Rossmoor Aug 2014 Low Res

C E L E B R AT I N G 5 7 Y E A R S O F E X C E P T I O N A L L I V I N G !
Vol X
August
September 2014
Issue 10
RHA FICTION CONTEST WRITERS CELEBRATE
WITH PICNIC AT ROSSMOOR PARK
The RHA and its co-sponsor, The Fish Company, handed out $300 in prizes
to fiction contest participants. Pictured from left to right:
Cathy Larson, Marilyn Sweet, Gustavo Diaz, Mark Rafferty
and Ralph Vartabedian, Contest Director.
ROSSMOOR IMPORTANT NUMBERS
All Emergencies 911
RHA 562-799-1401
RCSD 562-430-3707
CHP (Non Emergency)
714-892-4426 or 949-559-7888
Sheriff (Non Emergency) 714-527-9100
OC Fire Authority (Non Emergency)
714-289-3725
Clip & Save
CR&R (Trash) 800-826-9677
So Calif Edison 800-798-7723
So Calif Gas 800-427-2200
Golden State Water 800-999-4033
Rossmoor-Los Alamitos Sewer 562-431-2223
Orange Co. 2nd District Supervisor
John Moorlach 714-834-3220
RHA Board of Directors
Mark Nitikman - President
Beverley Houghton - 1st.Vice President
Stacy Sanchez - 2nd Vice President
Willard (Bill) Gekler - Secretary
Tom Thomas - Treasurer
Rhonda Boggess - Emergency Preparedness
Dorothy Fitzgerald - Neighborhood Watch and
Community Standards
Everett Knell - Membership
GeorgLyn Seligman - Events
Lee Lindquist - Annual Festival
Los Alamitos Unified School District
562-799-4700
OC Library (Rossmoor) 562-430-1048
Hazardous Waste Disposal 714-834-6752
County of Orange 855-886-5400
US Post Office (Los Alamitos) 562-594-0286
Signature News Editorial and Advertising Policy
Rossmoor Homeowners Association (RHA) and
A Solution Media, LLC are not responsible for
any advertiser’s business claim, practice, and/or
performance. RHA has not investigated any of the
advertisers, and their placement in this newsletter
is a paid advertisement, not an endorsement of
their service and/or products by the RHA. You are
encouraged to conduct your own investigation
before using any services and/or products
(advertised in this newsletter or otherwise).
All opinions expressed in articles are made by
the individual authors and do not constitute the
opinion of the Board of Directors of the RHA
unless expressly noted otherwise.
RHA Contact Address
Dr. Milt Houghton - Communications, Chair
Gary Stewart - Communications
Ralph Vartabedian - Traffic
Visit us on the WEB!
www.Rossmoor-rha.org
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (562) 799-1401
Mail: PO Box 5058
Rossmoor, CA 90721-5058
Inside This Issue
President’s Corner
Page 2
Fiction Writing Contest
Page 3
1st Place Winning Fiction Story
Pages 3-5
Jacaranda Tree
Page 5
Citizens Academy Class
Pages 6-7
For Advertising Call: Luna Palmer 714-717-2520
Fax: 714-386-6070
[email protected]
The RHA Board – especially Ralph Vartabedian
– has also been working hard on addressing
Rossmoor traffic issues. Of course, the RHA has
no regulatory or other authority over traffic – that
is in the hands of the County. But through
persistence, the RHA has been able to get some
changes made which should result in some
easing of the morning back-up on Wallingsford.
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
This is my first message to you as the new
President of the Rossmoor Homeowners
Association, so I’d like to thank the members of
the RHA Board for bestowing this honor upon
me; I will try to meet (or even exceed) their
expectations.
Another continuing issue is the traffic
concentrated around Rossmoor’s elementary
schools, with parents from within Rossmoor and
from outside making four trips each to and from
the schools, dropping their children off and
picking them up. It has become a serious safety
issue as well as a traffic problem. The Board is
working with the LAUSD and the County to
attempt to find solutions to this problem.
I look forward to the opportunity over the next
year of working with the Community, the RCSD
and other agencies with jurisdiction over
Rossmoor to make the Community a better
place. I’d also like to thank Gary Stewart for his
two years of service as President. We have
seen some real improvements in the quality of
services the RHA is able to provide to the
community, and Gary deserves a share of the
credit for that.
If you’re interested in finding out more,
check our website, www.rossmoor-rha.org, for
developments.
Finally, I’d like to welcome two brand new faces
to the RHA Board: Stacy Sanchez and Rhonda
Boggess, together with the return of one
alumnus, Dr. Milt Houghton. Of course, this is
bittersweet, as we’re also losing two exemplary
Board members, Cheryl Williamsen and Michele
Fieldson, and we wish them all the best (both
will be continuing to assist the RHA, so it’s not
really good bye).
We encourage each of you to volunteer in any
way you can, to help us continue to make
Rossmoor a better place to live. The RHA is an
all-volunteer organization, and it is only as
strong as its volunteers. There are many
opportunities available, including neighborhood
watch, emergency preparedness, and the paper
drive, among others.
If you’ve never attended an RHA Board meeting
before, or if you have, our Board meeting on
August 19th is one we hope you will attend. A
committee of the Board reviewed the RHA’s
bylaws and has proposed changes to
streamline, modernize them and conform them
to changes in state law. The Board has
approved these changes, and now you have the
opportunity to vote on whether to approve the
changes.
You
can
review
them
at
www.Rossmoor-RHA.org/By-Laws.
New RHA President, Mark A. Nitikman
2
The RHA and its cosponsor, the Original Fish
Company, handed out $300 in awards for the
stories at the picnic.
FICTION WRITING CONTEST
The streets of Rossmoor have always confused,
intrigued and enchanted the residents of the
community, and Mark Rafferty took that history
to heart with his winning entry in the 2014
Rossmoor Homeowners Association fiction
writing contest.
1ST PLACE WINNER –
FICTION WRITING CONTEST
Lost in Conversation
By Mark Rafferty
The contest this year attracted the very best
writing that has ever been created in the
community program, leaving the judges with a
truly difficult time selecting a winner.
Anxious for our two friends’ first visit to our new
Rossmoor home, we take a bottle of Chianti to
the backyard davenport to await their arrival.
“Christy,” I say, “the salmon and yellowtail you
bought at Sprouts today looks amazing.” She
hands me her glass and says,
The entries spanned the range of literature from
stories about romances gone bad to the deep
roots of immigration that have helped form our
community.
“Well, my dad was a professional angler.” I pour
her a glass of wine and say,
The winning entry was a tale about a husband
and wife who shared a glass of wine on their
patio, as they awaited the arrival of guests at
their Rossmoor home. In their conversation was
buried the name of every street in Rossmoor. It
was a humorous and inventive story that
captured the spirit of a relaxed summer evening
in the backyards of Rossmoor that so many
residents no doubt enjoy.
“That old Bostonian isn’t too shabby at silver fox
hunting, either. And I remember that quail run he
took me on two years ago. After seeing him use
a gun, I knew I’d better treat you right.” She
holds her wedding ring in the air and asks,
“So that’s the real reason you married me, is it?”
Before I can think of a comeback, she says,
“My aunt Gertrude sent me an argyle sweater
today. My grandmother Ruth Elaine hand-knitted
one for me and my twin sisters, Martha Ann and
Donnie Ann, before she died last month. She
always called me, ‘mien Engel’. It means ‘my
angel’ in German.” She makes the sign of the
cross and adds,
Gustavo Diaz submitted a powerful story about
the ghost of a World War II soldier who died in
battle, an immigrant from Mexico whose family
settled in a rancho at the turn of the 20th
century. His soul inhabited the grounds of Saint
Isadore church, and he wondered about his lost
buddies from the war.
“God bless her soul.” I pour myself a glass and
say,
“I remember when we visited her in Virginia.
Montecito was beautiful in the fall.”
John Boland captured the spirit of dating in the
age of the Internet with a finely written tale of
two women at a local restaurant, awaiting the
arrival of an Internet date. It turned out badly for
all involved.
“The fall leaves we saw at your grandparent’s
old mill in Harrisburg were spectacular,” she
says. “There were orangewood and silverwood
and bellwood all over the piedmont, and I just
couldn’t stop ‘oohing’ and ‘ahhing’ at that
beautiful hillrose you found me.” I close my eyes
and say,
There were many other worthy stories, all of
which can be found on the RHA website.
The Rossmoor Homeowners Association is
deeply grateful for the contributions the authors
made and celebrated their work at a picnic on
July 12 at Rossmoor Park.
“And then we walked through the oak way into
the oak grove and out onto the oak knoll, where
that oak leaf floated down onto your shoe like
the feather in Forrest Gump.”
3
leans back and says,
FICTION WRITING CONTEST
WINNING STORY (continued)
“How about Kershaw’s no-hitter?”
“Speaking of movies,” she says, “we should rent
Gravity tomorrow. I hear Jodie Foster is
outstanding.” I take a sip of wine and say,
“Impressive.” I say. “Don Drysdale never had
one.”
“And he’s a Hall of Famer,” she says. I hold up
her tablet and say,
“Let’s go to the theaters instead and see 22
Jump Street. I know you have a crush on
Channing Tatum.” She grins and says,
“How about we read a little Shakespeare, a bit of
Coleridge, and some Chaucer before we get
there?” Her eyes light up as she says,
“No, it’s you that has a man-crush on him. I’m
more of an Orlando Bloom kinda girl.” She looks
off into the distance and adds,
“Let’s read The Hound of the Baskervilles, too. I
loved Sherlock Holmes as a kid.” I refill her glass
and say,
“Although I did have a crush on Dan Cortese
when I was at St. Hedwig.” I laugh and say,
“I just finished Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451,
so I’m ready. And you’ve been reading Judy
Blume and watching Dr. Seuss’ The Loring nonstop since you got hired at Hopkinson.” She
takes a sip and says,
“The guy from Melrose Place? Wasn’t he about
30?” She smiles and says,
“I was mature for my age.”
“That makes one of us,” I say. She nods and
says,
“It’s The Lorax, but you’re right. And I’ve been
reading so many Archie comics lately, I’ve been
dreaming about Mr. Weatherby.” I raise my
eyebrows and say,
“I can’t wait for our family reunion trip to England
in the fall. My family in Edgeley and Kensington
are going to take us to the Norgrove Court
estate. You’ll love their classic British car
collection. They even have an AC Aceca and a
Burney car.” I blow her a kiss and say,
“Oh, really? Should I be worried?” She giggles
and continues,
“We should read about the Druid culture, too. My
aunt Wendy says the Walker Lee side of my
family used to practice it.” I roll my eyes and say,
“You’re family’s great, but they can be a little
much at times. What I’m looking forward to is
spending alone time with you in Scotland. I
booked these adorable little B&B’s in Loch
Lomond and Inverness.” She smiles and says,
“I don’t think she ever left Woodstock. And isn’t
she the president of the ‘Mellow Yellow’
Donovan fan club?” Before she can respond, I
snap my fingers and say,
“Just make sure you don’t drink too much of that
Ballantine’s scotch you love more than you love
me.” I shrug my shoulders and say,
“We should see the Marshall Tucker Band play
this summer. Kenny Chesney, too.” I pull my
road map from under the table and say,
“When we’re in England, we should see the
horses at Newbury Racecourse and a soccer
game at Wembley Stadium.” She points to the
sports page and says,
“Wimbledon?” I say. “No, that’s going on right
now.”
“Here’s our itinerary. First we start in London,
and visit Kensington and St. Cloud. Then we
drive around the English countryside, and stay
with the Kerth family in Kenilworth, the Brimhall
family in Pemberton, the Wallingsford family in
Kempton, and the Munsfeld family in Huntley.”
She stoops down to pet our two tigertail cats and
says,
“I bet the U.S. advances past the first round of
the World Cup,” she says. “They did win the
Copa de Oro in 2013.”
“What are we going to do with Kitterick and
Princess Rowena when we go overseas?” I pet
them and say,
“Will we be there for Wimbleton?”
“Don’t hold your breath,” I say. “They’re not
the San Antonio Spurs of the fútbol world.” She
4
“The main way would be to have your brothers
FICTION WRITING CONTEST
WINNING STORY (continued)
JACARANDA TREE
“The main way would be to have your brothers
Keithley or Glenroy feed them.”
Jacaranda is the tree for this issue of the RHA
Signature News. It’s a tree loved for its colorful
blue-purple springtime blossoms in warm
climates all over the world. There are 49 species
in the Jacaranda family of flowering plants
known as Bignoniaceae. They are native to
tropical and subtropical regions of Central
America, South America, Cuba, Hispaniola
and the Bahamas. The name is believed to be of
Guarani origin, meaning “fragrant”.
“Or your cousin Donnis could do it,” she says.
“He’s home for the summer from St. Albans
State in Minnesota.” After I read the incoming
text message on my phone, I say to her,
“They’re not coming after all. They got lost
driving around every street in Rossmoor and
went back home!”
Jacaranda species range from shrubs to 100
foot tall trees. They thrive in full sun and well
drained sandy soils. They tolerate drought and
brief spells of frost and freeze. Jacarandas can
be propagated from grafting, cuttings and seeds.
Those grown from seeds take longer to bloom.
*************************
End note: Every street in Rossmoor is hidden in
the story!
Pretoria, South Africa, is known as the jacaranda
city due to the number of Jacaranda trees
planted along streets and in parks and gardens.
Jacarandas bloom in Pretoria at the time of
year-end exams, and it is said that if a jacaranda
blossom drops on your head, you will pass all
your exams.
NEW OFFICERS OF RHA
In many parts of the world, such as Mexico,
Los Angeles, Lisbon, Seville and Zimbabwe, the
blooming of this tree is welcomed as a sign of
spring. Festivals are held in Australian cities
celebrating
the
jacaranda
blooming
in
November, spring in the southern hemisphere.
Besides providing beautiful blue and purple
canopies, the Brazilian jacaranda is used as
wood for the body of acoustic guitars, and in
South China the leaves are used to make
distinctive purple dye. The author has observed
that desert tortoises love the blossoms for their
copious nectar.
5
the various services the OCSD provides to the
County (including the community of Rossmoor).
CITIZENS’ ACADEMY CLASS
ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPT
FESTIVAL
The Citizens’ Academy
Class is a 9-week
Thursday evening informational series designed
to give citizens an inside, in-depth look at the
operations of the Orange County Sheriff’s
Department (OCSD).
The class meetings gave information about the
criminal justice system, investigations, special
enforcement details, patrols, use of force, and
other aspects of policing--including a deputy’s
day-to-day experiences. The class met weekly
from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM.
Most sessions are held at the OC Regional
Training Academy in Tustin, with the exception
of field trips. The first 8 weeks include interactive
course instruction and field trips provided by
Orange County Sheriff personnel who are
experts in their field.
Here are some of the topics that were covered in
the class sessions:
My husband and I attended the second in a
series of Citizens’ Academy Classes in October
to December 2013. To sign up, we filled out a
two-page form, passed a background check,
and then we were officially registered into the
class. We were expected to attend all the class
sessions (one absence was allowed). There
was no charge for the class, and it filled early to
its maximum of 40 OC residents.
The Citizens’ Academy Class program was
developed to provide participants with the
opportunity to learn firsthand how the Orange
County Sheriff's Dept. operates. During the 9week class we met on Thursday evenings in a
casual and comfortable environment to take part
in sessions that consisted of lecture,
discussions, and demonstrations. We were
encouraged to ask questions and express
concerns about pertinent issues.
The Citizens' Academy Class provides a fresh
outlook on the law enforcement profession
and the incredibly complex and demanding job
performed by the men and women who choose
to serve. In the technology-driven and litigious
culture we live in, law enforcement officers are
often called upon to make split-second, critical
decisions that may have enormous, possibly lifealtering consequences.
All nine (plus a 10th optional field trip) class
sessions were worthwhile: We came away with
a much better understanding and appreciation of
ept.
6

Introduction to OCSD, an overview of the
Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy,
crime prevention, being a good witness;

Dispatch & patrol operations, basic patrol
procedures, K9 team demonstration,
helicopter air support, support using
dogs, patrol cars, motorcycles;

A tour of the Central Jail and the Intake
Release Center;

Investigations, general and special,
including homicides and narcotics;

Details of crime scene investigations, an
overview of the Orange County
Intelligence Assessment Center and of
anti-terrorism efforts in the County;

A tour of the Coroner Training Facility;

Examples of decision making, use of
force, car stops, night problems, patrol
stops;

An optional Saturday morning field trip to
the Newport Harbor Office (harbor patrol
operations, Sheriff’s boat ride)

A night at the Katella Tactical Training
Center where we broke up into small
groups and learned about hand guns
(and actually shot at a target if we
wanted to) and then participated as
trainees would in staged crime and
accident scenes, night patrols, and car
stops;

Graduation
participants.
ceremony
for
class
CITIZENS’ ACADEMY CLASS
ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPT
Let
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I initially thought the Coroner’s office tour would
be scary, but it wasn’t; it was quiet and dignified,
and there were no exposed bodies.
At SBTS Hebrew School You Can Expect:
x Experienced and
Knowledgeable teachers
x Traditional Judaism
x Prayers, songs and
explanations
x Jewish Pride, values and
ethics
But what was scary was the Jail. It was not
dignified, but all too real. After seeing inmates in
the Jail, who would ever want to be a criminal?
The third set of Citizens’ Academy Classes was
started in July 2014, and the fourth set is
scheduled for early Spring 2015.
x Holiday education,
enrichment, fairs and
activities
x A Fun and Educational
environment
x No membership required
x A reasonable and
Competitive price
x Payment options
Now
Enrolling!
Reserve your
child’s spot
If you are interested in being a member of the
fourth class, please contact Carrie Braun,
manager of the Sheriff’s Community Relations
office, (714) 647-1848 or at [email protected].
Contact Us:
Ask to be placed on the wait-list and the
announcement list for the Spring 2015 Class.
When that announcement comes out, follow up
specifically so that she can then send you the
required two-page application.
x
x
x
www.shulbytheshore.org
[email protected]
562-621-9828
Conveniently located at the
Alpert Jewish Community
Center of Long Beach
Where Judaism comes alive and kids
never want to miss a day!
Dorothy Fitzgerald,
Chair, RHA Neighborhood Watch Committee
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