October 12–18, 2026 | Central Valley Edition

Welcome to San Fernando Valley Insider — Central Valley, serving Northridge, North Hills, Van Nuys, Lake Balboa, Valley Glen, Panorama City, Reseda and Granada Hills. This week, explore the Granada Hills Street Faire and Rotary Oktoberfest fundraiser, meet The Open Book in Northridge, discover Chinese comfort food at Northern Cafe, and plan a Lake Balboa outing. We also bring you local civic and education updates, original linked stories, and shelter-pet features. Find dates, places, practical details and links throughout this issue.

The Van Nuys Neighborhood Council has two scheduled meetings during October 12–18: Monday's 6 p.m. outreach discussion and Wednesday's 7 p.m. board meeting. But what can a neighborhood council actually do, and how should residents prepare to participate?

Our Central Valley guide explains where advisory councils fit in city government, why agendas matter, and how tenants, families and business owners can turn questions about their neighborhood into useful follow-through.

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Panorama High School's calendar marks October 12–16 as College and Career Awareness Week. The real opportunity goes beyond a calendar entry: students and families can start comparing community colleges, universities, apprenticeships, technical training and career exploration. Our family-focused guide covers the questions worth asking about cost, credentials, transportation, application deadlines and choosing a realistic next step.

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Featured Local Business: The Open Book — Northridge

There is still something different about walking into a real bookstore. You can pick up a novel you never intended to buy, discover a writer you have never heard of, and leave with a story to talk about. That is the experience The Open Book is aiming to create at Northridge Fashion Center. It is an independently owned bookstore with the personality of a literary treasure hunt.

A shop with character. The Open Book describes its Northridge location as a whimsically designed space curated by enthusiasts of horror and fantasy literature. The selection reaches beyond those genres, offering books for different ages and interests along with antiques and media. That combination gives shoppers a reason to browse rather than rush in for a single title.

More than a place to buy books. The owners emphasize community-focused events, and that matters to readers who want conversation as much as a good story. A local bookstore can introduce neighbors to authors, create a comfortable place to exchange recommendations and give families an alternative to another afternoon spent looking at screens. Its events area makes the shop worth watching even when you are not ready to purchase anything.

What to look for: Explore the book displays, ask what staff have been reading, and check the store's event updates for opportunities to meet other readers. If you are shopping for a gift, tell the staff what the recipient enjoys instead of defaulting to a bestseller. Independent bookstores are often at their best when you invite someone knowledgeable to make a recommendation.

Why feature it? A bookstore is both a retailer and a cultural gathering place. Businesses like this help make Northridge more than a collection of shopping centers and traffic corridors. They give people a reason to spend time locally—and a reason to return.

Visit: Level 2, Northridge Fashion Center, 9301 Tampa Avenue, Suite 126, Northridge, CA 91324. Phone: (818) 701-0047. Hours listed: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Hours and events can change. Explore The Open Book Northridge.

Featured Local Restaurant: Northern Cafe — Northridge

When the craving is for something warm, savory and satisfying, a good dumpling house offers more choices than people sometimes expect. Northern Cafe, at 9305 Reseda Boulevard in Northridge, focuses on Chinese comfort food: bowls of noodles, richly seasoned broths, handmade dumplings and dishes designed to share. For Valley residents interested in exploring local restaurants beyond the usual chain options, it is worth putting on the list.

Start with the dumplings. The restaurant highlights juicy pork dumplings and steamed soup dumplings among its signature choices. The appeal comes from the contrast between the tender wrapper and flavorful filling, while the soup-filled versions offer an especially satisfying bite when eaten carefully—the broth inside can be hot. Bringing a companion makes it easier to order a couple of dishes and compare them.

Or come hungry for noodles. Northern Cafe's official gallery shows a spicy beef noodle soup finished with greens and herbs, a lighter clear-broth beef noodle soup and wonton soup. These are not interchangeable bowls: someone looking for a bold, warming meal may prefer the spicier direction, while another diner might favor a milder broth. Ask about spice levels and menu availability when ordering.

Make it a shared meal. Dumplings, appetizers and noodle bowls create an easy family-style approach, especially with a group that has different preferences. A practical first visit might pair dumplings with a noodle dish and a vegetable side. Check the menu rather than assuming every dish is always offered, and ask staff about ingredients if allergies or dietary restrictions matter.

What makes it local? The Northridge location sits along the busy Reseda Boulevard dining corridor, within reach of residents, students and workers looking for a substantial lunch or an unhurried dinner. This spotlight is based on the restaurant's published menu and contact information, not a claim that our editors personally ate there or rated its service.

Visit: Northern Cafe, 9305 Reseda Boulevard, Northridge, CA 91324. Phone: (818) 477-2238. The restaurant lists service daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; verify hours before visiting. See the official menu, photos and ordering details.

Day Trip of the Week: Lake Balboa and the Sepulveda Basin — A Valley Escape Without Leaving the Valley

There are weekends when the best getaway does not require a packed suitcase, an expensive ticket or an hour of freeway traffic. Lake Balboa is one of those places. Set among the open spaces of the Sepulveda Basin, Anthony C. Beilenson Park offers a stretch of water, trees, picnic areas and trails that can turn an ordinary morning into an outing worth planning.

Start with the lake. The destination is at 6300 Balboa Boulevard, Lake Balboa, CA 91406. The lake's approximately 1.3-mile walking loop provides an easy centerpiece for a visit. You can bring a friend and walk while catching up, bring children and stop to watch the birds, or simply find a bench and enjoy being outside. The pace is entirely yours. Sunrise-to-sunset park hours make a morning or late-afternoon visit practical, weather permitting.

Make a morning of it. Instead of racing straight from the parking lot to the path, allow time to explore. Enjoy the open views across the water, look for differences between shaded and sunny stretches, and notice how the sounds of birds and families replace much of the surrounding street noise. For younger children, turn the walk into a mini nature hunt: count bird species, spot reflections on the water, or photograph favorite trees. The experience is more memorable when people have time to notice the setting.

Bring lunch, not just walking shoes. Picnic tables and barbecue facilities are listed among the city's amenities. Pack sandwiches, fruit, water and a blanket, then choose a permitted picnic spot. If you are meeting a larger group, check park reservation rules instead of assuming that a pavilion or special event space is automatically available. The city requires advance arrangements and approval for certain reservations.

There is more to the basin. The broader Sepulveda Basin includes other recreational facilities, a wildlife reserve, sports areas and bicycle paths. A family that enjoys a short lake walk might plan a separate return visit for cycling or birdwatching. That is part of the appeal: the area rewards repeated visits, rather than requiring visitors to cram every activity into one day. The city lists bike rentals, fishing and other activities at the park; check which programs are operating before promising them to the kids.

Know the rules before heading out. Swimming and direct contact with lake water are prohibited, and paddleboards are not permitted. Fishing is restricted to designated areas and requires a license for people age 16 and older. Dogs must remain leashed where permitted and cannot enter the lake; feeding waterfowl is discouraged. Conditions and operating activities may change, especially after rain, when the park can close.

Parking tip: Enter from Balboa Boulevard and use designated spaces. The city identifies an overflow area during heavy use, but parking on the grass is not permitted. On popular weekends, arriving earlier can make your visit easier. Check the weather forecast before leaving, especially during unusually warm Valley afternoons.

Why this trip earns a place in your weekend: It works for several generations and budgets. Grandparents can take a relaxed stroll, families can spread out a picnic, and friends can enjoy time together without paying for an attraction. Visitors looking for something bigger can use Lake Balboa as a starting point for discovering other parts of the Sepulveda Basin on future outings. It is not a faraway vacation; it is proof that a satisfying change of scenery can be close to home.

Plan your visit: Anthony C. Beilenson Park / Lake Balboa, 6300 Balboa Boulevard, Lake Balboa. Open sunrise to sunset, subject to conditions. Official City of Los Angeles park information and rules | Parking and directions.

Read the full Lake Balboa and Sepulveda Basin guide →