Photos: Alamitos Heights Fun Run, Annual Picnic and Voting Today

The local homeowner's association is the introduction to civic participation for many.  It was for me.

All around Long Beach there are associations.  Gatherings of people who undertake to represent a local area within defined boundaries.  Some are young and just forming.  Some have been established for some time.  They reach out to their local council persons, mayor and higher up the political chain with opinions, feedback and concerns.  They take input from community members with problems, seek community members to be on the board, and reach out to community members to join.  It is often a thankless - albeit very important - task.

You don't have to belong to an association to reach your local council person, but it helps, since the associations focus on establishing positive working relations with their representatives.

The Alamitos Heights Improvement Association is one such organization, one which is well established in the local community.

You might look at the recent activity on the sidewalk and street repairs that is happening in the area right now.  It was a long time in coming, but the opinions expressed several years ago and prioritizing the order of street repairs according to the association's caring evaluation (and input to 3rd District Councilperson Gary DeLong's office), probably made an impact on the street and sidewalk repairs which are currently underway.  I participated in that effort, so I know that the prioritization involved many hours of inspecting sidewalks and streets in the local area.

Today, the AHIA hosted it's annual Fun Run, is having its Annual Picnic and is voting in a new board.

Fun Run
We wanted to get up for the free 5K organized by the Alamitos Heights Improvement Association (AHIA), but we overslept, had a lovely breakfast of waffles and eggs then headed out to the park - just in time for the free 1K run.  You'd think we'd beat those toddlers, kindergardeners and 1st graders hands down, wouldn't you?  Well, not the Alamitos Heights kids!  They've been taking part in the annual fun run for a few years now... Thanks to organizer Erin Medina, wife of treasurer Damian Medina, for her efforts in the past several years.

Annual Picnic
There will be balloon animals, train rides, a lovely selection of hot dogs and other picnic fare, live music and games.  Catered by Lee Ostendorf, who runs the local Marine Stadium Farmers' Market.

Voting Today
The official slate today, subject to the possibility of write-in candidates, is as follows. * indicates current board member:

• Annette Dhein*

• Pat Fraley

• Barbara Geortner*

• Damian Medina*

• Shanna Reynolds*

• Annemarie Sauer-Hale*

• Roberta Smith*

• Bob Waeger*

• Tanya Wannemacher*

• Chris York*