By Neil Rubenstein
Observer Columnist
Ladies, are you considering the military as a career? Does becoming an officer appeal to you? We know about West Point but have you heard about The Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership (WWIL) at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, VA? Since 1995 it’s been the home of our nation’s only all-female corps of cadets, grooming young women for military command.
May 13, 2014 was the 150th anniversary of Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington was the home of General Robert E. Lee.
I know you remember when I wrote that Beverly Hills discovered their employee pension costs were below water by a mere $126 million. Now the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce is asking their City Council for $60,000 to help develop a new website to market their city. I hope former mayor Steve Rose will call them and explain how we do it in Culver City. You realize if the Chamber doesn’t get the money and does a rotten job of publicizing, people just might forget and not travel to their city.
Attention, attention, may I please have your attention? Please? As previously reported by this columnist, our legislature is considering taxing people so much per mile rather than by the gallon. Revenue has not met expectations, mainly because cars are going farther on less gas. And now that the freeways will no longer be totally free, they need a gimmick to convince us to turn over the few pesos we have left in our pocket. Stinkers.
More bad news. I really was trying to avoid telling you but here goes – the tanning tax. Yes, Maria, the 10% tanning salon tax is generating less than half the income the governor’s administration expected.
How long will it be before those in office make the handicapped placard people feed the parking meters, make Overland Avenue by the county library a toll bridge and the grocery stores charge for using their carts? I fully expect (and you should also) the state to change the law and put the sales tax on prescriptions.
Were you aware California pays “Certified Enrollment Entities” $58 every time they convince someone to sign up with Covered California, and an additional $25 for every renewal? An entity could be a church, school district, college, etc.
Covered California’s own projections show it will lose $78 million starting next year when federal funding runs out. I’m for medical care and the majority is as well.
I sure hope they open a 99¢ Store within walking distance. Exercise and cheap prices are a great combination.
One person we don’t have to worry about is Cuba Gooding Jr. In 2000 the famous actor paid $3.5 million for his home in Pacific Palisades and sold it recently for $9,828,000.
Or consider Wayne Gretzky, the ice hockey star who, in 2000, bought his estate in Westlake Village for $2,760,000 and now has it for sale at $10,500,000.
For those who have dogs and/or cats, mark August 4th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s the Pet Lovers Event at Manhattan Beach Toyota, 1500 N. Sepulveda, (310) 546-4848. Bring your pet for the best trick and best costume contest. Get free animal handouts, training and grooming tips and a chance to win pet safety products from Toyota.
Saturday, May 17, 2014 was the 64th observance of Armed Forces Day. I remember in the 1970s as a member of the 40th Military Police Company, California Army National Guard, holding Old Glory and marching in the big parade up Torrance Blvd. near Prairie Ave.
In 1920 veterans helped establish the American Overseas Memorial Day Association which decorates U. S. war dead graves in Europe and 200 isolated sites. To become a member or obtain more information, go to AOMDA.com.
For those who missed an article, all my commentaries can be found at http://www.culvercityobserver.com by placing Rubenstein in that website’s search box.
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