Councilman LaBonge's Weekly Newsletter

[The information below was provided by the Office of Councilman Tom LaBonge.]

Los Angeles Salutes London Games

Councilmember LaBonge joined with Consul-General Dame Barbara Hay of the United Kingdom to give a salute to the Olympic Games in London, from one Olympic city to another. They also hosted several members of the consular corps, representing countries that have previously held the Olympic Games. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum graciously hosted the event; the venue is the only location to have played host to the Olympic Games two times. Los Angeles and London stand with Paris and Athens as the only cities to have hosted the Summer Olympics multiple times. To culminate the ceremony, the Olympic Cauldron was lit in honor of the spirit of the Games.

New District Lines Coming July 1

Councilmembers LaBonge, Krekorian, and Koretz met in conjunction with their staff this past week to do a changing of the guard for the Valley neighborhoods that are switching districts on July 1. The new District 4 will encompass the majority of Sherman Oaks, while North Hollywood is moving over to Council District 2.

Tam O'Shanter Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Move over, Langer's Deli. Another restaurant celebrated a historic anniversary this past week, with Tam O'Shanter on Los Feliz Boulevard in Atwater Village holding a ceremony to mark 90 years in business. Councilmember LaBonge was the master of ceremonies for the event. As a deputy to Mayor Riordan in the 1990s, he was instrumental in getting a commemorative sign for Tam O'Shanter for its 75th anniversary. In honor of 90 years in business, Tam O'Shanter served up desserts for the low price of 90 cents.

Uggie Leaves Mark on Hollywood Boulevard

Uggie, the dog hero of "The Artist," left his paw print in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theater on Tuesday, June 26. Councilmember LaBonge declared it Uggie Day in the city of Los Angeles. Uggie is celebrating the culmination of a 7-year career -- or a 49 dog year career. Uggie, a resident of North Hollywood, is a loyal constituent of Council District 4, though he has never voted for Councilmember LaBonge.

Community Rides Through Toluca Lake

It was a beautiful Saturday in Toluca Lake and a perfect morning to take a bike ride through town with the Greater Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council. Above, Councilmember LaBonge led an all-helmeted group through Toluca Lake's green streets.

Upcoming Events

Tour LaBonge Continues
There will be two July bike rides in Council District 4, with the first on July 19 taking place in Toluca Lake and the second on July 26 along the Los Angeles River and into Silver Lake. Rides go from 6 to 8 p.m., and the July 19 ride will begin from the Valley Field Office at 10116 Riverside Drive in Toluca Lake.

Personal Fireworks a No-Go for Fourth of July
The Los Angeles Fire Department would like to remind Angelenos that fireworks are illegal in the City of Los Angeles. For a civic celebration of the 4th, head over to Memorial Coliseum to enjoy a show.

Free Shakespeare in Griffith Park
The 2012 Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival kicked off last night, and over 40 nights of programming are planned for the rest of the summer. Bring a blanket, dress warmly, and come out for performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Comedy of Errors.Through September 2, Thursdays through Sundays at 7 p.m.

Take a Dip in North Hollywood
East Valley High School's swimming pool at 5525 Vineland Avenue in North Hollywood will open for recreational swimming on July 7 with weekend hours of 1-5 p.m. Admission for children ages 10-17 is free.

Restore the LA River with TreePeople
Community volunteers are invited to help maintain the Valleyheart Riverwalk Greenway along Valleyheart Drive from Coldwater Canyon to Fulton on July 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. RSVP here.

Help Clean Fern Dell
Council District 4 is partnering with PAVA to host a weekly cleanup of the Fern Dell entrance to Griffith Park. These cleanups are open to any and all volunteers. Come Saturday mornings at 7:30 a.m. to the corner of Fern Dell and Black Oak. Bring your favorite gloves and tools!

In Brief

Fun Run Raises Funds
The Los Angeles River Fun Run featured hundreds of participants and many great sponsors. It also proved to be a fundraising success, bringing in $3,200 that will be split between the Friends of the Los Angeles River, the Los Angeles River Revitalization Corporation, and the Los Angeles Parks Foundation.

Water Main Breaks in Los Feliz Area
There were two water main breaks in the Los Feliz area this week, one at St. George Street between Rowena and Monon and one at Tracy Street and Hazel Kirk Drive. Projected repairs will take at least one week and road closures are expected in the interim while the infrastructure is repaired. Drive carefully!