4-year-old horse dies in training injury at Santa Anita

• September 24, 2024

A 4-year-old colt with one career race has died after suffering a training injury at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, track officials confirmed.

“Ransom Call sustained an injury following a workout Sunday morning at Santa Anita Park and was immediately attended to by an expert team of on-site veterinarians. Given the severity of the injury, surgical repair was not an option, and the veterinary team recommended humane euthanasia,” Amy Zimmerman, Santa Anita’s senior vice president and executive producer, said in a statement provided to City News Service.

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” … As is protocol, the horse will undergo a necropsy overseen by the University of California (Davis) School of Veterinary Medicine and the findings reported to the California Horse Racing Board,” she added.

Ransom Call was owned by Henie Racing and trained by Cesar DeAlba. His jockey was Diego Herrera. He is the 10th horse to die from a racing or training injury at Santa Anita in 2024.

Racing returns to the Arcadia track this Friday after the most recent season concluded in June.

​ Orange County Register 

7 best things I ate at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights

• September 24, 2024

The bloodthirsty and carnivorous menu at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights answers the question of what would happen if you let Leatherface, Chucky and the Ghostbusters kids run wild in the kitchen on one dark and eerie night.

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Executive Chef Julia Thrash hosted the media last week for a sampling of the 30-plus food and drink items at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights inspired by “Ghostbusters,” “A Quiet Place,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and other frightening film franchises.

“The big thing this year is we really wanted to make sure that we tied everything back into the mazes,” Thrash said during an interview at Universal Studios Hollywood. “If you look at all of the food, there’s something that ties directly back to either what you’re seeing in the maze or directly back to the film that it’s representing.”

ALSO SEE: 8 Universal Horror Nights haunted houses ranked from best to worst

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Executive Chef Julia Thrash. (Photo by Brady MacDonald/Orange County Register/SCNG)

Halloween Horror Nights 2024 features eight new haunted mazes along with four scare zones and the Terror Tram on select nights through Nov. 3 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

What should you eat and drink at this year’s Horror Nights? Let’s take a closer look at the seven best things on the menu.

The Mini Stay-Puft S’more available during Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. (Photo by Brady MacDonald/Orange County Register/SCNG)

1) Mini Stay-Puft S’more

Marshmallow man, Hershey’s chocolate bar and graham cracker. Available at Studio Scoop on the Lower Lot.

The Stay-Puft S’more has easily been the most talked about food item at Halloween Horror Nights. The carmel-colored blow torched finish only added to the irresistibility of this delectable dessert.

“He is super popular,” Thrash said. “He’s super cute also.”

If you’re only going to get one thing to eat at Horror Nights, then this is it.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll get one up on the Upper Lot — because you will be sadly mistaken. This little fella is only available on the Lower Lot.

But how did it taste?

The Stay-Puft S’more not only looked great, but it also tasted ridiculously good. Squishy on the top with tons of chocolatey goodness in the middle and a graham crust finish on the bottom.

It was fun to bite off his little marshmallow leg — and very hard to not end up covered in stickiness. Which is part of the experience, of course.

Universal has thousands of the Stay-Puft marshmallow molds to keep up with demand, according to Thrash.

“We went through several trials of making a mold,” Thrash said. “We finally got a mold that we like.”

ALSO SEE: 7 best things I ate at Knott’s Scary Farm

Franklin’s BBQ Ribs available during Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. (Photo by Brady MacDonald/Orange County Register/SCNG)

2) Franklin’s BBQ Ribs

Pork ribs with Coca-Cola barbecue sauce served with a side of potato salad and barbecue baked beans. Available at Leatherface BBQ located on the Lower Lot.

The perfectly cooked ribs were moist, juicy, saucy and pull-from-the-bone tender. I liked dipping the potato salad in the little bowl of baked beans. There was an adorable fondant butcher knife stuck to the side of one rib that was the ideal sugar chaser.

The five ribs made for a full meal or just the right amount to share with a friend if you’d prefer to keep grazing throughout the night.

The backstory created for the Horror Nights food can get gross pretty quickly the more you think about it.

“They’re actually Franklin’s barbecue ribs,” Thrash said. “So if you remember in the movies, Franklin’s one of the first ones that dies. So it’s actually his ribs that we’re eating. Let’s make it as gross as possible.”

ALSO SEE: Will Leatherface terrorize Knott’s, Six Flags or Universal in 2025?

The Wooden Board Eclair available during Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. (Photo by Brady MacDonald/Orange County Register/SCNG)

3) Wooden Board Eclair

Dark chocolate mousse filled eclair dripped in chocolate ganache with a cocoa-covered nail. Available at City Snacks featuring “A Quiet Place” located on the Upper Lot.

I love chocolate and this eclair was chocolate overload — in a good way. Even the rusty nail driven into the pastry and dripping blood was dusted in chocolate.

“In the first movie, if you remember where she is pregnant and running down the stairs and ends up stepping on a rusty nail,” Thrash said. “This is that rusty nail.”

I couldn’t put the eclair down. And neither should you. Because somebody might ask for a bite.

In theory, you could share this eclair with someone you love, but it might lead to bad blood. Tell them to get their own — in a firm but loving way.

ALSO SEE: Best 5 things I ate at Six Flags Fright Fest

Pam’s Brisket Sandwich available during Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. (Photo by Brady MacDonald/Orange County Register/SCNG)

4) Pam’s Brisket Sandwich

Smoked brisket sandwich with Coca-Cola barbecue sauce and creamy coleslaw served with a side of potato salad and barbecue baked beans. Available at Leatherface BBQ located on the Lower Lot.

The delicate and savory brisket soaked nicely into the cushiony bun while the slaw added a bit of crunch to every bite.

I ate the whole thing and wanted more — which is always a good sign.

“Leatherface is actually using body parts to make the sandwiches,” Thrash said. “So in this case, we’re eating Pam’s brisket.”

ALSO SEE: Knott’s Scary Farm keeps up with rivals in 51st season

The Saw Blade Flatbread available during Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. (Photo by Brady MacDonald/Orange County Register/SCNG)

5) Saw Blade Flatbread

Braised short rib, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, spicy tomato sauce and ranch drizzle on pita bread. Available at The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy Bar on the Lower Lot near Jurassic World — The Ride.

Let’s be honest here: The big selling point is the razor sharp saw blade crust. It looked cool on the plate and in my hand. And will look even better in Instagram feeds.

The shredded short rib on top was a little dry — but to be fair it had been sitting under a heat lamp for awhile.

The flatbread pizza was inspired by The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy haunted house.

“There’s a whole scene where there are people being cut in half,” Thrash said. “If you actually look very closely at the pita saw blade, there’s one side that is dark red. It’s just a spicy tomato sauce.”

ALSO SEE: Six Flags Fright Fest goes for quantity over quality

Dia de los Muertos Esquites available during Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. (Photo by Brady MacDonald/Orange County Register/SCNG)

6) Dia de los Muertos Esquites

Corn off the cob topped with grated cotija cheese, cilantro and tajin. Available at Dia de los Muertos located in Universal Plaza.

The sliced corn kernels were sweet, juicy and the ideal accompaniment to anything on the menu at the Mexican-inspired Day of the Dead food stand. I couldn’t stop scooping up the side dish.

The Esquites would go good with the Beef Birria Tacos and a Horror-Chata cocktail.

“It’s a traditional dish that we are actually doing slightly different for Dia de los Muertos,” Thrash said.

ALSO SEE: How Slash makes scary soundtracks for Universal Horror Nights mazes

The Friend Till the End cocktail available during Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. (Photo by Brady MacDonald/Orange County Register/SCNG)

7) Friend Till the End

Tequila, lemon-lime soda, blue curacao, lime juice and orange popping pearls with an orange sugar rim and a rainbow pop. Available at Chucky’s Die Bar located behind the Animation Studio Store on the Upper Lot.

The refreshing cocktail wasn’t overly sweet — which is always a problem with theme park beverages. The orange sugar rim added just the right amount of sweetness — and was optional when you already had enough of a pucker.

The fun part was dipping the spiral lollipop in the cocktail and licking the liquor off it.

“We ended up doing the lollipop on the side so you can actually stir it in to create your sweetness,” Thrash said. “The orange popping bubbles tie back into Chucky’s color scheme.”

​ Orange County Register 

The one where the iconic ‘Friends’ couch sells for $29,250

• September 24, 2024

The iconic couch where it all began went for nearly $30,000 as items from the sitcom that’s still beamed into our homes 30 years after its debut were sold at a commemorative auction on Monday.

Nostalgia-stricken fans from 30 countries snapped up a slew of “Friends” memorabilia, paying many times the asking price for a number of the 110 items on offer.

“The One With the 30th Anniversary Auction” was held Sept. 23 both online and in-person in Los Angeles, in honor of the show’s Sept. 22, 1994, anniversary.

One lucky buyer snagged a replica of the orange sofa, the Central Perk café centerpiece that was almost a character in its own right and is now the most recognizable and highest-priced item. The velvet couch that serves as the friends’ coffee-shop perch went for $29,250, 10 to 15 times more than the initial estimate of $2,000 to $3,000. Likewise a reproduction of the Central Perk sign, slated to sell for $500 to $700, brought in $5,850.

A sweater worn by Chandler Bing (played by the late Matthew Perry) went for $6,500, more than three times higher than the $1,000 to $1,500 it was originally priced at. Someone paid $5,200 for an embroidered coat worn by Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), way above the $1,000 to $1,500 it was estimated to sell for.

The dresser from Ross Geller’s (David Schwimmer) apartment catapulted from an estimated price of $500 to $700 to a whopping winning bid of $10,400. An ottoman from his apartment went for, not $500 to $700 as originally anticipated, but $9,100.

Then there was the Geller Cup Trophy prop, featured in season 3’s ninth episode, “The One with the Football,” known as the Thanksgiving episode. Instead of selling for $300 to $500 as predicted, the prop went for $9,100. Not bad for a troll doll nailed to a piece of wood.

Organizers called it a testament to the show’s enduring appeal.

“Thirty years since its debut in 1994, people from all over the world are still falling in love with Friends as evidenced by the success of today’s 30th anniversary auction,” Julien’s Auctions CEO David Goodman said in a statement obtained by People and the UK’s PA News Agency. “Since the announcement of this auction celebration, interest pivoted to an all-time high with thousands of bidders joining Julien’s and Warner Bros. Television’s nostalgic journey of Friends that culminated with all of the show’s iconic items being sold beyond their pre-sale estimates.”

​ Orange County Register 

Gov. Newsom addicted to signing bad internet laws

• September 24, 2024

Government isn’t particularly efficient at regulating anything, but it’s always out of its league when it tries to control evolving online technologies. That doesn’t stop it from trying, as is the case with legislation Gov. Gavin Newsom signed last week. The governor touted the bill as something that will protect children from social-media “addiction,” but it will do no such thing.

“Every parent knows the harm social media addiction can inflict on their children – isolation from human contact, stress and anxiety, and endless hours wasted late into the night,” Newsom said in a statement. “California is helping protect children and teenagers from purposely designed features that feed these destructive habits.”

Senate Bill 976 “prohibits operators of ‘internet-based services or ‘applications’ from providing ‘addictive feeds’ … to minors without parental consent and from sending notifications to minors at night and during school hours without parental consent.” What are these “purposely designed features” that promote a nearly drug-like online addiction?

In simple English, the law forbids social-media companies from curating feeds based on the interests of younger app users, which the law defines as an “addictive feed.” If a child or teen-ager is interested in, say, raising guinea pigs, gardening, bicycling and pop music, the social-media sites prioritize news and information that caters to those particular interests. The governor has in effect mandated the use of chronological feeds instead.

That means youngsters will be forced to sift through reams of information that doesn’t interest them – and they will be subject to feeds (including “bad actors”) from those who post items most frequently. As prominent California tech groups wrote in opposing the legislation, “This means that their friends’ posts and content will be drowned out by brands and influencers employing teams of people to post throughout the day” and from those who tend to “spread more low quality or harmful content.”

The groups (TechNet, NetChoice, the California Chamber of Commerce and the Computer & Communications Industry Association) also fearthe legislation provides de facto “age verification,” which means all California app users will have to somehow prove that they are adults. The legislation doesn’t mandate an identification system, but any law that requires protections for children has to find some way to verify all users’ personal information.

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That leaves everyone more vulnerable to identity theft. It also raises the same constitutional questions that all such systems raise, which means lengthy and costly lawsuits rather than actual protections. Then again, we suspect the legislative language is not as important as the publicity. It’s likely courts will toss such vague laws, but politicians can still say they did something about a problem.

Even media coverage seems to echo politicians’ narratives. For instance, The Los Angeles Times reported that “California took a major step in its fight to protect children from the ills of social media with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature on a bill to limit the ability of companies to provide ‘addictive feeds’ to minors.” Yet this “major step” won’t do anything to protect The Children.

It will burden businesses, encroach on adults’ ability to access internet information and will make kids more vulnerable to advertisers and bad actors. In other words, it’s about what one would expect from a Legislature that’s addicted to grandstanding over policy making.

​ Orange County Register 

USC women’s basketball lands 5-star guard Jazzy Davidson

• September 24, 2024

LOS ANGELES — Perhaps, Lindsay Gottlieb will acknowledge, this moment for her USC women’s basketball program has arrived sooner than the bevy of 2024 freshmen she’s recruited ever quite expected.

But they came to USC drawn to a movement, spearheaded by Gottlieb and accelerated with the arrival of JuJu Watkins. And this program is approaching recruiting – and every facet of their program – with the mind to be a national power. To be the national power.

And after securing the top-ranked recruiting class in the country in 2024, USC has a strong head start in 2025, as five-star Oregon guard Jazzy Davidson announced her commitment to the Trojans on Instagram on Monday morning. She chose USC over programs like UCLA and UConn, according to 247Sports.

Suddenly, Gottlieb and USC have a bevy of talented guards on their hands, a number of options to join Watkins in the Trojans’ backcourt of the future once Oregon State transfer Talia Von Oelhoffen departs. Two five-star freshmen – Idaho’s Avery Howell and New York’s Kayleigh Heckel – are already on the roster, plus four-star Texas product Rian Forestier. And Davidson, too, is a versatile piece, a 6-foot-1 guard with a high, left-handed release who operates well in the midrange.

It’s the first commitment of USC’s 2025 class, ahead of a season with plainly expressed national-championship aspirations.

​ Orange County Register 

Halloween 2024: Where to find pumpkin patches in Southern California

• September 24, 2024

Pumpkin patches bring a little bit of country into the big city during Halloween season.

But Southern California also has pockets of agriculture that become like theme parks in October with rides, games and live entertainment as well as selling pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns and other gourds for decorating and cooking.

Many of the pumpkin patches have free admission, though some charge for entrance. Almost all of them charge for attractions such as tractor rides, corn mazes, bounce houses and petting zoos. Some have ticket systems like old-time country fairs or wristband systems for carnival rides. And some are cash-only or card-only, while others sell tickets online.

Also, most are family-friendly, but a few have scary attractions or serve alchohol.

Check websites for restrictions before you go.

Los Angeles County

Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Fest

AGRIscapes Center, Cal Poly Pomona, 4102 S. University Drive, Pomona; cpp.edu/pumpkinfestival; noon-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28-Oct. 27.

This annual event is put on by the Huntley College of Agriculture. Attractions include a corn maze, pumpkin patches, hay rides and animal farm. Admission is $10.80 for adults, $8.74 for children, seniors and military. Season passes are available.

Carved at Descanso Gardens

1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge; 818-949-4200, descansogardens.org; 6-10 p.m. Oct. 4-30.

Hundreds of carved and illuminated pumpkins will decorate the grounds of this 150-acre botanical garden. Features will include the “Pine Family,” tree spirits carved into logs by an artist known as Chainsaw Jenna. Entry is timed at half-hour intervals. Tickets are $35-$45, $28-38 for members.

Forneris Farms

15200 Rinaldi St., Los Angeles; 818-730-7707, fornerisfarms.com; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, Oct. 5-Nov. 3.

Attractions include a Peanuts-themed corn maze, games and refreshments. Admission is $5. Transactions are cash only.

La Verne Heritage Foundation

Heritage Park, 5001 Via De Mansions, La Verne; laverneheritage.org; 4-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-27.

Attractions include tractor rides, petting farm and selfie opportunities.

Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch

West Los Angeles College, 10100 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City; mrbonespumpkinpatch.com;  9 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. weekends, Oct. 5-31.

Attractions include a pumpkin village, straw maze, petting zoo, slides, food and live entertainment, including a Dia De Los Muertos celebration on Oct. 27. New this year is a 12-foot owl made of pumpkins. Admission varies by date. Tickets go on sale Sept. 25.

Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch, Torrance

17520 Prairie Ave., Torrance; mrjackolanternspumpkins.com; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-31.

Activities include candy corn hole, pumpkin bowling, animal feeding and bounce house. Admission is free, but there are charges for activities.

Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch, West Los Angeles

11404 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles; mrjackolanternspumpkins.com; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-31.

Activities include animals, slides, pumpkin smash and pumpkin decorating. New this year is a Giant Extreme Wicked Obstacle Course Wee Be Little bounce house for small children only. Free admission, extra charge for activities.

Pa’s Pumpkin Patch

500 Lakewood Center Mall, Lakewood; paspumpkinpatch.com; Opens Oct. 1.

The patch is moving from Long Beach to Lakewood this year. Attractions include rides, games and fair foods. Admission is $5 for adults weekdays, $10 on weekends, and $2.50 for children younger than 13 years on weekdays, $5 on weekends.

Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch

3443 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles; shawnspumpkinpatch.com; Daily, hours vary, Oct. 5-Nov. 3.

There’s a new location on Sepulveda Boulevard this year. Attractions include a bounce house, bungee trampoline, pony rides and petting zoo.

Orange County

Hana Field Pumpkin Patch & Flower Fields

427 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa; 949-653-2100, tanakafarms.com/hana-field-pumpkin-patch; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-27.

Attractions include u-pick pumpkins, a corn maze, cow train and barnyard animals. The farm’s website cautions that the flower crop is disappointing this year.  Admission is $10, younger than 2 years and military are free.

Irvine Park Railroad

Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange. 714-997-3968, irvineparkrailroad.com; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends, through Oct. 31

Activities include hay rides, bounce houses, face painting and panning for gold. Great Pumpkin Weigh-off starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21. Park entrance is $3 per vehicle weekdays, $5 on weekends.

Pumpkin City, Laguna Hills

24203 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills; 949-449-4189, pumpkincity.com; 12:30-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1-31.

Attractions include rides and games, plus an Oktoberfest beer garden. Admission is free before 4 p.m. weekdays, $12 for evenings and weekends. Children 2-12 years are $8.

Pumpkin Factory, Westminster

1025 Westminster Mall, Westminster; thepumpkinfactory.com; 5-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3-31.

Attractions include rides, slides and a petting zoo. Admission is free Monday through Thursday, $5 Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Tanaka Farms

5380 University Drive, Irvine. 949-653-2100; tanakafarms.com/tanaka-farms-pumpkin-patch; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 14-30; Friday, Saturday and Sunday hours expand to 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 4-27; Halloween hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 31.

Daily activities include u-pick pumpkins, wagon rides and a corn maze. Weekends have more going on, including a pumpkin cannon. Admission is $20-$22.

Zoomars at River Street Ranch

31791 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano. 949-831-6550; riverstreetranch.com; 10 a.m-4 p.m. daily, through Oct. 31.

This petting zoo with goats, sheep and guinea pigs does a pumpkin patch during Halloween season. Admission is $15, $12 for children12 years and younger.

Riverside County

Big Horse Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch

Big Horse Feed and Mercantile, 33320 Temecula Parkway, Temecula; 951-389-4621, bighorsecornmaze.com; provisional dates Sept. 28-Oct. 31.

This corn maze bills itself as the largest in Southern California. It usually has a patriotic theme. Details were not available at press time.

Hunter’s Pumpkin Patch

12125 Day St., Moreno Valley. 951-440-2027; hunterspumpkinpatch.com; 4-9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, through Oct. 30.

Attractions include slides, a barrel train and other rides, games and music.

Peltzer Pumpkin Farm

39925 Calle Contento, Temecula; 951-695-1115, peltzerfarms.com; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Halloween,  through Oct. 31.

Attractions include a petting zoo, pig races, pony rides and carnival games. Admission is $2-$4. Peltzer is also a winery and hosts seasonal events for adults as well as children evenings throughout October.

Pumpkin Factory

1545 Circle City Drive, Corona; thepumpkinfactory.com; 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3-31.

Attractions include rides, games, petting zoo and food vendors. Admission is free Monday through Thursday, $5 Friday through Sunday.

San Bernardino County

Frosty’s Forest Pumpkin Patch

14861 Ramona Ave., Chino; frostysforest.com; 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4-11 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, opens Sept. 27.

Attractions include a corn maze, sunflower labyrinth, petting zoo, bounce houses and carnival games. $5-$10 admission, free on Mondays. A scary corn maze called The Haunted Harvest is on the property. Admission is separate.

Greenspot Farms

10133 Ward Way, Mentone; 909-794-7653, greenspotfarms.com; open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily beginning Sept. 28; scary nighttime attractions will be added 7-10 p.m. weekends, Oct. 11-Nov. 2.

Attractions include a hay maze, bounce house, tractor rides, duck races and farm animals. Admission is free. Tickets for the nighttime Haunted Hayride are $30 for adults, $25 for children younger than 12. Haunted Trail is $20, $15 for children.

Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Farm

Live Oak Canyon Road at the 10 Freeway, office is 32335 Live Oak Canyon, Redlands; liveoakcanyon.com; open 4-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 4-10 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday; 4-8 p.m. on Halloween; through Nov. 2.

In addition to u-pick pumpkins and a large selection of picked pumpkins and gourds, there are more than 70 attractions including a corn maze, petting zoo and rides. Live entertainment starting Oct. 7 includes gunfighters and Anthony the Magic. Admission ranges between $15 to $32 for adults, and $12 to $26 for children ages 3-10. Check the website’s calendar for daily prices.

Los Rios Rancho

39611 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa; losriosrancho.com; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

This farm has more than five acres of pumpkins for cooking, jack-o-lanterns and other decorating. The u-pick season is in October and November while supplies last. Los Rios also has apple picking, a 3-acre corn maze, animals and other attractions for kids.

Riley’s Farm

12261 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa; rileysfarm.com; open Monday through Saturday.

Several varieties of u-pick pumpkins and apples are available. The property also has a bakery and restaurant. It’s putting on a dinner theater production of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” that includes a hayride.

SkyPark at Santa’s Village

28950 Highway 18, Skyforest; skyparksantasvillage.com; Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-27, plus Oct. 31.

“Pumpkins in the Pines” includes a parkwide pumpkin patch, “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” puppet show, costume contests and seasonal food and beverages. Ticket information was not available at press time.

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​ Orange County Register 

5 questions with the chancellor of Rancho Santiago Community College District

• September 24, 2024

Marvin Martinez is the chancellor of Rancho Santiago Community College District, which serves Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College. The Register sat down with him to learn about his vision for the district.

To what do you attribute the growth of RSCCD, which has become the number one district in California for adult and continuing education, serving over 106,000 students last year?

RSCCD’s growth results from our relentless focus on providing high-quality, accessible education tailored to the needs of our community. Becoming the number one district in California for Adult and Continuing Education FTES with only two colleges directly reflects the hard work of our faculty, staff and administrators. We’ve grown by serving over 106,000 students, including 25,000 additional individuals we reached during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our growth is not just about numbers — it’s about transforming lives, creating opportunities and ensuring our students thrive in an ever-evolving economy. The success of our students is our success, and this growth speaks to our community’s trust in RSCCD.

How has the increase in students impacted resources and facilities?

The significant increase in enrollment, now exceeding 106,000 students, has pushed our facilities to their limits. Both Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College are operating at full capacity, and our infrastructure is struggling to meet the demands of this growth. Many of our buildings are aging, and our technology needs upgrades to keep pace with modern educational standards. Overcrowding in classrooms, outdated computer systems, and limited lab space are just some of the challenges we face. While this growth is a positive reflection of our impact, it also highlights the urgent need to expand and update our facilities to ensure that every student has access to the learning environments they deserve.

How is RSCCD preparing for the demographic shift in Orange County, where 50% of the population will be 40 or over by 2032, while continuing to serve traditional students?

We are proactively preparing for this demographic shift by expanding programs serving traditional and nontraditional students. As the population ages, there will be a growing need for educational opportunities tailored to mid-career professionals and older adults looking to reskill or advance in their careers. At the same time, we continue to support younger, traditional students by offering programs that prepare them for the workforce or further education. Our bachelor’s degree programs in Occupational Studies, Paralegal Studies and Automotive Technology are examples of how we’re addressing the needs of a diverse student body and ensuring that all students are prepared for success in a changing economy.

 What is RSCCD doing to address the needs of veterans and first responders?

RSCCD is deeply committed to supporting veterans and first responders. We have established Veterans Resource Centers at our colleges to provide these individuals with the specialized services they need to transition into civilian careers, including academic advising, mental health counseling and job placement services. We also offer training programs tailored to the needs of first responders, such as law enforcement, firefighting and emergency medical services. With Measure G (which would provide locally-controlled funding to complete upgrades to aging schools), we will be able to invest in even better facilities and resources, ensuring veterans and first responders continue to receive top-tier training and support in their educational journeys.

What could RSCCD do if it had more resources?

With additional resources, RSCCD could significantly enhance our educational offerings and facilities. We would renovate aging buildings, improve accessibility for disabled students and relieve overcrowded classrooms by constructing new facilities. Furthermore, we could expand our programs to better prepare students for high-wage, high-demand careers in fields like health care, cybersecurity and green technologies. Investing in these upgrades would directly impact the quality of education we provide, ensuring that our students are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow and that our community benefits from a stronger, more educated workforce. Measure G is not just an investment in our colleges; it’s an investment in the future prosperity of our entire community.

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​ Orange County Register 

Are more people displaying disabled parking placards or license plates, what’s changed?

• September 24, 2024

Q: Renee Chapman of Murrieta said she and her husband have noticed as they drive around Murrieta, Menifee and Temecula that there are an unusually high number of drivers with disabled license plates or placards on their vehicles – and they’re not senior citizens. She said these drivers are younger people in luxury cars, new cars, large customized trucks and muscle cars. Chapman said they drive aggressively, speed, fail to yield, and “demonstrate all manner of poor driving habits.”

“What has changed?” she asked. “What am I missing? Is it really so easy to qualify as a disabled person now and get one of those plates or placards? Are we simply living in an area with a lot of disabled persons (who are terrible drivers), or is there something else at play here?”

A: The requirements to qualify for a disabled driver license plate or parking placard have not changed. It’s possible people are committing fraud.

“The abuse of disabled person parking placards in California is a concern to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. It is important to point out that not all disabilities are visible and the individual assigned the placard is required to carry an accompanying registration card with them to prove they are legally authorized to use the placard,” DMV spokesperson Ronald Ongtoaboc said.

The requirements to apply for a placard have not changed, he said. A driver must submit a Disabled Person Parking Placard Form Application, which includes having a licensed physician, surgeon, chiropractor, optometrist, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or certified nurse midwife complete and sign the Medical Provider’s Certification of Disability section of the application.

It’s illegal to lend your placard to someone else, forge a medical professional’s signature to get a disabled driver’s placard, use someone else’s placard, have a counterfeit placard or license plates, lie to obtain a placard or license plates, or to alter a placard or the registration card.

The DMV tries to cut down on fraud but it’s fairly widespread. In December 2022, the DMV sent renewal letters to more than 2 million disabled drivers who needed to provide a signature to renew their placards by June 30, 2023, to comply with a new state law which requires placard holders who have had their placard for six years or longer to return a signed renewal notice to the DMV to remain eligible. Longtime placard holders no longer automatically receive new placards in the mail every two years.

The DMV said last year there were over 2.3 million active disabled placards statewide after the department cracked down on fraudulent activity by invoking the new renewal law; almost 350,000 placards (or about 15%) were not renewed.

The DMV works with local governments and police to reduce fraudulent use of the placards through enforcement measures, public awareness campaigns and technology to verify the legitimacy of parking permits, but many cheaters are not caught.

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“While the DMV doesn’t have an estimate of how many people have fraudulently used a disabled parking placard or license, in 2024 the DMV’s Investigations Division has conducted numerous DPP enforcement operations, resulting in approximately 1,100 cases being investigated for fraud or misuse,” Ongtoaboc said.

You can report suspected fraud through an online complaint form or by contacting a local DMV Investigations office. Reports may be submitted anonymously. You can also call the non-emergency phone number of your local police department to report suspected fraud.

Do you commute to work in the Inland Empire? Spend a lot of time in your vehicle? Have questions about driving, freeways, toll roads or parking? If so, write or call On the Road and we’ll try to answer your questions. Please include your question or issue, name, city of residence, phone number and email address. Write ontheroad@scng.com or call us at our new phone number, 951-368-9995.

​ Orange County Register