The Los Angeles County Everett Martin pool

The Littlerock Chamber of Commerce is going Green

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Frances at 944-1015  s8f230@gmail.com  or

It is my opinion 

that the case between the County of Los Angeles Regional Planning and Penny Lynn Wind Toys is wrong!

It is wrong with the way the complaint was made, it was wrong with the way that the County handled it!

First of all the complaint came from an anonymous phone call, the major problem with an anonymous phone call is that anyone in the world could have made the complaint.

Second of all, the signs that are placed along hwy. 138 are not necessarily within the jurisdiction of the County but the State of California governed by Caltrans.

The only request from Catrans is that any and all signs in question be set back as not to interfere with the general maintenance of the Highway and at least 10 feet away from nearby telephone poles, if this is true, the majority of the signs throughout Littlerock and Pearblossom have been put on private property.

In a recent article intitled "Small signs a big problem" by Julie Drake of the Antelope Valley Press,  John Calas, deputy director for the L.A. County Department of Regional Planning is quoted in saying based on the photographs he saw of the signs, most of the signs were inexpensive plywood and probably wouldn't be subject to permits which would lead one to assume that there are no required permits for said signs. Later on in the article Calas said the signs would have had to be legally established to begin with if they were to be allowed, and that none of the roadside signs were legal.

If this is true then we need to look at that scenario. The person that placed the sign on private property have either received permission from the land owner or they have actually trespassed on to the owners property in order to place their signs.

With this in mind, the anonymous complaint that was made should have been made against each property owner where the each sign resides in order for the Department of Planning and Development to get involved. It would be at that point where the Los Angeles Department of Planning and Development would then go to each of those property owners and cite them or ask that the property owner remove the sign.

At that point the property owner could do several things, they could call the County Sheriffs and file a complaints of trespass, confront the business that put up the sign, approach the Littlerock Town Council and have them address the issue, or just simply take down the sign. But to have the County of Los Angeles Department of Planning and Development blatantly and without questioning go into a place of business and write up a citation that is truly unwarranted is just wrong!

The town of Littlerock is one of the for runners when it comes to the model of rule living, Littlerock is a land mark, a rest stop for the weary driver, a comfortable place where small groups and organizations still exist together as a community. Littlerock and the people that live there, have confronted many issues throughout the years, they have a Town Council that published a CSD in 2007 and are amending it currently, the community has learned to agree to disagree and they have learned how to ban together when it comes to the preservation of certain values while building for the future.

When it comes to the future of communities like Littlerock the County should respect the community as a whole. If there is a problem with a neighbor, a business, a property, or a case such as this, then the County should bring the issue to the Town Council that governs that community and allow them to deal with the problem first.

After all, most of the County officials that deal with communities like Littlerock do not live there, they are not part of that community and unless there has been a serious crime committed, basically have no business being there unless invited and asked by that community for help!

pressav@yahoo.com

Since 2007 property owners in rural areas of the Unincorporated communities of  the County of Los Angeles have continued their vigilance in their rights to own and to store their private property on their parcels while being harassed by Los Angeles Code Enforcement.

This includes not only surprise inspections that include exorbitant fines but appointed investigations by the Nuisance Abatement Team and the County Sheriffs Department that our County has put into place.

In response The A.V.T.O. (Antelope Valley Truckers Organization) was put into place to support, Concerned Citizens, Land Owners and Independent Truck Operators of the Antelope Valley.

The A.V.T.O. along with the Littlerock and Sun Village Town Council's are in the Process of rewriting the (CSD) Community Standards of Rural living in our area and what you can and can't have on our parcels.

Recently several members of the A.V.T.O. have come under fire in regard to the use of their land and the private property that is stored on it.  It seems that several of these members have been marked by speaking out at Littlerock Town Council meetings when Code Enforcement and County Officials are present.

In fact, two of our Littlerock Town Council officials that are also members of the A.V.T.O. have recently been given notices to remove items from their property or face significant fines.

Norm Hickling Senior Deputy of Los Angeles County promised that there would be no more citations or inspections until the CSD had been submitted and agreed upon, yet, members of the Littlerock Community are still being harassed!


The Truth Needs To Be Told!

If you have questions you can reply to this message.

More information on this and other news worthy stories can be found at
http://www.theavto.org

Thank you for your time,

Citizen Littlerock

New Queens

 On Saturday, March 21st at Almondale Middle School, the Littlerock Community Pageant was held.  Thirteen young ladies danced to the music of the 1980's.  The theme was "Dancing with the Queens."  The three young ladies who won the titles are (from left to right, Back Row) Miss Littlerock - Hollie Williams, Jr Miss Littlerock - Alyx Shepherd and in the front row, the Little Miss Littlerock - Melody Clark.  Congratulations to all the New Queens!!

Community Presbyterian Church of Littlerock

Food Distribution Program

We at the Community Presbyterian Church have been distributing food to the residents of the Antelope Valley since November 2002.

In past years we gave food to anyone that needed our service.  Since early 2008 we have had to discontinue serving anyone out of the local area’s of Littlerock, Pearblossom, Llano and Palmdale 93552 zip.  This  was prompted by the increase in local residents needing more assistance.

Since inception we have fed 6,838 families for a total of 33,144 people.  While this is a cause we totally support, it can also be very expensive.  We receive at least 50% of free food (USDA) from the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, the rest we purchase.

We will be holding our Annual Yard Sale on April 18th 2009 to raise funds for the Food Distribution Program.  The hours are from 7am to 3pm and we will hold the sale at 7313-7317 Pearblossom Hwy, Littlerock.  This is a  brick building on the north side of the highway, just west of 75th St E.  The old Foothill Realty Building that Sallie has been kind enough to offer the use of for the sale.  So come out and support a very worthy cause.

The Littlerock community and businesses have helped support our program over the years and we THANK them very much.  But due to the economic times we are in need of extra support..  The local schools, Littlerock High – Ag Dept, Antelope Elementary, and Alpine Elementary have held food drives for us this school year.  The other local schools have helped with food drives in the past, as have the Scouts in our community.

We are appealing to the community for your continued support in these hard times.   We are in need of staples to provide a balance diet for those in need.  We can also use cash donations to purchase food at a reduced cost through LA Regional Food Bank.  If you donate money please make your check payable to: CPCLr and put Food Bank on the memo line.  If you wish to bring in food you have purchased (non-perishable please) call the church at 944-3231 to insure someone is here to accept it.

We wish to THANK everyone that has helped in the past,  especially the many volunteers that make this program run so smoothly, and encourage those that can help now to please do so.  We can always use volunteers also.

Gail LaGasse’

Food Distribution Program Manager

661/944-3231 or 361-0890

Antelope Valley Truckers Organization

Posted 03/05/2009

We first learned about right and wrong when we were children. Very quickly we were taught that there were certain things we were not allowed to do, usually in the form of “thou shall not…” from our parents. As we grew older we learned that if an action was not prohibited, either by law or by conscience, we were probably within our rights to do it. But suppose we were raised with a different standard of behavior. Suppose, instead, we were only told what we could do. If we were not told we could play baseball, or climb a tree, or throw rocks, we could not do any of those things. You would rightly conclude that would be a horrible system in which to be raised. Unfortunately, that is just the system all of us in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County are facing. Los Angeles County Regional Planning Code Enforcement has been issuing citations to many of our fellow citizens, especially in Littlerock and Sun Village, for having containers on their property or for the parking of trucks, RV’s motor homes, boats, or dually pickups. These citations usually tell the homeowner that he or she has a limited time to remove the offending item, or be assessed a “non-compliance fee” and face possible criminal action. The usual justification is that someone [they never say who] has complained and that Code Enforcement must act on the complaint. Code Enforcement justifies the citation by referring to Los Angeles County Codes, especially Code 20.24.070 - Permitted Uses. The following list is all that you are permitted to do on your own property:

• Adult residential facilities

• Raise crops

• Family childcare homes

• Group homes

• Single-family homes

• Second units

• Small family home for children

• Light agricultural uses

That’s it! Using this code, then, you may not have a barbeque or a tool shed or archery range because it is not a “Permitted Use.” It should be apparent to all that this approach to governance is fundamentally flawed and has already led to extensive abuses by Code Enforcement. Moreover, by listing only Permitted Uses rather than Prohibited Uses, the list of potential code infractions is virtually endless and the opportunities for misuse of power by Code Enforcement personnel is far too great to ignore.

When Code Enforcement first went after people who had containers, they cited a “Position Paper” from Regional Planning that said only under certain conditions would containers be allowed and only then on a temporary basis such as when a person was building a home. Upon completion of the home the container would have to be removed. It did not seem to matter to Code Enforcement personnel that many of these residents have had containers for more than 20 years. When it was pointed out to Code Enforcement that Regional Planning, Building and Safety, and Public Works all had different position papers, Code Enforcement began issuing citations using Code 20.24.070 – Permitted Uses. Recently, a Littlerock resident on Avenue T-12 was told that the two containers he had were not “permitted.” This time, however, he was allowed to keep his containers if he cut each one into three pieces. Members of AVTO are still searching for the language in the code that permits two, three-part, open ended containers. The silliness, and the abuses, still continue.

The members of the Antelope Valley Truckers Organization are working for the community to help end these unwarranted and unwelcome intrusions into our rural lifestyle. AVTO meetings are held at 7:00 PM on the 2^nd and 4^th Friday of every month at 37324 90^th Street East in Littlerock and all interested residents are invited.

- Submitted by Bill Guild

Court order halts stocking at Littlerock Dam

By ALISHA SEMCHUCK
Valley Press Staff Writer

Miller, 47, said his father first took him to that fishing hole in 1969, and since then he has continued the sport at that same location about 10 times a year, "mostly in the spring."

Now he'll be seeking another spot, because the Littlerock Reservoir is not on the list of lakes, reservoirs and ponds the state Department of Fish and Game will stock with trout this year.

"This is not a decision of Fish and Game," said Jordan Traverso, a spokeswoman from the agency's Communications Office. "It's court-ordered."

Environmental groups seeking to protect 25 native species of amphibians and/or fish sought to block the agency from stocking California's fresh-water bodies of water with nonnative fish.

"The judge found in their favor," Traverso said.

Los Angeles County waterways that Fish and Game won't stock this year include upper and lower Big Tujunga Creek, the east and west forks of the San Gabriel River, and Piru Creek, also known as Frenchman's Flat, according to a notice from the state agency dated Nov. 21.

In Kern County, a portion of the Kern River - Section O-4 - will not be restocked by Fish and Game. However, people in southeastern Kern County can fish at Lake Isabella, Hart Park Lake and Ming Lake.

The closest Los Angeles County waters that Fish and Game will stock for Antelope Valley residents are Elizabeth Lake and Jackson Lake near Wrightwood, although those who don't mind the drive can travel to Bouquet Canyon Creek near Santa Clarita and or up Interstate 5 to Castaic and Pyramid lakes.

Fish and Game personnel planned to plant fish in Elizabeth, Castaic and Pyramid lakes sometime this week, but did not specify the exact date.

Fish and Game has received "a lot of public outcry" from fishing buffs over the restocking ban, according to Traverso.

She noted that fishing is not prohibited at the sites not being restocked.

"There's still native fish." And, Traverso added, "there's probably fish from previous years. There's just going to be less fish."

Miller said the decision to not fill the Littlerock Reservoir with fish surprised him.

"It's such a popular place for us local folks to go. I saw a lot of people fishing last summer," he said.

Traverso said before it could do the restocking, Fish and Game had been ordered to do an environmental impact report, which could not be completed "as quickly as hoped."

Because the agency had lost some funding, it returned to court seeking some leniency for the tentative ruling issued on Nov. 6. But the judge told the sides to find a middle ground, she said.

"We went into negotiations for two weeks. This list came out

of that," she noted.

Sacramento Superior Court Judge Patrick Marlette on Nov. 21 expanded the number of waterways that Fish and Game could stock with certain exceptions, but prohibiting Fish and Game from stocking "nonnative fish in any California fresh water body where surveys have demonstrated the presence of 25 specified amphibian or fish species, or where a survey for those species has not yet been done."

Miller said he renewed his fishing license with the state every year, and usually caught the daily limit of five trout "using miniature marshmallows for bait."

Now that Littlerock Reservoir has been taken out of the mix as a Valley fishing site, Miller said, "that just leaves us with Elizabeth Lake, Apollo Park and the (California) Aqueduct."

He has fished occasionally at Lake Palmdale, but is not a member of the Palmdale Fin & Feather Club.

"It costs 15 bucks to go fishing with my friend there. You have to be a member. I go as his guest," Miller said. "Littlerock (Reservoir) was free."

Littlerock council to see new, old faces sworn in

By JULIE DRAKE
Valley Press Staff Writer

The council will meet at 7 p.m. at Alpine Grange Hall, 8650 East Ave. T-8.

The resignation of council President Bill Guild and Vice President Irene Wilson, along with results of the Nov. 4 election, helped change the council's composition.

David Cleveland, Georgia Halliman, Tom Fidger and Abbe Hofstein were elected to the four open two-year council seats.

Hugo Estrada and Mary Ann Arnone-Ciaravino were elected to the two one-year alternate seats.

Patrick Hough will serve as council president; Penny Verble as vice president; Stephanie Chase as secretary; and Halliman as treasurer.

Other councilmembers are Cleveland, who served previously on the council, Fidger and Hofstein. Leslie Alameida will serve as community service liaison.

11/26/2008          

 Community Presbyterian Church

Have you driven by the Community Presbyterian Church lately? There have been some major renovations that have been made to the church.

For several years now the church has had plans in the building of a new church on 87th Street. We have decided that right now its more important to make improvements to our current church building. One of the major changes you might have noticed while driving by the church already is that the building was recently sand blasted in preparations for a brand new coat of stucco. We have enclosed all of the bottom windows to the church both inside and out. We have installed new double pane windows in the church fellowship hall which at one time was the original sanctuary built in the 1930's. Our final project is to put in new landscaping around the church building. If you'd like to see some pictures of the project please visit the Community Presbyterian Church Renovation Project Photo Site. Sometime in January we will have a Re-dedication of our church building and all are welcome to come join us for this new beginning. Call the church office for more information at 944-3231 or visit www.cpclr.org.

Already the church has a feeling of newness and we're looking forward to the future in seeing what God has planned. If you are looking for a place to worship during the Advent season please join us for worship on November 30th which is the First Sunday of Advent at 10:00am. On December 14th we are having a Christmas Cantata at 5:30pm followed by a potluck at 7:00pm. And finally on Christmas Eve we will have a Christmas Eve Candle Light Service at 6:30pm. Please come join us for worship as we wait with anticipation for what God has planned for us during this season of Advent.

In Christ,

Pastor K.C. 

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Hello Littlerock Chamber Members and Community,

I hope that you are having a great year.   I wish the same could be said about our Chamber.  We have strengths going for us namely the board of directors, who believe in the purpose of the organization to support the businesses when addressing their everyday living needs.  But as Palmdale closes in on us from 47^th St. East and impending Cal-Trans is in the process of beginning their next project in our area - it seems to be harder to maintain a cheery outlook for some businesses.
The Littlerock Chamber has been meeting for years on the third Tuesday of the month at the Alpine Grange.  We have noticed that businesses are not showing up, we call, send invitations, and bring good business information to the meetings and attendance is dwindling.  What do we do?  On February 4, 2008, we met for an emergency board meeting to discuss: 1) restructuring the Chamber meetings - a motion was made and passed that the Chamber would meet quarterly on the third Tuesday of the month for the months of January, April, July and October, at the Grange starting at 6pm for newsletter committee and 6:30pm for general business meeting.  We decided that until the economy changes or active participation from the business community to serve on the board is demonstrated, that the current board will hold meetings just to sustain the Chamber.  We want to see the Littlerock Chamber of Commerce keep existing in our community - it would be wrong to let an organization, with so much history of working with the businesses and the community, just fade away. 
The Littlerock Chamber of Commerce will continue to distribute the newsletter every other month and our distribution continues to grow as our population grows.  We will continue to sell ads and look for community members to help with articles.  We are co-sponsoring the Easter Egg Hunt with LA County and The Friends of Everett Martin Park.  We are planning our Littlerock Casino Nite for April 19, 2008, a spaghetti dinner and lots of fun for the adult members of our community, we need your help , please buy a ticket and spend a fun night with your community. 
We love our community, we are here to help we just need more people with that attitude.  Please come to our next meeting, April 15, 2008 at 6:30, at the Alpine Grange.  We understand that there are a lot of complaints but those will not help the Chamber at this time.  We need physical bodies to help in our projects and new ideas with someone to implement those ideas in helping our businesses.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and we look forward to seeing you at our next meeting or Casino Night.

Please call for more information, (661) 944-6990
Sincerely, Littlerock Chamber of Commerce President, Ronni DiGiovanni

 

 

 

Littlerock Library in search of new members for book club

 

Report Graffiti: Call 1-800-675-4357

 

 

 

 

Community Standards Draft copy Available Hear in PDF form.

Community Standards Draft copy Map Available Hear in PDF form.

If you don't have a PDF Viewer you can download it here.

Chamber of Commerce meetings are on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM at the Grange Hall, all are welcome. 

Friends of the Library Have a book sale the third Saturday of the month from 10-1