Even though school was out, it was still very busy in the area. Some camps have started, many more start next week. Current Griffins excelled in chemistry, and Griffin alumni made news in the NBA and international volleyball. So let’s get to it.
From this week’s Event-News-Enterprise…
Although he has been on the job for a few months now, Los Al Police Chief Michael Claborn was officially sworn in as the city’s new police chief before an overflow crowd of friends, supporters and fellow law enforcement officers.
Education writer Jeannette Andruss profiles four Los Al AP Chemistry Students who finished in fifth place at the American Chemistry Society’s annual Exam competition. The four are sophomores Juan Carrion, Gabriel Mee, Zachary Zonni and Katelyn Ngo. Packed with 30 tough questions about chemistry, the exam is described as “brutal” by their AP Chem teacher, Timothy Jones. Andruss also writes about the still not certified recent elections — in particular the OC Board of Education races and where Rossmoor resident Mari Barke holds a comfortable lead in her bid to be re-elected for the District 2 position.
Over in Cypress land, that city was served with a second letter claiming Cypress is in violation of the state’s voting rights laws. And tensions between City Council member Frances Marquez and her other four city council members didn’t improve as she was censured by a 4-1 vote at a hastily called meeting on Friday, June 10.
And for those who want a complete list of 2022 Los Al HS grads, here you go.
In Thursday’s Sun…
- a profile of local music teaching legend Chuck Wackerman.
- the new Seal Beach Historical Resources Foundation’s receipt of official non-profit status, and its first physical donation. (It has already received many digital documents, files and photos)
- Budget challenges in the upcoming Seal Beach city budget.
- The City Council formally announced the Fall 2022 Election — with nominations to open from July 18 to August 12.
Around Los Al
Los Al hosted another successful Coffee With a Cop on Wednesday — this time in front of the Doh-nut Hut. A multi-tasking event — Promoting local business and community policing at the same time.
Ramblings in Rossmoor
It was a big week for Rossmoor. Last Saturday marked the first of four Family Festivals this summer. Stoned Soul kept the crowd entertained. The popular King Salmon returns for the July 9 festival.
Mid-week marked the monthly meeting of the RCSD Board of Directors. For those who need a quick dose of local government, the meeting can be be viewed on YouTube or on your TV set through the Our Los Al TV streaming app. (Download at Roku, Amazon prime, or Apple TV.) And if you really need some serious Rossmoor government juice, click here to download a PDF copy of the proposed Orange County budget.
Rossmoor then finished the week strong on Wednesday with its Monthly Blood Drive at Rush Park, then another successful Farmers market on Thursday and Family Film night last night.
SPORTS: Five Griffins earn all-county honors
Five Los Al Griffins were named to all-county teams announced by the OC Register this week. Three were from softball, led by Taylor Johnson, who was named to the first team. Johnson, a senior who is headed for San Diego. batted a team-high .433 with five home runs and 26 RBIs. Named to the second team were senior pitcher Sydney Saldana, and junior infielder Giselle Alvarez.
Josh Donegan, a junior pitcher for Los Al, was named to the OC Register’s second team All Orange County Baseball squad.
And the Register also a Griffin on its first team all-county Boys Lacrosse squad — and that would be senior attacker Drew Anderson.
CIF Executive Director Rob Wigod released his annual end-of-the-school-year message — with two big takeaways. Unlike the previous Covid-impacted years, 2021-22 finished the year with regular seasons and championships in every sport. And then thanks to the State’s budget surplus, the State CIF arranged for a grant from the state so all fees for next year are being waived.
ALUMNI: Landry Fields named General Manager of Atlanta hawks
Some Los Al Griffin sports alumni are in the news. Landry Fields, who led the Griffins to the CIF Basketball title in 2006 (and a Rossmoor homeowner until just a couple years ago), has been announced as the new General Manager of the Atlanta Hawks.
And Justine Wong-Orantes is again the starting libero for the US Women’s Volleyball National team. J-WO, the outstanding libero at last year’s Olympic Games, was one of five American gold medalists called up to play in the second round of the Volleyball Nations League currently happening in the Phillipines and Turkey. Wong-Orantes had 11 digs as the US swept China, its third win this week. The top eight teams will qualify for the single-elimination quarterfinals July 13 in Ankara, Turkey.
New Video at the Our Los AL TV streaming channel
Yes, you can watch these on your computer via YouTube, but you can also watch them on your TV set via the OUR Los Al TV streaming app – download it at Roku, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV.
- Los Al School District Weekly Wrap (June 3)
- Los Al HS Graduation, June 10
- Los Alamitos City Council – Special Budget session – June 13
- RCSD Board Meeting – June 14
- The Los Alamitos School Board meeting and workshop – June 14
