Saturday, December 1, 2012

Chapter 18: Hawaii




Government

San Fernando Valley contains five incorporated cities — Burbank, Glendale, San Fernando, Hidden Hillsand Calabasas — and part of a sixth, Los Angeles, which governs a majority of the valley. The unincorporated communities (Census-designated places) are governed by the County of Los Angeles.









When it comes to politics ...










"The Los Angeles city section of the valley is divided into seven city council districts: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 12. Of the 95 neighborhood councils in the city, 34 are in the Valley. The valley is represented in the California State Legislature by seven members of the State Assembly and five members of the State Senate. Thevalley is divided into five congressional districts. It is represented in Congress by senior figures from both parties including Representative Brad Sherman (D), Representative Henry Waxman (D), RepresentativeHoward Berman (D), and Representative Howard McKeon (R). In the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, it is represented by two supervisorial districts"(Wikipedia).



"The San Fernando Valley, for the most part, tends to support Democrats in state and national elections. This is especially true in the Southern areas which include the cities, of Burbank, Glendale, Sherman Oaks, and the affluent north side of the Hollywood Hills. The politics lean more and more to the right as the valley progresses North. San Fernando Valley contains five incorporated cities — Burbank, Glendale, San Fernando, Hidden Hillsand Calabasas — and part of a sixth, Los Angeles, which governs a majority of the valley. The unincorporated communities (Census-designated places) are governed by the County of Los Angeles"(Wikipedia).


 Extra Extra! 

***Here is a direct link for the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments http://www.sfvcog.org/

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Friday, November 30, 2012

Chapter 16: The North Pacific Coast


Power

Physical environment of the Valley has changed throughout the years after settling inside the city. Buildings began to sprout in dramatic numbers, slowly chopping away at nature. With the growing number of people migrating to the valley from all areas, the city had to meet the demands of the people, now we have special designated areas that protect our once vast body of nature. National Parks were created in protection of the trees that once grew in all areas. The valley known for its many palm trees, had to physically import these beauties, because its not native to this area. In conservation of all forms of fossil fuels, new delevopmental ideas on producing electricty has swept the city. Areas are now using solar power to provide them with means of light, and heating. Wind mills can be located on the outskirts of the valley, and there are some dams that provide hydroelectricity.



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Facts: Based on my living experience.

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Chapter 15: California

Oh NO...          
        EaRtH     
                                 

                                                                                     qUaKe!!! 





Live action News of 1994 Earthquake !




Let's take a closer look ....


"California State University, Northridge was the only major university near the epicenter. Many campus buildings were heavily damaged and a parking structure collapsed; as a result, many classes were moved to temporary structures. Los Angeles Unified School District closed local schools throughout the area, classes were rescheduled for a couple of days. University of California, Los Angeles and other universities were also shut down. The University of Southern California suffered some structural damage to several older campus buildings, but classes were conducted as scheduled"(Wikipedia).






Story time...
I was 4 years old when the 1994 earthquake came along. I remember sleeping and my dad carried me to the door and I woke up and first thing I saw was the sunset and my two dogs outside. I remember we all went to the front of the house and listened to the radio for updates. Most of the time my mom made sure me and my sister slept in the car with her. Luckily we were very lucky that our house was not affected as much. But overall most of our painting fell and got destroyed.



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Facts: Based on my living experience.

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Chapter 14: The Southwest Border Area: Tricultural Development

We so do not talk like this ....


I lived in California my whole life and don't consider myself having a "Valley Girl" accent, however, there are some vocabulary words like "Totally", "Radical" and  "Oh my gosh" that is perceived as part of the "Valley language" whereas in Boston, people say "That's wicked -awesome" meaning cool. Or, in Texas, greeting one another people say, "Hey ya'll" but in this case it is all sterio types.



Wiki explains that "The stereotypical "Valley Girl" speak is actually prevelant among most teenage girls influenced by pop culture all over the USA, and not just limited to the San Fernando Valley. San Fernando Valley residents are diverse with Spanish, Korean, Thai, Armenian, Hebrew, Persian, Russian, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Hindi, and many other languages being common besides English."


Ethnic Diversities


According to blackpast.org, "Today the entire San Fernando Valley, like Los Angeles, is now a “majority-minority” region. Latinas/os roughly comprise a numerical majority at 42.6%, whites are the next largest group with 41.1% of the population; Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up 8.7% of the population and African Americans are 4.0%."






*****Must read!
Here is an article to engage more learning about people in San Fernando Valley. Enjoy!

http://articles.glendalenewspress.com/2010-01-07/news/gnp-snapshot010710_1_san-fernando-valley-census-bureau-unemployment


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Facts: Based on my living experience.



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Chapter 13: The Empty Interior


Parks and Recreation

"San Fernando Valley looking northeast; from the Top of Topanga Overlook Park above Woodland Hills in foreground

The San Fernando Valley is home to numerous neighborhood 'pocket parks,' city parks, Recreation areas, and large Regional Open Space preserves. Many preserves are maintained as public parkland by the National Park Service's Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, the California State Parks, and local county and municipal parks districts" (Wikipedia).

Wikipedia has constructively provided three types of parks in the San Fernando Valley such as:

Small Garden Parks and Missions
CSUN Botanic Garden
The Japanese Garden
The gardens at Adobes
The Orcutt Ranch Horticulture Center
The Leonis Adobe
The Andrés Pico adobe
Los Encinos State Historic Park
Mission San Fernando





Recreation Areas

Griffith Park, located at the southeastern end of the valley in the Hollywood Hills.
Sepulveda Dam recreation area
Hansen Dam recreation area
Los Angeles River, there are parks of various sizes along the part of the river located in the Valley


                                                                                                             Mountain Open-Space Parks

O'Melveny Park above Granada Hills
Rocky Peak Park
Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park
Chatsworth Park South
Sage Ranch Park
Bell Canyon Park
El Escorpión Park
Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve
Deukmejian Wilderness Park
La Tuna Park
Brand Park
Verdugo Mountains Open Space Preserve
Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park
Wilacre Park
Laurel Canyon Park
Topanga State Park
Backbone Trail System
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

***Additional Parks***
I love going to the parks and some of my favorite parks are listed below:

Dearborn Park
Winnetka Park
Canoga Park
Reseda Park
Sepulveda Park




Now, in certain parks provide dog friendly atmostphere. You can bring your dog along for a nice walk, or have him/her socialize with other dogs. Depending on the park, some allow you requires to have the dog with a leash at certain times, and others allow leash free. It is a great way to meet new friends and have your dog build social skills without bringing other pets to your home.






















Another great reason to go to the park is when you have birthday parties. The park is rent free, and some parks provide a BBQ grill. Now, another great reason to bring the family together is some good old fashioned BBQ. Steak and salad = yum yum yum!

For any kind of fundraising, the park is another great place to have a festival at. It is outdoors, fun, and refreshing.

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Facts: Based on my living experience.
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Chapter 12: The Great Plains and Prairies






The San Fernando valley is mainly considered to be a cosmopolitan area full of buildings, and cities; however, the valley does retain some rural areas. On the outer rim of the valley are areas that have sustained their natural vegetation. Allowing farmers to continue growing their own crops, and keeping its past. Prior to cultivation the San Fernando area was considered to be uninhabitable due to the lack of water available. It was not until they figured out a way to transport water to the valley constantly that they were able to survive. With the accessibility water came a change in the landscape; what was once a dry wasteland, became a vast valley of colors. Mulholland Drive is the best known mountain range that shows part of the water system, and the amazing topographical view the valley posses.




********* Below is a link to California's Coastal Prairies.
http://www.sonoma.edu/preserves/prairie/prairie_desc/animals.shtml



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Facts: Based on my living experience.


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Chapter 11: The Agricultural Core

***Extra Extra ... Read All About it!!! ***

 It's All About the Soil

***Below is a link of an article dating from the Los Angeles Times on October 19, 2011 about the San Fernando's Soil.
http://articles.latimes.com/print/2011/oct/19/local/la-me-dirty-work-20111019


***This is a MUST READ!!! It goes full detail in San Fernando's three main groups of soil-forming materials (residual soils, coastal-plain and old valley-filling soils, and recent-alluvial soils). Each has different types of soils.

1. First group, residual soils, represented by four series-Holland, Atlamont, Sites, and Diablo, which include a total of seven types.
2. The second group, coastal plains and old valley-filling soils, has one series-the Ramona, which has four types
3. The third type, recent-alluvial soils, has four series- Hanford, Tujunga, Yolo, and Dublin, which has twenty-two types.
... And they say the third type is "by far the most important".

Additionally they mention there are three miscellaneous classes of materials- Rough broken land, Rough stony land, and Riverwash, which are mainly nonagricultural.

Also along with the fruits used to plant. It talks about the agriculture, climate, topography and more!
http://soils.usda.gov/survey/online_surveys/california/SanFernandoValley1917/SanFernVallCA1917.pdf


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