Category: Orange County Community

Grand Opening Marks Milestone for Newport Beach Animal Shelter

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif—The new Newport Beach Animal Shelter opened May 26 after six years of fundraising and $2.5 million raised for its construction. The shelter replaces the city’s old animal shelter, and sits adjacent to the old facility. Private funding for the shelter was facilitated by the non-profit Friends of Newport Beach Animal Shelter, then…


San Clemente’s Casa Romantica Reopens After Recent Landslide

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.—As construction crews moved dirt and rocks with heavy equipment at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, a short line of people formed before the establishment’s May 26 reopening after being closed for repairs since April 27, when a section of the property’s ocean view patio area collapsed from a landslide. “We are…


Irvine Ranked 4th in Nation’s Best Access to Parks

IRVINE, Calif.—Irvine again topped all California cities—and cracked the top five nationally—in a report rating municipalities’ investments to ensure public access to parks. Irvine ranked fourth in the nation in the annual ParkScore report compiled by the Trust for Public Land, with researchers noting that 94 percent of Irvine residents live within a 10-minute walk…


Fun Things to Do in Orange County This Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day Military Flyover Come listen to former military personnel recount their stories of heroism followed by a dove release, live music, a memorial military flyover, free hotdogs, and more in Santa Ana this Memorial Day weekend. Fairhaven Memorial Park and Mortuary at 1702 Fairhaven Ave., Santa Ana. May 29, 10:30 a.m. Free. For more…


Why We Need Local Fiscal News Coverage

Commentary I am fully aware that probably some 8 out of 10 people do not appreciate media pieces that are heavily focused on numbers. When I practiced as a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner, I realized that most people need professional assistance for many of their fiscal decisions. Watching personal finances is critical….


Irvine Breaks Ground on $1 Billion Great Park Project

Irvine officials held a groundbreaking ceremony May 23 for several new amenities at the Great Park which will cost nearly $1 billion. The changes include the construction of a 14,000-seat amphitheater, a public aquatics facility that will also be used by USA Water Polo’s Olympic teams, botanic and veterans memorial gardens, museums, more open space,…


Nixon Library Honors Vietnam War POWs With New Exhibit and Air Force Fly Over

YORBA LINDA, Calif.—Along several blocks of Yorba Linda Boulevard, hundreds of people gathered May 23 waving American flags as Vietnam War veterans drove past them in classic sports cars and large touring buses traveling towards the Nixon Library to celebrate its latest exhibit: “CAPTURED, Shot Down in Vietnam.” “This event for our Vietnam vets is…


Orange County Nonprofit Granted $1.4 Million to Remove Lead Toxins in Low-Income Homes for Free

The Orange County Health Department announced earlier this month $1.4 million has been granted to the agency from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to remove toxic lead paint in homes of low-income residents, according to a May 11 press release. The funding has been awarded to a local nonprofit—Azure Community Development—which will…


12-Year-Old Boy Breaks Record as Youngest Fullerton College Graduate to Earn 5 Degrees

Clovis Hung, 12, broke a record—by becoming the youngest graduate from Fullerton College to earn five degrees. He joined about 900 other graduates in the Class of 2023 commencement ceremony on May 20. “I feel proud of myself. Hard work has finally paid off,” Hung said in a statement released by Fullerton College, the oldest…


Restoring a Sound Public Education

Commentary What can be done to turn around the troubling trend of a public education downturn over the last several years? We can brainstorm some solutions as we wrap up another school semester and peer ahead to the next academic year. First, the federal Dept. of Education ought to minimize its influence on local education,…