State-of-the-Art Weather Station Unveiled at Hollywood's Noguera Educational Community Garden

April, 2006
Community members, Councilmember Tom LaBonge and students from Hollywood SchoolHouse celebrate Earth Day by inaugurating a new learning opportunity in their community

Hollywood – At a ceremony taking place this morning, Councilmember Tom LaBonge, community members, students from the Hollywood Schoolhouse, members of the Hollywood Rotary, and Board members of Hollywood Neighborhood Charities celebrated Earth Day by unveiling a state-of-the-art weather station at Noguera Educational Community Gardens.

The weather station will enable students to learn how weather affects plant growth, soil conditions and the environment. Working in the garden, budding botanists will also get hands-on experience in subjects ranging from plant species, the environment and weather, to organic gardening and solar energy.

The funds for the weather station were raised by Hollywood Neighborhood Charities (HNC), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for Hollywood residents and especially its youth.

Said Ferris Wehbe, President of the organization, “The Noguera Educational Community Garden is a success story for Hollywood. Just seven years ago, it was a blighted empty lot. Today, it is a thriving, attractive garden where Hollywood students attend daily classes and build skills in after-school programs. The weather station is a terrific addition to the garden; we even envision that occasional local TV weather broadcasts using its technology.”

The garden is located at the corner of Fountain and June Streets, and is open to the public during daylight hours. A variety of classes and workshops are available by checking www.hollywoodschoolhouse.org/community/garden.html.