The Orange County Tribune May 31, 2023

Weather Forecast

MIDWEEK EDITION

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Wednesday 68/60 clouds Thursday: 68/60 clouds, sun Friday: 69/57 clouds, sun Saturday: 71/58 mostly sunny

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Volume 3, Number 40 n orangecountytribune.com n Wednesday, May 31, 2023 n orangecountytribune@gmail.com

Senior Bldg.

Mulled For Hunt. Beach THE BOLSA GRANDE HIGH marching band (OC Tribune photos).

Celebrating kindness, city’s past The 63rd Annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival continued the tradition of bringing big crowds to the Village Green park to have fun, celebrate the community’s rural past and raise money for many civic and non-profit groups.

The four-day event stretching across the long Memorial Day weekend brought in robust attendance and revenue and went on without a hitch under skies that were cool enough to be comfortable and warm enough to herald the “unofficial” start of summer.

This year’s theme was “Celebrating Kindness.” The celebrity grand marContinued on page 2

COOL WEATHER in the morning was appreciated by attendees.

THE “MIDWAY” (above) was thronged; State Sen. Janet Nguyen (left) urges the crowd to cheer.

5-story project would include 298k sq. feet The upwards journey of Huntington Beach’s skyline could continue as the city and community consider a huge senior housing project proposed to be built at the southwest corner of Bolsa Chica street and Warner Avenue.

What’s on the drawing boards is a five-story, 298,000 square-foot complex called the Bolsa Chica Senior Living Community, located on a 3.10-acre site.

It would include 213 total living units, onsite amenities for residents, 207 on-site parking spaces and “associated hardscape and landscape improvements.”

The public review process is underway through June 15.

Complete details are available for viewing in person at City Hall (Community Development Department, third floor, 2000 Main St,) and City Clerk (2nd floor) and Central Library, 7111 Talbert Street (at Goldenwest Street).

Online, go to https:// Continued on page 2

HB man, 51, killed in a hit-and-run collision A 51-year-old Huntington Beach man is dead after a hit-and-run incident early Monday morning.

According to Jessica Cuchilla, public information officer for the HBPD, the incident took place around 4 a.m. on Beach Boulevard, north of Knoxville Avenue.

Police responded to reports of a pedestrian down in the roadway.

He was pronounced dead

at the scene.

A preliminary investigation indicates the man was struck by an unknown vehicle in the northbound lanes of Beach. There’s no known description of the vehicle that left the scene.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or the events leading up to it is asked to contact HBPD Traffic Investigator Doug Demetre at (714) 5365670.

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

2 WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

The Orange County Tribune Every Wednesday & Saturday

ARTISTS’ RENDERING

HB senior living proposal Continued from page 1

www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/ government/departments/planning/major/major-projects-view. cfm?ID=1124 or https://www. huntingtonbeachca.gov/government/departments/planning/ environmental-reports/environmental-report-view.cfm?ID=62 .

Public hearings on the proposed project will be held for the plan-

ning commission and the city council in August/September 2023.

2023 G. Grove Strawberry Fest was berry sweet Continued from page 1

shal of the Festival parade was Vera Jimenez of KTLA and the theme grand marshal was Tony Adkins, the “dancing doctor” from Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Andrea Perez served as president of the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association.

Mark Mahoney is president-elect and will head up the festival in 2024.

JIm Tortolano Editor and Publisher Marilyn Lewis Tortolano General Manager

Orange County Tribune: Wednesday and Saturday For free

The Orange County Tribune is published on Wednesdays and Saturdays with some exceptions. Address is 9402 Luders Ave., Garden Grove, 92844.

E-mail : orangecountytribune@gmail. com.

Website: 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, the Garden Grove Downtown Business Association and Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce.

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2023 3

News&Views It’s an e-sign of the times in Westminster Did you ever work real hard, or spend a lot of money on, a gift for someone, to have them turn up their noses and say, “Take it back”?

The rough equivalent of that took place last Wednesday when the Westminster City Council set back to July 12 an elaborate, time-consuming and potentially lucrative proposal to lease land on city-owned property for electronic billboards.

It looks like a golden deal Jim Tortolano for a city that’s municipal economy has been running on fumes for years.

The plan was to move toward an agreement with Branded Cities Los Angeles LLC to build and operate two such billboards with the possibility of stuffing city coffers with as much as $121.7 million over a 30-year period.

But as soon as the glittering plans were laid out, the majority of the city council – Councilmember Amy Phan West, Mayor Pro Tem NamQuan Nguyen and Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen – began taking shots at it. They all “need more information” and hinted that it would have been better if councilmembers had been more deeply involved in the vetting process.

Those are not entirely rid …

No, wait, they are. There have been credible accusations in the past of councilmembers intruding themselves in negotiations, perhaps even on behalf of a client or ally. As for the “more information,” that reason/excuse can be used as cover for delay, delay, delay.

Considering that earlier in the same meeting, council members heard about the financial woes

Retorts

Continued on page 6

Three are shot in GG restaurant Three men were wounded – two of them critically – in a shooting at an eatery in Garden Grove on Saturday night.

According to Sgt. Nick Jensen of the GGPD, the incident took place at The Hot (Pot) Restaurant, 12921 Magnolia St., north of Garden Grove Boulevard.

Officers were dispatched at around 11:33 p.m. in response to a report of a shooting inside the business.

They were told by patrons that a suspect was still inside the res-

taurant. Officers found him – described only as a Vietnamese male in his 40s who was a resident of Orange County – being held by customers of The Hot (Pot).

Police located two victims with gunshot wounds to the upper torso. They were treated by Orange County Fire Authority personnel and taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

A third victim was found with minor wounds to the lower torso and is in stable condition.

The victims were described as two male Vietnamese residents of Orange County in their 40s and one in his 30s.

Police determined that all involved were patrons of the restaurant and that an “altercation” was followed by the shootings.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone who was a witness to the incident is asked to call Detective Steve Heine at (714) 741-5422 or GGPD dispatch at (714) 741-5704.

Graduations coming for HBUHSD It’s nearly June and graduation is just around the corner for students in the Huntington Beach Union High School District.

Here’s the schedule as posted by the HBUHSD. Check with the schools for additional details.

• Edison: Wednesday, June 14 at 4 p.m. at Sheue Field (Huntington Beach High campus) • Fountain Valley: Wednesday, June 14 at 4 p,m. at LeBard Stadium, Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

• Huntington Beach: Tuesday, June 13 at 4 p.m. at Sheue Field • Marina: Thursday, March 15 at 5 p.m. at Boswell Field (Westminster High campus) • Ocean View: Wednesday, June 14 at 5 p.m. at campus stadium • Westminster: Wednesday, June 14 at 5 p.m. at Boswell Field • Valley Vista: Thursday, June 15 at 2:30 p.m. at the Valley View quad • Huntington Beach Adult School: Thursday, June 15 at 9 a.m. at HBHS Auditorium • Coast High School: Thursday, June 15 at 10 a.m. in the campus quad.

The HBUHSD serves all of Huntington Beach as well as most of Fountain Valley and Westminster.

THE TET FAIR at Westminster High School on January 19. The Lion Class of 2023 will graduate on campus on Wednesday, June 14 (HBUHSD photo).

Pedestrian is killed in an eight-car crash in G. Grove A 73-year-old Westminster man is dead after a multi-vehicle traffic collision in Garden Grove on Saturday afternoon.

According to Master Officer John Yergler of the GGPD, the incident took place in the 12100 block of Lewis Street, near Chapman Avenue.

Officers were dispatched to the scene at around 5:54 p.m. in response to reports about the pile-

up and found an eight-car collision involving a pedestrian.

City of Orange Fire Department paramedics responded and attempted life-saving measures without success. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.

The vehicles involved included a white Ford Edge, a white ToyContinued on page 7

4 WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

NewsUpdate

Debt Ceiling Deal Moving Toward Its Final Approval Some in GOP, Democrats not happy Despite a revolt from some Republicans over the terms of the debt ceiling deal worked out between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden, the last step toward final approval may be taken as soon as Wednesday.

According to United Press International, a key committee of the House of Representatives voted Tuesday night to advance the deal to the full House of Representatives for a vote on

Wednesday.

The agreement between Biden and McCarthy calls for a stop on the growth of federal spending, but does not require huge cuts in the budget.

Some Republicans wanted more trimming, and some Democrats decried work requirements for certain public assistance programs.

The deadline to raise the debt ceiling is June 5.

Drones strike Moscow; Ukraine stays silent One day after the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv was hit by a Russian drone attack, the Russian capital of Moscow was struck by drones, presumably launched by Ukraine, Most of the drones were knocked down by Russian air

Clouds give way to afternoon sun The forecast for the West Orange County area must look familiar. Wednesday will be cloudy with a daytime high of 68 and an overnight low of 60. Thursday will be similar with morning clouds and afternoon sun.

Friday should be slightly warmer at 69 (57) with clouds and sun, but Saturday should be mostly sunny at 71 (58).

FORMER PRESIDENT Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter.

Rosalynn Carter suffers from dementia: family Rosalynn Carter, the former First Lady, has been diagnosed with dementia. The Carter Center announced that Carter, 95, is living at home with husband former President Jimmy Carter, 98, who is receiving hospice care.

The Carters have been married for almost 77 years. They occupied The White House for

four years – 1977 to 1981 during which time she advocated for greater awareness and resources to be developed regarding the treatment of mental illness.

According to the Associated Press, the family -– through the Carter Center – said that one in 10 older Americans have dementia.

‘Armed teachers won’t make schools safer” RUSSIA VS. UKRAINE

defenses, according to The New York Times, and damage was light. No one was killed in Moscow; one person died in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian government did not take credit for the attack but one official said he was “happy” to learn of the incident.

The United States has generally cautioned the Ukrainians from using weapons – many of them from the U.S. –inside Russia, but there was no official criticism of the drone counterattack.

One of the proposed solutions to school shootings is to train and arm teachers with firearms.

However, a survey by the RAND Corporation indicated that a majority of teachers felt such measures would make them feel less safe.

USA Today reported Tuesday that 54 percent thought armed teachers would make them feel less safe and 26 percent thought it would make no difference.

Only 20 percent believed it would improve safety. Most of those with that opinion indicated they would be interested in carrying a gun on campus.

Education Week reports that there have been 24 shooting incidents in school campuses resulting in death or injury in 2023.

Great Thoughts “If Heaven were based on merit rather than favor, your dog would get in and you would stay out.”

– Mark Twain

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2023 5

Arts&Living

Is ‘Little Mermaid’ See-Worthy?

Maybe live-action isn’t such a great idea for fantasies

By Lindsey Bahr AP Film Writer

It’s not Rob Marshall’s fault that Disney’s latest live-action retread doesn’t really sing. “The Little Mermaid,” a somewhat drab undertaking with sparks of bioluminescence, suffers from the same fundamental issues that plagued “The Lion King,” “Aladdin” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

Halle Bailey might be a lovely presence and possesses a superb voice that is distinctly different from Jodi Benson’s, but photorealistic fins, animals and environments do not make Disney fairy tales more enchanting on their own.

The essential problem is that the live-action films have prioritized nostalgia and familiarity over compelling visual storytelling. They try to recreate beats and shots from their animated predecessors, defiantly ignoring the possibility that certain musical sequences and choices were enchanting and vibrant because they were animated, not in spite of it.

There was, in the 1989 film, a sparkling awe to everything.

The underwater castle. The mermaids. Eric’s ship. Even Ariel’s bright red hair. Combined with the wonderful songs and lyrics by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, it’s not hard to understand why it helped fuel a Disney Animation renaissance.

Anyone who has gone through the recent Disney’s live-action library would be right to approach “The Little Mermaid” with caution. Still, there’s excitement as the camera takes us underwater to give us our first glimpse of the mermaids – even after a somewhat ominous

HALLE BAILEY stars in this live-action version of “The Little Mermaid” (Disney)

Movie Review quote from Hans Christian Anderson that begins the movie (“But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers much more”). You can’t help but be hopeful.

But the first mermaid that comes into focus doesn’t so much evoke wonder as it does a flashback of Ben Stiller’s merman in “Zoolander.” The technology is better, sure, but the result is about the same.

Worse, as we spend more time with them, following Ariel’s multicultural sisters as they

gather around their father King Triton (Javier Bardem), it’s hard to shake a distinctly uncanny valley feeling.

It’s like gazing in on a roundtable of AI supermodels with fins.

For all its pizazz, everything about this “Little Mermaid” is just more muted. Miranda’s new songs are odd, too, and don’t seem to fit. Prince Eric’s (Jonah Hauer-King) makes sense, maybe even Ariel’s in-her-head anthem after she gives her voice to Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula, but did Scuttle really need a song, too?

Speaking of Scuttle, the cute

Fair: HH cartoons that stood in for Ariel’s seagull, crab and fish friends have been replaced with horrifyingly accurate depictions of said animals.

Awkwafina’s comedy charms can only go so far while looking like an actual seagull who might be after your chips at the beach. Close-ups of its beady blue eyes are unsettling, though it was probably a good call to go blue over gold, which looks a bit demonic even in the cartoon. Sometimes it seems

William, Elvis in ‘All Shook Up’ The greatest poet and playwright – William Shakespeare – of all time meets up with greatest rock and roller – Elvis Presley – at the Gem Theatre’s production of “All Shook Up,” opening Thursday, June 1 and continuing to July 9 at the historic venue on Main Street in downtown Garden Grove.

Inspired by the Bard’s “Twelfth Night,” this is the story of a small Midwestern town visited by Chad, who breezes in on a motorcycle, with a guitar on his back and a song in his heart.

For details about times and tickets, go to thegemoc.com.

Continued on page 6

6 WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Is “Little Mermaid film ‘see-worthy’?

Continued from page 4

as though the editor is trying to minimize the unpleasantness by quickly cutting away from Scuttle.

Flounder (Jacob Tremblay, who also voiced Luca) doesn’t have this problem as much, mainly because once they go out of the water he’s essentially hidden under the surface. Daveed Digg’s Sebastian gets off easy, looking the most pleasantly cartoonish.

But then there’s that Jamaican accent that they decided to carry over (and this in a movie that adds a line about consent to “Kiss the Girl”).

Visibility is a problem for more than just Flounder, too.

Sometimes “The Little Mermaid’s” underwater sequences just look too underwater.

Things are cloudy and dull and

hard to see, once again probably in the name of authenticity, but straining to see what Marshall and the scores of VFX teams have labored on for years is not a pleasant experience.

This could be a projection issue - I wasn’t in an especially high-tech theater with color enhancing upgrades. But that also means anyone without access to things like Dolby Vision around the world will have this issue, too.

When Sebastian brings out the most colorful fish he can find for the “Under the Sea” number, you even start to empathize with Ariel a little bit. It is the exact opposite of the “ Avatar: The Way of Water “ experience.

“The Little Mermaid,” a Walt Disney Co. release in theaters Friday, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for “action/peril, some scary images.” Running time: 135 minutes.

Retorts: Billboard bravado Continued from page 3

of the city, at the very least, the council members should have expressed gratitude and optimism about the project, even if some corners needed to be

sanded down.

Branded Cities is a heavy hitter, not some dreamer that’s all hat and no cattle.

On the the other hand, one town’s loss is another’s gain. I know of a city just across the street with lots of freeway exposure that’s a bit more welcoming toward such adventures.

In a zero-sum game, is Westminster willing to accept zero?

Jim Tortolano’s Retorts appears on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2023 7

Kickoff returns could become a scarce play Continued from page 8

Clearly, he hates this rule change. He’s not alone.

“We had a chance to weigh in on that with all the special teams coaches,” Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

“We had a long talk and discussion about that. We weren’t for it. We voted against it. We think it’s going to create more high-speed head trauma than not having it in there. That’s our position on it. But we’ll see.

They want to give it a shot and take a look at it. We’ll give it a shot and take a look at it. So it’s in and because it’s in, we

support it but we thought there were better ideas.”

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell didn’t hold back.

“I’m highly frustrated. It’s very frustrating, but look, I don’t make the rules, “ Campbell said. “That’s the new rule and then we’ll live by the new rule. We’ll find a way to adjust, adapt, and still get what we want. That’s what you’ve got to do. But I hate that we continue to take away from the game.

“That’s what really worries me, that we just, we continue to bleed this League (dry). If we’re not careful, it’s not going to replenish at one point. But listen, it’s the rules and we’ll make do, and we’ll adjust.”

Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce called it “absolutely stupid.”

“I don’t think this is making the game safer. I think it’s making it more boring and taking a lot of excitement out of the game’s opening play. This is whack,” Travis Kelce said on his Podcast with older brother, Jason.

Jason Kelce, an All-Pro center

for the Philadelphia Eagles, wondered what’s next.

“We’re just getting closer and closer to getting rid of special teams,” Jason Kelce said. “I mean, it’s like the only thing left now is punt. When is somebody not gonna fair catch it and take the ball to 25? Unless it’s just a really bad kick, right? I don’t know.”

NFL data says concussions on kickoffs occur more than twice as often as on plays from scrimmage, and that rate has risen significantly over the last two years. The league predicts the return rate for kickoffs in 2023 will drop from 38% to 31%, and the rate of concussions on the sport’s most dangerous play will be reduced by 15%.

“I’m for whatever makes the game safer so if that’s a play where more injuries are occurring, more head injuries are occurring, more head impact is occurring, I have no right to stand up here and say, ‘we need to be doing more of it,’ if that’s what we’re trying to avoid, because obviously player safety and health comes first,”

Dodgers

The third game of the series will be on Wednesday with Noah Syndergaard (1-4) starting for the Dodgers.

Continued from page 8

Tony Gonsolin (3-1) worked six strong innings, giving up just three hits and one earned run.

He struck out two batters and walked two.

With the victory, the Dodgers improved to 33-22, one game ahead of the surging Arizona Diamondbacks in the race for first in the National League West Division race.

The game was still relatively close with LA leading 4-3 after six and one-half innings. But then the Dodgers scored two in the bottom of the seventh and three in the bottom of the eighth to push the game out of reach.

Angels Continued from page 8

Leading 3-1 in the fourth, the Angels fell behind when the Chisox shelled Taylor Anderson (2-1) with five runs. He left the game having given up six runs on six hits. He struck out three batters and walked two as his ERA rose to 5.47.

Ward ended up with the best Angel day, going 2-for-4 with one run scored. In addition to his homer, he doubled, improving his average to .226.

Pedestrian dies in 8-car crash Continued from page 3

ota Tacoma, a white Mercedes GLE350, a red Toyota Corolla, a white Toyota Camry, a white Acura MDX, a silver Lexus RX350 and a blue Toyota Venza.

Alcohol or drugs are not believed to be a factor in the incident, but an autopsy will be conducted and the collisions investigated.

Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said.

Harbaugh indicated it’ll lead to more head injuries, though there’s no data yet to prove it.

Teams may attempt more squib kicks, which could potentially create more collisions. Only one of the 19 concussions that occurred on kickoffs last year happened to the returner.

One day before owners passed the new kickoff rule, they voted to allow flexible scheduling for Thursday night game on Amazon Prime Video, for Weeks 13-17 only and with at least 28 days’ notice given to the affected teams. The motive is to try to ensure viewers will see a more interesting game.

Players and coaches have long argued against playing on short rest but Thursday night games won’t go away because they’re too profitable. The league has a $113 billion deal with Amazon.

NFL data says fewer injuries occur during Thursday games than Sunday games. Still, players argue that playing on three days’ rest takes a physical toll that may not be reflected in injury stats.

The future lineup of big team sports Continued from page 8

growth than baseball.

Flag football is being heavily promoted by the NFL as a gateway to “real” football as well as an alternative to a future in which the rising number of injuries – especially concussions – renders its modern model unsupportable.

A growing number of high schools are adopting “flag” and not just for girls, either.

Waiting just behind are rugby – faster and slightly less painful than football – and esports, which have the virtue of being able to compete sitting down.

As the sage said, “The only constant is change.” In today’s fast-moving sports scene, you can bet on it.

Jim Tortolano is considering taking up pickleball as soon as they change the name.

8 WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

TheSportsPage

More big team sports? It’s not a gamble at all At first, there were the Big Four: football, basketball, ice hockey and baseball. They were the team sports that grabbed 99 percent of the public’s attention and cash.

The field has now widened to soccer (what the rest of the world calls football) and women’s professional basketball. The abundance of television sports operations and the money they can provide has injected vigor – and bigger audiences – into athletic activities that once barely made it onto page six of newspaper Jim Tortolano sports sections (back when there used to be newspapers).

Another factor is “sportsbooks,” another word for gambling. These days you can bet on almost anything, and there are millions of Americans – and others (which I sometimes classify as “People Who Wish They Were Americans”) who are addicted to games of chance.

TV and gambling interests are always looking for new ways to make money by renting your eyeballs and picking the low-resistance wallet. So what’s next?

To figure that out, let’s look at the grass roots of sports, which is youth involvement. The fastest-growing are lacrosse and – don’t laugh – flag football. Lacrosse – derived from a Native American game that preceded life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – used to be confined to the prep schools of the Northeast. It’s the kind of fast, rugged game that’s not quite as violent as football, has more scoring than soccer and more room for

Sports Retorts

Continued on page 7

n BASEBALL

Angels fall to White Sox in Chicago

By Pete Zarustica Orange County Tribune

THE CONCLUSION of a kickoff return in professional football is often a violent collision (Flickr).

The long ball strategy didn’t last long enough as the Los Angeles Angels lost their fourth game in five tries in falling 7-3 to the Chicago White Sox in the Windy City on Tuesday night.

Taylor Ward hit a leadoff home run and Shohei Ohtani went deep on a solo shot in the fourth inning but that was almost all of the Halo offense as their record slumped to 29-27, leaving them in third place in the American League West.

Continued on page 7

Not Getting Their Kicks May be Next It’s a safety issue, but players and coaches say it could mean ‘flag football’

By Rob Maaddi AP Pro Football Writer

Even when the NFL institutes a rule designed to reduce concussions, it can’t shake the perception that it doesn’t care what players and coaches think.

The league took a step toward eliminating kickoffs this week by enhancing the touchback rule for a one-year trial with a priority on player safety. The receiving team will now get the ball at its own 25 with a fair catch of a kickoff anywhere behind that yard line.

Some of the league’s most prominent coaches criticized the decision.

“My thing is, where does it stop? I mean, you start taking pieces and you know, we’ll see how this goes but you don’t want to take too many pieces away or you’re going to be playing flag football,” Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.

Reid, a two-time Super Bowl champion, isn’t known for stirring the pot. He’s shied away from sharing controversial opinions throughout his career as he enters his 25th season as a head coach.

Continued on page 7

Dodgers knock off the Nats

By David Arthur Orange County Tribune

Combining home runs with sharp pitching, the Los Angeles Dodgers thumped the Washington Nationals 9-3 at home on Tuesday night.

Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez each went deep for the Blue Crew and Continued on page 7