January Newsbites

***Happy New Year*** The Board of Directors of the Bel Air Hills Association wishes all in our neighborhood a very happy, joyous and healthy 2021. We know how difficult 2020 was and hope that 2021 will be far better. We look forward to once again being able to have in-person events, and as soon as it is safe to do so, we will plan the BAHA Annual Members’ Party.

***Roscomare Road Street Improvement*** BAHA was informed by our Councilman’s office that the needed road improvement work around the 2600 block of Roscomare Road would be completed this past December. However, as is so usual with City works, there were delays. At least the trees which caused the road surface problem have now been removed. Unfortunately, we have just been informed that part two, the repaving of the roadway between Hamner and Bel Canto, will not be able to be done until the beginning of the new fiscal year in July. We have been promised it will be on the top of their list and we will be sure to remind them of that as the time approaches.

***BAHA's Security Committee*** We are happy to report that three advanced technology security cameras will be installed this month at strategic points in our neighborhood. BAHA is grateful to co-chairs Houman Arasteh and Patricia Templeton for undertaking this effort to improve security in Bel Air Hills! BAHA would like to install more of these cameras, but for that to be possible we will need additional BAHA members. So please renew your membership (or join if you are not a member) and encourage your neighbors to do so as well.

***Annual Membership Drive*** Strong membership numbers enable BAHA to provide more services, support, activities, and to be a louder voice for government services. Please look for your membership invitation letter that will be sent by mail next week (the envelopes will have the name of our President, Wendy Morris, as the return address). Copies of the same notices will be sent via email to all residents for whom we have email addresses. We hope that our efforts, on behalf of the community of Bel Air Hills, will encourage you, for a modest membership fee, to renew your membership or to join BAHA so that we can continue to work on behalf of our neighborhood. Your email address enables BAHA to send you Newsbites and other important and timely neighborhood information. Through Newsbites, our community remains informed about BAHA activities. However, much more information about BAHA, is available on our website at https://www.baha.la.

***Homeless Persons*** At a recent Zoom Board of Directors meeting, both our Senior Lead Officer Pete Ojeda and Captain Jonathan Tom, spoke about the problem of homeless people sleeping in the local canyons and in vacant homes. They advised us of a special LAPD unit that is trained to help homeless people and, at the same time, prevent fires resulting from homeless people trying to stay warm or cook. Any residents who notice any of these activities, are advised to email LAPD at [email protected] and cc BAHA at [email protected] so we can help follow up.

***Member Discounts*** BAHA is reminding our rejoining and new members, that there are a number of local businesses and other merchants who are providing our members with discounts. Please visit our website at https://www.baha.la and click on Links and then click on Local Businesses—BAHA Member Discounts, for details.

***BAHA Gives Thanks*** Our Bel Air Hills neighborhood has been well-served by our local police and fire departments. The holiday season was a good time to say “thank you.” The December issue of Newsbites related that BAHA took holiday pies to our local police precinct on Thanksgiving Day as a show of gratitude to thank them for the work they do in helping to keep our neighborhood safe. Likewise, BAHA thanked our local fire stations for their work of fighting fires, in fire prevention, and attending to other emergencies. On New Year’s Day, board members Wendy Morris, Houman Arasteh and children, and Inta and Rich Kipper and grandchildren, took pies baked by our local Joanie and Leigh's Cakes, to our 3 fire stations, #109 at 16500 Mulholland Drive, #99 at 14145 Mulholland Drive and #37 at 1090 Veteran Avenue. We expressed our great appreciation for their services to our community and the firefighters were very grateful for that and for the pies! Due to Covid, they could not go in to see the fire engines but they were all invited to return later when things are different.