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rcitycoup ons.2009 net Volume 1, Issue 1 • November 11,
• Hand La Palma’s Only Community Newspaper • Delivered 5,000toLa Palma Every Monthand • www.lapalmanews.net December 2009 • Vol. 1, Issue 2• delivered monthly to 5,000 La Palma homes; direct to mailed over 1,000Homes La Palma businesses Chamber of Commerce •members • www.lapalmanews.net
City Celebrates Silver Jubilee of La Palma Days
La Palma Property Receives Extreme Makeover By Larry Caballero
By Larry Caballero The City of La Palma celebrated the 25th Anniversary Silver Jubilee of the La Palma Days Parade, the official Veterans Day Parade of Orange County. Nov. 14 at Central Park. The volunteer La Palma Days Coordinating
Every city wishes that residents maintain their own properties, but no matter how hard they try, it’s not always possible. La Palma was no exception. For years, City officials had repeatedly asked one ailing senior resident on Santa Margarita Lane to clean up her property, but to no avail. It was obvious that she needed some assistance, so it became a community project with volunteers from the City, bp/ARCO in La Palma and Cornerstone Property Services in Fountain Valley to show up for work with brooms, shovels, rakes, sledgehammers, and saws. La Palma Director of Public Works Jeff Moneda helped supervise volunteers Dec. 2 as they cleaned and pulled up old trees in the front yard and cleared out the tall grass and rusted fences in the back. Tom Dyrssen, the resident’s son, said that the massive effort to clean up his mother’s property was a dream come true. "I have a renewed faith in humanity.” The home will be painted, the lawn will be removed, and a new sprinkler system and lawn will be provided by a contractor from Cornerstone Property Services Inc. "December is a slow time for us, and I thought it would be a good way to show our guys we're not just a profit company," said Cornerstone owner Steve Cederquist. Last year, ARCO volunteers cleaned up Denni Park, and were looking for a new project this year when city officials brought the Dyrssen home to their attention. "It's the holidays," ARCO spokeswoman Brenda V. Castillo said. "We want to give back to the community." ARCO's regional headquarters is located in La Palma, and when work on the property ends, about 50 ARCO and City volunteers will have participated including La Palma City Councilman Larry Herman.
25 TH A NNUAL L A P ALMA D AYS
ARCO volunteers, along with La Palma city personnel and city councilman (not pictured) help to clean up Carol Dryssen's home during the makeover. The volunteers' work, Tom Dyrssen said, means he and his mother can now focus their concentration on Carol Dryssen's doctor visits. This was something on her mind," Tom Dyrssen said, gesturing around the newly-empty yard, where city abatement notices on stakes had been cast aside. "This restores my faith in humanity."
Committee members worked diligently to provide the community with an event to remember. Special guests joining the parade this year were the 1st Marine Division Band from Camp Pendleton and representatives from
LaVETERAN’S Palma Bids Farewell Time Activist THE “OFFICIAL DAY to Long ACTIVITIES service to the community led him manufacturers. Larry Caballero COUNTY” PARADE OF ByORANGE Eady and his late first wife, to thousands of hours of helping to
La Palma’s Sister City, Hanam, South Korea, were on hand at the Community Festival following the parade to provide information and answer questions about their community. Over 130 units that included Honorary Grand Marshal Mickey Mouse, marching bands See LA PALMA DAYS Page 7
Lynn Eady 88, a long time La keep La Palma a safe community Ann, moved to La Palma in 1968 where they raised their children, Palma resident and active member for all. Mary Ann, of the La Palma Randy and AlNeighborhood lan. He retired Watch for nearly from Neigh25 years as well borhood Watch as the Volunand the VIP’s teers In Policing in 2005, but he program, passed continued his way Nov. 10 afdedicated serter a long fight vice to others with cancer. by volunteering La Palma at Faith Fellowcurrently enjoys ship Church in one of the largLa Palma where est and longest he met his curexisting Neighrent wife Carborhood Watch ole. Programs in Eady is surOrange County vived by his largely due to wife, Carole Eady’s many Lynn Eady dedicated his life to the community. He was an original memEady, his chilyears of dedi- ber of the La Palma VIPs’, Volunteers in Policing Program. dren Mary Ann cated leaderLoomis, Randy ship. Eady, Allan Eady, stepchildren Eady was born in Crystal Eady was also an original member of La Palma’s VIPs’, Springs, Mississippi in 1920 and Kevin Burbridge, Michelle Car‘Volunteers In Policing Program’, served in the United States Navy son, Debra Gardner and twenty originally known as S.C.O.R.E. or during World War II. He enjoyed a grandchildren and great grand‘Senior Citizens Organizing Re- long career with McDonald Doug- children. ciprocal Efforts’. His passion for las Aircraft and Boeing Aircraft
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2 LA PALMA COMMUNITY NEWS • NOVEMBER 11, 2009
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2010 La Palma Citizen of the Year Award Winner Announced
himself available for any project that the City needed volunteers, and his financial background served the City well as a member of a Blue Ribbon Finance Committee appointed by the City Council. Blake was one of the original members appointed to the Cultural and Beautification Committee that was responsible for developing activities for the community such as the Concerts in the Park, Home Beautification Awards and Arbor Day. He has been actively involved in planning for the La Palma Days Parade that was established over 20 years ago, and he was responsible for furnishing the city with numerous vintage cars. Blake has also devoted much of his time to promote outreach programs for youth and other philanthropic activities as a member of the Kiwanis Club of La Palma. Blake will be also be remembered for
serving 12 years on the La Palma City Council from December 1994 to December 2006 and served three times as Mayor. He supported activities of the League of California Cities, and on the state level he was Chair and Vice-Chair of the Community Services Committee and served on the Community Services Department Program Planning Committee and Annual Conference Resolutions Committee. As a result of the Orange County’s period of financial problems, the Orange County Library Advisory Board was instituted and Blake was appointed and ultimately served as Chair and Vice-Chair. He also represented the City while on Council on the Orange County Fire Authority as Chair and Vice-Chair. Once he left the Council, Blake continued serving the city as a member of La Palma’s Traffic Committee.
La Palma/Cerritos AAUW Hold Fashion Show La Palma City officials and Awards winners at 35th Annual Americana Awards Kickoff Nov. 18 at Cypress College. Shown (l-r) Councilmember Larry Herman, Mayor ProTem Steve Shanahan, 2009 Award winners Kitty Mallett and Rosemary Scichilone, 2010 winner Ken Blake and Councilmember Ralph Rodriguez. By Larry Caballero Long-time La Palma resident Ken Blake remembers the day in 1971 when he first moved into the city with his wife Karen. It wasn’t long before they began getting involved in local school programs including the Kennedy High School’s Booster Club when their children were teenagers. Now 35 years later, Blake has been chosen as the 2010 Cypress College Scholarship Foundation’s Citizen of the Year Americana Award winner for his many years of community involvement and service to La Palma and surrounding communities. The 35th Annual Cypress College Americana Awards Kickoff was held Nov. 18 at Cypress College where Blake and winners from several Orange County cities were
recognized. They will receive their 2010 Americana Awards Feb. 20 at the Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom. The 2010 Man of the Year is Los Angeles Dodger coach Tommy Lasorra. Cypress College Foundation Director Raul Alvarez thanked the distinguished guests who attended and reminded them that the College serves 60, 528 students. “For many, this college gives them a second chance to prepare for the future.” The Cypress College Foundation “funds dreams and provides opportunities so that Members of the La Palma/Cerritos AAUW take time out for a group picture at their anour students can succeed,” said Alvarez. nual fashion show. Donations raised this year as of Nov. 18 were more than $97,000. Statistics show that 60% of CSU students and 30% of UC The show was for local scholarships at Cerritos College and was organized by Cerritos La Palma branch AAUW. The money was raised thru a very successful show and lunch students had previously attended a com-Experience TheofGentle in November. Organizers were Nancy Kawamura and Diane Merrick. Please contact munity college. Art Gail Of RossDentistry at 562 926 7187 for info. on scholarships and membership in AAUW . Blake was honored for always making
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La Palma Mayor Visits Korea to Promote Business Investment and Cultural Exchange Opportunities By Larry Caballero Two years ago, La Palma City Councilmember Henry Charoen met with State Board of Equalization member Michelle Steel, who told him that representatives from Korea were looking for a sister city on the west coast to establish a greater friendship and understanding between the people of the United States and Korea. They had already established a relationship with Little Rock, Arkansas. Charoen, a member of the Asian Pacific Community Advisory Council, took the news to the City Council, who knew how important it is to bring diverse cultures together in a community, and approved the concept of establishing a sister city in Korea. La Palma welcomed sister city Hanam, Korea, at a barbecue dinner ceremony at Central Park May 23. Special guest Congressman Ed Royce said, “These kinds of exchanges are very important. The values reflected in Asian communities are shared by us all—the values of education, family and entrepreneurship.� During the ceremony, La Palma presented to Hanam’s Mayor Hwang Sik Kim a proclamation and key to the city and looked forward to visiting Korea in the near future to continue promoting more business opportunities and student, cultural and sports exchanges in the years to come between the two cities. Kim reciprocated with gifts to the city, including a framed display of Korean masks used in traditional Korean dances. He concluded, “I thank you again with a strong wish for our continuance of our sister relationships.� Kim, and a delegation from Hanam, visited La Palma again to participate in the La Palma Days Parade to celebrate its Silver Jubilee. In September, Mayor Waldman, Councilmember Charoen, and long-time community activists Ron MacIver and Susan and Steve Kim visited Korea. No city funds were used to pay for the trip that was paid for by out-of-pocket expenses or by private donations to a nonprofit foundation set up to cover costs. “The itinerary was quite hectic,� said Waldman. “We arrived in Hanam at 5:30 AM and by 6:30 AM we were being greeted by local officials, and we were special guests at a public ceremony with lots of pomp and circumstance by 8:00 AM.� Once the proper paperwork was signed to make the sister city status official, it was off to the city’s Performing Art Center to see a show of popular and traditional Korean music. “We were treated very well. In order to expose us to their culture, we visited an ancient palace and numerous cultural sites that gave the residents a great deal of pride. Then we would engage in discussions and speeches where we could share the differences and similarities between our cultures.� One difference is the city provides all the services to its residents, so the budget is quite large. “Hanam has eight times the population of La Palma but the budget is about 300 times the size of ours.� Another difference is that Korea has a more cohesive culture than the United States, home of peoples from around the world. The three-day visit didn’t allow a lot of time for sightseeing, but they did visit the demilitarized zone at the 38th Parallel separating South Korea from North Korea. “There really wasn’t much to see
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La Palma Community News Congratulates Mayor Steve Shanahan Mayor Pro-Tem Ralph Rodriguez
Mayor Steve Shanahan
Mayors Waldman and Kim at official sister city ceremony in Hanam, Korea. compared to the beautiful cultural sites we had visited.� At one point, Korean veteran MacIver was “whisked away� to participate in a ceremony for Korean War veterans where he was presented a medal. “The hospital-
ity was overwhelming,� said Waldman. Waldman and the Council are looking forward to hosting another visit by representatives of Hanam next year and hopes that more La Palma residents will be able to meet them.
Mayor Pro Tem Ralph Rodriguez
FREEDOM FROM ADDICTIONS Everyone in our community is humbly invited.
Saturday January 23, 2010 12:30pm to 4:pm La Palma Community Center 7821Walker St. La Palma, CA 90623 Sponsored by the La Palma Church of the Carpenter A FREE community addiction event called “The Road To Recoveryâ€? will be held on Saturday October 24th from 12:30 to 4:pm. The event, will be held at the La Palma Community Center 7821 Walker St. La Palma , California 90623 The event will be hosted by the La Palma Church of the Carpenter and C.A.R.E, (Christian Addiction Recovery Education). This event will feature guest speakers and will address the growing issue of addictions in our communities, the devastating toll it has on individuals and families, and offer hope for recovery for those suffering from addictions. This is a non-denominational event. Any in the community who seeks help is humbly invited. In today’s tough economic times with jobs scarce, folks can barely make ends meet, and now most federal and state rehabilitation programs are eliminated due to economy, where can a person turn to for help? This event can offer hope. C.A.R.E especially has a heart for the toll addiction has on the family, the marriage relationship, and the children who come from families with addictions. Who speaks for the children? Come and hear the stories of people who grew up in families with addiction. There will be child CARE for families and single mom’s. Today more and more individuals are having problems with prescription drugs, alcohol, pornography, and street drugs. By having this event, C.A.R.E. can offer hope, resources, and recovery. This is not a 12-step program. Our central theme is “THE ROAD TO RECOVERYâ€?. If you are on the road to destruction‌..EXIT HERE >>
Seating is limited. Please RSVP to the addresses below. There will be light refreshments and child CARE. For further details or counseling call or email us today at:
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4 LA PALMA COMMUNITY NEWS • NOVEMBER 11, 2009
TO ADVERTISE CALL 800-901-7211
Chamber of Commerce Newsletter • DECEMBER 2009 • www. • VOL 1 • ISSUE 2 • November 2009 lapalmachamberofcommerce.com • www. lapalmachamberofcommerce.com
Message From the Chamber President This is a great time of the year. The Christmas carols, the lights, decorations, the parties, good food and spending time with friends and family. My Christmas shopping is done and now I can take some time to relax. As I sit in my favorite chair I can’t help but reflect on this past year. As a Home Owner and Home Based Business owner I try to evaluate what I have accomplished, what I could have done differently this past year. One thing for sure is that I have benefited this past year with my involvement with our local Chamber of Commerce. I have also had the opportunity of serving on the La Palma Chamber Board of Directors. I have met some really great people, had the opportunity to share my business with others (networking) and met other business owners. I have also had the opportunity to work closely with our local City representatives. More importantly I have gotten out of my comfort, I have been exposed to things I would have never known about, met people that otherwise would have never crossed by path, exchanged experiences that I can learn from and along the way gained more confidence personally and as a Business Owner. When you make your TO DO list for 2009 jot down Join the La Palma Chamber of Commerce on your list. Get out of your comfort zone and expose yourself to something different. You will be amazed what a great experience it can be. On behalf of the La Palma Chamber of Commerce, this Holiday Season may your home be filled with laughter, good food and surrounded by good friends and family.
Ric Maurice President
La Palma Christian Center’s Christmas Fanfare 2009 Over 2000 people attended La Palma Christian Center’s Christmas Fanfare 2009. Four nights were filled with glorious music, drama, flying angels, dancing toys, snow falling, and a cast of hundreds. Highlights of the performances included a Living Christmas tree, led by music director pastor Moses Aleman. The tree was bathed in thousands of colored lights, which changed through every sequence. The arrival of
Santa and Mrs. Claus in their sleigh brought delight to the audiences, and the drama team’s hysterical vignettes, strewn throughout the production, kept everyone rolling in the aisles with laughter and glee. The performance drew to a powerful climatic finish as the nativity cast presented the true meaning of the Christmas season, the birth of Jesus.
J.K. Kennedy High School Students Join in the Giving La Palma J.K. Kennedy High School ASB organized a Canned Food Drive in early November to help in the Giving this holiday season. Their efforts paid off very well with well over one thousand five hundred cans of food collected of which two hundred fity cans were received from neighbor school oraganizationCypress High ASB. The cans were donated to the La
Palma Chamber of Commerce and La Palma Kiwanis Annual Christmas Food and Toy Drive held a couple of weeks ago. During these trying and difficult economic times it is truly wonderful to see everyone regardless of age or gender giving during the season. The La Palma Chamber of Commerce urges you to JOIN IN THE GIVING this Christmas.
La Palma Toastmasters Host Holiday Mixer By Larry Caballero
my point of view on life, and it can change yours, too.” By joining and participating in the weekly Toastmasters meetings, “You will learn new behaviors through practice in speaking on various topics and through constructive criticism.” La Palma Mayor Pro-Tem Ralph Rodriguez will be the President for
Then the leadership skills building will begin. “It takes time,” said Kao. Cat’s got your tongue? Is a frog in “I have been a speaker in Toastmasters your throat? Well, maybe you need to for several years now.” join the La Palma Community ToastMembers will be given objecmasters to build up some confidence tives and instructions and time to do for public speaking. Toastmasters research on a particular subject before Area E2 Governor Pan Kao welcomed they will be asked to deliver a 5-7 new members at the Holiday Mixer minute speech in front of their peers. After the speech has concluded, it is time for the evaluation session where constructive criticism is given. Speakers in time will learn how to respond the most effectively to the interviewer’s questions. At the Mixer, Kao asked DeLeon Hernandez and Chamber Board member Noella Lew to present an impromptu speech on the holidays that gave them an opportunity to practice their speaking skills. Interested in improving your Eager to begin a Toastmaster’s session are La Palma Chamber Board member Noella Lew, Executive Director public speaking Esther De Leon Hernandez, Toastmasters Governor Pan Kao and prospective new members. in a variety of venues? You’re only a call away. Dec. 16 held at the La Palma Chamits first meeting Jan. 6 at the Chamber Contact Chamber Executive Director ber of Commerce office and said, office to call the 90-minute meeting to Esther DeLeon Hernandez at 714-228“Toastmasters completely changed order and to introduce the members. 1214.
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LA PALMA COMMUNITY NEWS • NOVEMBER 11, 2009
Chamber of Commerce Newsletter • DECEMBER 2009 • www. • VOL 1 • ISSUE 2 • November 2009 lapalmachamberofcommerce.com • www. lapalmachamberofcommerce.com
La Palma Chamber of Commerce
Congressman Ed Royce Holds Open House
La Palma Professional Center 7872 Walker St., Suite 107 La Palma, CA. 90623 Telephone: 714.228.1214 Fax: 714.228.1218 info@lapalmachamberofcommerce.com
Board of Directors Ric Maurice
Maurice Construction President
Barbara Rincon
Made From the Heart Sweet Treats and More
Vice-President
Kristina Truong UCLA Secretary
Amanda Rincon
Orange County Superior Court Treasurer
Noel Lew Events
Ismile Noorbaksh Membership
John Sciacca Cypress College
Eloisa Velasquez
Resident/Past President
La Palma Chamber Jr. Ambassadors
FBLA (Kennedy High School Future Business Leaders of America)
Staff:
Esther De Leon Hernandez Executive Director
Bill Meil, Ryan Kushi/FBLA Office Volunteers
The La Palma Chamber of Commerce now offers its members Business Services. As a Chamber member you have access to the fax, printer, scanner and internet services at the Chamber office at a nominal price. As a member you also have access to the Conference Room for meeting with clients, organization or club. Notary Services are now offered at the Chamber office. Please call the office to make an appointment.
LA PALMA COMMUNITY NEWS 562.407.3873 www. lapalmanews.net email: lapalmanews@gmail.com Publishing the third Friday of every month.
Congressman Ed Royce held the 40th Congressional District Open House this past November 30th. It was an opportunity for constituents to talk with him about the issues that are important to them. The Open House was held at the Orange County office. Pictured with Royce are [l-r] Esther De Leon Hernandez, Executive Director La Palma Chamber of Commerce, Congressman Ed Royce and Nitesh Patel, La Palma Resident.
La Palma Employees Give Back for the Holidays The City of La Palma is pleased to announce that La Palma City employees recently donated and collected over $1,500 to help a La Palma family in need. For many years, La Palma employees have conducted Holiday collection drives to raise money for local families, but this year the 65 full-time and 35 part-time employees set a collection record. City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto said, “The La Palma community has always supported its employees and it makes us proud to be able to help a local family in their time of need.”
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6 LA PALMA COMMUNITY NEWS • NOVEMBER 11, 2009
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OPINIONS AND LETTERS Proposed Steve Luther Elementary School Closure The Cypress School Board will make a final decision on January 12. Dear Members of the Board of Trustees:
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reason I will look for In spite of all the another alternative emotional appeals, Something on your mind? and not stay within it really is NOT the Cypress School Email to lapalmanews@gmail. the teachers, staff, District if Luther students, or parents com. Letters and opinions do closes. I want the who are unique to not represent the viewpoint of best for my children any of these schools; the Editor, the Editor reserves and that includes people are mobile and a school where the the right to edit for length will go wherever the children are the top schools are. Clearly and grammar. priority. If Luther all four schools have closes I will either dedicated teachers move or find another and staff, as well as school that puts an unnecessary burden on students and parents who will be upset if my children. their school is chosen for closure. The Increased class sizes, budget cuts, and key issue to consider as you make this school closures are the result of today’s very important decision is: What about a bad economy. Why a school has to close particular school’s LOCATION makes it instead of the district and schools working either a good candidate for closure or a together with families to find solutions school that should stay open? baffles me. Why can’t schools share stuIn the case of Steve Luther, its locadents? The students that live in La Palma tion is a critical asset for the Cypress and want to attend Luther should be able School District: to do so. 1. Steve Luther brings in inter-district Carrie Katsumata transfers from the ABC School District La Palma because of its location. 2. Steve Luther brings in significant Cypress School Board Trustees: supplemental income for the District from the City of La Palma because of its locaTonight represents the second time tion. that I have come before you, for essen3. Steve Luther has an attendance tially the same reason. Last year, I asked area that does not significantly overlap for your support on Senator Harman’s Bill any other schools' attendance areas and to allow La Palma children living north of serves a population otherwise not propHouston Street to attend LaPalma schools. erly served by the District because of its I stressed to you the unique importance location. of community to La Palma residents and 4. Steve Luther’s population includes how forcing our children into Buena Park many La Palma residents who will leave Schools harms our children and commuthe District if their “home” school benity. Last year, you voted to refuse that comes Clara King; they can afford private support. schools and may also wield sufficient loNow, I am before you once again cal political pressure to open up transfers because your consideration to close Steve to Los Coyotes; this unique exodus from Luther Elementary threatens the same fate the District due to Luther’s closure is to about 250 additional La Palma students. because of its location. Three elementary school districts serve None of the other three schools being our 1.9 square mile City. One of those disconsidered for closure has this irreplacetricts already has no presence in La Palma, able set of contributions to the District and now the Cypress School District is that exist solely because of its physical considering becoming number two. location. Do not make the mistake of When the City Council undertook the closing your greatest asset. cause of parents living north of Houston Jane Freij Cypress Street, we were amazed at how many students were already attending public and private schools outside of the Buena Park and Fullerton districts. Even though Fourteen years ago I moved from the you have not yet made a decision, many South Bay because I wanted to live in a Luther parents are already actively explorsmaller community. After watching my ing alternatives to the Cypress School Discousins grow up in La Palma I chose to trict. As a business decision, the cost for have my kids attend Luther Elementary School because I felt it was a great school. lost students alone may evaporate most or all of your expected savings.I profoundly I wanted my kids to attend a school that hope that in the years to come, we are had above average test scores and a carall engaged in continuing the tradition of ing environment that truly excellence at Luther Elementary School. nurtured the kids. I have never regretted my deciMark Waldman sion to move here. It is Mayor, La Palma imperative to give my children a stable environBoard of Trustees, ment, which includes keeping my kids at LuMy husband and I moved to the City ther, where they know the of La Palma 9 years ago because of the teaching staff and have great things we heard about Steve Luther friends. Elementary. I would like to speak in favor I recently learned of leaving Luther open. There are a few that Luther has also been issues I’d like to address. First, I have nominated to be recogattended the meetings of the facility comnized as a California Dismittee and I feel the process has not been tinguished School. The as thorough as it needed to be. There nomination substantiates what parents and support- were representatives from each school however, as a spectator, the impression for ers of Luther Elementary me was that unless their particular school School have been trying was one being strongly considered, the to convey to the School Board and District. It is a members did not have a motive to spend much time considering all of the issues travesty to close a school presented. A lot of issues were presented that has so much support mainly on paper and would require time just because we are 50 or outside of the meetings to thoroughly so kids under the ministudy them and evaluate their reasonmum to stay open. ability. I question whether this was done I’ve heard that if because at the previous meeting when Luther closes that our two scenarios were presented showing children would go to the least disruption to students, both of King. I know people that them called for keeping Luther open, yet wanted to attend Luther, Luther still received 20 votes for closure. but say that King would not release them. For that My impression as a spectator is that this was mainly due to the committee’s focus reason, they chose to pay tuition and send their chil- on the fact that Luther’s residential figure of attendance is only 250. The rest of dren to a private school. Luther’s student population is made up of Just knowing that the test out of district transfers and transfers from scores are lower is one
within the district. This leads me to think all of the issues being raised are not being looked at carefully by all of the members. I’m glad it will now be in your hands and I hope you will consider these scenarios that leave Luther open. Along this same line, I would like to point out that if the existing school boundaries are considered when deciding which school has the smallest population, you need to also note how much smaller Luther’s assigned boundary area is compared to King and Swain which are the other 2 schools in this part of the district being considered. King has about twice the amount of land assigned to it and Swain nearly 3 times so it is only logical that they would have more students and residents. If boundaries are being redrawn anyway, I think this can no longer be the highest overriding factor since the fairness of the existing boundaries must be questioned before doing this. Another issue I want to address is the potential loss of students to the district. Luther has a strong draw for out of district transfers. Even though with enrollments declining, Luther still draws a higher number of enrollments than any other schools being considered for closure and it will rise again as the population changes in the future. It’s location promotes transfers because it lies next to some areas where schools are less desirable and students want to go to a highly recognized school instead. I cannot stress enough how strong the connection is between residents of La Palma and their local community. Our kids go to Luther, Walker and Kennedy, all in the city of La Palma. During the committee meetings, our Superintendent often brought up how smooth the transition between Dickerson and Vessels was. In this case, the students were moving to a school with a good reputation and higher API scores. If Luther closes, this will not be the case. As a parent I don’t believe it is right to send our children outside of our city and community especially since we were nominated as a distinguished school. I believe we should keep the stronger and more recognized school open on the north side of the district, I hope you can agree with me that Luther is that school. Statistics within the district show only 5% of students who live in Luther’s boundaries chose to go to another school in the district. This is lower than King where 20% chose another school, Swain where 38% chose another school, Cawthon where 24% chose another school and Landell & Arnold where 13% chose another school. 95 out of 100 students who live within Luther’s boundaries choose to stay at Luther. I hope you as board members will hear them and consider keeping Luther open for the future of our district. Betty Lau La Palma
2010 Buena Park/ La Palma Relay for Life Have you been touched by cancer, either personally, through friends and/or family members? Do you feel helpless and don’t know what you can do to help combat this dreaded disease? We invite you to join us for the 2010 La Palma/Buena Park Relay For Life 24 hour event to be held June 5th and 6th at the Buena Park Junior High School track on Orangethorpe just west of Knott Ave. It is 24 hours of food, fun, games, dancing, and time to honor cancer survivors and to remember loved ones we lost to cancer. For information on how to form a team, make a donation or be a sponsor of the event, please contact: Barbara Michel, 714.522.3506 or Ralph Rodriguez, 714.612-4237. You can register a team for $26 until December 1, 2009. Check out our website at: www.relayforlife.org/buenaparklapalmaca.
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LA PALMA DAYS
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with over 4,000 students from all over Southern California, dignitaries, schools, organizations, and community groups, marched down Walker Street in the annual La Palma Days Parade and Band Review. Considered one of Southern California’s premiere events, the Band Review
featured 30 high school and junior high school bands competing for top honors. The John F. Kennedy High School Shamrock Regiment Band directed by Bob Anthony served as the host band for the event. Award Winners The Chris O’Neal Spirit Award was presented to the Sa-Mool-No-Ri Korean Dance Group, and Drill Team winners and Band winners included Ross Middle School in Artesia and Tetzlaff Middle
LA PALMA COMMUNITY NEWS • NOVEMBER 11, 2009 7 School in Cerritos that won both the MuCentral Park hosted the La Palma Days sic and Band Sweepstakes. Community Festival with featured games Junior Reserve Officers Training and activities for all ages, entertainment, Corps Awards were presented to the Kengreat food, specialty vendors, cultural and nedy Army JROTC in the Color Guards historical displays, and arts and crafts. and Armed Drill Team categories. KenThe main Pavilion Stage featured nedy also won in the Percussion Section various cultural and family entertaincategory for large groups. Whitney High ers throughout the day and the Arts and School in Cerritos won 1st Place honors Crafts, and Cultural and Historical secfor its Drill Team Auxiliary Unit and Band tions provided unique opportunities for in the Class 3A category. families to learn more about La Palma and After the conclusion of the parade, its diverse community.
La Palma Management Team.
Local little league Dodgers.
Buena Park Boy Scouts.
St. Iraneus Church Cheer Team.
La Palma's official car, not really.
City voluteers take a break during the festivities.
Korean dance team.
Paramedics stand at the ready for any stomach aches.
La Palma Queen and her Court.
Six piece Mariachi band played at the park stage.
Carving wood at the American Camp.
The new La Palma railroad company gave happy participants a ride around the park.
Local ROTC show off their marching skills.
M-I-C......Grand Marshall Mickey Mouse.
Luther Elementary... keep the school afloat!.
8 LA PALMA COMMUNITY NEWS • NOVEMBER 11, 2009
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The City of La Palma wants to say Thank You to the corporate sponsors and volunteers who assisted with the Santa Margarita Lane Community Beautification Project. Your generous support has allowed the neighborhood to be much brighter this Holiday Season!
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