Foothills Sentry August 2020

Foothills Sentry Page 8 August 2020 NOW ENROLLING EASY ONLINE REGISTRATION ORANGEUSD.ORG ENROLLMENT www.orangeusd.org 714-628-4000 ousd@orangeusd.org Orange Unified School District • 1401 N. Handy St. • Orange, CA 92867 NEW STUDENTS WELCOME CLASSES START AUGUST 19 TUITION FREE SCHOOLS ENHANCED CLEANING & SANITIZATION AT ALL SITES HANDWASHING STATIONS & HAND SANITIZER PHYSICAL DISTANCING, PPE & PROTECTIVE BARRIERS The health and safety of our students and staff are paramount. We are committed to following the most current public health guidelines. 100% Credentialed Teachers High-Quality Educational Programs Robust Online Instruction (TK-12) Award Winning Schools College & Career Readiness OUSD EDGE Virtual Academy (7-12) Signs of Summer Live streaming Midsummer flow of Modjeska and Silverado Creeks, vigorous all spring, ceased mid-July, right on schedule, but not before be- spoke swimming holes were con- structed for recreation and safely socially distanced pleasure and heat relief. Locals find plenty to keep themselves amused via the natu- ral world that blooms, buzzes and bedazzles just beyond the porch, even as discouraging, if predict- able, reports of increased cases of COVID make the “Silverado” region its own category on the county’s daily updates, between Seal Beach and Stanton. Hooded orioles, quail, Western tanagers and nesting finches cheer us up when not watching numbers rise --- 17 at press time. High in the trees, we spy dryads, those mythi- cal fairies who live in oaks. No, those are tree trimmers, subcontracted by SCE! Their weed-whacking counterparts re- cently hit vacant lots and other undefended (as in “defensible space”) properties where weeds and brush catch the attention of OC Public Works before they catch fire. That agency reminds, informs, assesses and then bills scofflaw owners. In Modjeska, a heroic crew took out a bam- boo behemoth threatening traf- fic across Olive Hill Bridge, the same week many residents re- ceived their revised property tax assessments. Poetry! Speaking of traffic, reliably helpful community liaison Joanne Hubble puts a positive spin on a recent, if especially weird, spin- out on Santiago Canyon Road, where three motorcyclists in a row “dumped their bikes” attempt- ing to navigate a closure after an auto driver hit a telephone pole. Hubble cites a delay in station- ing a digital electronic warning sign. She contacted CHP toward fast-tracking installation in fu- ture: “Hopefully, going forward, the mobile message boards will be requested right away if San- tiago Canyon Road is shut down anywhere, and folks won’t drive miles to find out that they have to go back all the way around to get home.” Thanks, Joanne. Inter-Canyon Zoom Hubble joined a well-attended, standing-room if sitting-Zoom- only July 7 Inter-Canyon League meeting dreamed up by virtual re- ality self-governance impresario President Geoff Sarkissian, the best real or virtual regular month- ly meeting in recent ICL history. Normally featuring live music and dinner, this one included a double-bill of special presenta- tions. Ann Hwu, regional Census Bureau representative, reviewed outreach and education efforts, and staff of OC Animal Care, a pet and pun-loving agency, ex- plained dog rescue and dealing with barking ones with its “Dog Days of Summer.” Canyon cen- sus participation rates were, at the time of Hwu’s report, at a not- too-shabby 55.4 percent, below overall county response rate (70 percent). She facilitates on-site tabling toward securing big num- bers before the Oct. 31 end date but, alas, postponed a downtown Silverado visit. Now an official community partner, “Canyon Beat” encourages completing the form at 2020census.gov. OCAnimal Care also maintains a terrific website (ocpetinfo.com ) outlining services and policies on pet policing, rescue and more. They bragged, justifiably, about the new Tustin facility --- closed to visitors just now --- and im- pressive record of 96 percent re- lease of rehabilitated dogs, and 80 percent abandoned cats. They support adoption, foster care and public education, with limited field service during CO- VID, but still perform rescues and invite you to their “Family Furst” (very punny) drive-through pet food pantry, 8-10 a.m., Sat., Aug. 8. A law enforcement colleague reviewed the complaints process, assuring Zoomers that most prob- lem dog issues are resolved after the first call. The agency almost never euthanizes animals, and follows a rigorous, but fair, pros- ecution procedure, with room for owner appeals. Unfairness Stalwart Country Fair organiz- er Jane Bove expressed first re- luctance, then resignation and, fi- nally, like everybody, disappoint- ment at cancellation of the annual fall fundraiser for the Silverado Children’s Center. This would have been its 50th anniversary. Fran Williams of Friends of the Library reported that this year’s summer reading program is on- line. Patrons have embraced curb- side pick-up/drop-off service, with easy to follow call-ahead protocols. See the OCPL website for new adult and children books, DVDs and more. “To Prepare, Watch and Com- municate” That’s the motto and mission of Canyon Watch, shared by Antho- ny Mack, who reported repairs to one local radio network repeater, updated GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) member roster and availability of discounted Bofane radios ($40). Mack spon- sors weekly Radio Net tutorials and check-ins. See ICL website for resources helpful to newbies as well as a public forum. And consider becoming a CW block captain. Wagnerian opera Two seats on the Silverado- Modjeska Recreation and Parks District Board open up in Novem- ber, as Tara Saraye and Francesca Duff will not run. Compare their heroic, selfless, well-informed civic contributions to those of Supervisor Don Wagner, who recently shared his public health expertise in a gesture recalling a similarly feeble grasp of geogra- phy. As Irvine mayor, he famously proposed our library as a home- less shelter. Natalie Anderson had her 2020 Paderewski Gold Medal moment, having just performed 10 memo- rized pieces before an American College of Musician’s judge. Stu- dents pursuing the Paderewski Medal are required to memorize and play 10 different pieces be- fore a judge every year for 10 years. A 2021 senior from Foot- hill High School, Anderson is a top achiever in academics, piano, sports and community service. She is a piano student at the Car- olyn Biller Studio in North Tustin, and also holds an Advanced Mu- sic Teachers Association Certifi- cate of Merit.