Foothills Sentry December 2020

Foothills Sentry Page 6 December 2020 All fired up! “What is to be done?” Like Russian philosopher Nikolay Chernyshevsky (1828- 1889), I enjoy the question, but beyond answering with predict- able canyon precinct elections analysis, the partisan breakdown suggests less to actually do than perhaps only feel relieved that it’s done. Notwithstanding horns honking and pots banging as the presidential race was called on a cool Saturday morning, the only visible impact in Silverado or Modjeska was conscientious re- moval of campaign signs by vol- unteers. Our region includes one large, one medium, and two extremely small precincts. The big 70087, which encompasses Modjeska and most of Silverado, went for Biden. The smaller 70089, which includes the mouth of Silverado and some addresses north of Sil- verado Canyon Road went for Trump, barely, as did voters in two precincts, totaling 22 voters. Congresswoman (D-45) Katie Porter won, in numbers parallel- ing these. Democrat Scott Rhine- hart lost --- by 25 votes --- in the 73rd Assembly race, to Repub- lican Laurie Davies. The much- predicted blue wave didn’t break, even with historically robust turn- out, only bolstering the political divide but affirming Democratic majority overall, if by overall we mean only 89 votes. I column like I see ‘em It’s possible the three-way contest for two spots on the Sil- verado-Modjeska Parks and Rec- reation District (SMRPD) Board further echoed the dynamics of the partisan match-up, with top vote-getters Michelle Agopian and Rusty Morris garnering num- bers well above those of new- comer Celeste Veerkamp, who ran on a slate with Morris. That vote-spread, especially as seen in election-day totals, put Agopian in the lead, and suggests targeted voting. Appointment by the pre- vious board of a replacement po- sition --- Stephanie Bailey, as sec- retary --- means a new lineup at SMRPD, its nifty website featur- ing two directors photographed with their dogs. We won’t be surprised --- or disappointed --- if newly electeds pose with their pets too, perhaps affirming a man’s best friend-loving majority to balance concerns by many over a likely political struggle between factions. Meanwhile, at the Inter-Can- yon League (ICL), the story is celebration. With power down due to the fire, Large Animal Re- sponse Team (LART) and Can- yon Watch Radio Net jumped in. As of early November, Netters had sold 50-plus pre-programmed GMRS radios, in addition to dis- tributing base radios. After weeks of Thursday evening “call-ins,” the network worked well, not- withstanding problems with the Modjeska repeater. Days after the evacuation, return and clean- up -- including an ironically if perfectly timed chipper day -- the repeater atop the Carter’s Mo Canyon landmark fortress was up and running. Meanwhile, it’s not too late to secure an inexpensive pre-programmed Baofeng radio, get trained and licensed, become a block captain, and share your best emergency contact info. In even jollier news, the sea- son’s Holiday Helpers program begins soon, a mutual aid proj- ect encouraging generosity and neighborly concern for the needi- est. Nominate somebody who’d welcome special (anonymous) help, and contribute at the ICL website. We’re number zero! Ask Jan Soule’ how it’s going and the cheerful founder of Heart of Shadowland, Modjeska’s board and care for elderly parents and relatives answers, ironically or not, “Same old, same old.” She’s funny, and runs a top-notch facility. Still, it’s good to be at the bottom of one list, and con- sistently. In COVID-19 cases, the Silverado region remains lowest in the county, with 42, and no deaths. An excess of caution Favorite scenes from the evac- uation --- happily, calm --- in- cluded seeing Jan and daughter Karen cheerfully evacuating cli- ents even as the heroic Cherry delivered mail, her commitment to getting ballots in on time; see- ing sheriffs cruising through and firefighters suiting up; applying a thick coat of Thermo-Gel to my house. Alas, removing the flame retardant goo from clapboard siding three days later was real work. Modjeska Fire Chief Bruce Newell reminds residents that in less-than-urgent urgent condi- tions, homeowners can spray the gel and then bug out. If fire is upwind, in dangerous windy con- ditions, and evacuation ordered, they should leave the bottles in view, skedaddle, and hope fire- fighters have time to apply. “The best things one can do,” advises Newell, “are not hero- ic. Keep gutters clean. Remove leaves and debris around the house. Cut back dead and dying plants. Keep combustibles, fire wood and trash bins away from the house. Install 1/8” x 1/8” hardware cloth mesh in vents.” Be a pest Ready, Set, Go offers a county- sponsored survey assessing infes- tation of borers dining on trees on your property. Pester OC Fire Authority for an appointment: (714) 573-6774 or rsgoc@ocfa. org. Check before your burn No, not in a wildfire. In your fireplace or wood-burning stove. South Coast Air Quality Man- agement District places frequent bans on no-burn days, November through February, with notifica- tion sent via email or a mobile app. With the election over, and you taking the online pledge to check at aqmd.gov, we’ll all breathe easier. The Tustin Area Woman’s Club donated $250 to the Fisher House, a “home away from home” for families of wounded, injured or ill active service members or veterans. Fisher Houses have, since 1990, served more than 400,000 families and provided $10 million worth of lodg- ing. From left, TAWC President Barbara Grider, Terry Geiling, vice president of Fisher House Long Beach; Linda Rahn, Fisher House executive director; and TAWC Parliamentarian Libby Buckley. Hewes Middle School Principal Eric Kilian, left, and Assistant Prin- cipal Troy Fresch were creepin’ it real this Halloween. “Highlander vampire” Kilian and “hip traditional vampire” Fresch hosted the PTA’s first virtual fundraiser, Spooky Bingo. Parents, students and staff purchased bingo cards and joined a Zoom meeting where Kilian and Fresch entertained the crowd with fang-tastic jokes and fa-boo- lous bingo lingo. The online audience also shared their favorite Hal- loween-themed jokes and were awarded prizes by the Hewes PTA. Was everyone spooked by the two bone-chilling vampires? On the contrary, they went batty and thought it was a scream. – Mark Eliot ALO sponsors Senior Star Day Loneliness and isolation are feelings that many seniors ex- perience every day. Assistance League of Orange’s Senior Star Day connects with local seniors to ease the isolation. Member vol- unteers partner with the Orange Senior Center, bringing much- needed nutrition to over 150 am- bulatory seniors each month. In addition, Assistance League provides mental health stimuli to 75 homebound seniors in the form of sudoku, word games and puzzles on a monthly basis while Assisteens Auxiliary provides healthy food packs. To enrich the program and help alleviate isolation and loneliness, a project called “chat with a se- nior star,” was initiated whereby volunteers call and chat with homebound seniors on a regular basis. Post-COVID, Assistance League members will focus on playing games and sponsoring such activities as photography and crafts with seniors at the Se- nior Center. Members of Assisteens Auxiliary of Assistance League of Orange, from left, Alexis De La Cruz, Lindsay Parsons and Shane Lester pack healthy food packages for local seniors. Operation School Bell, the premiere Assistance League of Orange program that provides school uniforms, backpacks and hygiene prod- ucts to disadvantaged OUSD students now “dresses” the students re- motely. From left, volunteer members Leslie Sorrells, Noosheen Swad, Diane Lanois, Judy Dickerson, Dianne LaLonde and Barbara Swartz, under the direction of Jean Wagner and Deidad Conrad.