On October 23rd at 9:30 am over 30 neighbors met at the chess table for Clean Sweep. The Whitley Terrace/Wedgewood Place sound wall is longer than a football field. Pruning these unruly shrubs was a mammoth undertaking. Nobody shied away.

photo by Bob Primes

Reminiscent of 19th Century French painter Julien Dupre. The Hay Harvesters

photo by Bob Primes

Recent high winds caused a cascade of fronds to pile up on Wedgewood Place. Mother Nature created an eyesore, a potential danger, and took away parking spaces. I made a myla311 service request a week ago. Other neighbors may have, too. On Friday and Monday I received notices saying the request was still open.

Tony Sedeno, our community gardener, hauled the debris away Saturday. Beauty and order have been restored. Tony always goes beyond what is expected of him without charging WHCA. He's hardworking and takes pride in his job.

I cancelled the request via the app after calling sanitation and being on hold for 12 minutes. Lesson: use the app not the phone.

Before:

After:

Switching out our garden. If you are interested succulents and/or other plants, please email pattyd@me.com or call/text 323-440-6034.

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Terry Maloy and Simon Bowler live at opposite ends on the sound wall. They kept watching transients slip in and out of the bushes at varies times of day. Tony Sedeno, our community gardener, reported picking up more litter in recent months. The community began trading similar stories. The WHCA board got involved. Cypress and jacaranda trees were ensnarled in agressive acacia branches. A plan of action was needed to discourage vagrants from increasing their numbers.

On St. Patrick's Day 15 neighbors arrived at 9:00 am carrying gloves, sheers, loppers, saws. They pulled green and black bins to the location.

17 green cans quickly filled with trimmings. 5 black cans swallowed clothing, bedding, copies of Baudelaire and Hemmingway, and empty booze bottles and takeout containers.

Thanks go to Terry Maloy, Simon Bowler, Michael Green, David Purdy, Bart Stevens, Kathy Russell, Tim Balzer, Debbie Belgum, John Gittelsohn, Greg Orson, Suna Kwak,…