In the first picture, Los Al Junior Varsity soccer player Anika Piburn, #27, takes a goal shot. In the second picture: Senior Varsity Griffin Amanda Jones, #12, and a Cypress player pursue the ball. The Los Alamitos High School Varsity team won the Dec. 20 game by a score of 3-1.
In the third photo: Los Alamitos Senior Varsity Grffin Hannah Waki, #21, tries to take the ball from Rachel Mclure, #20, of Cypress
Los Al defeats Cypress in soccer
Los Al High graduate hired on as lacrosse coach at Bosco
St. John Bosco varsity lacrosse coach, Chris Jewett, has named California native Brad Brandenburg to the position of assistant lacrosse coach, effective immediately.
Brad Brandenburg was raised in Seal Beach, California, and attended Los Alamitos High School where he played lacrosse, earning a spot at starting goalie.
With Brandenburg as goalkeeper, the team made back-to-back Orange County Southern Section Semi-Final appearances.
Sharkman making waves at the Youth Center
Swimming with great white sharks, John Manley is now diving into the waters of The Youth Center as their new director of camps and volunteer coordinator.
The shark biologist, filmmaker, educator and nonprofit administrator for over 25 years, started in November.
Manley, who dives regularly with sharks of all kinds, has encountered great whites on dives without cages and says he’s never felt threatened by them.
Local Republican club installs new Board of Directors
The Rossmoor-Los Alamitos Republican Women Federated club installed its 2017 board of directors during the club’s December holiday luncheon at Old Ranch Country Club.
Paula Prizio, Parliamentarian Orange County Republican Women Federation, conducted the installation during the afternoon event. Nancy Hathcock, who has been president since 2014, begins her second two-year term. Other board members are:
• Mari Barke, co-First Vice President Programs
• Chris Barnes, Treasurer
Cypress Cribbage Tourney Champ
The Cypress Senior held a Cribbage Tournament in December with 16 seniors participating. Tournament format was double elimination. The tournament Champion was Sam Gjonovich who narrowly beat Mark Coshaw for the trophy.
The Cypress Senior Center is located at 9031 Grindlay Street. For more information please contact the Cypress Senior Center at (714) 229-2005.
LA Fitness project returns
LA Fitness is once again proposing to build a health club in the Shops at Rossmoor center (which is located in Seal Beach). The council rejected an identical project last year, but developers withdrew the application—which made it legally possible to resubmit the project at a future time.
Village 605 project appeal filed Dec. 6
Seal Beach resident Nathan Pinson filed an appeal regarding the Los Alamitos Planning Commission’s decision to approve the Village 605 project slated for the former Supermedia site at 3131 Katella Ave. The appeal was filed on Dec. 6. Los Alamitos Municipal Code states that after 30 days of receiving an appeal the city must either send the appeal back to the Commission or to the City Council. Following that, the commission or council must act on the appeal within 90 days. Pinson’s appeal cites two major issues with the project: 1.
New Police Chief in La Palma
After a long vetting process, La Palma selected Terry Kim as the City’s next Police Chief as of Dec. 23.
Captain Kim was born in South Korea, moved to Anaheim when he was a teenager, and attended Magnolia High School. Kim went on to attend California State University, Long Beach for three years majoring in electrical engineering. However, it was during that time that Kim began to have a strong interest in a law enforcement career.
In 1994 he joined the Fullerton College police academy and was hired by the La Palma Police Department during the academy.
Ganahl Lumber makes the Youth Center tree lot happen
Through a spirit of giving, Ganahl Lumber in Los Alamitos helped The Youth Center by hosting the award-winning nonprofit’s annual tree lot, raising $ 1 million over the years to benefit kids in the local community, according to the Youth Center’s Executive Director Lina Lumme.
“Families have made this a holiday tradition, with generation after generation buying trees from us,” said Lumme. “Over the years, Ganahl Lumber has stepped up and directly helped our community.”
Cypress Seniors celebrate the Holidays
The holiday spirit was alive at the Cypress Senior Center’s Holiday Celebration on Friday, Dec. 16. Opera singer and magician Patrick Bell provided live entertainment. Many volunteers assisted with decorating the room and serving lunch with a smile. Thanks to the assistance and generous sponsorship by donors such as College Movers, everyone had a wonderful day. The Cypress Senior Center is located at 9031 Grindlay St., just south of Lincoln Avenue and about a mile west of Valley View Street in Cypress.
Letters to the Editor–Dec. 28: American Flags torn down in Los Al; New Year’s Resolution
American Flags torn down in Los Al
Dear Editor,
Ever since Sept. 11 I have had the American flag on the front of my house. Evidently this must offend some people because as of Dec. 22 I have had four flags torn down.
This time they also destroyed the mounting bracket and the poles to which the flag was attached. This will not dissuade me from putting up another flag, as I have several more in my closet.
Fritz Campbell
Los Alamitos
Bolsa Grande holds off late Oxford rally
After trailing by 20 points at halftime, Oxford Academy got within four points in the second half before the Matadors were able to secure a 61-53 win in a non-league boys basketball game at Oxford Academy last week.
Derrick Tran led Bolsa Grande with 15 points, including three three-pointers , while Bryan Duong added 12 points for the Matadors. Tran had all of his points in the second half, including going 6 of 8 from the free throw line as the Matadors held off the rally by the Patriots.
Cypress completes Adopt-A-Family Holiday program
In the spirit of the season, Cypress Recreation and Community Services completed its’ annual Holiday Adopt-A-Family Program. With help from 24 groups, organizations, families and businesses, 36 local families were provided with gifts for the Christmas holiday.
Los Al baseball team faces off against Chinese Taipei squad
A local 12U travel baseball team was honored with a special opportunity recently. They were treated to a three game series competing against a team from Chinese Taipei. The visiting Chinese Taipei team has a rich history of producing some of the best youth baseball teams in the world. They most recently won the Bronco World Series this past summer and have won a total of seven since 1994.
Los Alamitos Holiday decorating contest winners
The Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department crowned the winners of the best decorated homes in Los Al. Residents were encouraged to decorate their homes to be considered for 1st or 2nd place. Judging took place on Wednesday, Dec. 14, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Winners are encouraged to keep their decorations on display throughout the holidays. Congratulations to the following winners for each neighborhood.
Apartment Row
1st – 4191 Farquhar Ave.
2nd – 4071 Farquhar Ave.
Carrier Row
Youth Center’s Holiday surprise
Pictured are Youth Center After School staff and participants with $100 worth of new sports equipment purchased from Play It Again Sports in Los Alamitos, thanks to an anonymous donor’s gracious gift of $500. It makes up for the recent $500 theft of the children’s wish list donations from the Youth Center’s Christmas tree lot on Dec. 9. All are excited about this generous holiday gift, and are grateful for this gracious holiday gesture of goodwill.
First Rossmoor bike tour a success
Rossmoor couldn’t have asked for better winter weather. No gusty winds, no snow (well it’s Rossmoor), no blizzard storms knocking over penguin or snowmen displays.
All the stars lined up for the inaugural Rossmoor Christmas Lights Bicycle Tour this past Sunday.
Using the Christmas Lights Hot Spots Map from the Rossmoor Homeowners Association website, the organizers didn’t know how many people to expect to participate and check out lights together, as it’s never been done before.
Griffins earn plethora of football honors
The Los Alamitos High football team turned in a strong performance this year, reaching the CIF-SS playoff semifinals. With that success came a host of individual league awards, led by senior Joey Noble, who was named the Sunset League defensive lineman of the year. Sophomore Keanu Norman was a co-offensive back of the year as well.
Griffins who earned first team all-league honors were defensive end Drew Platt, offensive linemen James Stanton and Andre Leomiti, defensive backs Mike Magana and Dylan Laurent, and linebacker Issaiah Johnson.
Cypress election, council meeting recap
At last week’s Cypress City Council meeting, Paulo Morales was voted in as Mayor and Jon Peat was voted in as Mayor ProTem.
The amount of money spent by different organizations related to the Measure GG ballot initiative was also reported at the meeting.
Reports submitted to the City Clerk indicate the following:
In a report with the filing date of Nov. 4, Los Alamitos Race Course and Cypress GC reported they spent $194,694.98.
On their report with a filing date of October 31, Cypress Citizens Preserving Open Space reported they spent $2,833.97.
Local center shapes the life of a staff member from early on
When 12-year-old Joseph Maass came to the Youth Center’s After School Program six years ago, he never imagined how it would shape his life’s course and future aspirations.
Now 18, he’s been working the last nine months at his very first part-time job as a Youth Center staff member, and the Long Beach resident just enrolled in Long Beach City College’s winter session to study social work in the hopes of shaping other kids’ lives as a teacher or child psychologist.