Stop by Peter Shire’s Art Studio (1850 Echo Park Avenue) this weekend to start the holiday season with a photo of your pet with Santa.

You and your pets can take photos with St. Nick this weekend for $10 (or 3 for $25).  There will also be stockings filled with homemade baked goodies for your pet for $10 and all proceeds will go to the Echo Park Animal Alliance.

The photo sessions will take place December 3 from 12 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and December 4 from 12 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact the Echo Park Animal Alliance at (323) 860-DAWG and/or Robert Berryman with Zanya at (323) 664-7615.

Mark your calendars for the Echo Park Trash Abatement Project’s (TAP) upcoming community clean-ups this holiday season.

Volunteers are needed on the following days:

Saturday, December 3, 2011
8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, January 7, 2012
8:00 a.m.to 11:00 a.m.

The LA Department of Water and Power provides rebates of up to $2,000 for new electric vehicle home chargers through its new rebate program.

LADWP residential customers who purchase or lease a qualifying electric vehicle (EV) and install a rapid, Level 2 charger and a separate time-of-use meter at their home  are eligible.  The rebate is also available to residents living in apartment buildings or condominiums as long as they receive permission from the property owner and/or homeowner association.

The rebate is designed to cover out-of-pocket charger and installation expenses (after other discounts and incentives are deducted) for the first 1,000 customers that submit a completed application.  Out-of-pocket expenses include the customer’s final cost for the charger and related equipment, and installation performed by a contractor.

Please visit www.ladwp.com for more information.

As Thanksgiving leftovers near an end, the L.A. Department of Water and Power reminds us to be conscious of our energy use as Angelenos decorate for the holiday season.

This Saturday, December 3, Sustainable Silver Lake presents a free lecture — Helping to Make Los Angeles the Nation’s First Zero Waste City: Hear about what’s being done and how you can help presented by Don’t Waste L.A.

The lecture will discuss the more than 3 million tons of trash Angelenos send to landfills and incinerators every year and how we can improve our waste collection system to reach our zero-waste goal.

The event begins at 11 a.m. at the Silver Lake Public Library (2411 Glendale Blvd.).

For more information on Sustainable Saturdays Free Lecture Series please click here.

Learn to bake with your homemade jams and jellies this holiday season!

The Farmer’s Kitchen is offering a workshop that teaches baking with your favorite jams and jellies — sure to be a treat for your loved ones this winter.

The Cypress Park FamilySource Center will host a Community Resource Fair on Friday, December 2.

Come get a free flu vaccine as well as a dental exam by Kids Kare Dental. The first 150 kids will receive a free back pack.

The  annual Hollywood Christmas Parade will once again step down Hollywood Boulevard this Sunday, November 27 at 6:00 p.m.

The parade will start at Orange Street and Hollywood Boulevard and will feature floats, marching bands, celebrities, Santa, and much more.   Parade Grand Marshal Marie Osmond will lead the parade on the 2.5 mile route.

The parade will benefit the Marine Toys for Tots, which provides toy or books and books to children in need during the holiday season.

Curbside seats are free.   Grandstand seats are also available for $35.

For more information on the parade route, seating and festivities, please visit www.thehollywoodchristmasparade.com

For information on street closures, click here.

For more information on Toys for Tots, please visit: www.toysfortots.org

The Los Angeles Fire Department cordially invites you to the 2011 Most Wonderful Time of the Year Mixer to benefit the Spark of Love Toy Drive.  The event will be held on December 8 from 6:00 p.m. to midnight at Exchange L.A.   (618 Spring Street).

The mixer will feature The Soto Band and a DJ.   There is a $20 entry fee or bring an unwrapped gift valued at $20.  All proceeds will benefit the Spark of Love Toy Drive.  For more information, please contact Captain Henry Olvera at (562) 260-8079 or henry.olvera@lacity.org.

The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation has expanded its free spay/neuter program for pit bulls.

Any pit bull in Los Angeles is now eligible and there is no longer a zip code requirement.

For more information, please contact 213-473-8253.