Martifer Solar USA Completes Solar PV System for City of Cerritos

Solar Technology Supplies 50 Percent of Cerritos Reservoir Power
Cerritos, Calif. - This fall, Martifer Solar USA designed, engineered and installed a 101.72kW array on the rooftop of the City of Cerritos reservoir, supplying enough energy to offset the electricity usage of 228 average California homes each year. The City of Cerritos reservoir supplies clean, regulated water to approximately 16,000 homes in Cerritos.{{more}}
 
Cerritos Mayor Joseph Cho, Ph.D. said, "From opening the nation's first solar-powered city hall to constructing a 25-mile recycled water distribution system, the City of Cerritos has been in the vanguard of environmental preservation. The City continues this green tradition with the fantastic new photovoltaic system at the Cerritos Corporate Yard. The City of Cerritos is delighted that the new system will provide about 50 percent of the electricity needs of the Cerritos Corporate Yard's main building."
 
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funded the project. Martifer Solar won the municipal contract after a selective RFP process. Over 700 flexible solar panels were applied to the reservoir roof. The adaptable panel employed within the installation utilizes an amorphous silicon solar cell technology, which absorbs blue, green and red light at different layers of the cell.
 
The lifetime environmental benefit equivalent of the system amounts to over 5 million pounds of carbon dioxide and nearly $351,250 of electricity savings for the City. "The City of Cerritos was an excellent customer on this successful project," said Raffi Agopian, CEO of Martifer Solar USA. "We worked with a knowledgeable staff who clearly defined their project expectations from the beginning and worked closely with us throughout the execution of the entire project."
 

MARISA K. PEREZ FILES TO RUN FOR LAKEWOOD CITY COUNCIL

LAKEWOOD, CA – Environmental policy advisor Marisa Perez files her Declaration of Intent to become a candidate for Lakewood City Council.

“I have over 14 years of experience working on behalf of taxpayers in areas that impact our daily lives - transportation, health care, education, and air quality. I have experience developing budgets and am committed to balancing residents’ needs with fiscal responsibility,” says Perez on why she is filing today to become a candidate for Lakewood city council.

Ms. Perez’ top priorities as a candidate include public safety, community improvement, and jobs. “My years of work advocating for better resources, and my relationships with county and state leaders, will ensure that I can implement improvements for Lakewood residents,” added Perez.

“As a homeowner and parent raising my children in Lakewood, I plan to focus on building on existing accomplishments and improving areas vital to raising a family in a healthy community,” says Perez.

Perez currently serves as a policy advisor to a South Coast Air Quality Management District Governing Board Member. She is a former director of transportation for the Mayor’s Office in the City of Los Angeles, and policy manager for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. She is also a former White House advisor. She holds a Masters degree in Public Policy from the University of Southern California.

Incumbent Mayor Joe Esquivel is not seeking re-election. Perez lives in Lakewood with her husband Rudy and their three young children Rudy III, David and Vanessa. To learn more about Marisa Perez visit www.MarisaForLakewoodCouncil.com .

ASSEMBLYMEMBER MENDOZA INVITES COMMUNITY TO ANNUAL POSADA

WHO: Assemblymember Tony Mendoza

WHAT: Posada Celebration

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

WHERE: 11857 Arkansas Street, Artesia, CA
NORWALK, CA - Assemblymember Mendoza will join hands with community members to re-enact the Christmas story in the Mexican tradition of Las Posadas on Thursday, December 16th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Artesia. The event is free and open to the public.
“We will form a procession, chant through the streets of Artesia and talk to neighbors about issues of their concern,” said Assemblymember Mendoza. “It’s a great opportunity to admire the holiday decorations before eating some delicious tamales with members of the community.”
The Posadas are a Mexican tradition that starts on December 16th and continues until Christmas Eve. It is a warm and festive celebration of friendship and good neighborliness that is held every night. It represents the journey from Nazareth that Mary and Joseph underwent before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born in Bethlehem. The evening will conclude with tamales and refreshments. The festive tradition dates back to the 16th century.
Assemblymember Mendoza, a teacher and chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, proudly represents the 56th District.

La Palma Council transition politics as usual

Former Mayor Larry Herman (l) receives a plaque for his many years of public service by outgoing Mayor Steve Shanahan.





By Larry Caballero

It was politics as usual at the Dec. 7 mayoral transition meeting. Councilmember Ralph Rodriguez had waited five years to serve as La Palma’s Mayor Pro-Tem, and he was finally chosen by a 4-1 vote to become the Mayor for next year. Residents who attended the meeting were surprised that Councilmember Henry Charoen, who was chosen Mayor-Pro-Tem the first year he was elected, cast the lone no vote. When it was time to choose the Mayor Pro-Tem this time, Charoen won by 4 votes when Hwangbo abstained.
Later on the agenda, City staff had recommended the authorization for Mayor Rodriguez and newly elected Councilmember Steve Hwangbo to attend the League of California Cities 2011 New Mayors and Councilmembers Academy, Jan. 19-21 in Sacramento.
Although adequate funds had been budgeted in the city council meetings and training account in the 2010-11 Budget, Charoen voiced opposition to Rodriguez attending the Conference.
“You are experienced enough,” said Charoen. “You could be teaching the session.” Rodriguez reminded Charoen that he serves on a state transportation committee that meets at the same time and location as the Conference, and it has always been standard practice for the Mayor or someone from staff to accompany a newly elected councilmember. City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto was unable to attend.
“And if you think I am so experienced, then why did you not vote for me to be Mayor?” said Rodriguez. Charoen did not respond. The vote was 4-1 to allow Rodriguez and Hwangbo to attend the Conference.
It was a bitter sweet moment for termed-out La Palma Councilmember and former Mayor Larry Herman to just walk away after serving four terms--longer than any other councilmember in the City’s history--but he was happy that his friend Steve Hwangbo will be taking his seat on Council.
“The last eight years in particular have been an interesting journey for me,” said Herman, who didn’t always agree with three of his colleagues on Council, “and I want my friend Steve Hwangbo to remember that there is a lot of knowledge and wisdom in my chair.”
Herman hoped that the Council and staff would continue with transparency and accountability in the future, and he made it clear that he wasn’t going away. He plans to continue to volunteer in the City.
Hwangbo is ready to serve. “I know how special our city is, and I am looking forward to representing our wonderful city and working hard to make La Palma an even better place.”
Both officials were not as happy during the recent election when allegations of campaign irregularities ran rampant as opponents of Hwangbo were accused by community leaders of stealing his yard signs and delivering a falsely translated letter to English speaking residents that implied that he would only serve the Korean residents of La Palma.
At the time Herman said, “It appears that racism is alive and well in La Palma.”

Cerritos Hosts Tour of City for News Media

By Jerry Bernstein

Editor’s Note: In light of what is occurring throughout the State in local government operations, the City of Cerritos invited 24 newspaper and television reporters to a two-hour tour of the city that allowed them to have an in-depth look and understanding of the vast services the city offers to its residents, workforce and businesses. Guided by city staff, the reporters visited the city's the Sheriff Station, Public Library, Performing Arts Center, and Senior Center,
Cerritos is 8.9 square miles with an assessed valuation of more than $7 billion, a population of 51,488, 14,618 single single-family homes and 1,367 apartment units.
On Dec. 1 24 news people met in the City Council chambers for a media tour of the city. Councilmember Carol Chen, who hosted the event, said, “The purpose of the tour was to acquaint the media with Cerritos and show them and hopefully their readers and viewers who we are and what we have here.”
In 1956 Cerritos incorporated as the City of Dairy Valley. “There were more cows than people,” Chen quipped. “However, through proper planning over the years since its incorporation and the adoption of Master Plan, Cerritos has grown into a city where you want to live. “Both the business community and residents agree,” she added.
Chen said many people look at Cerritos as being a wealthy city with a large budget. They often asked why there are so many city employees? The city has 210 full-time employees and 430 part-time employees. Her reply is, “One just has to look at what the city offers its residents and business community to find the answer.” The city has 25 parks, three community centers, a senior center and a state-of-the-art golf course, Ironwood Nine, which serves 137,500 golfers annually. It also has a world-renowned library and performing arts center. In addition more than 3,200 businesses are located in Cerritos with 35,858 employees.
City’s Location
City Manager Art Gallucci, pointed out the city is directly served by the San Gabriel Freeway [605], The Riverside Freeway [91], and the Santa Ann Freeway [5]. He said unlike most cities, Cerritos does not have a local property tax, utility tax and library tax. Source of the city’s revenue comes from the Cerritos Auto Square, the Los Cerritos Center, and the Cerritos Towne Center in the form of sales tax revenue. Cerritos earns one cent for every dollar earned by its retailers. It also owns the land the Towne Center, Cerritos Center and the Auto Square is located on and receives rent from the developers. He said the Towne Center generates $168.7 million in annual sales. The Cerritos Auto Square total in 2009 was estimated at $600 million. The Los Cerritos Center total sales were $262 million estimated for fiscal year 2009-10. The city’s sales tax revenue projected for 2010-11 is $19.8 million.
Referring to the auto square, he said three new auto dealers recently opened dealerships in there: Kia of Cerritos, Penske Chevrolet, and McKenna Volkswagen. In addition the city has an Industrial Park with approximately 12 million sq. ft. of space and employs 10,369 people. He noted the city ranks number 56 out of 537 cities in total sales tax collected.
From the council chamber the group moved to the Cerritos Library where Councilwoman Chen took them on a tour of the facility . She said the library has 1.1 million visitors a year and is available, free of charge to Cerritos residents and students enrolled in the ABC Unified School District, Cerritos Community College as well as employees who work in the city.
From there the group proceeded to the Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park, where it was pointed out the site is where Patricia Nixon, wife of President Richard Nixon lived while attending school as a girl. The Center has more than 500 senior visitors every day and 125,000 annually .It affords them group activity, lunches, and an exercise room with the latest equipment. Groups can rent space at the Center for private parties when it is not in use by the seniors.
The next stop on the media tour was the sheriff station. It was explained the city owns the station, having built it and recently expanded it. All the equipment in it is also owned by the city. However, it is manned by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department who Cerritos has contracted with for its law enforcement.
The last stop on the tour was the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. This state-of-the art center is home to many of the nation’s top performers, including the late Frank Sinatra who inaugurated the center on its opening night. Cerritos.

ABC Observes 10th Anniversary of Sister School Exchange Program

By Jerry Bernstein

One of the least known programs in the ABC Unified School District is its Sister School Program. Every summer ABC students fly to Japan to participate in a summer school program, and Japanese students fly to the United States to participate in a week of school in America.
The program was initiated during a May7-9 2001 visit by Asano Hiromitsu, Superintendent of Education in the Japanese city of Kakamigahara to promote the sister school concept with ABC that has provided teachers, administrators, and students from both countries opportunities to learn about each other’s culture and their schools.
Initially co-sponsored with the Cerritos Rotary Club, the program has grown into a
strong partnership between both school districts with the Rotary Club continuing its participation in the program.
Kakamigahara has a population of 135,000 residents. During May 16-23, 2001 an ABC team flew to Kakamigahara and visited K-12 schools and other local attractions, resulting in a signed initial agreement establishing the sister school relationship that would encourage exchanges in the fields of education, sports, visual and performing arts.
Since then teachers and students from both districts have visited each other. The City has provided all costs related to the visits to Kakamigahara.
At the Oct. 19 meeting of the ABC Board of Education the 10th anniversary of the sister school agreement was observed. Students and teachers relived their visits to Kakamigahara. Superintendent Dr. Gary Smuts, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Mary Seiu, School Board President Celia Spitzer and three principals recently returned from Kakamigahara, having been invited by the city’s mayor, Shin Mori, to visit Kakamigahara as part of the 10th anniversary of the partnership at the city’s expense.
Looking to the Future
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Mary Sieu said that ABC’s 21st century students and staff must become international minded in order to be better prepared for the future. “Learning a world language and increasing our world understanding has been part of our district’s fabric for many years.” She said ABC has been in the forefront of promoting international programs with “our” Pacific Rim Countries for more than 15 years. The District has sister school agreements with Taiwan, Japan, and the People’s
Republic of China, providing opportunities for ABC students, teachers, administrators, board members and parents to learn about life outside our classrooms, homes and borders.
She said more than 150 ABC students since 2001 have participated in the 11 day Japanese High School Program in Japan, with the students staying with a host family. In addition approximately 300 middle school students has visited Japan in the same time period. She said the three-day program in October affords the opportunity for Japanese students to visit ABC middle schools and also stay with host families.
Since 2002 under the Japanese Summer Teacher Training Program, ABC has sent two teachers to train Japanese ESL teachers in the city of Kakamigahara during the summer. “They have trained move than 200 teachers on various strategies to use in teaching English as a second language to students in Japan.
In 2004 and 2005 the Adult School provided a Senior Adults Program for more than 50 Japanese senior adults from Kakamigahara. They participated in ESL classes at the Adult School as well as provided cultural lessons for various elementary District schools.
Another program is the ABC Jazz Band that in the fall of 2005 performed at several venues in the City of Kakamigahara under the Direction f Music Director Alan Hallback.
All the visits and programs in Japan have been sponsored by the City of Kakamigahara. No District funds were used.
Programs Described
Gahr/Artesia High School Japanese teacher Kim Suzuki described the program as broadening her students horizons. She said there was only so much she can teach in the classroom, but the exchange program has allowed the students to go to Japan and experience what we have learned in the classroom.
“It really has broadened their horizon,” she said. “Whey they come back they are a changed person. They are more tolerant to different individuals, open to new ideas and see things from a different angle. They have also forged new friendships across borders and cultures helping them grow as a person.”
Juan Cortez, a former student at Gahr High School participated in the 2007 program He related how the program benefited him. He said, “We like to think through globalization the world is slowly becoming one culture. But it is not. If you visit Japan you will notice there is an extreme difference between American Culture and Japanese culture.” He said anyone could go to Google and bring up pictures of Japan. but a truly experience in Japan is a totally different thing.
Cortez noted that in America, the culture is very individualistic, me myself and I. “In Japan I noticed anyone helps everyone. He said their schools are a good example. The schools are very clean. Nothing on the floor. Everything goes into the trashcans. “I thought, they must have the world’s greatest janitors but it’s the students who clean the schools, and take pride in it. They make sure their schools are presentable to everyone.” He said he learned to look through the eyes of the Japanese students, and by doing that learned to appreciate their mindset.
Ofie Chancowhose daughter participated in the program and is now in college. She said she was the Philippine parent of four Whitney girls. In the eighth grade her daughter chose to learn Japanese as opposed to Spanish like her sisters did. One day she said her teacher asked if we could host a visiting Japanese student during her stay here. “I said yes, I had four girls, one more wouldn’t matter.” She said she believed her daughter thought if the student lived with us for a few days, she could go to Japan. She did in her sophomore year at Whitney. When she came home she said, “Mom, I think I want to live in Japan.” Her plan was to go to college in Japan, but her counselor told her to go there for one year, come back here and finish her schooling so she would bring something new to the country. When she graduated Whitney she was given a special staff scholarship from the Foreign Language Department in the class of 2010.
“What I’m saying is the Japanese influence changed her personality. She has discipline. She always said she was m pushover child, but I told her she was my most obedient child. I believe she got that from her visit to Japan. She is not here tonight, because she was accepted at San Diego State where she is studying Japanese. She plans to move Japan when she graduates.
Mrs. Chancowhose concluded by saying she hoped parents will consider sending their child to Japan and being a host family.

Maynard Law Elected ABC Board President

By Jerry Bernstein

The ABC School Board elected Maynard Law Board President for the year 2010-11 at its Dec. 7 meeting. He succeeds Celia Spitzer. Serving with him are Armin Reyes, Vice President, and Olympia Chen, Board Clerk. Superintendent Dr. Gary Smutz was named Board Secretary
Outgoing President Celia Spitzer was congratulated for her past year’s service and was presented Certificates of Appreciation from civic leaders representing the communities ABC serves along with a gavel in a shadow box.
Upon thanking the School Board for its vote of confidence in electing him Board President, Law said ABC is about focusing on what matters most, student achievement. Academic performance of the student is shown by API scores. He said this past year ABC had an overall API score of 822 that he described as far exceeding the state average of 757. “This past weekend the District was privileged to receive its ninth consecutive Golden Bell Award that is given for excellence in education.
Law went on to say that in these financial times of uncertainties and budget cuts, and to say the least confusion at the state level, the District with more than the 500 partnerships and collaborations that are part of ABC, along with the leadership and willingness of our teachers and classified employees who he described as being full partners in the goal of good education for the community. He concluded by saying he looked forward to moving ABC to greater education heights.
Superintendent Dr. Gary Smuts issued a warning about school funding in the future. At the same time he said the state’s overall education achievement is pretty good. “It’s not great but it is pretty good.” He said this years state budget shortfall is $6 billion and combined with next years estimated $19 billion shortfall the budget picture in California is pretty bad.
Dr. Smuts agreed with newly elected Board President Maynard Law that too many people have jumped onto the “beat up the education bandwagon.” He said California’s K-12 school system is the largest one in the country. Twenty-five percent of the country’s English Language Learners are located in California. “We have more high school students eligible for college attendance than we have had in the history of California.” He noted that seven years ago 35 percent of the students advanced, This year 52 percent did. He said the number of math students seven years ago rose from 35 percent to 48 percent. High School students are taking 60 percent more college prep science and math courses than they did seven years ago.
“There’s a lot to be said. California is doing a good job. Not great, but there has been persistent growth for the last seven years. And we’re doing it for $825 less per child than the national average per child.” He said that was two years ago. Since then the number has grown. Two years ago the average American school had an average of 34 percent more teachers than California, 40 percent more administrators than California and 75 percent more counselors per student than California “We’re doing more with less in California he stated.
“Public Education in California is working, but think how great we would be if we received average funding for our children.” He concluded by saying achievement in California has grown during the last decade and this is especially true in ABC.

Harvest Moon Halloween Celebrated by the Artesia Historical Society

Pic Restored fire engine
Captain Joe Woyjeck and Artesia City Council Member John P. Lyon surprised guests with their first view of the restored 1942 Ford Fire Engine, which is permanently on loan to AHS by the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association for display in the recently restored “Old Station #30 Fire Museum” on Corby Avenue and 187th Street in Artesia.

The evening was alive with witches, devils, knights and a chef as the Artesia Historical Society (AHS) hosted their annual fundraiser, Oct. 30th at the Albert O. Little Community Center in Artesia. About 100 guests arrived dressed in a wide array of costumes, many challenging their friends and neighbors to determine their identities.
Special guests included Artesia Mayor Tony Lima, Mayor Pro Tem Victor Manalo, Council Members John P. Lyon and Michele L. Diaz, City Manager Maria Dadian, City Attorney Kevin Ennis and Commissioners Karen Spears, Clayton Young, and Miguel Canales.
Representing Supervisor Don Knabe, 4th District, Los Angeles County was Field Deputy Erin Stibul of his Bellflower Field Office. Also present was Joe Woyjeck, representing the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association and Chief Jerry Heinzel County of Los Angeles Fire Station #30. Representing the Woman’s Club of Artesia-Cerritos was President Nancy Sousa. Also attending was Executive Director Sug Kitahara of the Artesia Chamber of Commerce.
The room was decorated in a fall and Halloween theme, which helped to create a celebratory mood. The evening began with complimentary beverages and a wide selection of hors d’oeuvres while guests enjoyed music from Fran Newman at the Piano. An opportunity drawing got underway with people obtaining opportunity tickets and selecting the items they were interested in winning. Guests were also able to take advantage of early holiday shopping at the traditional gift boutique and return to their era of “trick or treating” by filling a bag with candy.
Artesia Historical Society President, Barbara Applebury welcomed guests to the seventh annual AHS Gala and expressed appreciation for the support of those in attendance. She recalled how the group and the event have evolved from the first two years held in tents, which were very labor intensive, to the more recent held in the Community Center. Appreciation was expressed for the loan of the unveiled historic fire engine, which will greatly compliment the “Old Station #30 Fire Museum.” She recapped the history of Artesia’ firefighters, which started in 1918.
Jenny Kubinski, the event chairperson then took the podium, also expressing her appreciation for the support of those in attendance. She stressed that the Artesia Historical Society has a strong history of perseverance from the time it was organized by its founder, June Larson until today. When the group was offered The Frampton/ Dantema House for use as a museum, three strong community women, Veronica Bloomfield, Barbara Applebury and Diane Young picked up the mantel and presented the opportunity to the Artesia City Council. Through their efforts, The Artesia Historical Society and the City of Artesia became partners in the creation of “The Artesia Historical Museum,” which opened in 2004. The Artesia City Council continued their support with the purchase of the former Chamber of Commerce building at Corby Avenue and 187th Street. They directed that the building be restored to its original state as a Fire Station.
John P. Lyon was recognized for his dedication as project leader for the recent restoration of “Old Station #30 Fire Museum” which will be incorporated into the city’s Historical District campus and become part of AHS’ school tour outreach program.
In conjunction with the new fire museum, special recognition was given to AHS member Fred Earl, a retired Los Angeles County Fire Fighter, for his donation of a portion of his fire fighting related toy collection, accumulated over the past 60 years. Fred and several members of his family were present. His daughter, Lou Ann Zulawski, made a special presentation to AHS of framed photos of Fred, his late wife Mary Lou, Lou Ann and her brother Steve taken through the years. The photos and a plaque will be displayed with the toy collection. Also on display was Fred’s “turnout uniform” which is on display at the County of Los Angeles Fire Museum. Fred was given a standing ovation, expressing the group’s appreciation for his support.
Dr. Edward Bloomfield with assistance from Sarah Kubinski, Lucas Young and Steven Shelton conducted the Opportunity Drawing of about 25 donated gifts including dinner gift cards, theatre tickets, collectibles, a hotel stay and other venue admissions. Jenny Kubinski acted as auctioneer for several special live auction items.
The Artesia Historical Society welcomes anyone with an interest in local history to membership in its organization. Contact Barbara Applebury at (562) 865-3107.

Su Casa speaker discusses domestic violence at Cerritos Optimist Club

Guest speaker at recent breakfast meeting of the Cerritos Optimist Club [l-r] Su Casa Executive Director Vicki Doolittle with Club President Jamie Hamilton. Su Casa celebrated its 31st anniversary in October. The organization provides services to families afflicted by domestic violence which has been described as on of the great tragedies of American Society and weakens economy by incurring a loss of eight million days of work each year due to abuse. This is equivalent of more than 32,000 full time jobs and is and nearly 5.6 million days of household production. She said there is a correlation between poverty and violations. She said Su Casa operates an emergency shelter in which 2/3 of those taking refuge are children. Many of the victims of violence have no place to go and we are keeping them longer. The Cerritos Optimist Club meets the first, second and four Thursdays at 7 a.m. and the third Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Off Street Café across from Gahr High School.

City of Cerritos employees help families for the holidays

City of Cerritos employees have donated hundreds of toys and a variety of gift cards to help needy families this holiday season. Approximately 350 City of Cerritos employees who attended the employee holiday luncheon on December 8, 2010 donated more than 400 toys and gift cards. The contributions will be distributed to the Artesia-Cerritos Community Christmas Program, Red Bucket Program, Salvation Army-Angel Tree and local families in need.

Artesia Punishers hold annual Foodbasket Program

Sixteen Thanksgiving food baskets were distributed to Artesia families at Paddleford Park Nov. 23 by the Artesia Punishers Traveling Baseball Team. Team members and their coaches gathered at the park’s community center to deliver the baskets to the families.

Ironwood Nine Women’s Golf Club installs new officers

The Cerritos Ironwood Nine Golf Club installed its new officers for 2011 at its annual Christmas party. They are [l-r] Vice President Phillis King, Secretary Judi Feutz, Treasurer Joanne Johnson, and President Jean Brunelli. The club will resume play on Jan. 4, 2011. For more information call Chrisato Koramoto at (714) 431-7569 or Ruby Lee at (562) 431.7569

ABC Unified School District wins Golden Bell Award

Accepting the Golden Bell Award are (l-r) John Zawacki, Niemes Science Teacher; CSBA official; James Kang, Boardmember; Meg Jimenez, Principal-Niemes ES; Dr. Gary Smuts, Superintendent; Celia Spitzer, Board President; Maynard Law, Vice-President of the Board; Sophia Tse, Boardmember; Dr. Mary Sieu, Deputy Superintendent

ABC Unified School District was honored at the 31st Annual Golden Bell Awards Ceremony of the California School Board Association (CSBA) Dec. 4 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in San Francisco. The event is held in conjunction with the CSBA’s Annual Education Conference.
The award was won in the Science category for Niemes Magnet School’s Environmental Science Fair and Festival Program. Niemes Magnet School is located in the city of Artesia.
The Environmental Science Fair and Festival empower students to become active participants in the stewardship of our planet. In addition to displaying their knowledge of grade level science during the Environmental Science Fair, students are able to access a Science Lab, Nature Center, Green Kids Club, and Environmental Stewards Club at the school. The program is under the direction of Meg Jimenez, Principal of Niemes Magnet School, Fran Barron, Magnet Coordinator, and John Zawacki, Science teacher.
Attending the 2010 Golden Bell Awards Program was Celia Spitzer, Board President; Maynard Law, Vice President; Boardmembers Sophia Tse; James Kang; Dr. Gary Smuts, Superintendent; Dr. Mary Sieu, Deputy Superintendent, Meg Jimenez, Principal of Niemes ES and John Zawacki, Science Teacher at Niemes ES.
This is the ninth Golden Bell Award that ABC Unified School District has received in the past eight years. Approximately 45 exemplary programs are selected each year from over 300 applications for this prestigious award.

Holiday Home Decoration Contest in Artesia

It’s home decorating time again in Artesia and this time the city is awarding gift certificates to the winners. The 2010 Holiday Home Decorating Contest judging will be happening in December and your decorated Artesia home can be a winner in one of four different categories if your home is entered into the judging.
If you see a well-decorated house, nominate it or nominate your own home. Don’t be shy! The more participants the more fun it is for everyone. The Artesia Beautification and Maintenance Commission will be viewing the entrants on Dec. 16 between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. so be sure your displays are at their best during that time. There will be first and second place winners in the following categories: 1) Best Use of Lights – judged on the total effect and extent of the use of lights, 2) Lawn/Roof Display, 3) Animated Display – outdoor display that has more than one object in motion, 4) Total Display – may include lights, window, lawn, roof, and animation.
Winners will be announced the week after the judging, and the gift certificates will be presented at the January 10th Council meeting. Call the Artesia City Hall at 562 865-6262 by Dec. 14 and let us know your name, address, and phone number in order to enter your home in the contest or send the information to the City of Artesia, 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, 90701. If you are nominating someone else’s home, just give whatever information you can. Good luck!

Christmas tree recycling offered in Cerritos

Residents in single-family homes can recycle their Christmas trees beginning Monday, December 27 through Friday, January 14 by placing them at the curb for pick-up by 6 a.m. on their trash collection days. The trees will be composted or used for the Los Angeles County Sanitation District's daily landfill cover.
Trees to be recycled should not contain any lights, tinsel, nails, metal stands or decorations, and should not be placed in bags. Trees more than 4 feet tall should be cut in half. Flocked trees will be accepted.
Businesses in Cerritos or residents living in apartments or condominiums can place trees next to their trash bin for collection. For more information, call the City's Public Works Department at (562) 916-1220.

Gahr dominates Cerritos in all areas in “other” football game

By Loren Kopff

Recently, Gahr has owned Cerritos on the football field every September but now, the Gladiators are beginning to duplicate the same trend in boys soccer. This past Tuesday, Gahr scored three times in the first 19 minutes and rolled to a 5-1 victory over the visiting Dons.
The Gladiators have not lost to the Dons since 2005, going 4-0-2 in the past six meetings (they didn’t play in 2006) but Cerritos still owns a 6-5-2 advantage since 1997. During the recent Gahr streak, it has outscored Cerritos 22-6. Both teams were coming off opposite results just 24 hours earlier as Gahr was on the short end of a 2-0 decision to defending Suburban League champion Norwalk while Cerritos had posted its first win of the season, 3-1, against La Quinta.
“I think our players were looking to respond to the defeat yesterday,” said Gahr head coach Jim Keating. “You can only play the opponent in front of you. Who was in front of us today? It was Cerritos.”
“In my opinion, the team yesterday was way stronger than it was in today’s game,” said Cerritos head coach Luis Paulo Oliveira. “Besides the fact that we have the fight, the tradition, our number one enemy, I think [Gahr] showed up to play and we didn’t show up to play for some reason.”
In the 10th minute, Gahr senior forward Edwin Colindres was on the receiving end of a long throw-in from senior defender Erick Lojan and headed in the first goal of the game. One minute later, junior midfielder Charles Gracien scored the first of his two goals from the right side of the penalty box. Then in the 19th minute, a header from senior midfielder Carlos Rincon made it 3-0.
The Dons (1-4-0) avoided the shutout nine minutes before halftime when senior forward Andrew Atilano scored off a corner kick. It was the second of two shots on goal for Cerritos in the entire game. Offensively, the Dons weren’t able to create any opportunities.
“Unfortunately for us at Cerritos high school, they wait until the [Suburban] League season comes to start working, to start putting more effort, to start coming to practice on a consistent basis,” Oliveira said. “As the season progresses, I’m hoping we will be able to achieve in some of the goals we have defensively, offensively and as a team.”
In the 37th minute, Gahr (1-1-1) had a chance for a fourth goal but a free kick from senior defender Carlos Garcia hit the crossbar. Still, the Gladiators were able to control the game better because Keating was playing virtually everyone on the roster. The last two goals were from senior forward Wasiem Rabie a minute into the second half and from senior midfielder Daniel Mayarol in the 71st minute. Gahr took 22 shots on goal in the game.
Both soccer programs are hoping for better success this season as they have recently struggled mightily. After reaching the playoffs in three straight seasons, the Gladiators have gone 19-42-14 overall and 8-25-7 in the San Gabriel Valley League in the past four seasons.
“Last year, getting a very late start to the season, the players weren’t fit and they weren’t prepared for the season,” Keating said. “This season, we’re better prepared. I think in some ways, programs have a culture about them; a mentality about them. I think for a while, the mentality of the program has been lackadaisical and apathetic. Iron sharpens iron, winning breeds winning and losing breeds losing. Now, it’s a chance to turn the program around to [the point] where we’re not going to accept mediocrity anymore.”
Gahr will host Whitney on Tuesday and even if the team doesn’t win a league title this season or advances to the playoffs, Keating is very pleased with the prospects of a competitive group in the near future.
“This program is very much a rebuilding program,” Keating said. “It is a very young squad with a big group of 10th graders coming through both the junior varsity and varsity teams. I don’t think we’re really going to see the full potential to this squad for about two more years.”
At Cerritos, it’s even worse with the Dons going 10-63-11 overall and 3-44-1 in league during the same four-year span entering this season. Cerritos will host Valley Christian today and visit Rancho Alamitos on Monday.
“I have 12 seniors right now who look like they are juniors or sophomores,” Oliveira said. “This is the year they need to step up.”

2010-2011 BOYS BASKETBALL PREVIEW

Norwalk to challenge Mayfair for Suburban League’s top spot NORWALK LANCERS
16-13 overall last season, 8-4 in the Suburban League, tied for second place, lost to Mark Keppel 63-54 in the Division II-A second round.
Head coach: Jim Webster (ninth season, 74-136)
Team’s record past five seasons: 54-79
STARTERS LOST
Anthony Holliday (18.0)
Jeffrey Montoya (4.4)
STARTERS RETURNING
Sr. Manuel Castaneda (11.0)
Sr. Cammie Lewis (7.9)
Jr. Terence Traylor (5.0)
OTHERS RETURNING
Sr. Kendrick Horn
Sr. Eric McElroy
Back to back seasons of double digit victories have suddenly made Norwalk a serious contender for one of the top spots in the league after many seasons sitting at the bottom. Now, the Lancers move on minus Anthony Holliday, arguably one of the best players, if not the best player to have ever played at Norwalk. The good news for head coach Jim Webster is that he still has a tremendous amount of experience with three returning starters.
“It’s always hard to know what to expect,” Webster said. “You expect to compete and play well. We obviously had one of our best teams since I’ve been here and to meet those expectations and a little beyond…was great. It definitely was exciting.”
Holliday’s tag team partner last season, senior Manual Castaneda, returns as the team’s top player. Not only is he valuable on the boards, but like Holliday, he can light it up from the outside. Castaneda can be expected to average five to seven more points a game from last season. Senior Cammie Lewis and junior Terence Traylor give the Lancers a solid trio that should help put pressure on defending league champion Mayfair.
“We definitely have plenty of experience in those three positions,” Webster said. “Hopefully we’ll have enough scoring as well with them being three-year varsity guys. We’re definitely trying to manipulate the offense where we get the good looks for them and then spread it out too.”
Last season, the starters combined for 87 percent of the team’s scoring. The Lancers got just 197 points from their non-starters. This season, Castaneda, Lewis and Traylor will need to get more help from the rest of the team. Webster has tabbed junior Angel Arevalo and sophomore Michael Rocha as the top two newcomers and both of them are guards. Also on the team will be seniors Angel Montero, Vince Olvera and Gilbert Peregrina and juniors Andrew Gutierrez, Armando Holquin and Ondre Rissling.
“We’re always going to need to replenish and rebuild and the good thing we’ve done this year is most of our new guys are juniors,” Webster said. “So, they won’t be one year varsity guys. That’s what we’re trying to get into.”
Webster believes the league will once again be wide open as it was last season, although it will be a little bit tougher.
VALLEY CHRISTIAN CRUSADERS
11-16 overall last season, 1-9 in the Olympic League, tied for fifth place, lost to Pacific Hills 62-37 in the Division IV-A second round.
Head coach: Bryan Branderhorst (fifth season, 74-41)
Team’s record past five seasons: 80-61
STARTERS LOST
Chris Hunt (15.4)
Aaron Padilla (6.6)
Dean Pollema (10.4)
STARTERS RETURNING
Sr. Connor Tien
Jr. Anthony Roldan (5.2)
OTHERS RETURNING
Sr. Joshua Castanos
Sr. Jeff Hing
Sr. Trevor Rodriguez
Jr. Cole Clark (3.3)
If head coach Bryan Branderhorst didn’t have to deal with the brutal Olympic League last season, his team would have done just fine. But the Crusaders just couldn’t muster enough power to keep up with the likes of Division V-AA finalist Windward among others. Now, the Crusaders will say hello to some new league teams in hopes of giving Branderhorst his third winning season at V.C.
“It was a tough year,” Branderhorst said. “We started the season off pretty well but that old Olympic League was a tough league. There was a lot of good, big time talent in that league. Heading into last year, we didn’t have a whole lot of experience. All of our guards were brand new. But we’re looking forward to this season. We have a lot of guys coming back, especially in the backcourt. That’s going to hold us steady.”
While the Crusaders lose their top two scorers from last season, the team returns half a dozen players who not only have a lot of varsity experience, but have improved in their own ways.
Branderhorst said that senior Trevor Rodriguez developed an offensive game during the summer and will be more of a threat. Senior Joshua Castanos is more of a total package as far as his defense and rebounding is concerned. Senior Jeff Hing is emerging as a leader on the floor, senior Connor Tien is a much better finisher and scorer while junior Anthony Roldan is the most versatile scorer on the team and junior Cole Clark has improved his perimeter shooting.
“Those six guys are battle tested now,” Branderhorst said. “They took some lumps last year and I think it’s going to be good for them. I think it makes them hungry; it made them work hard in the offseason. It gave them some things to shoot for and to improve on.”
Seniors James Griffin and Lionel Hendrick, juniors Nate Padilla, Jordan Rhodes and Lewayne Wright and sophomore Caleb Miller are new to the varsity squad. Of those, Branderhorst said Griffin will be an instant impact and is ‘ready to compete for some serious minutes’.
“I assume we’re going to be fairly balanced,” Branderhorst said. “Hopefully we’ll score a lot of points off our defense. As far as our offense goes, we’re not going to look to just jam it into one guy. We’re going to run an equal opportunity motion offense and try to stay balanced.”
In addition to Windward leaving the Olympic League, Brentwood, Campbell Hall, Crossroads and Montclair Prep depart. The Crusaders will now face Los Angeles Baptist, Maranatha, Village Christian and Whittier Christian in league. All four of those teams were in the Alpha League and none of them got past the second round in the playoffs.
“I don’t think anybody around here is more excited about our new Olympic League than me,” Branderhorst said. “I think the competition is going to be evenly matched. I honestly couldn’t tell you who I think is favored to win our league. On paper, probably Whittier Christian is favored because they bring back a lot of starters.”

Uncertainty in State Budget leaves ABC’s Budget in flux

By Jerry Bernstein

Criticizing the State Legislature for not facing up to the continuous state budget crisis, ABC Superintendent Gary Smuts told the Board of Education at its Oct. 19 meeting the budget signed by the governor this month is already 10 billion in deficit. The new governor, whoever she or he might be is gong to have to grapple with some very difficult issues. He said some of the budget issues are still very fuzzy. “This is a terrible condition the state is in and terrible fiscal behavior on the part of the leaders of California.”
ABC Chief Financial Officer Toan Nguyen said the budget signed by the governor has gone deeper into deficit and is now out of balance by $12 billion. “The budget defers a lot of problems into future years,” he asserted. He said the budget restores some of the cuts to education that was made in May but defers payment until 2011-13. We may get paid next year. He said ABC would have to deal with a 6.5 million deficit in the current budget.
Nguyen said the District would deal with that by implementing previously passed measures. This includes continuing four furlough days [$2,160,000], transfer from Health Benefits/Workers Compensation funds [655,000], and the Adult Education Fund [$1 million], plus additional flexibility transfers [$1,565,000]. Increase class size K-3 from 22 to 24 [$460,000], reduce administrators by 2.5 positions [$280,000], reduce MOTF staff by three ]$200,000] and reduce classified support staff by three [$180,000] that will leave us ending with a balance budget if the state comes through with the money.
Going into 2011-12 we will have a structural deficit of $10.3 million. He said this would probably change with the coming in of a new governor.
He said new revenues include Education Job Act, $3,877,000 [one time only], ARRA-Final 10 percent, $990,000 [one time only], and Mandated Cost, $650,000 [one time only], leaving a project ending balance June 30,2011 of $10,217,000.
Board President Celia Spitzer asked what does the District do if the state continues to defer payment. “What do we do? We still have to pay our bills. How do we do that? Do we borrow money?”
Nguyen replied, “We would issue Trans [short term, tax exempt securities] the Board previously approved to pay bills and payroll.” He said the county has an emergency fund the District can borrow from. It can also borrow from a fund within the District. He said, “We work closely with the county on cash management.”
Dr. Smuts said both the District and County have to manage cash flow to the rule of auditing practices. “The state has no such obligation. We are constantly on guard to the inconsistencies of the state’s lack of common honest practices.”

Cerritos Past and Present: Artesia Cranford Airport 1945-1954

Photo taken in 1953. The airport had two 2,300" runways. One north/south and the other northwest/southwest. It was first known in 1945 as Artesia airport then in 1946 it was renamed Cranford.

Present day photo showing area where Cranford airport was. The runway is still clearly visible under the borders.

By Brian Hews

Not too many know that a small general aviation airport was built at some point in 1945 North of South St and West of Carmenita.
At that time it was called Artesia Airport and was classified as a commercial or municipal field.
The June 1946 Department of Commerce Airman's Guide described “Artesia Airport” as being renamed “Cranford Airport” as of June 18, 1946.
The guide described Cranford Airport as having a 2,700' unpaved runway, LCCN has been told it actually had two 2,300" runways one north/south and the other northwest/southwest. Each runway had a parallel taxiway, and a ramp along the south side of the field had 2 buildings, probably hangars.
Then in 1949, the San Diego Sectional Chart described Cranford Airport as having a 2,700' unpaved runway.
The Alley's, who owned a lumber yard in nearby Downey, purchased the Cranford airport sometime in the years following WW2 as a real estate investment. Cranford Airport evidently gained a paved runway at some point between 1949-51, as the March 1951 San Diego Sectional Chart depicted Cranford as having a 2,200' hard surface runway.
The earliest photo which has been located of Cranford Airport was a 1952 aerial view. It depicted the field as indeed having 2 runways, one oriented north/south & the other northeast/southwest. A dozen light aircraft were parked on the southwest side of the field.
Cranford Airport apparently closed at some point between 1953-54, as it was no longer depicted on the September 1954 San Diego Sectional Chart. It was evidently a very short-lived airfield, only lasting no more than 9 years. A 1972 aerial view showed no trace of the airport, with dense housing having covered the site. In the March 2004 USGS aerial photo of the site of Cranford Airport,
incredibly, even though the area has been densely developed, the former northeast/southwest runway appears to have remained intact.
The former runway is still quite recognizable in the photo -it forms the north edge of the parking lot of the retail shopping complex
which has been built along the southern portion of the former airport site.

New Cerritos Sculpture installed on Park Plaza Drive

"Angelic Duet" was finally installed in Cerritos this past Thursday morning. A large crane lifted "Angelic Duet" onto a pedestal located next to the CareMore office building at 12900 Park Plaza Drive in the Cerritos Towne Center. James T. Russell, the artist who created the sculpture, was on site to supervise the installation.
"Angelic Duet" took a long and circuitous route to Cerritos. In 1978 the artwork was commissioned by the State of California and was installed at the Junipero Serra State Office Building in Los Angeles.
The State sold the building and the artwork was removed and placed in a Sacramento storage facility where it has languished since 2003.
The California Arts Council was unable to find a suitable location for "Angelic Duet" and decided to seek an agency with a well-recognized public art program to provide a prominent location for the sculpture.
The California Arts Council and the California Department of General Services made the piece available to the City at no cost for 30 years, with options to renegotiate the contract prior to the expiration date. The sculpture was removed from storage in Sacramento and trucked to its new home in Cerritos.
"Angelic Duet" is one of the largest pieces ever created for the State's public artwork program. The sculpture is composed of two linear stainless steel structures. The taller piece is 38 feet tall, and the shorter piece is 36 feet tall. The piece has strong, clean bold lines paired with gentle undulating curves.

An official rededication ceremony for the sculpture featuring comments from Cerritos Mayor Joseph Cho, Ph.D. and sculptor Russell will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 23. The community is invited to attend the rededication ceremony that will take place at 12900 Park Plaza at the CareMore office building in the Cerritos Towne Center.

Congresswoman Linda Sanchez to speak at Artesia Chamber luncheon

The Artesia Chamber of Commerce invites the public to its monthly luncheon featuring Congresswoman Linda Sanchez on Thursday, Oct. 28 from noon to 1:30 at the Great Seafood Harbor Restaurant, 18329 Pioneer Boulevard, Artesia, CA 90703.
Congresswoman Sanchez will be discussing the state of the nation’s economy and how the United States Congress is moving forward to help small businesses.
Admission is $15 Members and $20 for prospective members or guests.

Congresswoman Linda Sánchez names Whittier man first “Veteran of the Month”

Sergeant E-5 Raymond Ramirez

Congresswoman Linda Sánchez kicked off her new veterans’ outreach program naming retired U.S. Army Sergeant E-5 Raymond Ramirez of the City of Whittier as the 39th Congressional District’s first “Veteran of the Month.” Ramirez is the first recipient of the award and was chosen by the newly created Veterans Advisory Council.
Sergeant Ramirez began his military career in 1964 when he enlisted with the U.S. Army and was immediately deployed to Vietnam. He was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the first major ground combat unit of the U.S. Army to serve in Vietnam. Ramirez exhibited courage and heroism while in combat, earning him awards and medals including the Combat Infantry Badge and the Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device, 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster. His unit also received the Presidential Unit Citation (Navy) for assisting the U.S. Marines in the fall of 1966, and the U.S. Army Meritorious Unit Citation. Upon his return from Vietnam in June of 1967, he was assigned to the 1st Armored Division at Fort Hood, TX.
"Sergeant Ramirez’ dedication to our country is inspiring and I was pleased to honor him today," said Congresswoman Sánchez. "It’s vitally important that we never forget the sacrifices made by our fighting men and women. I look forward to recognizing a new veteran each month."
Following his discharge from the Army Ramirez attended Rio Hondo College and California State University, Los Angeles. He then worked for several years in the defense industry and later with the County of Los Angeles and the City of Commerce for more than 25 years.
He is currently an active member of the American Veterans Post 113 (Irwindale, CA) and the Association of the 173d Airborne Brigade, where he is the former President of the Western States, Chapter 10. Notably, he serves on the board of directors for the 173d Airborne Brigade National Memorial Foundation whose “sole mission” is to build a 173d Memorial “on a piece of American soil.”
To honor Sergeant Ramirez’ hard work and dedication to his country, he was presented with a flag flown over the capitol in his name. The presentation took place at Congresswoman Sánchez’ Cerritos office Friday.
The “Veteran of the Month” program is coordinated by her Veterans Advisory Council, comprised of distinguished veterans from across the district. Each month, a veteran will be recognized for their service overseas and here at home. For more information regarding the “Veteran of the Month Program” please contact Mr. Jamie Zamora at Jamie.zamora@mail.house.gov or (562) 860-5050.

Red Ribbon Week focuses on drug prevention

By Jerry Bernstein

Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country. Although the start end dates can vary slightly depending on the organization and source, Red Ribbon Week generally takes place the last full week in October, with the weekends before and following the last full week included as appropriate celebration dates. This year Red Ribbon Week is being celebrated October 17-23.
Red Ribbon Week serves as a vehicle for communities and individuals to take a stand for the hopes and dreams of our children through a commitment to drug prevention and education and a personal commitment to live drug free lives with the ultimate goal being the creation of drug free America.
And, perhaps more importantly, Red Ribbon Week commemorates the ultimate sacrifice made by DEA Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who died at the hands of drug traffikers in Mexico while fighting the battle against illegal drugs to keep our country and children safe.
Behind the Symbol
Enrique "Kiki" Camarena grew up in a dirt-floored house with hopes and dreams of making a difference. He worked his way through college, served in the Marines and became a police officer. When he decided to join the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother tried to talk him out it. "I can't not do this," he told her. "I'm only one person, but I want to make a difference."
The DEA sent Camarena to work undercover in Mexico investigating a major drug cartel believed to include officers in the Mexican army, police and government. On Feb. 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena's body was found in a shallow grave. He had been tortured to death.
Within weeks of his death in March of 1985, Camarena's Congressman, Duncan Hunter, and high school friend Henry Lozano, launched Camarena Clubs in Imperial Valley, Camarena's home. Hundreds of club members pledged to lead drug-free lives to honor the sacrifices made by Camarena and others on behalf of all Americans. These coalitions began to wear red badges of satin, red ribbons, as a symbol to Camarena's memory. The Red Ribbon Week campaign emerged from the efforts of these clubs and coalitions.
Today, Red Ribbon Week is nationally recognized and celebrated, helping to preserve Special Agent Camarena's memory and further the cause for which he gave his life. The Red Ribbon Campaign also became a symbol of support for the DEA's efforts to reduce demand for drugs through prevention and education programs. By wearing a red ribbon during the last week in October, Americans demonstrate their ardent opposition to drugs. They pay homage not only to Special Agent Camarena, but to all men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in support of our nation's struggle against drug trafficking and abuse. 3

Supervisor Knabe reaffirms intention to seek re-election in 2012

Bob and Mary Buell with Diane and Dan Paddleford at Don Knabe’s annual Birthday/Oktoberfest Celebration aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach Oct 14.


Supervisor Don Knabe observed his birthday Oct 14 at his 15th annual Oktoberfest and Birthday Celebration abroad the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Surrounded by friends and family, he reaffirmed his decision of last year that he would run for re-election in 2012. “I love my job and I feel I can make a difference,” he asserted.
He also announced that to date 80 babies have been saved under the County’s Save and Safe Program which he sponsored, where young unwed mothers can give up their newborn babies at local fire stations and hospital emergency rooms. No questions are asked. He said there is no shame and no blame. The program also has a new face book page in support of the program.
Knabe began his public service in Cerritos as a planning commissioner. In 1980 he was elected to the city council where he served eight years, including two terms as Mayor. He was involved in developing the city’s general plan, which is now regarded as a national model for sensible growth, It called for development of the Cerritos Auto Square, the Los Cerritos Center, and the Cerritos Town Center, creating a tax base that has provided jobs, additional citizen services, doubled the number of city parks, and allowed for the creation of the nationally renowned Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.
In 1982, he joined Supervisor Dean Dana’s staff, soon becoming his chief of staff and in 1994 he was elected to the Board of Supervisors.
The Supervisor and his wife Julie have been married 40 years. They have two sons, Curt who is married to Seva and Matt who is married to Briana. They also have two granddaughters, Kaitlyn and Christy by Curt and Seva and a grandson, Kaden, by Matt and Briana who are awaiting the birth of their second child, a girl.

Our Lady of Fatima Runs For Fun

Student’s at Our Lady of Fatima School kicked off their “OLF, You’ve Got a Friend in Me” Toy Story themed Jog-A-Thon fundraiser with lots of laughter and fun. The students took part in team activities, like the hula-hoop run, and even got wet with a wild sponge toss game. Each grade was given a Toy Story theme, such as Kindergarten’s Little Buzz Lightyears!
The Jog-A-Thon event is one of the leading fundraisers for OLF, which provides much needed funds for the school.
Our Lady of Fatima School offers a comprehensive Catholic educational program with high academic standards from kindergarten through the eighth grade. The school's students grow and learn within a caring and faith-filled parish community, and under the guidance of their teachers and parents/guardians, they experience and develop Christian attitudes and behaviors of self-discipline, respect, and responsibility to the community. The Jog-A-Thon fundraiser event will be Friday, November 5th, 2010 at 4:00 PM. For more information on Our Lady of Fatima or Jog-A-Thon sponsorship opportunities please call (562) 865-1621. Our Lady of Fatima is located at 18626 S. Clarkdale Ave. in Artesia or visit www.fatimachargers.com.

Cerritos College Board of Trustees discuss Budget

by Victor Diaz

The Cerritos College Board of Trustees meeting Oct. 20 addressed a follow-up presentation of the Cerritos College budget which was given at its previous meeting by Vice-president of Business Services David El Fattal.
El Fattal reported that through advanced apportionment, Cerritos will be receiving $1.4 million on Oct. 22 from the state,. He also mentioned that with the arrival of more money coming through Nov. 4, the school is should receive $23 million that was deferred by the State last September. However, he said, “In any event, we may have to borrow a little bit more money our reserve before these funds start coming in, depending upon what our expenditures are.”
El Fattal said that about 25 to 26 percent will be apportioned to Cerritos and the remainder will be given next year. He also gave an update on a report that was given regarding $35 million of the state budget being used for categorical backfill, which, he informed,the Board was vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Lastly, El Fattal spoke about the groundbreaking for the remodeling of the new baseball field, which he attended.
Other subjects that were touched upon at the meeting included the recognition of the classified employee of the month for September, that was awarded to Cindy Lo, a program facilitator for the Economics Department.
In the presentation, Cerritos College President Linda Lacy said, “Cindy is especially good with our business partners. She updates them regularly including the new training that is being offered and works diligently to turn training concepts into reality.”
In regard to her experience working at Cerritos, Lo simply said, “I love it here.”
Student Trustee Felipe Grimaldo gave a report of the homecoming events that occurred on Oct. 16. One event Grimaldo mentioned was the homecoming dance that followed the football game against Ventura City College.
Grimaldo said, “The dance was a huge success. At the same time, there were no incidents, so maybe next year we can reinstate it and make it something to look forward to for the students as well.”
Grimaldo credited the success of homecoming night to the amount of participation by students as well as the success of the dance. He also mentioned that due to the dance’s success, this might open the doors for the possibility of other social gatherings on campus in the future.
Board Vice President Tom Jackson also gave a report on his attendance of the Cerritos Theatre Department’s performance of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” which he thoroughly enjoyed.
The next meeting of the Trustees will be on Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. in the Cheryl A. Epple Board Room of the college.

Assemblymember Mendoza reponds to passing of friend, Mentor, Sen. Jenny Oropeza

“Jenny taught me what it takes to become a legislator.”

SACRAMENTO, CA - Assemblymember Tony Mendoza (D-Norwalk) issued the following statement on the passing of Sen. Jenny Oropeza.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend and mentor, Sen. Jenny Oropeza. Jenny was a true inspiration; she taught me how to talk to and connect with voters. Her mentorship helped me greatly when I first started as a public servant. She was very supportive when I ran for the Artesia City Council and State Assembly. Jenny taught me what it takes to become a legislator. The California State Legislature will never be the same without her. She will be missed.”

Artesia Mayor Speaker at Democratic Club

Welcoming guests to the Oct. 18 Hubert Humphrey Democratic Club Meeting at Coco’s Cerritos were (l-r) La Palma Mayor Pro-Tem Ralph Rodriguez, HHDC President Gary Chomiak and Artesia Mayor Tony Lima.

By Larry Caballero

When Artesia Mayor Tony Lima was asked to be the keynote speaker for the Hubert Humphrey Democratic Club’s Oct. meeting, he decided to share with the members what he does as a city official.
“No one ever told me what my job requires me to do,” said Lima. He soon learned it included attending many functions of his city and of neighboring cities as well.
He has given numerous speeches at various ceremonies and events involving a multitude of ethnic groups and has learned a few introductory words in the process.
Lima said the worst time to be Mayor of any city is during rough economic times when there need to be budget cuts that require laying off workers and cutting back on salaries.
“Recently, I had my resignation ready to turn in so I could move to a nearby city with higher salaries for city councilmembers, but once the councilmembers were arrested, I decided against it,” Lima said jokingly.
Artesia is home to more than 17,000 people who speak 48 languages and live in the “Heart of Cerritos” on only 1.6 square miles of property.
Lima is never totally prepared for what may happen at any public event. He has been surprised when asked to speak in front of large audiences when he thought he was there to only be a guest. “Mark Twain once said that it took him about two weeks to make a good impromptu speech, so you can imagine how I made mine in 30 seconds.”
Once he presented an award to a foreign spiritual leader only to be awakened the next day with countless phone calls and emails from angry people all over the country.
Apparently the foreign dignitary had been accused on the Internet of being an insurgent and terrorist and charged with demolishing a mosque. “After that experience, I have instructed my staff to do a careful Internet search on anyone who is to receive any awards from the city.”
Lima has tried to run the city like a business in order to make Artesia more efficient, but he is not in favor of cutting important public services such as law enforcement, parks and recreation, and street maintenance.
“We are in the process of renovating downtown Artesia, to build a parking structure to service businesses and to purchase land to accommodate the housing requirements set by the state of California.”
Since there is no vacant land left in the city, Lima said the only alternative is to go up. “We also need to make better use of existing buildings to incorporate commercial, office professionals and residential components.”
During the past three years, Lima has worked diligently to bring back the Artesia Chamber of Commerce that had been out of business for nearly five years. A new Chamber is now up and running and in its beginning stages with lots of enthusiasm.
Congresswoman Linda Sanchez has agreed to be its keynote speaker at its Oct. 28 monthly luncheon to discuss the state of the nation’s economy and how the Congress is trying to support small businesses.
The location is the Great Seafood Harbor Restaurant at 18329 Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia from noon to 1:30. The luncheon is open to the public and everyone is invited to attend. To RSVP call 562-882-7734 or artesiacommerce@gmail.com.

Fedde-Tetzlaff Students "Junior Shipmates" aboard the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier

Fedde and Tetzlaff students aboard the Midway Aircraft Carrier gather in front of a plane in the ship’s hanger.
PIC Hanger

Editor’s Note: Many thanks to Assistant Tetzlaff Principal Tom Woodward for providing information and pictures of the overnight visit aboard the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier permanently docked in San Diego. He was one of 17 chaperons who accompanied Tezlaff and Fedde Middle School students to the Carrier as guests of the Naval Academy under its Blue and Gold STEP Program.

Students at Fedde Middle School and Tetzlaff Middle School participated in the United States Naval Academy Blue and Gold STEP [Science Technology, Engineering and Math] Program Oct. 15-16 with an overnight trip to San Diego where they experienced life as junior shipmates aboard the USS Midway.
The students participated in the “Live It and Learn It Program” which encompasses activities in science, technology, engineering and math. The students left their schools Friday afternoon, Oct 15 and included 47 Fedde students with 11 chaperons, and 29 Tetzlaff students accompanied by six chaperons. The Naval Academy assumed all costs for the program including transportation.
The USS Midway is a retired aircraft carrier on permanent display as a museum in San Diego harbor. Students from both schools had an opportunity to explore the history of the ship and STEM (Science, Technology, Engendering and Math) programs. The overnight accommodations Friday were the same bunks that navy sailors used for years. Students lived an exciting, navy experience with navy chow, bunks, and regimented lifestyle for the one night.
On Saturday morning students woke up to reveille being announced at 0600. More science activities followed with a lecture on Newton's Laws and how they applied to an aircraft carrier followed by more navy chow for breakfast.
The highlight of the trip took place at the Naval Air Station on North Island. There they got to see two Sea Hawk helicopter squadrons up close and personal. The navy personnel did a great job answering all the students’ questions.
For many of these middle school students last weekend was the experience of a lifetime.

Tetzlaff student Jessica Gardner talks about her experience

On October 15, 2010, 30 students and 6 chaperones from Tetzlaff Middle School Accelerated Learning Academy were invited to stay the night on the USS Midway. The students received a personal invitation in late September to go on the trip. The Midway is a retired aircraft carrier and has served its years in the navy. It is now a museum for the public to visit. The night was full of fun activities like seeing the engine room, ready room, and flight decks to teach students about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Students spent the night in racks, beds stacked three high in a large room.
The next day everyone boarded a bus to North Island, the Naval base in San Diego. Over 50 helicopters and jets are located there. Naval officers and academy recruits were there to meet the students and explain their jobs at the base. A couple of hours later everyone successfully arrived back at Tetzlaff exhausted and full of stories to tell. “It was a unique experience for everybody that had been able to go!” declared 8th grader, Rachel Bac.

LCCN Publisher guest speaker at Cerritos Optimist Club

Cerritos Optimist Club President Jamie Hamilton presents guest speaker Los Cerritos Community News Publisher Brian Hews with Optimist cup at its Oct. 14 breakfast meeting. Hews discussed Your City Coupons a subsidiary of LCCN. He described the company as a win-win for the advertisers, local charities, and LCCN. Companies create an great offer-50% off- and put in dollar terms; $40 of food for $20, etc. Your City designs the coupons, edits a description of the company and uploads the coupon onto Your City Coupons.net website. Subscribers to Your City, and new registrants, are alerted to the deal and buy the coupon online. The advertiser receives 50% of the revenue from the coupon ($10), and LCCN gets 50%. LCCN will then donate 10% to the subscribers favorite charity that they designate on the site. The program is free to everyone, Your City only makes money when the advertiser makes money. The Optimists meet the first, second and fourth Thursday’s at 7 a.m. and the third Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Off Street Café across from Gahr High School.

CERRITOS SHERIFF’S STATION Weekly Crime Summary October 11-17, 2010

Twenty-eight Part I felony investigations were conducted by members of the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station last week, up from twenty the previous period. Robberies and commercial burglaries increased, residential burglaries remained the same, while vehicle burglaries and vehicle thefts declined. Calls for service increased by one after 273 were recorded. The 2010 weekly average in calls for service remained at 299.
There was one robbery reported. A lone gunman robbed a bank in the 11800 block of South Street on Thursday October 14 at 10:45 a.m.
There were three residential burglaries reported last week, the same as the previous week. Two windows were left open or unlocked, and a sliding glass door was pried last week. Jewelry and laptop computers were stolen. The current 2010 weekly average in residential burglaries is 2.6.
We have previously mentioned that the residential burglar will try to enter the home with the least amount of effort. Leaving doors and windows open creates that effortless opportunity. In one case last week, a second story window was left open and was used as a point of entry. Regardless of where the door or window is located, make sure that you check and secure them prior to leaving the residence.
There were three commercial burglaries reported. Two were investigated the week before. All were closed businesses last week. A glass door was shattered, a window was pried, and a rear door was forced open. Loss items consisted of laptop computers, a sump pump, and a printer. The 2010 weekly average in commercial burglaries is 2.5.
Vehicle burglaries dropped by one case when nine were reported last week. Eight occurred in high-volume commercial parking lots. Five were SUVs. Two stereo systems were taken along with third-row seats (from SUVs), purses, wallets, ID, laptop computers, Social Security cards, cell phones, and sunglasses. The 2010 weekly average in vehicle burglaries is now 7.0.
We consistently see cases involving fitness center lots. This is an unfortunate trend that we have seen develop over the past few years. Patrons do not feel comfortable using fitness center lockers, but our statistics show that rarely is a locker targeted versus the frequent number of vehicles. Take the items with you, leave them at home, or lock them in the trunk if you absolutely must have them in the car.
Vehicle thefts dropped from two to one last week. An SUV was taken from a high-volume parking lot. The 2010 weekly average in vehicle thefts is 4.5.
There was no information to suggest that the vehicle stolen was equipped with any type of anti-theft device. Transportation and parts are frequently the cause of vehicle thefts, therefore if transportation is the motive, any make or model will do. Consider a steering wheel locking device that serves as a good visual deterrent.
Go to www.safercerritos.com for an extensive library of crime prevention tips, disaster preparedness information, and a variety of links to other pertinent sites.

Cirque mechanics build a show at Cerritos

By Glen Creason

After several visits to Cirque du Soleil and other spin-offs of the animal-less circuses that proliferated in the 80’s and 90’s I kind of had my fill of the grand-scale whimsy of these performances. The multi-colored lighting, the noodling mood music, the aerial daredevilry, the oddball clowns and the obtuse presentation began to blur a bit. It’s not that they weren’t incredible and enjoyable for all ages but they ceased to enchant me as they did when I first took my kid back in the day. My whimsy-meter was on empty.
However, the unique splinter of the Cirque themes called Cirque Mechanics took over the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts at midweek and pretty much removed unnecessary whimsy and replaced it with down home acrobatics. All this amongst a backdrop that is as relatively plain as the 1860’s gold mining camp they call Boom Town in this show. It’s not really a redneck circus or some bowl of corny camp as you might suspect from the lobby cards. Instead the review presents a mixture of clowning, exuberant acrobatics and some amazing machinery that gives the tricks an extra dimension. The troupe is smaller and the sets simpler but the ability and charm of the performers pans out as pure gold in this show.
There are three main components to the show and they are evenly spread out over the ninety-minute experience that is lots of fun for those on both sides of the footlights. There are stunts that involve juggling and balancing tricks that raise pulses including one heady segment that involved drawers and corn liquor jugs stacked four high.
Charlotte Greenblatt balanced on four raised lozenges with strength that would be admired in any weight room and also performed as a ballerina on a raised platform.
Elena Day was the clown in residence and several of her routines brought genuine horselaughs and added much needed comic relief after spine-tingling acrobatics. She also ventured into the crowd and took a poor unsuspecting civilian up on stage used him as a prop, albeit good-naturedly.
Those same acrobatics formed the core of the show and were absolutely wonderful throughout. The really great ingredient to the carefree aerial hi-jinks was the obvious joy of the performers including Timber Brown, Kerren McKenna and Lindsey Orton-Hines who literally and figuratively made it look easy.
I can assure you it was not when you consider some of these maneuvers took place twenty or thirty feet above the stage and without any safety apparatus in sight.
They bounded repeatedly off of trampolines centered on ore carts, climbed ropes to the ceiling using mostly their feet and swung with precision near the top of the stage. T
he highlight of the acrobatics was the duel wonders of an upside down bicycle control of a moving trapeze that swung young ladies out over the orchestra seats where the crowd stared upward with mouths agape.

ASK THE DOCTOR- What are Cataracts and how common are they?

Cataracts are a common eye condition that affects more than half of Americans over the age of 65. Fortunately, cataracts can be surgically treated by removing the clouded lens of the eye and replacing it with a clear, artificial lens.

What are the symptoms and how and how do I know if I need surgery?
Cataracts may not be noticeable in their earliest stages, but as they progress, vision will become more blurred and reduced. Symptoms of cataracts also include brown-tinted vision, halos around objects, poor night vision, double vision, glare around lights and colors that appear faded. Cataract surgery may be recommended when you are no longer able to see well enough to perform daily activities or if cataracts interfere with treatment for another eye problem, such as macular degeneration (loss of central vision) or diabetic retinopathy (damage to the retina caused by complications of diabetes). You do not have to make the decision to have cataract surgery immediately. Delaying the procedure typically will not result in long-term damage to the eye or make the operation more complicated.

What can I expect during the procedure?
Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the United States. Approximately 90 percent of people who undergo the operation report an improvement in their vision later2. Surgery is done one eye at a time if cataracts are in both eyes, usually about one to two months apart to give the first eye time to heal.
Cataract surgery lasts about one hour and is typically performed on an outpatient basis. Prior to the procedure, eye drops are placed in the eye to dilate the pupil and a local anesthetic is used to numb the area around the eye. A sedative may be given to help you relax. There are two types of cataract surgery, phacoemulsification and extracapsular surgery.

What is phacoemulsification?
Phacoemulsification involves making a small incision on the side of the cornea. A tiny ultrasound probe is then inserted into the eye that emits ultrasound waves to break up the lens, the fragments of which are removed by suction. A less often performed operation called extracapsular surgery requires making a longer incision on the side of the cornea and removing the hard center of the lens in one piece. In both procedures, the very back of the lens is left in place to help position the new artificial lens. The implant, called an intraocular lens, is made of acrylic, plastic or silicone. It becomes a permanent part of the eye and will not require additional care. You will not be able to feel or see the new lens.

How is the recovery?
Although you can expect your vision to start improving within a few days after surgery, complete recovery usually takes about eight weeks. You may feel some itching and mild discomfort for a few days after the procedure, but it is important to avoid rubbing or pressing on your eye. You may use eyedrops to prevent infection, lessen inflammation and control eye pressure.
Ask the Doctor is provided by Lakewood Regional Medical Center. For a referral to a doctor or for information about free community events, please call 1-800-813-4345 or go to lakewoodregional.com

ASK THE DENTIST-Dr. Urban on Today’s Dentistry- Oral Bleeding

As a dentist I have always been curious why more people are not alarmed when they see blood in their mouth. I suppose it is because most oral bleeding is painless and momentary. Oral bleeding is out of sight and out of mind.
Oral bleeding can be caused by trauma or disease. Traumatic sores are noticeable and usually heal within a few days. These include cheek biting, lip biting, and scuffing of the oral lining from hard foods. Cheek biting that occurs over and over can be corrected by your dentist with minor alterations to offending teeth that catch the cheek and lip. Habitual gnawing on the cheek can create a fibrous bump that frequently gets caught up between the teeth. This bump should be removed by your dentist.
Oral bleeding from gum disease usually does not hurt and sometimes gets minimized. It is a serious sign of trouble. It seems odd that bleeding from the skin, ears, nose, stomach, and intestines raises alarm signals whereas oral bleeding goes unnoticed and sometimes undetected.
As I have mentioned in previous articles your dentist will exam your mouth for dental decay, gum disease and other abnormalities in the soft tissue, tooth alignment, jaw function, erosion, abrasion and attrition. Even with all our technological improvements with identifying gum disease it still remains that bleeding is the number one indicator for activity level for this problem.
Bleeding is caused by harmful bacteria invading the space between the gums and teeth. The body’s immune response will try to stop the invasion and swelling of the gums that is occurring. This “battlefield” will leak blood upon gentle probing, flossing, and brushing. As blood leaks out bacteria leak into the blood system and circulate around the body. The body’s immune system will generally take care of the invaders. However, if a person has a compromised immune system and is not healthy these bacteria can invade other vital organs. The inflammatory load on the body is increased and other inflammatory related diseases can be affected.
I would advise that we look at any bleeding as a portal of entry into our body by invading organisms. That especially includes oral bleeding. The mouth is very exposed to bacteria, viruses, fungus, and molds. Fortunately, the mouth is protected by our immune system and has proven to be very forgiving. Yet the oral immune system can be overcome by bad habits. Ignoring warning signs, like bleeding, is not advised. Consult with your dentist if you are aware of bleeding when brushing and flossing. Ask your dental hygienist if they can detect any bleeding sites that could be serious.
For answers to your dental questions, contact Douglas Urban, D.D.S.Cerritos, CA 90703 562 924-1523 www.DrDouglasUrban.com

Gahr still continues losing streak within city of Downey

Gahr senior wide receiver Josh Perkins goes up high to haul in one of his six receptions in last Friday night's San Gabriel Valley League opener at Downey. Photo By Tom Meyers, H-Mphoto.Net.


SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
LEAGUE FOOTBALL



By Loren Kopff

DOWNEY-At times, Gahr’s offense was running as usual in its San Gabriel Valley League opener last Friday night at Downey. But the real story of the game, and what eventually hurt the Gladiators all night long, was the turnover factor.
Senior quarterback D.J. Lopez threw four interceptions and Gahr fumbled three times as the Vikings scored all three of their second half touchdowns off of Gahr turnovers to erase an early 10-point deficit and knock off the Gladiators 42-23. Gahr’s high octane offense was held to almost 26 points below its season average as the team dropped to 3-3 overall.
“Just like the Kennedy game, we turn the ball over,” said Gahr head coach Greg Marshall. “You can’t overcome that many turnovers. We didn’t do anything to win the football game.”
Gahr struck first when sophomore Isaiah Soto booted a 34-yard field goal just 1:10 into the game. But the Vikings, like the other league opponents, ran through and around the Gahr defense, led by Kyle Lewis. He picked up 69 yards on four carries on Downey’s first possession, the final 24 resulting in a touchdown. But when Alex Salinas was wide right on a 36-yard field goal attempt, Lopez immediately found junior wide receiver Delshawn McClellon over the middle on the very next play and 80 yards later the Gladiators had reclaimed the lead.
Those two would hook up again with 59 seconds left in the first quarter, this time for a 77-yard connection. Gahr had five first quarter possessions lasting a total of 3:10 but scored three times with Lopez picked off twice. In fact, Lopez was five of 10 for 205 yards in the stanza but was held to193 yards the rest of the game.
While Gahr was struggling to move the ball downfield in the second quarter, the Vikings took a page out of the Gahr playbook and scored twice on touchdown passes as Dallas Lopez found Isaac Dan for 11 and 45-yard strikes to give the hosts the lead for good with 5:03 left in the half. On top of the turnovers, Lopez wasn’t getting much help from the offensive line as he was sacked 10 times in the game for losses totaling 68 yards. Gahr’s running game would be non-existent as two other players combined to rush two times for minus seven yards.
“We didn’t run the ball as much as we thought we should,” Marshall said. “I thought we were losing some physical battles there. Some of the things they were doing made it real hard for us to [run]. You have to give [Downey] credit.”
The third interception of the night led to a Lewis 40-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, giving the Vikings a 28-17 lead. Then the game turned sloppy early in the fourth when both teams combined for three turnovers on successive plays in a span of 20 seconds. But with the Gahr offense finding tough times to score, McClellon gave his team some hope when he returned a punt 72 yards for a score down the left sideline with 5:16 remaining in the game. The two-point conversion would fail and the Gladiators would gain six positive yards the rest of the way. Lewis, who ran for 240 yards on 27 carries, scored the final two touchdowns of the game as Downey’s offense torched the Gahr defense for 467 yards.
For Gahr, Lopez finished completing 21 passes in 38 attempts for 398 yards but never completed more than three consecutive passes at any time.
“He was holding onto the ball a little bit and made some bad decisions,” Marshall said of his signal caller. “That kind of goes with throwing the interceptions. The ball should have been gone and it wasn’t gone.
“You can’t really calm him down,” Marshall added. “You just hope that the game slows down enough for him so he can make better decisions. I think Downey and Warren do a good job of mixing their coverages against us.”
McClellon caught eight passes for 206 yards while senior wide receiver Josh Perkins hauled in six passes for 87 yards. Gahr has now lost at least five straight games at Allen Layne Stadium and has fallen to Downey in at least eight of the last nine seasons. In addition, Gahr has also not won at Warren, the other school in the city of Downey, in at least four tries.
“We don’t play well on this turf,” Marshall said. “I’m telling you, I don’t like coming here and I don’t like playing on this stuff.”
The Gladiators hosted Dominguez on Oct. 21 in virtually a must-win situation. With the new makeup of the Western Division, the league is now taking two automatic qualifiers instead of three. Falling to 0-2 to begin the league slate would be tough for Gahr to overcome if it is to automatically advance to the playoffs instead of waiting to see it gets in as an at-large team.
“They weren’t more physical than us,” Marshall said of Downey. “The things that can be fixed are easy to fix. If it was something like where we’re getting blown away and we’re not hurting ourselves, then you have problems.”


SUBURBAN LEAGUE