As promised...

...news of the new "Encino Community Improvement Organization." We met last night, the agenda being limited to projects that would update the physical appearence of the nabe. Such as:

• Spiffing up the (former) Oak Tree island at Louise and Ventura
• Extending the planted divider on Ventura near Plaza de Oro to "Chli's" restaurant
• Removing the moribund newsstand next to Auto Steigler
• Landscaping and cleaning-up the east side of Louise between Burbank and Oxnard

It turns out that there may be grant money available for some of this; it may also be possible to get contributions from private sources and from the council members' discretionary funds (who knew?).

To Babbitt Ave. residents, and others who back up to Louise Ave.:

If we are able to secure plants (we're thinking oleanders, but open to suggestions) for the parkway between the wall and the street, they will need to be watered and somewhat tended until they are established. How will we keep them watered? This will require community action of some kind...

• Are you willing to install a drip sprinkler for the new plants at your expense?
  
• Can you hang your hose over the wall twice a week to water the plants
  
• Should we just go #$%$&^% ourselves; this isn't worth the trouble
  

Several of my neighbors have remarked that they always direct visitors to enter through Aldea. If we do this, the result will be a much more pleasant drive on Louise, and a better face for our community. We can take a little pride in how we present to the world. The beginning of this project will require some effort. It's going to be worky to plant whatever stock we're able to get. That dirt is bound to be hard, so we may need equipment besides hand labor. Does anyone know of a landscape architect who could help with design, preferably on a pro bono basis? Does anyone own, work at, or know of a nursery and/or equipment rental facility that might donate stock and machinery or at least give us a break?

Please email encinoville@gmail.com or comment below.