DADDY-DAUGHTER PROM
A special night for daughters and fathers

LOS ANGELES – Fathers and daughters can have an exciting and fun-filled time at a special event presented by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

Encino Community Center, a Department facility located at 4935 Balboa Boulevard, in the San Fernando Valley, will hold its seventh annual Daddy-Daughter Prom on Friday, February 17, 2006, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Girls ages 5-10 can dress up and accompany their distinguished paternal escort to this unique prom for dinner, dancing (with music played by a DJ), having their picture taken and more.

The cost is $50 per couple ($25 for each additional girl) and creates a wonderful opportunity for dads to share a night out with their daughters. The event is limited to 60 couples, so those who are interested in attending are encouraged to call the Encino Community Center, at (818) 995-1690, as soon as possible.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jane Kolb: (213) 928-9294, or cell, (323) 816- 6712
Harvey Drut: (213) 928-9296, or cell, (323) 816-6711

2006 GOLF TOURNAMENTS
Events to be held at City courses

LOS ANGELES – The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks will present six golf tournaments in 2006, all held at Department-operated courses, giving players ages 7 to 70 and older a chance to compete at their skill level.

The 2006 tournament schedule is:
· April 8-10 (Juniors, ages 7-18)
· June 3- 4 and 10-11 (Men – age 18 or older)
· July 15-16 (Women – age 18 or older)
· July 27-28 (Senior Women – age 50 or older)
· August 19-20 and 26-27 (Match Play – men and women, all ages)
· October 5-6 (Senior Men – age 50 or older)

All events are conducted by the Los Angeles Municipal Golf Association. Additional information about each tournament and registration materials will be available at www.laparks.org/dos/sports/golf.htm six to eight weeks prior to the competition, as well as at all Department-operated courses.

Entry fees will vary, but most are less than $100. For more information about the 2006 tournaments, call Pete Frey, Golf Operations Supervisor, at (818) 246-1435.

The Department owns and operates seven 18-hole championship courses, one 9-hole regulation course, two executive 9-hole courses, two 9-hole pitch and putt courses, and one 18-hole pony course; it’s the largest municipal golf system in the country. There’s also a junior golf learning center - Tregnan Golf Academy, at Griffith Park. Courses are open for play, conditions permitting, 365 days a year, from dawn until dusk.


MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jane Kolb: (213) 928-9294, or cell, (323) 816- 6712
Harvey Drut: (213) 928-9296, or cell, (323) 816-6711

FEBRUARY 25, 1942?
A historical re-enactment

SAN PEDRO – Fort MacArthur Museum, a City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks facility located in San Pedro, will host a special event to mark the 64th anniversary of a noteworthy World War II era incident, one that has defied explanation for decades.

The Great Los Angeles Air Raid will be commemorated on Saturday, February 25, 2006, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at a site that was involved in the episode. The fourth annual event will include eyewitnesses to the actual unexplained phenomenon that happened just a few months after the attack on Pearl Harbor

The evening’s activities will also feature re-enactors using authentic military vehicles from the period, a 1940s style swing dance, an after-dark searchlight display, and more. Guests will also be able to purchase food and beverages to enhance the outdoor occasion.

The cost is $15 per person for a chance to dress for the time and experience one of the most fascinating and controversial events in Los Angeles history, a night when thousands of people, both military and civilian, were convinced that the city was somehow under fire.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Museum, which is located at 3601 S. Gaffey St. (in Angels Gate Park). Tickets can be purchased in advance, or at the door as availability permits. For more information about the Great Los Angeles Air Raid, call (310) 548-2631.



MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jane Kolb: (213) 928-9294, or cell, (323)816-6712
Harvey Drut: (213) 928-9296, or cell, (323) 816-6711

WHALE FIESTA
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium celebrates 36 years

A free, fun-filled family event celebrating marine mammals, most notably the Pacific gray whale, whose annual several thousand mile migration from Alaska to Baja California passes along the coast off of San Pedro, part of which takes place during January. Activities will include arts and crafts for kids, an inflated whale to crawl through, a puppet show, face painting, and more.

Among the highlights of the day will be the building of a life-sized gray whale out of sand (images of the 2005 event can be viewed at www.cabrilloaq.org/whalefiesta.html) and a “living whale” using people. Guests will be welcome to participate in both activities.

Event sponsors are the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is a Department facility), together with the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Cetacean Society. More than 20 organizations that work to protect marine mammal life will have exhibits and information about their efforts.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jane Kolb: (213) 928-9294, or cell, (323) 816- 6712
Harvey Drut: (213) 928-9296, or cell, (323) 816-6711

UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY
Peace March and Community Empowerment Event

LOS ANGELES - The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, The Los Angeles County Probation Department, Los Angeles Police Department and the San Fernando Valley Coalition on Gangs is sponsoring a community event on Saturday, January 21, 2006 at the Hubert Humphrey Recreation Center in the San Fernando Valley.

The event will begin with a united march against gang violence at 10:00 A.M. with City and State representatives, Los Angeles Police Department Command Staff, members of the Faith Based Coalition and members of the San Fernando Valley Coalition on Gangs.

The one mile march begins at the Hubert Humphrey Recreation Center and will continue north on Filmore Street to Foothill Blvd., east to Van Nuys Blvd., south to Dronfield Avenue, then west to the park. The march should take about 20-30 minutes to complete.

At the conclusion of the march, there will be free food and drinks, activities for kids including an obstacle course, face painting, arts and crafts, skateboarding course, rockclimbing wall, live entertainment and over 18 informational booths to assist parents of at-risk youths with prevention resources.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jane Kolb : (213) 928-9294, or cell, (323) 816-6712

Harvey Drut: (213) 928-9296, or cell, (323) 816-6711

A WHALE OF A WAY
TO VIEW OCEAN LIFE
Annual trip from Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro

SAN PEDRO – Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, a City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks facility located in San Pedro, is offering a chance to take part in an excursion to see marine life, including whales, dolphins, sea birds, and more.

The trip will take place on Sunday, January 29, 2006, and the highlight of the day will be an opportunity to observe Pacific gray whales as they pass during their annual migration between Alaska and Baja California, a distance of several thousand miles each way.

Prior to departure, the Aquarium will host a short slide show and lecture on gray whales. Following the presentation, participants will board a whale-watching boat in Long Beach for a two-hour voyage in search of whales, dolphins, sea lions, sea birds, and more.

The cost is $18 per person ($16 for members of FRIENDS of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium); space is still available, but reservations are required. The slide show will begin at 9:30 a.m., and the day’s activities will conclude at about 2:00 p.m.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is located at 3720 Stephen M. White Dr. For further information about or to make reservations for the whale watching trip, or to receive a calendar of Aquarium events, please call (310) 548-7562 or visit www.cabrilloaq.org.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jane Kolb: (213) 928-9294, or cell, (323) 816- 6712

Harvey Drut: (213) 928-9296, or cell, (323) 816-6711

MILESTONE EVENT
IN CALIFORNIA HISTORY

Reenactment of Articles of Capitulation signing
At Camp de Cahuenga

LOS ANGELES - Campo de Cahuenga, a City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks historic facility located in the San Fernando Valley, will hold its annual reenactment of the signing of the Articles of Capitulation on Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.

Activities will include the firing of a Howitzer cannon, fiesta dancers, a tour of the ongoing onsite archeological dig, troop encampment displays, presentation of a memorial wreath, a 12 flags over California exhibit, things for children to do, refreshments, and more.

The event commemorates the Treaty of Cahuenga, which was executed in 1847. This transaction between Lt. Col. John C. Fremont and Gen. Andres Pico brought about the cessation of hostilities between Mexico and the United States and cleared the way for California and other southwest states to join the Union. This year's theme is “Layers of History”

Campo de Cahuenga's facade is a replica of the adobe that stood on the site at the time of the signing, and contains copies of documents relating to the treaty. Numerous plaques and monuments dedicated to historic figures are also located on the grounds.

The event is co-sponsored by Department and the Campo de Cahuenga Historical Memorial Association. The facility is located at 3919 Lankershim Blvd., near the Metrolink North Hollywood station, across from Universal City. For more information, call (818) 763-7561.



MEDIA CONTACTS: Jane Kolb: (213) 928-9294, or cell, (323) 816-6712
Harvey Drut: (213) 928-9296, or cell, (323) 816-6711