East Orange v Orange Park Acres v Villa Park v Anaheim Hills v Cowan Heights Crawford Canyon v Silverado/Modjeska Canyon Areas v North Tustin


A Monthly Community Newspaper Est. 1969 Historic


listing sought for Killefer


The surplus Killefer School building, sold to a developer by Orange Unified, currently in es- crow and slated to be replaced with townhomes, may have got- ten a reprieve from the wrecking ball.


The Old Towne Preservation Association (OTPA) has informed the Orange Unified School Dis- trict that it is working to have the site placed on the National Reg- ister of Historic Places. It has enlisted a preservation consultant to handle the nomination through the State Office of Historic Pres- ervation. If Killefer is registered as an historic place, it cannot be torn down. OTPA believes the site has his-


toric value because it was one of the first schools in California to offer integrated classes for His- panic and Caucasian children. The school was desegregated in 1944 when the nearby Cypress Street School, reserved for the children of Mexican-American farm laborers, closed. Killefer opened its doors to children of all races three years before the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that segregating Mexican- American children was unconsti- tutional. The landmark decision was born of a lawsuit filed by five farm worker fathers against the then-Westminster School District.


Use it or lose it OUSD closed Killefer 20 years


ago, and it was subsequently used by Santiago Canyon College for continuing education programs. The college moved out in 2004 and the building has stood empty for 10 years. It was declared sur- plus in 2008. The Olson Com- pany offered the district $5.1 for the 1.7 acre parcel in April of this year, and intends to build 30 townhomes on the property. The district is selling a portion


of its surplus property to raise funds to renovate and repair its four aging high schools (along with hoped-for funds from the Measure K school bond voters will decide on in November). Killefer was the first property sold and is in an 18-month es- crow. With OTPA’s bid to pre- serve it now underway, the dis- trict’s transaction with the Olson Company is on hold. “The Orange Unified School District appreciates the position of the Old Towne Preservation Association with respect to the Killefer School building,” Super- intendent Michael Christensen said in a written statement. “Due to the contractual agreement, the district is unable to take any posi- tion that would appear to impede the actions of the buyer. We be- lieve that the City of Orange will consider what is best for all con- cerned as it shepherds the Killefer property through the project ap- proval process.”


Tuesday, September 9, 2014


NEWS INSIDE Let’s get


together


Communities in Orange join forces to preserve the characteristics that make them unique. See Neighborhoods unite, page 5


Calling all candidates


Races for local election get personal when those seeking office tell it like it is (or should be). See candidates, pages 10, 11, 13, 14 , 15, 20


Photo by Tony Richards


The Orange International Street Fair, held every Labor Day weekend, drew an estimated 500,000 people in search of foreign flavors, music, crafts and camaraderie this year. See more pics, page 21.


Slow down and giddyup A bill allowing the County of


Orange to take equestrian traffic into account when setting speed limits in the unincorporated areas of Orange Park Acres was signed by Governor Jerry Brown Aug. 25.


AB1669 was sponsored by As- semblyman Don Wagner (R-68th) at the behest of the Orange Park Association. Under the current California Ve-


hicle Code, only pedestrians and bicycles are considered as deter- mining factors (beyond vehicles)


when traffic engineers set speed limits. The board of the Orange Park Association found that while equestrians on local trails and streets were subject to all of the requirements placed upon vehi- cles, they had no protection under the law. Wagner agreed that was unreasonable and, at the urging of the board, introduced AB1669 at the beginning of the 2014 legisla- tive session. The bill passed the assembly unanimously. This type of regulation is not unique in the vehicle code. The


City of Norco has similar legis- lation on the books. For Orange Park Acres, the legislation gives community equestrians and horse- riding visitors a future where traf- fic speeds are more amenable to their use of the roads. Sadly, at the moment of the


bill’s signing by the governor, a local horse lost its life after it had been spooked by passing con- struction trucks on Orange Park Boulevard. The horse was being walked by its owner, who was mildly injured in the incident.


Meet the Orange City Council Candidates


The Foothills Sentry and Photo by Tony Richards


Killefer School opened in 1931 and served the Orange Unified School District for more than 60 years. Declared surplus in 2008, the district sold it to a developer in April of this year. The Old Towne Preserva- tion Association recently notified the district that it intends to have the school site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.


Orange Park Association will host a candidate forum, Oct. 1 at Salem Lutheran Church, 6500 E. Santiago Canyon Rd. at 7 p.m. Voters are invited to learn about local issues and how they might be addressed by each candidate. The forum will also give those running for mayor and the two open city council seats the oppor- tunity to talk about what they think is important to Orange and its citizens, and how they plan to keep the city moving in the right direction. Questions from the audience will be consid- ered. Refreshments will be served.


Not so high, but dry


East Orange reservoir is a mere shadow of its former self. See Crisis in the canyon, page 16


Takin’ it to the streets


Orange Plaza turns into festival of fun, food and fancy every Labor Day weekend. See Seen at the Orange fair, page 21


INSIDE Canyon Beat Page 7


Letters To The Editor Page 8 Professional Directory Page 17 Classifieds


Page 17


Services Directory Sports


Obituaries


Page 18-19 Page 22-23 Page 23


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