Foothills Sentry June 2024

Page 13 Foothills Sentry JUNE 2024 SERVICE DIRECTORY REAL ESTATE SENIOR RESIDENTIAL CARE Residential Care Home for the Older Adult Sonia Garcia-Francia CEO 714-269-7307 Sonia@guardianangelshomes.com Kelly S. Francia Harlan Administrator 714-812-0137 Kellysabrina@guardianangelshomes.com M.A. Psychology, M.A. Gerontology Master of HR Management www.GuardianAngelsHomes.com North Tustin Locations PIANO INSTRUCTION Your home. Learn music you love. 20yrs exp. BA music/ child development. (949) 637- 8208 Thekeyboardlady.com CLASSIFIEDS INVESTMENTS TAXES ARCHITECTS ARCHITECTS Coalescent Design Group Bruce Spielbuehler, Architect Additions, Remodels &Major Renovations Garages, ADU/Granny Units, Pool Houses 22343 La Palma Ave # 124, Yorba Linda, CA 92887 714-624-3692 www.coalescent-design-group.com TAWC names Young Women of the Month The Tustin Area Woman’s Club named four seniors from each Tu- stin Unified School District high school as its Young Women of the Month for May. Nirvana Abdelaal, from Tus- tin High, was born in Egypt and came to the United States when she was seven years old. She participated on the varsity girls tennis team, orchestra, Model United Nations, National Honor Society and the ELDAS (English Language Development Assis- tants) mentorship program. She founded the Green Foods for Good Moods Club. In the fall, Nirvana will attend UC Irvine, majoring in Business Adminis- tration. She aspires to become a corporate lawyer. Foothill High School’s Nina Molyneux is an International Baccalaureate candidate, chair- man of the Tustin Assistance League Assisteens program where her service and leadership Elks help clean up the creek On the second Saturday of ev- ery month, the Santiago Creek Greenway Alliance (SCGA) or- ganizes clean ups of the creek. The SCGAwas started in 1991. It is a group of volunteers dedi- cated to improving public use of the Santiago Creek. The San- tiago Creek begins in the moun- Left to right, the clean up crew included Beata Lichtenstein, Linda Corcoran, Arlo Cortez, Megan Cortez, JC Cortez, Kelley Martinez, Paloma Cortez and Orange Mayor Dan Slater. tains above Irvine Regional Park and flows through Villa Park and Santa Ana to the Santa Ana River. On clean up day, SCGA pro- vides trash bags, pick up claws, gloves, water -- pretty much ev- erything volunteers need for the job. All are welcome to help. Author book signing coming to Book Carnival Author John McNellis will dis- cuss his crime thriller “Scout’s Honor,” Sunday, July 14 at the Book Carnival. McNellis is a former practic- ing lawyer and co-founder of a real estate development firm that owns property in Orange. He made his debut as a novel- ist with “O’Brien’s Law,” and is recognized for creating complex, flawed and morally questionable characters. He is eager to talk about his views on drug decrimi- nalization; his insights into the U.S. penal system; his thoughts on guilt as a motivator for good deeds; and the human capacity benefits many community phi- lanthropies. She has participated on the Foothill Science Olym- piad team, the Theoretical Debate Club, varsity track and field and basketball teams. Molyneux is the co-creator of the Arts & Smarts afterschool program, a four-week program of hands-on art projects covering a multi-subject curriculum imple- mented at four Title I elementary schools in Tustin Unified. The program recently received an IB Youth Action Fund grant, which will help expand the program to more elementary schools. After graduation, Nina will attend UC Los Angeles, majoring in Mo- lecular, Cell and Developmental Biology. Sydney Madolora, part of the inaugural graduating class of Legacy Magnet Academy, and Joyce Kim from Beckman High were also named as Women of the Month American Legion Post 132 to host open house American Legion Post 132 in- vites veterans, families and the community to an open house, June 23. Guests will learn about the post’s history of service and how it supports the community and veterans. A diverse range of booths and information sessions will be hosted by Legionnaires, the post auxiliary, sons, riders, American Veterans United and United Mexican American Veter- ans Association. The open house takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature DJ sets, dancing, draw- ings and a barbecue. The post is located at 143 S. Lemon Street. For questions or sponsorship opportunities contact dtrujillo@ gmail.com or mr_espadas@hot- mail.com . New Santiago Creek Commission slated to be visionary, not transactional By Stephanie Tilhof Establishing the proper pro- tocol was the focus at the first meeting of a newly formed com- mission charged with developing a vision for Santiago Creek. Commissioners Addison Ad- ams, Robert Baca, Pamela Gal- era, David Hillman, Michael Knight, Susan Tillou and Chair- man Brendon Mueller, appointed by the Orange City Council, met April 24 to learn what the city ex- pected of them. “The Santiago Creek Com- mission is established to act in an advisory capacity and provide recommendations and general ad- vice to the city council regarding topics concerning the Santiago Creek area,” City Attorney Mike Vigliotta read from the commis- sion’s charter. He read a long list of items that the commission has no jurisdiction over, including the creek itself and “private property development, including permit- ting, or legislative or adjudicatory decisions.” Whose vision? About a dozen community members showed up to speak regarding agenda item, “Receive and file a presentation on the San- tiago Creek Vision Plan.” That plan, created in 2018, was never formally adopted by the city and did not contain content from the Santiago Creek Greenbelt Plan, OPA Specific Plan or East Or- ange Plan, which were formally adopted. Several objected to the commission using this plan as a basis for its future work. “I expressed concerns back in 2018 about this document, and they’ve grown,” commented OPA resident Theresa Sears. “Whose vision is this? It didn’t include anything from the East Orange residents who had been working on it," said Sears. Others noted that it contained flaws and omis- sions. “I received a lot of emails,” said City Manager Tom Kisela. “We just thought that it [the 2018 Santiago Creek Vision Plan] might be a good starting point. It’s up to the commission to see whether they want to use it.” The council requires the com- mission to have four meetings per year. However, several com- missioners expressed concern whether that may be enough. Former Orange Planning Com- missioner Adrienne Gladson urged them to form an ad hoc committee. “Extract portions of the other plans that involve the creek and incorporate them into your new plan,” Gladson recom- mended. Taking it slow “I would not create any other ad hoc committee,” said Vigliot- ta. “Individually meet, listen to what they have to say, put your thoughts on paper, don’t commit to anything.” Kisela told the commission that after this procedural meet- ing, it was up to them to deter- mine whether a study session with members of the public is warranted. “We can discuss with the chair how we can do that,” he said. “I’m glad to see our friends in OPA here,” said Nathan Swanek, president of the Mabury Ranch Homeowners Association. “We’re going to be working with them to make sure our interests in East Orange are protected. We have 384 homes that are go- ing to be greatly impacted by the eventual outcome of this project. As someone who backs up to the creek trail, I have significant concerns about how this ends up. We hope you will be reaching out to us to hear how we stand on these projects, as we will be reaching out to you,” he said. In a phone interview, Commis- sion Chair Mueller said that from his standpoint, meeting with stakeholders is one of the com- mission’s most important tasks. “They are the subject matter ex- perts,” he said. ”They have put a lot of research into this.” The commission voted unani- mously to receive and file the 2018 Santiago Creek Vision Plan. The next commission meeting is scheduled for July 24. 5K Run/Walk returns to OPA On hiatus since the COVID pandemic, the 5K Run/Walk will once again be held prior to the an- nual 4th of July Parade in Orange Park Acres. The course begins on Orange Park Boulevard next to Salem Lu- theran Church, meanders through the rural OPA community, and finishes back at the starting line. Race time is 7:30 a.m. on July 4; check-in begins at 6:30 a.m. All ages and skill levels are wel- come. Register at opa5k.com before June 10 and get a free race T-shirt. Entry fee discounts are available for groups of runners; groups of 5 to 9 receive 15% off; 10 or more, 20%. Email 5korangeparkacres@ gmail.com for a discount code. Medals will be awarded to first, second and third place male and female runners in each age group category. Prizes will also be given to a male, female and group for the most patriotic dress. Race day volunteers are need- ed; service hours are available to high school and college students. Send an email to the above ad- dress to volunteer. The 5K is organized by Crean Lutheran High and Orange Park Association. Funds raised will benefit OPA’s trail maintenance and beautification and the Crean Lutheran cross-country program. for transformation and redemp- tion. His inspiration for “Scout’s Honor,” a story of crime, punish- ment and redemption, is the good people who sometimes lose their moral compass. McNellis’s talk begins at 2 p.m. The Book Carnival is at 348 S. Tustin St. Nirvana Abdelaal Nina Molyneux