The ladies at the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 716, Los Alamitos hosted the Girls State luncheon for 54 young ladies who represent various schools in Orange County. The ladies will go to Girls State camp for one week learning all about politics in their mock cities.
The 54 ladies are representatives from Units within District 29 of the American Legion Auxiliary. District 29 for the most part is comprised of Units within Orange County, from Los Alamitos to Laguna Beach and as far North as Placentia.
Local American Legion raises money for Girls State
Riley’s Gold Award project
Since the first grade, I have been an active member in Girl Scouts.
Through my years of scouting, I have learned that with determination and perseverance, anything is possible.
Through my commitment to scouting, I have achieved my Bronze and Silver Awards. I completed these projects at Precious Life Shelter in Los Alamitos.
After completing these two projects and seeing how the people of my community benefitted from my efforts, I was inspired to complete my Gold Award.
I developed a strong relationship with Precious Life Shelter during my work on my Bronze and Silver Awards.
Growing up with a single mother, I know and understand the love, dedication, and commitment the women at the shelter have towards raising their children.
My main goal for my Gold Award project is to raise community awareness of the struggles of single mothers and to advocate for the shelter for all the good it is doing for the women of our community.
Precious Life Shelter operates a three-phase residential supportive services program for homeless, pregnant, adult women. It is a home which gives these women a place to make positive change in their lives and in their community.
As part of my Gold Award project, I made a website entitled “Following Footprints” where I put my ideas into action.
The website not only provides information about the work of the shelter but also allows members of the community to “follow the footprints” of the lives they are changing and impacting through their generous monetary and non-monetary support.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to be part of these courageous women’s walk through life and to be part of a positive change for the homeless pregnant women in our community.
For more information about Riley’s Gold Award project, please visit http://rojasriley.wix.com/followingfootprints
Death sentence delayed in JFTB murder case
The sentencing of Daniel Patrick Wozniak in the Joint Forces Training Base murder case has been postponed. Instead, the court has scheduled two hearings to determine if the authorities provided the defense with all the records the defense is legally entitled to get. The judge in the case was scheduled to sentence Wozniak this week. On Jan. 11, a jury recommended the death penalty for Wozniak, 32, who was convicted of the 2010 murder of his neighbor, Samuel “Sam” Herr, and murdering Herr’s friend Juri “Julie” Kibuishi.
Cypress holds Police Appreciation Luncheon
The City of Cypress held its 6th annual Police Appreciation Luncheon Tuesday, May 17, at the Community Center.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be here today and share a little about the Cypress Police Department,” said Police Chief Rod Cox. “I get to brag about the exceptional work the women and men of the Cypress Police Department do day-in-and-day-out and I’m blessed with the tremendous opportunity and responsibility to lead this great organization and whole-heartedly believe our public safety team is one of the best in the state,” he said.
The Chief went on to praise he City Council and City Manager for their support of public safety and the men and women who protect the city. “The men and women of the Cypress Police Department have an incredible responsibility to keep Cypress a safe community to live, work and play in, and being able to recognize a few of the police people who do this on a daily basis is truly an honor,” he said, thanking the Police Foundation for hosting the luncheon.
“Your efforts are deeply appreciated.”
Those honored included Ryan Scott Brown and Ivan Reyes-Acosta with Good Samaritan Awards; the 2015 Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Melody Bell-Hiller and Police Officer Ismael Lassalle earned the Silver Distinguished Service Award. Volunteer of the Year Award for 2015 was RACES/CERT member Loree Erpelding; Police Services Officer Christen Bartlett was acknowledged as the 2015 Employee of the Year and Officer of the Year for 2015 was Police Officer James Brewer.
There is so much good that can be said about each of this year’s honoree’s, included below are just a few of each of their accomplishments. Brown was recognized for his example of outstanding citizenship to the community; the information provided by Brown led the Police Department to identify and arrest a bank robbery suspect and his accomplice.
One evening, resident Brenan Cheung was at Cedar Glen Park near the Cypress Boys and Girls Club when he collapsed. Boys and Girls Staff member Reyes-Acosta began CPR while other staff members called 911. Thanks to the quick response of the staff members, including Reyes-Acosta, not only did Cheung survive what was considered a serious health issue, he’s now doing well and living an active life.
He was at the luncheon to thank Reyes-Acosta. Bell-Hiller was recognized for creating and administering the Cypress Crime Watch and Cypress Community Facebook pages started last year. She monitors conversations removing any negative comments on what now has 6,300 registered members. Lassalle responded to a family dispute report, where the caller said her brother was at their home threatening to kill the family, while holding his mother down and threatening her with a knife.
After talking with the man, Lassalle was able to convince him to drop the gun, which turned out to be a replica gun and six other replica guns were also found. The man was taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment. The Cypress Police Department and the neighboring police agencies, established the West County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in 2009 and one of the first volunteer members was Erpelding.
She is credited with immediately taking a leadership role as the Logistics Section Chief and co-founded the Organized Communities Emergency Volunteers Association, which provides emergency services supplies and training for under-served, low income communities. She was also acknowledge for her service to Neighbor-4Neighbor and RACES, being instrumental in establishing policies and procedures for RACES. Bartlett was assigned to the Property and Evidence Unit in 2012, where she plays an integral role in proper storage and legal release of property and evidence; she is a member of the California Association of Property and Evidence and earned the title of Certified Property and Evidence Specialist by the International Association for Property and Evidence.
Brewer currently serves as the Department’s Training Officer and is a member of West County S.W.A.T. and the Volunteers in Policing and Chaplain program coordinator. He received the Medal of Valor from the California State Fire Fighters Association and the Cypress Police Department’s Gold Distinguished Service Medal for his heroic rescue of an elderly woman from her fully-engulfed residence.
He was awarded Employee of the 2010 Quarter for conducting detailed residential burglary investigations and one such investigation resulted in the arrest of a substantial partner in a property crime ring that targeted a retail chain throughout Southern California. The event was presented by the Cypress Police Foundation and sponsored by Forest Lawn Memorial Parks and Mortuaries.
Griffin bats hot in playoff win over Bruins
The Los Alamitos High softball team had a shaky start but after they settled in the Griffins rolled to a 7-3 win over Long Beach Wilson in the first round of the CIF-SS playoffs on Thursday at Los Alamitos High.
Sophomore pitcher Brianna Jewett came in in the second inning and ended up pitching six innings with two runs allowed and three strikeouts to get the win.
Meanwhile the offense needed a couple of innings to zero in on Wilson pitcher Joette Vega, but soon had their plan.
“She didn’t throw a lot of off-speed pitches and we talked about that,” Griffin catcher Mary Iakopo said.
Iakopo had a home run to lead off the top of the sixth inning to spark a three-run sixth that turned a 4-3 Griffin lead into a 7-3 advantage going into the seventh inning. Junior Cami Sellers followed the home run with a double.
Pinch-runner Allison Young went from first to third on a ground out and then scored on a single by Alexa Schultz.
One out later, Schultz scored on a groundout that capped the three-run inning.
The Griffins had fallen behind 3-1 going into the bottom of the third inning, but responded immediately.
Senior outfielders Ariana Belarde and Jenna Holcomb led off the third with consecutive singles.
Junior outfielder Jenna Kean then brought them both home with a triple.
Holcomb scored on a sacrifice fly by junior infielder Andrea Gonzalez, as the Griffins took their 4-3 lead and kept the Bruins scoreless the rest of the way.
Griffin coach Rob Weil said the team seemed a little out of sorts, possibly pressing too much, so he opted to make the early pitching change.
He also said the offense was chasing pitches and needed to settle in and make the pitcher work more.
“We said we just need to be a little more patient and hit out pitches,” Weil said.
The Griffins will play Chino High in the second round at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday at Chino High.
Lexington Junior High students show their stuff in speech and debate event
It was a special day for more than 60 students at Lexington Junior High School as they participated in the first speech and debate event in the school’s history. This event, which took place April 16, was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Cypress as part of club president, Sal Sapien’s vision to prepare our students for public speaking and critical thinking.
The students participated in pairs for the debates while others gave impromptu and prepared speeches. The event was a complete success due to the tireless efforts of teachers Ms. Marianne Stewart and Mrs. Tracy Heck, with administrative support from Mrs. Amber Houston, the school’s principal and Henry “Hank” Machal, Kiwanis member and program chair.
Special thanks also to the eleven members of Cypress High School’s Speech and Debate teams who donate their time each week to the education and training of these middle school students. “We want to get these kids excited and prepared for our high school program.
Plus, it’s just fun to work with these guys,” said River Robles, Cypress High School debate club president. The Kiwanis Club of Cypress provided donuts, juice, water and coffee for breakfast with sandwiches, chips and water for lunch as well as medals which were awarded for first, second and third place in each of the three events.
Judging consisted of a three panel team of a teacher, high school mentor and Kiwanis Member. Former Mayor of Cypress and Kiwanis President Elect Lydia Sondhi sounded excited about the debates. “I was very impressed by the students who made compelling arguments for the affirmation and negation of their given topics,” Sondhi said.
All in all, the First Annual Lexington Speech & Debate Event had tears, fears and cheers but in the end, the kids, the parents, educators and Kiwanis members were saying, “That was fun. When are we going to do it again?”
Stay tuned through the Kiwanis Club of Cypress on Facebook and also Lexington Junior High School for details on these and other local events.
Assemblywoman Young Kim hosts 2nd Annual Asian American Heritage Month celebration
Assemblywoman Young Kim (R-Fullerton) hosted her 2nd Annual Asian American Heritage Month event on Saturday at the Buena Park Community Center, in partnership with the City of Buena Park. Over 200 people were in attendance. “I am so honored to be able to host my 2nd Annual Asian Heritage Month Event to celebrate the rich diversity of California and recognize the important role that the API community has played in our state and in the 65th Assembly District,” said Kim.
Griffins show some grit in getting past Wolverines
After defeating Harvard Westlake in the CIF-SS team tennis finals last year, the Griffins knew the Wolverines would be out for revenge when they came to Los Alamitos last week for a second round match.
Last year, the Griffins defeated the Wolverines 14-4, but losing several seniors from last year, the Griffins knew they would have a target on their backs as people would expect them to be more vulnerable.
The two teams were tied at 6-6 in sets as they entered the final round. The Griffins had the edge in number of games won, which would be the key if the two ended in a tie in matches. It nearly came to that, after Danny Lassos and Nick Vogt won their final doubles match to give the Griffins a 9-8 advantage.
As Luke Moorhead and Spencer Sween battled in the final set, the Griffins knew they would advance on total games, even if Moorhead and Sween lost the set. But with their teammates now serving as cheerleaders, Moorhead and Sween dug in for the fight. Moorhead said they wanted the set and talked about staying mentally tough.
“Just stay focused and take it one point at a time,” Moorhead said of the conversation between Sween and him. They fell behind 4-3, but held serve in the eighth game to tie the set at 4-4. Both again held serve to tie the set at 5-5 before the Griffins broke serve to gain a 6-5 advantage.
With the game tied 30-30, Moorhead hit an angle volley at the net to put the Griffins at game point. Harvard Westlake would double fault on serve to give the Griffins a 6-5 advantage. In the next set, the Griffins would fall behind 30-15 before a long serve return by the Wolverines tied the game at 30-30.
On the next rally, Moorhead hit a baseline volley down the middle of the court, as the Wolverine duo froze in place as each thought the other was taking the ball. On Moorhead’s next serve, the return sailed wide and the Griffins celebrated a 10-8 set win.
“These guys just came and showed what we are capable of when you play together,” Los Al coach Jordan Bridge said. No. 1 singles player Riley Smith and Ethan Kolsky each swept all three matches. Despite knowing they would advance, Smith said the Griffins all wanted to end the match with a set victory as they supported Sween and Moorhead. “I think everybody on our team wanted it … it didn’t matter what, they were going to do anything to win,” Smith said.
For the Griffins, however, their run would end on Monday, as they fell to No. 2 seeded University High of Irvine, 11-7.
Centurions make run to CIF-SS volleyball semifinals
The Cypress High boys volleyball team has made an impressive run to the CIF-SS semifinals. The Centurions have won three matches in four days, dropping just one set along the way.
The Centurions swept Santa Ynez on the road on Saturday, 25-19-25-16, 25-12, in a quarterfinal match. Prior to that, the Centurions had home matches, defeating St. Margaret’s, 25-10, 25-19, 25-21, and they topped Citrus Valley in the opening round, 25-18, 23-25, 25-11, 25-7.
The season has been a remarkable turnaround from a year ago when the Centurions won just four league matches and missed the playoffs. This year, the Centurions won the Empire League title at 10-0 and have won their first three playoff matches in decisive manner.
First-year coach Alex Griffiths said that the team was likely battling first round nerves when they dropped their only set in the first round against Citrus Valley.
After letting the second set get away from them, the Centurions regained their composure in the third set. They jumped out to a 4-1 lead, before Citrus Valley closed the gap to 4-3. But from there, the Centurions took control.
Cypress went on a 7-1 run. Kyle Farmer had a cross-court kill that pushed the lead to 7-4. Later, Erik Papke put down a kill with a one-timer on an overpass by the Blackhawks that gave the Centurions a 9-4 lead.
Leading 17-10, the Centurions went on a 4-0 run. Kyle Farmer had an ace serve that gave them a 19-10 lead and Papke finished a long rally with a kill that extended the lead to 20-10. Chris Cons then had a tap shot to the middle that pushed the lead to 21-10.
Cypress would eventually close out the set and then have little trouble ending the match in four sets. They jumped out to a 10-3 lead and close out the match with a 10-0 run, after leading 15-7. The Centurions played their semifinal match on Wednesday, May 18, at 7 p.m. at Saddleback Valley Christian High in San Juan Capistrano. The Centurions fell in three sets with set scores: 11-25, 16-25, 15-25.* A win would’ve put them in the finals on Saturday at Cerritos College.
*Set scores courtesy of maxpreps.com
Register now for some summer fun
Registration is now available for the 2016 Summer Program at the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress. The nineweek Summer Program is offered from June 6 through August 5. Each week has a different exciting theme such as pirates, space, superheroes, jungle, and more. The Club is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and provides fun activities for children ages six years old and up.
Space fills up quickly, so families are encouraged to register early to ensure that their child has a spot. The weekly summer program is available for just $100 per week. A $10 per week discount is offered for those who pay early. A one-time $65 registration fee is required to join the Club. Contributions from community members help the Club provide free services for active military families. Additional scholarships are available for families who qualify.
A wide variety of fun-filled activities are provided for all ages. Each week features sports activities, arts and crafts, science experiments, game tournaments, weekly theme-based Club challenges, and much more. The Club’s games room includes ping pong, foosball, carpet bowling, pool tables, and a variety of video and electronic games. Special interest classes and clubs are offered at no additional charge and include internet safety, health and nutrition, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) clubs, leadership opportunities, dance, cooking, and much more. Optional field trips are offered for an additional fee each week and include outings to exciting locations such as Thrill It, Knott’s Berry Farm, and the Discovery Science Center.
The Club’s summer program includes a free morning and afternoon snack for all members. Through a partnership with the Cypress School District, the Club also offers a daily lunch program for a nominal weekly fee. Families who qualify for free and reduced lunch receive further discounts.
For more information, stop by the Club at 10161 Moody St. in Cypress, call 714-527-2697, or visit the website at www.boysandgirlsclubofcypress.com.
H.S. Baseball and Softball Playoff schedule
Division 1
Wednesday, May 18
Wild Card
Kennedy at Riverside Poly,
3:15 p.m.
Friday, May 20
First Round
Cypress hosts WC-C winner, 3:15 p.m.
Marina hosts Corona, 3:15 p.m.
Division 3
Wednesday, May 18
Wild Card
Garden Grove hosts Righetti, 3:15 p.m.
Friday, May 20
First Round
Rancho Alamitos hosts La Salle, 3:15 p.m.
La Quinta at Walnut, 3:15 p.m.
Division 4
Wednesday, May 18
Wild Card
Savanna at Carpinteria, 3:15 p.m.
Friday, May 20
First Round
Katella hosts La Sierra, 3:15 p.m.
Softball Playoff Schedule
Division 1
Thursday, May 19
First Round
Pacifica hosts Long Beach Poly, 3:15 p.m.
Los Alamitos hosts Long Beach Wilson, 3:15 p.m.
Kennedy at Santiago of Corona, 3:15 p.m.
Cypress hosts El Modena, 3:15 p.m.
Division 4
Thursday, May 19
First Round
Loara hosts Wild Card I winner, 3:15 p.m.
Division 5
Thursday, May 19
First Round
La Quinta at Montebello,
3:15 p.m.
Garden Grove hosts Wild Card D winner, 3:15 p.m.
Wild Card Round (Played Tuesday)
Santiago hosted Granite Hills
Division 6
Thursday, May 19
First Round
Anaheim at Alverno, 3:15 p.m.
Katella hosts St. Pius X, 3:15 p.m.
Oxford Academy hosts San Gabriel Mission, 3:15 p.m.
Savanna hosts Shadow Hills, 3:15 p.m.
* Game times are subject to change if mutually agreed upon by both schools.
Journey to Triple Crown Softball World Series
So Cal Athletics Limo, a local 12u travel softball team based out of Los Alamitos, is headed to the Triple Crown Softball World Series this July. The girls have practiced and played hard all season in preparation for the National competition.
Without the support of their coaches and parents So Cal Athletics Limo couldn’t have gotten this far and now they would like to ask for the support of the community. To help with the cost, Glory Days Beachside in Seal Beach will be hosting a fundraiser for the team on Saturday May 21 from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Glory Days Beachside will be donating 20 percent of your bill directly to the team on this day.
So Cal Athletics Limo would like to invite everyone to come out and have a bite to eat and support the team’s journey to the Triple Crown World Series. Glory Days Beachside is located at 620 Pacific Coast Highway in Seal Beach. In order to get the discount the team’s fundraising flyer must be presented (printed or picture) to your server. The flyer can be found on the team’s Facebook or Instagram page ‘So Cal Athletics Limo’ or the team’s website www.socalathleticssoftball.com/12limo.
For more information please contact the team’s Head Coach Michael Limosnero at mlimosnero@me.com.
New scenery coming to Los Al Blvd.
Raised medians will be the scene for residents driving down Los Alamitos Blvd. as early as next year.
Preliminary designs, a budget and schedule for an improvement project on the boulevard were presented during a special city council meeting on May 2.
Off the bat, the improvement project looks to be a way for the city to increase safety for both motorists and pedestrians on the boulevard as well as increasing the visual appeal of one the most traffic-ridden streets in Los Al.
The visual appeal is something that Councilmember Troy Edgar said as being important for the overall theme of the project.
“Economic development has always been the theme for this project,” said Edgar at the meeting. “We are starting to look dated.”
Mayor Richard Murphy agreed with Edgar that the project would help attract customers to local businesses on the boulevard as well as attract new businesses.
The current “scramble,” as Los Al’s Development Services Director Steven Mendoza put it, on the boulevard currently makes it difficult, and at times dangerous, to visit businesses.
Fourteen different turning movements were found through a study by city engineers to be currently possible on the boulevard. That number includes both turning on and off the boulevard between Catalina St. and Serpentine Dr.
“Raised medians can significantly reduce the complexity of Los Alamitos Blvd. by assuring that traffic moves in a direction that is predictable,” reads the May 2 city staff report.
The project’s design attempts to reduce the chaos of cars turning on the boulevard by including the construction of left turn lanes into the medians at various intersections.
Pedestrian safety was also kept in mind as the project includes the development of offset crosswalks, which forces pedestrians to cross the street one direction of traffic at a time due to its design.
Also, signage inviting visitors to local businesses and dining establishments is planned to be on display on the new medians according to the plan.
“It will bring more pride to the city,” said Councilmember Dean Grose at the meeting.
In total the plan is expected to cost about $2.5 million.
The project is currently split up into three segments.
Segment 1 spans from Katella Ave. to Cerritos Ave. Segment 2 spans from Cerritos Ave. to Los Al’s northern boundary. Segment 3 spans from Farquhar to Katella Ave.
At the meeting, the city council provided direction to move forward with the first segment of the project.
Los Al’s next step for the improvement plan is preparing public outreach materials for segment one and then presenting it to the public in an open house format. The open house was planned for June 6.
A timeline provided with the project says Los Al is planning on finishing its public outreach materials and presentation by July. Then for the next four months would be a public review period until November.
Given that everything is approved and stays on the same timeline, residents can expect outreach about construction on the boulevard to begin by the end of this year.
According to the timeline, construction of the new raised medians in segment one could begin as early as February 2017.
‘Stop the Music’ for Los Al Dance
Los Al High School’s Dance program will present its “Stop the Music” show from May 19-21 at the school’s Performing Arts Center. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. each day except Saturday May 21, which will have a 1 p.m. show as well as the 7 p.m. show. For tickets visit lahs-dance.ticketleap.com. Pictured from left to right are Sophia Gasciogne, Juliana Legrand, Faith Ficklin, Jenna Leibl, Kylie Moy, Kimberly Orlando, Sara Lafata, Camryn Sparrevohn, Emma Bandach, Mikayla Hammers, Madison Putnam, Tatiana Tarrio, Teodora Lancaster, Kayla Johnson, Katie Sween, Summer Jennings, Corrina Hofer, Kale Rivera, Lexy Tyler, Katie Wallance, Jasmine Hollomon, Avery Tinsley, Linden Hausman, Ashley Yuen, Emma Leach, Abby Chernila, Nicole Zuniga.
Concert in the park at McAuliffe
Summer is fast approaching and outdoor concerts are a summer tradition music fans of all ages enjoy. McAuliffe Middle School is kicking off the summer concert season early with a very special outdoor concert event. The McAuliffe Instrumental Music Program is celebrating the success of their 2015-16 performance season by capping it off with the first “Concert in the Park at the McAuliffe Bowl.” This special concert is a final performance opportunity for the 2015-16 school year and a fundraiser to provide support for the continued success of this amazing instrumental music program.
This event is more than a concert – in addition to a fun evening of instrumental music, students, parents, and music fans in the community will also enjoy dinner – picnic style – at the newly renovated McAuliffe amphitheater. The event will be held on Sunday, May 22 at 5:30 p.m. and all proceeds will go directly to McAuliffe Instrumental Music Program, which benefits the Jazz Band, Orchestra, Cadet Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Philharmonic Orchestra. Proceeds will support the music program with the purchase of new music, repair or purchase of needed instruments, and many other music program needs. This benefit concert will feature McAuliffe instrumental music students performing the music of many popular movies. Attendees will enjoy a Mexican dinner from Borracho Tacos and dessert along with movie themed treats and snacks. Tickets are available now. All students received order forms at school and interested fans may contact event coordinators Cari Ledgard and Suzanne Watts through the McAuliffe Instrumental music program booster club at mcauliffebandboosters@gmail.com for ticket order forms or with any questions.
The McAuliffe Middle School instrumental program serves nearly 200 students with instruction and performance opportunity through it’s band, orchestra, and jazz band programs. Students perform at numerous festivals and competitions each year and have the opportunity to work with dedicated staff and professional musicians to further their appreciation of and development in music.
During the 2015-16 performance season, students in the band and orchestra programs have consistently achieved the highest levels of feedback at music festivals – ratings of “excellent” and superior.”
Additionally, the McAuliffe Jazz Band has won nearly every jazz competition entered during the 2015-16 performance season, even securing a win in a novice high school division at the Fullerton College Jazz Festival. The talent among our student musicians is truly impressive and the Concert in the Park at the McAuliffe Bowl will be an opportunity for students to show what they have learned and achieved this past year.
Come celebrate the success of the McAuliffe Instrumental Music Program, support student musicians, and get ready for the summer outdoor concert season.
Cypress School district goes full STEAM ahead
The Cypress School District celebrated the pending construction of new state-of-the-art educational facilities during a groundbreaking ceremony at A.E. Arnold Elementary School with city leaders and community members on May 3.
The District said its excited to provide students and teachers with dedicated classroom space to support instruction in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and the arts.
“It is not uncommon to find these types of facilities in high schools, but waiting until then is too late. Research confirms the importance of exposing children to STEM-related experiences at a young age. With early exposure to a broad course of study, children are open to a wider range of interests and possibilities.” said Anne Silavs, Superintendent.
These new classrooms will support the following District efforts:
• Deliver cutting edge instruction for success in college and career,
• Inspire student innovation and creativity,
• Prepare students for jobs of the future, and
• Provide students with a competitive advantage – at the university level and in the job market.
The construction project includes the addition of two new modular classrooms on each of the District’s six elementary campuses. One classroom will be furnished as a state-of-the-art STEM lab to support hands-on, project-based learning experiences for students. The second classroom will be acoustically designed for music and performing arts instruction.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, Brian Nakamura, Vice President of the Cypress School District Board of Trustees said, “We are so excited about what these new programs will mean for our students. Our kids are at a time in their lives when they dream about what they will be when they grow up. We are pleased to provide them with educational experiences that will inspire innovation and creativity, and prepare them for the jobs of the future.”
Cypress City Council Member Rob Johnson said, “STEM-related careers are a growing sector in our economy. Providing these opportunities for the children of our community will give them a competitive advantage. I commend the Cypress School District for their wonderful vision for STEM and arts education.”
Cypress School District extends its sincere appreciation to the city and local community for their ongoing partnership in making a positive difference for students. The District plans to begin construction later this month so that these classrooms will be ready for students by the beginning of the 2016-17 school year.
Additional information about these new facilities can be found in the District’s Facilities Master Plan at http://www.cypsd.k12.ca.us/FacilitiesUpdate.
Singing on the steps
Washington DC was an amazing experience for the 14 Los Alamitos Unified School District middle school students who found themselves performing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30. Participating in the America Sings Festival, they performed with hundreds of students from around the country during this once in a lifetime experience.
Two local students to receive scholarships
Each year, the Rossmoor-Los Alamitos Republican Women Federated club recognizes outstanding local high school students with scholarships that can help with the multitude of college sundry expenses. At a gathering on May 21, which is expected to have over 100 guests, the club will hand out two more of its yearly scholarships.
The two local high school students who will receive scholarships are:
• Sydney Ahmed – Los Alamitos High School: $1,000 Scholarship
Sydney Ahmed is currently a senior at Los Alamitos High School where she is actively involved in community service organizations such as Key Club and California Scholarship Federation. She remains engaged and focused in her studies, taking many honors-level classes. Her time outside of school consists of training in classical ballet. Sydney has traveled to China, Philadelphia, Utah and Germany for her summer training. She hopes to continue practicing ballet while attending the University of Southern California in the fall.
• Grace Yoon – Cypress High School – $500 Dorothy Sharp Memorial Scholarship
A senior at Cypress High School, Grace will be attending Chapman University in the fall with a future goal of becoming a teacher. Grace serves in two leadership positions on campus: she is the Vice President of the Make-A-Wish Club, and also the Vice President of the Christian Club. Grace has a strong passion for sports and is a member of the Varsity track and field team. In addition, Grace has been participating in Tae Kwon Do for the past 13 years, and has earned a black belt. Overall, Grace is hardworking individual both on campus and in the community.
The official awarding of scholarships and more will take place on Saturday, May 21 at 11 a.m when club members and guests will attend the High Tea and Chico’s Fashion Show to Benefit Scholarships at Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach.
Contact Chris Barnes at Chris.Barnes4727@gmail or 562-865-3258 to make a reservation.
Top Youth Center volunteers given $500 scholarships
Youth philanthropic volunteers shined at the fourth annual “A Night Among the Stars” awards ceremony held at the Youth Center in Los Alamitos on April 30. All the nominees were recognized at the red carpet event for their outstanding volunteerism with a letter from President Obama and certificates from senators, congressmen and city dignitaries, with the top three being awarded $500 scholarships.
“It’s an incredible feeling to see The Youth Center bring so many outstanding young leaders of our society,” said Youth Center Executive Director Lina Lumme. “It brings joy and pride to all of us to see how much these youth nominees have accomplished already. One person can truly make a difference.”
One $500 scholarship winner was Josie Pearce, 18, of Los Alamitos who overcame personal challenges all the while giving back. Pearce was nominated for the scholarship by Los Alamitos High School’s Principal Brandon Martinez for her more than 1,200 hours service to the Lupus Foundation of America, the Assistance League of Long Beach and a Costa Rica summer project all while overcoming Lupus herself. “She is a shining example of all that is right with the youth of today,” said Martinez in Josie’s nominating letter.
Another $500 scholarships award winner was Brielle Johnson, 18, of Westminster who eagerly volunteered for Grateful Hearts in Los Alamitos as soon as she turned 14 years old. “Every time she walks in with her million dollar smile, we know she is going to leave us in a wake of ‘getting the job done,’ said Grateful Hearts Executive Director Blair Pietrini in Brielle’s nominating letter. “Brielle’s zest for life, her willingness to connect, and desire to help other wherever she is … we are trained to recognize as priceless.”
Max Russell, 14, of Seal Beach was awarded the third $500 scholarship for his more than 100 hours work with special needs children in the Friendship Circle. He said he does it mainly for the smiles he gets from the other children, who have taught him a great deal. “He always has a smile on and is ready for what the day brings,” said his nominating letter from Jocelyn Koff. “It isn’t always easy to volunteer with kids with special needs, but Max makes the most of it.”
The remainder of the nominees not mentioned already are Cassidy Hornung, 11, of Los Alamitos for her work at the Youth Center, Cassy Lumme, 12, for her work at the Youth Center, Dominic Cashiola, 16, of Long Beach for his work at Urban Community Outreach, Lindsey Torgerson, 17, of Seal Beach for her work with the Seal Beach Lions International Club, Mario Lara, 11, of Huntington Beach for his work with Summer Harvest, Nicole Johnson, 17, of Long Beach for her work with the Youth Center, Pauline Foster, 16, of Seal Beach nominated by Miss Seal Beach, Rylie Long, 17, of Rossmoor for her work with Precious Life Shelter, Sarah Bancroft, 17, nominated by the Girl Scouts, Shira Frank, 17, of Seal Beach for her work with the Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF), and Sophia Gascoigne, 18, of Los Alamitos for her work with Special Olympics,
Nominees outside of the three awarded the $500 scholarships were each given $200 scholarships, and all the funds were provided by the Los Alamitos/Seal Beach Rotary Club. “I want to specially thank Rotary Club of Los Alamitos/Seal Beach for giving scholarships to every single nominee this year,” said Lumme.
“I just really love helping out and making a difference,” said 16-year-old Madison Berry of Long Beach who was nominated by Village Bible Academy’s Leo Club and recently nominated to be District Leo of the Year. She served in various activities including homeless ministries, visiting nursing homes, and “BeepBall” (baseball for the blind). Her parents, Mike and Rena Berry, said their daughter is self-motivated and is all the good parts of both of them.
Twins Andy and Kyle Farmer, 17, of Cypress were honored nominees for working more than 5 years at a memory care facility as singers bringing cheer to seniors after becoming involved when their grandmother was suffering from lung cancer and subsequently passed away. “We started then and continued it in memory of our grandmother,” said the young men. Their mother, Cindy Farmer, said the young men didn’t have any grandparents after their grandmother died, were approached at a facility to sing by one man and woman who sang regularly there, and were asked to join in. “The kids just wanted to give back,” she said. They sang songs like Amazing Grace, which would bring back fond memories for the residents at Valley View Gardens.
Los Alamitos Superintendent Sherry Kropp said, “I think it’s up to all of us to give where we can and when we can to make this world a better place.”
Griffins rally to get third place playoff berth
After splitting their first two meetings with Edison High (both in five sets), it was only fitting that the Los Alamitos High boys volleyball team would again go five sets with the Chargers in a third-place tiebreaker match last week. The Griffins battled back after losing the first two sets to win the match, 17-25, 27-29, 25-20, 25-17, 15-5 at Fountain Valley High on Wednesday.
After losing the first set, the Griffins had set point in the second before the Chargers rallied to tie the set at 24-24 and eventually win it 29-27. The Griffins also fell behind in the third set, trailing by as much as 12-8 before regaining their momentum.
“We changed up our offense a little bit, we focused on the middle, which took some pressure off our outside (hitters),” Griffin coach Mike Whitcomb said.
The Griffins had a tip shot to the middle by Darren Chan to cut the lead to 12-9. After a mishit by Edison, Jonathan Frenzel had a kill on a short set to cut the lead to 12-11. Edison would take a 13-11 lead, but then misfire on a serve and two shots to allow the Griffins to take a 14-13 lead.
With Edison leading 18-16, the Griffins went on a 4-0 run to regain control. Frenzel and Adam Simonetti combined on a block for a point that gave the Griffins a 19-18 lead. Brian Beggs followed with a tap to the middle of the court to extend the lead to 20-18.
With the Griffins holding a 22-20 lead, they closed out the set with a 3-0 run. An Edison block came back but fell wide for the set point. After winning the third set, the Griffins carried their momentum into the fourth and fifth sets.
The Griffins jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the fourth set and kept the Chargers at bay for the rest of the set.
Likewise in the fifth set, the Griffins took control early and never let the Chargers challenge. Leading 6-5, the Griffins scored the final nine points to end the match. Simonetti had kill on a one-timer on an Edison overpass that put the Griffins up 12-5. Tony Klune had an ace server on the back line that put the Griffins up 13-5.
A kill by Jake Maffett put the Griffins at match point and Chan ended the match with a block that fell back in the middle of the Chargers court. Maffett led the Griffins with 12 kills and Brian Beggs had 10.
The Griffins secured the third place spot in the CIF-SS playoffs and were scheduled to play at Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks on Tuesday night. A win would put the Griffin up against the winner between Tesoro and Servite on Thursday.
With the momentum of the rally against Edison and having played a tough preseason and league schedule, Whitcomb said he liked his team’s potential heading into the playoffs.
“I feel like we’re better than a third place team,” Whitcomb said.