Page 5 Foothills Sentry DECEMBER 2025 "Rescinds" continued from page 1 It all adds up Purple people power Congrats! Special election turnout in the two largest (if still very small) of four Silverado and Modjeska area precincts combined was higher than the county at large with final election results not certified until Dec. 2. Registered canyon voters who came out to cast their vote on Proposition 50? An impressive 64.5 percent, as opposed to countywide, at 52.1. Of over 1,312 registered, 847 participated either via voteby-mail or in person. Results were not close countywide, with a Prop 50 victory of 55.4 percent, but extremely close in the canyons, with 50.2 percent reported voting "yes" at press time. Prop 50 supporters bested anti-50 voters by exactly three votes, only slightly complicating the reliable narrative of a purple region with locked-in GOP representation at every level of governance: county, state and federal. The Canyons Vote Center served 182 in-person voters with 665 locals apparently trusting the U.S. Postal Service and County Registrar. Ironically, redistricting resulting from passage of Newsom’s anti-Trump political Hail Mary will likely only further secure continued dominance of Republican electeds in the newly formed 40th Congressional District, with ex-incumbent Young Kim already challenged by former Riverside rep Ken Calvert. Two canyonites worked the Community Room Vote Center site adjacent our library, a fourday in-person polling place. Neighbors might not realize the commitment required for the job, including long hours, in-person and online trainings, set-up and take-down days, all to accommodate the minority of voters eschewing mail-in voting. “I really like doing it,” says veteran poll worker Rusty Morris “It’s a small investment in our democracy.” Follow the money One further reason to celebrate the success of the recent Silverado Country Fair, which benefits the Inter-Canyon League (ICL): a report from Station 14 Fire Chief Steve Kerrigan that, once again, we are a Firewise compliancecertified community, approved by Cal Fire as part of the National Fire Protection Association. Annual recertification matters to homeowners whose insurance premiums are reduced as a result. Attending the annual Fair --- paying admission, buying beer --- helps ICL support Chipper Days, which along with “credits” earned through participation by community members and reported hours spent on clearance toward defensible space, along with drop-offs at Aguinaga, add up to maintaining our Firewise status. Civics education takeaway? Your good time dancing, eating, listening to live music, and playing games at the annual volunteer-run (!) Country Fair becomes ICL’s financial sponsorship to the tune of $3,000 for a single Chipper Day. Unrestricted generosity Big shout-out from your Silverado-Modjeska Recreation and Parks District (SMRPD) board to generous community members who quickly answered its call for emergency donations. Over $1,000 funded both the Community Thanksgiving Dinner in Silverado and weekly “Lunch Bunch” meals through the end of this year. President Ted Wright and SMRPD board members welcome end-of-year “unrestricted contributions,” budget-speak for non-dedicated funds used to cover operational expenses and respond to unanticipated expenses or emergencies. Hay, Santa! Christmas in the Canyons returns to the Silverado Community Center on Saturday, December 13 from 10 – 4 featuring over 60 vendors, including of fine art, arts and crafts, clothing -- all good for holiday gift giving. Food, music, song, and storytellers. Hayride and, yes, Santa Claus. You’ve been warned… … and now, if you’re navigating our local Cleveland National Forest fire roads absent visible license plates or in unregistered street-legal or off-road vehicles, you’ll be cited. For months, Silverado residents have complained about traffic, litter, and reckless driver behavior, and now law enforcement promises to respond not only with warnings but stopping, checking, and issuing citations for ATVs and side-by-sides not displaying plates or otherwise breaking the law. Arachnophilia December Library of the Canyons highlights include the Wednesday, Dec. 5 (5 p.m.) book club discussion of the memoir "Being Henry" by actor Henry Winkler, who made a TV career being Arthur Fonzarelli, Barry Zuckerkorn and Gene Cousineau, and a Thursday, Dec. 18 (11 a.m.) presentation on spiders by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy. More Santa! Did you know that our branch library is a drop-off location supporting collection of gifts for vulnerable children and teens as well as low-income adults and seniors? It’s easy to support the county’s annual Operation Santa Claus/Senior Santa & Friends campaign. Pick up a tag for a suggested item and return with gift(s) collected. They’re sent on by OCPL to a warehouse display “gift shop.” Administered by OC Social Services Agency in association with the Senior Santa and Friends program, OC Health Care Agency, OC Probation, OC Child Support Services and OC Community Resources, new and used toys, clothing and medical items are then distributed by foster families, elder care providers, and volunteers. Winter camp Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary (ENC) offers two short winter camp weeks, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily, this year Dec. 22-26 and Dec. 29 to Jan. 2 with holidays off. Registration now open at encenter.org/camps/winter-camps/ Gas leak illustrates neighbor’s concerns Residents on Grovewood in East Orange have, for years, complained to the city about the construction of a large home on their street. It does not reflect the original plans submitted, eschews city permits and has disrupted the neighborhood for five years. Owners of the adjacent properties say the massive structure is incompatible with the neighborhood and asked for a thorough review by Orange’s Design Review Committee, the body that, until recently, insured that projects met neighborhood and city standards. “We have talked to code enforcement, planning staff, gone to the planning commission and testified at city council meetings,” neighbor Laurie Sandoval reports. “No one from the city ever gets back to us.” Because the house is so large, the existing utility infrastructure will not support it. Additional wiring needed to be installed. On the morning of Oct. 30, crews, without notice, began digging up the Sandoval’s front yard, looking for the existing electrical cable. They ruptured a gas line, about 11:43 a.m., setting off what was described as a major eruption. The fire department came. The police department came. The gas company came. The street was essentially shut down. Residents were advised, but not required, to evacuate. “We stayed,” Sandoval says, “because we had nowhere to go. Even though the smell of gas permeated the house – and the entire neighborhood – the gas company said we were safe.” It took hours for gas company crews to locate the main shutoff valve and turn off the gas. The leak continued until well into the night, with the fire department remaining on scene until the leak was contained. “This didn’t have to happen,” Sandoval admonishes. “How do you start digging without knowing where the gas lines are buried? The city has allowed this homeowner to waver from his ‘approved’ plans, build a retaining wall right next to our property, backfill and excavate without oversight.” From left, OCWD General Manager John Kennedy, SWD Director Greg Mills, OCWD Director Cathy Green, OCWD 1st Vice President Van Tran, SWD President Brad Reese, SWD Director Robbie Pitts, SWD General Manager Jerry Vilander and OCWD 2nd Vice President Erik Weigand. Serrano Water District thanks OCWD The Serrano Water District (SWD) Board of Directors voted unanimously to present the Orange County Water District (OCWD) leadership and staff with a proclamation, in thanks for their “forward-thinking” in the water industry and “outstanding leadership, dedication and commitment to resolving the PFAS challenges.” The proclamation commended OCWD for its valuable assistance in enhancing local water supplies for SWD customers. OCWD assisted with construction of the C.L. “Larry” Pharris Jr. Filtration Plant which removes PFAS from our groundwater wells. Additionally, Orange County Water District has loaned SWD $8 million for the construction of a new Well number 6 for a 20-year term at 3.5%. 12 meeting, with the arguments for and against inter-committee transfers mirroring those made 17 months ago. Bilodeau argued that the prohibition was an overreach, that it could not withstand judicial review; that it increased transparency because campaign contributions are now posted on- line and the public can easily see who donated to who. Tavoularis advised that she hated “going backward on anything,” that the revision to the ordinance was “politically motivated,” and that it s creating a solution for something that is not a problem.” Barrios lauded returning the prohibition of inter-committee contributions to the ordinance. With candidates able to transfer donations made to their campaign committee to another candidate who they support, it allows “people playing the insider game to override grassroots candidates,” who are not part of a political network. “I was disappointed when we changed it last year,” she said. Gutierrez was, she said, “happy to see this come back.” When she first ran, she recalled, “I had no money, no knowledge. Just family and friends. I raised $8,000, and here I sit.” Dumitru’s change of heart was the only change from last year’s discussion. “All policies should be revisited periodically,” he explained. “Things change. I want to make sure campaigns in the city are transparent." He noted that he sought guidance from the Fair Political Practices Committee and the state Attorney General’s offi ce. “Prohibitions of contributions from one committee to another can be narrowly tailored, so as not to chill protected free speech,” he advised. “This ordinance does just that, and the state says this is f ine.” The vote to disallow committee to committee contributions was four (Dumitru, Barrios, Gutierrez, Slater) to two (Bilodeau, Tavoularis). John Gyllenhammer was absent. A gas line ruptured by a construction crew wreaked havoc.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjA1MjUy