Colorful Character Funny man Cheech Marin gets serious about art SPRING INTO FUN Join the City of Anaheim in its annual FREE egg hunt and spring-time activities! March 22, 2008 9 A.M. Activities Begin 10 A.M. Egg Hunt Begins Pearson Park 400 N. Lemon Street Children, 2-12 years of age, are invited to bring a basket or bag to fill with goodies. For more information, call Anaheim Community Services at (714)765-5219 or visit www.anaheim.net. Features 9 Patients and Community Dr. Lance Brunner: his love of helping others extends beyond Kaiser’s Anaheim hospital. On the Cover 9 10 Looking Back Comedian Cheech Marin stands among A brief look back at the City’s sesquicentennial celebration. his esteemed Chicano art collection. ©Michael d’Ambrosia 12 Cheech and Chicano Art The boisterous comedian shares his passion for Chicano art with the Anaheim community. 10 Departments Mayor Curt Pringle 2 Mayor Pro Tem Bob Hernandez City Scene Anaheim/OC Walk of Stars welcomes the Taormina and Yorba family stars; Council Member Lorri Galloway A gift of history for Anaheim third graders; STAR students receive yard signs; Council Member Harry S. Sidhu, P.E. ‘HIP’ and your home; Anaheim Mayor’s TechScholar Program. Council Member Lucille Kring 12 6 Newsmakers Chef of the Year Eddie Meza; Professional skateboarder Vanessa Torres. City Manager David M. Morgan 7 Building for the Future Anaheim Convention Center Arena celebrates 40 years; Ross Park expands; Managing Editor Nikki Moreno More businesses open in GardenWalk. Editor Erin Wahlen 2 17 Calendar of Events Contributors: Gabrielle Bashist, Marisa Campos, Mike Ebbing, Meghan Schinderle, Kate Westervelt 18 Business Connection Tesco and La Curacao bring easy shopping to Anaheim; Anaheim Magazine is published quarterly by the City of Anaheim. Anaheim floral shop practices sustainability; Address all correspondence to Anaheim Magazine, c/o Managing F2 Balloons is blowing up! Editor, 200 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92805. 20 Important Phone Numbers and Websites The City of Anaheim is a City Council/City Manager form of 6 government. As such, the City Council makes policy decisions at City Council meetings, Tuesdays at 5 P.M. while the City Manager About Anaheim: The City of Anaheim is one of the nation’s premier municipalities and California’s 10th most populous city. Anaheim covers 50 oversees the day-to-day operations of the City. If you have any square miles with more than 345,556 residents and 2,047 City employees. The municipal corporation’s annual budget is $1.363 billion. Anaheim supports concerns regarding the City of Anaheim, simply dial 3-1-1 from a thriving business community with companies such as CKE Restaurants, Inc., L-3 Communications, Pacific Sunwear, and Disneyland Resort. any landline phone or using an AT&T mobile phone. Other Successful sports franchises including Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks, Angels Baseball, Anaheim Arsenal, and the U.S. Men’s Olympic callers can dial (714) 765-4311. Anaheim Anytime representa- Volleyball team call Anaheim home. Anaheim also boasts world-class meeting and entertainment venues with the Anaheim Convention Center, tives are available 7:30 A.M.—5:30 P.M. Monday through Friday. the largest on the west coast, Honda Center, The Grove of Anaheim and Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Annually, Anaheim welcomes millions of visitors Recorded information is also available. to the city, truly making it the world’s celebration destination. For more information, please visit www.anaheim.net. Spring 2008 T Anaheim CITY SCENE A Gift of History PPROXIMATELY 2,600 ANAHEIM THIRD- GRADERS AND THEIR TEACHERS GATHERED IN OCTOBER AT THE HERITAGE FORUM TO CELEBRATE THE RELEASE OF A NEW ANAHEIM HISTORY BOOK FOR CHILDREN TITLED, “ANNA’S HOMEBYTHERIVER,” BY GAIL EASTMAN. The excited youth were treated to a performance from the Anaheim Ballet, a surprise visit from Mickey Mouse, and motivational speeches from Disneyland Resort Ambassador Adonis Reeves. Anaheim’s Mayor, Angels Baseball announcer Jose Mota, Anaheim Police Chief John Welter and Anaheim Fire Chief Roger Smith also encouraged the children to believe in themselves and follow their dreams. Donations from sponsors, including the Mayor, the Ana- heim Chamber of Commerce, Brookfield Homes, the Anaheim Family YMCA, and the Orange County Archives, made it possible for each student to receive their very own edition of the book—their own gift of history. T Anaheim T Spring 2008 2 CITY SCENE Stars: Then and Now HE ANAHEIM/OC WALK OF STARS RECENTLY RECEIVED TWO NEW ADDITIONS AS THE YORBA AND TAORMINA FAMILIES WERE BOTH HONORED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REGION. waste and recycling firm in the nation. After merging their firm The Yor b a family’s long history in California dates back to with Republic Services in 1997, the Taormina’s have pursued 1769 when Don José Antonio Yorba first explored the area numerous investment and entrepreneurial opportunities. now known as Orange County. Yorba’s great rancho included These investments have resulted in the family becoming one the land where the cities of Anaheim, Orange, Villa Park, Santa of the largest single property owners in Central Anaheim. Ana, Tustin, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach stand today. As the founders of Clean City Inc., the Taorminas are involved One of José Antonio’s many children, Don Bernardo Yorba I, in, support, or have founded dozens of community organ- went on to achieve great success. Yorba acquired numerous large izations and charitable groups throughout Anaheim and territories to supplement his family’s massive cattle operation. Orange County. Additionally, he introduced irrigation agriculture to the area by The Yorba and Taormina family stars join the ranks with utilizing the Santa Ana River, Anaheim’s namesake, to ensure other notable honorees such as Walt Disney, Carl and the land would remain productive. Yorba’s ranch was among Margaret Karcher and Henry and Susan Samueli. the largest and greatest ranches of California’s Golden Age. To see a list of approved nominees for the Anaheim/OC Walk The Taormina family built their Anaheim-based business, of Stars, and to obtain information on how to sponsor a star, Taormina Industries, into the largest privately-owned solid please visit www.anaheim.net. T 3 Spring 2008 T Anaheim CITY SCENE ‘HIP’ Incentives Applications from Anaheim Available for Mayor’s Public Utilities TechScholar Program NAHEIM RESIDENTS CAN NOW ENJOY A OW IN ITS THIRD YEAR, THE ANAHEIM $300 CREDIT TOWARD HOME UPGRADES MAYOR’S TECHSCHOLAR PROGRAM IS AND REPAIRS THROUGH ANAHEIM PUBLIC CONTINUING EFFORTS TO HELP ANAHEIM STU- UTILITIES’ HOME INVESTMENT PACKAGE (HIP). DENTS BY AWARDING FREE LAPTOPS AND UP THE PROGRAM OFFERS A WHOLE-HOUSE AP- TO TWO YEARS OF COMPLIMENTARY INTERNET PROACH TO IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY SERVICE BASED ON NEED, STRONG ACADEMIC AND COMFORT AT HOME, WHILE HELPING TO PROMISE AND COMPLETION OF AN ESSAY. PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. The City is currently accepting applications from all col- lege-bound high school sophomores and juniors who attend “Following a home assessment by one of Anaheim’s spe- an Anaheim high school. In addition, any Anaheim residents cially trained and certified contractors, program participants who meet the requirements and attend a high school outside can use the limited-time $300 credit toward any and all rec- of the City’s boundaries may also apply. Since its inception in ommended efficiency upgrades and repairs,”said HIP program 2006, more than 78 students in Anaheim have benefited from manager, Phil Hayes. this program. Applications are available at all Anaheim high school scholarship coordinator offices or online at www.anaheim.net and are due to individual school coordinators on March 7. Winners will be contacted by letter in early May 2008 with an invitation to attend a Mayor’s reception and be recognized at a city council meeting. The 2008 Mayor’s TechScholar Program is made possible by generous donations from Anaheim Public Utilities, AT&T, the Anaheim Ducks, Time Warner and Makar Properties. T What HIP Provides Anaheim Homeowners: H Lower utility bills and home-maintenance costs H Up to 30 percent energy savings H Increased resale value H Improved air quality and comfort H Increased life and value of home H Elimination of leaks, molds, and other problems HIP, derived from the national Home Performance with Energy Star® program, is the first of its kind to be imple- mented by a municipal utility in California. It is also the only program in the state that has mandated Building Performance Institute Certification of its contractors. To schedule your home assessment, call (866) 219-3496. T Anaheim T Spring 2008 4 CITY SCENE Anaheim Students Reach for the STARs NAHEIM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS TAKEN THE TRADITIONAL HONOR STU- DENT BUMPER STICKER A STEP FURTHER. MORE THAN 2,600 STUDENTS RECEIVED STAR STUDENT YARD SIGNS TO RECOGNIZE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE “PROFICIENT” LEVEL FOR BOTH MATH AND LANGUAGE ARTS THIS YEAR ON THE STATEWIDE STAR TEST. The federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) sets annual targets for the percentage of students who should reach the pro- ficient level. The 2007 NCLB target for math was 26.5 percent Each school was given a banner that proudly boasts the proficient. Anaheim students scored 38.1 percent proficient. number of STAR honor students at each establishment. The The NCLB language arts target was 24.4 percent and Anaheim yard signs were distributed during school assemblies to third- students scored 32.1 percent. This achievement was cause for through sixth-grade students and can now be seen displayed celebration, and thus, the idea for the yard signs was born. proudly on lawns and in windows around Anaheim. T 5 Spring 2008 T Anaheim NEWSMAKERS Anaheim White House Chef Cooks His Way to Success HE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT WRITERS HAVE NAMED ANAHEIM WHITE HOUSE EXECUTIVE CHEF, EDDIE MEZA, CHEF OF THE YEAR AT ITS AWARDS CEREMONY THIS PAST NOVEMBER.