Why are there so many lizards in the garden this year, a reader asks

• October 25, 2024

Q. Why are there so many lizards this year? I’ve never seen so many before!

It’s possible that you are seeing more lizards because their normal hiding places have been disturbed. For instance, whenever the open field across the street from us is mowed, our neighbors end up with mice in their garages. (We took care of that problem by keeping our cats in the garage at night.) If any nearby land has been recently cleared, you could see a local lizard migration.

Another factor could be an unusual increase in food supply. Lizards eat mostly insects, so if there was anything affecting the local bug population such as increased rainfall or uncontrolled weeds, the lizards will thrive with the increased food supply.

Lizards can be beneficial because they eat insects and leave plants alone. Unless they get into your house, they should not be a problem.

Q. Now that the weather isn’t so terribly hot, what tasks can I do in the garden this time of year? Is it too early to plant winter vegetables?

 I would wait until early November to plant winter vegetables. We can still get some hot, dry days in October. We also get some pretty strong winds, usually right after I put out my Halloween decorations.

Garden clean-up should be your priority. Remove dead leaves, fruit mummies, and any other dry material. Cut back any perennials that have stopped flowering and prune trees, especially those close to the house. Clean gutters and remove any dead leaves that have fallen on the roof. Move any flammable material away from the house. All these things will reduce your risk during fire season.

Check your irrigation system and take care of those repairs while the weather is pleasant. You’ve been putting it off because it’s been 100 degrees outside (which is reasonable). Don’t wait until the rainy season. Just do it.

Remove weeds, then replenish mulch if needed. A thick layer of mulch will discourage weed growth by blocking sunlight from any emerging seedlings.

Q. Is there any easy way to get rid of nutgrass? I keep pulling it out as it emerges, but it keeps coming back.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to get rid of nutgrass. Hand pulling, herbicides, or flame-throwers aren’t effective because the root structure is massive and deep. Not even goats will eat it. Theoretically you can exhaust the plant by relentlessly removing everything that emerges, but since the root structure can be bigger than a pickup truck and up to 10 feet deep, eliminating it would be a lifelong quest. Sorry.

Los Angeles County

[email protected]; 626-586-1988; http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/

Orange County

[email protected]; http://mgorange.ucanr.edu/

Riverside County

[email protected]; https://ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMG/

San Bernardino County

[email protected]; 909-387-2182; http://mgsb.ucanr.edu

​ Orange County Register 

Chapman’s annual survey finds Americans more afraid today than at any time in recent history

• October 25, 2024

A decade ago, a few days before Halloween, a team of sociologists at Chapman University published the first “Survey of American Fears,” a poll of more than 1,000 Americans about the things that give them the willies.

The “American Fears” survey quickly became an annual media event, a social science version of Groundhog Day. Most years, Chapman posts its latest top-10 fears list a few days before Halloween. And, most years, a few news organizations run brief stories about the survey’s findings, highlighting the latest on what is or isn’t spooking America.

Corruption, cancer, clowns; over the years a diverse buffet of scary ideas, broad or personal, real or imagined, have made at least one of Chapman’s “American Fears” lists.

But this year’s survey – released Wednesday, Oct. 23, close to the scariest holiday, Halloween, and less than two weeks before a presidential election that’s been widely described in politically apocalyptic terms – offers something bigger than any specific fear from any specific year.

Americans, researchers say, are more afraid today than at any time in recent history.

Trends from a decade of “American Fears” surveys, the expanding number of issues that evoke “yup, that scares the heck out of me” responses, the sometimes irrational reasons for feeling that way – all point to a culture in the grasp of deep, paralyzing dread.

“Fear is taking a larger and larger role in American life,” said Christopher Bader, a sociology professor at Chapman who has been involved in “American Fears” since the beginning.

“They’re afraid of more things than they used to be,” he said.

“And they’re more afraid of those things than they used to be.”

Higher anxiety

Bader’s contention is based on a decade’s worth of data.

In the early years of the survey, an issue could rank at or near the top of the “American Fears” list if more than 50% of respondents said they were very or somewhat afraid of it. A few items might beat that ratio in those years but most did not.

But, lately, the number of things feared by more than half of all Americans has risen steadily. And, this year, every item on the top 10 – plus at least the next five, according to Bader and another fear researcher, Ed Day, an associate professor of sociology at Chapman – cracked the 50% mark.

“Those percentages tell us that fear, overall, is increasing dramatically,” Bader said.

Fear helps to explain everything from the us-vs.-us nature of modern American politics to the rise of drug commercials that turn once obscure maladies (wet macular degeneration anyone?) into seemingly grave threats.

But both Bader and Day said the rise of fear is a big deal for a more basic reason: It can be self-perpetuating. The stuff we’re afraid of – even if, initially, we shouldn’t be – often comes true.

“Stranger danger is growing,” Bader said, referring to data that shows Americans – once viewed as optimistic and welcoming – are increasingly afraid of people they don’t know.

“It might not be valid or rational, but that particular fear can be powerful.”

As an example, Bader pointed to fears about living in or visiting urban public spaces. Such fears often are baseless or erroneous; studies consistently show firearm violence is less common in many big cities, on a per capita basis, than it is in many rural communities.

But as people who are afraid of cities avoid them, then those places tend to be left to a higher ratio of people who might be inclined to commit crime or violence – driving up the possibility of violence becoming more common in a place that once was safe.

That’s fear at work.

“Fear can make things real,” Bader said.

News, brains, math

This year’s survey asked people to respond to 85 different concepts. The one that prompted the most fear, ranking No. 1 on this year’s list, is “corrupt government officials.” Nearly two-thirds (65.2%) of Americans – conservatives and liberals alike, according to the researchers – say they’re “very” or “somewhat” afraid of politicians and other public employees who steal from us or otherwise abuse our trust.

It wasn’t a surprise. Corruption has ranked at or near the top of the list for most of the past decade.

It’s also not irrational.

Coincidentally, a day before Chapman released this year’s survey, news broke in Orange County that a county supervisor, Andrew Do, had admitted to misusing tax money earmarked for COVID relief. The Do story had nothing to do with Chapman’s survey; the survey was conducted months before Do’s agreement to plead guilty and resign from office. Also, Do is hardly the only corrupt government official; government corruption is part of American life.

But even a coincidental connection highlights what Chapman researchers believe is a driver of the rise of fear – the modern news cycle.

Websites, newspapers, magazines, TV and radio stations; most consider government corruption a staple of their news operations. They do that for a lot of good reasons – it’s important for voters and taxpayers to know about it; independent news is a critical check on government corruption – but the result is a lot of news about government corruption.

That puts “government corruption” into the brains of most Americans, no matter how important – or not – corruption might actually be at any given time. This year’s response rate on the corruption question is actually well under the peak, in 2019, when 79.6% of “American Fears” respondents said they feared government corruption.

“How we get news is part of this,” Day said, in reference to why fear is growing.

“In 2017, the No. 2 fear on our list was repeal of the Affordable Care Act,” Day said. “It happened that that year, the (Affordable Care repeal) issue was in the news all the time. That made it something to fear.

“When it disappeared from the news cycle, it stopped being something a lot of people feared,” Day added.

“That’s part of how this works.”

It’s working this year, too. Six of the top 10 fears – cyberterrorism, No. 3; Russia using a nuclear weapon, No. 5; the U.S. becoming involved in another World War, (tie) No. 7; North Korea using a nuclear weapon, (tie) No. 7; terrorist attack, No. 9, and biological warfare, No. 10 – are in some way connected to war or international conflict. The researchers believe those results reflect a year of news coverage about wars in the Ukraine and the Middle East.

“Part of our survey, every year, is responding to current events,” Bader said.

It’s also an example of how modern media, math and our primitive brains can work in tandem to create big, sweeping feelings of fear and anxiety.

First, the biggest delivery system for modern news is social media, companies that make money by matching up online content (sometimes traditional news stories, sometimes videos of shirtless guys jumping rope, often cats) with the things that interest their customers. Those companies use increasingly clever math – algorithms – to streamline those connections.

The upshot is anyone with a smartphone winds up flooded with news about a particular subject. If that subject is crime or global warming or political division (or all of the above) that news consumer will be awash in stories about those topics.

All of those topics are scary. And all are common on the “American Fears” lists.

But that news flood is just part of the broader fear cycle.

That consumer on her phone is trying to make sense of all their news with a brain that’s wired to use fear as a very beneficial survival tool. Scary data on the phone is amplified – and more memorable – because it’s more important, survival-wise, than, say great chili recipes.

“The velocity of fear is increasing because our media feeds are showing us what they think we want to see,” Bader said. “Our brains can’t handle it.”

But if fear, on some level, helps us survive – spurring us to run away from a lion or a crazy guy with a chainsaw – it also helps us turn bogus information into a very real problem.

For instance, federal data shows that crime peaked in the United States in the early 1990s, and generally declined until the start of the pandemic. And last year, after a two-year jump, crime again began to fall.

But studies from Chapman and others show fear of crime hasn’t matched the decline.

“Two-thirds of Americans believe the opposite,” Bader said.

Bader said that’s the thing about fear.

“Sometimes it’s true,” he said. “Sometimes it’s not.”

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​ Orange County Register 

Idiomatic retired before she can defend Breeders’ Cup Distaff title

• October 25, 2024

Next week’s Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar lost one of its most anticipated showdowns Friday when Idiomatic, the defending champion in the $2 million Distaff, was retired.

According to a post on the website of her owner, Juddmonte Farm, “Idiotmatic was found to be lame this morning and an issue, that should heal readily, was identified in her left knee. Unfortunately, it will rule her out of running in the Breeders’ Cup and it has been decided to retire her to stud.”

A 5-year-old mare, Idiotmatic was likely to be favored in the Distaff over the 3-year-old Thorpedo Anna, who won the Kentucky Oaks and was second against males in the Travers. Their duel figured to be one of the highlights of next week’s 14-race event at Del Mar, which will be run Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2.

Idiomatic, a daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, retires with 12 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds in 17 starts. Trained by Brad Cox, she earned more than $3.9 million.

Thorpedo Anna is now expected to be a strong favorite in the Distaff, which also includes Raging Sea – who edged Idiomatic in this year’s Personal Ensign at Saratoga – and Awesome Result, who is unbeaten in seven starts in Japan.

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​ Orange County Register 

HOA Homefront: Document checklist and HOA disclosures

• October 25, 2024

California law, under Civil Code Section 4525, requires specific disclosures be provided to HOA members upon request, so they can relay them to prospective homebuyers. Well-run HOAs should have these readily available.

Here is a checklist for buyers, sellers, and managers:

Governing documents

CC&R’s, bylaws, rules/regulations, Articles of Incorporation (or statement of non-incorporation), and Condominium Plan or Subdivision Map (not mandatory) and any amendments must be provided upon request. All prospective homebuyers should read through these thoroughly BEFORE closing escrow.

Annual reports: The Annual Budget Report, required by Civil Code 5300, is a compilation of important financial disclosures, not just the HOA’s current budget.

For example, it reveals if the association follows its reserve study recommendations, or whether there is insufficient money saved in the reserve fund account, exposing the HOA to future major borrowing or major special assessments. HOAs must have a written plan to become more adequately funded, and that plan must be disclosed annually to members.

The Annual Budget Report also includes a summary of insurance. Does the HOA have earthquake insurance or required dishonesty coverage?

The Annual Policy Statement, required by Civil Code 5310, is a collection of the HOA’s written policies.

Assessments: Buyers are entitled to know the amount of any regular, special,  and any scheduled future special assessments.

Unresolved problems: Delinquent assessments, unpaid fines, and unresolved violations on the home in question must be disclosed.

Unique issues: Age-restricted communities must be so disclosed to prospective buyers. If the HOA has pursued a defect lawsuit, the list of defects disclosed to the builder and (if settled) the HOA’s plans to repair them must be disclosed.

Problems/violations: Has the seller not been a good HOA member? The seller must disclose any assessment arrearages, unpaid fines, and any unresolved violations involving the property.

Unique issues: Sellers in age-restricted HOAs and HOAs with a partial rental ban must disclose that fact to buyers.

If the HOA has sued for construction defects, the defect list given to the builder must be disclosed. and if the case has ended, the disclosure must include a copy the association’s plan to deal with the defects.

Difficulties: The association can only charge its actual reasonable cost to make the copies, which must be provided within ten days of written request. Management companies are not subject to the same cost limitation so their fees for documents should be scrutinized to confirm they are reasonable.

Poorly operating or poorly managed HOAs may be unable to comply with the disclosure requirements. Realtors should send this request very early in the selling process to avoid “rush” fees and to allow time in case the HOA is late. Consider that the person handling the request may be an overloaded manager or a homeowner volunteer struggling to handle association paperwork after their daytime job workday.

Other helpful documents

In addition to the specifically required documents, prospective buyers may seek the:

Latest monthly financial reports,

Last three board meeting minutes; and

Latest reserve study.

These are not mandatory disclosures, but they provide insight into the association’s health and operations.

HOAs and their managers should be prepared to provide these disclosures. The required documents provide valuable information, and buyers should use the information to become more informed and ultimately better members of their prospective new HOA community.

Kelly G. Richardson is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and Partner of Richardson Ober LLP, a California law firm known for community association advice. Send column questions to [email protected].

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​ Orange County Register 

Kamala Harris fumbles on the big stage, over and over again

• October 25, 2024

The bar has been set fairly low for Vice President Kamala Harris. All she needs to do is not be Donald Trump and be more alert than President Joe Biden. If she could only do those two things, many Americans will gladly line up behind her this November. But now that her campaign is making her go out and speak without a teleprompter, she’s reminding Americans why they didn’t back her in 2020.

For several weeks after President Biden’s decision to step aside and not seek re-election, Harris notably did not grant any interviews with the press. Instead, she participated in several scripted rallies and allowed her campaign team to answer questions on her behalf.

It was through scattered reports from her campaign team that Americans got some sense of where Harris now stood on various issues. Many of these stances, incidentally, turned out to be total reversals of her past statements — including on issues as wide-ranging as single-payer health care, fracking, immigration and plastic straw bans.

But it’s one thing for a campaign spokesperson to give a statement and another for the public to actually hear from the candidate.

In part, no doubt, because of extensive planning and preparation, Harris shellacked the easily distracted and rambling Trump in their first and only debate. But her ability to give a scripted speech at a rally or game the debate format hasn’t translated to her other public appearances.

Consider, for example, Wednesday’s town hall hosted by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, which left several Democratic pundits unable to obfuscate the truth even if they wanted to.

“The things that would concern me is when she doesn’t want to answer a question, her habit is to kind of go to Word Salad City,” former Obama adviser David Axelrod said on CNN after the town hall. “She did that on a couple of answers. One was on Israel, Anderson asked a direct question: ‘Would you be stronger on Israel than Trump?’ And there was a seven-minute answer, but none of it related to the question he was asking.”

Indeed, many Americans have noticed her tendency to revert to the same folksy “I grew up in a middle class household” line no matter the context or question to the point where it’s an online meme.

Harris is also notably very selective in when she chooses to give specifics. While she’s freely proposed expanding the child tax credit, giving tax breaks for first-time homebuyers and forgivable loans for small businesses, she’s struggled to explain how, exactly, she could pay for those or her broad economic plan.

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Bill Whitaker of “60 Minutes” tried asking her how she would pay for her plan, which would add $3 trillion to the national debt. But Harris chose instead to filibuster: “My plan, Bill, if you don’t mind, my plan is about saying that when you invest in small businesses, you invest in the middle class, and you strengthen America’s economy. Small businesses are part of the backbone of America’s economy.”

Responded Whitaker, “But — but pardon me, Madame Vice President, I—  the — the question was, how are you going to pay for it?”

Her next answer yielded only a vague reference to the wealthy paying their fair share. “But—but” responded Whitaker. And so it went.

While Harris’ strongest supporters would have Americans believe that she’s the only thing standing between us and a fascist dictatorship, it’s remarkable that the Democrats actually thought Harris was the best candidate they could have fielded against Trump in such a dire situation. We strongly suspect that wasn’t true.

​ Orange County Register 

56% of Prop. 19 property tax transfer applications approved statewide

• October 25, 2024

Nearly four years into California’s new property tax transfer law, just over half of applicants are being approved.

From July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, the most recent data available, 56% of applications were approved statewide for homeowners to maintain their primary residence rates under Proposition 19.

Voters in 2020 approved Prop. 19, which allows property owners and those who inherit a primary residence to transfer their base tax rates, either from a previous home or one for which they are assuming ownership.

In some cases, transferring a low tax rate could mean the difference between qualifying for a loan or not. This is especially true for wildfire victims who lost their homes. Without the lower tax rate, it could also mean some children have to sell inherited properties because they can’t afford the property taxes at the reassessed value. It’s why estate taxes were nicknamed the “death tax.”

Proposition 19 allows homeowners 55 and older, the severely disabled or the victims of a wildfire to take their lower Proposition 13 tax base with them (up to three times) anywhere in California.

A key exception to the tax reassessment is if the home was inherited by a child who plans to make it their primary residence within the first year, then the property will not be reassessed. Done right, Prop. 13 property tax of the parents (or grandparents) can be transferred to the children or grandchildren, in this scenario.

Separately, property such as residential and commercial rentals and second homes get reassessed at current property tax rate values ​​when they are passed down to children from the last surviving parent or grandparent.

So, why are 44% of applicants being rejected trying to transfer the low property tax rates?

“They file improperly. They don’t fill out the homeowner’s exemption,” said Maria Melchor, Tax Advocate, Orange County Assessors office. “Or it’s not their main residence.”

Not being a main residence is probably a polite way to say many applicants are lying and trying to game the system. If you are not living on the property or planning on living there within the first year, then don’t apply.

These tax transfer transactions are tracked by your Social Security number. In other words: No double-dipping (trying to claim two primary residences) for the base year value transfer. You will get caught.

The base-year value transfer doesn’t automatically happen. Applicants must file a BOE form in the county in which the property is located within three years of the date you purchased or completed construction on the replacement home. There are several BOE forms. Ask your assessor’s office which form is relevant to your specific situation.

In the most recent fiscal year, 82,422 applications to transfer a base tax rate were made statewide, and 46,180 were granted. So far this year, 48 of the 58 counties reported their transfer activity to the BOE, according to Peter Kim, the agency’s chief communications officer.

Locally, Los Angeles County had 5,899 applications filed and 2,097 granted. In Orange County, it was 5,115 applications filed and 3,394 granted. In the Inland Empire, Riverside County had 2,278 applications and 927 granted, while San Bernardino County had 903 applications and 404 granted. San Diego County did not fully report both application types, but had 1,586 applications and 1,405 granted.

Applicants who were rejected can appeal. Statewide, appeals fees range from no cost to $200, depending on the county.

The appeals fee for Los Angeles County is $46. It’s free in Orange County, while in Riverside County it’s $30. In San Bernardino County it’s $45, and San Diego County is free.

“I will never charge a fee for an appeal,” said Claude Parrish, Orange County’s assessor.

The obvious point is, if you think you were rejected in error, appeal the decision.

Below are some answers to some open questions from my Feb. 16, 2021, column: Proposition 19 creates confounding questions, gotcha rules. All of the answers came from Steve Whitmore, public information officer at the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office.

Q: Just how long can children occupy a departed family member’s residence to maintain the lower property tax rate?

A: You have to live there forever.

Q: Do all of your children have to occupy the former residence?

A: Just one child.

Q: Can a child transfer the base rate to another child?

A: Yes

Q: Can parents transfer consecutive family homes?

A: Yes

The skeptic in me wonders just how many folks missed out on Proposition 13 benefits because of Proposition 19. How many folks were denied because of a filing error? Or perhaps they didn’t realize this is not automatic, and an application must be made.

Next week, I will explain how to calculate your base year value transfer if you fit into one of these eligible categories, and you are purchasing a more expensive property than your departing residence sales price.

Freddie Mac rate news

The 30-year fixed rate averaged 6.54%, 10 basis points higher than last week. The 15-year fixed rate averaged 5.71%, 8 basis points higher than last week.

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported a 6.7% mortgage application decrease compared with one week ago.

Bottom line: Assuming a borrower gets the average 30-year fixed rate on a conforming $766,550 loan, last year’s payment was $613 more than this week’s payment of $4,815.

What I see: Locally, well-qualified borrowers can get the following fixed-rate mortgages with one point: A 30-year FHA at 5.75%, a 15-year conventional at 5.5%, a 30-year conventional at 6.25%, a 15-year conventional high balance at 5.99% ($766,551 to $1,149,825 in LA and OC and $766,551 to $1,006,250 in San Diego), a 30-year-high balance conventional at 6.625% and a jumbo 30-year fixed at 6.5%.

Note: The 30-year FHA conforming loan is limited to loans of $644,000 in the Inland Empire and $766,550 in LA, San Diego, and Orange counties.

Eye-catcher loan program of the week: A 30-year mortgage, with 30% down locked for the first 5 years at 5.875 with 1 point cost.

Jeff Lazerson, president of Mortgage Grader, can be reached at 949-322-8640 or [email protected] .

​ Orange County Register 

Disneyland adds a few new surprises this Christmas holiday season

• October 25, 2024

Disneyland has Christmas down to a science, but that won’t stop the Anaheim theme park from adding a few new festive surprises to this year’s lineup of tried and true traditions that return every holiday season.

The Christmas holiday season returns to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure from Nov. 15 through Jan. 6.

Main Street U.S.A. is lit up for the holidays during Disney Merriest Nites at Disneyland in Anaheim in 2021. Disneyland’s highest-priced Magic Key annual pass blocks pasholders out for the two weeks around Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, which is often the parks’ busiest time. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

ALSO SEE: Disneyland restarts Magic Key sales — What you need to know

Santa Claus will be a busy elf at the Disneyland resort. St. Nick will set up shop in a new location at the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland for cookie decorating, craft making and storytelling.

The jolly old elf will also be back again taking photos at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail and at each of Disney’s three hotels. And if that’s not enough, Santa will ride his sleigh in the finale of A Christmas Fantasy parade at Disneyland.

Holiday decoration at Cars Land in Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, November 11, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

ALSO SEE: Disneyland Railroad to reopen with new track after 3-month refurbishment

The new Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail will take place throughout Downtown Disney from Nov. 22 through Jan. 1. Treasure hunt maps and stickers will be sold for $10 at select shops in Downtown Disney and the Disney hotels. Completed maps can be redeemed for a collectible holiday keepsake.

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Clarabelle will all sport new postal-inspired outfits intended to evoke the holiday spirit of letter writing. (Courtesy of Disney)

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Clarabelle will all sport new postal-inspired outfits intended to evoke the holiday spirit of letter writing.

Storytellers Cafe in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel will offer the new Mickey’s Holiday Pajama Party meal with Disney characters dressed in pajama outfits while you feast on holiday-themed breakfast and brunch dishes starting on Nov. 19.

Holiday decoration on Main Street U.S.A. inside Disneyland at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, November 11, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

To kick off the winter holiday season, Disneyland will be opening the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure water ride where you will get wet in the rethemed Bayou Country themed land on Nov. 15.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland Hotel cocktail bar gets a Sleeping Beauty makeover

Plenty of holiday favorites will be back at Disneyland and DCA during the Christmas season.

“it’s a small world” Holiday inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, November 11, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Holiday decor will fill the resort with a 60-foot-tall Christmas tree on Main Street U.S.A., massive gingerbread houses at all three Disney hotels and seasonal decor throughout the parks and Downtown Disney.

Disneyland will bring back the “Believe … In Holiday Magic” fireworks show with “snoap” while DCA will see the return of the “World of Color — Season of Light” water show.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland’s new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is delightful, thrilling and still plenty wet

Holiday ride overlays will return on It’s a Small World, Haunted Mansion, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and Luigi’s Rollickin Roadsters.

The annual Disneyland Christmas tree stands in Town Square at the foot of Main Street U.S.A. inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, November 11, 2022. This is the 25th year the ride has had a holiday overlay. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

When you get hungry there will be plenty of holiday food and drinks at the Disney Festival of Holidays and Disney Viva Navidad food festivals.

And if you have any money left, seasonal merchandise will fill the shops in the parks, hotels and Downtown Disney.

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​ Orange County Register 

TGI Friday’s disappears in the Inland Empire

• October 25, 2024

TGI Friday’s is a vanishing presence in Southern California.

The casual dining chain’s website currently lists five restaurants in California. Most other locations here have dropped from its website. Many of their Facebook pages have broken links. And several Yelp users have reported closures.

The chain is based in Texas and could not be reached for comment at press time. Emails also went unanswered.

According to news reports, including Bloomberg, TGI Friday’s is preparing for bankruptcy. The chain closed 36 restaurants in early January, but a Fresno restaurant was the only one in California.

Now, it no longer has a presence in the Inland Empire. Photocopied signs taped to the front door of the San Bernardino location thank customers for 39 years of great memories and direct them to locations in Orange County that are 50 to 60 miles away.

There is also no presence in San Diego County, although there are a couple of restaurants in Tijuana.

Remaining locations include a high-profile restaurant near the entrance to Knott’s Berry Farm, but it is closed Tuesday through Thursday. It is at 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park.

Others are in Hollywood, at 2005 N Highland Ave., Los Angeles; Orange, 3339 W Entertainment Ave.; Northridge, 19855 Rinaldi St.; and South Gate, 4701 Firestone Blvd.

The following restaurants are described as permanently closed on Google or have broken links to the TGI Friday’s website:

Corona, The Shops at Dos Lagos, 2795 Cabot Drive.

Rancho Cucamonga at Victoria Gardens, 7910 Kew Ave.

Riverside, Galleria at Tyler, 3487 Tyler Mall St.

San Bernardino, 390 E Hospitality Lane.

West Covina, Eastland Center, 2625 E Eastland Center Drive.

The website lists 164 restaurants total in the United States.

The chain has closed at least a dozen restaurants elsewhere in recent weeks, according to Restaurant Business Online. Closures have been reported in  Colorado, Massachusetts and throughout the Northeast.

The chain was founded in Manhattan in 1965. It’s known for its cocktails, onion soup and loaded potato skins, which it claims to have invented.

Information: tgifridays.com

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​ Orange County Register