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.

SUBURBAN LEAGUE SOFTBALL: Artesia once again victim of big scoring inning, crushed by Cerritos

By Loren Kopff

Suburban League victories are hard to come by for Artesia’s softball program but one can’t fault the Pioneers for trying, or even staying in the game in the early innings. Although the Pioneers were no match for Cerritos in a 13-1 defeat this past Wednesday, it was quite interesting for the first two innings.
The Lady Dons scratched across only three runs during the first two frames and got just two hits off of senior pitcher Chelsea Small. But in the bottom of the third, Cerritos (14-6 overall, 7-2 in league action) sent 15 batters to the plate and scored nine runs. It marked the third time in seven league games that the Pioneers were within striking range before the fourth inning.
On Mar. 30, Artesia trailed Norwalk 3-2 heading into the fourth before losing 6-2. On Apr. 13, a 4-0 Glenn lead after three innings resulted in a 7-1 win and two days later, the Pioneers squandered a 5-2 lead after five innings. The Lady Eagles scored seven runs in the top of the sixth and four more in the seventh. Artesia head coach John Zamora admitted he needed to change his starting pitcher sooner when opponents were having those big innings.
But in order to score runs, the team needs to get hits and that’s something the Pioneers are having trouble with thus far. Against Cerritos sophomore Kaylilani Minami, the Pioneers got only four hits and in the last four games, Artesia has combined for 19 hits
“We’re not hitting right now,” Zamora said. “When we don’t have the pressure on the other team, it makes it very difficult to gain our confidence and have the pitcher pitch with a little more confidence.”
Minami sat down nine of the first 10 batters she faced before Small led off the fourth with a double to right field. After she moved to third on a passed ball and Minami’s sixth of 10 strikeouts, senior center fielder Reanna Guzman singled in Small.
In addition to the lack of hitting, the Pioneers (4-10, 0-7) have been plagued by errors. In the past four games, Artesia has committed 17 errors. In contrast, when the team began the season winning four of its first six games, Artesia had six miscues.
“The thing I have noticed is they are making more errors,” Zamora said. “We work on those things every day in practice. We have a mixture of girls who are young and we have [some seniors]. The senior girls are trying to battle through it and the underclassmen are trying to catch it.”
Cerritos freshman shortstop Lilianna Herrera went two for three with three runs batted in and a run scored while Minami, freshman catcher Jasmine Javier and junior third baseman Alyssa Marquez all had a pair of hits. Senior left fielder Nikki Rosenberger drove in a pair of runs and junior center fielder Sarah Smith was hit by a pitch three times, scored three runs and is now batting .625 in league action but has reached base 27 times in 35 trips to the plate.
The Pioneers will host Cerritos today, then visit Bellflower on Wednesday. As for the Lady Dons, who recently fell out of the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Division II top 10 poll, they will wrap up the regular season with a home and home series against Norwalk with the home portion on Wednesday.

Bernadette “Berni” Menezes Former Artesia First Lady and Inspirational community leader

By Randy Economy

Bernadette L. “Berni” Menezes, a well loved and long time Artesia community leader and former “First Lady” of the community has passed away after a long illness, her son Paulo announced this week. She was 67 year old.
Berni, as her friends called, lived what many called the “American Dream.”
Born Jan. 22, 1944 in a small village in Altares located on the island of Terceira-Azores, Portugal she met and fell in love with her future husband Isidro S. Menezes in 1964 and decided to move to the United States and migrated to Artesia.
Like so many other immigrants during this era, Portugal may have been her “Mother Land” but Artesia became their home when they moved here in 1966. Family was always the most important aspect of Berni’s life. In 1971 she gave birth to Paulo I. Menezes, and this was their only child.
She was a hard working woman and keeping busy and productive was never a difficult task. Her son Paulo recalls that she was “an excellent cook, loved gardening and loved my father, her family and grandchildren.”
Longtime Artesia resident Susie Gomes considered Mrs. Menezes to be like her “second mother” and she fondly recalls her positive spirit during her final days. “She was the light of our lives in so many wonderful ways,” Gomes recalled. “I have never met anyone who wanted to live life more than Berni, and her passing will be felt for a long time by everyone who she touched,” remarked Gomes.
“It was a tremendous loss for the people of Artesia. She was full of strength and hope and always optimistic about life,” said Artesia Mayor Victor Manalo. “She taught everyone about Faith in God and how important to live every minute to the fullest.”
Bernadette had struggled with much pain and many medical conditions for the past 29 years. But even with all the pain, she “never complained and never made herself the center of suffering,” Gomes remembers.
Bernadette’s life was celebrated this week with receiving full Roman Catholic burial. A Rosary was held on Wednesday night at Holy Family Catholic Church in Artesia, and Mass was conducted on Thursday morning. She was laid to rest at Our Souls Cemetery in Long Beach.
Bernadette is survived by her husband Isidro, her son Paulo, daughter in law Andrea (DeFreitas), and two grandsons Tiago, and Lucas and sister Maria Sousa.

Dr. Urban on Today’s Dentistry: A Correlation Between Oral Health and Heart Disease

Stop smoking, exercise, lose some weight, and watch your diet. How often is it that we hear these fundamentals from our doctors and drug companies when it comes to having a healthy heart? I’ll toss out another-brush your teeth and have your gums checked regularly.
Yes there is gathering evidence that heart disease is twice as high in people who have periodontal (gum and tooth supporting bone) disease. It seems that the most common bacteria in the gums may cause blood clots increasing the incidence of heart attacks and strokes. Furthermore, the same bacteria can infect the heart valves.
How do the bacteria from the mouth get into the bloodstream become harmful? Bacteria cause periodontal disease. We know there are many types of bacteria in the mouth. When the disease causing bacteria are in high enough population the host (you) may develop an immune reaction. If you have bleeding in your body you should be very concerned. Likewise when there is bleeding in the gums you should have the same response. Chronic recurring bleeding is not good anywhere. Bleeding indicates that tiny blood vessels are opened up and become a pathway for bacterial infection in the blood stream. The presence of bacteria in the blood is bacteremia and over time it may spread to other body tissues like the heart.
The first line of defense is maintaining a healthy mouth. This requires meaningful brushing, flossing, and dental checkups. The dental hygienist is your best friend. The hygienist will check to see if the gums are infected, bleeding, or swollen. Then they will check to see if any bone loss or breakdown in the gum attachment to the tooth has occurred. Remember that periodontal disease (over 50% of us have it) is painless and progressive. You may not be aware of it until the end stages of the disease.
Warning signs that you should know about include gums that bleed when you brush, gums that are red swollen or tender, gums that pull away from teeth, pus or loose teeth, front teeth that begin separating and persistent bad breath. Periodontal disease has a very characteristic odor and can be sensed by those around you. It is a complicating factor for those afflicted with diabetes, stroke, pulmonary disease, and gastric ulcers.
Treatment will vary according to the severity. The first steps will be good oral hygiene instruction and frequent monitoring. Regular cleanings of the bacteria encrusted surfaces of your teeth is a proven method to stop the destruction caused by these bugs. Surgery may be needed from the periodontist. Maintenance is required because these bugs can double in population every twenty minutes. I have seen periodontal disease that has been in remission only to suddenly (within 6 weeks) strike up again. That is why frequent monitoring is crucial.
Periodontal disease is something that you have to live with but it is controllable. Keep up with your dental checkups!

For answers to your dental questions
Douglas Urban, D.D.S.
Cerritos, CA 90703
562 924-1523
www.DrDouglasUrban.com