For 5 years now, the Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF) has helped to bring STEAM programs into all 9 of the Los Alamitos Unified school campuses by offering free STEAM classes, providing STEAM Fairs at all schools, and sponsoring a district-wide STEAM showcase for all students to participate in. LAEF is committed to inspiring children to pursue careers in the areas of science, technology, engineering, the arts and math through its annual STEAM Initiative.
The LAEF STEAM Initiative is funded by generous donations to the annual King and Queen of Hearts campaign. This year’s campaign ended on Friday, February 8th at the coronation gala and raised a record $215,000. With these funds, LAEF is able to provide the STEAM classes and STEAM Fairs free of charge to the students. LAEF not only provides all the instructors for the 4-week classes, but also provides the materials for student projects. LAEF is proud to inspire more kids in the district each year as the STEAM Initiative continues to grow with more participants!
The entire community is invited to the STEAM Showcase on Saturday, April 6th from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in the Los Alamitos High School Gym. The Showcase is free of charge! Students of all ages will present their projects and have their work on display for all to see. STEAM professionals will also be on-hand to provide interactive booths that will introduce students to career opportunities.
STEAM Fairs will be held on all 9 school campuses this Spring where students will present their STEAM projects to their peers. Every year the STEAM Fairs continue to grow in numbers and students look forward to touring the fairs.
LAEF is the non-profit partner of Los Alamitos Unified School District. LAEF enhances educational excellence in our community by providing after-school and summer enrichment programs to Pre-K to 12th grade students. For more information, visit www.LAEF4kids.org/steam or call (562) 799-4700 Ext. 80424 today!
Pictured below are candidates from the 2018-19 King & Queen of Hearts Campaign.
Pictured from left to right: Jen Rohdenburg, Paul Rohdenburg, Rachael DeMarco, Tony DeMarco, Linda Sagen, George Sagen, Vhenus Belisle and Jim Belisle.
Cypress College students Madison Morris and Raymond Pi Oliver are semifinalists for the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced that the pair were selected from a pool of nearly 1,500 applicants representing 369 colleges across 45 states and the District of Columbia.
Morris, a Placentia resident, is preparing for a career in the medical field. Oliver, from the City of Cypress, is part of Cypress College’s (STEM)2 Program.
“I think it speaks volumes to the quality of education I have received at Cypress College,” Morris said of her selection as a semifinalist. “Thanks to the instruction and support I have received here, I am now a contender for a highly competitive national scholarship. Thank you, Cypress College, for making this possible! I am incredibly excited, honored, and grateful for this opportunity to be considered by a national foundation such as the JKCF.”
Oliver has completed research at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi as one of 319 community college students from across the United States and recently represented the (STEM)2 Program as a speaker at the groundbreaking for Cypress College’s new Science, Engineering, and Math Building.
Cooke Foundation finalist Raymond Pi Oliver
“I owe so much to Cypress College, the Science, Engineering, and Math Division, and the EOPS and Honors programs — and, in particular, the (STEM)2 Program,” said Oliver, who dropped out of high school because of financial hardship. “Coming to Cypress College has absolutely changed my life. When I was still homeless during my first two semesters, I came to love Cypress College and regard our beautiful campus as a second home. I would be nothing without this college.”
The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship recipients will be announced in April. Each selected scholar will be provided generous financial support for up to three years, college planning services, ongoing advising, and the opportunity to connect with a thriving community of fellow Cooke Scholars.
“Countless highly-talented and motivated students begin their college experience at community college, and our recent ‘Persistence’ report shows that they excel after they transfer,” said Seppy Basili, executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. “We’re pleased to recognize this incredible cohort of semifinalists for their academic drive and achievement.”
A list of this year’s Cooke Transfer Scholar Semifinalists, their community colleges, and their hometowns is available at: https://www.jkcf.org/our-stories/2019-cooke-transfer-scholar-semifinalists.
Cooke Transfer Scholars are selected based on exceptional academic ability and achievement, financial need, persistence, service to others, and leadership. Students must be currently enrolled community college students residing in the United States.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is dedicated to advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded $190 million in scholarships to nearly 2,500 students from 8th grade through graduate school, along with comprehensive counseling and other support services. The Foundation has also provided over $100 million in grants to organizations that serve such students. Information is available at www.jkcf.org.
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 city formerly known as Waterville and Dairy City, which we know today as Cypress, has a rich history and may soon be the subject of a book.
Local historian John Olson was the speaker at the March 2 meeting of the Friends of Cypress Library, and a sizable crowd came out to hear him tell tales of Cypress’ days of yore, specifically from 1940-1970.
Olson has made a hobby of learning and passing on Orange County history, and there have been talks of him writing a book about Cypress history in particular.
Olson’s presentation was, in his words, “the outline” of part of the book.
The attendees, which included Mayor Stacy Berry and many who have spent their whole lives in Cypress, enjoyed hearing about a Native American skull and other bone fragments being found during excavation in 1965 at the Old Cypress Library (now the Boys and Girls Club), giving further legitimacy to the original inhabitants of the area being Native Americans. This particular skull was determined to be 400 years old, and from the Chumash tribe.
And just where did Cypress get its name from?
It had been known as Waterville, and Dairy City, but when cypress trees were built around the local school to provide protection from the Santa Ana winds, the school began to be identified as the Cypress School, and in 1895 the Cypress School District was formed.
In 1957 the city was officially named Cypress.
Stories and photographs were shared of when Cypress and the surrounding area was nothing but vast agricultural fields, and of the businesses that popped up in the area, like Hugh LaRue’s impeccable, well-stocked general store.
The drama that led up to the city eventually becoming just that, a city, was shared. The audience was educated on the long back-and-forth over whether to incorporate into an actual city or remain unincorporated land, dividing the dairy farmers and the others.
It was shared that at one point, Cypress was the “big city” of the area and that when those from everywhere from Long Beach to Anaheim wanted to get out of their rural towns and go to the city, Cypress was the place to be.
White Gold Days, for example, used to draw a crowd from the whole county to Cypress each year, for a parade and festival.
Attendees enjoyed reliving Cypress’ good old days and discovering connecting to the past.
When a picture was shown from White Gold Days, of a young woman leading the parade on a float, a woman in the audience pointed out that that was her mother.
This school year the seven Boys & Girls Clubs in North Orange County (Anaheim, Brea-Placentia-Yorba Linda, Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra and Stanton) have partnered together through the North Orange County Public Safety Task Force to provide fun collaborative opportunities for teen Club members. These opportunities engage teens in activities that break down barriers, build greater awareness and understanding of cultural diversity, and encourage teamwork through fun. Each month one of the Boys & Girls Clubs from “The Big 7” host a fun, teens-only night for all partnering Club teens.
Boys & Girls Club members strike a pose at the photo booth during the Anti-Valentine Teen Night.
On Friday, Feb. 15, the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress hosted an Anti-Valentine Teen Night for over 140 Boys & Girls Club teens. The Anti-Valentine Night activities included “speed dating” icebreaker games, a healthy relationships workshop provided by Western Youth Services, and a delicious Italian dinner generously donated by Dominic’s Ristorante Italiano and Caterina’s Club. After the workshop, teen attendees enjoyed a variety of fun friendship-building activities such as karaoke, a movie screening, video game tournaments, a piñata, cookie decorating and much more. It was a great night bringing an amazing group of teen leaders together at the Club.
The Boys & Girls Club of Cypress will be opening a 1,600 square foot expansion to better serve teen Club members this Spring. The Bandai Teen Center will have room for 100 teen members and will enable the Club to offer even more leadership development projects for the teens in the local community. For more information about the teen program at the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress visit the website at www.BGCCypress.org, call 714-527-2697 or stop by the Club at 10161 Moody St. in Cypress.
Tax Expert Evelyn Sandoval will be the guest speaker at the Cypress Chamber of Commerce Networking Breakfast Tuesday, March 12th at the Residence Inn by Marriott (4931 Katella Avenue, Los Alamitos) at 7:30 a.m.
Evelyn Sandoval is the Director of Finance & Administration at Redline Detection, and a Senior Tax Analyst with H&R Block with over 18 plus years of experience. In addition, as an Accounting Instructor at Cypress College, she is involved in sharing her passion and knowledge by teaching those headed toward a career in finance.
Evelyn has spent the last 18 years working and learning everything there is to know about our income tax laws. She knows how to interpret them implement them to our tax advantage for both maximizing our refunds and reducing the tax liability. Staying current with tax law changes and her experience as a financial advisor, she is known for helping, educating, and supporting clients to develop a strategic annual and future tax planning.
She will share some of the important changes for this year’s taxes as well as share some tips to help make the process smoother for businesses and individuals.
Reservations are suggested for the monthly breakfasts and can be made directly on the Cypress Chamber website at cypresschamber.org. Cost of the breakfast is $20 in advance or $25 for nonmembers or those who do not register in advance. Attendees are 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. For more information, call (714) 484-6015 or visit www. Cypresschamber.org.
If a picture speaks a thousand words, then Sir Matthew Bourne’s astounding
re-imagined tale of Cinderella is akin to the 2010 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, which consisted of 32 volumes for a total of 32,640 pages. In this production, not a word is spoken as every detail is clearly illustrated through his remarkable direction and choreography, combining traditional ballet elements with freewheeling, exaggerated modern dance movements.
From the moment the curtain rose revealing the ravages of war-torn London in 1940, as created by award-winning set and costume designer Lez Brotherston, Bourne’s astonishing interpretation of this ageless romantic fairytale was danced to perfection and every detail of the drama clearly enunciated as executed by his company of skilled ballet dancers. With bombed-out buildings looming on stage left and right, we are taken into the interior of the family home.
Poor Cinderella, excellently danced by lovely Ashley Shaw, is issued commands by the deliciously wicked stepmother Sybil, played by Madelaine Brennan who is truly the naughty spit that holds the family together. Treated like a scullery maid instead of a family member, Cinderella must obey her mean stepsisters danced by Sophia Hurdley as Irene and Anjali Mehra as Vivien. The stepbrothers are equally obnoxious as interpreted by Jackson Fisch as Malcolm, Daniel Wright as Vernon, and Stephen Murray as Elliot. Rounding out the family is the father Robert, played by Alan Vincent. Their collective dislike of Cinderella is clearly delineated through their complex moves.
In a quiet moment, our poor waif picks up a beautiful wrap that belongs to Sybil and holds it to her face. She, of course, is royally chewed out for daring to touch something that does not belong to her. In another quiet moment, Cinderella does a sweet dance with a mannequin, which under Bourne’s riveting direction, transforms into a live man and a haunting dance sequence follows, clearly indicating the love that is locked deep inside of her.
Echoing the traditional story line, the family receives an invitation to a ball and as you already know, our heroine is excluded. As the family machinations continue, sirens blare, one of the special sound effects designed by Paul Groothuis. Using the music of Prokofiev, he also designed the musical score, which was recorded by a 60-piece orchestra and sounded like the orchestra was actually in the pit. A blackout ensues, which was followed by a dramatic dance sequence, with some of the dancers wearing gas masks as they survey the carnage that lay before them.
Despite the war, the ball is a go and is being held at The Café de Paris, a London dance hall. Now, we all know that Cinderella will be going to that ball and in the traditional tale, her fairy Godmother comes to her rescue. But, in this stylized interpretation, that role has been transformed into The Angel, as danced by the most extraordinary Liam Mower, whose exaggerated movements bordered on otherworldly or yes, heavenly. So, this young, rather plain girl, is transformed into a radiantly beautiful young woman and at long last she meets the prince, but this time he’s a RAF airplane pilot named Harry, played by Andrew Monaghan. Their eyes meet and an erotic sequence unfolds.
In the meantime, despite the war being waged all around them, the wicked stepmother and her nasty children are having a great time as expressed through the raucus drinking scene, with impressive acrobatics executed by the corps de ballet, augmented by the exquisite lighting by Neil Austin, adding to the overall stunning look of the production. Lest we forget, Cinderella is under strict instructions that she must leave by midnight and a giant ticking clock looms in the background. At the stroke of Midnight our beautiful heroine flees, accidentally losing one of her beautiful sparkly sapphire blue shoes, which Harry picks up.
Subsequently, a gang of men attacks our hero and he winds up in a convalescence home, a particularly interestingly staged sequence wherein Bourne uses white medical screens manipulated around the stage by a team of “doctors and nurses.” Coincidentally, Cinderella, who was injured in a bomb blast, winds up in the same facility. Wicked stepmother has her eye on Harry for one of her daughters and the entire family shows up en masse to visit the injured pilot. When mean Sybil his sees her stepdaughter in a nearby bed recovering from her wounds, she tries to eliminate the competition but is stopped dead in her tracks by the watchful hospital personnel. Well, we all know what happens next. Harry has the matching shoe and we assume they will live happily ever after.
Divided into three acts with two intermissions, which in this case is welcome so the audience can catch their collective breath and give this extraordinary dance troop time to change into more of Brotherston’s delicious period costumes. The action takes place in a variety of locations including the pilot’s lodgings, the streets of London and its underground, a Thames embankment, and Paddington Station, each of which is clearly illustrated by his spot-on set design. When you combine Bourne’s masterful direction and choreography with all the extraordinary technical elements, including Duncan McLean’s compelling projections, the combined artistic designs culminate in creating this glorious New Adventures Production achieving a magical, rare evening of theatre that will linger in your senses for a long time.
d“Bye Bye Birdie” is a loving send-up of the early 1960s, small-town America, teenagers, and rock and roll and still remains as fresh and vibrant as ever. When teen heartthrob Conrad Birdie gets drafted, his manager, Albert Peterson, must act quickly to grant Birdie one last performance. With the help of his secretary, Rose Alvarez, Conrad Birdie is set to kiss All-American girl Kim MacAfee for a very public farewell kiss. With songs that you’ll love and performances that will make you laugh, “Bye Bye Birdie” is a show that is sure to be a joy for the entire family!
Where: Los Alamitos Performing Arts Center
When: March 7 at 3:30 pm and 7 pm
March 8th at 7 pm
March 9th at 2 pm.
How much: Tickets are $15
Head to losaldrama.org for tickets and more information.
Hey, Mr. Genie, how about flying audiences on your magic carpet to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts where “Aladdin, the Musical” is playing March 6 – 23, 2019. Once upon a time an ‘A’ ride ticket symbolized the crème de la crème of the Magic Kingdom. Disney’s animated films have ventured onto Broadway and now its newest blockbuster musical, “Aladdin”, is off on an ‘A’ ticket tour as Disney waves the magic wand and Abracadabra, behold an enchanting tale of Arabian nights, young lovers and dastardly doings that is an elaborate feast for the eyes and ears. This is a Disney production so expect great music, extravagant sets, gorgeous costumes, captivating choreography and always a bonus, plenty of humor. Add in a talented cast and energetic ensemble and call it sensational.
Among the first-rate leads is Johnathan Weir who plays the evil Jafar, villain of the piece. This isn’t Weir first ride on the Disney train, he ruled as Scar in “The Lion King.” He says “some might associate the villain with me, I could title my memoirs ‘From Scar to Jafar,’ but I actually appreciate and have enjoyed playing a wide scope of characters in my career.”
Weir admits that being a part of “Aladdin” was particularly appealing because it’s a Disney production. He says “Disney is a world class operation, always elaborate, always spectacular. Our touring show is the equal of what Broadway audiences have been seeing. It’s a fully realized production with all the magic, sparkle and wonder of a great creative team at the top of their game. Everything from Alan Menken’s music to Greg Barnes costumes to Casey Nichclaw’s direction and choreography is well thought out, good entertainment. They just do it right.”
Audiences, especially millennials, will be familiar with “Aladdin,” the classic story, set in the Arabian city of Agrabah about a poor youth who is granted three wishes by a Genie in a lamp which he uses to win a Princess and to thwart Sultan’s evil Vizier, Jafar.
Jafar is just about as wicked as it gets as is his henchman Lago who in the animated version is a dirty bird morphed into a horrid human being on stage. This, incidentally, opens up the stage adaptation for new songs and is one of the differences between the film and the musical.
Jafar is the villain of the plot and that’s fine with Weir who likes playing characters with strong points of view, saying “It’s good to be bad!” He continues, “Villains don’t think they’re doing anything bad. They think they’re doing the best thing possible, albeit for themselves. So, it fun to play the cunning, sly and powerful antagonist who clearly gives an entirely different perspective to the story. Jafar has a singular goal, absolute power and this leads to his downfall.”
JONATHAN WEIR (Jafar). Broadway: Disney’s The Lion King (Scar/Pumbaa). National tours: Jersey Boys (Gyp DeCarlo); The Lion King; Scrooge the Musical. Chicago credits: King Charles III and Twelfth Night (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); The Merry Widow (Lyric Opera Chicago); 2666, Candide, The Visit and A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre); Stepping Out (Steppenwolf Theatre); Days Like Today, The Liar, A Little Night Music, Arms and the Man, Misalliance (Writers Theatre); Ragtime & Camelot (Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre). Adjunct Professor Theatre Theater, Loyola University Chicago.
Playing Jafar does have it challenges admits Weir. For example, the elaborate make-up takes about 40 minutes to apply and his extravagant costume, while stunning, weighs in at twenty to twenty-five pounds. That’s a lot of fabric to be hauling around night after night. Weir says another of the huddles he faced in his interpretation of Jafar is “Jonathan Freeman, who originated the role, has a distinctive voice. So when I was recreating my Jafar, I knew a lot of the architecture, the image that people have of the character with his rich, deep voice. As a result my voice has dropped. The voice is a muscle, it stretches, it transforms so it has definitely gotten lower. Yeah, it’s a challenging role but Jafar is a great character to play because he’s an iconic Disney villain and he’s so richly drawn.”
There are a few other differences between the movie and what audiences see on stage. As noted above, Lago is no longer an animal and neither is Abu, the monkey who represented Aladdin’s three best friends. As Weir explains it, “Originally, in the interest of time, the friends were put in the trunk. When the musical was adapted to the stage, the script writers brought out the boys because they had all these great songs for them. In many ways, audiences are getting the intended version of the animated feature.”
Weir continues, “What’s stays the same is the carpet flies, there’s magic, fireworks, dazzle and bling onstage. Especially spectacular are the 350 plus costumes. In the dreamlike Prince Ali number there are 100 costume changes in less than a minute. So yeah, the show is spellbindingly brilliant.”
The moment in the show that resonates with Weir is the opening number “Arabian Nights” which he says “is the only time the entire company is on stage together. I like it that we are all there, singing to the audience as the characters are introduced by the narrator. It’s just a cool moment, all of us being together.”
Weir may savor the opening number and the creatively staged, swashbuckling “High Adventure” is his favorite song. However, the song/dance scene he watches from the wing is at the end of Act 1 when Genie explains to Aladdin about the three wishes. Weir says “Genie, Aladdin and the ensemble perform for about 13 minutes comprised of two songs. The ensemble just blasts their way through the two and one/half show with high spirits. The ensemble is the real engine of the show and that Act 1 finish is a powerhouse number, my favorite.”
“Aladdin” is a show that can be enjoyed by all ages. As Weir says “It’s got comedy that’s funny to kids and sophisticated humor that’s appealing to young couples. It has an adult theme about a young man wanting to make his departed mother proud and about a young couple falling in love. Most importantly its theme deals with coming of age and realizing truth, honesty and being real are what is important.
Weir is excited to sprinkle some of Disney’s magic dust on audiences at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. “Aladdin” will be playing at Segerstrom Hall, March 6 -23, 2019. For tickets and information: online, SCFTA.org; phone 714-556-2787; The Box Office, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
In a ceremony nearly 50 years in the making, the Queen of England and the United States Air Force have honored 28 professionals for their collective contribution to the invention of a system of global positioning that has given society a tool to literally remake the way it operates.
Tom Logsdon, of Seal Beach, was one of those 28 inventors honored Friday at a special ceremony in Los Angeles. “It was such an honor to be recognized,” he said.
In addition to the presentations, the event premiered a documentary film, “The Lonely Halls,” which tells the story of GPS and Dr. Brad Parkinson, generally accepted as being the “Father of the Global Positioning System (GPS).
Logsdon and his wife Cyndy, a graphic artist who is uniquely able to transform his geometric charts into readable graphics.
Logsdon enjoyed an outstanding career at Rockwell (later Boeing) as a rocket scientist. He recognizes his good fortune in being given an essential assignment back when scientists and engineers were still exploring ways to coordinate satellites in space to provide exact positioning on earth.
In addition to the U.S. Air Force, Queen Elizabeth this week announced the “Queen’s Prize for Engineering” will go to the team of 28 inventors, even if only the top four (of which Logsdon was not one) shared a cash prize. Nevertheless, Logsdon is deeply touched by being named as one of the inventors of GPS.
“We have awarded the prize to [an American team of inventors] who have invented a system to enable all of us to know where we are, what time is it and where we are going,” said Lord Browne of Madingly, Chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Foundation.
“Everything in the modern world, more or less, today depends on this technology (gps),” he said, including transportation, banking, agriculture, medicine, and the “smart phones in our pockets.”
Logsdon and his wife Cyndy, a graphic artist who is uniquely able to transform his geometric charts into readable graphics.
Back in 1973, however, it was a much different world; the internet was still a defense research project, computers were archaic, and maps were still printed on paper. It was a very long time ago.
Logsdon’s journey had begun in eastern Kentucky, quickly learning to do math magic at Springfield High School, then Eastern Kentucky University, then grad school at the University of Kentucky.
Out west, as the space race heated up, a coastal section of California from Huntington Beach to LAX began to attract America’s best and brightest to populate the incredible array of defense and technology companies engaged in the effort.
As a geometric mathematician, Logsdon got his start at McDonnel Douglas in Santa Monica. Later, at Rockwell, Logsdon remembers his date with destiny in 1973. “My boss called me in and said ‘I have an assignment for you.”
To hear Logsdon tell it, on a day when the Pentagon “was closed for some reason,” the lights in a conference room shone bright as top brass determined they needed a global positioning system using satellites.
They were going to ask for proposals and Rockwell, already a defense contractor, wanted in.
The conversation occurred between Logsdon and his boss, Dick Meston. “We are going to bid on a new satellite constellation,” said Meston, “and we have to be able to see four satellites at every point of the world all the time.” And, Meston told Logsdon, “they can’t be in a straight line across the sky.”
He told Logsdon he had five weeks to figure it out.
Despite the corporate pressure, Logsdon said he was smiling inside because he knew “this was the perfect assignment for a geometric mathematician.”
Assignment in hand, Logsdon went to work. Instead of reaching for his very basic computer or a slide rule, however, Logsdon pulled out his trademark oversize quad pad (4 times) and his color markers. For Logsdon, working in color helps to visualize complex equations and patterns.
Quickly, using equations, Logsdon figured out that the required satellites in the constellation “couldn’t be bunched up,” nor could they be “all on the horizon.”
Then came other challenges, how to figure out how long would it take for a satellite to lap other satellites in the projected orbits?
Given five weeks by Rockwell, Logsdon took only three days before the ‘eureka’ moment. Using a geometric math equation with no more than eight, maybe ten, symbols and enumerators, “ Logsdon figured how the satellites could orbit in a constellation and comply with the requirements necessary to triangulate and create geographic positioning on earth.
‘I just needed scattered geometry to solve this problem,” he said this week.
Logsdon’s “Rockwell Constellation” would eventually consist of three rings of eight orbiting satellites encapsulating the earth. The math magic he’d learned in Kentucky would, for the first time, provide the Pentagon, and eventually, the rest of us, with the orbital geometry necessary for a global positioning system.
Later, once his work was validated by the Pentagon, government contracts awarded to Rockwell and one-by-one, each of the satellites were eventually launched to take their place in the constellation Logsdon had etched onto his quad pad.
The Rockwell rocket scientist would go on to write two books on GPS and give more than 200 speeches around the world on the subject.
After determining the orbits, Logsdon had again used geometry and math to figure out the “force multiplying effects” that the GPS technology could add to various military and other missions. As the technology grew, so did the appetite for knowledge surrounding it and Logsdon was asked to speak from coast-to-coast.
Of course, Logsdon, now 81, has long since retired but is still active. He teaches four GPS courses and has written more than 20 books, including textbooks, GPS, and other subjects. His book, “Six simple creative solutions that shook the world,” became a best seller.
Even today, Logsdon still lectures on GPS and he’s now following newer, competitive technologies being developed by India, Russia, China, Japan and the European Union.
As a rocket scientist, Logsdon made many other contributions to the success of the American space program. He was recognized for increasing the performance of the Saturn V by nearly 5,000 pounds, saving the program $3.5 billion for its remaining missions (equivalent to the lifetime earnings of 1,000 Americans). He also helped masterminded a cryogenically cooled infrared Space Telescope for a Mars mission and other robotic missions headed to asteroids.
In a lighter moment, he once told an ABC television interviewer that the role of a trajectory mathematician was “before the flight, we predict where the space capsule will go. Then, after the flight, we try to explain why it didn’t go there.”
In one of his more notable years at Rockwell, when there were 44 projects turned in to the U.S. Air Force, Logsdon’s survivability assessment project was the only one of Rockwell’s projects to receive a rating of a perfect 10. After that, they nicknamed Logsdon “Bo Derek.”
For Logsdon, it was not about being perfect, but about smart. When given seemingly impossible tasks, he used his mind and color markers to make the world an easier place to navigate.
For the rest of us, we can be happy he found his way here from Eastern Kentucky so many years ago.
While discussing the hiring of a consultant to come aboard to assist the city of Los Alamitos through its serious financial situation, Mayor Warren Kusomoto reminded city manager Bret Plumlee that he wants to know “everything” and that he wants to see a “work product,” not necessarily a “carved out” job for a consultant.
The exchange came after a presentation by Plumlee on the city’s ongoing efforts to address fiscal sustainability. At the city’s last meeting, it was disclosed that the city could be broken in seven years if the financial trajectory was not changed.
“You cannot overstate the importance of this,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Richard Murphy at the council’s last meeting, referring to the acknowledge of the city’s challenging financial situation. “This is bleak. The overall momentum is cascading against us,” he said.
Plumlee was updating the council on their ongoing meetings and strategy and said the city was “fortunate” that Professor David Cain was available to come aboard to help the city plan for the sustainable fiscal future.
Plumlee said the city had budgeted 220 hours for Cain this year and would make an allocation for 440 consulting hours next year should the city want to continue working with him. According to the staff report, Cain would be paid approximately $65 per hour.
“The City is fortunate to have Mr. David Cain available,” said Plumlee, adding that the former “will help us develop our long-term sustainability, community July – educating the community and I’m excited for the possibility.”
Plumlee’s written recommendation said Cain has more than 25 years of experience in leading Finance Departments and developing budgets and long-term fiscal sustainability plans and 45 years of professional managerial experience in both public and private sector finance.
In addition, Cain is the retired Director of Finance and Treasurer for the City of Fountain Valley. Professor David Cain teaches Public Budgeting and Financial Administration, Public Sector Labor Relations, Public Policy Analysis and Human Resource Management at CSUN, CSULB and CalPoly where he brings a practical approach to field of public finance, labor relations, public policy analysis and Human Resource Management, among a number of other qualifications.
Nevertheless, even though the Council had no objection to the recommendation, Kusumoto told Plumlee that “I would caution you” to ensure that any consultant hired on the project is qualified for delivering a result.
“When you start talking about the individual, I get a little bit uncomfortable,” said Kusomoto. “What I want you to understand is the relationship between the position and what we have to get out of it from a work product,” he said, “and how it interacts with the budget standing committee.”
“What this appears is like is that we carved out for a person to have work,” said Kusumoto, and “I know that was the furthest thing from your mind. But for clarity’s sake, we have a need to take an outsider’s view of what we do,” he said, and advised Plumlee to focus on the problem and refer to it as a “work product that you have to produce and this guy (Cain) can help you get there.”
Kusomoto further noted the seriousness of the situation by telling Plumlee “I want to know everything. “I want to see evidence of looking at every possibility,” said Kusomoto, including the possibility that the city outsources all services with contracts, considering the city’s “extraordinary problems.”
Kusumoto noted, however, that the “contract model” is an extreme solution.
While council members Shelley Hasselbrink and Mark Chirco are the city’s appointed representatives on the budget standing committee, Kusomoto made it clear, as did Murphy and member Dean Grose at the last meeting, they want to know every detail regarding the city’s options going forward so they can make informed decisions.
Plumlee said they were making “outstanding progress” developing a long-term plan and they are indeed “looking at everything (option).” With Cain’s help, said Plumlee, the task force will document every potentiality and eventually provide them to the Council – and the community – in a detailed document.
In other action, the city:
Heard Chief Eric Nunez introduce newly appointed school resource officer Shawn Watkins and other newly sworn in officers D’Angelo Gossett, Mark Ryan Navarro, of Carson, Eddie Gonzales, of Orange, Kevin Steinhauser, of Long Beach and Records Specialist Veronica Wilson.
Heard OC Human Relations Commission spokesperson Becky Esparza they were introducing new tools to enhance civil discourse in communities. “It’s more important now than ever before,” she said, because of the “strife locally and across our nation.”
Heard Nunez say reports of crime across the board were down in Los Alamitos, except for aggravated assaults, which were up.
Heard a report from James Peterson, Government Relations Manager for Southern California Edison, on its ongoing infrastructure improvements. He said the company serves approximately 27,000 commercial and residential customers in the city, including 16 circuits and 11 substations.
Voted to approve parts of proposed changes in Residential parking permits, though they agreed to send the “Carrier Row” section back to the traffic commission for another review.
The 2019 Race on the Base drew thousands of participants and hundeds of onlookers as the three-day event without a hitch.
“Overall, we are really happy with everything,” said Race Director Emeline Noda on Monday. “I really can’t recall a legitimate complaint over the entire weekend,” she said. Noda is also a recreation manger for the City of Los Alamitos.
Given the horrendous weather over the past three weeks, Noda said organizers were especially pleased with the turnout. She said 3,233 residents registered to participate in the various events.
“We are really trying to build it back up to levels of more than 4,000 participants,” said Noda, adding that the consistent threat of rain and inclement weather likely dissuaded many from attending.
More than 3,200 participants for this year’s Race on the Base
Noda said there were participants of all ages and it has become a family event.
She also thanked the many corporate and government sponsors and strategic partners, including the following:
Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base
California Military Department
500 Volunteers
Charities
NAF/MWR
Civil Air Patrol
The Pub at Fiddler’s Green
Navy Golf Course
AAFES
Sunburst Youth Academy
Los Alamitos City Council
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Commission
City of Los Alamitos Staff
RUN Racing
Gemini Timing
Senator Tom Umberg
Assemblyman Tyler Diep
Emcees
ASL Interpreters
National Anthem Singers
40+ Expo Vendors and Food Trucks
JFTB Fire
OCFA
Care Ambulance
Center Stage Productions
Big Top Rentals
Eagles Portables
American Rentals
24/7 Event Services
Powercell
In addition to the usual slate of activites, Noda said organizers added a new “Rucking 5K,” wherein runners had to carry a weighted “rucksack” on their backs the entire way.
“Everything went well,” she said, and the only thing she hopes will change for next year will be “better weather.”
After some years of being very fiscally conservative, the city of La Palma is now faced with somewhat of a pleasant conundrum—they have a surplus, and how ought it to be spent?
At last week’s City Council meeting, Administrative Services Director Sea Shelton provided the Mid-Year Operating Report for Fiscal Year 2018-19.
The city is overall in good standing. In past years, any surplus that existed, City Council opted to hold on to and not use, due to uncertainties.
But now, Council expressed, the city has gotten its financial feet under it and is in a position to spend some money.
Though the city’s official Budget Workshop will take place in April, at this Council meeting, the members heard and received the Mid-Year Operating Report, and could begin making some tentative decisions on what to do with the assets it has now.
Several options were presented for what to do with the surplus in the general fund.
Median improvement is something the city has wanted to do for a long time, on three of the city’s main streets. All members present—Council member Michele Steggell was absent—expressed support for the medians being a priority. They discussed the fact that surrounding cities are already ahead of them in this process; since the medians cannot be watered, cities must be creative and intentional about improving their appearances.
Council member Gerard Goedhart emphasized the importance of making investments in the community with the surplus, by following along the path they have already been on, which has included painting at city sites and improving streets.
Mayor Goodman agreed, saying of the medians in particular, “we have a footing,” so there’s no reason to wait for some future deadline or go through more negotiations as to whether surplus funds should be allocated for this purpose.
The possibility of building a dog park in La Palma has also been on the city’s mind in recent months, with two “Bark in the Park” events being held, where a simulated dog park was set up at the civic center and residents could bring their dogs and give city staff feedback and suggestions.
City staff said a formal report on the status of the dog park will be presented in the near future, but Goedhart said “I think there’s clear support for this” as something the city could create with these funds.
Other considerations are a new electronic reader board at the community center, as the current one has frequent glitches; additional allocation to the Civic Center Replacement Fund—the city expressed a goal of building a new City Hall in the next 20 years; additional allocation to the Emergency Reserve Fund; establishment of a Pension Stabilization Fund; and additional allocation to an OPEB (Other Post-Employment Benefits) Trust.
The Council was unanimous on the medians, but will continue to discuss the rest of the possibilities. The Budget Workshop will take place on Tuesday, April 23.
Los Alamitos Mayor Warren Kusumoto gave a shout out to Monday to local resident Edmund Rusinek, a 92-year-old engineer and Army veteran who lives in Rossmoor with his wife Krystyna.
On Feb. 8, Rusinek stopped by the neighborhood Chick-fil-A where he gave the manager a wad of cash, reportedly $1,500, along with the instructions to pay for service members and their families meals.
Since the article appeared originally in the Orange County Register, it has been widely reported and picked up by websites around the country.
The article contends that back in 1945, while attending training in Little Rock, Arkansas, he wanted to take a break from Army food and left the base for some ‘good ole Southern food.’ During the meal, Rusinek said an elderly gentleman walked up during the meal and asked if he could pay for their food. Apparently, the act of kindness was a lesson that Rusinek never forgot.
After the war, Rusinek was a Rockwell engineer and said in the article that he always wanted to pay the gift forward.
Kusomoto said he wanted to give a “shout out” to Rusinek for his good deed, saying he hoped all local citizens could “emulate” the kindness of the local veteran.
The Chick fil’a in Rossmoor is equidistant between the Joint Forces Training Base and the Seal Beach Naval Weapons station, so there was no shortage of active duty veterans to enjoy the free lunches.
The Event-News Enterprise announced this week that Liz Vucurevic has been named an account manager to serve the paper’s advertisers within the Los Alamitos trade area.
“We are very excited about the qualities Liz brings to our team,” said Group Publisher Steven Remery. “Liz has great energy and will be a great asset for us going forward,” he said, adding that the Event-News Enterprise is one of the Orange County Neighbor Newspapers flagship newspapers.
“I am looking forward to meeting local business owners and community leaders in our circulation area,” said Vucurevic. She said her sales and marketing experience will enable her to create effective advertising solutions for her accounts.
Following a ten-year stint in the software industry, Vucurevic completed her degree in Human Development at California State Long Beach. While raising her two daughters, Julia and Isabella, she sold promotional products to small businesses and later started her own business.
Vucurevic said she quickly realized the critical role that print advertising plays in connecting with the community, having used print ads to grow her business. She understands the product well, having often run ads in newspapers within the Event News parent company. “I know personally how effective print ads can be,” she said.
After selling her business to spend more time with her family, Vucurevic provided sales consulting for a German skincare company, later becoming the company’s SoCal training coordinator.
Now that her girls are grown, Vucurevic said she wanted to get back into the full-time workforce and is happy to have found a “great fit” with the Event News.
“I am extremely excited to help other small businesses grow by providing them with experience and creativity I used to grow mine,” she said. Liz will be handling accounts in the paper’s Los Alamitos territory with a goal of creating successful relationships with customers. She can be reached (562) 251-6626 or Liz@event-newsenterprise.com.
The Griffins Varsity Boys Volleyball team won an exciting three-set match over Servite to take the championship of the Redondo Union Volleyball Tournament on Saturday. Several Griffins took individual honors, including Jake Maffett, a senior outside hitter, who won the Redondo Tournament MVP. Others included Erik Weissinger, a junior setter named to the all-tournament team and Mac Beggs, a senior libero, named to the all-tournament team.
The Los Alamitos High School Boys Volleyball Team will host their first home game of the season on Wednesday (tonight), Feb. 27 at 5:30 p.m. Griffins Varsity Volleyball: Pictured above. L-R Erik Weissinger, Eric Allen, Sean Park, Tobias Murphree, Troy Bamberg, Josh Lorenz, Oliver Schulten, Luke Alvarez, Trevor Hart, Mac Beggs, Jake Bilbao, Jake Maffett, Noah Sanacore, Coach Sean Swetnam and Coach Katie Kelly. At right, Jake Maffett, a senior outside hitter won the Redondo Tournament MVP.
Since opening last summer, Mama’s Comfort Food & Cocktails in Los Alamitos committed to donating 25 cents for every scoop of ice cream served, to the Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF). LAEF recently learned that Mama’s has served 11,355 scoops of Thirty Ice Cream in that time.
On February 5, Mama’s co-owners Robert Corrigan and Pete Truxaw presented LAEF with a check for $3,000. Proceeds from the ice cream sales amounted to just over $2,800, but these generous co-owners insisted on rounding up. LAEF Vice President Brian Leibl accepted the check along with Treasurer Tom Lent, Director Felicia Gonzalez and Executive Director Carrie Logue.
“LAEF is thankful for the continued partnership with Mama’s and their commitment to supporting the kids of the Los Alamitos Unified School District,” said LAEF Executive Director Carrie Logue. With support from community organizations such as Mama’s, LAEF can continue to provide free after-school global language classes, support the salaries of district mental health counselors and continue promoting STEAM education.
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.
Cypress College President, Dr. JoAnna Schilling, was the keynote speaker. She shared her experiences of overcoming early failures following high school as well as her perseverance to push through these setbacks. Dr. Schilling stressed that, “When failure comes our way, we need to embrace it and not quit.”
Actor Glenn Edwards outlines his career path with Connor Franzen and Louie Gallagher.
Following her message, over 250 Los Al Griffins had the opportunity to meet in table talks with over 70 mentors from a wide range of professions. These career mentors included representatives in nursing, medical doctor, physical therapy, business, sales/marketing, airline pilot, education, law, engineering, fashion/design, performing arts, and film.
Students were encouraged to ask questions regarding educational paths the mentors took, future career possibilities in the field, pitfalls of the industry, and obstacles they may have overcome to get to their current position.
Unleash your inner “mad scientist” at Boys & Girls Club of Cypress’ Pop! Fizz! Splat! Spring Break Camp. This explosively fun weeklong program will run from March 11 through 15 at the Main Clubhouse located at 10161 Moody St. Boys & Girls Club of Cypress is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and provides fun, affordable activities for kids six years old and up.
Spring Break attendees will enjoy a variety of messy, fizzy, hands-on science experiments, as well as compete in multiple STEAM building challenges. Each day will feature a yummy food science project and cool takeaways to continue the fun at home. Arts and crafts projects, video games, outdoor games, and computer lab time will also be featured daily.
Optional field trips will be offered to John’s Incredible Pizza, Microsoft Store for video game design labs, and Laser Quest. On Friday, March 15, all members will enjoy a free field day at Veteran’s Park.
This entire all-inclusive program week is offered for less than $1.75 per hour. Choose the dates and times that work for you. Enroll for $100 per child or $25 for the day. A registration fee is required for new members. Family discounts are available for multiple children and scholarships are available for families who qualify. Daily snacks are included.
For more information, call Boys & Girls Club of Cypress at 714-527-2697, visit www.BGCCypress.org or stop by the Main Clubhouse located at 10161 Moody St.
Spring Break is going to be bigger and greater than ever before—don’t miss out.
This school year the seven Boys & Girls Clubs in North Orange County (Anaheim, Brea-Placentia-Yorba Linda, Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra and Stanton) have partnered together through the North Orange County Public Safety Task Force to provide fun collaborative opportunities for teen Club members. These opportunities engage teens in activities that break down barriers, build greater awareness and understanding of cultural diversity, and encourage teamwork through fun. Each month one of the Boys & Girls Clubs from “The Big 7” host a fun, teens-only night for all partnering Club teens.
Pictured are Boys & Girls Club of Cypress Teen Director Alejandra Villanueva, Cypress Police Department Officer Marshall, Boys & Girls Club of Cypress Unit Director Samantha Johnson, Laura Gil-Trejo and Soo Kang at the Anti-Valentine Teen Night.
On Friday, Feb. 15, the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress hosted an Anti-Valentine Teen Night for over 140 Boys & Girls Club teens. The Anti-Valentine Night activities included “speed dating” icebreaker games, a healthy relationships workshop provided by Western Youth Services, and a delicious Italian dinner generously donated by Dominic’s Ristorante Italiano and Caterina’s Club. After the workshop, teen attendees enjoyed a variety of fun friendship-building activities such as karaoke, a movie screening, video game tournaments, a piñata, cookie decorating and much more. It was a great night bringing an amazing group of teen leaders together at the Club.
The Boys & Girls Club of Cypress will be opening a 1,600 square foot expansion to better serve teen Club members this Spring. The Bandai Teen Center will have room for 100 teen members and will enable the Club to offer even more leadership development projects for the teens in the local community. For more information about the teen program at the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress visit the website at www.BGCCypress.org, call 714-527-2697 or stop by the Club at 10161 Moody St. in Cypress.
On Monday, Feb. 25, professional opera singer and magician Patrick Bell performed for the lunch program provided by SeniorServ at the Cypress Senior Center. Patrick started singing professionally at the age of 13 and his performance was enjoyed by 83 people who attended the birthday celebration.
Mr. Bell performs for the seniors. Courtesy photo
Lunch is served daily and adults 60 years and older are requested to make a suggested donation of $3. If you are under 60 years of age there is a charge of $5 per meal.
The Cypress Senior Center is located at 9031 Grindlay Street, just south of Lincoln Avenue and about a mile west of Valley View Street in Cypress. For more information please call 714-229-2005. Information about other services at the Cypress Senior Center may also be found on the Cypress Recreation & Community Services’ website at cypressrec.com.
