These 53 photos are our OC photographers’ favorites from January 2022

Winning the best large group costume in the Surf City Splash costume contest on Saturday, January 1, 2022, in Huntington Beach, are friends from left: Peggy Basarab of Fountain Valley, Lynn Belcher, of Fountain Valley, Lynda Einstein, of Irvine, Louise Vandertuuk of Fountain Valley, and Kitty Vrba, of Lakewood. The Surf City Splash, a New Year’s Day tradition at the Huntington Beach Pier, where people jump into the ocean to kick off the New Year, was cancelled due to a sewage spill which created unsafe and unhealthy water conditions, on Saturday, January 1, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
With palm trees on the beach as a backdrop, ice skaters make their way around the rink at the Surf City Winter Wonderland at Pier Plaza in Huntington Beach on a warm and sunny New Year’s Day on Saturday, January 1, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People wait in an outdoor triage area at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Orange, CA, on Monday, January 3, 2022. The hospital put up the tent in 2020. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People fill out job applications at the U.S. post office in Garden Grove, CA on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. The post office is holding job fairs as part of “Delivering for America”, a 10-year plan started in 2020 by the USPS to improve operations, provide better service and improve delivery times. They are investing $40 billion over ten years in personnel and infrastructure. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Workers build the Supercross track on the field at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA, on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. Thirty pieces of heavy equipment, like dozers, loaders, skid steers, forklifts, excavators & man lifts are used to move 500 truckloads of dirt to build build the 2,500 foot track. The 5,500 cubic yards of dirt are equivalent to 77,000 wheelbarrow loads and wight 26,000,000 pounds. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
An electric bike rider passes a runner as she cruises along the boardwalk at Huntington State Beach in Huntington Beach on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. Along with the growing trend of e-bikes comes concerns of safety, rules of the road and trips to hospitals for its riders. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
With the winter sun low in the sky and a view of the Pacific Ocean, a skateboarder cruises along the Huntington Beach Bike Trail on the bluff above the beach in Huntington Beach on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Writer Joe Donnelly, wearing his long sleeve shirt and beanie he wears to keep warm, stands outside the backyard garage where does his writing at his in Orange on Thursday, January 6, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dashiell and Hamish Vart wipe out as they use a sled to slide down a sand berm near the pier in San Clemente, CA on Friday, January 7, 2022. The berms add a layer of protection from rising sea levels and storm surge. Earlier in the day U.S. Representative Mike Levin held a press conference to address potential funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for the San Clemente Shoreline Protection Project, The project would replenish sand along portions of the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
It appears some historic veterans are curious about the cellphone Sally Nockold holds while she attends a gathering for WWII veterans at Heroes Hall Museum on Saturday, January 8, 2022,(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ligia and Jorge Cardenas of Anaheim Hills have their photo taken in the Amazing Moments Photo Booth while operator Darlene Solis, right, looks on as people gather for Dia de los Reyes and to meet Los Reyes Magos, the Three Kings, at the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at the the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Saturday, January 8, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
WWII veteran Mike Panos, 93, signs a frame around “Stand Together,” a three-dimensional piece of industrial art created with 4,300 screws on Saturday, January 8, 2022 in Costa Mesa’s Heroes Hall Museum.,(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Playful piglets romp around their pen at OC Fair and Event Center Centennial Farm on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Eleven babies were born on Christmas Eve. The farm is free and open to the public. Hours are 1 p.m.– 4 p.m. weekdays, and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. weekends (closed on holidays & all grounds events) according to their website. Masks are required for unvaccinated guests. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A turkey vulture soars soars at Yorba Regional Park in Yorba Linda, CA on Monday, January 10, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Hundreds of family, friends, firefigthers and others participate in a candlelight vigil for Los Angeles County firefighter Jonathan Flagler at Ole Hanson Beach Club in San Clemente on Monday, January 10, 2022. Flagler, 47, a resident of San Clemente and a married father of two boys, aged 15 and 13, died while battling a house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Surfers take advantage of high surf in Seal Beach, CA, on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Diners eat outside at Taco Surf on Main Street in Seal Beach, CA, on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. The city is looking at ways to make the temporary eating areas permanent. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Visitors to Pier Plaza walk across the shadows of palm trees in Huntington Beach, CA, on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Justin Faison (15) of Servite, lifts teammate Cristian Uriostegui (14) after Uriostegui scored a goal against JSerra during a Trinity League boys soccer game at Servite High School in Anaheim on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Servite won the game 4-0. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Isabel Valenzuela gives a thumbs up in Heidi Mejias’ second grade class at Robert M. Pyles STEM Academy in Stanton, CA on Thursday, January 13, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Visitors climb on the new Huntington Central Park West Playground in Huntington Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 13, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Surfing pioneer and two-time world surfing champion, Joyce Hoffman, 75, stands with her surf board at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point on Friday, January 14, 2022, where she has surfed for decades. Hoffman will be getting a bronze statue at the end of January at Watermen’s Plaza in Dana Point. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Neftali Hidalgo, a co-worker of Mike Lemestre, helps raise an American flag outside funeral services for Lemestre at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos, CA on Friday, January 14, 2022. Lemestre, a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power senior cable splicer, died after coming into contact with an energized circuit in an underground vault while working as part of a cable splicing crew at Terminal Island. Two LADWP boom trucks raised an American flag at the entrance to the church. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A vendor demonstrates a dancing dragon during the annual Asian Garden Mall Flower Festival in Westminster, CA, on Friday, January 14, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A couple walks in the rain along the beach in Newport Beach early Saturday morning, January 15, 2022, after a tsunami advisory was issued for Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast following an undersea volcano eruption near the Pacific nation of Tonga on Saturday. No unusual sightings or damages were reported in Southern California, and no evacuations had been ordered. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Pelicans sail over a surfer in Huntington Beach on Saturday, January 15, 2022 where a tsunami advisory was in place. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Two men, seen from Corona del Mar State Beach, walk along the west jetty near the Wedge at sunset in Newport Beach on Monday, January 17, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The full moon sets over Tower Zero at the pier in Huntington Beach, CA on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. January’s full moon is know as the Wolf Moon. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A surfer heads to the water near the pier in Huntington Beach, CA on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. Winter storms have made for interesting cloud formations. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A surfer leaves the water near the pier in Huntington Beach, CA on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. Winter storms have caused a variety of conditions along the coast. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Retiring Los Alamitos Chief of Police Eric Nuñez, center, reacts as he is cheered by fellow officers, family, city employees and others as he walks through a Walk of Honor outside the Los Alamitos City Council Chambers in Los Alamitos on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 to celebrate his retirement after more than 30 years in law enforcement. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Brothers Jeff Morris, left, and Ben Morris, take a selfie with Mickey and Minnie during Lunar New Year in California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, January 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of the Santa Ana Police Department and other city empolyees rush to grab a pop up shade canopy that high winds blew across the intersection of Willits and Sullivan Streets in Santa Ana, coming to rest against a vehicle traveling eastbound on Willits Street on Saturday, January 22, 2022. The pop up was one of many being used for the Willits & Sullivan Beautification Project celebration and sculpture unveiling event. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lincoln Elementary Assistant Principal Deanne Katayama, left, and Principal Edna Velado, right, have their photo taken with artist Larry Gonzalez Rivas, center, in front of his sculture, Coyotl-Coyote, a 14-foot sculpture following its unveiling at the intersection of Willits and Sullivan Streets in Santa Ana on Saturday, January 22, 2022. The sculpture, located across the street from the school, is the first to be commissioned by the city’s Arts & Culture Office. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The former aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk sits off the coast of Long Beach, CA, on the way from Bremerton, WA, to a Texas ship-breaking company on Monday, January 24, 2022. The ship., decommissioned in 2009, was the Navy’s oil-fired aircraft carrier. It’s being towed around the tip of South America because it is too big to get through the Panama Canal. Kitty Hawk served for 48 years including six tours in Vietnam and was the first carrier to be awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, according to the Navy. It spent the last decade of its service life forward-deployed to Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jacob Hayward, 7, reacts as he walks out of his house and sees a big mail truck in front of his home in Laguna Niguel, CA, on Monday, January 24, 2022. Jacob Hayward is recovering from kidney cancer and lung tumors. He expressed his love of the post office to his mailman, Van Singletary, who arranged a tour of the post office in December. Today, the USPS surprised him with an electric mail truck, a postal cachet and a uniform. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jacob Hayward, 7, reacts as he drives an electric mail truck next to his letter carrier, Van Singletary, in front of his home in Laguna Niguel, CA, on Monday, January 24, 2022. Hayward is recovering from kidney cancer and lung tumors. He expressed his love of the post office to his mailman, Van Singletary, who arranged a tour of the post office in December. Today, the USPS surprised him with an electric mail truck, a postal cachet and a uniform. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Emily Sanchez (1) of San Clemente goes over the back of teammate Addie Brislen (15) for the block in a game against San Juan Hills during a South Coast League girls soccer game at San Clemente High School in San Clemente on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Two-year-old Felicie Preciado takes her new room for a spin while parents, Sergio and Cinthia and sister Vivienne, 12, watch on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. The family’s name was selected in a lottery to qualify for affordable housing in Irvine’s new Sage Park community. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Juan Rodriguez (16) of Saddleback heads the ball against Kevin Pena (10) and Damian Hernandez (23) of Santa Ana during an Orange Coast League boys soccer game at Saddleback High School in Santa Ana on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Andrew Martinez (11) reacts with Damian Hernandez (23) of Santa Ana after Martinez scored a goal against Saddleback during an Orange Coast League boys soccer game at Saddleback High School in Santa Ana on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cayden Harris rides a wave to shore after swimming a lap around the Huntington Beach Pier during lifeguard tryouts on Saturday, January 29, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Chrysti Polito of Huntington Beach wears her Girl Scout cookie shirt as Girl Scout troop leaders and volunteers pick up some of the 650,000 packages of cookies at the parking lot at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, January 29, 2022. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Janet Hancock, left, of Girl Scout Troop Service Unit 404, poses for a photo in the back of a rental truck, with some of the 750 cases of cookies for five Girl Scout troops in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa in the parking lot at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, January 29, 2022. Troop leaders and volunteers picked up some of the 650,000 packages of cookies during the all day event in Anaheim. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Seven-year-old Carlos Belleza gets the children’s Pfizer vaccine from Araceli Ayala-Garcia, LVN at the Boys & Girls Club of Huntington Valley on Saturday, January 29, 2022. His dad, Manuel Balleza was on hand to give support.(Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Chae Campbell, right, of UCLA celebrates after her vault vault during the Bruin’s first home meet of the year against Arizona in Pauley Pavilion at UCLA in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 30, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
UCLA women’s gymnastics coach Chris Waller congratulates Emma Malabuyo after her performance on the balance beam during the Bruin’s first home meet of the year against Arizona in Pauley Pavilion at UCLA in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 30, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jordan Chiles of UCLA, left, encourages Norah Flatley before her perfomace on the balance beam during the Bruin’s first home meet of the year against Arizona in Pauley Pavilion at UCLA in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 30, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rams fan Conner Goen of Orange County reacts after his team scores a second-half touchdown during the NFC Championship game against San Francisco. Fans packed Legends Sports Bar in Belmont Shore on Sunday, January 30, 2022 to watch the game on a big screen. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ground is broken for the City of Hope in Anaheim on Monday, January 31, 2022. The comprehensive homeless care community will feature a 325-bed emergency shelter, 72 permanent apartments with onsite medical, dental and pet care, and a 175-bed drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. From left: Mayor Harry Sidhu, Susan Samueli, her daughter Erin Samueli and her husband Henry Samueli, whose foundation donated $1 million, and Congressman Lou Correa. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
U.S. Army veteran Alex Seling is all smiles as his friend, Cecylia Mares, splash him with water from the Pacific Ocean after ending his coast-to-coast walk at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, CA, on Monday, January 31, 2022. Seling left Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware on Dec. 21, 2020, hiking more than 4,000 miles to raise awareness and funds to prevent veteran suicide. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Huntington Beach, CA – January 31: The setting sun breaks through the cloud cover as the lights from an off shore oil platform light up off the coast in Huntington Beach on Monday, January 31, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – JANUARY 31: People gather along the trail above Dog Beach to watch the sunset in Huntington Beach on Monday, January 31, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

We asked our photographers to choose their favorite images from January 2022, and here are some of the amazing images they selected.

The year started with a sewage spill that canceled the annual The Surf City Splash, a New Year’s Day tradition at the Huntington Beach Pier, but that didn’t dampen the spirit of beach-goers who donned costumes and got their feet wet. All while skaters were getting their last rides around the ice at an outdoor rink.

In Anaheim, Supercross was back as workers used 500 truckloads of dirt to build a 2,500-foot track inside Angel Stadium.

The weather was perfect most of the month, not too cold, not too hot, but we did get a tsunami warning that had the coastal cities on alert. While it did no damage in OC, central California did see some flooding.

On land donated by the Irvine Company, low-income families who won a lottery got to see their new homes. Among them was Sergio and Cinthia Preciado. They stepped inside their new four-bedroom Portola Springs home, the feeling of watching their two daughters, ages 12 and 2, relish the space was almost indescribable. But the words Sergio Preciado finally conjured were simply: “It was just utter joy.”.

Down in Dana Point, surfing pioneer and two-time world surfing champion, Joyce Hoffman, 75, got a bronze statue – said to be the only life-size statue of a woman surfer – at Watermen’s Plaza.

Not far from her statue, a hero of a different sort, a U.S. Army combat medic finished his coast-to-coast walk at Doheny State Beach. Alex Seling left Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware on Dec. 21, 2020, hiking more than 4,000 miles to raise awareness and funds to prevent veteran suicide. He stepped in the Pacific Ocean on Janaury 31, 2022.

And, bringing us into the next month is the L.A. Rams big win in the NFC Championships. The Rams defeated the San Francisco 49ers to earn a spot in the Super Bowl on February 13.

Enjoy the pictures and follow The Orange County Register on Facebook and Instagram. Here are our staff photographers’ individual pages: Paul Bersebach, Jeff Gritchen, Leonard Ortiz, Mark Rightmire, and Mindy Schauer.

Stay safe and stay healthy!