A little bit about a lot of things:

•  Newman didn’t exactly fall off the map.....but the community may have become all but invisible to Interstate 5 motorists unfamiliar with the area because of signage changes which switched the “Newman exit” sign to the Stuhr Road exit, with an exit number.

The matter came to the attention of local officials, who contacted Caltrans with concerns that the sign change may be confusing to drivers traveling to Newman, or those who simply might be inclined to pull off the interstate to check out the community.

Apparently, Mayor Ed Katen relayed to us, Caltran’s reasoning was that in the age of GPS navigation systems many motorists are being guided to their destination by road name and exit numbers and the new signage was intended to correspond with the new technology.

There is a Newman sign several miles up the road, Katen noted, but no longer one at the exit itself.

“My concern was that the city is being overlooked, and that people wouldn’t know where the right exit was,” he pointed out.

Katen and Supervisor Jim DeMartini shared the local concerns with Caltrans. Staff members of the state agency were receptive, and a compromise has apparently been reached.

We’re told that Caltrans has agreed to put a “Stuhr Road/Newman” sign in place about a mile from the exit, and the existing “Stuhr Road” sign at the exit itself (with the exit number) will remain as-is......a middle ground that should alleviate local concerns.

Don’t look for that to happen overnight, though. We’re told that it could take two to three months to put the new signs in place, although Caltrans has promised to try to expedite the project.

• West Siders are pitching in to help with earthquake relief efforts for Haiti, where the human toll and overall devastation is beyond comprehension.

Students at Our Lady of Miracles School held a “free dress” day Jan. 22.....but “free” dress came with a cost, as students and staff paid at least $1 to buy permission to wear the clothing of their choice that day.

Obviously a good many participants dug a little deeper to help those in need, as the benefit raised nearly $1,100 for Catholic Relief Services in support of those suffering in Haiti.

Local benefits continued Saturday in Newman, where those involved in the confirmation program at St. Joachim’s Catholic Church stayed busy as a fund-raising car wash for Haiti relief efforts.

Mother Nature cooperated splendidly, with overnight rains Friday spotting cars and sunshine Saturday providing the perfect opportunity to get the vehicles clean and shiny once again. A total of 103 cars were washed, and two youngsters showed up with bicycles to have washed for a dollar each.....just because they wanted to help how they could.

The car wash raised a whopping $3,205, but the story of the day was the couple who left a $2,000 donation!

That should be, like, car washes for life!

The generous donation is a reminder that we are surrounded by those who care deeply for others.....friends and strangers alike....and are willing to share their own good fortune with others in time of need.

•  Our small valley communities have produced an amazing number of men and women who went on to remarkable careers that helped shape and guide those around them.

Jim Hedlind of Pacific Grove, who passed away last June at age 55, was one such individual.

Hedlind was an accomplished athlete at Gustine High, where his father was a well-known coach, and went on to his own successful career in education and coaching.

His enthusiasm and passion for life and for sports was legendary.

That spirit was recently honored by the varsity boys basketball program at Marina High School where Hedlind last worked.  The program renamed its annual hustle award the “Hondo Award” (Hedlind’s nickname)  in his memory.

The lessons Hedlind taught those around him transcended basketball courts and classrooms.

I believe those who knew Hedlind well would agree that an award honoring passion, intensity, individual sacrifice and a true love of the game is perfectly suited to bear his name.