CALTRANS REROUTED TRAFFIC WITHOUT INFORMING CERRITOS, ILLEGAL MOVE WILL COST THE CITY OVER $5 MILLION
“Caltrans has failed to coordinate thus far, and any furthersultation with the City and its
The City blasted Caltrans for establishing a detour route on southbound Carmenita between the I-5 and Artesia Blvd., and eastbound Artesia Blvd. between
and Whitney high schools. Nevaeh Salinas of Urinetown captured Best Actress honors and advanced to represent the region at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, known as the Jimmy Awards, on Broadway. Courtesy ABCUSD.
Could Los Angeles See 30 Inches of Rain? El Niño Raises the Possibility This Winter
Historic El Niño winters have doubled Los Angeles rainfall totals, and scientists say another powerful Pacific pattern is taking shape.
By Brian Hews
approximately 34 inches of rain, more than double its normal yearly total. The storms triggered widespread flooding, landslides and coastal damage throughout Southern California. Homes were destroyed, roads collapsed and beaches suffered severe erosion.
ABCUSD
Productions
Score
Big at Spirit of the Macy Awards
By Brian Hews
Cerritos Faces $10.6 Million Deficit as City Warns Financial Model Is Unsustainable
ta or Artesia is a city designated truck route, commercial vehicles over 6,000 pounds are strictly prohibited on the streets, per City Municipal Code.”
Flat revenue growth, slowing auto sales, rising costs and deferred infrastructure needs force difficult budget decisions ahead.
By Brian Hews
The Caltrans rerouting of trucks has caused severe damage and increased traffic at peak hours, the extensive damage alone is estimated “to cost $5.2 million to repair,” and the “average daily traffic on said streets has significantly increased and
CERRITOS — The Cerritos City Council will hold a June 22 public hearing to consider the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget, facing a projected $10.6 million deficit and an unsustainable financial outlook.
BY THOM MARTIN
For decades, Cerritos enjoyed a reputation as one of Southern California’s most financially stable cities, supported by strong retail activity, automobile sales, and redevelopment-era revenues. However, city staff is now warning that the revenue sources that fund the city’s extensive services, facilities, and community programs are no longer keeping pace with rising costs.
The City of Lakewood held its annual Award of Valor luncheon on Nov. 6 to thank the men and women of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Fire Department, as well as the community volunteers who protect and serve Lakewood.
flows onto arterial streets.”
cades,” staff wrote.
The City then cited the numerous safety hazards caused by the rerouting of traffic, concerns that have been voiced by Cerritos residents in calls and emails to both HMG-LCCN and the City.
The budget follows three study sessions held by the City Council, including a final workshop on June 8 in which councilmembers directed staff to move forward with a single budget scenario rather than a previously discussed dual-budget approach that would have included a potential voter-approved Transactions and Use Tax.
The rerouting on Carmenita takes large trucks by two schools, Stowers Elementary and Carmenita Middle school in addition
Under the adopted approach, the city assumes no new revenue sources and instead relies on expenditure reductions, reserve funding, and operational changes to close the budget gap.
City officials estimate a limited hiring freeze could save approximately $1.7 million during the upcoming fiscal year. Another $3.7 million in savings would come from deferred maintenance of city facilities and landscaping.
action, jumping out of her car grabbing the boy and helping the woman.
She took them to Artesia High School, where they received medical assistance and were ultimately transported to the hospital. Because of her selfless actions, the City of Lakewood recently awarded Bridget with the Mayor’s Award at the city’s annual Awards of Valor ceremony.
Additional reductions include a 20 percent cut in non-Arts Education programming, staffing, and marketing initiatives at the Cerritos Center for the PerSee CERRITOS, Page 7
For most Southern Californians, rain is something that arrives a few days at a time before disappearing for weeks. But history shows that when a powerful El Niño develops in the Pacific Ocean, California’s weather can change dramatically.
Scientists say the current El Niño has the potential to become
ABC Unified School District theater students, directors and staff celebrated a dominant performance at the 2026 Spirit of the Macy Awards, earning top honors for productions from Artesia, Cerritos, Gahr and Whitney high schools.
Bridget Perrizo, a staff member at Artesia High was honored when she helped two people that was being attacked by a dog.
The warning comes in the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget, where staff states that “overall, revenue growth has remained relatively flat over the past four years.”
Bridget, was headed back to work from lunch when she spotted a dog attacking a woman and young boy. The dog had knocked them to the ground and they were screaming for help.
Bridget immediately took
TRASH piles up at a condominium complex in Hawaiian Gardens. The City chose Waste Resources Incorporated as their new hauler, who said they would immediately begin trash pick up. Photo Brian Hews.
Fifteen years later, another powerful El Niño arrived. The winter of 1997-98 brought a similar barrage of storms that flooded neighborhoods, washed out roads and caused billions of dollars in damage statewide. Once again, rainfall totals in parts of Southern California exceeded 30 inches.
"I always wondered what I would do when faced with a situation like this one," said Perrizo. "By the grace of God, I had the courage to take action. I'm so glad that both the mom and son are okay, and I'm so honored to receive this award.”
TRASH WILL FINALLY GET CLEANED UP IN HAWAIIAN GARDENS
“Poor leadership, no foresight on the situation, typical of this City Council,” former Hawaiian Gardens Mayor Rey Rodriguez
and held a meeting within two days to address the situation.
The staff report included in last week’s meeting presented clear evidence that CWS was in violation of its contract with the City, but Mayor Maravilla and the Council were apparently afraid toing residents driving by stinky piles of trash for the foreseeable future.
DURING A STRONG EL NIÑO, warmer Pacific Ocean waters can strengthen and redirect the jet stream, increasing the chances of frequent winter storms across California. Some of the state’s wettest and most destructive winters have coincided with powerful El Niño events.
one of the strongest on record, raising a question that hasn’t been seriously asked in years: Could Los Angeles once again receive 30 inches or more of rain in a single season?
The possibility may sound far-fetched in a region that averages roughly 14 inches of rain annually, but it has happened before.
During the legendary El Niño winter of 1982-83, downtown Los Angeles recorded
The voluminous staff report
Those two winters remain the benchmark for what Californians call a “Super El Niño.” El Niño occurs when ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific become unusually warm, altering weather patterns around the globe. In California, strong El Niño events often increase the odds of a wetter winter by steering more Pacific storms to-
See RAIN, Page 4
The Spirit of the Macy Awards recognizes excellence in high school musical theater throughout Southern California, honoring outstanding student performers, directors, choreographers, musicians and productions. Schools compete in a variety of categories, with top performers earning opportunities to advance to national recognition.
The report notes that fourth-quarter sales tax receipts declined 2.2 percent year over year, largely due to slowing automobile sales. The trend is significant because sales tax remains the city’s largest recurring revenue source, accounting for roughly one-third of annual revenues.
Authorities Continue Search for Suspect
HERO page 15
included several default letters, which, under California’s Public Resource Code Section 49000, starts the clock on termination.
City staff even went the extra step and attempted to work with CWS to cure the breaches and defaults starting in March of this year, each of which gave CWS steps to resolve the defaults.
In addition to the default notices, the City also attempted to arrange meetings with CWS but CWS did not attend most meetings.
ABCUSD students earned numerous awards and nominations, including two productions that were named among the Top 10 Shows of the Year. The district also received recognition for ensemble performances, acting, choreography and technical theater achievements. The awards reflect the strength of ABCUSD’s performing arts programs and the dedication of students, teachers and theater staff who spent months preparing productions for competition.
See TRASH page 15
Leading the district’s accomplishments was Nevaeh Salinas, who portrayed Hope Cladwell in Artesia High School’s production of Urinetown. Salinas earned Best Actress honors and advanced to represent the region at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, better known as the Jimmy Awards which will take place this month at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway in New York City, where she will join some of the nation’s top performers competing for national honors.
Many of the city’s largest sales tax generators are located within the Cerritos Auto Square, including AutoNation Toyota Cerritos, Cerritos Acura, Cerritos Nissan Infiniti, Kia of Cerritos, Lexus of Cerritos, Jaguar Land Rover Cerritos, Penske Buick GMC, Penske Chevrolet, Norm Reeves Honda, Norm Reeves Ford, and Norm Reeves Hyundai.
While revenue growth has slowed, expenditures continue to rise.
Authorities say an altercation involving several juveniles escalated into gunfire outside Cerritos Chick-fil-A before the suspect fled.
LCCN Staff Report
According to the budget report, operating expenditures increased by approximately $2.7 million while capital project spending increased by approximately $8.6 million. Much of the increase was attributed to the emergency failure of the city’s C-4 water well and the resulting need to purchase imported water while repairs were completed.
Perhaps the most striking statement in the report appears in the section discussing the city’s long-term outlook.
“We cannot sustain the programs, services, and facilities residents have enjoyed for de-
CERRITOS — A 15-yearold boy was fatally shot outside a Chick-fil-A restaurant near Los Cerritos Center Saturday afternoon, prompting an ongoing homicide investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
ARTESIA HIGH staff-member Bridget Perrizo received the Award of Valor from Lakewood for saving two in a dog attack.
Deputies responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 4 p.m. June 13 in the area of Gridley Road and 183rd Street, adjacent to the popular shopping and dining district. Upon arrival, deputies found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The teenager, later identified
ABC THEATER STUDENTS SHINE AT MACY AWARDS: ABC Unified School District theater students, directors and staff celebrated a dominant performance at the 2026 Spirit of the Macy Awards, earning top honors for productions from Artesia, Cerritos, Gahr
Darnell Jones
Cerritos Delays $1.1 Million Swim Center Boiler Project After Water Well Emergency
LCCN Staff Report
A planned $1.1 million rehabilitation project at the Cerritos Olympic Swim and Fitness Center has been placed on indefinite hold after the city redirected funding to the well that failed in 2025.
According to a June 8 staff report, the city awarded a $1,135M contract in June 2024 to F.M. Thomas Air Conditioning Inc. for rehabilitation work at the Swim and Fitness Center.
However, construction never began after building code changes required revisions to the approved plans and specifications.
The project’s centerpiece was replacement of the swim center’s 43-year-old boiler system.
The delay became more significant after the city experienced a major failure at the C-4 Water Well in October 2025.
The failure created an urgent need for repairs and forced the city to purchase imported water during repairs.
To address the emergency, the City Council voted Dec. 22, 2025, to redirect funding originally allocated for the swim center project to water well repairs and imported water purchases.
City staff reported the existing boiler remains operational and does not require immediate replacement.
At its June 8 meeting, the City Council unanimously agreed to defer the project indefinitely and continue operating the current system while Public Works monitors its condition.
ABCUSD Class of 2026 Earns More Than
$32 Million in Scholarships and Grants
ABCUSD News Service
The ABC Unified School District proudly celebrates the Class of 2026, which earned more than $32.1 million in scholarships and grants.
“This achievement reflects the bright future ahead for the Class of 2026,” said ABCUSD Board of Education President Mr. Francisco Noyola. “Our graduates have earned opportunities that will help them pursue their goals and continue making a positive difference in their communities. We are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished.”
This year’s graduating class earned a total of $32.1 million in scholarships and grants, including highly competitive national awards and scholarships from local community organizations.
The total represents an increase from last year’s scholarship earnings and continues ABCUSD’s tradition of preparing students for success beyond graduation.
“Earning more than $32 million in scholarships and grants is an extraordinary accomplishment that reflects the strength of our students and the opportunities available to them throughout their educational journey,” said Superintendent Dr. Gina Zietlow. “We are proud to celebrate the Class of 2026 and look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the future. Preparing students for success after graduation remains a cornerstone of ABCUSD’s mission.”
Artesia High Teacher a National Finalist for Teaching Excellence Award
50
for
for careers in skilled trades and technical professions.
ABC Unified School District is proud to announce that Artesia High School automotive instructor Mr. Marty Supple has been named a finalist for the 2026 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence, a national award recognizing outstanding Career Technical Education (CTE) educators.
Mr. Supple is one of 50 finalists selected nationwide for the prestigious award, which honors public high school teachers who prepare students for careers in technical and skilled professions.
“Mr. Supple’s dedication to students and hands-on learning has made a lasting impact on our school community,” said Artesia High School Principal Sergio Garcia. “This recognition is well-deserved, and we are proud to celebrate this achievement.”
As instructor of Artesia High School’s Automotive Career Technical Education program, Mr. Supple provides students with real-world learning experiences that build technical knowledge, critical-thinking skills,
and career readiness. Through hands-on instruction and industry-focused coursework, students gain valuable experience while exploring careers in the automotive field.
“This recognition reflects the outstanding opportunities available through our Career Technical Education programs,” said ABCUSD Superintendent Dr. Gina Zietlow.
“Mr. Supple’s dedication helps students discover their passions, develop in-demand skills, and prepare for success after high school.”
The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence recognizes exceptional educators who help students develop the knowledge and skills needed for future careers. Winners will be announced later this year.
Mr. Supple’s recognition highlights ABCUSD’s commitment to providing innovative, career-connected learning opportunities that prepare students for continued education and successful careers.
ARTESIA HIGH automotive instructor Marty Supple, right, has been named one of just
finalists nationwide
the 2026 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. The award recognizes educators who prepare students
Trump’s War, Trump’s Tariffs, Trump’s SNAP Cuts — Working Families Get the Bill
By Brian Hews LCCN Editor and Publisher
Americans are about to learn what happens when political promises meet economic reality.
President Donald Trump promised lower prices, economic strength, and prosperity for working families. Instead, Americans are paying more for essentials and losing food assistance, all direct results of the administration’s policy choices—choices now affecting kitchen tables nationwide, despite claims these are unrelated issues.
After months of conflict with Iran, disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, soaring oil prices, rising shipping costs, and renewed inflation fears, consumers are being told not to expect relief anytime soon. Gasoline, groceries, airfare, fertilizer, and countless everyday goods may remain expensive long after the shooting stops. The Associated Press reports that even with a tentative agreement reopening the Strait of Hormuz, prices are expected to remain elevated for months because wars disrupt supply chains, increase transportation costs, and create uncertainty that businesses inevitably pass on to consumers.
Columbia University economist Brett House says it remains unclear whether Americans will ultimately be better off. University of Michigan food economist David Ortega expects grocery prices to remain elevated because of higher fuel, fertilizer and transportation costs. Energy analyst Michael Lynch notes that increases in gasoline prices often take weeks to work their way through the broader economy. The consensus among experts is that the economic effects of war and supply chain disruptions can persist long after a ceasefire is announced. costs. Michael Lynch adds that gasoline prices take weeks to be reflected in consumer prices. The consensus among experts is clear: the economic effects of war and supply chain interruptions will last well beyond the cease-fire.
For American families, the pain at the checkout stand continues. The result is visible at every gas station, grocery store, and online checkout cart in America.
But the war is only half the story.
Trump’s tariffs have compounded the costs Americans already face due to global instability. The footwear industry reports a price increase of over 5% from last year, and shipping costs are expected to remain high through 2027. These added expenses, caused by tariffs, ultimately reach American families, nullifying promises of prosperity.
Washington politicians love to talk tough about tariffs because they sound patriotic. The reality is much less glamorous. Tariffs are taxes paid by American businesses and American consumers. While the government collects the revenue, families ultimately pay the bill through higher prices on everything from shoes and clothing to household goods and school supplies.
Then there is SNAP.
Perhaps no issue better illustrates the gap between political promises and practical consequences.
When Congress debated Trump’s “Big Beuatiful Bill”, Republican lawmakers repeatedly assured Americans that vulnerable families and children would not be harmed. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, a Republican from Pennsylvania and chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, said the reforms would preserve assistance for “the most vulnerable among us, including children.” Rep. John Rose, a Republican from Tennessee, said the legislation would ensure that people in need continued receiving assistance. Rep. Dusty Johnson, a Republican from South Dakota, was even more direct, stating that families with
young children would not be affected by the bill.
Today, those assurances are difficult to square with reality.
Investigations by ProPublica and analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities show more than 700,000 children have disappeared from SNAP rolls in 12 states—a direct result of recent policy. Arizona lost over 205,000 children, Texas over 253,000, Louisiana over 79,000, and Massachusetts nearly 50,000. Across these states, child participation in SNAP has dropped about 15 percent. These losses reveal the costly effect of current decisions.
These are not simply accounting adjustments or statistical irregularities. They represent hundreds of thousands of children who no longer appear on food assistance rolls.
Defenders of the law argue that children were not directly targeted. That may be true, but public policy should be judged by outcomes, not intentions. The reforms increased administrative requirements for states, transferring major SNAP costs and stricter criteria to state agencies. As states face greater administrative burdens and pressure to reduce payment error rates, which are tied to future costs, the process of accessing SNAP has become more complicated for families.
Critics maintain the result is predictable: more paperwork, longer wait times, fewer available caseworkers, additional delays, and ultimately more eligible families falling through the cracks. For example, in Massachusetts, a reported 81 percent of callers seeking SNAP help could not reach a caseworker in one recent month. In Arizona, staffing shortages and application backlogs have grown, while food banks report increasing demand, all of which are driven by the new requirements.
The evidence is difficult to ignore. If hundreds of thousands of families were leaving SNAP because they had become financially secure, food bank lines would be shrinking. Instead, they are growing. Food banks across the country are reporting increased demand as participation declines.
Research regularly shows that children who receive adequate nutrition perform better in school, experience fewer health problems, earn more as adults, and are less likely to require government assistance later in life. One major study found that every dollar invested in nutrition assistance for children returns many times that amount in future economic and social benefits. Reducing hunger is not simply an expense; it is an investment in the nation’s future workforce, health, and economic security.
Today, American families confront mounting hardship: food costs remain high due to global instability, tariffs increase prices throughout the economy, and food assistance becomes scarcer. These pressures are especially hard on working families already battling rising expenses.
Trump and his supporters claim economic strength comes from tariffs and confrontation, but the evidence points to higher costs, reduced food assistance, and longer food bank lines. Stability, predictability, and affordable prices—not policy-driven hardship—are what families need. The question remains: did the promises made deliver results for American families?
Political leaders should be judged by results, not slogans.
The results are clear on every grocery receipt, visible in food bank lines, and reflected in the growing number of children losing access to food assistance once promised would remain untouched.
America was promised prosperity. Instead, America got the bill.
From the Mayor’s Desk: June 19, 2026
A strong business climate supports economic opportunity and a high quality of life. When Cerritos businesses succeed, so does the City. As we lean into Strategic Plan Goal No. 4, Strengthen Economic Development, we are mindful of the value Cerritos businesses bring and the opportunities ahead.
Cerritos offers a compelling case for businesses to invest here. As a no- to low-property-tax city, Cerritos businesses are minimally impacted by property taxes beyond those collected by Los Angeles County. Add to that a central location between Los Angeles and Orange counties and a highly educated, diverse workforce, and it is easy to see why companies of all sizes choose to call Cerritos home. Our strong business climate is also the result of deliberate policy choices and genuine partnerships.
One of the best ways our City show-
RAIN
Continued from Page 1
ward the state.
But scientists caution that El Niño is not a guarantee of flooding rains.
Many residents remember the highly publicized 2015-16 El Niño, which was forecast to rival the great events of 1983 and 1998. Cities stockpiled sandbags and homeowners prepared for the worst. Yet while some areas experienced above-average rainfall, Southern California largely avoided the historic deluge many forecasters expected.
That experience has made meteorologists more cautious when discussing today’s forecasts.
Rather than promising record rainfall, experts emphasize that El Niño simply shifts the odds toward wetter conditions. Other atmospheric patterns ultimately determine whether storms repeatedly strike California or track elsewhere.
Still, history suggests that when a truly powerful El Niño aligns with favorable weather patterns, the results can be dramatic.
Beyond rainfall, a strong El Niño can raise sea levels along the California coast, increase beach erosion and produce dangerous surf. Warmer ocean temperatures can also attract unusual marine species closer to shore and affect commercial fisheries.
For Southern California residents, however, the most important question remains simple: How much rain will fall?
The answer won’t become clear until winter approaches, but if this El Niño
cases that success is through our Business Spotlight program, which highlights longtime Cerritos businesses that have helped build our strong local economy. On June 22, my City Council colleagues and I will recognize VM Pharmacy as our latest Business Spotlight honoree. VM Pharmacy’s story reflects what so many of our local business owners tell us: that Cerritos’ supportive environment, central location and engaged customers make it an ideal place to grow.
Cerritos businesses are valued and supported in their success, and we appreciate their contributions to our community. We are proud to share their stories not just with our residents, but with prospective businesses as well. As we implement our Strategic Plan goals, the City will continue supporting current and prospective businesses in reaching their full potential, thereby benefiting our entire community. Congratulations to VM Pharmacy on this well-earned recognition. To learn more about our business climate and why businesses choose Cerritos, visit cerritos. gov/economicdevelopment.
reaches its full potential, California could once again experience the kind of season that residents talk about for decades. Whether it becomes another 1983 or 1998 remains unknown. But after years of drought concerns and weather extremes, forecasters will be watching the Pacific Ocean closely in the months ahead. California’s Biggest El Niño Winters 1957-58 — Very strong El Niño brings widespread precipitation.
1982-83 — One of the strongest on record; Los Angeles receives roughly 34 inches of rain and severe flooding occurs statewide.
1997-98 — Another “Super El Niño” produces widespread flood damage and rainfall totals exceeding 30 inches in parts of Southern California.
2015-16 — Forecast as a potentially historic event but fails to deliver the catastrophic flooding many expected.
2026-27 — Scientists say conditions could become among the strongest observed in modern records, but the ultimate impact on California rainfall remains uncertain.
Long-range forecasting remains an evolving science, and experts caution against focusing on any single prediction months in advance. However, one fact remains clear: California has experienced multiple winters in which rainfall totals shattered expectations. If forecasters are correct and the current El Niño strengthens further, residents may want to prepare for a wetter-than-normal season while hoping the storms arrive gradually rather than all at once.
Cerritos Mayor Lynda Johnson
Rotary Club Welcomes Cerritos City Manager Robert Lopez
MEMBERS of the Cerritos-Artesia Rotary Club pose with Cerritos City Manager Robert Lopez following a recent meeting in which Lopez discussed current city projects, future initiatives and challenges facing local government while answering questions from club members. Courtesy photo.
LCCN Staff Report
Members of the Cerritos-Artesia Rotary Club welcomed Cerritos City Manager Robert Lopez as the featured speaker during a recent meeting.
Lopez provided an overview of current and future projects in Cerritos, discussed opportunities and challenges facing local government, and answered questions from Rotary members during an interactive discussion.
Rotary representatives thanked Lopez for sharing his time and insights, noting the
importance of connecting with civic leaders and learning more about issues affecting local communities.
The meeting highlighted the Rotary Club’s ongoing commitment to fostering community engagement and strengthening partnerships that improve the quality of life throughout the region.
Lopez has served as Cerritos city manager since 2023 and oversees the city’s dayto-day operations, including public services, infrastructure projects and long-range planning initiatives.
Cerritos Recognizes Award-Winning Model United Nations Students
STUDENTS from Gahr High School Model United Nations (top) and Cerritos High School Model United Nations (bottom) pose with members of the Cerritos City Council, ABC Unified School District Board of Education and district staff after being recognized during the City of Cerritos’ inaugural Celebrating Cerritos event for their award-winning performances at National High School Model United Nations conferences.
The City of Cerritos recently honored students from Cerritos High and Gahr High for their outstanding performances at National High School Model United Nations conferences during the City’s inaugural Celebrating Cerritos recognition program.
The students were recognized for earning top honors at one of the nation’s most prestigious academic competitions, where participants develop diplomacy, public speaking, negotiation and problem-solving skills while representing countries in simulated United Nations sessions.
During the ceremony, members of the Cerritos City Council congratulated both Model United Nations teams for representing the city and the ABC Unified School District with distinction on a national stage.
The students were joined by City Coun-
Continued from Page 1
by family members as Darnell Jones, was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to investigators, the shooting occurred following an altercation involving several juveniles. Authorities said the suspect fled the scene on foot before deputies arrived.
As of press time, no arrests had been announced and investigators continue seeking information from witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses.
The shooting occurred in broad daylight near one of the region’s busiest retail centers, drawing concern from residents and shoppers who frequent the area. Los Cerritos Center attracts thousands of visitors daily and is surrounded by restaurants, retail stores and entertainment venues.
Family members described Jones as a caring and respectful teenager with a bright future ahead of him. His father spoke publicly following the shooting, remembering his son as a good young man and urging the community to come together in the wake of the tragedy.
A candlelight vigil was held Sunday evening near the shopping center, where family members, friends and community supporters gathered to honor Jones’ memory. Mourners shared stories, offered prayers and called for justice as the investigation continues.
The incident has renewed concerns about youth violence throughout Southern California and the increasing frequency of disputes that escalate into deadly encounters.
While investigators have not publicly released additional details about the circumstances leading up to the shooting, authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has information regarding the suspect to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau.
The Sheriff’s Department has not indicated whether the suspect is believed to be a juvenile or an adult.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact LASD Homicide investigators or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers. The investigation remains active.
cil members, ABC Unified School District Board of Education members, district administrators, family members and supporters during the recognition ceremony.
Model United Nations programs provide students with opportunities to research international issues, engage in debate, draft resolutions and collaborate with peers from around the world. Both Cerritos and Gahr high schools have established strong reputations for academic excellence and competitive success through their Model United Nations programs.
City officials said the students’ achievements reflect the dedication of the participants, advisors and families who support the programs and exemplify the academic excellence found throughout the Cerritos community.
La Mirada Theatre Names
Jason Daunter as New Theatre Director
National search ends with hiring of theater veteran whose career spans Broadway, Disney, arts education and major productions.
LCCN Staff Report
LA MIRADA — The City of La Mirada has appointed veteran theater executive and production manager Jason Daunter as the new Theatre Director of the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, city officials announced Monday.
Daunter assumes the role immediately and will oversee the planning, management and daily operations of the theater, including its staff, productions and rehearsal facilities.
The appointment comes as the the-
ater approaches its 50th anniversary and follows a nationwide search for a new leader.
City Manager Jeff Boynton praised the selection, citing Daunter’s extensive experience in professional theater and arts management.
“We are excited to have Jason join the City of La Mirada as our new Theatre Director,” Boynton said. “His extensive experience working with so many high-quality productions and organizations will be of tremendous benefit to the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. We look forward to his leadership, ideas and contributions in advancing the theater as it nears its 50th anniversary and beyond.”
Daunter brings more than 25 years of professional theater experience spanning Broadway, national tours, regional theaters, arts education and nonprofit leadership.
His Broadway and touring credits include productions of Wicked, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, West Side Story and Chicago. Throughout his career, he has worked alongside performers including Meryl Streep, Bryan Cranston, Jeff Daniels and Chita Rivera.
“I have spent my career at the intersection of artistic excellence and operational vision, and La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts is exactly the kind of institution where those two things matter equally,” Daunter said. “The work done here is rooted in the community it serves. I look forward to the collaboration, building on the legacy, expanding our reach through bold programming and meaningful arts education, and continuing to make this theatre a very special home for artists and audiences alike.”
Daunter has held leadership roles with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the American Theatre Wing and the Educational Theatre Association, where he helped develop national programs promoting student theater and arts education.
Regionally, he has collaborated with the Geffen Playhouse, Carnegie Hall and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Most recently, he worked with Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Live Entertainment on the launch of the Disney Destiny cruise ship.
A graduate of Northwest Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in theatre, Daunter currently serves on the advisory board of the Foundation for Stage Managers.
The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, located at 14900 La Mirada Blvd., is one of Southern California’s premier regional theaters and has hosted Broadway-caliber productions, concerts and community events for nearly five decades.
ABC Unified Superintendent Selected for National AI Leadership Fellowship
CERRITOS — ABC Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Gina Zietlow has been selected as one of just 50 school leaders nationwide to participate in a new artificial intelligence fellowship hosted by MIT, The School Superintendents Association, and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.
Zietlow will join others from across the country at the inaugural Leadership and Innovation Fellowship during America’s Youth AI Festival on July 17-19 in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The fellowship will bring together 50 school system leaders and 100 high school students representing all 50 states to examine how artificial intelligence can be responsibly integrated into K-12 education.
A centerpiece of the event will be a Student Senate composed of two student representatives from each state. The students will convene at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute and develop a proposed National AI Policy for public K-12 classrooms. Organizers say the recommendations will be distributed through AASA’s network of more than 10,000 school leaders nationwide.
The school leader fellowship will feature workshops led by experts from MIT’s Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education initiative, known as MIT RAISE. Participants will learn about responsible AI implementation, educational leadership and the future of teaching and learning in an increasingly technology-driven world.
The event comes as school districts nationwide continue to develop policies governing the use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and other rapidly evolving technologies. Educators are increasingly focused on balancing innovation with concerns about academic integrity, privacy, ethics and digital literacy.
ABC Unified has long emphasized technology, STEM education and college-and-career readiness programs, making Zietlow’s selection a notable recognition of the district’s leadership in educational innovation.
The fellowship is being organized by Day of AI, MIT RAISE, AASA and the Edward M. Kennedy Institute as part of events celebrating the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. Organizers say the goal is to ensure both educators and students play a meaningful role in shaping how artificial intelligence is used in schools and society in the years ahead.
JASON DAUNTER brings more than 25 years of experience in theater production, arts education and entertainment management.
Dr. Gina Zietlow
Nancy Forwark Hay, Longtime La Mirada Resident and Registered Nurse, Dies at 92
Nancy Forwark Hay, 92, of La Habra, passed away on June 3, 2026, at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, California.
Nancy was born on April 20, 1934, to Anna and George Forwark in Racine, Wisconsin. Growing up, she enjoyed singing and spending summers at the family cottage near Lake Ripley. She graduated from Washington Park High School.
In 1948, Nancy met Burton Morris Hay at a junior high school dance. She married Burt in 1954 while studying nursing at St. Luke’s Hospital and while he was serving in the United States Army. Together, they started their family in Racine with the birth of their son, Scott. After moving to California, they welcomed sons Kenneth and John and settled into their home in La Mirada in 1957.
Nancy worked as a registered nurse at several hospitals, including the Medical Center of La Mirada. She also held leadership positions in nursing
Register for La Palma’s
Annual 4th of July Fitness Run for Fun
LA PALMA — Registration is now open for the City of La Palma’s 44th Annual Fitness Run for Fun on Saturday, July 4, at La Palma Central Park.
The popular community event features 5K and 10K races, a 5K walk, and a Yankee Doodle Dash for children ages 12 and
Burton “Burt” and Nancy Forwark Hay.
education. Nancy enjoyed traveling and watching her sons play baseball, eventually becoming a devoted Angels fan. She was affectionately known as “Nurse Nancy” throughout the La Mirada neighborhood where she lived for more than 60 years.
Burt passed away on August 25, 2010. Nancy is survived by her three sons, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
under. City officials encourage participants to register early at lapalmaca.gov/run.
The event also includes the annual Pancake Breakfast hosted by the La Palma Kiwanis Club beginning at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast tickets may be added during registration for $10, with proceeds benefiting community programs and student scholarships. Volunteers are also needed and can earn service hours while assisting with race operations.
For registration, volunteer information, or event details, visit lapalmaca.gov/run or call 714-690-3350.
forming Arts, generating approximately $700,000 in savings. City officials have also discussed one-day-per-week facility closures, reduced operating hours, and reductions in community programming.
Earlier budget discussions included proposals to eliminate or significantly reduce numerous city services and events, including the Sky Knight helicopter patrol program, Community Calendar, Thursday Summer Concert Series, Halloween Festival, Festival of Friendship, Water Lantern Festival, Veterans Day Ceremony, Christmas Tree Lighting, Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, Memorial Day observance, and the L.E.A.D. Cerritos program. Several of those reductions were later partially restored following public feedback and council direction.
Despite the reductions, the city continues to face substantial long-term obligations.
A recent Facility Condition Assessment identified approximately $140 million in facility and park repair needs, $70 million in street rehabilitation projects, $8.8 million in tree replacements, and $6.3 million in playground replacements over the next decade. Together, those obligations total more than $225 million before accounting for future ADA improvements and other capital needs.
The report also notes that city utility operations continue to rely on General Fund support. Current budget plans include transfers of approximately $3 million to the Water Fund, $1 million to the Sewer Fund, and $857,000 to support electric utility operations.
Although the City Council ultimately abandoned consideration of a Transactions and Use Tax as part of the current budget, staff estimated that a one-percent sales tax measure could generate approxi-
mately $19.1 million annually, with more than half of the revenue coming from non-residents shopping in Cerritos.
The city’s financial challenges became increasingly evident during the June 8 budget workshop.
Council members unanimously voted to delay the next scheduled water and sewer rate increase from January 2027 until July 1, 2027. The council also directed staff to reduce projected utility revenues as a contingency in case a voter initiative seeking to repeal recent water and sewer rate increases ultimately succeeds.
In a separate 3-2 vote, the council directed staff to add $1.84 million to the City Clerk’s election budget to cover potential special election costs associated with two recall petitions and a separate initiative seeking repeal of the water and sewer rate increases.
As presented, the city would rely on reserve funds to cover the projected deficit, thereby reducing reserve balances and potentially affecting long-term fiscal sustainability.
The fiscal pressures now facing Cerritos did not emerge overnight. Budget documents indicate the city is confronting years of deferred infrastructure obligations, slowing revenue growth, changing consumer spending patterns, increasing labor and pension costs, inflationary pressures, and utility system expenses that accumulated across multiple city councils and administrations.
For perhaps the first time in modern Cerritos history, city officials are publicly acknowledging that the economic formula that supported decades of high service levels is no longer producing the same results.
The City Council will hold the public hearing and vote on the budget at its June 22 meeting, determining how Cerritos will address the $10.6 million deficit and the sustainability of future services.
By Jennifer Collins LCCN Travel Correspondent
THE DESERT AFTER DARK
SKULL ROCK Wind and rain carved this natural wonder over thousands of years
CHOLLA CACTUS GARDEN At sunrise and sunset, the cholla come alive, glowing like fields of gold.
KEYS VIEW A stunning panoramic overlook of the Coachella Valley and surrounding ranges.
DARK SKY PARADISE
An International Dark Sky Park, Joshua Tree offers some of SoCal’s best stargazing.
Sunrise over Jumbo Rocks. Morning light transforms the desert into a living, breathing masterpiece.
THE GUIDE
At first glance, Joshua Tree National Park looks harsh and unforgiving. Massive boulders rise from the desert floor. Knotted trees seem frozen in time. The sun beats down on a landscape that appears almost lifeless. Spend a few hours there, however, and a different picture emerges.
Joshua Tree is a place of contrasts. It is rugged yet peaceful, barren yet full of life, isolated yet visited by millions of people from around the world each year. Artists, photographers, hikers, rock climbers, campers and stargazers all come searching for something different. Most leave with the same feeling: they have experienced one of California’s most remarkable landscapes.
Located about two hours east of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park covers nearly 800,000 acres where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet. The park takes its name from the iconic Joshua tree, a member of the yucca family whose unusual shape has become a symbol of the American Southwest.
Early Mormon settlers reportedly believed the tree’s outstretched branches resembled the biblical Joshua reaching toward the heavens, giving the species its now-famous name.
The trees are only part of the attraction.
Throughout the park, enormous granite rock formations create a landscape distinct from anywhere else in Southern California. Millions of years of earth processes pushed the rocks upward before wind and water sculpted them into the dramatic formations visitors see today.
Among the most popular destinations is Skull Rock, a natural formation formed across centuries of erosion. Nearby, Hidden Valley offers one of the park’s most accessible hiking experiences. Surrounded amid towering rock walls, the area was once rumored to be used by cattle rustlers
hiding stolen livestock.
For people seeking panoramic views, Keys View provides one of the most spectacular overlooks in the region. From an elevation of more than 5,000 feet, visitors can see the Coachella Valley, the San Andreas Fault and, on exceptionally clear days, even Mexico.
Visitors should also plan ahead. Temperatures can exceed 100 degrees for much of the year, and services inside the park are limited. Travelers often drive dozens of miles between destinations, making water, sunscreen and a full tank of gas essential. Park officials recommend carrying more water than you think you’ll need and staying hydrated throughout your visit.
The beauty of Joshua Tree changes dramatically throughout the day.
Sunrise colors the landscape in tones of gold and orange, while sunset creates extended shadows that transform familiar scenes into something entirely new. Photographers often arrive before dawn and remain long after sunset to capture the park’s changing moods.
When darkness falls, another attraction emerges.
Joshua Tree is internationally recognized for its exceptionally dark skies. Far from the bright lights of major cities, the park offers some of the finest stargazing opportunities in California. On clear nights, the Milky Way stretches across the heavens in breathtaking detail. Meteor showers, planets and remote galaxies become visible to the naked eye.
The night skies have helped make Joshua Tree a favorite destination for astronomers, photographers and anyone looking for a signal of just how vast the universe can be.
Wildlife also flourishes in the seemingly adverse environment.
Desert cottontails, jackrabbits, coyotes and roadrunners are common sights. Bighorn sheep navigate rocky slopes with
ease, while dozens of reptile species have adapted to the desert climate. Spring often brings colorful wildflower blooms that briefly change the landscape.
The park’s unique atmosphere has also attracted generations of artists and musicians.
The nearby town of Joshua Tree, along with neighboring communities such as Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley, has become known for its creative culture. Art galleries, music venues and diverse shops draw visitors looking for inspiration beyond the park’s boundaries.
For many people, however, the greatest attraction is the silence.
In a region dominated by freeways, crowds and constant activity, Joshua Tree offers something increasingly rare: space to slow down. The vast open landscape encourages visitors to disconnect from their phones, leave behind daily distractions and simply observe the world around them.
Whether climbing among giant boulders, hiking desert trails, watching the sunset from a rocky overlook or gazing at stars on a moonless night, visitors often discover that Joshua Tree is more than a national park.
It is an experience.
The desert does not reveal itself all at once. Instead, it unfolds slowly, rewarding those willing to pause, look closer and appreciate the beauty concealed within its rough terrain.
That may be why so many people return again and again.
In Joshua Tree, the landscape is not simply something to see. It is something to feel. The peace, the light, the rocks and the stars combine to create a place that remains in memory well after visitors have returned home. For countless travelers, that lasting impression is what makes Joshua Tree one of California’s true natural treasures.
EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC
BEST STARGAZING SPOTS
Black Rock Campground, Keys View, Jumbo Rocks, Quail Springs.
NEW MOON NIGHTS
The darkest skies for the brightest stars. Check the lunar calendar before you go.
BRING A RED LIGHT
It helps preserve your night vision and keeps the stars bright.
DRESS IN LAYERS
Desert nights can get chilly, even after warm days.
BE PRESENT
No Wi-Fi. No rush. Just you, the desert, and the universe.
In the desert, the stars are always closer than you think.
This is the second in a series of stories on the new Suburban Valley Conference which involves 20 schools from the 605 League, Del Rio League, Gateway League and Mid-Cities League. The SVC will begin with the 2026-2027 school year and over the next month and a half, I will be getting comments from the athletic directors of the area schools on what it has been like the past year and the effects the new SVC will have on their respective schools this upcoming school year and beyond.
In less than two months, the 20262027 school year begins and with that, so will the new Suburban Valley Conference, a 20 school conglomeration of high schools stretching from Oxford Academy to the south, La Mirada High to the east, Lynwood High to the west, Whittier High to the north and 16 others in between. Artesia High, a longstanding member of the original Suburban League, was one of six schools that completed an eight-year stay in the 605 League.
Now, with the new conference and new leagues, the Artesia athletic program across the board feels it is in a better position than when the 605 League was formed as the Pioneers won 13 league titles in the major sports over the past eight years.
Artesia athletic director Matt Soriano was trying to put a master schedule together, but not all the sports have been decided in terms of how they want to determine who is in what league.
“It looks like we’re not complete on
SUBURBAN VALLEY CONFERENCE:
Artesia feeling good with new league configurations as debut of SVC grows closer
By Loren Kopff • @LorenKopff on X
track and swimming, but everything else is done,” said Soriano. “Some of the golf matches look a little funny because Pioneer didn’t have a team this year but had a team the year before. So they weren’t included, and we had to add them late.”
Soriano added that for track and field, the debate is whether to go back to dual meets or stay in the recently used cluster meet format. He says the former San Gabriel Valley League does neither but instead had a preview meet in which you can go to or not go to, a league championship for all levels, and a CIF-Southern Section qualifier meet, in which only the first place team advances to the CIF-SS preliminaries. You could still advance based on your time or mark, but in terms of a team, only first place gets you to the preliminaries.
“You don’t have to go to the first meet; the next meet is for a league championship, but it’s before the sit-out period and then they have the [league] prelims and finals where only varsity runs,” said Soriano. “I said that’s going to give my freshmen runners one meet in the entire year.”
Soriano said proposals on how to conduct the track and field issue were submitted earlier this month and will be voted on next month. Another sport in which the leagues weren’t decided yet was girls beach volleyball, in which 10 schools are expected to compete in two leagues with
Artesia being in the second league.
Although football has three leagues of six schools each for the upcoming 2026 season with the 605 League being omitted, at least for the first season of the SVC, Soriaro says that might change for the 2027 season as a new state proposal has been put on the table giving an odd number of berths to the playoffs instead of an even number.
For the fall sports, Artesia is placed in the Mid-Cities League, or second of the four, in girls flag football and boys water polo while the Pioneers will compete in the Rio Vista League, or third of the four, in girls golf, 11-man football and girls volleyball. In the remaining three sports-boys and girls cross country and girls tennis, the Pioneers will battle in the 605 League, or fourth of the four leagues. They are not in the top league, or Gateway League, in any of the fall sports.
“It’s funny because when we started this whole thing of how to place [teams] in league, and we said it was going to be strictly CIF-computer based…all these stats were posted so everyone could see,” said Soriano. “It looks wrong if I’m trying to sponge the numbers to make sure Artesia gets into a lower division. But I didn’t change any numbers anywhere. We’re basically in the bottom where we proba-
See ARTESIA , Page 11
SUBURBAN VALLEY CONFERENCE: Cerritos up for the challenge as it won’t be
This is the third in a series of stories on the new Suburban Valley Conference which involves 20 schools from the 605 League, Del Rio League, Gateway League and Mid-Cities League. The SVC will begin with the 2026-2027 school year and over the next month and a half, I will be getting comments from the athletic directors of the area schools on what it has been like the past year and the effects the new SVC will have on their respective schools this upcoming school year and beyond.
When Cerritos High moved from the Mission Valley League to the Suburban League at the beginning of the 19992000 athletic season, the Dons were average to very good across the board with its athletics. More times than not, the athletic teams would be overpowered by Artesia High, especially in boys and girls basketball, La Mirada High, in baseball and softball, and Mayfair High, in boys and girls basketball and softball. Then came the 605 League to commence the 2018-2019 school year and just like that, the Dons became the kings and queens in the major sports of the new circuit for the next eight years, winning 41 of the 61 possible league titles in the major sports. But now with the Suburban Valley Conference a few months away, the Dons will be facing new league rivals and many challenges that in time will keep them competitive.
“It is what it is,” said Cerritos athletic director Todd Denhart. “The power rankings are there, and I think it will be good for us. Is it going to be challenging; is it going to be more difficult? Yes, but that’s athletics, isn’t it? Nobody enjoys a pushover and in a football game when it’s 56-7 or a basketball game when you’re winning by 40 or 50 points… from that standpoint, [this conference] is
good. This is exactly what was needed.”
As a member of the original sevenmember Suburban League, Cerritos captured seven league championships in softball, six in girls basketball, four in girls volleyball, two in boys soccer and shared the 2001 football title. On top of that, Cerritos won the 1999 and 2000 CIFSouthern Section Division II softball championship, played for a CIF-SS championship in girls volleyball in 2009, advanced to the semifinals once and lost in the quarterfinals nine times.
There was a chance the league would have consisted of eight schools divided into two divisions. But Pioneer High was not invited to join despite getting the thumbs up to leave the Del Rio League. Three votes were taken over a span of 18 months and each time, the league rejected Pioneer’s admittance by a 4-3 decision. According to Denhart, Pioneer was granted permission to leave its league. Nearly a decade later, Pioneer, which was a member of the six-school 605 League, is slated to be a league rival of Cerritos in at least two sports for the first year of the SVC.
Cerritos may not win as many league titles in the beginning of the SVC, but the Dons will be competitive across the board, and why wouldn’t they be? For the first year, the black and gold will be situated in the Gateway League, or upper league, in at least seven sports, and the Mid-Cities League in nine sports. Only boys cross country (Rio Vista League) and boys soccer (605 League) will begin this new frontier in the bottom two leagues.
“I just turned in all my banners to get updated for the summertime; it was a heavy bag,” joked Denhart. “I don’t know if it’s going to be heavy next year. The competition is going to be there.
ARTESIA HIGH-INSIDE THE NUMBERS OF THE EIGHT MAJOR SPORTS WHILE IN THE 605 LEAGUE SINCE 2018
Football: 13-9 league record. one league title, second place four times, third place twice
Girls volleyball: 26-44 league record, third place three times, fourth place twice
Boys basketball: 57-18 league record, three league titles, second place three times
Girls basketball: 15-60 league record, fifth place five times, fourth place twice
Boys soccer: 61-5-7 league record, seven league titles, third place last season
Girls soccer: 39-18-7 league record, last two league titles, second place three times
Baseball: 27-36-1 league record, third place five times, fourth place once, last place once
Softball: 44-24 league record, third place three times, second place twice, one league title
Four CIF-Southern Section divisional championships
CIF-Southern Section divisional finalist: once
CIF-Southern Section semifinalist: three times
CIF-Southern Section quarterfinalist: six times
the favorites to win league titles
Nothing is going to be a cakewalk, and that’s what the conference was set up for. It’s based off competitive equity going into next year.
“We’re going to compete for a playoff spot,” he later said. “At this point last year, I could have told you these are the sports that we’re going to be able to qualify for the playoffs and these are the sports that we’re going to win a league championship, and I probably would have been 90 percent right. Our boys tennis team this year had a great year; first league championship in a few years. I think in all sports, we’ll have a chance to make the playoffs,” he continued. “As far as league championships go, that’s a different story. The competition is going to be more fierce, or more competitive. But that’s what we’re looking for.”
After losing the first six 605 League games, the football program turned it around and won the final 18 league games in the circuit. But at least for next season, the Dons will find a much tougher task with powers Downey High, La Serna High, Mayfair and Warren High, along with La Mirada. One could say that the winner of the Oct. 2 contest between Cerritos and La Mirada could determine who moves down to the MidCities League for the following season and who stays in the Gateway League.
“Back in the old Suburban League, we were getting waxed by three or four schools yearly and pretty handily,” said Denhart. “But the guy who have running the program right now is going to have his kids better prepared than in previous situations. The gap might still be there a little bit, but the gap is not going to be as wide as it was 10 years ago in the old Suburban League.”
Obviously. when you mix in Cerritos,
See CERRITOS , Page 11
CERRITOS HIGH-INSIDE THE NUMBERS OF THE EIGHT MAJOR SPORTS WHILE IN THE 605 LEAGUE SINCE 2018
Football: 18-6 league record, six league titles, last place twice Girls volleyball: 68-2 league record, six league titles, second place once Boys basketball: 67-8 league record, five league titles, second place twice Girls basketball: 60-15 league record, four league titles, second place twice, third place twice Boys soccer: 36-25-12 league record, one league title, second place twice, third place twice
Girls soccer: 60-3-1 league record, six league titles, second place twice Baseball: 60-4 league record, six league titles, second place once Softball: 66-2 league record, seven league titles
Two CIF-Southern Section divisional championships
CIF-Southern Section divisional finalist: three times
CIF-Southern Section semifinalist: four times
CIF-Southern Section quarterfinalist: five times
Continued from Page 10
bly should be except for girls volleyball. And girls volleyball didn’t get any bonus points for winning CIF because [the CIFSS] doesn’t release new rankings with playoffs included.”
He continued by remembering some 20 years ago when the CIF-SS gave basketball teams bonus points for advancing in the playoffs as opposed to losing in the first round, or a wild card game. Soriano said his teams are anywhere from the fourth to seventh place teams from the bottom in mostly every sport. Because of that, where the Pioneers are situated for the first year of the SVC makes it a perfect fit.
The girls volleyball team won the CIFSS Division 8 championship last season despite finishing in fourth place in the 605 League, but the Pioneers lost a lot of seniors from that squad. They figure to nab an automatic playoff spot as Firebaugh High, La Mirada, Mayfair High and Whittier are in the same league.
He believes the football team, which missed the playoffs for the first time since 2022 and the second time as a member of the 605 League, is in a great shape to win the Rio Vista League, which has Firebaugh, John Glenn High, Lynwood, Pioneer High and Whittier.
“I think we’re in a really good league for football,” said Soriano. “I know we’re young; I think we should be contending for a league title. The less number of nonleague games I have to go schedule, the better. So, if it doesn’t cost us more playoff berths to have more teams in it, sure, I want a bigger league because then I don’t have to find other teams who want to play us.
“I think we’re two years away because most of our skill players next year are juniors,” he added. “But this may have to be the year we go [to the playoffs] because if we win league, we get promoted to the middle league. So then it will be a little more of a struggle, even though we may all be seniors that year and have three years of varsity experience under our belt, this may be the year.”
When it comes to the winter sports, the Pioneers are set up for success as they are in the Rio Vista League in boys basketball and boys soccer and the 605 League for girls basketball. In boys basketball, they will have Bellflower High, Norwalk High, Paramount High and Santa Fe High as league opponents while in boys soccer, they will face former Suburban League foes La Mirada and Mayfair twice, along with Firebaugh and Pioneer. The girls soccer team figures to be put to the test with California High, Cerritos High, Lynwood and Santa Fe as new league opponents.
“Our girls soccer team has improved over the years,” said Soriano. “They had a CIF title [in the 2023-2024 season and] lost in the semifinals in overtime last year going up a division. Coach [Hugo] Umana said they’re in a little tougher league, but that’s the caliber they should be with. It may be hard for them to get an automatic berth, but we won’t have league scores of 10-0 against Glenn anymore.”
The key concern for both basketball programs is that they were hit hard by the transfer portal since the end of last season. Had the players stayed, Soriano believes the girls basketball team would have had the inside track to win the 605 League over Bellflower, Firebaugh, Glenn and La Mirada, Now, he’s hoping that the team will be in the top three to nab an automatic playoff berth.
Its going to be a different situation in the spring where the Pioneers will reunite with former Suburban League rivals Bellflower and Norwalk in baseball and Norwalk in softball. Artesia was eliminated in the baseball and softball playoffs last month by 2-1 results that went nine innings and should be competitive in the
Rio Vista League.
Other than swimming, the Pioneers will be in the Rio Vista League or the 605 League in six of the eight spring sports, thus creating better opportunities to finish in the top three and nabbing an automatic playoff berth.
“Baseball-wise, we’re going to struggle,” said Soriano. “I had seven seniors and six of them started and they’re also going to get hit with transfers because some of the players who were on varsity and contributed are no longer with us. Baseball might struggle a little in the [Rio Vista] League, but they will contend for a playoff berth. And I guess that’s the whole point of this new conference and league; that even if we lose people to transfers [and] even if I graduated people, I still have a chance to compete for that third playoff berth.”
He went on to say that the softball program is in a league where the competition might be better than what the 605 League offered the past eight seasons, but the point of the SVC is not to have contests that are run ruled. He also added that he envisions more teams finishing closer to each other in league, i.e., fewer teams going undefeated in league.
One major change in baseball will be the number of league contests everyone will play as all 20 teams will play a dozen league games instead of the home and home weekly series the old 605 League had been accustomed to. Playing each league foe three times had been the norm for the Gateway League and Mid-Cities League in the past, but unlike the former which plans to keep the same format of three games in a week, the other three leagues will have their teams face each other once before going to a home and home format for the other two league meetings.
Soriano says the reason for the first round, then the home and home format as opposed to the Gateway League’s format is due to smaller rosters and not enough pitching.
“It is less, once again, non-league games I have to schedule or who will have to try to find me,” said Soriano. “It should eliminate head to head ties because if you play someone three times, someone should win twice, and they should be competitive games.”
Over the past school year as the athletic directors and principals had their monthly meetings, Soriano says many votes taken went 20-0, or 16-0 if a school did not field a particular sport. He said the one big thing that did not go in favor of Artesia was the way the conference wanted to pick individual wrestlers for the CIF-SS playoffs. He says he still doesn’t understand what the other athletic directors voted on, but thought the process was rushed through.
Other than trying to work out the wrestling situation, Soriano said he had a positive look on the SVC when it was first presented; that it is good for Artesia athletics. The fact that the CIF-SS has been going through its own transformations in terms of staying with the competitive equity when it comes to determining playoff divisions is another positive factor for the lesser than ideal athletic teams.
“The thing about the CIF now is if you make the playoffs, you have a chance to win,” said Soriano. “There used to be years where when you were locked into a playoff division as it was, you would see some team run away with the division the whole time because they were ranked first the whole time.”
In conclusion, Soriano says he’s excited to see what happens and excited to see how it plays out, especially the comradery with the athletic directors. He stated it was easier with the six to 10 athletic directors while in the 605 League.
CERRITOS
Continued from Page 10
which had dominated the 605 League the past eight years along with La Serna, which had been the school to beat in the Del Rio League along with the powers from the Gateway League, and Mid-Cities League, league titles and new league rivals are bound to be more interesting and unexpected. Denhart admitted the meetings went better than expected and he gave high praise to Sean Steward, the Whittier Unified School District athletic director, saying he did a ‘phenomenal job”.
“I think it’s going to be okay,” said Denhart. “Obviously with 20 schools, there’s going to be some bumps along the way. But we just have to make sure we communicate with those schools we’re playing against as far as starting times, locations, this and that. It we’re to communicate, we’ll be okay.”
Denhart said the biggest challenge was putting together the schedule, but the athletic directors had to wait until the CIF-SS power rankings were final at the end of each regular season so all 20 schools could be slotted into the correct league. Denhart said the turnaround was much quicker than he thought.
“Virginia [Brice] at Whitney did a good job of the spring schedule as far as Spring Breaks and making sure people aren’t playing during their Spring Breaks,” he said. “The one that was really scary is winter, because you’ve got two basketball teams, two soccer teams two wrestling teams [who] all could be going to different places.”
The SVC decided for girls wrestling that the genders are going to be split as far as the power rankings go. Dates of the wrestling meets have been set, but undecided yet is who plays where. However, the schools who have both a boys and girls wrestling team will be home together, possibly against different schools.
While all 20 schools have faced each other in non-league events the past eight years or so, Denhart said that maintaining old rivals will continue if
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they are not in the same league for the beginning year or two. However, there will be some circumstances that do not, or will not warrant teams facing each other.
“Yes, most of our coaches will,” said Denhart on maintaining current rivalries. “It depends on the sport, too. Boys and girls tennis…Artesia is not going to want to play us, and that goes back to [our] conversation a year ago about Gahr and Cerritos baseball. And I always tell you that’s not beneficial for either baseball team. But I think in boys basketball, I don’t know if they were able to work anything out for this year. I know we do have a non-league game against Bellflower because we’re not in the same league.”
Bottom line is the Dons may not compile as many league titles in the first eight years of the SVC as they did in the 605 League. But in this era of competitive equity, the Dons are primed for many automatic playoff berths again with tougher competition. As a reminder, of the eight major sports while in the 605 League the past eight years, Cerritos missed the playoffs five times in nonCovid seasons and finished below third place five times with three coming from boys soccer and the other two from football.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Denhart. “Eight years ago when we moved into the 605 League, I think it was the right move for all the schools involved. Artesia went to the CIF finals [in football], John Glenn won a league championship in football, Cerritos won a championship. I think [the league] did what everyone wanted it to do.
“We created the 605 League for competitive equity, and I think initially, that’s what happened,” he continued. “Towards the end there, it got a little sideways, but I’ll tell you, it’s been a great eight years working with that group. We all knew each other really well; worked together well and each one of us would bend over backwards for the other. We’ll see how that works with 20 schools. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
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The bulk sale is intended to be consummated at the office of: JEAN ALLEN ESCROW CO, INC, 3341 CERRITOS AVENUE, LOS ALAMITOS, CA 90720 and the anticipated sale date is JULY 9, 2026
The bulk sale IS subject to California Uniform Commercial Code Section 6106.2.
The name and address of the person with whom claims may be filed is: JEAN ALLEN ESCROW CO, INC, 3341 CERRITOS AVENUE, LOS ALAMITOS, CA 90720. And the last day for filing claims by any creditor shall be JULY 8, 2026 which is the business day before the anticipated sale date specified above.
Dated: MAY 29, 2026
GELAI, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION, Buyer(s) ORD-5273196 LOS CERRITOS COMMUNITY NEWS 6/19/26 Legal Notices-Your Right to Know!
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF BULK SALE
(Division 6 of the Commercial Code)
Escrow No. 120-34735-CM
(1) Notice is hereby given to creditors of the within named Seller(s) that a bulk sale is about to be made on personal property hereinafter described.
(2) The name and business addresses of the seller are: ALONDRA TIRE & BRAKE LLC, 9519 ALONDRA BOULEVARD, BELLFLOWER, CA 90706
(3) The location in California of the chief executive office of the Seller is: SAME AS ABOVE
(4) The names and business address of the Buyer(s) are: ALONDRA AUTO INC. 673 WEST 1040 NORTH, AMERICAN FORK, UT 84003
(5) The location and general description of the assets to be sold are: CERTAIN FURNITURE, FIXTURES, EQUIPMENT, GOODWILL, INVENTORY AND OTHER ASSETS of that certain business located at: 9519 ALONDRA BOULEVARD, BELLFLOWER, CA 90706
(6) The business name used by the seller(s) at said location is: ALONDRA TIRE AND BRAKE
(7) The anticipated date of the bulk sale is JULY 8, 2026 at the office of: GLEN OAKS ESCROW, 24018 LYONS AVE. SANTA CLARITA, CA 91321, Escrow No. 120-34735-CM, Escrow Officer: CYNTHIA MOLLER
(8) Claims may be filed with Same as “7” above.
(9) The last day for filing claims is: JULY 7, 2026.
(10) This bulk sale is subject to Section 6106.2 of the Uniform Commercial Code.
(11) As listed by the Seller, all other business names and addresses used by the Seller within three years before the date such list was sent or delivered to the Buyer are: NONE.
DATED: JUNE 4, 2026
BUYER(S): ALONDRA AUTO INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION 5272283-PP LOS CERRITOS COMMUNITY NEWS 6/19/26
Legal Notices-Your Right to Know!
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Government Code Section 53398.66, the Artesia EIFD Public Financing Authority (“Public Financing Authority”) will hold a Public Hearing in the Council Chambers located at 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA 90701 at 6:00 p.m., on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The Public Financing Authority will meet at the time and place stated above to answer questions and hear written and oral comments and objections related to the proposed Artesia Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (“Artesia EIFD”) and the draft Infrastructure Financing Plan (“IFP”) prepared pursuant to Government Code Section 53398.63. This Public Hearing will be the first of two public hearings to consider the draft IFP, and the Public Financing Authority will consider any additional written and oral comments and take action to modify or reject the IFP, if appropriate. If the IFP is not rejected at this first public hearing, then the Public Financing Authority will hold a second public hearing tentatively scheduled at 6:00 p.m., on Monday, August 10, 2026, to be confirmed and noticed via mail, newspaper, and website, to consider adoption of the IFP.
The proposed Artesia EIFD encompasses approximately 324 acres of land, representing approximately 31% of the total acres of land in the City limits. The Artesia EIFD includes several, non-contiguous development opportunity site areas, including underutilized parcels with significant potential for private investment where current and planned land use guidance support a diversity of uses promoting economic development of, and enhancement of quality of life within, the boundaries of the EIFD and the surrounding community. Documentation related to the Artesia EIFD, including a copy of the draft Boundary Map, draft Infrastructure Financing Plan (“IFP”), and the Resolution of Intention, are available online at https://cityofartesia.us/EIFD and at City Hall, City Clerk’s Office, 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA 90701. Documentation may also be requested by emailing czambrano@cityofartesia.us or calling (562) 865-6262 extension 262. The purpose of the Artesia EIFD is to help address the shortfall in funding for the provision of public capital facilities of communitywide significance that provide significant benefits and promote economic development within the boundaries of the Artesia EIFD or the surrounding community, and for those facilities located outside the Artesia EIFD boundaries which also have a tangible connection to the work of the Artesia EIFD. Public facilities to be financed include, but are not limited to, transit, parking, parks and recreation, police, water collection and treatment, storm water conveyance and collection, solid waste transfer and disposal, childcare, and nonprofit community organization facilities. The draft IFP describes the proposed Artesia EIFD, the facilities, the City’s and County’s proposed allocations of tax increment, the plan for financing the facilities and for issuing debt, the proposed fiscal impact and other items required by Government Code Section 53398.63. EIFDs are created to pay for infrastructure and other public amenities from incremental property tax revenues, and do not increase property taxes or any other taxes for landowners within or outside the EIFD boundaries.
The public hearings will be open to the public at the City of Artesia, Council Chambers, 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA 90701. All persons having any comments or objections on the draft IFP, the proposed EIFD, or the regularity of any of the prior proceedings, may appear before the Public Financing Authority at the aforementioned time and place to provide written or oral comments or objections to the adoption of the proposed IFP or formation of the proposed EIFD by the Public Financing Authority. Each landowner and resident within the EIFD has a right to submit an oral or written protest before the close of the second public hearing. The protest may state that the landowner or resident objects to the Public Financing Authority taking action to implement the IFP. Any person having any comments on the proposed Artesia EIFD may do so as follows:
1. Attend In Person: Members of the public may participate in the Public Financing Authority hearings by attending in-person at the City of Artesia, Council Chambers, 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA 90701.
2. Submit Written Comments: Written comments can be submitted to the Public Financing Authority before or during the Public Financing Authority hearings. Those written comments will be made a part of the written record. Comments may be submitted via email to czambrano@cityofartesia.us, via mail to ATTN: Carmen Zambrano, 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA 90701, or dropped off in person at the City Clerk’s Office located at City Hall. Please identify “Artesia EIFD” in your comments.
NOTE: Any and all members of the public are invited to attend the Public Financing Authority hearings at the City of Artesia Council Chambers.
This Notice constitutes the notice pursuant to Government Code Sections 53398.66(c)(1) and 53398.66(i)(1).
Published: June 12, June 19, June 26, July 3, 2026
Posted: June 26, 2026
Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 6/12, 6/19, 6/26, 7/3/26
CITY OF ARTESIA
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO PLACE 2026-27
DELINQUENT SOLID WASTE SERVICE CHARGES ON THE PROPERTY TAX ROLL
The City of Artesia intends to collect delinquent solid waste service charges on the tax roll at the same time as the general taxes of the City.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN the City Council of the City of Artesia has caused a written report to be prepared and filed with the City Clerk regarding the City’s delinquent solid waste service charges for fiscal year 2026-2027. Such report contains a description of each parcel of real property receiving solid waste services furnished by the City and the amount of the delinquent charges for each parcel for fiscal year 2026-2027.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that on July 8, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. the Artesia City Council will conduct a public hearing on the above described report and the placement of the delinquent solid waste charges on the property tax roll. At the public hearing, the City Council will hear and consider all objections or protests to the reports and the placement of the charges on the property tax roll. The hearing will be located at the Artesia City Hall Council Chambers, 18747 Clarkdale Ave., Artesia, CA 90701. The report is on file in the Office of the City Clerk at 18747 Clarkdale Ave., Artesia, CA 90701 and available upon request.
If you wish to provide written comments, please deliver them to the Artesia City Clerk’s Office at 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA, or by email: publiccomments@cityofartesia. us, by 12:00 pm on the date of the public hearing, If you have questions about this notice, please contact the Artesia City Clerk’s Office at (562) 865-6262 or by email above.
PUBLISHED: June 12, 2026 and June 19, 2026
Jennifer Alderete, City Clerk
Published at Los Cerritos Community News 6/12 and 6/19/26
AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA
SE NOTIFICA POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE que de conformidad con la Sección 53398.66 del Código de Gobierno, la Autoridad de Financiamiento Público del EIFD de Artesia (“Autoridad de Financiamiento Público”) llevará a cabo una Audiencia Pública en el Salón del Concejo ubicado en 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA 90701, a las 6:00 p.m., el Miércoles 8 de Julio de 2026. La Autoridad de Financiamiento Público se reunirá en el lugar y hora indicados para responder preguntas y escuchar comentarios y objeciones escritas y orales relacionadas con el propuesto Distrito de Financiamiento de Infraestructura Mejorada de Artesia (“EIFD de Artesia”) y el borrador del Plan de Financiamiento de Infraestructura (“IFP”) preparado de conformidad con la Sección 53398.63 del Código de Gobierno. Esta Audiencia Pública será la primera de dos audiencias públicas para considerar el borrador del IFP, y la Autoridad de Financiamiento Público considerará cualquier comentario escrito y oral adicional y tomará medidas para modificar o rechazar el IFP, si corresponde. Si el IFP no es rechazado en esta primera audiencia pública, la Autoridad de Financiamiento Público llevará a cabo una segunda audiencia pública programada de manera tentativa a las 6:00 p.m., el Lunes 10 de Agosto de 2026, a confirmar y notificar por correo postal, periódico y sitio web, para considerar la adopción del IFP.
El propuesto EIFD de Artesia abarca aproximadamente 324 acres de terreno, lo que representa aproximadamente el 31% del total de acres dentro de los límites de la Ciudad. El EIFD de Artesia incluye varias áreas de oportunidad de desarrollo no contiguas, incluyendo parcelas subutilizadas con un potencial significativo para la inversión privada, donde los usos del suelo actuales y previstos apoyan una diversidad de usos que promueven el desarrollo económico y mejoran la calidad de vida dentro de los límites del EIFD y la comunidad circundante. La documentación relacionada con el EIFD de Artesia, incluyendo una copia del Mapa de Límites borrador, el borrador del Plan de Financiamiento de Infraestructura (“IFP”) y la Resolución de Intención, están disponibles en línea en https://cityofartesia.us/EIFD y en el Ayuntamiento, Oficina del Secretario Municipal, 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA 90701. La documentación también puede solicitarse enviando un correo electrónico a czambrano@cityofartesia.us o llamando al (562) 865-6262, extensión 262. El propósito del EIFD de Artesia es ayudar a atender el déficit de financiamiento para la provisión de instalaciones públicas de capital de importancia comunitaria que brinden beneficios significativos y promuevan el desarrollo económico dentro de los límites del EIFD de Artesia o la comunidad circundante, así como para aquellas instalaciones ubicadas fuera de los límites del EIFD que también tengan una conexión tangible con el trabajo del EIFD de Artesia. Las instalaciones públicas a financiar incluyen, entre otras: transporte público, estacionamientos, parques y recreación, policía, recolección y tratamiento de agua, transporte y recolección de aguas pluviales, transferencia y disposición de residuos sólidos, servicios de cuidado infantil e instalaciones de organizaciones comunitarias sin fines de lucro. El borrador del IFP describe el propuesto EIFD de Artesia, las instalaciones, las asignaciones propuestas de incremento fiscal de la Ciudad y el Condado, el plan para financiar las instalaciones y emitir deuda, el impacto fiscal propuesto y otros elementos requeridos por la Sección 53398.63 del Código de Gobierno. Los EIFDs se crean para pagar infraestructura y otras comodidades públicas a partir de los ingresos incrementales del impuesto a la propiedad, y no aumentan el impuesto a la propiedad ni ningún otro impuesto para los propietarios dentro o fuera de los límites del EIFD.
Las audiencias públicas estarán abiertas al público en el Salón del Concejo de la Ciudad de Artesia, 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA 90701. Todas las personas que tengan comentarios u objeciones sobre el borrador del IFP, el EIFD propuesto o la regularidad de cualquiera de los procedimientos previos, podrán comparecer ante la Autoridad de Financiamiento Público en el lugar y hora mencionados para presentar comentarios u objeciones escritas u orales respecto a la adopción del IFP propuesto o la formación del EIFD propuesto. Cada propietario de terreno y residente dentro del EIFD tiene el derecho de presentar una protesta oral o escrita antes del cierre de la segunda audiencia pública. La protesta podrá indicar que el propietario o residente se opone a que la Autoridad de Financiamiento Público tome medidas para implementar el IFP. Cualquier persona que desee hacer comentarios sobre el propuesto EIFD de Artesia puede hacerlo de las siguientes maneras:
1. Asistir en persona: Los miembros del público pueden participar en las audiencias de la Autoridad de Financiamiento Público asistiendo en persona al Salón del Concejo de la Ciudad de Artesia, 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA 90701.
2. Enviar comentarios por escrito: Los comentarios escritos pueden enviarse a la Autoridad de Financiamiento Público antes o durante las audiencias. Dichos comentarios formarán parte del registro escrito. Los comentarios pueden enviarse por correo electrónico a czambrano@cityofartesia.us, por correo postal a: ATTN: Carmen Zambrano, 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA 90701, o entregarse en persona en la Oficina del Secretario Municipal ubicada en el Ayuntamiento. Por favor identifique “Artesia EIFD” en sus comentarios.
NOTA: Todos los miembros del público están invitados a asistir a las audiencias de la Autoridad de Financiamiento Público en el Salón del Concejo de la Ciudad de Artesia.
Este aviso constituye la notificación conforme a las Secciones 53398.66(c)(1) y 53398.66(i) (1) del Código de Gobierno.
Publicado: 12 de junio, 19 de junio, 26 de junio, 3 de julio de 2026
Publicado en cartelera: 26 de junio de 2026
Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 6/12, 6/19, 6/26, 7/3/26
ABC UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTICE CALLING FOR BIDS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the ABC Unified School District will receive up to but no later than 11:00 AM on the 6th day of July 2026 sealed bids and samples for: Bid # ABC – 1706 Copy Paper/Paper Bid
All bids shall be made and presented on a form furnished by the District. Bids submitted conform to the terms and conditions stated on said form. Bids shall be received in the Purchasing Department at 16700 Norwalk Blvd., Cerritos, CA., 90703.
Bids and specifications may be obtained from the Purchasing Department at the above address on June12, 2026 or later.
Cerritos News
June 19, 2026
June 26, 2026
Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 6/19 and 6/26/26
3 wheel swing and kick scooter, fully working
6 years old but working like new. $62. shethamit51@gmail.com
New dell inspiron pentium i5 8gb ram. 16inch laptop and 19inch LCD monitor. Laptop space bar, letter B keys sometimes jams but repairable. $90. shethamit51@gmail.com
Queen bedroom set luxury bed set Headboard Bed frame Night stand Dresser and mirror. Excellent condition If you want mattress I have firm mattress with bed set it’s free So complete set. Asking price: $1200 for all Pick up near Cerritos college. lajinta@ gmail.com
Queen bedroom set. Luxurious bed frame and head board Night stand Dresser, Dresser with lots of space. Chest of drawer Spend $5,500 Asking all for $3000 only lajinta@gmail.c
C.T.M. HS-125 MOBILITY SCOOTER AND INSTRUCTION BOOKLET-$500
OBO Purchased for use by a mobility-impaired parent and used occasionally for a few years It’s been sitting unused for several years in the parents garage, as our parent’s vision issues now prevent them from proper safe operation of the scooter The old batteries were replaced by new ones a couple of months ago No special cable or transformer is required for charging Charging is by a standard off-the-shelf NEMA 5-15P to IEC 60320 C13 power cord [INCLUDED]
RV cover for a 30 foot Class C .otorhome. new still in box. Never opened. $200.00 negotiable. 714-225-6268
GE window mounted air conditioner, $25.00 cash, good condition, owner’s manual included. Call John 562-965-6408. Located in Cerritos. Curio w/four glass shelves. Inside back mirror w/light.32” wide 78”high. A Long table w/glass insert 54” Long 27” high. Tall pedestal w/small wooden top. Color: Dark Brown w/Cherry blend. $500. Cash Only Contact: Josephine @ 562-9651632. Location: near downtown Bellflower Street. 55 Inch Samsung TV in fully working condition for sale @ $150.00
Two grain Leather sofa / couches from Macy’s. Excellent condition like new . Had it for a guest room . High end material Retail $1300 (3 seater) Asking $900 Single chairs $1200 (retail) Asking $800 each have 2 So, 3 seater and 2 single seat Elegant pieces do or living room. lajinta@gmail. com Kitchen Lights Beautiful Project Source Fallsbrook 5 -Light Brushed Nickel Etched Glass Mixed material Chandelier, $20, used for about two years. 562.926.8099
Bike for 10-year kid, in good condition, $25 Tel: 562.926.8099
Cherry wood Antique four feet tall and wide curio cabinet, $350 excellent condition. Weight around 40 pounds. Must pick up. bbrown201608@charter.net Beautiful Bedroom furniture! Queen platform bed, mattress, side table, dresser, Desk, cabinet & corner high cabinet! Everything for $550. Extremely well maintained high gloss wood furniture. Perfect for young adult or elderly parent’s room. Email dshah50@gmail.com for photos. Cash only. Pick up and transport yourself from Cerritos (Norwalk + Artesia).
42 inch LG tv excellent condition $75, bbrown201608@charter.netOne canopy brand new $80 stand up mirror 2 $20 black canopy 60 Cash only there are much more items There’s more 310-484-8949
Whirlpool Dishwasher White Like New, never been used. $ 275.00 CASH ONLY Contact: Sally Phone: 562-208-5273 Please bring truck and person to help transport. Location Cerritos Sports Memorabilia Collection-Vintage signed 8x10 photos with COAs for sale including Mantle, Mays, Kobe, LeBron, Gretzky and many more. Various prices. Also selling graded sports cards
from the 1960s and other collectible memorabilia from my personal collection accumulated over many years. Located in Artesia. I am not a dealer. If interested please email lanreb1@yahoo.com
Office Relocation Furniture Sale — All office furniture, including 5 sets of business greyish L-shaped desks with 2 2-drawer metal cabinets, Hon metal file cabinets, glossy cherry-finish armed lobby chair, secretary chairs, office supplies, folding tables, etc. Contact: Charleen Hsieh @ 562-652-9228. Location: Cerritos (Alondra + Shoemaker).
Vintage Amber Glass Bowl — Vintage amber glass bowl with fruit design, 12” x 9”. Heavy glass and very well made. Great for any table setting or decor. $20. Call 310-834-4560.
Iron Bedroom Furniture Set — Elegant high-quality iron bedroom furniture set with antique bronze/brass finish, intricate scrollwork detailing and classic cage-style finials. Excellent pre-owned condition, very sturdy and well maintained. Includes heavy-duty headboard, standard metal bed frame and 2 matching nightstands with tempered glass tops and bottom glass shelves. Prices: Headboard + Bed Frame $199, Nightstands $99 each, Complete Set $299. Cash only, must pick up and transport. Location: Cerritos (Artesia + Norwalk). Contact Charleen @ 562652-9228.
Formal Dining Room Set — Beautiful traditional-style formal dining room set with high-gloss mahogany finish, elegant cabriole legs and balland-claw feet. Includes large oval dining table and 6 matching chairs with Chippendale-style chair backs and upholstered seats. Sturdy, well maintained and high quality. $299 cash only. Please bring a truck and help for transport. Location: Cerritos (Artesia + Norwalk). Contact: 562-6529228.
Bissell Vacuum Cleaner — Works great. $30 cash only. Contact: photosbypat@hotmail.com Vintage amber glass bowl with fruit design. 12” x 9”. Heavy glass and well made for sure! Great for any table setting or decor . $20 310-834-4560
Update your bedroom with this elegant, high-quality iron bedroom furniture set. The pieces feature a beautiful antique bronze/brass finish with intricate scrollwork detailing and classic cage-style finials. Condition: Excellent pre-owned condition. Very sturdy and well-maintained. The nightstands feature thick tempered glass tops and a bottom glass shelf for extra storage. Set Includes: Headboard: Heavy-duty metal with ornate scrollwork. Bed Frame: Included (Standard metal rails). 2 Matching Nightstands: Elegant scrolling metal sides with two tiers of glass shelving. Location: Cerritos (Artesia + Norwalk) Price: 1. Headboard + Bed Frame: $199 2. NightStand: $99 /each 3. Complete set (Headboard, Bed Frame, 2 Nightstands): $299 Note: Cash only. Must be able to pick up/transport. Contact: Charleen @ 562-652-9228
Beautiful formal dining room set in a classic traditional style. The table features a high-gloss mahogany finish and elegant cabriole legs with ball-and-claw feet. This set is sturdy, well-maintained, and adds a touch of sophistication to any home. Set Includes: Large oval dining table and 6 matching chairs (including 2 armchairs and 4 side chairs). Design Details: Chippendale-style chair backs with neutral upholstered seats. Price: $299 (Cash only) Location: Cerritos (Artesia + Norwalk) Note: Please bring a truck and a friend for transport as this is solid, high-quality furniture. Contact: Charleen @ 562-652-9228
Office Relocation. All office furniture, including 5 sets of business greyish L-shaped desks with 2 2-drawer metal cabinets, Hon’s metal file cabinets, Glossy cherry-finish armed lobby chair, Secretary Chairs, Office Supplies, Folding Tables, etc. Contact: Charleen Hsieh @562-652-9228 Location: Cerritos (Alondra + Shoemaker)
2011 BMW X5 Diesel 2 new cabin air filters by MANN Model C33001 and new 2 oil filters by HENGST (Poland) P/N E28H01 D26. All 4 items for $30 cash. SMS Text: 562-293-8519. Eastern County Newspaper Group (ECNG) and its’ subsidiaries are not responsible for items listed herein. The responsibility of all items’ condition and description lies on the seller. The buyer assumes all responsibilities of the purchase. No warranty on items is implied or expressed by ECNG.
NOTICE INVITING SEALED BIDS
PLACING OF SLURRY SEAL ON VARIOUS STREETS IN THE CITY OF BELLFLOWER
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 51701
The City of Bellflower is accepting sealed bids in the City Clerk’s office, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, CA 90706, until 11:00 a.m. on:
TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026
at which time they will be publicly opened. Bids will not be accepted after that time. Each bid must be accompanied by a certified or cashier’s check or bidder’s bond payable to the order of the City of Bellflower or cash for an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the bid price submitted, and the check, bond, or cash deposit of the successful bidder shall be forfeited to the City if such bidder fails to enter into the contract to perform the work within ten (10) days after written notice of award.
As described in the Bidding Documents, the bids are for a public works project (“Project”) which consists of placing of slurry seal on various streets and related work, including providing all necessary equipment, materials, transportation and labor for the project as shown in the specifications on file with the City’s Public Works Department. The Engineer’s Estimate of cost is $805,500. Bids will be publicly opened on July 7, 2026, at 11:00 AM.
The contractor shall possess a Class A, C-12 or C-32 Contractor’s License. No bid will be accepted from a contractor who has not been licensed in accordance with the Provisions of Chapter 9, Division III, of the Business and Professions Code of the State of California at the time the bid is submitted. Following issuance of the Notice to Proceed, the contractor shall have thirty-five (35) working days to complete the work.
Work on the Project must be performed in strict conformity with Capital Improvement Project No. 51701, which is filed with the City’s Public Works Department. Digital copies of these specifications may be obtained by prospective bidders from the Public Works Department, 9944 Flora Vista Street, Bellflower, CA 90706 or by calling (562) 804-1424, ext. 2259.
The terms and conditions for bidding on the Project are described in the attached Bidding Instructions.
This project requires payment of State prevailing rates of wages for Los Angeles County. The contractor must post copies of the prevailing schedule at each job site. Copies of these rates of wages are available from the State of California Department of Industrial Relations Prevailing Wage Unit, Telephone No. (415) 703-4774. The website for this agency is currently located at www.dir.ca.gov
Note that the Project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the California Department of Industrial Relations. Pursuant to California law, the City must find bids failing to comply with all applicable Labor Code requirements including, without limitation, Labor Code §§ 1725.5 and 1771.4, to be non-responsive.
Five percent (5%) will be deducted from each progress payment and retained by the City. The remainder, less the amount of all previous payments will be paid to the Contractor. Pursuant to Public Contracts Code (“PCC”) § 22300, the Contractor may substitute securities for retention monies held by the City or request that the City place such monies into an escrow account. The Contractor is notified, pursuant to PCC § 22300, any such election will be at the Contractor own expense and will include costs incurred by the City to accommodate the Contractor’s request.
DATED this 16th day of June 2026.
CITY OF BELLFLOWER, CALIFORNIA
Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 6/19/26
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF JEFFREY NEIL CLARK
Case No. 26STPB05546 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of JEFFREY NEIL CLARK A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Timothy J. Langle in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Timothy J. Langle be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA FE SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE III (ADMINISTRATION) OF THE SANTA FE SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING NEW CHAPTER 42 ENTITLED “POLICE DEPARTMENT AND POST STANDARDS AND TRAINING” CODIFYING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SANTA FE SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING STANDARDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMISSION ON PEACE OFFICERS STANDARDS AND TRAINING
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Fe Springs has contracted with the City of Whitter for law enforcement services since 1995; and
WHEREAS, the Santa Fe Springs City Council (“City Council”) wishes to form a municipal police department for the City of Santa Fe Spring (“City”) which will provide police services to the City in lieu of police services provided by the City of Whittier; and
WHEREAS, Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution provides that a city may make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with the general laws of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, once formed, general law cities like the City of Santa Fe Springs (“City”), have authority to structure and manage their own affairs, including deciding what municipal services they will provide; and
WHEREAS, cities also have broad power to decide the instrumentalities by which municipal services will be provided; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature, under Government Code section 53060.7(a)(2) acknowledges that cities and counties are the traditional law enforcement providers in the State of California; and
WHEREAS, under Government Code sections 36501 contemplate a government structure for general law cities that includes a Chief of Police who under the City Manager form of government may appointed by the City Manager; and
WHEREAS, on April 22, 2026, the City issued written notice to the City of Whittier of its intent to terminate the agreement for the provision of police services in the City by the Whittier Police Department effective as of February 29, 2028; and
WHEREAS, the City Council herein finds that it is in the best interests of the City to form its own municipal police department and to separate from the existing law enforcement services;
WHEREAS, the City Council authorizes the formation of the Santa Fe Springs Police Department in accordance with all requirements necessary for certification as a Member Agency with the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and directed that all duly appointed sworn peace officers of the Santa Fe Springs Police Department be granted peace officer authority as outlined in California Penal Code Section 830.1; and
WHEREAS, in order to seek and qualify to receive aid from the State of California under the provisions of Section 13522, Chapter 1 of Title 4, Part 4 of the California Penal Code, the City Council must adopt this Ordinance accepting the requirements of the Penal Code relating to the recruitment and training of Law Enforcement Officers.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA FE SPRINGS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Title III (Administration) of the Santa Fe Springs Municipal Code is hereby amended to add a new Chapter 42 entitled “Police Department and POST Standards and Training” which shall state the following:
CHAPTER 42: - POLICE DEPARTMENT AND POST STANDARDS AND TRAINING
42.01 Office of chief of police and police department created.
The office of the chief of police is created and established. The chief of police shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the city manager, subject to applicable law. There is created a functional unit of city government known as the Santa Fe Springs Police Department, under the general administration of the city manager, which shall be under the direction and control of the police chief. All other references to the Chief of Police under the Santa Fe Springs Municipal Code shall refer to the Chief of Police within the meaning of this chapter.
42.02 Police department functions.
The department shall:
A. Preserve the peace and security of the city;
B. Enforce all laws of the United States, State of California, and all ordinances of the city except when the provisions thereof make the enforcement the responsibility of another officer, department or of another state or federal agency or officer;
C. Perform disaster and mutual aid services in accordance with approved plans and agreements; and
D. Perform such other related duties as shall be required by law, ordinance, or the city manager.
42.03 Chief of police; powers and duties.
The chief of police shall possess those powers and be subject to those duties and responsibilities set forth under Title 4 (Government of Cities), Division 3 (Officers), Part 3 (Other Officers), Chapter 6 (Chief of Police) of the California Government Code codified at Government Code sections 41601 through 41612. The chief of police shall also have authority, subject to the city manager's approval, to adopt rules and regulations for the administration and discipline of officers and employees of the police department.
42.04 Contracting for municipal law enforcement services.
As of the effective date of the City Council ordinance establishing this chapter,
the city is in the process of forming the Santa Fe Springs Police Department (“Department”) and it is anticipated the Department will commence operations by or before March 1, 2028 (the “Start Date”). Pending the Start Date, nothing in this chapter shall limit or prohibit the city from contracting or continuing to contract with another law enforcement agency for municipal law enforcement services. Pending the Start Date, the chief sworn executive officer of the law enforcement agency the City contracts for municipal law enforcement services shall serve as the acting Chief of Police for all intents and purposes under this code subject to the terms and conditions of the contract document between the city and the outside law enforcement agency.
42.05 Acceptance of Police Officer Standards and Training Requirements.
A. Qualifications for Aid.
The City of Santa Fe Springs declares that it desires to qualify to receive aid from the State of California under the provisions of Section 13522, Chapter 1 of Title 4, Part 4 of the California Penal Code.
B. Adherence to State Standards.
Pursuant to Penal Code Section 13510, Chapter 1, of Title 4, Part 4 of the California Penal Code, the City of Santa Fe Springs will adhere to the standards for recruitment and training established by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) for Peace Officers.
C. Commission Inquires.
Pursuant to Section 13512, Chapter 1 of Title 4, Part 4 of the California Penal Code, the Commission and its representatives may make such inquiries as deemed necessary to ascertain that peace officer personnel of the City of Santa Fe Springs adhere to the standards for recruitment and training established by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
SECTION 2 Subsection (B) of Section 10.06 (Definitions) of Chapter 10 (General Provisions) of Title I (General Provisions) of the Santa Fe Springs Municipal Code is hereby amended by the repeal and deletion of the following text contained therein:
Chief of Police. The Chief of Police designated as such by the city contract law enforcement agency, and performing such duties as prescribed by the city code, federal and state statutes.
SECTION 3. This Ordinance is not intended to and shall not be construed or given effect in a manner that imposes upon the City or any officer or employee thereof a mandatory duty of care toward persons and property within or without the City so as to provide a basis of civil liability for damages, except as otherwise imposed by law.
SECTION 4. The provisions of this Ordinance are declared to be separate and severable. The invalidity of any clause, sentence paragraph, subdivision, section or portion of this Ordinance, or the invalidity of the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Ordinance, or the validity of its application to other persons or circumstances.
SECTION 5 This ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after the date of its adoption.
SECTION 6. Within fifteen days of the adoption of this Ordinance, the City Clerk shall cause a copy of this Ordinance, to be published in full accordance with Section 36933 of the Government Code.
PASSED and ADOPTED this _____ day of __________ 2026, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATTEST:
Maribel Garcia, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Rick R. Olivarez, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
Joe Angel Zamora, Mayor
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS. CITY OF SANTA FE SPRINGS )
I, Maribel Garcia, City Clerk of the City of Santa Fe Springs, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance was adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the ____ day of __________, 2026, and was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Maribel Garcia, City Clerk
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