Community | Julie Moree's News Watch

September 23, 2016

80 Years of Danish Days in Solvang, Calif.

As previously reported, this year marks its 80th year and the little Danish town of Solvang, located just north of Santa Barbara, California is still coming together as a community to celebrate their annual Danish Days over the three day weekend on the third weekend in September from the 18th to the 20th.

The Healing Hearts Sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates animals so that they can live normal lives.

This little goat who has trouble moving his back legs was brought out for people to see and pet in the Hans Christian Anderson Park.

The color guard carried both the American and Danish flag in the Danish Days parade.

This year’s Danish Maid is Natalya Nielsen, of Nielson Market who grew up in the Solvang community and who’s family has been involved in Danish Days since 1911.

Bands including the Nordoff High School Marching Band marched in the parade that celebrates danish heritage in the town.

The culture of the Vikings alao play a key role in the Danish Days parade as this boat made its way down the street.

And the neighborhood actor Randel McGee as Hans Christian Anderson rode in his car for all to see.

Folk dancers entertained crowds both in the parade and in the villiage with Danish Dancing.

Motorcycles trailed behind wearing viking attire for all to see.

And lego was a proud sponsor this year as they celebrated generations of fun and allowed kids to put together lego projects.

The Carlsberg Pilsner band of veterans performed both in the parade and in the villiage.

The Old World Artisans was a place where different trades including jewelry and more could showcase what Solvang shops do best.

In addition wood work was on display as visitors could watch them at work.

This turtle was crafted out of a tree trunk on that very day.

There was live entertainment including Danish dancers, a youth band and a bit of rock and roll to conclude the evening.

Saturday’s festivities concluded with a music concert by a local band called Echoswitch on the Midgaard Pavilion Stage.

Danish concert from Julie White on Vimeo.

August 4, 2016

National Night Out in the San Fernando Valley

The small town of San Fernando came out to the Civic Center in Downtown San Fernando for the National Night Out. There were free hot dogs, cupcakes and sodas for all as residents got to know their neighbors as well as members of the San Fernando LAPD, who were there in uniform.

The event lasted from 6-9 and was sponsored by local businesses and public officials including Farm Johns, Sweetness Cupcakes & Cakes as well as Go Country 105.1.

There was music and entertainment all night long including a Country female trio Honey County as well as a folklorico dance group.

Congressman Tony Cardenas was amongst the few public officials who came out in support of our law enforcement and, in fact said, the turnout was one of the largest National Night Out Gatherings in the Los Angeles County.

A 1956 Chevy Police Car was on display for people to get pictures with and engage in conversation with the police offices.

Kids could make their own masks demonstrating the importance of protecting themselves against strangers.

And of course upcoming events were also being promoted go encourage community involvement in the San Fernando Valley.

National Night out was original started nearly 33 years ago with a Neighborhood watch in Philadelphia, PA as a day to bridge the barriers between the community and the police department and today is celebrated the first Tuesday of August for most states nationwide (Texas is one of the exceptions in which National Night Out is celebrated the first Tuesday in October).

For more information and to find out how to volunteer or support National Night Out, visit, natw.org.

July 3, 2016

8th Annual Fireworks in San Pedro

This year’s 8th Annual Cars and Stripes Forever on the Port of Los Angeles brought the community to San Pedro on Friday July 1, 2016 for a night of classic cars, music and of course a complete fireworks show.

The fireworks included various pop and patriotic songs that were fitting for the lights over the port of Los Angeles.

There were also various musicians who performed between 5 and 9 p.m as spectators viewed the classic cars displayed below.

And a dancing water fountain kept children entertained all night long with lights triggered to various patriotic tunes.

June 28, 2016June 28, 2016

Obon Festival In The San Fernando Valley

On the last weekend in June, the Obon festival took place at the Japanese American Center in Pacoima, California. It was a night of authentic style food, dancing and more as thousands came out to pay their respects to past generations and to get in touch with their Japanese roots.

The Japanese American Community Center hosted a 2-day event for the community to come out and experience authentic Japanese food, dancing and games on the last weekend in June.

The main purpose of the Obon Festival was to bring the community together for a time of reflection and gratitude to past generations.

Residents could view various bonzai trees on display at the festival.

Seasoned dancers invited the community to join in a night of communal dancing.

Young and mature dancers gathered together in rhythm

Taiko drummers kept the beat for the night’s festivities.

There were also games where people could try their look in winning a prize.

And handcrafted dolls entranced crowds as they marveled at the detail and authenticity of the collections.

Even select proverbs as the “see no evil” collection, showed a diversity in the doll collection.

Children were able to create their own Japanese themed bookmarks in the kid’s area.

And Senior crafts were on display in the hall for reasonable prices of only a few dollars.

And Bingo was the highlight of the senior craft area as the community came out to try their luck for just one dollar per card.

Homemade donuts by a local foursquare church enticed people to try for only 2 dollars a bag.

And of course people could partake of Japanese style Udon in the kitchen.

May 10, 2016

“LA Loves Prince” Tribute Concert

Thousands of fans came out to the free concert, sporting the iconic Prince Insignia as well as wearing purple.

The fans filled the area around City Hall including going up the steps across the streets all to pay homage to a great musician.

Hosted by radio personality from KJLH-FM, tribute concert was held on the steps of City Hall in downtown Los Angeles and thousands of Los Angeles Prince Fans showed up to pay their respects after the sudden death of music icon, Prince. Various DJ’s including DJ R-tistic and DJ Viktor Duplaix played his most notable songs as people continued to gather on the lawn in front of the building as well as across the street all night long beginning at 5pm and the concert concluded with a line up of local Los Angeles bands who gave a free concert in honor of the legend of Prince.

The concert took place nearly two weeks after Prince was found dead in an elevator at his Paisley home in Minnesota. The beloved singer was 57.

To hear more of the musical performance watch the video below.

prince tribute from Julie White on Vimeo.

May 3, 2016May 3, 2016

VegFest in Los Angeles

Back again to Woodley Park in Lake Balboa, after a two-year hiatus, World Fest is re-branding itself as VegFest for the first time this year, bringing many of the same exhibits on the first Sunday in May, including pet adoptions, various animal rights groups, music and a variety of Vegan friendly food options for a Sunday afternoon in the park.

The Beagle Freedom Project was back again to spread awareness of liberating animals from bad situations including animal testing laboratories and place them in loving homes.

New inventions like the veggidome showed people an easy way to keep their vegetable fresh without refrigeration.

Of course PETA was in Woodley Park to further educate on the inhumanity in Los Angeles.

New Vegan restaurants including Vegetaryn enticed people to a healthy lifestyle.

And special at VegFest, a social media genius bar allowed people to recharge.

And showed examples of how to take impactual photos of food and meals.

The Gentle Barn brought information of how they are helping animals one cow at time, to live a worry free life.

And companies like Sunnectsolar, encouraged people to think about the environment with their houses.

The Cancer Control Society was at the festival, educating people about their upcoming Convention the first weekend in September at the Universal Sheraton.

And more animal rights groups like the Save the Chimps, had petitions to sign for various causes.

Even Bernie Sander’s campaign was at the park encouraging people to vote in the upcoming presidential election.

Dogs and cats were available for adoption in the corner of Woodley park all day.

A bottle fed 2 week old orphan kitten was also looking for a home when old enough to be adopted out.

plants like marigolds were free for anyone who wished to take one home to brighten their yards.

Kid’s Kingdom had shows all day for the youngest including this humorous magician that entertained all.

And The Largest Meetup in Los Angeles as people were encouraged to come out and take a picture in support of Vegan living.

April 12, 2016April 12, 2016

Celebrating 20 years of Books at USC

Hosted once again by the Los Angeles Times on the campus of USC, the LA Times Festival of Books saw thousands of different types of books and art forms this year. The festival took place on Saturday April 9 and Sunday April 10 and there was a little something for everyone to enjoy from poetry, music as well as a few select cooking demonstrations.

The Los Angeles Times offered visitors a unique subscription opportunity of just 20 dollars for the Sunday and Thursday paper.

The Greater Los Angeles Writers Society were on campus promoting new writers here.

And there was even a little diversity with Books in other languages at the “Hoy” Section.

Medical students provided free screenings while people browsed the many books.

And of course, politics were around promoting the candidates for this year’s presidential election.

A variety of children’s books enticed the youngest of readers.

As well as suspense books for the older crowds drew the readers.

And cooking demonstrations enticed people to try their hands at new concoctions such as Katie Chin’s Pineapple Fried Rice, from her cookbook, Everyday Chinese Cooking

To see more exclusive interviews, including the musical talent on the campus of USC, watch the video below.

March 6, 2016

Promoting Eco and health in Pacoima

CicLAvia came to the Valley on Sunday March 6th 2016, and allowed participants to be free to walk or bike through the streets without fear of sharing the road with cars. Started over 5 years ago on Oct. 10th 2010, as a project to transform LA from a car only landscape to one where people can actually commune with one another while getting the exercise, the event has revolutionized Southern California in a way that businesses, as shown below, are actually stepping out to interact with people in a way that cannot be done in a car.

The path for CicLAvia- the Valley was four miles- one way starting at San Fernando Blvd on Van Nuys and traveling through Pacoima, Arleta and finally ending in Panorama City on Roscoe Blvd.

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Volunteers have brought CicLAvia to cities throughout the LA area, including The Valley, Culver City, Venice, Mar Vista, Wilshire Blvd, MacArthur Park, South LA, Echo Park, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Boyle Heights, East LA and Pasadena.

The Next CicLAvia event is scheduled for May 15, 2016 in The Southeast Cities.

March 2, 2016

26th Annual “Night of 100 Stars” Oscar Party

On the biggest night in Hollywood, Oscar’s Night, past and current Nominees gather for a night of dinner while watching the 88th Annual Academy Awards. There are a variety of celebrities as well as models, musicians, and more who walked the red carpet in Beverly Hills at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and they all had their own predictions as to who would be the newest inductees into the Oscar’s family.

Watch now now to hear the predictions as well as thoughts surrounding the “Oscars-so-white” controversy.

The 88th annual academy awards aired live from Hollywood on Sunday February 28 at 5 p.m and in a surprise turn of events, “Spotlight” took the best picture. Leonardo Dicaprio finally won his first Oscar for his performance in “The Revenant” and Brie Larson took best actress for the movie, “Room.” For a complete list of Oscar winners, click here.

February 4, 2016

Riverside welcomes “The Monkey”

Festivities start early in Downtown Riverside as the 6th annual Asian Pacific Lunar New Year kicks off the Year of the Monkey on Saturday January 31, 2016. Roughly 70 thousand people turned out for the celebration which included a Parade of Nations, opening welcome, entertainment throughout the streets as well as food and culminating with fireworks to officially kick of the New Year.

Watch the video below to see just what kind of performances people saw throughout the day’s free event.

The Year of the Monkey official starts on the first new moon between January 20 and February 15 and concludes with the Lantern festival in Los Angeles on March 5, 2016. Stay tuned for the conclusion coming in a few weeks.

Category: Community

80 Years of Danish Days in Solvang, Calif.

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National Night Out in the San Fernando Valley

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8th Annual Fireworks in San Pedro

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Obon Festival In The San Fernando Valley

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“LA Loves Prince” Tribute Concert

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VegFest in Los Angeles

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Celebrating 20 years of Books at USC

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Promoting Eco and health in Pacoima

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26th Annual “Night of 100 Stars” Oscar Party

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Riverside welcomes “The Monkey”

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