With over 500 miles of summer training under their belts, Los Al’s Cross Country squads have one thing on their minds: the Sunset League title.
The title was within the reach of the girls squad last season before missing out on it by just a point.
Coach Mark Celestin said the team is focused and “shooting for the league title this year.
“Our girls team is top notch,” said Celestin.
Sights set on Sunset
Fall Prep Sports: Griffins looking to make their mark
Consistency on the court is what Los Alamitos girls volleyball team will need in order to enjoy success this year says coach Dave Huber.
“We are building on consistency with the things that we are executing,” said Huber.
Los Al graduated many of its core players last year and is only returning three starters.
One of those starters at his disposal is team captain Mackenzie Smith, who returns as a senior outside hitter.
Cypress Council highlights
The Los Alamitos Race Course put in a request for the Cypress City Council to make Sept. 10 “California Chrome Day.” The approval to do so was on Cypress City Council’s consent calendar for their meeting on Aug. 22.
Los Al Planning Comm. agenda points
The site plan review for a new 4,450 square-foot duplex at 10833 Cherry St. took place at Los Al’s Planning Commission meeting on Aug. 24. The applicant, Theresa Murphy of Precious Life Shelter, is looking to replace a current 1,126 square-foot residence.
Also on the agenda was the request of approval for a conditional use permit for a new 6,000 square-foot motor vehicle impound yard at 10621 Bloomfield St. A Los Al City staff report indicates a 2,300 square-foot indoor office is included in the plan.
Olympic gold medalist
Former Los Al High student Rachel Fattal and the rest of this year’s U.S. Olympic Women’s Water Polo team earned a gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Brazil after beating Italy 12-5 in the championship match on Aug.19. Fattal scored two goals in that match. The team has now won back-to-back Olympic Gold medals and now Fattal has her first taste of Olympic Gold. Above, Fattal is pictured with Adam Krikorian, who’s head coach of the Women’s National Team.
Connecting parents with the Los Al School District
The Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF) is partnering with Superintendent Dr. Sherry Kropp to host the third annual State of the District breakfast on Friday, September 16 at 8:30 a.m. “This is a wonderful opportunity for parents and community members to come together to celebrate the success of our young people and to learn about our plans for the future,” said Kropp.
New STEM labs and art classrooms unveiled by Cypress
The Cypress School District celebrated the grand opening of its newly constructed STEM labs and arts classrooms during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at Frank Vessels Elementary School on August 12. The STEM facilities are furnished to support hands-on, project-based learning experiences for students, while the arts classrooms are acoustically designed for music and performing arts instruction.
Letters to the Editor: Congratulations to the U.S. Women’s Water Polo team
Dear Editor,
The Los Alamitos City Council and the City of Los Alamitos, home to the best Women’s Olympic Water Polo team in the world, proudly congratulate the U.S.A. Women’s Olympic Water Polo team who made history as the first women’s team to win back-to-back gold medals at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Women’s water polo is also the first team gold for the U.S. in the Rio Games.
Fatal collision in Los Al still under investigation
A head-on collision has claimed the life of one driver and put two others in the hospital.
On Aug. 19 around 3 p.m. two vehicles collided head-on on Los Alamitos Blvd. near the Los Coyotes Flood Control Channel. The collision caused major damage to both vehicles and three people were rushed to the hospital. One of them succumbed to her injuries there.
The Orange County Coroner’s office website identifies the woman as Cypress resident Pamela McKeon, 63. The website states that McKeon died at the UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange.
New Pacific Soccer Club teams scoop up OC tourney titles
Soccer season is almost here, and local AYSO Los Alamitos girl’s teams from Pacific Soccer Club (PSC) are already off to a fantastic start.
Last weekend, two new PSC girl’s teams made it to the final round and took their respective championships at the 13th annual Orange County Kickoff Classic (OCKC). More than 600 teams from across the Western United States participate in the OCKC, making it one of the largest youth soccer tournaments in the US.
Fall Prep Sports Preview: Depth on line could give Griffins offensive balance
The Los Alamitos High football team has essentially had nine months to prepare for their season opener with a new head coach, new system and renewed rigor. They’ve gone through all the off-season work and learning how to run a new system. And in the past few weeks as they went through conditioning, pads and scrimmages, new head coach Ray Fenton has seen a lot that gives him high expectations.
“All those things are pretty much in place now and it’s routine,” Fenton said of the prep work.
Fall Prep Sports Preview: Centurions battling back this season
The Cypress High took a few lumps last year, but with seven returning starters on offense and five on defense, the Centurions certainly have a chance to learn from last season.
Cypress is bringing back several key players at the skill positions, including junior quarterback Alex Ashcraft, who threw for more than 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns in part-time play as a sophomore. Ashcraft is the top candidate to take the primary starting job this season.
Ready to work
Ready to begin televising the season-opening Los Al vs. Beach Poly football game is the student crew at Los Al TV. The station has set a goal of telecasting 30 Games of the Week this year, and to cover more sports and activities than ever before. They will also be filming a fall sports preview show at the fundraiser at Chuck fil-A on Wednesday, August 24 from 5-8pm. Up to 25% of the nights proceeds will go to help TV coverage of Griffin sports. From left to right is Ryan Smith, Conner Brown, Ted Cruchley, Sam Barrazo, J.P.
Los Al stalls rezoning 4411 Katella Ave.
An ordinance to change the zoning code to retail business from industrial at 4411 Katella Ave. is currently on hold for at least three months following Los Al’s City Council decision to revisit the issue on Nov. 21 at their monthly meeting on August 15.
LA Fitness application is withdrawn
The original application to build an LA Fitness Club in the Shops at Rossmoor was withdrawn before the Seal Beach City Council meeting on August 8. Seal Beach’s Council was expected to approve a formal resolution to deny the project. Previously, the council voted against the project on July 25.
Los Al library receives Directors Award from Run Seal Beach
The Friends of Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library received a $500 Directors Award from Run Seal Beach this week.
The donation will be used for children summer reading programs at the Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library.
Run Seal Beach produces a 100 percent volunteer-supported race, which raises funds for fitness, recreation, students and a variety of other non-profit entities.
For more information about how to be a friend of the Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library please visit http://www.friendsoflarlibrary.org/.
OC sees West Nile positive mosquitoes double
The number of adult mosquitoes that have tested positive for West Nile virus in 2016 has more than doubled in the past seven days, bringing the total to 113 samples collected in 22 Orange County cities.
For Los Alamitos, a total of three mosquito samples have tested positive for the virus. In the immediate surrounding communities of Cypress, La Palma, Garden Grove, and Anaheim the total number of positive samples found is 13. In Anaheim, at least one person has been infected with the virus.
For more information on surrounding areas see the map on page 12.
School is back in session in La Palma
It’s that time of year again. The school year in La Palma began on Wednesday, August 10 for all of the local schools within the City.
Some schools outside the city were already opened.
Please remember there will be an increase in traffic congestion around all the La Palma schools sites.
Some things to remember:
• Don’t use cell phones or drive distracted around School Zones.
• Don’t park across the street and have your child cross.
Griffins Marching Band ready to tackle new season
Los Alamitos High School Marching Band Boosters recently announced that they will tackle their fundraising goal using CharityMania’s FootballMania fundraiser, a sweepstakes fundraiser where prizes are awarded to the sweepstakes game cards with the teams that score the most points and gain the most yards.
“We are very excited about promoting the FootballMania fundraiser,” said Maria Gonzales-Brown, VP of Ways and Means for Los Alamitos High School Marching Band Boosters.
LB Soroptmist to host upcoming fashion show
Soroptimist International of Long Beach, a non-profit organization serving women and girls, will present its Dream Big Fly High Luncheon, Style Show and Boutique on Saturday, September 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Long Beach Marriott located at 4700 Airport Plaza Dr. Only 150 tickets are available.
The event benefits two very important Soroptimist programs: the Live Your Dream program and Soroptimist Day of Success.