Summer is in full swing, so make the most of the long, hot days and explore all the great things happening in our community. Whether you enjoy picnics, outdoor movie screenings, concerts or exploring the arts, you don't have to look very far to find a fun activity for the whole family. 

Summer is officially here and there are plenty of exciting things to look forward to in the East Valley. That's why we're excited to announce our partnership with the Valley Cultural Center and the Department of Cultural Affairs to bring a brand new outdoor event series to North Hollywood Park, NoHo Summer Nights. 

With the Fourth of July holiday just around the corner, some of our neighborhoods are already witnessing the familiar pops and bangs of illegal fireworks exploding in the night sky. My office has received several recent reports about the possession and use of illegal fireworks in North Hollywood and Valley Glen. I have notified the Los Angeles Police Department and the Fire Department about this issue and asked them to remain watchful and to continue to educating the public about the dangers of fireworks.

LOS ANGELES - This week, the Los Angeles City Council celebrated LGBT Heritage Month to recognize the contributions of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender artists and activists who are paving the way for equality in Los Angeles. Among the honorees were Sara Ramirez, Alexandra Billings, Michael Kearns and  Alexei Romanoff. You can read about this year's honorees here. 

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - This week, dozens of community members joined Councilmember Krekorian at NoHo Arts District's newest dessert shop, CREAM. The ice cream shop specializes in handcrafted ice cream sandwiches made to order with fresh baked cookies and plenty of toppings to choose from.

This week at the grand opening of the Crest Apartments, a newly developed permanent supportive housing complex in my district, I met Randy Brader. Randy joined the military at the age of 17 in 1973 and for nearly 20 years, he served our country in the U.S. Army before he was honorably discharged.

LOS ANGELES - Councilmember Krekorian honored North Hollywood High School on their 18th win at the annual Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Science Bowl Regional Competition.

LOS ANGELES - This week, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce announced the cancellation of the "Los Angeles Turkey Business Forum," scheduled for Thursday, May 25. Billed as a roundtable meeting with CEOs and board members from 12 of the most prominent companies in Turkey, the event was to serve as a way to develop business alliances in LA and Turkey.

LOS ANGELES - Councilmember Krekorian joined Mayor Garcetti at the signing of LA's fiscal year 2017-2018 budget. The $9.2 billion spending plan builds on the city's ongoing work to restore community services, fix streets and sidewalks, prioritize housing and services to resolve homelessness issues, and improve public safety through safer roads. 

You may have heard about the Mayor's Great Streets Initiative and the options being discussed on portions of Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. My office has held five public meetings with businesses, residents and stakeholders on the topic and we've received much valuable feedback. Because this is an important discussion for people in NoHo and the East Valley, I wanted to share with you my letter to the community with my thoughts on the current options.