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Tis the season for Christmas trees, and Patch has you covered with everything you need to find the perfect tree in North Hollywood.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — People in North Hollywood and Toluca Lake who prefer fresh-cut Christmas trees — whether they cut down trees themselves or buy from a retail lot — shouldn’t have any trouble finding them in 2022, according to a survey of Christmas tree growers by an industry trade group.

The prediction by the Real Christmas Tree Board comes after a survey of 55 wholesalers that supply two-thirds of the market for fresh trees and 1,500 U.S. adults ages 21-49.

“The real Christmas tree industry met demand last year, and it will meet demand this year,” Marsha Gray, executive director of the Real Christmas Tree Board, said in a news release. “This is essentially a year without surprises.”

Residents of North Hollywood and Toluca Lake have plenty of options, sortable by ZIP code and by type, on the Real Christmas Tree Board website. They include:

Mr. Jingles Christmas Trees 1:

Home Depot at 21218 Roscoe Boulevard, Canoga Park Lowe's at 8383 Topanga Canyon Boulevard in West Hills

Lowe's at 19601 Nordhoff Street in Northridge

Home Depot at 11600 Sherman Way, North Hollywood

Real Trees May Be Pricier

Trees, like everything else, may cost a little more this year. Tree growers answering the Real Christmas Tree Board’s survey said growing costs have increased. About 36 percent of respondents said costs were up 11 percent to 15 percent compared to last year, while 27 percent said costs increased 16 to 20 percent. Another 10 percent said the year-over-year increase in production costs was more than 21 percent.

As a result, 71 percent of growers said they would likely increase wholesale prices. That means trees could cost anywhere from 5 percent to 20 percent or more.

Consumers seem to be taking the expected price hikes in stride.

“While our grower survey tells us wholesale prices are likely to be higher for real Christmas trees this year, our consumer survey tells us people expected as much,” Gray said in the news release. “The good news is fans of real Christmas trees say they believe the trees are worth the price, and they are willing to pay more this year if necessary to get one — and that’s not a surprise either.”

Growers’ expectations of a healthy season are also tempered by fears of supply chain disruptions, the No. 1 concern of 44 percent of growers. About 35 percent said their top concern is that inflation-strapped consumers will cut real Christmas trees from their lists this year. About 21 percent of respondents cited labor availability concerns.

The Origin Of Christmas Trees

The origin of the Christmas tree can be traced to long before the advent of Christianity, according to History.com.

In ancient times, it was commonly believed the sun was a god. It appeared to be sick as daylight waned in the winter, but evergreens thriving during winter were a reminder that the sun would become strong again and lush greenery and warmth would return.

Evergreen trees were seen as a symbol of eternal life among ancient Egyptians, Hebrews and Chinese. Pagans throughout Europe used evergreens in their homes to represent fertility and new life.

Christmas trees were first used by devout Christians in Germany. The 16th century Protestant reformer Martin Luther is believed to have added lighted candles to trees. He was composing a sermon as he walked home on a winter evening and was struck by the sight of stars twinkling above the evergreens, and recreated the scene in a tree in his family’s main room.

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The world premiere play by playwright Emma Wood will be performed by Write Act Rep from December 10th, 2022 – January 29th, 2023

PIECE OF MIND, a play by playwright Emma Wood, will be performed by Write Act Rep from December 10th, 2022 - January 29th, 2023, at the Brickhouse Theatre in North Hollywood. Produced by Write Act's award-winning creative team members: Producing artistic director John Lant, producer Tamra Pica with play direction by Susan C. Hunter. Tickets available at: https://pieceofmind.bpt.me. (Preview performance: Dec. 4th)

The Brickhouse Theatre is located at 10950 Peach Grove St., N. Hollywood, CA 91601 (off Vineland, just north of Camarillo), Opening Saturday, December 10th, 2022. Continuing Performances are Saturday night at 7:30pm, Sunday afternoon at 3pm.

Tickets are $25.00 online from Brown Paper Tickets or at the door. There will be one preview performance on December 4th. No performances on the weekends of December 24, 25. 31 and January 1.

When Gwen and Allie open a daring business venture to shore up their meagre retirement savings, it seems like a stroke of brilliance. Offering an alternative to traditional counselling, they provide a room with a coffin on a rent by the hour basis. Clients are offered the opportunity to take turns playing dead while one airs their grievances and is heard in full. Piece of mind is expected to follow.

While the concept is unique and interest in it is huge, when they launch, they unwittingly open a Pandora's box along with the business concept, threatening their investment, their reputations and even their friendship.

A darkly comic series of events involving a series of clients, Allie's daughter Tess and Gwen's Aunt Rowena take them on a rollercoaster ride from hope to desperation.

Along the way, all are forced to face their own demons. Just as the business seems doomed, they discover the concept is not as mad as it sounds, and each of them have been helped by it in unexpected ways.

The cast includes April Martucci (Allie), Carla Valentine (Gwen), Cassidy DeSantis (Ellie/Understudy Tess), Dani Mohrback (Tess), Meeka Brown (Understudy Gwen), Roxie Lee (Rowena), and Trevor Murphy (Ed)

Emma Wood (Playwright) is an award winning, internationally produced playwright. With a determination to write stories both entertaining and thought provoking, Emma's plays have been widely acclaimed by audiences and critics. Her ability to create passionate, substantial roles for actors of all ages delights actors and audiences. She has a particular passion for writing female centered stories and leading roles for older women. Her full-length plays are very different but have common threads: engaging characters of a wide range of ages, sparkling dialogue, and a satisfying story to tell. Emma's plays have been produced by professional and community theatre companies in UK, Australia, USA and Asia. Her full-length period comedy Mr. Bennet's Bride, a prequel to Pride and Prejudice, has been a particular crowd favorite, with eight productions already in Australia and the UK.

Susan C. Hunter (Director) is a veteran producer, director, and playwright. At Write Act Repertory she has produced numerous productions, especially the Women Inventing Theatre series which highlights the talents of female playwrights from the Southern California area. Her own full-length plays produced at Write Act include Karma, the Musicaland Kissinup to Mr. Bliss, as well as staged readings of In the Shadow of a Lunatic Moon and The Nups. She has directed throughout The Southland and was artistic director of The Whittier Junior Theatre, followed by a career as a theatre educator during which she served as president of The Drama Teachers Association of Southern California. Her most recent publication, Life Unresolved and Other Short Plays is available in paperback and audio book.

Tamra Pica's (Producer) theater and television work spans 35 years with credits ranging from prop designer to producer of plays, musicals, dance, and ice shows. She is a resident senior producer and casting director at Write Act Repertory for theater and film projects. As a producer she's developed projects for Los Angeles and Off-Broadway theater, film and digital projects. She's produced over 15 Off-Broadway productions including the long-running Frankenstein, Swing, and Lili Marlene and LA premieres most recently: Path to Catherine. Alongside theater, Tamra's work production, casting, and development television work can be seen for companies such as Disney, Sony, Cartoon Network, NBC Studios, TBS, CBS, MTV, ABC and FOX. TV/Film Producing credits include: America's Prince: The JFK Junior Story, Venice the Series, and she casts projects for theater, film and television in both New York and Los Angeles.

The Brickhouse Theatre is located at 10950 Peach Grove St., N. Hollywood, CA 91601 (off Vineland, just north of Camarillo) Opening December 10th 2022 - January 29th, 2023. Performances are Saturday night at 7:30pm, Sunday afternoon at 3pm. Tickets are $20.00 online from Brown Paper Tickets or at the door. Phone 800-838-3006 / Theatre is heated / ADA Accessible / On-street Parking.

Box office opens 15 minutes to curtain due to COVID Safety Protocols. Please arrive 15-20 minutes prior to show time for on-street parking. Theatre is heated / ADA Accessible / On-street Parking.

PLEASE NOTE: OUR COVID POLICY IS THAT THE AUDIENCE IS MASKED AT ALL TIMES FOR THE PERFORMANCE DUE TO THE HEALTH RISKS TO OUR DEDICATED PERFORMERS. This is a vaccinated workspace.

Under the producing artistic leadership of John Lant since 2003, an award-winning producer and director of over 100 plays in LA and NYC, including 17 Off-Broadway plays. WRITE ACT REPERTORY has produced over 75 Mainstage and 125 original one-act plays in Los Angeles and New York City. Write Act Repertory currently has work on Off-Broadway plays running at St. Clement's, Theater Row, MTC City Center, St. Luke's Theatre, Actors Temple Theater and ATA, in the heart of Broadway Theatre District. This company is dedicated to the development of original plays, lesser-known works by established writers, adaptations of classical-themed materials and musicals. Write Act Repertory also produces rarely seen works and unfinished musicals by composers who passed before their work was completed. www.writeactrep.org

Dancers at a topless dive bar in North Hollywood holding a historic union election expected results Monday. They will need to wait a while longer.

The National Labor Relations Board said Monday that a majority of the ballots were challenged by the club, Star Garden, and the labor board couldn’t complete a tally.

The announcement was a setback for the group of strippers seeking to join Actors’ Equity Assn., a century-old union that represents actors and stage managers on Broadway and at venues such as the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. The effort represents a move by an established union to bring historically marginalized workers into the fold of organized labor.

The director of the board’s Region 31 Los Angeles office will need to determine whether the 16 challenged ballots should be opened and counted. One ballot cast in the mail-in vote wasn’t challenged and one ballot was voided.

The board didn’t reveal the vote of the single unchallenged ballot to preserve the privacy of the person who cast the vote, NLRB spokesperson Kayla Blado said in a statement.

The regional NLRB director could also order a hearing to determine the eligibility of the 16 people who cast the challenged ballots to vote in the election.

An attorney representing Star Garden said the club argues that dancers who submitted ballots were not employed by the business and thus weren’t eligible to vote.

“Those individuals were never employees of Star Garden since our client purchased the business in October 2021,” John Linker of Akerman, the law firm representing Star Garden, said in an email.

Actors’ Equity Assn. President Kate Shindle said Monday that Star Garden owners have continued to deny that dancers ever worked at Star Garden.

One argument Star Garden might pursue is that dancers were not hired as employees but rather were leasing the space under contract, Shindle said. But the union “is confident these [dancers] are employees,” Shindle said.

“It’s disappointing. It’s a delaying tactic,” Shindle said. “We believe these challenges will get dismissed and we’ll keep going.”

Shindle and several Star Garden dancers who have been protesting outside the club for months gathered at Actors’ Equity offices in North Hollywood on Monday afternoon to hear the results of the election.

“We knew this was coming from these employers,” said a dancer who goes by the stage name Velveeta to protect her privacy. There’s “a history of strip club owners wanting to erase our dignity — wanting to erase our existence.”

Although ballots weren’t revealed, “we know how we voted,” Velveeta said. “This is a win. Period.”

If the dancers’ union vote eventually is successful, they would be the first strip club dancers in the country to join a guild since 1996.

The strippers’ election comes amid a wave of union efforts at individual work sites for companies including Starbucks, Amazon and Trader Joe’s — employers that have long staved off organized labor. Broad national unionization rates haven’t risen significantly, pushing unions to seek other ways to expand membership.

Most of the strippers seeking representation have not worked at Star Garden since mid-March, when 15 of the club’s 23 dancers raised safety concerns and demanded better working conditions. Several dancers were fired and for months have picketed outside the bar.

The dancers submitted a petition to Star Garden alleging that management had failed to take “basic steps” to protect their safety and privacy. The petition called for Star Garden to enforce safety policies preventing customers from filming and photographing dancers and lingering after closing time. It urged management to provide them copies of their work contracts and to stop overserving customers who they said get more belligerent when drinking heavily.

Dancers filed seven unfair labor practice allegations against Star Garden that are under investigation by the National Labor Relations Board.

The club’s lawyer said Monday that “a lot of nasty and untrue allegations have been levied against Star Garden. This is a small, family-run business that has always sought to do right by its employees and customers, which includes adhering to all state and federal labor laws.”

The group of protesting Star Garden dancers backed by Actors’ Equity filed a petition Aug. 17 seeking a union election with the federal labor board.

Star Garden’s legal representation argued against proceeding with an election at NLRB video conference hearings Sept. 9 and 15. Star Garden contended that it does not fall under the NLRB’s jurisdiction because it does not generate gross annual revenue of $500,000 or more.

The NLRB disagreed. For the 10-month period beginning October 2021, Star Garden had $424,587 in total revenue, according to an October filing by the director of the NLRB Region 31 office in Los Angeles. Projected through a12-month period, the board found the club’s gross revenue to be about $509,504.

The board ruled Oct. 6 that the Star Garden workers were eligible to be represented by the Actors’ Equity Assn. and ordered the election.

Actors’ Equity has pursued a broader organizing focus in recent months, seeking to make inroads with new groups of workers.

In September, a dozen planetarium lecturers who educate visitors of Griffith Observatory about the night sky filed a petition to join Actors’ Equity.

Actors’ Equity leadership has previously said the union is looking into representing other workers such as actors who assist in medical training, performers at corporate events and improv artists.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The owner of a beloved bookstore in North Hollywood received an outpouring of support from customers and neighbors in the last few days. The future of The Iliad Bookshop was in jeopardy following a Thursday night fire.

"I'm feeling better about it today," owner Dan Weinstein told Eyewitness News Monday afternoon. "The smell, you can still smell it in the room here a little bit. But hopefully it didn't ruin the books."

While the flames didn't go past the metal door, the smoke that penetrated the books' pages threatened to make them unsellable.

"Luckily, the fire department blew out what they could that night," Weinstein said. "They spent a good hour with the blowers on, so that really saved the inventory, I think."

After a witness called in, firefighters found a stack of books ablaze outside and put the fire out, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Weinstein regularly leaves out the stack of books to give away.

"They told me had they not been here when they were, if it had been just a few minutes later, the whole place would have been engulfed," he said. "So, I feel so blessed."

Weinstein, who opened the bookstore more than 30 years ago, is expressing deep gratitude for those who donated to his business, dropped off kind notes, and even cat food for his pets.

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The owner said someone set fire to the back portion of the shop Thursday and left a flyer at the scene.

"It's been five times what we've asked for, what they've contributed. It's just an outpouring," he said. "I feel really loved by the community. So, I don't really know why anyone would do this."

When he first opened shop in the late '80s, he was inspired to name it "Iliad" because there was an "Odyssey" video store nearby. He said flyers were posted on the exterior of his business the night of the fire.

"It's nothing really threatening, but I think somebody wanted their agenda put out there, basic conspiracies I think it is," he said.

Right now, Weinstein does not believe he was targeted over his identity. He does question whether this could be connected to a series of arson fires in North Hollywood. Two people were detained and one person was arrested and charged in connection to those cases in late October. According to county records, the suspect remains in custody. For now, Weinstein is grateful his two cats who were inside at the time of the fire are okay.

His love for literature runs in the family. Weinstein's relatives owned bookstores in Southern California since the 70's, a tradition he's grateful to carry on.

"I can't even express how grateful I am that people have supported me the way they have, both their good wishes and donations and book donations," he said. "Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you so much."

VAN NUYS, Calif., Nov. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagerty, Inc., (NYSE: HGTY) an automotive lifestyle brand and leading specialty insurance provider, announces the opening of Garage + Social Van Nuys, the latest in its growing, national network of enthusiast facilities. Porsche factory racing driver Patrick Long and longtime Porsche restorer Rod Emory, both with Southern California roots, have partnered with Hagerty to launch the new location, which will offer a premium clubhouse and storage facility for Los Angeles area car lovers and collectors.

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The Garage + Social clubhouse will be operated by Hagerty in partnership with two of Southern California's most well-known car enthusiasts: Patrick Long, a Porsche North American Motorsports Ambassador and Luftgekühlt co-founder; and Rod Emory, long-time racer, restorer and founder of Emory Motorsports, a prestige vintage Porsche restoration business.

The two enthusiasts will bring a special perspective on car culture rooted in three generations of car-guys from Burbank and Glendale, two towns that were at the epicenter of hot rod and car culture in the mid-1940s. It's this background that makes the duo the ideal pairing to spearhead the design and build of the clubhouse.

"One of the great things about the car world is that we love to gather, share stories and revel in our shared passion and appreciation of collectible cars," said Hagerty CEO McKeel Hagerty. "Patrick and Rod's extensive careers, gracious personalities and SoCal roots mean that they'll create a great atmosphere for Garage + Social members. The result will be an oasis for car enthusiasts, designed by car enthusiasts. It's a place where members and the public alike will enjoy truly special moments that perfectly complement Hagerty's purpose to save driving and car culture for future generations."

"Rod and I have known each other for 15 years from the Porsche racing scene, and we both come from families that were immersed in SoCal's car scene," said Long, of Westlake Village. "The opportunity to work with Hagerty to create a unique car-culture center was one we had to take. In developing the club we look to embrace all types of vehicles, from exotic European makes to old-school hot rods, classics and muscle cars."

"What's exciting is that Hagerty Garage + Social offers more than just a parking spot for your car," said Emory, of North Hollywood. "It offers a vital social component, as well. One which Pat and I are committed to building into something meaningful for enthusiasts of all kinds. The Van Nuys clubhouse will have an all-encompassing entertainment space that focuses on car culture and welcomes the automotive community. We plan to host coffee get-togethers, track days, rallies, you name it. It'll be a relaxed, fun and dynamic atmosphere that speaks to every car enthusiast."

Garage + Social Van Nuys features climate-controlled, dust-free storage with 24-hour security, personalized service, maintenance and detailing. The 2.5-acre site includes more than 30,000 square feet of car storage which is open now, plus a separate 7,500 square foot, 8-car garage that Long and Emory will transform into the Garage + Social clubhouse in the coming months. It will include space for events, complemented by a cafe and coffee bar. The center's interior design will showcase artwork and photography from the world of motorsports and SoCal car culture. The clubhouse is expected to open in March 2023.

For enthusiasts who don't yet own a car or need storage, a social membership is available providing access to the clubhouse. All Garage + Social members are automatically enrolled in the Hagerty Drivers Club and have access to Hagerty Garage + Social locations throughout North America.

The Van Nuys opening marks the first location in Southern California. Hagerty currently operates Garage + Social facilities in nine cities, including Seattle, Chicago, Toronto, Bedford Hills (NY), Delray Beach, Miami, Palm Beach, Van Nuys (CA) and Culver City (CA, opening soon).

For more information on the Hagerty Garage + Social Van Nuys, click here. For behind-the-scenes access, including build-out progress of the clubhouse, please follow Patrick Long (Instagram) and Rod Emory (Instagram) on their social feeds.

About Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY)

Based in Based in Traverse City, Michigan, Hagerty's purpose is to save driving and car culture for future generations and its mission is to build a global business to fund that purpose. Hagerty is an automotive enthusiast brand offering integrated membership products and programs as well as a specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. Hagerty is home to Hagerty Marketplace, Hagerty Drivers Club®, Hagerty Drivers Club magazine, Hagerty Drivers Foundation, Hagerty DriveShare™, Hagerty Valuation Tools®, Hagerty Media, MotorsportReg, Hagerty Garage + Social®, The Amelia, the Detroit Concours d'Elegance, the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, the California Mille, Motorlux, RADwood, Broad Arrow Group and more. For more information on Hagerty please visit www.hagerty.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

More information can be found at newsroom.hagerty.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect our current intentions, expectations, or beliefs regarding the business. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and may be outside of our control. Some of the factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by our forward-looking statements include: (i) our ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the subject of this press release; (ii) our ability to compete effectively within our industry and attract and retain members; and (iii) the other risks and uncertainties listed in our Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 24, 2022. This press release should be read in conjunction with the information included in our other press releases, reports, and other filings with the SEC. Understanding the information contained in those filings is important in order to fully understand our reported financial results and our business outlook for future periods. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Hagerty