Foothills Sentry - January 2025

NEWS INSIDE A Monthly Community Newspaper JANUARY 2025 Letters Page 5 Canyon Beat Page 6 Obituaries Page 10 Service Directory Pages 11-12 Classifieds Page 13 Community Sports Page 14-15 The Best News In Town Since 1969 FOLLOW US at Foothills Sentry BACK IN THE DAY Tales of old time Tustin on tap at area's history museum. See Tustin, page 8 SUGAR AND SPICE AND ATHLETIC HEIGHTS Female competitors are winners on the court, the field and in the pool. See Community Sports, page 14 HOLIDAY FLAIR AND FLAVOR Artisans, crafters and culinarians outdid Santa’s elves at Christmas in the Canyons. See Sleigh bells, page 4 NO HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS East Orange acreage, habitat for threatened birds, mammals and insects, is being bulldozed to accommodate a new housing tract. See Guest Commentary, page 5 TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS The Villa Park boat parade brought holiday lights and seasonal spirit to city thoroughfares. See Snow, page 9 North Tustin in line for its own Zip code It's taking an act of Congress, but North Tustin is finally on track to get a dedicated Zip code. North Tustin residents have shared a Zip code with Santa Ana since 1994. The code, 92705, was originally North Tustin only, but the postal service moved the northeast portion of Santa Ana into that Zip code because it be- lieved the businesses in the ex- panded area would receive its mail faster. North Tustin residents and community leaders were not consulted about the change. Since then, residents have been trying to get their own Zip code. They want a separate number be- cause insurance companies deter- mine rates via Zip code averages. Online statistics are reported based on Zip codes, and unincor- porated North Tustin wants its own identity. When Santa Ana voters ap- proved a one percent city tax, residents in unincorporated North Tustin were often charged the ad- ditional levy. They had to jump through hoops to convince mer- chants (mostly online) that their address was not in the City of Santa Ana. Foothill Communities Asso- ciation President Rick Nelson got the attention of the commu- nity’s Congressional Represen- tative Young Kim. A bill that designated separate Zip codes for 31 communities nationwide was wending its way through the house. Kim joined the legislators who put it forward, and got North Tustin added to the list. The bill, HR8753, passed the House on Dec. 11. It is awaiting passage by the Senate. Before the new Zip code takes effect, the postal service must open a dedicated facility in North Tustin. When Villa Park got its own Zip code in 1996, the post office opened a satellite office in the rear of Villa Park Pharmacy in the city center. Villa Park mail is processed through the distri- bution center in Anaheim; North Tustin’s will likely continue to be processed in Santa Ana. The returning members of the Orange City Council were sworn into office Dec. 16, along with City Clerk Pa- mela Coleman and Treasurer Garrett Smith. Shown here, from left, Mayor Dan Slater, Ana Gutierrez, Supervi- sor Vicente Sarmiento, Jon Dumitru, Kathy Tavoularis, Smith and Coleman. Mayor Slater, Councilmembers Dumitru, Tavoularis,Gutierrez and City Clerk Coleman ran unopposed. Smith was elected to serve his first term as Orange treasurer. See photos, page 3. Newly elected Orange Unified School District board members join their colleagues for a photo op. From left, Andrea Yamasaki, Sierra Vane, Ana Page, Matthew Thomas, Stephen Glass, Sara Pelly and Kris Erickson. The new board subsequently elected Erickson to serve as president, Yamasaki as vice president and Page as clerk. See photos, page 4. Kelly McBride, with wife Katherine. Robert Frackelton, accompanied by his wife Ma- donna and parents John and Anne Frackelton Two new city councilmen were sworn in, Dec. 10, by Villa Park City Manager Steve Franks. The new councilmembers, Kelly McBride and Robert Frackelton, were elected for four-year terms on the five-person council. At the subsequent organizational meet- ing, Nicol Jones was elected mayor and Jordan Wu was named mayor pro tem. Crystal Miles is the fifth councilperson. Civic leader Mark Murphy has died Mark Murphy, an Orange civic leader for three decades, died at home, Dec. 16. He was 67 years old. A celebration of life will be held Feb. 1 at 11 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church. See obituary, page 10. Photos by Tony Richards