The Orange County Tribune Oct. 22, 2022

TILL DEATH DO THEY PART?

Tourism Recovery Revealed

The coronavirus pandemic was a tragedy in terms of the loss of human life, and affected many other things as well.

COVID-19 brought restrictions on travel, commerce and entertainment. It ravaged the hotel industry, which in turn dug a big hole in the budgets of cities that relied on “bed tax” from those establishments to balance the books.

Garden Grove is one of those cities, but the news on that front is good.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the city council there will be a presentation on the “Garden Grove Tourism Recov ery” update made by Kevin Schjel, chair of the Garden Grove Tourism Improvement District and Junior Tau vaa, marketing director for Visit Ana heim.

The recovery of the tourism business comes at a time when three new ma jor hotels are scheduled to begin con struction on Harbor Boulevard soon,

Public hearing is set on Westminster Mall plan Inside Bud & Gene’s at the HB pier’s end

A public hearing on the proposed Westminster Mall Specific Plan will be held at the Wednes day, Nov. 2 meeting of the Westminster Planning Commission.

The meeting will be open to the public and to be watched virtually via

Zoom.

Revamping the mall has been a priority since 2016 as vacancies, changing consumer buying habits and in the retail industry turned the center into a de clining property, leading to falling sales tax revenue

Saturday: 79/58 clouds, rain Sunday: 71/55 sun, wind Monday: 75/55 sunny Tuesday: 74/51 1sunny

n STANTON CITY COUNCIL

Fireworks, council pay on agenda

Two potentially hot is sues are on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting of the Stanton City Council.

Councilmember Gary Taylor has requested a dis cussion on the future sale and use of “safe and sane” fireworks within city lim its.

Stanton is one of 10 cities in Orange County where those pyrotechnics can be sold and discharged. The others are Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Villa Park and West minster.

Those fireworks are sold as fund-raisers for various non-profit organizations such as booster clubs and service groups.

Much of the problem that cities have had with Fourth of July fireworks has revolved around ille gal devices, or the altering Continued on page 2

New coronavirus cases are up, but deaths down

The coronavirus pan demic may be past its peak, but the disease hasn’t gone away.

Thursday’s report from the Orange County Health Care Agency –covering the week from Oct. 13-19 – showed an increase in confirmed

new cases to 1,427 com pared to last week’s 1,328. However, the other three major metrics tracking COVID-19 showed im provement. Deaths de clined to seven from 29 and hospitalizations also fell, from 125 to 116.

go to

THIS COUPLE IS STILL HAPPY TOGETHER ....

As a unique Halloween decoration in West Garden Grove near Eastgate Park (Orange County Tribune photograph).

Two suspects arrested in theft of catalytic converters in Westminster

Two suspects were arrested Thursday morning in Westmin ster for allegedly stealing cata lytic converters from automo biles.

According to Commander Kev in MacCormick of the WPD, of ficers responded to a report just before 7 a.m. of a “possible” catalytic converter theft in the area of 13500 Hoover St.

A woman was seen underneath a vehicle using a saw while a man stood watch. A witness rec ognized the sound of the saw and called 911.

On arrival, officers contacted a witness who provided descrip tions of the two people and said they had left in separate direc tions. Officers located both and found in their possession a cord less saw, three catalytic convert

Coronavirus

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The use of intensive care units to treat coronavirus patients went from 21 to 11.

To date, Orange County has had 672,033 confirmed cases and 7,495 deaths out of a popu lation of 3.2 million.

ers and other tools typically used for committing burglaries.

They were arrested without in cident and booked into Orange County Jail on various felony charges.

They were identified as Timo thie Dale Taglies, 24, of River side and Chelsea Lyn Madrid, 32, of Nuevo, California.

“This is a perfect example of the community and the police department working together to keep the community safe,” said MacCormick.

“The Westminster Police De partment would like to remind

Westminster Mall

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to the city.

The coronavirus pandemic fur ther interrupted progress on de veloping a plan for the property, but there’s a specific plan now available that aims to create a “destination” mixed-use center with 3,000 housing units, 1.1 million square feet of commer cial space and 425 hotel rooms.

The commission meets at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers at 8200 Westminster Blvd.

Fireworks, council pay are before the Stanton council

1

of the “safe and sane” – as certi fied by the state fire marshal –variety so as to be illegal.

GG city council

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perhaps in 2023.

1

Also on the agenda for Tues day’s meeting is a community spotlight recognizing the Gar den Grove Unified School Dis trict for its awards and achieve ments in 2022.

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. in its chambers in the Community Meeting Center, 11300 Stanford Ave., east of

However, law enforcement of ficials state that the discharge of the legal variety makes it diffi cult to enforce the ban against the unlawful products. As a gen eral rule, any device that leaves the ground is against the law.

Also Tuesday night, the council will take up a request by Coun cilmember Carol Warren to con sider a cost-of-living increase in the compensation paid to mem bers of the city council.

Currently members of the Stan ton council are paid $850 a month.

The council will meet in person at Stanton City Hall, 7800 Ka tella Ave., west of Beach Bou levard.

everyone, if you see something or hear something, then please, say something.”

JIm Tortolano Editor and Publisher Marilyn Lewis Tortolano General Manager

The Orange County Tribune is published on Wednesdays and Saturdays with some exceptions. Address is 9402 Luders Ave., Garden Grove, 92844. E-mail is orangecountytribune@gmail. com.

Our website is www.orangecountytri bune.com.

Phone: (714) 458-1860.

Established Aug. 6, 2016. All opinions ex pressed in The Tribune, unless otherwise stated, are those of the individual writer or artist and not necessarily those of The Tribune.

Member: Associated Press, Garden Grove Downtown Business Assn.and the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce.

The Tribune: Our e-paper published each Wednesdsday and Saturday

The Tribune: Reach thousands of people each day for pennies

News&Views

Payment of $50 Million Over Oil Spill

Pipeline leaked off HB shore

SANTA ANA (AP) –

A pipeline operator has agreed to pay $50 million to thousands of Southern California fishermen, tourism companies and property owners who sued after an offshore oil spill last year near Hun tington Beach.

A proposed settlement between Amplify En ergy Corp., which owns the pipeline that rup tured in October 2021 and spilled 25,000 gal lons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean, and the businesses and residents was filed Monday in fed eral court in Santa Ana, court documents show.

Under the proposal, the Houston-based energy company would pay $34 million to commercial fishermen and $9 million to coastal property own ers.

It also would pay $7 million to waterfront tourism operators, in cluding businesses that

provide surf lessons and leisure cruises and shops that sell swimwear and fishing bait.

A federal judge still needs to sign off on the proposal for it to take ef fect. A hearing is sched uled for Nov. 16.

“This is a really dramatic first step and a dramatic compensation for these victims of this terrible tragedy,” said Wylie Ait ken, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs, whom he estimated number more than 10,000.

“Though it may not be 100% it is very substan tial and very helpful and a good deal of compen sation to them. We’re going to continue to try to get every last penny that they deserve.”

The proposal requires Amplify to install a leak detection system and provide spill training to employees, steps that the company also agreed

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AERIAL VIEW OF OIL SPILL

Beaches were closed in the aftermath of the rupture of a pipeline from an offshore drilling platform.

By Jim and Marilyn Tortolano Orange County Tribune

Bud & Gene’s brings back tasty food to the HB Pier Chow Lines

You don’t need to go to the ends of the earth to find a pleasing blend of seafood and burgers in an informal, idyllic setting.

You might only need to go to the end of the pier.

Bud & Gene’s – named after Surf City’s pioneering lifeguards – is the new eatery at the far end of Hunting ton Beach’s iconic pier.

It’s filled the spot long occupied by Ruby’s but has – in some ways – out done its predecessor.

It’s got a more varied menu, with oysters, Ahi, shrimp, etc., but also

some first-rate hand food such as an excel lent burger and French fries.

We strolled through a sunny and warm afternoon to Bud & Gene’s and were pleased by its dining room, sunny and open with white walls and picnic-style tables.

You order at the counter and the wait staff brings you your food, and fairly quickly.

Marilyn ordered a wedge salad with shrimp and found it to be quite gener ous in size and delicious in taste and freshness. There was plenty of shrimp

Storm surge blocks rail service

SAN CLEMENTE (AP)

– Metrolink and Amtrak train services could be suspended through De cember during repairs due to shifting ground beneath a stretch of sea side track in Southern California, transit offi

cials said.

Service between Orange and San Diego counties was halted Sept. 30 af ter a recent storm surge caused waves that shifted the tracks near the coast al community of San Clemente.

Initially, officials said service would be re stored in November, but the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday that the work could keep passenger trains off the tracks through the end of

BUD & GENE’S AIRY AND SUNNY DINING ROOM Food service returns to the Huntington Beach Pier

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Bud & Gene’s on HB Pier

and all the trimmings of bacon, onions, etc.

Jim went straight for the B&G Burger, and he’s glad he was hungry. Two beef patties totaling 1/3 a pound of meat, with cheese and onions on a sesame seed bun with an excel lent side of seasoned fries.

It was one of the best burgers he’s ever had, and it outstrips what you could buy at the Ruby’s that used to occupy that space.

There’s also an assortment of wines and beers to go with your meal.

Now, regarding the abundance of the dishes, the principle of “you get what you pay for” ap plies here. Jim’s burger was $16 (with fries) and Marilyn’s salad (with shrimp) was $22.

Bud & Gene’s may not be for those who are on a tight budget, but there’s plenty here for people with an appetite for

good American food.

One post-script: B&G’s is still a work in progress, with expansion into the second floor underway. The new look, alas, will see the picnic-style table replaced by more conven tional booths and tables on both floors.

“Bud & Gene’s” is located at 1 Main St., Huntington Beach. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Oil spill off HB

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to in a plea deal with federal au thorities. It also would require Amplify to increase staffing on an offshore oil platform, court papers show.

The leak occurred about 4 miles offshore.

Arts&Living

“Black Adam”: Too Predictable

Dwayne Johnson has great body, but average tale

By Mark Kennedy AP Entertainment Writer

Not long into “Black Adam,” a preteen boy looks up at the muscled hulk of Dwayne John son and begs for his help: ``We could use a superhero right now.’’ Speak for yourself, kid. Do we need another superhero with another convoluted origin story that stretches back thou sands of years and fulfills a whacko destiny? Do we really need another clutch of second ary level heroes to muddy fo cus? We’re almost 40 deep into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a dozen in the DC universe.

Movie Review

You can almost smell the fumes now, can’t you?

“Black Adam” isn’t bad, it’s just predictable and color-bynumbers, stealing from other films like an intellectual proper ty super-villain. But Johnson is a natural in the title role, mixing might with humor and able to deliver those necessary wood en lines. Why he hasn’t had a starring role in a DC or Mar vel superhero flick until now is astonishing – c’mon, he’s built himself into a freaking superhe ro in street clothes already.

Like Marvel’s “Eternals,” “Black Adam” gets out of the blocks very sluggishly with the tangled tale of our setting – Kahndaq, a fictional Middle Eastern kingdom in 2,600 B.C.

that has wizards, a blood-thirsty king, a magical crown and Eter nium, a rare metallic ore with energy-manipulating properties (Hello, Vibranium from “Black Panther”).

Flash-forward to present day, where Kahndaq is under the cruel rule of the organized crime syndicate Intergang and its citi zens are ripe to rebel. They think they may have a leader in Black Adam (here Teth Adam, when he is introduced), who is re leased from his 5,000-year-long tomb and is naturally cranky. Is he a force for good or bad? (Or for a new sub-franchise?) The answer is yes to all.

Yet the other superheroes in the DC pantheon aren’t sure about the new guy and send what can only be described as the Plan B of muscle from leftover mem bers of a knock-off organiza

Fair HH

tion called the Justice Society of America.

There’s Doctor Fate (a dollarstore Doctor Strange played by Pierce Brosnan, who some how keeps his dignity), Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo, nice ly playing a dweeby and always hungry giant), Aldis Hodge as a one-note Hawkman and Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone, who can control – checks notes – the wind. They apparently left at home the superhero with the ability to open jars.

Black Adam is more than a match for all of them combined. He can fly, move as fast as The Flash, catch rockets, deflect bul lets and harness his own bluish electricity. Mostly he does this

DWAYNE JOHNSON stars in “Black Adam,” the story of a superhero who doesn’t hesitate to kill (Warner Bros.)

“Black Adam” too predictable

weirdly passive thing of just floating. “I kneel before no one’’ he intones, which might explain it.

Director Jaume Collet-Serra and the design team do a great job in every department but are let down by a derivative and baggy screenplay by Adam Sz tykiel, Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani that goes from one violent scene to another like a video game in order to paper over a plot both undercooked and overcooked. At one point, with the audience exhausted by all the carnage, they introduce skeletons who rise up as a legion from hell, just what we wanted. They nicely include pockets of humor that DC has not always done well – a recurring bit with “Baby Come Back” and teach ing Black Adam satire are fun; a Clint Eastwood gag fails – and

there may have been three natu ral endings piling up before the final, manipulative one. (“This can only end one way,” says the script. Don’t believe it.)

Amidst the punching superhe roes are two humans – a rebel leader and her skateboard-andcomics-loving pre-teen son, played superbly by Sarah Shahi by and Bodhi Sabongui, respec tively. Comedian Mohammed Amer is a much-needed bolt of bright humor.

Most intriguing – and the an gle most fruitful to lean into –is the notion of hero itself. The Justice Society members are shocked to find that they aren’t seen as heroic to the residents of Kahndaq, living 27 years under oppression. Black Adam has come to help, even if he’s a little more violent. Residents wonder where were the guys with all the superpowers for almost three

decades while they suffered – a nice dig at Western nations.

“There are only heroes and vil lains. Heroes don’t kill people,” a confused Hawkman states. Black Adam replies: “Well, I do.” It is Shahiby’s character who notes that it’s easy to call someone a hero when you’re the one drawing the line.

The number of – ahem – callbacks to other films is pretty sad – “Tomb Raider,” “Back to the Future” and plenty of “Star Wars” (even, unforgivably, the line “You’re our only hope”.) It’s a film that is sometimes selfaware, as when the kid urges Black Adam to come up with a catchphrase that will sell lunch boxes.

He does, but it makes little sense: “Tell them, `The man in black sent you.’” Wait, he was sent by someone else? Do they mean Johnny Cash? Actu ally that may be a clue. What the filmmakers probably had in mind was cash – selling those lunchboxes.

“Black Adam,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release that hits cin emas on Friday, is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, intense action and some lan guage. Running time: 124 min utes. MPAA Definition of PG13: Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappro priate for children under 13. the year.

“The new timeline of mid-Jan uary for the completion of con struction – and a mid-December decision on the restoration of passenger rail service – came about in discussions with the signed contractor, CondonJohnson, which was not the original construction firm con tracted,” Orange County Trans portation Authority spokesman Eric Carpenter said in an email to the Times.

He said the timeline is subject to change depending on factors including right-of-way nego tiations, permitting and securing necessary construction materi als.

Continued from

MLB playoffs: too long or too short?

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think you can see how easily you can lose that series.”

Philadelphia, with the Nation al League’s sixth-best record, opened the NLCS with a win at San Diego, which was No. 5. Houston, the American League’s winningest team, opened the ALCS on Wednes

day night against the New York Yankees, who had the No. 2 record.

All remaining teams are among the top nine payrolls: the Yankees third ($254 million), Phillies fourth ($237 million), Padres fifth ($221 million) and Astros ninth ($186 million). From 1903-68, the teams with the top record in each league advanced directly to the World Series.

Then playoffs were added and only 15 teams with their league’s top record won the World Series from 1969-93, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. After a second round

of playoffs was introduced, just six clubs with their league’s top mark took the title from 19952011 and five have won it all since wild-card games started in 2012.

And this year included an entire wild-card round that led to byes for the four top teams _ along with five off days.

“Just adding more teams to the mix makes it more difficult of a road,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. ``Especially in baseball probably a little bit more so than other sports, kind of any team can win on a given day.’’

Four of the six winningest regular-season teams failed to reach this year’s LCS. The Dodgers (111) and Braves (101) lost in the best-of-five Division Series. The Mets (101) and Cardinals (93) were knocked out in the best-of-three wildcard round.

“You could be the best team and your season comes down to a three-game series. I don’t like that format going forward for a 162-game season,’’ pitcher Max

Scherzer said last October.

The postseason doubled to four teams in 1969 with the start of the LCS, doubled again to eight in 1995 with Division Series, increased to 10 in 2012 with wild-card games and to 12 this year.

Only two teams with winning records failed to make the play offs, Milwaukee and Baltimore – and they would have if the players’ association had agreed to Commissioner Rob Man fred’s 14-team plan.

Among the players’ propos als was expanding the Division Series to best-of-seven with re seeding after each round. They also said they would consider MLB’s proposal for a 14-team postseason if it included giving the higher seed a “ghost win’’ – starting with a 1-0 series lead.

“It makes no sense to go to 14 teams at all,” said Yankees reliever Zack Britton, a member of the union’s executive sub committee. “More teams that are average are going to get in, and then you just dilute the postseason. It’s not worth it”

Ramsey, defense save Rams

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points per game and 301.3 yards, keeping the Rams com petitive despite an offense that can’t run the ball behind an inju ry-laden offensive line. No team has allowed fewer first downs than the Rams’ defense, which also ranks second in red-zone effectiveness.

Pro Football Focus ranks the Rams’ defense third in the league this season despite hav ing its share of the injuries that have hit Los Angeles’ roster much harder than usual.

The Rams’ secondary has been

Football results

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worse than a tie for the title.

In the Orange League, Magno lia lost 34-20 to Anaheim.

Orange defeated Costa Mesa 55-6 in Orange Coast play. The Panthers will play Santa Ana next Friday for the title; both are 5-0 in league and 7-2 overall.

missing two key players who are expected to return after the bye: veteran cornerback Troy Hill and rookie Cobie Durant. When they’re back, Ramsey believes the whole group will get a boost.

“I’m usually never happy for an early bye, but it’s coming at a good spot right now,’’ Ramsey said. “Hopefully we get some guys back from injury.’’

Even with injury absences, coordinator Raheem Morris is leading another effective, resil ient group.

Los Angeles thoroughly shut down struggling Carolina in its final game before the bye, yield ing 203 yards and three offen sive points in the 24-10 victory.

The Rams’ numbers are even more impressive because of the way their season started: Buffalo wrecked the defending champs’ banner-raising night with 31 points and 413 yards in a blowout victory.

The Sports Page

Lions Fall; Two-Way GGL Race

In the next-to-last week of the regular high school football season, some league races were settled but some were not.

Previously unbeaten Westminster was stunned Friday night, losing to Laguna Beach 21-14, and giving the Breakers no worse than a tie for the Pac-4 title.

Western accomplished something similar with its 48-7 win over Santa Ana Valley, clinching no worse than an Orange League title tie.

In the Garden Grove League, the race now comes down to two teams.

Los Amigos defeated Santiago 26-12. That leaves Rancho Alamitos –victor over Loara by 3114 – and the Lobos both with 3-1 league records. If each wins next week, they’ll share the crown.

Edison continued its dominance over longtime Sunset League rival Fountain Valley by de feating the Barons 50-0. In the Empire League, Kennedy defeated Paci

Prep Football

Thursday

• Bolsa Grande, 49, La Quinta 18

Friday

• Laguna Beach 21, Westminster 14

• Segerstrom 44, Marina 22

• Rancho Al. 31, Loara 14

• Edison 50, F. Valley 0

• Western 48, SA Valley 7

• Los Amigos 26, Santiago 12

• Los Al. 48, Hunt. Beach 7

• Kennedy 35, Pacifica 14

• Orange 55, Costa Mesa 6

• Anaheim 34, Magnolia 20

Saturday

• Garden Grove at Katella.

fica 35-14.

Saturday’s key game is for the Big 4 League title.

Garden Grove (7-1 over all, 1-0 in league) will travel to Western High’s Handel Stadium in Ana heim to take on Katella (3-5, 1-0).

The winner gets no

THE NEW YORK METS had one of the best teams in MLB this season but aren’t in the league championship series (Shutterstock).

Baseball playoffs: are they too long or maybe too short?

By Ronald Blum AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) – Major League Baseball views expanded playoffs as the more the merrier. Not for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardi nals.

The National League’s four win ningest teams failed to reach the League Championship Series, six months of accomplishment undone in just a few days.

Philadelphia is vying to become the first third-place team to reach the

World Series after clinching the 12th and final playoff spot on Oct. 3, three weeks after the Dodgers locked up the first.

Years of expansion have turned the Fall Classic into a month-plus tourna ment and the 162-game season into a postseason prologue.

“The hot team is really difficult to beat in general,” Houston pitcher Justin Verlander said. “And then so you take the best teams in the regular season, have them take off five days, which we’re not used to, and then have the hot team keep playing ... I

Ramsey, defense keeping Rams alive

By Greg Beacham AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP)

JALEN RAMSEY

– Jalen Ramsey has cov ered a lot of ground in his football career, and now he’s even finding his way into his opponents’ pocket.

After winning a national championship at Florida State, the fleet-footed defensive back is now a three-time All-Pro with a Super Bowl ring from the Rams. He plays a key role on every level of Los Angeles’ defense in the bespoke “Star” position,

putting him in man-toman coverage, in zone protection and in a runstopping capacity from play to play.

And after playing six NFL seasons without sacking a quarterback, Ramsey is now a passrushing weapon with

a sack in back-to-back games for the defending champions (3-3) as they hit their bye week.

“I definitely still get a little reaction out of them,” Ramsey said of his teammates’ sideline celebrations of his sacks.