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Police Blotter

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Police Blotter

LOS ALAMITOS

Aug. 3

Disturbing subject – 12:03 p.m. – Wallingsford Rd./Katella Ave.

Caller reported a male subject who was throwing his boots at vehicles. Another caller reported the same subject. The subject was described as a white male, in his 30s, wearing a baseball cap and dark colored clothing. The same subject was believed to be the subject of a call the day prior. The subject was moving towards Long Beach when patrol contacted him. The subject was advised and agreed to comply.

 

Aug. 4

Suspicious person – 10:18 a.m. – 1000 block of Regan St.

Caller reported a white female, in her 30s had gone into Casa Youth Shelter half naked. The shelter had given the woman clothes but she did not put them on. The subject had a baby stroller and was confused and talking about conspiracy theories. Patrol contacted the subject, who checked out ok.

 

LA PALMA

Aug. 9

Patrol check – 3:03 p.m. – La Palma/Walker

Caller reported a black male with a hooded sweatshirt with his hands in his pockets who was walking though the Walmart parking lot from La Palma Ave. the subject was wearing grey sweats and carrying a subway bag. Patrol contacted the subject who checked out ok. The subject was a juvenile who had family at the La Palma Towers.

 

Aug. 9

Burglary report – 12:50 p.m. – 8500 block of Santa Margarita

Caller reported two subjects, both white males, who appeared to be tampering with the lock. One of the subjects appeared to have a bag of tools at his feet. The caller was no longer in the area. Patrol checked the building and found the front door locked and secure. There were two key lock boxes on the door. The rear and side of the building checked out ok as well. There were no signs of forced entry.

 

CYPRESS

Aug. 9

Transient—7:49 a.m.—Graham St./Ball Rd.

A woman was carrying bags, talking to herself and waving her arms. Police spoke with her. She was a transient, new to the area. She was advised and agreed to comply.

Grand theft report—8:23 a.m.—no address given

A guest at a hotel reported that overnight, someone had taken approximately $1,193 worth of tools from the bed of his truck in the parking lot. They had cut the chain holding them in place. Prosecution was desired. A report was taken.

Vehicle burglary—10:35 a.m.—9300 block of Valley View St.

Someone had broken into the reporting party’s car, taking at least one car seat, and keying a derogatory message about Immigration and Customs Enforcement on the hood. The car owner was a government employee.

Transient—3:33 p.m.—6000 block of Lincoln

A male transient was asleep at a bus stop in front of a business with his buttocks exposed. Police responded.

 

Aug. 10

Keep the peace—12:43 a.m.—6200 block of Lincoln Ave.

There were unregistered guests in a room at a hotel. They were not the people that had paid and registered for the room. The reporting party wanted them to leave. Police assisted.

Family disturbance—1:42 a.m.—5400 block of Oxford Dr.

A daughter and mother were in a verbal fight. The daughter, allegedly a drug addict, had just moved in with her mother from out of state. Their neighbor had also called to report that this fighting had gone on for multiple nights. Police assisted.

Suspicious person—3:25 a.m.—Bloomfield Ave./Lincoln Ave.

There were reports of three male subjects out on the street, one of whom was holding an axe. Police were unable to locate them.

Family disturbance—11:35 p.m.—4500 block of Marion Ave.

A woman was in a disturbance with her husband. He was in a different room in the house, and she said that he was drunk. Their son was also home. The son and mother began fighting. The woman was being uncooperative on the phone, and the line was disconnected. Police called her back. She repeatedly said that her husband wanted to hit her, but he did not. They went to the house, and spoke with the husband and wife. The disturbance had been verbal only.

 

Aug. 13

Domestic violence report—12:17 a.m.—4900 block of Ariano Dr.

A woman reported that her husband came after her with a knife, took her phone and stood over her with a baseball bat and threatened to break her legs. The man was taken into custody.

Disturbing subject—8:36 a.m.—6800 block of Katella Ave.

A female employee was yelling at an employee inside a business. The business had had ongoing problems with this female. She left and was gone by the time police arrived.

Suspicious person—5:05 p.m.—9200 block of Bloomfield

A man was walking slowly around an apartment complex that he did not live in, and looked in a carport, in a way that made the reporting party think he was looking for something to steal. Police were unable to locate him.

 

Aug. 22

Suspicious circumstances—2:10 a.m.—1000 block of Saint George Cir.

A man believed he heard someone trying to get into his house. He found a window ajar also, and believed he scared them off. Police were unable to locate anyone in the area, and counseled the caller.

Identity theft—9 a.m.—6000 block of Nauru St.

An unknown suspect used an individual’s information to attempt to open a Bloomingdale’s account, and then used the individual’s Macy’s card to make purchases. The caller was counseled and a log number was issued.

Vehicle fire—10:50 a.m.—6000 block of Orange Ave.

An individual saw a fire in the trunk of a car at a Shell station. The flames spread nearer to a nearby apartment complex. Traffic lanes were shut down and the fire was put out. OCFA handled it.

Suspicious person—11:40 a.m.—5700 block of Orange Ave.

A man was talking to himself and going in and out of the girls restroom. The reporting party said the man did not appear to be transient, just possibly under the influence of something. Police spoke with the man.

Criminal threats report—4:51 p.m.—5400 block of Twin Lakes Dr.

An individual had been receiving messages and threatening pictures from an unknown suspect on Instagram, saying they would harm the individual and their friend. A report was taken.

Welfare check—4:53 p.m.—no address given

A man was laying on a bench in front of a Korean restaurant, across the street from Forest Lawn. Police checked on him. He then went on his way.

DUI—4:57 p.m.—Cypress Police Department

It was reported that a couple was drinking alcohol in the parking lot, and then got rid of their trash in the cans in front of the Civic Center before driving off. Police were unable to locate them.

Suspicious occupied vehicle—11:19 p.m.—5000 block of Newman St.

A group was sitting in a vehicle smoking. Someone was heard saying something about meth. Police took Korissa Lovelady and Sheryl Jassel Pineda into custody, the former on health and safety violation charges, and the latter for “carrying a concealed dirk or dagger.”

 

UnitedHealthcare helps children for school with supplies

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UnitedHealthcare helps children for school with supplies

Starting school without the tools needed to succeed can put big obstacles in a developing child’s way. Backpacks and essential school supplies are imperative to help get children mentally, emotionally and physically prepared for school.
To help children prepare for the upcoming school year, UnitedHealthcare employees proudly donated 490 backpacks for underprivileged children in the community. Each backpack was filled with school essentials—such as notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers, markers, calculators, folders and paper. The backpacks were donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress, Casa Youth Shelter in Los Alamitos, Olive Crest in Bellflower, Community Action Partnership of Orange County and Boys & Girls Club of Garden Grove.
New backpacks and supplies give children a sense of pride and excitement to go back to school. With these tools, children are more likely to attend school and complete homework—knowing they have the same chance at school success as their peers.

Different Pathways to Success

Robert Ostmann
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Different Pathways to Success

Owen Ryan watches a laser spit sparks as it slices through aluminum to create a precision part for his new robot. Tony Balestracci competes against the clock as he dons the gear that would keep him alive in a burning building. Stephanie Nam’s fingers fly over her keyboard as she creates code to run a computerized garden-planting program.

These are just three of nearly a thousand Los Alamitos High School students availing themselves of classes in the school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. Designed as an added dimension to the traditional slate of college preparatory courses, CTE classes specialize in skilled trades, applied sciences, evolving technologies and career preparation.

“Career Technical Education Classes give students the opportunity to learn skills that will open doors for them both in higher educational institutions as well as in their chosen career,” says Los Alamitos Principal Dr. Gregg Stone. “CTE courses, in conjunction with the core academic program, launch students for success in whatever path they choose.”

Los Alamitos High students can take 25 CTE classes organized in “pathways” or sequences ranging from introductory to advanced. About a third of the 3162 Los Alamitos students are currently enrolled in the 19 classes offered on campus in these career areas:

  • American Sign Language
  • Child development
  • Computer science
  • Engineering
  • Fire Technology/Emergency Response
  • Sports Medicine
  • Video Production

In addition, Los Alamitos students enroll in five off-campus classes through the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program (ROP) in the areas of auto repair, welding, medical careers and digital design.

The California Department of Education uses enrollment in high school CTE classes as part of its annual Dashboard, an online tool that enables the public to evaluate how well schools are meeting the needs of a diverse population of students.

During the 2016–17 school year, according to the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California, nearly 800,000 state high school students (45%) enrolled in a CTE course. At community colleges, nearly 420,000 students (35%) participated in CTE. Those numbers are projected to continue rising because the state estimates that more than a third of new jobs will require some kind of technical training beyond high school, the institute found.

Alan Grant, who teaches the computer science CTE pathway at Los Alamitos High, says it “gives Los Al students a chance to get hands-on experience in a relevant skill that they choose to pursue. By working in collaborative, real world environments, they emerge from CTE classes ready to utilize their skills in college or in the workplace.”

Balestracci, a senior at Los Alamitos High in his second year of fire technology classes, says he has wanted to be a firefighter since he was very young. “I actually wanted to be a firetruck,” he says, “but a fireman is the next best thing.”

Balestracci says the work in fire technology class can be harder than some of his traditional classes, “but even though there is so much to learn, the class is so interactive, I can focus even more on the learning. You come here every day and there is always something new. It’s just like in the fire service, you don’t know what to expect.”

Nam, a Los Alamitos senior, is taking her second class in computer science and wants to pursue a career as a software engineer or data analyst.

“It teaches me to learn and think in a different way from my other classes. When you are coding, it’s like trying to solve a puzzle,” Nam says. “You are trying to make the code as efficient as possible even though there are so many ways to write it. It’s a different kind of mental challenge.”

Eva browning, a senior in her third engineering class at Los Alamitos High, says the pathway challenges her “with a lot of problem solving. It’s not like writing a paper where you turn it in and just get a grade. With this, it’s physical, moving, hands on.”

Preparing to put a programmed dragster through its paces on a recent day, she says “when you’re done, it’s really rewarding. You have to watch it, run it, recode it and make it better.” Browning wants to study mechanical engineering in college.

Her dragster design partner, Max Fudal, points out another difference between CTE engineering and traditional academic classes. “You have instructions but in engineering you can go outside the mold and have the freedom to create your own thing.”

Fudal, a senior interested in studying architecture, says his three CTE engineering classes also have helped him develop a valuable skill. “We work in groups to cooperate and solve problems. Academic classes don’t have that so much,” Fudal says.

“We have discussions but here I get more of a sense of teamwork by building something with other people, not just talking about it.”

‘Polofest event to support Team USA

Makenna Geiger
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‘Polofest event to support Team USA

A Huntington Beach local non-profit, and the governing body for the sport of Water Polo throughout the United States, USA Water Polo is hosting their first ever ‘Polofest fundraiser to raise funds for TEAM USA and other Olympic Water Polo programs.

USA Water Polo and the Southern California Water Polo community will be coming together for a “Celebration of Water Polo,” to not only help raise funds for the Olympic teams, but for local supporters to come out and celebrate their hometown with TEAM USA.

‘Polofest 2018 will be held on Sept. 16, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at Old World German Village in Huntington Beach, during the 42nd annual “Oktoberfest.”

The event will be jam-packed with players and supporters from all over Southern California, coming out to support Team USA. Olympians Genai Kerr and Brittany Hayes will be in attendance, to not only meet and chat with fans, but to support the current Team USA.

Along with Olympians, many local players from Los Alamitos, will also be in attendance. Seal Beach native Rachael Fattal is a current member of the Women’s National Team and former player for Los Alamitos High School.

However, it doesn’t stop there, Los Alamitos is not only a neighbor of USA Water Polo, but also the hometown of the USA Water Polo Training Center, on the Joint Forces Training Base, where the Women’s National Team trains.

“I owe a lot of my success to my hometown and upbringing,” said Alex Bowen, a current member of the Men’s Senior National Team/Olympian. “I grew up in my high school pool, and really learned to swim there until I went off to college.”

This can be said for many of the players. They became the players they are today not only because of their skill for the game, but also because of their water polo upbringing in their hometowns.

‘Polofest will be a celebration that will be talked about for years to come, not only in Huntington Beach but across Southern California.

With the help and generosity of Old World German Village, and the city of Huntington Beach, ‘Polofest is expected to be a huge success, in not only raising funds for the National Teams, but also by bringing a communities together to celebrate water polo.

The $20 ‘Polofest ticket will include, entrance to “Oktoberfest,” a delicious meal of either chicken or bratwurst and two sides provided by Old World German Village, entrance to the All-Breed Dog Races, as well as live entertainment, and streaming of the Men’s National Team live from the World Cup in Germany. ‘Polofest hours are from 4 to 7:30 p.m., but guests are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the dog races from 3 to 4 p.m.

Olympian Brittany Hayes will be in attendance supporting the All-Breed Dog Races with her pup Riley, a 5x Weiner Dog Racing Champion.

The goal for ‘Polofest is to raise over $30,000 to go towards helping the Men’s and Women’s National Water Polo Teams by providing the fundamental training, travel and needed equipment required to prepare our current and future athletes for World Championship, Pan American, and Olympic Games. Supporting the Men’s and Women’s National Teams cost nearly $3 million dollars a year, and with all proceeds made at Old World the day of the event going directly back to USA Water Polo, the $3 million dollar goal will become more attainable.

It takes a village to get these players to and from representing their country on the international stage; therefore every ounce of support is greatly appreciated, not only by the USA Water Polo staff but most importantly the players.

“I would like to thank the sponsors and those attending ‘Polofest. Water Polo is an amazing sport and an even more amazing community,” said Alex Bowen, current member of the Men’s Senior National Team/Olympian.

‘Polofest will be a night to remember, not only for USA Water Polo but also for their supporters across Southern California. To purchase ‘Polofest tickets visit www.usawaterpolo.org under the “events” tab. For more information on ‘Polofest, or other upcoming water polo events, contact Heather Erickson at 714-500-5434 or email herickson@usawaterpolo.org.

Cypress woman sentenced for selling unhealthy puppies

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Cypress woman sentenced for selling unhealthy puppies

Megan Ann Hoechstetter, 43, of Cypress, was sentenced on Aug. 10 to four months in county jail for abusing animals by illegally selling puppies that were suffering from viruses and parasites through a fake rescue organization.
Hoechstetter, who has previously used the names Megan Ann Nunez and Megan Ann Choate, ran a business called Pawlosophy, which she falsely represented as an animal rescue.
She charged approximately $400 for each eight-week-old dog that she sold. She is accused of advertising and selling the puppies without seeking veterinary care.
Between March 21, 2014 and March 1, 2017, Hoechstetter abused and failed to care for over 100 puppies.
The defendant knew the dogs suffered from viral and parasitic infections including parvovirus, coccidia and giardia, and failed to disclose the illnesses to dog purchasers.
Approximately 30 puppies died or had to be euthanized soon after they were adopted, and most of them suffered from severe diarrhea.
On Jan. 1, 2017, a family adopted a puppy named Bailey from Hoechstetter.
The dog was seriously ill with parvovirus, and died just a week later.
The owners reported the defendant to the Irvine Police Department (IPD), who investigated this case.
On Jan. 11, 2017, IPD contacted Hoechstetter and the defendant had six puppies for sale in her vehicle’s trunk.
Later that day, IPD searched a hotel room in Cypress where the defendant held 13 sick puppies without proper accommodations.
Due to media coverage seeking additional victims, over 100 families who purchased puppies from the defendant that suffered from viruses and parasites came forward.
The IPD Animal Services Unit and the Irvine Animal Care Center cared for the puppies that were rescued from Hoechstetter and made nine available for adoption.
Hoechstetter pleaded guilty in March to misdemeanor counts of keeping an animal without proper care and animal abuse by a caretaker. Her sentence is 120 days in county jail, three years of informal probation, restitution, and that she must complete the Benchmark Animal Rehabilitative Curriculum course. She is prohibited from practicing veterinary medicine, buying or selling dogs, running, participating in or working with any animal rescue group, participating in animal adoptions and acquiring additional pets.

LAMC Cancer Center is tied up in Knots of Love

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LAMC Cancer Center is tied up in Knots of Love

The Total Care Cancer Center at Los Alamitos Medical Center recently donated their 4,500th beanie to patients receiving cancer treatment. The beanies are provided by the non-profit organization, Knots of Love.

Packages of the beanies are delivered to the Cancer Center in Los Alamitos, every week, and are placed on a table for patients to take home and wear.

“I took a yellow hat,” said Susan Etherson, a stage-four breast cancer survivor. “I was completely bald, and the hat felt so cozy and safe.”

Etherson underwent chemotherapy and radiation at Los Alamitos Medical Center’s Total Care Infusion Center.

According to Knots of Love, volunteers knit around 3,000 caps each month. They are then shipped to hundreds of cancer treatment centers, infusion centers, and hospitals across the country.

“We’ve enjoyed this partnership with Knots of Love,” said Yolanda Booker, radiation oncology RN at Los Alamitos Medical Center. “We witness patients lose their hair and overall self-confidence while undergoing treatment, and we see the joy these free hats bring to them.”

Cypress boys water polo gets hit by Rams

Ted Apodaca
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Cypress boys water polo gets hit by Rams

The Cypress High water polo team ran into a fired up Millikan team in their season-opener on Saturday. The Rams held a slim lead about midway through the first quarter, but began to take control from there as they topped the Centurions 19-7.

Cypress senior Garrett Potter had four goals to lead the Centurions. His second goal at the 3:54 mark in the first, cut the Ram lead to 3-2. But the Rams went on a 5-0 run to end the quarter with an 8-2 lead.

Cypress hurt their own cause with some unforced turnovers in their defensive zone and the Rams took advantage. Jin-Ho Park, Adam Saleh and Alexander Kimbrell each had a goal for the Centurions.

Cypress is looking to build upon a third-place finish in the Empire League from last year. Millikan was the second place team from the Moore League last year.

The Centurions were at California High on Tuesday (Aug. 28) and will play at Buena Park on Thursday at 3 p.m. they will travel to Savanna High on Tuesday to take on the Rebels at 3 p.m.

New rep for school employees

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New rep for school employees

Virginia Wilson, who has served the Los Alamitos Unified School District in various capacities for nearly four decades, has been named the classified employees’ representative to the Los Alamitos Unified School District Personnel Commission. The Los Alamitos Unified School Board approved the appointment at its recent meeting, and she was sworn in at the Personnel Commission meeting on Aug. 22. Mrs. Wilson worked as a classified employee for the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Water and Power, and UCLA, and she is CalPERS retiree.

Virginia began as a Trustee in 1977 for the Los Alamitos Elementary District where she was part of the conception and implementation for unification. She continued to serve as a Los Alamitos Unified School District Board Member for over 27 years, from 1979 until 2004. As a District Board Member, Virginia was instrumental in establishing the Merit System that governs our classified employee system and in lobbying the federal government for funds to replace tax dollars lost because of the two military installations located in the District.

Mrs. Wilson is and has been a very active member of various community groups such as Casa Youth Shelter, We Care, Good News Coalition, Food Finders, and she was a founding member of the Los Alamitos Educational Foundation. She has received numerous awards, including the Marion Bergeson Award and the Woman of the Year for the 67th State Assembly District. Virginia is a long-time resident, and her children and grandchildren have attended LAUSD schools.

In announcing the appointment, Superintendent Dr. Sherry Kropp said Wilson “loves our schools, our students and our community.” Wilson said Los Alamitos “is an amazing district, and I am glad to be back in this new role.”

STARBASE gets boost toward expansion

Ted Apodaca
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STARBASE gets boost toward expansion

STARBASE Academy held a ceremonial ground breaking for its newest building that will expand the program which offers educational opportunities for area students. Starbase is a Science, Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) program that gives students hands-on, minds-on activities to increase their understandings of the subjects.

STARBASE is a Department of Defense program and the local academy is located on the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos. The vision statement for the program is to nurture and encourage students to improve their education and skills in science areas that meet advanced technological requirements of government programs within the Department of Defense.

Local Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva led efforts to secure $1.7 million in funding for a new facility for the academy on the JFTB. On Friday, Quirk-Silva spoke at the ground breaking for the new building, which included a tour of the current facilities.

“We want to make sure our students are prepared,” Quirk-Silva said.

Currently, the facilities at the base serve approximately 3,500 students each school year. Primarily fifth graders attend five days of instruction, where they get hands on experience in different subject areas. The new building will allow the program to serve an additional 2,000 students per year.

Initially, the program targeted at-risk children who were underrepresented in STEM program learning. It encouraged students to set goals and achieve them. The first program started in Detroit, Michigan in 1991 and has grown nationally since.

State Senator Janet Nguyen was also in attendance at the ceremony and she noted the impact the local program has already had.

“This program has already proven to change many hundreds of lives,” Nguyen said.

The JFTB facility serves children from Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. Students engage in robotics to complete a simulated Mars rover mission, design prototypes on Computer Aided Design and conduct experiments to learn the characteristics of elements, among other subjects.

“As a teacher of over 20 years, I am very familiar with the importance of investing in the future of our children, through education. Investing in STEM education is, and will continue to be, an imperative focus of our state,” Quirk-Silva said in statement.

During the tour, fifth graders from Vessels Elementary School in Cypress were in the middle of their five days of curriculum at the academy. The students were doing activities such as constructing rockets with plastic soda bottles, building electronic devises with basic components and working to build safety restraints to protect eggs in test rockets that were crashed into cinder blocks.

Five on-site teachers work with students and their regular classroom teachers on projects as students rotate through the week. On-site teacher, Briana Yancey, nicknamed “Mirco,” was working with students who were given basic materials such as cotton, tape, clay strips and plastic bags, as they tried to protect eggs that were strapped to small wooden rockets.

The rockets had hooks that allowed them to slide down wires and collide into cinder blocks. Some of the eggs suffered minor cracks (concussions), while others were completely broken open (sever brain damage). However, within this group, one team’s egg survived unscathed. “It’s golden!” a student shouted as “Micro” took the egg out of the safety rigging.

Much of the fifth-grade curriculum is a jumping off point for some students who will return as middle school students, for STARBASE 2.0. That program offers students a chance to compete in rocket building competitions during which rockets are launched 856 feet in the air, with the objective of protecting three eggs, as passengers and landing them back down safely.

Family Assistance

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Family Assistance

As students return to school for some “readin,’ ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmetic,” to quote the old song about “School Days,” they need pencils, paper, portfolio folders and backpacks. The Rossmoor Woman’s Club recently presented 110 backpacks and the supplies to fill them to the Family Assistance program at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Base. The program and the Bob Hope USO of Orange County plan to distribute the gifts to students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are children of military personnel. Rossmoor Woman’s Club member Nina Millar, center, delivered the backpacks and supplies to USO volunteer Jan Spriggs, left, and Family Assistance Specialist Cara Borm, right, on Aug. 8.

New Assistant Principal for Oak Middle School

Robert Ostmann
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New Assistant Principal for Oak Middle School

Allen Mendrin has been named Assistant Principal of Oak Middle School in the Los Alamitos Unified School District. Mendrin, 37, has been a science teacher at the school since 2013 and held administrative posts at two other California middle school schools before coming to Oak. He also served as principal for the Los Alamitos Unified District summer school this year.

As assistant principal at Oak, Mendrin is responsible for helping the school run smoothly day-to-day. He oversees student discipline, school safety, and all student events.

“Most important, Allen serves to help the school each day by being visible, connecting with students and helping them navigate through the Middle School years,” said Principal Erin Kominsky. “He is doing an amazing job and has jumped in from Day One.”

Mendrin said he is ready “to bring it” in his new post.

“Over the past five years working at Oak, I have developed great relationships with district members, staff members, community members and students,” Mendrin said. “I am excited to further strengthen those relationships and make a positive difference in the lives around me!”

Mama’s in Los Al donates $5000 to LAEF

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Mama’s in Los Al donates $5000 to LAEF

The Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF) recently partnered with Mama’s Comfort Food & Cocktails (11122 Los Alamitos Blvd.) for two preview events, which were held before the restaurant opened to the public. All proceeds from the preview events were to be donated to LAEF.

On August 10, Mama’s co-owners Robert Corrigan and Pete Truxaw presented LAEF with a check for $5,000. Proceeds were $4,200, but the co-owners insisted on rounding up. LAEF Board Vice President Theresa Blankenstein and Secretary Kim Baldwin accepted the check along with Treasurer Tom Lent, Director Lina Lumme and Emeritus Director Randy Hill.

Los Al Unified School Board President Dr. Jeff Barke and Vice President Diana Hill, Los Al USD’s Assistant Superintendent of HR Dr. Andrew Pulver and Mari Barke of the Orange County Board of Education were also present to show their gratitude to Mama’s.

“LAEF is very grateful for Mama’s commitment to enhance educational excellence for kids in our community and to our supporters who came out for the preview events,” said LAEF Executive Director Carrie Logue.

In addition to the preview nights, Mama’s is also supporting LAEF by donating 25 cents for every scoop of Thrifty’s ice cream they serve all day every day. 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, call 562-799-4700, extension 80424 or visit www.LAEF4Kids.org.

Poor first half dooms Cypress in opener

Ted Apodaca
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Poor first half dooms Cypress in opener

Cypress stumbled out of the gate in the first half and it was enough to send them to a 35-14 loss to Woodbridge in the season-opening football game on Friday at University High.

Four interceptions by Woodbridge helped give the Warriors a 35-0 lead by halftime. Elyjah Rush had two interception returns deep into Cypress territory that set up touchdown runs by himself and quarterback Kyle Hurry. Dylan Hutton returned an interception 46 yards for another score.

The Centurions were able to settle in and play better in the second half, but the deficit was too much to overcome. Cypress finally got on the board late in the third quarter on drive that ended with a Jayden Guthrie touchdown pass to Luke Porteneuve with 1:40 left in the quarter. Corey Anesi would add a touchdown run in the fourth for the Centurions.

Junior Angel Calvo had 60 yards rushing to lead the Centurions and senior Garet Crenshaw added 41 rushing yards. Cypress will host Santa Ana on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Western High. Santa Ana is 1-0 after defeating Buena Park, 49-14 in their opener.

Shining Dymondz

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Shining Dymondz

The Los Alamitos Area Chamber of Commerce held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for new member Dymondz Boutique (located at 10515 Los Alamitos Blvd.) Joined by the owner Christine Taplin were her parents and sister along with City Manager Bret Plumlee, Tim Whitacre from OC Supervisor Michelle Steel’s Office, Jack Emmons from Senator Janet Nguyen’s office, Council Member Richard Murphy, Build It Workspace owner Mark Lengsfeld, LeAnna Farris- owner of State farm Insurance, Chamber Ambassador Pat Eskenazi, and the Chamber Chairman of the Board Shelley Henderson. Congressman Alan Lowenthal sent a certificate congratulating Christine on the Grand Opening of Dymondz Boutique. For more information, call 562-598-6659, or email info@losalcahmber.org.

A Special Thanks

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A Special Thanks

Megan Brines, a 2018 Los Al Grad and Rossmoor resident, recently conducted a fundraiser to benefit the Pediatric Neurology Department at CHOC. She raised and presented Dr. Michael Muhonen and his team $5000 to go towards their program. Megan was a brain surgery patient of Dr. Muhonen’s in 2002, after cysts were found in her brain and were causing seizures, loss of consciousness and convulsions. Megan wanted to give back to his program to thank him for all he has done for her. She will be attending Grand Canyon University this fall, studying Social Work with a career goal of working with deaf and/or autistic children. Megan’s story and fundraiser page can be viewed on line at https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/CHOC/MeganBrines

School days are here again as students return to class

Brooklynn Wong
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School days are here again as students return to class

Though summer doesn’t officially end until late next month, most local students have already had to say goodbye to slumber parties, homework-free evenings and spending weekday afternoons at the water park.
Most students in the area went back to school last week. The Magnolia School District and Cypress College are two notable holdouts adhering to the ways of yore and not getting back in session until the last two weeks of August.
Local residents have mixed feelings, as an Independent poll taken on our website revealed that 50% are content with the time that area kids now go back to school, and 50% are not.
However the early start does mean that school will end by late May of 2019.
Is the attendance at local attractions impacted by this early back-to-school date? It’s a mixed bag.
A source at Disneyland says that the school year does not have much influence on attendance at the resort, because the multiple limited-time experiences that happen throughout the year—like Pixar Fest, which has run through most of the summer and will continue well past the start of the school year into September—still draw a crowd, regardless of when they happen. They also have highly-publicized and well-attended holiday events just around the corner after that, with Halloween, and then the “holiday season” events getting underway in early November.
Smaller regional attractions like Knott’s Berry Farm may be more impacted. A spokesperson at Knott’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) and Centralia Elementary School District were the earliest of nearby districts to start, with Aug. 8 as the first day.
On that day, AUHSD spokeswoman Patricia Karlak said, “We welcomed back 30,000 students today and everything seemed to have gone well. Students were excited and nervous about the new year, as were teachers. We have some construction taking place at four of our schools so that was a bit challenging during drop off and pick up, but everyone seemed to adjust and we appreciate their adaptability. It’s going to be a great year!”
Have a great school year, students, and remember that you can always contact us with your school news, academic accomplishments, or student-athlete stories, at newsroom@localnewspapers.org.

Beach Tourney Run

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Beach Tourney Run

Cypress American Youth Soccer Organization Region 154 Boys 14U Extra Team, coached by Christian Harris, earned a second place medal the weekend of Aug. 3-5 at the Copa Cabana Beach Soccer Tournament in Long Beach. This 5 v 5 beach soccer tournament took place right on the sand, next to Long Beach shoreline. Pictured, (L-R): Coach Christian Harris, Nathaniel Walrath, Elia Yoo, Tamer Yemut, PJ Singh, Jake Harris, Joseph Lovers, Andrew Vazquez, Cade Hamilton and Connor Hamilton. Not pictured, Jonathan Yoon.

Local siblings make splash at water polo nationals

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Local siblings make splash at water polo nationals

Athletes Julia and James Rozolis-Hill brought home gold and bronze medals from the 2018 USA Water Polo National Junior Olympics, held at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California from July 21-29.

James, a member of Huntington Beach based Vanguard Aquatics 14U Boys Team, won the championship first place game and earned the Gold medal, as well as being selected as MVP. His sister Julia, who also coaches for Vanguard Aquatics, won a Gold medal with her co-ed 10U team. Many of the athletes on the winning 10U team attend school in the Los Alamitos Unified School District.

In addition to being a coach, Julia was a player for SET Water Polo Club in the National Junior Olympics and won the Bronze medal with her 18U team, placing third in the competition. Between the siblings, they have won 15 medals from the National Junior Olympics over the last several years. Julia will be attending USC in the fall and continuing her water polo career there.

Julia and James are the grandchildren of Jim and Pam Rozolis, 48-year residents of Los Alamitos. The siblings’ parents, Tom and Jennifer Rozolis-Hill, attended schools in Los Alamitos and met while working as lifeguards and swimming instructors for the city. Their father Tom was also a national gold medal water polo champion and state champion in the 1980s, and has coached water polo at all levels.

Police Log

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Police Log

PD Calls

The Weekly Crime Summary is a list of significant reported crimes and other related activities occurring in the City of Los Alamitos. A vigilant and well-informed public begets fewer targets for criminals.

Find out how you can join The LAW-Los Al Watch at www.LosAlamitosPolice.org and receive these summaries and other important information directly from your police department.

Call the police to report suspicious activity.

In the City of Los Alamitos dial: 562-594-7232 for 24-Hour Service; 911 for emergency.

Note: Hundred blocks given in place of exact address.

 

LOS ALAMITOS

July 2

Suspicious vehicle – 10:36 a.m. – Chestnut/Catalina St.

Caller reported a white Tesla had been parked on Catalina for a week. The caller was rambling about a range of issues and stated that the vehicle probably had stolen tags or stickers and no registration. Patrol checked the vehicle and found it registered, not stolen, with no plate on the vehicle and had a valid parking permit.

 

Harassing calls – 11:16 a.m. – 10000 block of Los Alamitos Blvd.

The caller reported that she had interviewed a handyman for a job, but had not hired him because he was not qualified. The handyman had been repeatedly calling at all hours of the day and night since the interview. The caller had not spoken to the subject because he was blocked. Police contacted the subject by phone and he agreed not to call the caller anymore.

 

Patrol check – 12:32 p.m. – 3500 block of Katella Ave.

An employee called to report a male subject who was yelling and possibly threatening employees. The subject was last seen about 20 minutes prior to the call. The subject had made threats of lighting the building on fire and was an ongoing issue when the subject was refused service. The subject was a male white, or Hispanic, with brown hair, wearing a flannel shirt and jeans. The caller did not require contact, just requesting extra patrol checks for the subject. Patrol checked the area, but was unable to locate the subject.

 

July 3

Altercation – 8:41 a.m. – 3300 block of Katella Ave.

Caller reported that a customer was being verbally aggressive and had ripped something off the vehicle and threw it on the ground in the parking lot. There were two males in an altercation. One subject was older, with a beard and wearing an open button-up shirt. The other subject was a male in his 70s, driving a grey Dodge Ram truck. Patrol made contact with the caller, who reported that one of the subjects may have been headed to the police department. No one arrived at the station. Patrol was unable to locate the subjects.

 

LA PALMA

July 5

Loitering – 9:18 a.m. – 28 Centerpointe Dr.

Caller reported a male Hispanic wearing a blue hat and black sweater and shorts, who had been walking through the parking lot and pulling on door handles. The subject was on crutches and carrying a grey backpack and a duffle bag. Patrol made contact with security guard and eventually located the subject. After questioning, the subject, Joel Debora, 48, of La Mirada was arrested for prowling on private property.

 

Neighbor dispute – 5200 block of Encantos Cir.

Caller reported that his brother was threating to kill the neighbor by unknown means. The caller said he was certain his brother had been drinking, but was unaware of any weapons in his possession. The caller hung up and did not pick up call-backs. Patrol made contact with the subject who declined making threats. Patrol made contact with the neighbor who may have been threatened. Both subjects checked out ok. All parties were advised and would comply. One subject agreed to turn down music and all parties were cooperative.

 

CYPRESS

July 3

Suspicious person—9:01 a.m.—6900 block of Katella Ave.

A man was talking to himself in front of the Ross store. Another man confronted him, and the original man became aggressive, and claimed he had a pistol. Police responded, and advised the man, who left the property.

 

Counseling—10:52 a.m.—Police lobby

A woman came to the police lobby to report that her neighbor had been lighting off large fireworks in the past few days, and that he was possibly planning something big and illegal for the Fourth of July. However she did not know what exact address this was going on at. Police counseled the woman.

 

Family disturbance—12 p.m.—6300 block of Lincoln Ave.

A male and female were hitting each other in an alley. No weapons were seen. Police counseled the couple.

 

Assist outside agency—3:45 p.m.—Lakeshore Dr./Valley View St.

A male transient was on the railroad tracks, and had reported having chest pains. The man was transported via ambulance to receive care.

 

Suspicious person—7:18 p.m.—9300 block of Moody St.

An individual was seen carving something into a tree with a large knife. The reporting went to see what had been carved into the tree, and found that it was a heart with initials.

 

Transient—9:24 p.m.—6900 block of Katella Ave.

A male transient was yelling, making customers feel uncomfortable. He left the area and crossed the street into Stanton.

 

Fight—9:25 p.m.—8600 block of Watson St.

A group of individuals was fighting. All had been drinking, and were eventually taken home by a sober driver. They were not desirous of prosecution or a report.

 

July 4

Battery—2:32 p.m.—5500 block of Camp St.

A man said his or her uncle had hit their eight-year-old daughter in the head with a can. The uncle had allegedly threw the can at a trailer, and it had bounced and then struck the child.

 

Throw item from vehicle—6:11 p.m.—Orangewood Ave./Knott St.

A black Toyota 4Runner was driving through the neighborhood throwing fireworks from the car. Police were unable to locate the man.

 

Fireworks—7:44 p.m.—1100 block of Outer Way

A man and three children were lighting bottle rockets. Police advised them, and they agreed to comply.

 

Fireworks—7:51 p.m.—4300 block of Casa Grande

Fireworks were being set off from the northwest corner of the parking lot of the complex. Police were unable to locate the source.

 

Disturbing juveniles—7:51 p.m.—Tahiti Dr./Reefton Ave.

A male, approximately 14 years old, with four passengers, was racing around in a golf cart. They had repeatedly gone back and forth in the same area. Police were unable to locate them.

 

Petty theft report—10:07 p.m.—6300 block of Bataan St.

Someone had entered through the garage door and stolen a rolling multi drawer tool shed, valued at over $700.

Helping young people succeed

Laurie Hanson
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Helping young people succeed

Young adults learned how to handle real-world challenges for life beyond high school at this year’s Leadership Academy recently held at the Youth Center in Los Alamitos.

Exclusive workshops refined each year include the hottest topics recommended by teens embarking on greater adult independence that they will encounter beyond high school.

“We want to keep things fresh and relevant for the participants to ensure that in the short time they’re with us, they learn the basics about of living responsibly on their own,” said Youth Center Office Manager Julie Rubin.

The curriculum included workshops on basic financial skills, living successfully on your own, auto maintenance and insurance, goal setting and leadership skills, cooking and home skills, business basics, creating a resume and interview skills and more. The Youth Employment Services (Y.E.S.) of Orange County presented employability information to the graduates, and they were able to sign up for their services. The Better Lives Foundation sponsored the Leadership Academy.

“This year, we had an amazing group of youth who were hungry to learn everything about life,” Youth Center Executive Director Lina Lumme said. “I want to thank our speakers for sharing their wisdom with our students and helping them with all the tools they need to be successful adults. From budgeting to setting your goals, cooking and interview skills, students had an opportunity to learn important things about living successfully on your own.”

Each graduate took away a certificate of completion, written goals, a letter of recommendation, resume, bank account (upon parental approval), a professional photo, a mentor and peer-to-peer friendships. Each workshop was taught by highly-qualified members from the Orange County community.

“We’re teaching kids how to be successful in life,” continued Lumme. “We’re teaching them how to fish so they’ll eat for a lifetime by giving them the skills they’ll need to succeed in their young adult lives.” Lumme especially wanted to express her gratitude to all the politicians and representatives that were in attendance and/or forwarded certificates or letters to the graduates.

 

Graduates of the 2018 Youth Center Leadership Academy include:

Jordan Barnes of Seal Beach

Morgan Barnes of Seal Beach

Raphael Bitton of Long Beach

Andrew Creighton of Rossmoor

Luke Ewell of Cypress

Jasmine Fendi of Cerritos

Joshua Fendi of Cerritos

Ethan Groves of Lakewood

Joshua Havstad of Los Alamitos

Jason Hearn of Los Alamitos

Karina Hernandez of Los Alamitos

Kyle Hernandez of Los Alamitos

Justin Huckins of Los Alamitos

Benjamin Kessler of Seal Beach

Erin Kilpatrick of Los Alamitos

Naomi Laurain of Los Alamitos

Kaylie Matthews of Los Alamitos

Elsa McFadden of Rossmoor

Vincent Ngo of Westminster

Daniel Park of Los Alamitos

Andrew Quan of Los Alamitos

Domineque Radcliff of Buena Park

Jakob Rippe of Los Alamitos

Bethany Tom of Long Beach

Hayden Vega of Los Alamitos

Ubika Reddy Venna of Cypress

Nyssa Yota of Los Alamitos

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