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For those who didn’t see the show, Celine Dion and Elvis walked out and stood next to each other and sang a duet of the classic – – “If I can Dream.”
It was like he was raised from the dead. Everyone has been asking how it was done.
1 1/2 million have already viewed this amazing event on “you tube.”
ET said it was a totally amazing hologram. Estimated cost could have been as high as $100,000 and ook months and months to create. However it was done, those lucky enough to have seats gave a standing ovation through teary eyes.
She sounded great singing with the one and only Elvis. The duet was fantastic. Celine Dion and “The King” in front of a live studio audience!
Watch and listen to the audience going berserk, as they themselves think they are actually seeing Elvis right there in front of them. A truly amazing use of modern day technology brings Elvis Presley back to life in front of your own eyes.
August 29th was the first “official” Alamitos Stand-Up paddle board race and according to Matty Mitchell, the event organizer, “It was a great success!”
There were 64 people entered..more women than men! According to Mitchell the women seem to do better than the guys because they don’t try to “muscle” the boards and, consequently, the seem to get a better flow through the water. Matty said that even though it is a relatively new exercise in Southern California it started long ago in Hawaii.
Recent technology in boards has made big boards that one can stand on that only weigh 25 lbs. Prices for boards can vary from $800 for a regular stand-up to as much as $2,500 for an 18 footer.
The race was a three mile tour around the bay and the women’s trophy was won by Shelly Stazis and the men’s category was won by local Chiropractor Tom Gallagher. (I forgot to ask who came in first?
For a video of the beginning of the race go to: http://vimeo.com/6374873
Deep in the southern part of the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau, there is a Tibetan Autonomous Region where 99% of the populations are of Tibetan descent. Tibetan is the native language and Buddhism is embodied in the local culture.
A California woman, Lynn Velez, a friend of “Whats Up in Seal Beach” who lives in Hong Kong, has responded to the plight of the needs of these young women and girls. Lynn is well known by us and her hard work and honesty are above reproach. She takes absolutely no compensation for her efforts. (In fact she and her husband are large donors to the project both in work and cash.)
Rosie cheeks even in spring weather. Winter can be -25 F
The girls come from very poor families who cannot afford to look after them. Some of the girls are from families who “gave” them to other families as house-maids to pay-off generational loans or to receive food and cash so the rest of the family could survive. Even though it is required by law to send children to school for 9 years, many of these nomadic families do not value formal education and instead keep their girls at home to work because of necessity.
The SGH is fully “endorsed” by the Local and Provincial Chinese Government… unfortunately that doesn’t include financial help. but even though its only partially built the Seng Girls Home is already becoming a sanctuary for these Tibetan girls. A school is currently being built; however, there are other necessities that are needed. Here is the very modest “Wish List” for the Seng Girls Home .
–Bathroom and Toilet. $12,650. At present they use an outdoor privvy. Winter temps approach minus 25 degrees- – THIS MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE FIRST SNOW! Right now they bath once or twice a year- – only in the summer when water is warmer. Likewise their only blanket is washed once a year. It’s heavy material and needs two or three days to dry..again, only in summer.
Here is the toilets we need to replace...
-Kitchen-$4,500. The kitchen is a simple two burner gas outlet and several large pots. The girls are happy with these because they are eating regularly but more girls are coming every day and the kitchen must be enlarged. not enough funds to complete it.
Seeing the beginnings of their sleeping quarters
Completion of new Dormitories – $12,100 The 40 girls currently live in the main house but will move into dormitories once completed. The goal is to eventually accommodate 100 girls.
Capital Fund for Education–$20,800 – This is for 20 computers, printers, a library with bookshelves, teacher’s resources and a desk and chair for each child. The girls are learning English as well as Tibetan and the Chinese are not insisting on Chinese. Even though they just have rudimentary tools they are excelling at their studies. And they LOVE IT!
Anything you can give, $5, $20, or more – – will be of MONUMENTAL help to these girls. Of course if you can find a BIG donor that will also be very helpful but don’t think that $5 isn’t important. It is.
Further Information: Simply contact Lynn Velez at lrvelez@hotmail.com or call +86 13603012442.
To donate send your check to ‘Friends of Hong Kong Charities Inc’.
Friends of Hong Kong Charities, Inc, and mail it to:
Lynn Velez, c/o Alan Mutke,
207 La Verne Ave,Long Beach, Ca 90803.
(Alan is Lynn’s Father.)
We will make sure your donation gets to Lynn ASAP.
Important Notes:
Make sure to include your name, address and email details so “Friends of Hong Kong Charities” can send you an IRS Tax Redemption Letter. The 501 (3) C U.S. Tax I.D Number for this Charity is: 30-0136665.
Please also note which project your donation is supporting (if no project is mentioned we will use our discretion to apply it where it is most needed).
The Tibetan girls thank you for your support and we will have a website by Christmas so you can see the results!
When the assignment to cover the retirement ceremony of the Base Commander at the Weapons Station dropped in my lap my first thought was, “just another retirement…. No big deal.”
I was told the Change of Command Ceremony was a “time honored tradition” particular to the Navy. No other branch of our services has such a ceremony. Nevertheless I was completely unprepared for the elegance of day.
Captain Jonathan Kurtz was retiring from his Command, after 27 years in the Navy, the last few as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach. Technically he was being “relieved” by Captain Terry Auberry, and therein lies what makes such a rite particular to the Navy.
It originated with Royal Navy in the 16th Century and no one is sure how long the U. S. Navy has been doing it but most likely for 200 years. The men and women of the Navy Munitions Command, Continental U.S. West Division made sure that Captains Kurtz and Auberry received the full honors they were entitled to.
The Kurtz Family and Admiral French
Over 250 guests and servicemen and women were present including two Rear Admirals (Hering and French) and a Major General. (USMC) and I sat behind over 20 four-stripers (Captains) and saw more brass and medals than at a pentagon dinner.
Kurtz was graduated from Annapolis in 1982 and began his duties as an officer on destroyers and after becoming the Flag Lieutenant on the staff of the Group Commander he went back to Annapolis as an instructor. From there his career was blazoned with personal awards, Master’s Degrees and Service Medals and Commendation awards. While at Seal Beach he and his staff received several commendations for environmental improvements and substantial cost saving improvements in excess of $3 million dollars.
Rear Admiral Len Hering, a personal friend as well as a man Capt. Kurtz served under twice during his career, was the guest speaker and he joked that S.B. Weapons Station probably had more green grass than all the other bases under his command . . . . even though in 2008 the base had established a record reduction in water use!
Capt. Auberry who will be the new Base Commander and Auberry is “Mustang.” In military parlance a mustang in an enlisted man who becomes an officer and some of our greatest officers have been “Mustangs.” Auberry graduated from basic seaman training in 1974 and then spent 10 years in various Mine shops and vessels during which time he became a commissioned officer. His last assignment before coming to Seal Beach was as Chief of Staff, Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command in Corpus Christi, TX.
I thought the high light of the ceremony was “Retirement of the Colors.” After Capt. Kurtz was presented with an honor and scroll from President Obama, an honor guard of commissioned men and women presented a flag that flew over the Capital in Washington D.C. to the Captain. The honor guard was made up of officers of different rank, but each one represented a rank that Kurtz had held during his career. An Ensign, a Lt. JG, a Lt, a Lt. Commander, and a Commander and, of course, he was the Captain. Many, including Admiral Hering felt that Kurtz could easily have had his own Star. (Admiral)
The ending was when Kurtz asked to be relieved of command (just as navy captains have for over 400 years) and Capt. Auberry said “I relieve you sir.” The plaintive cry of the boatswain’s whistle followed as Capt. Kurtz and his wife, daughter and parents were whistled into his new life.
The Kurtz family, originally from Delaware, intends to remain in Seal Beach much to the delight of their friends and neighbors. Welcome Home, Jon Kurtz!
The Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club recently announced the 2009 honorees who will be recognized at the Human Rights Awaards Banquet on September 26th at the Queen Mary. The theme for this year’s banquet is “Out of the Rainbow and Into the Streets.”
Fitting to this year’s theme, Tom Crowe, founder of Long Beach Equality and Organizer of the November march down Broadway will be honored with the President’s Special Recognition Award.
Openly gay Long Beach City Council Members Robert Garcia and Gerrie Schipske will be honored with the Community Man and Woman of the Year Awards.
Additional community awards will be granted to St. Lukes Episcopal Church Herbert “John” Berry III.
Lambda’s highest honor, the Michael Lonergan Memorial Award will be presented to Pedro Nava, who represents California’s 35th Assembly District.
To read more about this year’s honorees, please read the article in the LBPost.com.
To find out how you can purchase tickets please visit the Long Beach Lambda website.
What: Long Beach Funkfest. Music, Food, Art, Vendors & More!
Where: Downtown Long Beach
When: Saturday, August 29th, 12pm – midnight
Cost: FREE
This first-time event is the brainchild of Long Beach resident and funkateer Bobby Easton of the Long Beach band Delta Nove. It is part of the SAM (Summer and Music) series, founded by Justin Hectus and Rand Foster and backed by the DLBA (Downtown Long Beach Associates) and Long Beach Redevelopment Agency.
The idea for the LB Funk Fest was born out of the realization that the genre of funk music is highly underrated and despite its vast influence on both American and global culture, it remains beyond most people’s recognition. After some research, it was also apparent that there is a severe lack of “true” funk fests happening. There are many events that feature some funk, some old-school concerts, but there is a need for 100% funk! That’s why the LBFF has manifested, to bring an event of uncut funk magnitude to Long Beach.
This is not going to be a jazz funk fest. This is not a hip hop funk fest. This is not going to be an old school show. It’s not a rock festival with a few funky bands. The Long Beach Funk Fest features all funk and nuttin but the funk. This is going to be a festival to bring together funk fans old and new, to show where funk came from and where it’s going.
Our goal is to bring the funk music community together (musicians and fans) and invoke the spirit of the great 70’s funk fests, and to help nurture and develop funk’s acceptance and acknowledgment as a complete North American musical genre. Much in the way jazz and blues are considered “American art forms”, funk is American music too, our music, and has influenced countless other genres, musicians, and people around the world.
For more information visit longbeachfunkfest.com
The Ranchos Palos Verdes fire which broke out around 8pm last night could be seen from many areas of Long Beach. The fire which resulted in mandatory evacuations of the Ranchos Palos Verdes area last night is now 35% contained has burned 2 homes and 35 acres. As of this morning evacuation orders were being lifted and the fire was expected to be fully contained at some point today.
The RPV fire is one of four fires currently burning in Southern California including the Station fire in the Angeles National Forest near La Canada Flintridge, the Morris in the area of Morris Dam north of Azusa and Glendora and the Hemet fire. Extreme heat and dry weather conditions (102 in Long Beach yesterday!) are contributing to the early start to fire season and the ongoing extreme fire danger throughout Southern California.
For more information on Southern California fires please visit the LA Times.
A friend who knows how much I admire Tiger Woods recently sent me photos of his home in Isleworth, Florida near Orlando. See Photos at: http://officespam.chattablogs.com/archives/2006/06/pictures-of-tiger-woods-house.html
It is, quite naturally, an exceptionally beautiful home. An entry with a phenomenal staircase, a living room with a custom 30 foot couch, 6 bathrooms, 5 marble bathrooms, 2 ½ baths AND 22 TVs!
This 9,000 foot estate overlooks one quarter of a mile of a crystal white sand beach and has a 90 foot infinity pool. Its within walking distance of 3 world renowned golf courses.
The lighting system is so spectacular that if you were allowed to rent it for a weekend you could create your own ambience.
Nevertheless, while I would grant Tiger Woods anything he wants in life because he’s done so much good for those less fortunate and is generally a very class act among celebrities, I questioned if this was really Tiger’s camping grounds. What do you think? Go to: http://www.snopes.com/photos/architecture/tigerwoods.asp
Beth Daniel, Capt of U.S. Team circles the 18th green with the Stars and Stripes after the U.S. girls staged an amazing come from behind victory in the 2009 Solheim Cup.
In the most exciting golf of the weekend the U.S. LPGA Team came from behind to score a decisive 16 -12 victory over the European Women on Sunday at Rich Harvest Farms, outside of Chicago. This was very exciting golf and they drew a gallery of over 100,000 for the three days of the Cup.
Going into Sunday’s final the U.S. and the European’s were tied with 8 points each but the Europeans were leading in most matches on the front 9 holes. But then the Yanks buckled down and some absolutely amazing putting as well as some great recoveries saved the day.
It would be hard to pick one player as more outstanding than another, and that includes the European women. This was some real high excitement golf.
Christina Kim had to be the most excited golfer on the course and he enthusiasm transferred to the crowd. She was the head cheerleader. 41 year old Julie Inkster was down by 3 holes on the back 9 and then started a string of birdies and one amazing recovery from deep in the bulrushes to cinch a tie with Gladys Nocera. Inkster said being selected to play with these talented kids was a great vote of confidence in her by Beth Daniel, however, this will be her last Solheim. “Its time to move on and make room for all the young talent that is in the LPGA.”
Michelle Wie and Kim were a successful team earlier in the week and on Sunday Wie defeated Helen Alfredsson 1 up. Angela Stanford had the most lopsided victory defeating Beck Brewerton 5 & 4. Brittany Lang halved with Laura Davies after Davies struggled on the last two holes and Natalie Gulbis and Christie Kerr halved in their contests.
Morgan Pressel, however, gets the honors for being the player who actually clinched the title when she defeated Anna Nordqvist 3 & 2. Pressel had been putting like a genie all days and earlier sunk a sand-shot to add to her birdie run.. Another birdie on 16 left her three points up with only two holes to go and that did it.
For more info go to: http://www.lpga.com/solheimcup.aspx
Shops Along 4th Street (from Junipero to Cherry) Offer Good Buys & Great Deals One Day Only!
Come one, come all to 4th Street’s Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, August 22nd, from Noon to 6pm. Over 30 merchants along ‘Retro Row’ will be offering good buys and bargains galore for one day only! Plus, we’ll have a host of circus performers and live music on-hand to entertain while you’re picking up on all the great deals to be had.
4th Street has a lot to offer including furnishings (vintage to contemporary), toys and togs for kids of all ages, vintage threads and accessories, surf gear, gifts and one-of-a-kind tchotsky’s, original artwork and handcrafted jewelry, and much, much more!
Make a day of it, and grab a bite to eat at any of the eateries along the way. For a full listing of all the shops, services and restaurants along the Retro Row corridor, go to: www.4thstreetlongbeach.com
About 4th Street: Dubbed “Retro Row”, 4th Street is Long Beach, CA’s Independent Shopping & Dining District! Featured recently in both Lucky and Sunset magazines, as well as in the New York Times (Travel Section, October 2007), as well as in the August 2008 Los Angeles Magazine’s “Best of LA” Issue and The District Weekly (September 2008), the 4th Street District stretches from Junipero to Cherry Streets. Over 30 unique shops and restaurants to choose from, 4th Street is also home to the newly renovated and reopened Art Theatre. www.4thstreetlongbeach.com
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