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Titanium Healtcare opens new local office

Loreen Berlin
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Titanium Healtcare opens new local office

Titanium Healthcare recently held an “Open House” and ribbon-cutting at its new location in Garden Grove, 12566 Valley View St.

To honor local communities, Titanium chose 12-pieces of artwork from the recent Printmasters of Los Alamitos’, 10666 Los Alamitos Blvd., “Artists of Los Alamitos” student art contest.

“We produced and hung large reproductions of the artwork in the halls of the new Titanium office, said Printmasters Owner Nesi Stewart. “During Titanium’s open house, special presentations were given to the young artists’ whose artwork had been chosen for the facility.”

The Grand Opening was fun for everyone and in particular for the students, who had the opportunity to play Bingo; participate in Fall-crafts such as pumpkin decorating, a photo booth, and raffle prizes..

Throughout the day, complementary food and beverages were provided by Hustle N Dough Doughnut Truck and lunch was provided by Taco Grille, along with DJ Connection that kept the energy up with his tunes.

“We were honored that the Orange County Fire Authority was able to attend the Grand Opening for several hours; the kids enjoyed the thrill of being up-close to a real fire truck,” said Miller. “The World Harvest Los Angeles Food Bank truck showed up and stole the show with its beautiful organic produce.”

And, Garden Grove City Council Member George Brietigam was in attendance at the ribbon cutting and awarded CEO Gray Miller with a certificate of recognition from the City
Now, you may be wondering how Los Alamitos and Garden Grove are connected; Well, it seems that years ago, while looking for a printing service, Tor Miller with Titanium based in Carmel-by-the-Sea, in Central Calif., found PrintMasters in Los Alamitos, in Southern Calif.,
via the Internet and a good business relationship was forged and continues to date.

“I simply Googled printers, as I was looking for a printer close to our Los Alamitos clinic, when I came upon PrintMasters and immediately picked up the phone to chat with them as I loved their website and the friendly-feeling it projected,” Miller explained.

Tor Miller continued, “We’ve been working with PrintMasters for several years. We started off with business cards and now they produce pretty much every print item that reaches our patients – from banners to brochures – to facemasks and the list is endless,” Miller said. “Titanium has an in-house design team that works closely with PrintMasters team and we are always thrilled with the quality of print they produce.”

An idea bloomed when Owner Nesi Stewart and her team asked Titanium to judge the “Artists of Los Al” competition – an art competition that took place during the pandemic where local school children could submit their artwork, while expressing their feelings about COVID-19 and reflect upon their thoughts and memories of the difficult time.

“Later, we took inspiration from this and have showcased 12-pieces of the fabulous student’s artwork in our Garden Grove clinic, where we were able to recognize the artists’ with a ceremony and gifts, whose work we now have displayed on our walls,” Miller said.
Some Titanium Healthcare information includes that it was started with a mindset to fearlessly shake-up healthcare in order to make it better for everyone.

“We provide the sort of care we’d want for our own families – the sort where heart and compassion come first, said Miller. “We’re reducing costs and yet our patients have better outcomes and we spend more time with our patients – on an average of 30-45 minutes per appointment – and we never rush our patients, so we truly get to know them and to understand their health concerns.”

Miller said that patients have access to Titanium 24/7 via a nurse phone-line, along with many other services, such as care coordination, which can be life changing for many patients.

She said their services include a dedicated senior program, obesity management programs, Transitional Care, for those who have recently been discharged from a hospital; Primary Care, and Care Coordination.

“Titanium is a key provider of the California and Washington State ‘Health Homes Program,’ which is a program set-up to provide care coordination services such as access to food, housing, medical specialists and community services,” Miller explained.

Currently, Titanium has seven clinic locations, plus a Health Homes Hub in Inglewood, Calif.
Miller said they plan on making the event an annual one. “We’re thrilled to be part of this wonderful community; our doors are open to patients and we encourage people to stop by, say hello and experience healthcare the way it should be done.”

Cypress College student 1 of 2 in U.S. awarded Diagnostic Medical Sonography Foundation Scholarship

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Cypress College student 1 of 2 in U.S. awarded Diagnostic Medical Sonography Foundation Scholarship

Cypress College Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) student Megan Park was one of only two recipients in the nation to receive the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) Foundation Sonography Student and Advanced Degree Scholarship, earning $2,500 to use toward her tuition, books, and educational fees.

Although Megan is committed to her education, she was unaware of the challenges she would face and overcome while working toward her degree. As a member of the first DMS cohort at Cypress College to be fully impacted by the effects of the pandemic, adapting to online courses and previous clinical training typically provided to students, Megan’s determination and ultimate success through her first two semesters speaks volumes of her dedication to the program and her future patients.

Lynn Mitts, program coordinator for DMS, said clinical training and on-campus courses allow students to connect what they have learned in the classroom to what they have learned in clinical settings. Students must be serious and hardworking to do well in this program due to the sheer amount of learning material, Mitts said.

“Megan has already overcome many obstacles to make it to the halfway point of the program,” said Mitts. “This scholarship only proves her dedication as a student, and to the field she is entering. She has demonstrated great commitment and hard work. We are very proud of her.”

“I admire Megan and her determination,” Dr. Stephen Schoonmaker, interim dean of Health Science, said. “I am also proud of our committed faculty in the Health Science Division and for the creative and dedicated work of the faculty in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. They have overcome tremendous obstacles during this global pandemic to help students like Megan gain the necessary knowledge and skills to become a successful and positive part of the healthcare sector – and for their contributions to the communities we serve.”

Cypress College’s DMS program is ranked number one in the state for the second year in a row by NursingProcess.org. DMS students are prepared for the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography examination and hospital or clinical employment upon completing their coursework. Students receive practical training in general sonography (or ultrasound) on superficial structures, the abdomen, pelvis, and obstetrics.

To learn more about the DMS program at Cypress College, visit https://careers.cypresscollege.edu/programs/diagnostic-medical-sonography/.
About Cypress College:

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.

Cypress College is one of three campuses in the North Orange County Community College District and a member of the 116-campus California Community College system. The college primarily serves the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Stanton.

Students can access support services online at http://cypresscollege.edu/coronavirus.

Tanya Doby, Rossmoor Elementary “Hero of the Heart”

David N. Young
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Tanya Doby, Rossmoor Elementary “Hero of the Heart”

Long before she was active in the local political scene, Los Alamitos mom Tanya Doby has apparently been active in the education of her children as well as those attending Rossmoor Elementary as she was named as the school’s 2022 “Hero of the Heart.”

“Tanya is all about the heart,” said Rossmoor Elementary Principal Amy Coltey, “and she makes sure that she spreads joy and love.”

Doby and her husband Josiah have two children, a son, Justice, who is a former Rossmoor Knight and a daughter, Sage, who is currently a 4th grade student at the school.

“Tanya has a way of finding volunteers for whatever we need,” she said, “so Rossmoor parents immediately feel welcomed when they meet her. She really has a way of making us feel like family,” said Coltey.

“She’s a huge part of our success when we partnered with LAEF to ensure that Rossmoor Elementary’s STEM lab would continue to be part of our students experience,” added Coltey.

Previously, she said, Doby served as the President of Friends of Rossmoor Elementary for three years, and has also served as VP and now serves as Treasurer. Tanya has helped coordinate STEM lab activities and been “an invaluable volunteer at Rossmoor for a number of years, and has worked in her children’s classrooms as a room parent coordinator, fifth grade T shirts chairperson and in numerous similiter capacities.”

Doby is also, apparently, quite a field commander when it comes to volunteering, said Coltey,

“Our PTA and Friends groups would come together and tell her which volunteer spots were still vacant at the beginning of each year. And you give her two to four weeks and she’s got all positions filled and you’re like, ‘wow’,” she said.

“Last year, Tanya also served as our PTA Council liaison, [on] our Los Al at home program and I’m sure I’m missing like 20 things that Tonya has done. And she has supported me. Thank you. She’s just a great person. Our staff is really thrilled to honor her tonight.”
The ceremony honoring Doby came at the last board workshop of 2021 and board members were also quick to add their praise.

“I first met Tanya at a PTA Council meeting,” began board member Meg Cutuli. “You just kind of walked in, took a job and it’s so true; whenever there is a need, Tanya either finds it within herself or someone else who will step up and take care of it.”

“You are so inclusive, and you’re just dedicated so that every child has a great experience. And you do have a great sense of humor. So I always like it when you show up for PTA council meetings. This is most warranted,” said Cutuli.

“After listening to that, Tanya, I have decided that every community needs a Tanya, every organization needs a Tanya and everyone in your life needs a Tanya, so thank you and congratulations,” said board member Chris Forehan.

“I’m just going to hide behind my plant,” joked board member Scott Fayette, “because last time I talked to Tanya and I volunteered for something that I wasn’t aware of.”

“As a human being, you exemplify everything that all of us want to be,” said board member Marlys Davidson. “So, if you ask me to do something, I want to copy you, follow up and learn from you so thank you.”

Tanya then gave a shout out to her husband Josiah Doby and his brother who “lit up” the football field for Los Alamitios High School in the late 1990’s.

“I know that it’s true that if you ask Tanya to do something, she will absolutely say yes, it’s the only word that she knows [that will] come out of her mouth. And I just have always appreciated you and the joy that you bring to everything,” said Board President Diana Hill.
“Tanya, you just are an exceptional human being, a role model for all of us,” said Dr. Andrew Pulver, Superintendent of the Los Alamitos Unified School District. “You just have a presence about yourself that has a light, a glow, really that is infectious and lifts everyone up,” he said.

Courtesy photo
Superintendent, Dr. Andrew Pulver, Principal, Mrs. Amy Coltey, Hero of the Heart, Tanya Doby, Board President for 2021, Mrs. Marlys Davidson

“I don’t know of another individual, quite honestly, who as soon as you see her, she brings a smile to your face, a warmth to your heart and you always find the good in everything,” he said. “I’m sure that can be challenging at times,” he said.
“Thank you for always finding good and I know that there’s nothing Tanya will ask you to do that she is not willing to do herself,” said Pulver. “We are so proud, and this is well deserved.”

“I’m so honored, I’m so humbled,” Doby said. “Thank you…thank you for anyone that’s ever helped me. Thank you, for anyone that’s ever believed in me. Thank you, for anyone that’s ever lifted my head when the crown got a little heavy. Thank you, for anyone that’s ever partnered with me. Thank you for anyone that’s ever helped me.”

“I just I appreciate it all and I am truly honored,” said Doby. “This means more than I have words for.”

Rossmoor implements long-awaited street sweeping changes

David N. Young
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Rossmoor implements long-awaited street sweeping changes

On Monday this week, the community of Rossmoor began a massive change in street sweeping that they have been trying to achieve for years, but that comes at a cost of potential chaos and confusion at the street level as implementation begins on a vastly improved schedule.

The RCSD Board in December addressed concerns over the transition and began making policy changes that will legally allow the new street sweeping schedule.

RCSD General Manager Joe Mendoza recounted the process that led to the massive change, noting that the district received three bids on the project, the lowest of which was from its current waste provider CR&R. However, he told the board in December that CR&R quickly determined that they did not have sufficient equipment to begin as rapidly as required by RCSD.

Mendoza said discussions then began with Sunset Property Services (SPS), an Irvine-based company that has provided street sweeping services for a number of other Orange County cities for more than 35 years.

“We are an environmentally conscious company,” said Howhannesian, providing technology “long before any state or federal mandates” required them to do so.

Andrea Howhannesian, who runs the day-to-day operations of SPS, appeared at the December meeting to work out final details. She said SPS is, in essence, a local company that was acquired by Sweeping Corporation of America in 2021.

Howhannesian noted that her entire office has been working with Mendoza to develop the new, color-coded route maps that the RCSD general manager said has been posted in advertisements and on their websites trying to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Even then, all sides expected a rough couple of weeks of the new street sweeping schedule.

Not only for convenience, Howhannesian said that for every car left in the street obstructing the cleaning, about 30-40 feet of street will not be cleaned as the sweepers roll through.

“Accumulation can cause stagnant water, which can help attract mosquitos,” she said.

Regarding citations, Board President Jeff Barke asked her if her company has worked with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office regarding citation issuance. Howhannesian said that, yes, in other unincorporated areas of Orange County, they do coordinate with OCSD.

Barke also asked her if her company has handled large scheduling transition before. “We have not had to transition quite as robust as this is asking where we’re doing alternate sides for the entire community,” she said.

Rossmoor authorities acknowledged that because of the potential chaos and deep learning curve that no citations will be issued for at least 30 days for street sweeping violations.

Under the direction of the RCSD Board of Directors, Mendoza worked with Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley and other OC officials to develop a new street sweeping plan for the Rossmoor Community. In addition, Foley assisted the community by providing the additional funding required to switch over to the new plan.

In fact, the Sunset bid of nearly $78,000 annually required additional funding by Orange County, which has also been approved.

Director Tony DeMarco wanted to know about cameras on the sweepers, to which Howhannesian said they currently have some with cameras and are considering additional rear cameras for safety, but noted cameras are not used in the process of issuing citations.

Director Nathan Searles asked Howhannesian about community services, wanting to know if residents will have access to online portals or other such mechanisms to communicate with the company.  She said they have a very aggressive response team, including herself, with an email account and other ways to communicate.

After answering various questions, the board voted unanimously on a motion by Barke to approve the contract and move forward as the board went into a rather lengthy policy and legal discussion to allow for a change in policy, then law, that will allow them to facilitate the street sweeping change.

RCSD attorney Tarquin Preziosi guided the board and answered pointed questions from Searles and Director Jeffrey Rips about policy changes and legal changes.

Preziosi acknowledged the legality of approving a first reading of a document in December and then starting the new street sweeping policy in January. Even though the board will not be able to finalize all of the legal documents until later this month, Preziosi said the board had every legal right to do so.

Most concerns remain for the implementation of the schedule, which began earlier this week on Jan. 3.

Mendoza and Foley last month celebrated the achievement by posing in front of one of the company’s sweepers that was literally parked relatively close to the community’s Christmas tree for Winterfest.

“It’s not going to be easy to facilitate,” said Mendoza, “but this community’s been attempting to do this for decades.” He and Foley, along with the entire RCSD Board, take pride in this accomplishment.

Though perhaps not wrapped with a bow, the new street sweeping plan was indeed a gift many in Rossmoor have awaited for many Christmases past.

Leslie Alexander is ‘Loverly’ in Segerstrom Center’s ‘My Fair Lady’

Lynda Lacayo
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Leslie Alexander is ‘Loverly’ in Segerstrom Center’s ‘My Fair Lady’

“With a Little Bit of Luck” audiences will get to the theater in time to kick off the New Year with the classical musical “My Fair Lady” playing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts (SCFTA) July 11 – 23, 2022. Overall, Director Barlett Sher’s stunning revival remains true to Lerner & Loewe’s musical masterpiece, based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play Pygmalion. Despite the beloved brilliance of the show, Sher has infused a twist or two that brings the 100 years old story into the 21st Century. Here’s a hint, one surprise will be sure to appease modern feminists.

Leslie Alexander who plays Mrs. Higgins, mother of Professor Henry Higgins says “My Fair Lady’ is one of the great musicals in the American theater genre. There isn’t a thing she would change about it although she does admit that Director Sher’s artistic choices are a ‘Loverly’ mix of tradition with fresh ideas and surprises.”

The role of Mrs. Higgins is a non-singing one but that didn’t concern multitalented Alexander who has done it all, Broadway musicals, TV dramas, and voice-over work. And while she’s never been a mother, she says “I always wanted to be a mother and I have played moms so many times that I’ve got it figured out. Among her many strengths, Mrs. Higgins has a strong, nourishing spirit as do I. I guess that’s why I enjoy being her, our core character is similar. Some of the Characteristics we share in common are that neither of us ‘suffers fools gladly.’ We both are resilient yet kind-hearted women who love our families.”

“My Fair Lady” is the timeless tale of Eliza Doolittle (Shereen Ahmed), a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from Professor Henry Higgins (Laird Mackintosh), a misogynistic phonetician. Eliza’s dream is to pass as a Lady so she can work in a fancy shop. As the lessons progress and goals are met, Henry falls in love with her.

Eliza is introduced to Mrs. Higgins, Henry’s wealthy, upper crust mother at the “Ascot Gavotte.” Alexander explains “Mrs. Higgins is an aristocrat who loves her son but she is not a snob and she sees Henry for what he is. She realizes that Eliza’s success in passing as a Lady at the Embassy Ball is due to her hard work, not Henrys. She recognizes Henry’s folly in taking all the credit. She later becomes a bit of a refuge for her while Eliza tries to figure out what is going to happen next in her life.

Director Sher has updated the classic production to reflect today’s values. His vision is a delicate balancing act that removes the fairytale facade while keeping in the humor. “Get Me to the Church on time” has long been recognized as one of the great scenes in a show that has many show-stopping numbers and is a fitting example of his re-imaged nod to modern mores. Alexander would agree “the celebration scene is still one of the highlights of the show. Alfred Doolittle’s pre-wedding ribaldry is ‘one big ‘all night long party’ that is happening in the Pub before the morning’s rituals,” and she explains “there’s some gender switching among the dancers but that wasn’t uncommon at that period in time which makes it even more fun and funny. It’s a fantastic number, Doolittle (Adam Grupper) and the ensemble dancers are incredibly hilarious.”

Expect a surprise twist at the end as well, one that will have ladies cheering and older Gentlemen confused. This is a Victorian period piece but the “me too” era can clearly be heard. Alexander says “Our Director has found the precise balance between the original script and contemporary values. Today’s Feminist movement will appreciate that Sher gives Eliza gets her say. It leaves audiences wondering about her future now that she is no longer a flower girl but instead can present herself as a Lady. I use the word ‘empowerment’ to describe her future.”

“My Fair Lady” is beloved because all generations can connect with its message of the importance of being a good person, inside and out. “The revived production doesn’t change the message; it’s just not quite so traditional,” says Alexander, “What’s inside matters and that leads to another valuable lesson, that a person can dream big, work hard and achieve their dreams.”

“My Fair Lady” is a dazzling and elaborate Musical comedy that mixes tradition with fresh ideas. Alexander recommends the show to audiences using three adjectives “Beautiful, wonderful and heartwarming.”

Eliza’s famous line “What makes a lady is neither birth nor how she speaks. It’s how she’s treated by others” is as true today as it was in 1912 London. Theaters are re-opening, with common sense Covid-19 precautions, so we can enjoy wonderful shows. “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” if audiences heeded Eliza’s words to treat each other kindly by accepting the Segerstrom Center guidelines to show proof of vaccination, wear masks, socially distance and generally, respect one another so we can all enjoy the gift of live Theater once again.
“My Fair Lady” is at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, January 11 -23, 2022. For tickets and information: The Box Office, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa: By Phone, 714-556-2787; Online, SCFTA.or

LB musician wins Gold Award for ‘Rain Cried Softly’

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LB musician wins Gold Award for ‘Rain Cried Softly’

Christmas came early this year for Gregg Young & the 2nd Street Band! Their track, Gregg’s song, “Rain Cried Softly” just won the Gold Award for Best Jazz Single at the One Earth Awards, an awards show that recognizes musicians and filmmakers from all over the world who are using their art to make the world a better place.
“Rain Cried Softly” was written as Gregg’s “save the rainforest” song. It was recorded at Mambo Sound & Recording in Long Beach with engineer Steve McNeil and producer Gregg Young. Several musicians helped make this magical, timeless track come to life, featuring Tom Zink, keys; Anders Swanson, bass; Chris Wabich, drums; Tiki Pasillas, percussion; Ambrose Splescia, soprano sax and Gregg Young, guitar. A music video that was released in January 2020 on YouTube brought even more life to this beautiful, peaceful tune.
“The Band is incredibly honored and excited to have been awarded Best Jazz Single! What a great way to end the year,” said Young in a press release.
For full details about Gregg Young & the 2nd Street Band, visit their website.
Gregg Young is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and owner and founder of Shore Records. He is an ASCAP Composer/Publisher, Grammy voting member and has been the Music Director at the iconic Dome Arclight Entertainment Center in Hollywood for over a decade, until the pandemic hit. He is a self-established top tier musician in today’s saturated music industry.

Magical Christmas Party on Candy Cane Lane

David N. Young
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Magical Christmas Party on Candy Cane Lane

Let’s face it, Freddie and Lisa Molina know how to throw a magical holiday party.
Each holiday season in La Palma, they say Dallas Drive becomes an impromptu Candy Cane Lane with Christmas lights and bonfires in lit every driveway.
“It’s been a tradition for years,” said Lisa Molina, and in fact, she and her husband bought their “dream house” on a corner lot on that same street as soon as it became available in 2002 because they longed to participate in the tradition.
“I’ve lived in Orange County all my life; I’ve and dreamed of living on this block,” said Molina. She was raised in OC and owned a home in Buena Park and wanted an upgrade. “I knew this block did this tradition every year and we used to cruise around it when my son Cory played little league.”
They are Orange County natives, but always wanted to live where they do now.
Molina was raised by a dad from New York, Salvatore Benanti, who met his bride, Rosemary during his military service in England. He was Italian and brought Rosemary back to the USA to begin their life together in New York’s Italian community.
Though her mom grew up in England, Molina said Rosemary dreamed of being in Hollywood and raising a family in California. “She kept bugging my dad to move to California,” said Molina, so eventually, Rosemary convinced Sal to leave New York’s Italian community and come out West.
Their first child was born when they lived in Hollywood, but they later moved to Orange County by the time Lisa was born and raised. Once in Orange County, their lives were always filled with festive occasions.
“My parents always had a party, no matter what holiday it was,” said Molina. “So I grew up knowing this is how you have to do it and I raised my son Cory, now 32, to be the same. We’re all decorators and I’m very detailed into it.”
Molina runs an international safety video business headquartered in Anaheim, and her husband Freddie is a tech executive. Sweethearts since their early teens, they met in high school. She was 15 and Freddie was 14 and Molina said Freddie “has been a king and a prince to me ever since.”
So, every year at Christmas time, there is an epic holiday block party in La Palma. Naturally, the Molinas go all out.
“Keep in mind the entire block does this it’s not just me,” said Molina. “We have the biggest party of all, but all my neighbors we all get together and that night we invite family, friends and clients over and everyone puts bonfires on their driveways and I’m just the one that goes crazy with the red carpet and all the characters running around.”
“On the red carpet, I have Elvis, Marilyn and Joan Rivers (impersonators),” said Molina. She said for arriving guests, Joan Rivers walks up and asks the same type of irreverent questions the late comedienne was known for asking.
Elvis plays Elvis and that’s enough said. The Marilyn impersonator adds the glamour and glitz. They both carouse and entertain.
And since COVID-19 safety protocols are in place, Molina said she not only has sanitizing stations throughout the party, the Molinas had a medical impersonator playing a Dr. Anthony Fauci character who took everyone’s temperature before guests were allowed to enter the red carpet and approach the holiday home.
“That was kind of the difference this year,” she said.
“I also had sanitizing stations, where you go and spray your hands so guests would feel safe at my house,” said Molina. “Since safety is my business, I figured that would be a good idea.” “A lot of people were thankful and said to me ‘thank you for doing that.’”
To smooth their way once they were safely on the red carpet, however, Molina said guests were greeted with Dixieland Jazz as an authentic jazz band welcomed them with soothing holiday blues.
“When they entered my home,” said Molina, “it was magical. I did detailed decorations throughout the home,” she said.
Her guests were also entertained by “strolling magicians” like Penn and Teller impersonators and they were served their beverage of choice by “house bartenders.” “You have to keep up the holiday cheer,” she said.
Then, as guests finally made their way throughout the extensive, exclusively decorated winter wonderland, they eventually arrived in the backyard, where another band, this one a mariachi, played to welcome them.
The guests ate from an all-you-can-eat taco bar. Later, a local restaurant staff showed up with homemade lasagna.
“That is really nice,” she said, “because about 10 p.m., people get hungry again.”
To end the evening, Molina said she had a phenomenal performance of flamethrowers. “I had met them at a beach earlier in the year and simply asked them to come. It was awesome.”
“I met these guys on a camping trip in Pismo Beach. They were out on the sand practicing. And I was like oh my God, I need to have you guys at my party, and they said, ‘Lisa, we will be there.’”
“So they’ve been coming every year for three years now,” said Molina, “and they do a 20 minute deal and that’s the encore, almost making fire look like snow.”
“All I can say is that the Molina Christmas party is the you party don’t want to miss,” said party goer Emily Gray. “Without a doubt, it is the best party we have ever been to,” she said.
“We were in awe as made our way up the red carpet,” she said. “We will be there next year without a doubt. Beautiful and breathtaking,” she said.
Her husband Grant, agreed. “The Molina’s were amazing. It was awesome,” he said.
Molina said there are no complaints from the neighbors because they are partying too hard. “We have the biggest party, but my neighbors are wonderful,” said Molina. She said the tradition is so well known that that the city of La Palma closes the street for the evening so guests can safely walk to any of the parties.
And surprisingly, said Molina, this was their biggest party yet.
“I thought, oh, it might be slow because of COVID, but it was exactly the opposite. People wanted to get out. They wanted to see Christmas. It was probably 200 people crammed into my house and it was kind of neat,” she said.
“People want to get out and live again,” she said.
With her son Cory preparing to take the Molina party tradition into the next generation, Lisa said she always reminds him that “hard work does make fairy tales come true.”
For childhood sweethearts Freddie and Lisa, their fairy tale has indeed come true, not that they need any special reason to throw a party at Christmas.
“It was truly magical,” she said.

Miller continues tradition of sending Dec. newborns home in stockings

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Miller continues tradition of sending Dec. newborns home in stockings

For 59 years, the Cherese Mari Laulhere BirthCare Center at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach has been safely sending newborn babies born in December home in commemorative stockings. This holiday tradition continues today, despite the hardships of the past two years. The stockings are given to babies born between Dec. 20 and Dec. 25, and serve as a special keepsake for the new family.
Last year, the stockings were delivered to babies in each of the family’s rooms to accommodate the uniqueness of 2020. This year, families were able to get out of their rooms and celebrate the holidays safely with their baby and their nurses. The newborns were gathered for their first group photo with Santa and their care team, keeping more in line with how the tradition used to be.
“This event is really great for families who want to observe this special time of year with their new babies and partners in care. This is such a milestone each year, and something that our families and staff really looks forward to,” says Shari Kelly, MSN/MSHA, RN, NE-BC, C-ONQS, RNC-OB, executive director, Cherese Mari Laulhere BirthCare Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach. ”Families get a special memento and often one of the first photos for their child being born during the holiday season.”
The Cherese Mari Laulhere BirthCare Center cares for all pregnancies, whether routine or high risk. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is immediately adjacent to the BirthCare Center and cares for newborns who need advanced care. The BirthCare Center, a designated Baby-Friendly birth facility, offers a Perinatal Special Care Unit, specialized transport team, private labor and delivery suites, prenatal education classes and comprehensive lactation support, including an Outpatient Lactation Clinic.
“We are a lot busier than we used to be, delivering 15 – 20 babies a day, so this event also helps our staff celebrate the birth of our new babies alongside their parents,” says Kelly.

Los Al Medical donates $650 in gift cards to Casa Youth Shelter

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Los Al Medical donates $650 in gift cards to Casa Youth Shelter

Los Alamitos Medical Center held a holiday gift card drive for Casa Youth Shelter this holiday season. So far, staff have donated over $650.00 in gift cards to the youth shelter.
Los Alamitos based Casa Youth Shelter provides youth (ages 12-17) with shelter, counseling, and support services. Empowering them to come through their crisis with increased confidence, stability, and tools for continued growth.
“The gift cards continue to come in and we are humbled by the generosity of the entire staff at Los Alamitos Medical Center, said Kent Clayton, Medical Center CEO.”
Casa Youth Shelter also supports families of youth in crisis and works to increase awareness of mental health resources available before, during, and after a crisis. Gift cards, in small denominations of five to 20 dollars are requested and in turn given to CYS youth during the holidays and throughout the year on special occasions such as birthdays. To learn more about Casa Youth Shelter, visit https://casayouthshelter.org/.

“We love Lucy” — A community unites

David N. Young
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“We love Lucy” — A community unites

At 10-years-old, Lucille “Lucy” Polanco had already found her way in the world.
Lucy knew what she wanted to be when she grew up. And with a heart larger than her ambition, Lucy actively embraced every day of her life.
“Her dream was to become a veterinarian,” says her mother, Maria Castillo Polanco in an interview.
“Her love for all animals was so much bigger than anything else in Lucy’s life,” she said. Polanco said her daughter was a pure, loving child with huge dreams an empathetic heart.
“I always had to make sure I had money in the car because if there was a homeless person in the street, for sure, we were going to help them because she would say ‘what if he or she is God’,” said Polanco.
“Lucy was smart, sassy, funny, loving and caring, all rolled into one.”
Lucy grew up in Cypress with her brother, Hector, Jr., and her puppies Pearl & Pirate. She and her brother were “inseparable,” says her mom. “Anything her older brother Hector wanted to do; Lucy was there, doing it too,” she said.
Hector played baseball, so Lucy became an “avid” softball player. “Nothing would hold Lucy back,” said Maria.
Nevertheless, despite her athleticism, her mom said Lucy was every bit the little lady as well. “You would never catch Lucy with a bad manicure or without an awesome glitterball of slime. “She loved slime.”
Lucy even played flag football with her best friend, Hailey Starkey. They were the only two girls on the team, but they played.
Hailey and Lucy were super close, having been best friends since their diaper days. “It all started at daycare when we were 6 months old,” says Hailey. “We were diaper buddies. Who knew we would be best friends from that point on,” she says?
“Me and Lucy always hoped to be in the same class at school so we would be together all day,” she added. Hailey and Lucy attended Arnold Elementary in Cypress.
Happily enjoying 5th grade in October of 2019, one day Lucy came home with the sniffles.
“Lucy came down with a cold/flu,” recalls her mom. Since it was Fall, she and her husband Hector, Sr. decided to keep Lucy home from school thinking if it was a cold, they didn’t want it to spread.
Then, the sniffles turned into headaches, then slight disorientation, prompting Lucy’s mom to call the doctor for an evaluation.
Lucy’s mom recounts how quickly it all happened. Polanco said she witnessed the slow-motion devolution from having a normal child, staying home from school, into an ordeal, overnight.

Even worse, Lucy’s condition quickly became a cascading calamity for which there was no known cure.
Lucy’s best friend Hailey said she remembers a dark day in school when suddenly, she realized something seemed horribly wrong.
“One day Mr. B., our 5th grade teacher, was talking about how Lucy’s parents were both in the military. Suddenly, Lucy ran outside so we thought it had made her sad,” she said. Then Hailey found out “it wasn’t what we thought.”
Hailey later learned that Lucy ran out because she was suddenly nauseous, and soon enough, was told what was causing Lucy to feel that way.
“It was cancer,” said Hailey, understanding that “Lucy had a brain tumor that they couldn’t take out.” Hailey remembers the night Lucy’s mom, Maria, called her mom with the news. Hailey had found out, so her mom told her everything.
“I was sad from that point on, but I stuck by Lucy the entire time,” said Hailey. “It was like a game; she would start to get better and then go back to getting worse. It was like a rollercoaster that went on for almost a year; it was traumatic,” she said.
Within days of the sniffles, Lucy was evaluated and placed in the pediatric unit at Miller MemorialCare in Long Beach, where she would eventually receive the limited treatment for her condition.
“Unfortunately, the vivacious 5th grader had been diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), an extremely rare form of brain cancer for which there is virtually no chance of survival.
DIPG is a type of tumor that starts in the brain stem, the part of the brain just above the back of the neck and connected to the spine. The brain stem controls a human’s motor functioning, including breathing, heart rate and the nerves and muscles that help us see, hear, walk, talk and eat.
“These tumors are called gliomas because they grow from glial cells, a type of supportive cell in the brain,” said Maria.
Lucy’s family stayed strong yet was obviously devasted with Lucy’s diagnosis and prognosis. Hailey and the rest of Lucy’s friends were shocked too. “All we knew after hearing the prognosis is that Lucy was going to be that miracle, she was going to make it,” her mom said.
Tragically, DIPG tumors cannot be surgically removed because of their remote location where they become interwoven with previously non-affected brain tissue, which complicates the delicate and complex functions the brainstem controls.
These tumors are more often seen in school-aged children and they’re deadly — DIPG and glioma tumors are responsible for the highest number of childhood deaths from primary brain tumors, her mom discovered.
Moreover, DIPG is a medical menace that strikes without warning and grows aggressively.
According to her mom, just three days after her diagnosis Lucy began to lose all mobility and speech.
Lucy courageously decided to be a “brave warrior” to battle this new companion in her life. “She kept us united in prayer through her love of God, classic rock, sports and of course, ‘The Office’.”
“As a family, and as a community, she brought us all together,” her mom says. “I received messages from strangers telling us how they’d never prayed before, or now they are going to Church because of Lucy.”
“Throughout her journey, Lucy brought us closer to God and strengthened our faith,” said Maria. Off and on during her hospital treatments, Lucy was allowed to be home to be comfortable.
“During the pandemic, our Church, St. Irenaeus held Mass on the grass field, and every Sunday, there she was. Lucy was out there with us in her wheelchair, when she wasn’t able to swallow, her big brother would receive the Eucharist for her,” said Maria.
“One time, she was able to receive it herself.”
“After 30 rounds of radiation, though, we saw very little improvement in Lucy,” said Maria. Too soon, Lucy was able to communicate only by using an alphabet board. And the right-handed Lucy had to spell everything using only her left hand.
Even as doctors and medical experts tried everything possible to arrest the disease, Lucy’s condition continued to worsen.
“Lucy never gained her mobility or speech,” said Maria. “We saw her slipping away from us,” her mom said. “That’s how aggressive DIPG can be.”
Maria now understands that most families have never heard of this childhood cancer. She said the deadly disease affects a mere 300/400 children per year in the United States, making it statistically insignificant and extremely rare and deadly.”
Without warning, Lucy, the athlete, lay trapped in a world that afforded her no mobility and severely limited her ability to communicate. Yet, Lucy remained at peace, she was courageous and relatively upbeat as this horrible disease took its toll.
Lucy never gave up.
“We’ve seen Lucy push through her physical therapy as she tried to regain strength in her body, endure countless numbers of MRIs and medicines, and all with an insurmountable amount of resilience, style and grace,” said her parents.
In addition to the loving support of her entire family, her BFF Hailey stayed with her throughout the entire ordeal. “It’s hard to talk about this sometimes but I work through it,” Hailey said.
“I sat by her the entire time. I would go to her house and climb in her hospital bed and just lay with her. We always used to watch food eating A.S.M.R. and MukBangs. It was Lucy’s favorite thing to watch, and we would also watch movies,” said Hailey.
“We used to communicate using a plastic chart with letters and she would point to the letter and spell the word. I got to join her in her music therapy. We laughed so much. The best part was getting to make slime with Lucy. She had a huge slime shop. We would create different kinds of slime.”
For Hailey, “it was scary not knowing what was going to happen next, but you just had to live your everyday life,” she said.
“I’m glad I got to go along with her on her journey of life,” she said.
Although her parents knew there was “zero chance” of survival, Maria said Lucy realized only a few days before she died that her time had come.
“She was shocked,” her mom said, “but Lucy bravely said she was ready and wanted to be with her Lord.” Lucy always enjoyed a very strong faith.
Less than a year from the softball field and practicing flag-football, Lil’ Lucille “Lucy” Polanco took her last breath. Lucy gained her beautiful angel wings on Sept. 30, 2020.
DIPG took her life, but Lucy’s spirit prevailed and her legacy endures.
“I know Lucy’s mission on earth was bigger than any of us can understand,” said Maria. “It breaks my heart tremendously not having her,” she said, adding that “our lives will never be the same, but I also understand that her mission is not over.”
According to the family, Lucy’s last wish was for her family to raise awareness about this childhood cancer so in the future, there would hopefully be fewer DIPG warriors like her.
“Lucy also wanted us to continue to make slime for kids battling cancer, she loved slime so much she started her own slime shop while she was sick,” her mom said.
Maria and her husband, Hector, Sr. have started a nonprofit foundation named after her slime shop named “Lucy’s Lil’ Korn Slime Foundation.”
Since her death, the Polanco family said they have learned that this killer form of cancer (DIPG),

Local dancers appear in Segerstrom Center’s production of Nutcracker ballet

For Event-News Enterprise
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Local dancers appear in Segerstrom Center’s production of Nutcracker ballet

Three local dancers are performed in the ABT Christman spectacle “The Nutcracker” on stage at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. The last production was Dec. 19.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts recently presented its popular tradition – American Ballet Theatre’s captivating production of The Nutcracker. Co-presented by the Center and ABT with choreography by ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky, The Nutcracker is the beloved holiday story based on The Nutcracker and the King of Mice written by E.T.A. Hoffmann and set to a magical score by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky
The local dancers appearing are Ashley Sisneros and Indiana Foley, both of Cypress and Samara Singh, of La Palma, according to a SCFTA spokesperson.
All three are among were selected from among more than 250 studentsl students at The American Ballet Theater’s William J. Gillespie School at Segerstom. ABT school at SCFTA, they said.
With choreography by ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky, The Nutcracker is the beloved holiday story based on The Nutcracker and the King of Mice written by E.T.A. Hoffmann and set to a magical score by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky.
In its annual holiday engagement, American Ballet Theatre will gave 12 performances between 2021 in Segerstrom Hall. This year marks the 6th time that The Center has presented ABT’s The Nutcracker, Southern California’s grandest production of this beloved holiday tradition. This Nutcracker features ABT’s international all-star cast.
American Ballet Theatre has a long, storied history of producing several critically acclaimed productions of this annual family- friendly classic tale of Clara and the Nutcracker over the years (previous versions were by Mikhail Baryshnikov and ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie). The Nutcracker, with its timeless music by Tchaikovsky and fairytale costumes and exotic dances, is the perfect way to introduce children to dance and even inspire them to study dance and become a little Clara or Nutcracker Prince.
Scenery and costumes for The Nutcracker are by Tony Award® winning designer Richard Hudson (Disney’s The Lion King). Lighting for the production is by Tony Award® winner Jennifer Tipton.
The Los Angeles Times said, “Choreographer Alexei Ratmansky has made his own Christmas miracle: a joyful “Nutcracker” ballet that is ravishing and clever enough to inspire multiple viewings … in ‘Waltz of the Flowers,’ Busby Berkeley-esque waves of complex human patterns make this waltz one of the most astounding and beautiful you’ll ever see … in all its wondrousness, an unreserved classic.
The Orange County Register said, “A visual tour de force … a Nutcracker without parallel … Ratmansky is an undisputed master; few choreographers combine his qualities of invention, wit, pacing and theatricality … Ratmansky has created a work that celebrates the wonder and transformative power of live performance.”
The New York Times said, “Mr. Ratmansky here is an enchanting storyteller, but his is among the most original, fascinating for children and adults alike. A production like no other, made with complete theatrical authority from first to last.”
“It makes me feel like one day I can be like Baryshnikov and be known by lots of people and have a great dancing career,” said Foley.
Indiana Danger Foley has been dancing since he could walk. He made his stage debut at just three days old when his mother, a dance teacher, carried him on stage for the bows at the end of the annual recital. Indiana has grown up at Pacific Dance in Irvine, CA and enjoys various genres of dance. From tap to hip hop, ballet to jazz and everything in between.
If he is not dancing on stage at competitions he’s dancing around the house, grocery store aisles and in his chair at school. Indiana also enjoys video games, movies and origami. Indiana has loved making friends with his other castmates, especially the boys because BOYS DANCE TOO! He is super pumped to be making his debut with American Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker and hopes that this will only be the beginning. His goal is to be the next Baryshnikov.

Raytheon distributes toys and gifts to military families in Los Al

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Raytheon distributes toys and gifts to military families in Los Al

With military families often relocating throughout the year, and operating on a tight budget, the holiday season can be a time of uncertainty for the families that keep our nation safe.
Raytheon Intelligence & Space is proud to partner with Operation Homefront this holiday season to provide meals, toys and gift cards to active-duty military service members and their families across Southern California, North Texas, Colorado and Washington D.C., said Michelle Styczynski-Hamblin, Vice President, F-15 Radar Programs, Raytheon Intelligence & Space.
She said Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Operation Homefront came together last week to distribute gift cards, toys and other holiday essentials to 64 local military families in need.
Through its partnership with Operation Homefront’s Holiday Meals for Military Families program, RI&S hosted a gift card and toy drive to support military families in need.
The local event was held at the American Legion Post 718 in Los Alamitos, she noted.
During the event, RI&S volunteers packed gift cards, toys and other goods into the cars of local families. In tandem with these local events, Raytheon is hosting a nation-wide donation campaign to raise additional funds for the U.S. military community.
According to Styczynski-Hamblin, Raytheon’s holiday food drives and corresponding donation campaign raised nearly $75,000 last year – and the team is on track to exceed that number in 2021.
“For many Americans, the holidays are about coming together, sharing a special meal, and making memories. However, our military families are often far from their loved ones and, with tight budgets, are unable to gather for the holidays,” she said.
On December 2, RI&S volunteers helped provide 64 military families in Southern California with healthy holiday meals and toys.
Community members are invited to join RI&S in supporting local service members and their families by volunteering with their local Operation Homefront Reserve Corp and making in-kind or monetary donations. To find your local Reserve Corp, visit https://operationhomefront.org/volunteer/. To make a monetary donation, please visit https://operationhomefront.org/donate/raytheon-provides-holiday-meals/ or https://operationhomefront.org/donate/raytheon-provides-toys/.

Local businesswoman transforms words into art

David N. Young
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Local businesswoman transforms words into art

For a businesswoman who never went to art school, Michelle Boos-Strong has a talent that produces work so profound it sometimes eclipses the work of her clients.

Hers is a talent able to produce, in real-time, key words and images drawn onto large post-it boards, that become sort of like Cliff Notes for the brain.

As speakers deliver complex messages to audiences, conventions and the like, Boos-Strong stands on the sidelines to create her colored magic. Quickly, she listens then weaves her colored markers in a symphonic progression to capture the essential images designed to allow listeners to remember the message.

In more than two decades, this Long Beach businesswoman has developed a global consulting firm and amazes people at large meetings by distilling what speakers are saying and displaying those words in artistic form that prompts inspiration and memory.

“It frankly surprises everyone who sees my work to know I don’t have an art background,” said Michelle Boos-Strong. “I went to business school, and I have had a very successful global business strategy consulting firm for 26+ years,” she said.

On the fly, Boos-Stone can interpret, deduct, and illustrate words and phrases into interesting images that demand attention and generally, communicate in brief what the speaker has just said in many more words.

Boos-Strong was back at the boards recently as Los Alamitos Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Andrew Pulver spoke to a packed ballroom for the LAEF Annual “State of the District” address.

An example of her work from the recent LAUSD State of the District event.
Photo by Jeannette Andruss.

For instance, when Pulver says “it starts with a dream,” and expounds on the idea, Boos-Strong quickly sketches a green text balloon then adds the “… it starts with a” in all small capital letters, written in red, then makes the word DREAM super large, across the text balloon and highlights it with shadow.

As the speech went on, she listened intently then found a new place on the board for the next major theme, illustrated with info bullets, highlighted in yellow, that boldly outlined district priorities.

And so it goes.

“Michelle is incredibly talented, and we have loved having her share her skills with us by graphic recording the State of the District address,” said Carrie Logue, Executive Director of LAEF.

She said Boos-Strong has served on the LAEF board of directors and her marketing talents “really helped bring LAEF to the next level.”

“Her personality is as big and beautiful as her artwork,” said Logue, “adding that her giving heart and huge sense of humor shine through in every interaction.”

For Boos-Strong, her talent was simply a way to remember her homework.

“When I was a kid in school, I couldn’t remember anything I heard without drawing a picture of it, so I would get in trouble because all of my notes had drawings in the margins,” said Boos-Strong.

“I thought I had a learning disability,” she said.

“Later on, in college, no one cared, so all of my notes were images and key words to help me study,” she remembers.

“Then, I started working at a management consulting firm in Boston in the 90s, and I would be in big meetings, and I’d start taking my notes in pictures,” she said.
Boos-Strong said she was surprised when “everyone wanted a copy” of her notes.

So, she decided to go full sheet.

“I then moved to drawing on flipchart paper, and then to large 4’ x 8’ pieces of paper,” and a one-woman industry of “graphic recording” was born.

She does admit that her business training, which always made her focus on what is most important, has played a role in developing this craft.

“The images I draw are basic,” says Boos-Strong, “but they trigger your brain to REMEMBER the important points. I’m listening for the most important SENTENCE in the paragraph of what someone is saying…not the whole paragraph,” she says.

Boos-Strong says her practice is termed “graphic recording,” which she describes as “to listen intently and distill down all the paragraphs into sets of powerful images with key words around them.”

Her goal is to have the audience see a large image and remember the conversation around that image in their mind.

In the past two decades, her unique powers of distillation and deduction have taken her all over the USA, Europe, and Asia.

“During a normal, pre-Covid year, I do graphic recording at events all over the world. About 50% of the time,” she said, “I design and facilitate a meeting and bring one of my graphic recorders I’ve trained with me, but I enjoy doing the graphic recording myself, because I’m also learning about the topic as I’m recording it on paper.”

“I love learning,” she said.

In places where English is indeed a second language, her work is especially popular.

“I work in Europe and Asia a lot, where it’s especially powerful for attendees at meetings to SEE the content on paper in order to UNDERSTAND it, when English is often a 2nd language,” she said.

Her company is named Five Element Consulting, which she says represents wind, water, fire, earth and metal. Boos-Strong says her overall mission is to facilitate a better understanding our own behaviors.

“The intent of my consulting work is to better understand people, and our own behavior, and that knowledge can simplify how we operate together in business relationships,” says Boos-Strong.

Always the light heart, this humble scribe has aided many modern American luminaries in communicating their message to huge audiences.

“I love listening to talented, amazing people doing incredible things all over the world,” she said, “and I’m learning from each and every one of them.”

“I’ve graphic recorded for some outstanding speakers over the years, such as Jane Goodall, Gene Kranz, Gloria Steinem, Madeline Albright, President Bill Clinton, Arianna Huffington, and Peter Drucker, just to name a few,” she said.

It still amuses her that her childhood habits have blossomed so much and vaulted her into a worldwide career. Boos-Strong says she is still fulfilled by the “interaction” she has with people in these settings.

Generally, she says, the light bulb moment comes “when they see that I’m helping them see what they are hearing.”

“My extroverted self loves this work,” she said, “which grows my heart bigger and my mind wider.”

“I can’t sing, and I can’t dance. I don’t bake well. But I’m really, really, great at this,” says Boos-Strong, “and I absolutely love doing it.”

Charter school founded by former LAUSD Trustee seeks countywide status

Jeannette Andruss
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Charter school founded by former LAUSD Trustee seeks countywide status

Orange County Classical Academy (OCCA), a TK-6 charter school in the Orange Unified School District that opened in 2020 is seeking to expand across Orange County.

On Dec. 1, OCCA staff presented a petition to the Orange County Board of Education (OCBE) seeking to become a Countywide Benefit Charter. If granted, OCCA would be able to open sites in multiple school districts across Orange County.

Out of 37 charter schools in O.C., four have countywide status, according to Ian Hanigan, spokesperson for the Orange County Department of Education. Charter schools are taxpayer-funded schools that can operate independently in terms of some curriculum but must meet California’s education standards and are subject to local oversight.

“We’ve got over 1,000 people on our waiting list,” the school’s co-founder and current Chair of its Board of Directors, Jeff Barke, M.D. said in a phone interview last month. The Rossmoor resident also served on the Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Education for twelve years before losing a re-election race in 2018.

His spouse, Mari Barke, is the current President of the OCBE.

As expected, at the OCBE’s Dec. 1 meeting, President Barke recused herself from all discussions and votes regarding OCCA’s petition.

In a statement released before the meeting she wrote:

“Although neither I nor my husband, who is a member of the Board of Directors for the school, have any personal financial interest or potential for personal financial gain from the granting of the petition, I will recuse myself from all discussion, comments, and votes concerning the School.  I do this to avoid any appearance of impropriety, and because of the common law prohibition against conflicts of interest which may be non-financial matters of personal interest.”

It’s not the first time the couple has been connected over an issue on a public meeting agenda. Dr. Barke is currently President of the Rossmoor Community Services District. In June, as President he backed bringing Orange County Board of Education-sponsored public forums on Ethnic Studies and Critical Race Theory to Rossmoor. OCBE ended up pulling its request to use a Rossmoor facility for the forums amid pushback from some residents over safety concerns and an estimated $96,000 in security costs.

Mrs. Barke is also a staff member at the California Policy Center, a think tank that is pro-charter school. Mark Bucher, who is on the Center’s Board of Directors, co-founded Orange County Classical Academy with Dr. Barke.

OCCA Presents at Meeting

At the Dec. 1 meeting the school’s Headmaster Semi Park, its legal counsel, a student and others spoke on OCCA’s behalf.

“Our mission and vision is very unique in that we believe in developing students in mind and character through a classical content rich Liberal Arts and Sciences curriculum that emphasizes the principles of scholarship, moral character and civic virtue,” Park said.

OCCA bills itself as the county’s only tuition-free “Classical Education charter school.” It’s the only school in California that utilizes a charter school program from Hillsdale College, which describes itself as a “small, Christian, classical liberal arts college” in Michigan. OCCA states on its website and in its petition that it is nonsectarian.

According to its petition, starting in fourth grade, OCCA students are taught Latin and the program uses six pillars of character education including responsibility, respect, courage, courtesy, honesty and citizenship.

During public comment at the Dec. 1 OCBE meeting, many parents praised OCCA’s focus. One mother of three children said she couldn’t afford private school and OCCA was her next best option because it aligned with her family’s values.

“The last I checked we do live in a free country. It’s the United States of America and as parent, we should have the ability to choose the best school possible without having to worry about the money,” she said.

Park outlined OCCA’s 1,000 person wait/interest list in her presentation, which includes more than 500 students that live outside of Orange Unified, according to its petition.

OCCA’s current campus in Orange accommodates 450 students but the academy plans to add grades 7th and 8th next year and go all the way through 12th grade in the coming years with a population of roughly 2,000 students, according to its petition.

One speaker urging denial of OCCA’s petition at the Dec. 1 meeting was Sukhi Ahluwalia, counsel for Placentia-Yorba Linda School District and Huntington Beach City School District, two districts OCCA has identified as possible locations for expansion.

“The fact that there are interested families does not meet the high and specific standards for a countywide charter. Rather, it argues in favor of OCCA seeking to expand its current school, add or submit one or more charter petitions to other school districts in order to expand operation,” Ahluwalia said.

The other two districts being looked at are Huntington Beach Union High School District and Capistrano Unified.

Dr. Barke said the districts were selected based in part on the wait/interest list but added, “That’s not to say we won’t look elsewhere.”

The petition states, OCCA “as a single countywide Orange County benefit charter, would be able to leverage its existing resources, capital, and reputation to expand into new locations within Orange County.”

“It’s a very difficult, arduous, time-consuming and very expensive process to put a petition before a school board,” Dr. Barke said. He recalled challenges when OCCA petitioned the Orange Unified School District Board of Education.

The process culminated in a meeting in late 2019 that lasted until after 1:30a.m. with comments from supporters and opponents. Trustees ended up voting 4-3 to approve the charter school.“We won’t know the total cost for another few months, when the process is done,” OCCA Board Treasurer Jean Judge wrote in an email message last month.

Judge said the school chose this route believing the benefits will outweigh the costs in the long run. “In other words, the opportunity costs of not submitting the petition was too high,” she said.

Path to Countywide Status

According to its website, the Orange County Board of Education “may only approve a countywide charter school if it finds, in addition to other requirements, that the educational services provided by the charter school will serve a pupil population that will benefit from those services and cannot be served as well by a charter school operating in only one school district in the county.”

Right now, four charter schools have this status: Samueli Academy, Orange County Workforce Innovation High, Scholarship Prep Orange County and Explore Academy.

Explore Academy received the status in October. The OCBE approved its petition by a vote of 4-1, going against the recommendation from the OCDE to deny the petition. First District trustee Rebecca “Beckie” Gomez was the lone vote against approval.

The Orange County Department of Education’s Charter Unit will now review OCCA’s petition. On January 18, 2022, the OCDE is due to issue its official recommendation on whether to approve or deny the petition. The OCBE will hold a public hearing and vote on Feb. 2, 2022. At least three trustees must vote in favor for approval.

In an email after the Dec. 1 presentation, Dr. Barke appeared optimistic. “We feel very good – confident that our charter petition will be approved on our merits.”

Appointee Could Impact Decision

With Mrs. Barke’s recusal, one thing that could impact the fate of OCCA’s petition is who ends up being appointed to fill the current vacancy on the OCBE.

Last month, 4th District trustee Tim Shaw resigned from his post representing Buena Park, Fullerton, Placentia and parts of Anaheim. The OCBE is currently accepting applications from people seeking appointment to serve out Shaw’s term through June 2022. The application deadline was extended to Dec. 17 after only one person who doesn’t live in the district submitted an application, according to OCDE spokesperson Ian Hanigan.

Shaw’s replacement is due to be appointed Dec. 21.

For more local education news, sign up for the Spotlight Schools weekly email newsletter at SpotlightSchools.com.

 

Los Al officially approves Universal Waste, adopts organic waste program

David N. Young
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Los Al officially approves Universal Waste, adopts organic waste program

The City of Los Alamitos has passed its organic waste recycling and recovery plan at cost to residents nearly 30 percent lower than in nearby communities.

Although there was a bit of the dust-up when the Council decided to switch from Republic Services to Universal Waste of Los Angeles, the Council voted 5-0 at their most recent meeting in November to approve their organic waste plan.

Following a brief presentation by Development Services Director Ron Noda, the Council approved the measure, capping a year-long process of selecting a new waste hauler and finally, implementing a plan to satisfy the mandates of Senate Bill 1383.

Noda said the city hired waste management consultant Mike Balliet to work with the analysis staff. Without hesitation, Noda said he was confident that the switch to Universal was “the best choice for Los Alamitos at this time.”

“The new waste hauler contract between the City of Los Alamitos and Universal provides the same level of service and in some cases enhanced services for our residents and businesses,” said Mayor Mark Chirco.

“At the same time, Los Alamitos businesses and residents will be paying a very favorable rate with the residential service being the lowest or among the lowest in all of Orange County,” he said.

“Los Alamitos residents will end up saving millions of dollars over the life of the contract when compared to some of the other waste hauler options,” said Chirco.

Although there was significant public support for Republic Services during the process, Chirco said then that the Council could not overlook the potential savings of $12 million offered by the new agreement with Universal.

“I have confidence in city staff,” Chirco said then. “I trust that they have evaluated, what is the source for that low price, and all other factors.” he said.

At the meeting this past week, Noda said Los Alamitos is now ahead of the schedule to meet the mandates of the new state regulations.

The state legislation, which Noda termed a “mandate from Sacramento,” requires municipalities to implement new rules of handling organic wastes by 2022.

“Those requirements include providing organic waste recycling to all residents and businesses,” he said.

In addition, Noda said city staff has been working very closely with Universal Waste, which assumes control of the waste pickup in Los Alamitos January 1, to ensure a smooth launch of the organic waste program.

Noda said the city was ready to implement an edible food program by working with local nonprofit Food Finders, and that they are prepared to conduct outreach and education to all affected parties.

“I want to report that we are on track to meet a lot of the mandates and compliance before the dates,” said Noda. “We are doing what we need to do,” he added.

“Results like this don’t just happen,” said city manager Chet Simmons.

“The Mayor and City Council were very deliberate about their goals and objectives for this contract and what they wanted to achieve for Los Alamitos residents and businesses,” he said.

Taking that direction, the staff was able to craft a process that ensured not only transparency, but also resulted in Los Alamitos enjoying the lowest waste hauler rate in Orange County, the city manager said.

Referring to the organic waste mandate, Council member Ron Bates said he wanted to make sure city taxpayers understood this was another unfunded state mandate.

“Let’s be sure the residents understand this,” said Council member Ron Bates. “This is typical of the state,” said Bates, “the state mandates stuff on cities, and provides zero, zero funding to do this.”

“So what happens is that the [waste hauler] contracts increase over time to pay for this,” said Bates.

“Let’s be clear, this is a state mandate, not that it is not a good idea, but we’re paying for it as local residents,” said Bates, making sure residents knew their waste bills were going up because the state is requiring communities to comply with new organic waste recycling rules.

Upon Noda’s team recommendation, the Los Al council voted last month to accept a lower bid proposal from Universal Waste, despite a last-minute lobbying onslaught trying to save a waste contract for its current contractor, Republic Services.

While many local businesses spoke in favor of Republic, four council members were convinced the proposed cost savings to taxpayers was worth the change and transition.
On a motion by Council member Ron Bates, the Council voted 4 – 1 to award a contract to Universal Waste Systems, Inc., based in Los Angeles, to provide waste disposal and recovery services to the city for the next seven years.

Incoming Mayor Shelley Hasselbrink said she voted against the motion because she wanted more time to explore the city’s options.

The vote to approve the final agreement with Universal last week at their most recent meeting, however, was unanimous.

“We won’t let you down,” said Mark Blackburn, President of Universal Waste Systems, Inc., upon his initial approval.

Rossmoor celebrates WinterFest with food, fun, music and more

David N. Young
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Rossmoor celebrates WinterFest with food, fun, music and more

The Rossmoor Community celebrated the holidays on Saturday by lighting its Christmas tree, allowing children to have fun and dancing to Christmas music provided by the Bierman Brothers.

Lighting the Rossmoor Christmas tree (L-R), Manual Chavez, County of Orange, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, Joe Mendoza, General Manager of the Rossmoor Community Services District, Santa Claus, RCSD Director Tony DeMarco, Assemblywoman Janet Nguyen, her son Tommy, and RCSD Director Jeffrey Rips. RCSD Director Mark Nitikman was present but not pictured. RCSD officials said they were “overjoyed” with this year’s Winterfest.
photo by dny

Three members of the Rossmoor Community Services District were joined by General Manager Joe Mendoza, Orange County 2nd District Supervisor Katrina Foley and Assemblywoman Janet Nguyen and hundreds of residents from the large community for their annual Rossmoor WinterFest.

RCSD First Vice President Tony DeMarco acted as Master of Ceremonies for the brief presentations before the actual lighting of the Christmas tree.

DeMarco thanked Jo Shade of the Rossmoor Homeowners Association for coordinating a cadre of local talent from My Art, Hopkinson Elementary, Lee Elementary, Polynesian Academy and others who provided a variety of song and dance performances.

Directors Mark Nitikman and Jeffrey Rips also attended the event.
Rips thanked directors Nathan Searles and Board President Jeffrey Barke, neither of whom were able to attend.

Rips thanked Foley for being a ‘generous’ sponsor of the event. “She has been a friend and advocate to Rossmoor in so many ways,” he said.

Foley, ironically, will begin representing a new OC Supervisory District that does not include Rossmoor beginning January 8. Nevertheless, Foley said “I’ll always be around to help.”

Kids, parents with Santa.
photo by dny

Another of Foley’s accomplishments for Rossmoor was additional funding and other changes that provides for a brand-new street sweeping schedule for Rossmoor, fixing a problem that residents say has plagued the community “for decades.”

“For the past eight months, I have loved getting to know the RCSD representatives,” said Foley. “They work so hard for you. And your General Manager, Joe (Mendoza), he is amazing,” said Foley.

A boy feeds a horse at the Rossmoor WinterFest.
photo by dny

“What a great community you have here,” she said. She said all residents of Rossmoor at least 65-years-old would be eligible to receive a $200 gift card to “help you through the holidays.”

 

 

 

 

RCSD General Manager Joe Mendoza, left, and Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, right, highlight the new street sweeping agreement by standing in front of a street sweeping truck.
photo by dny

Foley said she is also conducting her 13th annual Coats for Kids drive to donate coats to the Boys and Girls Club of Orange County.

“And I will always be here to help if you need anything. My door is always open, and you can call and we’re here to serve. Thank you and have a wonderful holiday season and Merry Christmas,” said Foley.

“Happy holidays. Are you excited? I’m just so excited to be here tonight,” said Nguyen. “It’s so exciting to be here. And I want to make sure that you stay safe whether you’re staying in town, or you’re traveling,” said Nguyen wishing the community happy holidays.

DeMarco also thanked Foley and Mendoza for working out a new street sweeping deal. “It was a heavy lift,” said DeMarco, “so we brought our new street sweeping truck.”

Beginning January 3, Rossmoor will have a new schedule of street sweeping that will bring convenience to residents and they had a brand-new street sweeping truck almost under the Rossmoor tree to remind residents of the accomplishment.

“That’s big news if you live in Rossmoor,” said DeMarco, so thanks to our Supervisor Foley and Joe Mendoza, who had a big role, but we [at RCSD] finally got it accomplished,” he said.

Petting the goat.
photo by dny

Elite Special Events kept the kids busy and the adults fed. The kids had a number of special attractions, including a petting zoo, a frozen snow sleigh ride, sitting on Santa’s lap and much more. The many food trucks lined up on nearby streets and DeMarco thanked them for allowing them to do so.

Then they counted down the tree lighting and flipped the switch to light the three. “It works every time,” said DeMarco. “Happy Holidays Rossmoor,” he added, “now go have some fun.”

Sean Bierman, left, and Chad Bierman, right, entertain at Rossmoor.
photo by dny

The Bierman Brothers, a popular local band, then serenaded the group with Christmas songs and other hits as the Rossmoor Winter Festival closed for 2021 and the holidays officially were underway.

Rossmoor Woman’s Club holds 2021 Holiday Bazaar

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Rossmoor Woman’s Club holds 2021 Holiday Bazaar

Santa was on hand to spread cheer at the recent Rossmoor Woman’s Club Holiday Bazaar. Adults and children alike took free selfies with the Jolly Old Elf (who appeared courtesy of Team Chamberlain Realty).

Courtesy photo
Patricia Morales, left, Janie Bruce and Beverly Rigney pause next to a Merry Christmas flag that was part of a raffle basket donated by Los Alamitos shop Flags with a Flair.

Shoppers browsed the wares at more than 35 vendor booths, bought tickets for raffle baskets worth up to $1,000 and bid on three-feet-tall Christmas trees professionally decorated by Green Street Interiors, Aegean Design Studio, Tarlton Designs, Jennifer Lathrop of Pampered Chef and floral designer Darrell Poper.

Net proceeds are still being tallied and will be used to fund college scholarships for Los Alamitos High School students and to support local charities including We Care, The Youth Center, Bikers Against Child Abuse, Precious Life Shelter, St. Isidore Community Center, Fix Long Beach and more. Thanks to everyone who attended.

Ceremonial groundbreaking for long-awaited OC Veteran’s Cemetery

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Ceremonial groundbreaking for long-awaited OC Veteran’s Cemetery

After nearly a decade of debate, the Orange County Board of Supervisors, with bipartisan support from local, state, and federal representatives, celebrated the flagpole groundbreaking at the Veterans Cemetery site in Anaheim Hills.

According to a press release from Supervisor Don Wagner’s office, more than 150 Orange County veterans representing various groups attended to show their support. The site is over 280 acres, located off the Gypsum Canyon exit in Anaheim Hills.

In addition, he said that representatives of all 34 cities in Orange County were in attendance as well.

Along with the flagpole groundbreaking, veterans presented a 60’X30’ American flag, which will publicly mark the future home for Orange County’s first-ever Veterans Cemetery.

Supervisor Donald P. Wagner, Third District led the bipartisan event including the entire Orange County Board of Supervisors, Assemblymember Steven Choi, District Attorney Todd Spitzer, the Orange County Cemetery District, representatives from all 34 OC cities and our veteran community.

The event involved special guests, including an invocation led by Elaine Brattain, Chaplain of the American Gold Star Mothers, a presentation of colors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9934, Pledge of Allegiance by Bobby McDonald of the Orange County Veterans Advisory Council and a poem read by Bill Cook, Chairman of Orange County Veterans Memorial Park.

“Today is a monumental day in Orange County history, as we break ground on behalf of over 100,000 OC Veterans and for our entire County. The men and women who served our great country deserve a dignified burial spot,” said Wagner.

“I am grateful we have strong bipartisan support from the local, state, and federal levels. Building a local cemetery for our hometown heroes is the right thing to do, and though it is long overdue, the right time is now,” he said.

Supervisor Katrina Foley, who currently represents most of the area, said “I am so proud of the effort to finally bring a Veterans Cemetery to Orange County. Armed Service members deserve to have a final resting place,” she said.

“Our County remains committed to serving our Veterans by providing permanent supportive housing, more access to mental health services that address emerging issues such as increased suicides and assisting our Veterans as they return to the workforce. It is the least we can do.”

Chairman Andrew Do, First District, who could soon represent the area under redistricting, if and when the current district maps are implemented, said “in Orange County, tens of thousands of refugees like myself, other immigrants, and our children now enjoy our rights as Americans because of the sacrifices made on our behalf by U.S. armed forces.”

“We hold a special duty to honor their bravery, sacrifice, and service. It is only fitting to offer our veterans a proper resting place in our county. And no better location than the Gypsum Canyon Site in Anaheim,” he said.

“Our veterans sacrificed everything to fight for us and protect the freedoms we hold so dear and we have to continue to fight for them,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “It is an honor to stand here today – side by side with the Veterans Alliance of Orange County (VALOR) as they finally declare victory over the political gridlock that has stalled this project for far too long.”

Slow Down Andy wins Los Alamitos Race Course Futurity; Sherman honored

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Slow Down Andy wins Los Alamitos Race Course Futurity; Sherman honored

A suggestion made by owner J. Paul Reddam paid big dividends Saturday at Los Alamitos.
Rather than run in the $100,000 King Glorious Stakes Sunday, an ungraded event restricted to 2-year-olds bred or sired in California, Reddam wanted to try the Grade II, $300,000 Los Alamitos Futurity with his homebred Slow Down Andy.

Making his first start against open company and first beyond seven furlongs, the son of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist was up to the challenge, upsetting heavily-favored Messier under jockey Mario Gutierrez.

Reserved off the pace set by longshot Olympic Legend and stablemate Durante, Slow Down Andy, who is trained by Doug O’Neill, took over the lead early in the stretch, surrendered it to Messier, the 1-2 choice, when he lugged in, but regained his momentum and went on to win by one length. He completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.33.

Out of the Square Eddie mare Edwina E, Slow Down Andy ended Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s stranglehold on the Futurity. Baffert had won all seven of renewals at Los Alamitos since daytime thoroughbred racing returned in 2014.

The 5-1 third choice in the field of five, Slow Down Andy returned $12.40 and $3.40. There was no show wagering. Messier, who had won his two previous races by a combined 10 lengths, paid $2.10 while finishing nine lengths clear of stablemate Barossa. Durante and Olympic Legend completed the order of finish.

The victory was worth $180,000 and increased Slow Down Andy’s earnings to $249,850. He graduated first time out at 5 ½ furlongs Oct. 9 at Santa Anita before finishing second as the favorite in the Golden State Juvenile last month at Del Mar.

“He’s showed us from the beginning he’s a nice horse,’’ said Reddam. “I suggested we run in here. I think everybody thought I was nuts, but they didn’t have the nerve to say so.’’
O’Neill, who missed winning the 2020 Futurity by a nose with 33-1 shot The Great One, admitted he would have chosen the King Glorious for Slow Down Andy’s third career start rather than the Futurity.

“One hundred percent that’s what I would have done,’’ he said. “This was strictly Paul wanting to take a chance and having faith in Slow Down Andy and thank God he did.

“We figured (Durante, who finished fourth) would show speed and being in post five with Slow Down Andy we hoped (Gutierrez) would get good position and ride his race.

“Down the stretch it looked like we had it, then we didn’t and then we did, so it was very exciting.

“He doesn’t really remind me of Nyquist. This horse has a lot of different gears and Nyquist was just a beast, so precocious. This horse is pretty calm and more mentally versatile at this stage than Nyquist ever was.’’

Although Baffert failed to win the Futurity for the first time since fellow Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer took the final running at Hollywood Park with Shared Belief in 2013, he did win three races Saturday at Los Alamitos. He took the fifth with Under the Stars, the seventh with Essential Wager and the eighth with first time starter Doppelganger.

Entering the final day of the Winter meet, Baffert tops the standings with five wins. Kyle Frey leads the riders with six, one more than Flavien Prat, who was aboard all of Baffert’s winners Saturday, Abel Cedillo, Diego Herrera, Tyler Baze and Ricardo Ramirez.

Trainer Art Sherman saddled the last runner of his illustrious training career on Friday at Los Alamitos in Cypress, Calif. Unfortunately, he didn’t add to his 2,261 career wins as Chasing Alchemy, a 9-1 shot in the $50,000 maiden claimer for 2-year-olds, finished seventh under jockey Wayne Barnett.

Sherman, 84, was honored in a winner’s circle ceremony after the race. Best known for training two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome (2014, 2016), Sherman finished with more than $45 million in stable earnings. His first starter was Lady Lenda, who finished fourth in the seventh race at Golden Gate Fields April 4, 1979. Sherman’s first victory came later that year when Chase Me Round won a $8,500 allowance Sept. 25 at Bay Meadows.
Chasing Alchemy is a 2-year-old gelded son of California Chrome.

“I appreciate all (Los Alamitos president and chairman of the board) Doc (Edward) Allred has done for me,’’ said Sherman, who stabled California Chrome locally for most of his career after the closure of Hollywood Park in 2013. “We’ve been good friends for a lot of years. We’ve had a wonderful time. I love the people in Orange County. They’ve always been close to my heart and I’m going to miss them.

“I got lucky enough to win a Kentucky Derby which is every trainer’s dream and winning the (2016) Pacific Classic (at Del Mar) meant a whole lot to me. California Chrome was a once in a lifetime horse.’’

Raytheon distributes toys, gift cards to military families in Los Alamitos

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Raytheon distributes toys, gift cards to military families in Los Alamitos

With military families often relocating throughout the year, and operating on a tight budget, the holiday season can be a time of uncertainty for the families that keep our nation safe.
Raytheon Intelligence & Space is proud to partner with Operation Homefront this holiday season to provide meals, toys and gift cards to active-duty military service members and their families across Southern California, North Texas, Colorado and Washington D.C., said Michelle Styczynski-Hamblin, Vice President, F-15 Radar Programs, Raytheon Intelligence & Space.

Volunteers thank military service members for their service. Courtesy photo

She said Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Operation Homefront came together last week to distribute gift cards, toys and other holiday essentials to 64 local military families in need.

Through its partnership with Operation Homefront’s Holiday Meals for Military Families program, RI&S hosted a gift card and toy drive to support military families in need.
The local event was held at the American Legion Post 718 in Los Alamitos, she noted.
During the event, RI&S volunteers packed gift cards, toys and other goods into the cars of local families. In tandem with these local events, Raytheon is hosting a nation-wide donation campaign to raise additional funds for the U.S. military community.

According to Styczynski-Hamblin, Raytheon’s holiday food drives and corresponding donation campaign raised nearly $75,000 last year – and the team is on track to exceed that number in 2021.

Operation Homefront volunteers pass out toys and gift cards outside the Legion post. Courtesy photo

“For many Americans, the holidays are about coming together, sharing a special meal, and making memories. However, our military families are often far from their loved ones and, with tight budgets, are unable to gather for the holidays,” she said.

On December 2, RI&S volunteers helped provide 64 military families in Southern California with healthy holiday meals and toys.

Community members are invited to join RI&S in supporting local service members and their families by volunteering with their local Operation Homefront Reserve Corp and making in-kind or monetary donations. To find your local Reserve Corp, visit https://operationhomefront.org/volunteer/. To make a monetary donation, please visit https://operationhomefront.org/donate/raytheon-provides-holiday-meals/ or https://operationhomefront.org/donate/raytheon-provides-toys/.

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