The Cypress Boys Under 16 AYSO 154 soccer team volunteered on a recent Saturday in Second Harvest Food Bank’s main distribution center, packing fruits and vegetables and crating them for distribution to the community. Pictured are, left to right, Joseph Lovers, Jake Harris, Joshua Gloster, Coach Christian Harris, Andrew Vazquez, Ethan Lee, Joshua Sandoval, Aayush Roy, Anthony Esteves and Tyler Ngo (not pictured).
Diane Pohl inducted into Hawkeye Sports Hall of Fame
Former Cypress softball standout honored in Iowa City
Standing before 70,000 fans in Iowa City this past week, memories of Diane Pohl’s long softball career came flooding in as she became one of the most celebrated athletes to ever enjoy such reverence from fans at the University of Iowa.
Three decades after she was a Cypress High School softball standout, Pohl was back in Iowa to be inducted into the Hawkeye Sports Hall of Fame.
“It was amazing,” she said. “There is no other way to describe it.” Pohl said the university “rolled out the red carpet and it was a humbling experience.”
Pohl, along with a handful of other Hall of Fame selected athletes, were honored at halftime during the Hawkeyes’ win over Miami last Saturday as fans remembered Pohl’s greatness on the Hawkeye softball diamond.
Her feelings toward the fans were mutual, she said, even though the whole Iowa thing was never intended to happen.
Pohl was very highly recruited after graduating from Cypress High School, where she led the team to great success. The former Centurion said she remembers having no real intention to attend the University of Iowa.
Pohl’s softball legend had already begun to grow. From Westminster to Gordon’s Panthers, then, after moving to Cypress High School, holiday travel ball, OC Knighthawks, national titles, CIF appearances, etc., Pohl became one of the most recognized catchers in California.
Back then, many of the most powerful softball programs west of the Mississippi wanted Pohl to play softball for them. Iowa was not high on her list (to say the least).
Nevertheless, Gayle Blevins, then the Hawkeye softball coach, had other ideas. Blevins “relentlessly” recruited Pohl. She called her. Encouraged her; sent birthday cards. It never stopped, Pohl remembers.
So much so that, “as a courtesy” to Blevins, Pohl decided to use one of her official visits to travel to Iowa and speak to coach Blevins.
“I only agreed to take the trip because Gayle was persistent,” said Pohl. “She recruited me from the day she got to Iowa,” said Pohl, so “I felt like I at least owed her a trip to Iowa.”
Pohl said the trip changed her life.
Unlike huge universities like USC and UCLA, Pohl said the University of Iowa campus was not restricted to the educational campus. The university, she said, “was the whole town. There are no professional sports in town, so the college is it. And they love it.”
Almost immediately upon arrival, said Pohl, she fell in love with the university and Iowa City. “It’s a Big Ten college town” where the campus and the city are synonymous, said Pohl.
Then, she said, in her meeting with Coach Blevins, the wise coach changed her perspective about the future, making her understand that in Iowa, “you can make more of a difference.”
In fact, the visit was so successful, that when her dad (Tom) picked her up at the airport, Pohl remembers his sort of stunned reaction as she told him, “I might go to the University of Iowa.”
In the end, Pohl obviously decided to attend the University of Iowa where she became a “superstar,” including being named the first-ever All-American girls softball player in the university’s history. In fact, she amassed an amazing assortment of softball records (see chart above).
It had been a long road down the softball base paths for Pohl, beginning her career at 9-years-old when she saw a sign for “Little Miss Softball” signups in Westminster.
While her dad immediately found someone to begin teaching her how to pitch, she remembers Ron LeFebvre showing her the new method of “windmill” pitching.
As time went on, however, she clearly remembers the day LeFebvre told her she seemed more comfortable “catching” the pitcher rather than pitching “and he was right.” So not long after, she switched to catching.
Says Pohl, sitting behind the plate gave her a sense of control of the game which felt incredibly comfortable for her. “I took command of the field and ever since then, I absolutely loved sitting behind the plate and controlling the field.”
According to the Hawkeyes’ website, Pohl became Iowa’s first National Softball Coaches Association All-America selection during a season where she was voted the team’s co-Most Valuable Player.
In her second season, she received a second All-American selection, hitting near .350 with 38 stolen bases and leading the Big Ten in seven categories.
Throughout most of her career, she led the batting order. She was fast on her feet and always ready to play, injured or not. While at the University of Iowa, the Hawkeyes won 170 games, two Big Ten championships, and made two NCAA Regionals.
Although her stolen base record is now gone, she still ranks third and is happy the program has grown to the point of breaking old records.
Following her record shattering collegiate career, Pohl returned to Cypress to coach for several years before landing a corporate job in Oregon, where she now coaches Aiden, her 10-year-old son. She said Aiden, who accompanied her to the ceremonies, said “Mom, I guess you were pretty good.”
Pohl told a university reporter that, during her last game as a Hawkeye, she remembers sitting in the dugout next to Coach Blevins and simply staring at the field. “That was all there was left to do.”
After that last game, a young Iowa girl brought her a Dixie cup full of the infield dirt, telling her she should have it “because you have made such a difference.”
Diane Pohl’s softball legend began in the dirt behind home plate and, as far as that cup of Iowa infield dirt given to her, she still treasures it today.
“I am deeply honored and gratified by the university’s decision” to be inducted into the University of Iowa Hall of Fame. Pohl said her entire collegiate softball career was an amazing experience that began with that unlikely trip to Iowa City as a courtesy to Coach Blevins.
“It was well worth it,” she said.
Coach Blevins was correct. Diane Pohl did indeed make a difference.
Tony Assali urges Chamber members to find a white tiger
Lebanese immigrant Tony Assali shared an inspirational story of unlikely business success on Friday as he recounted to Los Alamitos Chamber members the day when he arrived in America with $28 in his pocket.
He then proceeded to build an empire of successful businesses that, he said, fulfilled his own American Dream.
Now an Orange County businessman, Assali slowly retraced his steps to success for the packed Chamber meeting.
Assali went all the way back to when he first arrived in America and how he began to recognize “white tigers,” his metaphor for lucrative business opportunities that no one else had either seen or pursued.
In fact, Assali has named his recent memoir, “Catch a White Tiger, How I Achieved the American Dream with $28,” and he explained to the Chamber audience his philosophy and why he wrote the book.
In it, he explains how he escaped a civil war in Lebanon, and how he eventually was able to work his way across America and get his entire family to America as well.
Back in the 1970’s, when ethnic and religious differences led to the killing of Christians in Beirut, Assali said his father decided it was time for him to escape the violence.
Assali said he left most of money for his parents and arrived in Boston with $28 and a dream. “I was never afraid,” he remembered, and he said “I wasn’t worried.
Even back in Lebanan, Assali said he had already achieved modest success in business by seeing opportunities that others did not, so he figured in America he would be able to do the same.
After meeting people in church, he landed odd jobs like working in a wholesale donut factory. “I didn’t eat donuts for three years after that,” he said, and soon he had accumulated a bit of money and began to explore the northeast.
When a friend took him to a fancy restaurant, he noticed there was not a wine steward, or sommelier, to match the wine with the menu. “That was another white tiger,” he said, convincing the manager to allow him to do the job and keep a percentage of the sales.
For Assali, the venture became another smashing success. “God Bless America,” he said.
Despite his growing success in America, Assali said he was still desperate to get his entire family out of Lebanon. One day, he said, he composed a letter to the Greek Ambassador, attached his financial statement, and asked the Greek government to round up several members of his family, including his parents, award them tourist visas, then safely get them to America.
“Next thing I know,” said Assali, “my father is on the phone with me telling me” when they would arrive at Boston’s Logan airport.
Even though he was still living in a one-room apartment, they entire family lived together for a time in that one-bedroom. “It was one of the best times of my life,” he said. Actually, Assali’s speech to the Los Alamitos Chamber on Friday came exactly 43 years to day from when his parents arrived in Boston (Sept. 6, 1976).
According to Assali, there are “white tigers,” (a name he uses to characterize hidden opportunities) are available to everyone, but many people do not act on them because of the “inner critic” within us. “We all have an inner critic and a creative side,” said Assali.
While the inner critic is always suggesting consequences or reasons not to do things, the creative side is where ideas and solutions exist if we have the courage to pursue them.
“If you are determined, the word ‘no’ does not exist. Do me favor and set a goal, then achieve it,” he said. “If you’re not going to follow through to achieve the goal, just don’t set it.”
Assali said he eventually got into the food business, became wealthy when he sold it, then built several other lucrative businesses, including an Orange County real estate portfolio.
Please “believe in yourself,” said Assali, “silence your inner critic, trusts your instincts and “find your white tiger,” he urged.
Assali’s book is available on Amazon.com.
In other action, the Los Al Chamber:
- Heard Chamber board member Stan Blackwell ask for more volunteers for innovative new marketing programs being developed by the Chamber.
- Reminded members to attend the Heroes Appreciation Luncheon, honoring men and women in uniform, September 19 at Rush Park Community Center in Rossmoor.
- Heard Robert Butler invite “everyone” to the St. Hedwig’s “Autumn Fest, Sept. 29 from noon to 8:00 p.m. Even though this is the annual fundraiser for the church, Butler said “please come even if you don’t know how to spell the word Catholic. It is for everyone in the community.” losalfair.com
- Learned from Los Al Recreation Director Ron Noda that several public meetings have been scheduled to explain the financial posture of the city. Details are available at cityoflosalamitos.org.
- Learned that the Rossmoor Homeowners Association was sponsoring forums on “Living Trusts.” ourrossmoor.com
Wylie & Ashleigh Aitken named 2019 Honorees for Military Gala
The Center for Law and Military Policy, a Huntington Beach think tank dedicated to protecting the legal rights of active duty service members, has named Orange County attorneys Wylie and Ashleigh Aitken as their 2019 Honorees of the Year.
“Because of their lifelong commitment to veterans and service members, it was an easy choice,” said Dr. Dwight Stirling, CEO of the military think tank.
Stirling, of Cypress, cited the Aitkens strong support of the Heroes Hall veteran’s museum that opened in 2017, their continuing efforts to secure a veteran’s cemetery in Orange County and Ashleigh Aitken’s formation of a veterans committee when she was president of the OC Bar Association.
Stirling said the father/daughter duo will be honored Oct. 26 at their group’s annual fundraising gala, which will be held at the Fashion Island Hotel in Newport Beach.
“We will honor them for their tireless efforts to support veterans and active duty service members,” said Stirling. Both honorees are partners at the Aitkens + Aitkens + Cohn law firm in Santa Ana.
In addition, Stirling said the group will recognize Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California’s First Partner, for her work as a producer of the groundbreaking documentary “The Invisible War.” The film explored the explosive growth of sexual assault in the United States military and exposed the problems associated with achieving justice for its victims.
Michael Penn, a Santa Ana attorney, will serve as Chairman of the gala, said Stirling.
Stirling, who is America’s only Feres Doctrine Scholar, said 2019 has been a banner year for the Center for Law and Military Policy.
Stirling was invited to testify before the House Armed Services Committee in April as Congress sought to make changes to the Feres Doctrine. The changes would award service members the right to pursue medical malpractice claims in a civil court of law.
Following the hearing, Congress voted for the first time in seven decades to make changes in the antiquated doctrine. Stirling, a former military prosecutor, said “our mission is to protect the legal rights of those who serve the nation in uniform, so this was a significant achievement.”
Congress is expected to discuss the provision when they return from its summer recess, said Stirling.
“We have experienced a tremendous amount of progress this year and we look forward to an exciting gala on October 26,” he said. Members of the state’s Congressional delegation, state assembly, Orange County Board of Supervisors and local elected officials are expected to attend.
For further info about the upcoming gala, please contact Marcia Marinovich, 949-715-9217.
Impassioned debate about term limits in LaPalma
When it comes to politics in small towns, the concern that there aren’t enough interested or qualified people to run for City Council is a real one. And if the pool is small and there are tough decisions to be made on the horizon, can term limits be altered so those already on the Council or with experience can stick around?
These are questions that the City of La Palma finds itself facing. These questions, and the notion of changing the term limits, struck a nerve in the community and provoked an unusually large crowd to attend last week’s City Council Meeting to make their voices heard.
As it stands now, in La Palma, a City Council Member may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms, totaling eight years. They are permitted to run for Council again after that, but only after taking at least four years off.
However at Council meetings in recent months, there has been an off-and-on discussion to consider changing that. Councilman Gerard Goedhart and others have spoken about the value of keeping those with experience on the Council, so they can continue to draw upon their working knowledge of city dealings to see issues all the way through.
There have been discussions about the steep learning curve involved with being a new City Councilmember, and about how a city with a population of only 16,000 faces unique challenges in consistently getting enough quality candidates to run for Council.
According to City Manager Laurie Murray, the city received numerous emails opposed to the proposal, and every single resident that spoke at the meeting was opposed as well.
One factor being discussed is the cost to the city.
Having the term limits voted on by residents will cost money no matter what. But making it a ballot item in the March 2020 primary election would come with a price tag of $49,000, which is significantly more than what the city would pay if the item were to go on the ballot for the general election next November.
Some of the residents accused the Council of being secretive, self-serving and trying to rush this past the voters in March, where not as many voters typically turn out as at the general election.
A resident named Wendy spoke about the cost, saying there are “too many other needs” for the city to be spending $49,000 to put this on the ballot. She said that money would be better spent on children’s programs, parks and law enforcement. She said that this initiative is not one generated by the voters and “seems kind of self-serving.” She was applauded.
Many of the speakers fixated on the insinuation that there aren’t enough qualified or interested people in La Palma to run for Council, and were upset. Resident Sharon Nix said she disagrees, as did Linda De Carvalho, who said she has a Master’s degree and is a past president of the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, and that there are many like her in the city with substantive resumes. She said the city needs to “get us excited about the possibility of running.”
Resident Robert Carruth similarly said there is “no shortage of community interest.”
In 1982, La Palma voters voted to limit Council Members to two consecutive terms, effectively creating the policy that is in place today.
This was reaffirmed in 1996, with the passage of Measure O, which reinstated term limits after they had been unenforced for four years.
A number of former council members were either present to speak on the matter last week, or submitted letters that they had others read for them.
A Mr. Herman, who served on the Council from 1986-1994, and then again from 2002-2010, said any decision made by the city needs to “represent the will of the constituents,” and doing away with the current term limits would not. He said, “Continuity in the City Council is not all that important,” and that regular interjections of new people and new ideas are needed.
Former Mayor Keith Nelson also spoke, saying this would be “disrespectful” to past councils, who all served their terms and then moved along, and that the current and future councils need to do the same. He said past councils have dealt with issues just as difficult as the ones facing the current council and coming down the pipeline, and that history has shown that new people can be swapped in in the midst of challenges. He insinuated that it was arrogant of the current Council to think that they are especially equipped and need to be the ones to stay on and walk the city through the foreseeable future.
Resident Jerry Lomeli expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the city on this matter. He said he walked some of the city over Labor Day weekend, and most of the residents he talked to said they had not heard that this was something the city was considering, and most thought it was unnecessary. Lomeli said he could not find anything about the matter on the city’s website, so didn’t know how people would go about learning more about it.
Resident Robert Carruth pointed out that if the term limits were changed, people would be able to serve on City Council for 24 out of every 26 years. In addition to sharing his own thoughts, he read a letter from former Councilman Steve Hwangbo, in which Hwangbo suggested that La Palma adopt the model that Cypress and Stanton have, which is that an individual can serve on Council for two terms (eight years), and then they are permanently termed out.
And lastly Lisa Walker, the wife of former Mayor Paul Walker, spoke, not necessarily against the notion, but suggesting that it be put on the November ballot for next year’s general election.
Some of the residents criticized Councilman Nitesh Patel and Mayor Pro Tem Peter Kim for abstaining from voting on this when they had the chance at the last Council meeting.
Patel spoke up about this, saying the only reason he had not voted was because he had not yet made a decision and wanted to get residents’ feedback.
Kim said at this point he does not support altering the policy, and wanted to table it permanently.
Councilman Goedhart and Councilwoman Michele Steggell had some stronger words for the residents who had spoken. Goedhart, who had been perhaps the main proponent for wanting to change the term limits and give experienced council members the chance to stay onboard, clarified that he himself is not planning on running again, so his motives are not self-serving. He said people ought not read too much into it.
He said that making a ballot measure for the March election is not necessary, but didn’t rule out supporting it in the general election. And regarding communication with the public, he said, “We’ll make sure everybody knows” if it’s going to be up for vote in the future.
Steggell said, “We are transparent…If you have something to say, give me a call; I’ve heard people say a lot of things tonight, but I haven’t heard my phone ring.”
Mayor Marshall Goodman got the final word, and thanked the residents for coming out and being engaged in their city. He encouraged them to continue to do so, and clarified that no one on the Council is suggesting that there aren’t qualified people in the city that could run. He said he regularly talks to many that are, but that they give excuses for not wanting to take the step, be it because they feel they are too busy, or have children, or don’t want to get involved in politics. He said he himself joined a city committee and then the Council not necessarily because he wanted to, but because someone encouraged him to and he saw the need.
In the end, he proposed that this matter be tabled indefinitely. That motion passed unanimously.
The La Palma City Council will next meet on September 17.
Griffins rally against Long Beach Poly falls short
The Los Alamitos High football team rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit but could not overtake Long Beach Poly as the Griffins fell, 20-14, to the Jackrabbits in a non-league game on Friday at Veteran’s Stadium Long Beach.
The Griffins struggled on offense and miscues on special teams also contributed to a rough first half for Los Alamitos. The Griffin defense was able to keep the deficit manageable by stopping the Jackrabbits three times in the red zone.
The Griffins were finally able to get on the board in the third quarter on a 37-yard touchdown run by Jaiden Mitchell that cut the lead to 14-7. But the Jackrabbits answered with a touchdown drive that pushed their lead to 20-7.
Griffin quarterback Malachi Nelson engineered an 82-yard scoring drive with a 41-yard completion to Giovanni DeLeon that got the Griffins into the red zone. He completed the drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Porch, but that would be as close as the Griffins would get. A late possession ended with a turnover on downs, allowing Long Beach to hold on for the win.
Los Alamitos will have a bye this week. They return to action at Carson High on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
Volunteers bring tasty snacks to the golf course
Volunteers bring tasty snacks to the Los Alamitos Youth Center golf tournament. Pictured (left to right) are Patricia Megallon of State Farm Insurance, Youth Center volunteer Nicholas Bond, Youth Center Board Member Sara Ho, and Youth Center volunteer Justin Marston. This team worked very hard all day to provide refreshments and snacks for the Youth Center’s annual golf tournament recently held at Old Ranch Country Club. Sara donated her famous snicker doodle cookies from her dessert shop A La Waffle in Los Alamitos. Courtesy photo
RCSD partnership with YC impacts local families
The Rossmoor Community Services District (RCSD) actively partners with The Youth Center in Los Alamitos, making a big difference in the lives of local families and children. This year, The Youth Center provided more than $40,000 in scholarship funds for kids to attend summer camp thanks to the RCSD.
With the support of the RCSD, The Youth Center added a third after school program site, Rossmoor After School Club and Learning Services (RASCALS) at Rush Park. RASCALS at Rossmoor Park was open in 2015. “From homework time, tutoring, sports, art, science projects to reading club, The Youth Center not only keeps children safe but enriches their lives with new experiences, self-confidence, and knowledge to succeed in school and life”, said Youth Center Executive Director Lina Lumme. “The partnership with RCSD allows us to provide meaningful programing and offer scholarships to local families in need”.
“On behalf of the Rossmoor Community Services Board of Directors, we are excited to partner with the Youth Center in expanding after school programs,” said RCSD General Manager Joe Mendoza. “Anytime the District can provide programs and resources to families, and especially for our youth directly through local non-profits, it is a win-win for the community.”
The mission of the RCSD is to provide superior, cost-effective services that enhance the quality of life for the residents of Rossmoor. Approximately 10,500 residents reside in Rossmoor. The RCSD was formed in 1986 by voters, having many of the powers of a city with the exception of land-use planning. The powers granted to the RCSD were public recreation facilities and services, street lighting, road rights-of-way services, sewer services, collection and disposal of garbage, according to the RCSD website.
“Our partnership with the RCSD is vital to the community,” said Lumme. “Thanks to them, we are able to help more local families and children.”
Since 1952, The Youth Center’s mission is to transform children’s lives one family at a time through collaborative social, educational and recreational programs. Their program area not only serves Rossmoor and Los Alamitos, but also cities in Orange and Los Angeles counties.
The Youth Center now has three after school programs, one next to Oak Middle School in Los Alamitos, at Rossmoor Park and at Rush Park in Rossmoor. They receive no federal or state funding but rely upon the community and grants to offer low cost programs to youth ages 5 to 17 years old. Registrations are going on now for their After School Program at The Youth Center located at 10909 Oak Street in Los Alamitos, with some openings at RASCALS Rush Park. (Rossmoor Park is full.) For more information about The Youth Center, please visit www.theyouthcenter.org. For more information about the RCSD, visit www.rossmoor-csd.org.
La Palma man plays role in Empire Barbershop Chorus
Next performance – Muckenthale
The Orange Empire Barbershop Chorus performs throughout Orange County, directed by Craig Ewing of Buena Park with Associate Directors Woody Woodson of La Palma and Tom Nicholas from La Habra lending a directing hand too.
For those who enjoy the four-part harmony of barbershop singing, the Orange Empire Chorus is
scheduled for their Summer performance at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave., in Fullerton, on Thursday, Aug. 29, which will be followed by their Annual Christmas Cabaret luncheon and dinner shows at 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the La Habra Community Center
OEC members come from many local cities and walks of life including La Palma, Buena Park, Anaheim, Garden Grove, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Brea, Diamond Bar, Long Beach, Irvine, La Habra, Orange, Placentia, Roland Heights, Yorba Linda and all points in between.
The common bond of the chorus is singing four-part harmony, with a love to perform for audiences, in tenor, lead, baritone and bass parts.
Men of any age interesting in joining the group for weekly rehearsals, may do so; rehearsals are held at the Fullerton Union High School choir room, Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Guest are always welcome.
Each year, OEC performs, “Harmony Under the Stars” to benefit their “Youth in Harmony” program that supports music education in local high schools. Since the high school music program began, the young people, directed by OEC member and Associate Director Tom Nicholas have now formed quartets at the high school level, which includes both young men and young women as barbershop members.
As the students have become more skilled, they are often invited to perform during the OEC concerts; it’s easy to see and hear that the youth training has and is paying off and will therefore keep barbershop singing, ringing throughout the next generations.
Tickets for any of the upcoming concerts and/or Singing Valentines in the month of February, may be purchased at oechorus.org/DinnerShow or by calling 714-931-6958 or, they may also be ordered by mailing a check to: Show Tickets, Orange Empire Chorus, P.O. Box 3331, Fullerton, CA 92834 and can be picked up at Will Call or a self-addressed and stamped envelope will get the tickets mailed directly to the purchaser.
The Fullerton Barbershop Chapter is a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, which is an international organization of 40,000 members.
For OEC Barbershop information, visit www.oechorus.org
40’s On The Fantail festival on battleship Iowa.
Battleship IOWA, Featuring USO Style Entertainment to benefit Mission 22
Enjoy fine vintages, craft beer and delicious bites – while raising funds for Mission 22. Step back in time with us and relive the incredible 1940’s aboard the historic Battleship USS IOWA in San Pedro.
There will be top USO Style Entertainment, including headliner Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five led by Hilary Alexander, live music by The Satin Dollz, dance exhibitions by the Hollywood It Girls and more.
In addition, DJ Little Red will perform, there will be vintage cars, photo ops with Pin-Ups for Vets, Swing dance lessons, Best Dressed Contest and more.
There will also be an official announcement commemorating the, End Of The War!
All proceeds will directly benefit Mission 22, a non-profit organization. Every day, more than twenty veterans are lost to suicide. Mission 22 wants to bring that number to zero.
The event will be held at the Battleship Iowa, 250 S. Harbor Boulevard, on Sat., Sept. 28 from 5 – 10 p.m. For tickets or more info, visit https://40sonthefantail.eventbrite.com.
Rossmoor native selected for NBC “Female Forward” Initiative
For a young female writer/director, Rossmoor native Brenna Malloy’s career could soon be on a ‘rocket’ ride, thanks to her Student Academy Award and being named this week to NBC’s new empowerment program entitled “Female Forward.”
According to a network press release, Malloy was selected to be included in the latest class of NBC’s groundbreaking scripted directing initiatives, Female Forward and the Emerging Director Program.
“The initiatives aim to increase representation of female and ethnically diverse directors, respectively, by creating a pipeline into scripted television. They are the only programs in the industry that give participating directors an in-season guarantee to direct at least one episode,” according to NBC.
The new class of Female Forward directors and the NBC series they will helm are Kris Lefcoe (“Superstore”), Brenna Malloy (“Chicago Fire”), SJ Main Muñoz (“Chicago Med”), Kim Nguyen (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) and Sara Zandieh (“Good Girls”). The class for this year’s Emerging Director Program are Mahesh Pailoor (“The Blacklist”) and Dinh Thai (“New Amsterdam”).
“Our scripted directing initiatives are proven changemakers in our industry. While celebrating this milestone year, we are so proud to continue building NBC’s legacy of making a meaningful impact in representation on television,” said Lisa Katz and Tracey Pakosta, Co-Presidents, Scripted Programming, NBC Entertainment.
In an interview this week, the Rossmoor native said she was “over the moon” and “beyond excited” about being selected. Not only is this an incredible break, she is a big fan of “Chicago Fire,” and is so excited that she will have the opportunity to direct an entire episode later in the season.
The 2008 graduate of Los Alamitos High School was attending the University of San Francisco when her mom, without her knowledge, arranged for her first big break. Malloy is the daughter of Kevin and Nancy Malloy, of Rossmoor.
According to Brenna, while she was away at college, Lifetime scouted Rossmoor and decided to use the Malloy family home for a Rob Lowe movie (Drew Peterson: Untouchable, 2012). Mom said sure, as long they gave Brenna a role as a production assistant. Deal done.
Taking a break from college, Brenna said she became friends with Lowe and Ryan Murphy while making the film, while Murphy actually began to mentor the young female writer/director.
“I realized then that I wanted to be a storyteller,” said Malloy this week.
After stints in London studying acting and filmmaking, she eventually returned to the states and graduated from the University of San Francisco with a BA in media studies. She went on to earn an MFA in film production with an emphasis in directing from Chapman University.
Malloy participated in the competitive Filmmaker-In-Residence program with Gary Foster p.g.a. while developing her master’s thesis film “Rocket,” which throws the audience into the world of 1950’s dirt track racing, a world her family history is steeped in.
The short film earned Malloy a Student Academy Award® in 2016, an Individual Merit Award for Best Director at the Richmond International Film Festival, awards in China and the United Kingdom, and has screened in more than 40 festivals in eight countries.
Malloy’s experimental short “Candy Apple Red” celebrated its world premiere at The Bentonville Film Festival in 2018, and her horror short “The Birthday” screened at genre festivals all over the U.S. In the spring of 2019, Malloy directed a feature documentary about activist Manal Al-Sharif’s Freedom Drive across America.
As a participant of Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative, Malloy shadowed executive producer and director Brad Buecker on Fox’s hit show “9-1-1” Previously, she was closely mentored by directors David Ward and Martha Coolidge, and shadowed Martha on an episode of “Angie Tribeca.”
“Female Forward and the Emerging Director Program have become the litmus test for successful and effective pipeline programs, and our new class of accomplished directors will continue to add to our rich heritage,” said Karen Horne, Senior Vice President, Programming Talent Development and Inclusion, NBC Entertainment. “It is especially gratifying to continue to provide a stepping stone into episodic directing for so many talented directors.”
Female Forward aims to achieve gender parity in the director’s chair, while the Emerging Director Program focuses on ethnically diverse male and gender non-binary directors. Finalists for both programs shadow episodic directors on an NBC scripted series and receive an in-season commitment to helm at least one episode of the series they shadow.
To be eligible for either Female Forward or the Emerging Director Program, finalists were required to have directing experience in their respective fields of expertise such as feature films, music videos, commercials, digital content and theater. Candidates could have no more than one scripted television directing credit, according to NBC.
“I’ve been blessed by the TV Gods,” said Malloy, adding that she will stay in Chicago on the set of “Fire” for the production of a few episodes, getting to know the cast and crew before her directorial debut in January or early February.
Wahoo’s ‘nourishes’ customers by sticking to its wholesome roots
After traveling from China with their family, three brothers Ed, Mingo and Lee lived in Brazil, surfed in Baja, California and worked in the family’s Chinese restaurant until they decided to open their own establishment in 1988.
They wanted to serve food to “nourish the body,” yet would also make patrons “feel alive.”
Named after the tasty fish that would ultimately fill their fish tacos, the brothers dubbed the establishment Wahoo’s Fish Tacos and today, they have more than 60 locations, including one of the newest restaurants located in Los Alamitos.
After growing up watching their family operate Chinese restaurants where customers had to “wait for a server” to bring them food, the brothers wanted something different. In Wahoo’s customers could walk in, order what they wanted, and serve themselves, said Orbe.
Wing Lee, the “surfer dude” is one of the founding brothers who, in addition to his business acumen, has a well-earned surfing reputation throughout coastal California. He came to Los Alamitos Thursday to join with owner Tom Orbe and a host of local government and business officials to officially cut the ribbon on the Los Alamitos restaurant.
Orbe, a former corporate marketing executive, said he was lured into the brand by his daughter, Ellen, who works for Wahoo’s corporate office. What began as a consulting gig for Orbe turned into a full-time job and which has now transitioned again, this time into ownership of his own restaurant along with his daughter.
His daughter Ellen, who now runs the Los Al location, has worked Wahoo’s since graduating from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo with a degree in nutrition 15 years ago. “She absolutely loves the company, the people and the business,” he said.
To be sure, Wahoo’s is growing wildly, with restaurants under construction inside Los Angeles International airport and on the east coast of New Jersey. They currently also operate units throughout California, Hawaii, Colorado, Nevada and Pennsylvania. They have an international location in Japan. Despite the growth, however, Orbe said Wahoo’s will never abandon its casual surfer style, both inside their restaurants and with management. True to form, Lee was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt for his special appearance in Los Alamitos.
“We’ve been blessed in terms of the business,” said Orbe. He said Wahoo’s in Los Alamitos has done very well and Orbe thanked the public and city officials for welcoming them into town. Los Al “has embraced us,” he said, “and we really appreciate it.”
Orbe said opening a business in Los Alamitos was so much easier than other cities in which they operate. “It was like night and day,” he said.
Orbe said Wahoo’s full menu is a fused combination of Asian, Mexican and Baja, California dishes. “It’s good for you and will energize you as well.” He said customers can get “customized” orders, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and keto options. Everything is handmade and homemade, said Orbe. Customers can even “pick their proteins.”
All of the Wahoo fish served are taken in the wild, said Orbe, and all of the menu items are populated with wholesome and fresh ingredients. Not only is food served casual and fresh, but the tables are adorned with surfer and travel stickers placed by customers themselves to give the restaurants a cool, beach vibe.
Wahoo’s offers tacos, enchiladas, burritos, selected entrees, famous bowls, shared plates, soups, salads and a menu just for kids. They offer onsite catering and recently received their full liquor license in Los Alamitos. He said the bar is very reasonably priced and offers the best Margaritas in California.
“We can host private parties as well,” said Orbe.
Wing Lee posed for selfies with patrons, with the elected officials and he welcomed and thanked everyone who came for the grand opening.
According to their longstanding philosophy, “at Wahoo’s, we encourage you to nourish yourself with good and experiences that make you feel more alive. So, ride those waves, care for your community, love what you eat every day and be authentically you. Our family is here to feed yours.”
The Los Alamitos location is located on Los Al Boulevard near the intersection of Katella.
Cypress College Again Named by Niche as #1 Community College in California
Cypress College is once again the top community college in California according to a top college-selection organization. Niche, Inc. named Cypress College the 2020 Best Community College in the state last week.
Niche previously identified Cypress College as California’s number one community college in its 2018 examination of colleges and universities. Because of a data flaw related to the college’s participation in the state’s baccalaureate degree program, Cypress College did not appear on the community college list in 2019.
Niche’s ranking is based on a rigorous analysis of academic, financial, and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as millions of reviews from students and alumni. These metrics account for both student success, in areas such as completion and university transfer, as well as student perceptions of the campus and the college’s faculty.
Cypress College also ranked #54 of 871 community colleges in the nation.
“Cypress College is invested in the success of each of our students,” said Cypress College President JoAnna Schilling, Ph.D. “We are honored to be selected as Niche’s #1 California Community College. The larger picture, however, is our commitment to ensuring our students achieve their academic goals; they, along with our alumni, believe that we have helped them create better lives for themselves. At Cypress, our motto is ‘we take this journey together’ and the results of this partnership can be transformational.”
Dr. Schilling also noted that the recognition — among many accolades in the past academic year — should serve as a point of pride for the college’s employees.
“We are provided the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives,” she said. “As employees, we are fortunate to do such meaningful work.”
About Cypress College:
Cypress College offers students a pathway to their future in an environment in which employees commit to joining students on their educational journey. The college’s half-million-plus alumni include actors, athletes, doctors, executives, mechanics, nurses, and teachers. For some, Cypress College is the ticket into their university of choice, and for others, it provides essential training for a prosperous career. Just one Cypress College class is often all it takes to provide cutting-edge skills that lead to a promotion or a new job.
Cypress College’s 16,000 students and the highly qualified teaching faculty are proud of the many excellent academic and vocational programs. Cypress College offers 56 university-transfer majors, 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.
Located at 9200 Valley View Street in Cypress, the college is easily accessible from several Southern California freeways, including the 5, 91, 605, 22, and 405. The campus is just a stone’s-throw from Downtown Disney and Knott’s Berry Farm.
Shireen Qudosi to speak to Republican Women
Members and guests may obtain a better understanding of the overall Muslim situation in America as the Rossmoor-Los Alamitos Republican Women Federated welcome Muslim Reformer Shireen Qudosi to its Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 breakfast meeting.
The meeting is conveniently located Cypress Courtyard by Marriott (5865 Katella Avenue at Valley View), the meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. with an Americana buffet breakfast. The cost is $25 for members and $28 for non-members. Preparing to say aloha to the summer season, everyone is invited to wear their favorite tropical attire.
Qudosi specializes in analyzing the leadership and ideology of transnational and U.S.-based Muslim organizations. In 2011, Qudosi was named one of the top ten North American Muslim Reformers. Her column has appeared in many publications including The Federalist, On Being, Women in the World, The Hill, The Middle East Form, The Clarion Project, and more. She has also appeared on Fox discussing free speech violations against Muslim Reformers and critical thinkers.
According to a press release, she is expected to present an overall picture of Muslims in America much different than the one presented by “Socialist Democrats Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib.”
The RLA club, which serves west Orange County cities and greater Long Beach, welcomes like-minded women and men who want to impact local, state and national politics. Reservations can be made at: Ro************@*ol.com.
The Youth Center Board – Fulfilling a life purpose
Not only does he build for a living, long time Cypress resident, business owner Sam McCall of Cal Custom Interiors believes in building up the lives of young people as the newest addition to the Youth Center Board of Directors.
A general contractor since 1976 in his own family-run business that proudly serves Los Alamitos and the surrounding communities, McCall first learned about The Youth Center when purchasing a Christmas tree from their lot at Ganhal Lumber.
“After talking with people at the lot and seeing signs for The Youth Center, I decided I wanted to make an impact and join a worthy cause,” McCall said who has supported the award-winning nonprofit on a volunteer basis for the past five to six years. “This past year, I wanted to take it to the next level and join the board.”
“I love that the Board of Directors are helping young people in the community, and giving them a launching pad for their lives,” he added. “That cause really seemed to resonate with me.”
McCall said it’s his personal desire as a board member to help an incredible group of individuals who are like-minded and are giving with their hearts. He added no one on it is self-serving, and that everyone on The Youth Center’s board cares and are passionate about their service.
“This isn’t about personal accomplishments or ego,” he said. “I just hope to help this organization make a difference in the community and create opportunities for others. There are some very intelligent people on the board, and I want to do my part to make an impact.”
McCall’s philosophy for giving back to future generations lies in his belief that it’s his God-given purpose in life, the reason why he is here on earth. He said he often asks himself what he can do to give a helping hand and make the world a better place.
“Not everyone is born with the same opportunities,” he said. “I want to serve as a guide, when possible, to lead people to grateful and prosperous lives.”
Since 1952, it’s been the mission of The Youth Center to transform lives one family at a time. For more information, please visit online at www.theyouthcenter.org
Cypress is for lovers?
New study is a headturner as Cypress tops California
Do you want more romance in your life? According to a lifestyle website, Cypress, California offers the best chance for romance in California.
According to Elitesingles.com, the newest data study of 150,000 singles has revealed the 25 American cities where people most strongly agree with the statement ‘I bring romance to my relationships.’ The #1 city for those seeking a romantic partner? Boynton Beach, Florida ranked first but they ranked Cypress number three in the top 25 American cities for romance.
“For this study, we looked at random, anonymous user data from 150,000 singles registered with EliteSingles. In particular, we looked at responses to the statement ‘I bring romance to my relationships.’ The more strongly people agreed with this statement, the more romantic they were deemed to be,” said the site in explaining its methodology.
To determine the best places in America to find a romantic partner, we then looked at the average score for romance in each city.1 This let us pinpoint the 25 most romantic cities in the country – and as you’ll see, if you live in Florida or California, romance might be closer than you think!
America’s 25 Most Romantic Cities
- Boynton Beach, FL
- ?Myrtle Beach, SC
- Cypress, CA
- St. Cloud, MN
- Sugar Land, TX
- Boca Raton, FL
- Pembroke Pines, FL
- Corona, CA
- Fort Worth, TX
- Wilton Manors, FL
- Anderson, IL
- Kissimmee, FL
- Simi Valley, CA
- Bloomfield, NJ
- Montclair, CA
- Temecula, CA
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Keller, TX
- White Plains, NY
- Youngstown, OH
- Farmington, CT
- Chula Vista, CA
- Sunrise, FL
- Tigard, OR
- Fredericksburg, VA
EliteSingles’ in-house psychologist Zoe Coetzee has some tips on how to get more romance into your life: ‘’Creating more romance into your life doesn’t need to be a struggle. If you’re seeking to attract romance into your life or re-ignite your relationship, it can be as simple as a few steps.
If you’re single and trying to up the romance ante in your life, open yourself up to the positive energy of romance – take a ballroom dancing class, buy flowers for a friend, treat yourself to a delicious dinner! You don’t need a partner to indulge in romantic activities that make you and the ones you care about feel special. Putting yourself into the right mindset means you’ll be ready when that special somebody comes along and allows you to enjoy the spark of romance in the meantime.
If you’re looking to bring romance back into your relationship, remember romance isn’t only grand, sweeping gestures. Real romance is in the everyday: appreciating your partner regularly, expressing your love and going the extra mile to make them feel valued. Take your love coffee in bed, put a love note in their lunchbox, make dinner by candlelight, send a text just to tell them one of your favorite things about them. You don’t need a special occasion to be a romantic partner – rev up the romance by little loving acts of kindness and appreciation in your daily routine,’’ according to the site.
Anaheim college student puts on benefit concert in Cypress
Anaheim college student puts on benefit concert in Cypress
By Edna Ethington
The Music Ministry at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress presented a benefit recital by Belinda Gonzalez dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 16. The recital took place one day after the Catholic Church celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary being taken bodily up into heaven on August 15.
Father William Goldin, Parochial Vicar at St. Irenaeus Church, welcomed parishioners and guests to Belinda’s recital, on behalf of St. Irenaeus’ Pastor, Revered Binh Nguyen, and introduced Dr. Kevin St. Clair, Director of Music Ministry at St. Irenaeus. Dr. St. Clair then introduced Belinda Gonzalez as a parishioner of St. Irenaeus Church, a member of the Parish Choir and a member of St. Irenaeus’ Music Ministry as cantor and assistant director of the Youth Choir. Belinda is currently a Master of Music student in Opera Performance at Long Beach State University. Dr. St. Clair said that the freewill offerings received that night would help Belinda complete her studies for her Master’s degree in the spring of 2020.
The program began with soprano soloist Belinda singing powerful solos from memory as she stood in the middle of the sanctuary in front of the altar, accompanied by pianist/organist Kevin Phan. The first set of her songs followed the format of the rosary, a devotional prayer in honor of the Virgin Mary. Just as the rosary begins with the prayer, “Our Father,” and is followed by three “Hail Marys,” Belinda sang “The Lord’s Prayer” by Alfred Mellotte first. She then sang three “Ave Marias,” by Randall Debruyn, Franz Schubert and J.S. Bach and Charles Gounod. The three settings of the “Ave Maria” surprised the audience and showed the development of music throughout history. Belinda honored the Blessed Virgin Mary with these three “Ave Marias.”
In the third set of the recital, Belinda sang classical religious masterpieces that expressed her personal faith. She sang the “Panis Angelicus” by Cesar Franck as a duet with Dr. Kevin St. Clair. As part of the third set, she also sang “Domine Deus” from Antonio Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and “Pie Jesu” from Gabriel Faure’s “Requiem.” The audience responded and showed their approval by their applause. Belinda and Dr. St. Clair gave honor and glory to God with their singing.
After a brief intermission, Belinda sang three liturgical songs in Vietnamese. The first two songs, “Xin V?ng” and “D?ng Me,” honored the Blessed Virgin Mary, and asked for her intercession to help us follow God’s will. The third song, “C?u Cho Cha Me,” translated as “Prayer for Father and Mother,” was a prayer that thanked God for the love He has given us. The prayer also asked God to continue to bestow love on our parents and help each of us live good lives. Belinda sang these songs in Vietnamese with such intensity that one could feel the love and emotion she felt for God and her parents. Translations in English were available ini the program booklet, so the audience could read the words and understand what she sang.
The final set of Belinda’s recital included contemporary songs that inspired her to be involved with Music Ministry and become a voice teacher. She hopes to inspire and guide young singers as a voice teacher. The contemporary songs included “How Beautiful” by Twila Paris, “The Prayer” by David Foster and “You Say” by Lauren Daigle. Dr. St. Clair joined Belinda in singing “The Prayer” as a wonderful duet. Belinda, Dr. St. Clair and pianist/organist Kevin Phan received a standing ovation at the end of the recital. Belinda thanked everyone for coming to her recital and for their support and encouragement.
Belinda Gonzalez and her husband, Bryan reside in Anaheim and are members of St. Irenaeus Parish. For more information about Belinda Gonzalez, contact Belinda at St. Irenaeus Church at 714-826-0760, email her at bg*******@********ss.org or visit facebook.com/BeGoSings/. Come to St. Irenaeus Catholic Church and celebrate Mass with Dr. Kevin St. Clair, Belinda and other Music Ministry members. Schedules for Saturday and Sunday Masses are listed at www.sticypress.org.
Centralia Elementary School District welcomes two new principals
Centralia Elementary School District is pleased to welcome two new principals to the Centralia Family, Mr. Roy Lopez, Jr., and Dr. Vicki Wong.
Roy Lopez, Jr. is the new principal at Centralia Elementary School at 195 N Western Ave. in Anaheim. Mr. Lopez comes to Centralia Elementary School District from Anaheim Elementary School District and Lennox School District, with 18 years of service in education. Mr. Lopez earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Anthropology from the University of California, Irvine as part of the millennial class of 2000. He earned two Master’s Degrees in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles as part of the Teacher Education Program in 2002, and the Principal Leadership Institute in 2008. Mr. Lopez seeks to build positive relationships and rapport with students, parents and staff as well as working closely with community stakeholders to support and engage all students in their learning experience.
Dr. Vicki Wong joins the team at Los Coyotes Elementary School at 8122 Moody St. in La Palma. Dr. Wong hails from Fallbrook Union Elementary School District, where she served as the Assistant Principal of a Dual Immersion and Steven Covey “Leader in Me” school. Prior to working in Fallbrook Union, Dr. Wong served as a program specialist for grades TK-12 in Saddleback Valley Unified School District and taught as a classroom teacher in both primary and upper grades. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from California State University Long Beach, and a Master’s in Education-Administration from Concordia University, she continued her education and earned her Doctorate from the University of Southern California.
“I believe that each student has the capacity to be a leader and I strive to develop the leadership skills in every student,” said Dr. Wong. Her priority is to continue to support the academic achievements of students through innovative practices that develop collaboration, critical thinking, creativity and communication.
“I look forward to a wonderful year with Dr. Wong as Principal of Los Coyotes Elementary School and Mr. Lopez as Principal of Centralia Elementary School,” said Superintendent Norma E. Martinez. She continued that, “School Principals are a vital ingredient in the recipe that creates a successful school environment for students. Centralia Elementary School District is pleased to have these two new principals add to the strength of our District’s leadership.”
The Centralia Elementary School District is in the northern part of Orange County. Centralia Elementary School District was established in 1875 and today, the District’s eight elementary schools are located in the cities of Buena Park, Anaheim and La Palma, serving approximately 4,500 students.
Courtesy photos
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Mr. Roy Lopez, Jr. is the new Principal of Centralia Elementary in Anaheim.
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Dr. Vicki Wong is the new Principal of Los Coyotes Elementary in La Palma.
Will the Angels stay or will they go?
Negotiations starting soon in neighboring Anaheim to determine fate of OC’s resident MLB team
Anaheim residents got a rare opportunity for some direct interface with the city about the Angel Stadium negotiations when City Councilman Jose Moreno held two community meetings at city libraries last week.
The city is preparing to begin negotiations with Angels owner Arte Moreno to decide whether the team, and the stadium, will stay in Anaheim or move elsewhere. They have a goal of coming up with a proposed agreement at the end of this calendar year.
About 30 residents, business owners, city staff members and reporters showed up to Moreno’s first meeting Wednesday, August 21, at Anaheim Central Library, as Moreno presented his hopes for the negotiations, and fielded the many questions residents had.
Moreno framed his presentation as wanting to take an open-minded approach to negotiations, taking stock of what the land around Angel Stadium is worth, and looking to see what would warrant the best deal for the city, even if that means the city losing its beloved team. He characterized Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu, of whom he is a frequent critic, of looking to keep the team here “whatever it takes.”
Moreno said while he also hopes the city will try hard to keep the team here, it won’t be catastrophic if that’s not the best way to go, as the land under and around the stadium is “155 acres of valuable land in Orange County, off two freeways.”
Moreno said the city should be open to selling.
Many have criticized and questioned Mayor Sidhu’s involvement in the negotiations, as his mayoral campaign did receive money from Angels personnel. And this January, shortly after he was sworn in as Mayor, he took it upon himself to meet with Arte Moreno to discuss renewing the talks, which some saw as out of line.
Councilman Moreno said there is good reason for people to question the Mayor’s involvement in the talks.
He said he values transparency and public review and input in this process.
“There needs to be a lot of resident pushback,” Moreno said.
When one resident spoke up at Moreno’s meeting, saying the Mayor should be taken off the negotiating team, Moreno agreed, but said the entire Council will present the Mayor with what they want him to negotiate with on behalf of them all.
Moreno admitted that he feels what is on the table now would be a “sweetheart deal” for the Angels, and wants to see the city get what it deserves.
He said his desires in a new deal would include having the city of Anaheim in the team name, and having a percentage of ticket sales and parking revenue reinvested in the city’s libraries, green space, community centers and public safety.
Under the current lease, the city receives between one and two million dollars per year in revenue generated from the stadium. This includes $2 on every ticket sold after 2.6 million during the season, 25% of additional parking revenue above $4 million, and 25% of additional revenue above $2 million from events.
The team’s name and city affiliation has been a big factor; although the city is currently officially named the “Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,” it is frequently associated with the city of Los Angeles and marketed that way in its merchandise and media.
Moreno said, “Anaheim is one of thirty cities privileged to have Major League Baseball, but what’s the privilege worth if the city’s not in the name?”
Mayor Sidhu has presented a different take on the team name. He held a press conference shortly before last Tuesday’s City Council Meeting, in which he restated his perspective and goals, and said that including “Anaheim” prominently in the team name should not be a make-or-break point. He pointed to teams like the New England Patriots and the Golden State Warriors, named for regions rather than cities, saying he doesn’t believe this takes away from the specific host city benefiting from the team and stadium being there. He suggested that just keeping the stadium here, even if “Anaheim” did not factor more prominently into the team name, is what will benefit the city, as people will trickle out of the stadium and spend time and money at Anaheim businesses, and the city of Anaheim will be shown on television on every broadcast, bringing attention to the city.
Councilman Moreno responded to this at the ensuing Council Meeting, saying he could not support the team continuing to be associated with what he called “our rival city,” Los Angeles.
Negotiations have not officially started yet, but the Angels are expected to submit a proposal to the city in October.
Also earlier this year, Steven Norris of Norris Realty Advisors of Pasadena was hired to appraise the value of the land around the stadium. The current appraisal is in draft form and is expected to be submitted soon. The residents at Moreno’s community meeting also expressed skepticism and frustration over how long the appraisal is taking. One real estate professional in the audience said he could estimate the value of the land in his head on the spot, knowing the value per acre of such land, and multiplying it by 155.
Long Beach has made a strong play for the team, but Moreno said the team ending up there “doesn’t look like it would happen.”
One resident asked whether the ultimate decision is something the public will be able to vote on. Moreno said no, it will be determined by the Council.
He talked up the experience that certain city staff members on the negotiating team bring to the table, saying the City Manager has experience negotiating stadiums, and the City Attorney went through a similar process when the city was negotiating the Honda Center deal.
Mayor Sidhu published an op-ed shortly after Moreno’s first meeting, expounding on his approach to the talks. His piece can be found on the city’s website.
A long and lively discussion took place at the August 27 City Council Meeting, with many residents weighing in, along with each Councilmember.
Where Moreno and others have advocated for open, transparent negotiations where all should be free to weigh in, Mayor Pro Tem Lucille Kring said that in the Ducks/Honda Center negotiating, all decisions were made in closed session, and that everyone should trust the negotiating team now to consider all the input they’ve heard, but then be left to make the final decision, not make the decision “on the dais.”
Likewise, Councilman Steve Faessel said a similar process to this one “worked pretty well for the Honda Center deal,” and expressed support for the negotiating team.
He oversees District 5, which Angel Stadium sits within, and he said that more parks, a grocery store, and retail are needed in the Platinum Triangle, and that the city should give significant consideration to the fact that the 155 acres the stadium sits on hold great potential for uses like that.
To the negotiating team, Faessel said, “Godspeed; you’re going to need it. This is the biggest negotiation in the city in a long long time.”
The negotiating team will meet September 13, then will receive the Angels’ proposal in October.
Councilman Moreno once again voiced his concerns, saying that leaves “two months to negotiate the largest asset in our city…I’m worried.” He wondered aloud if that is even possible, and even if it is, if that’s too rushed of a deadline.
He encouraged the Mayor to be cautious, be levelheaded and “not hit the panic button” once the negotiations heat up and are on a short timeline.
Entertainer John Davidson to headline “Moonlight over BELLissimo
The Catalina Chimes Tower Foundation invites you to a special evening of entertainment – “Moonlight over BELLissimo!” – featuring John Davidson, American actor, singer and game show host.
John is best known as the TV host of The Hollywood Squares and That’s Incredible! as well as guest host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
The evening will also feature dessert and libations, a lively Japanese auction, a “Mystery Box” reveal, and other fun surprises.
“This is our third annual “BELLissimo!” event, where contributions from devoted supporters have made a significant impact on this ambitious project,” said Alison Wrigley Rusack, foundation chair and great-granddaughter of Ada and William Wrigley, Jr. “We are excited to share our progress to date and plans for the coming year.”
“Moonlight over BELLissimo!” takes place on Saturday, October 12 from 7:30 – 10:00 p.m. at Castillo del Mar, the home of Blanny Avalon Hagenah, foundation vice chair. “I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from near and far,” said Hagenah. “The funds we raise at this special event will help us continue to restore this beloved landmark and create an endowment for its long-term care.”
General admission is $125 per person. VIP Admission is $250 per person and includes preferred seating for the concert, as well as dessert and beverage service. “Mystery Boxes” are only available to event guests and will be sold as follows: $100 if purchased prior to the event and $150 during the event (if any are left).
Your ticket purchase will be tax deductible to the extent allowed by applicable law. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, as a limited number are available. For more information about this event and to purchase tickets, please visit www.CatalinaChimes.org/events.