Mayor Richard Murphy and the Chairwoman of the Los Alamitos Chamber Nesi Stewart were among the dignitaries to join the owners of Code Ninja to cut the ribbon on the new Los Al business this past week. At Code Ninjas, kids learn to code while building video games. They gain vital skills like problem solving and critical thinking in a fun, safe, and inspiring environment. Programs include after school, camps, birthday parties, and more. Swathi Bhamidipati, the owner of the Code Ninja, said while children are spending so much time online, they can learn to code and create their own video games and perhaps, even sell them in an app store.
PGA, Mitsubishi Electric announce five-year partnership extension
PGA TOUR Champions and Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., currently based in Cypress, announced a five-year partnership extension at the Tour’s annual awards dinner last night at the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.
The extension encompasses two tournaments – the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai and the Mitsubishi Electric Classic – and the Official Marketing Partner designation with the PGA TOUR.
“Mitsubishi Electric has been a tremendous partner for the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions since 2007, and we are excited to announce this extension as we continue to build on that strong foundation,” said PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady. “The Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai and the Mitsubishi Electric Classic are two of the premier stops on our annual schedule, and it’s a thrill to know these partnerships will continue through 2025.”
Mitsubishi Electric has served as the title sponsor of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai since 2009, and as title sponsor of the Mitsubishi Electric Classic since 2016. The company’s Official Marketing Partnership with the PGA TOUR – inclusive of the Official Large Outdoor Video Display Provider, Official HVAC Products and Official Elevators and Escalators – began in 2007.
“The relationship between the PGA TOUR and Mitsubishi Electric is built upon years of success and trust. It is with great excitement that we announce this expanded sponsorship with an organization that is committed to charitable causes as well as its sponsors,” said Kent Hora, president and CEO, Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.
The Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai has been held at the Hualalai Golf Course on Ka?upulehu-Kona, Hawaii, since 1997, serving as the Tour’s season-opening event since 1984. The limited-field tournament features winners of PGA TOUR Champions major championships in the last five years; the last five Charles Schwab Cup Champions; winners of PGA TOUR Champions co-sponsored events in the past two years; eligible members of the World Golf Hall of Fame; and a number of select sponsor exemptions.
Opening-round play begins on Thursday, January 16, where World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els will make his anticipated PGA TOUR Champions debut.
The Mitsubishi Electric Classic, which has been contested at TPC Sugarloaf near Atlanta since 2013, returns to the 2020 schedule the week of April 13-19. Past champions include World Golf Hall of Fame member Bernhard Langer (2013), Spain’s Miguel Ángel Jiménez (2014) and Scott McCarron (2019), who used the victory as a springboard to win his first Charles Schwab Cup last season.
Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., a US affiliate company of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, manufactures cooling and heating products, elevators and escalators, space and sensing systems, data wall cubes, LCD digital signage monitors, industrial printers, professional photo printers and semiconductor devices. For additional information visit us.mitsubishi.com/en
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National Charity League steps in to help We Care in Los Alamitos
More than 75 members of the National Charity League, Inc., South Coast Chapter (NCL, Inc.), together worked toward the goal of exceeding last year’s outreach efforts at We Care in Los Alamitos. We Care is one of 19 Philanthropies that are supported by the South Coast Chapter of NCL.
“As one of our most cherished community partners, NCL South Coast is passionate about serving We Care,” said Sheila Totorp, President. “Being able to provide meals and groceries around the holidays for the deserving families We Care supports is such a special way to impart in our daughters the generosity of the season.”
The mother and daughter members of NCL, Inc. collectively contributed more than 560 hours to We Care in Los Alamitos to shop and package food items for families in need this holiday season. Mothers and daughters shopped on two separate days at the Stater Brother’s grocery store in Long Beach. Food was provided for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, as well as items for the remainder of the weeks. South Coast Chapter is proud of its collective impact in serving its community. Each member contributed in a variety of areas. Along with the most recent efforts, NCL suppled Easter meals for families working with case manager, 36 backpacks with school supplies, and provides monetary donation through the philanthropic recipient grant process in the amount of $7,000. Mother and Daughters pairs also volunteer at We Care’s annual fundraiser in April.
“I have worked with NCL for the past 14 years. Their willingness to work with We Care allows us to better promote the welfare of others,” said Rob Lowenberg, Executive Director for We Care. “Thank you NCL for believing in the We Care mission, helping us meet the needs and improving the quality of life for our clients.”
Established in Los Angeles, California in 1925, and incorporated in 1958, National Charity League, Inc. is the nation’s premier mother-daughter non-profit organization. Through mission-based programming, National Charity League develops socially responsible community leaders and strengthens the mother-daughter bond. The core program includes leadership development, community service, and cultural experiences.
Currently, the philanthropic organization has over 72,000 members in hundreds of chapters across the nation. Having grown by nearly 70 percent in the last decade, those members contributed more than 2.7 million volunteer hours to more than 4,000 local philanthropy partners last year alone, resulting in a $66 million fiscal impact. National Charity League will proudly celebrate its 95th anniversary in 2020.
WE CARE is a non-profit organization that pools the resources of the community to meet the emergency needs of families and individuals such as rental assistance, utility assistance, therapy services, food, personal care items, and more.
WE CARE of Los Alamitos is a family support center sponsored by local churches, community groups, corporations and concerned citizens. We serve families, veterans, and senior citizens residing in the areas of Northwest Orange County including the cities of Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Rossmoor, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Cypress and Stanton.
Financial contributions to WE CARE are tax-deductible. Our Tax Identification Number is 501(c)(3) #33-0487729
Council to select Kusumoto replacement in special meeting
Interim city manager Les Johnson leaving for Seal Beach
Despite having an open council seat and news that interim city manager is departing for Seal Beach, Mayor Richard Murphy expressed confidence this week in pending replacements as they devise a strategy to deal with the city’s fiscal emergency.
“I’m quite satisfied,” said Murphy on Saturday, asked about the situation while attending a public event.
Murphy and council member Shelley Hasselbrink said they are very excited about the potential appointment of a new city manager. The candidate they have tentatively selected for final consideration does have governmental experience, they said, though not necessarily as a city manager.
Interim city manager Les Johnson confirmed that he has resigned the position effective Jan. 20 and will assume the role of Community Development Director in nearby Seal Beach Jan. 27.
“I’ve been in this role (interim city manager) for five months,” said Johnson, “and I’ve enjoyed it very much.” In fact, Johnson said he applied for the position as City Manager in Los Alamitos, and, in fact, said he was offered the job. Upon reflection, however, Johnson said he decided to move on and resume a community development role.
“I’m just very comfortable doing community and economic development work,” said Johnson and “I just decided this is what I wanted to do. I’ve enjoyed working with everyone in Los Alamitos,” he said.
Johnson directed development for the city of Los Alamitos before assuming the interim city manager position after the resignation of Bret Plumlee.
Mayor Murphy has called a special meeting Tuesday to appoint a replacement for the vacant seat of former Mayor Warren Kusumoto, who abruptly resigned in December to accept a promotion that will take him out of state.
The exact date of announcing a new city manager has not been determined but it could come as early as Tuesday as an agenda item indicates the council will go into closed session to discuss the open position.
Regarding Kusumoto’s vacant seat, two Los Alamitos residents have applied to be appointed by the Council, according to city clerk Windy Quintanar.
The candidates are Tanya Doby, a human resources administrator, and Alex Duran, a security professional. They were the only two citizens to apply for the open seat.
As a candidate for the city council in 2018, Doby finished with approximately 15 percent of the vote, just 2.5 percent behind candidate Dean Grose, who obtained a seat. Duran is also very familiar with local government, currently serving as Vice Chairman of the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission.
Whichever candidate gets the nod from the council must face voters in November if they want to seek election to fill the remaining two-years of Kusumoto’s term. Murphy said the Council was
expected to interview both candidates before the Special Meeting Jan. 14. “We will select one,” said Murphy, adding that after the selection, the appointed council member will be immediately sworn in and take their place on the dais for the remainder of the meeting.
Also on the agenda of the special meeting is an update on the city’s fiscal sustainability efforts.
“The challenge facing the city is a projected structural deficit growing from $1.4 million this year to nearly $3.4 million in 2027-28,” according to a staff report. In late 2018, the city began “proactively” focusing on a plan to build future sustainability, exploring “critical choices to enable the ability to act timely to avoid or minimize cuts to city services and ensure the city’s long-term financial sustainability.”
Courtesy photos
Les Johnson
Tanya Doby
Alex Duran
Ducich promoted to Brigadier General
Baldwin confirms his departure to Pentagon
Standing before an overflow crowd of troops, family and friends, base commander Col. Nick Ducich accepted a promotion to the rank of Brigadier General Saturday in front of the 40th Infantry Division headquarters at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.
While Ducich has made quick progress as commander at JFTB, he also earned widespread community support. Nevertheless, the National Guard on Saturday made official an announcement that Ducich, as a General, would soon be transferred to Washington, D.C.
“Col. Ducich has shown leadership with every assignment, including leading troops into combat,” said Major General David Baldwin, the Adjutant General of the California Military Department, who presided over the ceremony.
Recognizing Ducich’s abilities, Baldwin said he and Gov. Gavin Newsom selected him for the promotion to General, but “unfortunately, we are not the only ones who recognized his potential for leadership.”
Baldwin said Gen. Ducich “also caught the eye” of General Joseph L. Lengyel, the National Guard’s top official in the Pentagon who represents the Guard on the nation’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, who has now requested Ducich as a member of his team.
General Baldwin briefly recounted some highlights of Gen. Ducich’s military career, noting that what was more important than what Ducich has done in the past is what he will do in the future. “We’re not looking backwards today,” said Gen. Baldwin, “we are looking forward.”
Baldwin officially announced that Ducich was being reassigned to the Pentagon, where he will “coordinate the National Guard’s response” to homeland security challenges for all 50 states and four U.S. territories.”
The state’s top military official said while Ducich’s re-assignment is perhaps disappointing for Los Alamitos, it could very well turn out in the future to be a terrific opportunity for the California Guard and for Joint Forces Training Base.
In order for Ducich to qualify for the new Joint Operations command, however, “he needs a star and we are going to take care of that today.”
Ducich, who has commanded the base for less than a year, had promised revival of local programs, which made him very popular within the local community.
In addition to his role as base commander, Ducich also acted as Deputy Commanding General, Support, 40th Infantry Division, headquartered on the base.
As Gen. Baldwin prepared to make Ducich a Brigadier General, a military aide first read aloud the official Pentagon order authorizing the promotion of Col. Ducich. Gen. Baldwin invited all veterans and service members from all attending services to stand
“By special order from headquarters, the Department of the Army and the Air Force National Guard bureau, the President of the United States, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Army, has bestowed special trust and confidence in the patriotism, fidelity and abilities of Col Ducich. In view of these qualities and his potential for increased responsibility, Col. Nick Ducich is therefore promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.”
Before officially pinning the General’s star on Ducich, Baldwin presented him with a specially inscribed revolver that, in a long U.S. Army tradition, is presented to officers who achieve the rank of General Officer. Also, Ducich was presented with the bright red flag with a single star, which will now follow him to denote his General’s rank.
Baldwin then pinned the star on Col. Ducich and the large crowd erupted in applause.
Ducich thanked the General, and others as he recounted many “tough lessons” learned during his military career. “After three deployments and numerous military training exercises”, Ducich said he was proud and humbled to be made General.
Moreover, he thanked the many non-commissioned officers who had worked with him during various commands over the years performing various commands. “I had some incredible teammates,” said Ducich, adding that he learned so much from them. Many times, he said, interfacing with them “was the best part of my day.”
Ducich, who joined the guard in 1988, comes from a military family. His mother and father emigrated from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Commanding a recent NATO mission, Ducich became the first Serbian American to ever command troops in a Balkan country.
Ducich on Saturday thanked the many Serbian families who, for some of them, “have driven many miles” watch a truly historic occasion. According to the U.S. Army, fewer than eight percent of all service members advance to the rank of Colonel and less than one percent ever achieve the rank of Brigadier General.
For Serbian Americans, Ducich’s ascendance seemed to have special meaning. The crowd was so large, in fact, that service members had to bring out several additional rows of chairs before the event began. Even so, there were still many rows of people standing behind the seating.
In addition to his large family contingent, many veterans, military service members and a large group of friends and officials from the area attended as well. Los Alamitos Mayor Richard Murphy, Mayor Pro-Tem Mark Chirco and council member Shelley Hasselbrink attended along with State Sen. Thomas Umberg, himself a retired Colonel.
Ducich also thanked his wife Kristia and their three children (Natalija, Luke and Ivan), recalling with emotion how supportive his young children had been as they followed daddy’s career around the world. “Of all my titles,” said Ducich, “I’m most proud of being called dad.”
Throughout it all, Ducich said he felt the “love of the family’s ‘strength and support.’”
Ducich assumed command of the JFTB in May of 2019, moving quickly to reorganize base assets, introduce more accountability and he quickly moved to modernize the 50-year-old base.
Gen. Ducich regularly attended Chamber meetings, he quickly signed a long-sought agreement with the city of Los Alamitos for ‘Race on the Base’ and the base commander had also announced the reboot of events such as “Wheels, Wings and Rotors.”
Looking out over the large crowd, Ducich said “I love this (JFTB) base,” as he now prepares to depart. Ducich will have only a couple of weeks to pack up and get to Washington, D.C. Gen. Michael Leeney will assume command of JFTB on Feb. 1 (see related story).
Ducich said while he would immediately depart for the new command, his family would stay behind so his children could finish their school year before relocating.
Gen. Ducich’s new assignment involves a prestigious command associated with the Pentagon’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
LAUSD Board to Pick between Two Maps during Final Vote on Trustee Areas
Map guaranteeing Leisure World a seat eliminated
By Jeannette Andruss
After months of discussion, two dozen community meetings and 11 draft maps, The Los Alamitos Unified School District Board of Education will decide between two maps when it adopts a final map of new trustee voting areas at its next meeting on Jan. 21.
The vote will be the final step for Board of Education members as the district changes how Board members are elected. LAUSD is going from an at-large voting system to one with five trustee voting areas. Starting with the November 2020 election, voters will no longer select candidates for all five seats on the Board but instead will vote for one candidate from their area to represent them.
“The Board is moving to a trustee-area voting system because the California Voting Rights Act strongly discourages the current at-large system,” LAUSD Superintendent Andrew Pulver wrote in a message to community members on Jan. 9. “Dividing the school district into trustee areas helps ensure that minority group voting rights in the community are protected and not abridged or diluted.”
The district encompasses all of Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor along with small parts of Cypress and Long Beach. Each trustee voting area must have an equal population of around 9,600 people. Since August, LAUSD has been working with a professional demographer to draw the boundaries of the trustee areas. The first five draft maps were released in October and meant to show a variety of options. Revised maps came out in November and more last month. Each round of revisions was informed by community input gathered at a series of public meetings and hearings.
At the January 7 LAUSD Board of Education meeting, trustees narrowed down their choices to two maps: Yellow 3 and Green 4.
“Together as a community we have all worked really hard to figure out what works and what doesn’t,” Board Vice President Marlys Davidson said at the meeting.
Final Two Maps Split up Leisure World & Evenly Distribute School Sites
What didn’t work was keeping the Seal Beach retirement community of Leisure World in one trustee area, a move that would have basically guaranteed the neighborhood a seat on the board. The Orange 2 map, which would have done exactly that, was eliminated in a unanimous vote by Board members at the Jan. 7 meeting.
All four of the people who spoke during public comment that evening opposed the Orange 2 map. “I urge you strongly not to adopt the Orange map,” resident Jody Roubanis told Board members before the vote. Another woman said it would be “ill-advised” to give Leisure World its own seat on the Board. “I also do not like the Orange map,” Seal Beach Mayor Schelly Sustarsic told Board members.
After calling for the Orange 2 map to be eliminated, Board member Karen Russell explained she was concerned with how the map put all of Leisure World in one trustee area with the Seal Beach neighborhood of College Park West. Leisure World would make up 84% of voters in the trustee area which Russell characterized as unfair. “[College Park West residents] do have kids in the school district,” Russell explained and added that they also pay for LAUSD bond measures. “That was my big bugaboo,” she said. Leisure World bars anyone younger than 55 from living there and does not vote on or pay for bond measures.
Board member Diana Hill noted how no one from Leisure World had ever run for a Board seat and discussed the “very difficult position” the district would be in if no candidate from the majority-Leisure World trustee area emerged.
Davidson said the Board and district had tried to connect with Leisure World with little success. “We can’t give a seat to an area that doesn’t deeply engage in the education of our children,” Davidson said.
What worked for Board members was to pick two final maps that split up Leisure World. The Yellow 3 map divides up the retirement community into three trustee areas with Leisure World representing between 27% to 34% of the voters in those areas. In the Green 4 map, Leisure World is part of four trustee areas and accounts for 16% to 27% of the voters in them.
Both maps also distribute the district’s nine schools across four of the five trustee areas. The Green 3 map was also eliminated at the Jan. 7 Board meeting. It was almost identical to the Green 4 map except for it had Rossmoor Elementary in a trustee area with Weaver and Lee Elementary schools.
In both maps, the most ethnically diverse part of the district covering part of Cypress and Old Town Los Alamitos is kept together in one trustee area. Davidson lives in that trustee area and is up for reelection in 2022. Board members Hill and David Boyer are in the same trustee area in both final maps. Boyer is up for reelection this year and Hill must run again in 2022. Board President Megan Cutuli and Russell are also in the same trustee area in both maps, but Russell has said she will not seek reelection. Cutuli will campaign this year. In both maps, two trustee areas are vacant meaning no incumbent lives there.
What’s Next?
The final vote will happen on Jan. 21 during the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting which begins at 6:30pm in the District Office Board Room at 10293 Bloomfield Street in Los Alamitos. You can still submit feedback at the meeting or by emailing trusteeareaelection@losal.org. The final maps and more information can be found at losal.org/voting.
After the LAUSD Board of Education picks the map, it must be approved by the Orange County Committee on School District Organization. The committee will also hold a public hearing on the map. If it’s accepted, it will go to the State Board of Education for approval.
Day After Day opens in Long Beach
(The Life and Music of Doris Day)
by Tony Santamauro
P3 Theatre Company brings in the New Year with the Western Regional Premiere of Day After Day (The Life and Music of Doris Day) by Tony Santamauro, running January 24-February 22, 2020 at the historic Ernest Borgnine Theatre in Long Beach. (855 Elm Street, Long Beach – inside the Scottish Rite Cathedral)
With the rare opportunity to produce a musical based on the life and music of Doris Day, P3 Theatre Company is thrilled to be producing the Western Regional Premiere of this delightful and engaging musical. This production will replace the time slot of the previously announced Sordid Lives which will be produced at a later date.
Day After Day is a sweet nostalgic musical. It takes you on a trip down memory lane by portraying the life of America’s wholesome sweetheart, Doris Day, from age 16 up into her 40s. This journey features songs like Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, Sentimental Journey, Secret Love, It’s Magic, A Guy is a Guy and Que Sera Sera that turned Doris Day into America’s Sweetheart. This is a rare opportunity to have a look into the dramatic personal story life of Doris Day through her beloved music with a blend of factual life events. This show has been called a love letter to this extraordinary icon.
This production of the two hour musical is unique in that it is a family affair, and has been since its inception. This show was originally conceived, written, directed by and starred Tony Santamauro. Santamauro shared the stage with his daughter, Christy Mauro-Cohen as Doris Day and Mauro-Cohen’s husband, David Cohen, who served as Musical Director and has played keyboard for all productions to date. No other actors have performed in this production, until now.
This Western Regional premiere will be co-directed by Santamauro and Mauro-Cohen with musical direction by David Cohen. Second to fill Miss Day’s shoes in this production is the delectable Deborah Robin. Reflecting on Robin’s audition, Santamauro confessed, “After my daughter playing Doris for nearly 20 years, I thought I’d never find another actress/singer to play the part, but on night 2 of the auditions in walked Deborah Robin. The minute she walked into the room, I knew she was the one.” Joining Robin onstage, the charming Zach Appel will be portraying The Man/Narrator. Zach last wowed P3 Theatre Company audiences as Agustin Magaldi in their inaugural production of Evita this past September.
Santamauro, describes himself as a ‘fanatical fan of Doris Day since high school.’ In fact, he had a vision when Chrissy (Mauro-Cohen) was 6 years old playing Doris Day. “She gets it because she was raised on it,” says Santamauro. “We’re both huge fans,” Mauro-Cohen said. “I knew how important it was to him to do this. Doris Day has always been like a family member to us. My dad has met her and is friends with her personal secretary.”
Day after Day Performance Schedule at the Ernest Borgnine Theatre in Long Beach:
- Friday, January 24, 2020 at 8PM
- Saturday, January 25 at 2PM
- Saturday January 25 at 8PM
- Sunday, January 26 at 2PM
- Friday, January 31 at 8PM
- Saturday February 1, 2PM
- Saturday, February 1 at 8PM
- Sunday, February 2 at 2PM
- Friday, February 7 at 8PM
- Saturday, February 8 at 2PM
- Saturday, February 8 at 8PM
- Sunday, February 9 at 2PM
- Friday, February 14 at 8PM
- Saturday, February 15 at 2PM
- Saturday, February 15 at 8PM
- Sunday, February 16 at 2PM
- Thursday, February 20 8PM
- Friday, February 21 8PM
- Saturday, February 22 2PM
- Saturday, February 22 8PM
Tickets range from $25 to $35 and may be purchased by phone at 714-689-8116, online at www.p3theatre.biz, or in person on performance days at the Ernest Borgnine Theatre Box Office located at 855 Elm Street in downtown Long Beach. Discounted group pricing is available for groups of 10 or more.
The box office is open on performance days 60 minutes prior to the start of each show, and remains open for 30 minutes following the start of the performance.
Solidarity Walk to be held Feb. 8
By Rosemary Lewallen
Bridge of Light: Human Trafficking to Human Triumph Ministry will host Catholic Relief Services’ TURN ON THE LIGHT Solidarity Walk for Victims of Human Trafficking on Saturday, February 8, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church.
This solidarity walk starts in the church with Taize prayer and then processes outside with prayers and song to the Parish Hall. Dress warmly for this evening procession. It is meant to shine a light on the human toll of human trafficking. The goal is that through education and prayer, we can make a difference to fight human trafficking and honor the victims of this horrible crime.
By gathering together in purposeful prayer, we can shed light on the root causes of human trafficking, identify laborers who are mistreated and trapped, understand that our purchases affect someone’s life, and work toward bringing healing to the survivors.
Later, we will invite everyone to prepare and send letters to their Congressmen, asking them to author or sponsor legislation that fights sex trafficking and other modern forms of slavery.
February 8th is a particularly appropriate day for this event as it is the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita (1868 – 1947), patron saint of human trafficking, as well as the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking. Josephine was kidnapped, physically abused and sold into slavery at age seven. She was later baptized, developed a strong faith and became a nun. St. Josephine Bakhita was beatified in 2000.
If you have any questions, contact Monica Kovach, Health Ministry Facilitator at 310-490-6113.
Courtesy photos attached by Rosemary Lewallen from past Solidarity Vigils:
Free groceries at the Senior Grocery Program in Los Alamitos
Join us at the Los Alamitos Community Center for the Senior Grocery Program on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The Senior Grocery Program, sponsored by Second Harvest Food Bank and Feeding America, provides free groceries to seniors and low-income residents. Distribution takes place from 11:30am-12:30pm at the Los Alamitos Community Center and we kindly request you arrive no earlier than 11:15am due to space constrictions. Please bring bags or carts to carry your items home with you. Our next program is on Tuesday, January 21. For more information, please visit www.cityoflosalamitos.org/recreation or contact the Los Alamitos Community Center at (562) 430-1073.
Pageant of the Masters seeking volunteers
World-renowned for its annual production of living pictures, the Pageant of the Masters is looking for volunteers of all ages to sign up for a chance to take the stage and recreate famous works of art in this summer’s production, Made in America. The open casting call will be held January 10, 11 and 12, backstage at the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, California.
“Many people have volunteered for dozens of years and for some it’s a family tradition,” said Pageant of the Masters Director Diane Challis Davy.
Among those planning to attend the upcoming casting call will be 24-year-old Mackynzie Miller from Orange County, California, who first posed in the Pageant when she was just 4 years old. Last year, Miller was the recipient of a Lifetime Membership Award for her 15-year dedication as a volunteer for the Pageant. She is the youngest person in the organization’s history to receive this honor.
Miller recalls her first role as a little princess in the painting “Las Meninas” by Diego Velazquez in the 2004 production Portrait of an Artist. She was introduced to the Pageant by her parents, her mother, Suzie, had first volunteered for the production in 1989 and her father the year after. Even while pregnant with Miller, her mother worked behind the scenes on the Pageant’s stage crew.
Her sister, Taylee, has also been in the show in various roles throughout the years and her father, Wayne, has posed in “The Last Supper” for over 18 years. “It has become our family tradition,” shared Miller. “My sister and I have grown up there and we don’t know a summer without the Pageant. There are so many other people involved with the Pageant that I have known since I was a baby. It is a great community and has really shaped me into the person I am today.”
It will be a family affair again this year for the Miller family. Her mother, father, sister (now 21 years old), aunt (Diane Breedlove) and Mackynzie will all be at the Pageant’s casting call in hopes of being involved in the 2020 production.
When asked what advice she would give to those considering becoming a volunteer, Miller stated, “Even if you don’t want to be a cast member in the show there are so many other ways to get involved. I have worked in the make-up department and as a backstage runner before, and they were just as fun as being in the cast!”
The Pageant of the Masters’ extended family of volunteers continues to grow, as does the excitement and enthusiasm for the show. “The Pageant of the Masters simply would not be possible without our dedicated volunteers,” concluded Challis Davy.
Casting Call is January 10-12, 2020 and individuals of all sizes and ages are needed. The Pageant of the Masters production, Made in America, will be presented nightly from July 8 – September 3, 2020 and advance tickets are now on sale starting at $20 per person. To stay up to date on all things Pageant of the Masters and Festival of Arts, follow the Festival at @FestivalPageant and visit www.foapom.com.
Courtesy photo:
Orange County resident Mackynzie Miller has her make-up applied at the Pageant of the Masters
Register for Ready, Set, Go Preschool Program
The Ready, Set, Go Preschool program, sponsored by Southland Credit Union, is taking registrations for spring and summer classes.
If you are looking for a quality and affordable preschool program for your child that focuses on your child’s needs in a fun environment, look no further.
The Los Alamitos Ready, Set, Go, Preschool program will engage your child in science, math, technology, arts, music, and reading/phonics on a daily and weekly basis. Academics is a major emphasis in sight word reading, math, science and art, in addition to the other important subjects of socialization and manners. For more information please visit www.cityoflosalamitos.org or call (562) 430-1073.
Los Al plans first annual Family Movie Night
The Los Alamitos Recreation & Community Services Department presents: Family Movie Night featuring Toy Story 4. Enjoy a fun-filled night featuring themed crafts, complimentary popcorn, drinks and snacks, family activities with prizes, and ending with the screening of “Toy Story 4.” Family movie night will take place beginning at 7:00pm with the movie starting at 7:30pm on Friday, January 24 at the Los Alamitos Community Center (10911 Oak Street).
Tickets are $5 per person and free for My Rec Rewards members. Purchase your tickets today at www.cityoflosalamitos.org/recreation or in person at the Los Alamitos Community Center. For more information and to join the My Rec Rewards program, please contact (562) 430-1073.
Cup is half full
Humanity is in a better place than it has been in all of human history. I can hear the opposition and guffaws loud and clear. But give me a minute or two to explain. I too get upset, on a daily basis, after reading the morning paper. Yes, I did say paper, and I suppose this partially defines me, as (very) old – habits are hard to quit.
As long as humans have inhabited the Earth, some folks have always had more than others. You may argue the reliability of their numbers, but according to the United Nations standards less than 10% of the world’s population endures extreme poverty. Absolutely nothing to feel good about, but their own statistics indicated the percentage was at 42% in the early 1980’s.
We live in a time when, as compared to less than two or three generations ago, mothers are less likely to die during childbirth and their children are more likely to live past the age of 15.
And as noted by an opinion piece in the Dec 31 West Hawaii Today, ‘2019 was probably the year in which children were least likely to die, adults were least likely to be illiterate and people were least likely to suffer excruciating and disfiguring diseases.’ Diseases like polio, leprosy, and elephantiasis are declining, global efforts have turned the tide on AIDS. And embrace the reality that, until the relatively recent past, there are few forces that will positively affect humanity more than the empowerment and education of women worldwide.
So, should we take it easy, and not worry so much about the future? Absolutely not. But maybe we need to begin to incorporate a deeper historical perspective. And while you’re getting upset while reading or seeing the morning news, think about how far we’ve come.
Probably the most effective means to all sorts of positive ends comes down to a personal level. Maybe just do one thing today to address an issue that is bugging you. Instead of tossing the newspaper into the trash, take a couple more steps and put it into the recycle container. Make sure you are registered vote, and exercise your enfranchisement. Give a few bucks to the local non-profit that is helping kids cope with some serious issues. Take a stand and speak out on a local issue that just doesn’t seem right. Eat a veggie burger … naw … even that is going too far for me.
And know that it is OK to feel good about life on Planet Earth.
Elliott Singer
Los Alamitos
McAuliffe students win Colorado piano competition
Over the winter break, Kiera Wong, McAuliffe student, and her partner, Sterling Tran, traveled to Colorado Springs, Colorado to compete in the 21st United States International Duo Piano Competition (USIDPC). The event took place at the legendary 5-Star and 5-Diamond Broadmoor Hotel.
The USIDPC is the largest duo piano competition in the world! This year’s event took place on January 4th – 6th, 2020. Approximately 200 finalists from across the world ranging in age from 7 to adult played next to each other on side-by-side pianos. The competing teams came from all over including China, Italy, India, Korea and Russia. The teams performed classical music by Bach, Chopin, Rachmanioff, Ravel, Stravinsky and others.
After months of preparation, Kiera Wong and Sterling Tran took home 1st Place in their duo category. They played “Libertango” by Astor Piazzolla to a packed audience. Both Kiera and Sterling were honored and delighted to have been chosen as the winners from a pool of exceptional and gifted talents in the genre of duo piano.
McAuliffe’s own, Kiera Wong, went on to compete in the quartet category with William Li, Ashley Nguyen and Michelle Ho. The quartet team dazzled the judges and audience with “Over the Rainbow” by Harold Arlen earning them 2nd Place. When asked how they felt after their winning performance, the musicians were humbled and shocked to have placed among so many talented teams. They also expressed how deeply lucky they were to have shared the stage with remarkable and accomplished pianists from all over the world!
LAEF’s Fall After-School Program concludes, Spring registration is open
The 2019 Los Alamitos Education Foundation’s Fall after-school classes have come and gone, leaving their mark on more than 1,300 students, as classes for LAEF’s 2020 Spring After School program begin to fill up.
LAEF is continuing to offer free World Language classes to 2nd and 3rd graders across the district. Nearly 200 students enrolled in these free classes ranging from Mandarin and Japanese to Spanish, French and American Sign Language depending on the school site. LAEF’s goal is to expose children to languages they can pursue further in their secondary education. Parents and students alike were delighted with the program and excited to see it continue.
LAEF also expanded the popular Skatedogs after-school skateboarding class to three additional elementary school campuses this year. Other popular after school classes included seasonal food exploration, science, LEGO engineering, musical theater and gymnastics.
Registration is open for LAEF’s 2020 Spring After School program, offering many of the popular classes enjoyed in the Fall curriculum as well as classes particularly suited to Springtime, including Flag Football, Baseball, Golf and “Our Friends in the Sea” Microbiology.
LAEF is able to enrich the learning experience of even more students this Spring by continuing to offer tuition scholarships, thanks to the support of grant donors like Run Seal Beach, the Roosters of Orange County and the Miller Foundation. For more information on scholarships, visit LAEF4Kids.org/scholarships.
LAEF is the non-profit partner of Los Alamitos Unified School District. LAEF enhances educational excellence by providing after-school and summer enrichment programs to children in grades Pre-K to 12. LAEF impacts all students by providing significant funding for STEAM teachers and instruction, as well as igniting new programs and providing valuable resources. For more information, visit www.LAEF4kids.org or call (562) 799-4700 Extension 80424 today.
Rossmoor Woman’s Club students of the month
At its January meeting, the Rossmoor Woman’s Club honored Los Alamitos seniors Leela Fredlund and Noa Tuliau as students of the month for December and January, respectively.
Leela, the daughter of Eric and Lakeri Fredlund, is a National Merit Semi-finalist and co-president of the Los Al Science Olympiad team, a group of students who compete in regional STEM-based competitions. She is also involved with Beach Cleanup Club and ACS Club, which seeks to promote understanding of and enthusiasm for chemistry. She has been on the JV water polo team during all four years of high school. She hopes to pursue a double major in chemistry and philosophy, with the goal of becoming a chemistry professor.
Noa, the son of Brian and Elizabeth Tuliau, is on the Los Al track and field team, where he serves as a captain in shot-put and discus. He has also been a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and Hope Club, which provides Financial assistance to less fortunate schools in Myanmar. He is also a youth ministry leader at St. Anne Catholic Church in Seal Beach. Noa has maintained a 4.5 cumulative GPA for most of his high school years and plans to study political science in college and to pursue a career in law.
Each student received a certificate and $600 scholarship award from the Rossmoor Woman’s Club.
Gen. Michael J. Leeney to assume command of JFTB
Promises to stay the course
Brigadier General Michael J. Leeney, a one-time base commander and Deputy Commanding General of the 40th Infantry Division has been named to assume command of Joint Forces Training Base.
According to California Military Department, Leeney officially assumes command of the Los Alamitos Base February 1.
Leeney said this week he and Gen. Nick Ducich are already in the process of transition.
Gen. Ducich has been promoted and will leave the base in February to command a national homeland response plan for National Guard units in all 50 states and four U.S. territories (see related story).
Leeney said he is familiar with the base, having previously served as an interim commander. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the outreach to the community performed by then Col. Ducich had been “very effective.”
Leeney said he would continue along the same path and plans his own outreach into the community.
Watch the Event-News Enterprise for an interview with Gen. Leeney after the formal military announcement of Leeney’s JFTB command.
Col. Ducich to be promoted to Brigadier General
Col. Nick Ducich, the commander of Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos will be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General on January 11, according to the California National Guard.
Under Ducich’s short tenure as Commander of the base, relations with community organizations have significantly improved and sources say that relations have also changed between the command and the various organizations on the base.
The new commander reportedly holds weekly or regular meetings with all organizations housed at the base and has increased their accountability.
Ducich also instituted new community outreach programs such as allowing the public on the base to meet pilots and crews of the many squadrons that came in for ‘The Great Pacific Airshow.’
In addition, Ducich is said to be planning an announcement to bring back the “Wings, Wheels and Rotors” show that was once very popular but cancelled in recent years after legal problems persisted.
Major General David Baldwin, the Adjutant General of the California Military Department, will be on base to officiate the promotion ceremony for Ducich, the Guard said.
The promotion ceremony will be held at the 40th Infantry Division headquarters at JFTB, the announcement said.
Murphy elected Mayor, Chirco Mayor pro-tem
Murphy elected Mayor of Los Alamitos
Following a sudden resignation by Mayor Warren Kusumoto, the four remaining members of the Los Alamitos city council last week elected Mayor Pro-tem Richard Murphy as Mayor and council member Mark Chirco as Mayor Pro-tem.
Although the council was already scheduled to reorganize its leadership for 2020 at their December meeting, Kusumoto’s resignation from the council caught many by surprise. Members of the Council and some city employees, however, had been given a courtesy phone call before the meeting.
In an emotional farewell to public office, Kusumoto told his colleagues and the community that after nine years of elected service to the city that he had resigned from the council.
Kusumoto gave special recognition to his wife Judy and said they were moving to Maryland so that he could accept a promotion from his employer.
After serving on the city’s traffic commission, Kusumoto ran, and was elected to the city council in 2010. He previously served as Mayor in 2012 before being again in 2018.
“Change is a constant,” said Kusumoto, “and I have been blessed with public service. Serving on the council has helped to make me a better human,” he said.
He thanked a list of former and current officials with whom he has had both differences, and with whom he found agreements, throughout his tenure.
“I’ve done my very best to find solutions within the complex state government structure that strips away local control,” said Kusumoto. Nevertheless, we have done “the best we can.”
The outgoing mayor said he has accepted a promotion from his employer that will require him to relocate to the Baltimore, Maryland area. His resignation was effective Dec. 16.
Incoming Mayor Murphy said when Kusumoto was first elected, things were much different on the council than now. Then, he said, “people were watching the council meetings for their comedic value,” said Murphy. “It was war” during those days, he said.
“That all changed with Warren’s leadership,” said Murphy, adding that Kusumoto showed the council “how to disagree in a constructive way.”
Murphy also praised Kusumoto for his ability to be blunt, noting Kusumoto’s discussion of hard issues such as the possibility of bankruptcy for the city. “We owe it to the public to discuss all possibilities,” said Murphy, even if the suggestions “are not well received by some.”
“We (city council) should consider every option,” said Murphy, adding that Kusumoto, throughout his service to the city, has demonstrated the courage to “bring up those ideas. I thank him for his leadership and his service to city.”
Council member Shelley Hasselbrink, a colleague on the council and longtime friend, thanked Kusumoto for leaving the city “in a much better place” than he found it. “You’ve always said what you believed” without regard for what other people thought or political considerations, she added.
“We’ve had our differences over the years,” said council member Dean Grose, yet he thanked Kusumoto for “developing a relationship of mutual trust.”
The theme principled debate continued with Mark Chirco who also thanked Kusumoto for “always saying what you believed was in the best interest of the city. You always follow your principles,” said Chirco.
A large number of other elected officials and their representatives were on hand to congratulate the outgoing mayor for his service to the city. They included Sen. Tom Umberg, Assembly Member Tyler Diep, Supervisor Michelle Steel, the city of Cypress and Col. Nick Ducich, commander of Joint Forces Training Base and Republic Services, among others.
“As I step away from the dias,” said Kusumoto, “I can say to its residents that the city is in a good place,” said the former official. He stood up, grabbed his cell phone and a bottle of water, turned and walked away from more than a decade of volunteer and elective service to residents of Los Alamitos.
Also at their December meeting, the council held two final public hearings before adopting resolutions to terminate parking permit zones in two areas of the city. Discussion and enforcement of those parking permit zones have caused much recent consternation for citizens who live in these areas.
The Council unanimously approved approved motions to terminate the public permit areas along several streets in Carrier Row and New Dutch Haven.
Interim city manager Les Johnson said both permit zones were established decades ago in reaction to large enterprises in each area, one of which has since moved. After recent petition drives by residents in those areas attracted widespread support, the Traffic Commission has recommended termination of the programs.
Hasselbrink noted the city has long sought public input from residents regarding those zones and after the city considered enforcement, residents finally “spoke up loud and clear.”
Johnson acknowledged that the permit zones were not consistently enforced since their establishment and now would no longer exist. Johnson said, however, it could take months to remove all the signs, so residents questioned why and asked the city to remove them as soon as possible.
In other action the city;
- Gave final approval to a plan to replace lighted street signs in the city made with a new reflective material that is said to be more cost effective and will last longer. A total of 25 signs are to replaced in a phased plan.
- Approved an amendment to the city’s General Plan recommended by staff that will allow consideration of zoning of commercial/professional equivalent to light industrial to four parcels that will be used for an 81,000 square foot office building and 288 parking spaces.
- Provided official recognition to local business and organizations that sponsor and partner with the city for activities throughout the year. The sponsors and partners include the AYSO Region 159, Friday Night Lights, Los Al Senior Club, Memorial Care Miller Children’s Hospital, Southland Credit Union, Republic Services and Grating Pacific.
- Awarded scholarships to three students for Los Al Volunteer work including, Brooklyn Davis, Bronze ($250), Travis Kimbrell, Silver ($500) and Norma Pena, Gold, ($750). Davis has accumulated 195 service hours, Kimbrell 270 service hours and more than 700 service hours for Pena.
- Thanked city engineer David Hunt who is retiring with more than a decade of service to the city. Hunt, meanwhile, thanked the city and its residents for the “great pleasure” of serving them.
National Guard gives employers a lift in annual ‘Bosslift’ event
More than a hundred people, some of whom had never before been on a military base, lined up in single file at Joint Forces Training Base to get processed as the California National Guard hosted its annual “Bosslift” this past week.
After a breakfast and a briefing, these employers of National Guard troops were themselves about to get a ride on a $12 million aircraft, the famous “Blackhawk” helicopter.
“This is the one day a year that we educate employers and thank them for allowing Guardsmen and women to do their military duty,” said Tom Lasser, a retired Colonel now employed by the U.S. Department of Defense.
Lasser is associated with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a special organization in all 50 states and promotes “supportive environments” for citizen soldiers that serve in the Guard and Reserve.
Employers who make special provisions to allow their employees to serve and sometimes be called away during emergencies, deserve special recognition, said Lasser.
Inviting them onto the base allows them to become more familiar with the role of Guard, he told the large group of employers which were hosted inside a helicopter hanger on the base.
Major Dan Goldsmith, Battalion Commander of the Transportation Division, explained to the assembled employers that guard and reserve work “can be really demanding.”
In step-by-step detail, he explained the role of service members under his command, saying the new $12 million Blackhawk helicopter required precision mechanics and continuous training to keep the fleet flying.
Goldsmith is the commander of the 140th Assault Helicopter Battalion stationed at JFTB. He is a full-time member of the Cal Guard and lives in Los Alamitos.
The Blackhawk helicopters are incredibly intricate machines that required very skilled mechanics and flight crews to keep them running. Goldsmith said it cost approximately $4,000 per hour to keep them flying.
Even as Goldsmith spoke to the large group, mechanics were busy working on other Blackhawks not being used in the day’s festivities.
The Joint Forces Training Base is one of the few remaining military installations in Orange County, and for that matter, in California, therefore it serves the state as a staging area for floods, wildfires, earthquakes and other natural disasters that befall in the state.
Guard troops must be prepared to deploy “on a moment’s notice,” said Goldsmith, so training for pilots, crews, and service members is critical to carry out their mission.
In fact, the troops invited those attending the briefing to walk outside the hanger to watch a demonstration of the “Bambi” bucket, the big orange buckets most residents see on television in the fight against wildfires.
The buckets are equipped with built-in pumps that can scoop up 1,000 gallons in a minute or so helicopters can drop the water as directed in the fight against raging wildfires.
And, he said, it would not be possible to do without the support of employers who demonstrate repeated flexibility with their employees who serve in the Guard or Reserve.
“We truly appreciate your support,” Goldsmith told the employers present for the special day. “Your support is very important to the community,” he added, saying the allowance for training and service keeps the Guard prepared to protect and serve the communities around the state.
Following the briefing, the employers were led onto the tarmac where several Blackhawks were lined up in formation awaiting their arrival. Employers were issued ear plugs and barf bags as the pilots gave strict instructions to those about to board.
They detailed the flight plan, told employers what to do and, more importantly, what not to do while in flight and in rotation, they began to fill the helicopters with the excited employers. Once full, they taxied out to the runway and formation and they were off.
Newly installed Seal Beach Police Chief Phil Gonshak was one of the employers at the base for the day.
“We are honored to have been invited to this event and to strengthen our relationship with the military. Several of our police personnel had military careers prior to working for the City, including Patrol Officer Shawn Watkins who was assigned to the JFTB while he was in the Army. Seeing Seal Beach and surrounding areas from the air was incredible,” said Gonshak.