As 2020 comes to a close, here is a list of some of the local news from throughout the year.

January

• Community members remembered and mourned Harold Tseklenis, an outspoken advocate for art and culture in Downey.

• Downey Rose Float Association’s 2020 Tournament of Roses entry “On the Wings of Hope” was awarded the founders trophy, which is presented to “most outstanding float built and decorated by volunteers from a community or organization.”

• Tyler D’Shaun Martin Brand, 23, was arrested and charged with the murder of for the murder of his 6-year-old godson.

• Logan Chidester popped the question to longtime girlfriend and pizza-dieheart Couple Bonnie Shilling with a surprise marriage proposal at Downey Pizza Company.

• Four months after a controversial decision for a coffee shop to be built on the property, the Rives Mansion once again was listed on the market for $2.9 million.

• Price, Ward, and Williams Elementary Schools were named California Distinguished Schools.

• Downey resident Barbara Norbut and her women’s 55-plus volleyball team, Yadayada, took home the gold medal in the top division of the 2019 Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah, competing amongst 35 teams over a span of four days. Yadayada also competed in the top division of the 50-plus age bracket, taking silver.

• The Downey Symphonic Society celebrated Beethoven’s 250th birthday with a concert and festivities.

• Downey High School’s varsity cheerleading team won its second straight CIF championship.

• Downey firefighters treated 7 people at a preschool after Delta Flight 89 dumped fuel over parts of southeast L.A. County on its approach to LAX during an emergency landing. None of the injuries were serious. 

• City Council voted to crack down on abandoned shopping carts with the Cart Containment Plan, aimed at deterring cart theft while also adding additional repercussions for store owners who do not monitor their carts.

• Downey High School’s Musical Theatre Department presented Beauty and the Beast at the Downey Theatre.

• Rockview Family Farms unveiled a new logo.

• Downey band New American took a final bow, performing their last show ever at the Stay Gallery.

• Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center awarded $50,000 grant to Lynwood School District to help students graduate from college.

• Paul Arvis Misikei, 22, and Sakaopo Atanasio Folau, 21, were sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for their role in a home invasion robbery in Downey in which the victim, Jim Rudometkin, 59, died of a heart attack.

• Warren topped Downey 2-1 in a rivalry girls’ soccer showdown.

• In a controversial move, Downey voted to roll back public speaking time at their meetings from five minutes, to three. While never explicitly said, the changes are widely believed to be in direct reaction to Armando Herman who frequents the dais with boisterous and often explicit outbursts.

• Downey was given a failing grade by the American Lung Association for its efforts -- or lack thereof -- to curb tobacco use in the community. 

• Frederick Lopez Jr., 28 of Downey, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for committing four armed robberies of GameStop video game stores in Los Angeles and Orange counties that resulted in the theft of more than $132,000 in merchandise and cash.

February

• Steven Gomez, 11, was featured in a Snickers commercial which aired during Super Bowl Sunday.

• Downey Unified School District was named a Character Counts exemplary school district.

• -Four Los Angeles County probation officers - LaCour Harrison, Claudette Reynolds, Maria Asuzena Guerrero and Karnesha Marshall - were found not guilty on charges that they unlawfully used pepper spray against teenage girls housed at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall.

• Six single mothers were chosen by Downey Soroptimist to receive financial scholarships to help them make college graduation a reality. The award covered costs of books, tuition, transportation to classes, and child care.

•  A Shared Scooter program got its first test run in Downtown Downey.

• Lewis Elementary School was featured in an episode of Nickelodeon’s “The Substitute.”

• Stay Gallery presented “____ by women”, an interactive group exhibition featuring the works of Melissa Arevalo, Luna Esparza, Marianna Flores and Josie Marlyn. The exhibit represented the infinite possibilities women can achieve.  

• The Downey High School girls’ wrestling team won their second consecutive San Gabriel Valley League Wrestling Championship.

• Carpenter Elementary School’s Global Language Academies of Downey (G.L.A.D.) held a ribbon cutting  to unveil its new kindergarten playground.

• State Sen. Bob Archuleta - who represents Downey in the State Senate - was named to the “Hall of Shame” by Courage California for a voting record “most closely aligned with the corporate lobbyists and campaign contributors that exploit Californians.”

• A fire destroyed the former Imperial Fitness gym. The fire was knocked down by Downey firefighters with assistance from L.A. County and Santa Fe Springs firefighters.

• Two benches honoring the contributions of North American Aviation workers were dedicated outside the Columbia Memorial Space Center.

• The campaign of presidential candidate Tom Steyer held a tree planting event in the city.

• Risher Mortuary’s Greg and Barbara Welch were honored with the Unsung Hero Award by Cristina Garcia at a #Pride58 Assembly District Gala. Resident Daniel Koeppe, 16, was also recognized for his efforts in helping the homeless.

• After nearly eight years, a jury found Jade Harris guilty of killing two women and a man at a Downey business.

• Downey mixed martial artist Jonathan O’Neill brought home the IFS Welterweight Championship Belt  in Anaheim in the most decisive and technically sound victory of his young career.

• The Downey City Council revised and amended cost estimates for Measure S, addressing a $2 million shortfall. Several projects under Measure S had been expanded, which the city said would be covered using the proceeds from a future unspecified real estate transaction as part of the 2020-21 budget.

• During a DUSD Board meeting, Board member Martha Sodetani made comments against the Houston Astros Baseball club. “Our Victory with Honor [program] for our sports fields, it just teaches our children from the beginning about Character Counts...“When it comes to cheating… if our students were involved in something like that, it just wouldn’t fly on our fields.” The Astros were disciplined by Major League Baseball for stealing pitchers' signs, including in 2017 when they won the World Series.

• Dr. Sammy Saab of Downey was named Chief of Transplant Hepatology at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Center.

• Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) proposed two legislative ideas which came from Downey. The first bill idea came from Amado Castillo and his cohort of student advocates attending UCLA, which would  require every UC, CSU, and private university to have access to rape kits on or very near campus. The second, by Downey High student Sade Neri, would provide support to high school students by increasing mental health and peer support services on high school campuses. Both concepts were submitted via Garcia’s There Ought to Be A Law Contest, which she runs every year.

• Downey Fire Department launched new, hands-free Autopulse CPR equipment. The technology allows first responders free up more hands to administer other life-saving treatment, while also making transport easier.

• Downey Fire Department Captain Robert Grounds retired after 32 years of service to the city.

• The “FLEW Empower Hour” - held at Los Amigos Golf Course Event Center - honored several women including Judge Lucy Armendáriz, Blanca Pacheco, and three time Emmy Award winning journalist Fabiola Kramsky. The networking event was designed for professional women of all ages who are looking to advance their careers while helping other women advance theirs.

• Downey Sister Cities enjoyed a fun night with a group of visitors from Ensenada, Mexico. Efrain Kantel, director of international affairs for Baja, California, treated everyone to sweets from Mexico. 

• More than 1,300 runners and walkers participated in the Downey TLC 5K, raising money for the TLC Family Resource Center in Downey.

March

• Downey saw no change in its representation in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. as Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, Assemblymember Cristina Garcia and L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn were all easily re-elected.

• Los Angeles County called a state of emergency over the coronavirus. Downey Mayor Blanca Pacheco urged residents to remain vigilant and protect themselves from potential scams taking advantage of the heightened fear over COVID-19.

• State Sen. Bob Archuleta was named Legislator of the Year for 2019 by the California State Commanders Veterans Council. The award is given in recognition for leadership and efforts on behalf of California’s veterans, active duty military, reserves, and the California National Guard.

• Downey Unified and the U,S Army partnered for Military Career Week, letting students explore and discuss potential careers in the military after high school.

• A team from St. Pius X - St. Matthias Academy comprised of faculty, parents and alumni, and led by Principal Veronica Zozaya ran the  L.A. Marathon in support of the Los Angeles Catholic Education Foundation.

• After several reports of inappropriate behavior at events sponsored by the California Contract Cities Association, Assemblymember Cristina Garcia introduced legislation that will “provide accountability and transparency of taxpayer dollars that flow to associations of local agencies or districts.” Contract Cities came under scrutiny in May 2019 after a fist-fight between two city officials left one person unconscious.

• Downey real estate broker Steve Roberson was awarded Century 21’s Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award in recognition of his ongoing commitment to service.

• The Downey High School Thirst Project Club, a student-led organization whose aim is to bring safe drinking water to communities around the world where it is not available, hosted a “Walk for Water” event on campus. The organization asked residents to walk around the stadium track, simulating the miles that individuals have to walk to get water in resource-scarce areas. The event hoped to raise funds to install fresh water wells in impoverished communities around the world.

• Wilfrido Rodriguez of Downey and Ruben Gutierrez of Huntington Beach were each sentenced to a year in county jail and placed on formal probation for five years for falsifying documents and providing fraudulent engineering services for more than seven years.

• Tensions heightened in Downey after a decontamination tent was spotted outside of  Kaiser Permanente Medical Center. The hospital said that the tents had been deployed as part of a drill, and reiterated that they were prepared to protect patients and staff should COVID-19 testing be warranted.

• Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California public health officials had determined that gatherings of more than 250 people should be postponed or canceled across the state until at least the end of March due to the spread of COVID-19. Many of Downey’s annual fundraisers and community events are put into question.

• LA County Department of Public Health declared a stay at home order to help curb the spread of COVID-19. 

• Kaiser Permanente contributed $1 million to 10 leading public health organizations and collaborated with the CDC Foundation to strengthen the United States’ public health infrastructure and response systems to stop the spread of COVID-19.

• Downey Unified announced that school campuses would close for at least two weeks in response to concerns over the spread of COVID-19.The District established a pick-up lunch program for meals to be consumed off-site by students.

• Government buildings began to close and / or operate by appointment only with safety measures. Downey Theatre canceled or postponed its calendar up until May 11. Youth Sports also began to suspend games and practices. Meanwhile, the city urged residents to stop hoarding food and toilet paper. 

• Steven Knott and Jeremy Anthony Alvarez, both of Montebello, pleaded guilty to the murder of Downey Police Officer and Marine veteran Ricky Galvez and multiple charges arising from a seven-victim crime spree between Sept. 17 and Nov. 18, 2015 in the cities of South Gate, Montebello, Bellflower, Paramount and Downey.

• Downey’s two animal shelters asked pet owners to stop surrendering their pets as operations were scaled back due to the coronavirus.

• Downey’s first handful of COVID-19 cases were confirmed. 

• The School District announced that campuses will be closed through May 5.

• Members of Downey Girl Scout Troop #01173 that attend Our Lady of Perpetual Help School earned their Silver Award (the highest award a Girl Scout can achieve as a Cadette). They came up with a project they called “SEW ‘n LOVE,” where they made handmade sewn pillowcases. Each pillowcase contained personal notes of hope for local orphans at Niños Latinos Unidos in Bellflower. The girls also made their project sustainable, with other local troops volunteering to continue making pillowcases for the orphanage. 

• City Council began discussions on a temporary moratorium on tenant evictions in response to the financial impact many were feeling due to COVID-19. The idea garnered pushback from property owners who feared that such action would be taken advantage of by renters.

• Restaurants were forced to adapt to take-out service only. The Chamber of Commerce encouraged residents to support local businesses who may be struggling during the pandemic.

• Downey City Council reluctantly approved a new Verizon cell tower to be placed at the city’s public works maintenance yard. Verizon received a fair amount of criticism from Council - notably Alex Saab - who felt the company had not been a good partner to the city concerning its previous towers.

• Desert Reign Church pastor Alex Bernard died one week after testing positive for COVID-19. He was Downey’s first publicly identified coronavirus death.

April

• Downey residents - including notable fashion designer Johana Hernández - began making masks for healthcare workers on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19.

• Downey received an $18,000 grant from Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn to purchase senior meals for seniors unable or unwilling to leave their homes during the pandemic.

• DUSD officially announced that campuses will remain closed, and that students would finish out the school year learning remotely at home.

• Downey City Council voted  to provide extra breathing room to commercial tenants affected by Covid-19, while also setting an expiration date for residential rent flexibility.Council decided to allow renters up to three months after the termination of the local emergency to satisfy any outstanding rent. Tenants would have to notify their landlords in writing that they were unable to pay the rent due to the effects of Covid-19. Commercial renters were eligible if the financial impact was a result of compliance with local, state or federal health guidelines. 

• Downey High School robotics students launched a fundraising campaign to manufacture 1,500 face shields for local healthcare workers. 

• CalMet put a temporary pause on recycling, with green waste and recyclables temporarily disposed of at the landfill after the coronavirus pandemic shut down recycling centers.

• All parks were closed on Easter Sunday to discourage large gatherings in wake of the coronavirus.

• With job losses mounting, Downey’s food banks saw a surge in new families trying to obtain groceries.

• Downey’s first responders took to PIH to honor frontline medical workers with a drive-by siren salute.

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom outlined six indicators that he said will lead to the reopening of society and the economy in California. The indicators include: The ability to monitor and protect communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed; The ability to prevent infection in people who are at risk for more severe COVID-19; The ability of the hospital and health systems to handle surges; The ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand; The ability for businesses, schools, and childcare facilities to support physical distancing; and The ability to determine when to reinstitute certain measures, such as the stay-at-home orders, if necessary.

• A drive-up Covid-19 testing site opened in Bellflower, the closest testing site to Downey at that time.

• Residents Kandy, David, and John Grzebyk decorated their van and cruised the Easter Bunny around town to help spread some Easter fun during quarantine.

• Kaiser Permanente came to an agreement with its unionized workers to ease some of the major burdens they face on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic, including assistance with child care and temporary shelter, and extra leave for workers who are tested or diagnosed with COVID-19. The measures provide support for 80,000 workers who are members of the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, including full-time, part-time and per-diem employees.

• Brookfield Healthcare Center was listed as one of the over 250 skilled nursing facilities in California to have been impacted by COVID-19. More than half of the facilities listed were within LA County.

• Downey attorney Ricardo Perez purchased and coordinated with local businesses to have delivered 200 lunches to Downey first responders. As a way to contribute to the local economy, all lunch purchases were made at local small business restaurants.

• PIH Health Hospital in Whittier began offering drive-up COVID-19 testing.

• Downey and Warren high schools were named among the nation’s best high schools, according to U.S. News & World Report.

• The Downey City Council approved an agreement with Kanopy, Inc., opening up over 30,000 independent and documentary films, specializing in content of unique social and cultural value to library cardholders.

• Downey resident and civic leader Lois Buchanan was named Woman of the Year. She is chosen by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia to represent the state’s 58th Assembly District.

• Downey’s City Council approved plans for a traffic signal to be installed outside of Warren High School the intersection of Paramount Boulevard and De Palma Street.

• Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the closure of all beaches.

• By month’s end, Downey surpassed 200 cases of coronavirus.

May

• Eric Pierce, community volunteer and longtime editor of the Downey Patriot, officially kicked off campaign season by being the first to announce his intent for city council.

• PIH urged residents not to put off their regularly scheduled medical appointments and operations due to COVID-19.

• Downey crossed 250 cases as the state prepared for a slow reopening.

• St. Raymond Catholic Church started offering drive-thru blessings, communion, and confessions.

• Three-hundred families took part in the Downey YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day drive-thru event.

• Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center was awarded an ‘A’ in the spring 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center’s achievements providing safer health care. 

• As a precaution against the coronavirus, Downey closed its parks for Mother’s Day.

• After having been closed for a month, Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier reopened with limited hours.

• Warren High School junior Alyssa Talavera baked 200 cookies for first responders and healthcare workers, personally delivering the cookies to four facilities across Los Angeles.

• Protestors took to Council members’ private homes over frustrations with renters’ protections during the pandemic. City Council floated an idea to take action against such demonstrations, however it gained no traction.

• City Council approved the sale of nearly nine acres of city-owned land, clearing the way for a potential new hotel in Downey. The deal also infuses the city with a lump sum cash payment at a time when sales tax revenues were expected to decline sharply.

• Baby Evilio, only six weeks old, was discharged from Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center after being treated for COVID-19. He was the hospital's youngest COVID-19 patient treated at the time.

• A report from Self Financial estimated that 5,766 adults live alone in Downey, accounting for  6.6% of all adults in the city.

• Downey Council approved a 15-year extension of the services of the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA).

• DUSD’s Dr. John Garcia was named the Superintendent of the Year for Region 14 of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). 

• Robert Olvera, a volunteer coach with the Downey Razorbacks youth football league, died after contracting COVID-19. 

• California state Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) introduced legislation authorizing the Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) to take control of the Central Basin Municipal Water District (Central Basin), which would dissolve Central Basin’s board of directors and put the distressed agency in receivership because “(t) he problems at the district . . . cannot be resolved by the district board as currently constituted.”

• A three-year pay raise for Downey Police Department was given the go ahead by City Council. Under the new three-year agreement with the Downey Police Officers’ Association (DPOA) – which represents the sworn classifications of Police Officer and Police Sergeant, the across-the-board pay raise would see a 2% pay increase effective in July this year, followed by another 2% raise in July next year, and another 1% raise in July the following year.

•  A deadly hit-and-run crash at the Paramount exit on the 5 Freeway was caught on dashcam. A white Fiat appeared to clip a red sedan and sent it spiraling off the freeway and slamming into a tree. The man and woman who were traveling in the red vehicle were killed and the Fiat took off from the scene. The suspect was arrested after independent news photographer Hector Gerardo witnessed the crash and followed him, while calling 911. Police caught up to the suspect near Florence Avenue and Studebaker Road, about three miles from the crash scene.

• The Annenberg Foundation donated 300 iPads to Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center to be used by COVID-19 patients and their families. 

• The class of 2020 graduated without a traditional in-person ceremony. Instead, the District presented two separate fireworks displays for all high schools.

• GRL Collective, a clothing brand that empowers women created by Kristine Rodriguez, went viral.

June

• Closed since March, Downey City Hall reopened to the public with safety measures - including required masks - in place.

• The killing of unarmed Black man George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers sparked a torrent of protests across the nation with demonstrators demanding an end to racist police departments and greater respect for Black lives. In Downey, a demonstration on Brookshire Avenue attracted more than 100 protestors, many of whom appeared to be high school and college-aged. The access road to City Hall was closed and police officers clad in riot gear monitored the protest from a distance. Police officers eventually closed Brookshire and escorted the group as they marched on city streets. Although the demonstration was peaceful, nervous store owners boarded up windows in advance of the protest.  

• A first look at a potential budget for fiscal year 2020-21 reflected a decrease of $19,317,616, or 7.39% from the previous fiscal year.

• L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn began pushing for local police departments to adopt new use-of-force policies that she said would reduce violent interactions between police officers and the public.

• After a Twitter storm of alleged bullying, sexual misconduct, racism, and other inappropriate behavior at DUSD high schools caused Downey to trend, the District promised to “Do better.” Downey established the Human Relations Council, made up of representatives from within the District to determine the steps that need to be taken to better provide a learning environment that is safer, more equitable and more inclusive.

• After a 30-year teaching career, Warren High School teacher Guy Weeks retired.

• Downey approved a temporary outdoor dining program, allowing restaurants to utilize adjacent outdoor areas for food and drink service.

• Downey began requiring masks and non-contact temperature checks to enter city buildings.

• Hector Sosa was installed as president of Gangs Out of Downey. 

• Downey surpassed 1,000 cases of COVID-19.

• Deputy district attorney Mario Trujillo officially entered the city council race.

• Linda Salomon Saldana, a civic leader and nonprofit director, announced her candidacy for Downey School Board.

• Downey High School football coach Jack Williams announced in an Instagram post that football practices would resume the following Monday, June 22

• Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard released a statement celebrating the Supreme Court’s decision to preserve DACA. “Today is a happy and historic day for America and our Dreamers. With the Supreme Court upholding DACA, thousands of Dreamers can breathe a temporary sigh of relief.”

• Progressive Candidate Alexandria Contreras announced her bid to challenge for the council seat held by Mayor Blanca Pacheco.

• Robert Cauley won the first ever Rancho Foundation Art Contest. The foundation held an art contest for artists from Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, asking them to submit a new work of art inspired by recent events and the COVID-19 pandemic. Ten staff members from various Rancho departments voted on the submissions.

• LaShawn Anderson, 50,  pleaded guilty to money laundering charges stemming from a drug trafficking scheme inside a California state prison. The Downey woman was a civilian employee with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department when she agreed to help a convicted murderer hide income made from selling drugs inside Centinela State Prison in 2017. 

• David Gafin, civic leader and former mayor, died at 65 after a battle with cancer.

• Students and alumni gathered outside of the DUSD office to demand end to sexual harassment at Downey schools.

• DUSD proposed two scenarios for the 2020-21 school year: a hybrid model and full-distance learning. Meanwhile, it was made clear that a five-day school week would not happen when school resumed.

• Rio San Gabriel (RSG) Elementary School held a fundraiser by hosting a family dine out night at Jimmy Johns to support Downey TLC and raised $2,000 through the efforts of the RSG parent community and the RSG PTA. 

• Downey Symphony’s Board of Directors elected Ryan Keene as President and Anthony Crespo as Vice President for the 2020-21 year.

• Steve Roberson was inducted into the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles’ Golden Book of Distinguished Service. prestigious recognition is given to a rare group of special volunteers to commemorate their extraordinary service to the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles.

• The Viking’s Boys’ Soccer program started practicing on the field, although their season remained uncertain.

July

• After 31 years of answering calls, Fire Communications Operator Lee Lindquist retired. Lee had been a 911 dispatcher for the cities of Downey, Compton, La Habra Heights, Lynwood, Montebello, Santa Fe Springs and Vernon since 1989.

• Hundreds of residents lined up and paraded in front of the Downey Police Station in a show of support to officers. The parade was coordinated by Kandy Grzebyk and the Positively Downey Facebook group.

• Downey Firefighters responded to nine fires between the hours of 6 pm and 3 am during the Independence Day holiday.

• Homegrown resident and longtime realtor Carrie Uva announced her intent to run for the city’s District 5 seat.

• Robert Thome, a renowned artist who founded the Art of Rancho Exhibit at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, passed away at the age of 65.

• Longtime Downey resident Jose Rodriguez announced that he will be running for Downey's School Board. He is given the endorsement of Tod Corrin, who announced that he would not be seeking reelection.

• Veteran school board member D. Mark Morris announced his bid for reelection.

• Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard included language about aviation fuel dumps in the fiscal year 2021 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill and report. The provision requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to be more transparent about the details of recent fuel dumps, and about the FAA’s fuel dump review process. 

• The Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts announced it would not present a 2020-21 season, citing uncertainty over the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The Cerritos College Foundation announced Rachelle Elhessen and Tran Pham as the recipients of the SoCalGas Scholarship, with both students receiving $5,000 to support the continuation of their higher education.

• The Downey Unified School District Board of Education unanimously voted to change Griffith’s Middle School mascot name from the Indians to the Thunderbirds during a nationwide discussion on racism and cultural misappropriation.

•  Downey Unified School District officially announced that the 2020-21 school year will begin with full-distance learning.

• The Rose Parade is officially canceled for the first time since WWII. It’s a disappointing cap on an already tough year for the Downey Rose Float Association, which has had to cancel most of its major fundraisers.

• William Medina took over the leadership of Rotary Club for a second time.

• Lifelong Downey resident and Cerritos College alumnus and chairperson of the Cerritos College Foundation Mazen Nabulsi announced his candidacy for the Cerritos College Board of Trustees seat (Area 1). 

• Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center was one of 22 Kaiser Permanente hospitals recognized among the “Best Maternity Care Hospitals 2020” by Newsweek magazine.

• Hoping to give local businesses an added advantage during the pandemic, Downey City Council voted to close down one block of Downey Avenue within the downtown area, opening it up for outside dining opportunities.

• Republican attorney C. Antonio Delgado announced a longshot bid at unseating incumbent Lucille Roybal-Allard.

• Downey’s Assisteens, an auxiliary unit of the Assistance League of Downey, completed nearly 300 cards saluting the frontline healthcare workers at PIH Health Hospital, thanking them for their bravery and dedication. The Assisteens are comprised of high school students and work throughout the year on community service projects.

• Downey’s Marcela Arrieta was featured on Telemundo for her new line of products that promote wellbeing. Arrieta is a holistic and alternative medicine practitioner and owner of Majestic Bliss Soaps, a company that creates vegan-friendly and holistic self-care products.

• Mayor Blanca Pacheco participated in a multi-city motorcade  to promote the 2020 census. State Sen. Bob Archuletta also stopped by, taking the opportunity to wave to cars as they passed by.

August

• The parks portion of Measure S is completed, concluding with Wilderness Park. Wilderness remained closed, however, as work on the ponds - which is separate to Measure S - is not finished. 

• Former PTA president Angie Rademaker joined the race for School Board.

• Carlos Avalos made his second run at School Board, challenging incumbent Giggy Perez-Saab.

• Carrie Rios Estrada is installed as Soroptimist president.

• Warren High School student Dulce Vilchis was accepted into The National Society of High School Scholars. The Society recognizes top scholars who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship and community involvement.

• Councilman Rick Rodriguez officially announced that he will not seek reelection, instead opting to tend to his health.

• The filing deadline for Council candidates expired, revealing nine candidates running for three seats. They were: District 1 - Mayor Blanca Pacheco and Alexandria Contreras, District 3 - Eric Pierce, Dalejuan Jackson-Peevy, and Catherine Alvarez, and District 5 - Mario Trujillo, Carrie Uva, Juan Martinez, and Arturo Gonzalez.

• Cathy BallonGodinez, a community volunteer and lifetime Downey resident, announced her candidacy for School Board.

• Downey Mayor Blanca Pacheco made history, installed as president of the L.A. County division of League of California Cities, representing 86 cities in Los Angeles County. She is the first Downey official to lead the League of California Cities.

• The Columbia Memorial Space Center hosted its annual Rocket Fever event virtually. The always popular rocket launches were still  included, with over 700 rocket kits being sent to kids all around Southern California, a fraction of which were able to be sent back to the museum for launch.

• Local leaders askedCongress to invest at least $200 billion in the K-12 public school system.

• Former Downey Mayor Mario Guerra was appointed to the Downey Cemetery Commission, filling the vacancy left by the death of David Gafin.

• Downey City Council agreed to a five-year extension of the I-5 Consortium Cities Joint Powers Authority (I-JPA) Agreement on Tuesday. Established in 1990, the I-JPA – consisting of Downey, La Mirada, Commerce, Buena Park, Norwalk, and Santa Fe Springs – works in partnership with Caltrans, Metro, and the Federal Highway Administration in pursuit of capacity enhancement options for the I-5 freeway while avoiding at-grade widening that would have negative adverse impacts on corridor communities.

• While students, parents, and teachers alike hoped for a return to campus sooner rather than later, Downey Unified Superintendent Dr. John Garcia said that students were more likely to return in the next year.

• While speaking to Downey Rotary, Police Chief Dean Milligan said that “mental health calls are best dealt with by mental health professionals.”

• Downey Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Frometa was unanimously approved by the NALEO (National Association of Latino Elected Officials) Board of Directors to serve on the NALEO Board.

• The Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, in partnership with six federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), launched the first part of the school’s singular service-learning program. The course placed students at one of six Southern California-based community health centers – each representing diverse patient populations and clinical specialties − to address community needs under the mentorship of a service learning preceptor. 

• Downey suspended all fare collection for DowneyLink and Dial-a-Ride users. The move came in hopes that it would assist riders who may have been affected by the financial impacts of COVID-19.

• Marianna Pacheco, director of nursing at Downey Adult School, announced her campaign for Cerritos College board.

• Philanthropist and community advocate Dr. Mary Stauffer turned 103 years old.

• 22 women accused former coach Randy Headley of assault. Headley owned and operated a silk screen printing business that did business as Logos Two, LA Clothing Company and Downey Sporting Goods. 

• Downtown adopted a new name: District @ Downey.

• Elizabeth “Bette” Heckert celebrated her 90th birthday with a car parade, including members of Downey Fire Department.

• The Downey Dolphins swim team supported the Long Beach COVID-19 Virtual Swim, Paddle or Row to Hawaii this past August. With the outdoor pool at Downey High still closed, this challenge was swam in the Los Alamitos Bay and Seal Beach. The distance between Long Beach and Honolulu is 2,558 miles. Together as a group with master swim teams across the nation, the Downey Dolphins completed this three times.

• GreenPal - an uber-esque lawn care service, launched in Downey.

September

• Longtime Downey residents Bill and Katie Hare celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Both Bill and Katie are active civic leaders in Downey.

• After-school music and sports classes offered by the Downey Foundation see a drop of 95%.

• Rapper Travis Scott caused a stir at the Speedee McDonalds location to take promotional photos for his collab with the chain restaurant. A large crowd of fans - many seemingly school aged kids and teenagers - formed around Florence Ave. and Lakewood Blvd. to try to get a glimpse of the celebrity. Downey PD responded to help control traffic. Later, the department tweeted that Scott’s appearance had not been permitted or approved by the city. Both he and the location were later fined.

• OG Collectibles opened in the former Art’s Camera on Firestone Blvd, filling a gaming void in the city.

•  The Downey Tenants Union hosted a virtual City Council candidates forum on primarily housing issues. Of the nine individuals running for office, four - Alexandria Contreras, Catherine Alvarez, Juan “Joey” Martinez and Arturo Gonzalez - take part.

• After a two month delay due to COVID-19, city officials said that construction on the updated library should be completed within the month, with move-in slotted for October. 

• Resident Bonnie Bowater celebrated her 98th birthday with a special car parade put together by her family, friends and neighbors.

• PIH Health Hospital Downey marked its 100th anniversary with a time capsule burial and drive-thru parade featuring first responders.

• Downey Councilman Sean Ashton was sworn in as president of Independent Cities Association.

• 17-year-old game designer Lily Jane Nguyen shared her experience with Iskonsko Studio, the team currently behind the creation of upcoming point-and-click adventure game “Trouble Hunter Chronicles: The Stolen Creed.” She and her team hope for a release sometime next year.

• Downey City Council voted to reopen Downey Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets, after previously closing the roadway for the benefit of businesses struggling with COVID-19 health mandates. 

• First Christian Church held a groundbreaking ceremony for an expansion of its FoodHelp food bank.

• More than 400 cases of water were collected by a group of Downey High School students and alumni, which were subsequently donated to first responders fighting the wildfires in the state. The drive was spearheaded by 19-year-old alumnus Andrew Carrieri.

• Regular Patriot contributor Helen Hampton celebrated her 96th birthday.

• Downey Soroptimsts, with help from Kaiser,awarded $5,000 in medical scholarships to five recipients.

•  Mandated financial disclosures forms for council candidates revealed that Mario Trujillo raised a record-breaking $135,526 in his campaign, outraising all other candidates by nearly $100,000.

• School board candidates mostly agree on issues during a virtual forum presented by the Downey Patriot and the Chamber of Commerce.

• Steven Knott, 23, was sentenced to 50 years to life in state prison, while Jeremy Anthony Alvarez, 26, was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for the killing of Downey Police Officer Ricardo Galvez in the police station parking lot in 2015.

• Sarah Barrios, a student at Downey High School, placed second  place in Rep. Lucille RoybalAllard’s 27th annual Student Art Competition with a watercolor painting entitled “Hands of Hope.” The People’s Choice Award winner was recent Downey High School graduate Carrie Breault, who received 487 votes from the community at-large for her art piece, “Float To Your Dreams.”

• In honor of September’s Literacy Month, The Rotary Club of Downey presented the library with the club’s annual check to support Children’s Literacy.

October

• Downey students  Joseph Awada, Hanna Choi, Joshua Choi, Leony Concepcion, Christopher Garcia, Lydia Kim, Kailynne Lopez, Alexandra Rapalo, Anali Rodriguez, Jamie Sanchez, and Stephanie Sifuentesjj were named to the Biola University Dean’s List in spring 2020.

• Housing, policing, and Downey’s growing downtown were hot topics in a virtual candidates forum hosted by the Downey Patriot and the Chamber of Commerce.

• Victoria (Vicki) Arosteguy, an educator at Doty Middle School, was honored as the Downey Unified School District’s Teacher of the Year for her “exceptional work with students.

• The Columbia Memorial Space Center hosted a virtual City of Stem. 

• Construction Coverage released a report saying that nearly half of all homeowners in Downey are Baby Boomers.

• The U.S. Department of Education recognized Ward Elementary School, along with 366 other schools across the nation, as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2020.

• Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center was recognized as “high performing” in gastroenterology and GI surgery, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair; and knee replacement in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2020-2021 “Best Hospitals” rankings. 

• PIH Health, Inc. announced its fiscal year 2020-21 board of directors. The board of officers included: Jeffrey Hamar will serve as chair; Patrick Monroe as vice chair; Charlotte Weaver, RN, Ph.D. as secretary; and Alex Alvarez as treasurer.

• PIH Health Downey Hospital presented Downey Unified School District’s TLC Family Resource Center with a $20,000 gift.

•  The City of Downey released a statement expressing its opposition to a preliminary plan by Metro and Caltrans to expand the 5 and 605 freeways, which would potentially result in the demolition of hundreds of Downey homes. City officials said they supported improvements to local freeways but not at the expense of local homes. 

• The Downey Police Department was awarded a $338,000 grant to reduce deaths and injuries on Downey roads by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

• Downey received $1.5M in Covid relief funds, most of which would go to small businesses and Microenterprise grants.

• Illegal ballot boxes began popping up across LA.

• The Mary R. Stauffer Foundation awarded $175K in Teacher, Principal and District grants.

• Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 480, Senate Bill 588, Senate Bill 895, Senate Bill 905, and Senate Bill 907, which were authored by Senator Bob Archuleta. The legislation regarded veterans, the environment and public safety.

• An illegal gambling ring operating out of a Downey liquor store was shut down by Downey Police Department. Police said they found cash, two gambling machines, and “a large quantity” of pre-paid credit cards at Vikum’s 2 am Liquor and in a neighboring vacant business. The owner of the liquor store was arrested and booked for operating an illegal gambling establishment.

• The annual Dia De Los Muertos festival went virtual in response to COVID-19.

• The PART paranormal team conducted its second investigation of the Dismukes house.

• Downey’s free film festival, Glennfest, was postponed.

•  L.A. County Assessor released numbers showing that the total assessed value of all Downey properties increased by 5.3% this past year to a total value of approximately $13.18 billion. 

• Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn approved plans to purchase four motels in her district -- including a Motel 6 in Norwalk -- and convert them to supportive housing units for formerly homeless residents.

• Researchers at Rancho Los Amigos developed new technology that integrates sensory information (e.g., pressure sensors) with biofeedback (e.g., visual or audio cues) to help people confined to a wheelchair. 

• Rosalie Sciortino, an author, painter, and longtime champion of the arts in Downey, died at the age of 97.

• Shirley Johnson, traveler and civic leader, passed away.

November

• On election night, Blanca Pacheco, Catherine Alvarez, and Mario Trujillo all jumped out to early leads, which they ultimately maintained on their way to victorious elections. D. Mark Morris, Giggy Perez-Saab, Jose Rodriguez and Linda Salomon-Saldana also secured School Board seats.

• The Mary R. Stauffer Foundation continued its tradition of awarding scholar-athlete $100 merit awards to the Warren High students who maintained at least a 3.5 GPA and lettered in a sport as a 9th, 10th, or 11th grader during the 2019-20 school year. After receiving the list of qualified students from Warren, the foundation sent off 121 award checks valued at $100 each to the school for distribution to the students.

• After previously showing signs of decreasing, Covid cases spiked in LA County.

• As the Downey Unified School District continued to plan for an eventual return to campus, they asked families to commit to either full-distance or hybrid models.

• 49 cadets graduated from the Rio Hondo Police Academy, including Downey Police Department recruits Kimberly Izaguirre and Jacob Gil.

• The Los Angeles Times newspaper published an article highlighting Downey High School boy’s varsity soccer coach Marvin Mires. The article focused on Coach Mires’ academic standards for his players and how that has benefited their athletic futures.

• Police issued a warning to council member-elect Catherine Alvarez after her victory party drew complaints from neighbors.

• Tyrone Conde, vice president of marketing at Downey Federal Credit Union (DFCU), was among those honored at the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues’ REACH 2020 Conference. Conde received the Leagues’ Tomorrow’s Star Award, which recognizes the achievements by young credit union professionals age 35 and under.

• Downey High School standout softball player Hailey Harris officially signed her National Letter of Intent with the University of Utah.

• Donovan Taylor, clinical director of Emergency and Hospitalist Services at Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center, was awarded the inaugural Daisy Nurse Leader Award, which honors nurse managers, directors and others “who create an environment where compassionate care thrives.” 

• The Downey City Council voted to voice the city’s opposition to Los Angeles County’s move to close in-person dining for the following three weeks.

• The City of Downey unveiled a new Firefighters memorial outside of City Hall.

• The city said that they will be enforcing stay at home orders, despite previous statements that indicated that they would not.

• Joseph Sapia, a World War II veteran from Downey, was presented with a special proclamation in celebration of his 100th birthday.

• CIF canceled fall championships as COVID cases surged.

• Eight middle school students were selected as winners of the Stauffer Foundation’s prestigious 2020 Scholar of the Year award. In addition to receiving a $500 College Savings check, winners will receive a “Stauffer 2020 Scholar of the Year” t-shirt and will have their names added to their school’s plaque that has recognized these winners for over 15 years. Recipients include - Doty Middle School: Kenya Stewart 7th Grade and Brissa Alvarez 8th Grade Griffiths Middle School: Paulina Urena 7th Grade and Melissa Canchola 8th Grade Stauffer Middle School: Lauren Santana 7th Grade and Alexis Delgado 8th Grade Sussman Middle School: Isaac Cervantes 7th Grade and Amaya Villescas 8th Grade.

• The East Side Riders received two truckloads full of non-perishable food and a $5,000 donation from employees and physicians of Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center to support the organization that provides thousands of hot meals to children and families in the Watts community.

December

• Claudia M. Frometa was selected as Mayor, with Blanca Pacheco as her Pro Tem. Catherine Alvarez and Mario Trujillo were also sworn in as Rick Rodriguez and Alex Saab said goodbye.

• The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to support a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn calling on Congress to pass the latest COVID-19 federal relief package.

• Facing an uncertain future, long-established restaurant Stox asked the community for help to pay its workers.

• The Columbia Memorial Space Center rang in the holidays with a virtual Apollo Capsule lighting.

• Road repairs began on Old River School Rd. Construction is anticipated to last through March.

• Downey Fire Chief Mark Gillespie announced that he will retire at the end of the year. Battalion Chief Dan Hurlock was announced as his successor.

• D. Mark Morris, fresh off of being resworn in, was voted as the next President of the School Board. Giggy Perez-Saab, Jose Rodriguez and Linda Salomon-Saldana were also sworn in. Donald La Plante and Tod Corin said goodbye.

• Information disclosed by LA County showed that Calvary Chapel had been cited nearly a dozen times for health code violations since the beginning of the pandemic.

• Downey High School topped Warren High to win the third annual Overwatch Downey Unified Esports High School Championship presented by PacificWest. 

• Downey Symphony was awarded a $44K COVID relief grant; the biggest grant in its 60-year history.

• As hospitals exceed capacity, hospital workers began receiving COVID-19 vaccinations

• Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center and the Rancho Los Amigos Foundation partnered with Bank of America for their annual holiday Adopt-A-Family donation and celebration. More than 25 families – 83 adults and 43 children – were adopted by Bank of America and participated in Rancho’s first socially distanced drive through Adopt-A-Family event.

• Operation Happy Child provided holiday gifts for nearly 200 foster and in-need children.

• Warren High School standout wide receiver and defensive back Xamarion Gordon signed his national letter of intent to play football at the University of Southern California. 

• Marianna Pacheco was sworn in to her seat on the Cerritos College Board.

• Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office dedicated $330,000 to a program designed to support struggling restaurants and families in need.