Riding into 90: Former Fullerton School District superintendent takes victory lap on lawn mower

Former Fullerton School District Superintendent Duncan Johnson, who led the district for 15 years before retiring in 1995, returned to a district campus before the end of school, but not for a meeting or a ceremony. This time, he was there to fulfill a birthday dream.

As Johnson’s 90th birthday approached, his daughter, Juliet Gardner, contacted the district with an unusual but heartfelt request.

“I don’t know if there is anyone still around who worked with him,” she wrote in an email. “Dad turns 90 next month. He is not asking for a big party, but our family wants to do something special for him. … He has always wanted a rider mower; he covets one. But since we don’t have the need for one, his dream has never come true. So I was thinking, maybe he could have a chance to use a rider mower. Maybe at Pacific Drive or Hermosa Drive some afternoon or weekend?”

With help from the district’s Director of Facilities, Maintenance and Operations Eddie Carbjal and team, Johnson’s dream was brought to life.

When Johnson arrived on site near the district’s maintenance yard, on a grassy area next to Pacific Drive Elementary, he was surprised by his family and school district staff with the news that his birthday wish was coming true. He was given the choice between a modest John Deere 1575 mower and a larger John Deere 5090E tractor.

Johnson selected the lighter, more agile option, and, with a wide grin, he confidently mowed two rows of grass, impressing staff with his natural skill. It was all thumbs-up and smiles at the end, with a grateful Johnson and family.

Johnson, who turned 90 on April 29, moved to Fullerton with his wife, Carolyn, in 1962. He began his educational career teaching English at Buena Park High School, eventually moving to an assistant principal job at Troy High School.

His leadership journey continued as principal of Nicolas Junior High and, finally, as superintendent of the Fullerton School District, where he served with distinction until his retirement.

– Submitted by Fullerton School District

Santa Ana elementary school receives garden center upgrades

Dozens of volunteers from The Home Depot Foundation and 365 Connect came together to upgrade the garden centers at Greenville Fundamental School in Santa Ana.

The joint volunteer force cleaned and planted fresh flowers in the school’s six gardens and constructed a new garden center with raised beds to cultivate large fruits and vegetables.

The upgrades will enhance learning opportunities and help instruct students in year-round garden care. The gardens help students learn about responsibility, teamwork and the plant sciences through hands-on experiences.

All students take an active role in maintaining the garden centers, with responsibilities shared among different classes throughout the school.

– Submitted by The Home Depot Foundation and 365 Connect

Orange County students inspire a greener future

Orange County elementary school students are looking into the future, and it’s looking green.

The Orange County Power Authority, a not-for-profit community clean energy provider, announced the winners of its “Picturing a Better Tomorrow” art contest, intended to inspire a brighter, greener future.

The contest encouraged K-6 students from across the organization’s member cities – Buena Park, Fullerton, Irvine and Fountain Valley – to share their vision of a sustainable future through original artwork.

The following are the winning artists.

Adrita Pal, a second-grade student from Springbrook Elementary in Irvine, created her work, “Preservation,” with color pencils. In her artist description she wrote, “To preserve our environment we should keep it clean, plant more trees. We can use windmills for generating electricity. It will help to keep our atmosphere clean.”

Josiah Kim, a third-grade student from Charles E. Emery School in Fullerton, submitted “Underwater Hospital,” created with pencil, colored pencils and watercolor paint. He wrote, “This is me, helping the animals in the ocean. We need to take care of the sea animals because it is our duty to preserve the ocean life.”

Chloe Hayi Kim, a fifth-grade student from Laguna Road Elementary in Buena Park, created “Brightening Tomorrow” with color pencils and watercolor paint. She wrote, “My art shows the sun shining and beaming on the Earth to make a cleaner and greener tomorrow. Using solar energy helps us improve our environment by producing clean, renewable power from the sun.”

To see the students’ pieces, visit OCPA’s blog at ocpower.org/newsroom.

– Submitted by Orange County Power Authority

OC Theatre Guild Awards celebrate vibrant theatre scene

The Orange County theater community gathered recently to celebrate excellence in live performance at the fourth annual OC Theatre Guild Awards. The awards ceremony took place in the Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, where the house was packed with artists, designers, technicians and supporters from across the county.

This year, the guild recognized outstanding work across 21 categories, including four gender-neutral acting categories, with two recipients honored in each by design.

A rare tie in Direction of a Play led to both Katie Chidester (“Tiny Beautiful Things,” Chance Theater, Anaheim) and Michael Martinez Hamilton (“The (Expletive) With the Hat,” The Wayward Artist, Santa Ana) receiving the award.

In total, 26 awards were presented throughout the evening.

“The (Expletive) With the Hat,” from The Wayward Artist, earned the most honors of the night, taking home six awards, including Outstanding Production of a Play. Close behind was “Jane Austen’s Emma, The Musical,” from Chance Theater, which received five awards, including Outstanding Production of a Musical.

Leading the night in recognition was Chance Theater, earning 11 awards for “Jane Austen’s Emma, The Musical,” “Tiny Beautiful Things,” “Sweeney Todd, The Musical,” “Gloria” and “Alma.”

The Wayward Artist followed with seven wins.

Curtis Theatre in Brea took home three awards for the production of “Once,” while Costa Mesa Playhouse, Alchemy Theatre Company, STAGEStheatre, Yorba Linda Spotlight Players and JStage Irvine were also recognized.

State superintendent  announces 2025 classified school employees

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond honored nine outstanding classified school employees for their dedication to California’s public school students. Three of the honorees are from Orange County.

The annual Classified School Employees of the Year program honors outstanding classified school employees in the following categories: Clerical and Administrative Services, Custodial and Maintenance Services, Food and Nutrition Services, Health and Student Services, Paraprofessional Services, Security Services, Skilled Trades Services, Technical Services, and Transportation Services.

This year’s recipients were chosen from 135 nominations statewide.

The Orange County 2025 Classified School Employees of the Year are:

Custodial and Maintenance Services: Kurtland Lucas, Head Custodian; Crosby Elementary, Garden Grove Unified School District. Lucas has worked for the Garden Grove Unified School District for 45 years, and seven of those years have been at Crosby Elementary.

As head custodian, Lucas consistently goes above and beyond to ensure district facilities are maintained to the highest standards, creating a clean and welcoming environment for staff and students.

He arrives at work an hour before his scheduled shift begins to ensure school facilities are ready for the day. His early start ensures that Crosby Elementary is spotless and everything is in place, allowing for a smooth start to the day for everyone.

Lucas takes great pride in his work, particularly in maintaining the cafeteria floors to a pristine

He has additionally been nominated to be recognized as Recognizing Inspiring Schools Award (RISE) recipients.

Food and Nutrition Services: Melissa Erman, Nutrition Operations Supervisor, Food and Nutrition Services Department; Huntington Beach Union High School District (seven years of service in current position).

Since becoming the operations supervisor Erman has been adamant about participating and being involved with school nutrition associations to keep up with ever-changing trends, policies and other operators whom she leans on for answers and support.

Over the past few years, Erman has not only attended state and national conferences, but also has been involved in training sessions in which she educated other nutrition services operators on some of the best practices at the district, allowing others to potentially use the shared knowledge to better their districts.

Skilled Trades Services: Gina Matz, Painter; Fullerton School District (18 years of service in current position)

While visiting school sites as a painter, Matz is very cautious and attentive to student safety as she navigates campuses. Matz also brings a smile and positive attitude everywhere she goes. Students are excited to see her, and she serves as a role model for them.

In an industry dominated by men, Matz will outwork, outhustle and outlast all her colleagues, serving as an example to not only female students but all students.

– Submitted by California Department of Education

The Bravo! section highlights achievements of our residents and groups. Send news of achievements for consideration to ocrbravo@gmail.com.

A woman was struck by an SUV and killed in Huntington Beach on Saturday evening, and the driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, police said.

The collision occurred at 6 p.m. July 12 near the intersection of Brookhurst Street and Crailet Drive, Huntington Beach police spokesman Corbin Carson said.

A white Toyota RAV4 was traveling northbound on Brookhurst when it struck the woman in an area south of the intersection, police said. She was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The driver of the RAV4, a 62-year-old man from Costa Mesa, was uninjured and cooperated with police.

He was later arrested and officers said “impairment does appear to be a factor.”

Anyone with information about the crash was asked contact Traffic Investigator C. Houlston at 714-536-5559.

The Orange County Transportation Authority will host a meeting in San Clemente on Tuesday, July 15, to discuss efforts to protect the regional rail line through the beach town for the next three decades.

OCTA’s Coastal Rail Resiliency Study is evaluating strategies to keep trains running along seven miles of vulnerable track that trace the coastline between Dana Point and the San Diego County line and Tuesday’s event is seeking public input.

The study is distinct from ongoing emergency work at areas the agency determined needed immediate reinforcement because of threats to the rail line from coastal erosion and sliding of privately owned hillsides above the tracks.

Already, 5,900 tons of rip rap rocks have been put down along the tracks on the north end of town as part of that $300 million effort.

A 1,400-foot long catchment wall is planned in coming months where the Mariposa bridge was destroyed to hold back debris from the hillside and in the same area on the north end of the coastal town an estimated 240,000 cubic yards of sand will be added, though a source and price tag for sand has yet to be determined.

Plans to bring even more rock boulders to line the tracks, an engineered revetment and another big shot of sand are also planned for the southern end of town, but the California Coastal Commission deemed that portion of the project not an emergency, so it must go through regular permitting processes.

“Repeated weather-related closures in San Clemente since 2021 underscore the need for both immediate fixes and forward-looking solutions,” OCTA officials said announcing the public meeting for the longer-term resiliency study.

The feedback from the meetings will help shape draft alternatives and a final feasibility report expected in 2026, agency officials said.

A separate effort led by the state will look at solutions beyond the next 30 years, including potentially moving the rail line inland in south Orange County.

Suzie Whitelaw, founder of Save Our Beaches San Clemente, was glad to hear the two-year study was back on track, after emergency work needs slowed progress.

The citizen advocacy group has been championing sand replenishment over the use of rock revetments in OCTA’s plans to provide a buffer between the ocean and the tracks.

“We are hoping to see some revised alternatives that protect both the tracks and the beach,” she wrote in an e-mail update.

Whitelaw also noted that a new CoastSnap citizen science program station will be unveiled in an event at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 18, at the San Clemente Pier as part of an ongoing effort to study and understand beach erosion along the coast.

Pier walkers can stop and take photos at the location to help track how the coastline is changing through time as storms, tides and sand replenishment affect the beach.

The installation consists of a cradle to hold a cell phone in a specific position, and signage with a QR code for uploading the photographs to the database. Scientists at UC Santa Barbara will be using this data for long-term, large-scale monitoring and research of the coast.

The installation was made possible by a grant from the San Clemente Woman’s Club, with efforts from Save Our Beaches SC and the city’s Public Works Department.

A similar CoastSnap station was installed in Dana Point at Strands Beach last year.

Whitelaw will also be part of the San Onofre Park Foundation Speaker Series, presenting “Re-Sanding the Future” at 6:30 p.m. on July 16. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at EventBrite.com.

Also, the deadline is nearing for comments on the city’s draft Nature-Based Adaptation Project Feasibility Study. They are due by July 13.

The draft report explores several ideas for the San Clemente coastline, including adding breakwaters and offshore structures off North Beach, Capistrano Shores and the south end of San Clemente State Beach.

The OCTA public meeting will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, at City Hall, 910 Calle Negocio, with a virtual meeting covering the same topic from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on July 29. Fine more information at octa.net.

Hoag is joining regional providers that have stepped in to offer more health services in San Clemente since the city’s community hospital closed almost a decade ago.

On Monday, July 14, a new 20,000-square-foot Hoag Health Center will open, giving deep South Orange County residents access to more specialty doctors, state-of-the-art technology and a one-of-a-kind “health lab” offering healthy living solutions from pilates to nutrition.

The facility includes an urgent care, primary care doctors and services for obstetrics, gynecology, orthopedics, radiology and sports medicine.

A community event Saturday, July 12, offered locals an opportunity to tour the facility and learn more about the services offered ahead of Monday’s opening. The center is Hoag’s 13th facility outside the hospital campuses in Newport Beach and Irvine.

The health center will help fill a void in the beach city and surrounding communities, along with other new facilities. MemorialCare Health System is building a walkable senior community with access to healthcare, including an urgent care facility, on the 6-acre property once home to the city’s hospital. Providence Health has also seen the wisdom of putting medical services in San Clemente and opened up a facility near the Shops of San Clemente that includes is a primary care clinic with urgent care.

Hoag President and CEO Robert Braithwaite described the county’s southernmost communities as a “health care desert,” adding that the region can also benefit from more specialized and targeted services in one place.

“There are about a million people south of the El Toro Y (in Lake Forest), there are certain geographic areas that do not have a lot of healthcare close to home and work,” Braithwaite said. “There’s also an opportunity to deliver a different type of health care in all of South Orange County, which fueled the decision to move Hoag services into South Orange County.”

“Most healthcare systems are defined by the sick care they provide,” he added. “So, Hoag made a commitment in 2018 where we really wanted to emphasize and integrate wellness services into the health portfolio. San Clemente is the perfect community; they love being active and are very mindful of their wellness. It’s the perfect place to drop in that integrated healthcare with all the wellness initiatives.”

“One of the biggest challenges,” Braithwaite said, per input from doctors and patients, is once a patient walks out with a diagnosis, they’re in a whole new world, often unguided.

“The health center bridges that moment which happens on every single doctor’s visit, whether you’re expecting or you have a single chronic disease,” he said. “The team that is in there, with the facility designed around it, will bridge that gap and get people on that wellness journey. Whether activating it from teaching, getting them to participate, helping them understand wearables and how to use those. The whole idea is to get them in, get them involved, let them learn under guidance. Physicians are right there too, and we found it’s just a far better engagement.”

Marcy Brown, senior vice president and COO at Hoag, said walking into the new center on Avenida Pico “doesn’t feel like a typical hospital health clinic.” The layout has an open and airy feel, with plenty of natural light and clean architectural lines. The entrance lobby aims for a spa-like ambiance.

Among the highlights and free to the community is the new Hoag Health Lab, which includes an exercise physiologist, dietitian, nutrition experts and a pilates instructor. The lab will offer those outside the health provider’s network a taste of Hoag’s services and care.

With the opening of the center, new physicians are joining the Hoag network and some who are already in the health system at other facilities will now work in San Clemente.

“We have physicians coming from the top academic medical health systems across the nation,” Brown said. “Because they can continue to do the research that they were able to do, launch clinical trials, and have fellowship programs here at Hoag. It’s very unique for a community hospital to have those aspects of health care.”

Ahead of the opening, Hoag offered a tour to city officials, including San Clemente Mayor Steve Knoblock.

“They have installed the latest and most up-to-date technology and skill sets at their new Pico facility,” he said. “We’re delighted they expanded their longstanding expertise in our community.”

Ready for even higher homeowner insurance rates and gas prices to fill up your SUV?

In an interview with the Bay Area News Group,  former California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones called for insurance companies to “bring lawsuits to recover money associated with the oil and gas companies’ contributions to climate change.”

This was his idea for how Californians can deal with soaring home insurance prices.

Jones blamed insurers for not bringing the lawsuits themselves.  “[T]hey can and should bring lawsuits to recover money associated with the oil and gas companies’ contributions to climate change,” he said.  “Why are they not bringing these lawsuits? I suspect it’s because they have over half a trillion dollars invested in the oil and gas industry.”

As an aside, one obvious explanation is that suing companies they invest in would reduce the insurers’ net worth, bringing shareholder lawsuits.

To prompt such lawsuits against Big Oil, Jones said the state should “pass laws” to make the insurers sue oil and gas companies to reclaim money lost from claims supposedly caused by climate change.

Setting aside the challenge of parsing how guilty oil companies are for natural catastrophes, Jones doesn’t stop to consider that any such costs would be passed along to consumers. Think gas prices are high now? Wait until energy producers are blamed for everything.

Jones also insisted the state pass laws “to require that insurers transition their investments out of oil and gas.”

But if oil companies turn out to be more profitable than other investments, the insurance companies’ value would drop.

To make up for that loss, they would have to increase premiums on homeowners.

No matter how Jones tries to spin things, his solutions are half baked and costly.

The real crisis in homeowners’ insurance costs in California is not whatever is happening with the climate.

In January, when the Pacific Palisades and Eaton wildfires boosted home insurance premiums, Ryan Bourne and Sophia Bagley pointed out the actual problem with California’s insurance system.

Rate regulations, imposed by Proposition 103 in 1988, “led to rules preventing companies from recalibrating prices to fully reflect what they believed were higher future wildfire risks after 2017.”

Cato also noted the California Department of Insurance imposed price caps on policies, keeping them cheap, thus artificially encouraging building in fire-prone areas. It’s a classic case of unintended consequences at work.

“Market prices thus serve as signals, telling homeowners, policymakers, and developers about the true costs of building and living in wildfire-prone areas, “By capping insurance rates below what market conditions demanded, California muted these warning signals for some homeowners, forcing companies to price below expected cost and making consumers feel safer than they were.”

Between 2017 and 2022, the first two years of which Jones was commissioner, the department was the most draconian of the 50 states in imposing “rate suppression.”  In other words, Jones himself helped spark the home insurance crisis by tampering with prices.

Then consider the litany of other government failures in preventing and responding to natural disasters like wildfires, including abysmal state investment in prevention.

It’s a lot easier to scapegoat Big Oil, we’re sure, but Dave Jones is quite obviously the wrong person to be listening to.  His vision is one of perpetually ineffective insurance markets and even more expensive energy.  That’s precisely the wrong approach for California.