JLL Capital Markets secures financing for Shopoff Realty Investments and another private investor’s joint venture Your browser doesn't support speech synthesis ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., Mar. 20, 2025 – JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has secured a $49 million financing for Amway South Campus Sale-Leaseback a 13.75-acre property located in Buena Park a joint venture between Shopoff Realty Investments and another investor consists of two connected buildings totaling 370,031 square feet Amway will execute a 24-month sale-leaseback agreement providing near-term cash flow while the new owners pursue entitlements for residential redevelopment Shopoff Realty Investment plans to re-entitle the asset for for-sale townhomes capitalizing on the strong housing demand in Orange County "This acquisition represents a unique opportunity to transform an existing industrial asset into much-needed housing in a supply-constrained market," said William Shopoff President and CEO of Shopoff Realty Investments "We're excited to work the City of Buena Park to bring this vision to life." The property's strategic location in Buena Park offers excellent access to major transportation corridors and employment centers throughout Orange County and the greater Los Angeles area JLL Capital Market’s Debt Advisory team representing the borrower was led by Senior Director Jamie Kline and Associate Kyle White "The strong fundamentals of the Orange County housing market made this an attractive opportunity for lenders and preferred equity groups," said Kline "We're pleased to have secured favorable financing terms that will support the joint venture's business plan." This transaction highlights the ongoing trend of repurposing underutilized commercial properties for residential use addressing the critical housing needs in Southern California's high-demand markets JLL Capital Markets is a full-service global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers The firm's in-depth local market and global investor knowledge delivers the best-in-class solutions for clients — whether investment sales and advisory The firm has more than 3,000 Capital Markets specialists worldwide with offices in nearly 50 countries For more news, videos and research resources, please visit JLL’s newsroom ("JLL") is a real estate broker licensed with the California Department of Real Estate a Southern California-based real estate investment company has over 32 years of experience transforming underutilized real estate into valuable assets The firm focuses on entitlement and repurposing of land repositioning commercial assets and development while pursuing the highest and best use for all properties to enhance communities and produce event-driven appreciation insights and opportunities from global commercial real estate markets straight to your inbox Designed in collaboration with renowned architecture firm Gensler 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Yamaha Corporation of America unveils its newly transformed corporate campus in Buena Park Drawing inspiration from musical rhythms and cadences the reimagined headquarters reflects the company's commitment to innovation creating a state-of-the-art space that resonates with creativity and collaboration the Yamaha campus features a new headquarters building a warehouse and upgraded site amenities that foster creativity and collaboration The architectural design captures the essence of the Yamaha musical heritage with rhythms and cadences woven into the layout and a central bridge symbolizing peak moments in a song The campus provides a dynamic environment for the 400 Yamaha employees featuring indoor and outdoor meeting areas a state-of-the-art instrument evaluation studio within the expanded Atelier facilities a multi-use presentation space seating over 200 people and café seating that transitions seamlessly between indoor and outdoor settings and this transformation reflects our unwavering dedication to enhancing the local community," said Kris Paquin "Our new campus is 'making waves' with a modern innovative space designed to inspire creativity and collaboration and will continue to be our home for the future Our team has been working closely with Gensler on this project and we are excited to officially open our doors to our employees and clients." Sustainability is at the forefront of the campus design with features that include: "The Yamaha project represents a perfect blend of innovation and design that responds to the unique needs of the land design principal and managing director at Gensler "Our goal was to create not just a building but a lasting legacy for Yamaha that enriches the environment and serves as a testament to thoughtful design We are incredibly proud of the entire team and the collaboration that made this vision a reality." visitors are immersed in the legacy of Yamaha with intuitive wayfinding guiding them to a lobby that showcases instruments on pedestals offering the opportunity to touch and play them and a deconstructed guitar that serves as artwork on the wall From the harmonious interplay of indoor and outdoor spaces to the melody-inspired design integration the new campus reflects the values and vision that define the brand This transformative milestone heralds the start of a new era of innovation and growth.  For more information about Yamaha, please visit: https://usa.yamaha.com/ ABOUT YAMAHA  Yamaha Corporation of America is the largest subsidiary of Yamaha Corporation the world-leading music and sound company based in Hamamatsu The Yamaha team is committed to helping everyone progress express and connect through music and sound award-winning products for your entire musical journey including pianos the value of our work stems from its positive impact on the human experience We are a dynamic and collaborative design firm uniting creativity and innovation to solve complex problems for our clients Our work challenges conventional ideas about architecture and the built environment We aren't just designing buildings — we are reimagining cities and places that make a difference in people's lives Gensler has built a team of 6,000 professionals who partner with clients in over 100 countries each year Everything we do is guided by our mission: to create a better world through the power of design MEDIA CONTACTS Diana MoeckYamahaPublic Relations[email protected]   Monica SchafferGenslerSouthwest Regional Communications Director [email protected] Yamaha announced that its top-rated AVENTAGE line of AV receivers now features certified Works with Sonos integration Yamaha has announced the 11 winners of the 2025 Yamaha Young Performing Artists (YYPA) Competition The competition is designed to acknowledge and.. Music Construction & Building Entertainment Art Do not sell or share my personal information: Branch leaders in seven U.S. states, including California, have recently been appointed by the company. Jinseob Kim, secretary general of the Kukkiwon California branch, attended the Buena Park City Council meeting on Feb. 25 as council members considered a two-year agreement allowing the company to use its public facilities for five days at no cost. “I hope that the city of Buena Park and Kukkiwon will grow together,” Kim told council members on Tuesday. TimesOC Buena Park City Council voted to enter into exclusive negotiations with a developer proposing to transform a long dormant plot on Beach Boulevard into its newest attraction Buena Park is home to a sizable Asian American population, Orange County’s second Koreatown and an outdoor mall that serves as a hub for local Korean Americans Kukkiwon pledged to promote and recommend the city’s hotels for international and out-of-town guests at its events City officials hoped that a boost in tourism would also help surrounding retail and restaurants But not all were pleased by the proposed partnership warned of a taekwondo takeover by Kukkiwon while raising questions of fairness regarding the facilities agreement who teaches taekwondo and owns a martial arts business himself claimed that Kukkiwon earns profits from issuing Dan certificates recognizing a person’s rank in the martial art Kukkiwon does have an interest in expanding its Dan certification reach According to statements made by the organization in the press, only a quarter of California’s 1,400 taekwondo schools issue Dan certificates. Choi feared that the company’s growing presence in Buena Park would force other local taekwondo small businesses to close. “They have [the] power to control,” he said. “I don’t think that’s right or an equal opportunity for the local business people.” Choi stated that if there’s a facilities-use agreement between the Buena Park and Kukkiwon, the same terms should be extended to other smaller businesses. Buena Park Civic Center (File Photo) After an initial discussion at the Jan. 28 council meeting, Kukkiwon sought all-day use of the city’s Community Center Ballroom for an inaugural event as well as a four-day use of its Veterans Hall for a weekend event starting in late May. Any other events at city facilities would be at the usual rental rate. Councilman Carlos Franco briefly raised the issue of granting a “potentially unfair advantage” to a private company. He asked what the rental rates were for the city’s Veterans Hall and Community Center Ballroom. According to city documents, the Veterans Hall rents for $89 an hour, including staff. The Community Center Ballroom rents for $167 an hour, with staffing included. “This is strictly a business agreement in terms of bringing more economic benefits to the city by accommodating all the international and possibly out-of-town visitors,” said Mayor Joyce Ahn, in support of the arrangement with Kukkiwon. Kukkiwon is expected to draw up to 4,000 people to the area by hosting the World Taekwondo Hanmadang at the Anaheim Convention Center in July. Ahn commented that no small business can match that. Choi objected that Anaheim’s resort hotels would be in a better position to benefit. Buena Park granted impounding authority to its code officers while Anaheim hired private contractors, all in an effort to curb street food vending. Councilwoman Lamiya Hoque recommended that there be a one-year evaluation of the agreement and its economic impact on Buena Park with the second-year of the contract being contingent on demonstrated success. “I think it would be for council’s benefit to see what would come from that within the year,” she said. The proposed amendment to the agreement found favor with the rest of the council, which unanimously approved the partnership. Ahn noted that Kukkiwon isn’t a nonprofit and that bigger international events will be hosted outside of Buena Park. “That said, the visitors will be encouraged to use the hotels in Buena Park,” she said. “We’re not expecting 3,000 or 4,000 hotel stays.” The agreement also calls on Kukkiwon to strengthen collaboration and outreach with local taekwondo schools in the city. Gabriel San Román is a feature writer for TimesOC. He previously worked at OC Weekly – as a reporter, podcast producer and columnist – until the newspaper’s closing in late 2019. In 2023, San Román was part of the breaking news reporting team that was a Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of the Lunar New Year mass shooting in Monterey Park. He may or may not be the tallest Mexican in O.C. Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map Eight campuses in Orange County have been recognized by the College Board for expanding opportunities for female students in computer science courses Since 2016, the College Board has honored schools with at least 50 percent female representation in one or both AP computer science courses — or where the percentage of female participation meets or surpasses the school’s overall female population. According to College Board research female students who take AP Computer Science Principles in high school are over five times more likely to major in the field in college than their peers who did not take the course The College Board highlighted these schools for their efforts to broaden participation in computer science and prepare female students for future opportunities in technology fields Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week: Official Instagram for the Orange County Department of Education | View the OCDE web policy at ocde.us/webpolicy Orange County Department of Education  Website publishing policyNon-discrimination policySocial media policy Thanks for visiting the OCDE Newsroom. Questions and story suggestions should be sent to communications@ocde.us If you’re a member of the media in need of information about the Orange County Department of Education, please email communications@ocde.us or call 714-966-4475 Print Buena Park is banking on butterflies to be the newest attraction along Beach Boulevard — again Two years ago, the city spent $9 million to buy back a 9-acre plot near Knott’s Berry Farm after the late Rubin Stahl’s plans to develop a Butterfly Palladium modeled after his past project in Scottsdale, Ariz. folded amid missed development deadlines and lawsuits. On Tuesday, council members considered entering into exclusive negotiations with a new developer to bring a butterfly and aquarium attraction to the site, which formerly housed the Movieland Wax Museum before it closed. Boardwalk Enterprises, which operates Butterfly Wonderland and Odysea Aquarium at the Arizona Boardwalk complex in Scottsdale, envisions building a “rain forest meets British tea garden” atrium in Buena Park where more than 5,000 butterflies would flutter around freely. “What we’re planning to bring here, specifically, would be the largest butterfly conservatory in the country,” Adi Knishinsky, a chief marketing officer for the Arizona complex, told council members. “What we’d be doing is superseding ourselves because we’re already the largest butterfly conservatory in the country in Arizona.” After reacquiring the plot, Buena Park originally entered into exclusive negotiations in September 2023 with a developer that sought to transform it into a surf park with a hotel, restaurants and retail. But both parties agreed to end further discussions after making insufficient progress. Boardwalk Enterprises, which the city considered among the “top three” proposals it received last year, retooled its plans in continuing to show interest in the site. The company scrapped its outlines for a dinosaur exhibit and restaurant in favor of an aquarium, which found favor with city officials. “We think about the user experience and the guest experience,” Knishinsky said at Tuesday’s council meeting. “We really think about what it means to visit us and what that means when you go home and the lifetime of memories we are trying to create for families.” A walkway would carve through the middle of both attractions. On the other side, the aquarium would feature marine life attractions that include sharks, penguins, sea turtles, otters and jellyfish. “Large sharks are very iconic in nature, and they will draw guests from far away,” Greg Charbeneau, president of Odysea Aquarium, told council members. A site plan was presented to Buena Park City Council on Tuesday showing where the atrium and aquarium would be. (Courtesy of Buena Park ) The entire project is estimated to cost between $70 and $80 million, with a 2½-year timeline estimated between construction and opening day. With Stahl’s past plans for a Butterfly Palladium, which included a jellyfish aquarium, plagued by financial challenges, Boardwalk Enterprises wanted to reassure council members that funding would not be an issue for their proposal. “We’ve waited a very long time to find a second, perfect location for Butterfly Wonderland,” Knishinsky said. “We have saved up quite a bit of money in hopes that we would actually get this location.” Knishinsky added that the butterfly attraction would be unique to Southern California and estimated that the entire project would create 200 jobs in Buena Park across eight businesses. An exclusive negotiating agreement with the company would require a number of benchmarks within the first six months, including a preliminary site design and supporting documents showing its ability to finance the project. After the nine-month negotiating period, the development would be subject to public hearings at future planning commission and city council meetings. Before Tuesday’s meeting, council members had traveled to Scottsdale to see Boardwalk Enterprises’ attractions up close. Entering negotiations to bring them to Buena Park found broad support on the dais. “I think this is going to be a crown jewel for Southern California right here in Buena Park,” said Councilman Connor Traut. “You guys have the right team. You have the funding. This is going to create incredible memories for Buena Park and beyond.” Mayor Susan Sonne echoed Traut’s sentiments and called the possible attraction an “extraordinary” addition to the city’s mile-long Entertainment Zone near Knott’s Berry Farm. Council members passed the exclusive negotiating agreement unanimously — and enthusiastically — as the plot hasn’t been fully developed in years. BUENA PARK, Calif., March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Shopoff Realty Investments ("Shopoff") a national manager of opportunistic and value-add real estate investments in partnership with a national home builder it has acquired a 13.75-acre property in Buena Park that it plans to re-entitle for residential use The property is currently occupied by Amway Corporation with a corporate sale-leaseback in place with direct access to the major thoroughfare Beach Blvd It's adjacent to the Metrolink line and less than a mile from both the Interstate 5 and State Route 91 freeways The property is currently developed with two industrial buildings totaling approximately 370,031 square feet of space The city is supportive of Shopoff's plans to re-entitle the site for residential use which is anticipated to streamline the approval process "Buena Park offers a tremendous opportunity for strategic redevelopment," said Shopoff Realty Investments President and CEO William Shopoff "This acquisition allows us to capitalize on a prime Orange County location with significant accessibility and strong demand for new housing options We're excited to be moving forward with the entitlement process for the proposed residential community." A total of $49 million in acquisition financing for the project was secured with support from JLL Capital Markets The JLL Capital Markets debt advisory team representing the borrower was led by Senior Director Jamie Kline and Associate Kyle White This is not an offering to buy or sell any securities Such an offer may only be made through the offering memorandum to qualified purchasers Any investment in Shopoff Realty Investments programs involves substantial risks and is suitable only for investors who have no need for liquidity and who can bear the loss of their entire investment There is no assurance that any strategy will succeed to meet its investment objectives The performance of this asset is not indicative of future results of other assets Securities are offered through Shopoff Securities Contact:Jill SwartzSpotlight Marketing Communications949.427.1389[email protected] Shopoff Realty Investments ("Shopoff") a national manager of opportunistic and value-add real estate investments Real Estate Banking & Financial Services Residential Real Estate Real Estate Transactions (KABC) -- A construction worker was struck and killed on the 91 Freeway in the Buena Park area Friday morning according to the California Highway Patrol was in one of the lanes when a pickup truck hit them Authorities said nobody has been taken into custody DEVELOPING: We will add more details to this report as they become available Home/News A man attacked firefighters on their way back to the station Buena Park Thursday evening The suspect is charged with approaching the truck on a bicycle and blocking its path prompting the firefighters to exit and call police for help police successfully removed the man from the fire truck Three firefighters were taken to the hospital after the attack Witnesses told KCAL that one of the firefighters was bitten by the assailant running on the track and swinging on the playground set are just a few activities that await Buena Park School District students thanks to the recent opening of Whitaker Park In partnership with the City of Buena Park the district held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug a fitness circuit and a play structure for children Julienne Lee and City Manager Aaron France hosted the event featuring presentations from local elected officials and a performance by Whitaker Elementary students “This beautiful space showcases the power of working together,” Dr a conversation between the city and the school district This park is a legacy for our families and a green vibrant space where our community can thrive.” Once the gates officially opened to the public students were able to test out the equipment with their classmates and family members Since the park is located just adjacent to the Whitaker Elementary grounds Principal Stephanie Williamson said school staff will move its daily morning trek known as the “Whitaker Walk,” to the quarter-mile track and invite families to join in on the last Friday of each month “We are so excited for our students and families,” Principal Williamson said “Our teachers have big plans to teach science lessons in the outdoor classroom especially once the butterfly garden is in full bloom.” Whitaker Park will serve students from Whitaker Elementary School during instruction hours and then open to the community after school and on weekends The Buena Park School District serves approximately 4,000 students from kindergarten through eighth grade across five elementary schools and two middle schools in Buena Park Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week: Buena Park players and coaches after Wednesday’s victory over Santa Ana Buena Park High School’s boys basketball team is going to the CIF playoffs for the first time in five years The Coyotes used a dominating second half to break open a close game and defeated Santa Ana 60-43 Wednesday night at Buena Park After tying for third place in the Golden West League Buena Park and the Saints met for the second consecutive night in a play-in game with the winner advancing to the CIF playoffs Coyotes’ freshman forward Ernesto Portas led all scorers with 17 points as Buena Park (8-20 4-5) outscored Santa Ana 33-18 in the second half to win going away “The key was team defense; we never let up,” said Portas who scored 22 points Tuesday night against Santa Ana to force the play-in game on Wednesday “We’re playing our best basketball of the season right now and we want to win a CIF championship.” Emmanuel Charagu played a huge part in the Coyotes attack as he scored 13 points and helped the Buena Park defense force 16 Saints turnovers “We spend a lot of time in practice working on defense and tonight we came out hard on defense got stops and forced turnovers,” said Charagu “I’m a senior and this is my first trip to the playoffs and we’re all excited about it.” A basket by Santa Ana’s senior forward Aaron Rivera at the 2:47 mark of the third quarter cut the Buena Park lead to 36-34 sparked by three consecutive baskets by Portas and two three-point plays by Charagu and Laim Gallego went on a 10-2 run to finish the quarter and build a 46-36 lead after three periods “A lot of people didn’t think we get this far but we rebounded and turned the season around and it’s great to be going to the playoffs,” said Gallego we had good ball movement and really trusted each other as a team.”  Zyaire Eastland led a 9-0 run for the Coyotes to start the fourth quarter that took the wind out of the Saints Eastland nailed a basket and then a 3-pointer to start Buena Park’s rally and Cesar Salgado added a bucket at the 5:48 mark of the quarter to give the Coyotes a commanding 55-36 lead 3-6) didn’t score in the final quarter until Alex Lopez’s basket with 2:57 play but it was too little and too late “In the second half we worked hard on defense and made shots,” said Eastland “We’re all happy that we’re going to the playoffs It’s a big deal but we must keep working hard to keep winning.” Santa Ana Coach Rick Mares credited Portas “I think we got fatigued and their freshman (Portas) made some big shots; you have to give Buena Park credit,” said Mares “It’s a disappointing way to finish the season but we’ll go back and start to get ready for next season.” Coyotes Coach Robert Summers was elated that his team is going to the playoffs for the first time since 2020 “I’m so excited and proud of these guys,” said Summers “Our defense has improved over the second half of the season and credit goes to the whole team We got outstanding games tonight from Ceasar (Salgado) and Cristian (Sanchez) hustled after loose balls and forced turnovers but we became defensive minded and that’s how we came out tonight.” The game was tied at 15-15 after the first quarter and Buena Park held a 27-25 lead at halftime but the Coyotes started to pull away late in the third quarter.  Rivera scored 11 of his 15 points in the first half to lead the Saints Issac Alvarez also added 10 points for Santa Ana Salgado scored 10 points and Gallego added nine points for Buena Park who drilled eight 3-pointers against Laguna Hills last Friday —The Saints last qualified for the playoffs in 2023 —Wednesday’s matchup was the third time the two teams had played each other this season Santa Ana won the first game 65-37 while the Coyotes won the final two contests 2025All lanes of the eastbound 91 Freeway were shut down in Buena Park Friday morning following a crash that left three people dead (KABC) -- A crash involving a big rig and a pickup truck left three people dead and lanes closed on the eastbound 91 Freeway in the Buena Park area Friday morning The deceased victims were reportedly all in the pickup truck The CHP issued a SigAlert shutting down all eastbound lanes except the slow lane as the on-scene investigation continued City News Service contributed to this report 2024Two Buena Park police officers were involved in a crash overnight as they were responding to a call.ANAHEIM (KABC) -- Two Buena Park police officers were involved in a crash overnight as they were responding to a call in Anaheim as officers were responding to another Buena Park officer who needed help That officer was struggling with a suspect who was eventually taken into custody The responding officers sped to the location but crashed their patrol cars into each other The officers involved in the crash were taken to a hospital to be evaluated and later returned to work On Aug. 28, the Buena Park Planning Commission considered a proposal to develop 93 Spanish colonial-style townhomes where an Orchard Supply Hardware formerly stood. The lot is currently being used to warehouse wholesale tile and store Tesla vehicles. “Vacant land is scarce,” said Chris Courtney, senior project manager for Brandywine Homes. “These types of opportunities are a great solution in providing housing that cities desperately need.” But the prospects of changing the zoning from commercial to residential to make way for the townhome project has divided residents and advocates. Paul Buron, a Buena Park resident, spoke in opposition to Brandywine’s proposal at the meeting. “Do we really need more housing, right now?” he asked commissioners. “You’ve got the big housing going on [at] the Sears lot.” Buron made reference to the Village, a 1,300-unit housing development at the site of the mall’s abandoned Sears building, which was approved by Buena Park City Council last year. With hopes of propping up the flagging mall, the Village would also include 126 townhomes for sale. Across the street from the mall, the Brandywine project is considerably smaller and is even scaled back from the developer’s original proposal for 283 apartments and 1,500 square feet of retail space, after meeting stiff opposition during a community forum last year. Concerns over traffic, parking and privacy that aired back then resurfaced before the planning commission. Buena Park resident Rebecca Kovacs-Stein pointed to California’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment, or RHNA numbers, as a prime reason why the commission should recommend the townhomes for approval. Under the current state housing mandates, Buena Park needs to plan for 8,919 units by 2029. The city exceeded its RHNA numbers under the last housing cycle that ended in 2021 but has a long way to go before meeting its current numbers. “The lack of parking is not the issue,” Kovacs-Stein said. “The lack of housing in Buena Park is.” As the project would offer 14 townhomes at moderate affordable housing levels and just two at the low-income tier, Kovacs-Stein advocated for more inclusionary housing in the future. Elizabeth Hansburg, co-founder and executive director of People for Housing Orange County, also supported the project against its detractors. “The people that you’re hearing from, who don’t want this project to move forward, are lucky enough to have won the lottery of time,” she said. “They bought their housing when it was much more affordable, compared with wages. That time has passed.” Commissioners pressed Brandywine and city officials over concerns that parking issues would spill over to neighboring single-family housing tracts. “The garage is meant for vehicle parking, not for storage,” Courtney said. Matt Foulkes, Buena Park’s community development director, noted that the city could issue fines against future townhome residents who used their garage for purposes other than parking. “We can go in and do an inspection,” he said. Commission Chair Mirvette Judeh deemed all comments from residents and advocates as “relevant” to the discussion. “However, there are state mandates regarding the shortage of housing,” she said. “That is something that every city is struggling with and they’re trying to find additional housing.” With that, the Planning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend that the zoning changes be approved by the Buena Park City Council. Mayor Susan Sonne, who represents the council district where the townhomes are being proposed, said that the project would go before her colleagues soon. “I will work very hard to ensure any project approved at this site is in the best interests of the community,” she said. Several firefighters suffered minor injuries in a scuffle with a man who jumped into thier fire engine. Orange County Fire Authority Battalion Chief Chuck Fedak told KTLA while the crew was attempting to get out of the rig and subdue the man, he managed to get away, climb into the cab and lock the doors. Several police officers were successful in wrestling the man out of the fire truck. One of the firefighters reportedly suffered a bite to his arm. A protective spit bag was placed on the suspect's head before he was loaded into an ambulance.  The pickup truck was stopped on the freeway after being involved in a previous collision when it was struck by the tractor trailer truck shortly before 4 a.m., California Highway Patrol Officer Duane Graham said. The collision occurred on the eastbound side of the freeway near Valley View Street during rainy conditions. All three adult occupants in the pick-up truck died and there was no immediate information about their identities. The driver of the tractor trailer truck remained at the scene, Graham said. The eastbound freeway was closed for several hours as emergency crews responded to the scene. As of 7:30 a.m., one lane was open to traffic. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. It was still too early to determine if rain played a factor, Graham said. Nathan Solis reports on breaking news with the Fast Break team at the Los Angeles Times. Climate & Environment World & Nation California Buena Park forward Ernesto Portas attempts a jumper during the second quarter as a contingent of Santa Ana players Buena Park High School’s boys basketball team defeated Santa Ana 60-48 Tuesday night in the final regular season Golden West League game on senior night for the Coyotes The Buena Park win puts both Buena Park and Santa Ana with 3-5 records and tied for third place and the final automatic CIF playoff qualifying spot from the league The two teams will meet Wednesday at 6:30 p.m Freshman Ernesto Portas led Buena Park (7-20 overall) with 22 points Senior Emmanuel Charagu added 15 points for Buena Park “Tonight we did a great job of limiting wide open shot attempts and rebounding,” said Buena Park Coach Robert Summers “That in turn helped us control the pace and tempo of the game Emmanuel Charagu played outstanding for us leading the charge for us defensively with eight steals His play was backed up by Zyaire Eastland who had huge game with six steals “Our freshman Ernesto Portas chipped in 22 points which was huge as well In all it was a team effort and we need to repeat it tomorrow night for all the marbles.” Your browser is ancient! Upgrade to a different browser or install Google Chrome Frame to experience this site Press Contact: Matt McQuaid Phone: (202) 624-6877 Email: mmcquaid@teamster.org Calif.) – More than 50 public sector workers in the City of Buena Park have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 911 This worker-led victory is comprised of public works employees who serve the city as drivers “Home to Knott’s Berry Farm theme park and other attractions and these workers enhance the quality of life of residents and visitors alike—and for that they deserve a strong contract,” said Ray Whitmer Secretary-Treasurer of Local 911 in Bellflower “We thank them for believing in the Teamsters difference they will negotiate a contract that will improve their compensation and working conditions.” “We decided to join the Teamsters because the union has a strong tradition of serving those they represent and the day-to-day representational service offered by the Teamsters is important to us the stronger our contract will be,” said Joe Rivera a lead maintenance worker in the City of Buena Park’s Park Department Teamsters Local 911 represents thousands of public sector workers throughout Southern California. For more information, go to teamsters911.com A butcher taunts all who enter its frigid, tight quarters where the repulsive decor comes in the form of dangling, strung-up chickens. Thrill seekers soon find themselves crammed into individual lockers where an arctic blast continues the haunt’s assault on the senses. By the harrowing Halloween maze’s end, survivors will have endured a hurricane alley blasting 100 mile-per-hour winds, an earthquake simulator room and a corridor with live bugs and creepy crunches that sound beneath every panicked footstep. It’s a philosophy of fear that Robbie and Heather Luther have honed since starting the 17th Door in 2015. “What we offer here is just a totally different experience,” Heather said from an empty queue area before its opening Friday night. “The people that travel the world and go to all the haunts say there’s nothing like this place.” This year’s Halloween boutique at Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar is dubbed the Gathering and boasts a witchy theme in helping to kick off spooky season. Strangely enough, the married couple never built mini-haunted mazes at their home for trick-or-treaters on Halloween. But the 17th Door, named for the final room in the maze, stuck around as one of Robbie’s creative ideas for decades before the couple went all-in at the haunt’s original location at the Market Place in Tustin. The haunted house then moved to Fullerton and resettled in a basement area of the Buena Park Mall last year. Robbie and Heather have big expansion plans to add interactive horror movie theaters and year-round escape rooms by next Halloween. For now, they are experimenting with new features at their seasonal maze, including a room with a tunnel where hurricane-level winds blast through. The ingenuity behind new thrills brings a gleeful grin to Heather’s face as she walks through a guided tour of the maze before its opening weekend — and thankfully, before any scare actors clock in. There’s only a loose storyline that threads all of the 17th Door’s maze rooms. All who enter “Perpetuum Penitentiary” are imprisoned by its horrors until they escape half an hour later. The prison barber’s on break but not for long at the 17th Door in Buena Park. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) A step inside the prison barber’s room doesn’t look too inviting. “Your hair will be cut,” Heather explained. “Usually, it’s just a ‘17’ buzzed into the back of your head.” That is, unless you cry “mercy” as a safety word or flash a pendant that works to provide instant relief throughout the maze. A construction crew continued work on the earthquake simulation room, where a Yoda figure wearing an orange prison jumpsuit provides quick comic relief before the floor beneath you begins to rumble. There’s even a room that brings the Stanford Prison Experiment to mind, as it allows once pelted guests to pull the trigger on pellet guns on another group in total darkness. A trigger-warning banner hanging from a chain-link fence in the queue area lists all its offenses from foul smells to shocks to claustrophobia. Haunt enthusiasts must also sign a waiver form before stepping into the first room. “Some experiences are a bit challenging, extreme and intense overall but designed to be fun as well,” Heather said. Heather and Robbie Luther are co-owners of the 17th Door, which has opened for another season of extreme scares. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) This year, the 17th Door is also offering an exclusive behind-the-scenes pass for people to see the cast, costume and makeup area. After surviving the maze, pass holders can watch the scare monsters in action and get to hang out in the control room, which Heather refers to as the beating heart of the haunt. Entertaining on the extremes gives the 17th Door the notoriety needed to open one street down from Knott’s Halloween Haunt and make a compelling addition to Buena Park’s fast-growing reputation as the Halloween capital of Orange County. Travel & Experiences “Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines,” a maze at Halloween Horror Nights highlights villains and heroines such as Saskia Van Helsing the Bride of Frankenstein and Countess Marya Zaleska Even though the mall maze employs about 115 scare actors per season it’s geared more toward psychological terror than typical “jump scares” found at walk-through haunts People are funneled through in groups of eight every 90 seconds Heather boasted a headcount of 25,000 people braving the 17th Door before calling it a wrap for the season “We definitely get the adrenaline junkies and people who are just into haunts,” she said we get a big range of people from all ages.” Heather Luther stands against a wall at the 17th Door at the Buena Park Mall (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Heather recalled one exit interview years ago where a woman described the 17th Door as a “spiritual experience” after completing it It may seem strange to think of its delirious rooms as doors of perception waiting to be cleansed “You’re going through all these crazy and intense things but it’s all designed in a safe way where you can overcome your fears,” Heather said “A lot of guests get that sense of accomplishment They’re telling the world they’re stronger now.” The 17th Door, at 8420 On the Mall, Buena Park, opened Sept. 27 and runs through Nov. 3. For tickets and more information, visit the17thdoor.com. Buena Park High School’s football team topped University 15-7 Friday night on homecoming to improve to 4-3 overall and 2-0 in the Omicron League The Coyotes amassed 347 yards from scrimmage and overcame three turnovers and 155 yards in penalties while stopping University twice in the red zone in the second half including once with a minute left in the game Buena Park went on a 65-yard scoring drive in the second quarter culminating in Lynnden Hodge’s 2-yard TD run for a 7-0 lead Late in the first half the Trojans tied the score on an 11-play 95-yard scoring drive ending in a fourth down 25-yard pass from Dylan Elmer to Carl Oldham Oldham finished with seven catches for 107 yards while Elmer passed for 158 yards University was stopped on a fourth and one at the 12-yard line 88-yard scoring drive cashing in with a 31-yard pass from Kevin Garcia to Hodge Hodge and Nicholas Zamora each had four catches for 70 yards while Garcia passed for 160 yards Damari Carter carried the ball 22 times for 71 yards for University (3-4 In May, Buena Park’s planning commission unanimously approved a permit for a year-round Halloween entertainment attraction at the mall. The proposed business would include seasonal mazes, classic horror-themed movie theaters and escape rooms in a city that bills itself as “Boo-ena Park” every October thanks to Knott’s Scary Farm. But the Halloween attraction has already provided a scare over parking at the mall. Food The Asian-centric entertainment and dining destination offers a unique concentration of Korean culture just a few miles away from Buena Park’s newly named Koreatown. John Parlet, owner of John’s Incredible Pizza Co., which offers family-friendly buffets, rides and games, appealed the planning commission’s decision last month. Parlet pointed to a parking study for the Village at Buena Park that found available parking spaces will be cut in half by the development, a point of contention he said should have been considered at the planning commission meeting before the permit was approved. “The grossly inadequate parking at the Mall is not offset by any benefit to the public and is a major detriment to the community,” the appeal claimed. During the planning commission meeting, Robert Luther, co-owner of the proposed Halloween attraction, had agreed to have future employees park further away from John’s Incredible Pizza Co., which has been a mall tenant since 2007. But that didn’t prove convincing enough to stop Parlet from filing his appeal. Gudetama Cafe in Buena Park drew customers who waited as long as 12 to 16 hours to enter the restaurant based on Sanrio’s lazy-egg character City Council members considered the appeal on Tuesday during a public hearing as flagging malls across Orange County have moved to incorporate housing into their future development plans. City staff’s position was that no additional parking was needed due to the operating hours of Luther’s proposed business and state law that bans cities from imposing a minimum parking requirement on most development projects located within half a mile of a public transit. A staff report noted that there will be surplus parking within the Village at Buena Park and that 511 spaces are going to be shared between residents and commercial businesses as part of the development plan. The report further stated that the parking study assumed 100% tenancy at the mall, as opposed to the 65% occupancy rate it currently has. Luther addressed council members at the meeting in making the case for his business, again. “We are actually somewhat of an ideal tenant for this space in regards to parking as it might affect John’s Incredible Pizza,” he said. “We don’t even open until 7 p.m. By then, half the tenants of the mall or more are already closed.” The mall closes daily at 8 p.m. John’s Incredible Pizza Co. closes every night at 10:30 p.m. James Bastain, an attorney for the pizza company, claimed that future parking problems could cost the business as much as $2 million in profits, a drop that would force it to close down. “There’s no way that [the mall is] going to be able to attract new tenants if they don’t have adequate parking,” he said. “We need to revisit the parking issue and, hopefully, come up with a solution that can allow my client and the other tenants to stay in business.” In an area where there is little undeveloped land and neighbors are likely to push back at new housing, some see the declining malls as ideal places to build. Vice Mayor Joyce Ahn suggested that city staff speak with the mall’s ownership about building public parking to get ahead of any potential issues with its mixed-use future. For Councilman Connor Traut, the approval of a permit for Luther’s proposed Halloween attraction at the mall wasn’t the proper forum to revisit council’s prior approval of the Village at Buena Park. “I don’t really see [parking] as a concern due to the 7 p.m. open time,” Traut said. “There is a benefit to the public. It benefits … surrounding businesses, not just [with] tax dollars but really bringing in foot traffic, as well.” Mayor Susan Sonne believed that Parlet’s appeal wasn’t so much about the planning commission’s vote but City Council’s prior approval of housing at the mall. She welcomed a future discussion on John’s Incredible Pizza Co.’s concerns at a later date. At the end of the hearing, council members voted unanimously to deny Parlet’s appeal and uphold the approved permit for Luther’s proposed business. TEMECULA – Under the Friday night lights at Chaparral High School Temecula FC delivered a thrilling 4-1 comeback victory against Buena Park FC in the opening leg of the Raul Briones Cup quarterfinals The win puts the Quails in a strong position as they aim to advance in the prestigious tournament as Buena Park FC silenced the home crowd with a quick goal just 10 minutes into the contest regaining their composure and taking control of the game Goals from Beto and Noah ensured Temecula carried a 2-1 lead into the break The second half belonged entirely to Temecula FC they patiently built toward opportunities while maintaining firm defensive shape against a dangerous Buena Park side Gio emerged as the star of the night with two second-half strikes His contributions not only extended the lead but energized the home supporters Temecula’s dominance did not mean the match lacked challenges Buena Park produced an aggressive spell of attacking play under the guidance of first-team manager John Oliver “The guys controlled the majority of the game after conceding an early goal which was completely against the run of play Buena Park came out strong in the second half and had a good 20-minute spell but we were able to get back into our possession game and see the match out,” said Oliver after the match we’ve put ourselves in a very strong position.” This victory highlights the positive trajectory Temecula FC has been on under the leadership of Oliver His clear vision and dedication to player development have transformed the team into a cohesive and competitive force this season Players have executed his strategies with precision proving their ability to rise to high-stakes occasions commended the team’s focus and the impact of the coaching staff “John has worked diligently to build this squad into a unit capable of delivering results like tonight The players are responding incredibly well and the team chemistry continues to grow match by match,” he noted Temecula FC will now shift their attention to preparing for the decisive second leg of the quarterfinals While maintaining their lead will be no small task against a Buena Park FC side eager to stage a comeback Temecula’s performance on Friday surely inspires confidence in their ability to finish the job fans can revel in an evening that underscored Temecula FC’s determination to compete at the highest level of the Raul Briones Cup Supporters and players alike will turn their focus toward finishing this quarterfinal battle strong and keeping their championship dreams alive Follow Temecula FC at temeculafc.com or on social media @TemeculaFC for updates Send local sports tips and info to sports@reedermedia.com JP is an award-winning multimedia journalist and head of the Sports Department for the Valley News As a former Southwestern League head baseball coach and former President of the Temecula Youth Baseball league (TYB) JP was also a local on-air radio personality at All Pro Broadcasting and was a television host for the Outdoor Channel JP also works for the Media Technology Department for Major League Baseball The Valley News is made up of local residents dedicated to keeping our communities up-to-date with local issues Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative 2025 at 5:54 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The car struck a pedestrian at Beach Boulevard and Crescent Avenue continuing south on Beach and out view without stopping CA — Authorities sought the public's help Sunday in locating a bright blue sedan that struck a pedestrian in Buena Park and sped away Cameras captured a blue Honda sedan speeding south on Beach Boulevard from Artesia Boulevard at about 12:40 a.m The car then struck a pedestrian at Beach Boulevard and Crescent Avenue A Honda emblem was left at the scene and the car likely has significant front-end damage and possibly a damaged windshield The condition of the pedestrian was not clear Anyone with information regarding the crash was urged to call the Buena Park Police Department at 714-562-3941 2025 at 10:27 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Family members are grieving the loss of a 45-year-old father who was killed while he worked along the 91 Freeway in Buena Park CA — Family members are grieving the loss of a 45-year-old father who was killed while he worked along the 91 Freeway in Buena Park was working as a Caltrans subcontractor when he was fatally struck by a pick-up truck early Friday morning near Beach Boulevard He was taken to the hospital but did not survive his injuries Mantecon leaves behind a wife of 15 years and his two children — a 12-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son "I don't know what my life is going to be from now on To read the full story, visit ABC 7. 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Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. both homes to renowned attractions that bring in a whole lot of visitors officials have wrestled with how best to deal with them since the California Street Vending Act (Senate Bill 946) decriminalizing the practice was signed into law by then-Gov To gain more control over the fruit carts and taco stands that appear on its sidewalks, the Buena Park City Council last week voted to give code enforcement officers the ability to seize illicit street food vending equipment “if a vendor appears to have abandoned it or if it poses an imminent safety or environmental hazard,” according to this TimesOC story the city can impose a $265 impound fee to the operators involved The change in city law will give Buena Park code enforcement “the power to confiscate tents while also dumping food,” the article states “We’ve kind of hit our limits,” Councilman Connor Traut It’s a necessary step and I think we should still work towards encouraging legal street vending and amending rules because the demand is there for folks in our community.” the Anaheim City Council at the same time approved two $250,000 contracts for consultants to assist its code officers with cracking down on the vendors that set up their small enterprises on sidewalks without required permits “Neither [consulting firm] is being hired just for street vending,” Mike Lyster “We’ve actually had tremendous success with street vending enforcement on our own at Honda Center and along Harbor Boulevard These contracts will give us more flexibility.” • After a portion of the private walkway that snakes along a cliff in Laguna Beach collapsed in a landslide Friday morning sending about 500 cubic yards of earth down on 1,000 Steps Beach and damaging a path there • Officials with South Coast Repertory are assessing damages and any losses to its production building in Santa Ana caused by a partial roof collapse during a period of high winds and rain on Jan The roughly 4,500-square-foot area that comprised the paint shop has been red-tagged by building inspectors • A Los Angeles police sergeant was arrested Saturday night after authorities say he hit and killed a pedestrian in Tustin while driving intoxicated and fled the scene Tustin police identified the driver as Carlos Coronel • Jurors began hearing opening statements last week in the case against Antonio Padilla who faces one count of murder in connection with the death of 60-year-old Gina Marie Lockhart whose body was unearthed by detectives in the yard of his parents’ mobile home in Huntington Beach on July 17 • Investigation into a citizen’s complaint culminated last week when Laguna Beach police seized several illegal substances and made multiple arrests of people alleged to have been involved in the sale of illegal drugs at Cinder Box Smoke Shop on South Coast Highway • Newport Beach police announced this week the arrest Friday night of a 30-year-old Chilean national in connection with a residential burglary near East Coast Highway and Pelican Point • Twice-convicted drunk driver Serene Francie Rosenberg has been charged with the murder of 88-year-old Melvin Joseph Weibel after allegedly plowing her Land Rover SUV into the transit van he was a passenger in Friday at the intersection of Stonehill Drive and Golden Lantern in Dana Point according to the reporting of City News Service Moniak hit .219 with 14 homers and a career-high 49 RBIs last year • The new Huntington Beach Sports Hall of Fame inducted its first class on Sunday. It included, among other honorees, members of the 2011 Ocean View Little League team that won the Little League World Series back in 2011. You can find the complete list of the inaugural class here • The Newport Harbor High surf team captured the Sunset League All-Star Championships last Wednesday • Laguna Beach High School’s girls’ basketball team won the Pacific Hills League crown by beating Irvine The CIF Southern Section will release its playoff pairings on Feb • Peter Quilter’s play “End of the Rainbow” will be on stage at the Gem Theatre Garden Grove beginning Friday night and running through Sunday Curtain time on Fridays and Saturdays is 8 p.m. The play with music delves into the final chapter of Judy Garland’s life • “Echoes of Conflict: Remembering Vietnam,” a comprehensive exhibit of items related to the Vietnam War The exhibit features items such as uniforms I appreciate your help in making this the best newsletter it can be. Please send news tips, your memory of life in O.C. (photos welcome!) or comments to carol.cormaci@latimes.com Carol Cormaci is executive editor of Times Community News’ Daily Pilot in Orange County and pens the TimesOC newsletter She is a native Southern Californian and a proud UCLA Bruin She previously served as managing editor of three former Times Community News publications: the Glendale News-Press Print It is Friday night and families are seated row by row some wearing tri-cornered hats and others waving pirate flags The smell of roast chicken fills the air and kids eagerly watch the replica 18th-century ship at the center of the arena for signs of activity Pirates Dinner Adventure in Buena Park has started nights like this for over 30 years Audience members can cheer for their favorite pirate while being served a chicken dinner and maybe even get pulled on stage Recently the theater switched from the previous show “Secrets of the Deep,” to nightly performances of “In Search of Neptune’s Treasure.” While the script and children enthusiastically waving their pirate flags will not be disappointed “This is the world’s most interactive dinner show and the opportunity to live up to that each night is exhilarating,” said Pruett “Each cast member brings their own unique and brilliant take on the same scene each night but the audience have the power to rewrite a moment or scene altogether That theatrical immediacy is truly a gift for a performer.” Pruett leads the cast along with assistant show manager Maddie Ellingson and is also one of the show’s lead actors “He is the legendary leader and rumored to be the most viscous pirate king to have sailed the Seven Seas,” Pruett said The large live-action show has a lot of moving parts and updating the story is a true group effort “Neptune’s Treasure leans more closely to traditional musical theater for young audiences “The show also lends itself to a more classical clowning structure with elements and character types similar to commedia dell’arte stock characters.” Pruett has extensive experience living the pirate’s life; the actor worked at the Orlando location of Pirates Dinner Adventure before coming to Southern California the cast and crew and all of our operational partners I joined the cast out here as well,” said Pruett Sebastian the Black at Pirates Dinner Adventure in Buena Park (Courtesy of Pirates Dinner Adventure Buena Park) Pruett moved to New York City to pursue acting right after high school and studied at the National Shakespeare Conservatory’s Professional Actor Training Program He honed his craft in the New York City theater scene before moving to Orlando to work with the major theme parks there eventually finding his way to Pirates Dinner Adventure choreographed fights and a magical mermaid that swims in the 250,000-gallon indoor lagoon surrounding the ship Although action and stunts are an integral part of the show many of members of the cast are actors first formal acting training through conservatory programs There are a few that have special talents and a few that did come to us directly from circus and stunt training experience,” Pruett said Pruett said he approaches the character with stronger influences from a clowning background that differs from the Capt Sebastian had evolved into the man the legends were born from He had a haunting and dark past that played out more like a tragic Shakespearean character fueling his rage,” said Pruett “This version of the captain isn’t as dark.” The turn to musical theater means a less violent show Pruett said the show is different each night “It’s always exciting to tell the story of our show the same way with different voices but we navigate the path a bit differently each night,” Pruett said “That’s also what makes the show so exciting to see more than once.” Pruett said he is honored to take the stage each night with his fellow cast members “Each night we have the opportunity to have the best show ever and that is exactly what we strive to do for our audiences,” said Pruett “There isn’t another crew anywhere that I would rather sail these seas with than my pirate’s family on both coasts.” Pirates Dinner Adventure hosts nightly performances Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. and two shows on Saturday at 5 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at piratesdinneradventure.com. Sarah Mosqueda covers Orange County food, art and culture for TimesOC. She most recently worked as a staff writer in Food for the Los Angeles Times. She also has several years of experience in the restaurant industry, including as a proprietor. Mosqueda earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton.