Roy Alvarado

Roy Alvarado, a former gang member turned hairstylist, has called on 40 stylists in Orange and Los Angles counties to help raise money to keep youngsters out of gangs. Alvarado clipped his first locks Wednesday as Orange Mayor-elect Joanne Coontz helped the cause. Coontz's shortish brown hair was a bit too formal for Alvarado's taste and he advised a blunt cut. "She needs to be perked up a little bit," he said.

Roy Alvarado, a community leader who was a drug and gang counselor for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, died at his Costa Mesa home Monday afternoon of cancer on his 61st birthday. His death saddened students, teachers and administrators who gathered at several schools Tuesday to talk about the remarkable journey of a man who spent a combined 13 years in prison before turning his life around.

An Estancia High School sophomore named Beatriz explains to the counselor and a roomful of classmates how she was beaten up by girl gangbangers. "This girl and I were throwing punches . . .," the round-faced 16-year-old says, fighting back tears. "Then someone from behind pulls my hair and they were all over me. It just wasn't fair."

Roy Alvarado, a former gang member turned hairstylist, has called on 40 stylists in Orange and Los Angles counties to help raise money to keep youngsters out of gangs. Alvarado clipped his first locks Wednesday as Orange Mayor-elect Joanne Coontz helped the cause. Coontz's shortish brown hair was a bit too formal for Alvarado's taste and he advised a blunt cut. "She needs to be perked up a little bit," he said.

Roy Alvarado, a community leader who was a drug and gang counselor for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, died at his Costa Mesa home Monday afternoon of cancer on his 61st birthday. His death saddened students, teachers and administrators who gathered at several schools Tuesday to talk about the remarkable journey of a man who spent a combined 13 years in prison before turning his life around.

Latino leaders will host the fourth annual Roy Alvarado Memorial Fiesta Cultural from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Lion's Park. The event seeks to unite youths, parents and civic leaders. Featured is a softball game for youths, city officials and business people. The festival honors Roy Alvarado, who organized the first softball game before dying of cancer two years ago.

Todos Hermanos, a recently formed gang prevention program in Costa Mesa, is sponsoring a softball game today aimed at striking out gang violence. The event will be at Lions Park from noon to 5 p.m. The first pitch will be thrown out by Newport-Mesa Unified School District Supt. Mac Bernd.

More than 300 residents of east Costa Mesa met Wednesday to discuss safety, gangs, schools and neighborhood appearance. "The response was just terrific," said Patty Baugh, the resident who organized the meeting at Kaiser Elementary School with the aim of preventing neighborhood decay. "It's nice to know that people care." Newport-Mesa Unified School District Supt. Mac Bernd, crisis counselor Roy Alvarado and gang detail officers from the Costa Mesa Police Department spoke.

City officials beat members of Save Our Youth in the fourth annual softball game between the groups Sunday at Lions Park. A team featuring City Council members Libby A. Cowan, Joe Erickson and Heather K. Somers and City Manager Allan L. Roeder came from behind in the sixth inning--the last in softball--to beat middle and high school students from the youth program. The four-year series is tied at 2-2, Erickson said.

Mothers Costa Mesa, a group determined to stop gang activity in the city, has received four two-way radios--compliments of Coalition for a Responsible Government. The radios, which can be attached to belt buckles, operate with little interference and can reach Costa Mesa police in a matter of seconds, said Larry Weichman, a member of the coalition. The group of about 20 mothers patrols schoolyards and bus stops during different times of the day.

An Estancia High School sophomore named Beatriz explains to the counselor and a roomful of classmates how she was beaten up by girl gangbangers. "This girl and I were throwing punches . . .," the round-faced 16-year-old says, fighting back tears. "Then someone from behind pulls my hair and they were all over me. It just wasn't fair."

A group of mothers who patrol schoolyards and bus stops may soon have portable radios to help them guard against gangs and ensure swifter response from police. Larry Weichman, a realtor and member of the local Coalition for Responsible Government, said his group has raised more than $900 to buy three portable radios and a base station. Under a program started in November, about 20 mothers patrol spots near schools and bus stops at various times throughout the day when children are present.