Foothills Sentry April 2022

Foothills Sentry Page 4 April 2022 JOHNSON MOTORCARS 31 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 WE’RE HIRING! Part Time • 20 hours per month • Adobe Creative Suite Contact editor@foothillssentry.com Spring forward Musical chairs Silverado-Modjeska Recre- ation and Parks District (SMRPD) leadership positions shifted last month, a power-sharing gesture encouraged in its bylaws, but also important toward seeing who’s who (or who’s what) as Novem- ber’s election approaches, with three seats open and only one in- cumbent, thus far, announcing her candidacy. Those stepping forward should file Declaration of Candidacy forms between July 18 and Aug. 12. Instructions are at the Regis- trar of Voters, ocvote.gov. Meanwhile, Michelle Agopian was appointed treasurer, tak- ing over from Stephanie Bailey. Jessie Bullis, appointed to fill Bailey’s position, will serve as secretary, with Isabel Kerins re- maining president, Rusty Morris as VP, and Kevin Topp, director. After long and much-appreciated service, “K-Topp” indicates he won’t run again. Mud in your eye It was also a big month for the Inter-Canyon League (ICL), with both a regular monthly meeting and a well-attended special March 9 Library of the Canyons town hall on emergency services and disaster mitigation, featuring SMRPD reps, Supervisor Don Wagner, Fire Authority and OC Public Works reps. Initial cost estimates of removing the many tons of dirt piled on the Abbey’s property, at one point, exceeded $150K, with concern that “Mt. Riviera” might be a permanent topographic feature. (Ironic, K-Topp points out, since much of the popular dog walking/hiking space resulted from the defining 1969 flood.) Efforts coordinated by SMRPD’s President Kerins, ICL and Fire Safe Council resulted in OCWaste Commission tentatively accepting the dirt at a landfill after soil testing. Establishing provenance of the flood debris had been a Kafkaesque joke lately, with struggles over who’d remove it complicated by consideration of where it came from, private property mud as opposed to the people’s mud. Discussion surrounding converting private roads to public roads, which the county would then be responsible for maintaining, might solve the problem, but with a singular requirement that new roads would meet -- wait for it! --- county standards. One Town Hall attendee reported the audience’s response, “Everyone in the room laughed.” Removal will free up park- ing for the return of the Easter Sunday Silverado Reserve Fire- fighters Pancake Breakfast at the Community Center. Adults $10, kids $5. April 17, 7 a.m. – noon. Easter Egg Hunt at 9:30 a.m. Modjeskans might anticipate a gathering in their park. Watch the big tree for a flyer announcement. First aid Francesca Duff invites resi- dents to take in-person or on- line first-aid training now. First- aid kits have been distributed throughout both canyons to 30 block captains, who presumably keep them in vehicles along with go-bags, or easily accessible near GMRS radio, flashlight, power station, generator and candles. Springtime checklist: change smoke alarm batteries, check fire extinguisher pressure, reset irri- gation timers or otherwise sync domestic appliances to spring and, soon enough, summer or, as we now call most of the year, Fire Season. Watch where you step JoelRobinson, formerSilverado resident and wildlands activist, is our region’s most cheerful and entertaining guide to the natural world, and right in our backyard. Your humble scribe learned, saw, and remembered more after a recent two-hour private VIP (very inspired peripatetist) hike with freewheeling barefoot docent Robinson than from consulting any number of books or websites. He’s available at Naturalist for You, naturalist-for-you.org . Stinging wit Library of the Canyons staff offer a special Earth Day Storytime on Thursday, April 21 at 11:30 a.m., with Ms. Rylee and Ms. Jessi presenting an “All Things Bees” program celebrating apiary splendor. They promise you’ll bee buzzing about it for days, and that it will bee a great time. Bee there or bee square. Punning encouraged. There goes the neighborhood Dawn Lee Bogert of First Team Real Estate, and herself a onetime Mo Canyon resident, offers good news and good advice for sellers, as many longtime homeowners relocate. “Canyon properties have seen a lot of appreciation, especially recently. Homes are receiving multiple offers, many selling over the asking price.” She notes that competitive bidding is the result of getting attention, not being shy about promoting a sale, and that recent sellers benefited from bidding wars. Wildfires and floods have not discouraged “canyon types,” according to Bogert, who has added extensive disclosures about power outages and emergency road closures. Nonetheless, she happily reports, “When you talk to people who belong here, they don’t flinch at fire or flood warnings.” Zantedeschia aethiopica Poppies and lupine are here, with calla lilies hanging on, a short-lived but magnificent multi- floral moment signaling both the arrival of springtime and the sur- prising migration of the tenacious bulbs downhill, down canyon, migrating sometimes dramatical- ly, many feet or yards via erosion or flood. The welcome exotic varietal pops up expected and unex- pected. Maybe pick a few and bring to the rescheduled Satur- day, April 9 memorial service/ potluck for Modjeska favorite Ralph Voehl (1951-2021) at the home of the La Bars; see meal- train.com/70r862. OHS JROTC program expands and serves The Orange High School (OHS) Marine Corps JROTC program, under new Senior Ma- rine Instructor Colonel Mark Tull, a decorated officer who retired af- ter more than 27 years in the Ma- rine Corps, and Master Sergeant Carlos Mata, has expanded to serve over 100 students. The students have engaged in a variety of targeted leadership development trainings and civic activities throughout the year. The cadets have provided Color Guard for OHS football games and Ducks games, the OHS Patri- ot Day Remembrance Ceremony, Wreaths Across America, honor guard service for fallen veter- ans, Field of Valor, and held a luncheon for local dignitaries in honor of the 246th birthday of the Marine Corps. They completed first-aid train- ing, and engaged in team-building activities, including rappelling and undertaking the rigorous Boy Scouts of America Challenging Outdoor Personal Experiences (COPE) course featuring climb- ing, rope and obstacle courses and team problem-solving. The JROTC team recently qualified to compete in the Joint Leadership and Academic Bowl (JLAB) National Championship to be held at in Washington, D.C. in June. A group of cadets will travel to Washington, D.C. where they will tour the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, visit the Capitol, and tour the Ar- lington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, the Marine Corps and Lincoln Memorials. Tull has made arrangements to allow the cadets to attend forma- tions and dine in the mess hall with the Brigade at the Naval Academy. In addition the Ma- rine Corps’ Liaison to the Senate, has agreed to provide the cadets with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Capitol and an opportunity to meet with the Marine Corps Si- lent Drill Team and Color Guard, followed by introductions to the 45th and 46th Congressional Dis- trict Representatives, Katie Porter and Lou Correa, respectively, and visits to their Capitol offices. The budget for this once-in-a lifetime trip is $24,000, and the OHS-Marine Corps JROTC As- sociation is actively seeking do- nations and grant funds in support of the costs associated with this transformative event. For more information or to donate, contact Geoffrey S. Fearns, Gfearns@ OHSMCJROTC.org. Orange High JROTC cadets work as a team to master a wall in an obstacle course. Imaginology returns The youth-oriented event celebrating STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) will return to the OC Fair & Event Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. onApril 9 and 10. Aplethora of hands-on activities, workshops, demos and competitions, food and entertainment, are geared to preschoolers through high schoolers. Entry is free; parking $10. Old Towne forum features hot topics The State of Old Towne Forum, presented by the Old Towne Preservation Association, is slated for Thursday, April 14 at 6 p.m. in the Orange City Council Chambers. The event will include topics of interest to Old Towne residents, as well as all Orange citizens. Mayor Mark Murphy will be joinedbyDistrict1Councilwoman Arianna Barrios, City Manager Rob Houston, Police Chief Dan Adams and Chapman University Vice President of Community Relations Alisa Driscoll. Subjects to be discussed in- clude ADU housing, boarding houses, crime, Chapman Univer- sity expansion, the Plaza Paseo, homelessness, city finances and parking issues. RSVP for in-person or online attendance at otpa.org .