Neighborhood Council Adds New Arts and Green Committees

The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council has formed two new committees, a Green Committee for environmental issues and a Beautification and Arts Committee to help promote local artists in the area.

“We have such a diverse membership and some really great committees, and I am excited tonight to appoint and create new committees for our community to be involved with,” council President Jill Banks Barad said at Monday night's meeting in the Sherman Oaks Elementary School auditorium.

Barad also appointed Linda Brooks to a vacant seat on the council. Brooks, who runs an Internet business that posts information about jobs, was previously on the council's finance committee. (See the video of her swearing in by Carolyn Ramsay from Councilman Tom LaBonge's office.)

Newly elected council Secretary Carolyn Casavan will head up the Green Committee. Local artist Matthew Plotkin, who was also one of the newly-elected members of the council, will head up the Beautification and Arts Committee.

“I want to help create a forum for Sherman Oaks-based artists and find creative places to display their works locally,” said Plotkin, who is a member of the 11-11 Arts Coalition (www.1111acc.org).

Other committee chairmanships include:

Jeff Ebenstein for the Neighborhood Services Committee;

Howard Katchen, Finance;

Jay Beeber, Government Affairs;

Arthur Hutchinson, Rules & Elections;

Sherry Revord, Outreach; and

Ron Ziff, Land Use.

Anyone can join or offer input into the committees. The meetings are held separately from the overall council meetings. You can reach the committee chairs through the council's Web site at: http://www.shermanoaksnc.org/committees_main.php