The VCA’s 30th Annual Holiday Boat Parade takes place Sunday, December 11. The starting time and place will be announced later.

The VCA will host our annual Kids’ Canalloween party in the Linnie Canal duck park this coming Monday, October 31, from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. There will be face-painting and treats. Bring your little ones and wear your spookiest costumes!

The Venice Canals Association and Voice of the Canals will hold a Neighborhood Watch Forum to address the increased crime in our community.

Date: Thursday, August 25th
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Place: Venice Library, 501 S. Venice Blvd. – Community Room

We must organize to make our neighborhood safer. One successful way to reduce crime is to organize Neighborhood Watch groups. These groups focus on improving communication among the residents, creating a network to report suspicious and/or criminal activities, encouraging safety measures that eliminate opportunities for criminals, preparing residents for disasters, and helping to build a stronger community. The meeting will focus on:

1. The extent and reasons for increased crime in the Venice Canals.
2. Actions that can be taken by the community.
3. What a Neighborhood Watch program is.
4. Organizing Neighborhood Watch groups within the Venice Canals in partnership with the LAPD Pacific Area.

You will meet our LAPD Senior Lead Ofhcer Peggy Thusing. Cyndi Hench will discuss her involvement as a LAPD volunteer/coordinator for the Pacific Area’s Neighborhood Watch/Block Captains progam. She is also President, Neighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa and a member of the Community Police Advisory Board.

We will be there to answer your concems and questions. We look forward to your participation. Bring the family and Canal friends. For firther information contact: Maxine Leral at 310-822-5922 or Ken Fritz at 310-301-9891.

Thanks to Steve Christensen for posting this video of the 4th Downwind Regatta!

4th of July Downwind Regatta (the start) from Steve Christensen on Vimeo.

The Venice Canals Association and the Voice of the Canals will jointly pay the cost of replacing one hundred damaged, dying, or dead Salt Bush plants that line the canals. The purchase, planting and initial care will be done during the second week of August by Mariposa, our canals maintenance company.

Since the City of Los Angeles does not currently have the funds to support the plantings, this is planned as the first stage of a VCA/VOC program to replace a total of approximately 350 plants.

Background

When the Venice Canals Rehabilitation Project was completed in 1993, the community agreed that instead of metal railings to line the canals as a safety barrier Brewers Salt Bush plants (Atriplex lentiformis breweri) would be planted. Plants rather than metal were felt to be more esthetically and environmentally friendly.

Mariposa Horticulture has had a maintenance contract with the City since 1994. In addition to removing debris and excess algae growth they trim and weed the Salt Bushes. Since the company isn’t contractually obligated to a watering schedule many residents do it themselves, which is vital for healthy plants especially during the summer.

Hundreds of plants have been replaced but eighteen years of growth is now taking an increased toll on the plants. Many plants have poor root systems. Lack of year round watering contributes to a rapid decline. Continued trimming has reduced the leaves to miniature clumps, which turn brown and die. Many have become top heavy and fallen into the canals.

It is the goal of both the Venice Canals Association and the Voice of the Canals to help maintain this environmental safety barrier plant. We hope each of you will join us in protecting and nurturing the Atriplex throughout the canals, including the newly planted ones.

The dates for the VCA Row-In Movie Nights are here! See you there!

Alien

August 13 @ Howland Canal
R, 1 hour 57 minutes

Originally pitched as “Jaws in space,” Alien is so, so much scarier. This is the movie that launched a franchise and a young Sigourney Weaver’s career. Ron Shusett, Canals resident and producer and co-writer of Alien will join us!
Alien is rated R, and contains scariness, gore, and some adult language.

The Iron Giant

August 27 @ Linnie Canal
PG, 1 hour 26 minutes

A young boy rescues a huge robot which has rocketed to earth from space – and tries to protect the genial giant from a nosey government agent and the military. If you haven’t seen “Iron Giant” yet this is your chance! The perfect film for grown-ups and kids alike – a captivating animated feature that’s part metal, part magic and all heart.

Roller Boogie

September 10 @ Carroll Canal
PG, 1 hour 43 minutes

Remember the roller skating craze? Wish you could forget? Shot locally, Roller Boogie takes us back to a Venice awash in tight shorts, feathered hair and shaking booties. Stars Linda Blair and features a funkinated soundtrack.