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McGaugh Principal Roni Burns Ellis retires

Ted Apodaca
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McGaugh Principal Roni Burns Ellis retires

McGaugh Elementary School Principal Roni Ellis isn’t quite sure what her life will entail after walking away from 34 years in education, but she is fairly certain that it’s time to find out. Ellis said she doesn’t think she’d ever be 100 percent certain, but with her husband Dave now 10 years into his retirement, Ellis said it seems like a good time to join him.

Her career in education began in East Los Angeles, where she grew up, as a teacher in one of the largest elementary schools in the state. It was also within one of the poorest communities. She spent 12 years there, and she said the experience served her very well throughout the rest of her career.

“It was the best foundation I could have had,” Ellis said.

Though she only spent four years at McGaugh, she made some positive impacts, her supporters said. McGaugh PTA President Farnaz Pardasani, said that Ellis began making changes, and though not all were popular, over time they have proven to be the right calls, Pardasani said.

“Like any good leader she had a vision,” Pardasani said.
Ellis has relished the challenges that come with working in education. As a principal, Ellis said her primary goal was to make the school feel like a home for students. At McGaugh, having military children, who often have to move more than most kids, that goal became particularly prominent.

One of her first priorities was to impress upon students and families that their presence in school was vital. Attendance was not as steady as she would have liked, and Ellis said that was one of the things she wanted to change.

“We need you here, we need you hear every day, you make us whole,” Ellis said she would tell students.

But getting the children into the classroom is just one of the challenges, Ellis said. Getting them there only works if they are ready to learn and given a place in which that can happen. Ellis said she has been motivated by the teachers and classified staff who come to work every day and make sure the campus is ready to support the kids and make them feel safe.

“It takes a true team,” Ellis said

Her role was to essentially to be a buffer between the staff and outside influences, such as curriculum changes, either locally, or nationally. Or from the community, if there problems or issues arise between teachers and parents, or other staff. Pardasani said that Ellis was always willing to listen to all parties, before making her own decisions on what the course of actions would be.

That challenge became particularly difficult in September of 2018, when Ellis posted a personal opinion about athletes kneeling during the National Anthem. Her post was directed at the Nike corporation, but brought backlash over her use of the word “thug” about Colin Kaepernick. Some members of the community and the district called for her dismissal. Mostly she regretted putting the school in the middle of the issue and she said it was a learning experience.

“What’s most important to me is my responsibility and my role,” Ellis said. “It was devastating to me, that I could hurt people that I care so much about.”

Many of the programs Ellis brought into the school became very popular with students and families. One of the simplest is arguably one of the biggest favorites. The “A for a Day,” program has become one of the most sought-after recognitions at the school. One student is chosen each day to be the school aide. Teachers nominate students and one is chosen each day. The winner is announced over the classroom PA system and the “A for a Day,” gets to run up to the office to have their picture taken with Ellis and the student receives rewards that include gift cards donated by local businesses. The student also get a pass to move to the front of the lunch line, a huge honor for elementary school age children.
“It was just really a sense of pride,” Pardasani said.

When the PTA came up with the idea for a Culture Club, celebrating diversity, their budget for the year had already been set, Pardasani said. However, when the idea was discussed at the meeting, Pardasani said that Ellis felt it was important enough and assured them she would find money in the school’s budget to pay for it and it was added to the school’s programs. Ellis was also instrumental in getting the school’s Astronomy Night going.
Education is a unique career, Ellis said, because there is a beginning and an end to each school year. After each year, teachers and administrators always have time to reflect on what worked and what might need to be changed. And it is ever changing, which presents new challenges with each year.

“It never gets easier, it never gets automatic,” Ellis said. “It’s a dynamic career.”
At the end of each year, Ellis said that she never had the sense that she did everything right, but that she would find a way to do things better going forward. And that she would find a way to better support her teachers and staff, so that they could best support the students.

“If I can do all that, so they can be the best teachers they can be, I am 100 percent satisfied,” Ellis said.

Although the timing was not ideal, Ellis said that COVID-19 was not a factor in her decision to retire now. In fact, part of her wanted to stay and help the school navigate through it, but she decided it was time to move on. For now, Ellis and her husband Dave will remain in Huntington Beach, but they also have a retirement home in Nevada. They will split time for now, before deciding if they want to commit to one place. The only constant is likely to be golf, a game which they both enjoy games.

She also said she is comforted by the team that will take over. She knows incoming Principal Dr. Issaic Gates from his time at Los Alamitos High School. She describes him as a big personality, who is energetic, joyful and positive, with a sense of kindness. She also knows Assistant Principal Wendy Wood, who remains at the school.

“I think the two of them will make a dynamic team,” Ellis said.

Despite the challenges and setbacks, Ellis said she leaves McGaugh, comfortable with the impact she made and happy to have had the chance to be a part of the community.
“I’m just so proud to be a part of something so beautiful and proud to say I was here,” Ellis said.

Dr. Nilesh L. Vora named medical director of Todd Cancer Institute

David N. Young
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Dr. Nilesh L. Vora named medical director of Todd Cancer Institute

A Rossmoor resident named to lead an area cancer treatment center says he owes his passion for the profession of oncology to his parents, who taught him the value of developing a “rewarding relationship” with his patients.

The board of the Long Beach Memorial Care Medical Center this week named Dr. Nilesh L. Vora, of Rossmoor, as the medical director of its state-of-the-art Todd Cancer Institute.
Vora also serves as Chair of Hematology and Medical Oncology for the MemorialCare Medical Foundation and is passionate about the profession.

“The practice of oncology is light years ahead of where it was 30 years ago,” said Vora, “and I’m grateful and excited that the board selected me for this role.”

Vora grew up in El Dorado Estates and is a 1996 graduate of Los Alamitos High School. He graduated from Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California as a Dean’s Scholar and class president. He completed his residency at Harbor – UCLA Medical Center and a fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at The City of Hope.

He is a board-certified hematologist who spent his weekends growing up watching his parents, both radiology professionals, treat patients at the City of Hope.
“Since then,” said Vora, “I knew this is what I wanted to do.”

Moreover, the empathy he learned watching mom and dad has etched in him deep compassion for patients that is a critical element of Vora’s practice.

“You always have to put yourself in the position of the patient,” said Vora, adding that he believes it is critical to form a bond between doctor and patient.

“Oncology brings two random people together,” said Vora.

“Practicing requires a tremendous amount of compassion,” he said. “When you spend that much time with a patient, it is rewarding for the doctor and rewarding for the patient,” said Vora.

That bond, he said, will eventually guide many patient decisions regarding surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and other aspects of treatment that will bind doctor and patient to create more effective treatments, he said.

While the profession enjoys state-of-the-art technology, Vora said he will place also strong emphasis on alternative methods of care, including yoga, natural medication, mental fortitude, and telemedicine, among others, all of which optimize care.

Vora said the oncology profession now recognizes the value of external exercises and activities that amplify positive patient outcomes.

Regarding modern medical technology available to fight cancer, he said he is routinely amazed.

In a modern oncology clinic, specialists can map out a patient’s DNA sequence to determine the microscopic makeup of a tumor at the molecular level, said Vora.
Doctors then use the DNA sequence to design individualized medicines for patients then safety deploy them with targeted precision.

The results of the entire process can be dramatic, or even ‘magical,’ as Vora characterizes it.

For example, a stage-four lung cancer diagnosis in 2001 would have produced an average survival rate of seven months,” he said.

“Today, using targeted amino acid therapies created around the exact type of molecule identified in the cancer, patients with that same diagnosis have in some cases developed clean scans,” said Vora.

“A clean scan,” he added, “suggests that this person no longer needs treatment for this period.”

Technology aside, cancer sometimes wins. Not as often today, but “even when we lose a patient to the disease, there is a reward knowing you have made the patient’s life better and longer,” said Vora.

While in private practice, Vora is a generalist with a specialized interest in lung cancer; gastrointestinal cancers including colorectal, pancreatic, and gastric; and malignant hematology disorders.

Dr. Vora serves as a cancer liaison physician for the American College of Surgeons (ACS). He is an active member of American College of Physicians (ACP), American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASSO) and the American Society of Hematology (ASH).

In his free time, Dr. Vora said he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children in Rossmoor. Vora says he has a passion for exercise and staying in shape and has made Orangetheory Fitness his side job. He lives by the motto– “live life well– one day at a time”.

Meet a man who engineered his own American Dream

David N. Young
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Meet a man who engineered his own American Dream

Syed Shah is not a typical innkeeper, but a happy one.
This week, one the nation’s top travel websites, Trip Advisor, awarded the Best Western Westminster with its prestigious “Traveler’s Choice” Award, for which Shah says he is “deeply honored.”

Given this award is generally reserved for “five-star properties,” Shah said he was “especially proud.”

Shah has owned the Best Western Westminster for more than a decade and despite his education and corporate experience, guest ratings have consistency brought the property recognition and awards.

It hasn’t always been that way.

Syed Shah, rear, with hotel manager Shannon Latham front desk clerk Tiara Peregina.

Shah is “a very proud American,” who immigrated to the United States as a teenager from Lahore, Pakistan. He carried with him only a dream and two prepaid semesters of college.
At 17, says Shah, his dad sent him to America. His dad pre-paid for two semesters at the Illinois Institute of Technology and told him to go to work “and get educated.” Shah would major in engineering like his father.

Although his family had hoped he would eventually return home, Shah said he “loved the people of the USA” and he respected its constitution, “where it makes you have a sense of being free.” So he stayed.

Syed arrived in Chicago in the 1970’s. On a bare bones budget, he enrolled in the engineering institute. “I remember not getting cheese on my burger at McDonald’s because it cost an extra five cents,” Shah remembers.

Shah said he soon found a job at Chicago Cold Storage, working in the lab doing research while he finished his bachelor’s degree in engineering.

Shah’s attention to detail eventually caught the eye of Bell Labs in Chicago and then to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for his Master’s in Business Administration.
While teaching statistical analysis at UNLV, Shah said he was invited to participate in the creation of a strategic vision for the city of Las Vegas. At that time, said Shah, it was mostly a gambling place.

Shah’s team presented a vision of Las Vegas as an “entertainment complex,” which, in many ways, he said it eventually became.

In the 1980’s, Shah was lured to Van Nuys here in California by Superior Industries, working in the labs of the huge manufacturing company. He worked at a Honeywell company for a while then Superior invited him to come back.

At one point, Shah said he managed 80 employees throughout a network of international laboratories. As the U.S. Space Program expanded, Shah said his division worked closely with the U.S. Space program and the Pentagon.

Shah said he oversaw the development of components for the Apache helicopter and evaluating environmental-control systems for the International Space Station, and building-manufacturing plants in Arkansas, Europe and Mexico.

He has lectured at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Seeking to transition from the corporate world into private business, he bought the Best Western hotel a little over a decade ago.

Friends and associate say the hotel has become infused his Shah’s personality, which is always open and welcoming. Shah says it has always been his goal to make his guests “feel like they are staying in their own place.”

In the age of COVID, Shah keeps the place “super-clean,” saying he uses “ultra-violet” lights to sanitize every room and respects all of the sanitizing and social distancing mandates. Business is down, but local construction projects has been kept a steady flow of guests staying in the hotel.

Syed Shah

Perhaps it is Shah’s generosity of spirit that draws in his guests. No one is quite sure what promotes that down-home feeling to his guests, but for sure Shah has a found a comfortable niche in the hospitality industry.

Shannon Latham, his hotel manager for the past ten years, says her employer is a “detail oriented, but very nice employer.” Latham said Shah “walks the walk” and genuinely cares about others.

Samantha Bao anh Nguyen, of Westminster, a longtime friend said she has worked with Shah on community projects said Shah “is always ready to help the community.” Nguyen said when she needed help, Shah showed up “with a smile.”

Shah recounts an incident when a local police captain brought to his hotel a woman and her children that were being abused by her boyfriend. Shah refused the police officer’s offer to pay and offered the woman and her children free room and board until they could be reunited with a brother.

Shah said he once learned (pre-COVID) of a faltering nail salon. “The owner told me her business was not doing well,” he said. Visiting her place of business, he noticed it was a bit worn. Shah says he took his entire maintenance crew over, let the owner pick the colors, etc., and renovated her shop.

Paying it forward, Shah said he has sponsored three undocumented employees just as his company sponsored his American citizenship in 1980. “I will help anyone willing to carry their own weight,” he said, especially “those who want to add value to society.”

“Those little things make a huge difference, but they must come from the heart,” said Shah.

“My business is really all about helping the local community succeed,” said Shah. When local businesses do better, said Shah, “it’s a win for the community and a win for all of us.”
Shah has served as President of the Westminster Chamber. He tripled the membership and tried to get the government and community aligned to make Westminster a “tourist mecca.”

Apparently, the city fathers had too many other problems to fully focus on his idea, but they still recognize his management style. The Westminster Awards Program this week named the Best Western Westminster as the “Best of Westminster” in the hotels and motels category.

Of all his corporate titles over the years, for now he seems content with the transformation of this small hotel in Westminster, where he keeps a small apartment for himself.

“I have high hopes for the future,” said Shah. “I believe in America.”
Syed Shah is not your typical innkeeper, rather a man who engineered his own American dream.

New McGaugh Principal welcomed by LAUSD Board

David N. Young
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New McGaugh Principal welcomed by LAUSD Board

With his family by his side, Dr. Isaaic Gates told the Los Alamitos Unified School Board this week that he was “truly grateful” to be back in the district and looked forward to “doing good work for children.”

He was re-introduced to the community by Dr. Andrew Pulver, Superintendent, who said Gates went through a “robust” screening process with a number of “outstanding candidates” for the position.

“We hate to say good-bye to Ms. Ellis (former principal Roni Burns Ellis), said Pulver but “we couldn’t be more elated to bring Dr. Gates into this role.”

Gates has spent more than 20 years of his professional career “improving the lives of students,” the superintendent said.

He said administrators within the Los Al system had the “good fortune” of meeting Dr. Gates “when we selected him as Assistant Principal of Los Al High School” several years ago.

Gates left the system to become a principal of San Marino, said Pulver, but Los Al is excited to have him

During his first stint with the system, Pulver said Gates “did some amazing work,” and doing so, “set roots in relationships that left a legacy that people still kind of talk about.”

“I couldn’t be more thankful to be back standing before you today welcomed back to the Los Alamitos Unified School District,” said Gates. “Thank you for trusting me with such a large task, particularly with the uncertainties.”

“I’m excited, I’m proud and I’m humbled,” he said.

“There will be an opportunity to do good work at McGaugh,” said Gates, “because of the strong leadership team at the district and at McGaugh.”

“None of this would have been possible without my family,” said Gates. He especially thanked wife, Dr. Rashida Gates, also a school administrator in a different system.

Gates joked with Pulver saying “never been spoken about with legacy but I’ll take it.”

“I look forward to continuing those relationships,” said Gates, noting the area has a “long memory.”

Two of his youngest children will attend McGaugh, he said. “They are excited too.”  Gates said he and his wife and their three children had moved into the Seal Beach community.

Saying he had moved around as an Air Force kid, he was “happy to be home and really, really grateful to have this opportunity.”

Pulver said the district will at some point set up a socially distant “meet and greet” for Gates soon.

On behalf of the board, I love to welcome you to McGaugh,” said board president Meg Cutuli. “I think it’s a wonderful fit, I think you will love the community and they will love you back.”

“Welcome home,” she said.

“It is wonderful having you back,” said Board member Maryls Davidson. “Thank you for coming back,” she said.

“You bring such joy into everything you do,” said board member, “we’re happy to have you home.”

Board member Karen Russell thanked Gates for his “positivity,” saying she had spoken to many former Los Al students who were when Gates worked there. “They had nothing but fabulous things to say about you. I wish you the best.

“I was so excited to hear you’re coming back, said board member Dave Boyer. You have a diverse group at McGaugh, said Boyer, “you have a special task but I’m so thankful you’ll be there to work with those kids.”

Johnson speaks to Chamber on “Leadership in Chaos”

David N. Young
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Johnson speaks to Chamber on “Leadership in Chaos”

It’s obvious that small businesses, and large, are having a hard time surviving the pandemic the Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce presented a speaker on Thursday to offer advice on “Leadership in Chaos.”

The Chamber has resumed their monthly networking breakfasts via Zoom, and Chairwoman Nesi Stewart introduced Los Alamitos businessman Dr. Joseph Johnson spoke to Chamber members about providing “Leadership in Chaos.”

“In every crisis, there is danger,” he said, “but opportunity as well,” said Johnson, the founder and CEO of The Telein Group, Inc., an advisory firm that has been based in Los Alamitos since the 1980’s.

In fact, he presented a slide which illustrated that the Chinese characters used to write “crisis” includes two words, “danger” and “opportunity.”

Because of the danger involved in any crisis, he said, it is easy to crippled by fear. However, he urged the business leaders to not be “overwhelmed” by the danger, otherwise they may “miss the opportunity” to found therein.

Seek first to understand,” said Johnson, “then be understood.” “Inquire. Appreciate. Advocate,” he said.

Johnson also gave the executives a process for dealing with the understandable fear that comes with a chaos. “Leadership is an attitude,” said Johnson, who gave Chamber business owners several nuggets of wisdom during his hour-long discussion.

“Life and work is an integrating act,” said Johnson, adding “everything is whole.”

He used the image of an iceberg to demonstrate that generally, a problem is like an iceberg that, at its surface, reveals only the “tip” of the problem.

Using the iceberg imagery, he gave those attending the “patterns” and “structures” lurking beneath the surface of a crisis that allows managers to more fully understand their dilemma and find their voice.

Generally, he said, “a problem reveals a pattern of activity that is tied to the structural and organizational culture.”

Using additional techniques, Johnson also demonstrated to his business audience to how and why to take a leap of faith” from fear to reach a point of love, which brings clear direction, superior performance and makes the organization “united in its effectiveness.”

 

 

 

 

Dr. Gregg Stone returns as principal of Los Alamitos High

David N. Young
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Dr. Gregg Stone returns as principal of Los Alamitos High

Dr. Gregg Stone, a former Los Alamitos High School principal who retired a year ago, is now back on the job after the unexpected resignation of Mr. Chris Vlasic.

Vlasic, who assumed the post with some fanfare a year ago, has accepted a full time ministry position with Calvary Chapel Westgrove, according to the Los Alamitos Unified School System.

“While this has been a difficult decision for Mr. Vlasic to leave the field of education, he looks forward to serving others through full time ministry,” according to Dr. Andrew Pulver, Supt.

Pulver acknowledged that they administration was not expecting Vlasic’s resignation.

Vlasic’s opportunity “came unexpectedly,” said Pulver in a letter to the Los Al community. The superintendent nonetheless thanked Vlasic for his “excellent service” to the district.

“We will miss him but wish him the very best as he embarks on this new venture,” added Pulver.

The Board of Education approved a contract for Stone this week, noting that he will serve as “interim” principal, but it could last for the current school year.

“We are beyond thrilled and fortunate to announce that Dr. Gregg Stone will be coming out of his recent retirement to serve as the Interim Principal of Los Alamitos High School,” said Pulver.

Stone spent 21 years as a Griffin assistant and principal at Los Al High School.

“His leadership and connections to the Griffin community are unparalleled. We are fortunate he will be back at the helm.”

Stone has served as interim principal since August 3 and officially ratified by the board on Tuesday.

Application, Registration Remain Open For Cypress College’s Fall Semester

For Event-News Enterprise
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Application, Registration Remain Open For Cypress College’s Fall Semester

Don’t miss your chance to study at Cypress College for the upcoming fall semester. Applications are available and registration for courses is underway and open for all students, including those who have changed their plans to attend a university this fall.

Classes begin August 24, and registration is now open. Prospective students are invited to visit www.cypresscollege.edu/admissions/apply-now to apply. Returning students are invited to view the schedule of classes at www.cypresscollege.edu/schedule-of-classes-and-college-catalog.

Cypress College notified students in May that instruction would continue to be remote in the fall semester to allow for the greatest level of preparation possible for students as well as faculty and staff. All our services, activities, and premier support will continue to be provided via our virtual services all semester. Welcome to the #1 community college in California, according to the 2020 Best Community Colleges in Niche.com.

For more information about Cypress College, visit www.cypresscollege.edu.

About Cypress College:

Cypress College offers students a pathway to their future in an environment in which employees commit to joining students on their educational journey. The college’s half-million-plus alumni include actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses, and teachers. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice, and for others, it provides essential training for a prosperous career. Just one Cypress College class is often all it takes to provide cutting-edge skills that lead to a promotion or a new job.

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 174 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 98 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

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

Located at 9200 Valley View Street in Cypress, the college is easily accessible from several Southern California freeways, including the 5, 91, 605, 22, and 405. The campus is just a stone’s-throw from Downtown Disney and Knott’s Berry Farm.

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, all of Cypress Colleges and services are offered remotely. Students can access support services online at http://cypresscollege.edu/coronavirus.

KC’s stage successful blood drive at St. Irenaeus

Irv Cuevas
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KC’s stage successful blood drive at St. Irenaeus

Yet again, as it has for more than a decade, the Knights of Columbus Council 8599 of St. Irenaeus Parish in Cypress teamed with the Red Cross as part of its annual lifesaving cause.

Throughout the afternoon of August 6th, donors filled all appointments to give blood in the St. Irenaeus Church Hall.

According to the Red Cross, 41 units were collected, exceeding the expected 33 units.  Thanks to the Knights and Red Cross, this will save more than 120 lives, and shows how the short amount of time it takes to donate can mean a lifetime to a patient with a serious medical condition.

Grand Knight Richard Tkach said “hosting a blood drive coincides with one of the Council’s missions of ‘Leave No Neighbor Behind’ by giving back to the local community”.  And Tkach added, “with a simple blood donation, we have the ability to help save the life of a loved one, neighbor or co-worker, and the Knights extend a hearty thanks to all donors, Red Cross workers and volunteers.”

NOTE TO EDITOR:  FOR PHOTO CAPTION: Council Recorder Frank Faecke donates blood as Susan Child of the American Red Cross makes sure all goes well.

Photo Credit:  Irv Cuevas

“We want this to stop.” Seal Beach couple confronts alleged hate crime

Jeannette Andruss
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“We want this to stop.” Seal Beach couple confronts alleged hate crime

Editor’s note: This story is about an alleged hate crime and references a racial slur. The term was referenced for the sake of accuracy and precision, Three sources interviewed for the story reported that the slur was used.

It’s been one year since Jimmie and Emily Covington moved from Irvine to Seal Beach.
Dr. Covington, who is African American, holds a Doctor of Theology degree and dreams of starting a ministry for interracial couples in town. His wife, who is white, is a nurse working in the intensive care unit amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Their house sits on the corner of a busy intersection in Old Town. “Fishbowl, U.S.A” is how he described it noting the home’s numerous windows. Colorful flowers bloom around the exterior. A large cross is attached to the front door.

What allegedly happened at that front door is now part of a hate crime investigation.
Dr. Covington reported that a juvenile called him a racial slur on July 20. He said it happened after he confronted a group of kids after they banged loudly on his door and ran away. This variation on ding-dong ditching had become a frequent disturbance at the home since last year, he said. Later, on July 20, a firework was set off at the Covington’s front door, damaging the door but causing no physical injuries.

In separate interviews, Dr. Covington and a neighbor who witnessed part of the confrontation said they heard a juvenile say the N-word that night. A parent of one of the juveniles also said in an interview that their child heard someone in the group use the racial slur.

The couple said it is pressing charges to hopefully force a change.

“We want this to stop,” Dr. Covington said during an interview on Saturday.
“What we want at the end of the day is peace,” he said, explaining that he and his wife just want to be able to live their lives and coexist in the community. The couple said they have encountered racism in town before including people saying racial epithets as they drive past the house.

Just 2.2% of Seal Beach’s population is Black, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey from 2018, which amounts to 525 people (with a reported margin for error of plus or minus 0.7%). Reported hate crimes are rare, according to the Seal Beach Police Department.

SBPD is investigating the July 20 incident as a hate crime and misdemeanor vandalism. The misdemeanor of attempting to dissuade a witness is also part of the investigation after some parents of the juveniles reportedly went to the Covington’s home in the days after the incident.

In a July 31 email, SBPD confirmed it has interviewed all witnesses as well as all of the parents of the juveniles accused in the case. All but one of the juveniles has been interviewed by police. The parents declined to let police speak to their child. Some of the juveniles do not live in Seal Beach, according to SBPD.

SBPD expects to submit its investigation to the Orange County District Attorney’s office in the next week or so, according to Chief Phil Gonshak.

“It is our hope this investigation leads to a victim who feels safe and secure to live in this wonderful community,” Chief Gonshak wrote. “With that, it is our desire for any and all suspects to be held accountable for their despicable and hateful actions.”

Dr. Covington praised the Seal Beach Police Department’s handling of the case so far, saying he appreciated Chief Gonshak calling him personally.

The DA is in charge of deciding what charges to file and the courts have the power over punishment.

‘The outpouring of love has been overwhelming’

News of the incident has rattled and rallied the small Seal Beach community, inspiring many residents to show support for the Covingtons and to speak out against racism.
“No way in my imagination did I think we’d get such an outpouring of support,” Mrs. Covington said in an interview.

Many residents learned of the incident after she posted about it on neighborhood site NextDoor. (The post has since been taken down by NextDoor for unknown reasons.)
In addition to hundreds of comments of support on the post, dozens of cards, flowers, and gift certificates to local businesses arrived at the Covington’s home over the past two weeks.

Residents also showed up to keep watch over the home in the days after the incident. Others offered to meet up to pray.

Main Street merchant MacFusion donated three security cameras to the couple, according to Dr. Covington. During our interview, a gift bag with a Ring doorbell inside was delivered.
“How do you not feel good about this community?” Dr. Covington said. “The outpouring of love has been overwhelming.”

The vocal anti-racism in Seal Beach comes amid a national reckoning on equality and growing racial justice protests which were spurred in part by the killing of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police officers in May.

‘Do you understand they’re targeting a Black man?’

Mrs. Covington’s original post on NextDoor detailed what her husband experienced the night of July 20 and asked “… Is this where we are at now?!? We are being held hostage by unparenting (sic) teenagers?!?! What’s next for my husband? Will he be shot by some racist?”

“I was just so worried about him and what was going to happen next,” she said in an interview.

The couple said a group of middle and high-school aged kids has been disturbing them on a regular basis since last Halloween, most notably by banging loudly on their and door and running off.

“Here’s the problem,” Dr. Covington explained. “It’s just this house that’s being targeted.”

Dr. Covington, 63, said ding-dong ditching was unheard of during his childhood in Pittsburgh where he was raised by his father who was also a Pastor.
“It’s hard for me to understand the ideology because we just didn’t do stuff like that,” he said, his wife nodding in agreement.

In late July, the common prank turned into something else, according to the Covingtons and neighbors in the area of 12th Street and Landing Avenue interviewed for this story.
Josh Haynie has lived in town for 26 years. He can see the Covington’s front door from his garage.

He said in the days before the firework incident, he recalled seeing ding-dong ditchers. At first, he thought the door was just an easy target as it sits very close to the street.
But then Haynie began to notice the kids “just [ding-dong ditching] that neighbor” and said it “seemed kind of weird.”

Shaun Shuck also lives across the street from the Covingtons and recalled hearing banging on his neighbor’s door and giggling kids running away a few nights before the firecracker incident.

Shuck said he felt like it did amount to targeting his neighbor. “Nobody was banging on our door by any means,” he said.

On Sunday, July 19, Haynie reported seeing a large group of kids, girls and boys, congregating in the street near their home. He and his wife said when they asked the kids what was going on, the kids responded by cursing at them.

“It was frustrating,” Haynie said. “They were super defiant.”

On July 20, Dr. Covington heard loud banging on his door. He ran outside to see kids running away and chased after them. They stopped in the street nearby and he said they started yelling at him.

A neighbor who did not want to use his/her name because of safety concerns said they exited their house after hearing the shouting and described a stand-off between the juveniles and Dr. Covington. The neighbor heard a kid say, “Go back to your home.” That’s also when the neighbor heard the N-word.

The neighbor tried to intervene but said the kids started hurling insults at them so they went inside.

Dr. Covington said the kids were still yelling when he walked back to his home where he called 911.

That’s when Haynie said he felt compelled to start recording a video of the activity with his phone.

Dr. Covington said the dispatcher put him on hold and he hung up when he heard activity at his front door. “I heard my screen door open,” he recalled. “I heard ‘boom’!”
He called 911 again. “This thing is escalating,” Covington remembered saying to the dispatcher. “It’s an M-80 inside my door.”

Shuck also heard what he said sounded “like a big bomb going off.” He immediately jumped up and saw kids biking off. He and other neighbors rushed outside.
Haynie also called the police. When officers showed up he said he told them, “Do you understand they’re targeting a Black man?”

In a July 22 press release, SBPD reported officers had detained a group of juveniles that night, releasing them to their parents pending further investigation.

“It was teenagers being stupid”

A parent of one of the accused juveniles said a group had been ding-dong-ditching the Covington’s house, among other houses, but that Dr. Covington’s race had nothing to do with it. (We are not identifying the parent to adhere to The Sun’s policy of not identifying juveniles accused of crimes.) The parent said it was because the children were getting a reaction from him.

“In their dumb 14-year-old brains they thought it would be funny,” the parent said of the ding-dong-ditching and added later, “It was teenagers being stupid.”
“The firework went too far,” the parent admitted but said, “However, with every fiber of my being I know that this was not an orchestrated hate crime.”

The parent said that they wanted their child to go to the Covington’s house to apologize. But police advised parents to stay away from the couple as “doing so only threatens the sanctity of the investigation.”

Dr. Covington said a few parents came by the house. One father offered to bring his son to apologize, but Dr. Covington said he did not feel comfortable speaking with the parents.
The juveniles and their parents have been condemned on social media.

“I’m disgusted by these kids,” read part of one post on NextDoor. “Too bad we can’t run them out of town,” read another. “I hope these terrors are put in their place,” read part of a comment on the SBPD Facebook page in response to a press release.

“They’re kids and they’re still growing and learning,” the parent of the accused juvenile said.

“It’s our job as a community to educate them. It takes a village, right? … This village has burned down,” the parent said reacting to the online comments.

Chief Gonshak said he understands the community’s need to discuss this issue, but encouraged residents to refrain from theorizing online saying it does little to help the victims or the suspects.

“The best thing we can do right now is learn and listen to what’s happening nationally and more important locally. It is certainly my hope we in Seal Beach can come together and be more patient through listening, rather than participate with conjectures online,” he wrote in an email.

‘I would like to see this be the example of how to deal with racial tensions’

“I’m at a place of forgiveness,” Dr. Covington said on Saturday and added he doesn’t have time for anger. “Emily and I are ready to move on.”

But he’s not ready to give up on fighting racism. He suggested getting kids from the Seal Beach community together with children from other communities to start a dialogue about inequity.

He’s also considering joining the SBPD as a chaplain.

The parent of one of the accused juveniles thinks Dr. Covington could help make this a profound learning experience.

“That would be life changing to have Dr. Covington talk to them,” the parent said.

“The most important thing to come out of this is for the kids to know why Mr. Covington felt like this,” the parent said and added that the kids don’t understand what it means to be “racially attacked.”

“We can make the kids suffer for the rest of their lives or we educate them and we change the community,” the parent said.

“I would like to see this city be the example of how to deal with racial tensions,” Dr. Covington said. He said the responsive police department and community can make that happen, noting the community’s reaction has shown him that Seal Beach will not tolerate racism.

“From what I see, this is a very good place and they’re just not going to have it.

Council puts Grose on the hotseat over sales tax

David N. Young
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Council puts Grose on the hotseat over sales tax

In a special meeting called to decide which members of the council should write a rebuttal to an argument against their proposed 1.5 percent sales tax on the November ballot, council member Dean Grose refused several opportunities to say he will support the tax but says he did vote to place it on the ballot.

“Ideologically, I’m opposed to taxes,” said Grose, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t think its (proposed sales tax) passage is critical to the future of the city.”

“Dean, we’ve been talking about it for more than a year, you’ve got to have an opinion on it, do you support the tax, yes or no,” asked an exasperated Mayor Richard D. Murphy? “I don’t think I’m asking too much. It’s time to stand up,” he told Grose.

“I choose not to answer,” said Grose.

“Dean, it was a yes or no question. You’re being unfair to all of us,” said a frustrated Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Chirco.

Only four of the five council members signed an argument drafted by Chirco and council member Shelley Hasselbrink for the tax. Grose has refused to sign it, citing deadlines and arguments at the meeting about inaccuracies and invalid assumptions contained therein.

“Dean, you’re putting us in a terrible position, we went over every word in that document, what is inaccurate?

“Yes,” echoed Hasselbrink, saying they went over the document “word by word.”
While saying he recognized the “critical nature” of the proposed sales tax, Grose said he preferred not to engage in a public argument citing what he believe the inaccurate assumptions were in the argument put forward by the city. “It’s not beneficial” to do that, he said.

While Grose said he understood the measure “needs to pass,” he refused several attempts to commit to supporting it. “I don’t want to get involved in doing that at this point,” he said.

“You have to be for or against it,” said Hasselbrink, “you can’t be in the middle of the road.”

“My opinion really doesn’t matter,” said Grose, adding that he voted to place the measure on the November ballot. Many times, in many ways Grose tried to say he understood that passing the tax was critical for the city but would not commit to support it.

The Council was discussing which members would issue a rebuttal to a letter from Phil Silverthorn, who noted he is a 25-year Los Alamitos resident. Silverthorn’s letter claims that “a sales tax is not what Los Alamitos needs right now.”

The opposing argument, which will now become part of the package received by voters, does not claim the tax is not needed, but moreso claims with high unemployment and businesses in distress, “this is the worse time to discuss a tax increase.”

Silverthorn’s argument suggests voting no on the tax, then using city reserves to survive, and bringing the sales tax measure back to voters in 2022.

City officials warn by 2022, deficits will be more than $3 million annually. They say the city is already running at a financial pace that is “unsustainable.”

Privately, city officials are also concerned that by waiting until 2022 could exhaust a significant amount of its reserves and could elevate its overall financial crisis to a very dangerous level.

Hasselbrink said “I’ll throw my neck on the line, put away my personal views and write the rebuttal.” Chiro said he would help her write the rebuttal to Silverhorn’s argument. “I totally agree that this (passage of a sales tax) is critical for our city.”

The council then agreed to allow Hasselbrink and Chirco to write the rebuttal to the opposition view and the measure will go to the polls with its argument strongly in favor of restoring fiscal sustainability to the city with four council signatures and not five.

Spaghettini scrambles to survive pandemic

David N. Young
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Spaghettini scrambles to survive pandemic

Popular with the locals. Catering to the stars. A stage for top tier musicians. After 32 years in business, Spaghettini in Seal Beach was on a roll.

Co-founders Laurie Sisneros and Cary Hardwick celebrated 2019 as the best year they’d ever enjoyed in business since cutting the ribbon to build Spaghettini in 1988.
“We were rolling,” Sisneros said this week as she recounts the dramatic events she and

Hardwick had experienced since their world “came to a screeching halt.”
Experiencing megagrowth in recent years, the first two months of 2020 were even better, said Sisneros.

With nearly 100 employees, most of whom have been with the company for more than 20 years, the company cast a wide footprint. Located in a sprawling 11,000 square foot building near the 405 Freeway, this 400-seat facility has developed a loyal following in southern California and beyond.

With the onset of the pandemic in March, says Sisneros, something happened that “I never would have imagined.”

First came the lockdown. Then the shutdown.

“For the first time in 32 years, we had to close our business,” she said slowly. “it was traumatic, but we complied immediately.”
Spaghettini sat dark and silent for the first time since it opened in 1988.

“It was a painful jolt,” she says. They had to act fast. “This was a challenge we never expected,” she said.

Their first concern was the employees and then, the financial impact. Some employees have been with the company since Spaghettini opened.
“Cary and I have managed together for so long,” she said, “and we trust each other completely.”

With a three-decade legacy on the line, they came up with a plan, as costs began to add up. With a broken heart, they furloughed their dedicated employees.

Hardwick said he was in “shell shock” after telling employees that had been with them for 32 years that they were being furloughed. “We didn’t know when and if we were going to be able to reopen,” he said.

Finally, as authorities began to allow restaurants to offer takeout orders only, Sisneros said Spaghettini’s were not ready.”

Not only was financing an issue, but the Spaghettini brand is unique and Sisneros said their customers know it.

As they have done for their entire career, Sisneros and Hardwick began to embrace the challenge.

About that time, they finally received an SBA Paycheck Protection Loan, which Sisneros called a “Godsend.”

Cary Hardwick and Laurie Sisneros, the owners of Spaghettini

They called back every employee that wanted to come back, promising them the same pay level as 2019, regardless if they worked as much. All but a handful did come back, but Sisneros said some were truly frightened of COVID and chose not to return.
The co-owners rolled out “an elevated take-out menu.” They emailed loyal customers and suddenly, Spaghettini had entered a new phase.

Offering customers free delivery within a five-mile radius. And, for the first time, they could sell cocktails to go. The business took off.

Sisneros said at that point, she and Hardwick themselves made food deliveries in their cars as necessary.

“I ended up delivering to a junior high school buddy,” quipped Hardwick. “He invited me in.”

What happened next, Sisneros said, made her cry.

“Our customers kind of adopted us,” she said, as business exploded.
“People started buying blocks of gift certificates, customers ordered takeout and sent it to their children and friends. They gave us ridiculous tips. I mean they really went above and beyond,” Sisneros said.

“I was crying every day,” she added, humbled by the response. “I mean it was terrifying on the one hand, but the customer response was really special.”
Sisneros said the Spaghettini customers “were making a statement” and that it “really boosted morale.”

Then came the go-ahead from public health officials to reopen inside, of course under social distancing and other conditions, so Sisneros and Hardwick aid they began to breathe a bit easier. “It kind of felt like we had made it,” she said.
Sadly, the euphoria didn’t last.

Within the month, that authority was revoked as surging virus cases compelled a statewide indoor shutdown. The $1 million interior renovation completed in 2019 was now rendered useless as they were forced to pivot again as the government would now only outside dining.

We had to pivot fast and I think we did a good job it,” she said this week.

“We had an outside patio,” said Sisneros, “but it could only seat 45 guests.” She and Hardwick saw a patch of grass that they knew could be transformed into an outdoor dining area but it had to be done quickly.

“We were fortunate to find a landscape architect,” said Sisneros, “and I told them ‘if you can’t transform this space in 48 hours, we won’t stay in business.”

The co-owners wanted a “winery inspired” outdoor dining area and were amazed at the result. Almost overnight, Spaghettini’s dining capacity was increased to 100.
“I showed up at at 6 a.m. Monday morning to find a beautiful, winery inspired outdoor dining area, she said. Now, she said, “it looks like guests are sitting in the middle of Napa Valley.”

Since then, said Sisneros, the tables are busy and the turnover nonstop. She Customers are working from home so “the whole thing starts for lunch about 1:30 p.m. and never stops” until closing.

Spaghettini has since even re-instituted a modest music night (Mondays). Artists now play from a small patch of ground against the hedges, but the tables are always “sold out.”
They have even booked a few, small catering events and although the operation looks different than it did in early March, it is authentic Spagahettini dining. “Everyone is working for less money and we just want to make our customers feel good,” she said.

State, county and local (Seal Beach) governmental and planning authorities have been “impressive” and “very responsive,” added Sisneros.

Whatever they needed, from construction permits to waivers, they received very quickly, she said. All of the relationships they had established in their many years in business, from banking to regulators, “really stepped up” to help them survive the pandemic scare.

About this time during a normal year, Sisneros and Hardwick would likely be on their annual cruise with jazz great Dave Koz. Yet, after three decades, they find themselves working side by side with their employees to ensure Spaghettini endures.
And they could not be happier about it.

“If there is a lesson here it is never take ANYTHING for granted,” said Sisneros. “I come to work every day with a smile on my face,” she said, knowing that “Cary and I are among the lucky ones.”

Hardwick agrees. “Today, I have a different level of appreciation for what we have,” he says. “We’re not through this yet,” he warns, saying no one knows what will happen next. “We’re taking it day by day, but always with the same Spaghettini mindset.”

Sisneros said she is worried about all restaurants and they are ready to cooperate with anyone to help them survive too.

“I keep telling Cary that this will be our greatest accomplishment,” said Sisneros. When the Spaghettini story is finally written, she said, “this is going to be craziest chapter in the book.”

Los Alamitos to start school year in distance learning mode

David N. Young
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Los Alamitos to start school year in distance learning mode

The Los Alamitos Unified School District will begin the school year August 31, at all levels, in distance learning mode, Dr. Andrew Pulver, Supt. of the Los Almitos Unified School system announced Friday, August 14.

Here is the full text of Dr. Pulver’s statement.

“We know all of us want to know which instructional setting we will begin the new school year with students on August 31.  While August 17 is the last date we could wait to see if Orange County is removed from the State Monitoring list to allow for in-person instruction, I know it is also unsettling to continue to wait and make plans.
Additionally, while the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) elementary waiver was submitted yesterday, it could take 14 or more days to be approved and that too is unsettling to have to wait to learn what the start of school will be at the elementary level. One thing that is certain is our LosAl@Home pathway; students in the LosAl@Home pathway will be in distance learning throughout the year while in the pathway.
Today, we are announcing that we will begin the start of school on August 31 in a distance learning setting at all levels (elementary, middle and high school) for those students enrolled in the traditional schooling pathway.
If the CDPH and the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) approves the CDPH elementary waiver within the next 14 days, elementary schools will migrate into the hybrid setting the second week of school, after the Labor Day holiday. If the CDPH elementary waiver is not approved, elementary schools will continue in distance learning until Orange County is off the State Monitoring list for 14 consecutive days or until new guidance is issued by CDPH and OCHCA.
McAuliffe Middle School, Oak Middle School, and Los Alamitos High School students enrolled in the traditional schooling pathway will remain in distance learning until Orange County is off the State Monitoring list for 14 consecutive days or until new guidance is issued by CDPH and OCHCA.
Thank you for your patience, dedication, and perseverance as we prepare for the new school year beginning August 31. Our Los Al family is looking forward to welcoming you and your children back to school. I pray that you and your families are safe and healthy and wish you all a wonderful weekend.”

 

Boys & Girls Club of Anaheim plans full-day activities

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Boys & Girls Club of Anaheim plans full-day activities

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress is open for full–day Summer and School Year programs! The Club is open Monday-Friday from 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM for Kindergarten through 12th grade students.

In each Clubhouse, highly-skilled Instructional Aides will help each student follow their daily educational schedule, ensure they participate in remote classroom instruction with their classroom teachers, and provide support to help them complete their assignments.

‘We provide academic support in a safe, encouraging, socially-distanced environment. This helps members succeed in school and relieves some of the pressure from their working parents. Our staff are working closely with the school district to help children succeed in school while campuses are closed, stated Anne Hertz, President of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress.

The Club still includes the fun and social activities that support the emotional and physical well-being of youth. This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when children and teens may feel isolated. Specialized programs are offered for Kindergarten students and Teens.

Enhanced safety precautions for staff and members are in place within the Club. This includes frequent cleaning and sanitizing of all Club areas, wellness checks, social distancing, additional hand washing stations, small groups with lower member to staff ratios, and additional safety training for staff. Face coverings are required by all staff and members.

Space is limited and early registration is encouraged for the Club’s high-quality, low-cost programs. Scholarships are provided to ensure that no child is ever turned away for inability to pay. Additional information is available on the website at www.theboysandgirlsclub.org or by calling 714-527-2697.

Army aviator retires after three decades of flight

Richard Lalor
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Army aviator retires after three decades of flight

After more than 28 years flying the friendly, and sometimes not so friendly, skies at home and abroad as a U.S. Army aviator, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Robert Metoyer flew into retirement Friday, July 31, 2020, leading a training flight of 12 California Army National Guard UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters — a fitting salute and fond farewell from his comrades at the 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, based at Los Alamitos Army Airfield on Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos.

During his distinguished career, Metoyer totaled over 318 months of operational flight duty piloting the UH-1 Huey and UH-60 aircraft. He deployed to Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy (1994-95), and three times to Iraq for Operations Iraqi Freedom (2005-06), New Dawn (2010-11) and Spartan Shield (2015-16). Since joining the 1-140th AHB in January 2001 he amassed more than 3,600 flight hours flying combat, civil support and training missions.

Interestingly, Metoyer’s first 10 years of service were spent as an Infantryman, building an impressive record and earning the Expert Infantry Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge and Master Parachutist Badge. It was while assigned as an instructor at the Air Assault School at Fort Campbell that he became intrigued with Army Aviation because “pilots do neat things and get to go to lots of neat places.” On such thoughts, careers are built.

Having never deployed during his time as an infantryman, upon graduation from flight school Metoyer soon found himself serving in one of those “neat places” – supporting contingency operations in Haiti.

“I have loved the Army Aviation mission and have had a blessed career,” reflected Metoyer, who credits the leaders and role models he encountered along his 34-year journey – those who invested their time and trust in him. “Because my leaders served me, I have always done my best to serve them, to follow their example and serve others. Retiring is bittersweet because I will miss my fellow Soldiers the most.”

In his final assignment as the battalion’s standardization pilot attached to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Metoyer served as the commander’s principal adviser and primary technical and tactical expert responsible for providing individual, crew and collective training.

As the unit’s senior warrant officer and pilot, Metoyer’s duties also included mentoring and evaluating the battalion’s standardization and instructor pilots, while overseeing 80 rated and non-rated crew personnel.

True to form, Metoyer requested that his final flight be something special. “I didn’t want this to be all about me. This is about the entire battalion and I wanted to include everyone… I am so thankful.”

Although he is leaving the Cal Guard, Metoyer is not hanging up his flight suit. He is simply exchanging uniforms and will continue to serve his country as a helicopter inspector pilot for the U.S. Forest Service.

Courtney Melancon awarded Girl Scout Silver Award

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Courtney Melancon awarded Girl Scout Silver Award

Girl Scouts of Orange County presented Courtney Melancon of Cadette Troop 2853 with a special Take Action Award for her Silver Award Project. A Girl Scout who has made a significant and lasting impact in her community through a Take Action project can be a nominee for this Award. This presentation was a porch surprise planned by her mother Jenni Melancon (also one of her troop leaders).

Courtney’s Silver Award Project was inspired several years ago by a guest speaker at Lee Elementary. Mr. Brent Poppen is a functioning quadriplegic who was a baseball player in high school before he had an accident that paralyzed him. He became a motivational speaker and shares the message that “Anything is Possible” to kids and adults through his books and speaking engagements. At that assembly Courtney decided to retrofit a mitt so

Mr. Poppen could catch a baseball again. The webbing of bungee cord woven through the mitt enables a baseball to stay in without having to squeeze the mitt. Since the completion of the first mitt, Courtney wanted to create additional mitts to help kids that have difficulty catching baseballs. With the help of Mr. Poppen, her parents, and the Challenger League of

Long Beach associated with Long Beach Little League at Stearns Park, this idea has become a reality. Courtney’s project has enabled all children to be able to catch a baseball, both those with special needs who play in a specialized league like the Challenger League, or young players that are beginning to play, and continues to help them build their confidence by catching a baseball consistently.

Joseph Johnson to speak to Los Al Chamber

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Joseph Johnson to speak to Los Al Chamber

After a couple of months on pandemic hiatus, the Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce is now back to its monthly networking breakfast, even if participants have to serve themselves coffee as all meetings are now on Zoom.

Following a trial Zoom meeting in July, Chamber Chairwoman Nesi Stewart said in a note to members that “our first Chamber Zoom meeting was such a success that we’re planning our August meeting.”

Actually, the Chamber has already planned meetings for the next three months.
Stewart said Joseph Johnson, the President and CEO of The Telein Group, Inc. will be the guest speaker and will discuss “Leadership in Chaos.”

Johnson, according to the invite, says “we are entrepreneurs, creating something where there was nothing, building a global enterprise brand building wealth, continually expanding our network progressively sharing our knowledge, doing well by doing good.”

“Johnson, a native of Poplar Bluff, Missouri has spent his life focusing his talents, resources and time toward service to humanity, which he believes is his purpose. He is the founder and visionary President, CEO of the Telein Group, a southern California leadership advisory services firm that has worked on five continents with CEO’s, executives and teams.

Joe is passionate about adding value to other leaders through his observation, education and advice on personal and organizational effectiveness. His unique expertise in organizational effectiveness and culture, and teaching on principles to live and lead abundantyly has a profound impact on leaders, teams and organizations globally.

“This is our lifework, a labor of love, joy and meaning, for it is a way we care for humanity and making a difference in the world,” according to a Chamber press release.
For those seeking to attend, please RSVP to in**@**********er.org.

The meeting will be held August 13th, from 8 – 9 a.m. There is no charge. To register, email in**@**********er.org.

State issues new guidance on youth sports activities

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State issues new guidance on youth sports activities

The California Department of Public Health this week issued new guidance for youth sports as frustrated municipal officials have been complaining about the changing rules.
Here are the latest rules issued by the state’s public health agency.
“Consistent with the July 20, 2020 announcement of the California Interscholastic Federation, this document provides guidance for all youth sports programs—including school-based, club, and recreational programs—to support a safe environment for players, coaches and trainers, families, spectators, event/program/facility managers, workers, and volunteers. For further guidance related to school settings, please see this updated guidance for schools and school-based programs.

NOTE: The risk of transmitting the COVID-19 virus depends on several factors germane to sports, including:

• Number of people in a location
• Type of location (indoor versus outdoor)
• Distance between people
• Length of time at a location
• Physical contact between people
• Touching of shared objects
• Use of face coverings
• Mixing of people from locations with different levels of community transmission
As general guidance, smaller groups are safer than larger; outdoor locations are safer than indoor; sports that can ensure distance of six feet or more are safer than close contact; and shorter duration is safer than longer. Leagues, coaches, parents, and athletes need to consider all these factors as they plan to return to play.
• Outdoor and indoor sporting events, assemblies, and other activities that require close contact or that would promote congregating are not permitted at this time. For example, tournaments, events, or competitions, regardless of whether teams are from the same school or from different schools, counties, or states are not permitted at this time.
• Youth sports and physical education are permitted only when the following can be maintained: (1) physical distancing of at least six feet; and (2) a stable cohort, such as a class, that limits the risks of transmission (see CDC Guidance on Schools and Cohorting). Activities should take place outside to the maximum extent practicable.
• For sports that cannot be conducted with sufficient distancing or cohorting, only physical conditioning and training is permitted and ONLY where physical distancing can be maintained. Conditioning and training should focus on individual skill-building (e.g., running drills and body weight resistance training) and should take place outside,
• Avoid equipment sharing, and if unavoidable, clean and disinfect shared equipment between use by different people to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread.
• Consistent with guidance for gyms and fitness facilities, cloth face coverings must be worn during indoor physical conditioning and training or physical education classes (except when showering). Activities that require heavy exertion should be conducted outside in a physically distanced manner without face coverings. Activities conducted inside should be those that do not require heavy exertion and can be done with a face covering. Players should take a break from exercise if any difficulty in breathing is noted and should change their mask or face covering if it becomes wet and sticks to the player’s face and obstructs breathing. Masks that restrict airflow under heavy exertion (such as N-95 masks) are not advised for exercise.
• Youth sports programs and schools should provide information to parents or guardians regarding this and related guidance, along with the safety measures that will be in place in these settings with which parents or guardians must comply.”

Supervisor Steel raises funds to feed police

David N. Young
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Supervisor Steel raises funds to feed police

Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel visited city hall in Los Alamitos this week to offer lunch and dinner to the city’s police department.

Also, Steel announced she hadsponsored a resolution to celebrate law enforcement on a specific day each year, a motion which was approved by the board.

Therefore, Steel told the assembled officials that August 11 will henceforth be celebrated as Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in Orange County.

Los Al Mayor Richard D. Murphy and Chief of Police Eric R. Nunez, who currently serves as President of the California Chiefs Association, along council members Dean Grose, Tonya Doby and Nesi Stewart, Chairwoman of the Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce were among the officials on hand to welcome Supervisor Steel.

“I’m not here as a supervisor,” she told the officials and representatives from the Los Al Police Department and staff, “I’m here to say thank you to law enforcement.”
“So many people support you,” Steel told Chief Nunez and the Los Al officers and administrative staff. She thanked the officers whom she noted “put your lives on the line to protect us.”

Steel said when a friend, whose husband is a law enforcement officer, told her he had been denied service at coffee shops locally, and with her witnessing officers being denied service at eating establishments around the country, she put a group of people together to raise funds to feed law enforcement agencies.

“Very quickly,” said Steel, “we raised $78,000” to feed the county’s law enforcement professionals. Steel said the level of support for law enforcement she foundwas astounding.
Mayor Murphy said he thinks most people in the city fully supports law enforcement and Chief Nunez thanked Steel for the declaration and for the meals.

Local food executives representing Wahoo’s and Subway provided lunch for the officers while Steel said the fund also paid for dinner at Maderas Steak & Rib for the law enforcement staff.

LAUSD releases additional school opening details with parents

David N. Young
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LAUSD releases additional school opening details with parents

he administration of the Los Alamitos Unified school district has released a detailed outline of their proposed school reopening plans to parents in a letter that included online links to audio/visual presentations and explanations.

“All of us in Los Al Unified are eager to have our students and families return for the 2020-21 school year on August 31, 2020,” said Dr. Andrew Pulver, Superintendent, in the letter to parents.

Pulver acknowledged that recent months “have been challenging for everyone, us included. “While the future has many lingering questions, our Los Al Unified educators and leaders have spent the last several months diligently collaborating and preparing the best possible educational options for our students, while keeping safety as our top priority,” he said.

Pulver said the plan resulted from “over thirty meetings” and nearly 9,000 responses from staff and family surveys that have been scoured for data. In addition, said Pulver ,”our team has taken the input from stakeholders, the guidance from state and local health and education agencies, and collaborated with the Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Education to offer a comprehensive 2020-21 School Opening and Safety Plan for all students.”

As always, Los Alamitos Unified is committed to providing a rigorous and quality instructional program for our students, while ensuring a safe environment for students, staff and the community. We realize our community deserves a variety of educational options and we are committed to providing choices for families during the pandemic. Our plan includes the appropriate safety precautions as well as a clear outline of our educational options for both a traditional schooling pathway and a year-long, 100% distance learning pathway (LosAl@Home).

Our team and Board of Education have worked hard to provide two pathways for students, allowing families to make the choice they believe is best for their child(ren).
Pulver in the letter asks each family to review the two basic options and make a choice about which of the pathways they prefer to pursue. He provides detailed instruction to parents regarding the traditional instruction and information to log into the LosAl@Home platform.

According to Pulver, the safety protocols and procedures in the plan were designed to mitigate risk, but acknowledged “no single action or set of actions will completely eliminate the risk of COVID-19 transmission, but the implementation of several coordinated interventions can greatly reduce that risk.”

Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent order leaves Orange County on state’s Monitoring Watchlist, so Pulver makes it clear that Orange County is not off the list sufficiently in advance of Aug. 31, the LAUSD will have no choice “but to start the year in a distance learning setting.”

“We will closely monitor Orange County’s ability to meet the requirements, as outlined by the state, for a return to in-person instruction,” Pulver informed the parents.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, every action has been and will continue to be in alignment with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) guidelines specific for schools and classrooms,” he added.
Pulver also provided parents interested in elementary school waivers to allow in-person instruction even if Orange County remains on the watch list. The state California

Department of Public Health was expected to issue a waiver template.
Pulver thanked the Los Al parent community for their support and understanding through what has been a very trying period in public education.

“Thank you for your ongoing support, patience and understanding as we continue to prepare for the upcoming academic year and for entrusting your child’s education to our Los Al family of educators,” said Pulver.

He also thanked “the 70+ members who have served on our Remote Teaching and Distance Learning Committee for their tremendous efforts and contributions in the development of this plan.”

Water supply remains safe, sufficient as pandemic endures

For Event-News Enterprise
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Water supply remains safe, sufficient as pandemic endures

August is Water Quality Month, a perfect time to educate ourselves about how and why we can rely on clean water each time we turn on the tap. Groundwater from your local Orange County groundwater basin makes up about 77% of the total water needed for consumers. Your city or water agency buys about 23% of imported water from Northern California or the Colorado River to make up the difference.

The heart of the Orange County Water District’s (OCWD; the District) 87-year mission is to provide high-quality groundwater supplies for the 2.5 million people in north and central Orange County.

The District does this by continuing to protect groundwater supplies and increase reliability, despite the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Fullerton-Placentia-Anaheim (north basin) and Santa Ana-Tustin-Irvine (south basin), OCWD is dealing with groundwater contamination in shallow aquifers from industrial dumping in the 1950s and 1960s. The District is proactively seeking ways to clean up the pollution in a united effort with local and national regulatory agencies. Initial cleanup endeavors involve cutting off and preventing the spread of contamination before it travels further into the main aquifer.

New contamination threats, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), have been found in air, earth, food and water across the nation and locally. These “forever chemicals” were once commonly used in many consumer products and industrial applications and are part of a larger group referred to as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). OCWD is at the forefront of this issue that includes testing, monitoring and discovering the most viable ways to deal with it locally.

OCWD’s Philip L. Anthony Water Quality Laboratory was the first public agency laboratory in California to achieve state certification to analyze for PFAS in drinking water. The District also recently launched the nation’s largest pilot program to test treatment techniques to remove PFAS in groundwater. A planning study will help determine how new treatment facilities could be rapidly implemented.

We encourage you to visit the OCWD.com website to learn more about what the District is doing to ensure your water meets state and federal drinking water standards.
Contamination encumbers portions of the groundwater basin and can eventually threaten the amount OCWD member water retailers may be able to pump. In addition to finding resolutions such as bringing PFAS treatment plants online within one to two years, the District is readying to supplement its current water supply.

OCWD has started the final expansion of the Groundwater Replenishment System that will bring an additional 30 million gallons per day (MGD) of drinking water for a total of 130 MGD—enough to meet the water needs of 1 million people—by 2023.

The system takes highly treated wastewater that would have previously been discharged into the Pacific Ocean and purifies it using a three-step advanced treatment process consisting of microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet light with hydrogen peroxide.
OCWD is also evaluating other sources of high-quality water that include desalinated ocean water. This summer and fall, the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board and the California Coastal Commission will determine if the desalination project in Huntington Beach will move forward. If permits are obtained from these two agencies, the OCWD Board of Directors will resolve whether desalinated water will be part of its future water portfolio.

Thanks to the District’s successful groundwater management and commitment to fulfilling its mission, it has been able to sustain the basin and more than double its annual yield. All of these new efforts and commitments continue to yield a bright high-quality water future for local homes and businesses.

This Orange County Water District article is provided by Jordan Brandman, a council member of the city of Anaheim who represents Division 9 of OCWD (www.ocwd.com). Contact Director Brandman at jb*******@*****im.net.

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