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Who is Highland Park-Mount Washington's Person of the Year?

If you know someone who made Highland Park or Mount Washington a better place, nominate them here.

Do you have a neighbor who inspires you? How about someone who works selflessly for the benefit for those of us in the Arroyo? They might be Highland Park-Mount Washington Patch's person of the year?

We're looking for your nominations for locals who have worked to to make a real positive change in the neighborhood. They could be a teacher, a volunteer a business owner; anyone you think is making our neighborhood a better place to live.

Give us your nominations in the comments section below or at david.fonseca@patch.com.

Include why you think they should get our honor.

You might also mention the groups they're involved with and who you are, as we'd prefer no anonymous nominations.

Make those nominations by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20.

Then we'll be back at you with a chance to vote.

The winner will be profiled on the site, get a Patch T-shirt, and another special surprise.

I know we have lots of great people in Highland Park and Mount Washington--and a long history of public service and volunteerism--so get nominating.

Who knows we might even pick two--one from Highland Park and one from Mount Washington.

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Kay Osorio December 15, 2011 at 11:42 am
I would like to nominate Angelina Saenz. She is a dual language kindergarten teacher at Aldama Elementary school. Not only is she a dedicated teacher, she is a Highland Park resident too!
Rob Schraff December 15, 2011 at 12:06 pm
How about Judy Knapton, for blowing the whistle on the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council's spending practices and mismanagement? That took real courage, judging by the discourtesy and verbal abuse directed at her that I witnessed last Saturday.
(Although I have to say, Ms. Saenz sounds pretty wonderful, too!)
Joe Walker December 15, 2011 at 02:03 pm
Kay and Rob Schraff have great ideas, although I think it should be someone who did something to affect the most people. Judy K. sounds like a good candidate.
Alice M. December 15, 2011 at 02:58 pm
How about David Fonseca for helping get this version of Patch up and out there--one of the most "F&B" news source available for out local issues in a long time--maybe since the old Highland Park News Journal? (But then, my tree rings are showing). I remember a dozen other since and most had a partisan agenda.
Frank Mackey December 15, 2011 at 03:51 pm
I agree. This neighborhood has largely been a dead zone for the Times and I appreciate the coverage and effort.
Alice M. December 15, 2011 at 05:06 pm
And don't say NO David F. because employees are not eligible. You didn't state that in the rules up front.
But also, didn't Martha Benedict of ASNC make a big point of saying that she and Ms. Knapton were not the whilstle-blowers, that the audit was started by the City and that they just responded.
heidi lesemann December 15, 2011 at 06:15 pm
I nominate Janet Alvarado Dodson for her vision of what the community can be, for working tirelessly with several committees, rounding up other volunteers, thinking hard, bringing people together, never giving up hope, and writing excellent articles for The Patch.
Joe Walker December 15, 2011 at 07:56 pm
I nominate that guy who walks sideways and has a scruffy white beard who has been a fixture at York and Fig for 40 plus years...
Rob Schraff December 15, 2011 at 09:03 pm
Okay, how about Brian Mallman, artist, community member, volunteer, and backbone of Second Saturdays until you-know-who and his staff did you-know-what to him.
David Fonseca (Editor) December 15, 2011 at 09:17 pm
Okay, so far we have nominations for Judy Knapton, Janet Dodson, Angelia Saenz and Brian Mallman. Keep them coming!
Rob Schraff December 15, 2011 at 09:32 pm
All right, perhaps small reward for a mighty contribution, but she is running a fundraising campaign at the moment - How about Pat Griffith, for her selfless and untiring work for some two decades on La Casita Verde and the other locations of the Mount Washington Preschool and Child Care Centers?
Rob Schraff December 15, 2011 at 09:35 pm
A joint a award for Lynette Kampe and Jerry Schneider for their work on preserving and restoring our natural spaces in Mt. Washington, Highland Park, the Arroyo Seco and beyond?
Jen MacLean December 16, 2011 at 02:03 am
I nominate Kay Osorio from Awesome Playground. Her business is inclusive of all the kids in the neighborhood with bilingual signs and bilingual employees. It is the closest "park" to our house and I think it adds some great variety to York Blvd. I also really appreciate her willingness to offer different programs including things from music to parenting classes. It is great to have someone with a business like that committed to offering things that serve and better the community in addition to hosting birthday parties! Thanks for choosing to shine your talents in Highland Park!
Alice M. December 16, 2011 at 07:07 pm
What about Michele Possert, for her tire-less work to reopen the Southwest Museum and also on the Arroyo Parkway?
Cheryl Hansen December 17, 2011 at 03:49 am
I recommend the owner(s) of Fresco Community Market. They give back to the community on a regular basis. They hire the homeless and give to charities within a 3 mile radius of our community.
Alice M. December 17, 2011 at 09:43 pm
Agree with Cheryl. I think I read they live in Mt. Washington.
Marino Pascal December 18, 2011 at 07:09 pm
I'll second Brian Mallman. The second Saturday art night changed the face of York Blvd and Highland Park.
alisa December 18, 2011 at 10:45 pm
Luis Antezana-resident of HP-a student at Cal State LA (political science major), Graduate of Franklin HS (football team), serves on the Historic Highland Park NC; Luis is a student who rallies his peers for the political causes he believes in (hosts a politically oriented Face Book group) and plays guitar. Its young people like him that will be our leaders of the future, that could use our support, so I nominate him. and I second the nomination of David Fonseca.
misty December 21, 2011 at 09:24 pm
Angelina Saenz!!!! She is transforming Highland Park one child at a time. Teaching our children their heritage and culture and preparing them for the future. Her work in developing one of the most reknowned dual language Spanish immersion programs in the City has brought much needed attention and focus to Aldama Elementary, Highland Park and the dual language movement within LAUSD. She is a shining light in the public education system! No one is more deserving!
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
nonoise June 18, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Speeding bicyclist that do not stop for stop signs!! Cite them!! No more stop lights.
Marge Piane June 17, 2013 at 06:37 pm
Yes. And, I suppose you could call me a "newbie", I've only lived here since '87.
nonoise June 18, 2013 at 08:40 am
Dee-Aych, I want peace and quiet too. Tell Divine Saviour Catholic church to shut off their noisyRead More amplified sound system!! Hope everyone else that enjoys forcing Divine Saviour into my home all day long every day and doesn't like fireworks gets a taste of their own medicine, noise!!
AR Meza June 18, 2013 at 01:25 pm
Nonoise, it seems that after all these years of raising the Bell issue you've gotten no support.Read More Why? Did you launch a campaign against it? What did the city tell you?
nonoise June 16, 2013 at 07:16 am
And, a letter sent to the city councilmember would help. And, now CD1 has a new city councilmemberRead More Cedillo starting on July 1, 2013. And, we have a new city attorney starting July 1, 2013. So, make sure to send your letter to the new government authorities. Hopefully they will do more than the old "do nothings".
elmo June 16, 2013 at 12:33 pm
With a new mayor, council person, and city attorney, will the gang suppression/injunction stayRead More intact? Crime went down because the powers that were had grown up around, and knew the horror of gang oppression. So they did something about it. Will the new people continue the policy? Suddenly the neighborhoods felt safer. The rebirth of Highland Park, Glassell Park and even Eagle Rock wouldn't have happened without the gang suppression policies.
JosephR June 18, 2013 at 11:10 am
Often (but not always) this is a voluntary restriction that local markets agree to, in order to beRead More granted liquor licenses. The Eastside is WAY over-subscribed with ABC licenses ... at nearly every "pharmacy" (CVS, Rite-Aid, Walgreens), convenience store (7-11 and AM/PM), plus all the local mom-and-pop markets and event chain stores. You can even buy booze here in the 99-cent stores, at one-off fast-food markets, etc. The start-selling late, end stop-selling early setup is an attempt to curtail some of the transient and homeless overrrun of these retail outlets. Often, you'll see the homeless raid the local recycling blue barrels on the days when pickup is scheduled, get enough credit to buy a morning's worth of booze, and then (by noon) they've passed out in the park. You may also notice that at many local markets -- the "single-serve" options of one (large) can of beer, etc., have been removed from the menu at these stores in order to try to curtail that. It's not a "cure" ... more of a band-aid, but until society addresses the larger problem of homelessness, addiction, and ease-of-access to life-wasting substances, this may be the best we can do . . .
AR Meza June 18, 2013 at 01:20 pm
Sorry to hear that they were Latino...it seems to always be the case around here. Makes me sad.
Jeanne June 4, 2013 at 03:17 am
Just attempted sign-up/payment with Visa on-line; wouldn't go through. Any suggestions? I'm ready toRead More get going, so very ready. Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Linda Filipiak June 4, 2013 at 05:16 am
Sorry you are having issues with this. I just looked at the link and it appears to be working, asRead More others have been able to pay. If you have a paypal account I would suggest trying that instead of Visa. Let me know if that does't work and we will find another option.
Marino Pascal June 4, 2013 at 10:17 am
On Facebook people have personal profiles and family and photos that they may not want to expose toRead More their neighbors. Also what is "Mount Washington"? Mount Washington is a residential community with an elementary school, a semi-open(semi-closed?) museum and nothing else. No restaurants, no stores, no middle school, no high school. It doesn't exist all by itself. It's part of Northeast LA. I think whether we like it or not, all of us in Northeast LA are dependent on each other.
Mark Nishinaka June 2, 2013 at 06:31 am
David was really good, but I think we need to give Ajay a chance to find his groove. Have to giveRead More him credit for not melding Eagle Rock news with Highland Park. I could see that being a problem.
Nimby pimp June 2, 2013 at 11:44 am
I agree. Give the new guy a chance to learn the ropes. It is astounding to hear so much whining fromRead More people about a service they get for free.
A Proud Garvanza Teacher June 6, 2013 at 08:34 pm
Based on personal experience, David was always responsive to emails and genuinely seemed to want toRead More support a variety of organizations, schools, and topics in his selection of stories. I find myself checking out the news on the Patch must less regularly now.
Anne Colburn May 29, 2013 at 10:21 am
I agree, change is good but this new site is way way too busy plus the coloring is too light.Read More Sorry, I no longer read it on a daily basis.
KingSlav May 30, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Comments on the site have dropped precipitously since the new format was rolled out. This follows aRead More drop in the number of daily stories. Does anyone read Patch anymore?
Gma May 30, 2013 at 01:00 pm
Not really I haven't in months maybe even a year! Not very interesting. My daughter hates it too.Read More Keep on losing readers.
KingSlav May 30, 2013 at 12:15 pm
It's not surprising to read this. There are unleashed, untagged, unlicensed chihuahuas runningRead More around my street in Garvanza almost every day. I'm frequently having to call the Department of Animal Services. Irresponsible dog owners are a real nuisance to our community.
Erik May 24, 2013 at 07:31 pm
Just noticed myself the other day. This is across all Patch sites. Very disappointed in thisRead More oversight.
KingSlav June 3, 2013 at 08:14 pm
This new website format really does need an RSS feed. The site is all over the place. Please add aRead More feed ASAP.
nonoise May 19, 2013 at 11:17 am
False? Wrong!! I have the letter as proof. Did "no way, Jose" write the letter? IfRead More patch wants to see it, let me know. It is the truth.
nonoise May 20, 2013 at 08:01 am
I want peace and quiet in my home. "No way, Jose" believes I should not have peace andRead More quiet in my home. That is a dicatator.