Lynsi Snyder’s In-N-Out book gives an inside, top-down and ground-up history of the burger chain

• October 10, 2023

In-N-Out Burger will reach its 75th anniversary on Oct. 22 with its history written by the ultimate insider.

Lynsi Snyder is the owner and president of the fast food chain and the heir of its founders, Harry and Esther Snyder, after the deaths of their two sons, Guy and Rich.

Her book, “The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger,” traces all their lives, what they gave to In-N-Out Burger and what In-N-Out Burger gave to them.

It will be published Tuesday, Oct. 17, five days before her company celebrates its 75th anniversary with a 12-hour festival at the In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip.

Snyder, 41, was born in 1982, six years after Harry’s death. She inherited the company at Esther’s death in 2006, when she was 24.

She knew her grandmother but was born nearly six years after her grandfather’s death in 1976. Harry and Esther’s two sons died young. Her uncle Rich led the company until his death in a plane crash in 1993. Her father Guy took over with Esther until he died in 1999, when she was 17.

Although Snyder was young, she was immersed in the company all her life, according to her book, and writes she had “apprenticed in almost every In-N-Out department.”

Still, writing the book was a learning experience for her.

“There are honestly things about my grandparents that I learned in this process, and that was really neat. We interviewed several people to get the story right, because I clearly wasn’t around from ‘48 until all the way to ‘82,” she said in a phone interview.

Sadness and success

Getting the story right is important to Snyder, who researched it with the help of longtime In-N-Out employees and company records.

She described the book, a two-year project, as a way to set the record straight about the company and the Snyder family.

“It was very upsetting to read some things that were not accurate, not true. They just had the story wrong. It’s a family, you know. It’s a family. It’s a legacy. I’ve had the desire since the first thing I read that was wrong. It was just a matter of when. We just thought, wow, it would be pretty neat to do it in and release it in the 75th year.”

Themes that run through the book include In-N-Out’s commitment to quality, Christian faith and the importance of family.

Chapter One begins with a Bible verse, Proverbs 3:5-6, which begins, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,” which she described as “personal to me” in the interview.

In the chapter, Snyder then describes what it was like to race on the Pomona Dragstrip on March 30 of this year and how it made her feel close to her father Guy, who was a racing fan. Her grandfather Harry was part-owner of the Irwindale Raceway.

“I know a lot of people know about the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip now,” Snyder said in the interview. “Some of them may not realize we’ve been tied to racing before.”

The book flashes back to Harry and Esther’s impoverished childhoods, service during World War II and how those experiences led to them opening the first In-N-Out drive-thru on Oct. 22, 1948 in Baldwin Park. Customers originally drove up to a small booth and gave their orders directly to the cook. After a few months of awkward communication, Harry built his own two-way speaker system to allow customers to place their orders a few cars in advance. The innovation changed the fast food world, and the Snyders’ hard work set the chain on a path of steady growth.

The book addresses tough subjects. In Chapter Four, “Redemption, she writes about a cycle of abuse in Harry Snyder’s family and how it led to the In-N-Out Foundation to combat child abuse. She also writes about the death of her uncle and her father’s substance abuse.

Writing the book gave Snyder a better understanding of Harry’s struggles, she said.

“I knew that there were some sad pieces to the story, that my grandpa was abused but then learning that his dad was really struggling. I know he was abused as well. It was pretty sad. And it’s also just a huge success story, because I think that his dad didn’t think that he would amount to much. And he made his dream come true, and obviously his success has gone beyond his life.”

Esther’s strong Christian faith made her a beloved role model. Snyder includes memories of her grandmother as well as what it was like to visit In-N-Out headquarters as a child.

Snyder learned In-N-Out from the ground up as well as the top down. She writes about her first job at 17 in a new In-N-Out in Redding, near where she was living with her mother Lynda in Northern California. She had the same tasks as other crew members, including working in the kitchen in full view of drive-thru customers. Her first day was the restaurant’s opening day.

“I was nervous,” she said in the interview. “They had me take the first customer, and this was a brand-new store. I was so nervous. And back then, we didn’t have it telling us how much change to give back. Back then, we had to count it back. It’s pretty simple math, but when you’re nervous and on-the-spot and somewhat kind of freaking out.

“The night before I remember my mom practicing with me. She’s like, ‘So this is if they give you a quarter.’ I’m like,’ Why would they give me a quarter? It’s not 25.’ She’s like, ‘Sometimes people do that to make it easier.’ I’m like, ‘That’s not making it easier!’ But it went fine.

“I enjoyed almost every position there. I really liked being able to interact with the customers. And I do tell people that I enjoyed prepping the lettuce. I think most people don’t realize that would be interacting with the customer, but you’re literally smiling and waving at the customers.”

The book’s narrative is broken up by fun facts for fans of the brand. Among them:

Onions: Snyder shares what kind In-N-Out Uses, Bermuda, and the many ways customers can order them.
Palm trees: In-N-Out’s signature landscaping element are 20-foot Mexican fan palms that are planted to cross each other, as in the 1963 movie “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”
Spread: The condiment used on burgers, similar to Thousand Island dressing, dates from 1948 and was mixed by Harry in a barrel using a wooden ax handle. It’s never called sauce.

Going big on the anniversary

Snyder began planning the book about two years ago, and during most of the time it came together In-N-Out was planning for its 75th anniversary.

Snyder and her husband Sean Ellingson were also involved with Slave 2 Nothing, which she set up in 2016. The nonprofit combats human trafficking and substance abuse, amplifying the work of the In-N-Out Foundation.

Proceeds from the book benefit the In-N-Out Burger Foundation, as will a separately ticketed concert curing the festival called Slave 2 Nothing. It will feature the In-N-Out “family band,” .48 Special, ZZ Top and 311. Snyder said her band has been rehearsing all year.

A committee to put together the festival started work a year and half ago, and In-N-Out announced the event nearly a year in advance. Tickets went on sale in May and sold out in mid-September.

“We’re not doing anything small here,” Snyder said.

Attractions include a car show, racing and performances by the winners of a Battle of the Bands contest, plus In-N-Out trucks and about 40 items of anniversary merchandise. And the book will be available there as well.

“I’m really happy that the story is being told,” Snyder said. “I’m sure we don’t have everything, but we have a lot. We’ll be able to give the customers and the In-N-Out family the true story from the beginning.”

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‘The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger’

Author: Lynsi Snyder

Publication date: Oct. 17

Publisher: Nelson Books

List Price: $26.99

Information: 208 pages; thomasnelson.com

In-N-Out 75th Anniversary Festival

When: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22.

Where: In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, 2780 Fairplex Drive, Pomona.

Tickets: Sold out.

Information: ino75thfestival.com

​ Orange County Register 

La Habra Corn Festival, Placentia Heritage Festival make for lively weekend

• October 10, 2023

Two north Orange County traditions continue this weekend, a double dose of down-home community charm and fun.

The La Habra Host Lions Club’s Corn Festival returns Friday, Oct. 13, now in its 73rd year. The three-day festival at El Centro Lions Park will include its hallmark parade on Saturday, one of the oldest in Southern California.

Another longtime fixture is Placentia’s Heritage Festival, now in its 58th year, which also features a beloved parade on Saturday.

The parade launches Saturday at 9:30 a.m., with marching bands, floats and community groups participating. It will also include an honor convoy marking the 50th anniversary of American soldiers returning from Vietnam, as well as paying tribute to all active-duty military service members and veterans.

The parade travels Kraemer Boulevard from Bastanchury Road, ending at Tri-City Park, where the festival will continue into the afternoon. There is a car show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the park will be filled with activities for kids, a business expo, food booths and a beer and wine garden.

A pancake breakfast starts the day from 6:30 to 10 a.m. The festival ends at 4 p.m.

Volunteers will be shucking and cooking ears of corn by the thousands in La Habra over the weekend. The fun starts Friday night at 5 p.m. at El Centro Lions Park. The festival ends at 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Saturday starts with the parade at 9:30 a.m.; it will travel La Habra Boulevard from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church to Cypress Street.

The festival opens at the park at 10:30 a.m. and will feature activities for families, shopping, carnival rides, corn-eating contests, lots of food and entertainment. The fun gets started Sunday at 11 a.m.

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​ Orange County Register 

Amazon’s best October Prime Day deals under $50

• October 10, 2023

Prime Big Deal Days is here

It’s been a long wait since July’s big Prime Day sale, but it’s finally time for another round of major discounts in the form of Prime Big Deal Days. There are plenty of big deals for expensive and popular items such as Roombas and security systems, but don’t sleep on the sales of items under $50. You can snag plenty of nice new clothes for example, or new Amazon Echo devices including the Echo Pop. You do need to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of these deals, though, but that’s a breeze to sign up for.

How to sign up for Amazon Prime

Signing up for Amazon Prime is a two-step process.

[ Amazon is already rolling out early deals for October Prime Day ]

Creating a free Amazon account

First, you need to create a free Amazon account. You might already have one if you’ve ever ordered anything from Amazon before, as a free account is required to save your shipping address and billing information, plus your order information and history.

You don’t need to go anywhere special on Amazon’s website or app to do this since Amazon will automatically ask you to sign up or sign in when you place an order. You can also click on the sign-in button ahead of an order to create your account. That button is located in the top right of the website page, both on a computer and on a mobile device, and is dead center on the bottom of your screen for the mobile app.

Upgrading to Amazon Prime

Once you have your free Amazon account set up, you can upgrade it to an Amazon Prime account. All you have to do is go to the Amazon Prime sign-up page and follow the instructions. You can do this on any device.

If you’ve never signed up for Amazon Prime before, or you haven’t had an active Amazon Prime membership for at least a year, you can get a 30-day free trial at sign-up. After that trial period is over, Amazon Prime’s base cost is $14.99 a month. You can also pay for a year’s worth of Amazon Prime upfront for $139, which works out to $11.58 a month.

Some members of the population are eligible to get Amazon Prime for even less. Students, for example, can get Amazon Prime for $7.49 a month or $69 a year, which is $5.75 a month. Select governmental assistance recipients, such as those on Medicaid, can get it for $6.99, though there’s no yearly subscription for this discount category.

Amazon Prime benefits

Amazon Prime benefits are broken down into six categories.

AMAZON OCTOBER PRIME DAY CHEAT SHEET:  October Prime Day: Here are the best early deals

Shipping

Shipping benefits are the primary reason for signing up for Amazon Prime. They include free two-day, same-day and release-day shipping on most items sent to most zip codes. You can also select no-rush shipping to earn rewards and pick an “Amazon Day” for your packages to arrive each week when ordered in time.

Streaming

Amazon Prime also gives you access to the Prime Video streaming service, home of shows such as “The Boys” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” You also get access to Amazon Music, a discount on Amazon Music Unlimited and Prime Gaming, which gives you access to free games and in-game rewards.

Shopping

The shopping benefits of Amazon Prime are eclectic, to say the least. Some benefits include access to Amazon credit and reward cards, access and discounts to ordering fresh food that can be delivered in as quick as an hour, discounts and “try before you buy” access to clothing and, of course, access to Amazon’s big sales events.

Reading

Reading benefits are minor, but still a boon to book lovers. You get access to Prime Reading, a free collection of books, magazines and more, plus access to Amazon First Reads, which lets you download a new book for free each month from a select list.

Other

Two final small benefits are Membership Sharing, where adults in the same household can share some Amazon Prime benefits and Amazon Photos, which offers unlimited photo storage.

Supplemental

Lastly, there are bonus paid benefits to Amazon Prime that you can tack on. This includes adding premium cable channels such as HBO and Showtime, plus a free one-year Grubhub+ membership.

Best Prime Big Deal Days deals under $50

[ Amazon Echo Show 5 With Philips Hue Smart Color Bulb ]

Both these smart devices are the perfect way to start or expand your smart home empire. The bundle is 71% off for $41.98.

[ Amazon All-New Echo Buds ]

These wireless earbuds sync with your Alexa-based smart home and offer up to five hours of playback on a full charge. They come in white or black and are 30% off for $34.99.

[ Amazon Official Luna Wireless Controller ]

Video Game streaming is still in its infancy, but it’s a perfect way to game on the go while away from your usual gaming setup. It’s 43% off for $39.99.

[ Amazon Echo Pop With Kasa Smart Plug ]

We’ve tested the Echo Pop and found it to be an excellent budget or auxiliary speaker while the smart plug lets you turn any light into a smart light. The bundle is 69% off for $18.98.

[ Martha Stewart Cliffield 16-Piece Porcelain Dinnerware Set ]

This complete dinnerware set has enough of each piece for four people, those pieces being a small and large plate, a bowl and a cup. It’s 20% off for $39.97.

[ Dash 11-Inch Nonstick Cast Iron Skillet ]

Every home cook worth their salt needs a good cast-iron pan. This one has a non-stick coating that doesn’t require maintenance like standard cast-iron pans do. It’s 20% off for $47.99.

[ Blink Video Doorbell With Mini Camera ]

It’s important to protect your home with security systems, and it’s even better if that system has video recording capability like what this doorbell and camera set includes. The bundle is 47% off for $49.98.

[ Simple Joys By Carter Baby Hat And Mitten Set ]

We’re well into fall now and winter is bearing down hard. If you have a young one, protecting them from the cold is crucial for health and safety. This hat-and-mitten bundle for 0- to 9-month-olds is 20% off for $7.99.

[ Columbia Glennaker Rain Jacket ]

The only thing worse than being cold in the fall and winter months is being cold and wet. This jacket can protect you from both, plus it comes in 38 designs. The discount depends on the size and design.

[ Crockpot Electric Lunch Box ]

This effective device is perfect for packing up leftovers to places that don’t have a microwave for warming your food. All you have to do is plug it in and wait. It’s 13% off for $34.99.

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Prime Big Deal Days deals under $50 worth checking out

Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews. Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals. Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

Amazon’s October Prime Day is here. These are the best deals so far

• October 10, 2023

The October 2023 Prime Day kicks off with unbeatable deals

Prime Day is no longer just a summertime event. Prime Big Deal Days has arrived, and is the perfect time to shop and save on home items, trending tech and holiday essentials. You can also find bestsellers such as Echo devices, Ninja air fryers and Apple watches at deep discounts.

The deals on the first day of the fall Prime event are impressive. But the huge sale will only take place Oct. 10 and 11, so now is the best time to get in on the savings.

What is October Prime Big Deals Days?

If you love shopping during Amazon’s Prime Day event in July, you’ll be thrilled to find that Prime Big Deals Days offers an almost identical shopping experience. For two days only, you’ll be able to take advantage of low prices on popular products. While small kitchen appliances,  grooming products, laptops, TVs, smart speakers and robot vacuums are items to watch for, it’s also a great time to give Amazon subscription services, such as Kindle Unlimited, a try.

This isn’t the first year that Amazon has held a 48-hour sale in the fall. In 2022, the online retailer hosted the Prime Early Access Sale as a kickoff to the holiday shopping season. As Prime Members shop Amazon deals today and tomorrow, keep in mind that it’s definitely not too early to begin shopping for the upcoming holidays.

EVEN CHEAPER: Best Amazon October Prime Day deals under $50

Just like when you shop during Prime Day in July, you’ll find products available for a fraction of their retail prices. We’ve already found discounts of 60% off and more. Some major price drops are by invite-only. When these deals are available, it’s important to put your request in early so you have the best chance of saving big on an item that is likely to sell out.

Best deals of the first day of Prime Big Deals Days

National Tree Company 12-Foot Artificial Dunhill Fir Christmas Tree 38% off

When it comes to artificial Christmas trees, the more realistic the better. Made by a top company, this 12-foot tall tree looks like a real evergreen and has full branches that are pre-lit with 1,500 bright white lights. It’s simple to put together too for hassle-free tree-trimming.

Chi G2 Professional Hair Straightener 35% off

Plug it in, turn it on and this styling tool is ready in seconds to make you look like you just got back from the salon. It produces temperatures up to 420 degrees, so it works on hair that’s difficult to style. If having sleek tresses is your goal, the titanium-infused ceramic plates have you covered.

Echo Pop Smart Speaker 55% off

Compact and stylish, the Echo Pop is the latest Alexa-enabled smart speaker from Amazon that will play your favorite music, check the weather and control other smart devices on command. This responsive speaker doesn’t take up a lot of space, yet delivers a full, balanced sound that is quickly making it a fan favorite.

Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop 21% off

Already an affordable laptop, the low Big Deals price makes it too good to pass by. It features the 11th gen i3 dual processor that’s fast and smart, making this device a good choice for work or play. Although trim, it has a full HD 15.6-inch display for crisp text and vibrant images and videos.

Apple Watch Series 9 12% off

The Apple Watch Series 9 was just released in September, so it’s not easy to find it on sale. Thanks to the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, you can buy one today for one of the lowest prices we’ve seen. You’ll enjoy a vivid display, sporty design, GPS and advanced health and fitness tracking with Apple’s latest smartwatch.

iRobot Roomba i4+EVO 31% off

Pet hair, dirt and kitty litter are no matches for this popular Roomba that delivers impressive suction power. It’s a smart mapping, Wi-Fi-connected model that allows you to control it via the iRobot Home app and Alexa. It also self-empties into the base dustbin that holds up to 60 days of debris, which means less work for you.

Amazon Kindle Scribe 22% off

More than just an e-reader, the Kindle Scribe is also a digital notebook that allows you to take notes with the included Kindle Pen.  The 10.2-inch display is vivid and glare-free, which makes taking notes and indulging in your favorite reads enjoyable. Charge it up and you’ll be able to read for months or write for weeks without needing to recharge.

Koolaburra by UGG Women’s Lezly Slippers 15% off

Anyone who wears Koolaburra slippers will feel like they are walking on a cloud thanks to the wool and faux fur lining that’s soft and warm. The slippers are crafted of suede with rubber soles, making them ideal to wear day and night during relaxing winter days at home.

Blink Outdoor 6-Camera System 50% off

It’s easy to make your place more secure with this Blink system that includes six motion-detecting cameras for monitoring numerous angles of the outside exterior. They sport a weather-resistant design and infrared night vision. Pair them with an Alexa-enabled device and you can operate the system by voice control.

Ninja Programmable XL 14-Cup Coffee Maker Pro 30% off

Whether there are several avid coffee drinkers in your household or you entertain frequently, this coffee maker is built to deliver up to 14 hot cups of joe at once. It features a sleek control panel with simple controls that include classic and rich brew styles. It can also make small batches when a full carafe isn’t necessary.

Braun Series 9 Rechargeable Electric Shaver 21% off

This shaver can be used wet or dry, so it’s ideal for grooming in or out of the shower. It offers proprietary Autosense technology that automatically adapts to facial hair for a precise shave. It includes a clean and charge center that cleans, charges, lubricates and dries the shaver so it’s always ready to use.

COSORI 11-in-1 26-Quart Ceramic Air Fryer Toaster Oven 23% off

From toasting a bagel to roasting a chicken, this toaster oven is likely to become your go-to small appliance for preparing meals and snacks. Part of its 11-in-1 functions is air fryer mode that makes crispy foods with minimal oil. It also bakes, broils, dehydrates and more. A fry basket, roasting rack, sheet tray, wire rack and splatter guard are included with your purchase.

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Other top products

Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews. Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals. Jennifer Manfrin writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

Where are California’s most affordable homes?

• October 10, 2023

”Survey says” looks at various rankings and scorecards judging geographic locations while noting these grades are best seen as a mix of artful interpretation and data.

Buzz: If you want a quasi-affordable California home, look far from the coast and the big cities.

Source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed third-quarter homebuying affordability stats for 578 big US counties – including 35 California counties, compiled by ATTOM, a real estate data provider.

Topline

First, we ranked the counties on pricing, purchasing power and historical affordability. Then we combined those scorecards.

And, drumroll please … Butte is California’s bargain county. It’s far to the north and home to Chico and the Oroville Dam.

The next county for affordability was Imperial, followed by Humboldt, Tulare and Fresno.

The least affordable county, by this math, was Santa Cruz, Monterey, Orange, San Diego and Alameda.

Details

Let’s get inside those county rankings, noting that there’s plenty of “art” involved in homebuying affordability math.

Pricing: What does it cost?

Tulare County house hunters have it best, in California terms, with a $338,000 median home price that requires an annual income of $83,000 to qualify for a loan with 20% down at prevailing rates and a 28% debt-to-income ratio.

Next was Kern’s $340,000 median, which requires an $86,000 annual income, followed by Imperial’s $355,000 ($87,000 income), Kings’s $359,000 ($89,000), and Butte’s $385,000 ($95,000).

ECONOMIC NEWS: What’s the big trend? Should I be worried? CLICK HERE!

The costliest: Santa Clara County’s $ 1.48 million median requires a $358,000 annual income. San Mateo’s $ 1.47 million requires $356,500 while Marin’s $1.3 million requires $325,500. In San Francisco, the median $1.29 million home requires $319,500 in income, and Santa Cruz’s $1.17 million requires $283,500.

Contrast that to the typical American buyer who paid $319,950 for a home that required $88,000 in pay.

Purchasing power: The gap between estimated payments and wages.

Kern County buyers are in the best shape. The typical mortgage payment,  $2,008 a month, would eat up just 43% of the $4,681 average local wage. Next was Sacramento at 46%, then Tulare, Imperial and Kings counties at 47%.

At the other end of the affordability spectrum, there’s Santa Cruz County. Mortgage payments of $6,614 equals 123% of the $5,390 local wage. That the widest spread in the nation among the 578 US counties tracked by ATTOM

Next lowest by this California affordability yardstick was Monterey at 101% – ranking third-highest nationally. Marin at 100% (No. 4), Orange at 95% (No. 6), and San Luis Obispo at 94% (No. 7).

Yes, homes in these counties create payments that would gobble up a worker’s entire paychecks. That why two incomes – and we’re talking good salaries, too – are a minimum need to be homebuyers in these communities.

Note that the typical nationwide house payment of $2,053 claimed 39% of what a common US worker makes – $5,935.

Historical affordability: How today compares with norms dating to 2005.

San Francisco County is the only one of the 35 California counties with affordability above its 18-year average.

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An 8% improvement largely reflects San Francisco’s cascading home values, which are down 15% from their recent peak. Only one of the 578 US counties had a bigger improvement – Illinois’ tiny Macon County.

Next in California was San Mateo, with affordability 8% below average. Marin was 15% below, Humboldt at 17% below, and Butte at 18% below.

Affordability in Monterey and San Bernardino counties look historically the worst at 33% below their norms. Then comes Riverside and Kern at 32% below.

Nationally, affordability’s hurting, too, off 31% from the US average.

Bottom line

Look what the pandemic era did to California house hunters as both prices and mortgage rates soared.

The median house payment in the 35 counties was $3,658 in the third quarter. That’s up 68% since the end of 2019 – when few knew what coronavirus was.

California’s highest payment among the counties was $8,351 (Santa Clara) – up 49% since 2019. But the low payment of $1,931 (Tulare) reflects an 81% increase.

So California “bargains” are getting far pricier.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at [email protected]

Leaving California?

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​ Orange County Register 

Homeless Fullerton students need a home, so these 8th graders are building one

• October 10, 2023

To eighth-grader Marina Damitio, building a tiny home for an unhoused family is more than just a regular school assignment — it’s becoming her passion.

At Nicolas Junior High in Fullerton, a woodshop class comprised of 22 eighth-graders has been diving into the world of construction by building a 192-square-foot tiny home that will provide a living space for an unhoused family in the Fullerton School District.

Once completed, the home will be fully furnished, complete with a kitchen, bathroom and living space for around three family members to reside.

The tiny home will serve as a temporary residence for a chosen Fullerton School District student and their family who are receiving assistance from the district under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a federal law meant to support the education of homeless students.

“I absolutely love working on this project,” said Damitio. “Since beginning the process of constructing the home, I have learned so much about how to build something and what it takes to produce something good for a family. It has made me realize that I want to work in construction when I am older.”

The district is in the process of selecting a family to receive the home, said Jeremy Davis, the assistant superintendent of Innovation and Instructional Support for the district and one of the many leaders on the project, but he is excited for the day they can hand the keys over.

The home will be located on a small strip of land located on the Orangethorpe Elementary School campus.

“We are hoping that once we finish this tiny home, a second one can be placed right next to the first, also being built by students at Nicolas,” said Davis.

Although there is no explicit timeline for when the tiny home will be finished, Davis said he believes the main bulk of the construction is expected to be completed in May, and the district will then host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the student’s accomplishments.

Related links

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And the district will work with local organizations ultimately to transition that family to a permanent residence as well, Davis said.

This project does not just involve the woodshop students, said Davis. The Nicolas student body is creating a documentary that will walk with the students constructing the home step-by-step, highlighting the highs and lows of tackling a project like this.

“We want students involved in every aspect of the building process,” said Davis. “It’s not just ‘go paint’ — it’s a hands-on experience where students can learn real-life skills while also assisting in a great cause.”

And it isn’t just a Nicolas project. At nearby Parks Junior High, a small group of students who have an interest in politics will present the project to the Fullerton City Council in the coming months to draw more support for the cause. Other students from various Fullerton School District campuses will help to furnish the home when the construction is finished later in the school year.

The tiny home project originated last year by the Innovation and Instructional Support team in the district.

“We were asked to think of something outside the box,” said Davis, “something that will impact more than just the school itself.”

Davis said five different ideas were presented to the district, but the tiny home project was chosen as the best fit.

The funding for this project has been fully provided from local support, including grants from nonprofits Fullerton Education Foundation and Wilson W. Phelps Foundation. Additional support has come from the Hope Center of Orange County, community group Orange County United, public relations firm Idea Hall, Pathways of Hope and Ganahl Lumber.

“Our vision is to provide opportunities for self-discovery and skill development to students in the trades,” said Monica Torres, executive board director of the Fullerton Education Foundation. “Through the process of building a tiny home from scratch to completion, students are exposed to a variety of trade disciplines and are empowered to identify possible future career paths.”

Woodshop instructor Mucio Vidales has been spearheading this initiative since it was presented to him last year.

“One day, the district came to me with a really great idea, and after working with the district and students, it has really come together,” said Vidales. “The support has been truly incredible. It gives the kids motivation to continue pursuing this project and seeing it through to the end.”

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Now, Vidales said, the students are working on smaller-scale models of the home to see how the building process will work as well as ensure the students are up for the challenge. For practice, students have also built a framework for a shed, learning different woodshop skills needed to eventually complete the tiny home.

“There are students who I have seen really thrive with this project,” said Vidales. “You can really recognize the students who want to work hard on this and feel passionate towards the home.”

“Seeing us all work together to make the home is the best part,” said Damitio. “In order to make sure this gets done, teamwork is needed. All of us working together and growing together is what will make this possible.”

Progress of the tiny home project can be followed on the school’s website where Davis said people will see the work the students are doing and add support of their own.

​ Orange County Register 

Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified will consider a parental notification policy

• October 10, 2023

Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District is the next California district to discuss a parental notification policy.

While several districts in California have adopted in recent months policies to inform parents if their child may be transgender, the PYLUSD proposal — as it’s written for the Tuesday, Oct. 10 meeting — does not specifically mention gender identity.

As the policy is written, a designated school counselor would notify a student’s family within 24 hours if they have a “reasonable cause to believe that an action of a student will avert a clear and present danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the student and others around them.”

“Due to the current nationwide mental health crisis exacerbated by the global pandemic, the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District recognizes the need for frequent, ongoing and oftentimes immediate communication between school administration, staff, and parents/guardians,” the policy says. “Furthermore, with reports of depression, anxiety and suicide rates at an all-time high among public school students, action is needed to address this emerging crisis and support the health and welfare of district students.”

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The agenda for Tuesday’s meeting says the policy comes at the request of Superintendent Alex Cherniss.

When asked if it is written broad enough to include notifying a parent if a student may be transgender, Cherniss said: “The policy speaks for itself and covers all matters related to parental notification.” He did not respond to questions asking to clarify further.

“The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Board of Education strives to foster trust and communication between the District and the parent(s)/guardian(s) of its students,” the policy reads. “To that end, the Board supports the fundamental rights of parent(s)/guardian(s) to direct the care and upbringing of their children, including the right to be informed of and involved in their child’s education to promote positive educational outcomes.”

Through the policy, the district says it intends to include parents in “the decision-making process for mental health and social-emotional issues of their children arising at school at the earliest possible time in order to prevent or reduce potential instances of harm to self or others as well as promote communication and positive relationships.”

PYLUSD board members did not respond to requests for comment Monday afternoon.

Several districts across California have adopted what’s been called parental notification policies in recent months. These guidelines stipulate that parents would be informed if their child requests to use different names or pronouns or wishes to change sex-segregated programs such as athletic teams or changing facilities that differ from the student’s assigned biological sex at birth.

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Last month, Orange Unified became the first district in Orange County to adopt such a policy.

There, the policy requires a certificated staff member or principal to inform parents if their child, who is under the age of 12, requests to use different names or pronouns or asks to change sex-segregated programs. If the student is older, it is up to the discretion of a school counselor or psychologist to decide if it is appropriate to report the information to the family.

Multiple districts across California — including Murrieta Valley Unified, Chino Valley Unified and Temecula Valley Unified — have recently adopted similar policies. And on Oct. 18, Capistrano Unified is set to consider a similar proposal.

Attorney General Rob Bonta sued Chino Valley in August to stop enforcement of the policy. Bonta said it “presents students with a terrible choice. Either walk back your rights to gender identity and gender expression to be yourself (and) to be who you are or face the risk of serious harm — mental harm, emotional harm, physical harm.”

A judge has issued a temporary restraining order, blocking its enforcement for now. A hearing is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 13.

​ Orange County Register 

‘Hitchcock’s Blondes’ explores the director’s films with Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman, more

• October 10, 2023

As biographer Laurence Leamer settled in front of the television to research the films of Alfred Hitchcock, he realized he had a problem.

“I started watching this as an author writing the book and trying to get material,” Leamer says on a recent call. “And after five minutes, his stuff is so fascinating I forget that and just watch it because I’m enjoying it so much.

“That’s how good he is,” he says. “That’s how he involves you. He knows just what he’s doing.”

Leamer persevered and “Hitchcock’s Blondes: The Unforgettable Women Behind the Legendary Director’s Dark Obsession” arrived on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

In it, Leamer explores the work of Hitchcock and eight actresses with whom he worked, from June Howard-Tripp in 1925’s “The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog” to Tippi Hedren in “The Birds” and “Marnie” in 1963 and ’64.

In between, Leamer explores Hitchcock’s work with Madeleine Carroll (“The 39 Steps,” “Secret Agent”), Ingrid Bergman (“Spellbound,” “Notorious,” “Under Capricorn”), Grace Kelly (“Dial M for Murder,” “Rear Window,” “To Catch a Thief”), Kim Novak (“Vertigo”), Eva Marie Saint (“North by Northwest”), and Janet Leigh (“Psycho“).

Hitchcock’s life and career has been examined in numerous books from before and after his death at 80 in 1980. His infatuation with his leading ladies, particularly the blondes and his odd, sometimes cruel manner with them are well known.

But Leamer is the first biographer to shift the focus from Hitchcock in the foreground to zoom in on the women with whom the director achieved some of his greatest works.

“Hitchcock’s Blondes” is the second in a planned trilogy about male creative geniuses and their female friends, colleagues and confidants. Leamer, 81, is currently working on a book about artist Andy Warhol and his many muses.

The first book in his series, “Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era” arrived in 2021. Its story of writer Truman Capote and the New York City circle of women in which he moved arrives as the second chapter of producer Ryan Murphy’s FX anthology series “Feud” in 2024.

Q: Do you remember when you first became aware of Alfred Hitchcock?

A: He’s so much a part of our culture, I don’t even know. You know, if you go on Amazon Prime and plug in Hitchcock, there are over 40 of his films you can watch today. That’s the magnitude of that guy’s accomplishments.

Q: How did you arrive at the framework of the book, focusing on these eight women?

A: Well, chronology is God’s gift to a writer. You’d better have a damn good reason to do away with it. So the chronology is his life and the blondes are pretty obviously the candidates for telling it.

When I write a book, I always write the ending in my head and then I try to write the book that would justify that ending. And that’s what I did here. I wanted the ending to be that AFI tribute (in March 1979). I wanted the audience at that point, the readers, to appreciate his greatness, and also the dark part of it as well. And to appreciate the actresses as well.

Q: Three of the actresses are still living. Tippi Hedren doesn’t do interviews but you were able to talk with Eva Marie Saint from ‘North by Northwest’ and Kim Novak from ‘Vertigo.’ What was that like?

A: Eva Marie Saint was fabulous. You know, she’s 99 years old now, living by herself in her apartment. She wants to have her own life. I think that’s incredible.

Q: From her chapter in the book, she seems to be one of the most grounded of the Hitchcock actresses.

A: She was grounded, but she is calculating. And I don’t say that as a criticism, just the opposite. She knew the life she wanted early on. She had some success in television. Got a little apartment. She was lonely, she wanted to marry. She didn’t want to marry an actor. She married this producer. And they had the most wonderful marriage.

Then in her career, she loved her children. She liked to act, but when they were growing up, she’d do just one movie a year. She put her Academy Award statuette for ‘On The Waterfront’ in the closet and just forgot it. She really has immense character as far as I’m concerned.

Q: A lot of the stories of Hitchcock and the actresses are well known. I’m curious what your conversation with her provided that you didn’t already have?

A: She had some tidbits, but she’s told these stories many times. I found a few new things. It was just as much to get a real feeling of her emotionally. I think I wrote a much better chapter because I knew her in that way.

Q: Kim Novak, from your chapter on her, seems like perhaps the actress Hitchcock treated the worst. What was she like?

A: It’s inexplicable to me (how she was treated). He brings her up to luncheon and shows her his paintings, which he knows she won’t appreciate the way he appreciates them, and the vintage wine, which she doesn’t understand. Just to put her down. And the first day in the studio there’s this dead chicken attached to her mirror and Hitch and the other men standing around laughing at her.

She said she didn’t know what that was about. I don’t know what it’s about. It just didn’t make any sense to me. But it’s not a great thing to do to this vulnerable, insecure actress on the first day.

And then when she finished it, I think she deserved an Academy Award nomination because I think she’s magnificent. It’s a very difficult role. But Hitch put her down. Even when that putting down probably diminished the number of people wanting to see the movie.

Q: Was she candid and open about her treatment by him?

A: She really appreciated Hitchcock. She has nothing negative to say about it. It’s the best thing she did in her whole life, and she puts it in perspective.

Q: In recent years, there’s been a lot of discussion about how to appreciate art made by men with problematic histories. Might this book change Hitchcock’s reputation?

A: If the things about Woody Allen are true – and I don’t know if they are, but if they are, well, I wouldn’t want to watch his films, right? This stuff about Hitchcock isn’t at that magnitude, in my opinion. In the #MeToo times, people are just too easily dismissed, and I don’t think it’s fair to him.

There was a biographer of him, Donald Spoto, who just focused on the darkness, and that had a big impact on Hitchcock’s reputation. I don’t think that’s fair.

Q: Of the Hitchcock films you watched featuring these women, do you have a favorite you go back to?

A: It depends on what you want. I mean, ‘To Catch a Thief’ is just pure fun. You can’t beat that. ‘Marnie,’ the dark brilliance of that is irresistible. And ‘Psycho,’ I mean, there’s nothing like ‘Psycho,’ right?

Laurence Leamer book event

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12

Where: Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena

For more: Vromansbookstore.com/Laurence-Leamer-discusses-Hitchcocks-Blondes

​ Orange County Register