The Weekly Newspaper of El Segundo
Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 111, No. 6 - February 10, 2022
Inside
This Issue
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.....................10
Classifieds............................4
Crossword/Sudoku.............4
Entertainment......................3
Legals..............................8-10
Pets......................................12
Police Reports.....................4
Real Estate.......................5-7
Sports.................................3,8
Travel............................... 2,11
Weekend
Forecast
El Segundo Middle School Breaks
Ground on New Gymnasium
El Segundo Unified School District (ESUSD) held a groundbreaking ceremony on February 3 to kick off construction of El Segundo Middle School’s 17,254-square-foot gymnasium and multi-use building,
which is the first new building to be constructed at ESUSD in nearly 20 years. The project is funded by Measure ES and is estimated to be completed in September 2023. Pictured (left to right) are: ESUSD
Superintendent Melissa Moore and Board of Education members Emilee Layne; Tracey Miller-Zarneke, board president; Michael Wagner; Dieema Wheaton, board vice president; and Paulette Caudill,
board clerk. Photo courtesy ESUSD.
Ashley Lathrop Brings a Sweet
Touch to the City of El Segundo
By Kiersten Vannest
These variety boxes have become a major
One of the trendiest (and most difficult) treats
part of her offerings, with themed options
to buy and bake right now is the macaron. A
for most holidays.
finicky dessert at best, there are endless ways
Currently, Lathrop has just entirely booked
to make a macaron the wrong way, which
up for Valentine’s Day boxes, for which she
means that making one correctly is an art and
is making a small slew of heart-shaped treats,
a skill. One El Segundo resident has worked
as well as a love-filled cake pop. Orders
hard to master the craft and bring macarons
for her baking are all made online through
and so much more to the community.
Facebook or from word of mouth and are
Originally living in Playa del Rey with her
scheduled to be picked up from her house
husband, Lathrop moved to El Segundo for
upon their completion.
its space, schools, and community when the
In order to sell baked goods out of her
two had children. Lathrop works a full-time
home, Lathrop had to get a certification.
job as a user experience researcher for AT&T,
“In order to legally use your kitchen for
and in addition to being a parent to two young
baking and selling food products, you have
kids, she decided during the pandemic to
to get what’s called a cottage food license,”
revisit her love of baking.
she says. In addition to this license, Lathrop
“I took a fondant cake class a long time
took a food handling course and training.
ago, and I just always loved to bake,” says
Keeping this license involves making sure her
Lathrop, “I make some really good chocolate
kitchen stays up to code according to state
chip cookies, and everyone always loved
health regulations and food and beverage association
them and asked for them.” About ten years
standards through the LA County
ago, she decided to use this hobby and skill
Public Health Department.
to run a small side business baking custom
orders for local patrons and offering holiday
snack boxes.
Though this practice fell off a bit as she
became a new parent, the pandemic prompted
her to strike it right back up again, in the
form of Ashley’s Sweets and Treats.
The first Halloween of the pandemic, deep
in isolation and a lack of trick-or-treating
opportunities, Lathrop saw a need for a little
bite of happiness. She heated up the oven
and created spooky Halloween boxes filled
with themed treats like finger cookies, spider
brownies, and Oreo bats. Though usually, her
boxes are for pick up, she delivered these
around town to bring a little joy back into
the typically booming El Segundo holiday.
Lathrop’s baked goods started with her classic
cookies. From there, she took a fondant class
and began to branch out more into brownies,
cake pops, and most recently, macarons. Her
favorite things to make are bite-sized snacks
that can be eaten as finger food.
See Ashley Lathrop, page 11
Ashley Lathrop bakes treats for El Segundo neighbors through
Ashley’s Sweets and Treats.
City Announces
Leadership Change
City Manager Scott Mitnick separated
from the City of El Segundo on
February 2nd. City Council appointed
Chief Financial Officer Joe Lillio as the
acting city manager, effective immediately.
The City wishes Scott well in his
future endeavors and thanks him for his
dedicated service.
The City remains committed to the goals
and objectives of the the City’s Strategic
Plan and providing excellent service to the
community. The City’s strong executive
team, under the leadership of Joe Lillio,
will continue to implement the vision of
City Council and the important projects
that are underway and those coming in
the future.
– Provided by City of El Segundo •
Friday
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Saturday
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Sunday
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