Did you know that Brea has a Distinguished Brea Athletes Program? It was created in 2009 to honor outstanding former Brea athletes who have achieved sporting accolades at the state, national and international levels.
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Jeanette Pohlen gained renown on the Brea-Olinda Ladycat basketball team. It was where she played from 2003 to 2007 when she graduated.
From Brea Olinda High, she moved on to Stanford University. At Stanford, she played basketball from 2007 to 2011 and was named a United States Basketball All-American.
But that’s not all. Pohlen is a three-time Pac-10 All-American, a 2011 Associated Press first-team All-American and the 2012 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Champion.
She is an eight-year veteran of the WNBA, having played for the Indiana Fever from 2011 to 2018.
Pohlen has also been inducted into the Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame, and is now an assistant coach for women’s basketball at the university.
It probably didn’t take long for the Distinguished Brea Athlete Selection Committee, consisting of Mayor Cecilia Hupp plus eight members of the city commissions and the historical society, to agree Pohlen should be induced as a Distinguished Brea Athlete.
It happened in a ceremony, led by Councilmember Christine Marrick, for Mayor Hupp, who was out of town, at the Brea Sports Park on July 31 where approximately 60 folks, including several current and past Ladycats, came to honor Pohlen.
Brea councilmembers Blair Stewart and Steve Vargas unveiled her plaque, to be mounted by the other plaques for Distinguished Athletes Frank Andruski, Vic Aur, Connie Jaster, Walter Johnson, Randy Jones, Doug Nordquist and Elwoood Paul Moore. Pohlen is the second woman to be inducted as a Distinguished Brea Athlete.
Check out all the plaques beautifully displayed on a wall at the Brea Sports Park near the concession stand area.
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Something else to check out is careful driving this month, especially after Aug. 12 when students in the BOUSD return to classes. Besides kids walking, we have to watch out for the regular and e-bike riders, plus the parents rushing to get in line to drop off or pick up their students. Fun times.
If your student plans on riding an e-bike to a BOUSD school, they must take the Brea Police Department’s free, one-hour e-bike safety course. The mandatory class must be attended by the student and accompanied a parent or guardian.
Completion of the safety class allows the student to receive a free e-bike parking permit sticker. Without the permit, your student’s e-bike will not be allowed on campus.
And the permit is only good for the current school year. Next year, the student will again have to take the one-hour safety course in order to receive another e-bike parking sticker.
According to Brea police Lt. Chris Haddad, juvenile recipients of an e-bike-related first offense could register to attend the class in lieu of a fine.
Haddad also noted that approximately 150 students have completed the safety course, and any other Brea residents who also want to take the course are welcome to register. That is probably a good idea for e-bike riders of any age. Remember, it is free.
To register for the e-bike safety classes, go to: bousd.us/page/e-bike-safety
E-bikes are great, but only if kids and adults follow traffic rules and ride responsibly.
Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at [email protected].
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