Foothills Sentry April 2024

Page 7 Foothills Sentry APRIL 2024 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. Spray infected oaks. Protect other oaks with special treatments. For more information and help, contact Mike Boeck at rockdad@cox.net. ACT NOW. The larvae are emerging. You can STOP THE SPREAD OF THE GOLD SPOTTED OAK BORER. Starts at Tustin Presbyterian Church Opening Ceremony: 9:40am Box Office: 10:00am Tour: 10:00am - 4:00pm Tustin Area Historical Society’s 25 th Home & Garden Tour May 18, 2024 TICKETS Presale $40 “Day of ” $45 T ust inHi story. com or Tus t i n Museum 395 El Camino Real (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) RAIN or SHINE No refunds of the city’s budgetary crisis and that a deliberate communications effort is needed to get the word out. If people understand the depth of the problem, they might be more amenable to drastic so- lutions. To that end, the city que- ried several consulting firms to develop and conduct a commu- nications program; they selected Pivotal Strategies. Pivotal Strategies’ bid of $98,500 includes public educa- tion and outreach through No- vember. A second $50,000 con- tract with the firm that executed last fall’s survey, Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associ- ates (FM3), would allow for re- sults of the communications out- reach to be tracked via additional citizen surveys. Arriana Barrios asked if it was necessary to commit to $98,500 through November. She was told the council could approve the contract for a shorter period, and the cost would be adjusted. Addi- tionally, about a third of that cost is for direct mailers, which could be excluded. “If we don’t do this,” Barrios maintained, “it will be slashing and burning in every department. There will be no sacred cows.” “We need to do this,” Jon Du- mitru said. “It is incumbent for us to communicate to make sure people are tuning in. We need a professional firm.” The devil you know John Gyllenhammer noted that the survey found people were less interested in a sales tax than a TOT increase. “Would this out- reach be focused on that?” he asked. “I see this as a way to mes- sage a sales tax.” Ana Gutierrez saw it another way. “I don’t see this as a path- way to a sales tax,” she said, “but rather to inform our residents what’s going on in the city. This is an opportunity to let people know how the city is run. That’s more important to me than whether we get a sales tax on the ballot.” Mayor Slater indicated reluc- tance to pursue a sales tax, fa- voring a TOT increase instead. “If we don’t pursue a sales tax,” he asked, “can we use this same contract to tell people we have to knuckle down?” The contracts for Pivotal Strat- egies and FM3 were approved 5-2, with Denis Bilodeau and John Gyllenhammer voting no. None of the council members, however, liked it. Holding on to the hope that there are undiscovered budget cuts to alleviate the problem, Mayor Slater appointed an ad hoc committee – Bilodeau, Gyllen- hammer and himself -- to delve into city expenditures and look for ways to balance the budget. On a parallel track, Slater ap- pointed Barrios, Gutierrez and Kathy Tavoularis as a second ad hoc committee to assist with pub- lic education on the issue. "Budget deficit" continued from page 1 The Woman's Club of Orange honored four high school seniors as In- spirational Young Women at its March luncheon. OUSD counselors and teachers selected the students for their academic accomplishments, and achieving their goals while overcoming challenging experiences. From left, Grace Hernandez, Villa Park High; Victoria Cable, Edge Academy at Parkside Ed. Center; Daisy Villa Vasquez, El Modena High; and An- gie Alvarado, El Modena High. All are college bound. Earlier this year, the Woman's Club of Orange awarded scholarships to Inspirational Young Women from other OUSD high schools. The Fire Support Dog Committee of Orange Elks Lodge 1475 met with the Orange City Fire Department to present a $1,700 check to help with training expenses for the new fire support dog, "Ember." From left, Deputy Chief Doug Yates, Elks Exalted Ruler Janine Storm, Em- ber, Fireman Michael Romero, Elk Kati Bye and Fire Chief Sean de Metropolis Turtles and tortoises abound, oh my! Linda Grunnet and Sparky, age 17. The OC Chapter of the Califor- nia Turtle and Tortoise Club An- nual Show will be held on Satur- day, May 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 60-year-old club was founded to promote education and awareness of the species. This event will bring together over 25 giant live tortoises, as well as other shelled ones, with members from all over the state exhibiting their special pets. Vendors will offer unique tur- tle- and tortoise-themed T-shirts, jewelry, soaps, how-to books for the humans, as well as special foods and habitat equipment for the animals. In addition to many live exhib- its, adoption information and ed- ucational materials, the show will offer themed activities and snacks for unshelled visitors. The show will be held at the First Christian Church of Orange, 1130 E. Walnut from 8-4. For more information, see tortoise. org/orangecounty.