Print On the southwest corner of the intersection at Brookhurst Street and Edinger Avenue in Fountain Valley
a utility box is decorated on all four sides
the titular “Drive-In Hospital” facing the pedestrian and vehicular traffic
Depicted in the piece is the former Fountain Valley Drive-In
a marquee displaying the movies that played on opening night in 1967 — “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Tammy and the Millionaire.”
and the evolution of what the property became is represented in a reflecting pool
where the artwork displays the reverse image of MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center
Katy Wright’s “Drive-In Hospital” painting is installed as a vinyl wrap on a utility box in Fountain Valley
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Resident artist Katy Wright became the first to put her design on a city-owned utility box through the Art on a Box program in 2021
The program is run through the Fountain Valley Community Foundation
The other sides illustrate advertising for the theater and crows swooping down on the grounds of the abandoned drive-in
Wright described her discovery of the public art program as a “fluke,” but she has become somewhat of a champion for it
Katy Wright stands next to “Drive-In Hospital,” the initial project as part of Fountain Valley’s public art program
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “I have gotten up at several meetings
and I have talked about that I’m the inaugural artist
and I want to see more art out there by more people
more variety,” Wright said in an interview on Wednesday
“The sky’s the limit as far as what could be on those boxes
A quilter could take a photograph of their quilt
and that would be a gorgeous thing on a box
have relied on public transportation for a good portion of my life
and I would appreciate something like that
I want people who don’t think they’re artists to go ahead and think
and they don’t use it.’ I can’t tell you what it feels like when you didn’t think you were an artist
and you can drive by your work on a street corner.”
Artwork installation has been limited to vinyl wraps up until now
but the City Council unanimously approved an amendment to allow for hand painting
While the Fountain Valley Community Foundation runs the program
the item came to the council because it concerned city property
we were concerned about the potential of graffiti
and I think that’s why we went with the wrap,” Councilwoman Kim Constantine said in revisiting the approval of the program in September 2020
“I am in support of allowing artists to do either the painted art or the vinyl wrap.”
Art supplies sit next to a public art project at the corner of Brookhurst Street and Edinger Avenue in Fountain Valley
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer) The project was launched five years ago as a beautification project to promote local artists and history
and to instill a sense of community engagement
the city’s recreation and community services department collaborated with public works officials to identify a dozen city-owned utility boxes to serve as a canvas for art
Nine of the specified boxes are located around the perimeter of Mile Square Regional Park
with the other three stationed along Slater Avenue between Brookhurst Street and Mt
Priority is given to artists who live and work in Fountain Valley
but it is also open to those who support or have an affiliation with the city
“When placed on utility cabinets or other public property
the artwork constitutes city speech,” Community Services Director Rob Frizzelle said
“The city does not intend to create any type of forum for private speech
Katy Wright stands with her artwork
featured on a utility box (in background) at Brookhurst Street and Edinger Avenue in Fountain Valley
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Other guidelines require the artwork to be non-discriminatory and generally positive in nature
The artwork may not include content that is hateful or obscene
The amendment is geared toward making the program more accessible by lowering the cost of installation and maintenance
City staff estimated the cost of installation for a vinyl-wrapped box fall between $1,700 and $2,300
while the expected cost for a hand-painted box (including supplies) is somewhere between $500 and $1,500
Both methods of installation would require an anti-graffiti coating for protection of the artwork
Projects through the program do not use city funds
The foundation is expected to work with selected artists to find sponsors for the installation
Katy Wright stands in front of “Drive-In Hospital,” artwork she created for Fountain Valley’s program
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Costa Mesa and Dana Point restrict their utility box public art programs to vinyl wraps only
Long Beach and San Clemente allowed for the boxes to be painted
“While there are some times when a vinyl wrap application is warranted
the truth is that the two preapproved pieces that I have done — “Hobble Nation” and “Time Twister” would have already been done if I could have painted them,” Wright told the council
“There is an expectation that the artist will help seek funding and sponsorship
and I will note that an artist is an artist
It’s not our forte to go out and do fundraising
The Fountain Valley Community Foundation reviews the artwork for approval
Constantine also urged the foundation to do more to promote the program to local artists and the community
Artist Katy Wright says her “Time Twister” design has received approval for Fountain Valley’s “Art on a Box” program
(Courtesy of Katy Wright) “I would support to have the options for the art,” Mayor Ted Bui said
this is a mission that the foundation should be engaged more
the only thing they should look for is the art itself
As long as the art is appropriate to the community
A couple of the panels from the “Drive-In Hospital” project wound up in a show at the Huntington Beach Art Museum
If Wright’s name doesn’t ring a bell there
residents might remember that she ran for City Council last November
“I wanted the experience of doing it,” Wright said
I had 5,300 votes from people that didn’t know me
Katy Wright advocated for the allowance of hand-painting installation for artwork in Fountain Valley’s public art program. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) NewsFountain Valley Andrew Turner Follow Us
Andrew Turner is a sports reporter for the Daily Pilot. Before joining the Pilot in October 2016, he covered prep sports as a freelancer for the Orange County Register for four years. His work also has been used by the Associated Press and California Rubber Hockey Magazine. While attending Long Beach State, he wrote for the college newspaper, The Daily 49er. He graduated with bachelor’s degrees in journalism and history. (714) 966-4611
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Print Fountain Valley residents packed the room at the Recreation Center on Thursday with a chance to hear from and get questions answered by a panel on the subject of sober living homes
Sober living homes are intended to provide an alcohol- and drug-free environment to help individuals transition from rehabilitation to independent living
Public outcry has highlighted several concerns
including disruptive and unsavory behavior that some who reside near the homes say has included drug use
noise and other public nuisances in their neighborhoods
Sentiments shared from attendees said that the presence of sober living homes has caused a quality-of-life issue and complicated matters for families raising children
Enforcement has begun. Code enforcement officers can make site visits to homes suspected to be operating outside the law to determine their use. In the event an officer is not allowed inside the property to investigate, they may ask neighbors if there is evidence of its operation as a facility subject to the ordinance. The neighbor providing the evidence would have to testify at an administrative hearing.
Another 11 properties within the city, including 10 sober living homes, have special use permits pending.
Code enforcement officers had issued 22 citations for operating without a special use permit as of Thursday. The first violation comes with a fine of $100. Failure to comply within one week would result in a $200 fine, and each additional week thereafter would incur a $500 fine, Deputy City Manager and Community Development Director Omar Dadabhoy said.
“Right now, code enforcement is really concentrating on verifying and enforcing against those that are not permitted,” Dadabhoy said. “The next step is we’re going to be visiting the ones that we have approved special use permits. … We’re going to ensure that they’re meeting our regulations.”
Additionally, sober living homes and state-licensed facilities should be separated by at least 650 feet. Fountain Valley has 21 state-licensed facilities operating in town, according to data on the city website.
Residents pushed for stricter regulations, with one calling on the city to hire a code enforcement officer dedicated solely to issues related to sober living homes. Others felt that the requirement of 650 feet of separation between sober living homes and state-licensed facilities for individuals in recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction did not go far enough.
“You’re going into the home to transition into normal life,” Halfman said. “Having all these facilities take up a whole block doesn’t really serve that purpose. The purpose of this ordinance is to keep space, so you don’t end up with a whole cul de sac that’s dominated by these types of facilities.”
Halfman also encouraged residents to notify the city if they experienced “bad neighborly conduct.”
Those provisions mirror an ordinance previously adopted in Costa Mesa. Mission Viejo recently approved the first reading of an ordinance requiring a 1,000-foot separation between group homes.
Public officials said during the town hall meeting that change at the state level as it relates to the regulation of sober living homes depends on a message that addresses the well-being of the individuals in recovery.
“What we discovered is that the reason for the past 15 years that we haven’t been able to get anything, any solutions done that would allow us to help our communities, is because it was perceived as a ‘we don’t want that in our neighborhood,’” said Mission Viejo Mayor Pro Tem Wendy Bucknum, who co-chairs the California Sober Living and Recovery Task Force with Assemblywoman Laurie Davies.
“We feel that if these homes are regulated, and there’s proper oversight, that it will be improved in the neighborhood. We feel if these people are taken care of properly, the impact on the neighborhood will be minimized.”
Assemblywoman Diane Dixon gives an update on efforts to introduce legislation on sober living homes on Thursday in Fountain Valley. (Andrew Turner) Kris Murray, executive director of the Assn. of California Cities, Orange County, said cities can serve as a check against bad operators.
“Folks are being harmed in these facilities,” Murray said. “That is an absolute. The state has not been following up, providing its responsible, required legal oversight, so it’s absolutely essential that at the city level we work to take some of that control back. … It’s the for-profit operators that are milking the insurance of these individuals.”
Assemblywoman Diane Dixon said she is working on multiple bills related to the regulation of sober living homes. The bills, she said, would deal with the clustering of such properties, require a letter to be sent to insurance companies indicating there is no medical treatment being done on site, and a third would require a report when a death occurs in a recovery facility.
The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an agreement to have parking enforcement handled by Universal Protection Service for an initial three-year period at a cost of $519,182, with options for two additional one-year extensions.
Police Sgt. Brian Mosher said there has been an increase in demand for such services. Contributing factors have included parking congestion associated with community events and complaints regarding recreational vehicles. Staffing shortages have led to inconsistent street sweeping enforcement, he said.
Fountain Valley has five police service officers, but Mosher said there is a high turnover rate for the part-time positions, resulting in more time spent on recruitment and training.
“These staffing challenges have resulted in sub-optimal enforcement and the inability for us to meet the expectations of the community,” Mosher said. “Residents and businesses deserve reliable, consistent and proactive parking enforcement services. To achieve this, it is necessary to enhance the capacity through a trusted private partner.”
The agreement will supply two full-time patrol officers dedicated to parking enforcement. They will each have a fully equipped vehicle and a mobile reporting device.
“This will lead to a significant increase in enforcement activity, particularly for street sweeping violations, which constitute approximately 75% of our total parking citations annually,” Mosher said. “It will improve resource allocation. Outsourcing the parking enforcement will allow the city to relocate existing police service officers to address more pressing quality-of-life issues, citizen complaints and first-responder priorities.”
City staffers believe the program should pay for itself and project $320,000 in annual revenue due to an uptick in parking tickets.
Councilman Glenn Grandis asked about the estimated incremental revenue through increased enforcement. Mosher said the projection was conservative, noting that while the police service officers had been positioned to work Wednesday through Friday, the city still collected an average of about $35,000 per month from citation issuance.
As for the shift in direction, Councilman Patrick Harper wondered if outsourcing parking enforcement was becoming the norm in Orange County.
“Most agencies are moving this route because of hiring and sustainability of a part-time employee,” said Mosher, who added that Anaheim, Huntington Beach and Santa Ana are all using the same vendor. “Huntington Beach ran into the same issue. … I find that a lot of agencies are going to be going to this.”
We have noticed the homeless gathering in some areas of the park. A few days ago, we lost our car keys and retraced our steps for two days straight. On the first day, we asked several homeless groups if anyone had found any car keys. They were all very friendly and wished us luck. On the second day, the homeless groups were nowhere to be found. They left behind some heartbreaking messages scrawled on cardboard and nearby walls.
Meanwhile, we were very thankful that a park employee at the office found our keys. They were very helpful.
As one example, CalAIM is a multiyear program that was approved in 2021. It is currently scheduled to expire in 2026. However, a person has to know this program exists and most importantly they must “qualify” to receive benefits.
Some people choose to live on the street no matter what. They do not want anything to do with “shelters.” Where do they go? They still need resources to move from place to place. Where are the funds going to come from in Orange County, where federal dollars for its Continuum of Care are threatened? How will the funds be managed?
The situation remains overwhelming. It seems all we, the American people, can do is to protest, boycott, send money, and volunteer. But most of all we must be an informed voter — before we can’t.
This installation will damage the grass and plants in the proposed area, as well as disrupt the environment for the birds and animals who inhabit the park and the people who enjoy the park on a daily basis. And it will disturb the residents for miles around the park with excessive traffic, noise and sound pollution! And it is not even likely to bring in the pitiful amount of revenue that is projected in the proposal.
This is another boondoggle with smelly political overtones, and Huntington Beach residents do not want it to pollute our park!
Opinion
Print Fountain Valley Sports Park could have a 16-acre expansion in its near future
as the City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an amended and restated lease after more than two years of negotiations with the county of Orange
A quitclaim deed that saw the property now known as Mile Square Regional Park go from the U.S
government to the county required that the property be dedicated to public park and recreational uses in perpetuity
It also stipulated that the county should lease a portion of the park to the city of Fountain Valley for 50 years — and for additional periods of 50 years — so long as it also developed the land for park and recreational purposes
The original rent-free lease went into effect on March 28
granting the city an initial 55 acres of the 640-acre park
resulted in the expansion of the city’s portion of the park
which can be accessed from Brookhurst Street
parking and improvements to the recreation center were under consideration at the time
A proposal approved by the City Council on Nov
19 had included a 14.6-acre expansion of the city’s portion of the park
The council allocated $121,000 in alternative park funds for the additional 1.4 acres
which a staff report said would cover infrastructure relocation and site improvements conducted by the county as part of a rehabilitation project
“In review with Mayor [Ted] Bui and the city manager
we had identified a need on the southern portion of the expansion area for additional parking opportunities,” said Rob Frizzelle
“It gets a little bit narrow through that southern side of that expansion area
if the parking was all on the northern side of that
that’s a long walk over to access that area
“We thought it was critical to have some additional opportunities for parking
It will come to fruition as part of our parks master plan.”
The Fountain Valley Sports Park expansion is subject to a vote of the Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday
the additional acreage is expected to be available within a period of 18 months to two years
That would provide time for the county to complete a necessary phase of a Mile Square Regional Park golf course conversion project and for the city to adopt its updated parks master plan
“I hope the residents fully understand just the impact this is going to have on our community,” Councilman Glenn Grandis said
the ability to increase the services that we provide — recreational services for our community — this just doesn’t happen very often
… This will change Fountain Valley for the better
Talks between the city and Teamsters Local 911, which is representing the bargaining groups that include general, municipal and professional and technical employees from across all city departments, began in April.
An employee protest took place outside City Hall on Dec. 3, the evening of the reorganization meeting for the City Council. The demonstrators handed out fliers to those in attendance on their way into the building.
The handout noted that about 100 city employees are represented by the Teamsters union. It also made mention of the collective ask for the bargaining groups, including “more base pay, cost mitigation for medical insurance, and appropriate classification of employment with commensurate pay based on comparable cities.”
“We deeply value all of our employees and their contributions to making Fountain Valley a wonderful place to live,” City Manager Maggie Le said in a statement acknowledging the protest. “We are disappointed that we’re in disagreement; however, the city remains committed to negotiating in good faith to reach a fair and sustainable solution for all parties involved.”
City officials said the groups involved in the labor dispute had initially requested a 40% increase in compensation over three years and had brought the ask down to 20% over the same period. The city was offering 12% over three years.
Fountain Valley reached agreements with its confidential, non-represented professional and technical unit, as well as its police and fire personnel for similar raises ahead of the expiration of their contracts on June 30. Police received an additional 1% annually.
Carlos Rubio, president of Teamsters Local 911, appeared before the City Council on Dec. 17. About two dozen employees represented by the union stood up when asked to at the start of his remarks.
“I’m not here to negotiate from here because obviously three minutes are not enough, but I’m here to recommit our commitment to the city of Fountain Valley, to work with City Manager [Maggie] Le and to get this done,” Rubio commented on what he called a “stalemate” in the negotiations.
“It is unfortunate that we’re going to be going into the holidays without a contract for our three units, which are the municipal employees, the professional and technical employees, and the general employees,” he continued. “We’re here to partner, we’re here to serve in this community, we’re here to develop the quality of life and continue that for many years to come. We understand fiscal stability, … but at the same time, we believe in investment and the investment in your employees.”
Fountain Valley has not experienced a disruption to city services due to the impasse.
Laura Drottz Kalty of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, representing the city in the labor talks, said that while there has been no progress of late, both parties have indicated that they are agreeable to go to mediation.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors Tuesday voted unanimously in favor of the agreement, which put an end to a lengthy negotiating process that spanned more than two years.
Mile Square Regional Park — enclosed by Brookhurst Street, Edinger Avenue, Euclid Street and Warner Avenue — was passed on from the U.S. government to the county via a quitclaim deed that dictated the space should be preserved for public park and recreational use.
As part of the agreement, the county leased a portion of the park to the city of Fountain Valley for 50 years. The lease could be extended for additional periods of 50 years, provided that the city developed its portion of the land for park and recreational purposes.
The rent-free lease originated on March 28, 1973, for an initial 55 acres of the 640-acre parcel, although it was amended to expand to an estimated 78 acres on Feb. 15, 2000. Fountain Valley Sports Park will now comprise roughly 94 acres in total. A staff report said the additional acreage will come from within a 93-acre golf course expansion area along the border of the city-operated parcel.
Rob Frizzelle, the city’s director of community services, spoke before the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, calling Mile Square Regional Park and Fountain Valley Sports Park the “fabric of our community.”
The Fountain Valley City Council approved the allocation of funds for a 16-acre expansion of Fountain Valley Sports Park
Board of Supervisors will have the final approval
Supervisor Janet Nguyen thanked those involved in the negotiations ahead of the vote
“This park is very utilized throughout the year
whether it’s the county side or the city side.”
Opportunities for further public input will come during the city’s parks master planning process
Some ideas have already come to the forefront
“We have frequently heard from our residents the need for independent
active recreational needs such as dog parks
more pickleball — there is always a need for more pickleball — as well as reservable event venues and sports fields,” Frizzelle said
“Through our collaboration with the county and O.C
we are excited to provide this opportunity to our current and future community.”
The ability to bring more offerings to the community also has the potential to bring more revenue to Fountain Valley, City Manager Maggie Le said. In a phone interview on Wednesday, she said community input has revealed a desire to have more space for banquets and meetings.
A proposal that included a 14.6-acre expansion of the city’s portion of the park received City Council approval on Nov. 19, but the item came back to the panel on Feb. 18. The council allocated $121,000 in alternative park funds for an additional 1.6 acres, which could provide parking for new amenities put on the site. The funds covered infrastructure relocation and site improvements made by the county as part of a rehabilitation project.
“We know the Fountain Valley Sports Park is kind of like our downtown,” Le said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to have a gathering place and build upon that, and continue to make it as a regional park that everyone can come to Fountain Valley and experience the opportunity — also, the growing restaurants that we are attracting. Ideally, our goal is to make it a foodie community, as well, with the additional opportunity for all. … That would help us from a revenue standpoint.”
Carbajal, a 27-year-old resident of Orange, has spent the past eight years partnering with the nonprofit Make-A-Wish to help others realize their dreams.
Her community service initiative, “A Smile for a Child,” was inspired by two childhood friends she identified as Rebecca and Jonathan, both of whom she said were “Wish Kids who unfortunately never made it to their wish day.” She had grown up with both in North Hollywood.
“Deep down, I knew that there were so many other kids who were also in their shoes,” Carbajal said. “I made it my ultimate goal in life to just grant as many wishes in my life as I can, and so far, I’ve granted 24 wishes. I’ve been part of the Make-A-Wish Orange County and Los Angeles chapters for a combination of eight years.”
As the winner of the crown at the Miss Fountain Valley competition, which was held on Feb. 2 at the Saigon Grand Center, Carbajal was awarded a $5,000 scholarship. She also received a diamond pendant from Mimi’s Jewelry, a Fountain Valley-based jeweler.
“It’s very exciting to be able to close my chapter with an organization that’s really dedicated to embracing and empowering women,” said Carbajal, who said she performed “Over the Rainbow” on the ukulele for the talent portion of the competition.
A CSU San Bernardino graduate with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, Carbajal now works locally as a digital fundraising coordinator at PBS SoCal in Costa Mesa.
“I’ve learned a lot about not just the public media aspect, but the value of production and of service when it comes to quality content,” Carbajal said of her job. “I think my goal is to be able to go and get my master’s [degree] in business analytics or in post production.
“I do eventually want to become a creative director for PBS Kids. That’s always been my goal, to just do storytelling in a children’s programming world, so I think if I can get there — and this scholarship will definitely lead me to my first footsteps into returning back to university — I’m excited to see what my next couple years are going to look like.”
Participation in pageants had also been a part of early life for Carbajal’s mother, Bolena. Carbajal said she felt that pageants had their benefits in building confidence and providing opportunities for one to learn about stage presence.
Carbajal, who speaks English, Spanish and the indigenous Mayan language Mam, is also helping others find their voice.
“I actually host public speaking and mentoring workshops across California,” Carbajal said. “I actually go to a native reservation in New Mexico. It’s called the Zuni Pueblo, and I teach children there, ages 7 to 12, on how to be able to build confidence skills. Also, public speaking skills because a lot of these kids are very involved with their governor and with their council. … I help them pretty much prep for speeches and for presentations.”
For the first time, the pageant also awarded a crown for Miss Fountain Valley Teen, the title going to Huntington Beach High senior Laurel Brookhyser.
Pageant honorees were recognized by the Fountain Valley City Council on Tuesday. When given the floor to talk about her platform, Brookhyser, who is also a musical theater major and a dance minor at the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts, said she plans to make the arts more accessible.
Brookhyser, who showcased her vocal performance skills in the competition, received a $500 scholarship. Mimi’s Jewelry gifted her a silver crown necklace.
Carbajal and Brookhyser will both compete in the Miss California event in Visalia in June, which will serve as a preliminary to the Miss America pageant.
“My community service initiative through Miss America is ‘Art for the Heart,’” Brookhyser told the council. “It’s promoting arts education for underserved communities who may not have the access to arts education that we do here.”
Lauren Worley earned first runner-up honors in the Miss Fountain Valley competition, taking home a $1,000 scholarship. She is a business administration major at Mount Saint Mary’s University.
Britney Lam, a graduate of Concordia University, and Isabel Tuman, who attends Golden West College, were named second and third runner-up, respectively.
Addison Phan of Fountain Valley High was the first runner-up in the teen competition.
Print Residents across Fountain Valley shared in spreading holiday cheer by going all out in decorating their houses and front yards
The first word on the contest dropped during the city’s tree-lighting ceremony on Dec
That’s when Mayor Ted Bui said he wanted to bring back an old tradition — festive sightseeing during the holiday season
Fountain Valley has been known as a city during the holiday festivities
people will come from different cit[ies] to go look at the house[s] that’s been decorated throughout the holidays,” Bui said
“I just want to bring back that tradition to Fountain Valley — but not to a particular neighborhood but throughout the entire city.”
Participation across town was a point of emphasis
so as not to create an adverse effect of traffic congestion
The first-place winner of the Fountain Valley holiday decoration contest at 8803 Swallow Avenue in Fountain Valley on Sunday
(James Carbone) Local businesses came forth to put up prize money for the top three houses and sponsor tables that provided refreshments during a viewing event on Sunday evening
surveyed the 16 competing houses on Thursday
the top 10 houses were notified that they were being recognized
The second-place winner of the Fountain Valley holiday decoration contest at 8752 Hudson River Circle on Sunday
(James Carbone) “It’s such a great feeling,” Bui said
talking about what they’re going to do to design their house
… It’s really a way to pull the community together
The first-place prize went to 8803 Swallow Avenue
which received $1,000 from Do Builder & Design
The Fountain Valley High Troubadors also performed Christmas carols outside the house
The third-place winner of the Fountain Valley holiday decoration contest at 16321 Rosewood Street on Sunday
(James Carbone) “We had 16 contestants
and so we were tasked with going out to find … the most beautiful
the most elaborate decorations,” said Gary Forman
“That was our task to drive by each house and evaluate each one and pick it based on what we thought were the best-looking and the best-dressed properties.”
Councilman Glenn Grandis wore a Christmas sweater with flickering lights to the festivities
while Councilman Patrick Harper’s holiday-themed sweater displayed a wrapped gift across its front
(James Carbone) Forman said the first-place house was having a party on the night it was announced as the winner
“What was really strange was they had people coming in,” he said
They had a little hockey rink and all kinds of stuff
It was ironic because all these people were going in and bringing their food and whatever they were bringing to the party
and nobody came out to see — from the homeowners — what was going on
“If I had 13 people walking into my house saying
there’s a bunch of people out front.’ Whether they thought it was just bystanders that were just coming by to admire it
An honoree in the Fountain Valley holiday decoration contest at 9201 Wintergreen Circle on Sunday
(James Carbone) The second-place prize of $750 from FAM Vans went to 8752 Hudson River Circle
and the third-place prize of $500 from Huntington Beach Auto Dealers Assn
Among the houses also mentioned as part of the honor roll
two came from the same street at Wintergreen Circle
An honoree of the Fountain Valley holiday decoration contest at 9233 Wintergreen Circle on Sunday
(James Carbone) Decorative ideas included lights wrapped around palm trees
and candy canes and snowmen on the front lawn
Forman said he believed the contest would draw wider participation if it returned
“I believe that from what the community has seen
An honoree of the Fountain Valley holiday decoration contest at 9233 Wintergreen Circle on Sunday. (James Carbone) NewsFountain Valley Andrew Turner Follow Us
Print The Halloween costume was simple enough
but it certainly fit 11-year-old Anthony Alonso’s mood
The UCI Health - Fountain Valley pediatric patient wore Los Angeles Dodgers gear from head to toe for Thursday’s 18th annual Pediatric Halloween Parade at the hospital
“I’ve been a Dodger fan my whole life,” Anthony said
“It’s cool how they won the World Series [Wednesday]
has been watching the World Series games in his room in the hospital with his father
goes trick-or-treating during the 18th annual Pediatric Halloween Parade at UCI Health - Fountain Valley Regional Hospital on Thursday
(James Carbone) “We’ve been cheering them on,” Alex Alonso said with a smile
“We had to close the door one day because we weren’t paying attention and we kind of got a little bit loud.”
Enthusiasm was certainly encouraged at the parade
which started inside the pediatric department of the hospital and continued outside
Hospital employees joined with community partners and local firefighters and law enforcement to create a giant party
with each department having its own booth based on a movie and giving the kids goodies that they could pack in a pillow case
Pixar movie characters was the theme for the 18th annual Pediatric Halloween Parade at UCI Health - Fountain Valley on Thursday
(James Carbone) “The kids are so into Halloween,” said Crystal Whitaker
UCI Health - Fountain Valley nursing manager
“They’ve got all of the specifics of their costumes
is one of the most important holidays for them
I’m so glad that we could bring this to them here.”
was dressed as Bo Peep from “Toy Story.” Her costume included two inflatable sheep she carried with her and matching earrings
Guests take pictures with the Halloween-decorated Fountain Valley Police Department’s vehicle during Thursday’s parade
(James Carbone) “It’s really just to distract these patients that are here,” Heitmeyer said of the parade
they’re dealing with a lot of very high-stress
and so this is our way of kind of giving back to them
It’s letting them forget for a minute that they’re a patient
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients also were able to get in on the fun at the hospital, formerly called Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, which joined the UCI Health family earlier this year
Different hospital departments designed costumes for the NICU babies
and the families got to choose which one they wanted
Children dressed in Halloween costumes are ready to go trick-or-treating during Thursday’s 18th annual Pediatric Halloween Parade at UCI Health - Fountain Valley
(James Carbone) Anthony’s cough has improved
He hoped to go home from the pediatric department on Thursday night or Friday
I started seeing all of these characters outside,” Alex Alonso said
Anthony Alonso, 11, takes part in the 18th annual Pediatric Halloween Parade at UCI Health - Fountain Valley on Thursday. (James Carbone) NewsFountain Valley Matt Szabo Follow Us
Matt Szabo covers the city of Huntington Beach and sports for the Daily Pilot. A Southern California native and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate, he has been working for L.A. Times Community News since 2006 and still loves talking to people about their hopes and dreams.
The City Council approved a municipal code amendment providing definitions for several modes of transportation and outlining regulations against unsafe riding. The ordinance concerned e-bikes, mopeds, motor-driven cycles and pocket bikes.
The changes largely mirrored those in place for other vehicles in the municipal code and the California Vehicle Code, including riding against the flow of traffic, following the direction of posted signs, and speed-related safety issues.
The council also passed an ordinance to include e-bikes, mopeds, and other forms of electrical and motorized transportation among the list of prohibited vehicles in city parks.
“In the future, the [police] department will hold mandatory training sessions for e-bike riders, and parents, who plan to ride e-bikes to school in Fountain Valley,” Police Sgt. Brian Mosher said. “Upon completing the training, students will be issued a permit to ride their e-bikes to school. I think this is very important. This will make sure that each of them has been trained.”
Officials Tuesday supported rules to help curb unsafe speeds and risky behaviors associated with e-bikes, which assist the mobility challenged but have become problematic for pedestrians and motorists.
Vice Mayor Ted Bui asked how an officer would know if a rider had completed the training.
“We will have some sort of record keeping that will be on our side of knowing who’s had the training, and the parents will be present during these,” Mosher added. “We’re following suit of the other agencies that are doing the same thing, so we want to make sure that everybody understands that these bikes are dangerous.
“I don’t think that parents know when they’re spending $5,000 on some of these bikes how dangerous it is and the increasing injuries that we’ve been having associated with these bikes.”
Mosher added that the police department would be working with schools on educational programs and training events.
“These guys are cutting across traffic, driving on the wrong side of the road, cutting people off,” resident Lyle Scheppele said. “... I really think what the city is doing is the right answer, and to get them educated. Every time I turn a corner, I’m expecting to see an e-bike cut me off. I don’t want to be the guy that hits a kid, and I don’t think anybody else does, either.”
The fully-burdened cost of a school resource officer annually is $200,440, city officials said. The school district will cover $152,335 (76%) of the cost for the position, with the city accounting for the rest through the police department’s personnel allocations budget.
Police Captain Steve DeSantis said the cost-sharing agreement reflects service performed during the regular school year only.
Los Amigos High, along with Monroe, Northcutt and Allen elementary schools, will be the campuses served through the agreement, which was approved by the City Council on Tuesday. The school resource officer program will go into effect Oct. 2, DeSantis said.
Officer Danielle Fermin will serve as the school resource officer. With three additional school districts within the city limits, Fermin would be able to assist in the event of an emergency, she said.
“The plan going forward, when staffing permits, is to obtain another personnel allocation for an additional SRO going forward,” DeSantis said.
Mayor Glenn Grandis, who supported the move and said he thinks the agreement is “great,” also added the city should seek cost-sharing agreements for school resource officer programs with the other school districts in Fountain Valley.
“We can’t have a cost-sharing agreement with just one of the school districts,” Grandis said. “We have to then go to Fountain Valley School District, the Huntington Beach Union High School District, [and] Ocean View School District. If we’re going to charge Garden Grove, we have to charge the other school districts, as well, is my opinion.”
The series of violent incidents began shortly before 11 a.m. near Kazuo Masuda Middle School, where the suspect unsuccessfully attempted to get into the car of a woman parked there, Fountain Valley police Sgt. Henry Hsu said. A witness who saw the suspect called police.
The suspect ran off and officers tracked him down as one chased him on foot while his partner remained in the squad car, Hsu said.
The suspect attacked the officer in her squad car as she was idling in the 17300 block of San Mateo Street, Hsu said. It’s unclear if she got out or he dragged her out.
But during the scuffle he got a gun, and it may have been her service revolver or one he already had on him, Hsu said.
The squad car rolled into a U.S. Postal Service van, frightening the postal worker, Hsu said.
The suspect brandished a gun, prompting the partner of the officer who was attacked to open fire on the suspect in the police car, Hsu said. The suspect tumbled out of the car, and first responders attempted to aid him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
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He still ranks third in the CIF Southern Section record books for three-pointers made in a career (409) and a season (149).
But for all the accomplishments, he never got a chance to play against Mater Dei, the team he considers the gold standard of Southern California basketball.
Holmes is now a first-year head coach at Fountain Valley, and his Barons got that chance on Wednesday night in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs.
Fountain Valley’s Aaron De Santiago (24) drives to the basket against Mater Dei on Wednesday night. (James Carbone) “They had an opportunity to test themselves against the best, and myself against [Monarchs coach Gary] McKnight, an unbelievable coach who’s been doing it for a really long time,” Holmes said.
The Barons battled until the very end, but No. 3-seeded Mater Dei earned a 66-57 win in its home gym.
Fountain Valley finishes its season 19-10 despite the efforts of senior guard Aaron De Santiago, who led all scorers Wednesday night with 27 points. That total included five three-pointers, adding to his own Orange County-best total of 94 triples.
“People can say it’s a tough draw, but we came into it and we knew we had a chance,” De Santiago said. “We knew they were beatable. If we hit a couple of shots here and there, we’re back in it for sure. We got the looks, we just didn’t make them tonight. We did everything we could. I love these guys. It was definitely a good season, for sure.”
Fountain Valley’s Devin Payne (22) looks for an open player against Mater Dei on Wednesday night. (James Carbone) Blake Davidson led a balanced Mater Dei attack with 19 points, one of four Monarchs in double figures. Demarcus Henry added 17 points. Luke Barnett scored 13 and Malloy Smith, the son of NBA personality Kenny Smith, added 11 points.
Davidson, a senior who is 6-foot-9, scored most of his points close to the basket.
“At just about every position, they had several inches on us,” Holmes said with a smile. “I think the guys were ready for the challenge and the opportunity to play a storied program, a well-coached program. They definitely answered our call early, which was great. We just didn’t have enough in us to see it through.”
Senior point guard Devin Payne scored nine of his 13 points in the first quarter, helping Fountain Valley take a 16-10 lead.
Fountain Valley’s Kaden Yee (34) drives to the basket against Mater Dei on Wednesday night. (James Carbone) After a rare four-point play from De Santiago, the hosts closed the second quarter on a 10-1 run to take a 33-28 halftime advantage.
Still, Fountain Valley kept its deficit to single digits until the latter stages of the fourth quarter.
Holmes said the season turned when Fountain Valley rallied from a 21-point third quarter deficit to stun Newport Harbor on the road 62-58 in a Sunset League game on Jan. 22. The Barons’ only loss in league after that was a two-point defeat against undefeated league champion Los Alamitos, and they finished tied for third in the highly competitive league.
“We became a more physical team, and I think we really started to trust each other,” Holmes said. “That boded well in that second half of league, where we made a great run.”
Fountain Valley’s Aaron De Santiago (24) yells out after scoring and getting the foul against Mater Dei on Wednesday. (James Carbone) Also in the CIF Southern Section boys’ basketball playoffs Wednesday:
Crespi 90, Edison 54: The Chargers (17-11) fell on the road to the top-seeded Celts in a Division 1 first-round game.
Corona del Mar 70, Rancho Cucamonga 66: The Sea Kings pulled off an upset road win over the No. 4 seed in Division 1.
CdM (21-8) hosts Rolling Hills Prep in the second round Friday.
Pacifica Christian Orange County 62, Saugus 41: EJ Spillman had 22 points for the Tritons in the Division 2AA first-round game on the road.
Hudson Reynolds added 17 points for Pacifica Christian (20-7), which hosts Newport Harbor in an all-Newport Beach second-round game Friday night.
Newport Harbor 66, South Pasadena 64: Gavin Guy hit the game-winning shot to lift the Sailors in the Division 2AA first-round game at home.
Jack Berry scored 24 points and Owen Saukkola added 22 points for Newport Harbor (18-11), which plays at Pacifica Christian on Friday.
Sage Hill 44, Oakwood 39: The Lightning earned a close win in their Division 3AA opener at home.
Sage Hill plays at West Torrance in the second round Friday.
Calvary Baptist 79, Costa Mesa 53: The Mustangs (10-18) lost at home in a Division 4AA first-round game.
Newport Christian 71, California School for the Deaf 61: The Seahawks (17-4) won their Division 4A opener on the road and host Hacienda Heights Wilson in the second round Friday.
Sports
Shortly thereafter, the latter ceded the chair at the center of the dais, as Bui was appointed for his first mayoral term by a unanimous vote of council members.
Councilman Jim Cunneen received the full support of the five-person panel to become vice mayor.
Bui sought to show support for the work of city staff and first responders in his initial remarks as mayor. He also expressed appreciation for the example of leadership provided by Grandis during his term as mayor, noting a desire to continue a previously stated focus on cultural diversity.
“The demographics of the city has changed, and it is important that we need to hear everyone because we are policymakers,” Bui said before a full house inside the council chambers on Tuesday night. “It is so important that we hear everyone, hear their concerns, hear their visions, see what the visions are, and work with that.”
Mayor Glenn Grandis and Vice Mayor Ted Bui have strong leads in their reelection bids for a second term on the Fountain Valley City Council
Bui added that he wants to work closely with the Chamber of Commerce in the upcoming year
“I want to be working with them very closely on that
and possibly making policy that would enhance the business[es]
“My commitment to Fountain Valley will never waver,” Grandis said. “This city will always be my home, and I look forward to continuing to serve and support our community in every way that I can.”
Print Fountain Valley rolled out the star power in its State of the City luncheon
with guests gaining inspiration from a couple of decorated athletes at the Saigon Grand Center during the event on March 6
a two-time gold medalist and three-time Olympic qualifier
set those in the room on course to achieve their own goals by regaling the attendees with her own motivational story
She remembered qualifying for the Sydney Olympics at the age of 17 as an alternate
then longing for her chance to perform on the big stage
The desire to win a gold medal for herself and for her country dominated her thought process
so much so she turned it into an acronym that would send her down that path
Olympic gold medalist and keynote speaker Monique Henderson shares her experience with the national team for track and field
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer) GOLD
representing “goals and goal-setting,” “obstacles,” “listening and learning,” and “drive and determination,” became the theme of the afternoon as the city looked forward to the business ahead
but it’s going to be up to you to kind of see it through all the way to the end,” she said
Henderson said she followed those principles in a journey that would see her go on to win Olympic gold medals in Athens and Beijing as a member of the American 1,600-meter relay team
Moderator and Mayor Ted Bui
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer) To drive home the point that the city is working toward its own goals
a video displayed the City Council dressed in athletic gear — including red
white and blue headbands — while engaging in boxing
Additionally, the council passed ordinances regulating sober living homes and operating electric bicycles
Fountain Valley Mayor Ted Bui addresses the crowd at the State of the City luncheon at the Saigon Grand Center. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) The Hyundai Hope on Wheels 5K saw record participation
In the video, Mayor Ted Bui also made mention of the recent agreement with the County of Orange for a 16-acre expansion of the city’s portion of Mile Square Park
Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen said that Bui reached out to her after the council had previously approved a motion for a 14.6-acre expansion for Fountain Valley Sports Park in November
Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen speaks during the Fountain Valley State of the City luncheon
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “You got to give a big round of applause to your mayor for being aggressive
for not just accepting and being able to work with his colleagues to agree with the county to get now 16 extra acres,” Nguyen said
“We’re adding two more acres to Mile Square Park for the city side for the next 50 years.”
performances and speeches taking place on a podium that featured oversized
white letters that spelled “FV.” The lighting within the letters made them stand out
The Fountain Valley High pep squad and drum line provided entertainment
Members of the Fountain Valley High School drum line perform during the Fountain Valley State of the City luncheon
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Katelyn Nguyen
who learned karate at the Boys & Girls Club of Huntington Valley and now attends Vista View Middle School
along with matching contributions from several community groups
helped her raise more than $3,000 to go toward travel for an international competition
“This journey will not only be an amazing opportunity to improve my skills and represent my country on an international stage
but it is my chance to inspire young girls,” said Nguyen
who has been named to the junior national team to compete in an International School Sport Federation event in Serbia
“My goal is to break the barriers and challenge the stereotypes
proving that girls belong in all areas of sports
so that every girl can feel confident and stand proud and tall on and off the tatami.”
Members of the Fountain Valley High School drum line perform during the Fountain Valley State of the City luncheon. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) NewsFountain Valley Andrew Turner Follow Us
Print The Fountain Valley City Council appears as though it will remain in status quo
as voters backed the incumbents in the race for two seats on the dais
Vice Mayor Ted Bui paced the vote-getters with 36.14% of the ballots so far counted at 11,674
as updated by the Orange County Registrar of Voters on Thursday evening
Mayor Glenn Grandis was also on track to defend his seat on the five-person governing body
Bui claimed victory in his reelection campaign in a statement released on social media on Wednesday
Fountain Valley Vice Mayor Ted Bui during the Fountain Valley City Council candidates forum at Fountain Valley City Hall on Sept
(James Carbone) “I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence that the residents of Fountain Valley have placed in me to represent the values that we all hold so dear,” Bui said
we will keep our community clean and safe for all residents.”
In a phone interview Thursday, Bui said that sober living homes remain an area of concern for the community. The city passed an ordinance for the regulation of such group homes earlier this year, including permit requirements and restrictions on the proximity of one sober living home to another.
“We put in a sober living ordinance, but we have not, per se, enforced it because we want to give the operator time to make the adjustment,” Bui said. “Part of the adjustment that we would like for them to do is, first of all, apply for a permit through the city, so we know that they are operating as such. … Not every sober living home is a bad operator, but we want the good operators to step forward, and that’s one step toward good stewardship is [to] make sure that you get a permit.”
Grandis said he felt steps were taken to emphasize transparent local government during his mayoral term, including the implementation of a “Mayor’s Message” podcast and community outreach through town hall meetings.
Fountain Valley Mayor Glenn Grandis during the Fountain Valley City Council candidates forum on Sept. 26. (James Carbone) During the campaign, Grandis said public safety was a primary concern he heard voiced by residents, including issues related to homelessness and sober-living homes.
“The biggest issues facing our city coming forward, the three top ones, are homelessness, sober-living homes and potential development of large parcels in our city,” Grandis said. “Those are the three big issues that’ll be facing us in the next four years.”
Four candidates had entered the race for the two available City Council seats this election cycle. As of Thursday evening, Alicia “Rudy” Huebner had secured 5,665 votes, or 17.54%, while Katy Wright had received 4,326 votes, 13.39%.
For as long as he could remember, the draw to band and to the performing arts had been about the music itself.
Playing music is an artistic expression of oneself. Take Ludovice, for example, who still finds time to play “Star Wars” sheet music during his side sessions.
What Ludovice, 17 — now a senior and a section leader at Fountain Valley High — did not realize was how much being part of the school band would come to be defined by the collective experience.
Color guard members Chloe Vu, Vera Zachary and Ava Ly, from left, of the Fountain Valley Royal Regiment enjoy a laugh as they remember the moments receiving the 2024 plaques in the school’s band room on Wednesday. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “It’s the connection you have with everyone in the band,” Ludovice said. “That is what you remember.”
The class of 2026 is the first to experience four full seasons of marching band since the coronavirus pandemic. The Royal Regiment, as the band is called at Fountain Valley High, has been a top performer.
Fountain Valley had its crowning moment when it won a 27-team competition for the Division 3A title in the California State Band Championships Southern California Division on Nov. 16 at Capistrano Valley High in Mission Viejo.
“At first, it was a feeling of disbelief because for all of high school, we’ve come short, second place two years in a row to being division champions,” Ludovice said. “After my upperclassmen graduated, when I came into a position of leadership, all I wanted to do was make it up for them and win a division championship before I graduated.”
Members of the Fountain Valley Royal Regiment pose for a group picture in the school’s band room on Wednesday. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) The Royal Regiment then placed second to Delano Cesar E. Chavez in the Division 1-3 combined state finals the following week at Bolsa Grande High in Garden Grove.
Among the 16-team field for bands with 70 members or less, half the competing schools were from Orange County — Aliso Niguel, Capistrano Valley, Laguna Hills, Rancho Alamitos, La Quinta, Bolsa Grande and Westminster.
State champion Woodbridge headed another five county teams in the Division 4-6 finals, a group that also included El Toro, La Habra, Sunny Hills and Marina.
Haruka Koyama and Thomas Hartman are the current drum majors for the Royal Regiment. The field show was “Appassionata,” and last year’s was “Radiance,” both of which Jackson Lai, the school’s instrumental music director, has played a big part in writing.
Plaques and awards from the 2024 field season for the Fountain Valley Royal Regiment on display in the school’s band room. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Sophomore Avé Acosta, 16, had two older sisters in color guard who helped shape her path. She recalls pretending to make her own shows in her room, using brooms to replicate flags.
“Appassionata” was a four-movement show, but Acosta especially felt an element of empowerment when performing with the instrumental music used in one of singer Adele’s songs playing behind her.
“We were told that it was supposed to be like painting,” Acosta said. “We were painting, and we used orange silks, and color guard was supposed to represent the fire. During our ballad, we used the big, blue swing flags to Adele’s ‘Set Fire to the Rain.’ … When the trumpets went blaring behind us, we’re like, ‘Oh yeah. Yeah, we know what we’re doing.’”
The coronavirus pandemic brought its own set of challenges for marching bands. Competition division requirements were reduced concerning the number of members.
A unique participation tiki trophy given to the Fountain Valley Royal Regiment from a Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Lai has relied on a culture of encouragement and recognition to bring about enthusiasm within the program. A state divisional title should help reverse a trend of declining numbers.
“Hopefully, more and more people join, now that the program is gaining more traction again,” Ludovice said.
“We have to be positive and motivate them and encourage them to be able to do it,” Lai added. “One thing I found that has been a challenge is that attention spans have been just a hair shorter [since the pandemic]. … It does seem a little frivolous that we have to encourage the students to do something that they should come in wanting to do, but I think it’s still an art form that needs to be nurtured and developed.
“As teachers, we have to sort of propel that a lot more. I think COVID definitely didn’t help with the online learning, where if a student checks out, they just turn off their camera and go take a nap. It’s slowly trickling away, but I do feel like the remnants of it have been quite everlasting these past few years.”
Members of the Fountain Valley Royal Regiment pose in front of the banner for winning the CSBC Division 3A title. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Band class has been making an early impression on its newcomers. Percussion captain Ema Terada, 17, a junior marimba player who is in charge of the front ensemble, said a core memory came in her freshman year.
“I never did band in middle school, nor did I do a sport, so I didn’t know what it felt like to be with so many people and have something that we all work for,” Terada said. “I remember after we performed our final show, we have a tradition called ‘senior circle,’ where we group up and light a candle, and all the seniors light all the underclassmen’s candles.”
Enzo Oviedo, 17, a junior percussionist who plays bass drum, said it is a moment that has moved him to tears.
“They basically say, ‘This is my spark. I pass it on to you,’” Oviedo said. “It’s really emotional. That is probably my favorite memory.”
Members of the Fountain Valley Royal Regiment, including instrumental music director Jackson Lai, far left with banner. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Freshman Taylor Lam, 15, had her interest captured by color guard just before high school, and that summer, she found herself marching with the Barons in their annual appearance at the Fourth of July parade in Huntington Beach.
“It was actually when I was transitioning from eighth grade into high school,” Lam said of her introduction. “They had this assembly for students to go to [and] check out different sports. Color guard was there to put on a performance, and when I sat down and I watched them, that was when I truly realized that color guard is something that I want to be a part of.
“I just saw the way the flags spun around, the different colors of the silks, how the rifles would spin around in the air, and how the catches were so clean. I thought that’s something I would like to put effort into.”
The Royal Regiment also played in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade on Dec. 7, and Lai intends to take the band to Washington, D.C. next year to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in the nation’s capital.
“It helps students really connect the dots as to why we perform music and the importance of music in history,” Lai said. “With all of the experiences that we’re giving the students, I think that they’re able to connect the dots. They’re able to go to Pearl Harbor and understand all the sacrifices that were made, so that they can have this experience.
“In a way, they can give back through their music performance, to honor those that have come before us, those that have sacrificed their lives for us all to be here.”
Nine individual champions out of 11 finalists was the exclamation point that the Barons put on a momentous weekend in their home gym, propelling them into the state qualification stage.
A grand total of 13 boys’ wrestlers advanced on to the CIF Masters Meet, taking place Saturday at Sonora High. The top five finishers in each bracket — a blue and a gold division for a total of 10 in each weight class — move on to the state meet, held Feb. 27 through March 1 in Bakersfield.
Fountain Valley’s Brady Mercer wrestles Daniel Baeza of San Dimas in the 132-pound final. (James Carbone) Hunter Jauregui, named the lower-weight MVP of the CIF finals meet after pinning his way through the 113-pound bracket, led the army of Barons to earn glory at home.
Fountain Valley claimed 13 individual Sunset League titles in claiming its 14th consecutive league championship this season. The Barons have won six team titles in the CIF individual wrestling championships since 2015, including five of the last six they have competed in.
“It means everything, but I think that we need to get back to work because not all 14 guys won,” Jauregui said. “That was our goal, definitely, and I think that we need to get back to work, and we need to win Masters this year. That was our goal. We fell short last year.”
Fountain Valley’s Liam Qureshi watches his twin brother Chris Qureshi wrestle Bishop Amat’s Benicio Thome in the 106-pound final. (James Carbone) Twins Chris Qureshi (106) and Liam Qureshi (120) were followed by Brady Mercer (132), Niko Valenzuela (150), Mikel David Uyemora (157), Christian Stoeber (165), Rocky Windrath (175) and Primo Catalano (190) in having their hand raised in victory in the finals.
“In the [wrestling] room, it’s been hard, but it all pays out in the end,” Stoeber said.
Fountain Valley topped the team standings 372-233.5 over Lakewood Mayfair. Newport Harbor placed third with 145.5 points.
Fountain Valley’s Mikel David Uyemora wrestles Newport Harbor’s Anthony Manno in the 157-pound final. (James Carbone) Mercer took a business-like approach in his comments after the finals.
“We’re not going to get too stoked over this,” Mercer said. “We have bigger goals, and we’re going to keep this as long as we can keep the streak going. We’re going to just keep building on it and keep this legacy going.”
It sent a jolt through the crowd when Mayfair’s Kayden Cartee pinned Khale McDonnell, the top-seeded Baron and an Oregon State commit, in the 215-pound final.
Mayfair’s Kayden Cartee celebrates after winning his match against Fountain Valley’s Khale McDonnell in the 215-pound final. (James Carbone) “I feel like I’m a very likable person,” Cartee said of the crowd reaction. “I get that a lot.”
Jauregui said he felt McDonnell would bounce back, saying, “I’ve never met someone that works as hard as Khale.”
“Obviously, it was an expectation that he was going to win this match, and he didn’t, but I think it’s going to add more fuel to the fire,” Jauregui added. “It’s just going to be an extra thing. When he’s going on that extra rep, he needs that one last push to just give it his all, I think he’ll remember this and that’ll get him through that.”
Fountain Valley’s Khale McDonnell wrestles Mayfair’s Kayden Cartee in the 215-pound final. (James Carbone) Newport Harbor’s Demian Pryima also won a title at 144 pounds, while Anthony Manno (157) and Asa Goff (190) were finalists for the Sailors.
“It’s crazy to think my freshman year, I started as a heavyweight,” Goff said. “I was 280 pounds. Now I’m wrestling 190. There were three freshmen on varsity — me, Ant and Demian. I always had this dream of me, Ant and Demian always being on the podiums every tournament.
“They were on varsity as freshmen because they were good. I was on it because we didn’t have a heavyweight. My record my freshman year was like 1-30. I had one win on varsity the entire year, just got beat over and over again, but I kept wrestling. Now, I feel proud that I’m able to compete on the level with these guys. I’m able to stand on the podium with them.”
Fountain Valley’s Primo Catalano wrestles Newport Harbor’s Asa Goff in the 190-pound final. (James Carbone) Marina’s Ridge Lancaster (175), who battled back from an ankle injury to wrestle late in the season, rounded out the local finalists. He’s glad to have the season continue.
“I’m definitely excited for that,” Lancaster said. “I think that Masters will definitely be a little bit different because it’s a smaller bracket. There’s more CIF placers there, and there’s more people I haven’t seen before, but I’m definitely excited to wrestle there.”
Fountain Valley’s Rocky Windrath tries to pin Marina’s Ridge Lancaster in the 175-pound final. (James Carbone) CIF Southern Section Coastal Division finals
1. Fountain Valley 372; 2. Mayfair 233.5; 3. Newport Harbor 145.5; 4. San Dimas 144; 5. Alta Loma 126.5; 6. Warren 118; 7. Eisenhower 114.5; 8. Chaminade 109.5; 9. Alemany 96.5; 10. Los Alamitos 94; 17. Huntington Beach 75; 20. Corona del Mar 58.5; 21. Marina 57; 33. Edison 17.5
106 — Chris Qureshi (Fountain Valley) dec. Benicio Thome (Bishop Amat), 7-1.
113 — Hunter Jauregui (Fountain Valley) pins Ethan Rodriguez (San Dimas), 2:46.
120 — Liam Qureshi (Fountain Valley) dec. Yousef Jubrail (Chaminade), 14-10.
126 — Micah Wegman (Calabasas) dec. Mekhi Yanthis (Los Alamitos), 8-6.
132 — Brady Mercer (Fountain Valley) pins Daniel Baeza (San Dimas), 4:47.
138 — Mathius Garza (Eisenhower) dec. Vinnie Gutierrez (Fountain Valley), 6-4.
144 — Demian Pryima (Newport Harbor) inj. Michael Kase (Chaminade)
150 — Niko Valenzuela (Fountain Valley) tech. fall Adam Salas (Los Alamitos), 16-1.
157 — Mikel David Uyemora (Fountain Valley) dec. Anthony Manno (Newport Harbor), 11-6.
165 — Christian Stoeber (Fountain Valley) tech. fall Rex Topete (South Hills), 19-4.
175 — Rocky Windrath (Fountain Valley) tech fall. Ridge Lancaster (Marina), 16-0.
190 — Primo Catalano (Fountain Valley) pins Asa Goff (Newport Harbor), 3:30.
215 — Kayden Cartee (Mayfair) pins Khale McDonnell (Fountain Valley), 3:32.
285 — Jerry Carlos (Eisenhower) pins Jonathan Letona (Mayfair), 1:03.
Print A 34-year-old Fountain Valley man is facing a charge of second-degree robbery
after he allegedly held up a Slater Avenue bank by passing a note to the teller indicating he had a gun
Benjamin Michael Kelleher pleaded not guilty to the felony charge during an Oct
four days after officers located him in a residence and seized an undisclosed amount of cash found in his possession
according to a news release issued Tuesday
21 at a Wells Fargo bank at 10060 Slater Ave.
where police were called to the scene by employees
Kelleher allegedly handed a stick-up note to the teller
Fountain Valley police recovered an undisclosed amount of small-denomination bills they believe were stolen during an Oct
(Courtesy of the Fountain Valley Police Department) Fountain Valley police Detective Sgt
Bill Hughes said officers reviewed the bank’s security camera footage and chanced upon Kelleher three days later after receiving a call for service regarding a disturbance at an apartment complex on the 10400 block of Slater Avenue
roughly half a mile away from the scene of the robbery
“Officers arrived and recognized him from the robbery days prior,” he said
Kelleher was detained without incident and booked into custody
Investigators recovered several small-denomination bills they believe may have been taken from the bank
but Hughes said Tuesday no firearms were recovered from Kelleher’s apartment
Kelleher is currently being held in Orange County’s Theo Lacy facility
according to an online inmate locator maintained by the sheriff’s department
His next scheduled court hearing was expected to take place Wednesday
The Fountain Valley man was previously arrested in 2019 for driving under the influence of drugs
and in March 2021 was sentenced to three years probation
community service and a program for first-time offenders
A Fountain Valley police arrest log also indicates Kelleher was arrested on December 18
Hughes confirmed Tuesday the district attorney’s office did not file charges in that incident
An investigation into the bank robbery is still pending. Anyone who may have information about the suspect or incident is encouraged to contact Fountain Valley Police Det. Ivan Arce at ivan.arce@fountainvalley.gov.
Sara Cardine covers the city of Costa Mesa for the Daily Pilot. She comes from the La Cañada Valley Sun, where she spent six years as the news reporter covering La Cañada Flintridge and recently received a first-place Public Service Journalism award from the California News Publishers Assn. She’s also worked at the Pasadena Weekly, Stockton Record and Lodi-News Sentinel, which instilled in her a love for community news. (714) 966-4627
Print A high-speed police chase of an arson suspect ended in a fiery
violent rollover crash in Fountain Valley that left a woman dead and the suspect and two other people hospitalized
The collision occurred around 10 p.m. Monday near Ellis Avenue and Magnolia Street, according to the Fountain Valley Police Department.
According to police, the events leading to the pursuit began about 7:30 p.m. Monday, when officers went to a residence in the 18000 block of Arches Court “in reference to an arson that just occurred.”
The fire was extinguished by residents before officers arrived, police said.
“Using investigative resources, officers located the suspect’s unoccupied vehicle, a white Dodge Ram truck, in a parking lot in the 17900 block of Brookhurst [Street] in Fountain Valley,” the police statement said.
“Officers conducted surveillance of the Dodge, and at approximately 10 p.m., the suspect was seen entering the Dodge and drove toward Brookhurst Street,” the statement continued.
“Upon seeing marked police cars closing in, the suspect fled southbound Brookhurst at a high rate of speed, and officers initiated a pursuit. The pursuit terminated on Ellis and Magnolia when the Dodge collided with a white BMW X3 in the intersection.”
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Officers arrested 43-year-old Timothy Bradford Cole of Huntington Beach, police said. It was unclear what charges he might face.
“Officers ... rendered medical aid to three occupants in the BMW while awaiting paramedics,” the statement said. “The pursuit traveled less than a mile in the span of less than a minute.
“Preliminary investigation showed during the pursuit, the suspect drove at a high rate of speed against a red traffic light westbound [on] Ellis through Magnolia and collided with the BMW traveling [southbound] on Magnolia,” the statement said.
“The three occupants of the BMW were transported to a local trauma center, and the suspect was transported to a trauma center in Long Beach,” the statement said.
A 25-year-old female passenger from Huntington Beach in the BMW was pronounced dead on the way to the trauma center, according to the police.
Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Matthew Parrish confirmed Tuesday the woman was identified by coroner’s officials as Hong Ngoc Nguyen, a resident of Vietnam who was visiting the U.S. at the time of the incident.
The other two victims were listed in critical and stable condition Tuesday, while Cole was listed in serious condition with non-life-threatening injuries, the release indicated.
Any witnesses or persons with information about the collision are encouraged to call the Fountain Valley Police Department at (714) 593-4485.
Staff writer Sara Cardine contributed to this story.
3:33 p.m. Dec. 3, 2024: This story was updated to reflect the identity of the female victim killed in Monday’s crash, provided by the Orange County coroner’s office.
Hyundai Motor America, which has a headquarters in Fountain Valley, has held the run to raise funds for pediatric cancer research for 26 years. The city of Fountain Valley became a partner of the event in 2022. Since then, participation has skyrocketed.
“While Hyundai has been hosting the run for years, we began our partnership in 2022 with 516 runners,” said Christie Araiza, the community services manager for the city. “In 2024, we were up by 271% with 1,398 runners. … We will continue to work with our community groups. Each year, the goal will be to grow the numbers. We can do that with everyone involved, and we are lucky to have such great organizations in our city.”
A dozen groups that had at least 20 registered runners were in attendance at the City Council meeting Tuesday, where they were recognized and received checks for their organizations. The race took place at Fountain Valley Sports Park on Sept. 28.
“What’s great about this event, it benefits Hyundai Hope on Wheels, and our cause is to help kids fight cancer,” said John Guastaferro, the executive director of Hyundai Hope on Wheels. “It’s a life-saving cause, so with every step along that 5K, you are helping kids who are fighting cancer, but we’re also helping the kids of this community.
“That’s why it’s a collaborative event. The proceeds benefit Hyundai Hope on Wheels, as well as benefiting the local community here in Fountain Valley. … That’s why we consider this one of our most special events throughout the year, which happens in September during Childhood Cancer Awareness month.
Community organizations that came out in big numbers largely featured local schools from the elementary to high school level. The Fountain Valley dance team had 138 runners and received a check for $4,830. The program had the most runners for the second year in a row after it had an event-best 63 runners a year ago.
Courreges Elementary School ($4,200; 120 runners) and Masuda Middle School ($2,520; 72 runners) rounded out the top three participating groups.
Michelle Karajelian, manager of corporate social responsibility and external relations for Hyundai, said the event raised $10,000 for Hyundai Hope on Wheels in support of pediatric cancer research, while $38,455 went back to local community groups.
Elvin Miali served as Fountain Valley police chief from 1986 to 2003. (Courtesy of city of Fountain Valley) Former Police Chief Elvin Miali rememberedThe Fountain Valley police department announced the passing of former Police Chief Elvin Miali last month, and another former police chief remembered a mentor at Tuesday’s proceedings.
Matt Sheppard, who recently retired as chief of the department on July 4, returned to the council chambers to pay tribute to the man that hired him.
“He changed this department from good to great,” Sheppard said of Miali, who died on Nov. 16. “He was a transformative leader, and he was just all about speaking the truth and connecting with the people, and putting the right people in the right positions.
“I was fortunate to walk into his door one day, and he offered me a job. He’s the one that started my career here in Fountain Valley, and I’m very thankful for him.”
Miali, who joined the Fountain Valley police department as its police chief and served in that position from 1986 to 2003, began his career in law enforcement with the San Gabriel police department in 1967.
His tenure as the police chief saw the department implement the use of the Live Scan fingerprinting system, bring motor officers back to the traffic bureau, and create the law enforcement and apprehension program, which is now called the special investigations unit.
The City Council approved a one-year extension for the city’s legal consultant, Harper & Burns.
Additionally, the panel approved a 3.2% increase to the hourly rates for services rendered, as requested by the firm, to adjust for inflation. The raise is in line with the consumer price index increase for the greater Los Angeles-Anaheim-Long Beach area, per a staff report.
Following the increase, the hourly rate for a partner will be $199. A senior attorney will come at an hourly rate of $182, an associate at $165, a law clerk at $107, and a paralegal at $107.
Fountain Valley entered into an initial three-year agreement with Harper & Burns on Sept. 7, 2021. The panel exercised the option for the first of two additional one-year terms.
Drew Payne, Cash Heit and Ethan Ro scored and assisted goals and the Barons made big plays at the back when required in a 4-2 triumph Wednesday evening at Huntington Beach.
Next up: archrival Edison (6-4, 5-0 in the Sunset League), the consensus title favorite, Friday night on the Chargers’ huge field.
Huntington Beach’s Juan Bonilla (10) dribbles to the goal against Fountain Valley in a Sunset League match on Wednesday. (James Carbone) “It’s five wins, but five wins isn’t going to get us in the playoffs [with six league games to play],” Fountain Valley coach Jason Smith said. “We’ve just got to keep going. It’s a tough week. We knew we were going to be tested. I think we passed the first test, and now we got our second test.”
The Chargers, idle Wednesday, haven’t been severely tested, scoring 18 goals and conceding twice in their first five Sunset outings. Fountain Valley (6-2, 5-0) has been on a roll, putting away 16 goals in its past four games.
“Those are the top two teams, right now, as advertised ...,” said Huntington Beach coach Matt Moseley, who dropped a 2-0 home decision to Edison three weeks ago. “I almost want to skip my game [against Corona del Mar] and go watch it.”
“They man-marked us, and it was very effective,” Moseley said. “They counterattacked extremely well. They’re extremely fast, especially at the wings. They got in behind us several times, and [Payne] is very dangerous, as well. Hat’s off to them. They’re dangerous up top, and they did what they needed to do defensively to keep us from scoring goals, and then countered out of it.
“That being said, did we have two blatant opportunities to score in the first minute of the game? Yes. Did we have another opportunity to score within five minutes of that? Yes. Did we finish our opportunities? No. The outlook would be entirely different if we are able to bag one of those, but then we give up the early goal ... and we immediately respond. That changes things. But then they respond within five minutes, and then it’s just defeating.”
Fountain Valley’s Nixon Hunt (25) heads the ball against Huntington Beach’s Jonah Armendariz (13) in a Sunset League match. (James Carbone) Heit gave the Barons a 19th-minute lead, a glancing header on the sprint from Ro’s corner kick, and it was even a minute later, when Clayton Gutierrez put away Juan Bonilla’s goalmouth feed from the right post.
Payne, with his sixth goal over five games, restored Fountain Valley’s advantage on a quick burst in the 24th minute. It was too easy: “Cash won the ball, and he just split a perfect ball through two guys,” Payne said. “I just took a touch around [a defender], and then second touch was in.”
Huntington Beach might have equalized twice, in the 31st minute and then five minutes into the second half, but for center back John Ennen‘s goal-line clearance of a Bonilla shot and goalkeeper Jacob Stevens’ acrobatic parry of Greyson Simington’s header onto the left post.
Huntington Beach’s Kainoa Delarole (22) plays with the ball at his feet against Fountain Valley in a Sunset League match. (James Carbone) The Barons were the better side the rest of the way and built a three-goal lead on Umar Majid‘s sharp 56th-minute shot inside the right post and Bernardo De Souza’s 73rd-minute goal-line triumph against two defenders to finish Payne’s looping header from a long Nixon Hunt throw-in.
“At times we looked great,” Smith said. “At times they looked great. And at times, both of us were vulnerable. We definitely made the most of our chances, and I think we had the edge on the attack and the pressure, and that equated to four goals, right?”
Edison, a longtime Sunset powerhouse, has won 11 of the past 13 meetings, outscoring the Barons, 12-1, in four wins the past three seasons. Its home field, significantly larger than most, plays into its strengths.
“We know it’s gonna be a tough game, right?” Smith said. “We just need to be able to keep our shape, keep our composure, and keep doing what we’ve been doing to be successful. ... We’ve got to win the ball. We’ve got to keep the ball. We’ve got to possess. Can’t let them get too into open space, because there’s so much space [that it’s difficult] to disrupt their rhythm. You can’t give them time to play, so we’ve got to close the gaps. We can’t make it easy for them.”
Fountain Valley’s Umar Majid (26) celebrates with his team after scoring against Huntington Beach on Wednesday. (James Carbone) Payne is excited about the challenge.
“I’ve been playing varsity for four years,” he said. “I haven’t beat them yet, but I think this is a year there’s a different [feeling]. We can’t be arrogant, but we’ve got to be confident. We can’t take it lightly. We know it’s gonna be a hard game, and we know we can win the game.”
Print This weekend was busy for local fire crews
who responded to a garage fire in Costa Mesa Saturday
a blaze that broke out inside a Fountain Valley 24 Hour Fitness Sunday and an apartment complex in Newport Beach early Monday
which took place in different local jurisdictions
ultimately resulted in the evacuation of multiple residents and scores of gym members
the hospitalization of two apartment tenants and the temporary closure of all three structures
The first incident took place on the 3100 block of College Avenue at around 7:30 a.m
when Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue personnel received a call that a unit inside a row of detached garages near a residential complex had become engulfed in flames
Fire Battalion Chief Bill Kershaw at the scene of a garage fire on the 3100 block of Costa Mesa’s College Avenue Saturday. (Courtesy of Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue) Crews arrived on scene to find heavy smoke conditions and flames in one of the garages, along with a report of at least one individual remaining inside the impacted structures, CMFR reported on social media Sunday
Firefighters worked aggressively to extinguish the fire and evacuate individuals residing in units near the blaze that could have been affected were the flames not contained
While the fire was isolated to the single garage
four people were relocated from the structure
Costa Mesa Fire Chief Dan Stefano confirmed Monday
The cause of the fire is still under investigation
Sunday’s fire in Fountain Valley, at a 24-Hour Fitness at 17200 Brookhurst St. broke out shortly after 8:30 p.m.
when fire personnel discovered a small fire in a wall near the gym’s roof
A thermal imaging drone used by Fountain Valley police helped find a fire inside a Brookhurst Street 24 Hour Fitness Sunday
(Courtesy of the Fountain Valley Police Department) About 50 people inside the building were evacuated to safety
while crews worked to pinpoint the exact location of the blaze with help from Fountain Valley police
who flew an unmanned drone capable of creating thermal images above the structure
“This was a hard to find fire — it was in a wall in a confined space — so it really helped us locate that,” Fasullo said of the drone
“[The fire] was only visible from the roof
but a call to the Brookhurst Street 24 Hour Fitness on Monday was answered by an automatic message indicating the facility was temporarily closed “due to hazardous fire conditions in the area.”
Newport Beach firefighters battle a blaze in an apartment that broke out around 4:30 a.m
(Courtesy of the Newport Beach Fire Department) In a third incident early Monday morning on the 20100 block of Santa Ana Avenue in Newport Beach
firefighters were called to a report of a structure fire at the Fairway Villas Apartments
Newport Beach fire spokesman David Gibson confirmed Monday
Crews arrived to find a single-story apartment complex with heavy smoke issuing from inside a central unit, according to a news release issued Monday afternoon
About 40 first responders attacked the blaze
quickly extinguishing all flames and embers
who fled to a rear patio area during the blaze
were treated by paramedics on scene and transported to a local hospital for further treatment
and the building was subsequently red-tagged by the city’s Building Department
Edison reinforced its lineup to deal with the heavy lifting, welcoming senior outside hitter Nathan Jackson back into the lineup.
Jackson had 10 kills and four block assists to help the host Chargers earn a 25-18, 25-22, 20-25, 28-26 senior night win over Fountain Valley on Friday in a Sunset League match.
“Tonight was pretty big, especially because it was senior night, and that’s huge for us,” said Jackson, who made his season debut after sustaining a concussion on the soccer field during the CIF Southern Section playoffs. “We got a bunch of fans showing out. … It’s huge to get the chemistry back with me being back on the court and just getting ready for the harder games in league.”
Edison (7-9, 2-2 in the Sunset League) will be under pressure to perform the rest of the way, where it places in the league likely holding the key to its CIF postseason aspirations.
The Chargers did secure a nonleague win against Tesoro, 25-13, 15-25, 25-23, 25-12 in the Rocky Ciarelli Invitational on Saturday, before being clipped on Monday by Redondo Union (24-26, 25-19, 26-24, 25-23), which was also among the six teams featured in the weekend showcase at Huntington Beach High.
As Fountain Valley (13-4, 1-3) threatened to send Friday’s match to a fifth set, Jackson delivered two late kills to give the Chargers a pair of match points. Edison needed four match points to end it but never faced a set point in the final game.
Senior setter Kyle Duffey scooped a bump set off the net, and senior outside hitter Nathan King — who endured an uneven performance with eight hitting errors — used the last of his nine kills to earn the fourth match point.
“That’s a big swing,” Jackson said of King. “It’s pretty confident. It’s the side of him that we need the whole time. We know he has it, but you just got to show it night in and night out.”
Fountain Valley, which had battled back from the brink of defeat three times — courtesy of two kills by middle blocker Billy Watkins and another by outside hitter Alec Pinedjian — saw the comeback fall short when a swing by opposite Ben Braithwaite wound up in the net.
Edison coach Elias Perez said the Barons presented a challenge as a group that plays with “super-high energy” and “scrappy defense,” but he also categorized the matches against Fountain Valley and Marina as “must-win” scenarios for the Chargers.
“We talk a lot about short-term memory if something doesn’t go our way,” Perez added. “I think this match was a good example. It was a lot of side-out volleyball tonight, just one team going at the other, and then that team siding out.
“The big thing tonight was going back to the service line, ‘Let’s just get one point on the defensive end.’ You go to make your serve, just getting one ball on defense. I think at the end of that fourth set, that’s what it kind of came down to...us making a serve, and then we got one point on defense, and then that kind of bled into us being able to close that match out.”
Duffey finished with 31 assists, four service aces and two kills for Edison. Senior opposite Connor McNally had a match-leading 17 kills to go with two block assists. Senior outside hitter Ian Joyce added 11 kills and three block assists.
“I think it’s all in our own side [of the net],” McNally said. “Beginning of the season, the passing wasn’t very good, but Nate [Jackson], when he’s back, he’s going to add a big spark to that. If we pass good, it’s just going to open up our hitters.”
McNally, who took swings from both pins during the match, said he felt Jackson’s return could pay dividends in allowing him to focus more on hitting.
Freshman middle blocker Shane Wright provided five kills and 4½ total blocks, and junior middle blocker Brent Benson had six kills and three block assists. Junior setter Kion Cumme supplied an additional 18 assists.
Watkins had 14 kills and 3½ total blocks to pace the Barons. Middle blocker Christopher Pham produced eight kills; outside hitter Kayden Tran, Braithwaite and Pinedjian each contributed seven kills. Outside hitter Peter Pham chipped in with six kills.
Sean Pham distributed 23 assists, and Trevin Le added 18 assists for Fountain Valley.
Huntington Beach 3, Redondo Union 0: Junior opposite Ben Arguello had 17 kills as the host Oilers earned a 25-23, 25-18, 25-19 sweep of the Sea Hawks on Saturday.
Sophomore outside hitter Logan Hutnick pounded out 15 kills, junior outside hitter Colin Choi had seven kills, and senior middle blocker Nick Ganier added six kills for Huntington Beach (20-2), which visits Fountain Valley on Friday with a chance to run the table through the first half of the Sunset League.
Senior setter Kai Gan handed out 37 assists and senior libero Aiden Atencio provided 11 digs on defense.
Newport Harbor 3, San Clemente 2: The Sailors earned a 25-22, 25-23, 13-25, 20-25, 15-11 win over the Tritons on Saturday.
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Baile folklórico dancers from Centralia Elementary School twirled to traditional music in brightly colored dresses
while Danbrook Elementary’s drumline energized the crowd with bucket drums at the 45th annual OC Black History Month Parade and Unity Festival on Feb
Students marched along Anaheim Boulevard, celebrating culture and community through music and movement. The groups are part of the Centralia Elementary School District’s Expanded Learning Program
which provides music and arts opportunities outside of regular school hours
“The arts have always been a medium for self-expression and for connections with our own cultures and those around us,” Norma Martinez
superintendent of the Centralia Elementary School District
“By having our district participate in the OC Black History Parade
achievements and contributions of Black leaders while fostering unity
education and cultural appreciation.”
The superintendent noted that parents were proud to see their children perform and appreciated the opportunity to celebrate diversity and cultural awareness
Centralia offers a diverse visual and performing arts program
These opportunities are designed to foster creativity and keep students engaged in the arts.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
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Council members have received $500 per month since at least as far back as 1997. Colin Burns, legal counsel for the city, noted Fountain Valley previously provided benefits to council members.
“The benefits were deleted later,” Burns said. “That was after 2008, following the financial crisis, so not only has the $500 not gone up, but, actually, it’s gone down because benefits were deleted.”
Changes in compensation cannot go into effect until the next council election, per state law. It will result in an additional cost to the city of $42,000 annually.
State law holds that the allowable compensation for council members representing a municipality of 50,000 to 75,000 people is $1,600 per month. Fountain Valley has a population of approximately 54,893, according to a staff report.
A raise for council members came under consideration by the panel 15 months ago, when then a 3-2 vote struck it down. Mayor Glenn Grandis and Vice Mayor Ted Bui flipped their votes this time, joining Councilwoman Kim Constantine and Councilman Patrick Harper in the majority.
Katy Wright and Rudy Huebner, both of whom are running for the City Council in November, were among the members of the public who spoke during Tuesday’s meeting.
Laguna Beach residents turned out en masse for a town hall meeting on the issues of insurance and wildfire on Tuesday.
“I really call into question why this item is even an agenda item when, in my opinion, that money can be far better spent on repairing our infrastructure, it could be better spent on addressing our unhoused population, and at the very least, it could be better spent on investing in services or programs that are going to benefit the community as a whole,” Huebner said.
“I would posit that it would be selfless of you to approve getting the pay increase for the position you all hold,” Wright said. “You’re not all going to be here forever. Someone else is going to be here, and you’re all going to be afraid to [say], ‘Hey, we deserve some more money.’ You all do deserve some more money. I may never sit in the seats you carry. I’ve totally endorsed you guys getting a raise.”
Grandis, who is up for reelection along with Bui, said he was “swayed” by Wright’s testimony. In a discussion on the same subject in June 2023, Grandis said he donates all of his salary as a council member to autism charities, and he reiterated that stance.
“I will not accept a penny for being on council,” Grandis said. “I donate 100% of what I make. That’s my choice. I’m not saying that’s for everybody, I’m not judging anybody else, but [Wright is] right. There’s going to be young people coming up in the future that maybe this does make a difference for them.”
Bui suggested that the county average of $1,453 per month would be fair.
Councilman Jim Cunneen cast the lone dissenting vote, stating that he was fine with the stipend remaining at $500 and that he considered serving on the council to be a “volunteer position.”
The infection of an unidentified individual in the vicinity of Slater Avenue and Magnolia Street marks the fifth human case of the bacterial disease — carried by fleas and spread to other species through the insect’s feces — in Orange County this year
Another human typhus case was reported earlier this month in Garden Grove
while an Anaheim resident with the disease was discovered in July and two cases
Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District spokesman Brian Brannon confirmed Tuesday
A map shows positive samples and human cases of flea-borne typhus recorded by the O.C
Mosquito and Vector Control District since May 30
(Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District) “You don’t get sick from a flea biting you,” Brannon said
clarifying typhus is not a blood-borne illness and cannot be transmitted from one human to another
“You get sick from scratching a bite and then the flea’s fecal matter gets into your bloodstream.”
The disease may also be spread to humans through body wounds, inhalation, food ingestion or by touching one’s eyes with dirty hands, according to the agency’s website
the Rickettsia bacteria that causes typhus may be carried by opossums
While Vector Control officials do not trap animals for testing
staff do test dead animals that come into the agency’s lab for typhus
a total of 62 animal samples taken from 12 locations
Although the county did not record a single case of flea-borne typhus in humans between 1993 and 2006
the infectious disease is now considered by the state’s health department to be endemic
according to the Orange County Health Care Agency
like the one seen in this colorized scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image
carry two strains of bacteria in their feces that can cause typhus infections in other animals and humans
(Smith Collection/Gado / Getty Images) In humans
headaches and muscle pain — symptoms that tend to set in from six to 14 days after contact with an infected flea
Most infections are mild, as people recover within a few days after receiving antibiotics, but OCHA reports about 10% of those stricken need to be hospitalized.
Brannon encourages residents to regularly inspect their pets and animal’s bedding for fleas and feces, aka “flea dirt,” typically the first sign of infestation. Pet owners should keep pets up to date on routine flea-control and heartworm regimens.
Outdoor areas should remain free of standing water, pet food or fallen fruit from trees and be cleared of brush where common carriers may seek shelter.
“It’s really about keeping your yard clear,” Brannon said. “We also don’t recommend people feed or pet feral cats. Feral cats are out there mixing it up with all kinds of wildlife that may have fleas and carry typhus.”
Nishi remained the gift that keeps on giving for the Barons, as she supplied another six three-pointers for Fountain Valley in a 50-34 win over Pacifica Christian on Friday in pool play of the Surf City Holiday Classic at Marina High.
The junior sharpshooter made her first three attempts from beyond the arc en route to her six total against the Tritons. When she set the school mark against Newport Harbor on Dec. 21, she overtook her sister, Melody, who made eight in a game.
“My sister, she saw that game,” said Nishi, who said she felt “something has just sparked” in her and raised her confidence. “She was actually very proud of me, and she was very supportive. I really appreciate that. Most people would probably be sour about it.”
Pacifica Christian’s Vivian Villagrana (2) puts up a layup against Fountain Valley in the Surf City Holiday Classic. (James Carbone) Fountain Valley (10-5) bounced back from a loss to San Clemente in its tournament opener. The Barons have won four of their past five, including wins across their first two Sunset League games.
Senior center Karley Waite played a key role, providing 10 points and 14 rebounds. It was a close game when she checked back in during the third quarter, the Barons’ coaching staff emphasizing staying down while contesting shots to avoid foul trouble.
“We can’t teach size,” said Izzy Om, who shares the head coaching duties with Camryn Hamaguchi. “[Waite] is 6-[foot]-3. She has developed so much just over this summer. She’s gotten a lot stronger with the ball, and her finishing at the rim has improved so much.
“With that, we’re able to score a lot more. Once we’re able to get her looks down low, it opens up shots on the perimeter a lot more. Once she gets going, it really creates shots for everybody. We just got to keep her out of foul trouble.”
Fountain Valley’s Karley Waite (25) reaches for a rebound against Pacifica Christian’s Vivian Villagrana (2) on Friday. (James Carbone) Waite’s first basket of the second half answered a Vivian Villagrana three-pointer, one of two for the Tritons as a team, and gave the Barons a 32-28 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
By the midway point of the fourth quarter — after two more Waite finishes at the hoop — the Barons held a far more comfortable 44-31 advantage.
“I’m a big girl, so it’s always nice when the big girl gets the ball,” Waite said. “Sometimes, the guards don’t see me, but when they do, it’s always a good assist for them. Once they do see me, if I don’t have that shot, I’ll just dish it back out to them.”
Sophie Hsieh scored all nine of her points in the second half, adding six assists and two steals. Victoria Om contributed four points, eight rebounds and five assists for Fountain Valley.
Fountain Valley’s Sophie Hsieh (13) drives to the basket against Pacifica Christian in the Surf City Holiday Classic. (James Carbone) “Something that we’ve been trying to push out of her is looking for her own shot,” Izzy Om said of Hsieh. “She does a really good job of finding her teammates, making smart reads off the screen, but she’s also really good at scoring, and when she looks to score, it really maximizes our points.”
Pacifica Christian (7-10) kept it close for a while, applying ball pressure that kept the Barons out of rhythm early. The Tritons kept the deficit at 20-16 going into halftime.
Junior guard Vivian Villagrana matched Nishi for the game-high scoring total with 18 points. Junior forward Angie Martinez produced 10 points and eight rebounds. Senior guard Caylie Villagrana scored three points to go with five assists, four rebounds and two steals, but the Tritons received little in the way of offensive contributions elsewhere.
Pacifica Christian’s Angie Martinez (35) shoots from under the basket against Fountain Valley on Friday. (James Carbone) Pacifica Christian coach Pablo Martinez spoke of a learning curve with his team having just one senior on the roster.
“We held them to 20 points in the first half,” Martinez said. “We were down, and it got away from us towards the end. We just couldn’t make a shot — missed seven or eight free throws. … I think we just ran out of gas. … It’s up and down, but they do a good job. We’re in games, and sometimes it’s a learning process. We’ve played some really good teams throughout the whole year, so hopefully it pays off in the playoffs.
Fountain Valley’s Dasani Pham (30) reaches for the loose ball against Pacifica Christian in the Surf City Holiday Classic. (James Carbone) Surf City Holiday Classic
PC — V. Villagrana 18, Martinez 10, R. Ham 3, C. Villagrana 3.
FV — Nishi 18, Waite 10, Hsieh 9, Om 4, Sasaki 5, Jones 2, Pham 2.
Print Fountain Valley residents made their voices heard in their collective desire to preserve a community space just south of City Hall on Tuesday
Some two dozen speakers addressed the City Council to oppose the potential redevelopment of two buildings that have most recently been leased by the Boys & Girls Club of Huntington Valley
The city-owned property includes a 9,200-square-foot building utilized as a daycare center for children who are between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 years
a 9,311-square-foot building serves as a performing arts and fitness center
city staff presented on the deteriorating condition of the 2.55-acre property and the possible opportunities for development there
Community members have suggested an event center and banquet hall
while hotel developers have also shown interest in the site
Community Development Director Omar Dadabhoy said the cost if the city keeps the buildings and updates them could be between $1.885 million and $2.18 million
That would include improvements for ADA accessibility
the chief executive of the Boys & Girls Club of Huntington Valley
said the organization has operated on a month-to-month lease on the parcel at 10200 Slater Ave
the Kingston Branch location in Mile Square Park is provided rent free
The Boys & Girls Club of Huntington Valley operates a performing arts center and a daycare facility on city-owned property near Fountain Valley City Hall
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “We’re already working with architects,” Groeneveld said of a prospective move of the performing arts center to the Kingston Branch
“We’ve already been very fortunate to have the entire city meet with our staff and our architecture team to help us streamline the process
and get out without an interruption of service
“Our preschool service is children ages 6 weeks to [transitional kindergarten]
there’s a little over 90 children in the program
We always drop down at the beginning of September
we don’t have a plan or a home for our preschool
but we’ve moved that preschool three separate times
and it’s something that we’re aligned and planning to do.”
Community members said they turned up for the item after residents spread the word door to door at approximately 500 homes
The city also provided notice to property owners within 1,000 feet of the site
The two buildings are situated in close proximity to City Hall
leading to residents contending that a high-density housing project or a hotel would bring adverse traffic impacts
The speakers included residents of all ages
A college student said she had grown up dancing for 12 hours a week and volunteering at the center
A 12-year-old boy stepped up to the podium to say
then I won’t have a place to learn and grow
some parents send their kids to the community center because they have to work during after-school hours.”
theater and more through the community center
Residents listen to a discussion on the future of city-owned property just south of Fountain Valley City Hall on Tuesday
(Andrew Turner) Some wondered why the city had not invested in the upkeep of the buildings
“I am in the Boys & Girls Club Clubhouse Academy watching my daughter’s dance classes
and I’m witnessing some of the dangerous conditions that are starting to happen to this building
and the staff members armed only with fans and Febreze and baking soda to mask the smell of mildew
“The only reason they’re looking to relocate is because when staff is reaching out for help with repairs
they aren’t being prioritized as tenants or being served.”
Jim Cunneen and Patrick Harper provided direction to city staff
determining they did not have interest in declaring the property as surplus land
Mayor Glenn Grandis did not participate in the discussion due to the proximity of the property to his residence
Reviewing his notes from the public testimony
Harper said the idea that community benefit and revenue generation did not have to be mutually exclusive resonated with him
He also took note that the daycare facility was heavily relied upon by the community
A young resident addresses the City Council on Tuesday during a study session regarding two buildings just south of Fountain Valley City Hall. (Andrew Turner) “We have potential for revenue for the city, and we don’t yet know if they’re going to come, to be perfectly honest,” Constantine said. “... I would like to look into potentially exploring the site for a potential hotel.”
Cunneen called the property a “sacred space,” adding that it would take a lot more to convince him that doing anything other than keeping it would be the right decision for the community.
“It’s kind of the people’s parcel, to me,” Cunneen said. “I want to keep it, but this is a process. We need to flesh this out, and here we are. It’s no secret that I would like this to be something amazing. We spent so many years going to the Rose Center [Theater] up in Westminster because that’s where our girls had their dance shows. … I love it up there. Why can’t we have something like that in Fountain Valley? I don’t know.”
Bui was last to weigh in, saying, “From what I’m hear[ing] from the public today, that is why I say that we need to look into further, not developing it, but what we can use this building or this area for the public.”
Mayor Glenn Grandis and Vice Mayor Ted Bui, both of whom are up for reelection in November, joined Councilman Jim Cunneen in voting against the pay bump, which would have marked an increase of 140% from the current stipend of $500.
Several votes have been taken on the matter by the council members. The panel passed on giving itself a raise 16 months ago, with Grandis, Bui and Cunneen casting the deciding votes in a 3-2 decision.
Grandis, who has repeatedly said he donates all of his earnings from serving on the council to autism charities, and Bui opened the door to a potential compensation increase by voting in the affirmative on Sept. 3.
Bui had suggested that the county average of $1,453 cited in the staff report would be fair. Grandis, at the time, had voiced agreement with council candidate Katy Wright that increasing the pay for council members might make a difference for some looking to serve on the dais in the future.
The panel heard arguments for and against the pay increase. By and large, those against the raise called council members public servants who should be good stewards of taxpayer money.
Alicia “Rudy” Huebner and Wright, the challengers running for council, were consistent in their position.
“I strongly encourage you to vote ‘no’ on this item, to remember that your calling is, as public servants, to serve the community,” Huebner said. “I believe that the stipend that is currently in place is appropriate. Serving on City Council is not a full-time job. You all have careers. You’re all making a living. This isn’t a vehicle for self-enrichment.”
The monthly compensation for serving on the Fountain Valley City Council will go from $500 to $1,200 after a council majority supported the increase on Tuesday night.
Wright called on council members to look past how the public might view a pay increase, reasoning that it would make it possible for more people to consider running for office.
“It would be a sign of bravery, in my view, … that you’re bucking the system and bucking worrying about what the public’s going to think of you,” Wright said. “It’s not all about you. A couple of you and a candidate are perfectly fine. They say they would do it for nothing, and that is noble, and that is wonderful, but most people can’t do it for nothing. Most people aren’t in that position. We want young people to be interested in government and to think about running.”
Councilwoman Kim Constantine followed the public testimony with almost 17 minutes of uninterrupted advocacy for the council to consider taking its pay to $1,600 per month, the maximum allowed under current state law for municipalities with a population between 50,000 and 75,000.
Fountain Valley council members do not receive benefits and have received a monthly stipend of $500 dating back to at least 1997, according to Colin Burns, who serves as the city’s legal counsel.
Constantine pointed to the various ways in which council members represent the city at the local, county and state levels, as well as at community events and meetings.
“As City Council members, we are not going around Fountain Valley collecting bags of money and filling our bellies with free food,” Constantine said. “It just doesn’t happen. … There are monetary gift limits, and we appropriately declare anything applicable on the Fair Political Practices Commission forms that are also available for public viewing at City Hall and on the city’s website.”
Constantine went on to say that the council would be “facilitating a challenge for a future City Council” by declining to raise its compensation to $1,600 per month.
Grandis said he views serving on the council as a “volunteer job,” adding moments before the vote that he had “no skin in the game, either way.”
Ezequiel Santana, Nicolas De Leon, Dylan Sears and Christian Alvarez scored in the shootout for Warren (12-6-4), the Gateway League champion.
The Bears took their kicks low and to the corners in the skills competition after several near misses in extra time, including a Sears shot that was driven off the left elbow of the goal in the 89th minute.
Gideon Griffiths converted as the initial selection for Fountain Valley (10-5-1), which was the second-place team in the Sunset League. Drew Payne’s attempt went over the goal, before Nixon Hunt struck the crossbar.
Duel Hernandez-Vasquez scored on the fourth kick for Fountain Valley, but Alvarez continued his side’s success in the shootout, which had the Bears dancing in the rain.
Payne and Hunt supplied a key connection for Fountain Valley in regulation. Hunt provided stretch passes up the left wing on the Barons’ opening and final markers, which accounted for Payne’s 15th and 16th goals of the season.
It took just four minutes for Payne to find the back of the net. The senior captain corralled the deep ball shy of the corner flag, then worked back to the 15-yard line to improve his shooting angle before sending the ball on a hop inside the far post.
Warren played with possession for the majority of the first half, and the Bears were rewarded with two goals late in the opening stanza. Diego Montes cashed in on a penalty kick in the 35th minute.
Adrian Soto Diaz then exhibited deft touch to deflect in a cross from Sebastian Pelayo in the 39th minute.
Fountain Valley changed systems to a 3-5-2 formation after halftime, and the Barons applied more pressure as a result.
A free kick from the 40-yard line by Ethan Ro found the head of Payne, who flicked it across the box. Cash Heit crashed the net and scored to make it 2-2 in the 54th minute.
Only three minutes later, Warren was awarded another penalty kick for a hand ball in the box. Montes’ aim was true once more.
The duo that combined on the game’s first goal linked up again in the 71st minute. Payne ran onto Hunt’s deep ball, sprinting down the left side and lifting the equalizer into the top left corner.
The New Mexico State-bound senior shortstop/pitcher was the chief force in a sweep this week of arch-rival Edison that sends the Barons (11-6 overall, 5-3 in league) streaking into the toughest portion of its schedule with five straight wins, three of them by one run, and growing self-belief.
Peshke has led the charge. In Friday’s 4-3 victory over the visiting Chargers (9-10, 2-8), he scored and drove in Fountain Valley’s first two runs, kicked off the winning sequence with two out in the fifth inning, then took the mound to close it down in the seventh. His three-run home run ignited Wednesday’s 9-1 rout, and he was two for three with a run bated in and another save in Tuesday’s 6-1 win.
Fountain Valley’s Logan Hunt (10) pitches against Edison during Friday’s Sunset League game. (James Carbone) Throw in two victories the week before over Corona del Mar, and in the last five outings he’s 9 for 14 with four runs scored, nine RBIs, two homers, three stolen bases and four saves. He also collaborated on four double plays against Edison.
“Great kid, great family,” Barons head coach Gerardo Gonzalez said. “It’s good to see him finally start to become the player we know he can be. He’s a tremendously talented player, great kid, works hard, and he’s really been coming through for us the last couple of weeks. He’s starting to really [emerge] as a team leader.
“He put a lot of pressure on himself to do well and please everybody else, and I think he’s kind of calmed down and feels more comfortable in his own shoes. Now he’s really looking forward to those big moments and [making them his], which is something he should do.”
Edison’s Hayden Cato (8) slides safe into second base against Fountain Valley during Friday’s game. (James Carbone) It comes at a crucial juncture. Fountain Valley headed into its bye week before successive three-game series with Newport Harbor (13-5, 6-3), Marina (9-9, 2-5) and Los Alamitos (14-3-2, 7-3) set up a May 6 finale against seven-time defending league champion Huntington Beach (12-2, 8-0).
“It’s always big to sweep a team, especially in this league and how tough it is, and to pull it off against our rival is pretty sweet, I’m not going to lie,” said Gonzalez, who has guided the Barons to the postseason the past two years and three of four (with three playoff victories) since the pandemic. “We knew we were behind the eight-ball a little bit [after two losses to Huntington Beach and another in the series opener with CdM], so this puts us in a good playoff position.
“That’s our No. 1 thing. We want to fight our way to get into the playoffs and then maybe get ourselves into position to maybe fight for a league championship.”
Fountain Valley’s Miles Hiskey (25) attempts a bunt against Edison during Friday’s game. (James Carbone) That’s a mighty goal. This is, he says, Benji Medure’s most talented group at Huntington Beach, the consensus No. 3 team in the nation. The Oilers are repeatedly pulling out close games, with six of their league wins by one or two runs, and capable of sweeping everyone.
“They might,” Gonzalez said. “They had a tough couple games against some teams, but it’s very difficult to go undefeated in this league, and they’re going to have to go through Los Al still, and Los Al’s a very good team, and so’s Corona del Mar, and so is Newport Harbor. Hopefully, someone gives us a little help to do what we’re supposed to do.”
Peshke provided a short-lived second-inning lead Friday, walking to lead off, taking second on Anthony Zamora’s bunt, and coming home on the first of two RBI singles from Mater Dei transfer Ethan Cortez.
Edison’s Shane Timmons (27) pitches against rival Fountain Valley during Friday’s Sunset League game. (James Carbone) Edison went ahead in the top of third, as Mason Gerhardt drove in Hayden Cato and scored on Shane Timmons’ infield single. But Peshke’s two-out, two-strike, line-drive single to center brought home Isaac Lomeli to make it 2-2 in the bottom of the inning.
Fountain Valley senior right-hander Logan Hunt, a Los Alamitos transfer, was nearly perfect, the third inning aside. He nimbly escaped that one, getting a bases-loaded strikeout after surrendering three singles and a walk with two out. Aside from that, Edison’s Jordan Alvarez was doubled up to end the first inning after a one-out single, and Hunt went 1-2-3 in the second, fourth and fifth innings, striking out the side in the fourth.
Peshke got things going in the pivotal fifth, working Chargers right-hander Timmons to a full count with two out and singling up the middle. Zamora was plunked on a full count, and Peshke came home with the go-ahead run as Cortez, a junior catcher, singled to left field. A wild pitch advanced the runners, Octavio Gomez drew a full-count walk to load the bases, and Isaac Grimaldo’s high-bouncer up the middle scored Zamora.
Fountain Valley’s Isaac Lomeli (17) makes a catch in center field against Edison during Friday’s game. (James Carbone) Edison halved the deficit in the sixth, as Gavin Johnson doubled and pinch-runner Xavier Shoda scored on Cody Kruis’ bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Alvarez got his third single in the seventh, but Peschke closed the game out.
“We just got to keep it rolling,” Peshke said. “It’s a long league, three games a week. If we stay focused, we’ll be fine. Sunset League’s tough, but I think we’ll be fine.”
Edison has Marina, CdM and Huntington Beach left to close out league play. The Chargers lost 7-0 to the Vikings on the road Tuesday, before hosting them Wednesday and playing at Marina again on Friday.
“[Being swept is] the one thing that can’t happen,” Edison coach Nick Cappuccilli said after Fountain Valley earned the sweep. “I told our guys all we can do is take care of our business and worry about what we can do and let the chips fall where they may at this point, but we have to come out ready to compete everyday and take care of our side of the ball and put pressure on defenses and do our job.”
10:12 a.m. April 9, 2025: This article has been updated with records and results through Tuesday, April 8.
The Fountain Valley High football program introduced Olson as its new head coach on Monday, pending approval from the Huntington Beach Union High School District Board of Trustees.
Olson, 64, previously served as head coach at Kennedy and Loara high schools, before resigning from Loara prior to the 2021 season. He takes over at Fountain Valley for David Gutierrez, who resigned after four seasons.
“I’m really excited to be here and excited about the possibilities of what Fountain Valley High School has to offer,” he said in a statement. “I can’t wait to work with the young men and do some good things on and off the field.”
The Barons finished 1-9 overall last year, and 0-5 in the Foxtrot League.
Olson’s teams in 21 years at Kennedy won eight league titles and the 2006 CIF Southern Section Southern Division title. He then coached Loara for six years, helping the Saxons share the Garden Grove League title in 2019 and advance to the Division 14 semifinals.
A decorated running back, Olson played football at Los Alamitos High, Orange Coast College and Whittier College. After getting drafted by the Chicago White Sox in baseball, he played that sport professionally for two years before earning his teaching credential and beginning to teach and coach.
Print It was an occasion for all ages
as a crowd of a few hundred in number took part in the third annual Lunar New Year Festival at the Fountain Valley Recreation Center on Saturday
the attendees stuck around for well over an hour in anticipation of the traditional lion dance
The performance was largely carried out by children
with more kids congregating around the three lions moving down the aisle to the sounds of percussion instruments — cymbals
Several onlookers eagerly passed on red envelopes to the lions
hoping to gain good fortune in the new year
Fountain Valley Mayor Ted Bui welcomes guests to the Lunar New Year Festival at the Fountain Valley Recreation Center on Saturday
we had about 120 attendees,” Mayor Ted Bui said
Fountain Valley City Council members in attendance wore traditional attire in recognition of the Lunar New Year
The festival helped usher in the Year of the Snake
A musical performance at the Lunar New Year Festival at the Fountain Valley Recreation Center over the weekend. pic.twitter.com/7ObPNz6vlB
“We really appreciate you coming out today and celebrating,” Mayor Pro Tem Jim Cunneen said
“This is not only a wonderful gathering for our community
but it’s a moment to learn about the cultures and to have a better understanding
and it’s all about bringing kindness and love to our community.”
Cunneen put a bow on his comments by wishing the crowd a happy new year in Vietnamese
Guests browse through the cultural history of the Lunar New Year and take pictures in Fountain Valley on Saturday
(James Carbone) The festivities continued inside the Recreation Center
Kids had the opportunity to color coiled snakes on paper and cut them out
Students also provided a musical performance on traditional instruments
followed by a group picture with dozens of the remaining revelers
The lion dance is performed to the sounds of percussion instruments in Fountain Valley on Saturday, ringing in the Year of the Snake. pic.twitter.com/NIuIhViFKL
A booth also took a tally of the Chinese zodiac sign of each of its visitors
The Tet Parade will be held in the neighboring city of Westminster on Saturday
with the opening ceremony scheduled for 8:30 a.m
and the parade to get underway at 9:30 a.m
The parade will begin at the intersection of Bolsa Avenue and Magnolia Street and head eastbound on Bolsa Avenue
before making a right turn onto Bushard Street
Children smile as they watch the lion dance during Fountain Valley’s Lunar New Year cultural festival on Saturday. (James Carbone) NewsFountain Valley Andrew Turner Follow Us
“He was mauled from head to toe,” McCammon, president of the Animal Assistance League of Orange County, told the Daily Pilot Thursday. “When they were done they just tossed him out.”
Other shelters considered him unadoptable because of his traumatic upbringing, McCammon said. Potential owners were afraid of the stigma associated with pit bulls, especially those who have been used in dog fights. So, Nicky spent almost 10 years in the League’s care at their shelter in Midway City.
But the staff and volunteers at the nonprofit’s shelter all fell in love with Nicky, MCCammon said. They grew to know him as an affectionate, playful pup who deserved a caring family as much as any other.
“The dog was the victim here,” McCammon said.
Doing so added more strain to the organization’s shoestring budget. And it was a challenge for McCammon, as well, because she already had other animals and limited space at her home.
But she and the nonprofit she has led since 2006 simply can’t say no to animals in need, even when others might have discarded them. They run a true no-kill shelter and frequently take in pets scheduled for euthanasia.
The Animal Assistance League of Orange County started out as a group of friends in Fountain Valley who got together in the 1970s to spay and neuter stray cats in their community. They wound up opening a help line to assist pet owners who had lost their pets, connect families struggling to afford animal care with resources and to provide advice.
The nonprofit opened its shelter in 1992, which initially had capacity for 20 cats and 20 dogs. They went on to purchase a boarding kennel across the street in 2005, allowing them to house as many as 135 pups, kittens, bunnies, birds or any other creature that might be left with them.
Many of those in their care have been diagnosed with medical conditions that require expensive treatment, making them less desirable for adoption. The league sponsors fosters for those animals, covering their vet bills and other costs. That allows people who have the time and compassion to take in a pet with special needs to do so, even if they might not have been able to afford to otherwise.
The nonprofit also comes to the aid of pet owners who encounter unforeseen expenses or are just struggling to afford food and other essentials. McCammon recalled one family from San Diego who reached out to them after other organizations in their area declined to help them with their sick cat.
A vet diagnosed the cat with an infection causing a life-threatening blockage of his urinary tract. Even though the family was from outside the area the League normally serves, the nonprofit footed the bill for surgery.
“We weren’t going to cut out on them once we figured out what was needed with the surgery,” McCammon said. “I’m not going to tell their children that they’re going to have to lose their cat.”
The League’s charitable work isn’t cheap, and McCammon said the cost of veterinary care has skyrocketed in recent years. She added that the group owes tens of thousands of dollars to local animal hospitals, many of whom have been kind enough to offer some measure of forbearance to the organization because of their reputation of compassion in the community.
The organization’s president said they’re committed to their mission and thankful they’ve rarely ever had to deny assistance to anyone, even if they are running on good will and “fumes.”
Those interested in supporting the Animal Assistance League of Orange County can do so while enjoying a meal alongside a glass of bubbly at the nonprofit’s Annual Holiday Bazaar and Champagne Brunch at the Hacienda Restaurant in Santa Ana on Sunday, Nov. 24. Unique crafts, collectibles and jewelry will be for sale, with all proceeds benefiting the League’s operations.
Eric Licas covers Newport Beach for the Daily Pilot. He previously was a crime and public safety reporter and, before that, spent four years as a staff writer with the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group. He has been on the ground to cover active wildfires, civil unrest and mass shootings. He was born in the Philippines, raised in the San Fernando Valley and is a Cal State Northridge alumnus.
The department has a dozen police officer vacancies and has three openings for dispatcher positions.
“That’s a lot,” Mayor Glenn Grandis said. “That’s a critical issue for our community.”
Police Capt. Steve DeSantis presented an incentive program for law enforcement personnel who make a lateral move to the department. Current employees would also be incentivized for getting involved via a referral process.
“To date, your police department has employed aggressive recruiting campaigns by expanding our efforts at colleges, job fairs, police academies and military bases, and invested time and money into posting job fliers in various law enforcement publications, even those out of state,” DeSantis said. “We feel that more must be done to attract the highest quality individuals to our city.”
The incentive program would require a budget of up to $165,000 per year. City officials said the department’s personnel budget could handle the cost in the current fiscal year.
Officers hired as a lateral move would be eligible for up to a $10,000 signing bonus. The amount would be paid in two installments, with $5,000 coming at the time of hire. The other $5,000 would come after successful completion of the probationary period, which would be one year of service with the department.
Dispatchers hired on a lateral move could receive up to $5,000, also paid out in two installments.
Any associated hires who make lateral moves would also receive 40 hours of compensation time, which would not hold cash value. A staff report noted that new hires accumulate 80 hours of compensation time in a year, adding that those making lateral moves would have to cash out or lose accumulated vacation hours upon leaving their previous job.
“When new candidates are hired and come here, especially the laterals, they come with many years of experience, but when they come here, they lose all of their time, all of their vacation accrual and basically start at zero,” DeSantis said. “In order to attract those candidates, that’s why we’re offering that incentive.”
To qualify for the lateral hiring incentive, the individual must be currently employed by a California law enforcement agency as a police officer or dispatcher, DeSantis said. If they have previously held either of those positions with the city, the parties must have been separated for at least two years prior to the date of applying.
New recruits hired as police officers would receive up to $5,000, which would again be paid in two installments at the time of hire and following the probation period.
A department employee referral bonus for helping to bring in a police officer or dispatcher would amount to up to $2,000 or 40 hours of compensation time.
City staff asked to make the incentive program retroactive to the beginning of the fiscal year.
“The impact that has is at the current time, the incentive would be made available to one recruit that’s currently in the academy, with the potential for four recruits, one lateral officer, and one lateral dispatcher that are currently wrapping up the background process,” DeSantis added.
Council members directed city staff to move ahead with a one-year pilot program. DeSantis said the city would have to meet and confer with the Police Officers Assn. on the matter.
“Recruitment is a challenge for police officers,” Councilman Patrick Harper said. “We hear it every conference we go to, and it’s hard to find good officers. I would be supportive of giving this program a pilot for a year.”
Print CLAREMONT — Athletes at any level often talk about leaving a legacy
Fountain Valley High School senior Katelyn Nguyen may have played her final competitive tennis match Wednesday morning at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center
Barons coach Harshul Patel said Nguyen and junior partner Kendra Ly were the first doubles team in program history to advance to the round of 16 at the CIF Southern Section Individuals tournament
It was part of a big season for Fountain Valley
which as a team also earned the highest ranking — No
5 in the Open Division — in program history
“We definitely put Fountain Valley on the map,” Nguyen said
‘Fountain Valley who?’ Now they’re going to be like
Nguyen and Ly did drop their round of 16 match to Lyric Wilson and Betty Chen of Sierra Canyon
Fountain Valley’s doubles team of Katelyn Nguyen
and Kendra Ly were the Sunset League doubles champions this season
(James Carbone) Corona del Mar junior Polina Briggs was the other local player to advance to the penultimate day of the individual season
6-2 to Sophia Dumitrascu of Yorba Linda in a singles round of 32 match
started slow but battled to 3-3 in the second set against the Sierra Canyon tandem
but they’re obviously really good players,” Nguyen said
Wilson served for the match at 5-4 in the second set and the Barons earned a break
but then Sierra Canyon returned the favor on Ly’s serve to end the match
Nguyen said Fountain Valley went from Division 3 her freshman year to the Open Division this year, clearly a time of growth. When she was a sophomore, the Barons made the Division 2 title match before falling to Beverly Hills
Most of the players who made it to Wednesday’s action were certainly tournament players
but that was not the case with Nguyen and Ly
I definitely did not expect any of this,” Ly said
“I never really got into a team atmosphere before high school tennis
Dumitrascu, a left-handed player, was a bit too consistent for Briggs. She said it was her third time losing to the Mustangs standout, the first two coming in junior tournaments.
“She has really good volleys,” Briggs said. “It was kind of hard to come up to the net with her just because she kept hitting it so deep, so I feel like I have to work on that. I kept hitting it short, so it was easier for her to come in.
“It feels good to qualify, obviously. I think I definitely could have played better, but it is what it is. It feels good to come here anyway and represent Corona del Mar.”
First responders and a hazardous-materials team gather outside a drug lab in Fountain Valley. (Buena Park Police Department) The Buena Park Police Department’s Community Impact Team was investigating a suspected drug manufacturing and sales operation Wednesday when they came upon the lab in the 10600 block of Ellis Street in Fountain Valley. The lab was inside a warehouse.
While they knew there might be something at the location, the size of the operation surprised police.
“I don’t think they realized it was going to be this big,” said Sgt. Jon Shaddow of the Buena Park Police Department.
Shaddow said it was the biggest drug lab takedown in recent history for the department.
The Fountain Valley location turned out to be a clandestine drug lab containing approximately 300,000 suspected fentanyl pills, other drugs, and machinery used for drug manufacturing. T (Buena Park Police Department) The lab contained about 300,000 pills suspected to be fentanyl, the department said. Other drugs and machines used to make drugs were also found.
Photos released by the Police Department showed Ziploc bags full of orange pills, as well as other bags filled with turquoise and white pills.
The department called in the Orange County Environmental Health Hazardous Materials Team to help them deal with the deadly drugs.
Police arrested the 26-year-old, though they did not release his name, citing the ongoing investigation.
Noah Goldberg covers Los Angeles City Hall for the Los Angeles Times. He previously worked on its breaking news team and has also written an array of offbeat enterprise stories. Before joining The Times in 2022, Goldberg worked in New York City as the Brooklyn courts reporter for the New York Daily News and as the criminal justice reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle. He graduated from Vassar College.
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Print Fountain Valley residents may have noticed a new man in uniform at various events last week
as Michael Ishii began introducing himself to city staff and community members
Ishii will serve as the interim police chief while the city carries out a search to fill the position
The City Council made it official on Tuesday night
when the governing body approved a contract to have Ishii lead the department as a retired annuitant
and it will remain in effect for one year or until a permanent police chief is hired
A retired annuitant may not exceed 960 hours within a fiscal year
Ishii will be compensated at an hourly rate of $127.52
Ishii had a 32-year career with the Hawthorne police department, spending the last four years as police chief before retiring in December 2022. He succeeds Matthew Sheppard, who retired as Fountain Valley’s police chief on July 4
Sheppard had served in that position since taking over for Kevin Childe in December 2019
“If there’s anything I can do for the next several months here
it’s really provide an opportunity for me to share my experiences,” Ishii said
“I’ve come from 32 years of policing in Hawthorne
and it’s an honor to be here with everybody to really keep this police department going
Mayor Glenn Grandis applauded Ishii’s efforts before his contract had been voted on. Among his public appearances, Ishii attended National Night Out during his second day on the job on Aug. 6. He also spoke at a town hall meeting on the issue of homelessness the following evening.
“You’re a class act, and I’m very honored and pleased that you’re willing to serve as our interim police chief,” Grandis said.
Reflecting on his first week with the city, Ishii said he felt the department has the support of its residents.
“It really reaffirmed that you have great community support for the police department,” Ishii said in looking back on the National Night Out event. “For me, it’s about making sure that we never take that for granted, that [the] community support is earned by all of our actions and really having a great police department that meets the needs of our community.”
LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio
Fountain Valley in Orange County is just the place we love to showcase here at Cheap Fast Eats
it's chockful of under-the-radar places brimming with flavor and diverse cultural influences while still being affordable
from a Vietnamese cafe with a banging brunch menu
to a throwback of Mexican American fast food chain
and perhaps the best bahn mi sandwiches in Southern California — welcome to Cheap Fast Eats
It's used for sandwiches stuffed with various types of meat shaved directly off the döner spits behind the counter
Words almost can’t do this sandwich justice
The masterfully grilled meats with an extra layer of flavor provided by the sauces piled on the cloud-like bread is the stuff of dreams
There’s also various baklava stuffed with nuts
and a selection of Turkish delights that resemble the texture of nougat crossed with a gummy candy rolled in nuts or fruits
preceded by the savoriness of the sandwich
works well to balance out the exquisite meal
Walking into Artisan feels like getting a glimpse of the future of cafes in the United States
In addition to the craft Vietnamese coffee drinks
my favorite aspect about the operation is that they have a drive-thru with a limited menu to keep it all moving quickly
drive-thrus deserves to be celebrated more
They are a godsend for busy parents like myself
looking to grab a decent bite between running errands and school pick-ups and drop-offs
I started with a breakfast burrito ($12.50)
made with fluffy scrambled eggs hugged by a layer of melted cheese
and a cool sliver of avocado with the option to add carne asada ($2)
It’s all wrapped in a crispy flour tortilla with a toasted outside that screams the comfort I feel I’m always searching for
there’s the Mochiko Chicken Sandwich ($14.75)
with the option to add a ghost pepper sauce if you really want to turn up the heat
The light breading on the chicken is a combination of Mochiko rice flour
commonly found in Hawaiian dishes but originating in Japan
It's an excellent canvas for the spiciness of the ghost pepper sauce
all topped off with cabbage slaw and tomato and placed between a soft round bun that holds it all together
try one of the excellent Vietnamese coffee drinks
like the Sea Cream Black Coffee (strong Viet coffee topped with a salted cream)
or their Vietnamese iced coffee served bạc xỉu style
the name refers to the generous addition of sweetened condensed milk
Someone once told me a Mexican restaurant is the best place to get a cheeseburger
While I don’t know if that particular theory always holds true
it always lingers in the back of my mind whenever I gaze upon certain old-school Mexican restaurants prominent throughout SoCal
It wasn’t until 2008 that blogger Christian Ziebarth began an effort to bring back Naugles
which resulted in a patent lawsuit with Del Taco that lasted almost a decade but ultimately went in Ziebarth’s favor
The Fountain Valley location opened in 2015
Perusing the menu at Naugles is like looking back through time
to when Mexican food was more known for crunchy hard shell tacos covered with bright yellow grated cheese and diced tomatoes covered in a tangy red sauce with the slightest amount of kick
Before you call me out with your claims that this doesn’t sound like real or authentic Mexican
a part of the larger picture of Southern California's culinary identity
made with a juicy all-beef patty layered with a slice of Monterey jack cheese
A bite tastes like all the best things Southern California offers
a crispy hard shell made in-house and stuffed with seasoned ground beef
and just the right amount of thinly grated cheddar cheese
It’s all smothered with a signature taco sauce for just a slight amount of tangy heat to satisfy your hunger and soul
intermingled with the nuttiness of the melted Swiss cheese
creates a delightful experience that challenges the senses
(I could have used more to get the full effect.) I also tried the Brekkie jaffle ($9.50)
It provided that extremely comforting experience that can only be found between pressed and toasted pieces of bread
If you want to keep up the Aussie experience like I did
they also have a menu featuring plenty of beverages from down undah
People head to THH for some of the best bánh mì in Orange County and perhaps all of Southern California
What exactly is it keeps people coming back
One reason is their incredibly fresh baguettes
The soft and chewy roll is packed with your choice of protein along with fresh daikon and carrots
It provides just the slightest bit of heat that lingers on your lips after each bite
Word to the wise: The staff maintains a no-nonsense attitude when taking your order
hold back until you know precisely what you want
Print The 28th annual Original Lobster Festival takes place this weekend at Fountain Valley Sports Park
featuring fresh live Maine lobster that will be flown in and cooked up
Organizers promise dancing, arts and crafts, activities for the kids, carnival rides, a karaoke lounge and more. All the details, including hours and ticket information, can be found at originallobsterfestival.com
Fireworks are sure to boom Saturday night when the Pacific Symphony will present its “Tchaikovsky Spectacular” at 8 p.m. in Irvine Great Park, 8000 Great Park Blvd. Carl St.Clair conducts
Among the works that will be performed is Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, featuring young American violinist Aubree Oliverson. Admission ranges from $43 to $225. General parking is included in the price of the tickets, which can be ordered at pacificsymphony.ticketspice.com
and Chamber of Commerce are co-sponsoring a candidates’ forum for the upcoming Newport Beach City Council election
The event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m
The six qualified City Council candidates have indicated they plan to participate
They are Michelle Barto and Nancy Scarbrough (District 1)
incumbent Noah Blom and Jeff Herdman (District 5) and Miles Patricola and Sara Weber (District 7)
The hosts of “Good Morning Newport,” Riley Hayes and Alex Crawford
All local residents and business owners are invited to attend the forum
which will focus on issues that affect Corona del Mar residents
A reception with the candidates will be held in the center’s courtyard beginning at 5:30
then attendees will move into the OASIS auditorium for a moderated question-and-answer forum
There is no charge to attend. The OASIS Senior Center is located at 801 Narcissus Ave. Visit CdMRA.org to register
The Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce is hosting a City Council candidates forum on Thursday
The forum takes place at the Huntington Beach Senior Center, beginning at 6 p.m. It is free to attend, but those interested must pre-register at HBChamber.com
Eight candidates are vying for three available City Council seats in Surf City this fall
For more information, contact Tina Figarsky at tfigarsky@hbcoc.com or (714) 536-8888
The Newport Beach Women’s Democratic Club is co-sponsoring a one-day Volunteer Summit to support local and national Democratic candidates who will represent voters in Newport Beach and its surrounding communities
at the OASIS Senior Center in Corona del Mar
Refreshments will be served between the two sessions
Democratic candidate for the 47th Congressional District; state Sen
Democratic candidate for the 37th state Senate District and Ada Briceno
chair of the Orange County Democratic Party
Volunteer breakout-workshops follow the speakers’ program
Admission is free to local voters. Attendees must register to attend no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept.13 at NBWDC.org
Golden West College is launching a new Certified Nurse Assistant program this fall
The tuition-free program has been approved by the California Department of Public Health
The first cohort will be 25 students for the noncredit program
preparing students to work as entry-level healthcare workers at places like hospitals
long-term care facilities and rehabilitation centers
The 16-week program consists of 60 theory hours and 100 clinical hours
Students can complete the program within one semester and then take an exam to become licensed certified nurse assistants
Golden West College is building an interest list for the colors next spring. For more information, visit goldenwestcollege.edu/noncredit/certified-nurse-assistant
Costa Mesa Sanitary District is hosting its third annual Eco Expo on Wednesday
The event will be held at CMSD headquarters
Attendees will learn how to play an essential role in protecting the environment by reusing products
recycling organic waste and using nontoxic ingredients for homemade cleaning supplies
To make a reservation to attend visit cmsdca.gov/events.
A group of 31 eighth-grade students from the Fountain Valley School District had a unique learning experience this week when they visited Hyundai’s North American headquarters
The field trip, organized by science teachers Amy Peterson and Viet Phan from Fulton Middle School
gave students the opportunity to learn about various careers in the automotive industry and participate in hands-on STEM activities
The eighth-graders earned their spots on the trip through competitions in their science classes
Peterson’s students designed protective capsules for an egg drop challenge
while Phan’s class built and raced cars made from water bottles
Hyundai staff provided an overview of vehicle design and planning
followed by a creative activity where students built scaled vehicles from recycled materials
The day concluded with a tour of the electric Genesis GV60
featuring demonstrations of its remote parking and facial recognition technology
Fulton students and teachers were joined by a reporter and photojournalist from ABC 7
who covered the field trip for the local news station in Los Angeles
“I want my students to see that there are so many job opportunities
even in industries they may not think about
I want them to leave middle school thinking that science is fun.”
The science teacher says her students have been repeating “Hyundai like Sunday” since leaving the headquarters to remind themselves how to pronounce the name properly
Here are the other stories we’re following this week:
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.