Foothills Sentry May 2024

Foothills Sentry Page 8 MAY 2024 Happy Mother’s Day! dan@DanSlater.com 714-744-2202 1537 E. Chapman Ave. Orange, CA 92866 DAN SLATER Friendly Center celebrates its centennial By Tina Richards The Friendly Center celebrated its 100th anniversary, April 8, with the City of Orange naming that day after the long-lived nonprofit. Friendly Center Day was feted at the organization’s headquarters by center board members, staff, volunteers, elected officials and community supporters. Speakers highlighted the center’s century of service, the resilience and dedica- tion of those who came before, and acknowledged the “cosmic gift” of a solar eclipse that occurred earlier in the day. Representatives from the Gabrieleno and Juaneno Tribes blessed the land, as has been the custom for hundreds of years. Re- cently named CEO Kenia Cueto spoke of plans for the next 100 years. The Friendly Center began on April 8, 1924 by a Bible study group who wanted to assist strug- gling farm workers with food and resources. That purpose continues to this day, with ser- vices offered to all low-income families in the area. “Our mission,” said Cueto, “is food and family support, edu- cation and workforce develop- ment.” That includes meeting basic needs, rent/utility assis- tance, domestic violence inter- vention, mental health counsel- ing and parenting classes. “Our focus for the new era,” Cueto stressed, “is to break the cycle of generational poverty by em- phasizing job training.” To that end, the center is kick- ing off its first summer boot camp to train high school stu- dents with up-to-date job skills. The initial program, conducted in partnership with a local col- lege, focuses on drones. The bootcamp will feature classroom instruction covering drone safe- ty, operation and current laws, plus hands-on flight experience. This four-day program will run for three to four hours each day and will be hosted at the Fam- ily Resource Center's classroom facility, with flight sessions con- ducted in the nearby park fields. The primary target audience for this program is students from Richland High School, which is located adjacent to the Resource Center. Participation is also open to other high school students and young adults from the commu- nity. “Our aim,” said Operations Di- rector Steve Getman, “is to attract these students and their parents to our center, particularly those who may benefit from our additional services. The Education to Work- force pipeline will put them on the path to the jobs of today and tomorrow and allow families to escape poverty.” The Woman's Club of Orange honored the Katella Avenue Home De- pot for giving its 100-year-old clubhouse an upgraded ladies’ room. The Woman’s Club now has a lovely restroom with new flooring, paint and a new vanity, thanks to a $20,000 grant from Home Depot. At the club’s April luncheon, the store was given a proclamation in thanks for its on- going support. From left, WCO Director of House Pat Hamilton, First Vice President Carol Allen, Home Depot Store Manager Melissa Coro- nado and Specialty Sales Assistant Store Manager Alicia Torres. Home Depot also donates gift baskets for the monthly raffles at the Woman's Club of Orange. Tustin Historical Society offers Vintage Home and Garden Tour By Guy Ball The Tustin Area Historical So- ciety will host its 25th annual Old Town Tustin Home and Garden Tour, “Silver Jubilee Edition" on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Highly regarded as a storied event full of lovely sights and sounds, the tour celebrates a bygone era. Participants will en- joy a stroll through Tustin’s Old Town area and view how home- owners have turned their vintage homes and gardens into modern living spaces, while maintaining the charm of yesteryear. Each home has a unique story, interest- ing décor, and artifacts collected by their owners. This year’s architectural styles include an 1875 Italianate Victo- rian (Tustin’s third-oldest stand- ing structure; a 1924 California Bungalow (similar, but then more affordable, to a Craftsman); a 1924 Colonial Tudor Revival, as well as a 1930 English Tudor Re- vival; a 1922 French/Norman Re- vival with fairy tale architecture; and another bungalow boasting a large, open front porch from which to enjoy the quiet street. The full-day event also features activities such as Maypole danc- ing, live musical entertainment, a “Tree Walk” with landscape architect Guy Stivers, a Conces- sionaire’s Garden of craft ven- dors, various speakers on garden- ing and history, quilt and weaving displays, plein-air painting, vin- tage vehicles, and demonstrations at the Tustin Area Museum. Two horse-drawn trolleys will provide extra ambiance and transportation between most homes. Tickets on the day of the event are $45; discounted pre-sale tick- ets, at $40, are available until May 16. For more information or to order tickets online, visit TustinHistory.com or call (714) 731-5701. The tour will begin at the Tustin Presbyterian Church, 225 W. Main St. A festive open- ing ceremony will commence at 9:40 a.m., with the homes open- ing at 10 a.m. The tour benefits the Tustin Area Historical Society to sup- port the Tustin Area Museum and the Society’s other programs, including “History in a Box” for school children and a wide vari- ety of historical activities. A historic home decked out for a previous year’s tour represents what the 2024 event will offer. Volunteers, community members and Friendly Center staff welcomed the next 100 years with a group photo. Photos by Tony Richards Providence St. Joseph Hospital Orange is celebrating the grand opening of the Helen Caloggero Women’s and Family Center. The four-story, 137,000-sq.-ft. facility will provide improved access to vital women’s health services, benefits and resources for Orange County residents. The new center is located at 363 S. Main St. and provides a new hub to access a wide array of services, including obstetrics and gynecology, a maternity wellness center, maternal mental health services, pelvic health and rehab. The space also features La Amistad, a federally qualified health clinic, with OB-GYN and pediatric services for underserved members of the com- munity. CEO Kenia Cueto