Foothills Sentry January 2021

Foothills Sentry Page 8 January 2021 Dump site cease and desist order appealed Milan Capital has filed an ap- peal with the state, asking it to reverse the cease and desist order issued last August by the Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) and upheld by a hearing officer in No- vember. The cease and desist order, is- sued last August, prohibited Mi- lan’s contractor Chandler/Rio Santiago from collecting and stockpiling construction waste on the property adjacent to Santiago Canyon Road in East Orange. LEAwas alerted to the activity by a resident's complaint. The appeal is likely to be heard in January. Within two weeks of the ruling that upheld the cease and desist order, a Milan contractor moved a conveyor belt and rock crush- ing equipment onto the site. It operated for one day before being voluntarily shut down. The ap- paratus was removed a few days later, and the site has since been inactive. Bird on a fence inspires pandemic poem Working at home in quiet iso- lation last March, indie author Wendy Preston was inspired to write a poem based simply on the tweet of a neighborhood bird sit- ting on a fence. Her poem evolved into a five- month project to self-publish a children’s book called “Hope is Aflutter,” released exclusively on Amazon. Illustrated by her niece Shannon Preston, the book provides an escape from the pan- demic by focusing on nature and its instinctive strength. “By turn- ing off the noise of technology, we can soar above the clouds even when our wings feel weak,” Preston says. “The sun, stars, moon, rain and wind appear with- out panic or anticipation. Flow- ers blossom, children play, birds chirp and hope abounds.” Preston has spent many years managing technology teams and projects for a large insurance company. She is still employed in that endeavor, yet finds ways to balance her work with creative writing. Her goal is to elaborate on the theme with a book series. She has four books already in her thoughts. You can reach Wendy Preston at poetrywindow.wp@gmail.com . Nonprofit destroyed by fire The Mariposa Women and Family Center is asking the com- munity for help to rebuild and continue to offer support services after the nonprofit’s facility was destroyed by fire, Dec. 6. Located at 200 E. Katella Ave., the interior of the building was completely destroyed and the ex- terior substantially damaged. About 50 Orange firefighters responded to the incident. The fire is currently being investi- gated. Mariposa Women and Family Center provides free and low-cost counseling services to individu- als and families, and has been a mainstay in Orange County for more than 40 years. The vast ma- jority of the organization’s clients live at, or beneath, the federal poverty line. “Although the fire has taken our building, it will not deter us from helping those who have come to count on us,” said Dr. Krista Driver, president and CEO of the center. “When COVID-19 hit, we experienced an incredible demand for the affordable and accessible mental health care we provide. We will continue to offer our services virtually until we can find a new, permanent home.” Donations can be made online at mariposacenter.org/donate , or by calling (714) 547-6494. VP greenbelt named for Knowles Villa Park City Council voted to rename the Wanda greenbelt after one of the city’s true gems, Mike Knowles. The entry point to the city at Wanda and Villa Park Road will be known as the “Villa Park Knowles.” Knowles has worked for the city for over 34 years, tirelessly responding to calls from residents at any hour, helping city organi- zations and nonprofits with ev- ery imaginable type of request to make their events run smoothly, in addition to keeping his city clean. He has continuously shunned the spotlight, despite being integral to the city, and receiving acco- This year, the Tustin Public Schools Foundation’s annual Dino Dash took a detour. A virtual 5K replaced the traditional bike and walk/run courses, but thousands of participants still had a good time on courses of their own making. Hewes Middle School teacher Anna Brandsma and her family put on their Dino Detour shirts and continued their annual tradition by creating their own home course, complete with finish line. Creativity and commitment were key to this recreated event that benefited the Foundation and Tustin Unified schools. In 2021, the Foundation looks forward to a dino-mite 30-year celebration of the Dino Dash on Nov. 7. The final steel beam was lifted into place on Canyon High School’s new state-of-the-art science center, Nov. 19. Canyon’s 67,098-sq.-ft. building is one of four paid for with funds from Measure S to bring Orange Unified high schools into the 21st century. In addition to modern science labs and classrooms, the building will serve as a “front door” to the campus and house student support services. The final beam was signed by students, staff, administrators, community members and elected officials. Orange Woman’s Club members Suzanne Vaugine (left) and Pietra Gaw dropped off a carload of donated toys and gift cards at the Friendly Center. lades from Rotary Club and other groups. The “Knowles” will be planted with native plants, including fruit trees, harking back to the city’s citrus-packing beginnings. The pathway that winds through the area, already a popular walking route for residents, will be re- paired. Funding of approximately $75,000 will be provided by city funds, in conjunction with grant monies, should they become available. Upon completion of the project in late spring, City Manager Steve Franks anticipates a plaque to honor Mike Knowles, “the unofficial mayor of the city.” Preston, above, and her book, left.