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Sun Newspaper announces new eNewspaper access

Staff report
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Sun Newspaper announces new eNewspaper access

Click here to go to the eNewspaper

The Seal Beach Sun has announced major changes to its distribution model that add convenience for its readers by offering multiple distribution options.

According to Linda Rosas, senior vice president of Integrity Newspapers, Inc. and publisher of the Seal Beach Sun, the paper’s new distribution methods will enhance how its readers can stay current with their community news.

“We are thrilled to announce the Seal Beach Sun is our first newspaper to offer an eNewspaper format,” said Rosas, noting the Sun is the first publication within the company’s chain of community papers to successfully install the new format.

Due to economic conditions and other factors, we are struggling to continue our long-standing courtesy of free home delivery,” she added. Nevertheless, she said “we listen to the readers and advertisers and understand their concerns,” said Rosas.

Readers can now purchase a digital subscription to the Sun from less than $1 per week that grants access to the entire paper, page-turning and all, she said. Residents can access the eNewspaper format through the company’s website (sunnews.org), the Sun publisher said.

Rosas said the print version of the Sun is still available free for readers at bulk drop box locations (listed on the Sun’s website). In addition, she said readers seeking home delivery can subscribe to have a copy of each edition mailed to them.

“Change is never easy,” she said, “and I’m happy this one has turned out well for our readers and for our advertisers.”

“This has not been an easy year for the newspaper industry and especially The Sun,” said Rosas, “yet we are very excited to announce this eNewspaper format for our family of publications.”

“Overall, our digital footprint has been expanding,” said Rosas, saying online readership has spiked in recent years. “Our impressions have always been strong but of late, they have gone through the roof,” she said.

“Throughout all of this, the quality of our news has not diminished, only improved,” she said. “Our readers have shown us how much access to community content means to them,” said Rosas.

“We’re happy to now offer three options for distribution,” she said.

While the Seal Beach Sun is the first in the company’s chain of community papers to transition, Rosas said other publications, such as The Catalina Islander, the Event News Enterprise and others will soon follow.

In addition to the Seal Beach Sun, Integrity Newspapers publishes 18 community papers across Southern California.

“We understand how much people love their community papers,” said Rosas, and “we have done everything possible to preserve that priceless experience, even now into our digital future.”

Locals bring home the gold in LB Pickleball event

For the Sun
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Locals bring home the gold in LB Pickleball event

Local Seal Beach Pickleball player and coach John Gill won Gold medals in both the men’s and mixed doubles divisions at the recent California Open a USA Pickleball sanctioned event at Billie Jean King Tennis and Pickleball center at Long Beach.

Gill was also a Bronze medalist in the men’s singles in his 60 + 4.0 + event. His partners were Darryl Killion for the men’s doubles and Jacqueline Pham in the mixed doubles.

Gill has also won a Golden ticket to play singles in the USA Nationals and will also be playing with Jacqueline Pham in the mixed doubles starting Nov. 5 in Dallas, Texas.

John and Jacqueline Pham (center) with Silver and Bronze medalists from their 60 + event.

Gill an Aussie living here now, after traveling to the USA since 1998 competing and winning 26 World Martial Arts championships in the USA, is also president of the World Pickleball Association and a major contributor to the movement to make Pickleball an Olympic sport, possibly by the games in his home country of Australia in 2032.

Gill recently put on a DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) event at iPickle Cerritos where local Seal Beach players Timothy De Bie and Mario Montaya won Gold and a free entry into the DUPR 2023 National event to be held in Dallas, Texas in October.

Gill is offering the local Seal Beach community an opportunity to try America’s fastest growing sport and be taught by himself for free with paddles supplied on Sunday Oct. 8 starting at noon, at the local Seal Beach courts at Marina Park.

Numbers will be limited to 16 players over 4 courts so secure your place now by emailing info@theworldpickleballassociation.com, or phone/text John Gill at 424-702-9337.

Football coach Ray Fenton moving on to next challenge

Ted Apodaca
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Football coach Ray Fenton moving on to next challenge

Los Alamitos High Football Head Coach Ray Fenton is leaving his job to become the head coach at Orange Lutheran High School, Fenton and the school announced at a press conference, Friday at Orange Lutheran.

Fenton, who led the Griffins for 10 seasons, finished his tenure with a record of 80-33 and capped that run with a CIF-SS Division 2 Championship in 2025. Fenton came to Los Alamitos after a short stint with Fountain Valley, where he helped a struggling Baron program back to a winning record.

Prior to Fountain Valley, Fenton coached at his Alma Mater, Cypress High, where he coached the Centurions to a CIF-SS Championship in 2007. Over the course of his career, he has built or re-built several programs into winning form. He’s won several state and regional coach of the year honors, including LA Times Coach of the Year. 

“Coach Fenton brings proven leadership and a deep commitment to developing student-athletes who compete with integrity and grace,” Orange Lutheran stated in a social media post about his hiring.  

Los Alamitos High put out a statement thanking Fenton for his commitment to the Griffin program, noting the incredible 10 years. 

“Your commitment to our athletes went far beyond the field,” the football program stated in a social media post directed to Fenton. “Through your leadership, you taught our boys the value of discipline, hard work, and accountability while inspiring them to become strong leaders and teammates.” 

Part of Fenton’s program often entailed non-football activities, such as assigning books to be read by the players of the summer break. In 2018, Fenton assigned the book Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual, by Jocko Willink, a former Navy Seal turned author and motivational speaker. 

The team then reached out to Willick to see if he would visit the school. Willick responded with a challenge. He said if the students could do 1 million burpees in a month, he would visit. The team began counting their burpees and enlisted the community through word of mouth and social media, to get others to contribute to the total.

The movement went viral, with students throughout the school and groups doing burpees on short videos and sending them to the team to be added to the count. Teenagers at the fast food job were knocking out a few burpees and sending in the video. Board members at meetings were doing the same. Groups from universities as far away as Tennessee and Wyoming were sending videos with #losalmillionburpees to be added to the count. 

Fenton also met with Los Al players on Friday to inform them of the change. Fenton noted in news report that the response was mostly happy for him. Fenton will move from the Alpha League to the Trinity League, which he called the toughest league in the country. 

Orange Lutheran made the decision to seek a new coach, after the team went 3-9 and 1-4 in league play in 2025. The private school league also includes Santa Margarita, St. John Bosco, Mater Dei, Servite and JSerra Catholic. 

Los Al High boys soccer team finds late stride, wins section title 

Ted Apodaca
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Los Al High boys soccer team finds late stride, wins section title 

The Los Alamitos High boys soccer team will play for a CIF State Championship on Saturday in Sacramento, after defeating Bishop Amat, 2-1, on Saturday in the CIF Division 3 semifinals. 

The Griffins have been on a magical run since the end of the regular season. They reached the finals of the CIF-SS Division 3 and were awarded the championship on forfeit, after their opponent, Calabasas discovered they had used an ineligible player. The Griffins were awarded the section title and Runner Up was vacated. 

Los Alamitos then received a first-round win on forfeit when Bonita Vista had also discovered they had used an ineligible player. But the Griffins had found their stride towards the end of the season and had been on a roll in the playoffs. They posted three straight shutouts in the playoffs, before holding off Godinez, 3-2, in the CIF-SS semifinals.

“We have some kids that listen, they follow instructions, and defensively, we’re pretty solid,” Head Coach Donovan Martinez said. 

In their two CIF State playoff games, the Griffins defeated Mt. Carmel, 2-0, and Bishop Amat, 2-1. The roller coaster ride actually started at the beginning of the season, when Head Coach Donovan Martinez learned that 13 of his expected top players had made MLSNext  development teams. This made them ineligible for high school competition. 

This meant that the younger players who would have been depth players, were moved up into starting roles. The young team struggled to find the right fit for the new lineups. 

“So, it took us a long time to kind of sort it out and get some players used to the physicality, because they’re all new players to varsity, so it took us a while to really figure it out,” Head Coach Donovan Martinez said.

But down the stretch, they won two of their final three games to finish tied for fourth place in the Sunset League. They needed a play-in game for the final playoff spot and held off Huntington Beach, 3-2, just to get into the playoffs. 

Senior Ethan Phung scored the game-winner in the playoff game and in five playoff games, he had scored five goals, including one in the semifinal win over Mt. Carmel. The Griffins will play Watsonville High for the State Championship at 3 p.m. at Natomas High in Sacramento. 

Griffins’ girls basketball coach quietly reaches 100-win career milestone

For the Sun
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Griffins’ girls basketball coach quietly reaches 100-win career milestone

Quietly and without fanfare, Los Alamitos girls basketball coach Maya De Anda reached the 100-win career milestone in this year’s first league game, a 28-20 defensive victory over Corona del Mar on January 6, before the Griffins subsequently finished the season with a 20-8 overall record, an 11-1 league record, and a fourth consecutive Sunset Conference league title.

 “Honestly, I didn’t know that I had 100 wins,” said De Anda.  “During league, I try to stay focused on the next game, but it’s pretty cool to look back at what we accomplished.”

By the end of the season, De Anda’s seventh at Los Alamitos, her career record stood at 110-70.  However, when she first arrived, victories were hard to come by. 

 “Los Al had a successful basketball program before I got here,” De Anda said, “but in my first year here, before I even started coaching, the team’s best players either graduated, transferred, or stopped playing.  The girls played hard, but that first year we were only 5-20.”

The Griffins soon started winning, and in De Anda’s fourth season, 2022-23, Los Alamitos won the first of four league titles, which included three seasons of 20 or more victories and one season with 19 wins.  Her overall record during that time is 83-33, a 72 percent winning ratio.

Her record for league games in that span is even better, 31-5, an 86 percent winning ratio. 

Before coaching the Griffins, De Anda was an assistant coach for two years (2017-2019) at Vanguard University, her alma mater.  She also was an assistant coach for one season at Pacifica Christian High School in Newport Beach.

After coaching the Griffins to a second straight league title in 2024, De Anda was chosen that spring to be the All-Star Coach for the North Team in the 57th annual North vs. South 12-Grade-All-Star game.

De Anda says she was fortunate to play for outstanding coaches in high school and college and she says those experiences prepared her to be a head coach.

“As a point guard, I had to know all the plays for every position,” De Anda said, “so I learned a lot from two great coaches.”

De Anda played at Huntington Beach High for veteran coach Russ McClurg, who has over 530 career wins, three Runner Up CIF finishes, a Division-4 CIF championship (in 1999, when he coached Calvary Chapel), and seven Sunset Conference league championships.

At Vanguard University, De Anda played for NAIA Hall-of-Fame coach Russ Davis, who has over 700 victories, five Final Four NAIA finishes, an NAIA National Championship, and 13 Golden State Athletic Conference championships.  

As a player in high school, De Anda earned three first-team-all-league awards and two All-CIF awards.  As a senior, she also won her school’s Marine Corp Distinguished Athlete Award for averaging 13.5 points per game and helping the Oilers (26-6) win the Sunset League championship and make it to the CIF Southern Section Division 1A championship game.  Besides playing point guard, the 5’9” De Anda also played shooting guard and at times played at all five positions.

At Vanguard, she was a three-year starter and played point guard, shooting guard, and small forward while leading the team in three-point shooting each year.  As a senior, she was the team’s second leading scorer, averaging about 10 points a game and hitting 66 threes as the Lions went 30-4, won the Golden State Athletic Conference championship, and made it to the Final Four at the NAIA National Tournament.

De Anda said, “I tell my players that if we can play together, play smart, and give our best effort, we can be happy with the results.”

Local lawyer says SB faces state litigation

Charles M. Kelly
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Local lawyer says SB faces state litigation

A local lawyer says Seal Beach is exposed to litigation from the state in a Monday, March 9 letter to the Seal Beach City Council for not approving the sewer connection for the Lampson Park Place project. The Lampson Park Place project is located in Los Alamitos.  According to the attorney, that lawsuit would come from the state government rather than his client.

Scott Levitt, of Levitt Law, discussed the contents of his two-page letter during the public comment part of Monday’s council meeting. Levitt represents Lennar, the project developer.

The Lampson project will build 246 living units in Los Alamitos and includes affordable housing. 

Los Alamitos already approved the project. Lampson is on the Los Alamitos/Seal Beach border.

City Attorney Nicholas  Ghirelli, during his report to the council, acknowledged that the Lampson project was discussed during the closed (to the public) session of the council meeting, but described the discussion as confidential. Ghirelli said no reportable action was taken on the matter during the closed session. “But we will be providing a response to Mr. Levitt,” Ghirelli said.

In March 2025, Ghirelli warned the council of a threat of a lawsuit over the sewer connection for the Lampson project. (See “Lampson lawsuit?” at sunnews.org.)

Legal exposure?

The letter identified five “consequences” of not allowing the sewer connection for Lampson Park Place. The legal exposure was the fifth item in the letter.

“As noted in prior correspondence from project counsel, the Housing Accountability Act prohibits local agencies from engaging in conduct that effectively disapproves or delays housing development through obstruction of post-entitlement permits,” Levitt wrote.

“My hope is that the City will reconsider its position before further legal escalation becomes necessary,” Levitt wrote.

Levitt addressed this issue during the public comment part of the council meeting. “And lastly the city is, in our opinion, not in compliance with the state Affordable Housing Act, and it faces potential litigation because of that,” Levitt said.

“That lawsuit would not come from my client. That lawsuit would come from the state of California for violation of the Housing Authority Act,” Levitt said.

He said he would be around if city officials had any questions. No one on the dais asked Levitt any questions during the meeting.

More from the letter

“The purpose of this letter is simply to ensure that the Council, staff, and the public clearly understand the practical consequences of the City’s current position regarding the requested encroachment permit and sewer connection,” Levitt wrote.

“The only question presently before Seal Beach is whether the City will allow the project to connect to an existing sewer line located within approximately one hundred feet of the project site through a routine encroachment permit or whether it will force the developer to connect to the alternative district causing months or years of disruption for the City’s residents who utilize Lampson on a daily basis. In either instance the City must issue an encroachment permit,” Levitt wrote.

According to Levitt’s letter, if the sewer connection is approved the impact on Seal Beach infrastructure will be minimal. “The work consists primarily of a short trench connection and limited roadway disturbance along Lampson Avenue. The construction work required within Seal Beach would be measure in feet, not miles, and in days or weeks, not months or years,” Levitt wrote. 

Some Seal Beach residents who oppose the Los Alamitos project have argued that the Seal Beach sewer system cannot handle the load from Lampson Park Place, which used to be an office park with a Seal Beach sewer connection. 

In October 2025, Ghirelli told the public that Seal Beach would need to do a study of the city’s sewer system so the council could make an informed decision on the sewer connection. (See “Lampson Ave project update,” at sunnews.org.)

“However, the Project, when first proposed had a sewer study completed,” Levitt wrote. 

“Such study was reviewed by Seal Beach consultants. The city’s consultants provided input, the study was completed in accordance with such comments and was approved,” Levitt wrote.

According to Levitt’s letter, Seal Beach’s “refusal” to allow the connection has forced the developer to find an alternative. 

During the public comment part of the March 9 meeting, Levitt said the alternative sewer connection has already been approved. 

During the public comment period of the March 9 meeting, Patty Campbell, a member of the Seal Beach Planning Commission and College Park East resident, expressed concern that construction for the approved Rossmoor connection posed public safety risks.  

One concern Campbell cited was the presence of a 34-inch high-pressure gas line on the north side of Lampson. Campbell is an opponent of the Lampson development project. Campbell said it looked like the developer was going to take the sewer line all the way down Lampson Avenue to Seal Beach Boulevard.  “Now the least Lennar can do is offset the great inconvenience to us of their construction project would be to replace that wall on Lampson Avenue,” Campbell said.

Levitt’s letter said the applicant (apparently a reference to the developer) offered approximately $1 million for stormwater studies, traffic improvements, and other benefits, along with $1.22 million in permit revenues. “These figures do not include the decades of monthly revenue generated from the actual monthly fees from the homeowners for such services,” Levitt wrote.

City raises Jr. Lifeguard fees

Charles M. Kelly
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City raises Jr. Lifeguard fees

After a public hearing, the council on March 9 approved a fee increase for the Seal Beach Junior Lifeguard Program. It was the last item on the March 9 agenda. 

No members of the public spoke during the public hearing. 

The cost will now be $700 per a resident’s first child and $675 per sibling. (The cost before the march 9 vote wasn’t in the staff report but it was on the redlined fee schedule. The new fee is a change from $650 for a resident’s first child and from $625 for that child’s siblings.)

The newly approved fee for non-residents would be $750 per non-resident’s child and $710 per sibling. The council also amended the city’s Cost Recovery Schedule to reflect the new fee.

The vote was unanimous.

The council also approved an amendment increasing the Junior Lifeguard budget for the current fiscal year by $17,500. 

Marine Safety Chief Joe Bailey told the council that Newport Beach charges $1,000 for their program. According to Bailey, other cities have shorter programs. 

Bailey acknowledged that the Junior Lifeguard program grew this year.

“I would love to have a 500-kid program, but the truth is, we have, on any given Wednesday, on this on a summer day, we have 20 Lifeguards working the beach and 20 Junior Lifeguard instructors. So at some point you get to an area where the tail is wagging the dog and it’s hard to manage having more kids in the program,” Bailey said.

Background

“The Seal Beach Marine Safety Junior Lifeguard Program is a summer recreational and educational program serving youth between the ages of 9 through 17. The program consists of one (1) seven-week session conducted during the summer season,” according to the staff report by Marine Safety Chief Joe Bailey.

“Participant registration fees are intended to recover the full cost of program operations, including uniforms (shorts, shirt, hat, and backpack), instructional staff wages, field trips, equipment, and administrative expenses,” Bailey wrote. 

“In accordance with City policy, program fees are periodically evaluated to ensure alignment with actual program costs,” Bailey wrote.

“During the summer of 2025, program enrollment reached capacity earlier than anticipated, resulting in an increase in participant enrollment from 300 to 350 youth,” Bailey wrote.

“To maintain appropriate supervision levels and program quality standards, additional instructional staff was required,” Bailey wrote.

According to Bailey’s report, when the council increased the pay for part-time Marine Safety employees (on Oct. 13, 2025), that also added to the Junior Lifeguard Program’s costs.  

“Given these factors, a fee adjustment is necessary to ensure continued cost recovery and ensure the ongoing financial sustainability of the Junior Lifeguard Program,” Bailey wrote. 

“The proposed fee amounts described below were determined after reviewing the City’s overall cost of offering the program, including all labor costs and direct and indirect costs. Staff have determined that the fees do not exceed the cost of providing the service,” Bailey wrote.

22nd annual Huntington Beach Kite Party thrills

Chris MacDonald
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22nd annual Huntington Beach Kite Party thrills

Ninety kite fliers from around the U.S. blew into Huntington Beach recently for the windiest ever  annual Kite Party hosted by The Kite Connection and owner Dave Shenkman. Arriving from faraway places such as Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona, Missouri, Michigan and Washington State, participants experienced thrills and challenges, including up to 40 mph winds. 

“Santa Ana winds breezed through the event, providing a clearness where you could see details on Catalina Island some 26 miles away,” said Dave Shenkman, who’s seen rain, hot weather and winds offer unique challenges throughout the two decades he’s hosted this exciting event that delights kite fliers and spectators alike. 

“While some Kite Party days leave flyers praying for more wind, a few leave us wishing for less,” said Huntington Beach resident John Steurnagle. “Regardless, there’s usually something in the kite bag that’s equal to the task.” The local participant in the event said, “It’s always a pleasure to spend a beach day with friends who share your obsession.”

Dennis Noll of Oklahoma City brought a modified kite that worked well in the winds that blew sand across the beach.  “The kite I designed did great in the winds that we had on Thursday, but the winds on Saturday were  a bit wonky,” he said. 

“Nevertheless, my friends and I from Oklahoma City had a fantastic time and are glad we participated in this event for a second time. Dave Shenkman puts on a great party at a great spot, where we get together and look up,” he said.

 Surf City Store co-owner Tina Viray said: “This fun event brings people from all over the world, showcasing our beautiful beaches and famed Huntington Beach Pier where merchants like us and Dave have enjoyed welcoming international visitors for more than 30 years.” 

Learn more on next year’s event at http://www.kiteparty.com. 

You can also come to The Kite Connection on The Huntington Beach Pier Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

SBPD and Orange County Education Department to host active shooter preparedness

Courtesy of Seal Beach Police Department
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SBPD and Orange County Education Department to host active shooter preparedness

In 2011, eight people were killed inside a Seal Beach salon in what remains the deadliest mass shooting in Orange County history.

At the time, Nick Nicholas was a young officer with the Seal Beach Police Department who was called in as the community confronted the tragedy. Now a captain, Nicholas says the experience continues to shape his commitment to preparation, prevention and community education.

On April 14, he will bring that perspective to the Orange County Department of Education, which is hosting a public forum titled “Active Shooter Preparedness: Practical Guidance for Schools and Communities.”  The free event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the OCDE Conference Center, 200 Kalmus Dr. in Costa Mesa, and is open to the public.

Nicholas, who oversees public safety operations and serves as an adjunct professor at a local college, describes his approach as blending frontline policing experience, public safety instruction, and academic research.

“This presentation is about helping people think clearly before they ever face a crisis,” he said. “Although somewhat uncomfortable, when individuals and communities have talked through realistic scenarios in advance, they’re far better positioned to respond with purpose.”

Drawing on national data and case studies, the forum will explore common warning signs that may precede acts of violence and the role early reporting can play in prevention. In addition, Capt. Nicholas will address situational awareness and widely recognized response strategies such as “run, hide, fight,” along with what community members can expect when law enforcement arrives on scene.

The forum will also include guidance on responsible firearm storage practices and California-based safety resources, followed by time for audience questions.

Although the presentation is not school-specific, the preparedness, prevention and response principles addressed are directly relevant to school communities, families and staff, he said.

Orange County Superintendent of Schools Stefan Bean said the event reflects OCDE’s broader commitment to safe and supportive school communities — a central focus of the department’s 5-3-1 Strategic Plan.

“Safety is foundational to student success,” Bean said. “When families and educators feel prepared and informed, it strengthens the entire school community. By partnering with local law enforcement to host this forum, we are reinforcing our commitment to proactive, research-based approaches that support both prevention and readiness.”

The April 14 presentation comes at the request of the Orange County Board of Education, with logistical support from OCDE’s Safety, Risk and Emergency Management team in partnership with the Seal Beach Police Department.

Organizers say the goal is to provide Orange County’s 600 schools—and the communities they serve—with practical, accessible guidance focused on awareness, prevention and informed decision-making.

“Bringing this level of expertise to our school communities helps ensure that educators, families and staff have practical tools and a shared understanding of how to respond,” said Randy Styner, OCDE’s director of Safety, Risk and Emergency Management. “That kind of coordination strengthens readiness across Orange County.”

Due to the graphic nature of this presentation, attendees under the age of 18 are discouraged from attending. 

Seal Beach Police donate surplus XON TASER 7 platform devices to Hamburg, New York 

Charles M. Kelly
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Seal Beach Police donate surplus XON TASER 7 platform devices to Hamburg, New York 

The Seal Beach Police will donate surplus TASERs to Hamburg, New York, Police Department.

The City Council voted unanimously to authorize the donation at the March 9 council meeting.

This was a Consent Calendar item. The council doesn’t talk about consent items unless a council member pulls one individual discussion. Nothing was pulled from this week’s Consent Calendar.

Background

“The Seal Beach Police Department has completed its transition from the AXON TASER 7 platform to the TASER 10 platform,” according to the staff report prepared by Operations Bureau Capt. Michael Ezroj.

“As a result of this transition, the department currently possesses surplus TASER 7 CEW units that are no longer in active service and are not expected to be redeployed due to changes in equipment design, training requirements, standardization, and operational needs,” Ezroj wrote.

“At present, the department maintains approximately forty-six (46) TASER 7 units that remain functional but no longer align with departmental deployment or training standards. Continued retention of this equipment provides limited operational benefit and creates ongoing storage, inventory, and administrative obligations,” Ezroj wrote.

“To responsibly manage City-owned resources, the department proposes donating a portion of this surplus equipment to an eligible law enforcement agency. Through professional coordination within the TASER Instructor Network, the Village of Hamburg, New York Police Department has been identified as a recipient agency and has expressed interest in receiving twenty (20) TASER 7 handles and associated equipment,” Ezroj wrote.

“Donating the surplus equipment allows another law enforcement agency to enhance officer safety and maintain access to less-lethal force options while avoiding unnecessary storage, maintenance, and disposal costs for the City of Seal Beach. This action also supports interagency cooperation and the continued public safety use of functional equipment,” Ezroj wrote.

According to the report, the city considered selling the surplus TASERs, but the costs of selling would likely outweigh what little revenue the city might take in.

Briefing Room: How the SBPD prioritizes calls

SBPD Capt. Nick Nicholas
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Briefing Room: How the SBPD prioritizes calls

Hi Seal Beach!

Every so often, we get a question like: “I called, and I saw a patrol car drive right by. Did they ignore it?” Or, “Dispatch told me units were tied up. What does that mean?”

It is a fair question. When you are the one waiting, it can feel personal. But most of the time, what you are seeing is the reality of how calls are prioritized and how we keep the entire city covered at once.

When you call, dispatch starts triage immediately. That means calls are sorted based on urgency and safety risk. A medical emergency, violence in progress, a serious collision, a domestic dispute, or a person in immediate danger will move to the top of the list. Other calls may still matter, but they usually cannot jump ahead of a life safety situation.

“Units tied up” means the available officers are already committed to other calls or responsibilities they cannot safely leave. Sometimes it is obvious, like a collision scene or an investigation. Other times, it is less visible, like transporting a prisoner, meeting with a victim, handling a mandated follow-up, or completing time-sensitive reports. It is still real work that has to be done correctly.

So why would you see a patrol unit drive past? Often, it is because they are responding to a higher priority call and taking the quickest route across town. Or they may be scanning for a suspect vehicle or person based on information that dispatch just broadcast. It can also be as simple as this: not every unit that passes by is the one assigned to stop, because dispatch has to balance who is available and maintain coverage citywide.

If you want to help us help you, start with the basics when you call. Give the location first, explain what is happening right now, and share descriptions, direction of travel, or license plates if you have them. Small details can make a big difference.

Friendly reminder: if there is a life-or-death emergency, call 9-1-1. If it is not, call our non-emergency line at (562) 594-7232.

Keep your questions coming, Seal Beach! Email us at askacop@sealbeachca.gov today!

Nashville on the Coast returns next week

For the Sun
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Nashville on the Coast returns next week

By any measure, Seal Beach is a small town. But for five nights each spring, it starts to feel a little like Nashville.
Nashville on the Coast, the homegrown singer-songwriter festival founded by Daren DeLeon and Greg Miller, returns March 11–15 with performances across local venues in Seal Beach and neighboring coastal communities. What began as a simple idea—bring the spirit of Nashville’s live music culture to Orange County—has grown into a weeklong celebration of original music, storytelling and community.
For schedules and updates, visit the NOTC Instagram page or nashvilleonthecoast.com.
The concept is straightforward. Take the kind of intimate songwriter rounds you’d find in Tennessee—where artists sit on stools, trade songs and share the stories behind them—and drop them into beachside restaurants and neighborhood stages. The result is less concert, more conversation.
Since 2022, Nashville on the Coast has expanded from just a handful of performers to more than 100 singer-songwriters from across the country.
Many of the artists who’ve played the festival have appeared on stages like the Grand Ole Opry, performed at major sporting events, competed on shows such as The Voice and American Idol, or had music featured in television series including Yellowstone. But here, they play up close, a few feet from the audience.
The festival’s audience reflects the region it calls home. Most attendees are 21 and over, with a strong Orange County presence. Social media reach has climbed steadily, with more than 26,000 accounts reached in a recent 30-day period and a 26.6% increase in growth over the past year. Organizers say that growth isn’t driven by flashy production, but by word of mouth and repeat attendance.
“People come once and realize it’s not just a show—it’s an experience,” said one volunteer involved in the event. “You’re hearing the song the way it was written.”
But Nashville on the Coast isn’t only about music.
The festival partners with Honor Flight Southland, a volunteer-run nonprofit that flies veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials built in their honor. A portion of sponsorships and donations helps fund those trips, which are provided at no cost to the veterans.
For the founders, that connection is personal. They’ve been involved with Honor Flights for more than a decade, and say the partnership reflects the heart of the festival — honoring those who served while celebrating the freedom to create and perform.
Local businesses have also become a key part of the event’s identity. Restaurants and venues fill up, sponsors gain visibility throughout the week, and visitors often make a night of it — dinner, music, and a walk along Main Street.
It’s a model that keeps the focus on small businesses and community gathering rather than large-scale production.
In an era when many music festivals are defined by massive crowds and distant stages, Nashville on the Coast leans in the opposite direction. It keeps the rooms intimate, the stories personal, and the mission clear.
For five nights in March, Seal Beach won’t just host live music. It will host the writers behind the songs—and the community that comes to listen.

Local man gets inspiration from famed photog Ansel Adams

Chris MacDonald
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Local man gets inspiration from famed photog Ansel Adams

You can find Larry Duncan at the Seal Beach Reading Room on Main Street where he volunteers regularly, sharing information about faith and spiritual healing—and you can even see his inspired works displayed in rotating photo exhibits there.
Drawing inspiration from the beauty of Seal Beach’s surroundings, Duncan uses his training under legendary photographer Ansel Adams who held photo workshops in Yosemite National Park during his storied life.

Larry Duncan poses with his work. Photo by Chris MacDonald

While Duncan retired from the aerospace industry designing and manufacturing microelectronic parts, he’s always found time to take pictures and hone his skills studying under Ansel Adams in 1978, again in 1979 and into 1980 when he attended several of the photo workshops Adams offered.
In 2015 Duncan participated in a National Geographic Magazine workshop with a handful of photographers taking pictures at three different sites, then having their works critiqued after the photo sessions.
Early in his career Duncan was able to use his creative talent in the United States Navy as the Ships Photographer for The USS Pogy, doing event and Intelligence Photography. He’s currently a member of The Los Angeles/Pasadena United States Submarine Veterans Incorporated, an organization that maintains the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station Submarine Memorial.
“It’s always fun to see what Larry’s doing next,” said Joanne Fernbach, the clerk of the Reading Room in Seal Beach: “He has some great photos from his trips to national parks, but guests coming in especially love the local scenes of beaches, birds and wildlife.”

Five empty spaces on Main

Charles M. Kelly
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Five empty spaces on Main

Main Street Seal Beach now has five empty spaces. Since the March 5 publication of the article “Seven empty spaces on Main,” two businesses have opened up on Main Street: Seal Beach Vintage, which sells vintage clothing as well as vinyl records on the 200 block, and Cozy Bear pet grooming on the 100 block. This brings the count down to five. Main Street had seven empty commercial spaces as of Saturday, Feb. 28.
There are 136 active businesses on Main, according to Chad Berlinghieri of Seal Beach City Rotary.
The empty space count is expected to decrease at an unknown time in the future: A sign in the window of 246 Main says “Seal Beach Vintage” will be opening. 216 Main is expected to open up a store called Stuff. (The Sun used to operate out of that space but is now at 1500 PCH, Unit G.) As previously reported, the owners of the former Bank of America building at 208 Main St. have obtained local and state permits to convert the building into a restaurant.
One the 100 block, 127 Main remains empty. A sign in the window advertises a pet grooming store will open in the fall of 2025. (That’s not a typo. The poster went up before the fall of 2025.) A new business at 128 Main offers dog (and owner) items.
A former clothing store at 327 Main is available for lease.
In Aug. 2025, the count was nine empty spaces. Since then, Walt’s Wharf has reopened.

City strategic plans
The City Council discussed updating the Main Street Specific Plan during the 2025 Strategic Planning Session. (See “Seal Beach to review Main Street plan” at sunnews.org.) The Specific Plan dates back to 1996.
Changes to the Main Street Specific Plan will have to go through the Planning Commission and the City Council. Any changes to parking policy will also be subject to the review of the California Coastal Commission.
The city has created a Citizen-Council Business First Advisory Ad-Hoc Committee, to be made up of two council members and five at-large members. The deadline to apply to the committee was Feb. 20.
As of Tuesday, Feb. 24, Seal Beach had received nine applications, according to an email from City Clerk Gloria Harper.
The City Council is expected to appoint the members of the Business First Committee in the near future.
The Strategic Planning meeting also discussed beautification of Main Street. (See “City seeks to balance beauty, character on Main” at sunnews.org.) Ideas discussed included washing the sidewalks more frequently, improving the street lighting, and possibly replacing the trees on Main Street. (Please note that Sun polls are informal, not scientific.)
The council is also expected to look at paid parking on Main. (See “Council looks at paid parking on Main” at sunnews.org.)

Plaque theft update

Charles M. Kelly
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Plaque theft update

The Seal Beach Police Department is investigating the recent thefts of metal plaques in the Old Town area. The motive appears to be profit. At least 11 plaques were taken from Eisenhower Park and at least one other is missing from the Green Belt. Patty Campbell of College Park East confirmed on March 3 that a plaque was missing from Almond Park.
Many of the thefts took place late last year.
“The theft took place between 10/31/2025 and 11/01/2025 sometime overnight, unknown suspect(s) took the metal dedication plaques from Eisenhower Park,” wrote SBPD Lt. Julia Clasby in a Feb. 26 email.
“These plaques were recently redone by the Lion’s Club and advertised on social media. Currently this has been filed as grand theft; however, the actual dollar value of the loss is still under investigation,” Clasby wrote.
“It appears the plaques were secured by an adhesive, which required only a hammer and chisel to dislodge and remove. A total of 11 plaques were taken,” Clasby wrote.
“There were no other reported thefts or vandalisms that took place that evening. Additionally, there is no one claiming this theft as part of their anti-government protest. This appears to be a property crime only, with the potential profit for recycle of the precious metals, similar to that of the catalytic converters,” Clasby wrote.
Bronze currently sells for $3.45 a pound, according to Rockaway Recycling, as of March 2 of this year. However, iScrap App put the price at $2.75 a pound. Greener Recycling put the price of bronze at a range of $2.30-$2.80 a pound.
Based on social media posts, it appears a plaque was taken on an unknown date from the vicinity of the Centennial House, the historic beach cottage located on the Green Belt, next to the Red Car Museum. (The plaque nearest to the museum is still present.)
“I was told that staff was trying to find any photographs that may have been taken of the plaques, and I haven’t gotten any cost estimates for their replacement and re-installation,” said District One Council Member Joe Kalmick.

A common crime
Other cities have also recently dealt with metal memorial plaque thefts.
For example: In mid-February, the Orange County Register reported that Tustin was looking at a cost of $40,000 to replace stolen plaques. Orange was looking at about $34,000. The Long Beach Post reported that a Long Beach man was charged with stealing plaques in Huntington Beach as well as Tustin and Orange.
The Sun has asked the city of Seal Beach what it would cost to replace the plaques.

Seal Beach Lions Receive Restoration Award

For the Sun
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Seal Beach Lions Receive Restoration Award

The Seal Beach Lions Club received an award for the Native Plant Restoration Project for River’s End Park. The Seal Beach club was honored at the Statewide Lions Convention on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Queen Mary. Pictured from left to right are Lions International Director Liz Crooke, Seal Beach Lions President Kevin Young, California Lions Council Chair Cheri Provancha.

Los Al-SB NJB 2nd grade team wins Div 4 So Cal Championship

For the Sun
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Los Al-SB NJB 2nd grade team wins Div 4 So Cal Championship

The Los Alamitos-Seal Beach National Junior Basketball 2nd Grade Division 4 boys team won the recent Southern California Championship, with a 34-28 win over Long Beach on Feb. 22, at the MAP Sports Facility in Garden Grove.
The Championship was game tight, but with chip on their shoulder from a loss in pool play, Los Alamitos banded together as a team playing tight ball and making good looks and shots throughout, learning from the game the prior day to secure victory.
From initial tipoff against Long Beach with Connor O’Dell winning the jump feeding the ball to Jack Proper who drove in with a fake shot and quick assist to Leon Chalmers in the corner for a jump shot to start, the team was off to the races. Whether it was skilled ball handling and playmaking from Nolan Cheung and Kareem Jabi, to shot blocking smack downs from Dean Stone and Ezra Ong and continual steals by Alex Medizadeh and Grant Nguyen, and leading team scorers Eli Skiles and Jack proper everyone played their part in the fight together.
“In just three weeks, these 10 strangers became a team. Watching them learn to trust and support each other to accomplish a goal was more rewarding than the final score—that’s what being an ‘All-Star’ is all about,” Head Coach Nate Cheung said.
In Pool Play, Los Al/Seal Beach rolled to a 40-7 win in their first game. Jack Proper and Eli Skiles each scored 15 points to lead the way. In a tight defensive battle, Los Al/SB lost their only game, 20-19 against Juropa Valley. Juropa Valley secured the win with two free throws with :47 left in the game.
Going into Bracket/Elimination Play, Los Al/SB battled in another tight game, holding off Whittier, 24-20. Major defensive steals late in game by Dean Stone helped secure victory. Whittier played tight defense, but Los Al persisted and was playing classic pacer style ball being completely unselfish to move ball away from tight attacks and double teams.
Los Al/SB defeated Whittier again, 32-18, this time with relentless defense, led by seven blocks by from center Connor O’Dell, to reach the title game.
“Los Alamitos has built something truly special in youth basketball. From the 6th graders winning the National Junior Basketball title in Las Vegas last year to Los Alamitos High School capturing the CIF championship, it’s clear this success isn’t accidental, it’s cultural. With over 2,000 local players participating each year, the Los Alamitos NJB chapter, led by Chris Levaque, has created one of the strongest basketball communities in the country. For our kids to bring another title for Southern California back to Los Al and represent this legendary basketball town means everything,” Assistant Coach, Peter Chalmers, said.

Lamentation – A reflection on the environment

For the Sun
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Lamentation – A reflection on the environment

Part of an ongoing series.

A run along the San Gabriel River bike trail following the recent and much needed rain I found myself haunted by the word. Lamentation comes from the Old Testament book of the Bible. It tells the story of a period in Israelite history where Jerusalem was destroyed, and the people suffered national and personal loss.
I was awed as I glanced at the beauty of the coastal sunflowers lining the trail providing a brief reminder that there does exist natural beauty for all to enjoy. My gaze shifts slightly, providing a window into the massive amount of trash which has reached its destination, the sea. While studying the Bible I never associated “Lamentations” with trash until this clear morning run.
My journey on foot also passed the fence adjacent to Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach where a collection of helium balloons, tied together with a weighted item, failed to scale the fence to reach the wildlife refuge. In a past event while on the refuge we discovered a helium balloon from Anaheim which finally found its landing on the shore of Anaheim Bay.
Along the San Gabriel River channel and the Naval Weapons Station fence were the reminders of how humans continue to litter our common home. And yet we continue to complain about that trash and how civic leaders need to do more to keep harmful elements out of our food, clothing, energy sources, transportation and every aspect of our industrialized daily living. Aside from a few environmental and health advocates, our society seldom calls upon each individual to develop a greater appreciation regarding freedom, choice, and deceleration in consumption.
The Book of Lamentations reminds us that national and personal loss does happen should we fail to observe and act upon the warning signs. Some of the trash from the river will find a home in our wildlife refuge and the helium balloons were kept away from wildlife thanks to a fence.
A visit to the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge during our Saturday end-of-the-month tour may provide you with insights into balloons and human consumption. You might also encounter native plants, marsh critters, and our feathered friends. For a reservation, call 562-598-1024, leave your name and phone # and a Friend of Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge will contact you.

Joseph Lazzari is a member of Friends of the Seal Beach National Wildlife Rescue.

City of Seal Beach accepts coastal grants to increase beach access

Charles M. Kelly
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City of Seal Beach accepts coastal grants to increase beach access

The City Council last month voted unanimously to accept grants totaling $47,897.33 from the Orange County Coastkeeper and the California Coastal Conservancy. The council authorized City Manager Patrick Gallegos to implement the contract. The money will be used to get beach access mats and beach wheelchairs.
This was a Consent Calendar item. Consent items are voted on collectively, without discussion, unless a council member pulls one or more items for further discussion. Nothing was pulled from this week’s consent calendar.
“In an effort to increase beach accessibility, the Marine Safety Department sought and successfully applied for two (2) grants to enhance access for individuals with mobility limitations,” wrote Marine Safety Chief Joe Bailey in the staff report for the Feb. 23 meeting.
“The first grant award will fund the purchase and installation of new beach access mats at the1st Street beach area,” Bailey wrote.
“The City currently provides beach access mats at the 8th and 10th Street parking lot access points. These mats are heavily utilized whenever deployed, demonstrating a clear need for additional accessible entry locations,” Bailey wrote.
“The second grant award will fund the purchase of a powered track wheelchair. The Marine Safety Department currently maintains two (2) non-powered beach wheelchairs that require manual assistance to traverse the sand. These wheelchairs are used more than 100 days per year. The addition of a powered wheelchair will significantly improve independent access for beachgoers with disabilities,” Bailey wrote.
“Upon completion of the purchases and installation, the Marine Safety Department will host a Grand Opening event in Spring 2026 to highlight the improvements and acknowledge grant partners,” Bailey wrote.
“The project is expected to remain within the awarded amount,” Bailey wrote.

City gets College Park East infrastructure grant money

Staff report
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City gets College Park East infrastructure grant money

City Manager Patrick Gallegos announced during the Feb. 23 council meeting that the city had received federal funds for two projects: The San Gabriel River Trash Initiative and the College Park East Infrastructure Project.
The Sun reported on the San Gabriel River Trash project funding last week. (See “$1 mil OK’d for river trash project” at sunnews.org.)
“An additional $1.092 million was awarded to fund the preliminary design for stormwater infrastructure improvements in the College Park East neighborhood, aiming to address chronic flooding and enhance public safety, according to the Feb. 15-28 City Manager’s Newsletter.
“We are grateful to Congressman Dave Min who requested congressional funding for these projects as well as our City Council for prioritizing these projects, and Senator Alex Padilla and Assembly Member Diane Dixon for their support; a special thank you to Mayor [Lisa] Landau and Public Works Director Iris Lee for their direct advocacy and persistence in advancing and securing this critical funding,” said Gallegos during his verbal report.

Seal Beach is apparently the subject of a cyberattack

Charles M. Kelly
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Seal Beach is apparently the subject of a cyberattack

Seal Beach appears to have been the subject of a cyberattack.
City officials have confirmed “unusual activity” online but provided no details.
DeXpose.com, a platform that monitors the so-called darkweb, reported on March 2 that Seal Beach had been threatened with a cyberattack. DeXpose.com described the attack as a threatened ransomware attack.
The Sun contacted City Manager Patrick Gallegos and the Seal Beach Police Department for comment.
Gallegos said the SBPD would provide a statement.
District Two Councilman Ben Wong this morning said on the record that the city was working on it.
“The City detected unusual activity within its network,” wrote SBPD Lt. Julia Clasby in a March 3 email.
“Upon discovery, we promptly took steps to secure the environment and began an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the issue,” Clasby wrote.
“As our investigation into this matter is ongoing, we are unable to provide further details at this time,” Clasby wrote.
“We are monitoring our systems and working to investigate this matter fully,” Clasby wrote.
This was not the first time Seal Beach had to deal with an online attack. On December 2019, Seal Beach was the victim of a ransomware attack—which is best defined as a program that takes a computer or computer system hostage until money is paid by the individual, business, or government agency that has been attacked. (See “City of Seal Beach victim of ransomware attack,” at sunnews.org.)
“Attackers require the victim to pay a ransom, usually in the form of cryptocurrency, in order to unlock the files and data on the victims’ computer systems,” said the unsigned city of Seal Beach press release of December 2019.
More information about the incident was released in June 2022. The Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center Cyber Unit and the Seal Beach Police Department IT team reportedly found a “vulnerability” in the software used by Seal Beach’s IT vendor that crippled 171 computer systems including the Lifeguard and police networks. (For details see “Seal Beach honors public safety officers” at sunnews.org and scroll down to “Ransomeware” attack.)

Briefing Room: A thank you to our Volunteers in Policing

SBPD Capt. Nick Nicholas
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Briefing Room: A thank you to our Volunteers in Policing

Hi Seal Beach!
One of the things I am most proud of in our Police Department is our Volunteers in Policing program. Our volunteers are a steady, professional presence in the community, and they take on the kind of work that makes a real difference day after day. They help us stay connected, they provide extra eyes and ears, and they free up our sworn and professional staff to focus on urgent calls for service and investigations.
In 2025, our volunteers logged approximately 17,017 hours of service. To put that into perspective, a full-time year of work is 2,080 hours. That means our volunteers provided the equivalent of about 8.2 full-time employees’ worth of time back to the community in a single year. That is an incredible contribution, and it is only possible because people choose to show up, take ownership, and serve.
Those hours translated into real activity. Throughout 2025, our volunteers completed 4,160 patrols, averaging about 11 patrols per day across the year. They also assisted with 4,908 visitors at our substation at the base of the pier, averaging about 13 visitors per day.
Those “visitors” are community members and visitors who stop in for help, information, directions, to report a concern, or to get connected to the right resource. It is one of the most direct ways we serve the public, and our volunteers handle it with professionalism and kindness.
A few trends stood out. July was our busiest month at the pier substation, with 681 visitors, which averages to about 22 visitors per day. December had the highest total hours, with 2,379 hours logged, which reflects the reality of a busy season with major events and increased activity. On the “small things that matter” side of service, our volunteers documented 137 lost items and 265 found items across the year, helping reunite people with everything from phones to keys to wallets. That might not make the headlines, but it matters a lot to the person who is having a stressful day.
A quick note on the numbers. These totals are approximate and reflect a working snapshot of 2025. As with any year-end summary, we may make minor adjustments as records are finalized and reviewed.
To our VIP volunteers, thank you. Thank you for the early mornings, the long afternoons, the holiday coverage, and the consistent presence. Thank you for representing Seal Beach so well and for serving with patience and pride. You make our city better, and you make our department stronger.
For more information about volunteer opportunities with the Seal Beach Police Department, please visit: https://sealbeachpd.com/get-involved/
Keep your questions coming, Seal Beach! Email us at askacop@sealbeachca.gov today!

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