In pictorial, Lara Ferraro won first place for her photo “Gone Fishing,” a close-up of a black bear about to nab a fish. Larry Goodman took second place for his photo of a watchful fox in “Red Fox of Pt. Furman Lighthouse,” and Raymond LaBelle placed third for “Heart,” of two seabirds craning their necks into the shape of a heart as a baby bird looks on. That photo also earned LaBelle a judges award.

In the monochrome category, Myra Posner took first place with her interpretation of a plant titled “Nature’s Curves.” The flawless composition also earned her the coveted best in show award.

Second place in monochrome went to Ferraro for “Morning Catch,” of a seabird nabbing a fish out of the water, and third went to Goodman for “Morning Breakfast,” also of a seabird with a fish in its bill.

In the category special subject and artistic expression, George Harper won first place for “Big Leaves.” His wife, Bette Harper, took fourth place in the same category for “All Alone,” a minimalist photo of a lone plant in a sea of white sand.

The photographers recently shared some insights into their winning works, which can be summed up into four words: skill, planning, patience and perseverance. Their equipment ranged from pricey to basic, and at times even a smartphone did the trick. Some have completed Saddleback Emeritus photography classes, others are still enrolled. All have mastered and depend on post-production techniques like Lightroom or Photoshop.

Ferraro’s winning entry “Gone Fishing” was shot in Kake, Alaska, where black bears were feasting on salmon near a fish hatchery.

“We were positioned perfectly when a couple of black bears came through, and one decided to stop right in front of us when I captured the photo,” Ferraro said in an email.

Her penchant for wildlife photography makes weather conditions crucial, and the unpredictability of wildlife behavior is a big factor for consideration, she said.

“But, as they say, luck favors the prepared,” she added.

Goodman captured the red fox in San Pedro. “The fox was posing very nicely,” he recalled.

Goodman has shown his work in at least six galleries in Oregon but never earned a living with it. Instead, he worked as a teacher and school administrator.

“I have a particular style,” he said. “I want to go beyond realism. I want to create images that have emotional impact.”

It took a great amount of perseverance for Goodman to capture the seabird in the monochromatic “Morning Breakfast.”

“The bird flew at great speed, and I had to be really fast, choose a fast shutter speed and also try to capture its beauty and grace,” he said. “I have 100 shots of its right wing position alone and many others where the fish was in the wrong position. Finally, I got the one where the fish’s and the bird’s eye line up perfectly – I must have looked at 1,500 photographs.”

LaBelle stays closer to home for his work. He photographs birds at the San Joaquin Wildlife Preserve in Irvine, where he captured the amorous western grebes with a telephoto lens.

“I was 75 yards away,” he said. “You got to get lucky with wildlife photography.”

Wildlife, flowers and his grandchildren are LaBelle’s specialties, he said. He’s still perfecting his skills by watching YouTube instructional videos, and he has switched to a lighter camera and lenses.

“You can get closer to the animals, and the lenses are a lot less pricey,” he said.

As for post-production work, LaBelle said that birds require a lot of it.

“It’s hard to concentrate on the animals and fill the frame effectively,” he said.

Posner captured the beautifully photographed plant in “Nature’s Curves” in her Village neighborhood.

“I always walk around either with a camera or my iPhone 13. My winner is an iPhone picture. The only change I made to it was to convert it to monochrome,” said Posner, who has been photographing for 15 years. “The light was just right – it was a beautiful picture to start with.”

George Harper started out in videography but switched to photography when he took an Emeritus class with Saddleback College.

“I like wildlife and birds and sport photography, especially surfers in action,” he said.

He took his first-place photo “Big Leaves” not outside but on a field trip to the Orange County Museum of Art with his intermediate photography class.

“This was not a plant. It was a work of art that I first wanted to photograph from above. When that did not work, I took it from below with my phone, a Samsung F9,” he said.

Betty Harper took her photo “All Alone” in New Mexico.

“White Sands National Park is such a beautiful, solitary place,” she said. “I saw this beautiful little plant and its shadow across it, and it was so peaceful.”

She said she took up photography as a hobby after her husband became an enthusiast.

“If you can’t beat them, join them,” she said.

Special mention should go to Ken Furuta, a multiple winner over the years, who tied for third place in the pictorial category for “Contemplation,” a close-up of a pensive looking ape, which he took at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

“I had to wait a considerable time to get that pose,” he recalled.

Furuta particularly enjoys taking action scenes of wildlife and sports, as well as landscape and macro photography.

“Some work requires substantial planning, such as landscape and macro, but chance or luck will often play a significant role when photographing wildlife and sports,” he said.

He took his action shot “Clearing the Rails,” of a horseback rider, at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. It took fourth place in the special subject and artistic expression category.

He also won third place in monochrome for his architectural photo “The Center for Brain Health,” of the Lou Ruvo building in Las Vegas.

“Many of my photos are captured during vacations, but most are made on planned photo excursions,” Furuta said. “Many also involve local destinations.”

A project in the works since roughly 2013, it comes with the most recent books and audio material, the latest in technology including seven computers and Wi-Fi, an activity room, and services such as curbside book delivery and access to Amazon books. There’s even a spacious outdoor plaza.

More than 150 people, from seniors to families with young children, came to the library’s grand opening Saturday, according to City Manager Christopher Macon’s count.

Local dignitaries showed up too: Mayor Noel Hatch, Mayor Pro Tem Shari Horne and City Council members Cynthia Conners, Annie McCary and Carol Moore. Also on hand were Assembly members Cottie Petrie-Norris and Diane Dixon, OC Supervisor Katrina Foley and representatives of Congresswoman Young Kim.

Orange County Librarian Julie Quillman describes the OC library system’s mission as “open doors, free access and community.”

“This means that the system will cover curated rotating collections of materials, 1.7 million items, catering to a wide variety of interests, and continue to expand services to meet the needs of library patrons,” Quillman said.

Holding up three ropes at the ribbon cutting and tying them together, Hatch said they symbolize the partnership between the city of Laguna Woods, Orange County and the county library system.

“Those partners created the library that was a countertop,” he said. “Then something magical happened. It became one of the most popular destinations, used and even overused.”

In 2013, the number of checked-out items at that countertop totaled 996, according to City Clerk Yolie Trippy. In 2023, that number jumped to 21,790.

The City Council initially approached Petrie-Norris, who represented Laguna Woods from 2018-2022, about finding a more substantial home for the library, Hatch recalled, and she was able to obtain half a million dollars from the 2021-22 state budget for a new library.

“My joy is to be here and to have gotten the ball rolling,” Petrie-Norris said Saturday. “We know the power of the libraries and the power we have to make a difference with 1.7 million items available to the public overnight. This is going to be a vibrant hub for the community, a tremendous resource for generations to come.”

However, half a million dollars wasn’t enough to cover the reported $3 million cost of the new library.

The federal American Rescue Plan Act, which authorized the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, contributed funding to the library as did the City of Laguna Woods General Fund.

In addition, local businesses, clubs and individuals kicked in $50,000. Donors are honored with a Founders Wall at the library.

Altogether there were 200 donors, many from the Korean community, said Village resident Pearl Lee, whose husband, Young Lee, served on the city’s Civic Fund Committee.

“Young Lee was in charge of raising funds among the Korean community in Laguna Woods Village and had a very enthusiastic support from the Korean community,” Pearl Lee said.

Surveying the new facility, Village resident Trisha Black noted its compact size.

“I was surprised by the building’s lack of physical space, but that’s more than being made up for by the big number of services they offer,” she said.

Laguna Woods Village Librarian Eileen Ordway sees the new county library as an added benefit for patrons of the Village Library.

“We purchase books and DVDs that match the interests of the residents who use our library,” she said. “However, there are plenty of items that we cannot afford to offer, and that’s why having the public libraries as a backup is so important.”

Still, the Village Library offers benefits for residents that the county library does not, Ordway said. For one, with fewer patrons, the wait time for reserved books is much shorter at the Village Library than at a county library.

Then there’s the reading area, where residents use computers, read newspapers and magazines, and work on jigsaw puzzles. The Village Library also has extensive collections of large-print books, DVDs and audiobooks, plus paperbacks and puzzles that residents can take home on the honor system, Ordway said.

“I don’t think that the new public library will be able to match these benefits,” she said.

The Laguna Woods branch of the Orange County Public Libraries system is just outside the City Hall building at 24264 El Toro Rd. It is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The year 2023 was pretty grim at times, but the bright spots were radiant with hope. In articles from CBS News and other sources, we find that last year, violent crime rates were down. The hole in the ozone layer was shrinking. The World Health Organization approved a new and affordable malaria vaccine. It was the first time California was drought-free in years. England approved a drug shown to prevent breast cancer, and Buzz Aldrin, the second man to set foot on the Moon, got married on his 93rd birthday.

Bad news grabs the headlines, but good news happens everywhere, all the time. It makes a difference where we focus our attention and what we spotlight in our conversations.

We all have contradictions within us, and different directions we can take. We always have a choice of what we think. No one thinks inside our head but us.

Looking in the rearview mirror in our cars is necessary to avoid the barriers that are behind us, but only when we are backing up. Looking ahead is necessary to avoid potholes and other impediments for a smooth journey forward.

We can sort through the constant bits of information being offered and grab hold of those that lighten our heart. No matter where we are, we have the ability to shift our gaze toward that which is beautiful, interesting or inspiring while keeping ourselves headed in the right direction.

We all thrive on encouragement and respect. These attitudes assist us to move outside our comfort zones, make U-turns and see opportunities rather than obstacles when our way is not smooth.

Carl Sandburg said, “There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud.”

Understanding and accepting these two inner inclinations of thought places us at conscious choice. We can decide which voice will empower us to go in the direction we want.

Let’s go full speed into this new year. Happy traveling.

The Rev. Linda McNamar is a Laguna Woods Village resident.

So what’s the scoop about making lists? Have they gone by the wayside, or do they still have a place in the scheme of things? Based on a survey of 600 individuals conducted by blogger Sasha Cagen, here are some insights that may surprise you.

When asked if people keep their lists, apparently many respondents did for years or even decades. A majority of people also claimed that using good old-fashioned pen and paper made them feel more accountable to the list if it’s in their handwriting, and they liked marking off completed items.

Speaking of which, two-thirds of individuals polled preferred lining through finished tasks, while Xs were rarely used. And a good half of the folks said they put items already done on their list just to get a jump on crossing something off. Sound familiar?

A third of those surveyed used codes such as abbreviations or initials for privacy purposes, which makes sense. When asked whether or not a person was obsessed with lists, a third said yes to being a fanatic about them while two-thirds enjoyed making lists just to see what they could accomplish.

So who are some of the well-known list makers? Many of the entertainment publications produce end-of-the-year lists such as best TV shows, theater and classical music. You can check out Billboard.com for many types of music lists and The Washington Post for every kind of list imaginable.

Book lovers have an assortment of great lists brought to you by publications like Inc. Magazine, the Orange County Register and Amazon. You can check out the only year-end book list decided by readers by googling the 15th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards. This year, readers cast nearly 6 million votes. And I also like how The New York Times conducted a poll to find out “What’s on your best list of 2023?”

I’ve skirted around the kind of list that waxes and wanes in popularity – a list of New Year’s resolutions. Funny thing how January has two national observances related to resolutions – Jan. 12 is “Stick to your New Year’s Resolutions Day” and Jan. 17 is “Ditch Your New Year’s Resolutions Day.”

If you’d rather skip making resolutions all together, how about making a list of all you accomplished this year? Regardless of whether or not you make lists, my New Year’s wish list is for your 2024 to be the best year ever.

Writer, editor and speaker Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at Cheryl@starheart.com.

Too disgusting! So my mind moves on to another Wonder of Life. I don’t believe in reincarnation, but if I did, which would I rather come back as? A really, really tall person who can reach the stuff on the top shelf of Stater Bros., or a squirrel? Now remember, this is my sleep-deprived mind talking. So, sleepless as ever, I ponder the advantages of both.

Being only 4 foot 10, I would love to be able to reach the things I really need at Stater Bros. And it seems that somehow, they’re always on the top shelf. Not only at Stater Bros., but everywhere else in the world, too.

So, I have to endure the embarrassment of asking the next passing tall person if they would mind reaching what I need. Lucky for me, it’s usually a good-looking young, tall guy. So good-looking that he automatically goes on the boy-toy list that is ever in my mind.

Or would I want to come back as a squirrel? They sure seem to have an awful lot of fun. Fun like antagonizing every passing dog. And yes, they do seem to do it on purpose. You should see how they tease my poor little Lucy by sashaying around, wig-wagging their tails at her.

And then I could see what it’s like to “leap tall buildings in a single bound.” Well, maybe not the Superman thingy. But as a squirrel, I could at least scale tall buildings – well, maybe not tall buildings, but at least scale the walls of our cottages, and then run across the rooftops like squirrels do. That sure looks like fun.

And sometimes I see five or six squirrels running around playing together and having a party. And I’m always up for a party.

So anyhoo, it’s all a toss-up – squirrel or tall person? If only I had a fairy godmother. Then she could just wave her wand and say, “Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo,” and make me one or the other – but preferably a squirrel. And if I didn’t like being a squirrel, maybe I could talk her into doing it again so I could be a tall person.

Well, anyhoo. Let’s face it: I’m never going to get to sleep. So up and at ‘em. Time to take Lucy for a walk. Squirrels!

Diane Duray is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at dduray47@gmail.com.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Dom Jones

Current Job Title: Businesswoman + television host

Political Party Affiliation: Democrat

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: None

City where you reside: Huntington Beach

Campaign website or social media: Website: www.domjones.org; Instagram: domjones.unity

Gov. Newsom has been front and center lately in global affairs, from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing climate action to a trip to Israel where he met with victims of the Hamas attack. Aside from the governor’s trips, what do you see as the role California should play when it comes to foreign affairs?

California is positioned to become the fourth largest economy in the world, following the U.S., China and Japan. Due to our pivotal role in America’s gross domestic product, I believe California should continue to take a leadership role in strengthening diplomatic and economic relations. This is critical to continue driving economic prosperity for our strong labor workforce and advancing global policy initiatives to combat climate change.

There have been recent efforts at the local level to change voting requirements — from a proposed voter ID requirement in Huntington Beach to an effort to open up voting to noncitizens in Santa Ana. What changes, if any, should be made to California’s voting laws?

I firmly believe in a person’s right to vote and participate in our democratic process. It is well known that voter ID requirements suppress voter participation, particularly among historically disenfranchised Black, Latino, Asian and Native American communities. California has led the way to enshrine and expand on the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and I fully support the laws we have in place that intend to protect voters’ rights and increase voter turnout. I believe the primary and general election days should be designated state holidays to ensure every voter has the opportunity to vote.

The latest state budget projections show California’s deficit has swelled to a record $68 billion, leading to calls for spending cuts. Give us two specific ways California could address the deficit.

California can address the budget deficit through a balanced approach to tax fairness, including requiring the wealthiest individuals and corporations that are currently receiving the largest tax breaks to pay their fair share. And we should be identifying waste and duplication in the budget so we keep it lean and efficient.

Speaking of the budget, what are your top three budget priorities?

My top three priorities are:- Making housing more affordable.- Guarantee access to affordable healthcare to reduce costs and prevent medical debt.- Ensuring our public schools, colleges and career training programs are building opportunities for strong careers.

The legislature garnered national headlines when an effort to increase penalties for child sex trafficking initially stalled. How would you, in the legislature, balance criminal justice reform with public safety concerns?

While there must be a balanced approach to these sensitive issues, the safety and welfare of our children, women, families and communities would be a top priority of mine when making critical decisions dealing with the justice system.

Homelessness continues to be a concern for Californians. While there is no simple solution, what is one proposal you have that could reduce homelessness in our communities?

An effective approach to alleviating homelessness involves streamlining bureaucratic processes at the local level. This enables collaboration among municipalities, nonprofits and the private sector to expedite housing production, meeting the growing demand and enhancing affordability. Implementing incentives that encourage density, transit-oriented development and exemptions to mitigate rising construction costs can yield positive outcomes.

The governor recently signed a law that set a first-in-the-nation minimum wage standard for healthcare workers. Should minimum wage standards vary by industry? Why or why not?

Due to the rising cost of living, I believe we should explore the minimum wage standards across industries. Having been a small business owner, I understand there are concerns about the potential hardship this can place on local businesses. I’m interested in exploring what this may look like for larger businesses and corporations that have the revenue to support a higher minimum wage standard.

What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?

Climate change is a public health issue and an economic issue. I would champion policies that support protecting and cleaning our oceans, beaches, ports and the communities most impacted by the plastics and pollution we see across the district.

What is one capital improvement project you’d like to see financed and completed in your district?

Our coastline is critical for our economy and way of life. A key capital improvement project for the Orange County coastline would be investing in coastal erosion mitigation measures to protect the beaches and shoreline infrastructure in Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. This would include the implementation of critical seawalls, beach nourishment and flood barrier restoration to safeguard against erosion and enhance resilience to rising sea levels.

The state recently began rolling out the CARE Court program in some counties, the state-funded effort that allows first responders, family and other designated people to petition a court to have someone with untreated severe psychotic disorders receive treatment and services. What other ways can the state prioritize mental health care for its residents, including those with less severe disorders?

We must prioritize behavioral health facilities and supportive housing programs with wrap-around services that can provide 24/7 support to people with less severe disorders. These facilities should be rooted in providing humane and holistic approaches, with qualified and trained professionals who can help provide treatment and connect people to further critical resources.

Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.

People and solutions, not politics.

What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?

Fruit and veggies.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Diane Dixon

Current Job Title: State Assemblymember

Political Party Affiliation: Republican

Incumbent: Yes

Other political positions held: Former Newport Beach City Councilmember and mayor

City where you reside: Newport Beach

Campaign website or social media: Website: www.dianedixonforassembly.com; Instagram: @Diane_Dixon_

Gov. Newsom has been front and center lately in global affairs, from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing climate action to a trip to Israel where he met with victims of the Hamas attack. Aside from the governor’s trips, what do you see as the role California should play when it comes to foreign affairs?

California is the fifth largest economy in the world. While I do believe international relations should be handled at the federal level, in extreme circumstances as well as international conflict, constituents should know where their representatives stand.

I immediately condemned the Hamas terror attack on Oct. 7 and co-authored Assembly Concurrent Resolution 119. This resolution calls for the release of all hostages as well as condemnation for Hamas’ theft of relief supplies intended for Gazan civilians among many other atrocities.

There have been recent efforts at the local level to change voting requirements — from a proposed voter ID requirement in Huntington Beach to an effort to open up voting to noncitizens in Santa Ana. What changes, if any, should be made to California’s voting laws?

Voting is a right for all American citizens, and while guaranteeing that every vote is counted accurately should be our top priority, we must ensure that the right to be heard is not encroached upon for any voter. Every voter should be able to verify their identity simply to limit any potential fraud and restore faith in our system.

The latest state budget projections show California’s deficit has swelled to a record $68 billion, leading to calls for spending cuts. Give us two specific ways California could address the deficit.

Sacramento politicians have created a bloated government with excess spending, and taxpayers have little to show for it. We must take swift action to address the $68 billion budget shortfall. Let’s start by ending taxpayer-provided healthcare for illegal immigrants which will only encourage more illegal immigration and exacerbate this financial burden.

Our state agencies brag about spending $9.8 billion on a failed high-speed rail project and hundreds of millions of dollars converting the San Quentin Correctional Facility into a resort for criminals. As a member of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, I see almost every bill that has a cost associated with it. On some of these bills, I simply ask my Democratic colleagues where the funding will come from. After telling me they aren’t sure, they still vote in favor of the bill.

Speaking of the budget, what are your top three budget priorities?

Simply put, we need to reel back frivolous spending, and we need to do it now. That is priority No. 1.

Second, we should be focused on eliminating fraud that has impacted state programs like EDD.

Finally, we should consider zero-based budgeting, and every program should justify its need and effectiveness. Overall, the legislature needs to do a better job of prioritizing the dollars we do have to ensure taxpayers get the most bang for their buck. Unfortunately, California has become unaffordable for middle-income residents. We have the fourth-highest income taxes and the highest gas taxes in the country. These taxes and regulations are driving businesses and their jobs out of California. There is much work to be done.

The legislature garnered national headlines when an effort to increase penalties for child sex trafficking initially stalled. How would you, in the legislature, balance criminal justice reform with public safety concerns?

I am married to a 40-year career major crimes prosecutor; public safety is a dinner table conversation. Our lawmakers need to stay focused on victims. When my colleagues in Sacramento didn’t want to increase penalties for child sex traffickers, I was proud to be one of the few to spotlight their pro-criminal policies, and as a proud coauthor, helped pass SB 14.

Legislators need to focus on helping victims of crime, not harming them further. For example, in a reverse situation last year, my colleagues introduced SB 94 which would allow for the early release of the worst of the worst criminals sentenced to life without parole. My fellow Republicans and I were prepared to share victims’ stories to shine a spotlight on how these convicted murderers and rapists could be released into our communities if this legislation was passed. At the last minute, Democrats caved and the bill was pulled from a vote. Policies like this come year after year; this one included. We need to let victims’ families as well as all voters know that their voice matters in opposition to criminal-friendly legislation. We all need to be an activist to keep our communities safe.

Homelessness continues to be a concern for Californians. While there is no simple solution, what is one proposal you have that could reduce homelessness in our communities?

Homelessness is not an issue that the state government can afford to continue burning money with little to no results. More than $20 billion has been spent in the last four years while the problem has become much worse with nearly 50% of the nation’s homeless population living in California. Homelessness has always been an issue handled most effectively at the local and regional levels. In Orange County, sadly, the fastest-growing homeless population is our seniors. I have long been a supporter of increasing affordable senior housing opportunities in my district.

The governor recently signed a law that set a first-in-the-nation minimum wage standard for healthcare workers. Should minimum wage standards vary by industry? Why or why not?

While I do not support government-mandated minimum wages, they certainly should not vary by industry. SB 525 is one of the most costly laws the state has seen in decades. After signing the bill, the governor’s administration projected this wage hike would cost private healthcare providers approximately $4 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year alone. In California, the public healthcare provider costs are an additional $4 billion.

In addition, hospitals that cannot afford to include these higher wages in their razor-thin margins are anticipated to outsource work to people outside of California. We cannot afford to lose these jobs, especially in rural communities that would be the hardest hit, and hospital closures are now becoming real. Over the next year, you will start to see everything increase in cost — driven by the ripple effect of higher wages throughout the workforce. At a time when high inflation is already impacting the average Californian with high food costs and high fuel costs, these wage increases will ultimately be passed to the consumer in the form of higher prices.

What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?

I represent more than 30 miles of Orange County’s beautiful 42-mile coastline. These coastal cities attract approximately 30 million tourists each year and support our local economies. There is much to be done to protect our beautiful beaches and our economies.

Seal Beach began a long overdue sand replenishment project in December to combat our coastal erosion. In the 2023 budget, I brought in nearly $3 million in state funding for beach protection and accessibility. Part of this funding helped complete the Newport Beach Trash Wheel, a project I started as a councilmember in Newport Beach which will prevent garbage from entering the Pacific Ocean.

In 2024 and beyond, I plan to bring the same technology to Seal Beach where the San Gabriel River collects garbage from 19 inland cities and dumps that waste into Seal Beach. I will also be introducing a coastal package this legislative cycle with the intention of cleaning our beaches and oceans.

What is one capital improvement project you’d like to see financed and completed in your district?

I regularly meet with the elected officials and city staff in each of the eight cities I represent to discuss what I can be doing to help them. Many of the cities have great community projects that I am working to help fund. A key project that would have a significant impact would be a community center in a low-income and English-as-a-second language region of Lake Forest. Built near the 5 Freeway, this community center would benefit residents from Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods and Aliso Viejo.

The state recently began rolling out the CARE Court program in some counties, the state-funded effort that allows first responders, family and other designated people to petition a court to have someone with untreated severe psychotic disorders receive treatment and services. What other ways can the state prioritize mental health care for its residents, including those with less severe disorders?

I led the charge on an audit of the Department of Health Care Services because we need to know what works and what doesn’t. This audit should be completed this year and my colleagues and I plan to use this information to identify and streamline operations that waste taxpayer dollars and promote the programs that help people recover and get the treatment they need.

Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.

Fiscally responsible conservative working to make Californians’ lives affordable.

What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?

Whether I am running between committee meetings in Sacramento or district events in Orange County, I can’t live without my protein bars.

Laguna Woods Globe

Have you ever?

Have you ever found yourself haplessly scouring your Laguna Woods Village “manor” for something (the refrigerator owner’s manual in this case) and you know that you put it somewhere in your abode?

And as you end your search empty-handed, your sweetie comes home after a long hard day’s shopping, lugging many bags of treasures she was so incredibly lucky to find on sale?

After a peck on the cheek, you hear the rejoinder that is on Page 3 of the “How To Explain Life to Your Husband Handbook”: “You aren’t going to believe how much I saved today!”

As you feign interest in the new tea cozy, the coloring books, playdough, Legos and wiffle ball equipment for the grandchildren who visit for five days once a year, the new sheets for the beds, another cream-colored blouse and sweater, a juicer, metal cookie cutters, a waffle iron (never go shopping when you’re hungry), and 14 new throw pillows to replace the perfectly serviceable and completely superfluous ones that cover 90% of the land mass of your California king-size bed that must be relegated to the corners of the bedroom each and every night before slumber ensues, you ask, “Just where in God’s Green Acres do you expect to house all this new booty?”

You’re feeling particularly superior in that moment knowing that there is no room anywhere, period.

To press your point, you ask with just a hint of a snide smile, “Oh, and do you know where the owner’s manual for the new fridge is?”

As you bask in the glory of an inane “gotcha” moment, she disappears into the vast reaches of your 1,100-square-foot estate, returns in 17 seconds, and swats your ample gut with said owner’s manual.

While you wipe the stupid look off your face, the commander-in-chief explains that some “spring cleaning” is in your immediate future. You then ask a perfectly logical question: “So, shall we give the old pillows to Goodwill or just toss them out?”

One would have thought you suggested committing a felony.

Evidently, the plan is to relegate the old pillows to the guest bedroom. When you point out that the queen-size bed doesn’t have the same pillow capacity, you are on the receiving end of the look that makes the blood drain from your face.

You know this look. It’s the “How dare you question the way I decorate our house to make it a home, which is done all for you, so that when you come home, you can feel the serenity and love, and this is the thanks I get” look.

And oh yeah, “You’re on the couch until further notice … without pillows.”

Yeah, me neither.

Shaun Tumpane is a Laguna Woods Village resident.

On Oct. 9, residents of all religions and ethnicities came together to mourn the victims of the brutal Hamas attack on Israel just two days before. As the shock reverberated through the community, nearly 300 residents gathered for a prayer vigil outside Clubhouse 1 hastily arranged by Rabbi Joe Mendelsohn of the Reform Temple of Laguna Woods.

Resident Paula Kruger expressed what no doubt many at the vigil thought: “I felt anger. I kept asking myself, ‘For what purpose was this done? Why? What did they hope to accomplish?’”

Vigil speaker Rebeca Gilad offered a prayer for peace and God’s compassion not only for Israel, but throughout the world.

“May we see the day when war and bloodshed cease … when the human family will not know war,” she said, tears filling her voice. “Enough is enough. What is happening to the world?”

The sense of community was evident, too, at year-end celebrations. A diverse crowd of residents gathered for the tree lighting ceremony at Clubhouse 1 to hear Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs.

Same with the menorah lighting, which came exactly two months after the attack on Israel. Marking the start of Hanukkah, the ceremony brought pride, hope and traditions to Clubhouse 1.

“The holiday involves God’s intervention – a miracle, so we must be proud and hopeful,” said resident Margot Gilison.

The African American Heritage Club saw its biggest and most diverse crowd yet at its annual Kwanzaa celebration at Clubhouse 5, with more than 80 people in attendance, said club President Annie McCary, adding she was amazed by the turnout.

Esther Wright, a member of the Reform Temple who was celebrating Kwanzaa, perhaps said it best: “This event sums up the diversity of this community and the beautiful relationship people have with each other and the fact that so many here are sharing a joyous experience with people of other cultures.”

***

Some residents jumped on the trends that took America by storm last year.

As 4 million older women nationwide fell under the spell of the “Golden Bachelor” – a 72-year-old widower and grandfather from Indiana looking for love among his contemporaries – a group of women from the Boomers Club held weekly watch parties and even tried to predict who would be the lucky one to catch the fellow’s heart.

“The show mirrors our lives here in Laguna Woods,” Susan Schneider reasoned. “Women (here) are single, divorced, widowed. They have experienced separations and grief and are looking for that significant other for the rest of their lives.”

But all in all, the watch parties served as an escape from reality for the women.

“It is a great way to get away from all the terrible things happening today,” said Monica Berg. “We have an evening full of giggles, nothing political, nothing really disturbing … a little harmless fun.”

One resident jumped on the Barbie bandwagon last year.

As “Barbie” the movie took the box office by storm, earning more than $1.4 billion worldwide to become the highest-grossing film last year, Robert Reyes took advantage of the red-hot Barbie market to sell some of the dolls and accouterments he had been collecting for seven years – all for at least double what he had paid. And we’re talking five figures.

Knowing it was a “tremendous opportunity” to sell, Reyes said that ultimately, he would like for his pieces to go to museums, to preserve what he calls “part of American culture and history.”

***

Frustrated residents flocked to board and committee meetings last year to voice their concerns over directors’ proposals that would affect their lives.

Chief among the concerns was the proposal to raise clubhouse room rental fees. Club presidents were shocked to hear at a meeting in March that rate increases could go as high as 400%. Among the reasons given for the fee hikes were that landscaping and maintenance expenses at each clubhouse would be tacked on to the rates.

The issue drew a packed house of residents to the Golden Rain Foundation’s board meeting in April. Their message: “Don’t mess with the clubs.” Residents feared that with such high rates, many clubs would have to disband.

Not to worry, said Jim Hopkins, then the treasurer of the GRF board: “It has not even gone to committee yet.”

More heated discussions on the issue followed at GRF committee meetings.

“The community has clearly shown how they feel about room rates,” said Jules Zalon, a Third Mutual board director. “We really should listen to them.”

The proposal went back before the GRF board in December, which approved a 28-day period for member review and comment. At a final vote on Jan. 2, the board approved a per hour rate “calculated using a consistent $0.2130 per 100 square foot for each of the reserved rooms.”

Frustration also erupted over the new Gate 12 entry process, whereby residents need to dig out their Village IDs to show to the gate ambassador, thereby occasionally causing long lines of cars on Moulton Parkway. The reason was a Village crackdown on nonresidents gaining entry and using the pickleball and golf facilities and buying alcohol at the 19 Restaurant, jeopardizing the restaurant’s liquor license. Suggestions to address entry include updated technology at the gate and a designated residents lane with an RFID reader, both measures still waiting to happen.

Residents of three-story buildings in Third Mutual scored a couple victories last year. After months of discussions and objections by residents, the Third board voted in November to drop a proposal to allow washers and dryers in individual units in the buildings. Residents repeatedly voiced their concerns over aging pipes that are already prone to leaking without the additional water from washers, and the additional noise from dryers in buildings where residents already can hear the noise of neighbors’ showers and toilets.

Directors also discarded the notion of reducing cleaning services in the buildings’ common areas from every week to every other week.

And they put new barbecue rules on a 28-day notice for member comment. The rules firm up a ban on charcoal grills on three-story building patios. The rules will go back before the Third directors for a vote at their meeting this month.

The biggest issue coming down the pike is the estimated six-month closure of Clubhouse 1 for renovations set to begin in early March. Only the Village Library and History Center in the Clubhouse 1 complex will remain open. The Recreation and Special Events Department has relocated most of the activities and classes that take place in Clubhouse 1 to the Performing Arts Center, Clubhouse 6 and the Community Center, recreation chief Alison Giglio said at the GRF meeting.

We have come through the darkest time of the year, and the days are getting longer. What a wonderful experience with everything in its place.

Or is it? How are you feeling? To-do list too long? Too many demands on your time? Too many requests from people? Have you ever felt as if your life is a jigsaw puzzle with the pieces all dumped out  of the box? How can they ever be sorted? Are you left puzzled on where to even start?

There are all kinds of puzzles in the world where we have to pay attention in order to make the pieces fit. Crossword puzzles are about putting the right words in the right boxes, Sudoku needs making sense of numbers. And Wordle! How many five-letter words can you sort through? Some require logic, some intuition, but all require patience and hope.

Vaclav Havel wrote, “Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.”

So let’s take a look at the jigsaw puzzle called “The New Year” with the certainty that we can make sense of it.

When we open a new jigsaw puzzle box, all the pieces are jumbled together. We can’t see the big picture except on the lid. We hope we can put it all together. In the big picture, there is light and dark, there are pieces that fit together and some we think will not fit at all. It makes sense to start with the edges.

Facing our life situations with hope and conviction that things will turn out well will help us see the beginning and find the steps for the life we want. If we create definite boundaries, both in the puzzle and in life, we find that what we put in place starts to make order out of chaos.

Instead of resolutions, we may begin by setting healthy limits on our time. Not feeling that we have to do everything all at once means making clear choices one piece at a time, one day at a time. I’ll do this today. The other can wait for tomorrow. We can always ask ourselves, “What is mine to do today?”

Healthy limits with family and friends create the space to say yes or no for our own well-being. Writer Paul Coelho said, “When you say ‘yes’ to others, make sure you’re not saying ‘no’ to yourself.”

It is OK to say no. To misquote a famous saying, “Good boundaries make good friends.”

As we solve the puzzle called our life, let’s remember that each piece has a purpose and a place, each one adds to the beauty and the meaning of our lives, and every piece is part of the bigger picture. Have fun putting your puzzle together.

The Rev. Linda McNamar is a Laguna Woods Village resident.