ATWATER’S “VILLAGER OF YEAR” 2015 HONOREE: MS. GENE GILBERT

Supervisor Shelia Kuehl, Villager of the Year Honoree Gene Gilbert and Chamber President Andy Hasroun

Supervisor Shelia Kuehl, Villager of the Year Honoree Gene Gilbert and Chamber President Andy Hasroun

Ms. Gene Gilbert is this year’s Villager of the Year for her tireless work and dedication to promote and preserve Atwater’s equestrian community; which is unique in the City of Los Angeles. 

Ms. Gilbert is the owner and manager of Enterprise Farms Riding School and Training Barn, located at the Paddock Riding Club in Atwater Village. She is also the chairperson of Preserve Atwater Rancho (PAR), the community group which worked for eight years to obtain zoning protection to ensure horses would remain welcome in the Atwater Rancho area. This area is home to the Paddock, Saddle and Sirloin Club; Ahmanson Equestrian Facility for the Los Angeles Police Department’s Mounted Unit; Taking the Reins program for underserved girls; Children’s Ranch for disabled children; and several private boarding stables.

This year’s honoree has also been instrumental in introducing and preserving the rare Caspian Horse, of which there are only 750 in the world. The Encyclopedia of the Horse says they are “the most exciting equine discovery of the century.” Ms. Gilbert uses these special horses in her riding school. She also maintains a small private stable at her Atwater Village home and is interested in the concerns of individual horse owners.

The Atwater Village Chamber of Commerce applauds her work and dedication to Atwater Village, she is truly an inspiration and we wish her a continued success.

Special thanks go to Dtox Day Spa for hosting this year's Villager of the Year award ceremony and L.A. County Supervisor Shelia Kuehl for joining us to celebrate this year's honoree. 

About the Villager of the Year Award 

This annual award, determined by community nominations and presented annually by the Atwater Village Chamber of Commerce, is for someone “whose noteworthy good deeds has served to preserve the uniqueness of our community or improved those areas that needed improvement.”

REJOICE, WE’RE GETTING A BETTER AND SAFER HYPERION BRIDGE

Today the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a comprehensive design option for the Hyperion Bridge as part of its seismic retrofit and restoration project. This design, referred to as “Exhibit 1”, will preserve the existing 4 traffic lanes. More importantly we are gaining an ADA compliant sidewalk crossing the entire bridge, two wide bike lanes, a dedicated pedestrian /bicycle bridge over the L.A. River, a realigned northbound Interstate 5 exit at Glendale Blvd (with a signal that allows freeway commuters to directly access Silver Lake / Los Feliz instead of using the turnaround at the Glenfeliz/Glenhurst intersection) and many other improvements. Hands-down, we are getting a better and safer Hyperion Bridge. 

A heartfelt thanks to Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell and Tom LaBonge for their outstanding leadership on this project. They listened to the community and delivered the most equitable design option for all modes of transportation. 

Atwater Village Chamber of Commerce 

For more on the Glendale-Hyperion Viaduct Improvement Project go to:

http://www.glendalehyperion.com/

ONE LAST PUSH TO SAVE THE HYPERION BRIDGE FROM A ROAD DIET

Email City Hall today to voice once more your support for “Exhibit 1” (see below for email addresses and sample text)

The Los Angeles City Council will vote this coming Tuesday (June 9th) to either support or deny a motion to move forward with an all-inclusive design option for the Hyperion Bridge, as part of the bridge’s restoration project. This design, referred to as “Exhibit 1”, will preserve 4 narrowed traffic lanes, 2 wide bicycle lanes, and a wider ADA compliant sidewalk. Click here for City Council agenda, see agenda item 7

This restoration project has been in the works for 13 long years. “Exhibit 1” is the choice supported by the Bureau of Engineers, Board of Public Works, Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell and Tom LaBonge, the Atwater Village Neighborhood Council, the Atwater Village Chamber of Commerce, the Atwater Village Residents Association, Friends of Atwater Village, the Los Feliz Improvement Association, and hundreds of residents and businesses throughout Atwater Village, Los Feliz and Silverlake.

“Exhibit 1” is the most equitable choice for all modes of transportation. We’ll be gaining an ADA compliant sidewalk crossing the entire bridge, two elevated bike lanes (5’ bike lane up the bridge along with a 6’ bike lane down the bridge), a dedicated pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the L.A. River, a realigned northbound Interstate 5 exit at Glendale Blvd (with a signal that allows freeway commuters to directly access Silver Lake and Los Feliz instead of using the turnaround at the Glenfeliz/Glenhurst intersection), traffic calming measures with the narrowing of the car lanes, and many other improvements.

Moreover, the Glendale-Hyperion Viaduct is a important part of the local vehicular infrastructure. During a 12 HOUR study done on the use of the bridge there were approximately 102 pedestrians, 84 bicyclists and 18,000 vehicles. Should we lose a traffic lane on Hyperion’s main bridge, which the other design options promote, it would overburden Hyperion and Rowena Avenues and Glendale Blvd with traffic congestion. This would tax our emergency first responders and cause excessive traffic delays for local drivers and far-flung commuters.

Let your voice be heard AGAIN by emailing our elected officials at City Hall before 10:00am on Tuesday, June 9, 2015. See email addresses and sample text below.

Click here to send emails with sample text below OR cut-n-paste email addresses and sample text below (feel free to write your own letter):

Email Addresses

councilmember.cedillo@lacity.org, councilmember.krekorian@lacity.org, councilmember.blumenfield@lacity.org, councilmember.Labonge@lacity.org, paul.koretz@lacity.org, councilmember.martinez@lacity.org, councilmember.fuentes@lacity.org,   councilmember.parks@lacity.org, councilmember.price@lacity.org, councilmember.wesson@lacity.org, councilmember.bonin@lacity.org, councilmember.englander@lacity.org,  councilmember.ofarrell@lacity.org, councilmember.huizar@lacity.org, councilmember.buscaino@lacity.org, mayor.garcetti@lacity.org, board@atwaterchamber.org, board@atwatervillage.org, favboard@friendsofatwatervillage.org, cityhall@empowerla.org

Sample Text (feel free to write your own letter)

RE: Council File: 05-0173, I support “Exhibit 1” for the Glendale-Hyperion Viaduct restoration project

Dear Councilmember,

As a stakeholder in the Atwater Village and Silver Lake area I support “Exhibit 1” (Council File: 05-0173); which is the most equitable choice for all modes of transportation. It will preserve 4 narrowed traffic lanes and install traffic calming measures, 2 wide bicycle lanes, a wider ADA compliant sidewalk and many other improvements.

This restoration project has been in the works for 13 long years.  Enough is enough, I urge you to vote in support of “Exhibit 1”.

Thank you,