Your Association has just completed its second series of tree plantings, planting trees in empty parkways throughout Hancock Park. Since summer is almost here now’s a good time to start summer care for all your trees, not just the ones in the parkways.  Water deeply, once or twice a month, fertilize with the appropriate fertilizer and keep lawns cut back from the tree’s trunk, by at least a foot.  If properly cared for and watered your trees will provide shade, water retention, homes for wildlife and beauty to your house and neighborhood.  We’re now planning the next tree planting, so contact Tree Committee Chair, Susan Grossman, SEGrossman@sbcglobal.net , and we’ll get you in the next group.

Security is on everyone’s minds these days because of the many recent home break-ins.  Security Chair, Peter Gorelick has been working closely with the LAPD and the private security services to monitor the situation and has the following recommendations to help you avoid becoming the victim of a crime:

• Keep your car locked and keep any valuables out of sight.
• If your home has an alarm system, set the alarm; even if you’re only going to be out for a few minutes.
• If you’re out of town have your papers stopped or picked up, have mail picked up, keep a car parked in the driveway and have timers on lights and electronics so that thieves will think someone is at home.
• If anyone comes to your door ask that they identify themselves before opening the door.

If you observe suspicious activity or witness a crime call 911 and your security service, if you are a subscriber.  Try and get a description of the person and any identifying vehicle information such as make and model of a car a license plate numbers.  Never confront a suspicious person yourself.

If you’re planning changes to your house read the Preservation Plan which can be found at:  http://www.hancockparkhomeownersassociation.org/ or http://preservation.lacity.org/hpoz/la/hancock-park ) and contact City Planner Vinita Huang (213-978-1216 or Vinita.Huang@lacity.org).

Be sure and look at our website for news – http://www.HancockPark.org .  Also, In the event of a crime contact the Wilshire Division LAPD station – 213-473-0476 or website: http://www.lapdonline.org/wilshire_community_police_station as well as our Senior Lead Officer, Dave Cordova (213-793-0650; 31646@lapd.lacity.org). Report graffiti sightings by calling 311 or at the City’s Anti-Graffiti Request System – http://anti-graffiti.lacity.org/welcome.cfm?CFID=1007&CFTOKEN=411CDB4F-0FC3-4EE1-89DE58DCCB435538 and by calling Hollywood Beautification, 323-463-5180 Questions regarding filming – contact Filming Committee, Cami Taylor (323-692-1414-Home and 310-659-6220-Office).