Who needs Camelot when we have Monty Python’s SPAMALOT (a musical lovingly ripped off from the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail). The off-beat musical is coming to Segerstrom Center for the Arts from February 17 to 22, the Costa Mesa theatre has announced.
Following its critically acclaimed 2023 Broadway revival at the St. James Theatre, SPAMALOT now launches its North American tour. Under the direction and choreography of Josh Rhodes, the production was praised for its inventive staging, design, and exceptional performances, reaffirming the enduring appeal of Monty Python’s distinctly British wit and comedic brilliance.
SPAMALOT, which first galloped onto Broadway in 2005, features a book & lyrics by Eric Idle and music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle. The original Broadway production was nominated for fourteen Tony Awards and won three, including Best Musical.
SPAMALOT has everything that makes a great knight at the theatre: from flying cows to killer rabbits, British royalty to French taunters, dancing girls, rubbery shrubbery, and of course, the Lady of the Lake.
The cast includes Major Attaway (Aladdin) as King Arthur, Sean Bell (Harmony) as Sir Robin, Chris Collins-Pisano (Forbidden Broadway) as Sir Lancelot, Ellis C. Dawson III (Hamilton) as Sir Bedevere, Leo Roberts (Les Misérables) as Sir Galahad, Amanda Robles as The Lady of the Lake, Blake Segal (Mary Poppins) as Patsy and Steven Telsey (The Book Of Mormon) as The Historian/Prince Herbert.
Collins-Pisano (Sir Lancelot, The French Taunter, Knight of Ni, Tim the Enchanter), spoke to ENE this week saying he is gobsmacked he’s being paid to engage in this codswallop! In NYC, he has worked extensively with Forbidden Broadway, having performed as a member of their touring company, as well as Off-Broadway in Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song (2025Drama Desk, Best Revue), The Next Generation, plus the cabaret Forbidden Sondheim(MAC Award, Best Revue).
He has also appeared in the national tour of Elf (NETworks, 2018), Off-Broadway: Friends! The Musical Parody and regional productions of Forestburgh Playhouse, Cape Playhouse, The Z, The Engeman, Gateway Playhouse, St. Michael’s Playhouse, Westchester Broadway Theatre, New London Barn Playhouse.
“I’m very I’m very happy that this worked out. I feel very lucky to get to do this show every day. It’s really like the best thing to get to do for me,” said Collins – Pisano.
Although not necessarily a “stand-up” comedian, Collins-Pisano says he is totally at home doing comedy on the stage.
“I think it’s definitely a science,” he said of humor, and the cast can generally tell the quality of the humor by timing the pause after the joke to the audience reaction.
Chris Collins-Pisano. Courtesy photo
“Sometimes, I will talk to my castmates about it, and we’ll talk about it in terms of, like, not, like, full math. But, you know, there’s some stuff we were like, Okay, well, we tried doing that. It took, like, probably, like a five-count, pause. What if we trim it down? What if we only do it for three (second pause). I have to change things up,” he said.
The longtime veteran of Broadway parody says the show pretty much takes a swipe at everything, which he says, can be very funny. And despite the divided times in which we live, deep down, we all need to laugh at ourselves.
“I also believe that if you’re able, if we’re all able to smile and we’re all able to laugh, that humor can be in some small way, can be an equalizer, to make people go back out into the world and maybe look at something differently, look at something and think they’re maybe being too harsh, and they need to find more love for people,” the actor said.
“And you know, I hope that we’re able to, in the most subtle way possible, maybe move the pendulum a little back towards positivity and trying to find common ground and understanding with people, so that we’re not all disjointed. And then maybe we can all find a way, despite our disagreements, to maybe move things in a better direction,” he said.
“I hope. I mean, that’s a lot of heady stuff for a show that has a lot of jokes in it. But maybe it’s possible, just maybe.”
Monty Python’s SPAMALOT opens Feb. 17 and runs through Feb. 22.
Tickets are available Monday-Friday in person at the box office, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. More information is available at (714) 556-2787 or visit scfta.org.
“SPAMALOT” will also be playing at The Hollywood Pantages Theatre from March 24 to April 12, 2026. Tickets are available at broadwayinhollywood.com.
The Cypress City Council, in perhaps its final Monday meeting, refused to allow a vote on a resolution reaffirming the constitutional protections of the First and Fourth Amendments and condemning any use of “excessive force” in the city. The Council, beginning at its next regular meeting, will meet on Tuesdays instead of Mondays.
The controversial ICE-related issue prompted a string of residents to testify both for and against any proposed measure. In what might be described as the shortest honeymoon in local political history, newly appointed Council member Rachel Strong Carnahan failed to receive a second to her motion to reaffirm constitutional provisions for all residents in the view of what some have termed “excessive” violence used by ICE agents around the country.
“I’m bringing forward this resolution to clearly articulate our city’s position regarding constitutional rights, public safety, and the role of outside enforcement actions within our jurisdiction. In no way, said Carnahan, should her resolution be an entreaty about the city becoming a sanctuary city.
“We are not a sanctuary city, but we live in a sanctuary state, and the policies of daily practice of our force, with respect to this is mandated at the state level, not the municipal level. In other words, this has already been decided and is not up for debate,” she said.
“I’d like for this resolution to first of all reaffirm our commitment to the First and Fourth Amendments of the United States Constitution,” said Strong, “something all of us up here have sworn to protect and defend against enemies, foreign and domestic.”
Strong-Carnahan tried to suggest that any resolution would only serve to reinforce the protections offered by the constitution.
“These rights apply to everyone in our public spaces at all times, citizen, non-citizen, resident, non-resident constituent, non-constituent human, human being with a pulse in the city of Cypress,” she said.
“I think we should include a general and unequivocal condemnation of violence, regardless of the source. This is not a statement about intent or legality, but a clear declaration that harm to residents, demonstrators, bystanders or personnel is unacceptable and contrary to our community’s values,” said Strong Carnahan.
“Third, I’d like this resolution to ensure that the city is prepared to protect its legal interests should an external enforcement action conducted within our boundaries result in injury or loss of life; it is a huge liability for our city. A critical component of my resolution that I’m requesting would be to clarify the distinction between external task forces and our local law enforcement and police department,” the Council member said.
The potential resolution brought some passionate citizens to the meeting, some for, others against the prospective action. Cheryl Katz, a Cypress citizen and a professor of law, said she once taught careers in law at Cypress High School.
“I care deeply about this city and its people. This committee, this meeting, should not be political. Yet the council has made it so. Federal immigration law is not a partisan issue. It’s a matter of national sovereignty and public safety. Presidents Clinton and Obama both enforced immigration laws, and President Obama removed more than 3 million individuals during his administration.”
“Enforcing federal law is not fascism,” she said. “Cypress is not a sanctuary city and cannot afford policies that expose us to legal and financial consequences. ICE agents protect our communities, our houses of worship and our national security. This is not about compassion versus cruelty. It’s about lawfulness versus lawlessness,” Katz suggested.
Robert Winter, a 27-year resident of the city, saw it differently. Winter reminded the Council that he appeared before them last July and warned the ICE deportation effort would get worse so he was there to protest “Cypress’s lack of action in establishing clear policy positions regarding the federal government’s violent, increasingly unlawful and at times deadly raids.”
“I warned that with the increased funding given to Homeland Security, it would get worse. It has gotten worse. A lot has happened since July. Several people have been shocked, several killed. Many more have died while in custody. Peaceful protesters have been chemically assaulted and maimed in the last few weeks in Minnesota, we witnessed the murder of two US citizens at the hands of federal agents,” he told the Council.
During the oral communications portion of the meeting dedicated to the issue, the Council heard from citizens for nearly an hour, including many former officials, most of whom were against any response to the civil rights resolution.
“From my perspective, I heard some words like excessive force. I think we’ve all seen the news,” said Council member Bonnie Peat. “I think the issue I have is we don’t know the circumstances, so I am uncomfortable about putting in then in there about Cypress will or won’t do this. We do not know the circumstances. We do not know the person that they’re targeting and going after,” she said.
“I don’t want to say what’s excessive force or not. That’s not my decision,” she said.
“We don’t know whether they didn’t have a gun or did have a gun. We do not have that, and that is not for us to know, okay, but there are circumstances that, just like our police department, the Federal ICE agents have as well. I feel sorry for them. Quite honestly, they’ve been given a task, and they’re getting beaten up every day,” said Peat, arguing against any statement at all.
She put Police Chief Mark Lauderback on the hot seat, asking him to weigh in on the issue. He said the department will protect the rights of everyone in the city.
“Rest assured, the men and women who work here in the city with the Cypress Police Department will protect the rights of everyone,” the police chief said. “It does not matter what their status is; here in the United States, we are here to protect everyone’s rights, regardless, and that is what the community needs to know,” Lauderback said.
Other than the period after the 9/11 attacks, Chief Lauderback said police are getting more support “than at any other time in my career. I know the support the community has for us (Police Department),” said Lauderback.
Council member David Burke said even though “I think the issue has become even more prominent since the original motion was made (presumably the death of Alex Pretti)…my view has been not to bring forward and to abstain from these kinds of resolutions and state bills or federal law enforcement issues in the past. Not because I don’t think they have a significant impact on Cypress, because they do, but I guess I got a little jaded.”
While serving on a neighborhood council in West Los Angeles, Burke said he learned that “once you go down the road, kind of passing resolutions in a certain vein, it just kind of spirals and takes focus away from the locally focused issues. “My neighborhood council in West LA was spending more time on resolutions about foreign countries than about what was going on in our community.”
“I’m not saying that is what would happen or that you can’t focus on an issue or two with an occasional resolution. I’m just saying my perspective has been to abstain as just a principle I follow,” said Burke. “I think it would be good to put factual information out there, especially when people wonder what’s going on. But I haven’t traditionally been supportive of kind of broader resolutions like this,” he said.
Mayor Pro-tem Dr. Kyle Chang, who originally seconded Strong Carnahan’s motion to agendize the issue two weeks ago, said given Burke’s statements, he would be interested only in issuing a one-page factual statement rather than a formal resolution.
“I think what you’re proposing, David, is more of a matter-of-fact statement about what the police’s policies, when it comes to what’s happening (deportation efforts) without mentioning excess violence, or violence, or anything along those lines,” said Chang.
As he saw it, Chang said the city has two options: a statement/resolution or an immigration website, with resources and other information that matter-of-factly outlines civic protections.
“I make a counter motion to issue a one-page statement,” said Chang.
There was no second from the Council for either Chang’s substitute motion or Strong Carnahan’s original motion so on this issue on this night, the Cypress City Council was silent.
Despite the inability to move a resolution to a vote, Strong Carnahan said she was “grateful” to see the spirited civic engagement spurred by the issue.
“I also want to thank the people who have emailed me personally and to the council, both for and against what we have been discussing. I’m thrilled to see such civic interest at a time when we desperately need it. I think as a community, that’s important, even if I don’t agree with some of the opinions that are being voiced, I think it’s critically important to see engagement such as this in our city, and I’m grateful for it,” she said.
The Rossmoor Community Services District Board of Directors is poised to finally limit action and access to electric bikes within the confines of the district, yet only after careful consideration of the language and input from some within the cycling community who want any limitations to be controlled.
The new ordinances have been discussed for months, but according to General Manager Sharon Landers, will be on the docket for the board’s Feb. 10 meeting.
At the December meeting, Director Tony DeMarco and other directors questioned Landers and District Attorney Tarquin Preziosi at their last meeting about the specific language that will be included in the law.
Preziosi said he has ensured that the language in the ordinance clarifies motorized “I’ve made the changes that were suggested by the board members,” he told the board.
Many in the community, including the directors, have discussed their own affinity with regular bicycles, and while they want to be pro-active, they want to ensure any ordinance protects the rights of bike owners.
Resident Jody Roubanis, a bike enthusiast, reflected those concerns.
“I think that our E bikers should have a real place to do their e-bikes and that that do it appropriately,” she said, adding that
“I hope that when we’re looking at the challenge of having our e-bikers in our neighborhood, that we’re not just saying no, you can’t use our roads, because they’re going to be doing it somewhere.”
Like nearby communities like Los Alamitos and others across Orange County that are struggling to find a way to regulate electric bicycles, local governments are trying to strike a balance of allowing the powerful new electric bikes while keeping the public safe.
And, like other communities, Rossmoor has been experiencing problems.
According to Landers, she has reached out to other communities struggling to regulate e-bikes, many of them like Oceanside, CA, whose city council recently passed an ordinance authorizing police to confiscate electric bikes from owners who fit that community’s definition of unsafe operations.
Others, like the City of Irvine, have introduced similar ordiances. Irvine introduced a local ordinance last week that could hold parents accountable for unsafe e-bike usage and provide for steep fines, if enacted. Like the Rossmoor ordinance, the local legislation requires a first reading and will not be adopted until the 2nd reading of the ordinance.
Rossmoor’s Board has recently discussed serious ecological damage caused by e-bikers to its prized parks, and has heard of dangerous pedestrian situations posed by roving bands of e-bikers.
Because of state laws in place that give e-bikers certain rights, Rossmoor Directors have been told that they will have the power to outlaw use of the electric bikes only within the purview of its parks, so the carefully crafted ordinance will be voted on Feb. 10.
“We’re not controlling the city or the county roads,” said Landers. “This is only limited to our property, where kids are speeding on sidewalks, cutting across our grass, damaging our grass and causing issues with potential collisions with people that are using the walkways in our parks.”Landers said the proposed ordinance is on the RCSD’s website and will be adopted if the board approves it after its second reading this month.
On January 28, students and staff at McAuliffe Middle School in the Los Alamitos Unified School District came together to honor the 40th anniversary of the Challenger disaster while celebrating the enduring legacy of their school’s namesake, Christa McAuliffe, according to a district news release.
The Space Shuttle Challenger, with McAuliffe and six other astronauts aboard, broke apart just 73 seconds after liftoff 40 years ago on January 28, 1986. The explosion claimed the lives of all seven crew members on board, including Christa McAuliffe, a teacher selected to be the first educator in space.
The tragic accident was witnessed by millions of citizens across the nation, many of them students watching live from their classrooms, creating a defining moment in the history of space exploration and education.
Forty years later, McAuliffe Middle School chose to honor that moment in history in a way that centered learning, reflection, and student voice. Rather than focusing solely on the tragedy, the day was intentionally designed to highlight the values Christa McAuliffe stood for as an educator — curiosity, courage, and the belief that learning should extend far beyond the classroom.
The day began with morning announcements led by students, including a short tribute to Christa McAuliffe followed by a moment of silence across the campus named for the teacher/astronaut.
In classrooms, teachers shared a brief, age-appropriate video to provide historical context and encourage thoughtful discussion about her impact as a teacher who believed deeply in exploration and lifelong learning.
One of the day’s most powerful elements was the student-created Legacy Wall. Designed by Link Crew, Associated Student Body, and California Junior Scholarship Federation students, the display highlighted Christa McAuliffe’s story alongside handwritten reflections from students about curiosity, courage, and what it means to be a lifelong learner.
The reflections revealed not only an understanding of history, but also a sense of ownership in carrying that legacy forward, the district said.
“This day was entirely student-driven, and that was very intentional,” said Jennifer LeTourneau, M.Ed., seventh grade English teacher, Link Crew leadership advisor, and CJSF club adviser at McAuliffe Middle School. “Students didn’t just learn about Christa McAuliffe; they took time to really think about what her legacy means to them and how they want to carry that forward in their own lives.”
At lunch, students were invited to share what they are curious about in the world and for the future, as well as the legacy they hope to leave behind. Inspired by Christa McAuliffe’s belief in discovery and exploration, student responses ranged from questions about space and science to hopes for helping others and making a positive impact in their communities. Teachers and staff played a key role throughout the day, guiding conversations and creating space for reflection to ensure the experience remained meaningful and student-centered. For many students, attending a school named after Christa McAuliffe deepened their understanding of her legacy not only as an astronaut but as a teacher whose passion for learning continues to inspire new generations.
Forty years after the Challenger disaster, McAuliffe Middle School continues to honor Christa McAuliffe through a shared commitment to curiosity, courage, and the power of education values that remain just as relevant today as they were in 1986.
McAuliffe Middle School in Los Alamitos was renamed in honor of teacher-astronaut Christa McAuliffe in February 1986. Following a February 18, 1986, vote by the Los Alamitos Unified School District board, the former Pine Junior High was renamed to honor the teacher who died in the Challenger disaster.
Courtesy of the Los Alamitos Unified School District
A new sea turtle rehabilitation area is now open at the Aquarium of the Pacific. For the first time, visitors to the Aquarium will be able to see rescued sea turtles as they go through rehabilitation with the goal of release to the wild. The new space doubles the non-profit’s capacity for caring for stranded, sick, or injured sea turtles, so they have a chance to heal and return to their natural habitats. The Aquarium is currently one of only two facilities in Southern California that have dedicated spaces to rehabilitate sea turtles. “We are looking forward to utilizing this new area to expand our care of rescued sea turtles, while encouraging the public to learn more about them and their conservation,” said Dr. Lance Adams, Aquarium of the Pacific veterinarian.
The space includes an approximately 4,000-gallon rehabilitation pool to accommodate rescued sea turtles found in Los Angeles County and beyond. It also includes audio visual displays where Aquarium guests can learn more about the Aquarium’s efforts in helping rescued sea turtles. The Aquarium of the Pacific announced in October 2024 that it received a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to construct this on-site sea turtle rehabilitation area near its Molina Animal Care Center. The Aquarium also received contributions from the Molina Family Foundation and the KM Shimano Family Foundation for this new space to help rescued sea turtles.
“We are grateful for the support we have received to make this new sea turtle rehabilitation area become a reality. We hope that our visitors will continue to be inspired to become stewards of our environment as they see rescued sea turtles undergo care here and learn more about these amazing animals that inhabit our local waters and beyond,” said Jeff Flocken, Aquarium of the Pacific president and CEO.
In addition to providing care for the sea turtles, Aquarium of the Pacific volunteers track local sea turtle activity through the Southern California Sea Turtle Monitoring community science program. The program is in partnership with the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority, Tidal Influence, and NOAA Fisheries conservation and wildlife management groups. Photo identification and recorded data from the Aquarium’s community scientist volunteers contributes to the understanding of sea turtles in our local waters, and how we can help them and other species along our coastline. Data from this project can be viewed through the Aquarium’s Marine Species Report Card.
The Aquarium of the Pacific has rehabilitated and released rescued sea turtles since 2000. Some have been fitted with satellite tracking devices that allowed scientists to gather data about their migration patterns and habitats. The Aquarium recently rehabilitated and released a green sea turtle in September 2025 and is currently caring for two rescued green sea turtles with the goal of release to the wild. All species of sea turtles found in waters of the United States are listed as either endangered or threatened and are protected by the Endangered Species Act. If you see a stranded sea turtle in the San Gabriel River or elsewhere, please call the West Coast Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Network’s 24/7 hotline at 562-506-4315.
Since every rescued sea turtle has a story of survival, the public is invited to help write the next chapter. You can support sea turtle rehabilitation efforts and make an impact for these endangered creatures that will last generations by donating to the rescue to release campaign.
The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place dedicated to connecting people to and conserving nature. The Aquarium’s vision is to foster an inclusive community that works together to create our sustainable future. Home to more than 12,000 animals, Aquarium exhibits include Our Living Coastline, 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 twelve months and other special benefits. To make a donation to help support the Aquarium, please visit the donation webpage. To visit, reservations are required for everyone and can be made at aquariumofpacific.org or by calling (562) 590-3100.
Just when you thought you had seen all the new laws for 2026 (or at least the important ones) coming at you across your various news platforms, from new laws regulating antisemitism in schools to new requirements on artificial intelligence (AI) companies, here are some more from state and local legislators you may not have caught first time around, but could have a real world impact in your life.
Now leading the nation in AI restrictions, the California legislators have gone beyond cyber safeguards and personal controls for users with AB 2013 requiring AI developers to disclose all the source data used to train their AI models. Giving working journalists and other content creators a window into how their own contributions to the information highway might be getting hijacked by AI. The idea here is that transparency should be the first step toward accountability.
AB 325 (Algorithm Pricing) amends our nations antitrust laws to stop “competitors” from colluding to use algorithms to coordinate and ultimately inflate pricing, essentially price fixing. Think AI assisted Real Page, a property management software now the subject of a number of antitrust lawsuits that have allowed the housing rental industry to collectively set the highest possible rents in a given market.
SB 243 the “Companion Chatbot Act” requires companies to clearly disclose when an interactive user is talking to an AI generated chatbot rather than a actual human. The notification must be “conspicuous, explicit and with frequent reminders” during the conversation.The law applies to any AI assisted entity offering services in California. Enforcement allows for anyone to sue for damages up to $1,000 and receive injunctive relief from receiving such future calls.
E-bike safety laws have been slowly expanding across the state as studies have shown time and again that E-bike accidents are increasing per capita faster than any other common form of transportation, with resulting injuries tending to be more sever than traditional bike accidents. New laws for 2026 include battery safeguards, speed restrictions, tailight requirements, helmut safety and parental responsibility.
SB 127 lays out stricter testing requirements for battery standards in an attempt to cut down on all too frequent incidences of battery combustion while operating or at rest. with clear labeling requiring batteries have been UL tested and are state labeling compliant emblams easily identified.
AB 544, parents or guardians be advised, you can be cited, fined, and required to attend safety education courses for E-bike violations committed by your kids, whether in the operating of the E-bike or in the modification of the vehicle. AB 382, allows local jurisdictions to lower school zone speeds to 20 miles per hour in areas of high traffic area “where children are present” or by the use of flashing signage, and may extend for 500 feet.
I checked in with Los Alamitos Police Depaertment’s Public Information Officer Robert Acosta regarding enforcement these new laws and those created in 2025 under the City’s year old Electric conveyance & Education ordinance. Acosta told me 2025 was a predominently a year of education, and certification of E-bike users in collaboration with the school district. 2026 would be a year of enforcement. “In 2026 we are enforcing 100%. we went through a period of education and coordinated safety classes. Today we will stop kids on the street and we will issue citations.” As for citing the parents of errant E-bikers, Acosta would only say “we may get there.”
SB 720, another traffic related law going into effect in 2026, otherwise known as The Safer Streets Act, for the first time in California allows cities and counties to install automated red light cameras that identify a red light violator not by traditional facial recognition photoggraphy but by capturing a photo of the license plate and ultimately citing the owner of the vehicle. They are calling it an “administrative infraction” subject to a civil fine, capped at $100, with no DMV point consequences. The City of Los Alamitos, heavily invested in its red light cameras, say they have “no plans at this time” to switch or add these vehicle owner citations to their camera enforcement toolbox. But Long Beach, several South County cities and CalTrans have plans to do so.
AB 1777, finally, allows law enforcement to cite and make immediate contact with remote autonamous vehicle operators when their driverless cars are involved in an accident or go rogue on the road as we have seen of late. Effective July 1, 2026, beyond the ability to cite the remote owner operator of a driverless car for moving vehicle infractions, the manufacturer must provide in each vehicle “a two way voice communication device” connected to a remote human operator who can disable the car, allow on-site manual control of the car, or remotely take control of the errant driverless vehicle. In addition, the manufacturer must maintain continuous monitoring of every one of its driverless cars on the public roads and provide staff that can respond (within 30 seconds) to a first responder report of vehicle malfunction.
SB 634 overriddes local ordinances in California that seek to criminalize those who would render aid to the homeless. This bill, effective January 1, 2026, originally sought to decriminalize the “act” of being homeless in a public place in California. After much political pushback from local jurisdictions, it was reduced to making it illegal for cities and their law enforcement arm to prohibit ( often by ordinance) the rendering of aid to the unhoused on the streets and in public places by individuals, food assistance groups, social and religious outreach agencies, medical professionals, and other nonprofits seeking to assist the “basic survival needs” of the unhoused.
Moving from the roadways and the streets of California some new laws impacting the halls of local government and our courts are coming in 2026. Some of these laws are going into effect this year with little notice to the public, but could have a profoud impact in our lives.
SB 707 is a long needed upgrade to the original Ralph M. Brown Act which specifies that all meetings by legislative bodies (state to local jurisdictions) are open to the public. In the pre-tech 1950s when the act was created that mght have meant tie your horse to the hitching post, and find a chair in the public gallery until it was your turn at the microphone. But in today’s world of instant access via zoom and other remote platforms, this law recognizes advancements in technology should extend your right to be in the room without being in the room. Beginning July 1, 2026 all open public meetings of a government body in this state must include an opportunity for the public to attend public meetings via 2-way telephonc service or 2-way audio-visual platform, and that the legislative body conducting the meeting be required to properly notice the public how to participate in the meeting, including the live public comment period, remotely.
AB 246 became law on January 1 2026 out of a recognized and urgent need to protect particularly elderly folks who live on a fixed Social Security income in California who through no fault of their own, their monthly SS checks have been terminated, delayed, misplaced by administrative error, or by fraud has resulted in eviction action against them. Unlawful detainers under such circumstances can be suspended by the court until the SS recipient’s entitlement can be reinstated. AB 416 adds another layer of professional eyes on the controversial practice of placing involuntary holds on an individual in so called “mental health crisis” into a psychiatric facility. The use of involuntary commitment and so called “5150 holds” on an individual appearing to be under a new definition of “unable to manage their own medical well being” are on the rise. The unhoused are particularly vulnerable to these involuntary holds. This law responds to that trend by requiring counties and cities to to include an emergency physician as one of the practicing disciplines authorized to cause a person to be taken into custody involuntarily.
SB 255 which became law on January 1 with a 1-year implementation phase, seeks to protect real estate assets from fraudulent title theft that can transfer your property into unscrupulous hands by the relatively simple act of someone recording a quitclaim, motgage or deed of trust transfer through the process of recordation with the county recorders office. Under SB 255 every California county is required to establish a county recorder program that will notify the current title holder by mail (within 30 days) if a mortgage modification or deed transfer has been recorded. It may be difficult for a title thief to prevail in the fraudulent transfer of your property ( if detected), but you’ll most likely need a lawyer to fight the fraudster,and in the meantime they may be able to use your property to secure a loan using your property as collaterol. Several counties, including Orange, are supposed to have courtesy policies of notifying a change in real estate documents. But I can tell you from personal experience in Orange County don’t count on it. This new law requires it.
And speaking of lawyers, finally, and none too soon, SB 37 became law on January 1 creating a legal recourse and right of action to enforce violations against misleading attorney advertisements, attorney solicitations, using false or deceptive words or phrases by a lawyer or a law firm as to their skills, experience or success rates. This bill allows, in addition to civil action, a provision for injunctive relief requiring that the false or deceptive advertisement be taken down within 72 hours of a court finding of violation. This law is a direct response to the prolforation of aggressive attotney advertisements netting large numbers of clients into multiple plaintiff or even class action siuts that largely benefit the lawfirms and their wall street backers. There might well be a lawyer for every complaint in California, but this bill at least may turn the dial down a bit on the rhetoric and the wild guarantees of recovery some of these lawyers engage in and are the biggest beneficiaries of. Its not the solution for lawyers Shakespeare had in mind. But it’s a start.
For a complete list of all 792 new laws passed for 2026 see the below official state website at: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
The Los Alamitos girls basketball team won its fourth consecutive Sunset Conference championship on Saturday, January 31, by hitting a season-high 20 three-point baskets and blitzing Newport Harbor in an 80-48 title-clinching road victory.
The victory brought the Griffins’ Sunset League record to 10-1, two games ahead of Huntington Beach (8-3 in league) with only one contest remaining.
“It’s hard to win a league championship,” said Coach Maya De Anda. “I’m really proud of all the hard work that the girls have put in to make it happen.”
Leading the onslaught of threes was sharpshooting senior guard Maya Asumbrado with 8 three-pointers, tying her personal best. Senior guard Madison Norberg added 5 threes followed by sophomore guards Torri Yoshida with 3 threes and Maile Heng with 2 threes. Seniors Tam Yoshida and Lexi Kyriakos each added 1 three.
The fast-paced Griffins often rely on outside shooting, and against the much taller Newport Harbor Sailors, they let it rain all night, hitting at least 4 threes in every quarter.
The Sailors (8-16 overall) outrebounded the Griffins 36 to 21, but the Los Alamitos full-court press and trapping defense flustered Newport into 29 turnovers while the Griffins (19-7 overall) turned the ball over only 6 times. The unselfish Griffins also had 20 assists on 30 baskets.
Offensively, Asumbrado led the way with 24 points and 5 assists. Norberg added 15 points, followed by Heng with 12 points, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Torri Yoshida added 9 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals. Tam Yoshida and Kyriakos each added 7 points and freshman post Amber Cosio scored 6.
Last season, the Griffins were Sunset League co-champions with Fountain Valley and Corona del Mar, each with 9-3 league records. In 2023-24, the Sunset Conference had two four-team leagues, the lower-rated Wave League and the higher-rated Surf League, and in that 2023-24 season, the Griffins won the higher-rated Surf League title outright with a 6-0 record. In 2022-23, the Griffins shared the Surf League championship with Corona del Mar, each with 5-1 records.
In the four consecutive championship seasons under Coach De Anda, the Griffins have an overall combined record of 82-32 with a home-court record of 32-6.
“It’s been a fun run,” De Anda said. “League championships are part of the school’s history and it’s something the school community can be proud of, and we’re very happy to be a part of that.”
The Griffins have one more league game on the road to play against Edison (10-16) and then the first round of CIF playoffs will begin the following week on Thursday, February 12.
The CIF currently ranks the Griffins No. 53 in the Southern Section, which would put the team in a high and very competitive playoff division. The official CIF seedings will be released on Saturday, February 7, at noon.
The Griffins Lacrosse Club won the Bison Invitational for the third time, over the weekend at Joe Machado Field. It was their fourth appearance in the finals, and they held off a scrappy, tough, and highly skilled program out of San Marcos (San Marcos, CA) in the finals.
The game was hard fought until the final seconds from both teams. San Marcos battled back to bring the score to 7-6 in the final minute of the finals. The Griffins held them off and won 7-6. The Griffins went 5-0 on the weekend playing some great competition throughout the weekend. They had a great showing from their goalies, Ben Sandoval and Charlie Pallone, who backed a hard hitting, physical defense lead by Captain Jaxon Moore along with a shutdown defender Zak Whitman, according to Griffins Head Coach Matt Cunniffe.
The game was controlled by the defensive midfield of Gavin Batistelli, Carter Alexander, Max Denny, Dylan Hale, and Gavin Korzeniowski who made great hard-fought clears and played shutdown defense. The well-rounded offense was led by Tournament MVP and team captain Colin Shriver who literally ran over defenders with his physical play to lead Los Al to the finals. The offense had a well-rounded attack from Cooper Lindholm, Rob Hansen, Tommy Argenzio (team captain), Sebastian Marr, and Jack Kreutzer (team captain).
The games wouldn’t have been won without our faceoff midfielders, Kane Nucum and Logann Ruiz, battling at the faceoff X for every possession, according to Cunniffe. And, Nick Shalbey provided some key goals and hard fought ground balls throughout the tournament, he added.
“It was an amazing weekend of team bonding, creating team culture, and enjoying time away from the field as a program, Cunniffe said. “It was capped off with a three-peat of winning the tournament. Thank you to all the directors (Devin Maxwell and his crew) and the city of Avalon for hosting the tournament.”
The recent production by Sa Dance Company of RISE: A Journey Through Resilience at the Chapman University’s Musco Center for the Arts used the art form of dance to speak to aspirations of future generations.
Founded by Payal Kadakia Pujji, Sa centers its work on the evolving landscape of Indian American identity—especially the themes of womanhood, community, and the multifaceted journey of the Indian American female, driven by a clear desire to inspire and shape future generations.
As an Indian American born and raised in the United States, Payal has long sought to bridge these two parts of her identity, finding in dance what she describes as the “perfect channel to not only explore but also to express this bridge—a perfect blend of dance forms of her Indian and American heritages to bring awareness to people why this is important.” This guiding intention forms the artistic and emotional foundation of RISE.
In RISE, this vision unfolded through the life journey of an Indian woman, conveyed through expressive Indian contemporary dance choreography. The company blended Indian classical dance forms with Western ballet (both classical and modern), jazz, and hip?hop, creating a movement language that felt fluid, textured, and deliberately layered.
Courtesy photo: Sa Dance Company On Saturday, January 24, 2026, I experienced Sa’s production of RISE – A Journey Through Resilience at the Chapman University’s Musco Center for the Arts. Founded by Payal Kadakia Pujji, Sa centers its work on the evolving landscape of Indian?American identity—especially the themes of womanhood, community, and the multifaceted journey of the Indian?American female, driven by a clear desire to inspire and shape future generations. As an Indian American born and raised in the United States, Payal has long sought to bridge these two parts of her identity, finding in dance what she describes as the “perfect channel to not only explore but also to express this bridge—a perfect blend of dance forms of her Indian and American heritages to bring awareness to people why this is important.” This guiding intention forms the artistic and emotional foundation of RISE.
The dancers shaped an experience that resonated on multiple levels—emotionally stirring, viscerally engaging, and visually evocative. The performance invited the audience not only to witness the story, but to feel its quiet strength, its questions, and its moments of transformation.
Sa Dance Company skillfully incorporated visual arts alongside voice-over narration to deepen the audience’s connection to the personal and powerful stories of its all-women ensemble. Through these multimedia elements, the dancers conveyed the inner strength and resilience present within each woman, highlighting the journey to becoming one’s authentic self.
The production was marked by expertly crafted choreography, executed with precision and emotion. The dances centered on the gender-based barriers that South Asian women face, shedding light on the persistent social structures that contribute to the silencing and suppression of women’s voices. While this theme has been addressed in previous dance anthologies, this was the first time the issue was experienced as being directly relevant to the Indian-American community.
Sa’s performance thoughtfully illustrated that South Asian patriarchy and its associated social structures are not only present but remain active within the Indian-American context. The production challenged its predominantly South Asian audience to reflect on their own beliefs and behaviors, as well as the words and non-verbal cues they use. It called attention to the ways these cultural signals can communicate to women—be they sisters, spouses, daughters, or mothers—that their role is to remain silent, serve quietly, sacrifice, disappear, and avoid taking up space.
Through its remarkable choreography, “RISE – A Journey Through Resilience” also powerfully conveyed how women overcome barriers in patriarchal societies, rising into their own strength and voice.
For more information on Sa Dance Company, please visit their website at: https://www.sadancecompany.com/
All are invited to treat yourself to an inexpensive dinner featuring delicious salmon and exclusive sit-down service, no waiting in long lines, and get the chance to win several luxurious days and nights at a popular Palm Desert resort, all part of the annual Lenten Fish Dinners served by the Knights of Columbus at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress.
It’s all yours on six consecutive Friday evenings, beginning February 20 through March 27 between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Parish community center on Grindlay Street, between Lincoln and Orange.
Avoid long lines, enjoy sit-down service at Knights of Columbus Lenten Fish Fry dinners at St Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress, Friday evenings from February 20th to March 27th.
Knight Jorge Rodriguez keeps the “Chips” (French Fries) coming at a fast pace at the K of C’s annual Lenten Fish Fry dinners at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress. Sit-down service on Friday evenings from February 20th to March 27th. Courtesy photo
Highlighting this year’s menu: Baked Salmon Fillet accompanied with a savory rice and your choice of either coleslaw or green salad, all for just $14 per service. If you prefer classic Fish and Chips, there is a three-piece dinner for $12, and $10 for two pieces, each with coleslaw or green salad All include complimentary lemonade, water and coffee.
And there are other options: a cup of classic New England clam chowder, just $3; spaghetti with marinara sauce and green salad, $8; sides of tempura green beans or cauliflower for only $3 each; and child-size one-piece fish & chips dinners, $8.
Cash or credit cards accepted at the door.
Raffle tickets are just $5 each or five for $20 dollars for the three-night stay at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge Village in Palm Desert June 3rd-6th of this year. Winner need not be present to win.
Knights Louis Bloch(l) and Jorge Rodriguez put finishing touches at the skillets for Lenten Fish Fry dinners at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress. beginning Friday evening February 20th and continuing for six consecutive Fridays. Courtesy photo
Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Paulo Morales says all are invited from neighboring communities, Leisure World, and area senior centers to dine in or order your meal to go. Morales added, “as always, proceeds of the dinners help the Knights support numerous local charities and community service projects”.
The Cypress School District is trying to figure out how to close a projected $3.3 million budget gap for the 2026-27 school year. Parents, teachers, staff, and school board members all say they want to balance the budget without eliminating positions or programs that directly impact students. But that may be out of reach since 83% of the district’s budget is devoted to personnel.
“No matter how we look at it, there is going to be a pinch of some sort,” Board President Lydia Sondhi, Ph.D., told attendees at the close of the January 20 meeting of the board after district staff presented a preliminary budget reduction plan. Dr. Sondhi also made it a point to assure the public that the board was still in “the middle of the process,” adding, “we’re still in a movement towards that decision-making [of] ultimately what is going to happen.”
The plan outlined at the Jan. 20 meeting by Assistant Superintendent Larry Ferchaw calls for eliminating 19 certificated positions, including several teaching jobs, for estimated savings of more than $1.6 million. The district is also proposing cutting more than a dozen classified positions, including three custodians and all of the health clerks and library clerks at the district’s six TK-6 campuses to save more than $1.2 million. The proposal also includes slashing $600,000 in spending on supplies and services.
“These are fairly deep reductions that we are talking about, and we want to be sensitive to the fact that … those have the potential to have a significant impact on the employees and the students of the district,” Ferchaw stated.
The district, which already spent $3 million in one-time funds to balance this year’s budget, cites declining enrollment as a main reason for its financial struggles. The district currently serves around 3,200 preschool through sixth grade students from Cypress, Buena Park, and La Palma. According to Ferchaw, that number is expected to decline by 125 students next school year. “With fewer students, the district’s projected funding does not keep pace with the rising cost of continued operations each year,” reads a statement from the district issued on Jan. 16.
CSD Board of Trustees President Lydia Sondhi, Ph.D.
Ferchaw shared a list of 22 potential budget reductions that were discussed and ranked by a budget advisory committee. The same list was also ranked by principals at the school sites. The committee ranked the “reduction of services contracts” as number one, while principals ranked “reductions to District Office clerical/support positions” as the top option to cut costs. Other options included in the list were implementing energy conservation measures and eliminating teacher on special assignment (T.O.S.A.) positions.
A vote on a resolution authorizing layoffs is expected at the board’s Feb. 12 meeting, with layoff notices required to be distributed by March 13. There will still be discussion of additional layoffs occurring throughout March and April, and resolutions will be finalized by May 14. Some layoffs may be rescinded “if more funding becomes available or costs decrease.” All employees who are affected by May 14 will be “placed on a 39-month rehire list,” with “bumping rights” to be rehired for their previous positions, or ones like it.
Ferchaw cautioned that the district’s budget is dynamic, characterizing the situation as “a constantly evolving process.” At the December 11, 2025 board meeting, trustees approved the 2025-26 First Interim Budget Report with a “qualified” status, indicating the district “may not be able to meet its financial obligations in the current or subsequent two fiscal years.” That is partly because the district predicted it would not have the legally required amount in reserves. That has triggered increased fiscal oversight from the Orange County Department of Education. More intervention at the county and state level could come if the budget situation is not improved.
“Keep the cuts away from our kids”
At the Jan. 20 meeting, several speakers voiced concerns about the proposal to slash jobs and programs. “The proposed layoffs by the district are irresponsible,” Barbara Fernandez, the health clerk at Luther Elementary, told the board during public comment. “What will happen to our students? Will there be a medical emergency missed, where it will be too late, resulting in a death? I ask the board to reconsider their decision and choose the safety and health of their students.”
Vessels Elementary sixth-grade teacher Andrea O’Gara pleaded with the board, “Please keep the cuts away from our kids.” She added, “Please be surgical. Look at each proposed cut carefully and ask one guiding question: how does this affect the children we serve?”
Later in the evening, parent Maria Calderon-Guzman asked why the cuts had to come from the school sites. “Why are we not examining salary reductions for district leadership, especially for those in the top 10% of earners?” she asked, drawing applause from attendees, many of whom were wearing Association of Cypress Teachers (ACT) apparel.
ACT President Candi Earley addressed the proposed job cuts during the union’s regularly scheduled agenda item. “There’s been considerable discussion and speculation regarding how the district arrived at its current financial situation, but regardless of the circumstances, many educators feel that they are bearing the brunt of these reductions,” Early said.
“It’s our sincere hope that the revised budget will be more favorable than expected and that the district will prioritize reinstating programs and positions that most directly support student learning and well-being.” In 2022, the board gave teachers a 9% pay raise at a cost of $19 million.
The representative for the classified staff union also spoke at the meeting. “Our classified employees are deeply committed to this district. They show up every day because they care about the students and families they serve,” California School Employees Association (CSEA) representative Alex Mehlbrech said. He added that CSEA remains committed to working with the district to “find solutions that protect students, preserve essential services and respect the people who make our schools run.”
Trustees seek reductions that do not impact staff or students
During the discussion portion of the proposed budget cuts, all five of the trustees and Superintendent Anne Silavs expressed a desire to minimize the impact to students.
Trustee Jaime Needham inquired about the number of secretaries at the district office. Ferchaw said that Cypress School District has fewer administrators than nearby districts and a lot of the staff has taken on multiple roles in the recent past. “I know from experience that we run a very lean district operation, and you know the people who work here wear many hats,” he said.
Needham also stressed the need to explore other options for cutting costs and generating more revenue, including incentivizing retirements, or creating new programs to increase enrollment. “I know we’ve talked a little bit about dual language, but has there been any talk around, like, a STEM magnet or a GATE magnet or anything like that, where we’d service the neighborhood kids, but also pull in kids that maybe go to surrounding districts?” Needham asked.
Supt. Silavs responded that those programs take resources to launch that are limited right now. “We could always look to that in the future as another way to increase enrollment,” Silavs said. “But I think right now, those programs would all take an investment that maybe we don’t have at the moment.”
Trustee Troy Tanaka asked if leadership had explored reducing executive compensation or bonuses. Silavs said that there are “no executive bonuses in Cypress School District.” She suggested, “if we need to find more money, there are opportunities to pursue furlough days … across our entire organization,” but noted that would require negotiations due to contracts.
Dr. Sondhi asked for a list of all of the funds in the budget to better understand where money could possibly be moved around to help close the budget gap. She also thanked all of the speakers for sharing their perspectives and invited them to send more suggestions.
“We hear you. We love you. We love our district. We love our kids,” Dr. Sondhi said. “Let’s make sure that we do what’s best [for] everybody.”
The Los Al Chamber filled the Epson America Conference Center again last week as members and guests gathered to see officers and board members sworn in for 2026.
Joint Forces Training Base Commander Lt. Col. Jubilee Satele was present to perform the swearing-in ceremonies. Satele, relatively new in the role as the Los Al Base Commander, thanked the Chamber for the invitation to administer the oaths.
After taking the oath as the new President of the Chamber, Richie Barnes, an outreach specialist for F&M Bank, said he was ready to move the organization forward, having spent a couple of years as a member of the Board of Directors and the Chamber’s Finance Committee.
“I’m ready to get started,” he told the Chamber, before laying out his vision for the next year.
Richie Barnes, Outreach Executive for F&M Bank, left, is sworn in as Chamber President by Lt. Col. Jubilee Satele, right. Satele is the commander of the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos. Photo by David N. Young
“I have a good idea of the financial structure,” said Barnes and “my strong suit is in the boardroom,” he said.
While the Chamber sponsors its “Heroes Appreciation Luncheon” each year, Barnes suggested meeting with other area Chambers to grow the network and get ideas.
“I want to really get connected with other Chambers,” said Barnes, “to broaden our network and move outside the ‘Heroes Appreciation Luncheon.’”
“So, I’m really looking forward to 2026,” he said.
In addition to Barnes, Satele also swore in the Chamber’s 15-member board of Directors.
Outgoing Co-Presidents Dr. Andrew Pulver and Susan Morales thanked the members for allowing them to serve, both acknowledging the changes they made were positive for the Chamber.
Pulver and Morales made several changes to the Chamber’s meeting, including a popular “Get Connected” segment wherein several members were grouped to solve challenges or exchange ideas.
“It’s been a fun way to keep us engaged and connected,” said Pulver.
Morales is a UCI Health Executive at the Los Alamitos Medical Center, and Pulver is Superintendent of the Los Alamitos Unified School District.
Pulver thanked the business community for strongly supporting its local institutions, noting that it was unique that the business community in Los Alamitos asked “two people who work for nonprofits to be co-presidents of the Chamber.”
Several representatives of local elected officials were on hand to honor the business officials and the board for their service to the community.
In other action, the Chamber;
Honored Mike Prencavage, Jr., from The Family Plumber, for sponsoring the meal at Epson.
Heard from Southland Credit Union executives after they were named “Member of the Month.”
Heard from Luke Saylor, of Saylor Cleaning. They offer janitorial services for large commercial spaces.
It’s easy to spot Dave Appling in a crowd—his friendly smile, steady presence, and hands always busy helping others. Whether volunteering at The Youth Center Christmas Tree Lot in his younger days—when carrying a full-sized pine over his shoulder looked effortless—or leading a service project abroad, Dave has always embodied what it means to give from the heart. The Rotary Club of Los Alamitos, Cypress, and Seal Beach is proud to honor that lifelong commitment by naming Dave the recipient of the Heart for Service Award, to be presented at the Hearts United Luncheon and Auction on February 10.
A Rotarian since 1982, Dave has built a legacy rooted in service, leadership, and generosity. As President and Owner of Appling Insurance Services, Inc., he has led with integrity both in business and in the community. His decades of volunteerism include serving as Past President of the Los Alamitos Education Foundation, Founder and President of the Los Alamitos High School Football Foundation—raising more than $155,000 in scholarships—and long-term Board Member and President of The Youth Center.
Courtesy photo Rotarian Chelsi Strohmyer-Wilson congratulates Dave Appling on his award.
Dave’s passion for helping others extends beyond local borders. He joined fellow Rotarians on a service trip to Mexico, where they worked together at an orphanage to provide care and support for children in need. And when he isn’t volunteering, you’ll likely find Dave fishing, a pastime that reflects his patient spirit and appreciation for life’s simple joys.
Over the years, Dave’s leadership and generosity have earned him widespread recognition, including Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce “Man of the Year” (1994) and Cypress College Americana Awards “Citizen of the Year, Los Alamitos” (1999). “Dave’s heart for service shines in everything he does,” said Randy Hill, Rotary Club President. “He’s the kind of person who lifts others quietly but powerfully, through action, kindness, and consistency. He’s the heart of Rotary.”
The Hearts United Luncheon and Auction is an annual celebration of community service and generosity. Proceeds benefit the Rotary Club’s local and international projects supporting youth, families, and humanitarian causes. For event details or ticket information, please visit https://lacsbrotary.org/
The Rotary Club of Los Alamitos, Cypress, and Seal Beach is part of Rotary International, a global organization of leaders dedicated to fostering goodwill, promoting peace, fighting disease, and improving lives both locally and worldwide.
The Cypress Chamber of Commerce will welcome two members of the Olson Homes team as our guest speakers at our February Networking Breakfast. Brian Taylor and Karen Gorske, senior representatives from the Seal Beach based home builder, will share information on two NEW developments underway in Cypress.
The event will be held Tuesday, February 10th at the Residence Inn by Marriott at 4931 Katella Avenue, Cypress/Los Alamitos starting at 7:30 a.m. Two communities, Tierra Walk and Madera Walk, are currently under construction in Cypress and the representatives from Olson Homes plan to share the details for these projects. Olson Homes has already demonstrated a commitment to quality with other Cypress infill housing projects over the years.
Their customer-centric company culture is why homeowners have voted them the #1 Homebuilder in North America. They were also the recipient of “The Eliant” award for “Overall Home Purchase & Ownership Experience” ten times in the last twelve years.
Brian Taylor, Olson Homes, to speak to Cypress Chamber. Courtesy photo
Olson Homes, has been building walkable, thoughtfully-designed quality communities throughout Southern California since 1988 with the goal of fulfilling the dream of homeownership. Each of their two new communities is thoughtfully designed with the homeowners in mind complementing the Cypress area, architecture, and landscape. They build in established areas close to shopping, dining, and recreation to promote walkability which is why all their communities are named “walk.”
Brian Taylor is a Southern California native, who grew up in West Garden Grove.
At Cal Poly Pomona he received a degree in Chemical Engineering, but shortly after graduating decided to pursue a career in Real Estate. In 2010 he joined Olson, starting as a Home Advisor and now overseeing all the sales as the Sr. Director of Sales. Brian is married with two young daughters, loves cycling and spending time with the family. In fact, he spends many weekends at Arnold Cypress Park watching his daughter play softball.
Karen Gorske is a proud California native who grew up in Orange County. She graduated from Cypress High School, where she was an active member of both the Junior Varsity and Varsity Gymnastics squads. Karen worked her way through college at Disneyland in Anaheim while earning a double degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Cal State Fullerton, where she also served as President of her Criminal Justice class.
Karen Gorske, Olson Homes. Courtesy photo
She continued at the University of San Diego for graduate school before launching her real estate career with The Irvine Company. Karen later found her professional home at Olson Homes, where her passion for helping others find the perfect place to live truly shines. In her free time, she enjoys relaxing at the beach with her adorable husky puppy, and while she currently resides in an Olson Home, in Huntington Beach her family home remains in Cypress—keeping her close to the community she loves.
Each Chamber breakfast attendee will also have an opportunity to stand to introduce themselves and share a little about their business before the program begins.
Reservations are highly recommended and can be made online. Cost of the breakfast is $25.00. Attendees are encouraged to bring a door prize to help promote their product or service. The program will include time for live networking, self-introductions, a breakfast buffet, as well as our guest speakers. The Chamber networking breakfasts, which are open to the public, are held on the second Tuesday of every month. Space at these events is limited. To assure your seat, pre-register on the chamber website:
The musical theatre adaptation of one of the most memorable love stories of the current era, The Notebook, will celebrate its Costa Mesa premiere at Segerstrom Center for the Arts on Jan. 27 and run through Feb. 8.
“THE NOTEBOOK is ultimately a celebration of life, love, and the power of memory,” said producers Kevin McCollum and Kurt Deutsch.
“Audiences first fell in love with this timeless story as a novel, then as an iconic film, and now they can experience it anew as a moving musical event. With multi-platinum artist Ingrid Michaelson’s unforgettable score and Tony Award-nominated Bekah Brunstetter’s beautifully crafted book, THE NOTEBOOK comes to life on stage in a way that will resonate deeply with audiences across North America
Allie and Noah, two people from different worlds, share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart. “Full of butterfly-inducing highs and beautiful songs” (Entertainment Weekly), THE NOTEBOOK is a deeply moving portrait of the enduring power of love.
Allie and Noah are each played by three actors- Chloë Cheers as Younger Allie, Alysha Deslorieux as Middle Allie, Sharon Catherine Brown as Older Allie, Kyle Mangold as Younger Noah, Ken Wulf Clark as Middle Noah, and Beau Gravitte as Older Noah.
In an interview this week with ENE, Ken Wulf Clark (middle Noah) said he was “grateful” to learn he landed the role as Noah, though admitting that he purposely had not watched the movie before the audition.
“I’m glad I didn’t watch the movie, because by the time we were done, many people think of the book, but now, to me, “The Notebook” is only our play.”
“I think that this is one of the few remaining unabashedly romantic musicals out there,” said Clark, noting the play is so well written, “I think the true love magic truly happens (on stage as it did in the book and the movie).”
Clark said the message behind the powerful play “is to have faith,” as the musical tells the emotionally charged story of Allie and Noah’s encounters throughout their lives.
“The play is about the power of love” says Clark. “It’s about this man (Noah) who has this woman (Allie) that he’s completely devoted to and for three times throughout his life, he has to make the choice to fight for her.”
“When he’s (Noah) young, his parents take her away. When he is in the middle of life, he finds her again, but now she is engaged to this other man and he has to fight for her again. And then, at the end of his life, his last act of devotion is to fight for her while slowly losing her to dementia,” said Clark.
“I think there is a greater emphasis on that aspect of the story in the play as compared to the movie,” he added. That said, he believes his symbiotic, on stage chemistry with co-star Alysha Deslorieux (middle Allie), brings “makes the power and magic of love come alive on stage.”
“We trust each other and seem to agree on how to tell the story,” he said. “I don’t want to say it is easy, but I’m so grateful for my scene partner,” said Clark.
Musical theatre, says this accomplished acting veteran, is among the biggest challenges in today’s entertainment industry. “I like it because it is the hardest thing to do as an actor. If you can do this, you can do anything (in the field),” he said.
“It’s eight days a week, it’s on the road, you’re singing so you have to take care of your body, your voice. There’s the stress, physical, vocal, emotional and you know, it’s a lifestyle. It’s hard and you have to adapt to it but I like it and I get to do it with people who are good at it,” said Clark.
“And it’s gratifying every night when the curtain comes down with very little exception. I feel like I’ve accomplished something difficult and that’s why I love this job,” said Clark.
Clark, Deslorieux and company took the stage in “The Notebook” on Tuesday and the play will continue until Feb. 8.
The creative team for the tour includes scenic design by David Zinn and Brett J. Banakis , costume design by Paloma Young , lighting design by Ben Stanton , sound design by Nevin Steinberg , hair and wig design by Mia Neal , and projection design by Lucy Mackinnon . The production’s music supervisor is Carmel Dean , who also collaborated on arrangements with Ingrid Michaelson and on orchestrations with John Clancy , and the music director is Tina Faye . Casting by The Telsey Office , Patrick Goodwin , CSA.
The production was recently recognized with three 2024 Tony Award nominations (Best Book of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical), Drama League Award nominations for Outstanding Production of a Musical, two Distinguished Performance Awards and the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing, Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, and an Outer Critics Circle Award.
Atlantic Records officially released the Grammy-nominated THE NOTEBOOK (Original Broadway Cast Recording), featuring a score that Vanity Fair calls “strikingly beautiful” by multiplatinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson.
Following its release, THE NOTEBOOK (Original Broadway Cast Recording) debuted at #1 on the Top Broadway chart in Music Connect, with breakout single “My Days ” now surpassing 9 million streams on Spotify alone.
Tickets for the Notebook start at $39 and are available at the SCFTA box office, 600 Towne Center Drive, Costa Mesa or visit scfta.org.
Charo is an American music and pop culture icon who has entertained millions during her stellar 50-year career returns to the area Jan. 31 with an appearance at the Carpenter Center for the Arts in Long Beach.
Charo has wowed over 17,000 in attendance at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles with her show, featuring her infectious humor, her orchestra, dancers and her inimitable virtuoso guitar. Charo also entertains thousands of her gay fans Pride festivals all over the country and international fans at music venues around the world.
Charo is dubbed The Queen of Instagram for her fun, entertaining and informative content. Charo’s fans are from all ages and all walks of life and follow her homespun wisdom, imparting lifestyle advice on Fashion, Nutrition, Cooking, Exercise, how to maintain a Positive and Healthy Mental Outlook on her entertaining social media channels: Instagram: @OfficialCharo, Twitter @CharoCuchiCuchi and TikTok @TheRealCharo.
Charo is instantly recognizable by her trademark expression, “Cuchi Cuchi,” which has endeared her to audiences around the world and made her name synonymous with music, fun and excitement. She is a virtuoso guitarist, singer, composer, actress and comedienne who has been voted “Best Flamenco Guitarist” twice by Guitar Magazine. Most recently, Charo teamed up with top-name world-famous DJs to release Fantastico! The International Remixes, a series of dance tracks heard in gay clubs around the world.
Charo has also been featured in The New York Times’ “The Brilliance of Charo.” She also recently appeared on ABC’s “The View,” MTV Cribs, and TMZ. Charo has also appeared on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and dazzled America with her rendition of Malagueña during the season finale. She has also starred in several episodes of the CW’s “Jane The Virgin” and appeared as the Queen of England in Syfy’s Sharknado 5. Charo and her family also appeared on an episode of ABC’s Celebrity Wife Swap, bringing to millions the antics and hilarious situations in her crazy Beverly Hills household. Her young fans know for voicing the character of Mama Toad in the animated film “Thumbelina.”
Charo is an icon in the LGBTQ community and has always advocated for gay rights throughout her career. She appears regularly at Pride events as well as guest-starred multiple times on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Charo is also a humanitarian and an activist for animal rights. Charo is a member of PETA and speaks out against animal cruelty. Charo was on Billboard charts with her single dance club hit – España Cañi!, the traditional bull fighting song, which she recorded in protest against bull fighting. Charo’s efforts eventually led to a ban on bull fighting in the Catalonia region of Spain. The experience led her to raise a bull in her Beverly Hills home. Watch Charo and her bull Manolo. Charo also supports Project Angel Food, a non-profit which delivers meals daily to home-bound patients in Southern California.
In addition to Charo, spokesman Franz Newman said the Carpenter Center has a variety of entertainment scheduled for January, the Miles Electric Band on Jan. 30 and the Charo experience on Jan. 30.
For ticket info, call (562) 985-7000, email epac@csulb.edu or visit carpenterarts.org.
Los Alamitos High’s boys basketball team had wins over Huntington Beach and Marina to improve its record to 6-2 in Sunset League play and maintain a slight edge for second place in the league. Corona del Mar has a solid hold on first place at 9-1, but the Griffins are looking to secure a playoff spot and make some noise.
The Griffins pulled away late in a game against Huntington Beach on Friday, winning 64-57. The Oilers rallied to tie the game at 51-51, but the Griffins clamped down. They outscored the Oilers 16-7 in the third quarter to regain control. Senior Tyler Lopez hit a three pointer and then assisted Ethan Lee on a layup for a 56-53 lead. Lopez had an offensive rebound and putback that stretched the lead to 58-53 and the Griffins held off the Oilers from there.
Lopez led the Oilers offense with 21 points. Senior Joseph Ojeda and sophomore Riley Bowers each had 15 points. Senior Ethan Lee had 8 points, including four in the fourth quarter. Juniors Ethan Huynh and Wyatt Unger each had 14 points to lead the Oilers. Senior Jonah Kim added nine points.
The Griffins dropped a non-league game against Servite on Saturday, but rebounded with an 86-69 league win over Marina High on Monday.
The Griffins will host Newport Harbor on Friday and then Edison on Monday. Both games are at 7 p.m. Edison is one game behind the Griffins at 5-3 heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
Huntington Beach High overcame a 5 point deficit with 4:21 left in the game to hand Los Alamitos its first Sunset League loss, 57-49, on Saturday at Huntington Beach High.
Senior guard Taylor Savage led the late charge with two three-pointers that gave the Oilers a 50-49 lead.
She also grabbed a missed free throw and scored to push the lead to 52-47. Los Alamitos was able to get some open shots, but the ball wasn’t falling for the Griffins. Nine different players scored for the Griffins, but only one, sophomore Maile Heng, reached double digits with 14 points. Sophomore forward Torri Yoshida had six points.
Savage led the Oilers with 16 points, including four three pointers. Junior forward Emily Hoang had 15 points, while Emma Miyai and Shelby Nguyen each had 13. Hoang hit five of six free throws in the closing minutes as the Griffins were forced to foul to extend the game.
The Griffins are still in control of the league race with a 7-1 record in league play. Huntington Beach and Marina are tied for second place with records of 5-3. The Griffins will host Fountain Valley on Thursday at 7 p.m. and they will play at Newport Harbor at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Huntington Beach will host Corona del Mar at 12:30 on Saturday and will host Marina at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Kevin Ryan’s long odyssey from aerospace to inner space has been a remarkable journey to witness. He’s traveled from the lab precision of experimental aircraft to the brave frontier of acoustic guitar craftsmanship in a single lifetime.
Such is the fabled story of this Ohio native and his wife Barbara, who tumbled into Southern California forty or so years ago.
When the National Association of Music Manufacturers opens its show in Anaheim next week, Ryan’s company, Ryan Guitars, will be featured in one of the largest booths, with his hand-crafted guitars on sale for as much as $50,000 – and likely sold out.
Decades ago, Ryan was a cabinet maker and a home builder in Ohio when his dad found him a job in the engineering department of Northrop, the predecessor of the aerospace giant Northrop here in Southern California.
Ryan Guitar Booth at NAMM. Courtesy photo
Ryan, and his wife Barbara, left Ohio and settled in Westminster, California, not far from the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station. They found a home not far from Kevin’s parents and Kevin soon traded his outdoor tools to build model aircraft for wind-tunnel testing.
The son of a self-professed “nutty professor” dad (also an aerospace engineer) and a “zany” musical artist mom, Ryan says he’s happy to have inherited a bit from both.
Ryan said, at first, he was stunned by the “microscopic tolerances” used by the engineers in the development lab at Northrop.
“As a cabinetmaker, I was accustomed to working with tolerances of up to 1/16th of an inch,” he said. Working in aerospace, Ryan said he was suddenly faced with building complex engineering test aircraft “with tolerances of no more than 1/1000th of an inch.”
Ryan worked on the B-2 bomber, building scale models to withstand insane tolerances while being wind-tunnel tested. There was little room for error. “We worked on the B-2 and other aircraft,” said Ryan, “but some that are still classified that I’m not allowed to talk about.”
One of the model airplanes Ryan helped build for wind-tunnel testing. Courtesy of Ryan Guitars
Ryan could hardly have known then that his name would one day become well known for groundbreaking guitar craftsmanship
“I worked in aerospace for 10 years and I loved that job,” said Ryan in an interview at the recent NAMM show. “There’s a bunch that I learned that I could translate directly into the process of making guitars,” he said.
Although he loved his model-building work in aerospace, Ryan began to reveal a fascination for making guitars, according to his wife Barb.
Even back in Ohio, Barb said her husband was quite the guitar player. Nothing professional, but he loved to play. Fatefully, Barbara said in the mid-80s, she and Kevin went to a concert where she saw someone playing a guitar played by Jim Olsen that she liked.
“I fell in love with that guitar,” said Barb, so after the concert, she found an Olsen guitar that she wanted to purchase for her husband.
“I wanted to find out more about it so I called Jim Olsen to see if I could place an order,” said Barb. “This was 40 years ago, and Jim told me it cost $1200 and there was a three-year backlog on the guitar.
Andrew Ficke holds one of Ryan’s pristine guitars made with prehistoric wood that is thousands of years old. Courtesy photo
“We couldn’t afford it back then,” said Barb, saying the Olsen guitar was out of financial reach. However, it made Barb think that it may be time for her husband to perhaps build his own.
Barb said the next Christmas, she gifted her husband with the book, William Campano’s Guitar Making: Tradition and Technology.”
Ryan set up a small workshop in the garage of his parents and acquired the materials and tools to build a guitar.
“I started to build guitars, so I was working 100 hours a week,” said Ryan. “I would work all day in aerospace, then come home and work in the shop until midnight and then get up at 3:30 a.m. the morning,” he said.
“I did that for 10 years and it was the only way to start the company,” said Ryan. Through trial and error, Ryan quickly discovered new ways to craft the “inner space” of a guitar body to create a smoother sound.
While still at Northrop, Ryan finally managed to create his first “Mission” guitar, which he gave to his devoted mom. It didn’t take long, however, for Ryan, he says, to realize that he could not both work at Northrop and create a successful guitar company.
Ryan said he gave in to the “irrational insanity” to follow his dreams.
Ryan’s unique acoustic honeycomb bracing and framework. Courtesy photo
He soon resigned from Northrop and set up a manufacturing facility in Westminster. “Okay, if I’m ever going to do this,” Ryan said he told himself, “and that’s my dream career, you know, now’s the time.”
“That was just about the time we adopted our son, so we went from two incomes and no kids to one kid and no incomes,” said Ryan.
Though of concern to Ryan, his wife Barb said she never worried.
“The thing that is unique about Kevin is that he’s so driven. He must be learning something new every day. Once he’s decided, you couldn’t tear him away from it.”
Ryan left Northrop, but taking with him incredible insights from the model building and wind tunnel tests that would jumpstart his process.
“I knew from aerospace that weight was the enemy, even in a guitar,” said Ryan. With time, he debuted more instruments and more models, with industry-first design features like the Ryan bevel, acoustic floutes and using lasers for styling.
Ryan’s aerospace experience helped him develop innovations that showed up in his first series of guitars, including exciting new approaches to design. His long nights alone in the workshop led to breakthroughs in guitar making that included the Ryan bevel and acoustic flouts, an acoustic honeycomb framework and laser sculpting tolerance that produced precision sounds from the strings.
Ryan’s fascination with tools led him to increasingly high-tech approaches, and he credits Bob Taylor for helping him in his developments. Before long he acquired a CNC (computer numerical control) machine, a complex tool that allows Ryan to develop designs in a computer CAD program, which then directs the machine to perform precise cutting and routing operations. With the CNC machine, Ryan was able to introduce more precise and intricate details, including his MicroPearl inlay around the headstock and rosette, as well as blind fret slots where the binding is integrated
Players are stunned by the precision of the inlaid pearl and other elements in a Ryan Guitar. Courtesy photo
Ryan Guitars remains dedicated to crafting instruments of unparalleled beauty, comfort, innovation and performance, which honor the planet’s natural resources and delight the world’s finest players.
“Weight is the enemy,” Ryan says. “That has been a guiding principle to me.” As a former carpenter, he was familiar with wood, so he began testing all kinds of configurations and structures.
According to Ryan, seeking a “top” for the guitar was a challenge. He wanted it lighter, yet shaped with an ability to create and softly amplify sounds that resonated louder from the instrument.
When challenges like this cropped up, Ryan said he had an advantage. “I have a steel trap mind that works in my favor,” he said. “I’m dysfunctional in that while I’m working on something involved in the building process, it suddenly becomes the most important thing in my life,” said Ryan. “My brain knows this is not the case, but every other part of my brain thinks this is the most important thing I have ever done in my life,” he said.
“The more I did, the better I liked my guitars,” said Ryan.
Moreover, Ryan’s manufacturing plant in Westminster became an everyday Santa’s workshop for music, especially the sounds of acoustic guitars.
Ryan encouraged ideas from his team and even today, there are no bad ideas.
“I want our team to feel comfortable to push me, and others to do our best work,” he said.
“I love it when they have an idea, even if it doesn’t work,” said Ryan. “We always learn something and have fun doing it.” “We do things that nobody else in the world does. We invented things no one else can figure out and I wanted to create an environment where an incredibly talented team can flourish,” says Ryan.
Ryan’s “endless experimenting” and unique work environment paid off.
His guitar company, founded in 1987, today attracts national attention and has been adopted by some of the finest acoustic guitar players like Al Stewart, Laurence Juber (Paul McCartney’s “Wings” guitarist), Peter Finger, Tim Sparks, Woody Mann, Isato Nakagawa and others.
Acoustic Guitar Magazine crowned Kevin Ryan one of the most influential makers of the previous thirty years and his guitars “A blueprint for scores of other builders” and “a modern classic”.
The Nightingale, one of Ryan’s many brands, is sold at the NAMM show for $30,000. Ryan generally has a waitlist for his guitars. Courtesy photo
The Westminster guitar maker now offers several lines of guitars as its priceless instruments continue to attract attention and the dedication of an industry that has only grown over time. Ryan now purchases rare wood, like rare trees, some thousands of years old, to further refine his never-ending quest for a better sound.
“We build guitars, not because it is easy but because we thought it was going to be extremely difficult. We flourish not only as craftsmen, but I mean, we really love each other,” he said, “and I guess that is what really matters.”
Ryan said that until he launched his company, guitar building had changed little in the past 150 years. Perhaps 150 years from now, they will be studying Kevin Ryan. While his journey from aerospace to inner space is not yet complete, Ryan and his brand of guitars have indeed reached an orbit all their own.
After being dominated for decades by a ruling majority of conservative Council members, voters in Cypress have elected a new slate of voices who have already demonstrated their willingness to make change.
The new majority has already begun to make their voices heard, as the City Council on Monday changed the Council’s official meeting date and broke long-standing protocol with regards to Council appointments.
The Council voted in December to elect Mayor Pro-tem Leo Medrano as Mayor and voted for Kyle Chang as Mayor Pro-tem.
At Monday’s meeting, Council member Bonnie Peat used her voice to object to changing the Council’s meeting date from Monday to Tuesday, and she argued to no avail that it was against policy for former Mayor David Burke to retain top committee assignments, including the voting delegate at the California League of Cities Convention, even though he is no longer the Mayor.
“I believe that the mayor should represent us in that,” said Peat after Mayor Medrano revealed his list of Council member appointments to various outside Boards and Commissions.
“Mr. Burke can continue being on there if needed (as an alternate), but the primary person is the mayor of our city, who should represent us at these particular events.
Cypress Council member David Burke. Courtesy photo
Peat said she believed city guidelines dictate as such, though she could not cite specifics.
“I guess, personally, this just feels to me like you’re trying to take me off of committees,” said Burke. “The committees that you mentioned don’t request the mayor serve in that role,” he said, referring to the mayor serving as the voting delegate at the California League of Cities Convention.
Burke repeatedly offered to take himself off of that assignment if that was the Mayor’s request.
“Mayor Medrano, if you would like to serve on those committees instead of me, feel free to make a motion to do so. Failing that, I will make a motion to approve the committee assignments as recommended,” said Burke.
Medrano said he had no problem with Burke serving and was happy with his assisgnments.
Peat, however, made a motion to compel Medrano, as the City’s Mayor, to serve as the voting delegate at the California League of Cities; however, the motion died for the lack of a 2nd.
While the city assigns members to various county boards and commissions, Chang said the big three, the OC Fire Authority, Mosquito and Vector Control and OC Sanitation, are generally reserved for people seeking higher office. All three compensate members for meetings.
“They’re seen as a steppingstone to either higher office or greater political desires,” said Chang, “but I was really surprised to see Mayor Medrano not listed in any of these three and he didn’t list himself, as mentioned, to the League of Cities,” he said.
“The way I saw this is more of a commitment to service instead of a desire for prestige or higher office,” said Chang. Of the big three, Medrano split them between Burke, Chang and Peat.
The board approved the appointments, as proposed by Medrano, on a vote of 4-1, with Peat against.
Peat and Burke also clashed over changing the meeting date of the Council to Tuesdays, even though Peat has expressed a concern about being able to attend on Tuesdays and an admission earlier that long time city attorney representative Fred Galante has other commitments and cannot participate on Tuesdays.
“Tuesday is not a good day for me,” said Peat, “so I apologize in advance for those that I represent that I may or may not be able to be here at certain times. I will make every effort so I can attend as many meetings as I can,” she said.
“Shifting the meeting date from Monday to Tuesday should have a number of benefits,” said Burke. “It reduces the number of times meetings conflict with federal, state or school holidays. It gives residents, staff and council members one business day to review the agenda and prepare, and it makes it easier for residents to follow issues.”
“I’m not aware of any unbreakable commitment that would prevent any Council member from attending meetings on Tuesdays,” he added.
“I respect that, Mr. Burke, you have no idea what my schedule looks like during the week, so you are really unable to speak on my behalf about what happens on Tuesdays,” Peat retorted.
During oral communication, one resident, Marilyn Reames, passionately asked the Council not to change the meeting date.
“I implore you to reverse the decision that you have made about changing the Council date from Monday to Tuesday. It seems to be utterly retaliatory and without merit,” she said. “We are living in a day and time when the national dialogue is comprised of retribution and pay back. It is unbecoming and exhausting.”
Former Mayor and Council member Anne Hertz Mallari also spoke against the change. “I caution you against making this change. It is completely unnecessary,” she said, suggesting that it was being done “for political purposes.”
The Council voted 4-1 to change the meeting date, with Peat being the lone dissenting vote.
In a foreshadowing of a hot topic for next week’s meeting, Council member Rachel Strong asked to bring up a matter that would “protect community safety and civil rights with relation to ICE enforcement.”
“I think what I’m asking for,” she said, “if it could be considered at a future meeting, is a council resolution to affirm the protection of our constituents’ civil rights and to condemn the use of excessive force by federal and immigration authorities, if that’s possible.”
“It is our responsibility as a City Council to ensure that everyone in our community can safely attend school, go to work, worship, seek medical care and participate in civic life without fear of violence or abuse.”
“Residents across the country are reporting aggressive and militarized ICE enforcement, including a recent fatality. They are seeing use of force disproportionate to threats, lack of clear identification, detentions without judicial warrants, and operations that create widespread fear beyond the individuals targeted in this climate of fear,” said Strong/Carnahan.
“While we as a city cannot control federal agencies, we can control our policies, resources, and values,” she said. Chang seconded Strong/Carnahan’s request to place the item on the next agenda.
“I’ll support council member Rachel Strong’s suggestions, and I am actually in favor of us discussing this at a council meeting,” the Mayor Pro-tem said. “I feel like this is an immediate threat to public safety for a lot of our residents,” he said.
Further, he said the issue should be discussed at a public meeting and not wait for a strategic planning session.
