As we enter the Fall Season, I reflect back on my
childhood school days and fondly recall the tradition of back to school
"Open House." And of course, October was the month for the Major
League World Series (never went into November back then as it can today!).
The Open House is a chance for you to "show
off" your school, your classroom and classmates to parents and family! It
was always a fun evening of sharing what was going on in your life from 8AM to
3PM inside your learning world, the elementary school classroom and playground!
The City recently offered the same Open House opportunity where residents,
family and friends could tour our Fire House, Police Station and City Hall.
Residents had the opportunity to learn about our City Government, Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT), emergency preparedness, and fire and crime
prevention. For the kids, the highlight of the day was definitely checking out
the police cars and fire engines!
As the City Manager, it was an opportunity to
"show off" our great community facilities and my “my classmates” (in
this case the City Executive Team) who are some of the greatest department
heads in the nation! At the Open House, residents had a chance to meet and talk
with City staff including Police Chief Matt Martell, Fire Chief John Healy,
Assistant City Manager Dante Hall, City Clerk Doris Palmer, Human Resources
Director Ann Ritzma, Public Works Director Jeff Moneda, Finance Director Edmund
Suen, Community Development Director Curtis Banks, Parks and Recreation
Director Jennifer Liu and my Management Assistant Julie Paping. Don't forget to
put the Fire, Police and City Hall Open House on your calendar for next October
(it usually falls on the first Saturday in October).
In regards to the World Series, our ball club the
San Francisco Giants won't be there (back in 2016!) but it is shaping up to be
a great series. As I write, it seems it may be a Mets-Royals World Series. Even
though our Giants are not in it, October still brings the same excitement of a
great Fall Classic with the World Series!
I still recall the special days in elementary
school when the teacher would roll in the TV and set it up in front of the
classroom to watch a few innings of the World Series. Baseball instead of Math,
English, or History...Wow! What a treat and what an era! I have a vivid memory
of watching the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in my 4th grade classroom,
while Sandy Kolfax and Jim Palmer battled it out. A great memory for me! Giants
fans, you will be glad to remember that the Baltimore Orioles won that series
from our rival LA Dodgers, sweeping the Dodgers 4 games to nil and shutting
them out 3 of the 4 games.
Open House, World Series, "showing off"
your classmates and school, it doesn't getter better than that. Enjoy the rest
of October and I hope it is a classic!
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