Jul
25
Sunday Sermon: Empathy–the importance of “changing places”
Filed Under Inspiration, Sunday Sermon, Teamwork | 1 Comment
(Sunday, 7/25/2010) In our “Sunday Sermon” series we take a break from the craziness of local politics and news to seek a more timeless & spiritual perspective. If that doesn’t interest you, you’ve got hundreds of other posts and thousands of comments to choose from.
Today’s thoughts are excerpted from a letter I received last month from a friend, Paul Rhoads, formerly assistant pastor at a church in Lakewood, currently with Christian Resource Ministries. In it he shares some truths that I think will hit home with most of us, but he definitely approaches the topic from a Christian perspective.
“Changing Places” is an attitude, or “posture” that my friend Paul believes is essential to “a life of on-going growth and renewal.” I’ll let him explain in his own words:
Changing Places means seeking to truly understand whatever situation I am in from the other’s point of view. There are three biblical convictions that undergird this posture:
We are incurably self-focused
Why? Because of our finiteness and our fallenness: We are limited by our own experience. We have only lived our own lives. We cannot know what it is really like to be someone else. We can imagine; we can try to put ourselves in their place, but our efforts are limited by that fact that we can only live our own life.
What makes matters worse is that we have been distorted by the disease called sin. Sin creates a centripetal force that pulls us into Read more
May
31
Some of the soldiers honored at last year's Army Ball
(5/31/2010, Los Alamitos) What better day than Memorial Day to tangibly show our support for our troops? If you act fast, you have a couple opportunities to do so that are just a few mouse clicks away:
This Friday, June 4th, the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the U.A. Army Association is holding their Annual Ball, “A Tribute to Veterans” nearby at Read more
Dec
4
Council reorganization, water conservation ordinances, Old Town parking top Council’s 12/7/09 agenda
Filed Under City Council Meetings, Planning & Zoning, Teamwork | 2 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 12/4/2009) 13 agenda items fill the Los Alamitos City Council’s agenda for their first regular meeting of December this coming Monday at 7 p.m. Interestingly enough, consideration of the General Plan Amendment updating the city’s Housing Element was Read more
Oct
1
(10/2/2009, Los Alamitos) Los Alamitos’ varsity football team passed their first major test Thursday night with a solid victory over La Habra in a game in which Los Al never trailed. Another big test looms ahead this coming Thursday, October 8.
While the Griffin’s defense was not able to achieve their forth consecutive shut-out, they were able to hold La Habra’s up and coming program to less than a third Read more
Aug
4
Los Al Council continues Medical Center EIR & Base truck issues
Filed Under 2009 Issues, City Council Meetings, Planning & Zoning, Teamwork, The Base | 26 Comments
Council takes a step back from immediate confrontation with Base over recycling trucks
(8/4/09, Los Alamitos) At a lengthy but relatively non contentions meeting Monday night, the Los Alamitos City Council deferred decisions on two hot topics by continuing them for at least two weeks.
It’s been a while since I’ve actually made it to a Los Alamitos City Council meeting, and I was surprised at Read more
Jun
18
Like to write? Interested in Los Al issues? Your name here!
Filed Under Community News, Neighboring Communities, Teamwork | Leave a Comment
(6/18/09, Los Alamitos, by Dave Emerson) I’ve finally figured out that I don’t have nearly enough time to report on even a third of all that’s going on in Los Alamitos, let alone our neighboring towns.
Even if I had the time, you deserve to hear more than Read more
Jun
11
A true American hero, Gen. James P. Combs soldiers on
Filed Under Teamwork, The Base, Traffic | 7 Comments
(6/11/2009, Los Alamitos, by Dave Emerson) The more I observe the Base’s outgoing commander, General James Combs, the more impressed I become. My father-in-law was a carreer military man, and Barb tells me anyone who rises to the ranks of General is just about guaranteed to be one of our nation’s best.
That’s certainly the case with Gen. Combs. With less than three weeks until his July 4th retirement, instead of burning up his remaining vacation pay and making the rounds of retirement parties he continues to fight hard and skillfully for Read more
May
2
Special Council Meeting @ 4 Monday on 2009-10 budget
Filed Under 2009 Issues, City Budget, City Council Meetings, Teamwork | 64 Comments
Will our Council ever get beyond the budget?
(Los Alamitos, 5/2/09, by Dave Emerson) Guess what?
The Los Alamitos City Council has another 2-3 hour Special Meeting scheduled at 4 before this Monday’s 7 p.m. regular meeting.
That’s actually down 33% from the three meetings our Mayor called two weekends ago, but I still don’t think anybody can complain about our Council not meeting enough.
What they do with all that time spent in meetings, however, is another matter. Read more
Apr
20
Your real-time reporting, thoughts, and comments on tonight’s 7 p.m. regular Council meeting
Filed Under City Council Meetings, Teamwork | 2 Comments
(4/20/2009) Tonight the Los Alamitos City Council will hold both a regular meeting at 7 p.m. and a special meeting at 5. Both include closed sessions, but the open parts of both meetings are scheduled for live airing on LosAlTV 3.
For the agenda of the 5 p.m. Special Workshop Meeting on the topic of forming a non-profit to run LosAlTV, please click here (“‘Earlybird’ Special Meeting April 20 about Los Al TV”). That’s also the link for you if you wish to report or comment on anything you observed at that meeting, whether in person, live on TV, or later on a replay or your DVR.
There’s a whole lot scheduled for the Council’s regular meeting, which begins at 7:00, and this is the place to report or comment on that meeting. The agenda (reproduced below with links to relevent staff reports) is a good example of what I fear is a Council that’s busy but lacking Read more
Apr
14
Update on City Manager Search:
Filed Under About Los Alamitos, City Council Meetings, Teamwork | 15 Comments
(4/14/00 by Dave Emerson) Last night’s Los Alamitos City Council closed session ended with no reportable action on selecting a City Manager or on the ongoing negotiations with mid-level managers.
Is the majority working hard to address Gerri’s concerns?
Did they want to give Dean Zarkos some time to get up to speed before taking a vote?
Did Dean or someone else bring up something nobody had thought of before?
Did the Council deadlock?
Read more
Apr
13
You heard it here 18 days ago: It’s Dean Zarkos!
Filed Under 2009 Issues, City Council, Teamwork | 47 Comments
Loading ...(4/13/09 by Dave Emerson) Well, it took a bit longer, but to my subjective eye it seemed just as orchestrated as the last two votes for Mayors Grose and Edgar. Regardless, the end result was just as predictable and disappointing.
In fact, “Richard” predicted it right here almost 3 weeks ago in the very first comment on my post, “Nominees to fill Dean Grose’s seat announced.” Interestingly enough, in 100+ comments on that post alone, plus dozens others on other posts since then, I can’t recall one person speaking up for Mr. Zarkos, but I can recall many expressing concern over his statements and his lack of time living in the city.
That didn’t seem to matter to the majority.
Again.
After the nominees had a chance to respond to the same five questions, Mayor Edgar opened the floor for nominations.
Ken Stephens nominated Anne Yee. The nomination died for lack of a second.
Gerri Mejia nominated Brad Sheridan. The nomination died for lack of a second.
Mayor Edgar nominated Dean Zarkos. Marilyn Poe seco0nded. A vote was taken, deadlocked 2 – 2, Poe and Edgar yea, Stephens and Mejia nay.
Marilyn Poe nominated Candace DeWitt-Drucker. Mayor Edgar seconded. A vote was taken, deadlocked 2 – 2, Poe and Edgar yea, Stephens and Mejia nay.
Gerri Mejia nominated Pete Carvojal. The nomination died for lack of a second. Pete had Marilyn Poe’s sign in his front yard right at the entrance to the city’s largest tract, and “Our Most Trusted Voice” couldn’t even be bothered to second his nomination! One of three candidates that had “unanimity, ” “experience,” and “commitment to Los Alamitos” written all over them–none of whom received a second!
Mayor Edgar proposed a discussion, Gerri thought it might be more productive in closed session, but (believe it or not) the city attorney said this couldn’t be done in closed session. Kudos to Dean Derlith!
Ken Stephens made a fairly lengthy speech about Read more
Apr
11
Big Los Alamitos City Council Meeting Monday, 4/13/09 @ 7!
Filed Under 2009 Issues, City Council, City Council Meetings, Teamwork | 9 Comments
Time for 2 big decisions Monday night
(4/11/09, by Dave Emerson) I’m not sure who decided to place Los Al’s City Hall sundial in the shade, but it’s a pretty good metaphor for trying to figure out what’s going on with the City Council right now.
The good news is, things should be clearer by the end of Monday’s night’s special Council meeting, where two major decisions could be made: Read more
Apr
9
Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart killed by drunk driver at 22
Filed Under Decency, Inspiration, National Issues, News you can use, Southern California, Teamwork | 3 Comments
(4/9/2009, Los Alamitos, by Dave Emerson) In a shocking reminder of the fragility of life, 22 year old Angels starter Nick Adenhart and two of his friends were killed by a 22 year old drunk driving with a suspended license early this morning, just after pitching six shut-out innings in his first start of what was looking like a break-out season.
Adenhart graduated from Williamsport High School in Silver Spring Md. in 2004 and was expected to be a first-round pick in the baseball draft that year, which would have made him an instant millionaire. Unfortunately, Read more
Apr
3
4/6 Agenda: Council reschedules nominee interviews to accommodate 2 nominees & William Graham services
Filed Under City Council, Decency, Teamwork | 6 Comments
(4/3/09, by Dave Emerson) In yet another show of consideration, the Los Alamitos City Council has resheduled the interviews of candidates to fill the remainder of Dean Grose’s term.
Originally scheduled for this Monday, April 6 at 6 p.m., the interviews have now been removed from the Council Agenda (posted below) & the meeting time moved back to 7 p.m.
At last Monday’s Special session during Council Comments Debbie Feldman had requested that the candidate interviews be rescheduled because this comming week is Spring/Easter Break for Los Alamitos USD schools. She noted that nominee Brad Sheridan Read more
Mar
16
Your thoughts, comments, & real time reporting on the 3/16/2009 City Council Meeting
Filed Under 2009 Issues, City Council Meetings, Teamwork | 92 Comments
(3/16/2009, intro by Dave Emerson, comments & reporting by you!)
This is where you, the Los Al citizen (or website visitor) have the opportunity to report what you see at tonight’s historic Los Alamitos City Council meeting, along with your impressions, thoughts, and comments.
First, however, this correction: In several posts and comments reference has been made by myself and others to Troy Edgar nominating Dean Grose to serve as Mayor. It has been called to my attention that, according to the Council minutes, Troy neither nominated nor seconded Dean to serve as Mayor last December, but he did vote for him.
I was given the information by a reputable source, and it matched my memory of that meeting, so I put it up without verifying it in the minutes. I was wrong, and deeply regret passing on that misinformation.
I strive to pass on accurate information on this site, and regret it took this long for the misinformation to be called to my attention. I just wish someone had called it to my attention earlier. That’s one reason we have open posting–but it’s not an excuse. Sorry!
Now to our 3/8 post of FAQs:
When we used this format, where you are the reporter, two weeks ago, it received the most comments of any post to date.
To follow along on the agenda, click here. (The agenda will open in a new tap or window so you can “alt-tab” back and forth.)
If you’re watching at home on LosAlTV3, you can post your observations in real time. Please describe what you’re commenting on, as some readers don’t have LosAltv.
If you’re at the meeting, or watching a rebroadcast, please report in after the meeting or comment after viewing.
I’m still hoping Read more
