www.FountainValleyMagazine.net publisher@FVLM.com
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Ih ad a couple semesters of German in college. Most of it has faded over time, but I do recall one odd phrase. “Funkelnagelneu” is the German equivalent of “Brand Spanking New.” Seems everyone has a desire for the new, the different, the unexpected.
For most people, January represents the start of a new year. We hold parties and parades celebrating its beginning. But for parents of school-age kids, the ninth month is the start of the year. For families with “littles,” September means new backpacks, lunch pails, teachers, classrooms and friends. For those with “olders,” it’s a new school, carpool, dating, driving, frst job and planning for college.
As a result, our September issue is overfowing with updates on Fountain Valley’s schools. Marley Green wrote our cover profle on Matt Ploski, the new principal at Newland Elementary. Todd Nirk, the new principal of Los Amigos High School, shared an article on LAHS’s new football feld and track, which will begin hosting night games this fall. Fulton librarian Karlyna Macey lets families know what to expect from middle school libraries.
Minnie Dao gives us a recap of several FV soccer players whose club team competed in Portugal’s Iber Cup. Avery Hoang tells readers about the “takeover” of a Fountain Valley Kiwanis meeting by the La Quinta High School KIWIN’S Club. And, FVHS parent Lisa Diecidue wrote a profle of the school’s new band director, Jackson Lai.
Finally, Curt Seeden has all the information you need regarding this year’s Hyundai Hope on Wheels 5K, which has awarded grants totaling more than $225 million to help fght pediatric cancer.
No matter when your year begins or what you call it, we hope it’s a good one.
S
2023 ADVISORY BOARD (VOLUNTEER)
CURT and LYNN SEEDEN, FOUNDERS OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY LIVING MAGAZINE SUSAN SAURASTRI, REALTOR, SEVEN GABLES REAL ESTATE DAVID TRUONG, OWNER, MIMI’S JEWELRY
LARRY CRANDALL , FORMER MAYOR
SANDRA CRANDALL , TRUSTEE, FOUNTAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
JOHN ETHERIDGE , OWNER, SEASHORE PEST CONTROL
FOUNTAIN VALLEY LIVING MAGAZINE IS PRIVATELY OWNED BY
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Fountain Valley Living Magazine is mailed free each month to all homes and businesses in 92708 (no P.O. boxes). Additional copies are placed on countertops throughout the community. Total monthly distribution is 25,000 each issue (21,641 mailed and 3,359 countertop), for a total distribution of 300,000 copies per year. The publication is funded by advertising, patrons and fundraisers.
After finishing college, Matt Ploski wanted to travel. Twenty-one years later, his postgraduate wanderlust has sparked a butterfly effect over the course of his life that has led him to the community at Newland Elementary School as their new principal.
When he traveled to Japan as a new graduate and realized he wanted to stay longer than planned, he took an English teaching job to support himself. Soon, he discovered
this was to be his career path.
“I just enjoyed getting those lightbulb moments and having good conversations,” Mr. Ploski said. “It just clarified for me what I wanted to do.”
Mr. Ploski is as qualified as they come. He spent 11 years as an assistant principal at Talbert and Masuda middle schools. Prior to his administration career, he worked as a resource specialist (RSP) at Masuda, working with and advocating for students in special education, which he said prepared him differently than a general education teaching
job may have.
In addition to delivering curricula each day, an RSP works with not just the students assigned to their caseload, but alongside everyone else surrounding each student who helps them to become the best versions of themselves.
“You work with other teachers that those students might have, you work with administrators, and you work with the parents,” Mr. Ploski said. “You work within the system.”
Above all, Mr. Ploski has passion and dedication to the culture at Newland Elementary School. Last school year, he spent a few weeks in
December as interim principal and got to know the staff, students and parents.
“I can’t even begin to describe how great the school is, and I’m just really excited to be a part of it,” Ploski said. “I’m also going to learn a lot from the folks here because they have pretty outstanding scores academically.”
Given he has a special education background, he is particularly admiring of Newland Elementary’s integration of the special education and general education student body and staff, calling it “exemplary.”
Mr. Ploski also noted that he understands what a principal can mean to students, especially those of elementary school age. He recalls talking to his own children about their principals when they were in elementary school.
“Any time the principal stopped by
the classroom, I would know about it at dinner,” Mr. Ploski said. “If the principal gave them a high fve or remembered their name, it was a huge deal for them. I totally understand and welcome that responsibility.”
Fountain Valley, he added, is not only a nice place to live—it is a nice place to work. He said the school
district is supportive and collaborative, and the general community is tight knit.
“It’s a small-town feel in this hubbub, crazy part of the world,” Mr. Ploski said. “Super populated and super urban, but it doesn’t feel that way here. It just feels kind of old school in some ways—in good ways.”
Mr. Ploski helping the PAL kids from Masuda run Math Night at Cox Elementary. Photo Provided
Sandi and Paul Licata visited Zurich, Switzerland this Spring with their extended family. Shown here are their daughters Andrea and Julie, with husbands Ryan and Jonathan, and 2-year-old grandson Charlie.
Sandi says her family loved “the cobblestone streets, centuries-old buildings, church bells ringing and unique experiences. The beautiful countryside of mountains with rushing streams and waterfalls on the Bernina Express train from Switzerland into Italy were amazing.”
Find the solution on page 27.
Locals may have heard of Southern Tire Mart because of the automobile maintenance and tire shop’s wide selection and knowledgeable technicians. What they are perhaps best known for, however, is their consistency and dedication to going the extra mile for clients.
One such client is Kerry Snyder, a longtime employee at Elwyn California, a nonprofit organization that provides occupational assistance to adults with disabilities. The Fountain Valley location previously located on the same street as Southern Tire Mart has closed, but Snyder
still calls manager Pat Tucker a “large part of [Elwyn’s] success.”
A significant part of Elwyn’s services is driving disabled clients to day jobs across Orange County. Every so often—and especially postCOVID, Snyder said—their vehicles needed maintenance. Elwyn’s clients affectionately referred to Tucker as “the van guy.”
“I could not rave enough about Pat and his excellent care for people and vehicles,” Snyder said. “He knows exactly what is going on with each sound a vehicle makes and [where] the wear and tear comes from. He’s got you covered bumper to bumper.”
It is fitting that the company originated in Columbus, MS—its
southern hospitality feel is at the forefront of nearly all reviews and customer testimonials.
In addition to the local, hospitable feel, Southern Tire has made efforts to maximize sustainability in recent years. By retreading used tires rather than sending them to a landfill, they decreased their tire waste by 54 million pounds in 2022, company officials said.
The Fountain Valley Southern Tire Mart location has only been in operation for a little less than two years, but through its reputation for sustainability and excellent service, the company has made its mark on the community.
Southern Tire Mart is at 18203 Mt. Baldy Circle.
By CURT SEEDEN Fountain Valley Living Magazine
Since 1998 Fountain Valley-based Hyundai Motor America and its dealers have worked tirelessly to support families, researchers, doctors and children impacted by childhood cancer.
To date, Hyundai’s nonproft arm, Hyundai Hope On Wheels, has awarded grants totaling more than $225 million to help kids fght cancer. The goals of the organization are to fund research and to create awareness for childhood cancer.
This year’s Hyundai Hope On Wheels 5K Run/Walk event is set for
Saturday, Sept. 30. Activities get under way the night before with bounce houses, prizes and more.
Hyundai Hope On Wheels is a 501(c)(3) nonproft organization that awards grants to various children’s oncology group member institutions, including Children’s Hospital of Orange County and other local children’s hospitals. In 2023, for Hyundai Hope On Wheel’s 25th anniversary, $25 million in pediatric cancer research grants will be awarded to hospitals across the United States.
There are three options for this year’s Hyundai Hope On Wheels participants:
the certifed 5K Run/Walk, a Virtual 5K, and a Color Fun Run.
Every race entry fee directly benefts Hyundai Hope On Wheels and local nonprofts charities serving Fountain Valley. Races take participants through both Fountain Valley Sports Park and Mile Square Regional Park. All race participants receive a race shirt, medal, fnish line photo, fnish line video, and access to the post-race expo area.
This year, nonprofts that are either based in Fountain Valley or that serve Fountain Valley can receive a portion of the event proceeds by entering a team of at least 10 members.
Organizers say it’s a great way to promote team bonding, have fun, and beneft your organization while helping fund childhood cancer research.
“Hyundai Motor America is just an amazing community partner,” said city Community Services Director Rob Frizzelle. “The collaboration between the city, the FV Community Foundation and Hyundai supports our community, our community groups and nonprofts through a single event.”
Hyundai Motor America gives $100,000 to the community, $25,000 of which goes toward staging the race and another $25,000 going to the Community Foundation, which, in turn, uses the money to help fund various grants,
Frizzelle said.
You may be asking, “What’s a Color Fun Run?”
In this race, participants start the run wearing white T-shirts, but by the end of the run they are covered in color thanks to volunteers at stations along the course who throw color powder on them as they run by.
Frizzelle explains: “This is a race where you will be timed, but that’s not the goal. It’s about how much color and how dirty you get on the track.”
The Color Fun Run is staged immediately after the 5K event.
The Virtual 5K is an opportunity for Hyundai and its network of dealers and supporters to participate
remotely.
Register before Sept. 20 to guarantee your race shirt. Register for both the 5K Run and the Color Fun Run and receive the Color Fun Run for only $10. That is only $40 for both races.
To register your team or nonproft, email fvrecreation@fountainvalley. org with your team name, and contact name and email.
To register as an individual, go to runsignup.com, click on "Find a Race" at the top, and type in "Hyundai" to fnd the registration page.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Information can be found on the website above or by emailing fvrecreation@fountainvalley.org
By Todd Nirk Los Amigos Principal
Though there was no contest played, Los Amigos High School celebrated an historic victory on the afternoon of Monday, Aug. 7.
With excited athletes and parents in the stands, Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) Board of Education Trustee Bob Harden and Superintendent Dr. Gabriela Mafi led a ribbon-cutting ceremony ushering in the addition of a nine-lane, all-weather track and synthetic turf field on campus.
The facility also boasts new LED energy-efficient lighting, new
long-jump and triple-jump pits, and five-tier bleachers.
Eager to take the field, Los Amigos athletes gathered outside the track at the 50 yard-line to hear the inspirational words of trustee Harden and Dr. Mafi, who praised the efforts of the community in facilitating the project and noted the substantial difference the upgrades will make to the athletic programs at Los Amigos.
“The athletic programs at Los Amigos generate school pride and enhance the high school experience for hundreds of students each year,” said Harden said. “We know that having modern facilities for our
athletes makes a difference. The new track and field provide a remarkable setting for our athletes to compete and to win, and we know our athletes will give their all to both of those things.”
Last year, Los Amigos fans celebrated CIF league championships in baseball, boys and girls water polo, football, and boys soccer. Softball also had an exceptional season, advancing into the second round of CIF playoffs.
Construction of Los Amigos’ facility began in the fall of 2022 with the help of Measure P, a $311 million bond that was approved by Garden Grove School District voters in 2016.
For Los Amigos, the field has opened up unlimited opportunities. Typically Los Amigos plays home football games at Garden Grove High School but plans were already underway to play the first on-site varsity home game against San Bernardino High School on Thursday, Aug 24.
MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center is honored to be named among the top 5.9% of all California acute-care hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. For nearly three decades, we have provided some of the most advanced technology and medical expertise to our community. With renowned specialists and our steadfast commitment to providing the highest quality clinical outcomes and patient experience, Orange County residents have access to nationally recognized health care, close to home.
(714) 378-7000 memorialcare.org/OrangeCoast
In May 2022, the housing market saw a shift as the Fed raised interest rates to combat infation. We felt it. It came suddenly, without warning.
Pundits predicted a shrinking pool of homebuyers and a decline in prices. A segment of the buyer population decided to sit on the sidelines and take a wait-and-see approach. Here we are, 16 months later. The decline never took root in Fountain Valley.
The least-expensive listing on the market in Fountain Valley is $549,000 for two bedrooms, two baths and 1,030 square feet of living space, at Los Caballeros, south of Warner Avenue and east of Newhope Street.
The highest-priced home on the market in Fountain Valley has a list price of $1,870,000. It has four bedrooms, four baths, and 3,407 square feet of living space. The lot, which encompasses 8,450 square feet, is in the Greenbrook tract, north of Ellis Avenue and east of Newland Street.
Over the course of the last several months, the majority of homes that have been introduced to the Fountain Valley market have received multiple offers within the frst week. My seller clients received 17 offers on their El Costa Circle home, north of Talbert Avenue and west of Magnolia Street.
At the open house on Santa Clara Street, the listing agent, David Nixon from a Burbank brokerage frm, remarked that he couldn’t believe the non-stop activity.
I shared with him the fact that
Fountain Valley has award-winning schools and proximity to the beach and the freeway. It also has all the amenities of a larger city, but in many ways, Fountain Valley has retained the favor of a small town, with concerts and movies in the park and sports felds.
This month, I’m working with fve different buyers all wanting to purchase property in Fountain Valley. Two sets of my very well qualifed couples with pre-approved loans are vying for homes in the same price range; additionally, they are competing against many buyers who are purchasing million dollar-plus homes with all cash. Buying a home in Fountain Valley is like winning the lottery. Own one and you’re an instant millionaire.
Seven of the current active listings have had price reductions. That’s indicative of either an agent who overshot the list price in order to win the listing, or a seller suffering from a case of aspirational pricing, rather than market pricing.
Not pricing it accurately from the start shifts the balance of power from the seller to the buyer, and the seller
loses that initial furry of buyer activity that occurs when a new listing hits the market.
Sellers, be advised that when you are on the receiving end of multiple offers, the highest offer may not be your best offer. Oftentimes the offer price is a teaser. Homebuyers are tired of losing so they write a price the seller can’t resist. Accept it, open escrow and then the buyer wants to renegotiate. Be wary; if it’s too good to be true, it most likely is.
Why have home prices in Fountain Valley continued to appreciate faster than other cities in and around Orange County? There just aren’t enough homes to meet the demand of people who want to live here. Appraisers for the most part are validating the higher sale prices.
Vacant land is also at a premium in Fountain Valley. I’m currently representing a governmental agency that would like to purchase land. Please contact me directly If you or someone you know has a vacant lot and is ready to sell.
Jackson Lai is the new instrumental music director for the Fountain Valley High School Royal Regiment.
Lai has been the FVRR’s assistant director for the past two years, teaching music theory, band, orchestra and percussion.
Lai came to Fountain Valley High School in 2018, joining the music department as a percussion instructor before being promoted to assistant director. Prior to his time at FVHS, he taught percussion for 14 years at various schools around Orange County, including Ayala High School, Trabuco Hills High School and Mission Viejo High School.
During his time at Ayala High School,
the school became the Bands of America grand national fnalists and multi-time champions of the Winterguard International in the Scholastic World and Scholastic Concert World divisions.
Lai earned his bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education at Cal State University, Long Beach. He received his master’s in education and teaching credential from National University and completed his student teaching at FVHS.
Fountain Valley Royal Regiment’s fall performance season includes several state competition rounds starting Oct. 7 with its feld show at the California State Band Championships at Costa Mesa High School, as well as Oct. 14 at University High School and Nov. 18 at Huntington Beach High School.
The Royal Regiment’s Instrumental Music Winter Concert will be held Dec. 18 at FVHS and will feature both the symphonic and orchestra programs.
Fountain Valley Living Magazine is looking for Fountain Valley residents interested in writing FV people features, FV news and announcements, taking great photos, drawing cartoons and creating other quality content for publication.
If you’re interested, please contact publisher@fvlm.com
This month, Fountain Valley's Terri Simes is giving our readers the chance to fnd something unexpected....a dozen cookies from Lucky 13 Sweets & Treats!
Ten "Golden Tickets" have been placed in random copies of the September issue of Fountain Valley Living. If you fnd a golden ticket in your copy of the magazine, follow the instructions on it to claim your prize of a dozen yummy cookies from Lucky 13 Sweets & Treats courtesy of Terri Simes - Farmers Insurance.
If you see Terri around town, please thank her for her generosity and support of our community.
The Fountain Valley Woman's Club meets the second Tuesday of every month from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Mile Square Golf Course. Our next meeting is on September 12, 2023.
Any questions, please contact Laurie Schleicher at laurieschleicher@aol.com or (714) 679-7871; or Suzanne Winant at smwinant@aol.com or (714) 595-4364.
The Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold its next Chamber 101 session from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7 in the chamber offce, 10055 Slater Ave., Suite 250.
This is an opportunity to learn how to take full advantage of the chamber’s resources and make a plan to maximize chamber benefts and grow your business. Admission is free and is open to everyone. Information: (714) 962-3822.
The Fountain Valley Friends of the Library will hold a book sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 in front of the
library.
Cost is 25 cents per item. The Friends plan to set up eight – 10 tables with different types of books, including children’s, mystery, self-help, fction and non-fction.
The library is at 17635 Los Alamos St. More information: (714) 968-9196
An English as a Second Language (ESL) Crafts and Conversation Group meets from 5-6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Fountain Valley Library.
The next meeting is Sept. 20. Participants can make new friends and have fun through casual conversation, crafts, songs and games.
The event is free and open to those ages 18 and older. The library is at 17635 Los Alamos St. More information: (714) 962-1324 or go to www.ocpl.org/libraries/ fountain-valley.
The Congregate Nutritional Meal Program has returned to the Center at Founders Village Senior and Community Center.
Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at the senior center, 17967 Bushard St. Meal distribution begins at 11:30 a.m. until supplies run out or until 12:30 p.m., whichever comes frst.
A suggested donation of $3 is requested, although no one is turned away for inability to pay. Participants are required to register with Meals on Wheels onsite before receiving a meal.
For further questions, call the front desk at the Senior Center at (714) 5934446.
Fountain Valley Community Services Director Rob Frizzelle will be the guest
(AROUND TOWN, cont. on page 21)
speaker at the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce’s next FV Connect Breakfast on Sept. 28.
The breakfast is set for 8-9 a.m. at the Ayres Hotel, 17550 Brookhurst St.
Cost is $25 for chamber members and $30 for non-members. For more information, call (714) 962-3822.
Through Orange County Transportation Authority M2 funding, the city’s HOP On Senior Transportation service provides transportation service through a city contract with California Yellow Cab.
HOP On services includes round-trip transportation from Fountain Valley residents’ homes to various destinations in Fountain Valley and up to one mile outside the city.
City offcials said transportation is necessary for seniors to remain mobile to keep their social independence with friends and family and to reduce feelings
of isolation and loneliness.
The program provides curb-to-curb service on demand from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, excluding holidays. To qualify for this program, you must be a Fountain Valley resident and 60 years of age or older.
Applications can be obtained online, in person at the front desk of The Center at Founders Village, 17967 Bushard St., or
by calling the Senior Center front desk at (714) 593-4446.
The Fountain Valley School District boardroom is now live streaming regularly scheduled board meetings. The district boardroom was recently retroftted with a ceiling camera to work with existing audio technology to live-stream the meetings.
Meetings are held monthly at the district offce for anyone interested in attending in person or participating in public comment.
Agendas can be accessed online at www.fvsd.us.
The Fountain Valley Library will host “Ecos de España,” featuring dancer
look forward to
As the new school year begins, the libraries at Fountain Valley schools will soon reopen. While there are similarities between our elementary and middle school libraries, some things are done a little differently.
At Fulton, Masuda and Talbert middle schools, “class novels” are assigned by the English language arts teachers but distributed through the libraries. Students are required to read them as part of
their English grade. There are hundreds of copies of each novel, so all students have access.
Some previously assigned class novels have included “Sylvia & Aki” (sixth grade), “The Outsiders” (seventh grade), and “Inside Out and Back Again” (eighth grade).
Throughout the school year, fiction books from specific genres (mysteries or adventure novels, for example) are checked out for reports. Sometimes books for reports need to meet certain criteria set by teachers, like a minimum number
of pages, or a more recent publication date. Students really need to do their research to find books that meet these requirements.
For independent reading (or “reading for fun”), student favorites range from Manga and graphic novels to popular series like “The Land of Stories,” “Wings of Fire,” and “The Maze Runner.”
Young Adult (YA) choices by romance author Jenny Han and “The Arc of a Scythe” trilogy by Neal Shusterman are also regularly checked out.
Middle schoolers, however, still love the classics like “The Lord of the Rings” series and the modern classic, “Holes” by Louis Sachar.
Non-fiction interests include books about world countries, World War II, sports and cookbooks. And of course, non-fiction books are used for reports, especially biographies.
Middle school libraries are also great places to play board games or cards during nutrition. They’re also a great spot for book clubs and chess clubs to meet. Chess club members often prep for the annual middle school chess tournament during their meetings.
One thing all Fountain Valley school libraries do have in common is Destiny Discover. This is the online way to browse each school’s collection and even place books on hold. Students can ask their librarian how to get access, as well as any other questions about the library.
Here in Fountain Valley, your school librarians are here to help.
Susan Cole, who will present a variety of classical and famenco dances on Saturday, Sept. 23. Cole will be accompanied by Almer Imamovic, who will play classical compositions created for the Spanish guitar. The program is set for 2-3:30 p.m.
at the library, 17635 Los Alamos St. Additionally, an optional introductory castanets workshop will follow the dance presentation. Registration for both events is not required. More information: (714) 962-1324.
By CURT SEEDEN Fountain Valley Living Magazine
The Fountain Valley Rotary Club steps up year-round to support the community.
Champions of volunteerism, the Rotary Club donates its time and money to numerous charitable endeavors.
And each year, the club stages the Fountain Valley Rotary Ed Arnold Volunteer of the Year Award to honor someone in the community who goes above and beyond to give his or her time and effort to the community.
This year, the Ed Arnold Volunteer of the Year Service Award will be bestowed on former Mayor Cheryl
Brothers.
Cheryl will be honored at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at the Center at Founders Village. The service award is named for Fountain Valley resident Ed Arnold, who is well known for his work as a newscaster and television personality, and for his many volunteer efforts.
“Cheryl is a tireless volunteer,” said Marla McGee, fundraising chair for the Rotary Club. “If there is an event in our town, she is there working in some capacity.”
Cheryl is the president of the Fountain Valley Historical Society and an active member of the Friends of the Library, Fountain Valley Wom -
an’s Club, Fountain Valley Garden Club and a longtime member of the city’s Summerfest Committee.
This year’s gala will include dinner, a silent auction and the awarding of several scholarships to local youth volunteers.
Cheryl’s longtime friend, former Fountain Valley Living Magazine Publisher Lynn Seeden, will emcee the event.
Silent auction items are welcome and are due by Sept. 10.
The Center at Founders Village is at 17967 Bushard St. For more information or to sponsor this event, contact Marla McGee at (714) 394-5856 or email marlam@socal.rr.com.
On Thursday, July 20, the La Quinta High School
KIWIN’S club orchestrated a "takeover" of the Fountain Valley Kiwanis Club, seamlessly assuming the reins of the meeting and actively engaging in the club's proceedings.
Kiwanis Clubs in California, Nevada and Hawaii sponsor and mentor two high school clubs—Key Club and KIWIN’S.
At the Kiwanis meeting, KIWIN’S members shed some light on their commitment to various charitable endeavors. Notable among these is their active involvement in such impactful initiatives as Live2Learn and the Cal-Nev-Ha Children’s Fund.
They also recounted all that took place at their annual KIWIN’S dis -
trict convention, commonly referred to as DCON.
The club shared its achievements over the summer months. Members completed two service events within a single month, showcased their active participation in divisional and district-wide projects, and partnered with other schools through collaborative ventures within their KIWIN’S division.
To finish off their meeting, the members staged an intellectually stimulating session of Jeopardy as a way of collecting friendly “fines” from Kiwanis Club members—a common fundraising practice during KIWIN’S and Key Club takeovers.
Those attending the meeting experienced an inspiring testament to the power of youthful dedication and community engagement.
Culture Football Club (FC), a local soccer club, created a splash at the recent 2023 Iber Cup in Estoril, Portugal.
The Iber Cup is one of the world’s largest international youth soccer competitions, pitting elite soccer academies from around the globe against each other in high-stakes, high-level matches.
This year, four members from the Culture FC 15-year-old age group—Lauren Hyland, Makenzie Marker, Maya Marin, and Lauren Recalde—represented Fountain Valley at the Iber Cup. The girls were teammates with American, Spanish and Portuguese players, guided by two Spanish elite coaches from the local football club, Promesas del Norte.
“I love my teammates and will always be grateful to them for helping me develop my love for the game and for making soccer fun, exciting and challenging,” said Lauren Recalde, an incoming freshman at Fountain Valley High School.
“It’s all part of the experience,” was the frequently echoed sentiment shared by the Culture FC coaches to the players throughout the team’s time abroad. As a result, Recalde and her teammates were motivated to not only delve into this new terrain with a positive outlook but to also appreciate every aspect of the trip.
Maya Marin, an incoming junior at FVHS, refected upon her time in Esto-
ril: “Playing in the Iber Cup was a oncein-a-lifetime experience. The enthusiasm and spirit I felt playing with the girls from Spain and Portugal was one of my favorite parts. The genuine joy for the sport of fútbol was incredible!”
Through this competition, the girls were given an opportunity for a cross-cultural exchange of skills and they fostered new connections and friendships, all on a feld where the shared passion for the sport never seems to fade.
As Makenzie Marker, a junior at Fountain Valley High School, put it, “Seeing everyone being able to connect and build strong team chemistry was really cool.”
Together, fueled by their dedicated training, the team won all six of its matches and ultimately secured victory in the championship game. In addition to the girls' team, Culture FC’s boys' teams also traveled to Portugal to participate in the 2023 Iber Cup, reaching the semifnals, and establishing Culture FC on the global stage.
FOUNTAIN
Albertsons Grocery Store
Brookhurst and Ellis
Alex A. Accetta, CPA & Assoc.
8840 Warner Ave., Suite 204
Chamber of Commerce
10055 Slater Ave., Suite 250
Denny's Restaurant
16205 Brookhurst St. (at Edinger)
Edinger Medical Center
9900 Talbert Ave. (next to Orange
Coast Memorial Medical Center)
Lamppost Pizza
10130 Warner Ave. (east of Brookhurst)
Mimi’s Jewelry
18591 Brookhurst St. (by Albertsons)
Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center
9920 Talbert Ave. (at Brookhurst)
UPS Store
18627 Brookhurst St. (by Islands)
Yong’s Donuts
18054 Magnolia St. (at Talbert)
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
City Hall lobby
10200 Slater Ave.
FV Branch Library lobby
17635 Los Alamos St. (by City Hall)
FV Police Department lobby
10200 Slater Ave.
FV Recreation Center
16400 Brookhurst St. (at Heil)
The Center at Founders Village
(Senior Center lobby)
17967 Bushard St. (at Talbert)
