The price for South Coast Collection was reported by a news division of Newport Beach-based Green Street.

The buyer was Baltimore-based Continental Realty Corp.

“South Coast Collection is the only shopping venue of its kind in an extensive, high net worth trade area,” stated Josh Dinstein, a senior vice president at CRC. “The asset’s institutional quality and strong value-add potential, plus its location in the heart of Orange County, make SoCo the perfect acquisition for our entry into the southern California marketplace.”

The 292,000-square-foot retail center sits on 20 acres not far from IKEA and the new Anduril headquarters in the previous LA Times printing plant. The shopping center is known for its high-end home furnishing brands and the dining hub known as The Mix.

Tenants at 3303-3323 Hyland Ave. include COCO Republic, Design Within Reach, Roche Bobois, Pirch and Paul Mitchell the School, Natuzzi Italia and Room & Board. Restaurants include Arc Food and Libations, Butcher’s House, Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails, Moulin, Paragon and Portola Coffee.

In 2015, the White Plains, New York-based Rockwood bought the 405 freeway-adjacent property from Burnham Ward Properties for $120 million . Joel Mayer, a managing director at Rockwood, said at the time that the firm was looking forward “to enhancing the property to create an environment that is among the preeminent lifestyle centers in Southern California.”

Burnham USA Equities, a sister company to the developer of the property, Burnham Ward Properties, was managing the center for Rockwood and also will run it for the new owner.

Eastdil Secured LLC represented Rockwood Capital in the sale.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the seller of SoCo.

More small apartments trade hands

The investor thirst for small apartment complexes continues in Orange County.

In recent weeks, a beach-adjacent building with eight apartments in Laguna Beach sold for $3.075 million or $384,375 per studio unit, according to CBRE.

The 66-year-old apartment building at 525 Catalina is a few blocks from Laguna’s Main Beach and downtown village. Built in 1957, the two-story, 3,388-square-foot complex is made up of eight studio units.

CBRE said it was the first time the property has been available for sale in “over five decades.”

To the north in Garden Grove, CBRE also sold a 10-unit property at 11821 Stuart Drive for $2.875 million or $287,500 per unit.

It was another first-time sale for the property since it was built back in 1958.

The two-story, 8,601-square-foot building completed in 1958 has a mix of three one-bedroom and seven two-bedroom units. The building comes with a community pool, on-site laundry and garage parking.

The previous owner had recently completed improvements to the property that included new paint, a new sprinkler system, updated gas lines and new garage doors.

The new owner could increase rents by 25% for “an approximate cap rate of 6.25% through a renovation plan.” said Andrew Boukather, a senior associate at CBRE.

The CBRE team represented the unidentified seller and buyer, both of whom live in Orange County.

Buchanan breaks into Northern California with storage buy

Newport Beach-based Buchanan Street Partners recently bought a self-storage facility in Auburn for $21 million.

The 116,500-square-foot facility includes 825 self-storage units and 40 RV parking spaces.

The purchase marked the fourth self-storage property Buchanan has bought in California in recent years.

“The Auburn transaction represented a unique opportunity for us to acquire a high-quality stabilized self-storage property near replacement cost and with plenty of upside potential through professional third-party property management,” said Feerooz Yacoobi, a vice president at the firm.  “I’m excited for Buchanan Street to break into the northern California market.”

On the move

Donald “Don” Kennedy is the president of the American Land Title Association for the 2023-2024 year. He is a Santa Ana local and the managing director for First American Title Insurance Co.’s Agency Division. Kennedy is a third-generation ALTA president, following his father’s, Parker S. Kennedy, presidency in 1993-1994 and his grandfather’s, Donald P. Kennedy, presidency in 1983-1984.

Newport Beach-based The Saywitz Co. has made two new hires. Ariana Bolin is the new director of support services, assisting executives as well as marketing, communications and back-office operations. Sabrina O’Brien is working in client relations, helping the company’s commercial and multifamily management operations.

Milestones

MVE + Partners, an architecture, planning, and interior firm based in Irvine, received three awards from the American Institute of Architects from both the Orange County (AIAOC) and Utah chapters for its work on three different projects.

Those projects included the Mandarin Oriental Residences in Beverly Hills (Best Multifamily Mixed-Use Development), and Silo Park and Post District Residences in Salt Lake City (Best Multifamily Mixed-Use Development and Merit Award, respectively).

The awards come as the firm approaches its 50th anniversary in 2024.

Real estate transactions, leases and new projects, industry hires, new ventures and upcoming events are compiled from press releases by contributing writer Karen Levin. Submit items and high-resolution photos via email to Business Editor Samantha Gowen at sgowen@scng.com. Please allow at least a week for publication. All items are subject to editing for clarity and length.

The attack unfolded inside Chuong Pham’s apartment.

His son discovered his father’s body on the floor of the apartment in the 9900 block of Central Avenue at around 7:30 p.m. after coming home from work. The man believed to have attacked Pham was still inside.

The son called 911 and sought the help of neighbors, who held the suspect down on the ground outside of the unit until officers got to the apartment complex.

Mario Brancato, 26, was arrested and booked on suspicion of murder, Garden Grove Sgt. Nick Jensen said.

The victim’s son did not recognize Brancato, and police believe there was no connection between Pham and his suspected attacker.

Jensen said police believe Brancato may have beaten Pham to death and that Brancato was homeless.

“There were no weapons — guns or knives — found at the scene,” Jensen said. “So, initially, it looks like an assault, but the coroner will take a look and then we’ll know more.”

A possible motive was unclear.

“Vietnam’s success is America’s success,” said Marc Knapper, who has been the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam since 2022, “just as America’s success is Vietnam’s success.”

The tour in Orange County comes weeks after the two countries strengthened their partnership, promising new investment and closer relations. Orange County is home to the largest Vietnamese American community in the U.S., and Knapper said there is an opportunity for its residents to build cooperation and understanding between the two nations, especially in high-tech industries.

Rep. Lou Correa organized the ambassador’s visit to Orange County. They made stops at religious institutions, including the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove and the Bao Quang Temple in Santa Ana, and met with business leaders throughout Little Saigon.

Faith leaders greeted the delegation Monday morning at the Our Lady of La Vang Shrine, explaining the history behind the 12-foot tall Virgin Mary statue and showing them the wall with the names of 117 Catholics who were martyred for their religious beliefs in Vietnam over several hundred years.

At the Bao Quang Temple, Knapper and Correa met with a small group of monks, with Knapper speaking in Vietnamese with the Buddhist leaders. They burned incense and then got to see the temple’s private trove of Buddhist artifacts.

Loc Bach, president and chairman of the Vietnamese American Buddhist Center for Charitable Services – Bao Quang Temple, said the ambassador’s visit shows that Knapper wants to have a good, open relationship with refugees of Vietnam.

“The people who fled their country, they want to see progress is being made and their country is moving in the right direction,” Bach said. “I’m just very thankful and happy to see the congressman and the ambassador visit the temple.”

The delegation received a big welcome at the Advanced Beauty College in Garden Grove. State Sen. Janet Nguyen said there the nail industry is largely made up of Vietnamese workers.

During a short discussion at the school, Knapper said America’s relationship with Vietnam is significant.

“We don’t always see eye-to-eye with the government of Vietnam,” and there are times when the U.S. will raise concerns with religious freedom and human rights, Knapper said.

The Little Saigon community continues to have disagreements about working with the Vietnamese government. When asked how Vietnamese Americans can contribute to the relationship between the two countries, Knapper said he can’t presume to understand the feelings at play, but he knows they are complex.

Correa in September, along with Rep. Michelle Steel and others, asked President Joe Biden when he was visiting the country to address human rights issues in Vietnam and encourage the release prisoners of conscience. Correa said it’s important for the community to push political leaders on these issues.

The last stop of the day was the Asian Garden Mall in Westminster.

Correa said the private sector is making substantial investments in Vietnam already. A lesson learned from the pandemic, he said, is that the U.S. can’t rely on single nations for sourcing critical products, and that Vietnam is part of a policy of broadening supply chains.

Brown shepherded the diocese during a period of great growth from 1998 until his retirement in 2012, including seeing its membership in the county double and making the decision to purchase the 35-acre cathedral campus in Garden Grove, which has since become the centerpiece of the diocese.

Brown died Oct. 15 at the age of 86. 

Members of the Knights of Columbus flanked Brown’s casket Monday morning as the rosary was recited in Vietnamese, English and Spanish – the three most-used languages of the diocese – and congregants began to fill the cathedral.

Brown leaves behind a brother, Daniel Brown, sister-in-law, Jeanne Brown, and nieces and nephews and other family. Brown’s family had a private moment with the casket before pallbearers carried it to the alter as the funeral ceremony began.

A procession of clergy dressed in cream robes entered the quiet cathedral to start the service, followed by clergy from across the West Coast and abroad including Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles Jose Gomez and Bishop Kevin Vann, who succeeded Brown when he retired.

“All of you here present are a witness to the ministry and the life that Bishop Brown offered to God and our local church,” Mahony said, opening the service and welcoming Brown’s family.

Rev. Msgr. Wilbur Davis, now retired and a priest in residence at Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach, delivered the homily, offering stories and memories of his friend.

While his work with the diocese is memorable, those close to Brown found he was not only a fierce leader, but also a great friend, Davis said.

“Bishop Brown gave so much of himself to us. He was an easy person to be with. He was gentle, kind, thoughtful,” he said. “He was also clear-minded, objective and strategic. He knew how to be a really good human being.”

Under Brown’s leadership, the diocese transformed to look more like the community of Catholics who worship at its many parishes, David said.

“Diocese and offices traditionally were heavily staffed by clergy, male clergy,” he said. “Which is fine, they were well chosen. But he had a mix there that was more Catholic. He had men and he had women. It was perfect.”

Brown also ordained the nation’s first Vietnamese Roman Catholic bishop in 2003 and one of the few Hispanic bishops in the United States in 2000.

Davis noted Brown’s love for travel. From his time studying in Rome through to his retirement, Brown had traveled much of the world, Davis said, adding that he would frequently tease Brown about the number of flyer miles he was accumulating.

“The seminarians and some of the priests as well loved to say that Bishop Tod never turned down a boarding pass,” David said lightheartedly.

But one country he returned to time and time again out of love for its landscape and people, David said. “He had 27 visits to Vietnam.”

Father Christopher Smith, rector emeritus of Christ Cathedral, said during a vigil Sunday for the late bishop that Brown had a confident presence that was contagious to those around him.

Brown had appointed Smith as the new cathedral’s rector in 2012.

“When Bishop Tod became a bishop, the motto he chose for his coat of arms was ‘Come Lord Jesus.’ This motto gives us an insight into his perspective in living a life in Christian faith. The invocation ‘Come Lord Jesus’ is exactly about paying attention to the present while looking with hope to the future,” Smith said. “Bishop Tod’s ministry in Orange was full of courageous, difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions. Decisions to build a safer and healthier environment in our parishes and our schools.”

Monsignor Tuan Joseph Pham, who served as Brown’s secretary and lived with him for six years, said the late bishop never raised his voice or spoke down to him. Brown was an important role model to him.

“We treated each other like brothers, like friends,” Pham said. “He was very genuine. A very kind, compassionate shepherd.”

At the time of his retirement, Brown said he hoped to be remembered “as having been a faithful shepherd, pastor, and that by means of my leadership they may have been drawn closer to the Lord.”

Brown will be temporarily laid to rest at the Cathedral Memorial Gardens on the Christ Cathedral’s grounds, but sometime next year will be moved to the St. Callistus Chapel and Crypts currently under construction beneath the cathedral. It is where all bishops will be buried in the future.

Shane Young and Dan Lewin of Young Lewin Advisors brokered the purchase, which equaled $295,833 “per bedroom.”

Also see: California reinstates ADU sales separate from primary home

The house on N. Waverly Street, not far from an elementary school and half a mile from Chapman University, recently upgraded to six bedrooms with an additional dwelling unit.

The property was sold to Nile Pacific Realty LLC in Tustin, according to property records.

Retail news: Orange getting its second Goodwill, replacing a shuttered Big Lots

Young Lewin Advisors said students who live in the home pay $9,600 monthly.

Multifamily deals in Garden Grove land $3.3 million

Pivoting west to Garden Grove, two small rental properties recently sold for a combined $3.3 million, according to CBRE.

The properties sold to separate unidentified buyers.

The first building at 10772 Palma Vista Ave. sold for $1.87 million or $233,125 per unit. The buyer of the 62-year-old building was identified as an investor from Los Angeles County; the seller was based in San Diego County.

The two-story, 4,864-square-foot building completed in 1961 has eight one-bedroom units.

CBRE said it generated multiple offers and went “non-contingent on day one.”

The investor who bought 10772 Palma Vista Avenue “was a repeat client with a track record of purchasing several assets within Orange County and Southern California,” according to Dan Blackwell at CBRE.

In the second transaction, a six-unit property — across the street from the first property — at 10761 Palma Vista Ave. sold for $1.44 million. That’s $240,000 per unit.

The two-story, 5,320-square-foot building also was completed in 1961 and has all one-bedroom units.

The seller was based in Orange County, and the buyer was a repeat client of CBRE’s from Newport Beach.

8 units in Santa Ana sell for $2.2 million

Tracking south to Santa Ana, an eight-unit apartment building sold for $2.2 million or $239,000 per unit, according to Marcus & Millichap.

Standard Avenue Apartments includes a 6,589-square-foot building at 1401 S. Standard Ave.

The complex will “provide the buyer with strong returns and value appreciation over the long-term investment horizon,” said Greg Bassirpou at Marcus & Millichap.

Von’s shopping center in Orange sold, getting an upgrade

An 80-year ground lease for Nohl Plaza in Orange sold for $25.3 million, according to Institutional Property Advisors.

The new ground interest lease owner, Regency Centers, is looking to upgrade the 103,639-square-foot Vons-anchored shopping center, IPA said.

The company bought the lease from a family trust.

“Having purchased the property in 1989, the sale of this generational asset was emotional for the sellers, but they are thrilled with the exceptional price and … the buyer,” said Tom Lagos, IPA executive director. “Regency saw an opportunity to upgrade the property, fine-tune the tenant mix and utilize its unique approach to operating grocer-anchored shopping centers to enhance the customer experience.”

The shopping center is at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Tustin St. and was built between 1966 and 1979 on 10-plus acres. The tenants include Starbucks, Del Taco, Bank of America, the Tartan Room restaurant and a Union 76 gas station.

“This sale represents a trend we’re seeing where demand for high-quality retail properties on the West Coast is sustaining strong values despite rising interest rates,” said Patrick Toomey at IPA, a division of Marcus & Millichap. “This trend, also known as a scarcity premium, will hold until supply meets demand.”

Real estate transactions, leases and new projects, industry hires, new ventures and upcoming events are compiled from press releases by contributing writer Karen Levin. Submit items and high-resolution photos via email to Business Editor Samantha Gowen at sgowen@scng.com. Please allow at least a week for publication. All items are subject to editing for clarity and length.

Enjoy them now, because most of these league rivalries are very unlikely to be around next season.

They could continue as nonleague games, but it’s more fun when a playoff berth or a league championship is at stake.

Orange County high schools agreed this past spring to reassemble its football leagues and conferences after this season. With the exception of the Trinity League teams, all of the Orange County 11-player football teams will placed into one basket. CalPreps’ ratings will be used to place teams into leagues. This is a football-only plan. League and conference memberships will be different for other sports.

If the 2023 football season was over, what would the leagues look like in 2024?

Let’s do this … but first a couple of items to know …

Again, the Trinity League is excluded. The four football teams with the top ratings by CalPreps will be in one league, then there will be 10 six-team leagues, and the bottom five teams in one league.

The league names have not been finalized, so the working titles are Orange County Football Conference A (OCFC A) and Orange County Football Conference B (OCFC B),etc. For this exercise, we’re going with “leagues.”

The previous two years of ratings will be used to place teams into leagues, weighted at 65 percent for the 2023 season and 35 percent weighted for the 2022 season.

Going into this week’s games, with rounded-off ratings totals, here are what the leagues would look like in 2024 (league members listed in alphabetical order):

League A: Edison, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, San Clemente.

League B: Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor, San Juan Hills, Tesoro, Villa Park, Yorba Linda.

League C: Capistrano Valley, Cypress, El Modena, Trabuco Hills, Tustin, Western.

League D: El Dorado, Foothill, Huntington Beach, La Habra, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills.

League E: Crean Lutheran, Dana Hills, Fountain Valley, Irvine, Northwood, Orange.

League F: Aliso Niguel, Canyon, El Toro, Santa Ana, St. Margaret’s, Troy.

League G: Brea Olinda, Esperanza, Kennedy, Segerstrom, Sonora, Sunny Hills.

League H: Beckman, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Marina, Valencia, Westminster.

League I: Buena Park, Calvary Chapel, Pacifica, Portola, University, Woodbridge.

League J: Estancia; Katella, Los Amigos, Ocean View, Rancho Alamitos, Santa Ana Valley.

League K: Anaheim, Bolsa Grande, Costa Mesa, La Quinta, Loara, Santiago.

League L: Century, Godinez Magnolia, Saddleback, Savanna.

The margins could be tight when teams are placed into football leagues for the 2024 season. Through eight games of this season, using the Calpreps ratings, Irvine’s rating is 4.79 and Aliso Niguel’s is 4.78. So if the 2023 season was over now, Irvine would be the bottom team in League E and Aliso Niguel would be the top team in League F.

NOTES

CIF-SS football playoff brackets will be released Oct. 29 at 10 a.m. The 8-man football playoff brackets will be released Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. …

Yes, Orange County has 8-man football. Sage Hill, in Newport Beach, is in the Prep League and is 4-2 overall and 0-1 in league and averages 48 points a game. Vista Meridian, in Santa Ana, plays a freelance schedule and is 1-4. …

The CIF-SS Division 1 football championship game will be played at the Coliseum on Nov. 24. The first CIF championship football game played at the Coliseum was in 1923 when Long Beach Poly defeated Glendale 15-8. The most recent CIF final at the Coliseum was in 1997 when Long Beach Poly beat Mater Dei 28-25. …

It looks like the Pacific Coast Conference schools will present a proposal at Monday’s releaguing meeting that would exclude Rosary from its group. This past spring Orange County schools included Rosary in the Pacific Coast group in the approved releaguing plan for all sports outside of football. The Freeway League, which would be broken up in the passed proposal, has indicated that it would present a proposal that would keep its membership intact. …

Holly Barker of Trabuco Hills and Evan Noonan of Dana Hills, so far, are making it easy to select the Orange County boys and girls cross country athletes of the year by winning or finishing high in just about every race they enter. Barker won last weekend’s Orange County Championships and earlier finished first in the Central Park Invitational. Noonan finished first in the Orange County Championships, the Woodbridge Classic and was third in the Clovis Invitational. …

The CIF-SS Division 1 girls volleyball playoffs started Wednesday. Mater Dei swept Palos Verdes in three sets (the first was a tough one, 27-25), Los Alamitos lost to Mira Costa in three sets and Huntington Beach swept Alemany (and another tough first set there, with the Oilers winning 28-26). Division 1 pool play resumes Tuesday with Los Alamitos at Huntington Beach. Huntington Beach beat Los Alamitos in their two Surf League matches. …

Newport Harbor’s girls flag football team had its closest win of the season Wednesday, a 14-12 victory over Edison. Newport Harbor is 21-1, with the loss to Woodbridge, which Newport Harbor defeated a couple of weeks later.

What makes souffle pancakes different from classic flapjacks is the addition of egg whites whipped to form a meringue which is then folded into the batter (hence the “souffle” name). Cooked in a pan or griddle, the souffle pancakes, which also use less flour, rise tall with an ever-so slightly crispy top and bottom and a more delicate interior.

With a new addition coming to Orange County later this year, the nationwide food trend sees no signs of slowing down. Fluffy Fluffy, the largest souffle pancake chain in North America and a division of Fuwa Fuwa Pancakes, will arrive at The District shopping center in Tustin. Look for it to open in late fall of this year.

For those of you who cannot wait, here are some of the best places in Orange County now serving the bouncy sweet treats.

Basilur (Buena Park): In addition to afternoon tea service with pastries, sandwiches and scones, this Buena park coffee and tea house that specializes in serving high-quality Ceylon tea, serves souffle pancakes that come in five flavors: plain, strawberry, blueberry yogurt, tiramisu and Earl Gray. 6920 Beach Blvd., The Source OC, K-129, Buena Park; basilurteacoffee.com

Baum Tea (Irvine): The souffle pancakes here come in varieties that range from strawberry and custard to bear-shaped and matcha topped with Lucky Charms marshmallows. While enjoying the jiggly pancakes, don’t forget to look at the library wall filled with tea cases that look like books. 13955 Yale Ave., suite A, Irvine; instagram.com/baum_tea_coffee

Burnt Crumbs (Irvine): What began as a food truck has grown into a brick-and-mortar in Irvine, helmed by chef-owner Paul Cao, a Vietnamese-American chef with fine-dining cred (he was sous chef for Michael Mina’s then-Stonehill Tavern in Dana Point). After becoming obsessed with souffle pancakes, Cao attempted roughly 1,000 pancakes before finally perfecting it and adding it to his brunch menu. Ever since, he’s had lines coming out the door for his souffle pancakes, of which he sells an estimated 500 every weekend. Comes in original, blueberry or strawberry iterations. 8549 Irvine Center Dr., Irvine; burntcrumbs.com

Nostimo Cafe (Westminster): Head to Westminter’s Little Saigon neighborhood to find ube souffle pancakes. Super soft and airy, these stacks are topped with ube flavored sweet cream. Other flavors include tiramisu, matcha, Nutellamisu, mango and strawberry. 15568 Brookhurst St., Westminster; instagram.com/nostimocafe.tea

The Greater Los Angeles area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and community partners organized Tuesday’s vigil, held at the Islamic Center of Orange County, to honor Al-Fayoume and all victims of Islamophobia and war, organizers said in a news release.

Al-Fayoume was stabbed 26 times last Saturday, Oct. 14 by his family’s landlord in Plainfield Township, Illinois, the Will County Sheriff’s Office said. Police said the suspect also stabbed Al-Fayoume’s mother, Hanaan Shahin, who is hospitalized and fighting for her life, and reportedly missed her son’s funeral on Monday.

Will County officials determined the attack was a hate crime, and said the suspect targeted Al-Fayoume and his mother “due to them being Muslim, and the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis.”

CAIR-LA officials said Tuesday’s vigil was, so far, the only local event specifically honoring Al-Fayoume. Numerous Israeli and Palestinian peace vigils and rallies have been held over the last week and around the world, with many calling for the end of innocent deaths after attacks in both Gaza and Israel.

CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush condemned the attacks, saying that “no child deserves to feel insecure or threatened.”

“Every child is precious. Every child deserves protection,” Ayloush said. “Whether they are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Palestinian, Israeli, American, White or Black — every child deserves that protection.”

Members of the Islamic Society of Orange County, Project Islamic H.O.P.E and the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California also joined in Tuesday’s solemn event.

Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, director of the Islamic Center of Orange County, said a blessing for Al-Fayoume, his mother, and for those whose lives have been lost.

“Six-years-old… he did not do anything wrong to anybody,” Siddiqi said.

Referencing increasing violence in Israel and Gaza, Siddiqi said that Palestinians are “the longest-suffering people in the world.”

“Hundreds and thousands of them are killed, expelled from their homes, living as refugees,” Siddiqui said. “In their own home, they’re refugees.”

Community members at the vigil asked that humanity be remembered in divisive, atrocious times.

Najee Ali, the executive director of Project Islamic H.O.P.E., reminded attendees that “Islam is a religion of peace and justice.”

“This baby was murdered because he was a Palestinian. He was murdered because he was Muslim, and that’s something we should all be outraged about because at the end of the day, he’s a child. And he was murdered because of hatred, ignorance and those engaging in Islamophobia,” said Ali.

“We want to protect all innocent children,” Ali added. “Palestinian lives matter. Our children matter. Muslim children matter.”

CAIR-LA officials also criticized Orange County leaders for their release of a “one-sided statement” last week that they said “offers solidarity with Israeli victims of violence, but blatantly makes no mention of the 1,400 Palestinians killed by Israel in their most recent assault and bombardment of Gaza.”

“Instead of using their platform as an opportunity to recognize and support all the communities impacted by the recent events — including Palestinian Americans, Arab Americans and American Muslims — the (Orange County) supervisors chose to engage in old Islamophobic tropes that conflate violence with a religion practiced by 2 billion people around the world,” CAIR-LA officials stated, while asking the board members to meet with local Palestinian human rights advocates.

Portola High School alumna Cecilia Mou has been selected for the prestigious Television Academy Foundation Fall Internship Program. She is one of just nine students chosen by Television Academy members from across the country for the 2023 fall program.

The foundation’s Fall Internship Program provides 13-week part-time paid internships at top Hollywood studios and production companies to college students nationwide.

Mou, a sophomore at USC majoring in film and television production, will be a production management intern at Disney Branded Television in Burbank this fall.

Mou credits her sixth grade teacher for inspiring her to seek a career in television.

“(She) once gave me full creative freedom on a history project we had due in class (and) suggested that I create a video to practice my media literacy — and that one project spiraled into a love of filmmaking,” Mou said. “By simply giving someone the freedom creatively, she inspired years of love and dedication to the craft of storytelling within me.

“I am incredibly excited to get the rare opportunity to work alongside professionals of the highest caliber as well as learn from the endless amount of mentors fostered by the Television Academy Foundation,” she added. “There is no limit to the amount of valuable experience, relationships and skills you can learn with this program.”

The internship program also provides professional development sessions and customized seminars covering personal brand-building and navigating the job market ahead for participating students. Interns also become lifelong members of the foundation’s alumni family, giving them access to events and networking opportunities as they build their careers in the industry.

The Television Academy Foundation shapes the art of creating television by engaging and educating the next generation of television professionals, providing essential resources that help them discover their voices, refine their skills and forge rewarding careers in every sector of the television industry.

The internship program annually provides students from across the nation with hands-on work experience, mentorships and opportunities for accelerated career development in more than 30 industry disciplines.

– Submitted by the Television Academy Foundation

Foothill High School students win Dragon Kim Foundation’s Dragon Challenge

A one-week STEM camp that offered a basic foundation in science with hands-on chemistry experience and engineering projects to children living in under-resourced areas of Orange County was selected from four finalists as the winner of the Dragon Kim Foundation’s 2023 “Shark Tank”-style Dragon Challenge.

The teens behind the winning project they called Creative Labs are Foothill High School students Carson Ly and Robert Padilla, both of Tustin. Their camps were held this summer at Boys & Girls Clubs, Jamboree Housing and The Mix Academy. As winners, they received an additional $5,000 to continue their community service project.

“I always knew I wanted to do something to help my community, but I never knew what I would do or how I would do it. Fortunately, I found chemistry, and my passion for the subject has allowed me to set guidelines for future goals,” Carson said. “Winning the Dragon Challenge has made me realize that I can expand my horizons and explore more options, knowing I have what it takes to achieve success.”

Robert said: “Before the Dragon Kim Foundation, I was very shy and had little ambition, never knowing where my calling was. I found what makes me happiest thanks to the foundation. Somehow at every single training weekend, I learned something new about myself or acquired a new life skill. The foundation was a life-changing experience for me.”

The Dragon Challenge caps the 2023 Dragon Kim Fellowship program of the Dragon Kim Foundation, an Orange County-based nonprofit whose mission is to inspire youths to impact their communities while discovering and pursuing their passions.

This year marks the eighth anniversary of the foundation, whose fellowship program empowers high school students of all demographics and social backgrounds to go out into the world and make a difference in the lives of others, especially those who are disadvantaged.

Annually, the fellowship program awards community service grants of up to $5,000 to the teams that enables them to create and manage a service project that will impact their community.

The four finalists were chosen from the 47 fellowship projects run this summer by 80 high school students in Arizona, California and Nevada. Together, the projects directly impacted 10,874 individuals and empowered 815 volunteers to contribute to the fellows’ vision and cause.

Garden Grove teacher named finalist for Bill of Rights Institute’s National Civics Teacher of the Year

Sean Redmond, a teacher from Bolsa Grande High School in Garden Grove, is a finalist for the Bill of Rights Institute’s prestigious National Civics Teacher of the Year award.

This year’s finalists represent 10 states and every region of the country. Redmond was selected after a nationwide search that encouraged educators, students, parents and community members to submit outstanding civics teachers for consideration. All nominees submitted essays highlighting the role of civics educators in helping students live the ideals of a free and just society.

Although he didn’t win the top spot, as a finalist, Redmond earned a $1,000 prize from the Bill of Rights Institute.

– Submitted by Bill of Rights Institute

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

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  Garden Grove residents Tina Nguyen, left, and Sydney Tong pose for a selfie together at the annual Korean Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Students from Hallelujah Taekwondo perform their craft on stage at the annual Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Festivalgoers visit booths representing various Korean companies and vendors during the annual Korean Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Festivalgoers visit booths representing various Korean companies and vendors during the annual Korean Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Heo Jon of Garden Grove offers samples of various pickled Korean foods at a booth for Gangwon Greenfarms at the annual Korean Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Families visit inflatable carnival rides in Garden Grove Park during the annual Korean Arirang Festival on Sunday afternoon, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Korean Americans dance on stage during a senior talent show at the Korean Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Festivalgoers sample various Korean, and other Asian, foods during the annual Korean Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Festivalgoers sample various Korean, and other Asian, foods during the annual Korean Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Traditional Vietnamese dancers perform a martial arts-inspired performance on stage at the annual Korean Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Traditional Vietnamese dancers perform a martial arts-inspired performance on stage at the annual Korean Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Lindy Tran of Garden Gove, left, and Mary Vu of Garden Grove stand together at the Lindy Crafts booth at the annual Korean Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Models display traditional Vietnamese outfits on stage during a fashion show at the annual Korean Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Vietnamese American singer Vinh Vu performs on stage during the Korean Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Jenny Im of Garden Grove sings on stage during a senior talent show at the annual Korean Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

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  Students from Hallelujah Taekwondo perform their craft on stage at the annual Arirang Festival at Garden Grove Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Visitors dressed in brightly colored hanboks and áo dàis filled Garden Grove Park the last four days as the community came together to celebrate Asian culture at the 39th Arirang Festival.

Also known as the Asian Pacific Festival, this year’s event was jointly put on by Orange County’s Korean and Vietnamese communities. The festival featured hundreds of booths selling food, crafts and traditional products, as well as a variety of activities, ranging from carnival rides to K-pop dances and a beer garden to traditional cuisine.

Visitors had the opportunity to watch a taekwondo martial arts demonstration, samul nori percussion quartet performance and a Korean and Vietnamese fashion show. They could also play traditional Korean games.

Garden Grove, where the multi-day festival was held, became home to the county’s first official Koreatown in 2019. Last month, nearby Buena Park, with its hub of Korean businesses, followed suit, designating its northern portion as Koreatown.

While the Arirang Festival started out in Garden Grove, in recent years the two cities have alternated playing host.