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Continue reading →: Safeguarding Your Home in the West San Fernando Valley: Filing No Trespassing Orders with LAPDLiving in the West San Fernando Valley, encompassing neighborhoods like West Hills, Chatsworth, Canoga Park, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, and Winnteka offers numerous benefits, from suburban charm to vibrant communities. However, recent reports highlight a concerning trend of increased property crime in the area. This surge in criminal activity underscores the…
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Continue reading →: Early Motion Picture Industry Rancho Owners of Canoga ParkSeveral early motion picture and film industry stars invested in farm homes or Ranchos in the early years of Owensmouth/Canoga Park in the West San Fernando Valley. They came out here to live the simple life, own chickens, and enjoy the clean fresh country air. It was close to Hollywood,…
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Continue reading →: 1950: Peter Pan Died In A Plane Crash on Sherman Way and FallbrookPeter Pan it turns out was the name of a brave young man that perished, along with his flight instructor, Vince Perron, while taking a flight test. He tragically died just twelve days after his 32nd birthday on March 20, 1950. It turns out the West Valley at the time…
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Continue reading →: Suburban Sprawl -Do You Know Your Neighborhood’s Name?The housing boom was from 1930s to early 1970s. The West San Fernando Valley was prime real estate for suburban sprawl. Many ranches were being converted to housing developments and tract homes built by enterprising developers. The neighborhoods may not have their original names attached to the walls surrounding them,…
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Continue reading →: Canoga Park’s Footwear Trailblazer: The Tinted Toe Revolution of 1934!It was September 11, 1933. The headlines for the Los Angeles Times first page were, “Film Studios Set New Pace”, “And So The Trek Back to Class Begins—All Too Soon”, and “Society Girl and Escort Plunge to Death in Car”. Then, all the way down, in the center of the…
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Continue reading →: How To Get Free Trees
We purchased our first home last March in the West San Fernando Valley and at the time of purchase, new we would have to cut down I’m the big trees lined up next to our home. These trees were nice and tall and provided privacy, beauty, and most importantly shade…
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Continue reading →: What To Do With All Your Empty Wine Bottles and CorksWhether you decide to upcycle to decorate your living space or opt to create a bit of fun for your garden, these ideas will surely lend some inspiration.
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Continue reading →: The Taxco, Mexico – Canoga Park Connection1963 Canoga Park This story begins with Francis Lederer and his wife Marion who were very much into bringing the arts and culture to the Canoga Park community. In October 1963, Francis Lederer started the Canoga Mission Community Art Center. The gallery endeavor was more of Francis’ pet project until…
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Continue reading →: Canoga Park High’s 1946 Red Scare ScandalIn order to get to the meat and potatoes of the headline, we have to go back a bit in history to lay some context to the situation. Communism was then and still is hot topic. I am not a historian, but have a curiosity for history. I enjoy reading…
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Continue reading →: Sugar Beets, Melons, Walnuts Oh My!An agricultural journey of what it was like before Canoga Park and West Hills existed. Owensmouth, CA the name prior to these two towns, was being heavily marketed as “Something doing every minute” and “Just Where a Town is Needed”. The ads ran heavily in the Los Angeles Times. This…
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Continue reading →: Art Culture Did Exist Here In the West SFVYes. You read that correctly. There WAS an art culture here in the far West San Fernando Valley that seemed very much alive. Back in 1963, Francis Lederer was a driving force…
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Continue reading →: Auto Racing Pioneer Barney Oldfield Raced at OwensmouthAnyone hear of Barney Oldfield? I hadn’t until I read an old article in the Los Angeles Times written in 1913. He was quite prolific and a true pioneer in the sport of race car driving. Berna Eli “Barney” Oldfield was born in Fulton County, Ohio in 1878 and died…
Hello,
I’m Jessica
Welcome to my corner of the internet! I’m a passionate aficionado of history, genealogy, fashion, food, and all the vibrant facets of life. Here on my blog, I delve into the rich tapestry of the West San Fernando Valley, weaving together stories that reflect its unique charm and character. Join me on this journey as we explore the past, celebrate the present, and savor the diverse flavors of this captivating region. Let’s embark on a discovery of the West SFV together!
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