Saturday was a busy day at the Cypress Nature Park.
The City of Cypress provided the trash bags and large dumpster while the volunteers came ready to work armed with their rakes, hoes and shovels.
Approximately 70 volunteers trimmed back branches and raked up leaves and other debris that had accumulated over the winter months.
Volunteers ranged in age from preschoolers to ‘old’ schoolers.
Young Malachi Christsensen worked alongside of his grandma, Ramona Watts, and his great grandma, La Vona Dickinson, clearing away fallen palm fronds.
While Boy Scout Pack 660, sponsored by St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress, raked up leaves and cut back branches sticking out along the pathways.
The park, located at 4201 Ball Road in Cypress, is open the first Saturday in June for an outdoor education presentation and every Saturday in the summer months for the cities walking club.
It is open April through October by reservation only and is closed during the winter months November through March.
The Cypress Recreation and Park District is always looking for volunteers to help with the Nature Park, contact them directly at 714-220-6780 if interested.
Saturday’s volunteer activities were sponsored by the Cypress congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as part of an organized state-wide day of service.
Other local service projects included completing 85 fleece blankets to donate to various charities, 25 children made drawings for soldiers and the elderly and 2,500 invitations were distributed for the American Red Cross to an upcoming Relay for Life event in May.
For other volunteer opportunities in the community, visit www.JustServe.org
Day of service in Cypress
JFTB holding tour in May
Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos (JFTB will be holding its second of four scheduled base tours during 2016 on Thursday, May 19. Residents are encouraged to reserve their spot. The tour will get underway at 1 p.m. from the Veterans Service Center (Building 244) and will take approximately three hours.
The fully-guided bus tour includes an introduction and historical overview of the base and features stops to visit the new 40th Infantry Division Headquarters, Los Alamitos Army Airfield Base Operations, an up-close look at a California Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and fire-rescue equipment utilized by the JFTB Fire Department, and a unique opportunity to personally experience the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST 2000).
Reservations can be made by sending an e-mail to the JFTB Public Affairs Officer – richard.w.lalor2.vol@mail.mil. Emails must include full name, address (including zip code), phone number and email address for each member of your group.
Space is limited and all participants must be pre-registered. There is no charge for the tour. Please contact Col. Richard Lalor at 562-795-2096 (office) or 626-733-1170 (mobile) or by email at richard.w.lalor2.vol@mail.mil for more information.
Centurions underestimate, fall to Mariners
Against the pitching of Pacifica High’s Hannah Boos, the Cypress High softball team needed to play a disciplined game. While, Boos was solid all game, the Centurions had a chance to put some on the Mariners, but ran into trouble.
Trailing 2-0, in the third, the Centurions had runners on first and second with no outs. When catcher Dejah Mulipola caught the runner off second base, the Centurions were let off the hook when the ball was dropped on the tag, leaving Cypress with runners on second and third with no outs.
But when Mulipola again caught the runner at second with a throw behind her, the Centurions tried to score, only to get tagged out at home. It was a pivotal moment that kept the Mariners in control. Cypress coach John Felicetti said his team was trying to pressure the defense, but underestimated the arm of Mulipola.
“We got away with it once, we didn’t get away with it the second time,” Felicetti said.
Despite the loss, the Centurions like their progress and potential to finish the season strong as they eye a CIF-SS playoff berth. The Centurions were able to get five hits against Boos, including two from sophomore first baseman Brianna Gargano. Marissa Wightman, Katie Arce and sophomore Jessica Martinez each had hits.
After the Mariners scored two runs in the first inning, Cypress pitcher Maddy Byrd pitched a strong game in relief. The Centurions bounced back from the loss with a 5-0 win over Valencia on Thursday.
Jessica Martinez drove in two runs, while Arce, Byrd and senior Jenelle Martinez each drove in a run. The win keeps the Centurions one game behind the Mariners, who will be tough to dethrone for the league title. Felicetti also expects the race for the top three spots in league to be tight. And he likes his team’s chances.
“We just have to play smarter,” Felicetti said.
The Centurions hosted Tustin on Thursday April 28 at 3:15 p.m. and hosted Western on May 3, also at 3:15 p.m. They play at Pacifica on May 5, at 3:15 p.m.
Fighting for playoffs
The Los Alamitos High boys volleyball team defeated Fountain Valley, 25-23, 25-15, 23-25, 25-20, to improve to 4-3 in Sunset League play on Friday at Fountain Valley High. The Griffins came into the week tied for third place in league with Edison. They had a match against Newport Harbor (6-1) on Tuesday (score not available at press time) and played at Huntington Beach (6-1) on Thursday April 28, at 5:45 p.m. They close out the regular season with a home match against Marina on Tuesday, at 5:45 p.m. Above, Los Al senior middle blocker Jonathan Frenzel puts a kill shot past two defenders.
Cypress coach makes VB National Finals
Cypress resident Aric Anderson coach for the Chapman University Panthers took on all challengers at the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation Tournament and came home with the silver medal and ranked second in the nation among all Men’s Division II club teams.
With only eight players on the roster for the tournament, Chapman defeated teams with much deeper benches and ran up an impressive string of victories before suffering their only loss in the Finals of the tournament.
In that gold medal match, the Chapman men pushed defending champion Messiah College to a third game, tie breaker to decide the match. Three Panthers were also named to the All Tournament Team – Taylor Braun, Ben Gelaris, and Justin Parks.
Camp Cypress registration going on
Summer is almost here! Looking for some summer fun? Sign your kids up to have an exciting summer while meeting new friends at Camp Cypress. Cypress Recreation and Community Services has begun registration for Camp Cypress, a Summer Day Camp for children entering 1st-7th grade. Camp is held at the Cypress Community Center, 5700 Orange Avenue, from June 13 – Aug. 5. Camp fee includes arts and crafts, games, sports, spectacular special events, camp t-shirt, and much, much more!
Camp Cypress registration going on
Summer is almost here! Looking for some summer fun? Sign your kids up to have an exciting summer while meeting new friends at Camp Cypress. Cypress Recreation and Community Services has begun registration for Camp Cypress, a Summer Day Camp for children entering 1st-7th grade. Camp is held at the Cypress Community Center, 5700 Orange Avenue, from June 13 – Aug. 5. Camp fee includes arts and crafts, games, sports, spectacular special events, camp t-shirt, and much, much more!
Cypress threatens Pacifica, falls short
Against the pitching of Pacifica High’s Hannah Boos, the Cypress High softball team needed to play a disciplined game. While, Boos was solid all game, the Centurions had a chance to put some on the Mariners, but ran into trouble. Trailing 2-0, in the third, the Centurions had runners on first and second with no outs. When catcher Dejah Mulipola caught the runner off second base, the Centurions were let off the hook when the ball was dropped on the tag, leaving Cypress with runners on second and third with no outs. But when Mulipola again caught the runner at second with a throw behind her, the Centurions tried to score, only to get tagged out at home. It was a pivotal moment that kept the Mariners in control. Cypress coach John Felicetti said his team was trying to pressure the defense, but underestimated the arm of Mulipola. “We got away with it once, we didn’t get away with it the second time,” Felicetti said. Despite the loss, the Centurions like their progress and potential to finish the season strong as they eye a CIF-SS playoff berth. The Centurions were able to get five hits against Boos, including two from sophomore first baseman Brianna Gargano. Marissa Wightman, Katie Arce and sophomore Jessica Martinez each had hits. After the Mariners scored two runs in the first inning, Cypress pitcher Maddy Byrd pitched a strong game in relief. The Centurions bounced back from the loss with a 5-0 win over Valencia on Thursday. Jessica Martinez drove in two runs, while Arce, Byrd and senior Jenelle Martinez each drove in a run. The win keeps the Centurions one game behind the Mariners, who will be tough to dethrone for the league title. Felicetti also expects the race for the top three spots in league to be tight. And he likes his team’s chances. “We just have to play smarter,” Felicetti said. The Centurions host Tustin on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. and will host Western on May 3, also at 3:15 p.m. They play at Pacifica on May 5, at 3:15 p.m.
Science team rocks in competition
Last month during Science Olympiad Competitions, thousands of students from public and private Middle Schools and High Schools all over Orange County gathered together in UCI to compete in and explore various topics in Science.
Team McAuliffe earned individual recognitions in several areas.
The winning projects will be displayed in the upcoming Los Alamitos School District STEAM Festival on May 21. Some of these students are 6th graders who competed in Science Olympiad for the first time.
Great appreciation to Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Neufeld, both are both dedicated science teachers in McAuliffe Middle School and have been coaching Science Olympiad team for over five years
Los Al graduate to attend program abroad
Rachel E. Gross, a graduate of Los Alamitos High School who currently works as a journalist for Slate magazine, is one of 12 journalism students and young journalists chosen by FASPE (Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics) to participate in a two-week program in Europe this summer, which uses the conduct of reporters and other media professionals in Nazi Germany as a launching point for an intensive course of study on contemporary journalism ethics.
Now in its seventh year of operation, FASPE is an innovative international program for students in five professional disciplines (business, journalism, law, medicine, and religion) designed to address contemporary ethical issues in their chosen fields through a unique historical lens. FASPE is predicated upon the power of place, and in particular, the first-hand experience of visiting Auschwitz and other historic sites associated with the Holocaust, where Fellows consider how to apply the lessons of history to the ethical challenges they will confront in their professions.
Pre-World War II professionals in Germany were known and respected internationally. Yet, leaders and practitioners in the professions played a fundamental role in designing, implementing, and enabling the crimes of Nazi Germany. FASPE examines the roles played by professionals in business, journalism, law, medicine, and the clergy in Nazi Germany, underscoring that the moral codes governing these essential professions can break down or be distorted with devastating consequences.
“By educating students about the causes of the Holocaust and the power of their chosen professions, FASPE seeks to instill a sense of professional responsibility for the ethical and moral choices that the Fellows will make in their careers and in their professional relationships,” said C. David Goldman, founder of FASPE. Over the course of 12 days, Fellows will attend lectures with a range of guest speakers and participate in seminars run by leading scholars who serve as FASPE faculty. The program integrates historical, cultural, philosophical, and literary sources; survivor testimony; and workshops in Berlin, Auschwitz, and Krakow. The 2016 FASPE Journalism program will be led by Ari Goldman, who’s a Professor and Director of the Scripps Howard Program in Religion, Journalism, and the Spiritual Life at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism; and Lonnie Isabel, Senior Lecturer at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and the former deputy managing editor of Newsday.
“Facing ethical dilemmas is a crucial part of any journalist’s career, and science writing comes with its own ethical challenges,” said Gross. Currently she is a science and food writer for Slate magazine in Washington, D.C. “I am thrilled to be able to discuss these issues as part of a program as renowned as FASPE, and in such a historical setting.” A native of Orange County, Gross graduated from Los Alamitos High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in English and rhetoric from the University of California, Berkeley. In 2013, she completed a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. She has worked for Moment Magazine, an independent Jewish journal, Wired, and The New York Times, where she investigated the use of ozone-depleting pesticides in California’s so-called organic strawberry industry. As the child of a doctor and a scientist, it has become her passion to show readers how science intersects with every aspect of their daily lives, she said. Gross joins a group of 63 FASPE Fellows who represent a broad range of religious, ethnic, and racial backgrounds, and who were chosen through a competitive process that drew over 700 applicants from around the world. FASPE covers all program costs, including transatlantic and European travel, food, and lodging. Over the past six years, FASPE has worked with close to 320 Fellows using curricula designed in partnership with faculty from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Georgetown University, Yale Law School, and the Yale School of Medicine. FASPE Journalism Fellows, along with the Business and Law Fellows, will begin their program in Berlin on Sunday, May 22.
In Berlin, the program includes museum visits, meeting with a Holocaust survivor, and attending educational workshops at the House of the Wannsee Conference, the site where representatives of State and Nazi Party agencies convened in 1942 to discuss and coordinate plans for the Nazi’s “Final Solution.” The Fellows then travel to Poland, to the town the Germans called Auschwitz, where they will work with the distinguished educational staff at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum. Sessions devoted to contemporary ethics will take place in seminar rooms at Auschwitz and at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious universities.
The final leg of the trip will be held in Krakow, Poland, where Fellows will explore the city’s rich Catholic, Jewish, and Polish history.
After the program, each Fellow will submit a final written essay focused on a contemporary ethical issue of his or her choice. Select essays will be published in the annual FASPE Journal, which showcases essays in all five disciplines. “FASPE is committed to a long-term relationship with Fellows in order to sustain the ideas raised during the program. FASPE fosters an active network of alumni and provides a variety of opportunities for Fellows to exchange ideas and to meet to continue the dialogue started during our trips as they move forward in their careers,” said Thorin R. Tritter, FASPE’s Managing Director. “The centerpiece of these efforts is our annual Alumni Reunion and Symposium where Fellows from all years discuss the current issues in their respective fields and participate in various inter-disciplinary networking activities.” About FASPE
FASPE works in cooperation with the Museum of Jewish Heritage “A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, New York City; Jagiellonian University, Krakow; House of the Wannsee Conference, Berlin; and the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
To view a video about FASPE, visit www.FASPE.info. The topics the 2016 FASPE Fellows will study can be found on individual program pages that include more details about the Business, Journalism, Law, Medical, and Seminary programs.
Lead support for FASPE is provided by C. David Goldman, Frederick and Margaret Marino, and the Eder Family Foundation.
FASPE is also supported by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, and other generous donors.
Parking on Los Al Blvd. to be studied
Los Al’s Traffic Commission will be studying the effect of stripping parking at certain locations on the West side of Los Alamitos Blvd. The study will look at the area between Hedwig Rd. and Katella Ave. to see the effect of 20-25 feet of curbs being painted red near five driveways as indicated on a map provided by city staff (see right). After the study is complete, the commission will review whether it will recommend the new “no parking” areas on the street to Los Al’s City Council.
The commission’s study was brought up while the council was wrapping up a separate parking study at its monthly meeting on Monday April 18.
While hammering out parking time limits in the same area, Councilmember Troy Edgar said he’d like to see all the parking stripped from that block of Los Al Blvd.
“I don’t think there is any room for parking over there because every time you pull out of Fortune Cookie’s parking lot you’re gambling with your life because you can’t see,” said Edgar.
Once the commission finishes its study, Edgar suggested that the council look at the area again to decide whether parking should be allowed at all there.
“If the commission’s study results that parking does need to be changed then [it won’t] be because the council says it’s dangerous but because it is dangerous,” said Edgar.
The parking study came about as a result of resident David Burgess’ request for the city to consider painting curbs red in that area. Burgess requested the parking change because he said he’s witnessed several traffic accidents involving cars exiting from those driveways, which usually has cars parked right up to the driveway.
This is Burgess’ second request to the city in three years to do so.
Los Al’s City Council agreed to Edgar’s request and will revisit parking in that area once the commission concludes its study.
For more information call 562-431-3538 ext. 101.
Color Guard reaches World Championship semifinals
The award winning Los Alamitos High School Color Guard is back from a successful performance at the Winter Guard International World Championships in Dayton, Ohio from April 7-9. Band Director, Tom Plunkett, expressed his pride in the students as they competed against 117 Scholastic A teams from all over the country, and made it into the highly regarded semi-finals.
Los Al’s score of 79.930 was good enough to earn sixth place in its respective semifinal group and 28th place overall for the semifinal round of the Scholastic Open division of the competition.
Locals receive Merit scholarships
Today, National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) released the names of the first group of winners in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. More than 1,000 distinguished high school seniors have won corporate-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards financed by about 200 corporations, company foundations, and other business organizations. Following this is a list of local students who where awarded a scholarship:
National Merit Boeing Scholarship
The Boeing Company supports Merit Scholarship awards annually for children of employees. The Merit Scholarship awards are a part of the Boeing Company’s comprehensive aid to education program.
• Peter T. Tang
Probable career field:
Public Policy
Oxford Academy, Cypress
• Celine J. Veys
Probable career field:
Electrical Engineering
Oxford Academy, Cypress
• Danielle Elizabeth Beaudreau
Probable career field:
Accounting
Los Alamitos H.S., Los Alamitos
National Merit Siemens
Scholarship
Siemens Corporation produces and markets electrical and electronic systems, instruments, and components for medicine, science, and industry. Funded through the Siemens Foundation, the purpose of the scholarship program is to support higher education, to honor exceptionally talented high school students, and to aid as many as possible in obtaining a college education.
• Robert Li
Probable career field:
Bioengineering
Oxford Academy, Cypress
National Merit GKN Scholarship
GKN, a multinational corporation engaged in the design, manufacture, and sale or distribution of value-added products for the automotive and aerospace industries, finances this scholarship through the GKN Foundation. Competition for this scholarship is open to sons and daughters of employees in the company’s domestic operations.
• Bryan T. Vo
Probable career field:
Corporate Finance
Oxford Academy, Cypress
Scholars were selected from students who advanced to the Finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and met criteria of their scholarship sponsors. Corporate sponsors provide National Merit Scholarships for Finalists who are children of their employees, who are residents of communities the company serves, or who plan to pursue college majors or careers the sponsor wishes to encourage. Most of these awards are renewable for up to four years of college undergraduate study and provide annual stipends that range from $500 to $10,000 per year. Some provide a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000. Recipients can use their awards at any regionally accredited U.S. college or university of their choice.
Funding for these National Merit Scholarships is provided by corporate organizations that represent nearly all sectors of American industry. Sponsors from the business community have underwritten awards offered in all 61 competitions, expending or committing more than $750 million to support the intellectual development of the nation’s scholastically talented youth.
Over 1.5 million juniors in some 22,000 high schools entered the 2016 National Merit Scholarship competition when they took the 2014 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. In September 2015, some 16,000 Semifinalists were designated on a state-representational basis in numbers proportional to each state’s percentage of the national total of graduating high school seniors. Semifinalists were the highest-scoring program entrants in each state and represented less than one percent of the nation’s seniors.
To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, Semifinalists had to fulfill requirements to advance to Finalist standing. Each Semifinalist was asked to complete a detailed scholarship application, which included writing an essay and providing information about extracurricular activities, awards, and leadership positions. Semifinalists also had to have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and earn SAT® scores that confirmed their qualifying test performance. From the Semifinalist group, some 15,000 met Finalist requirements.
By the conclusion of the 2016 competition, about 7,500 Finalists will have been selected to receive National Merit Scholarships totaling about $33 million. Winners are the Finalist candidates judged to have the strongest combination of academic skills and achievements, extracurricular accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. NMSC, a not-for-profi t organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 to conduct the National Merit Scholarship Program. The majority of National Merit Scholarships offered each year are underwritten by some 440 independent corporate and college sponsors that support NMSC’s efforts to honor the nation’s scholastically talented youth and encourage academic excellence at all levels of education.
National Merit Scholarship Corporation
This is the first announcement of National Merit Scholars in 2016 by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). NMSC will name recipients of National Merit® $2500 Scholarships on May 11, and winners of college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards on June 1 and July 18. By the conclusion of this year’s competition, about 7,500 academic champions will have won National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $33 million.
National Merit Scholarship Corporation is located at 1560 Sherman Avenue, Suite 200 in Evanston, Illinois. Contact Eileen Artemakis or Matthew Budreau at 847-866-5100, e-mail mediainfo@nmerit.net or visit www.nationalmerit.org for more information.
St. Irenaeus’ 52nd Fiesta Olympiad
The St. Irenaeus Fiesta Committee, the 52nd Annual Fiesta Olympiad will be held at St. Irenaeus Parish in Cypress from June 24-26. According to Co-Chairs of the Fiesta Committee, Christine and George Welsch, plans for the 2016 Fiesta at St. Irenaeus are going forward thanks to the offers of help from St. Irenaeus’ Knights of Columbus, Girls Scouts, parishioners, and other volunteers. About 24 people, including members of the Fiesta Committee and other volunteers, gathered at the Adult Education Building at St. Irenaeus on April 9th to prepare to send information about the Fiesta to over 4,000 families in the parish.
A letter from St. Irenaeus’ Pastor, Fr. Patrick Moses, and a book of raffle tickets was prepared for sending to all St. Irenaeus parish families. In the letter, Fr. Patrick invited everyone to come together as a community at the Fiesta and participate in the games, carnival rides, food booths, Bingo games, raffle prizes, and silent auctions while enjoying listening to music and other entertainment.
Since the Fiesta is also a big fundraising event to support the many financial needs and ministries of the parish, Fr. Patrick asked for parishioners for their support and involvement by buying or selling a book of raffle tickets, helping with the planning and operation of the Fiesta, and by planning to attend the annual celebration.
Each parishioner will receive one book of 40 tickets at $2.00 each, totaling $80 for one book of tickets, to buy for themselves or sell to others, for the opportunity to win the Grand Prize of $10,000 or the 1st Prize of $3,000, 2nd Prize of $1,500, or the 3rd Prize of $500. The drawing of the winning tickets for the $10,000 Grand Prize and other prizes will be held on the evening of June 26, 2016. The winners do not need to be present for the raffle drawing.
According to Christine Welsch, the Fiesta Committee will be at the patio of St. Irenaeus Church after Masses starting on Saturday, April 23 to accept ticket stubs and returns. They will also be collecting the names of volunteers who would like to Sponsor a booth, be a Booth Captain, help work in game or food booths, or help with setting up or taking down booths.
This is the 14th year that Christine and George Welsch have chaired the Fiesta Committee and they would welcome the help of anyone who would like to be involved with all the preparations that are needed for successful Fiesta. Christine said that her greatest joy is seeing all the families coming to enjoy the Fiesta and having fun visiting with everyone. For more information about the St. Irenaeus 52nd Fiesta Olympiad, contact Christine Welsch at 714-553-9910.
Management team in the swim at JFTB
It has been eight weeks since Joint Forces Training Base’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) program assumed control of the base swimming pool from the City of Los Alamitos, and MWR’s newly established management team is already up and running at full speed. Manager Andrew Law and Head Lifeguard Kari Makshanoff bring years of aquatic center management experience, professionalism and enthusiasm to JFTB, and their efforts are already paying dividends.
“I relish the opportunity to start from scratch building a new program that incorporates both military and community involvement,” said Law, an 18-year aquatics professional whose most recent position was aquatics director and safety chair for the Westchester branch of the YMCA of Los Angeles. “In the short time we have been operational, we have succeeded in maintaining all of our pre-existing swim programs while extending the community lap-swim hours, and we are beginning to establish a viable program for military personnel and their families that did not exist before.
“Ironically, although the base has been here for so many years, its swimming pool is a ‘hidden gem,’ and the biggest hurdle we seem to be facing at this point is getting the word out to residents of the five communities surrounding JFTB as well as military personnel and their families as to what we can offer them,” he added. “We need to work on that!”
This year marks Makshanoff’s sixth year working as a lifeguard at the JFTB aquatic center, and similar to Law, she loves being part of something brand new. She is actively involved in hiring lifeguard candidates, manages the new punch-card program and is proactive in attracting new user groups.
“I’ve worked at the pool for quite a while and have become acquainted with many of the people who use it, so it’s been gratifying to see that they have chosen to stay with us. It’s even more exciting to see the number of military members beginning to use the facility,” said Makshanoff. “We entertained our first military family last weekend, and in addition to our National Guard clients, we recently hosted Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard units for physical training and survival training.”
For MWR Director Kathleen Banta, who has been at Joint Forces Training Base for almost 20 years, a revitalized aquatic center translates to additional funding that will be utilized to generate more opportunities to support soldiers and their families, while at the same time serving to further enhance JFTB’s community relationships.
“This is truly a ‘win-win’ situation for both the military and civilian communities, and I am excited to welcome Andrew and Kari to JFTB,” Banta said. “They bring lots of experience in the aquatic industry with them, and their expertise will benefit our continuing efforts to support our troops and their families.”
For additional information, contact Col. (CA) Richard Lalor at (562) 795-2096 (office) or (626) 733-1170 (mobile), or via email at richard.w.lalor2.vol@mail.mil.
Jewett steps up when Griffin pitchers go down
The Los Alamitos High softball team was snake-bitten twice recently, as their top two pitchers were injured. But sophomore Brianna Jewett stepped into the circle and helped the Griffins defeat Fountain Valley, 8-3, in a Sunset League game Thursday at Fountain Valley High.
The Griffins scored four runs in the first to give Jewett an early cushion and she made it stand up. Aside from a couple of shaky moments for Jewett and the defense behind her was steady.
“Brianna kept the ball down and kept us in the game,” Head Coach Rob Weil said.
Top pitcher, junior Ryan Denhart suffered a severe arm bruise on her pitching arm and will likely be out a couple of weeks. On Tuesday No. 2 pitcher Paige Austin stepped in and pitched a complete game to defeat Edison 4-1.
Austin allowed just five hits, one earned run and had eight strikeouts to improve her record to 5-0 on the season. But after the game she tore an ACL in her knee as she was running to the outfield. She will have surgery and be out the rest of the year.
Against the Barons, junior catcher Mary Iakopo had a home run and two RBIs, while senior Ariana Belarde scored two runs and drove in another. After Iakopo’s solo home run gave the Griffins a 5-0 lead in the third inning, Los Alamitos added three more runs in the top of the fourth to extend the lead to 8-0.
Fountain Valley scored a run in the fourth and two more in the sixth, but the Griffins were able to hold them off from there. Jenna Holcomb was 3 for 3 with two runs, while Allisha Martinez and Andrea Gonzalez each had a double.
Against Edison, Iakopo was 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs. Weil said the Griffins don’t try to get too scientific at the plate — their approach is simply, ‘see the ball, hit the ball.’ However, against Fountain Valley he said they were able to work favorable counts and it helped spark their offense.
“We exploit those types of situations and I think that’s what we did today,” Weil said.
The Griffins hosted Newport Harbor on Tuesday and will be at Huntington Beach on Thursday (April 23) at 3 p.m. They will host Marina on April 26, at 3 p.m.
Kennedy rallies to overcome three-run deficit
The Kennedy High baseball team rallied from a 5-2 deficit to defeat Western High, 6-5 and complete a two-game sweep of the Pioneers on Friday April 15 .
The Fighting Irish improved to 2-0 in league play, tied with Cypress and Pacifica for the early lead in the race. Kennedy had blanked Western, 3-0, on Wednesday to open Empire League play. But on Friday, Western scored a run in the first and four in the third to eventually take a 5-2 lead into the fifth inning.
But the Fighting Irish would rally in the bottom of the fifth, aided by a couple of Western mistakes. With one out, Jared Velez drew a walk and Ray Villanueva followed with a single.
On the following play, Western second baseman Raul Gonzalez robbed the Fighting Irish of a hit on a shallow fly ball just inside the right field line. But the ball was deep enough for the runners to tag up and when the Pioneers tried to relay the ball to third base, the throw got away and Velez scored to cut the lead to 5-3.
Villanueva scored on a double by Austin Criss to cut the lead to 5-4. Pinch runner Marco Ramos advanced to third on a passed ball. Ramos would score the tying run on a single by James Allen. Allen had a pop up to foul territory that was misplayed, which kept him alive to single in the tying run.
Allen would take second on a passed ball, then break for third on another misplayed pitch. The pickoff attempt to third got away and Allen sprinted home for the go-ahead run.
Velez would come on to pitch in the top of the sixth inning and would set the Pioneers down in order, with two strikeouts and a pop fly to right field. He would also pitch the seventh, getting a strikeout and soft liner to second base from the first two batters. After a single, right fielder Jimmy Decarli made a diving catch on a fly ball in foul territory to end the game.
The Fighting Irish improved to 12-6 and 2-0 in league play, yet coach Conrad Colby said they are still moving players around to try and find the optimal lineup. The plus side is that they are finding a lot of versatility on the roster.
“I think we have a lot of guys we’re confident putting anywhere in the lineup,” Colby said.
The Fighting Irish are tied with Pacifica and Cypress for the early lead. Colby said he expects his team to stay competitive in the solid league. Cypress has been the team to beat in recent years, but Colby expects a tough road all through league play.
“The Empire League is tough, there’s no question about it,” Colby said.
Strong Studio Dancer of the Month
Strong Dance Studios mission is to create confident kids through dance. In order to fulfill that goal, the studio highlights a confident dancer every month. The studio interviews them and then post their interview, along with their headshot, on a “Wall of Fame.” This month’s dancer is Giselle, an 11-year-old who is also Vice President of her school’s Student Council. Here’s what she had to say:
Q: Where does your name come from?
‘My name originates in France. Fun Fact: There is a romantic ballet production of my name – ‘Giselle’’
Q: Why do you love dance?
‘I love dance because I can become a strong dancer and it helps build my confidence.’
Q: What is your biggest challenge in dance?
‘My biggest challenge in dance is to do left turns and leaps. Also getting used to doing hard combinations.
Q: What made you want to be a dancer?
‘I wanted to be a dancer because it makes me feel so energized and getting to do so many cool tricks.’
Q: When you’re not dancing, how do you like to spend your time?
‘I love to take acting classes. Also love to read. Lastly, spending time with my family is always fun.’
Q: Who inspires you to dance?
‘All my dance teachers are a big inspiration to me, but there is this one dancer Mariana [another Strong Studio dancer] who is amazing on pointe who is a big inspiration when it comes to dance.’
Congratulations Giselle on all of your achievements. You can see Giselle dance her lead role as Dr. Coppelius in Strong Dance Studio’s upcoming production of Coppelia on July 17.
Youth Center campaigners say why they do it
Whether it’s because campaigners are inspired, grateful or see the need in the community for The Youth Center, all are united in their overall mission to help local children have a bright future.
“The children are our future, and we must support our future,” said ‘Awesome Volunteer’ Flo Garcia Perry who believes in the Youth Center because it’s a vital, energetic part of the community. She’s raised about a quarter of her individual goal of $750 so far during the last two weeks of the Community Support Campaign, and will next call on all individuals, companies and corporations help the Youth Center reach its overall goal of raising $150,000 during the month of April. As of their second week campaign night on April 12 that was held at the Brew Kitchen Ale House in Los Alamitos, The Youth Center has so far closed in on the gap of their monetary goal by raising more than $70,000, according to campaign chair Seal Beach Police Chief Joe Stilinovich.
With a hearty sense of humor, first time campaigner Perry is daring donors to give by willingly cracking an egg on her forehead when she reaches her $750 individual goal, and will be dying her hair Youth Center blue when she reaches $1,000. With a big grin on her face, the vibrant senior who lovingly gives her time and talents by volunteering and campaigning imparted, “The more you give, the happier you’ll feel!”
On a more serious side, new campaigner Jeffrey Blancq who just became a Youth Center board member a month ago, says he’s campaigning because he simply believes in the cause. “I believe when we are young we look up to people, and when we grow up we need to give back,” he said. “I grew up in this community. I was given to as a child and I want to give back.”
Blancq first learned of the Youth Center through his middle school dances years ago when he attended Pine School and would meet his friends at neighboring Oak Middle School to go next door to the Youth Center. “We’d hang out and played basketball until our parents would come pick us up or got tired and walked home.”
He says to parents and donors to look to their children, and imagine them not having a positive place to go after school in light of all the negative influences there are out there. “The Youth Center is here and is a positive influence,” he said. “Imagine the alternative.”
Returning campaigner Sean Payne who has children himself is passionate about the youth in the community, and is equally excited to give back in any way he can. “I’ve campaigned for seven or eight years now, and every year is important,” he said. “I’ve raised a few hundred dollars so far, but more is in the works!” He added he’s been excited about having ‘Chief Joe’ leading it this year.
Payne also mentioned what a positive influence the Youth Center’s After School Program has in the community. “I was a latchkey kid growing up, and didn’t have anything like the Youth Center growing up, so I want to give it to the kids now. The Youth Center is focused on the children and providing them with positive opportunities. They rely upon our donations because they don’t receive any government funding.”
Long time campaigner and Youth Center Board Member Arnie Fine who grew up playing hockey, basketball and baseball with a place like the Youth Center also echoed the sentiments of how vital the After School Program is for kids. “The Learning Center here is invaluable for the kids as some don’t have computers at home and the kids benefit from them by doing their homework. We keep a lot of middle school kids safe and in a nurturing environment rather than running the streets and getting into trouble.”
“We have a wonderful organization which impacts nearly 3,000 children a year,” added Fine in reference to all Youth Center programs.
“The Youth Center really makes a difference for kids to have a safe place, a home after school,” said another veteran campaigner and board member Karen Frankenberg who is campaigning this year because she’s grateful that the Youth Center helped her family when she needed it, and because she didn’t grow up with anything like it back in Indiana. “It makes a difference to a kid to have freedom in a safe environment,” she said. “All our programs help kids and the community.”
If you’d like to find out more about the Youth Center or how you can be a part of the Community Support Campaign or be a donor, please visit them online at theyouthcenter.org.
Charity donates prom dresses
Every high school girl dreams of going to the prom. However, if there is no money for girls to purchase a dress for this special occasion, prom becomes a very stressful time. In 2006, National Charity League South Coast Chapter had a vision. This non-profit mother-daughter charity league had a goal to provide senior girls who could not afford a dress, shoes or accessories a night where they could select an entire outfit. National Charity League’s goal was to make prom a reality for these girls and offer dresses and accessories at no cost so these high school senior girls could attend their prom, so hence Cinderella Night.
National Charity League South Coast Chapter hosted this year’s Cinderella Night on Friday, April 15 and provided dresses and accessories for 30 high school seniors from Cabrillo, Wilson, Lakewood, Los Alamitos and Millikan. This year, National Charity League South Coast Chapter was also able to provide makeup from Elf and perfume from Clinique. Each girl in attendance has a financial need and qualified for the event through their high school counselor.
Helping the high school senior girls select their prom dresses, shoes and jewelry were 15 high school girls who are members of National Charity League South Coast Chapter’s Teen Advisory Board. The young girls at National Charity League were so excited to help. Each senior girl who attended Cinderella Night was genuinely pleased and was so happy to be able to shop for prom. The identity of each senior girl receiving assistance with prom is kept confidential and the names are not released to the public.
Cinderella Night was hosted at National Charity League South Coast Chapter’s Miss Charity’s Thrift boutique in Los Alamitos. Dresses were donated from fellow league members and purchased from members’ donations for this special event. There were 140 dresses for the Seniors to choose from and the night was festive with music, laughter and smiles all around.
Rachel Burney, NCL South Coast Chapter’s Ticktocker who helped on Friday evening said, “Everyone should feel like a princess on your prom night.”
If you would like more information on joining National Charity League South Coast Chapter, please visit their website at http://nclsouthcoast.chapterweb.net. National Charity League (www.nationalcharityleague.org) is a nonprofit organization composed of Patronesses and Ticktocker groups from grades 6-12. Their mission is to foster the mother-daughter relationship in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences.