Foothills Sentry March 2024

Page 7 Foothills Sentry MARCH 2024 You can STOP THE SPREAD OF THE GOLD SPOTTED OAK BORER. Inspect. Inspect your trees, Coast Live Oak, Canyon Live Oak and California Black Oak. Look for D-shaped holes 2-4 mm wide in the bark. Identify. The larvae are in the bark. They are 2 cm long, white and legless. Adults are 1 cm in length, bullet shaped with gold spots. Treat. Contact Mike Boeck at rockdad@cox.net. Information at ucanr.edu/sites/gsobinfo The Friendly Center began in 1924 to help impoverished farm workers and their families. Friendly Center gears up for centennial celebration with vision of transforming futures By Mariah Martinez The Friendly Center turns 100 years old this April, celebrating a proud history and a promising future. The City of Orange has designated April 8 as “Friendly Center Day,” and the organiza- tion will honor its legacy on Sept. 28 at its annual One Heart Gala held at the Richard Nixon Presi- dential Library and Museum. Friendly Center has provided support for impoverished indi- viduals and families in Orange County since its establishment in 1924. This century-long commit- ment has allowed it to evolve into WKH ORQJHVW VWDQGLQJ QRQSUR¿ W and community center in the area. Born in a Bible class Friendly Center was born from the Men's Community Bible Class of Orange, led by Presbyte- rian minister, Rev. M. L. Pearson. Recognizing the desperate con- ditions faced by the area's citrus packinghouse workers and their families, they launched Friendly &HQWHU WR R൵ HU UHVRXUFHV DQG DLG The community center building was established by donor J. F. Lewis on North Cypress Street. By 1967, Friendly Center had progressed beyond its role as a community hub and become an LQGHSHQGHQW QRQSUR¿ W FRUSRUD tion, Friendly Center, Inc., an ac- complishment aided by a charita- ble group known as the Friends of the Friendly Center. The organi- zation then focused on improving education and housing conditions WKURXJK LQLWLDWLYHV OLNH WKH ¿ UVW ever Rent Supplement Housing Program in Orange County. Even- tually, Friendly Center emerged as a United Way Agency. Evolving and expanding throughout the years, Friendly Center stuck true to its mission of providing stability, opportunity and hope to children and fami- lies, working to end the cycle of generational poverty in Orange County. This steadfast service was acknowledged in 2007 when the California Family Resource Association named it as one of the top four Family Resource Centers in California. Growing to meet the need Today, the Friendly Center runs more than 15 distinct programs, serving thousands of individuals every year, emphasizing fam- ily support, education and food support. In the last year alone, it impacted over 3,000 lives and distributed more than 300,000 pounds of food to the needy. With new leadership under Kenia Cue- to, academician and visionary, Friendly Center ushers in a new era. Her experience in education is expected to seamlessly align with Friendly Center's commit- ment to serve Orange County's diverse community. +HDGLQJ R൵ KRPHOHVVQHVV With its forthcoming 100- year celebration, Friendly Cen- ter has demonstrated its readi- ness to tackle homelessness in Orange County. It was recently chosen by Supervisor Doug &KD൵ HH WR PDQDJH D pilot program of District Four’s Emergency Rental Assistance 3URJUDP (5$3 R൵ HULQJ UHQW assistance paired with case man- agement to families at risk of becoming homeless. In outlining the organiza- tion's vision for the next century, Cueto highlighted a strategy that emphasizes not just the growth of current programs, but the piv- oting of traditional education to career technical education for both children and adults. "Looking forward to the next 100 years," she says, "our am- bition extends beyond mere JURZWK LW VHHNV WR UHGH¿ QH RXU contribution to society. By inter- weaving advanced technology and innovative educational pro- grams, we aim to close the gen- erational poverty gap with a com- mitment to serving communities through equity and access for all. "Our strategy involves techni- cal education tailored to the needs of both children and adults, pre- paring them to thrive in a digital age. Our goal is to ensure that our actions today pave the way for a future of social mobility for all. This means leveraging and creating partnerships with our community, educational entities, LQGXVWU\ QRQ SUR¿ WV ZRUNIRUFH development and governmental agencies. "We cannot do this alone, but we promise to do our part in serv- ing our region with dignity, re- spect, and humanity." As it moves towards a brighter future and its next hundred years, Friendly Center carries the hope and support of the Orange com- munity. If you would like to support the mission and vision of Friendly Center through volunteering, do- nating, or becoming a member of the exclusive “Friends of Friend- ly Center” community, please visit friendlycenter.org . Life-changing moments start with Assistance League Explore membership – Learn more about membership on Thursday, April 25, from 5-7 p.m. at 124 S. Orange Street. Learn what Assistance League of Or- ange does for the community, re- ceive an overview of many phil- anthropic programs and have op- portunities to earn some “Thrift Shop Bucks.” Light refreshments will be served. Bring a friend! Honor future military mem- bers – at the Salute to Service dinner celebration Wednesday, May 15 at 4:30 p.m. The program recognizes students who will be- gin basic training in all branches of the U.S. military or attend military academies. Students may contact their high school coun- selor for information. For more information see assis- tanceleague.org/Orange. Milan Capital has begun testing on 67 acres of illegal waste ma- WHULDO SLOHG KLJK Rৼ RI 6DQWLDJR Canyon Road to determine what, if any, contaminants are present. 7KH DQDO\WLFDO WHVW ¿ QDOO\ EHJDQ after almost two years of negotia- tions between the landowner and the Local Enforcement Agency. Borings must be conducted at ¿ YH IRRW LQWHUYDOV 6DPSOHV PXVW be collected from the surface, in- terior and bottom of the stockpile. 6XEVXUIDFH VDPSOHV VKRXOG EH FRO lected down to native soil. Mate- rial deemed to be uncontaminated cannot be moved to another site without a workplan submitted to LEA for review. If hazardous ma- terials are found, a clean-up plan will be required. Testing criteria is based on non-commercial or non-residential use. Cowboy Easter Service coming to OPA Pastor Larry Day will preside over the traditional Easter Son- rise service on Sunday, March 31, at the Mara Brandman Horse Arena. All are welcome, including, as Day says, “your dog, horse or any other companion." As always, Margaret Steinberg and her Blue Grass Friends will play. There will be free Bibles, GRQXWV DQG FR൵ HH 7KH VHUYLFH begins at 7 a.m. North Tustin resident Joe Ball has EHHQ QDPHG FKLHI RSHUDWLQJ R৽ FHU RI /XWKHUDQ 6RFLDO 6HUYLFHV RI 6RXWKHUQ &DOLIRUQLD EDVHG LQ WKH City of Orange. Ball has over 20 \HDUV RI RSHUDWLRQV ¿ QDQFH DQG quality management experience in IRU SUR¿ W WHFKQLFDO PDQXIDFWXULQJ DQG QRQSUR¿ W VRFLDO VHUYLFH HQYL ronment. He holds a bachelor's degree in management and an MBA from Pepperdine University. The Assistance League of 2UDQJH R൵ HUV RSSRUWXQLWLHV WR change a life. Student scholarships – The on-line application portal (at as- sitanceleague.org/Orange/Schol- arships) is open for high school seniors who attend an Orange 8QL¿ HG 6FKRRO 'LVWULFW VFKRRO RU reside in the OUSD attendance boundaries. Over 25 scholar- VKLSV DPRXQWLQJ WR were awarded in 2023. Scholar- ships for the arts, general studies, KHDOWK ¿ HOGV WUDGH DQG WHFKQL cal studies and special needs are available. The last day to submit an application is April 3. Embrace the spirit of giving – at Embrace Orange on April 14 at the Balboa Bay Resort. Reserve your seats at assistanceleague. org/Orange by March 31. The Friendly Center will manage OC District 4's Emergency Rental Assistance Program. From left, Executive Director of CalAIM and MediCal at CalOptima Kelly Bruno-Nelson; Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee; Friendly Center President/ CEO Kenia Cueto; Friendly Center Family Support Advocate Luis Estrada; Friendly Center Executive Director Jessica Ruelas. Joe Ball