As one local high school mom put it, it’s cray-cray crazy time right now, between end-of-school-year events and the kickoff for many summer activities. Anyway, here are a few of them…
Grad Week Festivities in full swing
Graduation around here isn’t an event — it’s a multiday festival involving the whole community. Beginning with Baccalaureate, then the Rossmoor Grads Car Parade, Elementary Promotions and school visits by Los Al HS grads to their elementary schools, Middle School promotions, the Senior yearbook signing party at Rush Park today, culminating in the Los Al HS graduation tomorrow night — this year once again at the Santa Ana Bowl. Ceremonies begin at 6:30
But among the highlights yesterday were the Seniors returning to their Elementary classes to get high fives from future Griffins and hugs and smiles from former teachers.
Spotlight Schools
Local reporter Jeannette Andruss has released her latest weekly Spotlight School newsletter on Tuesday. You can view the complete newsletter here, but below are the bullet points.
In this week’s newsletter for June 8, 2022…
- FIRST BELL 🔔
- Orange County celebrates the graduating seniors in the class of 2022.
- SECOND BELL 🔔
- It’s Primary Election Day! 🗳 Where you can vote.
- Pride event supports local LGBTQ students.
-
District Employees Promoted to lead two Los Alamitos Unified School District Elementary schools
- Jason Farvoour takes over at Hopkinson
- Wendy Wood named new Principal at McGaugh
- EXTRA CREDIT 📌🎵
- Where to see summer concerts in O.C. 🎵
- RECESS 👏🏼
- How Weaver Elementary school’s Ambassadors are positively impacting the community.
- BOOSTER DOSE: Cheers as Stellar Speller returns to McAuliffe Campus
Read the complete newsletter here.
LOCAL ELECTIONS: Steel, Nguyen, Barke all advance. Local Assembly seat finalists still not set
The final candidates for three local elections seem set for November,’s general election but the race for the 70th State Assembly Race is very close. Garden Grove Councilwoman Diedre Nguyen, the only Democrat in a six-candidate field, has held a lead since returns first were announced Tuesday night. But three Republicans have been fighting it out for the second candidate spot. Westminster Mayor Tri Ta is in second, as of late Wednesday, followed by Westminster Councilwoman Kimberly Ho and Fountain Valley Councilman Ted Bui. But it is still too close to call.
Michelle Steel captured the Republican nod in the newly reorganized C-shaped 45th Congressional District. Steel of Seal Beach, who currently represents the district, will face Jay Chen in the November General Election. She will face Jay Chen of La Habra. Democrats hold about a three-point registration advantage but the district has a very large number of independents who more often that not lean Republican — but not always.
In the race for the 36th State Senate District, current GOP Assemblywoman Janet Nguyen’s lead over Democrat Kim Carr, a Huntington Beach council member, has grown as early votes have been tallied. Nguyen’s lead could hold through November as she has greater name recognition, a fundraising advantage over Carr and Republicans outnumber Democrats by about three points in a district that runs in the north from Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and Cypress runs down to San Clemente. It also includes part of Cerritos in Los Angeles County.
Mari Barke of Rossmoor is the leading vote-getter in the race for the Orange County Board of Education and appears to be the winner for District 2.
Up-to-date voting for Orange County totals can be viewed at ocvote.gov.
YOUTH SPORTS: Friday Night Lights host annual Tournament of Champions, largest 1-day flag football event in US
Local Photographer Dave Peeters has a new batch of photos from the recent Friday Nioght Lights Tournament of Champions, which was held on Saturday, June 4th at McAuliffe Middle School.
The largest 1-day Youth Flag Football tournament in the United States featured over 110 teams and 900 players representing 22 different FNL leagues! These were the top teams from each of the FNL leagues coming together to see who was the “best of the best”. It was an amazing day of FUN and competition with only 4 teams being crowned FNL TOC CHAMPIONS!
FNL Flag Football is open to all boys and girls in grades K-8th. The Fall Registration is currently going on with registrations taking place online at www.LosALFNL.com
Check more photos out here or visit https://www.davepeetersphoto.com/., click galleries and then football.
Rossmoor cycling crew reaches halfway point in AIDS Life/Cycle Bike Challenge from SF to LA
The Bad Hombres, a team of four cyclists representing the Cameron Siemers Foundation for Hope has reached the halfway point in their quest to finish the AIDS Life/Cycle and help raise money and awareness for AIDS research.
The members of this unit are Gaurav Soin, Scott Miller, Greg Born and Don Snyder. Their progress has been dutifully charted, photographed and exalted by Scott’s wife Denise, a familiar figure in Rossmoor and local nonprofits.
So far their ride has had them heading through rainstorms, 12-15 mile per hour headwinds, 4,817 feet of climbing and 90+ degree temperatures and up and down such terrain aptly named Quadbuster Hill, the Evil Twins, etc. We have placed all the facebook posts chronicling their journey on this separate page.
Cameron Siemers is a local who contracted AIDS when he was 2 years old via a blood transfusion and his parents were told he would be lucky to reach Age 10. Fortunately, he is now 38 and a giood part of his and his family’s time is devoted to raising money for their foundation.
You can find more about it here.
Katella Deli Re-opens new digs… for the most part
Although owner Harold Rothman has noted there is still work to be done (one example, suppliers told him there was a 55-week shipping time for some of their new coffee bar equipment, so they’re still waiting for that), Katella Deli is opening up many of their newly renovated facilities. Plans for the 2+ year renovation were revised many times due to Covid caused delays, and uncertainties on what the state might and might now allow, and that’s what led to an expanded market-style format that could be utilized under most circumstances.
As Victor Bravo noted at the Los Alamitos Community group, the new Katella has a ”
“completely new 24 seater at the bar and updated seating throughout the restaurant, they are still going through some construction with one room and patio opening up soon.
There is also a cafe, which is giving out free coffee right now for ppl to try, pizza (build your own), and a dessert area that is going to be opening up soon as well, sandwiches /pastrami super great, no happy hour yet but there will be one soon as well.”
Bravo posted some good video of the new place, and there are lots of photos being posted on other social media sites as well — including Charles Pham at the Rossmoor Community & residents group.
Coming Up…
Lots of events coming up…
Rossmoor Farmers Market features more produce etc. this afternoon and early evening at Rush Park.
Los Al Graduation is Friday at the Santa Ana Bowl. Ceremonies start at 6:30pm.
This Saturday is the first Rossmoor Family Festival of the summer. The event runs from 2pm to 8pm,. Featured band is Stone Soul and will take the stage around 5pm.
And a reminder that next Wednesday marks the monthly Rossmoor Blood Drive. Check out more events in our Community Calendar.
