NEWS INSIDE A Monthly Community Newspaper JANUARY 2026 Canyon Beat Page 4 Guest Commentary Page 5 Service Directory Pages 9-10 Professional Directory Page 11 The Best News In Town Since 1969 FOLLOW US at Foothills Sentry A WALK IN THE PARK Long-awaited community space opens with playgrounds, paths and parking. See Crawford Canyon, page 2 SPORTS EDITOR HAS LEFT THE FIELD Cliff Robbins, venerable sports photographer/ editor has retired, effective this month. He has documented the full range of high school athletics for the Sentry for two decades. We will miss him. READY, RETAIN, FIRE(WORKS) City council makes minor modifications to the rules and procedures pertaining to fireworks sales. See Orange, page 2 POST SEASON SNAPSHOTS Communities decked the holidays with lights, cameras and spirited reactions. See photos, pages 3, 5, 7, 9 HOOFIN’ IT OUT OF HARM’S WAY Orange County has established a volunteer team to help rescue large animals during wildfires and other emergencies. See Large, page 8 See "Budget" continued on page 6 Orange nonprofits propose a triad of weekend events Combining three City of Orange traditions – the May Parade, Orange Rotary Club car show and The Taste of Orange — into one weekend is, the city council agreed, a great idea that should be pursued. The council’s Dec. 9 green light for the consolidation followed a presentation by Elizabeth Holloman of the Orange Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Tracy Curtis, representing the Orange Rotary and Wendi Forrest, of the Orange Blossoms, an Assistance League of Orange auxiliary, who organize The Taste of Orange. The trio reported that the concept of combining all three events resulted from collaborative discussions between the organizations, and the realization that one super-weekend event could be greater than the sum of its parts. A single unified weekend event, featuring the May Parade on Saturday, a Taste of Orange on Saturday night and the car show on Sunday, would reduce costs for the nonprofits, limit street closures, reduce stress on downtown businesses and ultimately put more funds back into the community. Holloman noted that the May Parade, now falling under the auspices of the Orange Chamber of Commerce Foundation, used to be a weekend festival and, under the consolidation plan, would be part of a weekend again. Because it is now run by the foundation, contributions are tax deductible. Plans for 2026, she said, are to celebrate America’s milestone 250th birthday. The Taste of Orange, Forrest said, has grown from five restaurants to over 50 and needs more space. Run entirely by Orange Blossoms volunteers, the event puts about $50,000 back into the community and “shows what the city can do.” The car show, a long-standing Orange Rotary Club event, brings hundreds of classic, vintage and custom vehicles to the Plaza area. It serves as a fundraiser for the Rotary, which benefits students, families, youth camps, scholarships and helps stock the ElMo food pantry. “Thanks for consolidating three events into one,” Councilmember Arianna Barrios said. “This is a great idea.” The council unanimously agreed to ask staff to put together a production agreement for the three participating groups. The event is slated to take place the first weekend in May 2026. Villa Park Housing Element approved by state By Tina Richards The City of Villa Park’s state- mandated housing element has been approved by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), effective Dec. 11. Now in compliance with state law, the city regains its eligibility to receive specified state funding, avoid fines, and preempt claims from developers for project approvals under the “Builders Remedy” exemption. The Builders Remedy is a legally untested reading of state law that allows developers to bypass local zoning ordinances and expedite approvals from jurisdictions that are not in compliance with state housing element statutory requirements. Villa Park has not been threatened by such claims to date, but many other local cities have. Housing numbers skyrocket Local governments statewide are mandated by California’s Housing Element law to update their plans for housing – at all income levels – every eight years. The state sets housing numbers, the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), for each jurisdiction and local governments must identify sites and policies to encourage development to hit that housing target. For the previous housing element cycle, 2013-2021, Villa Park’s RHNA was 14. For the 2021-29 cycle, it is 296. “It was a much higher hurdle,” Villa Park City Manager Steve Franks reports. “It took seven iterations and multiple city councils working on it for four years.” To meet its allocation, Villa Park identified a combination of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), residential units in the Towne Center and high-density multi-family units located in the Smith Basin. No bulldozers yet State law does not require any of these units to be built, only that the city be willing and able to accommodate them. “Actual buildout depends on developer interest,” Franks said. “But we had to rezone those properties to be compliant.” Indeed, the city was advised by the state in July that its housing element met the statutory requirements, but that it could not be in compliance until the identified sites were rezoned to accommodate the identified housing. The city council subsequently rezoned those properties in October. Villa Park was not the only city to struggle with HCD compliance. The RHNA allocations were higher than expected in jurisdictions throughout the state, making it more difficult for many, particularly those like Villa Park that are essentially “built out,” to identify sites for housing. As of December, 12% of California cities remained out of compliance, including Costa Mesa, Seal Beach and Huntington Beach. “For Villa Park,” Franks says, “this is good news all around.” The Villa Park City Council rode a vintage fire truck in the annual Dry Land Boat Parade. From left, Crystal Miles, Kelly McBride, Mayor Jordan Wu, Nicol Jones and Mayor Pro Tem Robert Frackelton. See "Villa Park reels in the holidays," page 3. Orange meeting budget targets, spurring cautious optimism By Carrie Graham A financial report delivered to the Orange City Council, Dec. 9, indicates that Orange is operating on-track for the first quarter (July 1 - Sept. 30) of the 2025/26 fiscal year budget. With all areas within the expected range for this point in the year, no major category shows signs of underperformance or overspending. Sales tax accounted for the largest portion of general fund revenue, generating almost $6 million, or 47% of the fund. This was a nearly $500,000 increase over the first quarter of the previous year, and fell within expected projections. Revenue boost Transient occupancy taxes, those charged to short-term rentals like hotels and Airbnbs, generated about $1.5 million, an increase of $130,000 from this time last year, indicating steady visitor activity and ongoing demand in the area. Those taxes account for about 12% of the total fund, approximately double that generated by property taxes. The increase in these categories compared to prior years is mostly attributed to stronger investment returns, miscellaneous receipts and small-scale grant program reimbursements. On the expenditure side, salaries and benefits remain the city's largest category, accounting for 86% of the budget, including emergency and non-emergency employees. Spending curbed Through the first quarter, the city’s spending was about 22% of its annual budget, slightly lower than normal. This is primarily the result of the current policy that only essential city roles be filled, leaving many positions open. “What I can pull from this is we're probably already in a surplus for fiscal year 2026, and unless we do anything crazy from a massive hiring spree, we're going to retain a strong surplus,” said Councilman John Gyllenhammer. “I think for about a year, we started to yank all of the things that hurt the residents of Orange, and that included reducing the library hours,” he noted. "It included taking away the July 3rd event. Can we go back and take a look at how we can get July 3rd back to Orange, and can we relook at reinstating the library hours that existed prior to the reduction of library hours? I believe there's a way to do that without adding to the headcount of the library.” Photo by Tony Richards
Foothills Sentry Page 2 JANUARY 2026 Learn more at eocwd.com SAVE WATER OPA annual meeting slated The Orange Park Association’s annual general membership meeting will be held Saturday, Jan. 31 at Salem Church, 6500 E. Santiago Canyon Rd. The doors open at 8 a.m. for coffee and donuts, an opportunity to visit community partners who will have display tables, and pay new and renewing membership dues. The meeting begins promptly at 9 a.m. with a state of OPA presentation. Nominations for and the election of new board directors commences at 10 a.m. Each year, the terms for three board directors end. An important focus of the annual meeting is to fill those seats. The newly elected directors will be announced prior to adjournment. Visit info@orangeparkacres. org or call the OPA Hotline (714) 900-2OPA(672) for more information. OCWD captures 5.6 billion gallons of water during recent storms The November storms that brought approximately 3.5 inches of rain to the region allowed the Orange County Water District (OCWD) to capture more than 5.6 billion gallons of Santa Ana River stormwater that will be recharged into the Orange County Groundwater Basin. The groundwater basin, managed by OCWD, provides approximately 85% of the drinking water supply for 2.5 million people in north and central Orange County. “Our planning and investments are turning rain into reliable drinking water,” said OCWD President Denis Bilodeau. “OCWD staff maintain and improve our recharge systems all year, so they are ready when storms arrive. That work is paying off by capturing every drop we can.” A large portion of these stormwater flows is held behind Prado Dam in Riverside County. This stormwater capture is possible because of OCWD’s long-standing partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). USACE operates Prado Dam and allows stormwater to be held longer and released at controlled rates so OCWD can safely move it down the Santa Ana River and store the water underground. Santa Ana River stormwater capture is a key part of OCWD’s strategy to increase the use of local water. By using more stormwater, OCWD reduces the need to buy imported water, which can be more expensive and less reliable. OCWD’s and USACE’s ability to capture stormwater has been further improved by the Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) at Prado Dam. FIRO uses advanced weather forecasts and data to better understand the size, timing, and path of storms and atmospheric rivers. This allows dam operators to safely hold more water when conditions allow and maximizes what is sent to OCWD to be stored underground. Orange council tweaks criteria for sale of fireworks Safe and sane fireworks sales in Orange will remain much the same as last year, with a few tweaks to the permitting process approved by the city council, Dec. 9. A discussion on that topic at November's meeting left three issues without resolution: the number of available permits; the length of time they would cover; and whether affiliated nonprofits could apply for individual permits. The council agreed to continue offering 12 permits. Jon Dumitru wanted to up the ante to 15, but was agreeable to keeping it to 12. The recommendation at the last meeting had been to reduce the number to eight, because some booths did not do as well as others. That could be remedied by moving booth locations. Of the 12 permits, four will be offered to the four high schools in Orange. Last year, Richland High opted out. If Richland declines a permit this year, that one, the council decided, will be given to the Orange Community Foundation. Permits will be given for two years, with those nonprofits subsequently excluded for the next two years. Mayor Dan Slater and Councilmember Ana Gutierrez favored a one-year program in the interest of fairness to all. They, however, deferred to points made by Dumitru and Arianna Barrios, that two years gave nonprofits a chance to change locations, train volunteers and generate a good funding foundation. A two-year stand-down period allows greater opportunities for others. During last year’s permitting process, staff received applications from separate groups affiliated with umbrella organizations. Those affiliated groups were denied if a permit had already been granted to the larger organization. A high school, for example, may have booster clubs, band supporters, extracurricular organizations, all of whom might want to apply for a permit. The council opted to keep affiliated organizations out of the mix, if the umbrella group had received a permit. Since each Orange high school will get a permit, it is up to them to identify the beneficiary of the fireworks sales. The council vote was unanimous. The deadline for permit applications, moved up during the November meeting, is Jan. 5. The lottery drawing will take place in March. Crawford Canyon Park opens Crawford Canyon Park officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony, Nov. 20, ending seven years of delays and missed deadlines. Located at the northwest corner of Crawford Canyon Road and Newport Avenue in North Tustin, the 2.5-acre park includes two playgrounds, a quarter-mile walkway, exercise stations, large grassy space, 11 parking spaces, a wood pedestrian bridge and picnic tables. The park was originally conceived in 2018, when a developer promised the county it would help fund the park if its Clearwater Senior Living facility on Newport Avenue was approved. The county approved the project that year and received $850,000 in park fees. Completion was originally determined to be “within a few years.” Before construction could begin on the park, however, the county determined that sidewalks along Crawford Canyon Road should be extended to provide better access for pedestrians and bike riders. That task required separate planning, permitting, and a request for bids from contractors, which required approval from the Board of Supervisors. The county still expected construction of the sidewalks, and park, to be completed by early 2023. The pandemic slowed everything down, creating a backlog that pushed the bidding process for park construction into 2024. A contract was finally awarded in April 2024 and authorization to proceed given in June. Completion was slated for 320 days hence, or spring 2025. Ground was broken in August 2024. Once grading began, the contractor found that additional fill dirt was needed, thus requiring a change order and additional funding from the county. That approval was secured in January 2025, as was an additional 23 days allowed for grading. Total cost for the park was $6.3 million, paid for with district funds earmarked for county park improvements, maintenance and operations. Crawford Canyon Park will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the fall and winter and from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the spring and summer. The long-awaited community park at Newport Avenue and Crawford Canyon Road officially opened Nov. 20. The new park features play areas, walkways, exercise stations and picnic tables. Stormwater collected by OCWD Photos by Tony Richards
Page 3 Foothills Sentry JANUARY 2026 New Students Apply Online: sccollege.edu/apply Returning Students Register Online: sccollege.edu/register Register for 2026 Intercession and Spring Semester at SCC IntercessionandSpring Ranked #1 Community College in Orange County* Military Friendly® School** *2026 Rankings - www.niche.com \ ** Military Friendly® Schools 2025-2026 - www.militaryfriendly.com Flexible Schedule: Classes available in-person, online or hybrid! INTERSESSION CLASSES BEGIN JAN. 9, 2026 SPRING CLASSES BEGIN FEB. 9, 2026 Applebaums serve as VP Parade Grand Marshals Terry and Dr. Jay Applebaum served as Grand Marshals of the traditional Villa Park Dryland Boat Parade. The couple, residents of VP for 34 years, were recognized for their many volunteer contributions to the community through the years. Terry has been involved with the Villa Park Women’s League and Assistance League of Orange for a number of years, and supported activities with Jay in the Villa Park Rotary and Villa Park Community Services Foundation, We Give Thanks and Eddie Nash Foundation. Applebaum is the first person to receive the Villa Park "hat trick:" Rotarian of the Year, Villa Park Distinguished Citizen of the Year and Grand Marshal, all in one year. The couple rode in a 1985 Lexus, one of only five made, and used by owner Chip Parker for ceremonial events. Villa Park reels in the holidays with annual Dry Land Boat Parade Villa Park’s annual dry land boat parade, “Reeling in the Holidays,” lit up the city’s streets, Dec. 14, with light adorned vessels, cars and golf carts populated with Santas, reindeer, elves and a grinch. Evan Frackelton aboard a Russian Ural motorcycle Santa (Doug Teets) with reindeer, from left, Quinn Scudday, McKensie Teets and Taylor Scudday The Villa Park Women’s League prepares to light up the night. The Arsenian and Fleming families show off their festooned boat. The Grinch The Villa Park High School junior varsity basketball team bundles up. Grand Marshals Jay and Terry Applebaum rode in a 1985 Lexus. Inflatables tower over parade vehicles. Photos by Tony Richards
Foothills Sentry Page 4 JANUARY 2026 JOHNSON MOTORCARS 34 Years of Specializing in the Service and Repair of Mercedes-Benz Gary Johnson 714-997-2567 982 N. Batavia # B13, Orange, CA 92867 gary@johnsonmotorcars.com @ramblingroseoc Circulation … 39,000 Published on the last Tuesday of each month and distributed to residences, businesses, libraries and civic centers. Printing by Advantage, Inc. 714-532-4406 foothillssentry.com 1107 E. Chapman Ave., #207 Orange, CA 92866 ©Foothills Sentry 2026 Publisher/Editor Anita Bennyhoff 1969-2013 Editor Tina Richards editor@foothillssentry.com Sports Editor Cliff Robbins sportseditor@att.net Graphic Designer Jef Maddock graphics@foothillssentry.com Advertising Sales Andie Mills advertising@foothillssentry.com 714-926-9299 Office Manager officemanager@foothillssentry.com The best of the life of the canyons Canyon Station 16 volunteer firefighters Vicki and Bob Scheibel received their 35-year service awards on Nov. 19. Just another Wednesday night for two stalwarts who’ve gone out on countless rescues, patrols and fire calls. The reliably modest couple thanked 100 assembled community members for, no kidding, “their opportunity to serve,” as did Senior Reserve Officer Bruce Newell. Firefighter Ron Smith was introduced by Newell as the evening’s “opening act.” This bit of civic deadpan from the reliably sincere, polite and stoic Newell cracked up the grateful crowd. Smith, no slacker himself, received his 15-year service award, with both Silverado and Modjeska neighbors acknowledging volunteerism and goodwill in this secular community assembly of spirit. Carry on Faithful meeting-attender, note-taker and regular canyon walker Scott Breeden reports new speed limits posted and, presumably, potentially or only theoretically enforced in Silverado Canyon now: 45 mph from Santiago Canyon Road to the Polo Club, then 35 mph until Ladd Canyon Road, where it’s 25 mph. At the December Inter-Canyon League (ICL) meeting, Trabuco Canyon resident Elizabeth Ogden reminded attendees of the Canyon Wildlife Initiative, an Instagram site she founded to promote road safety for animals. She recommends the California Roadkill Observation System (CROS) which features live data feeds and a Real-time Deer Incidents & Wildlife-Vehicle Conflict (WVC) Hotspots map. Create an account on the UC Davis Website and report a dead animal before it becomes unidentifiable carrion. The website is dedicated to help wildlife experts identify vehicle vs. animal incident hotspots. Use your cell phone to document the death and upload to CROS, adding written observations and location at wildlifecrossing.net Here, kitty At the same meeting, Silverado's Julie Williamson reported that two more collared mountain lions, Toro and Honey, were found dead, not by automobile but disease. Two kittens in the wild seem to be thriving. Reflective tape is now affixed to radio collars used to track cougars so drivers, perhaps now driving slower, will see them better at night. Live lions On Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 5 p.m., the Book Group of the Canyons discusses Lisa Wingate’s "Shelterwood," a novel confronting the theft of both Native American land rights and indigenous children. ICL's Friends of the Library committee funded dancers for this year's traditional – untraditional, meaning early! – Lunar New Year celebration, preparing us for the actual start of the Year of the Fire Horse. See Lion Dancers perform Saturday, Jan. 17, 11 a.m. – 12:20 p.m., followed by a crafts activity. Chúc mừng năm mới! If I were an eagle We leave history reports to Breeden and the ICL History Committee, but as a relative newbie (only 22 years and just paid off our mortgage!), I’d never heard local singer-songwriter Jason Richards’ tribute to our region until a recent community gathering. Richards, a much-recorded and versatile performer, allowed me to share his song’s lyrics. Do sing along. (Maybe leave yodeling to the professionals!) “Madame Modjeska” If I were an eagle on Saddleback Mountain, I’d fly to the heavens and call out your name: Silverado, Trabuco, Black Star, Modjeska, are just a few canyons this old mountain claims. And if I were a grizzly on Saddleback Mountain, I’d run with the holy away from the gun. No wonder they named it old Holy Jim Canyon, the last grizzly died there when my grandad was young. (Chorus) Madame Modjeska, yeah, you lived the best of the life of the canyons that we love today. Nestled in the mountains of oranges and blossoms, “The Forest of Arden” she called it those days. And if I were an outlaw on Saddleback Mountain that stole lots of gold near the Mission San Juan, I’d ride up the canyon of Madame Modjeska, the legend of Juan Flores still livin’ on. And if I were the spirit of Madame Modjeska, a pioneering woman of superstar fame, I’d sing through the canyons of the Forest of Arden, my heart and my soul would sing out her name. Her destiny tested us, punished and blessed us, “The Forest of Arden” she called it those days. In memoriam OC Parks noted the late Beth Newell’s contributions to celebrating Madame Mo: “For nearly 30 years, she dedicated close to 2,000 hours as a historic docent at Arden.” Helena Modjeska Foundation resident Victor Scherr announced addition of Newell’s name to a commemorative plaque. Donations in her name fund a future project. Cultural commentary Vermiculture: the cultivation of worms. Vermicomposting: using worms to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich compost. Not sure which a Modjeska local was talking about when he accepted his recent copy of the Foothills Sentry with this unlikely endorsement: “I use it for my worms.” High praise, I guess. “But you read the paper first, right?” asked Your Humble Scribe. “Sometimes,” he said. Perhaps the worms dug it. Small-scale housing summit convened to combat OC housing crisis By Vicente Sarmiento, 2nd District Supervisor Our office recently welcomed more than 150 housing advocates to our Small-Scale Housing Summit, a gathering focused on developing innovative, practical solutions to Orange County’s housing crisis. The summit brought together funders, landowners, nonprofit organizations, developers, and manufacturers to explore how small-scale housing can offer fast, cost-effective and flexible options that have already been proven successful in other California counties. While small-scale housing is not new across the state, it remains an emerging and underutilized approach here in Orange County. With a growing shortage of available homes, rising housing costs, and increasing numbers of residents pushed to the brink of homelessness, it’s clear we must expand our toolbox. Small-scale housing can complement the traditional affordable housing developments already underway and help us respond more quickly to urgent community needs. Modular small-scale construction pushes the boundaries of what is possible. It delivers flexibility and speed, whether used for interim or permanent housing, small projects or scalable sites. Models typically range from $75,000 to $100,000 per unit and can be delivered in as little as six months, making them one of the most cost-effective options available. These solutions can also be tailored to meet the needs of a wide range of residents, from individuals and families experiencing homelessness to working families priced out of the market. To give attendees a firsthand look, manufacturers showcased small-scale housing models at the event, highlighting just how adaptable these units can be in both design and construction. Orange Elk Marilyn Dinger lays a wreath at the gravesite of a vet at Fairhaven Memorial Park. This is the sixth year the Orange Lodge has partnered with the Wreaths Across America Program that aims to place a wreath on every veteran’s grave Bob and Vicki Scheibel (center) were recognized for 35 years of service with the volunteer fire department. A small house displayed at the Small-scale Housing summit
Page 5 Foothills Sentry JANUARY 2026 GGuuees st tCCoom m eennt taar ri ey s What do you want to be when you grow up? By Robin Reichelt I’m an Orange resident. I do not work for OUSD, and it’s been quite a few years since my child attended an OUSD school. I can honestly say my knowledge about what goes on inside an OUSD classroom was pretty outdated, and my impressions were frankly skewed by headlines surrounding past OUSD school boards. Lately, I’ve learned something I want to share with the community. The Orange Unified School District is underestimated and underrated. What is overshadowed, overlooked, or ignored is the real magic that happens in OUSD classrooms every day -- the kind of magic that helps your child answer the “what do you want to be” question. Not just once, but many, many times as they grow up and change as individuals. So, here’s a shout-out to the OUSD you may not know much about. Orange Unified has the largest GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) program in Orange County. Fourteen percent of the OUSD student body participates in GATE (over 3,000 students). The average participation for the rest of Orange County school districts is just 8%. OUSD has five GATE magnet schools, and every OUSD elementary school has a GATE cluster. More than 80 teachers with GATE credentials support your child’s educational journey. What I thought I knew about GATE programs (based on my child’s OUSD experience) is just as outdated as my impressions of the school district. GATE is not about getting straight As or parroting content. GATE is about curious, imaginative kids whose interests don’t always align with the classroom. It’s about young minds going a mile a minute, the drive to wonder and create, kids who are interested in almost everything. Giftedness is not static - it evolves. And so does the GATE program at OUSD. Your child can be intensely curious and have a learning disability. That doesn’t rule them out from GATE. In fact, they are considered twice exceptional. My child had a learning disability and an IEP (Individual Education Plan). His journey taught me there are many ways to be gifted. Every child learns differently, and matures at a different pace. If your child is in grades two through six, ask that they be evaluated for GATE over multiple years. Bottom line, I wanted my child to fall in love with learning, to read widely, to stay curious, the markers for success that any parent would want for their child in a rapidly changing world. Private school or home school families residing in OUSD can participate in GATE testing - check the OUSD website for details. If you want the best possible outcome for your child’s education, give Orange Unified another look. Open Enrollment begins in January, from the 12th to 26th. Robin Reichelt is a former OUSD parent, now a curious constituent who has learned about the district by attending board meetings, speaking with staff directors and researching educational programs countywide. Former President Shannon Tucker, left, provides the Kiwanis gavel and bell to new Kiwanis President Bruce Morrison. Gavin Cortes, left, and Sofia Villanueva bake pumpkin bread to cheer the seniors. Kiwanis plan year of service The Kiwanis Club of Orange completed its fiscal year on September 30, and elected Bruce Morrison, a longtime resident of the City of Orange, as president for the 2025-26 year. The Kiwanis board members are Shannon Tucker, past president; Frank Tucker, vice president; Debbie Booth, secretary; Rhonda Weiss, treasurer; and Greg Lewin, director/board member. Along with preparing a new budget for the upcoming year, the club has calendared a list of service projects for the city, including: hosting Concerts in the Park; Special Needs Bowling Day; breakfast for the GRIP Spring Break Soccer Camp; providing the Friendly Center with Thanksgiving baskets; Santa photo booth and Orange Tree Lighting; Halloween Treats in the Street; support for the Field of Valor; support for Reading Promise; elementary teacher grants; and scholarships for high school students (last year, the Kiwanis Club of Orange gave out $20,000). For information about becoming involved, see kiwanisoforange.org. Assisteens connect with community Embracing their annual theme of “Connect Our Community,” 12 dedicated members of the Assisteens Auxiliary of Assistance League of Orange took action to support their neighbors ahead of Thanksgiving. Partnering with the Orange Senior Center, these resourceful 11th graders baked homemade pumpkin bread, crafted cork pumpkin decorations, and assembled holiday gift tote bags. Each bag, delivered personally to 58 local Meals on Wheels recipients, was filled with personal hygiene essentials, snacks and a handwritten note of good wishes. The Assisteens were rewarded with notes of thanks from many recipients. "I am a Meals on Wheels recipient and last week I was very blessed with a gift bag from Assisteens of Orange," one senior wrote, "and I just wanted to express my sincere gratitude. When someone takes the time to prepare a gift for someone, that is very special and warms the heart. When it is from a stranger even more so, and when it is from teenagers who easily could think of 50 other things to do, it is even more heartwarming … Thank you so very much." Tustin Area Historical Society annual meeting spotlights past and present leaders Members of the Tustin Area Historical Society (TAHS) gathered at the Clifton Miller Community Center for the group’s annual meeting and socializing, Nov. 22. Committee members Vicki Gray, Becky and Brady Michel, assisted by the Michel family, Kurt and Sandra Bensworth, Randi Bernstein, Barbara Trumbull and Joyce Miller, provided appetizers and adult beverages (courtesy of Red Hill Winery). Musical entertainment was provided by keyboardist Ron Kobayashi and singer Crystal Clulee. Richard Nelson, TAHS president, introduced the two newest board members, Randi Bernstein and Tanner Douthit, and recognized the rest of the 2025 board members, museum docents and volunteers. He explained the purpose of the annual meeting is to bring members together, convey the progress of the society and discuss history. Vicki Gray, 2025 board secretary and the event chair, presented the main program, which spotlighted old Tustin families with their histories and a slide show. Many descendants of these families were present, some coming from out of state to attend. Randy Ema, noted Duesenberg historian, expert, and successful local restorer, entertained the audience with how he evolved from childhood into the car professional he is today. Bringing the day’s gathering full circle was Janet Peal, TAHS member and daughter of Tustin Area Historical Society co-founder Vivien Owen. Janet shared her late mother’s varied and expansive roles in the community from the 1950s until her passing in 2017 at age 88. Janet shares her mother’s love of Tustin history and proclaimed the society to be in good hands since her mother’s efforts resulted in its formation 50 years ago during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration. To learn more about the Tustin Area Historical Society and how to become a member, go to tustinhistory.com. The Tustin Museum is located at 395 El Camino Real in Tustin’s Old Town and is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. Janet Peal Vicki Gray Assisteens Mikayla Garcia, left, and Juliana Romero pack tote bags of goodies for the local seniors.
Foothills Sentry Page 6 JANUARY 2026 Tustin Area Senior Center moves food distribution hours to afternoon By Guy Ball The Tustin Area Senior Center’s food distribution and senior grocery program will shift from mornings to afternoons beginning in January. This program provides food to those who need help supplying good meals for themselves or their families. Times will now be from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Random numbers will be given out at 1 p.m. to help make the distribution process smooth and orderly. On the fourth Thursday, available items may include non-perishable food, fresh vegetables, fruits and breads (depending on food bank availability). On the second Thursdays items may also include frozen meat and dairy. Tustin Parks and Recreation Department works with Orange County’s Second Harvest Food Bank to distribute food to the community in this way. They have been helping the community for well over five years and, during COVID, had a drive-through food distribution project with pre-packaged meals. “We’ve been assisting Tustin residents experiencing food insecurity for many years and have helped several thousand people, including children,” said Cece Torres, recreation coordinator of the Tustin Area Senior Center. “I’m proud of our dedicated staff and volunteers for the compassion, care and commitment they show in serving so many others.” The Tustin Area Senior Center offers a large variety of activities, including lunch programs, weekly bingo and transportation services, as well as various support groups (Alzheimer’s, LGBTQ+, Grief and Parkinson’s) and various seminars. It also brings in specialists on taxes, Medicare, and computer help. More program information can be found at tustintodaymagazine.com. For more information, call the Tustin Area Senior Center at (714) 573-3340. To donate to its programs, call Garrison DeVine at (714) 426-2453. The Villa Park City Council elected Jordan Wu mayor for 2026, effective Dec. 16. Robert Frackelton will serve as mayor pro tem. Remaining council members are Nicol Jones, Kelly McBride and Crystal Miles. SWD reorganizes The Serrano Water District (SWD) Board of Directors performed its annual board reorganization on Dec. 16. Greg Mills will serve as board president and Robbie Pitts as vice president for 2026. The board also includes Brad Reese, Frank Bryant and Jerry Haight. Jerry Vilander serves as general manager for SWD. Dr. Stephen Glass was elected president of the OUSD Board of Trustees, Dec. 15. Glass has served on the board since 2024 and expects to continue the strong leadership of his predecessor with guidance from the board, faculty and staff. "OUSD must be actionoriented as well as future-oriented, keeping students safe and educating them to be future-ready," he says. The board elected Andrea Yamasaki as vice president and Sara Pelly as clerk. SchoolsFirst opens application period for member scholarships SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union invites student members to apply for its annual Member Education Award scholarships by Jan. 31. Each year, SchoolsFirst FCU awards scholarships to eligible high school seniors, college freshmen and college sophomores to help offset the cost of books, tuition and other educational expenses. Applicants must be members of SchoolsFirst FCU, enrolled in an accredited college or university for the fall term and have completed no more than 60 college credits. Awards are based on academic performance, course rigor, community and school involvement, leadership and letters of recommendation. Eligible students may reapply each year as long as they continue to meet the program requirements. Established in 2000, the Member Education Award program reflects the credit union’s longstanding commitment to improving the lives of its members and supporting their long-term educational goals. In 2025, SchoolsFirst FCU awarded $210,500 in scholarships to 248 students. For more details or to apply, visit the Member Education Award page on the Credit Union website, schoolsfirstfcu.org. "Night at the Museum" features Scouting in Orange County By Guy Ball Scouting has shaped generations of young people in Orange County, emphasizing values of citizenship, outdoor skills, and community service that remain as relevant today as they were when the movement began locally in the early 20th century. At the Tustin Area Museum’s January “Night at the Museum” presentation, longtime Scouting leader John Nielsen will speak about a journey through more than a century of Orange County Scouting history, woven together with his six decades of Scouting service. Nielsen’s connection to Scouting began in 1963, when he joined as a Cub Scout. He progressed on to Boy Scouts, where he distinguished himself through dedication and leadership. In 1972, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout, joining a lineage of Orange County youth who have gone on to serve their communities, country and professions with distinction. “Scouting gave me opportunities to lead, to serve, and to grow,” Nielsen said. “It also connected me to the history of this community in ways I didn’t fully appreciate until much later.” That appreciation deepened when his own son—now also an Eagle Scout—joined Cub Scouts. Nielsen returned to active leadership as a Cubmaster, eventually continuing on as Scoutmaster of Troop 243 in North Tustin. What began as volunteering for his son became a lifelong commitment. Nielsen has remained an active Scout volunteer ever since, and currently serves as the Council Advancement Chair for the Orange County Council, Scouting America, helping guide thousands of youth on their path to advancement and personal growth. Nielsen will talk about the broader context of Orange County Scouting history. Organized Scouting took root locally in the 1910s, paralleling the county’s own growth from agricultural communities into thriving cities. Over the decades, Orange County Scouts have supported war bond drives, assisted during natural disasters, preserved open spaces, and contributed millions of hours of community service. The audience will learn how Scouting adapted alongside Orange County’s transformation— expanding programs, welcoming diverse communities, and emphasizing leadership development that prepares youth for modern challenges. From early camping trips in the Santa Ana Mountains to service projects that have shaped parks, schools and civic spaces, Scouting has left a lasting imprint on the region. “You could see how Scouting isn’t just an organization, it’s part of Orange County’s fabric,” Nielsen said. This "Night at the Museum" meeting will be held on Friday, Jan. 30 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Tustin Area Museum, 345 El Camino Real. Tickets are $20 per person, $15 for members, and $5 for students under 17. Due to the limited seating area, tickets are expected to sell out quickly. For more information and tickets visit TustinHistory.com or call the museum, (714) 7315701. A more cautious councilmember, Arianna Barrios, pointed out that there were still departments and funds running on a deficit that needed to be fully funded before reinstating things the city wants. Needs before wants “Before we get too excited about surpluses,” she observed, “we also have a lot of underfunded budget items that we had to pull from, or that we had to not fully fund in order to make the budget. Now, fortunately, yes, we have the surplus. But under our new fiscal policy, shouldn’t we prioritize going back and funding those first when we have the abil- "Budget" continued from page 1 ity to do so?” Those discussions will be had more in depth in the coming months, as the city begins the process of preparing the budget for 2027. Beginning next month, the city manager will start meeting with department heads to discuss needs for the upcoming year. In March and April, budget study sessions will begin, focusing first on the general fund, and then move to discussion of capital improvement and other funds, before a preliminary budget is brought before the council in May, to be finalized in June. “I feel optimistic about the state of our budget as we operate this year,” Gyllenhammer advised. “Structurally, I think we can get to a place where we're running Orange well.” A holiday party for Orange Park Acres Women’s League members and guests was held Dec. 14 at the Schmidt residence. Left to right are Karen and Bob Ashford, Russ and Carla Garcia, Diane and Ron Hoffer, Debbie Bau and Michelle and Michael Schmidt. OPAWL holds holiday party Food is distributed at the Tustin Senior Center. Scoutmaster John Nielsen Boy Scout Jamboree held in Newport Beach in 1953 Photo courtesy OC Archives
Page 7 Foothills Sentry JANUARY 2026 Family. Friends. Community. We’re all in this together. State Farm, Bloomington, IL 1801073 Ron Esparza, Agent Insurance Lic#: 0C79663 827 S. Tustin Ave Orange, CA 92866 Bus: 714-505-3400 ron@ronesparza.com H appy N e w Y e ar, O range ! dan@ D anS l ate r. com 7 1 4 - 7 4 4 - 2 2 1 9 1537 E . Chapman Ave. Orange, CA 9 2866 DAN SLATER TAWC announces Young Women of the Month The Tustin Area Woman’s Club named Daniella Warren and Sienna Harvey as its Young Women of the Month for December. Daniella Warren of Foothill High School has been on the dance team since her freshman year. She has participated in leadership roles on the Associated Student Body for three years, and is currently the Athlete Recognition Commissioner. Daniella is on the governing board of the Assistance League of Tustin and is a youth ministry leader at Mariners Church. She plans to study criminal justice or political science and join the Air Force ROTC with the goal of becoming an officer after college. Ultimately, she plans to attend law school and pursue a career as a Judge Advocate in the Air Force or become an FBI agent. Sienna Harvey of Tustin High School is interested in pursuing a career in education. She has spent her last four summers volunteering with the Tustin Public Schools Foundation at its preschool – 8th grade summer camp, Summer Academy. She serves as the Copresident of the THS Chapter of the TPSF Teens Club where she leads student volunteers in assisting and planning TPSF events. She has spent three years on the leadership team of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club and serves as a student board representative for the TUSD, as well as a member of the Tiller Principal's Advisory Committee. For the last two years, Sienna has served as the National Honors Society President. This past summer, Sienna interned with Congressional Representative Young Kim. Also recognized were Camila Ordaz of Beckman High School and Uma Joshi of Legacy High School. Daniella Warren Sienna Harvey Friends of the Orange Public Library celebrate banner year OUPSF awards grants The Friends of the Orange Public Library donated $40,000 to upgrade and replace electronic equipment at all three OPL locations in December. It is one of the largest single grants the Friends have made, and it brings the group’s 2025 cash gift total to $86,000---the most it has ever given. In the face of the City of Orange’s financial stress, last spring, the Friends provided $23,000 earmarked for streaming services for library patrons and staff development programs. In July, it made The Orange Public Schools Foundation awarded over $50,000 in grants to individual OUSD teachers to support classroom projects and provide learning materials. Awarded on Dec. 11, the grants were distributed to 58 teachers representing 27 elementary, middle and high schools. Recan unrestricted grant of $18,000 to help wherever needed. And, an additional $5,000 was donated just prior to the close of 2025 to purchase new books. The Friends also passed on over 2,000 donated books, which went directly onto the library shelves. Assuming a new book costs, on average, $20, that adds another $20,000 to the coffers. The Friends of the Orange Public Library wants to thank all of its donors, volunteers and customers who have made this record support of the library possible. ognizing that educators are true changemakers and building on educational excellence, OUPSF grants aim to positively impact thousands of students by enriching their learning experiences. For more information about the Orange Unified Public Schools Foundation or to make a donation, visit oupsf.org. Christmas crafts highlight canyon holiday fest Christmas came to the Silverado Community Center, Dec. 13, with local vendors, music, storytelling and munchies. Liam Duffy, 15, of Modjeska Canyon displays holiday engravings that he makes himself. Geoff Sarkissian makes music with a band of young percussionists. Mafer and Jorge Martinez offer handmade items to deck everyone’s halls. Willow, left, and Harper Landry meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Storyteller Ron Chick regales visitors with tales. Ashley King and Diandra Lopez make Yule logs from locally gathered canyon flora. Woodworker Steve Neuberger fills a display gap resulting from a sale. Photographer Shawn Haislett features work taken in the local canyons and Sierras. Photos by Tony Richards
Foothills Sentry Page 8 JANUARY 2026 Orange Elks hold memorial service Orange Elks Lodge 1475 memorialized 23 of its members who have passed away during the year; of those, eight were veterans. The memorial service, held the first week in December, honored "Our Absent Members," so that they are not forgotten. The service was presided over by Exalted Ruler Kelley Martinez, who, by tradition, asked each officer, “What offering do you dedicate to our altar for their memory?” The offerings included the Forget-Me-Not, typifying charity, which teaches us to remember only the good that has been done. Then Amaranth, the emblem of immortality, the just reward of true and upright lives. The final offering of the Clinging Ivy is a symbol of brotherly love. The Exalted Ruler offers fidelity that embraces all the offerings. It inculcates devotion as the Forget-Me-Not, everlasting as the Amaranth, and constant as the Clinging Ivy. As the Lodge secretary reads each name, the Chaplain lights a candle, and the Esquire presents a Bible to the family of the absent member. Members of the Central Orange County Democratic Club collected toys for Operation Santa Claus, which provides gifts and toys to children and teens who are abandoned, neglected, and/or abused and are placed in foster care in Orange County. The group also collected food, clothing and blankets for the local homeless community. Donations were given to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Tustin, which provides care and services to the homeless. Above, left, club member Ronna Sarvas Weltman and club Chair Frank Gomez display the cache of collected toys. At right, Gomez with food donations. The Orange Elks Lodge 1475 welcomes new members each month, who are integral to the success of Elks programs. The December class was just in time to help with the many holiday programs the Elks undertake each year to make the season bright for as many people as they can. The Elks Christmas Basket project supports 200 low-income families with food, toys, pet food and a gift card. The goal, as in past years, was to hand out 200 Christmas baskets (boxes) to families with young children to help make The December class of new Orange Elks in Lodge 1475. the holidays more magical. The Orange Elks also host a Christmas Party for children, with lunch, crafts, cookie decorating, games and a gift from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Emblem Club is collecting gently used purses and personal Central OC Dems to feature writer The Central Orange County Democratic Club will host "The Nation" magazine writer Sasha Abramsky at its Wednesday, Jan. 28 meeting. In addition to speaking about the state of the nation, Abramsky will sign copies of his newest book, "American Carnage: How Trump, Musk and DOGE Butchered the U.S. Government." Snacks and shmooze at 6:30 p.m., general meeting at 7 p.m. RSVP to CentralOCDems@gmail.com, is required to attend. Anyone wanting to connect with fellow Democrats, get informed, learn how to be an activist, increase community involvement, and hobnob with a group of friendly people, is welcome to join Central OC Dems. Meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month in Tustin. From left, Joanne Hubble, canyon community representative; Bill Klovstad, El Rodeo Rescue; Dee Dee Friedrich, president, Yorba Linda Country Riders; Supervisor Don Wagner; and Sherry Panttaja, president, Orange Park Association Large animal rescue gets funding boost Supervisor Don Wagner has allocated $75,000 of discretionary funding to support the new Orange County Animal Rescue Team (OCART). OCART will be a trained volunteer team dedicated to assisting with large animals during emergencies, especially wildfires, throughout Orange County. It will operate under a Plan of Cooperation with the county. Wagner’s office has been working with the equestrian community to develop a county-supported program to help with large animal evacuations. The new volunteer group fills a gap left in 2023 when the San Juan Capistrano Large Animal Rescue Team stopped providing resources countywide. Long time coming “I am very thankful to Supervisor Wagner for pushing this through and making sure it came to fruition,” said Sherry Panttaja, president of the Orange Park Association. “This is something we’ve been working on for many years, so that we can help neighborhoods throughout Orange County and make them feel like they’ve got somewhere to go when there is a fire.” “It’s very important to make sure that the animals are taken care of and to get out early. In order to do that, we needed to have a good team in place, and now we finally have one,” said Joanne Hubble, canyon community representative. “Thanks to Don and his team, the hard work of Bill and Dee Dee, we got it done.” The funds approved will cover costs related to insurance, training supplies, a rescue trailer, volunteer equipment and other necessary materials. care items, such as lip gloss, combs, hand sanitizer, etc., for Joanie’s Purse Project, which will distribute the bags to disadvantaged women. Offerings in honor of Elks' absent members Orange Elks welcome new members just in time for the holidays
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