Foothills Sentry - December 2024

Foothills Sentry Page 8 DECEMBER 2024 The elves at East Orange County Water District are working extra hard to make sure your holiday, and every day after, is merry and bright. T his past year, o ur team worked on projects large and small throughout the service area to repair and upgrade your local water and sewer system s . We sincerely appreciate your patience ! EOCWD wishes you and your family a healthy holiday season! Get Project Updates & Alerts Any Time, Online at www.EOCWD.com Or Call Our Office 714.538.5815 A Gift for All Seasons 2017 Dec Sewer Update Ad.indd 1 11/29/17 12:41 PM Mail check: OPCC P.O. Box 2872 Orange, Ca. 92659 Credit Card: Call OPA Hotline 714.900.2OPA (672) Zelle: 2024 Year end tax deduction opportunity! Act fast before December 31, 2024 Make your tax-deductible donation directly to: The Orange Park Community Corporation (OPCC) 501(c)(3) Support preservation of East Orange Recreational and Open Space Merry Christmas Happy Holidays -&- A Healthy, Happy, Prosperous 2025 New Year See ya’ll at Orange Park Association Annual General Membership Meeting 8:00 AM Coffee ~ Donuts 9:00 AM Meeting Saturday, January 25, 2025 Salem Church School Multipurpose Room Wishing the OPA Community Family From Your Orange Park Association Board We are honored to serve the community info@orangeparkacres.org OPA Hotline 714.900.2OPA(672) Grijalva Ballers play for themselves, inspire others By Andie Mills It is a sight not normally seen at local courts: women playing bas- ketball. Men readily find pick-up games, but women – not so much. It would be hard not to notice these women – the music is blast- ing, the energy is high, the laugh- ter is frequent -- and they are ob- viously having fun. People stop to watch, and even applaud. These ladies, known as the Grijalva Ballers, play basketball every day at Grijalva Park, usu- ally for two to three hours, but Saturday is their big day. They start early, before it gets too hot, to play four or five games. Many bystanders have called them “inspirational.” The oldest is 57, the youngest is 30; some are grandmothers, and most all have kids. These 18 women from Orange and Tustin, from diverse backgrounds, with different sto- ries, regularly meet to play the game they love. Some play with broken fingers or wrists, and oth- ers have diabetes or other health issues. Most of the players did not know one another, but have now become “family.” They look out for one another, and have become a supportive community. Bas- ketball is their “therapy.” Once a month, they bring food, and in- vite their families to join them to eat, dance and sing karaoke after the games. The founding players, dubbed the Original Group, or OG, have been playing together for an as- tounding eight years. OG Lola Garza, #8 is the “Captain,” and brought the game to the Grijalva courts. Alicia Rosales, #4, considered “The Mom” of the team, always loved basketball and is one of the original players. She encouraged her daughter, Lupita, the young- est player at 30, to join in. Lupita, #20, had played basketball at El Modena High, and didn’t want to “hurt” the older women, But she gave in and has enjoyed the scrimmages for six years. They are the only mother/daughter duo – and Lupita found that the “older” women can hold their own. (Alicia and Lupita strongly encouraged Lupita’s younger brother to play for El Modena.) Not an average pickup game It was serendipitous that the team was formed. Eight years ago, OG Favi Ramirez, #2, was walking around the park, and was invited to play. Another OG, Salve Zubiate, #3, was shooting baskets, and The Mom invited her to play. OG Angie Chop, #13 has continued to play despite a kidney transplant and, most re- cently, a broken finger. Another OG, Mina Guzman, #10, credits the group with helping her recov- er from breast cancer. She was walking around the park, was in- vited to play, and has not looked back. Vero Aguilar, #9, timidly asked to borrow a ball, and ended up joining the group. Inez Salazar, #8, considered one of the oldest of the Ballers, said her doctor was surprised that a lady of her age would be playing such a de- manding sport as basketball. She had never had the opportunity to enjoy sports in her youth, so she now relishes every moment. Mary De Rosas, #20, was told by her doctor that she should not be playing “at her age.” Mari Marquez, #5, walked around Grijalva Park until she had the courage to ask if she could join in the game. As a hospice worker, she finds that the games and camaraderie help her relieve stress – and, her patients regularly ask about her game. Luz Garcia, #7, was invited by The Mom to play. Michelle Dahling, #6, had played in the Orange NJB league, served in the Army, and loved the idea of playing with women her own age. The group roster has ebbed and flowed during the years; college athletes join in during the sum- mer. One team member, Lola Dolores, #15, drives from Co- rona. Other players include Erika Flores, #24, Mago Ascencio, #25, Abby Herrera, #2, and the newest recruit, Maribel Canales, #3. One bystander, Ron Esparza, a longtime community volunteer and proponent of athletics, was so impressed with the team that he offered to purchase jerseys for them. Orange Councilwoman Ana Gutierrez, whose district includes Grijalva Park, and OUSD Board- member Kris Erickson asked to meet the inspirational team when they were given the jerseys. Gutierrez noticed the court had dangerous cracks in it; she took photos to the city council, sug- gesting that the court be fixed. As a result, the court is closed until repairs are made. The Grijalva Ballers, undeterred, have moved the games to Santiago Hills Park until their court is ready. The Grijalva Ballers dominate the court. Vero Aguilar prepares for play. Reaching for the rebound. Lining up the shot.