Yorba Linda native serving with Navy Medicine in Spain
Petty Officer 3rd Class Carl Brown, a native of Yorba Linda, is serving with the U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (USNMRTC) in Rota, Spain.
Brown graduated from Esperanza High School in 2014 and joined the Navy six years ago.
“Seeing old pictures of family members who served in the military influenced me to serve,” Brown said. “I had a slow period in life, and on a whim on Halloween Day, I went to the recruiting office and enlisted. The family was in shock when I got home but also excited for this new path in life.”
Today, Brown serves as a hospital corpsman.
“Being a corpsman offers a lot of opportunities to do different things,” he said. “From running and gunning with the Marines, to serving aboard a ballistic-missile submarine, to finding yourself at a hospital helping active duty military members and their families.”
The Medicine Readiness and Training Command’s mission is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high-quality health care services, and shape the future of military medicine through education, training and research.
Navy Medicine – represented by more than 44,000 highly trained military and civilian health care professionals – provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below and above the sea, and ashore.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy so far is playing a lead role in successfully bringing 1st Marine Division’s blood transfusion program to the Australian Defense Force,” Brown said. “It was an honor showing their commanders that this vital skill can and will save lives on the battlefield.”
– Submitted by Alvin Plexico, Navy Office of Community Outreach
MemorialCare providers and family members go the distance
The MemorialCare Ragnar Relay team, composed of primary care and specialty care physicians, partnered up to run 200 miles in honor of teamwork and to combat physician burnout.
Overcoming fog, hills, sleep deprivation and the occasional tram and train delay, the team united to conquer the Ragnar SoCal Relay, a 191.3-mile overnight challenge stretching from San Diego to Huntington Beach.
Led by Arnold Cuenca, a family medicine physician with the MemorialCare Medical Group-Mission Viejo, and Tracy Kasten, nursing supervisor with MemorialCare Medical Group-San Juan Capistrano, the team consisted of 12 runners, each determined to take on the physically and mentally demanding event.
The Ragnar relay series, which has been a staple in Southern California since 2010, brings together teams of six to 12 runners, with each runner assigned several legs of the race.
“The Ragnar relay isn’t just about personal performance. It’s about being part of a team,” said Dr. Arnold Cuenca, a family medicine physician with MemorialCare Medical Group-Mission Viejo. “It’s a chance to focus on wellness and to challenge yourself with others.”
The road to Ragnar wasn’t without its hurdles. The team worked together, supporting one another through everything from training injuries to unexpected dropouts, but the logistics – and the support – were key to the team’s success.
Studies show that nearly 1 in 3 health care workers in the U.S. report experiencing burnout, with physicians being at particularly high risk. Participating in events like Ragnar helps refocus on wellness and opens the door for discussions about the challenges that health care workers face amongst physicians and staff.
– Submitted by MemorialCare
Realty group gives back to the Laguna Beach community
When J.J. and Andrea Ballesteros moved The Ballesteros Group with Coldwell Banker Realty into their new office at 344 3rd Street in downtown Laguna Beach, they were thrilled to plant roots in the heart of a community they’ve long admired.
But as they settled in, one detail kept catching their eye: a large blank wall in their carport that felt like a missed opportunity.
Rather than leave it plain, they envisioned something that would bring a burst of life to the space, a mural that celebrates Laguna Beach: the timeless Lifeguard Tower, palms swaying in the ocean breeze, sun-soaked sands and the endless horizon of the Pacific.
J.J. Ballesteros reached out to the Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD). With the help of faculty members Joseph Todorovitch and James Thistlethwaite, the opportunity was opened to LCAD’s talented mural students.
After several rounds of submissions, one design immediately stood out: “Sun at the Tower,” by fourth-year student Taryn Chong.
Yorba Linda Sunrise Rotary Club donates $60,000 to build housing
The Yorba Linda Sunrise Rotary Club has donated $60,000 to Olive Crest to prevent homelessness among teens and young adults aging out of the child welfare system in Orange County. This donation will directly benefit the construction fund as Olive Crest builds 16 two-bedroom apartment homes in Santa Ana.
For more than five decades, Olive Crest has been dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families in crisis throughout Orange County under its guiding motto: “Strong Families, Safe Kids.”
The new apartment homes in Santa Ana will play a critical role in ensuring that young people aging out of the child welfare system are not left without stable housing, helping them build a foundation for self-sufficiency and long-term success.
“We are honored to support Olive Crest’s incredible work in giving foster youth the opportunity to live in safe, stable housing and helping them succeed in school and their careers,” said Anthony Johnson, president of the Yorba Linda Sunrise Rotary Club. “These young adults deserve a strong start as they transition to independence, and we believe this contribution will help provide the resources they need to build a successful future.”
The $60,000 donation will help expand Olive Crest’s housing and support services as they build new apartment homes and empower young adults with the tools to navigate life independently. By addressing key areas such as employment, education and life skills, Olive Crest gives these youth a stable and secure pathway to adulthood.
“We are deeply grateful for the generosity of the Yorba Linda Sunrise Rotary Club,” said Donald Verleur, CEO of Olive Crest. “This gift will make a lasting impact on the lives of the young adults we serve in Orange County, providing them with housing stability and the skills they need to succeed.”
– Submitted by Yorba Linda Sunrise Rotary Club
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