Unfortunately it wasn’t.  It seems that random acts of violence know no bounds.

It been said that the accused gunman was in a custody battle for his 7 year old son.  The first thing one thinks is….who will take care of the boy now?

And what of the sons and daughters, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, mothers and fathers, and friends of: Victoria Ann Buzzo, 54, David Caouette, 64, Laura Lee Elody, 46, Randy Lee Fannin, 62, Michelle Daschbach Fast, 47, Michelle Marie Fournier, 48, Lucia Bernice Kondas, 65 and Christy Lynn Wilson, 47?

The only survivor, Hattie Stretz, 73, mother of Laura Elody, remains in critical condition at Long Beach Memorial.

That’s hundreds, maybe thousands of broken hearts that are left to heal.

Does man’s inhumanity to his fellow man and woman know no bounds?

When does angst become terror?  When does different thinking become so bizarre that it should require hospitalization or incarceration.

I have friends in Long Beach who today must be going through hell.  They’ve had someone threatening them for over two years and cannot get a restraining order…but as many know a restraining order means nothing if someone is on a suicide mission.  The man accused of the crime, Scott Dekraai, however, was wearing a bullet proof vest.  So we must assume it was not a suicide mission.

My son asked me what is happening in this world?  Is this the way it was when I was growing up?  My guess is that it probably is pretty much the same except that now there are so many more people in the world, so many more guns, so much more news coverage – - that people in the Congo yesterday were hearing about a place called Seal Beach for the first and only time they will in their life.

There is no way we can control anger through legislation.  Could we control or reduce it with medication? Probably if, and that’s a big ‘if’ we were allowed to treat the person with the problem.

All I know is that Seal Beach IS CRYING and I think we’ll be crying for quite a while.

LOCATION: 15 1st Street, Seal Beach – anytime from 8 a.m. to Noon!

Our sponsors have provided awesome prizes, INCLUDING A BRAND NEW BIKE BUILT BY STATE BICYCLE!   Register for the walk or the cleanup and then when you’re done registering, go to the contest page and enter yourself in to win the bike and much more!!  The way this works is – the more people you recruit to volunteer, the higher your chance to win!!! By doing it that way, you get to do more good for our coast, AND it’s good for you too!

So come volunteer, register to win awesome prizes like a bike and a day at Burke Williams Spa or tickets for your family to go to Disneyland, the Aquarium or Pretend City – and join in all the fun!

Thanks again for your contribution to keeping our beaches beautiful ~

Kim Masoner, Founder
www.saveourbeach.org

On her Daddy John’s shoulders he couldn’t even see her little hand was held over her heart. Of course it brought a tear to his eye when he saw the picture.

Madeline – 3 1/2 years young –  was participating in the Pledge of Allegiance during the Brook Street 4th of July celebration in Laguna Beach.

A proud little American girl and maybe a future leader?

Happy Fourth to us all.

Today ONLY (no specific time, just any time today) is the day to head out to California Pizza Kitchen in Rossmoor at 12171 Seal Beach Blvd – Rossmoor Center Drive  - present the attached flyer(shown below)  and 20% of the proceeds from your meal with be donated back to the Los Alamitos High School Girls Tennis team.  Unfortunately, the sports programs at the high school have had cuts due to the California budget crisis, so we  have to raise funds to offset the things needed to run the program and keep the girls playing in their sport.  We hope to see you there and the girls would be so very appreciative of your support.

(Pleaase Copy invitation below – 8×11 if possible and take it with you)

Philanthropizza

Please join us at California Pizza Kitchen for a

flavorsome fundraising event.  All you need to do is bring

in this flyer on our scheduled date and present it to your

server when ordering. 20% of your check will benefit our

organization.  So come out and enjoy something

delicious from the CPK menu.

Your taste buds will thank you, and so will we

Los Alamitos HS Girls Tennis

California Pizza Kitchen

Seal Beach

12171 Seal Beach Blvd.

562.430.2695

Monday June 27, 2011

Thanks for the support. We can’t wait to see you.

Donation amount excludes proceeds from tax & gratuity.

Manager, please attach this flyer to the guest check.

Valid for dine-in and take-out only.

Event proceeds void if flyers are distributed in or near the restaurant.

Here’s an open letter from the Girls.

“Please join us at California Pizza Kitchen for a flavorsome fundraising event.  All you need to do is bring in this flyer on our scheduled date and present it to your server when ordering. 20% of your check will benefit our organization.  So come out and enjoy something delicious from the CPK menu. Your taste buds will thank you, and so will we.”

This is a great opportunity for those who have not yet tasted CPK’s unique and outstanding pizzas and help Los Al HS Girls Tennis at same time at: California Pizza Kitchen-Seal Beach-12171 S B Blvd.Tel-562.430.2695 Mon 6/ 27/11

Print the flyer shown below and use it when you pay your bill.

Los Alamitos HS Girls Tennis/California Pizza Kitchen Seal Beach/12171 Seal Beach Blvd.

Seal Beach, Ca 90740/562.430.2695 Monday June 27, 2011

Thanks for the support.

=============              ================         ==============

PHILANTHROPIZZA

Please join us at California Pizza Kitchen for a flavorsome fundraising event.

All you need to do is bring in this flyer on our scheduled date and present it to your server when                                                        ordering. 20% of your check will benefit our organization.                                                                                              So come out and enjoy something delicious from the CPK menu.                                                                                                    Your taste buds will thank you, and so will we.                                                                                                                                                  We can’t wait to see you.

Donation amount excludes proceeds from tax & gratuity.                                                                                                            Manager, please attach this flyer to the guest check.                                                                                                                         Valid for dine-in and take-out only.                                                                                                   Event proceeds void if flyers are distributed in or near the restaurant.

SEAL BEACH, CALIF. The United States National Submarine Memorial West, located at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, will be the site of annual public Memorial Day services Monday, May 30.

The 11:00 am observance will include the emotional “tolling the boats” ceremony, during which the name of each of the 52 U.S. submarines lost during World War Two is read aloud, along with the fate of each crew, as a bell is tolled.

The guest speaker will be Commander Brien W. Dickson, the Commanding Officer of the attack submarine USS Jefferson City (SSN 759).

The free event will be open to the public and is hosted by the Los Angeles Area “Diesel Boaters” Chapter of the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II, and the Los Angeles-Pasadena Base of the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.

The submarine memorial is located aboard the Naval Weapons Station at 800 Seal Beach Boulevard, between Westminster Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway, in the City of Seal Beach.

(Editor’s note: We’ve gone to the submarine memorial on Seal Beach Blvd. on several occasions.  It is a very emotional monument when one looks at the losses these brave men had during the early years of the war.  One can only imagine what a moving experience this will be for all those present next Monday.)

For more information contact the Naval Weapons Station Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Gregg Smith, at (562) 626-7215.  More information about the National Submarine Memorial site is also available online at http://www.cnic.navy.mil/SealBeach/index.htm.

This year you can go to the pier and get a fine breakfast of  pancakes and bratwurst by the Seal Beach Lions.

More cars than ever this year and we’ll have photos up on our site in a few hours.

Call your pals and tell them to get their kids and get down there.

A  FREE Big Red Bus Shuttle with parking at Alamitos Bay Landing from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Don’t miss Kim Masoner’s “Creative Reuse Class” at 1st and Ocean.  Kim is the creator of  “Save Our Beach” and one of the hardest working women in a town filled with hard working women!

Quite a ride….even a dedicated member of the Long Beach Police Association get a little shivver when he flying into those 180 degrees turns at speed.

This is a great video…especially when you realize the guy holding the camera is also holding his breakfast in!

Bill tried to get in Danica Patrick’s car….but that didn’t work out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__2N-Voz1oM

Some are totally into “Open Wheel Racing”; some are just here to participate in the pageant that is part of every open wheel race in the world  and some just to see Danica Patrick win again. (She’s the only woman to ever win an open wheel contest)  Rumors are this will be her last open wheel race.  After Sunday she may spend all her time on the NASCAR circuit after this weekend.

However for the  past several years there has been a sort of secret meeting place for those very special group of drivers who can afford to drive  those beautiful pieces of art known as Lamborghini’s.

Its not a car show, per se, but what else can you call it when 40 or 50 owners of 1/2 million dollar vehicles meet in  a quiet out of the way mall parking lot for a few hour before one of the most exciting auto race days in the U.S.

And you can trust me on this….when you look over these autos, all in pristine condition you would most likely not trade any one of them for one of those open wheel racers.

They gather at the parking lot on Bellflower Blvd in Long Beach, just north of the 405 freeway.  They start getting there about 9 a.m.   There is no charge because they don’t consider it a show…they are just meeting fellow Lamborghini owners from all over the continent who have driven here to see their brethern.

I don’t know for sure they’ll be there again this year.  They don’t invite me but I’ve been attending for the last three years and I encourage you to drop by also.

Don’t worry…you’ll see the cars off by  themselves near the Lowe’s Hardware store. One doesn’t park a car like this in an 8 foot parking space.

Who knows Mark Sanchez (Jets QB) may show up again?

ART STUDIO CLASSES FOR KIDS

“Art Studio Drawing – Painting” is for ages 6 – 12 years, and teaches the young ones the fundamental approach to art, develops drawing and sketching skills and the application of color using mixed media.  They will learn to enhance and express their creativity, imagination, and artistic confidence in a non-competitive atmosphere.  Class is 3:30 – 5:15PM.

“Open Art Studio” is geared for children ages 9 + years. This class is for young adults at all levels who would like to develop a solid foundation in basic drawing and painting skills as well as enhance their creative thinking.  Class is 5:15 – 6:30PM.

These classes are held on Thursdays, April 28^th – May 19^th and the session fee is $98.

Check out the classes online at www.sealbeachca.gov; under Parks and Recreation; Recreation guide or contact the Seal Beach Recreation and Community Services Office at (562) 431-2527 EXT. 1344, to sign up today!

Create Works of Art on Your Own!

Enhance your way of seeing and increase your own artistic style while acquiring the techniques of painting.  Understand spatial relationships, proportions, color value and light and shadow.  Work from photos or still life depending on your needs and interest.  A $30 material fee is payable to instructor at the first class.

Classes will be held at Marina Community Center, located at 151 Marina Drive, on Thursdays, April 28^th –  May 19^th for ages 18+.  The session fee is $98.

Check out the classes online at www.sealbeachca.gov; under Parks and Recreation; Recreation guide or contact the Seal Beach Recreation and Community Services Office at (562) 431-2527 EXT. 1344, to sign up today!