The Orange County Tribune Dec. 10, 2022

Weather Forecast

WEEKEND EDITION

66 / 56

Saturday: 66 /56 partly cloudy Sunday: 59/45 morning rain Monday: 56/40 showers Tuesday: 60/39 mostly sunny

HHH

Printed in Garden Grove, California n orangecountytribune.com n Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 n orangecountytribune@gmail.com

n GARDEN GROVE CITY COUNCIL

Two New Faces And Two Will Say Goodbye Tran, DoVinh to take the oath Two new members will be sworn in at Tuesday’s meeting of the Garden Grove City Council, and two will be leaving.

Taking the oath of office will be Steve Jones, who was re-elected to a twoyear term as mayor.

Re-elected to a four-year term was Councilmember George Brietigam (District 1). New councilmembers will be Cindy Tran (District 3) and Jo DoVinh (District 4).

Leaving the council will be Councilmember Phat But (District 4) and Mayor Pro Tem and District 3 Councilmember Diedre Thu-Ha Nguyen.

The changes in city leadership being recognized includes the retirement of Police Chief Tom DaRe. The meeting will be held in the Community Meeting Center, 11300 Stanford Ave. at 6:30 p.m. The final meeting of 2022 will held on Dec. 27.

Is coronavirus making a winter comeback in OC? Is our old nemesis COVID-19 making a winter comeback?

The number of new coronavirus cases, deaths, hospitalizations and use of intensive care units is showing a pattern of increases, according to the newest statistics released by the Orange County Health Care Agency.

Thursday’s report – covering the period of Dec. 1 to 7 – shows 4,449 confirmed new cases. That compares to 3,690 the week before and 1,062 on

Nov. 18.

Deaths are at 17, compared to six the week before and six on Nov. 18.

Hospitalizations are at 388, an increase from 299 last week and 143 on Nov. 18.

The use of intensive care units to treat COVID-19 is 48, up from 38 the previous week and 22 on Nov. 18.

To date, the total of coronavirus cases confirmed in Orange County is at 687,334. Deaths are at Continued on page 2

THE NEW COUNCIL QUARTET, along with City Attorney Michael Gates.

HB city council’s new look

By Huw Pickering Orange County Tribune

These four candidates campaigned together, and the linchpin of their campaign was Huntington Beach’s sometimes The winds of political change that contentious relationship with the Califorswept over Huntington Beach on Nov. nia state government. The quartet worked 8, have placed four new conservative with incumbent city attorney Michael members onto the city council. They Gates, who won re-election to his posiare Pat Burns, Casey McKeon, Tony tion over challenger Scott Field.

Strickland, and Gracey Van Der Mark.

Continued on page 2

BRINGING ZEST TO THE WEST (GROVE)

GEORGE BRIETIGAM, Garden Grove councilman for District 1, at the presentation Friday of a check for $70,000 to the Garden Grove Community Foundation from Supervsior Andrew Do’s office for the construction of the “Strawberry Zest” sculpture to be sited at a fire station on Valley View Street in West Garden Grove. Jennifer Stewart is the sculptor. Expected completion is the fall of 2023 (OC Tribune photo)

For breaking news and sports all week long, go to www.orangecountytribune.com

2 SATURDAY, DEC. 10, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

New look Huntington Beach council Continued from page 1

However, each new electee hopes to also tackle other, related issues when they enter office.

Pat Burns, now retired, took on a variety of roles in Huntington Beach over the course of his career: he served as a law enforcement officer for 30 years, followed by positions on the boards of a credit union in Long Beach as well as the St. Bonaventure Catholic School, where his children attended.

Having spent eight years on the Citizens’ Advisory Board, where he helped to administer block grants for developments in Surf City, he considers the city’s coffers to be the issue most in need of redress.

“Our financial stability has been threatened,” says Burns.

“In the last four years, the city budget has gone from 44% in the green to 44% in the red.

That’s $70 million in the red, and I want to know why that’s happened.”

A major issue in discovering why this budget has declined is transparency, he says, insisting that the city council’s procedures must be more visible to the public, and Casey McKeon aims to do just that.

McKeon, a third-generation Huntington Beach resident, has spent his career in commercial real estate, and was appointed to the city’s Investment Advisory Board in 2019 and to the Finance Commission a year ago.

When he made the decision to run for the council, he learned how little engagement local government – as he has concluded – had with the voters when it came to policy.

“During the campaign, people were shocked that I would

Coronavirus Continued from page 1

7,594.

Nationally, The New York Times is reporting that “conditions are worsening across the country” and that reported cases and hospitalizations have increased by one-fourth over the past two weeks.

reach out to them,” McKeon remarked. “I don’t believe we can achieve a real consensus without the community, and if that takes five or six town hall meetings on an issue, that’s what we’re going to do to get it right.”

The issue of consensus-building between the elected and the electorate came to the fore in November, when the council voted on a proposal to rezone a number of plots of land for high-density housing. Despite fierce disapproval from many Huntington Beach residents, council members approved the rezoning, obligated as they were by a statewide policy handed down from Sacramento.

Tony Strickland says he will seek to push back against the state government’s policies through the courts.

“The state wants to urbanize Huntington Beach,” says Strickland, who became familiar with the politics of Sacramento during his time as a state senator. “We can empower the city attorney, who has a lawsuit ready to go against this housing. We don’t want a San Francisco or a Los Angeles in Huntington Beach.”

With high-density housing and a population increase, Gracey Van Der Mark fears that the epidemic of homelessness in Surf City will be exacerbated.

“Homelessness affects every aspect of our city,” says Van Der Mark, a small business

owner and member of the Huntington Beach Finance Commission. “The current council has already spent millions of tax dollars on this issue with almost no results.”

Along with her campaign colleagues, she is proposing a Continued on page 7

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.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.

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

The Tribune: Reach thousands of people each day for pennies

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/SATURDAY, DEC. 10, 2022 3

News&Views Deadline is Dec. 31 for Festival cash Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association, producers of the venerable free Garden Grove Strawberry Festival held annually every Memorial Day weekend, are accepting applications for 2023 grants/donations from non-profit organizations, which serve the citizens of Garden Grove.

Requests must be received no later than Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022 to be considered.

“Each year it is our goal to give back to the community by donating to non-profit organizations which provide services for children, seniors, youth, community and the arts,” says Patrick Catlin, donations chair and immediate past president of GGSFA. “We strive to do so in a fair and equitable manner to all eligible organizations. Priority is typically given to Garden Grovebased organizations, however, consideration will be given to eligible organizations which serve residents of Garden Grove.”

Coming off of a record year, the Association will donate $200,000 raised from this year’s 2022 Festival to non-profit organizations which serve Garden Grove citizens who apply for 2023 grants/donations, as opposed to $100,000 in years prior.

This amount is in addition to the work they do regarding: ● Scholarships to local school students ● Treating over 2,000 special needs kids to a day of free rides and food ● Subsidizing local school bands to help them participate in the Saturday parade ● Raising more than $7 million for local charities since its inception in 1958.

Application Letters must be submitted on the non-profit organization’s letterhead and include the non-profit identification number, amount of the Continued on page 4

n GARDEN GROVE PLANNING COMM.

Hearing on townhome development

ONE KILLED, THREE HURT IN CRASH Huntington Beach woman dies when car hits barrier (OCFA photo)

Crash takes life of 1, injures 3 others An 18-year-old Huntington Beach woman was fatally injured Tuesday night when the vehicle in which she was riding struck concrete barriers in a construction zone in Westminster.

According to Commander Kevin MacCormick of the WPD, officers were dispatched at around 9:38 p.m. to the area of Westminster Boulevard and Rancho Road regarding a single vehicle crash.

Upon arrival, they found that the automobile – with four occupants – had struck the barriers, coming to rest teetering over an open construction trench. The Orange County Fire Authority responded and was able to ex-

tricate all four of the vehicle’s occupants. The front passenger – later identified as Jayda Jean Feeney – was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver and the two other passengers were taken to trauma centers with unknown injuries.

The driver was identified as Jayson Raymond Otto, 18, of La Palma. The other passengers were minors, a 17-year-old girl from Huntingon Beach and a 16-yearold girl from Huntington Beach.

Investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to call Sgt. Anil Adam of the WPD Traffic Division at (714) 548-3770.

Swearing-in at Stanton council The swearing in of the “new” Stanton City Council will take place at Tuesday’s meeting.

Taking the oath of office for another four year-term as mayor will be David Shawver. Also returning for another term will be Gary Taylor, the District 3 councilmember.

The new face on the council will be Donald Torres (District 1), taking the seat being vacated by Rigoberto Ramirez.

On Tuesday, the council will select a mayor pro tem.

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. in its chambers in the Civic Center, 7800 Katella Ave.

A public hearing on a proposed three-story. 21-unit townhome project will be held on Thursday, Dec. 15 before the Garden Grove Planning Commission.

Before the commission will be a request for approval of a site plan and a tentative tract map for the project to be located on a site on the south side of Garden Grove Boulevard between Newland Street and Yockey Street at 8722 Garden Grove Blvd.

The development would consist of 20 units plus one affordable unit for “very low income” households on the 36,945 square-foot lot. Approval of the tentative tract map would subdivide the property into two lots so that each townhome could be sold as a condominium.

The meeting will be held in the Community Meeting Center, 11300 Stanford Ave., Garden Grove at 7 p.m

Our e-paper is free upon your request

If you’re interested in getting a free subscription to the e-paper version of The Orange County Tribune, just send us an e-mail at: orangecountytribune@ gmail.com and we’ll get it started right away.

The e-paper is published Wednesdays and Saturdays (with some exceptions).

4 SATURDAY, DEC. 10, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Deadline is Dec. 31 to apply for donations from Festival Association Continued from page 3

request and the purpose for funding.

Requests may be emailed to Donations@strawberryfestival. org, or mailed to: Garden Grove Strawberry Festival, Attention: Donations Committee, P.O. Box 2287, Garden Grove, CA 92842.

GGSFA Donations are limited to improvements, new equipment, repairs or maintenance of existing capital assets.

Funds are not given to organizations which award charitable cash grants. Donations to approved organizations will be reimbursed the amount rewarded when paid invoices are submitted after completion of purchases or capital improvements.

Other selection criteria considered include organizations which: ● Use the majority of their time and finances for the betterment of the community. ● Have a sound track record of fiscal responsibility, or for new groups, which plan to achieve financial soundness. ● Demonstrate stability and consistency in attaining goals and fulfilling a purpose. ● Demonstrate a specific need. ● Provide services regardless of race, creed, gender or age.

The 63rd Annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival will be held Friday through Monday, May 26 – 29 on the Village Green at Euclid Street and Main streets in downtown Garden Grove.

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/SATURDAY, DEC. 10, 2022 5

Arts&Living

Colman Shines In “Empire of Light’ Tale of a fading cinema in England’s time of division and creativity

By Lindsey Bahr AP Film Writer

Olivia Colman plays the manager of a movie theater in Sam Mendes’ new film “Empire of Light.” It’s a cinema palace in a small town on England’s south coast that is showing its age.

The once grand establishment used to play films on multiple screens on multiple floors. The top floor even had a large ballroom area, a piano, a stately bar and booth-style seating next to large windows looking out onto the sea.

Going to the movies here, you imagine, must have been an occasion worth dressing up for.

But now it’s just gathering dust and providing shelter to the local pigeons.

This is not a movie about people watching movies, however.

Not literally at least. There is a wistful monologue about how projection works, from Toby Jones, and another about how the movies can be an escape and, of course, it’s all building to something. But movies are mostly just the glamorous backdrop to a dreary workplace.

“Empire of Light” is instead

OLIVIA COLMAN stars in “Empire of Light” (Searchlight Pictures_

Movie Review about a few people who make the movie theaters run, who take the tickets and sweep the popcorn and other disgusting items people leave on the floors and seats.

Colman’s character, Hilary, doesn’t even watch the movies herself. Those, she explains with all the passion of a customer service representative working an overnight shift, are for the patrons. It’s unclear if she’s always been this way, or if it’s the lithium the doctor has prescribed her to take to regulate her moods,

Good HHH but her life is going through the motions, whether it’s setting up the sweets stand or going into the back room with her lecherous, married boss (played, upContinued on page 6

Brendan Fraser “reintroduced” in “The Whale”

By Jake Coyle AP Film Writer

NEW YORK (AP) – In a darkened hotel room in New York’s Soho neighborhood, Brendan Fraser kindly greets a reporter with an open plastic bag in his hand. “Would you like a gummy bear?”

Fraser, the 54-year-old actor, is in many ways an extremely familiar face to encounter. Here is the once ubiquitous ‘90s presence and action star of “The Mummy” and “George of the

Jungle” whose warm, earnest disposition has made him beloved, still, many years later.

But Fraser, little seen on the big screen for much of the last decade, is also not quite as you might remember him. His voice is softer. He’s more sensitive, almost intensely so. He seems to bear some bruises from an upand-down life. If Fraser seems both as he was once was but also someone markedly different, that’s appropriate. In Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale,” he gives a performance unlike

any he’s given before. And it may well win him an Academy Award.

Fraser’s performance been hailed as his comeback – a word, he says, that “doesn’t hurt my feelings.” But it’s not the one he’d choose.

“If anything, this is a reintroduction more than a comeback,” Fraser says. “It’s an opportunity to reintroduce myself to an industry, who I do not believe forgot me as is being perpetrated.

I’ve just never been that far Continued on page 6

BRENDAN FRASER in “The Whale”

6 SATURDAY, DEC. 10, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Movie Review: “Empire of Light” Continued from page 5

settingly well, by Colin Firth).

There is an overwhelming melancholy to the whole endeavor, which is handsomely shot by Roger Deakins and feels like a farewell to something. Mendes, who also wrote the script, was inspired by a pivotal era in his own life. “Empire of Light” is set in the early days of Margaret Thatcher’s run as Prime Minister, when the culture in the country seemed to be fracturing in some ways, with increased violence and racism juxtaposed with some extraordinary art and music. He was a teenager at the time.

But this isn’t “The Fabelmans” or “Armageddon Time.”

Mendes has not made his teen-

age self the protagonist, but instead a woman in middle age who is suffering from mental health issues, and a magnetic younger Black man, Stephen (an excellent showcase for Michael Ward), who is far too smart and vibrant for this provincial town.

Hilary and Stephen become friends, then lovers, but, you know, it’s complicated and the film is a bit meandering in getting where it’s going.

You have to respect Mendes and all of these masters of their craft, from Deakins to composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, for banding together for “Empire of Light,” which, even for the guy who made “Skyfall,’’ seems like an improbable film to get made: Original, quiet, elegant.

Brendan Fraser back in drama “The Whale” Continued from page 5

away.”

Fraser is very close at hand, indeed, in “The Whale.” In the adaptation of Samuel D. Hunter’s play, which A24 released in theaters Friday, Fraser is in virtually every scene.

He plays a reclusive, obese English teacher named Charlie whose overeating stems from past trauma.

As health woes shrink the time he has left, the 600-pound Charlie struggles to reacquaint himself to his estranged daughter (Sadie Sink).

Fraser’s performance, widely celebrated since the film’s Venice Film Festival premiere, has two Oscar-friendly traits going it for: A comeback narrative and a physical metamorphosis.

For the role, Fraser wore a massive body suit and prosthetics crafted by makeup artist Adrian Morot that required hours in makeup each morning.

But regardless of all the role’s transformation trappings, Fraser’s performance resides in his sad, soulful eyes and compassionate interactions with the characters that come in and out

But ``Empire of Light’’ is also easy to admire but difficult to love. Though Colman is always wonderful, Hilary still feels like a bit of an enigma. I’m not even sure what I’m supposed to want for her aside from better mental health care, which is probably not going to come in the form of stepping in the cinema, though it’s a romantic thought.

“Empire of Light” may be a love letter to the movies, but it’s a sad one in which one of the parties, the local, independent movie theater, is fading away and possibly already gone.

“Empire of Light,” a Searchlight Pictures release in theaters Friday, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for “sexual content, language and brief violence.” Running time: 119 minutes. MPA definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

of his home. (Hong Chau plays a friend and nurse.) It adds up to Fraser’s most empathetic performance, one that has returned him to the spotlight after years making quickly forgotten films like “Hair Brained” (2013) and the straight-to-DVD “Breakout” (2013).

On stages now from London to Toronto, standing ovations have trailed Fraser – a leading man reborn –wherever he goes.

For Fraser, who spent much of his previous heyday in Hollywood swinging on vines and racing through pyramids, playing Charlie in “The Whale” has a cosmic symmetry.

He could identify with him, Fraser says, “in ways that might surprise you.” When he was in his late 20s trying to be as fit as he could be for “George of the Jungle,” Fraser encountered his own body-image issues.

“All I knew is that I never felt like it was enough. I questioned myself. I felt scrutinized, judged, objectified, often humiliated,” Fraser says. “It did play with my head. It did play with my confidence.”

The Tribune:

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/SATURDAY, DEC. 10. 2022 7

Ohtani’s future connecte to Halo success Continued from page 8

to do to get ready for the season.

I know when the bell rings, he’ll be ready to go. There’s a comfort and trust to that.”

The Angels’ offseason moves, their future owner and the team’s performance will all be under the microscope as the two-way Japanese superstar begins his final season before hitting free

agency.

Ohtani agreed to a $30 million contract for next season in September. After winning the AL MVP award in 2021, Ohtani finished second to New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge after going 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA on the mound and batting .273 with 34 home runs and 95 RBIs. Despite Arte Moreno putting the team up for sale, the Angels have been proactive since the season ended. They acquired outfielder Hunter Renfroe from the Milwaukee Brewers and infielder Gio Urshela from the Minnesota Twins. They upgraded the rotation by signing Tyler Anderson and added to the bullpen with Carlos Estevez.

Minasian said the message from ownership has been business as usual.

“I know we’ve spent more money, I guess. But I mean nothing’s been drastically different for me. I think there have been more things that have presented themselves that made sense, compared maybe in previous offseasons, where we were and what we were trying to do,” Minasian said.

Commissioner Rob Manfred

said on Tuesday that multiple groups have expressed interest in the Angels with a possibility that a sale could be completed by opening day.

Manager Phil Nevin also is on a one-year deal as the Angels try to end a string of seven consecutive losing seasons and eight consecutive years out of the postseason after going 7389 this past season. Both are the longest active skids in the majors.

Chargers face Miami with a dinged-up team Continued from page 8

face a Dolphins passing attack that has thrived under first-year coach Mike McDaniel. Tua Tagovailoa is the league’s highestrated passer (112.0), Tyreek Hill leads the league with 1,379 receiving yards, and Jaylen Waddle is fifth with 972.

Los Angeles (6-6) has struggled the past three weeks in matchups against the league’s top receivers and tight ends. Davante Adams of the Raiders had eight receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns last week, while Arizona’s DeAndre Hopkins (four catches, 87 yards and a TD) and Kansas City’s Travis Kelce (six receptions, 114 yards, three TDs) also had big games.

Cornerback Bryce Callahan is battling a groin injury and was listed as limited on Wednesday.

Staley got some better news about some offensive starters.

Wide receiver Mike Williams will practice this week after missing four of the last five games with a high right ankle sprain. Staley said center Corey Linsley is “progressing through the (concussion) protocol” after he missed the Raiders game.

Right tackle Trey Pipkins continues to have a knee issue and is unlikely to practice.

Miami (8-4) currently occupies the sixth playoff spot in the AFC, while the Chargers and New England are one behind the New York Jets for the final spot.

The new H. Beach council Continued from page 2

partnership with churches and private businesses, whereby those without housing will not simply be ushered into temporary shelters, but will receive help geared towards the cause of their homelessness.

Burns, McKeon, Strickland,

and Van Der Mark took oaths of office during the Dec. 6 council meeting, and Strickland was elected the city’s new mayor, and Van Der Mark the mayor pro tem.

The change has already begun.

Are you interested in placing some display advertising in The Orange County Tribune (print and website)?

Call Jim at (714) 458-1860 for details.

8 SATURDAY, DEC. 10, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

The Sports Page Shohei Keeping His Eye on Halos’ Roster Changes Will Ohtani be an Angel after 2023 season?

By Joe Reedy AP Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO (AP) – Even though Shohei Ohtani is back in Japan for the offseason, he has been in frequent contact with Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian about the team’s offseason moves.

“We talk a lot. He’s asking me daily who we’re getting,” Minasian said during baseball’s winter meetings. “He’s into it.

We have a lot of players like that. Mike (Trout) and Anthony (Rendon)

are like that. I think it’s a very motivated group.

“They want to see activity. They want to see the organization making a commitment to making the team better. We’ll see how it shakes out when we get to spring training what exactly we have, but we’re going to continue to look for opportunities to improve,” he said.

Minasian also reiterated his support for Ohtani taking whatever role he deems best for Japan during the World Baseball Classic in March. Ohtani said he is open to being a reliever.

“I don’t have any issue with whatever he does.

He’s not one I’m worried about,” Minasian said.

“He knows what he needs Continued on page 7

A STUNNER AT SO-FI

BAKER MAYFIELD got the game ball on Thursday night when the Los Angeles Rams staged an improbable rally to defeat the Las Vegas Raiders 17-16 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Trailing 16-6, the Rams scored twice in the fourth quarter, the second and winning touchdown coming on a 23-yard scoring pass from Mayfield to Van Jefferson with nine seconds left to play. With the win the Rams snapped a six-game losing streak and improved to 4-9 going into a bye week (Rams photo by Brevin Townsell)

The banged-up Chargers will take on the Miami Dolphins

By Joe Reedy AP Sports Writer

SHOHEI OHTANI finished second in the voting for the AL Most Valualble Player for 2022 (Angels photo).

Add Derwin James to the extensive list of Los Angeles Chargers players whose status for Sunday night’s game against the Miami Dolphins is questionable.

The Chargers said the fifth-year safety didn’t participate in practice Wednesday because of a lingering quadriceps injury. Coach Brandon Staley conducted a walkthrough instead of a full practice, so the team’s report is an estimate of what players’ participation would have

been.

James first suffered the injury during the Nov. 27 game at Arizona. He played all 61 defensive snaps in last Sunday’s 2720 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

When asked how concerned he was about James’ injury, Staley said, “we’ll see. He’s going to be day-to-day.”

James leads NFL defensive backs with 106 tackles. He is also one of five players in the last three decades to have at least 100 tackles, four sacks, multiple forced fumbles, and an intercep-

DERWIN JAMES JR. He’s questionable tion through the first 12 games of a season.

James’ absence would leave a significant void as the Chargers prepare to Continued on page 7