Have you been touched by cancer, either personally, through friends and/or family members? Do you feel helpless and don’t know what you can do to help combat this dreaded disease?
Relay For Life is something we can all participate in, and where we can feel that we are doing something. Funds raised by the Buena Park/La Palma Relay For Life, supports research and development of new drugs and new treatment techniques. Also, the many services of the American Cancer Society and its volunteers provide needed LIFELINES for cancer patients.
We invite you to join us for the 2010 La Palma/Buena Park Relay For Life 24 hour event to be held June 5th and 6th at the Buena Park Junior High School track on Orangethorpe just west of Knott Ave.
It is 24 hours of food, fun, games, dancing, and time to honor cancer survivors and to remember loved ones we lost to cancer.
For information on how to form a team, make a donation or be a sponsor of the event, please contact: Barbara Michel, 714.522.3506 or Ralph Rodriguez, 714.612-4237. You can register a team for $26 until December 1, 2009.
Check out our website at: www.relayforlife.org/buenaparklapalmaca.
Monday, November 30, 2009
La Palma Group Gives HOPE to the Hungry and Homeless
By Larry Caballero
Volunteers from La Palma and surrounding communities begin arriving at 5:30 am at the parking lot of St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress to get ready for the 1500 hungry and homeless people who will be arriving before 8:00 am on the first and third Saturday of each month to receive food, used clothing, and small furniture items such as end tables and lamps. Financial assistance is also provided for temporary shelter, utility bills, transportation and medical expenses. The lucky ones may even find a job from the referral service that is also available to them.
Helping Other People Everyday (HOPE) was founded in 1976 and is a community service, parish based, non-profit recognized agency that is dedicated to serving the needs of the less fortunate. Volunteers provide services regardless of race, creed, age or national origin. No fees are ever charged, but a picture ID or proof of residency is required to be sure that the recipient lives in the local area. If he doesn’t, then he will be assisted in locating a food distribution center nearer to him.
Once the recipient is registered, he will be given color-coded tickets to alert the volunteers to his individual needs. An orange ticket will get him a bag or a shopping cart filled with food, a pink ticket is for diapers, a red ticket for clothing and a blue ticket for a homeless person who is given items that would not need refrigeration. Senior residents who are unable to leave their homes, or have no transportation, will have food delivered to them.
The program is supported by donations from individuals, government grants, local businesses, schools, food banks, service clubs, parish members and fundraising efforts of the more than 60 volunteers who participate. Several food outlets donate food such as Olive Garden, Marie Callender and Pizza Hut.
Volunteers are always needed to help in the collection and sorting of food, to prepare and distribute food bags, and to plan and implement fundraising events. For every $25.00 contributed, the program can acquire 250 pounds of groceries at the Orange County Food Distribution Center.
The food bank operates from a space on the parish property, rent free, and serves over 450 families. In addition to the scheduled food distribution, emergency food is available at the church rectory. More than 11,500 clothing items and more than 200 furniture items are distributed annually. Other services include counseling, bus fare vouchers, urgent medical care and shelter for women and children.
Mary Ellen Oves, Assistant Principal at Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills, has been a HOPE volunteer for at least 15 years. She said that she couldn’t think of any other place she would want to be on a Saturday morning than helping those less fortunate than she. “This is my way of giving back to the community,” she said.
Virginia has been coming for over 25 years, first as a volunteer, and then for herself to help feed her family of nine. “People would be starving to death if it were not for programs such as HOPE. It’s grown a lot since I first started coming, and people appreciate the fact that the volunteers don’t look down at you.”
Sister Margarita of Saint Irenaeus said, ”It’s a wonderful demonstration of people helping people in their community.”
Former HOPE President and La Palma City Councilmember Ralph Rodriguez is proud of the program and its volunteers. “We take our responsibility very seriously, and we are confident that we are abiding by state and federal regulations. We just follow the rules.”
The Holiday Distribution in December is a much larger project with the La Palma Kiwanis members serving a pancake breakfast, the distribution of presents to the children, and the arrival of Santa. “On that day, the volunteers become Santa’s little helpers.”
HOPE also supports seven other charities during the holidays, and if you are interested in becoming a volunteer, you can email Rodriguez at ralph.rodriguez@ca.rr.com.
Volunteers from La Palma and surrounding communities begin arriving at 5:30 am at the parking lot of St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Cypress to get ready for the 1500 hungry and homeless people who will be arriving before 8:00 am on the first and third Saturday of each month to receive food, used clothing, and small furniture items such as end tables and lamps. Financial assistance is also provided for temporary shelter, utility bills, transportation and medical expenses. The lucky ones may even find a job from the referral service that is also available to them.
Helping Other People Everyday (HOPE) was founded in 1976 and is a community service, parish based, non-profit recognized agency that is dedicated to serving the needs of the less fortunate. Volunteers provide services regardless of race, creed, age or national origin. No fees are ever charged, but a picture ID or proof of residency is required to be sure that the recipient lives in the local area. If he doesn’t, then he will be assisted in locating a food distribution center nearer to him.
Once the recipient is registered, he will be given color-coded tickets to alert the volunteers to his individual needs. An orange ticket will get him a bag or a shopping cart filled with food, a pink ticket is for diapers, a red ticket for clothing and a blue ticket for a homeless person who is given items that would not need refrigeration. Senior residents who are unable to leave their homes, or have no transportation, will have food delivered to them.
The program is supported by donations from individuals, government grants, local businesses, schools, food banks, service clubs, parish members and fundraising efforts of the more than 60 volunteers who participate. Several food outlets donate food such as Olive Garden, Marie Callender and Pizza Hut.
Volunteers are always needed to help in the collection and sorting of food, to prepare and distribute food bags, and to plan and implement fundraising events. For every $25.00 contributed, the program can acquire 250 pounds of groceries at the Orange County Food Distribution Center.
The food bank operates from a space on the parish property, rent free, and serves over 450 families. In addition to the scheduled food distribution, emergency food is available at the church rectory. More than 11,500 clothing items and more than 200 furniture items are distributed annually. Other services include counseling, bus fare vouchers, urgent medical care and shelter for women and children.
Mary Ellen Oves, Assistant Principal at Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills, has been a HOPE volunteer for at least 15 years. She said that she couldn’t think of any other place she would want to be on a Saturday morning than helping those less fortunate than she. “This is my way of giving back to the community,” she said.
Virginia has been coming for over 25 years, first as a volunteer, and then for herself to help feed her family of nine. “People would be starving to death if it were not for programs such as HOPE. It’s grown a lot since I first started coming, and people appreciate the fact that the volunteers don’t look down at you.”
Sister Margarita of Saint Irenaeus said, ”It’s a wonderful demonstration of people helping people in their community.”
Former HOPE President and La Palma City Councilmember Ralph Rodriguez is proud of the program and its volunteers. “We take our responsibility very seriously, and we are confident that we are abiding by state and federal regulations. We just follow the rules.”
The Holiday Distribution in December is a much larger project with the La Palma Kiwanis members serving a pancake breakfast, the distribution of presents to the children, and the arrival of Santa. “On that day, the volunteers become Santa’s little helpers.”
HOPE also supports seven other charities during the holidays, and if you are interested in becoming a volunteer, you can email Rodriguez at ralph.rodriguez@ca.rr.com.
La Palma City Manager Represents City in Australia
By Larry Caballero
As La Palma Mayor Mark Waldman and Councilmember Henry Charoen were preparing for their trip to Korea to visit sister city Hanam, City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto was packing his bags for Sydney, Australia, as part of an Australia Exchange Program sponsored by the League of California Cities and local government managers for their 100th Annual Conference Sept. 15-18.
The program promoted international cooperation and gave managers the opportunity to exchange best practices and management ideas while learning the similarities and differences in issues they must deal with on a daily basis. Lazzaretto attended workshops and heard from keynote motivational speakers and local government leaders before touring local communities outside of Sydney.
“Our number one issue dealt with water shortage and droughts,” said Lazzaretto, who talked to local officials about the options available to them in addressing their concerns. He tried to visit small cities that were comparable to La Palma in size, population or geography, and found a large number of Asian residents along with Greek and Italian. Overall, it was a good learning experience for him and he enjoyed visiting Australia, except for a dust storm that engulfed Sidney while he was there. “It had to happen while I was there. It was the worst dust storm in 70 years.”
As La Palma Mayor Mark Waldman and Councilmember Henry Charoen were preparing for their trip to Korea to visit sister city Hanam, City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto was packing his bags for Sydney, Australia, as part of an Australia Exchange Program sponsored by the League of California Cities and local government managers for their 100th Annual Conference Sept. 15-18.
The program promoted international cooperation and gave managers the opportunity to exchange best practices and management ideas while learning the similarities and differences in issues they must deal with on a daily basis. Lazzaretto attended workshops and heard from keynote motivational speakers and local government leaders before touring local communities outside of Sydney.
“Our number one issue dealt with water shortage and droughts,” said Lazzaretto, who talked to local officials about the options available to them in addressing their concerns. He tried to visit small cities that were comparable to La Palma in size, population or geography, and found a large number of Asian residents along with Greek and Italian. Overall, it was a good learning experience for him and he enjoyed visiting Australia, except for a dust storm that engulfed Sidney while he was there. “It had to happen while I was there. It was the worst dust storm in 70 years.”
Judges Choose 2009-2010 Miss La Palma and Royal Court
By Larry Caballero
Family, friends and local dignitaries arrived at the Kennedy High School’s Performing Arts Center to enjoy an evening of entertainment and suspense Nov. 8 as they waited to hear the announcement of who the 2009-2010 Miss La Palma and her Royal Court would be.
Judging consisted of interview, talent, speech, and evening gown competitions. Contestants were asked to answer the question: Where will you be and what will you be doing in the next 25 years. The program also included a dance exhibition and a farewell appearance by 2008-2009 Miss La Palma Tina Estrada before the awards presentation and announcement of the 2009-2010 Miss La Palma Royal Court.
“Throughout the year it has been my honor to represent the City of La Palma,” said Estrada. “From the moment I was crowned to now, I have had an unforgettable experience that I will cherish for a lifetime.”
Master of Ceremonies actor, singer, playwright and director Michael Buss announced the winners in the various categories before the new Miss La Palma and her court were named. Miss La Palma Star was Sheraiah Paige Lucena who raised the most revenue for the Pageant by selling tickets and ads for the program. Emily Ann Kulassia won the Interview Award, and Chelsey Wegener had to share the Evening Gown Award with 2009-2010 Miss La Palma Judy Yoo who also won the Talent, Speech, and Question Categories.
Yoo’s first duty will be to represent La Palma in the La Palma Days Parade Nov. 14 before becoming the City’s Ambassador for the next twelve months at numerous public events including Ribbon Cuttings, Grand Openings and special holidays.
Miss La Palma’s Royal Court include 4th Runner up Danielle Jones, 3rd Runner up Mylene Montoya, 2nd Runner up Emily Ann Kulassia and 1st Runner up Chelsey Wegener.
Special guests included La Palma Mayor Mark Waldman, Councilmembers Larry Herman, Ralph Rodriguez and Steve Shanahan, as well as City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto. Wishing the contestants good luck were Miss Artesia and her Court along with Mr. California, California Teen and the Southern California Royal Court.
Family, friends and local dignitaries arrived at the Kennedy High School’s Performing Arts Center to enjoy an evening of entertainment and suspense Nov. 8 as they waited to hear the announcement of who the 2009-2010 Miss La Palma and her Royal Court would be.
Judging consisted of interview, talent, speech, and evening gown competitions. Contestants were asked to answer the question: Where will you be and what will you be doing in the next 25 years. The program also included a dance exhibition and a farewell appearance by 2008-2009 Miss La Palma Tina Estrada before the awards presentation and announcement of the 2009-2010 Miss La Palma Royal Court.
“Throughout the year it has been my honor to represent the City of La Palma,” said Estrada. “From the moment I was crowned to now, I have had an unforgettable experience that I will cherish for a lifetime.”
Master of Ceremonies actor, singer, playwright and director Michael Buss announced the winners in the various categories before the new Miss La Palma and her court were named. Miss La Palma Star was Sheraiah Paige Lucena who raised the most revenue for the Pageant by selling tickets and ads for the program. Emily Ann Kulassia won the Interview Award, and Chelsey Wegener had to share the Evening Gown Award with 2009-2010 Miss La Palma Judy Yoo who also won the Talent, Speech, and Question Categories.
Yoo’s first duty will be to represent La Palma in the La Palma Days Parade Nov. 14 before becoming the City’s Ambassador for the next twelve months at numerous public events including Ribbon Cuttings, Grand Openings and special holidays.
Miss La Palma’s Royal Court include 4th Runner up Danielle Jones, 3rd Runner up Mylene Montoya, 2nd Runner up Emily Ann Kulassia and 1st Runner up Chelsey Wegener.
Special guests included La Palma Mayor Mark Waldman, Councilmembers Larry Herman, Ralph Rodriguez and Steve Shanahan, as well as City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto. Wishing the contestants good luck were Miss Artesia and her Court along with Mr. California, California Teen and the Southern California Royal Court.
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