Latest news with #RachelGarcia
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
California Science Center opens free interactive sports exhibits
Former UCLA softball pitcher Rachel Garcia stands in the batting cage as the digital Rachel Garcia pitches to visitors at the new Game On! exhibition, which opens Thursday at the California Science Center. (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times) There's a new interactive exhibit opening on Thursday at the California Science Center across the street from the Coliseum that will provide Disneyland-like sports entertainment for all ages, and it's free. Using censors, cameras and 21st century technology, "Game On!" takes up 17,000 square feet formally occupied by the Space Shuttle Endeavor exhibit. It allows visitors to learn about science, sports and movement. You get to actively participate by hitting a softball against pitcher Rachel Garcia, take batting practice instructions from Freddie Freeman and kick a soccer ball into a goal while learning from Alyssa and Gisele Thompson. All are mentors. Advertisement Yet there's so much more. You get to try swimming strokes, skateboarding, snowboarding, cycling. There's climbing, yoga, dancing and challenging your senses during an exhibit that tests your quickness trying to block a hockey puck. There's a basketball exhibit where you shoot a ball toward the basket and learn if your form is good or not. One of the murals at the new interactive sports exhibition at California Science Center. (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times) "There's something for everybody," said Renata Simril, president and CEO of the LA84 Foundation that helped provide funding along with the Dodgers Foundation and Walter Family Foundation. She's not embellishing. Parents, children, adults, teenagers — they're all going to be smiling. Don't be surprised if nearby USC students discover a new place to enjoy an hour break for fun and laughter from studying by walking over to the exhibition hall when it opens at 10 a.m. The California Science Center new interactive sports exhibit — "Game On!" — opens on Thursday. It's free. (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times) It's supposed to be open through the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but don't be surprised if popularity creates momentum to keep it around longer. Advertisement "It's really cool," said Garcia, a former UCLA All-American softball pitcher who appears on a screen showing off her 60 mph pitch as a participant swings a real bat trying to hit an imaginary ball as a light trail moves down a rail toward the batter. "I think it's phenomenal. It's going to get a lot of kids engaged." Garcia even tried to hit against herself. "I missed the first time," she said. The batting cage where Freeman is providing hitting advice has a real soft ball and bat. It will be popular for all ages. The rock climbing exhibit still has not been completed, but participants will wear a harness as they climb toward the ceiling. Advertisement While kids will be the most enthusiastic, a dinner recently held at the facility that had adults dressed in tuxedos and dresses resulted in them trying out the exhibits and acting like teenagers again. Using science to teach lessons could provide inspiration for non-sports visitors. There's sound effects throughout and most important, pushing a button doesn't just mean you watch and listen. It means you get to participate, whether hitting a baseball or softball, trying to make a free throw, trying to swim or skateboard. Don't be surprised when word gets out how fun this exhibition creates. There will be lines. The only question will it be kids lining up or adults? Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
California Science Center opens free interactive sports exhibits
There's a new interactive exhibit opening on Thursday at the California Science Center across the street from the Coliseum that will provide Disneyland-like sports entertainment for all ages, and it's free. Using censors, cameras and 21st century technology, 'Game On!' takes up 17,000 square feet formally occupied by the Space Shuttle Endeavor exhibit. It allows visitors to learn about science, sports and movement. You get to actively participate by hitting a softball against pitcher Rachel Garcia, take batting practice instructions from Freddie Freeman and kick a soccer ball into a goal while learning from Alyssa and Gisele Thompson. All are mentors. Yet there's so much more. You get to try swimming strokes, skateboarding, snowboarding, cycling. There's climbing, yoga, dancing and challenging your senses during an exhibit that tests your quickness trying to block a hockey puck. There's a basketball exhibit where you shoot a ball toward the basket and learn if your form is good or not. 'There's something for everybody,' said Renata Simril, president and CEO of the LA84 Foundation that helped provide funding along with the Dodgers Foundation and Walter Family Foundation. She's not embellishing. Parents, children, adults, teenagers — they're all going to be smiling. Don't be surprised if nearby USC students discover a new place to enjoy an hour break for fun and laughter from studying by walking over to the exhibition hall when it opens at 10 a.m. It's supposed to be open through the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, but don't be surprised if popularity creates momentum to keep it around longer. 'It's really cool,' said Garcia, a former UCLA All-American softball pitcher who appears on a screen showing off her 60 mph pitch as a participant swings a real bat trying to hit an imaginary ball as a light trail moves down a rail toward the batter. 'I think it's phenomenal. It's going to get a lot of kids engaged.' Garcia even tried to hit against herself. 'I missed the first time,' she said. The batting cage where Freeman is providing hitting advice has a real soft ball and bat. It will be popular for all ages. The rock climbing exhibit still has not been completed, but participants will wear a harness as they climb toward the ceiling. While kids will be the most enthusiastic, a dinner recently held at the facility that had adults dressed in tuxedos and dresses resulted in them trying out the exhibits and acting like teenagers again. Using science to teach lessons could provide inspiration for non-sports visitors. There's sound effects throughout and most important, pushing a button doesn't just mean you watch and listen. It means you get to participate, whether hitting a baseball or softball, trying to make a free throw, trying to swim or skateboard. Don't be surprised when word gets out how fun this exhibition creates. There will be lines. The only question will it be kids lining up or adults?
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Elmer C. Garcia Elmer C. Garcia, age 92, passed away
May 10—Elmer C. Garcia Elmer C. Garcia, age 92, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 6th, 2025. He was a loving Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Uncle, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, and Friend to his large family from Albuquerque and Northern New Mexico. He is survived by his daughter, Eileen Montoya, and four grandchildren: David Montoya and girlfriend Kelly Moya, Danny Montoya and wife Kera, Donnie Montoya and wife Sadee, and granddaughter Rachel Ulloa and husband Martin. He also is survived by his eight great grandchildren that he loved dearly. Elmer was born in Ojo Caliente the youngest of ten and worked as an Insurance Broker traveling around New Mexico. It was his joy meeting and talking with people around the state helping them with various policies such as Life Insurance, Wills, and Living Trusts. He married the love of his Life Rachel in 1957 and is now reunited with her after losing her to breast cancer 34 years ago. Elmer touched so many lives around Albuquerque with his phone calls and deep conversations, that will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A Rosary will be recited at 5pm on Tuesday, May 13th, 2025 at Alameda Mortuary 9420 Fourth Street NW. A mass will be held at Nativity of The Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church on Wednesday, May 14th, 2025 at 9am with burial to follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Services are being provided by Daniel's Family Funerals.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Elmer C. Garcia Elmer C. Garcia, age 92, passed away
May 10—Elmer C. Garcia Elmer C. Garcia, age 92, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 6th, 2025. He was a loving Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Uncle, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, and Friend to his large family from Albuquerque and Northern New Mexico. He is survived by his daughter, Eileen Montoya, and four grandchildren: David Montoya and girlfriend Kelly Moya, Danny Montoya and wife Kera, Donnie Montoya and wife Sadee, and granddaughter Rachel Ulloa and husband Martin. He also is survived by his eight great grandchildren that he loved dearly. Elmer was born in Ojo Caliente the youngest of ten and worked as an Insurance Broker traveling around New Mexico. It was his joy meeting and talking with people around the state helping them with various policies such as Life Insurance, Wills, and Living Trusts. He married the love of his Life Rachel in 1957 and is now reunited with her after losing her to breast cancer 34 years ago. Elmer touched so many lives around Albuquerque with his phone calls and deep conversations, that will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A Rosary will be recited at 5pm on Tuesday, May 13th, 2025 at Alameda Mortuary 9420 Fourth Street NW. A mass will be held at Nativity of The Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church on Wednesday, May 14th, 2025 at 9am with burial to follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Services are being provided by Daniel's Family Funerals.
