SEC: Community_Broadsheet DT: 12-12-2013
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Yorba Linda
Star
Serving Yorba Linda since 1917
AN EDITION OF
THURSDAY, DEC. 1 2, 20 1 3
SPECIAL TREE REMEMBERS
The Richard Nixon Foundation annually sells the official White House Christmas ornament. This year’s ornament honors Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president.
SPECIAL
PEOPLE
COURTESY OF NIXON FOUNDATION
EUGENE GARCIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Gold stars honoring fallen service members from throughout Southern California hang as ornaments at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum’s Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication. The ornaments honor those who served in the military dating to the Vietnam War.
F
amily members wiped away tears as Wayne Scott, a retired Air Force colonel, read the names of 32 fallen military service members and a woman from Rancho Santa Margarita who died on a hijacked plane during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Spouses, parents, siblings and children stepped up to place ornaments with the names of the lost loved ones on a Christmas tree at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum. The Richard Nixon Foundation dedicated its annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree on Sunday to honor the sacrifices of fall-
OCREGISTER.COM/YORBALINDA
Firm seeks tax credits to build affordable housing BY DANIEL LANGHORNE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A Christmas tree at the Nixon library holds 33 ornaments honoring fallen from the region.
BY DANIEL LANGHORNE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
09:48 CLR: C K Y M
TRAINS, TREES AND TRADITIONS The Richard Nixon Foundation once again is displaying its special holiday exhibit, “Trains, Trees and Traditions” at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum. The Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree is included in this exhibit, which will be on display through Jan. 5. Former President Richard Nixon was a fan of trains since childhood, and the six model train displays are a tribute to that passion. Among the displayed mod-
els: ● A Louis Marx and Co. railroad town of skyscrapers, tunnels and figurine people ● An American Flyer model train powered by red, glowing steam ● Tinplate model trains from the early 1 900s ● A display from a Lionel model train dealer from the 1 950s ● A Thomas the Tank Engine and friends display on the fictional Island of Sodor
● A display featuring a disappearing train by Lionel As a salute to former first lady Pat Nixon’s love of Christmas, the foundation also has displayed 25 Christmas trees with different themes: ● Decade trees decorated with memorabilia and ornaments from each decade of Richard Nixon’s life ● Trees reflecting the traditions of all the countries Nixon visited
A nonprofit affordablehousing builder must secure $32.1 million in corporate tax credits from the federal government so it can build the two phases of its development in Savi Ranch. National Community Renaissance of California plans to apply for $17.7 million in tax credits for the city-approved first phase of 59 units at the former site of a Mitsubishi car dealership at Oakcrest Circle and Eastpark Drive, said John Seymour, vice president of acquisitions for the group. It will file its application in March and know whether it gets the tax credits in May. Private companies that help the nonprofit group develop the affordable housing can get the tax credits. The second phase, on the other side of Oakcrest Circle, would include 54 units, but those have not yet been approved by the city. Both developments would be exclusively for low- and very-low income housing. Measure H, a ballot measure approved in 2012, allowed both of the sites to be rezoned for 30 units an acre. National Community Renaissance contributed about $53,700 to a politicalaction committee that supported the measure. “What I’ve grown to see in Yorba Linda is the reason people supported Measure H. … (Our project) is in the right location for very-low income and it’s of high quality,” Seymour said. Seymour emphasized that his group’s plan does not involve building these sites at the maximum-allowable density. C O N TA C T T H E W R I T E R :
7 1 4-704-3704 or
S E E T R E E ● PA G E 4
dlanghorne@ocregister.com
Impact report cites traffic for Esperanza Hills BY DANIEL LANGHORNE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
An environmental-impact report recently released on the Esperanza Hills housing development echoes a report for the adjacent Cielo Vista project – both state that the intersection at Via Del Agua and Yorba Linda Boulevard will be adversely affected by increased traffic from the proposed homes. The county is asking for the public’s input on this finding and others in the re-
port on Esperanza Hills by Feb. 3. That deadline is seen as a burden by Hills For Everyone, a Brea nonprofit group that seeks to keep in check development near Chino Hills State Park, said Executive Director Claire Schlotterbeck. The nonprofit group’s attorneys are going through the hundreds of pages in the reports for Esperanza Hills and Cielo Vista and will submit their comments by the deadline, she said.
However, for neighbors just trying to understand what the development of Esperanza Hills means for them, it is can be a busy time of year to read the entire document. To get the public engaged in the review process of Cielo Vista, the builders will hold a forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at Travis Ranch School. Residents who want to comment on the Esperanza Hills environmental-impact report can send their re-
marks in writing to Kevin Canning at OC Public Works, 300 N. Flower St. Santa Ana, CA 92702, or email kevin.canning@ ocpw.ocgov.com. Comments can be made on Cielo Vista’s environmental-impact report to Ron Tippets at the same address by Jan. 7. His email address is ron.tippets@ ocpw.ocgov.com. FILE PHOTO: KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
C O N TA C T T H E W R I T E R :
7 1 4-704-3704 or dlanghorne@ocregister.com
County officials are asking for public input on the Esperanza Hills development impact report by Feb. 3, 20 1 4.
Nothing she needs, but everything she wants. 1215 E. Imperial Highway | Placentia, CA 92870 | 714-579-1616 | www.jewelerstouch.com
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YORBA LINDA STAR
CLR: C K Y M
THURSDAY, DEC. 1 2, 20 1 3
TREE: Ornaments will be on display at Nixon library till Jan. 5 F R O M PA G E 1
en from Southern California dating to the Vietnam War. When Scott and his wife, Cindy, a docent for The Richard Nixon Foundation, started organizing the Hometown Heroes ceremony four years ago, it was exclusively held for Gold Star families – recognized by the military for losing a family member in service. At that time, it also was largely just for those who had a family member from Orange County killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. That changed. Now the ornaments honor those from San Diego, Port Hueneme and other places, too. It is no longer just for those who died in Iraq or Afghanistan, either. Family members of men who died in the Vietnam War approached Wayne Scott about wanting to have them included. Some told Scott their loved ones had not received sufficient recognition for their sacrifice in the 40 years since their deaths. “We said, ‘We’re going to take care of that,’ ” Scott said. Those interested in having someone represented on the tree can call The Richard Nixon Foundation. Further, to ensure no one was left out of this year’s ceremony at the Nixon library, Scott asked veterans of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Iraq, Afghanistan and those still serving to stand for an ovation. About 200 people attended what has become an annual ceremony. Lynn Branch of Mission Viejo said it meant a lot to have the Nixon Foundation honor her brother Robert Query, who died while fighting in the Army in Vietnam. She appreciated the gesture to broaden the event. “I don’t think that there should be any boundaries or limits to recognizing someone who makes the ultimate sacrifice,” Branch said. Debi Win’E attended on behalf of her son Trevor, who died while serving in the Army. She returned to the Nixon library for the event this year in part because she enjoys talking with the families. She otherwise wouldn’t get to see them all. “It’s a celebration,” she said. “It’s a good way for me to stay en-
Those remembered Spc. Edward J. Acosta, Army Lance Cpl. John M. Armendariz, Marines Sgt. Joshua Ryan Ashley, Marines Pfc. Joel K. Brattain, Army Chief Warrant Officer Cornell C. Chao, Army Spc. Jason K. Chappell, Army Sgt. Maj. Robert J. Cottle, Marines 2nd Lt. Mark J. Daily, Army Lance Cpl. Gregory Chalmers Davis, Marines Capt. Matthew C. Ferrara, Army Sgt. Cody R. Legg, Army Spc. Vincent Alexander Madero, Army Sgt. Michael J. Martinez, Army Spc. Paul T. Nakamura, Army Cpl. Michael J. Palacio, Marines Spc. Ronnie J. Pallares, Army Cpl. Claudio Patiño IV, Marines Pfc. Robert Peter Query, Army Lance Cpl. Rogelio A. Ramirez, Marines Lance Cpl. Robert John Reilly III, Marines Staff Sgt. Keith F. Rudd, Army Sgt. Clinton Keith Ruiz, Army Lance Cpl. Abraham Simpson, Marines Sgt. Jonathan J. Simpson, Marines Pfc. Shane M. Stinson, Army Maj. Charles R. Soltes Jr., Army Staff Sgt. Robert Thomas Jr., Army Chief Petty Officer Patrick L. Wade, Navy Staff Sgt. Allan K. Walker, Marines Sgt. Eric E. Williams, Army Spc. Trevor A. Win’E, Army Pfc. Rene A. Zimmerle, Army Lisa Anne Frost, United Airlines Flight 1 75 Source: Richard Nixon Foundation
couraged and just up about the holidays.” The Hometown Heroes tree, adorned with star-shaped ornaments, will be on display in the Nixon library’s lobby until Jan. 5. It’s Scott’s hope that a moment to pause and remember what the families have lost will bring some comfort to them during the holidays. “Obviously, the loss of a loved one never goes away,” he said. “I think that the holidays make the pain and the grief a little more pronounced.” PHOTOS: EUGENE GARCIA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
C O N TA C T T H E W R I T E R :
7 1 4-704-3704 or dlanghorne@ocregister.com
Family members embrace after placing an ornament on the Christmas tree at the Nixon library Sunday.
Claudia Patiño, right, sister of fallen Marine Claudio Patiño IV, gets a hug after placing an ornament in his honor on the Christmas tree at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda.
The color guard opens the ceremony at the Nixon library’s Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication. Families of fallen veterans were presented with customized ornaments to hang on the tree.
Christmas Eve Services Tuesday, December 24 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM & 8:00 PM Free cookie social after each service! Messiah – The Family Place to Worship! Year-round programs and activities for family members of all ages. Modern, licensed pre-school on campus.
4861 Liverpool Street, Yorba Linda
(714) 528-0920 www.messiahyl.com MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH LOVE GOD • LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Look for our cross along Yorba Linda Blvd., one block west of Valley View.