Skip to main content

December 19, 2025 Los Cerritos Community News

Page 1

LOS CERRITOS

Winner of Nineteen LA Press Club Awards from 2012-2021 Serving Cerritos and ten other surrounding communities • December 19, 2025 • Vol. 40, No. 52 • LOSCERRITOSNEWS.NET

A 66-Year Tradition Rooted in Service: Kenny Hahn’s Holiday Celebration Lives On

Cerritos Budget Session Highlights Growing Fiscal Challenges Ahead

A Christmas Eve tradition founded by Supervisor Kenny Hahn continues uniting Los Angeles County through free music, culture, and public service.

By Brian Hews

By Brian Hews For 66 years, the Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration has marked Christmas Eve not just as a seasonal event, but as a civic tradition rooted in inclusion, community, and public service. What began in 1959 as a simple idea by then– Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth “Kenny” Hahn has endured for more than six decades, becoming one of the county’s longest-running and most cherished public gatherings. Hahn, who served on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from 1952 to 1992, remains the longest-serving supervisor in county history. Representing District 2 throughout his 40-year tenure, he believed deeply that government should be visible, accessible, and connected to the everyday lives of residents. The Holiday Celebration was a direct expression of that belief, created as a free event meant to bring families together and reflect the cultural diversity of Los Angeles County. The origins of the celebration are closely tied to the creation of the Music Center itself, a connection that Hahn’s daughter, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, has often shared when reflecting on her father’s legacy. “When Dorothy Chandler set out to build the Music Center, she came to the Board of Supervisors for support. My dad, Supervisor Kenny Hahn, said yes—with one important condition: that the Music Center open its doors to the public for free at least one day every year. And from that promise, this beautiful celebration was born. “Over the decades, the show has changed. I remember when it was 12 hours long and featured everyone from local bands to my own school choir! “It makes me so proud that the event has been kept alive. For so many families [ See HOLIDAY, page 7 ]

An exclusive five-part LCCN investigation revealing how Central Basin Director Juan Garza turned the Cardroom Cities’ Joint Powers Authority into his own operation — and the conflicts and liabilities he engineered for himself in the process. Part 3

The 1099 Trigger: How Garza’s JPA Contract Renewal Vacated His Central Basin Water Seat By Brian Hews Two weeks ago, Los Cerritos Community News launched High Stakes, Dirty Water, Red Flags, a multi-part investigative series revealing that for more than four years Central Basin Director Juan Garza quietly operated the California Cities for Self-Reliance Joint Powers Authority [JPA], a taxpayer-funded agency, through Bellflower-based Six Heron, his privately owned public-relations and governmentrelations firm. Garza’s decision to personally run a publicly funded joint powers authority through his private firm raised immediate red flags under California law governing procurement, transparency, and conflicts of interest. By controlling the JPA’s operations, receiving bids, and managing public business through his own private infrastructure, Garza blurred — and in some cases erased — the legal separation required between a public agency and a private enterprise. That private control,

HOLIDAY CELEBRATION: Kenneth Hahn introducing a choir at the event in 1964. The Holiday Celebration has been a free event since its start 66 years ago.

The Cerritos City Council received its first in-depth briefing on the Fiscal Year 2026–27 budget, and the takeaway was stark: the city is entering one of the most consequential budget periods in its history. Staff made clear that this was not a routine financial update, but an early warning that Cerritos is facing slow revenue growth, accelerating costs, and structural pressures that will force difficult decisions sooner rather than later. That context also casts new light on a political mystery that has lingered since before the 2024 election, when longtime councilmembers Naresh Solanki, Chuong Vo, and Bruce Barrows abruptly chose not to seek reelection after more than eight years in charge of the city’s finances. These were not newcomers caught off guard by bad news; they presided over the policies, budgets, and reserve decisions that led to the conditions now being laid bare. At the time of their exits, no clear explanation was offered to voters. But the budget outlook now emerging suggests those departures came as the fiscal runway was shortening, pension obligations were accelerating, and long-standing revenue cushions were nearing exhaustion. In effect, the warning lights were flashing, and those who helped steer the city toward this moment chose to step off the plane, leaving their successors to confront the turbulence without a parachute.

combined with Garza’s renewal of his contract as the JPA’s executive director while simultaneously serving as an elected water official for Central Basin, has now placed his Central Basin Municipal Water District seat in legal peril. Part One documented how Garza used his personal Six Heron email, company cellphone, and Bellflower P.O. Box as the JPA’s operational and procurement pipeline, effectively turning a public agency into a one-man operation. Publishing last week, Part Two exposed how that private control of the JPA collided directly with Garza’s elected authority at the Central Basin Municipal Water District, where he votes on water rates, infrastructure, and policies affecting the very cities that fund his JPA executivedirector salary, including Hawaiian Gardens, a JPA member city within his own Central Basin division. Now comes Part Three which examines the legal trigger created by that JPA arrangement: whether Garza’s negotiated renewal of his salaried JPA employment contract activated Government Code 1099’s automatic-vacancy rule — a statute that does not ask whether an official believes a conflict exists, but whether the duties of two positions create divided loyalty as a matter of law. Garza has served as Executive Director of the JPA since March 2020. He joined the Central Basin Municipal Water District board in December 2020. Since then, he has renewed his JPA employment contract while serving as a water director and as Central Basin’s delegate to the Metropolitan Water District [MWD]. Under Government Code 1099, when a public official assumes or renews a second public office that is incompatible with the first, the statute is automatic: the first office is deemed vacated by operation of law. No vote is required. No finding of misconduct

A new national survey confirming what many longtime Californians already suspected: the jobs we miss the most aren’t the high-paying ones, the glamorous ones, or even the sensible ones. They’re the ones that gave everyday life its texture. In a poll of 3,014 people aged 45 and older, Resume.io found that Californians overwhelmingly voted the paperboy as the lost job they’re most nostalgic for — the kid on a bike who delivered the morning headlines long before smartphones replaced a thump on the porch. It makes sense. The paperboy wasn’t just a job; it was an introduction to adulthood. Rain or shine, weekday or weekend, they showed up. They learned punctuality, responsibility, and how to arc a tightly rolled newspaper through the fog without taking out the screen door. It was a rite of

[ See DIRTY WATER, page 4 ]

[ See NOSTALGIA, page 16 ]

[ See FISCAL , page 4 ]

The Nostalgia Desk Californians Miss the Paperboy More Than Any Other ‘Lost Job,’ New Survey Finds By Brian Hews


2

Los Cerritos Community News • December 19, 2025


Los Cerritos Community News • Friday, December 19, 2025

CERRITOS EMPLOYEES inside the iconic Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts with donations for the Toys for Tots and Angel Giving Tree programs. Employees donated over 250 gifts and $685 worth of gift cards. Courtesy City of Cerritos.

Cerritos Employees Give Generously to Local Programs

Cerritos Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama. “Their compassion is a reflection of our entire community and will help brighten the holidays for local families in need.”

Cerritos employees donated over 250 gifts and $685 worth of gift cards to help families this holiday season. The amount is the highest recorded since the City began its annual giving event. The gifts will be distributed to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots and Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree programs. Community members have also been invited to contribute to these programs through the City. “My City Council colleagues and I are proud of the large quantity of donations and collective generosity shown by our employees,” said

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Art and Writing Contests As part of the City’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration, the Cerritos Library is sponsoring art and writing contests for students. The art contest is open to students in kindergarten through grade 12. Participants may submit one art entry, no larger than 12” x 18,” using any drawing or painting materials. The writing contest is open to students

in grades 7 through 12. Participants may submit one writing entry, which may be a poem or an essay with no more than 300 words, preferably typed on letter-size paper. All art and writing contest entries should represent the theme of “Marching Towards a Better Dream.” Contest entry forms are available at the Cerritos Library and on the City’s website at cerritos.gov. Completed art and writing entries must be dropped off at the Cerritos Library by 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7. The library is located at 18025 Bloomfield Avenue. After judging, selected entries will be recognized at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day ceremony and on the City’s website.

3


4

Los Cerritos Community News • December 19, 2025

DIRTY WATER from page 1 is necessary. The only question is whether the duties of the two positions create divided loyalty or overlapping authority. Here, the divided loyalty and overlapping authority is direct. The JPA Garza runs represents Bell Gardens, Commerce, Compton, and Hawaiian Gardens — all Central Basin customer cities. Hawaiian Gardens lies within Garza’s own Central Basin division. Through the JPA, Garza is paid to advocate for those cities’ financial and regulatory interests. Through Central Basin, he votes on water rates, infrastructure spending, and policies that directly affect those same cities. Through MWD, he votes on wholesale water decisions that flow down to Central Basin and its cities. Those roles collide structurally. And when they collide, Government Code 1099 does not ask whether the official acted improperly. It asks only whether the duties could conflict. The timing makes the issue decisive. Garza was already the JPA’s executive director when he took the oath at Central Basin. He later renewed his JPA contract while serving as a water director. Under Government Code 1099, renewing an incompatible office is treated the same as assuming one. Each renewal resets the legal trigger. If Garza’s JPA role is deemed a public office rather than exempt employment — as Attorney General opinions have repeatedly found when an official manages public funds, oversees operations, executes contracts, and directs advocacy — then his Central Basin seat would have been vacated automatically the moment he renewed that contract. Because his MWD seat exists

FISCAL from page 1 For decades, Cerritos has relied on sales tax as the backbone of its General Fund, a model that worked as long as revenues steadily grew and reserves remained strong. That foundation is now weakening. Sales tax growth has flattened, and Cerritos’ no-to-low property tax allocation leaves the city without the stabilizing revenue stream most cities depend on during economic slowdowns. At the same time, inflation, labor agreements, rising medical premiums, and a CalPERS unfunded liability approaching one hundred million dollars are driving costs sharply higher. The city’s required pension payment alone is projected to increase by roughly $1.4 million dollars next year. A ten-year fiscal forecast presented to the council shows reserves steadily eroding, eventually falling below both

only by virtue of his Central Basin position, forfeiture would extend to both. When asked to cite any statute or Attorney General opinion expressly authorizing a Central Basin director to simultaneously serve as the paid executive director of a lobbying JPA representing Central Basin customer cities, Garza did not identify one. Instead, he repeatedly asserted that his role is exempt under Government Code sections 1099(c) and (d), without addressing the contract renewals, the divided loyalties, or the automatic-vacancy rule. Attorney General precedent does not support that reading. The exemption Garza cites applies to ordinary public employment, not to contracted executive roles involving policy direction, budget authority, and advocacy. Nor does labeling a body “advisory” eliminate incompatibility when the entity hires contractors, approves budgets, and directs legislative and legal strategy as JPA does under Garza. Garza has also argued that the Metropolitan Water District Act authorizes his dual service. It does not. Section 56 permits a member agency to appoint one of its directors as its MWD representative. It does not authorize that director to simultaneously hold a separate, paid executive office whose duties collide with Central Basin and MWD rate and policy decisions. Nothing in the MWD Act overrides Government Code 1099. An Attorney General opinion issued under Edmund G. Brown Jr. — 90 Ops.Cal. Atty.Gen. 49 (2007) — cuts directly against Garza’s legal claims. The opinion makes clear that Government Code 1099 applies broadly to public offices, including water district directors and MWD representatives. Authorization to serve as a member agency’s representative on the MWD

board does not immunize an official from incompatibility created by other, separate offices. The analysis turns on real-world duties and divided loyalties, not job titles or labels, and when incompatibility exists, forfeiture is automatic. Just as important, the opinion does not say that employment labels defeat 1099, that appointed roles are exempt, that joint powers authorities are insulated from scrutiny, or that advocacy or lobbying bodies are somehow outside the statute. Section 56 of the MWD Act authorizes only MWD representation — nothing more. And the JPA Garza runs is not an MWD member agency, not a subordinate arm of Central Basin, but a separate public entity formed under Government Code 6500 with its own board, contracts, budget, and mission. Under the Attorney General’s framework, that role must be evaluated independently — and it is not shielded by the MWD Act. Government Code 1099 is selfexecuting. If the offices are incompatible, forfeiture occurs by operation of law — regardless of whether the official agrees, regardless of whether the board acts, and regardless of whether the official continues to vote. The implications are not theoretical. Central Basin’s recent governance failures make the legal status of its board members critical. If Garza forfeited his seat when he renewed his JPA contract, every subsequent action involving his vote is now subject to scrutiny. Part Three of High Stakes, Dirty Water, Red Flags lays out the legal trigger, the timeline, and the questions Garza has refused to answer. What comes next no longer rests with board members, but with those empowered to enforce the law — including the Attorney General and any party with standing to seek a quo warranto determination.

target and minimum levels if corrective action is not taken. The situation worsens in 2029, when loan repayments from the former redevelopment successor agency end permanently. Nearly twenty million dollars will be received over the next three years, but once those payments stop, the revenue disappears entirely, creating a long-term gap that accelerates structural imbalance. Meanwhile, the city is moving forward with an ambitious Strategic Plan that carries real financial consequences. Infrastructure assessments, major technology upgrades, expanded public safety systems, and aggressive economic development initiatives all require sustained funding. As reserves shrink, those commitments will increasingly collide with limited General Fund capacity. Staff warned that declining reserves will strip the city of flexibility to fund everyday quality-of-life investments

such as park improvements, facility repairs, and reforestation of aging pine trees. Unlike transportation projects, these items depend heavily on General Fund dollars and have few dedicated revenue sources to fall back on. City officials pointed to a citywide fee study and the Proposition 218 process for updating water and sewer rates as partial relief, but acknowledged these steps will not offset the deeper structural pressures driven by pensions, inflation, and stagnant revenues. Council members were asked to provide direction on priorities, areas of concern, and long-term sustainability strategies. That guidance will shape the Preliminary Budget to be released this spring, setting the stage for what may be the most politically and financially difficult budget cycle Cerritos has faced in decades.


Holiday Message from ABCUSD Superintendent Dr. Gina Zietlow Winter Break is upon us! I know our students are excited for the time to relax, possibly celebrate the holidays, and enjoy special moments with family and friends. As we reach the halfway point of the school year, I hope our students, along with our teachers and staff, take this opportunity to rest and recharge before we begin the second half of the 2025–2026 school year. There is so much to celebrate already this school year, from academic achievements to the outstanding accomplishments of our student athletes, performers, artists, and musicians. It has truly been a busy and inspiring first half of the year. I want to thank our families for their unwavering support of our schools. Your commitment plays an important role in our continued success and in creating opportunities for every

student. Over the next two weeks, I encourage students to stay curious and continue learning in ways that feel meaningful to them - whether discovering more about their community, exploring family history, or diving deeper into what interests them. Even though our schools will be closed, local libraries remain open and offer wonderful spaces for reading, exploring, and growth. I hope you enjoy a fun, safe, and restful Winter Break. We look forward to welcoming students back refreshed and ready for a great second half of the school year on Monday, January 5, 2026. Thank you for all you do to support our schools and students. Dr. Gina Zietlow Superintendent

New State Report Finds California’s School Governance Is Structurally Broken, Leaving Local Districts to Absorb the Fallout A new statewide analysis concludes that California’s public education system is structurally fragmented and unable to operate coherently, forcing local school districts to absorb the consequences of unclear leadership, overlapping authority, and weak accountability. The report, “TK–12 Education Governance in California: Past, Present, and Future,” finds that California’s education system is governed by a complicated web of state, county, and local agencies that often work at crosspurposes. Tahe result is a system that struggles to turn policy into practice, leaving districts to navigate shifting priorities, inconsistent guidance, and uneven support. At the heart of the problem is California’s long-standing “doubleheaded” governance structure. Policy is set by the governor and the appointed State Board of Education, while the independently elected State Superintendent oversees the Department of Education. The two roles carry different mandates and political incentives, and repeated efforts to streamline authority have failed. The report argues that this split leadership has produced decades of confusion and diluted accountability. Interviews with education leaders identified six areas where the system consistently breaks down: strategic planning, accountability, capacity, data use, stakeholder engagement, and overall coherence. Fragmentation is the common thread. State agencies lack aligned goals, county offices are asked to both police and support districts, and no single entity can be clearly held responsible when reforms fall short. Those governance failures are already visible in Southeast Los Angeles County. Districts such as ABC Unified, Norwalk– La Mirada, Bellflower, and Downey regularly face new state mandates without clear timelines or stable funding assumptions. Administrators are left to interpret evolving requirements on their own, diverting time and resources away from classrooms. Smaller districts in Cerritos, Artesia, La Palma, and Hawaiian Gardens feel the strain even more sharply. With limited administrative capacity, they are especially vulnerable to abrupt policy shifts, inconsistent county guidance, and

overlapping reporting demands. County offices, including Los Angeles County, are themselves caught in a contradictory role—expected to enforce compliance while also serving as improvement partners. The report warns that without structural reform, California can expect continued policy churn, uneven district support, and persistent achievement gaps. Local schools will remain responsible for managing the fallout of a system that lacks clear leadership. To address the problem, the authors propose reorganizing state education governance into three clear lanes: policy and funding led by the governor, implementation and capacity-building handled by the Department of Education under appointed leadership, and system accountability overseen by the elected superintendent. The report argues that such a realignment could finally resolve the leadership conflicts that have hampered California’s schools for more than a century. For school districts across the Southeast LA region, the stakes are immediate. A coherent state governance system would mean clearer expectations, predictable funding, and consistent support. Without it, districts will continue doing what they already do—patching together solutions while the state struggles to govern itself. Brian Hews~Editor and Publisher LOS CERRITOS

Nineteen L.A. Press Club Awards Including Three For Best Investigative Newspaper Serving Cerritos and ten other surrounding communities • January 10, 2025 • Vol. 40, No. 6 • LOSCERRITOSNEWS.NET

1-800-901-7211

Email: editor@cerritosnews.net Phone 562.407.3873 P.O. Box 788, Artesia CA. 90701

STAFF WRITERS LOREN KOPFF-SPORTS EDITOR LAURIE HANSON STEPHENY GEHRIG OWNERS/ PUBLISHERS BRIAN HEWS CORA HEWS EDITOR BRIAN HEWS Los Cerritos Community News, the Hawaiian Gardens Community News and the La Mirada Lamplighter and the Commerce Community News are published weekly. Los Cerritos Community News, the La Mirada the Hawaiian Gardens and Commerce Community News has been established as a newspaper of general circulation in Los Angeles County. Based on this legal status we are eligible to publish Legal Notices and Fictitious Business Name Statements. Reproduction in whole or part of any material in the Community News without permission of the publisher is prohibited. ©2021.

loscerritosnews.net • lmlamplighter.com

Los Cerritos Community News • Friday, December 19, 2025

From the Mayor’s Desk: December 12, 2025 On behalf of our City of Cerritos employees and my City Council colleagues, I’d like to wish you a happy holiday season. 2025 has been a very busy year for Cerritos, filled with exciting events and rewarding initiatives. You’ve also joined us in celebrating the spirit of the holidays, including at our annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and inaugural Santa’s Sleigh Day at the CCPA. We also want to thank those who took the time to donate to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots and Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree programs. Your collective contributions are reflective of our highly engaged and compassionate community. City of Cerritos employees and the City Council are proud to serve you. This month also marks one year since the City formally adopted its Strategic Plan, which guides the longterm vision of Cerritos. I’m pleased to see the plan’s eight goals driving the daily work of our employees, which support our theme of Cerritos in Progress. At our December 11 City Council meeting, we received an update on these goals as part of our first budget study session for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year. Notable in this report is Strategic Plan Goal 6: Focus on Fiscal Transparency and Sustainability. As we prepare a budget that meets the current and

5

anticipated needs of our community, we look forward to collaborative opportunities that will help to strengthen our fiscal position. Strategic Plan Goal 4: Strengthen Economic Development is a key driver in this work, with sales tax revenue making up nearly half of the City’s General Fund. Each of our Strategic Plan goals contributes to the overall vitality of Cerritos. When we Enhance Public Safety (Goal 1), we ensure our residents are protected and we are responsive to safety concerns. When we Assess and Maintain Infrastructure (Goal 3), we provide reliable and safe operations for crucial services. When we Ensure Continued Excellence in Community Recreation and Community Programming (Goal 8), we connect our residents and visitors with experiences that improve their physical and mental well-being. As we move into 2026, we’ll continue to lean into our Strategic Plan for guidance on how to provide essential City services. If you’re welcoming out-of-town guests this holiday season, the City is pleased to relax its overnight parking enforcement now through January 5. Additionally, you’re encouraged to take advantage of our Christmas Tree recycling service as part of your regular trash collection days between December 26 and January 16. Whether you’re staying local or traveling this time of year, we wish you a safe and pleasant holiday season surrounded by friends and family, and filled with memorable experiences.


6

Los Cerritos Community News • December 19, 2025

Cerritos Council to Consider New Celebration Committee and Senior Services Commission By Brian Hews

City Celebrations Committee

The Cerritos City Council will consider creating a new City Celebrations Committee at its Jan. 12, 2026 meeting, that would be responsible for providing guidance, logistics, and marketing support for a slate of city-sponsored community events. If approved, the new committee would replace the Let Freedom Ring Committee, which the City Council directed to dissolve in November 2025. According to the legal notice in LCCN, the City Celebrations Committee would help support and promote events including the Festival of Friendship, Halloween Festival, Let Freedom Ring celebration, Santa’s Sleigh Day at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, UbeFest, Spring Fling, and the Water Lantern Festival, among other city-sponsored programs. Under the proposed structure, the committee would have 10 members, with each City Council member nominating two members. Eligibility would be limited to Cerritos residents. Members would serve two-year terms. The committee’s meeting schedule would include meetings every fourth Wednesday of January, March, May, June, and August, as well as a meeting on the second Wednesday of December. The proposed stipend would be $25 per month. The meeting will be held in person in the City Council Chamber at Cerritos City Hall, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, and will also be broadcast live on Cerritos TV3 and

livestreamed on the city’s website.

Senior Services Commission

At the same meeting the Council will consider establishing a new Senior Services Commission, a move aimed at strengthening and formalizing the city’s programs and services for older residents. If approved, the ordinance would formally create a Senior Services Commission to support existing city efforts focused on seniors, including recreational and educational classes, special events, and senior safety issues. Under the proposed structure, the commission would consist of five members, with each City Council member nominating one commissioner. To be eligible, commissioners must be Cerritos residents who are at least 50 years old at the time of appointment. Members would serve two-year terms. The commission would meet six times a year, on the third Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September, and November. Commissioners would receive a stipend of $100 per month. The council meeting will be held in person in the City Council Chamber at Cerritos City Hall, located at 18125 Bloomfield Avenue. Residents will also be able to watch the meeting live on Cerritos TV3 and via livestream on the city’s website. Members of the public may provide comments on the proposed commission either during the meeting or in advance. Written comments can be submitted by email to city_clerk@cerritos.gov or delivered to the Office of the City Clerk, provided they are received no later than 3:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Written comments submitted by the deadline will be shared with the City Council prior to the meeting and included in the official record.


Los Cerritos Community News • Friday, December 19, 2025

HOLIDAY from page 1 across LA County—including my own— this Christmas Eve tradition at the Music Center is something we look forward to year after year. If you want to make it part of your holiday celebrations this year, you

Music Center. It became a professionally produced program broadcast to audiences beyond the concert hall, while remaining true to its original mission. Admission has always been free, and the focus has remained on bringing people together rather than selling tickets or exclusivity. This continuity mirrors Hahn’s broader

KENNETH HAHN with a children’s choir outside of the L.A. Memorial Sports Arena, the location of the first Holiday celebration.

can reserve a ticket on the Music Center’s website or watch the show live on KCET.” Before his time on the Board of Supervisors, Hahn served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1947 to 1953, representing the 8th District. His public career spanned a period of dramatic growth and change in Los Angeles, and his influence reached nearly every corner of county life. He helped spearhead the creation of Los Angeles County’s paramedic program, introduced emergency call boxes along freeways, authored key transit funding measures, and played a role in establishing Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center. He was also instrumental in bringing the Brooklyn Dodgers to Los Angeles and in expanding parks and open space, including what is now the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area. Yet among all of those accomplishments, the Holiday Celebration stands out as one of Hahn’s most personal and enduring legacies. From its earliest years, the event featured performances representing a wide range of cultures, traditions, and faiths, blending music, dance, and storytelling tied to winter holidays celebrated across the world. Hahn viewed the celebration as both a cultural showcase and a statement of values, one that emphasized unity and shared identity in a county defined by its diversity. Over time, the celebration grew in scale and prominence, eventually finding a home at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at The

philosophy of public service. He believed government should do more than manage departments and budgets; it should foster community, dignity, and pride. The fact that the Holiday Celebration has endured for 66 years speaks not only to the strength of the event itself, but to the clarity of purpose behind it. That legacy continues today through Hahn’s family, most notably his daughter, Janice Hahn, who serves as a Los Angeles County Supervisor. Those who know her also know how deeply she respected and loved her father, and how seriously she takes the responsibility of public service that defined his life. While the celebration belongs to the county as a whole, its continued presence reflects a rare and genuine continuity in civic leadership and values. Kenny Hahn died on October 12, 1997, but his influence remains woven into the fabric of Los Angeles County. Each Christmas Eve, as families gather at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion or watch from home, the Holiday Celebration serves as a living reminder of a public servant who understood the power of bringing people together. More than six decades on, the event remains exactly what Hahn intended it to be: a shared moment of community, culture, and connection in one of the most diverse counties in the nation.

Apply for L.E.A.D., Cerritos New Civic Leadership Academy Cerritos announced the launch of its new civic leadership academy, L.E.A.D. Cerritos. L.E.A.D. stands for Learn, Educate, Act, and Discover. This free, sevensession program is designed to educate and empower Cerritos residents by deepening their understanding of local government operations, decision-making processes, and community priorities. The program promotes meaningful civic engagement and strengthens collaboration between City officials and community members. The application form will close on Friday, January 9, 2026.

A maximum of 60 applicants will be accepted into L.E.A.D. Cerritos, with priority consideration given to current appointed Cerritos Advisory Board Members. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and are required to attend all seven sessions. Most sessions will take place on the third Thursday of the month, beginning January 22, 2026. Sessions will offer information on various Cerritos services and the functions of its department and division staff. For additional information on the academy, program schedule, or to complete an application, visit cerritos.gov/ lead.

7


8

Los Cerritos Community News • December 19, 2025

Santa Fe Springs Returns to The Rose Parade

The Food Fare will be located on Sierra Madre Boulevard near Gate A in the showcase lot.

By Brian Hews The City of Santa Fe Springs is returning to one of the world’s most recognizable stages, announcing its participation in the Tournament of Roses Parade and bringing a city-sponsored float back to Colorado Boulevard for the first time in nearly two decades. First held in 1890, the Rose Parade has evolved from a local New Year’s Day celebration into an internationally televised event watched by millions. For participating cities, a float is more than pageantry; it is a statement of civic identity, history, and pride, crafted entirely from flowers and natural materials and judged alongside some of the most elaborate displays in the world. The 2026 Rose Parade theme, “The Magic in Teamwork,” aligns closely with Santa Fe Springs’ float concept, “A Great Place to Live, Work, and Play!” City officials say the design reflects Santa Fe Springs’ collaborative spirit and the partnerships that have shaped its growth, from its industrial roots to its modern role as a regional employment and manufacturing hub. Designed to honor the past while looking toward the future, the float features iconic elements from Heritage Park, including the Atchison, Topeka & Santa

SANTA FE SPRINGS’ 2026 Tournament of Roses Parade float, “A Great Place to Live, Work, and Play!”, celebrates the city’s history, community spirit, and future, featuring iconic Heritage Park elements including the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe steam locomotive. Courtesy City of Santa Fe Springs. Fe steam locomotive, historic structures, and vibrant floral landscapes. Together, these elements tell the story of a city built on resilience, adaptability, and community pride. “Having Santa Fe Springs represented in the Rose Parade is an incredible honor,” said Mayor Bill Rounds. “This float tells our story—where we’ve been, where we are today, and where we’re going. It reflects the people, partnerships, and teamwork that make Santa Fe Springs a great place to live, work, and play.” Santa Fe Springs has a long history with the Rose Parade, regularly participating throughout the 1960s during a period of rapid civic and economic growth. The

city earned multiple awards during that era, including the Grand Prize in 1969. After returning to the parade in 2007, Santa Fe Springs again captured national attention, winning the Extraordinaire Trophy in 2008 for its float, “A Celebration of Life – Día de Los Muertos.” City leaders say the 2026 float continues that tradition, offering both a tribute to Santa Fe Springs’ past and a confident message about its future. As the parade once again carries the city’s name before a global audience, the float serves as a reminder that Santa Fe Springs’ story, like the Rose Parade itself, is rooted in collaboration, creativity, and community spirit. Following the parade, the

Santa Fe Springs float will be available for public viewing at Floatfest: A Rose Parade Showcase. The showcase is open January 1, 2, and 3 and features a two-mile display of Rose Parade floats after their appearance on the parade route. Each year, nearly 70,000 visitors travel to Sierra Madre and Washington boulevards in Pasadena for a rare opportunity to see the floats up close and appreciate the intricate details and craftsmanship that go into each display. The family-friendly event also allows guests to interact with float exhibitors. This year, the Food Fare returns to Floatfest, offering a variety of cuisine from some of Los Angeles’ top food trucks.

Floatfest Schedule of Events: Thursday, January 1, 2026, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ticket sales end at 3:30 p.m., with last entry at 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 2, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., reserved for seniors and visitors with disabilities. Friday, January 2, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ticket sales end at 3:30 p.m., with last entry at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, January 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Ticket sales end at 2:30 p.m., with last entry at 3:00 p.m. Only service animals are allowed. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, as guests should expect to walk approximately 2.5 miles and spend at least two hours viewing the floats. Water, small amounts of food, and non-alcoholic beverages are permitted, and recycling bins will be available throughout the venue. Due to limited street parking, free shuttle service will be provided by the Tournament of Roses Association, with priority entry for shuttle riders. Park-and-ride locations include Pasadena City College at 1570 East Colorado Boulevard and the PCC Extension Lot at 3035 East Foothill Boulevard. Shuttle service will operate on January 1 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., on January 2 beginning at 6:30 a.m. for seniors and visitors with mobility disabilities and continuing through the afternoon, and on January 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with final return trips later in the day.


Los Cerritos Community News • Friday, December 19, 2025

By Melinda Myers

The holidays are here and you are probably seeing many traditional holiday plants for sale at your favorite flower shop and garden center. These may or may not be part of your holiday traditions but knowing a bit about their lore can be something fun to share at holiday gatherings. The traditional carol “The Holly and the Ivy” mentions two of the evergreen plants associated with the holidays. Ivy, holly and mistletoe were three green plants that brightened the deciduous British forests in winter. Winter greenery was prized for its beauty and symbolic assurance that spring would come again. Ivy along with holly and mistletoe were the standard holiday decorations for homes and churches before the Christmas tree. English ivy is a popular houseplant that thrives in a bright location. Purchase or train English ivy into a wreath or tree for the holidays. Or grow it on an obelisk

CALLED CUETLAXOCHITL: Poinsettas were once cultivated by the Aztecs who called it cuetlaxochitl and used its colorful bracts for dye and the milky sap as medicine.

or orb and enjoy its year-round beauty. Outdoors, English ivy is used as a groundcover or trained on a trellis or home for vertical interest. It is considered invasive in some parts of the United States, so check before adding this plant to your landscape. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe started in England in the 19th century. According to mistletoe etiquette, a man should remove a berry each time he kisses a woman. And when the last berry is gone, the kissing is over.

ENGLISH IVY is a popular houseplant that thrives in a bright location. Purchase or train English ivy into a wreath or tree for the holidays. Or grow it on an obelisk or orb and enjoy its year-round beauty.

This parasitic plant was believed to have magical powers since it seemed to mysteriously appear in tree canopies and grow without roots. What original observers did not realize is fruit-eating birds deposited seeds in the trees. Once the seeds sprouted, they formed a parasitic relationship with the tree. Mistletoe hunting is one traditional way this high-hanging plant has been harvested. Hunters take aim and shoot. Unfortunately, some of the mistletoe can be blown to pieces, adding to the challenge of this harvesting technique. Some cultures believed mistletoe could cure diseases, bestow fertility, and protect homes from ghosts. The Druids used branches of mistletoe to welcome in the New Year and thus the plant became associated with Christmas.

9

Be sure to hang your mistletoe high or opt for the artificial sprigs as the berries are poisonous to people and pets. You may be surprised to know Wassailing is another plant-related tradition. In England, people would visit apple orchards caroling along the way. Once there, they would sprinkle cider or liquor over the trees’ roots while chanting to help ensure a good crop the coming year. You may have already purchased a poinsettia or two to give or decorate your home. It was once cultivated by the Aztecs who called it cuetlaxochitl and used its colorful bracts for dye and the milky sap as medicine. The name poinsettia comes from Joel Poinsett, a U.S. Ambassador to Mexico in the 1820s, who happened upon a blooming poinsettia shrub and brought cuttings back to the United States. The legend of the Poinsettia is also of Mexican origin. It is said on the first Christmas two small children wanted to visit the baby Jesus but were too poor to buy him a present. So, they picked weeds along the road to decorate his crib. The other children made fun of their gift, that is, until their gift of love, turned a beautiful red. Take time to enjoy family, friends and of course your favorite holiday plants and traditions. Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is www.MelindaMyers.


10 Los Cerritos Community News • December 19, 2025

2025 HMG-COMMUNITY NEWS FALL ALL-AREA TEAMS:

Valley Christian Football, Artesia Girls Volleyball Cap Off Fall Season With CIF-SS Titles By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X

The 2025 fall season was one of the best the area has seen in a while as five of the seven football programs advanced to the CIF-Southern Section divisional playoffs and six of the eight girls volleyball programs had at least one playoff match. When it was all said and done, one football team won a divisional championship while one volleyball team made school history with its first divisional title ever. Here are the members of the 2025 HMG-Community News Fall All-Area Teams. Note: The All-Area Teams are put together solely by sports editor Loren Kopff based off observations from covering the games and matches. FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM OFFENSE QB-Graham Lunzer (Valley Christian) RB-Diego Cerritos (Norwalk) RB-Daron Walker (Norwalk) WR-Oliver Boateng (Valley Christian) WR-Sean Bouma (Valley Christian) UTL-Cole Hefner (Valley Christian) LT-Devion Stinson (Cerritos) LG-Marc Saldana (Gahr) C-Jonathan Avendano (Cerritos) RG-Theodore Dobmeier (Valley Christian) RT-Zion Burris (Norwalk) FIRST TEAM DEFENSE DL-Bailey Crawford (Cerritos) DL-Isaac Morales (Valley Christian) DL-Marc Saldana (Gahr) DB-Oliver Boateng (Valley Christian) DB-Blake Butler (Valley Christian) DB-Tyler Ky (Cerritos) DB-Fernando Orozco (La Mirada) LB-Onosai Faamataua (Norwalk) LB-Cole Hefner (Valley Christian) LB-Jacob Hoosac (Cerritos)

LB-David Ibarra (Norwalk) SECOND TEAM OFFENSE QB-Justin Sagun (Cerritos) RB-Josiah Fregoso (La Mirada) RB-La’Brenten Wilson (Cerritos) WR-Terrence Grissom (Cerritos) WR-Alexander Gutierrez (Gahr) UTL-Okoro Lee (John Glenn) LT-Isaac Morales (Valley Christian) LG-Genesis Afu (La Mirada) C-Sebastian Jimenez (Gahr) RG-Martin Lopez (John Glenn) RT-Bradley Park (Gahr) SECOND TEAM DEFENSE DL-Marcus Castillo (Norwalk) DL-Jayden Chavarin (John Glenn) DL-Ryan Gonzales (La Mirada) DB-Sean Bouma (Valley Christian) DB-Andres Escobar (Norwalk) DB-Jakob Galvan (La Mirada) DB-Ogadi Metu (Gahr) LB-Uriah Archie (Cerritos) LB-Angel Lagunas (Artesia) LB-Harlym Rayford (Gahr) LB-Keyshawn Williams (Norwalk) HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE QB-Roman Acosta (Gahr) RB-Ismael Garcia (La Mirada) RB-Justin Pettus (Artesia) WR-Byron Louis (Valley Christian) WR-Kaiden Wardlow (La Mirada) UTL-Jonah Mason (John Glenn) LT-Bobby Fanelli (Norwalk) LG-Jameson Miller (Valley Christian) C-Jayden Chavarin (John Glenn) RG-Jaell Rueda (Artesia) RT-Luke Bocanegra (Cerritos) HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE DL-Theodore Dobmeier (Valley Christian) DL-Max Douglas (Valley Christian) DL-Jameson Miller (Valley Christian) DB-Christian Afonin (John Glenn) DB-Elijah Johnson (Artesia) DB-Byron Louis (Valley Christian) DB-Michael Quibrantar (Cerritos) LB-Joshua Ayala (Norwalk) LB-Sam Melcher (Valley Christian)

Find our paper at these convenient locations: AAA 18642 S. Gridley ABC Adult School 12254 Cuesta Dr. ABC District Office 17215 Studebaker Road Suite 290 Cerritos, CA 90703 ABCFT 19444 Norwalk Blvd. Aikan Sushi 12155 South St All Cerritos Parks Amor Y Tacos 13333 South St IHOP Towne Center 12741 Towne Ctr. Dr. Artesia City Hall 18747 Clarkdale Ave. Artesia Library 18801 Elaine Avenue Artesia Cemetery 11142 Artesia Blvd. Artesia Christian Home 11614 183rd St, Artesia Artesia Senior Apts 10427 Artesia, Bellflower Ave. 3 12612 South Street Bellflower City Hall Bellflower Terrace Apts. 9920 Flora Vista Belmont Place Apts. 9830 Belmont St., Bellflower Ramona Senior Ctr. 9843 Ramona St. Bellflower Bellflower Friendship Manor 9550 Oak St. Cassidy’s Cafe 15010 La Mirada Blvd Cerritos Chamber 13259 South St. Cerritos College Cerritos City Hall Sheriff’s/Community Center Cerritos Library 18125 Bloomfield Ave Cerritos Park East 13234 E 166th St. Cerritos Medical Center 11911 Artesia Blvd.

CerritosNews

Cerritos Senior Center 12340 South St. Cevitas Coffee 14218 Rosecrans Ave CTA Travel 12750 Center Ct Dr S. ContunEM 6430 South St Don Knabe Park At the Tennis Center Foggia Deli 5522 Del Amo Blvd. Grocery Outlet 15745 Imperial Hwy, Grove at Cerritos 11000 New Falcon Way Goodyear Auto 19404 Norwalk Blvd. Gardens Casino 11871 E Carson St. Hawaiian Gardens City Hall, Rec. Center, Library 21815 Pioneer Heritage Park 18600 Bloomfield Holy Family Church, Artesia 18708 Clarkdale IHop La Mirada 15140 La Mirada Blvd Imperial Healthcare Center 11926 La Mirada Blvd Coffee Place 13295 South St. Kindred Hospital 14900 Imperial Hwy. Knabe Park Kristens Beauty Salon 13952 Valley View Ave La Casa de Concinera 15711 Imperial Hwy, UCI/Lakewood Regional 3700 South St. La Mirada City Hall, Library, Resource Center, Sheriff’s Splash! La Mirada 13700 La Mirada Blvd LA Nails 13239 South St La Palma City Hall

cerritosnews.bsky.social

7822 Walker St La Palma Community Center 7822 Walker St La Palma Intercomm. Hospital Liberty Park 9211 Studebaker Rd, Long Beach Memorial 2801 Atlantic Ave. Manila Sunset 13347 South St Massage & Stone 13247 South St. Medipost 13299 E South Street Norwalk Arts/Sports 13000 Clarkdale Norwalk SR. Center 14040 San Antonio Dr. Norwalk City Hall 12700 Norwalk Blvd, Olive Lawn 13926 La Mirada Blvd 11832 E Carson St Pico Rivera Chamber 5016 Passons Blvd Pico River City Hall and Sheriffs 6615 Passons Blvd Rosewoods 10769 South St. State Farm 12616 South St LAFD Station 30 19030 Pioneer Blvd Silverlake Ramen 11103 183rd St Sophia Hair Salon 13243 South St. Sukos Sushi 14156 Rosecrans Ave Tacos San Pedro 11832 E Carson St Tour Le Jour 13359 South St VI Pharmacy 12610 South Street WRD 4040 Paramount

loscerritosnews.net

HMG-COMMUNITY NEWS Coach of the Year Brendan Chambers (left) of Valley Christian High. HMG-Community News Offensive Player of the Year Graham Lunzer, junior quarterback of Valley Christian High. Photos by Steve Ferician.

LB-Andre Romo (John Glenn) LB-Lucas Witt (Valley Christian) Offensive Player of the Year-One can only wonder what the numbers would be if Valley Christian High junior quarterback Graham Lunzer had not gotten injured in the Division 9 first round playoff game against Chino High. The St. John Bosco High transfer missed the final four and a half games but still managed to pass for 2,065 yards and 23 touchdowns while completing nearly 60 percent of his passes. For added measure, he was also the team’s leading rusher with 519 yards and another 14 touchdowns. Defensive Player of the Year-He may have picked up the slack for Lunzer in the rushing department, but V.C. senior linebacker Cole Hefner was the leader of a stacked defense that allowed 67 points over the last six games of the season. Hefner led the area with 122 tackles, the only player to post over 80 tackles, and had six and a half sacks and an interception, which was a 40-yard pick six at Capistrano Valley Christian High on Oct. 3. His 397 tackles in his high school career is a school record. Coach of the Year-Last season, V.C. head coach Brendan Chambers saw his team win the first six games, finish 7-3 and miss the playoffs after a fourth place finish in the Ironwood League. This season, he guided the Defenders to an 11-4 overall record, a second place finish in league, a CIF-SS Division 9 championship over Ramona High and a trip to the CIF State regionals. V.C.’s offense scored at least 28 points eight times while the defense allowed fewer than 20 points seven times, including a pair of shutouts. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL FIRST TEAM S-Kaylie Prins (Valley Christian) OH-Tessa Dobmeier (Valley Christian) OH-Djulianne Goze (Artesia) OH-Haley Robertson (Artesia) MB-Olachi Anyama (Whitney) MB-Jordan Weston (Valley Christian) OPP-Brooklyn Warner (Valley Christian) LIB-Devyn Masi (Valley Christian) SECOND TEAM S-Kylie Cruz (Cerritos) OH-Violet Hackworth (Gahr) OH-Mirei Sanchez (Norwalk) OH-Ally Veron (Cerritos)

MB-Jessalyn Ecevedo (Gahr) MB-Miranda Martinez (Cerritos) OPP-Giselle Salazar (Norwalk) LIB-Nayeli Sanchez (Norwalk) THIRD TEAM S-Janelle Sales (Whitney) OH-Genesis Islas (Gahr) OH-Ceana Merino (Cerritos) OH-Emma Prowse (Whitney) MB-Kaylin Cho (Cerritos) MB-Aubrey Ericks (Valley Christian) OPP-Tzarie Paalam (Gahr) LIB-Kelsie Kato (Whitney) HONORABLE MENTION S-Lauren Blanco (Gahr) OH-Keliana Gonzalez (La Mirada) OH-Valeria Mejia (Norwalk) OH-Pressley Pak (Whitney) MB-Lailanee Cano (Norwalk) MB-Kristina Palafox (Artesia) OPP-Aniyah Peoples (Valley Christian) LIB-Averie Garrison (Artesia) Co-Players of the Year-Half of Artesia High’s offensive firepower came from senior outside hitter Djulianne Goze, who led the team in kills. But it goes far beyond the statistics as Goze was the only four-year varsity member on a team that has been known for its futility. Still, she wasn’t just a leader in the offensive numbers she put together, she was a leader on and off the court. V.C. has had a rich tradition in offensive leaders and this past season was no different as senior middle blocker Jordan Weston was second on the team with 204 kills but led the Defenders with a .417 hitting percentage and 103 blocks. Coach of the Year-Francisco Serrano did not have much time to get accustomed to his team, having been named the head coach of Artesia right before school started. But the first-year head coach made the most of his rookie campaign as he took the Pioneers to the CIF-SS Division 8 championship match where the red and black swept Schurr High. Artesia, which had advanced to the semifinals once in school history, swept six straight playoff matches before ending the season in the second round of the Southern California regionals. The Pioneers finished the season at 16-11, the most victories in at least 28 seasons and had it not been for a forfeit victory over Dominguez High, they would not have advanced to the playoffs.


Los Cerritos Community News • Friday, December 19, 2025 11

GIRLS BASKETBALL:

Valley Christian Cruises in Battle Between Teams Going in Opposite Directions By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X

Three days before Valley Christian High visited La Mirada High, Hannah Burgoyne had the worst game of her high school career. The junior star who recently eclipsed the 1,000-point mark, was held scoreless in a 39-34 loss to Whittier High. It was completely different against the Matadores as she bounced back to score 21 points, get nine steals and grab seven rebounds as the Defenders blew out La Mirada 43-19 last Friday. It enabled V.C. to get to seven wins in its eighth game, which is significant compared to the previous two seasons. In Burgoyne’s freshman season, V.C. won its seventh game in its 14th contest as the team finished 9-17. Last season, it took

the Defenders 16 games before posting its seventh win as the team concluded the season with a 10-16 record. The message that V.C. head coach Dan Leffler sent to his team following the team’s first loss was a simple one. “It’s a basketball game, and we didn’t do what we needed to do to win that game at Whittier,” he said. “We made a lot of mistakes, so we wanted to minimize our mistakes [against La Mirada], and I think we did that for the most part. It’s a physical game, but my comment to them was, ‘hey, we have to have a really short term memory’, because it’s pretty early in the season. We were fortunate to win some games up to this point.” While the Defenders, who began the season with six straight wins, are going in the right direction with an experienced team, the Matadores are going in the other direction with a first-year head coach in

Sharae Moten, junior Jordin Shaw being the only returning player, no seniors on the team and no lower level teams. La Mirada’s loss to V.C. kept the team winless through seven games, however three of those losses were by six, five and four points while the other four setbacks were anywhere from 18 to 53 points. “Every game we’ve improved,” said Moten. “From me coming in late, it’s been a journey. We understand that we’re behind everyone else. So, just pushing through our adversity and the obstacles that we’ve already had…those close games are winnable for sure. But it just came down to who wanted it more.” Moten, a former John Glenn High standout, is the assistant head coach for La Mirada’s cross country team and could not take over the basketball team until the fall season was over. The Defenders scored the first six

points of the game and before freshman Kaitlyn Suzuki scored her only points of the game to put the Matadores on the board. V.C. then went on a 12-0 run before sophomore Julianna Martinez ended the first quarter with her lone basket. La Mirada scored back to back baskets twice in the second quarter, with junior Cyena Elmore getting her lone four points while Shaw and junior Charlize Parris added the other two baskets. By halftime, it was 28-12 and it was clear that the Defenders were on their way to their fifth win of over 20 points. “Today was our third game this week; two of the teams were great matchups for us because we are young,” said Moten. We did play yesterday, so a lot of them were learning to fight through their fatigue and just pushing through and having that want [ See GIRLS BASKETBALL, page 12 ]

BOYS BASKETBALL:

Gahr Moves Above .500 For Third Time, Holds on Late Against Marquez By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X

The early part of Gahr High’s 20252026 season has been like keeping track of the stock market. Entering its matinee game with Marquez High last Saturday, the Gladiators have been up and down, starting with a loss, then two wins, two losses, two wins and a loss. In fact, all four wins have come in convincing fashion, and it appeared to go in that direction against Marquez as the host Gladiators led by 12 points almost two minutes into the fourth quarter. But that advantage dwindled down to single digits as Gahr held on for a 57-51 victory. Although Gahr moved north of .500 for the third time, the performance left head coach Marcus

Girley feeling frustrated. “It is, it is, and I’m hoping this is what they call the process,” said Girley. “When you have a lot of young and inexperienced players…even my older players are inexperienced. I have a senior who has never played varsity basketball before. So, everybody is learning; everybody is in a new role, new expectations and more responsibilities. It’s just at times, we just don’t look the part. “There are times where we do and then we’ll be on that roller coaster and we’ll let a team get back in,” he continued. “I think we’re still playing a little too much off of emotions instead of execution and discipline.” Marquez led 8-6 midway through the first quarter before Gahr went on an 11-0 run with five different players scoring. The hosts would be up 25-15 with 3:08 left in

the half but in a blink of an eye, Marquez came back to tie the game as Jayden Tucker scored eight straight points, and Elyjah Staples added the tying basket with 21.6 seconds remaining. A three-pointer from sophomore Louie Reveles would send Gahr into the intermission with a 28-25 lead. In last season’s 62-35 Gahr win over Marquez on the road, Staples scored 13 points, but in the first half alone last Saturday, he was up to a dozen points and finished the game with a team-high 21 points. “I think a lot of it was just a lack of our execution on our defensive game plan,” said Girley. “[Staples] is a physical guy; he’s a good athlete and I think us being just a little younger, we’re not as physical and as long as we were last year.” Sophomore Konner Bookman began the second half with a three-pointer and almost two minutes later, senior Harshveer

Shergill added a basket as Gahr was slowly building its lead again. In fact, Shergill, who did not play in the first half, was a dominant force for the Gladiators in the second half, making all five of his shots and grabbing an offensive rebound while navigating through four personal fouls, three coming in a span of 1:34 late in the third quarter. “We have seven sophomores and some of them have a lot of upside, but they don’t understand the game,” said Girley. “Sometimes, it’s quarter to quarter, sometimes it’s possession to possession and sometimes it’s action to action where it’s like this kid isn’t locked in; he’s not playing hard, he’s not focused.” A pair of free throws from senior Kingston Nathaniel with 97 seconds left in the third quarter increased the lead to 41-30, [ See BOYS BASKETBALL, page 12 ]

NEWS AND NOTES FROM PRESS ROW:

League configurations, schedules for 2026 fall season set for new conference By Loren Kopff @LorenKopff on X It’s never too late to start planning for the 2026 fall season and now that we have put a wrap on the 2025 season for the fall sports, seven area schools now know who, when and where they will play their league contests eight months from now. The proposed league schedules were recently released, pending approval from the 20 principals of the schools that will be part of the new Suburban Valley Conference. The leagues were put together based off power rankings from the past two fall seasons with 75 percent coming from this past season. In football, Cerritos High and La Mirada High will be placed in the new Gateway League, or upper league, along with Downey High, La Serna High, Mayfair High and Warren High. The new Mid-Cities League, the middle of the three leagues, will have Bellflower High, California High, Gahr High, Norwalk High, Paramount High and Sante Fe High. The lower league, which has yet to be named yet, will house Artesia High, Firebaugh High, John Glenn High, Lynwood High, Pioneer High and Whittier High. League contests of area interest are Cerritos at La Mirada on Oct. 2 in the league opener, Gahr visiting Norwalk on Oct. 9 and Glenn entertaining Artesia on Oct. 16. Other

interesting league matchups are Cerritos at Mayfair on Oct. 9, Cerritos visiting La Serna on Oct. 16 and Artesia going to Lynwood on Oct. 30. Four leagues of five teams is the setup for girls volleyball with Cerritos and Gahr in the Gateway League along with Downey, La Serna and Warren while Norwalk and Whitney High will be in the Mid-Cities League with Oxford Academy, Paramount and Santa Fe. The next league will feature Artesia, Firebaugh, La Mirada, Mayfair and Whittier while the last league will have Bellflower, California, Glenn, Lynwood and Pioneer. Area teams that will be in the Gateway League in the other sports are Gahr for flag football, Cerritos and Whitney for girls tennis, La Mirada for boys water polo and Cerritos, Gahr and Whitney for girls golf. Boys and girls cross country and girls volleyball are the only sports which will have all 20 schools. WINTER SPORTS ARTESIA Boys basketball went 1-2 in the Lynbrook Winter Classic in San Jose with the only victory coming against Prospect High out of Saratoga 53-37 last Saturday behind the second straight 20-point performance from senior Christian Stewart. The Pioneers (46) will pace South Pasadena High in the St. Anthony Classic on Saturday in their last game of the month.

Girls basketball remains winless through seven games as they were scheduled to go to Las Vegas to participate in the HBCU Holiday Jam Friday through Tuesday. Boys soccer was 3-4-0 after a 1-0 loss to Orange High this past Monday as the Pioneers hosted Norwalk this past Wednesday. They will visit Valley Christian High on Friday and Long Beach Wilson High on Monday before entertaining Paraclete High on Tuesday. Girls soccer defeated Marquez High (2-0) and Victor Valley High (7-0) last Saturday in pool play action of the Best in the West Winter Classic. The Pioneers (4-12) will host Calvary Chapel Santa Ana High on Saturday in the final pool play game in tournament, then a playoff game before hosting Savanna High on Tuesday. CERRITOS Boys basketball got past Kennedy High 78-75 last Friday to improve to 4-7 as the Dons hosted city rival Gahr on Dec. 18 before welcoming Sunny Hills High on Saturday and going to Sonora on Tuesday. Girls basketball has dropped two straight games, including a 67-42 contest to Marlborough High last Friday. The team went to Garfield High on Dec. 18 and will host Valencia High on Friday and Segerstrom High on Saturday before going to Fountain Valley High on Tuesday. Boys soccer is 2-2-1 after a 2-1 loss to New Roads High last Friday and will be

home to Inglewood High on Friday before going to Bellflower on Monday while girls soccer defeated Shadow Hills High 1-0 before falling to Muir High by the same score last Saturday in the Best in the West Winter Classic. The Dons (3-4-0) will face Marina High on Saturday in the first of two games in the tournament. GAHR Girls basketball evened its mark to 4-4 after defeating Patriot High 39-32 last Friday and will face Serra High on Saturday, Lakewood High on Monday and Carson High on Tuesday in the San Pedro Tournament. Boys soccer tied Yorba Linda High 2-2 this past Monday to move its record to 4-21 as the Gladiators will host Katella while girls soccer has lost four in a row, including pool play games to Laguna Hills High (5-1) and Simi Valley High (3-0) last Saturday in the Best in the West Winter Classic, and 4-0 to La Mirada this past Tuesday. Gahr hosted V.C. on Dec. 18 and will wrap up pool play action on Saturday against Mayfield High. GLENN Boys basketball fell to Bell Gardens High 68-39 this past Monday to fall to 4-6 and will visit Compton High on Saturday and Baldwin Park High on Monday while girls basketball was blown out by Santa Ana Valley High 64-6 this past Tuesday to go to [ See NEWS AND NOTES, page 12 ]


12 Los Cerritos Community News • December 19, 2025

GIRLS BASKETBALL from page 11 to win. We had a lot of spurts where we did have that togetherness and that family unit sticking together.” Even though V.C. was three of 13 from the field in the third quarter, Burgoyne and sophomore Molly Douglas continued to be effective in other ways than scoring. They combined to pull down seven rebounds and collect four steals in the stanza. While Douglas scored only six points in the game, she had 14 boards, six steals and four assists. “Now that Molly is healthy, one of the goals for us is for everybody to have a role,” said Leffler. “And Molly very well knows her role, which is, ‘hey, I’m going to get rebounds [and] I’m going to play good defense. Molly has definitely stepped into that and obviously we’ve reaped the benefits of that because she can rebound and puts us in a good spot defensively as well.” Senior Aniyah Peoples added eight points and four rebounds while senior Jaiya Lee and freshman Ariel Martinez each pitched in with four points as all the scoring came from the five starters. Burgoyne’s 21 points marked the fifth time this season she has reached 20 points

and for her career, she has been held to under 10 points nine times. “Obviously, Hannah’s kind of a rhythm shooter; her confidence is a big deal,” said Leffler. “I’m a little surprised, I’ll be honest, because she’s shot thousands and thousands of shots to prepare for these games.” Shaw led the Matadores with six points and seven rebounds and is one of two players to have scored at least 10 points through the first seven games. She has reached a dozen points three times while Suzuki scored 10 points last Thursday against Garden Grove High. La Mirada also had 34 rebounds, the same as the Defenders, with sophomores Nadia Tamayo and Natalia Tamayo each grabbing five of them. V.C. hosted Segerstrom High on Dec. 18 and will entertain Oxford Academy on Friday while the Matadores will welcome former Suburban League rival Glenn on Friday and go to Baldwin Park High on Monday before welcoming Torrance High the next day. “I think we expected to be competitive,” said Leffler. “I didn’t expect us to be 6-0, which is great. We’ve played some not as tough teams in this first goaround just to kind of make sure that we can keep our morale high.”

LEGAL NOTICES- YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW! NOTICE AND SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 25-976 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARTESIA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF TITLE 1, TITLE 3, TITLE 5, AND TITLE 9 OF THE ARTESIA MUNICIPAL CODE, TO MAKE MINOR REFINEMENTS, CORRECTIONS, AND CLEAN-UP AMENDMENTS; AND ADDING ARTICLE 10 TO CHAPTER 4 OF TITLE 4 REGULATING TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURES; AND DETERMINING THE ORDINANCE TO BE EXEMPT FROM CEQA Notice is hereby given that on January 12 2026, the City Council of the City of Artesia will be considering the adoption of Ordinance No. 25-976 making certain amendments and additions to the Artesia Municipal Code related to the Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance. The following is a summary of the proposed Ordinance: • Section 1-2.06 (Fees, Charges, Licenses, and Taxes) – Updates the process for collection of fees, charges, assessments, debts owed to the City. • Section 1-7.02 (Definitions) – Updates the definition of “property or premises” to include “streets, alleys, sidewalks, right-of-ways.” • Section 1-7.03 (Administrative Citation) – Clarifies that a reasonable amount of time for compliance is no more than 30 days unless extraordinary circumstances exist. • Section 3-1.206 (Presentment of License) – Updates the section to authorize City inspection of business premises to ensure compliance. • Section 3-1.317 (Grounds for Denial) – Adds owing any “costs” to subsection (e). • Section 3-1.505 (Grounds for Revocation of Business License) – Adds failing to allow inspection of business premises or property as grounds for revocation as well as unpaid license fees, fines, costs, or taxes. • Section 5-1.03 (Prohibited Public Nuisance Conditions) – Adds clarifying language regarding canopies and makes dumping of any kind of waste a prohibited public nuisance. • Section 5-2.05 (Prohibited Noises - Specific Violations) – Adds specific times when construction is prohibited on Saturdays. • Article 10 to Chapter 4 of Title 4 (Public Safety) – Revised Highway Permit process for temporarily closing streets for special events. • Section 9-2.3453 of the Artesia Municipal Code – Add the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan and remove the South Street Specific Plan. Please note that the above is simply a summary of the Ordinance. To obtain a full understanding of the Ordinance it should be read in its entirety. A copy of the full text of the Ordinance is posted in the City Clerk’s office at 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, California 90701. Jennifer Alderete, City Clerk Date: December 19, 2025 Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 12/19/25 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: THOMAS ALBERT HAIT CASE NO. 25STPB13527 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of THOMAS ALBERT HAIT. A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by LETA M. MARTIN in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that LETA M. MARTIN be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested pearson files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 01/07/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 9 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner EUGENE A. GLEASON III - SBN 96415 GLEASON LAW OFFICES 15651 E. IMPERIAL HWY., SUITE 202A LA MIRADA CA 90638 Telephone (562) 943-5566 12/12, 12/19, 12/26/25 CNS-3993394# LA MIRADA LAMPLIGHTER

BOYS BASKETBALL from page 11 then a steal from sophomore Arien CruzDavis and subsequent basket from senior Makhi Montgomery gave Gahr a 47-35 lead. Marquez scored the next six points and Gahr would hold a pair of 11-point leads, but it would get a little too close for comfort over the final 2:13 of the game. Tucker scored five straight points before a basket from Cruz-Davis made it 56-48 with 1:12 left. Nathaniel led Gahr with 13 points while Bookman and sophomore Bryce Titus each added nine and eight points, respectively. Reveles had five of the team’s 12 steals and Cruz-Davis pulled down five rebounds. Gahr defeated Rancho Dominguez High 76-52 this past Monday to improve to 6-4, the first time it has been two games over .500 and visited Cerritos High on Dec. 18 in its annual city rivalry game. Of the four losses this season, the margin of defeat was by five, six, 14 and 10 points. “Minus the Mira Costa game, every game I felt like we have had self-inflicted wounds,” said Girley. “Just learning how to finish and still developing a leader, I think that’s kind of hurt when the game gets into crunch time. So, we’re there, and its just understanding how to win and finish plays and how to execute when you’re in those types of adverse situatuons.”

NEWS AND NOTES from page 11 2-10. The Eagles will visit La Mirada on Friday and Baldwin Park on Monday. After going 0-1-3 in the Troy Warrior Classic, boys soccer had no problems with Bassett High in a 6-1 game this past Monday, improving to 2-4-3. The Eagles will travel to Ocean View High on Friday while girls soccer has been outscored 51-1 in seven games this season and will not have a game until Jan. 6. LA MIRADA Boys basketball lost to St. John Bosco High 62-51 last Saturday in the final day of

the Braves Winter Classic as the Matadores (4-4) head to Las Vegas to play Perry High out of Gilbert, AZ on Friday in the opener of the Tarkanian Classic. The tournament runs through Tuesday. Boys soccer lost to Santa Fe 1-0 this past Tuesday to drop to 2-5-0 as the Matadores will visit Brea Olinda High on Friday while girls soccer tied Cypress High 0-0 and lost to Oak Hills High 1-0 last Saturday in pool play action of the Best in the West Winter Classic. La Mirada (2-3-1) hosted Katella on Dec. 18 and will face South Pasadena on Saturday in the last pool play game in the tournament. NORWALK Boys basketball fell to Kennedy 4134 this past Tuesday for its third loss in 11 games as the Lancers will travel to Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary High on Friday and Sunny Hills on Tuesday while girls basketball got to 6-6 after a 66-24 win over Workman High on Dec. 10. Norwalk hosted Western High on Dec. 18. Boys soccer is 1-4-1 after its loss to Gahr while girls soccer tied Bell High 1-1 and lost to Wilson 2-1 last Saturday in pool play action of the Best in the West Winter Classic. The Lancers (1-6-1) will face Capistrano Valley Christian High on Saturday in the first of two games of the tournament. VALLEY CHRISTIAN Boys basketball (5-4) hosted Paramount High on Dec. 18 and will go to Santa Fe on Friday while boys soccer (6-1-1) won the Troy Warrior Classic with a 2-1 win over Crean Lutheran High last Saturday. Girls soccer blanked Calabasas High 1-0 and defeated Jordan High 3-1 last Saturday in pool play action of the Best in the West Winter Classic. V.C. improved to 5-1-2 and will face Magnolia High on Saturday in pool play action of the tournament. WHITNEY Boys basketball defeated Godinez High 69-63 this past Monday to improve to 5-10 as the Wildcats hosted Irvine High on Dec. 18 and will go to Garden Grove High on Saturday while girls basketball is 8-6 after a 53-49 win against Savanna last Friday. It’s the last game of 2025 for the team.

LEGAL NOTICES- YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW! NOTICE AND SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 25-978 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARTESIA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 9, CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 45 OF THE ARTESIA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS TO COMPLY WITH RECENT CHANGES IN STATE LAW, AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) UNDER PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE § 21080.17 Notice is hereby given that on January 12, 2026, the City Council of the City of Artesia will be considering the adoption of Ordinance No. 25-978 making certain amendments and additions to the Artesia Municipal Code related to the Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance. The following is a summary of the proposed Ordinance: • This Ordinance only amends select provisions of Title 9, Chapter 2, Article 45 of the Artesia Municipal Code to comply with recent changes in State Law. Please note that the above is simply a summary of the Ordinance. To obtain a full understanding of the Ordinance it should be read in its entirety. A copy of the full text of the Ordinance is posted in the City Clerk’s office at 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, California 90701. Date: December 19, 2025 Jennifer Alderete, City Clerk Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 12/19/25 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: BRENT C. MADESH AKA BRENT MADESH AKA BRENT CHARLES MADESH CASE NO. 25STPB13541 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of BRENT C. MADESH AKA BRENT MADESH AKA BRENT CHARLES MADESH. A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by JULIE LYNN FAIRBROTHER in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES. THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that JULIE LYNN FAIRBROTHER be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 01/20/26 at 8:30AM in Dept. 29 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner CHRISTINE P. SNAPP - SBN 228378 PATTERSON LAW FIRM, APC 1800 E. IMPERIAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 110 BREA CA 92821 Telephone (714) 441-1410 BSC 227799 12/19, 12/26/25, 1/2/26 CNS-3993825# LA MIRADA LAMPLIGHTER


Los Cerritos Community News • Friday, December 19, 2025 13 CITY OF LA MIRADA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM (CDBG) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 Community Development Block Grant projects are available for public inspection during regular office hours at the La Mirada City Hall, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, California. The La Mirada City Council will consider approval of the projects on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 6:30 p.m., in the City Hall Council Chambers, La Mirada City Hall, 13700 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada, California. Anyone having concerns or questions or wishing to review or comment on the proposed projects may contact the City Clerk at (562) 943-0131 or visit the office located at 13700 La Mirada Boulevard. All persons wishing to comment, object, or otherwise be heard at the public hearing will be given an opportunity to appear and be heard at the time, date, and place of the public hearing. In addition, interested persons may submit written comments to the City Clerk at City Hall prior to the public hearing. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in a city meeting or other services offered by this City, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (562) 943-0131. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the meeting or time when services are needed will assist City staff in assuring those reasonable arrangements can be made to provide accessibility to the meeting or service. Leticia Revilla City Clerk Published at La Mirada Lamplighter 12/19/25 NOTICE OF ESTABLISHMENT OF QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS LIST FOR INFORMAL BIDDING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Bellflower (City) is currently establishing a List of Qualified Contractors for the 2026 Calendar Year to be notified of public projects advertised under the informal bidding rules (PCC §22032 – California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act). Contractors on the list will be mailed or emailed notices inviting bids for public projects estimated to cost up to $200,000 and involving work under their license class. Interested contractors must be currently registered with the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and will be solely responsible for complying with Labor Code section 1725.5, as well as any requirements implemented by the DIR. Contractors must also furnish certified payroll records as required pursuant to Labor Code section 1776. Bid security will be required for all bids on public projects estimated to cost more than $25,000 and for certain public projects estimated to cost less than or equal to $60,000 when determined by the City. Each bid must be accompanied by a certified or cashier’s check or bidder’s bond payable to the order of the City of Bellflower or cash including electronic payment (wire or ACH) for an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the bid price submitted, and the check, bond, or cash deposit of the successful bidder will be forfeited to the City if such bidder fails to enter into the contract to perform the work within ten (10) days after written notice of award. Licensed contractors interested in being included on the City’s list are required to submit the following information: Company/Firm Name Mailing Address Contact Name Phone Number Fax Number (if any) Mobile Number (if any) E-mail Contractor’s License Class(es) Contractor’s License Number(s) Contractor’s License Expiration Date DIR Registration Number Brief Description of Services Provided/Work Classification Send requests to be included on the list to: City of Bellflower Public Works Department Attn: Kimberly Gonzalez, Public Works Coordinator 16600 Civic Center Drive Bellflower, CA 90706 Or via e-mail at: kgonzalez@bellflower.ca.gov For questions, contact Kimberly Gonzalez at (562) 804-1424, ext. 2285. Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 12/19/25 NOTICE OF LIEN SALE: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property pursuant to Sections 21700–21716 of the CA Business and Professions Code, Section 2328 of CA Commercial Code, Sections 1812.600 –1812.609, Section 1988 of CA Civil Code and Section 535 of the CA Penal Code. The undersigned will be sold at a public auction conducted on www.storagetreasures.com ending on Monday, January 12,2026 at 10:00am. The personal property including: general household goods, electronics, tools, personal effects, and or miscellaneous items are stored at: Cerritos Self Storage, 16515 Valley View Ave., Cerritos, County of Los Angeles, State of California by the following: Name

Unit #

Leeann Marie Voorthies Luis Salazar Thurman Helmick K46 Maria Morales L35

A37 A91

Purchases must be made in CASH ONLY and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Sale is subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between owner and obligated party. Self Storage Management Company Bond #: WLI1254152 Published at LCCN 12/19 and 12/26/2025.

CITY OF HAWAIIAN GARDENS SUMMARY OF ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 2025-622U AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAWAIIAN GARDENS AMENDING SECTION 18.90.080 OF THE CITY OF HAWAIIAN GARDENS MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS TO COMPLY WITH THE RECENT CHANGES IN STATE LAW, AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE § 21080.17 Notice is hereby given that on December 10, 2025, the City Council of the City of Hawaiian Gardens approved, effective immediately, the adoption of Urgency Ordinance 2025-622U, amending Section 18.90.080 of the Hawaiian Gardens Municipal Code to comply with recent changes to state law that impose new limits on local authority to regulate Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs). These new laws take effect on January 1, 2026. In late 2025, four new bills were enacted that further amend state ADU law as summarized below. AB 462 – Coastal Development Permits; Disaster-Affected Areas The City does not lie within the Coastal Zone, and so AB 462’s provisions concerning CDPs does not apply to the City and are not included in the ordinance. AB 1154 – JADU Owner-Occupancy; Short-Term Rental When a JADU is developed, existing state law requires a property owner to reside in the JADU or remaining portion of the single-family dwelling. AB 1154 narrows this requirement to now only apply when a JADU shares sanitation facilities (bathroom) with the singlefamily dwelling. If the JADU has its own bathroom, then the property owner does not have to reside on the property at all. AB 1154 also expressly prohibits JADUs from being used as short-term rentals. Most ADU ordinances already included this prohibition. But now it’s required by state law. SB 9; SB 543 – ADU Ordinance Submittal to HCD; Approval This year’s SB 9 and SB 543 create a penalty for failing to do so by rendering null and void any local ordinance that is not submitted to HCD within 60 days of adoption. SB 543 – ADU Size; Number of ADUs; Impact Fees; Permitting Timeline SB 543 makes numerous changes and clarifications to state ADU law, the most notable of which are summarized below. ADU & JADU Size SB 543 amends state ADU law to specify that allowable square footage of an ADU or JADU refers to square footage of “interior livable space.” Impact Fees SB 543 clarifies that DIFs may not be imposed on an ADU that has 750 or fewer square feet of interior livable space or on a JADU with 500 or fewer square feet of interior livable space. The bill also exempts an ADU or JADU with fewer than 500 square feet of interior livable space from school impact fees. Quantity of ADUs Created Under Government Code Section 66323 SB 543 codifies HCD’s most recent interpretation by amending Government Code section 66323 to specifically allow combinations. Thus, a lot with a multifamily dwelling can now have a converted ADU or ADUs created under section 66323(a)(3) and detached ADUs created under section 66323(a)(4). And a lot with a single family dwelling can now have a converted ADU and a JADU created under section 66323(a)(1) and a detached ADU created under section 66323(a)(2). ADU Permitting Process SB 543 requires local agencies to now: ( 1) determine whether an ADU application is complete within 15 business days of submittal; (2) if the application is incomplete, within the same 15 days provide the applicant with a list of incomplete items and how to address them; (3) review a resubmitted application for completeness within 15 business days; (4) provide the applicant with a written appeal process for any incompleteness determination or denial (to the Planning Commission or City Council, or both); and (5) provide a final written determination on the appeal within 60 business days of receiving the appeal). The City Council passed and adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 2025-622U, by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN:

DE PAULA, FARFAN, VARGAS, ROA, DEL RIO NONE NONE NONE

Any interested person may obtain a copy of the urgency ordinance from the City Clerk’s Office, cityclerk@hgcity.org or by calling City Hall at (562) 420-2641. Also, a copy of the full text of the urgency ordinance is available on the City’s website at www.hgcity.org. Pablo Rubio, City Clerk Published: December 19, 2025 Los Cerritos Community News Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 12/19/25 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF BULK SALE (Division 6 of the Commercial Code) Escrow No. 120-34156-CM (1) Notice is hereby given to creditors of the within named Seller(s) that a bulk sale is about to be made on personal property hereinafter described. (2) The name and business addresses of the seller are: DESERT CREMATION SOCIETY, INC., 5416 JILLSON ST, COMMERCE, CA 90040 (3) The location in California of the chief executive office of the Seller is: SAME AS ABOVE (4) The names and business address of the Buyer(s) are: ARCHDIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES CREMATION SERVICES CORPORATION, 3424 WILSHIRE BLVD, LOS ANGELES, CA 90010 (5) The location and general description of the assets to be sold are: CERTAIN FURNITURE, FIXTURES, EQUIPMENT, GOODWILL, INVENTORY AND OTHER ASSETS of that certain business located at: 5416 JILLSON ST, COMMERCE, CA 90040 (6) The business name used by the seller(s) at said location is: DESERT CREMATION SOCIETY; ALSO KNOWN AS ALL CARING CREMATIONS (7) The anticipated date of the bulk sale is JANUARY 8, 2026 at the office of: GLEN OAKS ESCROW, 24018 LYONS AVE. SANTA CLARITA, CA 91321, Escrow No. 120-34156-CM, Escrow Officer: CYNTHIA MOLLER (8) Claims may be filed with Same as “7” above. (9) The last day for filing claims is: JANUARY 7, 2026. (10) This bulk sale is subject to Section 6106.2 of the Uniform Commercial Code. (11) As listed by the Seller, all other business names and addresses used by the Seller within three years before the date such list was sent or delivered to the Buyer are: NONE. DATED: DECEMBER 17, 2025 BUYER(S): ARCHDIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES CREMATION SERVICES CORPORATION, A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT RELIGIOUS CORPORATION 4527711-PP COMMERCE COMMUNITY NEWS 12/19/25


14 Los Cerritos Community News • December 19, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Planning Commission of the City of Artesia will hold a Public Hearing in the City Council Chambers of Artesia City Hall located at 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, California at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, to consider the following: Project Description: Case No. 2025-31: The Planning Commission will consider and make a recommendation to the City Council on amendments to recently adopted Article 48 (Mixed-Use Overly Zone) to reduce the minimum required residential density from 70 dwelling units per acre to 40 dwelling units per acre; and various other changes to ensure Article 48 is consistent with State Housing Law.. Project Location: Citywide Applicant: City of Artesia CEQA: The proposed Municipal Code amendments are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption), as the amendments do not approve a specific development project and it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the amendments will have a significant effect on the environment. In addition, the City previously prepared and certified a Supplement to the City of Artesia General Plan 2030 Environmental Impact Report (State Clearinghouse No. 2010041003), which was adopted by the City Council on July 14, 2025, in connection with Ordinance No. 25-970, amending the Artesia Municipal Code to add Article 48 (Mixed-Use Overlay Zone). The proposed amendments are consistent with, and within the scope of, the analysis contained in the previously certified environmental document. If you challenge any of these actions in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in the notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Artesia Planning Commission at or prior to the public hearing. All interested persons are invited to attend this hearing and express their opinion on the matters listed above Published: December 19, 2025 Paul Bollier, Community Development Director Phone: 562-865-6262 Ext. 200 or 224 Email: Planning@cityofartesia.us Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 12/19/25

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Planning Commission of the City of Artesia will hold a Public Hearing in the City Council Chambers of Artesia City Hall located at 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, California at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, January 20, 2025, to consider the following: Project Description: Case No. 2025-12: The Planning Commission will consider the following: (1) Zoning Code amendment request to amend the zoning code to allow the sale of alcohol at a gasoline service station; 2) a CUP to upgrade an existing alcohol license from a Type 20 license (beer and wine) to a Type 21 License (beer, wine and distilled spirits) in the Commercial General (CG) Zoning area. Project Location: 16809 Pioneer Boulevard Applicant: Sohal Oil Corporation, Inc. CEQA: The subject ordinance would be exempt from the requirements to prepare additional environmental documentation per California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Section 15061 (b)(3). This section is the “common sense exemption” that states that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Cerritos City Council will review and consider the item listed below at a regular meeting on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.: Waive full reading of and adopt AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS AMENDING TITLE 2 OF THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 2.14, ESTABLISHING A CITY CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE. City Attorney Summary: In November 2025, the City Council directed the dissolution of the Let Freedom Ring Committee, and in its stead, the creation of the City Celebrations Committee, whose purpose is to provide guidance, logistics, and marketing for various City-sponsored community events, including but not limited to the Festival of Friendship, Halloween Festival, Let Freedom Ring celebration, Santa’s Sleigh Day at the CCPA, UbeFest, Spring Fling, and Water Lantern Festival. The proposed Ordinance will formally establish the City Celebrations Committee under Chapter 2.14, which will provide for the following, among other things: (i) the number of commissioners will be ten members (with each council member nominating two members), (ii) eligibility includes being a Cerritos resident, (iii) the term will be for two (2) years, (iv) the Commission will meet every fourth Wednesday of January, March, May, June, and August, and the second Wednesday of December, (v) the stipend will be $25 per month, as established by resolution. 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., weekends and observed holidays excepted) at 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703, city_clerk@ cerritos.gov, or (562) 916-1248. This meeting will be conducted in person in the City Council Chamber, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, California, 90703. The meeting 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 meeting. 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. 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 meeting in person or by agent and be heard. /s/Cynthia Nava, City Clerk Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 12/19/25 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Cerritos Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing at a special meeting on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. on the following matter: Review and consideration to waive full reading of and adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CERRITOS PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDING THAT THE CERRITOS CITY COUNCIL APPROVE DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT 2026-1, A REQUEST TO AMEND CHAPTER 22.46 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. 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 Thursday prior to the public hearing. Public comments can be provided during the meeting or via email to planning@cerritos.gov or by hard copy to the Department of Community Development 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 Department of Community Development by the submission deadline, prior to the public hearing. Any person interested in this matter may contact the Department of Community Development at (562) 916-1201 for additional information and/or appear at the hearing in person or by agent and be heard. /s/Ryan Carey, Deputy City Manager/Acting Director of Community Development

The zoning text amendment would allow for the sale of alcohol with a Conditional Use Permit for the sale of off-site beverage consumption from a type 20 License (Beer/Wine) to a Type 21 ABC License (General - Beer, Wine, Spirits) within an existing gas station convenience store.

Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 12/19/25

The project consists of the operation and permitting of existing facilities involving no expansion of use and there are no unusual circumstances that would result in a significant effect. Accordingly, the proposed Zoning Text Amendment and alcohol license meets these criteria.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 2025-05 SPLASH! LA MIRADA HEATER REPLACEMENT

Members of the public who would like to address the Planning Commission may appear at the public hearing during the consideration of this item and state their opinion. If you have written comments that you wish to submit, please deliver them to the Artesia Community Development Department at 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, Artesia, CA, or by email: planning@ cityofartesia.us prior to the start of the public hearing. If you have questions about this notice or the proposed action, please contact the Artesia Community Development Department at (562) 865-6262 ext. 200 or 224 or by email above. If you challenge any of these actions in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in the notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Artesia Planning Commission at or prior to the public hearing. All interested persons are invited to attend this hearing and express their opinion on the matters listed above. Published: December 5, 2025 Paul Bollier, Community Development Director Phone: 562-865-6262 Ext. 200 or 224 Email: Planning@cityofartesia.us Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 12/19/25

Break Away from Elon Musk! Go to BLUESKY!

CITY OF LA MIRADA NOTICE INVITING BIDS

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. 2025-05, Splash! La Mirada Heater Replacement. Work includes remove and replace the heaters for the existing 50-meter Pool, Leisure Pool, and 25-yard Pool, and replace with new, per plan, 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 January 22, 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 12/12 and 12/19/25

@cerritosnews.bsky.social


Los Cerritos Community News • Friday, December 19, 2025 15 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Cerritos Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing at a special meeting on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. on the following matter: Review and consideration to waive full reading of and adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CERRITOS PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDING THAT THE CERRITOS CITY COUNCIL APPROVE GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 2026-1, A REQUEST TO AMEND THE CERRITOS GENERAL PLAN BY CHANGING THE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY ±0.44 ACRES OF LAND, LOCATED AT 18616 BLOOMFIELD AVENUE (APN: 7030-002-903), FROM LOW DENSITY TO PARKS AND OPEN SPACE.* Review and consideration to waive full reading of and adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CERRITOS PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDING THAT THE CERRITOS CITY COUNCIL APPROVE DEVELOPMENT MAP AMENDMENT 2026-1, A REQUEST TO AMEND THE ZONE CLASSIFICATION OF APPROXIMATELY ±0.44 ACRES OF LAND, LOCATED AT 18616 BLOOMFIELD AVENUE (APN: 7030-002-903), FROM SINGE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (RS6500) TO OPEN SPACE (OS).* Review and consideration to waive full reading of and adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CERRITOS PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT 2026-1, A PROPOSAL BY THE CITY OF CERRITOS TO ADJUST EXISTING PROPERTY LINES BETWEEN TWO PARCELS WITHIN HERITAGE PARK, LOCATED AT 18600 AND 18616 BLOOMFIELD AVENUE (APNS 7030-002-901 AND 7030-002-903).* *Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) and Section 15305 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, this project is exempt from CEQA Review. 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 Thursday prior to the public hearing. Public comments can be provided during the meeting or via email to planning@cerritos.gov or by hard copy to the Department of Community Development 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 Department of Community Development by the submission deadline, prior to the public hearing. Any person interested in this matter may contact the Department of Community Development at (562) 916-1201 for additional information and/or appear at the hearing in person or by agent and be heard. /s/Ryan Carey, Deputy City Manager/Acting Director of Community Development Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 12/19/25 NOTICE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Cerritos City Council will review and consider the item listed below at a regular meeting on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.: Waive full reading of and adopt AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS AMENDING TITLE 2 OF THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 2.17, ESTABLISHING A SENIOR SERVICES COMMISSION. City Attorney Summary: In November 2025, the City Council directed the creation of a Senior Services Commission, whose purpose will be to support the City’s ongoing senior services and programming, such as recreational and educational classes, senior special events, and senior safety issues, among others. The proposed Ordinance will formally establish the Senior Services Commission under Chapter 2.17, which will provide for the following, among other things: (i) the number of commissioners will be five members (with each council member nominating one member), (ii) eligibility includes being a Cerritos resident who is fifty years of age or older at the time of the appointment, (iii) the term will be for two (2) years, (iv) the Commission will meet every third Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September, and November, (v) the stipend will be $100 per month, as established by resolution. 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., weekends and observed holidays excepted) at 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703, city_clerk@cerritos.gov, or (562) 916-1248. This meeting will be conducted in person in the City Council Chamber, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, California, 90703. The meeting 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 meeting. 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. 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 meeting in person or by agent and be heard. /s/Cynthia Nava, City Clerk Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 12/19/25 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF BULK SALE AND OF INTENTION TO TRANSFER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE (U.C.C. 6101 et seq. and B & P 24074 et seq.) Escrow No. 255331-CS Notice is hereby given that a bulk sale of assets and a transfer of alcoholic beverage license is about to be made. The names and address of the Seller/Licensee are: THE GLEN BAR LLC, 12414 CARSON STREET, HAWAIIAN GARDENS, CA 90716 The business is known as: THE GLEN BAR The names and addresses of the Buyer/Transferee are: 12414 CARSON ST, 12414 CARSON STREET, HAWAIIAN GARDENS, CA 90716 The assets to be sold are described in general as: FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT and are located at: 12414 CARSON STREET, HAWAIIAN GARDENS, CA 90716 The kind of license to be transferred is: Type: ON-SALE GENERAL PUBLIC PREMISES now issued for the premises located at: 12414 CARSON STREET, HAWAIIAN GARDENS, CA 90716 The anticipated date of the sale/transfer is JANUARY 23, 2026 at the office of: R ESCROW CORPORATION, 1205 E. CHAPMAN AVE, ORANGE, CA 92866 The amount of the purchase price or consideration in connection with the transfer of the license and business, including the estimated inventory, is the sum of $190,000.00 which consists of the following: DESCRIPTION, AMOUNT: CASH THROUGH ESCROW $190,000.00 It has been agreed between the Seller/Licensee and the intended Buyer/Transferee, as required by Sec. 24073 of the Business and Professions Code, that the consideration for transfer of the business and license is to be paid only after the transfer has been approved by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. DATED: NOVEMBER 10, 2025 12414 CARSON ST CORPORATION, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION, Buyer(s)/Applicant(s) THE GLEN BAR LLC Seller(s)/Licensee ORD-4523601 LOS CERRITOS COMMUNITY NEWS 12/19/25

NOTICE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Cerritos City Council will review and consider the item listed below at a regular meeting on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.: Waive full reading of and adopt AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CERRITOS AMENDING TITLE 2 OF THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 2.13, TO MEMORIALIZE THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMITTEE WITHIN THE CERRITOS MUNICIPAL CODE. City Attorney Summary: As part of the City’s efforts to maintain consistency in the governance of all City advisory bodies, the City proposes to memorialize the scope of duties, membership, and organization of the existing Community Safety Committee, whose purpose is to advise on matters related to crime prevention, fire prevention, disaster and emergency preparedness, and traffic and pedestrian safety. The proposed Ordinance will memorialize the existing Community Safety Committee under Chapter 2.13, which will provide for the following, among other things: (i) the number of commissioners will be ten members (with each council member nominating two members), (ii) eligibility includes being a Cerritos resident, (iii) the term will be for two (2) years, (iv) the Commission will meet every third Wednesday of odd-numbered months, (v) the stipend will be $25 per month, as established by resolution. 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., weekends and observed holidays excepted) at 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703, city_clerk@cerritos.gov, or (562) 916-1248. This meeting will be conducted in person in the City Council Chamber, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, California, 90703. The meeting 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 meeting. 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. 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 meeting in person or by agent and be heard. /s/Cynthia Nava, City Clerk Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 12/19/25 CITY OF CERRITOS NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Project Identification: REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL, STREET LIGHTING MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND ADDITIONAL SIGNAL CONSTRUCTION, RFP NO. 1568-25. Project Description: The work or improvement to be performed consists of providing all labor, services, tools, equipment, materials, appurtenances and incidentals necessary for the maintenance of traffic signals and City owned street lights in the City of Cerritos. The term of the proposed contract is two (2) years with a provision of up to four (4) one-year extensions. Project Specifications: A copy of the General Descriptions and Conditions and Agreement can be obtained by e-mailing Cerritos Engineering Division at: aerdelji@cerritos.gov. Any questions, please contact (562) 916-1219 during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekends and observed holidays excepted). Notifications, updates, and addenda will be posted on the City’s bid page at: cerritos.gov/bids. Proposed Service Providers (referred to as “Proposers”) shall be responsible for monitoring the site to obtain information regarding the solicitation. Failure to respond to required updates may result in a determination of a nonresponsive proposal. Sealed Proposals must be received on or before: 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Place of Sealed Proposal receipt: The sealed proposal submission must be physically received in the: Office of the City Clerk, 1st Floor, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703. It is the responsibility of the bidder to ensure that the proposal is properly marked and received in the appropriate location by the deadline. Bids not received in the Office of the City Clerk at the above-referenced location by the deadline provided will not be considered. Sealed Proposals must be marked: “PROPOSAL – FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL, STREET LIGHTING MAINTENANCE SERVICES AND ADDITIONAL SIGNAL CONSTRUCTION, RFP NO. 1568-25 - DO NOT OPEN” By order of the City of Cerritos. No proposal will be accepted unless it has the above referenced information clearly identified on the outside label. Final selection criteria: The City of Cerritos will award an agreement on the basis of qualifications, experience, timeline and cost. The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, or portions thereof, or to waive any informality or irregularity in a proposal to the extent allowed by law. No proposal will be received unless it is made on the official forms in the Contract Documents that include the Proposal Cost Schedule/Non-Collusion Affidavit. Failure to properly execute the Proposal Cost Schedule/Non-Collusion Affidavit will render the proposal non-responsive and the proposal will not be accepted. No proposal will be accepted from a contractor who has not been licensed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 9, Division III of the Business and Professions Code of the State of California. The contractor must possess a license of the following classification at the time the contract is awarded (and must maintain this license classification through completion of the project): “C-10” is required. The proposer's attention is also directed to Section 7028.15 of the Business and Professions Code. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 1776, et al. of the Labor Code of the State of California, the Director of Industrial Relations for the State of California has determined the general prevailing rate of wages and employer payments for health and welfare, vacations, pensions and similar purposes applicable to the work to be done. These rates shall be the minimum rates for this project. Rates are available on the internet at http://www.dir. ca.gov/DLSR/PWD. In addition, the information can be obtained by calling the Division of Labor Statistics and Research’s Prevailing Wage Unit at (415) 7034774, or by faxing the Prevailing Wage Unit at (415) 703-4771, or by writing to: California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Statistics and Research, Prevailing Wage Unit, P.O. Box 420603, San Francisco, CA, 94142. Any requests for information regarding proposals submitted shall be directed to the Office of the City Clerk via a formal Public Records Act request. The City has determined that opened proposals are confidential and therefore the negotiations process outweighs the public interest in prematurely disclosing such records. (Gov. Code § 7922.000). By order of the City of Cerritos. Published at Los Cerritos Community Newspaper 12/19/25

therealcerritosnews

@cerritosnews.bsky.social

@cerritosnews


16 Los Cerritos Community News • December 19, 2025

NOSTALGIA from page 1 passage in neighborhoods across the state. Coming in second is the video-rental clerk, an icon of California culture during the VHS and DVD era. These were the original recommendation engines, minus the sterile algorithms and plus a healthy dose of judgment. You walked in looking for Die Hard and walked out with The Notebook because someone behind the counter insisted you’d “thank me later.” They remembered your late fees, your favorite genres, and your questionable taste. They also gave Friday nights a little personality in a way streaming menus never will. Third on the list is the door-to-door encyclopedia salesperson — a relic of the days when selling knowledge required calf muscles and a strong back. Before Google and Alexa, these traveling experts

lugged entire universes of information from doorstep to doorstep, selling both books and the dream of having a “smart” home long before anyone plugged one in. Rounding out the list are the gas-station attendant, toll-booth collector, VHS repair technician, record-store clerk, film developer, switchboard operator, and typist — each a reminder of a California where everyday interactions weren’t automated. Someone wiped your windshield, fixed your tangled tape, knew your favorite B-side, or connected your call by hand. These weren’t just jobs; they were part of the ambient soundtrack of daily life. The study also asked Californians which office relics they miss the most. The top pick is the clack of the typewriter, a sound with purpose and rhythm that no modern keyboard can fake, no matter how many click-track sound effects people download. Others long for the smell of fresh photocopies, the spin of a Rolodex,

the whine of a fax machine, and even the clattering grind of the dot-matrix printer. Each was a tiny ritual that told you work was actually happening. Asked which retro office gadget they’d bring back for a week, survey respondents picked the typewriter again, followed closely by the pager and the overhead projector. Imagine the chaos: meetings lit by the warm glow of a bulb, transparency sheets everywhere, presenters juggling plastic while pretending the smudges were intentional. It was inefficient, yes, but it was atmospheric — something modern digital workplaces increasingly lack. When asked which era of work they’d choose to revisit, the 1980s dominated the poll. People miss the noise, the energy, the movement, the briefcases, and maybe even the hair spray. The quieter, remote-heavy workplace of today doesn’t quite carry the same pulse. The survey also pinpointed what fu-

ture generations will likely laugh at: endless Zoom marathons, six different time-tracking apps, Slack team-building, “per my last email,” and people asking AI to write meeting notes about AI. The irony is already baked in. Career expert Amanda Augustine of resume.io summed it up: Work wasn’t just about output, it was about atmosphere. The hum of a printer, the click of a keyboard, even the frustration of a jammed fax machine gave shape to the day. As workplaces become quieter and more digital, people are realizing they miss those quirks more than they expected. The full study and infographic are available through the resume.io research series, which asks the questions that algorithms never quite capture: not what jobs are disappearing, but which ones we wish hadn’t.

Metro Advances Hahn’s Olympic Water Taxi Proposal This past week, the Los Angeles Metro Board of Directors voted unanimously to take the next steps toward making Supervisor Janice Hahn’s proposal for a Water Taxi from San Pedro to Long Beach during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games a reality. “The 2028 Games are a chance to think bigger about the transit options we offer our residents,” said Hahn. “A water taxi between San Pedro and Long Beach would be an opportunity to showcase our waterfront, cut down on traffic on the bridges, and give residents and visitors a memorable way to get to Olympic and Paralympic events. I appreciate the support of my colleagues, and this vote today brings us one step closer to making this a reality.” Long Beach is set to host 18 sporting events across seven venues during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. San Pedro will host sailing, be home to Croatia House, and will have hotels filled with Olympic visitors. Hahn’s proposed water taxi will offer an innovative public transport connection for San Pedro and surrounding communities, as well as for riders along Metro’s J (Silver) Line, which runs along the El Monte Busway and Harbor Transitway from El Monte to San Pedro via Downtown Los Angeles. Olympics attendees could also park at the Harbor Gateway Transit Center in Gardena and take the J Line to San Pedro to catch the water taxi, significantly relieving traffic congestion in and around Long Beach and on the Vincent Thomas Bridge. A study completed by Metro found that Hahn’s Water Taxi proposal is not only feasible, but it would also support the Games’ goal of a transit-first Olympics and Paralympics and work to mitigate concerns over roadway congestion and traffic flows during the games. Among other findings, the report determined that the cost of operating the water taxi could be as low as $4 per passenger seat. The Board approved a motion by Hahn to begin the process of identifying potential operators and assessing funding options. Metro staff will return to the Board within 180 days with findings. During the vote, Hahn emphasized she wants to make sure the eventual operator of this water taxi is ready to work with labor partners. There is precedent for Hahn’s proposed water taxi; a water ferry service between San Pedro and Long Beach with a stop at Terminal Island existed before the construction of the Vincent Thomas Bridge. The ferry was operated by both private and municipal companies and provided transportation for workers, residents, and commuters.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
December 19, 2025 Los Cerritos Community News by Los Cerritos Commuity Newspaper Group - Issuu