NEWS INSIDE A Monthly Community Newspaper JULY 2025 Canyon Beat Page 6 Obituaries Page 10 Real Estate Page 10 Service Directory Pages 11-12 Professional Directory Page 13 Community Sports Page 14-16 The Best News In Town Since 1969 FOLLOW US at Foothills Sentry NO FLY ZONE Earnest eradication efforts have eliminated a pest from OC’s homegrown fruits and vegetables. See Oriental, page 2 A DAY TO REMEMBER Elks and Emblem Clubs pay respectful tribute to the fallen on Memorial Day. See Service, page 10 LOOK BOTH WAYS City of Orange approves crossing guards for busy streets near OUSD schools. See Crossing, page 2 THE RIGHT STUFF Special ed students give it their all at the 2025 Olympiad Games. See OUSD, page 3 BEING THERE Residents flocked to local venues to participate in a nationwide rally. See Local, page 8 See "Orange Audit" continued on page 5 See "OUSD" continued on page 5 See "VP Housing" continued on page 5 Anticipating the arrival of Representative Young Kim and Supervisor Don Wagner for an invitation-only meeting at the Silverado Community Center, residents gathered to demonstrate their opposition to a federal budget line item that would sell off 2.1 million acres of public lands, including the Cleveland National Forest. Citing safety concerns, the scheduled meeting was changed to Zoom, so the electeds did not show up. The meeting, attended by representatives from several canyon organizations, had been called to discuss wildfire prevention and response, forest service staffing and the Gold Spotted Oak Borer. The sell-off of forest lands was, however, raised by several Zoom participants. Kim advised that the land sale was inserted into the bill by the Senate, and the revised version would come back to the House for approval. She told those attending the meeting that she would show photos taken of the canyon protest to House leadership. Photo by Tony Richards Orange Audit Committee traces city deficit back to 2008 By Tina Richards A review of the City of Orange’s budget, going back to 2008, reveals that the current deficit is rooted in the recession that began that year and the subsequent dissolution of the state Redevelopment Agency. The city’s inability to recover was, and is, due largely to ever-growing pension fund obligations. The review was conducted by the city’s Audit Advisory Committee at the request of the city council. The committee is composed of Orange residents with financial expertise appointed by the council. They include Chair Carolyn Cavecche, Vice Chair Brian Wilterink, Caleb Brown, Jeff Grampp, Andrew Li, Chris Horton and Jack Schroeder. City Treasurer Garrett Smith is an ex of f icio member. The dive into 17 years of financial data was assisted by Orange’s Finance Director Trang Nguyen. It was Nguyen who identified the deficit as a serious problem when she joined the city in 2023. No extraordinary spending In a report to the city council, June 10, Cavecche and Wilterink reported that the data used by the committee was taken from the city’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports, which are audited by independent firms. None of the audited reports showed any significant spending beyond what had been approved by the attendant councils in their yearly budget allocations. The committee found that during the recession years, 2009-12, as revenues slumped, the city had to dip into its reserve funds to continue operating. At that time, employee contracts were renegotiated and the workweek reduced to 36 hours. The largest gap between income and outgo occurred in 2010 when revenue was slightly below $80 million and expenses just under $85 million. As the imbalance began to even out by 2012, the state dissolved the Redevelopment Agency and the city had to repay $10.7 million. By 2013, the operating fund balances had dropped from $90 million to $67 million. Long-term debt, primarily pension liability, had increased from $93 million to $156 million. Treading water During the post-recession years, 2014-2019, revenues exceeded expenditures, but not enough to make up for the shortOUSD board meets declining enrollment with possible school closures By Tina Richards An in-depth study conducted to identify options for school consolidations in Orange Unified narrowed the field of feasible mergers to eight elementary schools and one middle school. The results, presented to the OUSD Board of Trustees at a special meeting, June 18, suggested that Prospect Elementary be closed and students moved to Esplanade; Imperial Elementary be closed and students transferred to Crescent; Jordan Elementary incorporated into La Veta, with Jordan remaining open as a dual language magnet school; Fletcher Elementary and its Mandarin program merged with Taft, which could become an “international language school;” and Portola and Yorba Middle Schools combined. The consolidation study is a response to declining enrollment, a statewide phenomenon, that has reduced OUSD’s student population by some 15% since 2014. That translates to 4,500 students. Enrollment is expected to decrease an additional 3% by 2034. Smaller school populations may result in combo classes, fewer programs and shared resources. Benefits, not bucks When the board established a committee to explore consolidation, it stressed that the move was not due to financial distress, but rather to make better use of existing staff, facilities and program opportunities to benefit all students. Higher enrollment at a given location, for example, increases the chances of state funding for modernization. Counselors, now shared among schools, could be Villa Park finalizes Housing Element to satisfy state mandate By Andie Mills Villa Park inched toward full compliance and certification with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) State Housing Element, voting unanimously to update the General Plan Land Use Designation, adopt the Final Initial study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), and accept the first reading of ordinances. Ray Pascua of Kimley-Horn and Associates, the firm hired in September 2022 to assist with completing the onerous Housing Element requirements, provided an overview of the many iterations of the project to council. California cities are required to update their General Plan Housing Element every eight years for certification by HCD, demonstrating site development capacity to facilitate the construction of housing for all income levels. Whether or not the housing is actually built depends on the market, but the city is responsible for providing the programs and policies to facilitate new housing development, especially for low and very low-income housing. Villa Park is 99% built out, but is mandated to provide sites and policies to allow 296 new units for low and moderate income housing. (OC median income for a household of four is $136,000.) The city council had worked with a different consulting firm (now retired), and first submitted a draft Housing Element in June 2021; submitted a revised Housing Element in September 2021; adopted the required 2021-2029 Housing Element Update in June, 2022; a revised Housing Element was submitted in December 2022; a December 2022 letter from HCD required further iterations, requiring a revised submission and, in July 2023, a final letter from HCD found the Housing Element to be in statutory compliance. However, the city must complete necessary rezones in order to be certified. To the point that rezoning and compliance is necessary, City Manager Steve Franks interjected that the state has already withheld funds from the city, pending the certification. The areas to be rezoned include the city hall and library building, and the commercial office building adjacent to the library, from “commercial” to “commercial mixed use;” and a portion of the Smith Basin, from “open space” to “commercial mixed use.”
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Post Alarm pairs generations of experience with our proprietary live video monitoring service to protect, detect, respond, and deter threats before a crime occurs. • Strategically installed cameras use advanced analytics to detect potential threats. • Real-time notifications are sent to you and our central monitoring station. • Post Agents view camera feeds, verify the threat, and dispatch local law enforcement, relaying critical details. • Responders are dispatched in seconds, often preventing crime before it happens. Night Shield® Services: Schedule your in-home assessment today! Contact Us ACO 1843 | PPO 10170 | Contractors License 670585 ACO 1843 | PPO 10170 Contractors License: 670585 ® Night Shield FROM POST ALARM SERVICES INC SECURITY JADTEC (949) 894-4839 PostAlarm.com Crossing guards approved for 2025/26 school year The Orange City Council has contracted with All City Management Services to provide crossing guards at 17 locations for the next school year. The locations were selected after a study, paid for by Orange and OUSD, determined where crossing guards would be of the most benefit. The study collected vehicle and traffic counts at locations that had been previously staffed or recommended for consideration. Using state guidelines, practices of other municipalities and local foot traffic thresholds (20 pedestrians per drop off and pick up hours), the study identified four sites to be removed from the list and five locations to be added. Crossing guards will no longer be stationed at Almond Ave. and Batavia St.; Canyon View and Aspen St.; Palm Ave. and Main St.; and Palmyra Ave. and Tustin St. Guards from those locations will be transferred to Prospect and Spring Sts.; Almond Ave. and Pepper St.; Cambridge St. and Adams Ave.; Santiago Blvd. and Serrano Ave. An additional guard will be placed at Spring St. and Seranado Ave. The remaining 12 locations are: Cambridge and Glendale; Cannon and San Juan Drive; Fletcher and American Way; Handy and Collins; Hewes and Jordan; La Veta and Malena; Palmyra and California; Spring and Virage; California and Quincy; Cambridge and Sycamore; Cambridge and Walnut; and Prospect and Palmyra. As walking and traffic patterns evolve and Orange Unified considers school consolidation, the city will review crossing guard locations and make needed changes. RSCCD board slow to respond to audit allegations It’s been almost four months since the Rancho Santiago Community College District Board was given a report by an independent auditor spelling out questionable financial practices within the college district. The report, presented March 10, highlighted financial conflicts of interest from former and current administrators. It also outlined millions of dollars that were kept in an off-site account without the knowledge of the elected trustees. It pointed to the failure of the college district’s administrators, one of whom is a certified public accountant, for failing to accurately report to their financial auditors. After the March meeting, Board President Daisy Tong promised there would be continued discussion on the matter. Instead of discussion, however, she insisted on hiring another firm to audit the audit. It took two months for the college district to post a proposal request for another firm to review the audit. Two firms submitted proposals and appeared on the agenda for the board’s June 9 meeting. Led by Tong, the board agreed to extend the proposal request to allow additional firms to respond. Staff members, including Chancellor Marvin Martinez, who were named in the report, remain employed by the college district. Oriental Fruit Fly quarantine lifted Thanks to the cooperation and efforts of Orange County residents and local agricultural officials, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Orange County Agricultural Commissioner, have declared an end to the Oriental Fruit Fly quarantine in Orange County following the eradication of the invasive pest. The Oriental Fruit Fly infests over 250 types of crops, including citrus and other fruits, nuts and vegetables, when it lays its eggs in the produce. Officials detected an infestation of the pest in November 2024 and established a quarantine that included portions of the City of Orange. During the quarantine, potential host crops for the fruit fly were not allowed to be moved from properties where they were grown, including homegrown produce. While Orange County’s Oriental Fruit Fly quarantine has been lifted, the ongoing threat of new infestations by non-native species remains. To learn more about invasive species and how to protect California’s fruits and vegetables, please visit cdfa.ca.gov/plant/ fruitfly. Orange selects new city manager Following an extensive search, the Orange City Council is proud to announce the appointment of Orange native Jarad Hildenbrand as the next city manager. Hildenbrand comes from the City of Laguna Hills, where he has served as city manager since 2022. He has also held city manager roles in the cities of Stanton, La Habra Heights and Villa Park. He will take over the post from retiring City Manager Tom Kisela, who has led the city since November 2022, after retiring as chief of the Orange Police Department. “I’m very happy with our council’s choice for our new city manager,” Mayor Dan Slater said. “Between his city manager experience and solid background, Orange will be in very capable hands.” Hildenbrand is focused on fiscal responsibility, operational efficiency and strong community engagement. As Orange’s city manager, he will oversee a General Fund budget of approximately $156.2 million and a workforce of more than 700 full-time employees. A graduate of Villa Park High School, Hildenbrand holds a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Long Beach and a bachelor’s degree in public administration from California State University, Fullerton. He is married to Jessica, with whom he shares three children, Ryleigh, 12, Jaxon, 10, and Teagan, 6. Hildenbrand is slated to officially join the city on August 11. Jarad Hildenbrand Oriental Fruit Fly
Page 3 Foothills Sentry JULY 2025 If you water, save water. Every drop counts Learn more at eocwd.com Family. Friends. Community. We’re all in this together. State Farm, Bloomington, IL 1801073 Ron Esparza, Agent Insurance Lic#: 0C79663 827 S. Tustin Ave Orange, CA 92866 Bus: 714-505-3400 ron@ronesparza.com Santiago Hills landscape assessment will increase again Property owners in Santiago Hills will see their annual assessment for neighborhood landscaping services increase by three percent. The fees, which appear on property tax statements, pay for the upkeep of the communities common areas and provide a capital budget to replace aging landscaping and infrastructure. Santiago Hills is the sole member of two landscaping management assessment districts. The first was established in 1986 and is capped at $369.44 per year for a single-family home; $221.66 per year for a condominium. The second district was approved by voters in 2015 to supplement the inadequate returns of the first. The second assessment is subject to an annual cost of living increase. Single-family homes will rise from $271.17 per year to $279.30. Condo fees will increase from $192.53 to $198.31. That brings the total property owner assessment to $923,615. Santiago Canyon College contributes $34,228, brining the total to $957,843. The projected costs for fiscal year 2026 are $1,100,708. The shortfall will be made up using the districts’ reserve fund. A public hearing on the increase was held June 10. Imperial Elementary students launch a disc at the throwing event. Arturo Gonzalez, Joey Mejia, Logan War and Jason Lopez from Olive Elementary have fun at the kicking event. Sofia Alfaro sprints towards her Sycamore Elementary teacher Alyse Gay. Representing event sponsor Luna Strength are, from left, Dave Brown, Alberto Lerma, Isabel Lerma and Matthew Keyser. Orange Unified School District hosted the 2025 Olympiad Games, a celebration of athleticism, inclusion and community spirit, organized by the District’s Special Education Department. This year’s event held special significance, as it honored the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a landmark law ensuring equal access to education for students with disabilities. Now in its second year, the Olympiad Games brought together student-athletes, educators, families, community leaders and distinguished guests for a day filled with perseverance, unity, and school pride at Fred Kelly Stadium. The event opened with a spirited welcome, followed by the introduction of honored guests, live music from the Villa Park High School Band, and dynamic performances by the El Modena and Canyon High School Cheer and Song teams. “What a joy it was to attend the Olympiad Games, a truly inspiring celebration where courage met determination, and every stride, every cheer, and every smile reminded us of the strength and resilience within each of us,” said Superintendent Michael L. Christensen. “These Games embody the inclusive spirit of IDEA and the belief that ability comes in many forms.” The Olympiad Games and IDEA share a unified vision: a world where every individual is seen, heard, supported, and celebrated. From competitive events to moments of shared joy and encouragement, the 2025 Olympiad Games served as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when we champion inclusion, celebrate differences, and believe in the potential of every student. Orange Unified acknowledges the generous sponsors whose support made this event possible: Luna Strength, the Orange Unified Public Schools Foundation, Chapman University, Ralphs, the Orange Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Orange. OUSD’s 2025 Olympiad Games honor inclusion, courage and community Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and co-author Raymond Obstfeld signed copies of their latest book, “We All Want to Change the World,” at the Tustin Racquet Club, June 14. Obstfeld, a Tustin resident and member of the Racquet Club, is a prolific writer, publishing some 40 books. This is the ninth book Obstfeld has co-authored with AbdulJabbar. OPA prepares for barbecue The Orange Park Association has set the date for the community's 54th annual Fall BBQ and Dance for Saturday, Sept. 27. Tickets will go on sale beginning Aug. 1. Details will be available at orangeparkacres.org. Photo by Tony Richards
Foothills Sentry Page 4 JULY 2025 Circulation … 40,000 Published on the last Tuesday of each month and distributed to residences, businesses, libraries and civic centers. Printing by Advantage, Inc. 714-532-4406 Fax: 714-532-6755 foothillssentry.com 1107 E. Chapman Ave., #207 Orange, CA 92866 ©Foothills Sentry 2025 Publisher/Editor Anita Bennyhoff 1969-2013 Editor Tina Richards editor@foothillssentry.com Sports Editor Cliff Robbins sportseditor@att.net Graphic Designer Jef Maddock graphics@foothillssentry.com Advertising Sales Andie Mills advertising@foothillssentry.com 714-926-9299 Office Manager officemanager@foothillssentry.com Best laid plans Dear Editor: As you might be aware, the member of Congress elected to represent the 40th Congressional District, Young Kim, is refusing to hold any open town hall meetings. Congresswoman Kim’s office recently reached out to canyon residents, who her staff considered “community leaders,” for a closed-door meeting regarding wildfires and other issues she prioritized. Her staff made it clear that it was invitation only (Supervisor Wagner and his staff were invited) and she set the agenda. The meeting was set for Friday, June 20, at the Silverado Community Center at 1 p.m. Canyon grapevine being what it is, the news circulated and a welcoming committee of residents of the 40th Congressional District was organized. The main topic of protest was the Senate version of the reconciliation bill now being considered. This version of the bill contains provisions to sell off/transfer millions of acres of public land in most of the Western states, including much of Cleveland National Forest. The protestors realized that Young Kim had NOT voted for this provision, because it was NOT part of the original bill that the House of Representatives passed earlier (that Kim voted for). The message for Young Kim was: Do NOT vote to approve the Senate’s version of the bill when it comes back to the House. Naturally, when Kim discovered an opportunity to face her constituents (gasp!) was planned, she canceled the inperson meeting, and it became a Zoom meeting. The protest was held, Kim got a 30-second view of her gathered constituents (76 of us) via Zoom and once again, the woman elected in the 40th Congressional District to represent her constituents refused to do her job. Young Kim, have you no shame? Voters of the 40th Congressional District: elect a candidate that will represent your concerns. They work for US! Julie A. “Rusty” Morris Silverado Dear Editor: On June 18, when we learned the Senate added the sell-off of National Forest Land as part of its budget plan, we expanded our planned Friday protest outside Silverado Community Center to include that issue, along with our protest about Young Kim having a closed meeting in our backyard. The instant ad hoc protest planning committee formed and started getting the word out. The Kim meeting was going to start at 1 p.m. so we invited people to arrive at the park at 12:30 p.m. We planned for a peaceful, respectful demonstration of our disappointment about the closed meeting and our concerns about our neighbor, the Cleveland National Forest, one of the forests on the For Sale list. We contacted friends and neighbors using social media and good old-fashioned phone calls. We did not want a huge crowd of “outsiders.” We just hoped for an opportunity to, at best, have Young Kim meet with us and hear our concerns or, at worst, let her see the crowd of people who were concerned about open democracy and the sale of public land. It turned out that selling the Cleveland National Forest was a hot issue for lots of people, and word spread about our protest faster than our dreaded wildfires. By Thursday, we saw a flyer someone had designed to promote the protest outside the canyons. Fortunately, it included our words "peaceful and responsible," and we were excited, but also concerned enough to make plans for a bigger crowd. We lined up some experienced rally monitors and discussed ways to de-escalate if the crowd started getting angry. We planned on a picnic table with snacks and water, music, and, maybe, even games on the blacktop. We would gather in the shade of the pepper tree about 60 feet from the building. At 9:42 Thursday night, Geoff Sarkissian, president of the InterCanyon League, texted to say the meeting at the community center had been called off, but would continue as a closed Zoom meeting. I wrote back, “I’m still having my picnic.” Young Kim’s excuse for the cancellation seems to be a flyer that looked a little bit menacing. It was distributed under the names of four organizations, two of which I have never heard of. It had the time and location wrong, misrepresented the intent of the demonstration, and tried to turn it from a demonstration about free speech and the federal budget into a political protest catch-all. Our picnic/demonstration was a joyful, fun event. We chanted, sang and had an open-mic speech fest. Anyone who wanted to talk signed up. The were no limits on topic or length. Fortunately, the speeches were heartfelt and the crowd remained engaged. Young Kim got a chance to see us when JJ Galvez came out with his computer and panned the crowd. At its peak, we had 76 people there. I had hoped for at least 35. I am mad at the unidentified organizers who tried to hijack our demonstration and gave Young Kim an excuse to run away. But I am much more angry at Young Kim. She is trying to run as a moderate, creating photo ops with community leaders, making promises she has no intention of keeping, all while following in lockstep with MAGA and being more concerned about what the President thinks than what her constituents think. Her credibility is dropping like a rock. Every time she dodges a real meeting with constituents, she makes it worse. Every time she runs away from a community gathering, we get angrier. She uses the excuse that she is afraid of a misbehaving mob while ensuring that if we ever get to see her, we will be mad as hell. Young Kim, if you are reading this, call me. I have some great advice. One is, stop relying on your staff who did not do enough legwork to find out all the preparation we did to make our rally peaceful democracy in action. And two, the longer you hide the worse it looks. LindaMay Silverado Localmotion Dear Editor: Hats off to everyone who participated in the No Kings rallies on June 14. Thousands of our community members came out in bipartisan gatherings to make our voices heard. The family-friendly event reminded us of everything we treasure about joining together to make our neighborhoods friendly places where children grow, families thrive, and we all do our best to make our neighbors feel safe and valued. We will undoubtedly see more – and bigger – rallies as word spreads that they are indeed the best that America has to offer: Speaking up for our freedoms while keeping it friendly and often quite funny. We’ve all seen the cheeky signs that make us giggle. I saw a crowd of hundreds dancing to an impromptu “Chicken Taco” song at the rally in Anaheim. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I was struck by the number of young people at the rallies. Our next generation cares. Let’s keep giving them this opportunity to find their voices in their communities. It’s the ticket to a better future. Ronna Sarvas Weltman Cowan Heights No sale Dear Editor: The Elisabeth Beall Letter to the Editor in the June edition titled "Shock and bah" had some great points. I've lived in Orange for 47 years. My three children were in the OUSD system, and over these 47 years, the board is far from being members of Phi Beta Kappa. Even an 83-year-old man knows you never give up school property. Neighborhoods change, old people die and new young people move in and quickly discover watching TV is boring and early to bed is more fun, and Voila! -- we need more classrooms. It happens. I know from experience. Also, what happens to our property values when new home buyers discover there are no schools nearby? Property values drop and take property taxes down. Hey OUSD, find a piece of property in Orange you could purchase to build a school on now. I'm talking a real school like La Veta or El Modena High School, not a little six room charter school. Duh, I'm waiting. Elisabeth, I'm your first vote for OUSD board member. Leonard Musgrave Orange It's the principal Dear Editor: I am a recent graduate of California iInspire Academy. I recommend that the Orange Unified School District keep Dr. Misty Brunasso at California Elementary. I started in kindergarten at California with Dr. Albert. I felt, back then, kids weren’t motivated to go to school, and school really wasn’t fun. When Dr. B came, she made all the difference. She knew all our names, and we felt like we belonged because we were known by her. I know that a lot of kids in our school were motivated to come to school, and it’s shown by the school winning the district trophy for attendance multiple times. I think students felt individually supported because she personally met with those who were having difficulties, and counseling was provided as needed. I have seen some kids go from sad kids who hang out at their classrooms all day, to kids who are out playing sports every day. Kids knew they are safe with her in charge. Dr. Brunasso also made school more fun. She turned boring assemblies into exciting experiences to get awards and interact with students at different grade levels. She was also out at the front of the school every morning to greet us with joy and make us feel welcome. If Dr. B doesn’t stay, kids might not feel as comfortable and find school as welcoming, and it could lead to lower attendance. And kids who don’t feel safe at school cannot do as well in school. Another principal wouldn’t likely be able to match her unique way of running the school. Please consider keeping Dr. Brunasso at California next year. Wesley Woody California iInspire Academy Class of 2025 Orange Ed. note: This letter is in response to an OUSD administration plan to move principals from one school to another. Orange Police Foundation secures funding to expand access to AEDs As part of National CPR and AED Awareness Week, the Orange Police Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting the Orange Police Department, announced a donation of $50,000 from Providence St. Joseph Hospital to purchase and deploy Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) across the department. The funding will help the Foundation equip half of the 40 marked patrol vehicles with life-saving AED devices, ensuring rapid access to essential medical equipment during cardiac emergencies. Additional AEDs will be placed throughout specialized department units. This initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce sudden cardiac arrest deaths and improve survival rates. The AEDs will also be valuable in the unlikely event a police officer becomes a victim. In March 2023, an on-duty police officer had a heart attack. The availability of an AED in the first responding police car may have lessened the impact of his medical emergency. As AED technology has evolved, these devices have become more accessible and widely understood by the public. With AEDs already present in schools, businesses, and public spaces throughout Orange, expanding their availability in police vehicles ensures that life-saving tools are on hand when every second counts. Officers receive regular training in the use of AEDs, and this initiative will maintain consistency by deploying the same type of device in every vehicle. While less expensive AEDs exist, they are typically designed for stationary use and lack the rugged features required for mobile environments. "We are thrilled to partner with Providence St. Joseph Hospital to continue our mission of making life-saving resources more accessible to the public," said Sean O’Toole, President of the Orange Police Foundation. "Having AEDs in every patrol vehicle can mean the difference between life and death in a cardiac emergency. This funding ensures our officers are equipped to respond to emergencies swiftly and effectively." To join Providence St. Joseph in supporting our ongoing AED fundraising efforts, donations can be made online through the Police Foundation website at orangepolicefoundation.org. For more information about the AED program or to support the initiative, please visit the website or contact Dan Adams Dan@orangepolicefoundation.org. The Orange Police Foundation was founded in May 2023, to provide funding for training, programs and specialized equipment to ensure a safer City of Orange. New speed limits set in Villa Park The speed limits in Villa Park have changed – surprisingly, they have increased. On Center Dr., from Villa Park Rd. to Santiago Boulevard; from Santiago to Taft; and from Taft to Valley Drive, the new speed limit is 35 mph. On Cerro Villa Dr., between Rama St. to Canyon/Mesa, the new limit is 30 mph.
Page 5 Foothills Sentry JULY 2025 JOHNSON MOTORCARS 34 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 @ramblingroseoc "Orange Audit" continued from page 1 "VP Housing" continued from page 1 "OUSD" continued from page 1 falls that came before. And the city’s debt continued to grow, reaching $259 million in 2019. Cavecche, who served as mayor of Orange from 2006-12, notes that the city’s failure to actively pursue economic development during those years bears part of the blame for the city’s current deficit. It wasn’t paying attention to its long-term debt. The city has little control over its pension liability, as it depends on the performance of CalPERS, a statewide agency that manages pensions and health benefits for state and municipal retirees. Employees and employers contribute to that fund, which was intended to be self-sustaining over time via investment returns. When CalPERS fails to earn needed funds through its investments, it goes back to employers (cities) to make up the difference. In 2021, the city issued pension obligation bonds totaling $265 million to pay off its CalPERS obligation. With lower interest rates at that time, the city believed it would be advantageous, in the long run, to pay off the unfunded pension liability with a bond. Orange now pays $15.6 million a year to service that bond, but escalating CalPERS costs to the city have been less than they would have been without it. As Councilman John Gyllenhammer put it, “the bonds were necessary to smooth out the curve.” Orange also issued a bond to finance its new fire department headquarters in 2020. It is paying off that $34 million bond at $1.8 million annually. CalPERS and bondage Both bonds were issued during the COVID years. The city coffers were boosted with $28 million from the federal government in 2021 and 2022. That helped, but, the committee reports, the city still had deficits in three reserve funds adding up to nearly $15 million. The committee concluded that the city never fully recovered from the recession or the payback to the Redevelopment Agency. In subsequent years, revenues were not enough to enhance set-aside funds and debt service. Pension contributions and bond payments have become 20.5% of the annual budget. The current city council and city management have largely inherited the deficit, and those who were on watch at the time are gone. These issues are not unique to Orange, Cavecche said during the presentation, but “nobody was seeing it for what it was.” Arianna Barrios pointed out that the committee presentation had standardized all the data, giving the council a clear overview. “Before the current director of finance,” she said, “everything was reported differently every year. Looking back, we couldn’t find like-to-like years.” Silence on the subject She also noted that while the council made adjustments in 2023 to increase staff, “not one person said ‛maybe you shouldn’t do this, that maybe this will put you way outside your pocketbook.”’ And, she said, “that includes the mayor at that time and the finance director at the time. No one said ‘boo,’ and shame on them.” Kathy Tavoularis added that when she was appointed to the council in 2021 and lobbied to hire more police officers, “no one said anything.” Following the presentation, Mayor Dan Slater asked the committee to confirm that it did not find anything “nefarious, malicious, suspect or dirty tricks.” Cavecche responded that the committee researched any apparent discrepancies and found they could be explained by changes in reporting requirements. The council agreed that finances would remain a focus for the future. “Going forward,” Mayor Dan Slater summarized, “we certainly have our work cut out for us.” permanently assigned to one. The consolidation committee, consisting of 30 teachers, principals, administrators and parents, convened in April. It was tasked to study school populations, classroom capacity, program needs, the state of school facilities, and environmental factors. In making its recommendations, the committee considered options that would allow programs to be enhanced, that could be managed efficiently and not exceed receiving school capacity. The committee also accounted for transportation impacts for general and special education students, availability of modernization funds and master plan improvements, repurposing of closed schools and the potential for future growth. The committee divided its work by high school feeder groups; that is, which elementary and middle schools fed into each of the district’s four high schools. After analyzing the potential closure or boundary changes for 11 elementary schools and two middle schools, the committee concluded the best outcome for district students as a whole would be the scenario presented to the board. No easy task “This is not easy,” Board President Kris Erickson said at the outset of the study session. “It’s not a simple process, and tonight is just the beginning. There is no set timeline. This is not a decisionmaking session, it’s a learning opportunity for the board.” It was noted that teachers and programs would follow the students to the school where they were transferred. The exception is Olive Elementary. Originally considered for consolidation, it was removed from the list because it is an “AVID showcase” school that was certified at that location and cannot be moved. Because Olive has a large field and historic gym, it could, in addition to its AVID focus, become a “sports academy” for parents interested in matching students to a sport at an early age. The potential closure of Imperial Elementary drew the most immediate attention, with a dozen teachers, parents and very young students in attendance to plead with the board to keep it intact. They noted the school’s sense of community, its connection with families and the continuity of teachers who taught siblings one after the other. Stakeholder input is welcomed “We’re taking your comments and concerns into consideration,” Andrea Yamasaki assured the audience. “We’ve read all your emails,” Ana Page added, “we’re thinking about the community’s concerns.” “We need to hear your perspectives,” Sara Pelly said. “We’re learning, and seeing your support for your school means a lot.” Imperial, it turns out, may not be a priority for closure. “This is a big deal,” Erickson advised. “School communities are what is great about our district.” She noted that Crescent was already a large school and was concerned that it had enough facilities to accommodate Imperial’s students. “It’s not our biggest priority,” she said. For Erickson, creating a magnet school and building programs at Jordan is a priority, as is combining Prospect with Esplanade. Both schools are tiny, she explained. Esplanade has already been remodeled, is a good candidate for matching funds and the two schools are only .6 miles apart. “It makes sense programmatically and geographically,” she said. Combining Portola and Yorba Middle Schools could be another priority, she suggested. Their combined enrollment would be just 800 students. Some of the other options would create “huge” schools that would need The rezoning of a portion of Smith Basin has been controversial, as it is a known riparian habitat, part of the flood control and Santiago recharge basin and a wildlife corridor. During public comments, two residents of Orange spoke to the long-lasting impacts on the animals and ecosystem to Villa Park, Orange and beyond, the fact that OCWD owns the property, and requested an alternate be found. One commenter had sent a letter to Sen. Stephen Choi, lamenting that the state mandate imposed an impossible burden on cities such as Villa Park, which would be forced to destroy much-needed open space. Councilman Kelly McBride drily noted, that at a Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) meeting, Villa Park was not the only city unhappily burdened with an untenable allocation. considerable modernization. No decisions yet Other board members were not ready to prioritize or decide next steps without getting more information. Stephen Glass wanted to learn more about the projected enrollment decline, possible worst case scenarios and when the district might reach its fiscal cliff. He also said there were issues of adolescent development to be explored, and that he had approached this meeting as a data gathering session only. Sierra Vane wondered about the academic prowess of the schools in question, and asked if student outcomes were part of the analysis? Board members also cited concerns about space for wellness centers, community resource centers and other non-classroom uses. Pelly wanted OUSD constituents to be sure that the board is doing its due diligence. “That’s the purpose of this discussion,” Superintendent Mike Christensen said, “so we can have these conversations. We can bring back specific information about specific schools, how many classrooms there are, who would be housed where. We can bring back more of that minutia.” “Looks like we’ll be back for another study session,” Erickson concluded. Once more information is available, the district intends to send out an opinion survey to OUSD constituents. Trustee Matthew Thomas summed up the sentiment in the room: “The challenges of declining enrollment are many – there’s so many. It’s rough. No one wants to think of school closures.” The Orange Elks Lodge #1475 hosted 110 Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard active personnel who visited the City of Orange during Fleet Week. The day started with a ceremony at Orange City Hall. Next stop was the Orange Elks Lodge for a hearty breakfast prepared and served by lodge veterans, assisted by the Orange High Marine Corps JROTC. Following breakfast, the servicemen and women visited the Hilbert Museum, had lunch at the American Legion Post and then went to Disneyland. Mayor Dan Slater, an Orange Elks member, presented a proclamation from the Orange County Board of Supervisors to Navy Rear Admiral Richard Meyer, Deputy Commander of the U.S. 3rd Fleet. Mayor Dan Slater (left) presents a county proclamation to Rear Admiral Richard Meyer. OCHS presents histories and mysteries of Black Star Canyon The Orange Community Historical Society (OCHS) invites the public to a free exploration of “The Histories and Mysteries of Black Star Canyon and Irvine Park,” presented by local historian and naturalist Joel Robinson. Robinson will lead a unique tour into the nature and history of those East Orange County landmarks, July 22 at the Orange Public Library Main Branch meeting room from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Raised in West Orange, Robinson began exploring Black Star Canyon in the late 1990s because, he says, “It felt like I was traveling back in time. It was a treat to wander the dusty road where rusty cattle fences, an abandoned corral and the gnarled oak trees offered a glimpse of the county before most of it was replaced with subdivisions, malls, freeways and theme parks. It was the closest place to home where I could find tangible evidence of the past and a chance to see a bobcat or deer.” His present day work is in environmental public education. Spending time talking with blacksmiths, homesteaders, Native American storytellers and soldiers in relic settings, including the Ainsworth House in Old Towne Orange, Olvera Street in Los Angeles, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, Wawona in Yosemite, Calico Ghost Town and Irvine Regional Park has given Joel firsthand accounts of many of the local histories and mysteries he’ll share. Orange Elks welcome military personnel to Fleet Week
Foothills Sentry Page 6 JULY 2025 No news is not (good) news SMRuPDate Silverado-Modjeska Recreation and Parks District (SMRPD) seems to have gotten good news. President Ted Wright shared it, quoting a communication from the Auditor-Controller’s office, which confirms the welcome allocation of additional Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund (RPTTF) monies to its “Miscellaneous” category. Confused? Wright explains: “The $36,000 brings SMRPD very close to what the office says we will be due next year. The additional funding also certainly means that, with a reduced budget, we can make it until new funds arrive in November. Of course, we still must figure out how to deal with receiving only about two-thirds of what had been coming to us in earlier years. Recall that our current tentative budget still has a $17,000 deficit. Everything is not rosy, but it no longer seems like doom and gloom time.” A nation turns its lonely eyes to you A project of the SMRPD, the Saturday, July 19 Summer Concert Series lineup includes The Brother Jonathan and Simon Sez Revue, performing the music, they say, of Paul Simon. Failing grade Responding to complaints from Modjeska and Harding residents, Code Enforcement identified illegal grading above Markuson Road. Of three sites under investigation, the owners of one property were found in violation, and will work with Public Works engineers to repair and restore (at owners' expense) toward satisfactory resolution. Reported two months ago, the site of this extravagantly unpermitted grading (where owners inexplicably abandoned a van with a flat tire) impacted at least an acre, most of it at a 45-degreeangle hillside absent permits or mediation. Code Enforcement encourages residents to keep an eye on the eyesore and report any further illegal grading. Meanwhile, it could take weeks or months to restore the damage. No comment! Your humble scribe reads newsletters and solicits comment from our four (Republican) elected officials. All routinely release calendar announcements, invitations and commentary. In response to my queries of three about ICE raids, illegal detention and kidnapping (including at OC-area Home Depots), none answered, declining to provide statements or share press releases. If you’d like a condescending remedial civics lesson from an aide, do call the offices of Assemblymember Sanchez (71) or State Senator Choi (37). Both offices reminded me that we all have a right to our opinions because we are Americans, then scolded me for asking a state official to take a stand, notwithstanding Newsom v. Trump. (Perhaps introduction of SB627, banning local, state, and federal law enforcement from wearing masks will elicit responses.) Choi’s staffer explained that, no, a California state legislator could not, would not, ever comment on federal matters, then helpfully volunteered that Choi is “from Korea” and frequently weighs in on, yup, South Korean politics! Try calling Sanchez’s office. I dare you. Answering the Sacramento line is a cheerful recorded voice: “Hi, this is Grace. Please leave a message.” When the Assemblymember’s Chief of Staff herself responded, it was to deliver more patriotism-as-coercion but no statement. At least embattled Congressmember Young Kim (40) is on record, repeating MAGA talking points. Recently interviewed, she appeared not to recognize the Insurrection Act and repeatedly answered, in apparent reference to protests, “These illegal immigrants are taking innocent lives.” Death by chocolate! Thanks to 80 Friends of the Library supporters who dined on chili and cornbread at the Sarkissian’s then cheerfully outbid each other for homemade desserts shared with fellow attendees. In addition to Silverado baker Rusty Morris’s homicidally delicious brownies, purchased and consumed were “Chaotic Canyon Cake Cookies,” pistachio cheesecake with chocolate ganache, classic carrot cake, lemon pudding cake and both coconut and banana cream pies. The second annual Spring Fling raised $3k for programming and materials for the InterCanyon League (ICL) Friends committee to support materials and programming at the Library of the Canyons. Long live Fran! And in a posthumous further gesture of her lifetime of civic generosity, items (including originals by canyon painter Dorothy Rice) sold at the late Friends chair Fran Williams’ estate sale to benefit ICL to the tune of over $7k. Intrepid organizer Alice Phillips thanks fellow volunteers Judy Myers, Melody and Phil McWilliams, Scott Breedon, Mitzi Perry, Francis Garcia and Bic Edwards. Polemology to numeracy July’s first Wednesday Library of the Canyons Book Club pick is "Chenneville" by Paulette Jiles, historical fiction about a Union soldier bent on revenge and postwar discovery. Join this summer’s “Level Up” program, June 16-Aug. 3, and cash in. Branch Manager Laura Blasingham explains: “Kids and Teens read for 20 days and receive their own ‘Reading Buddy’ stuffed animal." They also enter to win prizes donated by the Friends of the Library. Adults receive an entry ticket for every book they read during the summer, each ticket an opportunity to win a gift card for breakfast/lunch donated by Silverado Canyon Market & Kitchen.” Ready, set, read! Recruits honored were, front row, left to right: Montserrat Avelar Reyes, David Meraz, Thomas Sotelo, Paul Fernandez, Henry Garcia, Noelia Garcia-Ramirez; second row, Loraine Martinez Sandoval, Karelle Soriano; third row, left to right, Jack Lohrman, John Sandoval, Jason Mejia, Isaac Young, Daniel Baron, Samuel Cisneros and Matthew MacDonald. Assistance League of Orange hosts Salute to Service Each year, the Assistance League of Orange recognizes high school seniors who, after graduation, have enlisted to serve our country. The recruits and their families are honored at a ceremony and dinner. The Orange High School Color Guard presented the American flag, followed by a rendition of the national anthem and the service branch anthems, sung by Chief Petty Officer Jeff Schilden. Each recruit was honored with a Challenge Coin and Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of their commitment to serve. Steven Stenersen, Veterans Resource Center, Santiago Canyon College, provided an explanation of the Challenge Coin tradition. Together with Mariana Flores, from Congressman Lou Correa’s office, they presented each recruit with their coin and certificate, commemorated with photos. In addition, thanks to the Support Our Troops Pen Program of the Orange County Woodworkers Association, each recruit received a handcrafted ballpoint pen— made especially for those entering military service. Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a community dinner, where many recruits and their families shared their appreciation for the meaningful event. The evening concluded with a recognition of Assistance League volunteer Patty Waasted, who was presented with a gift in gratitude for her dedication and tireless efforts in helping bring the ceremony to life. For more information about the Assistance League of Orange, visit assistanceleague.org/orange. Supervisor Sarmiento supports bike trail improvements in North Orange Rest areas along the Santa Ana bike trail near Riverdale have been improved through a collaborative effort of Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, OC Parks, OC Public Works, Orange City Councilwoman Kathy Tavoularis and city staff. The trail runs through county land, as well as through sections of the City of Orange and special districts. The various entities work in partnership to maintain and make improvements to the trails. Second District Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, who represents portions of Orange and Tustin, worked with those agencies to identify areas for improvement and selected a location for a new rest stop. “I was very proud that we were able to secure funding to support this project,” said Sarmiento. “Our office greatly appreciated working with Councilmember Tavoularis to identify what improvements made the most sense and would best serve residents.” From left, Elk Lynda Einstein introduces scholarship recipients, Bryant Zarnte, Hannah Cho, Ashley Vicerate, Abigail Phan, Emily Elizabeth Pasillas, Henry Lloyd, Aarushi Ghildyal, Doanah Dinh and Tatyanna Reyes; not pictured, Gisselle Muniz. By Bill Neessen The Orange Elks celebrated National Youth Week with its annual Youth Appreciation Night, showcasing the many programs the Lodge has for our young people, and recognizing 48 students. The Orange High School ROTC presented the flag and led the Pledge of Allegiance, while Paloma Cortez sang the national anthem. Orange Mayor Dan Slater’s message to the parents was “thank you for supporting your kids,” and to the kids, “pursue your education and do your best.” Orange Police Chief Adam Jevec echoed the message, urging students to strive to do your best, do the right thing, be resilient and love your family. Miss City of Orange Kylie Seppala helped present the awards: Orange Elks Youth Award; First Responder Awards to Orange Police Explorers, Orange Fire Explorers and Orange County Fire Explorers; Orange High School ROTC awards; Hoop Shoot awards, GRIP Drug Awareness awards; Boy and Girl Scout awards; and Americanism Essay awards. Elks Scholarship Chairman Lynda Einstein introduced 10 high school seniors, each awarded a scholarship: Aarushi Ghildyal, Abigail Phan, Ashley Vicerate, Bryant Zarnte, Doanah Dinh, Emily Elizabeth Pasillas, Gisselle Muniz, Hannah Cho, Henry Lloyd and Tatyanna Reyes. The new rest area on the potion of the Santa Ana bike trail near Riverdale was a collaborative effort. Elks present Youth Appreciation Awards at annual program
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