(Los Alamitos, 7/12/2012)  Our Highlands’ Guy shoulda gone to the Home Run Derby!   Once again, he (or she?) hits it out of the Park.  

I think anyone who’s lived here for long should be able to relate. . . and maybe add a few thoughts of their own.

by “Highlands Guy:”  Well, it’s a very personal thing, but I think also a very shared experience.

I’ve been trying to figure this out for a very long time.

First impressions

My first real encounter with the thing called Los Alamitos was over some very good sushi and a couple of bottles of Sapporo. This was when Sango had a real sushi bar and a more traditional vibe. We still go there, and it still serves very good (read “fresh”) fish and a variety of Japanese foods, but does not exude the same ambiance of years past.

Restaurants

And while we’ve probably tried every eating place within the city limits, we still are lacking an establishment with the just right balance of food quality, variety, taste, and ambiance. We have as yet to find that “go to” place that is consistent and easy to fall back on.

It probably should be some sort of conglomeration of Sango, Katella Deli, Preveza, Fortune Cookies, and the Fish Company, at Nicks Deli II prices.

A place where locals tend to hang out and talk about world affairs or the upcoming Los Alamitos Marching Band season.

Schools & kids’ stuff

And then, like many other locals, our next major connection was LAUSD, which continues to this day. We moved into the neighborhood so the kids could continue their education within the District (where we had been getting inter-district transfers) and keep their same friends.

I think my objective was a bit self-serving. It was one less thing I had to worry about. I figured if they didn’t make it here, it wasn’t my fault. I put them in the best position to succeed.

The parks, the Youth Center, and the Community Center have all played important roles for us and in our kids’ lives over the years. Kids Korner and the Outpost have served their purpose well during the school year. And the local day camps have been a good, safe, and relatively inexpensive, places for the kids to hangout in the summer. One program that we used, not often, but know that the kids enjoyed, was Kids Night Out. Unfortunately I think this program was cut due to lack of funding.

Food again

We try to frequent Von’s to generate tax revenue for the City, but sometimes its size, variety, and price point, drives us down the road to the big Seal Beach store. There are not a lot of close alternatives. Except for Costco of course. But as the kids spend more time away from home we can’t justify the price of the big package sizes. [ad]

Since we’re talking food, I cannot forget to mention Nevin’s Donuts, the best around, and sold by a wonderful couple who epitomize all that’s good about small, independent businesses.

The Base

Obviously the Joint Forces Training Base has touched all of our lives, to some degree. To some, it may be the sound of helicopters at morning’s light. To me it encompasses kids swimming lessons, the annual Wings Wheels and Rotors, the Race on the Base, baseball, and yes, the 4th of July extravaganza. Heck some years ago our Weaver based Scout Troop even had the Pine Wood Derby in the gym next to the pool. They have been very good neighbors.

and more

What else? Now that I really think about it, the list of Los Al stuff that helps define us goes on and on.

• Periodic contact with City personnel, City Council and Commission folks points out that they, generally, try to do the right thing.
• Our men and women in blue do a great job with the restrictions of their numbers and technology available to them.
• And while I am at odds with the Medical Center corporate side shenanigans, our contacts with their doctors, nurses, and technology has been positive.

You get the picture. And while Los Al means different things to different people, it’s a pretty good place to be.

The underbelly

But I’ve got to tell you the more I get involved and see the underbelly, the more I see that can be improved. But maybe it’s all it can be already and we can’t expect it to get much better, or worse. You be the judge.

“Preparing our city to achieve its destiny will require strong leadership.”

- Thomas Menino (1942-) Longest serving, and current, Mayor of Boston, Ma., 19 years.

…And that’s just the way I see it.