FALL IN LOVE WITH OC BEST PLACES TO CATCH A FALL VIBE, INCLUDING PUMPKIN PATCHES AND DAY TRIPS
LOCAL ROCK STARS MEET LOCAL JOURNALISTS, YOUNG CHANGE-MAKERS AND A FAMOUS BASSIST
PLUS, EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT: WHAT’S NEW AND FUN IN OC, MUST-DOS FOR YOUR TO-DO LIST THIS SEASON, COMPANIES GIVING BACK AND MUCH MORE!
Caitlin Antonios
Caitlin Antonios is an Orange County native and local reporter. She has covered Southern California for the past five years reporting on everything from earthquakes to restaurants and dining.
Allison Emery is a freelance writer based in Orange County. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Syracuse University and has written for numerous local magazines, including Laguna Beach Magazine and Newport Beach Magazine, among others. She resides in Dana Point with her husband, two kids and Pomeranian, where they love to spend time at Doheny Beach and watch the surfers hit the waves.
Nancy’s crooked path started in the television newsroom and meandered through marketing communications, advising students on their college application essays and freelance writing for publications like Tableau. The common thread: storytelling. She also serves on the board and volunteers at Save Our Youth (SOY), an after-school program for underserved students in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. In her free time, Nancy avidly enjoys running, skiing, hiking and walking her labradoodle, Emmy.
A freelance writer based in Southern California, Allison Hata loves telling the stories of people, places and ideas that shape our communities. Her writing has taken her around the world, from Macau to Mexico City. Closer to home, she has covered the latest in social impact news, guided travelers on family-friendly excursions and profiled local luminaries. She holds a journalism degree from Cal State Northridge, and lives in Orange County with her husband and daughter.
Lucas Levine is currently a graduate student at Loyola Marymount University, studying to get his MFA in screenwriting. When not watching movies or writing, he enjoys trail running, playing with his 12-year-old pup, Jason, and working on his car. Lucas hopes to one day write feature films in the thriller and horror genres; in particular, he dreams of having the opportunity to pitch a modern interpretation of Stephen King’s automotive horror novel “Christine.”
Ashley Ryan has been writing her whole life, from short stories as a child to diving headfirst into journalism as a teenager. She has a degree in journalism and anthropology, and loves writing about travel, food, art, nature, people and anything in between. She currently serves as an editor for Firebrand Media and, when not working, she enjoys traveling, live music, hiking, reading, Pilates, swimming, going to the beach, visiting with friends or family and all things Disney.
Amy Senk
Amy is a CDM resident and a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. She has worked at the Kansas City Times, Kansas City Star, Contra Costa Times, Coast Kids and Coast Magazines, and is a regular contributor to StuNews Newport. A recent empty nester, she spends her free time with her husband and planning elaborate imaginary vacations.
Carrie Freitas
Miki Akil
Barbara Shields
Barbara Shields has three children and five grandchildren. Her professional career includes an extensive background in publishing at Harcourt Brace and McGraw-Hill. Her nonprofit experience at Old Westbury Gardens and NYU Langone Long Island encompassed the world of development, art, public relations and special events. Barbara serves on the board of the Michael Magro Foundation; she has written a weekly column for a Long Island newspaper, and articles for the New York Times. Oil painting is her sanctuary, though the Met never calls. She is married and lives in Rockville Centre, New York, with her husband and adored mini-poodle, Sophie Wow-Wow.
Paige Wood
Paige is a recent graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in professional writing. She has always had a passion for writing and is thrilled to explore the world of magazine writing! Born and raised in Newport Beach, Paige loves where she lives and loves sharing it with others, making Tableau an amazing fit. In her free time, Paige enjoys exercising, crocheting and spending time with friends and family.
Madelyn Sutherland
Paige Wood
Lee Vujnovich
Allison Hata
Freddie Molenda
By Caitlin Antonios, Ashley Ryan and Paige Wood
Curious about what Orange County was like in the early 20th century? Or want to learn more about how Navajo women wove blankets in the 1800s? The Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University showcases more than 5,000 works from various mediums of everyday life. Running through Oct. 26 is the museum’s latest show: California Art Club’s 113th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition. Taking over the museum’s south wing, the collection showcases the pioneers who inspired California Impressionism with nearly 180 works by 163 artists. hilbertmuseum.org | IG: @hilbertmuseum —C.A.
Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to beach days. One of Orange County’s newest restaurants, Jolie in Huntington Beach, allows diners to enjoy modern American cuisine with a view of the coastline from almost every table. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week with a special brunch menu on the weekends, the restaurant also boasts a large cocktail menu featuring unique spirits like Japanese whiskey, house-infused watermelon mezcal and Awayuki Gin, a flavored Japanese spirit infused with strawberries from the country’s Nara Prefecture. The menu includes seasonal dishes like a shrimp, lobster and melon salad, but meat-eaters will likely be drawn to the perfectly pink prime rib dip, the tomahawk rib eye, or the maple-glazed double pork chop. Seafood lovers can indulge in a pistachio panko-crusted halibut or cioppino with clams, mussels, shrimp and mahi-mahi in a luscious tomato broth. Whether it’s a special date night or a quick lunch, the ocean views paired with a delicious meal keep the summer vibes going year-round. joliehb.com | IG: @joliehuntingtonbeach —C.A.
Murphy Karges, Sugar Ray’s founding bassist and co-songwriter, has released his debut book, “Basics for Bassists: or How to Not Suck at Playing Bass.” Having spent 35 years on global stages and nearly five years creating content on YouTube, Murphy has a deep understanding of how to effectively learn and teach music. The book was born from his realization that learning music, songs and bass are not as hard as some may think. As a self-taught musician, he knows the trials and tribulations of learning an instrument or trying to understand music — but also believes the process is meant to be enjoyed, not feared. Great for all ages, “Basics for Bassists” is a music toolbox, a thrilling storybook and an indispensable guide to mastering the instrument. murphykarges.com | IG: @murphykarges P.W.
Modern-day museums are all about incorporating technology, screens and innovative new ways to educate. But at the Museum of Make Believe in Laguna Beach, founders and artists Amy and Geoff Mitchell strive for a throwback vibe, relying solely on storytelling and imagination. The experience starts from the moment you arrive, when a sign on the door encourages guests to knock three times before entering.
For an introduction to what the space is about, visit the inaugural exhibit, “Ghost Stories & Fairy Tales.” It’s set in a 1,000-square-foot enchanted forest that offers miniature dioramas, paintings, sculptures and audio components, all dreamt up by the couple. “The interaction … come[s] from the guests themselves: reading the stories, marveling at the old wizened trees, peering through the glass into a room of miniatures, stepping back in time in our circus tent — all designed so that people can interact with art in a unique way,” Amy says.
Though the project may sound like it’s aimed at children, those of all ages can enjoy this inspiring venue, where it’s easy to relive childhood and embrace the freedom of youth. General admission offers a self-guided experience or you can upgrade to packages that include a treasure hunt, complete with a prize, or an illustrated storybook that retells all of the original narratives found within the museum’s exhibit. Amy and Geoff plan to keep incorporating new pieces as they are created, including a life-size dragon that will soon make its debut. But the ultimate goal is to fundraise enough money to open a bigger space and continue sharing the magic of imagination with dreamers big and small. museumofmakebelieve.org | IG: @museumofmakebelieve —A.R.
Carrie Freitas, the founder of Kitchen Table Marketing + PR and editor of Tableau magazine, launched a new podcast this summer called The Curious Community. She leverages her experience as journalist and seasoned PR pro to engage in lively, fun conversations with interesting people, connecting with them on a deeper level as she dives into their stories. Each episode promises to deliver fresh perspectives celebrate the achievements of everyday innovators like Raili Clasen, an interior designer featured in the inaugural episode. Listeners got an inside look at Raili’s successful career, including how she developed her signature surf style, where she finds inspiration and the craziest designs she’s ever tackled. The episode set a vibrant and engaging tone for the series that will be filled with intriguing insights and inspiration. curiouscommunitypodcast.com | IG: @curiouscommunitypodcast P.W.
A new food pantry designed for pets whose owners are experiencing homelessness opened at the MultiService Center in July, making it easier than ever to make sure nutritious meals are available for those in need — no questions asked. While the center and the pantry are operated by the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, this endeavor came about with the support of the nonprofit Project Street Vet and Kismet, a pet brand started by dog lovers John Legend and Chrissy Teigen. Thanks to Kismet, the pantry is stocked with more than 2,500 pounds of dog food and treats, which builds upon the city’s efforts to collect donations pet food and other essentials for those experiencing homelessness since early 2023. longbeach.gov —A.R.
Orange County is littered with fitness companies offering everything from barre, HIIT, yoga and Pilates to CrossFit workouts and beach boot camps. However, the hard work put into these sessions is all for nothing if you don’t take the time to rest and recover. Just as nutrition is an essential part of health, recovery plays a crucial role in the outcome of your fitness journey. In order to enjoy long-term success, elevate your performance and prevent injuries from occurring, you can take care of your muscles at the new Shape-Shop studio in Costa Mesa. ShapeShop, which launched in July, offers seven different types of recovery-centric treatments, including red light, compression and cupping therapies, a cold plunge, percussive massage, localized cryotherapy, and a mechanized massage via a body roller machine. The brand plans to expand to Newport Beach and Aliso Viejo in the coming months. shape-shop.com | IG: @shape.shop.inc —A.R.
Tucked inside the 495-acre Irvine Regional Park is the small, but mighty OC Zoo. The zoo, where admission is just $2 per person (children 2 and under get in free), is focused on animals and plants native to the southwestern United States including jaguars and mountain lions. The zoo also has a barnyard with domestic goats and sheep that visitors can get up close and personal with. Take an audio tour using your own cell phone to learn more about the many animals housed there or stop by the story time area to hear from staff. After hanging out with new animal friends, explore the rest of the park and enjoy its numerous bike trails, botanical preserve, picnic areas, horseback riding, paddleboat rentals and more. ocparks.com | IG: @ocparks —C.A.
Senior and special needs dogs are some of the happiest and most loving you’ll meet, but they’re often the first ones to be abandoned or overlooked. On Sept. 22, Chef Masters is hosting a culinary event on the Festival of Arts grounds in Laguna Beach benefitting Unconditional Rescue and the canine companions under its care. Enjoy delicious bites and sips from the community’s top chefs, wineries and restaurants while supporting a special cause. Proceeds from the evening will help build a new state-of-the-art rescue facility in Laguna Beach where potential adopters will have a chance to meet and form connections with deserving dogs who need a home. Tickets are on sale now for $500. chefmasters.org | IG: @chefmastersevent —P.W.
By Allison Hata
While you may not be able to change the world in just five days, 600 employees from Johnson & Johnson MedTech proved what the power of volunteerism can do for a community. From Aug. 4-9, volunteers from the company’s Irvine campus lent a hand through 17 events tackling pressing issues during its Week of Caring.
“At Johnson & Johnson, we follow three main pillars when it comes to choosing organizations to support — healthcare access, STEM education to empower our next generation of innovators, and healthy communities,” says Kimberly Graves, Senior Manager, Global Employee Engagement.
Launched in 2021, Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s Week of Caring encouraged employees to step away from their desks and out into the community for hands-on volunteer opportunities. While some groups rolled up their sleeves to work the fields of a Second Harvest Food Bank farm, others got creative with making educational kits and learning tools.
“All of our employees at Johnson & Johnson live in to Our Credo, which is a set of guiding principles that challenge us to put the needs and wellbeing of the people we serve first,” Kimberly says. “As a company, we are responsible for the communities in which we live and work, which is why Week of Caring was created for our teams based at our Irvine campus to give back and make a difference in the local community.”
The annual volunteer week has continued to grow year over year, and 2024 was no exception. Every spot at each of the 17 volunteer events this year was filled and a record number of employees signed up to make an impact in their own backyard.
“Week of Caring is one of the most highly anticipated weeks for our team,” Kimberly says. “... We also hope that our employees will be inspired by their activities this week and will continue to support the communities where we live and work all throughout the year.”
Here’s a look at some of the ways Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s efforts this August made a difference.
In addition to homeless prevention and rapidrehousing services, this Irvine-based nonprofit runs two markets in Irvine and Laguna Niguel that provide nourishing ingredients and pantry staples to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. With a setup not unlike that of a traditional grocery store, the South County Outreach food markets allow clients to fill their carts with items that meet their specific tastes and nutritional needs. Johnson & Johnson MedTech team members showed up every day Monday through Thursday to sort donations, reorganize shelves and stock the market with non-perishables and fresh food like butter, eggs, protein, and produce. Volunteer efforts like this play a critical role in the organization's ability to meet the unprecedented levels of need in the community and distribute food to roughly 1,500 residents each month.
Children with visual impairments can experience the world in a hands-on, interactive way, and organizations like Beyond Blindness exist to help make this possible. Programs that range from early intervention to education, enrichment and family support provide opportunities for kids of all ages and abilities to learn, grow and thrive. In addition to one-on-one therapies and enrichment services like orientation and mobility training, the nonprofit supports students with inclusive classroom instruction from Teachers of the Visually Impaired. Week of Caring volunteers supported Beyond Blindness by helping to make interactive felt storyboards that will be incorporated into lessons that empower children in creative and tactile play.
What would a world be without science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics? These disciplines — known collectively as STEAM — set kids up to be curious innovators who exercise both sides of their brains to solve problems and explore the world. Based in Santa Ana, Dreams for Schools is making STEAM more accessible to K-12 students with engaging programs that encourage critical thinking and creativity, from coding games and building websites to developing mobile apps. More than 120 Johnson & Johnson MedTech employees rallied in support of next-gen STEAM learning and helped assemble 2,300 kits that contain easy-tofollow instructions and specialized materials for students to gain hands-on experience in the field.
Last year, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County (SHFB) distributed 35,781,426 pounds of food to residents of all ages. Hunger continues to be an urgent, prevalent issue even in Orange County, where more than 300,000 people face food insecurity, according to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap report. Over the summer months, when free school lunches aren’t available, one in eight children in the region go to bed hungry. At the SHFB Distribution Center in Irvine, more than 120 Week of Caring volunteers helped process hundreds of pounds of donated food like fruits and vegetables that will be given to local residents through the food bank’s community partner network.
In addition to its distribution center, SHFB runs a farm program with two locations in Irvine. Started in 2021, Harvest Solutions Farm provides between 50,000 to 60,000 pounds of fresh produce every week for the food bank’s programs. But with 45 acres to farm, it takes a village of volunteers. Johnson & Johnson MedTech team members showed up ready to serve, harvesting 12,000 pounds of zucchini and watermelon for local distribution over the course of four hours.
Though she’s now CEO of the nonprofit Project Hope Alliance, Jennifer Friend grew up living in and out of Orange County motels. She’s not alone. One in six children in Orange County experience homelessness, exposing them to toxic stress and increasing the likelihood they’ll suffer from health issues ranging from hunger and asthma to respiratory and ear infections. Without a stable place to live, it’s also more likely they will fall behind in school, according to Kaiser Permanente’s Thriving Schools program. To help Project Hope Alliance in its mission to end cycles of homelessness, more than 60 employees packed hygiene kits filled with essential self-care items as well as wrote letters of hope to children in need across Orange County.
Career readiness can be complex, but Santa Ana-based Working Wardrobes takes a multifaceted approach to preparing individuals as they enter the workforce. In addition to one-on-one career counseling, access to certification programs and trainings, and services like interview coaching and resume review, the organization also equips clients with professional attire so they’re prepared inside and out. It hosts various drives throughout the year for clothing and accessories that are provided to clients for upcoming job interviews. Week of Caring volunteers not only processed and sorted these donations, they also had a chance to curate outfits for Working Wardrobes jobseekers that will help them gain confidence and build self-esteem.
Trash on the beach does more than just cause an unsightly mess. The food wrappers, cigarette butts, singleuse bottles, plastic and other debris left behind by beachgoers contaminate our coastline and will eventually be swept out to sea. Plastics, in particular, can remain in the environment for several years. It can lead to devastating impacts on marine life, such as animals inadvertently ingesting debris or getting entangled in plastic rings. The city of Newport Beach welcomes up to 100,000 tourists daily during the summer months, making this a prime season for trash on our shores. During this busy time of year, the Johnson & Johnson MedTech team set out to keep the beach pristine with a cleanup day to close out its Week of Caring.
One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. It’s also expected that the disease will make up nearly a third of all new female cancer diagnoses in 2024, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. This organization advocates for early detection and diagnosis — which drastically improves survival rates — in addition to providing support to patients during treatment. One way it does this is through Hope Kits, which Johnson & Johnson MedTech team members helped assemble. These thoughtful care packages are filled with comforting items like fuzzy socks, journals and luxury vegan products from Thrive Causemetics, and show breast cancer patients that there is a community of support behind them through every step of their journey.
By Lucas Levine
For some Orange County high schoolers, community service is more than a line on a college application; it's a deeply rooted commitment to their communities. These young changemakers understand the importance of giving back and are driven by a sense of responsibility. Their efforts address a wide range of issues, from environmental conservation to social justice, often leveraging their personal passions to fuel impactful projects. We had the privilege of getting to know a few of these inspiring youths, delving into the “why” behind their goals for the future. One thing became clear: Their volunteer work not only meets immediate needs but also lays the foundation for long-term change. In doing so, they inspire others and ensure that the spirit of service in Southern California continues to thrive.
Who are these super-teens? They’re future Michelin-starred chefs, budding engineers and med-tech innovators. They’re passionate working with kids who have special needs, ending e-waste and addressing food insecurity. They are bridging generational divides and changing the world, all while working toward their high school diplomas. The future will be undoubtedly bright with leaders like these — now, let’s get to know them.
Katelyn’s story began in 2021 during her freshman year at Sage Hill School. As part of a schoolsponsored service learning initiative, she asked herself a simple question: How can both current and future generations take more responsibility for climate change? Her thoughts immediately turned to the growing issue of electronic hazardous waste — think old LCD televisions and monitors, laptops, computers, printers and cell phones.
The world produces more than 68 million tons of e-waste each year, but the World Economic Forum estimates that only about 17 percent is properly recycled. And according to the American Chemical Society, only 5 percent of the world’s lithium-ion batteries are recycled, which contributes to more than 8 million tons of toxic waste contaminating landfills globally
Katelyn started small by organizing a battery collection day at her school through Teens Against E-waste (TAE), an organization that she leads as the international co-president and president of the Sage
Hill branch. The event was a success, collecting hundreds of batteries that would have otherwise ended up in the trash. “I was really nervous to run the first event,” she says. It was hard to put myself out there.”
Despite her early nerves, she was hooked on the process and focused on expanding battery collection efforts to the community. Progress was slow at first. “I had a list of like 100 stores I reached out to, but only 15 agreed to having battery collection buckets,” she says.
That slow start, however, was just a fluke. Sage Hill was one of the first three branches of TAE, which has since expanded to more than 50 branches in six countries. Since 2001, TAE has collected more than 500,000 batteries and prevented over 180,000 tons of toxic waste from entering landfills.
When asked if she had any advice for getting involved in the community, her answer was simple: “Just try,” she says. “There are so many different avenues to find where you fit in as a volunteer.”
Currently dual-enrolled at Pacific Coast High School and Santa Ana College, Lana Nguyen first got involved with volunteering in middle school. Her journey began at an Operation Be Kind event, where she packed kits for the homeless and wrote handwritten notes for each one.
“Even though I didn’t get to meet them personally, I felt like I had this opportunity, like someone’s going to receive this and it might put a smile on their face,” she says. “That’s something that really makes me happy.”
A few years later during the pandemic, Lana was quick to lend a hand. She volunteered her graphic design and kit-packing experience to the 360 Clinic, Orange County’s largest COVID-19 testing site. More than 10,000 people were expected to be tested per day, and the organization had only a couple of weeks to prepare.
“At first, I was super stressed out because nobody realized the COVID kits came unassembled, and we only had two weeks to assemble everything,” she says. In addition to packing kits, she took on the significant task of designing the clinic’s website, something she’d never done before.
This experience supporting the county inspired Lana to engage more deeply with her own Vietnamese community. When her mother suggested they volunteer together to help set up the neighborhood Lunar New Year event, Lana again lent her design skills.
Her focus has since shifted toward education reform, with a goal of creating a better school system for future generations. The flexibility of the college courses she enrolled in opened her eyes to how traditional education often fails to cater to students with specific interests like business or user interface design. “Am I just mindlessly learning all this stuff?” she says. “I really want education to be more mindful of individual students and what they want to do in the future.”
Rising senior Anthony Hsieh has crafted an airtight schedule for his last year of high school. While managing a rigorous schedule of dual-enrollment courses at Legacy Magnet Academy and Irvine Valley College, he also volunteers at local events, is engineering a race car from the ground up, and participated in CHOC’s Medical Intelligence and Innovation Institute (Mi4) summer internship program.
Juggling it all is part of his personal philosophy of doing whatever it takes to love what you do. “If you’re forcing yourself into any part of the process, you might be better off finding another program,” he says.
Saying yes and following his passion has paid off. Last year, Anthony secured a volunteer position at the Petersen Automotive Museum, a dream for the young car enthusiast. A docent there even introduced him to a high school racing organization, where he joined a team developing a race car from the ground up to compete against other students.
He’s also found that sometimes finding balance can create lifechanging opportunities as well. Connections
at a volunteer group Anthony had to step away from in order to take the Peterson opportunity led to Mi4, where he became directly involved in developing a novel medical device.
“You only live once,” he says. “Have fun and live with no regrets but be realistic about your schedule and don’t overload yourself. Be aware of your tolerances … and you’ll have a great time!”
During her freshman year at high school, Erica Zhang began her community service journey as a volunteer teacher’s assistant at a local summer camp for kids with special needs. On her first day of camp, she was struck by the strength and free spirit of a young girl with cerebral palsy. It was at that moment that Erica knew education would be part of her future.
Since then, she’s spent her summers volunteering at various kids’ camps across Orange County, including the Discovery Cube. While she helped out across all areas of the center, her favorite place to volunte was in the marine biology section.
“I just love seeing [kids’] eyes light up,” Erica says. “Sometimes they have too much fun though. One kid grabbed a sea star because he thought it was Patrick from ‘SpongeBob SquarePants.’ I had to get down to his level to help get the message across, which was a good challenge for me.”
Balancing her commitments was initially a challenge. It took her awhile to realize that making time for herself
was crucial to maintaining her passion. However, she also discovered that keeping herself busy actually helped with her time management. These lessons, Erica explains, came from the people in her life who keep her grounded. “You need a strong support system that keeps you comfortable,” she says.
In the future, Erica hopes to give back to the teachers who inspired her as she pursues a career in mechanical engineering. Like Anthony, she’s already making strides toward that goal. Most recently, she was featured in the Los Angeles Times’ Orange County edition for her work as project lead on a medical engineering team that designed a post-surgical heart patch for pediatric patients with sensory issues.
Her final piece of advice: “We all have to start somewhere, so just go for it,” she says. “Put yourself out there, think about what you’ve received from your community and how you can give back. Narrow it down from there but remember it’s important not to burn yourself out.”
As the sun set in Orange County one September evening, Nico Balkhi, a sophomore at JSerra Catholic High School, monitored a legion of jerk chickens roasting on a makeshift barbecue pit.
Smoke and sweat stung his eyes, but he hardly noticed. Chef Azmin Ghahreman of the Sapphire Culinary Group paced behind him, barking orders over the makeshift campsite as if it were a Michelinstarred restaurant. The stakes were high, with more than 500 hungry guests waiting for their meal at MaxLove Project’s annual Farm to Fork fundraiser, and Nico was one of several high school line cooks volunteering for the evening. Despite the immense pressure, Nico says he never felt more at home as he served his community.
“Culinary medicine and healthy eating are really important to me,” he explains. “There are a lot of people who need help … [and] need access to healthy food.”
Nico’s introduction to volunteering began when he was 4 years old. Diagnosed with rapidly growing rhabdomyosarcoma, his life took a significant turn. His parents enrolled him in the MaxLove Project’s
Fierce Food Academy (FFA), an organization focused on educating children with cancer about culinary medicine. His parents credit the culinary lessons taught at FFA for his successful chemotherapy.
Nico’s passion for the culinary arts hasn’t slowed for even a beat, and he dreams of opening a health food restaurant inspired by his Basque heritage. Recently, he took a college-level nutrition class that deepened his understanding of how to balance fruits and vegetables with carbohydrates.
For Nico, community service is about creating lifelong change. For example, food deserts and lack of access to fresh food concern him deeply. He hopes to one day teach people living in those areas and facing food insecurity how to incorporate tasty, healthy foods into their diets without breaking the bank.
Reflecting on his journey thus far, Nico advises other young people to start by finding a group of likeminded individuals who share their interests. “Use communities you’re already in to motivate yourself to go out and volunteer,” he says.
On one of the MaxLove volunteer days, Nico got his whole water polo team to pitch in. “We had a lot of fun together,” he adds. “It was funny seeing all the guys working in the kitchen.”
By Amy Senk
You’ve read their bylines on the front page of the paper. Seen their faces on television. Scrolled through their articles on your phone. From breaking news to gallery openings, these local journalists ensure we’re in the loop. For years, they’ve told meaningful stories about our communities — here’s your chance to learn theirs.
Publisher and co-founder of Culture OC
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Culture OC began with a layoff and evolved into an awardwinning news project, a platform to celebrate local culture at a time when it was seemingly abandoned by everyone else.
“I remember that day in 2018,” says Paul Hodgins, who wrote about theater, dance and classical music as an arts critic for the Orange County Register for 25 years. “I was in the parking lot heading home, and I got a call from the head of communications at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. He says, ‘Well, I heard the news, and I’m sorry, but what are you going to do now? You really should try to fight this.’”
Paul connected with longtime colleague Heide Janssen, and they developed the idea for Culture OC, a nonprofit news website that would focus solely on arts and culture in Orange County. Voice of OC invited them to create an arts section, and they stayed
there nearly five years, gradually adding content and writers and a photographer — winning some pretty prestigious awards and honors along the way, Paul adds. Culture OC launched on Sept. 10, 2023, and continues to grow.
Born in Canada, Paul studied piano and was a professional accompanist before completing his doctorate in musical composition and theory at the University of Southern California. He was later a professor of dance at UC Irvine.
Yet, these disciplines aren’t the only ones that pique his interest. Paul’s, and Culture OC’s, notion of “Orange County culture” is broad and inclusive. He’s proud of their coverage of the Vietnamese Film Festival, and of a story on quinceañera dressmakers in Santa Ana. He also knows their readers want to know the best cocktail bars in the county and where to go for fireworks on the Fourth of July.
“Culture is important to Orange County,” he says. “It’s part of its identity and should be covered as such.”
Executive producer of Fox 11’s “Good Day LA”
Michelle Pulfrey’s career launched with a Chapman University senior project that impressed not only her professor, but also the man with the power to hire.
“The assignment was to copy a TV show, and we chose ‘Good Day LA,’” Michelle says. “We were the Chapman version.”
The real “Good Day LA” cast and crew saw and loved the project and invited the seniors to come on the show. After a live segment they went on a tour, where she met the assistant news director.
“I told him I’d really like to work here,” Michelle says. “He said, ‘Great.’ I graduated on a Saturday and started at Fox on a Monday.”
Michelle’s television career began in June 1998 as production assistant, a job that involved a lot of grunt work and getting coffee. Within three months, she became a field producer. Then the job started to get fun.
“I got to chat with Barack Obama due to breaking news, since we were standing around waiting,” she says. “Lionel Richie played piano for me at his house. We set up at Carrie Fisher’s house and ended up hanging out, getting ready for a live shot. I’ve had a lifetime worth of memorable experiences in many states and countries.”
Last December, Michelle celebrated her 25th anniversary with the show and was promoted to executive producer.
“Now it’s my job to oversee the whole show,” she says. “Where the reporters are headed to in the morning, stories we’re covering, what guests we’re booking. My day starts at 2:30 a.m. with our first meeting of the morning, and I’m never out of there before noon.”
That’s when Michelle drives home to Costa Mesa.
“My job is a full-scale production, from in-studio teams to field teams to technical glitches and beyond,” she says. “As I’m driving away, I’m leaving it in the rear view. Orange County is a very peaceful place to me.”
Food, art and culture reporter for Times OC
Sarah Mosqueda worked in restaurants for more than 15 years, even after she graduated Cal State Fullerton with a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2008 — during the middle of a recession. Eventually she married a co-worker from the Michelin-starred Taco María in Costa Mesa, and they opened their own restaurant focused on Filipino cuisine inspired by her husband’s grandmother.
“Everything that happened to me prior to ending up at Times OC was fortunate and instrumental in getting me to this position,” she says. “I felt it was very meant to be.”
An aspiring journalist, she was freelancing even as she and her husband opened their critically acclaimed restaurant. When it closed, she was working a customer service job when she applied to Times OC. “They were looking to hire for a food and art beat, and that is my thing,” she says.
She was hired to cover food, art and culture. Not reviews, but news — think restaurant openings and closures, as well as features like different kinds of pizza in Orange County, art shows and theater performances.
An Orange County native who now lives in Santa Ana, Sarah and her husband aspire to write a cookbook one day. Even their television habits, like watching “The Bear,” a behind-the-scenes look at the restaurant business, center around food.
Yet, some of her favorite bylines (and some of the most popular) have nothing to do with food. A recent piece on the Tomorrowland-inspired suite at a Howard Johnson in Anaheim prompted readers to reach out and tell their own stories about the hotel and Disneyland.
“People really connected to it,” she says. “I always say, when we’re gone, all that is left behind is our words and pictures and our music. These are stories of hope, these are important. People need them.”
County government reporter for the Orange County Register
A one-time sociology major, Destiny Torres discovered a passion for journalism while at CSU Dominguez Hills, which she followed up with a master’s degree from USC.
“I wanted to do something that was community- and mission-driven, but also something where I could be creative,” she says. “I took one journalism class, and I thought, yes. This is it.”
A self-proclaimed California girl, Torres grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and joined the OC Register in 2023 after freelancing and working for the Los Angeles Business Journal
“I learned a lot about my writing and working in a newsroom,” she says. “But it still wasn’t scratching that itch in my brain.”
Destiny thought the OC Register job was a longshot, but she is thriving covering Santa Ana, the Board of
Supervisors and county issues like public health, the OC Fair and the airport. She is especially proud of her homeless coverage. She recently did a ride along with the CalOptima Health Street Medicine team and learned about what is being done to provide basic health care needs.
“It was a challenge writing-wise, and it felt really fulfilling after it was done,” she says. “I felt that I stayed true to these people’s experiences, and I got to tell our readers and educate them a little bit on this other obstacle that homeless people have.”
Destiny disagrees with the idea that journalists, especially ones writing about marginalized communities, are giving a voice to the voiceless.
“They have voices themselves,” she says. “I just need to be able to put their words on paper so that other people can experience those conversations.”
Podcast host/producer and style and home editor at Orange Coast magazine
Chelsea Raineri’s journalism career focusing on style and home decor seems like such a perfect fit, something she was born to do. “But I actually didn’t even major in journalism at Chapman,” she says. Her first job, marketing for Tillys in Irvine, wasn’t for her. Instead, she started freelancing for Locale magazine. “I fell in love with it,” she says. “I knew it was what I wanted to do.”
After a year of working as Locale’s Orange County editor, Chelsea moved to Orange Coast magazine, where she’s been for more than six years.
“I was so excited to focus on style and home,” she says. “I get to share stories of locals who can be anything from interior designers to fashion stylists or someone who owns a boutique or a home decor store.”
In addition to planning five stories every month, Chelsea also coordinates several cover stories a year with her team and freelance writers. She works with sources and photographers, then reports, writes and edits each piece. She also hosts and produces “The Zest” podcast for Orange Coast magazine.
“What I love about the podcast is a lot of times, there wasn’t a direct path to how the guests reached their goals,” she says. “For example, Raissa Gerona, the chief brand officer of Revolve, she is the reason why we have influencer marketing, but she didn’t have any formal training in marketing — she just had an innate ability to know it would work.”
Chelsea’s advice to aspiring journalists is to make connections and reach out to the writers you admire. “Everyone says that,” she says. “But it really works.”
By Allison Emery
As the leaves change and pumpkin spice fills the air, it’s time to embrace the season. From September through Halloween, local pumpkin patches offer festive fall fun for the whole family. Check out four must-visit spots around O.C. where everyone’s sure to walk away with not only the perfect pumpkin, but also all the autumn vibes.
Located in Irvine, Tanaka Farms offers more than just pumpkins — it's a full agricultural adventure with wagon rides, barnyard animals, and a corn maze. Entrance to the annual pumpkin patch beginning Sept. 14 includes access to the farm’s daily activities for $20 on weekdays and $22 on weekends, with ticketed events that include mini ATV rides, face painting, games, and shooting the pumpkin cannon. Pumpkins are also available for purchase. tanakafarms.com | IG: @tanakafarms
Irvine Park Railroad transforms into a festive pumpkin patch each fall, starting Sept 14. In the rolling foothills of Irvine Regional Park, visitors can enjoy family friendly activities ranging from hay rides and a moon bounce to carnival games, pumpkin and cookie decorating, and panning for gold. A hay maze and haunted house are free for all attendees. Admission to the pumpkin patch is free on weekdays, with parking fees ranging from $3 to $7; activity tickets are sold separately. irvineparkrailroad.com | IG: @irvineparkrailroad
Pumpkin City in Laguna Hills is a beloved local favorite, located right off the I-5 freeway. The harvest festival starts Sept. 29 and features a wide variety of pumpkins, carnival games, a petting zoo and rides, as well as a beer garden with food and drinks for adults. Admission is free Monday through Friday before 4 p.m. and all day on Halloween; tickets outside those hours range from $8 to $10. Pumpkins and activity tickets are also available for purchase. pumpkincity.com | IG: @pumpkincityinc
Want to get out of town? Less than 25 miles outside of Orange County, Tom's Farms in Temescal Valley is a hidden gem off the I-15 freeway. The charming spot has a great selection of pumpkins, plus a family fun zone on weekends that’s all year long. Starting Oct. 4, a new haunted maze will provide plenty of thrills and chills for those who are seeking some spookier fun. tomsfarms.com | IG: @tomsfarms
By Nancy Gelston Fries
When it comes to weather, we tend to think we have it made here in Orange County: Summers that aren’t too hot, winters that aren’t cold at all. We have the confidence to plan an outdoor event most any time of year. But around about October, we may start feeling a bit of leaf envy. People flock to places like Vermont for leaf-peeping and cider tasting and autumnal aromas that pumpkin spice candles simply can’t replicate. Don’t fret, my fellow Southern Californians. We can catch an authentic whiff of autumn without branching far from the coast. And we may not even need our jackets.
Just a two-plus hour car ride transports you to the small-town charm of Julian in San Diego County. At nearly a mile above sea level, Julian’s climate produces the cold snaps necessary for leaves to change color. For the best leaf-peeping, take a hike up Five Oaks Trail in Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve. If you’re hardy enough to reach the summit — a 5.4-mile round trip — you can see all the way to the ocean. For a less strenuous excursion, visit one of the many orchards where you can pick your own crisp apples, or take a stroll around the perimeter of Lake Cuyamaca. Reward yourself with a stop at Julian Pie Company for what’s arguably the best apple pie on the planet.
In the San Bernardino Mountain foothills sits another small-town apple mecca known as Oak Glen. Easily accessible off the 10 freeway, Oak Glen sits more than 4,000 feet above sea level with a climate favorable for fall foliage. If you prefer to view the leaves from the comfort of your car, you’ll see plenty along the scenic 20-mile loop, 5 miles of which meander through town. More adventurous leaf-peepers might opt for a hike in the Oak Glen Preserve, more than 2,000 acres of scenic wilderness. In addition to apple-picking and cider tasting, Oak Glen offers horse-drawn wagon rides, country music and dancing, and historical reenactments at select farms.
Tucked deep within Modjeska Canyon in the Saddleback Mountain foothills, this branch of Newport Beach’s Environmental Nature Center is a favorite of bird-watching enthusiasts. Open on weekends only, it also includes a natural history museum and butterfly garden. You can take a short stroll on the Chaparral Nature Trail, continue onto the challenging Harding Truck Trail toward Modjeska Peak, or just relax in the serene environs. While in the canyon, consider a visit to Arden, the historic century-old home of actress Helena Modjeska. Tours of the house and gardens must be arranged in advance.
Closer to home, Tanaka Farms in Irvine beckons adults and kids alike for its annual Pumpkin Patch and Fall Harvest Festival beginning Sept. 14. Ride an open-air wagon, pick your own perfectly plump pumpkin, or fill a basket with fresh seasonal veggies. Activities for all ages include a corn maze, arts and crafts, and a barnyard educational exhibit. The farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended evening hours until 9 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October. Note: Weekend reservations require a parking pass.
The heritage oak and sycamore groves in Irvine Regional Park deliver a healthy dose of autumn to Orange County each year. Views of the foliage can be enjoyed strolling or riding bikes along paved paths, or from a rented paddle boat on the pond. For the best views, take the moderate Toyon Trail to Stairway Lookout. Beyond leaf-peeping, entertain yourself at the Irvine Park Railroad’s seasonal pumpkin patch, take a hay ride or pan for gold.
By Barbara Shields
“It’s the first day of school today.” Those words invariably elicited cheerful platitudes from my mother: “You’ll make new friends … learn new things … you’ll see.” Really?
Nothing could alleviate my white-knuckle terror at the thought of BACK TO SCHOOL. How could the contents of my worn leather school bag — a No. 2 Ticonderoga pencil, a notebook and a pencil case — protect me from dodgeball, exams and mean girls? Not even my grandmother roasting chestnuts in the oven and slipping them inside my mittens to warm my hands in the winter gave me hope.
Today, accessorizing is essential for those first weeks. My fourth-grade granddaughter’s unicorn backpack features a coterie of amulets, a side pocket for a water bottle and academic necessities like a Taylor Swift pencil set, glitter pens, sticky notes and a Squishmallow key chain.
Having stored my summer soundtrack in the car’s glove compartment, I think that going back to school this September — in the metaphorical sense — can broaden my horizons and reinforce my allegorical backpack. Armed with skills like cursive writing, telling time without a digital device and composing complete sentences without abbreviations, I’m throwing caution to the wind, and embarking on a new curriculum: fitness, pastoral care, architecture and art.
Since time’s winged chariot is drawing near, my shelf life and well-being are priorities. Thanks to a great pal’s encouragement, I’m applying for a local senior center membership, and signing up for yoga, Pilates and strength/balancing. These “workout” sessions come with a chair to safeguard each participant’s aging edifice. Coffee’s on the house.
I’ve always wanted to perform a wedding ceremony. You know — marrying your best friend to her third husband when no one else is up for the job.
Scrolling through the internet, I discovered that a flock of celebs have secured certifications in the ministry department. Eager to enhance my practical knowledge, I selected an authentic “heavenly” organization to fulfill my needs. Once I complete the necessary information — a simple name/email address form — I can be “ordained” online within minutes. I just have to hand over a modest fee, which entitles me to a clergy badge, an embossed scroll and a video demonstrating church-approved procedures for officiating at weddings, funerals and house blessings. Hallelujah!
I am besotted with architecture and structures as disparate as the Eiffel Tower and the Brooklyn Bridge. And who doesn’t love a nice gargoyle? Mandatory skills for this exalted profession demand mathematics, bursting with complex theorems, equations and schematics. I think that means a lot of technical prowess and straight lines. My Erector set started the process for me — then trigonometry put it out of its misery. You can’t transform your sketches and blueprints into a functional building without calculus in your toolbox. Thus, I have chosen to focus on architecture’s aesthetics, rather than clashing with my old high school nemesis. I just ordered a copy of “One Thousand New York Buildings” by Bill Harris. The photographs look great. Math not included.
My determination to immerse myself in the intricacies of art was prompted by a recent exhibit at the Met in New York. Surrounded by a vast circular rendering of Monet’s garden at Giverny, I wanted to dip my toes in the water and splash barefoot through the lily ponds. This semester, at a local gallery, I plan to study the history of Paris juxtaposed with the emergence of Impressionism, and imagine myself walking those streets in the late 1800s — hanging out at the Moulin Rouge with Toulouse Lautre or joining Manet at a corner booth in the Folies Bergère.
But enough about me. What’s in your backpack?
CdM 2 (Post Office) Jon Setter
Archival Canson 310 GSM Photographique Paper 26” x 32.25” in
The Corona del Mar post office serves 12,478 residences and receives approximately 19,916 packages annually. Its small size makes it a local place for all CdM residents to ship packages, take passport photos, and more.
This photograph was captured at the local post office (406 Orchid Ave), a building familiar to residents across the Flower streets and beyond.
Kennedy Contemporary 2043 Westcliff Dr., Ste. 102, Newport Beach, CA 92660 https://kennedycontemporary.com/