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Columbia College, Los Alamitos Campus, announces corporate partnership

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Columbia College, Los Alamitos Campus, announces corporate partnership

Columbia College recently announced that it has entered into a partnership with Scholarship America, an organization that provides increased educational opportunities by sponsoring partnerships between higher-education institutions and more than 810 companies worldwide, over 100 of which are ranked on the Fortune 500 list.

Columbia College operates a campus on the Joint Forces Training Base
“The opportunity to help employees from the myriad of diverse companies Scholarship America partners with is something we are very excited about,” said Dr. Scott Dalrymple, President of Columbia College. “Our reach as a college is global, as is Scholarship America’s, and this partnership will allow us to continue our mission of changing lives through quality education.”

Carl J. David, Director of the Los Alamitos Campus, said he was excited as the local institution has more options to provide excellence opportunities for their students.
Through this partnership, Columbia College is able to offer a discounted tuition rate to employees of those companies for classes taken online or at one of its more than 30 locations nationwide. The employees will also have access to the Truition(r) program, which offers a transparent look at the cost of college by eliminating all fees and providing books at no additional cost.

Columbia College offers six class sessions lasting eight weeks each and is very transfer-friendly, allowing students to complete their degree quickly. For more information on the partnership, or to find out if your employer participates in Scholarship America, please contact Business Partnership Manager Colbey Schuster at crschuster1@ccis.edu or (573) 875-7456.
Founded in 1851 in Columbia, Missouri, Columbia College has been helping students advance their lives through higher education for more than 165 years. As a private, nonprofit, liberal arts and sciences institution, the college takes pride in its small classes, experienced faculty and quality educational programs. The college, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, has more than 30 locations and offers day, evening and online classes. Columbia College educates more than 20,000 students each year and has more than 89,000 alumni worldwide. For more information, visit ccis.edu.

 

Cal State Long Beach is the highest-ranking CSU campus.

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Cal State Long Beach is the highest-ranking CSU campus.

Money magazine ranked California State University, Long Beach the 13th best college for your money, and the 10th best public school in the country. The ranking compared 727 universities in the nation. Cal State Long Beach ranked the highest when compared with other CSU campuses, and fared seventh among UCs.

“I am so proud to serve with our faculty and staff who are recognized for high impact educational experiences that prepare students for journeys to success and accelerate their socioeconomic mobility,” said CSULB President Jane Close Conoley.

“Each year we work to increase diversity while removing barriers to equity of opportunity, retention and graduation while providing superior teaching, research, creative activity and action for the public good. This ranking is testament to the dedication of our entire academic and extended community.”

To determine its ranking, Money examined six-year graduation rates, student-to-instructor ratios, the outcomes of Pell Grant recipients and affordability among other criteria.

“College is the ultimate investment, and our Best Colleges franchise gives us an opportunity to connect with families leading up to one of their most significant financial milestones,” says Editorial Director of Money.com and Finance Content Strategy Adam Auriemma. “Higher education is a hot topic, and with more options than ever, we offer insight into educational quality, affordability and alumni success, and we help guide students in the right direction.”

Described as “one of the best bargains in education,” Money magazine focused on Cal State Long Beach having strong departments in practical subjects including healthcare administration, accounting and engineering – areas where students are more likely to get high paying jobs after graduating.

The ranking also focused on the number of low-income students who become upper middle class (38 percent) and percentage of students in need who receive grants (80 percent).

Last year CSULB ranked 22 on this list, this ranking moves the campus up nearly ten slots in the ranking.

‘Black water diver’ shares stories and findings in Long Beac

Brooklynn Wong
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‘Black water diver’ shares stories and findings in Long Beac

By Brooklynn Wong
Diver, photographer and Southern California native Mike Bartick lectured at the Aquarium of the Pacific recently, sharing images and telling tales of a world largely unknown.
Bartick spends his time in a world most people avoid—the deep sea at night.
He has made a career of doing these dives, primarily to photograph the creatures he comes across—“subjects,” as he calls them—and also to consult scientists when they have questions about these niche little-known creatures often neglected by the science world, but well-known by him.
Bartick was born in Southern California and says diving in the local waters will always be “his first love,” but he now works primarily in the Philippines, in the Verde Island Pass.
The Aquarium of the Pacific hosts periodic lectures, and a good showing came out to hear Bartick.
Aquarium President Dr. Jerry Schubel introduced Bartick and shared that Bartick’s photography is featured in the new plankton gallery in the Aquarium’s expanded Pacific Visions portion.
Bartick shared his background and his photos, saying, “Many of these subjects that we encounter have never been seen before.”
So what does he see when he dives in the deep? Apex predators? Sharks? No, something even more mysterious. Tiny planktons and obscure jellyfish.
He dives in the top 100 feet of the pelagic zone. The pelagic, according to Bartick, is the top 600 feet of the open water out away from the coast. He and his crew follow the tides and feeding times, which means they often go out in the middle of the night and stay through the morning. When it’s dark, they shine bright lights that attract the subjects in their upward migration.
These creatures have anomalies that are not widely seen, like long protrusions, bioluminescence and symbiotic relationships, such as one individual fish and one jellyfish sticking together and growing together over their lifespan.
A diverse group was captivated by what Bartick presented.
See his photography and read more about him at saltwaterphoto.com.
See the Aquarium of the Pacific’s schedule of remaining lectures in the months of August and September at http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/events/list/category/guest_speaker.

Attorney Ann Smith to update membership on employment laws

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Attorney Ann Smith to update membership on employment laws

Cypress Chamber Networking Breakfast Sept. 10

Employment Attorney Ann Smith will be the guest speaker at the next Cypress Chamber of Commerce Networking Breakfast on Tuesday, September 10th at the Residence Inn by Marriott (4931 Katella Avenue, Los Alamitos) at 7:30 a.m.

Ann Smith will update businesses in the latest rules and regulations for employees and touch on some best practices for employers. Ann represents management in all aspects of employment litigation, including defending claims for wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation and leave of absence violations. She also handles numerous matters in state and federal courts and before various administrative agencies. Counseling clients on a variety of employment issues, including employee discipline, wage and hour compliance and adherence to federal and state family and medical leave laws is a major part of her practice.

Ann Smith is a partner at the law firm of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Rood and Romo here in Southern California, is an experienced presenter and has addressed numerous organizations on employment law.

Reservations are recommended for the monthly breakfasts and can be made directly on the Cypress Chamber website at cypresschamber.org. For more information call 714 484-6015. Cost of the breakfast is $20 in advance or $25 for nonmembers or those who do not register in advance.  Attendees are also encouraged to bring door prizes to promote their product or service.  The programs include a meet and greet time, self-introductions, breakfast, speaker and a question and answer session if time permits.

The Chamber breakfasts, which are open to the public, are held on the second Tuesday of every month.

 

Ballots issued for Best of Los Al 2019

David N. Young
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Ballots issued for Best of Los Al 2019

The Event News Enterprise has opened the voting for the 2019 “Best of Los Alamitos” competition. Please download immediately and vote for your favorites.

Download the ballot here, fill it out then mail it to:
Best of Los Alamitos, 216 Main Street, Seal Beach, CA 90740.

Best of Los Al Ballot 2019

We thank you for voting, and look forward to seeing you at our Best of Los Alamitos gala.

Mayor Kusumoto passionate about no vote on homeless agreement

David N. Young
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Mayor Kusumoto passionate about no vote on homeless agreement

A visibly moved Mayor Warren Kusumoto explained to city residents that he would not be voting in favor of yet another change in an agreement that puts the city on the hook for a decade regarding the growing ‘homeless’ population.

His comments came in a special meeting this past week in which the city, yet again, changed its Memorandum of Understanding with the North Orange Service Planning Area.

The North SPA, comprised of the cities of Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Orange, Placentia, Villa Park, Stanton, and Yorba Linda, has been working collectively over the past several months to find suitable locations for multiple shelters to provide homeless neighbors in the region with needed services.

Federal Judge David O. Carter, presiding over homeless litigation, has reportedly insisted on a “regional” solution to the growing homeless crisis.

At the city’s last regular meeting, they actually voted to rescind their earlier approval of a Memorandum of Understanding to participate in the coalition, citing concerns of a lack of financial controls over the life of the agreement.

Outgoing city manager Bret Plumlee said there was a mixup in the interpretation and that the city’s initial share would not be $4,000, as thought, but more like $41,000, which included a one-time construction cost contribution of $19, 102 and a ten-year operational commitment of $26, 327 annually, not including cost escalations.

At their previous meeting, council member Dean Grose moved to limit the city’s financial liability over the life of the agreement and the city council ultimately voted 4-1 to rejoin the alliance, with the imposed financial caps.

Since that vote, however, the city learned that it was not legal to impose caps and thus they met in Special session August 15, which included two closed sessions, wherein city attorney Michael Daudt apparently explained the need to modify the agreement to remove the caps.

“Fundamentally, we have a real problem here,” said Kusumoto. For the past year, he said, the city of Los Alamitos has literally gone back and forth regarding their commitment to a special entity formed by the state to ‘solve’ the area’s homeless situation.

“This is a tough one,” he said, adding that he wanted the public to know that the council had made the decision with “much deliberation and debate.” Even though he would not be voting for the motion, Kusumoto said the other members believed in their hearts it was the right thing to do. “It’s the best they believe we can do in this situation.”

Going further, however, Kusumoto said he could not vote in good conscious to commit the city to at least $250,000 over the next decade, while “the city could be bankrupt in the next six years.”

By working with Precious Life, We Care and other city nonprofits, Los Alamitos has already “demonstrated the community’s compassion” toward those living on the streets. Moreover, he called the term ‘homeless residents’ an oxymoron. “If they are homeless, they are not a resident.”

Nevertheless, Kusumoto said he firmly believes the city has solved the situation in the best way it could. “The whole idea that we, as a city, can be put into this position,” said the mayor, is “really wrong.”

He called for the vote and was the lone dissenting vote as Grose, Mayor Pro-Tem Richard Murphy and council members Shelley Hasselbrink and Mark Chirco voted to approve the latest change to the North Orange County Service Planning Area.

Agencies hold active-shooter drill at Cypress College

David N. Young
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Agencies hold active-shooter drill at Cypress College

In the wake of active shooter incidents in El Paso and Dayton, area police departments along with Orange County Fire Authority officials staged a “full-scale” active shooter incident at Cypress College.

According to OCFA spokesman Jon Muir, the training exercise held Aug. 9 had been scheduled for weeks in advance and was sponsored by the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).

Participating in the full-scale exercise along with the Orange County Fire Authority were Garden Grove Fire, Anaheim Fire and Rescue, and the police departments from Cypress, Buena Park, La Palma and Seal Beach, as well as California Highway Patrol and Cypress College Campus Safety Department.

Although no photos were taken, a graphic video posted by OCFA depicts the entire incident. It includes dramatic confrontations with acting shooters and numerous rescues of persons injured in the mock drill. (A link to the video has been posted on the Event News Enterprise Facebook page).

According to officials, the exercise conducted at Cypress College will help prepare law enforcement and fire departments to work closely together during anyreal-life active shooter incidents. “The recent events in El Paso and Dayton continue to emphasize the need to quickly protect victims from the threat and treat and transport the injured to hospitals as quickly as possible,” they said.

All Orange County law enforcement agencies and fire departments have been training together on active shooter response since 2011. This is one of many annual exercises held throughout the county to improve techniques and learn from the tragic incidents that have happened across the nation.

“It is difficult in fluid situations to get everybody on the same sheet of music,” said Cypress Police Commander Chris Reeve. He said the Cypress Police Department benefits from “having professionals who know what to do.”

An active-shooter incident is “something we hope never happens,” said Reeve, “but we have the people and the training in place so that we can respond if it does happen.”

According to Mike Sheehan, OCFA Battalion Chief, “responding to an active shooter incident is going to require a large response from both fire and law agencies.”

“We need to practice that training and continuing to do so provides us with an opportunity to work out the details to ensure that we are able to most effectively able to respond,” he added.

While coordinating such active shooter drills are incredibly complex, it is critical to “get this all together so that we can work on our communication and coordination.”

Further, said Sheehan, such training is necessary “so that we can affect the rescues and get the patients the care that they need and get them off scene as quickly as we can.”

To be effective in the chaos of an active-shooter scene “requires vigilance on our part to continue to go through this training and so we are prepared to operate under the stress and dynamics of an environment such as this.”

Finally, he said, “individuals who find themselves in an active shooter incident should try and run, exit the building to find a safe location. “If they are not able to do that,” said Sheehan, “they should look for a safe location, preferably behind a locked door and communicate their location to 911.”

This is one of many annual exercises held throughout the county to improve technique and learn from the tragic incidents that have happened across the nation.

President George W. Bush to Headline Inaugural Season

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President George W. Bush to Headline Inaugural Season

Distinguished Speaker Series of Orange County begins in October

After 24 years of presenting world renowned and sought-after speakers to sold-out audiences, The Distinguished Speaker Series of Southern California is excited to announce its expansion to a fifth location, the Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa.

“For years, patrons in Orange County have been reaching out, asking us to bring our Series to their community.  We are delighted to have found the perfect home – the stunning Segerstrom Hall.  We are excited to present our compelling and bi-partisan style of entertainment to a new audience,” said Co-Founder Kathy Swan Winterhalder. “We are also thrilled that former president George W. Bush has agreed to headline the inaugural season.”

With its season running from October 2019 to May 2020, on six different Monday evenings, the Distinguished Speaker Series will bring to Orange County some of the world’s most influential and captivating speakers. “We search the globe to find great speakers whose remarkable leadership, achievements and opinions make a real difference.  Never has that been truer than this coming season’s speakers,” said Winterhalder.

Accomplished actors and activists, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin will kick-off the Series together for a night of hilarity, witty observations, and thoughtful conversation (Oct 21).  Father Gregory Boyle, the Founder of Homeboy Industries will share decades of hard-earned wisdom and rejoice in our shared humanity (Nov.18).  Come 2020, the award-winning broadcast journalist, Anderson Cooper will appear (Jan.27).  Neuroscientist, primatologist and best-selling author, Dr. Robert Sapolsky will distill stories and use humor to help us understand the science of the brain and why we do the things we do (Feb.17). The 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush will take the stage (April 20) and the Series will conclude with Dan Buettner (May 18). This explorer and best-selling author of The Blue Zones who will take the audience on an epic visual journey around the world unlocking the key to happiness and a long productive life.

The audience will have the opportunity to interact and exchange ideas with each speaker, as each event concludes with a moderated question and answer session hosted by former radio talk show host and newspaper columnist, Doug McIntyre. The Distinguished Speaker Series will be held in the Segerstrom Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts – 600 Town Center Dr. Costa Mesa. The program takes place on Monday evenings at 7:30pm (except for Anderson Cooper who appears at 8:00pm).

The Series is open to the public in subscription packages only. Series tickets range from $198 in the balcony to premier seating at $610 for all six evenings.  Single tickets are not available. Subscriptions can be purchased online at www.speakersoc.com or by calling the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Box Office at (714) 556-2787.

“The Series was created with curious, smart, open-minded people in mind. Our audience is made up of friends, neighbors, and community and business leaders who like to be entertained in a unique and compelling way,” said Winterhalder.

The Distinguished Speaker Series was established in 1995 in response to Southern California’s need for an educational, entertainment alternative. The Distinguished Speaker Series is currently held at five locations, the historic 1,300 seat Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena(launched in 1995), the 1,500 seat Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center (launched in 1998), and the 1,800 seat Theatre, in the Bank of America, Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center (launched in 2001) and the Art Deco style 1,900 seat Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills (launched in 2015).

Winterhalder, the series co-founder, adds “we get so much inspiration from the game-changers we have brought to the stage. We have hosted over 100 luminaries who have transformed our world. These include leaders like The Dalai Lama, Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Tony Blair. We’ve laughed along with Steve Martin, Betty White, Ron Howard, Bob Newhart, and John Cleese. And we’ve been moved by such talents as Yo-Yo Ma, Vin Scully, Robert Redford and Maya Angelou.”

Subscriptions may be purchased by visiting the Distinguished Speaker Series website www.speakersco.com or calling (714) 556-2787.

 

Sea turtle gets second chance in Seal Beach

Brooklynn Wong
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Sea turtle gets second chance in Seal Beach

By Brooklynn Wong

After a month-long stay at the Aquarium of the Pacific, a young sea turtle is back home in the ocean, and a large crowd showed up in Seal Beach on August 15 to send her off.

Veterinary and animal husbandry staff from the Aquarium of the Pacific walk down to the waters of the San Gabriel River with a sea turtle they released after rehabilitation. Photo by Brooklynn Wong.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is known for its experience in rehabilitating sea turtles in need, so when the female in question was found stranded in a power plant intake area in Morro Bay earlier this summer, they were the ones that were called.

According to aquarium veterinarian Dr. Lance Adams, the 50-pound green sea turtle, estimated to be between six and eight years old, was not in as bad of shape as others they have worked with. She was not injured; Adams even said, “Its state of health was really good.” The turtle just needed a little food, water and TLC.

In the turtle’s monthlong stay in Long Beach, aquarium staff made sure she was well hydrated and got plenty of high-quality seafood. They took x-rays of her to make sure she had not ingested any plastics, and put a microchip ID on her flipper.

A sea turtle that was rehabilitated by the Aquarium of the Pacific waits to be carried out of a car and returned to the sea.

She was released in Seal Beach, near 15 1st Street. According to a statement from the aquarium, Seal Beach “was chosen for its warm water temperatures and because it is a common migratory habit for this sea turtle species.”

The San Gabriel River is home to many sea turtles, although they are highly migratory and can travel all along the coast and down to Mexico.

The aquarium has a volunteer-based program where green sea turtles in the river are counted once a month.

A crowd of about 30 curious onlookers and members of the media gathered to observe aquarium staff remove the turtle from its transport vehicle—with a cover over her eyes that staff put in place to keep her calm—and carry her down to the water, and to cheer as she heartily paddled off on her own.

 

Oxford Academy students teach brain anatomy at Boys & Girls Club in Anaheim

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Oxford Academy students teach brain anatomy at Boys & Girls Club in Anaheim

Oxford Academy students teach brain anatomy at Boys & Girls Club in Anaheim

Oxford Academy students and Dragon Kim Foundation Fellows Fashion Castillo-Delgadillo and Vinutha Sandahi recently taught the final session for participating kids at the Manzanita Park Boys & Girls Club Clubhouse in Anaheim. They connected sports with science and encouraged an active lifestyle. The anatomy of the human brain was the topic, and the kids had a chance to learn about brain injuries that might be sustained playing sports without wearing helmets. They were shown an example of how a brain moves around the skull using a jello example, and then had an opportunity to dissect real lamb brains. At the conclusion of the session, the students all received Certificates of Congressional Recognition from Representative Lou Correa.

All of the students who participated in the program received Congressional Recognition from Rep. Correa.

The Oxford Academy students were selected to develop their project, called G.O.A.L. (Guiding Outstanding Active Learners) through the Foundation’s Dragon Kim Fellowship Program (https://dragonkimfoundation.org/fellowship/). Theirs was one of 20 teams of motivated high school students who have created and are managing community service projects with support of grants up to $5,000. The Foundation worked with those 20 projects throughout this spring and summer after selecting them last February from a total of over 150 entries.

 

Courtesy photos

 

Eagle Scout receives award for service project at Los Alamitos Elementary

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Eagle Scout receives award for service project at Los Alamitos Elementary

A Los Alamitos High 10th-grader has been honored by the school board for his Eagle Scout project to benefit his old elementary school.

Alexander Bystrom was recognized by the Los Alamitos Unified School District board for creating a giant colored map of the United States in the center of the Los Alamitos Elementary campus. Bystrom also raised $237 in donations for the school, said Principal Gary Willems.

Bystrom said the project took several days to complete. He used a pressure washer to strip off the faded remnants of an old map on the concrete of the lunch area. He then taped down a 30-by-40-foot stencil and used chalk to outline the states. Finally, he said, “we started painting from the inside out.” Bystrom thanked “my parents and the people in my troop and my scoutmasters” for their assistance in the project.

The vividly-colored map has a powerful effect on students, Willems said. “We use it in all of our grade levels to teach about the 50 states, and our kids can go there and show their friends and parents how much they know.”

In presenting the certificate of recognition to Bystrom, Rick Larson, assistant principal at Los Alamitos Elementary, said, “We appreciate the hard work you’ve done, not only to become an Eagle Scout, but to represent our community with such poise and such class. We’ll be thinking about you for many, many years to come.”

 

Lights out for California’s Future: Could Cypress be next?

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Lights out for California’s Future: Could Cypress be next?

By Ronald Stein

Founder and Ambassador for Energy & Infrastructure of PTS Advance

Lawmakers in Sacramento have made no secret that one of their goals is to force Californians to stop using inexpensive and reliable natural gas and force the entire state onto an already overloaded electric grid pushing energy costs higher.   Berkeley became the first city in America to ban natural gas hook-ups in new buildings with a landmark ordinance effective Jan 1, 2020, they signed up for far-reaching unintended consequences that will stymie growth and push people closer to poverty and homelessness. Now, cities across California are seriously looking at creating bans of their own.  Could your city or even Cypress be next?

Its mind boggling that our California legislative leaders continuously fail to see the direct correlation between high energy costs and poverty and homelessness, a crisis already impacting the Golden State.

Prices for electricity are already fifty percent higher than the national average for residents, and double the national average for commercial, and are projected to go even higher.

The State’s efforts to ban natural gas use in homes and businesses will stymie future growth as companies decide to locate out of state taking their jobs with them as they choose to operate in places with lower energy costs. Higher energy costs from electricity only will make homes less affordable.  According to Californians for Balanced Energy Solutions, it is estimated the cost of converting houses from natural gas to electricity is $7,500 and energy costs will go up by nearly $400 annually. This would dramatically impact California’s lowest income wage earners. It’s simple math: if people cannot afford their homes and apartments, more will be on the streets!

What’s worse is that a mandated shift away from natural gas use could cause potentially dire consequences for California’s aging and overburdened electric grid during peak load times in the summer.

On a 100-degree summer afternoon, just as we hit peak energy use with air conditioners, all 40 million of us would be forced to cook our dinners on electric skillets, ranges and ovens. Our mandated electric water heaters would draw energy at the same time we turn on TV’s, just as electric utility companies say they will cut power on high-risk fire days.

California is on a path toward 100% use of renewables and “zero-carbon” sources in electricity by 2045. But technology has not advanced to a point where California can generate that much electricity!

Last year alone, California imported up to 29 percent because it could not generate that much in-state, but imported electricity comes at higher costs which are being borne by residents and businesses alike. The need to import will escalate every year because land use is now being blocked for wind and solar energy sources, as in San Bernardino now. Wind and solar alone cannot replace the closure of facilities that continuously provide uninterruptible electricity from nuclear and natural gas.

The benefits of a carbon-free society are often discussed, but rarely are the high costs of achieving this technological breakthrough, or its impact on California’s economy.

Adding to the problem, California is phasing out nuclear reactors that have been generating continuously uninterruptible carbon-free electricity. In 2013, California already shutdown the continuous nuclear facility of SCE’s San Onofre Generating Station which generated 2,200 megawatts of power and will be closing PG&E’s Diablo Canyon’s 2,160 megawatts of power in 2024 getting ready for the renewable intermittent electricity from wind and solar. The Mayor must be oblivious to the fact that Natural Gas generating plants provide about 47 percent of the state’s electricity, and the state has no plans to replace that with renewables!

It gets bleaker in the coming years, as Mayor Garcetti recently announced that Los Angeles will shut down three gas powered power plants at Scattergood, Haynes, and Harbor, saying, “this is the beginning of the end of natural gas in Los Angeles.”

With the shuttering of nuclear and natural gas plants that have been generating continuously uninterruptible electricity, our elected officials seem to be oblivious to the fact that the State has no electricity generating capacity to replace what’s lost. Further, that “green” electricity from wind and solar is only intermittent, as neither generates when the wind is not blowing, and when the sun’s not shining.

With this path forward, it’s lights out for California’s future.

Lee Elementary Teacher Headed to McGaugh as Assistant Principal

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Lee Elementary Teacher Headed to McGaugh as Assistant Principal

A longtime Lee Elementary School teacher has been named the new assistant principal of McGaugh Elementary in Seal Beach. Wendy Wood, who has taught at Lee for 27 years, was chosen after a rigorous selection process involving school staff, parents, school board members and district administrators, said Superintendent Dr. Andrew Pulver. She will work with McGaugh Principal Roni Ellis.

Wood, who has lived in Rossmoor for 20 years, has taught every grade level except 5th grade and has held many leadership roles for Los Alamitos Unified. She was a third-grade Language Arts mentor who wrote reading and writing curriculum and assessments for the district. She was also an English Learners Coordinator, conducting after school writing intervention classes and presenting at parent meetings.  She was a Fellow of the Cotsen Foundation for the Art of Teaching and most recently served a special assignment with the district’s Educational Service department.

Wood grew up Lakewood and earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from California State University Long Beach. She has two boys who attended Lee Elementary, Oak Middle School and Los Alamitos High School. Her older son is currently a junior at California Maritime Academy, and the other is a senior at LAHS.

Wood is “an extraordinary instructional leader, passionate about teaching and learning, and dedicated to the values of Los Al,” Pulver said.

 

 

New Officer Assigned to Los Alamitos High School Campus

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New Officer Assigned to Los Alamitos High School Campus

The Los Alamitos Police Department has assigned Kevin Steinhauser to serve as school resource officer for Los Alamitos High. His duties include helping to maintain security and acting as a liaison between the police department and the school’s staff, students and families.

Steinhauser has more than four years of school-based law enforcement experience. He previously worked as school resource officer at Jordan High School in the Long Beach Unified School District where he was trained in campus law enforcement, event security and threat response.

 

Win the $10,000 Grand Prize and Other Cash Prizes at the St. Irenaeus Fall Fiesta in September

Edna Ethington
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Win the $10,000 Grand Prize and Other Cash Prizes at the St. Irenaeus Fall Fiesta in September

By Edna Ethington

Patti and Kit Kirby, Co-chairs of the St. Irenaeus Church 2019 Fall Fiesta, announced at all Masses on Saturday, August 10, and Sunday, August 11, that the Fiesta Committee will be collecting ticket sales returns and stubs for opportunities to win cash prizes the following week.  Buena Park resident Hala Hana saw the Kirbys after the 9:45 Mass on August 11 and was ready to respond.  She became the first person to turn her ticket sales money and stubs in for the chance to win the cash prizes.  She said that she sold all her tickets to her family, friends and co-workers at her job. She said that even if she did not win any cash, she just wanted to help the church out in whatever way she could.  The KIrbys hope that all St. Irenaeus parishioners will sell all their tickets just as Hana did to make the Fiesta a success.

There are still many volunteers needed to man the different game and food booths.  Help is also needed to set up the booths before and after the Fiesta. Persons interested in volunteering to help at the Fiesta on September 20, 21 or 22, please contact Patti and Kit Kirby at 714-739-0463 for more information.

 

Photos and I.D. by Edna Ethington

Pictured at St. Irenaeus Church Patio area on Sunday, August 11, 2019, are left to right, Kit and Patti Kirby, Co-Chairs of the St. Irenaeus Fall Fiesta Committee, and Buena Park resident Hala Hana.  Hala is the first person to sell all her opportunity tickets and turn in her money and stubs to the Kirbys.

Chris Vlasic welcomes students back to school as leader of LAHS

David N. Young
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Chris Vlasic welcomes students back to school as leader of LAHS

By David N. Young

The long and storied history of Los Alamitos High School was not lost on incoming principal Christopher Vlasic as he welcomed more than 3,200 students back to the campus this week.

“The first day went really well,” said Vlasic, who said he spent most of the first few days between the phone and his portable radio to make decisions and keep things running smoothly.

Making things even more complicated for Vlasic was the fact that much of the campus is under construction, as he said modifications are being made to the campus to prepare for extension renovations and new infrastructure.

“Things are really positive,” he said, admitting however that the construction equipment was seriously impacting the “flow of traffic.”

Vlasic said he brought in extra campus supervisors and relied heavily on the School Resource Officer but said both the students and the teachers seemed excited to be back on campus.

In making the announcement, Los Al Unified Superintendent Dr. Andrew Pulver said Vlasic started his educational career in Santa Ana Unified as a secondary math teacher and boys basketball coach at both Valley High School and Godinez Fundamental High School.

In 2010, he joined the Griffin family serving students and staff in a multitude of roles: math teacher, girls varsity basketball coach, athletic director, Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA), and assistant principal.

For the past five years, Mr. Vlasic has served as a Director supporting a variety of areas including safety, student services, educational services and human resources.

“Mr. Vlasic is a collaborative leader with an immense amount of Griffin pride. He cares deeply about LAHS, the staff, families, and students and is committed to the success of every Griffin,” said Pulver.

Vlasic grew up in Garden Grove, graduating from Pacifica High School and earning All-State honors as a high school basketball player. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis and helped the university win a National Championship as a member of their basketball team. He later received his master’s degree in Cross-Cultural Education from National University.

School safety is always a consideration, said Vlasic, but having developed extensive school safety plans for the entire system in his previous role, he said protection of the students will remain paramount.

“I walked into a place that is not broken,” said Vlasic, understanding fully the amount of success the school has enjoyed in the past.

His role now, says Vlasic, is to pay careful attention to the staff and administration to “get them what they need to be successful” and retain the excellence.

With more than 300 teachers and administrative staff, Vlasic said more than half of them are former graduates or live nearby. “This is their community,” he said, adding that he would always keep “everyone’s best interest” in mind.

To the students, Vlasic said he will establish programs to ensure that students know they will all have equal chances to succeed. “Regardless of their background, ethnicity or interests, we are going to provide opportunities for them,” said Vlasic.

With more than 100 clubs already on campus, Vlasic said he will keep an eye out within the community for even more. Also, he said the school offers 27 sports and a very diverse offerings of other activities.

According to Vlasic, the largest single change and evolution in education is the continued integration of technology in learning. He said new data connections will be part of the school’s upgrade.

While it was great to see more than 3,200 fill the halls and classes of the school on the first day, said Vlasic, but added that, only then, “did the magnitude of his new assignment” really sink in.

But, after a very chaotic but successful first day, he was content and now ready to make his mark. “I am very humbled and gratified,” said Vlasic, and “I slept very good last night.”

 

 

Aviation and travel careers begin to soar at Cypress College

David N. Young
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Aviation and travel careers begin to soar at Cypress College

By David N. Young

Tucked away in a discreet part of the technical education building on the campus of Cypress College sits one of the few full simulators of the Boeing 737 MAX airliners in the USA, and with the recent addition of single and twin-engine planes, students are flocking to the skies without leaving the ground.

Cypress College recently announced the addition of a full-motion, Twin-Engine Reciprocating & Turbine Motion Simulator to its new Aviation Lab, according to a recent announcement.

The Twin-Engine Reciprocating & Turbine Motion Simulator enables Cypress College instructors to train aspiring pilots for their initial private pilot certificates. This on-the-ground training saves students between 30 and 60 hours of flight time, equating to a savings of $7,500 to $15,000.

“This new simulator will enhance the training we’re able to provide students,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “It dramatically reduces FAA required flight training times, providing our students with an economical path to the completion of their flight program. We couldn’t have made this purchase without the donation we received from an anonymous donor last year.”

According to Capt. Ed Valdez, Chairman of the Travel and Aviation Department, the growing array of flight simulators will produce “better pilots” as technicians and flight instructors can now simulate a wide range of situations on a wider array of planes and engines.

The move comes as airlines are expected to replace as much as 40 percent of its airline pilots as many of those flying now are expected to age out.

Valdez, who flies 757 jets for United Airlines on weekends, keeps the center buzzing with fresh information taken directly from the cockpits of one of the world’s foremost airlines.

“It is very helpful to bring real world data and knowledge into the classroom,” he said.

In addition to the simulators, Valdez and department staff have worked out reciprocal agreements with many airlines and nearby airports.

Several small planes are under contract, with instructors, at John Wayne airport to allow students to take off in a real plane after their work in the simulators are complete.

Last October, Cypress College was the recipient of the largest individual gift in campus history when an anonymous donor provided a $1 million donation to the college’s aviation program. The donation was earmarked to transform Cypress’ state-of-the-art flight simulator lab into the region’s best public facility, support Cypress’ flying team, and be used toward the purchase of an airplane. In addition to the new Twin-Engine Reciprocating & Turbine Motion Simulator, four FAA certified simulators will soon be installed to better enhance the attainment of technical skills and increase student completion rates. The five simulators are part of the ultimate plan for the Aviation Lab to include eight flight simulators, with one slated as a full-motion multi-engine turbo-prop simulator. The college is home to a unique simulator that mirrors the recently released Boeing 737 Max commercial jet.

About Cypress College:

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

Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 176 career-certificate programs, and degrees in 73 areas of study. The college’s traditional semesters begin in January and August, while short-term courses start throughout the year. A Cypress College education costs $46 per unit — $138 for a typical, full-credit class — California’s lowest tuition. Financial aid and scholarships are also available to qualifying students.

Cypress College is one of three campuses in the North Orange County Community College District and a member of the 115-campus California Community College system. The college primarily serves the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Stanton.

“This is a huge opportunity for anyone looking to become a pilot. Becoming a pilot is expensive but Cypress College Aviation and Travel Careers in cutting the cost by thousands,” according to the college.

College is hosting a FREE informational meeting in its ATC department August 23 wherein “our programs within the ATC dept. include Piloting, Flight Attendant, UAS/Drone, Aviation Management, Airline Customer Service, Homeland Security, Travel & Tourism, and Administration of Justice,” will be discussed.

Students and their families are invited to our open house to learn about these programs, take part in an orientation, ask questions, meet faculty and students, and learn about the latest hiring data. The open house is August 23, 2019 from 4:30-5:30pm. No RSVP necessary. Located at Cypress College, Building Tech Ed 1, Room 200. Parking is in Lot 1 for this event.

 

Aquarium to release green sea turtle in Seal Beach

David N. Young
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Aquarium to release green sea turtle in Seal Beach

Members of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s veterinary and animal husbandry staff plans to release a rehabilitated turtle they have been caring for, into the waters of Seal Beach.

A spokesman for the Aquarium said the release was slated for Thursday, Aug. 15.

Staff members of the Marine Mammal Center’s Morro Bay based operations rescued the 50-pound green sea turtle and brought it to the Aquarium of the Pacific for a medical evaluation and care because of the Aquarium’s expertise in treating and releasing stranded and injured sea turtles.

The release location—near the mouth of the San Gabriel River—was chosen for its warm water temperatures and because it is a common migratory habitat for this sea turtle species.

Aquarium volunteers conduct a monthly count of green sea turtles seen in the river through a citizen science program.

The Aquarium of the Pacific has rehabilitated and releases several sea turtles in recent years, including green sea turtles and loggerhead sea turtles. Some have been fitted with satellite tracking devices that allow scientists to gather data about their migration patters and habitats. The sea turtle being released on Thursday is fitted with a microchip ID. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, breeding colony populations of green sea turtles in Florida and on the Pacific Coast of Mexico are listed as endangered; all others are listed as threatened.

To learn more, visit aquariumofpacific.org and click on Conservation

Col. Leeney promoted to Brigadier General in JFTB Promotion Ceremony

For Event-News Enterprise
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Col. Leeney promoted to Brigadier General in JFTB Promotion Ceremony

Major General Laura L. Yeager, commander of the 40th Infantry Division of the California National Guard, pins the star on the uniform of Col. Michael J. Leeney at a ceremony Saturday at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos. According to sources, Leeney is a down-to-earth commander who enjoys wide support among the troops. Surrounded by his family and a host of old friends (many of whom travelled across the country to be present) and service members of the 40th I.D., Leeney was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.

Photo by Louis Katz

Prep sports get underway this week

Brooklynn Wong
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Prep sports get underway this week

By Brooklynn Wong

Who’s ready for Friday night lights? Summer is on its way out, and local schools are back in session, and with that comes the imminent start of fall prep sports. No area schools have football in the schedule yet this week—although Los Alamitos High has a scrimmage at Mater Dei in Santa Ana Thursday—but most do next week. Girls Volleyball gets underway this week, and the schedule gets fuller and fuller from there on out. Here is this week’s local prep sports schedule, along with some important dates to have in mind for later this month.

August 15, 6 p.m. Los Alamitos football scrimmage at Mater Dei (Santa Ana)

August 17, Cypress volleyball plays win Lakewood Molten Classic Tournament beginning at 11 a.m.

August 20, 4:20 p.m. Oxford Academy volleyball home vs. Cabrillo

August 20, 6:30 p.m. Kennedy volleyball home vs. Katella

August 22, first Cypress football game of the year, home vs. Peninsula

August 23, 7 p.m. first Los Alamitos football game of the year at Torrey Pines (San Diego)

August 23, 7 p.m. first Kennedy football game of the year, home vs. Jordan (Long Beach)

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