WeHo

Two Certifi ed Wildlife Habitats Created in WeHo

BY ANA FIGUEROA

Two WeHo Parks are now Certifi ed Wildlife Habitats.

The City of West Hollywood has created two new Certifi ed Wildlife Habitats through the Garden for Wildlife program of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). The habitats are located at Formosa Park, 1140 N. Formosa Avenue, and Havenhurst Park,

Blood Donations Urgently Needed

BY ANA FIGUEROA

Blood supplies are critically low in the Southland. Los Angeles area hospitals are experiencing assess the situation daily to make sure we shortages of blood products this month. have enough to keep up with the next few According to Armando Romero, associate days' demands." director of Blood Donor Services at Cedars- Romero noted that with supplies so low, Sinai, the supply has remained consistently donations will likely be put to use within a low throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The short time. As a result, more patients will public is urged to make every possible eff ort be able to safely undergo a surgery they to donate blood when possible. need or receive lifesaving medical treatment. "Community blood drives in places like Cedars-Sinai is taking precautions to keep high schools, colleges and churches are donors safe and prevent the spread of the traditionally our biggest source for blood coronavirus, noted Romero. Appointments donations," Romero said. "With these venues are spaced out so that there are fewer donors closed and no longer hosting events like in the donation center at any given time, and blood drives, we're struggling to keep up donation beds are set up to create physical with demand." distancing. Donors must wear masks at all

Romero said that when the hospital can't times when donating blood and are presupply the necessary blood from its own screened for COVID-19 symptoms before blood collection activities, it turns to outside entering the donation center. And there's a sources like the American Red Cross. But bonus: Each donor at Cedars-Sinai receives a increased demand for blood products from free COVID-19 antibody test with their donahospitals throughout the country has caused tion. This test can determine whether the even those sources to run low on supply. donor has ever been exposed to the virus, "What ends up happening is that we although it does not determine immunity. have to piece together blood deliveries Appointments for donating blood from diff erent sources," Romero said. "If, at Cedars-Sinai can be made online at: for example, we need 50 units of Type O https://www.donatebloodcedars.org/index. blood, one source might be able to give us cfm?group=op&es=true&bbsID=3. 20, another might be able to send us 25. We 1351 Havenhurst Drive.

The Garden for Wildlife program recognizes local eff orts to create and sustain gardens that serve as havens for local birds, butterfl ies, and other wildlife. The goal of Certifi ed Wildlife Habitats is to help support the health and reproduction of local mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fi sh, and invertebrates including insect populations such as bees, which are important pollinators in the ecosystem.

“This is one of my favorite initiatives and I'm proud that our City has created two new Certifi ed Wildlife Habitats through the Garden for Wildlife program of the National Wildlife Federation,” said City of West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Lauren Meister. “Not only will this help the City of West Hollywood meet its goals to become healthier, greener, and more wildlife-friendly. Every habitat garden is a step toward replenishing resources for wildlife, such as bees, butterfl ies, and birds. Climate change is real, and each thing we do to help our urban wildlife helps in the fi ght against climate change.”

“Supporting and welcoming back native plants and animals to our City is part of our larger sustainability eff orts,” said City of West Hollywood Councilmember John D’Amico. “And we encourage everyone with a garden of any size to certify their garden as a Community Wildlife Habitat with NWF.”

Backyards, urban gardens, container gardens, school grounds, businesses, places of worship, campuses, parks, farms, zoos, and community landscapes can all be recognized as Certifi ed Wildlife Habitats through NWF. For nearly half a century, the NWF has engaged in wildlife conservation and education across the country. It has also recognized more than 227,000 Certifi ed Wildlife Habitats which cover more than 2.5 million acres.

For more information about participating in NWF’s Certifi ed Wildlife Habitats Program, please visit www.nwf.org/garden-for-wildlife. For more information about the City of West Hollywood’s certifi cation of Formosa Park and Havenhurst Park, including details about plant species and elements that support local habitats, visit www.weho. org/habitat.