Santa Fe Springs Approves Long-Awaited Fix for Valley View and Alondra Traffic Headache
Santa Fe Springs advances a $4.88 million plan to overhaul the congested Valley View and Alondra intersection, launching the construction bidding phase.
By Brian Hews
The long-planned overhaul of one of the region’s busiest intersections moved forward this week, as the Santa Fe Springs City Council approved the release of construction bid advertisements for the Valley View Avenue and Alondra Boulevard Intersection Improvement Project. The upgrade targets a high-volume chokepoint used daily by commuters from Santa Fe Springs, La Mirada and neighboring communities.
According to city documents released at the December 2 meeting, the project carried an estimated cost of $4.88 million and was funded through LA Metro’s Measure R Interstate 605 “Hot Spot” Interchanges Program. The program is designed to eliminate congestion points along freeway-adjacent arterials, and Valley View and Alondra has long been one of the most frequently cited trouble spots.
“This project represents a major step forward in improving mobility for our residents and for the surrounding region. Valley View and Alondra have been a longstanding source of daily congestion, and thanks to our partnership with LA Metro and the Measure R program, we are finally able to move this critical improvement from planning to construction. These upgrades will enhance safety, reduce travel times, and support the overall wellbeing of our community. We are proud to deliver meaningful infrastructure projects that make life easier for everyone who lives, works, and travels through Santa Fe Springs,” said Mayor Bill Rounds.
The work approved by the Council was comprehensive in all directions. Along Alondra Boulevard, construction extended both east and west of the intersection, with plans to widen the roadway, add new right-turn pockets, and build dual leftturn lanes. On Valley View Avenue, the
An
exclusive five-part LCCN investigation revealing how Central Basin Director Juan Garza turned the Cardroom Cities’ Joint Powers Authority into his own operation — and the conflicts and liabilities he engineered for himself in the process.
Part 1
A Public Agency Becomes One Man’s Operation
By Brian Hews
A Los Cerritos Community News investigation has found that Central Basin Water Director Juan Garza, who also serves as the Executive Director of the California Cities for Self-Reliance JPA (CCSR), operated the JPA’s contracting and communications pipeline through his private consulting infrastructure, using his Six Heron email, his personal cell phone, and his private Bellflower P.O. Box as the official points of contact for the public agency. These details appear in documents released by the JPA and obtained by LCCN.
Six Heron is a Bellflower-based strategic communications and governmentrelations firm operated by Garza.
CCSR is a Joint Powers Authority, a public agency created when two or more California cities, counties, or special districts agree to pool their powers and work together on shared goals. JPAs can operate much like other government bodies, but only within the authority granted by their member agencies. Because a JPA is funded
by public dollars, its operations are subject to transparency, procurement, and conflictof-interest laws.
CCSR is comprised of four member cities with local card club operations: Bell Gardens, Commerce, Compton, and Hawaiian Gardens. Its mission is to “empower communities and leadership statewide to advocate for card rooms as vital resources to cities and local services such as police, fire, schools, and transportation.” CCSR describes its work as educating and engaging the community, lobbying, communications, and legal action.
Garza’s CCSR contract shows that he earns a monthly salary of $6,744 as Executive Director and has held the position since March 2020. In addition to serving as the public face of the JPA, Garza performs its operational, communications, agenda-setting, administrative, and regulatory-contact functions.
When presented with documents outlining the communications pipeline, Garza acknowledged that his private
See DIRTY WATER, page 4 ]
Bellflower Councilman Sanchez Misrepresents Assessor Courtesy Letter and Demands LCCN Retraction
By Brian Hews
“Every political scandal begins with someone assuming no one will
Last week, Los Cerritos Community News published an investigation into Bellflower District 4 Councilman Victor Sanchez’s conflicting residency declarations, loan-occupancy filings, and the owner-occupied designation of a duplex he co-owns in District 1. The story documented discrepancies involving a recorded Deed of Trust requiring borrower occupancy, rental activity at the duplex, and Sanchez’s simultaneous claim of permanent domicile in District 4 — a requirement for holding his elected seat.
The discrepancies documented in that investigation carry significant legal and governmental implications. Bellflower’s Ordinance 1302 requires councilmembers elected by district to maintain domicile within that district at all times; submitting sworn statements that point to a principal residence outside the district can be grounds for a quo warranto challenge or a judicial determination that the seat has been vacated. These issues exist independently of any property-tax questions and were the basis of LCCN’s reporting.
Separately, under California lending laws, a recorded Deed of Trust containing an owner-occupancy covenant is a sworn representation, and conflicting statements on a loan application can trigger lender review, refinancing scrutiny, or referral to the Department of Real Estate if made by a licensed realtor.
In response to the article, Councilman Sanchez sent LCCN a letter from the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office and demanded a full retraction, insisting the letter “disproved” the investigation. But the letter — which addressed nothing more than the routine §65(b) joint-tenancy exclusion that was never in dispute — had no bearing on the loan documents, the occupancy covenant in the recorded Deed of Trust, the duplex rental, or the residency issues raised in the story. Put simply, the document he used to demand a retraction answered a question the story never asked.
The letter itself was written by a Special Assistant in the Assessor’s Public Affairs and Communications Office, the unit responsible for public information
[ See SANCHEZ, page 4 ]
Santa Fe Springs’ Whole Child Project Earns Architectural Honor
THE SANTA FE SPRINGS Safe Families Center, designed to provide interim housing and essential services for families, earned a 2025 LABC Architectural Award for its innovative design.
By Brian Hews
A Santa Fe Springs project focused on serving vulnerable families has received regional recognition, with The Whole Child’s Safe Families Interim Housing and Support Services Center named one of the winners of the Los Angeles Business Council’s 55th Architectural Awards. The project was honored in the MixedUse Project category, a distinction that highlights both its design quality and its role in addressing a growing community need.
The awards, announced this week, celebrate more than 40 projects across Los Angeles County that demonstrate innovation in architecture, sustainability, and public benefit. This year’s winners ranged from major civic facilities to private developments, but the selection of The Whole Child’s Santa Fe Springs campus stood out for its blend of social purpose and thoughtful design.
The Safe Families Center was awarded for its integrated approach to service delivery. The site combines interim housing for families experiencing homelessness with a wide range of onsite supports, including case management, mental health services, early childhood programs, and pathways to permanent housing. Architects and planners designed the campus to feel safe, calm and welcoming, with the goal of reducing trauma and helping families regain stability.
Local officials and service providers have praised the project as a strong example of how cities can use design to support vulnerable populations. The Santa Fe Springs facility has become a central resource for Southeast Los Angeles County, where family homelessness has continued to rise despite broader countywide investments.
LABC leaders said this year’s awards reflect a shift toward community-centered development, with greater attention paid to projects that serve residents who have traditionally been left out of major planning
efforts. Jurors cited the Safe Families Center as a model for how public agencies, nonprofits and architects can collaborate to create spaces that are functional, dignified and rooted in neighborhood needs.
The award also highlights the city’s ongoing partnership with The Whole Child, a nonprofit that has expanded its footprint in Santa Fe Springs over the past decade. The organization provides housing support, family wellness programs and behavioral health services across the region, with the Santa Fe Springs campus serving as one of its most visible and impactful sites.
As the homelessness crisis continues to challenge cities throughout Los Angeles County, the recognition brings attention not only to architectural excellence but to the broader question of how communities respond. The award acknowledges that well-designed facilities can play a direct role in improving outcomes for children and families, especially when combined with long-term support.
Cerritos Kicks Off Dec. with Sleigh Day and Name the Cow Contest
The holiday season is in full swing in Cerritos as the city launches a series of festive programs for families and community members. The celebration begins with Santa’s Sleigh Day at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, December 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Santa will make his grand arrival at 11:15 a.m., greeting families for photos and holiday cheer. Visitors can enjoy crafts, storytimes, carolers, live holiday music, festive games, and complimentary snacks and hot cocoa while supplies last.
The city is also encouraging residents to support local families in need. New, unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots program can be delivered to bins placed at Cerritos City Hall, Cerritos Library, the Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park, Liberty Park, Cerritos Park East, and the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station. Meanwhile, the Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree invites donors to pick up a tag at the Cerritos Senior Center listing a child’s age, clothing size, and gift wish. Donations and their corresponding tags should be returned to the Senior Center by December 12.
Voting is now underway in the City’s Name the Cow Contest, tied to the upcoming public artwork Milking Time – A Tribute to Dairy Valley. Nearly 300 name submissions were received, and the City has selected the top ten finalists: Bella Cerritos, Bessie, Callie, Cerrito, Clara, Clarabell, Henrietta the Holstein Cow, Legacy, Poe, and Thelma. Residents can vote for their favorite name at cerritos.gov/cow until January 16, 2026. The winning participant will be honored at a City Council meeting and receive City keepsakes. The sculpture series, created by nationally acclaimed artist Jane DeDecker, will depict a farmer, his children, the family dog, and the soon-to-be-named cow.
Cerritos Cheer & Song Earn National Invitations
CHAMPS! Rain or shine, the Dons delivered last weekend. Cerritos High School’s competitive Cheer and Song teams traveled to Summit High for a regional qualifying event and pushed through the weather and long day to earn major achievements. Both teams secured invitations to nationals, and the Song team took first place in its division. The school community is proud of these accomplished students as they prepare for the national stage. Great job, Dons.
The
23rd Archdiocesan Simbang Gabi
Showcases Filipino-American Christmas Tradition
By Dan E. Niño
A joyful tradition of the FilipinoAmerican community is hard to let go of, even far from the homeland. A case in point is the culturally ingrained Simbang Gabi, a devotional nine-day series of dawn Masses in anticipation of Christmas.
“This is the Philippines’ most loved tradition on display at its finest,” said Filipino Ministry–Archdiocese of Los Angeles President Noel Motus.
Hosted by the San Pedro Pastoral Region, the Archdiocesan Simbang Gabi, or evening Masses, will kick off on December 15 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St. in downtown Los Angeles.
According to the organizers, “A spectacular and colorful Parade of Christmas Parols (lanterns) will precede the 23rd Archdiocesan Mass at 5:45 p.m., with more than 150 parishes and organizations participating. This will be followed by an awesome but solemn Eucharistic celebration presided by
Archbishop Jose Gomez that includes about 50 concelebrating bishops and clergy, with a 100-member inter-parish choir and orchestra providing beautiful liturgical and Christmas music.”
Motus added, “We are honored that Philippine Consul General Adelio Soriano Cruz and his wife, Cathy Cruz, will be in attendance at this event.”
This tradition was introduced by Spanish friars in the Philippines during the late 17th century as a pastoral response to the needs of farmers, who began their work before sunrise and were unable to attend regular daytime Masses. By offering liturgies in the early hours of the morning, the Church allowed agricultural workers to participate in Advent devotions without disrupting their long workdays. Over time, these predawn gatherings became deeply woven into Filipino culture, blending religious observance with community celebration. The practice is also known as Misa de Gallo — Spanish for “Rooster’s Mass” — a reference to the early hour when roosters typically crow and the faithful gather before dawn.
Filipino Ministry head Motus implored, “Halina na kayo. Celebrate with us!” Interested parties may call or text him at 562-282-3071 or email him at noelmotus7@gmail.com
Cannabis Revenues
Stable As California Market Levels Off
LCCN Staff Report
California’s cannabis tax revenues show a relatively steady pattern across 2024 and 2025, according to newly reviewed quarterly data. While quarter-to-quarter fluctuations continue, the overall numbers indicate a market that has largely leveled off following earlier years of volatility.
Excise taxes, the primary revenue source, remained consistent through 2025. The state collected $145.5 million in the first quarter, $147.8 million in the second, and $176.8 million in the third.
Sales tax collections followed a similar pattern. Revenues totaled $101.1 million in the first quarter of 2025, rose to $113.5 million in the second, and settled at $106.9 million in the third. Such movements are typical of normal retail cycles and do not indicate major shifts in consumer demand.
Total tax revenue across the first three quarters of 2025 ranged from $246 million to $284 million. These figures fall within the same general band as 2024, reinforcing the view that California’s regulated cannabis market has entered a period of stability.
Sales data also point in that direction. Reported statewide cannabis sales hovered around the $1-billion mark each quarter, with taxable sales varying more widely due to reporting adjustments and classification changes. Despite the variation, the broader trajectory did not show significant decline or rapid expansion.
Some irregularities appear in the dataset, such as occasional spikes in excise payments made through distributors, which likely reflect settlements or corrected filings rather than actual quarter-specific activity. Even with those anomalies, the overall pattern remains consistent.
For cities within Southeast Los Angeles County, including Bellflower, Commerce, and Santa Fe Springs, stable statewide revenue provides a clearer backdrop for evaluating local cannabis rules and tax structures. Predictability at the state level helps municipalities assess whether their existing regulations are producing the intended outcomes.
The data also offer a reminder that California’s effort to shift activity from the illicit market into the regulated system remains an ongoing process. Revenue stability alone does not resolve enforcement challenges or market pressures faced by small operators. However, the numbers suggest that, for now, the legal framework is producing relatively steady collections and fewer dramatic swings than in earlier years.
channels have served as the JPA’s “official contact information” since March 2020. He stated that because the JPA had no physical office, his business address and accounts were used for official correspondence.
Documents obtained by LCCN show that vendors responding to a formal JPA request for proposals were instructed to email Garza at his Six Heron address, call his personal cell phone, and mail materials to his private P.O. Box. One company addressed its submission directly to “Juan Garza, Executive Director” at juan@ sixheron.com.
As reflected in these documents, Garza functioned in multiple procurement-related roles, including bid contact, bid receiver, reviewer, and contract recommender.
In many public agencies, concentrating all of these duties in a single individual would require recusals, conflict disclosures, or procedural separation to avoid the appearance of undue influence. In this case, the JPA’s records show that the process remained consolidated under Garza, removing checks typically applied to public contracting.
In his statement to LCCN, Garza said he evaluated proposals with the JPA’s general counsel before presenting them to the board. “All bids were shared with the board and general counsel… and evaluated by myself and the General Counsel,” he wrote.
No documents provided to LCCN indicate that the JPA used an independent procurement officer, a dedicated agencycontrolled email system, or any internal separation between Garza’s public duties and his private business infrastructure.
Garza maintained that the private contact points were “means of communication exclusively” and did not represent a conflict. However, the email address belongs to his private consulting company, the P.O. Box is the mailing address he lists on his contract for Six Heron, and the cell phone number is his personal line.
Garza has frequently highlighted his experience on public boards and his knowledge of governance and procurement rules. That background is relevant because it shows that Garza understood standard procurement safeguards. Garza previously
criticized procurement processes at the Central Basin Water District, including the process overseen by former General Manager Dr. Alex Rojas, even though Dr. Rojas became involved only after the contracts had already been scored and shortly before they were awarded.
California public-agency regulations require procurement communications to occur through agency-controlled channels and prohibit routing public contracting processes through private business infrastructure. Under Garza’s arrangement, decisions about what information was forwarded to the board—and when—were made solely by him.
Under Government Code § 6509, JPAs must follow the same procurement, contracting, and transparency requirements that apply to their member agencies or the agency designated in their joint-powers agreement. These requirements include competitive bidding, the use of agencycontrolled communication channels, and clear separation between public duties and private business interests.
Garza’s employment contract with CCSR raises additional governance questions. Approved publicly in January 2024, it identifies his official Executive Director contact address as the same private Bellflower P.O. Box associated with his consulting business, giving him exclusive control over official inbound and outbound mail.
The contract states that Garza “will have no conflicts of interest” that could interfere with his duties, even though the physical and digital points of contact used for JPA business belonged to his private company, which also engages in lobbying and political-influence work.
The agreement grants Garza broad authority over operations, agenda development, staffing, and administrative decisions. As a result, the JPA effectively routed its governance infrastructure through a single individual using private business systems.
Garza told LCCN that the arrangement caused “no challenges nor issues” and that the board’s receipt of packet materials constituted disclosure. Legally, however, passive inclusion in an agenda packet does not satisfy disclosure requirements under California conflict-of-interest statutes or procurement standards.
The situation raises concerns about
transparency, compliance, and whether member cities were aware that their JPA was functioning through private commercial channels instead of its own administrative systems.
The JPA represents the cardroom cities of Bell Gardens, Commerce, Compton, and Hawaiian Gardens. The cities themselves— and the licensed cardrooms—did not take any action reflected in these arrangements. The available documents show that Garza independently established and operated the communications and procurement pipeline. His own statements confirm that for more than four years, JPA operations were carried out through the email, phone number, and mailing address of his private business.
These circumstances also implicate Garza’s role as an elected director at the Central Basin Water District, where procurement and transparency rules similarly apply.
Questions submitted by LCCN to CCSR’s Board of Directors went unanswered.
Documents can be found onlne at loscerritosnews.net
This first installment of High Stakes, Dirty Water and Red Flags details how the JPA became a oneman operation under Garza’s control.
The next installment will examine how Garza’s private control of the JPA creates potential conflicts with his position on the Central Basin Water Board.
TRAFFIC from page 1
project limits ran north and south of the intersection, widening the approaches in both directions and upgrading sidewalks, curbs, curb ramps, driveways and parkway drains. In all four directions, the city planned to install new traffic-signal equipment capable of handling higher traffic volumes and reducing wait times during peak hours.
City engineers noted that the full fourleg redesign was intended to ease chronic congestion, particularly for drivers traveling between La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs and the nearby I-605 corridor.
A substantial portion of the intersection lies on the shared boundary between Santa Fe Springs and La Mirada, meaning both jurisdictions were expected to feel the impacts of construction as well as its longterm benefits. The city hired JMDiaz Inc. in 2024 to prepare the engineering plans, which were finalized ahead of the meeting.
With approval in place, the Public Works Department began preparing to publish bid notices and start the contractor selection process. Once awarded and underway, the intersection improvement project is expected to deliver smoother traffic flow, improved safety and shorter travel times for thousands of local drivers.
SANCHEZ from page 1
and outreach. It was not authored by an appraiser, supervising appraiser, or division chief authorized to issue formal determinations under state tax law. As is typical for courtesy responses from county agencies, the communication addressed only the narrow reassessment question presented — nothing more.
Importantly, the Assessor’s Office does not evaluate borrower occupancy, loan-document representations, duplex classification, Deed of Trust covenants, election-law residency, or obligations under the Department of Real Estate. As a result, the letter does not address any of the issues that formed the basis of LCCN’s reporting, including:
• Sanchez’s signature on the recorded Deed of Trust requiring borrower occupancy
• the classification of the duplex loan as owner-occupied
• the absence of any recorded exemption limiting the occupancy requirement
• Sanchez’s continued claim of longterm domicile in District 4
Despite this, Sanchez forwarded the courtesy letter to LCCN, demanded a full retraction of the story, and BCC’d the entire City Council on his message while not allowing councilmembers to see LCCN’s reply. After LCCN provided the Council with the factual context directly, additional questions emerged about why the letter was represented as a definitive ruling when it addressed none of the issues raised in the investigation.
The core documents remain unchanged and undisputed: Sanchez signed a recorded Deed of Trust promising to occupy the duplex as his principal residence while he simultaneously maintains that his sole domicile has always been his Maple Street home in District 4. These contradictions — not property-tax exclusion rules — continue to define the unresolved legal and political questions surrounding this matter.
As this matter continues to unfold, LCCN is now examining additional records related to rental activity at the Somerset duplex, including lease arrangements, tenant history, and how that rental use aligns with the property’s owner-occupied loan classification. That reporting will appear in an upcoming installment of this series.
@cerritosnews
@cerritosnews.bsky.social
L.A. County Expands L.A. Found Program With New GPS Smartwatch to Protect Vulnerable Residents
By Brian Hews
Los Angeles County is expanding its L.A. Found initiative with new technology designed to help families locate loved ones living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, and other cognitive conditions. The program now offers a GPS-enabled smartwatch called the Theora Connect, an added safety tool for individuals at risk of wandering from home or supervised settings.
Wandering remains one of the most serious challenges facing caregivers. National data show that sixty percent of people with dementia will wander at some point, and nearly half of all children with autism are at risk of leaving safe environments. These incidents can quickly turn dangerous, and families often struggle with limited resources during searches. The L.A. Found program aims to address those risks by providing trackable devices that allow caregivers and first responders to locate missing individuals faster and more effectively.
L.A. Found was created in 2018 through the Bringing Our Loved Ones Home Initiative, unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors.
Supervisor Janice Hahn championed the effort after the disappearance of Manhattan Beach resident Nancy Paulikas, who had early-onset Alzheimer’s and went missing while visiting the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2016. Her case underscored the need for a countywide system to prevent similar tragedies.
“Since we launched LA Found, every person who has gone missing with an LA Found Bracelet has been found safe and reunited with their families. This program saves lives and gives priceless peace of mind to caregivers. And now, these new GPS smartwatches are not only helping find people who wander and go missing
more quickly, they are giving more tools to caregivers and making their lives easier.”
At the center of L.A. Found is Project Lifesaver, a voluntary bracelet system that emits a dedicated radio frequency signal detectable by specially trained law enforcement teams. When a participant goes missing, search units equipped with receivers can home in on the signal, significantly reducing search times and improving outcomes. The program has already helped locate individuals quickly in multiple cities across the county.
To strengthen these efforts, Los Angeles County piloted the Theora Connect Wearable by Clairvoyant Networks, Inc. The smartwatch expands beyond traditional radio-frequency tracking with modern features such as GPS location, an SOS emergency button, two-way voice communication, and geofencing alerts that notify caregivers if a loved one moves beyond a preset zone. Caregivers can monitor the device through a dedicated mobile app, giving families immediate visibility when a wandering risk arises.
The County’s Aging & Disabilities Department leads the implementation of the L.A. Found program, working with law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and the Bringing Our Loved Ones Home Taskforce — a multidisciplinary group responsible for developing the initiative’s seventeen recommendations. The department continues to train first responders and coordinate efforts across jurisdictions to ensure rapid response when a participant is reported missing.
Caregivers interested in signing up for Project Lifesaver or learning more about the Theora Connect smartwatch can visit ad.lacounty.gov/lafound or call (833) 569-7651 for assistance. The devices are provided free to eligible families, offering an added measure of safety and peace of mind for thousands of county residents.
LA County Awards Relief Grants to Bellflower Chamber as
Part of $56.3
Million Small Business Effort
From the Mayor’s Desk: December 5, 2025
By Cerritos Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama
The City of Cerritos is committed to responsibly managing public resources that support the City’s long-term financial goals and strengthen our future. This commitment to fiscal transparency and sustainability is prioritized in our Strategic Plan and is symbolic of our Cerritos in Progress theme.
To provide clarity on the City’s budget process, we’re sharing information directly with our residents. Beginning this week, Cerritos households will receive our Budget at a Glance document in the mail. It features statistics and information graphics on projected Citywide expenses, key sources of revenue, and sales tax allocations for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
Budgets at a glance are commonly produced by cities and corporations to highlight key data points within a comprehensive budget. Budgets are lengthy and carefully detailed - and for good reason. The Budget at a Glance provides a more consumable, high-level account of the City’s fiscal operations. Additionally, we hope it inspires more routine engagement with our community on the budget process moving forward. This information is also available online at cerritos.gov/future.
A prominent section of the Budget at a Glance is the City’s General Fund. While Cerritos has multiple revenue
streams – or fund types - to support City expenses, the General Fund is Cerritos’ primary operating fund. In Fiscal Year 2025-2026, it includes over $101 million in projected revenue. Within the General Fund, sales tax is the largest revenue source, representing nearly half of total General Fund revenue. This is why business development, retention, and consumer engagement is crucial to the City of Cerritos.
To further illustrate this point, the Budget at a Glance breaks down the sales tax portion of the City’s budget. Out of the 9.75% sales tax paid by consumers, the City currently receives 1%. This means that, for every dollar spent in Cerritos, the City receives one cent. Sales tax revenue directly funds important citywide services, including sidewalk and tree maintenance, recreation and library programs, and crime prevention.
We hope you’ll take a moment to review the Budget at a Glance and visit cerritos.gov/future to learn more about the City’s finances.
The annual budget process begins months prior to the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. During this time, there are multiple budget study sessions between City staff and the City Council that will guide staff’s work in preparing the preliminary budget. The process concludes with a public hearing and formal budget adoption. Our first budget study session for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 is scheduled as part of the City Council meeting next Thursday, December 11, beginning at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. You can view agenda details at www.cerritos.gov/agendas.
By Brian Hews
The Bellflower Chamber of Commerce is among 20 chambers countywide to receive funding through Los Angeles County’s Economic Opportunity Grant Program, a three-year initiative that delivered $56.3 million to small businesses and nonprofits recovering from pandemic-related financial strain. The program closed its final phase on Small Business Saturday, marking the end of one of the county’s largest direct-assistance efforts for local employers.
The Bellflower Chamber received a $5,000 grant as part of the county’s final round of awards, which provided a total of $100,000 to chambers of commerce across Los Angeles County. County officials said chambers played a critical role during the pandemic, offering guidance, outreach, and support to struggling businesses while facing their own financial challenges. The grants were intended to strengthen those organizations so they can continue serving as first-stop resources for small business owners.
This latest grant phase opened in August 2025 in partnership with the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment. After an extension in late October, the application window closed on October 31 with more than 70 chambers seeking funding. Awardees were selected based on eligibility and whether they served neighborhoods identified as high-need in the county’s Equity Explorer Index. Bellflower’s inclusion reflects the city’s mix of small, locally owned businesses that experienced uneven recovery since
the pandemic.
For Bellflower, the support adds to several years of countywide efforts aimed at stabilizing the region’s small business base. Many local merchants continue to face slow revenue rebounds, staffing issues, and rising operating costs. The Chamber has been one of the primary points of contact for those businesses, connecting them with grant opportunities, workshops, and technical assistance.
County officials said the Economic Opportunity Grant Program was designed to make relief easier to access by combining multiple funding sources into one application system. Established with support from the California Office of the Small Business Advocate and federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, the program provided assistance to more than 5,300 recipients across Los Angeles County.
Administration was handled by Lendistry and the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment, with help from the LA Regional Small Business Development Network and communitybased partners offering multilingual outreach.
For Bellflower businesses still navigating post-pandemic uncertainty, the Chamber’s grant is expected to help maintain programming and support services that have become vital for smaller storefronts.
As the county winds down this round of relief, officials indicated that future programs may continue using simplified, centralized systems to reach the cities and neighborhoods most in need.
Monday thru Saturday6 pm to 12 Midnight
Doors open at 4pm Sunday 2 pm to 9 pm
Doors open at 12pm
3 SESSIONS PER DAY!!!
25 Games per Session
Kaiser Permanente Announcements
On Nov. 18 KP announced the opening of the Kaiser Permanente Sports Medicine Center at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, home of the LA Clippers.
The new facility expands Kaiser Permanente’s sports medicine network in Southern California, offering services designed to support injury prevention, treatment and recovery for a wide range of patients.
Kaiser Permanente Southern California, which includes Downey Medical Center, has long provided sports medicine care for athletes of all levels. The system employs more than 90 boardcertified and fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians and offers training programs for future specialists.
“The Sports Medicine Center at Intuit Dome is more than a new facility; it is a powerful expression of our commitment to medical excellence and to the health and vitality of Greater Los Angeles,” said Michelle Gaskill-Hames, president of Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Health Plan and Hospitals. “This center brings together exceptional clinicians, leading-edge technology, and our integrated approach to care, ensuring that whether you’re a professional athlete or a weekend runner, you have access to the highest level of sports medicine available anywhere.”
The facility’s services include concussion management, electrocardiogram diagnostics, metabolic testing, multidisciplinary physical therapy, x-ray and ultrasound imaging, plateletrich plasma (PRP) injections, and injuryprevention classes. Care teams include physicians, physical therapists and athletic trainers.
Kaiser Permanente provides sports medicine services at 13 of its Southern
California medical centers, with more than 20,000 patient visits each year. The organization also supports athletes across the region, from high school and college programs to large athletic events, and conducts research through programs such as the ACL Tear Registry.
“Kaiser Permanente physicians provide expert care for our patients and communities across Southern California,” said Dr. Ramin Davidoff, executive medical director of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group.
“As the official team physicians for the LA Clippers, we are thrilled to be opening this new state-of-the-art facility here at Intuit Dome so that the local community and professional athletes alike can benefit from the same high-quality care and medical excellence.”
Kaiser Permanente partners with several professional and collegiate sports organizations, including the LA Clippers, Los Angeles Football Club and San Diego Wave FC, as well as local high schools and universities.
More information about the new facility is available at kp.org/intuitdome.
KP Downey Earns National Recognition for Surgical Quality
Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center has been named one of 76 hospitals nationwide recognized by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) for its 2024 surgical outcomes.
As part of ACS NSQIP, Downey Medical Center tracks inpatient and outpatient surgical results using national benchmarks. The data is used to support patient safety efforts and guide improvements in surgical care.
“We commend all ACS NSQIPparticipating hospitals because they have committed to using high-quality data to improve the surgical care of their patients,” said Dr. Clifford Y. Ko, senior vice president of the ACS Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care.
“Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center has gone a step further. Not only do they use the data effectively, they also have the results to prove they are achieving optimal patient outcomes.
We are particularly proud of their achievements in this increasingly difficult climate.”
Each year, ACS NSQIP recognizes hospitals in two categories: All Cases, which evaluates overall surgical outcomes, and High-Risk, which measures outcomes for patients classified as higherrisk.
Using risk-adjusted data from the July 2025 ACS NSQIP Semiannual Report, covering calendar year 2024, Downey Medical Center earned Meritorious status in the High-Risk category.
“This national recognition from the
American College of Surgeons reflects our commitment to surgical excellence and patient safety,” said Dr. Laurie Anne Chu, area medical director for Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center.
“At our hospital, we use high-quality data not just to measure outcomes, but to continually raise the standard of care.
Achieving Meritorious status in the HighRisk category underscores the dedication of our physicians, nurses and surgical teams.”
Hospitals were evaluated using a composite score based on eight patient safety measures:
• Mortality
• Unplanned intubation
• Ventilator use greater than 48 hours
• Renal failure
• Cardiac events
• Respiratory issues
• Surgical site infections
• Urinary tract infection
Downey Medical Center met ACS NSQIP’s performance thresholds across these indicators to receive recognition for 2024.
SPORTS MEDICINE CENTER: offers services designed to support injury prevention, treatment and recovery for a wide range of patients.
By Stepheny Gehrig
Initially planned for Nov. 15–16, Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival was postponed to Nov. 22–23 at Dodger Stadium. Despite the rescheduling, the festival still featured 21 artists performing over two days, along with rides, games, and interactive booths.
While week-long rain washed out the previous weekend’s carnival, full refunds were offered to ticket holders. VIP and Super VIP ticket holders also received full refunds without needing to return the included $200 worth of merchandise.
As a first-time attendee at Camp Flog Gnaw, I splurged on a VIP ticket and an all-day game pass for the two days, totaling about $745. VIP included merchandise like a Camp Flog Gnaw backpack, socks, a baseball lamp, a pin, key chain, and reusable metal water bottle. The Super VIP package, priced at $1,750, included exclusive Camp Flog Gnaw Converse, a duffel bag, blanket, mug, key chain, and a full-size Fender electric guitar. Neither VIP option included parking but both offered VIP areas at two stages. General admission to the festival was $385, all passes included access to rides.
The all-day game pass, an additional $100, offered unlimited carnival games where players could win more Camp Flog Gnaw merchandise like pennants, cups, tote bags, and stuffed animals.
Among the 21 artists, the main headliners on night one were Kali Uchis, Tyler, the Creator, and Childish Gambino, beginning at 6:50 p.m. Night two featured Blood Orange, Doechii, and A$AP Rocky, beginning at 6:20 p.m. Uchis and Blood Orange replaced Don Toliver and Clairo, respectively, who had dropped out after the postponement.
Both nights featured three stages: Camp, Flog, and Gnaw. Camp and Flog had VIP sections and high-traffic performers, while
An “Earfquake” Rocks Dodger Stadium: Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival Success
the Gnaw stage did not have a VIP section and showcased up-and-coming artists.
On night one, I stood in the VIP section starting at 5 p.m. in preparation for Childish Gambino’s set — the artist I was most excited to see. Fakemink performed from 4:40 to 5:25 p.m. with a lackluster set. The rapper failed to hype the crowd, delivering overwhelming strobe lights, overpowering instrumentals, and a dull stage presence.
The night improved with Kali Uchis’ performance, featuring soft stage lighting, outfit changes, props, and backup dancers.
Playing fan favorites like “Telepatía,” “Hasta Cuando,” and “Dame Beso / Muevete,” Uchis blended dream pop, reggaeton, and R&B, reviving the crowd and setting the tone for the night.
Tyler, the Creator delivered an exceptional performance — a set that should not be skipped. Performing hits from his albums “Chromakopia” (2024) and “Don’t Tap the Glass” (2025), Tyler incorporated
characters from the narratives of both projects. Taking the stage as Big Poe, he opened with songs from his 2025 album. Using video as part of his stage design, Tyler’s performance served as storytelling, especially during heartfelt songs like “Like Him” from his 2024 album.
Midway through the set, the screens glitched and stage lights exploded. The stadium fell silent until the stage manager said, “I think we just had a little earthquake,” introducing Tyler’s 2019 hit “Earfquake.”
From stage design to choreography and costuming, Tyler delivered an emotional and energetic one-hour set — well worth claiming a barricade spot.
Childish Gambino closed night one with a setlist largely composed of fan-selected songs, including “Redbone,” “3005,” “Lithonia,” and “Bonfire.” Though the stage design was minimal, Gambino compensated with nonstop energy. During a monologue section, he revealed — through a drone
show — that he had suffered a stroke during his world tour and had taken time off. Camp Flog Gnaw marked his first performance since his recovery.
Night two, I made the effort to see more artists and caught eight shows. Domo Genesis was a standout with clever lyrics like “I’ve been a germaphobe since swine flu.” He also paid tribute to Mac Miller, an original Camp Flog Gnaw performer who passed in 2018, by performing their collaboration “Coming Back.” Other artists like Glorilla and T-Pain drew massive crowds with hits like “Whatchu Kno About Me” and “Low.”
The most impressive night-two performance was Doechii’s. Building her set around a “school lesson” theme, she projected lyrics and music video clips to help fans sing along. Performing hits from her 2024 mixtape *Alligator Bites Never Heal* — including “Nissan Altima,” “Catfish,” and “Denial Is a River” — she brought out Ayo Edebiri, known for *The Bear*, to complete a dance routine.
If you plan to attend Camp Flog Gnaw in the future, VIP and Super VIP are worthwhile if you are a dedicated fan of multiple artists or want exclusive merchandise not available for purchase. The reserved VIP sections were nice but offered limited seating aside from the ground and a few high-top tables. Merchandise, food, and bar lines were short and quick in VIP areas, although general festival lines were also manageable. The bathroom accommodations were not worth the VIP price — despite advertising “airconditioned restrooms,” there was only one station of six men’s and six women’s trailer bathrooms for all VIP sections.
Parking passes for Dodger Stadium were available for $70 during ticket sales. I chose to park near Union Station for $20 each day and took the free dedicated shuttle to Dodger Stadium. The 15-minute shuttle ride dropped attendees at the base of the stadium.
FLOG GNAW: A festivalgoer stands in front of the Camp Flog Gnaw entrance as thousands pour into Dodger Stadium for the weekend event.
Norwalk Breaks Ground on Major Hermosillo Park Reconstruction
A December 6 groundbreaking launches construction of new soccer fields, a community center, and an upgraded stormwater system.
By Brian Hews
The long-planned rehabilitation of Hermosillo Park is officially underway, marking a major investment in recreation, infrastructure, and stormwater management for southeast Norwalk. First envisioned in 2019, the Hermosillo Park Master Plan set out to transform the aging park into a modern community hub anchored by a state-of-the-art community center
and new athletic amenities. After years of planning, community outreach, and funding approvals, the project has moved into full construction, with the park closing to the public on December 1 and a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for December 6 as work begins.
City officials emphasized from the start that the top priorities for the redesign included building a new community center with a banquet hall capable of seating 200 people, and adding two fullsize soccer fields to meet growing demand for youth and adult play. The expanded project now includes a significant environmental component: a sub-surface stormwater capture and infiltration system capable of storing 11.8 acre-feet of water.
The system will allow reclaimed water capabilities and is designed to improve water quali-
ty in both Coyote Creek and the San Gabriel River.
Above the underground stormwater gallery, the city will construct a completely reimagined Hermosillo Park featuring amenities shaped through years of public engagement.
Once complete, the project will deliver two synthetic soccer fields, an 8,000-square-foot community center with interior and exterior restrooms, a banquet hall, a catering kitchen, a snack bar, an outdoor terrace, staff offices, a Public Safety Sub-station, and storage facilities.
THEMED PLAYGROUND in the center of the project.
Other features include an outdoor amphitheater, a soccer-themed playground, a walking trail, drought-tolerant landscaping, and an expanded parking
lot with 118 standard spaces, six accessible spaces, five EV charging spaces, and dedicated city-staff parking.
The stormwater component will also include interactive educational signage throughout the park, helping residents understand how the system captures, filters, and infiltrates stormwater to protect regional waterways.
The project has been in development for several years. Between April and September 2019, the city held community engagement meetings to determine
which amenities residents most wanted to see. In March 2020, Norwalk secured Measure W Safe Clean Water Program funding for the stormwater portion of the project. A second major milestone came in December 2021 when the city was awarded a Proposition 68 grant for the park component. In January 2024, the City Council awarded Reyes Construction a Design-Build contract for planning and design
ONCE COMPLETE, the project will deliver two synthetic soccer fields, an 8,000-squarefoot community center with interior and exterior restrooms, a banquet hall, a catering kitchen, a snack bar, an outdoor terrace, staff offices, a Public Safety Sub-station, and storage facilities.
work. Earlier this year, in March 2025, the Watershed Area Steering Committees approved an additional $9.9 million in Measure W funds. Construction is scheduled to take place throughout 2026 and 2027, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for spring 2028.
The project is supported by a combination of state, regional, and local funding. Measure W Safe Clean Water Program funds total $35,017,101. Califor-
OTHER FEATURES include an outdoor amphitheater, right, along with a soccer-themed playground, a walking trail, drought-tolerant landscaping, and an expanded parking lot with 118 standard spaces, six accessible spaces, five EV charging spaces, and dedicated city-staff parking.
nia State Parks contributed $8.5 million from the Proposition 68 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program. LA County Regional Park and Open Space District Measure A funds provided $4,659,618, and the City of Norwalk allocated $2 million from its General Fund.
Norwalk will host two types of public meetings to keep residents informed as construction progresses. Open House Meetings, open to all community members, will be held every other month beginning November 19, 2025. The November meeting will take place at Hermosillo Park, with future meetings held at the Norwalk Arts and Sports Complex in the Sproul Room. Direct Impact Meetings, designed for households closest to the park, will be held monthly beginning November 19 and will be invitation-only. Both meeting series will be led by Recreation
Supervisor Maury Camacho.
Residents can contact the Recreation Administration Office for questions or updates at myfuturepark@norwalkca.gov or 562553-6806. Additional project information is available at www. myfuturepark.org, and updates will be shared through the city’s Recnorwalk Instagram account.
City staff members involved in the project include Recreation and Park Services Director Allan Perdomo, Recreation Superintendent Sonia Batres, Recreation Supervisor Maurisabel “Maury” Camacho, Engineering Manager Mario Mera, and Principal Associate Engineer Run Chen.
The Hermosillo Park project represents one of Norwalk’s most significant park investments in decades, promising a modern recreation space, improved environmental benefits, and a new community gathering place when it reopens to residents in 2028.
Valley Christian’s defense is built Ram tough; gets school’s fourth football championship
By Loren Kopff
@LorenKopff on X
Valley Christian High’s football team has been saving its best defensive performance for when it mattered the most, and the wait was rewarding. The Defenders sacked Ramona High quarterback Jesus Gonzalez seven times, limited the Rams to 102 yards rushing and staved off a fourth quarter rally to edge the Riverside-based team 14-12 last Saturday in the CIFSouthern Section Division 9 championship game.
V.C. picked up the program’s fourth divisional championship in seven tries, last winning it all in 2016. This was V.C.’s fourth trip to the finals since 2002.
“We wanted to come out hot out of the gate with energy, and with all we’ve got, and I think that’s exactly what we did as a team,” said senior Cole Hefner. “We gave it everything and with the seven sacks and the pressure that we kept putting on their quarterback, great shoutout to the defensive line. We worked our butts off and it turned out as a win for us.”
“It makes it really easy to call plays once we got the lead,” said V.C. head coach Brendan Chambers. “We try to milk the clock, which we’ve done a lot with Cole getting two and three-yard carries and try to find what works. It’s nice knowing our defense is going to go out there and make big stops.
“I wasn’t worried about it on fourth down; I was going to go for it no matter what and try to seal the game there,” he continued. “We didn’t, and they drove the ball down the field. But the two-point conversion [attempt] is all that matter, and
we stopped them.”
Chambers is talking about Ramona’s last drive of the game, which began at its own 49-yard line with 2:25 left in regulation after the Defenders couldn’t convert on fourth and six following a false start infraction. On third and 10, Gonzalez found Michael White for a 21-yard touchdown play, making it 14-12 with 54.3 seconds remaining. But senior Sean Bouma knocked away the two-point pass attempt which would have tied the contest, and the Defenders recovered the ensuing onside kickoff to seal the victory.
V.C. gave up double digits in points in the fourth quarter for the first time since a 40-6 loss to Aquinas High on Oct. 6. But the story throughout the game was the suffocating defense which has allowed 40 points in the playoffs and barely over 300 yards on the ground in the last three playoff games.
Hefner, who grinded out 50 tough yards on 20 carries, was the leader of the defense with three sacks along with seven tackles. And he didn’t waste any time getting involved on the defensive side as he sacked Gonzalez for an eight-yard loss on the fourth play of the game, which was third and goal from the 10-yard line. On the next play, senior Dylan Teays picked off Gonzalez at the one-yard line and returned it 38 yards.
“We’re a team that doesn’t give up, and we never gave up,” said Hefner. “Honestly, I think we [have] a super good goal line defense, and at the 10, that doesn’t mean we’re going to let off the gas. We brought the blitz and got the sack and one thing led to another. We just kept putting pressure on them.”
The Rams immediately were called
CHRISTIAN
Ramona High in last Saturday’s CIF-Southern Section Division
game. Hefner rushed for 50 yards on 20 carries in V.C.’s 14-12 victory. Photo by Steve Fericean.
for a pair of unsportsmanlike penalties on the same play, but the Defenders couldn’t take advantage as junior quarterback Liam Sweeney was intercepted by Troy Long at the 11-yard line.
“We knew that their defense was going to be tough,” said Chambers. “They blitzed a lot, which makes it tougher. They played a lot of man coverage, and it was hard to get guys open.”
Staying with the theme of defense in the opening quarter, Ramona, the third place representative out of the River Valley League which was the 16th-seeded team in the division, gained four yards after the interception and was forced to punt. That’s where a bad snap from center was recovered at the one-yard line where Sweeney’s quarterback sneak gave V.C. (11-3) a 7-0 lead with 6:47 left in the stanza.
Ramona’s ensuing drive, which was its longest of the game, ended at the 15-yard line after senior linebacker Lucas “Moose” Witt sacked Gonzalez for a two-yard loss on fourth and two. Then when the Rams got the ball back, they were looking to get on the board, but a 25-yard field goal attempt from Blake Hockman was unsuccessful.
V.C.’s defense went to work again on Ramona’s next drive as Hefner had a sack for a six-yard loss on the first play and a threeyard sack on fourth and eight with 4:55 left in the half. That sack may have decided the game because the Defenders took over from their own 31-yard line and fueled by a pair of Sweeny to Bouma passes of 18 and 17 yards, plus a six-yard connection to senior Oliver Boateng, scored their second and final touchdown of the game. On second and nine, Sweeney connected with Bouma for 26 yards with 1:06 remaining in the half.
Despite having the halftime lead while being outgained 182-97, Chambers and his team knew the defense was just heating up. Just in the first half alone, Gonzalez was sacked four times for losses totaling 19 yards and Ramona had five of its six drives stall inside the red zone.
“It’s a 0-0 ballgame and we knew we couldn’t let up,” said Hefner of the halftime speech given by Chambers. “We knew these guys are good and that they could come back and win this game. We weren’t going to let that happen; we weren’t going to let this game slip underneath our fingertips. We knew that we had to come out with everything we had and with more energy than the first half.”
It was more of the same in the third quarter as Ramona was stopped at the V.C. 18-yard line and punted after senior lineman Isaac Morales sacked Gonzalez for a five-yard loss on third and 11. In fact, Ramona’s defense held serve in the second half, limiting the Defenders to 41 yards on
22 plays.
For the game, V.C. was two of nine on third down conversions and did not convert any of its seven fourth down conversions while the Rams were seven of 16 on third down conversions and one of six on fourth down conversions. Sweeney completed nine of 14 passes for 85 yards with Bouma catching four passes for 65 yards.
Witt would lead the defense with eight tackles and had two sacks while senior lineman Teddy Dobmeier added half a dozen tackles,
“Great job by coach Randy [Williams] calling the defense, blitzing at the right times and playing coverage when we needed to,” said Chambers. “When we blitz, Cole and Lucas are just hard to block. We’ve been running Cole both sides of the ball during the playoff run and tonight was no different.”
But just as impressive as the defense was attacking Gonzalez despite him passing for 309 yards, the Defenders held Lorenzo Sims to 79 yards on 14 carries. He had entered the game with 1,819 yards but his total against V.C. was the third lowest of the season. Sims would score on a four-yard run with 8:34 left in regulation, but senior defensive back Noah Pelton blocked the extra point, putting the Rams in the position to go for two points in their second touchdown.
“It was big; it was nice to know we had that lead in the back of our pockets,” said Hefner of Pelton’s block. “But we still knew we needed to do everything we needed to do to stop [Sims].”
Probably the play of the night was when Sims got loose for a 38-yard gain early in the second half and was on his way to a touchdown before Hefner grabbed him from behind on a shoestring tackle.
“We knew we needed to stop [Sims] back there; he was going to be a tough guy to stop,” said Chambers. “Thinking about the game, [Sims] and [Isaac Mata] were the guys we were going to go after, and I think our run defense all season has been playing great.”
“I think we’ve had a lot of defensive games this season, and I think we knew that it was going to be another one,” said Hefner. “Our defense has stepped up and just like the past four games, our defense continues to do so. I’m so proud of these guys of how hard they’ve worked.”
V.C. will host Christian High out of El Cajon on Friday in the CIF Division 5-AA Southern California Regionals.
“It feels a little surreal,” said Chambers. “You look back to that Mary Star game [on Sept. 5] when we lost [22-21] to come to this point now, I give credit to the seniors
VALLEY
HIGH senior Cole Hefner moves around Cash Haran of
9 championship
Artesia holds off late rally by Eisenhower in battle of winless teams in tournament
By Loren Kopff
@LorenKopff on X
The Artesia High boys basketball team was hoping to avoid something no other team in program history had done-go winless in its Artesia Varsity Winter Classic. The Pioneers, once down by six points in the first quarter against winless Eisenhower High, bounced back to lead by nine points midway through the fourth quarter.
But the Eagles made things interesting by nailing half a dozen three-pointers in the final 3:51 only to come up short as the Pioneers held on for a 72-69 win. Artesia, which won its second game of the season, lost its first three games of the tournament by an average of 20 points.
“The thing with us is we’re still a young team in actuality,” said Artesia head coach Jeff Myles. “We lost 11 seniors; eight guys who actually played, and even the guys who we brought back or bench guys who didn’t play much…even [senior Christian] Stewart, our big guy, he only played half the season. We’re just a young team and just trying to figure it out on the fly. It’s just growing pains.”
This is the first time since Myles has been the head coach at Artesia that he’s had a team so young, and that youth trailed the Eagles, who have seven juniors and four sophomores, for most of the first quarter, getting down 15-9 with 2:10 left in the stanza. But three-pointers from freshman
Christopher Jones, sophomore Aiden Atkins and senior Kobe Young helped spark an 11-3 run to begin the second quarter.
The Pioneers had a one-point lead at the half and still had that same lead entering the fourth quarter as the hosts squandered a seven-point lead with 6:25 left in the third quarter. Eisenhower tied the contest three times in the stanza and took a 46-43 lead two and a half minutes later on a threepointer from Dominic Gotay.
“One thing I’ve been preaching is competing, and we’ll always compete no matter if we’re down by 20 or down by 30,” said Myles. “Our guys are always going to play hard and show some resiliency; we competed very hard defensively. Offensively, shots come and go, and they made some great shots. I tip my hat to Eisenhower; there were some contested threes, and they made those threes. But our guys kind of hung in there and found a way to make a play at the end. So, I’ll take it.”
Eisenhower was true on nine of 30 threepointers while Artesia was eight of 28 from beyond the arc. But just like it did to begin the second and third quarters, Artesia started the final quarter on a 9-1 run to lead 5849, its largest advantage of the game. The Pioneers were still up by eight points with 64 seconds remaining in the contest before the Eagles began a barrage of perimeter shots. First, it was Damarion Flucker, then three straight from Isaiah Gomez, the last
[ See ARTESIA, page 16 ]
CIF DIVISION 5-AA REGIONALS FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW:
Valley Christian in state regionals for second time, hosts Christian High
By Loren Kopff
@LorenKopff on X
In
2016, the Valley Christian High football team, fresh off the heels of a 59-13 win over Silverado High in the CIF-Southern Section Division 9 championship game, hosted Bishop’s High a week later in the Division 3-A Southern California Regionals. It was the first time the Defenders had played in a state game and nine years later, they are back again playing a 15th game in a season. And just like that 2016 contest against the La Jolla-based school, V.C. (11-3) will be facing another team from San Diego County. This time, the Defenders are welcoming Christian High (7-7) in the Division 5-AA Southern California Regionals om Friday.
V.C. got to this point by holding off Ramona High 14-12 last Saturday in the CIF-SS Division 9 title game, its seventh straight victory and 10th in the last 11 games. Ironically, Bishop’s eliminated Christian 49-20 in the 2016 San Diego Section Division III championship game.
Once again, V.C.’s defense was stellar against Ramona, sacking quarterback Jesus Gonzalez seven times and limiting it’s 1,800-yard running back Lorenzo Sims to under 80 yards on 14 carries. The Defenders have yielded 40 points in the four playoff games and during the sevengame winning streak, have given up 86 points. That’s quite a difference from the 91 points allowed in the first five games of the season in which V.C. went 3-2.
Offensively, junior quarterback Liam Sweeney completed nine of 14 for 85 yards against the Rams, scored from a yard out with 6:47 left in the first quarter and tossed a 26-yard touchdown pass to senior
By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X
The Cerritos High boys basketball team hosted Beckman High last Friday with only eight healthy players. But for longtime head coach Jonathan Watanabe, he’s been through this situation many times, as recently as Dec. 12, 2023 when the Dons suited up eight players in a 71-50 loss at Marina High.
But this time around, two key starters were sidelined with significant injuries sustained three days earlier in a 71-47 loss to La Habra High. Three other players have been injured all season and with a depleted squad, Cerritos was on the south end of a 70-51 loss to the Patriots in the first meeting between the two programs.
The score could have been a lot worse as Beckman scored the first eight points of the game and led 25-2 with 1:14 remaining in the opening quarter. But the Dons reeled off nine straight points as the second quarter scoring was leveled at 17-17.
“It was a different lineup; for some of the guys, it was their first time starting,” said Watanabe. “I want to say it’s not different, but sometimes it is a little different. It’s good experience for our guys. Having these many guys out, it’s tough, but long term, it could be a blessing. You never know what happens and with guys
who need to play and in what moments, they will gain more experience by going through all of this. It’s a journey, so you take the highs with the lows.”
The run began with free throws from sophomore Anay Patel and freshman Jace Ribac to end the first quarter, then the second quarter started with baskets from Patel and junior Rocco Chua within 35 seconds. Cerritos would cut the gap to 11 points on a free throw from Patel with 4:42 left in the half, making it 27-16. But Beckman closed out the half on a 15-7 run, then began the second half on a 15-9 run to lead by 25 points, the largest advantage in the game.
Cerritos (2-3) would have runs of 8-3 and 7-0 in the final 10:27 of the game but never got its deficit to under 20 points until senior Trevor Moon sank three of four free throws in the final 1:45. Moon, who finished with a career-high seven points, three rebounds and a steal. is the lone senior on the team. Three juniors, three sophomores and a freshman were the other players who suited up against the Patriots.
“We have experience; we pulled up a lot of sophomores. [and] they didn’t get as many minutes last year,” said Watanabe. “But they got a lot of experience playing teams like Sierra Canyon and Los Alamitos. Seeing that type of level of competition… now I think when we go to play guys, we’re
[ See CERRITOS, page 16 ]
LEGAL NOTICES- YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW!
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on November 25, 2025, the City Council of the City of Commerce (“the City”) adopted Ordinance 828 said ordinance having been introduced for first reading (by title only and waiving further reading of the text), on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
Sean Bouma with 1:06 left in the first half. V.C. needed those touchdowns as it could muster only 41 yards on 22 plays in the second half.
In fact, it was Bouma who knocked away the potential tying two-point conversion pass from Gonzalez with 54.3 seconds left to play. Other key defensive plays last Saturday were a blocked extra point attempt from senior Noah Pelton and negative yardage on 10 of the 26 rushes.
The Defenders plan to do more of the same against the El Cajon-based school with Sweeney targeting as many as half a dozen wide receivers. Sweeney is 12 yards shy of 600 yards for the season and has filled in nicely since the second quarter of the first round game against Chino High when junior quarterback Graham Lunzer went down with a broken left tibia.
Senior Oliver Boateng (62 receptions, 1,003 yards, 14 touchdowns) leads the receiving corps with Bouma (42 receptions, 650 yards, six touchdowns), seniors Cole Hefner (31 receptions, 353 yards, three touchdowns), Max Douglas (17 receptions, 202 yards, two touchdowns), Dylan Teays (14 receptions, 148 yards, three touchdowns) and junior Byron Louis (14 receptions, 251 yards, three touchdowns) as the other threats.
Hefner leads the rushing attack with 502 yards on 134 carries and a touchdown and is 17 yards shy of tying Lunzer’s total in 11 games. He is also tops on the defensive side with 110 tackles and had three of the seven sacks against Ramona.
The Defenders have sacked opposing quarterbacks 19 times with Douglas and junior Sam Melcher each recording three sacks while Bouma had three of the team’s 10 interceptions with Louis and Teays each
[ See PREVIEW, page 16 ]
Ordinance No. 828 enacting Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (“ZTA”) No. 25-03 and Zone Change (“ZC’) No. 25-01 amending Title 19 of the Commerce Municipal Code (“CMC”) by establishing a mixed-use overlay zone, amending the site plan review process and definitions sections, adding new live/work standards, and amending the zoning map to apply a new mixed-use overlay zone on certain properties.
Ordinance No. 828 was passed and adopted on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, by the City Council of the City of Commerce by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Ivan Altamirano; Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Lainez; Councilmember Hugo Argumedo; Councilmember Mireya Garcia; Councilmember Oralia Rebollo; NOES: None; ABSENT: None.
A certified copy of the full text of this ordinance is available at the office of the City Clerk, 2535 Commerce Way, Commerce, CA 90040, during regular business hours.
Melanie Park, Deputy City Clerk City of Commerce
Published on December 5, 2025 – Los Cerritos News
Published at Los Cerritos Community News 12/5/25
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on November 25, 2025, the City Council of the City of Commerce (“the City”) adopted Ordinance 826 said ordinance having been introduced for first reading (by title only and waiving further reading of the text), on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
Ordinance No. 826 amending the Commerce Municipal Code (“CMC”) by modifying Title 15 thereof adopting by reference the 2025 California building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and residential codes with certain amendments, additions and deletions thereto and adding a chapter for an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations.
Ordinance No. 826 was passed and adopted on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, by the City Council of the City of Commerce by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Ivan Altamirano; Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Lainez; Councilmember Hugo Argumedo; Councilmember Mireya Garcia; Councilmember Oralia Rebollo; NOES: None; ABSENT: None.
A certified copy of the full text of this ordinance is available at the office of the City Clerk, 2535 Commerce Way, Commerce, CA 90040, during regular business hours.
Melanie Park, Deputy City Clerk City of Commerce
Published on December 5, 2025 – Los Cerritos News
Published at Los Cerritos Community News 12/5/25
CITY OF LA MIRADA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of a public hearing to be held by the City Council of the City of La Mirada on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, California to consider the following items:
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT (GPA-2025-01): A REQUEST TO AMEND THE OFFICIAL GENERAL PLAN LAND USE MAP OF THE CITY OF LA MIRADA TO REDESIGNATE TEN PARCELS ON TWO SITES (NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN SITES) TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 36.9 ACRES. THE ACTION WOULD CHANGE 20.4 ACRES FROM INDUSTRIAL TO COMMERCIAL AND 16.5 ACRES FROM COMMERCIAL TO INDUSTRIAL, TO ENCOURAGE COMPATIBLE LAND USES ALONG COYOTE CREEK, KNOTT AVENUE, AND ARTESIA BOULEVARD. THE REQUEST ALSO INCLUDES A FINDING THAT THE AMENDMENT IS COVERED UNDER A PROGRAMMATIC NEGATIVE DECLARATION IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA).
ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NO. 58: A REQUEST TO AMEND THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF LA MIRADA TO REZONE TEN PARCELS ON TWO SITES TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 36.9 ACRES. THE ACTION WOULD CHANGE 20.4 ACRES FROM MANUFACTURING (M-2) TO COMMERCIAL-FREEWAY (C-F) AND 16.5 ACRES FROM C-F TO M-2, ALIGNING THE ZONING DESIGNATIONS WITH THE PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT (GPA-2025-01) TO ENCOURAGE COMPATIBLE LAND USES ALONG COYOTE CREEK, KNOTT AVENUE, AND ARTESIA BOULEVARD. THE REQUEST ALSO INCLUDES A FINDING THAT THE AMENDMENT IS COVERED UNDER A PROGRAMMATIC NEGATIVE DECLARATION IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA).
At the hearing, the City Council will consider the Planning Commission and staff’s recommendation, as well as all testimony and public input prior to final action. This action was recommended by a 5-0 vote from the Planning Commission on November 20, 2025. The documents being considered are available for review at the City’s Community Development Department offices located at City Hall, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, California. You may contact the Community Development Department at (562) 943-0131 should you have any questions concerning this item.
If you wish to be heard concerning the items identified in this Notice, you may appear in person at the public hearing, or you may submit your comments in writing to the City prior to or at the public hearing. Mailed comments should be addressed to the City of La Mirada, Community Development Department, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, California 90638.
Please notify the City Clerk’s office at (562) 943-0131 at least four days prior to this hearing should you require disability-related accommodation (e.g. sign language interpreter).
IF YOU CHALLENGE ANY OF THE FOREGOING ACTIONS IN COURT, YOU MAY BE LIMITED TO RAISING ONLY THOSE ISSUES YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE RAISED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR FINAL ACTION DESCRIBED IN THIS NOTICE, OR IN WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE DELIVERED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT OR PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.
Manuel Muñoz Community Development Director
Dated: December 5, 2025
MAP
CITY OF LA MIRADA
Please take notice that on November 25, 2025, the City Council of the City of La Mirada adopted the following Ordinance:
INTERIM ORDINANCE NO. 745-U APPROVING A PROHIBITION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, OR OPERATION (TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT) OF DISCOUNT STORES AND DECLARING THE URGENCY THEREOF.
Summary of Ordinance No. 745-U
Ordinance No. 745-U approved a citywide prohibition for one year on the establishment, implementation, or operation of discount stores until December 8, 2026. The definition of “Discount Stores” is as follows:
“Discount Stores” means retail establishments that sell a broad range of new outlet, closeout, discontinued, liquidation, or overstock and general merchandise, primarily at a single discount price/or in the low and very low price ranges.
The names of those Councilmembers voting for or against Ordinance No. 745-U are as follows:
AYES: Councilmembers Bean, De Ruse, Lewis, Mayor Pro Tem Otero, Mayor Eng
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
A certified copy of the entirety of the text of Ordinance No. 745-U is available in the office of the City Clerk, City of La Mirada, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, California and is available for public inspection at that location.
Manuel Muñoz, Community Development Director
Published at La Mirada Lamplighter Newspaper12/5/25
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on November 25, 2025, the City Council of the City of Commerce (“the City”) adopted Ordinance 829 said ordinance having been introduced for first reading (by title only and waiving further reading of the text), on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
Ordinance No. 829 enacting Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (“ZTA”) No. 25-05 amending Title 19 (Zoning) Chapter 19.07 of the Commerce Municipal Code (“CMC”) to amend Accessory Dwelling Unit (“ADU”) provisions to comply with State law.
Ordinance No. 829 was passed and adopted on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, by the City Council of the City of Commerce by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Ivan Altamirano; Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Lainez; Councilmember Hugo Argumedo; Councilmember Mireya Garcia; Councilmember Oralia Rebollo; NOES: None; ABSENT: None.
A certified copy of the full text of this ordinance is available at the office of the City Clerk, 2535 Commerce Way, Commerce, CA 90040, during regular business hours.
Melanie Park, Deputy City Clerk City of Commerce
Published on December 5, 2025 – Los Cerritos News
Published at Los Cerritos Community News 12/5/25
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING DEVELOPMENT REVIEW CASE NO. DR 9-25-16719
TAKE NOTICE that the Bellflower Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, CA 90706 to consider a Development Review (“DR”) to allow the construction of four detached, two-story multiple family dwellings within the Low Density Residential (“R-1”) zone on real property commonly known as 14721 Blaine Avenue.
The City reviewed the Project’s environmental impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act (Pub. Res. Code §§ 21000, et seq., “CEQA”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal. Code of Regs. §§ 15000, et seq., the “CEQA Guidelines”). This project contemplates construction of four detached, two-story multiple family dwellings on a vacant lot with a slope less than 20% that does not result in any changes in land use or density, and which was previously approved on March 6, 2023. Accordingly, this project is exempt from further review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §§ 15303 (new construction or conversion of small structures) and 15305 (minor alterations in land use limitations).
The City of Bellflower invites members of the public to review and comment on this item. Copies of the staff report and supporting documents regarding this matter may be inspected by the public on the City’s website at www.bellflower.ca.gov, or by appointment in the Planning Division’s Office at Bellflower City Hall, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, California, telephone number (562) 804-1424, extension 2314. All written comments concerning this may be submitted to Kathryn Brun at 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, CA 90706; or by email at kbrun@bellflower.ca.gov.
If you wish to challenge this item in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the Public Hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City at or before the Public Hearing.
ELIZABETH C. OBA
DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND BUILDING SERVICES
at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 12/5/25
VICINITY
CITY OF SANTA FE SPRINGS
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 1165
Per Gov. Code § 36933 (1), a summary of Ordinance No. 1165 is as follows:
First Reading Date: November 5, 2025
Second Reading, Public Hearing and Adoption Date: December 2, 2025
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SANTA FE SPRINGS AMENDING CITY OF SANTA FE SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTERS 150 (BUILDING REGULATIONS) AND 153 (SWIMMING POOLS) TO ADOPT BY REFERENCE THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, INCLUDING THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, THE CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, THE CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE, THE CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE, AND THE CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, WITH CERTAIN AMENDMENTS, ADDITIONS, AND DELETIONS THERETO.
Purpose
The ordinance updates the City’s building regulations in accordance with the Statemandated 2025 California Building Standards Code, effective statewide on January 1, 2026. It replaces outdated provisions, improves administrative procedures, address assignments and ensures continued consistency with state law and local safety needs.
The Santa Fe Springs City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1165, amending Chapters 150 (Building Regulations) and 153 (Swimming Pools) of the Santa Fe Springs Municipal Code to adopt by reference the 2025 California Building Standards Code, with certain amendments, additions, deletions thereto on December 2, 2025 by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Mora, Rodriguez, Mayor Pro Tem Zamora, and Mayor Rounds
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Martin
ABSTAIN: None
For additional information or to view Ordinance No. 1165 in full, contact the Office of the City Clerk, City of Santa Fe Springs, 11710 Telegraph Road, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, or visit the City’s official website at www.santafesprings.gov.
Published at La Mirada Lamplighter Newspaper 12/5/25
Notice Inviting Proposals
City of Santa Fe Springs Request for Qualifications No. 26 – 2 On-Call Petroleum Engineering Services
The City of Santa Fe Springs invites proposals from qualified consultants to provide OnCall Petroleum Engineering Services, following the terms and conditions of Request for Qualifications (RFQual) No. 26 - 2.
To view the complete proposal package and associated documents, visit https://pbsystem. planetbids.com/portal/65093/portal-home and click “Bid Opportunities” or https://vendors. planetbids.com/portal/65093/bo/bo-detail/136208 to access the project directly. You can also visit the City's website and find the link on the "Bids & Proposals" webpage.
Questions/inquiries regarding this opportunity must be submitted via the PlanetBids Portal by Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific. The City will not respond to any questions/ inquiries submitted after this deadline.
Responses must be submitted electronically via the City’s PlanetBids Portal by Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific. Any proposals received after this deadline will be deemed non-responsive, and the City reserves the right to reject them.
Responses to this request will be evaluated to determine the most qualified and responsive consultants. Responses must adhere to the format and content described in the RFQual. Responses will only be evaluated if all parts requested are submitted in a complete package
Published at La Mirada Lamplighter Newspaper 12/5/25
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on November 25, 2025, the City Council of the City of Commerce (“the City”) adopted Ordinance 827 said ordinance having been introduced for first reading (by title only and waiving further reading of the text), on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
Ordinance No. 827 amending Title 19 (Zoning) of the Commerce Municipal Code to establish artificial turf regulations for all zones citywide and in the public right-of-way.
Ordinance No. 827 was passed and adopted on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, by the City Council of the City of Commerce by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Ivan Altamirano; Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Lainez; Councilmember Hugo Argumedo; Councilmember Oralia Rebollo; NOES: Councilmember Mireya Garcia; ABSENT: None.
A certified copy of the full text of this ordinance is available at the office of the City Clerk, 2535 Commerce Way, Commerce, CA 90040, during regular business hours.
Melanie Park, Deputy City Clerk City of Commerce
Published on December 5, 2025 – Los Cerritos News
Published at Los Cerritos Community News 12/5/25
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING
PUBLIC HEARING
Thursday, December 11th, 2025 – 4:00 p.m.
Proposed Ordinance Increasing Trustee
Compensation for Board Meeting Attendance
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held before the Board of Trustees of the Artesia Cemetery District to consider increasing the compensation for attending a Board meeting from $110.25 per Board meeting to $127.63 per Board meeting.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 4:00 p.m., in the Board Room located at 11142 Artesia Blvd., Cerritos, California. The staff report, ordinance and other related information will be made available at our business office at least 72 hours in advance of the Public Hearing.
INTERESTED PERSONS MAY appear and be heard, or written comments may be sent to the Board of Trustees prior to the public hearing. Written comments may be mailed to: Antonio Mendoza, General Manager, Artesia Cemetery District, 11142 Artesia Blvd., Cerritos, California, CA 90703, or delivered to the General Manager at the same address.
QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES may be addressed to Antonio Mendoza, General Manager at (562) 865-6300 or via email to antonio@artesiacemetery.com
Published at Los Cerritos Community News 11/21, 11/28, 12/5/25
CITY OF BELLFLOWER NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING UTILITY USERS’ TAX
TAKE NOTICE that the Bellflower City Council will conduct a public hearing on Monday, December 8, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, CA 90706 to consider whether the Utility Users’ Tax shall continue in effect or be modified or repealed.
The City of Bellflower invites members of the public to review and comment on this item. Copies of the staff report and supporting documents regarding this matter may be inspected by the public on the City’s website at www.bellflower.ca.gov, or by appointment in the City Clerk’s Office at Bellflower City Hall, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, California; telephone number (562) 804-1424, extension 2220. All written comments concerning this may be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office at 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, CA 90706; or by email at cclerk@bellflower.ca.gov.
If you wish to challenge this item in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the Public Hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City at or before the Public Hearing. Mayra Ochiqui, City Clerk
Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 11/28/25
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT CASE NO. CU 25-09 AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW CASE NO. DR 25-14050
TAKE NOTICE that the Bellflower Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, December 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, CA 90706 to consider a request to modify Conditional Use Permit (“CUP”) Case No. CU 22-01 and Development Review (“DR”) Case No. DR 23-14050 as it relates to the requirement to construct a decorative block wall on real property commonly known as 17640-17648 Bellflower Boulevard, located within the Design for Development for the South Bellflower Commercial Area (“DFD”).
The City reviewed the Project’s environmental impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act (Pub. Res. Code §§ 21000, et seq., “CEQA”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal. Code of Regs. §§ 15000, et seq., the “CEQA Guidelines”). This project involves modification of a condition of approval related to a CUP that allowed for a “pick-up only” drive-through component for a new restaurant and an ancillary on-site alcohol sales; and a DR that allowed for a new 7,274-square-foot, multi-tenant commercial building on a lot with a slope less than 20% that does not result in any changes in land use or density, and which was previously approved on April 3, 2023. Accordingly, this project is exempt from further review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §§ 15332 (in-fill development projects) and 15305 (minor alterations in land use limitations).
The City of Bellflower invites members of the public to review and comment on this item. Copies of the staff report and supporting documents regarding this matter may be inspected by the public on the City’s website at www.bellflower.ca.gov, or by appointment in the Planning Division’s Office at Bellflower City Hall, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, California, telephone number (562) 804-1424, extension 2228. All written comments concerning this may be submitted to Rowena Genilo-Concepcion at 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, CA 90706; or by email at rgenilo@bellflower.ca.gov.
If you wish to challenge this item in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the Public Hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City at or before the Public Hearing.
ELIZABETH C. OBA DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND BUILDING SERVICES
Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 12/5/25
EMPLOYMENT
Padcom Design & Construction Management Services LLC in Cerritos, CA. has openings for Project Engineer (Analyze, Monitor & Develop strategies for civil engg. projects); Salary range: $96,470.00/Year to $100,000.00/Year. Req. Masters or foreign equiv in Construction Mgmt., Civil Engg., Engg. Mgmt., Architecture, or rel. field. Travel & Reloc req. Send resumes to PADCOM Design & Construction Management Services LLC, 17777 Center Ct Drive N, Suite #637, Cerritos, CA 90703: or Email Devraj.Patel@padcomdcm.com.
CITY OF ARTESIA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Planning Commission of the City of Artesia will hold a Public Hearing in the City Council Chambers of Artesia City Hall located at 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, California at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, to consider the following:
Project Description: Case No. 2024-24: A request for approval for a Design Review for the modification of the exterior design of an existing residential unit including an upgrade to the existing front porch, the demolition of the rear patio to accommodate the addition of the first floor, a new second story , and a new 2-car garage located at 18828 Jersey Avenue, with in the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan.
Project Location: 18828 Jersey Ave (AIN: 7039-017-015)
Applicant: Juan Pablo Ramirez
Environmental Review: The proposed project is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City’s CEQA Guidelines pursuant to Section 15301 (e), Class 1, Existing Facilities/Addition to an existing structure given that the project involves remodeling of a minor nature in a fully developed area with no sensitive species or habitat affected by the project’s scope.
Members of the public who would like to address the Planning Commission may appear at the public hearing during the consideration of this item and state their opinion. If you have written comments that you wish to submit, please deliver them to the Artesia Community Development Department at 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA, or by email: planning@ cityofartesia.us prior to the start of the public hearing. If you have questions about this notice or the proposed action, please contact the Artesia Community Development Department at (562) 865-6262 ext. 200 or 224 or by email above.
If you challenge any of these actions in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in the notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Artesia Planning Commission at or prior to the public hearing. All interested persons are invited to attend this hearing and express their opinion on the matters listed above.
Published: December 5, 2025 Paul Bollier
Community Development Director
Published at Los Cerritos Community News 12/5/25
CITY OF ARTESIA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Planning Commission of the City of Artesia will hold a Public Hearing in the City Council Chambers of Artesia City Hall located at 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, California at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, to consider the following:
Project Description: Case No. 2025-23: The Planning Commission will consider the following: A Modification to a previously approved Conditional Use Permit (CUP 551) to modify operational conditions of approval and remove a restriction that prohibits the operation of a night club as a primary use within an existing one-story commercial building in the Commercial General (CG) Zoning area.
Project Location: 17104 Pioneer Boulevard
Applicant: Bill Biltagi, Tropical Entertainment
CEQA: A Modification to a previously approved Conditional Use Permit (CUP 551) is exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 because the project is for the continued operation of an existing night club and restaurant with no physical modification to the existing structure or land. Further, the project will not trigger any exceptions to the exemptions listed under CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. Therefore, no further environmental review is required, and this project is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Members of the public who would like to address the Planning Commission may appear at the public hearing during the consideration of this item and state their opinion. If you have written comments that you wish to submit, please deliver them to the Artesia Community Development Department at 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA, or by email: planning@ cityofartesia.us prior to the start of the public hearing. If you have questions about this notice or the proposed action, please contact the Artesia Community Development Department at (562) 865-6262 ext. 200 or 224 or by email above.
If you challenge any of these actions in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in the notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Artesia Planning Commission at or prior to the public hearing. All interested persons are invited to attend this hearing and express their opinion on the matters listed above.
Published: December 5, 2025
Paul Bollier, Community Development Director Phone: 562-865-6262 Ext. 200 or 224
Email: Planning@cityofartesia.us
Published at Los Cerritos Community News 12/5/25
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 25-05
5920 EAST WASHINGTON BOULEVARD
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City of Commerce will conduct a public hearing on a request from Revive Collision, Inc. for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) No. 25-05 to allow a business primarily engaged in general automotive and collision repair within an existing building. The project site is located at 5920 East Washington Boulevard, Commerce, CA 90040, located within the CommercialManufacturing (C/M-1) zoning district. Pursuant to Chapter 19.11, Table 19.11.030A of the Commerce Municipal Code (CMC), a CUP is required for any business involved in automotive repair within the C/M-1 zone.
PURSUANT to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code §§ 21000 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (14 Cal. Code of Regs. §§ 15000 et seq., the “CEQA Guidelines”), the City reviewed the environmental impacts of the proposed Project and determined that the Project is exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Class 1 Categorical Exemption. Class 1 consists of the operation repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The proposed Project constitutes a minor alternation of an existing facility and therefore qualifies for the categorical exemption under CEQA. No additional environmental review is required for this Project.
Said public hearing will be held before the Planning Commission of the City of Commerce in the Council Chambers, 5655 Jillson Street, Commerce, CA, 90040, on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m., at which time proponents and opponents of the proposed CUP will be heard. Any comments, objections, or other information may be offered in person at the time of the hearing or in writing, prior to the hearing. We encourage submittal of written comments supporting, opposing, or otherwise commenting on an agenda item, for distribution to the Planning Commission prior to the meeting. Send emails to planning-division@commerceca.gov; written correspondence may be sent to: City of Commerce – Community Development Department, 2535 Commerce Way Commerce, California 90040; Phone: (323) 722-4805.
Per Government Code Section 65009, if you challenge this CUP in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION
Jessica Serrano
Published at Los Cerritos Community News 12/5/25
CITY OF COMMERCE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 25-05
5920 EAST WASHINGTON BOULEVARD
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City of Commerce will conduct a public hearing on a request from Revive Collision, Inc. for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) No. 25-05 to allow a business primarily engaged in general automotive and collision repair within an existing building. The project site is located at 5920 East Washington Boulevard, Commerce, CA 90040, located within the CommercialManufacturing (C/M-1) zoning district. Pursuant to Chapter 19.11, Table 19.11.030A of the Commerce Municipal Code (CMC), a CUP is required for any business involved in automotive repair within the C/M-1 zone.
PURSUANT to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code §§ 21000 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (14 Cal. Code of Regs. §§ 15000 et seq., the “CEQA Guidelines”), the City reviewed the environmental impacts of the proposed Project and determined that the Project is exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, Class 1 Categorical Exemption. Class 1 consists of the operation repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The proposed Project constitutes a minor alternation of an existing facility and therefore qualifies for the categorical exemption under CEQA. No additional environmental review is required for this Project.
Said public hearing will be held before the Planning Commission of the City of Commerce in the Council Chambers, 5655 Jillson Street, Commerce, CA, 90040, on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m., at which time proponents and opponents of the proposed CUP will be heard. Any comments, objections, or other information may be offered in person at the time of the hearing or in writing, prior to the hearing. We encourage submittal of written comments supporting, opposing, or otherwise commenting on an agenda item, for distribution to the Planning Commission prior to the meeting. Send emails to planning-division@commerceca.gov; written correspondence may be sent to: City of Commerce – Community Development Department, 2535 Commerce Way Commerce, California 90040; Phone: (323) 722-4805.
Per Government Code Section 65009, if you challenge this CUP in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION
Jessica Serrano
Published at Los Cerritos Community News 12/5/25
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File Number 2025196272. THE FOLLOWING PERSON(S) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS: LOAVEN LIFE, 14626 HARDAWAY DR., LA MIRADA, CA 90638, LOS ANGELES COUNTY; Articles of Incorporation Number: N/A. Registered Owner: ROSALIZA SAMALA, 14626 HARDAWAY DR., LA MIRADA, CA 90638. THIS BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED AS AN INDIVIDUAL. The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A. I declare that all the information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).) /S/ LOAVEN LIFE; Owner; ROSALIZA SAMALA. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on 09/22/2025. In accordance with Subdivision (a) of Section 17920, a Fictitious Name Statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the of notice of the County Clerk, except, as provided in Subdivision (b) of Section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to Section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new Fictitious Business Name Statement must be filed before the expiration. Effective January 1, 2014, the Fictitious Business Name Statement must be accompanied by the affidavit of identity form. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a Fictitious Business Name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State or Common Law (see Section 14411 et seq., Business and Professions Code). LCCN 11/14, 11/21, 11/28, 12/5/25
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the project described below. You are receiving this notice because your property is located near the project or because you have requested to be notified.
Project Location: 9309 Slauson Avenue (Attachment A) Assessor’s Parcel Number: 6382-021-033 and 6382-021-034
Project Description: Conditional Use Permit No. 761 for the modification to an existing single-lane drive-thru to a dual-lane configuration.
Environmental Review: The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301– Existing Facilities. None of the exceptions to the exemptions under CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply.
The Planning Commission Public Hearing will be held:
DATE: Monday, December 15, 2025
TIME: 6:00 p.m.
PLACE: Pico Park (Auditorium) 9528 Beverly Blvd Pico Rivera, CA 90660
If you challenge the action taken on this proposal in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing, described in this Notice, or written in correspondence delivered to the City of Pico Rivera City Clerk prior to or at the public hearing.
Additional information online or in person can be obtained here:
Community & Economic Development Department 6615 Passons Boulevard, Pico Rivera, California https://www.pico-rivera.org/our-city/city-commissions/planningcommission/ Email public comments to efranco@pico-rivera.org prior to 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the City of Pico Rivera is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for a person with a disability. Please contact City Clerks Office at (562) 801-4389 if special program accommodations are necessary and/or if program information is needed in an alternative format. Special requests must be made in a reasonable amount of time in order that accommodations can be arranged.
OF SALE OF ABANDONED PROPERTY
Notice is given pursuant to sections 21700-21713 of the Business and Professions Code, Section 2328 of the Commercial Code, Section 535 of the Penal Code. 1812.607, that Norwalk Self Storage at 11564 E. Firestone
County of Los Angeles Department of Treasurer and Tax Collector
Notice of Divided Publication
Pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code (R&TC) Sections 3702, 3381, and 3382, the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector is publishing in divided distribution, the Notice of Online Sealed Bid Auction of Tax-Defaulted Property Subject to the Tax Collector's Power to Sell in and for the County of Los Angeles, State of California, to various newspapers of general circulation published in the County. A portion of the list appears in each of such newspapers.
Notice of Online Sealed Bid Auction Tax-Defaulted Property Subject to the Tax Collector's Power to Sell (Sale No. 2025C)
Whereas, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles, State of California, directed the County of Los Angeles Treasurer and Tax Collector (TTC), to sell certain tax-defaulted properties at the online sealed bid auction.
TTC does hereby give public notice, that unless said properties are redeemed, prior to the close of business on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, the last business day prior to the first day of the online sealed bid auction, TTC will offer for sale and sell said properties on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time, through Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time, to the highest bidder, for not less than the minimum bid, at online sealed bid auction at https:// www.govease.com/los-angeles.
Free computer access is available at public libraries located throughout Los Angeles County. The County and its employees are not liable for the failure of any electronic equipment that may prevent a person from participating in an online auction.
The only persons that are eligible to submit bids are owners of contiguous parcels or a holder of record of either a predominant easement or right-of-way easement.
Bidders are required to pre-register at https://www.govease.com/ los-angeles and submit a deposit of $250.00, or 10 percent of the spend limit that is set by each registered bidder, whichever is greater. Bid deposits must be in the form of a wire transfer, cashier's check, bank-issued money order, or electronic check (eCheck) at the time of registration. Registration will begin on Friday, November 21, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time and end on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Pursuant to R&TC Section 3692.3, TTC sells all properties ``as is`` and the County and its employees are not liable for any known or unknown conditions of the properties, including, but not limited to, errors in the records of the Office of the Assessor (Assessor) pertaining to improvement of the property.
If TTC sells a property, parties of interest, as defined by R&TC Section 4675, have a right to file a claim with the County for any proceeds from the sale, which are in excess of the liens and costs required to be paid from the proceeds. If there are any excess proceeds after the
of Los Angeles Department of Treasurer and Tax Collector
Notice of Divided Publication
Pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code (R&TC) Sections 3702, 3381, and 3382, the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector is publishing in divided distribution, the Notice of Online Sealed Bid Auction of Tax-Defaulted Property Subject to the Tax Collector's Power to Sell in and for the County of Los Angeles, State of California, to various newspapers of general circulation published in the County. A portion of the list appears in each of such newspapers.
Notice of Online Sealed Bid Auction Tax-Defaulted Property Subject to the Tax Collector's Power to Sell (Sale No. 2025C)
Whereas, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles, State of California, directed the County of Los Angeles Treasurer and Tax Collector (TTC), to sell certain tax-defaulted properties at the online sealed bid auction.
TTC does hereby give public notice, that unless said properties are redeemed, prior to the close of business on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, the last business day prior to the first day of the online sealed bid auction, TTC will offer for sale and sell said properties on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time, through Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time, to the highest bidder, for not less than the minimum bid, at online sealed bid auction at https:// www.govease.com/los-angeles.
Free computer access is available at public libraries located throughout Los Angeles County. The County and its employees are not liable for the failure of any electronic equipment that may prevent a person from participating in an online auction.
The only persons that are eligible to submit bids are owners of contiguous parcels or a holder of record of either a predominant easement or right-of-way easement.
Bidders are required to pre-register at https://www.govease.com/ los-angeles and submit a deposit of $250.00, or 10 percent of the spend limit that is set by each registered bidder, whichever is greater. Bid deposits must be in the form of a wire transfer, cashier's check, bank-issued money order, or electronic check (eCheck) at the time of registration. Registration will begin on Friday, November 21, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time and end on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Pursuant to R&TC Section 3692.3, TTC sells all properties ``as is`` and the County and its employees are not liable for any known or unknown conditions of the properties, including, but not limited to, errors in the records of the Office of the Assessor (Assessor)
Please direct requests for information concerning redemption of tax-defaulted property to
pertaining to improvement of the property.
If TTC sells a property, parties of interest, as defined by R&TC Section 4675, have a right to file a claim with the County for any proceeds from the sale, which are in excess of the liens and costs required to be paid from the proceeds. If there are any excess proceeds after the application of the minimum bid, TTC will send notice to all parties of interest, pursuant to State law.
Please direct requests for information concerning redemption of tax-defaulted property to the Treasurer and Tax Collector, at 225 North Hill Street, Room 130, Los Angeles, California 90012. Phone calls can be directed to (213) 974-2045, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Number on the Map Page. If a change in the AIN occurred, the publication will show both prior and current AINs. An explanation of the parcel numbering system and the referenced maps are available at the Office of the Assessor located at 500 West Temple Street, Room 225, Los Angeles, California 90012, or at assessor.lacounty.gov. I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed at Los Angeles, California, on October 17, 2025.
ELIZABETH BUENROSTRO GINSBERG Treasurer and Tax Collector County of Los Angeles State of California
The real property that is subject to this notice is situated in the County of Los Angeles, State of California, and is described as follows: PUBLIC AUCTION NOTICE OF SALE OF TAX-DEFAULTED PROPERTY SUBJECT TO THE POWER OF SALE(SALE NO.
ATTACHMENT “A”
Published at Los Cerritos Community News 12/5/25
and just this group of guys who have really bought into what we’re trying to do here. We’re just excited for the opportunity. I know some of the other [winter] coaches are a little unhappy because we have so many multi-sport athletes. But they can wait a couple more weeks because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that we have in front of us; something that doesn’t happen all the time.”
“We’re excited, but we have to get to work,” said Hefner. “The job’s not finished yet, and we still have a journey ahead of us. The goal has always been [to win] CIF and everything else is the cherry on top. But now, [a state title] is our goal, and I think when we have our mind set on something, this team really likes to achieve it.”
with no time remaining in the game.
In fact, when senior Jordan Heredia drained a downtown shot to give the Pioneers the eight-point lead, the team would not attempt another field goal. Artesia would go seven of 10 from the charity stripe in the final 44.5 seconds.
Heredia led the Pioneers with 17 points and had a pair of rebounds and as many steals while Stewart came off the bench to record 14 points, grab 10 rebounds and have a pair of assists. Atkins and Young each chipped in with 11 points with the former getting six rebounds and the latter four boards.
“We’re still trying to figure it out; if we’re a man or a zone team,” said Myles. “Last year, we were primarily a zone team. We’re still in a learning process. The game is based on our opposition; I scout out [opponents] and see film to see how we want
to play that game. I know we’ll be better in January. Once they get more games under their belt, we’ll be alright.”
Artesia dropped a 65-58 contest to Mary Star of the Sea High this past Monday and will travel to Tarbut V’Torah High on Tuesday before going to the San Jose to participate in the 18th Annual Lynbrook Winter Classic, which begins on Thursday. It’s first opponent is Independence High out of San Jose.
Artesia had not lost the first game in its tournament until this season but the win against the Eagles put Myles at 10-10 in the tournament. In fact, this was the first time Myles had won the final game of the tournament. His predecessor, Ray Walker, went 13-11 in the Artesia Varsity Winter Classic, going 3-1 in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
“Coach Walker did start this tournament, so thanks to him,” said Myles. “But this tournament is tough because we have good
teams in it. It’s all teams who are probably going to make the playoffs. We don’t schedule this tournament just to get wins. We schedule it because we want competitive teams. We don’t put ourselves in the easy bracket; and when I seeded this tournament, we were number seven because I felt that’s where we were. So, we kind of finished where we were supposed to finish.”
PREVIEW from page 11
getting a pair.
It’s been a tale of two seasons for the Patriots who began the season losing five of their first six games and seven of their first nine. But the fifth place team from the Eastern League is riding a five-game winning streak including a 28-14 win over Central High from El Central in Imperial County last Saturday.
Quarterback Kaleb Runkle completed 18 of 23 passes for 280 yards and all four touchdowns with Ronnie Scott on the receiving end of four of those passes for 129 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Kai Rosier caught six passes for 70 yards as the Patriots are more of a passing team just like V.C.
Runkle has passed for 2,616 yards and 26 touchdowns while throwing only six interceptions, and Rosier, who has caught seven touchdowns, needs 24 yards to reach 1,000 for the season. Behind him on the reception total is Hank Houston, with 43 catches for 393 yards and six touchdowns, then Julian Morones, with 25 receptions for 204 yards. Four other players have caught at least 15 passes.
Christian has rushed for 1,359 yards with Runkle (115 carries, 493 yards, three touchdowns), Morones (62 carries, 423 yards, one touchdown) and Jacob Kirchhoefer (104 carries, 296 yards, three touchdowns) the leaders on the ground.
In playoff wins over Brawley High, Ramona High and Army-Navy High prior to the title game, the Patriots scored 116 points and given up 75. But the regular season was a different story as they scored 42, 16 and 13 points in the three wins while giving up at least 28 points in four of the seven losses.
The only other HMG-Community News area football team to play in a state regional contest was Cerritos High, which fell to Wasco High 7-6 two seasons ago in Division 6-AA action. That same season, the Ramona team that fell to V.C. defeated Pleasant Valley High 35-7 to capture the state’s Division 5-AA championship.
The winner of Friday’s game will face either Oakland-based Bishop O’Dowd High (9-4) or Chico High (11-2) next week for the state championship.
Prediction: V.C. 28, Christian 17
Last week: 1-0
Season to date: 47-25
from page 11
just going out to play basketball. They’re not going to see too many teams that are as strong as the Sierra Canyon’s or even Los Al last year.”
Cerritos had five more free throws (19) than field goals and Beckman five more rebounds (28-23) than the Dons and had a 14-10 advantage in the turnover department.
Junior Devon Hardy led Cerritos with 15 points and added three rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. He is the only player to reach double figures in scoring in multiple games this season. Patel posted a career-high eight points off the bench while Ribac and junior Jeremiah Ju each had six points with Ju also grabbing three rebounds.
Cerritos lost to La Serna High 63-50 this past Monday and will host Downey High on Friday before travelling to Buena Park High and Los Alamitos on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.
