Community Council Asks Councilman Mike Bonin for Additional Police

Posted on June 15, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

This area had been cleaned previously and the transient moved back in once again littering and illegally camping in the Very High Fire Severity Zone.

The Pacific Palisades Community Council passed a motion at its June 9 meeting to approve a letter asking Councilman Mike Bonin to use discretionary funds to allow for additional police officers to the Palisades Beach Detail this summer.

The entire Pacific Palisades is in the Very High Fire Severity Zone, and transients camping in the brush in 2014, 2015 and 2016, started fires that threatened the community.

The Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness (PPTFH) was started in 2016, and one of its first efforts was to have signs banning camping in the brush approved and placed.

Additionally, Los Angeles Police, known as the Beach Detail, started accompanying Palisades volunteers into hilly and brush-covered areas, because some of the transients who were there illegally, carried weapons.

This editor, working with now PPTFH co-president Sharon Kilbride, was threatened with a knife by a transient illegally camping in the brush. The Beach Detail responded immediately.

Now the Palisades Beach Detail has been dramatically reduced for the summer, from six to two police officers.

The letter noted that “PPTFH volunteers and outreach workers see increased evidence of severe mental illness and drug addiction among the PEH who are attracted to our beach, bluffs and canyons. Dangerous, violent conduct directed against volunteers and outreach workers by persons experiencing homelessness is becoming a frequent occurrence.”

In the summer, transients will also camp on the beach, which can provide problems for Junior Lifeguards and other beach and volleyball camps that are held for youth, who arrive in the early a.m.

Councilman Mike Bonin has discretionary funds he can allot.

The letter sent to Bonin asked for him to spend some of the CD 11 discretionary funding to fund overtime for additional officers to be assigned to the Beach Detail click here.

The PPCC said that Councilmember Paul Koretz had authorized the use of CD 5 discretionary funds for overtime for officers in Westwood and other area of the district and asked Bonin to do the same here.

Residents might remember that on May 18, Bonin cast the sole dissenting vote to approve the $11.8 billion budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, which included an $87 million increase in the police department

In a May 18, Westside Current/City Services story (“Bonin Casts Sole Dissenting Vote to Approve city Budget Citing Increase in Police Funding”), Bonin was quoted.

“There’s something I think is troublingly ironic about protests against police violence, resulting in police violence, resulting in the police department getting more money,” Bonin said. “How do we grow so that our summer youth jobs program is 50,000 instead of 1,000 kids, how do we do it so the (Gang Reduction and Youth Development) Program is everywhere in the city or that the therapeutic vans … is everywhere instead of in five or six places?”

The Palisades News reported that Bonin denied the request. CTN had reached out to Bonin’s office, but had not received a response.

On June 16, Bonin’s spokesperson Naomi Goldman responded to CTN:  “The budget for the Los Angeles Police Department is at a record high, dwarfing expenditures for everything else in the city. For the remainder of Councilmember Bonin’s time in office, he is focusing use of his discretionary dollars on efforts to address the homelessness crisis and on strategies to prevent homelessness. He is funding shared housing programs and organizations doing outreach and providing casework to unhoused individuals, and he is providing money to groups working to prevent homelessness and support people at risk of homelessness, such as tenants, foster youth, and survivors of domestic violence.”

Tomorrow look for a story on discretionary funding and some of the items Bonin has supported.

 

Posted in Councilman Mike Bonin, Homelessness | Leave a comment

June 7 Primary in L.A. County—Still Counting Votes

Posted on June 15, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

In-person voting at the Palisades Recreation Center at the June 7 primary was busy. A week later, votes are still being counted.

An April story in “The Local” (“How do the French Produce such Accurate Early Election Results?”) notes that if you’re used to British or American elections you might be expecting an all-night count, but in France, a provisional result is released at 8 p.m. that is virtually always right.

That story is absolutely incorrect because the June 7 primary election held in California, was still counting votes on June 14.  Forget an all-nighter, the L. A. is on a real bender.

I can get an Amazon delivery from the middle of India faster than I can find out who won the election. The L.A. County Registrar promises it will have final results in 30 days.

Well, maybe it takes so long because California does not have the technology to count votes. It seems that every vote is counted by hand, by a volunteer using an abacus.

But, a March 2022 story (“Three California Event Tech Leaders Explain the State’s Advantage,”) says California is the place to be if you’re in the field of technology. “California counts 1.88 million technology workers–more than twice the number as the next ranked state.

  • California added more tech jobs than any other state since 2010.
  • California’s economy alone accounts for over a quarter of U.S. tech productivity.
  • Seven of the world’s top 10 AI investors are based in California.”

Well, it appears that California has the technology. The delay in counting, might be because it was difficult for voters to get ballots. That would be a wrong assumption, too.

A ballot is mailed to every active registered voter, about 21.94 million ballots. KQED reported in a September 2021 story (“California Adopts Vote-by-Mail System for All Future Elections”) that “A study released by the Public Policy Institute of California, earlier this year found that mailing voters a ballot by default was the most effective prescription for boosting voter participation.”

This primary election had a voter turnout of 16 percent. It was 25.17 percent in 2014 and 33.31 in 2010. I’m glad studies are never wrong.

How much did it cost to send ballots to everyone (including the two people who no longer live at my address)? KQED said it was estimated that the recent recall vote for Governor Gavin Newsom cost at least $276 million, according to estimates compiled by the state Department of Finance.

“Staff for the state Assembly Appropriations Committee estimated that the new law will result in counties mailing ballots to 2.3 million additional registered voters — those who had not previously opted to vote by mail — at an additional cost of $4 million for printing and mailing.”

How does that help the environment to cut down trees to print the ballots, to use the Post Office to put them in trucks and drive them around the state? Oh, if it is about voting, it does not affect the environment – got it!

Well, of course it was a low turnout because people would have to find stamps to mail the ballots.

What? The postage is paid. That’s right, that was part of the $276 million, because there are unlimited tax dollars in California.

Well, maybe people lost the ballots and couldn’t make it on June 7 to vote. Another bad assumption. People can vote EARLY at centers, some are open more than a week before the vote.

Well, people might have to work and not make it back to their precinct center to vote before the polls close. Also false, a voter can vote anywhere in the 4,753 sq. mile county.

At least with so few people voting, Los Angeles County probably had the results that same night.

In a June 9 News Release, the registrar noted that the estimated number of outstanding ballots is 506,050 and that it continues to prioritize timely processing and counting of outstanding ballots with an update expected June 14. On that date, it was announced that there were still 365,820 ballots left to count.

Psychologists are finding that immediate rewards are stronger predictors of activity persistence than delayed rewards. Maybe more timely results would result in higher voter numbers? Couldn’t hurt.

Oh, I get it. Politicians hope that it takes so long to count that everyone forgets, and no one cares anymore who actually won.

By the way, with this latest count, Karen Bass is now leading Rick Caruso 202,818 votes to 189,178.

 

 

Posted in General | Leave a comment

Simple Twist of Fate

Posted on June 15, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

(Editor’s note: If a young person ever wonders what love truly is—CTN shares the sweet tale of Pepper Edmiston, who was married to her husband Joe on November 1, 1985.)

 

By PEPPER EDMISTON

In the summer of 1999, two gods played together at the Bowl: Bob Dylan and “Paul Simons,” which is how my husband referred to the latter icon.

Joe is a Beethoven guy, and I’m your average boomer. I sat through a few epics to warrant Joe’s attendance that night at the concert.

We arrived at our upper-level seats as “Simons” began. I knew seeing Dylan from this distance wouldn’t work, so when the break came, a spell propelled me downward to the stage door. I knocked.

A young woman saw before her an aging hippie with a look of desperation. Without saying a word, she allowed me in and pointed to a seat on the stage. The woman next to me asked, “Are you anybody?” “No,” I said.

Aside from the obvious lifetime highs, watching Dylan at close range was the best experience of my life.

For the last song — Lord knows what it was — I slipped out the door and hugged the center stage, surrounded by other boomers going out of their minds.

The show ended, and the crowds left.

I looked up at the bleachers and saw a lone man, holding his wife’s coat.

It was my sweetheart. As I ascended the stairs, I hummed to myself, “If not for you, babe, I couldn’t find the door….”

Posted in Community, Music | Leave a comment

Palisades High School Graduates 850

Posted on June 14, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

This was the first full-graduation at Palisades High School since the Covid pandemic shutdowns.
Photo: Circling the News

By CHAZ PLAGER

Most graduations are special. For the graduates, it means that a new chapter in their life has begun, and to say goodbye to the past four years of their life. For the parents of the graduates, it means that they’ll soon be watching their children enter adulthood.

But the Class of 2022’s graduation was extra special because it was the first fully in-person graduation Palisades High School has held in two years because of the Covid pandemic.

The graduation took place June 9, on a foggy, gray evening. Throughout the stadium, a unique sense of relief could be felt– not just because students were finally done with school, but because they were lucky enough not to be graduating – last year.

Before the ceremony, students lined up on the high school quad and walked through the tunnel to enter the field for the ceremony.

Thousands of spectators crammed into the seats on either side of the football field at the Stadium by the Sea, whistling, cheering, and holding up signs as the 850 seniors filed in on both sides of the field, eventually rejoining in the center where they sat before a large stage. The Palisades High School orchestra played “Pomp and Circumstance,” as seniors entered the field from the tunnel under Bowdoin Street.

Certain “troublemakers” broke out of line to “show off” to the crowd as they entered the stadium, but eventually all seniors were seated.

The ceremony began with Chris Clauson, the student body president, leading the pledge of allegiance.

That was followed by an electric guitar cover of the national anthem. No, I am not joking. It was performed by Mateo Mazariego, a PaliHi senior.

Students of the diverse Pali community were then welcomed in each of their native languages, from Hindi, to Korean, to French.

Speeches began with Valedictorian William Rene, speaking about his opinions on the future. The salutatorian this year was Mia Kulinsky.

Several students gave speeches and politics, past tragedies, and pandemics permeated nearly all the messages.

Jacob Accardo went for a lighter approach, discussing his feelings on graduating during the pandemic through stand-up comedy in an exaggerated Boston accent and ended with “get out there and kick ‘em in the tuchas!”

Director of Academic Achievement, Monica Ianessa, praised the students on overcoming “unprecedented challenges and changes.”

The Palisades Choir sang a “Graduation Medley” that included “Wayward Son” and “Everlasting Love.”

Next, AcaPali, as the name implies, sang an acapella rendition of “What a Wonderful World” by Sam Cooke.

Then students came up to receive their diplomas. After all had returned to their seats, they turned the tassels on their caps from right to left in order to signify “entering the next chapter of their lives,” and hurled them into the air to the tune of “Celebrate Good Times.”

With the severe traffic issues on June 9 because of the President’s visit to the Getty Villa, a neighbor on Radcliffe opened her yard for people who came late and needed a place to park. One woman said, “Bless you,” as she got out of her car.

 

Posted in Kids/Parenting, Schools | 1 Comment

Getty Villa Site of Formal State Dinner: Snarls Traffic

Posted on June 14, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

President Joe Biden hosts a dinner at the Getty Villa
Photo REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

The Getty Villa was the site of the formal state dinner on June 9. President Joe Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden hosted more than 20 heads of state from countries across the Western Hemisphere at the museum in Pacific Palisades.

Although there was some advance warning that Pacific Coast Highway would have one lane closed for emergencies, at times all lanes were closed, including the California Incline in Santa Monica. That Thursday afternoon and evening the result was massive traffic tie-ups on the Westside.

One Circling the News resident wrote, “There so many new restaurants in the downtown area with lovely views of Los Angeles especially at night for this dinner, but they have to schlep all these people out to the beach for a dinner at the Getty Villa with all the inherent traffic problems … reallllly!”

Another reader sent a link to a Getty story (“Getty Villa Holds Dinner for the 9th Summit of the Americas”) click here.

Although the Getty plans hundreds of events each year, this was the first time it hosted a state dinner. According to the Getty, the supporting staff included hundreds of people from various agencies, including 200 staff from the Getty. It was covered by 45 journalists from more than 20 foreign press agencies and the White House travel press pool.

According to the Getty, “After a tasting with State Department Protocol Office officials, Getty’s catering vendor Bon Appétit was selected to prepare the meal with Executive Chef Fernando Cayanan at the helm.

“I am truly grateful and humbled to be given the opportunity to craft a menu for this event. Everyone’s been working so hard to make this happen,” Cayanan said.

The dinner table was tastefully set.
Photo: Getty Museum

The sit-down dinner was in the outer peristyle garden among the colonnades, which parallel the pool in the center of the Villa’s main garden. The dinner was made with local, sustainable and regional ingredients. California wine was served.

Dessert included white chocolate medallions embossed with the presidential seal.

Afterwards, guests went to the outdoor theater to hear the United States Marine Band, vocalists and 17 trumpeters.

Guests received special souvenirs from the Getty Museum Store, but there was no mention of what was given.

Why did the guests go to the Villa? Politico reported in a June 11 story (“Biden Ducks Summit ‘Debale’ in Los Angeles. But It Wasn’t Smooth.”) that Governor Gavin Newsom welcomed the travelers “You are in one of the most diverse cities — LA — in the most diverse region in the most diverse state — California — in the world’s most diverse democracy.”

The story noted, “Outside, however, the unmistakable smell of urine wafted through the warm night air. The deteriorating condition of downtown Los Angeles — where rows of tents housing the homeless lined the street—didn’t go unnoticed by the foreign dignitaries. Nor did the 7-Eleven where store clerks keep the door locked during operating hours because they’ve been robbed so often.

“‘The best and worst of the Americas,’ Belize Prime Minister John Briceño remarked about the host city. Here, amid the hotel restaurant with $16 avocado toast and the 71st-story steakhouse with its $175 seafood towers, ‘too many have too much, and too many have too little,’ he noted.”

After dinner, there was entertainment in the outdoor theater.
Photo: Getty Museum

 

Posted in Alerts, City/Councilman Mike Bonin | Leave a comment

Encampment Next to Venice Library Cleaned

Posted on June 14, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

(Editor’s note: the story “Neighbors Speak Out as Centennial Park Encampment Halfway Cleared Making Way for Major Cleanup, Repairs”  appeared on the Westside Current on June 12 and is reprinted with permission.)

Centennial Park, which is by the Venice Library and had been taken over by a homeless encampment is finally being cleared. Neighbors have expressed deep concerns for safety – and for the safety of people illegally camping on the grounds.

By SANDRA CLARK

Just days after Westside Current released a story detailing the demise of the Venice Beach Library caused by the unruliness of the unchecked homeless encampment at nearby Centennial Park, the city is clearing the Park.

As of Saturday, June 11, almost half of encampments at the park were removed. Saint Joseph outreach workers and the Los Angeles Police Department have been overseeing the clearing of the encampments, which at one time had more than 60 tents and makeshift homes.

The Los Angeles Parks and Recreation is also assisting and over the weekend put up several new signs across the Park that read “Park Closed 10:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.. No Loitering while the city’s forestry division surveys the trees.”

The Park, turned shantytown, has been the source of anguish and frustration for the Venice Beach community, especially for those living nearby.  One person we spoke with –who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation– said she is thankful to see progress.

“I can’t tell you the relief I feel watching them clear the Park. I could feel the tension leave my body when they started breaking down tents.

“I even went on a long walk this morning with my dog for the first time in forever.

“The most frustrating thing about this situation is that the city ignored our pleas for help. I was made to feel like I was somehow a bad person who didn’t care about the homeless and I should be more welcoming and understanding. This is the same reason I choose to remain anonymous.

“What most people don’t know is that I lived this nightmare day in and day out.,” the resident said. “Every night I would wake up to the sounds of screaming and yelling. I watched people use meth out in the open. And fight, like literal fist fights.

“As the months went on, it started to feel like a weird blind spot of the people who claim to have compassion for the homeless, except their stories of the people on the street did not match what I was witnessing.

“Watching people injure each other while nothing was being done to intervene. This felt like the opposite of compassion and humanity. It made me rethink my own beliefs about the homeless dilemma. I’m still so angry that there is no better system in place,” the resident told the reporter.

Several groups, including Friends of the Venice Library, wrote letters to the city pleading for help to clean and clear the Park.

Jessica Rogers, a Pacific Palisades resident and the President of the Pacific Palisades Resident Association, helped spearhead a letter-writing campaign where more than 1,500 letters were sent to the City Council asking for the County to step in if need be.

“We asked for the city to consider asking the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach Services Team for help if they didn’t think that they could handle the cleaning of the Park,” Rogers said. “They were successful on the boardwalk, and something needed to be done.”

As for as the cleanup, Westside Current spoke with someone who had been living in the park for months until she finally moved to temporary housing. She was told the remainder of her belongings, including her tent, would stay intact until Monday. However, all her belongings were removed when she returned to retrieve them Friday afternoon.

‘Had I known they would get rid of my things, I would have packed everything up sooner. I don’t know what to do now. I feel like no one is really in charge and everything is chaotic. Those were my things that were important to me and just tossed away like garbage.”

The encampments are expected to be cleared this week. Repairs at Centennial Park will occur, with the park remaining closed during that period.

Posted in Homelessness | Leave a comment

Historical Society’s Centennial Publication Arrives This Week

Posted on June 13, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Watch your mailbox/front porch this week for a special 60-page publication: Pacific Palisades: A Centennial Retrospective, 1922-2022.

 Mailed free to every household in Pacific Palisades, this tabloid-size magazine celebrates the town’s rich and wide-ranging history and is sponsored by the Pacific Palisades Historical Society.

The issue, featuring 37 articles and 98 photographs and illustrations, was produced by a team of journalists who were colleagues at the Palisadian-Post for many years. They drew upon their own knowledge of the town’s history, Historical Society archives and the five books of local history published by Betty Lou Young and her son Randy.

Most of the photographs are from the Clearwater Collection and the Ernest Marquez Collection. Clifford and Zola Clearwater were successive publishers of The Palisadian, the town’s first newspaper, until 1960. Marquez, now 98, gathered a treasure trove of photographs while publishing five books on local history.

“We especially want to salute the dedicated residents, organizations and business owners who have fought for 100 years to protect and enhance our town’s natural environment,” writes the publication’s editor, Bill Bruns, who was managing editor of the Palisadian-Post for 20 years.

The writers included Bruns, Laura Abruscato, Laurel Busby, Libby Motika, Sue Pascoe and Laurie Rosenthal, with Nancy Bryan serving as copy editor. Tom Hofer provided the graphic design and layout, and Jeff Ridgway was the sales manager. He sold full-page sponsorships and chronology boxes to families, businesses and organizations to pay for the editorial, printing and mailing costs.

All net proceeds from the publication will help the Historical Society digitize its archives for public access. Additional copies ($20) can be purchased through the PPHS website: www.palisadeshistory.org, or by visiting Ridgway’s Collections Antiques and Books store at 15326 Antioch St.

Cover Illustration: The Pacific Palisades Lighthouse and coastline, circa 1928.  Pacific Palisades Historical Society

Posted in Community | 1 Comment

Rockies Capture PPBA Mustang World Series

Posted on June 13, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Rockies Win the Mustang World Series

The Rockies captured the Mustang World Series by playing six innings without errors against the Cubs, defeating them 5-2 on May 31 at the Palisades Recreation Center.

Head coach Ollie Dunn credited the victory to the players and parents, noting “We spend a lot of time together in only a few months and it takes work from everyone to create a good environment for the kids to succeed and have fun.

“Our little Rockies baseball family was the best I have been around – and we are all so sad it is over!” said Dunn, who since 2018 has served as the assistant coach on two Pinto teams, two Mustang teams, a Bronco and a Pony team in the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association.

The father of two sons, Sammy and Marlon, Dunn was scheduled to step into his first head coaching position for his older son’s Bronco team in 2020 – but the season was cancelled by Covid.

This year, he was slotted into two head coaching positions, on the Pali Black Pony team  (ages 13-14) and the Rockies Mustangs (ages 9-10). His Pali Black team lost 10-1 in the playoff final to Pali Red, but his Rockies prevailed 4-2.

Overall, this season, the Rockies had 14 wins and 6 losses. The Red Sox were their toughest opponent during the regular season, beating them twice 10-2 and 12-2. “They had our number,” Coach Dunn said, adding, “I’m happy somebody got to them in the playoffs.”

The Rockies clinched the title with four playoff victories. Will Reierson started all four games, “and pitched beautifully,” Dunn said. “Perrish McGinn came in for relief in all four games and was just as good. Marlon Dunn closed the game on the mound in the first three playoff games and played catcher every inning other than those three innings he pitched.”

According to Dunn, one of the biggest challenges for PPBA teams is pitching.  “At this level, pitching and catching are always difficult to find,” he said. “We had a team that I knew had a few kids who could be effective pitchers, but we didn’t have a dominant pitcher.

“I tried to use that as a positive,” Dunn said, “The kids would have to buy into the fact that we would have to win as a team.”

A PPBA coach had once told this editor that the most successful teams at the end of the season are the ones that develop all players, defensively and up at the plate. Dunn was asked about that comment and said, “Yes, I agree with that one hundred percent.

“The teams that win are the ones who develop players as the season goes along,” he said. “Developing their skills can be difficult in such a short time, but building up their confidence and making them feel comfortable goes a long way.

“Our coaches were big on the mantra that aggressive mistakes are okay,” Dunn said. “We lost a few games early in the year by throwing the ball all over the field but by the end of the year the kids weren’t afraid of making mistakes AND they were able to execute on defense.

“We took great pride in the bottom of order sparking come-from-behind rallies in three out of the four playoff games,” he said, praising his entire team: Dunn, Ethan Montminy, McGinn, Zack Emmanuel, Reierson, Tyler Racanelli, Max Binder, Jackson Hoek, River Wang, Elliot Laffer, Beckett Misher and Hunter Sheldon.

Dunn, a Santa Monica resident, said he and his team are really excited to ride on the PPBA float in the 4th of July parade.

“I’ll be so excited to see these kids next year around the PPBA fields,” Dunn said. “It is really rewarding having been part of a season we will never forget.”

The coach added, “A special thanks to my wife Carrie for all her support. I was literally married to baseball from February until June.”

The Rockies team and coaches pose for a team photo after winning the Mustang World Series.

Other PPBA News:

The Rockies were added as a PPBA franchise in the Pinto and Mustang divisions when the league expanded in 2021. To accommodate players, a Shetland division was added for younger kids, and there were four Pony teams this year. Pony players also play “on the road” against teams from Cheviot Hills, Santa Monica and West L.A.

In the SHETLAND division, under Coach Tyler Atwood, the Dodgers prevailed over the Red Sox 21-14. This was a first year for this division and featured mostly six-year-olds.

The Tiger PINTOS (ages 7-8), under coach Sara Prokop, beat the Royals 9-8 to take that World Series title.

The Rockies MUSTANGS (ages 9-10), under Ollie Dunn, beat the top-seeded Cubs.

In the BRONCO division (ages 11-12), it was also a Tiger win for that top-seeded team coached by Matt Badt. The Tigers beat the Cubs 4-2.

In the PONY division (ages 13-14), the Pali Black team lost 10-1 in the final to Pali Red.

(Editor’s note: Before the season starts, the PPBA needs people/businesses to sponsor teams, which Circling the News did for the first time this year. Next spring consider sponsoring a team – there’s no downside – and you might have a World Series winner, too!)

 

 

Posted in Kids/Parenting, Sports | Leave a comment

American Flags Given Away for Flag Day

Posted on June 13, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Members of the American Legion Auxiliary gave away flags for flag day.

The Ronald Reagan American Legion Auxiliary Post 283 gave away 500 flags at the Village Green on June 12.

The Auxiliary had received permission to set up on the corner, and afterwards President of the Village Green Board, Marge Gold said, “Please let Auxiliary members know what a great job they did this morning. There were so many people with their flag and a smile on their face.”

As they gave away flags, members explained about Flag Day on June 14.

The Auxiliary is hoping that everyone will also put a flag on their door or on their lawn for the Fourth of July celebration – or bring a flag to the parade and wave it as the procession goes by.

One person refused a flag because he said he didn’t like what it stood for. The Auxiliary president reminded him “It’s because of this flag, that you have the freedom to have that view and to say it.”

Another person said he didn’t want a flag because Nationalism is never good. Waving a flag and saying you believe in the constitution and the bill of rights, doesn’t mean that auxiliary was saying they fervently believe this nation is superior (nationalism).

There is a difference between nationalism and patriotism.

According to the International Journal of Education & Literacy Studies  “While nationalism emphasizes a unity of cultural past with inclusion of the language and heritage, patriotism is based on love towards people with a greater emphasis on values and beliefs.”

So, residents, you’re not a fanatic if you wave a flag.  Know that you’re simply stating you’re happy to have these basic freedoms: speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government.

Village Green President Marge Gold (right) enjoys watching the little ones, many of whom received their first flag.

Flag day goes back to the American Revolution, when most regiments had their own flags.

In June 1775, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to create a Continental Army, which eventually led to the creation of the first American Flag.

The red and white flag of alternating strips and a Union Jack in the corner, seemed too similar to the British flag.

Two years later, during the Second Continental Congress when the country’s founders were drafting the Articles of Confederation, a resolution was passed, that stated the “flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white” and that “the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson officially established June 14 as Flag Day.

In the 1950s, it seemed certain that Alaska would be admitted, so designers began retooling it.

A 17-year-old Ohio student named Bob Heft borrowed his mother’s sewing machine, disassembled his family’s 48-star flag, and stitched on 50 stars in a proportional pattern. He turned it in for a history project, explaining he thought Hawaii would be added soon.

Heft sent the flag to his congressman, Walter Moeller, who presented it to President Eisenhower after Alaska and Hawaii joined the Union.

The History Channel reported that “Eisenhower selected Heft’s design, and on July 4, 1960, the president and the high school student stood together as the 50-star flag was raised for the first time. Heft’s teacher promptly changed his grade from a B- to an A.”

Several of the vendors at the farmers market waved flags to help celebrate the upcoming Flag Day.

Posted in Education, Fourth of July, Holidays | 1 Comment

Alan Eisenstock’s Playlist – Covid Rebound

Posted on June 12, 2022 by Sue Pascoe

Editor’s note: Palisadian Alan Eisenstock’s 20th book, “Fierce Love,” came out May 3. He wrote it with Sonya Curry, the mom of NBA Legend Stephen Curry (click here).

When Eisenstock is not writing, he pursues what he calls “a crazy labor of love side project” that he started in March 2020: sending a weekly Covid-themed playlist of songs to his family and friends. These playlists, which can be downloaded on Spotify click here span rock ‘n’ roll and pop music from the 1950s to 2020, and Eisenstock adds one or two lines of commentary about each song that is clever, amusing and informative.)

 

Hi, Everyone,

Good news. If you contract Covid, you might be able to take Paxlovid to minimize the symptoms and shorten the course of the disease. Bad news. The CDC reports that some people who take Paxlovid experience a “Covid rebound” and get Covid again! What to do? Idea. Here are 20 “rebound,” “again,” “back”–you get the idea–songs. Listen up!

 

  1. “On The Rebound” Floyd Cramer. American pianist born in Shreveport, LA. Cramer taught himself piano and became a Nashville legend and ultimately was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He wrote this snappy song in 1961.
  2. “Rubber Ball” Bobby Vee. “Like a rubber ball, I’ll come bouncing back to you…” That’s the Covid rebound. Robert Thomas Velline from Fargo, ND recorded this in 1961. The smash hit was written by Aaron Schroeder and Gene Pitney, who used his mother’s maiden name, Orlowski.
  3. “Not A Second Time” The Beatles. Here’s a fairly obscure Beatles’ song from 1963, written by John Lennon. He said he was “trying to write a Smokey Robinson song or something.”
  4. “We’ll Meet Again” The Ink Spots. Vocal jazz group from New York who became big in the 1930s and 40s. This often-covered song was written in 1939 by Englishmen Ross Parker and Hughie Charles. The Ink Spots released their version in 1941. The song referred to British soldiers going off to war.
  5. “More Than A Feeling” Boston. Rock band from, you guessed it, Boston. Tom Scholz composed this song, the band’s signature, in 1976. The Covid rebound starts and soon you have more than a feeling; you have it again.
  6. “Hints” Wilco. Here’s a track from Wilco’s brand-new album Cruel Country. Jeff Tweedy, from Chicago, leads one of my favorite bands. Jeff wrote all 21 songs on this great new album. I think you get hints of Covid symptoms before it returns. LOVE.
  7. “You Got It” Roy Orbison. Traveling Wilbury bandmates Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty co-wrote this 1989 hit with Roy. They also play on the record. Roy Orbison was known as “The Caruso of Rock,” referring to Enrico, the opera singer, not Rick, the real estate developer and L.A. mayoral candidate.
  8. “Back To Black” Amy Winehouse. Singing with a powerful, urgent voice, Amy was a soulful presence. Born in England, she only recorded two albums. This 2007 song is the title song of her second album. She co-wrote it with Mick Ronson and based it on her tumultuous relationship with her husband. Amy died of alcohol abuse in 2011. She was 28.
  9. “More” Bobby Darin. Born Walden Robert Cassotto in East Harlem, Darin became an acclaimed rock, jazz, and blues singer. This song was written by Nino Oliviero and Riz Ortolani for the 1963 documentary Mondo Cane.The song has been covered by Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, The Rascals, and Alvin & The Chipmunks.
  10. “Do It Again” Steely Dan. Mix rock plus jazz and you have Walter Becker and Donald Fagen and Steely Dan. This big 1972 hit comes from their album Can’t Buy A Thrill. Covid returns and you do it all again.
  11. “Alone Again (Naturally)” Gilbert O’Sullivan. Irish troubadour Raymond Edmund O’Sullivan changed his name to Gilbert and his career took off. Sort of. This was his biggest hit, from 1972, foreshadowing having to be isolated again when Covid returns.
  12. “Back On The Chain Gang” The Pretenders. Chrissie Hynde, the force behind this groundbreaking rock band, wrote this 1982 hit about her challenging relationship with Ray Davies of The Kinks. LOVE.
  13. “Again” Lenny Kravitz. Lenny Kravitz aka Romeo Blue is a master of R&B, funk, rock, blues. Here’s his 2000 composition that applies to our theme.
  14. “Oops… I Did It Again” Britney Spears. Before you judge, the famous singer-dancer and celebrity was only 18 when she sang and danced to this monster 2000 hit. Britney has so much trouble, I thought we should cut her some slack and put her in the playlist. I’m sure she’ll appreciate the gesture.
  15. “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” Peter, Paul & Mary. Here’s PP&M singing a stirring version of a tremendous Bob Dylan song from 1963.  Those lyrics, the harmonies… LOVE.
  16. “Catch You On The Rebound” Brenton Wood. R&B singer-songwriter Alfred Jesse Smith from Shreveport, LA changed his name to Brenton Wood. His biggest hit was actually “Gimme A Little Sign.” This 1967 song fits better with our theme.
  17. “Rebound” The Blasters. Brothers Phil and Dave Alvin led The Blasters, a rockabilly band formed in Downey, CA. Bill Justis and Charlie Rich wrote this song, which Rich recorded in 1959. The Blasters’ released their version in 2005. BLAST IT.
  18. “(Just Like) Starting Over” John Lennon. Sigh. You had Covid and now it’s just like starting over. John’s song from his 1980 album Double Fantasywas his biggest solo hit.
  19. “Don’t Look Back In Anger” Oasis. Brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher became the anchors of this wild British band. Oasis was a mainstay in the British tabloids for their  crazy lifestyle. This was one of their biggest hits written in 1996 by Noel after returning from an evening at a strip club. LOVE.
  20. “Splendid Isolation” Warren Zevon. We end the playlist with the Excitable Boy’s 1989 song about wanting to be alone. Well, if you get Covid again that’s where you’ll be–in splendid (or not so splendid) isolation.

There you have it… 20 “rebound,” “again,” etc. songs. Some advice:

Don’t Forget to Disinfect and… PLAY IT LOUD!

 

The link again:  click here.

 

Fact Check

“More” was not covered by Alvin & The Chipmunks, but it should have been.

“More” was covered by The Rascals, which I find even weirder than not being covered by Alvin & The Chipmunks.

 

LAST WEEK’S POLL QUESTION:

The Stones and “Get Off My Cloud” rolled all over George Harrison.

 

THIS WEEK’S POLL QUESTION:

Two from 1961: “On The Rebound” by Floyd Cramer or “Rubber Ball” by Bobby Vee. Who you got?

 

And that’s a wrap for this week,

 

Alan Eisenstock

Thank you,

Alan

alaneisenstock.com

 

 

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