2012 RHA High School
Senior Scholarship Contest

The RHA is announcing its annual Scholarship Contest for 2012.  For instructions and application forms  please click on the preceding words.

Instructions | Application

The RHA Board of Directors increased the awards for the 2012 High School Scholarship at its November 2011 meeting. The awards for 2012 will be $2000 for the winner, $1000 for runner-up, and $500 for the third-place finisher. All other requirements and deadlines remain the same. Application and instruction forms can be downloaded from the RHA website.

Winners of the 2011 Scholarship Awards

The Rossmoor Homeowners Association Board of Directors is proud to announce the winners of the Annual RHA Scholarships. They are:

Jenna Leonardo - Winner of the 2011 RHA High School Senior Scholarship in the amount of $1000.00.

David Harris - Runner-up for the 2011 RHA High School Senior Scholarship who will receive $500.00.

Both persons will graduate from Los Alamitos High School on June 14th. Ms. Leonardo has been accepted to Stanford University and has a high school GPA of 4.24. Mr. Harris has been accepted to UC, Davis and has a high school GPA of 4.23.

The RHA Board of Directors is delighted to provide these scholarships and wishes both persons success in their collegiate pursuits and in subsequent careers.

Winners of 2011 RHA Short Story

1st Place Winner- Karen Gardner

1st Place - A Withered Treasure in Rossmoor by Karen Gardner
2nd Place - The Cortese Code by Diane Rush
3rd Place - The Wiley Wager by Mark Rafferty

The RHA Board of Directors has the verdict from editorial review team for the 2011 RHA Short Story Contest. We had 8 entries. The winner who receives a $100 gift certificate to The Fish Company is Karen Gardner whose story was "A Withered Treasure in Rossmoor." The first runner-up, who receives a $50 gift certificate to the Fish Company, was Diane Rush whose story was "The Cortese Code." We also added an honorable mention for a story by Mark Rafferty titled "A Wily Wager." All three stories can be accessed by clicking on the titles listed above. The RHA Board thanks all the authors for their stories. We have some real story tellers in Rossmoor and they are not just in the library.

Notice from OC Public Works on Ownership and Care of Parkways

Please Read

Is Rossmoor an Exclusive Name?

From time to time the question arises, is Rossmoor an exclusive name? The answer is Rossmoor is not exclusive to our community and appears in many areas in the U.S. and in England. One attribution for the origin of the name is that it was taken from the first name of “Ross” Cortese, developer of Rossmoor, and the flat “moor”-like terrain on which the community is located. 
A search of names using “Rossmoor” gives us many interesting results. 

Within the unincorporated community of Rossmoor in Orange County we have at least the following uses of “Rossmoor”; Rossmoor Homeowners Association; Rossmoor Community Service District; Rossmoor Predator Management Team; Rossmoor Park; Rossmoor Way; Rossmoor Elementary School; Rossmoor Carwash; Rossmoor Village Square; and Rossmoor Women’s Club.

Our neighbors in the city of Los Alamitos also use “Rossmoor.”  Here are a few uses: Rossmoor Highlands; Rossmoor Appraisers; Rossmoor Play School; Rossmoor Neighbors; Rossmoor Animal Hospital and Rossmoor Way (a continuation of the same street in Rossmoor).

And , of course, we have the somewhat confusing use of “Rossmoor” in the city of Seal Beach where we find: the Rossmoor-Los Alamitos Branch of Orange County Library; The Shops at Rossmoor (formerly the Rossmoor Shopping Center); and Rossmoor Center Way in the Shops at Rossmoor.

A little further away we have Rossmoor Recycling in Garden Grove, California and Rossmoor Pastries, formerly in the Rossmoor Center and now in Signal Hill.

At one time Leisure World in Seal Beach, developed by Ross Cortese,  was called Rossmoor Leisure World.   It no longer uses that name but another Leisure World now incorporated as Laguna Woods still has “Rossmoor” towers. By the way for older area residents if you say you live in “Rossmoor” they are likely to think you are referring to Leisure World.

Ross Cortese also used the Rossmoor name in other developments. There is a community of Rossmoor in New Jersey similar to our Rossmoor with all sorts of “Rossmoor” uses. His development in Walnut Creek, California east of Oakland is also called “Rossmoor” and again the name Rossmoor is widely used there. There is even a Rossmoor Homeowners Association with home we are sometimes confused.  There is also a “Rossmoor” community in Maryland near Washington, D.C.

“Rossmoor” also pops up in other states with no known attribution to Ross Cortese. It occurs in Spokane, Washington; Boynton, Florida; Melbourne, Florida; Louisville, Kentucky; Columbus, Ohio; Rancho Cordova, California; and West Mifflin, Pennsylvania among other places.

Perhaps the Yorkshire, England area uses of “Rossmoor” are the most interesting. There we find Rossmoor Close (a street name), Rossmoor Garage, and Rossmoor Lodge built in 1816 for General James Wharton who was in the English Army during the Revolutionary War. Go to Google and you can find a description of Rossmoor Lodge. It may be that Rossmoor Lodge got its name from being situated near a moor with the name Ross; i.e., the Ross moor.  And we are now back how we got the good old “Rossmoor” name in Orange County?

So you see, Rossmoor is not exclusive but it still sounds nice.

by Bill Gekler a resident of “Rossmoor” in OC for over 50 years.

Memories of a Great Family Festival for 2011

Annual Rossmoor Community Festival on May 1
Article by Bev Houghton, RHA Director

The annual Rossmoor Community Festival, cosponsored by the Rossmoor Homeowners Association and Rossmoor Community Service District was held on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at Rush Park, 3001 Blume Drive, Rossmoor. The event was opened by Milt Houghton, the RHA President followed by Boy Scout color guard and the National Anthem.   Entertainment for the day included the Jazz Angels Band from McAuliffe Middle School, Magnificent Remnet Magic, Lynda Moore Denim Diamond Dancers, Bombu Tiako Drums, Terry Long, founder Dog Pact Training,  and Long Beach Sound Waves Orchestra.  Mike Carpentier was the Master of Ceremonies for the day.

With many dog lovers in Rossmoor our annual dog parade directed by Eric Christensen and sponsored by VCA Rossmoor Animal Hospital, Tim and Lynette O’Bryan and Dr. Steven Wasserman was a big hit. Judging was in eight categories: Best Looking 1-30 lbs, Best Looking 31-60 lbs, Best Looking 61 lbs and over,  Funniest Dog, Best (Prettiest)  Costume, Funniest Costume, Best Trick and Owner/Dog Look Alike.  Southern California Veterinary Vaccine Clinic provided a low-cost pet vaccination and microchip clinic for dogs and cats. Rossmoor Predator Management Team (RPMT) had a very busy booth and Rebecca’s homemade brownies were delicious.  

The Car Show, another annual part of the festival, attracted a wide variety of cars and collectors with 68 entries and trophies for Best of Show, Fan favorite, Best Antique, Best Classic Car, Best Comaro, Best PT Cruiser, Best Truck, and Best Custom Car..

A large part of the festival is the vendors of crafts and other items and services as well as booths by schools, Scouts, utility companies and community organizations. A new section  this year was  the  emergency preparedness booths including  a fire engine, cert trailer, booths with information on how to “Be Ready” and handy kits for sale.  The Knights of the Holy Grill were on hand to make sure there was plenty of good food.  Dominos Pizza, Yogurt Twist,  and AJ Concessions  also provided refreshments during the day.

Rides for the kids are always fun and this year in addition to the castle bouncer, giant dual lane  slide, obstacle course,  game booths, pony and train rides, the kids got to ride a mechanical bull, sponsored by Kid Rooter Plumbing, and  experience the acro flight bungee.  

West Coast Arborists donated a tree that was planted that day at Rush Park with assistance from Boy Scouts.

A special thank you goes to all our festival sponsors:

Rossmoor Homeowners Association Rossmoor Community Service District Kid Rooter Plumbing Team Chamberlain TKR Construction Tim & Lynette O’Bryan

Rossmoor VCA Dr. Steven Wasserman Printmasters Kim Archer, First Team Real Estate CR&R

Mark your Calendars for next year’s festival which will be held Sunday May 6 at Rush Park.