LH Girls Softball 18U win State Title See Sports Page 13
La Habra’s Independent Community Newspaper
www.lahabrajournal.com
No. 95459
July 23, 2015
La Habra delays vote on water increase
Carrying the torch
By Jay Seidel La Habra Journal
Jay Seidel/ La Habra Journal.
Host Town: La Habra welcomed the Torch Monday on the final leg of the run for the 2015 Los Angeles World Games. The city is a host town for athletes, their families and staff from Norway, Lithuania and Myanmar. These athletes will be recognized at the concert in the park this Thursday at El Centro/Lions Park.
The La Habra City Council decided to delay voting on a possible rate increase to water, sewer and refuse fees at its meeting Monday. Mayor Pro Tem Jim Gomez urged the council to delay the vote to ensure the public had the proper notification and ability to comment on the possible increase. He explained that due to a filing error by the city staff, the residents might not have the proper 45-day notification of the potential increase. “It’s a matter of transparency and doing the right thing for the people of La Habra,” Gomez said. Notification will be sent out in the next water bill as well as advertisements in local publications. If residents would like to voice their comments about an increase they are welcome to contact and email the city. More information can be found on the city’s website.
Heights council contemplates commercial center By Daniel Hernandez La Habra Journal
LA HABRA HEIGHTS
A shopping center with a coffee shop atmosphere, a place where the community can congregate and the possibility of the city’s first commercial real estate development — La Habra Heights city officials voted, 4-1, to enter into an exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) with Prism Realty Corp. of Orange County, who may be interested in breaking the city’s rural barriers and opening up such ventures. LHH Councilman Roy Francis cast the lone no vote for the ENA, while the other four elected officials expressed curiosity and some interest in what plans Prism Realty has to offer the city, citing no immediate intention on allowing the commercial real estate developers to purchase the land. “I don’t think there’s any harm in getting information from that group (Prism Realty),” LHH Mayor Pro Tem Kyle Miller said. “It doesn’t require us to
approve or take any action, so if they’re interested, I’m interested in hearing what they have to say.” The private investor, Costa Mesa-based Prism Realty, approached the city in December 2014 concerning the parcel of land located near The Park on the corner of Hacienda and West Road, according to Ben Kim, the city’s principal planner. The approved ENA is a guarantee from the city for 180 days to not entertain any other offers from other companies who may want to purchase the 2.99 acre vacant parcel of land, which the city purchased from Los Angeles County around 2004. The ENA also includes the option of extending the agreement to an additional three more 180 day periods of exclusivity. See PROPERTY Page 4
WHAT ’ S INSIDE THIS ISSUE Advance! on to College opens doors to new facility.
LH moves more and gets health with growing successful program
FEATURES PAGE 7
FEATURES PAGES 8
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Jay Seidel/La Habra Journal Future site?: The La Habra Heights City Council approved researching the possibility of developing the city’s first commercial site located on the corner of West and Hacienda Roads. There are currently no plans to develop the land and the council will continue to discuss it at future meetings.
LH Resident’s memoirs detail s escaping Cuban prisons. FEATURES PAGE 9
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Recreational Open Swim Monday thru Thursday from 1-3 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. -3 p.m. at the La Habra High School pool. $2 for adults 18+ and $1 for kids 17 and under.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Ezaki Dentistry is having a special ribbon cutting and open house today from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also, you won’t want to miss a book signing by Molly Knight. She will be debuting her book about the Los Angeles Dodgers, “The Best Team Money Can Buy.” Knight is a Sonora High School graduate and a La Habra native. This all takes place at Ezaki Dentistry, 16336 E. Whittier Blvd., Whittier.
Free Concerts in the Park presents Retro Soul. Concert is from 7-9 p.m. at El Centro/Lions Park, 320 E. Erna Ave. Food trucks, vendors and local non-profits will be available. Don’t forget your lawn chairs and blankets!
Friday, July 24, 2015
Kids Night Out! Kids can enjoy games, crafts, dinner, popcorn and a movie from 6-10:30 p.m. at the La Habra Community Center while the parents can enjoy a night out of their own. Cost is $15 per child. For more information call 562-383-4200.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
La Habra Historical Museum is open on Saturday’s from 12-4 p.m.201 E. La Habra Blvd. (just North of the library). PizzaRev in La Habra, 1841 W. Imperial Hwy, will be hosting a fundraiser for the La Habra Boys & Girls Club. Just mention the fundraiser at the register and PizzaRev will donate 20% of your purchase to the fundraiser between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Hike en Espanol. Durante el camino vamos a hablar en Espanol un poco sorbre las plantas y animals de el canon, y la gente que vivia en el canon. Thambien vamos a pasar por las casas de los murcielagos y caminar cerca el arroyo Hacienda. Camina covere approximadamente 2.3 milas. Hacienda Hills Trail, South 7th Ave & Orange Grove Ave from 8-10 a.m.
Sunday, July 26, 2015
PizzaRev in La Habra, 1841 W. Imperial Hwy, will be hosting a fundraiser for La Habra Health & Fitness Center. Just mention the fundraiser at the register and PizzaRev will donate 20% of your purchase to the fundraiser between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Monday, July 27, 2015
La Habra City Planning Commission Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
La Habra Heights Planning Commission Meeting begins at 6 p.m.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Music in the Park in La Habra Heights presents Brooks & Dunn Tribute from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Be sure to bring your chairs and blankets. Food is available for purchase.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Free Concerts in the Park presents Hip Street. Concert is from 7-9 p.m. at El Centro/Lions Park, 320 E. Erna Ave. Food trucks, vendors and the Bamboo Club Kid Zone will be available. Don’t forget your lawn chairs and blankets!
Dive-In Movie at the La Habra High School Pool presents Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs 2. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the movie begins at dusk. Cost is $5 per person. For more information call 562-383-4200.
PizzaRev in La Habra, 1841 W. Imperial Hwy, will be hosting a fundraiser for the La Habra Community Resource Center. Just mention the fundraiser at the register and PizzaRev will donate 20% of your purchase to the fundraiser between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Back to School Health Fair! SchoolAge children can receive free dental, vision and sports physical health screenings. You can also receive nutrition education, backpacks, haircuts and lots of fun activities. This all takes place from 9-Noon at 501 S. Idaho Street. For more information call 562-690-4001.
Auto • Home • Office
Jay Seidel/La Habra Journal
Honoring a hero: La Habra Councilman Tom Beamish (left) along with the La Habra Business Connection and the American Legion Post 267 gave recognition to La Habra World War II Navy veteran Bob Sivertsen during it’s monthly flag raising ceremony last week at Chick-Fil-A.
La Habra Photographer Wins International Competition
La Habra Chamber presents annual awards
With entries from around the The La Habra Area Chamber of world, La Habra photographer Suzy Commerce presented its awards at Ro is a Winner in the 2015 Jamestown Westridge Golf Course. (New York) Audubon Nature Photog- Citizen of the Year- Mayor Pro Tem raphy Contest. James Gomez The categories for submissions of Youth of the Year- Carrera Vilaubi photographs Business of the Year- Central Drugs were L andCompounding Pharmacy scapes, Plants Entrepreneur of the Year- Living (including Justly Industries, Inc. trees, fungi, President’s Award- Cindy and Danlichens, mossny Singer es, etc.), and George Rochester Award- Captain Wildlife (aniErnie Ramirez LACFD mals in their natural habitats), with Chamber Award- Coach Frank Adult and Youth (18 and under or Mazzotta still in high school) Divisions in each Business Revitalization- McDonalds category. Scott Lawrence Award- Victor Ro’s “Lone Tree” won the Adult Laveaga Landscape category. Chamber Appreciation Award- ErMore than 400 entries were sub- nesto Oros mitted in the Adult Division from Golden Apple Award- Matt Tiberg 34 states in the United States and 12 & Kathy Silvas foreign countries. The Youth Division Special Appreciation Award- Barry had 140 entries from 19 states and Unparelleled Ross &Real Robert Morales Estate Services... from our Family to You three foreign countries. Finalists came Chamber Night Special Award Lar(562)and 547-4489 from as far away as China, Italy and Pam ry Kennedy Rottweiler Armando Gomez. Terry Kennedy (562) 458-7948 Romania. Terry Pam Chris Chris Kennedy (562) 537-8701
OLG is having their monthly food drive for the La Habra Resource Center. Anyone and everyone is invited to come to the church parking lot today between 5-6 p.m. or Sunday from 6-11:30 a.m. to donate your canned goods, dry goods and toiletries. The food collection is for our La Habra citizens in need.
Monday, August 3, 2015
La Habra City Council Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Music in the Park in La Habra Heights presents Neil Diamond Tribute from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Be sure to bring your chairs and blankets. Food is available for purchase.
Jay Seidel/La Habra Journal
Training engineers: La Habra Public Works Director Elias Saykali listens to the presentation of projects by students at the Engineering Convention at Washington Middle School on July 9. The students were part of the La Habra City School District’s Summer Science Academy.
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OPINION
Relief & the rest of time By Amanda Bishop Political science and history student at Biola University
“The best anti-poverty program is a job,” President Obama stated during a discussion on poverty at Georgetown University this spring. He’s not the first to observe this in the United States. But what about abroad? Could it be that the jobs created by businesses are the antidote to extreme poverty? In 2011, Yale and the Brookings Institution teamed up in a study of global poverty. The results were exciting: from 1981 to 2011 extreme poverty dropped from being the reality for most people (52%), to less than an eighth (15%) of the global population. What caused this great success? The Yale study found national growth in businesses was central. According to the study, “The poor countries that display the greatest success today are those that are... pursuing sensible and strategic economic policies to spur investment, trade and job creation.” As is pointed out by the international investors at Norfund, “There are no examples of countries that have achieved lasting improvements of living conditions without economic growth.” In fact, business investment is essential for “economic growth and long term, sustainable poverty alleviation.” Economic growth through businesses is a key component of lifting people out of poverty. Yet charitable organizations often take a different tack: Donate your cash, outdated cell phone, and gently used clothing. Buy our product and we’ll give a poor kid in Africa shoes. Allocate part of the national budget to government-to-government aid. If business and job creation are at the core of eradicating extreme poverty, why do we continue to champion secondary means of addressing the issue? I think we are misdiagnosing the problem. We try to ‘fix’ chronic poverty with temporary relief. Relief is a useful, even critical, tool for immediate needs following a crisis.
The La Habra Journal is an independent, locally owned and run, community newspaper published bimonthly and serving the cities of La Habra and La Habra Heights. The Journal’s mission is to provide a vehicle of communication for the whole community and bring the community members together. The La Habra Journal welcomes views and comments from the community. All letters to the editor need to have a name for publication. Comments by the community are the views of the community and subject to verification. Authors will be contacted and notified prior to publication of their letters. The La Habra City Council meets the first and third Mondays of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Civic Center. The La Habra Heights City Council meets on the second Thursday of the month at City Hall at 6 p.m. The La Habra Journal is a proud member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association.
Editor: Jay Seidel Copy Editor Kyra Kirkwood Operations Manager: Jennifer Seidel Advertising Director Sue Thompson Founding Partners: Jane Williams Nancy Bishop Dotty Shively Reporters: Katelyn Chavez, Taylor Engle,Christian Fletcher, Jackie Garcia, Daniel Hernandez, Erik Markus, Genesis Miranda, Stephanie Stevenson, Shanin Thomas Photographers: Nicole Anderson, Jenny Montes de Oca
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GUEST COLUMN
If my heart stops suddenly, I need the relief provided by a defibrillator. But once the immediate crisis has passed it’s fatal to continue jolting me with electricity. I need to switch to a longer term solution, perhaps eating cheerios and other heart healthy foods. Similarly, relief is not suited to the longterm work of development and when used as such, often does more harm than good. Sometimes when we encounter extreme poverty we see it as if it were a defibrillator situation. “People don’t have shoes. We must get shoes to them right away!” We flood the needy area with free shoes from a non-profit, driving the local shoemaker out of business. But once the charitably donated shoes wear out, the problem resurfaces. We’ve misdiagnosed the problem and thus offered the wrong remedy. We can better respond to chronic poverty with sustainable development. Organizations like HOPE International and Kiva fight for sustainable solutions by providing financial services for people in poverty. They are empowering businessmen and women who create jobs and wealth in communities. To that end, here are some questions to ask before giving to a charity: 1. What kind of help is needed here, relief or development? 2. Does the relief/development provided match the need? (You wouldn’t send blankets to people suffering from a drought.) 3. Is this organization trustworthy? Check it’s www.charitynavigator.org rating. It’s time to put away the defibrillators and switch to a sustainable development diet, for the long term health of our world.
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COMMENTARY
Take time to appreciate all of the little things There is no lack of interesting or amazing people in La Habra and La Habra Heights. People who we run into on a regular basis throughout our days, and who have these great stories that not many people get to hear. From World War II veteran Bob Sivertsen and his time as a PBY pilot in the South Pacific. There’s Ernesto Oros, who commutes from Banning to La Habra three to four times a week to get rid of the graffiti in the city. Then there’s George Duarte. As you will read in the article about his story of being a political prisoner in Castro’s Cuba. How, through shear will and determination, he was able to escape from three different prisons, eventually get to the United States and create a new life for himself. What was his crime? He wanted to leave Cuba to the United States to join his mother. In speaking with him and reading about his story, I am in awe by his determination and faith that he would make it to America. Further, George is one of the most patriotic Americans I have ever met. He is appreciative of the opportunities this country has given him and credits the
US for his ability to own a home, run a business, raise a family and live in a great country. He has never lost sight of what America is and means to its citizens. I found my appreciation paled in comparison to his and I realized that we can often lose sight of just how lucky we are to live in this country. We sometimes get caught up in political partisanship or lost in our focus on pop culture and our efforts to keep up with the Kardashians. This can make us lose sight of the things we take for granted in this country. The little things that we can miss. In speaking with George, it made me conscious of the things I’ve taken for granted. So, for that I am appreciative. I encourage you all to take a look at George’s story, or Bob’s story or even Ernesto’s story, then take the time to appreciate all the little things we take for granted. I will always be grateful that I am a citizen of the US, and I am honored to have individuals like these three in our community.
—The Editor
Amanda Bishop is a senior at Biola University double-majoring in political science and history. A La Habra local. She studied international development through a program in Washington, D.C. last semester. She is currently interning for the micro-enterprise non-profit HOPE International.
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Advance! opens doors to new assistance offices By Taylor Engle La Habra Journal
Advance! hosted an open house at its new location in the Friends of Family Health Center building on July 16. Previously located on La Habra Boulevard, they have been at the health center since March. Advance!, an organization devoted to providing students with information and assistance in the college application and financial aid process, was founded in 2002. The nonprofit group offers an array of services, including but not limited to helping students with their personal statements and essays, helping students apply for financial aid and scholarships, and helping students figure out which schedules and programs will work best for them at the college of their choice. All of their services are free. The first year Advance! opened, they helped 51 students. The organization had a desk and four chairs—not even a computer. So far for 2015, the staff has met with 1,093 students and has helped 811 of those with their financial aid and/or college applications.
The staff is made up of volunteers, interns, and part-time employees devoted to helping make college a reality for aspiring students. “About 90% of the students we see are first-generation college students, and our staff reflects that,” said Co-founder Fred Lentz. “Everyone on our staff is bilingual, first-generation college students who come from a low-income family. They are a prototype of the kind of students we help.” Much of the staff started out as interns and decided to stay on board. “I got officially hired in January,” said former intern Veronica Phillips. “I love it here and decided I wanted to stay as long as I can.” The new office, a 1,400 square foot space, is much roomier than the staff was used to. It contains an office for Lentz, an office for treasurer Habib Captan, a large computer area for the students to work, a kitchen, and a conference room. The open house was meant as a platform for the staff to demonstrate to the community the services that Advance! offers, introduce the community to the new office space, and provide refreshments. Slideshows filled with pictures
LOCAL NEWS
Jay Seidel/La Habra Journal
College prep: Advance! on to College opened its doors to its new facility on Idaho Street. The La Habra-based non-profit helps students prepare for and gain access to college.
of the staff in action were playing throughout the open house. There was also a bulletin board with pictures and information on Advances! services and events, along with basic information on CSUs and UCs for inquiring students. Advance! also took the opportunity to inform attendants about La Habra Goes To College, an annual event to inform students and parents about the college process which will be taking place September 27 at the La
Habra Community Center. “This organization is so great because it gives students the realization that there is a believable path they can take to have a future in college,” said board member and La Habra City Councilwoman Rose Espinoza. Phillips explained that Advance! has also helped students from all over Northern Orange and Los Angeles Counties. She added, that “the numbers just keep climbing.”
Friends of Family opens new dental clinic in LH By Taylor Engle La Habra Journal
Friends of Family Health Center celebrated the grand opening of the new dental clinic on July 15. There were appetizers, wine tasting, a ribbon cutting ceremony, and an informative tour of the facilities. Executive Director of the La Habra Community Collaborative Sandi Baltes organized the event at the request of Friends of Family Health Center founder and chairman Albert
Barnett, M.D. Councilman Jim Gomez and President of the La Habra Chamber of Commerce Mark Sturdevant were in attendance to cut the ribbon and recognize the health center for their hard work and dedication to the community. “We are so excited to be able to serve more people of the La Habra community,” said Friends of Family CEO Bahram Bahremand. “I thank the board members of the center for
making this possible. We are just trying to do a good thing for the city and its residents.” The Friends of Family Health Center is a nonprofit organization that has been providing La Habra residents with high-quality affordable healthcare regardless of insurance. Prior to the grand opening, the dental clinic only offered pediatric services. It will now provide dental care to both children and adults. The clinic has expanded from being
a three dentist practice to four. “The new office is great; renovations have been made and we have more space,” said Dr. Susan Wang, who has been a dentist at the clinic for six years. Immediately following the ribbon cutting, guests were given a tour of the new clinic by the dentists and managing staff. The staff wanted to make sure the guests were shown around the office and made aware of the different services they have to provide.
PROPERTY: Council to hear proposal for market From Page 1
“Everything that Prism does during this ENA period will likely help to improve the fair market value of the property,” City Manager Shauna Clark said. The property, which was purchased by the city for a new fire station and city hall, is currently not up for sale, but once the city hall and the fire department were built in its current place, the land became known as surplus, Clark said. If officials decide to begin the process of selling the property, the city needs to declare the property surplus to other government and quasi government entities, which include low cost housing developers, surrounding cities, the county, water districts and school districts, Clark said. “Those other governments then have first right of refusal to purchase the property for their own use. They
have to pay fair market value,” Clark wrote in an email. After tallying the lone no vote for the ENA, Francis expressed concern in opening up the doors to Prism Realty by allowing the company to outline the details of its plans to the city. “When I ran for city council both times, I said I would do my best to uphold the general plan. The general plan says there’s no commercial development,” Francis said. “My feeling was, you know, take it to the voters. If they want to change it, okay.” Residents who took to the podium explained some other possible unintended consequences of opening up to the possibility of commercial development in LHH. “Realistically if we allow one area to be developed for commercial real estate, there’s no way for us to say no to anywhere else in the city,” LHH resident Scott Thomas said.
Thomas also expressed concern about added traffic and the spending required to maintain the roads from the added traffic. “This is not compatible with our lifestyle in the Heights. This is not compatible with our goals in the Heights as I have always understood them,” Thomas said. LHH Mayor Michael Higgins seemed open to the possibility of adding an asset to the city with potential revenue. Currently the city has only one commercial area, a real estate office. “I can envision a project that could enhance the rural aspect,” Higgins said. Except for Francis, council members entertained the idea of listening to what Prism Realty had to offer for the vacant land sitting unused in a heavy traffic flow area. “It’s a parcel of land by itself just sitting there vacant. It really doesn’t have
much value,” LH Heights Councilman Brian Bergman said. A place for the neighborhood community to gather and discuss ideas in a project designed to blend in with the city, if done right, could serve the community well, Miller said about how he envisions the property being developed. But even if city officials entertain the idea of selling the property to Prism with the intention to develop it commercially, the city would need a zone change. “The lot is zoned for public facilities (PF). No one, except another government, could acquire and do anything on that lot without a zone change,” Clark said in the email. “A zone change is an extensive process involving planning, public hearings, the planning commission and eventually the council.”
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COMMUNITY RELIGIOUS SERVICES Bethany Romanian Baptist Church 1431 W. La Habra Blvd. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 690-3844
Beth Shalom 14564 Hawes Street, Whittier, CA 90604 562-941-8744 Erev Shabbat Services every Friday at 7:30 pm Shabbat Services every Saturday at 9:45. Calvary Chapel 1370 South Euclid Street La Habra (714) 446-6222 Services: Sunday 9 a.m., & 11 a.m. Wednesday 7 p.m. www.cclhabra.org Calvary Chapel Into the Light 217 North Walnut Street La Habra (562) 690-3000 Services: Sunday (English) 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. (Spanish) 10:30 a.m. Casa de Oracion 150 E. 1st Ave. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 278-4282 Services: Thursday 7 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m., 6 p.m. Church of Christ 1621 West Lambert Road La Habra (562) 697-4115 Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m., 6 p.m. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 2351 E La Habra Blvd. La Habra (562) 691-1212 Community Bible Church 401 E. 1st Ave. La Habra (562) 691-2798 Service: Sunday 11 a.m. Crossroads Community Church 222 N. Euclid La Habra (562) 691-6674 Service: Sunday 10 a.m. Emanuel Lutheran Church 150 N. Palm Street La Habra (562) 691-0656 Service: Sunday 9 & 10:30 a.m. Family Bible Church 123 E. 2nd Ave. La Habra (562) 694-9900 Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m., Tuesday 6:30 p.m., Friday 6:30 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. Facebook: Family Bible Church of La Habra Green Hills Baptist 2200 West Imperial Hwy. La Habra (562) 943-7291 Services: Sunday (English) 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m. (Spanish) 11 a.m. (Korean) 1 p.m. Heights Worship Center International Ministries 2000 West Road La Habra Heights (626) 893-9963 Service: Sunday 8:30-10 a.m. Friday: 7 p.m. Youth worship & Adult Connection Rev. N. Jaren Lapasaran, Jr. - Sr. pastor www.hwcim.org Hillcrest Congregational Church UCC 2000 West Road La Habra Heights, CA 90631 www.hillcrest-church.org Rev. Paul Clay, Senior Pastor Worship service: Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Home of Hillcrest Country Day School Church office - (562) 947-3755 School office – (562) 533-2354
Inglesia Bautista 700 W. La Habra Blvd. La Habra (562) 691-8162 Services: Sunday 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. Bible Sudy, prayer service Wed. 7 p.m. Bilingual services Korean Gospel Presbyterian Church 1751 West La Habra Boulevard La Habra (562) 694-6214 Services: Sunday 9 a.m., 11 a.m. La Habra Christian Church 400 Bella Vista Drive La Habra Heights (562) 691-0514 Services: Sunday 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. La Habra Foursquare Mission 324 E. 1st Ave. La Habra (562) 694-2224 Services: Sunday 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m. La Habra Hills Presbyterian 951 N. Idaho Street La Habra (562) 691-3296 Service: Sunday 10 a.m. La Habra United Methodist 631 N. Euclid St. La Habra (562) 691-1797 Service: Sunday 10:30 a.m. Lighthouse Landmark Missionary Baptist Church 550 N. Euclid St. La Habra (562) 697-1364 Service: Sunday 10:45 a.m. Lutheran Church of the Master 1601 West La Habra Blvd. La Habra (562) 697-2884 Service Sunday 9 a.m.
Morningstar Christian Chapel 16241 Leffingwell Road Whittier, CA 90603 (562) 943-0297 Service: Sunday 8:30, 9:45, 11:30 a.m. Sunday Evening 7:00 p.m. Wednesday Evening 7:00 p.m. Young Adults (18-25): Friday 7:00 p.m. Jack Abeelen Senior Pastor www.morningstarcc.org Mission Presbyterian Church 1901 E. Lambert Rd. Suite 105 La Habra (714) 448-3305 Services: Sunday 10:30 a.m., Wednesday 7 p.m.. mid-week study Na Sung 1620 Fullerton Road La Habra Heights (562) 690-7979 Services: Sunday 8 a.m., 11 a.m. New Life Church of La Habra 740 E. Lambert Rd. Unit E La Habra (562) 694-5534 newlifechurchlahabra.com Services: Sunday 10 a.m., 6 p.m.; Our Lady of Guadalupe 900 West La Habra Boulevard La Habra (562) 691-0533 www.olglahabra.org Call or visit for service information Potter’s Christian Fellowship 740 East Lambert Road La Habra (562) 690-7020 Service: Sunday 10 a.m. Redemption Hill Church Sonora High School 401 S. Palm St. La Habra, CA (562) 947-4791 Service: Sunday 10 a.m. www.rhchurches.com
INSPIRATIONAL CORNER
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By Dennis Laherty, the Co-Pastor of Emanuel Lutheran Church, La Habra
What inspires you? What do you find inspiring? Have you ever felt inspired? Does inspiration usually come to you from one direction? Nearly all religions of the world have sacred writings that are viewed as inspired. Followers of a particular religion tend to cherish the writings as coming from a higher power. The term “higher power” comes from the Alcoholics Anonymous community. I use it here, because depending on the particular religion, the origin of the inspired word isn’t necessarily known, other than it comes from a deity or at least from some power greater than ourselves. In addition to being inspired by the written word, there are other forms of inspiration as well. Personally, it was several years ago now that I had the opportunity to motorcycle up to the Berthoud Pass in Colorado. The highway winds up and around the mountain. At eleven thousand feet it’s not the highest mountain in Colorado. Yet, I’ll never forget the moment I reached the top. There I sat with almost a 360 degree view of the Rocky Mountains. It was the most inspiring view I’ve ever seen. For me the inspiration came from the unquestionable existence of a Creator. There are certainly many vehicles of inspiration in the world: attending the birth of a child, having a friend contact you at an unexpected moment when hearing from them at that time means so much, overcoming an illness that was expected to be so serious and ends up going away, hearing the words “I love you” at a time it means so much. These are all moments of inspiration. There are certainly many more examples of having one’s life touched by inspiration. So again, what inspires you? What do you find inspiring? Have you ever felt inspired? If I may suggest taking a moment to consider inspiration because the moment may be now. Rehoboth Reformed Church 501 South Idaho Street #120 La Habra (626) 820-9390 Service: Sunday 10 a.m. St. Paul Lutheran Church 111 W. Las Palmas Drive Fullerton, CA 92835
714-879-8290 Services: Sunday Liturgical 8.a.m. and 11 a.m. Praise: 9:30 a.m. Vineyard North Orange County 615 S. Palm St La Habra (562) 697-4600
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Meeting High Standards With Challenging Learning Opportunities July 21, 2015
Our schools cannot do it alone. We applaud and appreciate the support we receive from the La Habra community. We can all share a sense of pride in the strategic growth in our academic programs in the 2014-15 school year.
Shifting Standards & Assessments In the spring of 2015, students in grades 3-8 in the La Habra City School District took the new California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). These assessments are aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics. They are comprehensive end of year assessments of grade-level learning that measure progress toward college and career readiness. Expectations have been raised for what skills students need to be prepared for college and/or careers. This year’s results will likely show that most students will need to make substantial progress to master these desired skills. The new CAASPP is a computer based assessment that is unlike the previous paper/pencil California Standards Test (CST) as the CST test measured a different set of skills. Scores on the online CAASPP will not be comparable to CST test scores and these results are a baseline for measuring future growth. As students spend more time with the new curriculum, and become more familiar with the new assessments be assured that their skills and scores will improve. The La Habra City School District Board of Trustees is committed to supporting 21 st Century Education and preparing all students for college and careers. They are committed to supporting the instructional shift to much more rigorous standards and instructional practices making college and career readiness across all content areas the main goal areas for all children.
Measure ‘O’ Moving Forward
Engineering to Engage!
When students return to Walnut School in August they will find a new and improved lunch area. These upgrades mark the beginning of the Measure ‘O’ Phase II projects. Phase II focuses on our 3-5 schools with Walnut being the first in line for modernization.
Have you ever wondered how a Maglev train moves? Just ask a 7th grade student in the La Habra City School District’s Summer Science Academy. Emphasizing the importance of Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication, students worked in teams to solve an engineering design challenge.
In addition to a new lunch area, modernization projects Walnut School Lunch Area at Walnut will also include the creation of 21st Century classrooms as well as improvements to the electrical and heating and air conditioning systems.
They were introduced to the five step Engineering Design Process – Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Innovate – and presented with a real-world problem based in a specific engineering field.
Measure ‘O’ projects also continue at Imperial and Washington Middle Schools. The Academy Centers at both schools, as well as the first round of classroom modernizations, are complete Washington Middle School Academy Center and awaiting furniture and equipment. Additional modernization projects to create 21st Century teaching and learning spaces include the 6th grade classroom wing at Washington and three Science classrooms at Imperial.
Capturing wind power
Through this process students have the opportunity to explore science and engineering principles. They are engaged in an inquiry based design solution process requiring them to critically evaluate the success or failure of their Designing an electric alarm circuit solution, refine their design, and discover that one problem may have many solutions. On Thursday, July 9th, community members were invited to an ‘Engineering Convention’ where student teams showcased their final projects.
As we continue to expand our 1:1 technology initiative into 8th grade, over 600 Imperial Middle School Academy Center iPads are ready for our students when they return in August. We are thankful to the citizens of La Habra for their support in passing Measure ‘O’ to provide all these improvements to our facilities for our students.
A working model Maglev train
Important Back-to-School Dates
We know how busy you are and can’t always attend a meeting or make a phone call. Let’s Talk is open 24/7 to take your comments, compliments, and feedback.
Kindergarten Orientation .............................................. August 14th
First Day of School:
You are important to us and by using the included QR code or accessing the Let’s Talk tab on our District’s website at www.Lahabraschools.org you have the opportunity to start a dialogue with the District on any topic. Staff is committed to respond to your input within two business days.
TK, K-7 Grades ............................................................. August 17th 8th Grade ..................................................................... August 18th
Keeping you informed about your public schools Office of Superintendent Susan Belenardo
500 North Walnut Street
La Habra, CA 90631
(562) 690–2305
www.lahabraschools.org
7
FEATURES
LH Heights ranked Top 10 safest city in the state By Shanin Thomas La Habra Journal
La Habra Heights – According to a recent analysis, the city of La Habra Heights was ranked tenth on the list of safest cities in California. The analysis, created by ValuePenguin which is a website that provides visual tools to explain data and research, included the most recent Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Crime Report to determine the safety of California cities. La Habra Heights is ranked seventh in cities ranging in population from 5,000 to 20,000, ultimately ranking 10th overall. In order to efficiently rank over 400 California cities, the data collected involved property crimes, like burglary or arson, and violent crimes, like murder or assault. Almost 100 years ago the city of La Habra Heights was simply an avocado grove. Gradually it has become a
charming, secluded area of unique residences. “It gives me great pleasure knowing that the city of La Habra Heights is recognized as one of the safest cities in California,” said Michael Higgins, La Habra Heights mayor. “The report is only one of the confirmations that the city is moving in the right direction. Our city can never be too safe.” La Habra Heights does not have sidewalks, curbs, or street lights and most residents often feel comfortable enough to decide not to lock their doors. Real estate agent and longtime resident, Jan Fiore, said that this may be the exact reason why the city is safe. She said that the combination of no streetlights, curbs, or sidewalks does not seem inviting to criminals. “This is not a place where criminals want to be because they cannot get in and out quickly,” she said. Most residents living within the La
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Habra Heights boundaries stay for a long amount of time. Additionally, no two homes in the city of La Habra Heights are the same. “You can create whatever you want,” Fiore said. Basketball courts, large gardens, horse stables, or anything else a residence may want can be allotted in a home in La Habra Heights, while still being near major cities, schools, and shopping centers. Higgins and La Habra Heights’ council members said they try to prevent problems within the city before they happen. Still, the mayor believes it is not just one organization or individual that has created such a safe environment. Organizations, council members, city managers, and volunteers are all accredited to maintain public safety and the quality of living in this unique city, he said. “It takes good city management and good residents combined. With-
out everyone working together it does not happen and we are fortunate to have this combination of people,” Higgins said. Kyle Miller, La Habra Heights Mayor Pro Tem, said that he and the council members tackle their goals of public safety on a day to day basis. Because the council members have set such high goals, this is not the first time the city of La Habra Heights has been listed as a top city. According to the California Policy Center, La Habra Heights was named one of the least financially stressed cities in California last year. Higgins also said that he will be receiving an award on behalf of the city’s accomplishments from the Joint Powers Insurance Agency (JPIA) due to its limiting liability. He said he is personally satisfied and proud to have accomplished these honors. “We all try to make this the best place to live,” Higgins said.
FEATURES
8
LH builds on moving more and staying healthy By Taylor Engle La Habra Journal
“Move More, Eat Healthy La Habra,” an initiative developed to improve the overall health and living of the La Habra community, has seen great results since its start in November 2014. The city has collaborated with the La Habra Community Collaborative, local college universities, Whittier PIH, and St. Jude Medical Center to create a five-year plan to develop healthy habits that are easily accessible and affordable to the community. According to last year’s fitness gram, which measures the physical fitness of students in elementary school and junior high, La Habra was ranked as the third worst in Orange County. “When this collaborative team started out, we voted on three objectives to focus on fixing: teen pregnancy, juvenile crime, and child obesity,” said Executive Director of the La Habra Collaborative Sandi Baltes. “We branched off into teams to focus on each objective, which is how the ‘Move More, Eat Healthy La Habra’ campaign began.” The campaign has taken off with extraordinary results in La Habra. Since its start, La Habra has hosted 21 healthy lifestyle classes and 10 community events (three of which took place at schools) to spread the word about healthy living. The La Habra High School nursing program volunteered at the Citrus Fair and various health fairs passing out forms to encourage residents to commit to certain health and fitness goals for the year. La Habra received 1,776 healthy lifestyle goals from residents. Additionally, 1,444 residents
Photo by Jay Seidel/La Habra Journal
Getting fit: As part of the Move More, Eat Healthy campaign and in collaboration with St. Jude Medical Center, the elementary schools, like Ladera Palma pictured here, are building “Fit Rooms” to help battle childhood obesity. have participated in the healthy living events and classes. Thus far, classes have been taught by Baltes, Elite Fitness owner and Collaborative chairman Rebecca French, and local health and nursing college students to educate parents on nutrition while simultaneously providing children with fitness classes. The classes have been done at Our
Welcome Carrie Surich ERA North Orange County Real Estate is proud to welcome real estate veteran Carrie Surich, back to our Team of professionals. Carrie has been involved in real estate since 1990. As a La Habra resident, she is actively involved in the community as Chairwoman of Veterans Committee, President of La Habra Business Connection, Executive Board member for the LH Chamber of Commerce, Community Service Commissioner, Executive Board for LH Collaborative, Co-Chair of LH Youth Committee and support for many community events. Carrie has helped hundreds of buyers and sellers achieve their dream of homeownership. She brings her passion providing a high level of customer satisfaction complimented by 26 years of experience, as the local area expert. Carrie is committed to provide “Results That Move You”. Please call Carrie for all your Real Estate needs. Carrie Surich Realtor Results That Move You Phone: 714-296-9992 Email: casells1@gmail.com Website: carriesells.com
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Lady of Guadalupe Church, Friends of Family Health Center, the Children’s Museum, and the city’s parks. Excellent turnout and feedback from the classes encouraged the “Move More, Eat Healthy” campaign to be infused in La Habra’s Summer Youth Program. The kids’ summer Nutrition Program, available for children ages 4-13, sets goals every week related to exercise, eating the proper amount of fruits and vegetables, drinking enough water, and reading. “Our main emphasis is literacy, but we always tie it into nutrition,” said Co-director of La Habra’s Parks and Recreation Summer Camp Nutrition Program Cindy Krueger. “One week we were reading a book about a bunny, so then we went to a garden and picked carrots and made smoothies. Our lessons always go hand in hand with nutrition.” The camp has already seen progress and change in the participating children, who are becoming more aware of making healthy decisions “We’re starting to see kids choose watermelon as a snack instead of Cheetos,” said Co-director of the program Marie Brown. “The idea of ‘healthy body, healthy mind,’ makes it so important for literacy to be tied in with nutrition. Our goal is to see more education on nutrition and fitness in schools.” Along with the progress that has been made for healthy living in a classroom setting is the fitness centers that have been installed at Guadalupe and Montwood Parks. La Habra was among four cities chosen by St. Jude for health grants. So far, the city has used the grant to build community gardens for vegetables and fruits, install fitness equipment, and hire a consultant to acquire more grants. “The city recently received another grant from St. Jude for a traffic plan,” said Recreations Manager David DeLeon. “We’re planning to make adjustments that will allow for more biker and walking paths.” The collaborators at St. Jude are very impressed with La Habra’s passion and commitment to the health campaign. La Habra has been recognized for two out of three designations with the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) campaign, which recognizes cities in Orange County that adopt healthy eating and living
in their community and is in progress for the third. “I tell other cities about La Habra’s progress,” said St. Jude Healthy Communities Outreach Director Barry Ross. “Our goal is that the healthy choice is the easy choice for residents. La Habra is definitely an example.” St. Jude Medical Center has record of park usage before the exercise equipment installations and is hoping to see a great improvement over the next few months. According to surveys conducted by St. Jude, La Habra has a 70% rate of residents who go to their local park at least once a week. The community gardens and equipment are intended to improve that percentage. “Move More, Eat Healthy La Habra” has seen great influence throughout the community and has even more plans for the future. The University of Health Sciences plans to provide a fitness expo in January 2016 along with other physical training in La Habra parks. Additionally, there will be a city Variety Show taking place on September 19. Residents are encouraged to contact Martha Lester at (562) 6972762 for more information on participation. Finally, the healthy campaign encourages readers to make a fitness goal and write to us here at the Journal describing your progress. You can choose one of the following goals: drink more water, eat five fruits or vegetables a day, or exercise 30 minutes a day, or make a goal of your own. The “Move More, Eat Healthy La Habra” campaign wants to see nothing but progress from residents in their healthy lifestyle decisions.
Back to School Health Fair!
School-Age children can receive free dental, vision and sports physical health screenings. Students can also receive nutrition education, backpacks, haircuts and much more. August 1 from 9 a.m.-noon IHA/Friends of Family Building 501 S. Idaho Street. For more information call: (562) 690-4001.
9
FEATURES
Escaping Cuba
One La Habra resident shares his action-filled story of human will and his determination to escape capture and his perseverance to rejoin his family and start over in the United States. By Jay Seidel La Habra Journal
After 54 years, the United States government opened the doors to relations with the government of Cuba. The doors to the Cuban embassy opened in Washington D.C., and next week the US will open its embassy doors in Havana. However, for one La Habra resident, the government of Cuba will always be a closed door. The story of George Duarte is a testament to the drive and determination of the human spirit. In an effort to join his mother in the United States, Duarte was arrested trying to leave the Communist island country and spent the following 10 years of his life locked up as a political prisoner in Cuban prisons. “I have no regrets,” he said. “I did what I had to do.” Duarte explained that he had a will that wouldn’t allow him to be stopped by the Castro government. He was imprisoned, with others, because he tried to leave the country and emigrate and join his mother in the US. He escaped from captivity three times in the 10 years, spending days and nights in sugar fields, traveling the countryside and dodging Cuban authorities as much as possible. “When I was in the first prison, La Cabana, I said to myself that I wouldn’t be here more than three months,” he said. “I escaped the first time after two and a half months in prison. I never accepted my sentence.” However, escaping the prison was just part of the challenge. The island of Cuba acted as a natural prison itself. Duarte even titled his memoirs “The Caribbean Alcatraz”, relating to his exploits trying to escape the island. Duarte’s book details his story and challenges as an architectural student who tried to leave the country and ended up spending 10 years as a political prisoner, but never giving up hope to join his family. His exploits of escaping from the prisons made friends start to compare him to the noted French prison escape artists and called him the “Cuban Papillion.” It even garnered him the respect of his captors.
Personal: George Duarte signs copies of his book that tells his story of trying to escape his Cuban captors and join his family in the United States.
Jay Seidel/La Habra Journal
Determination: La Habra resident George Duarte suffered 10 years of imprisonment in Cuba. His story ,“The Caribbean Alcatraz,” explained how his spirit was never broken.
“When Lieutenant Breto picked me up after my third escape, he was friendly,” Duarte explained. He spoke highly of me to the chief of the police department that I was at. He said ‘this is the guy who escaped from me from Camp Fajardo a few months ago and planned a tremendous escape from Taco Taco.” Duarte didn’t start out wanting to become a notable escape artist. He tried to get a visa to leave before the Castro regime clamped down on Cubans wanting to emigrate from the island. However, Duarte missed the final boat to the US. “I took three buses to get to the dock,” Duarte explained. “The boat left that morning and I missed it. After that day, I was a dynamo! I felt I had to get out of here no matter how. And I was going to do it. “ Life as a political prisoner was not easy. It meant maximum security prisons and long hours of work in the labor camps. The prisoners themselves banded together to support each other. Many of the political prisoners were professionals, doctors, lawyers, priests, and many others who did not support the Communist government’s belief and mission. They learned from each other and held classes that taught each other various skills to pass the time. Duarte himself said he learned French while in captivity. However, after his escape attempts and recapture, life became harder for Duarte. He was sent to the maximum-security prison Pinar del Rio and was placed into a dungeon that was referred to as “the toaster.” The cell was a windowless 10x10x10-foot room with an iron door. It was called the toaster because it shared a wall with the prison’s ovens. “It was so dark that I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face,” Duarte explained. After his eyes became adjusted he saw three concrete bunks and a hole in the ground. He explained that he also saw something else. “After my eyes got used to the dark, I saw a dark spot along the wall,” Duarte explained. “It was moving. It was thousands of roaches.” Duarte spent the next two weeks battling the roaches until he could declare victory. While in the toaster he was served three condensed milk cans of water to drink and two condensed cans of food each day. Duarte said he spent the days walking to get tired to sleep. He explained that he used to visualize himself somewhere else. He used it to pass the time and to motivate him to get through the captivity. One time he imagined himself in a nice suit in a nice car driving to perform at the Tropicana. He said the vision was so real that when he saw himself introduced on stage, he started singing classic Nat King Cole songs. “So, imagine, a guy in his underwear and wearing boots in the dark pretending to have a microphone and singing ‘Stardust,’” he said with a smile. “I was living for the moment.” He explained that after he finished the song he heard a voice though the walls, “Hey politico, do you know ‘Smile’? Can you sing it for me?”
So, he sang and realized that he wasn’t alone. He spent the remaining nights entertaining unknown prisoners through the walls of the dungeon. While he entertained to pass the time, he never forgot his goal to escape, and continued to plan another escape. Duarte explained that his drive to escape was due to the desire to join his mother and to see his daughter, who was 5 years old when he went to prison. According to Duarte, her mother married a man who worked for the government and she limited her daughter’s visits to the prisons to see Duarte. He said he saw her four times in his 10 years of captivity. When Duarte was finally released and allowed to go the United States, he asked his daughter, then 16, to come with him. She declined and decided to stay in Cuba, where she still lives today. Duarte also details how his faith gave him strength. Despite the challenging conditions, his faith never waivered and he points to times throughout his exploits where he feels that God intervened. “I was in a sugar cane field at dusk surrounded by guards on horses and soldiers with German Shepards and a corporal with a machine gun ready to shoot me,” he described. He felt that he was going to die, but was ready for it. He even cussed out the corporal who pointed the gun at him. It would have been very easy. After all, what is one more dead prisoner? However, Duarte said that God intervened and the chief of the camp, saved his life. He told the corporal to “leave him alone.” “What is that? It’s the hand of fate, ”Duarte explained about the camp commander. “So he helped me survive. Then, I escaped from him.” Duarte’s imprisonment finally came to an end in October 1979 when President Jimmy Carter negotiated the release of political prisoners in Cuba, in exchange for money. At the age of 39, Duarte said he was “born again” when he landed in the United States. He reunited with his mother, built himself up as a general contractor and became a US citizen. He runs his own contracting business with his wife Liz and daughter Lizette. He is currently looking for a publisher to commercially publish his memoirs. However, he will sign copies of his book for anyone who is interested. Duarte’s story of perseverance and commitment to family and freedom is something that he feels many will find inspiring. “I’m proud of what I went through and how I behaved,” he said. “I want to share my story with everyone.”
Lea una historia en español en la Página 12.
To get signed copies of “The Caribbean Alcatraz” you can contact George Duarte at: (562) 708-2550 ggduarte@msn.com
10
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Crest Lock and Key: Moving forward with customer service
By Taylor Engle La Habra Journal
As the last building standing on property that used to be home to two car washes, the iconic little building on the corner of Beach and Whittier Boulevards was finally torn down. Crest Lock & Key Service moved to its new location on Whittier Boulevard on July 6. Once operating out of the walkup wooden shack on the corner, they are now in a 1000-square foot showroom. Crest Lock & Key Service was encouraged by the city to move locations because the city has plans to redevelop the vacant land around that area. Owner Todd Faro said he was given only a few weeks’ notice and was lucky enough to find a location close to the former. Faro and his corporation are the second owners of Crest Lock & Key Service; it was previously owned for about 40 years by Dave and Anne Stevens, who gave the store a momand-pop feeling. The y were wel l-k now n and liked by the La Habra community throughout their ownership. Faro’s corporation took over about three and a half years ago; they also own three other lock-and-key services in
Orange County. Faro has been extremely happy with the customers and the regular business of Crest Lock & Key Service. “The shack was a fabulous location, but we wanted to offer more services,” Faro said. “I think this showroom will be one of the nicest lock shops in Orange County.” The showroom will allow customers to walk into the shop and browse the displays, which wasn’t a possibility at the walk-up shack. Keys, locks, and various security items will be on display for customers to view more properly and make their purchasing decisions. “The showroom provides us with the opportunity to offer more keys, safes, locks, and security-related projects for purchase and viewing,” Faro said. “But one issue with moving is that people who only come in once a year will think that we went out of business.” In order to spread the word about Crest Lock & Key’s new location to loyal customers and newcomers, Faro will be offering one free house key with any purchase over the minimum value of $4. No matter the location, Faro’s customer service will help keep the community locked and secured.
Jay Seidel/La Habra Journal
Crest Key: The iconic small shack (right) might be gone, but the new facility (Above) is still focused on customer service.
Sue Thompson/ La Habra Journal
Crest Lock & Key Service 2050 W. Whittier Blvd. La Habra (562) 694-1927
BRING OUT THE CHAMPION WITHIN
City of La Habra Community Services Department 101 W. La Habra Blvd.
FREE
562-905-9708
Concerts in the Park
T WO-WEEK LONG SPORTS PERFORMANCE SUMMER CAMPS FOR TEENS.
WHO Our programs are for middle and high school teens who want to improve and expand their ability to push the limits in whatever sport they do. WHAT Human performance summer camps are the ideal way to boost performance for fall sports or stay in shape during the summer. Sports performance summer camps are designed with common core program elements that are the same for all participants, but workouts are tailored to each individual. Let our performance staff brings its experience coaching Olympians and professional athletes to your teens. We’ll help you unlock your full potential. CLASS SPACE LIMITED - SIGN UP NOW, CALL: (562) 902-3312 or http://camps.scuhealth.org
“Where families can be families!”
July 9th July 16th July 23rd
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Since 1975+
Brakes Custom Built Duals Custom 3” Exhaust Factory Replacement Mufflers Catalytic Converter Cat Back Systems
(Special Olympics Host Town Concert)
July 30th
Hip Street - Tower of Power Tribute
This event is sponsored by Waste Management
PURCHASE FOOD FROM VARIOUS FOOD TRUCKS, VENDORS, LOCAL NON-PROFITS OR BRING YOUR OWN! at El Centro-Lions Park 320 E. Erna Street
711 E. LA HABRA BLVD.
Want to watch the community news?
Thursday Evenings 7:00-9:00 P.M.
* MUSIC * FOOD * FUN * THERE WILL BE A KIDS’ ZONE WITH ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AT THE PARK, TOO! For more information, please call the Community Services Department at 562-905-9708
Check out the La Habra Journal on YouTube or use your smart phone and scan here:
(562) 694-3319
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
11
NEIGHBORHOOD
The only directory exclusively listing La Habra area businesses
ACCOUNTING/BOOKKEEPING Tax Help Team - CPA, EAs 1201 S. Beach Blvd. Suite 106 La Habra, CA 90631 (x Imperial) (562) 943-1456 “For You & Your Small Business” Tax Debt Relief Expert
ATTORNEYS CRIMINAL LAW Brian McDonnell The McDonnell Law Firm 418 E. La Habra Blvd. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 694-3827 (562) 694-4280 Fax www.lahabracriminalattorneys.com AUTO ACCIDENT INJURY Law Offices Clinton W. Holland, Inc. Derek Holland 418 E. La Habra Blvd. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 694-3821 (562) 691-5569 Fax www.lawcwh.com BANKS Pacific Mercantile Bank 1530 W. Whittier Blvd. #B La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 690-7117 www.pmbank.com Dawn F. Stille DENTIST Smooth Dental Group 1521 W. Whittier Blvd. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 694-4800 Dr. Elizabeth Tran www.smoothdentalgroup.com ESCROW COMPANIES v Mercury Escrow 410 W. Whittier Blvd. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 265-3127 Debbie Dudley debbie@mercuryescrow.com FAMILY MEDICAL SERVICES Friends of Family Health Center Primary care services for all OB/ GYN Services, Family Planning & Pediatric Dentistry 501 S. Idaho Street La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 690-0400 “Like Us” on Facebook! GERMAN DELICATESSEN v Continental Delicatessen 1510 W. Imperial Hwy. Ste. CD La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 697-0333 Party Platters, Sandwiches, Domestic and Imported Foods
HANDYMAN v Yes We Can Handyman A Licensed General Contractor (562) 691-0022 joe@yeswecanhandyman.com Lic #903683 HAIR SALON v Primarily Hair 820 E. Whittier Blvd. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 694-6581 www.primarilyhair.com Find us on Faceboo
MORTGAGE COMPANIES Alpine Mortgage Planning 250 Commerce Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92602 (562) 572-4648 cell Fernando Hernandez FHernandez@alpinemc.com www.Alpinemc.com Sr. Mortgage Advisor, MLO 258327 PET BOARDING & GROOMING The Dog Lodge 1551 W. Lambert Road La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 691-1152 PHARMACY v Bi-Rite quality pharmacy Home health and medical equipment. 340 N. Harbor Blvd La Habra Ca 90631 562-691-0539. PRINTING Guardian Printing 1050 E. Whittier Blvd. Suite 100 La Habra, CA 90631 (888) 270-0984 (884) 520-3648 Fax www.guardianprinting.com ordernow@guardianprinting.com
ROOFING v Swanson Roofing 600 N. Warne Street La Habra, CA 90631 (714) 401-0963 Kevin Swanson Lic. #678228
SENIOR CARE Senior Solutions P.O. Box 813 Brea, CA 92822 Pauline Hampton, LVN (714) 318-0835 www.4seniorsolutions.com Senior Care Resources TREE TRIMMING v Williams Tree Service PO Box 5557 Whittier, CA 90607-5557 (562) 692-8677 wtreedude@aol.com License#941245 UPHOLSTERY SERVICES Collins Trim Shop Auto, Marine, Commercial, Medical and Dental recovering 345 W. Whittier Blvd. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 697-6017 www.collinstrimshop.com Mike Steves, Proprietor VEHICLE WRAPS/BANNERS OC Wraps 2120 E. Lambert Road, Suite C La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 599-9037 www.ocwraps.net ocwraps@yahoo.com
University Printing 153 E. Whittier Blvd. Ste A La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 690-8954 www.universityprinting.org Mark Sanders
WINDOW TINTING v Window Tinting Associates 2253 W. Whittier Blvd. La Habra, CA 90631 (562) 694-0504 (800) 953-TINT Auto***Home***Office
REALTORS
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4 Star Realtors 12232 La Mirada Blvd. La Mirada, CA 90638 Bus: 562-947-3768 Cell: 562-447-4919 Ask for: Helen Abrams
Want your company to be seen by the entire community in a resource list of industry specialists?
Then get your name here in the Business Directory!
Contact Sue Thompson (562) 665-9711 sthompson @lahabrajournal.com
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En ESPAÑOL
La batalla por el sueño americano Por Genesis Miranda La Habra Journal
Imagínese estar preso en un cuarto pequeño como castigo, llamado el “tostador” donde no entre nada de luz. No hay nada más que una pequeña cama sin colchón y a tu alrededor vuelan miles de cucarachas. Esto es exactamente lo que vivió George Duarte, quien fue preso político en Cuba por 10 años. ¿Su delito? Tratar de escapar a los estados unidos. Duarte cuenta todas las dificultades que pasó como preso en Cuba en su libro que público llamado “Alcatraz del Caribe”, publicado en inglés y español. Cuenta que antes de que estuviera en control Castro “Había un tiempo en Cuba, donde salías cuando amanecía y no tenías que regresar hasta la noche”, Duarte dijo. “Éramos muy libres de niños, jugando afuera en las canchas.” Pero todo eso cambio cuando entro al liderazgo el régimen Castro. Cualquier persona que intentaba escapar era castigada con una sentencia en prisión. Duarte siempre le escribía cartas a su madre, quien ya estaba en los estados unidos, para que ella no se preocupara. Él le escribía pequeñas mentiras piadosas en sus cartas para que ella no supiera la verdad de todo por lo
que él estaba pasando en la prisión. Es difícil imaginar cómo una persona que paso por tantos obstáculos nunca se rindió y siempre tuvo la esperanza de salir de un país como Cuba. “Primero que nada tienes que tener la necesidad, tienes que tener una razón por la cual quieres hacer algo que es tan peligroso”, Duarte dijo. “Y tienes que comprometerte a esa acción, aunque el porcentaje de logro era como un dos por ciento”. Intentar escapar de Cuba no era nada fácil, pero Duarte, a pesar de que fue arrestado tres veces, nunca se dio por vencido y siguió luchando. “En mi caso, yo quería ser alguien en la vida, no quería ser mediocre. Quería ser un arquitecto. No pude continuar mi carrera en Cuba por el sistema. Entonces no tenía opción más que salir de Cuba”, Duarte dijo. “Tengo que salir de aquí no importa cómo, lo haré”. Para una persona como Duarte, todas las experiencias que tuvo en la prisión, lo que lo mantuvo con esperanzas fue su gran fe en Dios. “Yo soy una persona que siempre tiene a Dios a su lado”, Duarte dijo. “El Señor me estaba protegiendo”. Duarte empezó a contemplar los posibles resultados de intentar escaparse y pensó “Si me capturaban otra vez, pues me escaparía otra vez”. Un día que pensó que nunca llegaría, Duarte fue liberado de la www.edwardjones.com
Life Doesn’t Stand Still
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Jay Seidel/La Habra Journal
Determinación: Ex preso político cubano George Duarte muestra su libro con su hija, Lizette, ex Miss La Habra. El libro habla de su lucha por salir de Cuba para los Estados Unidos.
prisión por causa de la intervención del gobierno americano. “Era una negociación entre el presidente Jimmy Carter y el régimen Castro...Yo fui liberado en el quinto grupo de 500 hombres”. Aunque este fue un día que Duarte tanto anhelaba, no se sentía tal como él pensaba que seria. “Estaba feliz, pero estaba molesto que no lo pude lograr yo solo”, Duarte dijo. “Dos semanas después ya estaba trabajando. Menos de dos meses después ya tenía mi propio apartamento, y nueve años después ya tengo mi propio negocio”, Duarte dijo. Duarte logró lo que siempre quiso, su libertad y una oportunidad para una vida mejor aquí en los estados unidos. “Estos son los estados unidos es un país donde llegas, como lo hice yo, con mi ropa, ni una moneda en mi bolsa y nada de equipaje, nada, y en nueve años ya tienes tu propio negocio”, Duarte dijo. “Este es, o era, el país de la oportunidad. No es el país de la limosna. Eso es lo que yo creo”. Una vida como la que tuvo Duarte es algo que marcaría a cualquier persona. Pero depende de cada persona como decide tomar estas vivencias. “Valió la pena pasar por lo que yo pase, volteo atrás hacia mi pasado y
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me siento orgulloso”, Duarte dijo. “La etapa más feliz de mi vida fue cuando me escape por tercera vez del campamento de concentración de Taco Taco, que me vi fuera y todo ese campamento encendido y yo estaba como a unos 100 pies de distancia, observando. Es inexplicable lo feliz que una persona, un preso, se siente cuando se escapa de la prisión”, Duarte dijo. “Otro momento increíblemente feliz de mi vida, que por supuesto sobrepasa ese, cuando el avión aterrizó en estados unidos”. El día 10 de Octubre, 1979 fue cuando Duarte llego a Miami Florida, por fin estaba libre. Cuando Duarte llego a los estados unidos, su mama le entrego una bolsita azul donde estaban todas las cartas que él le había mandado con todo y los sobres originales. Años después, Duarte empezó a organizar las cartas en unas carpetas y comenzó a leerlas. Él empezó a recordar todas sus experiencias, y las puso en un libro para compartirlas con todos. Para conseguir una copia del libro sobre lo que vivió Duarte puede contactarlo al (562) 708-2550 o mandarle un correo electrónico a Ggduarte@ msn.com
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SPORTS
13
Heralds look to build with new season
By Shanin Thomas La Habra Journal
“Last year was a huge disappointment for us,” Whittier Christian High School Varsity Football Head Coach Sergio Gradilla said. Last season, the Heralds ended in an overall record of 1-9. That was the worst season under Coach Gradilla’s seven years as head coach. Gradilla and the Heralds actually began the season with two wins. Unfortunately, those two wins had to be forfeited due to an ineligible player. “That put us in a downward spiral. We never recovered,” Gradilla said. The Heralds will complete their summer camp at the end of this week with a new look and a new attitude. Gradilla said the team has gotten better every day. Although 15 seniors graduated from the Whittier Christian High School varsity football team, there has been an excitement throughout the young team. Kevin Oberlander, defense coordinator, has returned to the Heralds defense and brought a new attitude of resilience with him. One key returning player is junior
Justin Osborn. Osborn was a running back last season, but Gradilla believes he will have a huge impact as a full-time starter on defense as a linebacker. Nick Watase is one of the few seniors and expected leaders of the Heralds. Gradilla expects to put Watase all over the field. “The kid does it all,” he explained. Conversely, the young side of the Heralds will be witnessed in sophomore quarterback Quinn Commans and although this will be his first year on varsity, Gradilla says he is very athletic with a great arm. Gradilla explained that this upcoming season will be decided by the strength of the Herald’s new defense. “Last year our defense was a huge problem,” he said. “We have worked so hard, and I am excited to see how good we are going to be.” Gradilla said that the Heralds have three goals for the upcoming season: to get better each day, to compete for a league championship, and to get into the playoffs , and added, “we are right where we need to be.” The Heralds travel to Bishop to open the season on August 28.
LH Girls Softball takes state title
Jay Seidel/La Habra Journal
Ready to run: The Whittier Christian Heralds are looking to strengthen their defense by shifting Junior Justin Osborn from running back to linebacker.
WHITTIER CHRISTIAN HERALDS 09/04 Arrowhead Christian 09/11 Whittier 09/25 Duarte 10/02 St. Margaret’s
By Shanin Thomas La Habra Journal
The La Habra Girls Softball Association’s 18 and under team brought home their first ever state title on July 12. The three-day state tournament took place in Lancaster in 100 degree weather. Unfortunately, the team lost their only game on championship Sunday during their eight o’clock game against West Covina 0 – 4. Head Coach Scott MacArthur said he could not figure out what went wrong during undefeated team’s first season loss. “Sometimes you just lose … a team just comes in and beats you,” he said. This sent the team into the loser’s bracket of the state tournament. La Habra was scheduled to go up against the defending national champions, Santa Monica in a ten o’clock game. Coach MacArthur said he was a little bit worried. However, his daughter and first baseman, Hannah MacArthur, was not worried at all. In the game against Santa Monica, Hannah hit a first pitch homerun to set the tone. La Habra ended up beating Santa Monica to make it to the championship 5 – 3. “They are just fighters and they earned it,” Coach Mcarthur said. Next up was West Covina. This time, in order to win a championship La Habra had to beat them twice in a double elimination tournament style. With two resilient pitchers, strong
defense, and clutch hitting, La Habra mercied West Covina in back to back games 9 – 1 and 11 – 0. The two amazing pitchers are Allyson Coffin and Breanna Ramirez. Their catcher, Brianna Sanchez, who has started every game this season says, “They never disappoint.” Both Coffin and Sanchez knew the team’s capability. In order to come back stronger, they had to regain their undefeated focus. “We really like to have fun,” Coffin said. “When we are on the field and having fun, we do better.” Sanchez believes that her team can succeed in the national tournament as well. “As long as we practice hard and make fewer errors, I am sure we have a good chance of winning,” she said. Surprisingly, this team is young. La Habra has one 18 year-old, two 17 year-olds, and the rest of the girls are 15 years-old. Coach MacArthur and his coaching staff decided to move up to a higher age level at the beginning of the season to give the graduating high school seniors a chance to play one last year. He said in all the years he has been coaching he has never seen a team like this. “In whole, the group of girls, the coaches, and the parents make a special team,” MacArthur said. The national tournament will be held from July 27th to August 3rd in Spokane, Washington. La Habra girl’s softball will compete for their first softball national title.
10/09 @ Maranatha 10/16 Valley Christian
08/28 @ Bishop
09/18 @ Western Christian
Champions: From left to right 1st row: Justin Cobian (3B), Brisa Pennington (2B), Leslie Garcia (RF), Jocelyn Alcala, (LF), Breanna Ramirez (P), Kiara Zuniga (2B), LH Mayor Mike Blazey, Jasmine Zamora (RF), Allyson Coffin, (P), Alyssa Polentz (CF), Ashley Alcantar (SS), Brianna Sanchez (C), Miranda Fernandez, (LF), Victor Zuniga, (Manager), and missing from photo: Erika Zavala (RF). From left to right second row: Erik Coffin (Asst. Coach), Paul Castellon (Asst.Coach), Scott MacArthur (Manager), Mike Ramirez (Pitching Coach), and Hannah MacArthur (1B)
OLYMPIC LEAGUE
10/23 @ Village Christian at Occidental College 11/06 Heritage Christian
SPORTS
14
Raiders ready for redemption
By Erik Markus La Habra Journal
The Sonora Raiders got off to a blistering 6-0 start to their 2014 football season. Unfortunately for Sonora, the Raiders were beat up in the Freeway League. The Raiders finished their season 6-4 with four straight losses. Sonora nearly slipped into CIF playoffs, but at the last minute were replaced by Irvine High School. “I think this year is a little bit of a redemption year for them, they want to take it to the next level,” head coach Paul Chiotti said. Last year’s sour ending leaves room for optimism, with some of the Raiders losses coming late in games. The Raiders gave themselves a chance to beat Troy High School last year, which would have extended their win streak to seven, but fell on a last second touchdown pass with a three point lead. The Raiders suffered another close defeat at the hands of Fullerton a week later, before lopsided losses to Buena Park and La Habra. The Raiders biggest focus will be in playing for each other. “We’ve got some good talent,” Chiotti said, “but we’ve got to play for each other. I think this team wants to do that. They want to accomplish some goals that they fell a little short in last year.” With the sting from last year still in mind, the Raiders look to respond by avoiding any of those possibilities. “You need your stars, your big time players to be unselfish and play for the team. (You need them to) want to play for something bigger, want to play for Sonora and the football program, and not just for their namesake but for the namesake and legacy that they can leave,” Chiotti said.
This year the Raiders return nine of 11 offensive starters which will be highlighted by a core group of seniors. Cole McDonald and Jacob Fimbres lead the team offensively at the quarterback and running back positions. This explosive combo logged more than 2000 all purpose yards each, and should have a chance to put their skills to the test against last year’s top ranked league in the Southwest Division. McDonald will have plenty of protection with Jorge Bernabe and Julian Orozco leading the offensive line and Jason Clayton leading the receiving corps. Many of this years starters have been playing since their sophomore year, but now as seniors, they get the chance to be the physically superior ones on the field. This is especially important on the line, with Bernabe and Orozco bringing toughness and size to the offensive and defensive lines. “They’ve been playing since they were sophomores, they got beat up, when they were younger and undersized and now they’re the big guys,” Chiotti said. Last year’s defense was led by Dylan Meyer and Max Volen who have both graduated. Their shoes will be filled by many of the seniors who will have the chance to step into bigger shoes. “You always hate to see some of the seniors go, but we’re really excited for the young guys who played a backup role or played (Junior Varsity) and now they’re ready to step in,” Chiotti said. Dakota Eckheart led the team with 84 tackles and returns for his senior season. Bernabe and Eric Pulliam combined for 22 tackles for a loss and will lead the defensive line for the Raiders. With the Raiders’ defensive front a little younger, they will look to play some of their stronger players on both sides of the ball. They also intend to focus their attention on building depth in order to prepare for injuries. “You’re always going to get injuries, you’re always going to need to get some people breathers, and that’s where those young guys, we’re looking them to step up and contribute,” Chiotti said. With Sonora led primarily by their seniors, the
Jay Seidel/La Habra Journal
Leading the way: Raider quarterback Cole McDonald will be leading the team that boast nine returning starters. Sonora will host Whittier High School to open up the season.
Raiders hope those players will be able to lead the team through times of adversity. “There’s going to be adversity during the year, and you’re going to have to overcome some challenges. It’s how you respond to those challenges,” Chiotti said. The Raiders will play a tougher preseason schedule this season, in order to prepare them for Freeway League and bolster their nonconference strength of schedule. “We don’t want to leave any doubts this year. We don’t want to put it into somebody else’s hand or some crazy formula, or this or that. We got to take care of business out on the field, we got to do the things that we can control,” Chiotti said. The Raiders first game is on August 28th at home against Whittier High School.
SONORA RAIDERS FREEWAY LEAGUE
08/28 Whittier
10/09 @ La Habra
09/04 @ Brea Olinda
10/16 @ Sunny Hills
09/11 Mayfair
10/23 Troy
09/18 Yorba Linda
10/30 Fullerton
10/02 @ Aliso Niguel
11/06 Buena Park
Room to run: Running back Jacob Fimbres will rejoin quarterback Cole McDonald to create a high-powered combo for the Raiders.
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SPORTS
15
Highlanders ready to keep rolling By Shanin Thomas La Habra Journal
The tradition continues. That is the motto of La Habra High School Varsity Football and according to Head Coach Frank Mazzotta, there is no magic formula to La Habra Football’s winning tradition. Coach Mazzotta has been coaching the varsity football team for 16 seasons. Those seasons include 13 freeway league championships, 14 CIF playoff appearances, and 7 championship appearances while taking home the trophy in six of them. Additionally, over 45 former high school athletes under Coach Mazzotta have taken their talents to a number of diverse universities to obtain college degrees. “I have been really lucky to have great kids,” Mazzotta said. “With a hand full of exceptional athletes.” Mazzotta also gives credit to his coaching staff who have accompanied him through the multiple successful seasons. He said they “built this tradition together.” The Highlanders completed their last week of camp with a passing league tournament on July 11 and will now head into a three week break. Mazzotta said he is excited to start playing again because of immense amount of experience and talent in several returners. He expects them to do the same thing they have been doing while becoming stronger, more experienced, and more confident on either side of the ball. Last season the La Habra Highlanders went undefeated in the Freeway league and ended with an overall record of 7–4.
Quarterback Eric Barriere, last year’s league MVP, will be returning for his senior season with the Highlanders. Leadership on the other side of the ball can be found in senior linebacker Jake Colacion, who recently committed to the University of Arizona. Mazzotta not only spoke of the three starting years of Barriere’s dominating skill set on the offensive side, he also mentioned that most of his offensive talent will be returning bigger and stronger. The only shoes to fill are the graduated and explosive running back, Carlos Martin, he said. One idea Coach Mazzotta has in mind is moving All-CIF linebacker, Colacion, to running back next season. Colacion grew up playing on the offensive side and the transition should be easy for him, he said. As always, Mazzotta scheduled a tough pre-league for the Highlanders. “There is just a desire to compete and it brings out the best,” he said. Some of the dangerous teams the Highlanders will be facing early include Mission Viejo, South Hills, and Colony. La Habra’s season will kick off with an away game against top program, El Toro, on August 28th. With the new season come new equipment deals. The Highlanders decided to drop previous Nike gear, equipment, and jerseys that included the color black. This season audiences will see an Adidas uniform featuring Highlander blue and gray. And when it comes to the tradition and the hopes that its success continues, Coach Mazzotta said, “I’m happy and enjoying it. It all comes down to the people I am around in this great community.”
Jay Seidel./La Habra Journal
Back at the helm: Freeway League MVP Eric Barriere is back for his senior year and ready to lead the Highlanders as quarterback.
LA HABRA HIGHLANDERS 08/28 @ El Toro 09/04 South Hills 09/11 Mission Viejo 09/18 Los Alamitos Veterans Stadium 09/24 @ Colony
FREEWAY LEAGUE
Tough defense: The Highlanders are working to continue their unbeaten streak in the Freeway League with a lot of varsity players returning on both sides of the ball this year. The Highlanders open their season traveling to El Toro on August 28.
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