Foothills Sentry May 2022

Foothills Sentry Page 6 May 2022 dan@SlaterforMayor.com 714-886-3160 Paid for by Slater for Orange Mayor 2022, ID #1438598 1537 E. Chapman Ave, Orange, CA 92866 WE HAVE ORDERS. WE NEED INVESTORS. Real Estate is hot right now! Call Kevin Groot: (657) 505 - 8265 Kevin Groot Investments • Personal Financial Adviser Business Consultant Easy come, easy go The Silverado-Modjeska Recreation and Park District (SMRPD) leases the Silverado Children’s Center site from OC Parks, but SMRPD maintains the buildings. At a special meeting of the SMRPD Board of Directors on April 5, President Isabell Ker- ins reported that SMRPD had received a letter from OC Parks, stating that repairs were needed at the Children’s Center. The es- timated cost was higher than ex- pected, mainly because a planned slurry seal of the parking lot was deemed insufficient, so a more extensive paving job would be required instead. Roof and fence repairs were also needed. Kerins estimated that about $45,000 in repairs was needed quickly, but she hoped that paving could be postponed until August when the Center would be closed. Quick action regarding the Children’s Center was motivated, in part, by a resolution passed by the SMRPD board years ago, stating that the district would no longer give money to the Chil- dren’s Center to keep it open—if the Center could not pay its bills, it would be shut down in 30 days. Earlier this year, SMRPD had allocated $50,000 to the Chil- dren’s Center from the district’s $108,681 state COVID relief award. But after former SMRPD Treasurer Francesca Duff pointed out an error in the figures used in the district’s relief application, SMRPD notified the state, which then requested that SMRPD re- turn $57,336. Kerins stated that the main im- pact of COVID on the park dis- trict was at the Children’s Center. Corrected financial records indi- cate that while gross income at the Children’s Center declined, gross income elsewhere in the district actually increased slightly. Board member Kevin Topp suggested that if the Children’s Center needed extra money quickly, one option could be a loan from SMRPD. However, unlike previous loans, which are still on the books, a new loan could require a repayment schedule, collateral, and other aspects of more typical loans. In the end, the board decided that the $50,000 already given to the Children’s Center could stay in that account, where it could be used for the needed repairs. Presumably, $57,336 could be re- turned from wherever it had been deposited. Bridge game OC Public Works (OCPW) sponsored a public meeting, March 30, at the Library of the Canyons to present information and answer questions concerning the planned replacement of the bridge near Markuson Road in Modjeska. Much of what was presented was the same as described in a February Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. The new bridge would be wider, construc- tion would start in 2024 and last about eight months, during which alternating one-lane traffic would be supported, except for two or three days when Modjeska Grade Road would be used as a detour. OCPW staff said that although they had modified their plans in response to public comments, bridge design was largely driven by federal standards, which include a 28-foot minimum width and a five-foot shoulder on each side. Many audience members, however, felt that a wider bridge would encourage speeders, which would be counter to the county’s goal of increasing safety. At minimum, said the county’s consultant, the current bridge would need rehabilitation. Coun- ty engineers said that rehabilita- tion might cost as much as a new bridge, which would be better constructed and would possibly be eligible for federal funds. When asked what the penalty would be if the county did not do anything, a county engineer said, “None, until something happens.” But the county is at risk “if we knew there was a problem and didn’t do anything about it.” Interestingly, many of the terms used in bridge projects are also used in the card game called "bridge." There are bids, con- tracts, deals, occasionally some tricks, and probably the occa- sional dummy. And like duplicate bridge played at tournaments, concrete bridges employ redun- dant structures. One difference, though: Al- though physical bridges have been around for centuries, the card game did not exist until the early 1900s. Before that, people played whist. Madame Modjeska might have even played whist at her canyon estate. If she wanted to cross the creek, though, she could only sigh and say, “I whist I could get to the other side,” be- cause there was no bridge. Here there be dragons One of the earliest bushes to decorate for spring this year was snapdragon penstemon, also called bush penstemon. These na- tive shrubs of Southern Califor- nia’s chaparral, deserts, and for- ests can grow to over six feet tall, and the ones alongside Silverado Canyon Road, beginning near Black Star Canyon Road, started showing their bright yellow snap- dragon-shaped flowers in March. The plant is also called chapar- ral beardtongue, after a tiny hairy tongue-like part of the flower. You probably have to get really close to see it, but don’t wor- ry—these dragons don’t snap, or breathe fire. Please forward his mail By Andrew Tonkovich Forty-one years and elev- en months exactly. That’s the length of a career, of a lifetime of service, added up to the day: Wednesday, June 1 for retiring Silverado maestro of the mail- room Jeffrey Samaniego, who grins at the achievement, quan- tified exactly. Jeff began at 17, right out of Esperanza High School. His mother worked for the Postal Service. Encouraged, if not quite coerced by her into tak- ing the exam, he rose through the ranks, beginning at Grand Street Branch in Santa Ana. He served as dock supervisor, letter sorting machine clerk, collection box col- lector, timekeeping clerk, and re- lief supervisor. Jeff landed in Silverado in 2017, serving his final three years as our own singularly capable and reliable Postmaster, through snow, rain, heat, and gloom of night, or at least fire, flood, power outages, COVID, plenty of can- yon eccentricity, and other chal- lenges of a rural outpost, pun in- tended. Canyon denizens love him. He’s authoritative, conscientious, going out of his way to get it right. Resident Stephanie Bailey, a fan, sums Jeff up nicely: “He amazes me. Every day for the past three years, without fail, he’s greeted me with a smile and kind words. Not only does he know his cus- tomers by name, Jeff knows their P.O. Box number! I will miss our friendly encounters and his kind, gentle demeanor. Happy retire- ment, friend.” Cherry Flores, intrepid mail carrier, says Jeff’s been a good supervisor. “He is always reli- able for issues on the road and in the office. He has supported my daily work and helped me excel in my professional career. Jeff will be greatly missed and hard to replace.” The U.S. Postal Service agrees, officially: “The community of Silverado has expressed their appreciation for your steadfast and passionate commitment to your customers and employees. Your leadership during the crippling effects of fires, and winter storms, and COVID-19, restored a sense of normalcy and connection,” proclaims District Manager Linda Crawford. “Jeff, you have demonstrated the Postal Service’s value, earned the trust of the public, enabled commerce, connected people to each other, strengthened the ties that bind the nation together and I am so grateful for your daily service to the public. I thank you for your leadership and your gentle spirit!” After June 1, you might find Jeff fishing, either on a stream in the Eastern Sierra, or off the bow of a pleasure craft anchored near Avalon. Jeff Samaniego Snapdragon penstemon