“I am so very excited Fountain Valley will welcome the first Dutch Bros for Southern California,” said Kim Constantine, Fountain Valley councilperson and former mayor. “While I haven’t yet indulged in their delicious offerings, I am really looking forward to doing so this week. I’ve been putting out information on social media for quite some time now, and can tell you this first location for Fountain Valley will be busy.”

For the uninitiated, Dutch Bros, conceived in 1992 by brothers Dane and Travis Boersma in Grants Pass, Ore., features an extensive menu of espresso drinks, teas, smoothies and other beverages, most of which can be customizable with an impressive list of syrups and milks.

Such brews as the Caramelizer, featuring espresso, chocolate milk, caramel sauce and whipped cream; the Double Torture, a double shot of espresso laced with vanilla syrup, chocolate milk and whipped cream; or the 9-1-1 that features a staggering six shots of espresso with Irish cream syrup and half and half have, in part, helped turn this onetime pushcart enterprise into a multimillion-dollar public company with approximately 500 stores across 12 states.

SEE ALSO: Tustin’s Googie-style Alta Dena Dairy becoming a Starbucks

For those who prefer their caffeine in classic form, mochas, lattes, cold brews, nitro and americanos can be found here. However, the chain does not sell drip-style coffee, primarily espresso-based drinks. Most of the offerings can be made hot, cold or blended. And similar to another popular drive-through chain, Dutch Bros. has if-you-know-you-know style of orders, like “mafia style,” which means extra sweet with two additional shots of espresso. The company also sells energy drinks in sundry flavors, sodas, shakes and more.

The limited snack menu includes muffin tops (hat tip to proselytizer Elaine Benes) in lemon poppyseed, chocolate chip and orange-cranberry flavors, as well as a granola bar.

SEE ALSO: Dutch Bros. drive-through coffee shop plots first OC locations

In addition to its expansive menu, Dutch Bros. baristas, known as “bro-istas,” are known for their friendly disposition and chummy connection with customers. Memorizing patron preferences, inquiring about family members, and even handing out free drinks to customers dealing with difficult lives have helped bring people back again and again.

The new 950-square foot Dutch Bros building with a double drive-through at the northeast corner of Magnolia Street and Talbert Avenue in Fountain Valley will be the first of two stores planned for Orange County. Later this year, Dutch Bros plans on opening a La Habra store; the project is still in its early stages.

Dutch Bros in Fountain Valley will operate from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Find it: 17954 Magnolia St.., Fountain Valley

The facilities include Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, Los Alamitos Medical Center, Placentia-Linda Hospital and Lakewood Regional Medical Center.

Pending regulatory approvals, the hospitals and their associated clinics will become part of UC Irvine’s healthcare system. The deal was approved by the UC Board of Regents and is expected to close later this spring.

Also see: Hospital building spree could turn Irvine into nation’s next big health brand

Tenet’s Chief Executive Officer Saum Sutaria in a statement said the company’s Pacific Coast Network “will be in good hands under the new ownership.”

UCI expands again

The deal marks another significant expansion for UCI Health, which includes a medical center in Orange and a network of specialty care centers.

In 2021, UCI Health CEO Chad Lefteris said UCI Medical Center was “essentially full all the time” and had limited space for inpatients.

More on UCI: Samuelis give university $50 million for health, society and environmental research

To further its reach, UCI Health launched work on a $1 billion medical complex next to its main campus, approved by UC Regents in 2021. UC Irvine Medical Center Irvine-Newport, a multi-building complex on 202 acres with a 144-bed hospital and emergency room, will offer specialty care in oncology, neurosciences, children’s health and other areas. It’s expected to open in 2025.

UCI also added the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, which was established in 2001. The institute was made possible by Orange County philanthropists Henry Samueli and his wife, the building namesake, who donated $200 million to create the school.

Employee unrest

The acquisition comes amid ongoing labor disputes by union employees at many hospitals across Southern California. Most of the protests center on wage and staffing issues, a common theme since the pandemic.

The Pacific Coast Network has seen its share of unrest as nurses and technicians protest what they call understaffed facilities.

Employees picketed in Tenet’s Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos and Lakewood hospitals in June 2021, alleging the facilities had left some workers without health insurance while the company received billions in federal COVID-19 relief funds and spent $1.1 billion to buy 45 surgery centers.

In a statement issued late Thursday, NUHW President Sal Rosselli said Tenet still has “chronically understaffed” hospitals in Orange County while employees have struggled to provide adequate patient care.

“We’re hopeful that the sale to UC Irvine Health will benefit patients and caregivers,” he said. “But we still need the university to explain how it plans to operate the hospitals and protect the critical jobs and services they provide.”

The UC health system also faced temporary layoffs during the pandemic. Hundreds of employees protested the move, which affected Southern California hospitals in Riverside and San Diego, though not UCI Health.

Tenet’s workers are represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers and the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals. UCI Health employees are represented by the California Nurses Association and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, among others.

The two hospital systems didn’t address how the acquisition would affect union employees.

Expanded services

The university said the Tenet acquisition would give patients access to advanced therapies and clinical trials related to cancer, neurosciences, digestive diseases, orthopedics and internal medicine.

UCI Health operates the only Level I trauma center in Orange County. It also operates the region’s largest burn center in addition to a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center and high-risk perinatal-neonatal service, hospital officials said.

Patients at UCI Health and Tenet facilities can continue receiving care as they normally would, officials said.

The UC system, a $14 billion enterprise, includes six medical schools, along with other facilities, including four children’s hospitals and the Global Health Institute.

UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman said the acquisition would help the university deepen its “healthcare commitment to the future of Orange County, our region and California.”

Tenet operates 67 hospitals and medical facilities throughout California, including the Coast Surgery Center of South Bay in Torrance, Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs and Providence Holy Cross Surgery Center in Mission Hills, among others.

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare said the four hospitals and related operations generated revenues of about $1 billion in 2024, Tenet said. The Dallas-based company estimates the transaction will generate a pre-tax gain of approximately $500 million.

Late last year, another academic health system, UC San Diego Health, finalized a $200 million deal to acquire Alvarado Hospital Medical Center from Ontario-based Prime Healthcare.

Because of a decline in enrollment and the consolidation of Spring View students with other middle schools in OVSD at the start of the next school year, OVSD has more property than is necessary, according to Superintendent Michael Conroy. The district, too, has to redraw the middle school boundary lines to reflect the consolidation.

As for the excess property, OVSD is establishing what’s called a “7-11 committee,” an advisory group required to be convened that will determine whether to sell or lease the excess property. There is no deadline for the committee to make its recommendations, Conroy said.

It’s up to the OVSD School Board, said Conroy, to make the final determination of whether properties are sold or leased. OVSD Trustee Gina Clayton-Tarvin said that the district has “a tremendous amount of unused properties that the district currently owns, and by selling or leasing the property, we could garner a lot of extra revenue.”

For example, she said, the district owns the land off of Warner Avenue and B Street in Huntington Beach, the site of Lowe’s. The district generates over $2 million annually from various properties like that ground lease, according to Claton-Tarvin, and she wants to see it lease more unused property.

OVSD will close Spring View Middle School at the end of the year, and after, only Vista View, Mesa View and Marine View middle schools will remain in the district.

The district is holding informational meetings for families of elementary students impacted by the closure of Spring View, with one planned for Wednesday, Jan. 31 and another on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

During these meetings, families can expect a forum with OVSD officials to communicate details about the consolidation and boundary changes and address any questions or concerns.

The meetings will be held at Spring View, 16662 Trudy Ln. in Huntington Beach, and more information can be found on the district’s website.

“The feedback from these meetings has been positive,” said Conroy. “Community members are giving their thoughts, views and opinions all in a very positive manner, and I have been relaying that to the board.”

Village View parent Richard Marrison said that since the decision to close the school was made in November, it has been “a whirlwind.”

“Things are being handled far better than I expected by the district,” said Marrison, “but it is still difficult to see things change so rapidly. Change is hard.”

OVSD trustees are expected to approve new boundaries for the district’s remaining middle schools during the board meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

To assess how the boundary lines are going to be redrawn, the district has been following a set of “operational criteria.” Some of the criteria highlight keeping neighborhoods and tracts together, balancing the enrollment between the available middle schools, ensuring easy routes for families’ transportation preferences and minimizing the number of intra-district transfer submissions.

These criteria along with potential boundary options have been shared with families at the informational meetings.

Consolidating schools and properties “has been a process,” said Conroy. “There has been a decline in enrollment, and this will help the middle schools with its low numbers and average the enrollment out a bit better.”

After months of discussion about the future of four OVSD schools, the board voted in November to close Spring View and consolidate its students to other schools in the district.

OVSD — which serves parts of Huntington Beach, Westminster, Fountain Valley and Midway City — is home to more than 6,800 students across 15 schools. Since the 1980s, the district has grappled with decreasing enrollment and has shuttered or repurposed 11 school sites.

“Declining enrollment has continued in recent years and is impacting the district’s instructional program, facility needs and budget,” the board’s November agenda said.

In 2010, OVSD’s enrollment stood at 9,554 students, and district officials late last year predicted it will decrease by an additional 5,563 students by 2030, representing a drop of about 4,000 students. The district has had a decline of about 2,600 students since 2013.

But the district has “no plan or thought to have any future school closures at this time,” Conroy said.

Applications to be a part of the 7-11 committee are due by Feb. 23 and can be found on the district’s website.

The committee will be composed of no less than seven and no more than 11 members and must be representative of groups within the community. To be considered for voluntary membership, applicants must live within the OVSD district but cannot live or own property within 500 feet of any OVSD properties.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Jimmy D. Pham

Current Job Title: City commissioner + attorney

Political Party Affiliation: Democrat

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: Westminster City Commissioner

City where you reside: Westminster

Campaign website or social media: www.jimmyphamca.com

Gov. Newsom has been front and center lately in global affairs, from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing climate action to a trip to Israel where he met with victims of the Hamas attack. Aside from the governor’s trips, what do you see as the role California should play when it comes to foreign affairs?

Foreign affairs is the business of the federal government, and the role of the governor when visiting foreign nations should be in helping to find new markets for products manufactured in California and promote California businesses and tourism to bring new visitors and create jobs in our state.

There have been recent efforts at the local level to change voting requirements — from a proposed voter ID requirement in Huntington Beach to an effort to open up voting to noncitizens in Santa Ana. What changes, if any, should be made to California’s voting laws?

The right for every citizen to vote in free and fair elections is one of the great engines of our democracy. If anything, voting access, especially with in-person vote centers and drop boxes, should be increased — especially in underserved communities to ensure every registered voter has access to materials in their native language and has every ability to cast a vote.

The latest state budget projections show California’s deficit has swelled to a record $68 billion, leading to calls for spending cuts. Give us two specific ways California could address the deficit.

The state legislature was late to recognize the coming shortfall, and if elected, I would be vigilant in ensuring our budgets are balanced each year. As a business owner, attorney and city commissioner, I know what it means to keep a ledger balanced — as do families throughout Orange County who don’t have the luxury of running a deficit. Although California has record reserves that should help soften the blow of the upcoming deficit, to help put us in a stronger position for the future, more of the state’s spending, especially on homelessness and social programs, needs to come with accountability to ensure those programs are effective and leads to people getting off the streets.

In addition, a fairer corporate tax rate that ensures the wealthiest corporations in California are paying their fair share would help balance the state’s budget.

Speaking of the budget, what are your top three budget priorities?

– Ensuring our schools have the funding to make certain every child has access to a top-quality education.- Ensuring essential government functions are met with no layoffs or job cuts as we weather the budget shortfall.- Ensuring our hospitals and healthcare system have adequate funding for everyone to have access to quality and affordable healthcare.

The legislature garnered national headlines when an effort to increase penalties for child sex trafficking initially stalled. How would you, in the legislature, balance criminal justice reform with public safety concerns?

As an immigration attorney, I see every day the need to reform a broken immigration system and stand up for those seeking justice and humanitarian rights. I deal with human trafficking as part of my work in helping T visa (trafficking) victims and assisting non-citizen immigrants to apply for green cards and citizenship through the U visa and VAWA federal programs.

In addition, public safety is certainly a high priority lately, especially with the rise in smash-and-grab robberies and the release of criminals from prison due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a candidate for Assembly District 70, keeping criminals off our streets and reducing crime in the district would be one of my top priorities.

Homelessness continues to be a concern for Californians. While there is no simple solution, what is one proposal you have that could reduce homelessness in our communities?

We as a state and as a society need to re-prioritize mental health and getting help for those with mental health or substance abuse issues — who make up a high percentage of those who are homeless. State, county and local governments need to all work together to make getting help for those in need a top priority — not just off the streets and into shelters, but real help that leads to lasting treatment.

Furthermore, the affordability of housing and inflation in our economy has also made the homelessness epidemic worse. Tackling these collateral issues will contribute to reducing homelessness in our communities.

The governor recently signed a law that set a first-in-the-nation minimum wage standard for healthcare workers. Should minimum wage standards vary by industry? Why or why not?

Healthcare workers are the frontline of our healthcare system, and they and their families underwent a massive strain during the COVID-19 pandemic that led to staffing issues and burnout industry-wide. These workers were called “heroes” and saved and extended many lives as society owes a great debt to them and all who worked in the face of adversity during the pandemic and beyond. I believe each industry should be considered on a case-by-case basis, but I vehemently agree that healthcare workers deserve a higher minimum wage standard.

What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?

California has led the way on the environment and climate policy, and if elected I would continue this tradition and work to ensure that we’re doing everything possible to reduce emissions through renewable energy programs and protecting our precious natural spaces. I believe other forms of energy such as solar, wind, nuclear, hydrogen energy and other newer renewable sources may be the answer to lessen society’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy consumption.

What is one capital improvement project you’d like to see financed and completed in your district?

I would like to begin the preparation, installation and construction of a foot-traffic bridge over Bolsa Avenue at the Asian Garden Mall and work with the cities of Westminster and Garden Grove and Caltrans to finally complete the 405/22 interchange freeway project.

The state recently began rolling out the CARE Court program in some counties, the state-funded effort that allows first responders, family and other designated people to petition a court to have someone with untreated severe psychotic disorders receive treatment and services. What other ways can the state prioritize mental health care for its residents, including those with less severe disorders?

Delivering a real community mental health system in our country and our state is a way the state can prioritize mental health care and treatment, with community clinics, partnering with non-profits and proven pilot programs and localized outreach services to ensure quality care for those who need it. There are many state and community organizations, like OC Autism Foundation, that with enough funding and sponsorship, can attack and help resolve the mental health epidemic head-on.

Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.

Committed to service and putting working families and our community first.

What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?

Water, lots of vegetables and protein bars.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Tri Ta

Current Job Title: State Assemblymember

Political Party Affiliation: Republican

Incumbent: Yes

Other political positions held: Former Westminster mayor

City where you reside: Westminster

Campaign website or social media: www.TriTaForAssembly.com

Gov. Newsom has been front and center lately in global affairs, from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing climate action to a trip to Israel where he met with victims of the Hamas attack. Aside from the governor’s trips, what do you see as the role California should play when it comes to foreign affairs?

While California policies often have a global impact, the U.S. Constitution clearly defines foreign affairs as the domain of the federal executive and legislative branches of government. In the legislature, I have spearheaded initiatives related to foreign affairs, such as calling attention to human rights abuses committed by the communist regime in Vietnam. State government, however, should be focused first and foremost on the challenges faced by everyday Californians and should assume an advisory role when it comes to foreign affairs.

There have been recent efforts at the local level to change voting requirements — from a proposed voter ID requirement in Huntington Beach to an effort to open up voting to noncitizens in Santa Ana. What changes, if any, should be made to California’s voting laws?

We need to ensure our elections are secure, fair and produce accurate results. We should follow the Constitution and not allow noncitizens to vote.

The latest state budget projections show California’s deficit has swelled to a record $68 billion, leading to calls for spending cuts. Give us two specific ways California could address the deficit.

Just two years ago, the state had a $97 billion surplus. Last year, when I was sworn in for my first term in office, it had already dropped to a $24 billion deficit. California must return to abiding by the Gann spending limit, which was overwhelmingly supported by California voters, to moderate spending increases during boom years and protect our state from the boom and bust cycle we are currently facing. Our state desperately needs to bring back a limit on massive spending increases during boom years. We should also prioritize state spending on critical programs.

Speaking of the budget, what are your top three budget priorities?

– Public safety- Increase local control over tax dollars- Audit state spending and increase accountability

The legislature garnered national headlines when an effort to increase penalties for child sex trafficking initially stalled. How would you, in the legislature, balance criminal justice reform with public safety concerns?

I am a proud co-author of SB 14, a bill that ensures child trafficking is a felony in our state. Justice reform cannot be done by ignoring the plight of the victims. California has moved too far in protecting criminals, even violent ones. The impact on victims must be taken into account. Our laws should be fair, but they must also be enforced.

Homelessness continues to be a concern for Californians. While there is no simple solution, what is one proposal you have that could reduce homelessness in our communities?

I am currently working on legislation with cities in my district to ensure that they are able to properly fund local homeless outreach programs.

The governor recently signed a law that set a first-in-the-nation minimum wage standard for healthcare workers. Should minimum wage standards vary by industry? Why or why not?

In a state as large and economically diverse as California, a top-down approach will have some disastrous effects. Rural healthcare clinics and hospitals will have a hard time meeting this mandate and healthcare will become even more inaccessible for many Californians.

What is one environment or climate policy you’d champion if elected?

I was glad to see that the governor finally streamlined the approval process for the Sites Reservoir project. This important project will store enough water during the wet season to provide for 3 million Californian households. This should not be a one-off, and I will strongly support streamlining similar projects.

What is one capital improvement project you’d like to see financed and completed in your district?

Last year, I was able to deliver $1 million in additional state funding to build an accessible park in my district. I will continue to champion similar projects that provide a community-wide benefit and increase the quality of life we enjoy.

The state recently began rolling out the CARE Court program in some counties, the state-funded effort that allows first responders, family and other designated people to petition a court to have someone with untreated severe psychotic disorders receive treatment and services. What other ways can the state prioritize mental health care for its residents, including those with less severe disorders?

My focus will be on the implementation of the CARE court program. While this initiative could be key in ensuring individuals suffering from mental health disorders receive necessary treatment, it will only work if properly rolled out. The next year could be detrimental to California being able to treat the suffering we see on our streets every day if it is not done right.

Describe your political philosophy in 10 words or less.

Government should work for the people, not against them.

What is your go-to campaign trail snack or drink?

Pizza.

The dedicated food week will feature deals and prix-fixe menus ranging from $15 to $25 for lunch, and $25 to $45 for dinner, a date-night lineup and even luxury menus offering a more tony experiences for $60 to $120.

New to this year’s lineup include Irvine’s Benny and Mary’s, Bloom Restaurant and Bar in San Juan Capistrano, Le Shrimp Noodle Bar in Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo’s Dizzy Bird and Oliver’s Trattoria in Irvine, to name a few.

This year’s week-long event will also highlight family-friendly dining, which is a great way at getting kids to learn about cuisine and dining out, and vegetarian dining, ideal for those who either eschew a carnivorous lifestyle or yearn for a more vegetable-forward menu.

The annual event is put on by the Orange County Restaurant Association. Diners can find participating restaurants’ menus and prices at www.OCRestaurantWeek.com.

This year’s restaurants are as follows:

1886 Brewing Company – Orange

399 Vietnamese Kitchen – Tustin

Anaheim White House – Anaheim

Angelina’s Pizzeria – Irvine

AnQi Bistro – Costa Mesa

Apola Greek Grill – Yorba Linda

Aria Kitchen – Irvine

AVEO Table + Bar – Dana Point

Avila’s El Ranchito – San Clemente, Santa Ana

Benchmark – Santa Ana

Benny and Mary’s – Irvine

Billy’s at the Beach – Newport Beach

Blaze Pizza – Newport Beach

Bloom, Restaurant + Bar – San Juan Capistrano

Bluegold – Huntington Beach

Bodega Laguna – Laguna Beach

Bottega Angelina – Laguna Niguel

Brio Italian Grille – Irvine

BRU Grill and Market – Lake Forest

Brunos Italian Kitchen – Brea

Cabo Wabo Beach Club – Huntington Beach

Cafe Sevilla Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar – Costa Mesa

Cambalache Grill – Fountain Valley

Cappy’s Cafe – Newport Beach

Casa Ramos – Santa Ana

Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen – Brea

Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen – Irvine

Chapter One: the modern local- Santa Ana

Chelas Mexican Kitchen – San Clemente

Churriño – Costa Mesa

Citrus City Grille – Orange

Citrus Fresh Grill – Aliso Viejo

City Cruises Anchored by Hornblower – Newport Beach

Congregation Ale House – Santa Ana

CUCINA enoteca – Irvine, Newport Beach

CUCINA enoteca – Newport Beach

Descanso – Costa Mesa

Dizzy Bird – Mission Viejo

Eureka! – Irvine

Falasophy – Irvine

Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens- Corona Del Mar

Fermentation Farm – Costa Mesa

Five Crowns – Corona Del Mar

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar – Newport Beach

Fly N Fish Oyster Bar and Grill – Newport Beach

Gracias Madre – Newport Beach

Great Maple – Anaheim

Great Maple – Newport Beach

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken – Santa Ana

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ – (Huntington Beach, Tustin)

Haagen-Dazs – Irvine

Habana – Costa Mesa, Irvine

Hammer Burger – Santa Ana

Harborside Restaurant – Newport Beach

Hatam Restaurant – Mission Viejo

Haven Craft Kitchen + Bar – Orange

Henry’s Coastal Cuisine – Huntington Beach

High Horse Saloon – Fullerton

HoléSmokes – Costa Mesa

Il Fornaio – Irvine

Il Sole La Nuova Cucina – RSM

Indigo | Modern Indian Bistro – Huntington Beach

Ironwood, Cellar. Craft. Cook. – Laguna Hills

Izakaya Osen – Irvine

JA Jiaozi Authentic Dumplings- Irvine

Jars Sweets & Things – Laguna Niguel

Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen- Fullerton

Le Shrimp Noodle Bar – Costa Mesa

Left Coast Brewing – Irvine

Lido Bottle Works – Newport Beach

Lighthouse Cafe – Newport Beach

Little Sister – Irvine

Lola Gaspar – Santa Ana

Luciana’s Ristorante – Dana Point

Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que- Brea, Lake Forest, Orange, Tustin)

Lumberyard Restaurant – Laguna Beach

Luna Rossa – Tustin

Maldon’s Bistro – Irvine

Market Broiler – Huntington Beach, Orange

Mayor’s Table at Lido House – Newport Beach

MESA – Costa Mesa

Mickey’s Irish Pub – Fullerton

Morton’s The Steakhouse – Santa Ana

Mozambique – Laguna Beach

Mr. D’s – Placentia

Muldoon’s Irish Pub – Newport Beach

Native Son – Santa Ana

Newport Landing – Newport Beach

NOVA Kitchen and Bar – Garden Grove

O Fine Japanese Cuisine – Irvine, Laguna Beach

O SEA – Orange

Oak – Laguna Beach

OC Fish Grill – Irvine

Offshore 9 Rooftop Lounge – Huntington Beach

Olea, Cellar. Craft. Cook. – Newport Beach

Oliver’s Osteria – Laguna Beach

Oliver’s Trattoria – Irvine

Pacific Catch – Tustin

Pacitas Modern Filipino Kitchen – Anaheim

Paradise Dynasty – Costa Mesa

Paul Martin’s American Grill– Irvine

Perla Mexican Cuisine – Santa Ana

Pieology The Market Place – Irvine

Pita Feast – Huntington Beach

Playa Mesa – Costa Mesa

Plums Cafe – Costa Mesa

Pressed – Newport Beach

Prime Cut Cafe – Orange

Pub Thirty-Two – Mission Viejo

Puesto – Anaheim

Puesto Los Olivos – Irvine

Puesto Park Place – Irvine

RA Sushi – Tustin

RAKKAN Ramen – Tustin

Rancho Capistrano Winery – SJC

Rangeen Kitchen – Laguna Niguel

Red O Restaurant – Newport Beach

Robata Wasa – Irvine

Rockin Baja Lobster – Newport Beach

Romano’s Macaroni Grill – Irvine

Rub Red’s BBQ – La Habra

Rumari – Laguna Beach

Sapphire, Cellar. Craft. Cook. – Laguna Beach

Scratch Bakery Cafe – Laguna Hills, Scratch Bakery Cafe

SideDoor – Corona Del Mar

Silver Trumpet Restaurant and Bar- Costa Mesa

Simply Fish – Costa Mesa

Skyloft – Laguna Beach

Starfish – Newport Beach, Laguna Beach

StillWater Spirits & Sounds- Dana Point

Summit House Restaurant – Fullerton

Sundried Tomato American Bistro & Catering – SJC

Sweetgreen – Irvine, Tustin

Taco Rosa – Irvine, Newport Beach

TACOMPADRE – Santa Ana

Tacos TJ Style – Santa Ana

Tangerine Room – Anaheim

Taste of Beauty – Fountain Valley

Tea Maru – Irvine, Santa Ana

The Bungalow Restaurant – Corona Del Mar

The Country Club – Costa Mesa

The Crack Shack – Costa Mesa

The Peel Craftbar & Kitchen – Orange

The Pizza Press – Santa Ana

The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar – Tustin

The Yellow Chilli Tustin – Tustin

Thirty Four Bar & Bistro – Irvine

Vacation Bar – Santa Ana

Villa Roma – Laguna Hills

Vine Restaurant & Bar – San Clemente

Whitestone Restaurant & Bar – Dana Point

Wild Goose Tavern – Costa Mesa

Woody’s Wharf – Newport Beach

Ysidora Restaurant and Lounge – SJC

Zabb Thai Cuisine – Newport Beach

ZOOD – Newport Beach

Then freshmen at Northwood High School in Irvine, Quraishi and Umer were especially struck by the lack of engagement for pediatric patients, who, in some cases, were in isolation and couldn’t leave their rooms.

Or, in some cases, volunteers were too busy with other duties and not able to spend adequate time with the young patients, Umer said.

“I kind of noticed that there were these patients who were looking forward to playing with volunteers and volunteers weren’t able to make it,” she recalled. “So, I kind of started wondering how Miriam and I could work together to kind of fill this gap.”

The friends did fill the gap, and then some.

Umer and Quraishi, who are now Northwood seniors, started a nonprofit, “Crafting Smiles,” with the mission of “bringing joy and connection to hospitalized children.”

Through Zoom, their volunteers host workshops for the children to help them “pursue their passions,” whether it is painting, pottery, origami or one of many other activities.

Crafting Smiles’ curriculum also offers digital art, music and storytime sessions.

Children are provided with Amazon Fire tablets to connect to Zoom for the sessions, along with the materials needed to create their chosen craft.

“We provide the hospitals with all the necessary materials to do the workshop so that the patients can fully pursue something beyond what they are provided with at the hospital,” Quraishi said.

All supplies are safe for children as young as 3 years old and the sessions last about 30 minutes.

When permitted, the hospitalized children can meet with volunteer instructors in person.

Fountain Valley Regional Hospital was the first to take advantage of the services offered by Crafting Smiles.

Adrienne Feilden, pediatric nurse and child life specialist at the hospital, said Crafting Smiles has been transformational, particularly with pediatric patients in isolation rooms.

“We are able to offer the visits to children and teens who are on isolation status and not able to leave their hospital rooms,” Feilden said. “Our weekly visits with Crafting Smiles offers important diversion and expression through fun activities.  The tablet becomes a way for such patients to receive an interactive volunteer visit.”

And once Fountain Valley Regional started offering Crafting Smiles, it got a lot easier to make inroads with other medical facilities, Umer said.

Umer and Quraishi have organized a team of publicists and built a large social media presence to spread word about their nonprofit.

They are now connected with hospitals and volunteers around the United States and even internationally. To date, Crafting Smiles has a pool of more than 230 volunteers with chapters in New York, Texas and Illinois.

The nonprofit has connected with more than 650 patients and paired patients with volunteers in multiple hospitals.

“I am extremely impressed at how Eman and Maryam created their nonprofit organization on their own at such a young age,” Feilden said.  “They demonstrate wonderful professionalism in organizing the visits, engaging with the patients, and maintaining their volunteers involved within the program.”

Quraishi and Umer are in the process of applying to college and plan to continue running Crafting Smiles, they said.

In fact, they feel university life will offer even better opportunities to draw volunteers and expand the nonprofit even more.

Feilden has no doubt.

“I know the sky is the limit for these two,” she said, “and their team in making a difference in the world.”

For more information on Crafting Smiles, including details on how to volunteer, visit craftingsmiles.org.

“Nguyen will be there personally two nights a week cooking, entertaining, and talking to the guests,” said Kei Concepts representative Christopher Ma. “It will be a bit of an omakase-slash-tableside experience.”

Tentatively scheduled to open Friday, Jan. 12, Kei Supperclub will feature a revolving themed dinners, with 12 to 14 seats, each showcasing an eight-course prix-fixe menu with wine and cocktail pairings. Dishes will draw inspiration from Kei Concepts established eateries as well as whatever Nguyen fancies from his gastronomic repertoire. It will be open two days a week on Fridays and Saturdays with one seating per evening.

Kei Supperclub will follow similarly styled dinners, like Trust in Santa Ana, where guests buy tickets in advance to sit at an 18-seat counter overlooking the kitchen where chef Justin Werner hosts a 12-course prix-fixe dinner party.

“Viet has always wanted to open a fine-dining, upscale experience,” explained Ma. “His main focus are restaurants that are accessible to everyone, but he’s also wanted to do something like this for a long time.”

Nếp Cafe, located inside the former Gem Dining space, will remain open during the day with Kei Supperclub taking over two nights per week. Kei Supperclub and Nếp Cafe are part of the Kei Concepts portfolio of restaurants that include Sup Noodle Bar, Vox Kitchen, KIN Izakaya, ROL Hand Roll Bar and Ini Ristorante.

The nonprofit confirmed that construction work observed by City Council member Kim Constantine at a former Tuesday Morning on Magnolia Street is indeed its next new store.

“We welcome this Goodwill to our community and I hope it does well,” Constantine said.

Goodwill of OC earlier this year announced a 10-year plan to double its retail presence in the county. In recent weeks, the organization opened a new store on North Tustin Street in a former Big Lots in Orange, the second for the city. Another store debuted in September at 790 N. Brookhurst St. in Anaheim.

The organization stresses that each store helps it expand its workforce development mission.

Related: Can California find better paying jobs for people with disabilities?

“When most people think of our name, they think donation centers and retail stores,” Goodwill OC CEO Nicole Suydam said in September. “What we are really most proud of is what we are doing to change lives and help people develop careers.”

Also see: Who are the most generous Californians?

For every donated item that is bought at a Goodwill OC store, 94 cents of every dollar goes into workforce programs offered by the nonprofit.

Suydam said the nonprofit is focusing much of its expansion to the south, where it doesn’t have a big presence.

Goodwill has 1,300 employees. It adds about 25 new jobs with every new store.  It operates 24 secondhand thrift stores in Orange County, including five OC Goodwill Boutiques and its e-commerce online store ShopGoodwill.com.

Address: 17120 Magnolia St., Fountain Valley

Staff writer Heather McRea contributed to this report.

“RBA offers training and a career path that suits my desires,” one employee wrote in the anonymous 2023 Top Workplaces survey. “They are willing to invest in me and everyone at RBA. The benefit package as a whole is equal to or greater than larger companies in our same industry. People matter and they invest in people.”

The Fountain Valley company is a general contractor that focuses on commercial work, including the industrial, entertainment, educational, aerospace and medical fields.

Anderson created the company in February 2007, armed with a folding chair and table, after working for other general contractors.

“I gave notice on a Thursday, and by Monday I was incorporated, had my license, had an office and was doing business,” Anderson said. “It was literally that fast.”

Anderson said the company has extensive training in benefits. RBA Builders recently hired a leadership/management coach who spoke to every person individually in the company to understand their needs across generations.

“He’s helping us close that generational gap,” Anderson said. “He’s helping us as managers understand what those needs are.”

We spoke with Anderson about the company’s culture, and broadly how he viewed how the economy is looking for the construction industry headed into 2024 as it navigates challenges like high interest rates.

Q: Can you explain what it means for the company to value “Do The Right Thing Even When It Is Inconvenient​?” How does that play into everyone’s day-to-day work?

Let me give you an example. When a subcontractor is struggling on a job, the owner is mad at the subcontractor. (The owner) wants us to kick them off. What we do is we try to keep the team cohesive. We’ll try to fix the problem and keep this subcontractor on board because it’s in the owner’s best interest, not just the subs or our best interest, but we try to look out for what’s best for everybody.

It’s sometimes the easy thing to do and I’ve worked for contractors that just say, ‘OK’ and they throw people to the side like they’re not valued. Doing the right thing, even when it’s inconvenient, is about valuing each other. It is about understanding that sometimes you need to do things that you just don’t want to do because it’s the right thing to do. And we do that across the board for our customers, for our associates, for our subcontractors, our professional partners, and our vendors.

Q: How’s it looking for the construction industry in 2024 economically? 

It’s funny, I am not one that follows trends. My president does. My CFO had just gone to a seminar on financial forecasting. And the forecast from what I hear is a recession is coming and things are gonna start to tighten up.

I’ll tell you, in my view I am the eternal optimist, and the people that I’m talking to are seeing new and different opportunities coming. I don’t think it’ll be a booming year. I think it’ll be somewhat of a flat year, but it will be a different year.

For our markets, we won’t be doing stuff that we’re doing today. It will be the same clients, but it will be doing different types of work, and that’s still yet to be seen what it is.

Q: Do you feel rising construction costs are coming down?

I think they’re leveling out. You know, one thing that I do know, I’ve been doing this long enough, and in an election year, you never know what to expect. Elections do crazy things to our economy, to our business, to all of it.

There are some (costs) that are continuing to rise. Concrete is continuing to rise. That’s the one area where I do see it continuing to rise. The rest of it I see pretty much leveling out for the most part.

Q: How are you navigating the high-interest rate environment?

A: Yeah. It’s been tough. What’s happened is our customers have all gone to longer-term payments, because they’re holding on to cash, and they’re now earning money on their cash. So it has put a strain on us. Everybody’s a little gun-shy if you will.

We’ve seen some projects shelved because of the high interest rates. If a job was going to be financed, they shelved it. Luckily, we don’t have a ton of that, because we do a lot of work for a lot of blue-chip companies. But we do see it.

So yes, it is having an impact on us and the way we’re overcoming it is we’re creating stronger partnerships with our subcontractors base, our vendors, our banks, and our professional services. It’s all about partnership. We’re all in this together, and we know that.

RBA Builders

Founded: 2007

Headquarters: Fountain Valley

Industry: building construction

OC employees: 107

Website: rbabuildersinc.com

Quote: “Doing the right thing, even when it’s inconvenient, is about valuing each other.” — Robert Anderson, CEO of RBA Builders