Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association N E W S L E T T E R P.O. Box 754, Whittier, CA 90608

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1 Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association N E W S L E T T E R P.O. Box 754, Whittier, CA A certified 501(c) (3) non-profit. WHNA 2019 Home Tour! JANUARY 2019 VOLUME XX, ISSUE 1 Feature Your Historic Home: The Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association Home Tour typically features five historic homes representing Historic Whittier architecture, including Craftsman, Tudor, Spanish, Transitional and Victorian. Please consider opening your home to the public in October Proceeds of our Home Tours benefit neighborhood projects and more. Volunteer: The Home Tour Committee is looking for volunteers to serve as docents in our historic homes for the Home Tour in October we will provide training and a script to work from. Best of all, when you work a morning or afternoon shift, you will get a free ticket to attend the Home Tour during the shift you aren t working! If you aren't the docent type, there are other ways to get involved. Help Set Up Clean Up! Volunteers will be working in the early morning hours of the Saturday tour day to deliver tables, install signs, put out trash cans and more! At the end of the day, everything needs to be cleaned up. WHNA to let us know how you can volunteer: WHNAevents@gmail.com Neighborhood Watch is Also Digital By Captain Aviv Bar, Whittier Police Department Nextdoor is a free private social networking website for your neighborhood. In addition to meeting regularly, many neighborhood watch and crime watch groups across the country use Nextdoor every day to help keep their neighborhoods safe. Neighbors can create a new Nextdoor online community based on their geographical area or join existing groups that have already formed by their neighbors. Nextdoor online neighborhoods connect people who live close to each other and encourage the sharing of information and concerns in the same manner a traditional neighborhood watch meeting does. The advantage to Nextdoor online neighborhoods is that busy schedules no longer prevent neighbors from discussing safety and crime concerns, as conversations are available to post, review, and comment 24/7/365. The Whittier Police Department uses Nextdoor.com online neighborhoods on a regular basis to distribute crime prevention materials and special alerts. To sign up, start a Nextdoor neighborhood, or join an existing Nextdoor neighborhood, visit

2 Value of Codes and Code Enforcement to a Neighborhood While property owners often think that the way they take care of their property is their own business, the major impact that neighboring properties have on one another s value and enjoyment means that building maintenance and safety becomes the business of everyone in the neighborhood. Building ordinances and codes help the city to maintain standards in a neighborhood. How Does Whittier s Process Work? 1. Code Enforcement staff receives the complaint from the community. 2. An Officer investigates the complaint to verify that a violation exists. 3. If a violation exists, a notice is sent to the resident or legal property owner, who is given the opportunity to correct the violation within a specific timeframe, 4. If the correction is not made in a reasonable amount of time, the individual may be subject to further enforcement action, including the issuance of an administrative citation or criminal prosecution. Property Maintenance Regulations Concerns to report: 1. Overgrown, dry, dying landscaping. 2. Paint or repair of exterior of the structure. 3. Broken and/or missing windows. 4. Outside storage. 5. Deteriorated roofs. 6. Construction completed without permits. What is not enforceable? 1. Civic issues and neighbor disputes. 2. Property line disputes. 3. Street/Lawn parking. (Contact parking Enforcement (562) ) Vehicle and R.V. Storage All vehicles and R.V s must be currently registered and operable or stored out of public view. Having a Planned Non-Operational (PNO) permit from DMV does not bring a vehicle or R.V. into compliance with the code. Animals Household pets including dogs and cats are limited to a maximum of 3 per single-family residence or 2 per unit in apartments or duplexes. Some types of animals are prohibited or require a permit. These animals include roosters, goats and other farm and exotic animals. Remember to clean up after your pets and maintain control over your pet at all times. Dogs must be leashed at all times in public. Trash Cans/Trash Bins All residences served with the three-container refuse system in the alley shall have their refuse containers on their private property. For premises not serviced through an alley, refuse containers shall, at all times, remain on private property out of public view. It is suggested that refuse containers are not brought out before 6 P.M. on the day before trash collection. Yard/Garage Sales A permit is NOT required to have a yard/garage sale. The following regulations apply: 1. Residents are allowed 1 garage sale every 3 months per calendar year. 2. No sale shall last longer than 2 days. 3. All items must be personal property owned by the property owner or occupant living at the address. Public Alley Enforcement Any trees or overgrown vegetation which hang into the alley must be trimmed back to the fence line, and have an overhead clearance of 14 ft. The alley should be kept neat, clean and free of trash, debris, furniture and other items. If you see items dumped in the alley, please call Athens Waste at (888) Fences Before you install any type of fence you must obtain all proper approvals and permits from the Planning and Building Department, (562) Whittier Municipal Code Whittier s Municipal Code can be found by going to: Code_of_Ordinances or at the Whittier Public Library. Code Enforcement may be reached at WHCodeEnforce@cityofwhittier.org Phone (562) or by making a report on the Whittier 24/7 app. Information supplied by WPD Code Enforcement Division.

3 Coyotes in Our Neighborhood Historically, coyotes have existed in Whittier finding safe haven in urban areas, hills, washes, drainages, and other places where dense brush is prevalent. In general they roam an area of two to five square miles, or the range necessary to get enough food for pack members. Coyotes play an important role in the ecosystem. They help to keep rodent and other small mammals populations under control. Additionally, coyotes feed on raccoons, birds, insects, berries, fruits and vegetables, human garbage, outdoor pet food and small pets left unprotected. Coyotes are one of the most adaptable animals occurring in every habitat type throughout North America. In response to the rise in coyote activity in neighborhoods, the City researched responses from surrounding communities and reviewed existing coyote management plans. People respond to coyotes in various ways. Some observe them with enjoyment, others with indifference and some with fear or concern. Personal experiences with coyotes may influence their perceptions, whether it is a sighting without incident, stalking, or killing pets. It is not economically or ecologically efficient to remove all coyotes from the urban ecosystem. Eliminating coyotes by lethal means only perpetuates the population as coyote reproduction will increase to make-up for the lost individual, oftentimes resulting in more coyotes than before. To coexist, it is important that coyotes do not associate urban areas with food. Coyotes are naturally fearful of humans, however they readily lose that fear when people intentionally or unintentionally provide food/water or shelter for them, and do not try to deter them from visiting. Eliminating sources that attract coyotes can go a long way in addressing the situation. If you encounter a coyote that is not retreating from humans, please adhere to the following: Make noise and make yourself seem even bigger. An average adult coyote weighs 35 lbs., and will be intimidated by people. While they may stop and observe, they will eventually run. Do not run away or turn your back on them. A coyote is hardwired to chase. Stand your ground and then back while making loud noises. When walking your dog, keep them on a short leash. Coyotes cannot distinguish between a small pet and their prey. Cats should not be left outdoors alone. If you feel your personal safety is at risk, call 911. What You Can Do to Deter Coyotes: Secure garbage cans. Do not intentionally provide food or water for wildlife. California law prohibits feeding wildlife. The City will strictly enforce the State Law pertaining to this activity. If you have fruit trees, pick ripe fruit from the trees on a regular basis, and pick up fruit from the ground. Do not leave dog or cat food outside. Keep pets indoors, especially at night. Keep chickens, rabbits, turkeys and goats in covered pens. Clear away brush and dense weeds near your home where coyotes find cover and smaller prey to feed on. Eliminate water sources that may attract wildlife. Install outdoor lights triggered by motion sensors to frighten away wildlife at night. The Habitat Authority tracks local coyote sightings and incidents. Please call (562)

4 WHNA 19th Annual Holiday Decorating Contest: Glitter and Snow A big thanks to everyone who participated in the WHNA 19th Annual Holiday Decorating Contest. Homes, apartments and businesses in the WHNA neighborhood (between Orange and Hadley, Greenleaf and Painter, around Central Park, and on Friends down to Philadelphia) were decorated and dressed up for the holidays. Winners were announced on December 14th. The WHNA Block Representatives presented the recipients with a personalized certificate and a yard sign which designated the award won. It was easy to scan the QR Code on the yard signs and flyers throughout the neighborhood or by going to WHNA website at whittierhistoric.org for the link. Information was also available on Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association s Facebook page, Online judging was open to all residents and visitors to our neighborhood. Voting took place between December 2nd 12th, The votes were tallied and the Awards for most outstanding categories went to: Overall Display: 5858 Greenleaf Front Porch Display: 6227 Bright Theme Award: 6044 Greenleaf Window Display: Broadway Lawn Display: 6304 Painter Block Award: 6200 block of Washington Ave. (not pictured) Thanks to all of the families that decorated their homes this holiday season.

5 aren s orner By Karen Bennett Queen Anne Victorian Architecture in Our Neighborhood There are a number of architectural styles that are lumped under the general title Victorian. The most exuberant of these, and also the most common in our neighborhood, is the Queen Anne Victorian style. The name can be confusing, as it is a late 19 th Century style, and has nothing to do with the time period of the English Queen Anne. The examples found in our neighborhood date from the 1880 s to about 1910, thus overlapping the Craftsman period. They are both one and two story houses, and are built of wood. These houses are asymmetrical in plan, and have a decided vertical feel, with steeply pitched roofs and tall windows. New methods for quickly machining wood into lathe turned and scroll sawed designs, coupled with the availability of wood brought by rail, fed an enthusiasm for complex, varied, and intricate surfaces and decoration which reached a fever pitch in the Queen Anne style. It is common to find a second story clad in pattered shingles (perhaps several patterns) above a clapboard first story, the entirety punctuated by bay windows (again of differing designs), perhaps with the inclusion of a corner tower. All manner of surface ornament was used, the effect further multiplied by things such as turned porch railings, corner pendants, and designs at gable ends and on the barge boards edging the gable s roof. These houses were once thought to have been pastel colored painted ladies, but thorough research as revealed that, although they often had schemes of three or even four colors, those colors were most likely to have been earth tones such as greens, grays, browns and muted yellows. The interiors of these houses mirror their exteriors in having high ceilings, machine milled door and window casings, pocket doors, intricate wood mantels, and tile fireplace surrounds. Whereas Craftsman homes usually have the fireplace along a wall, the fireplace is often found in the corner of a Victorian parlor. Some notable examples of Queen Anne Victorians in our neighborhood are located at: 5854 Painter (C,W. Harvey House) 6327 and 6333 Friends 6546 Friends (A.C. Johnson House) 6237 Greenleaf 6537 Washington (Charles House) Hadley Rose Pruning Demonstration Approximately 20 WHNA residents and friends joined together for the Rose Pruning Hands-On Demonstration and Workshop on Saturday, January 12 th. The Demonstration was led by James Hahn, Ron Light, WHNA residents and Ralph Panting, all of who have trained under Tom Carruth, one of America s most respected rose authorities and noted rose breeder. Everyone who attended participated in trimming roses, exchanging information and laughing as the skies teased with mist and rain. More information can be found on the WHNA website: Thank you to Jim, Ron and Ralph and everyone who participated in this event.

6 WHITTIER HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION GOVERNING BOARD: President: Patricia O Toole Vice President: Andrea Mauk Secretary: Kat Ramirez Treasurer: Carina Sass Neighborhood Representatives: Dalila Barillas Judy Jansen Karen Bennett Michael Contreras The Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association is a 501(C)(3)nonprofit membership organization. The WHNA newsletter is distributed free to all neighborhood residents. The Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association is searching for people interested in joining our board, getting involved, learning about our community and working as a team member to achieve the goals of the WHNA Mission Statement. Are you looking for an opportunity to get involved? The WHNA General Elections will be held in May If you would like more information about how to get involved, please send to WHNAVolunteer@gmail.com You must live within the Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association (WHNA) boundaries. WHNA boundaries are: North: Orange Drive East: Painter Avenue South: Hadley Street West: Greenleaf Avenue plus Homes in the Central Park District. See the WHNA website for district map, mission statement and more: