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Volume 1, Issue 1 • November 11, 2009
• Hand deliveredOnly monthly to 5,000 La Palma homes; direct mailed to over 1,000 La Palma every businesses and• www.lapalmanews.net Chamber of Commerce members www.lapalmanews.net • La Palma’s Community Newspaper • Delivered to 4,500 La Palma homes month • March• 2011 • Vol. 2, Issue 1 •
City Leaders Set Future Goals
Council Votes to Abolish Governor’s Proposal
La Palma teen chosen as ABC7 Cool Kid
By Larry Caballero La Palma City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto and City Councilmembers met Feb. 25 for a Goal Setting Workshop to determine the Council’s priorities for next year and to identify success factors. A Priority Setting Matrix from Councilmember interviews was reviewed, and items designated a “high priority” by at least three people, was discussed. Lazzaretto was clear that he wanted the Councilmembers to define “what success looks like” in order to provide clear policy direction and expectations to staff. He began the workshop by asking each Councilmember two questions—What are you the most proud of about La Palma, and what’s the one thing that could be done to make La Palma an even better place? Mayor Ralph Rodriguez was pleased that arterial wall issues had been addressed, the Central Park is now smokefree and a new Police Chief had been selected in an orderly process. Councilmember Mark Waldman was thankful that there has been cohesion and collegiality in the City that makes it easer to get things done, and Councilmember Henry Charoen mentioned an increase in volunteerism and a sense of community that can be measured by increased attendance at the Concerts in the Park and La Palma Days events. Councilmember Steve Shanahan agreed with Rodriguez that “the time had come for a smoke-free park,” and newly elected Councilmember Steve Hwangbo congratulated City staff for its “proactive measures to reduce expenses.” Shanahan emphasized the need to improve the City’s financial stability as businesses leave and fold in La Palma and in the county. “We have been able to dodge several bullets in the past, but we probably won’t be able to continue doing that.” Charoen mentioned improving communication with the public by adding emails to the City’s distribution list while Rodriguez emphasized the videotaping of council sessions as a way to reach out to the community. Waldman wanted a better plan for expensive capital projects, and Hwangbo was concerned about vacant commercial properties and too many empty lots. “Our residents have to shop outside of our City.” Rodriguez agreed with the comments of his fellow Councilmembers and hoped La Palma would become more proactive
By Larry Caballero
Ready to distribute bread to local needy families at Project HOPE Food Bank Feb. 19 at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church were (l-r) Dee and Michael Vincenti, ABC7 Cool Kid winner Mike “Mikey” Vincenti and La Palma Mayor Ralph Rodriguez.
25 TH A NNUAL L A P ALMA D AYS
Most parents know where to find their teens on a cool and wet Saturday morning—in bed with the covers over their heads--but not 16-year-old La Palma resident Mike “Mikey” Vincenti, who shows up every first and third Saturday at the St. Irenaeus Catholic Church parking lot in Cy-
THE “OFFICIAL VETERAN’S DAY PARADE OF ORANGE COUNTY”
[See GOALS Page 7]
press at 6 am to distribute food to the homeless and working poor. The Kennedy High School sophomore has volunteered since the fourth grade to help sort and distribute 60 pounds of food to each of the more than 250 needy families who show up
ACTIVITIES [See TEEN Page 6]
La Palma Neighborhood Watch Honors Volunteers
HISTORICAL PRESERVATION & CULTURAL AWARENESS PROJEC La Palma Neighborhood Watch announces its 2011-2012 Board of Directors who included (l-r) NW Secretary Noella Lew, Membership Chair Sally Hawkins, President Dee Vincenti, Vice-President Gail Poan and Treasurer Bert Poan. Story on page 6.
1ST La MARINE Palma Intercommunity DIVISION BAND Hospital 7901 walker street
00254.110909
“As part of his 2011-12 Budget proposal,” said La Palma Community Development Commission Executive Director Douglas Dumhart, “Governor Brown recommends permanently shutting down local redevelopment agencies through statutory elimination to be effective July 1, 2011.” Dumhart expressed his opposition at the Feb.1 La Palma City Council’s Regular Meeting, and all five Council members agreed by adopting a Resolution opposing the Governor’s Proposal. “This proposal will bring little financial benefit to the State, but will permanently destroy hundreds of thousands of jobs, billions in local economic activity and eliminate a key municipal tool for meeting the State’s mandated land-use objectives,” said Dumhart. “The City of La Palma can directly attribute a majority of its economic viability to the Community Development Commission’s (CDC) redevelopment activities.” Mayor Ralph Rodriguez said, “As the Governor knows when he was the Mayor of Oakland, redevelopment money was responsible for the turnaround in that city, and it helped pay for the modest loft he is now living in. It wasn’t the safest of neighborhoods until redevelopment money was spent to revitalize the area.” Councilmember Steve Hwangbo supported the Resolution to oppose the Governor’s proposal and said, “Unlike some other cities in the state, La Palma has been responsible with the spending of its redevelopment money to make a difference in our city.” City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto said, “Redevelopment money is not a handout nor a gift, but rather it creates jobs.” State law gives a local government the authority to form a redevelopment agency with the specific goal of revitalizing deteriorated areas. There are 397 active agencies throughout California, all of which are overseen by local city councils or county boards of supervisors. Abandoned gas stations, dilapidated housing areas, underperforming strip malls, and vacant infill properties that attract vandalism are all examples of urban decay and blighting conditions. “Revitalization of these areas does
We are a full service, general acute care • 24-Hour Emergency Services • Behavioral Medicine hospital and have been • Maternity Services Wound Care a part of the •• Comprehensive Cardiac Catheterization community since 1972. Laboratory
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MILITARY HISTORY
[See CITY Page 6]
2 LA PALMA COMMUNITY NEWS • MARCH 2011
Nuñez named La Palma Police Chief Native Californian assumes police leadership. By Loreen Berlin
Eric R. Nuñez was appointed to the position of Chief of Police by La Palma City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto,this past January. Nuñez is the 10th police chief to serve the city of La Palma and replaces recently retired chief of police Ed Ethell who served La Palma for 29 years. Nuñez said that right after he graduated in May of 1991 from the Golden West College Police Academy, he was recruited by then Sgt. Ethell to join the La Palma Police Department. This May, Nuñez will celebrate his 20th year working for the city of La Palma. “I received a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from the University of La Verne and will graduate from the University of Southern California School of Policy, Planning and Development with an Executive Masters in Leadership this May also,” Nuñez said. Until his promotion to sergeant in 1995, Nuñez served as a patrol officer. “As a sergeant, I worked in the Detective Bureau, Administrative Support Bureau and the Patrol Bureau,” he said. In 2004, Nuñez was promoted from sergeant to captain. The rank of lieutenant no longer exists. As a captain, Nuñez served as the Services Division Commander for three years, rotating to the Operations Divi-
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sion where he worked from 2006 until “We even had a ‘Space Bar; for our 2011 when he was appointed as chief snack bar.” of police. Nuñez said that he joined the service “I was born in San Pedro on the Fort right out of high school; was honorably McArthur Military Base, but moved discharged and went to work full-time around with my family because my fa- and school part-time to get a degree. ther, Sgt. Rudolph Nuñez, was in the “At the age of 29, I decided to folmilitary,” Nuñez said. low the footsteps of two of my cousins “My father was killed in action June who were in law enforcement; Chris 13, 1966, Nuñez, who while serving has been with in the Vietthe Buena nam War,” he Park Police said. Department “He was for nearly 30 a highly-decyears, and orated War Mark Nuñez Hero, receivwho was at ing the Disthe Fullerton tinguished Police DeService Cross partment for and the Silver 12 years,” Star,” Nuñez Nuñez said. said. “While at N u ñ e z the Goldensaid that when west Police Dan Rather, A c a d e m y, on CBS, told I served as that he had president of “cut his teeth” the class and as a journalgraduated #2 ist during overall.” La Palma Chief of Police Eric Nuñez the Vietnam Nuñez War, he had said he was two distinct a little older memories of Vietnam – one was land- when he attended school, was married ing there where the U.S. Marines had and divorced and had two young chilcome under fire - and the second was dren who were at the time 2 ½ years old of a “body recovery,” which CBS re- and 3 months, for whom he had totally played as Rather told the story of the custody. Green Beret Airborne Ranger and NuNuñez said that he was fortunate to ñez watched the body recovery of his have the assistance of his former inown father as Rather was describing laws, the Mizer’s. “Lloyd Mizer was that terrible day. the person who purchased my Acad“I wound up living in Norwalk dur- emy gun and Elizabeth Mizer helped ing my formative years and attended with child care while I was working the John Glenn High School named and attending school.” after Astronaut John Glenn,” he said. In 1995, Nuñez married Molly Finn
Nuñez who is a Nurse Practitioner and works at UCI Medical Center as the Cardiology Nurse Manager; she holds a BS and Master of Science from UCLA. “When it’s football season, we are truly a ‘House divided.”. Together the Nunez’s have four children Kyle, 20; Shelby, 18; Haley, 11; and Emily, 3. “Kyle is a junior at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado and Shelby is attending a local community college and working.” “In my position as the Chief of Police I’m meeting with all police employees to get a base-line on the moral and health of the department,” Nuñez said. Nuñez said he is getting input to see what direction the employees would like to go and to get some of their personal goals and aspirations. Nuñez said that authentic leadership is a collaborative process and that in order to face some of the fiscal and political challenges, “We need to work together and find solutions and efficiencies in the processes we currently have,” Nuñez said. Hobbies and outside interests include: Nuñez said loves being a student and said that he will be a life-long learner; he loves playing soccer, tennis, the guitar, and is passionate about all music. He follows the Tour de France and was formerly an avid road cyclist. “My extra activities are whatever our children are involved in.” Nuñez signs off each of his e-mails with, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” For La Palma Police information, call 714-690-3379. For La Palma City information, call 714-690-3300 or visit www.cityoflapalma.org.
Community Calendar, Local Clubs and Organizations
La Palma
Bulky Item Spring Clean-up, April 25 - 29 Spring Clean-up The annual "Bulky Item Spring Clean-up” for large household and yard items will be conducted the week of April 25 through April 29, 2011... Collection will occur on your normal trash collection day. All items will be collected at the curb. While this clean-up event includes the removal of most bulky items, please note the following types of items cannot be collected: • Tree branches longer than four feet (please cut them down to smaller sizes). • Construction materials including: concrete, asphalt, dirt, rocks, sod, etc. • Automobile-related items including: motor oil, auto parts, engines, tires, etc. • Household hazardous waste including: all batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, paints, pesticides, etc. • E-Waste items including: TVs, computers, monitors, VCR/ DVD players, etc. For information regarding the proper disposal of Household Hazardous Waste or E-waste items, please visit the City’s recycling web page. If you want to know whether a specific item can be collected as a part of this clean-up event or if you have questions about your weekly trash collection, please call Park Disposal directly at (714) 522-3577. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Foundation Phone: (714) 740-4000 http://www.kpacfoundation.org Kennedy Grad Nite Phone: (714) 607-0177 http://www.kennedygradnite.org Kennedy High School Band Phone: (714) 607-0600 http://www.kennedyband.org Kennedy High School Choir http://www.kennedychoir.org Boys & Girls Club of Cypress Phone: (714) 527-2697 http://www.boysandgirlsclubofcypress.com Kiwanis Club of La Palma http://www.kiwanis30.org/Division30/webpages/Clubs/ LaPalma.htm Continental Little League Phone: (562) 533-5336 http://www.lapalmalittleleague.com/ La Palma Neighborhood Watch 7792 Walker Street La Palma, CA 90623 Phone: (714) 690-3370 http://www.cityoflapalma.org/neighborhoodwatch
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Foundation Phone: (714) 740-4000 http://www.kpacfoundation.org La Palma Seniors Club 7821 Walker Street La Palma, CA 90623 Phone: (714) 690-3350 http://www.cityoflapalma.org/seniorsclub
Norwalk Soroptimist International Of Norwalk P.O. Box 125, Norwalk, CA 90650 • (714) 412-0183 Alondra Senior Citizens Club 11929 Alondra Boulevard Norwalk, CA 90650 (562) 865-7774 Tere Kopriski, President 2nd & 4th Wed 1:30 p.m. Social Services Center (562) 929-5844 Golden Trowel Norwalk Masonic Lodge #273 12345 E. Rosecrans Ave Norwalk, CA 90650, 2nd Thursday 7:30 p.m. Norwalk Lions Club P.O. Box 1712 Norwalk, CA 90650 Custodio Celeste, President 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 4th Thursday Board Meetings 7:00 p.m. Bruce's Restaurant 12623 Imperial Hwy. American Legion Post #359 11986 Front Street, Norwalk, CA 90650 562-864-9021 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 8:00 p.m. Legion Hall American Legion Post #359 11986 Front St. Drawing, Cake Walk, and Karaoke Every Saturday evening in Post Hole Club Drawing is at 8:00 p.m. RECURRING EVENTS: STEAK LUNCH Every Wednesday 11:30am - 2:30pm KARAOKE Every Saturday 7:30pm POST MEETINGS 3rd Thursday of each month 7:30pm AUXILIARY MEETINGS 2nd Wednesday of each month 7:30pm Rotary Club of Norwalk P.O. Box 1243, Norwalk, CA Meets Mondays, Noon Norwalk Marriot Hotel Knights of Columbus Council #3678 Tom Sandoval, Grand Knight 12138 Front Street (714) 952-4724 • Norwalk Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7138 12186 Front Street (mail) Norwalk, CA 90651 (562) 864-9246 Elks Lodge-BPOE #2142
13418 Clarkdale Ave. Norwalk CA 90650 (562) 868-6603 Jim Duckett, Exhaulted Ruler (562) 868-1924 Thursdays 7:30 p.m. at Elks Lodge Rotary Club of Norwalk P.O. Box 1243, Norwalk, Sara Karsgens, President Mondays, noon, Norwalk Marriott Hotel (562) 921-0033 for info. Norwalk Woman's Club Place: Masonic Lodge 12345 Rosecrans Ave. Time: Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. Norwalk Community Coordinating Council William Clark, President Helen Brown, Vice President Meets 4th Wed. during the school year. P.O. Box 521 Norwalk (562) 921-4218 www.nccconline.us 1:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Changes every 2 years in May - June - August. City Council Meeting 1st and 3rd Tuesdays 6:00 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers 12700 Norwalk Blvd. Norwalk Redevelopment Agency 1st and 3rd Tuesdays 5:00 p.m., U.S. Constitution Room/#4, Norwalk City Hall. 12700 Norwalk Blvd. Norwalk Housing Authority 3rd Tuesday of each month 5:45 p.m. Council Chambers, Norwalk City Hall. 12700 Norwalk Blvd. Planning Commission 2nd and 4th Wednesday 7:30 p.m., Council Chambers, Norwalk City Hall. 12700 Norwalk Blvd. Southland Harmony Chorus of Sweet Adelines Norwalk Masonic Center 12345 E. Rosecrans Tuesdays at 7 PM
Cerritos AAUW (American Assn. of University Women) Saurabh Deedwania (562) 404-4488 Meets every 3rd Thursday, Skyline Room-Cerritos Library. CERRITOS SENIOR Gadabouts meet the second, third & fourth Mondays at the Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park, 12340 South St. Judy Mendes, President 562-860-2151 HUBERT HUMPHREY DEMOCRATIC CLUB CoCo’s 7pm. 3rd Monday. Nikki Noushkam 562.7124072. CERRITOS REPUBLICAN CLUB Cerritos Library 7p.m 2nd Tuesday. Allen Wood 865-7294. OPTIMIST CLUB Off Street Cafe 7a.m. 1st, 2nd, 4th Thursdays, 7 p.m. 3rd Thursday. ROTARY CLUB Hometown Buffet noon Mondays VFW POST 1846 Heritage Park, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays. 18600 Bloomfield Ave. Jeffrey Enomoto 714-292-2985
SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL Coco’s Restaurant 6p.m. 2nd Wed. & 12p.m. 4th Wed. WOMEN’S CLUB CPE 2nd Thursday. Gail Grossman at 562-926-8487 LIONS CLUB 11514 E. 178th Street, Artesia. 1st & 3rd Tuesday. Milton Hicks 926-3792. CONTACTS Business Networking Group Wednesdays, 7a.m. at Mimi’s Café, Cerritos Towne Center. Larry Massa 562-920-0554. CONNECTIONS Business Networking Group. Thursday, 7:30 a.m. at Coco’s Restaurant. Barbara 869-7618. CERRITOS LEADS CLUB Tuesdays 7–8:30 a.m. Mimi’s, in the Towne Center. Call 1-800767-7337. TOASTMASTERS The Cerritos Cheerful Chatters Toastmasters Club meets at Noon every other Wednesday at the SELACO Workforce Investment Board: 10900 E. 183rd > Street, 3rd Floor. Have fun and work on your speaking skills. Visitors are welcome! Call Tammy: (800) 481 - 6555 ext. 1213. ECLECTIC DIALECTIC TOASTMASTERS Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. at the Avalon at Cerritos, 1000 Falcon Way, Cerritos,. Ron Jung 924-1808. GOLDEN SANDS CHORUS An award-winning Sweet Adeline Chorus. Women of all ages and experience levels welcome. Rehearsals Wednesdays 7 p.m., Lakewood Masonic Center, 5918 Parkcrest St., Long Beach. (562) 630-8445 GOOD SAM Camp outings 2nd weekend each month. Howard Remsen 714-521-1076. JOURNEYS Mondays, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Pathways office, 3300 South Street #206, Long Beach Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m. Lakewood Regional Medical Center, 3700 South Street Classroom A, Lakewood Call Cindy Skovgard at 562-531-3031 MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) A program for mothers with children under the age of five, meet 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 9 to 11:15 a.m. at New Life Community Church, 18800 Norwalk Blvd., Artesia. CERRITOS AGLOW LIGHTHOUSE, “A Network of Caring Christian Women” Hometown Buffet in Cerritos 11471 E South St. Call Charyl, 562-865-5311. SELF HELP FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED Long Beach/ Lakewood Chapter, second Thursday of each month at the Weingart Senior Center, 5220 Oliva Avenue in Lakewood at 6:30 p.m. free. 429-7099 CALIFORNIA RETIRED TEACHERS ASSN (CRTA) Meets at 12p.m. the third Friday of alternative months at the Ebell Club, Third and Cerritos, Long Beach. 925-1938. IRONWOOD WOMEN’S GOLF CLUB 16449 Piuma Avenue • Cerritos, Ca 990703 • Irene Orozco, President (562) 926-5017 • Tuesdays, 7:30 am
Artesia
ARTESIA SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB Wednesdays at 10 a.m. at the Albert O. Little Community Center, 18750 S. Clarkdale, Artesia. For information, contact Kathy Mc Donald, President, 562-430-7349
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LA PALMA COMMUNITY NEWS • MARCH 2011
3
Local girls soccer team advance to California state championships March 12 Team has three girls from La Palma. The Cerritos Firecrackers girls’ soccer team won the American Youth Soccer Organization’s Section 11 title by a 2-1 score over Corona Del Mar on Sunday, February 13 to qualify for the AYSO California State Championships to be held at the Chapman Sports Complex in Garden Grove on March 12. The Firecrackers, a 15-member team of 13- and 14-year old girls, are part of the AYSO Region 54 Cerritos soccer program and now one of only four teams statewide that will compete in the prestigious AYSO California Championships next month. The Firecrackers began their road to playing for the state championship by first winning the Region 54 league title to qualify for area playoffs. The Firecrackers faced strong teams from Cypress, W. Garden Grove, Whittier, Los Alamitos and Garden Grove to reach the area final before taking home to the playoffs’ top medal with a 4-0 victory over a team from Los Alamitos. Next, the Firecrackers won the Section 11 tournament by winning all four of its games by the same score of 2-1. The Cerritos team won its opening section game on Saturday morning against La Mesa when Karen Malacon expertly put away from a cross from Juliana Orozco as time was expiring. In the afternoon game, the Firecrackers rallied to beat San Juan Capistrano thanks to goals by Rubi Vazquez and Madison Wells. With a place in the section final at stake, Cerritos girls delivered a gutsy performance against a talented South Gate squad and a pair of goals by Vazquez sent the team to the champi-
onship. The girls then played their best game of the year on Sunday afternoon, as they produced scoring chance after scoring
In midfield or in attack, Cheyenne Avila, Isabel Garcia, Marissa Pacheco, Cynthia Rogel and Vanessa Van Deudekom ran tirelessly and chased every ball to
ers’ overall record is 17 wins, one loss and two ties. The team has scored 61 goals in 20 games while allowing only eight. Madison Wells is the leading scorer with 19 goals followed by Rubi Vazquez with 15, Juliana Orozco with 10 and Karen Malacon with six. Several of this team’s players are also on the Cerritos region’s All Star team that will try to advance this upcoming weekend to the AYSO California State All Star Championships. The California State Championships cover over 260 regions. There are an estimated 800 teams in the Girls U14 division statewide. Sign-ups for the Cerritos Region 54 Fall 2011 season will take place in the summer. For more information visit the region’s internet site at www.ayso54. org. L a
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• La Palma’s Only Community Newspaper • Delivered to 4,500 La Palma homes every month • www.lapalmanews.net • March 2010 • Vol. 1, Issue 5
Cerritos Firecrackers Girls Under 14 Soccer Team - AYSO Section 11 Champions; Top Row from left: Coach Orlando Gutierrez, Karina Mayoral, Ariel Burns, Madison Wells, Justine Vitug, Cheyenne Avila, Summer Jordan, Marissa Pacheco, Karen Malacon, Asst. Coach David Veloz. Bottom Row from left: Kaylie Mota, Lauren Miranda, Isabel Garcia, Juliana Orozco, Vanessa Van Deudekom, Cynthia Rogel and Rubi Vazquez. chance in the first half against Corona Del Mar. Their perseverance paid off in the final half with Madison Wells and Juliana Orozco beating the Corona Del Mar goalkeeper to send the Cerritos’ supporters into frenzy. Corona Del Mar made the score 2-1 in the final seconds of the game and when the final whistle sounded the local girls had secured their berth in the state championships. As winners, the Cerritos girls claimed the top spot in a tough section that is made up of nearly 70 regions and featuring around 300 teams in this division.
provide the forwards with opportunities to score. At the back, defensive captain Summer Jordan and talented young central defender Kaylie Mota turned away every challenge, while fullbacks Justine Vitug, Ariel Burns and Lauren Miranda played their roles to perfection while often facing the opposing teams’ best offensive players. Karina Mayoral, who has improved with every game as the team’s starting goalkeeper, made a bucketful of outstanding saves while providing leadership in defense. For the season, the Cerritos Firecrack-
Web: www.lapalmanews.net Email: lapalmanews@gmail.com Phone 562.407.3873 P.O. Box 788, Artesia, CA 90702 EditorJery Bernstein General ManagerLinda Bock Production ManagerChris Svensk Sports EditorLoren Kopff Staff WritersChris Callard Glen Creason, Shelley Hendersen, Larry Caballero President/PublisherBrian Hews The La Palma Community News is published monthly and delivered to La Palma homes only. The La Palma Community News has been established as a newspaper of general circulation in Orange County. Based on this legal status we are eligible to publish Legal Notices and Fictitious Business Name Statements. Published and copyrighted by
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4 LA PALMA COMMUNITY NEWS • MARCH 2011
Gahr teacher encourages students to become pen pals with local club Da' Hawaiian Senior Club gladly accepts. By Ivan Kenneth Chau Sometimes when you live in a world ruled by technology, you forget what the world was for those before your time. A couple of months ago, my teacher Mrs. Grover, assigned us the task of turning back the clock. She assigned each of us “pen pals” that we would have to get to
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know over the course of several months, leading up to the “Senior Senior Prom”. Now for us kids, that’s a tad bit difficult, because with today’s society, writing letters has become a thing of the past. Modern technology has us teens instant messaging, texting or emailing to get in touch. So when you introduce a bunch of high school kids to the ol’ pen and paper, we’re at a loss. “Dude, is she serious with this? I don’t even know how to start,” exclaimed a shaken Louis Baeza as Mrs. Grover just finished explaining the assignment for the third time. Naturally, she asked for a show of hands on who’s ever had a pen pal before, and to our surprise, only a couple of kids had their hands raised. But when your teacher puts a point value on something, you just have to knuckle-down and do what’s asked of you. For some of
Willie and Jan pose for a photo with their pen pal John. Photo by Jeannie Nguyen.
my classmates, it took almost a week to to this ‘bridging of generations.’ And it even write their first letter. Others made it wouldn’t be a Hawaiian event without by a little easier, but we all had the same Spam musubi, macaroni salad, sushi or thought running through our heads. “How other customary Hawaiian goods, which does she expect us to write to someone we we must thank our Da’ Hawaii Senior don’t even know?” But we got through it, Club members for their traditional conand thus began our journey with the Da’ tributions. Hawaii Senior Club. By the time January rolled around, we Right when we were feeling comforthad each gotten to know our pen pals a able with the situation, Mrs. Grover added little better, compared our lives, discussed to our uncertainty by requiring us to choose our hobbies etc. The day was like any a year between 1935- 1948 to research. We made a collage of pictures that captured the major events and other relevant information of that year, accompanied with a research paper. ‘Twas a twoperson project so it wasn’t all bad. In fact, we learned Mary Jane Fujmura shares her photos from high school with her pen what our pen pal Cecilia. Photo by Jeannie Nguyen. pals were going through at our other, periods 1 through 6 pass by and we age, along with information about our na- have everything ready. We ate, danced, tion’s history. What we didn’t know was all the hard watched performances and learned as our work Mrs. Grover had endured in order to two communities collided. By the end of put these events into motion. Mrs. Grover the night, everyone had a friend, and some worked out the kinks and got our 28 soon- of my peers plan on keeping that friendto-be friends, and started on her new task. ship going throughout the school year. Because food for 150+ people doesn’t drop from the sky, Mrs. Grover set out One of my friends’ pen pals even invited to ask the local restaurants of Cerritos and all of us to her family reunion in Hawaii! nearby city’s to donate their respective Mrs. Grover has hopes of keeping this an dishes. By January she had gotten Chick annual event, something that student’s at Fil-A, The Loft Hawaiian Restaurant, Julio’s Pizza, Polly’s Pie, Mimi’s Café, Star- Gahr High School and Da’ Hawaii Senior bucks and Queen’s Bakery to contribute Club look forward to again and again.
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LA PALMA COMMUNITY NEWS • MARCH 2011
La Palma and Buena Park hold annual Relay for Life kick-off event
The La Palma and Buena Park Relay 4 Life Kickoff was Monday Feb. 7, in Heritage Hall at the Walter D. Ehlers Community Center where cancer survivors were honored. Survivors each gave their story of survival and then enjoyed a buffet dinner. Photo by Loreen Berlin. By Loreen Berlin “The La Palma and Buena Park Relay 4 Life Kick-off was a success in all areas,” Relay 4 Life Event Co-Chair Christine Payette said. The Kick-off was held Monday, Feb. 7, at the Heritage Hall at the Buena Park Senior Center. The guest speaker was Laura Swanberg, a cancer survivor. Swanberg has been a Buena Park resident for 45-years and a teacher at Whitaker Elementary School. Swanberg asked how many in the room had made, and kept New Year’s Resolutions that involved losing weight, to being happy, saving money, falling in love, getting a job, reading more, quitting smoking or running a marathon. “I want our New Year’s Resolution to be, ‘I will help to stamp out cancer,’” she said. “You have cancer,” are three words no one wants to hear, Swanberg said. “Well, I heard those words and responded the same way many people respond, with shock, horror, disbelief and a total sense of doom,” she said. Swanberg said after returning home that day, she had a good cry, spent much time in prayer and called her family. “I took a deep breath and thought, ‘Okay, how do I fight this; cancer is not going to beat me,’ I have a choice to make.” Swanberg said she only wanted to know what her doctors had to say about her condition and wanted to follow their protocol. Swanberg opted for a double mastectomy to make sure all of the cancer was gone and that she would not have to go through surgery again. Her doctor told her that there is a 35 percent chance of the same cancer appearing in the other breast if only the affected breast is removed. “Once you find out you have cancer, your life is a series of decisions; difficult decisions and at times lonely decisions, but you do not have to make them by yourself; talk with your doctors, nurses, family and friends,” she said. “I have an amazing family that supported me; prayed with me and for me, as well as cried with me and for me,” Swanberg said. Friends and neighbors were there for her, bringing food, taking her to appointments and to chemo. “It’s all about choices – much like choosing a New Year’s Resolution – what course of action will I take to combat cancer?” Swanberg said that the choice of those attending the Relay 4 Life Kickoff is that they will support the American Cancer Society through the Relays so that money raised will go to cancer research, support, house-cleaning and counseling and other items to benefit cancer patients. Swanberg said that she found out Dr. Sharma, with St. Jude, is involved in a
drug trial to combat triple negative cancer, the type of cancer she had. “With the support of ACS and other charities, St. Jude has been able to find a medication that seems to be successful with triple negative cancer and Dr. Sharma said that in the near future, cancer will be treated according to the patient’s own biological blueprint,” Swanberg said. According to Swanberg’s doctor, the side affects will be less because only the infected cells will be treated, instead of the entire body. “Research is the key to successfully combating cancer; your decision to support ACS is one of the best decisions you can make.” More than 100 people attended the Kick-off this year, with La Palma Mayor Ralph Rodriguez and La Palma Chief of Police Eric Nunez where there in support. Part of the Kick-off is to welcome and honor cancer survivors, and to hear a few words from each of them about the type of cancer they survived and how long ago it was; 20 survivors were in attendance this year. “I believe the success of our event was certainly measured by the magic in the air; the laughter filling the room and the excitement for a wonderful event on Saturday and Sunday, June 4 through 5,” Payette said. During the Kick-off also, five new cancer survivors signed-up and two ACS CAN memberships were made. For La Palma Relay 4 Life information, call Christine Payette at 714-8262052.
Jr. Olympic Jump ropers’ honored by city
La Palma Mayor Ralph Rodriguez presents recognition certificates to six “Outstanding Athletes” during City Council meeting. Photo by Loreen Berlin. By Loreen Berlin La Palma Mayor Ralph Rodriguez presented recognition certificates to six young ladies during City Council meeting for being “Outstanding Athletes” in the West Coast 2010 National Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games Jump Roping Competition. The girls being honored included Sarah Ito, Hallie Kaichi, Lyndsay Pike, Lauren Wada and Abigail Zhong, along with their Coach Richard Neder. Youth Sports Jump Rope competes in both USA Jump Rope and AAU Jump Rope Events and it is no easy competi-
tion; all require creative forms performed by athletes with lots of skill, control, strength, dance and intricate arm rope skills choreographed to music. Judges look for precision and synchronization between all jumpers in the routine and each Double Dutch team member has to both turn and jump during the routine or be disqualified. At all levels of AAU Jump Rope competition, athletes must compete in all component events to be eligible to receive a medal. For Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games Jump Roping information, visit www.AAU Junior Olympic Games Jump Roping.
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CITY
Continued from page 1 not happen on its own,” said Dumhart. “Often, the private sector is reluctant to invest in such areas because the risks and costs associated with doing so outweighs the benefits.” Redevelopment serves as a catalyst for private investment by providing the initial plan and seed money that ultimately breathes new life into areas in need of economic development and new opportunity. Redevelopment is also the second largest funding source for affordable housing, behind the federal government. Twenty percent of property taxes generated from redevelopment activities must be spent on affordable housing. This source of funds has been La Palma’s primary means of
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meeting the State’s low and moderateincome housing production goals. The CDC has been involved in redevelopment in La Palma since 1983. Many of the infrastructure improvements that have occurred due to redevelopment include: street and intersection reconstruction and upgrades; traffic signal installation; land acquisition for public improvements; flood control and storm drain construction; and bridge improvements. Redevelopment proceeds financially assisted with public facility needs such as the Police Department expansion and the recent Community Center rehabilitation. CDC efforts include the development of Centerpointe and the recruitment of enterprises such as Unisource Worldwide and Slater/IDG. According to Dumhart, La Palma has many future plans that hinge on the continued existence of redevelopment. The elimination of redevelopment will result in a loss of more than $3.376 million annually that is used to eliminate blight and create affordable housing in La Palma. Throughout California, redevelopment agencies support 304,000 jobs annually, including 170,600 construction jobs, contribute more than $40 billion annually to California’s economy in the generation of goods and services, and generate more than $2 billion in state and local taxes in a typical year.
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rain or shine. He arrives early with his parents to set up and is one of the last volunteers to help break down. Vincenti has also volunteered as a La Palma Neighborhood Watch Block Captain since the 6th grade, keeps up his grades and plays on his high school’s varsity golf team. He has been active in the La Palma Explorers and the Kennedy High Foundation, and he hopes to volunteer at the Tiger Woods Learning Center this summer helping to teach young people to golf. So it wasn’t hard for Project HOPE President Dianna Rodriguez to think of a deserving teen who should be nominated as an ABC7 Cool Kid. For 10 years one young adult has been showcased every Thursday on ABC7 from 4-5 pm for performing special deeds and service in their communities. Past winners have helped troubled teens, comforted individuals in pain, raised funds for cancer research and for hungry families in Africa, and participated in holiday food drives. Rodriguez said, “Mikey Vincenti is a very special kid who is so eager to help. There are so many teens that are not as mature or compassionate as he has shown to be over the years.
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He’s a great kid who deserves to be the ABC7 Cool Kid.” To Vincenti, volunteering and helping others is no big deal. “It makes me feel good when I’m here. People never know what’s going to happen to them in life,” he said. La Palma Mayor Ralph Rodriguez is very proud of Vincenti. “He may be very young, but he already understands the value of service and wanting to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Rodriguez. “Those values have been instilled in him by his family who are also volunteers with Project HOPE.” More than 120 volunteers have been active in the program that began more than 34 years ago. Donors include the Orange County Second Harvest Food Bank, FEMA, USDA Foods, Costco, Ralphs, Olive Garden Restaurants, Pizza Hut and numerous major and small donations from individuals.
La Palma Neighborhood Watch Honors Volunteers By Larry Caballero More than 150 La Palma Neighborhood Watch Volunteers and guests attended its 26th Annual Awards Celebration Feb. 17 at the La Palma Community Center to recognize 37 volunteer Block Captains and Coordinators. La Palma Neighborhood Watch was founded in 1985 to offer law enforcement “an extra set of eyes and ears in our homes and on our streets,” said President Dee Vincenti. Police Chief Eric Nunez complimented the volunteers and said, “We value the bragging rights we have at law enforcement gatherings when we report that every month NW volunteers hand deliver a community newsletter to each resident of La Palma. Our city is a better place because of you.” A special award was presented to District Coordinator Elfie Pangburn for her 25 years of service to the organization.
The Cerritos 1st CEB Adoption Committee Hosts 2nd annual OK Corral Bowl-A-Thon The community is invited to participate in a fund raising Bowl-A-Thon to be held Saturday March 19, 2011 at AMF Cerritos Lanes, 18810 Carmenita
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Road, with registration starting at 12 noon. The Bowl-A-Thon benefits the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion from Camp Pendleton that was “adopted” by the City of Cerritos in November of 2007. Entry fee is $25.00 per bowler which includes 2 games of bowling, rental shoes, ball, and “goody bag”. Business owners may also support this fundraiser by sponsoring a lane for either $50.00 or $25.00. Their business name will be displayed on a sign mounted on the scoring machine on one of the lanes, as well as on a handout distributed to all participants. In addition, the names of all businesses, donors, and supporters will be prominently displayed on a large poster at the registration table for all to see. Non bowlers may help sponsor a Marine to bowl with a financial donation. Clubs, groups, friends and families may form their own teams. Space is limited so please call early to sign up and reserve your lane. For information, please call Laurie Forward at 562-926-5971 or Joanne Witt at 562-860-2036. All proceeds benefit the Marines of the 1st CEB and their families. The Cerritos 1st CEB Adoption Committee ships care packages filled with “comfort items” not readily available to the Marines deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Donations to the Wounded Warriors fund are also made in honor of those members of the 1st CEB who have been lost in combat. Each month a Meritorious Marine is honored with a proclamation from the city and provided with an entertaining weekend in Cerritos. The Cerritos 1st CEB Adoption Committee also helps sponsor the annual 1st CEB Family Day Picnic and the “welcome home” ceremony for the returning members of the 1st CEB and their families. Come and show your support for the fine young men and women who serve our country with honor, integrity and valor.
Kids invited to ‘Spring Into Music’ at Fullerton Museum Center The FMC offers a special program designed to teach youngsters to become guitar virtuosos and will be held from.10 a.m. - noon daily April 11-15. The intensive introductory class will include guitar instruction, music, and games. Classes will be held at FMC, 301 N. Pomona Ave., one block east of Harbor Boulevard, in downtown Fullerton. Fee for class is $80/student for members of the FMC, and $90 for the general public. The fee includes all materials, and acoustic Fender guitars will be available for students to use in class and at home. Registration and further information for “Spring into Music” may be obtained by calling the Fullerton Museum Center at (714) 738-6545.
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LA PALMA COMMUNITY NEWS • MARCH 2011
ABCUSD faces drastic classroom cuts if tax extension is not approved by voters By Jerry Bernstein Under pressure from the Los Angeles County Board of Education, ABCUSD must come up with two budget scenarios for the 2011-12 fiscal year and two subsequence years. This is part of the second interim budget report required by the state. Members of the ABC school board discussed the two budgets at its Feb. 22 meeting, one that could lead to closing two schools and limit programs to the classroom only. Budget “A” is based on the assumption a proposed tax extension will be placed on the ballot and approved by the people, resulting in no additional cuts in funding for education. Budget “B” would assume the proposed tax extensions would not be approved resulting in new education cuts that would force drastic reductions in the ABC school program, including layoffs. The Governor’s proposed budget includes $12 billion in revenues. The tax extension he is urging voters to approve in a special election in June includes Personal Income Tax, Sales Tax, Vehicle License Fee and Department Exemption Credit for five more years. In addition the Governor proposed $12.5 billion in cuts and $1.9 billion in other funding/borrowing. If the legislature approves the special election and if the voters reject the tax extension, “Budget B” may be implemented. School Board President Maynard Law said the District would be facing a $10 million shortfall for the next fiscal year.
“Unfortunately we can’t print money like the federal government can. Nor can we use trickery to balance our budget similar to what the state legislature has been doing for the past few years. We have to approve a balanced budget.” He said ABC still has a world-class education system and the Board’s goal is to maintain it. Superintendent Dr. Gary Smuts said Plan “A” means we have to close a $3.5 million deficit. Plan B means we will have to close a $10 million deficit in ABC. He said, “We have listed some $17 million in options. Those are simply brainstorming ideas. Some of them would be great challenges for us to implement.” Dr. Smuts said the Board has has cut some $30 million from the budget during the past five years when it should have received approximately $46 million in statutory funding.” He said, "We have involved all employee groups, PTA Counsel etc." We are seeking information and providing information,” he asserted. “Simply continuing the way we are, we are taking millions of dollars from our employees in lost wages and COLA and our school year is smaller. In addition class size has been increasing.” He said, “We cannot take those sacrifices for granted. We have no choice but to present a balance budget.” He said under Plan “B” the money the state would give ABC would only permit the “core” classroom experience. AFT President Laura Rico said she was speaking for all the District’s unions, pledging they will continue to work with the administration. However, she warned the union members cannot carry much more of this burden on their backs. Board members appealed to the community at large to contact their legislators in Sacramento and urge them to place the
proposal to extend the taxes on a June ballot and let the people make the final decision. They said it made no different if you are a Republican or Democrat, the education of the children comes first. Asked about Cuesta Villas and the district’s plans to move out of its present quarters, Dr. Smuts said the city of Cerritos, through its Redevelopment Agency will give the District $5 million. The money will be use to remodel the new administration building on 166th Street and pay the cost of moving. He said hopefully the District would be in its new quarters by the Winter Break of our next school year. He noted that because of the raids on the city’s redevelopment funds during the past two years, the implementation of the agreement would be done in phases. Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Mike Gomez reminded the Board of his city’s commitment to the education of their children and pledged to work with he District. He said for the past two years the city has paid for summer school programs for the schools in Hawaiian Gardens and at its meeting that night donated $5,000 to Melbourne Elementary School and $5,000 to Fedde Middle School. He urged the board not to cut the after school programs if possible. “Our children need these programs as part of their education.” Dr. Smuts said the average contributions to students in the rest of the country are $3,000 per student more than California students receive. He said, “We cannot do business as usual. “We’re at a point, a crisis point, and we will do the best we can.” He asked the public for their ideas and comment. He said the Board will come back on Mar. 1 and hope the people will come and talk to the board. On Mar. 15 the board will have to vote for a budget plan.
GOALS
Continued from page 1 in promoting the City, and “not wait until another city such as Bell is in the headlines.” Highest priorities included continuing to enhance business retention efforts, develop/improve underutilized retail properties and adopt a balanced budget while ensuring future financial stability. Lazzaretto emphasized that the goal is not to solve all the problems in one day because “there is no magic bullet,” but Waldman wanted to emphasize that he was not in favor of balancing the budget by raising revenues or using the General Fund Reserves. He preferred the City reduce expenditures as much as possible. Waldman concluded, “Yet a city does take taxes from its residents to provide services—we’re not a business to make a profit.” Rodriguez emphasized that one exception could be reserves for ongoing operations. Charoen agreed with Waldman, but he thought “we should shoot for loftier goals without increasing revenues.” Shanahan agreed that a balanced budget is the goal, and “we should make cuts first.” Budget concerns will be a problem this year because of the tough economic times that all of the cities are facing, but also because labor negotiations with City employees over salary and benefits could put added pressure on balancing the budget. Sign up to receive FREE LOCAL COUPONS sent right to your email inbox! Go to www.yourcitycoupons.net and sign up!
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