Mar
31
Highlands Guy: So you think you’re safe
Filed Under Crime & Police, Highlands Guy's Thursday column, News you can use | 3 Comments
[Dave here] Lately our Highlands Guy’s thinking seems to conicide with recent postings on the blog, even though he started working on the piece befroe the postings were up. Here’s what he had to say about today’s post in his cover e-mail to me:
Unfortunately, the more I look into it Los Al crime info, the more I find I don’t know about what’s happening to our neighbors. And it seems to add some depth to one of the front page stories of today’s Sun. I might add that it’s not as upbeat as many in the past. For better or worse…here ya go.
(Los Alamitos, 3/31/2011) by “Highlands Guy” I would like to share a few pieces of data that I found on the Los Alamitos Police Department website. The information was taken randomly and constitutes only a small fraction of available records.
Incidents reported as occurring in the city of Los Alamitos, from www.LosAlamitosPolice.org:
9/10 /10 Five home invasion robberies in Highlands. None resolved
12/10/10 Attempted car jacking and attempted murder
1/31/11 Purse theft in grocery store parking lot
1/11/11 Woman loses $1200.00 in cash for gold scam as she walked in the Von’s
parking lot.
1/30,2/1 Graffiti on fence
2/2 Residential burglary.
2/5 Assault
2/5 Scratched vehicle
2/22 Auto burglary
2/20,21, 23,25 Commercial burglaries
2/20,2/22 Residential burglary
2/24 Assault
2/23,25 Thefts (3)
2/25 Deflated tires, stems broken. Scratched trunk.
3/17 Stolen vehicle
3/1,3/2 Theft from residences
3/2,3/5 Residential burglaries
2/27,3/2 Auto burglaries
3/15,3/17 Thefts from outside residences
3/13,3/17 Auto burglaries
3/19 Residential burglary
2/27-3/4 Various arrests for outstanding warrants, threatening, in posession of stolen property.
3/25/11 Attempted abduction of an 11 yr old child while riding his bike on Green Ave. Suspect eluded capture.
3/23/11 Overnight at least two vehicle burglaries in the Highlands. One vehicle with extensive damage.
This data might serve as a head’s-up to Read more
Mar
30
3/30/2011: Your comment & reporting on our local papers
Filed Under News Enterprise & other local media | 17 Comments
(Los Alamitos) Time for our regular Wednesday post where you can comment on today’s News Enterprise or tomorrow’s Sun without having to wait a week to see your thoughts in print.
This is also the place for comments & reporting & links Read more
Mar
29
Is crime increasing in Los Alamitos?
Filed Under 2011 Issues, Crime & Police | 2 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 3/29/2011) It’s been months since Rossmoor Highlands mini-crime wave of break-in robberies and the attempted car jacking in the Greenbrooks. Iin the last few weeks, however, I’ve received several e-mails from residents concerned about crime in their neighborhoods.
In addition, last Friday evening an eleven year old boy was accosted in an attempted child abduction while riding his bike on the 4000 block of Green. (Suspect not apprehended, described as white male, 5’10″ Read more
Mar
29
(Los Alamitos) Now that it stays light until 6:30 or 7:00 I’ve enjoyed actually being able to see what I’m eating at Los Alamitos’ weekly Tuesday night food truck round-up.
They’ve got 7 lined up tonight, including a couple newbies.
Here’s tonight’s food truck lineup from Peter of Los Al’s My Gear Store:
Looks as if we have ourselves another full lot tonight.
Residents
Guests
Tonight’s showcase is epic! Of course our resident trucks will be here tonight along with guests, ChompChompNation, TapaBoyLA, ShortStopBBQ, TheOC Read more
Mar
26
(Los Alamitos, 3/26/2011) [JM Ivler put up a lengthy comment elsewhere reporting from his perspective on a meeting he attended today featuring Los Alamitos Congressman Ed Royce. Although I don't necessarily agree with JM's perspective, I think it's worth reporting, and rather than let it languish under a post on local issues, I'm moving it here as a stand-alone post, and also to facilitate a coherent comment thread--D.E.]
by J. M. Ivler: It was an interesting day today listening to Representative Royce.
I should start off by stating that there was a very mixed crowd there. Democrats, Republicans, anti-war and even birthers.
One of the reasons I like to go to these events is to see what Representative Royce sees as “important”, and I was not surprised to see that on the top of his list was the deficit (where was he after Clinton, when Bush blew it out of the water?).
Representative Royce presented two items to speak to. The first was a quote from Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs,”I think the biggest threat we have to our national security is our debt.”
Well for 2010 the DOD budget is $1.415 Trillion Dollars. Using 2009 dollars, if you pile all of the worlds defense spending into a pile, the US spent Read more
Mar
25
Los Al’s new Cottonwood Lake, plus Mt. Baldy update
Filed Under News you can use, Parks and Recreation | 1 Comment
Kids enjoying Los Al's newest water feature yesterday
(Los Alamitos 3/25/2011) With a little help from Mother Nature and a malfunctioning drain, a couple of local kids got to enjoy a day at the Lake right here in Los Alamitos yesterday.
I happened across this year’s “Cottonwood Lake” when I rode my bike over to the Park for a between-storms run. I briefly considered turning my workout into a triathlon by adding a swim in the new Lake, but the Read more
Mar
24
Rossmoor Team responds to Troy Edgar’s “defamatory remarks”
Filed Under City Council Meetings, Rossmoor, Troy Edgar | 17 Comments
(3/24/2011) Rossmoor’s Predator Management Team responded by fax to remarks by Los Alamitos Mayor pro tem Troy Edgar that they consider “false, degrading and defamatory,” demanding an apology.
Here’s the message that was sent by fax and e-mail to all five Los Al City Council Members and to City Manager Jeff Edwards:
March 24, 2011Via Facsimile & EmailKenneth Stephens, MayorJeffrey L. Stewart, City ManagerTroy D. Edgar, Mayor Pro TemGerri Graham-Mejia, City Council MemberWarren Kusumoto, City Council MemberMarilynn M. Poe, City Council MemberCity of Los Alamitos3191 Katella AvenueLos Alamitos, Ca 90720Re: Defamatory Remarks of Troy D. Edgar, Mayor Pro TemDear Mayor Stephens, et al.:We have reviewed the March 21, 2011 City Council Meeting wherein Tory D. Edgar, Mayor Pro Tem publicly instituted false, degrading and defamatory remarks regarding the Rossmoor Predator Management Team aired by public television. Our Team consists of 500 + neighbors in Rossmoor. On their behalf, we are demanding a public apology by Mr. Edgar regarding RPMT. We have documents which fully confirm and state our position as not being a political arm of the Rossmoor Community Service District as announced by Mr. Edgar. Mr. Edgar publicly humiliated our members and community with his false statements.DEMAND IS HEREBY made that Mayor Pro Tem Edgar immediately issue an email publicly apologizing to RPMT and on April 21 at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem, Troy D. Edgar, publicly apologize on public television for his Read more
Mar
24
Highlands Guy on “Senior Power”
Filed Under 2011 Issues, Highlands Guy's Thursday column, Parks and Recreation, Seniors | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos, 3/24/2011) Good questions and innovative proposals on another timely issue from our Thursday columnist,the Highlands Guy.
Mar
23
Your comments & reporting on our local papers & media
Filed Under 2011 Issues, LosAl TV, News Enterprise & other local media | 4 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 3/24/2011) Once again it’s your weekly Wednesday opportunity to turn our local print media into a virtual town hall in real time.
If you find something of interest in today’s News Enterprise, tomorrow’s Sun, any of this week’s OC Registers, Peres Telegrams, or L.A. Times, LosAl TV, or any of our local blogs or websites, this is your place to report and discuss it. . . until next Wednesday.
Please report what you’re commenting on for those who may have missed it, link it if it’s online, and try to keep the tone issues focused and the language Read more
Mar
21
Your reporting: Did Edgar “dis” Rossmoor at last night’s Los Al’s Council Meeting? 3/21/11
Filed Under City Council Meetings | 26 Comments
3/22 1 p.m. update: So far the most controversial aspects of last night’s 2 Los Alamitos City Council meetings appear to relate to Mayor Pro Tem Edgar & Mayor Stephens’ treatment of Rossmoor’s Community Services District President, so I’ve modified the title of our regular “your reporting” post to more accurately reflect the comments to this point. To skip directly to the comments, click here.
(Los Alamitos, 3/21/2011) Once again it’s your turn to be the reporter, whether watching in person, on LosAlTV3 live or delayed. Now that we’re configured for mobile apps you can even report live from the meeting itself!
Please include a brief description of what you’re commenting on–many of our readers don’t have access to LosAlTV3.
Click here for the agenda for the 5:30 p.m. special meeting on LosAl TV3. Scroll down for the staff report. This agenda is in .pdf format.
Click here for the agenda for the 7 p.m. regular meeting, complete with links to all staff reports.
In your comments, please focus on Read more
Mar
20
Psunday Psalm: The earthquake hymn
Filed Under Inspiration, Sunday Sermons, Songs & Stories, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
(3/20/2011)The devastation of Japan’s recent earthquake and resulting tsunami should put a certain amount of fear or at least concern in every Californian. Certainly in those of us in Los Alamitos, living between the famed San Andreas Fault and the Inglewood-Newport Fault that destroyed much of Long Beach in 1933.
If you, like me, are updating your earthquake preparedness supplies, you might just want to include a copy of the ancient Hebrew hymn that almost seems like it was composed for Californians, or anyone whose world is being shaken by forces beyond their control (bolding mine, the term “Selah” is probably a call for a musical interlude. Some commentators translate it “pause, and consider that!”):
Psalm 46: God Is Our Fortress
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. [1] A Song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present [2] help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah Read more
Mar
17
Los Al TV, Rossmoor & more at 2 Los Al Council meetings this Monday, 3/ 21
Filed Under City Council Meetings, Rossmoor | 2 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 3/17/2011) With City Hall again “dark” the Friday before the City Council Meeting, Monday’s agendas are already posted for both the 5 P. M. Special Meeting discussing “the future direction, . . . .structure & governance” of Los Al TV. as well as the 7 P.M. regular meeting.
The Regular meeting includes Read more
Mar
17
A great idea from our “Highlands Guy?”
Filed Under City Council, Education & Schools, Highlands Guy's Thursday column | 4 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 3/17/2011) This time I think our Thursday columnist has come up with a great idea that everyone should be able to support.
Or maybe not. You decide.
CITY COUNCIL AIDES
by “Highlands Guy:” To be effective our City Council Members must be good at many things. To make the best decisions for our city they should know something about traffic, trash, the environment, engineering, real estate law, the future, past city decisions, water, state and federal overlays, and of course, what their constituents want.
What else? Well, they should be good at public speaking, measuring their words carefully, attending meetings, representing us at public functions, and reading copious detailed reports and legal documents.
This is overlaid with their “real” work and family life responsibilities, not to mention any other outside interests and hobbies. And for all this they get a few hundred shekels a month.
Here’s a proposal that just may make their actions and decisions a bit more effective: Let’s create a Los Alamitos City Read more
Mar
16
(3/15/2011, Los Alamitos) Los Alamitos Youth Baseball is holding a bone marrow drive this weekend for a local boy who is battling a rare form of Leukemia.
Here is a link to the boy’s story:
The bone marrow drive is at the baseball fields, Saturday and Sunday April 16th and 17th 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. Potential donors must be between the ages of 18-60. All members of the community are encouraged to come by and join the Read more
Mar
16
Your reporting & comments on today’s News-Enterprise & tonight’s Helicopter E.A. Open House
Filed Under Uncategorized | 11 Comments
(3/16/2011, Los Alamitos) Today we’re combining our weekly “your reporting & comments” on the local paper post with tonight’s Base Open House on the plan to move an Army Reserve Aviation Company with 8 Black Hawk helicopters to Los Alamitos from Victorville (details at yesterday’s post on the move & Open House).
If you get a chance to make it to tonight’s Open House at the Veteran’s Service Center at the Base, please let us know what you learned and what you thought with your comments below.
If something catches your eye in today’s News Enterprise or tomorrow’s Sun, or any other newspaper, blog, or website that you think might interest our community, this is your opportunity to point it out & comment.
As always, a diplomatic tone and “family friendly” language is appreciated. If you want to rant about Asian students in the library talking on their cell phones, there’s always you-tube.