April 2011 Archives
Jim Duessent of Bellflower and John Nelson of Lakewood on Feb. 13, at the Haymarket Baseball Park in Lincoln Nebraska, home of the Lincoln Saltdogs Minor League Baseball Team. The weather was great, it was about 50 plus all week. John and Jim are members of the Belmont Shore Lions and are avid baseball fans. They went to see an old friend Cliff Davis who took the picture. All three used to work for Long Beach Unified School District in the maintenance Department.Submitted by Jim Duessent
On March 13, we went to the Grand Canyon to celebrate our daughter Maria's birthday and our 50th anniversary which is not until later in the year. Pictured are, Maria Boone, Gil and Ginger Sanchez, Ryan Sokolowski and our grandchildren Noah and Trinity.
Billy's Travel Group traveled by air, land and sea throughout Australia and New Zealand. In this group were an international banker and his wife, an FBI Agent and his wife, a CHP officer and his wife, a retired Orange County Judge and his wife and a retired Orange County police officers, active and retired LAPD/LBPD personnel and their wives, and a Long Beach and Los Angeles prosecutor. Travelers included; Charles and May Parks, Vic and Sherry Johnston, Nanette Woodall, Craig, Diana and Katie Herrons, Lisa Hakovich, Ceilia Mora, May Ringold, Cheng Wei and Billy Quach, Ted Reno, Carrie Katsumata, Delvida Clarke, Hans Kohnlein and Sharon Panian, Larry and Diana Shelley, Todd Muilenburg, Willam Wu and Audrey Lo, Martin and Julie Engquist, Mike and Sally Elenitsky, Jose and Juliann Llanas, Tom and Sandy Morgan, Art and Marilyn Droz, Sylvia and John LiuThis photo was taken in New Zealand at the steaming Pohutu Geysers on February 26. May Parks is holding the Press-Telegram
Submitted by Charles H. Parks
Zach Woolpert of Huntington Beach, and his Grandpa, Duke Woolpert of Signal Hill, just returning from a flight over Mount Rushmore, and the Crazy Horse Monument.Submitted by Duke Woolpert
Tosh, Skylar, Rosanne and Alexa Vaughn, Bailey, Brenna and Mark Abeyta, Bill, Claire and Beth Courter are all standing in front of the Harford Pier, Avila Beach, Central CA. Our three families spent a four day weekend in the beautiful Central Coast, seeing Cambria, Ragged Point, San Luis Obisbo and Pismo Beach. Submitted by Mark Abeyta
Judi and David McCaughey's little Abigail, a nearly 6-year old Cocker Spaniel who likes to stay current with the news.Submitted by Judi and David McCaughey
On April 16, Quevetta Powell Robinson surrounded by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and a multitude of family and friends celebrated her 99th birthday in Carson.On April 16, 1912 one of the most beautiful and loving people was born, our Matriarch, "Mother" also known as "Aunt Koot." She has been blessed by God the Father to have powered through the Civil Rights Movement, watch the fall of great leaders and witness history being made.
She has watched her family blossom and multiply into an exceptional and well-favored group of people. She has taught the women to be strong-willed in the face of adversity, and how to be determined and beautiful at the same time. She taught the men in her family the true definition of the word man.
Mother, your faithfulness to the Word of God has inspired us to be plentiful in the work of the Lord and to revel in his goodness and mercy. No one can comprehend the immensity of the love we have for you, our Precious Jewel.
Happy Birthday Mother, We Love You!
Jazmine Epperson graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Explorer Class 85 on January 29. She was one of 122 recruits who endured mental and physical training at the STARS Center in Whittier.Recruits trained every Saturday at the STARS Center for 18 weeks. The recruits come from various Law Enforcement agencies, including Long Beach, Pasadena, Monterey Park, West Covina, Huntington Park, Baldwin Park School, Pomona, Irwindale, Whittier, Bell Gardens and Montebello. During the 18-weeks, the young men and women, ages ranging from 14 to 20 years old, are taught the history of Law Enforcement and expectation of Explorers.
The program is designed to show students how to be Explorers, work with deputies and possibly embark on a law enforcement career. Recruits were given different responsibilities and were divided into groups called platoons. There were 27 recruits in each platoon. By the 4th week Jazmine was Platoon Sgt., one of eight. She was responsible for attendance and ensuring her platoon was squared away. By the 12th week, Jazmine became Class Sgt. During this time she acquired more responsibilities. If the Class Sgt. was not on point, he or she was removed from the position.
Jazmine remained Class Sgt. until graduation. What a privilege it was. Jazmine graduated as an Honor Recruit. An Honor Recruit is the individual who has demonstrated leadership traits. She was most squared away (meaning appearance was together, shoes shined, well groomed). She was at the top of the class academically. When you are Honor Recruit, you are asked back to Academy to be a Drill Instructor to train new recruits.
Jazmine is a Junior at Cerritos High School. She has been a Honor student since ninth grade and is currently enrolled in an AP class. On March 10 the City of Cerritos honored her with a Proclamation for her achievement from the Sheriff's Academy. Jazmine is the first Honor Recruit the Cerritos Sheriff's Department has ever had.
Submitted by Deborah Epperson
On February 17, Jefferson Leadership Academies held an exciting and fun filled women's basketball game. Female teachers, staff and alumni from Jefferson went head to head with the ladies of the Long Beach Police Department. The standing room only audience of students and parents cheered enthusiastically for both teams and for the excellent half-time show featuring student talent. All proceeds raised went towards the 8th grade class trip to the Museum of Tolerance. The final score was LBPD 43, Jefferson 31.Submitted by Kimberly Dalton
Assistant Principal
Jefferson Leadership Acadamies
Assistant Principal
Jefferson Leadership Acadamies
Barbara Cassidy of Seal Beach and Susanne Cameron of Long Beach visiting China Town, San Francisco.
Long Beach residents Jaquie Wilvers and her husband, Joe, visited the Temple of the Golden Buddah (5.5 tons) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Rita and Tom Trujillo visited the Gaylord Opryland in February during a Women Of Faith Conference.Submitted by Rita Trujillo
Pictured left to right: Chris Richey, Denise Haerr, Tom Richey and Steve Haerr. In the background is the medieval hill town of Trevi. Tom attended Le Cordon Bleu culinary school and part of his schooling was a six-week externship in Italy. After that ended we spent two weeks traveling around Italy and met up with our friends Steve and Denise Haerr from Temecula, Ca. They are spending a year living in Spoleto, Italy. We had a wonderful time.Submitted by Chris Richey
"Ex-Chairs" of CAMEO, an auxiliary of the Assistance League of Long Beach enjoying a weekend outing at Ojai. Back row: Ginny Kennebeck, Kathy Grubb, Ginny Baxter, Linda Rahn, Susan Bell. 2nd row: Barbara Grubb, Blanche Cannady, Lorie Merrill, Rosi Petersen.
Members of the La Palma-Cerritos AAUw, the Soroptimist International of Artesia-Cerritos, and the Woman's Club of Cerritos Artesia who portrayed famous women who influenced women's rights and accomplishments at the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day celebration on March 14 at the Cerritos Library. The women were selected from 1911 to 2011 and included Suffragettes, politicians, activists, an astronaut, and athlete, a former first lady, media mogul and philantropist Oprah Winfrey, the first woman graduate of Ringling Bros. Crown College and others.
Submitted by Edna Ethington,
AnnaBelle, my sweet little Cockapoo, was taking a little nap after some ball play and woke up just long enough for me to take her picture. She loves having her picture taken.Submitted by Mary Wilson
Lakewood
Lakewood
I am submitting these photos for your "Our Cool Pet" section. Kiwi is four years old and a very special member of our family. She's not like most dogs. She's very observant and very sweet; never barks and usually sits at our feet. She tilts her head a lot as if she's thinking of what to do next. She's a full bred Pomeranian, but we think she's a Chihuahua in a bear suit.
Submitted by Gordon Andahl
Jammies for Japan!
Lewis Elementary School, in Downey, participated in a wonderful activity, called "Jammies for Japan," on March 24. Students who wanted to come to school in their pajamas donated one dollar to help out the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. A lot of kids came in pajamas and so did some teachers.
We raised $1,073.63 to go to the Red Cross Foundation. It was very exciting to see how much money we raised. The student council participated to collect the money and so many people brought even more than one dollar. I think that everybody who brought money showed the Character Pillar of Caring. The special thing about it is that it came from the heart.
Written by Mercy Varela, 5th grade student
Lewis Elementary, Downey
Pictured is Mrs. Dubei's kindergarten class
Submitted by Todd Graves
Lewis Elementary, Downey
Pictured is Mrs. Dubei's kindergarten class
Submitted by Todd Graves
Local Student Named California Geographic Bee Semifinalist by National Geographic Society for Second Consecutive Year
Mathew Taylor, an 8th grader from Mayfair Middle School in Lakewood was notified by the National Geographic Society that for the second consecutive year he was one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2011 California Geographic Bee, sponsored by Google and Plum Creek. Bees were held in schools with 4th through 8th grade students throughout the state to determine each school's Geographic Bee winner. School-level winners then took a qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society. In each of the 50 states, as well as District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Dependents Schools, and the U.S. territories, the National Geographic Society invited students with the top 100 scores to compete at state level.
The 2011 California Geographic Bee was held in Sacramento at Cosumnes River College on April 1.
For additional information on the National Geographic Bee please visit www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee.
James Madison Elementary School held it's first technology fundraiser "Fit-a-Thon" on March 17. Madison students, decked out in St. Patrick's Day green rotated through stations of Tai-bow exercises, an obstacle course, ran 1/4 mile, and jumped roped and hulu hooped for aerobic exercise. It sounds like a lot of work, but students were all smiles as they rotated through the fitness stations. Funds raised will be used specifically for document cameras and projectors for Madison classrooms. Principal Duenas, parents, teachers have made a goal of improving education with updated technology at James Madison. Donations can still be made by calling Madison Elementary School at 562-420-7731.
Here are 14 of the 15 Jordan High School students who trained and completed the Los Angeles Marathon on March 20. The students had been training since September to achieve their goal of 26.2 miles. They worked hard in training and on race day in cold rain, hail and wind. Despite the conditions, all students finished and were at school the following day to take this group picture. They are an incredible group of young people and we are very proud of them.
Front Row Kneeling: Brenda Salazar, Elizabeth Hernandez, Diana Martinez; middle row: Coach Sandra Del Cid, Gladis Rivera, Illiana Garcia, Evelin Llamas, Yoselin Chavez, Yessenia Samayoa, Coach Whitney Gomes; back row: Marco Iniguez, Eric Nao, Myrian Lamas, Alfonso Escobar, Jennifer Samayoa, Stacey Walker
Not pictured is Javier Reyes.
Submitted by Whitney Gomes
History/Social Science Teacher
Jordan High School
History/Social Science Teacher
Jordan High School
McKinley Kids Kick It To College!
During the month of April, our 3rd and 5th grade students will be in a kickball tournament with an equal number of fraternity and sorority students from CSULB. The students from "The Beach" will be raising money for new sports equipment for McKinley. When Zeta Beta Tau fraternity president, Ryan Gardner, (Ryan is one of my former kindergarten students, how quickly they grow up!), first approached me with the concept, our McKinley leadership team enthusiastically approved it. Ironically, our 4th grade students will be touring CSULB that day.The sororities and fraternity are also providing each of our students with a small memento complete with CSULB's insignia on it. This is to remind our students that college can definitely be a part of their future.
Go Cougars! Go Beach!
Pictured are: McKinley Students, LeJoy, Rachel, and Deanna help CSULB's Zeta Beta Tau member Tucker "Keanu" Troy, President Ryan Gardner, and member Steve Ueda, plan out our kickball tournament.
Submitted by Christy Cleveland
McKinley Counselor
McKinley Counselor
Ray and Sandy Mortaloni, left and center and their tour guide during a trip to China. They traveled with the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce in the month of October, for a week. We had a great time.Submitted by Ray Mortaloni
John and Cheryl Nelson of Lakewood, traveled to Alaska last September to celebrate the in-laws 50th wedding anniversary.
The Daskam Family; Jennifer, Shelly and Richard Daskam (Andrea took the photo), on a trip to Florida. Here they are in front of Hogwarts Express in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Theme Park-Orlando, Florida. The Daskam girls are huge Harry Potter fans and wore their wizard robes while visiting the Wizard World.Submitted by Richard Daskam
Evan and Colin Griffiths of Long Beach spending last New Year's at Morzine, France while snowboarding with their cousins in the French Alps.Submitted by Howard Griffiths
Long Beach
Long Beach
Erik T. Ougland of Long Beach is at Punta del Este, Uruguay. This is where the La Plata River joins the Atlantic Ocean. The half buried hand (only fingers visible) admonishes the people to beware of the Atlantic Ocean as it is more dangerous than the river. This is country number 144 for Erik. The next stop is a 19-day Antarctic Cruise that stops in the Falklands, South Georgia Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Erik will be looking for Happy Feet. Submitted by Erik T. Ougland
The Hockett Family from Long Beach recently visited Italy to be reunited with their oldest child Kate, who is studying in Italy for her Junior year at San Francisco State. Pictured are Henry, Kate, Charlie, who is ASB President at Wilson High School, and Dad, Steve in St. Marks Square before taking a Gondola. The holiday Trip included Florence for Christmas, Venice and Sorrento for New Year's Eve. Mom, Priscilla took the picture.Submitted by Steve Hockett
Doug Eisner left, and Gregory Matthis, right, both of Long Beach, on our trip to Antarctica last Christmas. This photo was taken in a spot called Paradise Bay. I think it was "Paradise" more from the penguins perspective than ours. Although, as it was the austral summer, at some points in the day, it was colder here in Long Beach than in Antarctica! Submitted by Gregory Matthis
Anne Murrell, left, and Marilyn Zakis, right, both of Long Beach, at the top of a mountain called Tibidabo in Barcelona, Spain for the Christmas holidays 2010. We enjoyed a spectacular view of this Mediterranean city. There's an amusement park adjacent to where we are standing on the steps of this church, Temple de Sagrat Cor. In the background, Barcelona's communication tower.
Wayne Stickle, in front of the Partagas Cigar Factory in Havana, Cuba. I was there on a humanitarian license issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Lloyd and Cheryl Long, of Downey, took their Press-Telegram on Cunard's newest ship, the elegant Queen Elizabeth, as it made its maiden world voyage. The Costa Rican rainforest, with its dazzling butterflies, vibrant toucans, and placid sloths was quite beautiful. The crossing of the Panama Canal was especially inspiring to Cheryl, who recalled that her great, great grandfather, August Schaad, had crossed on foot and mule train to catch a mail ship, eventually arriving in California, where he began farming. His descendants still maintain a successful family farming operation of rice, almonds and other crops in Dunnigan, CA. Poisonous frogs, deadly snakes, vicious panthers, and the dense, dense jungle left Cheryl in awe of August's courage and determination to come to California.
Mary Wurzer flew in from Chicago to celebrate her 60th birthday on February 12. Formerly a California Heights resident, here she is reading the Press-Telegram and having breakfast at Bake 'n' Broil while enjoying the Califronia sunshine.
This is Greyson, my recently adopted buddy from Long Beach Felines. Greyson sleeps very comfortable in his bed.
Submitted by Ashley Vitti
Each Monday we collect bottles and cans, ink cartridges and drink pouches at Prisk Elementary School to make sure to keep them out of the waste stream, conserve the energy and resources it takes to make them and bring in much needed money for our school and its programs. Submitted by Candy Jennings,
retired science teacher,
now a volunteer at Prisk School
retired science teacher,
now a volunteer at Prisk School
Marguerite Purcell, a long time resident of Bell, celebrated her 100th birthday with friends and family at the Richard Nixon museum in Yorba Linda. She had a wonderful time moving from table to table visiting and joking with all of her guests.
Submitted by James Matson, a friend
Sheila and Allen Paris took the Press-Telegram to Urquhart Castle over looking Loch Ness Scotland.
I know that many Press-Telegram subscribers have roots in Iowa and have enjoyed the true story about the Iowa library cat, Dewey Readmore Books. I have personally shared my copy of the book with several Press-Telegram readers in Bellflower, Cerritos, and Lakewood. We traveled to Spencer, Iowa, in November 2010, and a friendly townsman took this picture of me with the Press-Telegram in front of the Spencer Public Library that Dewey and his owner, Vicki Myron made famous with their delightful book. I hope all your Iowa readers enjoy seeing the library where Dewey lived and worked with Vicki, and especially my cousin Paul Zwiep, a Press-Telegram reader and Roving Reader fan who now lives in Lakewood.Submitted by Jan Gegenheimer
Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale, AZ
Alan and Renee Lupinetti visited Japan to see their daughter Laren Lupinetti, second from left, and Stacey Nelson play for Team Honda in the Japan Women's Professional Softball League. The games were played in Yokohama. They also visited Tokyo. Lauren played softball at Cal State Fullerton and Stacey played at Florida.
Kathy Dickinson, formerly of Seal Beach, now from Rancho California, and Chris Neal of Seal Beach, recently followed "The Footsteps of Paul" and first stop was Mars Hill and Acropolis in Greece. Kathy and Chris attended Bible Study Fellowship together and always wanted to see the places of the Bible.Submitted by Chris Neal
Bill and Liz Zabel from Lakewood celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary last October by taking a fall colors cruise. The trip started in Quebec City and ended in Boston. This picture was taken at Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia.
Enjoying the "Middle of the World" location on the equator in Ecuador are ten LBCC travelers from left to right: Jerry Facon, Lynn Wilson, Loyd Wilcox, Ginnie Wilcox, Bill Nicoletti, Liz Lossing, Ginny Baxter, Judy Wismer, Norma Adair and Sandy Facon.
Meet Katie, our 5-year-old labradoodle. As you can see she recently celebrated her birthday complete with cake and candle. She knows everything that goes on and seems to have a build in clock in her brain. She thinks she is in charge here, tells us when it's time to eat, walk, get the mail or even to get the mat out for exercise time! Her most favorite time is playing soccer with Ally and Natalie, our granddaughter's, and she usually wins against the two of them. She is so much a part of our family that even she had a birthday party.
Submitted by Shari and Gary Pyles
Long Beach
Long Beach
Stanford Middle School Hawk students Jacqueline and Jennifer Penai invited to our Nation's Capitol, free flight on Virgin America, screen documentary...
"The Purepecha: Poorest of the Poor," they assisted with at Georgetown University with former U.S. District Court Judge, Stephen Larson, then off to meet with Congresswomen Laura Richardson, get a Capitol tour by Barbara Boxer's office, meet with the Dept. of Labor, visit the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam/World War II Memorials, and receive a tour of the White House.
Rogers Middle School students and sisters Samantha, left, and Sarah Sheldon on their summer vacation. Their family has a traditional Adirondack "camp" or cottage with a boathouse located inside the Adirondack National Park on Brantingham Lake. The camp was established in the late 1800s bytheir great-great grandfather who was a dairy farmer in nearby Lowville, NY.
Farmers in that part of the country often had small cottages near lakes, where their families took refuge from the heat and humidity in the summer months.
Getting away, far, far away from it all to a magical place twelve time zones away and South of the Equator. A peaceful, tropical nation of 115 islands and a population perhaps as big as Lakewood's. It is a place with living animal and plant species found no where else on our earth and a park some believe was the site of the Garden of Eden.The recent destination of Long Beach residents Allan and Louise Cooper was to the Island of La Digue in the Seychelles Republic. Going to a destination as distant as this does not mean roughing it. There are two ATMs on this island, a paved road, a church, a gas station, which is a 50 gallon drum with a hand pump on top, and very possibly the most beautiful beach in the world at Anse Source d'Argent. People can get around this stunningly beautiful island on bicycle or by ox-cart.
The bucket list objective of the trip was for Allan to become trained and entrusted to captain the cart to drive Louise and Creole Services' oxen facilitator and Laker fan Roddy down to that beach. Using newly learned techniques, the ox-cart was successfully driven using all three speeds forward and one in reverse. How does one shift gears on an ox you might ask? Sorry, that is a very sensitive subject to the ox and must remain a secret.
Submitted by Allan and Louise Cooper
Brett and Laura Hunter of Long Beach were visiting a children's home in Antigua, Guatemala with a group from their church. Also pictured are Elena Millane, Cynthia Peterson, Susan Hock, Linda Costa and John Millane of Long Beach. They were visiting Pat and Bill Mossman, formerly of Long Beach.Submitted by Laura Hunter
Here we are with the Press-Telegram at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii. It was one of our stops on our way to see the volcano on the southwest side of the island.Submitted by Lowell and Cathi Barnhart
Garden Grove
Long time friends and retired educators, Becky Carroll and Brenda Ross recently ventured to Kenya and Tanzania on a safari. During their drive from the Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti, they stopped for a close look at Oldupai (formerly Olduvai) Gorge, one of the world's most famous archaeological sights where archaeologists found "Lucy" an Australopithecus afarensis, the earliest of species claimed to be directly ancestral to us. This was particularly exciting for Becky who spent many years teaching Ancient World History to 6th graders.Submitted by Becky Carroll
Long Beach
Sisters Jamie Passmore and Jana Brown from Lakewood took a December trip to San Francisco to visit their cousin Kurtis Haygood and his girlfriend Kristin Landucci. The "Sisters in San Francisco" trip was a blast. The girls are pictured here in front of the Golden Gate Bridge holding the Press-Telegram. 
Our family took the Rail to the Rim train to the Grand Canyon on March 12th. We had a wonderful time celebrating our daughter's birthday and our upcoming 50th anniversary while we were there.In the picture are Maria Boone, Gil and Ginger Sanchez, Ryan Sokolowski, and our grandchildren Trinity and Noah Boone. We all live in Lakewood.
Submitted by Ginger Sanchez
