Foothills Sentry - December 2024

Foothills Sentry Page 4 DECEMBER 2024 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 2024 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 Kathy Eidson officemanager@foothillssentry. com Pass the word Dear Editor: We are writing to humbly request support for our beloved Orange Public Library. As you may already know, the library serves as a vital resource hub and a sanctuary for many people within our community. It offers a plethora of educational materials, enriching programs, and crucial services that benefit people of all ages and backgrounds. Unfortunately, due to recent budget cuts, our library is facing significant financial challenges. This has resulted in a reduction of important services and limited access to essential learning resources. In order to ensure the continuance of our valuable programs, we are reaching out for donations. Contributions, no matter the amount, will have a profound impact on the lives of our community members. It will help enhance our book collection, expand our technological resources, and provide a safe and welcoming atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. Additionally, we will be able to continue to offer free educational workshops, cultural events and promote lifelong learning opportunities. To donate, visit our website at OPLFoundation.org to find various options to contribute securely and conveniently. Alternatively, you can also mail a check, made to the Orange Public Library Foundation, 407 E. Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA 92866. Once again, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for considering our request. Orange Public Library Foundation Board Water woes Dear Editor: I am writing regarding the sale of water rights and property of Serrano Water District to the Irvine Ranch Water District. The sale is very likely to cause property values in Villa Park to decrease. I have talked to many residents of Villa Park and found that they do not know about the sale. It seems the current status of Serrano Water District is due to mismanagement ad neglect. I have questions: How did we get here? What caused this situation? What efforts were made to prevent this situation? What provisions were made to improve and maintain our facility infrastructure? Were any efforts made to receive help from the state or federal government? Arjun Mehta Villa Park Serrano responds Dear Editor: Thank you for the opportunity to further clarify the actions of the Serrano Water Board. We have spoken with Mr. Mehta and want to clear up any confusion. Serrano Water District (SWD) updated its rate-payers at a town hall meeting, June 24, in Villa Park. To summarize: We are not selling any water rights. Following the Lake Oroville Spillway failure, the California Division of Safety of Dams required seismic upgrades to all dams. The plan, originally, was to repair the dam, as required. However, the estimated costs to replace the Santiago Reservoir Spillway to meet the new criteria, plus costs for pipeline, treatment plant rehabilitation and other equipment, ballooned to $100- 150 million in 2024 for the SWD portion. The SWD Board, having met with state and federal officials, learned that grant funding would not cover the expenses. They determined that the estimated additional expense of $4,000 per household/per year for the 2,285 rate-payers would not be feasible. The goal of SWD is to increase the reliability and provide high quality water, while decreasing costs and liability. The board determined: to transfer ownership of the Santiago Creek Reservoir to Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD), the co-owner of the lake, thereby saving rate- payers $120 million; transfer the Howiler Treatment Plant to IRWD, negating those capital improvements, operation and maintenance costs, in exchange for providing backup supplies to SWD in the future - there would be a new connection from IRWD for backup water from the Metropolitan Water District, Dyer Road Well Field and Orange Park Acres Well, for additional reliability. The Serrano Water District will continue to be run from within Villa Park, and will continue to provide water to SWD customers from wells within the district, more reliably, and with rates that will remain competitivewith other county water districts. The final tally of liability for SWD capital improvements would shrink from approximately $150 million, to $15 million, a huge savings for SWD water customers. Please see links: serranowater. org/pdf/Town-Hall-June-2024. pdf and serranowater. o r g / To w n - H a l l - C a p i t a l - Improvement-3-11-21.pdf Greg Mills, District 3 Serrano Water Board Villa Park Dryland Boat Parade on course By Jill Kuli With the theme of “SnowMuch Fun,” the 26th Annual Villa Park Dryland Boat Parade will roll onto the Villa Park city streets on Sunday, Dec. 15, beginning at 5 p.m. in front of Villa Park High. Sponsored by the Villa Park Community Services Foundation, everyone is encouraged to partic- ipate -- whether getting your crew to decorate a unique craft to enter in the award competition or plan- ning a cool neighborhood party to jingle some bells at the entourage of vessels. Registration forms, maps and more info is available on the Foundation website, vpcsfounda- tion.org, and in Villa Park City Hall. The entrance fee is $20 per craft. One of the true pleasures of the Foundation Board each year is to float many considerations for the parade Grand Marshal, before an individual, couple or family that shares their on-going thoughtful- ness with others is chosen. Many are recognized for their contributions through our city government by serving on the City Council or involved in or- ganizations like the VP Womenʼs League and VP Rotary and often the Foundation itself. Determining the Boat Parade Grand Marshal this year was no easy task. Villa Park has so many who contribute to the city. How- ever, feeding peace officers and obtaining a display ambulance for HalloweenFest was highly noted. And, few have been so committed to the Boat Parade that they have won awards for six years. The Foundation has named the wife and husband team of Eliza- beth Ussher and Robbie Pitts as this year's Grand Marshals. Young Women of the Month named for November The Tustin Area Woman’s Club selected Morgan Park from Foot- hill High and Yuliana Pelcastre from Tustin High as its Novem- ber Young Women of the Month. Morgan Park is currently the president of the Associated Stu- dent Body at Foothill High. She also represents Foothill as the Tu- stin Unified School Board repre- sentative. Park is an International Baccalaureate candidate and the president of the Spanish Honors Society. She is a varsity tennis player, a Safe School Ambassa- dor and a member of the National Charity League. She has been a congressional intern and re- searcher for the Cambridge Cen- tre for International Research. Park served as a United States Youth Ambassador to Ecuador, traveling there on a cultural ex- change with the State Depart- ment. In college, she plans to study foreign diplomacy or pub- lic policy. Yuliana Pelcastre of Tustin High has been involved in the school’s Femineers Club since freshman year, and is currently vice president. She is the director general of logistics for the Model United Nations organization, has participated in the Notre Dame Summer Scholars Program and the Yale Young Global Scholars Program. Pelcastre plans to at- tend a four-year university to study biology or neuroscience with the goal of earning a Ph.D. Also named to the Woman’s Club November honor roll are Madeleine Chang of Beckman High School and Jaidyn Lin of Legacy High School. Morgan Park Yuliana Pelcastre Veterans honored by Elks and American Legion The Orange Elks Lodge 1475 and the American Legion Post 132 jointly hosted over 190 vet- erans and guests at a Nov. 8 cer- emony at the Post. Orange High School’s Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) pre- sented the colors, followed by the program. A dinner provided by the Elks included fried chicken, hamburgers or cheeseburgers and hot dogs with all the sides. “As long as there is a Vet, the Orange Elks will never forget” was the theme for the Veterans Night Program at the Lodge. Or- ange Police Chief and Orange Elks member Dan Adams was the guest speaker, and asked, “Why isn’t there a Veterans Week, Month or Year?” He thanked the veterans who kept our county safe. As the Young Timers singing group sang the songs of theArmy, Navy, Air Force and Marines, the members of those branches were recognized. Veterans Committee Chairmen, Brian and Stephanie Fitzpatrick, presented the 21st Heroes Schol- arship Award to E-5 Petty Officer Andrea Alexander, U.S. Navy. The evening ended with a time-honored tradition, the Ma- rine Corps birthday cake cutting ceremony. U.S. Navy Petty Officer Andrea Alexander, left, with Veterans Committee Chairs Stephanie and Brian Fitzpatrick. The Orange High JROTC presented the colors at the Veterans Day event. Book Ends, the book club section of the Orange Woman’s Club, do- nated $500 to the Orange Public Library. Book Ends Chair Mary Ellen Oves, from left, and Woman’s Club President Carol Allen present the check to Friends of the Library President Mary Galuska.