June 2018
Celebrate and Give Back
It’s almost time to stock up on sparklers and smoke balls to celebrate the Fourth of July and support your favorite school or nonprofit group.

Sixteen groups will be selling safe and sane fireworks as a fundraiser this year at stands across the city.

Here are the groups you can support this year:

  • West Anaheim Little League
  • The Rotary Club of Anaheim
  • Goals Academy 
  • Anaheim Small Business Organization
  • Anaheim Host Lions Club
  • Calvary Chapel Northgrove
  • Anaheim First Christian Church
  • Bethesda University Soccer
  • Anaheim High School Band Boosters
  • Canyon High School Education Foundation
  • Esperanza High School Aquatics Boosters
  • Katella High School Band Boosters
  • Loara High School Band Boosters
  • Magnolia High School Band Boosters
  • Savanna High School Football Boosters
  • Western High School Aquatics Boosters

Fireworks sales start at noon on June 28 and go until 9 p.m. on July 4. Find a map of fireworks stands at  Anaheim.net/fireworks .
Do the Fourth Right
Buying Safe and Sane fireworks helps raise money for great programs in our community, and setting off sparklers with the kids is a fun way to celebrate America’s birthday.

But remember that fireworks are only legal in Anaheim on July 4 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. So save it for the Fourth!

And illegal fireworks — the professional kind that fly up in the air with a big explosion — are never allowed in our city.

All fireworks, even Safe and Sane ones, are not allowed east of the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway and south of the Riverside (91) Freeway due to fire concerns.

You could be fined up to $3,000 for using illegal fireworks or for misusing safe and sane fireworks.

You can help do the Fourth right by reporting illegal fireworks use or sales to police at (714) 765-1900.
What We've Done
Coyotes in Anaheim
Coyotes are a fact of life. And now that we are in the summer months we'll be seeing more of them.

They are drawn to cities for easy sources of food, including trash and outdoor pet food, which draw smaller animals that coyotes feed on.

But there are easy steps you can take to keep your home, family and pets safe.

Feeding
Don’t feed coyotes or other wildlife (with some exceptions for feral cats). Feeding wildlife can be a violation of the city’s municipal code and result in fines. Even worse, feeding coyotes leads the animals to associate people with food and lose all fear of humans.

Hazing
If you encounter a coyote, stand tall, wave your arms and yell. This is what wildlife experts call hazing. If necessary, throw a rock near — not at — the animal. If the coyote doesn’t leave, slowly walk away backward maintaining eye contact.

Walking Dogs
Use a leash that provides good control of your dog — don’t use retractable leashes. When possible, walk your dog with another person. Consider carrying a stick, umbrella or other defensive item. Experts don’t recommend Mace or other self-defense sprays as they can blow back on you.

Should you encounter a coyote, pick up your dog if possible or place them behind you. Then stand tall, yell or throw something near the coyote. Don't run — you'll trigger the coyote's predator instinct.

Learn more at  OCpetinfo.com . 

What We're Doing
Anaheim has adopted a management plan to address coyotes in our neighborhoods.The plan relies heavily on the only proven, long-term approach to managing coyotes: deterrence. It also allows professional trapping as a last resort.

Learn more at Anaheim.net/coyotes .
Bingo Fun for Seniors
Have some fun at the Anaheim Senior Citizens Club.

The group will host its second annual Bingo Extravaganza Fundraiser on Saturday, June 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 250 E. Center St.

Cost is $10 and includes lunch, served at noon.

For more information, call (714) 765-4510.
Community Art Contest Winners
We asked and the community delivered!

You may have noticed some beautiful new artwork at the corner of Beach and Lincoln, in front of the Westgate Center project.

Anaheim and partner Zelman Development sponsored an art contest last month for local high school students, collecting more than 50 submissions from students throughout west Anaheim.

Community votes determined the top three submissions.

Congratulations to the winners:

  • First place: Rhea Dimaandal, John F. Kennedy High School (photo above)
  • Second place: Juyeon Kim, Cypress High School
  • Third place: Lizbeth Esquivel, Western High School

The top 10 will receive a proclamation from the city of Anaheim, and the top three will receive cash prize provided by Zelman Development.

Zelman Development will also donate art supplies to the school of the first place student.

Find more at Anaheim.net/canvas.
Connecting Anaheim's Generations
In April, Anaheim’s Elmer Thill celebrated another milestone in a long life of them — his 104th birthday.

An Anaheim High School graduate and lifelong resident, Thill is believed to be the oldest person in our city.

At Thill’s age, he is in is in rare company. But he’s not alone.

Thirteen percent of Anaheim residents are age 60 or older. That’s more than 48,000 people, or the population of a small city.

And Anaheim’s senior community is growing. By 2040, seniors are projected to make up a quarter of our population.

But the golden years aren’t always easy. Nearly a quarter of Anaheim’s seniors live alone. About twice that, 43 percent, have no one to help them as they age.

That’s why we’ve launched our new campaign to reach out to seniors and connect people of different ages and generations across Anaheim. 

We are calling it Reach Out Anaheim.

It’s a friendly knock on the door of a senior you know or know of in your neighborhood. It’s about reaching out and making a small but meaningful connection.

So think about seniors in your neighborhood and how you might reach out to them.
We’ll be sharing videos and photos on Anaheim’s social media channels about the city’s and community’s efforts to reach out to Anaheim’s seniors.

You can share your stories by messaging us on Facebook or Instagram.
Coming Up 
Summer Splash
There's nothing better than a dip in the pool on a hot summer day.

And now you can swim for free at Pearson Park Pool!

The city, partnering with Anaheim Family YMCA, offers free public swim on Saturdays and Sundays June 9 through Sept. 2. The pool is open from 1 to 5 p.m. both days.

The pool will also be open for free public swim on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3 from 1 to 5 p.m.

For more, visit  Anaheim.net/swim .
West Anaheim Community Spotlight
Maxwell Park
This 22-acre park opened in 1959 and is named in honor of Mattie Lou Maxwell, who served as a teacher and principal with the Magnolia Elementary School District.

It is one of four parks in Anaheim named after important women in city history.

The park includes green space with a children's play area, softball and soccer fields, a playground, barbecue area, picnic tables and exercise course.

We recently renovated the park with new restrooms and lighting. We also recently installed security cameras at the park to increase safety. Future proposed improvements for the park include building a water play area and a dog park.

This year, the park was home to the 22nd annual WAND Western BBQ.

Maxwell Park is at 2655 W. Orange Ave.

CONTACT DENISE
(714) 765-5162