Granada Hills, CA

Original orchestral piece will be performed for first time in February

GRANADA HILLS, Calif., Sept. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Joyful noise echoed across the Granada Hills Charter (GHC) campus this past weekend as GHC students joined members of the Los Angeles Master Chorale for a day of singing, composing, and music-making.

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The students from GHC's Honors Choir and Chamber Singers worked with Teaching Artists from the Master Chorale's Oratorio Project to develop their own oratorio, a work of orchestral music with choir and soloists that historically replaced operas during Lent and focused on religious themes and stories. Famous examples include Handel's Messiah and Bach's Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248.

"The opportunity to work with a team of amazing professional artists has sparked a new level of creativity from our students," said Dr. Desiree Balfour, chorale director at GHC. "This work has already challenged and inspired them, opening up new ways to think about and approach the music they love. I'm thrilled and so thankful that the Master Chorale provided our students a truly incredible day of learning."

GHC was the only high school in California the LA Master Chorale chose to work with one-on-one this year.

"Having the opportunity to work with music professionals and showcase my ability to write music and lyrics is one of the most exciting things I've ever been a part of during my time at Granada," said Lora Rodriguez, a senior in her fourth year of GHC's Vocal Music Program.

Throughout the day, the students worked with Chorale singers; a lyricist and writer; and one of the country's leading choral composers. Together, they began writing lyrics and composing melodies and harmonies as they brought a new oratorio to life. While oratorios began as an expression of religion and belief, today they take on a full range of subjects while maintaining a strong narrative, soloists, and powerful theatrics. As their topic, the students will delve into a pivotal period in American history that they believe sheds light and perspective on current events.

Their creation will be developed further in the weeks to come ahead of a once-in-a-lifetime performance in February that will feature 10 singers from the Master Chorale alongside the students.

"In the months ahead, our students are going to gain priceless lessons in not just how to create a beautiful work of art but also in how to work together as a team focused on a single, inspiring project," Balfour said. "There is an intrinsic, almost indescribable value to music and art, which I am so glad our students experience, but these lessons will also influence many different parts of their lives, including their studies at GHC and career and life goals. More than anything, though, I cannot wait to experience what they create."

ABOUT GRANADA HILLS CHARTER: Named by the California Department of Education (CDE) as a California Distinguished School based on its outstanding student outcomes, Granada Hills Charter (GHC) is the largest public charter school in the nation and is located in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles County. As a fiscally independent conversion charter, the School has a student enrollment of more than 5,800 walking the breezeways on two sites, the Zelzah high school campus and the Devonshire TK-8 campus. Serving students in grades transitional kindergarten through 12 (TK-12), the School has an annual waitlist of 4,000+ hopeful students seeking the excellent and diverse curricular, extracurricular, and athletic opportunities of a vibrant comprehensive school. GHC's student population is one of the most diverse, with more than 40 languages other than English spoken at home and over 60 nationalities represented. Nearly 50% of students are eligible for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program. As a 501c3 non-profit benefit corporation, the School's Governing Board is the legal entity overseeing all school policy and its $92 million operating budget. GHC is ranked "#1 Best Public Elementary School in California," "#1 Best Charter Middle School in California" and "#1 Best Charter High School in Los Angeles County" by Niche.com in the 2021 Best Schools rankings.

SOURCE Granada Hills Charter

Granada Hills residents have grown frustrated after their street sprung a leak in April.

Yvonne Puttler has tried her best to shovel away the muddy, smelly water that's been collecting in front of her house for months.

"We can't keep up with this," she said. "And it's just a black sludge that we cant get rid of."

She even tried to divert the steady stream of water herself, but it keeps bubbling up from the pavement on Jolette Avenue. Neighbor Susan Winer said she believes all the rain has caused a natural spring to break through.

"I've lived here 54 years and it's not the first time I've seen it," said Winer. "I think it's the job of DWP to have their employees give us some information."

On Monday, Department of Water and Power crews said that tests showed that there is no chlorine in the water, indicating that the leak didn't come from their pipes. They believe it is a naturally occurring groundwater leak.

"It sounds like they're driving through a creek," said Winer.

The Los Angeles Street Services said they also inspected the leak twice. Their crews determined that it was not coming from a sewer or storm drain system.

For now, Puttler, Winer and their neighbors are going to take matters into their own hands until the leak runs dry.

"We're gonna try sandbags to see if we can divert the water and thin it out," said Puttler.

Councilman John Lee's office said they are aware of the situation and is working with LADWP to help the residents.

"We continue relying on the department's guidance on the source of the water and what viable solutions are available to resolve the issue," the office said in a statement.

Jasmine Viel

Jasmine Viel is an award winning news anchor and reporter who has spent more than a decade working in TV on the West Coast.

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To the editor: Joel Kotkin’s and Wendell Cox’s argument that California ought to build entirely new cities in the Central Valley rather than increasing density in urban cores hinges on the notion that many homeowners oppose apartments in their neighborhoods because they think they’ll lower property values.

Multiple studies have proven that apartments do not lower the value of surrounding properties. Why should we spend huge amounts of time and resources on building entirely new cities because wealthy homeowners have chosen to believe something that isn’t true?

In many places, majorities opposed integration because they believed things about people of other races that weren’t true. Should we have given up on integration as well?

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It’s worth noting that the restrictive zoning laws making it difficult to build in many California cities were passed by segregationists a few generations ago, imposing artificial limits on our housing supply that continue to disproportionately impact people of color.

Here’s an idea: Instead of building brand-new cities in areas where nobody wants to live, let’s overturn laws written by racists so we can build in the places where the jobs and people already are.

Truman Capps, Studio City

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To the editor: All this whining about a lack of affordable housing in California seems to totally ignore the number of single-family residences that are rentals.

About 40% of homes in California are rented. The percentage is even higher in cities with greater low-income populations.

Renters have zero financial incentive to keep their homes in good condition; that’s the responsibility of the owners. From what I’ve seen, there are plenty of single-family rentals owned by absentee owners, whether it’s private individuals, banks or investment firms.

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The high proportion of renters also affects the feeling of community, as tenants are less tethered to their homes and therefore their neighborhoods. They’re here today, but they could be gone in a few months.

What would happen to the housing market if landlords were required to sell these homes after a certain time? It would certainly be disruptive for property owners, banks and investment firms, but it would free up housing that could be sold as owner-occupied properties.

John Powell, Downey

GRANADA HILLS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Customers say they're thrilled to be back dining at Casa de Pizza in Granada Hills.

"We've been waiting so long all this time, but I'm glad it worked out," said customer Edith Masongsong.

The small Italian restaurant is known for its famous Sinatra dining room and pasta and pizza dishes. But in early January, Casa de Pizza was forced to close its doors.

"The pandemic kind of did us in as it did everybody and we just decided to stop," said Vito Giovannelli, the previous owner of Casa de Pizza.

Giovonnelli says he thought it was the end of an era for Casa de Pizza.

"It's been 61 years of this restaurant," Giovannelli said.

Giovannelli says his parents opened the restaurant back in 1961 and he officially took over the business in 1994.

"A very important part of the Valley, tons of great customers," Giovannelli said.

But after closing the restaurant, Giovannelli said he was relieved to find out new owners were stepping in and taking over.

"I used to work here 15 years ago and I heard that Vito was closing down and you know I told him I'm more than willing to take over his establishment," said co-owner Eddie Alvarez.

"We took over in early January and we were closed for five to six months due to renovations. So, since opening, we've been busy every single day," said co-owner Joel Guevara.

"We just want the tradition of Casa to keep going. We just want our family restaurant to succeed," said office manager Karla Alvarez.

Guevara and Eddie Alvarez say since they've taken over the restaurant, they've kept the same classic recipes casa de pizza is known for. But they've also added a few new dishes to the menu as well.

"We added a couple more things to the menu, like our fried Brussels sprouts. He didn't have wings on the menu and our pastas, we added our penne alla vodka," Eddie Alvarez said.

"The food is delicious; it takes me back to Rome," said customer Yolanda Bailon.

Guevara and Alvarez say this is a new chapter for Casa de Pizza and they hope the restaurant continues to thrive in the community.

"We hope to just build upon the already Casa De Pizza legacy," Guevara said.

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WALNUT, Calif., Aug. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The highly anticipated opening of the 19^th Island Pacific location has community members in the San Fernando Valley lining up with excitement for the new Island Pacific in Granada Hills recently for its soft launch last Friday, July 28^th. The Grand Opening celebration is slated this Friday at 11am, August 11^th, which will also be streamed LIVE on the Island Pacific Official Facebook Page.

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Island Pacific Granada Hills offers a wide selection of fresh seafood, meat, produce, and specialty items from the Philippines and other Asian countries, as well as a range of non-food items like cookware, apparel, and beauty products. It is more than just a grocery store; it is a place where you can immerse yourself in the rich culture and flavors of the Philippines and experience the warmth and hospitality of its people.

One of the unique features of Island Pacific Granada Hills, similar to its Lake Forest location, is its commitment to promoting Filipino culture and language. The store features beautiful Baybayin translations of words for different food items all around the store, created by artist Krystian Kabuay, the leading expert on pre-Philippine script. Baybayin is an ancient script used in the Philippines before the arrival of the Spanish colonizers, and seeing it displayed on store shelves and signs is a powerful reminder of the country's rich history and heritage. This feature sets Island Pacific apart from other grocery stores, making it a must-visit destination for Filipinos and those who want to learn more about their culture. A mural created by local Filipino Long Beach artist Bodeck Luna is also a must see attraction.

The grand opening of Island Pacific Granada Hills promises to be a one-of-a-kind event, filled with exciting activities, performances, and special guests. The event will feature live music performances from Philippine Prince of Pop Jay R, Consul General of Los Angeles Edgar Badajos, and cultural performers from Kayamanan Folk Arts and Pagkaraguian Kulintang Ensemble. DJ Gingee will also be in attendance, spinning a mix of traditional and contemporary Filipino beats that will get everyone on their feet.

In addition to the grand opening festivities, Island Pacific Granada Hills will offer a range of ongoing events and promotions that will appeal to shoppers of all ages and interests particularly for Bonus Reward Members. From cooking demonstrations and food tastings to cultural workshops and art exhibits, there's always something exciting happening at Island Pacific.

The new location of Island Pacific in Granada Hills also feature several stores in the food court, such as Max Fried Chicken, Crab Mentality, San Honore Bakery, and PhilHouse. These stores offer a wide variety of Filipino food choices that shoppers can enjoy after their grocery shopping.

For those who want to learn more about Island Pacific Granada Hills and its events and products, please visit www.islandpacificmarket.com. Island Pacific is excited to welcome everyone in the San Fernando Valley community and to share the best of Filipino culture and cuisine with them.

[Island Pacific Supermarket is a leading Filipino-American grocery chain, offering a wide selection of authentic Filipino food products and a diverse range of groceries to the Filipino-American community and beyond. With multiple locations across California and Nevada, Island Pacific Supermarket is committed to providing a one-of-a-kind shopping experience that celebrates Filipino culture, heritage, and cuisine.]

SOURCE Island Pacific Market