Around Town in South County: On A Closing & the Possiblities.....

It is always tragic when an era comes to a close.    Radio Shack was a fixture in downtown Laguna Niguel for quite a number of years--but it got eaten up in the rapid pace of change that we have all been witness to.

Our team had a chance to interview the staff as they were overseeing the last of the liquidation of the store recently.   They were quite happy in that they had new opportunities that they had pursued.   The image of the child as it walked through speaks volumes about the ability to look ahead as exemplified by the child in this image which continues to underscore the possiblities.  

South County, though, will have an opportunity to celebrate the possiblities as Laguna Niguel will once again have the Annual Run in the Park to celebrate the 4th of July and cities throughout South Orange County will be embracing another tradition yet again:  National Night Out which is now scheduled for August 4, 2015 in Laguna Niguel at Crown Valley Regional Park.   

The Friday Musical Interlude: "Forever Forever"

Please enjoy this selection as another Week-End Dawns:

 

Thought For the Week

 

For this edition of "Thought 4 the Week"  our team chose this from Aristotle on Excellence which we hope all enjoy:

“Excellence is never an accident.
It is always the result of high intention,
sincere effort, and intelligent execution.
It represents the wise choice of many alternatives.
Choice, not chance, determines your destiny.”

View of the Week: One Insipriing Story

As we enter "mid week" here throughout #Outsiders,  our team was reflecting upon a "View of the Week".     Part of what we've noted has been something simple yet crucial:  Anything is possible and a sense of hope must be with us always and to paraphrase the Dalai Lama, to be Happy.   Our team decided to "call up" one of the periodic updates we received from the team at +Give More that underscores a need to be hopeful ever more.    This is ever so evident in South County in many ways as we leave you all with this:

For me ... until her passing yesterday ... she was just a poet that had an opportunity to share her words at Bill Clinton's presidential inauguration in 1993... Her parents divorced when she was 3. She was raped by her mother's boyfriend at age 7. At 17, she was a single mother. In her 20's, she was a shake dancer in a nightclub, a prostitute, a cook, and ran a brothel.  Had I met her at that point, I'm guessing I'd have felt sorry for her and maybe a little judgmental at the same time. I'm pretty certain I'd never have bet on her as someone who would go on to have such an incredibly positive influence on so many people during her life ... and following her life.  She went on to be a singer, an actor, a civil rights activist (worked with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King), a college professor, a writer, a speaker, and ... a poet.  She also won the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest civilian honor in the United States).  Next time I'm feeling judgmental (at work or in life) or a little down about something or feeling some past action (something I've done or something someone else has done) will make it difficult to keep moving forward ... contributing something positive to the world ... making good things happen ... next time ... I've got a new hero.  Rest in peace, Maya Angelou. Nice work!  Sam (the guy behind this stuff)

Around South County: On Community Events & Other Thoughts

Summer is officially here!!

As School is out, all are starting to "fall into" the rountine of the summer.    We here at #outsiders have been assessing the latest.    

Laguna Niguel will once again be buzzing on July 4 with the annual run in the park and the carnival.     In addition, the non-profits are hard at work with their on-going outreach efforst as well--including:

• Free Meal for Children on a daily basis through feedoc.   More information can be found by visiting: http://feedoc.org/
• Misson Hospital sponsors  Nurse Visits at South County Chatolic Parishes.    Nurses are at St. Timothy's on the 1st Wednesday of every month from  9-10:30 AM;  at Mission Basicilla in San Juan on the 1st Wed of every month from 11-12:30 PM;  At St. Edwards on the 4th Wednesday of every month starting  9:30 AM and  Our Lady of Fatima on the third Wednesday of every month from 5-6:30 PM.  
• Life Skills Classes:  Difficult circumstances (June 24-J uly 29 5:30 PM-7:00 PM) is scheduled to be held at Family Advoacy Servies at 2741Calle Arroyo, San Juan or 23832 Rockfield, #270, Lake Forest.

Looking onward to fall and winter, one interesting event we hope to report is an event sponsored by the @Boy Scouts of America Orange County Council called  Over the Edge.  It is slated  to be held  at the Irvine Marriott  18000 Von Karman starting at 8 AM on October 16.    We will also be at the South County CERT Exercise scheduled for September 12.      

On behalf of all of us at Outsiders, Happy Summer!!! 

The Friday Musical Interlude: Dave Koz' "Over the Rainbow"

As our team has been at work working away on on-going initiatives, the team was also hard at work on the Friday Musical Interlude.  For this week, our team chose "Over the Rainbow" in tribute to the Children of Capistrano Unified School District whose last day was today for the School year.   It is to remind them and their families about all that is possible and "Over the rainbow":

Notations On Our World (Special Edition): On the Tragedy in #Charleston, South Carolina

Our team has been "virtually breathless" as it has been assessing the Political Scene in the United States over the ensuing weeks.   As we went to press with this latest edition of "Notations", though, we were monitoring reports out of South Carolina with an attack by a  gunman at the Emmanual AME Church in Charleston.    Known as "Mother Emmanuel", it is the oldest and largest African American Congregations in the South.    A news conference concluded within the past hour confirmed 9 victims including the Pastor of Mother Emmanuel, State Senator Rev. Pickney.   The Charleston Police Chief has noted that this is a hate crime and implored all to come together.   There was also one of the Elders of the Church noting that there will be a prayer vigil at 12:00 PM EST in Charleston.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the People of Charleston, the victims and their families at this trying hour.      Our team will observe a 24-Hour Moment of Silence throughout the #Outsider Properties in honor of the fallen and in solidarity with the people of Charleston.

Notations From the Grid: A Tip of the Week For All

Our team ran across this which we wanted to share.   We felt it especially timely as we experienc periodic "dark spots" throughout south county:

a nice "tip of the week" :-) https://t.co/gj6quGYQQu

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) June 15, 2015

Notation For the Week-End: On Community & Leadership

The South County Community and the broader Orange County area quite a community in Civic Responsibility and Service.    It is evident as one sees all faith communities and community organizations in action.    The City of Laguna Niguel is gearing up for Annual Run in The Park as other cities are gearing up.   

As our team has reflected upon the vibrancy of this community, Our team's selection of thoughts courtesy of +Jonathan Huie reflects upon the vibrancy and the engaging effort of the Community:

A leader is not one who says, "Follow me." A leader is one who says, "I'll go first." - Neale Donald Walsch  Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand. - Colin Powell

The Friday Muscial Interlude: #Elvis Sings Who Am I

As part of the new feature here in #Outsiders, The Friday Musical Interlude, our team chose this from Elvis:

Around Town in South County: A "Newsflash" On Laguna Niguel

Summer is coming to the City of Laguna Niguel.     The City is gearing up for a busy summer as the pool will be down for Maintenance from June 13 thru June 20.     But, the youth of Laguna Niguel can look forward to "Rule The Pool" on the following dates:

• July 24
• August 7
• August 21

It was also of note that a play is coming to the new Crown Valley Park: The Tempest.   It is scheduled for August 16 starting at 7 PM.      July 22 is also slated to be Laguna Niguel Day at Orange County Fair--for which we will have updates over the ensuing weeks.


 

Notations On Our World: On Identity Theft//Some Guidance to Consider

As part of our on-going initiatives, we are introducing a new periodic feature deemed "Cavaet Emptor" while the prowl.

The most recent hack attack against the US Office of Personnel Management underscores the need for continued vigilance.   It must be noted that Credit monitoring services stand a low-chance of stopping an identity thief. Freezing your credit report is a more effective strategy for stopping a thief from exploiting your identity financially.   For more information please visit:  https://help.equifax.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/75/~/security-freeze-fees-and-requirements

Thought 4 the Week: On Compassion

We here @ #Outsiders reported on the sense of compassion by our community exemplified by the Mobile Food Pantry at St. Timothy's Catholic Parish.     In this spirit, our team chose this from Vice President Biden as his family said farewell to Beau Biden and the moving eulogy by President Obama and Beau's Brother, Hunter:

“It’s not all that difficult, folks,
to be compassionate
when you’ve been the beneficiary
of compassion in your lowest moments …
because when you know how much it meant to you,
you know how much it mattered.
It’s not hard to be compassionate.”
 

 

 

Around Town In South County: On an Afternoon of Service @ St.Timothy's Catholic Church in Laguna Niguel

St. Timothy's Catholic Parish hosted a Mobile Food Pantry sponsored by the Rotary Club of Monarch Beach on Saturday June 6:

116 Families were served.     There are plans to host two more such pantries for the 3rd Quarter and 4th Quarter of this year.    We @outsiders look forward to supporting this noble and joyous cause to support the less fortunate in the South County Community.  

Around Town in South County: An #Outsider Newsflash On a busy Week-End

It will be another busy week-end throughout South County as Dana Point launches its' annual Movies in the Park.     St. Timothy's Catholic Parish will be hosting a Mobile Food Pantry on June 6 and the City of Laguna Niguel will honor its' volunteer with its' Annual Volunteer Bash at the El Niguel Country Club.  

We look forward to sharing updates over the ensuing days.

An #Outsiders Newsflash (6/3/2015): On The National Day of Civic Hacking

We wanted to report on this interesting initiative.    Although there are no scheduled events in Orange County, the Cities of Long Beach and San Diego have events scheduled.  If anyone in Orange County is interested in organizing local events, a link has been been available here:

 

Code for America organizes National Day of Civic Hacking [US]

Urbanists, civic hackers, government staff, developers, designers, community organizers and others are invited to this event on June 6 in several cities across the country.

Notations From the Grid: On Orange County

The +Orange County Register shared this recently on the evolution of Orange County which we wanted to feature here:

From surfing's debut to 'Real Housewives,' here are 18 defining moments in O.C. history http://t.co/7OUpN6S41q pic.twitter.com/QYhFfIT65m

— O.C. Register (@ocregister) June 1, 2015

Around Town in South County: On Fish For Life

 We had a chance to recently catch up with Jim Holden, the founder of Fish For Life to see what has been the latest on the eve of Summer 2015.    We here @ #Outsiders are privilieged to support this wonderful effort to make a difference in the lives of Special Needs Children.

The City of San Clemente reported on this in its' You Tube Channel as Jim Holden, San Clemente's Citizen of the Year, was interviewed for the "Around Town" Channel:

What an opportunity to Make a Difference!!!  If interested in supporting Fish For Life,  please visit fish for life by clicking here.   

On the Eve of Our New Week....

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On the dawn of a new Week, we wanted to share this though from a courageous individual who has been an inspiration.   We also hope that all will click here on some "lessons in life" to be remembered .

Onward!!!