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La Palma Emergency Plan

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La Palma Emergency Plan

This is the City of La Palma’s central location for local updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The City continues to closely monitor the coronavirus situation and is in regular communications with the County of Orange Healthcare Agency and other community partners.

Latest Updates

There is now laboratory evidence of community transmission, indicating that COVID-19 is likely spreading in Orange County.

Older adults (ages 65 and higher) as well as people who have serious, chronic medical conditions (like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease) are at higher risk for contracting COVID-19. These individuals should avoid crowds as much as possible as well cruise travel and non-essential air travel.

All residents should practice good health hygiene, which includes washing your hands, staying home if you are sick, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, and covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve (not hands).

Minimizing risk through social distancing whenever possible, which includes avoiding attendance at large gatherings (250 or more). Small gatherings should be limited to no more than 10 people and provide social distancing of six feet per person.

Maintain vigilance and personal readiness by being prepared if there is COVID-19 in your household or a disruption of daily activities.

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, stay home. If you need to seek medical care, call your health care provider first so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

Impacts to the City of La Palma

Basic Precautions

Basic precautions are similar to avoiding the flu or the common cold.

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects

Primary election update: Incumbent Diep may be in trouble

Jeannette Andruss
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Primary election update: Incumbent Diep may be in trouble

Final votes are still being counted from the March 3 Presidential Primary election but it looks like the incumbent in the 72nd Assembly District will lose his seat. Republican Tyler Diep has slipped into third place in the race to represent the district that includes Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and Rossmoor. For state and congressional contests, only the top two vote-getters advance to compete in the November general election regardless of party.

Last week, Democrat and Garden Grove City councilwoman Diedre Nguyen surpassed Diep to take second place. She now leads him by 825 votes according to the Orange County Registrar of Voters website as of March 17.

“So glad voters embraced our message of lower healthcare costs and better educational opportunities,” Nguyen wrote in an email.

If the results hold, Diedre Nguyen, who is also a cancer scientist, will face Republican and former state senator and businesswoman Janet Nguyen in November. Janet Nguyen is currently in first place, leading the race with 33.8% of the vote. Democrat and civil rights attorney Bijan Mohseni remains in fourth place.

“We’re very pleased and excited about the results,” Janet Nguyen said in a phone call on Tuesday but added she’s not making an official statement yet since the results are still preliminary.

Tyler Diep’s campaign issued this statement to The Event-News Enterprise: “I am sincerely thankful to all those who voted and placed their trust in me in this recent election. While the results aren’t what we wanted, I am committed to representing and fighting for my district until the last day.”

Diep was first elected to represent the 72nd district in 2018, the same election where four congressional seats in Orange County went from Republicans to Democrats. It was also the election where Janet Nguyen lost her reelection bid for her state senate seat to Democrat Tom Umberg.

Primary Reveals Republican Rift

The primary contest between the two Republicans, Janet Nguyen and Diep, revealed a rift among Orange County Republicans. The race was marked by negative ads and online attacks. She entered the race in December amid criticism of Diep by local GOP leaders. The Orange County Republican Party revoked its endorsement of Diep in January saying his votes were “incongruent with the Republican platform.” The group did not endorse a candidate in the primary for the 72nd AD. The California Republican Party still endorsed Diep.

“A few political insiders have made it their agenda to distort my record as I have done my best to represent my district in Sacramento,” Diep told the Orange County Register in February.

Diep was the only Republican in the Assembly to vote for AB 5, a bill that creates new rules for part-time or freelance workers. Many employers, including Lyft and Uber, opposed the bill. Political Action Committees, including one funded by Lyft, sponsored campaign mailers critical of Diep.

Nguyen’s campaign website says Diep is the one distorting voting records. An entire page on her site is dedicated to “Tyler Diep’s false attacks on Republican Janet Nguyen.”

During the phone interview on Tuesday, Janet Nguyen criticized Diep saying, “You cannot campaign as a conservative and go to Sacramento and vote with the Governor.” But she noted how Republicans need to shift gears. “At this point we need to unite as a community,” she said.

Now the focus turns to the general election.

“On the surface, the two candidates for Assembly in November might be hard to tell apart: two Vietnamese women named Nguyen with similar backgrounds,” Democrat Diedre Nguyen wrote in an email message. But she said the two couldn’t be more different.

“Janet Nguyen is an ultra-conservative career politician who dragged Tyler Diep’s moderate reputation through the mud leading up to Tuesday’s election. I am a cancer scientist, running to solve big problems facing California,” Diedre Nguyen wrote.

“It’s comical to say I’m a career politician,” Janet Nguyen said in response noting that Diedre Nguyen has been a councilwoman for Garden Grove since 2016. She characterized a vote for Diedre as a vote for more of the same in Sacramento. “I’m there to fight for our community.  I’m not there to negotiate,” Janet said.

Turnout & Other Election Results

“We have counted 804,410 ballots, bringing us to a 49.2% turnout for the Primary Election so far,” Orange County Registrar of Voters, Neal Kelley said in a press release on March 14. In some precincts in Seal Beach, turnout was even higher measuring above 60%. The results are still unofficial as counties have until April 3 to submit final results to the State. On March 17, there were still 1,749 ballots countywide left to count. Here’s a look at the results so far.

Congressional Contests

The 48th Congressional District covers all of Seal Beach. Incumbent Democrat Harley Rouda leads the race with 46.7% of the vote. It looks like he will face Republican Michelle Steel in November. Steel, an Orange County Supervisor and Surfside resident, is in second place with 34.9% of the vote.

The 47th Congressional District covers parts of Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor and Cypress. Incumbent Democrat Alan Lowenthal is leading with 45.0% of the vote. Republican John Briscoe, an Ocean View School District board member, has 17.3% of the vote. The results suggest that Lowenthal and Briscoe will face off in November which would be a rematch of the 2018 race.

Orange County Measure A

Orange County voters are approving of Measure A with the “yes” vote garnering 78.4% of the vote. Measure A would amend the Orange County Charter so that any proposal to increase or extend taxes would require a two-thirds supermajority vote of the Board of Supervisors before the tax proposal is considered by voters.

Statewide Measure Proposition 13

Proposition 13, the $15 billion bond measure to fund repairs and upgrades at California schools, is failing. Right now, 53.7% of the ballots said “No” to the statewide measure. The “Yes” vote is 46.3%.

For the latest tallies on Orange County contests, visit ocvote.com/results.

For statewide results visit, https://electionresults.sos.ca.gov/.

Casa Youth Shelter to remain open

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Casa Youth Shelter to remain open

Through war and peace, now Coronavirus, the Casa Youth Shelter has not closed for a single day since it was opened by Myldred E. Jones in 1978.

“The youth who seek help at Casa Youth Shelter are among the most vulnerable in our community. At this time, we are committed to continuing to provide much needed shelter, food, and counseling to teens in need,” according to an email from the shelter.

Though Casa vowed to remain open, officials there say they are taking extraordinary precautions to keep the staff and tenants safe. “The health and safety of our clients and staff is always our primary concern, so we have made some adjustments to our program to ensure the health and safety of our people,” the email noted.

According to the notice, here are the steps being taken by Casa Youth Shelter to remain open during the crisis.

  • We are modifying our crisis call and intake procedures to include recommended questions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a minor is unwell and presents with symptoms consistent with the coronavirus, we will request a medical evaluation and note prior to admission.
  • We have implemented strict hygiene and cleanliness procedures throughout the shelter, including hand washing, maintaining 6-foot distance when possible, and regularly disinfecting common areas and frequently used surfaces and objects.
  • Offsite outings have been canceled.
  • Visitors to the shelter will be limited. No group tours will be scheduled through the end of April.
  • We are developing emergency staffing protocols, including remote work where possible, limiting staffing to essential personnel, and requiring quarantine after travel.
  • We will strive to maintain a 30-day stock of emergency supplies at the shelter, including food, linens, toilet paper, paper towels, and other cleaning materials.
  • We will continue to monitor the situation, and follow guidance from the CDC and local health departments.

Though the shelter will remain open, they did postpone several events, including;

  • Reality Party (scheduled for March 14)
  • Los Alamitos Thrive Teen Expo Conference (scheduled for April 4)
  • Awareness through Art Open House (scheduled for April 25)
  • Youth Leadership Program meetings cancelled through March

They said parenting classes, however, would continue.

“As a friend of Casa Youth Shelter, you know that the wellbeing of our youth is our highest priority. Many of our teens are particularly susceptible, not only to this new virus, but to other physical and mental illnesses that stem from the trauma of living on the streets or experiencing significant crisis,” according to Casa.

“Your support is a lifeline for these youth. We appreciate you standing by us during – and after – this crisis. It is your support that allows our staff to continue their quietly courageous work. Your support keeps our youth safe.”

Casa Youth Shelter officials acknowledged a “rapidly evolving crisis” and committed itself to remain “vigilant.”

Pulver guides LAUSD schools into closure period

David N. Young
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Pulver guides LAUSD schools into closure period

Friday was a busy day for Dr. Andrew Pulver and perhaps, the biggest test of his administration of schools since he assumed the post of Superintendent less than a year ago.

In a wide-ranging interview shortly before a hastily called “emergency board meeting at 2:30 p.m., he explained the hectic and rapid sequence of events that prompted Friday’s decision to approve a two-week closure of district schools to protect students, teachers and staff from the Coronavirus crisis.

Pulver said he had been sending messages to parents since Wednesday, “hoping to urge them to get prepared,” the superintendent said.

Following a mid-morning group phone call between Orange County Superintendents Al Mijares and the OC Health Department, in which he participated, Pulver prepared a resolution and called the emergency board meeting to get their approval.

Mijares said later he supported the closure of all 615 K-12 public schools in Orange County, acknowleding also that “we do not know how this will ultimately impact our county. “

Although Superintendents “do have the power” to shut down schools in the case of an emergency, Pulver said having the board delegate the authority to him was the “smarter thing to do.”

First of all, he said it ensures a strong case if, for any reason, the district must appeal to the state for financial closure benefits, and also, Pulver said he has remained in constant communication with the board since the crisis began. “They have been constantly hearing from me,” he said.

The board approved the resolution to close the schools for two weeks and gave Pulver the authority to make a decision to close for two more weeks, if necessary,without coming back to the board.

“Four weeks is a long time to commit to without more information,” he said, referring to the process as a “student dismissal.”

Instruction will continue

“First of all, we are making a determination of which staff members are critical to remain” at school during the closure to make sure organizational elements like payroll, network administration and other vital services remain functional, he said.

Pulver said he is first among them and planned to report to work every day during the closure period.

Pulver said curricula will continue throughout the ‘closure period,’ however long that happens to be. In addition, Pulver said the system has teamed up with Verizon and Google to help ensure access to instruction for all students.

Teachers and staff were ordered back to school Monday through Wednesday, said Pulver, in order to “train” staff on how to use the “Google Classroom” online platform, said Pulver.

“Many teachers already use it,” he acknowledged, “but some don’t.” By Wednesday, he said, the teachers should have a plan for two weeks of lessons and be trained on how to interact online with their students.

As a contingency, said Pulver, he asked teachers to also be considering lessons that may be needed if the closure period has to be extended.

In order to receive the lessons, students must have a “capable device” at home. For those that do not have access to such a device, he said, “they can return to school and check out an approved device” for as long as it is needed.

To facilitate students that do not have online access, Pulver ordered 100 Verizon hotspots that were delivered on Monday.

Child care and meals

“I’m very concerned about our families that do not have childcare,” said Pulver, “and worried about what they will do.”

The superintendent said the Los Al Unified School system would continue offering child care for K-8th grade students, noting that it is a service paid for by parents.

Since classrooms will be empty, Pulver said the administrators will be able to maintain the required “social distancing”dsss of the children. While other systems are not doing it, “I made sure we’re doing it,” said Pulver.

“Our job is to keep children safe,” said Pulver, and “it’s better there than them not having a place where they are being supervised.”

While some parents will be able to make arrangements for child care, many others will not. “We should provide for those who can’t,” he said. The custodians will disinfect the premises daily and Pulver said they would ensure the children are kept in a socially responsible way.

“If we get different direction from public health agencies as we’re rolling this out, “we’ll just have to adapt.”

Pulver said simliar arrangements are being made for students receiving free and reduced breakfast and lunches. (See update, page 10)

Financial implications

Pulver said extraordinary precautions are being taken to ensure there will be no adverse financial impact, saying the state will likely adjust to allow for the distance learning, They will also authorize other emergency measures being taken during the closure period of keep kids safe and learning, he said.

For sure all the “certificate” employees will not be impacted, and he said the board and the system managers are working to ensure there is no fallout at all in terms of employees.

Pulver said the system is coordinating carefully with the state and the OC Superintendent’s Office as the system works through this unprecedented educational crisis.

Aquarium among other notable closings

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Aquarium among other notable closings

“After careful discussions with the City of Long Beach, the Aquarium of the Pacific will be closing to the public starting Saturday, March 14, through Tuesday, March 31, 2020. During this time, staff members will continue to work and be paid. We will be offering a variety of online programming so that the public may continue to engage with our exhibits and animals and learn about our ocean. We invite you to visit our website for updates at aquariumofpacific.org. We thank you for your support and we send you our best wishes.”

In a Facebook posting, Run Seal Beach announced the cancellation of the 5K, 10K and Kids Fun Run scheduled for Saturday, March 28.

“At this time, the Run Seal Beach Board of Directors is evaluating options for a revised 2020 race date, along with registration refunds or deferrals processing. We ask for your patience as we work through different options in light of current unfortunate circumstances. Communication updates will be sent regularly via email and social media channels,” the post read.

Save Our Beach is cancelling its monthly scheduled beach clean-up that was slated for Saturday, March 21. In a posting on its Facebook page the group wrote: “We hope as things progress, we will be able to hold all regularly scheduled cleanups in the future, beginning April 18th.”

Seal Beach PONY Baseball League is temporarily suspending its season. The league uses the fields at J.H. McGaugh Elementary school and the Los Alamitos Unified School District has cancelled any use of its facilities by outside groups. “We will do our best to closely monitor the situation, and keep you apprised of all future developments as they are received,” a post on the leagues Facebook page read.

The Orange County Public Libraries have been closed. “The health and wellness of our OC Public Libraries’ staff and customers is our main concern. Based on recommendations from the County of Orange and in concurrence with guidelines issued by the Governor of the state of California, all OC Public Library branches will be closed from March 16 through March 31, 2020 to limit the number of people in a public building and to help curtail further spread of COVID-19 in our communities.

In this interim time, although our doors may be closed, there are many ways you can still connect with our library services. OC Public Libraries’ robust digital services give library card holders 24/7 free
access to ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, movies, resources and
More. For official updates about the coronavirus visit the OC Health Care Agency website.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and look forward to resuming full library services as soon as we can. Thank you for being a patron of the OC Public Library system.”

OC Health Dept. clarifies ‘Shelter in Place’ Order; Most biz ok

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OC Health Dept. clarifies ‘Shelter in Place’ Order; Most biz ok

Orange County health officials are walking back an order released two days ago, saying the order issued by County health officer Dr. Nichole Quick was “NOT an order to shelter in place. It is not a lockdown.”

The hastily issued order sparked much confusion among Orange County business owners, as the Health Department now says “it is important for all Orange County businesses to remain open while practicing social distancing consistent with the Governor’s guidelines.

However, following state guidelines, all bars and other business establishments that serve food shall close. All restaurants and other business establishments that serve food shall close all onsite dining. Pickup dining and drive thru services may remain open. It is important for all Orange County residents to read the order IN ITS ENTIRETY.

Unfortunately, said health officials, “the order, as written, caused widespread confusion.” In order to provide more clarity, the Health Department said it would be issuing amended orders.

Residents or businesses with questions are asked to call the OC Health Department hotline at (714) 628-7085.

The Cypress Chamber Student Business Mentor Breakfast Postponed

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The Cypress Chamber Student Business Mentor Breakfast Postponed

The Cypress Chamber of Commerce has had to postpone our popular, annual Student-Business Mentor Breakfast originally set for Wednesday, March 18 th . Due to concerns regarding the Covid-19 Coronavirus, the City of Cypress has cancelled all large gatherings on city owned property.

Our keynote speaker was going to be California Military Reserve Chief Warrant Officer Rochelle Sonza, who oversees the Recruiting, Placement, Mentorship, and Outreach department of Sunburst Youth ChalleNGe Academy. We hope she will be able to share her presentation once we arrange for a new date.

We thank our many partners for this event as well as the business experts who had signed up as mentors for the morning. Key sponsors for 2020 includes: McDonalds of Cypress, ENO Brands, Kinetic Mortgage, The City of Cypress, Crystal Geyser Water and Forest Lawn of Cypress. More information can be found on the Cypress Chamber website at cypresschamber.org or by calling the Chamber office at 714 484-6015.

 

Cirque du Soleil cancels local performances

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Cirque du Soleil cancels local performances
The California authorities have requested a ban on all public events over 250 persons to contain the coronavirus pandemic. In the interest of ensuring the safety of its audience and its employees, Cirque du Soleil cancels all performances of VOLTA which was scheduled from March 18 to April 19, 2020, at OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California.

Carrying out operations all over the world, Cirque du Soleil regularly updates its procedures and applies specific measures to each region of the world and to each project.

Although this situation results from circumstances beyond its control, Cirque du Soleil apologizes for any inconvenience this cancellation may cause. The Cirque du Soleil tour planning team is currently working on the next visit of one of its Big Top shows in Costa Mesa, California.

All ticket holders for VOLTA in Costa Mesa will be contacted by their point of sale regarding the refund process.

For any other questions, please contact the Customer Service team at 1-877-9 CIRQUE (1-877-924-7783).

Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group is a world leader in live entertainment. On top of producing world-renowned circus arts shows, the Canadian organization brings its creative approach to a large variety of entertainment forms such as multimedia productions, immersive experiences, theme parks and special events. It currently has 4,900 employees from nearly 70 countries. Going beyond its various creations, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group aims to make a positive impact on people, communities and the planet with its most important tools: creativity and art. For more information about Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, please visit :

CirqueduSoleilEntertainmentGroup.com.

Greg Olsen, the artist, visits Church of Latter Day Saints

Vickie Wagstaff
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Greg Olsen, the artist, visits Church of Latter Day Saints

Greg Olsen began painting when he entered an art show in the eighth-grade. “I did the painting in oils of a Saguaro Cactus the night before the show.  The paint hadn’t dried so I put up a sign that read, ‘wet paint.’  For eighth-graders that’s an invitation to touch, so by the end of the show it looked more like an abstract painting.”

Olsen now owns an art studio and his current artworks can be found online at GregOlsen.com, minus the cactus.

“I was shocked when I heard myself telling the caller, ‘I’ll see what I can do,’” said Greg Olsen.

Olsen said that because of a mix-up in the caller’s art order, the man was asking for a painting of Christ with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and they needed it in three days.

Although it was the middle of the afternoon, miraculously Olsen said he was able to find three guys with beards who had some free time. Using bathrobes, bed sheets and duct tape they proceeded to create costumes and then headed to a dirt road in the neighborhood.

As the makeshift Jesus and two disciples walked down the road, Olsen circled them taking pictures to use as he created the needed painting. He worked nonstop to complete the painting and was able to meet the commitment.

As he tells it, “The interesting thing for me happened a few days later. It was Sunday and I was at Church. I met a lady from my neighborhood in the hallway between meetings. She ran up to me, grabbed me by the arm and said, ‘Greg, I’ve got to talk to you. I want to share an experience that I had this week.’  She was a little emotional and I could tell it was something important and so we found a quiet spot to talk.

“I have to tell you what happened earlier this week,” She said, “I was home alone, standing at my kitchen sink, doing the dishes. I looked out of my kitchen window and suddenly, there HE was.  I thought it was the second coming. Jesus and a couple of his disciples; it was so real.  He was right there!”  She was enraptured in the amazing experience she was recalling, and then, that rapturous expression evaporated and was replaced with kind of a scowl.  She continued, ‘It was so real, and then I saw YOU!  With your stupid camera, taking pictures of the Second Coming of all things!”

“I didn’t know what to say, so I told her that it must have been kind of amazing to her for a few seconds,” Olsen explained.

Then he continued his story.

How would that be, to see Christ?

As Christians, we believe in Jesus. We believe in the Savior and yet, how amazing would it be if we could actually look out of our window and see him?

Would He be real to us?

Would that change our feelings about Him?

We probably aren’t going to look out of our window and see Jesus. But I think most of us are on some kind of a quest searching for the Savior. Where can we look to find the Savior and a piece of Heaven here on Earth?

I think many of us seek Him and want Him to be part of our lives. I’ve wondered about Jesus and how he grew through boyhood and how he learned about his divine mission on this Earth. That must have been an interesting process.

As we read scriptures in the Bible, we learn that it wasn’t something that happened instantly for Christ.  He grew and learned line-upon-line. He grew in wisdom, knowledge and understanding. I think that’s something that we do also. It’s sort of a parallel journey that we’re on.

Finally, at some point, I think Christ fully understood what His mission was; who He was and why He was here. Sometimes I wonder if part of His mission isn’t to help us, not only form a connection with Him, but to discover who He is in our lives and to also learn something about ourselves.  What our mission is.  Why we are here.  What we have in common. What this Earth life is about for each of us.

Each of us is on a journey to find God and ourselves. I think those things happen, or can happen, simultaneously. That on this journey of life, as we learn more about God and our relationship to Him, we learn more about ourselves.

Olsen shared insights to learning more about Jesus and ourselves, through the paintings in his studio.

In the painting titled “Forgiven,” a woman in a red robe kneels at the Savior’s feet. “This is a painting where the red robe the woman is wearing represents the burdens she is carrying,” Olsen explained.  “It might be sin; perhaps depression, discouragement, sorrows, or trials in her life.  When we look at those things, they might seem so heavy, or huge. The Apostle Paul teaches us, ‘But now I see through a glass darkly; then face-to-face.  Now I know in part.  Now, we see things, but we don’t see the bigger picture.  We see our burdens out of proportion. We don’t really know what we’re made of.  We are our own greatest mystery. We don’t really know of the strength and power we have inside of us.  ‘But some day – then shall I know – even as also I am known…’ I ask you to give pause to those thoughts,” Olsen admonished.
If we could know ourselves as we are known in Heaven.  If we could know who we truly are, how powerful would that be for each of us.  Sometimes we think we have to create a big checklist to become who we want to be.  Perhaps, it’s not that way at all.  Perhaps we are already that person, and just need to shed the outer clothing that covers us up, to reveal what and who we are inside.

Much of the joy and peace that Christ offers us is helping us discover our true self.

“In another piece of artwork, I was trying to portray the love that Jesus has for each of us. ‘In His Light,’ it shows Jesus with a young child. In the painting, the child is the son of the man who is portraying Christ.  ‘The father and his son,'” Olsen explained.

Olsen went on to say, “Our relationship with God, our Heavenly Father; with our elder brother, Jesus Christ, Heavenly parentage, these are family relationships we’re talking about. That’s about as close and endearing as we can get. That very idea ought to give us confidence and courage and a wonderful respect for who we are,” he said. “That, is what we are made of. That is in our DNA and we should have confidence in approaching our Heavenly Father, by the very fact that we are family; it gives us an ‘in’ so to speak, that they are concerned for us, love us, and want to help us.”

Further, Olsen explained that those who are parents or who have parents, know of the love connection that is there.

In Romans 8:17, we read, “If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ… that we may also be glorified together.”

“That’s a pretty amazing thing to be joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.  That’s a wonderful inheritance we have,” Olsen concluded.

Apostle Luke teaches us that the kingdom of God is within us.

When we came to Earth, we brought a piece of Heaven with us.  We have a place we can go, any time we like, inside of us to find a refuge. When we shut our eyes, we close out the distractions around us.  We create a piece of Heaven right inside of us. Sometimes we may only have five seconds in the middle of the day, to breathe.  Do that, and remember this piece of Heaven inside us, that it is there.

Sometimes to reach that piece of Heaven within us, we have to remove all distractions in our mind.

He is inviting us.  “Come follow me.”  Come to that sacred space where he has invited us to be.  It is a place that is divine.

Courtesy photo

 

Governor’s Executive Order on Coronavirus

David N. Young
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Governor’s Executive Order on Coronavirus

Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a new executive order further enhancing California’s ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to keep our readers informed, here is the full text of the Governor’s Executive Order.

The Governor’s order:

Waives the one-week waiting period for people who are unemployed and/or disabled as a result of COVID-19;

Delays the deadline for state tax filing by 60 days for individuals and businesses unable to file on time based on compliance with public health requirements related to COVID-19 filings;

Directs residents to follow public health directives and guidance, including to cancel large non-essential gatherings that do not meet state criteria;

Readies the state to commandeer property for temporary residences and medical facilities for quarantining, isolating or treating individuals;

Allows local or state legislative bodies to hold meetings via teleconference and to make meetings accessible electronically; and

Allows local and state emergency administrators to act quickly to protect public health

The full executive order can be found here.

Last night, Governor Newsom and state public health officials announced that gatherings should be postponed or canceled across the state until at least the end of March. Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people, while smaller events can proceed only if the organizers can implement social distancing of 6 feet per person. Gatherings of individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should be limited to no more than 10 people, while also following social distancing guidelines.

“Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease,” said Governor Newsom in announcing the state’s new policy last night. “Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effects — saving dozens of lives and preserving critical health care resources that your family may need a month from now. The people in our lives who are most at risk – seniors and those with underlying health conditions — are depending on all of us to make the right choice.”

State Efforts to Assist California Workers

California will continue acting swiftly to help workers hurt by COVID-19. Affected workers can visit the Labor & Workforce Development Agency’s website to review what benefits are available to them. For instance,

If you’re unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 you may qualify for Paid Family Leave (PFL).

If you’re unable to work due to medical quarantine or illness, you may qualify for Disability Insurance. Those who have lost a job or have had their hours reduced for reasons related to COVID-19 may be able to partially recover their wages by filing an unemployment insurance claim.

If a worker or a family member is sick or for preventative care when civil authorities recommend quarantine, workers may use accrued paid sick leave in accordance with the law.

If workers are unable to do their usual job because they were exposed to and contracted COVID-19 during the regular course of their work, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. All information and resources can be found at Ca.Gov/Coronavirus2019

All Community Guidance Released from CDPH:

The California Department of Public Health has consolidated state guidance on how to prepare and protect Californians from COVID-19 in a single location. This includes guidance for:

Health care facilities, including long-term care facilities

Community care facilities, including assisted living facilities and child care

Schools and institutions of higher education

First responders, including paramedics and EMTs

Employers, health care workers and workers in general industry

Health care plans

Home cleaning with COVID-19 positive individuals

Gathering Guidance

Guidance for Using Disinfectants at Schools and Child Cares

Laboratories

Health care facilities from Cal/OSHA

Homelessness Providers

What to Do if You Think You’re Sick:

Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider or local public health department first before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

California’s Response to COVID-19:

We have been actively and extensively planning with our local public health and health care delivery systems. Here are some of the things we are already doing:

As in any public health event, the California Department of Public Health’s Medical and Health Coordination Center has been activated and is coordinating public health response efforts across the state.

California continues to prepare and respond in coordination with federal and local partners, hospitals and physicians.

Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and help the state prepare for broader spread of COVID-19.

Governor Gavin Newsom requested the Legislature make up to $20 million available for state government to respond to the spread of COVID-19.

California activated the State Operations Center to its highest level to coordinate response efforts across the state.

24 million more Californians are now eligible for free medically necessary COVID-19 testing.

California made available some of its emergency planning reserves of 21 million N95 filtering face piece masks for use in certain health care settings to ease shortages of personal protective equipment.

The Public Health Department is providing information, guidance documents, and technical support to local health departments, health care facilities, providers, schools, universities, colleges, and childcare facilities across California

The California Employment Development Department (EDD) is encouraging individuals who are unable to work due to exposure to COVID-19 to file a Disability Insurance claim.

EDD is also encouraging employers who are experiencing a slowdown in their businesses or services as a result of the Coronavirus impact on the economy to apply for an Unemployment Insurance work sharing program.

California continues to work in partnership with the federal government to aid in the safe return of 962 Californians from the Grand Princess cruise ship. This mission is centered around protecting the health of the passengers, and ensuring that when the passengers disembark, the public health of the United States, the State of California, and partner communities is protected.

The Public Health Department is coordinating with federal authorities and local health departments that have implemented screening, monitoring and, in some cases quarantine of returning travelers.

In coordination with the CDC, state and local health departments, we are actively responding to cases of COVID-19.

City of Cypress reacts to Coronavirus outbreak

David N. Young
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City of Cypress reacts to Coronavirus outbreak

Coronavirus update:
CIty of Cypress reacts:

According to Cypress city manager Peter Grant, as of March 12, the city has taken action to comply with the Executive Order of Gov. Gavin Newsom related to the Coronavirus outbreak. More details are available at the Cypress city website (www.cypressca.org) but the city manager said most classes have been cancelled, the senior citizen will be closed, the recreation leagues will not play until at least the end of March and other details that are available on their website. He said the order began as advice from the state health department, which then became an Executive Order of the Governor. The Event News Enterprise will continue to monitor all developments.

Pulver issues new Coronavirus update for LAUSD

David N. Young
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Pulver issues new Coronavirus update for LAUSD

Coronavirus Update

The Event-News Enterprise is monitoring local developments related to the Coronavirus situation in our communities. Dr. Andrew Pulver has issued a new update today, March 12, to the Los Al Unified Community. Here is the update.

“Dear Members of the Los Alamitos Unified School District Community,

As I mentioned in my March 2 letter, we are closely monitoring the rapidly changing coronavirus situation and want to reassure you that safeguarding our students’ health remains our top priority. At this time, we continue to operate our schools and programs based on close communication and guidance from the Orange County Public Health Care Agency and other county, state and federal officials.

Out of an abundance of caution, however, we have decided to cancel the All-District Choral Festival scheduled for Monday, March 16. This event brings together about a thousand students from all nine of our schools, as well as several thousand family members and friends from a broad geographic area beyond our district, in a confined indoor space for several hours. We will explore the possibility of rescheduling the event for later in the year, and we will send out information shortly on refunds for pre-purchased tickets.

As of today, Orange County health officials reported that the overall risk of infection from coronavirus is believed to be low in our area but that given the nature of the disease, the situation is fluid and evolving on a daily basis. We will keep you aware of any developments through letters like this and on our Coronavirus Awareness webpage, which is updated daily.

We continue to direct our staff and students to follow the general recommendations for preventing the spread of the virus, such as washing hands, staying home when sick, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, covering coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve, and cleaning frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Our custodial staff is thoroughly cleaning desks, keyboards, doorknobs, lunch tables and other frequently touched surfaces. We are making every effort to ensure that all hand sanitizer and restroom soap dispensers are fully stocked, and teachers are actively encouraging their use. At Los Alamitos High School, portable hand-sanitizing stations have been installed across campus and more are available if needed. Health offices at each school are being sanitized daily. Finally, custodians are being brought in on weekend overtime to sanitize school common areas and surfaces.

We also are communicating to all our students and staff that if they have visited a country that the CDC has designated with a Level 3 Travel Health Notice, they must stay home for 14 days before coming back to school or work and report this to their principal even if they are not experiencing any illness symptoms. Currently, these countries include China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea.

Finally, while health officials are not recommending closure of any K-12 schools in Orange County, we are actively planning for how we would continue instruction even if students can’t come to school. Should that situation arise, please be assured we will stay in close communication with you on how that will work. At the same time, we also suggest families to think about their own preparedness for any potential school closures, such as:
Arrangements for childcare for parents who must keep working.
Employers’ policies for parents who must care for children.
Internet access.
Food and supplies needed to support kids at home full time.

As the coronavirus situation changes we will update you through email, social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and our web page. We will continue to work closely with health agencies and adjust quickly as they provide new information and recommendations. We greatly appreciate your confidence in our efforts and thank you for your cooperation and support.

Kind regards,

Andrew Pulver, Ed.D
Superintendent”

Leisure World Cancels Activities – Coronavirus Update

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Leisure World Cancels Activities – Coronavirus Update

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:
LEISURE WORLD CANCELS ACTIVITIES

The Golden Rain Foundation has just issued a notice regarding cancellation of some activities related to the Coronavirus threat. Here is the notice.

“As the Coronavirus and flu prevention continues to be paramount, together we must be committed to being diligent in our efforts and take proactive steps to prepare for the possibility of more cases in Orange County and possibly locally.

Public health officials have begun to issue notices to consider cutting back on public events and outings. In support of the suggestion and as part of general precautions being given by the public health agencies, GRF has elected to cancel GRF bus trips, events and Saturday night dances until June 1, 2020 or until such time these precautions are no longer requested on public health sites. Each GRF committee meeting is being evaluated on the need for actionable items for business continuation. If there are no required actions, meetings may be cancelled.

In accordance with the March 11, 2020 notice issued by Governor Newson, the Recreation Department will be encouraging club and/or independent events to consider cancellation of their gatherings or events:

“… The state’s public health experts have determined that gatherings should be postponed or cancelled across the state until at least the end of March. Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people, while smaller events can proceed only if the organizers can implement social distancing of 6 feet per person. Gatherings of individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should be limited to no more than 10 people, while also following social distancing guidelines…”

GRF cares about our Shareholders/Members and Employees, and we will continue to provide communications and take preventative measures during this time of due concern. While we have implemented additional cleaning, disinfectant procedures and staff training, we are also implementing basic precautions for health and wellness based upon information on the Center on Diseases Controls web site,

If you have purchased a ticket for a GRF bus trip or event, please stop by the Recreation Department for a refund.

Through Community unity, due diligence and working together supporting prevention, we will prevail during this time of concern. As with all past flu outbreaks, this one will eventually come to an end.

The following link from the Center on Disease Control website – “Steps to Prevent Illness”:

‘Small city; big voice:’ State of the city in Los Al

David N. Young
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‘Small city; big voice:’ State of the city in Los Al

Amid an assemblage of a virtual who’s who in political power in west Orange County, Los Alamitos city officials delivered a powerful accounting of the “state of the city” this week at the Joint Forces Training Base.

Military officials joined elected officials from the county and many area cities Wednesday as city officials gave an accounting of the city’s progress.

“We are going to try something new,” said Mayor Richard Murphy to an overflow crowd gathered in the banquet room of the 79th Sustainment Theater Command at JFTB.

He deferred much of his allotted time to other members of the council, each of whom reported on one of five key areas, including community, financial responsibility, partnerships, safety and leadership.

Throughout the delivery, they focused on two major themes; “My Los Al” and “Small city, big voice.”

“The people of this city,” said council member Tonya Doby, have a “passion” for Los Alamitos. She spoke about the “community.” Doby said Los Al retains a “small town feel,” which she said reflects a “passion” felt by most residents who make the city their home.

Los Alamitos is a place “where we are better together,” she said, reading through a list of activities, such as Race on the Base, national night out and others that “foster a sense of community.” Doby also referred to a recent fire in Rossmoor wherein businesses, nonprofits and community members all came together to “rally around” the affected families. “It is true passion and compassion,” she said. “We give to those who may not be able to give back.”

These are just a few of the reasons that make Los Al ‘my Los Al,’ she added. “Having our own police department give us a level of public safety we consider to be top notch,” said council member Dean Grose. “Every hour of every day, these men and women in blue serves their citizens,” he said, thanking Chief Eric Nunez, as Grose gave an update of safety in the city.

“Like most of the state, Los Alamitos saw a slight uptick in part one crimes in 2019,” said Grose, while traffic incidents were down twenty percent.

Grose also introduced relatively new school resource officer Kevin Steinhauser, “who looks forward to serving for several more years.”

He also pointed out that recently retired Orange County Fire Division Chief Ron Roberts was back at work for the city, advising the city on how “to prepare for natural disasters.” He also noted that the Governor’s Office of Emergency Management was located at JFTB, helping to keep the area and state safe.

While all citizens want to maintain the same quality of life, few think about “how police get paid, roads get paved and how we produce events,” said council member Mark Chirco, who serves on the city’s fiscal sustainability committee. “It’s a really big topic,” he said, adding “we want to ensure that we remain a little oasis” as he spoke about financial responsibility.

Chirco presented a snapshot of the “economics of the city,” adding some perspective to the city’s overall, and challenging, financial position.  Chirco briefly explained the city’s situation, noting that without further action, the city will incur unsustainable budget deficits by 2025.

He said details of the proposed fiscal responsibility plan is listed on the city’s web site, noting that “we will need to take extraordinary measures to mitigate the budget deficits.”

Nevertheless, he explained in very broad terms the city’s revenue sources and said that city officials were “very encouraged” following a series of community meetings wherein citizens expressed an overwhelming desire to take actions necessary to maintain the city’s quality of life.

The depth and breadth of the city’s partnerships and relationships gives the “small city” a “big voice” in the affairs of Orange County, said council member Shelley Hasselbrink, who also recently assumed the Chair of the Orange County Fire Authority.

First of all, she said Los Alamitos has “the largest number of nonprofit organizations, per capita, in all of Orange County, promoting a “service” culture. “They serve us with their time and expertise,” she said.

She said partnerships with organizations such as ‘nationally recognized’ OCFA, West Cities Communications, JFTB and many others promote the “small city, big voice” concept.

These relationships are “so vital in our professional and personal lives.”

Programs like “Serve Los Al,” “Race on the Base” and others accentuate these relationships, she added.

Finally, she said having the Los Alamitos Unified School District is a “premium,” providing “open spaces” and excellence in instruction to the overall community. With 10,000 students in 9 schools and 1,700 employees, “we are better together,” she said.

As a result of these relationships and partnerships, the city not only does the “small city” have a “big voice,” said Hasselbrink, but they make “being a part of our overall village a great place to live, work, serve and play.”

Mayor Murphy gave an overview of all the accomplishments, including notable street enhancements, updates to the medians and other paving projects overlaid with funds provided by the state’s gas tax. He said many new ramps were installed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Also, Murphy said the city has embarked on a three-year street sign replacement program and noted that construction was nearly complete on the first new hotel (Marriott Fairfield Inn) to be located in the city in three decades.

Finally, Murphy noted the excitement with which Epson would soon move into their new Los Alamitos location, bringing with them 600 employees. “They have a great reputation as community partners,” he noted.

He also noted the construction of a new central plant at Los Al Medical Center, 107luxury condos and the Olsen project that will provide housing for 125 new residents.

Murphy said many new restaurants had been established in the city and a new Starbucks coffee shop is under construction. “You can never have enough Starbucks,” he quipped.

Chief Eric Nunez recognized the many VIP’s in attendance, including military officials, elected officials from Buena Park, Cypress, Seal Beach, La Palma, and Placentia.

He also recognized representatives from Congressman Alan Lowenthal’s office, Supervisor Michelle Steel’s office, and Senator Tom Umberg’s office along with agency officials from Orange County Fire Authority, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Los Al Unified School District, the Rossmoor Community Services District, West Cities Communications District, Orange County Transportation Authority and he thanked the Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce.

Major General Eugene LeBoeuf, Commander of the 79th Sustainment Command, thanked the city and its residents “for the sacrifice and the contribution you make on a daily basis to help our soldiers accomplish their mission.”

“Without your support,” he said, “we would not have our national guard and reserve soldiers. Your support doesn’t go unnoticed.” Since last year, said Gen. LeBoeuf, the command had deployed more than 2,000 soldiers to six hotspots around the globe.

Joint Forces Training Base Installation Commander Gen. Michael Leeney also welcomed the group, saying he looked forward to continuing many of the initiatives started by Gen. Nick Ducich before he was transferred to Washington. Leeney is no stranger to JFTB, saying he has more than more than 15 years of experiences being associated the base in various commands, including a previous stint as JFTB Commander.

“We look forward to working very closely with the city,” said Leeney.

Chet Simmons, Los Alamitos city manager, shared the master of ceremonies with Nunez.

Organizations react to Coronavirus concerns

David N. Young
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Organizations react to Coronavirus concerns

As fear related to the dreaded Coronavirus has gripped the nation, some local organizations are calmly, yet firmly reacting to those concerns, issuing updates to their various communities of interest.

Chief among the organizations, the Los Alamitos Unified School District, has already issued two updates to parents and their overall community.

“To help you be fully informed, we have posted a Coronavirus Awareness webpage with up-to-date factual information about coronavirus (COVID-19) and expert guidance on how you can take precautions to minimize your risk of infection,” said Supt. Andrew Pulver in an initial email.

“We also will continue to update you on the situation in our District through email, social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and our web page,” he said.

“We greatly appreciate your confidence in our efforts in these uncertain times and thank you for your cooperation and support,” said Dr. Pulver in the initial update.

Pulver later issued a second update, noting that “we understand that our students, families and staff are concerned about the global outbreak of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, and we want you to know that safeguarding our students’ health is always our top priority.”

Pulver said the system is now “working in close cooperation with the Orange County Health Care Agency, the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make sure that our District and school staff are receiving the most up-to-date information so that they can protect our kids’ well-being.”

Precautions aside, Pulver is urging parents and educators to keep the threat in perspective.

“There has been only one confirmed case of coronavirus in Orange County,” said Pulver, adding that the “patient has recovered without any evidence of the virus having spread.”

The California Department of Public Health has determined that the health risk to the general public remains low and is not recommending cancellation of school or any public events.

“Given the contagious potential of the virus and its continuing global spread, however, the situation could change. We urge all of you to closely monitor your health, as well as practice the same preventive care recommendations from health experts that we normally do during flu season,” he said.

Pulver provided a proper hand washing update and other precautionary practices urged by public health officials.

“If you or any member of your family develops any symptoms of respiratory illness — especially a dry cough, a fever (over 100F) or difficulty breathing — STAY HOME from work or school and contact a health-care provider immediately by phone.  Closely follow their directions about how to obtain treatment and on when to return to school or work.”

Also, the superintendent said the system was “taking a number of preventative actions. We have reemphasized with our custodial staff the importance of thorough cleaning and sanitizing protocols for desks, keyboards, doorknobs, and other frequently touched surfaces in our facilities. We are also making sure all hand sanitizer and restroom soap dispensers are fully stocked, and teachers are actively encouraging their use.”

Pulver also asked people within the educational community “to communicate the following special recommendation from county health officials: If you have been to China, Iran, Japan, South Korea or Italy and feel sick with respiratory symptoms within 14 days of leaving one of these countries, you should telephone your doctor immediately and seek guidance before returning to school or work.”

“Finally,” said Pulver, “we are working closely with county health officials to develop contingency plans for operating our schools in the event coronavirus begins to spread in our area. We will share more information with you in a timely fashion as events dictate.”

Meanwhile, Los Alamitos city council member Dean Grose noted at last week’s State of the City meeting that the city “was monitoring the situation” and was posting updates to the city’s website.

The Event News Enterprise reached out to Los Al Medical Center for an update on any precautions, but at press time, had not received a response.

Company that invented school photography is reinventing itself

David N. Young
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Company that invented school photography is reinventing itself

Fourth generation leader works from Los Al and Philly after local acquisition

Sometimes working from his small office in Los Alamitos, using the same innovative traits employed by his great grandfather to establish the nation’s first school photography business, Wayne Barksdale has returned Barksdale Photography to national prominence.

In 1921, S. P. Barksdale was a young man in Philadelphia selling photos and ads door to door.

Working for a local magazine, he called on schools and other clients. Although photography itself had been invented in 1826, the technology was still somewhat primitive with the industry still in its infancy.

And for sure, the school photography industry was not yet being considered.

With the country’s population just over 100 million in the 1920’s, the need for more schools was evident as education became a national priority.  While “class pictures” did exist for a select few country schools, even those photos were always taken as groups, and then, only sporadically.

One day, while calling on schools, S.P. Barksdale had an epiphany. He would begin taking individual portraits of students, then share the photos and proceeds with the schools.

Barksdale founded Barksdale Photography in 1922. Quite ironically, that same year, Congress voted on legislation to begin the process of sending federal funding to schools. The public-school population was about to boom, and the Barksdale business would boom along with it.

S.P. Barksdale, according to company archives, realized that there were no cameras suitable for portrait photography, so he invented one. Building a wooden box with a small indention where a lens could be fitted onto it, he went into business as Barksdale Photography, the company that still today exists.

Barksdale then recruited a small army of photographers. He trained them and sent them on their way in their own cars along dirt roads to rural schools. Barksdale Photography began to grow quickly along with the nation’s burgeoning school population.

With the expansion of public schools, Barksdale Photography was universally recognized as the first school photography company in America. Four generations later, the company has experienced rough and tumble times following the founder’s death.

In recent years, however, under its fourth-generation leader, things have changed again. By using some of the same visionary ideas employed by his great grandfather, another Barksdale has rebuilt the company, having now established a west coast office in Los Alamitos.

Wayne Barksdale, S.P.’s great, great grandson, now runs the company from both offices, one in a Philly suburb and the other in Los Alamitos.

Under his fourth-generation leadership, Barksdale says the company has vastly changed, though its core business remains the same. School photography today is a $1.6 billion business and Barksdale Photograph is again a major competitor.

From the archives, capturing photos of a school administrator in the 1950’s.

Together, with his wife Susan Sheridan, who oversees the company’s sales operations, the couple now operates the business by splitting their time between the east and west coasts. They now own a home in southern California as well as on the east coast.

Ten years ago, said Barksdale, the company had a mere handful of clients in California. Even so, he and Susan would come to conventions of state school photographers here. There, on a fateful trip, they met Leslie Whitley, who had founded and operated the “Pictures with Class” school photography business.

“We liked Leslie very much and was very impressed with the business she built,” said Barksdale. “We asked Leslie if she was interested in selling her business. She said no.”

However, when Whitley’s family situation changed a few years later, she remembered Barksdale’s offer and, in a flash, Barksdale established a west coast office by acquiring Whitley’s “Pictures with Class” in 2008 when Leslie finally decided to sell.

That was obviously more than a decade ago, said Barksdale, and Whitley is still associated with their business, sometimes even calling on her former customers. “We enjoy a very good relationship,” he said.

While it is true that the technology has changed, the iconic act of sitting for the school photographer remains a staple in most of the approximately 200,000 schools across the country. Even in our fast paced, and increasingly isolated digital lives, maybe the most common memory among most anyone living today is taking a class picture while in school, says Sheridan.

“Perhaps loving or hating our school photos is our most commonly shared memory,” she quips. Ironically, says Susan, the industry began as a way for school administrators to keep better records as schools expanded across the nation and Barksdale made it personal.

To remain competitive, Barksdale Photography recently purchased a modern, digital printing complex near Philadelphia. Barksdale and Pictures with Class now have the capability of digitally printing their own photos, yearbooks and providing innovative, digitally produced products.

Los Alamitos High School is one of the area schools served by Pictures with Class, and Barksdale says the business in showing solid growth in California. “We try to leverage what we’re really good at,” says Barksdale, and having a printing press “allows us to offer “more value to schools.”

“Even as school photography has become a very competitive business,” says Barksdale, “we have managed consistent growth.”

Schoolchildren photographed in the 1940’s.

“Some of our competitive edge is the way we manufacture our products,” he noted, adding that Barksdale uniquely delivers their products in a customizable photo book, instead of an envelope with the various sized prints. This is only an example of Barksdale’s many innovations that include digital backgrounds, more parental options, etc.

Slowly, yet steadily, Barksdale’s great grandson has rebuilt the company and put it on a path to rank among the leading competitors in the school photography space. In addition to offering innovative products, Barksdale said the company is also growing by acquiring ideal “mom and pop” photography business that have a “book of business” of about 50 or more schools.

Barksdale, a telecommunications executive before his reentry into the family business, is quite comfortable with his own vision of the future. Under his leadership, the oldest school photography company has not only regained its innovative footing, it is now showing strong bi-coastal growth.

With the introduction of digital printing capabilities, Barksdale has perhaps become the digital reincarnation of the company founded by his great grandfather. Like S.P. Barksdale, Wayne stared into the lens of a digital generation and believed it was still “full of opportunity for the right people.”

While his great grandfather built his own camera to create an industry, Barksdale has built his own digital delivery system which is, in itself, slowly reinventing the company and creating a very promising photo of the future.

Courtesy photos

La Palma appoints new city manager

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La Palma appoints new city manager

After a comprehensive nationwide recruitment, the La Palma City Council appointed Conal McNamara as their next city manager. The City Council unanimously confirmed the appointment of McNamara at its meeting on March 3, 2020.

McNamara will come to the City of La Palma with over 25 years of local government experience, having recently served as the Director of Community Development for the City of Whittier since 2014. In that role, he oversaw the planning, building & safety, economic development, and housing divisions.

Before serving the City of Whittier, McNamara served as the Assistant Economic and Community Development Director for the City of Azusa. Additionally, he has worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works as a land development project manager after serving as a land use planning deputy for a Los Angeles County Supervisor. McNamara began his professional career as a city planner for the cities of Irvine, San Bernardino, and Santa Clarita. He holds undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Social Ecology from the University of California, Irvine, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge.

Mayor Peter L. Kim shared the Council’s excitement in welcoming McNamara to La Palma. “Conal has a terrific record of success in his prior employment and exceptional ratings from those he has worked alongside.” “For our City, he possesses important skills that can potentially take La Palma to the next level, and the entire Council looks forward to introducing him to the community.”

“It is quite an honor to have been selected as La Palma’s next city manager,” said McNamara. “I am eager to get to know the community and provide exceptional City services to all La Palma residents.”

His first day in La Palma will be April 1, 2020.

 

Update: Preliminary Results for March 3 Primary Election

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Update: Preliminary Results for March 3 Primary Election

Around 76,600 Votes Still Need to Be Counted in Orange County

By Jeannette Andruss

Votes are still being counted from the March 3 Presidential Primary Election.  As of Wednesday, March 11, the Orange County Registrar of Voters estimated 76,649 ballots still need to be tallied. Statewide there were more than two million “unprocessed ballots” left to be counted as of March 10. The number includes vote-by-mail ballots, provisional ballots, same day voter registration ballots as well as ballots that may have been damaged. Keeping in mind uncounted ballots, here are the election results so far.

HED- 72nd State Assembly District

For state and congressional seats, it is a top-two primary. That means the top two vote-getters will advance to compete in the November general election regardless of party. A Republican could face another Republican. That could happen in the race for California’s 72nd Assembly seat, which covers Seal Beach, Rossmoor and Los Alamitos. But the race is tightening for second place. Republican challenger and former Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen is in the lead with 34.4% of the vote.  Incumbent Tyler Diep, a fellow Republican, is in second place with about 25.2% but is virtually tied with Democrat Diedre Nguyen. As of March 10, Diep was only 17 votes ahead of Diedre Nguyen, a Garden Grove City Councilwoman.

HED- Congressional Contests 

The 48th Congressional District covers all of Seal Beach. Incumbent Democrat Harley Rouda leads the race with 45.9% of the vote. It looks like he will face Republican Michelle Steel in November. Steel, an Orange County Supervisor and Surfside resident, is in second place with 35.4% of the vote.

The 47th Congressional District covers parts of Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor and Cypress. Incumbent Democrat Alan Lowenthal is leading with 44.1% of the vote. Republican John Briscoe, an Ocean View School District board member, has 18.1% of the vote. The results suggest that Lowenthal and Briscoe will face off in November which would be a rematch of the 2018 race.

HED- Orange County Measure A 

Orange County voters are approving of Measure A with the “yes” vote garnering 78.8% of the vote. Measure A would amend the Orange County Charter so that any proposal to increase or extend taxes would require a two-thirds supermajority vote of the Board of Supervisors before the tax proposal is considered by voters.

HED- Statewide Measure Proposition 13 

Proposition 13, the $15 billion bond measure to fund repairs and upgrades at California schools, is failing. Right now, 54.1% of the ballots said “No” to the statewide measure. The “Yes” vote is 45.9%.

State law requires counties to report final election results by April 3, 2020.

For the latest tallies on Orange County contests, visit ocvote.com/results.

For statewide results visit, https://electionresults.sos.ca.gov/.

 

Aquarium releases sea bass in local ocean waters

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Aquarium releases sea bass in local ocean waters

California State University, Northridge (CSUN), the non-profit Aquarium of the Pacific, and Cabrillo Marine Aquarium are pleased to announce the success of a joint effort involving raising and releasing juvenile giant sea bass into the ocean. Giant sea bass are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. Their populations are believed to be increasing slowly after years of decline.

“The Aquarium of the Pacific is proud to directly contribute to enhancing wild populations of giant sea bass by investing in this critically endangered species’ culture and care. This iconic Southern California species is key to healthy kelp forest ecosystems and is a wonder to behold,” said Aquarium of the Pacific Vice President of Animal Husbandry Dr. Sandy Trautwein.

In the past giant sea bass have been notoriously difficult to breed in an aquarium setting. The Aquarium of the Pacific was the first public aquarium to successfully hatch and raise a baby giant sea bass in 2016. That fish, named Yutaka, is now on view in the Aquarium’s Amber Forest exhibit near its parents, which have lived in the Aquarium’s Honda Blue Cavern exhibit since its opening in 1998.

After this initial success, the Aquarium of the Pacific’s husbandry staff planned a regional meeting to gather aquarium professionals and local researchers who had been working with giant sea bass, and multiple partnerships were formed between universities, aquariums, and government agencies. The Aquarium of the Pacific hosted its second Giant Sea Bass Symposium on February 18, 2020.

For this current project, CSUN shared giant sea bass eggs last summer with the Aquarium of the Pacific and Cabrillo Marine Aquarium to attempt to produce offspring. The Aquarium of the Pacific and the Cabrillo Aquarium were able to successfully rear baby giant sea bass babies from these eggs.

The Cabrillo Aquarium used new techniques developed by their animal care team. The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium produced over 300 juvenile giant sea bass raised in the Aquatic Nursery, an Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ award-winning laboratory space dedicated to raising young sea animals and young scientists.

Half of those giant sea bass were brought to the Aquarium of the Pacific in late 2019 as both partners prepared for the release of the fish. The new methods for raising giant sea bass were immensely successful, and the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium believes these techniques may end up having further reaching implications if applied as a model for growing other endangered species of marine fishes.

The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium has shared many of its aquarium-raised giant sea bass with aquariums across the country to teach aquarium visitors about this intriguing species and share the animal’s story, both as a warning to the dangers of overfishing and to demonstrate the potential success of species protection and aquaculture efforts.

The young fish will all be released into the wild with approval from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Divers from both aquariums will release several hundred fish into the ocean at a time on two trips, the first of which has already been completed. The release location will be kept confidential among the project partners, allowing the young fish to acclimate to their new home. Divers, fishers, or others who see giant sea bass in the ocean are encouraged to take a photo and upload it to a citizen science website developed by researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who are working to track individual giant sea bass. To learn more or submit your photos, visit spottinggiantseabass.msi.ucsb.edu.

The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place where diverse cultures and the arts are celebrated and where important challenges facing our planet are explored by scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders in search of sustainable solutions. The Aquarium is dedicated to conserving and building nature and nature’s services by building the interactions between and among peoples.

Home to more than 12,000 animals, Aquarium exhibits include the new Pacific Visions wing, Ocean Science Center, Molina Animal Care Center, and the Tentacles and Ink and FROGS: Dazzling & Disappearing exhibits. Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages, from hands-on activities to lectures by leading scientists. Field trips for schoolchildren are offered at a heavily discounted rate, from $7 to $8.50 per student. The Aquarium offers memberships with unlimited FREE admission for 12 months, VIP Entrance, and other special benefits. Convenient parking is available for $8 with Aquarium validation.

One of the largest universities in the country, California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is an urban, comprehensive university that delivers award-winning undergraduate and graduate programs to nearly 40,000 students annually and counts nearly 370,000 alumni who fuel the region’s economy. Since its founding in 1958, CSUN has made a significant and long-term economic impact on California, generating nearly $1.9 billion in economic impact and nearly 12,000 jobs each year. The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities named CSUN an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University, and the Wall Street Journal ranked CSUN second in the nation for the university’s diverse learning environment.

The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, which is a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, was founded in 1935 in response to beach-goers’ questions about local sea life.  The Aquarium’s mission is to be a trusted resource to inspire exploration, respect, and conservation of Southern California marine life.  The Aquarium is the only fee-free aquarium in the United States that is accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.  From its modest but passionate beginnings as an enthusiastically displayed collection of shells, to the center for teaching and research to which it has evolved, the Aquarium serves an essential niche for environmental and science education in the Los Angeles area.

 

Joseph Contreras explains upcoming census

David N. Young
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Joseph Contreras explains upcoming census

For the first time in the nation’s history, families will have an opportunity to complete their census form online as the nation’s census takers begin their work.

Joseph Contreras, a Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, told members of the Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce Friday that the upcoming census will be critical to local communities.

“It’s more than just a count,” said Contreras, “counting everyone goes beyond that, it is shaping our future for the next ten years.”

Contreras explained that the nation’s distribution and grant programs of the massive federal budget is shaped by the counts revealed in the nation’s census.

“It is our constitutional duty to get it right,” he said.

Contreras said the country’s founding fathers mandated in Article 1, Section 2 of the United States constitution that an accurate count be made every ten years.

Moreover, he said the directive mandates that “everyone” be counted. The U.S. Census is important, easy and safe.”

He thanked the Los Alamitos community for being “very supportive” of the 2020 census, adding that it was critical for the city to “get the representation you need.”

Contreras suggested there were perhaps areas in the city that did not get fully counted in the 1990 census and he suggested ways to get them counted this year.

“Our goal is to count everyone once, and only once,” he said.

Families will have the opportunity to input their information on line in many languages this year,” he said, suggesting that only residences that do not take the opportunity to provide information online will get a door knock from an actual census taker.

Also, he assured everyone that even though the information is being provided, authorities have no actual way to determine the exact location after the fact.

Hundreds of billions of dollars will be allocated using the data, he said, adding that the nation’s census goes back to the first one every collected in 1790.

LeAnna Farris, First Vice Chairwoman, conducted the meeting. In other action, the Chamber;

  • Heard from newly installed JFTB base commander Brig. Gen. Michael Leeney, who said he was very happy to be in command and looks forward to working with the Chamber and the city.
  • Heard Farris invite members to participate in this month’s after-hours event, to be held March 26 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott on Katella.
  • Heard from Tricia Ridgeway, the Executive Director of African Sisterhood, a local nonprofit holding an “women of the future” empowerment event March 21.

 

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