Amerikai Magyar Hírlap, 2007 (19. évfolyam, 1-50. szám)
2007-02-02 / 6. szám
Coyotes in the City of Angels The predators come seeking water and food in a residential area near Hancock Park LOS ANGELES, California - Coyotes have been sighted in the city, sitting on the lawns of family homes in Hollywood, crossing the streets in pairs in broad daylight, scaring the residents to death. One homeowner thought two wolves were slinking with their tails between their legs across his frontyard in the darkness. Another thought someone’s unleashed pet collies were trotting briskly down her street’s sidewalk. You see, most residents of a neighborhood between Hancock Park and the Fairfax district had never seen coyotes before. They’ve seen them now — and an invasion of the wily predators has set the residential area in the middle of one of the busiest parts of Los Angeles on edge. A wild member of the dog family, known scientifically as Canis latrans (“barking dog”) because of its yips and high-pitched howls, the coyote can provoke fear. More than 30 coyote sightings have been made in recent weeks in the flatlands bordered by Gardner Street, La Brea Avenue, 3rd Street and Melrose Avenue. Children and pets are being kept indoors. Adults have taken to carefully looking before stepping out of their homes. Authorities offer assurances that attacks on humans are rare. Still, the coyotes have caused concern in the neighborhood. “We see them on street corners and in our driveways,” said resident Jeanne Litvin. “On Friday, a man at Alta Vista Blvd. and 1st Street had to sit in his car and wait for them to leave before he could get out.” Rabbi Abraham Halberstam was startled when he stepped out of his house at 5:30 a.m. and into the path of a pair of coyotes running across his lawn. “He thought he was dreaming. He knew they weren’t dogs,” said his wife, Malkie. A few days later she spied two coyotes sitting on a lawn on Martel Avenue. “I followed them when they got up. They ran down 1st Street,” she said. The coyote that lawyer Mel Teitelbaum saw standing on the sidewalk near his home didn’t look all that wily. “It looked lost. It looked like it didn’t know what to do,” he said. Nearby West Hollywood issued a December warning to its residents of increased sighting of the coyotes looking for water and food there and in Beverly Hills. Jittery homeowners have called 911, as well as City Councilman Jack Weiss’s office, to report the animals. Emergency operators and council aides forwarded the callers to the city Animal Services Department. But homeowners learned that there is nothing the city will do about coyotes. Since 1994 city animal control officers have not trapped coyotes roaming residential neighborhoods unless the creatures are injured or distressed or are attacking pets. Trapping permits are not issued to private citizens. Coyotes trapped by officers are euthanized because state law prohibits their release elsewhere, said Officer Gregory Randall, the city’s wildlife specialist. Residents can call licensed pest control companies to trap troublesome coyotes, but those animals also will be killed, Randall said. Although pets occasionally disappear in the area adjacent to Hancock Park, residents said they were unaware of any being killed by coyotes. But city officials speculated that may be happening. “We get calls from all over about cats and small dogs disappearing,” said Capt. Wendell Bowers, city Animal Services’ wildlife program coordinator. “Coyotes are everywhere — Wilshire, San Pedro. They used to be nocturnal. Now they’re out all the time.” The city experiences an average of two coyote attacks on humans a year, but no such attacks have been reported for about three years, Bowers said. Small children are most at risk. Three years ago police in Simi Valley shot and killed a coyote after it attacked three children playing on a street and then tried to drag a 3 1/2 -year-old boy off his front porch. The animal had grabbed the 34-pound boy by the neck and fled only when the youngster’s mother screamed and scared it away. A fatal 1981 attack on a 3-year-old Glendale girl is the only documented case of a coyote killing a human in the Los Angeles area. Following Kelly Keen’s death, county wildlife officers trapped and killed 55 coyotes within half a mile of her home. Bowers said residents should make coyotes feel unwelcome. “We don’t want coyotes hanging around,” he said. “They should be running when they see us. They should be yelled at or have something thrown at them. They should be scared of us.” Litvin said homeowners in her neighborhood are spreading the word to be alert and to keep garbage cans closed, trees free of low-hanging fruit and pets indoors. Howard Winkler said he searched for photographs of coyotes on the Internet after getting calls from friends who have seen them. Last week he saw his first ones in person. “I was driving west on Beverly Boulevard, and there they were, running north to south. They certainly weren’t stray dogs,” said Winkler, a member of the county Commission on Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs who lives in Hancock Park. He called county animal control officers to report his find. But by then the coyotes had gone. Source: L.A. Times DUNA Travel 8530 Holloway Dr. #102 W. Hollywood, CA 90069 SPECIÁLIS ÁR LAX-BUD-LAX $566.-tól +TX. az ár szeptember 3-tól érvényes Információért hívják ZSUZSÁT TEL: (310) 652-5294 FAX: (310) 652-5287 1-888-532-0168 The English Page of the Hírlap can serve as a bridge between the non-Hungarian-speaking members of the family and the community. Use it to bring people together! Subscribe to the Hírlap! Advertise your business in the Hírlap! If you have any questions or suggestions, please call (323) 463-6376 PETE ALLMAN reports from Las Vegas: Looking Back at Billboard Awards Pete Allman (right) with Floyd Mayweather Jr. & Huel Washington. Photos By: Bennie E. Palmore II Each year Las Vegas is the setting for the celebration, of the Billboard Awards held at the MGM Grand. The official after party is held at Studio 54 inside the MGM Grand. There are however; some big parties which are held at TAO at the Venetian and Pure at Caesar’s Palace which also have their share of celebrities. Sunday, the night before the awards, club “Light” located inside the Bellagio, was also a place were the big names hung out. We caught up with Roger Cross who plays Curtis Manning on the Fox Network’s show 24. Cross said, “Las Vegas is a great getaway to release all of your frustrations”. The young actor from Jamaica never realized he was going to be an actor, he was a pilot before he entered the profession. Rocky Balboa Enhances the Spirit of America In a time and age, where there are few family movies; but lots of action movies. You can bet a Rocky Balboa movie enhances the spirit of America. In talking to Sylvester Stallone, he pointed out that respect and having someone that cares for you; makes all the difference in moving forward in life. That’s exactly what the movie Rocky Balboa does, it shows that no matter what you do in life; win or lose, you give it your best shot. One of the highlights of the evening’s awards was Mary J. Blige (right) receiving a total of 9 awards. Rapper Too Short was elated with the awards ceremony but thinks Las Vegas is the city of the future. “There is no question, that this is the most exciting city on the planet”. ’’Even though Vegas will go through changes it will only be for the better”. He further stated, “Sure we all remember the Rat Pack, you know the old Vegas”, “that’s a memory that will always be a part of Vegas”. “But, it is overshadowed with the new city developments here”. Mayweather Pumped Up for De La Hoya Floyd Mayweather Jr. said, he is “pumped up to fight Oscar De La Hoya” on May 5lh at the MGM Grand Arena. Although the fight is sold out, there should be some closed circuit seating. This fight according to fight experts could be the highest grossing championship fight in the history of the sport. When I spoke to Mayweather, about his dedication as a fighter, he told me that this would have never happened if it wasn’t for God and his parents. For more information you may visit www. celebrity scene, com. MODESTY Truly my name is Szerénke, Though I was never humble. Because destiny, wretched destiny Rooted out all modesty in me. People teased me mercilessly, Calling me this and that name. Not knowing what to call me, I changed my name to Kathy. All my life I tried to smile, To try pleasing everybody, But now as I get older, I am once again "Modest." Szerénke Mrs. Kaprinyák Phoenix, Arizona Február 2, 2007
