🌱 Clean CA Day At A Dump Site Near You + Griffith Park Drive Closed

Hi all! It’s National Slam the Scam Day; did you know that consumers lost a reported $509 million to scammers in 2022? It's Sylvia, your host of the Los Angeles Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in our community today. Today we'll cover these stories and more...

• 🔥 Top floor burns at Adams and Grand
• 😠 Angeleno Heights takes action.
• 🍜 Get a FREE mini wok today.

💗 Please help us grow! Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can be in the know, like you!

🌤️ But first, today's weather:

Sunshine and some clouds. High: 66 Low: 51.

📢 I'm looking for business owners and marketers in Los Angeles who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations in the City of Los Angeles

• Sinclair at 4661 W Slauson Ave., $4.41
• Costco at 3560 W Century Blvd., $4.45
• ARCO at 9922 S Main St., $4.49

😋 Fair Food Poll!
Fair food is the ultimate cheat meal. Although we all know it’s unhealthy, everyone has a guilty pleasure. Which is your favorite? So far, 40% admit to loving funnel cake, and 12% each love guacamole and candy apples. Another 8% choose cheesecake, corndogs, and tri-tip sandwiches. Finally, 4% each vote for cotton candy, avocados with cheese, and fried cheese curds.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Los Angeles:

1. An L.A. County social services building at the corner of Adams Boulevard and Grand Avenue caught fire on Wednesday morning. The six-story concrete structure's blaze was reported just before 4 a.m., and the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) sent 160 firefighters to battle the flames. Within an hour, they could “confine and extinguish heavy fire throughout the top floor.” Reportedly, the fire started at the front of the building “and then spread all the way to the back side of the building on the sixth floor.” (LAFD, ABC)
2. The latest "Fast & Furious" movie franchise installment comes out on May 19, and Angeleno Heights neighbors are bracing for fans to street race or drive donuts. Authorities went on the offensive by installing traffic delineator posts at Bob’s Market at Bellevue Avenue and Kensington Road. Besides that, locals asked to create traffic circles, add angled parking, reduce lanes on Bellevue, and turn Kensington into one-way south of Marion Avenue. (The Eastsider LA)
3. Dumping is a huge problem in and around L.A. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) wants to help. Each household is permitted to bring one load of “residential trash and junk, including large items” on March 18 and 25 to one of several designated dumping sites. These events run under the heading “Clean California Community Days,” and take place in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. (Los Cerritos News)
4. Councilmember Nithya Raman warned residents on Wednesday that Griffith Park Drive will be closed until Friday. Crews are resurfacing the area between 6:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., which means that pedestrian and vehicle traffic have to avoid the road “from the composting area down to Travel Town Museum.” Workarounds are Zoo Drive and Crystal Sprints Drive. (Councilmember Nithya Raman)
5. Panda Express wants to give you a Lodge Cast Iron Mini Wok today, Thursday. Participating locations will hand out the items between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to customers who “make an in-store purchase of Sizzling Shrimp.” Panda Express has locations at 2011 Westwood Boulevard, 2619 North Figueroa Street, 2919 Los Feliz Boulevard, and 4947 Eagle Rock Boulevard. (Panda Express)

📆 Today in Los Angeles:

• Bring the kids to the Weekly Toddler Playground Playdate at Griffith Park, "Shane's Inspiration" (10 AM)
• Attend a meeting of The Performing Arts and Cultural Affairs Subcommittee at Plummer Park (5 PM)
• Party at the DAME MAS Reggaeton Party at La Boom (9 PM)
• Dance at a Black Queer Friendly Celebration at the Paper Tiger Bar (9 PM)
• See "Hotel" put on at The Pack Theater (10 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Beautiful day in San Pedro for diver training with LAFD Fire Boats 3 and 5. Photo credit: FF/PM S. Dickinson" (LAFD via Instagram)
• "Portable misters will be at all elementary schools by the upcoming summer. We are committed to fostering safe and healthy environments that promote joy and wellness across our campuses." (Los Angeles Unified via Instagram)
• "All students deserve a world-class education. The campus modernization at Taft Charter will support future generations of changemakers. Congratulations Toreadors!" (Los Angeles Unified via Instagram)
• "In collaboration with Gallery 1988, limited edition posters celebrating the library's 150th anniversary were created by graphic designers DKNG featuring 150 classic book titles." (Los Angeles Public Library via Facebook)
• "Looking for something to do this weekend? Try one of our FREE Guided Nature Walks at Nature Centers! Perfect for families, friends or individuals to experience a guided walk through a natural area park while making positive connections." (County of Los Angeles Department of Parks & Recreation via Facebook)

🏡 What are homes selling for these days in Los Angeles?

• Median Listing Home Price $1.1M
• Median Listing Home Price/Square Foot $669
• Median Sold Home Price $900K

Check out more Los Angeles real estate information!

🐶 See adorable adoptable Pets Of The Week in the Los Angeles Area!

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Featured events:

• Vintage Bicycle Show & Swap Meet, plus BBQ - Over Town Brewing, Monrovia (March 11)
• Stunt courses (March 11)
• Hollywood Burlesque Festival (March 17)
• Liddy Clark at The Peppermint Club (March 25)
• 2023 Los Angeles International Flamenco Festival (April 1)
• Add your event

Featured job listings:

• Personal Assistant for Older New Yorkers in Manhattan, NYC (Details)
• Add your job listing

Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you all tomorrow morning for another update.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Los Angeles Patch newsletter? Contact me at losangeles@patch.com