HEWS MEDIA GROUP Winner of Fourteen LA Press Club Awards from 2012- 2017. Serving Cerritos and ten other surrounding communities • January 29, 2021 • Vol 35, No. 21 • loscerritosnews.net Lakewood Putting Measure L Funds to Work BY TAMMYE MCDUFF improvements will also be made at the same time. At the Tuesday evening San Martin Park will receive meeting, January 26, the some added upgrades in the Lakewood City Council initial round of improvements approved an initial including a new pre-school appropriation of funds for play area, air conditioning for repairs and other capital the first time in the community improvements to Lakewood building, and two new picnic parks and community buildings. shelters, which will be partially Most of the funding was funded through a state grant made possible by Measure L, received from Lakewood’s passed by Lakewood voters in Assembly Member Anthony March 2020. Much of the work Rendon. will be to repair and modernize Lakewood City Council CALM BEFORE THE STORM electrical, roofing, and HVAC members approved a multi- systems at aging park and point Action Plan based on THE SAN GABRIEL mountains will likely look whiter than this Thursday picture, an atmospheric river community buildings, many over 150 comments and is fueling a storm expected to bring two days of rain, snow and downpours. Winter storm warnings and of which date to the 1950s recommendations from residents flash flood watches are in effect until early Saturday.Photo by Brian Hews and '60s. Disability access as part of the recent Community Dialogue. The council also took BY BRIAN HEWS Aquarium of the Pacific Opens Outdoors Man Used Pico Rivera action to implement its Action Plan including the discussion An atmospheric river Home to Secure and creation of a Lakewood is powering a winter storm International Food Festival/ expected to bring two days of Bogus PPP Loan Multicultural Festival. rain, snow and downpours that City staff will begin planning could release debris flows in BY BRIAN HEWS the event soon, in accordance Southern California’s wildfire with public health safeguards. burn areas. A Santa Clarita Valley Exact details of the event are Winter storm warnings using a Pico Rivera address still under consideration, but and flash flood watches are in the goal will be to highlight the pleaded guilty this week to effect for a most of Southern charges that he created sham California as the storm moves See LAKEWOOD page 13 companies to fraudulently slowly down the coast. It is acquire more than $1 million Southern California's third in COVID-19 relief loans. storm in the last seven days Cerritos College after a mostly dry winter. Raymond Magana, 40, used A flash flood watch was The Building Circle LLC sup- issued for the recent burn areas posedly headquartered in Pico Closes Women’s in LA County, including the THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC located in Long Beach will Rivera address but in reality it Bobcat, Lake, and Ranch2 fire be reopening their outdoor areas beginning January 30. Gift stores was a 980-square-foot, single- Soccer Investigation areas. Flood watches also were and some food service will also be made available. family home that appeared to issued in Orange, Riverside and be a residence, not a business. BY DANIEL SUAREZ JR. San Bernardino counties. The scam that took place TALON MARKS Atmospheric rivers are like BY TAMMYE MCDUFF between May and June 2020. After a six-month rivers in the sky. They're behind “We thank you very much Magana drew up bogus investigation, the Office of some of California's wettest The Aquarium of the Pacific for your understanding during paperwork to show a large winters. located in Long Beach will this unprecedented time, stated number of employees so he Human Resources at Cerritos The storm will enter Los be reopening their outdoor Dr. Peter Kareiva, president could get reimbursed submit- College says some of the Angeles County and other areas beginning January 30, and CEO, “We look forward ting equally bogus financial sexual harassment allegations parts of Southern California with indoor areas remaining to reopening our outdoor areas statements when requested. against several Cerritos College Thursday afternoon with the temporarily closed to the public. so we can continue to instill a Magana submitted fraudu- women’s soccer coaches were heaviest rain expected Thursday The outdoor areas opening sense of wonder and discovery lent tax documents that “sustained.” night and well into Friday. on Saturday include the Harbor for the Pacific Ocean and its reported $4,400,000 in payroll Former players made A winter storm warning Terrace, Shark Lagoon, Lorikeet inhabitants.” in 2019 and $850,000 in 2020. accusations against Head Coach went into yesterday at 3 p.m. Forest, ‘Our Water Future’, With the idea of keeping Magana landed a loan for Ruben Gonzalez, assistant and will continue into today for Steelhead Story, Molina Animal guests and staff safe a top $940,000 on June 4. coaches Memo Gonzalez, Ana most of SoCal. The warning Care Center, June Keyes Penguin priority, the Aquarium is limiting But Magana did not stop Ramirez, Octavio Marquez and Habitat as well as the Sting Ray, the number of daily visitors, also was in effect for Orange, there, starting another bogus Pat Rossi. Ruben Gonzalez was Seals and Sea Lions Habitats. and is now taking advanced Riverside and San Bernardino company called Forward placed on administrative leave The Moon Jelly and Ray Touch timed reservations. To manage counties. Builders, LLC claiming $1.73 and the assistant coaches were In Riverside County, areas will also be open for visitor traffic flow and ensure social not rehired. interaction. Gift stores and some distancing, face masks are million in payroll landing a evacuation warnings were $360,000 PPP loan. “The Office of Human issued for the Apple and El food service will also be made required for each visitor over Resources determined that some available. See STORM page 14 See AQUARIUM page 13 See MAGANA page 13 See COLLEGE page 14 Open or Close? I Want to Ride My Bicycle Virtual Exercise for Kids Koops Bellflower Mayor View From the Couch Community Sports Restaurants opt between Norwalk lands grant to An O.C non-profit works Juan Garza recognized as Visit the Metropolitan Whitney student accepted safety & survival. improve bike network. with many school districts. Mayor during COVID. Museum online. to Brown University soccer. Page 2. Page 3. Page 6. Page 7. Page 8-9. Page 10. 2 Los Cerritos Community News - LosCerritosNews.net To advertise call 562-407-3873 JANUARY 29, 2021 TOUGH TIMES Cerritos' Cheesecake Factory revenues dropped 12%. the coronavirus. The OC restaurant has kept its doors open to customers after taking a significant hit in revenue during the initial shut down in March. The establishment has added more doors and entryways to control traffic flow, installed glass dividers, and placed hand sanitizer stations throughout their outdoor patio. They also worked closely with the Health Department to ensure CDC guidelines are being followed. The restaurant noted they see teachers come in regularly, who choose to go during their lunch. Rice said teachers and other patrons alike are required to wear masks, given their food in boxes and told to sit where they’d like. Rice said that they “wouldn’t PANDEMIC has taken it upon himself to work kick anyone out.” She added that the virtually every day as a cost-cutting restaurant is not seeing the business measure. He said the rest of the staff they usually get and is not shocked are working minimum hours as they they are still closed. Restaurants figure out ways to stay open. Joe Schmoe’s has received mainly Although Fronk’s was able to positive feedback from clientele who open in July when the state opened are supportive and appreciative of choosing between outdoor dining, Acero says they closed the little bit of normalcy at their two immediately on Nov. 25. locations. “We have an innate responsibility Rice said she had to lay off 46 as one of the biggest restaurants in staff members before the holidays at safety and survival the city to set the example to assure their second location, Gourmet Pie & not only the customers but also other Café. businesses, [so they] realize we are “I was sick to my stomach taking this seriously. We are trying Newsom lifted the s most of choosing who to lay off or not lay to keep people safe,” Acero said. California off,” Rice explained. “It’s been very order for the 13-county “Opening isn’t an option.” stressful.” remains under Acero and Fronk’s owner, Craig Sacramento region on COVID-19 Despite the rising cases in Orange Frisinger, have plans to reopen one County and warnings from health Jan. 12, but L.A. County restriction, with day, but they are not looking to do so cases continuing officials, Gourmet Pie & Café also and Orange County as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. remains open for outdoor dining. to rise seven Fronk’s is on Instagram @ Other Orange County cities with remain restricted. weeks after the latest stay-at-home eatafronks. restaurants choosing to stay open order, bars, wineries, and restaurant BY EMILY MELGAR A While restaurants throughout despite the closures include Fullerton, dining remain open for takeout only. Los Angeles County closed in-person Tustin, Costa Mesa and Newport TALON MARKS Small businesses continue to struggle dining, many restaurants in Orange Beach. as the pandemic’s surge continues. County have chosen to defy orders and As of Jan. 16, Orange County has Newsom lifted the order for the remain open to stay afloat.