Los Cerritos Community Newspaper Group

Delivered to 45,000 homes (over 105,000 readers) every Friday for over 14 years.
Click on link below to visit our website:
www.loscerritosnews.net

Sunday, November 13, 2011

LCCN Exclusive Saddleback College Professor Amy Ahearn Found in Los Angeles

LCCN first reported this story late last night (Nov 11)

  • CASE UPDATES AS OF SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2011 at 1:20 p.m.
  • Ahearn had been going through a divorce with popular Cerritos College English Professor Timothy Juntilla when she was reported missing in mid-September.

  • Ahearn located Friday Nov. 11 at around 10 p.m. at 85th Street in South Central Los Angeles.

  • Kathie Allen, Ahearn Family Private investigator tells LCCN that it "was a miracle she was alive."

  • Ahearn undergoing medical review at well known area hospital.

  • Exact details of Ahearn's health condition as of Saturday afternoon at around 3:30 p.m. remain unknown, according to Investigator Allen.
  • Sources tell LCCN that LAPD received a phone call on Friday night about a "suspicious woman" near 85th Street in Los Angeles, and when two Deputies arrived, they learned that the woman was indeed Ahern.
  • LCCN also learned that Ahern had been carrying her official identification with her for the past two plus months in a back pack.



By Randy Economy

Missing Saddleback College Professor Amy Ahearn has been found alive in South Central Los Angeles, Los Cerritos Community News has learned exclusively. Ahearn was located late Friday night at around 10 p.m. off of 85th Street in South Central Los Angeles. She was located by members of the Los Angeles Police Department.{{more}}
Ahearn was taken to an area hospital where she is being evaluated.
Investigator Kathy Allen, who has been spearheading the search efforts on behalf of the Ahearn Family, said that it is "a miracle that Amy was located, safely, and that she is going to be okay."
{{more}}Ahearn, an English Professor at Saddleback College went missing on August 22 when she was seen near a law office near the Norwalk Civic Center.
The popular instructor has been the subject of a major search effort from both the Orange County and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
A Missing Person Bulletin was issued through the tow counties in early September.
Ahearn was briefly found sitting in front the home of Ana Ruvalcaba at around midnight on September 18 at the 11900 block of Ferina Street in Norwalk.
Ruvalcaba, 26, a lifelong resident of Norwalk and a mother of a four year old told LCCN that she and family members took Ahearn into her home "in the middle of the night" in mid-September after Ahearn told them that she was "waiting for a ride from a friend."
While inside the Ruvalcaba's home, Ahearn's wallet fell out of the back pack she was carrying, when they confirmed that the woman was indeed the missing Ahearn according to her driver’s license.
Ruvalcaba said that from 1 to 6 a.m. that evening in September, Ahearn agreed to come inside their families home to "get out of the cold air" and gave Ahearn coffee, they also "Prayed the Rosary" during the time Amy was inside their home.
After the sun rose on September 18, Ruvalcaba told LCCN that she drove Ahearn to a local Motel 6 on Rosecrans Avenue in Norwalk so Ahearn could get a "place to stay." While waiting for a room to become available at the motel, Ahearn apparently wandered off to a nearby Carrow's Restaurant parking lot and that is where Ruvalcaba said last saw Ahearn.
Ahearn was missing until Friday night when she was located.
The exact details of her condition as of Saturday afternoon at around 3:30 p.m. remain unknown, according to Investigator Allen.
Allen, who is the principle owner of Allen Morris Investigations out of Irvine, California (www.allenmorrisinvestigations.com) told LCCN that this was one of the "most rewarding cases" she has been involved with in her nearly decade long career.
Allen also confirmed that members of law enforcement did contact Ahearn's family in the Chicago area late Friday evening to give them the good news.
Allen said she spoke to Marjorie Ahearn, Amy's older sister outside of Chicago who said she was "elated that Amy was found, alive, and well."
Copyright Los Cerritos Community News 2011


Sunday, July 31, 2011

JULY 29, 2011 PUBLICATION

Off Street Café
celebrates ribbon cutting with Cerritos Chamber




By Randy Economy

This has been a whirlwind month for Robin Vandenberg and Rose Viscolu the owners of the Off Street Café on Artesia Boulevard and Studebaker Road in Cerritos.
Earlier this month, the landmark eatery was given a complete head to toe make over by world famous chef Robert Irvine and the Food Network’s mega hit show “Restaurant Impossible.”
On Wednesday members of the Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce, including Chamber President Ann Smith, and Vice Mayor Jim Edwards, and representatives from California State Senator Alan Lowenthal and US Representative Linda T. Sanchez presented Off Street with several awards and certificates at a special “Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.” Also joining in the celebration were several members of the Cerritos Regional Chamber Board of Directors, community leaders, and representatives from Cerritos City Hall.
Vice Mayor Jim Edwards told the crowd of well wishers at the Chamber event that everyone has been “thrilled” to see the changes to Off Street during this past month and said it was “exciting” to be part of the recent taping of the “Restaurant Impossible” production.
He presented Vandenberg and Visscolu with a special proclamation on behalf of the Cerritos City Council.
On Thursday night, the entire Cerritos City Council recognized Off Street and their staff at the City Council Meeting for their longtime commitment to the residents and to celebrate their “new look” and menu.


Eighty-eight players turn out for
Hawaiian Gardens Golf Tournament


By Larry Caballero and
Jerry Bernstein



Eighty-eight players participated in Hawaiian Gardens 12th Annual Donald E. Schultze Memorial Golf Tournament held at Westridge Golf Club June 22 in the city of La Habra.
First Place Team with a score of 56 went to Knabe, Garza, Espenzoa and Guiller. Placing second with a score of 57 was Knabe, Gomeaz, Nava and Patrick. Third Place team with a score of 61 included Parker, Harnis, McDougal, and George. Honesrty Award with a score of 85 went to Sandoval, Eggart, and Casimira.
Longest Drive went to Dan Gonzalez on the 17th Hole and Roberta Abner on Hole Number Five. Closest to the Pin was won by Danny Yoguez on Hole 11 and Donna Schultz on Hole 15.
Attending the tournament was former Mayor Betty Schultz and family. The annual tournament, is named after her late husband Donald, who also served on the city council and was a community leader for many years.
Mary Lou Landes was the honoree at this year’s tournament where more than 180 dignitaries and friends recognized her for her dedication and commitment to improving the lives of families in Hawaiian Gardens and surrounding communities.
Landes served five years on the Senior Advisory Board, Chairperson of Southeast Regional Collaborative Board for 10 years, Cerritos Chamber Board of Directors, worked with the Head Start Program both educationally an socially, Board of Directors for Little League and Pop Warner Football, and active with ABCUSD School Board with issues pertaining to Hawaiian Gardens schools.
Landes grew up in Georgia, attended the University of Georgia and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Georgia Baptist Medical Center in Atlanta. She came to California and worked in Berkeley for 10 years before moving to Long Beach in 1969.
She specialized in Behavioral Health Nursing, holding various administrative positions in hospitals, where her specialty was opening and developing Mental Health Units.
She was recruited to Bellwood Health Center in Bellflower where she met and worked for Art Gerrick, who would later bring her to Tri-City Regional Medical Center in Hawaiian Gardens to work as Director of Community Relations/Business Development.
She has been a recipient of many awards and commendations including Human Services Association Person of the Year, Senator Alan Lowenthal’s Women Who Make a Difference Award, Assemblymember Tony Mendoza’s Women of the Year Award and commendations from Congresswoman Linda Sanchez and the ABC School Board.
She feels one of her most fulfilling accomplishments is her Little League team in Hawaiian Gardens that she lovingly calls “Her Boys” of 10 who she has sponsored/mentored since 7th grade and who are now seniors in high school.
Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Mike Gomez said, “Winning championships in baseball was great, but keeping them focused and out of gangs through adolescent years, and having them pursuing educational/professional goals took patience and perseverance, but she has been successful and most proud of her title Mom Mary Lou as the boys call her.”
She currently lives in Los Alamitos with her cat “Sir James Harden” known as Jamie.


Optimist guest speaker discusses Therapeutic Riding Program for those with disabilities


By Jerry Bernstein

Speaking to members of the Cerritos Optimist Club at their June 21 dinner meeting, Darlene Harman, President and Founding Director of “Ride Your Horse Therapeutic Program” located at B&B Stables in Cerritos said the goal of the program is to provide quality equine-assisted activities to individuals of all ages with disabilities and encourage self-growth through physical, cognitive, social, emotional and educational benefits. She described the connection between the rider and the horse as being amazing.
“Therapeutic riding can help those with various disabilities. The horses’ rhythmic movements stimulate the rider’s muscles and joints and can lead to improved balance, coordination, muscle strength and increased self-confidence.
She said many people believe any horse can be used. “That’s not the case at all. We need horses that can walk, trot and canter. They need to be trained and have the right disposition that’s needed to work with riders who have disabilities. In addition, our own people need to be trained in order to work with the horses and their riders.”
She said volunteers are also an important and essential part of the program. They provide emotional support and unconditional acceptance both to the rider and horse as they work closely with instructors to ensure lessons are safe and enjoyable. They not only assist with lessons but also lead the horses, talking to it and encouraging the rider when necessary.. She said in some cases it takes three volunteers for a rider to have a safe, beneficial lesson. “Without volunteers many of our riders would not be able to ride,” she exclaimed. “Not only does the instructor need to know the horses but the volunteers as well.”
Harman said their kids are unable to go out and play soccer or baseball. The only way they can contend is riding the horses. They are very proud when they can go out and compete on their horses, inviting their parents and family to come out and watch them. It’s difficultd for them in the beginning but they work hard and have the determination to succeed, “Most of all it doesn’t matter how old you are,” she said.
Harman concluded by saying, “At the end of the day it’s nice to know that when you go home at night, you have made somebody smile.”





LBS Financial
Credit Union Awards 32 Student Scholarships





Long Beach, CA – June 27, 2011
At the close of the 2011 school year, LBS Financial Credit Union awarded scholarships to 32 students in Long Beach, Lakewood, Cerritos and surrounding communities.
Each year LBS Financial encourages local area high schools, adult schools and community colleges to participate in their scholarship program by recommending students for an award. This year, 28 high school, 2 college and 2 adult school students were awarded scholarships. The credit union works directly with each school counselor to receive their recommendation for a worthy student recipient each year.
The credit union also offered a $1,000 scholarship in 2011 that could be applied for by any LBS Financial member in their final year of high school or first three years of college. One winner for the $1,000 scholarship is selected by a credit union employee committee each year and will be formally announced later this summer.
“Education is at the foundation of our credit union,” said LBS Financial’s President and CEO Jeffrey A. Napper. “With the rising cost of college, we hope our scholarship program helps these outstanding students towards reaching their educational goals.”
Throughout May and June 2011, scholarships were presented, along with a plaque, to students at their school’s award ceremony.
LBS Financial, founded in 1935 as the Long Beach School District Employees Federal Credit Union, is a member-owned cooperative providing savings, checking, Visa®, money markets, certificates, IRA, insurance and investment services. LBS Financial also offers personal, vehicle, boat and home loans. Their field of membership encompasses fifty cities surrounding the greater Long Beach area, as well as Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange and San Diego Counties. They currently service over 115,000 members with six branch office locations, convenient electronic access (ATMs, online banking) and are part of the CU Service Center network. LBS Financial Credit Union has $1 billion in total assets.

Walker Junior High School Representatives Win at Jostens
Renaissance National Conference

By Larry Caballero


La Palma Walker Junior High School students and staff recently returned from the 2011 Jostens Renaissance National Conference held at the Anaheim Marriott in Anaheim July 15-17 where the 20th annual conference provided a wide variety of ideas, tools, and recognition models to help improve overall academic performance. Over 1,000 participants from all over the United States and Canada participated.
Jennifer Sasai, teacher and Renaissance adviser, was honored with the Coordinator of the Year award. Only four educators in the United States are honored with this prestigious award each year.
Walker Junior High School took home for the second consecutive year the “Spirit Award” during the conference for demonstrating enthusiasm and purpose. It is a major accomplishment that a junior high chapter won this award over all the secondary schools in the nation.
“I am proud of how our students represented our school at the conference. We learned new ideas to implement at our school and also were able to share what we have done to promote student success at Walker Junior High School in front of a national audience. I was honored to be named a Jostens Renaissance Coordinator of the Year and be able to celebrate with my students at the conference,” said Sasai.
“Schools that have integrated Jostens Renaissance into their curriculum have seen noticeable improvement in students’ academic performance,” said Charley Nelson, Director, Educator Services, Jostens. “By implementing the program, students receive the extra push and recognition they need to improve their academic skills and develop self-confidence.”
Calissa Jones, an eighth grade student, who has attended the Jostens Renaissance National conference for two consecutive years commented, “Both years that I have attended the conference, I’ve been incredibly inspired to make a difference in my community.”
The conference featured guest speakers NBA star Bill Walton, and Liz Murray, a homeless child of drug-addict parents and a Harvard grad winner of the Oprah Winfrey’s “Chutzpah Award,” and subject of the Lifetime film Homeless to Harvard.
Ron Hoshi, assistant principal at Oxford Academy, who served as a chaperone remarked, “Ms. Murray is one of the most inspirational speakers I have ever heard in my career as an educator.”
At Walker Junior High School, two high-energy Renaissance rallies are held each year. The fall rally honors eighth graders for grades earned the previous year. The spring rally honors both seventh and eighth graders for grades earned during the first semester.
“Renaissance is more than a program. It is also a process that encourages academic excellence, improvement, and citizenship,” said Sasai.
Founded by educators in 1988, Jostens Renaissance is the first and only national education-focused program created to recognize and reward the academic achievements of students from elementary school through college. Its primary goals are to increase student performance and teacher enthusiasm, and to raise the level of community participation in schools.



Nine Year Old Discovers Strange
Plant in Family’s Garden

By Andrew Perry


Austin O’ Malley, nine years old, noticed an odd looking flower growing in the family garden, along 183rd Street in Artesia. The flower was not intentionally planted there, yet it was attractive enough to convince Austin to continue caring for it. That was back in March. Today the flower, a hollyhock, is now 13 feet, 8 inches tall.
Austin’s father, Sean O’ Malley, thinks that a bird must have dropped the seed at its prominent spot at the forefront of their garden. “It’s a few feet away from the world record,” said Sean O’ Malley. According to the 1982 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, the tallest hollyhock reported was 24 feet, 3 inches tall, grown by W.P. Walshe of Eastburne, East Sussex, United Kingdom in 1961. Again, this was reported however but not photographed. The tallest confirmed flower was 19 feet, 7 inches, grown by George Palmer of West Clandon, Surrey, in the United Kingdom, during 1978.
While it may be too late for this hollyhock flower to outgrow the world record, the two O’ Malleys seemed intent on pursuing the record next year. They said they have saved the seeds and are making a plan for next year’s flower.




City Council Health Insurance and
Benefits Differ From City to City

By Jerry Bernstein

Editor’s note: This is the second article concerning health insurance and benefits for area City Council members, many who are considered part-time employees. The question being asked- should cities pay for the insurance, which usually covers dependents or should members of the city council pay a portion of the premium. The previous article covered the cities of Artesia and Cerritos.

An ongoing LCCN investigation has found that health insurance and benefits vary from city to city. The majority of the cities provides health insurance not only for the council members but their families too. In addition some cities continue coverage after a councilmember goes off the council. In Artesia however, the health insurance ends once the councilmember is no longer on the council.
In the city of Hawaiian Gardens each councilmember and family member receive health insurance. The insurance stays in force until such time as the member goes off the council unless he is vested (on the council for more than five years, is retired, and is over 55 years in age.)
If a councilmember declines to take the insurance he or she receives nothing. If the insurance fee is in excess of the normal fee that is governed by CALPERS, the councilmember must pay the difference, which is usually for dependents.
Two members of the Hawaiian Gardens council, Mayor Mike Gomez and Mayor Pro Tem Michi Oyama-Canada, are not covered by the city because they have their own medical insurance.
Norwalk city council members and their families receive health coverage. This ends when the councilmember leaves the council. The coverage does not include dental care. If a councilmember is 65 years he or she has a choice of basic health or they can go on Medicare provided they are not employed.
The City of La Palma does not provide any health insurance coverage for its councilmembers,
Councilmembers in the city of Cypress pay no premium if the coverage is just for them. If the councilmember includes family members they have to pay the difference. Councilmembers have several medical plans to pick from. They include PERS Care (Blue Cross), PERS Choice (Blue Cross), PERS Select (Blue Cross) BLUE SHIELD HMO Coverage, BLUE SHIELD Net Value Coverage, and Kaiser HMO Coverage.
Councilmembers also have two Dental Plans to choose from: Delta Preferred and Delta Care, which the premiums are paid for by the city. However under Delta Preferred the council members pays $41.12 for one dependent and $105.66 for two dependents. Under Delta Care one dependent is $13.90. Two dependents are $29.95. Councilmembers who chose to waive dental coverage receives $5 per month.
There is also city paid life insurance coverage in the amount of $10,000 through Sun Life Insurance Company of America and a Vision Service Plan (VSP) where the council- members pays a $10 co-payment for self and each dependent. The councilmember may also elect to enroll as an “Optional” member in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) with 2 percent @ 55 formula, single highest year calculation and survivor benefit. DEFFERED COMPENSATION is available to all Council Members.
The last city surveyed was Santa Fe Springs. Like all employees, members of the City Council receive medical, dental, and life insurance while in office. There are different types of medical plans available, so it depends on what plan the person chooses if their dependent(s) are to be covered.
Up until last year, dependents were eligible for coverage on most insurance policies until 18, or 21 if they were full-time students. Under a new law, passed by President Obama, dependents can now stay covered on their parents' medical plans until they reach the age of 26. To date Santa Fe Springs has never had a Councilmember retire with dependents that qualified to be on their plans; most are over the age to be covered. Spouses however could be covered if that type of plan is chosen.


West Nile virus
cases jump
dramatically in
Cerritos

By Randy Economy

The number of dead birds confirmed to have the deadly West Nile Virus in Cerritos has now risen to 12, according to latest data from officials with the Los Angeles County Vector Control District.
At a community meeting held at the Skyline Room at the Cerritos Library last week, authorities from GLACVCD said that the number of dead birds with WNV has actually doubled in the past two weeks alone.
Cerritos now accounts for nearly 60% of all confirmed cases in all of Los Angeles County of dead birds that have fallen from the virus.
As of last week, Vector Control officials said that 21 dead birds have been found throughout Los Angeles County who died from the killer virus, and of those 12 were found in Cerritos, or roughly 60% of all cases to date.
Vector Control officials also reported that 36 mosquitoes have been found in traps throughout Los Angeles County, and of those five were found in Cerritos.
Los Angeles County has reported the highest number of West Nile virus (WNV) positive dead birds so far this year when compared to all other counties in California, and Cerritos has the most recorded cases in Los Angeles County according to the latest statistics.
Overall, Vector control districts in L.A. County have reported 26 of the 69 West Nile virus positive dead birds that have been recorded statewide. Within one week, the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD) has identified an additional eight West Nile virus positive dead birds bringing the District’s total to 21 for the year. Of the eight new WNV positive dead birds reported.
Councilman Mark Pulido, and around 20 local community members attended the briefing at the Cerritos Library.
Pulido interjected that he has personally seen "thousands" of black crows that have been flocking in “clusters” in areas around the Cerritos Civic Center.
Crystal Brown, an official with Vector Control, said that there is a "cause for concern" since so many cases are located in a dense area here in Cerritos.
"This is very alarming, and concerning, and now is the time for everyone to get educated and to take precaution," she told the community meeting.
Longtime Cerritos resident Don Faisy, a teacher in the ABC Unified School District said he found at least three dead black crows in his back yard over the "past few days alone." Faisy said the only way he learned about the outbreak was from a recent series of articles in the Los Cerritos Community News. "If it wasn't for LCCN reporting on this, I am afraid no one would get this information," Faisy said.
The newest locations where the dead birds with the West Nile Virus found in Cerritos during the past few days were found at the 16000 block of Winward, 12000 block of Edgefield, 13000 block of Park, and the 17000 block of Stark.
Officials said that they are working to get an "interactive map" to be placed on line that will that will provide "real time" confirmed case data, and where it is located.


State claims CRA’s have been using
accounting gimmickry for decades


By Randy Economy


California Attorney General Kamala Harris has filed a response with the California Supreme Court on Wednesday in the legal battle to eliminate Community Redevelopment Agency’s in the Golden State.
In the 85 page response that was filed on Wednesday in San Francisco, Harris claims that CRA’s have relied of “accounting gimmicks, illusory spending cuts, and improbable revenue projections.”
Here is the full text of the response:
“In 1945, the California Legislature passed legislation authorizing the creation of Redevelopment Agencies ("RDAs"). Over time, hundreds of RDAs were created, and they grew to control many billions of public dollars each year. As the percentage of public funds controlled by RDAs grew, the portion available to fund crucial local services like schools, transportation, and fire protection dropped.”
“During most of the past decade, even as RDA funds grew, California struggled with massive budget deficits. These deficits were extended and exacerbated by budgeting practices that relied too heavily on borrowing, accounting gimmicks, illusory spending cuts, and improbable revenue projections. Making matters much worse, the Great Recession reduced the state's revenue base by 30 percent.”
“When Governor Brown took office, California's immediate and long term fiscal problems were immense. A $25.4 billion budget deficit existed for 2011-12 and an annual structural deficit of up to $21.5 billion was projected into the future. Time had come for the Legislature and the Governor to confront difficult policy and spending choices and enact an honest and fiscally responsible budget. For the first time in many years, they did so when they passed the 2011-12 FY Budget. This budget not only closed the fiscal year's $25.4 billion imbalance, but it also reduced the structural deficit by more than $15 billion.”
As part of this budget, the Legislature passed legislation which eliminated RDAs and called for their operations to be systematically wound down. Simultaneously, the Legislature created an alternative, voluntary scheme for cities and counties to use should they wish to continue pursuing redevelopment. Through this petition, RDA supporters seek to have the Legislature's actions declared Unconstitutional.
The petition alleges that state constitutional provisions which limit the Legislature's ability to tamper with the stream of income flowing into and out of RDAs also preclude the Legislature from terminating the RDA program through AB IX 26. This contention is meritless. RDAs are creatures of statute—not the state constitution—and the Legislature may dissolve them. Proposition 22 does not change this analysis and did nothing to limit the Legislature's power to dissolve RDAs.
The petition also claims that AB1X 27, which created a new and voluntary redevelopment program, violates Proposition 22. This contention is also without merit. Proposition 22 blocks forted shifts and transfers from RDAs. AB1X 27 is voluntary and does not force RDAs or cities and counties to do anything. Although respondent 1 does not agree that the statutes are infirm, she does agree that the issues presented are of sufficient importance to warrant resolution by this Court in the first instance, preferably on an expedited basis.
Finally, the Court should not issue a stay of these critically important pieces of the state's current budget framework. AB IX 26 and AB1X 27 are essential parts of the budget solution crafted by the Legislature and the Governor, and a stay would harm the public interest. Further, petitioners cannot make an adequate showing that they will be harmed without a stay.”
To view the entire response from Attorney General Harris, please visit the Los Cerritos Community News Web Site at www.loscerritosnews.net


Fall election
candidates begin
stacking up for
November balloting

Six candidates in Hawaiian
Gardens City Council, area school and college trustee
campaigns taking shape.

By Randy Economy

Candidates continued to file this week for local city council campaigns in Artesia and Hawaiian Gardens as well for seats on area school and college boards of trustees.
At Hawaiian Gardens City Hall, six candidates have begun the formal nomination process according to City Clerk Sue Underwood.
As of 10 a.m. Thursday, challenger Kathy Trimble has filed the required documents for the November 8th election.
Also taking out nomination papers are Mayor Mike Gomez, Councilman Victor Farfan, and challengers Janeth Arias, an Attorney at Law, Adrian Avelar, and Mauricio Arroyo.
In Artesia, incumbent Councilman Tony Lima has taken out nomination papers for reelection as has challenger Miguel Canales. Lima, who is finishing his first full four year term on the Artesia City Council, did confirm with the Los Cerritos Community News on Thursday morning that he will seek a second term.
For the ABC Unified School Board of Education, incumbent Board President Maynard Law has filed for reelection as well as Vice President Armin Reyes and Member Sophia Tse. Retired Cerritos businessman and community leader Mansour Meisami has also entered the campaign.
In addition, a special election will be held to fill the unexpired two year term of former board member Mark E. Pulido who was elected to the Cerritos City Council in March. So far, Ernie Nishi, a Cerritos attorney has been issued nomination papers and he told the Los Cerritos Community News on Wednesday that he will “definitely” be a candidate.
Rio Hondo College incumbent Gary Mendez has filed for reelection to his Area 4 district that includes Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs and Los Nietos. Mendez, who is seeking his fourth four year term on the Rio Hondo College Board is being challenged by Little Lake City School Board Ronald Lawrence.
In the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District campaign, incumbent school board member Karen Morrison has filed for reelection and challenger Jesse Urquidi has pulled nomination papers. Incumbent Lorraine Neal has yet to pull nomination papers.
Detailed information regarding the candidate filing process is available on the Registrar Recorder/County Clerk website www.lavote.

Hawaiian Gardens City Council debates
warrants and how they should be paid

Financial and Personnel Audit Requested.

By Jerry Bernstein

The discussion that keeps cropping up at the Hawaiian Gardens City Council meetings has to do with Warrants.
Should these bills be paid before the council approves them or after council approval? Warrants have been described as routine. They include payment for work that has been completed for the city under contract as well as miscellaneous fees such as insurance premiums. and expenses.
At its July 26 meeting the council gave its approval to pre-issued warrants and regular warrants in the amount of $2,041,222.51 with Mayor Mike Gomez, Mayor Pro Tem Michi Oyama-Canada and Councilmember Victor Far Fan approving them. Councilmembers Reynaldo Rodriguez and Barry Bruce abstained , commenting there was some warrants they agreed with and others they questioned. They did not want to go on record voting against all of them. They said they believed the council should review them before they are paid.
Bruce said he would like to see a financial and personnel audit and requested that it be put on the agenda for the council’s Aug. 9 meeting. He expressed his disconnect with approving pre-issued warrants and said there should be a committee to review all warrants before they come to the council for approval. “I don’t think this is fiscally responsible thing for us to do.” He said the council had discussed doing a fiscal and financial audit last year and he still feels one should be done now, especially since it looks like redevelopment money will soon be “out the door.” He said it was time for the council to become responsible and seriously look at the city’s finances, see where we can cut and if better fiscal planning is needed.
Councilmember Reynaldo Rodriguez agreed and said this was a huge amount of money. He asked what the monthly average was. Finance Director David Sung said it was not more than $1 million.
Councilmember Victor Farfan said he believes the city has been moving in a responsible direction, He said the council approved a balance budget,. “Right now we have $6 million in our rainy day fund. He also noted that in the budget the council voted to increase the amount being put into the city’s reserve was raised to $1 million annually. He said the city is doing due diligence in terms of financial planning. He said,” We have done this without sacrificing programs for our residents, and layoff employees. “In terms of financial responsibility we’re headed n the right direction.”
Rodriguez said he believes reviewing the warrants prior to their approval could save the city more money. “It looks good now, but we don’t know what the Governor may do in the future.”
Mayor Mike Gomez said Hawaiian Gardens has not had to lay off any city employee or put them on furlough similar to what other cities have done. “We have worked hard to cut expenses.” He said to say we have been neglectful is incorrect. Commenting on the Sports Complex under construction at Fedde Middle School, he said “Yes, the cost was estimated at $8 million, but $3 million was raised through grants and donations.” He said he understands when completed it will be under budget by $1 million. He said concerning warrants He believes that is standard in every city. Bruce disagreed saying he understands many cities review the warrants before approval is given.
In other business the council approved an amendment the city code requiring retailers to have a license before they can sell tobacco retailers. The council also approved the installation of eight stop signs on Belshire Avenue between 221st street and Brittain Street and painting 15 ft. of red curb approaching the intersection and 10 ft. of red curb leaving the intersection for the entire segment of Belshire Avenue and 221st Street to Brittain Street.

RESIDENTS
ACCUSE
LA PALMA POLICE
OF MAFIA TYPE
SHAKEDOWN


Community divided over labor
negotiations.

By Larry Caballero

During the Oral Communications at the July 19 La Palma City Council meeting, police and residents again shared a variety of opinions and concerns about labor negotiations with the police department.
Comments ranged from “We need our dedicated police officers, and we get our money’s worth with the police department,” to one resident stating residents were feeling like victims and experiencing “a mafia type shakedown.”
One officer said, “We are below the median in comparable cities for salaries and medical.” As for a resident’s concern about his and his family’s safety for speaking out on police pension reform, the officer said, “We are about righting wrongs and not perpetrating them.”
Resident Noella Lew asked the Council, “If you were burglarized, who would you call…we should be thanking our police department.”
Resident Robert Carruth again spoke about the need for the Council to support pension reform and “do what was fair, efficient and affordable while not impacting public safety.” He also reminded the Council, “Bad things happen to good people when they don’t live within their means.”
Long-time resident Cheryl Pappas expressed concern about previous comments by police officers that she considered to be “angry and confrontational” and questioned Officer Les Parsons who said that police could not afford to live in La Palma.
Pappas disagreed. “With a salary and benefits at more than $120,000 and a wife who is an attorney and a teacher, he earns more than the citizens of La Palma whose median level is $80,000.”
Pappas said that residents were feeling like victims and experiencing “a mafia type shakedown” when the police tell citizens how necessary they are in protecting the community, and how deserving they are of their salaries and benefits.
“Do the numbers,” said Pappas, “they do not lie.”
One of the last residents to speak had a daughter in law enforcement, and she expressed her admiration for the police department, yet she considered the comments of police officers at a recent Council meeting as “intimidating” to residents, and she was disillusioned with what she heard that night.
“I almost didn’t come back after what I had experienced. Intimidation should not be a part of La Palma.” She said that the City owed the residents, who brought up concerns about police benefits, “a debt of thanks for coming forward,” and she didn’t see the need for the police officers to feel the need “to extol their virtues” to the residents.
Former La Palma Mayor Keith Nelson said that he was disappointed with “the tone, tenor and content” of the last meeting. “It was embarrassing,” said Nelson. He reminded the Council that everyone who lives in the City is positive about the police department.
“The only negative comments have come from the police. Of late, a movement is at foot in the police association that’s disturbing. It’s a choice they made to become police officers, and they are compensated very well.”
Nelson reminded the Council that police have earned a 16% raise over the last three years, and officers earn more than $100,000 a year with salary and benefits. “We cannot continue to fund their pension program going forward. We just can’t afford it. Where are you going to get the money?”
Nelson encouraged the police department “to step back and see what is going on in the real world,” and reminded the Council that they represent all 16,000 residents of the City, and not only 24 police officers.
Former La Palma Mayor Larry Herman said that “no one is advocating the replacing of the police department with any thing else,” but since the other labor bargaining units have already settled with the City and accepted pension reform and a second tier in the salary structure, so should the police.
“It’s only fair,” said Herman. Herman concluded by warning everyone present that prolonged negotiations with the police association “is dividing the City.”

Friday, April 29, 2011

La Palma Mayor Presents State of the City


By Larry Caballero

La Palma Mayor Ralph Rodriguez thanked the Chamber of Commerce for hosting the State of the City Address Apr. 21 at the La Palma Community Center. He stated sales tax generates 32.4% of the City’s revenues, and La Palma is 188 of the 538 cities in the state of California in sales tax per capita generated. Rodriguez is proud of corporate support for City projects and events from La Palma Intercommunity Hospital, Southern California Edison, EDCO Waste and Recycling Services and others.
“We have great schools,” said Rodriguez, “all of our elementary schools are California Distinguished Schools with high test scores We partner with these schools by offering scholarships, improving a pedestrian crossing at Kennedy High and Walker Junior High, funding crossing guards at all of the public schools, and support for numerous campus events.”
The City is also proud of its Police Interacting with Youth (PIY) program; Fit n’ Fun, an after school fitness program; and its goal of meeting with every school to discuss improving traffic and pedestrian safety.
He said the city is responding to the economy. “Our Permit Fee Holiday has saved our residents more than $70,000 in fees waived, and we maintained or lowered all user fees in 2010.”
The City authorized $235,900 of reserves to keep the Utility User’s Tax reduced to 4% in three of the last four years while keeping the General Fund Reserves at 140% of annual ongoing operating expenditures “with no cuts in services, no lay offs, and no furloughs,” said Rodriguez.
Fiscal year 2010-2011 total budget revenues were $25,002,450 and budget expenses were $27,953,661. This $2 million dollar shortfall was due to several long-term capital projects that were fully funded by water and sewer enterprise reserves, but the City’s goal for 2011-12 is to balance the operating budget without use of reserves.
At the same time, the City will be entering 2011 labor negotiations. Rodriguez said, “Our employees are the key reason we are able to provide high quality service to our residents and businesses, and we fully expect to partner with our employees to face our financial challenges together.”
Rodriguez is pleased with the City’s own police department that handled 29,144 calls for service last year while total crime is down .05% and violent crimes are down 55%. Only property crimes showed an increase of 4.5%.
“We’re working to improve those numbers by implementing Real Time Crime Maps on the City website and on Mobile Biometric ID and Digital Citations Systems.”
La Palma has the county’s fastest response time at 2:36 minutes while the county’s average is 5:38 minutes.
La Palma has completed or is working on several beautification projects that included arterial block wall repair & painting, street sign replacement and a utility underground project. The City is also working with Centerpointe to fully occupy the site, reviewing the option of a University of Phoenix campus and planning for the opening of a Super 1 Mart in Sept.
“We are proud of our little city that continues to do big things,” said Rodriguez. “Our 30th Annual Run For Fun set records, our summer Concerts in the Park are filling to capacity, and we welcome everyone to attend our La Palma Days celebration, Halloween Carnival at Central Park, Holiday Tree Lighting and Memorial Day event.”
The city’s has a diverse population of 15,719 that includes 44.9% Asian and Pacific Islander, 17.4% Korean, in a 1.9 square mile radius in north Orange County, and with a median household income of $80K.
More than 70% of its residents have some college or advanced degree, and 65% are between the ages of 15-59—a demographic that Rodriguez said businesses like to see because this is the population that tends to consume more products.
Rodriguez said that there is a great business climate in La Palma with many businesses choosing the City as their home including BP America, ADP, Unisource, Rosendin Electric and Multi-Sales Company, adding that many of the businesses are located in the City’s multi-office complex center named Centerpointe.

Hawaiian Gardens Post Office Seeks New City Location

By Jerry Bernstein

The Hawaiian Gardens Post Office is looking for a new location in the city and is asking residents for their input.
Speaking before the city council this week, John Fraher said the Post Office plans to move to a smaller location and be open for business by Oct. 1.
He said the new Post Office would offer residents the same service they now receive, including post office mailboxes, the mailing of letters and packages, selling Stamps etc. “The only difference is all outgoing mail will be sorted at the Los Alamitos Post Office for distribution. Mail will be delivered in Hawaiian Gardens the same as it is now, and residents should not notice any difference in service.
Fraher said they would like comments from the residents on the selection of a new location. Comment sheets are available at city hall and the Post Office and can be dropped off at the Post Office located on the southwest corner of Norwalk Boulevard and Centralia Street. The council will place the matter on its next agenda for public comment.
In other business the council presented Ferguson Elementary School with a $5,000 donation for its 6th Grade Science Camp. Principal Mayra Lozano said the camp is held on the first week in June and consists of the school’s two sixth grade classes with 28 students in each class. Ferguson is a Title I school serving a total of approximately 427 students.
The Council voted to amend the Community Development Block Grant Residential Rehabilitation Program guidelines. Community Development Director Joseph Colombo explained the program was established to provide financial assistance to low and moderate income homeowners and mobile homebuyers in the preservation of decent, safe and sanitary housing and to rehabilitate hazardous and/or deteriorating residential units. Colombo said currently the program offers financial assistance to low and moderate-income homeowners and mobile homeowners.
Councilmember Barry Bruce asked why the city’s mobile home parks appear to be getting “more grants” than other city residents. He said the mobile home residents receiving the grants are “overwhelming” compared to the rest of the city and questioned the legitimacy of the situation. He also said he didn’t understand how people who receive a “$3,000 or $5,000 grant complain because they have to wait 10 years before they can apply for another grant.”
“I think our city is pretty amazing to give grants in the first place. We give lots of money away as a city” to those in need. Bruce commented.
“If you get a $5,000 grant, just accept it and say ‘thank you’ and not ask for more,” he commented. Bruce said he would like to see more $5,000 grants going to other areas of the community.
The council also amended the city’s fee schedule for municipal services provided by Hawaiian Gardens. In his report to the council, Director of Human Services Steve Gomez said changes were being presented to the council for approval to assist groups in their fundraising goals while at the same time allowing the city to properly monitor the use of the facilities. He said it has become a practice to permit residents to use city facilities for receptions at no cost. In the future they will be obligated to purchase liability insurance.
The amended proposals also increase the hourly rate charged for a Recreation Leader to work at the facility rental from $20 per hour to $25 per hour.
Gomez said the increase would allow the city to stay within the budgeted amount of funding available for staff work. The council also approved a change governing temporary signs and banners lowering the current fee of $107 to $25.00.
A request from the Community Development Department to accept the repair of the existing shade and patio structure located between the City Hall and the Robert Lee Gymnasium in the amount of $59,450 was approved by the council. Councilmember’s Reynaldo Rodriguez and Barry Bruce complimented the workers of the H.D. R. Construction Co. of Hawaiian Gardens for their excellent work.

Thirteen Candidates to be Interviewed for Vacant ABC School Board Seat

Thirteen candidates have filed for the ABC School Board seat vacated by Mark Pulido who was recently elected to the Cerritos City Council. The candidates are Adarsh Sunak, Mansour Meisami, Louise Dodson, Anna Titus, Harunobu Ernie Nishi, Cindy Chen, David Montgomery, Ehan Robinson, Olga Rios, Kiran Rami, Lynda Johnson and Helen Lee.
Interviews will be held Sat., Apr. 30, in the Board Room in the District Administrative Building on Norwalk Boulevard starting at 8:30 a.m. through 9:40 a.m. when there will be a 10 minute break. At 9:50 a.m. the interviews will continue with the last one scheduled for 10:40 a.m. This will be followed by public comments beginning at 10:50 a.m. and ending at 11:30 a.m. at which time the Board Members will take a lunch break at Whitney High School. Following lunch the members will meet to select the top three candidates. At 12:55 p.m. the Board Members will meet to discuss the final candidates and at 1:15 p.m. will vote. The winning candidate will then be given the oath of office.

CareMore Launches New Foundation to Help Support Local Non-Profit Senior Based Groups

By Brian Hews

A little under two years ago, a few employees from CareMore entered into the CEO’s office with an idea.
“We love our seniors, we love the community, but we need to figure out a way to mobilize money and our staff equally to serve others in the areas we serve” they said.
With that, the CareMore Foundation was established with one sole mission, to give back to those truly in need.
“The CareMore Foundation was an idea of our employees, management only facilitated its formation”, said Leeba Lessin, CEO of CareMore Health Plan. “That same group of people have taken the ball and run with it.”
The Foundation recently announced that its first major project for 2011 will focus on senior hunger, especially in these dire economic times of $5 a gallon gasoline and out of control food costs.
“Countless numbers of our local seniors go hungry, sadly it is becoming a daily reality for many,” said Lessin. “Seniors who don’t get enough to eat, or don’t have the money for food or who cannot get to the store for food often have compromised health due to their nutritional limitations. We want to help improve these dire hunger statistics in the communities where we provide medical care to so many seniors already.”
Case workers at CareMore validated that statement after conducting a recent survey.
"We can really help with providing food, so we wanted to make that the main mission of the CareMore Foundation,” said Lessin.
Initially the group will provide grants to local senior-focused non-profit organizations but that resources and volunteer support from the staff at CareMore will soon follow.
CareMore has made a $250,000 donation to the “kick start” the Foundation and applications will be available soon for local community based non-profit groups to participate.
Members of the CareMore Foundation Board of Directors include:
Alan Hoops, John Kao, Leeba Lessin. Advisory Committee Charlene Colbert, county of Pima; Gail Holmes, Stanislaus; Susan Mora, Orange County; Karen Riggs, Cerritos; James Rose, Cerritos; Erika Tigno, Cerritos and Jeffrey Tipton, Cerritos.
Regional Leadership includes Leticia Aceves, San Bernardino; Cheri Brown, Stanislaus; Reggie Casilang, Rachel Cruz, Charla Hawkins and Kerry Sequeira, LA/OC; Diana Garrido and Cindy Lynch, Clark; Scott Mancuso, Maricopa; Dan Peterson, Pima; Beje Schweitzer, Santa Clara and Theresa Weaver, Riverside.
It is anticipated that these leadership groups will be expanding over the next several months to include additional local community leaders.
The main purpose is about “giving” but other possible projects could include pilot projects such as how certain new drugs work on seniors. “The possibilities are endless,” said Erika Tigno, Chair of the CareMore Advisory Group.
Tigno , a long time resident of Cerritos and CareMore employee has a “keen insight” on the real needs for seniors right here in our neighborhoods.
Additional details will be announced here in the Los Cerritos Community News in the next few weeks. For more information call Kristen at CareMore at (562) 622-2807.

Artesia: State of the City


By Larry Caballero

Artesia Mayor Victor Manalo presented the State of the City Address Apr. 27 at a luncheon sponsored by the Artesia Chamber of Commerce at the DES Portuguese Hall in Artesia.
“I am excited to share with you my overall vision for the city, which includes our upcoming Capital Projects, our budget health and outlook, and our plans to improve the quality of life for all Artesians,” said Manalo.
“We’re proud of our Capital Projects that will be funded mostly by Redevelopment money that include $1,160,703 for our Historical District, almost $4 million for a Parking Structure in our Downtown area, more than $2 million for upgrading our Maintenance Yard, an additional $3 million for Downtown Revitalization projects and $142,000 for the Artesia Boulevard Corridor.”
Manalo stated that City Manager Maria Dadian was very excited when she saw “lots of construction, buildings and dirt. We’ve waited a long time for this.”
Yet Manalo is concerned with the state budget crisis and a threat of losing Redevelopment funds.
Artesia’s General Fund Appropriations include:
• more than $3 million or 44% of the budget for General Administration,
• $2.6 million or 38% for Public Safety,
• $566,500 for Community Promotions and Park & Leisure Services,
• $402,622 for Building & Economic Development and
• $356,148 for Public Works & Engineering.
Artesia’s General Fund Revenue of more than $7 million includes a major portion from
• $4,624,000 in taxes,
• $878,254 from User Fees, and
• $590,620 from Use of Property/public right of way.
“The problem that Artesia and all of the cities face is the reliance of tax revenues to pay our bills,” said Manalo. In tough economic times, cities need to find ways of balancing the budget by cutting services or raising fees or both.
“We get no General Fund revenue from property taxes that means a loss of more than $900,000 to our city. Yet as Mayor I am humbled with the support and cooperation we receive from our businesses and friends.” Manalo wants to diversify revenue sources in the future.
Manalo made it clear that Artesia is not having the problems that the City of Bell is experiencing, yet “residents need to always be vigilant, and they also share responsibility for what happens in our City.”
Manalo is excited about instituting Town Hall meetings that gives him the opportunity to interact with residents and businesses, and he plans to continue encouraging everyone to attend.
He is also pleased with the City’s participation in the Artesia Initiative with New Life Church where residents will be given the opportunity to help their neighbors and schools with city projects that include house and yard cleaning.
I also want to build a Veterans Memorial in Artesia,” said Manalo. “That was the dream of former Mayor Larry Nelson who contributed $14,000 of his own money before he died.” Manalo concluded, “Artesia is a great city. Visit us whenever you can, and be ready to shop around the world while enjoying the diversity of cultures in one place.” The city has a diverse population that includes 36.7% Asian, 31.1% Hispanic and 24.2% White
Artesia is one of the county’s Gateway Cities. It was incorporated on May 29, 1959. The 2000 census showed the population at16,380.. Its population in July 2009 was16,182, a population change since 2000 of -1.2%. Estimated median household income in 2009 was $49,243. Estimated per capita income in 2009 was $18,677. The city is surrounded on the west, south, and east sides by Cerritos, with Norwalk to the north.

Senior Apartment Complex Holds Easter Luncheon


Residents at Town Center Terrace, a gated senior community in the city of Paramount, enjoyed an Easter Luncheon with family members and friends Apr. 22. There are 158 one-bedroom apartments, each approximately 520 sq. ft. with dishwasher, gas range oven, air conditioning, a private balcony and a emergency pull cord if needed. The apartments are located at 16200 Vermont Avenue in Paramount. For more information call 562-408-0801. According to Community Relations Consultant Mary Lou Landes, residents will be next be celebrating Mothers Day on May 8.

Vons Grocery truck crash on 5 Freeway causes traffic nightmare in Norwalk


By Randy Economy

Norwalk-The Santa Ana Freeway (Interstate 5) at the Norwalk Boulevard/Civic Center Drive was turned into a massive parking lot for nearly eight hours last Saturday when a Von’s Supermarket truck exploded after it hit a center divider travelling south bound.
The driver of the big rig was arrested and booked for suspicion of being under the influence of a “controlled substance.” His name has not been made public and neither has details of his bail or court appearances been released.
Nearly 30 to 50 yards of the metal center divider on the narrow three lane freeway was smashed as a result of the accident, adding additional headaches for commuters and law enforcement officials.
The accident was reported at 9:58 a.m. and turned most of Norwalk and Cerritos residential streets and main through fares into a traffic nightmare for nearly ten hours.
The entire freeway was closed after the big rig ran into the center divider and literally "blew up."
Other than the driver of the truck who was taken to an area hospital and treated for minor injuries, no one else was injured.

Artesia Council Honors Gahr Basketball Team


Members of the Gahr High School Basketball Tyeam, CIF Southern Section Division 24 Champions were presented with Certificates of Recognition by the Artesia Citiy Council at its Apr. 11 meeting. Mayor Victor Manalo Told the team “Artesia looks upon Gahr as our high school.” He said the city was very proud of their achievement.

Norwalk Scholarship Fundraiser


LULAC Council #3148 in Norwalk is sponsoring their 2nd Annual Tardeada
Scholarship Fundraiser (see article for more details). Seen are event planners Margarita Rios, Member of the Norwalk La Mirada Unified School District Board of Education, Antonieta Paez, President of the United Parents Club, Patricia Paez, LULAC Member, LULAC Council #3148 President Rosa Barragan, and Vice President Lupe Rodarte.

St. Irenaeus’ Lil’ Angel



By Edna Ethington

St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress has a “Lil’ Angel” actively working each day to share God’s blessing with everyone she meets. Betty Borowski is that “Lil’ Angel” who enriches the lives of people in the parish as a member of Health Ministry and a member of the parish staff. Starting first as a volunteer Pastoral Care member, she conducted funeral vigils, served also as a Hospitality Minister for funerals, and trained others to become Vigil and Hospitality ministers. She also served as a Lector, a Eucharistic Minister, a Bible Study Facilitator, and assisted the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program.
Betty’s volunteer service was so outstanding that she was nominated for the Catholic Woman of the Year Award in the Diocese of Orange in 2003 representing St. Irenaeus Parish. She really continues to be St. Irenaeus’ Catholic Woman of Today and she generously continues to serve parishioners in more and more ways each day. How does a woman become so full of spiritual energy and dedication to serve others as a Catholic Christian?
Betty was not a “cradle Catholic,” but one who became a Catholic after a few extraordinary experiences. She was a police officer for four years when her husband died unexpected from a heart attack in 1979 and left her to raise three children, ages 16,15, and 9. She continued to work in police work to support her family and became a detective in 1980. She was known then as Detective Malone and even carried a gun. The stress of the job caused her to seek a disability retirement in 1990, and that is when her conversion to the Catholic faith began.
Betty went on a pilgrimage trip to Yugoslavia with a friend who was ill. It was said that the Virgin Mary appeared to some children in Medugorje. People went to Medugorje hoping for cures for their ills, much like people who go to Fatima. While she was there, she prayed for a sign that God wanted her to become a Catholic. The sign she asked for was to have the silver parts of the rosary that had been given to her by her friend to be changed to a gold color. This did not occur while Betty was in Yugoslavia but other events happened during the trip.
A second unusual event happened while she was on her trip in the port city of Dubrovnik. As Betty received a blessing of her throat at St. Blaze Church, she experienced the sensations of being “slain in the spirit” as she felt a wave through her body and could not keep standing. She said she felt peace and serenity as she lay on the floor for a few minutes. The tickle in her throat and the cough she had, before the blessing of her throat at St. Blaze, were both gone. The rosary that she had used during the trip to Medugorje still had not turned to gold, so after her return home, she took a trip to visit her son up north. When she returned from that trip a week later, the silver chain of that rosary had turned to gold. She showed the rosary to a priest at St. Irenaeus while it was gold, and the priest said that “miracles happen.” With that sign received, Betty began her two year education in the RCIA at St. Irenaeus and was confirmed in 1992.
Betty said that she “sees God’s hand” in many miracles that she has experienced since Medugorje, God’s Spirit has guided Betty throughout her journey in faith to become a Catholic and to live her faith life to the fullest. It was after her Confirmation as Catholic in 1991 that she became active in all the activities that she became involved with in the parish and continues to work hard at all that she does both as volunteer or as a staff member.
Betty has taken many hours of training to be better able to help parishioners at St. Irenaeus. She completed 28 hours of workshops with the Center for Health Ministry Outreach in 2005 to help with the Funeral Ministry. She also attended eight sessions for a total of 20 hours of the Bereavement Training Program with The Catholic Cemeteries Department of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 2007. Most recently, she completed four weekends of eight days for a total of 64 hours of Capacitar International training in 2010 and 2011 to be able to help people deal with stress in their lives.
Betty’s work is so vital to the parish that Betty was hired as a Support Staff member at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in 2006. She is now paid to work part-time as a minister for funeral vigils and as hospitality minister for funeral. She also works with the Adult Formation Committee and does other secretarial work as needed. After working in Graphic Arts for a business by the name of “Taylor Your Memories” for three years, she designs professional quality flyers, bulletins, mass aids, invitations, and special notes that showcase her creative talents. Her work can be identified by the logo, “A Lil’ Angel Publication.”
Betty says that “the rosary is still my mainstay” as she meditates on the Mysteries of the Rosary as well as the readings from the Bible each day, and as she studies the Bible each week. She said that God has brought so much into her life, from her loneliness and emptiness, so that now, she says, “My plate is truly full.” Betty and Richard Borowski each raised two sons and one daughter, for a total of six children. They are now enjoying being grandparents of nine grandchildren together.

RE: “Cerritos and Union Negotiations Stalemated” (4-22)

-As a long time resident and business owner in Cerritos, I love this city and its workers, businesses and residents. The city employees work hard, just like the employees of all the other fine businesses in our City. But times are tough right now and employees of the city should NOT be exempt from making sacrifices that everyone else in the private sector is having to make until things turn.
We do have a problem when the unions are doing what they can to make the city employees think they are more deserving or better that than those they serve. .. and guess who still gets their hefty dues no matter what - the greedy unions. Everyone needs to be part of the solution and make some sacrifices. From the top to the bottom. No one should be exempt. Stop being greedy.
Web submittal
Name on file

-The Unions aren't making this any easier. They have GOLD PLATED benefits and they are walking around like they are poor. The Union is doing what they do best...misrepresent the facts and stir up emotion. All their materials contain very little factual information but contain LOTS of rhetoric.
Web submittal
Name on file


-I retired from Los Angeles City and now work for another. L.A. City Pension gives 2.1% of yearly wages for every year worked. Cerritos gives 3%. The current City I work for has eliminated Friday work days, laid off employees and has not given raises for years. You do not see any Cerritos employee leaving for another City job!!!
Web submittal
Name on file

Council Compensation & Contract Conflict

Currently, Council pay is linked to that of city management. Council members who derive the majority of their personal income from their position on the Cerritos city council have a big conflict of interest, especially when negotiating city employee contracts which their own primary income is tied to. Regardless of which council initially set council pay policy, the current council is charged with dealing with it. Yet our city council instead uses the “other cities are doing it” dodge instead of debating in public the propriety of doing so.
It would only take three city council members with courage and honesty to both end the employee union impasse and put a decisive end to the outmoded policy of council pay being linked to that of city management.
Cerritos is a Charter City, which means the city charter is the law. A council majority can direct staff to de-link city council service from employee contracts and further rescind council pay/benefits all together.
That this has gone on so long is no excuse to keep it going, it’s a reason to act immediately and decisively to reject the culture of conflict that permeates the dealings of the Cerritos City Council.
Chris Fuentes
Cerritos

Note: RE: “Cerritos and Union Negotiations Stalemated” (4-22-11) LCCN stands by what Mr. Caballero wrote in the article “Cerritos and Union Negotiat

-It is remarkable that despite
AFSCME Local 619 members providing your reporter, Larry Caballero, substantial information, budget numbers, salary information from the State Controller’s Office about the City Manager and City Council compensation, and other public-interest facts in recent days – as well as our own views as City employees – only some 5 percent of the story’s content reflects the perspective of our union, while 95% is dedicated to Mayor Chen’s unfortunately polarizing rebukes.
I was hired as one of the original Cerritos Center of the Performing Arts employees and was there when the doors opened to the community. I remain a dedicated public employee proud of the cultural richness that Cerritos provides. I am recognized for being thoughtful and reasonable about finding equitable budget solutions and working together. Yet almost nothing of what I told your newspaper ultimately appeared in print. Is a fundamental tenet of journalism no longer to present a balanced and fair story?
After everything this country, state, and community has suffered with the “big guy” taking advantage of the “little guy” over the last several years, it is particularly incumbent upon our media to present responsible information.
Perhaps City of Cerritos leadership and Mayor Chen should reflect on the sense of paying $270 per hour to an outside consultant, Beverly Hills-based attorneys Charles Goldstein and his son. Let’s do some basic math together, since your article chose not to: If said consultant is working eight hour days at the hourly amount you quoted, that math yields a payout of over half a million dollars annually.
What results have come from that cost to the City taxpayers? For starters, this consultant – who has earned tens of thousands of dollars already – has created bitter labor-management division, not positive collaborative solutions. Now, for the first time in Cerritos, a negotiations impasse could be imposed on City employees despite all of the good will and concessions we have made. This is also bad for the community, which deserves a functioning and healthy City government.
It is my hope that your newspaper will have the integrity to publish my response.
Rogan Girard
Cerritos


-I am very disappointed with the comments that Mayor Chen made in this article. This casts unfair, negative attention to the city, the residents, and to my union brothers and sisters. When all the smoke settles - the truth will shine through! The community will continue to grow in support for us – and greater government accountability and openness – once the City Council's huge part-time salaries and perks are exposed in a serious news story. Their car allowances, office toys and electronic gadgets, cell phone bills, etc., are out of hand. We are filing Public Information Requests to obtain the relevant data, and will hope that in fairness, you will print it in a responsible and balanced follow-up. The Council members also get lifetime medical for themselves and their spouses after five years of service – but they are asking many of us to wait 20 years. This is a double standard.
They also are demanding that lower-level workers add a three-tier, unfair pension plan. In addition, they no longer will even recognize our service with plaques, recommendations, certificates that cost the taxpayer nothing but mean a lot to us since we take pride in our work.
We love our jobs and serving the community. We agreed to make major concessions throughout the negotiations process including to no pay raises in years and a gazillion other examples that we have the paperwork to prove. At the same time, Cerritos City Manager Art Gallucci, overseeing a population of under 50,000 is earning more than the CAO of the City of Los Angeles, which serves four million people. These kind of excesses and double standards should have been reported in your story because your readers have a right to know.
Now is the time for Cerritos to demand straight answers, good faith, and collaboration from City Hall. The Mayor has declared war on its rank-and-file employees to deflect attention from the truth. It is up to your readers – the residents we serve -- to call for City accountability and civility with its employees."

Robert "Nick" Melendrez, President of Local 619, City of Cerritos Employee

Union: "Biased" article; will withhold further correspondence from LCCN

RE: “Cerritos and Union
Negotiations Stalemated” (4-22)
Note: Letter sent to LCCN from
AFSCME publicity representative

The story that you ran on Friday was slanted by any standard.
City employees deserve to be heard and your community newspaper has an obligation to provide fair and balanced coverage -- which it has not. If we are to build any trust, if you want access to news and information that is important for your readers, then you will publish these letters (Editor's note: the two published previous to this letter) immediately in your online version. This is the least you can do now. If you will print it, I will additionally submit an editorial representing the employee view that was entirely absent in your coverage, and we can discuss scheduling that.
The information and facts that your reporter was provided by us over countless hours and days did not even appear in print -- instead, the Mayor was given unlimited access to "respond" -- from literally the very first paragraph, before even our viewpoint was relayed to your readers (you need not read beyond even the lead for evidence of your bias).
Again, if you want to restore a reputation for journalistic integrity, please let me know your intentions on the Letters to the Editor today. We are waiting for your answer. I will be the point person on labor-related stories from now on.
I will gladly share additional news and valuable information that we have been collecting, once I know your newspaper can be trusted to print fair stories.

Sejong Soloists with Orli Shaham at Cerritos: the Future and Seasons are Bright

By Glen Creason

After much classical Sturm and Drang this season at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts the Sejong Soloists came to town and provided the hall with genuine happiness in the form of Felix Mendelsshon, Michael Haydn and the suddenly Cerritos star Astor Piazzola. It is amazing that so much young talent could be assembled on one stage but these soloists put an honest-to-goodness all-star team to work and their youthful enthusiasm mixed with superior talent make for some very beautiful music. These musicians hail from all over the globe and together they speak the same sweet language of classical music. If only the people of this messed up planet could operate like these young artists and work together in harmony we could listen to Mendellshon and Piazzola instead of watching battles in the streets. Most of these young men and women are the cream of the crop from schools like Julliard but their egos seemed not to show on this night as they worked together delightfully.
The fourteen-member troupe filled the hall with joy from the first note of Michael Haydn’s “Notturno in F Major” that got the audience upright in their seats and ready for more. Despite being in his more famous brother’s shadow Michael Haydn’s work is wonderful and influential on later composers such as the great Mozart. This piece was cake in the hands of Sejong, producing a bright and energetic tone throughout. The second part of the program featured the demanding and somewhat eccentric “Four Seasons” of Astor Piazzola that was divided between four excellent soloists. The violinists: Adam Barnett-Hart, Ji In Yang, Emilie-Anne Gendron and Ana Park were uniquely wonderful, reflecting not so much the change of seasons but the emotions of the people of Piazzola’s native Buenos Aires. To hear the four parts done as a suite was fascinating since they seemed to fit together perfectly despite the fact that the composer wrote them as separate entities. With the four soloists shining in each segment it seemed this might be hard to beat but there was a very special second half ahead.
The audience needed a little breather after Piazzola’s intricate Seasons but the concert just got better and better. When pianist Orli Shahan put her slender fingers to the big Steinway worries seemed to melt away and the audience was transported to the Romantic period where the true genius Felix Mendelssohn wrote this “concerto in d minor for violin, piano and string orchestra” back when he was barely a teenager! This is not to short the superb work of violinist Daniel Cho who matched Ms. Shahan’s perfect playing and this sweet synergy made for some marvelously stirring moments. It was not the back and forth that this piece could be but a cooperation that elevated the music to blessed heights. Orli Shahan is in a handful of the best pianists heard in this hall’s history and it would be very nice to see her back on this stage some night in a recital. As it was she was very humble and thankful to play with this fine young group who demonstrated over and over again that the future is bright for serious music around the world. The rather refined and

Kennedy High Prepares For Budget Reductions

By Larry Caballero

Anaheim Union High School District’s Kennedy High School in La Palma is hoping for the best but preparing for the worst if further budget cuts are necessary. Over the past three years, the District has been required to reduce more than $70 million from its $350 million budget resulting in the elimination of more than 400 certified, classified and management positions.
The District is required to address the anticipated preliminary $13 million budget shortfall through reductions that will impact students, programs and personnel across the District.
“We have been informed by the District that at least our International Baccalaureate Program, that offers high quality programs that encourage our students to be active learners, will not be eliminated this year,” said Kennedy Principal Russell Earnest.
Yet the school with 2,300 students, grades 9 through 12, may still suffer with larger class sizes and loss of classified employee hours. It is anticipated that each of the 16 junior and senior high school campuses in the District may also lose an assistant principal as well as a custodian.
Earnest said that there is a collegial relationship between the District and the various unions, but there is always a possibility of furlough days and salary rollbacks.
Earnest is a veteran of AUHSD who served as an administrator and teacher before he arrived at Kennedy in Sept. 2010 as its Principal. “My hope is to keep budget cuts as far away as possible from the classroom and to maintain the rigorous academic programs that we offer our students,” said Earnest.

Cerritos Rookies win CGSA Spring 10U Tournament



Coach Jerry, Coach Adrian, Coach Lyn, Coach Mike, Nyla, Rachel, Emily, Caitlyn, Madison, Puffy, Karina, Haylee, Cassie, Peanut, Natalie, Karyssa.

SUBURBAN LEAGUE BASEBALL: Lopez, Norwalk stymied at home again, John Glenn goes on rare hitting barrage

By Loren Kopff

For Norwalk baseball head coach Ruben Velazquez, it has been looking more and more like Groundhog Day whenever his team is hosting a Suburban League opponent. For the third time in as many home starts in league action, senior pitcher Johnnie Lopez was the victim of either no run support or poor defense behind him.
Lopez and his Lancers fell to John Glenn 2-0 last Thursday, the fourth time Norwalk has lost a home league game. Lopez has been the pitcher of decision in two of those games, not getting any run support and only six hits combined from his team. The loss also kept the Lancers (9-9 overall, 3-5 in the league) from staying tied with Artesia for fourth place in the circuit.
“That’s all you need in this game; to come out with a little bit of heart and want to win,” Velazquez said. “You can’t win on paper. You have to show up to play.”
Based on paper, one would think Norwalk would have somewhat of an easy time against the Eagles who entered the game on a six-game losing streak and having scored six runs during that span. In fact, Glenn (5-13, 2-8) had scored 35 runs and produced 87 hits entering last Thursday’s game. But the Eagles peppered Lopez and two other pitchers to the tune of 14 hits, second most this season.
“We played a tough game with them on Tuesday,” said John Glenn assistant coach Kevin Barr. “We left some runs on the field. We felt like we could get a win [today] if we could just play well, play smart and play together. We told the seniors this is their last shot at Norwalk.”
Barr coached the final half of the game following an ejection to head coach David Cruz in the middle of the fourth inning. The visitors from the east side of the city got to Lopez in the third when senior right fielder Alex Sanchez was safe on an infield single with two outs. Following a single to left field from senior pitcher John Lemos, Sanchez would come home on a single from senior designated hitter Ruben Gomez.
That would be enough for Lemos, who was making his first start of the season. After walking sophomore left fielder Jesse Rodriguez to begin Norwalk’s half of the first, Lemos retired 12 of the next 14 batters he faced. Lemos allowed four hits, walked one, struck out four and had only one runner reach third base. He improved to 3-0 on the season and was the fourth Glenn pitcher to go the distance.
“We felt we would roll the dice today and let him go and he was nails out there,” Barr said. “There was maybe one ball hit hard all day. The guys played hard behind him and he mixed up his pitches. He kept the middle of their order off the base paths which was huge.”
Despite scoring just two runs, the Eagles constantly put pressure on the Norwalk pitchers, collecting at least one hit in six of the seven innings but putting runners on base in every inning. Barr said the team spent 90 minutes in the batting cages the day before. However, Glenn also stranded 11 runners.
In the top of the fourth, senior catcher Octavio Trejo reached on one of three Norwalk errors. Then junior shortstop Edgar Hernandez reached on another error and Glenn was looking to add to its lead when sophomore second baseman Rene Gayton sent a fly ball to left field. Apparently Cruz thought Rodriguez had trapped the ball while diving forward. But the field umpire called it a catch and it would lead to a rare triple play much to the chagrin on Cruz, who argued but to no avail.
“A triple play is pretty exciting,” Velazquez said. “If that doesn’t light this team up, then I don’t know what does. I just don’t have an answer for the inconsistency. Coming off of that Mayfair win, I thought that was the spark to turn the season around and finish off the season strong.”
The Lancers were hoping to feed off of the defensive gem and were looking to tie the game when junior catcher German Vasquez led off the bottom of the fourth with a single and stole second. But he got stranded there. In the next inning, Lopez had an infield single, went to second on a sacrifice from senior shortstop Skyler Bautista and to third on a single from sophomore second baseman Anthony Gonzales. But two pitches later, Rodriguez failed on a bunt attempt which resulted in a double play.
Glenn scored its second run in the sixth on four straight singles, the last from Gayton plating senior pinch runner Juan Rojas. Sanchez went three for four for the Eagles while five other players had a pair of hits. The Eagles, who played four games in the St. Paul Tournament earlier in the week, are off until they host Bellflower on May 10 in the final week of the regular season. The Lancers, who were also in the St. Paul Tournament, will visit Cerritos on Wednesday. After the home and home series with the Dons, Norwalk will wrap up the regular season with La Mirada. Artesia began this week at 3-3 in league play as the Pioneers host Cerritos today. Norwalk split its home and home series with the Pioneers but owns the run differential tiebreaker should the two finish tied at the end of the regular season.
“In their eyes, they set the plan as spoilers,” Velazquez said of his city rivals. “I don’t see any quit [in Glenn].”

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY LEAGUE SOFTBALL: Gahr still searching for clutch hits, falls to Paramount

By Loren Kopff

In the last two seasons, third place in the San Gabriel Valley League has come down to Gahr and Paramount. Last season, the Pirates had already clinched the league’s final automatic playoff bid before taking the field against Gahr on the last day of the regular season.
Paramount won that game and this past Tuesday, the Gladiators were hoping to extract some revenge and get the midseason advantage on third place. But the Pirates erupted for six runs in the top of the third inning and went on to crush the hosts 8-3 that left Gahr head coach Mike Rogers one frustrated person. He was frustrated at his team’s inability to get that one key hit with runners in scoring position. He was frustrated in his team’s inability to cash in on a bases loaded, nobody out situation in the fifth with the top of the lineup coming up to bat. Most of all, he was frustrated because he saw his team drop to 6-12 overall, 2-2 in the league and still two games with league leading Warren yet to play.
“I felt we were going to do a lot better job than what we did,” Rogers said. “I felt that we underperformed. We left a lot of base runners stranded once again and I don’t know why that is. I’m very frustrated right now.”
Gahr senior pitcher Marissa Frese, in just her third start of the season since returning from a torn meniscus injury, was rock solid in the first two innings, getting five ground ball outs and throwing 20 pitches. But all of that changed in the third inning. With two on and one out, Monica Caporal singled in Melissa Yepez. After Frese walked Jenny Collazo to load the bases, Sydney Roumeliotis took the first pitch she saw and smacked a single that ricocheted off of Frese’s right knee, past senior shortstop Erica Willig and into the outfield for two more runs. Rogers immediately pulled Frese from the game and replaced her with freshman Mel Varela. Four of Paramount’s seven hits came in that inning and 10 batters came to the plate.
“In the first couple of innings, she was good,” Rogers said of Frese. “She had good command of her pitches. I felt in the third, she got a little tired and obviously they caught up to her. They were hitting the ball hard up the middle.”
Gahr was being held in check by Lily Cornejo through the first four innings, who yielded a pair of hits to junior catcher Krystal Purkey and one to senior third baseman Nani Mejia. Purkey now leads the team with a .462 average. But in the fifth, Cornejo gave up base hits to junior designated player Jessica Morales and senior right fielder Jessica Soto sandwiched around a walk to senior first baseman Karina Gonzalez.
However, Cornejo induced senior second baseman Jasmine Ruiz to ground into a double play, then get senior center fielder Alyssa Nava to ground out to end the scoring threat.
“That broke our backs,” Rogers said. “When I got them over here and talked to them [after the game], I told them there needs to be plate discipline. You have to have a plan. Their pitcher was getting tired and they needed to start working her deep in the count.”
The Gladiators finally broke through in the final inning when Morales doubled and Soto reached on an infield single with one out. Ruiz followed with a run scoring hit and Soto, who also had two hits, scored on an error. Ruiz would later score on a wild pitch.
Gahr hosted Downey on Apr. 28 and will play its next three games on the road in succession beginning with Tuesday’s encounter at Dominguez. Wednesday’s game will be at Warren and Thursday’s tilt is with Lynwood. The rematch with Paramount will be on May 12, the last day of the regular season.
“If everything plays out, that’s going to be the game where whoever wins that game is going to go to the playoffs,” Rogers said.