¡Hola Boyle Heights! Your community reporter, Alex Medina, is here to cover some of the happenings in and around the neighborhood this spooky time of year.

Find out the latest news from your local news source

Everything you need to know about Friday's East LA Classic

For the 89th time, Roosevelt and Garfield high schools will compete on the field tomorrow in the East LA Classic – this time at SoFi Stadium. Players, coaches and LAUSD officials marked the historic game Monday at a press conference outside Inglewood Stadium, where the LA Rams won the 2022 Super Bowl. Students, families and football fans will experience their own Super Bowl-caliber halftime show with will.i.Bin. and the Black Eyed Peas. Here you will find everything you need to know.

Youth, Immigrants, Formerly Incarcerated People: What It Means to Vote for the First Time

Voting is an obvious right for many, but for those voting for the first time, the November 5 election represents a privilege and an opportunity to be a voice for their community. An estimated eight million youth and nearly four million newly naturalized citizens will be eligible to vote for the first time since the 2020 election, according to national figures. Boyle Heights Beat spoke to three voters from underrepresented communities about what it means to them to cast a vote for the first time. You can read their stories here.

A traffic light has been installed at the intersection where a teenager lost a leg in a motorcycle accident

On March 30, 2023, Joshua Mora, a then 13-year-old Hollenbeck Middle School student, was crossing the street at a marked crosswalk at Whittier Boulevard and Orme Avenue when a motorcyclist struck him in a hit-and-run accident. Mora's injuries led to the amputation of one of his legs. The incident sparked protests from community members and street safety organizations, who called on the city to make the intersection safer for pedestrians. Last week, new lighting was installed at the intersection to increase pedestrian visibility and safety in the crosswalk. You can read more here.

As always, keep an eye on our website and social media channels for the latest news from your local news source!

Events in the Heights

Thursday, Oct. 24th

The Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Halloween Mixer at the Holiday Bar. There will be networking, community building and a costume contest, along with drinks and treats, starting at 5:30 p.m. Later in the day, Holiday Bar hosts “Till Death Do Us Part,” a 21-and-over event with DJs spinning dark wave, funk and hip-hop beats starting at 9 p.m

It's going to be an evening full of soul music at The Paramount. Listen to music from Thee Illusions along with Maria Sanchez and Thee Souldies. You can purchase a ticket online for about $20. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. There are more shows taking place at the venue this weekend, so be sure to check the website.

Friday, October 25th

Ámino Ellen Ochoa Middle School is hosting a Día de los Muertos event open to the local community. The school's students have been preparing for the celebration for weeks by designing altars and making ofrendas for the special occasion. From 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. there will be a variety of activities, contests, community resources and more to explore

Saturday, October 26th

The El Sereno Arroyo Playground will host a pumpkin patch for the local neighborhood. Free pumpkins will be available on a first come, first served basis. Enjoy a variety of activities from pumpkin decorating to photo booths. The event lasts from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m

East LA's Calvary Cemetery is hosting its 10th annual Día de los Muertos celebration, beginning at 11 a.m. with a solemn Mass and blessing of the altars led by Monsignor John Moretta. From 12 p.m. to 12 p.m., participants can enjoy cultural festivities, folkloric performances and more. 5 p.m. The full schedule for the free event can be found here.

To conclude its Día de Los Muertos series, Self Help Graphics & Art will host a Calaca Magnet workshop at the East LA County Library from noon to 3 p.m. Materials will be provided to participants. Space is limited, so register as soon as possible. This is SHG's final seasonal workshop before the 51st Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration on Saturday, November 2nd from 3-8pm at the East LA Civic Center.

Boyle Heights-based store Lie Detector is hosting a Halloween show at 1st Street Billiards with bands ranging from Riot Troops, Los Varukos and Vice Squad to The Germs and Bombshell Rockers. Costumes are welcome. Tickets for the 18+ show will sell for approximately $10 at the door. Doors open at 8 p.m

Sunday, October 27th

LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes celebrates Día de los Muertos at its next Family Day in collaboration with the Regional Organization of Oaxaca (ORO). Celebrate the season by feasting on cultural foods like tamales, pan de muerto, and mole, and enjoy Oaxacan folk dances and art workshops. The event will feature a special “Recuerdos y Retratos” community altar where you can print a photo on site, write a message and add it to the altar to honor your lost loved ones. The free event runs from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m

Don Quixote throws a Halloween party based on the series “The Purge.” The event starts at 9:30 p.m. and lasts until 2 a.m. Costumes for this event ages 21 and up are welcome. Angeleno DJs will play hip-hop and R&B hits throughout the night. You can purchase a ticket online for about $20. Like The Paramount, this venue has a lot going on this season, so keep an eye on the website for more.

We are taking a short break from our event newsletter until mid-September. But don't worry – we'll have a guide to more Día de Los Muertos events coming soon.

Hasta luego Boyle Heights, we are vemos en la calle!