Welcome to Alamitos Heights Improvement Association and Our Neighborhood!
Creating Community Together!
Welcome to Alamitos Heights Improvement Association and Our Neighborhood!
Creating Community Together!
Mr. Mel
One Chapter in a Man's Life Journey
"Well, life is a journey, that's for sure." begins Mel Lindsey, whose own life adventure seems to be one of newness and wonder. Mel isn’t known to everyone but he is treasured by all who know him. For those who know Mel, he creates a meaningful connection, as willing to listen as he's is to share sage observations gleaned from his many experiences.
His life is a journey of accomplishments and challenges. He is a long time Long Beach resident, a graduate of Poly High in 1944, who then served two years in the U.S. Navy. He married his wife Joan in 1949. He received an AA from LBCC and his BA and MA degrees from Long Beach State in 1951 and 1958. Mel has two daughters Kathy and Debbie plus a granddaughter Jenna.
Mel wears many hats and he wears them well. He is a writer, artist, educator, guidance counselor, and activist who moved into Alamitos Heights in 1986. Mel is a generous philanthropist, supporting many organizations throughout his life. He’s proud to sponsor an annual CSULB scholarship in memory of his wonderful wife of 66 years, Joan Lindsey.
His first career of 36 years with LBUSD included teaching, counseling, and school administration. Upon retiring, he and Joan embarked on his second career. They bought a failing private preschool called Giant Step Learning Center located in Costa Mesa. Soon after they added daughter Debbie to the teaching staff and her two-year-old daughter Jenna to the student roster. In the 19 years of ownership it grew to two facilities. They made the school a success with an outstanding early childhood education program.
During midday story telling time at Giant Step, Mel created poem stories to share with his young audience. The stories contain lessons for young children about imagination, character, citizenship, family, teamwork, personal behavior, and responsibility. These are lessons Mel believes are as important as science and math.
“It is important for all children to learn early about personal character as they grow and become contributing adult citizens in our society.” said Mel.
Teaching personal character is so important to Mel that he has written a series of illustrated children’s poem books based on his Giant Step storytelling. Mel is self-publishing his illustrated poem books. He acknowledges Kathryn Babcock and her sister Karen Rathmell for their fine contributions to the artwork layout and proofreading. As his books are nearing completion, Mel is making his publications available as a gift to AHIA families. The link for free PDF downloads is listed above this article on our website www.ahia.info.
Thank you, Mel for sharing your stories and having a generous nature that has benefited so many for so many years. Mel is a treasure.
Mel is our very own Mr. Rogers. Compassion, patience, and action mark the character of a man who has over a lifetime chosen to see the good and potential in each life he touches, including his own. Just before the pandemic, Mel approached me with a pile of his children’s poems and asked what I thought. As an artist and teacher, I suggested he add drawings, and offered to format these stories into little picture books. He didn’t consider himself an illustrator but agreed it would be “better for the children.” What he drew made me smile. His charming illustrations find moments that speak directly to the child in us. He says illustrating his writing has given him fresh purpose. Now he can’t stop drawing! Talk about “walking the talk!”—Kathryn Babcock, Artist and Teacher
I met Mel Lindsey 14 years ago when I started writing my books. Our conversations grew covering politics, philosophy, and religion. He is not only one of the nicest people I had ever met, but he has a keen intellect, the ability to listen carefully, and make valuable and insightful comments. Over the years, we worked on projects together in our "Two-Bit Construction Company" and completed our books. Mel is more than a mentor, he is like my big brother; he is family. Mel is one of the most genuine, kind, and generous people I have ever met. Mel Lindsey is a true angel walking among us.—John William Cox, Public Interest Lawyer and Author
Looking Ahead with AHIA
Manila Median Planting: Round 1 occurred on Saturday December 12, 2020
We will coordinate Virtual Wine Down Fridays-- 2nd & 4th Fridays-- all we need is a host.
We will coordinate Virtual Wine Down Fridays-- 2nd & 4th Fridays-- all we need is a host.
It has been a long slog but we stayed the course and now have installed
We will coordinate Virtual Wine Down Fridays-- 2nd & 4th Fridays-- all we need is a host.
We will coordinate Virtual Wine Down Fridays-- 2nd & 4th Fridays-- all we need is a host.
We will coordinate Virtual Wine Down Fridays-- 2nd & 4th Fridays-- all we need is a host.
It just takes a someone like you to be a host and volunteer their time to setup a zoom.com invitation. We'll help with that! With zoom.com we can host up to 100 people and there will be a 40 minute limit to the event. Click the button below to be directed to our contact us page. See our calendar page for upcoming Wine Down dates and information.
Re-Cap of Toss It-Recycle It-Shred It
August 15, 2020--It was a successful day!
August 15, 2020--It was a successful day!
August 15, 2020--It was a successful day!
A 40-yard dumpster filled to the top. The Conservation Corp team collected a truck load of scrap metal and tires plus a truck of e-waste. AHIA collected 3.5 buckets holding 3.5 gallons of household batteries. It was a hot muggy day and the AHIA Board and family members worked hard.
To everyone who made this day happen.
August 15, 2020--It was a successful day!
August 15, 2020--It was a successful day!
Thank you to:
- The Port of Long Beach our official co-sponsor.
- Lisa West of Councilwoman Suzie Prices's office.
- Our friends at the City of Long Beach Park's Rec. & Marine Dept., the Long Beach Special Events and Filming Department, and the Public Works Dept.
- Our fantastic partner the Conservation Corps of Long Beach.
- And Athens Services for same day drop off and pick up of the 40 Yard Dumpster.
We asked and You Answered!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our winter 2020 survey!
Survey Question Results
When asked to check a maximum of 2 Events you would like AHIA to consider sponsoring the results are:
- 33.15% selected Toss It-Shred It-Recycle It (dumpster provided)
- 14.92% selected Alley Clean Up
- 13.26 selected Octoberfest Block Party
- 12.71% selected 4th of July Block Parties
- 9.94% selected Community Outreach Event (i.e. POLB Tour)
- 8.29% selected Lawn and Home tour
- 7.73% selected Ice Cream Social
When asked to check a maximum of 2 Projects you would like AHIA to consider sponsoring the results are:
- 41.67% selected Magnolia Tree Campaign-Save or Replant diseased trees
- 17.95% selected Roundabout Landscape Re-Planting
- 17.31% selected Neighborhood Signs at entrances to Alamitos Heights
- 14.10% selected Manila Median Irrigation and Beautification Project
- 8.97% selected Painting/Decorating Utility Electrical boxes
Would you recommend joining AHIA to a friend or neighbor? (On a scale of 1-low to 10-high)
- 10-- 57.14%
- 9 -- 12.24%
- 8 -- 13.27%
- 7 -- 1.02%
- 6 -- 3.06%
- 5 -- 8.16%
- 4 -- 2.04%
- 3 -- 3.06%
- 2 -- 0.00%
- 1 -- 0.00%
What You Said
When asked to share any thoughts or recommendations for AHIA:
- Great work by committed, involved neighbors. Their efforts make Alamitos Heights a better place!
- We're here to keep our community together.
- The Magnolia tree issue is significant. The damaged trees look bad and drip onto vehicles making it hard to park on the streets.
- Keep traffic from rerouting from 7th St into our neighborhood. Start research committee about rerouting signs on 22Fwy AWAY from 7th St. Any beautification projects for our neighborhood Progress reports & illustrations on water/stream project from lagoon through Marina Vista Park to Marine Stadium/Alamitos Bay.
- Many people in Alamitos Heights are older retirees and don't participate in sponsored events. Perhaps lower dues would encourage more membership even among those not attending events.
- Love the wine outs. I’m a new member and didn’t know about your association until I went to the wine out a great way to promote the Neighborhood.
- Love wine down fridays. create a way for volunteers to connect with the AHIA
- There are a few more events that I would have checked: Magnolia trees and Signage to our neighborhood but since I could only check two, that's what I did!
- Information on future plans for Magnolia trees
- The Manila median project has issues for those of us who live close to the PCH/Bellflower. While we realize there is a transient concern, we rely on the trees and bushes to provide a sight and sound barrier for our homes. Will need to be carefully planned.
- For those of us who do not participate in social media. A place on your website to reach out to other AH nieghbors, other than next door neighbor. Concerning burglary notice, mailperson issues etc. That notice could go out in an email to all AHIA members
- Thank you for all your hard work and time commitment!
- Would like to monitor and weed the lagoon on Monrovia. The weeds overtake the area there. Thanks!
- Hate the round-about-bouts. A waste of our money.
- Thank you to all the people who volunteer and participate in AHIA.
- Great job -thank you for all our work - my recommendation is not to add project after project, rather focus on the few "core" events AHIA has done so well - less is more (almost sounds like Leslie Stonick). Maybe just add one project with limited duration.
- There are several empty lots that I think would help bring the community together by turning them into a (local) community garden ? I would be more than happy to help as I’m sure so many others would as well
- Thank you for asking for our opinions. We are willing to be involved and support community activities/projects.
- You are all amazing and we appreciate your enthusiasm
- Liked all the choices to improve our neighborhood. What ever is done - great job! Thanks for being on the board and all of the efforts!!
- The tone you set for the neighborhood and the work you "silently" accomplish is to be commended. Another project would be to WATER the recently planted trees on Sixth Street. Perhaps partnering with the golf course for help.
- Many other LB HOA's have attractive 'entrance signs' and we don't. I would think that the 'active' real estate agents and companies would like to see the signage for our special area and be willing to help pay for it.
- I am especially in favor of signs posted limiting traffic to local cars only at hours 7 to 9 am and 4 to 6 pm. There is just too much traffic at those hours from cars trying to avoid 7th Street. This is getting worse !
- Thank you for serving. Communication of what is going on in AH is great. Keeping our neighborhood safe is a high priority.
- I really appreciated the shredding, etc. event last year. It was very helpful.
- Hard to pick two projects--magnolia trees really need to be saved first and a permanent solution even if that includes pesticides, roundabouts are ugly and I'm not sure why people keep ripping out the landscaping. Also the people on Manila deserve to have some more privacy and nice landscaping if possible.
- Thank you for the time you donate to lead AHIA!
- The "Lagoon Lookers" are very unhappy about NO CHRISTMAS TREES except in front of the far swimming beach and West end. How much do they pay for the trees/year? There MUST be a way to have the trees included in the area and sight of AH homeowners. Always look forward to the neighborhood park party. Sorry, {we have a commitment} every Friday night...if you could have a Saturday evening event-count on us to attend.
- Thanks for the work our AHIA leaders do!
- 6th street needs 4way stops particularly at Santiago. When 7th backs up to Park we still get just as much traffic it just drives faster bumper to bumper and you can't cross 6th when you are on Santiago with drivers flying around the island without stopping.
- What are we doing as AHIA to address the horrible homeless issue, homeless in front of neighborhood businesses
- Some of our neighbors receive flyers about events and others don’t. Better communication to all members would be nice.
- Appreciate all of you, your ongoing energies, thoughtfulness, and continued commitment to community -- thank you!
- Thank you for all your hard work!
- My Magnolia Tree is dripping the Black Sap on our very hot days. I have contacted The City & also Price. To no avail. My first letter was sent on Aug. 16, 2019. My tree is just about on its last leg. {XXX} Orlena. I have plans to re-landscape & this is all on hold because of the parkway. Is there any SOLUTION? Frankly, I am tired of waiting. Spring will be here soon & the Bugs will arrive. I have been patient BUT... Please respond {email address withheld} Thank You
- We like the events AHIA puts on to foster community. Appreciate the effort to gain feedback and facilitate new events - Thank you!
- Thanks for all you do to make living in Alamitos Heights such a wonderful experience!
