HAWAIIAN GARDENS Winner of Fourteen LA Press Club Awards from 2012- 2017. 86,000 Homes Every Friday • November 1, 2019 • Vol 34, No. 20 Raising funds for local organization LA MIRADA NATIVE WILL RUN IN THE BOSTON MARATHON BY BRIAN HEWS By his second year, Hernan- dez, like many others, had fallen A.J. Hernandez grew up in for the City and had fully em- La Mirada, travelling across the braced Boston as his home away country to attend Boston Univer- from home. As a freshman in sity in 2012 2012, he did not know if he would which is lo- stay, but one year later he finally cated on the felt like he belonged. Charles River Then came the horrific bomb- across from ing at the finish line of the 2013 MIT, only marathon which killed three peo- minutes from ple and injured 264, the bombs downtown Boston. See MARATHON page 15 Back in A.J. Hernandez April 2012, CHARRED: two cars totally destroyed by fire at 18122 Owen in Cerritos. The fire started as an oven fire Hernandez and spread to the garage. No injuries were reported & the fire is under investigation.Photo by Brian Hews. watched his Hawaiian Gardens very first Boston Marathon in per- son, cheering the runners as they Councilman Hank reached the top of Heartbreak Hill FIRE BURNS TWO-STORY HOME IN CERRITOS at Mile 21, just near the Boston College campus. Trimble Slanders BY BRIAN HEWS Owen Avenue is located off crews had extinguished the fire “The energy was unlike any- Carmenita near the post office. which appeared to have spread thing I had ever felt – the entire Consultant A two-story home burned Fire units arriving on scene from the kitchen to a garage. city had shut down to line the after an oven fire suddenly ex- found a two-story residence at Property records show the marathon route, shouting words Mayor Maravilla allows Trimble of support and encouragement to comment, violating rules that tended within the home to the the end of a cul-de-sac fully in- house owned by the Le fam- garage this past Tuesday Oct. volved with heavy smoke and and waving signs through the air. were set by the City Council. ily, and is a four bedroom, three 29. fire spewing from the garage. It wasn’t just a race, it was a cele- bration and everyone – the volun- Los Angeles County Fire Fire fighters exited their bath, 2,100 square foot resi- BY BRIAN HEWS teers, the spectators and the run- Department Station 35 person- trucks and immediately attacked dence. ners – was so proud to be there,” No injuries were reported At the Hawaiian Gardens nel responded to reports of a fire the fire, starting in the garage, Hernadez told HMG-LCCN in a City Council meeting held Sep- inside the home located 18122 where two cars were ablaze. and the cause of the fire is under recent interview. Owen Avenue around 10 p.m. Within thirty minutes, fire investigation. tember 24th, Sal Flores ap- proached the Council to during public comment to remark on the ‘wonderful trash hauler’ that Daylight savings was hired for the City. Flores tongue firmly embedded in his time ends Sunday cheek. “ I’m here to update you on the great trash service that It is that time of year, we have here in Hawaiian Gar- switching the clocks, "Fall dens.” Back" one hour on Sunday Flores represents the Bingo morning. Club and Food Bank in the city, Gaining or losing an hour which is owned and operated affects sleep patterns, often for by the Moskowitz family. The about five to seven days. Food Bank feeds hundreds ev- The most notable changes ery week, and the Bingo Club are in those who regularly do routinely donates to community not get enough sleep. So get organizations and provides cru- your sleep! cial money for disaster relief. To date, the Moskowitz City of Cerritos hosts students from Kakamigahara, Japan Foundation has donated well over $150 million. CERRITOS HOSTED 35 students from the city of Kakamigahara, Japan, on Wednesday, October 30. The And the Moskowitz family students visited the Cerritos City Council Chambers for a presentation by Mayor Pro Tem Frank Yokoyama, followed by a tour of the Cerritos Library. The visit was arranged through the ABC Unified School District. owns the Gardens Casino, which Photo courtesy city of Cerritos. See TRIMBLE page 15 2 Los Cerritos Community News - LosCerritosNews.net To advertise call 562-407-3873 NOVEMBER 1, 2019 LAKEWOOD REGIONAL OPENS BRAIN SURGERY CENTER NEW CENTER SURGEONS: from (l-r) Dr. Vivek Mehta-brain tumors and trauma; Dr. Charles Liu-tumors and epilepsy; Dr. Bryan Oh-lumber spinal stenosis; Dr. Mirna Rizkalla-family medicine. BY TAMMYE MCDUFF Oh focuses on lumber spinal stenosis, Dr. Charles Liu will concentrate on epilepsy, HOLIDAY DONATION PROGRAMS OFFERED IN CERRITOS Lakewood Regional Medical Center brain tumors; Dr. Darrin Lee will focus on recently opened a 1,521 square foot medi- tremor and dystonia; Dr. Andres Lozano This holiday season, residents are in- children of needy families. To participate, cal center and welcomed several new brain specializes in neuromodulation, including vited to donate to local programs, includ- pick out one or more tags between Wed., surgeons, each having a specific specialty, ing “Toys for Tots” and the Salvation Army Nov.13 and Friday, Dec.13 from the Angel deep brain and spinal cord stimulation, ; along with Dr. Mirna Rizkalla M.D. who Dr. Jonathan Russin will focus on cerebro- Angel Giving Tree Program. Tree located in the Cerritos Senior Center. specializes in family practice medicine, vascular/skull base disease including co Toys for Tots donations can be dropped Each tag (for infants through 12-year-olds) making the new center the most compre- Dr. Joseph Chen who’s clinical interests off Wed., Nov.13 through Fri., Dec.13 in will list the child’s age, gender, clothing hensive at Lakewood Regional. include cranial microsurgery, facial pain, one of the Toys for Tots bins at Cerritos size and toy request. New clothing and/or “Most departments of this size can City Hall, Cerritos Library, Heritage Park, a new, unwrapped toy for the child, along be found at large academic centers,” said stereotactic radiosurgery, neuro-oncology Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park, with the original tag, should be brought Jessica Chen, LRMC Communications and back pain; and Dr. Mehta will focus Liberty Park, Cerritos Park East, Cerritos to the Cerritos Senior Center on or before and Media Relations told HMG-LCCN, on brain tumors, brain trauma and Hydro- Olympic Swim Center and Cerritos Sher- Wed., Dec. 18. “this will be enormously beneficial for the cephalus. He takes pride in his ability to iff’s Station. For more information, call the Com- area.” get to know his patients well and build a The Salvation Army Angel Giving munity Participation Division at (562) Dr. Brian Lee specializes in move- trustworthy relationship and is devoted to Tree Program helps brighten Christmas for 865-8101. ment disorders and Parkinson's; Dr. Bryan comprehensive practices. 11/30/19 NOVEMBER 1, 2019 To advertise call 562-407-3873 Los Cerritos Community News - LosCerritosNews.net 3 KENNEDY ELEMENTARY OPENS NEW PLAYGROUND LA MIRADA RANKED FULLERTON ARBORETUM AMONG CITIES WITH THE NATIVE PLANT SALE Shrubs, perennials, flowers, ground cov- LOWEST FINANCIAL RISK ers, and hundreds of California native plant will be for sale at the Fullerton STAFF REPORT Arboretum this weekend. The plants were grown by Arboretum volunteers and local California State Auditor Elaine experts. All proceeds support the Arbore- Howle announced a new publicly avail- tum program able online dashboard that ranks the Those same experts will be on hand dur- “fiscal health” of over 470 cities in the ing the sale to you choose the best plant. state. According to the data, La Mirada was ranked as having the 11th lowest The sale is this weekend from 10 a.m. to risk of fiscal challenge, with a rank of 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Arbo- 461. The ranking relies upon analysis retum is located at 1900 Associated Rd. ABCUSD Board member Maynard Law, Principal Melissa Valentine and Superintendent of 10 key indicators that assessed each on the north side of the Cal State Fuller- Dr. Mary Sieu cut the ribbon celebrating the new playground at Kennedy. city’s ability to pay its bill in both the ton campus. Admission is free, for more information go to fullertonarboretum.org. short and long term. These indicators FROM ABCUSD NEWS SERVICES playground open to our students,” said include liquidity, debt burden, General Kennedy Elementary Principal Melissa Fund reserves, revenue trends, pension Students at Kennedy Elementary Valentine. “I love the new equipment! obligations, pension funding, pen- ‘JURASSIC QUEST’ WILL BRING School have a new playground on cam- Even better than that, is the kids love it sion costs, future pension costs, other pus where they can spend some of their too!” post-employment benefits (OPEB) DINOSAURS TO COSTA MESA boundless energy. The new playground The new playground is the result obligations, and (OPEB) funding. The features a foam-cushioned surface, and of a new building under construction information was gathered from Fiscal Reproductions of dinosaurs will ar- the new equipment boasts a wide variety on campus for the Head Start Program, Year 2016-17, which is the most recent rive in Costa Mesa on Friday. of climbing apparatus, slides, and games. which displaced the previous playground More than 80 life-size realistic di- complete year of financial reports avail- “We are so excited to have the new location.