“ California’s Golden Coast ”
Article on page 18
“Pier” by Roger Kuntz / 1960s / Oil on Canvas
The Museum of California Art at Chapman University
Gift of the Hilbert Collection
Around the Plaza!
Wed & Thu / May 21 & 22
Old Towne Preservation Association
“Discover the History of Your Home”
How to research your home’s past & Orange History Center tour.
Orange Main Library: 407 East Chapman 714-639-6840 / OTPA.org
Tue / May 27 / 8 - 9 am
Orange Chamber “Eggs & Issues”
Join special guest, Director of the Hilbert Museum of California Art, Mary Platt. Hotel Fera 100 The City Dr 714-538-3581 / OrangeChamber.com
Sat / May 31 / 10 am - Noon
Old Towne Preservation Association
“Discover the History of Your Home” Tips for enhancing historic homes. Play Coffee: 101 East Chapman Ave 714-639-6840 / OTPA.org
JUNE 2025
Thu / Jun 5 / 6 - 9:30 pm
CFO Orange@Heart Gala
Honoring Orange City Firefighters as our 2025 Community Champions. Grand Gimeno 146 North Grand St CommunityFoundationOfOrange.org
Jun 16 - Aug 28 / 9 am - 2 pm
Pacific Conservatory
DiscoveryArts Summer Camp
Explore voice, piano, string instruments, drums, art & improv for ages 3-12. 1311 East Katella Ave / 714-545-1217 www.facebook.com/pacconservatory
Sat / Jun 21 / 10 am - 5 pm
Old Towne Orange Chili Cook-Off
Live Music, Cold Beer, Hot Chili & Cash Prizes. Benefiting the Rotary Club of Orange.
Chapman Crafted: 123 North Cypress St www.instagram.com/oto_chili_cook_off
Sat / Jun 21 / 11 am - 10 pm
Pacific Conservatory Make Music Day
A celebration of music & performances throughout Orange. Free to participate, or enjoy, with a kick-off at City Hall. www.MakeMusicDay.org/orange
Sun / Jun 22 / 6 pm
Musco Center Gospel of Voices of OC
Join us for an extraordinary Juneteenth event chronicling the lives of African American artistic masters across choral, band & theater genres. 415 North Glassell St / MuscoCenter.org
ONGOING
Every Fri / 9 - 11 am
Orange Home Grown Educational Farm
Volunteer Farm Friday Plant, harvest, compost, mend soil & more, as new & seasoned volunteers work together on the farm projects. 356 N Lemon / OrangeHomeGrown.org
Every Sat / 9 am - 1 pm
Orange Home Grown Farmers Market
Begin your day with fresh healthy foods.
1st Sat Knife Sharpening
2nd Sat Free Cooking Demo
3rd Sat Kids Club / Seed Lending 303 W Palm / OrangeHomeGrown.org
2nd Sat / 9 - 11 am
Volunteer Opportunity
Santiago Creek Clean-Up
Join in to help keep the creek clean. SantiagoGreenway.org
3rd Sat / 7:30 pm
Naranjita Flamenco Tablao Flamenco
Performances by a rotating cast of artists. See ad on page 4. 301 East Katella Ave / 714-400-2939 NaranjitaFlamenco.com
2nd & 4th Tue / 6 - 8 pm
City of Orange City Council Meeting
Keep informed about our city. Agendas available the prior Thursday. Orange City Hall: 300 E Chapman 714-744-2225 / CityOfOrange.org
134 South Glassell St.
Publishing Team May/Jun 2025
Publisher Mike Escobedo MikeEsco@OrangeReview.com
Editor/Writer Julie Bawden-Davis Julie@JulieBawdenDavis.com
Writer Karen Anderson 123kKaren@earthlink.net
Writer Yuki Klotz-Burwell Klotz105@mail.chapman.edu
Writer Nathan Carter Nathan.Travis.Carter@gmail.com
Writer Sheri Ledbetter SheriLedbetter@outlook.com
Writer Melissa Pinion-Whitt
AuthorMelissaWhitt@gmail.com
Writer Mary Platt Platt@chapman.edu
Writer Arely Valenzuela ArelyHernandez9895@gmail.com
Photographer Kristin Smetona info@SmetonaPhoto.com
Digital Artist Clyde San Juan CrookedTrails@hotmail.com
Web Developer Chase Higgins chasehiggins@me.com
Printed by Reed Printing Estella@reedprinting.com
Processed by Mailing Pros, Inc. MPI@MailingProsInc.com
Distributed by the US Postal Services www.usps.com
by Yuki Klotz-Burwell
Finding Moments that Bring Joy
With the start of a new season comes new businesses, and Orange is full of recent store openings throughout Old Towne. Read on to meet the recent additions, including Local Gem Collective, The Kickin’ Crab and The Squeeze.
Local Gem Collectives
Local Gem Collective Founder Jasmin Martinez grew up visiting Old Towne’s antique shops, but never dreamed she’d be able to open her own store just outside of the Plaza one day. Last February, she took a chance and opened Local Gem Collective, a creative studio and marketplace for woman-owned small businesses.
“I’m motivated by and so grateful for all my vendors,” she says. “The relationships I’ve created here in this beautiful space are amazing, and it’s been the most rewarding experience.”
The marketplace now has more than 50 Southern California-based vendors, including candlemakers, sticker designers, jewelry artists and more. Martinez also runs workshops, like a meditative sound bath, and invites creators to host their own events in the space. Next on the calendar is a body healing class, a writing workshop and a pet portrait luggage tag session.
Running Local Gem Collective is a great fit for Martinez, who describes herself as healthily balanced between creative and business-oriented. Before founding the business, she worked at Home Depot for 15 years, from cashier to general manager.
“I never thought I’d leave Home Depot, but I had a health scare that gave me a new perspective on life,” says Martinez. “I signed a one-year lease and expected that to be it, but the collective turned out to be much bigger than I imagined.”
here is booksy romantic, and it’s a safe space for people,” she says. “It’s very nostalgic and has a lot of feminine energy.”
While at Home Depot, Martinez always found time for creative side pursuits. She sold phone cases on her Etsy storefront and eventually held in-person pop-ups on the weekends, and opened a boutique where she sold into Orange County consignment shops.
“I’ve always had the business portion down, but my creative outlets have been a big part of my journey,” says Martinez.
“Everything has worked out so well, and I’m very grateful.”
Her leadership has made a significant impact on the small business owners who chose Local Gem Collective as an avenue for selling their creations.
“Jasmin and so many of the other small business owners are so supportive, encouraging and paving the way on how people view and support small businesses
now more than ever,” says Ashley Addison, Owner of amarieacreates, who designs “retro modern” stationery, apparel, stickers and more. “The collective has that homey feel because we all treat the space and people like our home.”
For Martinez, the most important part of her job is making sure everyone in the community feels connected and fulfilled.
“It’s so important, especially in our fast-paced society, to find moments for the things and places that bring joy,” she says.
Local Gem Collective Founder Jasmin Martinez displays items available from some of the many vendors at her marketplace. “The atmosphere
by Sheri Ledbetter
Preserving Our History
You don’t have to look hard to find a slice of Orange’s distinctive history. The American Legion Post 132 houses a living military museum with a Heroes Wall of Orange’s veterans. The Old Towne Preservation Association (OTPA) shares new, engaging ways of educating about preservation on the eve of its 40th anniversary. And the Orange Library History Center is a trove of ephemera available for researching the past, including Orange’s own Lionettes champion softball team.
American Legion Post 132
Tucked in the Orange Plaza is a goldmine of American military history and community service: American Legion Post 132. Founded in 1920, this post has been a cornerstone of veteran support and community engagement for more than a century, with Victor de la Rosa currently serving as Commander of the Post.
At the helm of the post’s historical preservation efforts is Francis “Frank” Cook, the historian and curator of the Military Museum. Established in 2010, the museum houses an impressive collection of artifacts spanning from the Civil War to present day. Cook, a former six-year Army nurse turned civilian nurse for 41 years, brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his role.
The museum’s chronological displays offer visitors a tangible connection to America’s military past. From Civil War-era medical instruments to World War I gas masks, and from D-Day beach sand to modern flight suits, each artifact tells a story. One of the most unique items is a rare Civil
War hand grenade, showcasing the evolution of warfare technology.
Post 132’s rich history is evident in its “Wall of Heroes,” featuring photographs of local service members from World War I.
These images, taken at a local studio, capture the solemn faces of young men and women preparing for the possibility of making the ultimate sacrifice.
The American Legion itself, founded in Paris, France in 1919 with early notable members such as Eisenhower, Truman and Patton, has been at the forefront of veteran advocacy for more than a century. Post 132 continues this tradition, supporting veterans of all eras and ensuring the mistakes of the past, such as the poor treatment of Vietnam veterans, are not repeated.
Today, the post is more than just a veterans’ organization. It’s a vibrant community hub, open to the public and hosting various events throughout the year. From “Legionnaires in the Kitchen” serving authentic military-style meals to Friday night steak dinners followed by the nationwide legion tradition of singing “God Bless America,” Post 132 offers something for everyone.
The building itself is a three-story structure, housing
not only the museum but also meeting spaces and areas for social gatherings. It’s a place where the four legion “families” consisting of the Legionnaires, Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion and American Legion Riders, come together to continue serving America.
John Schutz is a Vietnam vet and the head of the “Riders” family (motorcycle enthusiasts).
“A lot of it is being here to help veterans—that’s what about,” says Schutz. “It’s important that the post looks nice and presentable and invithold a lot of open houses and Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies.”
As Cook aptly puts it, “We are still serving America. That’s one of our mottos.”
This dedication to service, coupled with a commitment to preserving and sharing military history, makes American Legion Post 132 a true Orange County treasure.
Showcased at the American Legion’s Military Museum are a World War II helmet and pineapple grenade, a Vietnam War helmet and grenade and a WWI helmet with Civil War grenade.
118 South Glassell St. Old Towne Orange 714- 538-8160
Steve & Ruthe Shafer
in Old Towne Orange!
Civil War weaponry and supplies on display at the American Legion include a Union soldier’s kepi (hat), canteen and cartridge box, and an 1862 Springfield rifle and bayonet.
This photo shows items in the museum from America’s past enemies, including a WWII German paratrooper cap and hand grenade, and a Japanese helmet, pipe, sword and sheath.
Living with Art
When Bob and Ann Myers first purchased their single-story home in Orange Hills in 1987, little did they know the ranch-style residence would become the perfect backdrop for an extraordinary collection of art the couple has collected throughout the years.
From works by local artists like Tony Delap and Bret Price, to pieces obtained in most of the 38
Written by Karen Anderson Photos by Kristin Smetona : www.smetonaphoto.com
countries they’ve traveled to, the collection is so impressive that some of it even gets loaned out to museums such as the Orange County Museum of Art and the Laguna Art Museum.
“We have 650 works, some of which are in storage off-site,” says Bob. “We also lend pieces to museum shows throughout North
America when we get a request.
We’ve had a lot of museum directors and curators visit us, and we’ve had works that traveled for two years to multiple museums. When a piece comes back, we have to decide where to display it again. We keep saying we’re not buying any more art, and then before you know it, we keep buying.”
The architectural style of the four-bedroom home is a work of art unto itself. Tucked away in the hills, the neighborhood was developed by architect G.L. Lewis, who taught many of the architects who currently practice in Orange County today.
According to Bob, the vintage home was ahead of its time,
The welcoming entrance to Bob and Ann Myer’s ranch-style home in Orange leads to the couple’s amazing collection of art.
the exterior of the home is equally fascinating. In the backyard, a nine-foot totem takes center stage near the patio. The Myers met the Tlingit artist in Alaska, and commissioned the piece from the carver, Fred Trout, who was apprenticing under acclaimed carver Nathan Jackson.
“We flew Fred and his wife here and raised the completed totem together in the backyard, as is tradition,” says Bob. “We
hosted a small party and even invited our landscape guy who constructed the base.”
When they are not traveling (e.g., their most recent trip to South Africa to visit 21 galleries and studios), Bob and Ann enjoy working in their yard, propagating succulents and tending to their gorgeous coral and ficus trees.
A quilter for more than 40 years, Ann has enjoyed creating works of love for family and
friends. Her Amish-style bed quilt graces the master bedroom. Ann has also worked in stained glass, and some of her pieces are on display in the house. Ann also enjoys being a member of the Woman’s Club of Orange, whose philanthropic work assists nonprofit organizations and schools in Orange.
Whether their collection of 50 whimsical ceramic sculptures by Canadian artist David Gilhooly,
or their towering ceramic sculpture comprised of 150 different pieces by California artist David Hicks, or their tribal light fixture above their dining table, the Myers thrive on surrounding themselves with eclectic art that inspires the imagination.
“It’s not a house, it’s a home,” says Bob. “We live with our art. Whether the art is ceramic, glass, bronze, wood or a painting, everything is a little different in our collection. There’s always something a bit unique and interesting about the work.”
Standing sentry in their backyard is a totem pole carved by Fred Trout, a Tlingit artist from Ketchikan, Alaska.
In the window seat, a bronze horse by Deborah Butterfield stands near a salmon sculpture made of glass by Raven Skyriver. The large, blue acrylic painting is by Matthew Chambers, while the glass pieces are by Lino Tagliapietra, Dante Marioni and John Kiley.
Orange Summer Camp an Adventure
To protect himself from loud noises as a child living with autism, Max Torres relies on headphones. But when it comes to stage fright, the second grader no longer needs them.
The Orange boy came out of his shell in 2023 and sang “This is Me” before hundreds of people at the Orange Summer Camp Talent Show.
“Max is often in a space where he wants to wear his headphones,” says Joanna Fermin, Director of Operations for the Youth Centers of Orange, a program of The Hub OC. “His mother was in tears.”
This is just one of many examples of how the city’s annual camp gives children a chance to have fun, experience new things, and, in many cases, learn bravery.
“Our goal really is that our students leave with a stronger sense of confidence, curiosity and creativity,” says Cameron Geringer-Pate, Director of Sustainability for The Hub OC.
Youth Centers of Orange has hosted summer youth programs
the last six years, adding field trips to the summer activities in 2024. Children can see a baseball game at Angel Stadium, learn about agriculture at Orange Home Grown Education Farm and dip their toes in the water at Dana Point.
Guests and mentors teach participants various skills. In the 2024 camp, stuntwoman Nikkilette Wright, a three-time competitor on “American Ninja Warrior,” taught children tumbling, gym-
nastics and “stage combat,” the illusion of fighting for theatrical performance.
Camp Runs from June 16 - August 15
groups. Participants learn leadership and patience, as well as social and emotional learning.
Holiday Zimmerman, CEO of The Hub OC, says that the camp experience includes teaching children to step away from their cell phones and interact with others.
“After COVID, a lot of the younger kids are so glued to their technology that sometimes they don’t know how to shake hands and look someone in the eye,” Zimmerman says. “We empower
STEM learning also plays a part in the camp, and activities are geared toward multiple age NOW ON VIEW
Comes to Life in Art
stands as both an architectural landmark and a symbol of leisurely coastal life. Originally completed in 1872, Stearns Wharf is California’s oldest working wharf and remains a hub of fishing, strolling and shopping. Kuntz painted this piece in the 1960s, shortly after moving from Claremont to Laguna Beach, where he immersed himself in coastal subjects, from genre scenes to beachscapes.
At the other end of the state, and the spectrum of mood, is “Morro Rock” by Dutch-born artist Marinus Welman (b. 1934). The painting shows the massive volcanic plug rising dramatically out of the Pacific, just offshore of the town of Morro Bay. Painted in oil on canvas in 2010, the work reflects Welman’s deep reverence for California’s raw beauty.
After surviving the hardships of World War II as a child in the Netherlands, Welman immigrated to California in his twenties and has spent the past seven decades painting the state’s ever-changing landscapes. Now based in Orange and still painting at 91, he considers
Morro Bay one of the most inspiring coastlines in the world.
More intimate in scale but no less evocative is “Old Balboa, The Boogie Boarders” by Southern California native Paige Oden. Commissioned by the Hilbert Museum in 2022, the painting captures a clear, sunlit day in Balboa, with young boogieboarders riding the waves just offshore. Oden, who grew up on the beaches of Balboa Peninsula and Laguna Beach in the 1970s and 1980s, paints from memory as much as from observation.
“I describe the memory of an experience using color and shadows,” says Oden, a working artist with pieces on view each summer at Laguna Beach’s Festival of Arts. She is also a teacher and educational administrator in her role as Director of Visual Arts at the Orange County School of the Arts.
Also seen here is a piece by mid-century watercolorist Art Riley (1911–1998): his serene “Life Guard Tower 20, Treasure Island,” painted around 1960. Riley was a longtime background artist at Walt Disney Studios, where he contributed to animated classics, including “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Pinocchio.” But his personal watercolors, like this depiction of a quiet stretch of beach, offer a different kind of magic: soft washes of color capturing the delicate play of light on water, sand and sky.
Together, these and the other works in “California’s Golden Coast” create a rich tapestry of the state’s shoreline, seen through the eyes of artists who have found inspiration in its vistas. Whether painted in watercolor or oil, in muted tones or vivid color, each image offers a reminder of the coast’s enduring allure—and its vulnerability.
As the Hilbert Museum continues to celebrate California’s visual history, this exhibition is a timely tribute to the coast as a subject of artistic beauty and a vital resource worthy of appreciation, respect and preservation. •
The Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University is located at 167 North Atchison St. in Old Towne, across from the train station. The museum is open Tue-Sat 10 am to 5 pm, and admission is free. To save time checking in, pre-register online at www. HilbertMuseum .org. More information: 714-516-5880 during open hours.
by Nathan Carter
Stepping Up, for the Community
For more than 25 years, the Kiwanis Club of Orange has sold concessions at the Concerts in the Park series every summer, raising funds for student scholarships, teacher grants and other youth-focused services and activities.
Sadly, the City of Orange has found itself in an unfortunate financial situation. As a result, last year amidst a series of budget cuts, many city events were due to be scrapped. Seeing these activities fall by the wayside seems to not be in the cards, however, as many businesses and local organizations have come forward to preserve the events that make Orange so special.
“The fabric of Orange is made up of community events,” says Kiwanis Club President Shannon Tucker. “Last year, when the city announced they were going to cancel the concerts and only agreed to one more, Wilson Automotive stepped up and paid the costs for the rest of the summer.”
While Wilson Automotive rallied to save the concert series in 2024, giving the Kiwanis Club a chance to reach their fundraising goals, the future of the concerts remained in limbo. Wilson Automotive hoped their donations to the city last year would inspire other businesses to donate this year, and they decided not to bankroll 2025 events. As a result, the Kiwanis Club wasn’t sure if they should step up, or even if they would be able to.
“We decided that we could do a smaller version,” Tucker says, “but we didn’t seriously start talking about it until January.”
The city has given the Kiwanis Club plenty of guidance for putting together the concert series. As a result, in six weeks, the club was able to book five bands for their first year running the series. In doing so, many past talents have been added to this year’s lineup.
One such band is New Romantics, A Taylor Swift Tribute. They’ve been playing local stages for more than a year and loved the energy Orange had for them last year.
“Orange was one of the first shows we played,” says New Romantics’ singer, Katie Faith. “Such a diverse group of people filled the park. It was great to see so many people come together over the music of Taylor Swift. Orange is a fantastic city.”
While planning this year’s concert series, the Kiwanis Club is closely looking at overhead costs. Fortunately, many of the performers have lowered their performance costs to help ensure the event takes place.
“I heard last year they had to fight to keep the concerts they had scheduled,” Faith says, “so when I found out there was a group who saw how important music is to the community, I lowered my rates for them.”
Tucker says that all of the community support is helping the Kiwanis Club ensure it won’t have to dip into its savings to host the series. If this year proves successful, they plan to add a sixth show to next year’s bill.
“At the end of the day, we’re a children’s service organization without any staff,” says Tucker. “We have 24 members, 18 of whom are active, and it’s going to take everybody to make the concerts a reality. Luckily, we have had some really amazing sponsors stepping up, so we feel confident we’re going to be able to pull this off and not lose money.”
Anyone looking to sponsor this year’s concert series can reach out to Tucker at Kiwanis OfOrangeCA@gmail.com. The concerts will begin at 6 pm and be held every Wednesday starting July 9th at Hart Park. Parking is free, and proceeds from the concessions will go to the Kiwanis Club of Orange. •
“Life Guard Tower 20, Treasure Island” Art Riley / 1960 / Watercolor on paper
“Old Balboa, the Boogie Boarders” Paige Oden / 2022 / Oil on canvas
A DVERTISER I NDEX & M AP
/
ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES:
10 Antique Depot 14
155 South Glassell St (714) 516-1731
10 Antique Station 16
178 South Glassell St (714) 633-3934
1 Country Roads Antiques . . 23
216 West Chapman Ave (714) 532-3041
9 Orange Circle Antique Mall 20 118 South Glassell St (714) 538-8160
8 Summerhill Ltd 21
110 South Glassell St (714) 771-7782
ARTS & CULTURE:
16 Hilbert Museum of Calif Art 2
167 North Atchison St (714) 516-5880
23 Marinus Welman - Artist K (714) 998-8662
4 Naranjita Flamenco E
301 East Katella Ave (714) 400-2939
AUTOMOTIVE:
12 Titan Automotive L 939 West Chapman Ave (714) 997-2311
24 Villa Ford of Orange F 2550 North Tustin St (877) 585-3090
DINING & PUBS:
24 Café Zócalo . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
136 South Glassell St (714) 538-3764
11 O’Hara’s Pub 5
150 North Glassell St (714) 532-9264
14 L’Orange Cafe 4 106 North Glassell St (714) 912-4007
5 Renata’s Cafe Italiano 11 227 East Chapman Ave (714) 771-4740
1 Rutabegorz Restaurant 6 264 North Glassell St (714) 633-3260
27 Starbucks Coffee 44 Plaza Square 22 (714) 288-9754
13 Wazabi Sushi 240 West Chapman #102 . . 24 (714) 602-7375
EVENTS / ORGANIZATIONS:
7 Concerts in the Park 15 Hart Park: 701 South Glassell St www.KiwanisOfOrange.org
7 Open Garden Day R West Floral & Jack Fisher Park www.OpenGardenDay.com
EVENTS / ORGANIZATIONS:
21 Orange Farmers Market 303 West Palm Ave 1 www.OrangeHomegrown.org
6 Org Emblem Clothes Dr 9 211 East Chapman Ave (714) 309-6121
HEALTH, FITNESS & BEAUTY: 15 Better Way Fitness I 4398 East Chapman Ave (714) 716-2177
1 Orange Circle Optometry 10 227 East Chapman Ave (714) 538-6424
HEALTH, FITNESS & BEAUTY: 17 Restoration Dental P 725 West LaVeta #200 (714) 400-0075
23 Z Dental Lounge J 1500 East Katella Ave (714) 426-9155