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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.

CIF Southern Section and State Champions

Staff report
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CIF Southern Section and State Champions


The Los Alamitos High boys soccer team capped a magical playoff run with a 1-0 win over Watsonville in the first ever CIF Division 3 State Championship tournament. Carter Coleman scored the only goal in the second half, and the Griffin defense made it stand up with the fifth shutout in seven playoff games for Los Alamitos. The Griffins won the CIF Southern Section Championship via forfeit, when Calabasas discovered it had used an ineligible player. Los Al had posted three shutouts in four wins, en route to the championship game. The players are (in roster No. order) Aidan Hernandez, Zachary Bambadji, Luke Aguirre, Landon Murr, Luke Kurata, Adrian Hernandez, Jayden Bautista, Ethan Phung, Grant Fedre, Cyrus Rastegar, Mateo Samblotte, Aiden Phan, Cooper Coleman, Kyle Ainslie, Connor Gonzalez, Nicolas Tangarife, Matteo De Lorenzo, Carter Coleman, Jacob Manning, Anthony Pulido, Parker Gill, Nicholas Makieil, Luciano Ingrao, Maximus Phan, Rumi Rastegar and Noah Shyres. Head Coach is Donovan Martinez, with assistants; Hector Holguin, Jacob Herrera, Kaden Falsken and Mario Araujo.

Council ratifies Business First committee appointments

Charles M. Kelly
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Council ratifies Business First committee appointments

On Monday, March 23, the City Council ratified the council member’s appointments to the Citizen-Council Olympic Advisory Ad- Hoc Committee Business First Advisory Ad-Hoc Committee.  The vote was unanimous. The date of the first meeting has not yet been announced.

This was originally a Consent Calendar item but was pulled for separate consideration. There was no council debate or discussion. District Three Councilwoman/Mayor Lisa Landau asked the members of the Olympic Advisory Ad-Hoc Committee and then the Business First Committee to stand up. 

The creation of the committee was part of the 2025 Strategic Planning meeting. The committee will focus on the Main Street area.

(See City to launch Business First initiative)

The committee members are: 

• Kori DeLeon, appointed by District One Council Member Joe Kalmick. DeLeon, of RTI Insurance on Main Street, is a past president of the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce. 

• Peter Magalhaes, appointed by District Four Councilwoman Patty Senecal. Magalhaes is a member of the Chamber of Commerce board of directors and worked on the Farmers Market project which started Friday, March 20. 

• Woody Woodruff, appointed by District Five Councilman Nathan Steele. Woodruff, of W Woodruff Hair Design, is a Main Street business and property owner as well as past member of the Parking Commission. The Parking Commission no longer exists. 

• Steven Riggs, appointed by District Two Councilman Ben Wong. Riggs, according to his volunteer application, has more than 45 years of experience as an executive in financial services. He served as treasurer on the Surfrider Foundation board, according to his commission application.

• Rosie Ritchie, appointed by District Three Councilwoman/Mayor Lisa Landau. Ritchie is the owner of The Beach House Restaurant on First Street. She has worked in real estate and, according to the letter she attached to her commission application, she is familiar with permitting and regulatory processes. 

Council members on the committee: 

• Kalmick and Wong. Kalmick’s district includes the Main Street area. Wong’s district includes College Park West, the Shops at Rossmoor Center (which is in Seal Beach), and Leisure World.

2026 Run Seal Beach 5K/10K street closures

Courtesy of Seal Beach Police Department
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2026 Run Seal Beach 5K/10K street closures

On Saturday, March 28, the 52nd annual Run Seal Beach 5K/10K will take place in the Old Town and surrounding areas of Seal Beach.

Run Seal Beach is a long-standing community tradition that brings together runners, walkers, families, volunteers, and supporters for a day of movement, fun, and giving back. The event donates 100% of proceeds to local nonprofit organizations that support fitness and recreation in the Seal Beach community.

Registration remains open for the 5K Run/Walk, 10K Run, and Kids Fun Run. For event details, updated course information, and registration, visit runsealbeach.com.

Course update

Run Seal Beach has announced an update to the 10K course for its Saturday, March 28, event. (See the map on page 2.) Due to current operational needs, the Navy base will not be available for this year’s 10K route. 

The updated 10K course will now be run as two laps of a 5K- style loop and is not the same as the current 5K event route.

Registered 10K participants will receive a separate email with options and instructions. Participants can also view the updated course map at runsealbeach.com. On race day, 10K participants can expect clear signage at the lap split, along with volunteers, course marshals, cones, and markings to help keep runners on route.

Street Closures

As a result of this event and the large number of participants expected to run, the following streets will be closed to ensure runner safety:

• 4 to 11 a.m.:

—Marina Bridge to and from Long Beach to Seal Beach)

—Marina Drive from Electric to First Street

—First Street from Welcome Lane to Ocean Place

• 6:45 to 11 a.m.

—First Street from Ocean Place to Ocean Avenue

—Ocean Avenue from First Street to 10th Street

—Marina Drive – from 1st Street to 5th Street

• 7 to 11 a.m.

—Ocean Avenue from 10th Street to Electric

—Seal Beach Boulevard from Electric to Pacific Coast Highway 

• 7:15 to 11 a.m.

—Electric Avenue North and Southside from Seal Beach Boulevard to Marina Drive

There will be no parking on the streets listed above. Vehicles along the racecourse may not be moved from closed streets during the race hours of 7-11 a.m. Please note that all times are approximate and roadway openings may be delayed. 

These times are conservative in the name of setting expectations as well as simplifying the communication.

For more information, visit runsealbeach.com.

Rossmoor Woman’s Club presents scholarships to local students

For the Sun
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Rossmoor Woman’s Club presents scholarships to local students

The Rossmoor Woman’s Club presented $1,000 scholarships to Los Alamitos High School students for their January and February selections. 

Michelle Wittenberg, RWC liaison the club’s Student of the Month scholarship program, made the presentations to the Trent Massey as the January scholarship winner and Christian Szymborski was named the February scholarship winner. 

Massey was named Senior of the Month at Los Alamitos High School for January ‘26. He is a four-year member of the Associated Student Body, spending countless hours at school events, and is also on the Improv team at LAHS. 

Academics are a key aspect of his life. He has maintained straight A’s while earning a 4.3 cumulative GPA. Trent is heavily focused on philanthropy. 

He is a member of the National League of Young Men, where he has learned important life lessons while giving back to his community. In addition, he is the intern for Summer Harvest, a non-profit whose mission is to feed local families over summer.

After graduating from Los Al, he will attend CBU and major in Aviation Flight.

Christian Szymborski was named Senior of the Month at Los Alamitos High School for February ‘26.  As a resident of Rossmoor, Christian began his education in the Los Alamitos Unified School District at Rossmoor Elementary School, where he attended from Transitional Kindergarten. 

Michelle Wittenberg, RWC Student Liaison, with Christian Szymborski.

Throughout his academic journey, Christian has demonstrated exceptional dedication to learning, particularly in mathematics and science.

At Los Alamitos High School, Christian has distinguished himself as a standout STEM student with a strong passion for chemistry and physics. He has been an active member of Science Olympiad and the American Chemical Society, representing Los Alamitos in the very competitive Orange County region. 

Christian helped lead his team to a third-place finish as a sophomore and a sixth-place finish as a junior, earning the highest individual team score for two consecutive years. He is currently working toward qualifying for the national ACS competition.

His academic excellence is further reflected in his honors, including being named a PSAT Commended Student and earning the distinction of AP Scholar with Distinction. He has maintained straight A’s throughout high school and will have completed 14 Advanced Placement courses by graduation. In addition, Christian has pursued dual enrollment at Long Beach City College and Cypress College, where he has taken Organic Chemistry, advanced mathematics, and multiple college-level physics courses.

Beyond academics, Christian is deeply involved on campus and in the community. He serves as Vice President of the Kindness Club, is a member of the Spanish Honor Society, which focuses on inclusion and service, and is a Student Ambassador, welcoming and supporting new students at Los Alamitos High School. As an athlete, Christian is a regular at the Seal Beach Swim Club and has competed on his high school’s swim and water polo teams. During his junior year of swim, Christian was honored with the Coach’s Award, presented by Mrs. Weber.

He credits the encouragement of many outstanding educators along the way, beginning with Mrs. Hinsche at Rossmoor Elementary School and continuing with mentors such as Mr. Jones, who has supported and inspired his passion for STEM disciplines.

Looking ahead, Christian plans to pursue an undergraduate degree in physics, ideally within the University of California system, with long-term goals of earning a Ph.D. in Physics.  

Weekly Farmers Market begins

Staff report
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Weekly Farmers Market begins

The first Farmers Market event in Old Town, the start of a weekly event, was held Friday, March 20, in Eisenhower Park. The Farmers Market is set to be held every Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Seal Beach officials, including Recreation Manager Tim Kelsey, District One Councilman Joe Kalmick and District Five Councilman Nathan Steele attended the event. Products on sale included fruits, vegetables, bread, and honey. Music was performed by the Towels. Photo by Charles M. Kelly

Coffee with Chief

Staff report
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Coffee with Chief

Seal Beach Police Chief Michael Henderson meets with members of the public for a Coffee with the Chief at Bogart’s on Friday, March 20. Photo by Charles M. Kelly

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Courtesy of Seal Beach Police Department
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April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the Seal Beach Police Department wants to remind drivers to stay focused, keep their eyes forward and hands on the wheel. Distractions like checking a phone, using the in-dash touchscreen or car phone app, adjusting the radio, or eating can have devastating consequences.

“Distracted driving continues to put everyone on the road at risk,” Chief Michael Henderson said. “When drivers take their eyes off the road, even for a few seconds, lives can change forever. We’re reminding our community that safety starts with each of us. Put the phone down, limit distractions, and help people get home safely.”

According to the 2025 California Statewide Public Opinion Survey, nearly 71.4% of drivers surveyed said that distracted driving, caused by texting or checking a phone, was their biggest safety concern. In 2023, there were 158 people killed in distracted driving crashes in California, a 6.8 percent increase from the previous year. The numbers are likely underreported because law enforcement officers may not always be able to determine if distraction was a factor in a crash.

Seal Beach Police Department will be actively looking for drivers throughout the month who are in violation of the state’s hands-free cell phone law.

Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or other electronic device while operating a vehicle, even when stopped at a red light. This includes talking, texting, or using an app.

Using a handheld cell phone while driving can result in a fine, and if a driver violates the hands-free law a second time within 36 months of a previous conviction for the same offense, an additional point will be added to their record.

Follow these simple steps to stay focused and protect everyone on the road:

• Put your phone away: Silence notifications and store your phone where you can’t reach it while driving.

• Plan ahead: Set your GPS, adjust mirrors and finish any tasks before you start driving.

• Keep both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road: Avoid eating, grooming or adjusting controls while driving.

• Be a role model: Show your passengers, especially young drivers, that focused driving is the norm.

• Speak up: If you’re a passenger and see the driver distracted, kindly remind them to stay focused.

• Pull over if necessary: If something urgent comes up, stop and park in a safe place before responding.

Funding for distracted driving enforcement is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Briefing Room: Modern romance scams get more sophisticated

SBPD Capt. Nick Nicholas
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Briefing Room: Modern romance scams get more sophisticated

Hi Seal Beach!

Romance scams are not new, but the modern versions are more sophisticated than most people realize. One of the fastest-growing types is often called “pig butchering,” where a scammer builds trust over time and then drains a person financially. It is calculated, and it can happen to anyone.

These scams often start in ordinary ways: a dating app match, a social media message, or a wrong-number text that turns into a conversation. The scammer becomes consistent, flattering, and attentive. They create a sense of exclusivity and emotional momentum. Then the money shows up.

In classic romance scams, it is usually a “crisis” that needs help: travel problems, medical issues, customs fees, or a sudden emergency. In pig butchering scams, it is often an “investment.” The scammer claims they have a safe platform or a method, frequently tied to cryptocurrency or gift cards. They may show fake gains, coach the victim step-by-step, and even allow a small withdrawal to build trust. Then the deposits increase, and when the victim tries to cash out, new “fees” or “taxes” appear to unlock the account. That is the trap.

Here are common red flags. They move fast emotionally. They always have a reason they cannot meet. They push secrecy or isolation. They create urgency. They move you off the app quickly. And eventually, they want money, access, or an “investment” you cannot verify.

If you suspect a scam, act fast. Stop sending money. Cut contact. Save everything: messages, usernames, phone numbers, receipts, wallet addresses, and screenshots. If you sent money through a bank, wire service, or crypto exchange, contact them immediately. Report the account on the platform where it started.

Most importantly, do not be embarrassed. Scammers count on shame to keep people quiet. These scams work because they are designed to manipulate trust.

If someone you have never met in real life is asking for money, pushing crypto, or insisting you keep it private, pause and get a second opinion.

If you want to report a scam, or you’re just not sure if something is legitimate, contact the Seal Beach Police Department non-emergency line at (562) 594-7232.

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

City, OC reach agreement on waste rates

Charles M. Kelly
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City, OC reach agreement on waste rates

The City Council unanimously approved an agreement with Orange County for solid trash disposal rates on March 23.

Seal Beach’s current waste disposal agreement  was approved in 2009 and extended in 2016 to June 30, 2025, according to the staff report prepared by Management Analyst Lauren Barich. 

“In January 2022, Orange County Waste & Recycling (OCW&R) notified cities of its intent to revise the WDA as the WDA neared expiration,” Barich wrote.

“OCW&R presented a proposed successor agreement to the WDA, titled the Waste Infrastructure System Enterprise (WISE) agreement, in November 2024,” Barich wrote.

The Orange County City Manager Association requested an extension of the agreement so they could negotiate terms, according to the Barich report. 

OCW&R agreed.

“On April 28, 2025, the Seal Beach City Council adopted the Second Amendment via Resolution 7635, extending the term of the WDA to June 30, 2026. The extended term allowed OCCMA time to conduct due diligence and negotiate with the County,” Barich wrote.

“The current WDA limits annual rate increases to CPI and does not account for rising operational, regulatory, and environmental compliance costs given the changing landscape of waste management in the State of California, particularly related to organics mandates and programs,” Barich wrote.

“OCW&R also indicated that additional capital was needed to fund the Brea Olinda landfill closure and to significantly expand the capacity of the landfill in San Juan Capistrano over the course of the 10-year term,” Barich wrote.

“Through negotiations, OCCMA reached an agreement on a phased WISE contract rate structure for the first three (3) years of the WISE Agreement. Starting in FY 29-30, the WISE contract rate includes a CPI increase,” Barich wrote.

In 2026-27, the contract rate would be $67 a ton. In 2027-28, $74/ton. In 2028-29, $81/ton. In 2029-30, the rate would be $81/ton plus CPI.

“Effective July 1, 2026, the increased WISE contract disposal rates will in turn result in increased residential and commercial customer bills in addition to the regular annual increase related to the CPI adjustment. This is because the City’s current solid waste franchise agreement allows Republic Services (Republic) to automatically adjust its solid waste rates upon an increase in tipping fees (like the WISE contract rate) once per year provided certain noticing and other criteria are met,” Barich wrote. WISE stands for Waste Infrastructure System Enterprise. 

“Separately, the City is continuing to negotiate with Republic on an Amended and Restated Solid Waste Franchise Agreement to address compliance with state mandates for organic waste imposed by SB 1383 Short-Lived Climate Pollutants and CalRecycle’s corresponding regulations and to generally modernize the City’s solid waste franchise agreement,” Barich wrote.

The contract rate of $67 per ton will go into effect on July 1, 2026.

The current rate is $43.76.

Rant: Old Town issues need to be addressed

For the Sun
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Rant: Old Town issues need to be addressed

Guest opinion by Jon Cockrill

I have lived in Seal Beach for 32 years, and over the past five to six years, there have been some HUGE changes.  I may receive some heat from some of the readers; and that’s OK—but I’ve spoken to SEVERAL Old Town neighbors who share my sentiments.  So, in no order of importance, here are my issues:

1.) Street musicians.  There’s a difference between quietly strumming an acoustic singing, “Hey Jude” and turning one’s amp up to ELEVEN while blasting subpar chords which can be heard up and down Main Street, the Pier, and the surrounding homes on and off Ocean Avenue.  It would be nice to enjoy a simple sunset without being assaulted by screaming vocals and/or other instruments ALL plugged in at high volume.  Oh, and let’s not forget the big tip jars.  Come to our town, plug in, get your tax-free cash, and go home to your quiet neighborhood seems to be the equation.   These people don’t just come here occasionally—they are here basically EVERY single evening.  Sorry, but I just don’t enjoy seeing this quaint town turn into Venice Beach. 

2.) Homeless.  My heart goes out to the situation, and it is quite complicated—I get that.  But, I can’t count the times I’ve seen Main Street, the beach, and underneath the Pier used as a toilet and sleeping bunks for people.  I’ve seen countless unfortunate homeless people with mental and drug issues scare the daylights out of innocent citizens who are simply walking in town.  Sure, the homeless are part of our human family—but a healthy family has boundaries, and allowing these people to dwell on our streets is NOT compassionate for anyone.  That’s the interesting thing—I hear people talk about compassion. Is it really compassionate to the homeless to allow this?  Is it compassionate to allow other people in our town to feel unsafe?  Not sure what the answer is—but this needs to be addressed. 

3.) E-bikes.  I wrote an article regarding this topic years back in the Sun entitled “it’s not a matter of IF, but when”.  Well, a recent accident was the inspiration for me to finally allow myself to write this article—I have written several drafts only to delete them.  However, two days ago, a youth ran over an elderly woman on Ocean and Main—most of you know about this incident.  She was badly injured, and he was a young boy who should have NEVER been on a motorized bike.  Again, I have lived on Ocean Avenue for the past 32 years, and I marvel at how these kids run stop signs daily, while doing wheelies on Ocean and 12th.  And yes, I know there’s a small crew of responders who say, “They’re just being kids—let them have fun.”  Sure, tell that to a little corpse being scraped off the ground when one of them is run over (which WILL happen). 

So, that’s the rant.  I’m sorry if it comes across as entitled, judgmental, privileged, etc.  If you knew me, I hope you’d think I’m none of the above; however, that’s not important.  

What is important is this:  Are you happy with the direction this town is heading?  I’m all for progress; but to me, this seems more like chaos.  Rant over.

Griffins softball team opens league with lopsided victory

Ted Apodaca
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Griffins softball team opens league with lopsided victory

Coming off a CIF-SS Championship season, the Los Alamitos High softball team is looking to replace several key graduates from last year’s team. The Griffins are young, but Head Coach Rob Weil said he is very pleased with the progress of the players who are taking over this year.

Sophomore Julia Gordon lines a base hit down the right field line in a game against Fountain Valley on Thursday. Gordon had two hits and scored three runs in the game. Photo by Ted Apodaca

The Griffins opened Sunset League play with an 11-1 win over Fountain Valley on Thursday, led by the pitching of Jaliane Brooks and Faith Pulsifer. Brooks, a freshman, came into her own late last season and anchored the pitching through the championship run.

Brooks, along with Pulsifer, a senior, gives the Griffins two solid pitchers that Weil said will keep the team in every game this season. Pulsifer also adds power at the plate. She hammered a two-run double against the Barons.

The Griffins had taken a 1-0 lead in the second inning, on a sacrifice squeeze by senior catcher Jordan Castrellon. In the third, the Griffins broke the game open with a five-run rally, with doubles by sophomore shortstop Aspen Natori and senior third baseman Alexis Galicia. Sophomore Ryann Velazquez capped the rally with a home run. Galicia was 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs. The Griffins recently returned from the Tournament of Champions in Bullhead City Arizona, where Weil said the team played very well.   

“We’re growing, I mean, we grew a lot the last two weeks at Bullhead, we really came into our own,” Weil said of the team’s progress. 

The Griffins are at Huntington Beach on Thursday, at 6 p.m. and will host Newport Harbor on Tuesday, at 3:30 p.m.

Griffins mark decade of robotics with open house

For the Sun
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Griffins mark decade of robotics with open house

Los Alamitos High School’s robotics team, the Golden Griffins, celebrated their 10th anniversary with a community open house that brought together students, families, and supporters for an inside look at one of the school’s most dedicated programs. Among the guests were Los Alamitos Unified School Board Vice President Diana Hill, Superintendent Andrew Pulver, board members Chris Forehan, Matt Bragman, and Farnaz Pardasani, and Communications and Public Information Officer Nichole Pichardo.

Team 6220, the Golden Griffins, is made up of Los Alamitos High School students passionate about pursuing careers in STEM. The team competes each year in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a nonprofit organization founded in 1989 that encourages young people to explore STEM education and careers. During the competition season, high school teams from around the world have just weeks to design, build, and program robots weighing up to 125 pounds to complete specific field challenges. FIRST Robotics Competition is widely regarded as the ultimate sport for the mind, combining the excitement of athletic competition with real-world engineering and problem-solving. For the Golden Griffins, the work continues long after competition season ends, with members spending the offseason sharpening their skills and mentoring newer students joining the program.

Visitors were guided through a series of hands-on workstations, each representing one of the team’s specialized subteams. At the Manufacturing station, members walked guests through the tools used to build robot components. The Electrical subteam demonstrated the wiring systems and control boards that power the robots on the competition field. The Business subteam shared their work in grant writing and securing the sponsorships that fund the program from year to year. Over at the Marketing station, team members displayed their design work and social media presence. The Design subteam showcased their use of CAD software with Onshape to accurately design the entire robot. 

The Programming subteam rounded out the tour by demonstrating the code behind the robots, which controls everything from basic driving to complex automated sequences during matches.

The crowd favorite of the night was the live demo, where two of the team’s robots, one built during the team’s 2025 LAEF summer camp and another used for testing critical robot functions every season, were out on the floor and available for guests to drive themselves. All of the guests took a turn at the controls, getting a feel for just how much engineering and skill goes into making the robots move with speed and precision.

The team is thankful to everyone who came out to support them and share in the celebration of ten years of robotics at Los Alamitos High School. As the Golden Griffins look toward the next decade, they remain focused on growing the program, welcoming new members, and continuing to show their community what student driven engineering looks like up close

If you are interested in supporting the Golden Griffins, please take a moment to look at our website at team6220.org or reach out at losalfrc@gmail.com! The team is constantly looking for new avenues for partnerships in order to not only construct their robot, but also provide educational opportunities for the entire school district and community.

CPE resident calls Almond soundwall inadequate

Charles M. Kelly
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CPE resident calls Almond soundwall inadequate

A College Park East resident asked for improvements to the Almond Avenue soundwall during the March 9 City Council meeting.

District Four Councilwoman Patty Senecal asked City Manager Patrick Gallegos for an agenda item on the subject at a future council meeting.

CPE resident Lucy Jackson, speaking during the public comment part of the meeting, raised her concerns about the wall. The following is not a transcript but highlights from last week’s meeting.

“This wall is inadequate,” Jackson said.

“This is not a new topic,” Jackson said. 

Jackson said she’d had two in-person meetings with District Four Councilwoman Patty Senecal as well as exchanging emails on the topic.

“It’s time to get moving on this,” Jackson said.

“The noise pollution that we experience from time to time in that area makes it extremely difficult sometimes impossible to even have a conversation outdoors,” Jackson said.

According to Jackson, to plan a child’s birthday party residents must check the wind and humidity to see if they can guess whether they can have the party outside.

“That is not a quality of life that any resident deserves, even less in our beautiful city,” Jackson said.

“I’ve read multiples of documents online regarding all of the efforts that the city put forth during the 405 Freeway expansion project,” Jackson said. She said she was aware of the city’s fight on the matter. 

“But I’m not sure all was won. But I don’t think all is lost,” Jackson said.

She said there was space for Seal Beach to go back to Caltrans and make “bigger requests”. 

Jackson said she saw a lot of evidence of discussions about the wall being built, but not about improving the current wall.

“I didn’t see any votes, anything regarding wall improvement, just a vote on not moving the wall, which makes a lot of sense,” Jackson said.

“The noise level violates the Seal Beach own codes and also the HUD’s development code for federal regulations,” Jackson said, apparently referring to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“I would like noise studies to be performed,” Jackson said.

She asked for Public Works engineers to define the proper wall design using the federal handbooks. 

“I would like trees to be planted. I would like Caltrans to consider rubberized asphalt on the freeways on the next maintenance campaign. I would like the city to allow residents to build higher fences between homes to mitigate how the noise bounces in between residences,” Jackson said.

“I would like to get ahead of these future developments with further noise and environmental studies,” Jackson said.

According to Jackson, “23 Code of Federal Regulations 772.13” requires a “highway agency” to analyze the allowable cost of noise abatement every five years.

She was apparently referring to section 2ii, “Cost effectiveness of the highway traffic noise abatement measures.”  

The federal code says: “Each highway agency shall determine, and receive FHWA approval for, the allowable cost of abatement by determining a baseline cost reasonableness value. This determination may include the actual construction cost of noise abatement, cost per square foot of abatement, the maximum square footage of abatement/benefited receptor and either the cost/benefited receptor or cost/benefited receptor/dB(A) reduction. The highway agency shall re-analyze the allowable cost for abatement on a regular interval, not to exceed 5 years. A highway agency has the option of justifying, for FHWA approval, different cost allowances for a particular geographic area(s) within the State, however, the highway agency must use the same cost reasonableness/construction cost ratio statewide.”

Jackson wanted to know if Seal Beach had done such an analysis.

“I have data that shows that we’re in violation of this, but I would like this to be formalized,” Jackson said. 

“There’s obviously an engineering failure and how these walls were kept even after the expansion and I also see that there is a lack of accountability,” Jackson said.

She said she performed a noise study on her own. Jackson said the noise was violating Seal Beach noise statutes and violating HUD code.

“We have grounds to revisit this more aggressively,” Jackson said.

Jackson ran out of time, but District Three Councilwoman/Mayor Lisa Landau allowed her to finish. 

Public Works Director Iris Lee said staff would come back with a summary at a later date.

During Council Comments, District Four Councilwoman Patty Senecal, who represents College Park East, recognized the time and due diligence she put into her report, which was shared with the council  members. 

“It is extremely thorough. It’s well organized. It’s cogent to understand. I love the fact that you put pathways together,” Senecal said.

Senecal said she would talk to the city manager and probably Pubic Works staff to determine the next steps. 

She also asked for an agenda item within a month.

Gallegos said staff would be happy to discuss that with her.

Planners OK Surfside roof access permit

Charles M. Kelly
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Planners OK Surfside roof access permit

The Planning Commission on March 16 unanimously approved   a minor use permit for a covered roof access structure that exceeds the height limit. The property is in the Surfside Colony. 

City staff recommended approving the permit.

No one spoke during the public hearing. No one representing the applicant was at the meeting. The only person in the audience was a reporter. 

District Three Commissioner Susan Perrell asked if there was an alternative to what she called “the doghouse.” 

Interim Community Development Director Shawn Temple said this had been the practice in Surfside for longer than anyone in the Chamber had been there. According to Temple, that’s how the Surfside Colony Architectural Review Board wants to access the structure. 

Background

“The designer, Mark Wheeler, on behalf of the property owners, Hobart and Caren Bowers (‘the Applicant’) proposes to construct a three-story, single-family residence with a roof covered access structure,” according to the staff report prepared by Associate Planner Patricia Garcia.

According to the report, staff approved the single family residence itself, but the covered roof access requires Planning Commission approval because the roof access structure exceeds the height limit.

“As part of the project, the applicant is proposing the covered roof access structure to exceed the maximum roof height by 4 feet 6 inches. As measured from the roof deck level, the covered roof access structure measures 9 feet in height and is approximately 12 feet 10 inches in length by 9 feet 7 inches in width. The covered roof access structure is kept to a minimum required to enclose the cover the proposed staircase to the roof deck. The covered roof access structure measures approximately 123 square feet,” Garcia wrote.

“The height maximum for structures within Surfside Colony is 35 feet,” Garcia wrote. 

However, according to her report, the city code allows non-habitable architectural features up to 7 feet if the commission grants a minor use permit.

“The maximum structural height of the proposed covered roof access is 4 feet 6 inches above the 35-foot height limit, a total of 2 feet 6 inches below the 7-foot maximum height increase. The total building height will be 39 feet 6 inches at the peak of the structure. With exception to the covered roof access structure, the single-family dwelling height is under the 35-foot maximum. Additionally, the Surfside Colony Architectural Review Board has reviewed and approved the new construction for community compatibility,” Garcia wrote.

“The covered stairwell will integrate materials consistent with the proposed new structure. The roof covered access structure is located along a peripheral exterior wall of the structure to minimize potential view impacts to the surrounding properties. The roof access structure occupies a minimal area necessary to cover the proposed staircase and a minimal proportion of the proposed roof deck. The structure will not significantly impair the primary view of surrounding properties located within 300 feet because it has been designed so the longer side of the structure is oriented perpendicular to the coastline. Staff finds that the design and location of the covered roof access structure, as proposed, meets the standards set forth in the Seal Beach Municipal Code, and is similar in size to previous Minor Use Permit approvals related to covered roof access structures,” Garcia wrote.

Introducing the Huntington Harbour Art Association

Chris MacDonald
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Introducing the Huntington Harbour Art Association

Did you know that Huntington Harbour has its own art association? Not only do they have one, but the non-profit group has been around for 50 years. With 80 active members including,former Huntington Beach mayor Lyn Semeta and Charlene Bauer who is the wife of the late former Huntington Beach Mayor Ralph Bauer. The group meets several times a year and accepts up to 33% non-harbor residents for those interested in joining. 

At their recent meeting at the iconic Sunset Beach Harbor House Cafe, Bill Anderson of Anderson Art Gallery, spoke on his 84 years of art experience, offering tips and talking about a life immersed in art—he began painting when he was 1 year young! 

The Huntington Harbour Art Association also encompasses special interest groups like  Needles and Friends, which meets every Monday at members’ homes to work on Fiber Arts projects, plus Painting Pals which meets every Tuesday at The Sunset Beach Woman’s Club.

The Huntington Harbour Art Association invites the public to their current exhibit, “The Magic of Fiber Color and Form” in Gallery 4 of Huntington Beach Art Center, 538 Main Street. The free admission show which includes original works of 29 club members, is open Tuesdays-Saturdays through May 9. See http://www.huntingtonbeachartcenter.org 

Anyone interested in joining may contact Membership Chair Jean Erstling at: (714) 614-1901 or e-mail: ljerstling@gmail.com.

Woman of Distinction

For the Sun
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Woman of Distinction


Seal Beach Lion Teri Young (left) was recently recognized as a “2026 Woman of Distinction” by Senator Tony Strickland for her service to the Seal Beach community and beyond. Seal Beach District Three Councilwoman/Mayor and Lion Lisa Landau also presented Young with a certificate of recognition from the city.

Nashville on the Coast

For the Sun
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Nashville on the Coast

Nashville on the Coast 2026 concluded last weekend. Seen here at O’Malley’s on Main on Friday, March 13, are (left to right) performers Kensie Breen, Fletcher Harrington, and Stephanie Wittmer. 

Council OKs amended consultant contract

Charles M. Kelly
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Council OKs amended consultant contract

The City Council this week unanimously approved an amendment to Seal Beach’s contract with Fieldman, Rolapp & Associates, Inc. Fieldman provides Seal Beach with advice on financing and issuing debt. The city is looking at debt options to pay for improvement projects such as water and sewer. (For details, keep reading.)

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

“Due to the nature and complexity of the City’s current capital improvement projects, particularly those related to the water and sewer systems, it is important to extend the agreement at this time to ensure continuity of services and avoid disruption to ongoing financial planning efforts,” wrote Finance Director Barbara Arenado.

“Financial advisory services are needed to assist the City in structuring the debt necessary to fund construction projects related to the City’s water and sewer systems,” Arenado wrote.

“Any debt financing recommendations will be brought to Council for review and approval prior to implementation. The new agreement extends the current agreement for an additional five (5) years, introduces a revised fee schedule, and provides for an annual three percent (3%) annual fee increase each year. Given that the City is actively assessing debt strategies and timing for issuance, extending the agreement now ensures that advisory services remain uninterrupted during this critical phase,” Arenado wrote.

“Adequate funding is included in the adopted FY 2025-26 Annual Budget and will be included in future budgets, as necessary,” Arenado wrote.

“Historically, financial advisory services have ranged from approximately $10,000 to $30,000 per year,” Arenado wrote.

“Professional services for a bond issue would be determined based on the nature and size of the transaction,” Arenado wrote.

According to “exhibit B” of the contract, the cost of debt transactions greater than $200,000 would be negotiated whether the transaction was for Community Facilities District bonds, general fund-backed bond or utility bonds for water and sewers.

The hourly rate, according to the same document, varies by the position of the personnel involved. For example, an administrative assistant’s hourly rate would be $106 an hour. An executive officer’s hourly rate would be $440 an hour.

“Costs incurred would be charged to the appropriate fund or bond proceeds and would continue to be budgeted in future years. Therefore, no additional appropriation is required at this time,” Arenado wrote.

Sykes named Big West Freshman of the Year

For the Sun
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Sykes named Big West Freshman of the Year

After an outstanding first season at Long Beach State, Gavin Sykes was named the Big West Freshman of the Year as announced by the conference office on Tuesday.

Sykes also earned Second Team All-Big West honors and was joined in recognition from the league’s coaches by sophomore Petar Majstorovic, who received Honorable Mention.

Sykes ended the season with a 34-point performance in a win at Hawai’i, closing the season averaging 19.4 points per game, one of six elite freshman scorers in the nation averaging over 19 points per game.

He broke the freshman season scoring record at Long Beach State held by Lucious Harris, as well as the freshman single-game scoring record, ultimately finishing with 30+ points on four occasions throughout the season and scoring 20+ 15 times. His 20.9 points per game in league play was second-most in the league, his 542 total points this season ranked as the 25th most in school history, and his 19.5 points per game tied for the 15th-highest average in program history.

Sykes becomes the fourth player to receive Big West Freshman of the Year from Long Beach State, joining Larry Anderson in 2009, James Cotton in 1994, and Lucious Harris in 1990.

Petar Majstorovic led Long Beach State in rebounding and was second in scoring on the way to Honorable Mention All-Big West honors. Majstorovic had three double-doubles on the year, scored 20+ nine times, and was 10th in the Big West in scoring in league play, averaging 15.0 points per game.

SBPD to host ‘Coffee With The Chief’ at Bogart’s 

Courtesy of Seal Beach Police Department
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SBPD to host ‘Coffee With The Chief’ at Bogart’s 

The Seal Beach Police Department invites community members to join Chief of Police Michael Henderson for Coffee with the Chief on Friday, March 20, from 10 a.m. to noon at Bogart’s Coffee House, 905 Ocean Ave.

This informal community event offers residents an opportunity to enjoy coffee, meet with Chief Henderson, and discuss important local issues facing Seal Beach. Topics will include homelessness, traffic enforcement, and other public safety concerns affecting the community.

Coffee with the chief is designed to encourage open conversation between the Police Department and the public in a relaxed, welcoming setting. 

Community members are encouraged to stop by, ask questions, share concerns, and connect directly with department leadership.

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