The Long Beach Dental Hygienist’s Society presented a $4,000 donation to The Children’s Dental Clinic at Long Beach Memorial Hospital. Pictured are Jean Petrillo RDH representative of the clinic along with members Shetal Nair RDH, Arlene Parker RDH, Leslie Sehremelis RDH, Katelyn Houska RDH and Beth Wilson RDH. The Children’s Dental Clinic serves thousands of children a year with dental treatment.
Lead roles for local dancers
For the past 12 months, Sydney Kaminski has been in the dance studio practicing steps, rehearsing sequences, studying DVDs of previous performances, and perfecting the routine to land the role of a lifetime in an iconic holiday ballet.
Sometimes that meant staying up late to finish homework, declining party invitations, and skipping opportunities to hang out with friends.
But the hard work paid off – Sydney won the coveted lead role of Clara in “The Nutcracker” at Downey Civic Theatre this year.
“I have wanted to dance as Clara since I was little and first performed in this ballet,” said Sydney, a Seal Beach native and McAuliffe seventh grader who also attended McGaugh Elementary School. “I am really excited – this is a new and challenging role for me.”
“The Nutcracker” has become the most-performed ballet of all time and tells the dreamy story of young Clara who helps the Nutcracker Prince defeat the Mouse King before continuing with Christmas magic and celebrations. Like Clara’s magical dream, Sydney’s dreams are coming true by dancing this role.
Sydney will also dance the part of The Doll, which includes a solo.
And, Sydney will also be dancing with her friends.
Alexi Zoolakis, a seventh grader at Oak Middle School and Rossmoor resident, will also play the role of Clara, in addition to a Snowflake and Mirliton Corps. McAuliffe seventh grader and Seal Beach resident Elizabeth Tsamous, will dance as a Party Girl, a Snowflake and as a member of the Spanish Corps. The trio have been good friends for most of their lives.
“I’m excited to dance as Clara because I’ve never been the lead,” said Alexi, who is preparing for her ninth year as a “Nutcracker” dancer. “It’s every dancer’s dream to be a lead. I love dancing because it allows me to truly be myself. It also allows me to show my self-confidence.”
In addition, Los Alamitos High School freshman Gabriela Fellingham will dance one show as the Arabian lead and the other as the Dew Drop Fairy. The Seal Beach resident has been dancing for six years and this is her fifth performance in “The Nutcracker.” Her sister Lucia, a sixth grader at St. Hedwig School, will perform as a Party Girl and in the Chinese Corps.
The girls dance for the Southern California Dance Theatre and take classes at the Southern California Dance Academy in Long Beach. They began dancing in “The Nutcracker” nearly 10 years ago, starting with roles such as Mother Ginger children and Soldiers, working their way up the ranks to become Party Boys, Snow Angels, and then Party Girls before moving on to lead roles, which include Clara.
To land the Clara role, Sydney and Alexi have worked tirelessly over the last several years, taking multiple classes, including Sunday intensive classes with the American Ballet Theater in Costa Mesa. They also spent their entire summer dancing and volunteering at the dance studio.
Performances for “The Nutcracker” are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 (Sydney will dance as Clara) and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 20 (Alexi will dance as Clara) at the Downey Civic Theatre at 8435 Firestone Boulevard in Downey.
For more information about The Nutcracker performance or to purchase tickets, go to www.downeytheatre.com or call the Downey Civic Theatre box office at 562-861-8214.
Los Al tennis double advance in playoffs
Los Alamitos Seniors Hope Hairell and Karoline Pintar advanced to the CIF Individual Tennis Championships. Six Sectional competitions were held on Nov. 23 to determine the CIF Southern Section round of 32 Singles and Doubles competitors for the next level of playoffs.
Both Hairell and Pintar earned a place at the CIF Championships after winning the Sunset League Varsity Doubles. It was the first time the Los Al doubles pair had ever played together. This marks the fourth consecutive year that a different Los Al Doubles team has taken the Sunset League title. The doubles team came back after being down a set to first seeded Newport Harbor to win the best of three sets match and take the title. This win marks another winning season for the Griffin Girls’ Tennis team finishing the season with nine team wins to seven losses.
The Griffin girls also saw Juniors, Catt MacEachern take Bronze and Erika Cheng take fourth in Sunset League Girls Singles competition. In Junior Varsity, Taryn Chow finished in the medals with a fourth place finish.
Cypress FC has undefeated season
This team was formed at the very last week of August 2015 just before the Fall season began in September. Under great odds and tremendous effort from the coaches and players, the boys not only finished with the only undefeated record at 10-0 but also went 4-0 in the first playoff tournament for the SCDSL League. They beat LA Galaxy 2-1 in the semi- final and played on Sunday for the Championship against a tough Laguna United FC 4-1. With the new age changes to US Soccer this team is looking to add additional players to their roster. The team is comprised of (bottom row and left to right) : Joey Chavez, Jared Andalon, Brandon Parra, Tony Honorio, Miguel Gonzalez, Ivan Solano, Gerald Kamenski, Hussein Essayli (top row and left to right) Andrew Salazar, Frankie Araiza, Noah Aguirre, Aedan Cooper, Rufino Rodriguez, Paul Giangualano, Bradley Weaver, Danny Ramirez, Nick Leal, Nathan Slevcove and coaches Ajay Godhania and Eddie Chavez
Griffins soccer team starts off with a victory
Los Alamitos boys soccer coach Donovan Martinez knows that the season is long and tough. But at least the Griffins got off to a good start with a 2-0 win over Warren High in their first game of the Aliso Cup Tournament, on Monday at Los Alamitos High.
The Griffins had goals by senior Kevin Herring and freshman Louie Arellano in the first half and the defense kept Warren out of the net to hold on for the lead. Ryan Ayale had assists on both goals.
Warren was a solid test for the Griffins to start the season. The Bears won 21 games last year and were the San Gabriel Valley League champions. They are a program that consistently fields solid teams that play a physical style of soccer.
“We were able to match that physicality,” Martinez said.
But the game could have easily been a different story. Both teams had opportunities that they failed to capitalize on and the Bears had some strong attacks that just missed the mark. Griffin goalie Alec Lazar made several big saves to help preserve the shutout.
The Griffins certainly have potential, but with five freshmen on varsity, they are a young team and Martinez is expecting a long learning curve as the young players learn to play varsity level soccer.
“We have a long way to go,” Martinez said.
Martinez said there is plenty of talent on the team and they have a core of experienced players who should provide some stability to the younger players. Herring has a lot of speed and will give the Griffins a scoring threat against most defenses. Another senior, Julian Guerrero, will help shore up the midfield and defensive line. His presence on the back line against Warren was pivotal in holding off the Warren offense.
Guerrero could also see a lot of time at midfield, where he can have more of an impact on both ends of the field. The Griffins finished third in the Sunset League last year, two wins behind Huntington Beach and Edison and just one win ahead of Fountain Valley.The Sunset League is traditionally a tough and balanced league and if the Griffins are to compete for a league title down the stretch, it will depend on how they develop through the first half of the season. For Martinez and his staff, that will require them to make sure the players are ready to play.
“We just have to be physically and mentally prepared,” Martinez said.
Hedwig volleyball wins tourney
The St. Hedwig’s Girls seventh/eighth grade volleyball team won the OC Parochial Athletic League Large School Championship on Thursday, Nov. 12. The girls lost the first set 15-25, but rallied back to win the next two sets 25-8, 15-12 and win the championship. This is the third year in a row that St. Hedwig captures the title, and their ninth title in the 16 years Coach Jack Senske has been the coach. Bottom row from left to right: Maya Patel, Molly Clark, Shea Hurley, Co-Captain Isabella Bareford, Co-Captain Chloe Allen, Brooke Hill, Katherine Davidson. Back row from left to right: Claire Flores, Abby Karich, Gabi Szymczyk, Kendall Osgood, Paulina Gibson, Dani Maxwell, Ashley Retzer, Fiorella Barreto, Diana Hollis, Coach Jack Senske.
Los Al students sign to college
Los Alamitos High School celebrated National Signing Day for Division 1 students on Thursday, Nov. 12 in the high school gym. These students signed their National Letters of Intent in front of a packed house of family, friends and fellow teammates.
Nicqueline Rettberg (Texas Christian University)
Kailani Marchak (University of California, Berkley)
Kelly Boyle (University of San Diego)
Dani Iwami (Hawaii Pacific University)
Julia Patterson (University of Arizona)
Eyassu Worku (University of California Irvine)
Jenna Holcomb (University of Tennessee)
Kyle Mora (University of California Los Angeles)
Riley Smith (University of Southern California)
Jade Loe (Cal State University Dominquez Hills)
Allison Young (Fort Lewis College)
Easy Choice, WellCare Community Foundation give $5,000 to Orange County Food Bank
WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG), a leading provider of managed care services for government-sponsored health care programs, announced today that the WellCare Community Foundation gave $5,000 to the Orange County Food Bank on behalf of the company’s Easy Choice Health Plan. The donation will help provide nutrition for those in need as part of the food bank’s “Hope for the Holidays” campaign.
Oxford Academy has strong showing at Hawk Holiday Classic
The Oxford Academy Lady Patriots Girls Basketball competed in the Ocean View Hawk Holiday Classic Tournament this past week.This tournament featured some of Orange County’s best basketball programs and was set to be a good test for the Lady Patriots who were riding momentum after finishing in second place in the Oxford tournament the prior week. Oxford was paired up to compete versus Dana Hills, El Toro, Irvine, and El Modena, large high schools that average having over 2,300 students, which is more than three times the size of Oxford Academy in Cypress. In the four games played in the Hawk Holiday Classic, Oxford finished 2-2 and placed 4thout of 10 teams in their division.The Lady Patriots had a strong showing proving they can compete against these larger schools.In fact, even in the two games Oxford lost, the team held a lead going into the 4thquarter. In the first game, Oxford stumbled versus Dana Hills as Oxford couldn’t hold onto a nine-point 3rdquarter lead and eventually fell to the Dolphins by a score of 62-56.Maddie Bloom from Dana Hills scored 33 points to lead the Dolphins to victory.Dana Hills would go undefeated in the tournament and win their division. Oxford bounced back in the second game with a victory over a strong El Toro team, which ended up being the Chargers only loss in the Ocean View tournament.The game was tight the whole way through and Oxford maintained a 39-38 lead at the end of the third quarter, before taking control of the game in the fourth quarter and finishing off the Chargers 61-55. Austyn Masuno had 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the team and the Patriots also got nice scoring contributions from Jocelyn Lopez (10), Sophia Chan (8), Angie Gagnon (8), and Nicia De Santos (7). The 3rdgame on Friday night was against a tough Irvine High squad who possessed a big front court featuring two 6’0” forwards. After being tied at halftime, Oxford was able to pull away with solid defense, consistent free throw shooting, and controlling the boards.The Lady Patriots were 12 of 15 on free throws, and Masuno and Jocelyn Lopez dominated the boards and collected 14 second-half rebounds between them. Lopez was a catalyst in the 4th quarter scoring 7 of Oxford’s final 13 points to clinch the game for the Lady Patriots, 49-42. Guard Mylee Madrazo scored 12 points, Angie Gagnon chipped in 6 points, and Sophia Chan contributed a balanced stat line of 9 points, 3 rebounds 3 assists and 5 steals. The final game was a matchup between Oxford and El Modena. The first three quarters were dominated by Oxford as the Lady Patriots led 50-37. But the patriots got into foul trouble.In the 4thquarter, El Modena turned the game around and took a 64-60 lead with 10 seconds left in the game. Oxford miraculously managed to comeback and actually tied the score at 64-64. But that was short lived as El Modena was fouled with three seconds and was able to convert one of two free throws to seal a 65-64 victory for the Vanguards. “We are a young team and we showed in this tournament that Oxford can successfully compete against these larger schools.I am proud of the team’s progress so far and we will just continue to work hard andget better throughout the season,” Patriot Coach David Clifton said. Oxford Tournament Top Performers Over the four game tournament, Oxford averaged scoring over 59 points a game.Austyn Masuno was named the team’s MVP, while Sophia Chan earned honorable mention.Masuno averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 3 steals per game while Chan averaged 9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.Additional scoring came from Forward Jocelyn Lopez (10) who also averaged 6 rebounds per game, Angie Gagnon (8), Mylee Madrazo (6), Nicea De Santos (6), and Ashleigh Perez (3). Oxford Academy is now 5-3 on the season and will be competing in the Liberty Christian Tournament this week.The tournament will be the Lady Patriots final tune up before entering Academy League play Jan. 4.
Los Al’s John Barnes retires
After over three decades as the Head Football Coach of Los Alamitos High School, John Barnes announced his retirement on Nov. 20.
Barnes leaves behind a great legacy and an outstanding football program. Since 1979, he has created a strong foundation that fosters success both on and off the football field.
Barnes valued not only winning, but also preparing young men for a future with character and integrity. “Coach John Barnes is ‘The Los Al Way.’ A tradition for 37 years, he has shown us how to win, how to grow from our challenges, and how to do it all with honor and grace. We will always be grateful from the bottom of our hearts,” said Diana Hill, Los Alamitos Unified Board President and former Los Al football booster president.
During his illustrious coaching career at Los Al, Barnes won 321 games, along with four CIF Championship titles and 17 league championships. He was elected to the State Hall of Fame in 2013, was the National Coach of the Year in 2002, and was the California Coach of the Year in 1993. In addition, Coach Barnes retires as the most winningest active coach in the State of California.
During his tenure, he had a 47 game unbeaten streak and coached several All-League and All-CIF players. Many Los Al scholar athletes went on to play Division I, II, and III collegiate football with several of those players going on to play in the National Football League.
He also had the joy of coaching both of his sons, Brian and Jimmy Barnes. His wife, Anita, and daughter, Karyn, were always there to support Los Al football.
Coach Barnes built the reputation of Los Al football from a local team to a national powerhouse. He has been recognized by countless service groups for his impact on not only athletics, but also the school and community at large. Barnes epitomizes “Los Al For Life” and what it means to be a coach. His legacy has impacted generations of Los Alamitos alumni, families, community members, and the world of high school football.
Superintendent, Sherry Kropp, stated, “Please join me in congratulating Coach Barnes for his service to our students and families and wishing him all good things in the next chapter of his life. We will miss him and always embrace the words he brought to Los Al, Griffin Pride!”
Cypress student headed to police cadet training
The Woman’s Club of Cypress (WCC) will sponsor the academy training of Madeline Daerr when she begins police cadet training next year at Golden West College. At the WCC’s Nov. 4 monthly meeting, Cypress Chief of Police Rod Cox introduced Daerr to the members.
Currently a freshman at Cypress High School, Daerr enjoys playing volleyball and solving mysteries in her spare time. She plans to major in criminal justice in college with the goal of joining a police department and advancing to detective.
Chief Cox told WCC members that he is very supportive of the police cadet program. “It is a great mentoring program for each of the students involved.”
In 2016, the Woman’s Club of Cypress celebrates 50 years of volunteer service to Cypress and the greater community. Over the years, the WCC has accomplished many community service projects. The results of some are enjoyed by residents and visitors on a daily basis. For instance, from 1996-1999 the club donated picnic tables and benches that were placed in Cypress parks. Women who want to make friends with like-minded volunteers who enjoy bringing value to the community at large, are welcome to attend a future meeting to learn more about the club. For additional information about the WCC and its projects, contact Veena Narain at v_narain@yahoo.com.
Oxford Academy reaches Oxford Academy Tournament final
The Oxford Academy girls basketball team reached the championship game of the Oxford Academy Tournament for the first time in the eleven year history of the tournament. Oxford is a much improved team from previous years and features a young squad that includes three freshmen, a sophomore, and junior in the starting lineup.The Lady Patriots powered their way into the finals with the highest scoring offense in the tournament averaging 59 points a game while securing convincing victories over Orange (61-28), La Quinta (54-37), and Godinez (63-24). Oxford faced last year’s tournament champion and 2015 CIF 3A quarterfinalist, the St. Joseph Jesters who reached the championship by knocking off a solid Cypress team 48-39 in a semifinal game the Jesters controlled from start to finish. In the final, the Lady Patriots played a thrilling game that went down to the wire with St. Josephs coming out on top 45-41. St. Joseph used their experience and poise to take an early advantage in the game but had to hold on as Oxford challenged the Jesters down to the final buzzer.This was the first game that this Oxford squad was seriously challenged in and met with adversity.The Lady Patriots showed resilience by fighting back and although they fell short, the audience could tell there is a bright future for this exciting young team. St. Josephs jumped out to a 16-9 first quarter lead as Oxford team struggled to handle the St Joseph’s full court press.St. Josephs used a solid transition fast break offense led by sophomore sensation Stefanie Berberabe who had 17 points in the game to take early control.For Oxford, freshman Center Austyn Masuno kept the Lady Patriots in the game by scoring 7 of the teams 9 first quarter points. In the 2nd quarter, Oxford was able to slow down the Jesters offense, but St. Josephs stilled managed to stretch their lead to a comfortable score of 27-19 at halftime. In the 3rd quarter, the momentum shifted as Oxford stepped up their defensive efforts. The Lady Patriots were able to hold St. Josephs to 6 points while picking up their offensive effort to score 11 points to close the quarter and cut the St. Joseph lead to 33-30. The 4th quarter was a nail-biter that had Oxford challenging St. Joseph the rest of the game as the team was being inspired by their freshman trio who all made key plays in crunch time.St. Joseph built a lead up to 40-34 with 4:30 left, but freshman Guard Angie Gagnon drilled a three-pointer to tighten the score to 40-37 with 3:45 remaining.With 2:20 remaining freshman Center Austyn Masuno converted an inside bank shot to cut the lead to 41-39. After St. Josephs scored another basket, freshman Point Guard Mylee Madrazo drove down the lane to score a bucket cutting the lead back to two points with 1:20 left. However, the Patriots couldn’t get any closer from there and Berberabe of St. Josephs made two free throws to put the game away. “I know we lost, but I am proud of this team as we played well throughout the tournament and ended up with a 3-1 record, and that’s pretty good,” Oxford coach David Clifton told his team after the game. Oxford scoring was led by Austyn Masunowith 16 points. Angie Gagnon had 9, Mylee Madrazo 7, and Jocelyn Lopez added 6. Oxford Tournament Top Performers Oxford averaged 55 points a game and was led by its three freshmen who averaged scoring the following during the four-game tournament:Austyn Masuno (19), Angie Gagnon (8), Mylee Madrazo (7), additional scoring came from Sophomores Sophia Chan (8) and Ashleigh Perez (4) and from Junior Jocelyn Lopez (4). This week the Lady Patriots will be competing in the Ocean View Tournament and are scheduled to play Dana Hills, El Toro, and Irvine High, all strong teams from South Orange County. In the 3rd place game, Cypress High took on Godinez High of Santa Ana and came out with a convincing 47-31 victory over the Grizzlies.The Centurions led from start to finish as they used a tough full court press defense to create turnovers and transition baskets. Cypress jumped out to a 24-12 lead by halftime and never looked back.Cypress was led in scoring by Aggie Manu with 16 points while Justina Yoo chipped in 12 points in the Centurion victory.
Griffins reach title game of South Coast Tourney
The Los Alamitos High girls basketball team made a solid run in the South Coast Tournament, reaching the championship game before falling short to Mater Dei for the title, 58-41, on Saturday at University High. Just getting to the title game is such a high-quality field of teams shows a lot of potential for a Griffin team that head coach Rich Alvarez admits is still trying to find an offensive rhythm. The Griffins reached the title game by holding opponents to no more than 37 points. “We’ve been focusing on defense first,” Alvarez said. While the defense was key, it was a big three-point shot that finally propelled them to the title game. With the score tied at 33-33, senior guard Brianna Flynn drained a three-pointer from the right angle that lifted the Griffins to a 36-33 victory over Woodbridge in the semifinals on Friday night. The Griffins led 26-23 at the end of the third, but the Warriors went on a 9-2 run to take a 32-28 lead a little more than two minutes left in the game. Miranda Ta’Amu was fouled while driving for a layup and made both free throws to pull the Griffins within 32-30. After a defensive stop, senior guard Dani Iwami hit a three pointer to tie the game at 33-33, with 1:08 left in the game. The Griffins again made a defensive stop to gain possession, which set up the game-winner by Flynn. Against Woodbridge, senior center Sarah Hermann led the offense with 10 points and Iwami had nine. Flynn finished with seven and sophomore guard jade Galloway added six. Iwami, Flynn and Hermann are returning starters and the Griffins have seven returners all together from a team that went 22-7 last year, won the Sunset League title and reached the CIF-SS quarterfinals. They have the potential and their sights set on defending their league title and making another strong run in the CIF-SS playoffs. In the South Coast quarterfinals, Iwami had 18 points to lead the way in a 41-37 win over Tesoro. In their opener, it was Hermann who led the way with 15 points in a 53-35 win over Trabuco Hills. Ta’Amu added 11. In the finals against Mater Dei, Flynn had 21 points, but the offense struggled in the second and third quarters, as Mater Dei took the title with a 58-41 win. The Griffins are back in action this week at the Ocean View High Hawk Holiday Classic. They opened on Tuesday (past our deadline) against Mira Costa and will face Trabuco Hills on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
Los Alamitos boys soccer opens season with win
Los Alamitos boys soccer coach Donovan Martinez knows that the season is long and tough. But at least the Griffins got off to a good start with a 2-0 win over Warren High in their first game of the Aliso Cup Tournament, on Monday at Los Alamitos High. The Griffins had goals by senior Kevin Herring and freshman Louie Arellano in the first half and the defense kept Warren out of the net to hold on for the lead. Ryan Ayale had assists on both goals. Warren was a solid test for the Griffins to start the season. The Bears won 21 games last year and were the San Gabriel Valley League champions. They are a program that consistently fields solid teams that play a physical style of soccer. “We were able to match that physicality,” Martinez said. But the game could have easily been a different story. Both teams had opportunities that they failed to capitalize on and the Bears had some strong attacks that just missed the mark. Griffin goalie Alec Lazar made several big saves to help preserve the shutout. The Griffins certainly have potential, but with five freshmen on varsity, they are a young team and Martinez is expecting a long learning curve as the young players learn to play varsity level soccer. “We have a long way to go,” Martinez said. Martinez said there is plenty of talent on the team and they have a core of experienced players who should provide some stability to the younger players. Herring has a lot of speed and will give the Griffins a scoring threat against most defenses. Another senior, Julian Guerrero, will help shore up the midfield and defensive line. His presence on the back line against Warren was pivotal in holding off the Warren offense. Guerrero could also see a lot of time at midfield, where he can have more of an impact on both ends of the field. The Griffins finished third in the Sunset League last year, two wins behind Huntington Beach and Edison and just one win ahead of Fountain Valley. The Sunset League is traditionally a tough and balanced league and if the Griffins are to compete for a league title down the stretch, it will depend on how they develop through the first half of the season. For Martinez and his staff, that will require them to make sure the players are ready to play. “We just have to be physically and mentally prepared,” Martinez said. The Griffins will play at Santa Margarita High on Friday in another Aliso Cup game and again on Saturday against teams to be determined.
Oxford Academy looking to establish new identity
Oxford Academy had established itself as an elite academic institution, but the school is also making strides in athletics as well. This year the Oxford girls basketball team could be ready to make a jump to the next level in league play.
Last year the girl’s team finished 6-18 and in sixth place in the Academy League, but the Patriots have higher ambitions this year.
The Patriots have their sights set on challenging for a league title and the return of several key players and new coaches has the team optimistic about the upcoming season.
Head Coach David Clifton is the school’s long-time athletic director and softball coach. He is assisted by Chris Masuno and trainer Jake Nungaray.
The Patriots return several key players from last year’s squad, including All-Academy League sophomore Sophia Chan.
Other key returners include Ashleigh Perez, Celine Tran, Diana Inguito, Jocelyn Lopez, Nicia Desantos, Serena Ing, and Stephanie Cha, who will add depth to the team.
The team should also get a boost from incoming freshmen Austyn Masuno (6’1’ Center), Mylee Madrazo (5’3” Guard), and Angie Gagnon (5’4” Guard). These newcomers were the nucleus of a squad that dominated the Anahiem Jr. High 8th grade league in 2015 to bring Oxford its first Jr. High championship ever. “All three freshman players should have an impact immediately,” Clifton said.
The Academy League schedule for the Patriots will start on Jan 4, but there are opportunities to see the squad in action before league play begins. Oxford Academy opens play on Nov. 30 vs. Orange High at 3 p.m. in the Oxford Academy Varsity Tournament which runs Monday thru Saturday, Nov. 30 through Dec. 5. There will be 16 teams competing in the tournament including local schools Cypress, Pacifica, and Garden Grove.
There will be four games a day starting at 3 p.m.
Winter Festival will get you in the holiday spirit
Reindeer really do fly. In fact, they will be landing in Rush Park on Friday, Dec. 11 for the Rossmoor Winter Festival from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Festival will begin with an opening ceremony, arts and crafts, a bounce house, live reindeer attraction (at 6:30 p.m.) and photos with the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus. A professional photographer will be on hand to help capture those priceless holiday memories to share with family and friends.
Beginning at 6:15 p.m. Los Alamitos School District’s McAuliffe Middle School and Oak Middle School will give live choir performances to help you get in the holiday spirit. A live DJ will play holiday tunes throughout the event for your listening pleasure.
The sparkle of the festival will illuminate with a tree lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. Then, all aboard for the RHA’s Holiday Lights Trolley Tour of Rossmoor. Be sure to vote for your favorites.
If it is food you crave, grab some dinner from one of the fabulous food trucks and then catch a movie in the auditorium. This year’s feature will be the seasonal classic, “Elf” starring Will Farrell. Those 21 and older are invited to visit the beer garden sponsored by the Seal Beach Lions Club.
A one-stop-shop filled with local vendors is sure to help you find the perfect gift and avoid battling crowds at shopping malls. You may also drop off food donations to the Precious Life Shelter’s canned food drive at the Festival and the Orange County Sheriffs Department will collect new, unwrapped toys or gifts for Operation Santa Claus and Senior Santa.
The Rossmoor Winter Festival is cosponsored by the Rossmoor Community Services District and the Rossmoor Homeowners Association. For more information and to find out how you can become a sponsor visit www.RossmoorWinterFest.com.
Holiday Sing time in Cypress
Get the family in the holiday spirit because Santa and his reindeers are coming to Cypress. The Cypress Holiday Sing event is on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Civic Center green located at 5275 Orange Ave.
This festive holiday evening will include performances from local schools, train rides, sledding, games, hot chocolate and cookies, letters to Santa, cards to Vets, cookie decorating and a visit from Mr. & Mrs. Claus themselves. Don’t forget to bring your camera.
Dinner will also be available for $4 (cash only) provided by the Youth Action Committee of Cypress and La Palma. The event is festival seating so bringing your own chairs and blankets are highly recommended. Free parking is available on site.
For more information, please call Cypress Recreation and Community Services at 714-229-6780.
LAEF’s King & Queen of Hearts campaign
The Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF) recently announced the third annual King and Queen of Hearts Campaign and Coronation Gala. LAEF is honored to be one of the strongest resources for the district and to continue fundraising efforts through this signature event. The theme of “King & Queen of Hearts” is a connection to the popular “I Heart Los Al” district campaign.
Thoughtfully designed in 2013 by the LAEF Board of Directors, with input from the school district staff and schools, this annual event will once again be the highlight of LAEF’s fundraising year. With candidates from throughout the district, four men and four women will vie for the title of King and Queen from Dec. 10 through Friday, Feb. 19, 2016.
The 2014-15 campaign raised over $100,000 and crowned Tina Heeren (Counselor at Los Al High School) as Queen of Hearts and Tom Lent (Southland Credit Union) as King of Hearts. Proceeds will continue to support STEAM project preparation classes, STEAM fairs on all campuses and a district-wide STEAM showcase. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, the arts and math.
Last year’s participants and LAEF board members are currently nominating new members of the Royal Court and will serve as mentors in the fundraising process. The Royal Court Debut event on Dec. 10 at Hennessey’s will bring all the candidates together to kick off the fundraising season, which will last 10 weeks.
The Grand will again host the Coronation Gala on Feb. 19 with flair and royal spirit. The man and woman who raise the most for LAEF will be crowned as King and Queen on the night of the gala. Please mark your calendars for Feb. 19 and support your favorite member of the Royal Court by donating to LAEF in their name.
LAEF is the non-profit partner of Los Alamitos Unified School District. LAEF provides after-school and summer enrichment programs to enhance educational excellence in our community. For additional information on LAEF, please call 562-799-4700 ext. 80424 or visit www.LAEF4Kids.org.
Local dentist helps out veterans
Dental office of Dr. Seza Barsamian provided free comprehensive dental exam, X-ray and regular dental cleaning to local veterans recently.
Fifteen veterans showed up, in ages ranging from 33-95 years old.
The value of services provided was around $300 per veteran. Barsamian was able to accommodate about 25 local veterans who made the appointments the past few weeks.
“We did not turn away any veteran who called, even the ones who were not local were called later to accommodate them on another day since we can only accommodate certain number of patients per day,” said Barsamian. “We do know, unless veterans are service connected or disabled that they do not get proper oral hygiene care.”
Few were returning veterans from last year’s event at the same office.
Veteran’s oral health has not been as important an issue as overall healthcare. Preventive oral care could be a catalyst in helping to avoid a number of different health conditions. Without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Periodontal disease and other oral conditions might affect, be affected by, or contribute to various diseases and conditions. Barsamian’s staff got to meet the veterans and hear their stories.
“We had veterans who were drafted in the 40s, two of them were WWll veterans, and there were also recent veterans “ One veteran said, “what you are doing is awesome!” Another veteran said” you are the fifth person who said thank you for your service in the last 30 years.”
Dr. Seza Barsamian’s office is located at 4022 Katella Avenue, Suite 206 in Los Alamitos. For more information call 562-596-4439.
Griffins comeback stopped short
Los Alamitos girls volleyball team fought back from a big deficit, but came up just short, in a CIF-SS Division 1AA playoff game on Thursday at Los Alamitos High.
The Griffins took the first set, but the third-seeded Mustangs rallied to win the match, 26-28, 25-17, 25-13, 27-25, to advance to the quarterfinals. Los Alamitos had entered the playoffs as the third place team out of the Sunset League and had defeated Moore League No. 1 team Lakewood in the first round on the road.
Against Mira Costa, the Griffins carried the momentum into the first set, but after taking that set, the Mustangs grabbed the advantage in set two. The pivotal third set also started with the Mustangs on a run that had them leading 7-0 before the Griffins could get their bearings.
But after losing the third set and again falling behind in the fourth, the Griffins refused to give in. They trailed 7-2 before beginning to chip away at the Mustang lead.
“They had every reason to quit and they kept fighting and fighting and kept chipping away,” Huber said.
When setter Julia Patterson made a block for a point, the Mustang lead was cut to 12-9. A Mira Costa misplay made it 12-10, but the Mustangs regrouped to extend their lead to 17-11. From there the Griffins mounted another rally Taylor Cochrane and Natalie Rojes had consecutive kills that cut the Mustang lead to 19-16.
Later, Mira Costa led 22-19, but the Griffins went on a 4-0 run to take the lead. A net violation on Mira Costa made it 22-20 and consecutive ace serves by Patterson tied the set at 22-22. The Griffins would take the lead, 23-22 on a Mustang hit that sailed long.
Mira Costa would get to set point, 24-23, but Cochrane answered with a kill down the line to tie it at 24-24. However, the Mustangs would eventually close out the match, after a Los Al kill attempt sailed long. Still, Huber had no complaints after his team’s effort.
“To get down like we did and to still have a chance, I’m really proud of the way they fought,” Huber said.
After taking third in the Sunset League, the Griffins (19-12) were able to defeat Moore League co-champion Lakewood, 25-20, 26-24, 22-25, 25-15, in the first round.
Patterson led the Griffin attack with 34 assists and six ace serves. Cochrane led the team with 11 kills, sophomore Mackenzie Smith had eight kills and senior Sarah Tuioti-Mariner added seven kills. It had been an up and down season for the Griffins, but Huber was pleased with the way they dealt with the challenge.
“To have the showing that they did, especially emotionally, showed a lot about their character, not volleyball-wise but the type of kids that they are,” Huber said.