Lincoln High's Alumni Association's first meeting for 2012 is Tomorrow.

The Lincoln High Alumni Association will be haaving a busy meeting tomorrow with a recap of the last years events and plans for upcoming events.   The meeting will be held in the "Cafe in the Heights"at 9:30 a.m.  located directly across the street from the school's electronic marquee.  Increased membership is sought and dues are payable by mail (see the LHAA details on the LHS official web site  LHS Website 


A Spring Dance is planned for April 14, 2012 at Maggie's Pub in Santa Fe Springs.

A Lincoln High Centennial Celebration in 2013 is among the long range plans that will be shaped up this year. An assortment of Angels Fund arts contests this spring will be discussed as well as Texas Hold "em poker tournament.

NEXT Month's meeting, Feb. 25, 2012: The membership attending the meeting will be included in the annual group photo that will be taken on that date.

Singer Etta James Dies

Singer Etta James died this morning in Riverside, California at the age of 73.  She's best known for singing "At Last" which is one of the songs that you will hear at about any wedding reception.  The L.A. Times has a news item on this at http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-etta-james-20120121,0,1608543.story .

The life of Etta James included the difficulties of drug use and addiction that was not unusual among many of the artists in music encoutered in their lives, sometimes cutting short those lives  She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has a star on the Hollywood Boulevard "Walk of Fame."  

I remember her songs as part of the sounds of the 60's but more with lively tunes, ubeat songs, if you will.  The rendition of "At Last" that James made all her own is nothing of that, but a very earthy, very sincere love ballad.  I think that the L.A. Times may have a longer obituary coming up for her aside from the announcement now online.

What's happened on this date, January 9th- in radio, music and entertainment- from LA Radio.com

Don Barrett's L.A. Radio.com provides a little something for our memories today. It is a little bit of flashback kind of energy that is what I want to share as a sampling of what was published every day until a few months agos http://www.laradio.com/   If you have some years on you, you might recall some of the items from experience.

The following is from is column today for January 9th- "on this date" -

"LARP Rewind: January 9. On this day in 2006, Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, who in 2005 had starred in a new version of the 1968 movie, The Producers, were honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. On this day in 1992, Sting played himself on the "Radio Bart" episode of The Simpsons. On this day in 1979, Kmart pulled Steve Martin's Let's Get Small album for being in "bad taste." On this day in 1973, the Rolling Stones had to cancel a planned tour of the Orient when Japan refused to grant a Visa to Mick Jagger because of a 1969 drug bust. On this day in 1963, drummer Charlie Watts joined the Rolling Stones after leaving Blues Incorporated. On this day in 1922, 82AE in Pittsburgh changed call letters to KQV. (This was before a rule change that required stations east of the Mississippi River to have callsigns beginning with W.)


Today, January 9, 2012, sportscaster Dick Enberg is 77, Joan Baez is 71, Roy Head is 69, Yardbirds/Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page is 68, Buster Poindexter (David Johansen) is 62, Crystal Gayle is 61, Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell is 45, singer/guitarist Dave Matthews is 45, Backstreet Boys vocalist A.J. McLean is 34.

On the KFWB Fabulous Forty Survey 50 years ago today, January 9, 1962, number one was The Twist by Chubby Checker, followed by the Tokens' The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Gene Chandler's Duke Of Earl. Biggest jumpers were Norman by Sue Thompson and Dear Lady Twist by Gary U.S. Bonds."


Roy Head sang "Treat Her Right" in the mid-60s, a one-hit wonder, popular and a lively tune.  Crystal Gayle had "We'll Sing in the Sunshine" as her principal 60s hit.  Sue Thompson's "Norman" was yet another one-hit wonder from the early 60s.   Hard to believe it, maybe, but all part of the pop music we heard in high school years way back.

Don's daily column appeared on the web since about 1997, first as a free site and than as a daily subscription website, now appears "occasionally" for subscribers as he's now spending more time on other things including family.  This break is not complete yet as he leave us with some once in a while postings to ease the radio information vacuum.  What I show here is just a small part of what we had as daily presentations.

A Return to Classes in LAUSD today.

The holiday break that we used to call "Christmas Vacation" is over now.  Lincoln students started the school year earlier than the rest of the District in August for the second year as a pilot program.  The rest of the district was to follow that change last August but there was so much commotion stirred up that that the change was postponed for another year to August 2012.


So be on the lookout for students on foot and more on bikes, as well as the increased traffic to deliver and pick up students by schools.    Does anyone remember way back when we used to walk to and from school from Jr. High and on?    Getting a ride to school was more like a treat but now it's more like the routine.  

It's a different time now but the mayor again is saying that crime is down and L.A. is as safe as it's been since the 1950's.  I disagree with that conclusion.  I think it's a less safer than the 50's but that's for a different discussion.

That's just one bit of exercise that has been cut back a lot.   I don' t know if there was any obesity trend like there is now, but when you have the technology advances, there's a lot more sitting around time happening than we had. 

We had it a little more different than now.   And that's all without having to add in hardships like walking in the snow to get to school- it would have been a real story if that happened even once for us in L.A.

But even with all that we didn't have then, I seem to recall that more came out of school with some better education than we see today.  I remember that we had drop outs but even then there was not what we see now.   And you have to think about all this happening in the pre-Walkout days.  This was what I saw generally, working with an "inferior" education still gave us a lot for our time in school.  But that's just my interpretation and the people with the statistics may be able to produce a different scenario.

Oh, and "Happy New Year" to all.

As the year ends, we see singer Etta James now terminally ill.

There's a December 18, 2011 news story from Reuters that Etta James, age 73, a singer from way back who I remember from at least high school days, is temrinally ill.  Her most memorable song for most who have heard her sing, is  "At Last." a real classic among ballads.  I happened to favor "Tell Mama," a more upbeat tune that let a lot of energy come through.  It was a time back in high school days that soul artists flourished and were inspirations to many of the newly arrived British Invasion artists of the 60's.

I think it was Beyonce who sang her own cover of "At Last" several years ago that provoked some anger in James.  Etta stated very clearly that "that's MY song...."  and was not pleased by the Beyonce version.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/17/us-ettajames-idUSTRE7BF20Q20111217

Sad to hear of the news but there's a difference of opinion among James' sons, according to the report in Reuters about the condition being terminal, although they agree the singer is in deteriorating health.

Tonight - The LHS Alumni Association Fall Dance in Santa Fe Springs

If you are an LHS alum and haven't heard about the Fall Dance, the LHS Alumni Association's fundraising event tonight at Maggie's Pub in Santa Fe Springs, then you are likely in the minority of active alumni still in the Southern California area.

The links in the sidebar LHS official website will let you know more about this.
OR
you can just call dance chair persons: Mike Ibarra - S’66 - (323) 683-6102 -or-  Luz Lopez - S’75 -- (310) 701-6846

At last check, the ticket prices were $35 per person.  Call one of the numbers above if you are interested in information about at-door ticket sales.

Lots of activity in at City Hall but Mayor still hooked on hitting the publicity circuit.

The mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa- who will be just Antonio Villar when he ends his term according to reports on the divorce settlement, is totally into publicity as long as it include the mayor.

He continues to exercise that personal choice that belies his claim to care about the city.  That commitment the city is simply overrulled by a terminal case of narcissism to make publicity opportunities a regular preference. 

It's a choice made by the mayor in the midst of all that's happening with the city that means a lot for how L.A. residents will enjoy or suffer (as the case may be) living in L.A. including steep hikes in DWP rates, Sewer fees almost doubling, the budget still short, OccupyLA creating costs for L.A. (aside from demands), and all the FBI subjects of investigation as fraud, waste and abuse happen to be more the rule than the exception.

Here's a selection from The City Maven blog "Pressers" section today http://www.thecitymaven.com/ to give you an idea of how the elected "leader" (by a slim majority of the approximately 18% of the city's registered voters who came out to cast votes- so that's roughly 10% of the registered voters choosing this mayor) ostensibly "works" for the city of L.A.

"10:15 a.m. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will participate in the Great California ShakeOut at Target in Northridge.
11:30 a.m. Mayor Villaraigosa will recognize Domestic Violence Awareness month at LAPD Headquarters
7:30 p.m. Mayor Villaraigosa will attend the Safe Passage Domestic Violence Awareness Month event at L.A. Live.
8 p.m. Mayor Villaraigosa will speak at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Great Futures Gala at L.A. Live"

The L.A. Weekly's editor, Jill Stewart referred to Villaraigosa as "The Partyboy Mayor" in a radio interview a few months ago, and he surely seems to be that, as well as the subject of the L.A Weekly's "11% Mayor" - a reference to the time spent on real city business based on his official calendar records..  http://www.laweekly.com/2008-09-11/news/the-all-about-me-mayor/ 

"The All-About-Me Mayor: Antonio Villaraigosa's Frenetic Self-Promotion-Hours of travel, fund-raising and PR leave little time for his job" By Patrick Range McDonald Wednesday, Sep 10 2008 
http://www.laweekly.com/2008-09-11/news/the-all-about-me-mayor/

Not much seems to have changed aside from the mayor continuing his mission to find a new office to hold and maybe get better publicity photos from it.  We might have been better served had Villaraigosa spent more time in his office, in the city and not be so busy involving himself in all that he manages to find that does not get the job done as mayor for L.A. residents and busineses.
There was a continuation of this L.A. Weekly story a few months later: "Villaraigosa, the All About Me Mayor, Is Still 11 Percent There,"  By Patrick Range McDonald,  Wednesday, Dec 31 2008
http://www.laweekly.com/2009-01-01/news/villaraigosa-the-all-about-me-mayor-is-still-11-percent-there/


Well, he's the mayor until July 1, 2013 when the March 2013 election results will produce another mayor, one who might do better, let's hope.

LHS Football (tonight) v. Eagle Rock HS- Kenny Washington Story in L.A. Times

The Lincoln Tigers will host the Eagle Rock Eagles Friday night.

The L.A. Times this week published a story this week about Kenny Washington and the ongoing work that's being done to honor the former Lincoln student athlete who broke the NFL color barrier. "Remembering forgotten hero Kenny Washington," by Bill Plaschke, October 12, 2011, http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke-20111012,0,2930677,full.column

A key part of the story tells much about the big picture for Washington,

Mark Shapiro has spent 35 years shouting out yards and numbers to Lincoln fans with a tiny microphone while standing in the seats in front of the marching band. In the most sadly perfect of ironies, on Friday night at a Kenny Washington memorial game designed to raise money to fix this field, he couldn't talk about the honored man because nobody could hear him.

"And believe me, somebody needs to talk about Kenny Washington," said the retired teacher and softball coach.
Welcome to Kenny Washington's house, the home of a man who fought for something that has not fought for him.
On March 21, 1946, Washington signed a contract with the new Los Angeles Rams, making him the first African American in an NFL that had been unofficially segregated the previous 12 seasons.

The former UCLA star, who signed when he was 28 years old and coming off five knee surgeries, lasted just three pro seasons. He retired young, and when he died at age 51 of heart and lung problems, his memory seemingly vanished with him.

"He wasn't in the NFL long enough, so he just faded out of sight," said Jim Tunney, former longtime referee and Lincoln High administrator whose father once coached Washington here. "And now nobody knows what to do with him."

Washington broke his sport's color barrier a year before his former UCLA football teammate Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier, yet pro football never retired Washington's No. 13, and his Los Angeles hometown has yet to put his name on any parks or fields.

Read the rest of the story for the current status of the effort to give due notice and honor a person from Lincoln's historic past.

LHS ALUMNI meets Saturday at 9:30 in LHS Cafeteria

The location of the October Meeting of the Alumni Association is back at LHS in the student cafeteria and NOT in the Cafe in the Heights.

LHS Alumni Association Meeting Saturday

This Saturday at the Cafe in the Heights is the place for the LHS Alumni Association's monthly meeting at 9:30 am.

One topic will be the Fall Dance that's planned for Saturday, October 22, 2011. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event will continue until midnight at Maggie's Pub in Santa Fe Springs that has been the regular site for LHS Alumni dances.  This event includes a buffet dinner as with past dances there.
Get your tickets now.
Contact persons Mike Ibarra - S’66 - (323) 683-6102 -- Luz Lopez - S’75 -- (310) 701-6846

Dairy Demolition event on Albion St. happening Thursday- New Park Coming.

There's a bit of news since the last posting- well, lots, but here's a start, that's very specific to Lincoln Heights.

The Downey Recreation Center has that baseball diamond and newer gym on the south side Spring Street,  That's all changing now as the Carnation aka Foremost aka Swiss Dairy property was purchased by the city and is being cleared out for a park to come in. 

I received an email invitation to come to the event on Thursday, at 12:30 p.m. sent by Mike Fong, an aide to  mayor Villaraigosa.  There's a pdf flyer that goes with this but it's a very typical one.  The main news is here.  There should be a lot on hand with food and beverages to help make the most of this project.  The speeches probably will be the downside of the event, unless you happen to like speeches that generally are feel-good things to get your votes in the next election. 

Here's the message that you might consider answering if you are in the area that day:

"Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Councilmember Ed P. Reyes, and officials from the Departments of Public Works and Recreation and Parks cordially invite you
to a Demolition Kick-off Ceremony for the Albion Dairy Acquisition Project,
A Future Los Angeles Riverfront Park

Thursday, September 29, 2011
12:30 pm
Downey Recreation Center
1739 Albion Street
Los Angeles, CA 900031

Please RSVP to mike.fong@lacity.org if you are interested in attending the event.

Thanks and have a great day,
Mike"

City business- making appearances? Is this what a Mayor should be doing? Being in

The mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, still does not find a purpose to staying in the Mayor's Office to get to city business, the real kind, and continues to tour city to keep his face before the cameras.

From The City Maven blog's "Morning Coffee" section,  http://www.thecitymaven.com/2011/08/10/mavens-morning-coffee-66/ today's listing of press items for city hall shows the mayor to be making four public appearnaces:

Pressers

10:30 a.m. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will help launch a bilingual Internet literacy program at Magnolia Place Family Center.
11:30 a.m. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will be at L.A. Live to announce the location of the 2012 Breeders’ Cup.
7 p.m. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will attend Summer Night Lights at Imperial Courts Recreation Center.
8 p.m. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will attend Summer Night Lights at Jordan Downs Recreation Center.

This doesn't seem to be the best use of a mayor's time when you consider what condition the city is in.  But then, why should he change his ways now as he travels the city with his security detail and assorted staffers, all paid for by tax dollars, too. 

Does anyone really want to see him out in the city instead seeing him stay in city hall, getting to know the place, and trying to get familiar with city work to be done.  The real priorities of this city don't match those of the mayor.

 Maybe there's a reason for the mayor to have over 200 staff members when the other mayor's had less than 100 to assist them.

L.A. City Public LIbraries are open on Mondays again.

The city's libraries are open again on Mondays. You may have noticed that annoucement in the news  where the city politicians are taking the credit, led by mayor villaraigosa, as usual, who pounce upon any opportunity to give an appearance of effectiveness. 

The money was the issue according to the city council and the March election gave voters Measure L to approve to move more money to the library's budget.  Yes, politicians brag that it did not raise taxes, but they don't tell you what it DID do.

The change that happened from Measure L is a simple one, it just makes the library's share of the pool of money guaranteed as a larger sum- AND THIS MEANS it will have to TAKE AWAY from another department the money to keep things in balance. That impact will be more clearly seen when that cuts for making up the balance happens.

Closting the libraries on Mondays was in my view a political stunt to get the public to later support restoring the day by approving another manipulation of the budget picture.  The city council COULD have left the libraries open on Mondays by their own power, but THEYwere the ones who decided WHAT department gets funded and what departments get CUTS.   They chose the libraries- had they chosen a less visible part of city operations, maybe the level of attention would not be enough to get voters swayed to the positions put forth as "solutions" as they would where it the libraries, a more essential service to the city.

So taking credit for what condition they CREATED is not the meritorious act they'd have you believe.  Taking credit for anything "good" is a practice you will find, most often displayed by mayor villaraigosa, always the narcissist.   You are not told of the "discretionary" funds of assorted amounts, that the city council members have, that they can apply for matters in their district.  You did not see any CMs volunteer ANY money to keep ANY libraries in their districts OPEN on Mondays by taking some discretionary funds from their own accounts. No, they use this for self promotion and splash lots of it around in the election years to get voters attention and buy loyalty, shown by the period ending with the March elections.

You don't have much mention that the libraries, by the terms of Measure L, will become a stand-alone entity, meaning "independent" for a shorthand description.   Much like children grow up and eventually, move out, with the parents no longer providing the food, housing and so on.   The city council sees its job made easier to push the library department out from under its umbrella and have it pay its own utilities and other costs of operation that were part of the benefit from being entirely under the city's system.

I think there's more to see in the future that's still putting the library in a bind and still having cuts to be made to other spending where the money is taken from- that is not highlighted ever.  City Council continue largely to do what IT wants, driven by personal agendas and special interests.

A lot of CM's time spent with lobbyists making their requests would be lots more than the skimpy 2 minutes any one person gets in public comment on a matter. Keep that picture in mind whenever you have a question about why things in City Hall are being decided in the ways that they are. 

The libraries being closed on Mondays was shameful in how a city considers the needs of its consitutuents, but poltical planning was a far more important consideration above all else.  It needs to change.

The next City elections will be in March 2013.  There will be some open coucil seats then.  One is in Lincoln Heights, as Ed Reyes' CD-1 current term is his last.  Look for him to keep looking for another political office to head for  He filed last year for an expected open seat in the state's office but, like musical chairs, sometimes there's a spot you find and sometimes it's not there.  It didn't open after all, so Ed stayed put in City Council..  Career Politicans manage to talk their way into more terms but lose touch with being a public servant and become used to "being" served instead.   A change through voting is what's needed.

LHS Alumni Association July Meeting This Saturday (afternoon)

There's a monthly meetng of the LHS Alumni Association that is set for Saturday, but the time is changed from the usual 9:30 a.m. hour to the afternoon, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., according to the LHSAA calendar on the LHS website.  I usually get an email that confirms the meeting date and time, but that has not happened as of this writing.

The location is The Cafe in the Heights across the street from the campus on North Broadway.

I did get an email reminder last week for the fundraiser Dodger game, ticket at $20, is on for Sunday, July 31, 2011, at 1 p.m.  See the website or sidebar link here for more information.

Fireworks Show Saturday Night at Lincoln Park- All day events from 2 p.m.- Eagle Rock on Sunday.

Well, Lincoln Park will be the site for the fireworks show on Saturday night, July 2, 2011.  Events, from politicians making appearances to actual entertainment will be happening from 2 p.m. onward until the fireworks begins at 9pm. 

Included is "Fault Line," a Latin jazz band, at 3:30 pm and 430 pm, for a couple of half hour sets. I heard this name before from many yearsback and they were a locally based band.  I recall that the version of that band that I heard was very good and I hope this version carries on that quality.

There are several other bands before and after Fault Line, and there should be something for most, if not everyone, to enjoy.
I am not able to show the flyer that's out now, but it's very basic and says it's presented by Council member Reyes, City of L.A. Dept. of Recreation and Parks, and the Lincoln Heights Chamber of Commerce, sharing the flyer space very equally in print.

The program has the listing of times for the day's events, with many bands. 

ALSO THIS WEEKEND- If you like fireworks shows, this is the weekend, with more fireworks on SUNDAY .
Fireworks at Eagle Rock Park, with the first of the Summer Concerts in the Park, Sunday, July3rd, 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with the Fireworks Showtime at 8:45 p.m.; there will be 4 more Sunday at 6 p.m concerts there this summer at 2 week intervals.
"Ronnie and the Classics" will be the band for this Sunday's concert.

Different approaches to promotion in the Council Districts.
This flyer, by the way, is just a top notch, glossy, colored two-sided item that, as usual for Council Distric 14, has the name of  "COUNCILMEMBER JOSE HUIZAR" displayed in the largest, all caps letters.  Have to hand it to Jose that he never misses an opportunity to self-promote, especially as there is one more term available to him as council member. 

Ed Reyes in CD-1 may be less concerned as he's termed out and will be looking for another office to occupy in the same year as the mayor, 2013, and or maybe he's just becoming a bit more frugal in handling expenditures.  Who knows?  And the other part unknown is any sort of breakdown of how much that is spent for each event is from specific funds  from tax money collected and how much is from any donations from private sector sources.  Some annual events this 4th of July have been cancelled due to budgets being very tight.  Views differ on what deserves spending of public money, but the deal's are done in these cases, so enjoy it while it's available, as next year you may be different.

But the "functional" vs. the "High Gloss" style is very apparent for the events that, above all, are supposed to be about celebrating the birth of this nation.   As things go, I really don't think that's something anyone really gives much thought to. That is, much thought if they were aware of the fact in the first place.  All part of the decline of the educational system and the interest given to history overall.

The Mayor visits Lincoln Heights with Martin Sheen at Downey's Pool(s_

In another tour of photo ops today, mayor Vlllaraigosa has Lincoln Heights on the list, as reported by The City Maven in her Morning Coffee items:

"1:30 p.m. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa attend the kick off of Kaiser Permanente’s “Operation Splash” at Downey Recreation Center."

I don't know what this details of this are about, but then I don't think the mayor has much more information either, as long as there are cameras there to present himself.  He's a busy guy today with 3 other events to attend before this one.  Well, I suppose this is a lot more fun than dealing with the city's financial woes and seeing what the real job of mayor is about.

The Downey's pool was re-done a while back and I will still miss that No-diving shallow pool of a place where most of the neighborhood young people, at some time or another, went into the water during off-hours as the trains rumbled by on a regular basis, and back when there were just hoboes and not homeless living under bridges by the tracks. 

That was a long time ago when the city seemed to run well without all the daily scandals we are reading about these days. The mayor's had his share of those stories in the news, but he's termed out and auditioning for another job to occupy his time until July 2013 end of term.    I don't think he will be around much in the city with the new position of his, as if running the city was not a handful already.  If you haven't heard, keep reading.

Earlier this month, Mayor Villaraigosa spent the weekend on the East Coast to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Baltimore, Maryland where he was selected as president.  Well, I suppose the real condition of the city here is not known to the ones who chose him, or maybe that is irrelevant.  A real case of moving on in the wake of disasters.  A role model for all who otherwise would have figured there's not any hope for them- just trying to see the silver lining here.

The LHS Alumni Association meeting this Saturday

The meeting:   Lincoln High's Alumni Association monthly meeting.

More:
This Saturday, June 25, 2011 at The Cafe in the Heights, at 9:30 am, located on North Broadway, across the street from the campus near the Lincoln Park Avenue cross street.

Sample What's on "L.A. Radio.com." It's all free access until June 27th.

While Don Barrett is on a vacatioin for a while, he has made his LARADIO.COM available to non-subscribers to access it for free until June 27, 2011.  So you have until Monday in 9 days to check what this is all about.

Go back to see what's been on the web site and I am sure you will find something that will interest you, especially if you are of the older persuasion.   There's a lot about the present and future of radio as well as a lot of people and events of the past on this site.

The instructions are on http://www.laradio.com/ to get access- the password will be "free" by the way, as is the site for the next week.   Consider subscribing from an informed position of sampling the site.

See L.A. Dodgers' Tony Gwynn, Jr.-Today- Lincoln Heights' St. Vincent de Paul store- Noon

Here's the announcement that just came in by email this morning from KABC Radio AM 790.  This is kind of late notice to rearrange the Friday schedule for most, but here it is- you might pass it along.

"Today, meet L.A. Left Fielder Tony Gwynn Jr. Head over to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Get your Dodgers stuff signed, plus 50% off for their Father's Day Sale. Located at 210 N. Avenue 21 Los Angeles, CA 90031   . more here."
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The last minute notice may be good to avoid presenting a temptation to ditch class to see a Dodger.   That might be one of the unintended consequences here, but I don't know how popular this appearance will be.  Now if it was Tony Gwynn, Sr., and 20 or so years back, I would probably work on visiting at noon.

If you are old enough, you might remember former Dodgers' manager Tommy Lasorda's radio ads for the Dodgers, "You can take a family of 4 to a game for $10, the best bargain in town."  Prices at the Stadium for the lowest general admission tickets are more than that for just one ticket now.

Times have changed.  Let's hope that the owners will be changing now.

The Passing of Another Figure from Our Past- James Arness, "Gunsmoke"

There's been more and more passings that I see now of the figures from the entertainment industry. Of course it's an eventuality for all of us.  From the times in school, maybe more so than now, there were lots of television, radio and music persons that had some long standing visibility, and were a part of the culture at the time.  That's what this sort of posting recognizes and I will make entries as more come up- maybe even go back to recall some who have already passed on, too.

James Arness, actor. and star of the western series, "Gunsmoke," that ran from 1955 to 1975, died last week at the age of  (May 26, 1923 to June 3, 2011) at the age of 88.    There's a summary that gives you a bit of information on the actor and the television show - "Legendary ‘Gunsmoke’ Actor James Arness Dies At Age 88."  http://www.etidbits.com/legendary-gunsmoke-actor-james-arness-dies-at-age-88=4600


As usual, Wikipedia has more details on Jame Arness: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Arness

This was something of a classic show on tv that I remember watching over many years, with this show, Gunsmoke, being the longest running westerm amid a flood of western shows, many memorable and created during period in the 60s.   James Arness' brother was Peter Graves, a star in hsi own right, heading a cost of another show of major popularity, "Mission Impossible," and more recently known for the "Airplane" movies and "Police Squad" movies and television sitcom.

We all have memories from our younger days that came along with our time in school, from elementary to high school and beyond.   My school years now are moving back to an older era as each year passes, and that's the way for us all, even if we don't feel older.   The passings of entertainment figures reminds us of that aging and maybe gives us cause to try to enjoy the present even more now with whatever time we all have left.

More than a morbid view, this is to say we should all work to make a difference of some level, for our families or society.  And to be specific, it should be a "positive" kind of difference. We all know that there are loads of people who seem to have the purpose of making their mark on the day with criminal activity, too often considered by them and their peers as an "accomplishment."

So, from in my view, that's not what we are here for, and shifting the balance of things for our younger people, especially, to know that they have the choice of direction to go and the positive side is what is right.  Too often- and here's the school teacher kind of view coming out- parents don't get involved with even small things that can guide their children.  Leaving their children to learn all in school is not the way to go.  Would you let some strangers have complete control over your money decisions?  Then why drop out of the picture for your kids, something of more value than money, and let "someone else" show them what's important in life?

Teachers aren't supposed to be baby sitters or substitutes for parents but it's often what happens.  I have seen too many students looking for guidance that they are not getting from home.  We do help others, but family needs to be the big factor if you want to see success at any level of life.  Teachers and school can only help for part of each day. What parents and family are doing matters as a huge influence, and it can be a bad influence that's being shown, as you can see with some accepting gangster outcomes, or worse, encouraging it.

So, back to the passing of James Arness, and what this has to do with what I mentioned.  It was a reminder of the past when we were young and had a lot more choices than now and a reminder of the past when things seemed simpler and more innocent that today's life. 

We can't change the past that gave us our experiences and memories.  We can, however, affect the present and do that on many levels.  The first one needs to be our young people.  These will be the ones who will soon be taking over from us who are already, or will become, the older generation.  It would be a good idea to equip them with the tools and the "good" side of values to help them in the future decisions that they will make for themselves and for others.  Recognizing that the responsibility for that needs to be accepted by us will go a long way to improve life overall.