Tustin Ca Celebrations

Concerns about disturbing the habitat of the California gnatcatcher prompted the City Council on Tuesday to authorize a new parking area for the Smith's Festival of Ballooning at Tustin Ranch later this month. The small songbird is listed as a threatened species. When a permit was granted in August for the hot-air balloon festival, one of the designated parking lots was on Irvine Co. property next to Tustin Ranch Road and Pioneer Way.

Organizers of last weekend's Motor Trend Thunder road races at Tustin Marine Corps Air Station would like to keep holding the annual event at the base after the military leaves in July, spokesman Joe Molina said. "Everything's up in the air," he said. "Our intention is to do it at that site. " But city officials said they still do not know who will operate the base next year and thus cannot negotiate yet with Motor Trend Thunder. "The bottom line is we're not going to subsidize the event," City Manager William A. Huston said.

Balloons, flags and songs were in abundance Friday at Helen Estock and Arroyo elementary schools as the Tustin Unified School District celebrated the national awards given to the two schools. They were among 221 schools nationwide--16 in California and three in Orange County--to receive the awards from the U.S. Department of Education.

Finishing touches are being made for Saturday's unveiling of the $1.5-million Heritage Park, including the city's first roller hockey rink. The park also boasts basketball courts, a tot lot--complete with a play pirate ship--picnic tables and walking trails, said Pat Sanchez, the city's parks and recreation director. About half of the 5-acre park is open space and will open in mid-January when the grass is ready.

Should I bake a cake or mop the floor? What am I going to wear? Melanie Alvarado, 33, could hardly stand still in her kitchen Saturday, much less make a decision. Her daughters, 8 and 6, were more productive, washing their father's car outside. Billy Alvarado is coming home from war today, and they want things spic and span at their home on the Tustin Marine Corps base.

Taking advantage of clear skies and the chance to celebrate black heritage locally, more than 350 people took part Sunday in the Black Historical Commission's Unity Exposition in Tustin. The 14-year-old festival featured performances by local groups and vendors selling food, books and gift items, drawing families from throughout the region looking for a taste of African-American life within the county.

Despite a prediction of cloudy skies, organizers of Smith's Festival of Ballooning over Tustin Ranch say this weekend's festivities should go on as scheduled. Although the clouds are expected to remain, there should be no rain or winds that would prevent about 80 colorful hot-air balloons, 20 which are shaped like parrots, dragons and other animals or things, from taking to the sky at 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. today and Sunday. At 7 p.m.

Held aloft on his dad's shoulders, 5-year-old Alex Blakeman claimed one of the best seats in the house at the first Smith's Festival of Ballooning on Saturday morning. From his perch, he watched cartoon character Tony the Tiger slowly come to life as a fan inflated the beast's gigantic nylon body. "He wanted me to go and ask where the Frosted Flakes were," said the boy's mother, Terry, who stood with other fans of the Kellogg's cereal mascot.

For the 37th year, this city will celebrate its agricultural heritage with the Tustin Tiller Days hometown festival. The family-oriented event, which will take place today through Sunday at Columbus Tustin Park, is expected to attract between 10,000 and 20,000 spectators daily. The festival, which is a fund-raiser for local charities, has been expanded to include carnival attractions, co-chairwoman Cherrill Cady said. A highlight will be a parade at 10 a.m.

A seven-story-tall, hot-air balloon was inflated Tuesday at City Hall as part of a kickoff announcement for Smith's Festival of Ballooning, a family-oriented fair scheduled Sept. 23-25 at Tustin Ranch and billed as the largest balloon festival ever on the West Coast. Event organizer John Korff said that about 125 balloons will float over Tustin in the early morning and late afternoon each day.

For the 37th year, this city will celebrate its agricultural heritage with the Tustin Tiller Days hometown festival. The family-oriented event, which will take place today through Sunday at Columbus Tustin Park, is expected to attract between 10,000 and 20,000 spectators daily. The festival, which is a fund-raiser for local charities, has been expanded to include carnival attractions, co-chairwoman Cherrill Cady said. A highlight will be a parade at 10 a.m.

Held aloft on his dad's shoulders, 5-year-old Alex Blakeman claimed one of the best seats in the house at the first Smith's Festival of Ballooning on Saturday morning. From his perch, he watched cartoon character Tony the Tiger slowly come to life as a fan inflated the beast's gigantic nylon body. "He wanted me to go and ask where the Frosted Flakes were," said the boy's mother, Terry, who stood with other fans of the Kellogg's cereal mascot.

Despite a prediction of cloudy skies, organizers of Smith's Festival of Ballooning over Tustin Ranch say this weekend's festivities should go on as scheduled. Although the clouds are expected to remain, there should be no rain or winds that would prevent about 80 colorful hot-air balloons, 20 which are shaped like parrots, dragons and other animals or things, from taking to the sky at 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. today and Sunday. At 7 p.m.

A dragon, a tiger, an alkaline battery and a soft drink can were among the shaped, hot-air balloons floating over Tustin Ranch Thursday morning as crews began arriving for the Smith's Festival of Ballooning. This family-oriented event, billed as the largest balloon festival west of New Mexico, is scheduled from noon today through Sunday evening at a 30-acre site bounded by Tustin Ranch Road, Jamboree Road and Portola Parkway.

Concerns about disturbing the habitat of the California gnatcatcher prompted the City Council on Tuesday to authorize a new parking area for the Smith's Festival of Ballooning at Tustin Ranch later this month. The small songbird is listed as a threatened species. When a permit was granted in August for the hot-air balloon festival, one of the designated parking lots was on Irvine Co. property next to Tustin Ranch Road and Pioneer Way.

A seven-story-tall, hot-air balloon was inflated Tuesday at City Hall as part of a kickoff announcement for Smith's Festival of Ballooning, a family-oriented fair scheduled Sept. 23-25 at Tustin Ranch and billed as the largest balloon festival ever on the West Coast. Event organizer John Korff said that about 125 balloons will float over Tustin in the early morning and late afternoon each day.

A dragon, a tiger, an alkaline battery and a soft drink can were among the shaped, hot-air balloons floating over Tustin Ranch Thursday morning as crews began arriving for the Smith's Festival of Ballooning. This family-oriented event, billed as the largest balloon festival west of New Mexico, is scheduled from noon today through Sunday evening at a 30-acre site bounded by Tustin Ranch Road, Jamboree Road and Portola Parkway.

Wearing the Miss Tustin sash may have been the only way Carmella Vann had to parade her victory. Now, she says, it is nonstop academics. Vann recently became the first black woman to win the city's 4-year-old beauty pageant. However, the 17-year-old is quick to say that winning is not the start of a climb to a higher title. Instead, it is just one more way to secure her goal to attend college, then medical school.

About 20,000 people are expected to attend the fourth annual "Taste of Tustin Summerfest" this weekend. The three-day music and food festival at Tustin Market Place will feature appearances by "oldies" bands, along with booths showcasing the food of 27 area restaurants. Event spokeswoman Jane Hogelin Peterson said last year's festival, which ran two days, drew 15,000 visitors. "It was so popular we expanded it," she said.

Taking advantage of clear skies and the chance to celebrate black heritage locally, more than 350 people took part Sunday in the Black Historical Commission's Unity Exposition in Tustin. The 14-year-old festival featured performances by local groups and vendors selling food, books and gift items, drawing families from throughout the region looking for a taste of African-American life within the county.