Potential new members are invited to come to the first General Meeting of the 2019-2020 year for the La Palma-Cerritos Branch of the American Association of University Women on Thursday, September 19, 2019, at Cerritos Park East, 13234 East 166th Street, Cerritos, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Members will be hosting their Annual Potluck dinner and look forward to meeting potential new members. This will be an opportunity for members and potential members to meet the 2019-2020 board members, learn about the branch’s programs and activities for the year, and sign up for the branch’s Interest Groups.
The branch’s Interest Groups were formed out of members’ desires and wishes for social interactions, friendship, stimulating conversations, gourmet food, and just plain good fun. The Interest Groups include: Breakfast Group, Gourmet Group, Great Decisions Discussion Group, Las Comadres Lunch Bunch, and Readers’ Theater for reading plays. The Interest Groups meet at the homes of members or at restaurants on different days or nights, monthly or quarterly, and at different times.
Members and guests are invited to come to the September 19 meeting, meet the leaders of the groups and sign up for the group of their choice. Guests may participate in the Interest Groups for a maximum of three times before a paid membership in the AAUW will be required to continue participation.
Membership in the AAUW is open to graduates who have an associate, baccalaureate, or higher degree from accredited college or university. The AAUW’s goal is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research. AAUW National raises funds and provides fellowships and grants for graduate women. The La Palma-Cerritos branch raises funds for Academic Achievement Awards at Cerritos College for women who plan to continue their education at a four- year college or university. Our branch also raises funds to encourage middle school and junior high school girls to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects in high school and college, with hopes they will consider STEM careers in the future. For the past three years, our branch provided camperships for eighth grade students to attend a one- week STEM Tech Trek Camps at Whittier College in June. The camp was sponsored by AAUW California Special Projects Fund for Tech Trek.
For more information about the programs and activities of the La Palma-Cerritos AAUW, contact Program Co-VP Karen Cox at 562-519-0596. For more information about joining the La Palma-Cerritos AAUW, contact Membership VP Sue Solomon at 562-926-2746
The Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF) is proud to expand its free World Language classes this year. Starting this fall, 3rd graders now have the opportunity to enroll in one of LAEF’s Free World Language Classes along with 2nd graders. Free classes for both 2nd and 3rd graders are offered on all six of the district’s elementary schools and range from Mandarin and Japanese to Spanish, French and American Sign Language depending on the school site. In addition, LAEF reduced the fee for additional language classes, offered to all grades, from $175 to $95. As always, tuition scholarships are always available to families in need.
With the expansion, LAEF offers students who took a free class as a 2nd grader the option to continue their learning as a 3rd grader in the same language or try a new language. “We are extremely grateful to the community for their generosity which allows LAEF to expose even more children to this incredible learning opportunity,” said LAEF Programs Manager Mike Kahn.
Over 200 students have already signed up for these free classes. All elementary languages offered are currently available for Los Alamitos High School students. LAEF’s goal is to expose children to languages they can pursue further in their secondary education and to introduce them to other cultures. Studies have shown that learning another language at an early age is great for brain development, enhances academic achievement, boosts empathy and cross-cultural understanding, and increases creativity and problem-solving skills.
Fall classes began on August 26 at Weaver Elementary and on September 3 at all other Los Al USD school sites. There are still spots available in several free language classes and registration is open at LAEF4Kids.org/programs. The free World Language classes have 17 seats available. As classes fills up, LAEF will make every effort to offer an additional class at that school.
LAEF is the non-profit partner of Los Alamitos Unified School District. LAEF enhances educational excellence by providing after-school and summer enrichment programs to children in grades Pre-K to 12. LAEF provides significant funding for STEAM teachers and instruction, as well as igniting new programs and providing valuable resources, to impact all students. For additional information on LAEF, please call 562-799-4700 Extension 80424 or visit www.LAEF4Kids.org.
As the crow flies, it is about 10,000 miles from Los Alamitos to Narok, Kenya so it was a shock for a local teen humanitarian and her family to defy a billion-to-one odds as they serendipitously bumped into a couple in their Kenyan hotel that they had never met.
As it turns out, the local couple, from Signal Hill, however, had been one of the first to make a contribution to her African humanitarian project back in January.
“It’s kinda crazy,” said Jessica Ridgeway, the teen whose idea sparked the African Sisterhood initiative. She said the rendezvous with a donor happened because “we were early” trying to check out, and “believe me, we’re never early.”
Jessica Ridgeway, left, with Marguerite Walker, C.J. Hull, of Seal Beach, Tricia Ridgeway and Galen Walker.
Ridgeway, the Los Al teenager honored by the Los Alamitos city council in July, was in Kenya with her family this summer to deliver hundreds of feminine menstrual pads to orphanages and schools in western Kenya.
Ridgeway is the founder of “African Sisterhood,” a registered nonprofit that earlier this year, organized hundreds of volunteers and organizations, including the Rossmoor Woman’s Club to create sewing parties to sew together the all-cotton pads for young African women.
Also, during this process, newspaper articles about her efforts attracted private donations as well.
In June, the family packed up crates of the finished pads and flew from Los Angeles to Paris, then from Paris to Nairobi, Kenya to distribute the pads to the girls who need them.
From Nairobi, the family packed up a large, four-wheel drive Jeep, filled with the crates of pads, soap, towels and underwear, and they headed to Narok, a smaller city from which they could easily reach schools, orphanages and Maasai villages they planned to visit.
Meanwhile, local couple Marguerite and Galen Walker, were also on a one-month trip to Africa and were staying in Narok.
Maasai women greet the Ridgeway’s near a Maasai village in Kenya.
According to Marguerite, they were in the hotel lobby when they noticed a young woman carrying a “Wilson High School” bag. “We knew that was Long Beach,” said Marguerite. Their son struck up a conversation with Jessica, amazed that they may have run into another local family so far from home.
“She asked me if we were from Long Beach,” said Jessica, “and I really didn’t know what to say.” Jessica was standing with her cousin, who accompanied the family to Africa, and her cousin does attend Wilson.
Then, it got more intense, said Tricia Ridgeway, Jessica’s mother. She said the only reason they were still in the hotel is because the business office had not prepared their bill on time.
But during the conversation, Bill Ridgeway, Jessica’s dad, walked up and said, “actually, we’re from Los Alamitos,” and then the lightbulb went off in Marguerite’s head.
“Oh no,” she said, “are you the young girl doing the Africa project? We made a donation in January,” said Marguerite as Tricia burst out in tears. “It had to be a God thing,” said Ridgeway as both parties began hugging and could not believe what had just happened.
Nearly 10,000 miles from home, in a tiny Kenyan resort, following a delay from a hotel clerk, these two families linked to the same humanitarian effort, found each other at the checkout counter. It was a moment they will remember for a long time.
In fact, the two families, now both back home in California, reunited last week along with others who contributed to the effort as the Ridgeways held an appreciation luncheon in Los Alamitos.
Jessica Ridgeway and Madeline “Maddie” Navarro, of African Sisterhood, pose with young Africans on the plains of western Kenya.
“Jessica is a little rockstar,” claims Marguerite, who said they donated because they read the story in the paper, and “started thinking about the incredible impact” of what she did.
Galen Walker, her husband, said he was impressed that “Jessica not only thought about the idea, but noted that while it was simple, but brilliant, and she followed through and did it.”
Ridgeway and her associate Madeline “Maddie” Navarro, along with Ridgeway’s family and friends, traveled throughout the region, handing out kits for young women including three reusable menstrual pads, soap, a wash cloth and a plastic bag for cleaning to hundreds of young African girls.
In addition to the life changing menstrual products, the Ridgeways brought soccer balls and other gifts for the young boys at the various schools and children’s homes. Ridgeway teared up as she recalled finally distributing her first batch of “menstrual kits” to the young African women.
“I can’t help every one of the young women in Africa, but I can help the ones I can. Better some than none at all,” she said. Ridgeway, who has now enrolled in Grand Canyon University, said she is already planning a return trip to Kenya for the summer of 2020.
The Los Alamitos city council honored Ridgeway at their meeting in July, and Mayor pro-tem Richard Murphy attended the appreciation event last week. “I have a great deal of admiration for what she’s done,” he said.
Ridgeway says her nonprofit is already making plans to return to Africa next year with more feminine pads and more gifts for the young boys.
Meanwhile, Ridgeway has been nominated for a CNN Hero Award and a documentary film entitled “Stitched by the Heart” will chronicle her story.
The film will be premiered at the Art Deco Theater of Long Beach October 19. Tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com. More info about Ridgeway’s charity can be found at www.africansisterhood.com.
Dozens of military units throughout the Los Alamitos area meet monthly at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos. The military economic impact is critical to the overall viability and trend so here is an update from their last meeting.
Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station
Public information officer Greg Smith reported that the change of command ceremony went very well. Capt. Jason Sherman is now in charge of the SBNWS, in addition to his command of the Navy Munitions Command Pacific CONUS (Continental U.S. West Division).
Sherman replaced Capt. Noel Dahlke, who oversaw $430 million in military construction projects and the first phase ($150 million) of the ammunition pier project. The base won several awards under Dahlke’s administration. Smith the munition pier project continues and demolition is set for two buildings on the base.
United States Coast Guard, Long Beach
Lt. Col. Rob Poitinger reported a celebration was held August 2 to celebrate the anniversary of the Coast Guard, originally founded August 4, 1790. The event included a tour of a Coast Guard Cutter.
Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos
Newly installed base commander Col. Nick Ducich reported that he plans a host of significant changes for the base in upcoming months, to “make 21st century changes” to the base.
Ducich said his goal is to become better organized to “compete for monies for many projects” by calling together the 40-60 resident groups on the base for monthly meetings.
In addition, Ducich said he planned to make the base more navigable by moving equipment around on the base, according to the minutes.
Ducich has some ambitious plans, including hosting Dept. of Homeland Security federal law enforcement training, including the U.S. Marshals, the U.S. Coast Guard and others on a “co-use” basis.
He said the base should host a field house for U.S. Army training, including a running track.
Other announcements
Angie Santos – representing Homes for Heroes for those thinking about buying a home. She provides a workshop for buyers at the JFTB after RMAC meetings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Fiddler’s Green with refreshments. Contact her at www.AngiesHeroes.com or 714-504-7831
The Dept. of Veterans Affairs is having a 3rd Annual LA Veterans Resource Expo on Friday, 7/26/19 from 9 to 2 at the Pomona Fairplex, contact www.LAVetExpo.com
A Homeless Veterans Housing Fair will also be held on Friday, 9/26/19 from 9 to 3 at John Marshall Park in Anaheim, email Du**************@**.gov or call 562-706-7483 also a Dept. of Veterans Affairs sponsored event
Cottonwood Church Chaplain Doreen Matsumoto talked about events sponsored by them for Memorial Day, the Patriot Guards to assist with burials. Mission trips to Israel, a game night on 7/26/19, assisting American Veterans groups and partnerships with many groups. She can be reached at do********@***oo.com or 714-809-1658 or ve******@********od.org
R.O.A. Reserve Organization of America recently had a name change – they lobby for reservists in California and Nevada for military benefits supporting the troops
St. Isidore’s Historical Plaza Rep Hortencia spoke about Sunday concerts, Operation Peter Pan, a Ballet Folklorico performance, the Union Civil War Band and brochures were distributed.
Tom Boscamp from Coastline College announced a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the third Veterans Resource Center on 8/19/19 from 2 to 4 p.m. at 12901 S. Euclid St., Garden Grove, CA, call 714-241-6126 for more info
On 10/10/19 a Business Services Job Fair with 50 employers and approx. 100 attendees will be held. Adrian will bring more info to the next meeting
Ken Smith announced an opportunity on 7/24/19 for 275 agencies, awards, leadership training, immigration issues, etc.
Frank Fletcher, EDD, shared the Veterans Assistance Services available at the Tierney Center in Santa Ana, CA. Employers looking to hire Veterans can contact him at 714-565-2666 or fr************@****ca.gov or www.edd.ca.gov
Alexander C. Gonzalez, representing Congressman Harley Rouda, 48th district of Ca., can be contacted at 714-960-7483 or Al****************@********se.gov or http://rouda.house.gov
Bob Hope USO, United Service Organization, Maureen Ahrens shared that 80% of the programs are initiated by the soldiers, there are approx. 2,000 members in Orange County, she can provide Angels tickets, and there will be an Open House at Fort Irwin on 9/27/19.
Seal Beach City Council woman, Schelly Sustarsic, talked about the S. B. Lions Club Fish Fry, the Chamber of Commerce Summer concert series on Wednesday evenings and a Kids Swap meet at Heather Park on 8/10/19. A Movie Night will also be held showing How To Train Your Dragon
Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Heroes Appreciation Luncheon, all were invited to attend, bring a hero with you, let the Chamber know why you want to nominate your hero, it will be held at Rush Park, call 562-598-6659 or in**@**********er.org
Sunburst Youth Academy accepts 16 to 18-year-old students, there are 50 students in each platoon, they serve 40 hours of community service including Color Guard presentations.
Tom Bell, S.B. Lions Club Military Affairs Committee Chairperson announced taking some blind Vets to the Fish Fry, he is planning a dinner at the L.B. Fisher House on 8/19/19, he also represents the ESGR by presenting employers with Patriot Awards for hiring Vets, and helicopter rides out of Chino airport. Some organizations use it for fundraising opportunities. The cost is $350 per ride.
Senator Umber’s rep, Steve Bao Mai, announced that their office will be moving to the Santa Ana Train Station, an Open House will be held on 8/7, he encouraged all to attends, and voting on the Vets cemetery in Orange County continues
Brandy from Columbia College at the JFTB shared the Fall semester begins on 8/26/19
The V.A. will hold Suicide Prevention training sessions at local Starbucks, approx.. 20 Vets commit suicide daily, they are targeting 18 to 34 year olds.
Congressman Lowenthal’s Rep announced that they handle casework for Vets
The Navy Federal Credit Union Rep announced new branches in Lakewood and Carson handling checking accounts, auto loans, and personal loans for military members
The Los Alamitos Field will host Hollywood Blonde with food trucks and many other activities
8/6/19 is National Night Out – many community services and organizations will be there
Congressman Jose A. Perez’s Rep spoke about H.R. 1896 supporting National Guard families, H.R. 1641 National Service Act for the American Legion and H.R. 712 Cannabis Research Act
Tom Boscamp, Coastline College thanked the Suicide Prevention program for training the faculty and staff on his campus
Shannon asked that we support the enlisted financial assistance program, Heroes Awaaards, 10 categories including Social Workers, a Launch party will be held on 8/10/19 and a Gala will be held at the Nixon Library on 11/3.
The Cypress College Foundation Rep, Howard, announced a new Veterans Center on campus, they are looking for additional employer partners, it should open in a year and a half
Dr. Jerry Friedman is the new Director of Safety and Student Services for the Los Alamitos Unified School District. In introducing Friedman to the school board at its recent meeting, Superintendent. Dr. Andrew Pulver said he was selected after a rigorous application process.
Friedman has served as a Principal and Director in the Savanna School District for the past 17 years and was honored as a California Administrator of the Year in 2015. He led two different sites through complete modernization projects requiring expertise in facilities, security, and technology enhancements focused on providing safe learning environments. Prior to his tenure in Savanna, Jerry taught a variety of grade levels and worked as an administrator in the ABC Unified School District for 12 years.
Friedman earned his bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from Cal State Long Beach, his master’s degree from National University, and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California. He is trilingual and fluent in English, Spanish and Japanese.
A Lebanese immigrant who built an influential business platform in America will speak to the Los Al Chamber of Commerce networking breakfast Friday, Sept. 6.
Tony Assali, the author of “Catch a White Tiger,” will be the guest speaker. The Chamber’s monthly breakfast is held at Maderas Steak & Ribs on Katella beginning at 7:30 a.m.
According to Assali’s website, when civil war broke out in Lebanon, Tony’s home country, his parents sent him to America with just $28 in his pocket. They hoped he would secure a foothold in the US so they could soon join him. But Tony did much more than that—he achieved the American dream.
Do you enjoy hummus? You might wish to thank Tony for bringing the tasty Mediterranean dish to American supermarkets in the 1980s—just one of the many feats of this serial entrepreneur. Along the way, Tony also built million-dollar companies in multiple sectors: apparel, food, retail, and real estate.
Time and again Tony has been rewarded for his kindness and something else—his ability to see business opportunities others can’t—or won’t due to their limited thinking. In his memoir: CATCH THE WHITE TIGER™, Tony reveals the secret to his success: kindness and unflinching confidence in his vision.
Tickets are $25 for members and military, $30 for guests. Attendees, military and members are asked to pre-pay for their tickets on the Chamber’s website, www.losalchamber.org.
Barnhill to present “Downtown” to Grampaw Pettibone Squadron
Captain Gary Barnhill, illustrious Air Force pilot whose missions included hazardous and challenging F-105 missions over North Vietnam in the highest threat air environment of the entire Viet Nam War, will share his presentation “Downtown, everything is waiting for you” from Petula Clark’s 1964 hit song.
The event, sponsored by the Grampaw Pettibone Squadron of the Association of Naval Aviation, will be held at the Elks Lodge #1952, 11551 Trask Ave., Garden Grove. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 12.
“Downtown” referred metaphorically to Hanoi. “Everything is Waiting for You” was the pilot’s gallows humor for the SAM missiles and Anti-Aircraft Artillery that greeted each entry into North Vietnam airspace. He will briefly describe flying the high-accident-rate F-100C in Europe
circa 1958 and sitting Nuclear Alert as a still maturing young lad of 22. The main topic is flying the F-105 Thunderchief in 1965 during Rolling Thunder; the air campaign to bomb targets in North Vietnam, which lasted until late 1969. He will “take you along” on an aerial refueling episode with an extremely unusual ending. He will also “take you along” on an interesting Hunter Killer “experimental” mission to find and destroy a SAM missile, which up to that time, had never been accomplished. After 11 years in USAF, there was a brief flirtation with CIA, a career with Trans World Airlines, air show performer, and founder of a B-747 pilot leasing firm.
Reservations required, please call (562) 287-4846, no later than noon on Wednesday 11 September. The cost is $18.
Including buffet lunch. You do not need to be a member to attend but please call the reservation phone number or send email to Tim Brown; ti****@*****il.com.
The Friday Night Lights Youth Flag Football league in Los Alamitos had their opening night at McAuliffe Middle School on Friday night. With over 1,500 boys and girls participating + 40 cheerleaders, the atmosphere was electric.
The school was packed with parents, grandparents, friends and relatives all enjoying a spectacular night of youth flag football. At the end of the night, 72 games were played, and everyone went home with smiles.
The league is in its 14th year and runs from August thru November with games taking place on Friday Nights at McAuliffe Middle School.
Friday Night Lights is all about having FUN while learning the great game of Football. The focus is on learning the skill positions of QB, WR & DB.
There is no blocking, tackling or head banging, just tons of FUN! If you didn’t get in on the action this fall, there is also a Spring FNL season with online registrations beginning Oct. 15th at www.LosALFNL.com.
The Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department is now accepting reservations for Escape Los Al! Escape Los Al is introducing two new rooms this fall: Delirium and Haunted House. In Delirium, a kooky criminal is fired from a world-renowned international laboratory and is out on the loose. Capture him before he destroys the world (ages 14+: maximum capacity = 8). In the Haunted House, a house has been sitting vacant for many years. A group of boys explores the house; one never leaves. Join in the search for the missing boy (family friendly: maximum capacity = 6).
Experience the original escape room in Los Alamitos this October and November at the Los Alamitos Community Center. Escape Los Al provides an interactive experience for small groups of family, friends, or coworkers. Reservations can be made seven days a week from 10:00am-10:00pm. Please visit the Los Alamitos Community Center today to schedule your reservation. Walk-in registrations are not accepted, and a reservation must be made 24 hours in advance. For more information, please call (562) 430-1073 or visit www.cityoflosalamitos.org/recreation for more details.
A long-awaited project on a 33-acre parcel at the intersection of Enterprise and Katella in Cypress could soon begin construction, according to a spokesperson for SRM Development.
In total, the project includes a three-story assisted living facility, a two-story memory care facility and two commercial pads of one-acre each.
Local resident George Pardon said he questioned the development company after they recently removed protective fencing around the site. He said the fencing had been there for more than two years.
He said the assisted living complex is being called Westmont Assisted Living Cypress. The developer plans to start construction in September or early October, expecting final construction permits to be issued by the city soon.
The construction is expected to take 16 months, he added.
Pardon reported that the company released an architect’s rendition of the proposed complex which also shows the entire development site that had been earlier approved by the Cypress city council.
According to specs issued by the Cypress Planning Commission, the project will include a spacious assisted living facility with 24 studio apartments, 60 one-bedroom apartments and 15 two-bedroom apartments.
The memory care facility plans to offer 16 memory care units with a total of 20 beds.
In total, the assisted living facility (far right) will offer 114 beds for assisted living tenants, with two meals a day, wine bar and other incentives.
Pardon said as yet, there are no announcements related to the two commercial pads at the intersection of Enterprise and Katella, though the specs call for a hardscape plaza to be included
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 cr*********@**is.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
