navigation

HOME
FIND US
EVENTS
NEWSLETTER
FAMILY ALBUM
VOLUNTEER
ABOUT US

 

 

ABOUT US / MISSION STATEMENT / HISTORY / BOARD MEMBERS / PRESIDENT'S REPORT

MISSION STATEMENT
The Friends of Hermon Dog Park exist to enhance the Hermon Dog Park, keep it's environment safe and healthy, teach responsible pet ownership and further humane education, encourage dog training efforts, organize pet adoption events, and help other organizations that provide for the care of animals.


A BRIEF HISTORY OF HERMON DOG PARK
December 2002 -- As the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council is forming, informal discussions began among several participants from Hermon, Montecito Heights, and Mount Washington about the desire to locate a dog park in Hermon.

February 20, 2003 -- At a meeting in Hermon, the city's Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) accepts a community proposal to change the name of the Arroyo Seco Park located off Via Marisol to "Hermon Park in the Arroyo Seco" in time for the community's centennial celebration that summer. Discussions also begin with elected officials regarding placing the first city dog park in Northeast L.A. within Hermon.

May 22, 2003 -- City Council District 14 officials and RAP staff members meet with interested parties to measure community support for the dog park in Hermon -- support was overwhelming.

June 24, 2003 -- Outgoing Councilmember Nick Pacheco lists Hermon Dog Park in his transition memo as a funded project ready for review under the California Evironmental Quality Act (CEQA).

July 1, 2004 -- New Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa, in his 12-month report lists Hermon Dog Park among his staff's accomplishments.

January 2005 -- RAP's CEQA report finds "no significant unavoidable adverse impacts associated with the project."

April 29, 2005 -- Groundbreaking for the first dog park in Northeast Los Angeles.

July 16, 2005 -- Grand opening of the Hermon Dog Park.

September 30, 2005 -- Friends of Hermon Dog Park, now a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization, is organized by original members of the Hermon Dog Park Formation Committee nearly three years after work began to place a dog park here.


BOARD MEMBER BIOS
Wendi Riser, Co-President

Wendi Riser has lived in Hermon nearly her entire life. She began working with Donnette Thayer, our city councilmember, and the Department of Recreation & Parks in early 2003 to get the Hermon Dog Park approved in concept and then saw it through to its completion in July of 2005.

Wendi has spearheaded many other Hermon community projects as well -- such as getting over 100 new trees planted in Hermon's parkways, medians, hillsides and home gardens, getting students to design 2003 centennial street light post banners, the creation of the beautiful Hermon monument sign and managing the city grant that funded it.

The Hermon Advance Team (HAT), the service organization of Hermon, was founded by Wendi and others in 2004. It includes the monthly "Clean Team"-- a group of neighbors that clean the parkways and bridges, as well as a bi-annual community bulky item collection. HAT also sponsors quarterly meetings of the Hermon Safety Committee, a community-wide neighborhood watch to pro-actively address and prevent crime.

Lastly, Wendi writes a fun and quirky e-newsletter "All Things Hermon" with info on things happening in and around the historic little community. (Want to subscribe? Write to: Hermon90042@netscape.net)

Wendi lives with her husband Joseph, son Hans, and her dog Lily.

Lezle Stein, Co-President

Lezle Stein, owner of Handle With Care Dog Training is a graduate of the Animal Behavior and Training Association program. She is AKA-certified as a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers as well as a member of the Southern California Dog Trainers Forum.

Lezle’s extensive experience also includes American Red Cross certification in Pet First Aid and CPR. She has also participated with her own dog Lucie Bell in obedience, agility, and shepherding training.

A firm believer in community involvement, Lezle is a volunteer adoption counselor at North Central Los Angeles city shelter as well as at Downtown Dog Rescue -- Los Angeles’ rescue group for homeless people and their dogs -- where she also is a dog rehabilitator.

Lezle has studied with Dr. Nancy Scanlon, who specializes in holistic veterinary medicine through acupuncture and herbs. She continues her education through frequent seminars and training with Lucie Bell, who has become her faithful “demo dog” companion. Phone: (323) 225-6700.

Sherry Uribe, Secretary

Sherry Uribe has been a long time resident of the El Sereno area living with her husband, 3 children, 3 dogs and 3 cats. She has served on various committees at her children's schools and currently works for the County of Los Angeles Public Library. Her children have been active in the sports programs offered at El Sereno Park. She enjoys reading, gardening, and meeting others that share her love of pets and their well being.

Ursula Brown, Treasurer

Ursula Brown immigrated to the U.S. in 1966 from Germany via Mexico, Costa Rica, and Central America. She was raised near her grandparents farm post-World War II. She now owns a Property Management/Real Estate office and her home in Highland Park includes ducks, chickens, birds, dogs, and cats-all abandoned by their owners.

Animal welfare has always been close to her heart, from her childhood spent with farm animals to seeing how some people neglect or abandon their animals when they move. In an effort to advance animal welfare and contribute to a better community, Ursula originally spearheaded the effort to establish an off-leash dog park in Eagle Rock. Unable to locate suitable land in Eagle Rock, but with solid support from city agencies, the cause was picked up by the community of Hermon who successfully carried it to completion.

Ursula’s professional and community affiliations are: Member of Northeast L.A./Glendale Board of Realtors; Fraternal Order of the Eagles Auxiliary; Eagle Rock Lions Club; Eagle Rock Center for the Arts; B.L.E.N.D.; Damenchor Frohsinn; Officer, Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce; Board Member, Collaborative Eagle Rock Beautiful; Board Member, Northeast Awareness Team (NEAT).

Mark Forbes

A self-proclaimed animal lover, Mark grew up with dogs, cats, fish, and even a few lizards. After moving to Highland Park in 2004, he rescued "Roadie", a Rhodesian Ridgeback/German Shepherd mix, from the North Hollywood Shelter. Since then, Mark and Roadie have been regular visitors at the Hermon Dog Park.

Mark started a career in multimedia after college and continues to produce websites for major entertainment companies. When he's not bathed in the glow of a computer screen or running with Roadie, Mark likes to spend his free time entertaining friends and working on his house.

Christine Offutt

Christine Offutt is the proud mother of two year old terrier mix MacGuffin, and is a lifetime dog lover and owner. Currently a development assistant for a production company, Christine is also a mixed media artist and jewelry designer/maker. She proudly sells her work in and around Eagle Rock and Pasadena. Christine always has, and always will supplement her income (and heart) by dog sitting and dog walking for friends in the area.

Tatiana Lonny

The love for animals has always been a part of Tatiana's family and has made her a great pet lover too. When she was nine, she immigrated to the United States from South Africa, with her 5 pets.

After years of managing restaurants, clubs, and bars and owning a million animals at her house as well as always pet sitting or walking dogs for friends, she decided to follow her heart and work with pets. She started by joining just about every pet group possible and became a member of Pet Sitters International. She began learning as much as possible and soon received a certification in pet CPR and First Aid.

She now owns her own pet care company, called Yappi Day's, that services the majority of Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley and the San Gabriel Valley.

Tatiana moved to Highland Park five years ago and has loved every minute of it. She says "I will never move out of the area unless I have to."


PRESIDENT'S REPORT

2007 ANNUAL President's Report from Friends of Hermon Dog Park

Thanks to your support, the Friends of Hermon Dog Park have been able to accomplish a great deal since the dog park opened in July of 2005.

First, we got our 501(c)3 non-profit status and set out to help people know where the Hermon Dog Park is. We blanketed doggie destinations Websites with information and directions, invited people to monthly "Yappy Hours" to get people to the dog park, and to introduce ourselves. Friends of Hermon Dog Park T-shirts and doggie bandanas have been made to get the word all over L.A. and beyond.

We've had booths at Pasadena Humane Society's Wiggle Waggle Walk, Eagle Rock's Concerts in the Park, the upcoming El Sereno Concert and Fireworks Show, and marched as the "Santa Paws Squad" in the Northeast Los Angeles Holiday Parade.

Then, we began educating people and their dogs. Puppies had "Puppy Parties," where young ones and their owners learned dog park etiquette. Large pet fairs were organized where dogs (and cats) were adopted into loving homes, and pet services like trainers and pet walkers were found. In cooperation with the Arroyo Seco Foundation and the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council, four dog waste-bag dispensers and rolls of bags were purchased, placed in the large and small dog park areas and around the Arroyo Seco. Also, the L.A. Stormwater Program has often joined our "Yappy Hour" to remind us that dog waste pollution can simply be "bagged up".

Lastly, we've been able to help like-minded organizations with donations to Downtown Dog Rescue and the Pasadena Humane Society as well as get supplies to the North Central shelter in Los Angeles.

We have a strong and talented Board of Directors - - Ursula Brown, Sherry Uribe, Mark Forbes, Christine Offutt, and Tatiana Lonny -- who have worked with us tirelessly to see visions become realities.

There are many more great plans on the horizon, foremost getting more shade in the dog park. We are working with Councilmember Jose Huizar's office and the Department of Recreation and Parks on that right now.

Thank you for your generous support of money, time and spirit. Together we have seen many things get done that couldn't have ever been done without you. We look forward to the future of the Friends of Hermon Dog Park and the dog park we support.

Because it's all about the dogs!

Wendi Riser, Lezle Stein,
Co-Presidents
 

FRIENDS OF HERMON DOG PARK
Write to us at:
c/o 6276 Pine Crest Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90042
hermondogpark [at] netscape [dot] net

IMPORTANT CONTACTS:
(323) 255-0370, Rec. & Parks Maintenance, Arroyo Div.
(323) 913-7390, Public Safety General Line
(323) 305-9233, Senior Lead Officer Llanos's Mobile
(213) 793-0748, LAPD Senior Officer John Pedroza's Mobile