On August 19th from 11a.m. – 1 p.m, Transitions in Motherhood will celebrate its three-year anniversary, the local organization announced in a press release.
Transitions in Motherhood is a Los Al nonprofit dedicated to supporting moms and families through the multiple transitions that life brings during pregnancy and parenthood. We started the drive through during the pandemic because we knew so many families were impacted with the challenges of meeting basic needs.
Tara Farajian and team at TIM. Courtesy photo
Even going to a store was challenging (especially with a baby and/or young children), so we created a contactless drive through where anyone could receive clothing, food, diapers, wipes, and a lunch, said Tara Farajian, LCSW, Executive Director of the nonprofit.
She said Transitions in Motherhood runs 100% from the service of others in our community. We have an amazing team of volunteers that make everything happen. At the same time all items are donated from our local community.
“The beauty of our amazing community runs through everything we do. We want to thank everyone who has donated their time and items to make us thrive for three years. We celebrate you. Can’t wait to see how much more we can do together. We hope to see everyone on Sat., Aug. 19,” said Farajian.
Yet again, the Knights of Columbus Council 8599 of St. Irenaeus Parish in Cypress is giving people the opportunity of helping save lives by donating blood.
All blood types are needed, and donors can do so at the St. Irenaeus Church Hall 5202 Evergreen Avenue in Cypress on Tuesday August 1st from 12:30 p.m. to 7p.m.
Knight Rolly Arenz, blood drive coordinator says you can schedule your appointment in advance by signing up online at RedCrossBlood.org, and enter the Sponsor Code: SICC, or call (800) 733-2767.
And according to Arenz, you can streamline your donation experience up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation and health history questions needed on the day of your appointment.
Grand Knight Christopher Nsor said “hosting a blood drive coincides with one of the council’s missions of ‘leave no neighbor behind’ by giving back to the local community, and the short time it takes to donate can mean a lifetime to a patient with a serious medical condition”.
And bottom line, according to Nsor, “donating blood and helping others is a rewarding experience for both donors and recipients who are in need”.
Another year, another victory in the $125,000 Los Alamitos Derby for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
Reincarnate, the even-money favorite in the field of five after the scratch of Yellow Brick, controlled things up front Saturday under jockey Juan Hernandez, giving Baffert his seventh win in a row in the Derby and his eighth in the last nine years.
The victory also completed a stakes sweep at the Los Angeles County Fair meet for a second consecutive year for Hernandez.
Earlier he had won the $100,000 Bertrando with Kings River Knight June 24, then teamed with Baffert July 4 to take the Grade II, $202,000 Great Lady M. Stakes with Eda.
A year before Hernandez swept the Bertrando, Great Lady M. and Los Alamitos Derby with, respectively, Desmond Doss, Becca Taylor and High Connection.
Owned by a partnership that includes SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan, Reincarnate prevailed by 2 ½ lengths over 6-5 choice Skinner in 1:48.72 for the 1 1/8 miles.
A son of Good Magic and the Scat Daddy mare Allanah, Reincarnate, who had been idle since finishing 13th in the Kentucky Derby May 6 at Churchill Downs, is now 3-for-9 lifetime with earnings of $420,650.
The win was the first for the gray, who was purchased for $775,000 at the Keeneland September sale in 2021, since he scored a 16-1 upset in the Grade III Sham Jan. 8 at Santa Anita.
“I told (Hernandez) that he was back to how he was when he last won,’’ said Baffert. “It was very important to get the win especially when you know how good Skinner is.
“This race always comes up tough and it was a big win for the team.’’
Hernandez, who is now 2-for-3 in tandem with Reincarnate as he was also aboard for the Sham Score, was impressed Saturday.
“(Baffert) had him ready today,’’ he said. “I loved his race. He broke really sharp and was comfortable all the way.
“He looked like he was waiting for company because he put his ears up. When the company came around the three-eighths pole, I asked him and he picked it up really well. In the stretch he switched leads and he opened up again.’’
Reincarnate paid $4 and $2.40. There was no show wagering.
Skinner, who was making his first start since finishing a close third in the Santa Anita Derby three months ago, returned $2.40 while finishing 2 ½ lengths in front of 23-1 shot Prince Abu Dhabi.
Abeliefinthislivin and High Mo, Skinner’s stablemate and 5-1 third choice, completed the order of finish.
Heading into the final day of the LACF season, jockey Ramon Vazquez, who won all three riding titles here in 2022, holds a 9-7 lead over Abel Cedillo.
Baffert tops the trainers with five wins, one more than Peter Miller, Jesus Uranga, Milton Pineda and Hector Palma.
The Cypress Chamber of Commerce will host State Senator Janet Nguyen as our guest speaker at the August Networking Breakfast. Our event will be held Tuesday, August 8th at the Residence Inn by Marriott at 4931 Katella Avenue, Cypress/Los Alamitos starting at 7:30 a.m. Senator Janet Nguyen was elected to represent the 36th Senate District in 2022 and her district comprises cities from San Clemente to Cerritos. At our networking breakfast she will share an update on legislation that was completed during this recent legislative session and how it might impact the business community. Every year hundreds of bills are passed that can have an effect on how companies conduct business and understanding them is often a challenge. Janet will help to explain many of the bills that passed and that she worked on in 2023.
As a state legislator, Janet Nguyen was named Legislator of the Year by the American Legion, the Association of the United States Army and the Vietnam Veterans of America. She is a small-business owner, former State Senator for the 34th Senate District, former State Assemblywoman for the 72nd District, and a former Orange County Supervisor. She is the former Vice-President of Government and Public Affairs for a local Chamber of Commerce. When first elected to the State Senate, she became the highest-ranking Vietnamese-American elected official in California and the highest ranking Vietnamese-American woman elected official in the United States. Janet also served on the Garden Grove City Council where she was the first woman Councilmember elected in nearly 35 years and the youngest member ever elected.
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 to secure your spot for the monthly breakfasts and can be made online. Cost of the breakfast is $25.00. Early Bird Registration is $20.00. Attendees are also welcome to bring along a door prize to promote their product or service. The program will include time for live networking, self-introductions, a breakfast buffet, our guest speaker and a question and answer session if time permits.
The Chamber networking breakfasts, which are open to the public, are held on the second Tuesday of every month. Space will be limited. To assure your seat, pre-register on the chamber website: cypresschamber.org/events/details/august-networking-breakfast-2023-2684
The Youth Center held its 10th annual A Night Among the Stars ceremony, awarding 14 student nominees for their dedication in community service, volunteerism, and philanthropy. Specific nominees received a Stellar Volunteer scholarship of $500.
During the ceremony, each nominee was introduced by a member of the organization that nominated them, and they spoke about the student’s volunteer work. The students received certificates of recognition from the U.S. Senate and the Los Alamitos City of Commerce. The scholarship recipients were announced shortly after; scholarship recipients received a trophy and a check for $500.
The nominees and the organizations that nominated them are listed below.
Alex Phillips – The Youth Center Camp SHARK
Bella Kim – The Youth Center, the Griffin Gazette
Elias Rae-Maristela – Summer Harvest Food for Kids, Inc
Hayley Dunn – Casa Youth Shelter
Khloe Tran – Los Alamitos Unified School District (LAUSD), The Youth Center Leadership Council, Los Alamitos High School (LAHS) Emerging Leaders club
Lexi Blankenstein – Los Alamitos Education Foundation (LAEF)
Marisa Barlin – The Youth Center Camp SHARK
Rhyann Diaz – Los Alamitos Ballet Theatre
Riley Silverman – The Youth Center Camp SHARK
Rylee Robles – Rotary Club of Los Alamitos/Seal Beach
Sanaya Bose – Rotary Club of Los Alamitos/Seal Beach
Sarah Saadeh – LAHS, Girls in STEM
Sophia Fettkether – National Charity League (NCL)
Una O’Farrell – The Youth Center Camp SHARK
All the Stellar Volunteer scholarship recipients and the organizations that provided their scholarships are listed below.
Rossmoor Homeowners Association: Lexi Blankenstein
Rossmoor Woman’s Club: Hayley Dunn
Rossmoor Woman’s Club: Una O’Farrell
Rotary Award: Bella Kim
S.E.T.H. Scholarship: Sarah Saadeh
“As a female student with an interest in STEM, I was aware of the difficulties of pursuing a degree in a male-dominated field,” said Sarah Saadeh, a senior at LAHS. Inspired by this situation, Saadeh created Girls in STEM, a camp for young girls to inspire the next generation of female engineers and scientists. Working with The Youth Center, Saadeh built a curriculum for the seven-week-long program and watched her dream come to life.
“In just a few weeks, I witnessed a timid group of girls transform into the future generation of aspiring female scientists and engineers,” she said. “After completing two sessions of Girls in STEM, I am very thankful and humbled to have received the S.E.T.H. Scholarship from the Seal Beach Lions Club.”
Bella Kim, a sophomore at LAHS, was nominated for A.N.A.T.S. by The Youth Center and the Griffin Gazette, the LAHS school newspaper. She was awarded her scholarship by the Rotary Club of Los Alamitos/Seal Beach. As the marketing intern for The Youth Center, Kim creates social media posts and writes press releases that are published in local newspapers such as the Event-News Enterprise and Sun Newspapers.
She also represented the Griffin Gazette; as both a staff writer and editor, Kim has put in extra hours outside of class to publish articles, bringing her love of writing and leadership skills to the journalism program.
“I’m really grateful to The Youth Center for nominating me for this award and to the Rotary Club for providing me with this scholarship,” she said. “I hope to continue working with The Youth Center and Rotary International in the future.”
Una O’Farrell, a senior at LAHS, has been volunteering at The Youth Center and Camp SHARK for five years. Camp SHARK stands for “Science, Hand-On, Art, Recreation and Knowledge,” and it’s a summer camp for elementary school students that The Youth Center offers. O’Farrell has helped with crafts, games, and other activities at the camp, as well as going on field trips every week.
O’Farrell shared how, as someone who has grown up within LAUSD, volunteering is important to her because she has seen how impactful it can be. For her, volunteering is a way she can give back to the community, learn and gain experience, and impact others in a positive way.
“The Youth Center has become like my second family, and I was so honored to have been nominated by them for A Night Among the Stars and to receive a scholarship from the Rossmoor Women’s Club,” O’Farrell said.
Janae Roberts, the Youth Programs Supervisor and organizer of the A.N.A.T.S. event, said that it is important to recognize those who have put in the extra dedication of community service, so those individuals can continue to spread goodness to others.
“My hope is that more organizations become aware of this amazing event,” Roberts said. “That way, we have a larger variety of youth that are nominated. I hope that more youth who are selflessly devoting their time to others are able to be recognized for their work.”
For information about The Youth Center or A Night Among the Stars, please visit TheYouthCenter.org.
On June 22, The Youth Center’s Camp S.H.A.R.K (Science, Hands-On, Art, Recreation, and Knowledge) students and staff attended an Angels baseball game. The tickets were provided by the Angels Community Ticket Program, an association that donates free home game tickets to non-profit organizations in California by request.
For many campers who attended the game, it was their first time going to an event like this. “I’ve never been to a professional sports game before, so I’m really excited!” said S.H.A.R.K. camper Aidan before the game started.
“A lot of them were so busy taking in the stadium with wide eyes that they stopped while we were walking to look around and see what everything was,” said Amanda Hernandez, the field trip lead. “I could tell the kids were super excited about how big the stadium was.” While Camp S.H.A.R.K could not stay for the entire game, Hernandez said that the kids loved every minute of being there.
“I enjoyed seeing [the kids] cheer for the team and try and catch the ball. It was fun for [them], and I know they had a good time,” said Kyle Corbin, another staff lead for the field trip. He added that, after seeing a professional team play, many of the campers became more interested in playing sports and participating in sports activities at camp.
“It was fun to watch,” said Daniel, a camper.
“[My favorite part was that] the Angels hit a home run,” said Caleb, another camper. He added that this was his first time going to an Angels game.
The trip would not have been possible without the Angels’ support. The Youth Center provided bus transport, supervision, and Angels hats for all the campers. For many, this opportunity creates a lasting effect, as spending time with friends and making memories at the game is something that they look forward to each year. Thanks to the Angels, campers also have a special keepsake to remember the day by.
“It’s extremely rewarding to see kids have a great time,” said Janae Roberts, the camp supervisor. “It warms my heart to know that what we are doing has a direct positive impact.”
With a hole in its roof and its civic center complex needing other repairs, the city of Los Alamitos welcomed the news of Senator Janet Nguyen’s one-time appropriation of $2.5 million with open arms this week.
Senator Nguyen announced this week that she has secured a significant investment of $2.5 million through the budget process for critical upgrades and repairs to the beloved Los Alamitos Civic Center Complex.
“I am proud to announce the allocation of $2.5 million for critical upgrades to the Los Alamitos Civic Center Complex,” said Senator Nguyen in a statement.
“This investment will enhance the City’s ability to serve its residents, modernize emergency response capabilities, and ensure a flourishing hub for community engagement. Together, we are investing in the future of Los Alamitos, empowering our community to thrive and ensuring a better quality of life for all,” she added.
The city is currently experiencing a significant turnaround, buoyed by the passage during the pandemic of an additional 1.5 percent sales tax, which has allowed the city to experience growth and is somewhat hemmed in by an aging civic center on Katella.
The Los Alamitos Civic Center Complex has long been the heart of the vibrant city, fostering a sense of belonging and providing essential services to residents, Nguyen said.
“This central civic complex, housing the community center, police department, and fire department, has served as a cornerstone of the community for decades. Its impact extends far beyond the city’s borders, attracting individuals from neighboring areas who participate in an array of programs, classes, and community initiatives,” said Nguyen in securing the funds.
In addition, she said the improvements made through the allocation will serve thousands of residents who rely on the Los Alamitos Civic Center each week.
Among other programs, Nguyen was referring to a broad expansion of programs now being offered by the revamped Los Al Recreation Department which brings diverse groups of citizens, of all ages, into the civic center complex.
“These citizens are taking advantage of the diverse range of classes, day camps, programs for older adults, and various community service offerings available year-round, Nguyen said.
“Moreover, during times of crisis, this facility, alongside the Los Alamitos Police Department, serves as the emergency operations center and acts as the designated point of distribution for food and other essential resources,” she said.
In her statement, Nguyen acknowledged problems with the aging center, like roofing problems and other issues.
“Like many of Los Alamitos’ infrastructure assets, the Civic Center and the Police and Fire Departments have remained largely unchanged since their construction in the 1970s,” the Senator said.
“As the city continues to grow and evolve, it is imperative that we modernize these facilities to meet the increasing demand for services and ensure the safety and well-being of our residents,” she said.
“This funding brings much-needed relief and support to the City of Los Alamitos. The allocated funds will be utilized to address recent storm damage that has affected the Civic Center and other facilities, enabling necessary repairs and upgrades,” said Nguyen.
“This investment will empower the community to continue its mission of serving the community effectively during normal operations and emergencies alike,” she said.
For city officials, the state’s investment is much needed and confirmation of Mayor Tanya Doby’s oft-stated quest to get “every dollar available” for the “small, but mighty city” of Los Alamitos.
“We want to thank Senator Janet Nguyen for her steadfast support for our city,” said Los Alamitos Mayor Tanya Doby. “Senator Nguyen has been an ally for our small but mighty city since her first days in higher office,” said Doby in a statement.
“Due to her background as an advocate for the underdog and the little guy, she has always had a soft spot for Los Alamitos and our particular needs,” the mayor said.
“Our views and values naturally align which has made making the requests for our growing city much easier to communicate to her and her staff. Soliciting and securing $2.5M for our residents is just the latest in a long line of ways the Senator has shown her dedication to our city over the course of our relationship with her as a diligent advocate for Los Alamitos,” she added.
A Rossmoor Community Services District Director, who is also an online merchant, says he thinks the lack of Rossmoor having its own zip code is costing residents between $150 -200,000 per year.
Director Michael Maynard announced at the RCSD’s June meeting that he will personally be reaching out to the U.S. Post Office and Congresswoman Michelle Steel to fix a growing problem of Rossmoor residents being forced to pay Los Al’s 1.5 percent sales tax when they purchase goods online.
During the personal comment section of the Board of Directors’ June meeting, he announced to his fellow Directors and the public to say, “I have a plan that I think would work.”
Maynard, who owns a “direct to consumer” brand, said he will be doing the project not as an RCSD Director, but “this is Michael as a consumer.”
Rossmoor residents once had their own zip code, 90721, said Maynard, but “back in the ’80s, with its own post office somewhere near the parking lot of Farmers & Merchants Bank.
“At one point in the 80s, the post office said we don’t need both (zip codes), so it went away, and the post office began pushing everything to 90720, the general Los Alamitos zip code, which is next door.
Fast forward to 2023, and while most Rossmoor residents are lumped into the 90720-zip code, they are now being charged the 1.5 sales tax now effective in the City of Los Alamitos.
Maynard, who said he is associated with the Shopify corporation, said most online purchases made from Rossmoor are automatically, and wrongfully charged the Los Al sales tax because they are in that zip code, even though technically, they live in Rossmoor and should not be charged.
Some of the Amazon computers are more sophisticated and able to tell the difference, he estimated that at least 50 percent of the Amazon customers in Rossmoor are also wrongfully charged the sales tax.
“I am doing this because I think it is wrong,” said Maynard, estimating Rossmoor residents are wrongfully charged between $150 – 200,000 per year. Maynard did not explain his rationale for the estimation but said “I think there is a fix for it.”
He hinted that his plan could result in the reactivation of the former Rossmoor zip code, 90721, but it will take some work with Steel’s office and the USPS, “because it is a post office thing.”
By the way, the Rossmoor zip code still works, he said, if residents use it.
RCSD President Tony DeMarco asked the district’s attorney Tarquin Preziosi whether the district or its residents would have any leverage with Los Al to have improperly assessed sales taxes refunded.
Maynard’s suggestion “has merit,” said Preziosi, however, he suggested that the matter would likely be determined to be “a private matter” between the merchant and the wrongly taxed residents.
“Changing the zip code may fix that glitch, so to speak,” he said, noting “it is a complicated question.”
Director Jo Shade, a real estate professional, said “in our industry, that is something we stress. You should also use Rossmoor in everything you fill out to avoid that issue,” she said.
“It is a very interesting discussion,” said DeMarco.
In other action, the Directors discussed making changes to its budget procedures so that a final vote on its fiscal year budget occurs before July. The RCSD is expected to approve its fiscal year budget at its next meeting in July.
In executive session, the board voted 4-0 to approve a one-time performance pay raise of $7,500 for General Manager Joe Mendoza and they approved bonuses for district employees not to exceed $9,100 as a special committee will work out the details and amounts for each employee.
Martial music is played as a prelude
to the boom of exploding fire,
sparkling in varied colors that twinkle
like stars in the inky night.
We celebrate the birthday of our nation,
partying with family and friends,
sharing a meal and music,
watching fireworks light up the sky.
We proclaim that freedom has a cost.
People have died to give us liberty.
We may not agree on politics,
but we unite as Americans on this day.
This is the “land of the free
because of the brave.”
We must remain vigilant
to keep it that way.
We dress in red, white, and blue
on the Fourth of July.
Even babies and pets are decorated.
Is that all there is to patriotism?
Every day we see veterans living on the streets,
many with mental illness and drug addiction.
Do we really honor all those who
have served our country in the military?
On July Fourth families get together to feast,
passing out sandwiches, potato chips and sweets,
moments of precious generational bonding,
dancing to the beat of democracy.
Let us not forget our history
or those who sacrificed to keep us free.
May we always support our veterans
no matter the date of the year.
Among a field of approximately 100 dogs, several local pups will be looking to claim this year’s title of “Fastest Wiener in the West” at the 26th Annual Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals on Saturday at Los Alamitos Race Course. The annual event will again benefit the Seal Beach Animal Care Center.
Los Alamitos resident Jennifer Davenport and her young racer, Tony, will be among the field of racers. Tony, a seven-month-old dachshund is making his first appearance in the race. Like many of the competitors, Tony has some speed, but as a young pup, will be challenged to stay focused as he barrels down the track with about seven other dogs in his heat.
Davenport said they have practiced a little and they were on hand for a practice session on Monday at the race course. For the most part, Davenport said they are just going to “wing it.” Tony will have plenty of support, Davenport said, as Tony has a lot of friends and family planning to attend.
“He will have a full section of fans,” Davenport said.
The event has racers from all over Southern California, as far away as places like Bakersfield, Moreno Valley and Ventura. Also scheduled to be among the field will be Burr, who lives in Cypress with his human Ariana Gonzalez and Buddy of La Palma, who lives with Michelle Almazan.
Two Seal Beach dogs are also slated to participate; George (with CJ and Emmy Jacobs) and Sisi (with Jason Ghareebo and Kiley Majeski). Sisi is among the older dogs racing at 12 years of age. Another 12-year-old racer is also from Seal Beach. Wheezy a rescue dog who had overcome a severe weight gain but was able to get back down to a healthy weight and ran last year as an 11-year old. Wheezy will be returning this year.
The Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals will get underway at 6:30 p.m. The dogs compete in 50-yard dashes over the racetrack at Los Alamitos, the same one where the horses run. The field will be whittled down to a championship field that is scheduled to run at 9:15 p.m.
The winner takes home a $1,000 prize, a trophy and a custom doghouse shaped like a Wienerschnitzel restaurant.
Live horse racing will also be held in addition to the dachshund races. VIP seating to enjoy the event is available by calling 714-820-2681. General Admission tickets on the day of the event at Los Alamitos are $3 per person. Children 17 and under are admitted free. Los Alamitos Race Course features free general parking.
A dance studio from Cypress has staged its 16th annual recital featuring multiple performances of “The Princess and the Frog” over the past weekend in Long Beach.
Strong Dance Studios even gave the show a touch of some down home southern hospitality by adding scenes of New Orleans and swamplands in a nod to the owner’s Cajun heritage.
Owner Rachel Strong of Strong Dance Studios, said various sets and bits about New Orleans were performed in tribute to her late dad Joe Strong, who they found out shared a bit of Louisiana and Texas Cajun heritage.
Her dance company performed over the weekend at the Woodrow Wilson High School performing arts center with multimedia sound and professional costuming.
On Sunday, Strong introduced the dance performance with a tribute to her late father, Joe, an engineer, who she said, “always had an unstoppable work ethic and an absolute love for life, which translated into a love for children.”
Moreover, she said they later found out after his passing that “among these gifts, he also passed down sort of our ethnic background, and when we would ask him about it, he would say, well, we’re mostly Irish, and maybe a little bit French.”
Strong said her dad had always attended every production her company staged and she even had a chair still reserved for him with his name on it. “He had a wonderful sense of humor, which largely revolved around being able to laugh at himself,” she said.
Turns out, said Strong, “he was from the region of East Texas/West Louisiana, “and so we got curious after he passed away.” Strong said they turned to an ancestry website to find out more, “and we found some surprises, right? Well,” she told the audience, “we’re a little bit French.”
Strong said it turns out she’s almost “half French,” so there were many acts in the play that depicted the Cajuns, including street scenes from New Orleans and a swamp scene, including the Cypress tree stumps.
“The Cajun people are really interesting people. They obviously have healthy egos because, hey, French! They love the big-time, they can throw a party with very little provocation. They love to sing and dance and love spicy food,” she said.
“So, after learning all of that, it became obvious that this particular show is going to be meaningful to me because it really celebrates the the heritage of my people,” said Strong.
“So, as a nod to them, we tried to put as many authentic aspects of their culture in front of you as possible. including a lot of live, loud and lovely music and some treats from the swamp. I hope you enjoy tonight’s show,” said Strong before it began.
“My goal is to try to make our production very crowd friendly so that anyone wanting to see a professional, wholesome local production would want to come,” she added.
She said more than 300 dancers, artists and volunteers worked together to stage the weekend productions, said Strong. The company even found a 10-piece New Orleans style jazz band that calls itself “Blow,” that played a role in the production, even leading a “second-line” procession off the stage as the show ended.
Strong said she wishes to thank all her performers, and what she calls the extended “Strong Family” and congratulate them on yet another successful season of artistry and confidence.
Representatives of the Rossmoor Woman’s Club recently visited several local charities to present them with monetary donations ranging up to $2,500 each.
Courtesy photo We Care Executive Director Ron Lowenberg accepts check from Rossmoor Woman’s Club members, from left, Michelle Wittenberg, Sue Goldberg and Lorena Bartlett.
In Los Alamitos, the group visited the Youth Center, which provides after-school and summer activities, homework help and music lessons for children and teens; Precious Life Shelter which aids expectant and new mothers and babies; We Care, which helps families facing emergency financial hardship; and St. Isidore Plaza, a community heritage site and cultural center. While at St. Isidore, the group also presented a check for the Los Alamitos Museum to Marilyn Poe, who is on the boards of both organizations. In addition, the group visited Lydia House, a Long Beach shelter for homeless women.
Courtesy photo Precious Life Executive Director Theresa Murphy, second from right, accepts a check from Rossmoor Woman’s Cub President Sue Goldberg. Club members Lorena Bartlett, left, and Michelle Wittenberg look on.
The money is part of more than $59,000 the Rossmoor Woman’s club donated in the 2022-2023 fiscal year to more than 20 local charities and used to provide college scholarships through Los Alamitos High School and the Youth Center. The club raised the money through its two major annual fundraisers, the Rossmoor Spring Garden Tour in May and Holiday Home Tour last December.
“We want to thank everyone who attended the holiday home tour and garden tour,” said Rossmoor Woman’s Club President Sue Goldberg. “Thanks to you, we could make these donations to help improve the lives of so many in our community.”
Besides fund-raising for charity, the women’s club also participates in various hands-on volunteer efforts, such as cooking for the Ronald McDonald House in Long Beach, packing boxes for Food Finders in Los Alamitos and crocheting or knitting hats and scarves for the homeless.
The club, affiliated with the international General Federation of Women’s Clubs, was formed in Rossmoor in 1958, but members do not have to live in Rossmoor.
To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from this performance. I felt a sense of restlessness when I entered the theater. I knew that traditionally Giselle is a story of a peasant girl who goes mad and dies from the betrayal of an aristocrat whom she loves (1st act). Then, in the afterlife (2nd act), she becomes a “Will,” a spirit in white who forces her aristocrat lover to dance until he dies. As such, I was preparing my heart and mind for the ultimate demise of love. To my surprise, this did not happen. Rather I was taken on a divine journey where the future is rooted in hope and driven by love.
“Make dance not war” and a message of hope was the key to the success of Giselle, beautifully performed by the United Ukrainian Ballet at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts on June 29. The opening night was sheer poetry. United Ukrainian Ballet Company, brought together by the tragedy of war, nonetheless resolute in hope, is comprised of sixty professional artists in exile. I can’t even imagine the story each artist has about their journey to safety. What was exquisitely clear was their unyielding connection to the power of dance. Aside from the beautiful lines and shapes that define ballet, the emotional connection of the artists to the message and the audience was breathtaking.
For centuries, dance has been shown to heal the hearts, minds, and bodies of its people, and this is exactly what unfolded on the opening night of Giselle. It is known that performing ‘Giselle’ is demanding for any dancer. Still, the message of hope and love through such a demanding piece was truly inspiring. Through the poignant choreography of Alexei Ratmansky and flawless execution by the dancers of the United Ukrainian Ballet, the audience “gasped” in “awe.” We were emotionally touched, physically moved, and soulfully connected. This powerful wave of experiences carried into the end surprise performance by former Ukrainian soldier, Oleksandr Teren, and members of the United Ukrainian Ballet.
Former Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr Teren and members of the United Ukrainian Ballet in world premiere of Airlift, photo by Karolina Kuras
Teren lost both his legs in the Russian war, commanded the stage, and danced beautifully; moving the audience to tears, the audience rose up into a roaring standing ovation. It was pure inspiration and resolute hope.
The message of hope extended into raising funds for lifesaving humanitarian aid for victims of the Russian invasion of Ukrainian. The proceeds from ticket sales benefited BlueCheck. Created to vet, verify, and fund Ukrainian-led local and grassroots frontline organizations providing lifesaving humanitarian aid to victims of the Russian invasion.
The healing and communicative power in dance must not be underestimated. This performance is clear evidence of that. At its very nature, the human psyche is constructed by a gradual layering of movement choreography from the moment of conception to death, however long that may be. The meaning of this choreography is unique to its people and evolves with time. The United Ukrainian Ballet artists deeply touched the hearts and souls of the audience. When it was desired the most, this performance of Giselle ignited a much-needed change in the human psyche.
Although I walked into the theater feeling restless and was prepared for the ultimate demise of love, I walked out inspired and determined in courage.
For some, even the vaulted word “iconic” falls short when referring to the late Tina Turner, the “Queen of Rock and Roll,” whose rise to superstardom is now one for the ages.
Though Turner passed away in May, the touring version of the award-winning Broadway musical that portrays her epic story of triumph rolls into Segerstrom this week with “mind-blowing and life-changing” reviews.
Tina Turner’s story is so breathtaking, and the energy on stage is so frenetic, producers say the play literally requires two major stage stars playing the role of Tina as they rotate shows to replicate the energy this superstar left in her wake.
Zurin Villaneuva as Tina and Garrett Turner as Ike Turner in Tina, The Tina Turner Musical. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for Murphy Made.
The North American tour of TINA–THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is one of eight productions that have opened around the world since the show began in London’s West End in 2018.
“This is testimony to Tina’s extraordinary legacy,” claim the producers, Tali Pelman from Stage Entertainment and Jimmy Nederlander.
“We can’t wait for America to see the two-megawatt superstars—Naomi Rodgers and Zurin Villanueva—who share the role of Tina, Roderick Lawrence in the role of Ike, and the incredibly talented company who are on the road in this tour.”
Tina Turner first became a household name in the 70s with the Ike and Tina Turner Revue. Methodically, Turner began to break barriers after first breaking with Ike in 1976. She went public in 1981 with allegations of abuse.
“I spent 16 years with a man I knew I would never be happy with,” Turner contemporarily told PEOPLE Magazine, according to the HBO Documentary “Tina.”
“I was living a life of death. I did not exist,” says Tina, “but I survived it. And when I walked out, I walked out.”
Born Anna Mae Bullock in 1937 on a sharecropping farm where they picked cotton, the complicated life of the late entertainer who ultimately became Tina Turner is an inspiring story of a woman who truly overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to become one of the most admired entertainers of our time.
So says singer and actress Roz White, a native of Washington, D.C., the woman whose own life makes her believe she was born to play the role of Zelma Bullock, Tina’s mom, in the touring production.
Turner (Anna Mae) was abandoned by her mother as a child and left with her grandmother to be raised. On stage, White says she has come to understand why Zelma left her daughter behind.
“A lot of people are not going to understand why [Zelma left]. And, you know, to this day, people still come up to me and say I realized that I didn’t realize that the relationship was like that. But you know, we’re on the outside looking in and so, you know, those moves have to be made,” said White in an interview.
“So what I bring to the role is the real in this real-life experience, and a sympathy for a woman like Zelma, who has given birth to someone so strong and her role and making sure that that person, that spirit, gets to do everything that it’s supposed to do on the earth,” she said.
“I think she [Zelma] succeeded,” said White, “because we got Tina Turner, and she’s an icon, and we’ll never forget her. Zelma was part of that,” she added, “whether it was the greatest times or not, she was a catalyst for her daughter’s success.”
The North American touring cast is led by Naomi Rodgers (Frozen) and Zurin Villanueva (The Lion King, Mean Girls, Shuffle Along, The Book of Mormon) who will evenly share the role of Tina Turner, each playing four (of eight) performances a week. Also starring are Roderick Lawrence as Ike Turner, White as Zelma Bullock, Carla R. Stewart as Gran Georgeanna and Lael Van Keuren as Rhonda.
Naomi Rogers as Tina Turner. Photo by Matthew Murphy for Murphy Made.
The musical is set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits, this electrifying sensation that is sending audiences “soaring to the rafters.” But there are tender moments, which reflect Tina’s relationship with her mother, Zelma.
“I think Zelma was not allowed to be a soft woman. And women just weren’t allowed in that situation. That was Tennessee, picking cotton. And she had already had three children by the time Anna Mae came around. It just was a life that did not provide a space to be soft and to be very feminine. So you had to kind of be rough, and she was looking for a better life,” says White of Zelma Bullock.
“And so she chose to move to a different place. And unfortunately, Anna Mae (Tina) was left behind because someone just didn’t know how to love a gifted and energetic child, you know, a child that we would label today as ADHD or some title,” she adds.
As a child, she said Tina was jumping up and down and running out to the field playing and wouldn’t sit down when told to sit down. There was also a little bit of jealousy because her father seemed to favor Anna Mae over the other daughter and so Zelma said, ‘well, if you want to choose, I’m gonna choose.’
Zurin Villaneuva as Tina. Photo by Matt Murphy for Murphy Made.
White called Bullock a “very layered woman.” In many ways, says White, the role reminds her, “in ways my grandmother and my mother, had a tug of war over me, I believe, during my mom’s passing and how that affected me and gave me some of the emphasis that I have to do to pursue my dreams.”
“But there’s so many layers and ways that I relate to them, but I really believe his role was built especially for me to play. I just do it moment by moment.”
Unfortunately, Tina and her mom were not able to reconcile before her death, yet White believes Bullock played a huge role in Tina’s life.
The Broadway version of the play won 12 Tony Awards, ironically, the same number of Grammy® Awards won by Turner during her career.
Turner would eventually overcome her childhood, abuse, and other crises to touch areas of superstardom reached by few rivals. Turner is one of the best-selling artists of all time and her live shows were indeed iconic and seen by hundreds of millions of fans.
Featuring her much-loved songs, TINA–THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning Katori Hall and directed by the internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd.
When she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in October 2021, Tina Turner became one of only three women in the institution’s history to be inducted twice (she was initially inducted in 1991, alongside Ike).
TINA–THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is directed by Tony Award nominee Phyllida Lloyd with choreography by Tony Award nominee Anthony van Laast, set and costume designs by Tony Award nominee Mark Thompson, music supervision, arrangements & incidental music by Nicholas Skilbeck, lighting by Tony Award nominee Bruno Poet, sound by Tony Award nominee Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Tony Award nominee Jeff Sugg, orchestrations by Tony Award nominee Ethan Popp, wigs, hair and makeup design by Drama Desk Award winner Campbell Young Associates, and casting by The Telsey Office
Produced by Stage Entertainment, James L. Nederlander and Tali Pelman, in association with Tina Turner, the musical was written by Tony Award nominee and Pulitzer Prize winner Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins.
TINA-THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL runs from July 11-23 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa.
Performances are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm , Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 and Sundays at 1 and 6:30 pm. Tickets start at $29. For info or tickets, visit scfta.org or call (714) 556-2787.
For the first time in its 25-year history, the Aquarium of the Pacific has officially reimagined its exhibit that exclusively features the marine life found specifically in southern California, presented in a series of exhibits that depict the coast and its marine life.
“The gallery revamp has been in development for more than a year,” said Johnathan Casey, Assistant Curator of Fish and Invertebrates at the Aquarium.
“For me, it’s been the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Casey, who spearheaded the year-long process of curating and later building the exhibit. “It’s like an endless, life-long learning pursuit,” said Casey, noting that marine and ocean researchers were “learning about new species” almost every day.
Casey said the Aquarium has partnered with local institutions, universities and think tanks, including Cal Tech to improve its first revamp of the Southern California gallery since opening 25 years ago.
“It’s the first time we’ve renovated one of our permanent galleries in 25 years,” he said, “it was getting a little archaic and we really wanted to have a better theme.”
The 10 new exhibits within the revamped Southern California Gallery are based on aquatic life along the Coast of California and Catalina Island, he said.
“We wanted to do like a conservation-based theme for the gallery and really have it be like our backyard if you’ve lived in Southern California. Almost every one of these displays are based on certain locations in SoCal,” said Casey.
The Aquarium’s new SoCal gallery opened to the public Saturday morning.
Upon entering the new gallery, native fish swim amongst tall, living kelp plants flowing back and forth within the massive tank of marine life that welcomes visitors to the new gallery.
Living kelp plants flow in the currents surrounded by native coastal fish. DNYphoto
“These are living kelp plants,” explains Casey with a smile, as a four-foot Leopard shark sneaks across the tank.
The exhibit includes the nearly three-story-tall Honda Blue Cavern, with iconic sea bass, the 211,000-gallon Seal and Sea Lion Habitat, the Ray Habitat Touchpool, and Shorebird Sanctuary exhibit. Living, swaying kelp replicates Casino point off Catalina Island where kelp is making a comeback, aquarium officials say.
The Aquarium’s Gulf of California exhibit features some of the variety of one of the most biologically productive and diverse seas in the world. It includes unique species of butterflyfishes, and large silvery fish called Mexican lookdowns.
The new Southern California Gallery will feature over ten exhibits and more than three dozen species. Highlighted animals will include the California two-spot octopus, leopard and horn sharks, California scorpionfish, a moray eel, California spiny lobsters, Catalina goby, and California’s state marine fish—the Garibaldi. Visitors will be able to get up close to the marine life that lives on our coast, the aquarium said in a statement.
Photo by David N. Young The 30-foot long tank called seagrass meadows includes various species indigenous to southern California.
Two of the exhibits will focus on underwater habitats off Catalina: Casino Point kelp forests and deep-sea hydro corals at Farnsworth Bank, it added.
Another exhibit focuses on oil rigs that serve as artificial reefs located between the mainland near the Aquarium and Catalina Island. An ecosystem has formed on the pilings that rise from the sea floor since the placement of oil platforms, which started in the 1960s.
The new revamp also focuses on the role individuals can play in protecting SoCal’s aquaculture.
The Aquarium has a variety of conservation initiatives to restore California’s marine and coastal ecosystems and species. But true success in conservation depends on participation from everyone. Small actions of individuals, such as the proper sorting and disposing of your waste and being careful not to disturb or remove marine plants and animals when you visit them, all collectively roll up to impactful results,” said Jennie Dean, Aquarium of Pacific Vice President of education and conservation.
Since it’s inception, the AOP has played a role in preserving local habitats and animals. They said these programs include programs for local endangered species such as the white abalone, giant sea bass and green sea turtles.
Casey is especially proud of that exhibit, “which is very interactive and great for kids,” he said.
Designets used special glue to attached living species to an oil rig in this blue water exhibit. DNYphoto
He explains the planning it took to create real, underwater life that attaches itself and creates its own marine life ecosystem on steel beams that are sunk into the ocean floor to support the drilling platforms.
“We used a special glue to attach the sponge-like creatures to the steel,” he explains, but one that he said dissolved as the attached marine life’s natural bonding properties eventually took hold.
Blue paint, filters, and accentuated lighting recreate the dark blue nature of deep water around the rigs, he says with the pride of a man who has spent a year with a team bringing an underwater vision to life.
He is also proud of a 30-foot-long tank that includes indigenous sea grasses, starfish that swim, pipefish that look like pipes, and other fish that have adapted so well one can barely distinguish them from the replicated ocean bottom of sand and rock.
“These big sweeping long displays (30 feet) show people a very interesting, unique view into the world in the shallow environment,” said Casey. “It’s very photosynthetic, so for me, I wanted to do that on a marine level,” he said.
“There are over a dozen species of fish in there,” he said, pointing at the long tank, “and over 1000 fish live in here.”
In addition, he said along with the fish, all kinds of other critters, including sand sifting starfish,” said Casey.
“The more you look, the more there is to see,” he explains.
And when visitors look up, they will digitally designed scenes that give the impression that the gallery is underwater. Casey, also a diver and underwater photographer, looks up briefly and says “I really like that.”
Taken together, Casey said the new Southern California Gallery presents much of the marine life, sea grasses and other sea life that literally flourishes in residents’ “backyard.” He said the Aquarium presents the local aquatic ecosystem in a very natural, yet realistic marine environment that will provide local residents an enjoyable learning experience.
“We want to give local residents a little window into maybe a world that they know is right outside their back door, but they don’t get to explore very often,” Casey said.
The new exhibit is now open seven days a week. For more info, visit www.lbaop.org.
With a sprinkling of malaria cases already reported in the USA this year, mosquito control officials are being especially vigilant this year about asking residents to prepare for what could be a record reproductive year for mosquitos.
Aedes Albopictus, better known as the eighties mosquito, reproductive rates have increased significantly with newfound weather changes in Southern California.
“It’s going to be a bustling year,” Heather Hyland, director of communications at the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District, said. Recent rain raises intriguing concerns regarding breeding grounds for mosquitos. “New pockets of rain are wetting areas with mosquito eggs that are essentially dormant, when they come in contact with water, they hatch.” Although the Aedes Albopictus has been around for over 10 years via international trade cargo ships, weather changes, like an increase in rain, have caused a significantly elevated rate of mosquito larva production and a high frequency of mosquitoes in traps.
“This is the most [mosquitos] we’ve seen in 16 years,” Laura M. Krueger, Vector Ecologist, and Board Certified Entomologist at the Control District, said.
“Each [Aedes Albopictus] can plant an average of 400 eggs in a day, the former average mosquito per trap wad 59.0, currently we are seeing 114,” Hyland said. Although typical mosquito breeds are known to reproduce rapidly, laying about 100 eggs in a day in pools of water, above the waterline, this new strain of mosquito is much different. These mosquitos will lay eggs in virtually any space holding water: coffee pots, vases, buckets, etc.
“If the water in your pool has turned green, it may become a breeding ground for these new mosquitoes,” Kruger said. “The location has the ability to breed about 3 million new mosquitoes every month.”
The Aedes Albopictus transmit deadly diseases such as yellow fever viruses, dengue, chikungunya, and more. In addition, unlike other breeds of mosquitos, the Aedes Albopictus prefers human blood over any other mammal. While residents in Southern California should be worried about the dangers of the Aedes Albopictus, change starts with the readers, she said.
Identifying this umfamilar strain as well as methods for staying mosquito-free is the key to a healthy and happy life. The Aedes Albopictus are small, black mosquitos with white stripes. They mature in about one week from egg to adult; the immature larvae swim in stagnant water and look like tadpoles to the uneducated eye. In order to mitigate the number of bites, drill holes into the bottom of wall pots or bins to prevent stagnant water from occurring. Do not share any root plant cuttings if they are laid in water; sharing has the capacity to spread mosquito eggs and further the spread of dangerous invasive species. Even so, using insect repellent containing D.E.E.T., Picaridin, lemon eucalyptus oil, or IR 3535, will hinder already mature mosquitos from biting users.
The Aedes Albopictus does pose a severe threat to SoCal residents, however, utilizing proper protocols given by the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District ensures individuals that infection may be prevented.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, five cases of malaria have already been reported this year, though all five patients have been successfully treated.
Locally acquired mosquito-borne malaria has not occurred in the United States since 2003 when eight cases of locally acquired P. vivax malaria were identified in Palm Beach County, FL Despite these cases, the risk of locally acquired malaria remains extremely low in the United States, the CDC said, but local OC officials are urging extreme mosquito caution this year.
Questions or facts about the Aedes Albopictus can be found on the Control District’s website.
The Los Alamitos Police Department has arrested a 20-year-old resident of Granada Hills and charged him with a variety of sex crimes in connection with a child exploitation case, according to the Los Alamitos Police Department.
According to Robert Acosta, public information officer for the department, officers arrested Taylor Dean Risner, 20, and charged with a number of sex crimes including luring a child for sex, possession of child pornography, meeting a minor for sex, the manufacture of child pornography and statutory rape and the case is still under investigation.
Acosta said the investigation and arrest occurred in Los Alamitos because Risner was employed at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Al and that one of the crimes for which Risner is now charged occurred in the city.
Acosta confirmed that the investigation began after the Los Alamitos Police Department received a call earlier this year on March 20 regarding the welfare check of a missing girl from the State of New Jersey.
Through a diligent investigation, it was revealed that the young girl had fallen victim to several sex crimes. Furthermore, it was discovered that Risner had also victimized another minor in the State of New Jersey.
“Through our investigation, it has come to our attention that Taylor Dean Risner was employed as a special needs aide for Gledhill Elementary in North Hills from August 2022 to March 2023. Among the children he interacted with were non-verbal autistic children. We share your concern in this discovery and understand that this news may be disturbing to anyone who might have an association with Gledhill Elementary,” the department said in a statement.
“The Los Alamitos Police Department would like to emphasize its commitment to the safety and well-being of children within our community. We take any crimes involving child exploitation very seriously. We want to assure the community that we are working closely with the school administration to gather all relevant details and provide support to ensure our schools are safe and nurturing spaces for our community’s youth,” said Police Chief Michael Claborn.
The Los Alamitos Police Department encourages anyone with additional information related to this case or any other potential victims to contact Detective Flynn at 562-431-2255 x422 or ef****@**************os.org.
“We understand the sensitive nature of these crimes, and all information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality and care,” the police chief said.
“We would like to express our gratitude to the dedicated investigators who worked on this case, as well as our law enforcement partners the Burlington County Prosecutors Office, in New Jersey. Together, we remain committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and holding offenders accountable,” he said in the statement.
Further updates on this case will be provided as they become available.
Summer Parks Program, provided by the Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services department, is now back in full swing! The Summer Parks program is a free drop-in program for ages 5-12 years old that takes place Monday through Friday from 10:30am to 4:00pm at alternating park locations. The program is held at Little Cottonwood Park on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and is held at Orville R. Lewis Jr. Park on Tuesday and Thursday. The program began June 12 and will run through August 11.
At Summer Parks Program, Recreation staff perform a variety of games and activities for participants to engage in. Weekly excursions begin July 5th and are completely free to participants.
Sign-ups take place one week before the excursion on Monday at Cottonwood Park and on Tuesday at Orville Lewis Park on a first come, first serve basis. The first 20 participants signed up at each park will be accepted. To be eligible to attend the excursion, participants must attend the program a minimum of two days a week (excluding excursion days). Excursions this summer include Scooter’s Jungle, Santa Ana Zoo, Cinemark Movie Theatre, Atlantis Park, Mother’s Beach, and Discovery Cube. Come on out and be a part of the Los Alamitos Summer Parks Program!
For additional information, please visit the Recreation & Community Services website at www.cityoflosalamitos.org/recreation or contact the Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department at (562) 430-1073.
Once again, the Annual Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach is set to open Friday, July 7 in the Irvine Bowl.
Diane Challis-Davy, the Pageant Director, said that “The Art Colony, which was established in the canyon of Laguna Beach during the early years of the 20th Century is the primary inspiration for the 2023 Pageant theme – the world-famous theatrical celebration of art – through the magic of tableaux vivants known as living pictures.
In 2019 Challis-Davy was honored as a female industry visionary by the Advanced Imaging Society (AIS) during its 10th annual Entertainment Technology Awards Ceremony in Beverly Hills, CA.
“Our technical team has been working in earnest since 2003 to bring the magic of digital imagery to our theatrical production, gradually making improvements and acquiring more advanced technical equipment year-by-year,” Challis-Davy shared. “It’s truly an honor to be recognized for our efforts and I anticipate working ever harder to further refine our production values into the future.”
Excitement continues to build as it gets closer to the annual Pageant of the Masters.
The Pageant is just days away and there’s still lots has to be accomplished before the opening night.
The famous art scenes have already been selected and set-building has begun for the magnificent 2,600-seatoutdoor amphitheater presentation, with a professional orchestra, original musical score, live narration, intricate sets, sophisticated lighting, expert staff and of course the hundreds of dedicated volunteers, who have won recognition for the Pageant to Masters as the best presentation of its kind anywhere in the world.
Auditions have been held and Challis-Davy and her team members have selected body-types that will match with the oil paintings, water colors and sculptures to be presented this summer.
Except for a very small paid staff, 500 volunteers are needed to make the show come to fruition and that’s where the many volunteers – come in, some volunteering for many years in a row because it’s so much fun. Volunteers say they become like family members during the duration of the show.
Each evening, volunteer cast members stay on the patio until they’re called inside, to sit in line, when it’s closer to their scene.
The Last Supper, by Leonardo DeVinci, the final scene of each evening’s presentation, is a hard gig to get into, as the men in those parts either have to pass away or move away to give up their part. Once cast as a Last Supper individual, that’s the part portrayed in continuity. They even have their own little club, according to the one man who portrays Christ in the Last Supper each year.
The Pageant is broadcast over the PA system with the voice of Richard Doyle as the narrator; this is the 90th anniversary of the first presentation of living pictures at the Festival of Arts.
Youngsters who are chosen to participate in the Pageant, grow up, get married and then bring their children to tryout at the Pageant too. It really is a family event for a lot of people, who drive far from distances, some even from out-of-state, a testament to how much people love being a part of such an incredible show.
The Pageant is set-up as a 501(c)3 foundation. The location is, Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach, CA
For information and tickets, visit ti*****@***********nt.com or call 800-487-3378.
More than 500 educators, school workers and law enforcement representatives will have the opportunity to participate in dozens of workshops addressing critical school safety issues at the 14th annual Safe Schools Conference, which takes place Wednesday, July 12 through Friday, July 14 at Delta Hotels Anaheim Garden Grove.
Presented by former California Secretary of Education Dave Long through his firm, Dave Long & Associates, in collaboration with the Orange County Department of Education and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the three-day event was created to amplify best practices and to increase collaboration between the education and law enforcement communities.
This year’s conference is expected to draw administrators, police officers, school board members, counselors, youth service workers and other school and community leaders interested in the direct link between school safety, attendance and academic performance.
“Seeing representatives from the education and law enforcement communities gather in this collaborative environment is truly inspiring,” Long said. “Their shared commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students is evident, and the work here highlights the power of collaboration in addressing critical school safety issues. It is through these collective efforts that we can create safer and more supportive environments for our young people to thrive.”
Breakout sessions will cover a wide range of topics including bullying and cyberbullying prevention, emergency preparedness, disaster response and recovery, mental health, threat assessments, drug trends, social media challenges, trauma-informed care, dropout prevention and human trafficking.
Each day will also bring participants together for a general session.
On Wednesday, July 12, Dr. Stephen Sroka will deliver a keynote presentation titled “School
Safety: It’s all about Relationships!” Sroka will emphasize the importance of trusted relationships, offering practical strategies, heartfelt stories and research-based insights on topics such as leadership, mental health, trauma-informed practices and creating a positive school climate, while highlighting the transformative power of teamwork and resilience.
On July 13, Special Agent Jeffrey R. Cugno from the Federal Bureau of Investigation will provide an overview of threats to educational environments, including targeted school violence, drug abuse, radicalization and human trafficking. Cugno will also discuss strategies and resources available through partnerships with the FBI, focusing on early warning behaviors, protective measures and mitigation efforts.
The final day will feature a panel discussion on the fentanyl crisis. Presenters will cover the risks associated with illicit fentanyl, outline developmentally appropriate prevention strategies and share resources aimed at protecting young people. Panelists will include Undersheriff Jeff Hallock from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Orange County Superior Court Judge Maria D. Hernandez, Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Brian Gunsolley, UCI Professor Dr. Elizabeth Cauffman and parent Amy Neville, who is president of the Alexander Neville Foundation.
Continuing an annual tradition, two community members will be named recipients of the Distinguished Safe Schools Award at the 2023 conference. This year’s honorees are Deputy Tyler Gish, a school resource officer with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and Dr. Stephen Bayne, director of risk management, insurance and safety for the Irvine Unified School District.
Delta Hotels Anaheim Garden Grove is located at 12021 Harbor Blvd. in Garden Grove. For more information on workshops, featured speakers or registration, visit safeschoolsconference.com, or contact OCDE Program Specialist Christine Laehle at 714-327-1067 or CL*****@**de.us.
