Holy Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church holds religious services and activities for local members of the traditional Armenian Christian community. Established in 1960, the property has grown to include Ferrahian High School, the nation's first Armenian educational institution. The church shares the values of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America.
The Encino Chamber of Commerce has membership from more than 400 local businesses. This nonprofit, the Valley's "premier business community," works to facilitate networking, assembly and open communication. It hosts breakfasts, dinners and special events to keep the business community well-informed and well-connected.
This center is located in Encino Glen. The Monterey at Encino serves a variety of American cuisines and offers full-service catering. It has an available banquet hall, seating up to 350 guests, and meeting rooms available.
Bethel Lutheran Preschool is open to children from 18 months to five years. The school's philosophy is that children learn through play. Little ones are exposed to a number of games and experiences to stimulate their learning process. Bethel's faculty encourages creative thinking and curiosity while they introduce the children to basic reading, math and science subjects. Students are assessed twice per year to track their individual growth.
Hjelte Sports Center is home to four lighted baseball diamonds. It is maintained just for softball and basball use. The fields are mowed and the infield is cared for regularly.
Saint Cyrils Catholic Church of Encino is located at the corner of Firmament Avenue and Ventura Boulevard. Services are offered weekdays at 7:30 a.m., and Mass is given on Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and noon. Confessions are recieved on Saturday between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. The parish also operates a pre-kindergarten-to-eighth-grade school. Free parking is available for parish members.
Hafteh Bazaar is a magazine dedicated towards covering the Iranian community of Southern California. They are a free publication. They have a large variety of advertising space available for any business. For more information, please call or visit their website.
The Encino Community Center is a great facility full of friendly staff and local resources. The auditorium, where the Neighborhood Council holds its monthly meetings, has a seating capacity of 250 and also serves as a community room. The offices of the Encino Women's Club and other organizations are also located in the center.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem is a Roman Catholic church founded in 1950. The church is also home to St. Cyril of Jerusalem Elementary School. Daily masses are held at 7:30am, with three services on Sunday at 8am, 10am and noon. Other services and events are held throughout the week. Religious education, music and youth programs are offered here. The church's music program holds many public performances at the church, hosting guest orchestras and performers.
This church has been serving the community for over 60 years. It added a school in the 1980's. The church has kept up with the times; currently features a rock band that plays Chrisitian music. There is a huge parking lot in order to accomodate the large number of people who visit daily for a variety reasons: the school, rectory, meditation garden, Mass or confession.
Lake Balboa Park, known officially as Anthony C. Beilenson Park, is the San Fernando Valley's answer to New York's Central Park. Lake Balboa, a man-made lake filled with reclaimed water from the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant, is the centerpiece of this urban oasis, which provides city dwellers with endless opportunities to experience nature and to engage in healthy outdoor pursuits.
Parking and public transportation at Lake Balboa Park
Parking is free at Lake Balboa Park and there are several large parking lots on the grounds, which can be accessed through the entrance on Balboa Boulevard. During times of peak usage, usually on weekend afternoons, overflow parking is available in the dirt lot on the northwest side of the park. The Metro Orange Line provides bus service to the Balboa Orange Line Station on the north side of the park at the corner of Balboa and Victory Boulevards.
Best and worst time to go to Lake Balboa Park
Lake Balboa is one of the most popular parks in the San Fernando Valley, so if you are looking for some peace and quiet you might want to avoid weekend afternoons when the park is full of birthday parties and bouncy houses. Early mornings and right before sunset are perfect times to take a stroll around the lake, and if you love cherry blossoms then you must visit in March or April when the 2,000 Japanese cherry blossom trees on the grounds are in bloom.
Admission to Lake Balboa Park
Admission to Lake Balboa Park is free and dogs are welcome if they are on a leash. The park is open every day from sunrise to sunset, but will occasionally close during particularly rainy weather.
Must see/do at Lake Balboa Park
Lake Balboa Park is the perfect place for a family outing with barbecue pits, picnic tables, picnic pavilions and a universally accessible children's playground. The 27-acre Lake Balboa gives visitors plenty of space to enjoy jogging, walking, fishing, boating, remote control boating and bird watching. Bike rentals are available, with a wide assortment of styles on hand including Surreys, tandems and cruisers.
Other places to visit near Lake Balboa Park
Lake Balboa Park is part of the larger Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, which offers ample opportunities for outdoor adventures. Golfers can get in a round at one of three golf courses – Encino Golf Course, Balboa Golf Course and Woodley Lakes Golf Course. Garden lovers and tranquility seekers will enjoy the Japanese Garden, while sports enthusiasts can take advantage of the numerous playing fields at the Balboa Sports Center and the Hjelte Sports Center.
Insider tip for visitors to Lake Balboa Park
The lake attracts an impressive array of waterfowl throughout the year – everything from American Coots and Belted Kingfishers to Snowy Egrets and Mute Swans. While it may be almost impossible to resist the urge to offer the birds some of your sandwich, be aware that feeding the birds is strictly prohibited.
Author's bio: Amy Clites is a writer, content creator, actor and proud resident of the San Fernando Valley. She is also an avid gardener, cook, reader and traveler and writes regularly about these topics and more on her blog ZeitClites and on Twitter at @AmyClites.