A little bit about a lot of things:

• Drum roll, please.....Newman Police Department’s K-9 units are on the beat, after passing a rigorous certification test recently.

Getting two dogs patrol-ready proved to be no small task, as the department encountered and overcame a series of setbacks....the most difficult of which was having to return each of the two dogs originally purchased for the K-9 program.

Their replacements, we’re happy to say, have adapted well and are working the streets with their respective handlers, officers Jason Hutchins and Chad Earle.

A generous community made the dream of establishing the K-9 program a reality. About $60,000 in contributions have rolled in for the purchase of the dogs and equipment needed to put the K-9s on the street. The money has come from donations large and small, as well as fund-raisers such as a highly successful crab feed.

The K-9 campaign reflects a re-energized police department striving to improve and to better serve the community; the response of the public shows that the community took notice and will support the department’s progressive efforts.

That “connection” can only make the community and the police department stronger.

The new-look patrol vehicles are going to get a lot of attention as well, as the department transitions its fleet to black-and-whites. A K-9 Tahoe was the first vehicle to hit the streets with the black-and-white look, and it definitely turns heads.

We like that the rank-and-file officers have had a great deal of say in the development of the department, from spearheading the K-9 program to designing the new badges and patches which debut Friday.

Good things happening, with hopefully more to come......

• Police chiefs and city managers tend to get most of the ink in the hierarchy of local government, but cities simply don’t run well without a strong hand at the helm of the public works department.

Newman has been fortunate to have Ernie Garza as its director of public works for many years, but will soon be looking for a new department head.

Garza announced to the City Council last week that he is retiring effective Oct. 31.

More on that topic to follow, but it’s clear that the city is going to have some big shoes to fill this fall.

• Gustine is going green.....a provision in the city’s new zoning code spells out requirements for a certain percentage of homes in new subdivisions of 20 or more units to be equipped with solar units. Obviously, energy and the environment are two front-and-center topics these days and we applaud Gustine’s willingness to promote the alternative energy source.

I expect that solar, like other technologies, is going to become more efficient, less costly and increasingly common over time.....and Gustine is taking a very progressive position as it looks to the future.

• Thoroughly enjoyable evening as close as downtown Newman.....Kathy and I had a great time having dinner at a local restaurant and taking in the performance of “Is There a Doctor in the House?” Friday evening at West Side Theatre.

Great show, with local performers shining on stage.....well done, everybody!

• The Rocha family – siblings Norbert, Tony, Delbert, Lucia and Carmen, with spouses and various relatives in tow – recently enjoyed a remarkable two-week stay in the Azores, where they were literally going back to their family roots.

The group – 17 strong – enjoyed the trip of a lifetime and brought home memories that they will share for years to come.

I’m guessing their visit was as memorable for their Azorean relatives as it was for the visitors from the West Side. Knowing the Rocha family, it’s a pretty good bet that they made friends wherever they went, shared plenty of good stories and good food, and never stopped laughing and enjoying each moment of their adventure.

Many immigrants from the Azores settled on the West Side, but even those who were born in the United States feel a close tie to the beautiful island chain in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The strength of that bond is amazing, and the Rochas’ trip reminded me of the importance of remembering one’s heritage, nurturing family ties and having a great time along the way!

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