Orange County News

03/11/2021

Katrina Foley has been elected District 2 Orange County supervisor.

Foley, a Democrat and the mayor of Costa Mesa, garnered about 44 percent of the vote, outpacing Republican John Moorlach (about 31 percent).

"I’m so humbled by the support we received tonight and grateful for the confidence voters have placed in me," Foley tweeted. "The challenges we face are serious, but I know that they are no match for the strength and resiliency of Orange County’s residents. I can’t wait to get to work."

A new Democrat on the board seat, which was vacated when former supervisor Michelle Steel was elected to Congress in November, 2020, means Democrats have two seats on the five-seat body. A Republican win would have given conservatives a super-majority.

Moorlach, a former supervisor and two-term state senator, conceded the election on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

Although 100 percent of the votes have been counted, they still need to be recounted and certified by the County Clerk.

In all, 95,907 ballots were cast. About 90,000 of those were done by mail. Voter turnout was 24.3 percent, according to the Registrar of Voters.

District 2 encompasses Stanton and several other cities in the county.

For full results, visit www.ocvote.com.

01/29/2021

Four Garden Grove Unified School District students were recognized for their winning entries in the Orange County Health Care Agency Mask Message Contest.

More than 600 students from Orange County participated in the contest, which tasked students with creating mask designs, writing essays, and developing videos to promote the importance of mask wearing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Patton Elementary School’s Faith Hipolito, Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) student Jayden Ham, and Bolsa Grande High School’s Eric Chau each placed in their respective categories and earned their school a technology grant.

“We are proud that our students used their voice for such an important topic like wearing a mask to protect the community from COVID-19,” said Board of Education President Lan Nguyen. “Their creativity is truly inspiring as we applaud them for this exciting countywide recognition.”

Garden Grove Unified School District serves Westminster as well as Garden Grove.

Faith Hipolito won first place in the elementary school mask design contest. Her design will be used to create masks that will be given to every student and staff member at her school. Patton Elementary School will also receive a $7,000 technology grant.

Bolsa Grande’s Eric Chau’s essay titled “Masks for Life (if no one else does)” was recognized as a second place winner in the high school essay category and earned a $6,000 technology grant for the school.

Jayden Ham, a student of the GGUSD Virtual Learning Academy, won third place in the intermediate school video contest and his school will receive a $5,000 technology grant.

Daisy Alvarez from GGUSD’s 7-12 Virtual Learning Academy earned honorable mention for the video she submitted.

Hipolito and Ham are shown below.

01/28/2021

Patrick Catlin, president of the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association announced earlier this week that the 2021 Garden Grove Strawberry Festival will be postponed for this year.

Catlin issued a statement earlier this week:

“In the interest of public safety, due to the ongoing worldwide pandemic created by the Coronavirus COVID-19, it is with great regret that the board of the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association has made a decision to postpone this year’s 2021 Garden Grove Strawberry Festival, which was slated to take place in Garden Grove on Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-31, 2021. We are living in unprecedented times right now, and as a result of the continuing pandemic, our board has made the difficult decision to postpone both the 2020 Festival and the 2021 Festival. This has never happened before in the history of the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival, which began back in 1958. As an organization, we must remain mindful of the Strawberry Festival’s financial solvency, so we are fiscally able to present our annual event, loved by many and for the enjoyment of all.

“Our highest priority now is to protect the health and wellbeing of our board members, city staff, police and fire personnel, volunteers, vendors and the hundreds of thousands of dedicated Festival-goers who turn out annually to support our event.

“Looking ahead with optimism, once the vaccine for the coronavirus has been widely distributed to the general public, and it’s safe to return to large, in-person gatherings, the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association plans to move forward with the Festival, slated for Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-30, 2022.

“Since the mission of the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association is to give back to the community which we serve, this spring, the association will continue to donate $2,000 to Miss Garden Grove, and eight $1,000 scholarships to deserving seniors attending the eight high schools in the Garden Grove Unified School District, who are pursuing further education at colleges and universities. Scholarship winners will be announced at that time.

“However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the GGSFA will be unable to award funding, as we have in the past, to deserving non-profit organizations, applying for capital improvements who serve residents of Garden Grove, until our Festival is up an running again at full capacity, which we anticipate, will be in May of 2022.

“In the meantime, we are hopeful we might be able to offer our Festival followers some type on online engagement via our website, https://strawberryfestival.org/ and social media pages during the month of May. Please continue to monitor our website for updates and additional information.”

Additionally, the Sister City Association of Garden Grove has announced its 7th annual Strawberry Stomp 5K, originally scheduled for Saturday, May 29, 2021, will be postponed until Saturday, May 28, 2022. The Sister City Association of Garden Grove is a local non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the knowledge and understanding between the people of Garden Grove and Anyang, South Korea. For updates about the race, please visit www.ggsistercity.org

62nd Annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival, May 28-31, 2021 Free Admission! Hours: Fri. (1pm to 10pm), Sat. and Sun. (10am to 10pm), Mon. (10am to 9pm) Breaking News:

01/18/2021

Garden Grove resident Loretta Woolley celebrated her 85th birthday by, among other activities, dancing with a flash mob dance group.

For full story, pick up your OCN on Wednesday.

01/12/2021

KaiLani Alvarez was one of the first babies born in Orange County on New Year's Day.

Parents Cristian, left, and Criseyda are shown taking of care of the little one.

Here's the story coming out in the OCN tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 13).

By Brady Rhoades
KaiLani Alvarez is one of the first babies born in Orange County this year.

She waited fewer than three hours after the New Year was initially toasted to bring smiles to the faces of her parents, Cristian and Criseyda Alvarez.

Official time of birth: 2:56 a.m., Jan. 1, 2021.

Length: 19.5 inches. Weight: 6 pounds, 4 ounces.

High school graduating class: 2039.

“This little ray of light is what we all need now,” said Jennifer Bayer, communications manager for Tenet Health, which owns hospitals in Orange and Los Angeles counties. “Each and every miracle of birth fills us with hope and reminds us of the opportunities before us. Congratulations to all of our new parents and little blessings this New Year!”

KaiLani was born at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center, one of Tenet's three OC hospitals.

An estimated 370,000 babies were born around the world on New Year's Day, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). About 12,000 of those were born in the United States. The first baby born in California is Baby Liam, who made his entrance a minute into 2021 at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, according to Fox 11.

About two weeks after her birthday, KaiLani is doing well, hospital officials say. Her parents are fine, too.

The name KaiLani, believed to be of Hawaiian origin, means “sea and sky” — where new days rise...

01/11/2021

Patrick “Pat” Catlin has been named president of the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association (GGSFA) for the 2021 calendar year.

Pat Catlin said, “With the addition of my son, Billy Catlin, joining me as my associate in the year ahead, and my mother, Sue Catlin, in charge of the VIP Breakfast, three generations of the Catlin family will be working on the 2021 Strawberry Festival concurrently. My late father, Bill Catlin, also served as a volunteer for the Strawberry Festival for over 20 years. It is a great honor and privilege to serve as the president of this wonderful organization.”

Pat Catlin also oversees tents and electrical for the festival.

Other 2021 GGSFA officers elected include: Andrea Perez, President Elect/Community Services with Taylor Perez serving as Associate; George Skelton, Treasurer/Donations Committee with Suki Carter serving as Associate; and Christine Ball, Secretary/Insurance, who served as Immediate Past President 2020.

2021 GGSFA directors will include:
•Dr. Dawn Miller, Special Children’s Day with Heidi Levesque as associate
•Laura Neuschafer, Cake Cutting with Malu Mendoza as associate
•Fred Ramirez, Office/Installation with Frederico Ramirez as associate
•Debbie Mahoney, Scholarships, with Sheri Larson as associate
•Sue Catlin, VIP Breakfast, with Patti Catlin as Associate
•Camille Garrett, VIP Lunch with Rachelle Mendonis as associate
•Ben Santos, Environmental (Grounds/Sanitation); John Miller as associate
•Bobby Dalton, Parade, with Tommy Donovan as associate
•Bill Gutaskus, Rentals/Carts/ATMs with Sue Gutaskus as associate
•Jeff Sanders, Hospitality, with associate TBD
•Randy Arbgast, Booths and Vendors, with Edi Arbgast as associate
•Mark Mahoney, Games/Permits/Carnival/Food; Associate Miles Mahoney
•Josh Lindsay, Stage Events, with Angel Zaragoza as associate
•Steve Sanders, Rides and Grounds with associate TBD
•Scott Weimer, Parking/Fencing with Marilyn Tortolano as associate
•Donald Schlensker, Civic Food Booths/Permits, Lon Cahill as associate

In addition, Janet Pelayo serves as the Festival’s City Liaison with the Garden Grove Community Services Department; Lisa Taylor serves as the Festival’s Insurance Representative; David Sarell of Pageantry Parades serves as Parade Producer and Steve Moyer Public Relations serves as Festival Publicist.

Said Catlin: “Our 62nd annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival will be held on Memorial Day Weekend, Friday through Sunday, May 28–31. The theme for this year’s Strawberry Festival will be announced soon. Last year's Festival was cancelled because of safety concerns related to COVID-19. As a result, the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association was not able to generate the profits that it typically raises. Therefore, in 2021 we will unfortunately not be able to provide all of the donations we have customarily awarded during ordinary times.”

“In 2021, the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association will continue to donate $2,000 to Miss Garden Grove, and eight $1,000 scholarships to deserving seniors attending the eight high schools in the Garden Grove Unified School District who are pursuing further education at colleges and universities,” Catlin added. “However, in 2021, the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association will be unable to award funding, as we have in the past, to deserving non-profit organizations, applying for capital improvements who serve residents of Garden Grove… Giving back to our community is the primary mission of the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association, however, we are living in unprecedented times, and need to adapt accordingly, for the Strawberry Festival to stay financially solvent in the years that lie ahead. Once the pandemic passes and we can safely resume the Strawberry Festival, as we have for the past 61 years, we will be able to resume funding to qualifying local non-profit organizations serving the Garden Grove community. With vaccines for the COVID-19 virus currently being distributed and given to health-care workers and those most vulnerable, we anticipate that we will resume the 62nd Annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival during Memorial Day weekend, 2021, in a safe, creative way, which may be different from the usual Festivals presented in the past. Exactly what form our 2021 Strawberry Festival will take is currently being discussed among the Strawberry Festival’s directors. It is our goal to present a fun and safe event, which will be in compliance with The City of Garden Grove’s regulations and the health guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additional information will be announced soon.”

The Garden Grove Strawberry Festival is an annual 501(c)(3) non-profit FREE event produced by the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association, a dedicated volunteer group, which has raised more than $7 million for various charities since its inception in 1958. Under ordinary circumstances, which the world isn’t experiencing presently, due to the global health pandemic, the Festival’s mission and goal is to give back to the community serving Garden Grove citizens by donating to non-profit organizations which provide services for children, seniors, youth, the community, and which support the arts.

To learn more and for updates, visit https://strawberryfestival.org/.

01/08/2021

Marco Alcaraz, a CNA at Garden Park Care Center in Garden Grove (at right, in photo), is driving a new car after winning one of the raffles put on by Sun Mar Healthcare at several of its Southern California facilities.

The raffles were held to show appreciation, during a historically difficult year, for the company’s 4,000 frontline healthcare employees.

For more local news, pick up your OCN on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Photo by Loreen Berlin

01/05/2021

Mary Ann. Also known as Dawn Wells. Gone too soon.

Here's the story coming out tomorrow, in print and online...

'Always a smile on her face'
TV star thrilled thousands as Strawberry Festival celebrity guest in 2019
By Brady Rhoades
I interviewed Dawn Wells two years ago, and she was as happy and down-to-Earth as her character, Mary Ann, on "Gilligan's Island."
In my youth, she'd played the girl next door. The girl you could bring home to your mother. The girl I and millions of others had crushes on during the "Gilligan's Island" run in 1964-67, which, for some reason, I blurted out.
"Ohhh," she said. "You're so sweet."
She'd said that to thousands of boys, and men. It didn't bother her a bit. She handled it with grace. She handled her fame the same way.
After talking with her for a few minutes, I realized she was more interested in how today's girls were handling themselves, because Dawn Wells — just like Mary Ann — was an old-fashioned gal with old-fashioned values, and she worried that those values were being lost.
It's in one of her two books, titled, "What Would Mary Ann Do?: A Guide to Life."
She was easy-talking, grateful and conservative. Unlike many of the "Gilligan's Island" cast, she did not try to hide from the character that made her a household name. Even though she was a talented dancer and actor who could and did play many different roles, she embraced Mary Ann. She was very proud that Mary Ann — pretty and sexy in a 1950s way — had been a positive role model for young women. She was genuinely excited about being named grand marshal of the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival.
"I think it's just great," she said. "I can't wait to meet everybody and ride in the parade and sign autographs and have some shortcake."
One thing I recall about our interview is that she remembered my name, and used it throughout our conversation. That's telling.
Wells died of complications from COVID-19 on Dec. 30, 2020.
The lone surviving member of the Gilligan's Island cast, Tina Louise (Ginger), tweeted, "I will always remember Dawn's kindness to me. We shared in creating a cultural landmark that has continued to bring comfort and smiles to people during this difficult time. I hope that people will remember her the way that I do — always with a smile on her face."
Years ago, in the forward to Wells' 2014 book, the late co-star Russell Johnson (the Professor) wrote: "We love Mary Ann because she is the future, the hope of our world. The youngest of the castaways, Mary Ann has her entire life in front of her. Watching her unfailing good cheer, her optimism is never in question. We love her because we need her emotional support and her belief that all will turn out well … We love Mary Ann because of Dawn Wells."
Gilligan's Island is still running, 54 years after the last episode aired. In that way, Gilligan (Bob Denver); the Skipper (Alan Hale Jr.); millionaire Thurston Howell III (Jim Backus) and his wife, Lovey (Natalie Schafer); the Professor (Johnson); and Tina Louise, now 86, live on.
That day two years ago at Garden Grove's biggest annual event, Dawn Wells, I'm pretty sure, heard the name "Mary Ann" many, many more times than she heard her actual name. One after another, Baby Boomers such as myself confessed to their boyhood crushes, their favorite episodes (and outfits), and she handled it effortlessly.
RIP Dawn Wells.
Long live the girl you bring home to your mother, the girl who remembers your name.

01/04/2021

, famous as in , was full of cheer, grace and old-fashioned values.

Editor Brady Rhoades recalls his interview with her in 2019 after she was named celebrity grand marshal of the .

See Wednesday's OCN for column.

Black and white: courtesy photo.
Other photos by Dave Smithson.

12/24/2020

Santa Claus visited the Stanton Boys & Girls Club earlier this week as part of the annual Santa's Siren program.

Children were given gifts and goodies.

12/17/2020

OC hospitals prepping to receive vaccines.

Los Alamitos Medical Center will receive a portion of the approximately 25,000 COVID-19 vaccines OK’d for Orange County. “As of today, there are no definitive dates for the release of the vaccines to hospitals,” said Jennifer Bayer, communications manager for the Medical Center. “However, we...

12/15/2020

council members John O’Neill and Stephanie Klopfenstein, as well as Mayor Steve Jones, were sworn into office recently at .

The three incumbents were re-elected in November.

O'Neill and Klopfenstein are shown here.

12/10/2020

From left, Stanton City Councilwoman Carol Warren, Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva and Councilwoman Hong Alyce Van at a swearing-in ceremony earlier this week at Stanton City Hall.

Warren and Van took their oaths after being elected in November.

12/04/2020

The Bond Fire in the Silverado Canyon area of Orange County has burned about 6,500 acres and forced 25,000 residents to evacuate. Two firefighters have been injured.

Here is a view of the fire from Skylark School, at 11250 MacMurray St. in Garden Grove.

Photo by Dave Smithson

11/05/2020

Election officials are still counting and verifying mail-in ballots in some races.

Following are the latest, unofficial results for Stanton, Garden Grove and other elections. Revisit this page for more updates, or visit www.ocvote.com.

Stanton City Council
District 2
Hong Alyce Van, 52.2%
DeWayne Normand, 47.8%

District 4
Carol Warren, 51.2%
Jeff Jones, 32.3%
Josh Estrada, 16.4%

Garden Grove City Council
District 2
John O’Neill, 54.8%
Julie Diep, 45.2%

District 5
Stephanie Klopfendsten, 70.6%
Robert Tucker, 29.4%

District 6
Kim Nguyen, 75%
Huan Nguyen, 25%

OC Supervisor
District 1
Andrew Do (R), 52.77%
Sergio Contreras (D), 47.23%

State Assembly
65th District
Sharon Quirk-Silva (D), 57.9%
Cynthia Thacker (R), 42.1%

State Assembly
72nd District
Janet Nguyen (R), 53.76%
Diedre Nguyen (D), 46.24%

U.S. Representative
39th District
Young Kim (R), 52.3%
Gil Cisneros (D), 47.67%

U.S. Representative
46th District
Lou Correa (D), 68.32%
Jame S. Waters (R), 31.68%

U.S. Representative
47th District
Alan Lowenthal (D), 52.17%
John Briscoe (R), 47.83%

U.S. Representative
48th District
Michelle Steel (R), 50.42 percent
Harley Rouda (D), 49.58%

Orange County Registrar of Voters Ballot Return Options In Person Voting Options All Voting Options Voting in Orange County Elections have changed! Orange County elections are being run differently than before now with Vote Centers. A Vote Center is more than a traditional polling place-it's a full-...

11/04/2020

At press time, election officials were still counting mail-in ballots.
About 70 percent of total ballots had been counted.

For more updates on local races, revisit this page; for updates on all races, visit www.ocvote.com.

Following are partial and unofficial results.

Garden Grove Mayor
Steve Jones, 62.7%
Phat Bui, 35.5%
Trung Ta, 19.97%

GG City Council
District 2
John O'Neill, 54.8%
Julie Diep, 45.24%

District 5
Stephanie Klopfenstein, 70.5%
Robert Tucker, 29.5%

District 6
Kim Nguyen, 75.2%
Huan Nguyen, 24.8%

OC Supervisor
District 1
Andrew Do (R), 52.17%
Sergio Contreras (D), 47.29%

State Assembly
65th District
Sharon Quirk-Silva (D), 57.99%
Cynthia Thacker (R), 42.01%

72nd District
Janet Nguyen (R), 53.64%
Diedre Nguyen (D), 46.36%

U.S. Representative
39th District
Young Kim (R), 57.32%
Gil Cisneros (D), 47.68%

46th District
Lou Correa (D), 68.32%
Jame S. Waters (R), 31.68%

47th District
Alan Lowenthal (D), 52.31%
John Briscoe (R), 47.69%

48th District
Michelle Steel (R), 50.29
Harley Rouda (D), 49.71%

Photos by Loreen Berlin (various Orange County voting centers)

10/06/2020

Sr. Airman Jason Phan was honored during a funeral service at St. Columban Catholic Church in Garden Grove.

Phan, 26, was killed Sept. 12 while serving in Kuwait. He was involved in a single-vehicle accident while conducting a routine patrol outside the perimeter of Ali Al Salem Air Base.

“He was an exceptionally noble servant to the nation and his fellow Airmen," said Maj. Shane Watts, with the 66th Security Forces Squadron. “It was his genuine enthusiasm and selfless devotion to others that defined the depth of his character and he was an inspiration to his peers and leaders."

For full story, pick up your OCN on Wednesday.

Photos by Loreen Berlin

09/28/2020

The Make A Wish Foundation of Orange County made a dream come true last Friday in connection with the weekly "Friday Night Car Show" on Historic Main Street in Garden Grove.

Cody Garling, 21, has been fighting leukemia since 2016.

His wish? Getting his 1967 Chevy C10 painted from gray to strato blue, changing the interior from black to white and upgrading his stereo.

Niiiice.

See Loreen Berlin's photos below.