He still has an apartment in humble little Los Alamitos, but former Griffin soccer player (LAHS ’02) Jon Bornstein is traveling in some pretty heady territory these days – especially after scoring a goal in his very first appearance with the U.S. national mens soccer team, in their 3-1 win over Denmark on January 20.
    Bornstein, the MLS Rookie of the Year this past season, not only played the entire match, he did it in front of his family and on familiar turf, the Home Depot Center, but his dad, Jeff, said he could tell he looked nervous in the early stages of the match.
    Nonetheless, making runs from his left back position, Bornstein got off the US’ best shot in the first half and slotted the go-ahead goal early in the second half after making a run to the six and calmly one-touching it to the far post.
    The next night, Jon got to experience a little bit more of the fast life by representing his Chivas USA team at a banquet honoring Los Angeles greatest sports moments this past year. (It was shown on FoxSports).
    Bornstein's on-the-field efforts were rewarded by his being called to be on the roster for US team's next match on February 7 against rival Mexico. The match will be played on the new University of Phoenix field in Glendale Arizona, where some former Griffin classmates (now playing for Boise State) did well in the Fiesta Bowl earlier this month.

      The Los Alamitos basketball team seems to be getting it together at the right time, and have virtually clinched their 10th Sunset League crown in 11 years.
      The Griffins have turned in four strong performances in the past 12 days with an inter-sectional victory over San Diego power Carlsbad, and Sunset League wins over Newport Harbor, Marina and Edison.
      Los Al downed Edison 72-57 in a match played Monday night to accommodate the Los Al final exam schedule this week. Cameron Jones )shown right) and Corbin Moore each scored 18, while Clint Amberry added 15 as the Griffins improved their league record to 7-0. They need just one win to clinch a tie for the league title.
      Last Friday night the Griffins took on Marina which is on the verge of breaking the national record for three-pointers, and put on an offensive showcase of its own, tying the all-time school record of 113 points in a game as they downed the Vikings 113-79. (The total matched the 113 set in 1971-72 against San Clemente). Cameron Jones had 29 points and Clint Amberry 22 to lead the scoring parade.
      Los Al scored 63 points in the first half to break the school record for most points in a half, and Kevin Koontz tied the record for most points in a game with a follow-up shot with just under a minute remaining. They had multiple chances to break the record, but couldn't overcome the jinx put in place by courtside announcer Scott Durzo who broke the golden rule about premature enunciation.
      The week before Los Al downed Newport Harbor 68-41 in a battle of two teams with 4-0 league marks.
      The Griffins had been seeing more and more sagging defenses -- and closer than you would think necessary scores -- as opponents concentrated on the twin towers of 6-9 Clint Amberry and Corbin Moore and the Griffin wing players compounded the effectiveness of the defense by not making quick entry passes while the zone was still rotating. But beginning with the Newport Harbor contest, the outside players made better passes and began hitting their three-point shots. Against the Sailors, Los Al netted eight of 13 three-point attempts (61.5%) in the game.
      Last Saturday, the Griffins, the defending CIF Southern Section Division I-AA champion, ranked No. 6 in Division I-A this season, downed Carlsbad, 76- 58, in the final game of a day that featured six San Diego Section teams against six teams from the Southern and Los Angeles sections. (The LA-Southern Section teams won all six contests.) Clint Amberry led Los Alamitos (20-4) with 26 points.

GIRLS WATER POLO
      The Griffin Girls water polo team improved its league record to 3-1 (18-3 overall) with a 13-4 win over Esperanza Monday evening. Kaylee Miller and Jessica Dunn each scored four goals for the Griffins. Los Alamitos plays this weekend in the 32-team Irvine Southern California Championships, which features most of the top teams in the area, including top four seeds Foothill, Corona Del Mar, Newport Harbor, and Montebello. An interesting potential second round match-up would pit Los Al against San Diego power Coronado.
      Although Los Al lost their league showdown to Sunset league newcomer Newport Harbor (7-4 on Jan. 10), they must defeat Edison next week in their Sunset league finale to clinch second place and get a better draw going into the CIF playoffs which begin in two weeks.

GIRLS BASKETBALL
      The Los Alamitos girls basketball team, which finished the first half of its Sunset league season, with a 2-3 mark, dropped to 2-4 after losing to Marina 40-32 last Thursday.
      In the first round, the Griffins fell to the Vikings 49-48 on Jan. 4
      The Los Al girls now hold a respectable overall mark of 11-9. Their only real sound loss was a 55-34 shellacking at the hands of Esperanza on January 16.

WRESTLING
      Los Al heavyweight wrestler Panos Papadopoulos is one of nine Orange County wrestlers still alive at the prestigious Five Counties meet in Fountain Valley, after the first day of competition.
      Winning at Five Counties normally translates into success at the CIF State Tournament in March. Last year, 13 of the 14 Five Counties champions, also placed at the state tournament.
      Papadopoulos, who is ranked No 1 in OC in his weight bracket, captured the championship at the Orange County All-Stars meet two weeks ago, when he defeated Newport Harbor rival Brian Beaudette 10-5 in the final match.

      Okay, because she plays in the far away regions of St. Joseph’s, we’ve inadvertently overlooked the many prep volleyball accomplishments of former St. Hedwig Celt (and Seal Beach resident), Dana Vargas, who just committed to play volleyball at UC Santa Barbara next season.
      Dana's mother, Debbie Vargas-Green, coaches at LB State (and is a former Olympic volleyball player, a member of the USC Hall of Fame, and oh yeah, considered by many to be the greatest setter to ever play the game), and her dad Joe is a former two-time water polo Olympian.
      Dana’s sister, Nicole Vargas is a setter on the LB State team, and averaged 12.51 assists, 2.38 digs, and 1.02 kills per game this season while earning first team all-conference honors.

      Alright, that might be a tough one to follow, but Los Al football linebacker Steven Clark has verbally committed to play at Utah State, according to the folks at the Salt Lake City Tribune.

    A number of people (mainly those with no lives) have asked me what I thought about the Los Al City Council’s decision last Monday to dissolve the non-profit corporation which ran LATV-3, the public access channel which serves Los Al and Rossmoor (well, re: the latter, kinda. . .)
    I have actually done some research into this topic, because this happens to be an area I know something about (hopefully I learned something in my over 25 years in network television, some of it actually running very successful shows) and also because I think the local access station can be a far more productive asset to the community than it is currently. However, for those of you with short attention spans (no doubt, the vast majority of my readers) I’m listing a relatively no-fat-on-these-bones summary below.
    For the masochists who want more details, click to the complete article here.
    Anywhere’s here’s the story as I see it:

    1. The former LATV Board had become, if not in fact certainly perceived as, dysfunctional.
    2. The whole IRS tax/lien flap was in reality, a minor, easily fixable issue.
    3. Some members of the LATV Board acted in a childish, and hysterical manner.
    4. Los Al city staff did not win friends by (perhaps unwittingly) seeming to act as a censor.
    5. All the above obscured the most important issue – that LATV’s funding was being cut by almost 70% and LATV board was unprepared.
    6. The LATV controversy caused Los Al mayor Fred Freeman to lose his city council seat.
    7. The vote to dissolve the LATV Corporation was based on a staff report that was fair and thorough about legal and financial matters, but ill-informed about production realities.
    8. Although unintended, the council’s actions probably exponentially increased the cost to broadcast games and programs – but it can be fixed.

    So. . . what does this all mean?
    Actually, this whole mess is an opportunity for an even better community television station. Here’s how it can happen.

    Recognize that LATV-3 hasn’t scratched the surface of its potential as a community asset. To promote awareness of an event, or sell an idea or cause, other than word-of-mouth, nothing is better than television.
    Opponents of the dissolution must quit dwelling on what was; Instead, focus on what can be.
    Los Al and Rossmoor should combine as equal partners to operate public access channels. Rossmoor currently pays nothing to LATV; its franchise fees go directly to the county, although Time-Warner has been kicking over about 12-13 thousand annually to LATV. If the county wants us to even discuss being a city, then give us our fees so we can provide coverage of important forums.
    The new corporation should operate TWO local mixed (PE&G) public access channels. This will provide better coverage of Rossmoor events, allow coverage of boards that meet at conflicting times, (like LAUSD and the RCSD) and maximize marketing power under the new fund-raising realities.
    Host two cable-thons in May and raise the funds necessary to fully operate. There are two significant local events in May. The Rossmoor 50th anniversary celebration on May 5 and the 2007 NCAA Women’s water Polo Championships at the base pool the following weekend. LATV should telecast throughout the day, interspersing coverage of events, and pre-edited segments with requests/appeals for funding via donations or memberships with perks (a la KCET, etc.)
    The new station MUST get its studio back on the Los Al High campus (as it was many years ago). It can not only augment and grow current LAHS video-related courses and provide valuable in-the-field training, it can also resolve LATV’s recurring manpower issues. This will also help reduce the cost of covering LAHS activities, and increase awareness of LAHS events, and thus increase revenues from attendance, donations and sponsorships.
    The new corporation could make its programming available on a web site. About 35% of the local homes do not subscribe to cable. Broadband video would allow many of these viewers to watch council meetings, plays, sporting events, high school events, etc., and again maximize marketing value. Also internet telecasts of LAHS games for a slight fee (being done more and more) might appeal to southland football fanatics and alums spread across the land. I have many more suggestions on how to make this a real, integrated community asset – and I’m sure many of you have even better suggestions than I have proposed. And all parties – former board members and city council members, and all the many supporters on both sides – they – we -- must get over what has happened and focus on what can be.

      The Long Beach State baseball team kicked off its 2007 baseball season this past weekend, falling 1-0 to the 49er Pro Alumni squad.
      Former Griffin Brandon Godfrey (LAHS '03), a junior first baseman (and son of Griffin principal Kelly Godfrey), was 0-2.
      The Dirtbags (the affectionate moniker for 49er baseball teams) were ranked No. 30 in Collegiate Baseball's pre-season poll, and are picked to finish fourth in the tough Big West conference.

      CS Fullerton, which is in the top-20 in both major polls, is picked to win the conference. The Titans also opened their season this weekend played with a loss (7-4) to their Pro Alumni which included other former Griffins Dave Bacani and Ronnie Prettyman. Bacani, who plays in the Boston Red Sox system, had a pair of hits, scored a run, and earned the game's only stolen base.

      In Saturday's Pepperdine alumni game, ex-Griffin Danny Farris (now a Freshman at the Malibu school) got the start on the mound for the No. 19 Waves. He allowed two early runs, but settled down to pitch two perfect innings as the current crew prevailed 3-2 in a rain-shortened game. The Wave roster also includes former Los Al standout Chase D'Arnaud.

      Chapman University’s baseball team (with former Griffins Travis Cross, Ryan Prechtl and Joe Lehman, all freshmen, and junior James Godfrey) will begin the season ranked No. 2 in the Collegiate Baseball Division III preseason poll. The Tigers begin their season with a away and home series against Whittier on Friday and Saturday.       Former Griffin Tyler Marmion had two hits and started at shortstop for Cypress in its 9-8 win over Palomar on Saturday. Cypress plays at Grossmont on Friday. Also playing for Cypress are former Griffins Ricky Eisenberg, former LAYB all-star (and Mater Dei standout) Jason Schaniel, and sophomore pitcher Jason Schnitzer who has already committed to pitch next year at UCSB.

Former Los Al, OCHSA student, Chad Doreck, aims to be the one America wants for “Grease”

Susan Travis, Seal Beach resident does volunteer work in Tanazania

Our real-life job, producing the TV show MXC, got a very nice review in the OC Weekly -- an article which got my home town wrong by a couple blocks -- but probably gave me more credit than I deserve. I guess I can live with it.

Here's one from the Doug Krikorian files -- "Seal Beach's very own Golden Voice, Mr. Matt (Money) Smith, whose private wealth is so immense that one idly wonders why he even condescends to do afternoon drive-time sports talk radio for AM-570, has a new partner also with local roots and also with immense private wealth -- Petros Papadakis."

SB Podiatrist, Doug Richie, seems to be in the forefront of a foot fitness fad. It's big enough that this one had a second article on it.

Continuing with our foot fetish salute, Seal Beach teacher/pole-vaulter Tim McIntyre gets a blurb on proper sports footcare in the LA Times SB cardiologist starts company that takes aim at clogged hearts

And here's a link to one of the closer local versions of a recording star. . .Joe Escalante. . . of the Vandals

Los Al TV dissolves corporation

Community rallies for WeCare

Los Al resident recovering from marine typhus; first OC case since 1993

Alamitos Barrier protects dwindling local area water supplies from salt-water intrusion

Los Al therapist gets internet site makeover

Los Al Podiatrist is disciplined

William Thompson, original Rossmoor resident, passes away

Seal Beach pier death likely not homicide

Seal Beach may vote to end 3-story ban. . . Prompted by Ray Ybaben vote switch to apparently avoid a costly election and let the issue be decided by the planning commission.

Daily Grind coffeehouse moves from Seal Beach to Westminster. . . literally

LA Sheriff proposes Los Alamitos as possible site for anti-terrorism facilty – perhaps under the theory: “if they can deal with softball parents they can deal with anybody.”

Los Al Youth Symphony commissions art for funding – no strings attached

Would be robber shoots at car at Los Al bank on Saturday morning

Bixby Ranch sells Central Coast land for $155 mil. Coast preservation activists to watch sale closely

Alliance Imaging - Los Al Hospital contractor -- seeks ways to grow despite industry pinches.

Fruit prices soar – Los Al residents mentioned in LA Times article

Frieda’s (of Los Alamitos) has winning Super Bowl line-up.

Tenet’s Los Al Med center part of suit against Kaiser.

Rossmoor Center renovation update – Okay, it’s just a re-hashed press release, but it gives a few details that might be new to somebody.

Boeing’s Seal Beach unit wins States top engineering award.

Seal Beach city manager, John Bahorski, to take same job in Cypress

Seal Beach couple, Susie Greenwood and Bob Liao, sell Greenwood Bedspread store, a long time LB fixture.

Did you know the 5,000-acre Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station contains 127 active earthen munition storage magazines. The base “will not confirm nor deny” whether its stockpile includes nuclear and/or chemical weapons. Regardless, this is the only port on the West Coast in which destroyers, cruisers, frigates, and amphibious assault ships are loaded with missiles, torpedoes, bombs, shells, and bullets at the facility’s 1,000-foot-long wharf. Just an intresting fact I found at LA Cty Beat in their story on one of the more unique tourist markets in So Cal tours. – the military tour.