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Community, Faith-based organizations, and area nonprofits team up for a better Los Alamitos.

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Community, Faith-based organizations, and area nonprofits team up for a better Los Alamitos.

In partnership with area non-profits, the City of Los Alamitos is putting out the call for volunteers to participate in its upcoming “Serve Los Al” event.  Scheduled for September 10th and 11th, “Serve Los Al” is a City-wide program aimed at promoting community unity through service to others. For two days, Los Alamitos residents, area businesses, and faith-based organizations will undertake a series of service projects spearheaded by the City’s non-profit groups.

“The simple act of volunteering and providing a helping hand to those in need has always been a cornerstone of this community, commented Los Alamitos City Manager Chet Simmons. “The greatest aspect of this program is the way that all of these different groups and individuals come together in service to others. It is truly special.”

One such group is the Community Congregational United Church of Christ (CCUCC) that will be joining “Serve Los Al” this year in partnership with a local non-profit, “Transitions in Motherhood.” According to Rev. Samuel Pullen, “bringing people together from diverse backgrounds to serve those most in need is a form of true patriotism in the midst of challenging times.” Volunteers who sign up for the “Transitions in Motherhood and CCUCC” encouragement project will help organize and distribute non-perishable food, clothing, diapers, and toys to families in need.

Volunteers and the community are invited to the Serve Los Al Assembly on Saturday, September 11 at 8:15 a.m. at Little Cottonwood Park. At the assembly, a special 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony will take place to commemorate the anniversary of the attacks that took place 20 years ago. After the ceremony, volunteers will disperse to their volunteer sites throughout the City in order to take part in their assigned community projects.

Volunteers are requested to pre-register at www.servelosal.org and sign up for specific projects. For additional information, please contact the Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department at (562) 430-1073 or visit us online at www.cityoflosalamitos.org/recreation.

 

For The Child offering additional services for uninsured abused children

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For The Child offering additional services for uninsured abused children

Thanks to a five-year, $257,000 annual child abuse treatment grant (CHAT) from the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Long Beach-based For The Child (FTC) is able to provide additional services to uninsured children and to those who do not qualify for Medi-Cal. The allocation comes from the Federal Office of Victims of Crimes and is channeled through the State of California. FTC is the sole recipient of this grant in Long Beach to serve Long Beach and 22 surrounding communities.

“The funding is timely as we continue to emerge from the COVID-19 quarantine conditions,” shared FTC’s Executive Director Michele Winterstein. “This expanded resource for the community allows FTC to continue our existing services and add another therapist to the Child Abuse Program Team.”

FTC serves children birth to 18 years old, focusing on underserved and vulnerable children who are maltreated in any way: physically abused, sexually abused, neglected, or have witnessed violence. Experiencing trauma can lead to many problems with emotions and behaviors. These often include anxiety, sleep disturbance, intrusive memories about the abuse, trouble concentrating on school work, difficulty managing emotions (anger, fear, depression), and difficulty trusting in relationships. FTC offers services in both English and Spanish.

Winterstein explained that there is a misconception that all children are insured and have access to all services. Some children are not on Medi-Cal and their insurance does not cover these services. Those that do not have insurance at all usually fall into one of three common scenarios, according to FTC data. First, the parents are not functioning well enough to complete paperwork and apply because of their own mental health challenges. Second, the child is a U.S. citizen but the parents are undocumented and fear deportation even though FTC does not report to U.S. Immigration Services. Lastly, the child has Medi-Cal but has not yet developed symptoms of a mental health problem to be treated. They may need support, resources, and advocacy to help them through the child abuse investigation process, a service FTC offers.

“This grant addresses those gaps and allows us to offer treatment regardless of the insurance status. This grant allows us to take in the child and begin services and then help them obtain insurance approval when possible,” Winterstein said.

FTC remained open as an essential service throughout the COVID quarantine, providing a hybrid of in-person and telehealth services, with priority given to Department of Children and Family Serices (DCFS) and law enforcement referrals. Their Child Abuse Response Team volunteers continued responding with the forensic nurses and law enforcement the entire time.

Patricia Sanchez, the director of FTC’s Child Abuse Program has been with FTC for 13 years. According to her, “This funding allows us to treat about 100 more children and teens a year. Neglect is the most common issue we see, but we also see high numbers of sexual abuse and domestic violence exposure since we have experience successfully treating that kind of trauma.”

Though devastating in many ways, Sanchez said the results of the COVID shutdowns weren’t all bad.

“Because of the risks of meeting in-person during quarantine, we were able to increase the use of technology making it much easier for our clients to participate on a regular basis. It is in many ways better. They don’t have to worry about getting a babysitter for their other children and there’s no commute to worry about.”

In-person therapy remains an option for many clients, especially young children benefiting from play therapy and victims of sexual abuse who need privacy. During the shutdown while families spent more time  together, FTC witnessed a variety of issues emerge. Some experienced job loss and food insecurity and for some this was the most time they had spent with their own families.

“We found that supplying board games gave families some structured time together. This was the first time ever that some of our clients experienced what it was like to be stay-at-home parents and have their children with them instead of at daycare,” Sanchez said.

Throughout COVID stay-at-home orders, FTC supplied their client families with food, grocery gift cards, and other basic needs through partnership with other agencies like Jewish Family and Children Services, giving out three times the usual amount. In addition, FTC delivered supplies to homes and coordinated several curbside drive-through events to give families board games, school supplies, therapy supplies, diapers, holiday toys, etc.

“As the families were closer together than ever, we saw an increase in the disclosure of historical sexual abuse. Children were more comfortable sharing while parent engagement was high,” shared Sanchez. “On the contrary, there was a decrease in real time reports of abuse. Once schools began reopening, we were flooded with referrals and took in 55 new children in the first two months.”

Since 1974 FTC has been strengthening families and making a difference in the lives of children who have faced abuse or neglect. At the heart of all of FTC’s programs are families experiencing stress, children at risk, child victims of abuse and neglect, and the families and community members that care for them. Safeguarding these children and working with children and families to provide the tools (and hope!) that they need to lead safe, happy, and productive lives direct our program development and delivery. Their existing array of services is designed to strengthen family resilience, develop healthy, behaviors and build supportive community connections.

FTC’s mission is simple and important. Children should be treated with respect and protected from abuse. The nonprofit 501c3 meets this challenge by providing both comprehensive child abuse treatment and trauma-informed mental health care, counseling, and therapy to strengthen families and provide the tools of healing to children.

To refer a child or family, contact FTC at (562) 422-8472.

All children will have the opportunity to reach their natural potential free from abuse or neglect. Children will be nurtured and cared for in loving families, they will be safe in their homes, their schools, and their neighborhoods.

Students’ new option after a COVID-19 exposure in class: Quarantine at school

Jeannette Andruss
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Students’ new option after a COVID-19 exposure in class: Quarantine at school

A second grader at J.H. McGaugh Elementary in Seal Beach recently tested positive for COVID-19. This week, the student’s classmates and teacher are under quarantine.

But since everyone was wearing masks, the exposed students don’t necessarily have to miss class.

That’s because of new quarantine rules from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). This year, if everyone involved in a COVID-19 exposure on campus was abiding by the indoor mask mandate, the unvaccinated students deemed a “close contact” (within 0-6 feet of an infected person indoors for more than 15 minutes over a 24-hour period) can opt for a modified 10-day quarantine also called the “quarantine at school” option.

These students can continue attending classes in-person as long as they:

  • Do not develop symptoms
  • Continue to wear a mask indoors and potentially outdoors
  • Commit to getting tested for COVID-19 at least twice weekly over the 10-day quarantine
  • Stop participating in all extracurricular activities at school, including sports, and in the community setting for the 10-day quarantine

For the 2021-22 academic year, the overarching priority of education and health officials is to maximize in-person instruction time for all students. The modified quarantine fits with that goal because it minimizes the number of days kids might be out of the classroom due to an exposure on campus.

Is quarantining at school safe? A FAQ page from the CDPH states: “Scientific research and experience from around the country demonstrate that when both parties are wearing facemasks appropriately at the time of a school-based exposure to COVID-19, in-school transmission is unlikely and students can safely continue in-person learning.”

Parents can opt to keep their kids at home for the quarantine. But for unvaccinated students who were unmasked during a classroom COVID-19 exposure, at-home quarantine is the only option. Vaccinated people do not have to quarantine after a known exposure but would need to get tested if they develop symptoms.

Vaccinated or not, anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is asked to follow CDPH guidelines on isolation. Staff and students are asked to stay home from school if they have any COVID-19 symptoms. Families at the nine schools in the Los Alamitos Unified School District are sent a daily email reminding them of that.

While Los Al Unified and the Orange County Health Care Agency support the state’s modified quarantine options, some school districts may have different quarantine rules. Cypress School District specifies the quarantine at school option is only available “for school-based exposures.” “For student exposures that occurred outside the school, an at-home quarantine is required,” it states in its COVID-19 Safety Plan.

 

No distancing requirement may mean more ‘close contact’ exposures

The potential for a “close contact” COVID-19 exposure could be higher on campuses this year.

That’s because cases in the surrounding community are relatively high right now due to the Delta variant. In addition, California is not requiring a minimum physical distance between students in classrooms. That distancing requirement was eased, and universal indoor masking was enacted to ensure full-time in-person learning was possible.

Without distancing requirements, one infected person could trigger many “close contact” exposures with classmates. That’s what happened in the second-grade class at McGaugh, parents reported.

Parents Struggle to Get COVID-19 Tests

Three of those parents interviewed for this story said their kids are back in class and quarantining at school.

But they also said it’s been hard to meet the date-specific COVID-19 testing requirements of this option. Two said they struggled to get testing appointments for their kids through nearby pharmacies.

“I just really wish the school offered testing, that would have made this a lot easier,” Mindy Wagner, a parent of two LAUSD students, wrote in a text message. Wagner said she will have to pick her daughter up early from school one day to make one of the testing appointments.

Los Alamitos Unified Superintendent Dr. Andrew Pulver said the district is getting some free tests through the county that families will be able to access after signing up for a program. “We’re working on getting that up and running to be able to offer that to families,” he said on Monday.

Other Orange County school districts are already providing COVID-19 testing for students including Anaheim Elementary Unified. Cypress School District is offering self-collection COVID-19 testing kits for students and staff at schools. Santa Ana Unified is requiring weekly testing of students and staff on campus, the first district in the county to do so.

Another parent worried schools might not be adequately prepared with academic instruction plans for quarantined students.

“Given how contagious COVID-19 and this [Delta] variant is, I hope the school learns from this experience and puts in place remote learning contingency plans that include immediate access to online learning. That way, no child misses out on education and it creates more of an incentive for parents to test/keep their kids at home,” the parent wrote in a text message.

Dr. Pulver said students under an at-home quarantine should expect to get work from their school site. “It may take a couple days for the schools to be able to gather the work from the teacher,” Pulver said and likened it to the process for getting assignments for Independent Study.

In a call with reporters on Friday, Orange County’s Public Health Director Dr. Clayton Chau said schools must offer an “alternative for kids to continue with their education,” in the case of quarantining.

No State Guidance on Campus Closures

While the rules for quarantine have been revised, CDPH is not making recommendations about when to shut down a campus or classroom due to COVID-19 cases. “That [guidance] has gone away,” Dr. Chau said.

A school outbreak is considered three or more cases that an investigation proves are linked to an exposure on campus.

During the surge of COVID-19 cases in the community last winter, Los Alamitos High School switched to remote learning for a period after more than 200 students and staff were under quarantine as cases at the high school reached 37. Back then, a school would have to close if 5% of the campus population was infected with COVID-19, Dr. Pulver noted at the time.

LAUSD’s COVID-19 dashboard tracks current infections of staff and students and shows a total of 25 cases in the district as of August 30. The dashboard does not list how many people are under quarantine for being a close contact of an infected person at school.

Last week, Dr. Pulver told The O.C. Register that there are no outbreaks at any Los Al Unified campuses. “None of these cases have been linked to one another,” Pulver was quoted as saying and added that through contact tracing, the district found the infections happened off campus.

For more local education news, follow @SpotlightSchools on Instagram!

Gen. Leeney gets the gold, even if only for a day

David N. Young
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Gen. Leeney gets the gold, even if only for a day

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Rachel Fattal let the Commander of the Joint Forces Training Base, Gen. Michael Leeney, briefly wear her gold medals Tuesday.
Fattal, of Seal Beach, is a former Los Al High School water polo standout, who won her second Olympic gold medal as part of the USA water polo team in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

According to public affairs spokesman Col. Richard Lalor, Fattal attended the Regional Military Affairs Committee meeting Tuesday, where she let base commander Gen. Leeney try on both of her gold medals (2016) and (2020) on for size.

The regional group of military, law enforcement and homeland security officials meets monthly on the base.

Rachel spoke to a very large crowd attending the meeting and also shared her medals with the audience, said Lalor.

For years, military officials at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos have allowed the USA Women’s Water Polo team to train on the base, he said.

“The Joint Forces Training Base has been the official training site for the USA Women’s Water Polo team for many years and we consider these athletes our very own ‘home team,’” said Col. Lalor.

International City Theater offering five in-person plays for fall season

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International City Theater offering five in-person plays for fall season

The International City Theatre is back in full force with a complete season of five in-person plays scheduled for 2022, the group’s artistic director announced this week.
“We need the arts, now more than ever as we move beyond Covid-19, to provide hope and healing for our community,” says artistic director caryn desai [sic]. “Each of the five plays we’ve chosen to celebrate our return to live theater continues our vision: to entertain, inspire and educate.”

The season kicks off in February with Marry Me A Little. Conceived and developed by Craig Lucas and Norman René, this charming, bittersweet musical two-hander weaves 17 lesser-known songs by Stephen Sondheim into a tale of love and loneliness that The New York Times calls “a disarming experience.” The story of two single strangers who unknowingly live one floor apart is told entirely through songs written early in Sondheim’s career or cut from his groundbreaking Broadway musicals. (Feb. 11 through Feb 27; previews begin Feb. 9.)

Next up, in April, is A Dolls House: Part 2 by Obie award-winning playwright Lucas Hnath. It was shocking for audiences to watch Nora leave her husband and children in A Doll’s House, the 1879 play by Henrik Ibsen. How shocking will it be for us, in 2022, to dive deeper into the reasons behind that fateful choice in Hnath’s bitingly funny, Tony-nominated stand-alone sequel to Ibsen’s revolutionary masterpiece? (April 15 through May 1; previews begin April 13.)

Production number three puts Jamie Torcellini at the helm of The Legend of Georgia McBride, a heartfelt, feel-good, music-filled comedy by Matthew Lopez. Casey is young and broke. He has a baby on the way, and the landlord is knocking on his door. Now, the owner of the bar where he works as an Elvis impersonator has replaced his act with a B-level drag show, and Casey’s about to learn a lot about show biz — and himself. (June 10 through June 26; previews begin June 8.)

The season will go out on a high note (pun intended) in October with Ken Ludwig’s two-time Tony-nominated screwball comedy Lend Me A Tenor. When world-famous tenor Tito Morelli arrives for a fundraiser at the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, a chain-reaction of mistaken identity and mixed signals spirals out of control, leading to mayhem, high-jinx and hilarity —and leaving audiences giddy and teary-eyed with laughter. (Oct. 21 through Nov. 6; previews begin Oct. 19.)

A fifth play, set to run Aug. 26 through Sept. 11, will be announced at a later date.
Two of the plays in the season, The Legend of Georgia McBride and Lend Me A Tenor, were previously announced to open in 2020 but put on hold due to the pandemic.

“We are so grateful to be able to put these two plays back on the schedule,” desai says. “We are back to doing what we are meant to do — tell stories that help us better understand our world and our shared humanity.”

Recognized by Long Beach as the City’s resident professional theater company, International City Theatre is the recipient of over 400 awards, including the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle’s prestigious Margaret Harford Award for “Sustained Excellence” and the LADCC’s 2016 Polly Warfield Award for an “Excellent Season.” In addition to its professional theater productions, ICT offers six community and educational outreach programs each year. The company’s commitment to the community also includes ongoing collaborations with Long Beach’s African American community and other groups and organizations. Former Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe called ICT “a cultural treasure.”

All performances take place Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. For more information about ICT’s 2022 season and to purchase subscriptions or single tickets, call (562) 436-4610 or visit www.internationalcitytheatre.org.

Celebrities speak out to aid Hope Builders in Orange County

David N. Young
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Celebrities speak out to aid Hope Builders in Orange County

A 25-year-old Orange County nonprofit is launching a “one-of-a-kind” celebrity event this week to raise funds to provide job training and placement to young adults.

According to Executive Director Shawna Smith, the renowned OC nonprofit Hope Builders will stage a series of celebrity virtual events entitled “10 Days of Building a Pathway to Prosperity” that began August 28 and will be available online through September.

She said the celebrities taking part this year include Glenn Stearns (Host of Discovery Channel’s “Undercover Millionaire”), Joe Kiani (Founder, Chairman & CEO, Massimo), and Dominique Dawes (Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast).

Legendary New York Yankee Darryl Strawberry will also participate this year, the nonprofit has announced.

Smith said interested participants throughout Orange County are invited to participate in the online events featuring these business leaders and sports stars. “This is a new live speaking series (TED Talk-style), where virtual attendees will be inspired by the celebrity speakers sharing their personal success stories.

For over 26 years, Hope Builders has empowered Southern California’s young adults with mentorship, life skills, and job training that meets the needs of employers,” said Smith.
Founded in 1995 in response to increasing gang violence, high youth unemployment, low high school graduation rates, and rising teen pregnancy, Hope Builders enrolls more than 200 young adults each year who are caught in this cycle of poverty to help them achieve and maintain self-sufficiency, according to Hope Builders.

Built on the concept of a sustainable nonprofit “social enterprise” model, the organization works with different employers, essentially acting as a staffing service to employ graduates from their career-building trainee programs. Hope Builders helps young adults build a pathway to prosperity by bridging the gap between them and employers needing skilled workers. To date, over 6,000 young adults have found their path and begun careers.

Hope Builders comes to the aid of many in Orange County.
Courtesy photo

“Hope Builders is a workforce development agency here in Southern California that works with young adults who are out of school and that work, largely because they have barriers they faced; might be [they] have been involved in foster care, substance abuse issues, maybe previously incarcerated,” said Smith.

“We really work to help them develop job skills in healthcare, construction and other industries so that they can move into a career and transform their lives,” she added.
“Hope Builders opened a door for me. I have a chance to grow and actually be somebody,” says David G., an electrical apprentice hired in 2019 by Sunwest Electric.

“I learned so many skills at Hope Builders. They helped me realize everything is possible,” said Maricela C. who is now a behavior technician at Mitchell Child Development Center.
Regarding this year’s campaign, Smith said this is a new concept inspired, in part, by the pandemic.

“This is actually the first time that we’ve done an event like this,” said Smith, “so this year we are doing a 10-day event that involves four celebrity speakers: Glenn Stearns who’s sort of a financial wizard, Joe Kiani a medical inventor and quite accomplished businessman himself, Darryl Strawberry and Dominic Dawes, who are both professional athletes that are quite accomplished, have stories of overcoming obstacles to achieve what they have in their lives,” the Hope Builders Executive Director said.

“We are pairing those speakers with one of our young people who have come to Hope Builders to use our programs and services to also overcome their obstacles and unlock their greatness.”

Because of the pandemic, the interaction with the celebrities will all be virtual. To participate, visit https://tsjhopebuilders.

Army choses Joint Forces Training Base for solar project

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Army choses Joint Forces Training Base for solar project

The U.S. Army has chosen the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos as a location for a 99-acre renewable energy generation facility designed to keep the base operating even in a crisis.

According to a press release, the solar panel installation is expected to improve the base’s emergency response system, allowing it to operate normally even if local power grids go down.

The base selection was made by the Army’s Energy, Security and Sustainment Strategy command.

A mock up of the project indicates the solar panels would be divided between two open areas on the base, near the golf course that is to the east and along the edge on the Los Alamitos Boulevard side.

The Army says that during any emergency, the solar panels will ensure the base can continue to servedddd Southern California. The centrally located base is home to a wide variety of special aircraft and other equipment used in many types of emergencies.

“We’re the only military base in the area that is capable of handling long-term emergency situations,” public affairs spokesman Col. Richard Lalor said. From earthquakes to wildfires, and all manner of emergencies inbetween, JFTB is relied on by a plethora of southern California relief agencies, law enforcement and military officials.

If there were a huge earthquake and power outage in California, for example, then the new energy facility would provide the base enough reserve power to fly in rescue teams, supplies or anything else needed to address the situation.

Lalor said JFTB is home to a massive, 8,000-foot runway, which facilitate most any type of relief aircraft. Over the years, Air Force One has even landed at the base
In the event of a major emergency, said Lalor, when the base command has to bring in first responders and facilitate relief supplies, “our runways are big enough to handle any aircraft in the inventory.”

The California National Guard just wrapped up its environmental assessment for the project, weighing factors such as traffic, utilities and infrastructure, noise and impacts on the environment. Special attention was given to any glare the solar panels might cause at the airfield or surrounding neighborhoods, officials said.

Its findings have been shared for public comment, and Los Alamitos city officials were also invited to give feedback on the assessment.

According to Ron Noda, Director of Development for Los Alamitos, no comments have been received by the city. The Event News Enterprise did receive a comment that was also copied to the firm that did the Environmental Assessment, but the author refused to go on the record.

Military officials say they do not expect construction of the solar facility to be disruptive to the community, adding that no buildings or structures will be torn down for the solar panels.

Army officials did not disclose the cost of the project. According to the U.S. Army, the 99-acre solar facility is expected to break ground early in 2022.

Cypress College to open new Science, Engineering and Math building

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Cypress College to open new Science, Engineering and Math building

By Marc S. Posner

fCypress College is slated to open its Science, Engineering, and Math (SEM) building and its dually-housed Student Life & Leadership (SLL)/Veterans Resource Center (VRC) building this fall, both part of the larger 20-year, $574 million Measure J Bond project approved by voters in 2014. Measure J funds projects at Cypress College, Fullerton College, and North Orange Continuing Education.

Exterior of new SEM building
The new 106,000-square-foot SEM building will serve as the campus collaboration hub, and includes research and teaching laboratories, interactive student resource areas, a multidisciplinary classroom, lecture spaces, and conference rooms. The new building is designed to have lasting use, with versatile design features that allow for future expansion. The new building effectively replaces and doubles the size of the old facility, which had been in use since the early 1970s. Groundbreaking for the new building began in late 2018. It is the first new instructional space to open on the campus since 1976.
Perhaps one of the most unique and exciting features of the new SEM building is the immersive digital classroom, a 96-seat theater that features motion projection on the domed ceiling, and the possibility of a planetarium to be added later on.

Science, Engineering, Mathematics building
Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. said these state-of-the-art buildings are representative of the kind of support the institution enjoys, and that the SEM and SLL/VRC buildings would not have been possible without the widespread backing of the community.
“This project represents a promise kept with our students and our neighbors, who generously supported our Measure J Bond project,” said Dr. Schilling. “Our STEM students now have a state-of-the-art lecture and lab facility replacing one that was designed before humans walked on the moon. These spaces — including the immersive digital classroom — will prepare our next generation of scientists, engineers, and chemists.”

Student Life and Leadership building
The SLL/VRC is also scheduled to open its doors to students in upcoming weeks and will serve Cypress College’s more than 16,000 students, including 900 who identify as veteran or military-affiliated. The VRC will serve as the centerpiece of the Veterans Education Resource Complex, which includes a tribute garden, veterans’ memorial bridge, and an outdoor event plaza. The project also saw the renovation of the SLL building (formerly the Student Activities Center), which will now house the International Students Program, and is connected to the VRC by the new construction.
Cypress College’s new VRC will offer essential educational support services to veterans as they transition from active military duty to civilian life, and it has been specifically designed with their unique needs in mind. Veterans and military-affiliated students will have access to updated computers and technology, as well as private counseling rooms, social space, and a private patio in the new facility.

Veterans Resource Center lobby
“The additions of the event plaza and tribute garden create a space for celebrating our U.S. veterans that is unique in Orange County — and the flags of our military branches will be watched over daily by our students who have transitioned from service to studies,” Schilling said. “Inside the VRC, these students will have access to services that will help them succeed.”
For more information about Measure J, the SEM building, or the SLL/VRC building, visit: cypresscollege.edu/measure-j-bond-program/veterans-resource-center-student-activities-center-building/.
Cypress College offers students a pathway to their future in an environment in which employees commit to joining students on their educational journey. The college’s half-million-plus alumni include actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses, and teachers. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice, and for others, it provides essential training for a prosperous career.
In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Cypress College’s instruction and services are offered primarily in a remote format. Students can access support services online at cypresscollege.edu/coronavirus.

Former State Sen. Moorlach to speak to Cypress Chamber

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Former State Sen. Moorlach to speak to Cypress Chamber

The Cypress Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome former California State Senator John Moorlach as guest speaker at our September Networking Breakfast. Our event will be held Tuesday, September 14th at the Residence Inn by Marriott at 4931 Katella Avenue, Cypress/Los Alamitos starting at 7:30 a.m. and will follow all current protocols for attendee safety. John Moorlach will give an overview of the financial health of Orange County cities and share a city by city comparison based on per capita funding or deficit for O.C.’s 34 cities. John is well versed in municipal and government finance. Even before being elected to public service, he predicted the 3rd largest municipal bankruptcy in US History, the County of Orange. He has earned a national reputation as an accessible expert in municipal finance.

John Moorlach is a certified public accountant and certified financial planner based in Orange County. Over the years he has represented Cypress as the county’s Treasurer & Tax Collector and and as our 2nd District County Supervisor. He also served in the State Senate from 2015-2020.

Currently, former Senator Moorlach is leading the discussion on an upcoming School Choice Initiative and how Californians can better support our students.

Reservations are highly recommended for the monthly breakfasts and can be made directly on the Cypress Chamber website by clicking on the link listee below. Cost of the breakfast is $25.00. Attendees are also encouraged to bring door prizes to promote their product or service. The program will include a meet and greet time, self-introductions, breakfast, our guest speaker and a question and answer session if time permits.

The Chamber breakfasts, which are open to the public, are held on the second Tuesday of every month. Space will be limited. To assure your space, pre-register on the Cypress Chamber Website: www.cypresschamber.org/

Cypress Centurions pull off overtime win

Ted Apodaca
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Cypress Centurions pull off overtime win

Cypress High pulled out a 29-27 win over San Juan Hills in overtime, when the Centurions forced a missed two-point conversion. Quarterback Dylan Eldredge had touchdown passes to Devin Cobb and Matthew Morrell as the game went into halftime tied at 14-14.

Prior to the touchdown to Morrell, Eldredge had moved the ball into the red zone with a 40-yard pass to Morrell. Trailing 21-14 in the third, Eldredge used a big pass play to Neil Jensen down the middle that helped set up another touchdown pass to Morrell that tied the game at 21-21.

Eldredge finished the night with 242 passing yards and four touchdowns, with Morrell catching 11 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

While the Centurions were able to rack up 359 total yards off offense, San Juan Hills countered with 421 total yards of their own.

Cypress will take on former league foe, Western High at 7 p.m. on Friday Handel Stadium at Western High School. Both teams are 1-1. Western opened the season with a 26-20 win over Chino, but are trying to rebound from a 41-0 loss to Huntington Beach High on Friday.
Sophomore Anthony Luna leads the Western offense and threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Chino.

After a big season-opening win, the Los Alamitos High football team won a tight one, holding off Lincoln High of San Diego, 22-17 on Friday at Westminster High.
The Griffins scored 21 points in the first half to take a 21-0 lead into the locker room. Lincoln held the Griffins scoreless in the second half, but the Los Al defense was able to make the score stand up.

The Griffins will travel to Paramount High, where they will take on a Pirates team that is 0-2 on the season so far.

Kennedy improved to 1-1 with a 44-36 win over LaSalle on Friday at Handel Stadium.
Alex Herrera threw for 242 yards and five touchdowns, as the Fighting Irish controlled the game through three quarters. Kennedy held LaSalle scoreless in the first half, but the Lancers rallied in the second half, scoring 29 points in the fourth quarter to make the score close.

Hunter Benton caught 10 passes for 180 yards and all five touchdowns through the air. Cody Masumiya had 111 rushing yards and added two touchdowns on the ground. Kennedy travels to Sonora High on Thursday for a 7 p.m. game.

Los Al Race Course to run Los Alamitos Special in September

David N. Young
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Los Al Race Course to run Los Alamitos Special in September

Five stakes worth a combined $400,000 highlight the 2021 Los Angeles County Fair meet at Los Alamitos.

The 10-day season will begin Friday, Sept. 10 and continue through Sunday, Sept. 26. Racing will be conducted Friday-Sunday the first two weeks (Sept. 10-12 and Sept. 17-19) and Thursday-Sunday (Sept. 23-26) the final four days. Post time will be 1 p.m.

The richest of the stakes races is the $100,000 Los Alamitos Special. The race at 1 1/16 miles – it was run previously (2018-2019) at 1 ¼ miles – will be offered Sunday, Sept. 19.
The initial stakes of the season is the $75,000 Beverly J. Lewis for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs. The Lewis will be run Saturday, Sept. 11.

There are two stakes events for 2-year-olds. The $75,000 Capote will be run Saturday, Sept. 18 while the $75,000 Phone Chatter for fillies will be contested Saturday, Sept. 25. Both races are at 6 ½ furlongs.

Completing the schedule is the $75,000 E.B. Johnston for 3-year-olds & up bred or sired in California. The race at one mile will be run Sunday, Sept. 12.

Grandstand admission is $3 and $2 for seniors 62 and older. Admission to Burgart’s is $5 and Vessels Club is $10. Tickets can also be purchased online at http://losalamitos.com/. Los Alamitos offers free general parking. Preferred parking is $5.

The wagering menu includes a pair of $1 Pick 4’s on races 2-5 and the final four races along with a $2 Pick Six as well as the popular Players’ Pick 5 – a 50-cent minimum bet with a reduced takeout rate of 14% rate – on the first five races.

The Pick Six will have the standard 70-30 split with 70% of the pool going to those tickets with six winners with the remaining 30% going to tickets with five of six winners.

There will also be a handicapping contest Saturday, Sept. 18 and the Los Alamitos Racing Association will offer a cash prize and a pair of berths in the 2022 National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas.

Cost to enter is $500. Of that amount, $100 will be placed in the contest prize pool with the remaining $400 going towards a live money wagering card.

Tournament races will include the entire card at Los Alamitos with permitted wagers including win, place, show, exactas, trifectas and daily doubles. Each entry must bet at least $50 on a minimum of five races that day, but there is no wagering limit.

The player with the highest bankroll at the end of the day will be declared the winner and the player with the second highest bankroll will be the runner-up.

The winner will receive 50% of the prize pool. The remaining payoffs: 20% (2nd place), 15% (3rd place), 7.5 % (4th place) and 7.5% (Most Money Wagered).

Entries for opening day of the LACF meet will be taken Tuesday, Sept. 7.

LAUSD to focus on student mental health with “WellSpace” Centers

Jeannette Andruss
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LAUSD to focus on student mental health with “WellSpace” Centers

It’s called “The Corner” at McAuliffe Middle School. At Oak Middle School, it’s “The Den.”

These are the names of new campus WellSpace centers established to help Los Alamitos Unified School District middle school students learn skills to improve their social, emotional and mental well-being.

The WellSpaces look more like lounges at a day spa than a public-school classroom and that’s the point. They are intended to offer students a peaceful place to focus on wellness while at school. The repurposed classrooms are furnished with relaxing furniture, filled with serene décor, and packed with activities that are meant to calm and help kids manage stress.

The district’s mental health professionals staff the WellSpaces.

With a teacher’s referral or by request, students can stop by during the school day for a ten to fifteen-minute break and connect with a counselor or psychologist.

Built last school year, the WellSpaces are the first of their kind in Orange County. They were developed through a pilot program with the Orange County Department of Education and Children’s Hospital Orange County.

“This is a way for us to teach students at an early age stress management strategies,” Mayu Iwatani, OCDE’s manager of Mental Health and Wellness Care Coordination said in a June story from OCDE.

The district’s non-profit partner Los Alamitos Education Foundation has also committed $60,000 to the WellSpaces and plans to continue supporting the mental health efforts.

“There is so much work to do for our students’ mental health,” LAEF Executive Director Carrie Logue said in a press release. “Our next step is to partner with the district to build and furnish a Well Space at Los Alamitos High School. We welcome donations from the community to make this space a reality.”

“‘The Corner’ has been a welcome addition to the McAuliffe campus! This space has given our students an opportunity to decompress and address issues around their own mental health,” McAuliffe Principal Dr. Ryan Weiss-Wright wrote in an email message this week. “We are very thankful for the partnership with CHOC, OCDE, and LAEF to make this possible!”

“I really do believe that wellness spaces are going to become a thing that is on every campus for every student,” Oak Principal Erin Kominsky told OCDE.

‘Mental health needs have grown’

Giving kids a space to take a mental rest is just one example of how educators in Los Al Unified and statewide are focusing on students’ mental health. The effort has taken on new importance as kids return to full-time in-person instruction after a year of remote and hybrid learning caused by the pandemic.

“There’s a clear connection between mental health … and academic performance,” Grace Delk, LAUSD’s Director of Special Education and Mental Health, said during a Board of Education workshop in April. Students in psychological distress have difficulty concentrating on schoolwork; children with anxiety or depression have lower grade point averages, she explained.

“Mental health needs have grown,” Delk said in an interview earlier this month noting student referrals for mental health services have been on the rise since before COVID-19. “We have to respond to that.”

The OCDE cites the 2019-20 California Healthy Kids Survey that showed “25 percent of Orange County’s seventh-graders and about 35 percent of 11th-graders said they felt chronically sad or experienced feelings of hopelessness over the previous year, and more than 10 percent reported having suicidal thoughts.”

Things got worse after COVID-19 appeared in early 2020. “It’s almost like the pandemic threw gasoline on embers that were already glowing,” Heather C. Huszti, chief psychologist at CHOC, told The New York Times in a story about the rise of mental health emergencies among kids. “We’ve never seen it this bad.”

In district surveys, LAUSD staff from all campuses rated children’s well-being as a top priority. Among high school staff, 76% of those surveyed indicated their primary concern for parents for the 2021-22 school year was supporting their child’s mental health and well-being.

For LAUSD Board of Education President Marlys Davidson, along with her fellow trustees, improving mental health services ranks high on their list of District Priority Goals.

In an interview last month, Davidson reflected on her many years teaching middle school in the district. Many of her students were thriving but she also noticed a competitive environment where students seemed defined by their outward success.

“It was all about labels and numbers and positions,” Davidson said. She shared the story of one former student who is now training to become an emergency physician. He told her he never had one moment of fun in high school. A few of Davidson’s students had more tragic stories, losing their lives to drug abuse and mental illness.

“We’re not allowing kids to be vulnerable,” Davidson said. “It’s taking away their ability to develop as a human being.”

Davidson said the district is working to focus on the “whole child” in its future efforts.

LAUSD’s Focus on Mental Health

When it comes to mental health, that effort includes hiring more mental health professionals, implementing new curriculum and being more proactive about addressing students’ well-being issues earlier.

This year, LAUSD approved $320,000 in funding to increase its mental health staff to five full-time positions, including licensed clinical social workers. That’s in addition to the district’s nine school counselors and nine school psychologists.

The hope is the increased staffing can help in a more targeted effort to support students at the prevention level.

Delk said that LAUSD is also taking proactive measures to infuse wellness into classrooms giving teachers tools to talk about mindfulness, growth mindset and wellness. That includes using new specialized social emotional curriculum such as Second Step in elementary schools and Base Education at the middle schools.

Another layer in the mental health effort is Securely, a program that monitors LAUSD students’ web browsing. A student searching for something unsafe or potentially harmful triggers an alert that is immediately sent to LAUSD officials. Examples include a search for running away or something more severe like suicidal thoughts. In some instances, local law enforcement has been called in, according to LAUSD Supt. Dr. Andrew Pulver.

Los Al Unified also partners with CareSolace, a live 24/7 online concierge service that helps families connect to local mental health programs and counseling services.

While the government released COVID-19 relief money for schools to pay for expanding mental health services, Dr. Pulver said the one-time funding would not be used to pay for the new mental health staffers.

“This can’t be a Band-Aid,” he said in an interview last month. He said the district is fully committed to dedicating money to the expansion of mental health services for the long-term. “The needs aren’t going away.”

For more local education news, follow @SpotlightSchools on Instagram.

 

 

 

Cypress council fills vacant seat with retired police officer

David N. Young
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Cypress council fills vacant seat with retired police officer

Despite pleas from the public to appoint an Asian community representative and a request from a female city council member to replace former Mayor Pro-tem Stacy Berry with another woman, the Cypress city council on Monday selected a retired Long Beach police officer to fill her seat.

The Council voted 4-0 Monday to appoint retired officer and Dept. of Homeland Security veteran Scott Minikus to the council seat vacated by Berry.

While Minikus was not the unanimous selection as first choice, he did get the nod from Mayor Jon Peat, Mayor Pro-tem Paulo Morales and council member Anne Hertz.

Council member Frances Marquez, PhD, suggested Rachel Strong was her first choice, and she strongly urged the other council members to replace Berry (a woman) with another woman.

“When women leaders step up, we should afford them every opportunity. Stacy Berry was a tenacious leader and was in the minority through her tenure of six years,” she said. Cypress voters voted for Berry, said Marquez, and “due to systemic barriers and lack of opportunity, voters respect and desire women’s leadership.”

A total of eight candidates, six women and two men, “applied” for the vacant city council seat. They faced a panel of four remaining members of the Council who subjectively decided on their own what qualifications and commitments they wanted to see in Berry’s replacement.

Minikus apparently did have the qualifications being sought by at least three city council members.

Nevertheless, when it came to a vote, Marquez voted with the other members to make it a unanimous (4-0) selection to appoint Minikus to the vacant council seat.

Both Peat and Morales are termed out next year, when city voters will again select two more representatives. Minikus will be appointed to fill the remainder of Berry’s unexpired term, and if he runs for a new term, it will be as an incumbent in 2022.

The ENE has reached out to Minikus for comment but, as of press time, has not heard back from the soon-to-become Cypress city council member.

In his application, however, Minikus said enhanced economic development, strong community values and keeping the community safe would be among his priorities.

During the entire discussion, the Council made no mention of former candidate Carrie Hayashida’s impressive finish in 2020 (2,000 votes ahead of the closest other candidate) and there was no discussion of considering the city’s population of one-third Asians to give them representation on the council. She was one of the applicants, but not immediately available for comment.

A total of eight candidates, six women and two men, applied for city council consideration before the remaining members of the Council decided on what qualifications they wanted.

Nevertheless, the council thanked all of the candidates for applying.

“The candidates spent so much time and effort into really providing a clear case for their qualifications and what their vision is for the future of the city,” said council member Anne Hertz. “And I really appreciate that,” she said.

“As I reviewed them, I charted and listed and really assessed what I thought was going to be the most qualified candidate for the city. And when I got to my final two, I checked references on both of those individuals. And my top candidate, after much thought, would be Scott Minikus,” said Hertz.

Mayor Pro-tem Paulo Morales implied that the other candidates may stress the staff, saying “what is important to me when looking at that the concern is that the person selected must be able to work with city staff.”

“We have a tremendous staff, they work hard, I don’t think we need to add any more stressors to any of them. That same person needs to work with the city attorney, and the city manager who is charged with the day-to-day operations of the city,” said Morales.

The mayor pro-tem thanked all of the applicants for their ideas and presentations, and Morales said that he listened to Marquez’ “question on diversity in the community, which I think was terrific, but with having said all that, my recommendation is for Scott Minikus.”

Peat said he divided up the candidate’s applications into two main elements: their interviews and their applications, which he said, “gave evidence of their experience, education and their involvement.”

While Minikus did have significant law enforcement and homeland security experience, Peat said he believed Minikus would be best qualified to hit the ground running.

“I believe that the person with the most comprehensive set of the qualifications for the situation…[someone who] can come up to speed quickly…will be Scott Minikus,” said Peat.

City manager Peter Grant said Minikus would officially be sworn in later this week, though a “ceremonial” swearing in would occur at the council’s next regular meeting.

Rossmoor disappointed in waste hauler contract, services

David N. Young
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Rossmoor disappointed in waste hauler contract, services

Despite getting a 17-year contract and higher rates, Rossmoor officials have expressed extreme frustration and disappointment with waste hauler CR&R, saying the service is now even worse than before and they have little or no control.

“We are being treated like a stepchild,” General Manager Joe Mendoza told the Rossmoor Community Services District at the August meeting.

Mendoza said some Rossmoor residents have expressed concern over missing regular trash pickup in periods of weeks, yet Rossmoor has no power to enforce performance under the contract.

That’s because Rossmoor is not an incorporated municipality, so the Special District that includes Rossmoor is literally forced to accept whatever waste provider selected for them by the Orange County Waste and Recycling Agency (OCWR).

Further, the OCWR collects the significant franchise fee paid by CR&R as stated in the new agreement.

“This is unacceptable,” said Director Mark Nitikman.

Mendoza told the board that in Cypress, where he lives, the city’s waste hauler, Valley Vista, has not missed a day since he’s moved in.

“This is a prime example of why we need more local control,” said Director Tony DeMarco. “They (OCWR) are getting the franchise fee and we are not the entity managing the contract,” he said.

As a result, much of Mendoza’s time is absorbed by managing complaints by residents directed at CR&R, yet the actual responsibility for service under the agreement belongs to Orange County Waste, the entity that receives the franchise fee in return for managing the CR&R contract.

Some Rossmoor residents also expressed concern that CR&R have separated pickup items into a process that will involve three series of trucks each cycle, meaning more wear and tear on the Rossmoor Street system.

The RCSD is also disappointed with the company providing street sweeping, mainly because they find it very difficult to coordinate schedules, given they have little or no control.

The Board has directed Mendoza to put together a series of meetings that will inform them and the residents about achieving more local control. Residents have repeatedly expressed no desire for becoming a municipality or being annexed into either Seal Beach or Los Alamitos, yet Special District’s have little political control over external affairs.

Nevertheless, some California Special Districts have found ways to increase their local control through legislation and other means, and Mendoza told the board he has invited officials who have successfully achieved more control to participate in hearings this fall.

In addition, the board has directed to Mendoza to include the Rossmoor Homeowners Association in the meetings, which he said has been done.

Mendoza gave the board some prospective dates for meetings this fall along with some key potential participants for a working committee to carve out a strategy.

Directors told Mendoza they want the opportunity to be hands on during the entire process.

Therefore, Board President Dr. Jeffrey Barke recommended the board not schedule any meetings until each of the directors send their “availability” to Mendoza, after which a schedule can be approved for the working committee meetings.

Mendoza told Directors that the goal of first meeting of the local control process is to develop a resident survey. From there, If the community is able to reach a consensus sometime in 2021, directors hope that legislative efforts can commence in time for the next session of the state Assembly.

In other action, the board agreed to adopt the proposed rate changes for RCSD facilities, even discussing at one point raising rates higher for nonprofits and non-residents, but eventually agreed to adopt the changes as proposed until they look further into higher rates.

Director Jeffrey Rips, a nonprofit executive, said many of the nonprofits that utilize Rossmoor facilities, often provide programs and athletic opportunities for people and youth within Rossmoor, thus deserve special consideration.

Director Nathan Searles agreed, saying no additional rate increases were advertised on the agenda, so at the very least, the board should at least wait until any additional increases are advertised and discussed.

In other action at their August meeting, the board;

  • Officially adopted their proposed $1.8 million 2021-22 fiscal year budget after learning $30,000 had been cut from the budget, $15k each from proposed legal expenses and professional service agreements.
  • Learned from CHP Officer Matt Musselman that traffic citations within Rossmoor were down significantly because of COVID-19. For instance, Musselman said because so many officers were out because of COVID, he has been working freeway duty, reducing his time in Rossmoor. Also, he said the district saw eight minor traffic collisions since his last report.
  • Heard a progress report from Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley (see related story).
  • Heard residents during oral communications debate the impact Barke is having on the District (see related story).

Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the agency involved is the Orange County Waste and Recycling Agency not the Orange County Sanitation District, which has a different mission. The ENE regrets the error.

Supervisor Foley visits Rossmoor

David N. Young
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Supervisor Foley visits Rossmoor

After just over three months in office, Supervisor Katrina Foley appeared at the Rossmoor Community Services District last week to provide the community with an update of her activities since being elected.

“I just wanted to give you a real quick overview on what I’ve been working on in the last 100 days,” Foley told the RCSD Board of Directors during their August meeting.

“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the residents of Rossmoor and working with your team,” she added.

Foley said her office has already attended more than 20 Chamber of Commerce meetings, town hall workshops and given out numerous certificates in support of her District’s business community.

Moreover, she said each district supervisor has been issued more than $2 million to support pandemic related food insecurity, so she is asking any organization with feeding capacity to contact her office.

“If you have community needs or programs in place that are already running, please reach out to our office because we will be soon announcing our grant recipients,” said Foley.

In addition, the 2nd District Supervisor complimented the entire community of Rossmoor, apparently being among the first to achieve so-called “herd immunity” with COVID-19 vaccinations.

“I want to compliment the community of Rossmoor,” said Foley, “because you are at 75 percent in terms of vaccination rate, which is very good and definitely herd immunity.”

“That’s very good,” said Foley, “and just so you know, the health of your community will be more protected.”

Foley said her visit to Rossmoor was part of her active engagement with the communities she serves. The 2nd District Supervisor invited citizens within Rossmoor to submit items for their office newsletter and Foley said she enjoys working with General Manager Joe Mendoza and the staff of the RCSD.

Moreover, Foley said she has started a “roundtable” of community leaders, she electronically meets with the mayors within the district each week and has invited all “elected” within the district to a zoom call.

“Our job is to support the community and to support you, as elected officials to get your initiatives accomplished,” Foley told the Rossmoor Directors.

She also invited everyone to attend a redistricting meeting, a process by which new district lines will be drawn. After all is said and done regarding redistricting, “I do hope to continue representing Rossmoor.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parents discuss mask mandate at LAUSD

Jeannette Andruss
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Parents discuss mask mandate at LAUSD

Nearly 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic and mask rules continue to spark debate.

That was the case at the August 17 Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Education meeting, the first since the 2021-22 school year started at the district’s nine campuses in Seal Beach, Rossmoor and Los Alamitos.

Speakers took aim at the California Department of Public Health’s universal indoor mask requirement for K-12 schools during the public comment period. The mandate was not on the meeting agenda.

The LAUSD is tasked with enforcing the rule requiring all students and staff to wear masks inside classrooms regardless of their vaccination status. Masks are optional outdoors. The district welcomed students back for full-time in-person instruction this month.

Universal indoor masking is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics as an important measure to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in classrooms.

While some parents agree with the mandate, others continue to push to get rid of masks, or at least make them optional for students. They argue young children are at lower risk of serious complications from coronavirus and worry students’ mental health could suffer by wearing masks in class all day.

That includes LAUSD father Jerry McMillan, one of the 20 total speakers at last Tuesday’s Board meeting.
He said he thinks the mask mandate might meet the legal definition of child endangerment and suggested giving teachers forms to report abuse to local law enforcement. “I’m not currently accusing anyone of abusing my children but I will be providing my [children’s] teachers with these same medical reports so they can see what I see,” he said.

McMillan also said the district has more power to lessen the mask rules locally. Last month, Los Al Unified Supt. Dr. Andrew Pulver publicly supported making masks optional while admitting he does not have the authority to do so. That’s the message Pulver got from the Orange County Department of Education and the Orange County Health Care Agency who emphasized school districts must follow the state’s rules.

“I don’t do masks,” a mother of two told the Board, explaining that she thinks masks don’t work, unless it’s a medical grade N95 mask, but she said even those have limits. She said she pulled her kids from McGaugh Elementary and is homeschooling them now because she believes masking children does more harm than good.

“I’m not an anti-masker, an anti-vaxxer and I’m here to advocate for my kids,” father Daniel Brant told board members. He said one of his kids suffers from social anxiety. He suggested creating outdoor learning spaces on LAUSD campuses, especially for the TK-2 graders.

“We can put some outdoor shelters or something so that we can do less time in the classroom with masks on and more time outdoors and come to a compromise so we don’t have to have this divided community. We can work on both sides,” Brant said.

Other speakers showed support for the mask mandate and thanked board members for enforcing it.

“It’s a scary time and I think you’re doing a fabulous job, taking the science and the standards into account and I appreciate that very much,” one woman said.

Los Alamitos High School biology teacher Drew Sells told the Board that of the hundreds of students he sees daily on campus, nearly none have problems wearing a mask.

“When they see me and they see the other people who are standing there who politely ask them to put their mask on, guess what? They put their mask on and they leave them on for the rest of the period,” Sells said.

In an interview following the meeting last Tuesday, Dr. Pulver said that there were no instances of anyone refusing to wear a mask on an LAUSD campus. According to LAUSD’s COVID-19 Safety Plan, students who refuse to mask up could be placed in an alternative learning setting. Pulver said a “very small” number of students were approved for mask exemptions.

As of August 23, Los Al Unified’s dashboard showed a total of 31 current confirmed COVID-19 infections among staff and students.

This month, Dr. Clayton Chau, Orange County’s top public health official said if the mask mandate is not enforced at schools, COVID-19 cases will rise. The Delta variant continues to dominate, infecting unvaccinated people at a much higher rate than inoculated people.

According to the Orange County Health Care Agency, as of August 14, the 7-day case rate for unvaccinated people was 43.8 per 100,000. For the fully vaccinated, it was 7.8. Kids 12 and younger are still ineligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.

CDPH says it will decide whether to update the mask rules no later than November 1. Last week, the California Supreme Court denied the Orange County Board of Education’s petition seeking to overturn the mask mandate. A lawsuit launched by the parent group “Let Them Breathe” is still pending, according to its website.

‘The Community isn’t just one voice’

While there were some groans, laughter and applause in the audience during public comment, last Tuesday’s Board meeting remained under control.

In her comments toward the meeting’s end, trustee Diana Hill explained that the Board is not able to get into a dialogue about items that are not on the agenda but she wanted the public to know that trustees are always listening.

“I think sometimes it’s hard for people that are so passionate about whatever position they are taking to realize that there’s probably an equal amount of people that are equally passionate about perhaps the other side. And we as Board members hear all of that,” Hill said explaining that they also get emails and encounter people in the community.

“Our job is to represent the community and the community isn’t just one voice,” Hill said emphasizing that means not involving politics in her nonpartisan position and even putting aside her personal beliefs.

“Believe, please believe, please trust that we are looking to be better tomorrow than we were today. That we will take in all that information and do the very best we can for all of our students,” Hill said.

In Other Board Meeting News:

  • Los Alamitos High School senior and new Student Board Representative Will Brandenberger gave his first report. Cheered on by his fellow ASB members in the audience, Will shared stories of Griffins returning to campus for a full school day. “I’ll be the first to say, it was weird to eat lunch at school for the first time in two years but that went away quickly for many as everyone was reminded of the good times they had sitting with their friends,” he said.
  • The Board recognized the new leadership team at Los Alamitos High School. Principal Christiana Kraus, in her first year in the position, praised new Assistant Principal Cara Vienna and new Assistant Principal Eddie Courtemarche.
  • The Board approved a new contract for $14,200 with Danielle Nava Consulting to continue her work with LAUSD’s Human Relations Advisory Council. She was first hired in late 2018 to serve as the facilitator for what was then called the Human Relations Task Force. Around six speakers during public comment spoke in support of her work with the district. At least three others were critical.

 

For more local education news, follow @SpotlightSchools on Instagram

Griffins girls volleyball off to a solid start

Ted Apodaca
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Griffins girls volleyball off to a solid start

The Los Alamitos High girls volleyball team is shaking off the rust of limited play and practice time and have improved to 4-2 overall this season. Last week, the Griffins swept two matches with wins over Long Beach Wilson and Long Beach Millikan.

The Griffins took out Wilson, 25-12, 25-21, 25-16, led by senior outside hitter Olivia Panzica with nine kills. Junior Sydney May had 13 assists and six service aces. Serving would end being a factor in the Griffins’ ability to keep control of the match, after a tight second set.

“Our serving definitely picked up after the first couple points there, maybe some tentative serves, then we started getting after it a little bit more, creating some opportunities or scoring off our serves,” Head Coach Dave Huber said.

Huber noted that although the Griffins have a small core of senior players with varsity, after losing last season, the team is starting with about 90 percent of its players in their first year of varsity competition. The Griffins were in control of the first set early and cruised to a 25-12 win.

Long Beach Wilson pushed back in the second set, exchanging rallies with the Griffins midway through the set. With the Bruins leading the set 10-8, the Griffins went on a 7-0 run and appeared as though they might run away with it.

Panzica started the rally with a cross-court kill that cut the Wilson lead to 10-9. From there, May contributed consecutive ace serves, the first off a back row dig attempt and the second dropped in the middle of the defense. After a hit into the net, the Griffins had taken a 12-10 lead.

Senior middle hitter Chloe Zentgraf followed that with a kill off a block and May got another ace serve off a back row reception misplay. A kill by senior middle hitter Amanda Zidonis pushed the lead to 15-10. But the Bruins finally broke serve and went on a 6-0 run to regain the lead, 16-10. From there is stayed close with the team exchanging leads four times.

The Griffins took a 20-19 lead on a long hit by the Bruins and then got consecutive ace serves from junior setter Ava Kelly. The first dropped inside the back corner and the second came off a back row reception attempt. A hit attempt that went long, gave the Griffins a 23-19 lead.

One play later, the Griffins got to set point, 24-20 with a kill down the line from junior middle hitter Chase Koepke. One play later, the Bruins were called for a net violation that ended the set.

Los Alamitos jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the third set. Long Beach was able to cut it to a one-point lead at 10-9 and 11-10, but could gain a lead. Two ace serves by Anna Sanzaro pushed the lead to 15-10. The Bruins would not threaten again. With a 22-16 lead, the Griffins got consecutive kills from juniors Taylor Hofland and Reagan Schippert to get to match point. A long hit attempt by Long Beach ended the match.

With the 2020 season missed, teams are trying to get their rhythm and timing back. After the Wilson match (their third of the season), Huber said the team was actually a little sharper than he might have expected early in the season. He said he’s hopeful that the small core of players who were varsity contributors in 2019, will help bring the 2021 Griffins up to speed sooner than later.

“It’s huge, when you’re the only one that’s played varsity volleyball before, you know, like to have that experience and be able to talk about it and kind of help push others along,” Huber said. “So, they’re learning that process as well.”

After the Wilson match, the Griffins played two matches at the Lakewood Tournament over the weekend. They split those, beating Rancho Cucamonga before falling to Lakewood. In the win over Rancho, Zidonis and Sanzaro combined for 20 kills.
The Griffins have three road matches upcoming, at San Clemente on Thursday and at Ocean View on Friday. They will travel to neighboring Cypress on Tuesday. All those matches are scheduled for 5 p.m.

Big plays abound in Griffins win over Drillers

Ted Apodaca
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Big plays abound in Griffins win over Drillers

Los Alamitos High football fans are hoping for a lot of big plays this year between quarterback Malachi Nelson and receiver Makai Lemon. So the Oklahoma bound duo decided to give them one right off the bat. The first play from scrimmage in the Griffins’ season-opener against Bakersfield was a 68-yard connection that set up a touchdown two plays later, as the Griffins rolled to a 65-18 win over the Drillers on Friday at Los Alamitos High.

Brian Jurado punched in the two-yard touchdown run to give Los Al a 7-0 lead. Big plays highlighted the night as the Griffins kept Bakersfield at a distance each time the Drillers tried to close the gap. Bakersfield answered the opening score with a drive that resulted in a field goal to cut the lead to 7-3.

But the ensuing kickoff ended up in the hands of Makai and he promptly returned it for a touchdown to push the lead back to 14-3. The Drillers slowed the Griffins at times. They snagged a couple of interceptions to thwart drives, although one was at the one yard line. The Griffin defense was able to tackle a receiver in the end zone after a screen attempt for a safety and Los Al took a 23-3 lead.

Bakersfield’s Tybo Rogers showed a lot of skill in leading the Drillers, as he broke a few big plays and scored a touchdown after the safety that cut the lead to 23-9. But the Drillers could not keep pace with the Griffin offense.

Nelson connected with Deandre Moore for a touchdown pass and just before half he again found Lemon as the Griffins took a 37-9 lead into halftime. An interception in the second half set up a short field for the Griffins and Nelson and Moore again connected for a touchdown that made the score 44-9.

When Bakersfield added another field goal, Kevin Longstreet returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown that gave the Griffins a 51-12 lead. Los Alamitos will host Lincoln High out of San Diego this week. The Hornets are also 1-0 and will be at Los Alamitos High on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on Bally Sports So Cal. Check with you service provider for availability and channel information.

Star-studded evenings are back at Segerstrom

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Star-studded evenings are back at Segerstrom

Star-studded evenings are back with a headliner series for everyone at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Entertainment is alive and well with performances from Broadway to Cabaret.

Beginning October 2, 2021 at 7:30 pm, Kristin Chenoweth returns and marks the reopening of Segerstrom Hall with a special evening of music. The incomparable Emmy® and Tony® Award winning actress and singer offers an evening highlighted by songs from her most recent album, For The Girls, a heartfelt tribute to the great female singers throughout history, particularly some of Kristin’s heroes and friends.

She’ll be performing personally charged interpretations of classic songs identified with such iconic artists as Barbra Streisand, Leslie Gore, Linda Ronstadt, Dinah Washington, Dolly Parton and more.

On November 20, 2021 at 8 pm Grammy® Award winning vocalist and producer Steve Tyrell returns to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall for celebrations of a beloved contribution to musical culture, The Great American Songbook. In nearly 5 decades in the music business, Tyrell is the very definition of a renaissance man, achieving success as a singer, songwriter, producer, music supervisor, and most recently, radio host.

His breakthrough performances in Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride II helped Tyrell reinvent and re-popularize classic pop standards for a modern-day audience. His hits, “The Way You Look Tonight,” “The Simple Life,” “I’ve Got a Crush On You,” and “The Sunny Side of The Street,” have launched millions of romances and been played at thousands of weddings. Enjoy a night of musical culture with this icon.

Segerstrom to requite proof of vaccination for in-person shows

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Segerstrom to requite proof of vaccination for in-person shows

Segerstrom Center for the Arts has updated health and safety protocols and implemented new safety measures so that audiences can reconnect with artists and enjoy the communal experience of being together in an audience with fellow arts lovers.

The updated COVID-19 policy requires ticket holders to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 to attend all indoor performances and events at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. “Fully vaccinated” means the performance is at least 14 days after the final vaccine dose. To enter the theatre ticket holders must bring proof of vaccination, either a physical vaccination card, a picture of their vaccination card, or a digital vaccination record. The full vaccination requirement also applies to artists performing at the Center.

Those who are under age 12 and anyone without proof of being fully vaccinated must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours (3 days) prior to entering the theatre.

Masks are required at all times for all ticket holders and visitors regardless of vaccination status in all indoor spaces at Segerstrom Center.

The Center’s safety protocol has been informed by UCI Health Infectious Disease experts at University of California Irvine. As well as partnered with an industrial hygiene firm TRC to review our protocols and campus cleaning service provider ABM who are administering Enhanced Clean™ in all our buildings. The reopening policies and procedures have been developed in consultation with public health officials, CDC recommendations, and guidelines from the State of California. In addition to the vaccine and mask mandate, Segerstrom Center for the Arts has enhanced the facility:

Improving Air Quality: The Center exceeds the CDC recommended filtration recommendations with MERV-14 filters. Our state-of-the-art air handling systems are operating to full design capabilities in order to maximize the number of air exchanges per hour.

Creating a Contact-Free Experience: All restrooms have touchless fixtures including touchless flush valves and faucets. All tickets are digital and scanned for safe and efficient entry.

Enhancing Cleaning Procedures: Rigorous cleaning procedures have been implemented that follow CDC guidelines for cleaning. We pay special attention to high traffic areas, frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs, railings, elevator buttons, and restrooms, which are sanitized with increased frequency. We have also placed hand sanitizers throughout the campus including the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza.
Seeking Expert Advice: Health and safety protocols have been informed by Infectious Disease experts at the University of California Irvine to ensure adherence to the principles for cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention. We’ve partnered with an industrial hygiene firm TRC to review our protocols and campus cleaning service provider ABM who are administering Enhanced Clean™ in all our buildings.
Installing Sanitizing stations:150 touchless hand-sanitizing stations throughout the campus.

Pursuing GBAC and Well Certification: Segerstrom Center for the Arts is committed to achieving Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities.

With safety protocols at the helm of the Center’s reopening plans, Segerstrom Center for the Arts is delighted to announce that we will be presenting seven incredible Broadway shows beginning this Fall. The line-up includes Jesus Christ Superstar, My Fair Lady, Wicked, The Band’s Visit, Tootsie, Pretty Woman: The Musical, Hadestown, and Mean Girls. We’ve also scheduled a full slate of Chamber Music, Cabaret, Dance and Jazz performances. Visit our series page to see the line-up of amazing artists.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an acclaimed arts institution as well as a beautiful multi-disciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence, offering unsurpassed experiences and to engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance as well as a diverse array of inspiring arts-based education and community engagement programs.

Previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center is Orange County’s largest non-profit arts organization. In addition to its six performance venues, Segerstrom Center is also home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School and the School of Dance and Music for Children with Disabilities.

The Center presents a broad range of programming for audiences of all ages, featuring international ballet and dance companies, national tours of top Broadway shows, jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family-friendly programming, and free performances on its plaza, such as outdoor movie screenings, concerts, community and cultural festivals.

Segerstrom Center is a leader the nation’s performing arts centers for providing education programs designed to inspire young people through the arts. The Center’s programs reach hundreds of thousands of students each year in five Southern California counties. The CDI supports flagship artistic programming and a wide range of projects that celebrate innovation, nurture creativity and engage audiences of the future. The Center Without Boundaries develops partnerships with non-cultural organizations to help them in their own efforts to respond to the ever-changing needs of the community.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is also proud to serve as the artistic home to three of the region’s major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Pacific Chorale. Each contributes greatly to the artistic life of the region with annual seasons performed at the Center. In addition to Segerstrom Center for the Arts as a presenting and producing institution, it also identifies the beautiful 14-acre campus that embraces the Center’s own facilities as well as two independently acclaimed organizations: Tony Award®-winning South Coast Repertory and a site designated as the future home of the Orange County Museum of Art.

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