Happy holidays, everyone. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m about halfway through my xmas shopping.
I’ve already started enjoying the foods of the season. I’ve been making a lot of soups and stews in the crock pot. I’m sure when I see my family there will be plenty more to eat — like pie.
Time to hit the gym, I think. Enjoy the food and the family this holiday season.

It’s great to announce that the City Council is moving ahead with the development of Parcel B at 9300 Culver Blvd. The fenced-off, blighted area has been an eyesore for far too long.

The Combined team’s proposal looks very promising and I’m excited to see the groundbreaking. I think most people are happy, as well, that the Culver Studios Mansion will still be visible. It’s a beautiful piece of film history.

In other news this week, the Council decided to allow the Friends of the Culver City Scout House to fix up the old shack and give the organization non-exclusive rights to use it. It’s been a long time coming, and it should be good for the community.

It was a pretty good week for the members of the Culver City City Council.

I was recently thinking about the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, and not to be a turkey grinch, but it wasn’t joyous. Here’s a sample of my editorial on the subject:

“The idea is that we work hard during September, October and November and reward ourselves with some R&R, veg out and eat ourselves sleepy as we watch the annual Lions and Cowboys games. The long weekend, thus, reinvigorates us to endure the last few weeks before the Christmas and New Years’ holidays…

“Wednesday is the single-most congested day of the entire year. Roads become parking lots…Worse yet is the airport. If the pat-downs, shoe-removals, body scans and bag X-rays don’t slow your pace, the weather delays just may. And if nature doesn’t interfere, the next hurdle is ensuring that nobody on the plane has a name remotely similar to anyone on the government’s No-Fly List. Otherwise, you’ll be doing a sky U-turn with no honest explanation as to why.
Assuming after all this, you do manage to arrive at your destination. Thanksgiving is usually spent dodging political conversations and trying to keep certain family members sober. Friday is like a repeat of Wednesday, only in a mall. Saturday is Wednesday in reverse (everyone has to drive/fly back). And that leaves Sunday to unpack, unwind and prepare for the week ahead.”

I don’t know how we got here, but it’s a mess. I love this holiday. I always have. There needs to be a way to fix this situation. I’m open to suggestions.

Yesterday was Sept. 11, which likely will always be a day of reflection for Americans. As I watched as much media coverage of the event as I could stomach, the idea was reinforced within me the disturbing conclusion that the mainstream media is nothing  more than giant global conglomerates colluding in the entertainment business to the detriment of the American public.

Since the attack, a storyline has developed, whether true or false, that has led us to believe that we know exactly what happened and why, as though we were jurors on a case, with an orderly set of facts presented for our consideration. The consensus seems to be that a society, like a TV crime drama audience, needs the case resolved and all loose ends tied in a timely manner.

The truth is that geopolitics, like life, is complex. Furthermore, there is room for discussion, debate and differing points of view. For I worry whenever I hear the media speak on our behalf or refer to the way “we” feel, as if all Americans share a common mindset. We don’t — and that’s the genius of this country.

Well, I was very happy this week when the NFL owners and players agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement. The new CBA will give football fans a decade of labor peace.
I don’t want to think what fall would be like without pro football every Sunday. It’s a frightening thought.
There’s a lot of movement going on right now - trades, free agency, roster cuts - it’s going to be interesting to see new faces in new places.
As of yet, my San Diego Chargers have not made any headlines in terms of personnel, but that’s par for the course for them. Still, there are holes to fill. But it was a good draft, I think. So hopefully, in six months time, I’ll be cheering the Bolts through the playoffs. Enjoy your football, everyone!

Hope everyone had a great Fourth of July. I spent mine with family and friends. We barbecued and did some swimming and sunning — just the way freedom should be celebrated. The Fourth of July is one of those great holidays in which not to much is expected — no gifts, large dinner spreads or elaborate decorations. Everyone pitches in to bring some potato salad or green bean casserole to the table, you buy a couple American Flags, put some Mellencamp and some Springsteen on the stereo and — viola!
I had so much fun that I’m only now getting around to catching up (which is why I’m finally posting this!).

Some people like to travel over the holiday, which is fine by me…with everyone out of town it means the freeways are actually free. But if you’ve just come back into town, welcome, Culver City has some exciting stuff heating up for the last half of summer…including our summer concert series. Stay tuned for more information on that from us soon.

If you’ve ever helped someone move, you can appreciate the aches and pains I’m feeling today. My brother needed help loading a 16-foot truck. Included in the items: a refrigerator, king-size bed, pine cabinet, kitchen table and sectional sofa.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to accompany him on the three-hour journey to his destination. The extent of my obligation ended when truck door slammed shut.

He was kind of enough to feed me and put a couple beers in me for my trouble. He asked when he would see me again. I told him I didn’t know, but that he’d be getting a medical bill from me soon enough.

My back aches. My knees are making creaking noises. My muscles are sore. But what are brothers for? It’s good to have brothers. Professional movers don’t work for burgers and beer.

I was delighted to get a couple of letters in response to my editorial about celebrating Memorial Day. The authors attempted to take me to task for choosing to “celebrate” the holiday, but I was delighted nonetheless.

I stand by my decision to revel in the holiday. While others choose reverence or somber reflection, I’ll grill out. One of the freedoms in this country is choosing how and what we honor.

I could’ve signed up for a war, but I’ve never cared much for it. We have enough holidays for soldiers it seems, but what about pacifists, peacemakers and political dissidents? I suppose governments in the business of recruiting armies are rather loathe to acknowledge the efforts of those who would oppose the institution of war.

It is, of course, your right as a human being to disagree. Furthermore, it is a right not doled out by any government or document and remains so regardless of any wars in which people have fought and/or died.

I don’t mean to spoil anyone else’s day of sober contemplation. The way in which others spend their holidays is none of my business. But how I spend mine — that is my business…and frankly, no one else’s.

Look for the letters in this week’s edition of the paper. And decide for yourself (always!).

We have new help in the office that I would like to welcome.

I am fortunate to have a new sidekick at hand. Sarah Hattem, a native of Culver City and an alum of Culver City High School is home for a summer away from her new life in Washington D.C. at American University. Sarah will play a large part in helping me put together the news you read each week.

Also joining the team is Laura Hyslop, a freshman at Culver City High School who will be helping us pull the paper together.

In addition, Alan Moskal is taking a new desk in the front of the office helping us in the sales department.

Its been great to have some extra help in the office this week, especially with the absence of Jose, our graphic designer, who is recovering from an injury. We wish him the best of health and hopes for a speedy recovery.

Welcome aboard everyone!

Photo of Sarah Hattem

Photo by Lori Fusaro

Dogs on our local beaches — what is your opinion? Should they be allowed to run free? Should they be prohibited? Should they be allowed if on a leash? Should there be different policies at different beaches? What are your thoughts?