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Kennedy High frosh capture Empire League Championship

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Kennedy High frosh capture Empire League Championship

The Kennedy High freshmen football team ended the season 10-0 and captured the Empire League Championship. The Fighting Irish closed out the season with a 20-7 win over Pacifica to complete their perfect season. With lost time to the COVID-19 shutdown and adapting to a new coaching staff, it has been a tough few years for the program. But the new coaching staff has proven to be a welcome addition and this year’s freshmen could be the start of the rebuilding process of the program. The players and coaches are pictured at Dairy Queen, where they celebrated with Blizzard treats.

Courtesy photo

West Orange Republicans provide services to Blind Rehabilitation Center

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During the West Orange County Republican Women Federated October meeting, held at a Seal Beach venue, members and guests decorated small pumpkins with material (both provided by the club) that could be felt as well as seen for blind and visually challenged veterans at the Blind Rehabilitation Center in Long Beach.

The center provides comprehensive vision rehabilitation services tailored to meet each veteran’s individual needs and goal. Instruction is provided largely on a one-to-one basis and is designed to assist the veteran in achieving a maximum level of independence.

A few days following the meeting, member Pat Windrim and her veteran husband Bob, an associate member, delivered the pumpkins along with bags of candy to the appreciative veterans. They read the many heartfelt messages written on the pumpkins. “The veterans along with those who work at the center were touched by the club’s kindness,” said Pat Windrim. “They kept thanking us, but Bob and I insisted that it is us who must always thank them, our veterans.”

To learn more about the organization and meet like-minded women and men, contact Saundra Stark at sk********@*******nk.net.

Veteran of the Week: Jim Myer

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Veteran of the Week: Jim Myer

Jim Myer

Served in Vietnam from 1969-1971.
The older picture of Jim in Vietnam was taken in Chu Lai after he had been hit by a grenade.

He was in the Army as a 11-B-20 infantry platoon sergeant.

He was an RTO (radio telephone operator)

Fun Fact about his time in Vietnam:

Jim and his medic friend were asked to do a what you call “smelly” jobs for the platoon.
After setting a fire and the smoke blowing back to the officer’s quarters. Let’s just say they weren’t assigned that task again.

To be featured in Veteran of the Week, veterans should call the Sun office at 562-430-7555, and arrange to pick up a star taken from a retired U.S. Flag. Then take a picture of yourself with the star and send it to us, preferably with a picture from your service days.

Menorah lighting to mark early Chanukah

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Menorah lighting to mark early Chanukah

Chanukah comes early this year for many Jewish residents. The annual outdoor menorah event in Seal Beach will be held on Sunday Nov 21st, one week before Chanukah, which starts on Nov. 28th. Hundreds are expected to attend the event that will feature a free outdoor concert and lighting of the 9-foot menorah.

“We need the light of Chanukah this year more than ever before.” Says Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, director of Chabad. “The menorah spreads the radiance of light, joy, and healing, as it publicly proclaims Chanukah’s timeless message of light’s victory over darkness.”
For over a decade, the Menorah at Seal Beach brings the warmth and spirit of Chanukah to the young and old of our community. This year’s live musical performance will include Los Al’s Xtreme choir and LA’s popular DJ EZZI.

Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, “festival of lights,” that is celebrated with menorah lightings, special prayers and fried foods. The community will be treated to the traditional Chanukah oil-fried donuts, as they serve as a reminder of the miracle that happened with oil.

The event is free and open to the public and paid for by Chabad (a local Jewish non-profit) and local sponsors. The event is held annually on the Sunday before Chanukah and this year it will be held on Sunday Nov. 21st at 5pm. For concert and program information visit www.SealBeachMenorah.com or call Chabad at 714-828-1851.

Schools get new playground equipment

Jeannette Andruss
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Schools get new playground equipment

New playground equipment is being installed at Lee Elementary School in Rossmoor. It’s one of three Los Alamitos Unified School District campuses getting a new playground. Weaver Elementary and Los Alamitos Elementary will also soon have new areas for children to play.

The playgrounds are being paid for through Measure G, a $97 million bond measure approved by voters in 2018. Measure G is also financing the construction of a multistory STEM building and a second gymnasium at Los Alamitos High School. Measure G money also paid for a new LAHS Aquatics Center that opened last year.

St. Isidore set to become American landmark

David N. Young
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St. Isidore set to become American landmark

St. Isidore Catholic Church in Los Alamitos is set to become an American landmark after the state’s Historical Resources Commission voted Friday to nominate the historical property, and 12 others, to be given “federal historic designation.”

St. Isidore was one of 13 properties approved by the commission Friday in a virtual meeting, state historical officials announced on their website.

Accordingly, “the property is associated with the early development of Los Alamitos as an agricultural community, specifically the Mexican immigrants who worked on the town’s farms and at the factory,” the Commission said.

Now, barring some unforeseen development, federal officials will likely approve the state’s nominees for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

“Placement on the National Register can help bring positive attention to a historic place and affords a property the honor of inclusion in the nation’s list of cultural resources worthy of preservation, state officials said.

“This can provide a degree of protection from adverse effects resulting from federally funded or licensed projects,” it adds.

“Registration also provides a number of incentives for preservation of historic properties, including special building codes to facilitate the restoration of historic structures, and certain tax advantages,” the commission said in the announcement.

In its historical description of the St. Isidore Catholic Church, the state said, “the chapel was rebuilt in 1933 after the original 1926 building suffered major earthquake damage.”

“The property is associated with the early development of Los Alamitos as an agricultural community organized around a large sugar beet processing factory and with the Latino community living in Los Alamitos, specifically the Mexican immigrants who worked on the town’s farms and at the factory,” it continued.

“As a religious property, St. Isidore meets the registration requirements for property types associated with Religion and Spirituality in Latino Culture in the ‘Latinos in Twentieth Century California Multiple Property Submission’,” the commission said.

According to local historian Larry Strawther, “I think it’s got to be very rewarding for the many people who have worked on this a long time. The St. Isidore’s parish was a vibrant center of local Catholic life for many years,” he said.

Strawther said in 1959 and 1960, issues of The Tidings, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, noted that the St. Isidore mission was “established in 1921 to serve workers on the Western Orange County farms, primarily owned by Belgians.”

It added that the original church, which opened in early 1926, was “erected entirely by volunteer labor of its Belgian and Mexican parishioners,” said Strawther, and that the first parish priests were “refugees from religious persecution in Mexico.”

In addition, he said there have been numerous newspaper articles that tell of the parish-sponsored events –socials welcoming new parish priests, celebrations of weddings, anniversaries, confirmations and first communions, and other events from Altar Society potluck dinners, fiestas, to Knights of Columbus Family Hours, held at the St. Isidore historical plaza.

There were twelve other properties added by the Commission. Here’s a brief review of those properties:

Christiansen and Grow Filling Station
Orange, Orange County
The 1928 filling station, built in a vernacular style that resembles Storybook Revival, is considered an example of programmatic architecture. The station is significant for its role in local transportation history, due to its location on Highway 101, and represents a significant example of a “house-type” gas station, designed to express a domestic quality and attract customers via its charming, whimsical appearance.

Commercial Club
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
The 13-story Renaissance Revival style hotel building was completed in 1926 in downtown Los Angeles. The property is nominated for its association with the Commercial Club, the social arm of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, and as a significant example of the work of the architectural firm Curlett and Beelman.

Floral Park Historic District
Santa Ana, Orange County
The district includes over 673 buildings in the Floral Park neighborhood of Santa Ana. These principally one-story single-family homes are designed in a mixture of early 20th century revival styles and midcentury styles. As a popular neighborhood among Santa Ana’s early political and business leaders, the district was home to many significant individuals, including some whose significance is directly associated with their Floral Park home.

Inspiration Heights Historic District
San Diego, San Diego County
The district is composed almost entirely of single-family residential buildings, located in the San Diego neighborhood of Mission Hills. Three stucco entrance pillars on Sunset Boulevard announce the district’s northern entrance and are original to the neighborhood’s 1909 subdivision. The district reflects city planning and urban design principles that prevailed at the turn of the 20th century and is an excellent, intact concentration of early 20th century Prairie School, Craftsman, and Period Revival architectural styles.

Marin Art and Garden Center
Ross, Marin County
The property is associated with the conservation legacy of the women’s garden club movement and is also an excellent example of the Bay Region Modern–Second Bay Tradition. The buildings retain the original modern lines, exposed structure, glass walls and wood panels characteristic of this period. Simple and low cost, they embody the modernist goals regarding informality, streamlined aesthetics and affordability, an approach particularly well suited to the limited means and public purpose of this center.

Arthur C. and Judith Mathews House
Atherton, San Mateo County
Constructed in 1952, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed, Usonian one-story house displays many of the elements common to Wright’s Usonian houses, laid out on a planning grid, or unit system. At the Mathews House, the unit system is based on an equilateral parallelogram, 4 feet on each side. The Mathews House exemplifies the Usonian houses Wright designed for the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the main regional areas of the architect’s work and is a fine example of the innovative construction systems Wright created for those houses.

Murer House and Gardens
Folsom, Sacramento County
Designed and built by Giuseppe “Joe” Murer as his personal residence between 1925 and 1927, the Murer House is a vernacular example of the Italian Renaissance Revival style of architecture, a miniature of the Italian Renaissance villas in the northern Italian countryside. As an informal gathering place and social center, the Murer House and associated gardens were integral to Folsom’s Italian community.

People’s Park
Berkeley, Alameda County
The former parking lot off Telegraph Avenue is where a community effort to turn the lot into a park became one of the most significant acts of public protest in the United States associated with student protests and countercultural activity. While most of the original features of the park were destroyed, the site became a symbol of 1960s counterculture. The recreated park, principally developed between 1969 and 1979, includes deliberate elements of landscape architecture intended to symbolize the different natural environments of California.

Northern California Doghole Ports Maritime Cultural Landscape Multiple Property Submission (MPS)
Multiple Locations, Mendocino and Sonoma Counties
The MPS documents the maritime landscape of the mid to late 19th and the early 20th centuries. Transporting coastal redwood timber by land to the San Francisco market could not be accomplished by land due to the lack of adequate roads and railroads. Although the rough northern coast featured few navigable ports, enterprising men engineered a unique solution of chutes and cable systems extending from the Sonoma and Mendocino Counties’ bluffs down into small coves, allowing lumber and produce to be transferred from cliffs above to waiting ships moored some distance from the rocky shore. Known regionally and colloquially as doghole ports, these remote ports were key to the logging industry for over 70 years.

Salt Point Landing Historical and Archaeological District (Doghole Ports MPS)
Jenner (vicinity), Sonoma County
The district encompasses 769 acres along the Sonoma County coast within Salt Point State Park and adjacent waters within the park, Gerstle Cove State Marine Reserve, and Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. The district includes the coastal terrace to the west, headlands surrounding Gerstle Cove, waters of Gerstle Cove and a portion of the forested slope heading east up to the ridgetop. The interrelated components of the timber industry and Salt Point community were dependent on the doghole port’s location and means to load vessels safely and efficiently. The district is associated with the California timber trade and maritime commerce through the use of the area as a doghole port and has yielded information important to the understanding of the doghole port network and its role in maritime trade.

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Amendment
San Francisco, San Francisco County; Oakland, Alameda County
Documentation amends the existing 2003 National Register nomination for the Bay Bridge following removal and replacement of the western span of the bridge, confirming that the bridge retains National Register eligibility and updating the resource count and other elements of the 2003 nomination.

Strand Theater
Merced, Merced County
Located in the central business district of downtown Merced, the theater was constructed in 1938. Known as the Mainzer Theater since 2001, the art deco and art moderne style theater and commercial building has been attributed to San Francisco architect Virgil W. Jorgensen and the Saleh Brothers construction company. With its planarity, symmetry, repetition and use of stepped forms, the building expresses its art deco style through its massing and treatment of volume. The art moderne influence—a style increasingly popular in late 1930s’ architecture, arts and graphic design—is expressed through the incorporation of rounded forms, flat massings and horizontal elements.
Notices and agendas for Commission meetings are available online 10 days before a meeting at www.parks.ca.gov/Commission. Inquiries and written comments on the agenda may also be emailed to the Office of Historic Preservation at ca*****@**********ca.gov or submitted via mail to Julianne Polanco, State Historic Preservation Officer at Office of Historic Preservation, P.O. Box 942896, Sacramento, CA 94296-0001.
General inquiries to the Commission are handled by Twila Willis-Hunter. She may be contacted via phone at (916) 445-7052 or at the same mailing address listed above.

After decades, Rossmoor finally gets a street sweeping fix

David N. Young
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After decades, Rossmoor finally gets a street sweeping fix

After decades of complaints about parking and street sweeping problems, the Rossmoor Community Services District will likely get relief.

The Rossmoor Community Services District approved a small increase in their public works budget at a special meeting this week to facilitate an agreement announced by 2nd district supervisor Katrina Foley.

Foley’s office released a statement in collaboration with Joe Mendoza, General Manager of the RCSD, “in response to the unanimous support by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to address the issue of total street parking closures during street sweeping in the unincorporated community of Rossmoor.”

Since taking office less than a year ago, Foley personally has been visible in the Rossmoor community, attending meetings and sending aides to work with the staff.
“After taking office in March of 2021 I learned that Rossmoor residents are currently forced to park outside their neighborhoods when street sweeping occurs due to total street parking closures”, said Foley in the statement.

“For many years community members asked that street sweeping occur on alternate days so they are not forced to park outside of their neighborhoods,” she said.

“I worked directly with the Rossmoor Community Services District and Orange County Public Works to finally find a solution. The Orange County Board of Supervisors recently approved funding to allow street sweepers to alternate streets,” she said.

“I will continue to partner with Rossmoor residents to address these important quality of life issues,” said Foley in the statement.

According to Mendoza, “for more than 30 years, residents have not had an alternative and were restricted from parking on all Rossmoor residential streets on street sweeping days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.”

“Supervisor Foley heard our concerns and initiated this schedule change to improve the quality of life for Rossmoor residents,” said Mendoza. “We are extremely grateful for her leadership and assistance,” he said in the joint statement.

The Rossmoor Community Services District Board of Directors would like to sincerely thank Supervisor Katrina Foley for representing Rossmoor residents by successfully leading the effort to change the street sweeping ordinance in Rossmoor to provide a schedule that is anticipated to provide significant parking relief to our approximately 10,500 residents and 3,500 homes, he said.

“By changing the street sweeping schedule to the first and third Mondays for the odd numbered addresses side of the street, and the even-numbered side of the street on the second and fourth Mondays, residents and visitors are provided with parking alternatives to avoid a parking violation ticket,” said Mendoza.

Mendoza told the board Tuesday that there will be some contractual changes required with the vendor, which he said may have to change with the new system. He expects to have everything resolved by November, he said.

To make it work, the street sweepers will now have some “dead-runs,” which means they will sometimes have to double back on the same streets they will have already cleaned to make the new schedule work.

“This is a good thing,” said Director Tony DeMarco, head of the RCSD Transportation Committee. “I agree with you that the quality of life is going to be vastly improved,” he said.

After a discussion that answered many questions and technical details from other directors, the RCSD Board unanimously approved a motion to give Mendoza the authority to move forward with the agreement and to authorize an additional $20,000, which will now be reimbursed by the county following Foley’s action.

Rossmoor residents are encouraged to reach out to Manuel Chavez, Supervisor Katrina Foley’s Constituent Service Manager for Rossmoor, to share any concerns. Manuel can be reached at ma***********@***ov.com.

Calls for resignation, forgiveness after LAUSD Board President curses parent

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Calls for resignation, forgiveness after LAUSD Board President curses parent

By David N. Young & Jeannette Andruss

More than a hundred protesters lined the sidewalk outside the board meeting room of the Los Alamitos Unified School District on Monday seeking the resignation of President Marlys Davidson after a video surfaced of her cursing under her breath on hot mic after a parent addressed the board.

The parent, Lauren Roupoli, was speaking against California’s planned Covid-19 student vaccine mandate and criticizing trustee Scott Fayette’s earlier remarks at the Oct. 26 board meeting when her three-minute speaking time ended.

“We are vocal because we are our children’s biggest advocates,” Roupoli said to applause. “That was very rude of you to say parents are selfish,” she directed at Fayette, who disputes the characterization of his comments.

The podium microphone turned off and Davidson banged the gavel, telling Roupoli her time was up. Davidson is then heard muttering, “F*** you.”

The expletive was audible to people watching the livestream of the meeting but was not heard at the in-person meeting.

Controversy erupted later that night when video clips were shared online, including by proponents of an effort to recall Fayette and two other board trustees. Davidson is up for re-election in 2022 and not part of the recall.

Recall supporters also circulated a second video clip in which Davidson appears to utter, “Oh my God, here we go,” before another parent spoke at last Tuesday’s meeting.

“It’s sad that it took a hot mic to see … to catch her real feelings and to see what these school boards are really thinking about us parents,” Roupoli told AM870 The Answer, one of many conservative media outlets she and the pro-recall campaign spokesperson have appeared on in the past week.

“She (Davidson) should resign,” said Roupoli, noting that such conduct is disrespectful by an elected official.

Since the meeting, Davidson has issued an apology and attempted to call Roupoli personally to apologize. Roupoli has acknowledged speaking to Supt. Andrew Pulver since the incident, but said she was advised by an attorney not to speak to Davidson.

“My love is for the kids and the community,” said Davidson. “I should not have said it and I must do better,” she added.

“I could make excuses,” said Davidson, “but none of that really matters, because it doesn’t take one little bit of accountability off me.” “Trust is built through actions over time. I know I have broken trust with many of you.  For that, I am deeply sorry.”

“Ms. Roupoli demands her resignation, not an empty apology,” reads a letter signed by recall organizer Donna McGuire, parents Staci Muller and Matthew Simmons and former board trustee Dr. Jeff Barke, who lost his seat in 2018 when Davidson won.

“Anything else is a tacit approval that a board member can verbally assault parents at school board meetings with no repercussions. We demand better,” they say in an Guest Essay published in this week’s Event News Enterprise and posted on this website.

Davidson said she will remain as Board President. “I have no plans to resign.”

Ladelle “Del” Clark, who has served on both the Orange County Board of Education and the Los Alamitos Unified School District board, says Davidson should “absolutely not resign.”

Clark said for the recall group to call for the board president’s resignation is “hypocrisy at its greatest.” The former education official said the anti-mandate protesters shared the sidewalk with a kiosk selling T-Shirts that represented profanities such as FJB (F**K Joe Biden) and similar slogans. Organizers acknowledge the vendor but say they maintain no association with them.

Board Members Speak Out

In an interview last week, Vice President Diana Hill said she does not condone Davidson’s behavior and called it “not acceptable.” But Hill is advising forgiveness at this stage.

“I know Mrs. Davidson made a regrettable mistake and I know that she is extremely sorry. I believe that we all make mistakes and we’re all due the grace of forgiveness,” Hill said.

Hill lamented the circumstances but said she doesn’t think Davidson should resign. “From what I have seen of [Davidson] as a governing board member, she has always cared about parents and students and staff. This was a moment that came out of a lot of frustration.”

Roupoli was addressing Fayette during her comments and he said that has factored into his reaction to the incident.

“I feel responsible because [Davidson] was expressing frustration for how I was being treated,” Fayette said. He said Roupoli mischaracterized his earlier comments by suggesting he said parents were selfish.

He said he was referring to recall supporters, not parents concerned about the vaccine mandate when he said: “We’re coming out of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic and instead of pulling together and putting the children first, there’s a group of people that are putting themselves first.” The comment elicited rumblings of disapproval from the audience at the meeting.

Fayette said that the board has been under intense pressure for roughly the last two years. Pandemic safety protocols, an ethnic studies elective and social justice standards have become hot-button topics at board meetings with public speakers consistently criticizing board members. At least two meetings were switched to virtual for safety reasons as they drew larger, more vocal crowds as law enforcement authorities said internet chatter created the potential of a clash between opposing activists.

“I would hope that many people would have grace and compassion,” Fayette said of their reaction to Davidson. “Everyone has a breaking point.”

Editor’s Note: This story has been edited to specify the goods being sold at the kiosk and clarify its relationship with the protest organizers.

 

 

 

LAUSD may discuss COVID-19 student vaccine mandate

Jeannette Andruss
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LAUSD may discuss COVID-19 student vaccine mandate

Access to a Covid-19 vaccine for 5-to-11-year-olds could be just days away, pending the decision from an advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that is meeting this week to review the safety and efficacy of the lower-dose pediatric version of Pfizer/BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine.

While some parents are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to inoculate their elementary school-age kids, other parents want to make sure they can opt-out of the shot and still send their kids to school.

These parents are asking the Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Education to publicly join their effort opposing a vaccine mandate.

An Oct. 1 announcement from Governor Gavin Newsom states California students will be required to get a Covid-19 vaccine to attend in-person classes when the vaccines gain full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for their age group.

Pfizer’s vaccine has full FDA approval for people 16 and older. The estimated deadline for vaccination for 7th-12th graders could be July 2022. Last week, the FDA approved emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine for 5-to-11-year-olds.

In its approval, the FDA said the vaccine was 90.7% effective in preventing symptomatic Covid-19 and found no serious side effects among the roughly 3,100 kids in the ongoing study.

Governor Newsom said the mandate “is about protecting our children and school staff, and keeping them in the classroom” and stressed “vaccines work.”

The CDC states: “Vaccination is the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Younger children tend to have relatively more mild cases of Covid-19 when compared to adults. Nationwide, 1.9 million children ages 5-11 have been infected with Covid-19, 8,300 have been hospitalized and 94 have died, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics,

Board members on vaccine mandate

At recent board meetings, parents opposed to the vaccine mandate have shared their concerns.

One parent asked Los Alamitos board members to follow the Capistrano Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees, who recently approved a resolution urging Newsom to reconsider the vaccine mandate saying it would lead to families leaving traditional K-12 schools.

“So I’m asking, I think many other parents are asking, this district to consider a similar resolution,” the parent said. “All of you here, you are our local representatives. Please do something before it’s too late.”

School board members say they cannot defy statewide mandates and have suggested parents reach out to the governor and state lawmakers to have their voices heard.

Board Vice President Diana Hill said she’s been writing to Governor Newsom and state lawmakers asking them to reconsider the mandate. “Parents should have a choice at this stage, those who feel it is best for their child can get them vaccinated now, and those who have concerns should have the right to wait,” her letter states.

Hill has also been vocal about keeping the medical and personal belief exemption to the vaccine.

And in a recent interview, she supported having a public debate about the state’s planned student vaccine mandate.

“We need to have a discussion as a board about it and we need to have the public let us know how they feel,” Hill said, adding she would recommend an agenda item for a future meeting.

In an email, Board Member Chris Forehan said he would also push the legislature to ease off a mandate.

“Allow it to be a parent choice, and then, if the virus takes an ugly turn, work through a mandate (if needed),“ Forehan wrote.

Board Member Scott Fayette said he’s pro-vaccination but thinks there has to be a “more open and freer discussion” about the Covid-19 vaccine mandate. He questioned if it’s appropriate to make the Covid-19 vaccine a requirement to attend school and said he’s planned meetings with parents to hear more. “I’m figuring out what the best choice is for the community,” he said.

Parents Share Perspectives 

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found 33% of parents surveyed said they would wait and see before getting their 5-to-11-year-old vaccinated while 30% said they would not vaccinate their young kids and 27% said they’d vaccinate right away.

“Counting the days to Ella’s vaccine,” wrote Olaina Anderson whose daughter is eleven and is at a middle school in the district. “We’ll be so relieved when she gets her vaccine– then we can all do stuff together.” Anderson said her parents are hesitant to hang out with their granddaughter while she’s unvaccinated so a jab would mean a return to normal visits.

“We’ll have our 10-year-old vaccinated as soon as it’s available. We had our 12-year-old vaccinated with zero side effects,” wrote district parent Jennifer Rohdenburg. “We feel it’s our responsibility to keep our children healthy and to help prevent the spread of COVID. As a physician, my husband believes COVID vaccines are safe and effective.”

“Our answer is simple, we will absolutely not, under any circumstances, give the Covid vaccination to either of our children,” wrote Bret Hudzietz who has two kids at Weaver Elementary. He feels the shot is too new and its long-term effects are unclear. He said he and his wife both went through Los Al schools and want their kids to do the same but said, “if need be, we will pull [the kids] out of school and explore other options, even possibly leaving the state.”

“We are not an anti-vaccine family. We are an anti-mandate without the option for an exemption family,” Rachel Sandoval wrote. She said she and her husband both got the Covid-19 vaccine and they have four kids in the district. Sandoval shared that her 15-year-old chose to get the shot, but her 13-year-old wants to wait, while her 18-year-old is strongly opposed. She said her 11-year-old will not be getting the vaccine for at least a few years. “When it is an appropriate time for our children as individuals, they will get the shot, but not by government force or social bullying.”

District parent Lisa Wallace said her 12-year-old and 14-year-old are already fully vaccinated against Covid-19 but that she’s taking a pause before getting her nine-year-old vaccinated. “We are pro-vax,” Wallace wrote, adding she is typically all in with doctors and scientific data but said after looking at the sample size for the trial of Pfizer/BioNTech, she wants more information. “I will ask my kids’ various doctors as our appointments are on the docket.”

That’s the advice OC Deputy County Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong is telling parents. “Please, if you have not already, seek advice from a medical professional,” she said on a call with the media on Friday.

Dr. Chinsio-Kwong said she would vaccinate her elementary-school age child as soon as possible after seeing data from the vaccine trials and some of the long-term health issues occuring in kids who had Covid.“ I’d rather take the risk of any side effects of the vaccine over getting my kid sick with Covid,” she said.

 

 

Gov. Newsom signs ballot bill

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Gov. Newsom signs ballot bill

Every registered California voter will get a ballot mailed to them in future elections under a bill signed Monday by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The law makes permanent a change adopted during the pandemic for the 2020 election and the recent recall against Newsom. California, the nation’s most populous state, joins several other Western states in mailing all voters a ballot, including Utah, Colorado, Washington and Oregon. Republicans who hold a minority in the state Legislature opposed the expansion of voting by mail.

Under the new law, ballots in California must go out at least 29 days before the election. Voters still have the option to drop off their ballot or vote in person. Prior to the pandemic, many Californians were already voting by mail.

“Voters like having options for returning their ballot whether by mail, at a secure drop box, a voting center or at a traditional polling station. And the more people who participate in elections, the stronger our democracy and the more we have assurance that elections reflect the will of the people of California,” California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, a Democrat, said in a statement.

Newsom signed 10 other voting-related bills on Monday, crafting them as part of an effort to expand voting rights and access. Voting rights have become a major political flashpoint nationally. Democrat-led states are pushing legislation aimed at expanding voting access while many Republican-led states are trying to tighten it amid baseless accusations of widespread voter fraud by former President Donald Trump and other GOP leaders.

“As states across our country continue to enact undemocratic voter suppression laws, California is increasing voter access, expanding voting options and bolstering elections integrity and transparency,” Newsom, a Democrat, said in a statement.

Mail-in voting put California Republicans in a tricky spot during the recent recall election against Newsom, which he handily defeated. Many Republicans didn’t trust the process, leaving party leaders to both encourage their voters to cast ballots while promising they were closely monitoring claims of fraud. There has been no evidence of widespread fraud in the recall.

California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson didn’t state a clear position on the bill.

“The California Republican Party is committed to ensuring elections are safe, fair and secure, giving voters the confidence they need to cast a ballot,” she said in a statement.
Another proposal Newsom signed relaxes the rules around ballot signatures, giving officials more leeway to accept ballots if the signature doesn’t exactly match what’s on file. The legislation by Democratic Sen. Josh Becker bars election officials from taking a voter’s party preference into account when evaluating their signature. Republicans in the state Legislature also opposed the bill.

In order to reject a signature, two other election officials must also determine if the signature differs in obvious ways from the signature in the person’s registration record.

Gaza Mon Amor – Nasser’s charming love story

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Gaza Mon Amor – Nasser’s charming love story

By Lady Beverly Cohn

Amidst the daily challenges facing Palestinians in Gaza – including millions living in poverty, lack of potable water, access to electricity for only four to eight hours a day, and high unemployment, the twin brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser co-wrote and directed GAZA MON AMOR, a tender romantic comedy in the age of lack.

The film, inspired by a true story that took place in 2014, revolves around a whimsical fisherman named Issa, perfectly portrayed by Salim Daw. Although 60 years old, and living under rather harsh conditions, he retains his sense of humor and responds to authority with a playful demeanor. Forbidden to fish in the three-mile strip of sea as mandated by Israel, Issa is not one to play by the rules and trolls those waters sans a license, often pulling up a net overflowing with fish which he sells at an open-air market. He is single and is constantly being berated by his meddling, yenta sister Manal, played by Manal Awad, who insists he must get married.

In one really funny scene, she lines up about a half-dozen single women as potential wives. He takes one look at them and storms out of the room. Meanwhile, we meet Siham, skillfully played by Hiam Abbass, and her typical rebellious teenage daughter Leila, played by Maisa Abd Elhadi.

The electricity is turned off at the moment so each of them carries a flashlight in their humble apartment searching for Leila’s passport. Mom is a dressmaker and works in a small shop where she does alterations on women’s clothing. The directors illuminate poverty in a very subtle way and takes us inside Issa’s home where he is showering, except there is no water flow.

Instead he fills a pot with water dousing himself with the precious liquid. One day, he sees Siham waiting at a bus stop and is immediately smitten. He casually lights a cigarette and asks if she is going to the market. She is not talkative. A private car pulls up and offers them a ride, which they accept. He sees her again at the same bus stop on a rainy day and in a most gallant manner, offers her his umbrella. They begin to converse and when he finds out she’s a seamstress, asks if she could fix his pants. At first she is reluctant saying that she only works on women’s clothing, but his innate charm impresses her and she consents to altering his trousers.

Meanwhile, while fishing one night, he hauls in his catch and finds a giant statue stuck in the net, which becomes a sub-plot of the story. It is clearly ancient and very heavy. He somehow manages to get it into his boat, which is attached to his motorcycle and passes inspection by the Hamas authority. Our fisherman brings the statue to his extremely modest home where he ensconces it in his closet. Unfortunately, but good for the storyline, the male appendage snaps off which Issa bring to a local jeweler, who tells him it’s not worth very much but he would be willing to buy it.

Our protagonist says no and before you know it, the local Hamas police arrive at his home and begin to tear it apart looking for the source of the dislocated male member. Well, they do find the statue and throw the fisherman in the clink where he asks if he’s going to receive a reward. Considering he’s in jail on unspecified charges, the irony of that question will not be lost on you. Illuminating how prayer is integrated into everyday life, the officer in charge of the interrogation prays before beginning the questioning. Protesting that he’s done nothing wrong, he is locked in a cell where he has a dream of making love to Siham with an embarrassing morning result.

To get out of jail, he reluctantly agrees to signing a “confession” and to pay 5,000 shekels, after which he is free to go. Eventually, the mysterious statue is authenticated as the Greek god Apollo* with ensuing discussions by the authorities on how to best profit from this historic discovery.

Now out of jail, in short order, our smitten Issa immediately brings his trousers to the woman of his dreams for alteration. She asks what he needs done and he replies “they need shortening,” which eventually turns into a sight gag. Siham’s daughter, who wants to leave Gaza, observes her mother’s interaction with this gentleman and concludes that they are smitten with each other.

Our hero is ready to propose and goes to her home but freezes and doesn’t knock on the door. Eventually, however, he musters up enough nerve to try again and after dousing himself with cologne, and dressing up with his finest clothes, he returns to her house and this time knocks on the door. She lets him in and he blurts out “will you marry me?” They do marry and as they are about to kiss we hear a news flash about the Israeli Defense Forces.

To the brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser’s credit, they do not take a strong anti-Israel position, but very subtly illuminate hostilities between Gaza and Israel through either radio or television news programs playing softly in the background such as hearing the sound of approaching aircraft. In one scene they show the Palestinians getting their first huge rocket which is being offloaded from a ship with a proud bystander murmuring, “An eye for an eye.” That moment speaks volumes about the ongoing hostilities, but remember, this is a love story, not a political statement.

“I am truly sorry. I alone am responsible.”

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“I am truly sorry. I alone am responsible.”

At the last Board meeting, I commented with words I wish I could erase. They were thoughtlessly uttered, and I could not be sorrier. Not only do I apologize to the speakers I offended, but also to every student, parent, and community member who gets up to speak their truth on behalf of our children.

It has been a core value of mine to always listen and respond with respect, openness, and a willingness to seek the best solutions. Obviously by my actions I fell far short of my own expectations and broke trust. To our Los Alamitos School District community, I want to express sincere regret for my words. I hope you can forgive me.

To my former students who are treasures to my heart, I am truly saddened that I have let you down. As we walked through the powerful story of our nation, we often discussed the importance of showing respect, restraint, and a willingness to learn from one another’s perspectives. Please forgive me for not practicing what I asked of you. I will do better.

To administrators, teachers, and staff that have been my family for over 30 years, I am so very sorry for falling short of being the Board member everyone deserves. To my fellow Board members, Dr. Pulver, and Cabinet, I know that my actions ran contrary to how each one of you chooses to walk through this world. There is a common belief that Board members speak with one voice. In this case, that is farthest from the truth. My fellow Board members are the ultimate examples of thoughtfulness, respect, and civility. They have shown me grace while not excusing my actions in any way. Even though I alone should be held accountable, my actions have created unfair turmoil in each one of their lives. I am truly sorry. I alone am responsible.

To family and friends, thank you for your loving concern, but I own this. I am not going to resign because I need to go back to the promises I made to this community and strive to live by the values I believe are the foundation of a free society. Trust is built through actions over time. I know I have broken trust with many of you. For that, I am deeply sorry. I love our children too much to quit now. I promise that I will work with all my heart to do a better job for our staff, students, families, and community. Once again, I want to reaffirm my commitment to serve with dignity and integrity. It is my hope that you will accept my sincere apology.

Respectfully,
Marlys Davidson, President
Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Trustees

We support Marlys Davidson

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We support Marlys Davidson

Dear Editor,

Marlys Davidson’s recent verbal mistake at last week’s LAUSD school board meeting is just that, a mistake.

While her unfortunate verbalization echoed what many thought, it is hardly a surprise considering the barrage of verbal abuse she and her fellow commissioners endured that evening and on a regular basis.

Her positive contributions to education over the course of her career considerably outweigh the five seconds of comments she made to herself.

Cynthia Sells

Los Alamitos

Davidson should resign

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Davidson should resign

Resign Marlys Davidson

On October 26, 2021, Marlys Davidson embarrassed the Los Alamitos community and defiled our School District’s reputation. During a school board meeting, Marlys Davidson said, “f*ck you’’ to a mother who was simply expressing her concerns during public comment during a school board meeting. Marlys’s vile comment was caught on hot mic. Further, Marlys denigrated another parent on a hot mic, “oh god, here we go” to Ms Chu, an immigrant from China, whose second language is English. Marlys’s vulgar statements illustrate her disdain for much of the community she is supposed to represent, as a result Marlys Davidson must step down.

The “f*ck you” hot mic moment has captured international attention; however, the school board is clueless as to why. They think it was just a bad word that was said as indicated by Marlys Davidson’s apology for what she described as an “inappropriate comment.” It was much more than an inappropriate comment, it is an entire attitude that allows somebody to say that to a member of our community. Lauren Roupoli, the recipient of Ms Davidson’s F U comment, said, “It is sad that it took a hot mic to catch her real feelings and to see what these school boards think about us parents.” Ms Roupoli demands her resignation, not an empty apology.

Since February 2021, parents and the community have been begging to be heard by the School Board regarding the curriculum and mandates. Their pleas fell on deaf ears and it was as if the board was just going through the motions during public comment. The public began to suspect that the board had disdain of all input, and in fact, when the speaker numbers increased to the hundreds, the School Board shut down the in-person meetings.
As a result of Marlys Davidson’s crude comments, the national and international community has been introduced to the Los Alamitos School District as the place where the President of the School Board tells parents “f*ck you” during public comments. We can only imagine the comments Marlys Davidson has said at other board meetings when the mic was not on! It would appear that the entire board would have heard her comments, yet no one admonished her behavior during the board meeting! As of today, no one from the district has done the right thing, which is to demand her immediate resignation.

Marlys Davidson’s unacceptable behavior does not come as a surprise. During her 2018 campaign for School Board against incumbent Barke, disparaging false rumors were spread about Barke who she ultimately defeated. Seems like her history of nasty play is not new. Davidson was backed and endorsed by the teachers union.

School boards and teacher unions across the United States are promoting divisive critical race theory and gender deconstruction, while telling parents that they do not have a say as to what taxpayer funded schools teach their own children! It is no wonder public school enrollment has plummeted while homeschooling has skyrocketed.

The Los Alamitos School Board has said over and over again that the children should come first and no individual should put themselves above the community. Marlys Davidson’s vile statements to two parents in one night has stained the reputation of our local community worldwide. Millions of people are watching and waiting to see how we as a community will respond. There is only one thing for Marlys Davidson to do, resign immediately. Anything else is a tacit approval that a board member can verbally assault parents at school board meetings with no repercussions. We demand better.

To heal our community and help restore the reputation of LAUSD, Marlys Davidson must immediately resign! The recall of three Los Alamitos School Board members originated, because the School Board was not listening to the parents. Now the purpose of the recall is apparent to more people than ever. We need to show the world, this abuse of power is not acceptable. Marlys Davidson must resign and her cohorts need to be recalled.

Sincerely,
Staci Muller, Seal Beach
Jeff Barke, MD, President Rossmoor Community Services District
Matthew Simmons, Rossmoor
Donna McGuire, Seal Beach

Teacher defends Davidson, says she helped make LAUSD top system

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Teacher defends Davidson, says she helped make LAUSD top system

Dear Editor,
Like many, I often find myself debating with others about a variety of topics. Was Bach a better composer than Beethoven? Was Steinbeck a better writer than Faulkner? Is Djokovic a better tennis player than Nadal? One debate, however, that will never exist for me is who has been the most influential educator I have ever had the pleasure to work with. After nearly 30 years in this district, without question, the most gifted colleague I have encountered has been Board President Marlys Davidson.

As a ninth-grade teacher, I have had the good fortune over the years to work with many of the students Marlys taught the previous school term at McAulliffe. Without exception, the kids, at every opportunity, remarked how Mrs. Davidson not only helped them become better writers and thinkers, but most importantly, better people. Year after year after year, I heard stories of her passion, her commitment, her kindness, and her love for her students. I finally decided that I had to find out for myself what qualities this teacher had that are at once so rare and so undefinable.

One morning, I went down the street to the middle school and watched Marlys work with her eighth-graders for two hours. I was left speechless at what I had witnessed. Before my visit, I arrogantly thought that I was an exemplary educator, adept at inspiring kids to reach greater heights of success. However, on this morning, I soon was humbled because of what I was able to observe on that McAuliffe campus. Beyond her prowess in helping her students reach lofty levels of academic success during her time with the kids, she was able to weave in lessons about respect, open-mindedness, and compassion.

All of us have the ability to realize when we are in the presence of greatness or when the person standing right in front of us truly is a master. On that day watching Mrs. Davidson spin her magic, that is exactly what I felt. For the entirety of my tenure at the high school, I have been surrounded by the greatness of the Los Al faculty, evidenced by the levels of success district kids have reached. Nevertheless, it is Marlys and her gifts that have left the most indelible mark on me for nearly three decades.

A couple weeks ago, I was at an ATM machine withdrawing some cash when a woman who appeared to be downtrodden aggressively approached me and said, “Brother, it’s my birthday, give me $5.” I faced the machine wondering what I would do with her request. I wasn’t going to give her one of the $20 bills that issued from the machine, so I offered her the three one dollar bills I already had in my wallet. After I handed her the money, you know what she said to me? She said “Fu*k you, I wanted $5.”

I walked away horrified and hurt by her behavior, her insolence, and her ingratitude. Sitting in the car still stinging from her remark, I eventually began to calm down and look at this woman from a different angle. Maybe she wasn’t as terrible as her behavior implied, I thought. Who was I to judge her? I knew one thing: She certainly didn’t need my condemnation, or my resentment, or my outrage.

In the long run, I thought, what good would that do? What she needed was my forgiveness. At that moment, I was certain that she was so much more than a word of profanity. Reducing her and her life down to one ugly moment at an ATM machine would have been misguided on my part.

After Marlys’ retirement from her storied teaching career, where she quite honestly impacted the lives of hundreds and hundreds of kids, she went on to serve as a mentor to many other teachers in the district, helping them learn the basic tenets of her core values regarding students: kids need to see the good in themselves and the gifts each and every one of them has to offer the world.

Later, as a board member, Marlys has continued her work as a voice for district goals, as an advocate for parents and their concerns, and most importantly, as a champion for the well-being of our kids. With each and every decision she has made in her tenure on the board, she has never lost sight of her one guiding principal: We are here to serve the students of the district. Just as it would have been wrong of me to falsely characterize and judge the woman at the ATM machine because of her regrettable utterance, it would be wrong of all of us to do the same to Marlys.

Through her tireless efforts and unwavering resolve, she has played such an instrumental part in making this district one of the best in the country. Because of her life’s work and the lives she has impacted in such a positive way, Marlys has earned our compassion, our grace, and our forgiveness.

She taught her students to find the good in others regardless of differences, to view conflicts from a variety of lenses, and to look closer at a person before making judgements. In the end, aren’t these the very lessons we all need to learn in order to forge bonds with each other, to create solutions to seemingly complex problems, and to find common ground where compromise is embraced? In truth, these are the very precepts and vital aspects of life that ultimately make us once and for all . . . human.
Ray Coriaty
English teacher
Los Alamitos High School

 

Spare a good thought for OC Water

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Spare a good thought for OC Water

Last month, the water industry celebrated “Imagine a Day Without Water,” a national education campaign held on October 21 that encouraged us to reflect upon how water is essential, invaluable, and in need of continued investment. No water to drink, bathe, or manufacture products is a challenging concept to imagine.

It allows us to fully appreciate the water resources, infrastructure, and dedicated professionals who play a role in delivering drinking water to us all. In the spirit of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I am even more thankful for the many water programs we have in place that ensure clean, safe water flows from your taps.

These programs are not possible without our amazing partners including Orange County residents and businesses and the many public and private entities who collaborate with us to enhance water supply for the region. From making smart water choices to supporting necessary water infrastructure investments to the retailers who distribute water—we all play an important part in making sure we have a reliable, high-quality water supply.

By working together, we have all done a great job in ensuring the region is prepared in both wet and dry years. Even with the latest news coming down from the state that expanded the drought emergency statewide, Orange County water agencies are ready, resilient, and reliable. We recognize that recurring drought is a feature of California’s climate, and that Orange County is in a semi-arid region which only receives approximately 13 inches of annual rainfall. That is why agencies like the Orange County Water District (OCWD; the District) invest in local water supply projects and rely on a portfolio approach that includes multiple water sources.

For example, the Orange County Groundwater Basin (Basin), which OCWD manages, holds water from a variety of sources including Santa Ana River flows, stormwater, imported water, and recycled water. The Basin provides 77% of the water supply for 2.5 million people in north and central Orange County, including the cities of Seal Beach and Los Alamitos.

Over the years, OCWD has managed the Basin in a sustainable manner and has more than doubled its annual output. In fact, since the previous drought from 2012 to 2016, OCWD has worked hard to substantially refill our groundwater basin. At this time, the Basin can provide water for two consecutive years at current pumping levels even if drought conditions persist.

To further support local water resource development, OCWD continues to invest in maximizing water recycling, increasing stormwater capture, and implementing water quality projects that protect and increase supply. Our communities have stepped up, too. Our residents and businesses have been working hard to implement water-use efficiency programs and have supported investments in local water reliability, like water recycling and conservation programs that sustain the region.

Orange County water providers have a variety of resources, rebates, and water-use efficiency tips to help residents and businesses maintain this commitment to water-use efficiency. Please contact your local water provider, such as the City of Seal Beach’s Water Services Department or Golden State Water Company for specific information about rebates and other water-saving programs available to you. We also encourage you to learn more about Orange County’s water supply, virtual tours, and education programs offered by OCWD by visiting www.ocwd.com.

Wishing you all a joyful holiday season ahead. Remember, when you’re gathering with family and friends, be sure to enjoy your meal with a fresh glass of Orange County tap water.

This OCWD article is provided by Tri Ta, mayor of Westminster and OCWD director of Division 4, serving Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and parts of Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Stanton, and Westminster. You can reach him at TT*@**wd.com.

Lalor to speak at Cypress Chamber

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The Cypress Chamber of Commerce will welcome Col. Richard Lalor from the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base as our guest speaker at our November Networking Breakfast. Our event will be held Tuesday, November 9th 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. Col. Lalor will share an update on the bold new initiative to build a solar energy station at the base to meet the Federal requirements for alternative energy for military bases.

Col. Rick Lalor is Commander, Joint Medical Command, California State Guard and the Public Affairs Officer for our local base. He will give us an update on a variety of initiatives currently underway at the JFTB as well as discuss the future solar power project and what that will mean to the base moving forward.

Colonel Lalor received his commission in the California State Guard in 1998 and has had numerous assignments within the California Military Department. He also studied Journalism at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Curry College, Milton, Mass. His military education includes the Military Police Officer Branch Orientation Course, Military Police Officer Advanced Course (Phase 1) and Reserve Component Public Affairs Officer Qualification Course through the U.S. Army Institute for Professional Development.

Each attendee will also have an opportunity to stand and introduce themselves and share a little about their business before the program begins.

Reservations are highly recommended to secure your spot for the monthly breakfasts and can be made here. 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 time for networking, 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 seat, pre-register on the chamber website: https://www.cypresschamber.org/events/details/november-networking-breakfast-2412

This article was released by the Cypress Chamber of Commerce.

Aquarium of the Pacific to honor veterans with free admission

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Aquarium of the Pacific to honor veterans with free admission

The Aquarium of the Pacific honors and thanks veterans and active military personnel and invites them to visit the Aquarium on November 11, 2021, with free admission in celebration of Veteran’s Day.

During their visit, they can see more than 12,000 animals and over 100 exhibits, including Coral Reefs: Nature’s Underwater Cities, featuring a green sea turtle, glowing reefs, and flashlight fish. They can also interact with animals such as sharks, lorikeet birds, moon jellies, and rays.

To receive free admission, veterans and active military personnel should make an online reservation in advance and can visit the Aquarium’s Veterans Day webpage for more information. General admission tickets are available for purchase for the general public. For a discount on additional tickets, military personnel may purchase guest tickets at their local MWR/ITT office.

Advance reservations made online are required for everyone, including those receiving free admission, and no walk ups will be available. T-Mobile is the event sponsor.
For information, call (562) 590-3100 or visit aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/veterans_day

The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place where diverse cultures and the arts are celebrated and where important challenges facing our planet are explored. The Aquarium is dedicated to conserving and building nature and nature’s services by building the interactions between and among peoples. Home to more than 12,000 animals, Aquarium exhibits include Coral Reefs: Nature’s Underwater Cities, Pacific Visions, Shark Lagoon, and the June Keyes Penguin Habitat. Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages, including a variety of First Wednesdays programming featuring guest speakers. The Aquarium offers memberships with unlimited FREE admission for 12 months and other special benefits. To make a donation to help support the Aquarium, please visit Pacific.to/donate. To visit, advance reservations are required for everyone and can be made at aquariumofpacific.org or by calling (562) 590-3100. The Aquarium of the Pacific is located at 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802.

Electric rates for 10,000 La Palma, Cypress and Seal Beach to be affected to TOU

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Electric rates for 10,000 La Palma, Cypress and Seal Beach to be affected to TOU

A spokesperson for Southern California Edison said this week that approximately 10,000 households in West Orange County will be affected by the transition to time-of-use (TOU) billing rates.

According to Ron Gales, Senior Communications Advisor for SCE, beginning in November, about 7,300 households in Cypress served by SoCal Edison will be switched to “Time-of-Use” (TOU) rates, along with 2,200 in La Palma and about 780 in Seal Beach.
“They are among some 347,000 households in Orange County that SCE will transition to TOU rates next month,” he said in a statement.

Readers will want to know: Will they benefit from this change? What options do they have? Those questions are addressed in this story about TOU rates from our Edison web site. Please feel free to run the story in your publication, either partially or in its entirety, along with the attached infographic.

He said one consumer affairs observer called it “one of the most sweeping changes to how [Californians] pay for energy.”

According to Edison’s website, here is what happens:

1. TOU rate plans benefit customers who can shift some or most electricity usage away from times of day when electricity costs more to deliver. Examples include using energy-intensive appliances, charging electric vehicles or programming smart thermostats to adjust home temperatures before or after the 4-9 p.m. “On-Peak” period.

2. TOU rate plans help keep California golden: When customers shift energy usage to morning and midday hours, they tap into an abundance of energy on California’s electric grid coming from cleaner, renewable resources and help to make sure it doesn’t go to waste.

3. They ease pressure on California’s electric grid at key times of day. The renewable energy production from large-scale solar farms, which feeds California’s electric grid during morning and midday hours, declines in the late afternoon, just as the collective demand for power from customers across California increases. To compensate for the decrease in solar production, conventional sources of energy (more costly, not as clean) get ramped up. This transition stresses the electric grid until later in the evening. Customers switching energy usage to “Off-Peak” hours helps relieve that pressure.
Shifting energy use to morning and midday hours taps into cleaner, renewable resources.

4. SCE offers three TOU options for residential customers. Plans include “On-Peak” periods of 4-9 p.m. or 5-8 p.m. and a TOU “Prime” rate plan specifically for customers with plug-in EVs, residential batteries or other clean energy technologies. SCE’s Rate Plan Comparison Tool can help compare options while SCE’s Appliance Energy Use Cost Calculator shifting appliance use to Off-Peak hours.

5. SCE notifies customers by mail before switching their plans. Customers being switched should receive a notification letter from SCE by U.S. mail 60-90 days before their scheduled transition date and a reminder letter 30 days before. Customers who provided SCE their email address and agreed to be contacted may be notified electronically. The notification letter includes a comparison of what customerspay each year currently and what they would pay under TOU rates. Review the comparison carefully to see if you are benefitting from your new rate.

6. Residential customers switched to a TOU plan now through April get 12 months of bill protection. If you pay more on a TOU rate plan for the first 12 months than you would have paid on your previous tiered rate plan, SCE will provide you a one-time bill credit for the difference. (Does not apply to TOU Prime.)
• TOU rate plans benefit customers who can shift electricity usage away from times of day when electricity costs more to deliver.

7. Residential customers can opt out before their scheduled transition date. Simply return the reply card included with their notification letter, or complete the online form, or phone SCE’s dedicated TOU line at 877-287-2140. Customers can also choose to opt out after their scheduled transition date.

8. Some SCE residential customers will not be switched to TOU rate plans, including those:
• Located in state-defined hot climate zones who are enrolled in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) or Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) programs.
• Enrolled in the Medical Baseline program.
• Who’ve notified SCE that they are people with disabilities.
• Who’ve opted out of TOU rate plans during previous transition periods .
• Who started service after Oct. 1, 2020.
However, joint customers of SCE and a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) will be included.

Learn more at sce.com/rates

Giving Tree suffers from pandemic but still giving

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Giving Tree suffers from pandemic but still giving

Christmas is just around the corner! The Giving Tree Project is an annual outreach to care centers by St. Irenaeus Health Ministry that has gone on for the last 36 years. Our goal is to show residents, no matter their faith, that they are not forgotten during the holidays. Due to continued pandemic precautions, our Giving Tree Parties will be cut back, but St. Irenaeus Health Ministry will provide gifts for each resident. We also plan to give appreciation gifts for the staff at each of the care facilities we serve. These are hard-working essential workers and compassionate heroes. The facilities that St. Irenaeus Health Ministry serves are: Harvest Retirement in Buena Park, Sunrise La Palma, Karlton Residential Center in Anaheim, Health Care Center Orange County in Buena Park, and Anaheim Terrace Care Center (Genesis). Since each care facility resident will receive a gift, in addition to homebound parishioners, we need 406 gifts. Due to health concerns, we will buy the gifts rather than ask parishioners to purchase and donate them.

This is a significant financial commitment, so we are again asking the whole community, as well as St. Irenaeus parishioners, for monetary donations to purchase gifts. Checks should be made out to St. Irenaeus Church, with “H.M./Giving Tree” written on the memo line, and dropped off or mailed to St. Irenaeus Church, 5201 Evergreen Ave., Cypress, CA 90630. The deadline for receiving donations is Tuesday, November 30th. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Dagarag at 714-826-0760, extension 124. Donations can also be made on the St. Irenaeus website, Health Ministry/Giving Tree button.

Residents at long-term care facilities look forward to gifts and holiday cheer. So, please consider donating to this project. It’s like giving a “virtual hug” to these older adults, many of whom get few visitors. Thanks to the leadership of Jennifer Dagarag, R.N. (Co-Health Ministry Facilitator), JoAnn Pyne (Co-Facilitator), Grace Francis (Chair of Care Facilities Ministry), Karen Nerrie (Chair, Giving Tree Committee), and your generous donation, the 2021 Giving Tree Project will be successful again this year.

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