Recently in Valley Glen Neighborhood Association Category

The Valley Glen Neighborhood Association will hold its annual community picnic from noon-4 p.m. Sunday in Valley Glen Community Park, located south of Erwin Street at Ethel Avenue.

This fundraiser supports the association and its upcoming charitable project called Adopt-A-Family, where the association brings Christmas and the holidays to disadvantaged families with kids attending public schools in Valley Glen.

Food tickets are $10 per person, $4 per child under 12. For a $25 sponsorship, you get an adult food ticket and a raffle ticket.

For more information, visit www.valleyglen.org.

The Valley Glen Neighborhood Association's annual picnic and fundraiser, called the Valley Glen Family Fest, will be held from noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, at Valley Glen Community Park, located at Ethel Avenue and Delano Street.

There will be lots of family fun for all ages.

For more information, visit www.valleyglen.org.

On Sept. 5, the U.S. Postal Service finalized the official recognition of Valley Glen witih zip codes 91401, 91405 and 91606, according to the Valley Glen Neighborhood Association's Web site.

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.

The latest newsletter from the Valley Glen Neighborhood Association features lots of news about the community.

One story lets residents know that the Greater Valley Glen Council has purchased 100 Neighborhood Watch signs for posting throughout the community.

This is a great way to promote safety in your neighborhood. Residents and stakeholders who want signs posted in their area should contact Terry Anderson at 818-902-9066 or complete a request form at www.gvgc.us.

The newletter also states that the L.A. Parks Department reports that Valley Glen Community Park has $49,000 in state Quimby Act funds available for capital projects.

Improvements to the median along Whitsett Avenue, near Victory Boulevard, are complete. Twenty new trees have been planted, the newsletter states.

Also, work continues on the Vanowen Triangle at Vanowen Street and Fulton Avenue, where Sprint is completing its cell tower. An American flag will be displayed from the tower soon.

To read the entire newsletter, visit www.valleyglen.org.

Valley Glen has done fairly well in the recent economic downturn that's hit the San Fernando Valley - and the country.

That's according to a recent housing and economic forecast event sponsored by the Valley Glen Neighborhood Association.

Association member Mickey Jannol and the other panelists were not licensed economists nor do they hold advanced degrees in aconomics, but they did have plenty to information to share and trends to study.

For example, home prices in Valley Glen are down 10-15 percent for their peak, on par with Studio City.

The compares with Sherman Oaks, which has seen a 20 percent decline, and Reseda, which has experienced a 40 percent decrease, according to information shared at the event.

Jannol and the other panelists said Valley Glen is getting buyers from Studio City and Sherman Oaks, who sell their homes for perhaps less than the median price of $900,000 to $1 million, say for $800,000.

They have equity in their homes and good credit, which allows them to buy a $650,000 home in Valley Glen that is bigger and they can improve.

Home prices in Valley Glen will drop another 10 percent before it's all over, according to the panel. The first year that prices will stop dropping will be 2010, the panel added.

To read all about the housing and economic forecast for Valley Glen, visit www.valleyglen.org..

Looking for some deals?

The Valley Glen Neighborhood Association will hold its seventh annual yard sale from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at 13422 Oxnard St.

The association appreciates all donations, but cannot accept couches or sofas.

Would you like your items picked up on Friday, May 16, and transported to the sale?

To schedule a pick-up time, call Mickey Jannol at 818-613-6311.

Valley Glen will finally get two community-designated signs on the 170 Freeway - one at Oxnard and the other at Victory, according to a short article by Greater Valley Glen Council President Judy Price in the latest newsletter from the Valley Glen Neighborhood Association.

The signs are expected to go up later this month or in early May. There will be a sign on the northbound side of the freeway at Oxnard and on the southbound side at Victory that will state "Valley Glen next two exits."

At each off-ramp, there will be a sign stating "Valley Glen," with a directional arrow.

GVGC has paid CalTrans $8,750 for the cost of the signs. Neighborhood councils receive $50,000 a year for local improvement projects, public safety issues, outreach efforts and elections.

For more information, visit www.valleyglen.org.

Mark your calendars. Two big events are coming up in Valley Glen.

The Valley Glen Neighborhood Association will hold its second annual economic and housing outlook at its next general meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at Erwin Elementary School, 13400 Erwin St.

Then, the association will hold its seventh annual yard sale from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at 13422 Oxnard St.

The group appreciates donations, but no couches or sofas, please.

The association will pick up items for the sale on Friday, May 16.

To schedule a pick-up, call Mickey Jannol at 818-613-6311.

Christopher Alan of Dasher Lawless Inc. will speak about a proposed mixed-use shopping center, office and hotel project at the next meeting of the Valley Glen Neighborhood Association.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at Erwin Elementary School, 13400 Erwin St., Van Nuys.

As proposed, the new project, called Plaza at Valley Glen, will replace the current Victora Plaza occupied by Bally's, Vallarta Market, CVS, Citibank, Golan restaurant and a mini-storage facility.