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Cypress 1st annual Fall Classic leaves everyone a winner

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It wasn’t the World Series.  That will have to wait until November.  But ask any of the 60-plus disabled children and young adults who played in it and they’ll tell you with their smiles.  The first annual ‘Fall Classic’, hosted by Cypress PONY Baseball and its Champions Division, was a grand slam.

Parents, families, guardians and friends filled the stands with enthusiasm and support as four teams played a double-header at Oak Knoll Park last Saturday, October 19.

OFF AND RUNNING!!  Jaxon Gumas of the Cypress PONY Red Sox All-Stars heads to first after grabbing a base hit off pitcher/coach Parry Havelaar of Huntington Beach.  Chavez was one of 60 special needs players from Southern California who participated in the First Annual Champions “Fall Classic”  at Oak Knoll Park in Cypress on Saturday, October 19.  The 20 year-old Cypress PONY Champions program provides free baseball for children and young adults with special needs in the fall and spring seasons.

Two “All-Star” teams from the Cypress Champions program showed up along with a team from Walnut/Placentia and a fourth team, Kelsey’s Heroes, from Indio.    The games were two-inning affairs, with coaches providing the pitching and direction.  All players received complimentary hot dogs and soda between games and were awarded an All-Star medal and commemorative t-shirt for their participation.

“My son has been in organized sports for people with special needs for years,” said Kim Koerner of Cypress and skipper of the Cypress Boston Red Sox.  “Leagues like Champions make such a difference in their lives and the lives of their families.”

ALL-STARS ALWAYS!!!  Sixty children and adults with special needs gave their fans and themselves big reasons to smile at the 1st Annual ‘Fall Classic” baseball tournament held at Oak Knoll Park in Cypress.  The event was played on Saturday, October 19 and hosted teams from Cypress, Walnut/Placentia  and Indio. It was hosted by Cypress PONY Champions Baseball, which has provided free spring and fall baseball for children and adults throughout Orange County. Photo by Mike Longo.

Koerner’s squad was one of two teams from the Cypress PONY Champions program that fields players from Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, West Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Seal Beach and Westminster.

“Some All-Stars players participate in other sports in the fall,” he added. “So, they haven’t played baseball since last spring.  But they took right to it right away and it was great to see them having fun with new friends!”

“I just like playing,” said Crystal Leon of Cypress and member of the Red Sox. “I play shortstop and third. I like fielding ground balls and trying to throw the other team out at first!”

Other players were equally enthusiastic.

When her dad and co-coach Ben Singer of the Red Sox told his daughter Haley, a catcher from Rossmoor, that most pro players don’t catch two games in one day anymore, she quickly corrected him: “Well, I do! I’m an All-Star!”

OFF AND RUNNING!!  Jaxon Gumas of the Cypress PONY Red Sox All-Stars heads to first after grabbing a base hit off pitcher/coach Parry Havelaar of Huntington Beach.  Chavez was one of 60 special needs players from Southern California who participated in the First Annual Champions “Fall Classic”  at Oak Knoll Park in Cypress on Saturday, October 19.  The 20 year-old Cypress PONY Champions program provides free baseball for children and young adults with special needs in the fall and spring seasons. Photo by Mike Longo

Cypress PONY Champions Baseball will be entering it 20th season in Spring 2020. The League is free for children and young adults with special needs throughout the area.  It is supported by local business and non-profit foundations.  Those interested in finding out more about supporting or participating in the program as volunteers or players should contact Jon Peat at (714) 713-5153 and jonpeat@att.net  or Sherman Havelaar at (714) 904-4742 and shehavelaar@yahoo.com

 

 

 

 

City says no danger to Los Al Water

In the wake of a story by the Los Angeles Times that cited studies suggesting water under the Joint Forces Training Base may be contaminated, the city of Los Alamitos issued clarifications from its water supplier that indicated there is no danger to the public.

The Los Angeles Times recently published articles citing studies that indicate many current and former military outposts around the state beside JFTB may have contamination due to toxic foams used in firefighting.

“These Army posts may have contaminated drinking water,” said the report, adding that Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) contamination was present in the drinking water of 90 different Army installations including the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.

The article also stated that “the chemicals are suspected of moving into the community water supply.”

In response to these articles, the City of Los Alamitos has been provided information from Col. Nick Ducich, Joint Forces Training Base Installation Commander and Ken Vecchiarelli, General Manager of the Orange County District of Golden State Water Company (Golden State Water), the city said in a statement.

“Both have identified and concluded that domestic water service to the Joint Forces Training Base is provided by Golden State Water, whose representative’s report that their water meets or exceeds all state and federal regulatory requirements,” according to the statement.

They claim Golden State Water and their staff of professionals are fully aware of the emerging PFAS contamination concerns and are closely monitoring the development of PFAS regulatory requirements.

In addition, the city said Golden State Water has prepared some useful information that is now available on their website and can be viewed through the link provided below. Golden State Water also shared that they continue to work closely with the local groundwater basin management agency, Orange County Water District in their efforts to monitor and track these compounds. OCWD has also prepared information on this matter (ref. their website linked below).

PFOA and PFOS

https://www.ocwd.com/what-we-do/water-quality/pfoapfos/

For additional information on Golden State Water, visit www.gswater.com or call 1-800-999-4033.

Master storyteller spins a fish tale to save the planet

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Even for one of the most prolific and celebrated writers in modern Hollywood history, this is a fish tale that seems so unlikely that only in the mind of David E. Kelley could it have been produced.

The Emmy Award winning producer appeared at the Aquarium of the Pacific Wednesday to announce a production of a different kind, saying he has founded a fish company to help save the planet from itself.

“Our world is in trouble,” said Kelley, as he offered facts indicating climate change and the world’s mushrooming population constitutes a grave threat to the global salmon population.

With 11 Emmys and more than 30 nominations, Kelley is best known for his monstrous television hits including “Ally McBeal”, “Boston Legal”, “Picket Fences”, “Big Little Lies”, “The Practice” and “L.A. Law,” among others.

Now, however, Kelley has tipped his toe into the river of sustainable fish farming, announcing he is the founder and Chairman of a company called Riverence, paying homage to the riversthat allow the salmon to thrive. Currently, he said, he considers the farm a philanthropic investment, but long-term, he said the company does plan to make a profit.

“The salmon is a miracle fish,” said Kelley, a lifelong fisherman. “They swim from the rivers to the oceans,” he said, “collecting thousands of nutrients before swimming back upstream feeding hundreds of species on land. As the salmon goes,” said Kelley, “so will we.”

Kelley, a lifelong fisherman, said it was the time in life to make a difference for the future.

Aquarium of the Pacific President & CEO Dr. Jerry Schubel, (left), and David E. Kelley discuss sustainable fish farming.

Aquarium President and CEO Dr. Jerry Schubel, who opened the presentation, said the aquarium has offered its knowledge and expertise to Kelley. He applauded Kelley’s venture, saying that it will “decrease the pressure on wild salmon.”

In recent years, the Long Beach Aquarium has become one of the country’s top ocean attractions, along the way developing a special expertise in the “analysis and packaging of scientific data in forms that engage, educate and empower the public,” Schubel said.

As the world heats up, explosive algae blooms and “super bacteria” pose threats to the wild salmon population, they acknowledged.

Kelley said Riverence includes a state-of-the-art brood farm in Washington state, and eight aquaculture pins along the Snake River in Idaho, which contains some of the purest water in the country. “We are not water consumptive,” said Kelley, saying all water used by the farm is “returned to the earth.”

Riverence breeds and raises steelhead trout, a salmon cousin, and Kelley said the operation is currently selling about 10 million pounds of the fish per year. Kelley said they use molecular genetics for breeding, premium fish food and maintain pristine conditions in which their product is raised.

Purchasing fish food is the operation’s largest expense, said Kelley, prompting the celebrated Hollywood writer to quip,“I write television shows to buy fish food.”

During the panel discussion, top chef Andrew Zimmerman appeared in a video to offer praise to Kelley for “putting his money where his mouth is,” while noting that Riverence has produced “some of the most delicious trout I’ve ever tasted. It’s better than some of the wild stuff I’ve eaten.”

Kelley, with key members of his staff in the audience, said he is taking his role as CEO very seriously. Kelley said he grew up on a farm in Maine so, in essence, he is simply returning to his roots. “I guess like a salmon,” he said, “I’m sort of returning upriver to the stream I began on and have returned to farm life.”

Having said that, Kelley said his company will not be run like many companies that he claims do not employ corporate social responsibility.

“Part of the problem,” said Kelley, “is that in the corporate world you’ve got people in short-term tenure jobs making decisions that will affect the world forever.”

Dr. Halley Froehlich, assistant professor, University of California, Santa Barbara, an expert on sustainable offshore aquaculture, said companies like Riverence will have a significant impact on the country’s seafood market. The U.S. currently imports 95 percent of its seafood by value and more than 60 percent by volume, she said.

Kimberly Thompson, director of the Aquarium’s “Seafood of the Future” program, conducted the final portion of the presentation, focusing the discussion on the need for responsible aquaculture and conservation.

“By trade I am a storyteller,” said Kelley, “writing about flawed characters struggling with the value judgments they made.” Before that, he said, “I was a lawyer. What I loved about the law is that, as imperfect as it is, it is the best mechanism we have for legislating ethical behavior and morality.”

Despite his long string of hits, Kelley said he has yet to find the “springboard” to bring fish farming to the screen. “I ask my wife (Michelle Pfeiffer) every week,” said Kelley, “and she says…honey, no.” Appeals to their daughter meet with the same response, said Kelley with a smile.

So now, however, Kelley said he will focus with renewed intensity on making Riverence a premium product for American restaurants, and eventually, for the direct consuming public. He said he began going to aquaculture conferences five years ago and now “I’m trying to protect and save something bigger than myself.”

“With 10 billion people expected on the planet by 2020,” said Kelley, “something’s got to give. And unless we can come up with a (protein) alternative, it’s going to be the salmon.”

 

Los Al volleyballers playoff bound

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The Los Alamitos High girls volleyball team defeated the Edison, 25-22, 25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 15-13, to close out the regular season on Tuesday at Los Alamitos High. The Griffins tied Huntington Beach for second place in the Surf League at 3-3. Los Alamitos finished the season at 25-11 overall and earned an at-large berth in the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs, where they will get a chance to defend their CIF-SS championship. Los Alamitos will open the playoffs on Thursday at Hart High, starting at 6 p.m. Hart High of Newhall, was a co-champion of the Foothill league with a 9-1 league record. Pictured is setter Allie Livingston setting a ball for a shot attempt.

Making beautiful music together – The Youth Center and Seal Beach Philharmonic Committee

It all started with a donation of a flute and violin, progressing to a friendly neighbor-to-neighbor chat asking what to do with an old piano.

Louise SB Philharmonic. Jpg – Pictured (rear left to right) is Seal Beach Philharmonic Committee President Louise Dubos with Youth Center Executive Assistant Julie Rubin and Youth Center children holding a flute and violin recently donated to The Youth Center Music Program.

Knowing that the Youth Center offers music lessons to all Los Alamitos Unified School District (LAUSD) elementary students, the President of the Seal Beach Philharmonic Committee Louise Dubos called them about donated instruments they had received. The Youth Center’s Executive Director Julie Rubin was contacted, and arranged to have the piano picked up, no small feat since it weighs in at 400 pounds.

Mario and Nancy Iacoboni’s grown children never took up playing the family Wurlitzer spinet piano, so they were looking to donate it to a family who was interested in a piano. By asking their neighbor Dubos if she knew of anyone, they discovered The Youth Center.

The Seal Beach Philharmonic Committee is now asking the community to join in on a musical instrument scavenger hunt to find no-longer-used instruments that individuals might have in their closet, attic or garage. The committee will refurbish, repair and donate these instruments to students in the LAUSD.

The Youth Center plans on donating the instruments to elementary school children in their music program who are on scholarships. The donated piano is now in the main room of The Youth Center available to After School Program children. They are now actively seeking a volunteer to provide piano instruction to the students.

“Music crosses all boundaries whether man-made or natural. It reaches into the soul of us all,” said Nancy Iacoboni. “We wanted to make sure that the piano would go to a good cause, and were especially interested in gifting it directly to an underprivileged school where it would be played by students or to an established charity which distributes musical instruments to those who would not otherwise be able to learn to play music.”

Her husband Mario added, “Music is everything to me. I am literally surrounded by music every day. It can be nourishing, soothing, thought provoking, and a means of transcendence from the mundane.” He said he and Nancy travel for music and see many local events as well.

“We are grateful and elated to have the support of the Seal Beach Philharmonic Committee and local community members like the Iacobonis,” said Rubin. “By partnering with them and others we hope to further music education for children throughout the community.”

The Orange County Philharmonic Society provides youth music education programs that reach 160,000 elementary, middle and high school students annually free of charge. These award–winning programs are made possible to LAUSD students through the members of the Seal Beach Philharmonic Committee. Members volunteer as docents at the music programs and hold fundraisers throughout the year to make these programs possible.

Their various music programs include Music Mobile which introduces 3rd graders to instruments of the orchestra. The Reimbursement Program provides needed funds to school music programs. Students in the 5th grade are introduced to concerts at Segerstrom Concert Hall. Los Alamitos High School Orchestra students perform in the High School Orchestra Festival at Segerstrom Hall. This is but some of the

Programs offered through the Orange County Philharmonic Society.

For more information about how you can donate musical instruments, please contact Virginia Fraser by calling 562 596-8591 or email at CVF1955@gmail.com. For more information about the Orange County Philharmonic Society, please visit online at www.philharmonicsociety.org.

If you are interested in volunteering to provide piano instruction to The Youth Center After School Program students, please call 562-493-4043.

Courtesy photos

Seven Tips to Help Choose Your Health Plan During Open Enrollment

By: Rob Falkenberg is CEO, UnitedHealthcare of California, located in Cypress

Open enrollment season is here, a time when more than 18.3 million people in California and millions of Americans across the country will have the opportunity to select or switch their health insurance plan for 2020.

To help guide you during this important time, here are some tips that may help lead you to better health and cost savings.

Tip 1: Know your open enrollment dates

  • For the more than 178 million Americans with employer-provided coverage, many employers set aside a two-week period between September and December when employees can select health benefits for the following year.
  • For the more than 64 million people enrolled in Medicare, Medicare Annual Enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year.

For most people, changes made during this time will take effect Jan. 1, 2020.

Tip 2: Understand your options. When it comes to selecting a plan, one size does not fit all. Take the time to understand your options so you can find what will work best for you. A good first step is to make sure you understand health insurance lingo, such as premium, deductible, coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximum. If you need a refresher, check out UnitedHealth Group’s Just Plain Clear Glossary (in English, Spanish and Portuguese) to learn and understand health care terms. And if you’re eligible for Medicare, make sure you’re familiar with the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage as you weigh your options.

Tip 3: Anticipate next year’s health expenses.  When reviewing your options, plan ahead. Maybe you are expecting a significant health event next year, such as a surgery or having a baby. If so, then it’s even more important to compare the “total cost” of your plan, not just your monthly premium. Plan designs vary, so also compare deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.

Tip 4: Check to make sure your medications are covered

Even if you don’t expect to change plans, it’s important to make sure your prescription drugs will still be covered next year. Costs can change from year to year, and how much you pay for generics vs. brands may differ among health plans.

Tip 5: Ask about well-being programs. Many health plans now offer financial incentives that reward you for taking healthier actions, such as completing a health survey, walking, going to the gym or not using nicotine. Also, many Medicare Advantage plans offer gym memberships and wellness programs for members at no additional costs.

Tip 6: Don’t forget about specialty benefits

Additional benefits, such as dental, vision, hearing, disability or critical illness insurance, are often cost-effective coverage options that can help protect you and your family from head to toe. For Medicare beneficiaries, some may be surprised that Original Medicare doesn’t cover prescription drugs and most dental, vision and hearing services, but many Medicare Advantage plans do.

Tip 7: Try the convenience of virtual visits. If you are busy juggling kids’ schedules or work travel, or simply prefer to connect with a doctor from the comfort of your own home,  consider choosing a plan that includes 24/7 virtual visits. It may be a convenient, lower-cost way to talk to a doctor about minor health issues, and all you need is a smartphone, tablet or computer. Often, telehealth is available to members of employer-sponsored, individual and Medicare Advantage plans.

For more helpful articles and videos about open enrollment and health care, visit UHCOpenEnrollment.com.

 

Lil’ Cottonwood visits Pa’s pumpkin patch

Students and parents from Lil’ Cottonwood pre-school had a very enjoyable pre Halloween visit to Pa’s Pumpkin Patch.

 

La Palma mourns passing of former city official Thomas Wright

The city of La Palma is mourning the passing of former Mayor Pro-Tem Thomas Wright, who served on the La Palma City Council from 1987 – 1988. According to the city, he passed away on Oct. 10, 2019.

Wright was unanimously appointed to the La Palma City Council in May 1987 to fill a vacancy created by Council Member Daniel Collins, who had resigned earlier that year. Mr. Wright served the rest of Collins’ term and served as Mayor Pro-Tem in 1988.

He was very active in the La Palma community. In the 1960s and 1970s, Mr. Wright served as chairman for both the City’s Traffic Safety Committee and Development Committee as well as helped build the Bicentennial Gazebo in Central Park. Additionally, he was selected as La Palma’s first recipient of the Americana Citizen of the Year Award in 1976 and also served as a committee chairman for his homeowner’s association.

In the 1980s, Wright served as the Business Manager for the John F. Kennedy High School’s Regiment Band for their Ireland trip and also served on the Walker Junior High School Community Relations Board.

Mayor Marshall Goodman said, “We are sad to hear about the passing of former Mayor Pro-Tem Thomas Wright. He was a dedicated public servant and volunteer who cared deeply about making La Palma the wonderful city it is today. We are forever grateful for his service to our community.”

Ranked by Money Magazine in 2007, 2011, 2013, and 2015 as one of America’s Best Places to Live, the City of La Palma is a 1.9 square mile general law city in northwest Orange County, consisting of 15,568 residents and approximately 300 commercial and industrial businesses. The City was incorporated in 1955 under the name of Dairyland and has 55 full-time and 35 part-time employees.

 

 

 

Los Alamitos High Choir Director Honored

David Moellenkamp, director of Los Alamitos High School’s national champion show choirs, was honored recently by a Seal Beach arts organization.

The Seal Beach Community Performing Arts Association presented Moellenkamp with the 3rd Annual SBCPAA Leadership in the Performing Arts Award “for his dedicated tenure at Los Al High and his expertise in directing choirs, choreography, and presenting music workshops for festivals and schools around the world.”

Esther Kenyon, founder and administrator of SBCPAA, called Moellenkamp, who is also an assistant principal at the high school, “legendary and a musician extraordinaire” at the award luncheon at Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach.

SBCPAA was established as a nonprofit organization in 2014 to promote and provide live cultural experiences to Seal Beach and surrounding communities through the performing arts in all of its forms.

Burlington surprises Los Al Elementary with $10,000 donation

Burlington Stores has donated $10,000 to Los Alamitos Elementary School as a gesture of community support to coincide with the opening of its new store in The Shops at Rossmoor in Seal Beach.

Shelley York, regional vice president for the department store chain, and Roger Cahuantzi, manager of the new store, presented the gift to the school’s 33 teachers at a recent assembly.  The donation means that each teacher at the school will receive $300 to spend on materials for the classroom.

Burlington partnered with AdoptAClassroom.org to select a school near their new store that was in need of supplies. Each teacher at Los Alamitos Elementary will have an online account that will allow them to order materials for delivery direct to the school.  Adoptaclassroom.org is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to fund raising for schools. The organization says American teachers spend an average of $740 a year of their own money on classroom supplies.

“At Burlington, we are all about supporting our neighbors and the communities where we live and work,” York said. “The donation helps ensure that every child has equal access to the resources and tools to be successful in school.”

York and Cahuantzi brought a giant replica check to the assembly and asked all the school’s teachers to join them in front of students and parents. When the amount of the check was revealed, the teachers, who were not told of the gift beforehand, whooped and cheered.

“Receiving the hugs and thank-yous from the teachers and seeing how grateful they were for the extra support was a memory that will forever stay with me,” York said.

Principal Gary Willems said he and his staff were grateful for the donation.  “Our teachers are always looking for supplies and products that will transform their students’ academic and social education. Thanks to Burlington, they will be able to provide their students with an experience they could not have without spending their own money.”

Burlington Stores is a division of Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation with 631 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico.

 

Student Achievement Summer of 2019

Kenchaylee Saur, of Cypress, CA, received a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Rhode Island.

Ariel Kang, of Cypress, recently graduated from the Washington University’s College of Arts & Sciences in St. Louis. He was named to the Dean’s List.

Eugenia Yoh, of Cypress, was named to the Dean’s List at Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University, St. Louis.

Kaitlyn Spear, of Cypress, received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Victim Services Administration from the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences at the University of New Haven.

Ashley Nichole Pollard, of Cypress, graduated from the Robbins School of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor University.

Reina Leigh Mendoza, of Los Alamitos, graduated from the Hankamer School of Business, Baylor University.

Maria Jenkinson, Long Beach, graduated from the Chemical Dependency Counseling academic program from Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York.

Patrick Jones, of Los Alamitos, was named to the Dean’s List at Gonzaga University.

Erin Trotter, of Los Alamitos, has graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Marquette University in Milwaukee.

Sara Braun, of Cypress, Alexis Bowler, of La Palma, and Jenna Rogers, of Los Alamitos, were named to the Dean’s List at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Madeline C. Medby, of Rossmoor, as named to the President’s List at LIM College in Midtown Manhattan.

Carlos Escoto, Orange County, was named 2019 Alumnus of the Year by Loma Linda University. He is an associate professor of psycology at Eastern Connecticut University.

Allison Young, of Los Alamitos, was named to the Dean’s List at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.

Trevor Replogle, of Long Beach, has been named to the Dean’s List at the University of Nebraska.

Micaela Erickson, of Los Alamitos, has been named to the Dean’s List at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.

Eva Palacios, of Long Beach, was named to the Dean’s List at Simpson University in Redding, CA.

Monique Galvan-Rose of Los Alamitos, California, was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Galvan-Rose was initiated at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

News from Muhlenberg College.

Riley Minkoff, of Long Beach, was named a Harry S. Truman Scholarship Finalist at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA.

Jeff Charmello, of Los Alamitos (90720) graduated from the University of San Diego on May 26. Charmello earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing.

 

 

Sumeet Khanna from Cypress, CA, graduated from Georgia College in August 2019 with a Web Master of Business Admin degree.

Stephanie Hidalgo, of Los Alamitos graduated from the University of San Diego on May 26. Hidalgo earned a bachelor’s degree in Accountancy and graduated cum laude.

Soon Hyung Kwon,of Cypress graduated from the University of San Diego on May 26. Kwon earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations. Kwon participated in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps at USD and was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy on May 24 and will report to Norfolk, Virginia aboard the USS Cole to begin his career as a Nuclear Surface Warfare Officer.

Emma Malloy, of Los Alamitos graduated from the University of San Diego on May 26. Malloy earned a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies.

News from Saint Francis University

Coleman Thompson, of Rossmoor, named to the Dean’s List at Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA.

Mackenzie T. West, of Los Alamitos, was named to Clemson University President’s List at Clemson University.

Kaylee Ellebracht, of Los Alamitos, CA, has earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

Central Methodist University student Mary Dynda, an exercise science major from La Palma, Calif., has been named to the CMU Dean’s List.

Bayley Hagino, of Cypress, has graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science and was also named to the Dean’s List.

Alyssa Migliaro, of Long Beach, has graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science and named to the Dean’s List.

Megan Drake, of Long Beach, has graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor of Arts.

Nikki Morinishi, of Cypress, has graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and was named to the Dean’s List.

Mogan Epperson, of La Palma, has graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Gloria Kang of Cypress, CA, graduated with a BS in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Studies degree from University of the Sciences and continues on in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.

Joy Le Page of Cypress, CA, graduated from Eastern New Mexico University.

Gillian Martinez, of Los Alamitos, CA has been admitted to Cornell University with a Dean’s Scholarship.

Saeed Shokry Saeed Abdelghany, of Cypress, graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences, University of New Haven with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design

Benjamin Jaeger, of Los Alamitos, graduated from the University of New Haven College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Music and Sound Recording.

Nicholas Passantino, of La Palma, was named to the Dean’s List at Bucknell University.

Sara Bass, of Los Alamitos, was named to the dean’s list at Tufts University in Medford, MA.

Melissa Ann O’Gorman, of Los Alamitos graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Mississippi.

Jennifer Lu, of Cypress, graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Nursing from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn.

Erin Son, of Cypress, was honored with membership into Biola University’s Epsilon Kappa Epsilon (EKE).

Chelsey Castaneda of Cypress, California, was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Castaneda is pursuing a degree in Liberal Studies at California State University, Fullerton.

Daniel Bacskai, of Los Alamitos, was named to the Dean’s List at the University of Dubuque.

Hannah Goff, Kristi Gundhus and Kyle Lira, Long Beach; Brooke Hearn, Ana Popa, and Katherine Wilkins, Los Alamitos; Amanda Hunter, Sue Jung, Haley Morikawa and Paige Tobias, Cypress were all named to the Dean’s List at Azusa Pacific University.

Divya Abraham, of La Palma, Lauren Kussler and Emma Malloy of Los Alamitos and Aidan Perry of Long Beach were named to First Honors at the University of San Diego.

“Miss La Palma” may make a comeback

The Miss La Palma Pageant may be making a comeback.

The contest, dormant for a while, was discussed at the October 15 City Council Meeting. No decisions were made, but the Councilmembers, residents and former participants in the pageant all had plenty to say about it.

A former Miss La Palma gave an impassioned and emotional plea in favor of bringing back the pageant, calling it “valuable.” She said the list of former Miss La Palmas includes impressive women now working in the fields of medicine, education and film, among others. She said, “These women are phenomenal and they came from us.”

Mary Paningsoro, whose daughter Cheyenne was a former Miss La Palma, also spoke in favor of the value of the pageant, saying, “I believe in the program; I volunteered.” She said her daughter learned how to speak from the pageant and it has been a valuable career- and resume-builder and she looks back now and says, “Thank goodness for that Miss La Palma pageant.”

Resident Jan Jensen said the contest is good for youth and city relations, and that “we need to help prepare kids for real life,” and this would be one way to do that.

Councilman Gerard Goedhart said he is against the idea of spending taxpayer money on a pageant in the classical sense, but later clarified that he would be fine with a private group handling it and would be more inclined to approve it if it had more of an emphasis on skills and service to the community than a “beauty” pageant.

Mayor Marshall Goodman said he too was in favor of a group like the Soroptimists or the Community Foundation handling it. Comparisons were made to the Miss Buena Park contest which just wrapped up for the year, and is handled by the Soroptimistst in that city.

Councilman Goedhart said once again that he “just doesn’t want to have a superficial contest,” and not one that will be a “major expense.”

The city had $3200 in budgetary funds set aside for this purpose last time there was a pageant. This included a scholarship that was given to the winner.

The Council will continue to consider and discuss this matter.

Will police dogs make a comeback in La Palma?

It’s been three years since a La Palma PD K9 patrolled the city streets. 2012 was when the department’s K9 program was eliminated due to budgetary and staffing constraints.

But the City is now considering reinstating the program.

A discussion was had on the topic in the City Council Chambers on October 15.

The La Palma PD K9 program was first adopted in 1985, and in the years between that and 2012 when the program ceased, the PD had five dogs over the years.

Since La Palma’s K9 program has been absent, as they have needed a K9, they have been able to request that a K9 and handler from a surrounding city come assist at no cost. But Police Chief Terry Kim pointed out that La Palma is in the minority in Orange County by not having their own dogs. Only Seal Beach and Los Alamitos have that in common with them.

Chief Kim gave a brief presentation on the value that K9s bring to a police department, saying a K9 team completes searches much faster and much more accurately than just officers alone, and said that it would be a definite case of “man hours saved.” He also said that during a search, when an announcement is made that a dog is being sent in, a suspect is much more likely to surrender quickly and peacefully.

He also said in addition to tracking down suspects, K9s can be cross-trained to detect drugs, which La Palma’s K9s historically have been.

The department also used to have a K9 vehicle when they had K9s, but the vehicle was eliminated from the fleet when it was no longer needed.

But is a K9 program something the city needs? When all was said and done, Chief Kim’s conclusion was that it would be “nice to have, but is not a must-have at this time.”

It would come at a cost of $92,000 to the city on the front end in the first year, then about $46,000 per year on an ongoing basis.

City staff did say that the way the city’s finances look now, the city could absorb the costs and still have a small surplus. However that would be if there were no other changes to the budget. “It does get tight,” said Administrative Services Director Sea Shelton.

The City Council expressed tempered support of bringing back the K9 program, but city staff said it likely would not be realistic until Fiscal Year 2021. There are currently two vacancies in the police department that must be filled so the department is fully staffed before an officer could be designated as a handler, and taken away from work for the lengthy training process.

City Manager Laurie Murray said the city has been actively recruiting to fill the two vacancies.

Chief Kim said that obtaining a dog and a vehicle would not take long, but that there would then be about a seven-week long training before the team could begin working.

But in the end, it was decided that city staff would do a bit more research and bring back a deeper analysis for further consideration at one of the November City Council Meetings.

National drug buyback day is Saturday, Oct. 26

The local prescription drug buyback program will occur this Saturday, Oct. 26 at McAuliffe Middle School parking lot from 10 a.m. until 2 pm.

The Los Al Unified School District, in cooperation with the Los Alamitos Police Department will sponsor participation in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Takeback program to collect unused or expired prescription drugs.

The collaborative project will accept unused or expired prescription drugs and/or over-the counter drugs, including liquids.

Long Beach no longer “kid sister” of Los Angeles

Mayor Garcia says city earning long overdue respect

After five years of progress under his leadership, with unemployment at a historic low, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said this week that the city is no longer the “kid sister” to the City of Los Angeles as it begins to garner newfound respect.

Powered by one of the largest western ports in the country, the city of Long Beach is, by all measures, booming. “I think we’re finally overcoming the past perception of (Long Beach) being the kid sister of Los Angeles,” said Garcia this week in an interview with the Event-News Enterprise.

“Most people don’t realize that we (Long Beach) have the same population as Atlanta, GA.,” Garcia said, adding that “even though we have some big challenges, we are economically strong.”

Now into his second term as Mayor, the energetic Garcia, absent the U.S. trade war, has the wind at his back as he begins to implement a broad range of new policy initiatives.

Despite the long-held perceptions of Long Beach, Garcia is seeking to push the public and his citizens to claim the respect the city has earned.

Once the home of the Pacific fleet, the City of Long Beach at the turn of the twentieth century was considered among the most progressive cities in the country.

Before the breakwaters and petroleum development altered its beaches, they were considered among the top on the state’s long, golden coast. Art deco architecture created a long-held elegance that, with the help of the city’s architectural community, is only now beginning to re-emerge.

At its heart, said Garcia, “Long Beach is a collection of small, diverse neighborhoods that collectively create communities throughout the city.

In addition to the massive port, Long Beach is home to Cal State Long Beach and a host of other educational institutions that has helped to create innovation. The aerospace and aviation business once central to the economy as many high tech firms are beginning to flourish.

“Long Beach not only has a strong economy,” said Garcia, but it also enjoys an excellent health care system, low unemployment and much construction and development.

“We have also worked on public safety issues,” said Garcia, adding that “people have a right to feel safe going to public parks and walking the streets of their neighborhoods.”

Garcia said the city, and the state, may still work to do to mprove housing affordability issues, yet he is proud that there are no homelessness encampments within the city.

While Garcia said Long Beach has taken a pro-active approach to solve problems associated with homelessness, including working closely with churches and other institutions, he said a challenge remains with those suffering with mental health issues.

Finally, Garcia said he retains a “close working relationship” with leaders in nearby communities such as Los Al, Rossmoor and Seal Beach.

Overall, said the mayor, Long Beach is “a great community” that has worked very hard to solve challenges and transform itself for a new generation. While the city still has problems, he said, Long Beach “is a much different place today.”

LAUSD stands behind inspection contract selection

A Costa Mesa company has complained of potential nepotism in the awarding of an inspection contract to a company owned by the father of a Los Alamitos Unified School official, yet officials are confident they made the right choice by selecting a firm with a long history of performance with the system.

The allegations of potential nepotism were originally raised in an article by Scott Schwebke in the October 4 edition of the Orange County Register.

In the article, Youssef G. Sobhi, the president of T.Y.R. Inc., one of the companies not selected, said the board’s decision in August “smacked of favoritism,” because the son of the winning company’s president works for the school system.

According to system records, TYR issued a bid of $949,840 to provide inspections for the construction of a new science, technology, engineering and math classroom building, funded by the passage of the $97 million Measure G.

Following an analysis by an appointed selection committee, however, the board awarded the contract to Knowland Construction Services, of Rancho Pales Verdes, who bid $970,900. Christopher Knowland, president of the company, is the father of Los Alamitos school district Facilities Director C.J. Knowland, Jr.

Supt. Andrew Pulver said although Knowland is a relatively new school district employee, he was in no way involved in the contract selection process and that the board sought two legal opinions before awarding the bid to the company.

“They (Knowland Construction) have worked really well with the system for many years,” said Pulver, adding that the company had been “a great partner” for inspections for as long as 15 years.

C.J. Knowland, Jr. was hired as Facilities Manager less than a year ago.

“We took extra steps to explain the board the history of our relationship with Knowland Construction at the meeting,” Pulver told the Event-News Enterprise, “and we made sure (with multiple legal opinions) that the entire board understood everything before the vote.”

Pulver said the Los Al Unified system employs the Merit System for vendor acquisition, which, by its very definition, “eliminates nepotism.” He said all of the bidders underwent written and verbal diligence by objective panelists, some of whom outside the system who “rated” all of the potential bidders for the inspection contract.

Bottom line, Pulver said the price for all of the contract’s bidders were exactly the same, $85 per hour for inspections so the board had every right to select a company with prior performance with the system.

Sobhi, according to the article, claimed that T.Y.R.’s only contract with the system soured after Knowland became Facilities manager. Pulver said there were “issues” associated with the work performed by T.Y.R. but declined to say more without a formal public records request.

“This is a $50 million construction project and we are very comfortable with our decision,” said Pulver said. Before the vote in August, he said the board moved forward only after getting multiple legal opinions, “all of which said the same thing.”

In fact, Terry Tao, one of the attorneys who wrote one of the legal opinions for the district, said the LAUSD “disagrees with (Sobhi’s) characterizations and statements,” regarding potential nepotism.

“Allegations concerning conflict of interest concerning Mr. Knowland are not well received,” the district’s attorney said in a letter quoted by the article.

Cypress introduces stricter ordinances for massage parlors

The City of Cypress has some problematic massage establishments, and the city is doing what it can to crack down.

City Attorney Anthony Taylor, at the October 14 City Council Meeting, gave a report on massage parlors and day spas in Cypress that have raised suspicion and have even required police involvement, and proposed to “amend and replace” some of the city’s protocols regarding them.

The city hopes to put in place a more strict standard to more fully regulate the establishments in the city and create a business climate not conducive to illicit activity.

Over the last two years, Cypress PD has found three places offering illegal services, two day spas that illegally offer massage services, and seven arrests related to illegal services at both massage establishments and day spas.

The new ordinance would essentially require employees at these establishments to have a higher level of licensing, will require them to pay in a bit more, and will put a couple more regulations in place.

The City Attorney described illegal massage establishments as problematic because they 1) potentially increase the risk of injury to massage clients due to improperly rained massage providers, 2) introduce the risk of prostitution and human trafficking, and 3) have negative effects upon surrounding businesses and properties.

Among other things, the new, stricter ordinance would require that one owner or manager be present at all times during hours of operation, and that owners and managers must obtain new “operator” permits.

On August 9 of this year, the City Attorney’s Office sent out a letter to all massage establishments in the city, inviting them to an outreach meeting on these proposed regulations.

Ten days later when the meeting took place, only one business representative showed up, with one other sending in emailed comments.

City Attorney Taylor said the feedback from those two representatives was for the most part positive and favorable toward the new regulations.

Taylor said places like massage training institutions will not need to comply with the new ordinance; they can continue operating as they have been, because these have not tended to be problematic.

The Council unanimously voted in favor of this initial phase.

The new ordinance will come at a slight financial cost to the businesses, but the city will give them a grace period to come into compliance, and hopes that these stricter rules will protect businesses, residents, customers and the integrity and professionalism of the massage industry in the City of Cypress.

Griffins easily defeats Fountain Valley 42-7

The Los Alamitos Griffins easily defeated the Fountain Valley Barons 42-7 in a conference game Friday night at Cerritos College

Photo by davepeetersphoto.com

Join the City of Los Alamitos for Trunk or Treat

The City of Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department will be holding its 8th annual MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach Trunk or Treat presented by AYSO Region 159 on Saturday, October 26th at Little Cottonwood Park- 4000 Farquhar Ave in Los Alamitos. The event takes place from 5:00-7:30pm and provides a safe space for families to celebrate Halloween. Guests will have the chance to play games, win prizes, visit trunks for candy, shop at vendor booths, ride the spooky train, and more! Families are encouraged to come dressed in their Halloween costumes to enter the ever popular costume contest. The costume contest has four divisions: Ages 0-3, ages 4-7, ages 8-12, and the Family division.

Time line of event:

  • 5:00pm Start of event- train ride, vendors, and games are open!
  • 5:45pm Parents Pie Eating Contest
  • 6:00pm Costume Contest begins
  • 7:15pm Presentation of winner of the “Tricked Out Trunk”
  • 7:30pm Event concludes

The following prizes will be awarded to the winners of the costume contest:

Ages 0-3

  • First Place: Radio Flyer 4-in-1 Stroll ‘N Trike
  • Second Place: Vtech Touch and Learn Activity Desk Deluxe
  • Third Place: Aqua Magic Doodle Mat

Ages 4-7

  • First Place: Kids Bike with Basket & Training Wheels
  • Second Place: Creative Magnetic Building Blocks
  • Third Place:  Crayola Super Art Coloring Kit

Ages 8-12

  • First Place: Razor Electric Scooter
  • Second Place: 162 Piece Deluxe Art Set
  • Third Place: Pictionary Air Game

Family Division

  • First Place: $100 Gift card to Glowzone
  • Second Place: $50 Gift card to Get Air
  • Third Place: $25 Gift card to Hof’s Hut

 

A big thank you to the following Creating Quality of Life Partners, who are helping make this event a reality: MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach, AYSO Region 159, Los Alamitos/Seal Beach Friday Night Lights Youth Flag Football, Grateful Hearts, Grating Pacific, Los Alamitos Senior Club, Republic Services, and Southland Credit Union.

The Recreation & Community Services Department is still accepting applications for vendors, sponsors, and trunks. Please visit www.cityoflosalamitos.org/recreation or call (562) 430-1073 for more event details.

La Palma-Cerritos AAUW Oct. 17 meeting to feature Tech Trekkers

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The members of the La Palma-Cerritos Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will hold their general meeting on Thursday, October 17 at Cerritos Park East, at 13234 East 166th St. from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Guest speakers for the evening will be four current eighth grade girls who were sponsored by the branch to attend a one-week Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Tech Trek Camp at Whittier College this past June.

The guest speakers will be Arianna P. and Hannah R. from Fedde Middle School in ABC Unified School District, and Gracen G. and Hannah H. from Walker Jr. High School in Anaheim Union High School District.

Each girl was recommended by her math or science teacher and showed an interest in STEM subjects. Each girl was required to write an essay of how she thought STEM subjects could improve the world. Girls who qualified by fulfilling these requirements were then interviewed by a committee of branch members. The committee members selected the girls that they thought would most benefit from attending the Tech Trek Camp at Whittier College. They hope that the girls who attended the Tech Trek Camp will be inspired to study STEM subjects in high school and college and plan for careers in the STEM fields.

The four Tech Trekkers will be sharing information about what they experienced and learned at the STEM Tech Trek Camp. Their presentation will be moderated by Tobi Balma, who was the Assistant Whittier Tech Trek Camp Director. Tobi is also a founding member of the La Palma-Cerritos AAUW.

The October 17 meeting is open to the public so people can meet the Tech Trekkers and learn more about the Tech Trek Camp at Whittier College. For more information about the program, contact Program Co-VP Karen Cox at 562-519-0596. For more information about the La Palma-Cerritos Branch of the AAUW, visit lapalma-cerritos-ca.AAUW.net.