Local employee laments closure of “Jade on the Water”
Jade on the Water, a popular local eating and gathering spot for people in the area, has shut its doors as of March 23, according to local reports and former employees.
Local owner Rod Frontino told a Long Beach website over the weekend that the massive, 7,000 square foot facility formerly known as Forbidden City was closed permanently on Monday, March 23.
“This sign goes on the door, website, and socials Monday morning: ‘Jade is closed to pursue new concepts and opportunities. Thank you for every visit and the years of community support’,” Frontino told longbeachize.com.
“The decor of the space is truly beautiful,” Rod told me back in 2019. “We had little work to do as we moved around the space, just touch-ups here and there. The decor was the inspiration behind the name. The previous owners [Michael Brausen and Gao Yan] had a lotus blossom fountain hand-carved from a jade boulder.”
Local resident Shawn Kelly, who kept the bar area humming for more than seven years, said this past Sunday, March 22, was a particularly “emotional” day.
“We only found out Friday that we were closing,” said Kelly, noting that on Sunday, crowds of friends and supporters showed up for a final visit.
“It was absolutely jam packed,” said Kelly, who in his spare time was also well known for having a singing voice that allowed him to sing like Robert Plant in the local Led Zeppelin tribute band, Led Zepland.
“It was like a Cheers bar,” said Kelly, and “I tried to built it up to that.”
“The locals are what made it what it was,” he said. “We had a great clientele, they were all wonderful people and now they’re all my friends,” he said.
“All the people that came in to support us were there and I’m still tired from an unbelievable closing day,” said Kelly.
“Everyone was sad and upset that it is closing,” he added.
“We don’t know what, if anything is going to happen,” he said, and “if anyone can get the capital, rebrand and reopen it, you know, I’d love to be a part of it.”
The restaurant, which sits on the water in Marina Pacifica, featured Asian fusion cuisine, and its entrance was highlighted by a 5,000-lotus-blossom carving carved from a nine-ton boulder imported from northern China.
Beatriz Porto explains the tasty success of homegrown bakery to Los Al Chamber
A second-generation owner of Porto’s Bakery spoke at the Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce’s February meeting, giving a packed auditorium on the Epson America campus a riveting rendition of a true American success story.
Beatriz Porto explained how her family left Cuba with little or nothing but a dream for a better life. Only with the work ethic of her father, Raul, Sr., and the baking skills of her late mother Rosa’s, could the family transform hard knocks into a family fortune.
“It is a story 50 years in the making,” said Beatriz, going into riveting detail about their lives in Cuba before coming to America in 1971.
“There was no money (in Cuba) because the money was worthless,” she told the group. When her parents fell onto harder times after filing papers to leave Cuba, her mom secretly baked and sold cakes, she told the group.
Courtesy photo
Even if there was no money, “they would pay her with beans, rice and chicken,” remembered Porto.
She said the family made a smart move after arriving in the USA, she said. While most Cuban refugees went to Miami, “a lot of smart people were telling us ‘there are no jobs in Miami, come to California,’” she said.
They did, and the rest is history.
Her dad soon found a job at a Dutch company and her mom started baking again, but had to experiment.
“It took her several months to figure things out because (in America), the flour was different, the milk is different and the butter here is different,” Porto said.
“Two months later, she was making wedding cakes,” said Porto. “Although my dad wanted her to fail because he wanted her to get a job, she said ‘if I was able to have a business in Cuba, how could you not be successful in America,’” Porto said she remembered her mother saying.
Pretty soon, the Porto’s kitchen was super busy and in 1976, they were driving in Silverlake when they found an abandoned bakery and opened. They moved to Glendale in 1982 and never looked back.
Today, Porto’s Bakery is known throughout the region as one of the tastiest treats on the Southern California restaurant menu.
Porto’s took the number one spot on “Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the US.” In 2021 Porto’s Bakery was voted Best Bakery in the Southland, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Beatriz said just as Porto’s Bakery started in Rosa’s home back in Cuba, with Porto’s Bake at Home, “we now ship our most popular pastries and cakes nationwide” for customers to bake at home.
Porto’s has gradually grown into six current locations in Glendale, Burbank, Downey, Buena Park, West Covina, and Northridge, with a seventh location in the Downtown Disney® District on the way.
“Quality is the key,” said Porto. “We’re no longer just a bakery, we’re a business,” she said.
Chamber President Richie Barnes thanked Porto for speaking to the Chamber and several other officials were on hand to present Certificates of Appreciation to Porto.
In other action, the Chamber honored Garage Pilates and owner Kristin DiMiceli for being named “Chamber member of the month.”
Rossmoor Woman’s Club honors two LAHS students with $1,000 scholarships
The Rossmoor Woman’s Club presented $1,000 scholarships to Los Alamitos High School students for their January and February selections.
Michelle Wittenberg, RWC liaison the club’s Student of the Month scholarship program, made the presentations to the Trent Massey as the January scholarship winner and Christian Szymborski was named the February scholarship winner.
Massey was named Senior of the Month at Los Alamitos High School for January ‘26. He is a four-year member of the Associated Student Body, spending countless hours at school events, and is also on the Improv team at LAHS.
Academics are a key aspect of his life. He has maintained straight A’s while earning a 4.3 cumulative GPA. Trent is heavily focused on philanthropy.
He is a member of the National League of Young Men, where he has learned important life lessons while giving back to his community. In addition, he is the intern for Summer Harvest, a non-profit whose mission is to feed local families over summer.
Aviation is one of Trent’s life passions. On campus, he is the Co-President of the Aviation Club. Outside of school, Trent is a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, where he attends monthly meetings discussing and learning about aviation.
Through EAA, he also volunteers at Young Eagles events, where pilots volunteer to fly children for free. Trent is also taking steps towards his dream career as a commercial airline pilot. He has flown for about 40 hours and is working to attain his Private Pilot License. Trent has recently been accepted into his dream college, California Baptist University. After graduating from Los Al, he will attend CBU and major in Aviation Flight.
Christian Szymborski was named Senior of the Month at Los Alamitos High School for February ‘26. As a resident of Rossmoor, Christian began his education in the Los Alamitos Unified School District at Rossmoor Elementary School, where he attended from Transitional Kindergarten.
Throughout his academic journey, Christian has demonstrated exceptional dedication to learning, particularly in mathematics and science.
At Los Alamitos High School, Christian has distinguished himself as a standout STEM student with a strong passion for chemistry and physics. He has been an active member of Science Olympiad and the American Chemical Society (ACS), representing Los Alamitos in the very competitive Orange County region.
Christian helped lead his team to a third-place finish as a sophomore and a sixth-place finish as a junior, earning the highest individual team score for two consecutive years. He is currently working toward qualifying for the national ACS competition.
His academic excellence is further reflected in his honors, including being named a PSAT Commended Student and earning the distinction of AP Scholar with Distinction. He has maintained straight A’s throughout high school and will have completed 14 Advanced Placement (AP) courses by graduation. In addition, Christian has pursued dual enrollment at Long Beach City College and Cypress College, where he has taken Organic Chemistry, advanced mathematics, and multiple college-level physics courses.
Beyond academics, Christian is deeply involved on campus and in the community. He serves as Vice President of the Kindness Club, is a member of the Spanish Honor Society, which focuses on inclusion and service, and is a Student Ambassador, welcoming and supporting new students at Los Alamitos High School. As an athlete, Christian is a regular at the Seal Beach Swim Club and has competed on his high school’s swim and water polo teams. During his junior year of swim, Christian was honored with the Coach’s Award, presented by Mrs. Weber.
He credits the encouragement of many outstanding educators along the way, beginning with Mrs. Hinsche at Rossmoor Elementary School and continuing with mentors such as Mr. Jones, who has supported and inspired his passion for STEM disciplines.
Christian is also known for his generosity with his knowledge and time. He regularly tutors fellow students and in his free time, Christian enjoys combining his passion for chemistry with baking, often applying scientific principles in the kitchen. He is well known for arriving at school and social gatherings with fresh-baked cookies.
Looking ahead, Christian plans to pursue an undergraduate degree in physics, ideally within the University of California system, with long-term goals of earning a Ph.D. in Physics.
Christian is honored to receive the $1,000 scholarship from the Rossmoor Woman’s Club, whose commitment to education, community service, and social responsibility reflects the values he hopes to carry forward in his academic and professional future.
Annual March Madness march draws 300
More than 300 women and men toughed it recently, “rucking” 6.8 miles from the Huntington Beach Pier to Balboa Peninsula to raise awareness for veterans at risk of suicide.The third annual Ruck March fundraiser held by American Legion Post 291 involved a walk carrying weighted backpacks “rucksacks” at a brisk pace, used in military training to build cardiovascular strength, endurance, and mental toughness.
Proceeds from the event are earmarked for veterans programs to provide counseling housing and other needs to prevent suicide, according to Legion Post 291 Adjutant and event organizer Nick Saifan.
Thanking veterans for their service, Huntington Beach Mayor Casey McKeon launched the Ruck March by telling the crowd how members of American Legion Post 133 start each Huntington Beach City Council meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
“I introduce a different veteran at each meeting and provide a brief bio on the individual of his or her service to our country.”
Dressed in military regalia, Dennis Bauer of Huntington Beach American Legion Post 133 “held the colors,” a tradition of veterans bearing and honoring the U.S. flag in ceremonies, said: “We think this walk is a great way to represent Veterans and help those in need.”
Learn more on American Legion 291 and 133 at: http://www.al291.com and http://www.hbpost133.com .
Lenten “Last Call” for fish fry sounded at St. Irenaeus in Cypress
By Irv Cuevas
St. Irenaeus Knights of Columbus send a friendly reminder of its final Lenten Friday fish fry dinners served 4:30-7:30 p.m.in the St. Irenaeus parish hall, located at Grindlay and Evergreen Streets in Cypress.
Friday, March 27th is the final night to let someone else do the cooking and treat yourself to inexpensive dinners featuring delicious baked salmon, New England clam chowder, Fish & Chips, spaghetti with marinara sauce, coleslaw, green salad and other side items.
Sit-down service is an added feature to avoid standing in long waiting lines. There is also a raffle for a luxurious stay at a popular Palm Desert resort.
Prices are very affordable: ranging from $14 for the baked salmon fillet with savory rice or fries; Fish and Chips $12 to $15 depending on number of pieces of fish you desire. All come with coleslaw or green salad.
Other selections include spaghetti with marinara sauce and green salad $8; clam chowder $3; cauliflower or tempura green beans $3.
No charge for lemonade, water, coffee and dessert.
Grand Knight Paulo Morales says proceeds of the dinners help the St Irenaeus Knights of Columbus support numerous local charities and community service projects.
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P.I. Kathie Allen to speak to Cypress Chamber
The Cypress Chamber of Commerce will welcome Orange County Private Investigator Kathie Allen as our guest speaker at our April Networking Breakfast. The event will be held Tuesday, April 14th at the Residence Inn by Marriott at 4931 Katella Avenue, Cypress/Los Alamitos starting at 7:30 a.m.
Kathie Allen is the Founder and Principal Investigator of Allen Morris Investigations LLC, a licensed California private investigation firm based in Orange County. Her program that she will present is called “Responding to Harassment and Discrimination Complaints: Critical Steps for Business Owners.”
Kathie recognizes that most business owners are not prepared when a harassment, discrimination, or misconduct complaint lands on their desk. Yet the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours are often the most critical. How leaders respond during this window can reduce liability, protect employees, and prevent small issues from becoming costly legal disputes.
In the time we have at our breakfast program, Kathie will share a presentation that offers a practical, structured guide to handling workplace complaints with clarity and confidence. Attendees will learn how to recognize protected complaints, determine when an investigation is required, preserve evidence, avoid common mistakes that create liability, and decide when to involve HR, counsel, or an outside investigator. The session also covers early warning signs, documentation essentials, neutrality expectations, and the importance of trauma-informed communication during initial reports.
Kathie hopes to demystify the investigation process for business professionals, as well as provide a few actionable steps for responding to allegations long before attorneys become involved. Participants will leave with a clear framework they can apply immediately to ensure fairness, compliance, and organizational integrity.
Kathie Allen brings more than twenty years of experience in investigations, employee relations, compliance, and administrative review work. A California licensed Private Investigator, Certified Title IX Investigator, and Certified Mediator, Kathie conducts impartial investigations for employers, public agencies, educational institutions, and law firms throughout California. Her work includes harassment, discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, leadership, and student misconduct matters. She applies a neutral, trauma-informed, and evidence-based approach to produce clear and defensible findings that support informed decision-making.
Each Chamber breakfast attendee will also have an opportunity to stand to introduce themselves and share a little about their business before the program begins.
Reservations are highly recommended and can be made online. Cost of the breakfast is $25.00. Attendees are encouraged to bring a door prize to help promote their product or service. The program will include time for live networking, self-introductions, a breakfast buffet, as well as our guest speaker.
The Chamber networking breakfasts, which are open to the public, are held on the second Tuesday of every month. Space at these events is limited. To assure your seat, pre-register on the chamber website at https://www.cypresschamber.org/events/details/2026-april-networking-breakfast-2782
Silavs already gone; Board reaches out to former Asst. Supt. for Business Services as Interim Superintendent
Note: This article has been updated since the print edition of the Event News to reflect action taken at yet another special meeting Monday, March 16, at which they hired a former Asst. Supt. as Interim Superintendent.
Anne Silavs, the embattled Superintendent of the Cypress Elementary School District is gone.
With a frustrated Board of Trustees asking pesky questions about why the district is more than $3 million in debt and for a full accounting of its non-education assets, Silavs announced her retirement last week in a message that even caught the Board of Trustees off guard.
“We knew she’s been talking about retiring, but we had no advance notice of the announcement,” said Board President Lydia Sondhi, Ph.D. Even then, Silavs’ announcement claimed she would retire at the end of the school year.
Courtesy photo
Sondhi announced this week that Silavs is already gone, leaving the board to working with others to find the vexing answers to accounting for the state of the of the district’s ailing finances.
In addition, the Board asked for a complete accounting of so-called “Fund 40,” an account with significant reserves derived for outside board investments.
With the 2025 retirement of long-time Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Dr. Tim McLellan, the district installed Larry Ferchaw as his replacement.
As the school administration seeks answers, they will now have to deal with two relatively new faces, as the board has named Dr. Tracy Mouren-Laurens as Interim Supt.
Sondhi made the announcement about Silavs’ departure and Mouren-Laurens at the board’s regular meeting March 12, saying the board had met in special session March 10.
“The board voted unanimously to accept Superintendent Anne Silavs’ request for early retirement effective March 10, 2026,” said Sondhi.
“Consistent with the terms of her employment contract, Ms. Silavs will receive her current salary through June 30, 2026, and receive health benefits on the same basis as active certificated employees until age 65, or when she otherwise becomes eligible for Medicare, whichever comes first,” she said.
Sondhi said the Board had also unanimously voted to appoint Ms. Tracy Mouren-Laurens, Executive Director of Human Resources, as Acting Superintendent effective immediately.
“The Board will meet in the coming days to select an Interim Superintendent to oversee district operations and the 2026/27 budget reduction process,” she said.
“We acknowledge Ms. Silavs’ years of service and her contributions to our music and STEM programs. Our priority remains the stability of our schools and the success of our students during this period of change,” she said.
“We are confident in a smooth transition with Ms. Mouren-Laurens,” said Sondhi.
Anne Silavs has served the Cypress School District as Superintendent since 2015 and her career ends in 2026, marking almost 11 years with the district.
However, with barely enough notice to meet state law, the Cypress Board of Trustees met again in special session on Monday, March 16, to consider bringing back a former employee with perhaps the greatest depth of knowledge about Fund 40 as Interim Superintendent.
According to the notice of meeting, the board interviewed Mouren-Laurens and Dr. Tim McClellan, the former Assistant Supt. for Business Affairs, who had retired last year for the position of Interim Supt. as they seek some stability to survive their current budget crisis.
“The Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to appoint Dr. Tim McLellan as Interim Superintendent effective April 9, 2026. This decision follows a thorough and thoughtful review process aimed at ensuring stable and effective leadership for the district during this transitional period to find a permanent Superintendent,” said the Board in a statement after the meeting.
More announcements are expected April 9, as Mouren-Laurens is expected to return to her positions in Human Resources and a more definative contract announcement for McLellan.
The Board also announced its Teachers of the Year at its March 12 meeting. The ENE will feature those selections in next week’s edition.
Yamaha Motor Corp. announces departure from Cypress business district
Another major corporate entity currently located in Cypress’ famed business district has announced its departure from the city.
Yamaha Motor Corporation announced this week that over the next three years, it will transfer all corporate activities from Cypress, California to Kennesaw, Georgia.
In a press release, Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it has decided to relocate its U.S. group company, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. (“YMUS”), currently located in Cypress, California, to Kennesaw, Georgia.
“This relocation will be happening, by function, over the period from the end of 2026 until the end of 2028,” the company said.
The action comes not as a total surprise to those in the motorsports industry, as the company reorganized in 2019, sending much of its operation to Georgia, a southern state where Yamaha already has three company offices.
Of greater interest to Cypress residents, however, is what entity will end up with the company’s plush 25-acre campus, as the company announced they plan to sell it.
“In connection with this relocation, the Company has also decided to proceed with the sale of all fixed assets owned by YMUS in Cypress, including land, offices, and warehouses,” Yamaha announced in the release.
When Mitsubishi abandoned their campus, Amazon built warehousing but was forced to keep the Katella office building functional and well-maintained.
Mayor Leo Medrano said the city is, of course, aware of the situation and the Council has discussed the overall business district strategy with staff at its recent strategic planning session.
He deferred to a statement issued by Planning Director Alicia Velasco on the Yamaha announcement.
“The City of Cypress regrets Yamaha’s decision to relocate its headquarters to Georgia. As one of the first companies to locate in the Cypress Business Park in 1980, Yamaha has been an important part of our business community for more than 40 years. We thank Yamaha for its long-standing partnership with the City and look forward to working with its management to transition to new ownership,” Velasco said in the prepared statement.
Yamaha said “this initiative is positioned as one of the Company’s key measures aimed at improving asset efficiency and enhancing profitability in the United States.”
Further, the company announced the decision at least three years ago internally and has slowly been transferring necessary assets to Georgia.
According to Yamaha,the Cypress facility has served as the headquarters of Yamaha USA for approximately 50 years.
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. aquired the land in 1978 and established the office in 1979.
However, in response to changes in the Company’s business focus within the U.S. market, the Marine Business was relocated to Kennesaw in 1999 to serve the customer better, and Motorsports Business was relocated to Kennesaw as well in 2019, according to research.
As a result, the Cypress facility currently primarily houses corporate functions and the Financial Services business. The total site area is approximately 25.1 acres (approximately 102,000 square meters.
In connection with the sale of these assets, the Company plans to utilize a sale-and-leaseback arrangement for a certain period to ensure business continuity and to facilitate a smooth relocation to Kennesaw.
Details such as the sale price, purchaser, and timing of the transaction are currently under review, the company said in its announcement.
Elsewhere, it has been reported that, in addition to implementing cross-business cost reduction initiatives, the Company is seeking over the medium- to long-term to build a profit structure that is not solely dependent on top-line growth, thereby transforming itself into a more resilient and robust organization capable of adapting to change.
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is undertaking structural reforms aimed at improving profitability of its U.S. operations in response to cost increases resulting from U.S. tariffs and changes in the market environment, they said.
When Mitsubishi decided to move, the City Council voted back then to allow Amazon to utilize the space but insisted that the multi-million building that stands along Katella at the site must be maintained and not removed.
Therefore, while the Cypress business park retains its original look, fundamental changes in the market are slowly eroding, or changing, the priceless addition by the founder that has given the city an outsized corporate presence and more than $200 million in reserves.
La Palma secures $850,000 in federal funding from Congressman Tran and Sen. Padilla
The City of La Palma is proud to announce the securing of $850,000 in community project funding to modernize the La Palma Public Safety Center. This significant federal investment was made possible by the direct advocacy of U.S. Rep. Derek Tran and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla.
The funding will support a comprehensive enhancement of the Public Safety Center. By modernizing aging infrastructure and integrating modern technology, the project ensures that La Palma’s first responders operate out of a facility that meets modern safety, efficiency, and accessibility standards.
“On behalf of the City of La Palma, we want to express our sincere appreciation to Rep. Derek Tran and Sen. Alex Padilla for their leadership and commitment to the safety of La Palma residents,” said Mayor Nitesh P. Patel in a statement issued by city hall.
“Our dedicated public safety professionals deserve a workspace that is up to current building standards. This funding allows us to provide a reliable, secure environment for public safety operations,” he said.
“I’m proud to deliver $850,000 in federal funding to the City of La Palma. Hard-working families deserve to see their tax dollars reinvested directly into their communities. This funding for the La Palma Public Safety Center will give our law enforcement professionals the resources they need to keep our neighborhoods safe,” said Tran.
“I’m grateful for the steadfast partnership of Senator Alex Padilla and Mayor Patel, whose advocacy and support helped make this investment possible. Together, we will continue fighting to bring vital resources home to Southern California families.”
The Public Safety Center serves as the operational heart for both the La Palma Police Department and the Orange County Fire Authority Station #13. This enhancement project will incorporate essential public safety facility needs, including:
- Environmental Systems: Replacement of the HVAC and lighting systems to improve energy efficiency and air quality.
- Facility Rehabilitation: Installation of new flooring and ceiling tiles to restore interior integrity.
- Accessibility: Renovating bathrooms to ensure full ADA compatibility, providing an inclusive environment for both staff and the public.
- Advanced Security: Integration of modern security cameras and sensors to better equip law enforcement to address the evolving needs of the community.
The modernization of the Public Safety Center will allow the City of La Palma to improve working conditions for public safety personnel and ensure the community continues to receive the high level of service it expects.
Former Los Al standout receive to receive collegiate football’s highest receiving honor
The Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc., the Florida-based creator and sponsor of the prestigious Biletnikoff Award, will honor unanimous 1st-Team All-America receiver Makai Lemon of the University of Southern California as the 2025 winner of the Biletnikoff Award and Foundation scholarship winners at the sold-out 32nd annual Biletnikoff Award Banquet, a black-tie event, before 700 patrons on March 28, 2026, at the basketball arena at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, Florida.
The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the college football season’s outstanding FBS receiver. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot or inside receiver, wing back, or running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. As such, the Biletnikoff Award recognizes college football’s outstanding receiver, not merely college football’s outstanding wide receiver. Tight end Kyle Pitts was a finalist in 2020 and other tight ends were semifinalists in other years.
Moreover, the Biletnikoff Award is a single season, not career, award.
The Biletnikoff Award is one of the most highly followed college football awards. In 2024, the announcement of the Biletnikoff Award winner on X garnered a remarkable 2.6 million views, second only to the Heisman winner’s announcement with 3.2 million views.
Makai Lemon caught 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.
The Biletnikoff Award’s semifinalists, three finalists, and award recipient are selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of 625 prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, Biletnikoff Award winners, and other former receivers. Foundation trustees do not vote and have never voted. For a list of voters, please see BiletnikoffAward.com/voters.
The Biletnikoff Award candidate eligibility and voting criteria, transparently explicit and detailed, are available for review at BiletnikoffAward.com/criteria.
The correlation between Biletnikoff Award winners and stardom in the National Football League is nearly uniformly consistent. Past Biletnikoff Award winners include Calvin Johnson, Randy Moss, Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper, Golden Tate, Brandin Cooks, the late Terry Glenn, Ja’Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith, and Larry Fitzgerald.
The 501(c)(3) TQC Foundation’s charitable mission is the provision of college and vocational scholarships to North Florida high school seniors who have overcome significant challenges to achieve at the highest academic and extracurricular levels.
Participation in sports is not a requirement, but does count as an extracurricular activity. The all-volunteer Foundation has provided over 375 scholarships with benefits of nearly 7 million dollars through 2025. TQC Founding Trustee & many-times chairman Walter Manley II, serving his 29th year as fundraising chairman, recently announced a goal of 10 million dollars in the aggregate to be awarded in scholarships by 2030.
Makai Lemon will be presented the Biletnikoff Award trophy by TQC Foundation Chairman John Harris Jr., assisted by Coach Lincoln Riley and College Football Hall of Famer Raghib “Rocket” Ismail, keynote speaker, at the sold-out black-tie Biletnikoff Award Banquet & Celebration at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The banquet, always sold-out and attended by 700 patrons, was hailed by 2014 keynote speaker Dick Vermeil, as well as by 2013 keynoter Larry Csonka, as “the best banquet in college sports.”
Lenten Labyrinth Walk March 23
Everyone is invited to experience the Lenten Labyrinth Walk 2026 at St. Irenaeus Parish Hall on Monday, March 23, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., 5201 Evergreen Ave., Cypress, CA 90630. We are starting earlier this year to accommodate more people. This is a prayerful way to prepare spiritually during your Lenten journey toward Easter. Walk with an open mind and heart so you are better able to receive God’s grace and peace. The candlelit, meditative environment will calm your thoughts from stress and concerns.
Give yourself a break from the news and the daily demands of your lives. Let yourself, “Be still and know that I am God,” (Psalm 46:10). The walk takes about half an hour, but you can stay longer if you wish to bathe in the meditative atmosphere. For more information, please get in touch with Monica Kovach, Chair of the Labyrinth Ministry, at 310-490-6113.
Paws for the Planet April 25
The City of Los Alamitos invites you to join us for a heartwarming Pet Fair & Arbor Day Celebration.
Celebrate your animals and Arbor Day by putting down roots and helping a furry friend do the same! This collaborative event is taking place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Laurel Park located at 10862 Bloomfield Street, Los Alamitos CA 90720. Adopt a new best friend, shop pet supplies, plant a tree for the future, and enjoy a day filled with nature, love, and second chances. Through its ongoing commitment, the City recognizes the significance of its urban forest expansion, improvement to the community’s quality of life, energy conservation, stormwater attenuation, and a greener future.
Event Activities include:
- Pet ADOPTIONS and Vendor Fair
- Eco and Family Friendly Activities
- Free Saplings for the first 50 guests
- Plant a Tree with the Los Alamitos Public Works Department
- Los Alamitos Police Department K9 Demonstration
- Dog Costume Contest at 11:00 a.m.
- Pup playtime at the new Los Alamitos dog park
- Free Face painting
- All guests must register at Cityoflosalamitos.org to attend this FREE event. Wristbands will be given upon arrival for all registrants to enter the event. Entrance will be located on Bloomfield (adjacent to the tennis courts). Parking is available for event attendees at Los Alamitos Elementary School and UCI Health – Los Alamitos Parking Structure. The City would like to thank event sponsors contributing towards a variety of elements of this event:
EPSON
Financial Partners Credit Union
Universal Waste Systems, Inc. (UWS)
Event information is subject to change or cancellation. For more information, please visit www.cityoflosalamitos.org/recreation or contact the Recreation and Community Services Department at (562) 430 – 1073.
Los Al Recreation to present soccer programs
Get ready to kick, score, and celebrate! The Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department is excited to offer three fun-filled youth soccer programs designed to introduce young athletes to the game while building confidence, coordination, and teamwork. This spring, families can register for:
- Parent and Me Soccer (Ages 2–3)
- Jr. Pee Wee Soccer (Ages 4–6)
- Pee Wee Soccer (Ages 7–9)
These five-week, clinic-style sessions will take place on Saturdays from April 11 through May 9 at Little Cottonwood Park (4000 Farquhar Ave.).
Program Schedule: - Parent and Me Soccer: 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
- Jr. Pee Wee Soccer: 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
- Pee Wee Soccer: 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Led by Recreation staff, each session focuses on age-appropriate fundamentals through engaging skill-building activities and game-based drills. Whether your child is kicking a ball for the first time or already loves the sport, all skill levels are welcome in this positive and encouraging environment. The resident fee is $65, and the non-resident fee is $71.
Spots are limited, so families are encouraged to register early and join us for a season full of soccer fun. We look forward to seeing our community on the field this spring!
For additional information and to register, 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
Los Al Robotics team celebrates 10th anniversary
Los Alamitos High School’s robotics team, the Golden Griffins, celebrated their 10th anniversary with a community open house that brought together students, families, and supporters for an inside look at one of the school’s most dedicated programs. Among the guests were Los Alamitos Unified School Board Vice President Diana Hill, Superintendent Andrew Pulver, board members Chris Forehan, Matt Bragman, and Farnaz Pardasani, and Communications and Public Information Officer Nichole Pichardo.
Team 6220, the Golden Griffins, is made up of Los Alamitos High School students passionate about pursuing careers in STEM. The team competes each year in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a nonprofit organization founded in 1989 that encourages young people to explore STEM education and careers. During the competition season, high school teams from around the world have just weeks to design, build, and program robots weighing up to 125 pounds to complete specific field challenges. FIRST Robotics Competition is widely regarded as the ultimate sport for the mind, combining the excitement of athletic competition with real-world engineering and problem-solving. For the Golden Griffins, the work continues long after competition season ends, with members spending the offseason sharpening their skills and mentoring newer students joining the program.
Golden Griffin’s design team explains to Los Alamitos Unified School Board Vice President Diana Hill, Superintendent Andrew Pulver, and board member Chris Forehan their role in the team.
Visitors were guided through a series of hands-on workstations, each representing one of the team’s specialized subteams. At the Manufacturing station, members walked guests through the tools used to build robot components. The Electrical subteam demonstrated the wiring systems and control boards that power the robots on the competition field. The Business subteam shared their work in grant writing and securing the sponsorships that fund the program from year to year. Over at the Marketing station, team members displayed their design work and social media presence. The Design subteam showcased their use of CAD software with Onshape to accurately design the entire robot. The Programming subteam rounded out the tour by demonstrating the code behind the robots, which controls everything from basic driving to complex automated sequences during matches.
The crowd favorite of the night was the live demo, where two of the team’s robots, one built during the team’s 2025 LAEF summer camp and another used for testing critical robot functions every season, were out on the floor and available for guests to drive themselves. All of the guests took a turn at the controls, getting a feel for just how much engineering and skill goes into making the robots move with speed and precision.
The team is thankful to everyone who came out to support them and share in the celebration of ten years of robotics at Los Alamitos High School. As the Golden Griffins look toward the next decade, they remain focused on growing the program, welcoming new members, and continuing to show their community what student driven engineering looks like up close
If you are interested in supporting the Golden Griffins, please take a moment to look at our website at team6220.org or reach out at lo******@***il.com! The team is constantly looking for new avenues for partnerships in order to not only construct their robot, but also provide educational opportunities for the entire school district and community.
Griffin girls softball team off to roaring start with victory over FV
Coming off a CIF-SS Championship season, the Los Alamitos High softball team is looking to replace several key graduates from last year’s team. The Griffins are young, but Head Coach Rob Weil said he is very pleased with the progress of the players who are taking over this year.
The Griffins opened Sunset League play with an 11-1 win over Fountain Valley on Thursday, led by the pitching of Jaliane Brooks and Faith Pulsifer. Brooks, a freshman, came into her own late last season and anchored the pitching through the championship run.
Brooks, along with Pulsifer, a senior, gives the Griffins two solid pitchers that Weil said will keep the team in every game this season. Pulsifer also adds power at the plate. She hammered a two-run double against the Barons.
The Griffins had taken a 1-0 lead in the second inning, on a sacrifice squeeze by senior catcher Jordan Castrellon. In the third, the Griffins broke the game open with a five-run rally, with doubles by sophomore shortstop Aspen Natori and senior third baseman Alexis Galicia. Sophomore Ryann Velazquez capped the rally with a home run. Galicia was 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs. The Griffins recently returned from the Tournament of Champions in Bullhead City Arizona, where Weil said the team played very well.
“We’re growing, I mean, we grew a lot the last two weeks at Bullhead, we really came into our own,” Weil said of the team’s progress.
The Griffins are at Huntington Beach on Thursday, at 6 p.m. and will host Newport Harbor on Tuesday, at 3:30 p.m.
Explore the intricate world of owls at Aquarium of the Pacific First Wed. lecture April 1
Discover the fascinating world of Owls with acclaimed author, speaker, and wildlife photographer Paul Bannick at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s First Wednesday lecture April 1.
The Aquarium announced this week that Bannick will present a comprehensive program about different owl species found in California, their habitats and every stage of their life cycle while enjoying breathtaking visuals on our theater screen.
His award-winning work has been showcased in the NY Times, Smithsonian, Audubon, Sunset, Nature’s Best Photography, NPR, and NBC Nightly News.
Following the lecture with Q&A, you will have the chance to mix and mingle in our art gallery, with music, crafts, Paint-a-Fish exhibit, and a cocktail bar. Drinks will be available for purchase before and after the talk.
This program is recommended for adults of all ages. Photography enthusiasts will find engaging interactions with our guest speaker! Reservations are required. First Wednesdays regularly sell out, so be sure to book your tickets early.
Aquarium of the Pacific is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization which depends on your support to fulfill its mission: to instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems.
This inspiring presentation will explore the fascinating world of owl species found in California, including the Northern Pygmy, Burrowing, Great Gray, and Snowy owls. Throughout the seasons, we will dive into their lives in four unique habitats.
From courtship, mating, and nesting in the spring, fledging and feeding of young in summer; dispersal and gaining independence in fall; and, finally, the migrations and food competitions of winter. Each stage is beautifully documented. Discover the challenges faced by owls, and their remarkable survival journey while enjoying Bannick’s dramatic visuals on our theater screen.
Following the presentation, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy music, crafts, cocktails (available for purchase), and conversations in our Art Gallery, along with our Paint-a-Fish exhibit. The lecture will also be live-streamed.
The Aquarium of the Pacific’s First Wednesdays series focuses on animals, nature, and conservation efforts. The events bring scientists, authors, and other experts into its Honda Pacific Visions Theater for an illustrated talk paired with book signing or meet and greets and cocktail/social hours with music and crafts. The programs are best suited for high school and college students, young professionals, and adults of all ages.
The event will be held Wed., April 1, from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Honda Visions Center at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 on the day of the event (pending availability).
Parking is $6.00 for the first 2.5 hours in the structure located directly across from the Aquarium. Drinks available for purchase before and after the lecture.
About Paul Bannick
Paul Bannick is an award-winning author and photographer who makes images to inspire education and conservation. He is both the author and photographer of five books including two best-selling bird books, Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls and The Owl and the Woodpecker, Encounters with North America’s Most Iconic Birds. Owl received the Gold Medal in the 2017 Independent Publisher Book Award “Animals” category.
Most recently, Woodpecker was named a finalist for the 2025 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in the Nature category. Paul’s photography won awards from several prestigious contests, including those hosted by Audubon Magazine and the International Conservation Photography Awards.
His work can be found prominently in many bird guides, including those from Audubon, Peterson, and The Smithsonian and has been featured in a variety of publications including The New York Times, Audubon, Sunset, and Nature’s Best Photography Magazine. His many TV and Radio appearances include pieces on NBC Nightly News, PBS, and NPR.
Paul is an active public speaker with dozens of multimedia Owl programs at bird festivals, fundraisers, and conferences across the continent every year.
The Aquarium of the Pacific’s First Wednesdays series focuses on animals, nature, and conservation efforts. The events bring scientists, authors, and other experts into its Honda Pacific Visions Theater for an illustrated talk paired with book signings or meet and greets and cocktail/social hours with music and crafts. The programs are best suited for high schools and college students, young professionals, and adults of all ages.
photos by Paul Bannick
Longtime Los Al football coach, Ray Fenton, lured to Orange Lutheran.
Los Alamitos High Football Head Coach Ray Fenton is leaving his job to become the head coach at Orange Lutheran High School, Fenton and the school announced at a press conference, Friday at Orange Lutheran.
Fenton, who led the Griffins for 10 seasons, finished his tenure with a record of 80-33 and capped that run with a CIF-SS Division 2 Championship last year. Fenton came to Los Alamitos after a short stint with Fountain Valley, where he helped a struggling Baron program back to a winning record.
Prior to Fountain Valley, Fenton coached at his Alma Mater, Cypress High, where he coached the Centurions to a CIF-SS Championship in 2007. Over the course of his career, he has built or re-built several programs into winning form. He’s won several state and regional coach of the year honors, including LA Times Coach of the Year.
“Coach Fenton brings proven leadership and a deep commitment to developing student-athletes who compete with integrity and grace,” Orange Lutheran stated in a social media post about his hiring.
Los Alamitos High put out a statement thanking Fenton for his commitment to the Griffin program, noting the incredible 10 years.
“Your commitment to our athletes went far beyond the field,” the football program stated in a social media post directed to Fenton. “Through your leadership, you taught our boys the value of discipline, hard work, and accountability while inspiring them to become strong leaders and teammates.”
Part of Fenton’s program often entailed non-football activities, such as assigning books to be read by the players over the summer break. In 2018, Fenton assigned the book Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual, by Jocko Willick, a former Navy Seal turned author and motivational speaker.
The team then reached out to Willick to see if he would visit the school. Willick responded with a challenge. He said if the students could do 1 million burpees in a month, he would visit. The team began counting their burpees and enlisted the community through word of mouth and social media, to get others to contribute to the total.
The movement went viral, with students throughout the school and groups doing burpees on short videos and sending them to the team to be added to the count. Teenagers at their fast food jobs were knocking out a few burpees and sending in the video. Board members at meetings were doing the same. Groups from universities as far away as Tennessee and Wyoming were sending videos with #losalmillionburpees to be added to the count.
Fenton also met with Los Al players on Friday to inform them of the change. Fenton noted in news reports that the response was mostly happy for him. Fenton will move from the Alpha League to the Trinity League, which he called the toughest league in the country.
Orange Lutheran made the decision to seek a new coach, after the team went 3-9 and 1-4 in league play in 2025. The private school league also includes Santa Margarita, St. John Bosco, Mater Dei, Servite and JSerra Catholic.
Dave Appling, one of a kind, passes away in the style he lived life
Los Alamitos and the communities that surround it have long been known for their many non profits serving wherever there is a need. But these service groups are only as successful as the individuals in those communities who keep them on course. They are the lifeblood of any successful nonprofit. Like the organizations themselves, these dynamic individuals come and go. Some stay long enough to ensure the mission passes on to a next generation of volunteers. A few individuals have the fortitude to hold it together through multiple generations under their leadership. Communities have precious few such leaders within their nonprofit ranks that match the lifelong commitment to non profit causes as our own Dave Appling, who passed away on March 2.
Dave cut his teeth in business as a capable mechanic and manager of a multi gas station chain, then grew a successful commercial insurance business in Los Alamitos. Early in his career he decided to apply his business success and hands-on experience with the public to throwing his wholehearted support behind a Los Al High School football scholarship fund, giving talented but not-so-privileged athletes a needed financial boost to go to college whether they played sports or not for which he raised many thousands of dollars and provided hundreds of grants.
Soon he was asked to collaborate in standing up a much larger in scope Los Alamitos Education Foundation to support a broader range of student assistance and major campus undertakings and upgrades. There too, Dave excelled at the very thing that made him a successful businessman, his ability to reach across any aisle and enlist the support of disparate groups of donors behind a common community goal. As eventual president of the Greater Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and Cypress Rotary Club Dave Appling distinguished himself as a tireless fundraiser for numerous institutions and cultural centers around town such as the Los Al Museum, Heart of the City, Precious Life Shelter, and the Youth Center.
Long time Los Alamitos Youth Center president Tom Stretz remembers well the “deadly grip” of a Dave Appling handshake when he approached you for a contribution to one of his worthy causes. “When Dave came to the Youth Center he immediately stepped up and rebooted our whole fundraising effort. He just elevated it to another level, one handshake, one smile, one joke at a time. He had this easy way to make you feel like a personal friend that was truly sincere. Who could say no to Dave?”
Dave was a consummate joke teller and he had one for every occasion.
Still, by all accounts Dave Appling was a quiet man, centered in his mission and certain of his cause, but always open to what others had to say and patient to hear them out, says Debbie Kent, current president of the Los Alamitos Museum who spent many a museum board meeting watching and learning, she says, from the Dave Appling approach to getting things done. “He didn’t say a lot, mostly listened, but when he spoke everybody listened to him. Because with Dave you felt there was no ego, no political or personal agenda. It was always just ‘what’s best for the kids.’”
Perhaps the person who knew Dave Appling best and the longest was long time LAEF and Rotary collaborator Dave Barnes. “I wasn’t three months initiated into Rotary when I got “the handshake” from Dave about a newly formed annual fundraiser he called the Finest Annual Trout Invitational Tournament out at Crowly Lake near Bishop. He only had a couple dozen participants at the time but he radiated such enthusiasm for the event and for its potential for good, I was hooked.” That was 40 years ago says Barnes, and today the once a year fundraiser fishing derby raises thousands of dollars for the Los Al Museum and other nonprofit centers in the area, and is now supported by over 150 participants spanning four generations of donors. “That’s a fact Dave has always been particularly proud of,” says best friend Dave Barnes who is sure a lot of people, like himself, consider Dave Appling their “best friend.” “That’s how he made you feel. Like you were the most important person in his life when you were in his presence, and you weren’t in his presence very long if he didn’t leave you laughing.”
Dave was a consummate joke teller and he had one for every occasion. I recall on the occasion of receiving the Los Alamitos Museums Honored Citizen Award in 2013 (along with co-honoree Dave) I asked him after the ceremony why the applause for his award was so much louder than my own. He said, without skipping a beat, “O That’s because I packed the audience with every family member and friend I could drag in here.” And through the years since that day whenever I saw Dave at a community function he would make a point to walk ove to me a say “Hello Mr. honored citizen” . . . to which I would respond “Hello to you Mr. honored citizen.” The honor for me was that Dave and I had this little inside joke personal to just us. Turns out Dave had that little unique and personal inside connection with just about everybody he came in contact with. We were all “best friends” to Dave.
When I recently asked Dave’s longest “best friend,” Dave Barnes, to distill down for me the essence of a man like Dave Appling who has the innate skills to bring a stranger, a room full of people, a board of directors, a community together with his simple tools of kindness, respect, and humor, Mr. Barnes simply quoted the adage that Dave left all of his “best friends” over the years with, “Keep smiling.” Sounds like good advice coming from a guy who has more best friends than anyone I’ve ever known.
Dave Appling was 83.
Broadway musical “Six” brings Tudor historical legacy and “girl power” to life on Segerstrom stage
She first appeared about 8 a.m. on the 19th of May 1536. A beautiful young woman, married to the powerful Henry VIII, King of England, as she walks slowly, yet proudly toward Tower Green, belying the fate that soon awaited her.
Anne Boleyn was about to become the first English Queen ever to lose her head and her life by order of her husband, the King.
“I pray God save the King and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never,” she says with dignity to the small crowd before the sword ended her life.
Historians still debate Boleyn’s age, but she was either in her late 20’s or mid-30’s, and in a handful of years, together with Henry, she had changed the world. Boleyn was a smart, strategic woman who prompted the formation of the Church of England and a fracturing of the Holy Roman Catholic Church (along with many other cultural reforms).
Nevertheless, the words and imagery that execution, and others to follow in the 16th century still reverberate in the 21st century and the producers of the hit Broadway musical “Six” have found a format to allow all six of Henry VIII’s queens to finally have their own say.
It is girl power that even Henry VIII could not have imagined.
“From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st century girl power as the hit musical opens March 10 and runs through March 15.
This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over! SIX won 23 awards in the 2021/2022 Broadway season, including the Tony Award® for Best Original Score (Music and Lyrics) and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.
The SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT Broadway album debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard cast album charts and surpassed 6 million streams in its first month.
The current cast includes Emma Elizabeth Smith as Catherine of Aragon, Nella Cole as Anne Boleyn, Kelly Denice Taylor as Jane Seymour, Hailey Alexis Lewis as Anna of Cleves, Alizé Cruz as Katherine Howard and Tasia Jungbauer as Catherine Parr with alternates Reese Cameron, Anna Hertel, Carlina Parker and Abigail Sparrow.
Cole landed the prized role of Anne Boleyn after countless auditions, she said, but landing the role was “totally a dream come true.”
She said people respond to the show, especially women, because they see it as “girl power” as people see it all six former Queens on stage as metaphors for them, in all walks of life, as reclaiming the powers they’ve lost.
“I think because I think a lot of women and young women and just people you know, depending who you are, where you are, and your walk of life, they see themselves in this story, because I think everybody has felt oppressed in some way, and what they’re what you’re seeing is people reclaiming their power, and everybody can relate to that,” said Cole in an interview with ENE this week.
“Everybody can relate to saying to that inspired feeling of like, ‘no, I’m going to write my own story, and I’m going to take my power back and I’m not going to let you define me anymore,’” she added.
“I think that it really resonates with a lot of people. And I do think people leave feeling inspired and empowered and feeling like they can do that in their own lives,” she said.
Cole said she knows that because the six queens interact with the audience and consistently gather at their stage door after the show.
“They love the queens, and it’s so beautiful to receive. We get so much love. We really do. We can feel the audience, and how locked in they are with us, and like they’re super loud and always cheering. And we love that, and they get really excited,” said Cole.
“And then, after the show, our Stage Door is always crowded with people who want to take pictures and talk to us, and it’s just amazing.”
What’s more, the fans now come to the shows dressed in their best 16th Century attire.
“It’s so special to see all the little girls who come to our show and come dressed up, so it is special to feel like I can be a small role model in their lives or in that moment, but it’s universal. It’s absolutely universal,” said Cole.
“I think it’s really great to know the history of it, because it just, it kind of informs the whole piece, even though it is obviously it is only pop musical theater,” said Cole.
“We’re singing and we’re dancing and we’re acting, but it’s just good to keep in the back of your mind that these were very real people, and their circumstances were, you know, really intense, especially at that time, being a woman in the situations that they were in was very difficult. I think it’s always important to keep that in the back of your mind and remember that they are truly real people.
While Anne Boleyn is certainly one of the most popular of Henry’s six queens, each of the Queens have their own legion of fans, she said. “They love their queens,” said Cole, adding, “we get so much love.”
She thinks the costumes, the lyrics and music in “Six” oddly channels a 500-year-old history lesson into a powerful motivator for modern audiences.
“The play inspires me to think that one person can change the world. And I feel inspired, I feel emboldened by her (Anne Boleyn), to just kind of go after what I want and not be afraid to be seen or heard. I think she’s just a super inspiring person, and getting to step into those shoes every night, I see how it’s affected me and my confidence, and like, how I show up in the world and how I’m willing to be heard.”
Tickets start at $99 and information is available at scfta.org.