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58-594: To the north of the Benedict Canyon neighborhood is the neighborhood of Sherman Oaks , to the west is the neighborhood of Beverly Glen , to the east are Beverly Park and Franklin Canyon , and to the south is the city of Beverly Hills . Benedict Canyon is a ravine that drops in a north-to-south direction from its high point at the crest line in the Santa Monica Mountains ; to the east of

116-718: A four-year degree by 2000, a high percentage for both the city and the county. The percentage of those residents with a master's degree or higher was also high for the County. LAUSD schools within the Sherman Oaks boundary include: Charter schools within the Sherman Oaks boundary include: Portions of Sherman Oaks, including Magnolia Woods, are zoned to Van Nuys High School in Van Nuys . Other portions are zoned to Grant High School in Valley Glen . Scott Glover of

174-617: A U.S. Senate subcommittee called Hughes before a hearing in May. Referring to a panel of nutrition experts who had criticized Herbalife in testimony the previous day, he asked the senators, "If they're such experts in weight loss, why were they so fat?" During the hearing, Hughes acknowledged that his own formal education stopped at the 9th grade. When asked during the hearing how he could be qualified to challenge leading medical experts, Hughes responded: "I defy anybody to be able to produce results as this company has." Hughes reached settlements with

232-416: A film museum, but the plan was ultimately abandoned due in part to the $ 700,000 cost of paying off the accrued debts, an additional $ 180,000 needed to collect various artifacts for the museum, $ 500,000 to redevelop the site, and roughly $ 100,000 a year in maintenance costs, all of which would defer city funds for other projects. The bank then completed its repossession of Greenacres and put it up for auction in

290-659: A legal battle against the City of Los Angeles over the latter relaxing height requirements to allow a 45,000-square-foot villa that Mark R. Hughes had hoped to build on the area’s highest peak. Benedict Canyon has a mix of vegetation and growth that is endemic to Southern California : oaks and grasses on the lower slopes, and chaparral and lupine on the higher hillsides. Along nearby Franklin's Creek can be found sycamores , ferns and vines. Evergreens, such as pines, cypresses , deodars and eucalyptus , were planted as settlers moved in, and built homes and parks. Vegetation types within

348-612: A lighted soccer (football) field, and lighted tennis courts. Located in the same place as the park, the Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Pool is a seasonal outdoor heated swimming pool. The Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Senior Citizen Center (also known as Bernardi Center), also on the park grounds, has an auditorium and multi-purpose room; its banquet capacity is 200 and its assembly capacity is 300. The senior center also has two community/meeting rooms; one can hold 50 people and one can hold 30 people. The senior center has two kitchens,

406-652: A lower population density than some other areas in Los Angeles. A partner of the Los Angeles Suburban Homes Company, Gen. Moses Hazeltine Sherman developed Sherman Oaks. The company had subdivided 1,000 acres (400 ha) of land that would become Sherman Oaks. In 1927, each acre was sold for $ 780. Sherman's other major venture was the Los Angeles Pacific Railroad . In 1991, a group of homeowners living in

464-712: A play area, a shuffle board place, a stage, and two storage rooms. The Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Tennis Courts facility in the Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park has eight courts. In addition, the city operates the Sherman Oaks Castle Park Family entertainment center . It features and arcade, batting cages, and miniature golf facilities. The TV series Sherman Oaks appeared on the USA network from 1995 to 1997. It followed plastic surgeon Dr. Sanford Baker and his family as they were filmed by

522-477: A private residential school for troubled youngsters in Running Springs, CA whose origins were associated with Synanon , a group founded in 1958 and later described as a cult. Part of Hughes' CEDU rehab required him to raise money by selling raffle tickets. Hughes became the school's best salesman. "The approval there was based on how much funds you raised," Hughes told People magazine in 1985. "There

580-482: A televised interview that she worked there as a teen. Mark R. Hughes Mark R. Hughes (January 1, 1956 – May 21, 2000) was an American entrepreneur who was the founder, chairman, and CEO of Herbalife International Ltd , a multi-level marketing company. Hughes was born in La Mirada , California on January 1, 1956, the son of Stuard Hartman and Jo Ann Hughes. His parents divorced in 1970, when Mark

638-492: A young documentary filmmaker. The series Never Have I Ever , and Black-ish are set in Sherman Oaks. In the TV series Two and a Half Men , Alan Harper owns a house in Sherman Oaks, from which his wife ejects him. The TV series It's Garry Shandling's Show (1986–1990) takes place in Sherman Oaks. In 2021, Humphrey Yogurt in Sherman Oaks experienced a surge in popularity after Meghan Markle told Oprah Winfrey in

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696-576: Is also part of the Pacific Flyway . As a result, the resident Southern California bird species often share company with neo-tropical migrants and other species, such as Canada geese. There are over eighteen species of snakes and eight species of lizards. The most common snakes are pacific rattlesnake, gopher snake , California king snake, and California striped racer. The rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in California. They seek shade during

754-447: Is an example of neighborhood activism. The BCA is dedicated to preserving the beauty, safety, environment and quality of life in the Canyon. Because of their early efforts, Benedict Canyon remains the only canyon that is 100% residential. The Hillside Ordinance to limit building height at 36 feet (11 m) and stipulate restrictions on set-back, side yards or parking, was a product of Association lobbying and participation. That ordinance

812-610: Is another community grass-roots organization representing about 9,000 residents in the Mulholland-Benedict Canyon area. Going hand-in-hand with the BCA, residents helped to generate the media attention, popular support, and political will that defeated the city's plan to reduce from two to one the number of paramedics available at each Fire Station to deliver emergency care. A number of notable people live or have lived in Benedict Canyon. Some of them are: Bottlenecks on

870-495: Is in Sherman Oaks. Dinah Eng of the Los Angeles Times wrote in 2002 that the park "is a popular site for family gatherings". The park has an auditorium, two lighted baseball diamonds, six unlighted baseball diamonds, lighted indoor basketball courts, lighted outdoor basketball courts, a children's play area, a 60-person community room, a lighted American football field, an indoor gymnasium without weights, picnic tables,

928-589: Is roughly bounded by Studio City to the east, Van Nuys to the north, Encino to the west, Bel Air and Beverly Hills Post Office to the south. As of 2022, according to the Los Angeles Almanac there were estimated to be 66,686 residents of Sherman Oaks. The ethnic breakdown was 64.39% White (non-Hispanic) , 7.10% Asian , 5.62% Black , 0.31% Native American , 0.13% Pacific Islander , 5.06% from other races , and 11.93% from two or more races. 16.18% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of

986-724: The Los Angeles Times stated in 1993 "many Sherman Oaks residents do not have school-age children, and many others send their children to private schools". Private schools include: Los Angeles Public Library operates the Sherman Oaks Branch, also known as the Sherman Oaks Martin Pollard Branch. The library was renamed in 1970, as a tribute to Martin Pollard, owner of a nearby auto dealership. The Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park

1044-587: The Los Angeles Unified School District : 34°05′52″N 118°25′51″W  /  34.097789°N 118.430706°W  / 34.097789; -118.430706 Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles Sherman Oaks is a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California located in the San Fernando Valley , founded in 1927. The neighborhood includes a portion of the Santa Monica Mountains , which gives Sherman Oaks

1102-674: The Oakland Hills fire of October 1991 that killed 25 and destroyed 3,276 residences under similar conditions. The Los Angeles Police Department operates the West Los Angeles Community Police Station at 1663 Butler Avenue, 90025, serving the neighborhood. The Los Angeles Fire Department serves the area of Benedict Canyon. Fire Station 71 and Fire Station 99 serve the Benedict Canyon Area. Residents are assigned to schools in

1160-698: The Santa Monica Mountains range from moist coastal canyon bottoms in the Santa Monica Mountains, to desert transitional areas at the headwaters of the Santa Clara River . With the exception of the areas that border the Mojave Desert , all of the vegetation within the zone is influenced by the effects of the Pacific Ocean . The resulting cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers create a Mediterranean-type ecosystem. By far,

1218-580: The last ice age include white alder , bigleaf maple, and black cottonwood. On slopes, and in valleys where rainfall concentrates, groves of evergreen coast live oaks are common throughout Benedict Canyon. These evergreen oaks provide food and shelter for numerous species of wildlife. Deeper soiled areas in the Santa Susana Mountains, the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains support the deciduous valley oak. A widely dispersed tree in

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1276-429: The state Department of Health , over what they said were false health claims about Herbalife products and the various schemes used to market them. Health agencies accused the company of violating labeling standards and using improper sales practices. Regulators contended that the company was making medicinal claims. Medicines are regulated by the F.D.A., while nutritional supplements are not. Some health experts doubted

1334-408: The 103 fire stations in Los Angeles. Over the last ten-plus years (2015), the maximum number of Red Flag days per year was 12. The normal range is between four and seven days per year. Brush clearance is a year-round responsibility for those homeowners living in Benedict Canyon. Fire officials said that both the foliage and the lack of recent fires in the area are cause for concern, not comfort, noting

1392-490: The 2010 census, according to the San Fernando Valley Almanac , Sherman Oaks had a population of 52,677 people and 25,255 households. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 82% non-Hispanic white, 5% Asian American and 3% African American; 11% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Other races made up less than 1%. The Los Angeles Times reported that the 2000 U.S. census counted 61,166 residents in

1450-439: The 9.15-square-mile Sherman Oaks neighborhood, including a wide swath of the Santa Monica Mountains —or 6,687 people per square mile, among the lowest population densities for the city. In 2008, the city estimated that the resident population had increased to 65,436. In 2000, the percentages of residents aged 19 to 49 and 65 and older were among the county's highest. The percentages of divorced residents and of widows were among

1508-577: The Canyon are its two sisters, Franklin Canyon and Coldwater Canyon . Rainwater percolating over the ancient strata of all three canyons emerges at their lowest altitude as the springs feeding Franklin's Lake and Creek. A cross-section of the land reveals granite of volcanic origin, layered between worn river rocks and ocean-bottom mud. In upper Benedict Canyon are the subdivisions of Benedict Hills, which consists of 107 homes, and Benedict Hills Estates, which consists of 229 homes between Deep Canyon and Mulholland Drive, just east of Hutton. Benedict Canyon

1566-659: The Chandler Estates area successfully petitioned former Los Angeles City Councilmember Zev Yaroslavsky to re-draw the boundaries of Sherman Oaks from Magnolia Boulevard to Burbank Boulevard in the north, and from Coldwater Canyon Avenue to Van Nuys Blvd in the west, with the goal of including their neighborhood. This request was nothing new to the San Fernando Valley; other neighborhoods had either sought to change their names, or sought to attach themselves onto more affluent neighborhoods. Residents in

1624-539: The Los Angeles City council voted to redraw neighborhood boundaries again to allow an area of about 1,800 homes in Van Nuys to be included. The 1994 Northridge earthquake caused damage in the surrounding area. The Community Redevelopment Agency sought to manage the rebuilding efforts. The homeowners in the Sherman Oaks area later won a lawsuit to prevent the agency from managing efforts. The neighborhood

1682-665: The National Register of Historic Places. Meanwhile, Afshani subdivided the remaining 10 acres into 15 lots that he sold for over $ 1 million each. In August 1969, the Tate murders took place in Cielo Drive. Sharon Tate , Roman Polanski 's pregnant wife, and four others were killed by members of the Manson Family at the couple's 10050 Cielo Drive home. The place was later renamed 10066 Cielo Drive, and ultimately

1740-561: The Santa Monica Mountains, and to a lesser extent in other ranges, is the California black walnut. The animal population is pretty much the same as it was 10,000 years ago. Grizzly bears are an exception, as they were killed off by early settlers of the area. The most common medium-sized and large mammals are coyotes, mule deer, bobcats, raccoons, and skunks. Just away from the urban edge, other predators, such as grey fox, mountain lion , American badger , long-tailed weasel, and ringtailed cat, occupy various niches. The ecosystem's top predator,

1798-472: The area argued, however, that the area was originally part of Sherman Oaks, but was labeled Van Nuys instead through the creation of ZIP codes in 1962; a resident produced a property deed to buttress the case. Just a few weeks after the Chandler Estates area successfully seceded from Van Nuys, Magnolia Woods, a 45 block area bordered by Van Nuys Boulevard on the east and the San Diego Freeway on

Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles - Misplaced Pages Continue

1856-525: The bulk of his inheritance would be held in a trust managed by Jack Reynolds (Alex's paternal grandfather), attorney Conrad Klein, and Herbalife executive Christopher Pair. In 2006, the Los Angeles Superior Court ruled to remove Reynolds from supervising a $ 35 million custodianship after finding that he violated multiple probate laws by ceding control to Klein and commingling Alex's personal assets with partnership accounts. Reynolds

1914-435: The city of Beverly Hills Board of Trustees at the time of its incorporation. In 1923, silent film star Harold Lloyd purchased 15.7 acres at the southern mouth of the canyon from P.E. Benedict for $ 100,000. Lloyd built a 44-room mansion on the site that would become known as Greenacres , and helped establish Benedict Canyon as a desirable address. Upon its completion in 1929, Greenacres had a private 9-hole golf course, one of

1972-487: The county's highest. The average household size of two people was low when compared to the rest of the city and the county. Renters occupied 58.9% of the housing stock and house- or apartment-owners held 41.1%. The neighborhood was considered "not especially diverse" ethnically within Los Angeles, with a high percentage of white residents. The breakdown was whites , 73.8%; Latinos , 11.8%; Asians , 5.7%; blacks , 4.4%; and others, 4.4%. Russian (8.4%) and German (7.4%) were

2030-543: The dominant vegetation sub-type is chaparral. Chaparral is composed of drought- and fire-tolerant evergreen shrubs that range in height from four to ten feet. Unless recently subjected to fire, or some other type of disturbance, this plant community is generally too dense to penetrate. Another unique shrub community to Southern California is sage scrub, which varies between coastal and inland types. Sage scrub vegetation contains fewer stout, woody shrubs, and more openings with fine, delicate plants. The expansive valley floors between

2088-502: The efficacy of Herbalife products, saying that in some instances they relied too heavily on laxatives and caffeine. In March 1985, the California attorney general and the state Department of Health Services charged he and Herbalife with making "untrue or misleading" product claims—primarily involving the caffeine content of some Herbalife products—and operating an "endless chain marketing scheme." Prompted by complaints alleging that Herbalife product users had suffered illness and death,

2146-618: The endangered Southern California Distinct Population Segment of steelhead . The Santa Clara River supports these species as well as the federally listed endangered, unarmored three spine stickleback. Some of the upper reaches of the Los Angeles River at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains harbor populations of the Santa Ana sucker and speckled dace . The Benedict Canyon Association (BCA), started in 1948,

2204-670: The following year on May 21, 2000, at his home in Malibu, California. Scott Carrier, of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, said final autopsy results found that Hughes, 44, had ingested a toxic combination of alcohol and doxepin , an antidepressant he was taking to help him sleep. His blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.21. Hughes' then 9-year-old son, Alexander "Alex" Hughes, was named sole beneficiary of his father's estate, estimated to be worth $ 400 million. Hughes's will stipulated that, until Alex turns 35,

2262-438: The hottest summer afternoons and hibernate during the winter. The zone supports five species of frogs, three species of toads, and five species of newts and salamanders. As in most parts of the world, frog populations have declined, probably due to climate change and pollution. The widely scattered perennial streams still support unique populations of native fish. Topanga and Malibu Creeks contain tidewater gobies, arroyo chub, and

2320-446: The house was razed, and another erected in its place. Author and LSD enthusiast Timothy Leary spent the last years of his life in a house in Benedict Canyon, where he died in 1996. Homes range from smaller one-story family residences to large properties. Homes are predominantly single-family and owner-occupied and have two or more bedrooms. The median year in which the homes were built is 1960. In 2000, Benedict Canyon homeowners won

2378-485: The household that falls exactly in the middle of the pack.) The percentage of households that earned $ 125,000 and up was high for Los Angeles County . Los Angeles Fire Department operates Station 88 Sherman Oaks and Station 102 South Van Nuys/Valley Glen in Sherman Oaks. In addition the department operates Fire Station 78, which serves Sherman Oaks, in Studio City . The Los Angeles Police Department operates

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2436-477: The largest pools in the western US, and a miniature English village built for Lloyd's daughter, Gloria. After Harold Lloyd's death in 1971, the property was left to his family, but mounting debt and a delinquency on the promissory note led City National Bank to foreclose on it by the end of 1974. Proceedings were paused as the Beverly Hills city council considered acquiring the grounds and establishing it as

2494-409: The most common ancestries. Iran (14.1%) and Mexico (8.8%) were the most common places of birth for the 26.2% of the residents who were born abroad—an average percentage for Los Angeles. The neighborhood had a median household income of $ 69,651 in 2008, which was high for the city of Los Angeles but about average for the county as a whole. (Median household income reports the amount of money earned by

2552-507: The mountain lion, is present everywhere except the fragmented eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains that bisects the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Because they fear humans, however, they are rarely seen. Also, there are numerous prey species — such as rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice, and other rodents. Seven species of hawks, eight species of owls, peregrine falcons , golden eagles , northern harriers , American kestrels , and white-tailed kite share in this bounty of prey. Benedict Canyon

2610-653: The mountain ranges were plowed and farmed long ago. They are now entirely developed. The precise former native plant cover of the San Fernando , Simi and Santa Clarita Valleys was never adequately recorded. It is suspected that native perennial bunch grasses were dominant elements. Throughout the zone, over ninety-five percent of the native grasslands have been displaced by foreign invasive plants. The most common riparian (stream-related) woodland species are various willows, coast live oak, California sycamore , and Fremont's cottonwood. Less common species that are relics of

2668-621: The nearby Van Nuys Community Police Station at 6240 Sylmar Avenue, 91401, serving the community. The United States Postal Service Sherman Oaks Post Office is located at 14900 Magnolia Boulevard. Richard Close, the president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association, said that in 1978 the neighborhood played a key role in the drive for Proposition 13 and in 2002 was the epicenter of an unsuccessful San Fernando Valley secession movement. Forty-five percent of Sherman Oaks residents aged 25 and older had earned

2726-557: The neighborhood's narrow canyon roads have been noted as a primary concern. As part of the plan, the Department of Transportation tows away cars that are parked illegally on narrow hillside streets on "red flag days," when fire danger is high. When fire conditions reach the critical red flag level — 25 mph (40 km/h) wind and relative humidity below 15% — illegally parked vehicles that restrict access are ticketed and towed. Fire departments notify residents by raising red flags over

2784-563: The painkiller Darvon in her system. Hughes began his career in 1976 at Seyforth Laboratories selling diet products. He spent three years there and was listed as one of the company's top 100 earners. In 1979, after Seyforth Laboratories shut down, he joined Golden Youth, a direct-sales outfit that sells exercise equipment and weight-control products. When Golden Youth went out of business, Hughes decided to start his own operation. In February 1980, aged 24, Hughes founded Los Angeles -based Herbalife International . It has since become one of

2842-502: The regulatory agencies in 1986. To settle his problems with the state, Hughes agreed to pay $ 850,000. At the time, the California attorney general, John Van De Kamp , was quoted in The Wall Street Journal as saying it was the "largest settlement ever attained from a health products company." In 1979, Hughes met Kathryn Whiting, a former Miss Santa Monica, who would become his first wife. They divorced in 1984 and in

2900-522: The same year, he married Angela Mack, a Swedish former beauty queen. In September 1987, Hughes married Suzan Schroder, a former actress, court reporter and Miss Petite U.S.A. In December 1991, Hughes' and his wife, Suzan Hughes, had his sole son, Alexander Reynolds "Alex" Hughes. Suzan filed for divorce from Hughes in September 1997. In February 1999, Hughes married Darcy LaPier , an American actress and model. Their marriage continued until his death

2958-399: The summer of 1975 with an estimated value between $ 1.2 million and $ 1.6 million. Nasrollah Afshani, a retired Iranian businessman and Beverly Hills resident, bought the estate for $ 1.6 million telling the Los Angeles Times that he was "looking at property, shopping centers, to buy". Afshani kept the main house and the 5 acres surrounding it intact, resold it, and in 1984, it became listed on

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3016-495: The west, and between Burbank and Magnolia Boulevards, also successfully petitioned Los Angeles City council member Marvin Braude to secede from Van Nuys and join Sherman Oaks. Petitioners in the area argued that their neighborhood was also part of Sherman Oaks, though they were only able to produce 22 deeds showing so. As a result of this change, Van Nuys Middle School became separated from its namesake neighborhood. Finally, in 2009,

3074-519: The world's largest distributors of Herbalife products through multi-level marketing , with sales of about $ 3.5 billion in 2007 and 2.1 million Independent Distributors. Now in 95 countries and achieving record retail sales of $ 7.5 billion in 2013 according to company statements. In the mid-1980s, Hughes was sued by the Food and Drug Administration , the California attorney general's office , and

3132-427: Was 14, and his mother retained custody of Mark. At this point, the family survived on welfare payments with Hughes' mother suffering from "emotional problems." She battled obesity and tension via amphetamines and sleeping pills. In the ninth grade Hughes dropped out of school and began using drugs himself. "I was a little delinquent," he says. "I got in trouble with the law." At 16, he was sent to CEDU High School,

3190-441: Was a lot of pressure, and I wanted to be the best right away." Hughes was 19 years old and still working for CEDU when his mother died in her apartment of a drug overdose on April 27, 1975. According to the autopsy report, several empty vials of prescription drugs were found beside her bed, and her doctor told the coroner she "was known to over-ingest her prescription drugs." Toxicological tests showed potentially lethal levels of

3248-595: Was a part of Rancho de las Aguas ("Ranch of the Waters"), which also included present-day Beverly Hills . It was named by Edson A. Benedict, a storekeeper and native of Boonville, Missouri , who took a homestead in the Canyon in 1868. With help from his wife and sons, E. A. Benedict built an apiary that was so bountiful that in one year, they were reported to have made a single shipment of 45,000 pounds (20,000 kg) of honey from Santa Monica Pier . One of Mr. Benedict's sons, Pierce E. Benedict, later went on to be elected to

3306-545: Was also the basis of the recent defeat of the proposed villa on top of the Mark Hughes hilltop, an event cheered by many residents. Current and past beautification projects of the Association include the repair and repaving of roads, repainting of guardrails, repair of Upper Benedict Canyon, and a subsidized monthly service of clearing debris and trimming vegetation that spills on the roadway. "Adopt Fire Station 99"

3364-548: Was suspended, but remained one of three trustees until 2013, when a judge in a separate lawsuit ordered the removal of all three for breaching the terms of the Trust by mismanaging the funds. After the removal, Alex chose Fidelity Investments to oversee the fund – a decision that was later reversed in a California Court of Appeal. Mark and Suzan established the Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF) in 1994,

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