Palm Springs midcentury home built into the mountain seeks $8.8 million

• January 26, 2024

A Palm Springs midcentury-modern home, originally designed by architect John Kaptur and built into the base of the San Jacinto Mountains, is on the market for $8.75 million.

Cascading rock waterfalls and native terrain surround this 2,932-square-foot house. It has three bedrooms and four bathrooms with boulders integrated into the structure that rises from a massive stone wall.

“Kaptur considered the entire parcel when creating an unmatched environment to enjoy the spectacular setting,” the listing reads.

Large expanses of glass and a graphic roof-line canopy frame the panoramic city and mountain views. A covered patio, pool, spa and koi pond add to the outdoor amenities.

Dubbed “Bougain Villa,” the house dates to 1958 and has only had two owners since then.

The home’s original furniture and artifacts from around the world are available for sale separately, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. That same article mentioned that the original owners hired modernist architect Albert Frey in the 1980s to renovate and expand the home with a mirrored guest house. They then quietly sold it.

Records show it traded hands for $1.09 million in 1999.

Sean Stanfield of Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty and Craig Chorpenning of Desert Sotheby’s International Realty share the listing.

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​ Orange County Register 

Angel City FC adds veteran midfielder Raquel Rodriguez in trade with Portland Thorns

• January 23, 2024

Angel City Football Club added midfielder Raquel “Rocky” Rodriguez in a trade with the Portland Thorns Tuesday in exchange for $275,000 in allocation money.

Rodriguez, 30, has spent the past four seasons with the Thorns, making 72 appearances across all competitions.

“I am so excited to be joining ACFC,” Rodriguez said. “I can’t wait to play for the city of Los Angeles. I want to bring the very best of me to help this team be successful and bring excitement to the fans.”

Rodriguez has also made 85 appearances for the Costa Rican national team, including at the 2023 FIFA World Cup.

Before joining Portland, she began her NWSL career as the No. 2 draft pick in the 2016 Draft by the Sky Blue FC out of Penn State. She earned NWSL Rookie of the Year honors.

“Rocky brings a high level of professionalism and presence to Angel City’s midfield and that’s combined with a tremendous amount of experience in this league and internationally as well,” General Manager Angela Hucles Mangano said. “We’re beyond thrilled that we are able to have her join our squad.”

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​ Orange County Register 

Villa Park girls basketball heats up as CIF-SS playoffs approach

• January 23, 2024

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Villa Park’s girls basketball team is showing its promise at the right time.

With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Spartans have climbed to No. 4 in the rankings for CIF-SS Division 3A, which could be one of Orange County’s most exciting groupings for the playoffs.

Villa Park (13-10, 3-1), featuring three sophomores in its starting lineup, made the jump after an eye-opening 65-38 victory at Yorba Linda on Friday. The triumph pushed the Spartans closer toward earning an automatic playoff berth in the four-team North Hills League.

“We are starting to get things churning in the right direction,” Villa Park coach Brad Willis said. “(We’re getting) contributions from multiple players in different categories. Not one player has to score 25 for us be successful. We have a balanced attack.”

The triumph against Yorba Linda was a prime example.

Sophomore guard Suriah Auerswald produced 15 points and five rebounds off the bench to help pace Villa Park. Sophomore guard Sabina Patel, a transfer from Sonora, had 14 points and two blocks while junior wing Marina Trumpour added 11 points, eight rebounds and six steals.

Villa Park starts sophomores Patel, Olivia Sturdivant (Mater Dei transfer) and Bailey Roczey, Trumpour and senior Kaitlyn Ith.

The Spartans play host to first-place Canyon (15-8, 3-0) on Tuesday and close league on Feb. 1 by playing host to Yorba Linda (11-12, 1-2).

JSerra and St. Margaret’s are ranked ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in Division 3A. Dana Hills is positoned fifth.

CALVARY CHAPEL, ST. MARGARET’S RIVALRY EXPANDS

Orange Coast League members Calvary Chapel and St. Margaret’s will extend their rivalry to the Nike Extravaganza with a clash Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Mater Dei.

The schools play their second league game on Tuesday, making the showcase a nonleague game.

In the teams’ first league meeting, the Eagles (16-8, 9-0) edged the Tartans (19-5, 8-1) in overtime 67-65.

Calvary Chapel coach Jon Hughes and St. Margaret’s coach Josh Markum have a friendly rivalry from their days coaching boys basketball.

“I’m just excited for our girls to play in an event like this against a solid opponent,” Markum said of the Nike Extravaganza.

SHORT SHOTS

Huntington Beach plans to honor coach Russ McClurg before its game on Thursday for recently earning his 500th career victory. … Buena Park junior post Tamila Fanene has enrolled at Anaheim, Colonists athletic director Alfonso Rodriguez confirmed. Fanene’s eligibility for the remainder of this season is unclear. … Seniors Erin Choi of Sunny Hills and Sydney Peterson of San Juan Hills recently reached the 1,000 career points milestone.

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​ Orange County Register 

Turkey’s parliament OKs Sweden’s NATO membership

• January 23, 2024

By Suzan Fraser | Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish legislators on Tuesday endorsed Sweden’s membership in NATO, lifting a major hurdle on the previously nonaligned country’s entry into the military alliance.

The legislators ratified Sweden’s accession protocol by 287 votes to 55, with four abstentions. The ratification will come into effect after its publication in the Official Gazette, which is expected to be swift.

Hungary then becomes the only NATO ally not to have ratified Sweden’s accession.

“Today we are one step closer to becoming a full member of NATO,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Jeff Flake, also welcomed the Turkish parliament’s decision calling it a “great move” for Sweden, Turkey and NATO.

NATO-member Turkey had been delaying Sweden’s membership for more than a year, accusing the country of being too lenient toward groups that Ankara regards as security threats. It has been seeking concessions from Stockholm, including a tougher stance toward Kurdish militants and members of a network that Ankara blames for a failed coup in 2016.

Turkey had also been angered by a series of demonstrations by supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, in Sweden as well as Quran-burning protests that roiled Muslim countries.

Last month, parliament’s foreign affairs committee gave its consent to Sweden’s bid in the first stage of the legislative process, after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent its accession protocol to lawmakers for approval.

“In the past, Sweden was a country that had become a center in Europe in terms of the existence and of the activities of the PKK,” Fuat Oktay, a senior legislator in Erdogan’s governing party and the head of the parliament’s foreign affairs committee told parliament.

Sweden had since, among other things, amended its anti-terrorism laws, curbed the PKK’s financial activities, convicted a suspect for alleged money laundering and financing terrorism, extradited another suspect and lifted restrictions on arms sales to Turkey, he said.

“PKK-affiliated circles no longer find a comfortable room for maneuver in Sweden as they did in the past,” Oktay said, explaining why the ruling party was now supporting Stockholm’s bid.Sweden has pledged deeper cooperation with Turkey on counterterrorism and to support Turkey’s ambition to revive its EU membership bid.

Turkey’s main opposition party also supported Sweden’s membership in the alliance but a center-right party and the country’s pro-Kurdish party were among parties that opposed it.

“Sweden’s steps concerning its extradition of wanted criminals or the fight against terrorism have remained limited and insufficient,” Musavat Dervisoglu, a legislator from the Good Party told parliament.

Erdogan has linked ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership to the U.S. Congress’ approval of a Turkish request to purchase 40 new F-16 fighter jets and kits to modernize Turkey’s existing fleet. He has also urged Canada and other NATO allies to lift arms embargoes on Turkey.

Koray Aydin, another Good Party legislator, urged parliament to hold out on ratifying Sweden’s accession until the F-16 sales and the modernization kits are approved in Washington, saying Turkey would lose an important bargaining chip.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration never formally tied the sale of the F-16s to Turkey’s ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership. However, numerous influential members of Congress had said they would not support the sale unless and until Turkey signs off on Sweden’s accession to the alliance.

Administration officials say they expect relatively quick action on the F-16 sale after Turkey’s ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership.

In Washington, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Sweden is “more than ready to become a NATO ally.”

He added, “It’s time for Sweden to become a NATO ally. They have a modern, advanced military– one that we’re very comfortable with. And they’ll add real significant military capabilities to the alliance.”

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Sweden and Finland abandoned their traditional positions of military nonalignment to seek protection under NATO’s security umbrella, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Finland joined the alliance in April, becoming NATO’s 31st member, after Turkey’s parliament ratified the Nordic country’s bid.

Hungary has also stalled Sweden’s bid, alleging that Swedish politicians have told “blatant lies” about the condition of Hungary’s democracy. Hungary has said it would not be the last to approve accession, although it was not clear when the Hungarian parliament intends to hold a vote.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced Tuesday that he sent a letter to his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, inviting him to Budapest to discuss Sweden’s entry into NATO.

NATO requires the unanimous approval of all existing members to expand, and Turkey and Hungary were the only countries that have been holding out, frustrating other NATO allies who had been pressing for Sweden and Finland’s swift accession.

Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Matthew Lee contributed from Washington.

​ Orange County Register 

Norms is marking its 75th anniversary with $5.99 deals

• January 23, 2024

Norms Restaurants will celebrate its 75th anniversary throughout 2024 with cheap eats, according to a news release.

The current deal is seven meals for $5.99 through March 30.

Items include a half rack of baby back ribs with fries; chicken tenders with fries; a crispy chicken quesadilla; garlic parmesan fettuccine Alfredo; a half sandwich with choice of soup or salad; a sausage breakfast burrito; and a Breakfast Trio with two eggs, two hotcakes and choice of two bacon strips or sausage links.

The offer is available Monday through Thursday for dine-in customers only.

The seven for $5.99 menu will change every four to five months depending on demand, the news release said.

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Also through March 30, Norms is also serving four-course meals with entrées ranging from wild-caught whitefish, $13.99, to a sirloin steak trio with chicken tenders and shrimp for $22.49.

The name Norms comes from founder Norm Roybark, an auto dealer who opened the first restaurant in 1949 in Hollywood, according to the company. It was at 6353 W. Sunset Blvd., across the street from where the Cinerama Dome is today.

Norms now lists 23 locations across Southern California on its website.

Information: norms.com

​ Orange County Register 

Street in Orange named after William Steiner, a ‘tiger in defense of children who had nobody’

• January 23, 2024

There’s taking work home from the office, and taking work home from the office the way William Steiner would do it.

“We all have our memories,” Jim Steiner, Steiner’s eldest son, told the Orange County Board of Supervisors. “He would often bring children home to spend time with us for the holidays, to experience love and family and laughter.”

But the thing that really showed the young Steiner that his late dad was something special was the day they had to run by the office — Orangewood Children’s Home for abused and neglected kids, which William Steiner muscled into existence by sheer force of will. As they entered a room filled with children, “every kid ran toward him and threw themselves in his arms screaming ‘Mr. Bill’s here!’ He called every one of them by their first names. That’s who our dad was. He truly was a special human being.”

County supervisors were more than pleased to approve a street name change to honor Steiner, who died in 2022, on Tuesday, Jan. 23. The street in front of Orangewood Children’s Home in the city of Orange will heretofore be known as Steiner Way, rather than Justice Center Way.

“My last conversation with your dad was about, of course, a project he was working on in Tustin to help families,” Supervisor Katrina Foley told the Steiner children assembled. “He was very passionate about it – he was really a great example of how, after leaving office, he continued to serve the community. He stayed involved, always tried to find nonpartisan ways to support the community.”

Supervisors and Orange city councilmembers spoke about the support and advice William Steiner gave them on doing their jobs (including the advice his mother once gave him: “You want to hold public office? No! Don’t do it!” He didn’t listen either).

Orange city councilmember Jon Dumitru hopes that, years from now, people will wonder “Who was this Steiner guy?” Google his name and learn about him. “He was an absolute tiger in defense of children who had nobody,” Dumitru said.

This cements a piece of history, honors Steiner’s work, and hopefully inspires others to lean in and do the same, Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento said. “He had a special place in his heart for our most vulnerable children.”

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​ Orange County Register 

Fairmont Prep and La Habra boys basketball teams playing like CIF-SS contenders

• January 23, 2024

Orange County boys basketball will have plenty of teams capable of going far in the CIF Southern Section playoffs that begin Feb. 6.

Fairmont Prep and La Habra will be among those teams based on how they have played lately.

Fairmont Prep’s roster has been strengthened by improved health and the addition of four transfer players who became eligible to play Dec. 24. That’s when the sit-out period expired for transfers who do not make the change of residence that would have made them eligible at the start of the season.

One of those now-eligible players for the Huskies, who are 16-8 overall and 4-1 in the San Joaquin League, is Kamerin Lewis, a 6-1 junior guard who transferred from Buena Park.

“Kam’s averaging 13 points a game,” Fairmont coach Joedy Gardner said. “We haven’t lost since he’s been active.”

The Huskies have won five in a row, including a 66-47 victory over Pacifica Christian in a league game Saturday. Fairmont Prep lost to Pacifica Christian by 10 points in their previous league encounter.

Also bolstering the Fairmont Prep roster are sophomore transfers Leroy Davis and Jacob Hsu.

The remainder of Fairmont Prep’s regular-season schedule is challenging. The Huskies, who are No. 14 in the Orange County rankings and tied for first place with Pacifica Christian, have a league game at home against Orangewood Academy on Thursday. Then they play a nonleague game against Del Rio League-leading La Serna on Saturday before league games against Capistrano Valley Christian and San Gabriel Academy next week, the final week of the regular season.

Fairmont Prep will be in Division 1 of the CIF-SS playoffs.

La Habra is alone in first place in the Freeway League with a 6-0 record. The Highlanders are 20-4 overall, have won 11 in a row and could be considered under-ranked in the Orange County Top 25 at No. 17. They are No. 1 in the CIF-SS Division 3AA poll that comes from the CIF-SS Basketball Committee.

Grayson Sinek, a 6-1 guard who was All-Orange County fourth team last season as a sophomore, is averaging 17 points, four rebounds and two steals a game.

“Grayson does it on the defensive end, too,” said La Habra coach Aaron Riekenberg. “He gets in the passing lanes to get those steals for us. Our point guard Acen Jimenez has been playing lights out. He was all-league last year as a freshman and he’s taken another big step this year.”

Riekenberg said 6-3 junior Jaedon Anderson has been another consistent contributor.

After playing Troy on Wednesday the Highlanders have league games remaining against Sunny Hills and Fullerton before finishing the regular season at home against Sonora, which is tied with Troy for second place.

RULES CHANGE

A rule change that went into effect this season is the elimination of the one-and-one free-throw shooting situation that began with the seventh team foul of a half.

Now teams are awarded two free throws when the opposing team has reached five team fouls in each quarter. Teams begin the following quarter with zero team fouls.

Coaches like it, including Canyon’s Nate Harrison.

“I feel like we’re shooting fewer free throws because of it,” Harrison said. “I think it’s been good for the flow of the game. It’s been a good rule.”

PLAYOFFS

The CIF-SS boys basketball playoff brackets will be released Feb. 4 at noon. Before the brackets come out the CIF-SS will announce which teams received at-large spots in the playoffs.

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​ Orange County Register 

Angels hope Robert Stephenson and his new slider can add consistency to bullpen

• January 23, 2024

Robert Stephenson said he doesn’t consider the new pitch that turned around his season to be a new pitch at all.

The Angels freshly-signed reliever did acknowledge it was different, though.

“I still call it a slider,” Stephenson said of the pitch sometimes identified as a cutter. “It’s the exact same grip I used with my slider before. I just released a little bit different now so might move a little differently, but it’s still the same grip.”

Whatever you call the tweak the Tampa Bay Rays made with Stephenson after they acquired him last June, it seems to be largely responsible for the three-year, $33-million deal that became official on Tuesday.

Stephenson, 30, had a 5.14 ERA in two months with the Pittsburgh Pirates and a 4.90 ERA in parts of seven previous major league seasons, before the Rays suggested the change to his slider.

After that, Stephenson had a 2.35 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 38⅓ innings.

“He had a new toy, with the change of speed on his slider, and he was one of the best, if not the best, relievers in baseball over the last 40 innings,” Angels general manager Perry Minasian said.

That’s why the Angels were willing to make a relatively large investment for a setup man. The Angels also hedged their bet by including in the contract a $2.5 million club option that can be exercised if Stephenson spends 130 consecutive days on the injured list with an elbow issue. It is essentially insurance that allows the Angels to get back any season that Stephenson might miss because of Tommy John surgery. There is no buyout.

“I expect myself to be healthy every year,” Stephenson said, “but if something happens to my elbow where I end up getting hurt and missing time for it, it feels fair that on the backside I’d get a little bit more time with the Angels than originally planned.”

Stephenson also expressed confidence that his performance in his breakout season is sustainable. He said, besides the new way he started throwing his slider, he also had a new approach with the Rays.

“Just being more aggressive and trying to put guys in a hole quicker,” Stephenson said.

The Angels’ bullpen needed plenty of help after finishing 25th in the majors with a 4.88 ERA last year. Closer Carlos Estévez was solid in the ninth inning for about two-thirds of the season, but the Angels had issues all season setting him up.

The Angels had a 5.28 ERA in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings last season. They were outscored by 113 runs in those innings.

“For us to win more games and especially compete, we have to be better in the middle innings,” Minasian said.

Stephenson would seem to go into camp as the Angels’ eighth-inning reliever, with Estévez handling the ninth. The Angels also have newly signed right-handers Luis Garcia and Adam Cimber, along with returning pitchers José Soriano, Ben Joyce, Andrew Wantz and Jimmy Herget.

The highest lefty on the depth chart is probably Adam Kolarek, who is not even on the 40-man roster.

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“Do we have to (add a lefty)? Not necessarily,” Minasian said. “But it would be nice obviously to mix in a lefty or two, if we can.”

Minasian said the Angels are still open to additions in all areas.

“Definitely not done from an offseason standpoint,” he said. “It’s got to be the right fit. It’s got to make sense. But I do believe there’s still players out there that can help us improve and, and make us a more competitive club.”

NOTE

The Angels reportedly agreed to a minor league deal with infielder Miguel Sanó. Sanó, 30, has a career .808 OPS in parts of eight big league seasons with the Minnesota Twins, but he did not play in 2023.

​ Orange County Register