Summer–fall 2025 PLUS Little Pine Park opens I Through the Years: Anaheim Fire & Rescue I ‘Tragic Kingdom’ at 30: all Anaheim WHAT’S IN A NAME?! Why we’re Anaheim and all that’s inspired by our city
Mayor Ashleigh E. Aitken Mayor Pro Tem Council Member I District 6 Natalie Meeks Council Member I District 1 Ryan Balius Council Member I District 2 Carlos A. Leon Council Member I District 3 Natalie Rubalcava Council Member I District 4 Norma Campos Kurtz Council Member I District 5 Kristen Maahs City Manager Jim Vanderpool View the online version of Anaheim magazine Anaheim.net/magazine To request this magazine in an alternative format, please call (714) 765-5162, or TTY (714) 765-5125. The city prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs, services and activities. Anaheim What’s in a Name ‘Tragic Kingdom’at 30 No Doubt’s breakthrough was all Anaheim Through the years Anaheim’s fire and emergency services have been there for us 2 I Community Big fun at Little Pine Park A welcoming, safe space where families can gather, kids can play and neighbors can connect Active fun! Anaheim’s older adult programs and classes tailored to you! Retro lunar landing Moonscape play area is steeped in quirky Anaheim history 6 I Service Smart summer savings Keep your power on, home cool and bills down Street sweeping Why we do it, why we need it 10 I Economic Vitality Making progress to rebuild Beach Our multiyear effort to transform Beach Boulevard 19 I Calendar 20 I Around Anaheim Events and community updates Editor Natalie Aguirre Contributors Mike Lyster • Alan Reyes • Esther Kwon Anaheim magazine is published quarterly by the city of Anaheim. Address all correspondence to Anaheim magazine, c/o Editor, 200 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92805. Please visit Anaheim.net/magazine for an online version of Anaheim magazine. The city of Anaheim is a city council/city manager form of government. The City Council makes policy decisions at City Council meetings, Tuesdays at 5 p.m., while the city manager oversees the day-to-day operations of the city. If you have any concerns regarding the city of Anaheim, simply dial 3-1-1 from any landline phone or (714) 765-4311. Anaheim Anytime representatives are available 7a.m.–5:30p.m. Monday through Friday. Recorded information is also available. About Anaheim: Anaheim is a full-service city supporting more than 340,000 residents, 20,000 businesses and 25 million annual visitors. The city provides public safety through the Anaheim Police Department and Anaheim Fire & Rescue, water and power service through Anaheim Public Utilities, parks, community centers, family services and libraries through Anaheim Community Services, neighborhood and transportation improvements through Anaheim Public Works, affordable housing and other services through Housing and Community Development and community revitalization through Economic Development. Anaheim is a modern, diverse city with a proud history dating back to its 1857 founding. Anaheim is known worldwide as the home of the Disneyland Resort, including Walt Disney’s original Disneyland Park, as well as Angel Stadium of Anaheim and Angels Baseball, Honda Center and the Anaheim Ducks, and the Anaheim Convention Center, the largest on the West Coast. Anaheim’s thriving visitor industry and business community help support the city’s neighborhoods and make Anaheim a great place to live, work and play. For more, please visit Anaheim.net. Contents 1 Summer–fall 2025 I ANAHEIM 12 18 15
More than 20 trees, including Torrey pines and sycamores, were planted to provide shade and support birds, bugs and other wildlife. The result is a welcoming, safe space where families can gather, kids can play and neighbors can connect. Little Pine Park was funded in part by a $750,000 state park grant, with additional funding from city development fees. It joins nearby Cottonwood Park to offer residents another option for outdoor fun in their own backyard. Little Pine Park: enjoying exercise equipment on a sunny afternoon It’s built on land left over from a freeway widening in the late 1990s for the expansion of The Anaheim Resort. Today, it is a space to relax, walk or exercise in a neighborhood of tight-knit apartments and family homes. Little Pine Park has a looped walking path, picnic areas, exercise equipment, a pingpong table and cornhole. Other touches — sensory play panels, butterfly-friendly plants, selfie stations and picnic tables just for kids — reflect community input. A once fenced-off, empty lot along the 5 freeway is now Anaheim’s newest neighborhood park. Little Pine Park opened in June as Anaheim’s 68th city park and a much-needed green space for neighborhoods near Vermont Avenue and Harbor Boulevard. At just half an acre, the park at 884 Bellevue Drive may be small. But it is having a big impact. Community 2 ANAHEIM I Summer–fall 2025 The result is a welcoming, safe space where families can gather, kids can play and neighbors can connect.
Community This is part of Anaheim’s ongoing commitment to ensuring our older adults have access to safe, welcoming and engaging spaces throughout the city. Our senior programs continue to grow, making Anaheim a vibrant place for older adults to connect, learn and thrive. Community Center, East Anaheim Community Center, Miraloma Park and Family Resource Center, Ponderosa Park and Family Resource Center and the West Anaheim Youth Center. Need a ride? Our senior wheels transportation program can help! The program offers free rides to city-sponsored meal sites for older adults who live in Anaheim and are 60 and older. Transportation is also available at a low fee for social activities, recreation, shopping and medical appointments. For more, visit Anaheim.net/ OlderAdults. Our Anaheim Senior Citizens Club is a nonprofit volunteer group that has been around since the 1950s, providing experiences and entertainment for our older adults. The club hosts lunches, dances, game days, travel opportunities and more to keep socially engaged. You can find out more by contacting the club at (714) 765-4511. Anaheim’s older adult programs are where friendships are formed and memories are forged. Programs through Anaheim Community Services provide ways for those 55 and older to stay active, socially connected and engaged with the community. Our community centers offer activities and programs for older adults while enriching their lives and promoting an active lifestyle. Older adults are one of the fastest-growing groups in our city. Anaheim recognizes the importance of keeping active and engaged, which is why we are invested in expanding and engaging our older adult programs. Whether you are interested in fitness, art, technology, social clubs, cooking classes or wellness, we offer activities to meet the diverse needs and abilities of our older adults. You can find programs, classes and events across our various community centers, including Brookhurst Community Center, Downtown Anaheim 3 Summer–fall 2025 I ANAHEIM For more, visit Anaheim.net/OlderAdults Our senior programs continue to grow, making Anaheim a vibrant place for older adults to connect, learn and thrive.
Community 4 ANAHEIM I Summer–fall 2025 Moonscape was known to skaters as Sadlands, a play on one of the region’s historic skate parks, Badlands, in Upland. While we look back fondly on Moonscape’s skater days, it wasn’t to be. Life’s hard realities of safety concerns and ensuring families could still enjoy the play area led to a 1980s resurfacing that ended skating at this location (with eight skate parks across Anaheim today). Moonscape now is a funky twist on a play area, with its lunar theme and throwback vibes. One recent visitor likened it to a scene out of the 1960s cartoon sitcom “The Flintstones.” Moonscape is a reminder that great places can be found throughout Anaheim. This play area holds stories of Space Age enthusiasts, legendary skaters and curious newcomers. If you have kids or are looking for great photo ops for Instagram, check out this quirky, cratered slice of Anaheim at Brookhurst Park. craters, stalagmites, a lunar lander slide and a flying saucer merry-go-round. Built in the heart of the Space Age, the play area drew inspiration from the “Magic Moondeck” roof of the Kodak Pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. The play area was an instant hit with kids and kids at heart who were fascinated by the moon landings of 1969 and 1972. This play area channeled that energy into a one-of-a-kind play experience. Back then, it was literally a Space Age dream made in concrete. Kids climbed craters, slid down the lunar lander and spun in flying saucers. Not long after, Moonscape took on another life entirely as an impromptu skate park, with skate culture booming in Anaheim and across Southern California. Among those who skated there was a teenage Tony Hawk, who once called Moonscape one of his favorite places. Tucked inside Brookhurst Park in a quiet corner of west Anaheim lies a place that looks like a scene out of a sci-fi movie. Moonscape play area opened in 1974 as a replica of a lunar landscape, complete with Moonscape: now a funky twist on a play area with its lunar theme and throwback vibes Moonscape is a reminder that great places can be found throughout Anaheim.
Community 5 Summer–fall 2025 I ANAHEIM Space Age bike paths Child enjoying lunar lander Skater at Moonscape Flying saucer merry-go-round Children at Moonscape play area
Service Smart summer savings Keep your power on, home cool and bills down Anaheim enjoys great weather year-round, but summer in Southern California can mean heat waves of 100 degrees or higher. Conserve and save With the summer heat, demand for cool air conditioning can bring high electricity bills. Summer is also when we may see statewide Flex Alerts that urge Californians, including Anaheim residents, to conserve energy when demand is highest from 3 to 9 p.m. While we typically always have enough power to serve our city, we’re still required to take part in conservation when California calls for it. Conserving energy is a way to help manage your summertime bills, keep cool and save money. 6 ANAHEIM I Summer–fall 2025 Summer tips: how to keep bills down
Service 7 Summer–fall 2025 I ANAHEIM Prevention is best, and it takes all of us to keep Mylar balloons out of power lines. • Keep metallic balloons indoors where possible • If outdoors, make sure balloons are securely tied or anchored • Hold balloons firmly when moving them • Before disposing, deflate balloons while tethered and anchored We will always work to restore electricity safely and as soon as possible, any time of day. When outages happen, you can report it and see updates at Anaheim.net/outages. Prevent power outages Our daily lives in Anaheim are powered by highly reliable and cost-effective electricity, thanks to our very own Anaheim Public Utilities, our city’s not-for-profit power and water provider. While power outages are rare in Anaheim, they do happen, and we all know how frustrating that can be. Sometimes, outages happen for reasons beyond our control. A car accident might take out a utility pole, severe wind can knock down wires or wildlife can get into equipment and lines. Other times, outages are preventable. One common cause of outages is Mylar balloons, which are metallic. Mylar balloons are typically intended for celebrations and happy occasions but can dampen the excitement quickly. When they get caught in electrical lines, Mylar balloons short-circuit the flow of power and cause an outage. Follow these pro tips: • Cool your home early by running AC in the morning and late afternoon • Close curtains and blinds to keep heat out • Run dishwashers, washing machines and other major appliances before 3 p.m. or after 9 p.m. • Charge phones, laptops and electric vehicles outside peak hours of 3-9 p.m. • Skip using the oven to avoid creating additional heat in your kitchen • Hold off on trimming shade trees until fall Find rebates and more energy-saving tips from Anaheim Public Utilities at Anaheim.net/utilities. We will always work to restore electricity safely and as soon as possible, any time of day. Power outages: we will restore as quickly as possible Power outages: keep Mylar balloons out of power lines
Street sweeping cleans and enhances neighborhoods and brings better quality of life. bills, and we want to make sure you’re getting what you pay for. Street sweeping schedule Street sweeping takes place in neighborhoods Mondays through Thursdays. Fridays see street sweeping in alleyways and major streets, with ticketing only if signs are posted. That’s a big reason why we sweep our streets. But it’s not the only one. Street sweeping cleans and enhances neighborhoods and brings better quality of life. And, you pay for it! All residents pay for street sweeping through their utility What’s the most common question we get? “Is there street sweeping today?” You can bet most days the answer is “yes.” Anaheim’s street sweeping service cleans our streets and keeps debris and pollution from flowing into storm drains and waterways and getting to the coastline and ocean. Street sweeping Why we do it, why we need it 8 ANAHEIM I Summer–fall 2025 Street sweeping: keeps neighborhoods clean, prevents coastal pollution Service
Environmental concerns We cite for street sweeping because of the importance of the service in cleaning neighborhoods, protecting our environment and because all residents pay for the service through their utility bills. Federal and state clean water regulations also require Anaheim and other cities to sweep streets and prevent pollution from reaching our oceans. When we see heavy rain, trash and debris make their way into our stormwater system, waterways and ultimately to the ocean, with pollution impacts for beaches and marine life. If you’ve ever seen tragic pictures of trash washed to the beach after heavy rain — that’s a big reason why we sweep. And that is something we all should be concerned about and work to prevent. Citations We don’t like having to cite vehicles for street sweeping. Citations are issued where signs are posted indicating “No Parking for Street Sweeping.” Signs are posted every 250 feet on main streets and are also at the entrances of neighborhoods. Street sweeping citations must be addressed within 21 calendar days of the issue date. For citation inquiries, call (888) 255-9711. To request an exemption for a disabled vehicle, call (714) 765-4444. Parking is a challenge in many neighborhoods, and we know what it’s like in some areas on street sweeping days. We thank everyone for making way for the street sweeper. In a perfect world, if everyone voluntarily moved vehicles to make way for street sweeping, that would be awesome. But, in the real world, that doesn’t happen without citations. Morning routes Monday through Thursday are from 8 a.m. to noon. Afternoon routes are from noon to 4 p.m. The street sweeper can come anytime during the hours of morning or afternoon routes. Should the sweeper come after noon on a morning route or after 4 p.m. on an afternoon route, there is no ticketing. The holiday street sweeping schedule can be found at Anaheim.net/ StreetSweeping. Sweeping in weather There are few times when street sweeping is canceled due to weather. With sunny, clear skies, of course, expect street sweeping to take place as scheduled. If windy, street sweeping will take place too. Yes, wind will blow more debris after we sweep. But sweeping during wind reduces the overall amount of windblown debris that would get to waterways. In light rain, expect street sweeping. Light rain actually helps minimize the use of water from our street sweeping trucks. Extended, heavy rain is about the only time we will cancel street sweeping. If we see large pools of water build up on streets, it can damage our trucks. For more, visit Anaheim.net/StreetSweeping We cite for street sweeping because of the importance of the service in cleaning neighborhoods, protecting our environment and because all residents pay for the service through their utility bills. 9 Summer–fall 2025 I ANAHEIM Service Inland debris washed to Huntington Beach: why we sweep By phone: (888) 255-9711 In person: City Hall, 201 S. Anaheim Blvd., First Floor Online: Anaheimepay.net
10 ANAHEIM I Summer–fall 2025 Nuisance motels: tearing down to build up The Rainbow Inn is Anaheim’s fourth motel demolition along Beach Boulevard since 2021. Last year, we tore down the Anaheim Lodge just south of the Rainbow Inn. The city also bought and demolished the Covered Wagon on the north side of the Rainbow Inn. In 2019, we bought the former Americana Motel just up the street and tore it down in 2021. Removing these nuisance motels clears the way for redevelopment. In May, Anaheim demolished the former Rainbow Inn — one of the last things standing in the way of better things coming to Beach. The city bought the Rainbow Inn for $6.9 million in September from Dhanuba Hospitality Inc., a family holding company. The former two-story, 42-room motel opened in 1984 and became a nuisance site harboring prostitution and human trafficking, drug sales and use, theft rings and other problems. Exciting things are happening along Beach Boulevard. In fact, more has happened on Beach in the past five years than in the past five decades. We know there is much more work ahead, and our city is dedicated to addressing crime and blight to create a livable, walkable street that all Anaheim can be proud of. Rainbow Inn demolition We have been tearing down to build back up. We know there is much more work ahead, and our city is dedicated to addressing crime and blight to create a livable, walkable street that all Anaheim can be proud of. Making progress to rebuild Beach Our multiyear effort to transform Beach Boulevard Economic Vitality
11 Summer–fall 2025 I ANAHEIM to continue and ensure worker safety. Construction is set to be completed early next year. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we work to improve Beach. New housing and retail coming soon Roadway improvements You may have noticed construction and improvements in the roadway and landscaping along Beach Boulevard. Anaheim has taken over management of the roadway from Caltrans, making it easier for developers and projects to move forward to rebuild Beach. City management of Beach Boulevard will also have an immediate impact to improve the look of the street, as we work on larger, long-term efforts to continue addressing public safety, problem motels and bringing new, positive activity. One visible improvement along the roadway is the relocation of overhead power and utility lines underground. A $25 million investment is underway to enhance reliability, reduce outages from weather and auto accidents and, particularly for Beach, a much-improved visual streetscape. During construction, some traffic lanes may temporarily close to allow for work Housing for families The combined site where the Rainbow Inn, Anaheim Lodge and Covered Wagon motels used to be will see much-needed housing for our community. We’ll see up to 120 apartments at affordable rents based on income and about 15 townhomes for sale at market prices with some available to first-time buyers. Plans are still in development with the start of construction possible next year. Just across the street, new townhomes are nearing completion and affordable apartments are in the early stages right next door. Around the corner from that, the city broke ground in August to build more apartments where we’ll eventually see a new community for seniors and young adults. Progress on 39 Commons The businesses on Beach Boulevard also play a big role in making our city as great as it is. We are excited to soon welcome new additions to 39 Commons, the long- awaited retail center at Beach and Lincoln Avenue. We’ll see work begin on an In-N-Out, Dave’s Hot Chicken and the first-ever Dutch Bros. in Anaheim. See all we’re doing at Anaheim.net/RebuildBeach Economic Vitality Anaheim has taken over management of the roadway from Caltrans, making it easier for developers and projects to move forward to rebuild Beach. Clearing the way for redevelopment
Canadian Cousins But there is one that comes close. And it’s that of our friends in Annaheim, Saskatchewan — that’s Annaheim with two N’s — in the central Canadian province. Like our city, Annaheim, Saskatchewan, was settled by German homesteaders. And our cities share some common inspiration in name, with Annaheim, Saskatchewan, taking its name from Saint Anne, also the namesake of the Santa Ana River and of our city. A historical footnote: Some early documents for Anaheim also spell our city with two N’s before our founders realized the river used “Ana,” the Spanish spelling for Saint Anne. Beyond similar names, there are big differences between Anaheim and Annaheim. Our city is in the heart of Southern California with more than 340,000 residents and more than 25 million yearly visitors coming to Disneyland, the Anaheim Convention Center and our sports and entertainment venues. Our city’s name is as unique as we are, with some notable places and things named for Anaheim. In 1857, German American settlers created the Anaheim name by combining “heim,” the German word for home, with Ana from the Santa Ana River. Together, they create the meaning of our city’s name of “home by the river.” And our city’s name is uniquely ours. No other city is named Anaheim, not across our country or even in Germany, where there are plenty of “heims.” 12 ANAHEIM I Summer–fall 2025 Anaheim High School pageantry squad: our city’s name means home by the river
From there, Anaheim chili peppers were forever known for our city. In an Anaheim collab, Carl’s Jr. — started by Carl Karcher with its first restaurant and onetime headquarters in Anaheim — has spiced up burgers and chicken sandwiches with Anaheim chilis over the years. Long Beach If you’re from Anaheim, you’ll feel at home in Long Beach, where one of the longest and most well-known streets is named after our city. Anaheim Street runs for about 10 miles through Long Beach and the neighboring Los Angeles neighborhood of Wilmington. The street, originally known as Anaheim Road, takes its name from its historic role connecting early Long Beach to Anaheim and all of Orange County, dating back to the 1800s. Today, Anaheim Street pays tribute to the ties between our city and Long Beach. There’s even a light-rail stop, Anaheim Street Station, taking its name from the street and our city. 13 Summer–fall 2025 I ANAHEIM Canada’s Annaheim is charmingly smaller. It’s home to about 200 people and is a farming town that’s also home to Doepker Industries Ltd., a maker of semi-truck trailers and grain haulers. While there’s no Disneyland, Annaheim’s hockey ice rink tied for first in 2019 voting as Saskatchewan’s coldest. Way to go Annaheim! Anaheim Chili Pepper While Annaheim, Saskatchewan, is as close as it gets in name to our city, many places and things pay homage to Anaheim. Famously, there’s the Anaheim chili pepper. It originates from New Mexico but takes its name for our city, thanks to Emilio Ortega of the Ortega family behind those famous Ortega taco sauces and shells. Emilio Ortega brought the chili pepper seeds to our young farming town in the late 1800s. Well suited to our soil and climate, the peppers were an instant hit with Anaheim farmers looking for new options after an 1884 plague swept through vineyards and did away with our city’s early wine colony. Annaheim, Saskatchewan: as close as it gets to us in name Anaheim chili peppers: made famous by the family behind Ortega taco shells and sauces Anaheim Street Station in Long Beach: pays homage to our city
Vans In an iconic pop culture shoutout, our city’s name features prominently in a line of Vans shoes known as the Anaheim Factory collection. The line pays tribute to the history of Vans, which brothers Paul and Jim Van Doren started in 1966 with a factory making sneakers with those unmistakable waffle soles in downtown Anaheim. While Vans now has its headquarters in Costa Mesa, the brand is forever associated with Anaheim and the enduring cool of skateboarding and California streetwear. Set in San Francisco The German American settlers who founded Anaheim came here by way of San Francisco. And so did our city’s name. Anaheim was picked in 1858 — shortly after our official founding — during a San Francisco meeting of settlers who had bought 1,165 acres in what is today downtown Anaheim. At the meeting, the settlers picked the Anaheim name to reflect their vision for a peaceful agricultural community by the river. An alternative considered was “Anaberg,” drawing on “berg” — German for mountain — for the hills and mountains just to the east. But Anaheim won out and is known around the world today. Anaheim Bay Unlike Long Beach, Anaheim isn’t a coastal city. But we do have a bay proudly named after us. Anaheim Bay is nestled between Seal Beach and Huntington Beach and is the site of historic Anaheim Landing, an early wharf that supplied our young city. Before the railroad came to Anaheim in 1874, the Pacific Ocean was the lifeblood of the young Anaheim Colony about 10 miles away. Anaheim cofounder and former City Council member August Frederick Langenberger formed the Anaheim Landing Co. at Anaheim Bay to bring goods to our city and to all of what would become Orange County. It was a closer, better alternative to what today is the Port of Los Angeles a bit farther up the road. At Anaheim Bay, large ships would anchor out in deeper water with smaller boats hauling goods to shore. The wharf thrived for about 15 years, serving as an entry port for goods from San Francisco and as far as the East Coast. While more efficient cargo trains came to eclipse the wharf, Anaheim Bay went on to play a role in military operations during World War II. Anaheim Bay lives on today as a testament to the formative role our city played throughout our region, with a historical plaque at the site commemorating the legacy of Anaheim Landing. 14 ANAHEIM I Summer–fall 2025 Anaheim Bay: early wharf for our young city, lives on as historic site today Vans Anaheim Factory collection: forever tied to our city
Through the Years Anaheim’s fire and emergency services have been there for us Things started to evolve in the 1870s with volunteers who served as Anaheim’s first firefighters, using buckets and other gear on wagons. We took a big step forward in 1915 when Anaheim bought our first ladder truck and hired full-time firefighters. Our first professional firefighters were on duty around the clock and lived at Anaheim’s first fire station at City Hall. But those initial days were still nothing like today. Our first fire chief, appointed in 1926, not only oversaw firefighting but also handled trash collection. The department is made up of more than 200 sworn firefighters and paramedics, with more than 50 engines, trucks, ambulances and other vehicles (including our antique engine!). Our fire department is nearly as old as Anaheim with a fascinating and sometimes funny history. There was no city fire department in the earliest days of young Anaheim in the late 1800s. Our German American homesteaders would rely on each other when a house, barn or business caught fire. Our city’s newest fire station is going up just across from Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The station, our 12th, will house a new fire company to serve the growing area around the stadium, which will bring help even faster and ease reliance on existing stations. Our newest station will also honor Anaheim’s fire history by housing our oldest antique fire engine dating back to the 1920s. Today, Anaheim Fire & Rescue is Orange County’s largest city fire, medical and emergency services department. 15 Summer–fall 2025 I ANAHEIM Above: Our oldest antique fire engine: part of a rich history
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But don’t worry. Our fire stations are always fully staffed and ready to respond to emergencies at home. Helping others means they’ll be there to help us when we need it. From humble beginnings to today, Anaheim Fire & Rescue has come a long way. Anaheim Fire & Rescue is one of the most advanced fire and emergency agencies in Orange County and even California. We also will lend support on fires throughout our state and region. During the tragic Eaton and Palisades fires in early 2025, Anaheim Fire & Rescue sent strike teams and equipment to help our neighbors to the north. Along with the rest of Anaheim, our fire department came of age in the 1950s when we opened our first standalone station along Broadway near City Hall. Yet things were still evolving. Ed Stringer, our chief at the time, was called the “hitchhiking chief” because he didn’t have his own emergency vehicle. He would hitch patrol car rides or use his own 1936 Plymouth to get to fires, sometimes long after they were put out. Today, Anaheim Fire & Rescue is one of the prides of our city — a full-service emergency services team focused on our neighborhoods and businesses. With our newest station, set to open in 2026, we’ll have an even dozen spread across the city with plans for the 13th in early stages right behind it. Each day, Anaheim Fire & Rescue responds to dozens of medical emergencies, fires and traffic collisions. Other times our first responders are deployed to wildfires, hazardous materials calls and swift water or other rescues. In 2020, Anaheim Fire & Rescue took another step forward by switching from contract providers to our own ambulance operators. The move has saved millions of dollars annually and also helps recruit future firefighters with ambulance positions serving as a stepping stone into our department. Opposite, top: Early days: fighting fires with wagons and buckets Opposite, middle: Early engine: a step forward for Anaheim firefighting Opposite, bottom: Coming of age: our first standalone station 17 Summer–fall 2025 I ANAHEIM Wildfire vehicles: ready to respond to any wildfire threat in east Anaheim Traffic collision response: one of dozens of daily calls
No Doubt at Honda Center: first Anaheim band to play hometown arena Anaheim Colony, as well as M&M Grocery on Citron Street, a corner market that’s still there today. In the video, Stefani walks from a garage rehearsal to the market. There, she buys some cans of “Anaheim” brand salsa de pomodoro — tomato sauce — with a label evoking the “Tragic Kingdom” cover. “Don’t Speak,” the biggest single from the album, recreates the band’s early days playing in Anaheim garages, along with concert footage and theatrical scenes. The song famously tells of the breakup of Stefani and bassist Tony Kanal, who grew up in a family home right along Harbor Boulevard near Disneyland. Stefani and Kanal were together for seven years before splitting right before the release of “Tragic Kingdom.” In 2024, Stefani and Kanal, who remained friends, shared a touching moment on stage with No Doubt’s reunion for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. It defined a generation in Anaheim. This October marks 30 years since the release of No Doubt’s definitive 1995 “Tragic Kingdom” album. The chart-topping album, which sold more than 15 million copies worldwide, mixed 1980s-influenced new wave, ska, punk and pop to become a cultural phenomenon. The album’s biggest influence? Anaheim. No Doubt brought a different kind of attention to our city with its musical glimpse of life growing up here. With “Spiderwebs,” “Don’t Speak” and “Just a Girl,” the album captured what it was like in Anaheim in the 1980s and ’90s. In the video for “Just a Girl,” singer Gwen Stefani’s former family home on Beacon Avenue near Ball Road is featured in the opening scene. Stefani sports an iconic white tank top with “Anaheim” across the front for the “Just a Girl” video, which launched her and No Doubt to national stardom. The video for “Sunday Morning” features another onetime Stefani family home, the Armbrust-Pember House in the historic ‘Tragic Kingdom’ cover: satirical ode to Anaheim 18 ANAHEIM I Summer–fall 2025 ‘Tragic Kingdom’ at 30 No Doubt’s breakthrough was all Anaheim
Calendar SEPT.25-28 Orange County Auto Show OCT.4 2025 Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series Anaheim OCT.25 Premier Bridal Show SEPT.24 Anaheim Ducks vs. Los Angeles Kings (preseason) SEPT.28 Benson Boone OCT. 18 Matt Rife OCT.25 Intocable SEPT.7 Justin Willman: One for the Ages Tour SEPT.30 Rumours of Fleetwood Mac OCT. 11 Journey USA OCT.26 Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue 19 Summer–fall 2025 I ANAHEIM Anaheim Convention Center 800 W. Katella Ave. (714) 765–8950 AnaheimConventionCenter.com Honda Center 2695 E. Katella Ave. (714) 704 –2500 HondaCenter.com Grove of Anaheim 2200 E. Katella Ave. (714) 712–2700 GroveofAnaheim.com
Around Anaheim 20 ANAHEIM I Summer–fall 2025 Anaheim Health Fair Sept. 20 | 8 a.m.– 4 p.m. Anaheim Convention Center 800 W. Katella Ave. Anaheim’s free one-day health fair returns in 2025, offering residents and others access to medical, dental, vision and women’s health services at no cost. The event is made possible by the generosity of doctors, healthcare professionals and volunteers. All are welcome to attend — no insurance or proof of citizenship is required, and all participation is confidential. Those interested in volunteering or seeking help with registration can visit Anaheim.net/HealthFair. Day of the Dead Oct. 24 | 5 – 9 p.m. Downtown Anaheim Community Center 250 E. Center Street Celebrate culture and community at Anaheim’s Day of the Dead event on Friday, Oct. 24, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Downtown Anaheim Community Center. This free, family-friendly evening features live mariachi music, crafts, altars, local food vendors and more. Guests are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to enjoy the festivities. Presented by Anaheim’s Community Services Department, the event benefits Project S.A.Y. (Support Anaheim’s Youth), a youth development program. For more information, call (714) 765-5191. Shop Small Soirée Aug. 31 and Sept. 28 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Center Street Promenade Celebrate community at the Shop Small Soirée, a lively afternoon featuring local artisans, live music, family-friendly activities and a variety of food and drink vendors. From unique handmade goods to tasty bites and upbeat entertainment, this festive market offers the perfect chance to shop small and support local entrepreneurs. For event updates, follow @shopsmallsoiree on Instagram. Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade Oct. 25 | 11 a.m.– 6 p.m. Center Greens 305 E. Broadway The Anaheim Fall Festival returns Saturday, Oct. 25, at a new location — Center Greens, next to City Hall and the Downtown Anaheim Community Center. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., enjoy a day of free, family-friendly fun, including costume contests, a scavenger hunt, local artists, variety acts, treats, crafts and more. Stay downtown for the Anaheim Halloween Parade at 7 p.m., an Anaheim tradition since 1924. The parade features floats, music and characters as it travels from City Hall along Broadway. For details, visit AnaheimFallFestival.org.
Ditch the turf For a limited time, Turf Replacement Program customers can receive an increased rebate of $4 per square foot Replace your grass with water-e cient landscaping and get a free rain barrel and a chance to win a smart irrigation controller. Apply by Oct. 31 at Anaheim.net/ditchturf to lock in your rebate.
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