🌱 Buyback Collects 459 Firearms + No More Griffith Park Pony Rides

Hello again, friends! Today, we dig World Soil Day! It’s Monday in Los Angeles, and I’m back in your inbox with everything you need to know that’s happening in town, including:

• 🔥 A structure fire on West 97th Street
• 👮 Arrests of 18 suspects in retail thefts
• 🎶 The inaugural Besame Mucho festival

💗 Please help us grow! Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can be in the know, like you!

🌥️ But first, today’s weather:

Mostly cloudy. High: 65 Low: 48.

⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations in the City of Los Angeles

• ARCO at 9200 S Western Ave.$4.39
• ARCO at 2740 E Olympic Blvd.$4.49
• Kwik Servat 2600 N Figueroa St.$4.59

🍪 Holiday Treats Poll! 🎄
December is the month for holiday treats and goodies. Which is your favourite? So far, 32.3% love See’s Candy, while 22.6% look forward to sugar cookies. Peppermint bark appeals to 9.7%and eggnog has a loyal following of 32.3%. Poached pears are favorites for 3.2%.

📰 Here are the top stories in Los Angeles today:

1) On Sunday, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) went to 767 West 97th Street to fight a blaze in a building’s common attic. It took 28 firefighters only 39 minutes to put out the flames. “The fire was prevented from extending down into the living space,” but firefighters had “to work their way through all four units to locate the stubborn fire.” There is no report of injuries. (LAFD)

2) How did Saturday’s LA Gun Buyback event go? The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) held two events; one at 2986 Hoover Street and another at 7870 Nolan Place. in total, officers took in 459 firearms. Organizers break it down as “138 rifles, 80 shotguns, 168 pistols, 13 assault weapons, 38 ghost guns, 21 machine guns and one labeled ‘other'” This is a 69% increase over March’s buyback event. (Patch)

3) We learned on Saturday that law enforcement arrested 18 suspects in organized retail thefts that took place on December 1 and 2. The suspects are between 15 and 20 years old, and some have been seen on security footage as “wearing hooded sweatshirts and facemasks while ransacking an athletic wear shop. The thieves were seen carrying armfuls of clothing as they dashed out of the store.” Merchandise was recovered. (KTLA)

4) the Griffith Park Pony Rides are coming to an end. The tradition began in 1948; however, the owner explained that the Los Angeles Department of Recreation will not renew its contract after December 21. “In the days ahead, I will be attempting to find forever homes for our many ponies,” the owner said. If you have the space on your property and in your heart, consider adopting a couple of ponies. What will be offered instead of the pony rides? “The Department will undertake a community input process to re-imagine the recreational and educational activities offered at this location in Griffith Park to continue providing youth and families an affordable and enjoyable experience.” (NBC, KTLA)

5) The inaugural Besame Mucho music festival is a wrap. During 12 hours on Saturday at Dodger Stadium, attendees strolled the grounds, ate well, and interacted with “Mexican vendors and beautiful Día de Los Muertos art that flooded the festival grounds.” Yes, there were luchadores. “What made the festival experience unique was that from stage to stage, everyone in the crowd seemed genuinely happy to be there,” which gave the festival a party atmosphere. (Paywall/Press Telegram)

📆 Today in Los Angeles:

• Helen Albert Certified Farmers’ Market at 1200 N. Vista Street (9 AM)
• Aidan’s Place Reimagined Grand Opening at the Westwood Recreation Center (10:30 AM)
• RLS hybrid open class at the WACO Theater Center (6 PM)
• Community Dance Class at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (7:30 PM)
• Built To Spill at The Roxy (8 PM)

📓 From my notebook:

• “Have you ever wanted to Visit your favorite holiday movie location? Look no further! Check out the guide in our bio to see where shows like Parks and Rec were filmed. Perfect holiday activity! 🎥 🎄 📸” (Discover Los Angeles via Instagram)
• “Is it on your calendar yet? The day is quickly approaching! Your LAFD can’t wait to see you on December 9th at our annual Spark of Love ‘Stuff-a-Bus’ event. The toys / sports equipment you donate help spread smiles to kids across the L…” (LAFD via Instagram)
• “LA Schools families, Have you explored our LA Unified’s main website? Do you love it, or not so much? Let us hear from you! Join us Mon. Dec. 5 at 5:30pm. https://bit.ly/familyacademywebinar; 895 5755 5227; Passcode: 2022″ (Los Angeles Unified via Instagram)
• “The library is celebrating its 150th anniversary with 150 days of activities and eventsfrom December 7, 2022 – May 6, 2023: https://lapl.org/150″ (Los Angeles Public Library via Facebook)
• A neighbor in the N Hollywood E Lankershim-Vinelnd area “lost a dog that answers to Kodahas name tag with phone number but old number, very friendly PLS if found give me a call 818 284 0502 my name is Laura.” (Nextdoor)

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Alrighty, you’re all caught up for today! I’ll see you soon.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don’t judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.