NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILE: EAST CYPRESS : CLIPBOARD

The city of Cypress doesn’t have a Main Street or a central downtown, but it doesn’t lack a focal point. The Cypress Community Center in east Cypress functions as a gathering spot from early morning to late evening.

On almost any afternoon, the sound of bouncing basketballs and the clickety-clack of little girls’ dancing shoes can be heard outside meeting rooms where the next all-community effort is being planned.

The center’s current project is its upcoming Halloween carnival and haunted house tour. “It’s a family event and we usually get a very creative bunch of volunteers from the neighborhood,” said recreation services manager Patty Bailey.

The center offers athletics, arts and crafts and cultural events for all ages. A team of five tutors provides one-to-one assistance to first- through eighth-graders in math, English and reading.

“We’re especially proud of the tutoring program because several parents have told us it has made a difference in their child’s grades and attitude towards school,” said Bailey. “There’s a little less pressure here so they can open up and learn. Maybe it’s because they see all the fun going on and feel more relaxed.”

While the center’s new senior facility is under construction, older members of the community are temporarily gathering at the former Landell School a few blocks away. The center provides seniors with hot lunches on weekdays, free legal assistance, health care screening, shopping assistance and adult day care. Shut-ins may also have meals delivered to their homes.

“I think it’s a wonderful program,” said Delora Rizdy, who lives near the center. “I had hip surgery and couldn’t get out for a while and they brought me meals until I was up again. The ladies from my ceramics class at the center sent me a card too.”

Surrounding the center are 23 residential tracts with a mixture of houses, condominiums and apartments. The earliest development was built in 1965 and the latest in 1984. Most of the commercial development consists of mini-malls and professional office complexes located along Valley View Street, which bisects the neighborhood.

The 1990 census figures show the neighborhood’s population has decreased about 4% since 1980, and show a similar trend in other parts of Cypress as well. City and school district officials believe the report is in error and unsuccessfully challenged the Census Bureau’s findings.

“I find the numbers hard to accept because we annexed a large area since the 1980 census and the elementary schools have reported increased enrollment,” said City Manager Darrell Essex. “I have no explanation for the population dip, other than that the Census Bureau might have made a mistake,” he said. “It’s had an impact on the city financially since the figures are below projections.”

Cypress High School is also located here, and the student body is currently celebrating homecoming week. “We like to include the entire community in it, not just the students,” said counselor Sallie Coltrin. The Parent, Teachers and Students Organization plans a huge barbecue and everyone has a great time,” she said.

Figures recently released by the California State Board of Education showed Cypress High School had one of the lowest on-campus crime rates compared to other schools in Orange County. “I don’t know exactly what to attribute that to, other than school pride,” said Coltrin. “We just don’t seem to have the kinds of problems here that other schools in similar areas face quite often.”

Students at Cypress High can also earn college credits by taking classes at Cypress College, located just a few blocks away. “We’re really lucky to have a community college so close,” said Coltrin. “It helps our students get a head start on college level work.”

From its youngsters to its senior citizens, east Cypress seems to work for everyone.

Population Total: (1990) 4,408 1980-90 change: -4.4% Median Age: 33.6

Racial/ethnic mix: White (non-Latino): 73% Asian: 15%

Latino: 10% Black: 2% By sex and age: MALES Median age: 33.2 years FEMALES Median age: 34.1 years

Income Per capita: $24,511 Median household: $61,921 Average household: $71,684

Income Distribution: Less than $25,000: 15% $25,000-49,999: 25% $50,000-74,999: 22% $75,000-$99,999: 18% $100,000 and more: 20%