Happy Thanksgiving & Black Friday,

There is so much we have to be thankful for. 

Beyond the basics of a safe place to live, clean water, and food on our tables.

Just the fact that we all live in western Orange County or that we have some of the best schools in the state would be more than enough for most people. And yet, we have more. A lot more to be thankful, no make that grateful for. 

Take a moment of two today and count up 10 things that you are grateful for and just say "thanks for giving" to whomever or whatever you say thank you to.

And then share some joy with a smile for a family member, friend, neighbor, the clerk in the store, or a complete stranger as you go through your day. 

And thank you for playing along with us today.

Warm Weather Weekend

It looks like Thanksgiving week will be warm with mid 70s temps and sunny days. and crisp upper 40 degree nights. Sounds like a perfect weekend to get the holiday decorations out and set up. Right? 

Rossmoor Lights Celebration

As tradition has it (at least for the past 18 years), our Rossmoor Christmas Lights Celebration kicks off this weekend. That's right for all of you who don't know, every year for nearly two decades, Rossmoor has celebrated the holiday season by recognizing the homes that are lit up and decorated. We don't "place them" as in first, second and third, or even rank them. 

Why? Well because like beauty, what's most creative or festive is in the eye of the person who is setting it up and seeing it. So, our celebration is designed to highlight the nicest, brightest, cheeriest, funniest and even one for the new-comers to decorating. The categories change each year based on what the judges see. It's all in good fun. Once the awardees are names, the Light Team creates a Google Map so you can walk, bike, or drive by these terrific homes in the week before Christmas and experience the lights with your family.

And then, the local BikeRossmoor.org group plans a Bike Lights Tour to cruise by the homes that received the awards. It's a whole "thing" that has evolved over the past 7 years now and keeps getting better every year. Click here for the details and get busy with your decorating!

It's THAT Time of the Year......

It’s time to start thinking about the Rossmoor Toy Drive that benefits The Youth Center!

Collection boxes are popping up all around town from the Rossmoor CSD offices in Rush Park and The Meat Market in Rossmoor to Ganahl’s and Garage Pilates in Los Al to Bogart’s in Seal Beach there’s a nearby place you can drop off that new, unwrapped toy or gift card for the families The Youth Center will serve this holiday season. 

And of course, you can always stop by The Youth Center during the day to drop off your gifts!

The Toy Drive runs from November 8th through December 7th. 

Want to shop from their gift list on Amazon? Click Here

If you’d rather have the wonderful Youth Center Staff do the shopping for you, you can simply make a donation right from your phone or computer by clicking here

2024 Rossmoor Winter Festival

The 2024 Rossmoor Winter Festival is coming on Saturday, December 14th to Rush Park. There will be snacks, snow, Santa and all sorts of fun. Come join us to welcome in the holiday Season at Rossmoor's Winter Festival from 4 to 9:00 p.m. Stop by the RHA Booth (the white top) to see what goodies we have in store for you. Happy Holidays!!

December's Community Conversation

THURSDAY 12/19!

Our December Community Conversation will be on the topic of minimizing the stress of dementia care during the holidays. The conversation will be led by members of the Alzheimer's Family Center in Huntington Beach and will touch on helpful ways to handle holiday stress while caring for someone with dementia. Learn practical tips to create a calm, enjoyable environment and maintain your well-being during the festive season. This session offers strategies to manage expectations, simplify celebrations, and ensure meaningful moments for everyone involved.

Plan to join us on Thursday, December 19, at 7:00 p.m. in the friendly confines of Bethlehem Lutheran Church at the corner of Katella and Wallingsford here in Rossmoor.

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RWC Annual Holiday Home Tour 

Looking for holiday decorating ideas mixed 

with a little social holiday fun?

Join the Rossmoor Woman's Club for their annual Rossmoor Holiday Home Tour on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 11 am-4 p.m.

The Rossmoor Woman’s Club has hosted this tour for decades and this year’s tour features five homes decorated with traditional or modern, warm and nostalgic inviting rooms to explore.

One of the Rossmoor homeowners, Tom Gidden, will display a miniature Christmas village he designed with his 27 year collection of Department 56 Original Snow Village Christmas pieces while his wife, Connie, showcases two trees decorated with her 44 year collection of Hallmark ornaments, travel and grandchildren keepsakes.

Another homeowner... (click here to read the rest of the story)

Rossmoor CSD Board Election

It's time to congratulate to the returning Rossmoor CSD Directors Nathan Searles and Tony DeMarco along with Director-Elect Mary Ann Remnet who were selected by Rossmoor residents to represent the neighborhood for the next four years. They join current Directors Michael Maynard and Jo Shade as the five Directors who guide and direct the District's General Manager and the nearly $2 million tax dollar budget our special district is allocated enhance and maintain our parks and trees here in Rossmoor. We can't wait to see what the future brings for our parks and facilities. Congratulations!

Friends of the Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library

Level Up! An Exciting New Youth Center Program

Level Up! will quickly empower students to gain social confidence by developing and honing their public speaking and social skills. Designed for students in Grades 5-8, during this 8 week program students will learn speaking and social skills, having a lasting impact for confidently interacting with teachers, future job interviews, and achieving the goals students have set for themselves! 

Up to a 90% scholarship for early registrants - Click here to learn more!
 

Griffin Gazette: ‘LAHS marching band’s astonishing showcase of ‘Fate of the Suits’’

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the Los Alamitos High School marching band hosted their showcase for their 2024 fall show, “Fate of the Suits.” The show began at 7 p.m. and was open to all family and friends to send off the band to their championships this weekend. 

The bleachers were packed with friends, family and community members, all there to support the band and see their incredible show.

Before the show started, they had a short ceremony for all the members of the band and color guard who will be graduating this year. The director called up each student individually to share three words to describe their band career and their advice for future musicians. The students walked with their parents through a walkway with all their peers surrounding them and cheering them on. It was a beautiful way to make the seniors feel 

Read more here...
 

More HUGS

The Hopkinson Regal Movie Bundel is still available for your gift giving pleasure. We all have one (or two) of those "movie buffs" in our lives. Or maybe you just love the movies. Grab your tickets  from the HUGS page and you'll get a deal PLUS help Hopkinson at the same time. Another win-win-win. Get the details on the fundraiser here. Special is good through December 20th.

Did you see this....

Congratulations to the three Los Alamitos USD elementary schools have earned spots among the Top 100 Best Schools in California in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings for elementary and middle schools!

The Los Al Unified Wrap Up - 11/17/2024

(Note: Scholl is out this week so no new Wrap Up until Friday 12/6)

Most weeks that school is in session the District's awesome Communications Officer, Nichole Pichardo, puts together the Wrap-Up. It gives you an opportunity to see a quick glimpse of what's happening in our school district each week - in right around 3 minutes. Check it out!

Community Groups & Resources

Our community has a number of great ways for you to engage with your neighbors in hobbies and activities. While these are not RHA groups, they are great resources for you and your family members. Check them out.

• Jigsaw Puzzlers Unit - Peaceful Puzzle Library & Exchange
• Cycling Fun - Bike Rossmoor is the place to go