9/11, one artist's response

Ten years ago, as we were trying to come to grips with the horrors of the World Trade Center attacks, artists throughout the world were coping with the tragedy.  Here is the response of Sacramento artist Maggie Jimenez.

A somber figure, hands thrust helplessly into the air.  And written on its torso:

"We have seen a sight we will not forget

There are ashes everywhere

The souls of lost lovers are everywhere

A flag is planted in rubble

There will be war somewhere

A land united in sorrow

There is sadness everywhere

SEPT 11   20001"

(RCH)

Leonard Cohen's "Anthem"

Click on "There's a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in," to hear and see the wisdom and grace of Leonard Cohen:

"Anthem"

The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
has passed away
or what is yet to be.
Ah the wars they will
be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
bought and sold
and bought again
the dove is never free.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

We asked for signs
the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed
the marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
of every government --
signs for all to see.

I can't run no more
with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud.
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
a thundercloud
and they're going to hear from me.

Ring the bells that still can ring ...

You can add up the parts
but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march,
there is no drum
Every heart, every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.


(RCH)

"Signal Hill Community First," a New Local Non-Profit Organization is Launched

Working together to put the interests of the community first

Working Together

We all share a responsibility to keep city governments accountable to local residents and businesses. Working together we can keep Signal Hill an affordable, pleasant, and safe place to live and do business.

To subscribe go to:  Signal Hill Community First , leave a comment

MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2011

Mission Statement

Working to put the interests of the community of Signal Hill, California first in the decisions that affect our Quality of Life, Property Values and the Cost of Living in this small city.

We do this by making our voices heard through increased public participation in city affairs to:

• Achieve greater transparency and open government.
• Achieve greater fiscal responsibility to keep public service costs down and create new revenue sources.
• Ensure that all impacts of development be included in project costs.
• Ensure fairness, responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness in city operations.
• Inspire and empower residents to participate in city affairs.

82-Year-Old Biochemist & Trekker Knows About Exercise

"I like to measure things," says retired scientist Mort Civen, as he describes the benefits of walking on Signal Hill. He can tell you exactly how much his blood pressure is reduced with his time on the Hill.

With a Harvard Ph.D. in Biochemistry and 28 years conducting research on the adrenal gland (A "key to life," he says.) in his lab at the Long Beach Veterans Administration facility, you expect this 82-year-old trekker and fitness advocate to know what he's talking about.

Civen points to the physical, mental and emotional benefits of exercise; just  a little time on the trail, he says, and any hint of depression vanishes.

He's lived in Signal Hill for 25 years and now that he is retired, he walks daily on the Hill, alternating between trails on the north and south sides of the Hill, while listening to classical music on his iPod.  He is very grateful to the City of Signal Hill for making its semi-rustic trails available to all.

He walks with two lightweight, German-made LEKI trekking poles, with built-in shock absorbers, to give himself an upper body workout and to take a little pressure off his legs.

Civen is no newcomer to trekking, however. Several times, he took extended hikes in Nepal, including a visit to the famous Mt. Everest Base Camp.  He has also bagged peaks in Patagonia, Peru, Bolivia, California Sierras, and used to regularly hike up our local Mt. Wilson.

When talking with Civen, you understand its not just about physical health.  It's clear he's considered carefully what's important in this life, and he's willing to share it.  He reads--mostly about science--he walks, he listens to music, he enjoys the beauty of nature, and travels to distant lands and visits exotic cultures.  He's currently planning  his next overseas trip to New Zealand.

"I feel lucky," he says, to be healthy and so fully engaged in life.  He shares all this with his two daughters--a teacher and a medical doctor--living in Southern California, grand children, and his artist partner-companion with whom he lives.

And I feel lucky to have had this Pleasant Encounter with one of Signal Hill's "regulars."

He also wears a cool hat, just laundered.


---  RCH

(For more, click on the Pleasant Encounters label below or the slide show above right.)

Can't Let Signal Hill be the next Bell

July 21, 2011 By Maria Harris 

The lifeblood of an open, transparent and accountable democracy is active citizen participation.  Just look at what happened in the cities of Bell, Montebello, Cudahy or Vernon where those residents/citizens were not paying attention. We can’t let that happen in Signal Hill.  We need to ask tough questions, give fair and reasoned criticism, and suggest alternatives.  Keep the city government accountable to us.
In a recent council meeting, I pointed out that the 2011/2012 budget is based on “rosy” assumptions about revenues and other questionable budgeting practices. None of these tactics are illegal. But, they hide the true state of the city’s financial health.  THE CITY IS SPENDING MORE THEN IT RECEIVES IN REVENUE.  Councilman Ed Wilson publicly acknowledged this fact. It wasn’t news to him.
But, it is news to us — Signal Hill residents, businesses, property owners and taxpayers. It took an active citizenry to bring that fact to light. And, it’s the sort of information that is vital to know in order for us to protect our quality of life, public safety, property values and the cost of living in this small city.
Click here to view Maria Harris’s commentary in its original context.


       ---  MEH, Originally Posted on Signal Hill Voice by Matt Simmons of Signal Hill

 

Beautiful Objects To Make Beautiful Music

John Monteleone,  "Grand Triport
Model,"  Archtop Guitar, 1999

The Metropolitan Museum of New York just wrapped up an exhibit that
thrilled guitarists and art lovers, alike.  To see this wonderful show, click on Guitar Heroes: Legendary Craftsmen from Italy to New York.


My nephew and niece just returned a few days ago from a visit to the East Coast and the Met, and brought me a copy of the exhibit's catalogue.  I'm enthralled.

We've all heard about Antonio Stradivari violins from Italy, known for their magical tone and sensual beauty.  Less known is the lineage of equally-talented, fine Italian-American acoustic archtop guitar makers--luthiers--from the New York area, that blossomed in the jazz age and continues today.

James D'Aquisto, "Blue Centura Deluxe"
Archtop Guitar, 1994

The acoustic archtop guitar, like the violin, is crafted by carving the top of the instrument, requiring more skill and craftsmanship from its builder than for the more common flattop guitar.  The edges of the top are thicker than the middle, achieving the resonance--with strength--required for a rich, balanced acoustic sound.


The iconic Gibson L-5 was the original archtop, built in the early 1920s, and provided a big, "punchy" sound for the rhythm sections of big jazz bands of the era.  Jazz guitarists like Charlie Christian and Eddy Lang made the instrument a mainstay of the jazz tradition.  It also sold at a higher price than flattops, giving the transplanted Italian luthiers an opportunity to apply their consummate skills, by first copying the L-5, then improving upon it.

John D'Agelico, "Excel"
Archtop Guitar, 1951

The Met show featured three master luthiers--John D'Angelico (1905-1964); his protege, James D'Aquisto (1935-1995) and John Monteleone (b. 1947)--who crafted these commissioned works of art for the likes of Pete Townshend, Grant Green, Chet Atkins, George Benson, Anthony Wilson, Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, guitarists for Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Nat "King" Cole, and many more.


Click on this link to learn more, and to see and hear some of these beauties.

--RCH

Gibson K-5 Archtop Guitar, 1928

Aviator Performs Flying Filagrees Over Signal Hill

"I've tried almost everything," says Dr. Brian Pham, "speed planes, jets, sail-planes, helicopters, war birds, etc., but the thing that gets the adrenaline pumping for me is aerobatics.  It never gets boring."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       This was pretty clear the day we had our Pleasant Encounter on the Hilltop.  

After performing a fantastic filagree of spins and loops and rolls, he brought his plane down to eye level, directed it into the wind, turned the nose up to vertical, and let the breeze gently guide it into his waiting hand.  "Nice landing," I said. 

Brian is an optometrist with his own practice in downtown Long Beach, a business he started five years ago, upon completing his studies.  In addition to his profession, his "passions" in life are aviation (full-scale and radio control), racing cars at a track, and Transcendental Meditation.

The light-weight, styrofoam plane Brian holds in the above picture, he built, and is his "fly anywhere, practice plane," one he can take to small parks, the beach, and Signal Hill.  But what he enjoys most is performing giant-scale aerobatics, flying planes that are typically 25-50% scale replicas of their full-size counterparts, and require a runway.

One of these is Brian's Sbach 342, shown here.  It is 36% of the size of the real thing, having a wingspan of nine feet, a fuselage the length of a minivan, and weighing in at a very light 27 pounds.  It is made primarily of balsa wood and is powered by a 111 cc twin cylinder gas engine, making about 12 horsepower.   (Brian participates in a forum dedicated to these Flying Giants.)

To perform aerobatics with these behemoths of the radio control world--as well as with the smaller planes--takes a lot of hand-eye-brain coordination.  He described these complexities, saying the controls required are each time reversed, depending if the plane is approaching or going away; whether it is ascending or descending.  "You need fast reaction, and most importantly, good visual-spatial skills for higher-level aerobatics," he said.  

Here's a link to a short onboard video of Brian performing aerobatics with one of his smaller balsa planes.  Be sure to turn up the volume.

Our Pleasant Encounter on Signal Hill introduced me to the aviation sub-culture, which seems more inclusive than I had imagined.  Brian told me of meeting many of his fellow enthusiasts who are  pilots of both full-scale, as well as remote control aircraft.  Some have invited him to fly with them on the "real thing."

I'm looking forward to seeing more flying filagrees above the Hill.