The Orange County Tribune Aug. 24, 2022

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Printed in Garden Grove, California n orangecountytribune.com n Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022 n orangecountytribune@gmail.com

n GARDEN GROVE CITY COUNCIL

Nickelodeon Hotel Takes Another Step

BOOM TIMES AT BROOKHURST TRIANGLE

Appeal of planning commission approval denied on Tuesday

By Jim Tortolano Orange County Tribune

It was an unusual moment: two union groups struggling over whether the Garden Grove City Council should give approval to the development of the 500-room Nickelodeon Hotel Resort.

After much comment from construction trade n STANTON COUNCIL

Sports park design pact is awarded A contract for design and construction support services for the renovation of Norm Ross Sports Park was approved by the Stanton City Council on a 5-0 vote on Tuesday night.

The contract was awarded to PBK for an amount not to exceed $640,000. Funding comes from $7.9 million in parks grant money the city received from the State of California.

Continued on page 2

unions and UNITE, which represents hotel and restaurant workers unions, the council on Tuesday night voted 6-0 – with Councilmember John O’Neill (District 2) absent – to approve the ordinance for the project and deny an appeal of the planning commission’s previous approval.

Speaking in favor of the project mostly were members and representatives of various construction trade unions, including electricians, carpenters and iron and steel workers.

They cited the benefits of employing local workers and creating career job opportunities for high school graduates who don’t go on to college.

Opposed were members and representatives of UNITE, arguing that the land along Harbor Boulevard where the new project would be located – immediately south of the Sheraton Hotel – would be better used for housing, and that such a large development as the resort could have a negative imContinued on page 2

THE GARDEN BROOK SENIOR VILLAGE in the background at Garden Grove Boulevard near Brookhurst Street – long derided as the “Rusty Skeleton” – is nearly completed while – (in the foreground) – construction continues for the second phase of the Brookhurst Place mixed-use development. At the northeast corner of the intersection, a five-story mixed use building has been approved by city planners (Orange County Tribune photos),

Inside The Angels may soon be for sale PAGES 7 and 8

Week One for prep football PAGES 7 and 8

Youth injured by blast from illegal fireworks A 14-year old boy was hospitalized in serious condition Friday night after an illegal “mortar” style firework detonated prematurely while being ignited in Eastgate Park in Garden Grove.

According to Sgt. Nick Jensen, public information officer for the GGPD, the incident took place around 10 p.m. at the park at 12001 St. Mark St., just west of Valley View Street, near where Chapman Avenue.

The youth, who report-

edly suffered serious injuries to his hands and face, was treated by Orange County Fire Authority paramedics and then taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange, according to Capt. Steve Concialdi, a public information officer for the OCFA. “Illegal fireworks are extremely dangerous and unpredictable, said Concialdi. “Since they are not regulated, once lit, the handler does not know when the illegal explosive Continued on page 2

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

2 WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

IN THE “NICK”OF TIME Garden Grove City Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance for the Nickeloden Hotel resort project on Harbor Boulevard.

Nickelodeon hotel advances Continued from page 1

pact on the community.

While the hotel workers represents employees at some Anaheim hotels, they’ve had no success in organizing at those in Garden Grove.

Their objections Tuesday night didn’t move any members of the council.

Praising the transition of Harbor toward a hotel resort district, Councilmember George Brietigam (District 1) said, “The city

has received a lot of benefits from [hotels]” and added “It fits the area and it fits the long-term goals for the community.”

Councilmember Phat Bui (District 4) said the last steps toward development of the project was “the light at the end of the tunnel.”

The “final” final step would come on Sept. 13 when the council considers second reading and final adoption of the ordinance.

Norm Ross Sports Park plans Continued from page 1

The park is located west of Beach Boulevard and south of Katella Avenue.

Upgrades could include a com-

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.

munity building, water play area, playground, skate park, picnic area basketball court, dog park and outdoor exercise equipment.

Fireworks Continued from page 1

is going to detonate.”

No criminal charges will be pressed in connection with this incident, by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office which was summoned to investigate the explosion.

Orangecountytribune.com for latest news every day

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24, 2022 3

News&Views GETTING READT FOR TAKEOFF

Suspect sought in attempted murder A 28-year-old Victorville man is in stable condition at a local hospital after being shot after a family party early Sunday morning in Garden Grove.

According to Sgt. Nick Jensen of the GGPD, the incident took place in the 10000 block of Crosby Avenue. At 12:42 a.m., officers were sent to that location in response to a report of a family fight.

During the party, several people there got into an argument, followed by a physical fight in

WORKERS MAKE PROGRESS IN completing new playground equipment in Garden Grove Park. The theme of the project is airplanes and space flight. Before becoming a park in rhe mid-50s, it was a small landing field for the U.S. Navy and later a commerical airport (Orange County Tribune photo)

Good news (mostly) on corona front The news was almost all good on the coronavirus front for Orange County in Tuesday’s report.

According to the county health care agency, the latest tally of confirmed new cases – over four days – was 1,950, which averaged to 487.5 (rounded to 488) per day.

That’s down from Friday’s 692 and 654 a week ago.

Deaths were at 27 (the same as Friday), while hospitalizations declined from 271 from 259. The number of people being treated for COVID-19 in intensive care units fell from 44 to 35.

Our Towns

GG Elks plan annual BBQ For those of you who like to plan ahead, the Garden Grove Elks Lodge # 1952 will be holding its 64th Annual Labor Day Family Fun Festival on Monday, Sept. 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The event, which takes place at 11551 Trask Ave. (at Newland Street) will feature a breakfast, barbecue, games and entertainment. Its a membership drive, so it’s open to the public.

College honors

Baylor University (Waco, Texas) • Alexis Serrano of Garden Grove was named to the dean’s Continued on page 4

the street in front of the home.

During the fight, a man shot the victim in the abdomen, then fled in a white “import” sedan.

The victim was taken to an area hospital where he underwent surgery.

Police describe the suspect as a 20-year-old Hispanic male. He is wanted for attempted murder.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Detective Dustin Staal at (714) 7415227.

Pedestrian fatally struck in Hunt. Beach accident A 42-year-old man walking along the street in Huntington Beach was fatally injured when struck by a car Sunday night.

According to Jessica Cuchilla, public information officer for the HBPD, the incident took place after 10:30 p.m. on Beach Boulevard, south of Ellis Avenue.

Arriving officers found the pedestrian in the roadway in critical condition. He was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The driver of the vehicle – a

black 2008 Toyota Camry – remained at the scene and cooperated with officers. Impairment of the driver, a resident of Hemet, doesn’t appear to be a factor.

Police believe the Camry was traveling northbound on Beach and struck the pedestrian south of Ellis Avenue. The pedestrian was not in a crosswalk.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or events leading up to it are asked to contact HBPD Traffic Investigator J. Rounds at (714) 536-5670.

Study indicates many GG homes are getting a bit old The statistically typical home in Garden Grove – if it were a person – would soon qualify for a senior citizen’s discount.

According to a study complied

by Inspection Support Network from U.S. Census Bureau Data, the median residential home in Garden Grove is 56 years old.

Additionally, relatively few housing units – just 184 units – have been built in the last

six years. That’s 0.4 percent of housing stock.

That compares to a national average of 42 years old and 3.5 percent of housing stock built since 2014.

Other Orange County cities noted in the survey are Irvine (22 years old).

The study notes that older housContinued on page 7

4 WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Our Towns: Shooting suspects pleads What goes not guilty in church attack on here

By Amy Taxin/Associated Press

Continued from page 3

list at Louise Herrington School of Nursing.

Westminster school news • Michelle Watkins has been named interim principal at Sequoia Academy GATE Magnet Elementary School for the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

A permanent principal will be selected in coming months.

• Sarah Rendon has been named principal at Schmitt Elementary School at the start of the 2022-2023 school year • Shannon Villanueva has been named principal at Schroeder College and Career Academy.

SANTA ANA (AP) – A Las Vegas man pleaded not guilty in an Orange County court on Friday to charges that he killed one person and wounded five in a shooting at a Taiwanese American church meeting.

David Chou, 68, was ordered held without bail by Orange County Superior Court Judge Cynthia M. Herrera.

Chou is charged with murder with an enhancement for a hate crime in the killing of a 52-year-old doctor who sought to stop the attack on a May lunch gathering of largely older members of the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church. He is also charged with five counts of attempted murder.

Authorities have said Chou was motivated to attack the gathering of churchgoers in Laguna Woods by hatred of Taiwan stemming from the years he lived there as a boy after his family was forced from mainland China when Communists took control.

The Orange County Tribune’s electronic paper is now published on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24, 2022 5

Arts&Living

NO, IT’S NOT A LAND SHARK A lion with vengeance on his mind is the menace in the new horror-thriller “Beast”

This “Beast” has quite a bit of bite A fierce feline with a hunger for vengeance

By Jake Coyle AP Film Writer

Sharks, grizzlies, giant snakes and rampaging apes have traditionally been the go-to choices for animal-kingdom antagonists in survival thrillers. Lions not so much. Maybe the king of the jungle has always been too regal, too majestic – too heroic – to be lowered to the status of mere summer-movie marauder.

But the circle of life also pertains to movies, and it was probably inevitable that the lion’s time would come. That’s, at least, the nature of “Beast,’’ a

Movie Review surprisingly agile and nifty Bmovie graced by Idris Elba’s formidable presence, fluid camerawork and tolerable levels of implausibility.

It’s a movie well engineered as a late-summer diversion – a big cat movie for the dog days of August – that Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur (“Adrift,” “Everest”) insures stays well within the paths of man-againstnature films before it.

But while the lion is CGI, the South African location is genuine, and Kormakur and cinematographer Philippe Rousselot’s long, well-choreographed takes give “Beast’’ an immersive quality well beyond the genre’s usual slapdash cutting.

But how do you make a lion a

diabolical hunter? “Beast,” written by Ryan Engle, opens with poachers mowing down a pride of lions. But one – a big one – escapes, and has a preternatural taste for avenging the killings and protecting its territory.

The lion’s ferocity is easy to empathize with, ever to root for.

Having had his family taken from him, he’s like the Liam Neeson of lions.

This is what Nate Samuels (Elba) and his two daughters, Meredith (Iyana Halley) and Norah (Leah Jeffries), walk into. They’ve just arrived in South Africa, a trip that Nate hopes will be a healing one for the family.

They’re still reeling from the death of Nate’s wife from cancer, a loss that Mere and Norah partly blame on Nate, a doctor.

The pair had also separated a

Good: HHH year before her death, adding to the family friction.

But what’s better at ailing abandonment issues than a man-hunting lion? After reuniting with an old friend, Martin (Sharlto Copley), a vehemently anti-poacher wildlife biologist, the four set out in a jeep to explore the savanna. It doesn’t take long before they stumble across the lion’s victims and find themselves fending off his attacks from the vehicle. When Martin radios that the lion is staring right at him, one of the daughters gamely asks, “Is that a little, um, unnatural?”

There’s the backdrop of animal treatment, but “Beast’’ is mostly unburdened by larger meaning.

Continued on page 6

6 WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Alabamans lead pre-season football all-stars

By Ralph D. Russo AP College Football Writer

Alabama stars Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. are among four players from the top-ranked Crimson Tide selected to The Associated Press preseason AllAmerica team.

Joining Young, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, and Anderson, the star pass rusher, were Alabama defensive backs Jordan Battle and Eli Ricks as first-team selections.

The AP preseason All-America team presented by Regions Bank was selected by a panel of Top 25 poll voters and released Monday.

Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs made the second team as an all-purpose player and Crimson Tide guard Emil Ekiyor was also a second-team selection.

Alabama’s four first-teamers and six players on the two teams overall were the most for any school.

Ohio State was second behind

Alabama, just like in the AP Top 25, with three first-team selections and five players overall.

Offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., running back TreVeyon Henderson and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba were all selected to the first team. C.J. Stroud, who finished fourth in the Heisman voting last year, is the second-team quarterback.

Tackle Dawand Jones made the second-team offensive line.

Defending national champion and No. 3 Georgia had three players picked to the first-team: tight end Brock Bowers, defensive tackle Jalen Carter and cornerback Kelee Ringo. Nolan Smith made the second-team at edge rusher.

In a sign of college football’s new era of loosened transfer rules, seven players selected to the two teams have transferred in their college careers, including Gibbs (Georgia Tech) and Ricks (LSU) from Alabama.

Southern California receiver

Jordan Addison, the Biletnikoff Award winner at Pitt in 2021, was a first-team selection.

Transfers joining Gibbs on the second-team were Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence (LouisianaLafayette); Baylor defensive tackle Siaki Ika (LSU); Notre Dame safety Brandon Joseph (Northwestern); and Florida State defensive back Jammie Robinson (South Carolina).

FIRST TEAM Offense • Quarterback -- Bryce Young, junior, Alabama • Running backs -- Bijan Robinson, junior, Texas; TreVeyon Henderson, sophomore, Ohio State.

• Tackles -- Peter Skoronski, junior, Northwestern; Paris Johnson Jr., junior, Ohio State.

• Guards -- Andrew Vorhees, sixth-year, Southern California; Caleb Chandler, sixth-year, Louisville.

• Center -- Jarrett Patterson, senior, Notre Dame.

• Tight end -- Brock Bowers,

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sophomore, Georgia.

• Wide receivers -- Jordan Addison, junior, Southern California; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, junior, Ohio State; Kayshon Boutte, junior, LSU. • All-purpose player -- Deuce Vaughn, junior, Kansas State.

• Kicker -- Jake Moody, senior, Michigan.

Defense • Edge rushers -- Will McDonald IV, senior, Iowa State; Isaiah Foskey, senior, Notre Dame.

• Linemen -- Bryan Bresee, junior, Clemson; Jalen Carter, junior, Georgia.

• Linebackers -- Will Anderson Jr., junior, Alabama; Noah Sewell, junior, Oregon; Jack Campbell, senior, Iowa.

• Cornerbacks -- Kelee Ringo, sophomore, Georgia; Eli Ricks, junior, Alabama.

• Safeties -- Jordan Battle, junior, Alabama; Antonio Johnson, junior, Texas A&M. • Defensive back -- Riley Moss, senior, Iowa.

• Punter -- Adam Korsak, senior, Rutgers.

This “Beast” has a mission of vengeance Continued from page 5

For most of its brisk 93-minute running time, the Samuels tussle with the animal in a game of (big) cat and mouse. The shark in “Jaws” put an entire community under the microscope, but the scope of “Beast” is narrowly fixed on Nate and his girls.

There isn’t any beast within here, just a beast.

But with lively supporting performances from Halley and Jeffries and a commanding one from Elba, they make a realistic, often bickering family. Elba’s commitment to the film gives it more psychological weight than it might deserve. Nothing will surprise you in how “Beasts” unfolds except for how engrossing it manages to be.

“Beast,” a Universal Pictures release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for violent content, bloody im-

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24, 2022 7

Moreno: The Angels may be put up for sale Continued from page 8

a possible sale of the team.”

Moreno has owned the Angels since he bought the team from Walt Disney Co. in 2003 for $184 million.

Initially the team prospered, winning six division titles, but the Halos have been missing from the playoffs since 2014 and haven’t posted a winning

record since 2015.

“It has been a great honor and privilege to own the Angels for 20 seasons,” Moreno said in a statement.

“As an organization, we have worked to provide our fans an affordable and family-friendly ballpark experience while fielding competitive lineups, which included some of the game’s greatest players.”

Despite the grim record of the past seven seasons, the Angels have kept a strong fan base.

They’ve had 3 million fans each season until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. Even now, they’re averaging almost ANGEL STADIUM IN ANAHEIM Fifth-oldest stadium in Major League Baseball (File photo) 31,000 fans per home game in a decaying stadium in Anaheim that’s the fourth-oldest in Major

Dodgers win, Angels lose one more time Continued from page 8

The increasingly notorious bullpen was tagged for six hits (including a home run), four walks and eight runs.

The Dodgers started fast, building a 9-0 lead after four innings.

Freddie Freeman led the attack with three hits and four RBIs. Trayce Thompson kept pace with four runs batted in, including a three-run home run in the second.

All that support made the night a breeze for Tony Gonsolin (161), who worked five brisk innings, giving up three hits and one run. He struck out three and walked two.

That old house Continued from page 3

ing may have attractive period charm and larger yards but also require more upkeep and have problems with plumbing, electrical and heating and air conditioning systems, repairs that can be expensive.

League baseball.

Only Fenway Park in Boston, Wrigley Field in Chicago and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles are older.

The search for a replacement for the “Big A” led to a controversial proposed deal in which the Angels would buy the stadium from the City of Anaheim and develop the land around it.

A corruption scandal tied to the mayor killed that plan.

Boys’ polo watch list The CIF-SS preseason boys’ water polo “watch list” is out and four local teams are listed.

• Division 1: Huntington Beach • Division 5: Los Amigos, Ocean View • Division 6: Garden Grove.

Week One Continued from page 8

Christian (2-0) of Temecula.

Coaches, parents, fans, athletic directors, etc. are encouraged to submit rosters (up to date, please!), results, stats, photos, story ideas to us at orangecountytribune.com. If you don’t contribute, you can’t complain about a lack of coverage.

8 WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24, 2022/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

TheSportsPage

Week One Brings Out the Rest Now everyone’s 2022 prep grid season starting It may seem a little odd that the second week of the local 2022 high school season is called Week One, but that’s because some teams got a jump on the season last week with what’s called Week Zero.

Now, all of the teams presenting the communities of Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Stanton and Western will have been in action by this week.

The schedule appears below, but please note that the dates, locations, time, opponents and other details are subject to change without notice. All games are scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.

There are a lot of interesting games this Week One but one of them relates to a mythical city championship.

On Friday, in the season opener for both teams, La Quinta will visit Westminster for the “City of Westminster” title. Last fall, the Lions defeated the Aztecs 48-7.

Here are the matchups: Thursday • Newport Harbor (1-0) at Ma-

HE’S HANGING ON! Jesse Frietas (11) of Orange High still has the ball as Pacifica High defenders come back.

The Panthers won 42-7 (Orange County Tribune photo by Jim Tortolano ). rina (0-0) at Bill Boswell Field at Westminster High.

• Loara (0-2) at Estancia (0-0) • Huntington Beach (1-0) vs.

Summit High of Fontana (1-0) at home.

Friday • Garden Grove (0-0) at Artesia (0-0) • Western (1-0) at St. Margaret

(0-1) of San Juan Capistrano • Bolsa Grande (1-0) at Bishop Montgomery (1-0) of Torrance • Santiago (0-0) at Santa Ana Valley (1-0) • Magnolia (1-0) at University (1-0) • La Quinta (0-0) at Westminster (0-0) • Los Amigos (0-0) at Ocean

View (0-1) • Rancho Alamitos (0-0) at La Sierra (1-0) of Riverside • Edison (1-0) at Leuzinger (00) of Lawndale • Villa Park (0-1) at Orange (1-0).

Saturday • Pacifica (0-1) at Linfield Continued on page 7

Trout connects, but Halos can’t; Dodgers hammer the Brewers

Angels may be put up for sale

By David Arthur Orange County Tribune

By Pete Zarustica Orange County Tribune

Mike Trout hit his 25th home run of the season Tuesday night, but he’s the only Los Angeles Angel going very far this year.

The Halos absorbed an embarrassing 11-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays to post their fourth consecutive defeat, and sixth in seven games.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, on

the other hand, continued to flex their muscles as the best team in Major League Baseball, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 10-1 at home. As for the Blue Crew, it was their fourth win in five games and a MLB-leading 85th triumph.

In Florida, the game was close through six innings, with the Rays nursing a 2-1 lead. But they broke through with six runs in the seventh and two runs

in the eighth to turn the game into a rout.

The Los Angeles Angels have lost 70 games so far this season. Now it looks like the team and franchise may be losing an owner.

In a statement released on Tuesday, it was announced that owner Arte Moreno was pursuing “strategic alternatives including

Continued on page 7

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