Orange County scores and player stats for Wednesday, Sept. 23

• September 24, 2026

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Scores and stats from Orange County games on Wednesday, Sept. 23

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The deadline for submitting information is 10:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 p.m. Saturday.

GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL

CRESTVIEW LEAGUE

Canyon 20, Crean Lutheran 19

GOLDEN WEST LEAGUE

Godinez 7, Tustin 0

Katella 12, Costa Mesa 6

FREEWAY LEAGUE

Villa Park 21, El Dorado 12

El Modena 7, Sunny Hills 0

NORTH HILLS LEAGUE

Foothill 24, Troy 0

Pacifica 27, Brea Olinda 13

SUNSET LEAGUE

Edison 6, Newport Harbor 0

Fountain Valley 13, Los Alamitos 8

EMPIRE LEAGUE

Kennedy 12, Fullerton 6

ORANGE LEAGUE

Century 7, Santa Ana Valley 6

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Portola 12, University 6

Woodbridge 47, Northwood 0

GROVE LEAGUE

La Quinta 13, Saddleback 0

NONLEAGUE

Marina 19, Irvine 7

SEA VIEW LEAGUE

San Juan Hills 36, Capistrano Valley 7

BOYS WATER POLO

TRINITY LEAGUE

Orange Lutheran 19, Servite 9

JSerra 15, St. John Bosco 3

Santa Margarita 14, Mater Dei 10

SEA VIEW LEAGUE

Dana Hills 15, El Toro 4

NONLEAGUE

Canyon 19, Yorba Linda 12

Saddleback 15, Godinez 3

SUNSET LEAGUE

Marina 18, Los Alamitos 7

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

ACADEMY LEAGUE

Magnolia Science Academy def. Orange County Christian, 3-0

Newport Christian def. Cristo Rey OC, 3-0

GIRLS TENNIS

NONLEAGUE

Orange Lutheran 11, Whitney 7

Foothill 14, Beckman 4

GIRLS GOLF

SUNSET LEAGUE

Corona del Mar 207, Fountain Valley 210

​ Orange County Register 

Angels reliever Ryan Watson back where he finished 2025 … sort of

• September 24, 2026

WEST SACRAMENTO — Angels relief pitcher Ryan Watson was briefly a part of three organizations on the day of the Rule 5 Draft back in December. The Angels are now his fourth club, and he’s serving as a late-inning option down the stretch.

Watson knew his name could be called during the Rule 5 Draft after holding a 4.26 ERA (3.73 FIP) with a 28.1% strikeout rate to go alongside a 7% walk rate in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League in 2025.

The right-hander said he heard his name called in the draft as he was leaving the gym, and he was going from the San Francisco Giants organization, where he’d been playing in Triple-A at Sutter Health Park, to the Athletics, who play their major-league games at the same venue. By the time he got home 10 minutes later, he had been traded to the Boston Red Sox.

Watson made his major-league debut with the Red Sox on March 28 in Cincinnati, tossing 2⅓ scoreless innings against the Reds. Over the course of the next four months, he was an effective arm, but not a standout one on a roster headed toward the postseason. Following an appearance in Sacramento against the A’s at the end of July, Watson was placed on waivers in early August, and the Angels claimed him.

One of the biggest changes for him with the Angels has been limiting his sinker usage. In July with the Red Sox, it was his second-most-used pitch at 22.1%. In both August and September it has been his least-used offering.

He’s also upped his sweeper and curveball usage since joining the Angels.

“With Boston, I was already throwing a lot of cutters, a lot of sweepers, so I was already throwing the sweeper a lot,” Watson said ahead of Tuesday’s game against the A’s. “But the curveball I’ve always felt is a real weapon for me that I could use, so we talked about it and started using it a little more.”

Not only are batters hitting just .130 against the curve since he joined the Angels, but it’s been his main offering that limits launch angle off the bat, resulting in more ground balls and limiting the damage against him.

“He’s got a really good ability to throw breaking balls,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said of what’s impressed him most. “He can throw them at any time. He’s just been consistent. Goes out there, throws strikes, and he’s pitching some really high-leverage spots for us. He’s been a great addition.”

Watson is now in the final stretch of his first season in the majors, visiting a stadium where he spent time in 2024 and 2025 – albeit in different circumstances.

“It’s a little bit different,” Watson said of pitching at Sutter Health Park as a major-leaguer. “Trying to pitch your way up to the big leagues, and now you’re trying to pitch and stay in the big leagues in the same park.”

ANGELS CLINCH BOTTOM-THREE RECORD

With Tuesday night’s loss to the Athletics, the Angels are guaranteed to finish with one of the three worst records in MLB this season. They went into Wednesday’s game with a 60-97 record, three games ahead of the Colorado Rockies (57-100), who own the worst record in baseball, and two games behind the A’s (62-95).

This also means the Angels have secured the best possible odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 MLB Draft at 19.10%, tied with the A’s and Rockies heading into the draft lottery. They will also hold an 87.6% chance of landing a selection in the top six picks.

The Angels need to go 3-2 in their final five games to avoid the franchise’s first 100-loss season. They lost 99 games in 2024.

PLAYING IT SAFE WITH JOYCE

Relief pitcher Ben Joyce was kept out of Tuesday’s game as a purely precautionary measure, according to Suzuki.

“He’s been pitching pretty consistently,” Suzuki said. “We just wanted to give him another day and see how he feels.”

According to his manager, Joyce is happy to be pitching at the end of the year and not have an offseason of rehab work looming.

UP NEXT

Angels (RHP Grayson Rodriguez, 4-8, 5.96 ERA) at Mariners (TBA), Thursday, 6:40 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM, 710 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Shohei Ohtani returns to Dodgers’ lineup – but in a new spot

• September 24, 2026

LOS ANGELES — Rested and refreshed, Shohei Ohtani returned to the Dodgers’ roster on Wednesday.

How refreshed remains to be seen.

“These aren’t things that there’s a clear answer to,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said after Ohtani was activated from the injured list before Wednesday’s game. “I think everyone, this time of year, is dealing with some stuff, and so it’s all on that continuum. Shohei says he feels back to where he was earlier in the year, which is great, which is a good start.

“Now, it’s one thing to feel that way for any player coming back from the IL. As they are coming back, it’s important for them to feel that way and when you’re coming back, now the question is, as you start to load on real games and that intensity and that workload, it’s making sure that what we’ve done keeps guys in position to be at their best.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani is “considerably” closer to being at his best than he was before going on the IL two weeks ago with biceps and knee issues.

“I would say if he was a ‘5’, he’s probably an ‘8’ or a ‘9’ right now,” Roberts said.

He also returned as a ‘2.’

For the first time since Mookie Betts suffered a fractured hand when he was hit by a pitch on June 16, 2024, Roberts wrote Ohtani’s name in as the No. 2 hitter in the Dodgers’ lineup behind Betts.

Roberts said he plans to go with Betts-Ohtani against left-handed pitching (like the Padres’ Wednesday starter, Robbie Ray) and switch to Ohtani-Betts against right-handed pitching (like Thursday’s starter, Nick Pivetta).

“I just feel good about it,” Roberts said of the decision to use both players at leadoff. “It just makes it tougher to navigate versus left(-handed pitching). There’s a Mookie tax. If you want to get to Freddie (Freeman, batting fourth), there’s a Will Smith tax. I like that and versus a right-hander I like kind of flipping those two for the same reasons.”

In four starts as the leadoff hitter before Ohtani returned, Betts was 8 for 16 with four doubles and two home runs.

Overall, the Dodgers went 10-3 in the 13 games Ohtani missed.

SEE YOU SOON

In order to make room for Ohtani on the active roster, rookie outfielder Josue De Paula was sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he made his Triple-A debut Wednesday night in OKC’s playoff game against Las Vegas.

De Paula is expected to rejoin the Dodgers for next week’s bye week and is still in the running for a spot on the postseason roster. Given a “runway” to get at-bats at DH in Ohtani’s absence, De Paula went 10 for 31 (.323) with five extra-base hits (three doubles, a triple and a home run). Perhaps most impressive, he walked 11 times in 42 plate appearances while striking out just five times.

“It was actually an easier conversation than you guys probably would expect, given how well he’s performed,” Roberts said of telling De Paula he was being sent back to the minors – however briefly.

“This was the original thought that once Shohei gets back, we’re going to send him out. We had a runway to give him, which we gave him and he performed more than admirably.”

By sending De Paula out on Wednesday, he will be eligible to be recalled in time for the first game of a best-of-five National League Division Series next week.

“He’s a part of the conversation and he’s earned that and that’s what I told him last night,” Roberts said.

Roberts said De Paula showed in his short audition that he is “a special hitter.”

“Doesn’t chase. Moves the ball forward. The threat of power. Lefties don’t faze him,” Roberts recounted. “Hitters don’t (usually) see the ball that quickly out of hand. It’s a gift. No moment is going to be too big for that kid (if he is on the postseason roster).”

PITCHING PLANS

In addition to activating Ohtani on Wednesday, the Dodgers activated starting pitcher Tarik Skubal from the bereavement list and sent right-handed reliever Kyle Hurt back to Triple-A.

Skubal is scheduled to make his final regular-season start on Friday night in San Francisco. Blake Snell came out of his bullpen session on Tuesday with no issues in the groin injury that forced him to leave his start last week after one inning. He is expected to start Saturday’s game in San Francisco as a final test before the postseason.

UP NEXT

Padres (RHP Nick Pivetta, 3-2, 3.30 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Tyler Glasnow, 5-1, 3.46 ERA), Thursday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, TBS, 570 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Want a better cup of coffee? We have suggestions across Southern California

• September 24, 2026

Mai Tran fondly remembers her grandmother spooning her warm cà phê sweetened with tons of sugar. In 2015, Tran channeled her childhood taste memories and opened BLK Dot Coffee’s first location in Irvine. Vietnamese coffee was well known in Asian neighborhoods such as Little Saigon, but Tran and her husband John wanted to share their heritage with a bigger audience.

They expanded into neighborhoods such as Laguna Beach and Tustin, where BLK Dot fostered a “third-place atmosphere.” In the 1980s, sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined this idea of a space outside of work and home where people build community. Cafes and coffee shops are ideal third places.

Another part of the business that Tran takes seriously is connecting with the next generation.

“It’s not just showing them how to be a barista. We coach them in different areas of life,” she said. “Every day they learn skills that prepare them for whatever career they might have in the future.”

Across Southern California, cafes such as BLK Dot offer more than highly caffeinated drinks. It’s where we meet for conversations and a quick “hello!” Here’s a list of specialty coffee shops for your next caffeine fix:

BLK Dot Coffee

BLK Dot Coffee is known for its signature iced VTM, a potent jolt of caffeine brewed with the slow drip fin method traditionally used for preparing Vietnamese coffee. With 12 locations in Orange County and Long Beach, founder Mai Tran and her family added a 2,000-square-foot drive-thru in Buena Park in August.

What to order: Original iced VTM or Dulce light VTM with cinnamon and caramel

Cafecito 

Cafecito founders Edgar Garcia and Denisse Aguilar are native Santa Ana residents. The idea for their coffee business sprang up one morning while they were setting up for a car show. Car culture is big in Santa Ana, where low riders, hot rods and classic American cars are celebrated. The events are also a big part of the neighborhood. Cafecito’s sister concept, Suavecito Pomade, is another beloved Santa Ana brand. Both celebrate Mexican American style with an Orange County flair.

What to order: Cafe De Olla latte infused with cinnamon

Kéan Coffee Artisan Roasters 

California coffeehouse pioneer Martin Diedrich revolutionized the industry in the 1980s. He grew up in Guatemala, where his family owned a small coffee farm. They started roasting beans in Costa Mesa, and in 1983 Diedrich left his career in Mayan archeology to help his family open their first coffee shop. It spawned a movement. But corporate life was never quite his style, so Diedrich, along with his wife Karen, opened small neighborhood coffee shops in Tustin and Newport Beach. They named the concept after their son.

Kéan is known for house-roasted coffees, but the Diedrichs also focus on sustainability. The cafes serve organic loose-leaf teas and single-origin sipping chocolates, matcha, and turmeric lattes. The pastries are another big draw. They’re delivered daily from local artisan bakeries with vegan and gluten-free options.

What to order: Classic iced coffee or single origin sipping chocolate

MoonGoat Coffee

MoonGoat is a Costa Mesa-based coffee roaster founded by David Longridge and former surfer and musician Mark Evans. Inspired by Evans’ years touring abroad, the duo opened MoonGoat Coffee in 2018 to channel the atmosphere of mom-and-pop coffeehouses. MoonGoat’s popularity spread by word of mouth. Now it operates a roastery in Santa Ana and five cafes throughout Orange County.

What to order: Single-origin drip coffee or cold brew

Portola Coffee Lab at SOCO 

Jeff Duggan revolutionized coffee culture in Orange County when he opened Portola Coffee Lab at SOCO in Costa Mesa. Along with his wife Christa, Duggan approached the morning cup of coffee as if it were a science experiment. Duggan’s empirical approach toward coffee changed how people viewed the beverage. The correct water temperature, grind-size of the beans, humidity in the air — it all made a difference. Guests watched as the beans were roasted.

Portola’s most popular drink is the mocha made with Belgian chocolate. The ganache is a blend of 56% cacao and heavy whipping cream. “Our espresso brings out the natural flavors of the cocoa because our lighter roast level maintains the coffee’s wonderful natural flavors,” said Christa Duggan.

Portola’s influences spread. Its baristas and roasters went on to open their own concepts and expanded how the rest of the country viewed OC beverage culture.

The Duggans’ next project is a distillery in Anaheim called Stone Groove Stillhouse, with the hopes of educating the public about brown spirits in the same way that Portola left its mark on coffee culture.

What to order: Portola mocha

Sir Owlverick’s Coffee 

Founded in 2016 by Amy Tang and her husband, Lillard Anthony Wang, Sir Owlverick’s Coffee is considered Anaheim’s oldest coffee roastery. Tang was inspired by her family’s traditions dating back to Vietnam, where her grandfather was known for his coffee-roasting prowess.

When the family immigrated to Anaheim in the 1990s, they continued the practice. Tang’s father taught her the method and she transformed it into a business. Tang built relationships with local restaurants, including Michelin-listed Poppy & Seed, and the beans became a popular household staple for coffee connoisseurs.

Though Sir Owlverick’s doesn’t have a cafe space, the coffee is available online and through wholesale.

What to order: Organic whole bean coffee, 5-pound bag

LOS ANGELES

Doubting Thomas 

Doubting Thomas, in Los Angeles’ historic Filipinotown, is known for its abundant breakfast burritos and passion fruit pies. Pastry chef Naomi Shim also influenced the beverages. The fig leaf cream topped latte is dusted with lime zest. The menu includes other specialty espresso-based drinks and ceremonial matchas. The relaxed atmosphere is another reason why this cafe is a neighborhood favorite hangout.

What to order: Iced ceremonial matcha or fig leaf cream top latte

La La Land Kind Cafe

La La Land Kind Cafe is known for its specialty matchas, cream-topped lattes, and viral collaborations. Founder Francois Reihani wanted to do more than serve great coffee. He wanted to spread kindness and build human connection. Sure, it’s a lofty mission for a coffee shop, but with 34 storefronts nationwide, La La Land Kind Cafe is building a following. Signature drinks incorporate fruity flavors such as strawberries and creamy topped lattes made with fresh bananas, vanilla bean and cinnamon.

What to order: Iced banana cloud latte

Lamill Coffee 

Lamill is a longtime Los Angeles foodie favorite. In 2008, Jonathan Gold raved about Lamill Coffee and catapulted its popularity beyond Silver Lake. It popularized the idea of being a coffee savant. Various brewing methods percolated here, and the beverage was celebrated in new ways. Imbibers described coffees and teas with tasting notes that were previously reserved for discussing wine. Its proximity to the reservoir also makes it a popular stop for a pre- or post-hike refreshment. Lamill also remains a neighborhood gathering spot for groups such as the Silver Lake Reading Club.

What to order: Pourover single origin coffee or Lamill milk tea latte

Maru Coffee

Maru Coffee matches the Row DTLA’s minimalistic vibe. The people-watching and sleek aesthetic is on point, but Korean American co-founders Joonmo Kim and Jacob Park want the focus to remain on the coffee. The beans are sourced from high-altitude locales and roasted in Glassell Park. Inspired by analog living, Maru Coffee is intended to act as an austere space dedicated to the “ritual of well-made coffee.”

What to order: Maru’s cream top latte or slow-drip cold brew

Stereoscope Coffee

Consistently rated one of the best coffee shops in OC and Los Angeles, Stereoscope Coffee roasts its beans in-house at its Los Angeles Arts District lab. The brand was founded by Leif An, who specializes in single-origin varieties from coffee regions around the world. An brings this global coffee drinking culture to Southern California by introducing various brewing methods including Kyoto-inspired cold brews and Spanish-style cortados.

What to order: Kyoto cold brew or iced ceremonial matcha

RIVERSIDE

Arcade Coffee Roasters

Arcade Coffee Roasters launched in 2015. Founded by Shane Levario and Riverside native Stevie Hasemeyer, their mission was to bring elevated coffee culture to the Inland Empire. Hesemeyer, who trekked around the globe learning various brewing techniques, wanted the region’s cultural shift to start at Arcade Coffee, which prides itself on being Riverside’s first specialty coffee roaster.

What to order: Draft latte or sign up for a coffee subscription

Qamaria Yemini Coffee Co. 

Owners Munif Manweri and Hatem Al-Eidaroos source Qumaria Yemini Coffee Co.’s beans from Haraz, Yemen. At their franchised cafes, the immigrant owners celebrate an ancient coffee brewing tradition stemming back 500 years linked to Sufi monks. Qumaria’s coffee is blended with cinnamon, clove, or cardamom. The cafe also serves Qishr, a traditional Yemeni drink made with coffee husks and ginger.

What to order: Adeni chai tea (Yemen black tea with cardamom and nutmeg) or Turkish-style coffee

SAN DIEGO

Pannikin Coffee & Tea

Founded in 1968, Pannikin Coffee & Tea is one of San Diego County’s beloved institutions. It almost shuttered a few decades ago, but locals stepped in to save it. In 2023, Pannikin moved into a historic space in downtown Oceanside. It remains a local gathering spot and a popular excursion for travelers.

What to order: Coffee of the month

Cafe Moto

Since 1990, Cafe Moto has served organic, fair-trade, kosher coffee, tea and cocoa. Second-generation owners Torrey and Kimberly Lee oversee the business, which roasts small batches of beans four to five days a week. The solar-powered roastery enables the couple to do more than simply serve coffee. Cafe Moto also offers roastery tours, offsite tastings, and teaching demonstrations.

What to order: 12-hour Kyoto drip coffee

Jitter’s Coffee Pub 

Jitter’s is the oldest-running coffee shop in Oceanside. The cafe’s connection to Hollywood stems back to the 1990s when actress Denise Richards’ parents owned the beloved coffeehouse. In 2024, Grammy-winning Jason Mraz and chef Felix Alcaide partnered with Vallie Gilley and her husband Clayton Ballew to revitalize the space. Jitter’s is known for small-batch espresso and house-roasted beans, but now it’s also a vibrant venue for events and live performances.

What to order: White mocha

​ Orange County Register 

Here’s why there’s great Indian food at truck stops across California

• September 24, 2026

This story really begins with butter chicken at a truck stop.

Because my husband’s family lives in Northern California, for the past 20 years, to make it to family gatherings, we have regularly traveled up and down the 5, the 99, the 101 — all the arteries running through California’s Central Valley and beyond.

If you know these routes, you know that if you look beyond the usual fast-food pit stops off many of the highway exits, there’s a host of delicious Indian food offerings at gas stations, truck stops and small family-run restaurants. We’re the kind of people who will always go for homemade cooking over processed fare, but I’ve always wondered, how did this Indian flavor end up in these unlikely spots?

San Diego author Madhushree Ghosh has the answer, and it’s a fascinating weave of Indian and American politics, migration, adaptation, labor history, and our cultural melting pot.

In her first book, the memoir “Khabaar: An Immigrant Journey of Food, Memory and Family,” Ghosh explored her own life story. But with her latest title, “Safar: Finding Home, History, and Culture Through Punjabi Food in the American West,” she turns her lens outward to tell not only how my favorite road stop butter chicken came to be, but a tale that goes back two centuries. Ghosh explained it in the following exchange, edited for space and clarity:

SD: How did you begin this project? It’s, in some ways, a journey into your own understanding of Indians in America. Did you begin thinking you were going to be writing about food only to discover a larger story about communities?

MH: I was thinking it was going to be a very simple book. [Laughs]

I’m sitting in the middle of Old Town San Diego, with this rich history of how Mexicans used to rule this world. I wanted to talk about the Mexican Americans and Mexican Indians, and how they have created a blended community. I have become friends with these people; I’ve known them for six, seven years. These people are getting older, so I really wanted to get their story out there. They’ve created this fusion food, Punjabi-Mexican. I wanted to use examples of two women from this culture, and talk about me and me belonging to all of this. That’s it. You know, three women. End of story.

And then you start reading, and then you start meeting the Mexicans who are part of the Punjabi Mexican community, and then you go down the rabbit hole. And here we are!

SD: So tell me, how did great Indian food become a staple at truck stops along the Central Valley?

MG: For that, we have to talk about the immigration wave of Punjabis who moved to the American West.

Before India was divided, there were Punjabi soldiers and farm workers [Punjab is an agricultural powerhouse region in India] who came to America for a better opportunity. First they came to Washington State and Oregon, but then left — or got kicked out of there — because of racial tensions. Then they came to the Central Valley. Those people were more of the, “I’m going to assimilate rather than hold on to my identity.” They are the ones who married the Mexicans who were here.

Then came the next wave in 1965 after the Civil Rights Movement, when people were not discriminated against on the basis of race and you could come in with your family. They came and settled in the Central Valley, and Imperial County and started growing food. They really took over farming in that region. It’s not that there weren’t other groups of people, but they were really good at working the land and bringing people in from their villages so they could then work more land. And slowly and steadily, they grew Central Valley, Yuba City, Sacramento, Fresno into the agricultural hub that it is.

Now, all these farmers were selling food and produce, but they needed transportation to take the food all over the country. And, of course, they themselves had a few trucks, but then a new generation of Sikhs, who were targets of political violence in India, arrived.

Now there was a better way of putting trucks together, getting friends of friends or family members to run those trucks. Women could actually run the operations behind the scenes and these guys could take over the trucking industry, and that’s what happened. So much so that one of the Sikh priests at Stockton’s Gurdwara said to me, “You know, if you see a Sikh running a 7-Eleven today, tomorrow he’s going to own a truck!”

Of course, people have branched out into being doctors and engineers and whatnot, but your question was, how did this happen? So now the other part of Sikhs getting into the trucking industry is because they are so visible with their turbans and their long beards, which are symbols of religious devotion for them. It was just so much easier to work in a profession where one’s faith would not be questioned.

And so, while it’s a lonely journey, they can be on the road and continue to look like a Sikh, pray like a Sikh, and just, you know, live the life of a Sikh. Yes, it is hard work, however, they’ve never shied away from hard work.

So that was the advantage. The disadvantage was, when you’re on the road, where is the food? Where do you get the food that you need? You can only do Subway sandwiches for so long! That’s what the diner owner of Fresno’s Golden State Boulevard, Punjabi Indian cuisine, told me. He said, “I got tired of looking for Indian food.” And so he started his dhaba just because he was like, okay, truckers are hungry.

SD: You weave so many threads together in this book. It is truly an education! I guess my final question is, during our next drive to Northern California, what do you want us to do differently?

MG: Look, I mean, you can always go to any dhaba along the road, get a roti, get chicken curry. It’s great. Do it. Spend some money with people who are actually making, you know, good work. But I really recommend actually seeking out a gurdwara. For the Sikhs, a gurdwara is like your church or your temple. The only thing you have to do is cover your head. And if you don’t have a head cover, they will actually give you a head cover right there. Just wear a T-shirt, and pants and you’ll be fine.

I’m not religious one bit, but it is so cool to go into a temple where they have Gurbani chanting scriptures. I don’t understand half the words they’re saying. But it’s just lovely, very similar to when you go into the church and you have choir music. It’s a good, peaceful place to be.

After you’ve gone there, go to the langar or the kitchen, which are free for all. It doesn’t matter who you are. So long as you wear your head cover, so long as you’re respectful. They offer you dal, chawal, roti, with a dessert, and maybe a vegetable, along with chai. I’ve done it so many times now. And it’s just fascinating. I love it. Nobody tries to convert you. They are just happy you’re there, that you’re part of the community, sharing a meal.

Listen, we don’t have to agree on everything, but so much of the time, we are caught in our own echo chambers. I believe that to constantly be striving for community will make us better people. It will make us more joyful people.

​ Orange County Register 

Vacation at home: Here’s what to enjoy on a staycation in the Inland Empire

• September 24, 2026

I never understand why people don’t consider the Inland Empire when planning their next getaway. I grew up here and I’ll admit our summers can be downright blistering, topping triple digits for days at a time. But I also know where to find cool mountain air, swimming holes, quirky hotels, historic hideaways and desert enchantment — all without wading through airport security or long drives fighting freeway traffic.

So if you’re craving a getaway without the getaway hassles, come with me. I’ll show you why some of Southern California’s most memorable staycations are hiding in plain sight right here in the IE.

For total relaxation

Glen Ivy has a long history, dating back to when it was a place cherished by local indigenous peoples. By 1850, it became a paid resort experience and attracted visitors from near and far. Sitting on 85 acres, it offers a variety of pools with different temperatures and mineral content to melt your stress away. And, it’s a place to play in the mud — specifically, the mud baths, a very popular spa treatment.

Wake up to wellness with an overnight stay at

. At 46 acres, the resort has a variety of soaking options, with 31 pools throughout the property, as well as five on-site wellness-focused restaurants and bars.

Take in a massage or try out aromatherapy in the sauna, or experience an aqua sound bath to get your day started and vibes aligned.

Did I mention there’s a geothermal pool located just off the large lake on the property? There are also beaches complete with sand that will make you do a double-take — no you’re not actually on the coast!

For a weekend, try Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa, which sits on the banks of Lake Arrowhead and offers its own private beach access. Lounge on the beach or, if you are feeling adventurous, rent a kayak and take in the fresh pine-scented air. As for swimming, if a dip in the lake is not your style, the resort has a pool that overlooks the lake and is a great way to experience the sunset.

Next door is Lake Arrowhead Village, which offers shopping and dining lakeside.

For unique stays

Castlewood Cottages in Big Bear Lake offers a themed cottage for just about any vibe you are looking for. The cottages harken back to a time when immersive themed rooms were all the rage for honeymooners and vacationers looking to escape to somewhere else without the somewhere else budget. They have a whimsical castle-and-garden inspired cottage complete with a moat and waterfall, a haunted manor-themed cottage with not-too-scary portraits and gothic flair, and even a ship-themed cottage perfect for any seafarer.

Attention to detail should be this stay’s motto because no matter which themed cabin you fancy, you are sure to get lost in the fantasy.

The cottages are a quick walk from Big Bear Lake and make a perfect home base after a day out on the lake or hiking local trails.

Hicksville Trailer Palace, about 20 minutes from Joshua Tree National Park, is one place you’ll be sure to remember with its quirky one-of-a-kind trailers and other accommodations. The concept is a bit like glamping, with a few more amenities, including a giant ball pit plus pool and lawn games.

There are 11 themes to choose from, depending on your mood. The selection includes a trailer designed by the owners of Fifi Mahony’s wig store in New Orleans’ French Quarter, a vintage carnival train car that includes your own fortune teller, a cabin just off the main property that’s said to be “zombie-safe,” and even a covered wagon that was Gina’s home in 1988’s “Big Top Pee-wee” movie.

Most of the trailers offer kitchenettes, so you can prepare an extensive breakfast or simply heat up leftovers, if that’s more your speed.

Stargaze under the clear desert skies, and make s’mores at one of two fire pits for a true summertime glamping experience while you swap scary stories about freeway traffic back home.

For history buffs

The Knickerbocker Mansion and Estates in the Big Bear area was the home of William (Bill) Edwin Knickerbocker, the caretaker of an early rock dam built to supply water for irrigation and other purposes in the Redlands area downhill. The large home was built using timber from local trees and granite blocks from the same quarry that provided stones for the first dam.

Knickerbocker lived there with his family for nearly a decade until 1918. After a more recent stint as a private residence, the property was renovated and restored in 2017 and now welcomes guests for overnight stays and special events, including wedding ceremonies.

The hotel is within walking distance of the popular Big Bear Lake Village and lake itself. The property also offers its own walking trails for a rustic mountain experience.

The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa, in the heart of downtown Riverside, is a Spanish-style historic hotel that started as a modest 12-room cottage in the 1870s. Entrepreneur Frank Miller took over the family business in 1880 and spent several decades developing it into a massive resort property that has welcomed several presidents — including Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon — and has been declared a National Historic Landmark.

Whether you want a cozy day in with room service, an afternoon lounging by the pool, or a night out in downtown, all options are just a few steps outside your hotel room.

For a desert adventure

Built in 1949, the Joshua Tree Inn features hacienda-style architecture, and offers a rustic, vintage stay. Less than a 10-minute drive to the Joshua Tree National Park entrance, the hotel is perfect for visitors looking to overnight close to the vast desert landscape.

The inn was popular with stars from Hollywood’s Golden Age, and even has rooms named after some of them, including a John Wayne room complete with cowboy touches. There’s also a pool, water feature and shade structures, offering a reprieve from the desert heat.

Speaking of cowboys, a short drive away is Pioneertown, which was built in the mid-1940s by actors Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and other Hollywood investors as an Old West movie set. Dozens of films and TV shows were shot there, and the weathered facades of old saloons, a jail, bathhouse and other structures remain today so you can spend a day starring in your own spaghetti western.

Other diversions include a museum with movie-related exhibits and memorabilia; boutique shops with vintage clothing, jewelry and other goods; and a petting zoo.

A Pioneertown hot spot is Pappy and Harriet’s Saloon, which has live music several nights a week — and, on occasion, surprise performances by the likes of Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, Paul McCartney and other big names in music. Or, you can take the stage yourself during open mic night.

A few steps away from Pappy and Harriet’s, the Red Dog Saloon serves Tex-Mex favorites from breakfast to late-night.

A package deal

If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, plan a perfect single-day, three-part experience: start your day with breakfast in the desert, spend the afternoon in the beautiful mountains nearby, and wrap it all up with sunset at the beach.

One of the IE’s (many) great breakfast options is Mile High Cafe in Hesperia, which has been serving hearty a.m. favorites in its aviation-themed eatery for more than 25 years.

From the cafe, it’s a short but scenic 40-minute drive into the mountains, past Silverwood Lake, to a trail head that leads to Heart Rock. It’s a half-mile hike to a cliff with a naturally occurring heart-shaped hole and a 20-foot waterfall.

After you have taken in the pine air and snapped photos, make your way to the coast and have a sunset dinner with mai tais overlooking the Pacific in Newport Beach. The Hawaiian-themed Billy’s by the Beach is a beautiful end to a perfect trifecta adventure unique to Southern California.

California is truly unlike anywhere else in the world, and the Inland Empire is a jewel among the treasures. So, on your staycation, where are you headed to first?

_______________________________

Jerry Rice contributed to this story.

​ Orange County Register 

How a Japanese American family’s traditions survived WWII internment camps

• September 24, 2026

I’m eating Masumoto Sun Crest peaches with my children. Grooved stonefruit pits scrape against my teeth as I savor the flesh. Thoughts of Grandma flood my mind. I’m reminded of her stories of pins and pendants that she sculpted long ago. Trash she transformed into treasures.

I hear her voice in my head saying, “We had nothing. For birthdays, we polished peach pits for presents.”

Asano rarely spoke about Heart Mountain, the internment camp she was sent to when she was 26 years old. My parents, the sansei generation, tiptoed on the subject. When stories slipped out, I savored them like ripe fruit.

Here’s what I know: Before WWII, Asano worked at her parents’ grocery store. Born in 1915 to Japanese immigrants in Alviso, California, she lost her vision after contracting measles as a child. My great-grandfather carted her off to a doctor on a bumpy wagon ride. She partially regained her sight, finished high school, and with one good eye, read the newspaper into her 90s.

Her parents were farmers near Santa Clara. Now it’s part of San Jose, enriched by Silicon Valley, with a stadium that hosted the World Cup. People hike nature trails and enjoy marinas. But when President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066 was enacted, my ancestors’ proximity to the coast incriminated them.

Simple things behind barbed wire made life bearable. Gardens offset war rations and kids played baseball on dusty sandlots. My cousin Kathleen treasures a black-and-white Ansel Adams photo of her grandmother at Manzanar. In the camps, when she had nothing, peach pits became presents for my grandma.

Shikata ga nai  — it can’t be helped. I grew up with this phrase. A reminder: the other shoe always drops. My parents won’t admit it, but we’re superstitious. We never celebrate holidays early and Mom didn’t want to jinx our births by learning our genders. So, in the womb, she gave us nicknames.

I’m “Pumpkin.”

•••

We’re celebrating my birthday on a blissful June evening. Michelin-starred chef Niki

Nakayama, a hero of mine, wraps her arms around me for a hug. We’re at N/naka, her and her wife Carole’s temple dedicated to California kaiseki.

Each dish is a momentary masterpiece that echoes back to flavors I grew up with. Lightly smoked spring peas from Niki’s garden channeled Asano.

As kids, my brother and I picked vegetables behind her koi pond. I remembered the damp soil beneath my flip-flops. I still crave her cucumbers and tomatoes in the summer.

Simultaneously that evening, I’m reminded of Grandma Tanaka, who was so sweet and petite that you wondered how she ever survived Poston. Her rosy manicured nails and coiffed jet-black hair remained dyed well into her 80s.

Her fighting spirit showed only when she watched the Dodgers. Grandma’s “boys” — or “those bums,” depending on how they played — were less spectacular back then. Her specialty: beef sukiyaki simmered on the stove as Vin Scully’s voice rang out in the living room.

Close games meant we’d boil hot dogs or instant udon with squishy brown [BEGIN ITALICS] yuba [END ITALICS]. We’d eat off TV trays, huddled around watching the game.

These days, Grandma’s Dodgers are back-to-back World Series champs and Shohei Ohtani is the greatest player in the world. He’s also married to a Tanaka! My grandma is probably smiling from above. She’d love that the City of Angels is painted Dodger blue.

•••

In Japan, my grandmothers’ spirits continued to guide us. It was my first visit and I was traveling with my children. We stumbled on a small udon shop and devoured bowls of thick noodles. Our server spoke Japanese and wore an apron that looked exactly like Grandma Tanaka’s. Nearby, another diner read a newspaper. The page turned and Ohtani’s picture stared back at us. [BEGIN ITALICS] Go Dodgers!  [END ITALICS]

The next day, at Tsukiji, a historic fish market that’s now a tourist attraction, we devoured binochan-grilled eel skewers. Steam escaped from my son’s mouth as he sucked in air between bites of seafood. Rain fell on the pavement and the smell conjured up memories of Asano’s koi pond.

•••

A couple months later, Kathleen and I arrived early for a celebration of life honoring Akira Hirose, owner of Azay Little Tokyo. Only a few Japanese American family owned businesses remain downtown. Each year, another landmark shutters. Hirose’s passing really impacted the community.

Now, his son, Philip, runs Azay with his mom. He handles outreach and everything in between. Kathleen knew the family growing up. Her brother Matt and Philip were Boy Scouts in the same troop. Japanese American sports leagues and community groups are remnants of “camp” life, and there’s always food.

“Your dad made the best dishes for the kids,” Kathleen said to Philip.

Hirose’s mentees: Ray Hayashi, Gary Matsumoto, Chris Ono and Charles Namba prepared the five-course tribute with the godfather of Japanese Hawaiian cooking, Roy Yamaguchi. His nishime with lotus root, carrots and short rib reminded me of Asano and my mom’s food on New Year’s Day.

“We had the privilege of doing events with chef Akira-san,” Yamaguchi said. “He was a legend, an awesome individual. He loved to nourish the minds and talents of kids. He was into teaching. With him in mind, we’ll keep that legacy.”

I looked outside. The zen garden at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) safeguards a rescued persimmon tree. When an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, nuclear radiation should have annihilated it. But, it’s alive. A miracle hidden in downtown Los Angeles.

Dr. Takeo Uesugi designed the “clear stream” garden to symbolize our journey as Japanese descendants. A waterfall flows towards the basement level. It represents the issei generation’s struggles; their economic hardships and the prejudices of immigrating to a new home. The waterfall divides into two streams, representing the next generation’s conflicts, their political and cultural achievements. Then the water trickles into a meditative pond. It symbolizes hope. It’s our ancestors’ dreams for peace and a better life for generations to come.

In my darkest moments, I still channel Asano. Actually, both my grandmas. When you lose everything, it’s possible to rebuild. Maybe that’s why I became a food journalist. I’m an idealist and a dreamer. Even when the world feels doomed, there are glimmers of hope.

This is my form of soft diplomacy. As a writer, I interview people who tell me their dreams and passions. They trust me and share their struggles. Seeds that sprout into stories, like that persimmon tree. After catastrophe life continues, in a world where peach pits are presents and I’m a Pumpkin.

Grandma’s Pink Salad

This is Grandma Asano’s version of Hawaiian mac salad. She was always making recipes better and tinkering with the ingredients until it tasted incredible. Asano referred to her food as “passable in the dark,” but she could rival any Top Chef competing today.

She thought the regular mayo flavor tasted too bland so she added ketchup and made a pink sauce. After the war, she lived in Utah with my Japanese grandfather who loved seafood. So to make him happy, she added canned shrimp. It also makes the salad more substantial like a real meal. Now it’s a family favorite. My uncle dubbed it “Pink Salad” when my mom and her siblings were kids – the name stuck. Now, my children enjoy Grandma’s Pink Salad every New Year’s Day.

INGREDIENTS

1 package Anthony’s short (salad) macaroni

1⁄2 medium sized onion, finely minced (4 oz)

5 stalks celery, finely minced (6.5 oz)

1 cup Best Foods Mayonnaise (or Hellman’s) (8 oz)

3⁄4 cup Heinz Ketchup (or Del Monte) (5 oz)

3 cans of Geisha tiny shrimp,* liquid drained

water

Kosher Salt

DIRECTIONS

• In a large stock pot, bring to a boil 4 quarts water. Season generously so it tastes like the ocean. Add macaroni. Boil for 8 minutes until macaroni is al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Cool completely and refrigerate.

• Finely mince onion and celery. You can use a food processor. If you do, drain any excess liquid after gently pulsing vegetables.

• Open and drain liquid from tiny shrimp cans. Refrigerate until ready to use.

• In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise and ketchup. Add celery and onions.

• Combine pasta and sauce. Gently mix with a spatula. Then add shrimp.* Season with two to three pinches of salt (if desired).

• Refrigerate for at least an hour and serve chilled.

• The flavors build overnight so my mom recommends serving this salad the next day.

Grandma Asano would prepare it the night before big family dinners or she’d make it early in the morning when everyone was still asleep.

*If you’re avoiding shrimp, substitute with canned tuna. Remember to drain the liquid. My mom started serving this version on New Year’s Day. I actually prefer it. My younger brother refers to it as the “gray salad.” But I think it’s tastier. If you make the pink salad with tuna, you only need to use 2 cans.

​ Orange County Register 

Santa Ana Boys & Girls Club members have new space for great play

• September 24, 2026

At the Santa Ana clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, members can now get in some golf swings, play some soccer, even get their hands dirty in a garden.

A transformation of the outdoor field at the clubhouse, dubbed the Play Great Outdoor Complex, was recently completed. The $2.5 million project resulted in a new turf field, a 9-hole putting course, a garden area and a courtyard for the club’s older teens to hang out.

“The Play Great Outdoor Complex represents one of the largest investments in the Santa Ana Club’s history,” Robert Santana, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, said in a statement. “It’s crucial that we continue to make significant investments in the future of youth by giving them access to opportunities that inspire authentic connection and confidence.”

​ Orange County Register