Announcing the "Michael Higby Community & Civic Pride Scholarship" at Los Angeles Valley College

As we celebrate what would of been the 51st Birthday of Michael "Mayor Sam" Higby, we gladly join Michael's Jaycee's Friends in announcing the "Michael Higby Community & Civic Pride Scholarship" at Los Angeles Valley College.

Michael's love of broadcasting took root during his time at Los Angeles Valley College.

Jack Witt

** Blogger's Note: With a head tilted to the heavens, its time to wish our bloggin friend Michael "Mayor Sam" Higby a Happy Birthday on what would been the start of his 51st year on earth. In honor of his contribution to civic improvement, Michael's Jaycee's friends have this special honor to present him on his B-day via his friend Jack Witt---Scott Johnson.

Several of us past Presidents and Board Members of the Universal City North Hollywood Jaycees, who served with and worked with Michael in the local community, have started a scholarship in Michael's honor for a student at Los Angeles Valley College. The scholarship is for an individual who demonstrates leadership, commitment and passion on a community project that helps disadvantaged kids, families or seniors. These were all things near and dear to Michael's heart, and he inspired so many us to get involved in our communities and do the same.  Michael attended LAVC in his young adult years.

So here's how you can help us and ensure the legacy of Michael Higby lives on.

Write a check, made out to "LAVC Foundation" and reference "Michael Higby Community & Civic Pride Scholarship" in the memo section. Checks can be mailed directly to:

LAVC Foundation

5800 Fulton Avenue
Valley Glen, CA 91401

Pay with a Credit Card:

1.       Go to www.lavcfoundation.org and click “Give Online Now.”

2.       Scroll down to “Other Designation” and enter $$ amount.

3.       Under “Additional Instructions” enter the name of the scholarship (The Michael Higby Community and Civic Pride Scholarship) .

4.       Click “Calculate Total” and “Donate.”

5.       Enter additional info such as credit card number.

6.       A receipt may be printed or emailed to you.

ANY amount that you can donate is appreciated. We want the spirit and goodwill of Michael Higby to thrive perpetually through this scholarship, and directly impact and inspire a young leader and student to serve his/her community and make a positive impact in people's lives, just like Michael did.

We're so grateful that Michael's former employer; SADA, has offered to match the amount of money we raise for this scholarship. So let's all chip in and make this first year's scholarship memorable while setting the stage for it to be awarded each and every year to a deserving student.

Questions? Contact Jack Witt at Jack@GetFitwithWitt.com

Cheers,

Jack Witt, MS, CPT
Fitness and Health Coach

"Get Fit with Witt"

Individuals / Groups / Corporate310.562.5629 Cell / 818.760.3891 Main

Happy B-day Michael!!

Scott Johnson in CD 14

My $300 an hour hike at Runyon Canyon

Runyon Canyon

by Jack Witt

Special to MayorSam

Over the past 10 years I have enjoyed hiking the popular urban LA hike with great vistas called Runyon Canyon. The main trailhead is accessed off of Mulholland. There is barely enough parking in the small dirt parking lot, and so for most of the last 10 years or so I end up street parking on Mullholland itself, along with multitudes of other hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Just last week when I returned from my 60 minute hike, I ended up having to chase down a tow truck I spotted driving away with my car on it. They said I was parked illegally since they put new parking signs up on Mullholland. They charged me $230 to get my car off the back of the truck there on the spot. Then to add insult to injury, there was a $90 parking violation citation on my windshield from the city.

To be fair, I did notice some new signs posted about not being able to park on Mullholland and an arrow pointing towards the trail head from about 50 yards out. Therefore, I parked in the direction the arrow wasn't pointing on the side of the road within the lines. When I told the tow truck driver that, he said that they only allow the first 3 cars/spaces of parking where I was, and I happen to be in the 4th space for a car. Well, nowhere on any signs did it say "no parking in a 4th space and beyond" or "legal parking only for the first 3 cars here on Mullholland". And then when I asked him about the cars parked along the other side of the street on Mullholland, directly across from where I was parked, he said those spaces hadn't been designated as legal or illegal, so they don't bother with them. Oh jeez I thought, this is like a kangaroo court of arbitrary rules and Alice in Wonderland parking spots.

Jack Witt

As a health and fitness coach this concerns me, because with obesity and chronic disease rates so high and out of control in the country, we should be encouraging healthy communities and active lifestyles, not setting up barriers to them here in LA. And, as a former volunteer Chamber of Commerce President, this concerns me because I know the history of the city of Los Angeles and its inability to budget, provide incentives for businesses, and its peculiar efficiency at handing out absurdly costly tickets and citations to good, hard working, law abiding citizens.

As my father used to say, "enough is enough"! It's no wonder so many businesses decide to leave Los Angeles every year because of the hostile business environment, and every-day ordinary people who live and/or have moved here to strive for some upward mobility can't get any traction, because the ticket/citation/parking meter happy city keeps trying to drag then down to their level of incompetence and bureaucracy.

Jack Witt, MS, CPT is a North Hollywood based Fitness and Health Coach who works with individuals  as well as groups and corporate clients. He recently published a companion set of fitness books Tight, Tone, and Trim for women and Cut, Cool, and Confident for men, currently available at Amazon. He can be contacted via his website at www.getfitwithWitt.com.

No problems at all from this purple inauguration ticket holder.

Absolutely no problems entering and it was a calm, moving right along departure walk out of the capital. Jeers and cheers when obama took the podium for his speach. A 21 gun salute coming from our rear seemed to catch most people off guard, but what a treat it was. Everyone seemed very moved by the whole experience and while leaving it was more of a reflective, quiet rejoice type mood from the crowd departing.
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9:30a. In place and set.

Cheers and excitement are coming from all around the capital and mall area. It's fillin up quick with people from all directions filtering in. The event seems to be running smoothly. Friendly security forces pass by from time to time making sure all is well. Ocasional sirens in the background, but for the most part a peaceful morning. They just added the protective shield around the podium where obama will give his speach. Post by jack witt.
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Almost there.

The band is playing as we approach the capital. The sun is rising, and I think it's gonna be a great day. Post by jack witt
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Cleared security in only 30 min. 8:30a.

Post by jack witt
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Green hoods

This group of ladies with green hoods came from selma Alabama to see OBAMA sworn in. Making our way to the capital now. Posted by jack witt.
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Union station DC. 7a.

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Boarding the Virginia railway express to DC

6a inauguration day. Taking the train to union station DC. Met some folks from Alabama and Florida in line. Everybody is layered to the Max to brave the weather. Forecast is for 31 degrees today. The whistle is blowin. We're heading into history.
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3 ladies from Ohio for OBAMA.

Jam packed into the DC metro, sporting some matching warm hats, the look on these gals faces says it all about the excitement, anticipation, and jovial moods everybody in DC has been in today on this inauguration eve. I can only think of what awaits tomorrow for us 250, 000 ticket holders and millions of people expected to swarm into the mall area to witness history. ( Posted by jack witt.)
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Inaugural Coverage, Mayor Sam Style

Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States on Tuesday and we'll have coverage here on Mayor Sam over the next few days.

Jack Witt, a contributor to both the Downtown NoHo Times (a member of the Mayor Sam Blog Network) and NoHoArtsDistrict.com will be our correspondent in Washington, D.C. live blogging all the activities and his observations. In addition to his writing and blogging activities Jack is a well known fitness trainer and business leader here in the San Fernando Valley.

Stay tuned for all of Jack's great reports!