The center is a public charter school within the L.A. Unified School District that serves approximately 250 children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

A main component of its program is that is holds classes in both English and Spanish.

For more more information about the Winnetka Neighborhood Council, visit www.winnetkanc.com.

Five people have been arrested as a result of the injunction, they said.

There has been a noticeable decrease in crime, they added. On average, there have been 13 arrests monthly attributed to gangs. Since the injunction, that number has dropped to five arrests a month.

For more information, visit www.sylmarneighborhoodcouncil.org.

There will be lots of family fun for all ages.

For more information, visit www.valleyglen.org.

The forum will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, at Lawrence Middle School, 10100 Variel Ave. It will follow the council's regular meeting at 7 p.m.

Candidates will speak at the beginning of the forum, followed by a question-and-answer session.

The election will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Chatsworth Train Depot, 10038 Old Depot Plaza Road.

The council will accept write-in candidate applications until Oct. 25.

For more information, visit info@chatsworthcouncil.org or call 818-464-3511.

Council representatives will be there to answer any questions and let residents know how they can get involved in their community.

More than 200 local businesses and nonprofit gouprs are expected to participate.

Parking and admission are free.

Also, the Granada Hills South Neighborhood Council's new phone number is 818-668-5969.

Zine plans to run for third and final term in 2009. He said will continue to represent the interests of the Third Council District which encompasses the communities of Canoga Park, Reseda, Tarzana, West Hills, Winnetka, and Woodland Hills with a population of nearly 300,000 residents.

In reiterating his views on a myriad of issues, Zine kept repeating his theme that overdevelopment is unacceptable and that we must "maintain our city as a livable place, create a business friendly environment where jobs and the environment are protected."

He noted the importance of a good economic environment. "More than a generation ago, a youngster would graduate high school and land a good-paying job at the General Motors assembly plant, eventually buy a home in a nearby community, and live comfortably," Zine said. "Today's generation, though, must have a college degree to have the same comfort level, and good jobs don't seem as plentiful, especially for those with only a high school education."

On various topics . . .

Proposition R (term limits and ethics reforms) - Zine said that a third term is needed for a City Council member to develop relationships and trust of the various governmental leaders outside of Los Angeles to most effective for our city.

Gang tax - He opposes the proposed parcel tax. Current anti-gang activities should be assessed for effectiveness before new programs are started.

Sales tax - He opposes the half-cent sales tax proposed by the Metropolitan Transit Authority. Government should live within its means.

Warner Center - The Westfield Topanga Mall, located in Zine's district, is spending $1 billion to upscale and expand, including the "Village" at the corner of Topanga Canyon and Victory Blvds. Zine welcomes the project but insists upon sufficient parking, and traffic control without gridlock.

Mansionization - He supports limits on overbuilding on residential lots and strongly opposes large developments like Las Lomas.

Billboards - He opposes the proposed billboards for the Convention Center/Staples Center area because they probably would become a distraction for motorists on the Harbor Freeway and thereby become a source of traffic accidents.

Special Order 40 - He and LAPD Chief Bill Bratton are working on a plan, together with the federal bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") to be announced in October.

Medical marijuana - He supports the distribution and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, such as painful chronic diseases or cancer, as long as it is prescribed by a "legitimate doctor" and dispensed through a "legitimate pharmacy." Otherwise, he said that there are no regulations to control dispensing of medicinal marijuana from the many retail shops that have sprung up citywide.

Formerly a member of the California Assembly and mayor of the City of San Fernando, Montañez was hired in January 2008 to help the LADWP increase the proportion of electric power generated from renewable resources, including wind, solar, hydro and geothermal.

While the Legislature has placed certain "green" requirements on utilities, there are some practical hurdles that stand in the way of implementing them. Cindy is wrestling with them. For example, Montañez noted that most power is generated outside the Los Angeles metropolitan area and must be transported a long distance to the urban core.

That requires power transmission lines, which are opposed by many of the same environmental advocacy groups who are pushing for "green" generated power.

When asked why no nuclear power plants are being developed in California, Montañez pointed to a 1976 state law that bans new nuclear plants in California.

She also is working on groundwater issues, focusing on cleaning up groundwater supplies within the city of L.A. She said that the DWP needs to get Congress and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cooperate and fund this effort, for which she has been spending time in Washington, D.C., talking to the agency and congressional representatives.

Cindy has also been working to bring Gov. Schwarzeneggers's "Million Solar Roofs" initiative to L.A. She noted that a solar system to power a home costs about $30,000 to install, and that DWP provides significant rebates.

The vigil will be held at 6:45 p.m. Friday at the Chatsworth train station, 10046 Old Depot Plaza Road.

Haley Giz and Kristen Kiertzner met at Pepper Tree Ranch in Chatsworth as horseback-riding partners when they were in the fourth and sixth grades. Haley, now 15, is a sophomore at Chaminade College Preparatory and Kristen, 17, is a senior at Opportunities for Learning Independent Study.

After the Metrolink tragedy, Haley and Kristen were so devastated by the incident that they called each other and collaborated on organizing a candlelight vigil. They handmade more than 200 tea-light candles, but realized there was more they wanted to do.

They decided to get the community involved. Soon, friends and neighbors began donating their time and talents to make the vigil happen and local businesses were quick to support the teens by posting their fliers to inform the community of the event.

Ths upcoming fiscal year will once again require difficult decisions to be made and Mayor Villaraigosa is looking for feedback from stakeholders and neighborhood councils.

Workshop topics will include "Cutting Through the Red Tape to Deliver for Your Neighborhood," "Forming Community Partnerships to Expand Your Neighborhood Council's Clout and Gain New Resources" and "Tools for Influencing City Government."

There will also be open forums with L.A. City Council members, DWP General Manager David Nahai and BongHwan Kim, the new general manager of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment.

This is your opportunity to get involved. To find out more, check in with your local neighborhood council or visit the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment's Web site by clicking here.

They'll be available to answer questions and let people know how they can get involved in the community.

There will also be entertainment, pony rides, a petting zoo and health screenings.

If you have can't make it to the Street Faire, the council's next meeting, which is open to the public, will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at First Baptist Church of Granada Hills, 11011 Hayvenhurst Ave., Granada Hills.

For more information, visit www.ghsnc.org.

This means that Valley Glen will now have its own designation. No more Van Nuys or North Hollywood within its boundaries.

While it's supposed to be immediate, the Web site states it may take a few weeks for it to be fully realized.

For more information, visit www.valleyglen.org.

Sign-in will begin at 7:30 a.m.

A continental breakfast and light lunch will be served.

You must pre-register before Sept. 24. Call Linda Pruett at 818-345-9809 or e-mail LindaP@LakeBalboaNC.org.

For more information, such as a flier about the training and class syllabus, visit www.lakebalboanc.org.

The inside has been stripped to the bare walls, leaving the impression of a large swimming pool with a sloped floor, the newsletter states. Also, asbestos removal has been completed.

The projected time frame, according to the newsletter, is to remove the existing billboard in late September or early October, followed by removal of the roof and facade. Construction is expected to start in November.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2009 or early 2010.