As of August 8, 2022 the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD/District) has confirmed 28 additional mosquito samples that tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). This brings the total number of positive samples within the District’s service area to 63 this year. The new positive samples were collected from 11 different communities: Artesia, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, La Habra Heights, Long Beach, Porter Ranch, Rowland Heights, San Fernando, Santa Fe Springs, South Whittier, and Tarzana.

WNV is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no cure for WNV. One in five persons infected with the virus will exhibit symptoms.  Symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea, or a skin rash. There is no human vaccine for WNV, and severe cases can lead to paralysis or even death.

“Vector Control officials will continue monitoring West Nile virus activities and conduct surveillance, inspections, and control measures to suppress mosquito breeding,” said Mary-Joy Coburn, GLACVCD’s director of communications. “We urge residents to do their part by wearing repellent, ensuring that their window screens have no holes, and eliminating standing water from their property.”

West Nile virus is endemic to Los Angeles County, and warm temperatures can increase virus activity and mosquito populations. Visit VectorSurv Maps or WestNile.ca.gov for a comprehensive look at this year’s West Nile virus activity throughout Los Angeles County and Southern California.

Mosquito Prevention and Protection

Mosquito control is a shared responsibility and residents must take an active role in reducing the threat of WNV in their neighborhoods by taking these additional steps:

• Eliminate standing water in clogged rain gutters, rain barrels, discarded tires, buckets, watering troughs or anything that holds water for more than a week.
• Ensure that swimming pools, spas, and ponds are properly maintained.
• Change the water in pet dishes, birdbaths and other small containers weekly.
• Request mosquitofish from your local vector control district for placement in ornamental ponds.
• Wear EPA-registered and CDC-recommended insect repellent when outdoors where mosquitoes may be present.
• Report neglected (green) swimming pools in your neighborhood to your vector control district.
• Share this information with your community to decrease mosquito populations.

For more information, residents can contact the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at 562-944-9656, online at www.GLAmosquito.org, or on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

About GLACVCD
The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District is a public health service agency formed under the authority of the California State Health & Safety Code. Our mission is to reduce populations of public health vectors below nuisance levels and prevent human infection associated with mosquito-transmitted diseases.

New water conservation rules took effect for LADWP customers on June 1 limiting outdoor watering days to two days per week. Customers with street addresses ending in odd numbers may water on Mondays and Fridays and customers with even-numbered street addresses may water on Thursdays and Sundays, before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. 

Now is the time to take advantage of the water- and money-saving rebates and programs we have available to both residential and commercial customers. The less water we use now, the more we have for when we need it most.

We've got this, L.A.!

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9th ANNUAL EARTH DAY CELEBRATION & POSTER CONTEST WAS A GREAT SUCCESS!

Sponsored By Tarzana Neighborhood Council, West Valley-Warner Center Chamber of Commerce, Tarzana Recreation and Parks & Councilmember Bob Blumenfield

The Annual Earth Day Celebration and Poster Contest Award ceremony that was held on Saturday, April 30, 2022 at Tarzana Park was a wonderful success and was well attended by many from the local community. Highlights included live music by School of Rock, food trucks and family entertainment, with many opportunities to learn about living green with organizations such as California Native Plant Society, Santa Monica Mountains Fund, HoneyLove Urban Beekeepers, LADWP hydration station, and Los Angeles Sanitation featured information on recycling, composting and stormwater capture. In addition, L.A. Conservation Corps. gave away more than 150 California Native Trees. Children had fun creating art projects, painting flower pots, planting native California plants, and visiting animals at the Critter Squad station, as well as playing in the inflatable jumpers.

More than 800 colorful Earth Day Posters were on display by local school children that participated in the Annual Earth Day Poster Contest. During the Poster Contest Award ceremony, the schools and students were congratulated, and the schools were presented with $250 art grants and certificates from local officials. In addition, the three students who won the best-of-show poster contest category were awarded brand new bikes that were generously donated by Trek Bicycles Woodland Hills. The four schools that participated in the Poster Contest included: Wilbur Charter for Enriched Studies, Nestle Avenue Charter, Portola Charter Middle School, and Tarzana Elementary School. This year’s Poster Contest theme Go Wild, Create Habitat with California Native Plants! was chosen to educate students about the importance of planting native California plants to support sustainability and provide habitat for local wildlife.

For a more complete list of sponsors and exhibitors you can view the event flyer HERE

The Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance (NCSA) and the Climate Emergency Mobilization Office are launching Cool Blocks, a neighbor-to-neighbor organizing effort that aims to reduce your block's carbon footprint, adopt water stewardship practices, prepare for disasters, and improve the quality of life in your neighborhood.

The NCSA hopes to recruit 200 Cool Block leaders. Team leaders will host neighborhood meetings via Zoom over the course of five months and each leader will receive full training, coaching and support. For more information on how to get involved, please contact [email protected], call 323-660-2780, or visit the NCSA or Cool Blocks online.

Every Drop Counts

Angelenos have made water conservation a way of life, but with the ongoing drought conditions, we are urging our customers to do more. Mayor Eric Garcetti recently announced that the City of Los Angles will move to Phase 3 of its Emergency Water Conservation Ordinance– requiring all LADWP customers to cut the number of outdoor watering days from three to two. LADWP customers with street addresses ending in odd numbers, watering will be limited to Mondays and Fridays. For all customers with addresses ending in even numbers, watering will be limited to Thursdays and Sundays. If approved by City Council, the transition would go into effect June 1. 

We continue to offer our customers rebates and incentives, which helps customers conserve more water and to save money on their bill. We also expanded our water conservation rebates with a 25% increase to our high-efficiency clothes washer rebate, from $400 to $500, as well as a more than 65% increase to our water-efficient toilet rebate, from $150 to $250.

 The less water we use now, the more we have for when we need it most. We’re in the together. Keep up the good work L.A.!

Beginning spring of 2022 the LADWP will be replacing portions of the water mains along various streets in Tarzana. The project will proceed in four phases over a period of 14 months. Come to the March 22,  2022 virtual Tarzana Neighborhood Council meeting to learn more about this project. The link to our meeting is  https://zoom.us/j/95295582252

AMIMAL ALERT-If you have a dog or cat, I want to alert you to the danger of Foxtail Plants. We are having an infestation of foxtails this year...

“The barbed seed heads of the foxtail plant can work their way into any part of your dog or cat, from the nose to between the toes and inside the ears, eyes, and mouth. They can even simply dig themselves directly into a patch of skin. … 

"The danger of foxtails goes beyond simple irritation. Because these tough seeds don't break down inside the body, an embedded foxtail can lead to serious infection for your dog. It can even lead to death if left untreated. … 

"Foxtails travel. Moving relentlessly forward, never back, they can migrate from inside your dog's nose to its brain. They can dig through skin or be inhaled into -- and then perforate -- a lung.” 

Foxtails are also dangerous to cats. 

This article states: 

“Remember, once a foxtail has embedded itself into your dog's [or cat's] skin, it will take a professional to remove it, including anesthetic and a surgical procedure by your veterinarian. Never attempt to remove an embedded foxtail yourself, since you may cause additional infection, pain, and suffering for your dog.” 

Dogs are more apt to get foxtails up their noses because they are constantly sniffing plants and the ground, but cats can get them as well, in any part of their bodies. Removing a foxtail from a dog’s nose may require major surgery. This website has some pictures of foxtails. 

Be careful with your dogs and cats. Foxtails are found in fields, on trails, next to roads, in parks, and even in back yards. Please forward this information to anyone you know who has a dog or cat. 

 By Jeffrey Mausner, TNC Animal Welfare Committee Chair; as first appeared in CityWatch, June 6, 2019 (prepped for CityWatch by Linda Abrams)

More information can be found at WebMD Veterinary Reference, Click Here

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