Here’s the latest from TheEastsiderLA.com.
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Happy birthday to the Singing Cowboy! Actor, singer and businessman Gene Autry was born on this date in 1907. He helped establish the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in Griffith Park, which opened in 1988 and is now the Autry Museum of the American West.
Now on to today’s news.
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Photo by Gene Mazzanti for The Eastsider
📷 Eastside Scene
Eagle Rock—A full moon became part of this Halloween scene near Yosemite Avenue. Thanks to Gene Mazzanti for sharing the photo.
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📢 News Chase ends in crash
Highland Park—A DUI suspect was in custody today after leading police on a pursuit that ended in a collision near Figueroa Street and Avenue 50. The Eastsider
Police search for suspect
Echo Park—Police searched for a suspect early this morning following a pursuit that began in Downtown Los Angeles and ended at about 2:19 am near Glendale Boulevard and Berkeley Street, according to the LAPD and postings on the Citizen app. The Eastsider
📃 On The Agenda
Here’s a rundown of topics and issues that will be discussed and reviewed at this week’s public meetings and civic events.
Tuesday, September 29
Highland Park—Discuss 2026 Veterans Day celebration, and update on names to be included on a World War II memorial plaque. Neighborhood Council Committee
Montecito Heights—Discuss brush clearance along Griffin Avenue and at Debs Park, as well as among solar panels that belong to Broadview nursing home. Neighborhood Council Committee
Saturday, October 3
Atwater Village—Discuss El Niño preparedness, and how to utilize WhatsApp group organizing for emergency communications. Neighborhood Council Committee
📝Florence Nightingale Middle School in Cypress Park is named after the woman known by which nickname?
The results and comments will be published in an upcoming edition of the Eastsider Newsletter.
Eagle Rock High School senior Irene Lim Maddox has been selected for the 2027 Rose Court.
Image courtesy Pasadena Tournament of Roses
EAGLE ROCKEagle Rock High senior named to 2027 Rose Court
By City News Service & Eastsider Staff
An Eagle Rock Jr./Sr. High School senior has been named to the 2027 Rose Court, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses announced Monday.
Irene Lim Maddox is one of the seven court members selected from a group of 27 finalists.
Maddox told the Pasadena Star News that she’s the first Eagle Rock High student to serve in the Rose Court in more than 50 years.
Maddox leads the Eagle’s Scream’s broadcast journalism team and captains the varsity swim and girls water polo teams. She also founded the Korean Culture Club and serves in Model United Nations and her church youth group. Fluent in English and Korean, Maddox hopes to study English, political science, law or broadcast journalism.
Each court member will receive a $7,500 academic scholarship. The 108th Rose Queen will be selected from the court members on October 28.
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Grammy-winning recording artist and author Kelly Rowland visited Buchanan Street Elementary School in Highland Park recently, where she read to students her children’s book “Always With You, Always With Me.”
Photos courtesy of LAUSD
🎒 School News
This week’s school news compiled by Eastsider Staff
Kelly Rowland shares children’s book
Highland Park—Kelly Rowland, Grammy-winning recording artist and author, was at Buchanan Street Elementary last week, where she read to students her children’s book “Always With You, Always With Me”, according to an LAUSD advisory. The artist, who became widely known in the late 1990s as a member of Destiny’s Child, visited to encourage students to read. Rowland, a PTA advocate, was on campus with Heather Ippolito, president of the California PTA.
Grad student honored
Boyle Heights—A Boyle Heights resident has been named a winner of the California State University Trustees Award for Outstanding Achievement, the CSU’s highest recognition of student achievement, Cal State Los Angeles announced. Edgar Yak-De Padua, a first-generation college student who overcame financial hardship to excel academically, earned a math degree from Cal State L.A. and is now working toward a master’s in math. Padua is one of 22 students from across the state to receive the award, in recognition of superior academic performance, personal accomplishments, community service and financial need.
Middle school educator named a Teacher of the Year
Highland Park—Henree Haitkin, a teacher at Luther Burbank Middle School Arts/Tech/Community and Police Academy Magnets, has been named one of L.A. County’s Teachers of the Year. Haitkin, who teaches physical education, is one of 16 Teachers of the Year named by the L.A. County Office of Education, according to a LACOE news release. More than 70 educators from across the county were nominated for the honor. The 16 educators were recognized during the recent 45th Annual Teachers of the Year Awards Banquet. All 16 will advance as L.A. County’s nominees for California Teacher of the Year.
Oxy, PCC enter transfer agreement
Eagle Rock—Occidental College and Pasadena City College have entered into the first transfer agreement between the two institutions, The Occidental reported. The agreement took effect for the Fall 2026 semester and provides a clear roadmap for students and advisors to follow for those interested in enrolling at Occidental. The agreement spells out general transfer information and guidance related to the transfer experience, along with a list of PCC courses that align with Occidental core requirements.
Cal State L.A. named a best college
El Sereno—Cal State L.A. has made the U.S. News & World Report 2027 Best Colleges rankings for the first time in the National Universities category, the university announced. The designation places the university among the nation’s top 100 institutions. National universities are schools engaged in research and have doctoral programs tied to research activities. Cal State L.A. also ranked No. 22 for social mobility and No. 35 for best value in-state.
🧭 The Guides🗓️ Things to Do
By Jennifer Rodriguez
Tuesday, September 29
🧑🧑🧒🧒Silver Lake—Join Jewish Silver Lake for a Kids Sukkot Puppy Party!
Wednesday, September 30
🧑🧑🧒🧒Highland Park—Get tickets to School House Rocks: RAEGAN and see playful puppets on stage with special guests, Reagan and Vanity at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. 🎶🎭
👋 That’s it!
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—Robert Fulton
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