​ School Board Honors Spaghettini Owners, Longtime Maintenance Worker

LOS ALAMITOS, CA — The Los Alamitos Unified School District board recently honored the owners of Spaghettini Grill and Jazz Club as Oak Middle School Heroes of the Heart for efforts on behalf of the school and the district.

Joy and Carey Hardwick have opened up their renowned Seal Beach music venue for prime-time performances by the Oak jazz ensemble, as well as by musicians from other district schools, Oak Principal Erin Kominsky told the board.

“They have provided an extraordinary opportunity for our students. To play in front of a live audience is most certainly priceless,” Kominsky said. The Hardwicks also host various fundraisers for the school and district, and Joy Hardwick serves on the board of the Oak instrumental music boosters, Kominsky said.

“We just love the kids,” Joy Hardwick said in accepting the award with her husband. “I went to Oak. [My son] Cooper is my third child to go to Oak. I have such fond memories, just to give back to the school what I’ve gotten is so special.”

The board also honored Mitchell Banales, a district building and grounds maintenance worker, as classified Employee of the Year.

Banales, who has worked for the district for 19 years in a variety of capacities, including plumber, welder and food service driver, also has been President of the California School Employees Association (CSEA) for eight years.

Superintendent Dr. Sherry Kropp said Banales “has such hunger and desire to make the district the best it can be.”

Assistant Superintendent Andrew Pulver called Banales an “eternal optimist, always willing to pitch in and help his colleagues,” who also gives back to his community as a regular blood donor and volunteer ukulele player at senior centers.

Photos courtesy Los Alamitos Unified School District (Carey Hardwick, Joy Hardwick, with son Cooper.)

With Robert Ostmann, LAUSD