Thursday, September 28, 2006
Hometown Heroes
La Palma, California, sits next to Buena Park, self-proclaimed "Center of the Southland," and yet no one has ever heard of it (unless you're from there or have been lucky enough to meet someone from there). With a population of over 15,000 squeezed into 1.7 square miles of suburban development, there's a singular character about town, whether you're at the "new" Subway (it wasn't there in high school!) or at Central Park, watching a summer concert in the amphitheatre (capacity 100 - maybe).
For all of Orange County's beachy "charm," La Palma, like most OC cities, has no coastline. There are no McMansions, no malls, just the main drag, a Ralphs and a Drug Emporium. Bordering right up to Los Angeles County (cities of Cerritos and Lakewood), chances are if you've lived in Orange County and ever went to Knott's Berry Farm, LA, Cerritos or Long Beach, you' ve driven through La Palma and never even noticed.
This is my hometown. Although no "famous" people have ever come out of La Palma proper, our high school has bred some well known outsiders: John Stamos (who reportedly lived in Cypress) and Lisa Tucker (she actually lives in Anaheim). You may remember John Stamos from such classics like Full House and his marraige to supermodel Rebecca Romjin. Lisa Tucker was on the most recent season of American Idol, and actually got her start on Broadway years ago (and she's singing in a free American Idols concert October 5 in front of Anaheim's City Hall...hint hint...GO!).
Other than the occasional celeb, local legend has it that our John F. Kennedy High School is actually the first high school in the nation adopt the name, just days after the assassination of our namesake. Originally the Centralia High School Patriots (or something or other), the school opened in 1963. After the death of JFK that November, the student body government immediately took action. Within days, they had gathered enough local signatures to officially change the name. For being the first, there was reportedly a visit from Rose Kennedy, JFK's mother, to dedicate the school under its new name, and there is a replica of her famous rocking chair somewhere on campus (it's been a while). But that's all according to legend.
Legend also has it (all we seem to have is legend) that La Palma is actually the first "planned community" in OC. It is reported that, when planning out the model for Irvine, James Irvine himself came to LP to scope out the scene and get some helpful hints. Formerly Dairyland, CA (along with parts of Cerritos and Cypress), it still reeks of manure everytime it rains. In the past decade or so, it's also become a modern-day leisure-world-style haven for the elderly. Just look at the two or three new assisted living developments (they're very nice).
Who knew you could fit so much legend into such a small town? If you ever feel like visiting (fyi: don't set aside more than an hour for this), La Palma is located off the 91 freeway between the Valley View and Carmenita exits (that's correct - we don't even have a proper freeway exit). Recommended sights to see: Central Park (our very own), which leads into our Green Belt (almost-famous among local urban planners), the super-duper Drug Emporium, the Carl's Junior on La Palma Ave. & Moody St., the 7-11, the chinese food place next to the Subway and Ralph's, and I hear the World Buffet at Centerpoint (note: don't place your "downtown" in the most remote corner of the city) is really good. Places to stay away from - if things haven't changed much since high school, don't go behind the Ralphs.
For all of Orange County's beachy "charm," La Palma, like most OC cities, has no coastline. There are no McMansions, no malls, just the main drag, a Ralphs and a Drug Emporium. Bordering right up to Los Angeles County (cities of Cerritos and Lakewood), chances are if you've lived in Orange County and ever went to Knott's Berry Farm, LA, Cerritos or Long Beach, you' ve driven through La Palma and never even noticed.
This is my hometown. Although no "famous" people have ever come out of La Palma proper, our high school has bred some well known outsiders: John Stamos (who reportedly lived in Cypress) and Lisa Tucker (she actually lives in Anaheim). You may remember John Stamos from such classics like Full House and his marraige to supermodel Rebecca Romjin. Lisa Tucker was on the most recent season of American Idol, and actually got her start on Broadway years ago (and she's singing in a free American Idols concert October 5 in front of Anaheim's City Hall...hint hint...GO!).
Other than the occasional celeb, local legend has it that our John F. Kennedy High School is actually the first high school in the nation adopt the name, just days after the assassination of our namesake. Originally the Centralia High School Patriots (or something or other), the school opened in 1963. After the death of JFK that November, the student body government immediately took action. Within days, they had gathered enough local signatures to officially change the name. For being the first, there was reportedly a visit from Rose Kennedy, JFK's mother, to dedicate the school under its new name, and there is a replica of her famous rocking chair somewhere on campus (it's been a while). But that's all according to legend.
Legend also has it (all we seem to have is legend) that La Palma is actually the first "planned community" in OC. It is reported that, when planning out the model for Irvine, James Irvine himself came to LP to scope out the scene and get some helpful hints. Formerly Dairyland, CA (along with parts of Cerritos and Cypress), it still reeks of manure everytime it rains. In the past decade or so, it's also become a modern-day leisure-world-style haven for the elderly. Just look at the two or three new assisted living developments (they're very nice).
Who knew you could fit so much legend into such a small town? If you ever feel like visiting (fyi: don't set aside more than an hour for this), La Palma is located off the 91 freeway between the Valley View and Carmenita exits (that's correct - we don't even have a proper freeway exit). Recommended sights to see: Central Park (our very own), which leads into our Green Belt (almost-famous among local urban planners), the super-duper Drug Emporium, the Carl's Junior on La Palma Ave. & Moody St., the 7-11, the chinese food place next to the Subway and Ralph's, and I hear the World Buffet at Centerpoint (note: don't place your "downtown" in the most remote corner of the city) is really good. Places to stay away from - if things haven't changed much since high school, don't go behind the Ralphs.
# posted by ange : 9:49 AM
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