GAZETTEby Patrick Mahoney

SPRING 2018

NEWSLETTER OF THE PERALTA HILLS ESTATES IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

President’s Message

It’s the first day of spring (and raining) as I write this column today. Just when we started to see the first blooms of the season, the cooler temperatures return and rain is falling

again. Seeing the snowpack on the local mountains is not only beautiful – it gives me hope that we will have more water this summer to take care of our landscapes

It’s another beautiful day in our Peralta Hills neighborhood. I am happy to report that crime appears to be down. But am cautious about us all keeping our guard up. The extra steps we take to protect our homes and valuables makes all the different in the crime levels. When we are vigilant, the culprits take their seeding activity elsewhere. Let’s stay vigilant and safe too!

On the landscape front. I see a lot of our eucalyptus dying back Peralta. Why? The recent drought has weakened them. They can’t handle being trimmed way back. They need their foliage to stay alive. I read some great landscape suggestions on the UC Davis website that I wanted to share when looking at spring cleaning around your estate.

Watering efficiently could mean changing overhead irrigation to drip, installing a soaker hose that can be circled around the drip line of the tree or manually watering using a hose at a low trickle, allowing the water to percolate into the soil. When watering, think deep and infrequent. If you aren’t sure, get a soil probe and pull out a soil core. If it’s dry and crumbly, then your tree needs water. Our clay soils, which everyone loves to hate, actually are very good at holding water. Keep pruning to a minimum – removing dying, diseased or hazardous branches. This will keep the foliage on the tree to serve as nutrients and protection.

We plan on having a neighborhood meet mid summer meeting at the Chambi’s house to discuss the utility undergrounding and crime in our community. I will keep you all apprised of the date and time, but please come join us and bring your challenges and success stories too. We want Peralta Hills to be a safe beautiful place to call home. Speaking of beautiful, we are adding extra time to the gardening crew. That will help weed out some of the winter leaves and such and make way for the next season.

Mark your calendar for September 22nd for the annual neighborhood Gala event. This year we will be hosted at the Estate of KV & Hung Nguyen. The theme will be The Phantom of Peralta Hills and should be a fun theme for the gala. Details are in the works but in the meantime many great neighborhood activities will be shared on the FaceBook page – don’t forget to bookmark it.

Easter is early this year and Jolynn and I look forward to spending time with family and friends in the garden as the days grow longer and warmer. We hope you and yours have a wonderful spring season. See you soon.

Blessings,

ELECTED OFFICERSBOARD OF DIRECTORS

President:Patrick Mahoney 714-920-0445

Vice President:Steve Kitsigianis

Secretary:Lane Curtis 714-381-8393

Treasurer:Francisa Klos 714-349-9922Immediate Past President:

Sonia Jekums 714-865-5276Members:

Bill Manos 714-273-7065Sheila Ponce 714-931-2577

COMMITTEE CHAIRSWelcome:Delia CaboLinda Knohl

Sonia JekumsJoan Schlund

Lakshmi ChanduNeighborhood Watch:

Sheila Ponce 714-931-2577 James Jekums 714-348-0930

Underground Utilities:Andy Plisko, M.D.

Cathy WillsPeralta Hills Awards Beautification:

Emily GuichetSteve KitsigianisPatrick Mahoney

Cathy WillsCLUB CHAIRS

Book Club: Lois Howland 714-998-3045Kids Club: Carolyn Dominquez 714-809-8547Movie Club: Martha Mahoney 714-602-7159

Pet Registry: Cathy Wills 714-998-3716Tennis Club: Joan Schlund 714-637-2638

Wine Club: Cathy Wills 714-998-3716EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor in Chief: Sonia Jekums

Associate Editor: Patrick Mahoney

Columnists: Bette AitkenSandra Day

Francisca KlosRobert Frazier

Raza KitsigianisRichard Stegemeier

Bill ManosHistorian:Lucille Krueger

Profile: Cathy WillsRestaurant Review: Jeannette D. Curtis

Graphic Designer: MaryBeth HighleyPAST PRESIDENTS IN RESIDENCE

Richard CramerDr. Howard KnohlBob McComber

Sonia S. JekumsMANAGEMENT

Andrew Steedmanpheiamanagement@gmail.com

peraltahillsassociation.com

Neighborhood Watch by James Jekums & Sheila Ponce

PHEIA Management by Andrew Steedman

PHEIA MEETING FEBRUARY 7TH, 2018 Members in Attendance: Pat, Steve, Sheila, Lane, Bill, Andrew and Sonia | Location: Sonia’s Office

PHEIA MEETING NOTES CONTINUED:

1. Finances a. Checking:$72,732.10 b. Savings: $20,182.00 (transfer money so it sits at $25,000) c. Total:$92,914.10 i. Setup budget for 2018 beautification projects ii. Quarterly reports beginning with 2018 Q1 in April d. Dues

2. Gala i. Total Collected (Since July): $27,350.00 ii. # of Households: 101 iii.Going to add a dues button/page to the website so residents can pay by credit card anytime they want1. Will include the letter and levels2. Sending out a reminder via email and regular mail 3. New mailing address (my Newport Beach address) a. Confirmation of hosts? Nguyens will host; Lane and Jeannette to discuss dates and themes b. Other updates?

3. Gazette a. Sonia with update: Articles due March 20th with issues going out by 1st week of April. Remind neighbors about home security while away

4. NeighborhoodWatch a. Sheila/James/Bill with update b. Emailing residents about break ins and suspicious activity; best way to go about informing residents about activity in the area c. Other concerns or updates? i. Guest speaker, Officer Ned, spoke on security topics and will join us at our annual community meeting ii. Cathy Wills working with block captains to establish duties and protocol for new and current neighbors

5. Beautification a. Pat with update: pine tree removal/replacement and the board approved to send Tony out an extra day i. Brainstorming on potential projects for the new year. Will get bids on pilasters.

6. Website/Facebook a. Update is in progress b. Will post activity reports and club announcements to FB page as I get them. Any other suggestions for FB page? i. New address: 1253 Rutland Rd, Newport Beach, CA 92660

7. Utilities a. Undergrounding of utilities got approved by city. Additional streets have been added and the project will begin sometime next year b. Test street lights going up on main streets to see if neighbors like them or not

Notes from Officer Ned• Alarms usually have a 10-minute delay which is why the average break-in lasts only 8 minutes• Recommends getting your own camera setup with motion sensors for both inside and outside your home • Preferably have it linked to your phone so you can get a live update if something triggers the

motion sensors while you’re away • Costs for systems range in price but it’s the most cost-effective solution• If you need to report suspicious activities, people, or cars, be sure to grab as much of the following info as

possible: • Time, location, description of person(s) or vehicle(s), license plate (if a vehicle is involved this

is crucial info to have), and a description of the incident or activity • Once you’ve documented the incident, call the police immediately and give all details • Inform neighborhood watch and Andrew Steedman with details so we can email and post to

Facebook so neighbors are informed• One of the big mistakes that people make is confronting the suspicious person(s) as it lets them know when

people are home. They’re likely to leave and come back at different times to see when the street or home has the least amount of activity

• Recommends street lights as it eliminates a lot of hiding spots and timers can be set to compromise for neighbors who don’t want the lights on all the time

Page 3

Dear Neighbors,

I made arrangements with the Anaheim PD to have the “decoy” unit placed in various locations throughout the neighborhood. We’ve been lucky to have the unit for our use the past five weeks or so. Having the police car visible tends to discourage people from hanging out or casing the area. Remember to light up your residences as much as possible during evening hours and if you have Home safes be sure to secure them so suspects can’t just pick them up and carry them out of your house. If you need tips on how to more effectively secure your home I can direct you to the officer who will walk you through a home inspection.

Be safe,Sheila Ponce

Co-Chairs:James Jekums & Sheila Ponce

714.348.0930 714.931.2577

Please contact James or Sheila

if you have any news to share of suspicious activity or burglaries

Tennis Anyone? by Joan Schlund

Isner wins biggest win beating Zverev in Miami open finalKEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) -- John Isner punctuated his unexpected run to the Miami Open title with a surprising display of agility, dancing across the court while basking in a breakthrough.The 6-foot-10 Isner looked twice as tall skipping about with a grin brighter than the Florida sunshine. He had just won the biggest title of his 14-year career, holding every service game and rallying past Alexander Zverev 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday.Isner, who turns 33 this month, previously had been 0-3 in ATP Masters 1000 finals.‘’You can’t replicate moments like this,’’ Isner said during the trophy ceremony. ‘’I’m toward the latter part of my career; this is the best moment of my career.’’Isner’s win came in the last singles match on Key Biscayne before the Miami

Open moves next year to the NFL Dolphins’ stadium. Seeded 14th, Isner became the first American man to win the tournament since Andy Roddick in 2010. Isner joined Sloane Stephens, who won the women’s title Saturday, for the first U.S. sweep in the event since 2004, when the champions were Roddick and Serena Williams.Both Roger Federer and Novak Djacovic was eliminated in the first round.

Neighbors gathered at the hilltop estate of Hung and KV Nguyen on February 18, 2018 for a lovely afternoon of wine, food and great friends.

It was one of our most formal and well attended events. Special thanks to Hung and KV for opening their beautiful home and hosting such a nice event for the neighborhood.

At this time, we have no future wine tastings scheduled. If you might be interested I hosting a wine event, please contact me at: cawills@pacbell.net.

Cheers!

Cathy

SANTA ANA – An accused serial thief was charged on Friday for allegedly burglarizing a Garden Grove bookstore after his blood was found at the crime scene, authorities said.

David Navor Andrade, 26, of Garden Grove allegedly shattered the glass front door of a business at about 4:45 a.m. Dec. 6 and stole $220 in cash, four external hard drives and a box of checks, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said.

Police collected blood from the broken glass and quickly got a match to Andrade’s DNA profile, the DA’s Office said. Authorities said Andrade had provided his DNA to the District Attorney’s Office as a condition of his sentencing after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor drug charge in 2014.

He was arrested on Wednesday while appearing at the Fullerton courthouse on misdemeanor

drug charges, authorities said. Authorities said he had a counterfeit $100 bill at the time of his arrest and had stolen property at his home, including a passport, multiple identification cards, check stubs and two Louis Vuitton handbags.

He is charged with two counts each of felony burglary and forgery, and misdemeanor counts of identify theft, mail theft and receiving stolen property. He is also facing sentencing enhancements for committing crimes while being out on bail on other charges, authorities said.

In May, he was accused of stealing a vehicle in Garden Grove, authorities said. He was out of custody for 50 days before he was accused in July of stealing a vehicle in Orange and fleeing from police while being under the influence, authorities said. He was out of custody for 35 days before the alleged burglary in Garden Grove.

Peralta Hills Wine Club

by Cathy Wills

As Seen in the OC Register

Several years ago, we completed the undergrounding of utility lines throughout much of our neighborhood. The Anaheim Utilities Department had planned to do the undergrounding in three phases. Phases I and II were completed and Phase III was put on the back burner due to lack of funding at the time. Phase III involved the undergrounding of utility lines along Crescent, Lakeview and Cerro Vista.

Pat Mahoney, Lane Curtis and I met with the Anaheim Utilities Department recently to discuss the possibility of including the completion of our undergrounding of utility lines with an upcoming undergrounding project along Santa Ana Canyon and Royal Oak. I am happy to report that it was agreed that the Anaheim Utilities Department will include Phase III of our undergrounding work with that project.

The project is scheduled to begin during the summer of 2019. We will be coordinating closely with them as we get closer to the date. Stay tuned!

Page 5

PH Undergrounding by Cathy Wills

PROJECT UPDATE

Accused serial thief nabbed after leaving blood behind on shattered glass at Garden Grove business written by Kelly Puente

Editor’s Note: In the previous Gazette issue, we made a mistake in the Nguyen house-wife artcle where Christine and her sister’s name were in the wrong picture.

Laughs By Bill by Bill Manos

So, these two roaches, Tom and

Oscar, are hanging out next to a dumpster enjoying

a snack. “Hey Tom” said Oscar to his friend, “You

know that restaurant down the block? I went there

yesterday to pick.

What did the Lawyer name his

daughter?

Sue.

Before going in for surgery I thought it would

be funny if I posted a note on myself telling the

surgeon to be careful.After the surgery I found another note on myself

“Anyone know where my cell phone is ?????”

A few couples got together to have a good time.

One man, Harry, talked about a great restaurant he went to with

his wife. One of the men said, “what’s it called?” After thinking for a moment, Harry said, “what is the name of those good smelling flowers?” A rose? The

first man asked. “Yes, that’s it!,” Harry exclaimed and then asked his

wife, “Rose what’s that restaurant we went to

the other night?”

Page 7Page 7

Restaurant Review by Jeannette D. Curtis

MR. G’S BISTRO 305 Marine Avenue | Newport Beach, CA 92662 | 949-675-6193

The newest addition to Balboa Island is a contemporary American Italian restaurant, Mr. G’s Bistro. It is upscale, cozy, and already recognized as a top restaurant by the Orange County Register. Owned and operated by partners Giuseppe Accardi (a former managing partner at AnQi) and Anne Nguyen, this pair’s combined experience, attention to detail, and hospitality create a memorable culinary experience.

The uniqueness and culinary authenticity of Mr. G’s starts with the appetizers. Deviled eggs are a unique and welcome appetizer. Topped with caviar and pimento, they are a great beginning to an Italian supper or lunch. Mr. G’s meatball appetizer is not to be missed. The meatballs are seasoned and cooked perfectly. The combination of tomato sauce and pecorino allows the flavor of the meat to burst forth. It is an unmistakable Italian flavor that makes you feel you have been transported to Giuseppe’s home in Sicily. The Brussel Sprout appetizer enhanced with pancetta, green apple, and agrodolce (Italian sweet and sour sauce) is earthy and rustic. It is an interesting and unexpected flavor combination that leaves you wanting more.

Salads range from a beautifully plated petite romaine Caesar with just the right amount of dressing to a tricolored beet salad accompanied by labneh (yogurt), cocoa nibbs, and candied walnuts. The creamy labneh dressing is a perfect contrast to the tender beets.

As would be expected at an American Italian restaurant, pastas are outstanding. Ricotta Cavatelli with cavatelli pasta, smooth ricotta, and tender chicken norcina is a delicious mix of flavors and textures. Lobster ravioli is hearty with generous slices of lobster tucked into perfectly cooked ravioli topped with a light bouillabaisse cream sauce.

Pastas are not the only thing Mr. G’s bistro is known for--It’s known for its excellent treatment of meats as well, and the Tenderloin Filet Mignon with wild mushrooms and parsnip puree is an excellent example. The flavorful meatiness of the steak is perfectly complemented by the Bordelaise sauce.

A not-to-be-missed item at Mr. G’s is the Bistro Burger. While it may be unexpected in an Italian restaurant, the Bistro Burger is out-of-this world delicious. A mixture of house ground short rib and chuck, smoked bacon, rum marmalade, white cheddar, red onion, and arugula, it is definitely worth experiencing. The sophisticated combination of ingredients and depth of flavor make it an extraordinary burger and perfectly suitable to eat in a fine dining restaurant.

Like all of the items at Mr. G’s, Branzino is beautifully presented. It is tender and buttery. Branzino can be ordered alone or accompanied by a lobster-sized giant prawn in the shell. The Branzino’s accompaniment of Meyer lemon yogurt and garlic oil make you feel you are at a seaside Southern Italian café.

Desserts, particularly the Apple Galette, would satisfy any one’s comfort food craving.

Mr. G’s Bistro has a lot to offer. Prices are reasonable for such outstanding food and atmosphere. The friendliness and attentiveness of the owners and staff enhances the experience and makes Mr. G’s an exceptional spot on Balboa Island.

Want to walk in the wilderness? Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks offers a variety of trails, speeds and locations. The excitement and beauty of walking these trails is breath taking. Our Peralta Hills hiking group hikes one of these trails once a month. Next hike will be April 5th. Please consider joining us.

Please visit Letsgooutside.org to learn all about these adventures and to register for a hike.

Please contact Raza Kitsigianis for more details or questions at (714) 348-8365 or rkitsigianis@gmail.com

Come ExploreThe Great Outdoors With Us! by Raza Kitsigianis

Curb Appeal 3 Fixes for a Lush Lawnby Raza Kitsigianis

The colder months are notoriously hard on foliage -- and subsequently, curb appeal. Fortunately, spring is just around the corner, and that means now is the perfect time to prep your lawn for its revival.

Try these easy fixes, and you’ll have lush landscaping in no time.

1. Reseed and fertilize. Have bare or thinning spots of grass? Take the time to reseed now, and use fertilizer to encourage new growth. Be sure to scrape any bare patches with a rake before seeding, and keep the area moist until it begins to sprout.

2. Look for problematic slopes or shaded areas. Sometimes large, shady trees or steep inclines can hinder lawn growth. Step back and analyze your yard for these potential problem areas. Consider planting fescues in shady zones, and look into hydroseeding in sloped regions.

3. Use sod to patch extensive dead areas. If the cold weather has killed large swaths of the lawn, resodding may be your best bet. You can install sod anytime of year; just make sure to water it often until it sets.

Whether you’re planning to sell your property or you just want a great-looking home, your lawn -- and its health -- is going to play a big role. Take care of it, address any problems now and by spring, you’ll have an outdoor oasis you’ll be proud to call your own.

COME EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS WITH US!

Want to walk in the wilderness? Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks offers a variety of trails, speeds and locations. The excitement and beauty of walking these trails is breath taking. Our Peralta Hills hiking group hikes one of these trails once a month. Next hike will be April 5th. Please consider joining us. Please visit Letsgooutside.org to learn all about these adventures and to register for a hike. Please contact Raza Kitsigianis at (714) 348-8365 or rkitsigianis@gmail.com

Panoramic view from East Loma Ridge

! Dripping Springs

Panoramic view fromEast Loma Ridge

COME EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS WITH US!

Want to walk in the wilderness? Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks offers a variety of trails, speeds and locations. The excitement and beauty of walking these trails is breath taking. Our Peralta Hills hiking group hikes one of these trails once a month. Next hike will be April 5th. Please consider joining us. Please visit Letsgooutside.org to learn all about these adventures and to register for a hike. Please contact Raza Kitsigianis at (714) 348-8365 or rkitsigianis@gmail.com

Panoramic view from East Loma Ridge

! Dripping SpringsDripping Springs

Page 12

Neighborhood Corner

Editor’s Note: Dear Neighbors, if you want to submit a free ad of choice, please contact MaryBeth: mb.highley@icloud.com

By Cathy Wills March 2018

The Peralta Hills Beautification Committee met recently to nominate new Beau-tification Award recipients. The basic criteria for the award is that the property shows pride of ownership, outstanding curb appeal, extraordinary landscaping and gardens or recent im-provements that have increased the beauty of the property. Nominations take place in January, April, July and October. The homeowners that receive this honor will be featured in an article in the Per-alta Hills Gazette and will have a Peralta Hills Beautification Award sign dis-played in their yard for approximately three months.

Federico & Delia Cabo at 171 S. Belleza

The Peralta Hills Beautification Award recipient for this quarter is:

Join the APAC Foundation for a grand tour of one of the most exclusive homes in Peralta Hills of Anaheim!

• Enjoy a docent-led tour of the estate and learn about prized pieces from the Knohl Collection

• Attend lectures with Dr. Howard Knohl, Collection founder, on “The Art of Collecting” & “Romanticism through Revolution”

• Opportunity drawing–don’t miss your chance to win a select prize from the Knohl Collection!

Tours scheduled to start every quarter our Lectures scheduled for 1:00pm and 3:00pm

Valet parking availableRefreshments available for purchase

Please wear comfortable walking shoesFox Pointe Manor is not wheelchair accessible

Purchase tickets online at bit.ly/FoxPointe

P.O. BOX 2156 FULLERTON, CA 92837-2156CALL NANCY (714) 441-1107

Steve and I were introduced by a family friend back in 1993. After one year of traveling up and down the state, we married in September,1994. We lived in Fountain Valley for the first 3 years. In 1997, Steve discovered Peralta Hills! We purchased our home in May of that year.In 2001, our first daughter Lea was born, and 2004, Anastasia was born. I was very lucky to be a stay home mom when my girls were growing up. I was very involved in our girl’s elementary school for over 10 years. Lea is now a Junior attending Canyon High School and Anastasia is in 8th grade attending El Rancho Middle School. Both girls are very involved in Basketball. Lea plays on the varsity team at Canyon High School and Anastasia plays on a club team in Anaheim. Steve and I very much enjoy watching them play.

Our church is a very important part of our lives. We are members of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Anaheim. We attend church service every Sunday.We love to travel to Greece whenever possible to visit family and enjoy the beauty of Greece. This is a great way for our girls to experience our Greek language, traditions and heritage that we have taught them.Ever since we moved to Peralta Hills, Steve and I have been involved in the neighborhood. Steve and I chaired one of the very first Galas. I chaired the

Peralta Hill Kid’s Club for many years. We had more than 30 kids in the Kid’s Club. A few of the events were Halloween Carnivals, Easter Eggs Hunts, Dance Parties and Christmas caroling. Many great memories were created.Steve has held the office of Vice-President of the Peralta Hills Estates Improvement Association for the past few years. Steve very much enjoys working with the board of directors for the better of our neighborhood.Over the 21 years living here, we have made many friendships that we will cherish forever. We are very truly blessed and we look forward to many more years living in this beautiful neighborhood.

Sanjiv & Manil Gunasekara arrived in the US from Sri Lanka in the late 1980’s as college students. They completed their education at Beloit College Wisconsin, Cal State Long Beach. Sanjiv & Manil were married in Palm Springs, California in 1990 and settled down to work and raise their family. They have two daughters, Shiyana 25, and Nashi 20. Shiyana completed her Bachelors Degree in Political Science and Economics in 2014 and earned a Fulbright Research scholarship for a year in her parents native country, Sri Lanka during which she had the opportunity to spend time with her grandfather and get to know her extended family and make new friends. Shiyana’s research on bridging the ethnic divide through education was published in several leading journals. She is currently completing her Masters Degree in Developmental Economics at Johns Hopkins University’s SAIS program, in Washington DC and will be graduating in May 2018. Nashi is a Junior majoring in Economics and Gender studies at Scripps College in Claremont, CA. She is currently studying abroad at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Sanjiv is an Accountant by profession, and Manil is a Teacher. They are co- owners of a Real Estate Development Company that Owns and manages commercial properties in over 25 locations in the US, UK and Canada . In addition, they own a chain of private Preschools & Kindergartens at 12 locations in Orange & LA counties providing services for over 1500 students and employing over 275 staff. They spearhead several charitable programs that offers scholarships to students locally as well as funding programs that help single parents, housing for families with special needs, free preschools in low income communities are among a few projects

they support in Sri Lanka.

Sanjiv and Manil spends their free time travelling to Sri Lanka to visit extended family and reconnect with childhood friends. They love travelling few times a year with their friends to visit destinations around the world, explore different cultures, people and places of interest. During their travels they have made many new friends who continue to be an important part of their lives.

Gunasekara family moved to Peralta Hills from Sunny Hills, Fullerton over four year ago. They immediately fell in love with the Asian- inspired house that resembles a tranquil tropical resort with its beautifully landscaped lush lawns, Palm Trees and koi ponds. They

have enjoyed the secluded, calm surrounding of their home in the neighborhood where they have met some wonderful new friends. The Gunasekara’s are (almost) empty nesters, but for Manil’s mother who lives with them. She enjoys spending her time tending to her flowers, vegetable garden and the koi fish.

THE KITSIGIANIS FAMILY THE GUNASEKARA FAMILY

RazaKitsigianis

Steve Kitsigianis

Manil Gunasekara

Sanjiv Gunasekara

Editorial by Sonia S. Jekums

Page 11

Peralta Hills resident Ashleigh Aitken is a native, the daughter of longtime PH residents Bette and Wylie Aitken. In addition to being a trial lawyer and running for mayor of Anaheim, she is a devoted wife to Michael Penn, mother of three girls, keeper of seven animals AND active in the community. We caught up with her to ask how she balances it all...

Getting It All Done: Q & A with Ashleigh AitkenEditorial by Sonia S. Jekums

Q: What type of law do you practice?

I’m a trial lawyer at Aitken * Aitken * Cohn, where I specialize in complex business litigation, class actions and major personal injury cases. I’m a former federal prosecutor, where I prosecuted cases involving armed bank robbery, narcotics, mail and wire fraud, child sex crimes and pornography and firearms violations. As an Assistant United States Attorney I tried criminal cases (both jury and bench trials) and argued before the 9th Circuit.

Q: Does your law degree allow you to volunteer?

Absolutely! I was the 2015 president of the Orange County Bar Association, championing veteran’s rights and pro bono services for military and veteran families, and 2016 President of the Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund.

I also fought to protect one of our state’s most precious resources— open land. In 2010, I helped community activists save our OC Fair by battling Governor Schwarzenegger’s plan to sell off the Orange County Fairgrounds. This led to an appointment to serve on the Orange County Fair Board, where I served as Chairwoman in 2015. No good deed goes unpunished! While serving on the Fair Board, I oversaw the first major public art installment on the property honoring Orange County’s agricultural migrant workers and the opening of both the revitalized Pacific Amphitheatre and the new veterans building, Heroes Hall.

Q: What type of activities do you do with your girls?

I am a lifelong Girl Scout, and serve both on the Board Development Committee for the Girl Scouts of OC and

as a troop leader for two of my daughters. I hope everyone survived cookie season! I love being a troop leader, and teaching the girls about the environment, giving back, and how to be independent and entrepreneurial. My favorite time with them is in the car on the way to or from school—hearing about their plans for the day, or funny stories that from the playground. We also enjoy watching American Ninja Warrior.

Q: How do you juggle your time as a working mom?

I try and involve my family in everything I do, whether on the campaign trail or volunteering in the community. My girls have been to a lot of board meetings! I also believe in being extremely organized.

It is hard, but I couldn’t do it without my support system. I like to joke that besides my husband, my mother, my in-laws, my babysitter and my friends, I do this all on my own. The most important thing is to have your priorities straight. I am a wife and mother first, and everything else is gravy after that. I couldn’t do what I do without the love and encouragement of my husband and daughters. And having a slow cooker doesn’t hurt.

Q: What lessons have you learned the hard way?

I have definitely overcommitted myself at times. I had to learn that is okay to say “No”. I also have to remind myself to keep my sense of humor. Stress is a lot easier to handle if you can shake your head and laugh at yourself or a situation. Don’t wear heels to a park opening-that grass is killer and you will get stuck!

Q: Have you always lived in California?

I’m a local graduate of Rosary High School in Fullerton, but I went away to Boston College for my undergraduate work and spent a semester living in London, England. I spent several years working in Washington, D.C. before moving to Los Angeles to attend law school at U.S.C. When we wanted to raise a family, there was no place like home.

Q: What do you and Michael do for fun?

We love going to our local Chance Theatre, the LA Opera, and discovering new restaurants in and around Anaheim. Our new favorite area is Little Arabia in Anaheim off Brookhurst—so many great restaurants!

Q: What is your favorite thing about Anaheim?

When I moved back home, I was appointed to serve two terms on the Community Services Board, and lead as Chairwoman. I got to learn about all the wonderful community work people are doing in the city, from Anaheim Beautiful to after-school programs and services for vulnerable seniors. I am continually amazed at how service-oriented the city is. We are truly the City of Kindness.