect: issues of health, economics, social roles, etc. Among other things, students have the opportunity to engage in volunteer work at "

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-71645644976361537012009-07-16T09:41:00.000-07:002009-07-16T09:50:23.793-07:00

Gerald Fecht is the president of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley and a tireless blogger. While some of us struggle to post once or twice a week, Jerry sometimes posts several articles in a single day. He is well-versed in history and also seems to know everything that's happening right now. He posts photos from the museum's archives, as well as recently-snapped pics of public art,

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-46003120285401082302009-07-13T16:01:00.001-07:002009-07-13T16:33:23.967-07:00

A long stretch of Topanga Canyon Boulevard has received temporary no parking signs so that some kind of road work can be done. One section in particular has become notorious for the illegal signs that the city allows to park here. This morning, most of the signs had been removed. Someone had placed the no-parking signs prominently on the two that remained, probably hoping that the city really

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-22615024040817501632009-07-09T06:00:00.000-07:002009-07-09T08:22:36.523-07:00

Agapanthus is sometimes called Lily of the Nile, African Blue Lily, or similar names. There are several species of this South African native, but most sold in nurseries here are agapanthus praecox or its subspecies agapanthus orientalis, even though they are sometimes mislabeled as agapanthus africanus. Once established, they are drought tolerant, and do well in almost any area with well-drained

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-7731252306750636292009-07-07T08:15:00.000-07:002009-07-07T08:59:31.010-07:00

"Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey starts a run at Staples Center on Wednesday, a booking long planned in advance. In the pre-dawn hours before Jackson's memorial, the elephants walked from the train station to the arena, arriving some five hours before the memorial." This statement appeared on the website of our local CBS affiliate. I can think of no more fitting image for today's

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-80174432571163716202009-07-06T06:00:00.001-07:002009-07-06T06:01:23.512-07:00

These gigantic trucks are always hazardous in city traffic. If you're stuck behind one, you can't see over or around it; if it is tailgating you (as they usually are), it completely fills the rear view mirror; and they frequently straddle the line that is supposed to divide the lanes. It often seems that the drivers just don't have a feeling for how big these things really are or exactly where

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-2629779572566667302009-07-04T06:00:00.000-07:002009-07-04T06:00:24.562-07:00

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of AmericaWhen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-89399434704859896112009-07-03T09:37:00.001-07:002009-07-07T08:42:58.172-07:00

The Los Angeles Fire Department wants you to remember that fireworks are illegal in the city of Los Angeles, and in all other cities serviced by the LAFD. Every year, thousands of people are treated in emergency rooms for injuries caused by illegal fireworks. You may also have noticed that, in addition to the dry brush which already surrounds many of our neighborhoods, many people have stopped

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-86771205367795252452009-07-02T06:49:00.000-07:002009-07-02T06:49:01.142-07:00

A blogger named Angela has just started "The Ultimate Guide to the San Fernando Valley". Determined to prove that there really is something to do in the Valley, she promises to write about dining, shopping, entertainment, special events, and other activities. I like her photos of her meals at local restaurants, and some really delicious pics from the Calabasas Farmers Market. A journalism student

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-30911068240379324292009-06-29T06:00:00.000-07:002009-06-29T06:00:01.226-07:00

I just thought it was interesting that the grocery store classified cat food as "nonedible". I'm not going to tell the cats.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-71705327842339743102009-06-25T06:00:00.000-07:002009-06-25T06:00:48.194-07:00

My little "patio tomato" plant is progressing nicely. It sits in a pot at the edge of the patio, of course. I also have a pair of larger plants in another part of the garden that are just starting to develop fruit. Home-grown tomatoes are easy and economical. And they taste so much better than any you will find in the supermarket that it can be hard to believe they are related.It's not too late

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-81523792034563939922009-06-22T06:00:00.000-07:002009-06-22T07:42:01.901-07:00

The common side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana) is one of the most abundant lizards in South California. They are able to survive in a variety of habitats, and prefer open, rocky areas. As with many other lizards in this region, their tails may break off if they are caught, and will grow back to some extent. Their life span is only about a year, and they produce eggs in the spring and summer.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-64279418655572022672009-06-18T06:00:00.000-07:002009-06-18T15:16:48.806-07:00

I found this hummingbird nest on the patio. Old nests often tumble from trees or blow in on the wind. I have a feeling this one was never used; typically the used nests are more compacted, especially on the inside. Made of local plant materials, this was a little over two inches in diameter.Hummingbirds are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. We should never harm, disturb or

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-65415927398709246402009-06-15T07:24:00.000-07:002009-06-16T22:00:36.418-07:00

While thousands of potholes remain unfilled and many streets are so cracked and buckled as to be undrivable, city officials have decided it's a good idea to contribute a million dollars of public money to a parade honoring a for-profit company that can afford to pay up to $21 million a year to its top employees. The parade, scheduled for Wednesday, is intended to celebrate the Lakers' recent NBA

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-5121268501166334812009-06-04T06:00:00.000-07:002009-06-04T06:00:00.598-07:00

A short article in yesterday's Los Angeles Times reported that the DWP will pay $1 per square foot to single-family residential customers who replace their green lawns with pre-approved, drought-tolerant plants. The DWP website indicates that consumers can receive rebates for installing synthetic turf or rotating sprinkler heads. Additionally, there are programs for various water-efficient or

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-80712623295184033482009-06-01T06:00:00.000-07:002009-06-28T21:36:47.732-07:00

Today marks the beginning of mandatory water usage reduction in Los Angeles. Yes, San Fernando Valley, that means you, too.Residents are expected to reduce their water usage by 15%. You have been assigned a "Tier 1 allotment". If you can stick with that, you pay for water at the lowest current rate. If you exceed it, "Tier 2" pricing (a much higher rate) is applied. To find out more about how

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-72259714643610540232009-05-28T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-28T06:00:00.617-07:00

Anyone who uses an automatic sprinkler system wants to know if a broken sprinkler head is allowing all that precious H2O to shoot skyward. When I pass a house that has that problem, I knock on the door and let the people inside know what's happening. Usually, they are grateful for the information and eager to make repairs. My guess is that most wouldn't be as receptive to complaints about what

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-18984103850119957562009-05-25T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-25T13:42:23.760-07:00

I recently visited the West Valley Animal Care Center on Plummer Street in Chatsworth. The city of Los Angeles no longer uses the term "Animal Shelter"; apparently it's too restrictive, or perhaps not euphemistic enough. This was the first time I had been there since the recent, major renovation, and I was pleasantly surprised. Unfortunately, this will sound as though I am damning it with faint

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-13011825851346188572009-05-21T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-21T07:33:39.439-07:00

On a recent weekend, I ripped out a flower bed and replaced it with this "rock garden". This enabled me to cap off one sprinkler head, and convert another to cover a smaller area. This is my first effort at rock gardening. I think it's too simple; while I was taking the picture it occurred to me that instead of just red lava rock, I could have made sections using two colors to make it more

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-50161408952643767322009-05-19T06:54:00.000-07:002009-05-19T07:01:24.981-07:00

Today is yet another special election in Los Angeles. On the ballot are six propositions relating to taxes and budgets, a runoff for city attorney, and community college district trustees. The polls will be open from 7:00am to 8:00pm. If you don't know where your polling place is, you can find it at http://www.lavote.net/.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-13232913393092327492009-05-18T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-20T15:57:31.387-07:00

This California pepper tree (Schinus molle) is a volunteer in my garden. Less than two years old, it is already more than ten feet tall. Originally it had two main branches veeing away from the base, but one was damaged by winter storms and had to be cut away. The tree now has about half the volume it would otherwise have had.I'm very fond of pepper trees, but I have mixed feelings about this one

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-69078672275439554062009-05-14T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-14T08:45:49.219-07:00

The green bins are for yard trimmings. The blue bins are for recyclable items. The black bins are for (non toxic) trash. This system has been in place for many years. So when our neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Loud,* stuffed their green and blue bins full of old carpeting, they were the only ones to be surprised that the bins weren't emptied. "I didn't know," Mrs. L claimed later that morning. Luckily

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-45326777082856678562009-05-11T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-11T06:00:00.623-07:00

I photographed these daddy long-legs spiders (Pholcus phalangioides) in the women's restroom of the horticulture building at Pierce College. They seemed cozy, moving around their web in the narrow space between the side of the toilet and the wall.It's a good thing I'm not afraid of spiders, but this might explain why this restroom, unlike all the others on campus, seemed so clean. (Well, except

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-26005519234156919052009-05-07T14:24:00.000-07:002009-05-07T17:01:53.471-07:00

Last night someone informed me that the notorious political billboard had been removed. I photographed the trailer this morning.I don't know who took the sign away, but it seems that it wasn't done in the usual way. Typically, these billboards stay parked in the same place for weeks or months at a time. Sometimes they are moved to a new location, and from time to time the billboards are replaced.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-36774023134590743062009-05-06T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-06T06:00:00.542-07:00

We see a lot of lizards in this area. This is a southern alligator lizard (Elgaria multicarinata), a little over a foot long, relaxing in my driveway. Some individuals will grow to twice this length. These reptiles eat insects and snails, occasionally smaller lizards or bird eggs. If grabbed by a predator, the tail will break off easily, enabling the lizard to escape. (However, I have seen cats

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-61648276888141651402009-05-05T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-05T06:00:00.702-07:00

Please see the updated version of my earlier post about a political campaign billboard.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-79095359949568657012009-05-04T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-04T06:00:00.844-07:00

The battle against ugly, illegal signs clogging our local streets continues. There seems to be some kind of bureaucratic resistance to enforcing the ordinances against off-site signs and billboards. In the meantime, we are beginning to see more of these signs prohibiting parking the trailers that are used to support the things. The signs don't always work, of course. The day I took this photo,

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-91816851805771596602009-05-01T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-01T22:20:01.075-07:00

Opuntia lindheimeri, known as Texas prickly pear, is a cactus originating in Texas that grows throughout the American southwest. It blooms in spring and early summer, with flowers that range from pale yellow to red. The fruit is edible, but I haven't tried it. The spines can be burned off so that the plant can be fed to cattle as a source of water.The plants can grow ten feet high, but I haven't

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-69028565348443405212009-04-28T06:00:00.000-07:002009-04-28T06:00:00.191-07:00

We expect to see seagulls at Lake Balboa, but this raucous flock was gathered around a rather pathetic puddle in a parking lot at Victory and Owensmouth. The real attraction seemed to be an uncovered dumpster filled with garbage from a couple of nearby restaurants.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-85664194409420607282009-04-25T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-05T14:37:35.004-07:00

This post has been revised. Read to the bottom, and you will see why.Here's what I wrote on April 25: It's no surprise when sleazy operations like massage parlors and credit repair scams use these hideous illegal signs to promote themselves. I've written before about the problem of these ugly billboards proliferating on our streets. But somehow I would have expected a candidate for city attorney

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-66998264346747707252009-04-24T06:00:00.000-07:002009-04-24T06:00:00.118-07:00

It's not unusual to find grasshoppers drowned in the pool, but this one saved itself by perching on a hose. The gray bird grasshopper (Schistocerca nitens) is native to the American southwest. We see a lot of them here this time of year. They appear in shades of gray or brown, and can be as much as three inches long. (This one was definitely that big.) They eat plants, but unlike some other

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-71213739754680176472009-04-21T06:00:00.000-07:002009-04-21T06:00:00.370-07:00

In the 1940s and 50s, it was typical for houses built in South California to have these back yard incinerators for burning household trash. Use of the incinerators was considered by many to be a major source of air pollution, although others believed that industry and automobiles were really to blame. By the end of the 1950s, use of the incinerators had been banned, and most were eventually

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-33774346846282691012009-04-19T06:00:00.000-07:002009-04-19T06:00:00.461-07:00

In the early 1960's, well-known real estate developer Joseph Eichler built a tract of around 100 houses in an area sometimes called Balboa Highlands, in Granada Hills. The principal architects were A. Quincy Jones and Frederick E. Emmons. Many owners have remodeled these midcentury homes, while others have preserved and restored the original style. This one on Nanette Street was declared Los

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-34649878417267906902009-04-17T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-03T19:26:49.668-07:00

On a recent weekend, we took a drive out to "Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park". This park, at the south end of Reseda Blvd., has some great views of the valley, and offers paths and trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. It wasn't nearly as crowded as I would have expected on a Saturday with such pleasant weather, so we easily found a parking spot in the free zone. As it

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-6935538009682663032009-04-15T06:00:00.001-07:002009-04-15T06:00:00.641-07:00

This mailbox on Baird Avenue in Northridge appears to be an arm salvaged from an old Bob's Big Boy restaurant. At one time there were many of these old-style coffee shops, known for their delicious burgers, throughout South California and in many other states. Today, they are few and far between. The only one left in the valley is on Riverside Drive in Burbank. Built in 1949, it is the oldest

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-36247238846348994752009-04-13T06:06:00.000-07:002009-04-13T10:37:07.289-07:00

In recent years, this ugly form of visual blight has become increasingly common throughout the valley. These horrible signs are a form of mobile graffiti, defacing and devaluing our neighborhoods, interfering with legitimate parking, creating traffic hazards, damming the flow of water in gutters, and blocking drivers' sightlines. Although these signs are illegal, it seems impossible to get rid of

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-22922845704811396312009-04-11T06:01:00.000-07:002009-04-11T06:01:00.176-07:00

Valleynews.com is a website loosely related to the Valley News section of the Los Angeles Daily News. It includes feature stories, event information and blogs. According to the site's description, some material is staff-written, but most comes from volunteers in the community. The site appears to be kept up to date (when I visited, I saw stories that had been posted that day). It's not a source

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-79382636379504071242009-04-09T06:00:00.000-07:002009-04-09T06:00:01.137-07:00

This is a very small park at the end of Dixie Canyon Place in Studio City. The street leading to the staircase entrance is not much more than an alley which provides access to the residents of the very expensive townhouses in this neighborhood. The street suffers from occasional potholes and buckled pavement, probably because the water never stops running down the center drainage channel. The

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-54250245191397174172009-04-07T06:00:00.000-07:002009-04-07T06:00:00.757-07:00

This little guy is a member of the species sciurus niger, commonly known as the fox squirrel. These active rodents are seen all over the valley in back yards and parks, running along telephone wires, scampering across roofs, getting run over in the streets, and picking fruit from the trees just as it is about to ripen. Maddeningly, they usually eat just a few bites and discard the rest.The fox

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-72097305448922355292009-04-05T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-01T22:21:39.686-07:00

When the Encino Oak Tree was declared a historical cultural monument in 1963, it was believed to be approximately 1000 years old. Its canopy was 150 wide, and the trunk had a circumference of 24 feet. The tree survived natural disasters of all kinds. But the tree became sick, probably weakened by a combination of old age and human encroachment. In February, 1998, a severe storm struck the final

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-79763185981445370702009-04-03T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-01T22:21:54.764-07:00

Coral striata, known as coral aloe, comes from South Africa. This drought-tolerant plant does very well in South California, and is popular in low-water landscaping. The grayish-green leaves develop a pink tinge on the edges in cold weather, and the plant blooms in winter or early spring. A mature plant can grow to as much as two feet wide and three feet tall.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-12358353883555852872009-04-01T06:00:00.000-07:002009-04-01T08:44:16.750-07:00

San Fernando Valley was a 1944 movie filmed here and starring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, who had a home in the valley. The film included a song of the same name, written by Gordon Jenkins. Bing Crosby recorded the song, and it became a surprise top hit, possibly because of its appeal to returning GIs who were ready to start fresh lives, or possibly just because of Crosby's popularity. People

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-51665838923774780372009-03-30T07:05:00.000-07:002009-03-30T07:05:00.589-07:00

During World War II, hundreds of air raid sirens were installed throughout Los Angeles County as part of a civil defense system. The idea was to warn citizens and mobilize local defense plans in case of an enemy attack. The sirens were used in 1942 in the so-called "Battle of Los Angeles", an apparent false alarm that caused panic and injury, resulting in the deaths of five people. The sirens

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-27921209370727718332009-03-28T06:03:00.000-07:002009-03-28T06:03:00.475-07:00

The Japanese Garden is a 6 1/2 acre park located in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area. It incorporates elements traditional to gardens built for feudal lords in the 18th and 19th centuries. There are paved paths, water features and a tea house. Many water birds, especially egrets and ducks, can be seen enjoying the area. The garden shares its address on Woodley Avenue with a wastewater

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-70156059930174410162009-03-26T00:18:00.000-07:002009-05-01T22:22:19.002-07:00

Winter in South California is a lot like spring in other parts of the country, so flowers have been blooming for months. Now that spring is really here, there is even more garden action. These photos were taken in my back yard.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-78128018262460936742009-03-24T06:14:00.000-07:002009-03-24T09:48:23.299-07:00

This huge mural project, depicting various aspects of California history from prehistoric times to the 1950's, was created in five stages between 1978 and 1983, with the participation of over 400 young people. It decorates a half-mile section of flood control channel along Coldwater Canyon Blvd. between Oxnard St. and Burbank Blvd. The mural can be viewed from a path through a grassy mini-park

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-49238884213889154072009-03-22T06:03:00.000-07:002009-03-30T14:43:18.282-07:00

Gerald Fecht operates a blog for the Museum of the San Fernando Valley. The museum's archives includes photos, postcards and artifacts. Images of these are often displayed on the website. This is also a good place to find announcements of upcoming events and exhibitions about the history and culture of the Los Angeles area.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-7475103567098063882009-03-21T06:30:00.000-07:002009-03-21T08:50:42.142-07:00

I just got a copy of Then and Now: San Fernando Valley, a fun collection of photos showing the valley as it was once upon a time, compared to what it's like now. In many cases the editor has found photos taken from the same viewpoint, and on rare occasions the same landmarks are still standing. You won't get a very deep history lesson here; most photos are captioned with only a couple of

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-79643851976910295142009-03-20T07:00:00.000-07:002009-03-20T22:29:58.858-07:00

Red-tailed hawks are found in the valley year-round. They are often seen soaring above open fields or brushy areas. They hunt small mammals, birds and reptiles. This one was perched in a favorite spot, a pine tree that overlooks my back yard.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-76790448707585747692009-03-19T07:00:00.000-07:002009-03-28T16:14:36.307-07:00

This is California Registered Historical Landmark No. 939. These folk art sculptures were created by John Ehn, who was born in 1897, over a 30-year period that ended with his death in 1981. The oversized figures and humorous tombstones were intended to create a vision of the mythological Old West. Originally located at a motel in Sunland, the collection had to be relocated in the late 1980's to

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-32562472615627906792009-03-18T09:00:00.000-07:002009-03-28T16:14:16.766-07:00

Since 2007, Floyd B. Bariscale has been finding, photographing, and writing about the official historical landmarks of Los Angeles. I like his pictures ( he has a talent for being out and about on clear, blue-sky days). His commentary is both informative and entertaining. Lately I've been searching for some of the Valley's landmarks, and Floyd's entries have been helpful on more than one occasion

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-77947956743307836272009-03-17T09:00:00.000-07:002009-03-21T23:08:30.795-07:00

This two-acre garden on the Pierce College campus displays "Mediterranean" plants suitable for the Southern California climate. In addition to native California plants, there is a nice variety of specimens from Australia and South Africa. The plants are labeled, so it's easy to borrow these ideas for your home garden. The area is bisected by "Evolution Walk", a pathway depicting major periods in

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-42580860482371522462008-12-05T17:56:00.000-08:002009-07-19T17:58:31.666-07:00

It hardly looks like December, even in South California. Temperatures in the 80’s are perfect for a visit to Lake Balboa.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-8880254444066039082008-12-04T17:59:00.000-08:002009-07-19T18:01:26.130-07:00

It was about 80 degrees outside when we stopped at a fast-food place for a cold drink. This woman was wearing Christmas-themed toe socks (patched on the heels with bright blue) with camouflage-striped flip-flops, blue crop pants, a ragged gray-green tank top and a sleeveless, beige cardigan. She caught our attention with her nasty cursing when the counter girl made an error and sold her three

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-72702558343681254382008-12-03T18:02:00.000-08:002009-07-19T18:03:59.644-07:00

These seagulls at Lake Balboa seem to be standing in formation.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-17833856109052810832008-12-01T18:10:00.000-08:002009-07-19T18:12:47.843-07:00

Although CSUN has closed applications for lower-division students wishing to enter in the fall, it is still accepting them for upper-division transfer students. Students are strongly urged to use the “easy” online application system. It requires filling out page after page of information. As I neared the end, an error on their part (yes, really) prevented me from completing the process. So I

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-38564180243077208442008-11-26T18:13:00.000-08:002009-07-19T18:15:41.847-07:00

The day before Thanksgiving and the first serious rain of the year made for sparsely populated walkways on campus this morning.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-23334768649671417592008-11-23T18:04:00.000-08:002009-07-19T18:08:30.459-07:00

During the past several years, every street in this neighborhood has been resurfaced, except the one where I live. This has been very frustrating to everyone here. This street gets a bit more traffic than most of the others, because it offers a direct route between the neighborhood entrances at the top and bottom of the hills. Uneven, lumpy, pitted and cracked, it had reached the point where it

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-69527444000096696452008-11-22T18:16:00.000-08:002009-07-19T18:18:06.018-07:00

Wednesday was a busy day on campus. The "Free Speech Zone", which usually hosts only the Bible ladies and an occasional salesman or two, was the venue for a political-religious group with huge, provocative posters, handing out flyers to passersby. According to reports in the school paper, some past demonstrations have led to shouting matches, but as far as I could tell, nobody got loud on this

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-59628948745952641162008-11-21T18:18:00.000-08:002009-07-19T18:20:33.634-07:00

On Wednesday a group of students positioned themselves on the main walkway, offering hugs to all passersby. I believe this was part of a promotion for one of the campus clubs. During the ten minutes or so that I watched them, only a few people accepted the offer.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-81417588968626656442008-11-20T18:21:00.000-08:002009-07-19T18:23:32.898-07:00

Between classes I was sitting on a bench, about five or six feet away from this girl. She was doing homework and texting while listening to her music player. Eventually she stopped to watch the birds, but I don’t think she could hear them. Even though she had her earbuds on, I could hear the music. Fortunately, this school has a good American Sign Language program. I expect that many of today’s

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-54738479587169160152008-09-18T18:24:00.000-07:002009-07-19T18:27:54.270-07:00

I can’t remember which political conference it was that introduced the concept of the "Free Speech Zone". That is, a zone designed to prevent free speech from being heard. It caught on rapidly and now it is my understanding that all major political events in the U.S. use this device. Still, I was a bit surprised to encounter this on the campus of Pierce College, whose newspaper proudly (if

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1034963996517433293.post-12587048053550916502008-06-04T18:29:00.000-07:002009-07-19T18:30:36.251-07:00

Technically, I graduated in December, when I officially received my Associate’s degree in Italian. It took the school another four months to produce my diploma. I was cordially invited to attend today’s graduation ceremony, but I stayed home.

Rosemary Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14188485725647779804noreply@blogger.com0