Wednesday was busy with a number of local stories hitting various local media. Here is
Los Al American Legion inundated after requests for Maui aid supplies; seeks help for supply transportation; Young girl raises $1g for Maui at Rossmoor festival
The Los Al American Legion Post 716 has been collecting necessary emergency items to help the victims of the devastating fires therein Maui. Already the response has been so overwhelming that the items are filling up the post. According to an article in Wednesday’s Event-NewsEnterprise, Post commander James Eubanks noted the post was inundated and is now looking for transportation assistance. If you can provide assistance reach out to pdc.eubanks@yahoo.com.
Eubanks told 360.com on Wednesday afternoon, that many of the items originally requested have been put on hold. “What is being taken is Baby and Adult Diapers, formula and I’m betting they can use some Ensure for the elderly as well as personal hygiene items. Monetary donations are also requested in the form of checks made out to American Legion Dept. of CA. (put Maui fire on the note line) or gift cards. Any of the above can be dropped off at the Post and we will forward it to Maui or Department.”
The Los Al POst 716 Legion location is 3252 Florista Ave, Los Alamitos, CA. 90720. If there is no officer present, donors can drop it in the restaurant/social quarters. the Post is open from 1pm to 11pm daily”
* * *
On a smaller but no less impressive scale, young Sienna Prado thought something needed to be done, so she set up a table at last Saturday’s Rossmoor Family Festival, selling Aloha wristbands to benefit Maui victims. She raised $1,000.
Los Al resident Kiele Kasiano spent many days of her childhood in Lahaina, where her grandfather and father grew up. Kasiano was “devastated” when she heard her grandparents’ home in Lahaina — where her father and siblings grew up — was completely burned. Kasiano’s family members were safe, but many have been displaced, she said, and getting a hold of them has been challenging. Kasiano has been collecting donations — tarps, tents, canned goods, bottles of water and more — to with her hālau dance group, Halau Hula Lani Ola in Laguna Hills. She’s been going to the ILWU Memorial Hall in Wilmington almost daily to drop items off and put the shipping containers together with fellow volunteers.
Los Al Council to vote on ALUC
After several months of contentious debate, the Los Alamitos City Council has agreed to take a final vote in August on whether to overrule an aviation advisory panel that has concluded that proposed sites within the city’s approved housing element are “inconsistent” with the land use plan of the city’s military base.
At issue are noise standards and other criteria that could threaten the validity of the city’s approved housing element, which could be decertified, placed at the mercy of the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) or even the state’s Housing and Community Development agency if the finding is not overruled by the Council.
Solar Project Expected to provide all energy at base
A solar project expected to generate 100% of the power needed at the Joint Force Training Base Los Alamitos has powered up and will also provide juice to nearby cities, according an article in today’s OC Register.
The completion of the nearly 100-acre project, developed by Arizona-based Bright Canyon Energy, was celebrated at the 1,300-acre Army base on Friday, Aug. 10. BCE, which partnered with local power utility companies, paid for the installation of the solar panels and will get a percentage of the revenue from selling the renewable energy to local communities.
AMERITOCRACY: Troy Edgar’s new podcast features interviews with “Mister B,” Kenny Brandyberry, and Meat Company’s Kirk Cartozian
Former Los Alamitos City Councilman Troy Edgar has started a podcast, “Ameritocracy,” showcasing and celebrating the best of America in his own experience. In one of his later episodes, highlighted on the brand new American Legion Post 716 website, Edgar talks to longtime Los Alamitos restaurateur, Kenny Brandyberry. The legendary local restaurant/bar owner turned philanthropist and Edgar discuss Kenny’s “meet them at the door” philosophy, knowing your customers, respect, and how to turn everything you touch into gold. Kenny also talks about the responsibility of success, which is caring for people and giving back to your community.
In other episodes Edgar spoke with Kirk Cartozian, who manages Cartozian Real Estate and is CEO of Tequila Mandala. His brother Craig, of Rossmoor, is COO of both companies, and a co-owner of the Meat Company. Kirk is a former Downey Mayor and Councilmember, and has played an integral part in the restaurant expansions of Porto’s Bakery and the Gaucho Grill, among others.
Rise in local Covid cases, but no current increase in hospitalizations
The OC Health Care Agency (HCA), noted that the percentage of positive Covid 19 cases has increased over the past month but hospitals are not experiencing an increase in admissoions fpor Covid.
The OCHCA’s press release, published in Wednesday’s Event-News Enterprise, noted that “The OHCA’s Communicable Disease Control Division is reporting an increase in the percentage of positive COVID-19 PCR tests in Orange County residents over the past month. To minimize the severity of the recent increase, the HCA is reminding residents to take preventative actions to reduce the risk of severe illness or hospitalization.
The recent increase resembles previous seasons where the disease activity rises during both the summer and winter months. Additionally, the age distribution of recent cases follows the pattern seen over the past year with the highest rates occurring among those 0-3 years of age and 75 years and older. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are not currently experiencing an increase.”
The complete press release can be read here.
