Foothills Sentry March 2023

Foothills Sentry Page 6 March 2023 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 (714) 832-0750 462 El Camino Real • Tustin, CA 92780 WWW.IVYS.COM IMPROVE HEALTH NATURALLY! • Iridology Consults • Wellness Tips • Awesome Lunches • Organic Cofee & Tea Old Town Tustin $10.00 OFF* Iridology Consult *NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY WELLNESS SEMINARS 2 ND SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH Happy St Patrick’s Day! dan@DanSlater.com 714-744-2219 MAYOR DAN SLATER MARCH 26, 2023 Presented by Giracci Vineyards & Farm s PURCHASE TICKETS AT: OCWINEANDSPIRITFEST.COM OC Wine & Spirit Festival is a modern tasting experience featuring global tastings that include wine, craft beer, spirits, hard seltzers, and more. Located at Giracci Vineyards & Farms in Silverado Canyon. I think that I shall never see... … another oak. That’s what could happen if nothing is done about the goldspotted oak borers (GSOBs) now in our canyons. We never used to hear about these beetles because they weren’t here. Goldspotted oak borers (full non-scientific name: G*#?%!& SOB) are not a problem in their native Arizona, but after surfac- ing near San Diego in the 1990s, they are now estimated to have killed over 80,000 Southern Cali- fornia oaks. Last year, the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) led an ef- fort to identify and destroy GSOB infestations in the canyons. But, currently, there is no money to continue work at that level be- cause OCFA is too busy with GSOB problems elsewhere in the county, according to Mike Boeck of Silverado. Speaking at the Feb. 7 meeting of the Inter-Canyon League (ICL), Boeck said that local residents now need to learn how to spot suspected GSOB evi- dence for themselves. One sign of GSOB is small D-shaped exit holes in oak bark. Boeck provided credit card-size GSOB identification aids to meet- ing attendees. These sport photos of the small, dark beetles and their white caterpillar-like larvae (which do the actual damage), plus a sample D-shaped hole in the card, all actual size. Borers are typically spread here, unknowingly, as larvae in firewood, so it’s best to avoid buying or transporting oak fire- wood. Eucalyptus and other wood is OK. If you already have suspect wood, burn or chip it as soon as possible. Many firewood vendors may not be aware of the problem. Ideas floated at the ICL meeting for increasing public awareness included outdoor signs, informa- tional mailers and community meetings. In addition to GSOB informa- tion from the University of Cali- fornia Cooperative Extension (UCCE) at gsob.org , a video of UCCE’s Dr. Beatriz Nobua-Beh- rmann discussing GSOBs at the December 6, 2022 ICL meeting is available at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=me1HUyIX5uU. Paintmobile On Thursday, Feb. 9, an OC Public Libraries van pulled into the Silverado Community Center to deliver art lessons. Wait, what? Yes, they also had books. But as part of a broader community resource mission, Linda Lom- eli and Karina Millan provided instruction for an easy painting project, along with conversation and library information. The Mobile Library program began in 2021 in order to provide Wi-Fi service to people stuck at home during the COVID-19 pan- demic. People could also check out tablets. And then people asked where the books were, so now the Mobile Library carries those, along with DVDs, portable Wi-Fi hotspots, and park passes that can be reserved using a li- brary card. The van visits parks, senior centers, and other loca- tions, from Brea to San Clemente, where people might not have easy access to a library building. It will visit Silverado the second Thurs- day of each month in 2023, prob- ably with art every other month. Meanwhile, over on Santiago Canyon Road, new Library of the Canyons Branch Manager Marisa Saam says that the crafts, games, and other programs offered there in February will continue in March. Books are still important, but she characterized OC public libraries as a community resource that can vary with the communi- ty. Some branches provide space for people to practice speaking English. Saam believes that be- sides providing a place for chil- dren to play, the canyon library also serves as a meeting place for adults. Slam dunk When California sycamore trees drop their leaves in winter, the clumps of green still left on a few branches are mistletoe, a na- tive semi-parasitic plant that gets some nourishment from its host. Mistletoe has been the official “floral emblem” of Oklahoma since before that was a state, hon- ored for being the only source of greenery to decorate graves of settlers who perished in the win- ter following the 1889 land rush. There are actually two kinds of mistletoe in our canyons: the kind that grows on oaks, and the kind that doesn’t. Scientists do not rec- ognize the kind that hangs around basketball courts as a separate species, but it clearly wants to be included in games. “Feed me! I’m open!” it im- plores hustling hoopsters scur- rying below. “Pass! I can sink it easy!” “No way!” respond the recre- ational roundballers. “You’re out of bounds.” “Am not!” argues Big Toe. “I’m not touching the ground!” Which is true: its roots only go part way into the tree. Unmentioned, though, is the potential problem if the plant were to actually grow over the court. Tradition would require any two basketball players who encounter each other under the mistletoe to kiss. Naturally, that would corrupt the morals of any youth observing or participating in such behavior, but more impor- tantly, IT WOULD SLOW THE GAME DOWN. Above all else, basketball ab- hors becoming like that other B- ball “sport” that consists mainly of a dozen or so people stand- ing around in a park waiting for something to happen. South Coast College named finalist South Coast College, an Or- ange-based institution that offers classes for court reporter, medical assistant and paralegal careers, was named a 2022 finalist for the Better Business Bureau Serv- ing the Pacific Southwest Torch Awards for Ethics. The award signifies the school’s commitment to ethics and trust, its authentic culture, integrity and positive impact in the community. The college offers certificates in court reporting and medical assis- tant, and a paralegal Associate of Arts degree. Financial aid infor- mation is available. For informa- tion about the school and its pro- grams, see southcoastcollege.edu . The college is located at 2011 W. Chapman in Orange. New windows give rise to post 132 open house American Legion Post 132 will host an open house, Sunday, March 26, from 1-5 p.m. to cele- brate the installation of new win- dows in its nearly 100-year-old building. The new windows, at a cost of $100,000, are described as the single most expensive project the Post has ever undertaken. The open house is free to the public, and will feature snacks, drinks, music and tours. There will also be information booths about the four branches of the American Legion: Legionnaires, Auxiliary, Riders and Sons. The Post is located at 143 S. Lemon St. in Orange. New windows have spruced up the American Legion Post building. Parasitic mistletoe