Foothills Sentry - February 2024

Foothills Sentry Page 8 February 2024 Love Orange dan@DanSlater.com 714-744-2202 1537 E. Chapman Ave. Orange, CA 92866 DAN SLATER Silverado resident is on a mission to save oak trees from a lethal insect by Andie Mills Silverado resident Mike Boeck has a calling: to save the oak trees for future generations. The longtime canyon resident is devoting personal time and energy to get the word out about the invasive Goldspotted Oak Borer (GSOB) that has killed trees here, from the Santa Ana Mountains to Crystal Cove State Park. The small insect, less than one-half-inch long, with yellow spots on its back, has devastated some 80,000 oaks in neighboring counties, including in Julian and Ramona. “Last year,” he said sadly, “a coast live oak hundreds of years old and over six feet in diameter at the base had to be removed in Silverado Canyon.” Now, he emphasized, is the time for every property owner to inspect all their oak trees, or have them inspected by a certified ar- borist. It takes only a few minutes, he said, to look for exit holes. The larvae will soon become adults and emerge from underneath the thick oak bark, creating a distinc- tive D-shaped hole. March and April are the prime months to spray for the pests. Boeck will help inspect; he will also bundle the inspections and necessary spraying services for neighboring properties to cut the costs as much as 40%. He sug- gests residents designate a neigh- borhood captain for their respec- tive area, and have their captain contact him. “The faster we jump on this, the more oaks we can save,” he said. The GSOB infiltrates under the bark, causing thinning of the oak’s crown, leaf loss, dead twigs and branches, and eventual death. The pest prefers branches of eight inches in diameter or larger, and often congregates in one main “amplifier” tree before spreading. The weakened or dead trees create a fire hazard, as well as a danger if the Santa Ana winds cause them to topple over. Na- tive oaks are integral to the eco- system, providing habitat and food resources for such wildlife as acorn woodpeckers, mule deer and ground squirrels. The oaks also provide shade, protecting ri- parian waters and plantlife. Prop- erty values decrease when the once-gorgeous oak canopy must be removed from a residence, and the removal of the trees is expen- sive. Moving infested firewood or portions of dead trees can spread the GSOBs to new, previously uninfested areas. “It is imperative that we sur- vey and, if necessary, treat our oaks,” Mike Boeck stressed. For more information: Mike Boeck, Fire Safe Coun- cil East Orange County Project Manager, rockdad@cox.net (714) 649-2662 For other areas, contact Scott Hatch, Wildland Resource Plan- ner, OCFA, at ScottHatch@ OCFA.org Go to the University of Cali- fornia Agriculture and Natural Resources website GSOB.org to report signs of the insect. A six-foot diameter oak tree was killed by a Goldspotted Oak Borer. The D-shaped exit hole on the bark of the tree, indicative of a GSOB infestation, is matched to an ID card provided by UC Agriculture. An old diseased oak, the result of the GSOB. Mike Boeck, left, with Randall Oli- ver of UC Agriculture Department Tustin Historical Society names new board The 2024 Tustin Area Historical Society board members and officers were sworn in by outgoing President Steve Sauers. They are, from left, John Nielsen, member; Colleen Ma, treasurer; members Susan Reid, Gretchen Whisler, Becky Michel, Brady Michel;Vicki Gray, secretary; Susan Dobak, member; Richard Nelson, presi- dent. Not pictured: Elaine Dove and Tim Zierer, vice president. The Society has been documenting Tustin and the Tustin foothill’s history since it was established during the planning of America’s Bicentennial Celebration of 1976. See the website, TustinHistory.org, for listings of programs and articles covering the area’s past. Central Dems to host candidates The Central Orange County Democratic Club will host a cav- alcade of local candidates and electeds at its Wednesday, Feb. 28 meeting. It will be a “last hurrah” to fete candidates and remind vot- ers who haven’t voted yet to turn in their ballots before the March 5 primary. Snacks and chats be- gin at 6:30 p.m., and the general meeting at 7 p.m. A RSVP via Mobilize or the club website is required to attend. Club volunteers are mailing out postcards, reminding voters about the March 5 primary. If you would like to send postcards, email CentralOCDems@gmail. com. You can put on your favorite background music, and do your patriotic thing from the comfort of home. Central OC Dems includes the communities of Tustin, Tustin Hills, Orange, Villa Park and sur- rounding communities, and wel- come all Orange County Demo- crats. Meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 1221 Wass St. in Tustin. Central OC Dems is not affiliated with St. Paul’s. Visit CentralOCDems.com. Duke of Orange tickets on sale Contestants in the second an- nual Duke of Orange contest, sponsored by the Orange Cham- ber of Commerce, will take to the stage on Saturday, Feb. 17, putting their talents and air-band prowess to the test. The contest is open to any man, 21 or older, who lives, works or goes to school in Orange. The winner will ride in the May Parade with crown, robe and scepter, and select a charity to receive the prize money from the pageant. Tickets for the event are $50 for chamber members; $65 for non-members. Contestant and table sponsor packages are $950, and include a VIP location, 10 drink tickets, recognition in the program and the ability to spon- sor the contestant of your choice. A table sponsorship for $650 comes with 10 reserved seats and 10 drink tickets. A contestant sponsorship for $500 consists of four admission tickets, four drink tickets, VIP seating and recogni- tion in the program and from the stage. A special ladies night package for an additional $25 provides premium seating, a two-drink ticket and Prosecco toast, a good- ie bag, pre-pageant photo op with the contestants and a photo op with the newly crowned duke. The Duke of Orange competi- tion takes place at the Woman’s Club, 121 S. Center Street. The reception begins at 5 p.m.; the contest is from 6 to 8 p.m.; and an after-party commences at 8 p.m.