It’s Education Week in Hollywood

Dr Jamillah Moore

The stars came together this week for education in Hollywood. On Monday, the new Helen Bernstein High School, on Sunset Blvd. at the Hollywood Freeway,  was dedicated. The new school, which has been under construction since 2004, relieves pressure on Hollywood High School and opened with an enrollment of 1,400 students.  Best of all, it allows Hollywood High to return to a traditional school calendar rather than a year-round program. On Tuesday, L.A. City College in East Hollywood dedicated their new $22-million, state-of-the art Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. The new 63,315-sq.ft. library also served as the venue for the inauguration of Dr. Jamillah K. Moore as the 15^th president of the college.  Dr. Moore brings 15 years of educational, policy, instruction and advocacy experience to the role.  She has served in the office of the California Community Colleges as a Senior Vice-Chancellor for Governmental and External Relations. Congratulations Dr. Moore!

Governor Signs DeLeon’s Parks Bill

Last Friday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB31, authored by Assistant Assembly Majority Leader Kevin deLeon to prioritize $400-million of Proposition 84 park funds for underserved and park-poor communities throughout California.  “I am grateful to the Governor for lending his support to prioritizing park funding from Proposition 84 for park-starved communities,” said deLeon, who represents the Hollywood area.  “For too long, poor minority communities have been marginalized when it comes to parks and that needs to end.”  Of particular interest to Hollywood, was that the bill included a provision that allows freeway cap parks to qualify for the funds.  The Hollywood Chamber has been working with a coalition to create a 44-acre park above the Hollywood Freeway.  AB31 establishes a competitive grants program administered by the California Dept. of Parks and Recreation. California voters approved Proposition 84 in 2006 that included $400-million for new parks.

East Hollywood BID Plants Trees

This week LA City Council President Eric Garcetti joined the East Hollywood BID Board, members of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council, and the HBT crew in planting several trees along Vermont Ave.  In addition to its on-going cleaning and maintenance, The Hollywood Beautification Team (HBT) has been hard at work planting over 100 new trees within the East Hollywood BID. The tree planting is one of several beautification projects currently underway within the BID.  Additionally, the Board has approved funding for the streetlight painting project that will soon be underway.  Over 250 streetlights will be painted during the project.

Save the Date for Annual Entertainment Industry Luncheon

Mark your calendars now and reserve the date for the Hollywood Chamber’s annual Entertainment Industry Luncheon on Wednesday, November 5^th, at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel.  This year’s program will feature a presentation by Bruce Davis, executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.  Davis will brief attendees on the status of the Motion Picture Academy’s proposed Hollywood museum as well as other projects currently in progress.  In addition to his presentation, the Chamber will give the Hollywood Star Award to A.C. Lyles, who has worked for Paramount Pictures for 80 years, for his contribution to the industry.  Invitations are expected to go into the mail next week.  A limited number of sponsorships are still available for the event.  Contact Kaylee Kiecker at Kaylee@hollywoodchamber.net for further information.  Sponsors to date include presenting sponsors:  Paramount Pictures and Iron Mountain Film and Storage.  Gold Level sponsors include:  Paramount Contractors, Ramsey-Shilling Commercial Real Estate and Andrews International.

Bring Your Employees to All Hallows Eve Party

Hollywood Chamber Foundation's 7th annual fundraising ALL HALLOW’S EVE is back by popular demand. Bring your friends or reward your employees to a fun outdoor event. Join us on Thursday, October 30, 2008, 5:30 - 8:30pm at  Hollywood Forever Cemetery located 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. This year’s “All Hallow’s Eve” mixer is presented by the generosity of Millennium Partners / Argent Ventures, The Original Farmers Market, Hollywood Forever Cemetery, The Clarett Group, Sunset Gower Studios / Sunset Bronson Studios. Bronze level sponsors are Ramsey Shilling, Andrews Int’l, NAI Capital, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The Foundation also would like to thanks Mole Richardson, Continental Airlines, Advent Visual, Azul Tequila, Ciroc Vodka, Premiere Events, Bob Gail Events. For more information on sponsorship or donations, please contact Kaylee Kiecker at kaylee@hollywoodchamber.net.

Hollywood Entertainment District Celebrates Renewal

The oldest of Hollywood’s four business improvement districts, the Hollywood Entertainment District, is celebrating the renewal of the district for a 10-year period, beginning in 2009.  A record 91-percent of those voting, supported the renewal effort, which is a record in Hollywood.  “Hollywood has come so far since the BID was originally formed in September of 1996,” said Executive Director Kerry Morrison.  “We are proud to be associated with this historic milestone in the continuing story of Hollywood’s revitalization.”  Kerry, who has directed the BID since its creation, was recently honored by the Los Angeles Police Historical Society and received their prestigious Jack Webb award for her commitment to law enforcement, and her service and dedication to Hollywood.  Congratulations to Kerry and the Hollywood Entertainment District!

Attend “Hollywould … 2008 Festival This Week!

Chamber members are encouraged to take advantage of the Hollywould Freewaves 11^th Festival of Experimental Media Arts that opens this Thursday and runs from Oct. 9 to 13^th.  Festival executive director Anne Bray says the free event will transform the iconic Walk of Fame into a massive, multi-faceted screening room for experimental videos, films and media art from every continent.  A total of 160 artists and teams from 30 countries will participate with displays in the windows and stores along Hollywood Blvd. between Orange and Wilcox.  The Hollywood Chamber Foundation contributed a $2,500 grant to help make the festival happen.  For further information, go to www.freewaves.org.

L.A. Unified Seeks Developers for Hollywood Project

The L.A. Unified School District has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to create workforce housing and joint-use parking on a District-owned parking lot across from the Selma Avenue Elementary School in Hollywood.  A pre-submission conference will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, October 8, at 10:30 a.m. at LAUSD’s Board room, 333 S. Beaudry Avenue.  For further information or to RSVP for the meeting, contact Sam Mistrano at (213)241-4265.

Free Business Seminar to Explain Enterprise Zone

Council President Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles Community Development Department are hosting a free business seminar on Tuesday, October 14^th, to highlight the economic benefits of the State Enterprise Zone.  A host of benefits, including DWP rate discounts, grants and tax credits are available to qualifying businesses.  The seminar will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Lockwood Elementary School, 4345 Lockwood Ave. For further information, phone (323)957-4500 and ask for Heather Repenning.

Support
Hollywood’s
Hail-A-Taxi
Pilot Program

A six-month test program is underway in central Hollywood and Downtown to see if there is enough demand by passengers to make a permanent policy allowing people to hail taxis. The Chamber, a strong proponent of the new policy, encourages its members to help make the test a success by taking advantage of the opportunity to hail taxis.

Talk to Marty:
Addiction Counseling Services (213)500-8865 • Take $50 dollars off first visit!

KBKG reduces taxes with Enterprise Zone Tax Credits

Members Take 15-20% Off with I&A Dry Cleaners: Call 323-953-9988

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Free business counseling at the Hollywood Chamber
Offered by the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
Richard Krelstein, a retired business turn-around specialist
Consulting services will be available most Fridays 9:30 - 11:30am 
To schedule an appointment, call Vivian at (323)469-8311.