The Orange County Tribune Nov. 23, 2022

Because of the holiday and planning for the new year, The Trib will not publish Saturday editions on Nov. 26 and Dec. 3 Weather Forecast

MIDWEEK EDITION

73 / 51

Wednesday: 73/51 sunny Thursday: 79/51 sunny Friday: 77/51 sunny

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Printed in Garden Grove, California n orangecountytribune.com n Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022 n orangecountytribune@gmail.com

NOTHING RECREATIONAL ABOUT THIS

THREE FIRES ignited in Garden Grove on Saturday. Above photo shows the burned-out remnants of recreational vehicles. Exploding propane tanks are blamed for the fire that ensued. Story on page 3 (OCFA photo)

Three OC contests remain undecided

Three electoral contests on the ballot in the West Orange County area remain undecided as the number of ballots to be processed dwindles.

According to the county registrar of voters, there remained 13,485 ballots from the Nov. 8 general election to be counted as of the end of business on Tuesday. It’s unknown how many of them would affect the tally in the trio of local races.

In the Ocean View School

District, where voters are filling three seats, Morgan Westmoreland has 12,649 votes (19.53 percent) in third place. In fourth place is John Briscoe with 12,579 votes (19.42 percent). Thats a difference of 70 votes, up from the 57-vote margin on Monday.

The District 1 seat election for the Westminster City Council showed Amy Phan West with 3,142 votes (50.08 percent) to Continued on page 2

Inside The Tribune

Is Stafford done for the season?

Child Ministry Director Held For Sex Crimes Authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying other potential victims of a suspect charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl and having secretly recorded her to make child pornography.

He is an Orange County children’s ministry director who also taught music and dance and worked as an after school program leader – including at a church in Garden Grove.

Sonny Angel Cabugao Boloico, 39, of Aliso Viejo, was arrested by the Orange Police Department on Oct. 31, 2022 on suspi-

SONNY BOLOICO

cion of numerous sexual assault crimes against a teenage girl.

Boloico has been charged with one felony count Continued on page 2

3 held on drug charges SPORTS PAGES 7 and 8

“Chaperone” witty at GWC A&L PAGES 5 and 6

Three persons were arrested Sunday in Westminster on drug-related charges.

According to the WPD, an officer stopped two people in the area of Brookhurst Street and McFadden Avenue. Two of them were arrested for possession of narcotics and on a felony warrant.

The third person stopped by the officer was found to be in possession of 1 gram of fentanyl, $500 in cash, a “multitude” of small plastic bags, 60 grams of methamphetamine and 5 grams of cocaine.

He was arrested for possession of narcotics for sale and booked into Orange County Jail in Santa Ana.

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2 WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Seek additional victims Continued from page 1

of sexual penetration of a child over 14 by a foreign object and force, one felony count of sexual penetration of an unconscious victim, one felony count of a lewd act upon a child age 14 or 15, and one felony count of using an underage person for obscene matter.

Boloico faces a maximum sentence of 11 years and four months if convicted on all charges.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 16 at the Central Justice Center in Department C55. He is currently being held at the Theo Lacy Facility in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Since 2012, Boloico has worked at multiple schools throughout Orange County as a children’s ministry director, dance instructor, drama teacher, creative arts director and after school program leader. He held

children-related jobs in schools and churches in Laguna Niguel, Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Tustin, and Orange.

He worked at the Community Roots Academy in Laguna Niguel, the Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center in Santa Ana, the Southeastern California – OC Grace Church in Garden Grove, Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Tustin, and Storeybook Creative Dance in Orange. Boloico last worked for the Newport Subacute Healthcare Center in the City of Costa Mesa where he worked with the elderly.

Anyone with information about additional potential victims is asked to contact Orange Police Department Detective Augie Rocha at (714) 744-7579.

Deputy District Attorney Laila Nikaien of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.

Nov. 8 general election results Continued from page 1

John Gentile with 3,132 votes (49.92 percent), a difference of 10 votes. That’s the same as on Monday.

Measure O, which would provide for the taxation of cannabis Visit us at: Orangecountytribune.com for latest news every day

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. Website is: www.orangecountytribune.com.

Phone: (714) 458-1860.

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

A member of The Associated Press, and Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce.

products in Huntington Beach, has the support of 42,456 votes, compared to the 35,209 opposed.

That’s a “yes” vote of 54.67 percent, a slight gain from Monday’s 54.61 percent.

PUBLIC NOTICE Property was found on Sept. 14, 2022, in the area of Harbor Boulevard and Banner Drive.

Property was turned into the Garden Grove Police Department. Please contact the Property and Evidence Unit at (714) 741-5784 for further information.

Visit us at: Orangecountytribune.com for latest news every day

The best in local news The Orange County TRIBUNE

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23, 2022 3

News&Views Trio of fires in G. Grove kept the OCFA busy ORANGE COUNTY diversity is getting more diverse (Shutterstock)

New flavors are coming to the Orange County menudo “Distant hands in foreign lands are turning hidden wheels Causing things to come about which no one seems to feel Invisible from where we stand, the connections come to pass And though too strange to comprehend, they affect us, nonetheless.”

That song (“Migration”) by James Taylor never became a hit like “You’ve Got A Friend” or “Fire and Rain,” but it’s very much on my mind these days.

Orange County is going through what looks like a sea change. In 2018, all the Congressional districts in the OC turned blue (for a while, anyway) and now, the county Board of Supervisors – although a non-partisan body, allegedly – has a Democratic majority.

Politics are not all that is changing.

The county’s demographics are shifting and sometimes in ways that are not always obvious.

The influx of Hispanics and Asians

(primarily Vietnamese and Korean) have already had a mighty impact on our cities.

We think of Garden Grove and Westminster as being especially transformed by refugees from Southeast Jim Tortolano Asia), but people of Mexican and Central American backgrounds nearly match those from the former French Indochina.

But even that is changing. Many Vietnamese are moving south to Fountain Valley. Drive down Brookhurst Street and see pho restaurants dotting the commercial landscape. Names like Nguyen are showing up in high school

Three fires in the same area kept fighters busy Saturday morning and early afternoon in Garden Grove.

According to the Orange County Fire Authority, 80 firefighters responded to the blazes, one a fire in a recreational vehicle in the 7500 block of Chapman Avenue, near Western Avenue. Propane tanks were reported exploding, and RVs on fire.

One block away in the 12000 block of Western (near Chapman), another fire broke out. The efforts were complicated by high winds, the presence

Retorts

Continued on page 4

AERIAL STREAMS were used to battle the fires Saturday in Garden Grove. Another photo on page 1.

Mendez Park, monument opens Dec. 1 The City of Westminster, in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education, will host a grand opening ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 1 to celebrate the completion of a new park and monument honoring the historic Mendez v.

Westminster case, which led to the desegregation

of California’s public schools 75 years ago.

The event, free and open to the public, will begin at 10 a.m. at 7371 Westminster Blvd., where community leaders and special guest dignitaries will deliver welcoming remarks and officially open Mendez Tribute Monument Park to the

of high power lines and railroad tracks.

A third exterior pallet fire on Western was fought with aerial master streams and large hand lines, according to the OCFA. Containment of the blazes took 56 minutes and causes of the fires are under investigation.

Assistance was provided

by Garden Grove police, Orange County sheriff’s deputies, Anaheim Fire and Rescue, Orange City Fire Department and Huntington Beach police.

community with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

“We’re excited and honored to have built the first public space that commemorates this landmark civil rights case,” said City Manager Christine Cordon.

Located on the northeast corner of Westminster Boulevard and Olive

Street, Mendez Tribute Monument Park will prominently feature statues of two parents — Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez — who were at the heart of the famed civil rights case.

Nearby will be sculpted figures of students holding books to symbolize Continued on page 4

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4 WEDNESDAY, NOV. 13, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

The many faces and colors of the Orange County Continued from page 3

sports team lineups.

The Korean population of Orange County is now finding a center in Buena Park, leaving Garden Grove’s Koreatown (Garden Grove Boulevard between Brookhurst Street and Magnolia Avenue) as a slightly less hip gathering spot.

The most striking change that I see developing is the influx from the Middle East in the form of Arabic-speaking and/or primarily Muslim nations.

Stores and eateries featuring Middle Eastern cuisine such as hummus (a dip or spread made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon and spices) or meats prepared in the Halal (Arabic for “permissable”) tradition, roughly analogous to kosher in Jewish foods are popping up along Brookhurst and Euclid streets as the “Little Arabia” of Anaheim extends south.

In south Garden Grove, the Islamic Society of Orange County on 13th Street (just south of Westminster Avenue) mosque and campus has created an enclave of that population.

Indian and Pakistani restaurants are opening as well to serve small but growing communities.

It’s even possible that we may be getting our share of refugees from Ukraine, as millions of people have been displaced by the war there. The U.S. government has agreed to accept 180,000 people. So far, 12,619 already have American sponsors in California, mostly in Southern California, according to the State Department.

I hope this doesn’t scare anybody. This country is now, and has

always been, a nation of immigrants. As Walt Whitman said about the U.S., “here is the hospitality that indicates heroes.”

We are said to be proud of our diversity. If so, we may have a lot more to be proud of soon.

Jim Tortolano’s people are from Italy, and one ancestor might not have gone through the formalites of Ellis Island,

Mendez Park and monument Continued from page 3

the 5,000 children represented in the legal action that laid the foundation for the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board decision.

The statues were crafted by internationally renowned sculptor Ignacio Gomez, whose work is featured in the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC. In addition, the landscaped, quarter-acre park will feature a large, inscribed textbook monument and inter-

pretive panels with insight on the case, the historical figures who were involved, and its farreaching impacts.

The park, designed by landscape architects with the firm MIG, Inc., also incorporates innovative technologies to enhance the experience of visitors.

Stations will display special markers that enable users of smartphones and other devices to access augmented reality visuals, photographs, and audio narrations.

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23, 2022 5

Arts&Living

“Chaperone” a clever meta musical At the Mainstage Theater on the Golden West College campus

By Thom deMartino Orange County Tribune

Imagine sitting in a darkened venue: you’ve been looking forward to this play or musical, when a voice from the darkness erupts – “I hate theater!... well, it’s so disappointing, isnt’ it?”

The insightful commentator continues, describing his chagrin at the state of modern theater, and its devices: “...keep the actors out of the audience! God, I did not pay good money to have the fourth wall come crashing down around my ears!”

With these witty (and perhaps relatable) observations, so begins the Martie Ramm-directed love letter to classic musicals that is “The Drowsy Chaperone.” which recently played at the Golden West College Mainstage Theater.

The lights rise upon a modest apartment, occupied by a single Man in Chair (Charles Ketter).

The folksy narrator explains his love of musicals, particularly the more classic ones: he fetches from his record collection his very favorite, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” a popular 1928 musical comedy.

Putting needle to vinyl, the Man brings to life the world of “Chaperone” as his apartment is seamlessly transformed into a lavish Broadway musical. Enthusiastically describing the plot and the characters back stories with the glee and verve of a true fan, he narrates from the sidelines as they slip onto stage to join him.

There’s the flighty hostess Mrs. Tottendale (Lisa Stout) and her devoted, dry-witted manservant Underling (Jason Stout) as they prepare for the impending marriage between beautiful Broadway star Janet Van De Graaff (Amanda MacDonald) and her doting fiancé Robert Martin (Whitney Ackerman), accompanied by his friend and best man George (JT Nelson); there’s the

AMANDA MacDONALD AS JANET WITH ENSEMBLE in “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Mainstage Theater at Golden West College (Greg Parks).

Stage Review ingenue-in-waiting Kitty (Novelee Smedley), desperate to impress the show’s big producer Feldzieg (Salvatore Messina); the mysterious and seductive Latin lover Aldolpho (a wonderfully over-the-top freshman performance by Seven Perrin); and the boozy, bombastic titular Chaperone (Megan Cherry), whom George has tasked with keeping the bride away from the groom, so as not to jinx the wedding.

But other troubles are afoot for the producer, as he learns a local mobster has some concerns about his investment in the show tanking, should Janet leave the show and her life of stardom: to drive this point home, the boss has sent along a pair of goons disguised as bakers (Noah

Doody and Maximus Dorsey, the interplay and fun energy of whom are a highlight of the show) – who make clear that if Feldzieg doesn’t find a way to stop the wedding, they’ll make sure he gets his “just desserts” (ba-dum-tiss.) Enter the handsome but dull-witted Aldolpho … and after a little clever manipulation by the producer, he’s ready to play the home wrecker.

As a gleeful narrator dishes gossip and lore about the actors of “Chaperone,”the players go about their madcap antics... but with all this pre-wedding hullabaloo going on, how will the happy couple’s nuptials ever come to fruition?

“Chaperone” is a charming, zany, meta romp through the tropes of musical comedy, made all the more fun by the running commentary of Ketter’s Man In Chair: his character’s love

Great: HHHH for the fictional musical and its back stories is so infectious that between his performance and the amazing work of the cast, it really brings this show-withina-show to life for the audience.

MacDonald’s performance as Janet, particularly in the number “Show Off” is an outstanding demonstration of the actress’ vocal skills, in the same way that the catchy musical number “Toledo Surprise” showcases the marvelously synchronous dancing and comedic talents of Dorsey and Doody’s gangster chefs.

Veteran GWC Mainstage Theater alum Ackerman does amazing work with Nelson’s George in the rousing tap number “Cold Feet, and Cherry’s inebriated Continued on page 6

6 WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

“Drowsy Chaperone” review Continued from page 5

Chaperone’s “As We Stumble Along” (”a rousing anthem to alcoholism” wryly quips the narrator) is a fun poke at the songs of yesteryear that may be slightly more problematic in contemporary times.

It may feel over the course of the trim 90 minute show like the Chaperone is one of the lesser seen characters: while in reality, Cherry owns the stage in every appearances as the unflappable, unapologetic alcoholic; and her interactions with Perrin’s Aldolpho are some of the most fun in the show (which also make use of scenic designer Tim Muller’s clever set design.)

A brilliant, fun commentary on classic musical theater, filled with great comedy and excellent choreography and catchy musical numbers, “The Drowsy Chaperone” is a zany, offbeat gem to check out while you can ... even if you find yourself try-

ing not to think about a certain poodle by the show’s end.

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, NOV 23, 2022 7

Is Matthew Stafford’s season coming to end?

Continued from page 8

“I need to talk to the doctors,” McVay said when asked about Stafford’s status. “Obviously we need to make a smart decision for Matthew and see where we’re at with that. I know how he was feeling, and we made the decision it was going to be

in his best interest to not have him continue to play.”

The Rams had little chance with Perkins, who’d thrown one career pass in three seasons and played only because secondteam quarterback John Wolford was inactive with a neck injury.

Perkins scrambled 23 yards on

his second snap, leading to a 33-yard field goal that cut the deficit to 24-17, but he struggled the rest of the way.

He blamed himself for a delay of game penalty and an overthrow of receiver Ben Skowronek that forced a punt after New Orleans extended its lead to 27-17. He took sacks on three consecutive plays late in the fourth quarter.

“That delay of game was totally on me,” he said. “I communicated the wrong call to the offense, and that next play I just overshot him (Skowronek). It definitely could have been cleaner, but it took me a little time to get in the swing of things.’’

The issues were not all about the offense, though. The defense allowed 17 points on the Saints’ first three possessions of the second half, including a 75yard touchdown drive to open the third quarter when New Orleans did not face a third down.

Dalton had the highest passer rating (149.6) of his 12-year career, going 21 of 25 for 260 yards.

“There were some good times where we got some stops defensively, but just not enough,” McVay said. “That first drive of the second half ends up hurting you.”

The Rams are in last place in the NFC West a year after going 12-5 in the 2021 regular season and 4-0 in the playoffs. Los Angeles played Sunday without 2021 Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp, who is expected to undergo ankle surgery and miss the rest of the reason. They lost offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe (ankle) and defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson (knee) during the game.

And now they are not sure about Stafford, whom a team spokesman said would undergo tests before a decision on whether he would re-enter the NFL’s concussion protocol.

A close loss to the Chiefs Continued from page 8

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James had covered Kelce on 36 snaps over their six matchups since 2018 according to Next Gen Stats. Kelce had been targeted seven times and had only four receptions for 14 yards.

Against the rest of the Chargers’ defenders over the same period, Kelce had 45 receptions for 605 yards and four touchdowns.

“He’s one of the best in the league He got the better of me the majority of the game,” Kelce said about James. “I knew he was sitting on my outside shoulder. Coach Reid saw that, he had me get across the field and beat him.”

It was the third straight year the Chargers had a late lead against the Chiefs at home, only to come up empty.

In 2020, Michael Badgley kicked a field goal with 2:27 remaining to give the Bolts a 20-17 lead. Harrison Butker then kicked a field goal as time expired to force overtime before making a 58-yarder to give the Chiefs a 23-20 win.

Last year, Kelce had a pair of touchdowns – late in regulation

and then in overtime – for a 3428 victory.

“They made a few plays. We contested the whole series,” coach Brandon Staley said. “We just didn’t rush or cover well enough to finish it.”

The Chargers have not won a home game against the Chiefs since 2013.

The one thing the Chargers can take out of the game is that their offense looked better with the return of receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, who had been out the last two games.

Allen, playing only his third game due to a nagging hamstring injury, had five receptions for 94 yards. That included a 46yard catch in the fourth quarter to put the ball on the Chiefs 16yard line. Four plays later, Justin Herbert connected with Joshua Palmer on a 6-yard touchdown to give the Chargers what proved to be a short-lived 27-23 lead.

“It felt great. Fun. It was fun,” Allen said.

Williams’ return was short lived.

He had one catch for 15 yards and departed after reinjuring his right ankle in the first quarter.

8 WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

TheSportsPage

Panthers go for the title vs.

San Jacinto Division 6 game Friday at Fred Kelly Orange High School’s football team will host San Jacinto High Friday night in the CIF-SS Division 6 championship game.

The Panthers are 11-2 overall and champions of the Orange Coast League.

The Tigers are also 11-2 and champs of the Mountain Pass League.

Orange High defeated Loyola High of Los Angeles 38-35 in the semifinal game last week to advance to the finals.

San Jacinto edged Calabasas 15-14 last week in the other semifinal match.

The Panthers offense features Hype Grand, who has thrown 19 TD passes, and a triple rushing threat of Grand (seven touchdowns), Kobe Boykin (10) and Ardwon Morris (12).

The Tigers have a balanced offense, with Dereun Dortch passing for 2,712 yards and 35 touchdowns and Malachi Brown rushing for 1,115 yards and 18 touchdowns this season.

The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Fred Kelly Stadium on the El Modena High campus.

(Note to readers: High school students from Garden Grove residing east of Haster Street are in Orange High’s attendance area).

Kelce’s catch meant a 30-27 loss to Chiefs

By Joe Reedy AP Sports Writer

INGLEWOOD (AP) – Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James has had the better of his matchups against Kansas City’s Travis Kelce over the years.

The one time he didn’t, though, ended up being the most painful.

James allowed his first touchdown to Kelce at the worst possible time Sunday night. Kelce’s 17yard TD reception came with 31 seconds remai-

ning as the Chiefs rallied for a 30-27 victory over their AFC West rivals.

“It was a man-to-pick route. They ran a good play. Executed it,” James said. “He ran a drag route and was running away from my leverage. When I did try to catch up the dude got in my way. I got to make that play. That is what they pay me to do.

“That one hurts. That is a tough one especially against that team.”

Coming into the game, Continued on page 7

MATTHEW STAFFORD’S ROUGH DAYS Rams’ quarterback had a good first half vs. Saints, but then more bad luck hit and the Saints prevailed 27-20 (Brevin Townsell /Rams photo)

Is Stafford’s season over?

Rams down to 3rd string

By Guerry Smith Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – An already disappointing season for Matthew Stafford and Los Angeles Rams could be getting worse.

Now tied for the worst 10-game record of any defending Super Bowl champion, the Rams (37) lost Stafford to what was feared to be a second concussion in three weeks during a 27-20 defeat in New Orleans that extended their losing steak to four games.

Stafford led an 87-yard touchdown drive just before halftime to give the Rams a 14-10 lead, but he left at the end of his first series in the third quarter after the Saints scored to go ahead 17-14.

This Week in Area Football • USC Trojans (10-1) Saturday hosting Notre Dame (8-3).

• UCLA (8-3) at Cal (4-7) on Friday.

• Los Angeles Rams (3-7) Sunday at Kansas City Chiefs (8-2).

• Los Angeles Chargers (5-5) on Sunday host Arizona (4-7).

The Rams then gave up a 53-yard touchdown pass from Andy Dalton to Chris Olave, trailing 24-14 when reserve quarterback Bryce Perkins entered the next time they had the ball.

“Our guys battled, but you lose Matthew, it makes it challenging,”

Rams coach Sean McVay said. “It changes the way you’re really able to operate.”

The prognosis is unclear for Stafford, who put the Rams ahead twice in the first half with touchdown passes of 62 yards to Tutu Atwell and 6 yards to Allen Robinson.

Stafford returned just two days before the game in New Orleans after sitting out against Arizona last Sunday while in concussion protocol from a hit he took against Tampa Bay on Nov. 6.

He appeared to hit his head on the Superdome turf during his third-quarter possession and was sacked to end the drive before getting evaluated and walking toward the tunnel.

Continued on page 7