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Printed in Garden Grove, California n orangecountytribune.com n Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022 n orangecountytribune@gmail.com
Some signs of hope in coronavirus OC statistics Reflecting national and statewide statistics, new coronavirus cases continue to fall in Orange County while deaths increase. According to the county health care agency, new cases reported on Tuesday totaled 2,864. That is compared to the three-day average of 6,309 on Monday and Friday’s peak of 11,020. However, deaths in Orange County hit 10, compared to the three-day average of five (15 total) reported on Monday. Hospitalizations declined to 1,114 from 1,162 the day before. The use of intensive care units to treat COVID-19 patients declined to 191 from 195. Nationally, new cases have fallen by 9 percent – over a 14-day period – according to The New York Times, but deaths are up 25 percent. In California, new cases are down 16 percent while deaths have risen 17 percent, reports Los Angeles Times. So far, Orange County has had 498,918 cases, of which 342,091 are considered recovered. Total number of deaths is at 5,978.
DEFENSE LIFTS ARGOS
Fast Driver Was Arrested Fast; Had Guns, Drugs
A speeding car attracted the attention of Garden Grove police motorcycle officers Sunday and that led to the arrest of the driver and the confiscation of drugs, weapons and ammunitions. According to the GGPD, the incident took place in the area of Chapman Avenue and Medina Drive (west of Euclid Street). The vehicle was stopped and the driver was found to have a suspended license. As officers inventoried the car – previous to having it towed
GARDEN GROVE HIGH’S Landon Mendoza (14) guards Segerstrom’s Jalen Cervantes in the Argonauts’ 55-54 Golden West League win Tuesday night. Grove is 6-0 in league. Mendoza scored 14 points for GGHS; Cervantes had 11. See story, and an additional photo on page eight.
– they found 3.7 grams of cocaine. The driver was arrested and booked into Orange County Jail. Further searching the vehicle, officers found an unregistered and unserialized AR-15 rifle, a Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum pistol, a high-capacity magazine, ammunition and nunchucks. Later, it was found that the driver – being a convicted felon – was prohibited from owning any of those items.
CONFISCATED ITEMS Weapons and drugs seized at GG traffic stop
Female pedestrian is killed in H. Beach A female pedestrian was fatally injured Monday evening when struck by a truck in Huntington Beach. According to Jennifer Carey, public information officer, the incident took place in the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Yorktown Avenue. Officers were called
to the scene at around 6:20 p.m. and found the female deceased in the roadway. Her identity and other details about her were not immediately available. The driver of the truck, a white Chevrolet Silverado, was a 58-year-old Garden Grove resident. He remained
at the scene and cooperated with officers. Neither drugs nor alcohol appear to be a factor in the collision. Police believe that the Silverado was traveling northbound on Beach and struck the pedestrian crossing eastbound on Yorktown Avenue.
Anyone who may have witnessed the accident or the events leading up to it is asked to call HBPD Traffic Investigator Doug Demetre at (714) 5365670 or Investigator Vishal Rattanchandani at (714) 5365231.
For breaking news and sports all week long, go to www.orangecountytribune.com
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News Briefs
GG city council to get raises GARDEN GROVE – The City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to approve a pay raise for its members, including the mayor. It’s the first increase in compensation since 1972. Under the ordinances, council members would receive $1,312.34 per month, up from the current pay of $486.05. The mayor would receive an additional $200 per month. The expected effective date is Jan. 1, 2023. At present, Garden Grove’s council and mayor are among the lowest-paid in Orange County. Also, the council voted in favor of the second and final reading of an ordinance implementing Senate Bill 9, which will allow some lots in single-family zones to be split in two.
Townhome development gets final OK
STANTON – Final approval was given by the City Council Tuesday night to an ordinance for an agreement between the city and Bonanni Development for the construction of a 79-unit townhome project at 12200 Beach Blvd. (southeast of Chapman Avenue). The vote was 5-0. Also on Tuesday the council voted to approve extending penalties for 2022 business licenses until Feb. 28, 2022 in light of the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, the council reached a consensus on “Say No to Panhandling” signs and discussed design and placement of the signs.
Formal censure resolution on agenda
WESTMINSTER – The agenda for tonight’s (Wednesday) agenda of the City Council is topped by the adoption of a formal resolution of censure of Mayor Tri Ta. The council voted 3-2 at its Jan. 12 meeting to reprimand Ta for “unacceptable conduct” and approval of a resolution would complete the process. Also, the council will consider the concept of imposing time limits on councilmembers during the discussion of agenda items, and “provide direction” on drafting such a policy. The meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Accident victim identified A woman killed in a hit-and-run incident Sunday in Stanton has been identified. According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, which provides police services for Stanton, the woman is Lisa Underhill, 62, of Huntington Beach. The OCSD reports that she was walking in a crosswalk in the area of Lampson Avenue and Beach Boulevard around 2:45 a.m. on Sunday. She was struck by a vehicle – believed to be a 2007 to 2009 Toyota Camry – and died at the scene. The driver left the scene before deputies arrived.
Missing diver’s body is found
A commercial diver who went missing in the ocean near Huntington Beach Sunday has been found dead. According to authorities, the man was identified as Theodore Watler, 64, of Long Beach. He was in the area of an offshore oilprocessing platform known as Elly when he was reported missing Sunday morning. His body was found around 3 p.m. Sunday about 250 feet from the surface.
The Orange County Tribune is published on Wednesdays. 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.
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ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26, 2022 3
News&Views Taggers are snagged by Garden Grove police Two suspected “taggers” were arrested this week by Garden Grove police. According to the GGPD, officers from the Community Impact Unit spotted two males sitting in a car in the area of Joan Drive and Faye Avenue, southwest of Chapman Avenue and Nutwood Street. The officers recognized them as suspects from last year’s intensive graffiti vandalism in which both had been arrested – along with 10 other
suspects – and placed in probation. When the officers searched the vehicle, they found several bolt cutters, an extendable ladder, paint rollers, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and dozens of spray paint cans. The two were arrested and booked into Orange County Jail for possession of vandalism tools, narcotics violations and felon warrants.
BROOKHURST TRIANGLE UPDATE Additional housing is the next step in the project
More housing and perhaps more from Sterling, too ...
TAGGING MATERIALS AND TOOLS Both suspects had been placed on probation
Chamber gala set for April 23 Winners of the 2022 Businesses of the Year as selected by the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce have been chosen. They will be honored at the 115th annual Gala Dinner at the Embassy Suites Anaheim South, 11767 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove on Saturday, April 23. The honorees are will be: • Large Business: Envise/ Southland Industries, located at 12131 Western Ave., Garden Grove. • Small Business: NOVA Kitchen and Bar, located at 12361 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove. • Community Service: Laura’s House, providing support and
education aimed at ending domestic violence. Also honored will be the 2022 Man and Woman of the Year. For more information, including placing a congratulatory ad in the event program as well as Comtinued on page 4
Last month The Tribune did an interview with Lisa Kim, Garden Grove’s director of community and economic development (and assistant city manager) for our semi-annual update on new businesses planned (or under construction) in the City of Youth and Ambition. She gave us a lot of information about plans for the Willowick Golf Course, Harbor Boulevard hotels, downtown projects (including the Cottage Industries), etc. But we didn’t have room to cover it all, so here’s “part two.” At the Brookhurst Triangle, the first phase of Brookhurst Place housing is completed. The project, in the area bounded generally by Brookhurst Street, Brookhurst Way and Garden Grove Boulevard, is to be divided into five phases. The next phase is 118 rental apartments in the now-vacant land at the southern part of the lot. It’s in plan check and permit issuance is anticipated in the first quarter of 2022. The retail component will come in phases four and five. In the area of Brookhurst Street and Chapman Avenue, the new Sprouts Farmer’s Market recently held its formal grand opening. Also under construction will be an Ulta beauty store, Mattress Firm (presumably a firm that sells firm mattresses) as well as eateries The Habit (burgers, etc.) and Jersey Mike’s (sub-style sandwiches). The developer is the Sterling Organization of Florida. Frankly, Sterling gets high marks here for the speed with which they pressed forward to get the building constructed and opened, and its ability to attract high-appeal national retailers. Could there be more goodies from them in the future? “Sterling is overwhelmingly interested in other properties in Garden Grove,” said Kim. Hmmmm …. Well, we do have a little list …
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Our Towns: Continued from page 3
sponsorship opportunities, call (714) 638-7950.
New public affairs mgr. for HB Jennifer Carey has been promoted to the position of public affairs manager for the City of Huntington Beach. She will be responsible for the planning and implementation of a comprehensive communications,
community relations and marketing program, for the city. Before taking on her new role, she served as public information officer for the Huntington Beach Police Department. She will remain as the acting PIO for the HBPD until her replacement is appointed. “Purple Pig Golf” on Feb. 6 The Garden Grove Elks Lodge #1952 will conduct its 3rd Annual Purple Pig Golf Tournament on Sunday, Feb. 6 at Dad Miller
Golf Course, 530 N. Gilbert St., Anaheim. Registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. for a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start. An awards banquet will follow at the lodge, 11551 Trask Ave., Garden Grove. Fees will be $100 per person or $400 for a foursome. The event will raise funds to help children with disabilities to walk, see and play. Call (562-5009800) for more information; call (714) 534-1952 for payment and registration. Elks host Red Cross blood drive An American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 1 at the Garden Grove Elks Lodge #1952 at 11551 Trask Ave. (at Newhope Street) from 1 to 7 p.m. It’s open to the public and lodge members. To make an appointment, go to www. redcrossblood.org . There are walk-ins. For information, call the lodge office at (714) 534-1952 or (714) 980-0605.
More local students honored Here are degrees and honors recently granted to college and university students from the communities of Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Stanton and Westminster. • Danielle Phillips of Huntington Beach was awarded a bachelor of science degree in human environmental sciences from the University of Alabama at the fall 2021 commencement ceremonies. • Tyler Tran of Westminster has been named to the dean’s list at Curry College (Massachusetts) for the fall 2021 term. • Nicholas Kennedy of Huntington Beach has been named to the dean’s list at University of Iowa for the fall 2021 term. Send information (and photos) for “Our Towns” to The Tribune at orangecountytribune@gmail. com .
Considering placing advertising in The Orange County Tribune (print and website)? Reach thousands for pennies. Call Jim at (714) 458-1860 for details.
ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26, 2022 5
Arts&Living A half-century of music for the parrotheads Jimmy Buffet is an icon of laid-back clever island tunes By Howard Cohen Miami Herald KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) – A profane phone call and Jimmy Buffett’s inability to keep his daily planner organized 50 years ago in Miami set in motion events that changed the music world. Those events made the singer-songwriter one of the most beloved entertainers in America. And one of the wealthiest, with a net worth around $600 million. Buffett’s music and business empire includes restaurants, casinos, hotels and beach resorts, a retirement village, a cruise liner, clothing, publishing. And 29 studio albums, and as many live albums and compilations combined, plus a handful of books. The unusual events – unusual for perhaps everyone except for the creative mind that gave the
SON OF A SON OF A SAILOR Still going strong from “Margartiaville” world “Margaritaville,’’ “Havana Daydreaming’’ and “Everybody’s Got a Cousin in Miami’’ – also helped brand Key West as a distinct sound of music and a destination
known the world over. “I was able to make a living and live how I wanted to and then all of a sudden things started getting better,’’ Buffett said in a telephone
interview from his home in Palm Beach County. Photographer and author Tom Corcoran was with Buffett at the very beginning when the “struggling young hippie’’ cast his voice and acoustic guitar loose on Duval Street and Mallory Square with a handful of good early tunes, like “Railroad Lady,’’ which Buffett wrote with Jerry Jeff Walker, and “The Captain and the Kid.’’ Corcoran documented Buffett from the start in the early 1970s. His photos as the pair wandered about the Keys on gig days and social outings around the world adorned album cover artwork on packages including “Havana Daydreaming,’’ “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” “Son of a Son of a Sailor,’’ “You Had to Be There: Recorded Live’’ and “Volcano.’’ His images from the Keys years fill video screens to this day at Buffett concerts. “Essentially, I took decent pictures and I was cheap. And I knew how to sail a sailboat. So I was good to have around,’’ Corcoran joked in a Continued on page 6
Gem 2022 season is unveiled The 2022 lineup for plays at the Gem Theatre in Garden Grove has been announced. Subject to availability, the schedule is: • “Into The Woods,” March 3-27. Storybook characters with a modern twist. Lyrics and music by Steven Sondheim. • “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” April 21May 15. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s first musical is a reimagining of the Biblical story of Joseph and the “coat of many colors.”
STEVEN SONDHEIM, ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER AND MORE The planned lineup at the historic Gem Theatre on Main Street in Garden Grove • “The Spongebob Musical,” June 30-July 31. The children’s cartoon series goes live on the stage with a tale of the undersea world in peril and the arrival of a hero. • “Avenue Q,” Sept. 29-Oct. 23. A recent college grad arrives in the
big city where he makes memories, mistakes and friends. Not for kids. • Holiday production to be announced, Nov. 25-Dec. 18. The 18th anniversary fund-raiser gala, “Dia de Los Muertos,” is set for Aug. 13.
Plays at the historic Gem, nearly 100 years old, are staged by One More Productions. The theater is located on Main Street in downtown Garden Grove. For more information, go to www. theGEMOC.com .
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50 years of Buffett music Continued from page 5
phone interview from his home in Lakeland. “I had no great delusions about my artistry as a photographer, but all I knew was that I had opportunity and that was huge.’’ A COLLEAGUE LOOKS AT 50 “It’s just like the longevity of mischief,’’ Corcoran says in explaining the significance of Buffett’s career after six decades, a career that went full throttle after that fateful car ride to the Keys circa November 1971 or early 1972, depending on who’s minding the calendar. “Or, how long will a smile last? That’s what he’s been peddling all this time. His lyrics have been brilliant from time to time. Sometimes they’re just like, ‘Oh, Jimmy, why did you do this?’ But when he was hitting them, gosh. I mean, ‘Cowboy in the Jungle.’ I could listen to that one over and over and over and over again. And ‘Sending the Old Man Home,’ that song from the ‘Volcano’ album. You know, they’re just exquisite lyrics. And good melodies to go with. What he promised and what he delivered were the same thing. It was fun. And it was concerts and live performance. And the live album really got it right,’’ Corcoran said. “When I really knew he was going to make it a business was probably in the spring of ‘77. I was with him when he discovered that ‘Margaritaville’ was a hit and it was climbing the charts,’’ Corcoran said. The pair were in Staniel Cay, an island in the Bahamas, when they came upon what was essentially the only phone on the island inside a little concrete block building. Buffett picked up the phone and called his management. Collect. Buffett had had some well-received albums like “Living and Dying in 3/4 Time’’ that featured his first Top 40 hit, “Come Monday,’’ in 1974. “1A’’ and “Havana Daydreaming’’ followed by 1976. These records were part of his formative “Key West Period’’ albums. But the latter two didn’t yield any radio hits. “Changes in Latitudes,’’ generally considered the last of the “Key West Period’’ albums, had just come out in
YOUNG JIMMY
January 1977. (Though an argument could be made, stylistically, for the subsequent “Son of a Son of a Sailor’’ he recorded with his Coral Reefer Band at the defunct Bay Shore Recording Studio in Coconut Grove.) “He said, ‘Let me call LA. See if I still have a job.’ That is the exact words: ‘I’m going to call LA and see if I still have a job,’’’ Corcoran recalled. “They just recorded ‘Changes in Latitudes’ at Criteria Studios in November and December 1976. And he got a modest advance from ABC/Dunhill at that point. And he wondered if his career was going to go up in smoke after only four albums and now maybe a fifth. And so he pledged that advance would go to a sailboat so he could at least sail away from the dock and flip the bird back at the people who decided he wasn’t worthy of a career. “That changed the day that he found out ‘Margaritaville’ was Number 29 and climbing.’’ A SONGWRITER LOOKS AT 50 “What got me to Key West, of course, was Jerry Jeff Walker because I had left Nashville, gotten a divorce, and nothing was going on there,’’ Buffett said. “But I was working, booking myself in places or through word of mouth on the folk circuit around the South and the Southeast. The great Gamble Rogers, people like that there, were on that circuit through Nashville, the Carolinas, St. Augustine, the Flick and Bubba’s in Miami. So I climbed my way up on that circuit and one of the places there was The Flick, so I had an offer to go to Miami for The Flick.’’ Part Two is next week
ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26, 2022 7
A weekend for the ages for fans of Rams, NFL Continued from page 8
Gay had missed a 47-yard attempt earlier, a boot that fell short of the cross bar. This one just barely sneaked in inside the left upright. Wow. Instant history. Of course, the other big winner was coach Sean McVay. He made the call to go for it and not hope for better things in overtime. The longer view is that while in St. Louis, the Rams had 10 straight losing seasons and under Mr. McVay in LA, the Rams have posted five straight winning campaigns, been to the playoffs four of those years and made it to the conference championship game twice. There’s also the matter of the Super Bowl.
Every Rams fan knows that more heroics may be necessary next Sunday as the Rams try to break a six-game losing streak against the 49ers. But every real Rams supporter will want to savor this amazing historic triumph for a while. At least until, say, Wednesday.
Lakers, Clippers losing, and lost the spotlight
Football has stolen the spotlight recently, and with good reason. And who feels very good about our Southern California NBA teams? The Lakers are 23-24 and in eighth place in the Western Conference, and the Clippers (2325) are ninth. Despite that, both teams do have a ghost of a chance to play past the end of the regular schedule. This year, the league has a new wrinkle for the post-season. Eight teams from each conference will make the “real” playoffs. The top six teams from each conference will automatically qualify, but those in seventh through 10th – which includes our guys – will be in a “Play-In” single-elimination tournament among themselves. Yes, yes, it looks like a ploy to milk more TV revenue, but if Anthony Davis gets well and Russell Westbrook is more
consistent, the Lakers, at least, might be able to make use of that almost-consolation bracket. We won’t know until April, which is when baseball will take over. That’s if the lockout is over by then. Final out: Announcer Al Michaels on the Rams-Buccaneers’ frantic finish: “This is officially lunacy.” “Sports Monday” is written by Pete Zarustica.
Argos prevail over Jaguars by 55-54 score Continued from page 8
The Argonauts were led in scoring by Miguel Ortega with 18 points, and Landon Mendoza added 14. Segerstrom’s top scorers were Jalen Cervantes with 11 and Chris Negrete with 10. Next up for Garden Grove is a home game against Godinez Fundamental on Friday, then three games next week against Segerstrom at home on Monday and road games at Westminster and Ocean View next Tuesday and Thursday.
CIF-SS polls for winter sports A baker’s dozen of area high school winter sports teams were recognized in polls released on Monday by the CIF-SS. BOYS’ BASKETBALL Division 2A • Edison (third) Division 5AA • Bolsa Grande (ninth) Division 5A • La Quinta (third) GIRLS’ BASKETBALL Open Division • Orangewood Academy Division 1 Orangewood Academy (seventh) Division 5A Orange (eighth) BOYS’ SOCCER Division 1 • Huntington Beach (fourth) Division 3 • Los Amigos (received votes) GIRLS’ SOCCER Division 4 • Westminster (tied for eighth)
GIRLS’ WATER POLO Division 1 • Huntington Beach (received votes) Division 3 • Edison (first) Division 6 • Westminster (fourth), La Quinta (fifth).
Considering placing advertising in The Orange County Tribune (print and website)? Reach thousands for pennies. Call Jim at (714) 4581860 for details.
8 WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE
TheSportsPage SportsWeek
A great weekend for Rams and NFL
TOUGH ON DEFENSE, LEADER IN DEFENSE Miguel Ortega (25) scored 18 points to lead all scorers in Grove’s win
Argonauts defend league lead with defense and a little luck By Jim Tortolano Orange County Tribune There are no free lunches, it’s said, but in basketball there are free throws. Winners and losers are often defined by who makes them and who doesn’t. And when. That was part of the story of Garden Grove’s 55-54 boys’ basketball win over Segerstrom in a Golden West League crucial at the Jaguar gym Tuesday night. The victory gives the Argonauts a 6-0 record in league play, 14-7 overall. While the win doesn’t completely lock up a league title, it does put the red-and-white well ahead of Ocean View (3-1) and Segerstrom (3-2). Grove built an early lead, but lost it when its free throw shooting went as chilly as a Tastee Freez in Oslo. Overall the Argos hit on only four of 12 from the line. The Jaguars flourished with theirs, connecting on 12 of 18. Until, of course, when they didn’t. The Argonauts were clinging to a 55-53 lead with 36 seconds to go when two fouls were whistled which gave the home team three free throws. But they hit on only one, and Grove continued unbeaten in the league. It was yet another white knuckle win for Grove, which won one earlier GWL contest by two points and another in overtime. “It’s definitely a little luck,” said Argo coach
Brian Girard. “We play good defense. We’ve consistently played good defense all year and I think that always gives us a chance to win. Tonight there were a few too many points to my liking, but we were able to play good enough defense in the end to hold on and win.”
Over the weekend, four Divisional Round playoff games were held in the NFL, and – of course – half the teams had to lose. Fans of the Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are still rejoicing, but the actual, and very big winner was the National Football League. All four games came down to the final moments and/ or last play of the contests. All of them featured stirring heroics and heart-breaking flubs. All four teams and their fans can look back at those contests and say truthfully, “We played our hearts out.” Has there been anything more entertaining on TV than this? Of the most immediate interest to us is the Rams’ improbable win over the Buccaneers and Tom Brady, the Greatest of All Time. After much back-and-forth, after the Rams had blown a 27-3 and were facing overtime at a hostile Raymond James Stadium. The boys from SoFi had just 42 seconds to pull off a miracle. “I live for these kinds of moments,” said Rams quarterback Matt Stafford. “I would have loved to have been taking a knee when you’re up by three scores, but it’s a whole lot more fun when you got to make a play like that to win the game and just steal somebody’s soul.” The Rams seemed to lose their souls earlier with four turnovers, but in the game’s waning seconds, Stafford hit Cooper Kupp for two passes that set up Matt Gay’s 30yard field goal that won the game as time ran out. Even that kind of a “gimme” field goal was full of drama. Continued on page 7
Continued on page 7
Latest hoops scores TUESDAY BASKETBALL RESULTS Boys Empire League • Kennedy 58, Pacifica 48 Golden West League • Garden Grove 55, Segerstrom 54 • Westminster 48, Katella 33 • Ocean View 75, Gondinez 43 Orange League • Western 48, Anaheim 43 Wave League • Fountain Valley at Marina Non-league • Magnolia 30, Samueli Academy 21 Girls Empire League • Kennedy 57, Pacifica 22 Golden West League • Segerstrom 67, Garden Grove 63 • Westminster 46, Katella 17 • Godinez 34, Ocean View 22 San Joaquin League • Orangewood Academy 57, Fairmont Prep 32 Non-league • Los Alamitos 56 Marina 18 • Huntington Beach at Edison
JUST ABOUT PERFECT Matthew Stafford was flawless, then epic in the Rams’ 30-27 win over Tampa Bay.