Page 7 Foothills Sentry OCTOBER 2025 Annual International Street Fair transforms Old Towne Orange The Orange International Street Fair attracted throngs of food fanciers, libation lovers, music fans and families over the labor day weekend, Aug. 29-31 in Old Towne. John and Tristine Graves keep Stella comfortable away from the hot pavement. Dancing in the street by spontaneous movers and shakers. Paul Munoz, 9, scores a win on Children’s Street, sponsored by the Orange Public Schools Foundation. Steven Downs and G Harth of the Knights of Columbus served beer in the Germany booth. Jeff Rice, far right, enjoys the moment. Ruby Raub, 8, shows off her glitter tattoo. Emblem Club volunteers served food during the Orange International Street Fair, held Aug. 29-31. The fair food service is a fundraiser for the club’s charitable donations, which are disbursed in March. From left, Club President Laurie Padilla, past President/Marshal Jan Genelle, Jr. past President Kim Smith, member Karen Kremer. Celebrating family and fun at the Orange International Street Fair By Vincente Sarmiento, 2nd District Supervisor As always seems to happen, the Orange International Street Fair means great food, music, and fun for families and folks of all ages, and some high temperatures as well. This year was no exception, but the sunny summer skies and high temperatures could not dampen our spirits or the celebration. Community members from near and far turned out to enjoy the food, the bands, and the familyfriendly atmosphere. I was proud to have our office sponsor Greek Street and join in this celebration with a purpose. For so many years, this great event has not only celebrated local cultures and communities but has also been an important event for local vendors and businesses. The annual fair also serves as an opportunity for local schools, nonprofits, and churches to raise the funds they need to operate and provide services during the rest of the year. It was terrific to see all the hard work that these great organizations do during the weekend event, but also get a glimpse of the incredible preparation that goes into making this event a success. Greek Street was hosted by the amazing team at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, and it was a pleasure to meet the volunteers working their booth and all the families that enjoyed the great food and snacks prepared by the group. It was great to see so many old friends come by and visit with our team at our booth. We also enjoyed the opportunity to meet and interact with folks from other parts of Southern California that came out for the fair, some for the first time. City of Orange restructures several departments The City of Orange has announced the merger of the Economic Development Division with the Community Development Department to form one unified team focused on driving economic growth and innovation. The newly merged department, effective Friday, Sept. 5, , reflects the city’s commitment to streamlining services, accelerating development opportunities, and providing enhanced support for current and prospective businesses. “Economic development is a top priority for the City Council as prosperous businesses and a consistent tax base are the key to a healthy city,” said Mayor Dan Slater. “We hope to show residents, developers, and business owners that we are working together to invest in our financial health by making our city more business friendly.” With this strategic restructuring, the Community Development Department is better equipped to attract new investments, retain and expand existing businesses, and foster innovation across industries. Photos by Tony Richards
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