November 19, 2014 - The Venice Neighborhood Council (VNC) delivered several Land Use permit decisions, including the Chevron at the intersection of Lincoln and Rose and St. Joseph Center at 204 Hampton Dr., at the November Board of Officers meeting held at Westminster Elementary School on Tuesday, November 18.  Additionally, the Board made a number of recommendations on Venice community issues including a proposed ice rink at Venice Beach slated for next winter, visible outdoor dining permits, offsite parking, "mansionization," a proposed free shuttle service and new bathrooms at Oakwood Park.

Toys. . .Santa . . S N O W !!!

Venice, CA (November 13, 2014) - The Great Venice Toy Drive & Holiday Festival presented by the Venice Neighborhood Council, Vera Davis McClendon Youth and Family Center and the City of Los Angeles kicks off on Friday, November 14, 2014.

The Great Venice Toy Drive & Holiday Festival is a two-part holiday event for Venice stakeholders including a toy drive running through December 18 and then, onSaturday December 20, the Venice Neighborhood Council ("VNC") and the Vera Davis McClendon Youth and Family Center ("Vera Davis") will give the toys away to local kids, during a fun-filled day at Oakwood Recreation Center. 

The VNC and Vera Davis will collect new, unwrapped, non-violent toys at various locations in Venice from November 14, 2014 through December 18, 2014.

Toys can be dropped off at: (1) Abbot's Habit, 1401 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; (2) Oscar's Cerveteca, 523 Rose Ave.; (3) Superba Food & Bread, 1900 Lincoln Blvd.; (4) the VNC booth at the Venice Farmers' Market (Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.), intersection of Venice Blvd. and Venice Way; and (5) the VNC's Board meetings on November 18 and December 16, Westminster Elementary School, 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd.

The toy drive will then culminate in a holiday festival to be held at Oakwood Recreation Center on December 20 from 10:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m.  At the festival, children up to sixteen years of age present with a parent or guardian will be able to select a toy.  (First come, first served.)  Children will also be able to take home a book donated by the Friends of the Venice Library.  Santa will be available for photos and kids will be able to engage in arts and crafts or play on a moon bounce or in the snow.  Food will be provided.

This is the fourth year that the VNC has sponsored The Great Venice Toy Drive, created in response to community concerns about the lack of a toy giveaway in the Venice area. 

Mariana Aguilar, one of the toy drive's team members, said: "Last year The Great Venice Toy Drive ensured that over 300 Venice kids not only had a toy for the holiday season, but also had a great day at Oakwood park.  With the help of the Venice community, we hope to make this year's event the best one yet."

The Great Venice Toy Drive is still looking for volunteers.  Please contact thegreatvenicetoydrive@gmail.com if you are interesting in helping.