Old Towne Orange Plaza Review | Issue 120 | Mar-Apr 2024

SPARTON 1186 (aka “Nocturne”)

Walter Dorwin Teague (1883 - 1960) / 1935 / Blue / Metal & Glass

The Hilbert Collection

An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance

May 2, 2024 • 7 p.m.

Fish Interfaith Center, Chapman University

A Collaborative Program of Holocaust -Era Music

Performed by Members of the Pacific Symphony and Cantor Chayim Frenkel

Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Congregation, Pacific Palisades

Compositions by Hans Krása, Gideon Klein, Viktor Ullmann, Ilse Weber and Rosie Wertheim

Lighting of Candles of Remembrance

Admission Free.

Admission Free.

Reservations required. Visit events.Chapman.edu/92022 for additional event and ticketing information. An informal reception will follow the event.

Reservations required. Visit events.Chapman.edu/92022 for additional event and ticketing information. An informal reception will follow the event.

April 17 – July 31, 2024

Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University 167 N. Atchison Street, Orange

We invite you to visit the special curated exhibit “Messengers of Memory” highlighting 25 years of prize-winning entries in the Holocaust Art & Writing Contest, co-sponsored by the Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education at Chapman University and The 1939 Society.

survivors and celebrates the creativity of students who are their voices to the future — messengers of memory

Parking available in the Old Towne West Parking Structure, 130 N. Lemon Street

Since 2001

From the Publisher

Times have changed considerably over the last 20 years in the publishing world. When I launched the Old Towne Orange Plaza Review in 2001, print publishing was prominent. Today, the Plaza Review can be enjoyed in print and online at OrangeReview.com.

While I realize there are definite perks to accessing information digitally, at heart I’m a print guy. It pleases me to know that for more than two decades, this hold-in-your-hands, leave-on-thetable human interest publication has endeared itself to tens of thousands of readers—many of whom could be your neighbors.

There is something enduring about the tangible nature of grasping a publication in your hands. In fact, that tactile experience is something I fear the younger generation may be missing out on. There is also a lot to be said for reading about the lives and contributions of folks you meet in Orange, including at area businesses, behind the counter in local shops and serving up tasty meals at restaurants.

In this issue, we share the stories of such individuals. This includes three retired teachers, who live in Orange. Read all about Christine Clarke, Irene Matthews and Kathy Wayland and their illustrious careers that positively impacted thousands of students. You’ll find their stories in the Know the Neighborhood column starting on page 13.

On page 9, we introduce three new businesses and their dedicated owners, who have just begun reaping the rewards of being involved in our unique community. Also in this issue on page 24 is the story of Orange’s resurrected May Day Parade. The fun event, which had its beginnings in 1933, will be held on May 4 this year.

I wish you an enjoyable spring and look forward to seeing you around town!

Sincerely,

Mike Escobedo

“ News For The Neighborhood ”

What’s Happ e ning . . .

MARCH 2024

Thu / Mar 7 / 11:30 am

Town & Gown Lunch at the Forum

“Teaching Russian Art in a Time of War” presentation by Professor Wendy Salmond Chapman University, Beckman Hall 714-744-7608 / Chapman.edu/tglatf

Thu / Mar 14 / 8 am

Orange Chamber of Commerce

City Council Appreciation Breakfast

Share your gratitude to our City Council. Hotel Fera: 100 The City Dr

Fri / Mar 15 / 11 am

Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education Holocaust Art & Writing Contest Awards Ceremony,“Answering the Call of Memory: Choosing to Act”

Memorial Hall: One University Dr Chapman.edu/HolocaustEducation

Sat / Mar 16 / 10 am - 5 pm

Country Roads Antiques & Gardens Spring Garden Party

Join us for raffles, a plant sale, giveaways, workshops, refreshments & more!

216 West Chapman Ave CountryRoadsAntiques.com

Tue / Mar 19 / 6 & 7:30 pm

Orange Unified Public School Foundation

Visual & Performing Arts Showcase

A celebration of Orange Unified School District visual & performing arts.

Memorial Hall: One University Dr. OUPSF.org/events / 657-221-5412

Thu / Mar 21 / 5 - 6 pm

Orange Chamber of Commerce

“Café Zocalo” Ribbon Cutting

Enjoy a sampling of freshly baked pastries, desserts, brewed coffee, beer & mimosas.

136 South Glassell St 714-538-3581 / OrangeChamber.com

Thu / Mar 21 / 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Orange Community Historical Society

Tour the expanded Hilbert Museum with Founder Mark Hilbert & Director Mary Platt. Hilbert Museum of California Art HistoricalOrange.org/events

Sat / Mar 30 / 10 am - 2 pm

St. John’s Lutheran Church Community Easter Egg Hunt

A fun-filled morning of egg hunts, treats, rides, games, crafts and more!

185 South Shaffer St / 714-288-4400 www.StJohnsOrange.org/egghunt

Around the Plaza!

Sat / Apr 20 / 8 pm

Orange County Guitar Circle

Wed / Apr 3 / 6 pm

Old Towne Preservation Association

State of Old Towne Forum

Presentations by the Mayor, City Manager, Chief of Police & Chapman University. Council Chambers: 300 East Chapman 714-639-6840 / OTPA.org

Thu / Apr 4 / Noon - 4 pm

Woman’s Club of Orange

85th Annual Spring Flower Show

Enjoy plants, floral arrangements & more. 121 South Center St / 714-836-5919 WomansClubOfOrange.org

Sat / April 13 / 10 am - 3 pm

Friends of Orange Public Library

Spring “Bag of Books” Sale

$5 to fill a FOPL bag full of books. Orange Main Library: 407 E Chapman 714-288-2424 / www.FOPLca.com

Sun / Apr 14 / 4 pm

Assistance League Embrace Orange

“Squeeze the Spirit of Giving” fundraiser benefitting ALO philanthropic programs. Balboa Bay Resort, Newport Beach 714-532-5800 / www.ALOrange.org

Performance by Leonela Alejandro OCGC.org (See ad on page 11)

Sun / Apr 21 / 8 am - 3 pm

Orange Plaza Rotary Plaza Car Show

More than 400 pre-1976 Street Rods, Custom & Classic vehicles. Old Towne Orange Plaza Square www.OrangePlazaRotary.org

Sat & Sun / Apr 27 & 28

Historic Floral Park Home & Garden Tour Tour this curated selection of historic homes & gardens. (See ad on page 8) FloralParkHomeTour.com

SAVE THE DATE

May 2 Holocaust Remembrance events.chapman.edu/92022

May 4 May Parade

OrangeMayParade.com

May 5 Taste of Orange

TasteOfOrange.com

May 11 Open Garden Day OpenGardenDay.com

by Yuki Klotz-Burwell

Blossoming in Orange

As February’s

Koobikland

The restaurant Koobikland debuted last March, aiming to cater to the existing Persian community and broaden neighbors’ palates with Persian flavors.

Owners Kiarash Kasra and Shelly Kohan launched the restaurant together after recognizing the demand for Persian food in the area. They chose a location close to Darya Restaurant Orange, a staple in the community for three decades, to tap into the established Persian food scene.

“We knew there were many Persian customers and people who enjoy trying Persian food in Orange, so we wanted to be in the area,” says Kohan. “We also wanted to be close to our competition to motivate us to do our best and introduce people to our cuisine.”

The menu features an array of Persian dishes with a heavy focus on kebabs, including Koobideh, a type of kebab with ground chicken or beef. Diners can also choose from various salads and side dishes, like Kashke o’Bademjan, a fried eggplant dip, and Mast o’ Mousir, a yogurt and shallot dip.

“We believe when your menu is small and you specialize in certain items, your quality will be the best,” says Kasra. “Koobikland also offers catering options, and we can be more flexible and create whatever our customers are looking for.”

The Koobikland team takes pride in the ambiance they have cultivated, aiming to be a gathering

Real

about

place for family celebrations, business meetings, or casual coffee chats. On the weekend, the restaurant has live music and brings in musicians to entertain guests while playing the piano and guitar. The beverage selection has also been broadened to include wine and beer.

“We have a very classic and enjoyable environment so that when you walk in, it doesn’t feel like a busines s,” says Kohan.

“Everything from the design and tables feels comfortable. Our customers say they feel at home.”

Looking ahead, Kasra and Kohan want to continue expanding their foundation and bringing Persian cuisine to neighbors. They plan to introduce a Sunday brunch menu in the next few months and are exploring options for a sister location in South Orange County.

Their passion for connecting with the Orange community fuels their ongoing efforts and excitement for their future plans.

“We love meeting new customers and hearing about how people found us, and we try to be better every day,” says Kasra. “Working in a restaurant is like learning a language. Every day, you learn something new.”

chill makes way for the promise of spring, Orange is blossoming with the arrival of three new businesses: Koobikland, United

Estate Group and Zinc Cafe. Dive deeper into the stories behind these establishments and discover more

the traditional Persian cuisine, savvy real estate business and serene café.

Business partners Kiarash Kasra and Shelly Kohan sit in the dining room of Koobikland, the Persian restaurant they co-own. The duo works to build a menu with special attention to both the flavors and display of their food.

“Our presentation is different, and we try to decorate our food and make it art,” says Kohan.

PHOTO BY KRISTIN SMETONA

SmetonaPhoto.com

United Real Estate Group

Jeff Nauta has been a key player in the Orange County real estate scene for more than 35 years. In 2006, he launched United Real Estate Group, and this June, he moved to a new office in Orange with plans to serve even more customers, including both residential and business clients.

Nauta quickly found his passion for real estate after getting his start in the industry at Grubb & Ellis Company, where he was consistently the top office broker of the year. After 17 years working with larger corporations, however, he wanted the freedom to create his own services and connect more deeply with clients.

“I really enjoy having my own company and being an entrepreneur,” says Nauta. “My favorite part of my work is the relationships I have with my clients. I’ve had to grow my business relationships to do these deals by myself and with my team.”

United Real Estate Group offers a variety of residential, commercial and investment services, including corporate relocation, acquisitions, luxury homes and more. But for Nauta, his business is not just about properties and deals, it’s about the people behind every transaction.

“I have knowledge and experi-

ence of everything related to putting deals together, and I have built a great community of resources to help my clients out,” he says. “I am a resource for anyone needing help beyond our typical offerings, whether that’s finding a loan or dealing with an encumbered property or title escrow services.”

Nauta says United Real Estate Group stands out because of the focus on personal relationships, where he and his team tailor their work to meet each client’s individual needs. This approach

has set Nauta apart as a go-to resource in the community and has helped him sell difficult properties.

“Jeff is persistent and has such a strong work ethic,” says Robin Dixon, a client who has known Nauta for 10 years and found him instrumental in selling an unusually challenging property. “He puts his all into everything and has some old-school touches and excellent communication skills

that really work, like meeting people face-to-face or canvassing the neighborhood.

With his new office in Orange, Natua is excited to connect with more residential customers. He’s focused on assisting people buy and sell homes in nearby areas, including Orange, Anaheim Hills, Villa Park and Yorba Linda.

“Every deal is unique, and it’s the relationships that make the deals special,” he says.

PHOTO BY KRISTIN SMETONA

For 16 years, United Real Estate Group Founder Jeff Natua has been operating his business in Southern California, and recently moved to a new location at 2811 East Katella. With the move, Natua hopes to continue serving commercial customers and meeting new neighbors looking to buy and sell residential properties in the community.

At the beginning of the year, the Sunkist Fruit Exchange building reopened its doors and welcomed Zinc Cafe, offering a market, full bar and daily vegetarian dining options for customers. This marks the cafe’s fifth location, all in Southern California.

“The community has been extremely welcoming, and I’ve met so many wonderful people who are so eager for us to be here,” says Zinc Cafe Vice President Matt Lund. “Neighbors have been intrigued by the building and would come by to track our progress.”

Zinc Cafe was founded in 1988 by John Secretan, who shifted his focus from architecture to the culinary world while at the University of California, Berkeley, inspired by the growing “food movement” he observed.

“In the 1980s, Berkeley was going through a food movement, and I was lucky to witness the organic aspects of creating really high-quality food,” says Secretan. “I used a lot of ideas from what I saw in Berkeley to open the first Zinc Cafe in Laguna Beach.”

The Old Towne location will mirror the menu of its sister locations, with the addition of dinner service and a full bar. Highlights at the vegetarianfocused restaurant include spinach lasagna, a mushroom dijon burger

and avocado toast. Lund recommends the Zinc Reubenesque, a spin on the classic Reuben sandwich that uses roasted beets instead of pastrami.

“I’m a firm believer that if you don’t like a food, you just haven’t

had it prepared the right way yet,” he says. “I wasn’t a huge fan of beets, but this sandwich changed that. It’s the one dish I recommend everybody try.”

Seasonality also shapes the

is located in The Sunkist Building. Lund and his team are excited to bring attention to the historic Old Towne building and introduce themselves to the neighborhood.

cafe’s menu, with the team regularly switching out dishes to ensure all ingredients are fresh. In the summer, items like the tomato salad are featured, and new items like the maple brown sugar latte are brought out in the winter.

“We’ve been adjusting our menu to see what kinds of interesting experiences we can deliver to the guests,” says Lund.

He and Secretan are especially excited about building the Orange location because of their roots. Lund was born in Orange, and Secretan, a Tustin native, has fond memories of visiting vintage stores in the Plaza with his mother.

“Old Towne is a place for everyone to meet, and it feels like we have strong community support,” says Secretan. “I look for spots that mimic the Laguna location, and Orange does that beautifully with the community here. It checks all the boxes for us.” •

Zinc Cafe

195 South Glassell St. / 949-504-9958 / https:// ZincCafe .com

Leonela Alejandro

Featured Artist Concert

April 20 at 8 pm

Chapman University

Bertea / Salmon Recital Hall

Tickets $20

The Orange County Guitar Circle will host a rising star of the guitar, Leonela Alejandro. Please join us in welcoming this amazing guitarist to the OCGC!

For more info: www. OCGC .org

Zinc Cafe

Zinc Cafe Old Towne Manager Art Martinez (left) and Vice President Matt Lund showcase the eatery’s offerings from the extensive vegetarian menu. The café

PHOTO BY KRISTIN SMETONA

SmetonaPhoto.com

Sheri

A Passion for Education

Everyone remembers their favorite teacher—that person who influenced who they would turn out to be. In this issue’s Know the Neighbors, we look at three retired teachers with a passion for education and lifelong learning. Read on to meet Christine Clarke, Irene Matthews and Kathy Wayland. Together the trio have a combined 84 years of teaching experience resulting in impacting thousands of former students.

Christine Clarke

A stint volunteering as a tutor led Christine Clarke to a teaching career. Armed with a degree in science, Clarke ventured to Orange County from Wisconsin and found herself serving with the Literacy Volunteers of America— an experience that would change her life.

“I discovered that teaching was my love and calling,” recalls Clarke.

That led Clarke to earn her master’s degree in science education. Soon after, in 1986, she began teaching in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District at Sonora High School where she would spend the next 27 years.

“It’s very unusual to spend an entire teaching career at one school in one district,” notes Clarke.

She began her tenure teaching Earth science and astronomy and worked into chemistry and physics, eventually meeting the love of her life, who taught biology next door.

“Much has been made of the ‘chemistry’ and the ‘biology’ that brought Tom and I together,” laughs Clarke.

While they taught in Fullerton, they made the conscious choice to not live in the zone where their students lived and bought a house in Orange.

“We never had children of our own, and we were both incredibly committed to our school, attending every game, theater performance and prom,” says Clarke. “As much as we loved our students, the only way we felt we could have a

PHOTO BY KRISTIN SMETONA / SmetonaPhoto.com

boundary was to not be living down the street from them.”

Clarke says that she and her husband both thrived on teaching, so it made working together easy. “We would chaperone each other’s field trips,” she says.

Outside the classroom, the Clarkes coordinated an annual food drive at the school where students collected money used to shop for and deliver to individual families.

“She’s very student oriented, that’s her hallmark,” says Ken Stichter, former Sonora high

school principal. “If we asked any student who had her, I bet they would say she is one of the best teachers they ever had.”

Upon retirement, Clarke became the volunteer coordinator for the Orange Home Grown Education Farm.

“I kind of stumbled into the role, but it fits into my philosophies of hands-on and lifelong learning,” says Clarke. “The Education Farm is a welcoming community space

to learn about gardening. It’s open every Friday from 9 to 11:30 am, and you need no background.”

The Clarkes have lived in Orange for 35 years. “Until I retired and had excess time, I don’t think I really appreciated our community,” says Clarke. “Now I’m just so delighted that we found Orange. Both of us feel this way.”

Christine Clarke Christine1ohg @gmail.com

Career teacher Christine Clarke advocates for volunteering with everyone she meets. “I really enjoy volunteering at the OHG Education Farm,” she says. “The most beneficial learning involves getting your hands in the dirt.”

A Passion for Education

Irene Matthews

Irene Matthews knew she always wanted to teach. After graduating from Orange High School in 1961, it wouldn’t be long before she would find herself back there as a teacher until she retired in 1998.

“I just always wanted to be a teacher,” recalls Matthews.

While a student at Orange High School, she met her husband Edgar. They graduated the same year and quickly began their family of three sons while Irene also pursued her teaching credential at California State University, Fullerton.

Matthews began teaching English and journalism at Yorba Jr. High School in 1972, where she oversaw the student newspaper, The Yorba Horn

By 1977, Matthews had moved over to Orange High School where she continued teaching English and journalism, taking over as faculty advisor for the student newspaper, The Reflector

“We went on ‘write-offs,’” says Matthews. “We would all pack in my blue bus, and we’d go to another school and do a write off competition.”

After each issue of The Reflector was published, Matthews would have the students over to

her home near the high school (where she still lives today), and they would watch a movie and have a discussion. “It was like a little party to end the event,” she recalls.

Matthews was active with the student body and was known for the assembly skits. She always

dressed for Halloween. She and Nancy Kiddie, who did the annual, and Diane Erickson all roamed the halls dressed up as witches. Matthews’ three sons would all attend Orange High and each had their mother for their teacher at one point.

Eldest son Bryan recalls the year he had his mom as his teacher. “Everyone knew she was my mom and thought she would give me a free ride,” he says. “She didn’t work that way. I was getting an A and mom said if you do the final you’ll probably get an A but if you don’t do the final, you’ll get a C. So, I skipped the final and took the C just to show everyone that my mom was fair and honest.”

Matthews taught local historian Phil Brigandi. “He was an excellent student,” she says, also noting that she taught Mayor Pro Tem Arianna Barrios and her sister Sarah. “We say hi to them in the neighborhood. She still calls me Mrs. Matthews.”

Matthews taught a total of 27 years. She doesn’t know how many students she taught, but there was a time when she would send and receive nearly 500 Christmas cards.

“Being a teacher is not an easy job,” says Matthews. “You need to be with the students and understand them and talk to them. You can’t expect everything will just happen if you teach but don’t get to know them. That’s not how it works.”

Irene Matthews GhostRiderBM65 @yahoo.com

Former Orange High School teacher Irene Matthews enjoys walking around Old Towne and bumping into former students, including Orange Council member Arianna Barrios.

PHOTO BY KRISTIN SMETONA

SmetonaPhoto.com

Kathy Wayland

Kathy Wayland’s great-grandmother came from Germany to Orange in the early 1900s, beginning a legacy in Old Towne Orange that she continues to this day.

“I attended St. John’s Lutheran School,” says the retired teacher. “My grandfather, my mom and all my kids went there, and now I have two grandkids there. That’s where it all started.”

It was while in kindergarten that Wayland decided she wanted to be a teacher. “Mrs. Keiser was my kindergarten teacher, and I loved her class,” Wayland recalls.

As a senior at Orange High, Wayland took a preparation class for people who wanted to be teachers. “We learned how to use the mimeograph machine and got to go into classrooms. I requested to go into Mrs. Keiser’s classroom.”

While still a senior, Wayland was asked to be an aide at Immanuel Lutheran School. Then she took early childhood education courses at Santa Ana College and began teaching at St. John’s in the Lamb’s Lot Pre School.

“Kathy was the very best practicum student I had and probably the best preschool teacher I ever worked with,” says Nadine Mehaffey, who taught preschool at St. John’s and was a mentor teacher for the state teacher mentor program. “She’s a natural teacher. I probably learned more from her than she ever learned from me.”

St. Paul’s Lutheran School

followed while Wayland also attended Azusa Pacific in Orange and completed her bachelor’s degree. Then life took her back to St. John’s.

“Being a Lutheran school teacher, I looked at teaching as my ministry. I went where God

called me,” says Wayland, who spent her career in preschool, kindergarten and first grade.

Wayland obtained her teaching credential at California State University, Fullerton. Then, Wayland’s husband, an Orange City Firefighter, was hurt in the

line of duty and Wayland stayed home for a year to care for him. She then spent the next five years teaching kindergarten at Covenant Christian.

“I found that job by mistake,” says Wayland. “I drove to the wrong school for a kindergarten interview. They didn’t know me, but I had my portfolio and they hired me on the spot.”

After the position at Covenant Christian, before retiring, she taught kindergarten at Hepetha Lutheran School. Total, Wayland taught for 30 years.

“It was the best career I ever could have had,” she says. “It went by too fast. I’ve had two students tell me they became teachers because of me. That was the biggest thrill.”

Wayland enjoys helping her husband, Mark, who began the flag lowering ceremony at Plaza Park more than a decade ago to support men and women who were serving.

“I just love the small town feel of Orange,” says Kathy. “It has that special ‘a ‘peal’.” •

Kathy Wayland

Kraftylady56 @hotmail.com

Kathy Wayland has lived in Orange her whole life and taught at several Lutheran and Christian schools. “I’ve always enjoyed watching a child learn. If you become a teacher, you should really have a heart to teach and a love for children.”

PHOTO BY KRISTIN SMETONA

SmetonaPhoto.com

Something Special

There’s something especially magical about two small rental homes on North Harwood in Old Towne, where tenants through the years have experienced transformative, life-changing events that have led to love, happiness and even marriage.

For Old Towne native Soleil Bogan, her time as a renter at Bret and Michele Jackson’s tiny rental coincided with meeting the love of her life, Colin Bogan, who she married in 2021. The couple

now lives across the street in the blue house, which is also owned by the Jacksons.

“The tiny house is magical and gives you whatever you might need in your life in the moment,” says Soleil, who at the time in 2018 was recovering from the tragic loss of her then-fiancé Matt to cancer. “I saw the for-rent sign when walking my dog, and I took a leap of faith. For me, the tiny house gave me comfort and healing, and helped me move forward in

Written by Karen Anderson Photos by Kristin Smetona : www.smetonaphoto.com

fostering new love when Colin came into my life a year later.”

Whether coincidence or destiny, five different female renters prior to Soleil also met their soulmates while living in the tiny house on North Harwood. One couple got married and settled in Old Towne; the other couple married and then rented the blue house for a time as newlyweds.

In honor of the romantic nexus between both properties, Colin and Soleil held their wedding

O UR C OUNCIL C ARES

Have you ever wondered what goes on at Orange City Council meetings?

Important decisions to better our city and announcements about our community are made at these meetings. In this new column provided by Mayor Dan Slater, we look at the highlights of recent meetings.

January 9:

1 Presented a proclamation recognizing the Friends of the Orange Public Library for 65 years of support and financial assistance to our Orange libraries.

2 Amended the contract with the landscape company designing the future Hart Park Pickleball Courts to add an additional $34,610 for

ceremony in the backyard of the tiny house followed by their reception in the backyard of the blue house. Her grandparents hired a mariachi band that led the small wedding party to the blue house across the street for the reception.

“It felt very symbolic of the significant number of people who had lived in the tiny house and found partnerships there, and then moved into the blue house where we live now,” says Colin. “It’s like

construction and design services (the project is expected to begin construction in fall of this year and be completed in 2025).

3 Awarded a contract for new fencing along Riverdale Avenue in North Orange (to replace dilapidated, old masonry fence).

4 Approved additional $46,600 funding to Charles McCandless Tile for the

Mayor Dan Slater (center) with (clockwise from top left) Mayor pro tem Arianna Barrios and Councilmembers Jon Dumitru , Kathy Tavoularis , Dennis Bilodeau , Ana Gutierrez and John Gyllenhammer

From their front porch on North Harwood, Colin and Soleil Bogan love to watch the sunrise and vastness of the sky above Old Towne Orange. Most of their plants are from The Potting Shed in the Plaza.

the natural order of things here in this neighborhood.”

Built in 1909 as living quarters for ranch hands, the blue house totals 753 square feet on a tenth of an acre. Much of the abode is vintage, such as the beautiful hardwood floors in the main living room and back bedroom. Also original to the home are several double-hung windows, including the sizeable window at the frontentry porch.

“The windows are amazing and

have the original pulley system that slides up and down within the window frame,” says Colin. “They make a ringing sound as they open. There are other fixtures and hardware in the home that appear to be original as well.”

What the blue house lacks in square footage, the yard makes up for in size. The centerpiece of the backyard, the stately avocado tree produces a bounty of buttery avocados twice a year and a broad canopy of shade.

“The tree feels grandfatherly and hugs the entire middle portion of the yard,” says Soleil. “When it’s hot outside, we like to sit under the shade of the tree where it’s at least ten degrees cooler.”

With an expansive lawn, seating niches, picnic table, fire pit and pathways, the backyard offers a favorite retreat for the couple and their cute, little dog, Lu. The couple hosts multiple outdoor gatherings for friends and family throughout the year.

The picnic table originated from Hart Park via their old neighbor, Tom, a lifelong resident of Old Towne.

“When he passed away, his family gave us the picnic table and we painted it to match the trim on the house,” says Soleil. “I remember him playing guitar on that picnic bench when I lived in the Tiny House next door. It turns out that my grandma actually went to school with him at Holy Family Catholic Church in town,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

restoration of the Plaza Fountain. Completion is anticipated in March.

5 Approved a new 10-year contract with CR&R (trash contractor) that will increase rates slightly, but in return provide a higher level of service and accountability.

January 23:

1 Voted to go on record in opposition to Proposition 1 on the March 5 ballot.

2 Voted to participate in an amicus brief

to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the appeal by the city of Grants Pass, Oregon regarding being able to police homeless encampments.

3 Approved an affordable housing agreement for a new 166-unit senior project at 1800 East La Veta Avenue (former RIO site).

February 13:

1 Approved street rehabilitation of several streets throughout Orange

(list available at the Orange Public Works Department).

2 Approved appointments for the new Santiago Creek Commission.

3 Approved a “tolling agreement” between the city and the Milan Corporation to work together on potential new uses for the “Sully Miller” and the horse arena sites for something other than housing.

4 Directed city staff to bring back more information so a discussion can be

had on whether we want to amend our fireworks ordinance. Any proposed changes would be subject to a vote of the citizens.

5 Denied an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of a new church and coffeehouse at

611 West Chapman Ave.

City Council Meetings

2nd & 4th Tuesday / 6 - 8 pm

www. CityOfOrange .org

Soleil and Colin on their wedding day on June 5, 2021, flanked by Soleil’s parents, Chuck and Sheila Walstead.

(Photo by Stefani Welsh Studios)

The cozy kitchen features nostalgic stained-glass windows that cast a beautiful light throughout the day.

The couple relaxes near the vintage blood-orange tree in the back yard, where parties are hosted, music is played and naps are had.

The comfy and musical living room is a favorite spot for hanging out. Most of the décor and plants were purchased from retailers in Orange, while many of their books came from Little Free Libraries found during walks to town.

Something Special

and he grew up in his house. Now there’s a new and wonderful family that lives there.”

Like the old avocado tree, Soleil’s roots in Old Towne grow deep. Her great-grandfather Ralph, from her dad’s side of the family, was the projectionist at what is now Son Light Theater on North Glassell. Her mom’s side of the family, who lived in the Historic Cypress Street Barrio

and owned the Cypress Street Market, attended shows while Ralph worked there. Her parents, Chuck and Sheila Walstead, still live in the family home on East Palm where Soleil grew up. A musician, Chuck owns the garagedoor company in Orange that his father founded in 1963. Sheila owns a dance studio in town called Moana Nui School of Polynesian Dance where Soleil still dances.

Old-timers in Old Towne will remember the license-plate frames that Soleil’s grandmother, Erin, made that read: “It’s the Plaza, not the Circle.” Her grandmother also created Native Orange stickers and decals she would give away with the license plates.

A native of Fullerton, Colin attended Fullerton College and transferred to UCLA. Currently, he works as a foreman in the

audio-visual trade. In his spare time, he plays guitar and writes and records music. He also plays piano on the heirloom piano passed on to him by his grandfather.

The couple appreciates their life in Old Towne Orange. Both are involved in fitness groups in town. Colin practices Brazilian martial arts at 10th Planet. Soleil takes dance classes at Leyenda Ballet Folklorico.

The stately avocado tree provides cool shade, lots of avocados and a home for squirrels, parrots, owls and hawks. Gifts from each other and from family, dried Hawaiian lei (po‘o and maile) hang from the branches. “We love hosting events for our friends and family and seeing everyone gathered here under the tree,” says Soleil.

The piano was purchased by Colin’s grandfather in the 1960s. Colin, as well as his dad, aunt and uncle, grew up playing this piano, which now fills the home with music. Colin’s grandmother made the quilt on the piano bench.

Building Character

Expanding their circle of neighbors and friends, Soleil recently co-founded a social group called the Harwood Hunnies. They gather once every three months to get to know neighbors farther down the block. “It’s so fun and really a great way for us newer, younger folks to connect with those who have lived in our neighborhood for many years,” she says.

For Colin and Soleil, life on North Harwood couldn’t be sweeter. They can walk to the Plaza four blocks away or simply stay home and enjoy their closeknit neighborhood.

“We are grateful to be able to live in Old Towne,” says Colin. “To have such amazing landlords, and to be in such close proximity to our parents and family, you can’t wish for anything more.” •

Kevin Ross

by Julie Bawden-Davis

The life of Kevin Ross reads like a novel, where the protagonist has a bit of wanderlust early on before returning to his roots.

The Dean of the Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University grew up in the 1960s and 1970s in Davenport, Iowa, where he enjoyed outdoor activities like sports, hunting and fishing. He also loved reading. So much so that though his bedtime was 8:30, he would wait until the house was asleep to turn his lights on and read until two am.

“By my early teens, I was reading books like Roots, The Godfather, The Doors of Perception, and my all-time favorites, John Milton’s Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained,” says Ross.

In 1980 at the age of 17 after he finished tenth grade, Ross decided that rather than stay in high school, he would join the Army.

“My dad had to sign for me since I wasn’t 18 yet,” says Ross, who went on to become a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division as an infantryman.

When he got out of the military after three years of service, Ross worked at a variety of jobs, including as a grocery store stocker and an armed security guard for the National Guard Armory in Phoenix. He eventually returned to Iowa, where he began working for UPS and got promoted to management after a year.

Return to Education

During his time at UPS, Ross, whose parents were both educators, decided it was time to go back to school. He proceeded to more than make up for leaving high school early by earning an associate degree, a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from St. Ambrose University and a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) from the University

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

PHOTO BY KRISTIN SMETONA

SmetonaPhoto.com

Guests gather at the very first Harwood Hunnies party in 2022.

Colin and Soleil spend time in the garden where they grow vegetables and herbs throughout the year to share with friends and family. Seeds came from the seed-lending library at the Orange Home Grown Farmer’s Market.

Kevin Ross

of Iowa. Several years later when he moved to California, he earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD) with an Emphasis in Cultural and Curricular Studies, also from Chapman. He has also obtained various certifications, including from the Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

In 1994, once Ross had some higher education under his belt, he took a position as an instructor at Hamilton Technical College in Davenport, Iowa. There he taught English grammar, arithmetic and college survival courses for students. He conducted lectures, group discussions and interactive activities for a diverse student population, clocking more than 5,500 contact hours with adult learners.

Ross followed this by becoming Hamilton College’s librarian in 1996—a position he held for two years. Then he moved on to work as Public Services Librarian at Maycrest International University, also in Davenport. It was during this time in 1997 that he met his future wife, Tam. They were married in August 2000 in a traditional Vietnamese wedding in California.

Chapman Bound

“When I got to California, I sent out 40 resumes and interviewed at several places, including Chapman,” says Ross, who was hired as the university’s Distance Librarian. The position, which he held for a year, involved travel. When Tam was expecting their first child, the couple decided it would be good for him to stick close to home, so he became Coordinator of Instruction and Library Web Manager for the Thurmond Clarke Memorial Library and Leatherby Libraries. He added to his responsibilities in 2003 as an adjunct faculty member, teaching Academic Reading and Study Strategies within the School of Education.

Over the years, Ross has risen through the ranks at the Leatherby Libraries. From 2005 to 2006, he served as Chair of the Public Services Division, followed by Associate Dean, where he stayed from 2006 to 2020. In September 2021, he became Dean of the Leatherby Libraries, although he had served as Interim Dean on several occasions.

Ross has enjoyed being a part of the university’s upward trajectory. “I have seen Chapman grow and improve in many ways, including in the college rankings,” he says. “When I came here, there were approximately 2,000 students and now the student population is more than 10,000. Back then the faculty and staff were also small and have grown significantly.”

When Ross joined Chapman, the library was housed in the two-floor Thurman Clark Memorial Library. “The building wasn’t well designed or appealing,” he says. “The prior Dean, Charlene Baldwin, pushed hard for a new facility, which resulted in the five-story, state-of-art Leatherby Libraries. The library is an important resource for every single member of the school, connecting students, faculty, staff and researchers with the appropriate information for their scholarship and creative activities.”

Ross’s work as Dean of the Leatherby Libraries is multi-fold. He provides overall leadership and support for approximately 40 full-time equivalent employees through library administrative services. He is also responsible for the efficient and effective management of the university library. This includes managing a $7 million dollar budget, overseeing assessment of the library and its resources, DEI related activities, goal setting and strategic planning.

Library of the Future

An important part of Ross’s work is implementing library of the future initiatives determined as necessary and advisable during an outside assessment done from 2020-2021. Suggested changes he has implemented include additional staff at the university’s Irvine Rinker campus, adding more state-of-the-art technology throughout the library and increasing the library

Art of the Airwaves: Old Radios

You might not think, at first, that antique plastic radios belong in an art museum’s collection. But after you see the new exhibition, “Art of the Airwaves: Radios from The Hilbert Collection,” at the Hilbert Museum of California Art through August 7, you might think again.

This stunning ensemble of 22 shelf radios and one floor radio from the “Golden Age of Radio” —the 1930s to the 1950s— spotlights the fact that during those decades, many of America’s finest industrial designers were creating the sleek, sophisticated looks of the nation’s most popular radios.

Radio, of course, was the world’s most widespread broadcast medium during most of the early to mid-20th century. Along with newsreels in the cinemas and popular magazines and newspapers, radio was how most citizens received the most immediate news of the world. Along with that, national and local radio broadcasts provided reliable entertainment in the home. Listeners could tune in on any given day to listen to big-band concerts, comedy shows, soap operas and detective dramas, operas, commentaries, sports broadcasts and much more.

As THE mass medium of the day, hundreds of thousands of radios, in many different styles, were marketed to and purchased by the American public. The physical format of radios evolved, from heavy floor models with wood exteriors resembling a piece of heavy, solid furniture to smaller, lighter versions made of bakelite, and later, the new industrial plastics. The shift to plastics meant the outer shells of the radios could be molded into almost any decorative form, in a wide variety of colors. These lighter, smaller radios could be placed on a shelf or tabletop in any room, so you could move them out of the living room and into the kitchen, bedroom or anywhere you could plug them in.

The current exhibition at the Hilbert brings back a time when there were literally thousands of radio manufacturers in the United States (and all over the world), all competing with one another in a highly cutthroat market. Even the tough economic times of the

Great Depression didn’t stop the rise of radio as the most dominant entertainment and news medium, as most people found it an indispensable necessity by then.

Radio was a key lifeline of information for the masses during the World War II years as listeners around the world sat transfixed, hearing vivid reports of battles, victories and defeats. World leaders such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Adolph Hitler adeptly used the power of radio to influence public opinion.

The Hilbert exhibition features shelf and tabletop radios in a wide variety of styles and varied types of plastic. Bakelite was used for some of the early shelf models, but it only came in muted shades, mostly brown and black, and customers wanted more color. Catalin, a new plastic, allowed for a full spectrum of colors with a resin-like sheen, and Plaskon and other plastics gave rise to red, yellow, blue and other colors.

“Marbelizing” the plastics by swirling colors together (often referred to as “onyx” in color choices communicated to buyers) allowed for even more variety.

In efforts to make their particular radios stand out from thousands of other models flooding the market, radio manufacturers turned to hiring many of the top industrial designers in the world to create the sleekest, most beautiful and most desirable radios.

One such designer was Walter Dorwin Teague (1885-1960), hired by the Sparton corporation of Jackson, Michigan to create an elegant Art Deco shelf radio, the Sparton Bluebird, and its floor-model cousin, the Sparton Nocturne.

The Nocturne, an icon of the

Truetone D2018 (aka “Boomerang”) 1950 / White / Painted Bakelite

Show Off High Style

sleek Art Deco era, cost $350 when it made its debut in 1935— the equivalent of a new Ford car! All its components are hidden behind a striking cobalt-blue mirrored glass disc. This unique radio was manufactured in limited quantities, mostly for hotel lobbies and radio showrooms, and today only a few rare survivors can be

found in private collections and museums. The Hilbert Collection’s Nocturne, in near-pristine condition (pictured on the inside front cover), is the superstar of the radio collection. You have the rare opportunity to see it in person during the current exhibition— surrounded by other fascinating radios of the Golden Age. •

The Hilbert Museum is located at 167 North Atchison St. Open Tues-Sat, 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is free; advance online registration strongly recommended at www. HilbertMuseum .org 714-516-5880 for more information.

and data services team and its offerings. The latter includes providing workshops on library of the future topics such as artificial intelligence and its relation to data management. The library is also partnering with the Provost’s Office, the Office of Research and IS&T on SOARS (Support of Open Access Research and Scholarship.) Open access allows the public to access university level research.

Stephanie Takaragawa is Associate Dean of Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and comments on Ross’s contributions to the university. “Kevin understands the needs of a growing and evolving faculty and student body,” she says. “Chapman has changed significantly over the years, and Kevin has been there to help support everyone through his work in the library, which is at the center of any academic institution.”

In addition to his work as Dean, Ross participates in library advancement activities, including serving on a wide variety of committees. Currently he is serving on the board of directors for the Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium (SCELC). He has presented at conferences and published studies, some of which he has done with colleague Essraa Nawar, Chapman University Leatherby Libraries Assistant Dean for Library DEI Initiatives and Development.

Says Nawar about Ross’s contributions to the university and library science: “Kevin is a librarian at heart dedicated to ensuring information literacy. He is always thinking about teaching students and the university’s researchers and faculty about the most current data literacy opportunities and technology.”

Takaragawa agrees. “Kevin supports student research through the very generous Kevin and Tam Ross Undergraduate Research Prize. Many of my students have applied for and won this award, which encourages students to demonstrate their use of library holdings in their research. It’s a great way to encourage students to use primary and secondary source resources and recognize how fantastic our Leatherby Libraries are. He is also always available for faculty and students for any host of reasons, and always super supportive.”

For Ross, though he enjoys library science and all it entails, at the end of the day, it’s all about the people. “The students, faculty and staff are what make working at Chapman so fulfilling,” he says. •

Emerson

Motorola 5R1

1951 / Yellow with Blue Dial / Bakelike

by Melissa Pinion-Whitt

Orange Home Grown Brings Kitchen Creations to the

The sounds of knives on cutting boards, simmering sauces and cameras clicking filled Megan Penn’s kitchen for several days in 2021. She and her board members weren’t preparing for a big family get-together or catering an event. They were cooking up something special that would become the Orange Home Grown Community Cookbook, an 84-page collection of seasonal recipes and short stories.

“So much love and time went into the creation of this book,” says Penn, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Orange Home Grown. “We hope that can be felt as readers flip through the pages. I am just so proud of the end product.”

Orange Home Grown started in 2009 as a grass-roots effort by a group of Orange residents dedicated to bringing locally grown, nutrient-dense and sustainable food to their community. The nonprofit organization runs the Orange Home Grown Certified Farmers & Artisans Market and the

Orange Home Grown Education

Farm, the latter dedicated to urban farming education.

For several years, Penn and other members of the organization had discussed creating a cookbook. Then they pulled together their talents to make it happen.

The book includes vibrant photography by Paul Sargeant, the organization’s creative manager

Veteran-Owned Business

and assistant market manager, as well as design, writing and editing by Aimee Armstrong, Orange Home Grown board member.

Sargeant had seen other nonprofit organizations and farmers markets produce similar books, so it made sense for Orange Home Grown to create its own. “This was our chance to put teamwork and effort into creating something timeless that we’d be really proud of,” he says.

Armstrong, whose day job is in design and digital marketing, used her talents for the book, writing a majority of the content, except the recipes. She was pregnant during the making of the book and gave birth the day the book officially released at the August 2022 Farmer’s MarketTo-Table Dinner Fundraiser.

“We joke that I literally gave birth to two things at the same time,” Armstrong says. “Life is wild.”

Penn said the book’s creators

gathered once every two months for a cooking and photoshoot day at her house after gathering ingredients at the farmers market. Sargeant set up lighting and photography for the finished dishes, and board members brought over semi-finished recipes to shoot.

“The book was created with the regular farmer’s market goer and backyard gardener in mind. The recipes are seasonal, simple and relatable.”

Megan Penn, Executive Director & Co-Founder of Orange Home Grown

The book has cool- and warmseason recipes, as well as “the basic s,” which include sauces, dips, dressings and beverages. There are recipes by Orange

Community

Home Grown foundation board members, as well as local restauranteurs.

Penn’s favorite entry? A roasted delicata squash recipe, combining goat cheese sourced from Drake Family Farms in Ontario, Terrace Hill Olive Oil, as well as other locally sourced ingredients.

The book also features short stories, including highlights on farmers and food artisans who participate in the farmers market, programs that Orange Home Grown offers and agricultural history in Orange.

“The book was created with the regular farmer’s market goer and backyard gardener in mind,”

Penn says. “The recipes are seasonal, simple and relatable.”

The authors say the book has been well-received by the community, with some even snapping photos of their attempts at recipes and sharing on social media.

“Overall, it was an amazing opportunity that we could not have had or completed without the three of us involved,” Armstrong says. “I feel extremely grateful for life aligning the way it has and for this to have been brought to the community.”

Orange Home Grown plans to create a second cookbook in the next year or two. •

The Orange Home Grown Community Cookbook is available for purchase online and at The Potting Shed, Palm Market and Orange Home Grown Farmers & Artisans Market, 303 West Palm Ave., held from 9 am to 1 pm every Saturday. Learn more at: OrangeHomeGrown.org/community-cookbook.

Enhancing Public Safety with the Orange Police Foundation

by Melissa Pinion-Whitt

Residents of Orange may notice a new officer on the streets who can sniff out a suspect and chase down clues. His name is Jax, and he’s an 18-month-old German shepherd—purchased and trained with funds donated by the Orange Elks Lodge 1475 to the new Orange Police Foundation.

It’s the first of many ways the foundation will improve safety for residents in the city.

“My hope is that the foundation grows to great success far after I retire. The foundation will benefit the department and our community,” says Orange Police Chief Dan Adams.

Police foundations exist throughout the country as a way for community members and organizations to financially support law enforcement agencies. Because police budgets focus primarily on salaries and benefits, little is left over to cover equipment, training and outreach.

Adams established the founda-

Making Memories at the May Parade

Since May of 1977, Star Wars has grown into a colossal fandom, enthralling young and old alike with its technical and scripted wizardry. The fandom became so massive that in 2019, the state of California declared May 4th, colloquially known as Star Wars Day, to be a state holiday.

May 4th also happens to be the day of this year’s Orange Chamber of Commerce May Parade, and the theme, not coincidentally, is inspired by Star Wars.

“This year’s theme is ‘Come to the Orange Side,’ which is a play on ‘Come to the Dark Side,’ ” says Elizabeth Holloman, Executive Director of the Orange Chamber of Commerce. Visitors are encouraged to wear costumes and break out their toy blasters and lightsabers.

Since the first Orange May Day Parade dating back to 1933, there have been themes meant to encourage participation and creativity. The earliest days had guests dressing as pioneers, and the businesses played along, too.

“In the first May Day Parade, businesses in the Plaza decorated their buildings with facades of log cabins,” says Rick Martinez, Chair-elect of the Orange Chamber of Commerce. “They put a hitching post out so people could bring their old horses and buggies and called it the Pioneer Day Parade in honor of Orange’s first pioneers.”

The parade and former accompanying festival quickly took off. After the first held in 1933, the Chamber of Commerce took over in 1934. The parade was intended to be an annual celebration, but various events have resulted in missed years.

“In 1942 and 1943, there was no parade because of the war,” Martinez says. There was also a large gap after 1991. At that time, the festival was suspended indefinitely due to gang activity in Hart Park, and the parade was suspended shortly after due to city budget issues.

Many Orange residents miss the full festival and feel it left a hole in the community.

“My kids and grandkids didn’t grow up with the parade being a big deal in the 1990s,” says Thea Gavin, lifetime Orange resident. “They might not be interested, but me and a sibling or two will drive downtown to see the parade.”

Others lament the loss of the Kiddie Parade. Local children would dress up and make floats out of their bicycles and wagons to compete for a spot in the full parade. Tad Smith, another lifetime Orange resident, said he and his siblings won four times collectively.

“One year the theme involved children’s story books,” he says. “I was Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates. My mom painted some ice skates silver that I wore around my neck, and I had a cardboard book sticking out of my back. It was my favorite costume and book.”

Holloman says there is discussion of bringing back the Kiddie Parade, but those plans are currently unconfirmed.

Despite the long absences and reduced activities, the May Parade has proven to be a fantastic community building exercise.

“Even though we don’t have big fancy floats anymore, seeing

Enhancing Public Safety with the Orange Police Foundatio n

tion in October 2023, seeking a way to fund equipment not covered by public funds, as well as outreach programs.

Orange Police Department is comprised of 170 officers, who serve about 137,000 residents. In 2023 alone, the department responded to more than 97,000 calls for service and handled more than 6,700 investigations.

The chief researched setting up a foundation, met with community leaders and established a foundation board of directors. He recruited retired Orange police Sgt. Sean O’Toole, a 30-year veteran of the department, as board president. The nine members also include Gaddi Vasquez, former U.S. Ambassador to Rome, director of the Peace Corps, chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors and Orange police officer, Orange Planning Commissioner Rick Martinez and former Mayor Pro-Tem Kimberlee Nichols.

“They bring many different viewpoints which form the strong leadership and oversight required for a successful foundation,” O’Toole says. “One hundred percent of the board members financially contribute to the success of our foundation.”

The organization held a kick-off reception last September at the Grand Gimeno in Orange, surpassing its initial start-up goal of $100,000 in contributions.

The foundation’s first donation from the Elks Lodge paid for Jax, his training and training for his police handler, Officer Cates. The dog underwent six weeks of training and has already started to work in the field.

“It’s a great start that puts our mission into action,” O’Toole says.

Business owner Gary Remland, who has worked alongside the Police Department through his roles in the Orange Rotary Club, the Community Foundation of Orange and The Hub OC, says he applauds the police’s work to increase safety through the foundation.

“We have had the good fortune in this city to have a very stable, well-trained Police Department. They are community-minded and are involved with many of the nonprofit organizations in this great city,” Remland says. “We need to support them as they protect us.”

The foundation has begun reviewing the Police Department’s wish list and priorities, including technology improvements for wireless connectivity, and advanced technology to help with crime fighting. Adams plans to propose a partnership with communitybased organizations to create a Police Activities League, along with other youth programs and community outreach.

“Building relationships between youth and police officers will reduce crime and delinquency,” Adams says. “It will also allow officers to get to know more kids, which can lead to greater trust and understanding in our community and help develop future leaders.”

The foundation will continue to cultivate partnerships in the community to help the foundation grow.

“There are so many people, groups and organizations that strongly support public safety and frequently ask what they can do to support the police department. They recognize the important role of public safety and want to engage with us,” O’Toole says. •

To support the Orange Police Foundation , visit www. OrangePoliceFoundation .org

community groups out there is so heartwarming,” Gavin says. “I think it really gives the kids a growing sense of community. It’s our little, proud moment to be Orange residents.”

In addition to nostalgia, the parade benefits businesses. Holloman says her sources estimate 20,000 people came to town for last year’s parade, bringing more revenue opportunities to Orange merchants.

With the parade again becoming a regular feature in town, Holloman no longer has to explain what the parade is, and says people are even anticipating participating. “I’m getting emails asking when they can join the parade,” she says.

The Orange May Parade begins at 10 am on May 4 in Old Towne Orange. OrangeMayParade.com •

The McFerran and Dahleen families of Orange got together in 1965 to watch the parade in front of City Hall. Shown in photo (back row, from left) are Craig McFerran, Earl Dahleen, Betty McFerran, Gail Dahleen; (front row, from left), unknown, Scott McFerran, Thea McFerran, Barbara Dahleen and unknown.

PHOTO BY BOB McFERRAN

Wh a t’s Happ ening

ONGOING

Every Fri / 9 - 11 am

CONT. FROM PAGE 7

Orange Home Grown Educational Farm Volunteer Farm Friday Plant, harvest, mend soil & more, as new & seasoned volunteers work together on farm projects.

356 N Lemon / OrangeHomeGrown.org

Every Sat / 9 am - 1 pm

Orange Home Grown Farmers Market

A great way to begin your day, with quality produce & fresh healthy foods.

1st Sat Knife Sharpening

2nd Sat Free Cooking Demo

3rd Sat Kids Club / Seed Lending 303 West Palm / OrangeHomeGrown.org

2nd Sat / 9 - 11 am

Volunteer Opportunity

Santiago Creek Clean-Up

Join in to help keep the creek clean.

Mar 9 Meet at Grijalva Gym

Apr 13 Meet at Yorba Park www.SantiagoGreenway.org

3rd Sat / 7:30 pm

Naranjita Flamenco Tablao Flamenco Flamenco performances by a rotating cast of artists. (See ad on page 6)

301 East Katella Ave / 714-400-2939 CaminosFlamencos.com

2nd Mon / 7 - 9 pm

Orange Art Association General Meeting

All are welcome to participate in these creative gatherings & presentations.

395 South Tustin St / 714-538-8069

www.OrangeArtAssociation.org

3rd Mon / Noon

Woman’s Club of Orange Lunch Meetings

All visitors are welcome, with reservations.

121 South Center St.

www.WomansClubOfOrange.org

2nd & 4th Tue / 6 - 8 pm

City of Orange City Council Meeting

Keep informed about our city. Agendas released on the prior Thursday. Orange City Hall: 300 East Chapman Ave 714-744-2225 / www.CityOfOrange.org

4th Tue / 8 - 9 am

Orange Chamber of Commerce

Eggs & Issues Breakfast

Influential public figures & industry leaders discuss topics concerning Orange. 714-538-3581 / OrangeChamber.com

2nd & 4th Wed / 6 pm

Plaza Patriots Flag Lowering Ceremony

Honoring our veterans, active duty, soldiers and their families.

Plaza Park, Old Towne Orange

A Grateful Neighbor

Coupon winner Pam Reec e had the good fortune of being introduced to Orange by her fiancé, Jim. He often visited his sister’s family, who moved to the area in the 1960s and fell in love with the city.

Once married, Pam and Jim bought their Orange home, where they have lived for 53 years. The Reece residence is located an equal distance from the Plaza and Tustin and Chapman.

“I don’t have a car, so I walk everywhere,” says Reece. “I love frequenting the many shops and restaurants like Kimmie’s Coffee Cup, Woody’s Diner and Rutabegorz.”

A devout Christian, Reece worked at Calvary Church of Santa Ana for 20 years and attended St. John’s Lutheran Church in Orange for 15 years. “I’m passionate about Jesus Christ’s message to come to Him for rest,” says Reese, who appreciates being a member of the Orange community and the people she has met over the

years here.

Reece redeemed her coupon at Matoska Trading Company, which offers Native American books, music and more. “I love books and read a lot. When I received my coupon, I dashed to Matoska and purchased Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and The Spirit of Indian Women.” •

A DVERTISER M AP & I NDE X . . .

ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES:

10 Antique Depot 17

155 South Glassell St (714) 516-1731

10 Antique Station 19

178 South Glassell St (714) 633-3934

1 Country Roads Antiques . . 25

216 West Chapman Ave (714) 532-3041

9 Orange Circle Antique Mall 22

118 South Glassell St (714) 538-8160

15 Summerhill Ltd 23

110 South Glassell St (714) 771-7782

ARTS & CULTURE:

23 Marinus Welman - Artist D 2402 North Glassell St (714) 998-8662

6 Naranjita Flamenco E

301 East Katella Ave (714) 400-2939

11 Orange County Guitar Circle 8 Salmon Recital Hall OCGC.org

AUTOMOTIVE:

13 Gallery Junction 27

402 West Chapman Ave (714) 831-1226

14 Titan Automotive J 939 West Chapman Ave (714) 997-2311

28 Villa Ford of Orange F 2550 North Tustin St (877) 585-3090

DINING & PUBS:

14 O’Hara’s Pub 4

150 North Glassell St (714) 532-9264

1 Ojai Burger 26

238 West Chapman (657) 221-0619

1 Rutabegorz Restaurant . . . . 6

264 North Glassell St (714) 633-3260

26 Starbucks Coffee 44 Plaza Square 24 (714) 288-9754

“Striving

DINING & PUBS:

7 Zito’s New York Style Pizza 156 North Glassell St 5 2026 North Tustin St G 1716 West Chapman Ave O

EVENTS / ORGANIZATIONS:

26 Ex-Mormons for Jesus M

1107 East Chapman Ave #206 (714) 997-3498

8 Floral Park Home Tour . . . . . . Q Corner of North Park & Benton (714) 721-0508

4 Holocaust Education 7

One University Dr Chapman.edu/holocausteducation

11 Open Garden Day P West Floral & Jack Fisher Park www.OpenGardenDay.com

8 Orange Farmers Market . . . . 1 303 West Palm Ave www.OrangeHomegrown.org

7 Taste of Orange 15 124 South Orange St www.TasteOfOrange.com

8 Woman’s Club Flower Show 13 121 South Center St (714) 836-5919

HEALTH, FITNESS & BEAUTY:

21 Circle City Barbers 2

133 West Chapman Ave (714) 453-9765

1 Orange Circle Optometry 11 227 East Chapman Ave (714) 538-6424

21 Restoration Dental 28 725 West LaVeta #200 (714) 400-0075

JEWELRY

14 Rambling Rose Jewelry 21 118 South Glassell St (714) 538-6305

15 Renée Jewelers 3 138 North Glassell St (714) 538-1956

REAL ESTATE:

5 Caliber Real Estate Group . 20 134 South Glassell St (714) 988-6339

Planning

is one of the most

Sally

(

REAL ESTATE:

1 Lionheart Pride L (714) 745-7318

www.LionheartPride.com

19 North Hills Realty

Angie: (714) 702-4119

Rick: (714) 225-5520

21 OC Pro Property Manage C

202 West Lincoln Ave (714) 202-8100

1 Orange Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . N

1537 East Chapman Ave (714) 997-0050

18 Real Estate Establishment 12

550 East Chapman Ave (714) 744-5711

13 United Real Estate Group H 2811 East Katella Ave (714) 858-9059

12 Willits Real Estate Group . . . 9 229 North Glassell St (714) 315-8120

SERVICES:

18 Bear Flag Construction (949) 795-6812 BearFlagOC.com

26 Fairhaven Memorial Park R 1702 Fairhaven Ave, SA (714) 401-4151 & (714) 310-7913

9 Galla-Rini Roofing (714) 244-6567

www.GallaRiniRoofing.com

13 H&H Income Tax Insurance 18 480 S Glassell (714) 288-2088

3 Jadtec Security Services A 1520 West Yale Ave (714) 282-0828

25 Shafer Plumbing . . . . . . . . . B

1307 West Trenton Ave (714) 974-9448

10 Shannon Family Mortuary K 1005 East Chapman Ave (714) 771-1000

SPECIALTY RETAIL:

11 Army Navy Store 16

131 South Glassell St (714) 639-7910

10 Matoska Trading Company . 10 123 North Glassell St (714) 516-9940

SPECIALTY RETAIL:

9 Paris in a Cup - On-line (714) 538-9411

www.ParisInACup.com

TOURISM:

15 Orangeland RV Park I 1600 West Struck Ave (714) 633-0414

6 PUBLISHER: Mike Escobedo Design Mike@OrangeReview.com www.OrangeReview.com (714) 743-6919

you can give...

Ex-Mormons for Jesus Information & Visitors Center

1107 East Chapman Ave #206 Orange, CA 92866 (714) 997-3498

FD

Jerry

sally.salvador

134 South Glassell St / Orange 92866

Publishing Team Mar / Apr 2024

Publisher Mike Escobedo Mike@OrangeReview.com

Editor/Writer Julie Bawden-Davis julie@juliebawdendavis.com

Writer Karen Anderson 123karen@earthlink.net

Writer Yuki Klotz-Burwell klotz105@mail.chapman.edu

Writer Nathan Carter nathan.travis.carter@gmail.com

Writer Marianne Lauren MarianneLauren.ga@gmail.com

Writer Sheri Ledbetter sledbetter@socal.rr.com

Writer Melissa Pinion-Whitt AuthorMelissaWhitt@gmail.com

Writer Mary Platt platt@chapman.edu

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

ExMormonsForJesu s.org in

Processed by Mailing Pros, Inc. MPI@MailingProsInc.com

Distributed by the US Postal Services www.usps.com