Foothills Sentry Page 10 FEBRUARY 2025 Fairhaven presents Love Songs of 20th Century Fairhaven Memorial Park will offer a special evening candlelight concert of love songs, from Nat King Cole to John Legend, played by an ensemble of talented musicians from the Orange County Preservation Bands, including featured guest vocalist Debi Ebert. The concert, to be held on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in Waverley Chapel, is free, but seating is limited. Registration is required; contact Cynthia.Adair@dignitymemorial.com or call (714) 9222953. TAWC announces scholarships The Tustin Area Woman’s Club is offering $1,000 scholarships to one graduating senior from each of the Tustin Unified School District high schools: Foothill, Tustin, Beckman, Legacy and Hillview. The scholarship application period is now open, and will close March 10. Applications can be obtained by visiting the TAWC website at TustinAreaWomansClub.com, or by visiting one of the TUSD high school websites and searching scholarship applications. TAWC is a 501(c)3 Community Service Organization, serving the Tustin Area since 1958. Anyone interested in finding out more about TAWC is encouraged to visit the website and/or attend a general meeting. General Meetings take place at 11 a.m. on the second Wednesday of the month, at the Santa Ana Elks Lodge. Lower Santiago Creek gets Congressional attention Legislation passed in the waning days of the 118th Congress included language that will protect the southwestern end of Santiago Creek, now a riparian area and bird sanctuary, from being transformed into a concrete channel. The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 specifically addresses several issues pertaining to the Santa Ana River and its feeder, Santiago Creek. The portions of the bill covering the local waterway were introduced by Congressman Lou Correa (CA-46) at the behest of citizens seeking to protect the natural segments of the creek in Santa Ana. The efforts began more than a year ago when residents were invited to a meeting led by the Army Corps of Engineers concerning plans to replace the trees and plants that characterized that part of the creek with concrete. That work was the last phase of a multi-year project to increase water flow and reduce flooding along the Santa Ana River. The work was approved by congress in 1985, and with no overriding direction, the Army Corps was prepared to complete the river project by channelizing the terminus of the creek that ran into it. The Santa Ana residents who neighbored the creek were horrified, as were creek advocates in East Orange, who believed that efforts upstream to minimize flow would help downstream. Residents were told that the Army Corps was bound by the 1985 legislation and that it would take an act of Congress to change it. Lou Correa, who represents that portion of Santa Ana, lent a willing ear. It took over a year, but the Congressman succeeded in getting the creek project as well as a study on the proposed OC River Walk, into the bill. Correa successfully modified the authorizing language in the original Santa Ana River project. It now prevents the Corps from doing work on Santiago Creek unless it is redesigned to minimize the impacts on existing trees. The redesign refers to the portion of the creek downstream of the I-5 Interstate Highway to the confluence with the Santa Ana River. The OC River Walk is, at present, a vision to transform the Santa Ana River corridor into a primary connective open space uniting the Southern California region, as a destination for recreation and entertainment. Sipping, snacking, shopping and strolling in Old Town Tustin By Guy Ball Downtown Tustin is once again featuring a family-friendly afternoon filled with food tastings, wine, craft beer, live music, vendors, and a leisurely stroll among historic buildings. The Tustin Community Foundation and the City of Tustin present their 11th annual Sip & Stroll, a walking taste tour of Tustin on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 1 to 4 p.m. The main street of El Camino Real will be closed to vehicle traffic and open to pedestrians only. Over 30 local restaurants will offer food and beverage samples for those who purchase tickets. Those over 21 will be able to sample alcohol from the various breweries and wine bars. An accompanying Dreamers Market features a variety of craft and products to view and purchase. Tickets are $50 and $60 if purchased in before Feb. 15. All proceeds go toward the Tustin Community Foundation annual grant fund and Dollars for Tustin scholarship programs. For more information, visit tustincommunityfoundation.org or call (714) 393-8506. Stick & Stones will provide live music The Army Corps of engineers was going to turn the lower portion of Santiago Creek into a concrete channel.
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