The Aquarium of the Pacific added three new marine species found in Southern California to its Marine Species Report Card to engage the public in ocean conservation. This first of its kind, digital, and free public resource combines the work of scientists, researchers, government agencies, and others from more than a dozen institutions to assess the status of now thirty-three key California coastal species.
“People are an integral part of conservation, and with greater awareness comes more possibility for stewardship. The Report Card is one of many tools the Aquarium is using to activate stewardship in our community, benefiting the conservation of our marine species,” said Jeff Flocken, Aquarium of the Pacific president and CEO.
The Aquarium gathered leading experts from across the state to develop this tool, which can serve as a resource and guide for action and ongoing research on the state of California’s marine species.
The list now includes new species accounts on the cabezon (fish), horn shark, and sheep crab. Each animal’s account includes photos, facts about the species, information on the threats they face in the wild, and an arrow icon that indicates the population trend of each animal in the state of California and whether it is increasing, declining, or stable. All three newly added species are showing a stable-with-fluctuations population trend.
Cabezon is also now part of the Marine Specials Report, Aquarium officials said. Courtesy photo
For most species, the accounts provide stories on conservation actions. The Aquarium has been working to help many of these marine mammals, birds, invertebrates (animals without backbones), fish, kelp, and more. Some of its conservation projects include growing and outplanting endangered white abalone for restoration efforts in the wild, preserving bull kelp, helping rescued southern sea otters, monitoring and rehabilitating green sea turtles, documenting local whale populations through the photo I.D. program, raising baby sunflower sea stars, and contributing to the community science initiative, Spotting Giant Sea Bass.
The Aquarium also offers opportunities for the public to help SoCal marine life, including its monthly wetlands habitat restoration, beach cleanups, and other volunteering opportunities.
“The Report Card provides an entry point for our community to learn more about their ocean neighbors,” said Jennie Dean, Aquarium of the Pacific vice president of education and conservation. “We enhance connection to the species we have onsite at key exhibits with signage and distribution of limited-edition trading cards.” When visiting the Aquarium, the public can see more than a dozen species listed on the report card, including the cabezon, horn shark, and sheep crab. The Aquarium also offers daily harbor tours and whale watches aboard Harbor Breeze Cruises, which provide the chance for the public to see and learn about other species listed on the report card, including eastern north Pacific gray whales, brown pelicans, harbor seals, California sea lions, and giant kelp.
The horn shark has been added to the Marine Species Report Card. Photo by Ken Kurtis
To assess changes to populations of species, long-term monitoring programs are vital as are programs to restore California’s coastal ecosystems. To learn more, you can visit pacific.to/msrc to access the Marine Species Report Card online, which launched in 2025 and now includes three new species.
The non-profit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place dedicated to connecting people to and conserving nature. The Aquarium’s vision is to foster an inclusive community that works together to create our sustainable future. Home to more than 12,000 animals, Aquarium exhibits include Stars of the Sea featuring Our Living Coastline, the Southern California Gallery, Pacific Visions, and Shark Lagoon. Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages, including First Wednesdays featuring a variety of guest speakers.
The Aquarium offers memberships with unlimited FREE admission for twelve months and other special benefits. To make a donation to help support the Aquarium, please visit the donation webpage. To visit, reservations are required for everyone and can be made at aquariumofpacific.org or by calling (562) 590-3100.
Area members of Congress are apparently concerned enough about a recent near-miss regarding a Black Hawk helicopter that they have asked the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation for an “in-person” meeting to discuss the investigation.
Area members of Congress including Dave Min, Derek T. Tran, J. Luis Correra, Mike Levin and Linda T. Sanchez signed a joint Congressional letter this past week seeking a meeting to discuss the incident, which occurred over the Southern California skies on March 24.
“As members of Orange County’s congressional delegation, we write to express serious concerns about a recent near-miss incident involving a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a United Airlines Boeing 737 approaching John Wayne Airport,” the letter said.
“We support the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) decision to investigate this incident and request a timely member-level briefing to ensure that our congressional delegation and constituents have full confidence in the safety protocols governing our regional airspace,” it continued.
The Members of Congress expressed “serious concerns” over the recent near-miss incident “between a California National Guard Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial passenger aircraft approaching John Wayne Airport.”
A visitor eyes a California National Guard Black Hawk helicopter inside the hanger at JFTB in Los Alamitos. Photo by David N. Young
The members requested a briefing from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration about the ongoing investigation.
On that date, a California National Guard Black Hawk entered the flight path of a United Airlines Boeing 737 on final approach to John Wayne Airport. The commercial aircraft was forced to halt its descent and level off to avoid a collision, passing within approximately 500 feet of the helicopter.
In the letter, members say millions of SoCal residents would be at risk in the event of a crash so they want a personal meeting with Federal Aviation Administration administrators to learn more about safety procedures. “John Wayne Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country, serving one of the most densely populated regions in America. The surrounding communities are home to millions of residents who would be directly at risk in the event of a crash, in addition to the tens of thousands of passengers flying through this airspace every day,” wrote the members, according to a letter they released.
“Every traveler and every person living beneath these flight paths deserves to feel safe, which is why the coordination of military and civilian flight operations in this region must be managed with the highest standards of safety, precision, and communication.”
Representative Tran’s district is home to Joint Forces Training Base in Los Al, the base from which the Black Hawk flight originated.
The letter also requested clarification on whether recently adopted FAA procedures governing visual separation between aircraft and helicopters were in effect at the time of the incident. This measure was adopted in response to the tragic January 2025 crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that killed 67 people.
The members requested an in-person or virtual briefing within 60 days, including updates on the FAA’s investigation, preliminary findings, and any corrective measures under consideration.
In addition, Rep. Tran is an original co-sponsor of H.R. 7613, the ALERT Act, which aims to reduce collision risk by strengthening aviation safety and transparency requirements in U.S. airspace operations. The ALERT Act passed the House by a vote of 396-10.
“We request an in-person or virtual briefing no later than 60 days after receipt of this letter, providing an update of the FAA’s investigation into the incident, along with any preliminary findings or updates on corrective measures undertaken,” they concluded.
“Thank you for your attention to this serious matter.”
In a small neighborhood in Long Beach, tucked away between El Dorado Golf Course and El Dorado Park, a group of residents is opening up their homes and studios and welcoming visitors. Attendees can view art, watch artists engage in their craft and enjoy an afternoon of music, food and raffles, all while visiting unique homes.
The second annual Rancho Art Crawl is returning. Residents who live in the neighborhood had envisioned the event and put that plan into action. The Rancho Art Crawl came to life and in its first coming, organizers said it was a bigger draw than expected. An estimated 500 visitors walked through the neighborhood and experienced art of all kinds by an estimated 50 artists who opened their homes to share with guests. “It’s essentially an open studio tour,” Realtor Ben Fisher, one of the organizers, said.
The homes in the neighborhood were designed by Building Designer Cliff May. May has been called the “father of the ranch house,” and designed many of the ranch-style homes in Southern California, from San Diego to Los Angeles, from the 1930s through the 1950s.
The sprawling one-story homes usually included an interior courtyard and connections to the outdoors. It was a design that attracted artists, who could set up a work studio in the home. The homes themselves have become a kind of collectors item. The Rancho neighborhood is one of the largest set of May homes and many well-known artists have settled there.
“They’ve bonded together and become sort of a creative community,” Fisher said.
This year’s event is expected to draw even more visitors. There will be food trucks and music acts at various locations along the streets. Artists who open their home will be sowing art and some will even be demonstrating their crafts
This year’s event will take place on May 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit ranchoartcrawl.com.
In March, Cypress High School celebrated the official opening of the student-led Comfort Kitchen. This on-campus pantry, located in the media center, provides various nutritious meals that are free and accessible to all students.
Put in motion by Senior Parsmi Rajput and teacher Shelley Hawkins, this kitchen aims to “make sure that nutrition or food insecurity doesn’t get in a student’s way of being able to thrive at school,” said Rajput. With the support of the Bezos Scholars Program, a year-long leadership program for high-school students and educators, they were given the ability to launch the “Community Change Project” that became Cypress’ Comfort Kitchen.
“After spending a couple months with my educator and community members, researching what issue would be the best to tackle for our community, we realized a lot of things fell into place regarding food insecurity,” Rajput described, realizing just how important this issue was to Cypress’ community.
In a similar way, this problem was also acknowledged by Sophomore and club President Amelia Dinh, who decided to start the Pantry Project. “I noticed that none of the clubs on campus focused on food specifically, so I wanted to fill in that gap because I knew food was a struggle for many people,” Dinh said. She described the Pantry Project as a club that, “raises awareness, hosts events, and offers volunteer hours that are all related to food with the main objective of improving people’s lives and helping in any way we can.”
Principal Jennifer Brown, Ms. Shelley Hawkins and Parsmi Rajput are excited to bring free nutritious meals to students in need. (photo by Yearbook)
Dinh emphasized how important it is to bring light to this issue, encouraging students to donate and participate in their events with the greater goal of expanding this club to schools across the country. For now, they are increasing their presence at Cypress High School with a combination of social media posts and on-campus advertising as well as a partnership with Rajput and Hawkins. Together, the Pantry Project helps keep the Comfort Kitchen stocked– a collaboration built from the shared commitment of addressing food inequalities.
In addition to the support from the Pantry Project and Bezos Foundation, the Comfort Kitchen also received a second grant from the food company, Sodexo. With this additional fund, the Comfort Kitchen is expanding to not only provide packaged goods but also fresh produce. Hawkins described how they used this second grant to partner with Cypress’ Green Tech classes, run by teacher Matthew Bidwell. “His students are going to build hydroponic grow towers… so we can start growing fresh produce that kids can actually take home with them,” Hawkins stated.
Set to complete the garden before the end of the school year, the Comfort Kitchen looks to bring to Cypress a new era of change where no student goes hungry.
Oxford Academy Health Occupation Students of America, HOSA, one of the biggest clubs on campus, competed in their annual California-HOSA SLC (State Leadership Conference) during the spring break from March 26 to 28. Hosted in Ontario, California, Cal-HOSA SLC 2026 saw over 5,000 students, alumni, and professionals gathered to compete and celebrate the 40th anniversary of California HOSA and the 50th anniversary of HOSA. OA HOSA celebrated its own 20th anniversary with their participation in the leadership conference.
OA HOSA, which is split into two different divisions, Middle division (grades 7-8) and Secondary division (grades 9-12), competed in a total of 349 events and swept the competition at SLC once again with an unofficial total number of 194 medals and placements. Further placements for additional events held at the conference have yet to be confirmed.
Besides just medals, OA HOSA made its presence known through different showcases: sophomore Joelle Kim sang the national anthem during the open ceremony, and sophomore Niha Goel won the pin design, getting a chance to have her pins be worn by every competitor at the conference. Junior Regan Rebultan, too, won the separate advisors’ pin design competition.
“I’m very happy about the accomplishments. There were years where we polarized on certain categories but this year we are well-rounded [in the wins], so it’s very nice,” Mr. Jun Cuenca, Oxford’s Biotechnology pathway teacher and HOSA advisor, said.
OA HOSA competed in a myriad of different events, including the Health Literacy Ambassador event. This event required completion of a health presentation and media flyer for recognition, something that all biotechnology students were required to do in their Oxford classes. Through this efficient integration, OA HOSA was able to sweep numerous awards through this event.
Other notable wins included a gold medal in HOSA Bowl, a buzzer-style game between teams regarding medical trivia. Numerous bronze, silver, and gold medals were also awarded to both groups and individuals competing in events like Mental Health Promotion, Health Education, and Public Health, to name a few. Juniors Annie Gao and Claire Kim, whose participation in OA HOSA originated in their 7th grade, led the conference as part of the state board, Gao as Secretary and Kim as Vice President.
“SLC was one of the best experiences that I’ll forever carry in my heart because despite all of the hardships and obstacles, I am constantly reminded by why I love this community,” said Kim. At the conference, Kim was elected as the upcoming 26-27 year’s California-HOSA President as well, continuing her leadership in HOSA.
“[Next year] I hope to accomplish more member engagement and especially promote HOSA to smaller chapters. This year we created the Golden Hearts Initiative, aiming to uplift the spirits of children in pediatric hospitals and clinical settings, and we are able to raise 1919 kits. I’m hoping to expand projects like these,” Kim said.
OA HOSA represented itself at SLC with numerous medals, leaders, and a community that other schools admired.
“OA HOSA is a big chapter filled with many members who have different journeys. It could get overwhelming, but know that everyone is there to support you. HOSA is one big family and its never too late to start your HOSA journey,” Kim said.
Summer fun is officially underway, and registration is now open for the exciting Los Alamitos Summer Day Camp, welcoming children ages 5 to 10! Running from June 8 through August 21, this action-packed program offers 11 weeks of adventure, creativity, and nonstop fun.
Each week brings a brand-new theme to life, with campers enjoying a variety of engaging activities including indoor and outdoor games, arts and crafts, and special Friday events. For those looking to add even more excitement, 9 of the 11 camp weeks feature two optional excursions, giving campers the chance to explore popular destinations like Wild Rivers, Urban Adventure Park, Sky Zone, American Ninja Warrior Adventure Park, and Knott’s Soak City.
Spots fill quickly, so early registration is highly encouraged to secure your child’s place in this popular summer program.
Families can also enhance their camp experience with optional specialty classes offered as add-ons. These include sports clinics and themed classes that align with each week’s activities such as Aqua Adventure, Into the Jungle, and Star Seekers, providing even more opportunities for learning and fun.
Conveniently located at the Los Alamitos Community Center (10911 Oak Street), the camp runs Monday through Friday, with standard hours from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Extended care is available from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to accommodate busy schedules.
Be sure to check out the Summer Day Camp flyer for a full overview of weekly themes, excursions, pricing, and additional details.
Don’t miss out! Join us for a summer full of fun, friendship, and unforgettable memories at the Los Alamitos Summer Day Camp!
For additional information, please visit the Recreation & Community Services website at www.cityoflosalamitos.org/recreation or contact the Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department at (562) 430-1073.
Recently there was a special “buzz” when you drove by a Chick-fil-A, where there’s often a line of cars waiting at the drive-thru to purchase the iconic chicken sandwiches, nuggets, soups and other tasty foods sold at the Huntington Beach & Westminster locations. That’s because customers could eat to support their favorite cause.
The North Orange County Chick-fil-A locations participated in a community fundraiser, donating 20% of proceeds to The St. Bonaventure Church Knights of Columbus Woman’s Auxilary when the customers mentioned “Knights.”
“We raised $200 to support local charities by our friends and families mentioning our group when they ordered a delicious meal,” said Barbara Gonzales, club finanical officer. “The money benefits Horizon Pregnancy Center, Precious Life, Mercy House, Intellectual Disability, Robyn’s Nest and Waymakers.” Club member Marie Murphy said: “While our dedicated volunteers normally fix great meals for the men’s group, Knights of Columbus, they enjoyed raising money by someone else doing the cooking. What a treat!” “Giving back to the community is a core part of who we are,” said Chick fil-A franchise owner Blake Wohlgemuth. “At our two locations, we’re always looking for meaningful ways to serve beyond our restaurant walls with a focus on education, hunger and those experiencing homelessness.” He said local nonprofit organizations are invited to apply for partnership opportunities.
“Whether it’s supporting schools, nonprofits and local events, our goal is to create opportunities that make a real tangible difference,” he said. “If you have an orginization interested in partnering with us you can log on to: http://www.cfabeachblvd.com and complete our request form. We’re excited to connect and find new ways to serve our community.”
The Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department is excited to offer a variety of youth sports programs for the 2026 summer season, providing young participants with fun and engaging opportunities to stay active.
Start your Saturday mornings off right with Parent & Me T-Ball (ages 2–3) and Jr. Pee Wee Baseball (ages 4–6). These five-week, clinic-style programs introduce children to the fundamentals of baseball, including catching, hitting, and base running, in a supportive and energetic environment. Parent participation is required for the Parent & Me T-Ball program.
All programs will take place at Little Cottonwood Park (4000 Farquhar Ave.) and include an award for each participant at the conclusion of the session. Program Schedule:
Saturdays, June 13 – July 18, 2026 (No class on July 4)
Parent & Me T-Ball: 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Jr. Pee Wee Baseball: 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Registration opens on Monday, May 4, and closes on Wednesday, June 10. For additional information, please visit the Recreation & Community Services website at www.cityoflosalamitos.org/recreation or contact the Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department at (562) 430-1073.
White, beige, cream, eggshell townhouses line the pathways, matching the color of the beach floor that is only a few minutes away.
Families and couples walk along the tree-lined sidewalks with their pristinely upkept dogs, not a sound between them, or a woof from the furry friend; only the footsteps of their simple evening routines. A car wooshes by. Black, shiny, and quiet only in its luxury. The neighborhood is still, but that is only to the unsuspecting eye.
Quickly, the eye travels upward. A gleaming purple light comes from one of the balconies. Then orange. Then blue. A rainbow cacophony exploding from the ticky-tacky box.
Inside is no different. While the symphony of light is confined to a single room, the house is anything but dead. The soft thud of both small and large footsteps can be heard from all around, mixed with the metallic twang of a guitar being tuned; and laughter, so much laughter, creating a symphony of organized chaos. Two dogs, a large Golden Retriever named Mason and Mana, the small Catahoula-lab mix scamper to anyone that can offer a scratching hand. There is a flurry of movement at all points. Stillness is not a word known here.
The rainbow colored room comes into full view. The instrument of choice, the guitar, is hung multiple times over on one of the walls. A low-lying couch with pillows strewn about takes up most of the space, with a psychedelic picture on top of it. Upon a closer look, it’s the Fab Four during their Sgt. Pepper’s period, a huge inspiration for those that inhabit the space. Placed in a small alcove is a glass-top desk with a large Mac desktop. The workplace: the stage in a small setting.
It is a home studio, the host explains. A place where he can record music to his heart’s content. He just set it up recently, an exciting new adventure. His name is Sean Bierman, a singer and guitarist, and one of the three members which pours out creativity into this abode. The other two are his twin brother singer and guitarist Chad Bierman, and their friend, bassist and keyboard player, Nonso Ikeji. They all make up the band, Familiar Faces.
Familiar Faces is a psychedelic-alternative-indie band, based in Long Beach, CA. According to their website, the band takes much inspiration from old and new sources alike, such as “Tame Impala, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and Jacob Collier.” The band emphasizes that “their songs resonate with the quintessential experiences of Southern California’s youth, navigating the spectrum of challenges and exhilaration it presents.” The band started in 2021 and have now released their debut album
Identical twins Sean (left) and Chad (right) Bierman pose with their parents, Gabby and Dave, while bassist Nonso Ikeji has become a part of the family. (photo by David N. Young)
“In the Spotlight,” but it was a long road before they got anywhere near where they are right now.
Before there were three, there were two. The brother’s Bierman started off as a two-man act called, well, the Bierman Brothers. “We [have been] playing music since we were little kids,” Sean starts, saying how the brothers gained inspiration from their eldest brother Ryan Bierman, who was taking guitar lessons at the time. This continued well into their time at Huntington Beach High School, “They had a really good music program. We performed in that program. And that made us take it [really seriously],” Sean continues.
At the same time, Ikeji was just starting his musical journey—not playing until he was 16. Of course, he listened to music growing up. “Mostly rap and hip-hop” from the 90s and early 2000s, says Ikeji. But, he really has his mother to thank for getting him to where he is musically—by pushing him to join choir at Kennedy High School. “I didn’t necessarily want to because I was a basketball guy,” Ikeji continues. “I was a huge basketball and sports guy. I was like ‘Singin’? I’m not going to sing. Like, why would I do that? I’m a hooper. I play basketball. I don’t sing.’”
Despite his protests, the choir became a true outlet for him. Ikeji learned to sing, and—what would prove to be beneficial later—learned the piano, thanks to one of his friends. “He showed [me] the basic four notes on the left hand. Then, I started playing that and I went ‘This is kind of cool.’ Then, he showed me how to play the right hand. Then—it took me a few weeks—but I was finally able to put them together. I was hooked after that,” Ikeji remembers fondly. So, he went home and immediately had to find a piano. Good thing there was a brand-new one in the shed, thanks to his uncle, who bought it for Ikeji when he was born. A prophetic vision?
The love of music grew more and more with the twins. They had many small bands over the years, but the two always came back to the Bierman Brothers. Eventually, high school graduation grew closer and closer, and the brothers set their sights on Cypress, thanks to one of their high school music teachers. “It was [the] COVID[-19 pandemic]. Nobody was really in school. So, it did not really matter to go either to a community college or expensive college. We were saving money,” Sean continues.
Destiny must have been playing a hand, because the choice of going to Cypress College, led one of the brothers to meet with future band member Ikeji. “I met Ikeji in a Zoom class. We were both studying music there. It was funny. He was the only one on the call that did not have his camera on,” Sean laughs.
Ikeji joins in on the fun. “I was trying to rebel the whole time. I was like ‘You can not force me to show my face,’” he continues. The duo bonded over an icebreaker of their favorite musicians, cementing the collaboration even if they did not know it yet. Eventually the two met outside of the confines of a Zoom screen, with Sean running into class late one day, and sitting down next to the future bassist himself. “I recognized everybody, except Nonso. [I thought] ‘Wait, this must be the guy.’”
Familiar Faces (L-R) Nonso Ikeji, singer and bass guitarist, Chad and Sean Bierman, both of whom sing and play guitar. Chad holds a copy of their new album “In the Spotlight” that was released at a vinyl record store in Long Beach Saturday, April 18. Photo by Emily Henderson
One Bierman introduced Ikeji to the other Bierman, and the three started playing originals the brothers had created earlier, right then and there. And, well, the rest is history.
A new family was created that day, and that idea has always been a part of Familiar Faces. Specifically, the brothers are not the only Bierman’s that work with the band. Mom and Dad Bierman—a.k.a Gabby and Dave Bierman—help with the booking and accounting; along with providing love and support like two parents do. Specifically with Gabby, Ikeji laments that even though she is not his biological mom, Gabby “pushes [the band] in aspects that [they] lack.” He continues, saying that “She helps us stay firm, stay alert, and stay on top of certain things that can easily slip if no one says anything about it. It’s good having her on the team.”
Dave is also a part of the foundation that makes Familiar Faces, by being an audio-visual wiz—with no experience in that department what-so-ever. “Honestly, he works the hardest at set-up,” says Chad. He continues, stating that Chad will “slack for one minute, and next thing he knows, [he will] look up, and all the speakers are already standing up and plugged in. Like ‘Jeez Dad! I feel bad!’ He’s a workhorse. He kills it.” The three nod their heads in uniformed agreement.
With the core being slowly shaped, Familiar Faces has been releasing a variety of songs since their initial start. Gaining influence from psychedelic and classic rock of the 60s and 70s, the band adds modern twists with the tools and techniques that are now available. “I think we are all old souls in the music-loving sense,” Sean professes. “It’s just trying to innovate those old sounds.”
But even with the similarities of music taste between the three, a true fan will note the distinctions that separate every member— and the band knows it too. With Chad, he is “more of the rocker and kind of into-pop-music guy;” He continues, saying that Sean is “more into-psychedelic-rock,” along with classic rock; with Ikeji interjecting saying that he likes to keep the music “funky.”
No matter the style, the band is trying to create something that they love, and hope fans love as well. Their newest album, “In the Spotlight,” is a reflection of that mindset. The debut is a culmination of many years of work, says Faces. Chad reminisces that many of the songs on the album he “remember[s] Sean producing in [his] bedroom in 2020, six years ago. [We were] feeling a lot.”
Those feelings, the different genres, and much more combine together to give inspiration to many of the songs between the three. Chad emotionally discusses his songwriting process. “You can’t force it out ever. That’s my experience at least.” He continues, “We studied all this music theory stuff at Cypress College, and it’s helpful to know that. But at the end of the day, it does not help me write a song. It has to come out of you.” The others agree wholeheartedly.
The debut album is a particular science. A band has to do an impossible balancing act of trying to find a new audience, while also creating something they love and are proud of. Faces understood this task, and embedded much meaning onto every aspect of the album. Time was a great helper in this cause. “We just had so much time for this to brew. You have to pick so sparingly for your first album, because all the songs you have written in your life, this is the chance to narrow it down,” Sean expresses.
Chad continues saying how it took a while to even know how to make a good record. But they had a little help. He professes his gratitude for “Tayte Nickols, who produced most of the songs.” They were also mastered by Chief Engineer of Air Studios in London, John Webber, who helped bring the record to what it is now.
Their various musical influences are not the only key differences between the three. On-stage, the audience can acutely tell the personalities that are within each of the members. Ikeji puts it simply, “The reason the three of us work so well together is because of our different traits. [It’s] because Chad’s crazy, because Sean’s in the middle, and because I’m super laid back. You literally have the three.”
This semi-reflects who they are off-stage as well, with Sean talking about how when they were children, “Chad definitely was known as the crazy one, and I was the more shy one. Now, it’s not really that way. Depends on the day.”
What the band also professes is that if one wants to up the energy a bit more, the others know to give them their time to shine. Ikeji continues, saying that when they play, “everything is just in balance.”But even with balance, between the three, their team, their fans, the prospect of the debut album, and much more, they are still young artists. The economy is dismal, artificial intelligence is destroying true art, and a million other problems of just being in your early 20s come about. The band realizes both the ups and downs of everyday life. Sean expresses that it is a “blessing and a curse to be in love with playing music, because I have to dedicate my life to this.”
He expands: “It’s a curse because I could easily [take] another career path; If I did not have this passion I probably would not feel like I was missing out on doing something else that is easier to make money. But unfortunately, that is just not the reality. Something tells me that I have to do music. But it’s a blessing. The fact to have a passion is a blessing; to have that energy added to your life. If I find myself not playing music for a while, I start to feel like [life is] lacking.” The drive to play is what fuels all of them. Music is their life. Familiar Faces is their life; and they are not going to stop this easily.
Specifically, Ikeji talks about a time when he was a manager at a local Target. He remembers, saying how he was at the store all the time, at early hours, but making lots of money. Once he joined Faces, he realized where his life should truly go, and the chain was not a part of it. “So, eventually, ultimately, I have to quit Target, because I was like ‘What [is] more important? This job, which I can just get again another time? Or music?’” Ikeji professes.
Fiscally, the band understands that passion can not get you by in this economy, unfortunately. Every member has or is trying to get a full-time job, so they can keep doing what they truly love. Specifically, Ikeji works at a Boys and Girls Club, where he teaches a music class for the kids, hoping to inspire a future generation of musicians and give them the support he did not have when he was younger.
“I literally teach music to kids like Jack Black in School of Rock. I’ve never felt more fulfilled in my life [than] where I am right now.” Ikeji continues, “Yeah, I do not make nearly as much money as I was making before, but I am happy, and that is all that matters to me at this point. That is how I developed my passion, with seeing the spark in little kids.”
The future of Familiar Faces looks bright, and they are hoping for everything bigger and better in the years to come. With the debut comes merch, selling the album on vinyl and on streaming, and touring—all while keeping authenticity at the forefront. It’s all about more, more, more with Familiar Faces, and, especially Chad agrees. “We [are] taking baby steps, but I truly believe in us. I truly think we [are] going to make it, all the way,” he excitedly pronounces, almost like a declaration to all the world. Familiar Faces is here to stay.
Now it is time to exit the colorful oasis. Descending down the steps, back into the blanket of darkness that is the outside world. Walking away, into the cold, what seems to be silence, is actually a hum; a whistle; a chord. The music is brewing. The best is yet to come.
It’s the kind of military training that uses sharp edges only to carve the turkey…or whatever is headed for the grill.
The Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, this week will be the platform for soldiers from the 79th Theater Sustainment Command (79th TSC), the troops who feed other troops, to sharpen their “skills on the grills.” These Culinary soldiers are known by their military occupational specialty, Code (MOS) of 92G, which is a Culinary Specialist.
There are only two Army Reserve Theater Sustainment Commands. The Army Reserve and Army National Guard hold over 80% of the Total Army’s sustainment (logistics) capabilities, to which the Army Reserve provides the bulk of sustainment forces.
The 79th TSC provides Operational level Mission-Command and Sustainment support to U.S. and multinational forces worldwide, providing the logistics backbone that keeps Army and joint forces supplied, moving, and ready.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Rebekah Johnson keeps a watchful eye from the back as the culinary competition gets underway. Photo by David N. Young
Large?scale combat operations cannot succeed without Reserve sustainment soldiers. The 79th TSC supports U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), U.S. Army Europe and Africa, and other Army, joint, and multinational forces engaged in unified land operations, said Lt. Col. Dino “Oscar” De la hoya, the Command’s public affairs director.
Accordingly, he said troops from across the country assigned within the organization will arrive to the base in Los Alamitos this week to take part in the event.
The unique culinary competition is now in its second year, said U.S. Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer 4 Rebekah Johnson, the event’s coordinator.
“Just call it “Top Chef” with a military twist,” she said. Though this year’s 16 contestants will compete against each other in a series of unique culinary challenges over the next week,they began the culinary challenge on Sunday morning by performing some personal physical conditioning.
“They ran the base’s track this morning wearing 20lb.-rucksacks,” Johnson said, before the kickoff ceremony at noon, so contestants must train physically and mentally.
As part of this event, the Commanding General, Major General Todd L. Erskine and the participants conducted a “Happy Birthday Shout out” on the nation’s 118th Anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army Reserve Sunday.
Accordingly, 16 service members from around the country have gathered at the base this week to compete in a five-day series of culinary challenges that will crown a “top chef” of sorts, even though the goal is to improve the culinary creativity and culinary skills of the 79th Theater Sustainment Command, said Johnson.
She said the Army held an initial session last year, with fewer categories, but the response was so positive that they have added categories for this year’s 16 contestants.
The event kicked off Sunday with an appearance by Huntington Beach Celebrity Chef Andrew Gruel and Major General Todd Erskine at an assembly of more than 100 officers and service members as the contestants prepared for the first event on Monday.
“You create a vision that spices up morale,” said Erskine, noting the old saying, “an Army marches on its stomach. That’s the truth,” he said, “and you guys are the masters of this craft so I hope you take it to a whole next level,” the major general said.
“I know from my 30 years of living in the Army that if you feed soldiers a good hot meal, morale goes through the roof,” he told the competitors.
“This week will be filled with events that measure your critical thinking and will test your physical, mental, and creative grit,” said General Erskine.
Gruel, who runs a series of restaurants, including the Calico Fish House in Sunset Beach, and who is often featured on various U.S. television programs, told the service members that cooking a dish is like building a house.
“You’re building a foundation just as if you’re building a house,” Gruel explained to the military chefs. Gruel explained the elements that go into various sauces and how different spices added a balanced amount of bitterness and sweetness.
“Those are the elements that broaden a four-part palette as you season and you cook,” said Gruel. “It seems simple, but it takes somebody like you to be able to put that perfection into the food to keep this country running, and I thank you for everything you do,” Gruel told the troops.
“As a cook and a professional dishwasher, it is an absolute honor to stand here and speak to you. I thank you for everything you do because you’re cooking for the most important people, including yourselves, in the world,” he said.
The U.S. Army 79th Sustainment Command Assistant Chief of Staff sent a message telling the contestants, “you are here not by accident but because you are the best in your formation. Good luck and,” he said, “try not to burn anything.”
In an interview after the event, Johnson said the Army was very happy with the result of last year’s event, so they have expanded this year’s event by adding several competitive skills, such as a “baking challenge.”
In all, she said the 79th Sustainment Command competitors will compete in a series of events throughout the week, including being tested on their culinary equipment knowledge, they will each be given the same series of fresh food items for which they must prepare dishes, their individual culinary skills will be tested, they will have a “mystery food challenge,” and more.
Celebrity chef Andrew Gruel speaks to the prospective culinary competitors at Joint Forces Training Base. Photo by David N. Young
“So, it’s going to be the operational ration, which is our field ration, plus fresh ingredients.
And number two is the culinary skills exam, and number three is the knowledge board, and then number four is the written exam, a 100-question exam, and then number five is the equipment challenge, and number six is the new baking challenge,” said Johnson.
Erskine earlier credited the entire staff but called out Johnson for organizing the event
“It’s been your planning and your commitment to excellence, and everything that you’ve done that’s really gotten this thing off the ground, and that’s no small task,” the Major General said.
“From getting folks registered, you know, as they came in, and getting our equipment set up, to the full swag that you guys have sitting at your tables. I think that’s all Chief Warrant Officer Johnson. So, thank you for what you do,” he said.
Yes, he said swag, and, just like the Oscar ceremonies, or the Grammy® Awards, the 79th military chefs had their own “swag” waiting for them.
Overall, Johnson said the competitive culinary skills engrain modern thinking into what was
formerly known as Army mess, but while service members today march to a different tune, a full stomach still applies, even if it may come in new shapes and sizes that require a new generation of chefs.
De la hoya said the local public is welcome to come out to the base and watch the event, especially the final awards ceremony, planned for Friday, April 24, at JFTB. The ceremony will also have a special visitor, Representative Derek Tran, District 45.
He said the U.S. Congressman has served as a culinary specialist in the Army Reserve, “so he is excited to speak with the soldiers about the event and celebrate their accomplishments.
The event begins with a lunch and ends with the naming of this year’s “military” top chef. The ceremony will be held in the meeting hall next to the headquarters of the 40th Infantry Division, he said.
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Editor’s note: Additional military details have been added since this story appeared in print.
The Chairman of the nonprofit Citizens for Responsible Development is urging citizens of Cypress and Los Alamitos to respond to an ongoing Environmental Impact Review that he claims will make traffic on Katella Ave. much worse than it is now.
Moreover, according to George Pardon, an EIR comment period that ends April 30 could saddle Cypress with traffic more than 10 percent past what the state contends is the “threshold of significance.”
Pardon is sounding the alarm this week about changes imposed by Measure S, though approved by voters, that could increase traffic on Katella Ave.
As proposed by the city of Cypress and approved by voters two years ago, Measure S allows a single Environmental Review on the more than 100 developable acres that make up the “Los Alamitos Racetrack property.”
In recent times, a hotel, apartment complex, a series of commercial stores, and one residential unit of 100 homes have been added to the racetrack property, all of which contribute to the Katella Ave. traffic volume.
However, with developers in escrow for another small tract of acreage across from the entrance (where the 7th Day Adventist church stands today), the Environmental Review being currently conducted will be applicable to the remaining 80+ acres, said Pardon, because of Measure S.
While the current development will only add about 100 new homes, Pardon estimated, the approval of the EIR could eventually give the city the right to develop nearly 2,000 homes on the site.
“I think the residents of Cypress and Los Al will be very unhappy with the traffic if that is allowed to happen,” said Pardon. Even the EIR predicts serious traffic problems with full residential development on the site, said Pardon.
“This thick EIR states that Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) in the proposed project are projected to be 11.6% over the significance threshold. Even with proposed mitigations, VMT would be 10.4% over the significance threshold,” he said.
According to traffic planners and the state’s Environmental Quality Act, a “threshold of significance” is the point where any measured metric “would have a significant impact.”
“This VMT is higher per capita than the County’s residential VMT,” he said.
“Unfortunately, this EIR traffic information was not provided to residents before we were asked to approve Measure S,” said Pardon.
When he asked about a public meeting, Pardon said city officials told him the regulations did not require one, so one was never held to discuss the ongoing environmental review.
“This will not only have an impact on Cypress, but I think residents of Los Alamitos should be highly concerned as well,” he said.
The ENE has reached out to the City of Cypress but has not yet received a response. Under the EIR, the city has several choices:
No project at all
Retain the Racetrack grandstands for historical reasons and reduce overall housing.
Reduce residential units by 30 percent.
Once the review is complete, the Cypress City Council will have the final choice.While the EIR indicates the proposed project’s VMT impact would be significant, the EIR also says it is unavoidable if the entire site is built out.
Pardon said there is a choice that would make it more manageable. The one alternative that would reduce the number of units by 30% from more than 1900 units to 1,253 units,” he explained, would ironically “be significantly closer to the scope previously approved by residents, prior to Measure S, which was 1,250 residences,” he said.
“I would hope that residents speak out now by commenting on the EIR before April 30 and to make sure and copy their responses to their City Council members,” said Pardon.
“It’s also unfortunate that the city has not held a community meeting to discuss the impacts of this proposed project. The options provided have been to review the EIR online or to go to City Hall to review the hard copy,” he said.
“If the City Council approves the reduced scope in the EIR, the State will likely require the units to be zoned somewhere else. There is no reason why the only alternative needs to be Lincoln Avenue as proposed in Measure S.
In fact, Pardon said the housing element and other strategies were partly developed during the pandemic and now deserve a second look because conditions have changed.
In addition, he said while city officials are not interested in rezoning some of the commercial sites to residential, Yamaha’s site would make a wonderful Town Center site, with businesses already in place.
While voters approved of the Town Center project for the Racetrack property, what has transpired is, he thinks, not what the voters approved.
And, he said, since the pandemic, commercial real estate has struggled to fully regain pre-pandemic levels of occupancy. Over time, the Cypress business park has lost Mary Kay Cosmetics, Mitsubishi, Yamaha, and other major companies, with more to potentially follow as part of an ongoing exodus from the state, he suggested.
“That’s why I believe that one of the reasons that you know, the city hasn’t been all that strong on getting rezoning of some of that property where, like Yamaha is or Mary Kay was, because they know that the value of residential property is substantially greater than commercial property,” said Pardon.
“I think that had they done an overlay that would have zoned some of that property along the Katella corridor for residential, I think Cypress Business Park would have seen a quicker exit than it’s already seen,” said Pardon.
“If residents don’t respond soon, they won’t like it if more than 1900 units are built in this part of town,” he said. The EIR indicates that any comments should be submitted to Alicia Velasco, Planning Director.
Velasco responded to ENE to say the comment period does end April 30 and that “the City Council will consider the Certification of the EIR at a public meeting on a future date.”
She can be reached at av******@*******ca.org.
Editor’s note: This story has been edited since the print edition to add Ms. Velasco’s comments.
Westminster Mall, once a hub of not only the city, but of northwest Orange County communities, is being demolished to make way for a new, mixed-use center that plans for open space, as well as housing and retail.
The once highly-popular mall has seen a long decline in shoppers over the years, as people’s shopping and entertainment habits have changed. The new project, named Bolsa Pacific is being developed by Irvine-based Shopoff Realty Investments.
A ceremonial ground breaking/mall demolition kick off event was held at the property on April 15. The development company’s President and CEO, Bill Shopoff, spoke of the history of the mall and the many decades it provided area residents with fond memories.
He noted that friends of his told him stories of their first jobs at the mall. He noted that birthdays and first dates were celebrated at the center. Local teens spent summer afternoons there, going to movies and playing video games in the arcade.
“But like so many malls across the country, the world changed, the way people lived, shopped, gathered and connected has shifted and this place needed a new future,” Shopoff said.
That future plans include approximately 2,250 residential units, including 225 designated as affordable housing. There will be townhouses and apartments, as well as a 120-plus room hotel and more than 15 acres of open space.
A Target store is present on the plans as a main anchor store, near the freeway exit from the southbound 405. Other retailers are in the works. There is also going to be more than 15,000 square feet of what is labeled, food hall, according to the website bolsapacific.com.
Shopoff said the complex will include walkable and bikeable streets and pathways. Other speakers at the event included Westminster City Manager Christine Cordon, who also spoke of the legacy of the mall and the need for replacing it with something equally viable for area residents and future generations.
“I’m really proud of my team and the partnership and relationships that we’ve built with the shopoff development team … they’re really excited to bring something to this community as well, Cordon said.”
The event included a ceremonial shoveling of dirt by city officials and others, as well as a ceremonial demolition. Shopoff manned one of two large excavators and pulled down a cover from the entrance by the former Macy’s store. He also used the claw to crash through and break down the glass overhead, with the Westminster Mall signage. Behind a banner for the new Bolsa Pacific project, which he hopes will continue the legacy of the Westminster Mall.
“It’s about creating a place for a new generation of memory making,” Shopoff said.
It’s California Mosquito Awareness Week and Brian Brannon wants everyone to know. The public information officer at Orange County Vector Control District said that the world’s deadliest animal (according to the US Center for Disease Control), can be prevented if families and neighbors work together during mosquito season which runs annually April-October.
“Rising temperatures indicate that mosquito season is upon us,” Brannon said. “In 2025 Orange County had four reported West Nile virus cases with no fatalities, fortunately.” He urged everyone to examine their homes & yards for breeding sources that can easily be eliminated.
Dump & drain any containers filled with water at least once a week.
Clean & scrub bird baths and pet water bowls weekly.
Dump water from potted plant saucers.
Don’t share plant stems rooted in water.
Drill a hole or puncture containers to eliminate standing water.
Citronella plants sold at garden stores can be placed in your yard to help repel mosquitos. Mosquitos spread diseases like West Nile virus, dengue, zika chickungunya and St. Louis Encephalitis. In California there have been more than 8,000 humans affected and more than 400 deaths reported since 2003. “Luckily in Orange County we have our own Vector Control to help mediate and prevent mosquitos from spreading these potentially deadly pathogens,” said Pat Burns, Huntington Beach City Councilman. “During National Mosquito Week, lets remind ourselves of these threats by mosquitos and take precautions or heed warnings from Vector Control.” You can learn more by visiting: ocvector.org.
The Cypress Art League concluded its 50th Anniversary Spring show this week, with longtime President Pat Edep saying this year’s show not only attracted some great artwork but also enjoyed a record number of submissions.
“I think it finally turned out to be 228 pieces altogether, which is, I think, more than 225 that we had in the past. So that is a new record for us,” said Edep before this year’s award ceremony.
Patrons browse the massive gallery at the Cypress Community Center. Courtesy photo
“The work is spectacular,” she said, “and fortunately, some of the pieces were smaller. If they were any bigger, we just wouldn’t have had room for them,” she said.
Cypress Art League’s Best of Show, left, and Mayor’s Award, right. Courtesy photo
In addition, she said students entered the contest and “actually won prizes this year.”
“We’ve even had student members come in and win prizes, which is something new for us, and we’re encouraging the younger population to join our group and participate in our meetings,” said Edep.
For the first time in a long time, student entries won major awards. Courtesy photo
Judges selected Artist Carrol Wolf’s portrait of Patagonia as “Best of Show,” and selected her painting of a belly dancer as well, for the City’s “Mayor’s Award.”
Other winners this year include; Deborah & John Barcelona Award – Laurie Egan Deborah & John Barcelona Award – John Detreik Uptown Long Beach Lions – Tony Podue Uptown Long Beach Lions – Delores Youseff Diamond International – Stanley Wolf Print’ n Copy Center – Tim McCall Long Beach Chamber Orchestra – Josephine McCausland Donna Dean – L. Marina Lakewood Artists Guild – Tony Podue Time and Linda Keenan – Linda Boyd Roethel Family Trust – Dave Rucker Jesse Guerrero Reflections Salon – Carol Taylor Aquarium of the Pacific – Karen Johnson Art Supply Warehouse – Tony Podue Art Supply Warehouse – Delores Youseff Kunishi Plumeria – Twisha Arora Dominic’s Restaurant – Delores Youseff Award of Excellence – Phong Luu For a complete list of winners, visit cypressartleague.com.
Not only is its current budget more than $3 million in arrears, but trustees of the Cypress Elementary School District also learned at its regular meeting Thursday that without hard decisions, the system faces even more red ink in the future.
“This isn’t just a Cypress thing,” said Interim Supt. Dr. Timothy McLellan, adding that “this is what a lot of California school districts are experiencing.”
While the financial picture was less than rosy during what turned into a five-hour marathon workshop that laid bare the district’s dwindling finances, the Board of Trustees did manage to get a detailed analysis of the system’s financial structure, including Fund 40.
Fund 40 is where the district’s investments into private apartment complexes are kept and spent, as the board spent nearly two hours hearing an explanation.
Cypress, like other districts, is experiencing declining enrollment. Two decades ago, the board apparently formed a committee to deal with underutilized sites, meaning sites that had been closed then for declining enrollment.
The district then had six surplus sites, which included MacKay Elementary, which had already been closed for years, and Dickerson Elementary, which had been closed in 2009.
The Board then agreed to sell both surplus school properties for more than $30 million, and they in turn, signed an “exchange” for the real estate.
The Cypress School District acquired two SoCal multifamily properties totaling 81 units in a deal valued at $26.7 mil, or about $330k/unit. The revenue from this investment was expected to support local educational programming for students of the Cypress School District.
One of the properties is Coast Apartments, a 65-unit multifamily property located at 400 Merrimac Way in Costa Mesa, which was acquired for $20.05 mil ($308k/unit). The other purchase was for Azure Apartments, a 16-unit building located at 2704 Vanderbilt Lane in Redondo Beach. That acquisition went for $6.65 mil ($416k/unit).
In the analysis requested by the board at the last meeting, Assistant Supt. for Business Affairs, Dr. Larry Ferchaw told the Trustees that the larger complex produced approximately $415,000 in profit last year for the system, while the smaller complex produced $261,000 in rents, etc.
He said Fund 40 has a balance of over $11 million and noted that the board was using transfers from the fund to “stay solvent.”
Ferchaw and Interim Supt. McLellan took the board through a masterclass in restricted vs unrestricted funding, reserves, etc. and noted that following the pandemic, “students’ needs have increased.”
The district, with a budget of more than $55 million, is running a deficit this year of more than $3 million. “The question,” asked Ferchaw, “is where did all the money go?”
“I think the answer is it went to provide services and support to students,” said Ferchaw. “Every dollar we spend goes toward staff,” he said, noting that the district “is in the business of educating students. It’s what we do, we employ people to provide services to students.”
In short, Ferchaw pointed out in one of the many charts shown to the board that since 2015, district staff has grown 29% (denoted by a red line) while, at the same time, the board has experienced a 21% (denoted by a blue line) decrease in students.
“So, the chart in red, is the thing we spend money on and the chart in blue is the thing that generates the funding. And they’re going in opposite directions and that’s going to lead to the challenge we are seeing today,” said Ferchaw. “We cannot continue to increase or maintain this level of staffing,” he said.
Ferchaw introduced Greg Magnuson, a financial analyst provided to the district by the county education department to assist in helping the district better understand its financial situation.
Magnuson said most districts had staffed up because of the pandemic and are having similar problems. He said during the first year of COVID, “everybody was taking a hard hit and the state was trying to figure out how to make ends meet,” he said.
He explained the state’s funding formulas in detail and explained that the state has even gone to an “averaging” formula for daily attendance that allows school districts to reach back into years when attendance was higher to “average” out numbers to submit for funding.
School districts each get about $11,000 per student, although there are numerous exceptions and special formulas for special ed, etc. Nevertheless, Magnuson said as a result, Cypress School District was paid for 458 students in 21/22 “that were not in the district.”
Even with the averaging, he said Cypress is “losing 100 students a year you didn’t have.” He said the state has been provided “one-time” funding to districts as they try to wean themselves from the COVID ramp up, coupled with dropping attendance.
Moreover, he said that if Cypress takes no action, they could end up with a $5 million structural deficit by the 28/29 school year.
The county education executive said it is understandable that “this squeeze hurts any school district that has an operating structure that, because we support kids, nobody wants to take away from it so there’s got to be some affirmative action to try and resize as this kind of phenomenon occurs.”
The Cypress School District demanded the full workshop on finance at their last regular meeting as they grapple with ways of dealing with the inevitable.
The board continues to circle the Fund 40 balance of $11 million, which could alleviate some pain this year. Ferchaw explained the fund also provides for maintenance and other issues but said there is likely more Fund 40 can do to help.
“We’ve had a good discussion,” said Ferchaw.
“With Mr. Magnuson and the county’s continued support, looking at short and long-term ways of addressing the district’s deficit, continuing to look at utilization of Fund 40…we’ll come back with an identifiable, sustainable amount of funds from Fund 40 that we can use to prop up the general fund on an ongoing basis,” he promised the board.
In other action, the board approved a contract for McLellan, paying him a daily rate of $1118.45 per day, based on a 225-day year, until a new Superintendent is in place.
According to a schedule presented by McLellan to the board, given recruiting process and approvals from stakeholders involved, it could take until August or September to seat a new Superintenent for the system.
Also, on Thursday, the board voted 4-1 to censure Trustee Meghna Parikh for unspecified actions last year for which she took full accountability.
The action will not hinder her position nor affect her representation in any way, board officials said. The Board praised the presentation of the Arnold Elementary Debate team, as Parikh, an attorney, said “my heart is filled with joy” watching them and suggested they consider a mock-trial as a next step.
Aquarium of the Pacific officials say a 250-pound sea turtle they have dubbed “Meatloaf” is now in the intensive care tank at the facility after the massive creature was found injured in the St. Gabriel River.
Meatloaf was found trapped in fishing line and rope and tethered to debris in the San Gabriel River, said Aquarium Vet Dr. Jerry Adams last week.
It was rescued by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration personnel and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and then transferred to the aquarium for medical evaluation and care because of their “expertise in treating and releasing stranded and injured sea turtles.”
Adams said the Aquarium is part of a massive “sea turtle stranding network,” a network of organizations that work together to decide which provider gets alerted when a sea turtle is found in need of care along the California coast.
Meatloaf attracts crowds as she recuperates at the Aquarium. Photo by David N. Young
“They’ll call us and ask us to go out and evaluate and decide if it needs human care,” he said. Dr. Adams heads up the Aquarium’s Veterinary Services unit. Sea turtles found in Orange or L.A. counties are sent to the Aquarium of the Pacific.
Any injured sea turtle found further south is cared for by SeaWorld, he said.
“Meatloaf” has been attended to and is resting comfortably within a special area of the Aquarium.
She has suddenly become a prime attraction at the Aquarium, as visitors can walk up directly to the massive 4,000-gallon water tank that has become the sea turtle’s intensive care unit as vets continue to care for her and try to save her right flipper.
In an interview with ENE, Adams said, “The entangled line severely damaged a front flipper, cutting off its blood supply.” “We have been doing all we can, including surgery, to try and save the flipper,” he said.
“We are treating it with antibiotics,” said Adams, and “It is showing some early promising signs of healing.”
In addition, Dr. Adams said Meatloaf the sea turtle receives medical treatment in ways not unlike a human. “We take X-Rays to check for pneumonia and collect blood samples for laboratory analysis to assess infection, organ function and hydration status,” he said.
Turtles are red-blooded like humans but are cold-blooded, he said.
“They are considered air breathers,” he said, “but they’re considered cold-blooded, they’re poikilotherms, meaning they are the same temperature as the environment around them. They don’t generate their own body heat, so if they want to get warm, they have to go to warmer water,” the Aquarium’s Chief Vet told ENE.
He said Aquarium staff regularly weigh the turtle, track its body condition, and monitor its nutrition and adjust its diet during rehabilitation.
Green sea turtles are herbivores, meaning they mostly eat plants and algae, “but I think they will eat whatever they can find,” he said.
While Meatloaf is a large turtle, he said most Green Sea Turtles in the area average closer to 100 pounds.
Dr. Adams said Meatloaf is healing nicely, and he thinks that when Meatloaf is released back into the Pacific, she could survive with only three flippers if necessary.
“Meatloaf’s overall progress has been great,” said Adams. “She’s going to do well while the prognosis is still questionable on the flipper. “Sea turtles primarily use their flippers for swimming so they can forage and migrate, then they use them to haul themselves out of the ocean to migrate and lay eggs,” said Adams.
“There are sea turtles that can live with one missing flipper,” he said, if necessary. “They adapt to missing limbs.”
Adams said he expects Meatloaf to go the way of “Porkchop,” the Aquarium’s most recent rescue, and to be returned to the Pacific within six or twelve months. Porkchop has been spotted reunited with other sea turtles, he added. “One rescue is never the last,” he added.
On its website, the Aquarium is asking for the public’s help to fund the specialized medical care needed for Meatloaf to recover and be deemed ready to be released back into the wild.Donations to the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Program support expert care, critical surgeries, and rehabilitation for Meatloaf and future rescued turtles.
For more info, or to assist, visit aquariumofpacific.org.
On April 24, The Youth Center and Rotary Club of Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and Cypress will host its 14th annual A Night Among the Stars (ANATS) ceremony, celebrating 20 outstanding youth nominees recognized for their dedication to service and community involvement. Adonis Cardenas, Danika Mei, and Kayla Teng are three of this year’s nominees who are especially committed to making a difference.
Adonis Cardenas
Adonis Cardenas is an 11-year-old sixth grader at Frank Vessels Elementary in the Cypress School District who has already made a meaningful impact across multiple communities through his dedication to service. Outside of his hobbies, including learning new sports, instruments, and recipes, Adonis is actively involved in the Leos Club and the Greek Orthodox Youth of America (GOYA). He continually looks for ways to support others and contribute to something larger than himself.
Adonis Cardenas, Courtesy photo
“I thought I could give back to the community and to the people who need it. I started helping, and my mom encouraged me to do more,” Adonis shared, explaining what inspired him to begin serving.
Through GOYA, Adonis participates in events that bring people together, including the Seal Beach Fish Fry, where he enjoyed helping and cooking. “It was a time to be happy and meet people you might not know,” he said.
In the Leo Club, part of Lions International’s youth branch, he helps pack backpacks with supplies and create blankets for those in need. He also supports FOCUS SoCal by packing food boxes and serving families facing hardship.
“It’s not just about me. It’s about how other people feel. I’ve learned to put others’ needs before my own,” Adonis said.
Adonis’ creativity shines through his work. He has built a bike, enjoys face painting at community events, and even won a T-shirt design competition at his school. He approaches everything he does with intention and pride.
He encourages other youth to “drop the cool act” and start helping out. “You get this warm, fuzzy feeling inside. Even if it’s hard work, the work is good,” he said.
For Adonis, being nominated for A Night Among the Stars (ANATS) means something truly special and motivates him to continue serving others.
Danika Mei
Danika Mei is a 17-year-old senior at Troy High School in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District with a strong passion for drone and aerospace technology.
“I like to fly drones, code with them, and work on unmanned aerial vehicle projects that have real-world applications to better people’s lives,” Danika explained.
Danika Mei, Courtesy photo
She is committed to sharing her passion for STEM with younger students.
“Exposing youth to aerospace early on can foster interest and create formative learning experiences they will want to continue pursuing,” she said.
When Danika joined her school’s Drones4Kids club, there were only five members. Determined to grow the program, she recruited peers and expanded participation to 30 members, including students from other high schools. The group has hosted more than 80 drone education events at libraries, schools, and STEM fairs.
Danika was especially motivated to encourage young girls in STEM after noticing gender disparities at events. This led her to found DronesByGirls, an initiative that creates opportunities for girls to explore aerospace in a supportive environment. She has partnered with organizations such as the Orange County Girl Scouts to host STEM-focused events.
“Being nominated means I’ve made a positive impact by giving children access to hands-on aerospace technology they might not otherwise experience,” Danika said.
Kayla Teng
Fifteen-year-old Kayla Teng serves as Vice President of Creative Engagement for The Youth Center Leadership Council, where she brings creativity and purpose to everything she does.
In her role, Kayla collaborates with her team to develop engaging program curricula and leads publicity efforts through social media. Her design work is inspired by platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, and she uses tools such as Canva and Adobe Illustrator to transform ideas into impactful visuals that enhance outreach.
Kaya Teng, Courtesy photo
For Kayla, leadership is rooted in communication and trust. “Leadership means delegating effectively and maintaining strong communication within the team and with executive leadership to achieve our goals,” she said.
Beyond her technical skills, Kayla is deeply committed to making a difference. She encourages others to get involved, highlighting the Leadership Council as a meaningful way for youth to engage with their community.
Being nominated for A Night Among the Stars (ANATS) is both an honor and a motivator. “I am incredibly grateful to be nominated. It is rewarding to have my work recognized, and it pushes me to continue serving and working hard,” Kayla said.
Alizabeth Martin is The Youth Center Marketing Intern
Not far from where its founding family once grew lima beans, the president of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa announced a program last week that signals a new level of engagement for the complex in our rapidly evolving world. “Orange County is one of the most vibrant and culturally diverse regions in the country,” said Segerstrom President Casey Ritz, where, he said, “the arts continue to play an important role.”
On March 30, Reitz gathered along with other Segerstrom officials on its growing campus to announce the new outreach program.
“We get together to share stories and celebrate our heritage,” said Reitz, “so today we’re very excited because we’re going to take the next step in that journey,” he said.
Reitz announced an “expanded commitment to Hispanic and Latino arts and culture. “
“This initiative will include performances, education programs, master classes, new commissions, and opportunities for artists and all agents who want to experience the incredible richness and diversity of Hispanic and Latino culture,” said Reitz.
His announcement comes at a time when entertainment venues across the country are repositioning themselves as the industry continues to evolve.
Moreover, Reitz seemed to channel Henry T. Segerstrom, the Center’s founder, who led a life of “imagining the future.”
Reitz said six-time Grammy® Award-winning composer and bandleader Auturo O’Farrill will enjoy the Center’s inaugural Artist in Residence program.
Grammy Award winner Arturo O’Farrill honored as Segerstrom’s first-ever Artist in Residence. Courtesy photo
Not only to perform concerts and make appearances, said Reitz, but O’Farrill will be free to wander into and interface with various communities to build on Orange County’s long Latino history.
He said the AIR program is named “VIVA Spenuzza Series,” celebrating 257 Years of California’s Hispanic Heritage,” said Reitz.
Reitz thanked Segerstrom Board member Connie Spenuzza, and her family foundation, for funding the first year of the program.
O’Farrill is widely recognized as one of the industry’s most influential contemporary voices in Afro, Latin, and jazz music. His award-winning body of work effortlessly bridges the traditions of jazz improvisation, Afro-Cuban, and pan-Latin musical traditions.
“Segerstrom is doing something extraordinary,” said O’Farrill, noting that he “couldn’t be happier” about the groundbreaking residency.
“I want to be able to touch people’s lives,” he said, “regardless of who they are. Love is the only currency of value,” he said, adding that “it is the gravy that holds us all together.”
For Reitz, the surprise Artist in Residence announcement follows the release of a blockbuster lineup of 40th Anniversary Broadway shows to satisfy a wide swath of an increasingly diverse Orange County.
Four decades after its founding, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts is moving forward in ways not only to stay in touch with the times, but in many ways like the brainchild of the Center with which it shares a name.
The Costa Mesa cultural and entertainment complex was inspired and built by Henry T. Segerstrom, a visionary businessman remembered for always “imagining the future.”
According to a PBS documentary, Segerstrom was the grandson of C.J. Segerstrom, who emigrated to America from Sweden in 1882.After arriving, the family leased a tract of land where they kept dairy cows, grew alfalfa, and made their name and fortune in legumes (lima beans).
Young Henry Segerstrom came along in 1923, was named valedictorian of Santa Ana High School in 1939, enrolled at Stanford, interrupted his studies to serve in WWII, and, though severely wounded, earned a Purple Heart during the Battle of the Bulge.
Segerstrom returned to the family farm business and began “imagining the future.”
Segerstrom envisioned South Coast Plaza before there were sufficient roads to allow dusty OC residents to get there.
Moreover, he met with the most luxurious brands in Europe and convinced them to invest in a store there.
His vision brought immense prosperity to Henry and Renee Segerstrom. At one point, the South Coast Plaza was reportedly the highest-grossing shopping area per capita in the United States.
In 1972, when South Coast Repertory Theatre was seeking a location to build and expand. The Segerstrom family agreed to donate one acre of land adjacent to its current location with a $50,000 cash gift and parking arrangements. The South Coast Repertory Theatre opened in 1978.
In 1979, the Segerstrom family donated five acres across from the shopping center, along with $5 million to build the Orange County Performing Arts Center. That vision became reality when the Orange County Performing Arts Center opened on September 29, 1986 with a concert in its new opera house-style Segerstrom Hall.
At once, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts became one of the nation’s most innovative and technically advanced performing arts complexes.
The Segerstrom Center for the Arts quickly established an ambitious education department, dedicated to bringing young people to the campus for live professional performances and providing meaningful arts programs.
With six stunning venues nestled within a beautiful multi-disciplinary campus, the Center is home to the region’s most esteemed performing arts organizations, including the Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Pacific Chorale as well as two independently acclaimed organizations: Tony Award®-winning South Coast Repertory and The Orange County Museum of Art. Segerstrom Center is also home to the American Ballet Theatre, William J. Gillespie School and Studio D: Arts School for All Abilities.
Now, in that spirit, Reitz is inspiring a reawakening of Segerstrom’s initial spirit, innovating the center’s operations, bringing to the Center more culturally diverse programming, launching a first Artist in Residence program, and from all indicattions, the SCFTA entertaiment overhaul is likely to continue.
If you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate Mother’s Day, the Sunset Beach Art Festival has some exciting, new features and things to do. Going in a new direction this year due to construction along the greenbelt, the event will be offering free shuttles to & from Peter’s Landing to access the festival that will be taking place from 12th to 19th Street.
Among the exciting attractions is a delicious mix of new cuisine flavors, plus a Kids Zone with Petting Zoo and crafts stations for making Mother’s Day cards. Guests can also enjoy shopping at 150 artisan vendor booths offering unique, hand-crafted art, jewelry, photography, and more!
According to Janet Parks, a festival co-chair: “This creates a vibrant walkable experience along the Coast where guests can shop, play and stay all day if they like.”
“At the Kids Zone budding artists can create their own works on canvas by designing Mother’s Day cards with markers and chalk. We also added a Petting Zoo, and the Iconic Wave is making an apperance at the show for your family photos,” Parks said.
Josey Dentzer, chair of the student arts contest wants everyone to see the festival gallery on 12th Street featuring Huntington Beach middle and high school students’ artwork. “In 2025 a ceramics class raised $1200 in sales to benefit high school art programs!”
Huntington Beach Mayor Casey McKeon applauds Las Damas for organizing the event and said: “It’s a 58-year tradition that is free and fun for the entire family! I hope everyone comes and enjoys the Sunset Beach Art Festival.”
Held Saturday May 9th from 9am to 6pm and Sunday May 10th from 9am to 5pm, the event takes place on Pacific Avenue between 12th & 19th Streets. Admission is free. Learn more on the free shuttle and event details at: http://www.sunsetbeachartfesitval.net . Questions call: (909) 373-5924.
For the 51 years, the Cypress College Americana Awards have presented men and women of distinction with honors for their service to their communities while raising millions of dollars for scholarships and other educational needs.
On March 21, 2026, Cypress College Foundation held this year’s Americana Awards Gala. This event began in 1976 after the American Bicentennial.
Courtesy photo (L-R) Dr. Scott Thayer, Cypress College President, Debbie Kent, Person of the Year from the city of Los Alamitos, Mayor Tanya Doby and Curtis Scheetz, Cypress College Foundation. Debbie Kent is Secretary (and docent) of the Los Alamitos Museum Board, she’s served on the Youth Center Board and is involved in other civic endeavors in Los Al.
Fifty-one years later, America is about to celebrate its 250th Anniversary and Cypress College continues a tradition that recognizes public service while raising funds to inspire the next generation.
Courtesy photo (L-R) Dr. Scott Thayer, Cypress College President; Mayor Pro-tem Debbie Baker, Jan Jansen, who was honored as Person of the Year from the city of La Palma and Curtis Scheetz, Cypress College Foundation. Jan Jensen has served on the Traffic and Safety Commission for six years and is involved in a number of volunteer activities including the Kiwanis Club of La Palma, Los Coyotes Site Council and others.
Each year, Cypress College Foundation invites community members from eight cities to nominate candidates for Citizen of the Year. Candidates are nominated based on criteria such as community engagement, community impact and longevity in the community. Here are the three winners from the communities served in our coverage area.
