GROUNDBREAKING: State Sen. Bob Archuleta and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, center, join Norwalk Mayor Margarita Rios, second from left, and county officials during a groundbreaking ceremony for the LA County Care Community at the Metropolitan State Hospital campus in Norwalk. The project will transform long-vacant hospital buildings into a mental health treatment and supportive housing community. Courtesy County of Los Angeles.
Cerritos City Council Reviews New Revenue Options, Including Possible 1% Sales Tax Measure
By Brian Hews
The Cerritos City Council on Monday reviewed the city’s financial outlook and directed staff to further evaluate potential new revenue sources, including a possible 1% local sales tax that could generate about $19 million annually.
The discussion came during the council’s March 9 meeting as officials reviewed a midyear budget update and a long-term financial forecast showing rising costs beginning to outpace revenue growth in future years.
City staff outlined several potential revenue options during the presentation, including a utility users tax, an increase to the city’s hotel tax, a parcel tax, a real property transfer tax, and a local transactions and use tax—commonly
referred to as a local sales tax.
Among the options reviewed, staff said a 1% Transactions and Use Tax (TUT) would generate the largest amount of ongoing revenue for the city, with estimates prepared by the city’s sales tax consultant projecting about $19 million annually. Because Cerritos is a regional retail center, more than half of the revenue generated by the tax would likely come from non-residents shopping or conducting business in the city.
A transactions and use tax applies to taxable retail transactions for certain goods and services within the city and to some purchases allocated through the countywide use tax pool. Adoption of such a tax would require approval
See CERRITOS, Page 7
No Challengers File for District 1 and
District 2 La Mirada Council Seats
By Laurie Hanson
With the candidate filing period now closed, two city council seats will remain unchanged after no challengers stepped forward to run for the positions.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, when the nomination period officially ended, no candidates had pulled or filed nomination papers to run against District 1 Councilman John Lewis or District 2 Councilwoman Michelle Velasquez Bean.
Because no challengers entered the race, both incumbents are expected to be reappointed to their council seats under the city’s election procedures.
City officials said the lack of candidates means the elec-
tion for those two districts will not appear on the upcoming ballot, allowing the council to confirm the incumbents to new terms without a contested vote.
Lewis represents District 1 while Velasquez Bean represents District 2. Both have served on the council during recent years as the city has addressed issues including public safety, development, and municipal services.
The reappointments are expected to be placed on a future city council agenda where the council will formally confirm the new terms.
The uncontested races ensure continuity on the council as the city moves forward with its upcoming policy and budget decisions.
Artesia Moves Independence Day Celebration to July 3, Raises Firework Fines
By Brian Hews
The Artesia City Council has voted to move the city’s annual Independence Day celebration to July 3 this year while also approving tougher penalties aimed at curbing the use of illegal fireworks.
During its March 9 meeting, the council approved rescheduling the city’s traditional July 4 celebration to Friday, July 3, 2026, citing a statewide shortage of certified fireworks technicians that has left many municipalities scrambling to secure professional fireworks displays.
City officials said the limited number of licensed technicians available across California has made it difficult for many cities to host fireworks shows on July 4, with alternative vendors already fully booked for the holiday.
Rather than risk losing the fireworks show altogether, Artesia officials opted to shift the celebration one day earlier to ensure residents can still enjoy a live fireworks display.
The technician shortage has affected numerous cities across the region as demand for certified pyrotechnic crews has exceeded available supply, forcing some municipalities to adjust their Independence Day plans this year.
In addition to moving the celebration date, the City Council also approved amendments to the city’s municipal code designed to strengthen enforcement against illegal fireworks.
Under the updated regulations, Artesia has expand -
See ARTESIA, Page 16
“I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it and stick your head out and yell, I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”
50th anniversary of the film Network
Norwalk Hospital Buildings to Become $106M Mental Health Housing and Treatment Community
Vacant state hospital buildings in Norwalk to become 162-bed mental health treatment and housing village for young adults and homeless residents
By Brian Hews
Six long-vacant buildings on the grounds of the 162-acre Metropolitan State Hospital campus in Norwalk are being transformed into a new mental health treatment and housing community designed to serve young adults and people experiencing homelessness.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, State Sen. Bob Archuleta, and state and county officials broke ground Friday on the project, known as the LA County Care Community. The development will convert historic buildings on the hospital campus into a coordinated treatment and housing village offering multiple levels of care for people struggling with serious mental illness.
The buildings, some dating back to the 1920s, have sat vacant since the early 2000s. Rather than demolish the struc-
tures, Los Angeles County is renovating the concrete buildings and repurposing them as housing and treatment facilities designed to provide both stable living environments and access to mental health services.
“Voters want us to take vacant buildings and put them to good use,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said. “These buildings are doing no one any good sitting empty. At the same time, we have residents—many of them young people—who are struggling with serious mental illness and have nowhere to go. By locking arms with the state, LA County is transforming these vacant buildings into a mental healthcare village where people can get the safe, professional, and compassionate treatment and housing they desperately need.”
The project originated with the idea that unused state buildings at Metropolitan State Hospital could be repurposed to provide care and housing for individuals facing mental illness and homelessness.
That concept became possible after passage of Senate Bill 1336, legislation authored by
See NORWALK, Page 16
Soroptimist “Return to Paradise” Gala Raises More Than $33,000 for Local Programs
more than
support local nonprofits and Soroptimist programs that empower women and girls.
By Brian Hews
Soroptimist International of Artesia-Cerritos hosted its 32nd Annual Monte Carlo Fundraiser, themed “Return to Paradise,” on February 28, 2026 at the Sycamore Center Plaza in Lakewood, raising more than $33,000 to support local charitable programs.
The popular community event serves as the cornerstone of the organization’s
fundraising efforts each year, helping fund more than ten nonprofit organizations serving the Artesia and Cerritos areas. Proceeds also support the Soroptimist club’s signature programs, Live Your Dream and Dream It, Be It, which focus on empowering women and girls through education and mentorship.
The gala featured Vegas-style gaming tables, a buffet dinner, and a live Ha-
See GALA, Page 13
MEMBERS of Soroptimist International of Artesia-Cerritos gather during the organization’s 32nd Annual Monte Carlo fundraiser, “Return to Paradise,” held February 28 at Sycamore Center Plaza in Lakewood. The event raised
$33,000 to
Lakewood Upgrading City Facilities to Replace Aging Infrastructure
LCCN Staff Report
Lakewood is completing major upgrades at city facilities to strengthen aging infrastructure and ensure residents continue to enjoy safe, comfortable and reliable public spaces.
A coordinated improvement project is underway at City Hall, The Centre, several park buildings and other city facilities. Many of the systems being replaced had exceeded their expected lifespan and were becoming increasingly costly to maintain.
By completing the work at the same time, the city aims to minimize disruptions while improving long-term performance and efficiency.
The project includes major building infrastructure upgrades across multiple facilities, including new roofing, mod-
ern heating and cooling systems, electrical system improvements and energy-efficient lighting replacements. City officials said the work is designed to improve reliability, reduce maintenance costs and enhance overall energy efficiency in public buildings.
Facilities receiving improvements include Bloomfield Park, Biscailuz Park, San Martin Park, Monte Verde Lodge, Burns Community Center, Nye Library, City Hall, The Centre and the Arbor Water Maintenance Yard.
City officials said the improvements reflect Lakewood’s ongoing effort to maintain high-quality public facilities while using taxpayer resources responsibly. By modernizing building systems now, the city hopes to ensure programs and services continue smoothly for years to come.
Cerritos College to Host Free Job Fair Connecting Job Seekers with 30 Employers
Job seekers across Southeast Los Angeles County will have an opportunity to connect with dozens of employers when Cerritos College hosts its semi-annual job fair on Thursday, April 2.
The free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cerritos College Student Center, located at 11110 Alondra Blvd. in Norwalk. Organizers expect more than 30 employers to participate, offering attendees the chance to explore job openings, submit applications, and speak directly with hiring representatives.
Employers from a range of industries are expected to attend, including healthcare, retail, sales, and government and public sector organizations. The event is designed to help connect job seekers with companies currently hiring while also providing networking opportunities for those looking to enter new career fields.
College officials say the job fair is open to the public and welcomes students, recent graduates, and community members seeking employment.
Attendees are encouraged to dress in business attire and bring multiple copies of their resumes to share with potential employers. In many cases, job seekers will be able to apply for open positions on-site.
The job fair will be held inside the Cerritos College Student Center on the Norwalk campus. A campus map is available at cerritos.edu/guide to help visitors locate the venue.
Parking for the event will be free in Lot 1.
Monday thru Saturday6 pm to 12 Midnight
Doors open at 4pm Sunday 2 pm to 9 pm
Doors open at 12pm
3
California Lawmaker Introduces CARET Act to Replace Food
Benefits Lost Under Federal Budget Cuts
By Brian Hews
California Assemblymember Lisa Calderon has introduced legislation that would create a new state-funded food assistance program designed to replace benefits lost under recent federal spending cuts approved in Washington.
The proposal, known as the California Antihunger Response and Employment Training Act, or CARET Act, would establish a state program to provide food benefits to certain adults who lose eligibility for federal food assistance programs.
Calderon, a Democrat representing the 56th Assembly District, authored Assembly Bill 2299 during the 2025–2026 legislative session. The bill was introduced in February and is currently awaiting committee review.
The legislation comes after Congress approved major changes to federal food assistance programs as part of the federal budget package known as H.R. 1, a measure backed by former President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. The law tightened eligibility requirements and work rules for certain adults receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly referred to as SNAP and administered in California as CalFresh.
Under federal rules strengthened in H.R. 1, many adults without dependents can receive food benefits for only three months within a three-year period unless they meet specific work requirements or qualify for exemp -
tions. Advocates say the stricter rules could lead to thousands of Californians losing access to food benefits.
Calderon’s CARET Act would allow the state to continue providing benefits to those individuals once their federal assistance expires. If approved, the program would provide state-funded benefits equal to the amount recipients would have received under CalFresh. The benefits would be distributed using the same electronic benefits transfer, or EBT, system used for existing food assistance programs.
The proposal would also connect participants with employment and training opportunities through programs similar to the CalFresh Employment and Training program, which provides job training and workforce support services.
Supporters of the legislation say the goal is to prevent Californians from losing access to food simply because federal time limits have expired.
Advocates including the California Association of Food Banks have expressed support for the proposal, arguing that federal benefit restrictions can leave individuals facing food insecurity even while they are seeking employment or training opportunities.
Calderon, who was first elected to the Assembly in 2020, previously spent more than two decades working for Southern California Edison and now chairs the Assembly Insurance Committee. Her district includes communities in the Gateway Cities and eastern Los Angeles County. If the CARET Act becomes law, California would effectively replace the federal benefits lost under the new rules with state-funded assistance, a move supporters say is necessary to prevent hunger but one that would also shift the cost of those benefits from the federal government to California taxpayers.
CITY CONTRACTORS work on upgrades as part of a citywide improvement project replacing aging roofs, mechanical systems, electrical infrastructure and lighting at several public buildings, including parks, City Hall and community facilities.
La Palma Secures $850,000 in Federal Funding
UPGRADES: La Palma officials, public safety personnel, and U.S. Rep. Derek Tran gather to mark the announcement of $850,000 in federal funding to modernize the city’s Public Safety Center. Photo courtesy City of La Palma.
LCCN Staff Report
The City of La Palma has secured $850,000 in federal funding to upgrade and modernize its Public Safety Center, a facility that serves as the operational headquarters for the La Palma Police Department and Orange County Fire Authority Station 13.
City officials said the funding will support a series of improvements designed to bring the aging facility up to current safety, efficiency, and accessibility standards while enhancing working conditions for first responders.
The federal funding was secured through community project funding requests advanced by U.S. Representative Derek Tran and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla.
La Palma Mayor Nitesh P. Patel said the improvements will help ensure the city’s public safety professionals operate in a facility that meets modern building and operational standards. “On behalf of the City of La Palma, we want to express our sincere appreciation to Rep. Derek
FBI Warns of Potential Iranian Drone Threat to California
Federal authorities have circulated an alert to law enforcement agencies in California warning of a possible threat involving Iranian drones launched from vessels positioned off the U.S. West Coast.
The alert indicated that Iran had considered the possibility of launching unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel offshore and targeting locations in California if the United States were to carry out military strikes against Iran. Federal officials emphasized that the intelligence is limited and
Tran and Sen. Alex Padilla for their leadership and commitment to the safety of La Palma residents,” Patel said. “Our dedicated public safety professionals deserve a workspace that is up to current building standards. This funding allows us to provide a reliable, secure environment for public safety operations.”
The modernization project will address several critical facility needs, including replacement of the building’s HVAC and lighting systems to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality. The project will also include installation of new flooring and ceiling tiles to restore interior areas that have experienced wear over time.
In addition, the renovation will upgrade restrooms to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, improving accessibility for employees and members of the public who use the facility.
Security upgrades will also be installed as part of the project, including modern camera systems and sensors intended to improve monitoring and safety capabilities for law enforcement operations.
that key details remain unknown.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it remains in a heightened state of readiness as authorities track developments tied to the conflict overseas.
Sheriff’s officials said they are coordinating with federal and regional law enforcement partners to monitor intelligence and evaluate any potential risks to local communities.
Authorities also said they are watching for a range of possible threats connected to the conflict, including lone-actor attacks, sleeper cells and cyber-related activity.
Authorities stressed that no specific targets in California have been identified, but the alert was issued to ensure agencies remain vigilant as tensions continue internationally.
Deputies Disperse Crowd at Cerritos Sky Zone After Social Media Takeover Alert; Shooting
Reported Nearby
Treasurer Ma Announces Effort to Connect 40,000
Community College Students with $20 Million in CalKIDS Scholarships
Students are notified through their community colleges after state education agencies match CalKIDS scholarship records with enrollment data and provide campuses with lists of eligible students for targeted outreach.
By Brian Hews
In a step to strengthen college access and affordability, State Treasurer Fiona Ma announced that CalKIDS, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, and the California Cradle-to-Career Data System have launched a coordinated initiative to help eligible community college students access their CalKIDS Scholarships.
By Brian Hews
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a potential “social media takeover” gathering Saturday night at the Sky Zone trampoline park on Palo Verde Avenue near South Street in Cerritos, dispersing a large crowd before any incidents occurred at the facility.
According to the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station, Sky Zone management alerted deputies earlier in the week after learning through social media that a takeover-style gathering could occur at the location on Saturday, March 7. Deputies worked with Sky Zone management in advance to develop a tactical plan and monitor the situation.
At approximately 8:30 p.m., after about 250 teens and young adults began arriving at the location, Sky Zone management decided to close the business at
the suggestion of sheriff’s deputies.
Authorities said the crowd was dispersed without incident and no problems were reported at the trampoline park.
Shortly after the group was dispersed, however, deputies were called to a nearby disturbance at the Chevron service station at South Street and Studebaker Road.
Sheriff’s officials reported that 10 to 20 juveniles were fighting at the location when four gunshots were fired.
Deputies responding to the scene did not locate any victims and it is currently believed that no one was struck by the gunfire. Authorities said all suspects and any potential victims fled the area before deputies arrived.
Investigators recovered four shell casings at the scene. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the shooting remains under investigation.
Cerritos, Whitney, Other
Area Schools
Named 2026 California Distinguished Schools
LCCN Staff Report
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that 408 middle schools and high schools have been selected for the 2026 California Distinguished Schools Program, one of the state’s highest recognitions for public schools demonstrating strong academic performance and student success.
The CDSP recognizes campuses showing exceptional outcomes for students, including high academic achievement and progress among historically underserved student groups.
“It is my pleasure to honor and recognize these 408 schools for their efforts to move the needle for student achievement,” Thurmond said. “An excellent public education has the power to transform lives, and I commend the educators and school communities dedicated to producing exemplary results.”
The program recognizes schools in several categories, including Exemplary High Achievers—schools performing among the highest in the state academically—and Achievement Gap Closers, which accelerate progress among historically underserved student groups while maintaining strong overall performance. A new category, Beacons of Opportunity, highlights high-performing schools serving rural or Title I communities.
Schools are selected using performance data from the California School Dashboard, the state’s accountability system evaluating academic progress, graduation rates, and college and career readiness indicators. Schools must also meet statewide participation
requirements for student assessments and demonstrate healthy school climate indicators.
Schools are automatically considered based on their data in alternating years. Middle schools and high schools are eligible in 2026, while elementary and K–8 schools will next be considered in 2027.
Among the schools recognized in Los Angeles County are:
ABC Unified – Cerritos High School
ABC Unified – Whitney (Gretchen) High School
Downey Unified – Doty (Wendy Lopour) Middle School
Downey Unified – Griffiths (Gordon) Middle School
Downey Unified – Sussman (Edward A.) Middle School
Long Beach Unified – California Academy of Mathematics and Science
Long Beach Unified – Ernest S. McBride, Sr. High School
Long Beach Unified – Eunice Sato
Academy of Math & Science
Long Beach Unified – Helen Keller
Middle School
Long Beach Unified – Millikan High School
Long Beach Unified – Stanford
Middle School
Los Nietos – Los Nietos Middle School
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified – Arlie
F. Hutchinson Middle School
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified –
Norwalk High School
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified –
Reginald M. Benton Middle School
Through the partnership, state education leaders are leveraging existing student data systems to help community colleges identify enrolled students who have CalKIDS Scholarships available to claim and use.
The effort identified 40,000 community college students with approximately $20 million in available CalKIDS Scholarships. These insights will strengthen targeted campus outreach to connect students with funds that can help cover qualified educational expenses.
CalKIDS, administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, is a statewide automatic scholarship program created to expand access to college and career training. Eligible California public school students automatically receive up to $1,500 in CalKIDS Scholarships and must claim their account to use the funds for qualified educational expenses until age 26.
“This partnership reflects California’s commitment to ensuring that students can access the opportunities already available to them,” said California State Treasurer Fiona Ma. “Through CalKIDS, we are investing in students long before they arrive on a college campus, and this effort helps ensure those scholarships are actually reaching the students who need them most.”
As part of the initiative, CalKIDS participant information is securely matched through the California Cradle-to-Career Data System, which has an existing data-sharing agreement with the Chancellor’s Office. The matched eligibility report is now available to authorized college staff through the Data on Demand platform. Community college districts can use the information to conduct individualized outreach to enrolled students who have available CalKIDS Scholarships, ensuring they are aware of funds that can immediately support their educational goals.
“This collaboration demonstrates the power of connected systems, with Californians at the heart of our shared goals,” said Mary Ann Bates, Executive Director of the California Cradle-to-Career Data System. “This joint initiative is government efficiency and effectiveness in practice, and the California Cradle-to-Career Data System is eager to continue delivering actionable insights that can directly benefit students in their higher education journeys.”
The California Community Colleges system serves more than 2.2 million students annually and plays a central role in advancing economic mobility across the state. By integrating CalKIDS Scholarship data into existing student support systems, campuses can further strengthen affordability efforts and help students stay enrolled.
“Imagine what $1,500 from CalKIDS can mean for a first-generation community college student juggling two parttime jobs,” said California Community
Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian. “It can be the difference between stopping out and staying enrolled. That is why the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office has partnered with the Cradle-to-Career Data System and State Treasurer Fiona Ma. Together, we are building the systems that deliver on this promise. This is what Vision 2030 is about: strong partnerships and modern data systems that ensure every student, in every community, can access the opportunity they have already earned.”
Community college districts are encouraged to use the Data on Demand platform to identify enrolled students with CalKIDS Scholarship indicators and conduct targeted outreach through existing campus communications and student support channels.
Students can visit www.calkids.org to confirm eligibility and claim their scholarship. To claim funds, students will need their Statewide Student Identifier (SSID), a ten-digit number that can be found on their high school transcript or obtained by contacting their former high school.
About C2C: The California Cradle-to-Career Data System (C2C) is the state’s official source of actionable data and research on education, economic, and health outcomes. C2C connects Californians with trusted information and resources, providing insights into critical milestones in the pipeline from early care and K-12 education to higher education, skills training, and employment. The system supports evidence-based decision-making to help California build a more equitable future. For more information, visit www.c2c.ca.gov.
About CCCCO: The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 2.2 million students each year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training, guaranteed transfer pathways to four-year universities, and degree and certificate programs. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges support Vision 2030, a strategic plan designed to serve students, communities, and the planet. For more information, visit the California Community Colleges website or follow the system on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
About CalKIDS: The California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS) is the nation’s largest child development account program, providing scholarships for higher education. Administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board and chaired by State Treasurer Fiona Ma, the program is designed to promote the pursuit of higher education statewide by helping families build assets, develop savings habits, and raise educational aspirations.
Eligible public school students can receive CalKIDS Scholarships worth up to $1,500, and every child born in California on or after July 1, 2022 is automatically awarded a CalKIDS Scholarship worth up to $175. To learn more, visit www.calkids.org.
SKY ZONE: Exterior view of the Sky Zone Trampoline Park on Palo Verde Avenue in Cerritos, where Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies responded after a large crowd gathered following a social media “takeover” alert on March 7.
La Mirada Youth in Government Students Propose New Initiatives
LCCN Staff Report
Students in the City’s Youth in Government program presented their project proposals at the February 24 La MIrada City Council meeting. The program provides students with hands-on experience in local government while developing leadership skills and a strong connection to their community.
Over the past several months, 26 students took on the roles of City Councilmembers and staff to develop proposals focused on enhancing City programs
Cerritos Audit Flags Electric Utility Deficit, Budget Tracking Gap
By Brian Hews
The Cerritos City Council has received its annual financial audit showing the city’s books are generally in good order, but auditors also flagged two issues involving budget tracking and a deficit in the city’s electric utility fund.
The audit, conducted by accounting firm CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, reviewed Cerritos’ finances for the 2024-25 fiscal year and issued what is known as an “unmodified opinion,” meaning auditors determined the city’s financial statements fairly represent its financial position.
However, auditors identified weaknesses in how the city tracks budgets across different funds. According to the report, Cerritos currently enters budget figures into its accounting system only for the General Fund, while other city
and services. This year’s ideas included an Entrepreneur Fair designed to support young business ventures, as well as an Adaptive Awareness Campaign aimed at promoting inclusivity through art events, park programs, and expanded youth sports opportunities.
The Youth in Government program continues to make a lasting impact, with past student ideas leading to successful City initiatives such as the La Mirada Farmers Market and Santa’s Holiday Caravan.
funds do not have their budgets formally entered into the general ledger.
Auditors noted that this practice makes it more difficult for staff to compare budgeted spending with actual expenditures in those funds and recommended the city expand its accounting procedures so that all funds are tracked consistently.
The report also highlighted a financial concern involving the city’s Electric Utility Enterprise Fund, which is operating with a deficit net position. A deficit net position means the fund’s expenses and liabilities exceed its revenues and assets.
According to the audit, the deficit has continued to grow in recent years and the Electric Utility Fund also owes money to the city’s General Fund.
Auditors recommended the city evaluate whether future revenues will be sufficient to eliminate the deficit or whether additional financial adjustments may be necessary.
The annual financial audit is required for cities each year and serves as an independent review of how public funds are managed.
Schiff Secures $790K for Rio Hondo Fire Training Serving Southeast LA County
By Brian Hews
U.S. Senator Adam Schiff announced this week that Rio Hondo Community College in Santa Fe Springs will receive $790,000 in federal funding to strengthen firefighter training programs that serve departments across Southeast Los Angeles County.
The funding is part of more than $254 million in federal investments Schiff says he helped secure for California in the 2026 fiscal year through Congressional Directed Spending projects included in recently approved federal funding bills.
According to Schiff’s office, the Rio Hondo funding will be used to improve fire readiness and training capacity at the college, which operates one of the region’s largest firefighter training academies. The academy prepares recruits for careers in fire departments throughout Los Angeles County and surrounding areas.
Local officials say improvements to training facilities and equipment can help better prepare firefighters for emergencies including structure fires, medical calls, hazardous materials incidents and wildland fires.
Schiff said the broader funding package supports a wide range of priorities across the state, including public safety, fire preparedness, environmental protection and infrastructure.
“I’m proud to have fought for and delivered hundreds of millions in federal investments to California in my first year in the U.S. Senate,” Schiff said in a statement announcing the funding. “This criti-
cal funding will allow projects in communities big and small to break ground and get to the last mile and it delivers on key California priorities including increasing housing supply, fire recovery and preparedness, environmental conservation and agricultural and rural development.”
Congressional Directed Spending projects, commonly known as earmarks, allow members of Congress to direct federal funds toward specific projects requested by local agencies, nonprofits and public institutions.
Rio Hondo College’s fire training program has long served as a pipeline for firefighters entering departments throughout Southeast Los Angeles County, including communities such as Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Cerritos and surrounding cities.
The funding announcement was part of a larger statewide package that includes investments in flood control projects, fire station construction and wildfire preparedness programs.
Schiff said the projects were developed in partnership with local governments, agencies and community leaders who submitted requests for federal support.
For Rio Hondo College, the funding is expected to support upgrades that will help train the next generation of firefighters serving communities across the region.
STUDENTS in the City’s Youth in Government program presented their project proposals at the February 24 City Council meeting. The program provides students with hands-on experience in local government while developing leadership skills and a strong connection to their community. Photo City of La Mirada.
Rep. Tran Secures $3.15 Million for Cerritos Bridge Improvements
U.S. Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45) presented Cerritos Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama and members of the Cerritos City Council with a $3.15 million federal Community Project Funding check to support renovation of the Del Amo Boulevard Bridge.
Tran secured the funding to improve pedestrian safety and reduce congestion on the bridge.
The bridge a major corridor serving thousands of residents traveling between Los Angeles and Orange counties each day.
“Investing in critical infrastructure for the City of Cerritos is an investment in our future,” Tran said.
“The Del Amo Boulevard Bridge serves thousands of families every day across Orange and LA counties, helping
our neighbors get to work and school.” Mayor Yokoyama thanked Tran for securing the federal funding and said the improvements will help maintain safe and reliable infrastructure for residents, businesses, and visitors traveling through the city.
The Del Amo Boulevard Bridge runs east to west through Los Angeles and Orange counties, connecting Cerritos with Lakewood, La Palma, and Cypress.
Planned improvements include realigning the bridge to reduce roadway hazards, widening it to accommodate four lanes of travel to improve traffic flow, and enhancing pedestrian and bicycle access to improve safety for non-motorized commuters.
The funding is part of a more than $14 million package Tran secured for 15 community projects across Los Angeles and Orange counties.
U.S. REP. DEREK TRAN presents Cerritos Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama with a $3.15 million check. From (l-r) Councilmember Jennifer Hong, Yokoyama, Rep., Mayor Pro Tem Lynda Johnson, and Councilmember Mark Pulido. City of Cerritos photo.
Guest Commentary - Will We Finally Stand Up?
War, genocide, detention camps, and the Holocaust are all deeply disturbing and difficult to fathom. Vicariously, we experience these atrocities through history books, scholars, the media, movies, and documentaries. We draw parallels from historical contexts to the present. For others, however, these atrocities are real and lived.
If we are empathetic, our sense of humanity challenges us to stand up against injustice and human suffering. If we are indifferent, the mounting polarization, the endless destruction of democratic systems, and the reframing of our democracy seem of little importance. Some may see the brokenness of a democracy increasingly diminished and uncertain, while others may see war as the answer to complex issues.
The Nuremberg Trials of 1945–1946 warned the world that authoritarian systems develop through propaganda, corruption, legal manipulation, and the erosion of democracy.
The movie *Nuremberg* mirrors how the reframing of democracy during World War II succeeded in eroding the moral conscience and democratic institutions of a nation, paving the way for the crime against humanity known as the Holocaust. Hitler and his regime repeated claims that democracy created weak men and weak systems. Strength was equated with dominance, superiority, and war in the quest for ultimate power.
Göring, Hitler’s second-in-command, admitted how the masses are manipulated:
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders… All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for their lack of patriotism.”
In the movie *Nuremberg*, a military psychologist tasked with interviewing Hitler’s second-in-command speaks with a young interpreter who concealed his Jewish identity while passing as German. His emotional pain seemed uncontainable.
He asks Gilbert, the psychologist, “Do you know how it happened here? People didn’t stand up. They didn’t stand up until it was too late.”
At the end of the movie, R. G. Collingwood highlights:
“The only clue to what man can do is what man has done.”
Clearly, these truths have implications for the choices we make as Americans. We face choices daily in our encounters with others as we navigate the chaos of our times. This became evident to me while speaking with two complete strangers while on Rapid Response watch at a site all too familiar with recent ICE raids. Both men acknowledged our team’s presence, yet each had a different perspective on our actions.
One gentleman thanked us for standing up for day laborers and taking the
The City of Artesia has officially received state certification for its 6th Cycle Housing Element, marking what city officials describe as a major step in the community’s long-term planning efforts to expand housing opportunities.
The Artesia City Council formally adopted the Housing Element on February 9 after months of review, revisions, and public engagement. On March 5, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) issued final certification, completing the process and allowing the city to move forward with implementation.
City officials said the certification comes after extensive coordination with the state housing agency and continued work by staff despite staffing transitions within the Community Development
time to support the most vulnerable— those often deemed the enemy. He said we were making a choice not of regret, but of reaching out to those struggling to survive. He further shared, “We can choose to alleviate the suffering of others, or we can choose to compound that suffering with callous indifference.”
A few feet away, my friend held a NO WAR sign when she crossed paths with a man who did not hesitate to express his disdain for her sign and what it represented to him. He retorted, “Hey, you have a choice. Either you are on the right side of history or the wrong side. You’ve made the choice to be on the wrong side! You are not a real patriot! Don’t you understand we need war to defeat the evil ones you are supporting? You are dead wrong!”
One man gave us hope and greater resolve while the other fueled the flames of hatred. This reminded us that we have choices. We can stand up against injustice and crimes against humanity. We can denounce the hatred, polarization, and tyranny we see today. We can protect our democracy before it is too late. With greater resolve, we can:
1. Participate in the anticipated NO KINGS rallies, organized locally and nationwide by Indivisible (Mar. 28).
2. Attend the Great American WriteIn in Santa Ana. Write postcards for legislative advocacy across a wide range of social justice causes (Mar. 14).
3. Register to vote and make sure our votes count.
4. Stop the SAVE Act, which could disenfranchise millions of voters—married women, rural voters, low-income voters, younger voters, and those without access to required passports or birth certificates if this voter suppression act passes in the Senate.
In a final note, the Honorable Jackson, the lead American prosecutor, addressed the International Tribunal to make his case denouncing Hitler’s regime for crimes against humanity. He asserted:
“The wrongs which we seek to condemn and punish have been so calculated, so malignant, and so devastating that civilization cannot tolerate their being ignored.”
The Nuremberg Trials parallel some of what we are seeing today in the United States and around the world, though they are not equivalent to the tragedy of the Holocaust. However, they remind us of our choices: Will we heed the warnings of the past or ignore the wrongs of our time? Will we finally rise up against autocracy and authoritarianism? Will we choose a more humane world?
Can we tolerate the clear and present dangers of our time? The choice is ours to make—now.
Sandy Mercado
From the Mayor’s Desk: March 13, 2026
By Cerritos Mayor Frank Yokotama
From public safety initiatives to essential infrastructure projects, the City of Cerritos is committed to achieving high-quality services through prudent budget analysis and implementation. During our meeting on Monday, the City Council took an important first step in shaping our Fiscal 2026-2027 budget.
The meeting included a staff presentation on our current fiscal climate, including 10-year forecasts on City expenses, revenues, and reserve balance. Data shows that expenditures are projected to outpace revenues over this period, resulting in recurring structural deficits. Furthermore, General Fund reserves are declining steadily and limiting the City’s flexibility to fund capital improvements, address infrastructure needs, and maintain current levels of service. The picture was clear: absent meaningful changes, long-term financial pressures are expected to intensify. Following the presentation, the City Council directed staff on several budget initiatives. The first initiative is an assesment of a potential 1% Transactions and Use (TUT) tax. A TUT is more commonly referred to as a local sales tax. It applies to taxable retail transactions for some goods and services occurring within the City and to certain purchases allocated through the countywide use tax pool. Adoption would require voter approv-
CERRITOS
from page 1
by Cerritos voters in a future election. Cerritos will begin a dual budget planning framework.
Under that approach, city staff would prepare two financial plans: one assuming voter approval of a 1% transactions and use tax and another that would take effect if additional revenue is not approved.
City officials said the goal is to provide clarity about how future revenue decisions could affect city services and long-term financial planning.
If additional revenue were approved by voters, the city said it could strengthen the city’s financial outlook and help maintain services such as public safety while continuing to fund infrastructure improvements, including roads, sidewalks, parks, and other facilities.
City officials also noted that additional revenue could provide flexibility when considering ways to offset the impact of recently approved
Artesia Secures State Certification of 6th Cycle Housing Element
Department during the review period. Officials said the city remained focused on meeting state housing requirements while ensuring the plan reflects the needs of the Artesia community.
The 6th Cycle Housing Element outlines how Artesia will plan for and accommodate its Regional Housing Needs Allocation, or RHNA, the state-mandated number of housing units cities must plan for in their long-term development strategies. The document also identifies policies intended to promote equitable housing opportunities and remove barriers to new housing development.
Mayor Rene Trevino praised the effort and credited staff and state officials for helping bring the process to completion.
“This Housing Element certification
al. Estimates prepared by the City’s sales tax consultant, HdL Companies, projects that a 1% TUT would generate approximately $19 million annually for the City. More than half of the potential revenues from a TUT would be generated by non-residents who visit and shop in Cerritos.
In addition, the City Council directed the development of a dual budget planning framework for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget. A dual budget framework would allow the City Council to consider adoption of either: a primary budget scenario assuming more revenue and greater service capabilities, or a contingent budget scenario assuming less revenue and limited financial flexibility.
In addition, the City Council has authorized the City Manager to establish a Resident Budget Task Force to provide community input on the City’s current budget situation and potential budget balancing strategies.
As these initiatives unfold, all community members are invited to participate in a series of budget meetings. Community budget workshops are planned for April 15 and April 21, and the City Council will hold its two remaining budget study sessions on May 11 and June 8, respectively. A public hearing and budget adoption is scheduled for June 22, with the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year beginning on July 1.
I encourage you to attend a budget meeting, where you’ll learn about our current fiscal climate, financial forecasts, budget considerations, and have opportunities to share feedback. Learn more at cerritos.gov/future.
water and sewer rate increases.
However, if new revenue is not approved, the contingent budget scenario would require expenditure reductions and service-level adjustments based on forecasts showing expenditures eventually exceeding revenues.
The council also authorized the creation of a Resident Budget Task Force to provide community input on the city’s fiscal outlook and potential budget-balancing strategies. The group will be established by the city manager and will review the city’s financial challenges while providing feedback during the upcoming budget process.
City officials are also inviting residents to participate in several upcoming meetings related to the city’s budget. Community budget workshops are scheduled for April 15 and April 21, while the City Council will hold budget study sessions on May 11 and June 8. A public hearing and adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026–2027 budget is scheduled for June 22.
reflects our commitment to planning responsibly for the future. I thank our staff and HCD for their dedication in bringing this important effort across the finish line,” Trevino said.
Following the council’s approval and the state’s certification, Artesia officials said the city has already begun implementing actions outlined in the plan, including policies aimed at facilitating housing development and aligning the city’s planning framework with state housing goals.
Housing Element certification is an important step for cities because it confirms compliance with California housing law and allows local governments to maintain control over their planning processes. Cities without a certified Housing Element can face legal challenges, pen-
alties, or increased oversight from the state regarding housing approvals and development decisions.
Artesia officials said the newly certified plan will guide housing policy decisions in the coming years while helping the city balance growth, neighborhood character, and long-term economic sustainability. The plan also identifies potential development sites and planning strategies intended to meet housing needs across multiple income levels, including affordable housing opportunities for lower- and moderate-income residents.
For more information, residents can contact Artesia City Hall at (562) 8656262 or visit www.cityofartesia.us
Spring ‘26 Wildflowers: The Best Places to See California’s Colorful Bloom
Winter rains and mild temperatures are triggering widespread wildflower blooms across California, with poppies and other native flowers coloring landscapes statewide.
By Ann Marie Brown VisitCalifornia.com
Spring wildflower season is underway across California, and early reports suggest 2026 could bring one of the state’s most colorful bloom cycles in years. Thanks to winter rains and mild temperatures, hillsides, deserts, and coastal bluffs are beginning to erupt with poppies, lupine, and dozens of other native species.
Wildflower watchers across
the state are already reporting strong early displays in several regions, raising hopes that the coming weeks could bring especially vibrant fields of color if mild weather continues and late-season rains arrive.
While the word “superbloom” is often used to describe these spectacular seasons, scientists say the phenomenon simply occurs when ideal weather conditions trigger massive numbers of wildflowers to germinate and bloom at the same time. When it happens, the result can transform entire landscapes into sweeping fields of color.
For residents planning a spring outing, California offers some of the best wildflower viewing anywhere in the country—from coastal cliffs near Los Angeles to desert valleys and mountain meadows farther north.
In Southern California, several locations are already drawing visitors hoping to catch the early waves of blooms.
One of the most reliable wildflower destinations is Point Mugu State Park on the western edge of Los Angeles County.
POINT MAGU:
One of the most reliable wildflower destinations is Point Mugu State Park on the western edge of Los Angeles County along the La Jolla Canyon and Ray Miller trails.
with purple lupine, golden poppies, mariposa lilies, and giant yellow coreopsis during March and April. The park’s dramatic coastal setting makes it one of the most photogenic wildflower locations in the region.
Desert parks across Southern California also attract large numbers of visitors during bloom season. Popular destinations include Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and Death Valley National Park. Depending on rainfall and temperature patterns, these areas can produce vast carpets of poppies,
Hikers along the La Jolla Canyon and Ray Miller trails often find hillsides covered
desert lilies, sand verbena, and other desert species.
Farther inland, the rolling hills of the Inland Empire also deliver impressive displays. The vernal pools at Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve are ringed with bright yellow goldfields and purple downingia during late winter and early spring. Trails across the reserve reveal California poppies, shooting stars, and chocolate lilies growing among native grasslands.
Nearby Chino Hills State Park also becomes a wildflower hotspot during spring. Visitors driving Bane Road or hiking Bane Ridge Trail often encounter poppies, arroyo lupine, and colorful canterbury bells across the
park’s grassy hillsides.
For those hoping to track where blooms are peaking, the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants maintains one of the most widely used bloom updates in California. The nonprofit’s wildflower hotline launches each March and provides weekly reports through May highlighting where the best displays are appearing across Southern and Central California.
Central California also offers some of the easiest flower viewing in the state. Along the Central Coast, visitors driving Shell Creek Road near Santa
WINE COUNTRY
Wildflowers blanket the rolling hills near Temecula during Southern California’s spring bloom season, drawing hikers, photographers, and nature lovers to trails and open space preserves across the region. Photo courtesy Nik Wheeler.
Margarita often find entire hillsides glowing with orange poppies and blue lupine.
Nearby Montaña de Oro State Park lives up to its Spanish name—“mountain of gold”— when California poppies blanket its coastal slopes.
One of the most dramatic wildflower landscapes in the state appears at Carrizo Plain National Monument. When conditions align, the broad valley floor erupts with colorful
ANTELOPE VALLEY
Brilliant orange California poppies blanket the hills at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve during peak spring bloom, drawing visitors, photographers, and hikers to one of the state’s most spectacular wildflower displays. Courtesy Tripadvisor.
bands of lupines, goldfields, owl’s clover, tidy tips, and hillside daisies stretching for miles.
In Northern California, the bloom continues into late spring. Wildflowers have already begun appearing at North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve, where seasonal waterfalls and vernal pools help support dense displays of poppies, lupine, meadowfoam, and owl’s clover across the basalt plateau.
The bloom gradually climbs into the mountains as the season progresses. In the Sierra Nevada foothills, trails like the Hite Cove Trail near Yosemite can host more than 60 species of wildflowers during spring.
Higher elevations, including areas near Carson Pass south of Lake Tahoe, typically see their peak wildflower displays later in summer once snow has melted.
Along the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, the bloom
season can stretch for months. Meadows near Bishop often begin blooming as early as February, while high alpine areas such as Tuolumne Meadows may not see peak flowers until July or even August.
Experts remind visitors that wildflowers are delicate and easily damaged. Visitors should stay on established trails, avoid picking flowers, and resist stepping into fragile flower fields for photos.
With blooms already appearing across multiple regions, the next several weeks are expected to bring some of the most colorful landscapes of the year across California. For photographers, hikers, and road-trippers alike, spring wildflower season offers one of the Golden State’s most spectacular natural shows.º
By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X
The fate of Gahr High’s CIF State Division III Regional second round game with Shalhevet High began on the first play of its first round game earlier last week and the dominos kept falling last Thursday against the eighth-seeded Firehawks. The top-seeded Gladiators were nearly non-existent in the second half, talking 14 shots and connecting on just four of them.
To make matters worse, junior Jaylen Maxwell went down with an injury late in the first half, the team collected 23 rebounds and had no answers for the sharp shooting of Sam Jacobson and Yakov Liberman in a 50-37 loss. Gahr ends the season at 22-11.
On the first possession of Gahr’s game with Narbonne High two days earlier, senior Austin Woon went down with a mild knee sprain. Then with 1:47 left in the first half against Shalhevet, Maxwell went down hard and did not return in the second half. He was being attended to at the end of Gahr’s bench as his head was being checked, especially his chin.
“The whole game, we struggled with our execution,” said Gahr head coach Marcus Girley. “Obviously, losing Woon; that’s a big piece, then you lose Jaylen Maxwell and now your two heads of your snake are down, and guys are now in unfamiliar positions. They’ve had the minutes, but in different spots. We
just didn’t do a great job of executing.
“I thought the guy kind of came a little late; kind of undercut [Jaylen], and once you’re in air, it’s dangerous and you don’t have a choice of landing,” he later said “You’re just hoping for the best and I think he hit his face pretty hard on the initial contact. Normally you want to at least hit your shoulder, but your head is the first one to hit, chances are you’re going to be in a bad situation. I’m just hoping he’s okay.”
from Montgomery, who came off the bench and missed one of his four shots.
With all that going on, plus trying to defend against the 6’5” Jacobson, who scored all 10 of his team’s points in the first quarter, and Liberman, who scored nine points in the second quarter, Gahr was only down by a point at the half. The largest lead for the Gladiators was five points, which came on a three-pointer from senior Makhi Montgomery 24 seconds before Maxwell went down. The lead changed hands five times in the half, the last on a basket from Liberman at the buzzer which gave Shalhevet, a private school in Los Angeles with an enrollment around 250, the lead for good at 26-25.
All night long, the Gladiators were flustered by the defense of the Firehawks, managing 21 shots in the first half as sophomore Bryce Titus scored 10 points on 50 percent shooting and nine points
Liberman began the second half with a three-pointer and that was followed by a basket by Jacobson a minute later. Shalhevet added five more points until sophomore Xavier Brown ended the 10-0 run with his only basket of the game, sparking a 7-0 run by the hosts. But that’s as close as the Gladiators would get as they were two of seven from the field over the final 9:57 of the game.
“Obviously, they play a high level of defense,” said Girley. “I thought we played pretty good defense. Normally when you hold a team to 50 [points], you did a pretty good defensive job. But if you get five shots at the rim in the fourth quarter, it doesn’t matter. I thought both teams did battle defensively. But our spacing, our execution…I think it was more of a mental drain than a physical drain and we just kind of broke down and forgot what we’re good at.”
It was the 21st time in 33 games Gahr has allowed 55 points or fewer, but the 37 points scored were a season-low and just the sixth time the Gladiators failed to score 50 points. Titus scored a team-high 14 points and had two assists while Montgomery added 13 points and eight rebounds, Gahr was able to get only 23 rebounds,
SOFTBALL:
two coming from the offensive end.
Meanwhile, Jacobson led everyone with 23 points while Liberman added a dozen points. Four other players combined for the other 15 points as the Firehawks would fall to fifth-seeded Colony High 48-45 last Saturday.
“A guy like that in high school are few, because how many guys are going to be that strong and weigh that much,” questioned Girley. “They run with four guards and run with shooters, so you have to pick your poison when you go double and try to dig it out the post. He did a pretty good job of picking his spots.”
The Gladiators won over 20 games for the fifth time since the 1999-2000 season and were hoping to get to the semifinals of the regionals for the first time since 2011. They still figure to be in a good place next season as four players from a team of 12 will graduate, including a pair of starters. The bench consisted of five sophomores and a junior.
“That’s the biggest thing,” said Girley. “Obviously, this was a down year for us in everybody’s opinion. I’m thankful that opinions don’t play basketball; players play. I told the kids once you get this far, you can no longer lean on your youth. That’s no longer an excuse. You’re here, take advantage of it [because] these moments are too far and between. I thought we played hard and tried to embrace the moment. We just got a little bit overwhelmed, and that happens.”
Two Big Innings is All Gahr Needs For Another Road Win Against Quality Opponent
that was big. That emptied the bases.”
By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X
CYPRESS-If anything, Gahr High has been consistent through the first nine games of the season, winning the first three before going on a threegame skid. But when the Gladiators rallied twice against Cypress High to post an 8-5 victory this past Monday, they moved three games above .500 again.
Gahr touched up Cypress pitcher Kylie Santander for five runs in the top of the fourth inning, then sophomore second baseman Mylah Burrowes broke a 5-5 tie in the seventh with a two-run single to left field.
“That was a big moment,” said Gahr head coach Rey Sanchez. “She had a really good at-bat against La Serna [on Mar. 4] also and hit a ball really hard and far. If we’re playing at Gahr, it’s out. They just have long fences there, and she drove the ball oppo. When she hits the ball to the opposite field, that’s when she’s the best. And where did that ball go [today]? Opposite field. So it was a really good at-bat; a really good approach for her and she hammered that ball to right center, and
The inning began when freshman center fielder Skyy Saucedo reached on an error and two batters later, sophomore shortstop Hazel Anglo doubled to the left field gap. After senior first baseman Maryah McElroy grounded out, junior right fielder Leah Magana was safe on another error for the final run.
“I know they’re better than that,” said Sanchez of the errors from Cypress. “This is a great program and it’s a really good team that they have here at Cypress. We were fortunate that those plays went our way, and that’s what I tell the girls. On offense, when you hit the ball hard and you run the bases well, then you have a shot. We kept hitting the ball hard and we took advantage, and then Mylah Burrowes comes [up to bat] and hits another screamer; that shortstop wanted no part of that ball, but she hit the ball really hard.
“Mylah’s really stepped it up on the offensive side,” he continued. “Mentality-wise, she’s in a different place. She’s grown up in a year where she feels she’s the one that Gahr wants up there. I can just sense it; she has that sense of I’ve got this.”
The Gladiators thought they had set the tone in the first inning when
Santander walked Anglo and Burrowes with one out, however Anglo was later caught in a rundown trying to score.
“She had two walks, and we ran ourselves out of that inning,” said Sanchez. “We should have taken advantage of that a little bit more, and we didn’t. We left them off the hook. She was teetering; she battled and did a good job of kind of hanging in there and going through her struggles because she wasn’t throwing strikes. But we have to be really good earlier in the game of taking advantage of that. Later in the game, we did. But it took us a little bit longer.”
Meanwhile, the Centurions redeemed themselves in the bottom half of the inning when Hayden Warner tripled to the right field corner, scoring Tia Hernandez. Maddie Gutierrez followed with a base hit on a fill count, bringing in Warner. Two innings later, Hernandez led off with firstpitch home run over the centerfield fence.
But Gahr came back the next inning in a big way, and it began with Santander walking Burrowes, then giving up firstpitch singles to McElroy and Magana to load the bases. Sophomore designated player Maya Moreau reached on an error and was replaced by junior pinch runner Jaidu De Avila Barroga. Senior left
NEWS AND NOTES FROM PRESS ROW:
fielder Alexis Johnson then got into the action and ripped a double to center on a full count to plate McElroy and Magana. Singles from freshman catcher Rylee Jackson and sophomore third baseman Megan Wong later in the frame made it 5-3. However, Cypress tied the contest in the fifth as Sadie Sievers singled on the first pitch from junior pitcher Bella Gonzalez, who then served up a home run on a 1-0 count to Warner.
“I don’t have to say much to her because she’s a workhorse,” said Sanchez. “She’s been in so many of these tough situations, so she knows how to bounce back. Obviously, it wasn’t the best pitch call, so I’ll take the blame on that one. The girls got us, but to her credit, she comes back and she always does. She’s a bulldog.”
Gahr would see its winning streak snapped this past Tuesday in a 13-3 loss at La Habra High, which was highlighted by a 10-run bottom of the third inning, breaking a 3-3 tie. Gahr went to Huntington Beach High this past Wednesday and will not play again until it hosts Cerritos High on Thursday.
Young Artesia Softball Squad Roughs Up Avalon in Ocean View Tournament
By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X
HUNTINGTON BEACH-The Artesia High softball team had a feeling it was going to be a good day when the Pioneers faced Avalon High last Saturday in the first of two games in the Ocean View Tournament. The wind was howling at 20 miles per hour at game time, and the Lancers, who had lost their only two games played this season, arrived at the Ocean View High junior varsity field less than 15 minutes before game time,
having to take the Catalina Express to Long Beach, then a bus to the Orange County school.
With little preparation for the players to warm up, especially pitcher Aubree Figueroa, the Pioneers took advantage and cruised to a 14-3 win that was called after four innings. Artesia collected just four hits, but Figueroa walked six batters, hit two and saw three batters reach on errors.
“It was just discipline,” said Artesia head coach John Shapiro. “We’ve been working a lot on our zones and what to
anticipate on certain counts. Obviously, we didn’t get that type of pitching today, so it was just getting the girls to understand [that] she was going to come at you on every pitch; just sit on it and anticipate it.”
Artesia stranded three runners on base through the first two innings and had nothing to show for while freshman pitcher Danika Vega struck out five of the first nine batters she faced, also leaving three runners on base. But the Pioneers broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning when freshman third
baseman Sophia Campos got to second on an error after striking out. Figueroa then walked sophomore second baseman Brisyeda Munoz and both runners would advance on a wild pitch before Campos scored on another error.
Avalon took a 2-1 lead in its half of the inning on a pair of unearned runs thanks to consecutive two-out errors. But Artesia went to work on Figueroa in the fourth, and when it was all done, the Pioneers had sent 19 batters to the plate.
See ARTESIA, Page 13
By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X
Eight Area Basketball Teams Highlight Stellar Seasons as Players Are Recognized
Half of the area’s boys basketball teams and half of the area’s girls basketball teams participated in the CIFSouthern Section divisional playoffs with each one having its own story of advancement past the regular season. The Gahr High boys team lost in the Division 5 semifinals but won a game in
finished his junior season with 714 points and was the only area player to score over 500 points. Roebuck averaged 22.3 points per game and was one of two La Mirada players to grab over 130 rebounds, have over 80 assists and over 10 blocks. He scored a season-high 34 points against Roosevelt High in the second game of the season and was held to under 10 points only once.
COACH OF THE YEAR:
Gahr has had success on the court in the past, but now you can add Marcus Girley to the list of great coaches to have come through the program. Girley, in his fifth season, guided the Gladiators to a 22-11 record, a trip to the Division 3 semifinals and an appearance in the Division III Southern California regionals. The 22 wins are the most for Gahr since the 2014-2015 team won 26 games and the Division III-AA championship and his record of 81-56 is the third best in the past 27 seasons of Gahr coaches through his first five seasons with the program, trailing Bob Becker (107-46) and Ricky Roper (98-53)
PLAYERS TO LOOK FOR IN 2026-2027
De’Marii Ancheta (Artesia)
Aidan Atkins (Artesia)
Kaleb Duag (Cerritos)
Noah Edwards (Cerritos)
Jeremiah Ju (Cerritos)
Noah Lai (Cerritos)
Vincent Valenzuela (Cerritos)
Antonious Youseff (Cerritos)
Konner Bookman (Gahr)
Xavier Brown (Gahr)
Aricen Cruz-Davis (Gahr)
Jaylen Maxwell (Gahr)
Island Smith (John Glenn)
the state playoffs while La Mirada High finally played a home playoff game. Both Gateway League rivals were top-seeded teams in Division I and III, respectively.
Both Cerritos High squads bid a farewell to the current 605 League format by claiming at least a share of first place while the youth of the Norwalk High and Valley Christian High girls teams should provide for a better 2026-2027 season with deeper playoff runs.
In fact, of the 40 players on the 20252026 HMG-Community News Winter All-Area Teams, 23 are underclassmen, including nine who were either a freshman or a sophomore.
Note: The HMG-CN All-Area Teams are put together solely by sports editor Loren Kopff based off observations from covering the games.
BOYS BASKETBALL FIRST TEAM
Jordyn Houston (La Mirada)
Jace Ribac (Cerritos)
Gene Roebuck (La Mirada)
Christian Stewart (Artesia)
Bryce Titus (Gahr) SECOND TEAM
Bundana Adams (John Glenn)
Jezreel Dela Cruz (Whitney)
Devon Hardy (Cerritos)
Jordan Heredia (Artesia)
David Zazueta (Norwalk)
THIRD TEAM
William Kang (Whitney)
Nathan Mauer (Valley Christian)
Cisco Munoz (La Mirada)
Kingston Nathaniel (Gahr)
King-Riley Owens (La Mirada)
HONORABLE MENTION
Andrew Castro (La Mirada)
Rocco Chua (Cerritos)
Mikey Fuentes (Valley Christian)
Jonathan Lara (John Glenn)
Kobe Young (Artesia)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
To put things into perspective, if La Mirada’s Gene Roebuck played in only his team’s 20 non-league games, his scoring total would be just the second best out of the area players. As it turned out, he
Ariel Martinez (Valley Christian)
Isha Morales (Norwalk)
Kianna Rangel (Cerritos) THIRD TEAM
Analiyah Coneita (Cerritos)
Jay Curl (John Glenn)
Rachel Fredenburg (Gahr)
Kim Ixta (Artesia)
Jordin Shaw (La Mirada) HONORABLE MENTION
Molly Douglas (Valley Christian)
Ella McIntosh (Gahr)
Katlyn Moreno (Norwalk)
Ella Nelson (Whitney)
Kalana Nguyen (Cerritos) CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR:
Two of the most decorated players from their respective schools who can shoot at will, and from three-point territory, share this honor. Valley Christian junior Hannah Burgoyne, who has been nothing short of impressive since the day she stepped on the school’s campus, led the Defenders with 435 points, averaged five and half rebounds a game, four assists a game and two steals a game. She poured in a season-high 30 points on Dec. 19 against Oxford Academy and had 13 games in which she scored at least 20 points.
COACH OF THE YEAR:
Kael Gabourel (La Mirada)
Lamek Kifle (La Mirada)
Noah Correa (Norwalk)
Bhavya Verma (Norwalk)
Michael Alviar (Valley Christian)
Finn Berkes (Valley Christian)
Jayden Gardner (Valley Christian)
Simon Vasquez (Valley Christian)
Mateo Aquino (Whitney)
Jack Diancin (Whitney)
Wilbur Lai (Whitney)
Joseph Roman (Whitney)
GIRLS BASKETBALL
FIRST TEAM
Hannah Burgoyne (Valley Christian)
Connie Esquival (Norwalk)
Cameron Lacorte (Cerritos)
Tina Namaranian (Whitney)
Alyssa So (Whitney)
SECOND TEAM
Aleeah Lopez (Norwalk)
Madelyn Macaraeg (Cerritos)
When you talk about leaving a legacy, you can’t ignore the job Cameron Lacorte of Cerritos has done over her four years with the program. Lacorte led the Dons with 331 points. 39 shy of 1,000 and during the 12-years of head coach Marcus Chinen, Lacorte sits in third place behind Onyeka Nwanze (1,247 points) and Alyssa Movchan (1,240 points) in the scoring department. Lacorte scored a career-high 23 points against John Glenn High on Jan. 21 and missed two of her team’s 29 games.
Valley Christian had struggled in the Olympic League since the 2018-2019 season, going 17-39 before this season, finishing no better that a tie for third place and three trips to the playoffs. But this past season, head coach Dan Leffler and his team finished in a tie for second place with a 5-3 mark. The Defenders went 16-9, posting the most wins the program has seen since the 2016-2017 team went 22-10. In fact, since that season, V.C. reached at least 10 wins just four times.
See ALL AREA, Page 12
on page 15
HMG-COMMUNITY NEWS Girls basketball Coach of the Year Dan Leffler of Valley Christian High. File photo by Steve Fericean.
VALLEY CHRISTIAN HIGH
junior Hannah Burgoyne, the HMGCommunity News Co-Player of the Year, starts her shooting early against Silver Valley on Feb. 12. File photo by Steve Fericean.
CERRITOS HIGH senior Cameron Lacorte, the HMG-Community News Co-Player of the Year, attempts a threepointer early in the Jan. 23 game at Whitney High. Photo Makoa Bocalan.
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The Defenders also won their first six games of the season, capturing their own tournament and finishing runners-up to Fullerton High in the Orange Holiday Classic.
PLAYERS TO LOOK FOR IN 20262027
Sophie Nunez (Artesia)
Jazmine Ramirez (Artesia)
Mia Ramos (Artesia)
Leah Lopez (Cerritos)
Jaslyn Macaraeg (Cerritos)
Jordin Pulley (Cerritos)
Julia Santos (Cerritos)
Mia Aguilar (Gahr)
Aren Cornejo (Gahr)
Eggs Cleared? New Research Says Cholesterol Warnings
Were Misplaced
National Geographic
For decades, eggs—especially the yolks—were blamed for raising cholesterol and increasing the risk of heart disease. Doctors advised patients to limit egg consumption, and egg-white omelets became a staple for people trying to protect their heart health.
But a growing body of scientific research is now challenging that long-standing belief.
Recent studies and updated dietary guidance suggest that cholesterol found in foods such as eggs may not have the strong effect on blood cholesterol levels that scientists once feared. Instead, many experts now say that saturated fat—not dietary cholesterol—is the primary driver of unhealthy cholesterol levels.
Beginning in the 1960s, eggs were often singled out as a major dietary concern.
However, in 2016 federal dietary guidelines removed that specific cholesterol limit after scientific evidence failed to show a strong connection between dietary cholesterol and heart disease.
Researchers say the reason lies in how the body actually regulates cholesterol. Much of the cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream is produced by the liver, not directly absorbed
Giselle Franco (Gahr)
Kanon Moody (Gahr)
Maya Moreau (Gahr)
Kaylie Golden (John Glenn)
Elissa Jacobo (John Glenn)
Cyena Elmore (La Mirada)
Julianna Martinez (La Mirada)
Charlize Parris (La Mirada)
Kaitlyn Suzuki (La Mirada)
Nadia Tamayo (La Mirada)
Natalia Tamayo (La Mirada)
Juliet Tapia (La Mirada)
Mya DeLaRosa (Norwalk)
Jaiya Lee (Valley Christian)
Cheyanne Cheung (Whitney)
Sophia Kang (Whitney)
Kenzie Shiotsugu (Whitney)
from foods. When dietary cholesterol is consumed, the body often compensates by producing less of its own.
More recent studies have reinforced the shift in thinking. A randomized study published in 2025 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who ate two eggs per day as part of a diet low in saturated fat actually experienced reductions in LDL cholesterol—the type often referred to as “bad cholesterol”—after several weeks.
By contrast, diets high in saturated fat, regardless of egg consumption, were more strongly linked to increased cholesterol levels.
Nutrition experts say this helps explain why eggs themselves may have been unfairly blamed for heart disease risk. Eggs are also considered one of the most nutrient-dense foods available. A single egg contains protein along with vitamins A, D, E and K, as well as nutrients such as choline, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids. Most of those nutrients are found in the yolk.
Health experts caution that moderation still matters, particularly for individuals who already have high cholesterol or genetic conditions that affect how the body processes cholesterol. Current guidance from the American Heart Association suggests that most healthy adults can safely eat one to two eggs per day as part of a balanced diet. Experts also note that the health impact of eggs often depends on what accompanies them on the plate.
OF PUBLIC HEARING – INTENT
Bob’s BASEBALL Tours
Bob’s BASEBALL Tours
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held by the Bellflower City Council to consider granting a water franchise to Bellflower-Somerset Mutual Water Company (BSMWC). The Public Hearing will be held on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 7 p.m., in the City Hall Council Chambers, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, California.
Testimony will be heard for and against granting a water franchise agreement to BSMWC. Also, any person interested may make written protest or objection. Such written protest or objection shall be signed by the person protesting or objecting and delivered to the City Clerk before the end of the subject public hearing. Timely received written testimony will be submitted as evidence for the Public Hearing. Oral testimony may be presented at the appropriate time during the Public Hearing.
The proposed water franchise agreement is for a period of twenty-five (25) years, commencing retroactively on April 10, 2021. During the term of the water franchise agreement, BSMWC will pay the City the amount specified by California law and if such payment is not made, the water franchise will be forfeited.
Copies of the staff report, the proposed ordinance, and attachments may be inspected by the public in the Public Works Department, City Maintenance Yard, 9944 Flora Vista Street, Bellflower, California. Questions should be addressed to Len Gorecki, Director of Public Works, at (562) 804-1424, ext. 2259.
If you wish to challenge this matter in court, then you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the Public Hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence timely delivered to the City Clerk for submission at the Public Hearing.
By order of the City Council of the City of Bellflower, County of Los Angeles, State of California.
They loaded the bases eight times and sophomore first baseman Pacifica Hamilton had the biggest hit, lacing a double to the left field corner, allowing Campos and Munoz to score. Danika Vega also had a double down the left field line to bring home Hamilton and Garcia reached on an infield single to plate junior second baseman Celeste Alvarez.
All nine starters scored at least a run, and Hamilton drove in three runs. Danika Vega, one of seven freshmen on the team, allowed five hits and struck out seven while walking four.
“She’s a great freshman for us [with] a lot of pitching experience,” said Shapiro. “I think the stage gets big, but she doesn’t let it get too big for her. She goes one batter at a time; one pitch at a time and the results show it. It’s just trusting her pitches. If it’s not working one, we make a slight adjustment and talk about it, come back with the same pitch and we have it.”
The Pioneers would slam Ocean View 14-1 later in the day, then hold off Bellflower High 12-8 this past Tuesday to even its record at 4-4. In the four victories, Artesia had scored 62 runs but in the four losses, it has managed to touch home plate 13 times.
Artesia has five returning players, three of whom are sophomores, and is waiting for senior pitcher Abbygail Perez, a transfer from Gahr High, to become eligible. Mia Soto, who did not see action against Avalon, is the only other senior on the team.
“Things are happening faster than they’re used to at the varsity level,” said Shapiro on the youth of the team. “The ball comes at them faster; their reaction time is slower. It’s definitely our young age that’s causing [the record] right now.”
The Pioneers went to Paramount High on Mar. 12 and is not scheduled to play again until Mar. 25.
In other softball action, Cerritos High (2-2) went to North Torrance High on Mar. 12 and will visit Sunny Hills High on Friday, and Kennedy High on Tuesday and Gahr on Thursday.
John Glenn High edged Samueli Academy 12-11 this past Tuesday to improve to 2-3. The Eagles will host Cal-
vary Chapel Downey High on Thursday.
La Mirada High had a streak of 38 innings in which its pitchers didn’t allow a run. That was snapped by JSerra High last Saturday in the sixth inning of its semifinal game in the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions Tournament in Bullhead City, Nevada. The Matadores would lose that game 5-2, then bounced back to defeat Pacifica High 8-5 in the third place game. La Mirada improved to 10-2 and will host Segerstrom High on Tuesday and Valley Christian High on Thursday.
Norwalk High dropped a pair of games to San Dimas High last Saturday in the Santa Fe Tournament, losing 14-1, then 12-6 as the Lancers are 4-3 with home games against Whittier High on Mar. 12, Warren High on Tuesday and St. Joseph High on Wednesday.
V.C. was all over San Leandro High last Friday in a 17-2 victory, improving to 3-2. The Defenders will welcome Lakewood High on Monday ahead of its meeting with La Mirada.
BASEBALL
Artesia was doubled up by Bolsa Grande High 4-2 this past Tuesday to see its mark go to 2-5. The Pioneers will host St. Anthony High on Saturday and Long Beach Poly High on Tuesday.
Cerritos got by Long Beach Poly 6-5 last Thursday, then lost to St. Anthony 6-2 this past Monday and Poly again 7-6 to fall to 4-3. The Dons will go to Paramount on Monday and Garden Grove High on Wednesday.
After winning the first three games of the season, Gahr has dropped the last three, including a 3-0 decision against Norco High this past Wednesday. Gahr will face Berkeley Prep on Monday in the first game of the Bishop Gorman Invitational, which goes through Thursday.
Glenn had no problems with Saddleback High this past Tuesday in an 11-4 conquest for its second win in seven games. The Eagles went to Tustin High on Mar. 12 and will host Mountain View High on Tuesday.
La Mirada, which fell to South Hills High 4-3 last Thursday, will open the Anaheim Lions Tournament on Friday against Campo Verde High out of Gilbert, AZ. The Matadores (4-3) will then face Etiwanda High on Tuesday, Riverside Prep on Wednesday and Aliso
LEGAL NOTICES-YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW!
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING/PROPOSED ORDINANCE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Cerritos City Council will conduct a public hearing at a regular meeting on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. on the following matter: Recommendation by the Cerritos Planning Commission, on a vote of 5-0, to approve the following: Review and consideration to waive full reading of and introduce AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS APPROVING DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT 2026-2, A REQUEST TO AMEND TITLE 5 AND TITLE 22 OF THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE BY AMENDING CHAPTER 5.35 AND ADDING SECTION 22.40.340 TO PROHIBIT THE SALE, DISTRIBUTION, POSSESSION, AND CONSUMPTION OF NITROUS OXIDE IN THE CITY OF CERRITOS.**Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this project is categorically exempt from CEQA review. City Attorney Summary: The proposed ordinance (DCA 2026-2) will prohibit the sale, distribution, possession, and consumption of nitrous oxide for recreational use in the City of Cerritos. If the ordinance is approved, the sale, distribution, possession, and consumption of nitrous oxide for recreational purposes in the City will no longer be permitted. The ordinance will still allow the use of nitrous oxide for other lawful purposes, such as for food products, medical or dental care and other uses. A copy of the full text of this proposed Ordinance can be viewed or obtained by contacting the Office of the City Clerk during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekdays and observed holidays excepted) at 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703, city_ clerk@cerritos.gov, or (562) 916-1248. This public hearing will be conducted in person in the Cerritos City Council Chamber, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, California, 90703. The public hearing will also air live on Cerritos TV3 and will be streamed over the City of Cerritos website at www.cerritos.gov. A copy of the related agenda report will be available for download from the website on the Tuesday prior to the public hearing. Public comments can be provided during the meeting or via email to city_clerk@cerritos.gov or by hard copy to the Office of the City Clerk no later than 3:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Please identify the agenda item number in the subject line of the email or hard copy document. All written correspondence received by the 3:00 p.m. deadline will be distributed to the legislative body prior to the meeting and the document(s) will be retained with the public record of the meeting. If you challenge the above-mentioned item and related actions in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence emailed to the Office of the City Clerk by the submission deadline, prior to the public hearing. Any person interested in this matter may contact the Office of the City Clerk at (562) 916-1248 for additional information and/or appear at the hearing in person or by agent and be heard. /s/Cynthia Nava, City Clerk
Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 3/13/26
Niguel High on Thursday.
Norwalk’s 4-3 loss to Paramount this past Tuesday kept the Lancers winless through three games as the Lancers hosted Kennedy on Mar. 12 and will go to Dominguez High on Friday and Lynwood High on Tuesday.
V.C. defeated Campbell Hall High 15-7 last Saturday for its second win in five games this season. The Defenders will host South Gate High on Saturday and Bishop Montgomery High on Monday before going to Sunny Hills on Tuesday.
Finally, Whitney High breezed past Westminster High 12-5 this past Monday to improve to 3-5. The Wildcats will travel to Western High on Saturday in a makeup game that was rained out on Feb. 20, and host Ambassador Christian High on Monday.
GALA from page 1
waiian dance performance by the Cerritos-based group Ba Kupunawahine O Cerritos. Community members, business leaders, and numerous dignitaries attended the event, including state, county, and local elected officials who came out to support the Soroptimist mission.
Organizers said the strong turnout and enthusiastic support helped make this year’s event one of the most successful fundraisers in the organization’s history.
The event was co-chaired by Sandra Fikse and Susan Green.
For more information about the organization and its programs, visit www.soroptimistartesiacerritos.org.
EMPLOYMENT
Business Analyst – Builders Genius Inc. (DBA: B&F Cabinet). Analyze supply chain operations; build forecasts, track KPIs, assess risks & recommend process improvements to increase efficiency & reduce costs. Job location: Commerce, CA. Email resume to Sales@bfcabinet.com.
Systems Analyst Sr Advisor.
Elevance Health, Inc. Cerritos, CA. Understand complex sys w/ multi Tier-1 sys integr. BS: IT, CS, or rel. 8 yrs exp. Alt Reqs: MS & 6 yrs exp. Other exp reqd. Pay: $146,915.02 - $147,915.02 /yr. Apply: https://careers.elevancehealth.com/ Job Ref: JR183822
LEGAL NOTICES-YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW!
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Cerritos City Council will conduct a public hearing at a regular meeting on Monday, April 13, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. on the following matter: REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF THE ELIMINATION OF THE CITY’S FIXEDROUTE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE, THE CERRITOS ON WHEELS (COW), WHILE MAINTAINING AN ELIGIBILITY-BASED DIAL-A-RIDE SERVICE. REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF AN AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO MV TRANSPORTATION, INC. FOR THE PROVISION OF DEMAND-RESPONSE DIAL-A-RIDE SERVICES.**Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, this administrative activity is not a “project” under CEQA, and, even if it were, the proposed elimination of service and request for award of contract are exempt from CEQA review. This public hearing will be conducted in person in the City Council Chamber, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, California, 90703. The public hearing will also air live on Cerritos TV3 and will be streamed over the City of Cerritos website at cerritos.gov. A copy of the related agenda report will be available for download from the website on the Tuesday prior to the public hearing. Public comments can be provided during the meeting or via email to city_clerk@cerritos.gov or by hard copy to the Office of the City Clerk no later than 3:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Please identify the agenda item number in the subject line of the email or hard copy document. All written correspondence received by the 3:00 p.m. deadline will be distributed to the legislative body prior to the meeting and retained with the official meeting record. If you challenge the above-mentioned item and related actions in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence received in the Office of the City Clerk by the submission deadline, prior to the public hearing. Any person interested in this matter may contact the Office of the City Clerk at (562) 916-1248 for additional information and/or appear at the hearing in person or by agent and be heard. /s/Cynthia Nava, City Clerk
Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 3/13/26
NOTICE INVITING SEALED BIDS
WASHINGTON BLVD TO TELEGRAPH RD RIGHT-TURN LANE STREET WIDENING PROJECT
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the CITY OF COMMERCE, referred to as “CITY”, invites sealed bids for WASHINGTON BLVD TO TELEGRAPH RD RIGHT-TURN LANE STREET WIDENING PROJECT and will receive on PlanetBids, up to the hour of 2:00 PM, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud online. Late submittals will not be considered. It is the bidder’s responsibility to upload the bid proposal file by the due date to City’s portal on PlanetBids.
Electronic files of the Contract Documents are available for download on the City’s portal on PlanetBids.
Working hours are from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am. Monday through Friday. Day time work is allowed, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, if no lane closures are needed.
The work shall be completed within 40 working days after the City’s Notice to Proceed.
The Contractor shall possess a valid California Contractor’s License issued by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), Class A (General Engineering, at the time of bid submission, at the time of contract award, and for the duration of the project. The successful Contractor must also possess a current City business license.
This is a federally funded project. DBE participation is not required.
This project is subject to the requirements of SB 854. No prime contractor or subcontractor may be listed on a bid proposal and may be awarded for a public works project unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code section 1725.5.
If there are any questions regarding this project, please upload all questions to: City’s portal on PlanetBids.
Los Cerritos Community News • March 13, 2026
CITY OF BELLFLOWER 16600 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, BELLFLOWER, CA 90706
Take Notice that the City of Bellflower is holding funds as set forth below. If funds are not claimed by May 5, 2026, these funds will become the property of the City of Bellflower in accordance with Government Code § 50052.
Take Notice that the City of Bellflower is holding funds as set forth below. If funds are not claimed by May 5, 2026, these funds will become the property of the City of Bellflower in accordance with Government Code § 50052.
Funds may be released to the depositor, their heir, beneficiary, or duly appointed representative provided a claim form is completed with the necessary information. The required information is as follows:
Funds may be released to the depositor, their heir, beneficiary, or duly appointed representative provided a claim form is completed with the necessary information. The required information is as follows:
• Name, address, and telephone number.
• Proof of identity such as a copy of driver’s license, passport, permanent resident card or birth certificate with another form of photo ID.
• Name, address, and telephone number.
• Proof of identity such as a copy of driver’s license, passport, permanent resident card or birth certificate with another form of photo ID.
• If the owner is deceased, a copy of the legal document authorizing the transfer of funds to the legal custodian / trustee / heir such as trust documents or probate court order with a copy of the death certificate.
• Amount of claim.
• If the owner is deceased, a copy of the legal document authorizing the transfer of funds to the legal custodian / trustee / heir such as trust documents or probate court order with a copy of the death certificate.
• Grounds on which claim is founded.
• Amount of claim.
• Grounds on which claim is founded.
The Unclaimed Money Claim Form is available at the City of Bellflower Finance Department, located at 16600 Civic Center Drive, on the 2nd Floor.
The Unclaimed Money Claim Form is available at the City of Bellflower Finance Department, located at 16600 Civic Center Drive, on the 2nd Floor. Funds on deposit for over 3 years are:
on deposit for over 3 years are:
OUTSTANDING CHECKS
NOTICE THAT THERE ARE NOT MORE CANDIDATES THAN OFFICES TO BE ELECTED
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to § 10229 of the Elections Code of the State of California relating to the General Municipal Election in the City of La Mirada to be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026:
As of the close of the nomination period on March 6, 2026, there are not more candidates than offices to be elected in Districts 1 and 2.
The people nominated for Districts 1 and 2 are:
John Lewis – District 1
Michelle Velasquez Bean – District 2
That § 10229 of the Elections Code allows one of the following courses of action to be taken by the City Council:
1. Appoint to the office the person who has been nominated.
2. Appoint to the office any eligible elector (voter) if no one has been nominated.
3. Hold the election if either no one or only one person has been nominated.
The City Council will have a special meeting on March 17, 2026 at 6:30 p.m., at City Hall in the Council Chambers, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, California 90638, to either make the appointment or direct an election to be held. The person appointed, if any, shall qualify and take office and serve exactly as if elected at a municipal election for the office.
If, by the 75th day before the municipal election, no person has been appointed to the office pursuant to (1) or (2) above, the election shall be held.
If the City Council makes an appointment pursuant to § 10229, Elections Code, the City Clerk shall not accept for filing any statement of write in candidacy which is submitted after the appointment is made.
Leticia Revilla City Clerk
CITY OF LA MIRADA NOTICE INVITING BIDS
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 2025-07
CITY HALL EXTERIOR PAINT
Notice is hereby given that the City of La Mirada, California invites sealed bids for the furnishing of all labor, materials, equipment, and services for Capital Improvement Project No. 2025-07, City Hall Exterior Paint. Work includes preparation, painting and finishing of all specified exterior surfaces of La Mirada City Hall, located at 13700 La Mirada Boulevard in the City of La Mirada.
Project Documents are available online from American Reprographics Company (ARC). Bidders may obtain free copies of the Plans, Specifications and other Contract Documents online by visiting the ARC Southern California website: https://customer.e-arc.com/ arcEOC/PWELL_Main.asp?mem=29. Look under PUBLIC PLANROOM and click GO, then search for City of La Mirada from the dropdown list titled “in all company”. You can also contact ARC at (949) 660-1150 or costamesa.planwell@e-arc.com to request Plans and Specifications.
Sealed bids shall be delivered to the City Clerk at or before 11 a.m. on April 2, 2026. Bids must be submitted on the blank forms, prepared and furnished for that purpose and included in the Plans and Specifications. The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids, or delete portions of any or all bids, or waive any informality or irregularity in the bid or the bid procedures.
Leticia Revilla, City
Clerk
Published at La Mirada Lamplighter Newspaper 3/6 and 3/13/26
FLOWER STREET
TAKE NOTICE that the Bellflower City Council will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, California 90706 to consider testimony for and against the sale of property located at 9855 Flower Street.
The City of Bellflower invites members of the public to review and comment on this item. Copies of the staff report and supporting documents regarding this matter may be inspected by the public on the City’s website at www.bellflower.ca.gov, or by appointment in the City Clerk’s Office at Bellflower City Hall, 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, California; telephone number (562) 804-1424, extension 2220. All written comments concerning this may be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office at 16600 Civic Center Drive, Bellflower, CA 90706; or by email at cclerk@ bellflower.ca.gov.
If you wish to challenge this item in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the Public Hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City at or before the Public Hearing.
MAYRA OCHIQUI CITY CLERK
Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 3/13/26
CITY OF LA MIRADA
NOTICE OF PROPOSED ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 749 AMENDING SECTION 10.12.020 OF CHAPTER 10.12. OF TITLE 10 OF THE LA MIRADA MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING PRIMA FACIE SPEED LIMITS ON CERTAIN CITY STREETS
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on March 24, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in the Council Chambers, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, the City Council of the City of La Mirada will consider adopting its Ordinance No. 749.
Summary of Ordinance No. 749
Ordinance No. 749 would amend Section 10.12.020 of Chapter 10.12 of Title 10 of the La Mirada Municipal Code setting speed limits on arterial highways and major collector streets. The proposed speed limits are based on the results of an Engineering and Traffic Survey conducted in February 2026. The proposed speed limits are based on speed checks of the 85th percentile, collision rates, roadside developments and average daily traffic. The City of La Mirada uses laser/radar enforcement on most arterial highways and major collector streets. Section 40802 of the California Vehicle Code requires that electronic enforcement of speed limits on these streets be justified by an Engineering and Traffic Survey conducted within the last seven years.
A certified copy of the entirety of the text of Ordinance No. 749 is available in the office of the City Clerk, City of La Mirada, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, California, and is available for public inspection at that location.
Leticia Revilla, La Mirada City Clerk
Published at La Mirada Lamplighter Newspaper 3/13/26
NOTICE OF ADOPTED ORDINANCE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Cerritos City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1061, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS APPROVING DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT 2026-1, A REQUEST TO AMEND TITLE 22 OF THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED TO LOCATION AND PERMITTING CRITERIA FOR BODY
ART BUSINESSES**Pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, this project is categorically exempt from CEQA review. City Attorney Summary: The adopted ordinance (DCA 2026-1) will remove the 500 foot minimum distance requirement and conditional use permit requirement with regards to body art businesses in the City of Cerritos. With the enactment of the ordinance, there will be no 500 foot minimum distance requirement and no conditional use permit requirement for body art businesses in the City of Cerritos. All other regulations pertaining to body art businesses, such as business license review, hours of operation, and compliance with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health regulations, will remain in effect. The full text of this adopted Ordinance can be obtained at the Office of the City Clerk, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703. I, Cynthia Nava, City Clerk of the City of Cerritos, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 1061 was introduced for first reading on February 23, 2026. Thereafter, said Ordinance was duly approved and adopted at a regular meeting of the Cerritos City Council on March 9, 2026, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers – Hong, Pulido, Tse, Johnson, Yokoyama, NOES: Councilmembers – None, ABSENT: Councilmembers – None, ABSTAIN: Councilmembers – None. /s/Cynthia Nava, City Clerk
Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 3/13/26
Archuleta that allows the state to lease a portion of the hospital campus to Los Angeles County. The law authorizes a long-term lease of roughly 13 acres of the property so it can be redeveloped as a mental health treatment community.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents an important step forward in addressing California’s growing mental health and homelessness crisis,” Archuleta said. “When the governor signed my bill into law, it created the pathway to repurpose vacant buildings on the Metropolitan State Hospital campus into a mental health care community that will provide housing, treatment, and critical services for individuals in need.” The LA CCC will provide three levels of care in a single campus setting, totaling 162 beds.
Two locked Mental Health Rehabil-
itation Centers will provide 32 beds for young adults ages 18 to 25 who require intensive clinical care in a secure treatment environment. Another building will offer interim housing with 70 beds for young adults who are stable but still require supportive services and short-term housing.
Two additional buildings will be converted into permanent supportive housing with 60 apartments for adults living with mental illness who previously experienced homelessness. Residents will receive ongoing mental health treatment and case management services designed to support long-term stability.
A sixth building will serve as a shared community facility for residents of the permanent housing units, with amenities including a kitchen, computer lounge, wellness spaces, and offices for case managers and property management staff. Each residential building will include its own courtyard designed to provide out-
door therapeutic and recreational space.
The $106 million project is funded largely through Proposition 1, the statewide measure approved by voters in 2024 to expand behavioral health treatment facilities and mental health beds. Approximately $65 million of the funding comes from Proposition 1, with the remainder coming from county and state funding sources.
County officials say the project addresses a major shortage of mental health treatment beds in Los Angeles County. The most recent homeless count identified more than 72,000 people living without permanent shelter in the county, and surveys indicate that roughly one-quarter of those individuals suffer from serious mental illness.
Construction work has already begun on two of the buildings, with completion expected by December 2027. Additional buildings are ex -
pected to be completed in early 2028.
The interim housing facilities and rehabilitation centers will be constructed by Swinerton, with renovation focused on adaptive reuse that preserves the historic character of the campus while modernizing the buildings to meet current health, safety, and accessibility standards.
Officials say the Norwalk project could serve as a model for other parts of California by demonstrating how unused public properties can be converted into mental health treatment facilities and supportive housing.
ARTESIA from page 1
ed its “responsible person” provisions, allowing authorities to hold property owners or individuals in control of a property accountable if illegal fireworks are possessed, sold, or discharged on that property or immediately adjacent public right-of-way.
The provision means a property owner or responsible party may face penalties even if they did not personally ignite the fireworks, a measure intended to address situations where illegal fireworks are used during large gatherings or parties.
Mayor Rene Trevino said the changes are meant to balance community celebrations with public safety concerns.
“Fireworks are an important part of how families celebrate Independence Day,” Trevino said. “These updates help ensure our vibrant community can continue to celebrate responsibly while protecting residents, homes, and first responders from the very real dangers posed by illegal fireworks.”
The ordinance also significantly increases administrative fines tied to illegal fireworks violations. First-time violations will now carry a $2,000 fine, up from the previous $1,000 penalty. A second violation will result in a $3,500 fine, while third and subsequent violations will carry a $5,000 penalty.
The city also created a new $5,000 fine for the use of illegal fireworks in crowds of 300 people or more, reflecting concerns about the heightened risks posed by large gatherings.
City officials emphasized that only fireworks classified as “safe and sane” by the California State Fire Marshal may be legally sold, possessed, or discharged within Artesia. All other fireworks—including those commonly referred to as illegal or dangerous fireworks—remain prohibited.
Residents are also reminded that the use of safe and sane fireworks is permitted only during the city’s designated sales and discharge period from June 28 through July 4 each year. During that time, fireworks may be discharged only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., with all fireworks use required to stop by 10:00 p.m. on July 4. Fireworks are not permitted in city parks or parking lots.
The updated ordinance will take effect April 8, 2026, thirty days after adoption by the City Council. The increased administrative fines took effect immediately following the council’s approval on March 9.
