A significant milestone was reached at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach on April 9 as the guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) became the first ship to pull into the installation’s newly constructed ammunition pier, according to a press release issued by the Navy this week.
In the statement issued this week, Weapon’s Station Commanding Officer said the Navy takes great pride in announcing the completion of the project.
“This project was well over a decade in the making,” said base commanding officer Capt. Jessica O’Brien. “I’m incredibly proud of all the Navy and contractor personnel who took part in the design and construction of this great new pier, and I’m especially proud and humbled to be here today and see it all come together.”
The new pier replaced an older ammunition wharf originally built in 1954, and brings new and improved capabilities to the fleet.
“This new expanded pier facility provides destroyers and other fleet assets with expanded logistical capacity to arm faster and more efficiently,” said O’Brien. “This shore infrastructure is vital for the warfighting readiness of the Surface Force and our Navy.”
The previous ammunition wharf was only able to support one destroyer-sized ship at a time. The new pier will allow dual ship operations, along with the ability to support much larger vessels such as general-purpose amphibious assault ships (LHDs and LHAs) nearly three football fields long.
“Our new LHD and LHA capabilities will be significant,” said Roosevelt Simmons, Executive Director of Navy Munitions Command Pacific, CONUS West Division Unit Seal Beach. “We should see an increase in the volume of ships coming in, and we will also see an improved flexibility to support the fleet.”
“The planning process for this project started back in 2011, with construction starting at the end of 2019,” said Jazmin Atencia, station Plans, Programs & Readiness Integrator. “All construction should be completed by this summer. We still have a little bit of work to do, including some final pile driving and support building construction.”
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach is the primary munitions installation for the Navy’s Pacific Fleet surface ships. Its primary role is to store and maintain Navy and Marine Corps munitions and load and unload Navy ships and larger Coast Guard vessels with the weapons they need to conduct their missions.
The Boys and Girls Club of Anaheim Cypress snd the Special Olympics organization joined forces on Saturday to stage the Harmony Games, which are selected competitions designed to allow kids with and without disabilities to compete.
“The Boys and Girls Club of Anaheim Cypress and the Special Olympics Organization as collaborative partners to demonstrate our commitment to embrace the diverse population we serve,” said Jeri Barber, BGCAC Program Director.
“We desire to find equitable resources for all to participate and find inclusive spaces where all feel valued, safe and supported,” she said.
Erika Gary, interim CEO of the BAGCAC, said “we are so excited for this day with Special Olympics. We as a club have always believed that all kids, regardless of their abilities, deserve a safe place to learn to play.”
Gary thanked sponsors like U.S. Bank, OC Soccer Club (OCSC), Raising Cane’s, the Caterina Club, and others for believing in such a worthy endeavor.
“For OCSC, contributing to our community through participation in events like the Harmony Games: A Unified Family Play Day at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress is what we love to do. It’s all about fostering unity, support, and growth among our youth and instilling values that extend far beyond the playing field,” said Dan Rutstein Orange County SC President of Business Operations.
The Special Olympics Organization selected the local club as only one of two Boys and Girls club to pilot this experimental program, it said in a statement earlier in the week.
Brian Richter, Assistant VP of Partnerships for Special Olympics, attended the event Saturday and said the local club was always in tune with inclusion.
“From the get go, they saw the possibilities and not the obstacles,” he said, “and they were always interested in finding solutions.”
“This is a new venture for us as we’re looking for a way to integrate our programs and bring more inclusion into the Boys and Girls Clubs,” he said.
“Today is really about introducing some of their club members and families in this community to this concept and letting them recognize this is fine, this makes sense,” he said.
“In the long-term, what we want to do is really bring inclusion, unified activities so that it isn’t a one-time thing.”
Two Cypress officials attended the event including former Mayor and Council member Anne Hertz-Mallari and Council member Frances Marquez.
Until recently, Hertz-Mallari served as CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Anaheim Cypress and was instrumental in merging the local club with Anaheim.
“I’m very happy to be back here today to see the kickoff of this wonderful program,” she said. Hertz left the position after being named CEO of the nonprofit organization WeCare in Los Alamitos.
In an interview during the event, Gary explained the event in more detail.
Courtesy photo
“So unified means in this case, it’s all kids of all abilities, learning and playing together. And really, with the Special Olympics program, they have a lot of resources that they’re offering the club, especially in fostering leadership skills with youth of all abilities,” she said.
“The purpose of today is to kick off that partnership that we’re going to be making with Special Olympics. It’s also outreach to let families know that this is a safe, inclusive place,” said Gary.
Activities like Bocce ball, Cornhole, and other games played on Saturday are sports designed for collaboration, said Gary. “You can play from a wheelchair, use a walker or sit down,” she said.
“These activities are really adaptive,” said Gary.
Courtesy Photo The Harmony Games brought together kids with and without disabilities for spirited competition and unified play.
“These are things we’re learning from Special Olympics,” said Gary. “We’re going beyond sports like soccer, baseball, football and things like that.”
Gary, a longtime employee before being named Interim CEO, said merging the two clubs has paid huge dividends.
“ We’ve been really successful since merging,” said Gary. “We’ve more than doubled in size,” she said, adding that “we’ve been able to leverage the strengths of both clubs as well as the partnerships available in both cities,” she added.
“With Anaheim, there were a lot of great resources and companies that have such a commitment to to service and everything. And then in Cypress, we, you know, it’s such a strong community, and there’s a lot of businesses and community support here. So being able to put that together just is more resources that we can give to our kids,” she said.The event was held at Cedar Glen Park in Cypress.
The Cypress City Council effectively traded a 1.1-acre tract of former redevelopment agency land to a Seal Beach development company that once employed City Manager Peter Grant, dismissing concerns about the transactions since the employment was 17 years ago.
The action came at the Council’s last meeting in March.
At issue is a “narrow and deep” tract of land located at 5732 Lincoln Ave. in Cypress that the city apparently purchased a decade ago in 2013.
In a presentation by Planning Director Alicia Velasco, she said the tract is approximately 100 feet wide by 515 feet deep. It’s located on the south side of Lincoln Avenue between the post office and an RV storage facility. This property was purchased by the city’s redevelopment agency in 2003, she said.
“It was envisioned that it would be part of a larger future affordable housing site with the goal of maybe an adjoining property to get that with located on Lincoln Avenue that didn’t happen,” said Velasco.
“And, because redevelopment funds were used to purchase the property, the state said to spur affordable housing the property needed to be disposed of by cities, or at least in the process by October of 2023,” she added.
The city’s planning official said not only did the state say that the city needs to dispose of the property but then also has a rule called the surplus land Act which outlines the process that the city must use to dispose of these types of properties.
“The goal of the surplus land act is to spur affordable housing development. So as part of that, the surplus land act I’ll go into a bit of background on what that is, it is state law, and it requires that cities must offer their properties to land housing sponsors, projects must restrict the units to 25% affordable and below income bracket,” she said.
She said on June 12, 2023, the City Council declared the Lincoln Avenue property surplus.
And then right after that on June 14, a notice of availability was issued and submitted to over 100 housing sponsors and it was also posted on the state website for surplus land.
According to Velasco, only three entities responded, including Olson, Affordable Housing Partners and one other companies. She said only Olson ultimately “submitted an actual, qualified proposal.”
Several asked questions like why not award the tract to Habitat for Humanity to make all of the tracts on this property affordable.
Michael Valentine, OC CEO for Habitat for Humanity, appeared at the meeting to say they have already built 22 homes in Cypress, cutting the ribbon on the latest just last week.
“I understand there’s a property that was part of the Surplus Lands Act and we were, I guess, our organization was informed but during a time we had a transition in leadership, so we missed out on this one,” said Valentine.
Velasco said after posting, there were three responses, one from the Olsen company, one from Affordable Housing Partners and then lastly from the Link Companies. Only the Olson company submitted an actual qualified proposal, she said.
“Affordable housing sponsors withdrew their application and the other stopped responding to our request for information,” said Velasco.
Olson has been in business for more than 35 years and has completed more than 100 public/private partnerships, Velasco told the Council.
“The proposed project consists of 20 units which will be for sale. Five of those will be restricted to households in the low-income brackets. The units will be two bedroom, two bathroom and roughly 1200 square feet.
There will be at least 8500 square feet of open space on the property as part of the project and the project does meet all zoning requirements. This project was presented to the city council in November of last year. It was then submitted to the state for review and approval the state has to repeat review the surplus land at projects like I mentioned, the state reviews not only the project, but also the process that the city went through. The state did approve the process and the project in January,” said Velasco.
She said the purchase and sale agreement includes the following terms: the sale price of the property is $1.62 million. The city would then contribute those proceeds to the project as a subsidy for the five low income units.
Each affordable unit requires roughly a $625,000 subsidy $325,000 coming from the city and $300,000 coming from the Olsen company. The homes must remain affordable for 55 years which is a requirement of state law, said Velasco.
Olson will apparently build 15 additional units on the remainder of the land for market-rate housing with no additional payments to the city.
In an email to the Council before the meeting, local activist George Pardon was incredulous about the transaction, reminding the Council that City Manager Peter Grant was once employed by the Olson.
“I was very surprised to read that the city is basically giving this property to Olson Urban Housing so they can provide 25% of the units in the affordable category,” said Pardon. “To my knowledge, previous builders in Cypress that have included affordable housing in their projects such as Bonanni and Melia were never given property,” he said.
“In fact, Melia Homes paid the school district $1.8 million per acre for the property at Moody and Orange and 50% of those units are in the affordable category. If the City was going to give away the property, did the city consider providing the property to Habitat for Humanity? Habitat has built at least one project in Cypress and 100% of those units are in the affordable category,” he said in the email.
“I do recall from a LinkedIn account that I found regarding Peter Grant a number of years ago, Mr. Grant served as the Director of Development for Olson Homes from January 2005 to December 2006,” he said.
Council member Frances Marquez again expressed concern that the city needed to enforce a conflict-of-interest system where conflicts of interest, or the lack thereof have to be documented for qualifying transactions.
“Mr. Mayor, I disclosed to the council in November that I had 17 years ago been employed by the Olson company. Marquez has known that for months and to insinuate that that’s a revelation that you received over the weekend is appalling,” said Grant.
“Councilmember Marquez you know better,” he added.
“I can tell you with all confidence that there is absolutely no conflict of interest,” said City attorney Fred Galante.
“Excuse me, I don’t remember hearing that and it wasn’t emphasized in the presentation to us,” said Marquez, noting that this is just another example of why the city needs to implement a conflict-of-interest system so that key city officials can document potential transaction conflicts, or the lack thereof, for qualifying transactions.
“Please, please do not accuse anybody on city staff of unethical behavior,” said Minikus.
“I have a right to ask questions,” said Marquez.
In addition, she said the Cypress School district’s minority enrollment is 80% and 43% of students are economically disadvantaged and are eligible to participate in the Federal Free and Reduced meal program, indicating a growing population that need affordable housing.
“I just feel like we’re opening the door to free land knowing full well that there are developers who have built in the city without, you know, when they had to purchase the property. I just would like for us to reconsider,” she said.
Mayor Pro-tem Bonnie Peat made the motion to approve the purchase and sale agreement with Olson and also agreed with Marquez and Council member Anne Hertz-Mallari to look for ways to perhaps work with Habitat for Humanity to add affordable homes in the city.
All three Council members attended Habitat’s most recent home ribbon cutting last week and Peat said while the Lincoln tract may not have been right, the city still has high hopes for Habitat for Humanity.
“Habitat for Humanity offers great things for us,” said Peat, noting that the city will continue that dialogue as well.
Nina Lynes, Los Alamitos High School Student of the Month for April, was honored at the Rossmoor Woman’s Club’s monthly luncheon on April 10.
The club presented her with a certificate of recognition and $1,000 scholarship check.
As a Girl Scout for 13 years, Nina has completed numerous projects, including building and donating a lending library to the McGaugh Elementary School preschool. She has been a member of the California Scholarship Federation for the past four years and recently became a member of National Honor Society. In addition, Nina has participated in the French Honor Society since her junior year and currently holds the position of co-president. She was also a member of the girls’ tennis team from freshman to junior years.
Nina plans to attend UC Davis in the fall, majoring in International Relations.
The Rossmoor Woman’s Club, founded in 1958, is a social and philanthropic organization affiliated with the international General Federation of Women’s Clubs. The club is based in the northwest Orange County community of Rossmoor but membership is open to anyone. Among other things, the club raises money to support local charities and to fund scholarships for LAHS students through two major fundraisers: the annual Rossmoor Garden Tour, which is coming up on May 19, and Holiday Home Tour in December. For more information, go online to www.rossmoorwomansclub.org.
Approximately 130 members of families in need came to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Bank for North Orange County on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at St. Irenaeus Church to receive food that had been purchased by H.O.P.E. and food that were donated by parishioners, businesses, and individuals. The official time of the Food Bank is 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month, but H.O.P.E. volunteers were in the Education Building of St. Irenaeus Church before 7:00 a.m. preparing to register families for the Food Bank and setting up tables for the food distribution outside.
Many family members came early and waited outside the building with their shopping carts to carry the food they would receive. As families arrived, they received a numbered ticket that was used, by lottery, to select which persons would be going into the Education Building in what order. In the Education Building, people then registered for the Food Bank and received another ticket so they could go to tables to select the food that they wanted.
Families could select shelf stable food, fresh produce, frozen foods, and bakery products that had been collected by H.O.P.E. volunteers from businesses including Second Harvest, Pizza Hut, Costco, Olive Garden, and other businesses. Parishioners of St. Irenaeus Church and students from John F. Kennedy High School and St. Joseph High School helped to distribute the food this week. Students from other local schools have helped in the past.
H.O.P.E. members thank everyone who donated funds or who volunteered to serve others at the April 6, 2024, Food Bank.
They pray that people will continue to support the H.O.P.E. Food Bank with food donations or monetary donations to Help Other People Everyday! H.O.P.E. volunteers are already collecting food for their next Food Bank distribution of food on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at the Education Building at St. Irenaeus Church. Volunteers are always welcome to come and help with food distribution.
H.O.P.E. invites anyone who would like to help raise funds to purchase items not provided by USDA to come to the H.O.P.E. Fundraiser at Knott’s Berry Farm on Saturday, April 27, 2024, with cocktails at 6:00 p.m., Dinner at 7:00 p.m., and Dancing with Entertainment by the Ohio Trio Plus Band until 10:30. p.m. Tickets will be available at the Church Patio area on the weekends of April13-14 and April 20-21 for $65.00 each, or contact Val Cordova at 714-917-5798, or Bob Sgobba at 714-994-0743 for tickets.
Sitting in a cubicle on virtual meetings on a late Friday afternoon is quite a contrast to harvesting fresh vegetables early the next morning. But that is exactly what Amy Ray did. The Associate Director of Network Pricing and Healthcare Economics for UnitedHealthcare in Cypress put away her laptop and made a Saturday morning journey along with 15 of her co-workers to help people in need at the Community Action Partnership of Orange County’s Giving Farm located at Westminster High School.
Ray and her co-workers of the California-based UnitedHealth Group Employee and Community Engagement Committee gave their time to help the cause that morning. Together, they rolled up their sleeves, donned black knee length work boots and gloves, and made their way to the cabbage field where they helped cut the stem on volleyball size heads of cabbage to place in bins. They moved on to work in the Farm’s orchard and harvest ripe oranges. In total, their labor of love resulted in four bins of cut cabbage and 39 milk size crates of oranges to feed Orange County’s vulnerable populations and senior communities in need of fresh healthy food through the Orange County Food Bank.
Working a farm seems odd in Orange County today, but the local area has a rich history rooted in agriculture. As the County became more industrialized and residential, Orange’s County agricultural industry dissipated. This effort is a revival of farming in the local community for all the right reasons.
“At Community Action Partnership of Orange County, our mission is to end poverty, and each leafy green cabbage and juicy orange harvested at the Giving Farm for the OC Food Bank represents hope for families struggling to put nutritious food on their tables,” said Gregory C. Scott, president and CEO of Community Action Partnership Orange County. “It is through the commitment and dedication of volunteers like Amy and colleagues from UnitedHealthcare that our organization is able to help vulnerable people throughout the county. Whether it’s at the food bank, at our community food drives, or at the Giving Farm, we’re thankful and grateful for their generosity and support of our mission.”
The Giving Farm is able to donate 300,000 lbs. of produce each year to those in need.
“Helping harvest the cabbage and oranges at the Giving Farm makes us feel like we are putting in our time and some physical effort to make the community a better place,” said Ray. “We are able to give back to people in need, to help curb food insecurity, and support our community in any way we can and help people live healthier lives.”
In addition to growing cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, celery, and avocado, the Giving Farm will soon be growing squash, butternut, spaghetti, acorn, and watermelons. The Farm also raises cows, pigs, and goats that support the Agriculture and Science program.
One of the volunteers, Adam Lautoa, a Medicare Trainer for UnitedHealthcare, expressed enthusiasm for volunteering at the Giving Farm. This volunteer project serves as a sort of homecoming for him. Lautoa is a 2007 graduate of Westminster High School. “I love volunteering,” said Lautoa. “At first, I thought we were distributing the food, but I am super thrilled that we are working on the Farm. My sister was part of the Future Farmers of America program here, too.”
“Volunteering on the Giving Farm is a tremendous experience,” said Ray. “I plan to come again.”
If your company, organization, civic group or family and friends are interested in supporting the work of the Giving Farm, you can follow this link to sign up and help harvest fresh food to support the vulnerable in Orange County.
Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra is proud to bring one of the most celebrated concertos of the baroque period to the stage April 20 (Long Beach) and April 21 (Los Angeles)—Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
“Vivaldi Il Veneziano” or Vivaldi the Venetian, Antonio Vivaldi had red-hair and was ordained to the priesthood at age 25. Known as “The Red Priest,” he honed his musical craft while working at the Ospedale della Pietà (a convent and school in Venice), where he taught and composed for orphaned girls. His concertos, whether related to a season or not, are said to display countless examples of sequential mastery and technical bravado which regularly result in exciting moments for listener and performer alike.
The Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra program:
Sinfonia in G Major, RV 146
Oboe Concerto in C Major, RV 447
Le quattro stagioni (The Four Seasons)
Violin Concerto in E major, ‘La primavera’ (Spring), RV 269
Violin Concerto in G minor, ‘L’estate’ (Summer), RV 315
Violin Concerto in F major, ‘L’autunno’ (Autumn), RV 293
Violin Concerto in F minor, ‘L’inverno’ (Winter), RV 297
Folia from Trio Sonata in D Minor, RV 63 arr. Gonzalo X. Ruiz
The Long Beach concert will be on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Long Beach (241 Cedar Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802).
The Los Angeles matinee concert begins at 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 21, 2024, at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles (540 South Commonwealth Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90020).
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.musicaangelica.org and follow them on Instagram @musicaangelica.
About Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra
Now in its 31st season, Musica Angelica is firmly established as Southern California’s preeminent historical performance ensemble. Led by Music Director and world-renowned organist, Martin Haselböck, the ensemble has toured internationally to widespread acclaim.
Musica Angelica musicians play on authentic instruments of the period, or carefully crafted replicas. The ensemble performs its own series of concerts in Long Beach and Los Angeles and is in demand as a collaborative ensemble performing alongside LA Opera, the LA Master Chorale, Long Beach Camerata Singers Pacific Chorale and Long Beach Opera.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is delighted to unveil its highly anticipated Broadway lineup for the 2024-25 season. With six Orange County premieres, direct from Broadway, this lineup features a sensational array of productions with an eclectic mix of beloved classics, innovative new works, and heartwarming tales that will lift spirits and leave audiences feeling good!
Casey Reitz, President of Segerstrom Center for the Arts shares “With great excitement we unveil the Center’s incredible 2024-25 Broadway season! Get ready to be mesmerized, inspired, and entertained as we bring you a lineup of unforgettable performances that will ignite your passion for the arts. From timeless classics to 6 new groundbreaking Orange County Broadway premieres, this season is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the joy of live performance. Get your tickets, mark your calendars, and prepare to feel good all season long by the magic of Broadway!”
Subscriptions for the Broadway Series are available now. Packages are available in the full 9-show Mega Broadway Season, the 6-show Broadway Season, or the 3-show Curtain Call Season option. Tickets for individual performances will go on sale at a later date. Visit the Center’s website www.scfta.org for more information. For Group sales call (714) 755-0236.
Audiences can join us for a season filled with laughter, love, and the power of the human spirit. Based on the beloved film, Mrs. Doubtfire tells the hysterical and heartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids. It’s “the loveable, big-hearted musical comedy we need right now” (Chicago Tribune). Experience 88mph and go back in time with Back To The Future: The Musical, the smash-hit Broadway musical created by the original writers of the beloved, cinematic classic.
Featuring book and lyrics by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winner David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Tony Award-winner Jeanine Tesori comes Kimberly Akimbo, a new musical about growing up and growing old (in no particular order). It was named “Best Musical” by the Tony Awards, New York Drama Critics Circle, The Drama Desk Awards, The Lucille Lortel Awards, and The Outer Critics Circle Awards. Join little orphan Annie and her lovable dog Sandy on a journey from hardship to hope in this timeless classic, featuring unforgettable songs like “Tomorrow” and “It’s the Hard Knock Life.”
Hamilton, the revolutionary story of passion, unstoppable ambition, and the dawn of a new nation, returns to the Center. For nearly 25 years, people all around the world have fallen in love with the characters, the story, and the timeless hits of ABBA that make MAMMA MIA! the ultimate feel-good show
Based on the acclaimed novel by Yann Martel, Life of Pi will bring a visually stunning production following the extraordinary journey of a young boy stranded at sea with a Bengal tiger, reminding us of the power of faith, strength, and the human capacity for wonder. Celebrate the legacy of legendary singer-songwriter Neil Diamond in A Beautiful Noise, the electrifying new Broadway musical that explores the life of a rock icon through the music that made him “a national treasure” (Los Angeles Times).
& Juliet is a modern reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic tale, filled with infectious energy, vibrant pop music, and a message of female empowerment that will leave audiences feeling uplifted and inspired. Segerstrom Center for the Arts offers a full 9-show Mega Broadway season, the 6-show Broadway Season Mrs. Doubtfire, Back To The Future, Kimberly Akimbo, Life of Pi, A Beautiful Noise, & Juliet or the 3-show Curtain Call Annie, Hamilton, MAMMA MIA! Available as a season-added attraction for all subscriptions, Hadestown, the
Tony and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical, takes audiences on a journey to the underworld and back in a love story for the ages.
For season tickets, contact the box office Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. @ (714) 556-2787, online at scfta.org and for group sales, call (714) 755-0236.
The Aquarium of the Pacific is welcoming a female orphaned sea otter pup, which was rescued off the coast of Santa Cruz County. This baby sea otter is the first surrogate-raised otter at the Aquarium of the Pacific, for potential release back to the wild, as part of a partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea Otter Surrogacy Program. The pup is paired with an adult female sea otter at the Aquarium of the Pacific with the goal of being able to learn from her the survival skills needed to be able to return to the wild. These vital skills include foraging for food and grooming their thick fur to thrive in cold water temperatures.
Since it opened in 1998, the Aquarium of the Pacific has been providing a home for rescued sea otters deemed non-releasable to the wild by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “We are thrilled to be able to further help this threatened species recover by expanding our conservation programs to now help stranded sea otter pups get a second chance at returning to the wild,” says Brett Long, Aquarium of the Pacific senior director of birds and mammals. The Aquarium of the Pacific joined Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter Surrogacy Program as a partner in 2020. As part of this partnership, the Aquarium of the Pacific built a behind-the-scenes facility for the surrogate mothers and these orphaned pups.
“We’ve been working with our partners at the Aquarium of the Pacific for more than three years to reach this moment, and we’re excited they’re now ready to welcome orphaned pups for surrogacy,” said Jessica Fujii, manager of the Sea Otter Program at Monterey Bay Aquarium. “Sea otters help maintain the health of kelp forests and wetlands on California’s coast. This milestone is advancing our work to help sea otters recover from being hunted to near extinction and help strengthen our coastal ecosystems.”
The surrogacy area at the Aquarium of the Pacific was built behind the scenes of its Molina Animal Care Center and will be able to accommodate three to four rescued sea otter pups each year. The pups will be away from public view to limit human interaction to increase their chances of surviving on their own in the wild. Videos of rescued pups and signage located outside of the surrogacy facility will help educate the Aquarium’s visitors on the surrogacy program and the significance of recovering southern sea otter populations. A grant from the California’s State Coastal Conservancy Sea Otter Recovery Grant Program supported the initial construction of the sea otter surrogacy facility.
The Aquarium of the Pacific also has a public fundraising campaign to support its work with rescued sea otter pups through this program. Anyone interested in getting involved and providing support of this important conservation work can visit pacific.to/saveseaotters and make a gift online or call (562) 951-1701.
Southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) are marine mammals in the weasel family. They are currently found along the North American west coast from Half Moon Bay just south of San Francisco to Point Conception in Santa Barbara County, a fraction of their historical range. Sea otters play the important role of ecosystem engineer for their ocean habitats. Sea otters were hunted to near extinction in the early 1900s. Now a protected species, California’s sea otters have grown from a group of fifty in 1938 to nearly 3,000 today. Despite this progress, their population growth has stalled in recent years and they continue to face serious risks, including oil spills, pollution, and climate change.
Through its Pacific Visions area, visitors to the Aquarium of the Pacific can learn how climate change is impacting the ocean, its inhabitants, and people, along with what can be done to work toward a more sustainable future. The Aquarium also serves as a facility for rehabilitating and releasing sea turtles, raising endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs for release, and spawning and releasing endangered white abalone.
The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place where diversity and the arts are celebrated and where important challenges facing our planet are explored. The Aquarium is dedicated to conserving and building nature and nature’s services by building the interactions between and among peoples. Home to more than 12,000 animals, Aquarium exhibits include the Southern California Gallery, Pacific Visions, and Shark Lagoon. Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages, including First Wednesdays featuring a variety of guest speakers. The Aquarium offers memberships with unlimited FREE admission for 12 months and other special benefits. To make a donation to help support the Aquarium, please visit pacific.to/donate. To visit, reservations are required for everyone and can be made at aquariumofpacific.org or by calling (562) 590-3100.
Complete with cake being served under a large white tent, officials gathered Friday to celebrate a “historic” new era of the Los Alamitos Medical Center following more than a half-century of service to the community.
As ENE was among the first to report weeks ago, Los Alamitos Medical Center was one of the four hospitals acquired by UCI Health from Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare in a transaction just shy of $1 billion.
The transaction closed on March 28 and as such, UCI Health officials spent the week cutting the ribbons and sharing its vision at each of its new hospitals, the last of which was Los Alamitos Medical on Friday.
“I’m excited for a new beginning and transformation to infinite possibilities we have now as a result of UCI Health Medical Center,” said Los Alamitos CEO Kent Clayton. He welcomed the large gathering of healthcare professionals, physicians, elected officials, board officials, etc. to the event.
“I thank you today for sharing our excitement as we launch into this new chapter,” he said.
Local community officials joined UCI Health executives for the ribbon cutting on the “next generation” of Los Al Medical.
Top execs celebrate the purchase of Los Al Medical by UCI Health. Courtesy photo
Opening first in 1968, the hospital was purchased by Tenet Healthcare in 2010, making it then a part of a broader strategy to expand its network of hospitals.
Los Al Medical is one of four hospitals that this week became part of UCI Health, one of the nation’s top-tier healthcare networks.
Clayton reflected on the many changes he’s seen within the institution since he became CEO a decade ago.
“Ten years ago, we were celebrating the opening of our new medical office building and the six-story parking structure at that time,” said Clayton, “we had plans to further expand our facility and significant plans to raise the bar about how we serve our community,” he said.
“I’m proud of our accomplishments to strengthen key service lines in neurology, cardiovascular oncology, and surgical services as a team,” he said, adding that “we survived the pandemic.”
“We’re now part of a healthcare family that’s local, that prioritizes access and evidence based medical care to the community, that invests in the resources, equipment and physical plant to support our mission and provide the friendliest care,” he added.
“They also invest in people like you and me, and your role in all these things in our challenging and oftentimes frustrating profession,” noted Clayton.
“Most of you are aware of how impressive and cutting-edge UCI health is locally and worldwide…how Los Alamitos leaving some limits is kept to a certain degree and our ability to grow. Now I see great potential for us as part of UCI Health,” the CEO said.
Now, he said, it “becomes much more rewarding, just like we envisioned it.”
Dr. Greg Kimura, Chief of the Medical Staff and VP of the Govening Board, is a 32-year resident physician. “I’ve seen this hospital make many innovations to improve the health care of this community,” he said.
“I’ve never seen a better-quality collaboration between the medical staff and administration and going after our goal of great health care for this community,” the longtime physician said.
CEO Chad Lefteris of UCI Health, CEO Kent Clayton of Los Al Medical Center, join other officials and employees as they cut the ribbon on a new era for the area’s largest healthcare institution. Courtesy photo
“We have a wonderful history serving this community. We have a lot of special people and a special culture here that I’m sure UCI does also. This union of us with UCI Health is really historic.”
Mayor Jordan Nefulda welcomed UCI Health on behalf of the Council and citizens.
“I would like to say thank you to the team and everybody that worked to make this a reality,” the mayor said.
“For over 50 years, Los Alamitos Medical Center has continued to expand its services, adapted to the changing landscapes of our city and continued to provide excellent service not only to Los Alamitos, but also to surrounding communities.
“This hospital truly is a cornerstone, and one of the most critical aspects of our infrastructure that our residents and this region relies upon on a daily basis,” said Nefulda.
“I know that UCI Health has a terrific reputation for providing excellent care,” he said.
The hospital has long been one of the city’s largest single employers.
Courtesy photo (L-R) Chad Lefteris, CEO of UCI Health, Los Al Mayor Jordan Nefulda and Los Al Medical Center CEO Kent Clayton during a presentation ceremony.
Chad Lefteris, whose vision since being named Chief Executive Officer of UCI Health in 2020 has transformed the academic health organization now ranks in the top tier of national healthcare networks.
“We are truly excited to bring the power of academic medicine, with the brightest minds, innovations, understanding patient relationships and service,” said Lefteris.
“Our future offers a very unique opportunity to blend those strengths, share our knowledge and enhance our overall capabilities insuring individuals access to healthcare,” he said.
To the relief of many employees since the acquisition was announced, Lefteris said not a single employee at any of the four facilities would be impacted.
“Our five hospitals and dozens of ambulatory facilities enhance our overall capabilities insuring individuals access to care,” he pronounced.
Now with a healthcare work force of more than 12,000 employees, Lefteris said UCI Health’s academic health model would begin sharing that knowledge to innovate and improve the quality of care.
“Together, we are deeply committed to partnering with physicians and patients by listening and learning,” he said.
“As we look to the future, we’re here to collaborate, learn from one another to grow and build together,” said Lefteris. “We are deeply committed to partnering with the community of physicians and patients by listening and learning. We are a learning organization, working to collectively address the health needs and improve them.”
He thanked Clayton and the entire team at Los Al Medical for their “leadership and dedication” and commitment to health care.
“It is your leadership together with the dedication that lays the groundwork for our historic future together,” said Lefteris.
“Your commitment to the community and healthcare excellence inspires us all as we’re learning and underscores the potential of what I think we can achieve together,” the visionary leader told the large crowd huddled together under the tent.
Following the ceremony, representatives of the city, the Los Al Chamber as well as local Assembly and Congressional office holders presented resolutions of support to UCI Health officials.
Citizens from many walks of life turned up at the La Palma Community Center on Thursday as city officials staged their first-ever “Conversation” with residents.
Though the meeting ostensibly began as a discussion of term limits, the special meeting turned out to be an exercise in civic engagement, giving citizens free-rein access to the Mayor, City Council members and even public agencies serving the city.
While the City Council had appropriated $50,000 to hire a consultant, City Manager Conal McNamara said none of those funds were used. Instead, the city relied on old school techniques that required simple educational supplies like paper and marking dots the city used to track the opinions of citizens who showed up.
“Speak your thoughts and we’ll be here to listen,” said Mayor Marshall Goodman as he opened the meeting at the La Palma Community Center.
“This is not going to be a dialogue,” he said, noting that “we’re not going to be talking back and forth. We just want to hear and receive your information,” said Goodman.
There was a brief mention of term limits, but only in the context of their role amid the uncertainty over civic engagement and whether citizens will emerge to serve as the “micro” city of approximately 15,000 people.
“We did agendize an item to discuss term limits,” the mayor conceded, “but that was just a general expression so that we can have this formation conversation.”
City leaders have legitimate concerns, or questions, about the impact districting will have on the tiny city said Mayor Pro-tem Mark Waldman.
Waldman served two previous terms, sat out for eight years and ran again, which La Palma’s term limit ordinance allows.
“There are only about 2,000 registered voters in each of the five new districts,” he said. Nevertheless, Waldman said he supports the city’s current term limitations unless voters demonstrate they want change.
La Palma, like many other cities in California, feels like they were forced into by-district voting. Unlike Cypress, La Palma agreed almost immediately to its California Voting Rights Act demand letter and survived the ordeal at minimal costs.
Now, however, there are questions about how, if at all, this new process will affect the quality of its representation on the council.
Term limits aside, the “Conversation” quickly took on a life of its own, as residents bended the ears of their elected representatives for almost 90 minutes before an additional opportunity to speak to the group about any subject on their minds.
In addition, the city asked public service agencies such as fire, police, city clerk’s office, and many others to set up tables with representatives to answer any questions asked by citizens about how they serve the city.
Councilmember Debbie Baker speaks with La Palma resisents James and Teressa Bates. Courtesy photo
The mayor said the meeting was designed to recruit citizens to get more engaged with their city.
“If you’re of age and a resident of this city,” said Goodman, “I would recommend you get involved in city leadership, whether its joining a committee or running for city council.”
“We have a lot of our city staff and member organizations around the room for you to ask questions of these experts,” he added.
Residents were given surveys to fill out as city staff gave colored sticky-dots to use to indicate their opinions about several issues facing the city, including term limits.
“As you walk around the room tonight, ask questions,” said Council member Nitesh Patel. “This is for you to get information on our city and there are multiple items here,” he said.
McNamara said the event was designed for citizens “to have multiple opportunities to interact with staff and the city council.
“This is a freewheeling conversation,” he said. He said staff will eventually go through the the surveys and ratings expressed by the 50 or so residents who turned up for the discussion.
Multiple agencies were set up in stations around the room where citizens could freely visit and ask questions during the 90-minute conversation. In addition, the five members of the City Council. Goodman, Patel, Debbie Baker, Mike Waldman and Janet Keo Konklin, also mingled and made themselves available to any resident that wanted to speak with them during the extended “conversation.”
The planned sixty-minute mingle session was closer to 90-minutes by the time Mayor Goodman was able to reclaim order in the special meeting.
Residents were then invited to the podium to speak their minds, on any subject, each given five minutes to speak.
“The reason we come to meetings like this is to let the city see that we’re involved,” said resident James Bates. “If you’re not involved, you can’t see what the city is doing to make it the best for you.”
“We like how we can have conversations with everybody here on the City Council or with the other organizations involved,” said his wife, Teressa Bates.
“I think this is a great opportunity for citizens of La Palma to be engaged and find out what agencies really do,” she said.
“I love our city of La Palma,” said Emma Jones, a retired nurse who has lived in the same La Palma home for 45 years. It’s close to everything; malls, churches, schools, post offices everything we need.”
Jones, however, like other nearby residents, are having a problem with their backdoor neighbor that she carefully explained to the Council. “I have at least four or five neighbors that are also bothered by this problem that we have,” she said.
At the term limits information station, the city had erected an easel with a board giving residents the chance to place sticky dots on the options they preferred, including keeping term limits as they are, increasing it to include three (3) four-year terms, etc. but did not include an option for two “lifetime” terms.
Currently, a Council member elected can serve two terms, sit out four years, and run again. Two “lifetime” terms would limit any official to two terms, period.
Robert Carruth, a 33-year resident, pointed out that the city had failed to list “all” of the options regarding term limits, suggesting if they ask voters to approve anything this fall that they include every option, including the “lifetime limit” of two terms.
“I would propose that the city take it seriously,” he said, giving voters “all of the options.” Carruth said voters may likely select “lifetime” limits if given the choice.
Former Mayor Keith Nelson said voters will be going to the polls in November for the first time since selected by-district elections, so he said significant education efforts are needed.
“My concern is this is the first time in 70 years that the community has been put in position to have to vote for a district and some people will vote for city council person in November and some people will not vote because they’re a different district,” said Nelson.
Another former Mayor, Edward Byrne, also told the Council that he was in support of terms, not only La Palma but in Sacramento and Washington D.C.
“I think more education needs to be done,” he said. “Nobody on the street anywhere doesn’t want that but the powers that be will never let us see that.”
Currently, he suggested politics has become more abou personal wealth than helping people. “It is “the only place you will see where you can go from rages to multimillionaires in a lifetime,” he said.
More to the point, Byrne asked the Council to consider refocusing its regular newsletter to consider consequential information for residents, such as new construction and other economic developments.
“I think a lot of people are curious about our community and what’s going on,” the former mayor said, “and especially what’s coming up.”
One resident, Steven Hess, apparently complaining about trash, said “I called the city for that, I called the police department and no one really knew who was in charge.”
“Thank you for your input,” Goodman told him, “the city manager is taking notes.”
Longtime resident Rick Daum perhaps summed it up perfectly after a long discussion.
“Civic engagement is crucial for a thriving community,” said Rick Daum. “Meetings like this play a significant role in encouraging it.
Daum said the format “felt more comfortable” and that he would say things in this room that he would never say in the Council Meeting Room.
“It was great having the departments that work for the city here. People need to know who their services come from,” said Daum. Even though people vote for officials, rarely do they seem them or have much of an idea what they do.
“This is great for civic engagement,” said Daum, adding he plans to encourage the city to do more of it.
The City of Cypress at their last regular meeting voted unanimously to establish pension trust goals that they hope will fully offset their $66 million pension debt by 2030.
In short, the city voted for a staff report that advocated a strategy of investing an additional $4.5 million in city funds while also tweaking the investments made with city funds to produce additional revenue to offset their growing pension liability.
According to the city’s staff report, “The City Council established its Pension Trust in 2017 to more effectively manage the City’s California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) unfunded pension liabilities.”
“The City Council has contributed available cash reserves to the Pension Trust to offset the pension liabilities, and Pension Trust assets have grown to $24.3 million as of Feb. 29, 2024,” it continued.
“In September 2023, as part of a Strategic Plan objective, the City Council directed the development of a funding plan with a goal for Pension Trust assets to fully offset projected CalPERS unfunded pension liabilities by 2030.”
“I don’t know how many citizens or residents in the city realize, but our city has zero debt,” said Mayor Scott Minikus.
“With the exception of our pension fund, the city does not have a debt. And I can tell you speaking with other government bodies throughout Southern California, I would venture to guess conservatively that we’re probably one of the five cities in the entire state that can make that statement,” he said.
“While Mayor Minikus said the city doesn’t have the other kinds of debts that other cities have to deal with, $66 million is a large number,” said Council member David Burke.
Burke, an attorney, said he brought up the city’s pension debt at last fall’s workshop, saying it was the right thing to do.
“I think it’s important for two reasons. The first is to honor the commitment to our retirees; the police officers and city staff members who have worked hard for us to make sure we’re honoring our commitment to them through their pensions,” said Burke.
“And then second because it’s just the fiscally smart thing to do. You see CalPERS which administers the pensions and soon assumes an investment return of 6.8% annually. And so, if we were not making payments, and we were not earning money or earning returns on our own money, then we would be falling behind,” he said.
He thanked Mayor Pro-tem Bonnie Peat for working with him, and attending meetings with staff and others to structure a plan since the workshops.
“I want to thank our city staff. Mayor Minikus and Council member Hertz-Mallari for their contributions, along with city manager Peter Grant and Finance Director Matt Burton,” said Burke.
He also thanked Council member Frances Marquez. “This is something she brought up before I was even elected as wanting to address our pension liability.”
The staff report, which outlined the city’s investment strategy, said “an additional one-time Pension Trust contribution of $4.5 million, combined with shifting the Pension Trust balance to the Moderate portfolio, is projected to grow Pension Trust assets to $53.1 million by 2030, which would fully offset projected unfunded pension liabilities.”
Moreover, the city plans to get the $4.5 million to invest from draw-downs on existing funds, including $2.5 million from a set-aside in the General Fund for the Pandemic Recovery Plan for reclaimed water service to Arnold Cypress Park.
“The new Arnold Cypress Park features synthetic turf athletic fields, eliminating the need for reclaimed wastewater,” claims the report.
City Council member David Burke. Courtesy photo
“While this project was also intended to bring reclaimed water service to Cypress, there is no expectation that reclaimed water can be extended to Oak Knoll Park given the prohibitive costs to install a pipeline from the area around Arnold Cypress Park to Oak Knoll Park and there is not an identified need for reclaimed water at passive use parks,” it said.
Regarding the Infrastructure Bank $2 million withdrawal, the staff says it will have no impact.
“Approximately $44.8 million was available in the Infrastructure Bank for future projects as of February 29, 2024, and there are no known projects that require the $2 million recommended Pension Trust contribution,” the staff report said.
In essence, the city made it clear that these projections, while underlying data predicts a high probability of achievement, reaching these investment thresholds depends on external factors.
“It is important to consider that both the estimated growth in Pension Trust assets and the pay down of unfunded pension liabilities is contingent on many long-term factors, the most significant of which is the actual annual return on investments. As such, Pension Trust assets and unfunded pension liabilities may change significantly in the short-term,” it concluded.
Further, the staff is recommending that the Pension Trust and funding plan “be reviewed every three years to assess the City’s progress.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress (BGCGAC) and Special Olympics Southern California are partnering to provide inclusive programming for young people with and without intellectual disabilities. The partnering organizations will kick off their collaboration by hosting “The Harmony Games: A Unified Family Play Day” on Saturday, April 13 at Cedar Glen Park in Cypress, CA.
The goal of the newly established partnership is to combat the obstacles local youth face and realize new opportunities for social inclusion, leadership, and healthy lifestyles.
The event featuring esteemed partners such as Orange County Soccer Club, Planet Fitness, and Bch will lead Club Members and Special Olympic Athletes through a series of engaging athletic activities.
Participants will enjoy rotating through soccer, street hockey, bocce ball, cornhole, and indoor dance parties, fostering camaraderie and joy. Delicious food for The Harmony Games will be provided by the renowned celebrity chef and CNN Hero, Sir Bruno Serato’s organization, Caterina’s Club.
Attendees will also have the exclusive opportunity to get a sneak peek at the Club’s upcoming Summer STEM and Art Programs, promising enriching experiences for all Club and Olympic Athlete families in attendance.
Scheduled to speak are Special Olympics Southern California Assistant Vice President, Community Partnerships – Brian Ritcher, along with Club leaders, Interim CEO – Erika Gary and Director of Program Development – Jeri Barber.
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® is a strategy in more than 8,300 schools Pre-K through university across the U.S. that intentionally promotes social inclusion by bringing together students with and without intellectual disabilities.
Working in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, whose mission is to enable all young people to reach their full potential, Special Olympics will harness the powerful work being done at the grassroots level to create inclusive spaces using the Unified model.
The melding of these two leading organizations will create new opportunities for systemic change for present and future generations of young people.
Courtesy photo
BGCGAC was selected as one of two Clubs in Southern California to receive a fifteen-thousand-dollar grant from Boys & Girls Clubs of America to support the Clubs’ partnership with Special Olympics Southern California. The Club was chosen after displaying their clear and ongoing commitment to inclusionary practices. Last summer the Club partnered with Orange County Regional Center to provide scholarships and social recreational resources to new Club Members with disabilities.
The Club also gained national recognition when their 2023 Youth of the Year, Joecelyn S., a Hard of Hearing teen, shared her story of how the Club offered an inclusive environment of support, encouragement, and empowered her to share her story.
Moving forward, the Club is committed to furthering its inclusionary practices by introducing a range of new programs in collaboration with Special Olympics Southern California. With additional educational resources, Club Staff will be equipped to guide local youth in inclusive programming and lead advocacy workshops with Club Teens, fostering the next generation of inclusive leaders. “We have always been an organization committed to welcoming all local youth and providing access to resources to better integrate Club
Members who may need additional support,” said Erika Gary, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress.
“The opportunity to partner with Special Olympics Southern California is another step in the right direction of supporting our Club Members who need us most and continue to model acceptance and inclusion to all Club Members.”
Through this collaboration, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics will work together to provide training and supporting resources to support local partnerships. This will in turn aid in Special Olympics athletes becoming fully integrated Club Members and communities becoming more inclusive and accepting.
“Young people today face many challenges, from achieving personal and academic success to feeling emotionally and physically healthy and safe.
Often, the school and social environment for young people is fraught with obstacles, impeding positive development. That is what we strive to overcome with the work we do,” said Andrea Cahn, Vice President of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools.
“It is truly an honor to partner with a like-minded organization that is also committed to empowering and supporting young people as they work to address these barriers and build inclusive schools and communities.”
By the time UCI Health CEO Chad Lefteris made it to the dedication ceremony at Los Alamitos, he and his team had already cut the ribbons on three new hospitals in southern California that are now part of UCI Health.
Los Al Medical would be his fourth ribbon cutting this week. To Lefteris, this is the start of something new, yet in a way, it is truly the celebration of a concept they have honed at UC Irvine that is now ready for prime time.
“This is so exciting,” said Lefteris in an exclusive interview with ENE. “The effort it takes to get to this point is tremendous,” he said.
UCI Health is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine, and the only academic health system based in Orange County.
Until now, UCI Health was based around its main campus, UCI Medical Center, a 459-bed, acute care hospital in Orange.
As an academic health system, Lefteris said the idea is to filter academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and dedicated public service throughout the UCI Health system so that it becomes an ever-evolving learning medical institution.
“We are training the next generation,” said Lefteris. “And we do that across all of our sites,” he said. “And some of that already happens in each of these four sites today. We’ll figure out how best to expand that.”
Moreover, while Tenet Healthcare is the previous owner for a for-profit public company, UCI Health is a nonprofit institution. He said there was no state funding involved in the four-hospital acquisition, saying UCI Health was able to secure bonds to secure the billion-dollar purchase.
“There is no state funding utilized,” said Lefteris, “this is a self-sustaining operation.”
“We believe that when you focus on quality, experience, and access, that the dollars will follow and take care of themselves,” said Lefteris. “So our focus is on improving access to care,” he noted.
He said the various trauma centers developed by UCI Health in a variety of medical disciplines were already over capacity by 5,000 patients last year alone. There was simply insufficient facility space to treat them, he said.
“It started, oh, more than a year and a half, maybe two years ago, when we started to realize that our main Orange Medical Center campus was completely a what I call terminal velocity, completely full every day, seven days a week,” the UCI Health CEO said.
“And we’re turning away patients that were calling us and needing to be transferred for a higher level of care, which is what we are made for correct. We have the expertise to provide the most amazing care but we said no,” he said seriously.
“We said no close to 5000 times last year alone. That’s five thousand patients you turn away,” said Lefteris, “just because we are full, we can’t accept that patient. That’s a problem. That’s a big problem because we have the expertise,” he said.
Emergency room patients are never turned away, he clarified but said patients who clearly needed “higher levels of care” had to be turned away for lack of facilities.
To provide greater access to care, Lefteris said UCI Health had two choices, build new facilities, or find hospitals to acquire.
“Then we start figuring out that in the state of California, you can do two things…you could build new or you could look to partner requirements. And we’re already building new in Irvine. That’s one example. We know how much that cost. It is very expensive. So you can’t grow in just new construction, so we decided let’s do both.”
“That’s really how it came about,” said Lefteris, providing the origin story of the four-hospital acquisition.
Tenet Healthcare, from which the hospitals were acquired, is a for-profit, public company, while UCI Health operates as a nonprofit institution.
Apparently, Tenet needed to make bond payments of its own and Lefteris said when UCI Health looked at the location of the four hospitals, Los Alamitos Medical Center, Lakewood Regional Medical Center, Placentia-Linda Hospital and Fountain Valley Regional Medical Center, the light bulb went off.
“And then when we looked at these facilities, if you look across the map, where they sit and where it where we sit historically, it’s like a puzzle piece that comes together perfectly,” said Lefteris.
“Where they have access where we have access together and it completes a whole network. That’s the idea,” he noted.
Lefteris said the transition is already underway but obviously, won’t happen overnight.
“I meant what I said today, about you know, asking for everyone’s patience or grace as we would say, because it doesn’t happen overnight,” the CEO said.
“In fact, we can make a ton of changes overnight, but they wouldn’t be sustaining changes, right? So we often say that the University of California and UCI Health, that we are well known as a forever organization.
So we take the long view, we don’t have quarterly shareholders so we’re taking the long view with decision making and change because it’s hard. But when you’re doing it for us sustainability mindset, long term mindset, it’ll be more meaningful and better in the end,” said Lefteris.
“For example, I think that some changes can be in the shorter term. Others are much more open. In some cases, it will take years before we change, like changing the electronic medical record, that’s a big one that several physicians just asked me, right. It’s a big one, and it’s a welcome change. But that’s not something that just happens overnight.”
“So maybe in the first year or more, we’ll look to do that across the sites. And then you just start to think about all the other changes. We have a long list as you might expect,” said Lefteris.
It was a welcome change indeed, said Los Alamitos Medical Center CEO Kent Clayton, whom ENE also interviewed after the ceremony.
“Healthcare is extremely challenging right now, very difficult to navigate, so the new access to care and the high level of care provided by the UCI Health system is something to be very excited about and to be proud of real soon,” said Clayton.
“They’re going to learn from us and we’re going to learn from them,” said Clayton, noting that UCI Health’s “high level of clinical research” will bring a new level of care to the facility.
“I think this is going to be just something to be open-eyed and excited about and let’s go as fast as we can to take care of this community.”
The Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF) is proud to donate $4200 to Los Alamitos High School to purchase College Aid Pro software. This comprehensive financial aid assistance platform will better support students through the postsecondary planning process, providing invaluable resources and guidance.
College Aid Pro is designed to assist students and families in understanding the complexities of the financial aid application process. One of the key features of College Aid Pro is its ability to walk students through the FAFSA application, a crucial step in accessing financial aid for college. The program also provides ongoing support as students compare financial aid offers in the spring of their senior year.
In addition to assisting with the FAFSA application, the software provides support in choosing schools based on financial fit and affordability, completing a CSS Profile for private schools, understanding and comparing financial aid award letters, and navigating financial aid award appeals. College Aid Pro also empowers families by allowing them to create a list of schools that will be affordable based on grades and family finances. The software’s CAP net price calculator offers more accurate estimates than those provided by colleges and universities, which may not always have the most updated information on their websites.
Furthermore, College Aid Pro provides customized scholarship match information to students, further enhancing their ability to secure financial aid for higher education.
“We are thrilled to support Los Alamitos High School in implementing College Aid Pro,” said LAEF Executive Director, Carrie Logue. “We are happy to support the LAHS counseling team in providing students with the tools and resources they need to navigate the financial aid process to help them achieve their higher education goals.”
The adoption of College Aid Pro demonstrates Los Alamitos High School’s commitment to advancing college access and affordability for its students. LAEF’s donation is a testament to the foundation’s dedication to supporting funding in critical areas impacting all students in the Los Alamitos community.
LAEF is the non-profit partner of Los Alamitos Unified School District. LAEF enhances educational excellence by providing after-school and summer enrichment programs to children in grades Pre-K to 12. LAEF impacts all students by providing significant funding for student mental health/wellness and STEAM instruction, as well as igniting new programs and providing valuable resources. For more information, visit LAEF4kids.org or call (562) 799-4700 Extension 80424.
After a long absence, one of the area’s premier marathons will finally be returning to the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.
The Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department is proud to announce the return of the Universal Waste Systems (UWS) Race on the Base, it said in a press release.
The ever-popular Reverse Sprint Triathlon and 5K Run/Walk will occur on Saturday, April 13, at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base (11200 Lexington Dr., Los Alamitos).
The Reverse Sprint Triathlon consists of a 5K Run, a 13-mile bike, and a 200-meter swim.
Registration is now open at www.raceonthebaselosal.com with the 5K Run/Walk priced at $29, the Reverse Sprint Triathlon at $70, and the Relay-Reverse Sprint Triathlon at $100.
On-site registration will be available during packet pick-up times on Friday and Saturday.
For military, police, and fire personnel, please use the discount code “HER02024” for a $5 discount during registration. Military, police, or fire identification will be required at packet pick-up. Gather your friends and family and join us for what is going to be a fun-filled day.
Event Information:
Friday, April 12, 2024
Bib Pick-Up/Registration/Packet Pick-Up
The Joint Forces Training Base (11200 Lexington Dr, Los Alamitos, CA 90720)
3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
For more information, please visit www.cityoflosalamitos.org/recreation or contact the Recreation and Community Services Department at (562) 430 – 1073.
After a trial period, the Los Alamitos Police Chief announced this week that officers “under strict regulations,” will be allowed to wear beards and tattoos while employed by the local police force.
The revelations came during the March Los Alamitos City Council meeting.
“We do have a modification coming to the Los Alamitos Police Department Policy and procedure that relates to personal appearance,” Claborn said.
“Following a 90-day trial period for a beard and tattoo policy, I think it was two months into our trial period when I went to West County Chiefs meeting and found out there were four additional agencies in Orange County that are also about to initiate their beard and tattoo policy trials,” he added.
Nevertheless, Claborn said the department was ready to make the change.
“Now that ours (trial period) has concluded, we will be making a modification which will allow our officers to have beards and exposed tattoos under very strict regulations,” the police chief said.
Claborn said it “has helped with morale within the department” and will also become a “recruiting and retention tool” we also received some positive feedback from members of the community who have attended events where they have seen officers who now have a beard or exposed tattoo.”
City manager Chet Simmons said, “this may seem like a small thing but at the end of the day, providing rules and regulations that allow for us to actually go out and compete for each and every individual that we would like to see inside our police department and I commend the chief for looking at everything.”
Even unorthodox things that are going to help us retain officers,” he added.
Claborn said the new grooming policy is now effective and will be in place until further notice.
It’s showtime! The ghost-with-the-most will make his Costa Mesa debut in this edgy and irreverent new Broadway musical comedy. BEETLEJUICE will play at Segerstrom Center for the Arts April 16-28, 2024. Audiences will not want to miss out on the opportunity to experience this high-energy fan favorite production.
Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. With an irreverent book, an astonishing set, and a score that’s out of this Netherworld, BEETLEJUICE is “SCREAMINGLY GOOD FUN!” (Variety). And under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact), it’s a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every Day-O!
The tour stars Justin Collette as Beetlejuice, Isabella Esler as Lydia, Megan McGinnis as Barbara, Will Burton as Adam, Jesse Sharp as Charles, Sarah Litzsinger as Delia, with Jackera Davis as Girl Scout, Abe Goldfarb as Otho, Hillary Porter as Miss Argentina, Kris Roberts as Maxine Dean/Juno and Brian Vaughn as Maxie Dean. The cast also features Michael Biren, Ryan Breslin, Haley Fish, Haley Hannah, Matthew Michael Janisse, Kenway Hon Wai K. Kua, Mateo Melendez, Drew Minard, Lee N Price, Larkin Reilly, Lexie Dorsett Sharp and CorBen Williams.
Get your tickets today. Courtesy photo
Ticket prices start at $49 and are available online at scfta.org, in person at Segerstrom Center for the Arts Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa CA 92626, or by phone at (714) 556 – 2787.
BEETLEJUICE is directed by Tony Award® winner Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge!, Director of Warner Bros. forthcoming TOTO, the animated musical film adaptation of Michael Morpurgo and Emma Chichester Clark’s 2017 book) with an original score by Tony Award nominee Eddie Perfect (King Kong); a book by Tony Award nominee Scott Brown(“Castle Rock”) and Tony and Emmy Award® nominee Anthony King(“Robbie”); music supervision, orchestrations and incidental music by Kris Kukul (Joan of Arc: Into the Fire); and choreography by Connor Gallagher (The Robber Bridegroom).
BEETLEJUICE features scenic design by three-time Tony Award nominee David Korins (Hamilton); costume design by six-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long (The Producers); lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (Kinky Boots); sound design by Tony Award winner Peter Hylenski (Moulin Rouge!); projection design by Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Peter Nigrini (Dear Evan Hansen); puppet design by Drama Desk Award winner Michael Curry(The Lion King); special effects design by Jeremy Chernick (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), hair and wig design by Drama Desk Award nominee Charles G. LaPointe; make-up design by Joe Dulude II; associate director is Catie Davis and associate choreographer is Michael Fatica; casting by The Telsey Office.
Producers for BEETLEJUICE include Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions and NETworks Presentations.
BEETLEJUICE opened at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre on Thursday, April 25, 2019, presented by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures (Mark Kaufman) and Langley Park Productions (Kevin McCormick), and won the Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for David Korins’ scenic design and was nominated for eight Tony Awards including Best New Musical. BEETLEJUICE had a history making run on Broadway – following the release of the musicals original Broadway cast recording and Tony Awards appearance, the box office exploded, making it the surprise hit of the 2018/2019 season. BEETLEJUICE’s Tony Awards performance has gone on to be the most watched musical number from the broadcast with over 3,921,530 views. BEETLEJUICE became a sensation with fans everywhere including on TikTok, which lead to an additional burst of ticket sales from a new audience for Broadway, making the musical one of the top grossing shows on Broadway, going on to break the Winter Garden box office record. The smash hit musical BEETLEJUICE played 366 performances at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway before being shuttered with the rest of Broadway on March 12, 2020. BEETLEJUICE returned triumphantly to Broadway with performances on April 8, 2022, at the Marquis Theatre where it continued to haunt Broadway through January 8, 2023.
GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS and WARNER RECORDS released BEETLEJUICE – ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING for digital download, streaming and on CD. The album is produced by Tony Award winner Matt Stine, Tony Award winner Alex Timbers, Tony nominee Eddie Perfect and three-time Grammy Award winner Kurt Deutsch and has surpassed 250 million streams in the United States and 760 million streams globally. These landmark numbers continue the remarkable success of the album, reaching the list of top 10 most streamed OBCRs of the previous decade. The show’s songs have placed in Spotify’s “Viral 50” charts in 13 different countries. In addition, “Say My Name,” one of the show’s breakout showstoppers, was chosen as Amazon’s “Alexa Song of the Day” in 2019. The incredible growth is partly a result of user-generated content on TikTok, where songs from the album have been used in over one million videos.
BEETLEJUICE is based on the 1988 Academy Award®-winning Geffen Company motion picture presented by Warner Bros. and directed by Tim Burton. The smash hit comedy starred Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder with story by Michael McDowell and Larry Wilson.
It is well established that dance bring communities together. It is a form of art that allows the dancer (artist) to connect with the audience through all senses and the moving form. Dance is an expressive medium with a uniquely effective way to convey meaning, emotion, and cultural values of people. Through innovative choreography and embodiment process, Wayne McGregor’s Woolf Works has seemed to have attempted to achieve that.
According to the press release, “Woolf Works re-creates the emotions, themes, and fluid style of three of Virginia Woolf’s novels: Mrs. Dalloway, Orlando, and The Waves. Woolf Works expresses the heart of an artistic life driven to discover a freer, uniquely modern realism. Considered one of the most important 20th-Century authors, Virginia Woolf in her writings searched for forms that defied the false order of traditional narrative conventions and enabled her to depict reality as she perceived it: heightened, startling and poignant.”
In my conversation with Gillian Murphy, one of the three principals who dances the role of Virgina Woolf, Ms. Murphy described the process of embodying Woolf as one the most captivating. “Woolf is not a fantasy character. She was real and complex.” To embody Woolf goes beyond ballet technique. In Woolf Works, ballet technique is just one vehicle to assist the dancers in embodying the complex personality and then executing it through movement. It’s the personalization of the emotions and then expressing them through choreography that is most fascinating. As a glimpse into this process, Ms. Murphy directed my attention to the “Waves” piece and explained that “it is the search for authenticity where one questions one’s own existence and the mystery of being alive.” Holding “still” is not at all about being silent. Rather it is full of emotional and psychological depths.
“Woolf Works’ music is hauntingly beautiful. It inspires the dancer to move freely. Ms. Murphy invites the audience to come experience American Ballet Theater (ABT) for themselves. “It will be unique and special for everyone. Every audience member is going to walk away with a different experience,” said Ms. Murphy
Originally, created for The Royal Ballet in 2015, Woolf Works recreation of the collision senses and form that are prevalent in Woolf’s novels. This performance is aimed to bring to life Woolf’s world of “granite and rainbow,” where human beings are at once both physical body and uncontained essence.
“Woolf Works is not a literal description of Woolf’s writing, says McGregor. “It’s very lavish, with new visualization techniques and a collage structure; a full-on assault and collision of the senses. The idea was to choregraph and design the piece in the spirit of Woolf’s writing, in an unfolding stream of consciousness, rather than as a literal translation of the novel’s narratives.”
Woolf Works is produced in association with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. This production was first seen at the Royal Opera House, London on May 11, 2015. At its premiere, Woolf Works was met with outstanding critical acclaim, going on to win McGregor the Critics’ Circle Award for Best Classical Choreography and the Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production.
You can catch this fascinating production and performance in Costa Mesa, CA at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. For the first time in America, five performances will run from April 11 to 14, 2024. The show, inspired by the writings of 20th-Century modernist author Virginia Woolf, Woolf Works sold-out crowds in London. This marks American Ballet Theatre’s first full-length production by McGregor, featuring a luminous original score by Max Richter, performed live by Pacific Symphony.
This year’s Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress’ Annual Gala & Auction “Moving Forward” was magical in every way, as 300 loyal supporters gathered on March 23rd, at the stunning new OCV!BE ARTIC in Anaheim. The event raised an impressive $265,000, and honored The Anaheim Ducks for their many years of support for the Clubs’ free and low-cost summer and after-school program activities for children and teens in Anaheim,
Cypress, and surrounding areas. Aaron Teats, Club President of The Anaheim Ducks Hockey Club, was present at the Gala to accept the Award. This event also honored five Outstanding Youth Achievement Honorees including Club Members Gabriel C., Joseph S., Jamison R., Anthony H., and Michelle M. for their inspiring achievements.
“Thirty years ago, The Anaheim Ducks became residents of our great city,” said Chuck Emanuele, Event Co-chair and Chairman of the Board of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress. “Not only did they build a championship hockey team, but they have built a legacy of caring for our community and the children who grow up here. The Ducks have supported the Club throughout the years through generous financial contributions, ticket donations, and partnership efforts. We are proud to be friends and partners with The Anaheim Ducks. Tonight, we honor them with the Champion of Youth Award.”
The glittering evening commenced at 6:00 pm, and included an elegant VIP Reception for major donors, a three-course scrumptious dinner, silent and live auctions, a golden opportunity drawing, performances and participation by the Club’s King Choir and Teen DJ Club, and live entertainment and dancing by the extraordinary Angel Force Band, comprised of award winning artists from world renowned bands, who come together to entertain, engage, and educate the community about their Stop Suisilence Program, which raises awareness about the military suicide epidemic. Band members performing at the Gala included Frank Simes, Danny Beissel, Steve DiStanislao, Kit Potamkin, and Jamie Hunting.
The evening’s emcee, Henry DiCarlo, KTLA’s Morning News Meteorologist and Host of KTLA’s “Off The Clock” Afternoon Talk Show, then introduced event Co-chairs Chuck Emanuele and Dr. Terrisa Ha, who welcomed guests.
“Thank you for continuing to support this incredible Club,” said Terrisa Ha, Event Co-chair and Club Board Member. “It takes all of us together as a community, to give children the opportunity to experience all the life changing programs our Club has to offer!”
The duo expressed the Clubs’ heartfelt gratitude to Presenting Sponsors Karen and Charles Williams and Extron, and then thanked all Gala sponsors, and acknowledged local leaders in attendance from Anaheim, Cypress, and Villa Park.
Gala Event Sponsors included Karen & Charles Williams, Extron, Disneyland Resort, Related California, OCV!BE Artic, The Anaheim Ducks, Yamaha, Hafner Vineyards, LA TIMES, KTLA, Angels Baseball, US Bank, Dave Skorupinski & Ginger Osman, Bonnie and Jon Peat, Banc of California, Republic Services, OC Firefighters, Madeline Zuckerman Marketing & Public Relations, Inc., Erika Gary, Chuck & Jan Emanuele, Craig & Christine Nelson, Sheri & Guy Whitney, Anne & Val Mallari, Workers Union Local 50, So Cal Gas, Terrisa & Joe Ha, Anaheim Public Utilities, Goldman Sachs, Mama’s Comfort Food and Cocktails, ACME Berwick, Pacific Premier Bank, Barry & Cathy Hofstetter, SA Recycling, Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim, and Apollo Printing and Graphics.
Gala Media Sponsors included LA TIMES, Presenting Newspaper & Digital Media Sponsor and KTLA, Exclusive TV Media Sponsor.
Courtesy photo Boys & Girls Club Members performing during the Gala.
Erika Gary, Boys & Girls Clubs’ Interim CEO, presented an update on the Clubs’ recent achievements. “Your support and continued dedication help us provide life changing services and programs for thousands of local youths,” she told attendees. “ I am proud to announce last year through our Club’s services and community outreach efforts, we have impacted the lives of over 7,000 youth. We partnered with our friends at AT&T, to build the first Connected Learning Center in Orange County at our Manzanita Clubhouse, closing the digital divide for kids and families in Anaheim. Our Club Members represented our organization at NBA Math Hoops and MLB STEM tournaments, where our members showed off their math skills; and with the support from Club staff throughout our 18 sites, our Club won Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Creative Video Marketing Award. Due to the fact that we have an excellent support system in all of you, we are able to continue to grow and continue to help kids and families thrive!”
Courtesy photo Pictured (left to right) Chuck Emanuele, Event Co-chair and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress Chairman of the Board, Maria Thayer, and Scott Thayer, new Cypress College President.
After a rousing rendition of “Lift Me Up” from the Club’s King Choir, Gary presented Anne Hertz-Mallari with the Service Youth Award, for her 17 years of dedicated and caring service to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress and the youth they serve.
Then it was time for an exquisite dinner from OCVIBE ARTIC, featuring Napa Cab Short Ribs, Skillet Seared Salmon, and Vegetarian Gallet. Dinner was topped off by a delicious Chocolate Flourless Tart and Bread Pudding.
Jay Fiske, auctioneer extraordinaire, stepped to the podium for some fun and excitement to crown the gala evening! Fiske began the fundraising with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress’s unique Fund a Need appeal, asking supporters to sponsor a child and/or a worthwhile Club program. Then came the auction of generously donated prizes including luxury trips to Maui, Mexico, Bali, Palm Springs, and Huntington Beach; suites at an Anaheim Ducks game and at a Ringling Bros. Circus; Chairman’s Seats at an Angels game ;premier tickets to a Dodgers game; and much more.
Upon conclusion of the live auction, the highly-talented Angel Force Band once again took to the stage for more great music and dancing to close the magical night with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Anaheim-Cypress. And to top it all off, each guest was presented with a bottle of Chardonnay from Hafner Vineyards at the conclusion of the evening!
SAVE THE DATE OF SUNDAY, sept. 29, 2024 for the Club’s highly-acclaimed ACE OF CLUBS fundraising event at The Ranch Restaurant & Saloon in Anaheim.
