Last week this year for LHS classes; Short day today

The "Winter Break" that coincidentally matches the Christmas and New Year's holidays will begin as classes end on Friday. For many, it's already begun and absences due to that aspect of the season have increased.

Today is the last Professional Development Day for 2008- Parents: Your child will be out much sooner today.

The Lincoln Heights Christmas Parade on Sunday gave the school groups a place for them to perform for a wider group of people than before, and they made the most of it. While I did not see any programs available to actually pin down which entry was which, most had signs or banners.

The event was very well attended and the parade, if anything, was a little on the long side. The announcer for the parade was not Mr. Shapiro, and, again, that difference could be from old news; it might have been an old "cut-and-paste" promotion from another edition of the parade that was recycled too fast for accuracy. I am just guessing.

The announcer kept the crowd entertained, which is something useful, and this is where I found out that there was going to be "live snow" at the assembly area behind the BofA after the parade. I didn't look for that myself, since live snow should not be kept in captivity from my point of view. It's just to cruel for something that belongs in the wild.

Well, a tough week for students to stay focused on studying, but Friday will be here before you know it.

Christmas is coming. What to give Lincoln Heights? Try a parade.

The Lincoln High Alumni Association will be among the entrants in this Sunday's "Lincoln Heights Christmas Parade" that begins at 11 a.m. The alumni intending to participate were sent an email from the Association this week.

In case you did not receive the email and want to be part of this entry, what you should know is that alumni parade participants are asked to show up at the formation area at the DMV offices at Lincoln Park Avenue and Mission by 10 a.m. They will follow the cheer leaders and the school band. Participating alumni are asked to wear school colors and comfortable shoes. You can get any further information on that entry directly by contacting the Alumni Association through it's website.

The Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council's own announcement provides some additional details on the parade. From that web posting:

"At the end, there will be a celebration for the whole community in the
parking lot behind the Bank of America with Santa, snow, Christmas gifts, music
and food for all. Thousands of spectators are expected to crowd along the Parade
route. For over two hours they will be treated to a seemingly endless line of
colorful drill teams, dance groups, bands, classic cars, dignitaries and large
and small floats. The Miss Taiwan entry will grace an antique fire truck from
Fire Station #1."

The Christmas Parade announcer will be LHS teacher, Mark Shapiro, as noted in an earlier posting on this blog. He will be delivering the play-by-play on the parade from Griffin Avenue and North Broadway, making the adjustment from his regular duty as Lincoln High School's Football home games announcer. Now you have the location and you know his work, so get there early to find a spot to hear the Shapiro touch, a truly unique experience.

I am glad to see that the "Christmas Parade" is still called that and not a "Holiday Parade"which sounds so cheesy and yielding to political correctness. If there is a federal and a state holiday for Christmas, there should not be any hand-wringing over the title of a parade that comes once a year with most entries themed with Christmas decorations and Santa Claus as the big ending. Ho, Ho, Ho.

December's Here: One Less Meeting, One More Parade

A few days into December and here are some things to consider from a Lincoln High view -

The December meeting of the Lincoln High Alumni Association was cancelled for the holidays by a membership vote on a motion at the last meeting (November). Hope to see you at the next meeting scheduled for January. Current membership dues are being accepted by mail, so check the Alumni Association link in the sidebar "Links to Visit" for that information or any other questions you may have on that topic.


The Lincoln Heights 2008 Christmas Parade will be coming to you this year on Sunday, December 14th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. According to the Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Council's 2008 Parade announcement. The parade route proceeds mainly on North Broadway, coming from the DMV office at Lincoln Park Avenue and Mission- and then heads "West" on North Broadway to Ave. 24- (which is so typical of L.A., heading "West" on a street that is called "North Broadway," changing to "South Broadway" when it gets to downtown at First St. or Temple).

Mr. Mark Shapiro, Lincoln High's veteran and absolutely veritable teacher, is the stated parade announcer who will be working his vocal magic again, with that same affable style he's demonstrated for years as the announcer at Lincoln's home football games. You can find him and hear his mellifluous tones emanating from the Griffin Avenue and North Broadway judging area.

I expect this parade to be a notably impressive presentation if I have read the Neighborhood Council's page correctly, where it says that they have been working on this since "January 2007." My reaction is "It better be something remarkable after putting in 2 years of work." But that could be a typo getting into their copy. I know so well that it can happen with the printed word. "Just when you think you're finished, oops." (see examples throughout this blog for proof.) The other clue to the typo angle is the the date mystery in the closing statement, "December 9 will indeed be a festive day in Lincoln Heights."

Here are a couple of photos from the 2008 Northeast Veteran's Day Parade in November that I thought I would add now.

Lincoln High Cheerleaders in Eagle Rock (above), with some well-deserved recognition to fellow classmate, Joe Galindo, LHS, Cl. of S'67 and Senior Lead Officer, LAPD, Northeast Div. (ret.) (right).