• 

  A Loara color guard participant is a blur of colors at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  A trumpeter keeps on eye on the drum major at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  A color guard member is lifted by other members at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  A color guard member waves her flags at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  Saxophone players at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  Fans held up signs for their favorite bands at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  Kennedy High bands show included the plant from Little Shop of Horrors and even featured a band member being eaten at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  Euphoniums create a graphic pattern at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  Cypress High band members create a pattern at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  A family member records the show on her cell phone at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  A student conductor leads their band at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  Kennedy High band members keep time atThe Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  Trumpets strike a pose at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  Magnolia High band members start their show at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  Sycamore Junior High tuba player, Alfredo Ruvalcaba participates in the all-star ensemble from all the junior highs in the district at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  Kylee Cardona catches a flag during warmups for the Savana High color guard at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  Savana High junior, Jesslyn Sanchez awaits the beginning of her band’s show at The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  Cypress marching band readies their show at Glover Stadium. The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

• 

  The Anaheim Union High School District Band & Pageantry Spectacular was held at Glover Stadium on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. Eight high school marching bands participated with an all-star junior high ensemble as well participated. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

Anaheim junior high and high school marching bands put on a spectacular for their families and the community Wednesday night.

It is the time of year when many Orange County school districts hold band pageants as the fall competition and parade season wraps up.

For Anaheim Union High School District bands, it is an annual tradition that is 60 years old.

Wednesday night, the All-District Junior High Band got things started before each high school took a turn performing their competitive field show during the more than two-hour pageant at Glover Stadium.

The night ended with more than 250 students selected from the district’s schools forming a mass band to play the finale.

The community dinner will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day at the Honda Center in Anaheim, 2695 E. Katella Ave.  Free parking, too.

For more information and to help with donations, visit wegivethanksinc.org.

Celebrating community and culture

The Anaheim Public Library has so many things happening.

Today, Nov. 9, at 3:30 p.m. at East Anaheim Branch there will be “California Native Legend Storytime & Craft” and at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 15, the movie “Windtalkers” will be screened for the community at the at Euclid Branch Library.

At 1 p.m. on Nov. 19, the library will be hosting “The Art of Hoop Dance” at the Central Library branch.

For more information call 714-765-1880.

Festival of Trees planned

Altrusa International of Anaheim is presenting its annual Festival of Trees on Nov. 11.

The 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. event will feature opportunity drawings for decorated holiday trees, homemade treats for sale, other activities and a silent auction. All donations benefit Altrusa’s community service projects.

The fundraiser will be held at the Anaheim United Methodist Church, 1000 S. State College Blvd. Tickets are $25 advance purchase and $30 at the door. Visit altrusaanaheimca.org for information and to purchase tickets.

Paint with the Ebell Club

The Ebell Club of Anaheim is presenting Wine & Painting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 25.  A professional artist will guide participants in creating their painting while enjoying wine and appetizers.

Only $35 for a fun evening and all art supplies are included.  The fundraiser will be held at the Ebell Club, 226 N. Helena St., Anaheim. Proceeds benefit fine arts scholarships for Anaheim students.

RSVP by Nov. 21 by calling 714-776-6909.

Help others this holiday season

The Orange County Family Justice Center and Foundation’s annual Adopt-a-Family program is celebrating 14 years of helping those in crisis and creating better outcomes.

Call Kristal Landry at 714-318-6810 for more information on how to get involved.

Also, the holidays bring an opportunity to help with the center’s holiday drive. Donate items to gift to those in need this holiday season, such as gift cards, diapers, tote bags and much more is needed.

Drop off at between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays at 150 W. Vermont Ave., in Anaheim.

Light up the season

There will be a holiday lights exchanged on from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 18 on the Center Street Promenade.

Trade in your strand of old holiday lights or donate to the toy drive and receive two strands of new, energy saving LED holiday lights.

Information: Anaheim.net/holidayLights.

A personal note of thanks

Many years ago, Ruth Vonderloh,  a dear friend and an Anaheim resident for many years, decided to retire from her job as a neighborhood column writer for the newspaper. She asked me to take over and convinced the editors with a glowing recommendation.

Ruth died on Oct. 30, here at her home in Anaheim. She was 97 years old. She still enjoyed sitting at her kitchen table, reading the paper every day.

She was a joy to know and a mentor. Thank you, Ruth, for everything.

Andrea Manes shares with her neighbors events and news about the Anaheim community. If you have an event to share, contact her at andreadeemanes@gmail.com or 714-815-3885.

The “Fantasmic” nighttime spectacular will return to Disneyland’s Rivers of America on May 24, according to Disneyland officials.

ALSO SEE: Has Disneyland’s Fantasmic lost its magic?

The return date falls on the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend — the unofficial kickoff of the summer season.

Disneyland crews have been working to repair the “Fantasmic” dragon since the technically impressive 45-foot-tall audio-animatronic burst into flames during a performance of the nighttime spectacular in April.

ALSO SEE: The cursed history of Disneyland’s problematic ‘Fantasmic’ dragon that burst into flames

“Fantasmic” won’t include the dragon figure when the show returns, but will instead feature new special effects during the battle scene between Sorcerer Mickey and Maleficent.

The temperamental 18,000-pound Disneyland dragon — mockingly nicknamed Murphy by fans after Murphy’s Law — had a troubled history of malfunctions and breakdowns stretching back more than a decade.

While “Fantasmic” remains on hiatus, Disneyland has replaced the nighttime spectacular with performances of the Jambalaya Jazz band floating on the Rivers of America and the “Heartbeat of New Orleans” projection show.

The “Fantasmic” cast and crew were notified of the show’s return date earlier this week, according to Disneyland officials.

Disneyland officials will share more information about the return of “Fantasmic” in the coming months.

The policy, approved by the City Council unanimously, will require top city officials’ calendars to be posted to the city’s website by the 10th day of each month, listing meetings that occurred in the previous month. The deputy and assistant city managers will be required to disclose their meetings as well.

“There’s nothing more transparent than telling everybody who we’re meeting with and who we’re talking to,” Councilmember Natalie Meeks said.

The new policy is the latest reform the council is making to promote transparency in City Hall.

City officials must list the date and time of the meeting; the names, titles and affiliations of the people they met with; and what the topic of the meeting was. Meetings with members of the public, lobbyists, developers and union representatives would be required to be disclosed.

Excluded from the policy are disclosing meetings that are with city employees only, criminal investigations and personal appointments.

The policy will go into effect in 2024. Mayor Ashleigh Aitken has been posting on the mayor’s webpage meetings requested with her. The latest post Wednesday included meetings until the end of July.

City officials’ calendars were public record already, but required people to file a records request with the city clerk.

Disney Parks & Experiences operating income increased more than 30% during the company’s fourth quarter compared to the prior year, according to a financial report released by Disney on Wednesday, Nov. 8.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland system outage disrupts ticket sales and park reservations

Disney’s fourth quarter covered most of the summer from the beginning of July through the end of September.

The Disneyland resort saw strong year-over-year growth in both revenue and operating income.

Disney’s operating income increased in the fourth quarter due to higher attendance, higher average ticket prices and increased guest spending at the Disneyland resort. Sales of the new Disney Vacation Club Villas at the Disneyland Hotel also helped boost income.

“Disneyland continues to look exceptionally strong,” Interim Disney CFO Kevin Lansberry said on a call with investment analysts. “We’re not really seeing anything in terms of an economic hangover.”

ALSO SEE: Earl of Sandwich moving again to make room for Porto’s Bakery at Downtown Disney

The Walt Disney World resort continues to experience a “lapping effect” with lower numbers following the conclusion of the 50th anniversary celebration that brought big crowds to the Florida theme parks.

Disney announced plans in September to double down on its investments in Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and other theme parks around the world to the tune of $60 billion over the next decade.

Disney CEO Bob Iger said recent investments in new theme park attractions and lands have paid strong dividends.

“Over the last five years, return on invested capital has nearly doubled in our domestic parks,” Iger said on the call.

In recent years, Disneyland and DCA have seen the addition of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, Avengers Campus and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway along with the Pixar Pier makeover.

The Disneyland and DCA attraction pipeline remains full with the Adventureland Treehouse opening this week, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure coming in late 2024, a new Marvel E-ticket ride planned for Avengers Campus and the proposed DisneylandForward project promising new theme park lands.

Disneyland visitors and annual passholders who ran into a 404 error code on Tuesday, Nov. 7 due to a system outage can once again purchase tickets and make reservations.

“During a planned infrastructure upgrade today, an outage impacted guests’ ability to purchase tickets, renew Magic Keys and make/modify/cancel theme park reservations,” according to Disneyland officials. “These temporary impacts have been resolved.”

ALSO SEE: Earl of Sandwich moving again to make room for Porto’s Bakery at Downtown Disney

An error page with the Seven Dwarfs carrying pickaxes over “We’re Working On It” encouraged visitors to try again later.

The Disney Parks reservation system experienced a nationwide outage, according to Inside the Magic.

“Guests are reporting that the park reservation system is down as they are being turned away from being able to make any form of reservation,” according to Inside the Magic.

ALSO SEE: Meet the new family moving into Disneyland’s Adventureland Treehouse

Disneylanders unable to buy tickets or make reservations voiced their frustrations on a Reddit forum.

“Been trying to buy tickets all morning,” Annakaaa7 wrote on Reddit. “Tried on different devices and browsers, but I guess it’s all just down right now.”

“It’s been horrible since yesterday,” Mrsvantiki wrote on Reddit.

The outage appeared to even impact the ability of Disneyland employees to make theme park reservations, according to Inside the Magic.

“They were having problems within the parks also,” Tresoleill wrote on Reddit.

Walt Disney Co. named Hugh Johnston as chief financial officer, bringing in an experienced consumer-products leader at a time when it’s seeking a successor to current Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger.

Johnston, 62, currently vice chairman and CFO of PepsiCo Inc., starts on Dec. 4, the company said in a statement on Monday.

With the hire, Disney gets a seasoned executive with a deep resume who has played key roles in operations and M&A, as well as finance, at one of the world’s best-known brands. Iger, Johnston’s new boss, returned to Disney a year ago after his successor was ousted and has a contract running through 2026.

Also see: Earl of Sandwich moving again to make room for Porto’s Bakery at Downtown Disney

“Hugh has had a strong track record,” Citigroup analyst Filippo Falorni said in an email. “He has strong operational experience, which could serve the Walt Disney Co. well as CFO and potentially CEO down the line.”

Disney’s former CFO, Christine McCarthy, stepped down in June, taking a medical leave of absence. She was replaced on an interim basis by Kevin Lansberry, the CFO of Disney’s theme parks division, who is returning to the role.

The Burbank-based company has been struggling with a migration of viewers away from traditional TV channels and ongoing losses in its streaming services such as Disney+.

Iger has said he’ll consider divesting traditional channels, like ABC, and is looking for a strategic investor for ESPN, the company’s sports TV business. He has also announced plans to acquire Comcast Corp.’s one-third stake in the Hulu streaming service — a deal that will cost at least $8.61 billion.

Johnston will be paid a base salary of $2 million and a bonus. He’s also getting a one-time signing bonus of $3 million and a stock award of $14 million.

“Hugh’s well-earned reputation as one of the best CFOs in America and his wealth of leadership experience in both financial and operational roles overseeing a diverse portfolio of top global brands make him a perfect addition to Disney’s senior leadership team,” Iger, 72, said in the statement.

The executive, who first joined Pepsi as a business planner in 1987, has held numerous jobs at the company, including leading its e-commerce division and its Quaker Oats business in North America.

Succession at Disney has been a fraught process. Numerous potential successors to Iger have left, and the February 2020 appointment of Bob Chapek as CEO ended after two and half years with his ouster amid acrimony among divisional executives.

The company is scheduled to report quarterly results on Nov. 8.

These shows follow the band’s reunion performances at the When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas on October 21-22. Special guest Winona Fighter will also be accompanying the band on both nights in Anaheim.

Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster’s Ticket Request Program at Ticketmaster.com. The program is designed to help fans get tickets at the original prices and limit resale activity. All tickets for these shows will be mobile only and restricted from transfer.

In 2022, Andrew McMahon, lead singer and pianist of Something Corporate, embarked on a co-headlining tour with his band Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness alongside Dashboard Confessional. After the tour, he returned home to celebrate his 40th birthday with a special show at the House of Blues Anaheim. During that show, he brought out the original members of Something Corporate, who performed a handful of songs together for the first time in nearly a decade.

Earl of Sandwich will open a temporary pop-up shop this winter in Downtown Disney’s west end, according to the official Disneyland Magic Key Instagram account.

ALSO SEE: Meet the new family moving into Disneyland’s Adventureland Treehouse

The latest Earl of Sandwich temporary pop-up shop will be located near the Star Wars Trading Post on the west end of Downtown Disney — not far from the original Earl of Sandwich location.

The new pop-up location will serve a curated menu with a limited selection of Earl of Sandwich favorites. The quick service restaurant serves a menu of hot sandwiches, salads, breakfast dishes and baked goods.

Earl of Sandwich has to move out of its current temporary pop-up shop in the former La Brea Bakery location to make way for the demolition of the building for a new Porto’s Bakery & Eatery.

Porto’s is set to begin construction in Downtown Disney on the La Brea Bakery location pending completion of the bakery’s design plans.

ALSO SEE: See Disneyland Jungle Cruise boat towed to safety — and the skipper never misses a joke

The winter time frame means the latest Earl of Sandwich pop-up shop will open sometime between Dec. 1 and the end of February. It’s possible the current east end location in the former La Brea Bakery and the new west end location near the Star Wars Trading Post may both be open simultaneously for a limited time.

More details will be announced soon about the latest temporary pop-up location for Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney, according to the Magic Key Instagram post.

Earl of Sandwich opened its current pop-up shop in February after La Brea Bakery abruptly closed in January after more than two decades of operation as one of the original businesses in Downtown Disney. An Earl of Sandwich Tavern full-service restaurant with a full bar opened next door to the temporary take-out sandwich shop.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland Indy ride goes through tires ‘pretty quickly’ during grueling 18-hour days

Disneyland worked with the Orlando, Florida-based sandwich franchise on the pop-up location at Downtown Disney as a short-term solution to temporarily satisfy fans of the beloved sandwich shop.

The original Earl of Sandwich restaurant was torn down in February 2022 along with AMC Theatre, Starbucks West and Sugarboo and Co. as part of the renovation of the west end of Downtown Disney.

A new Porto’s Bakery & Eatery will eventually be built on the footprint of the La Brea Bakery location near the esplanade between Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.

Disney officials announced during the D23 Expo in 2022 that the Cuban sweets and treats foodie-phenom was headed to Downtown Disney as part of the outdoor shopping center’s latest renovation.

The Southern California institution — which already has a Buena Park location near Knott’s Berry Farm — rocketed to foodie phenom status in 2016 when it nabbed the top spot on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S.

Tucci, 33, was born in San Bernardino and lived in Colton, according to an obituary on the Dignity Memorial website. No cause of death was given.

When Arcade Coffee Roasters, an artisanal coffee shop on Chicago Avenue, expanded into the restaurant business in 2021, Tucci created the menu for The Bakehouse in Canyon Crest Towne Centre and later Arcade Downtown on the Main Street Pedestrian Mall the following year. Earlier this year, Arcade took over the Backstreet Restaurant in Riverside’s Magnolia Center, but its partners said they planned to make minimal changes to the menu at the nearly 60-year-old sandwich shop.

“Ronnie has helped shape Arcade in a way that only he could have done. If you have had our food, you know. He hasn’t only shaped Arcade as a company, but he has had such a huge impact personally on each of us, and each person he has had the opportunity to serve,” a post on Arcade’s Instagram page reads.

“His passion for hospitality, service, and excellence has become a part of who we are, and we are so thankful to have been able to build this with him.”

Before Arcade, Tucci spent 10 years at The Ranch Restaurant & Saloon in Anaheim, departing as sous chef. As a teen, he worked for the Colton Community Services Department, where his contributions included building Halloween haunted houses.

A GoFundMe account has been set up for Tucci’s wife, Vicky, and their sons.

Co-founder Shane Levario said in a text message that Arcade Coffee Roasters will be serving Tucci’s favorite drink, Quad Cappuccino, throughout the weekend and that sales will go to the family.