Restaurants and other food vendors ordered to close and allowed to reopen by Orange County health inspectors from July 10 to July 17.

Liquor Locker, 34092 Doheny Park Road, Dana Point

• Closed: July 17
• Reason: Cockroach infestation
• Reopened: July 18

Hiro Ramen & Udon, 5252 Beach Blvd., Buena Park

• Closed: July 16
• Reason: Cockroach infestation
• Reopened: July 17

AA Food To Go, 13900 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove

• Closed: July 14
• Reason: Cockroach infestation
• Reopened: July 14

College Drive-In, 425 S. State College Blvd., Anaheim

• Closed: July 11
• Reason: Rodent infestation
• Reopened: July 12

This list is published weekly with closures since the previous week’s list. Status updates are published in the following week’s list. Source: OC Health Care Agency database.

Want to laugh? Go see Master Hypnotist Mark Yuzuik: He performs at the Action Sports Arena from Aug. 13 through Aug. 17. His shows are at 4, 6 and 8 p.m.

Go dancing at night at the Plaza Pacifica Stage: Swing dancing with a live band on Fridays 8:30-11:30 p.m., DJ West Coast Dave on Saturdays 8:30-11:30 p.m., Latin Dancing to a live band Sundays from 7:30-10:30 p.m.

See the mama pig and babies: You have to do this, don’t you think? There’s a sow who’s due to deliver the first week of the fair, and also another due the last week of the fair. Pigs typically have litters of 8-14 piglets. You can find them in Centennial Farm.

See a show at the Action Sports Arena: You have to pay for reserved seating, but there is limited general admission seating or standing as well. Yes, go watch those monster trucks tear up the ground.

Stay hydrated for free: You can refill your own water bottles at six chilled water stations around the grounds for free. Stations are at the main carnival, Kidland carnival, Fair Square near Blue Gate, livestock near the Western Saloon,  carnival, Family Fairway near Green Gate and Park Plaza near pig races.

Free carnival rides for kids: Most carnival rides aren’t free, of course, but kids ages 5-11 who read three books and sign up for the Read & Ride program can get a QR code valid for two free rides in the Kidland area only. Only one per child. Here’s how to sign up.

Hang with some cute animals at the petting zoo: Near the Yellow Gate, find a petting zoo with goats, sheep, pigs and more.

Root for the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs: You can’t miss those, can you? These piglets travel in a custom “Piggy Penthouse” trailer that’s heated and air conditioned. And, yes, they just love to run. Racecourse is between the Family Fairway and the Plaza Pacifica. Wed, Thurs & Fri: 2, 3:30, 5, 6:30 & 8 p.m.; Sat & Sun: 12:30, 2, 3:30, 5, 6:30 & 8 p.m. ocfair.com/oc-fair/things-to-do/animals/pig-races/

Explore interesting animals in the Livestock Area, near the Yellow Gate (and there are more animals too!)

• Pygmy goats: Yes, how cute are they? Pretty darn cute.  They can reach heights of 22 inches and weigh 50-70 pounds. They’ll be in the barn from July 18 to July 20.
• Llamas: No, you don’t have to go to South America. There will be dozens of them in the livestock areaJuly 18-20.
• Miniature donkeys: Less than 36 inches tall, they’re fun and friendly to their owners. In the barn July 29 to Aug. 3.
• Barnyard fashion parade: Take in this runway show at 6 p.m. Aug. 6  in the livestock show ring.
• Friesian Horse Club of Southern California: Two of these gorgeous animals will be on display Aug. 13-17. Their owners will be there daily to share and talk to people about the breed. Other horses are also expected to be exhibited.
• Learn more: ocfair.com/oc-fair/things-to-do/animals

Go see the milking demonstrations with dairy cows:  Head over to the Millennium Barn to see cows milked at 2:15 and 4:15 p.m daily.

See a show free at the Hangar until 5 p.m.:  Daily performances including folklorico and belly dancing, choirs, martial arts demonstrations and clog dancers. Located at the main mall between the Family Fairway and the Action Sports Arena. Note: After 5 p.m. you have to pay for seats but it’s free to stand. Learn more: ocfair.com/oc-fair/entertainment/community-entertainment/

Free live music all day long on the Meadows Stage: Performers will include Sean Oliu & The Coastline Cowboys, Lousy Little Gods, Ashley Felton Trio, Morrison King,  Lucky Coot & The Band of Bobs, Front Street Troubadours. Located between Centennial Farm and Fair Square. Learn more: ocfair.com/oc-fair/entertainment/community-entertainment/

Lots to enjoy at the OC Promenade Stage: Magician Frank Thurston performs at 2, 4 and 6 p.m. Evening shows will include Suemy G, Danny Maika & Trio, John Kraus & The Goers, Wimberley Bluegrass Band, Mariachi Juvenil Herencia Michoacana and more. Located off the main mall. Learn more: ocfair.com/oc-fair/entertainment/community-entertainment/

Hear the nightly performance of “Taps”: The military tune will be played at 6 p.m. at Heroes Hall. Located between the Blue Gate and the Pacific Amphitheatre.

Look out for the Red Light Brass Band: The combo will roam the fair from noon until 6 p.m. daily.

Enjoy the exhibits: This year, they’re divided into culinary arts, hobbies and handicrafts, horticulture, livestock, table settings, visual arts, wine and woodworking. This encompasses many specialties, including floral arrangements, sugar arts and confections (yum), photography, miniatures, embellished clothing, wood carving, quilts, cosplay costumes, scrapbooking, upcycled handicrafts, livestock animals and lots more.

The Anaheim Union High School District Board of Trustees approved the consolidation plan in 2023, citing declining enrollment and long-term financial challenges. The district has lost about 5,500 students since the 2014-15 school year and, according to district staff, expects to lose another 3,900 by 2026-27. District officials have also said average daily attendance — which determines how much funding schools receive — has dropped, while costs tied to pensions, special education and other staffing issues continue to grow.

Orangeview most recently enrolled about 650 students, while Western High had 1,660, according to the latest figures from the California Department of Education.

Anaheim Union isn’t the only district making changes. As enrollment continues to drop across Orange County, other districts are also closing or considering the consolidation of schools. Last year, the Ocean View School District shut down Spring View Middle School and move its students to other campuses, and Orange Unified has also started exploring possible consolidations in response to declining enrollment.

“K-12 enrollment in Orange County has declined steadily over the past decade, with the most recent three-year drop totaling more than 22,000 students in traditional public schools — a trend largely driven by the high cost of living and declining birth rates,” Orange County Department of Education spokesman Ian Hanigan said in a statement.

District staff and educators in Anaheim Union said the school will adopt a more personalized, community-centered education model.

“We are at the forefront of rethinking what schools should be, and can be,” Bindi Crawford, co-principal of the new Orangeview-Western school, said during an update to the Board of Trustees meeting this week ahead of the start of school on Aug. 6.

District staff said the redesign introduces new academic structures aimed at boosting both learning outcomes and student well-being. That includes an eight-period block schedule on Mondays, three days of an advisory period each week, and twice-weekly late starts on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“On Mondays there will be a single block anchor day in which students will be able to go to all of their eight classes and check in with their teachers. On the other days, they will have a four-block period,” said Sean Fleshman, a longtime history teacher at Orangeview.

“The team felt very strong that it would be important to start off the week where each teacher saw each of their students at least once,” Crawford added. “These are shorter periods, but each student will go through every single one of their periods, including advisory, to kick off the week. Each period will be approximately 35 to 40 minutes.”

The idea behind advisory, according to Yamila Castro, a Spanish teacher at Western, is to build smaller learning communities and ensure each student has consistent contact with a trusted group of teachers. At the new school, students will meet in small, consistent advisory groups multiple times a week to build relationships and receive academic and emotional support.

“It ensures every student is known by name, assets and needs,” Castro said.

Another key component of the new school program, modeled after Hillsdale High in San Mateo, is what teachers call “Kid Talk.”

“When we visited Hillsdale, one of the practices that we learned at Hillsdale is this opportunity for students, support staff, administrators, counselors to do a preliminary intervention discussion about student needs and strengths,” Castro said. “So teachers come together twice a month and discuss students that they have questions about, that they would like to learn more about, maybe they’re having an attendance issue.”

“So this is a discussion with all of the teachers and support staff before it gets to the next level of intervention,” she said. “This way, every teacher has the opportunity to discuss students in a structured way.”

On Tuesdays, staff will use the late start time for Kid Talk and advisory planning, Castro said. Thursdays will be used for staff meetings, department check-ins or committee work.

Students will also be able to start career technical education (CTE) classes as early as eighth grade.

District officials said they expect the new model to yield stronger academic, behavioral and emotional outcomes.

“We’re going to likely be doing this with other schools as we move forward,” Superintendent Michael Matsuda said. “We learn together.”

Crawford said the team is focused now on getting to opening day, but also the work won’t stop there.

“This is just Year 1. And what we told our community is that Year 1 should not look like Year 2. This is a cycle of continuous progress and improvement,” she said.

Board President Brian O’Neal agreed.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens when the school opens and then how it is at the end of this first year,” he said.

The district is also planning another major campus move. Hope School is expected to close later this year and reopen on the former Orangeview campus in the 2026-27 school year, once that site is vacated.

“We have a committee working on thinking through the process of what will happen to that property,” Trustee Katherine Smith said.

County officials said they were responding to reports and growing concerns over Immigration and Customs Enforcement accessing sensitive information obtained from Medicaid or Medi-Cal data.

The Associated Press reported on Thursday that a data-sharing agreement would give ICE agents access to the personal data of 79 million people enrolled in Medicaid. Signed between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Homeland Security, the agreement, which has not been announced publicly, would help in tracking down the location of undocumented immigrants.

The county HCA said in its statement that the possible access raised “serious concerns about the privacy and security of protected health information entrusted to public health systems,” but urged patients not to disenroll from Medi-Cal. Any data previously submitted to state or federal systems would not be erased by unenrolling, OC officials warned.

“The HCA is actively engaging with state and federal partners to assess the scope of this issue and to understand any potential impact to patients under our care,” the county statement said.

Data obtained by ICE could include personal and medical information, residential addresses, and ethnicities. The agency said certain Medicaid data must be submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under federal and state laws.

“We recognize that this issue may cause fear or uncertainty among patients and families who are seeking care. We want to reassure our community that the HCA’s mission is rooted in providing equitable, respectful, and confidential care to all residents of Orange County,” county officials said. “We remain firmly committed to protecting public trust and upholding the privacy rights of every person we serve.”

On Thursday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office was “moving quickly to secure a court order” that would block the sharing of Medicaid data for immigration enforcement.

Iger said the Disneyland resort has reached “almost 30 million” in annual attendance while talking about what Walt Disney would think of Disneyland today during a speech at the front gates of the park.

“More than anything else, he’d be awestruck by the fact that almost 30 million guests flow through the gates of his beloved Disneyland each year,” Iger said during the 70th anniversary celebration speech on Thursday, July 17.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland celebrates 70th anniversary with parades, fireworks and marching bands

The 30 million figure mentioned by Iger represents an approximation of overall annual attendance at the Disneyland Resort, according to Disneyland officials.

The “almost 30 million” figure should not be used to gauge any increase in attendance at the Disneyland Resort since 2023 as the number is an approximation, according to Disneyland officials.

The combined attendance of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure was 27.25 million in 2023, according to TEA/AECOM. A new mark of 30 million would represent a 10% increase in attendance over the past two years.

Disneyland attendance in 2023 stood at 17.25 million in 2023 with Disney California Adventure attendance at 10 million, according to TEA/AECOM.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland’s biggest decade ever is about to end — and the next could be even bigger

An increase of nearly 2.75 million visitors per year at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure would push the California theme park resort past the 28.5 million visitor mark registered in 2019 and back above pre-pandemic attendance levels for the first time.

Tracking attendance numbers used to be a Disneyland tradition — with the park proudly issuing annual tallies. Disneyland no longer publicly announces attendance figures.

TEA/AECOM has published annual theme park attendance figures since 2006, with the latest numbers available through 2023. The 2024 TEA Global Attractions Attendance Report is expected to be released in September.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland had a nightmare start in 1955, but ‘Walt’s Folly’ quickly won over fans

The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) has never recorded a higher annual attendance count at Disneyland than the Magic Kingdom over the past two decades.

The latest attendance increase could make perennial runner-up Disneyland the most visited theme park in the world.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida was the most visited park in 2023 with 17.72 million visitors, according to TEA/AECOM. The difference between first place (Magic Kingdom) and second place (Disneyland) in 2023 was fewer than 500 visitors — the closest gap in recent history.

ALSO SEE: Walt Disney and Abe Lincoln animatronics to share rotating Disneyland stage

Hurricanes Helene and Milton put a damper on Walt Disney World attendance in 2024, according to Disney quarterly financial reports released in February.

The Magic Kingdom still remains 3 million visitors behind the all-time high annual mark of 20.96 million in 2019, according to TEA/AECOM.

On track to be completed by the end of this year, the zoo is undergoing various construction projects to bring in new animals, update animal enclosures and improve the zoo’s landscaping and infrastructure.

A new enclosure — dubbed River’s Edge — will feature two to four male South American giant river otters. Additionally, various primate species, including up to 10 spider monkeys, will be able to travel above the otters and into their own enclosure, Zoo Director Ethan Fisher said.

Construction on River’s Edge broke ground in early 2022 and is on track to be completed by the end of the year.

Other exhibit updates, on track to also be finished up this year, include a new alligator enclosure and improved monkey habitats located in the zoo’s primate forest.

The zoo is also working to complete its Pathway Improvement Project, an effort to convert its dirt paths to concrete. Several paths are already completed, although there are still detours for the walkways still under construction.

The children’s zoo — in addition to getting a new alligator — recently opened its Goat Interaction Yard where guests can walk into the goat enclosure to pet the animals. Several buildings have also been repainted.

Another completed project is the butterfly exhibit, which features new butterflies each week from South America and Asia. The exhibit is open every day from May to September, although you might have to wait in an online queue before being able to enter.

While several projects are slated to be completed by the end of 2025, the zoo is continuing to fundraise for its north end expansion and additional primate enclosure space, Fisher said.

“We want to make sure we’re doing right by them,” Fisher said.

Future projects also include the zoo’s Education HIVE building, which would serve as a classroom and reception area for school field trips, and a security wall on the north side of the zoo.

In addition to construction projects, the zoo also began selling beer and wine at its onsite cafe this summer. Guests who are at least 21 years old can purchase alcohol and carry it with them as they walk around the exhibits.

So far, the zoo has spent around $9 million on construction. The city of Santa Ana and grants obtained by the Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo have helped with funding, Fisher said.

The construction projects were brought on after the Santa Ana Zoo lost its accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums in 2017. AZA accredits zoos based on their commitments to the health and safety of their animals and guest engagement and education.

In its report to the zoo, AZA cited a lack of modernization in the Santa Ana Zoo’s primate enclosures. The zoo reapplied for accreditation in 2022 and was told to continue making improvements, Fisher said.

The zoo submitted another application for AZA accreditation in March. Fisher and other zoo staff will travel to the AZA national conference in Florida in September to present before the AZA board, in hopes of securing accreditation, Fisher said.

AZA accreditation is not required for a zoo to remain open. The Santa Ana Zoo is still licensed under the federal Department of Agriculture.

The Santa Ana Zoo was first accredited by the AZA in 1985, but the zoo itself opened in 1952.

The zoo was originally home to more than 50 monkeys due to a stipulation by Joseph Prentice, who donated the land for the zoo as long as it kept at least 50 monkeys there.

The stipulation ended about two and a half years ago, Fisher said, and the zoo now has about 35 monkeys, ranging from larger white-handed gibbons to pygmy marmosets, one of the smallest monkey species.

General tickets to the Santa Ana Zoo, located at 1801 E. Chestnut Ave., are $14. Guests can purchase tickets at the zoo’s entrance or online, where more information about the zoo and its operating hours can also be found.

The zoo has extended hours during the month of July. It is open until 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. It is also open until 7:30p.m. on Wed, July 30, with ticket sales ending one hour before close. The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. all other days.

The senior living community Coventry Court in Tustin traded hands July 10, selling for $83 million. The seller was Meta Housing Corp. in Los Angeles, and the buyer was Jonathan Rose Cos. in New York. ()

The senior living community Coventry Court in Tustin traded hands July 10, selling for $83 million. The seller was Meta Housing Corp. in Los Angeles, and the buyer was Jonathan Rose Cos. in New York. ()

The senior living community Coventry Court in Tustin traded hands July 10, selling for $83 million. The seller was Meta Housing Corp. in Los Angeles, and the buyer was Jonathan Rose Cos. in New York. (Photo courtesy of Northmarq)

The senior living community Coventry Court in Tustin traded hands July 10, selling for $83 million, according to Northmarq.

The brokerage represented the seller, Meta Housing Corp. in Los Angeles. The buyer was Jonathan Rose Cos. in New York.

The deal closed July 10, Northmarq reps said.

The 55-and-older community in the Tustin Ranch neighborhood has 240 units, with more than half of them income-restricted. Only 87 units at Coventry Court are rented at market rates, according to Northmarq.

The apartments were completed in 2012 and sit not far from the blimp hangar that burned in 2023.

Bustling Fullerton Metrocenter sells for $118.5M

Space Investment Partners recently paid $118.5 million to Kite Realty for Fullerton Metrocenter, a 395,703-square-foot retail center anchored by Sprouts, Petsmart and Target.

The shopping center at 1375 Harbor Blvd. sits on 30 acres with 40 tenants that also include Urban Air Adventure Park.

“Looking ahead, we plan to revamp the center, bringing in new concepts and ensuring it serves the surrounding community as more housing is added,” said Ryan Gallagher, Space IP managing partner and co-founder.

Built in 1988 and updated in 2002, the shopping center will get some immediate improvements including fresh paint, updated signage, new landscaping, and leasing efforts “focused on attracting new food and fitness tenants,” according to the company.

Eastdil Secured represented the seller in the transaction.

Fullerton apartments fetch $4.1 million

A nine-unit apartment property in Fullerton sold June 13 for $4.1 million or $455,555 per unit, according to Marcus & Millichap.

Greg Bassirpou at Marcus & Millichap pointed out the small complex is minutes from Cal State Fullerton and retail centers, making it an attractive option for investors.

Bassirpou did not identify the buyer or sellers.

The property at 3169-3175 Quartz Lane includes one two-bedroom, two-bathroom townhome and eight two-bedroom, one-bathroom units in 9,831 square feet.

Amenities include a landscaped courtyard, patios, enclosed garages and on-site laundry rooms.

Bassirpou said the sellers made “extensive interior and exterior renovations to the property.”

CapRock goes big in Houston

Newport Beach-based CapRock Partners recently acquired a 524,199-square-foot, Class A industrial facility in Houston for undisclosed terms.

The fully leased Kennedy Greens Distribution Center was CapRock’s first buy in the Houston marketplace as it expands across Texas.

Built in 2020, the distribution center sits on 29 acres less than 3 miles from George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

“Houston’s industrial market continues to demonstrate strength, driven by durable demand, land constraints and a diversified economy,” Jon Pharris, co-founder and president of CapRock Partners, said in a statement.

Gantry moves mortgage team to Atrium in Irvine

Fresh off it’s deal to acquire Irvine-based Westcap, Gantry has relocated its now larger team to the Atrium office campus in Irvine.

The firm, which moved from Suite 285 at 19600 Fairchild Road in Irvine, now works from 19100-19200 Von Karman. The office complex includes an open air, 10-story lobby connecting two, 10-story office towers in 334,828 square feet.

Gantry’s new office space houses the firm’s commercial mortgage loan producers and corporate marketing staff.

Gantry Principal Andy Bratt said the firm’s operations “grew significantly” in 2024 after buying Westcap and its $3.2 billion loan servicing portfolio last December. The shift to a larger space will help integrate Westcap’s loan production staff with Gantry’s team.

Stream Realty Partners represented both sides of the five-year lease for 5,000 square feet.

The real estate roundup is compiled from news releases and written by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos via email to  sgowen@scng.com . Please allow at least a week for publication. All items are subject to editing for clarity and length.

“I wanted to spend time with my family and have a good summer with them,” Visoso said.

Visoso, 24, hadn’t been to the fair in more than a decade. After all those years waiting, how would he spend his day on the fairgrounds?

“Hopefully get on all the rides, because I know there’s going to be a lot of people coming in,” he said. “And get some good food.”

The 2025 OC Fair will run through Aug. 17 — it is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The 23-day event is expected to bring in more than a million guests. Daily attendence has been capped since the onset of the pandemic and popular days sell out each year.

New activities this year include an after-dark event at the Plaza Pacifica that will get people moving with swing dancing, Latin music and more on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Read also: OC Fair 2025: Here’s what you need to know to pay, play and park

New attractions, food and stands, including Tom’s Puffs and Pie, the 180-foot-tall Aviator and an exhibit paying tribute to the VHS tape era featuring movie poster art, have also been added to the mix.

Each year, hundreds of residents submit entries to the fair’s competitions. Everything from quilts to cupcakes to table settings.

With a list of his family’s 20 entries, Long Beach resident and event planner Dan Smith Chavira rushed to the glass cases displaying the winning entries, searching for any blue ribbon wins. This is his second year submitting baked goods with his family. His niece had been perfecting her eight recipes for months, he said.

“This is the moment when you can first see the results,” Smith Chavira said. “So we doorbusted to see how we did.”

His Portuguese Focaccia, inspired by his Italian grandmother and Portuguese grandfather, won the focaccia class and an overall award for the artisan leavened bread division.

He turned in his focaccia earlier in the week, as well as his Yuzu bar that won an honorable mention in the citrus bar category. Smith Chavira says he only bakes for the OC Fair.

“I’m not a baker, but I’m a competitor,” he said. His focaccia beat out 24 other entries in his category, decided by a panel of 13 judges.

He was the only division winner in his family.

He called this year’s win a “redemption” after his “overdone” French onion focaccia garnered no accolades last year. This year, he told himself, “Don’t overcook it, slow down, cook to your skill level, and relax.”

Even without any entries in the competition, Anaheim couple LuAnn Hillman and Steve Rosco made an early stop in the OC Promenade hall to see the winners.

“We see all the talent that’s in Orange County. Look at these bakers and what they’ve done,” Hillman said.

They’ve been visiting the fair for more than 40 years. And each year, they go on the first day. They say it’s the best time to catch the food entries, “when everything’s fresh.”

“It’s beautiful,” Rosco added. “It’s not professional like when you go into a bakery, these are regular average people that have these incredible, wonderful talents.”

Standing next to his table setting, Orange resident and administrative manager Tim Wyckoff was approached by fans of his work from previous years. Wyckoff has been decorating table settings for more than 30 years.

This year, his table in the Tropical Paradise division won second place.

“I want to make people smile,” Wyckoff said. “Since I’m not a master of a certain craft, but I like crafting in general, I like that this lets me do so many different versions of crafting.”

He designs every aspect of his table meticulously, including the floral arrangement, glassware and menu. For the theme, he even made an animatronic parrot from scratch.

“The pink in the orchids matches the pink in the salt and pepper shakers. The green and orange are pulled upward into the birds of paradise. Everything is coordinated,” Wyckoff said.

Brian Koch, a 68-year-old arborist, took off work Friday to visit the first day of the fair. It was his first fair in at least a decade, and he purchased a season pass to come back regularly.

“I enjoy going to fairs,” Koch said. “Mainly for the agricultural stuff, not for the rides or anything.”

Throughout the fair, various animal species will come and go for people to visit and watch in competitions. Cattle, chickens, donkeys and more will make their way to the fairgrounds over the next month.

During opening weekend, visitors will be able to see goats and llamas brought by breeders from around Southern California.

Eleven llamas at the fair on Friday belong to Eileen Ditsler.

“I discovered the llamas by accident at a fair like this,” said the 61-year-old San Dimas resident. “I’ve had llamas now for 30 years and they’re just so easy.”

She said a few years ago they exploded in popularity with people watching videos of them on TikTok, wearing llama T-shirts and even paying for them to be at weddings. They can even be taken out for a walk in the neighborhood with a lead rope.

They’re a hit with the fair crowds, especially Jim Wilson, 83, of Cypress, who was smiling in the livestock area as he watched the llamas munching on hay and showing off their poodle-like haircuts.

“It’s so great to see them,” Wilson said. “These guys are something different.”

If you go

When: Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 17

Where: The OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

Cost: General admission is $13 on Wednesdays and Thursdays and $15 on other days; seniors and children are $9 daily. Tickets must be purchased at ocfair.com/tickets and popular dates may sell out.

For more information: ocfair.com

Edgar Verduzco, 34, of Santa Ana will serve the sentences at the same time, said Deputy District Attorney Kaveh Faturechi.

Verduzco pleaded guilty on April 11 to three counts of murder, one count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, and one count of driving with a .08 percent blood alcohol content causing injury.

He was also sentenced on Friday to two years each for the DUI charges, which will be served concurrently, Faturechi said.

Verduzco apologized to the victims’ family during his sentencing held at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

Verduzco’s lawyer couldn’t be reached for comment on Friday.

An off-duty Verduzco was drunk and driving 150 mph when his Camaro rear-ended a Nissan and a Scion on the southbound 605 Freeway, south of Saragosa Street, in the unincorporated community of West Whittier the night of Sept. 26, 2017, according to the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

The Nissan hit a center divider and burst into flames, killing 52-year-old Maribel Davila, 60-year-old Mario Davila, and their 19-year-old son, Oscar Davila.

The Scion was carrying a mother and baby. The woman suffered minor injuries.

Oscar Davila, a graduate of John W. North High School in Riverside, worked as a tutor at his former school.

The Davilas also have three other sons and a daughter, Faturechi said.

Verduzco, who resigned from the LAPD, was with the department from July 2015 to July 2018, the LAPD said. At the time of the crash, he worked the front desk at Central Division.

The result is a long-term fiscal forecast that is, for many, cloudy.

Or, as Garden Grove City Manager Lisa L. Kim succinctly summarized in her recent budget message: “As we move forward, we continue to navigate a dynamic landscape shaped by inflationary pressures, increasing pension obligations and the uncertainties of the global economy.”

A review of data from the California Public Employees’ Retirement System — and from cities themselves — found that Brea and Anaheim devote what amounts to a quarter of their general funds to retirements, while Fullerton, Garden Grove, Costa Mesa and Orange devote between 20 and 24%.

With the caveat that some cities tap more than one fund to pay for pension obligations, the cost is generally born by general funds (see what we did there?), so we’re using that for a sense of scale. We acknowledge that not everyone likes it, but it’s the measure we used when we did this exercise a decade ago, and using it again allows us to more clearly track changes.

And, wow, there were changes. We were stunned that some cities have seen fourfold increases in their retirement contributions, while others have seen them double and triple.

The growth in general funds, meanwhile, has lagged far behind. It has more than doubled in many cities, but has grown much less in many others.

Simply put, more money for pension promises (which can’t be broken, as per California courts) means less money for everything else.

Old v. new

But the squeeze isn’t hitting every city. This is largely a tale of old and new.

Consider Laguna Woods, where pensions equate to a wee 1% of its general fund budget. And Lake Forest, Aliso Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita, where pensions account for about 2%.

It’s less than 3% in Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Stanton and Villa Park; and less than 5% in Laguna Hills and Yorba Linda.

How can that possibly be?

It’s as simple as this: Old cities tend to have their own police and fire departments, and pensions for those public safety workers are crazy expensive.

Newer cities, in contrast, tend to contract out for police and fire services, rather than keep their own in-house departments. They essentially pool resources by hiring the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Orange County Fire Authority. The costs of expensive public safety pensions are built into the annual rates they pay for service, but their budgets don’t wilt under the weight of expensive public safety retirement liabilities.

Also, newer cities tend to have fewer employees, period. They contract out for things like building maintenance and landscaping, so their budgets — and pension obligations — are generally leaner, meaner machines. Lake Forest City Hall[/caption]

“Lake Forest remains debt free because it’s a relatively newer city that contracts out for services, avoiding large pension requirements. We have fewer than 70 full time employees. And the contract process for landscaping, street repair, etc., allows us to regularly issue requests for proposals for services, ensuring we are getting the best possible price. Additionally, the closure of the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro created an opportunity ….”

The military land was rezoned from industrial/commercial to housing and developers paid a per-unit fee when the building permits were issued. Those fees turned into money for street improvements, a Sports Park and a Civic Center.

Not everyone is lucky enough to have a former Marine base in their backyard, though. In lean Laguna Woods, the city council made six extra lump sum payments to erase its unfunded pension liabilities since 2017. That means, as of right now, “the city’s pension plans are fully funded according to the most current actuarial valuations,” said City Manager Christopher Macon.

How’d we get here?

First, the basics: Cities and workers send money to CalPERS; CalPERS invests it; then CalPERS pays the pensions when workers retire.

CalPERS will be releasing updates on the funded status of each city’s plans in coming weeks. It announced stellar returns of 11.6% on investments over the last year, which boosts its overall funded status to 79% (quite a bit rosier than the 71.4% it posted in 2023 and the 75% in 2024).

That means CalPERS is very nearly almost at the 80% funded status many experts say is acceptable — though others argue 80% is still far too low for comfort. (It means, as of right now, CalPERS only has 80% of what workers are owed.)

It wasn’t always like this. In 2001, CalPERS was once a beefy 112% funded. But lawmakers, believing the gravy days would last forever, started dramatically boosting retirement benefits for public workers while simultaneously failing to set aside money to fund them.

Then we had a Great Recession. By 2013, CalPERS’ funded status had plunged to 70%.

The climb, since then, has been swell. But when you consider the billions upon billions of extra dollars that agencies and workers have funneled into the system over the past dozen years, it’s a bit depressing that the status isn’t higher.

And it’s infuriating that, in light of all this, that lawmakers tried again this year to boost pension benefits for public workers. The bills didn’t get far, but they’ll surely be back in some form or other.

Many strategies to fill the holes

Lean Laguna Woods, like many cities new and old, has set up a “pension prefunding trust account” to pay down its pension debt. In this system, money is stashed away and can’t be used for anything else. And while it’s not yet accounted for in official figures, it will lighten the future load.

These trusts allow cities to invest more effectively than do other investment accounts, which aim for liquidity and produce lower returns, said Andy Hall, San Clemente’s city manager. When the trust’s balance has grown, and/or after a good investment year, cities can make prepayments to CalPERS to lower long-term liabilities.

“It is a really great option that allows cities to benefit from much higher investment returns,” Hall said.

Lean mean Villa Park has such a trust, which is approaching $1 million (and has another trust for promised health benefits as well). Villa Park contributes annually and expects to hit a funded status of 89% in just a couple of years, said City Manager Steve Franks.

Meanwhile, the full-service city of Newport Beach has been aggressive in paying down CALPERS debt, contributing some $15 million a year above and beyond what’s required for several years running, spokesman John Pope said. It will pay a total of some $60 million to CalPERS this year, said Finance Director Jason Al-Imam, and Pope said the city is on track to erase its pension debt by 2033.

For other cities, issuing bonds to pay down pension debt has been an arrow in the quiver. Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Orange, La Habra and Buena Park have done so.

Pension Obligation Bonds, as they are known, involve borrowing money at a low interest rate, investing it so that it earns a higher interest rate and then reaping the difference. It’s a useful tool in the hands of the right governments at the right time, The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College has said. But, too often, it has been used by the wrong governments at the wrong time.

That doesn’t appear to be the case here, as cities borrowed when interest rates were super low. Fountain Valley made an extra $3 million payment to CalPERS in January, and will make another in the 2025-26 fiscal year, said finance director Ryan Smith. Such outlays will continue until the debt is paid down.

Orange’s pension-related bond payment this year will be $16.2 million, while the city will send $17.5 million to CalPERS. That will put its funded status at a lovely 92.5% for general workers, and 89.5% for public safety workers, said spokeswoman Charlene Cheng.

Meanwhile, La Habra will pay $4.8 million in pension-related bond debt this year. The city has a policy requiring that half the money it makes via its pension-related bonds goes back into the pension trust fund, which currently has nearly $13 million, said Jack Ponvanit, deputy finance director.

So yes, local cities are working on their future pension woes, and they’re counting on the burden easing in coming years. Reforms muscled through the Legislature by then-Gov. Jerry Brown in 2013 lowered retirement formulas for new hires, and those folks will start retiring over the next decade or so.

Meantime, though, the pinch hurts. Anaheim is one of those cities that has seen pension obligations grow faster than its general fund.

“As Orange County largest city, no one should be surprised by Anaheim’s pension obligations and yearly costs,” said spokesman Mike Lyster. “We serve people, and it takes people to do that. And with that comes pensions. As we continue to work through retirement cycles, we expect to see improving pension costs in the years ahead as 2013 reforms fully play out.”

We’ll be circling back with more details on all this when CalPERS releases new data soon. ‘Til then, fingers crossed.