ADUs are one of the few bright spots for the state’s housing market at a time of rising construction costs, high interest rates, and continued local resistance to greater housing density. These unassuming units, often basement apartments, backyard cottages, and converted garages, are far more affordable to build than other housing options and have become a politically palatable infill alternative to apartment complexes.

With median construction costs of about $150,000 in California, ADUs cost less than a third of traditional, federally subsidized affordable housing. As a result, the median ADU in the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast is affordable (costs less than 30% of income) for a low income family, 31% of ADUs in Los Angeles County are affordable, and large numbers of ADUs are affordable in other regions, as well.

Over the past eight years, ADU construction has skyrocketed. California went from about 1,000 ADU permits in 2016 to 5,000 in 2017 to 25,000 in 2022.

This boom did not come easily. Many local governments have resisted ADUs, fearing they would overcrowd single-family neighborhoods. While some of these concerns are legitimate, the state’s housing crisis has persuaded state lawmakers that cities must allow more housing construction, even in built-out areas — and ADUs are one way to achieve that.

California lawmakers have worked for decades to limit local governments’ authority to block construction of these units. The effort began in 1982 when the legislature prohibited cities from categorically barring ADUs. Local governments responded by placing what a report from the Furman Center at New York University called “cumbersome and unpredictable discretionary  review requirements on applications for ADUs.”

Local resistance prompted the state in 2002 to mandate ministerial (rather than discretionary) local approval of ADU permits. Yet ADU production remained low.

Reforms in 2016 finally made inroads. That year, the legislature adopted two bills, AB 2299 and SB 1069. These required cities to allow ADUs on single-family lots. They also prohibited them from requiring design features such as direct pathways to the street and setbacks for garages converted into ADUs. These laws also eliminated parking requirements for ADUs near transit stops and for ADUs attached to existing houses; prohibited cities from requiring new water, sewer or utility connections for ADUs, or from charging utility fees for ADUs; and required ministerial permitting of ADUs to occur within 120 days.

More state laws followed, as legislators and advocates identified and removed other barriers to ADU construction.

Suddenly, ADU production surged across the state. According to the California Department of  Housing and Community Development, ADUs will meet 3% of the state’s housing needs for the period from 2021-2028.

Yet this growth has been uneven. In a recent study, the Rose Institute of State and Local Government analyzed differences in ADU production in Long Beach, San Diego, Anaheim, Pomona, Ontario, and Corona in light of the state’s assessment of these cities’ housing needs. In  Long Beach, the state’s per capita ADU leader, these units have met 5% of housing needs. By  contrast, ADUs make up only 2.6% in Anaheim. Within the Inland Empire, only 1% of housing needs are met in Ontario, 1.1% in Corona, and 2.2% in Pomona.

The report found that variations in ADU production can result from several factors, including the local housing market. For example, Ontario, like other cities in the Inland Empire, is still developing outward into greenfield sites, potentially reducing the demand for ADUs due to the availability of new single-family homes.

Familiarity with ADUs also matters. Planners in Long Beach, a leading producer of ADUs, describe these units as part of the fabric of their city, and say the knowledge they have gained processing ADU applications helps them approve permits faster than in some other cities. By contrast, other cities have less experience with this form of housing.

Local policies can affect ADU production, as well. Although the state has limited local control over ADUs, standards can still vary on several important dimensions. This is where local governments can most make a difference.

To help meet housing production goals, cities should assess where their regulations may be holding back ADU production and consider loosening standards in those areas. In particular, local lawmakers should look closely at three factors: parking requirements, structural setback requirements, and fees.

Parking requirements can add significant costs to new development, making them infeasible for homeowners without access to large capital flows. Structural setbacks can make larger ADUs geometrically infeasible, limiting the variety of options available to would-be buyers and renters. Finally, fees place high up-front costs on ADU developers, who often are individual homeowners,  further dissuading them from realizing their property’s potential.

Giving homeowners a little more wiggle room in how they build their ADUs could make the difference between catching up to statewide ADU production levels and missing out on a powerful tool to meet housing needs.

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The youngest preschoolers did some creative finger painting on paper plates using green to represent green eggs and orange as ham. After hearing the Seuss story, they were asked what they thought it would taste like. Answers ranged from “plants” to “just weird” and most said they wouldn’t eat it.

Like the other classes, Lucky Charms cereal was utilized quite a bit for several fun activities that also taught important lessons to the children. The youngest students filled in the letters of their printed names with the cereal shapes and all of them were encouraged to wear something green to celebrate the holiday.

Pre-K students were also welcoming springtime with a billboard stating “We are blooming” surrounded by colorful flowers created by the students. After interacting with a read-along story on the big screen about catching a leprechaun, they were asked if they thought they could catch one, unlike the unsuccessful main character in the story. Azalea MacDonald said she runs very fast and could catch him while Notoowish Velazquez said, “I run fast like Sonic (the Hedgehog).”

Activities for the day included Instructional Aide Julissa Garcia teaching them how to make a shamrock hat with pieces of different shades of green construction paper they had to tear into little pieces and glue onto a clover cutout. Using different colored Froot Loops, Instructional Aide Elena Arambula had the children string together a rainbow necklace after sorting the cereal circles by color.

Pre-K teacher Ana Garcia worked with students to sort, count and chart their findings on a graph using, you guessed it, Lucky Charms.

Kindergartners got to enjoy many different treats, creatively curated by Instructional Aide Mayra Campos. They included Good Luck cucumber slices, Pot of Gold applesauce cups, Leprechaun (lime) Jello cups, over the rainbow cupcakes, green Shamrock lemonade and Shamrock kabobs made from honeydew melon chunks, green grapes and kiwi fruit pieces. They were also given a take-home treat with the message, “You’re the pot of gold at the end of my rainbow.”

Using Lucky Charms cereal pieces, teacher Laura Aldrete guided her students to sort and match marshmallow shapes to the ones on their worksheets and then count up each one and write the amount on their papers. The exercise also allowed them to learn about the concept of less and more as they compared their charts to those of their classmates since all of them had different amounts for each shape.

Earlier that morning, the children had made rainbow hats with cutouts of leprechauns and shamrocks they had colored.

Friday also marked the end of a weeklong Scholastic Book Fair. Preschool Director Benita Torres said the drive was very successful with lots of parents buying popular titles for their children to have at home. A percentage of book sales is returned to the school that allows them to purchase books for classrooms to be enjoyed year-round.

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The Inland Empire experiences a more intense blooming season compared to coastal areas, primarily due to factors such as the Santa Ana winds bringing desert pollen into the region. Additionally, higher levels of air pollution inland exacerbate allergic reactions, making life difficult for those with hay fever or seasonal allergies.

Over the years, Saca has observed shifts in the prevalence and intensity of seasonal allergies, often influenced by changes in climate. Increased pollen production and longer pollen seasons, coupled with weather phenomena like El Niño or La Niña, contribute to variations in allergy intensity.

“This year, heavy rainfall is anticipated to worsen allergy season,” Saca said. “Managing exposure to allergens is crucial for individuals with seasonal allergies.”

Indoors, measures like dust mite control, pet management, mold prevention, and pollen control can help alleviate symptoms. Outdoors, avoiding activities during high pollen seasons and practicing good hygiene, like showering after outdoor exposure, are essential.

For people sensitized to indoor and outdoor allergens, Saca recommends the following measures: 

DUST MITE CONTROL

• Encase mattress, box spring, and pillows.
• Wash bed linen in the hot water setting of the washing machine, 130 F.
• Remove carpets and replace them with wood, tile, or linoleum.
• Avoid clutter, stuffed toys, dust catchers, and upholstered furniture in a bedroom.
• Use a well-fitting face mask with a filter when cleaning, and stay out of the room for 1 hour after cleaning.
• Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter or multi-layer bag for dust containment.
• Avoid excessive heat and humidity which helps dust mites to grow.

PET DANDER 

• Avoid having pets you are allergic to. The next best measure is to keep the pet out of the house, bedroom, and away from carpets and furniture.
• Consider investing in a portable HEPA filter purifier.
• Have someone else groom, feed, and walk the pet. Washing the animal once a week with plain water decreases the shedding of dander.

MOLD CONTROL

• Check for mold in bathrooms, closets, and behind heavy furniture in north-facing rooms during rainy weather. Use diluted bleach solution to clean and spray with disinfectant to prevent mold growth.
• Do not keep live potted plants indoors.
• Do not allow foods or produce to get moldy.
• Avoid heat, humidity, and dark areas, which encourage mold growth.
• Avoid collection of dead plants and leaves outdoors. If present, either use a mask when clearing them or have someone else clear it.

POLLEN CONTROL

• Avoid exercising outside during the daytime in high pollen season.
• Keep windows and doors closed in windy weather.
• Wear a mask during heavy pollen season.
• Take a shower as soon as you come home from spending time outdoors, and rinse your sinuses with saline solution.

TREATMENTS

While some turn to medicinal or holistic treatments for relief, Saca advises caution and recommends consulting with a healthcare professional before trying alternative therapies. Certain herbs and supplements may help manage symptoms, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness and safety. Nasal irrigation, a practice using saline solution to rinse the nasal passages, can also provide relief.

ALLERGIES IN CHILDREN

Saca says parents should be vigilant for signs of seasonal allergies in young children, such as chronic runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, or a subtle or persistent cough.

“Sometimes a clue of allergies is a subtle seasonal cough, wheezing, or symptoms similar to a viral cold that take a long time to clear,” Saca said.

A family history of allergies, secondhand smoke, and exposure to indoor pets increase the risk of allergic rhinitis. Consulting with a pediatric allergist can help parents accurately diagnose and manage their child’s allergies.

Ask your primary care physician for a referral to Allergy and Immunology to speak with an allergist experienced in treating region-specific allergies. 

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A graduation requirement for seniors at Noli is the completion of 20 hours of community service and a few pitched in at the event to earn some of those hours. Suzette Almada and Brianna Caserez helped out by dispensing bingo cards and plastic chips, verifying winning cards and more. Caller Raymond Russell, with the help of a megaphone, was able to keep the numbers rolling along.

Science teacher Sabrina Sobel and AVID/ASB coordinator Lorin Alvarez were on hand to keep things on track as more than 60 players anxiously awaited their turn to hopefully call out “BINGO!” Math teacher Kekai Bryant-Williams was happy to participate as were other staff members from the Soboba Reservation school that serves Native American students in grades 6-12. Noli School Board members Lucille Briones, Johnna Valdez and Antonia Venegas also brought family members to enjoy the event.

Soboba Tribal Preschool teacher Lenora “Ponie” Mojado was joined by her two sons and her mother. The lucky family went home with lots of prizes, with Mac Pineda, 9, being the night’s first winner. His brother Eli, 7, won a few rounds later, as did his mom and grandma. The preschool is hosting a Bingo Night fundraiser on March 21 and Mojado said this was good practice for that one.

Prize packages contained STEM toys and games related to the books inside that had been purchased at Barnes & Noble. Each contained popular titles for all ages and the Noli students helped staff bundle them together. With Legos and Squishmallows galore, it was hard for young children to decide which plastic-wrapped package they most wanted to take home.

Guests were also treated to a delicious spaghetti dinner that included garlic bread and salad that was prepared in-house by Community Lead Cook Jacob Rivera.

Bingo numbers were called, and cards were filled until a total of five players won. Then the cards were cleared, and another five games were played, or less if there were five winners. No one could win more than once so there could be more winners throughout the evening.

“This event has been going on for years,” Post said. “We receive $35,000 to $60,000 a year through a reading grant that allows us to restock our library, provide necessary textbooks for our students, give awards and prizes for meeting reading goals and to celebrate Dr. Seuss week.”

He said under the grant, they are always looking for ways to celebrate reading and are happy they developed a way to give back to the families and community members that support the students and Noli school. The annual event started as a small venture but with the help of Noli Reading teacher Jacquelin Phillips, it has grown immensely over the years.

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The streaming platform will provide live coverage of the bout between the 27-year-old Paul and 57-year-old Tyson, who hasn’t fought since he took on Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition in November 2020. Paul and Tyson will be the main event of the first combat sports show for Netflix in its recent forays into live sports production.

It’s still uncertain whether this bout will be staged as an actual pro fight or an exhibition, particularly given the age of Tyson, who will be 58 by July. The specifics still must be approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which regulates boxing in the state.

Tyson posts workout videos on social media in which he looks sharp in training, but boxing is dangerous at any age. The California State Athletic Commission required his bout against Jones to be an exhibition — essentially a lively sparring session.

Paul built a significant fan following as a YouTube influencer before he embarked on a professional boxing career four years ago. He has won nine of 10 fights with six knockouts against mostly undistinguished opponents, including several mixed martial artists and a fellow YouTuber.

His only loss came last year to Tommy Fury, the less-accomplished half brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

“My sights are set on becoming a world champion, and now I have a chance to prove myself against the greatest heavyweight champion of the world, the baddest man on the planet and the most dangerous boxer of all time. Time to put Iron Mike to sleep,” Paul wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“Iron Mike” Tyson was the undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987-90. He retired in 2005 after winning 50 fights, 44 by knockout. His entertaining exhibition bout with Jones was unofficially ruled a draw.

“I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas,” said Tyson, who was in the crowd in Saudi Arabia last year when Paul lost to Fury. “He’s grown significantly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what the will and ambition of a ‘kid’ can do with the experience and aptitude of a GOAT. It’s a full circle moment that will be beyond thrilling to watch; as I started him off on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones and now I plan to finish him.”

Paul had his second pro bout on the undercard of the Tyson-Jones fight, knocking out former NBA player Nate Robinson. His most recent fight was last Saturday, when he stopped journeyman professional boxer Ryan Bourland.

Paul has gradually raised his level of competition in recent years while pursuing his dream of fighting for a real world title. A bout against the still-revered Tyson would be a sidestep on that quest, but still his highest-profile stage yet.

Paul’s company, Most Valuable Promotions, is partnering with Netflix to stage the show.

The fight card at the Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium will be the third venture into live sporting events for Netflix, which staged a golf/auto racing crossover event last November. Last weekend, the streaming giant held The Netflix Slam, an exhibition tennis match between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas.

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Cormier is a fourth-year political science major and Africana studies minor who has been heavily involved in Sac State’s Martin Luther King Jr. Center.

The workshop combined two of her passions: mental health and plants. Students wrote affirmations like “I get good grades” or “I am enough” on compostable seed paper which they planted inside the tiny pots they painted for their affirmations to take root. 

Black college students in California say resource centers like the one at Sacramento State can combat a sense of alienation that comes from low enrollment rates. Eighteen of the 23 Cal State campuses and nine out of 10 UC campuses have a Black resource center. 

These spaces vary in size, services offered and amount of personnel. The campuses that don’t have a center specifically for Black students instead have a center for all cultural groups — something Black students say still leaves them feeling marginalized. 

Black students have the lowest graduation rate in California higher education, and the second largest equity gap — a measure of disparity in academic outcomes between demographic groups. They represent 4% of the California State University system’s 454,640 students and 4.5% of the University of California’s 294,309 students. 

The Cal State system has consistently struggled to graduate Black students. The year Cormier joined, Black students  at Sacramento State had a 1 in 5 chance of graduating within four years and a nearly 50% chance of graduating within six years; a quarter of Black students drop out after their freshman year. The UC system has higher success rates for Black students. About 3 in 5 freshmen graduate within four years and nearly 4 in 5 graduate by year six.

A June 2023 report from the Cal State Chancellor’s Office recommended all Cal State campuses create centers as part of an initiative for Black student success. The report was produced by a workgroup of university representatives and chancellor’s office staff that held listening sessions with over 250 Black faculty, staff and students. 

In order for Black students to find a sense of safety and belonging, the report states, campuses should “create intentional spaces where they are welcomed and affirmed.”

The MLK Jr. Center has been operating since 2015. The space is a centralized hub for peer advising, peer tutoring, mentoring and leadership development. It partners with community organizations like the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce, which teaches students how to be entrepreneurs. The center has a community room, a study room, a lounge room, workspaces for faculty, an on-site counselor and six student staff members. 

“I’m really grateful for the space we do have because we have visited other campuses, systemwide, and you go in, they have a cubicle or two, [or] it’s a shared space for all the different affinity centers,” Elijah Martin, who works on outreach for the MLK Jr. Center, said.

Martin said about 500 unique students visit each year and around 40 students stop by daily. The data potentially points to the center’s impact — Sacramento State’s four-year graduation rate for Black students has increased from 13.1% in 2015 to 17.4% in 2019. This is still lower than Sacramento State’s overall 27.8% four-year graduation rate.

“When you build that community, you’re far more likely to stay on campus and push through that degree,” Martin said. “Because when things get hard, you have a blueprint.”

Cormier is on track to attain her goals: graduate within four years and leave an impact on her fellow Black students. One of the main reasons Cormier chose Sacramento State was its high Black student population — she refused to go anywhere with less than 2%. There are 1,939 Black students enrolled at Sacramento State — 6.4% of the university’s total population.

“[These are] people that I’ll stay connected with for life, especially because being able to be your authentic self anywhere on campus I think is really difficult. But the MLK Center makes it easy,” Cormier said.

At the center, Cormier works the front desk, signing in students, familiarizing them with the center, and assisting them with picking classes, locating campus resources and setting up workshops.

“[The center] has made my college experience something I didn’t know that it could be. We call it like a mini HBCU,” Cormier said. 

According to the U.S. Department of Education, a Historically Black College or University has to have been established prior to 1964 with a mission to educate Black students. While Sacramento State isn’t a Historically Black College, the university’s president, a Black alumnus, Luke Wood, recently announced the formation of the Black Honors College at the campus.  Wood said in a press release that the Black Honors College will “implement the best practices that make HBCUs so critical to the Black community.” It is set to launch in fall 2024. 

Black student experience at the UC 

The UC system has a higher Black student four-year and six-year graduation rate than the Cal State system. Black students at the UC graduate at 59.9% in four years and 78.6% in six years. The Cal State system lags behind with just a 23.4% four-year graduation rate and a 47.2% six-year graduation rate.

UC Riverside’s center, founded in 1972 through the advocacy of Black student leaders, hosts the university’s various African cultural and academic programs as well as student organizations. African Student Programs is a standalone department with its own budget and policies and serves the 1,537 Black students attending UC Riverside — 5.6% of the university’s 26,426 students enrolled in fall 2023. The four-year graduation rate for Black students at UC Riverside is 54.3% while the six-year rate is 73.6%. 

Around 50 students visit the center each day, including George Duru Jr., a fourth-year engineering major. Duru works as a student assistant at the center, covering the front desk and connecting students with resources. He also participates in the Sankofa Peer Mentorship Program and said he has become an “older brother” figure for his peers.

Through the center, Duru connects with folks from a Nigerian background like himself and learns about other African cultures as well. He is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers and the Black Nigerian Student Association.

“Since I was born here, and I haven’t been back home to Nigeria [in a long time], I want to make sure that my ties to my native land aren’t severed,” Duru said. 

Jamal Myrick, the director of African Student Programs, says the center increases students’ sense of belonging. According to the Undergraduate Student Experience Survey, 80% of Black students at UC Riverside agree to varying degrees that they belong at their university — higher than the 67% across all UC campuses.

“To have at least 80% of the scholars feel like, ‘Hey, I have a place called home here on this campus. I feel connected on this campus,’ I think is really crucial to the success of our Black scholars and to the success of African Student Programs,” Myrick said.

A crucial factor to the center’s success, says Myrick, is the amount of personnel. The center has five full time staff including a director, assistant director, program coordinator, Black student success coordinator and administrative assistant. 

When Black students don’t have a center

There are currently five Cal State campuses without a designated Black resource center: Bakersfield, Chico, Maritime Academy, Sonoma and Stanislaus. 

Deputy Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Dilcie Perez said two of the Cal State campuses without a center have identified it as a goal. Perez said she couldn’t publicly disclose which specific campuses yet. 

Perez said funding for new centers will come from campuses pulling from their own budgets or seeking grants. Former interim chancellor Jolene Koester, upon hearing the recommendations from the workgroup last summer, committed $10 million in one-time funds over three years to these efforts.  

“I think that folks are mobilizing many resources, but our goal as a system will be to identify permanent dollars to help support these efforts,” Perez said.

Tracey Salisbury, associate professor of ethnic studies at Cal State Bakersfield, prides herself in being a resource for her Black students, from connecting them to internship opportunities to buying them lunch. But there is only so much she can do from her faculty office. 

“I don’t always feel I’m giving them what they need. And I think centers can expose that and direct students to the right resources. And then it doesn’t burn you out,” Salisbury said.

Black students and faculty at Bakersfield have been advocating for a center for about a decade,  Salisbury said, but paperwork, cost and finding a location have dragged out the process. Now, work on a new space could start this fall.  

Cal State Bakersfield currently has the Multicultural Alliance and Gender Equity Center (MAGEC), which serves as a catch-all resource center for students of all cultural and gender identities, religious beliefs and sexual orientations. At MAGEC, the room designated for the Black Student Union has a coffee table that seats six people. To avoid overcrowding and better accommodate students, they meet on Zoom. The student club’s president Dominique Miller said he is appreciative of the space offered but the size of the space has made it challenging to host larger events and gatherings.

“You kind of have to make space, so it doesn’t really feel as convenient [or] as comforting and comfortable,” Miller said.

At Cal State Bakersfield, Black students represent 4.2% of the 9,399 students and have an 11.7% four-year graduation rate compared to the 27.6% rate for students overall. 

Miller has only had one Black professor, but none in his engineering courses — where he is typically one of at most two Black students. Feeling like there is no one to reach out to is part of why Miller is so adamant about connecting with students. Having a center creates a safe space for those who may already be feeling alienated, like Miller.

“[Black students] want to know who they are. Ethnic studies helps with that to a point, but a Black cultural center will help with that even more,” Salisbury said. 

Myrick of UC Riverside said that these centers shouldn’t be forgotten in any university’s strategic planning. 

“Cultural center work, identity center work, is crucial to the success of many of our college campuses across the country, especially here in California,” Myrick said.

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Local program founder and event facilitator Karena Zermeno also represents one of the sponsors, Altura Credit Union. Backpacks filled with gifts, a Student of the Month award, certificates of recognition and much more were donated by community sponsors to the award recipients. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past challenges and future goals with a room full of supporters that included principals, teachers, peers and family members, as well as community and school district dignitaries.

December’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District schools are Do’Jonni “DJ” Bryant, Natalie Perez Flores, Jasmine Moralez and Loren Sullivan. San Jacinto Unified’s honorees for December are Donald Downs and Trinity Jones.

Hemet Unified School District

Do’Jonni “DJ” Bryant

Tahquitz High School recognized DJ in December for standing out in many different ways – his athleticism, in the classroom, and in his acting but most notably for being positive and optimistic. He has become one of the best football players at Tahquitz l after transferring to the school at the start of his junior year. Teacher Monique Knibb said DJ, “immediately became a game changer and undoubtedly will paint this world with his passions, tenacity, humility, humor and above all, his love for others and his family.” She said when he is not carrying his team on the football field or blazing a trail on the track, DJ spends his time building up others around him. “DJ also has an innate ability to lead others in acts of kindness,” Knibb said. “He is truly a remarkable young man who excels in academics, athletics and is just a good human, pure and simple.” DJ said his greatest contribution is his ability to uplift others around him. He plans to attend college where he can continue to play football, hoping to get a full ride to a Division 1 school. “I’m excited to see what my future holds. I’ve had many blessings in my life but I have had challenges that have forced me to see life differently,” DJ said. “Most recently, my granddad (William Bryant Jr.) passed away. He was the man who taught me to have respect and good manners. He always believed in me and never let me forget who I am. He was one of the smartest people that I’ve known; his wisdom was communicated through all his life lessons and talents.”

Natalie Perez Flores

West Valley High School Principal Gerardo Zavala said Natalie was chosen to be recognized for her ability to unify peers and staff. She is the current ASB president, has a 4.3 GPA, is on the soccer and track teams and serves as Varsity Cheer captain while taking rigorous AP and IB classes. In her spare time, she loves to attend leadership conferences, learn new things, and is active with her church’s youth group and homeless outreach programs. Her teacher William Valenzuela said, “What stands out to me for Natalie isn’t this list of accomplishments; it’s the values she carries with her on a daily basis. She’s genuine, authentic, hopeful and optimistic. Every day that Natalie is on our campus, she makes it a great day to be a Mustang. Natalie said her parents taught her to give back to her community through her local church after moving to Hemet about four years ago. “Being involved with extracurricular activities has brought me great joy but it never failed to get in the way of the importance of my academics,” Natalie said. “School has always been my top priority and I have been fortunate enough to obtain awards such as the one today but also for being top five in my class for both my sophomore and junior years. My education has been the most important thing in my life and ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamt of becoming a pediatrician.” She plans to attend the University of Redlands or UC, San Diego to major in biology. “My values and morals that my parents have instilled in me is what I will take with me on my journey to college,” Natalie said.

Jasmine Moralez

Hamilton High School singled out Jasmine for being a student who has taken advantage of all the opportunities a small school offers and has stepped up as a leader. She was selected for this honor by her College/Career Counselor Amy Allen who shared that Jasmine was one of only six students from California invited to Washington DC last summer to represent the Anza Electric Cooperative at a national convention. “What I appreciate most about Jasmine is her resilience and unwavering belief in herself,” Allen said. Jasmine feels her greatest contribution to her community is her willingness to be a leader, whether it is volunteering for community events or helping out with school functions. “I plan to use this quality in my future career as a political scientist,” she said. “I’ve chosen to spend my life in the world of politics after growing up in a home that was shattered by jealousy, lies and the confusion between the words love and control.” At the age of 14 Jasmine had to choose to continue living with her father or go with her mother and sister to live in a shelter for domestic abuse victims. She said that after a year of watching her father be consumed by drugs and anger, she left. “The whole situation forced me to grow up and be the bigger person in a room full of adults,” Jasmine said. “It taught me what I would say is the most significant life lesson I have learned which is that you can’t be living for someone who won’t live for themselves. She thanked her grandmother, who she said, “gave me an out to a very bad situation.”

Loren Sullivan

Hemet High School’s top choice this month is Loren and principal Jeff Franks described her as a “Jill of all trades with a unique skillset” and a cheerleader who is involved in the school’s AG program and a leader in its automotive program. She was nominated by teacher by Joshua Thomson because she “goes out of her way to make sure all of her peers are included.” Loren was born and raised in Hemet. “Being a student-athlete and a member of the HH Cheer team, I have developed skills such as team building, leadership, hard work ethic and integrity,” she said. “Apart from cheerleading, I’m also an equestrian.” Animals have always been a big part of her life that keeps her busy but she also works part time at a hair salon. Loren plans to continue her education at Cal State San Marcos to major in psychology, a complete 180 degrees from earlier goals of a future career involving animals. “Since the COVID pandemic, I have struggled with mental health issues, falling into a deep depression and losing interest in school,” Loren said. “Bouncing back from that has been a hard struggle but through cheer and automotive I was able to regain a sense of community and passion to learn again. I would not possibly be who I am today without my family, friends and teachers who have never stopped pushing me and believing in me. I only ever wish to be that (support) for someone else.”

San Jacinto Unified School District

Donald Downs

Mountain View High School’s honoree for December is Donald who began his high school career in independent study at Mountain Heights Academy, mastering the program and responsibilities that come with that mode of learning. His favorite teacher, Ramona Ford, said Donald soared to new heights as a member of the eSports team after transitioning to Mountain View High School in the middle of his sophomore year. He became a student of the first AP computer science program offered at any alternative school in the state of California. “This year, he was awarded the first ever Mountain View letterman’s jacket for completing the first AP computer science class offered, passing the AP exam and receiving college credit,” Ford said. Donald serves as secretary of the school’s student council and is a one-time school board representative. “A life lesson that I’ve learned and that I’ll be taking with me to college is that it’s okay to be scared or have fear, but don’t let it control you,” Donald said. “What helped my confidence with my public speaking was Mountain View and its small classes with friendly and supportive teachers.” After earning a citizenship award from the Riverside County Bar Association, he was given an opportunity to attend the RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening) camp in the summer of 2022. “RYLA helped me with a lot by teaching me lessons to overcome my fears and challenges and how to become a leader,” Donald said. “The skills I have acquired at Mountain View will help me in college and life with facing my fears and problems. My greatest contribution to my school is that I helped jumpstart an AP computer science class. Through this class, I found my passion and plan to go onto college with a major in computer science.

Trinity Jones

San Jacinto High School chose to honor Trinity for making a significant impact on campus, especially in the science department working with the newly acquired 3D printers. Teacher Joe Torres said, “Trinity’s contributions to our school cannot be overstated. One aspect that makes Trinity’s achievements even more remarkable is the unique set of challenges she’s had to overcome as a young black woman pursuing a path in STEM. She has faced and triumphed over obstacles that many may not fully comprehend. Trinity’s presence and accomplishments serve as an inspiration to all, especially to those who may have felt discouraged or under-represented in these fields.” Torres said Trinity has not only demonstrated outstanding technical skills but has also become a source of inspiration and motivation for her peers and educators alike. “As chief editor of San Jacinto High School’s yearbook, my greatest contribution has been capturing the spirit of my school,” Trinity said. “Through this role, I’ve had the privilege of showcasing my school’s talents and diversity within our student body and creating a lasting legacy.” Trinity aspires to attend UC Berkeley to major in computer science and minor in political science with the goal of pursuing a career in technology, legal consulting or in the field of tech journalism. Her mother said Trinity has always been kind and empathetic and has been able to maintain her inner light through commitment and dedication.

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

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The ceremony recognizes the events of 9/11 and pays tribute to the brave heroes who risked their lives to save others. It also remembers the innocent victims who lost their lives. MSJC is proud to host an event that allows the community to unite and reflect. The Menifee Valley Campus is at 28237 La Piedra Rd, Menifee, CA 92584, and the ceremony will be held between buildings 800 and 900. 

The ceremony will include:  

• An unveiling of a 9/11 artifact from the Tunnel to Towers Foundation 
• Menifee VFW Post 1956 Color Guard 
• A display of flags of all the countries that claimed a loss 
• A display of the 9/11 flag with names of those who perished 

Steve Silva, 9/11 survivor and keynote speaker, will share his experiences being in one of the towers on September 11, 2001. His keynote will be presented immediately following the program.  

Event contributors include: Altura Credit Union, City of Menifee, MSJC 9/11 Committee, Honoring USA Heroes, MilVet, VFW Post 1956, MSJC Eagle MakerSpace, and MSJC Veterans Resource Center.  

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the event at no cost. Breakfast will be provided. For additional information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/yumk4dar 

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Karlee Meyer died at her Hemet home just battling with cancer at 10:25pm on April 17. “She was smart, determined and fair.”

“Karlee always played fairly as a Hemet city council member”. “She was a very good listener and weighed the facts before making decisions.” Rusty Strait, who is a senior reporter for the Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle stated. “During her time as the District 1 Council Member, she worked to find solutions without compromising her beliefs and was steadfast in fighting to improve the lives of all Hemet residents.”

“She loved and worked hard for many years to make Hemet a loving and prosperous town and home to everyone, with her efforts of many years serving on the Hemet City Council to serve the community,” Hemet Mayor Joe Males stated in the press release. 

Karlee gave her heart to this community and she will be deeply missed . We all love you Karlee and you will be missed and you may be gone but you my dear friend will never be forgotten!” – Action Eye News

“One of the very few who truly cared for her community and wanted to make it a better place for everyone regardless of political stance or beliefs,” stated a close community member.

Meyer is survived by her husband, Roger, and four children.

The public is invited to a candlelight vigil on Monday, April 24, at 7 p.m. at the Hemet Police Department’s 9/11 mural at 450 E. Latham Ave.

Check back for updates.

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“I instantly fell in love with the game,” she said. “I loved how it was a game on skates because I grew up skating as a child. My mom was a hard-working single parent, and it was a cheap way for her to take me and my two brothers to have a fun family night.”

Although not living on the Soboba Indian Reservation herself, she has many relatives who do live there such as her uncle Buster Mojado and her cousin Geneva Mojado. “Tisha, Adela, Romel, Frenchie and Mia, are my Aunties,” Pachito, 45, said. “I keep in touch with as many as I can. We have a huge family and I got to know some of them more than others in my adult years. I love each and every one of them, though. I also have family ties to the Pauma Reservation through my father, Richard Allen Pachito.”

When she first got involved in the roller-skating contact sport of roller derby, she said it pulled out of her the excitement and confidence needed to give it all she had.

“It became my passion,” Pachito said. “That began my derby career and I soon not only played on my home team, The Church of Sk8tin, but also on the All-Star Travel Team for years. We played in tournaments all over the west coast and beyond. I went to Utah, Nevada, California, Washington and Florida. During the beginning of my skating, I looked around and again felt the familiar feeling like I had while growing up of not seeing a lot of Native skaters. I was one of two on my home league, I believe. So, my vision was, how amazing would it be to skate with an all-Native derby team?”

Pachito skated derby from 2009 to 2015, when she retired while pregnant with her daughter Tasia, now seven. She also has a son, Phoenix, who is 21. She always intended to return to the sport, believing she had what it took to make a solid skater, which requires being laser focused on your goals and pushing yourself to always get better while also helping other skaters improve.

“I’ve learned through the years that in skating and in life, that trust and leaders who have integrity and patience are important,” she said.

On August 15, 2017, Team Indigenous Rising Roller Derby was born and Pachito knew that her dream was within reach. TIR was invited to represent at the Roller Derby World Cup in February of 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom.

“I was home watching the game and rooting them on as they played against Jewish Roller Derby for the win,” she said. “I’ll never forget that feeling and seeing them all come out representing their nations’ flags and then using the platform of derby to speak on important Indigenous issues such as missing and murdered Indigenous women. I was in tears and said to myself that I wouldn’t stop until I made it on this team of incredible skaters, representing the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians.”

Pachito knew deep down she would make a comeback to the sport when time permitted. But unfortunately, she got the horrible news in September of 2017 that she had stage two ER-positive breast cancer. She also discovered she was BRCA1 positive, meaning she had a gene mutation that puts her at a higher risk for breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancer.

“So, my comeback to derby got put to the back burner as I had to handle chemo and two major surgeries in 2018,” she said. “I reached out to Team Indigenous Rising in 2018 when I saw they were holding online tryouts, and introduced myself explaining how it is a dream of mine to skate with them. They offered me to skate with them that July at RollerCon in Las Vegas, a huge annual derby convention. As hard as it was, I had to pass because I had just had a double mastectomy and knew I needed more time to heal. I let them know they would be my driving force to heal and return strong and ready to skate again.”

Pachito returned to skating in 2019 and in her first three games back, she earned MVP, given by the opposing team; two for jamming and one for blocking.

“I came in focused and with one goal and that was to get strong again and be able to join Team Indigenous Rising. I got another shot in 2020 to try out again for TIR as they were taking on a few new skaters,” she said.

After sending all the requested items and then some, Pachito anxiously awaited the news of the lucky picks. “To my disappointment I was not chosen and had to accept the news of my dream slipping out of my hands again!” she said. “As I pulled myself off the ground again and got through a few hard days, I had a shift of clarity that showed me I was not going to give up trying and that I had to put the work into myself to get better and stronger and try again.”

She said that “no” was the catalyst to become the best version of herself and eventually saved her life down the road. “When one door closes, more open, and it’s through our life obstacles where we grow into the best version of ourselves,” she said.

About a month later, Pachito took a leap of faith and switched careers from being a medical assistant in the field of urology to becoming a financial advisor and her own boss. “My life kept leveling up and I was all about personal development,” she said. On Jan. 1 of 2021, she made the decision to give up alcohol after knowing it was holding her down from becoming the person God intended her to be.

“I then started my Red Road Wellbriety journey of self-healing,” she said. “That year was amazing, and it brought me to a place of enriched mental clarity, spirituality and overall wellbeing. As the world shut down around me along with roller derby from the COVID outbreak, I was happily on my journey of self-awareness and discovery becoming that hollow bone as we say in Wellbriety. As 2022 rolled in, life hit me with COVID for the second time. I thought I had healed completely when I started having pain when breathing in deeply. With my cancer history, I went to get checked. Hearing the news that the cancer had returned after almost five years in remission and had now metastasized to my left lung and lymph nodes in my sternum area, I went numb as they told me it was stage four. I knew I was about to take on the scariest fight and had to be ready for anything.”

She had IV chemo treatments from May to September of 2022. During the end of that treatment cycle, she felt she wanted to get stronger and start skating again in 2023 as it gave her something to work towards. She had some victories, but the tumor returned in November. She started another form of chemo by pill, on for two weeks and off for one.

“So, as I was dealing with this cancer journey, the desire to return to skating was one of the driving forces to get well,” Pachito said. “I was all along keeping tabs on TIR and seeing if they had come back from the pandemic and being shut down, as some leagues took longer to do so than others.”

As she was checking, she saw that TIR was offering online tryouts for their 2023 season and the deadline was that same night. She didn’t feel she was ready to skate yet but thought she could be if she worked hard at it.

“I prayed about it and knew this was my last shot at trying to get onto this team,” Pachito said. “So, I took action and got in touch with the team captain who was in Canada, and we were able to talk on the phone. I told her my whole story and she heard me. After that call she told me I was now on the team! I was beside myself with happiness and satisfaction. I knew everything aligned for this to happen this time. And that because of that first ‘no,’ the Creator had to make it hard for me to see I had a lot of work to do on myself before getting what I really wanted. And it was through that ‘no’ that I grew and became the best version of myself. Creator always sees our obstacles and so I needed to do the work in order to be fully ready to take on the biggest fight of my life. We don’t get things when we want them, we get the things we really want when we are ready.”

Although still in the throes of her cancer battle, Pachito has high hopes that she can soon join her siblings, as they call their teammates, representing Soboba while skating under the name PACHITO #541 with skaters from many other Indigenous nations.

“No matter what, I can say I didn’t give up on this dream and I forever will be proud of myself and happy to finally be a part of this team,” she said. We have about 25-30 skaters and a lot of exciting tournaments and skating opportunities on the horizon, hopefully attending World Cup once again.”

The next tournament is in Scranton, PA at the end of March and then RollerCon in Las Vegas in July, which Pachito hopes to be skating in. There is also a tournament scheduled for October in Denver. TIR is a travel team of experienced skaters that meets online for team meetings and then in person for the tournaments. They have a practice session or two together before game play and all skaters are also skating back home with their home leagues for practice. The team requests sponsorships for its travel during the season and they regularly host fundraisers for the team and different charities.

Pachito said, “Learning that ‘never give up’ mindset from skating all these years has gotten me through some tough times. I will always respect this sport and all the amazing life lessons and memories made. I promise to represent the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians with integrity and pride. And for all the youth, I hope a takeaway will be to never give up on your dreams. To keep leveling up in life. And to honor your bodies and respect your sobriety. We only get one life here. So, make the most of it!”

To view Tawshma Pachito’s GoFundMe page, https://gofund.me/697eaaee. For more information on TIR, visit them at www.facebook.com/teamindigenousrollerderby or on Instagram.

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