A fitting challenge for awning in play yard (Condition Report)

FITTING THE AWNING’S SUPPORT POSTS is proving to be extremely challenging. 

If it is true that the sukkah must fit entirely within both the awning’s posts and its overhead frame, then here are the results after laying out the sukkah frame in the yard today:

[Update added 6/9/25] Various stakeholders consulted about this blog post have replied that the proposed arrangement, while it would obviously compromise the sukkah to some extent, is nonetheless tolerable. This consensus has now been reported to the awning vendor.

Below the jump, I provide links to photos, and more discussion.…

Security/shade covering for play yard: Best design and bid identified (Activity Report)

OUR PLAY YARD is used for many types of activities: as the preschool’s primary outdoor space, as a venue for Shabbat dinners, as the site of our annual sukkah, as the entryway into our sanctuary for wheelchair users, and more. Whatever approach to a security/shade covering that we install to protect the yard, it needs to be flexible enough to allow for all of those uses. It also needs to be durable, because equipment with a short lifespan is a hassle for our busy staff to deal with.

Awning at the Shalom School in Sacramento

That is why we are going with a slide-wire awning design, from a manufacturer of reliably durable products. 

Yet flexibility and durability do not come cheap. Which is why we now need to raise some donated funds above and beyond the amount of the Federation grant that we were awarded last year.

Below the jump, this post describes the selected design and the winning bid.…

Design criteria for the security/shade covering for play yard (Activity Report) [rev. 2/23]

IN COLLABORATION WITH our director of operations and our preschool director, Violet (the project champion) is developing a list of design criteria for the security/shade covering for our play yard that will be installed later this year. The idea is that all vendor bids must meet these criteria, in order to enable a fair comparison among them.

slide-on-wire retractable awning

Below the jump, I spell out that list of criteria (subject to revision upon further discussion), for the sake of review and refinement by all stakeholders, to make sure that we are all on the same proverbial page. I also append a list of my own current questions.

Batteries for the Security Alarm System

OUR ALARM SYSTEM operates with the help of various batteries. Below the jump, this post discusses them and how to replace them (upon seeing a “low battery” warning). It focuses mostly on the main system battery, shown here.

Governmental bodies and a front fence/gate (rev. 6/8/23)

FIVE GOVERNMENTAL BODIES get mentioned as possibly having some sway over a fence/gate in front of Mishkon’s historic sanctuary building. 

Below the jump, this post discusses each one — and what I know about its relevance to our situation.

Finding the appropriate height of a fence/gate

I DON’T USUALLY take selfies—but in this case it’s for a good cause. The question on my mind: how high is high enough?

Here are photos of me standing in front of a 6' gate, a 7' gate, and a 7' fence. (I took these during a recent walk along 11th Street in Santa Monica.)

What the Federation security expert says about best practices for height

JASON DICE, the Federation vice president in charge of the Community Security Initiative (CSI), has consistently taken a balanced approach, in his conversations with me about the height of potential security barriers at Mishkon. 

Below the jump, I summarize and quote his advice.…

From the City’s preservation architect, on permitting requirements for our fence

From email on 5/2/23 by Lambert Giessinger, Senior Architect, Los Angeles City Planning, Office of Historic Resources:

[If] the proposed fence is allowed by-right…, the discussion then comes down to meeting the Secretary [of the Interior’s] Standards [for Rehabilitation]. The main concept here will be that the proposed fence is designed to be independent of the building and be “reversible” despite the fact that it would alter the open plaza in front of the property.

There is a balance to strike between maintaining the historic character of the property while allowing new challenges to be addressed (like security). Ideally, the fence will be as visually open and low as possible. Perhaps, it can have larger sections that open-up the plaza when there are services or events. Undoubtedly, these are the design issues you’re working through now. 

I’m happy to continue the conversation and review the concepts when they are ready.

Installing a “man trap” at the Social Hall doors

A DOORWAY WITH AN ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM functions as a security checkpoint. It is the first line of defense against would-be intruders or vandals. One type of access control system is known as a “man trap.” It consists of a small space and two separately controlled entrance ways, in sequence.

(That name was coined in an earlier era — when the word “man” was used to refer to any person who was in a certain situation, without regard to their gender. As in the boater’s classic distress cry, “Man overboard!”)

Below the jump, this post describes how that security concept would be applied to our Social Hall entrance on Main Street.…

A frontage security option that showcases the façade

ANOTHER APPROACH to enhancing security along Main St. is a 6'-high clear glass fence with 3 gates. The main advantage of this design is that it would minimally obscure the view of our historic building.

Here is a rough sketch. (It doesn’t show details involving the gates and planters.)

(As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it.)

Below the jump, I describe the features of this design.…

Highlights from security expert at Community Forum, 2/1/23

JASON DICE is the Vice President of CSI (Community Security Initiative) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. (Raised on a ranch near Fresno, he served in the Marines for 21 years, then worked for 7 years as an agent for NCIS = Naval Criminal Investigative Service. He also served on the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force, housed at the Pentagon. He has worked at the Federation for the past 8 years.) 

During our community forum on enhancing security along our Main Street frontage, Jason spoke about what CSI does. He also addressed three questions of particular interest to us. Below the jump, I will share his answers.…

How to reduce bad behavior behind our marquee sign

IN ORDER TO REDUCE how often local unhoused residents pee and poop specifically behind our marquee sign, let me recommend that we mount this image on the back of the sign (where it would be hidden from the street).

(As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it.)

There’s good reason to think this measure would make a difference. And if, as a result, Ruben won’t need to hose off the flagstone steps so often, it will not only be easier on him, and it will not only save water, but also the steps themselves will last much longer — reducing our long-term maintenance costs.

Below the jump, I cite the scientific basis for my suggested approach.…

Two options for enhanced security: Sketches

OVER THE PAST MONTH, in seeking to enhance our synagogue’s security along our Main Street frontage, I have engaged with several fence/gate companies and metal fabricators. Last week, I met on site with a rep from each of two companies that do fabrication and custom work. We looked at what’s possible to achieve within the budget.

With pinions you will be covered;
you will find refuge under God’s wings. 
(Psalm 91; RJPS transl.)

Below the jump, I describe the resulting plans, which exist only in rough form so far. Before proceeding further, I am seeking feedback from members of the congregation. Feel free to call me, to discuss. For me, design is an iterative process, so I expect that there will be considerable improvement before the final product.

Draft Plan of Action for a Front Fence

GUIDING PRINCIPLE: Designing a front fence encap­­sulates the fundamental question of what it means to be a Jew in America today. Conse­quently, such a design process has unique potential to engage (or to alienate) Mishkon’s members. 

This post describes the tentative plan for a design process that I have developed with input from committee member Marcy Drexler. (She deserves credit for having read many background reports, and having interviewed the city’s preservation architect, representatives of neighborhood stakeholder organizations, and a local ironworker/welder.) 

The board has not yet received, reviewed, or accepted this plan. It is a draft — and thus subject to revision.

A Front Fence for Mishkon’s Sanctuary?

This post points to my article in the Winter 2022 Galim, which I wrote on 1/9/22. 

https://www.mishkon.org/galim-blog-winter-2022.html?post_id=1297101

(Otherwise, given that Mishkon's website doesn't archive past issues of Galim, you will no longer have access to that article after the next issue comes out.)

Furthermore, that article references a slide show of wrought-iron fences in front of 16 synagogue façades, in chronological order from 1794 to 1921. Unfortunately, as of this writing, the link given is not active. So here is the intended link:

https://ia601508.us.archive.org/8/items/synagogues-and-wrought-iron-fences.-survey-slides.-9-jan-22/Synagogues_and_Wrought-Iron_Fences.Survey_Slides.9Jan22.pdf