Cypress High football team jumped out to a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter and the Centurions rolled to a 42-7 win over Cerritos in a non-league game on Thursday at Handel Stadium. Junior quarterback Justin Hall threw for 266 yards and four touchdowns, leading an offense that compiled more than 350 yards. Hall connected with junior receiver Caden Rynders on a 40-yard bomb that gave the Centurions a 21-0 lead 44 seconds into the second quarter.
“Credit to my guys up front, they did a great job today, I had plenty of time in the pocket,” Hall said.
Hall also said that film prep has been key for the offense, notably getting him and the receivers in sync on the routes and attack schemes. He said that kind of game prep will be key if the Centurions hope to continue winning.
Photos by Ted Apodaca Junior receiver Caden Rynders, right, celebrates his touchdown reception with senior Mekaih Felix.
On Cerritos’ ensuing possession senior linebacker Louden Aljian got the ball back for Cypress with an interception. One play later Hall found sophomore receiver Ian Do on a swing pass and Do split his blockers for a 34-yard touchdown down the right sideline.
Do would also catch a 50-yard touchdown pass 57 seconds into the second half that pushed the Cypress lead to 35-0. Do finished the game with six catches for 182 yards. Senior runningback Jaiden Anthony opened the scoring for the Centurions, capping their game-opening drive with a two yard touchdown run around the right side. Aljian capped the scoring with a touchdown run in the third quarter.
The Centurion defense pressured the Cerritos quarterback most of the night. Senior linebacker Brody Linden led the defense with 10 total tackles and senior linebacker Alijah Ashcraft added six total tackles. Cypress Head Coach Rick Feldman said that once they were able to establish and maintain pressure on the quarterback, the defense was able to fly to the ball and make plays.
“[The quarterback] didn’t have time to throw, we were able to stop the run pretty effectively and then we were able to come after him with some blitzes and he just didn’t have time,” Head Coach Rick Feldman said.
The Centurions will play at Brea Olinda High on Friday at 7 p.m. Brea is coming off a 35-14 win over Marina High.
This Week in Prep Football Thursday Los Alamitos vs. Huntington Beach, 7 p.m., Sheue Field at Huntington Beach High The Griffins look to bounce back from a 21-7 loss to Inglewood in their season opener on Friday. The Griffin offense struggled against the Sentinels, compiling just 123 yards of total offense. Sophomore quarterback Correa Zach threw for 54 yards and the only touchdown, connecting with sophomore Caeson Miller. Huntington Beach is coming off a 42-14 win over Long Beach Millikan in their season opener. Oiler quarterback Brady Edmunds threw for 446 yards and six touchdowns to lead Huntington Beach.
Kennedy High vs. Woodbridge High, 7 p.m. Handel Stadium at Western High. The Fighting Irish are coming off a 33- 6 loss to Canyon High of Anaheim. The Irish offense struggled against the Cobra defense, compiling just 77 yards of total offense. Quarterback Paxton Gatewood connected with senior Vance Hank for Kennedy’s only touchdown.
As you make the curve on Warner Avenue in Huntington Beach, next to The Bolsa Chica Wetlands, have you noticed the mystery pond? What is that?
Carissa Macias, executive director of Bolsa Chica Conservancy said:” It’s an interesting site that we get lots of questions on.”
According to Ed Laird, Bolsa Chica Conservancy Advisory Council Member and former Huntington Beach planning commissioner: “It initially was owned by The Koll Company to use as a bargaining chip for the widening of Warner Avenue. Back then environmentalists who saved the Wetlands from development said the Warner Pond had significant reasons to be saved as it was a catch basin for runoff and rainwater!”
The Koll Company conceded and planned to deed it to the Conservancy, Laird said. “But they sold it was once again and now it’s forgotten. The highway department has expressed interest in using the parcel for the widening of Warner Ave. at some point in the future.” he said, but for now it sits with a little water part of the year and empty most of the time. “It’s the little pond nobody wants.”
The City of Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department has concluded another vibrant and successful Summer Concert Series. Running weekly on Thursday evenings from June 11 through August 6, 2026, this free community event brought together families, friends, and neighbors for an evening of live music, delicious food, giveaways, and child-friendly entertainment through Mobile Rec.
Hosted from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. the Concert Series rotated across several local venues including Little Cottonwood Park, Orville R. Lewis Jr. Park, and the downtown strip of Pine Street between Florista St. and Katella Ave. This year’s series was made possible through the generous support of Community Sponsor Randy W. Hill Real Estate.
Every Thursday, locals and fans arrived early to stake out the best spots with their lawn chairs and picnic blankets. As the crowds grew, the space quickly transformed, with hundreds of people relaxing and soaking up the summer vibes. While bands completed their final soundchecks, visitors took full advantage of the wide array of local food trucks and community booths.
Courtesy photoCourtesy photo
Food Vendors:
Cousins Maine Lobster
Kona Ice of Cypress
Chillin N Grillin
The Deli Doctor
Domino’s Pizza
Informational Vendors:
City of Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department
Shugaman’s Bath
Orange County Fire Authority
Costco
Braithwaite Chiropractic
Design Windows and Doors
Los Altos Modern Dentistry
AAA
Carbon Health Urgent Care
Children’s Burn Foundation
Los Al Rugby Club
Tiare Celestial Creations
You Glow Girl
Recreation Staff worked hard to curate an impressive eight-week lineup featuring eight exciting bands and a dynamic variety of musical genres, from Country and Pop to Reggae, Salsa, Funk, and Classic Rock, offering something for nearly everyone to enjoy throughout the summer.
Courtesy photo
Concerts on Pine Street: June 11 – No Duh (Ska-Punk and New Wave) June 18 – La Verdad (Salsa Tribute Band) June 25 – Redneck Rodeo (Country) July 9 – 80’z All Stars (80’s Tribute Band)
Concerts in the Park: July 16 – Polynesian Festival: Hitira’a Tahi (Tahitian dance group), Tevake Rereata (Tahitian dance group), and Local Culture (Polynesian band) July 23 – Surf’s Up (Beach Boys) July 30 – Hard Day’s Night (Beatle’s Tribute) August 6 – Spin Town (Top 40’s Hits Band) A major standout this year was the Polynesian Festival on July 16, which invited residents to experience the vibrant music, culture, and traditions of the Pacific Islands. The festivities kicked off earlier at 5:00 p.m. with family activities leading into an evening filled with live performances, authentic Polynesian music, dance, and island-inspired food. With an average attendance of 250 guests per concert, the 2026 Summer Concert Series offered a relaxing and nostalgic atmosphere for all ages. This program continues to be a summer favorite for many looking to unwind toward the end of their week. The City of Los Alamitos thanks all the performers, vendors, sponsors, and residents who came out to make these summer meetups so special. For more information on upcoming events, please visit www.cityoflosalamitos.org/recreation or contact the Recreation and Community Services Department at (562) 430-1073.
Courtesy photo The Woman’s Caucus of the League of California Cities met locally this past week to honor Fiona Ma, the California State Treasurer running for Lt. Governor, and other female elected and appointed officials. Janet Keo, a Council member from La Palma, was a member of the host committee as they welcomed key state officials and women from throughout the state. In addition to Ma, the group presented awards to (L-R) Lindsey P. Horvath (Los Angeles County Supervisor), Angie Mancillas (Community Leader/Executive) and Blanca Pacheco (California Assembly member). Local catering company Cozy Crepes catered the event.
The Rossmoor Woman’s Club is a nonprofit organization that has been servicing and donating to worthy charities and schools in Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Long Beach and surrounding areas for over 68 years. The membership year July 2026-June 2027 began with donation of backpacks and gift cards to be distributed to children of military families. Last month members gathered to pack zip lock bags of donated school supplies from other sources to be stuffed in the backpacks.
Club President, Sandy Tessier reports, “This year, the Rossmoor Woman’s Club is participating in Long Beach Gives 2026, a community-wide online fundraising campaign that supports local nonprofits serving our region. During the past six years, Long Beach Gives has helped area charities raise more than $10 million to strengthen our communities. Last year, the RWC awarded more than $30,000 in scholarships and educational assistance to deserving students.
As the cost of higher education continues to rise, so does the need to help talented young people pursue the education and training that will prepare them for tomorrow’s workforce. This year, we hope to increase our scholarship and educational assistance to $40,000. We invite you to join us in reaching this ambitious goal.” Together we can build a stronger, more caring community. Please donate to RWC through the Long Beach Gives online fundraising campaign September 17-24. Your donation is tax-deductible. To learn more visit longbeachgives.org and rossmoorwomansclub.org.
The City of Cypress is wrestling with the transition of one of the most beautiful open areas of property in the county to a housing development that will shoehorn as many residences as possible into the city.
At issue is the proposed project’s Environmental Impact Report, as the Cypress City Council is expected to continue a public hearing when it resumes its meeting from summer recess Aug. 25.
And, although city officials say it could literally be years before the project begins, there is a push for the Council to approve the project’s EIR, even if the Council voted 3-1not to approve the document just yet and continue the EIR hearings next week.
Mayor Leo Medrano, for the simple reason that he rents on the property (in one of the new residences on the Los Al Race Course campus), recused himself and left the discussion as the Council and citizens tried to make sense of the proposed plan and the resulting Environmental Impact Report.
Mayor Pro-Tem Dr. Kyle Chang ran the public hearing on the Race Course property EIR in Medrano’s absence.
After a three-hour discussion, at its last meeting before the summer recess, the Cypress City Council voted to continue the EIR hearing. Council member Bonnie Peat said she’s heard enough to be supportive and voted not to continue the hearing.
Although its glory is fading, the Los Alamitos Race Course still operates. While most of the betting is online, hundreds of racehorses are kept in stables at the facility and races are regularly scheduled.
The huge tract of green space and facility grounds, approximately 150 acres, is one of the largest open public areas in central Orange County. Currently, there are no plans to close the facility but everyone, including its owners, is planning for a future where almost 2,000 new homes will crowd the space, including thousands of square feet of commercial and public spaces.
By a vote of 13,334 to 9,336, (59% to 41%), city voters approved the city-backed Measure S in 2024. While the measure passed citywide, the measure failed in the District paying the closest attention.
While Measure S passed citywide, it was not approved by the voters of District 4, those who live closest to it and where the massive housing project is located.
Considering that previous ballot measures approved by voters had authorized 1,250 residences on the property, of which 135 have already been built, Measure S authorized an additional 676 residences, bringing the total to 1,926.
Less noticed, but particularly significant, Measure S quietly allowed for the construction of more residences than previously approved, giving developers maximum density on some parcels.
While developers were approved to build 20 units per acre before Measure S, the ballot measure allowed for maximum density of 30 units per acre on all of the acreage in the Town Center project. Had Measure S not passed, the city would have had to list an additional 766 residences to be built on properties in the Lincoln Ave. areas of the city, the ballot initiative said.
According to Director of Planning Alisha Velasco, it could indeed be years before the development activity begins, and once underway, will take as much as a decade to complete.
Accordingly, Velasco said the existing development agreement under consideration by the Council provides authority for the next 15 years.
“There is no other contemplated timeline within the development agreement except for that it vests these rights and the obligation of the property owner and all future property owners for that 15-year term, so there is no other phasing plan within the development agreement,” she said.
“The first step is that the racetrack would have to close. It would no longer be operational before any of the development could begin,” she said, and the existing grandstand and other infrastructure would be cleared as well.
Some voters suggested to the Council that the plan drafted following the Measure S vote bears no relation to the Town Center plan passed by residents while city officials say it does.
They claim the plan has acres dedicated to public parks and that open spaces within the plan are dedicated to the “commons,” which is the spirit of the Town Center.
Other residents in Cypress are wondering why, if there is no chance of developing the Los Alamitos Racetrack property anytime soon, officials are in such a rush to pass the plan while residents are clearly questioning aspects and impacts of the project.
George Pardon, the director of Citizens for Responsible Development in Cypress, said he thinks once the entitlements are in place, announcements could come much sooner with some of the development out of the ground within two or three years.
Jack H. Rubens, an attorney representing the property owner, assured the Council that the development plans comply with Measure S and were created in harmony with residents. “Understand that before the voting on both measures, in 2018 and in 2024, there was significant public outreach,” Rubens told the Council.
He and Los Alamitos Race Course Facilities Manager Frank Sherren told the Council that “at least 20 public meetings” with “enormous crowds” of residents attending were held as plans for the development were being formulated.
“There were hundreds of people attending,” Rubens said. “They had lots of concerns and what you see in particular is the response to those comments,” he said.
“The residents felt heard,” he said, “because there was a response to what the residents wanted in terms of public park space and height and number of units and lots and lots of things that were addressed in specific plan 3.0.”
Soon to be developed. Courtesy photo
Their outreach resulted in a majority voting for Measure S, he suggested, adding that the plan, generally, incorporates what they heard from citizens who attended the meetings.
Residents who have spoken about the plan have vastly different opinions about its impact. Some residents asked developers to preserve 30 percent of the open space for civic engagement, while others say the development solves a housing problem for the city.
Tom Moore (see guest opinion) said if implemented as is, the plan “will permanently destroy the quiet, suburban heart of Cypress.”
“My family moved here in 1965,” he said. “Once we take that track away, punch Moody through here (connecting to Katella), this city will never be the same. This is the last chance for Cypress,” he said.
“Many people didn’t know what was in that measure (Measure S),” protested Moore. “I didn’t know,” he said, “and I follow current information. Where’s the theatre? I want to see a theatre. I don’t see a plaza. Put underground parking. Put something in here for the community,” he pleaded.
Another citizen, Brittany Cook, echoed Moore’s concern about Moody cutting through to connect to Katella.
“Once you get Moody through there, this city will not be the same,” said Cook. “I hear these concerns about traffic and environmental things, and I think they are very valid. Is there something in the middle of the road, where the needs of both sides can be met,” she wondered?
The entire racing infrastructure will have to be torn down before development can begin, city officials sail. City planners say some tenets of the structure, yet undecided, will have to be preserved for historical purposes. Courtesy photo
Two former mayors and council members said the time for action is now.
“This is the best effort to distribute that impact in a variety of places in the community,” said Anne Hertz Mallari. The state has mandated 4,000 housing units, she said. “Do you put all of those units on Lincoln (Ave.), or do you split it up,” she asked.
“What you’re looking at here tonight is the large portion of it,” said Mallari, “but I do want to remind you that we’re going to be facing this on Lincoln Ave., and we’re going to be facing this in a variety of places throughout the city, so this is the best effort and I think it’s a really an excellent presentation,” she said.
“I believe it is time for the city council to do its job,” said Jon Peat. “The community has made its decision, and I hope you will honor and live up to your word and honor that decision,” he added.
He claimed there is no access to a town center for shopping along Katella or Walker, “so you have to put Moody through to provide greater access for people to get to the Town Center. You told the residents you would listen to them. They have spoken.”
“However, it is not so simple,” says Council member David Burke.
“I just wanted to clarify that this isn’t as simple as the voters approved all this already and all we just have to do is put our rubber stamp down and we can go home,” said Burke.
“There’s new things in this that we’re considering,” said Burke, “and the development agreement in particular is something I’m interested in because it blends how the infrastructure will come into the parks, the maintenance of it, and things like that,” he said,
He said the Council was considering a 30-page document “with appendices or indexes.”
Another concern he expressed is that one of the multi-acre “parks” listed in the plan is also considered a “storm detention basin.” A similar park in Cypress is generally locked behind a chain-link fence and “most people do not even know it’s there.”
Given the open-air needs of this 2,000-unit residential project, people need evergreen access to their public parks, Burke said. He wants assurances on the public’s access to parks.
Traffic will be a problem, said Burke. He also said it defies logic to think the city will add nearly 2,000 new homes in this one concentrated area without traffic problems potentially cropping up.
He questioned Public Works Director, Nick Mangkalakiri, P.E., about the issue.
Mangkalakiri said officials found three key intersections where potential traffic flows exceeded available service and officials are still looking at changes that may have to be made.
“I’m just trying to understand the approach,” said Burke.
Council member Rachel Strong Carnahan expressed strong support for affordable housing within the plan.
“I’m concerned about the affordability housing options, and obviously that’s not up for debate tonight either. But as these lots are sold, if I’m clear on this, we do have the ability to weigh in on usage; what would our ability be to say on what percentage of housing that becomes available is affordable,” said Strong.
Mayor Pro-tem Chang said he wanted sufficient time to resolve “a few other issues brought up by residents that I don’t know if we really have time to process.” He said there was a world of difference between reality and “the legally required notices.”
“I mean, on the one hand, I understand that we have sent out the legally required notices (on the Los Al Race Course) and residents had the opportunity to comment tonight,” the Mayor Pro-tem said.
“Realistically though, I feel like the best opportunity for residents to really understand what this is and what’s going on has been misleading from the presentation they saw and I certainly don’t think it would hurt to allow residents an opportunity to go back and review their information to challenge us, if they have additional feedback,” he said.
“I think it takes a little while to wrap your mind around what’s actually been discussed and decided,” said Chang, “so that’s why I’m open to continuing it,” he said.
“I don’t think people were really paying attention until the last minute,” he said, “so I really wouldn’t mind if we spent a little more time being able to talk to residents about what we’re passing today,” said Chang.
“Affordability, I’m on board with that,” said Peat, “but with reduced costs, someone has to bear that cost,” she said. “It could be the builder but more likely there’s going to have to be participation for the city.”
“I know it’s not perfect,” said Peat, “but we’ve done what we wanted to do, so I’m a yes.” With that, Strong moved to continue the hearing until the next meeting Aug. 25 (following the summer recess). Strong, Burke and Chang voted yes, and Peat no, so the public hearing on the EIR will be continued at the Council’s meeting next week.
Editor’s note: Velasco said an additional traffic study and many of the documents referenced in this report are available on the city’s website.
On August 25 the Cypress City Council casts the most consequential land-use vote in our history: the Los Alamitos Race Course site.
Roughly 134 acres. About 1,791 homes. 448,000 square feet of commercial space. Moody Street punched through to Katella, opening our quiet neighborhoods to regional traffic for the first time. The property owner realizes a windfall estimated in the hundreds of millions. Residents receive an eight-acre park at the edge of the site; half of it a stormwater basin.
I’m asking for one acre, a public plaza in the commercial core. Less than three-quarters of one percent of the site. That’s the entire ask.
What voters were promised. In June 2018, Cypress asked voters to approve a major density increase on the racetrack. In exchange, Specific Plan 2.0 described a 17.5-acre Town Center: “walking trails, picnic areas,” a “main street and gathering place for the community,” and “areas for recreation, gatherings and reflection for Cypress residents.” The City Attorney’s impartial analysis — the official summary in the ballot guide described a three-acre public park overlay in the commercial core.
Density for the developer. A civic heart for the public. That was the bargain, and voters kept their end of it.
How three council members undid it
Cypress owned 13.3 acres of that ground on Katella, bought with taxpayer redevelopment funds. Selling public land requires a Disposition and Development Agreement, the binding contract dictating what the buyer must build. We held the deed. We held the pen.
December 2019. Jon Peat, Rob Johnson, and Paulo Morales voted 3–1 to approve the DDA with Shea Properties — without the three-acre park requirement in it. Eighteen months after the election, in a single vote, the leverage was gone.
June 2020. The same three voted 3–2 to convey the parcel. Then, in a second 3–2 vote, they approved a $1.47 million refund to the developer covering roughly a quarter of the amenities Shea planned to build.
Mariellen Yarc and Stacy Berry, who had opposed the DDA in 2019, voted no on both. Cypress bought the land with public money, sold it without securing the square, then reimbursed the buyer.
Then the words changed. Specific Plan 3.0 now permits the three-acre park obligation to be satisfied on peripheral, edge-of-property land. The language survived. It stopped meaning what it meant on the ballot. Even the plan’s name, “Cypress Town Center and Commons,” is ironic. A commons area belongs to everyone.
This one belongs to Shea.
A detention basin is not a town square. City officials call the park “more passive, nature-oriented” than an active park like Lexington, an honest description, and a concession. You cannot hold a farmer’s market in a detention basin, or light a Christmas tree in one, or meet a neighbor there for coffee.
All of it sits at the site’s edge, far from where anyone will actually shop, eat, or gather. The Council should also ask a plain question: is stormwater infrastructure this project needs anyway being counted as the parkland the project owes?
So here is my ask, precisely. I am not asking for more open space. I am asking that one acre of it be moved. Take a single acre of the four usable acres at Cerritos and Moody and place it in the middle of the commercial core, framed by buildings with shops and restaurants opening onto it.
Same total acreage. Same cost to the developer. A different city.
Follow the money
The Southern California Coalition of Businesses and Taxpayers, funded by Valley Vista Services, the city’s trash hauler, and by development money, has spent more than $75,000 on Cypress races since 2014.
Peat benefited from $35,577 in independent expenditures. Johnson, $9,825, ( three expenditures on a single day in October 2016). Paolo Morales, $25,546.52 combined $10,000 in direct contributions and $15,546.52 in independent expenditures.
This is a pattern, not an incident. In 2019 the Council signed away the one contract term that could have guaranteed a public square. Two years later, Peat and Morales extended Valley Vista’s trash franchise to 2037 with no competitive bid, and a 32 percent rate increase.
And it didn’t stop. Records from the O.C. Registrar of Voters show the Safe Neighborhoods PAC was funded with $62,000 combined from Grand Central Recycling & Transfer Station operated by Valley Vista, and developer Chris Bardis.
Independent expenditure filings show about $7,000 of that supported Bonnie Peat, who is married to Jon Peat; Bardis also gave $500 directly to her campaign.
Two years later, in a July 3, 2024 email to the City’s planning director, he described himself as “a part owner in some of these properties,” assuming the racetrack, while asking that his letter be forwarded to the Mayor and City Council in support of the Housing Element.
State law doesn’t require recusal here. But the public interest is a higher standard than the legal minimum. Before this Council votes on the 134 acres, every member of the Council should state on the record what campaign support they’ve received from parties with an interest in this property.
One acre is enough
Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, the space the city calls its “living room,” is under an acre. An acre becomes a town square when buildings frame it and shops open onto it.
No planning commission
And no one else is reviewing this. Thirty of Orange County’s 34 cities have a planning commission, a citizen body that studies a project this size and recommends before the Council votes.
Cypress is one of four without one. Mayor Leo Medrano called the idea “red tape,” noting it would only be advisory since decisions “still rest with the City Council.” He’s right.
And that is precisely why dismissing a planning commission as “red tape” was such a reckless thing to say in an Op-Ed. On a hundred-and-thirty-four-acre, half-billion-dollar project, “advisory” oversight is still oversight. Cypress has none.
You’ll hear that the Council’s hands are tied. They aren’t. An environmental report is a study, not a permit, the Council still votes whether to accept it, and tract maps are approved with conditions. State law sets how many homes we must allow; it says nothing about where the open space goes.
Why this falls to the Council
The applicant’s consultants will fill that chamber. Residents won’t, not because they don’t care, but because at 7:00pm on a Tuesday they’re doing homework at the kitchen table, driving to practice, working a second shift, or caring for a parent. They voted, handed the Council their proxy, and went back to raising their kids. Absence is not consent.
And this Council has the votes. David Burke, Kyle Chang, and Rachel Strong Carnahan are three of five. If the acre isn’t secured on August 25, it won’t be because they were outnumbered.
So: require the acre as a condition of approval out loud, from the dais, on the record. If the owner refuses, continue the item 180 days. If that fails, return it to the voters who were promised it in 2018. Appoint the planning commission residents have asked for.
In 2019 we had the deed and signed it away. In 2020 we wrote a check on top. If we can’t move one acre out of a hundred and thirty-four, it won’t be because the developer said no. It will be because nobody asked.
After perhaps setting a record for motions that died on the floor, the Rossmoor Community Services District’s remaining four members have selected a community member to fill the Board seat left vacant by the resignation of Mary Ann Remnet.
Sharon Landers, RCSD General Manager, said two of the eight candidates from the district who had qualified for the seat pulled their names from consideration before the meeting. The six remaining candidates included;
Konya Vivanti, a local government executive with experience working with Garden Grove, Culver City and the City of Lakewood.
Jody L. Roubanis, Ed.D., an educator with significant board experience and President of the California Association of Family and Consumer Services.
Loree Swanenburg, an accomplished real estate executive with sales of more than $100 million and significant community banking experience.
Scott Yarboff, an executive of Mattel Corp., is a financial planner who has had a hand in deploying $7 billion in Mattel projects around the world.
Matt Anderson, a business exec with real estate business experience and service on multiple boards.
Andrew “Drew” Zinser, the man eventually chosen to fill the term, a management program executive within the Angels baseball ecosystem.
This info is according to the resumes they submitted to RCSD, committee information available at the RSCD site.
“I could work with any of you,” Director Tony DeMarco told the candidates before the voting started. “I am going to make my decision on who I think is best for Rossmoor right now,” he told them.
Each candidate was given time to speak to the board and residents, after which the board asked questions of each candidate.
Following an interview of about three hours, the six qualified residents who wanted to replace Remnet sat back and watched as the Board tried various names to fill the seat, only to end up with a 2-2 vote.
Board President Jo Shade and Director Nathan Searles liked the same candidates, yet Directors Tony DeMarco and Michael Maynard wanted different candidates.
Some motions nominating candidates simply died for the lack of a 2nd. Still the names flew. DeMarco nominated Vivanti to begin the “deliberations.” Maynard agreed, but Searles and Shade voted no.
Searles nominated Roubanis, Shade agreed but DeMarco and Maynard said no.
And so it went on for a while.
Early in the debate, Maynard had nominated Zinser, and DeMarco said yes, but Searles and Shade were a no.
When it became obvious that there was a political logjam, Searles suddenly nominated Zinser.
This meant that if Maynard and DeMarco were still for Zinser, there could be a winner.
Maynard did, in fact, 2nd Searles’ motion, and they voted to authorize Zinser to fill the seat. Shade still voted no, but the motion passed 3-1.
Zinzer, following the vote-a-rama on the Council dais, was administered the oath of office by Board President Jo Shade and quickly took his seat on the Board to complete the meeting.
The vacancy was created by the resignation of former Director Mary Ann Remnet, who recently sold her property in Rossmoor and moved back to Italy to live closer to family. Zinser, who noted that he had a lot to learn, will serve the remaining two years of Remnet’s term.
Moving on to this fall’s election, two board seats are up for election in November, including Board President Jo Shade’s seat.
According to the O.C. Registrar of Voters, Shade, Vivanti and Roubanis are each qualified for the Nov. 3 election. Rossmoor voters will select two of three candidates for the two board seats, one of which is held by Shade, on Nov. 3.
For the first time publicly, Maynard explained his decision not to run this fall.
“I’ve served for fourteen and one-half years,” said Maynard. “I think it’s time for me to do other things, find time for other passions,” he told his colleagues.
In other action, the Rossmoor CSD Board;
Finally passed the district’s 2027 budget of just over $2 million. Maynard was not able to claw back any of the General Manager’s contract, yet the Board did accept an amendment to cut the legal expense budget by $15,000 before passing the budget.
Heard Miriam Last of the Rossmoor Homeowners Association welcome any of the board member candidates who were not selected to come over to RHA, suggesting there will soon be vacancies there. Also, she said the $25,000 golf cart they purchased for the district would be arriving soon and that RHA had decided to give the district an additional $25,000. RHA will work with RCSD to discuss how best to use the funding.
As heard at their previous meeting, the California Highway Patrol will soon be writing citations of “Admonishment” for parents of Rossmoor e-bikers caught in violations and dangerous behavior. The CHP spokesman did not explain how the “Admonishments” would work, penalties, etc., noting it is an emerging program to stem the growing problems around e-bikes.
Campuses across the Los Alamitos Unified School District were once again filled with students on Wednesday, August 12, as the District welcomed them back for the start of the 2026-2027 school year, according to a District statement.
Students returned to campuses across the District, joining Weaver Elementary students, who began their school year on July 29.
From elementary school students meeting their new teachers to middle and high school students reconnecting with friends and finding their way to new classes, the first day brought plenty of excitement across Los Alamitos USD.
First day of school. Courtesy photo
“The first day of school is always a reminder of what makes Los Alamitos Unified so special: our students, our staff and the incredible community that supports them,” said Superintendent Dr. Andrew Pulver. “As we begin this new school year, we are excited to continue creating opportunities for every student to discover their strengths, challenge themselves, and defy expectations in ways that are uniquely their own.”
Defying Expectations is the District’s theme for the 2026-2027 school year, encouraging students and staff to believe in what is possible and not allow expectations, assumptions, obstacles, or even their own doubts to define what they can achieve.
The theme reflects something that has long been part of Los Alamitos Unified. Los Alamitos Unified serves students across nine schools and remains committed to providing exceptional learning experiences and opportunities for every student to thrive.
On Sunday, August 9, the Rossmoor Woman’s Club Helping Hands Section held their second annual Ice Cream Social on the shady front yard of member Heidi Kent’s home in Long Beach.
The purpose of this event was to gather members and the community at large to participate in donating non-perishable food items for the Food Finder’s organization.
The event also serves as a social time to meet and visit with others about the Rossmoor Woman’s Club while having ice cream on a hot August Sunday afternoon. With the help of Heidi’s neighbor, Brian Armstrong, the club was successful in delivering more than 360 pounds of food donations to the Food Finder’s headquarters in Los Alamitos.
The Rossmoor Woman’s Club is having an open house for prospective new members. Whether you are curious to find out more about the club or ready to fill out a membership application, you are invited to attend! The open house will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22. RSVP to su*************@***il.com for the address and more details. You don’t have to live in Rossmoor to join.
The club, founded in 1958, is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, an international social and philanthropic organization. We raise scholarship money for local students and support local charities through a combination of fundraising, in-kind donations and hands-on volunteer activities. We are best known for putting on the annual Rossmoor Holiday Home Tour in December and Spring Garden Tour in May.
The Los Alamitos Chamber of Commerce and members of the Los Alamitos City Council were on hand this week as the city cut the ribbon on one of its newest medical businesses.
Dr. Kurt Tran, a dentist, the owner of The Smile Lounge in Los Al and state officials also joined in the Aug. 4 event to give the young doctor a smiling start.
Chamber officials say more than 40 people attended the event, including local dignitaries, Chamber Board Directors, Chamber President Richie Barnes (F&M Bank) and a contingent from Dr. Tran’s family that included his newlywed wife, parents and in-laws. Tran said he was happy to open a state-of-the-art dental office on Katella Ave.
U.S. Army Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Santiago G. Colon Jr. The 40th Infantry Division announced this week that National Guard Soldier Steven Hankins, an aviation operations specialist, was promoted to the rank of sergeant during a ceremony at 40th Infantry Division Headquarters, Joint Force Training Base Los Alamitos, California, Aug. 15, 2026. The ceremony is a timed-honored Army tradition that recognizes the elevation to the Noncommissioned Officer ranks.
Just a few generations past giving America the literal horsepower to settle the West, thousands of those equine descendants have been left to linger in the desert until someone like Justine Makoff comes to the rescue.
In its own way, Makoff’s vision for the “Free Rein Foundation” is every bit a modern, yet Old West story where simple values have led to astonishing new paths for healing.
On Saturday, Aug. 8, more than 200 people showed up at the Free Rein ranch to donate approximately $200,000 to a cause that in a single generation has become a double rescue project. Free Rein rescues the horses, the horses and the free-range environment seem to calm troubled kids.
Fourteen years ago, Makoff staged her first horse rescue, and since then, rescued more horses and created a charitable foundation that has affected the lives of more than 10,000 kids and young adults.
The largest crowd ever attended the “Unbridled Hope” event in Huntington Beach. Photo by Toni Hauger.
Let’s face it, they don’t call it horsepower for nothing, and it is clear to most associated with the Free Rein foundation, that many troubled youth have been touched by the power of a language only a horse can speak to a human.
“Fourteen years ago, we started Free Rein Foundation with the simple belief that rescued horses could help rescue something inside of people,” Makoff told the donors gathered for the “Unbridled Hope” fundraising event.
“Horses,” she told them, “do not respond to our words; they respond to our truth. And sometimes that is where the healing begins,” she said, “because healing doesn’t begin when we pretend that everything is okay. It begins when we feel safe enough to say, ‘this is where I am’ and that is what Free Rein does.”
Makoff faced a bright, setting sun as she spoke to more than 200 donors. It was the largest crowd ever that had come to pay homage to the healing happening on this nostalgic site inside the City of Huntington Beach.
Makoff and area elected officials honor Sr. Stepanie Schmidt (third from left). Photo by Toni Hauger.
Over the past decade, Makoff, and her all-volunteer, nonprofit network, has teamed up with law enforcement agencies, the military, and the community to arrange second chances for troubled young souls who’ve lost their way.
“We give young people the opportunity to practice trust, communication, setting boundaries, resilience, and self-awareness, not by telling them what to do, but by giving them the experience that they can feel,” she said.
“And the horses teach them,” said Makoff.
“They teach them to listen. They teach them that what we say isn’t always what we feel. And sometimes they teach us the person we used to be honest with and the person we need to be honest with is ourselves,” said Makoff.
“So Free Rein is more than just about horses and young people we serve. It’s about preserving a place, a place where a child can touch a horse for the first time, a place where families can come together, a place where volunteers can find a purpose, a place where people can step away from the noise of everyday life and reconnect with an animal, with nature and sometimes with themselves,” she added.
Among other high-level community roles, Makoff now sits on the board of the Sunburst Youth Academy, located at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, and regularly brings the cadets out to Free Rein. Makoff and others say there have been some amazing stories of transformation.
State Sen. Tony Strickland takes a tour of the stables. Photo by Toni Hauger.
Makoff’s Free Rein Foundation is located within the 25-acre Huntington Beach Equestrian Central Park Equestrian Center, founded by Mary Behrens. The Free Rein Founation was founded by her twin sister, Dr. Carole Harris. Located on the next hill is an Urban Forest that began its planting in 2001 and now contains more than 7000 species. It’s a ranch and a forest inside the city.
Albert Campos, one of the young people who has benefited from his association with the Free Rein Foundation, spoke briefly as well.
“Miss Justine has been able to reach people from all over the world to fight their day-to-day demons and struggles. I am also very thankful for her adjustments to my life. She has been someone who has understood the potential and the impact this organization can have on everyone,” said Campos.
“I am so happy for her guidance and through her support (and the horses), because of her, I am closer to be the person I was destined to be,” he told the crowd.
Huntington Beach Police Chief Eric Parra said it is clear to him what role the rescued horses play in the troubled lives of youth.
Free Rein honors Kim Dablow (third from left) for “helping to create the heart of this organization.” Photo by Toni Hauger
“Everybody wants to have a better future,” he said. “And how do we do that? We build our youth, we build our foundation, and this is what Free Rein does because horses don’t care whether you’re a great person; they don’t care if you have had some issues, he said.
“When you watch the therapy that occurs, and how these horses bond with these kids, some of whom have significant trauma, how they can get together with a non-judgmental animal capable of teaching them to be better humans, this is what we want,” he said.
Kyle Krone, the auctioneer with the conviction of an evangelist, said: “The only thing that ever really matters, if you think about it from a big picture standpoint, is that it’s not about cars or clout or money or status, it’s about how many lives you can positively impact.”
“Influence means nothing if you’re not helping someone grow or heal,” he said, “and the legacy you leave is not going to be measured by what you have, but how you helped.”
“When your action shifts someone’s mindset or changes their life for the better, you want to be remembered as someone who made people feel safe – they can still hurt – but make them feel loved, share what you have learned, and lift others,” he told the crowd.
The police chief, Council member Pat Burns, Council member Don Kennedy, State Sen. Tony Strickland, and many others were on hand to show support for Makoff and Free Rein.
Donors like Tom McDaniel said he “absolutely” supports Free Rein’s mission and “looks forward” to coming each year.
Makoff presented an award to Dr. Stephanie Schmidt, the local vet whom she described as an “incredible individual. She is not just a veterinarian; she is a beacon of compassion.”
As in life, Free Rein respects “end of life” for horses, saying Dr. Schmidt sat with one horse at the end of its life. “She wrapped him in comfort, sang him a song and helped him cross over. Schmidt’s compassion, she said, has left “an indelible mark” on the organization.
Makoff also honored Kim Dablow as a person “who does far more than simply fill a role, she helps create the heart of this organization. She leads with gratitude.” Kim always comes up with quotes for her Basecamp communications, she said, citing this one in closing the event.
“Horses,” she quoted Dablow as saying, “have a unique way of finding people who need them and filling the emptiness we didn’t know we had.”
She thanked everyone for coming, sending them home with a message of gratitude and generosity. “We are not measuring success tonight by how many paddles go up,’ said Makoff, “we measuring it by how many hearts go home changed.”
Although qualifying is not officially over, it appears there will be some new names in local politics, where, in Los Alamitos and La Palma, new rules approved by their City Councils give some incumbents the chance to stay in office for decades.
State Assembly member Sharon Quirk Silva is termed out. Incumbents Marlys Davidson, Trustee, Los Alamitos Unified School District, and Lydia Sondhi, Ph.D., and Troy Tanaka, Cypress School District Trustees did not qualify for re-election. Rossmoor Director, Michael Maynard, also bowed out.
While the “official” qualifying period for the Nov. 3 election ended, state election rules provide for an extended qualification period in races where the incumbents do not qualify to run.
The extension period will officially end Aug. 12, so the names listed in this article are those only filed by August 11. Here are the candidates:
U.S. House of Representatives, District 47 Dave Min, incumbent Jenny Rae Le Roux, challenger
U.S. House of Representatives, District 45 Derek Tran, incumbent Chuong V. Vo, challenger
U.S. House of Representatives, District 42 Robert Garcia, incumbent Brian Burley, challenger
State Senate, District 36 Senator Tony Strickland, the incumbent, will face Chris Duncan for a new term in the Senate. Strickland earlier won a special election to fill the remainder of the Senate term vacated by First District Supervisor Janet Nguyen.
Assembly District 69 Josh Lowenthal, incumbent Carolyn Essex, challenger
Assembly District 70 Tri Ta, incumbent Paula Swift, challenger
Assembly District 67 (no incumbent) Paulo Morales, Mark Pulido,
Los Alamitos Unified School District, Trustee Area 1 No incumbent Anne Mulhearn
Los Alamitos Unified School District, Trustee Area 3 Diana Hill, incumbent
Cypress School District, Trustee Area B No incumbent Jon Peat Jack Torossian
Cypress School District, Trustee Area C Meghna Parikh, incumbent Vernon Miller, challenger Steve Blount, challenger
Cypress School District, Trustee Area D No incumbent Jeanette Jones City of Cypress, District 1 David Burke, incumbent Anne H. Mallari, challenger
City of Cypress, District 2 Bonnie Peat, incumbent Helen Le, challenger
City of Cypress, District 5 Rachael Strong Carnahan, incumbent Randy Harper, challenger Jane Chung, challenger
City of Los Al, District 4 Shelley Hasselbrink, incumbent Joe Hastie, challenger
City of Los Al, District 5 Emily Hibard, incumbent John Delavigne, challenger
City of La Palma, District 2 Nitesh Patel, incumbent
City of La Palma, District 4 No incumbent Mary Paningsoro, Jonathan Dinwiddie,
Rossmoor Community Services District (vote for two): Jo Shade, Konya Vivanti Jody Roubinis
Note: The OC Registrar told ENE that Benny Nottenson has indicated he will run but not filed papers. Rossmoor’s race is also complicated by the resignation of Director Mary Ann Remnet (see related story). Finally, the City of Los Alamitos has offered a ballot measure seeking to raise its transient occupancy tax from 8 to 12 percent. The measure will raise approximately $300,000 more annually by taxing guests staying in the city.
A huge billboard seen on Pacific Coast Highway between two kayak businesses is no longer there and people who have looked at it for 15 years can’t help but notice. It has advertised casinos, car dealers, churches, amusements and just about everything under the sun.
The billboard lease recently expired after a 15-year contract, according to the Southern California MLS (Multiple Listing Service), and the 39’ X 65’ bayfront parcel sits empty to the delight of some who stared at it from their homes.
Mike Van Voorhis, who lives on the cul-de-sac next to the land said: “I’m happy the sign was deleted as PCH is a designated State Highway and I considered that billboard an eye soar.”
Owner of Pocket Burger Shack, Daniel Preszler, said he’ll miss the sounds of the osprey that sat on the sign. “I enjoyed seeing the large and quite vocal birds nesting on the sign frame. Our local wildlife is shrinking as we also lost nests on the Green Belt behind our restaurant and the beach.”
What’s next? The MLS listing states that it would be perfect for development use.
For thousands of local children over the past three decades, one of the best memories of summer has begun with a fishing pole in hand and the excitement of seeing what might be waiting beneath the waves.
That tradition continues on Saturday, August 22, 2026, as the Rotary Club of Los Alamitos, Cypress & Seal Beach hosts the 34th Annual Rotary Kids Fishing Derby on the historic Seal Beach Pier.
Open to all children ages 15 and under, the derby is completely free and welcomes everyone—from first-time anglers who have never touched a fishing rod to seasoned young fishermen eager to land this year’s biggest catch. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m., with fishing getting underway shortly afterward.
“This is one of those special community events that families remember for years,” said Rotary organizers. “Many of today’s parents fished in the derby when they were children. Now they’re introducing their own kids to the excitement of catching their first fish.”One of the best parts? Families don’t need to own any equipment to participate.
Thanks to the generous partnership of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, children who need them will receive free fishing rods and tackle, while Rotary volunteers will keep the bait buckets full throughout the morning.
Before the first line is cast, participants and their families can enjoy a complimentary pancake and sausage breakfast, generously prepared and served by the Seal Beach Lions Club—another longtime tradition that helps make the morning feel like a community celebration.
Throughout the event, young anglers will compete for age-group trophies recognizing the largest fish caught, while every registered participant will have the opportunity to win exciting raffle prizes donated by local businesses, community organizations, and fishing enthusiasts.
Last year’s event welcomed more than 300 children, creating another unforgettable morning filled with first catches, proud parents, cheering volunteers, and plenty of stories that grew just a little bigger by the time everyone headed home.
The Rotary Kids Fishing Derby has become much more than a fishing tournament. It’s an opportunity for children to spend time outdoors, learn patience, discover a lifelong hobby, and experience firsthand what happens when neighbors come together to create something special.
For the members of the Rotary Club of Los Alamitos, Cypress & Seal Beach, that’s exactly what the event is all about.
“Rotary’s motto is Service Above Self,” organizers said. “This derby is one of the ways we put that into action—bringing together volunteers, community partners, and local families for a morning that’s simply about giving kids a great experience.”
Whether a child catches the biggest fish of the day or simply enjoys making memories with family and friends, everyone leaves with something valuable: a reminder that community traditions still matter.
Event Information 34th Annual Rotary Kids Fishing Derby Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026 Location: Seal Beach Pier Registration: Begins at 7 a.m. Eligibility: Children ages 15 and under Cost: Free The event includes:
Complimentary pancake and sausage breakfast
Free fishing poles and tackle (while supplies last)
Fresh bait provided throughout the morning
Age-group trophies for the largest catches
Prize raffle for registered participants
A fun morning for the entire family Families are encouraged to arrive early, bring sunscreen, and prepare for a memorable day on one of Southern California’s most iconic piers.
About Los Alamitos, Cypress & Seal Beach Rotary Club The Los Alamitos, Cypress & Seal Beach Rotary Club brings together local business and community leaders who believe that strong communities are built by people willing to roll up their sleeves and serve. The Club is part of Rotary District 5320 and Rotary International’s worldwide network of approximately 1.4 million members. Community members interested in learning more about Rotary, attending a meeting, or getting involved in local service are welcome to connect with the Club through their website:LACSBRotary.org.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Cypress, recently merged with Greater Anaheim, has now become part of the much larger Boys & Girls Club of Central Orange Coast, according to a spokesman for the group.
Last week, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast’s Cypress Club officially reopened the club’s Cypress location, opening a “Future Ready” exhibit where Boys & Girls members can explore future careers, and its significance can be found in trends represented in the Orange County Community Foundation 2026 Orange County Economic Opportunity Report.
Cypress Mayor Leo Medrano was among those attending the ribbon-cutting of the FutureReady event. “The future of Cypress is brighter because the Boys & Girls Club has spent five decades helping young people recognize their potential and reach for it,” said Mayor Leo Medrano.
Courtesy photo An interested student takes a look at one of the many career paths on display, this one a culinary path now included in the CTE pathways.
“The Future Ready Lab builds on that legacy by giving young adults opportunities to explore careers, gain real-world experience and prepare for what comes next. I’m excited to see the doors it opens for the next generation,” he added.
“The new Future Ready Lab is going to provide an immediate positive impact on teens in Cypress as it gives young people a place to explore careers and better understand what drives and motivates them,” said Kristle Duran, COO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast.
“Planned programs, including a Junior DJ Club, biomedical engineering, nursing, criminalistics, and computer science, will help youth to connect their passions and interests to real-world learning experiences that foster collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving to prepare them for college, careers, and life,” she said.
The Lab is designed to introduce teens to careers they might not have considered by providing access to real-world learning experiences across career technical education (CTE) pathways.
Created by Paxton/Patterson, a national leader in career-ready labs and curriculum for middle and high school students, the Future Ready Lab will feature five interactive career exploration modules, including biomedical engineering, culinary arts, computer graphics & game development, home maintenance systems, and nursing.
A Long Beach patient studies a medical device at the FutureREADY center in Cypress. Courtesy photo
The ‘Future Ready Lab’ gives local middle-school-aged students direct, real-world exposure to careers in biomedical engineering, culinary arts, computer graphics and game development, home maintenance systems and nursing, long before they’d typically be introduced to this kind of career-technical education. And more modules will debut later this year thanks to its ongoing partnership with Paxton/Patterson.
Through real-world learning, these modules will help youth discover their passions and develop the skills they need for the future, ensuring they are better prepared to make informed decisions about college, careers, and life beyond the classroom. BGC of Central OC will introduce more career modules throughout the school year, including cosmetology, computer science, engineering, forensic science, and video production.
For 85 years, BGC of Central OC has provided life-changing programs, academic support, and quality mentorship to over 200,000 youth. These efforts ensure that the Club helps Club members reach their full potential and prepares them for long-term success
Numerous teens lack hands-on learning experiences that expose them to a wide range of professional opportunities. The Future Ready Lab aims to provide middle-school-to-early-high-school youth with the tools they need to excel in their education, setting them on a path toward success. Today’s changing workforce requires students to gain real-world experience and practical skills before entering the job market.
Local employers, community partners, and educational institutions benefit from a stronger pipeline of future talent as youth develop the skills, confidence, and awareness needed to pursue in-demand careers and contribute to the local workforce.
The Cypress Board of Trustees is slated to approve Ms. Melanie Brebaugh as the next Principal of Margaret Landell Elementary School.
Ms. Brebaugh steps into this important leadership role after nine years of dedicated service to the Cypress School District. Melanie has an understanding of the unique strengths of Landell and experience executing the district’s mission, values, and commitment to student achievement. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a passion for teaching and learning, a commitment to coaching and supporting colleagues, and a focus on building meaningful relationships with a wide range of students, staff, and families.
Ms. Brebaugh has made significant contributions to Cypress through her role as the district’s Teacher on Special Assignment-Student Supports, and as a Special Education Teacher and Mentor. Prior to coming to Cypress, she was a Behavior Interventionist Therapist for Long Beach Unified. In each of these roles, Melanie has demonstrated her ability to support students, modeled potential interventions and lessons for teachers, and provided supplemental instructional or behavioral support for students.
This summer, Ms. Brebaugh served as the Principal for the district’s Extended School Year (ESY) program. Melanie did an outstanding job of bringing a significant number of students, teachers, and staff together from across the district to make these extra weeks of instruction a successful experience for all involved.
Ms. Brebaugh holds a master’s degree in administration from Concordia University Irvine and is recognized as a collaborative educational leader who is skilled at building partnerships. She has a long track record of helping colleagues and her students achieve their goals.
“Melanie’s dedication to Cypress students and staff is clear,” said Board President Dr. Lydia Sondhi. “Her commitment to developing instructional and behavioral excellence for our students shows why she is the perfect fit for this next step. We are excited to see her lead the Margaret Landell Elementary School community into their next chapter.” Ms. Brebaugh is projected to begin her leadership of Landell on August 18, which is just in time for Back to School Night on the evening of August 20.
This appointment reflects the district’s ongoing commitment to inspiring and empowering every student, every moment, for every opportunity through exceptional instructional leadership, strong school-community partnerships, and a positive culture that supports student success.
The Board and administration of Cypress School District would like to thank Megan Parsons for filling in as the Interim Principal at Landell to get the year started and Vanessa Freedman for her leadership of Landell over the past few years.
The Los Alamitos High girls flag football team is off to a 3-1 start after a 19-0 win over Ayala High on Monday at John Barnes Field.
The Griffins scored on their opening drive, capped by a rushing touchdown by freshman quarterback Aniyah Mantanona, who later threw for two more touchdowns. The Griffins are a young team, with freshmen and sophomore players starting in many positions.
Freshman quarterback Aniyah Mantanona lets a deep pass fly. Photo by Ted Apodaca
New Head Coach Deana Guidry has worked with the team in past seasons, but has taken the lead role this season. The Griffins are coming off a 7-10 season and looking to improve upon that. Guidry said the team is still working on a lot of aspects, but Guidry likes what she sees.
“We’re just trying to put some things together and work with what we have, and we definitely have some amazing freshmen on both sides of the ball,” Head coach Deana Guidry said.
The defense has posted three shutouts this season, with the help of speedy freshman pass rusher, Tali Sherman, getting to the quarterback. She had two flag pull sacks on Monday. Another freshman, Charlotte Baliwig had another as they stopped several drives by Ayala.
On offense, Mantanona found receivers Britton Klaus, a sophomore for the Griffins second touchdown and freshman Zoey Feldman for another late in the game that secured the win.
Freshman Scarlett Ibarra has a lot of speed and she had several key runs, including a big break that set up the opening game touchdown.
If the Griffins can get their young talent into a rhythm, they can make strides. They do have to contend with a tough league schedule that includes Huntington Beach, a team that is ranked high in the early state rankings. Newport Harbor is also a tough team. Guidry said right now she is working on keeping her young team in focus and building chemistry.
“I like how the team is starting to gel, I really wanted that culture, where you know, we’re a family, you know, we cheer for each other, yes, it’s a lot of competition, but you know, next one up and there’s no drop off,” Guidry said. The Griffins will play at Cabrillo High today at 4 p.m. and will host Loara High on Monday at 7 p.m. at John Barnes Field.
This is One More Night you don’t want to miss as a live docu-concert, THE PHIL COLLINS STORY celebrates the career and musical catalog of the Oscar-Grammy-Golden Globe-winning triple threat singer-drummer-songwriter who dominated the ’80s Pop scene and sold out arenas as both a solo icon and the frontman of the band Genesis.
There’s sure to be electricity In the Air Tonight when the show comes to the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. Tickets, starting at $47, are available on cerritoscenter.com.
Lifelong fans and new ones alike will find themselves fighting Against All Odds not to jam and sing along to this tribute to the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer. Collins was first inducted in 2010 as a member of Genesis and again in 2026 as a solo artist for his legacy of hit songs, including You Can’t Hurry Love, Sussudio, Take Me Home, Easy Lover, and You’ll Be in My Heart.
With world-class musicians and all the passion of the originals, GoVenue Magazine hailed the show as “quite impressive. … [Collins] would be proud with how well they played, keeping his music alive through live performance.” Produced by Paquin Exhibitions & Theatrical, The Phil Collins Story chronicles Collins’ chart-topping decades with Genesis to his celebrated solo career, which includes two resoundingly successful Disney soundtracks. With immersive storytelling, state-of-the-art audio, intricate lighting, and dynamic projections, the tribute is not just a concert nor a film, but more of a multimedia live music experience.
The Phil Collins Story is developed and?staged by Dean Elliott, creator of the global smash hits The Simon & Garfunkel Story, R.E.S.P.E.C.T – The Aretha Franklin Story, and The Life and Times of George Michael. For tickets or more information, call (562) 916-8500 or go to cerritoscenter.com.
