“We’re an authentic Tijuana taqueria. I grew up on both sides of the border and us Mexicans we’re obviously always eating tacos in Tijuana and I saw that gap here in Brea for that authentic taco, that mesquite-cooked carne asada,” said Ivan Flores, the founder and CEO of the small but growing taqueria chain, which will open in Brea by the first week of August.

Flores opened his first Tacomasa in Long Beach in 2021, followed by locations in El Segundo and Cypress. He’s also responsible for Blue Burro, a burrito taqueria, and the Buffalo Spot, which serves chicken wings, buffalo fries and shakes.

The new Tacomasa restaurant will sport an authentic taqueria style with tile floors and tile on the tables.

“You’re going to feel like you’re at a taqueria in Tijuana and that smell of the mesquite, the carne asada cooking is what’s going to bring you in,” he said.

At Tacomesa the tacos are authentic Tijuana-style dishes, which means they are cooked over mesquite and served in house-made tortillas and unless otherwise requested, they’re made “con todo,” which means with everything; onions, cilantro, guacamole and salsa.

Among the stars on his menu are the asada (steak) tacos.

“When it comes to tacos I’m a carne asada guy. A lot of places don’t use mesquite like in Tijuana which we use. And we have our own special guacamole that we use just for the asada and with our handmade tortillas every single bite is a special treat,” Flores said.

Also on the taco menu are nopal, tripe, adobada, chicken and tongue tacos. The menu also includes vampiros, which are a cross between a tostada and a quesadilla served on a crispy tortilla with melted cheese, plus the menu offers mulitas, made with two crispy tortillas sandwiching meat, cheese or other fillings. Tortas are also a popular items at Tacomasa and they’re made with mayonnaise, cheese, onion, cilantro, guacamole and salsa.

And of course Tacomasa has burritos and for those in Brea trying one for the first time at Tacomasa Flores recommends the adobada, a marinated pork burrito.

“We have the family recipe, it’s a lot of different spices and we marinate it for 48 hours. The marinade is what counts in the adobada,” he said. “Each bite takes you too heaven,” he added.

Tacomasa will open at 275 W Birch St., Brea. For more information go to tacomasa.com

Myers passed away July 1. He was 66.

According to a message posted to Brunos Italian Kitchen’s social media platforms: “To many, he was known as the “Mayor of Brea” — a nickname that spoke to his magnetic personality and deep connection to the community. He had an incredible way of making everyone feel seen. Whether it was your first visit or your hundredth, he greeted you with a giant smile and genuine warmth.”

ALSO READ: The major Orange County restaurant closures of 2025 (so far)

The message goes on to note, “He didn’t just build a restaurant — he built a community. And we are all better for having known him.”

Myers got his start in the food industry as a teenage busser at Casa Molina in Arizona (he also attended the University of Arizona, according to his LinkedIn profile), moving to Orange County in the early 1980s.

He had a lengthy career in hospitality management and ownership, including holding the title of president of seafood restaurants at Taps Fish House and Brewery in Brea and the Catch in Anaheim, as well as joint venture partner for Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine in Rancho Mirage, Dallas and Chicago.

In 2011, Myers held a fundraiser for a Cha Cha’s bartender who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. He was named Restaurateur of the Year by the Orange County Business Journal in 2014.

No cause of death was provided by the family. Myers is survived by two children and leaves behind his wife, Ester Myers.

Starting Saturday, July 12, the registrar is hosting several workshops to hear from Orange County voters on polling and ballot drop box locations, accessibility of polling stations, language access, voting outreach programs and safety procedures.

The workshops — several of which offer other languages, including Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese — run through the rest of the month and into August.

They are an effort to solicit feedback on how the county can update and improve its Election Administration Plan, which governs how the voting process works in Orange County, said Bob Page, the registrar of voters.

Workshops, which can last between one and one and a half hours, will be split into two categories: general public workshops and accessibility language workshops.

General public workshops are opportunities for anyone to provide feedback. Accessibility language workshops — in addition to having translators for various languages — will focus on how polling centers can better accommodate those whose first language is not English.

Rooms will be divided into five sections — voting and ballot drop box locations, accessibility of voting facilities, language assistance and accessibility services, voter education and outreach programs and safety and security of the election process — where attendees can provide verbal or written feedback, said Page.

Attendees can participate in one or all of the categories. There will also be a packet for attendees who would rather write down all of their feedback instead of visiting each station separately.

“We wanted to give them an opportunity to be comfortable providing feedback in the method they want in the areas they want,” said Page.

The Voters Choice Act, a state law that lays out how counties administer an all-mail ballot election system with ballot drop-off locations and vote centers, requires the registrar to hold a public feedback forum after initial changes are made to the election plan. But Page said his office is hosting the series of workshops — before the plan is edited — to give local voters more involvement in the process.

“We don’t want to just do the minimum required,” Page said. “We want to make sure that we’re getting feedback from as many different people as we can.”

Other factors the registrar is considering for updates include federal and state law, data from previous elections, best practices determined by the registrar and the county budget, Page said.

“The community input and feedback is a very important part of any update we make, but that has to be balanced with those other four elements in terms of what is actually in the plan,” Page said.

Aside from the 15 scheduled workshops, the registrar has invited more than 250 organizations to schedule small group meetings. Many of these organizations are involved in voter outreach and the voting process by lending their facilities for polling locations and drop-off boxes, Page said.

The registrar plans to complete the initial feedback process in the first week of August, Page said. The registrar’s office will then compile summaries of the feedback to be published online and create the first draft of the new 2026-2030 EAP.

“I’ve got a deadline to meet and I’m trying to do my best to give people as much time as possible and as many different formats to provide input,” Page said.

The secretary of state has requested the final draft of the EAP by Dec. 1, although by law it is due 120 days before the June 2026 primary election, which would be in February 2026, Page said.

After the first draft of the EAP is published, there will be a 14-day public review period during which people can provide additional comments on the plan. The registrar’s office has also scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 25 at the Irvine City Hall for in-person feedback.

The registrar will make necessary changes based on feedback received online and at the hearing, Page said. The office will then post a final draft that receives the same 14-day review before final changes are made and the EAP is sent to the secretary of state.

The election plan spanning 2021-2025 is available in 10 languages on the registrar of voters’ website. More information about the workshops or how to submit a feedback form online can also be found on the registrar’s website.

Workshops are scheduled for:

• Saturday, July 12: San Juan Capistrano Community Center (25925 Camino Del Avion), 10-11:30 a.m.

• Monday, July 14: Buena Park Community Center (6688 Beach Blvd.), 6-7 p.m.; Korean language meeting

• Wednesday, July 16: Los Olivos Community Center in Irvine (101 Alfonso), 6-7 p.m.; Farsi interpretation available

• Thursday, July 17: Delhi Center in Santa Ana (505 E. Central Ave.), 6-7 p.m.; Spanish language meeting

• Saturday, July 19: Fountain Valley Recreation Center (16400 Brookhurst St.), 10-11 a.m.; Vietnamese language meeting

• Monday, July 21: South Coast Chinese Cultural Center in Irvine (9 Truman St.), 6-7 p.m.; Chinese language meeting

• Tuesday, July 22: Southwest Senior Center in Santa Ana (2201 W. McFadden Ave.), 6-7:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, July 23: Zoom meeting with ASL interpretation available, 6-7 p.m.

• Thursday, July 24: West Anaheim Youth Center (320 S. Beach Blvd.), 6-7 p.m., Tagalog interpretation available

• Saturday, July 26: Huntington Beach Central Library (7111 Talbert Ave.), 10-11:30 a.m.

• Monday, July 28: Northwood Community Center in Irvine (4531 Bryan Ave.), 6-7 p.m., Japanese interpretation available

• Tuesday, July 29: Norman P. Murray Community Center in Mission Viejo (24932 Veterans Way), 6-7:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, July 30: Buena Park Library (7150 La Palma Ave.), 6-7 p.m.; Hindi interpretation available

• Thursday, July 31: East Anaheim Community Center (8201 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd.), 6-7 p.m.; Gujarati interpretation available

• Saturday, Aug. 2: Brea Community Center (695 Madison Way), 10-11:30 a.m.

We went from using our own trash cans for everything, then came the three-cart system for separating yard waste, trash and recyclables.

Now we’ve advanced to the next chapter of trash.

As of July 1, we are required by law to separate our organic refuse. It is the result of Senate Bill 1383, the residential organic waste recycling law to keep useable waste out of the landfills, and help improve the environment. It was signed into law in September 2024. It is now in effect.

Brea residents have been alerted about it through mailings, online, City Council meetings and in the Brea Line newsletter. Still, several people I’ve spoken with didn’t recall hearing about it or forgot about it starting July 1.

Many of us received the Residential Service Guide by mail on June 29 or 30 and others still haven’t received it, or thought it was junk mail and tossed it out.  It has good information that tells exactly what goes into our yard waste, trash and recycling carts. Too bad it wasn’t sent a week earlier, and reminders posted on social media, the city TV channel and on the electronic message boards around town.

Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale starts July 12. I can’t count all the pre-sale email promos I’ve received more than two weeks prior to that date. Maybe the city and Republic Services should follow Nordstrom’s example on getting the word out.

But the time is now. Are you tossing your food scrapes, pizza boxes and used paper plates and napkins in your yard waste bin? I surveyed 25 Breans and got varied responses. Most said they would adhere to the program. Some said they are already bagging food scraps, freezing them and then putting them in the yard waste cart on trash day, something recommended in the guide.

Others said their freezers are full, so freezing food scraps was not an option. Even more people said they probably would keep putting food scraps in their black trash cart. That can cause contamination.

The new law requires contamination monitoring. If a contamination inspector sees you threw last night’s leftovers in the trash cart instead of the yard waste/organics cart, a courtesy notice may be left on the cart. If it happens again, you may be fined.

One person I surveyed said he would put vegetable waste in a countertop container and empty it into the brown cart, but not meat waste, which he will continue to put in the trash cart.

One couple said they are redoing their yard, the cart is always full, and they don’t want to throw food waste in it. Think it is gross.

Several people are concerned about smells, flies and critters, so they do not want to put food waste into the brown cart. Francesca Vivanti, Brea’s recycling pro, suggests layering organics with the yard waste to keep smells down and the lid closed to keep rodents away.

At the recycling info booth at Brea’s July 4 Country Fair, Vivanti told me that eventually we will get new refuse carts and the old ones will be recycled. I learned that shredded paper is not recyclable and goes into the trash cart.

She also suggests putting cardboard in the bottom of a paper bag to catch drips from collected food scraps. When full, toss the bag in the yard/organics cart.

Other people are composting their food waste, something I may do. We don’t like change, but in time, this system will be no big deal.

Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at  daxoncomm@gmail.com.

Throughout Orange County, Independence Day parades and community gatherings are showcasing countless American flags waving, plenty of red, white and blue decore splashed throughout, and patriotic remembrances to mark the Fourth of July holiday.

In Huntington Beach, some parade-goers staked out their prime spots before dawn today to watch the famed march down Main Street, this year celebrating 121 years. The event is dubbed the biggest Fourth of July parade west of the Mississippi River.

Classic cars cruised down the drag, Huntington Beach High students marched, and patriotic floats made their way along the 2.5-mile route.

This year’s 2025 Community Grand Marshal was Mike Ali, a Vietnam veteran and owner of Zack’s by the Beach. The teen Grand Marshal is Bailey Turner, a 16-year-old rising surf star who has earned several prestigious titles, including U18 National USA Champion, Women’s NSSA National Champion, U16 Regional Champion, and Ripcurl Gromsearch Champion.

Further inland, Brea’s annual Country Fair drew crowds for a day full of patriotic festivities.

Today featured everything from a pancake breakfast, live entertainment, kiddie parade, dog parade, classic car show, food, games, exhibits, and handmade gifts. The most patriotic baby was declared and other contests hosted.

The celebration that filled City Hall Park marked the 45th year Brea has held its famed county fair.

Revelers who once could illegally ignite fireworks and scatter before police officers arrive or who suffer from collective amnesia when questioned about who lit the fuse may still find themselves lighter in the wallet. For the first time in parts of Southern California, stealthy aerial surveillance will attempt to nab them in the act.

Riverside, Hemet and Brea, and possibly other cities, will launch drones to film illegal activity as municipalities increasingly marry new technology with old-fashioned legislation to prevent injuries and the type of fast-moving fires that devastated the region in January.

Offenders or their landlords will then receive a surprise: Those cities are mailing citations to property owners, in some cases without ever first contacting them, regardless of whether they were present when the fireworks sparkled, smoked or skyrocketed.

“This year, with the drone, people won’t even know they are being caught,” said Capt. Ray Mendoza, Riverside’s lead arson investigator.

“Think no one’s watching? Our drone says otherwise,” Hemet police warned.

In Brea, where Police Chief Adam Hawley told the City Council that education programs, increased patrols and heavier fines haven’t significantly deterred fireworks use, he decided a new approach was required.

“Fireworks pose significant safety risks to the residents of Brea and increase the potential for wildfires, especially in hillside areas,” Hawley said in a report that prompted councilmembers to rewrite the Municipal Code to include harsher financial penalties and hold property owners liable. “The discharge of commercial-style fireworks mortars, in particular, has become increasingly prevalent, leading to heightened concerns for public safety and property damage.”

Even the so-called safe and sane fireworks are illegal in those three cities, as well as aerial fireworks and those that zip along the ground. While legal in other states, they are outlawed everywhere in California.

Other cities are changing tactics as well.

Anaheim and Stanton, which both allow safe and sane fireworks, passed ordinances this spring increasing fines and holding property owners responsible. Stanton’s ordinance threatens to revoke the business licenses of places that repeatedly store and sell illegal fireworks.

Pasadena is also holding property owners responsible for fireworks violations.

The Eaton fire killed 18 people and destroyed some 9,000 homes and other buildings across Altadena and Pasadena, and just the mention of fireworks makes residents nervous, Pasadena spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.

Officials there urge people to keep fireworks out of the city and not to shoot them off near the Rose Bowl during this year’s Fourth of July drone show, as they commonly do.

“Right now, the sound of fireworks, the smell of fireworks and the sight of fireworks are causing a lot of angst in our city,” Derderian said. “Please don’t traumatize our residents who have lost everything.”

So far, calls to police about fireworks are less than usual, Derderian said. She hopes that’s because fewer people are igniting them out of respect for their neighbors. (Derderian added that the city will not need to turn off its ShotSpotter gunfire-detection system on July 4 because it can differentiate between shots and fireworks explosions.)

The danger is real: Nationwide, fireworks injuries sent 14,700 people to hospitals in 2024, an increase of 52% from 9,700 in 2023, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Fireworks started more than 31,000 fires across the country, the report said.

Mendoza, the Riverside arson investigator, has witnessed the consequences of illegal use of fireworks. Three people were injured in a single explosion in the city last year that blew one man’s hand off. On July 21, teenagers playing with fireworks ignited the Hawarden fire that destroyed seven homes and damaged 18 others.

Mendoza and Riverside police recently demonstrated one of “numerous” drones they plan to deploy around the holiday. Detective Cole Tuggle donned goggles that allowed him to see what the drone’s camera is recording as he guided it with a handheld controller.

The drones, which can fly as high as 400 feet, are also equipped with a zoom lens, spotlight and speaker. It weighs less than 5 pounds, Tuggle said.

Calls and app messages to the city’s 311 system will alert drone operators to busy locations. Police will not respond to the drone’s location; instead, the drone will identify the address, and the city will mail a citation to the property owner. The minimum fine is $1,500.

Mendoza called the fines “our last resort” after an online education campaign.

“That’s going to be key to us being able to get to various locations immediately, on top of having our patrol teams out and about,” Mendoza said. “It will help us identify the location and get live video of individuals that are igniting fireworks.”

Brea has increased its fines to $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second and $1,000 for the third within 12 months from $100, $200 and $500.

Lt. Chris Haddad said he has worked 12 Independence Days and figures he has written “a couple of tickets.”

“Traditionally, it’s been hard to catch them,” Haddad said. “We have to catch them in the act.”

Now, officers will respond to complaints with a drone, and the operator will direct officers on the ground to the location. If the people have fled, the property owner will receive the citation, Haddad said.

Hemet is deploying its drones and officers similarly to Brea. The city has established a fireworks hotline, 951-765-3827, and an email address, pdfireworks@hemetca.gov. Fireworks may also be reported through the Police Department’s app.

In San Bernardino, where safe and sane fireworks may be sold and shot off south of the 210 Freeway and 30th Street but not elsewhere, the City Council in June considered a one-year moratorium on sales by nonprofit organizations because of safety concerns and the cost of enforcement. That figure was $270,000 in 2024, while taxes on sales brought in $97,000.

Police Chief Darren Goodman told councilmembers that a ban would not prevent residents from lighting fireworks, and the proposal was rejected.

Sgt. Christopher Gray, a police spokesman, declined to share enforcement plans. The department did post to social media a photo of 2,000 pounds of high-octane fireworks from out of state that officers seized.

In the city of Los Angeles, where the Palisades fire killed 12 people and destroyed almost 7,000 structures, the Police Department was not ready on June 26 to share its fireworks-enforcement plans.

“Unfortunately, there are no interviews on fireworks being granted at this time,” Officer Drake Madison wrote in an email.

The Southern California cities employing drones modeled their programs after the highly successful effort in Elk Grove in Sacramento County.

Two years ago, police there began using drones to identify problem areas, spokesman Sgt. Jason Jimenez said. They are used in conjunction with the technology in the city’s real-time center that includes traffic cameras and license plate readers.

In January, Jimenez said, Elk Grove became the first city to receive a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration that allows it to send drones out of the line of sight of operators. This year, he said, its three drones will be able to reach any spot in the 42-square-mile city in less than 3 minutes.

“The reality is that you have large parties with many people, and it could be dangerous to send an officer or two into that,” Jimenez said. “Most times, people have been drinking. We find this is the easiest way to mitigate that.”

The city threatens a fine of $1,000 per individual firework. One man planning to ignite two pallets of fireworks was billed $100,000 in 2024 after officers caught him. The fine could have been more, Jimenez said.

“They stopped counting,” he said.

I was a copywriter for a major retailer, writing print ads and press releases, along with Tom, the other copywriter.

Tom and I had the same education, responsibilities and experience. Then one day I discovered that although our jobs were equal, Tom was paid more than me. I asked our boss why. His response: “Oh, Terri honey, you are single and live at home. Tom is married and has a baby.”

Terri Honey soon found another copywriting job where I earned more money and was treated as an equal staff member.

Unfortunately, stories like mine are still happening today. That’s why women entering or trying to advance in the business world can learn a lot through the Women’s Rising Leadership Academy, offered through the Brea Chamber of Commerce, of which I am a member.

According to Brea Chamber President and CEO Lacy Schoen, it all started at Cal State Fullerton in 2015 in its College of Business and Economics, where the CSUF Women’s Leadership Program began. Schoen was invited to sit on the university’s programs board and later became a paid consultant for the program.

Schoen proposed refinements to the program for working women that would center on workshops on overcoming barriers. It would be offered through the Brea chamber.

The Women Rising Leadership Academy was approved by the chamber’s board of directors and in 2022, in partnership with CSUF, was launched.

WRLA consists of eight intensive 3-hour workshops, including women’s workplace issues, executive women’s insights on overcoming obstacles to leadership, developing executive presence, salary negotiations, increasing your influence, communicating with men, the unwritten rules of workplace success and learning lessons from academy grads. The instructors are women executives dedicated to helping other women succeed in business, said Schoen.

In addition, participants have access to five one-on-one coaching sessions, a follow-up support group of WRLA grads and access to local professional job opportunities. So far, there are 250 WRLA grads.

Participants must be able to attend at least seven sessions, be able to make a commitment to their personal growth, and be able to apply what they learn.

The number of participants varies; the last session had 130 per workshop. The academy is open to women of all ages.

“Most women are in their mid-careers, so 35 to 55,” said Schoen, “however we have participants each year as young as 20 and as mature as 67.”

The next session begins in September. The last day to apply is Aug. 15.

A $50 deposit is required when applying, but returned if you are not accepted.

OK, the important part – the cost. Tuition is $1,000, but the first 80 applicants each receive a  $703 WRLA Scholarship provided by the program sponsors. Those 80 women, if accepted for the program, will pay their $50 deposit plus $31 per month for 8 months.

Women applying after the 80 scholarships are awarded have to pay the $1,000 fee. If you are really interested in being in the program, apply now. Go to womenrisingleadershipacademy.com for the application link. Brea chamber membership is not required.

The program has 18 sponsors, including the County of Orange, John Wayne Airport, Chapman University’s Argyros College of Business & Economics, Chevron, the Orange Chamber of Commerce and Amazon, to name a few.

The WRLA graduates I’ve spoken with said they are more confident in their ability to compete and rise in the business world.

“The opportunity to engage with accomplished facilitators and network with a community of inspiring, ambitious women was truly invaluable,” said graduate Lea Veakrakmann.

Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at  daxoncomm@gmail.com.

Eric Desatoff’s 8-year-old son, Walter, travels in style at the Cruisin’ Brea Car Show on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15, 2025. Desatoff comes from a family of mechanics, including his father, George Desatoff, who has owned Modern Auto Body Service in Anaheim since 1975. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Cruisin’ Brea Car Show is packed with people on Sunday, June 15, 2025, including dads enjoying a relaxing Father’s Day. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ryan and Nicole Molera of Fullerton make time for a Father’s Day photo with their children, Austin, 2, and Brooke, 4 months, during the Cruisin’ Brea Car Show on Sunday, June 15, 2025. After the car show, a family tradition, they planned to go back home and barbecue. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Three-year-old Aydan DeSantiago checks out a decked-out 1972 Chevy owned by David Muerta during the Cruisin’ Brea Father’s Day Car show on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Sam Becerra of Orange examines an old-school Chevy during the Cruisin’ Brea Father’s Day Car show on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Becerra has a 1964 Chevy “Sunday driver” that his dad owned, and he keeps mainly for sentimental reasons, he said. Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Rod Gillespie of Fullerton shows off his Misty Burgundy 1965 Pontiac LeMans, foreground, at the Cruisin’ Brea Car Show on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15, 2025. Gillespie, a caretaker for his elderly parents, says the event helps him relax and interact with others who share his interest in cars. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Colorful classic cars are displayed during the 30th Cruisin’ Brea Car Show on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Karen and Steve Sully spend part of Father’s Day at the Brea Car Show with their two dogs, 3-pound Princess Petuna, left, and Cornelius, center. Their son’s dog also joined in the fun on Sunday, June 15, 2025, before the family headed home for a barbecue. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Maddox Magallon, 2, of Fullerton sports a screaming yellow ride, just like the Chevy Corvette on display at the Cruisin’ Brea Father’s Day Car show on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The 30th Cruisin’ Brea Car Show welcomes dads on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Cars on display in a parking garage at the Cruisin’ Brea Father’s Day Car Show take on a golden hue on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

There’s a tradition in Brea for how to celebrate fathers.

Line up cars of all vintage and style along Birch Street and let the dads wander and take a look.

The Cruisin’ Brea Classic Car show is in its 30th year, a Father’s Day must for many.

Visitors this Sunday brought cans of food and other donations for the OC Food Bank and there were also vendors to check out and the shops and entertainment of Brea Downtown.

The company owned by Sailvan Times in Shenzen opens Tuesday, June 3 at a former 99 Cents Only location at 2450 East Chapman Ave.

We asked company representatives for details on its debut. Their answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Q: Are there other locations planned in the near future?

A: The Fullerton store marks Dressin’s first big leap into the U.S. local market. As its first physical presence here, the Fullerton store will play a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s understanding of retail dynamics and customer expectations in the region.

Dressin is actively exploring future expansion opportunities – potentially in nearby cities like Tustin or Santa Ana, as well as across neighboring counties such as Los Angeles.

Q: What is Sailvan Times?

A: The publicly listed company based in Shenzhen, China, has decades of experience in e-commerce, leveraging technology and platform-based operations to deliver high-quality, personalized fashion and lifestyle products to consumers worldwide.

Q: Who is the target shopper?

A: Fashion enthusiasts seeking trend-forward looks without the designer price tag.

Q: Where is the merchandise made/sourced?

A: Unlike many fast-fashion giants, Dressin stands out by offering quality clothing at wholesale prices while maintaining a commitment to ethical labor practices. The company owns and operates its own factories, as well as partners with outsourced facilities in Vietnam.

Q: What is the price range?

A: In-store pricing will range from $7.99 – $23.99, with slight variation based on product category and specialty offerings.

The store opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to the company.*

The Dressin debut comes as e-commerce companies behind inexpensive clothing and housewares bypass traditional retailers and create their own stores instead. The shift has led to the demise of fast-fashion companies like Forever 21, which shuttered all of its stores in recent months.

In Orange, the housewares merchant Panda Mart is moving into a long-shuttered Sears at the Village at Orange. The retailer, which is based in South Africa but sources its products from China and other Asian countries, sells thousands of items for extremely low prices, akin to Temu, an online merchant known for rock-bottom pricing. Online videos show aisles and aisles of products ranging from kitchen gadgets all the way to appliances.

Editor’s note: The doors open at Dressin at 4 p.m., with a ribbon cutting slated for roughly 2 p.m. 

Home fragrance brand Voluspa opens Tuesday at Brea Mall

Voluspa, a home fragrance brand, opens Tuesday, June 3 at Brea Mall.

This store is the second for the company, with its flagship store at Fashion Island in Newport Beach.

Company reps tell us their bestselling format is the 9-ounce “Classic Candle” in most fragrances. It retails for $34, depending on the fragrance. Larger sizes have increased prices (for example, $38 for a large jar and $84 for a Luxe Jar).

Its candles and reed diffusers are made in California and are free of sulfates, parabens, pesticides and phthalates.

Look for the store at Suite 1108.

Sweetgreen debut in Laguna Niguel nears

Sweetgreen is opening its fifth location in Orange County in mid-June in Laguna Niguel.

The company founded in 2007 by three college students offers a whole-foods menu based on a farm-to-table concept. Sweetgreen’s menu includes protein bowls and entrees featuring roasted chicken, steak, salmon and veggies, salads, sides and kids meals.

The grand opening festivities at the Plaza de la Paz retail center are being held Tuesday, June 17. The company will donate a matching meal to Laguna Food Pantry.

“Orange County has given us the warmest welcome, allowing us to grow to five locations in less than two years,” said Jonathan Neman, CEO and co-founder of Sweetgreen.

Address: 27221 La Paz Road

Laser salon opens in Yorba Linda

SEV Laser recently opened its newest salon in Yorba Linda, the 12th for the company in Southern California and the second in Orange County.

The salon, founded by Sevana Petrosian in Los Angeles, is part of the elevated shopping center that’s home to Wolf Brewing at 18220 Yorba Linda Blvd. Look for Suite 306 next to Stefano’s.

In addition to laser options for the face, body and hair removal, the Yorba Linda med-spa offers Botox and other injectables. Prices range from single-visit pricing to monthly plans ranging from $15 to $3,520 for a complete body package.

The company has its other OC salon at 2222 Michelson Drive, Suite 242, in Irvine.

For more information, call 714-592-0337 or go to sevlaser.com/yorba-linda

Appointments

San Juan Capistrano resident Richard Stein was recently appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to the California Arts Council. Stein was president and chief executive of Arts Orange County from 2008 to 2025 and was executive director of the Laguna Playhouse from 1990 to 2007. The arts council position requires Senate confirmation. Daily compensation is $100. Stein is a Democrat.

Good works

Orange County Community Foundation on May 7 hosted an Empowering Possibilities online fundraiser, helping Beyond Blindness, one of nine participating nonprofits, raise $56,531 from 87 donors. Beyond Blindness helps children with visual impairments and other disabilities. The Wilfred M. and Janet A. Roof Foundation and the Caring Path Fund at the OCCF also provided matching donations.

Status Update is compiled and written by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to sgowen@scng.com. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.

June 1 — Concert in Aliso Viejo: Songs & Stories of Hope: A Free Family Concert, featuring Mostly Kosher and JAC Trio, brings Klezmer music to life, blending centuries-old Jewish folk traditions with a modern flair. Pre-concert activities start at 10 a.m., with performances beginning at 11. This show Presented as part of the Violins of Hope Project. Great for kids. Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo. Free tickets required. Get them at philharmonicsociety.org/concerts-tickets/calendar-of-events/songs-stories-of-hope

June 6, 13 — Movies in Brea: Come watch “Despicle Me 4” (2024) on June 6 or “Charlie’s Angels” (2000) on June 13 at Carbon Canyon Regional Park. Pre-movie entertainment starts at 6 p.m. and screenings begin at sunset. Free admission and parking. Bring picnic stuff. 4442 Carbon Canyon Road, Brea. ocparks.com

June 7 — Studio Saturdays in Ontario:. Make your own Neon Thunderbird in a guided pop art workshop at the Ontario Museum of History and Art. Materials provided. Advance sign-up is recommended. Noon to 3 p.m. 225 South Euclid Ave., Ontario. 909-395-2510. ontariomuseum.org/visit/

June 13 — Bad Art Night, Riverside: There are no judgments or restraints on what you can create at Bad Art Night in the La Sierra Library’s community room. Unleash your inner artist with all the art supplies you could imagine and create something amazing, no matter how it turns out. This is an adult event. Register in advance with Joseph Garcia at 951-826-2461 or JAGarcia@riversideca.gov. 3:30 p.m. 4600 La Sierra Ave., Riverside. riversideca.gov/library/hours-locations/la-sierra-library

June 14 — Piano and flute concert, Woodland Hills: Pianist Sonia Lee and flutist Pija Hocevar will perform at the Platt Library. 1 p.m. 23600 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills. 818-340-9386. plattlibrary.org/piano-flute-concert-june-14-1pm

June 14, 21 and 28 — Grand Park Performances, Los Angeles: Free concerts return to downtown L.A. for the summer. Veteran SoCal band Ozomatli plays a 30th anniversary show on June 14 with Healing Gems and Anthony Valadez. “John Coltrane: A Love Supreme at 60,” with Isaiah Collier, Surya Botofasina, Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation, and Jeremy Sole is June 21. “California Love: An Orchestral Celebration of Dr. Dre,” conducted by Sly5thAve, with DJ Jedi and Monalisa arrives June 28. Concerts are 6-10 p.m. California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles  grandperformances.org

June 17 — South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes Estates: This lovely botanical garden spread over 87 acres is free on the third Tuesday of every month. Check out 2,500 plant species, rose, fern and Japanese gardens and more. Make reservations online. It’s open daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Estates. 424-452-0920. southcoastbotanicgarden.org.

June 20 — Concert at Redlands Bowl: Jazz vocalist Nicole Henry and the Festival Orchestra will present a concert celebrating the legacy of Whitney Houston and other great pop divas on the opening night of the summer season. Bench and lawn seating, first come first served. Picnics are encouraged as are children, but no dogs. 8 p.m.  Redlands Bowl, 25 Grant St., Redlands. redlandsbowl.org/nicole-henry

June 20 and 27 — Movies in Fullerton: Watch “Inside Out 2” (2024) on June 20 or “Hercules” (1997) at Ted Craig Regional Park. Free admission and parking. Bring picnic stuff. Pre-show entertainment starts at 6 p.m.; screenings at sunset. 3300 State College Blvd., Fullerton. ocparks.com

June 24-27 — Band concerts in Long Beach: The Long Beach Municipal Band kicks off its summer season in the parks with “Wild, Wild West” featuring vocalist Crystal Lewis. Concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. Shows are at Whaley Park North on June 24, Los Cerritos Park on June 25, Conductor Larry Curtis Concert Park at Marine Stadium on June 26 and El Dorado Park West on June 27. Bring chairs and a picnic. longbeach.gov/park/recreation-programs/programs-and-classes/municipal-band/

June 28 — Bird Walk, Huntington Beach: Learn about a variety of birds from the birding experts during the Amigos de Bolsa Chica Bird Walk. 8:30 a.m. Meet in the south parking lot at the Bolsa Chica Reserve, on Pacific Coast Highway halfway between Warner and Seapoint, across from the entrance to Bolsa Chica State Beach. The Bolsa Chica provides feeding and nesting habitat for thousands of birds and is considered one of the prime birding sites in Southern California. 18000 Pacific Coast Highway. Huntington Beach. amigosdebolsachica.org/bolsa-chica