CARS ALL over at Chapman Avenue and Valley View in West Garden Grove (GGPD photo). “Massive congestion” and “gridlock” descended on the area of a West Garden Grove shopping center on Friday night, leading to numerous citations and other enforcement activity. According to the GGPD, the car meet was at Eastgate Center (Valley View Street and Chapman Avenue). Officers from the Neighborhood Traffic Unit were on hand to observe. By 7 p.m., officers saw cars arriving in the hundreds, clogging traffic lanes. When the shopping center, which is anchored by a Vons supermarket, was full, the overflow f ..read more

GARDEN GROVE police seized weapons, gun parts, drugs and cash (GGPD photo). Six people were arrested and numerous weapons and gun parts and cash were seized  by Garden Grove police on Thursday. According to the GGPD , the operation began several weeks ago when the Gang Suppression Unit learned that an operation of drug sales and “ghost gun” manufacturing was taking place at two homes in the 9500 block of Katella. A “ghost gun” is a weapon without an identifying serial number, and may be assembled from a kit. Two possible suspects – Ann Marie Maya, 40, of Garden Grove and Jason Copeland ..read more

AN INDEPENDENCE Day parade planned for West Grove area on June 29 (Shutterstock). The annual Strawberry Festival parade isn’t the only street procession in Garden Grove. At Tuesday night’s meeting of the city council, approval was given on a 7-0 vote for temporary closure of streets in the Eastgate Park neighborhood in the West Grove area for the second annual Independence Day-Freedom Parade on Saturday, June 29. About 150 “golf carts” will participate in the event to begin at 5 p.m. The sponsors, the Honoring Our Fallen organization, will reimburse the city for all direct costs associated w ..read more

A SUSPECT has been arrested in connection with alleged molestation incidents in Garden Grove in 2014 (Shutterstock). An incident nearly a decade ago has resulted in the arrest of a suspect on charges of sexual acts in Garden Grove against two preteen girls. According to Sgt. Nick Jensen of the GGPD, Elijah Domminic Barrera, 29, of Orange, was arrested in Orange at around  2:16 p.m. Friday on two counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child stemming from two separate acts in August 2014. ELIJAH BARRERA (GGPD). In March 2023, a victim contacted the GGPD and said she was “inappropriat ..read more

GARDEN GROVE City Hall (Orange County Tribune photo). A light agenda, including the purchase of five new police vehicles, is in store for the Garden Grove City Council when it meets on Tuesday. One item calls for the purchase of a new police department pickup truck with appropriate equipment for $90,996.64. Another item calls for the purchase of four new police department “administrative utility” vehicles at a total cost of $215,746.19. Other big purchases on the agenda include $200,000 for various water pipelines materials and $200,000 for equipment and uniforms for the police and public wo ..read more

THE FORMER Food Giant and Walmart market at Katella Avenue and Euclid Street in Garden Grove (Tribune photo). A proposal to convert a former supermarket building into a new religious facility was approved Thursday night by the Garden Grove Planning Commission. On a 5-0 vote, the commission said “yes” to FreedomHouse OC to take the 46,287-square foot building at Katella Avenue and Euclid Street formerly used as a Food Giant and a Walmart Neighborhood Mart for a church sanctuary, an accredited bible college and a child day care center. Also approved was a proposed 15-unit multiple-family proje ..read more

A BOX FULL of goodies from the City of Garden Grove. A new three-month, multi-language awareness campaign, highlighting information and services from the City of Garden Grove’s Community Development Department’s Planning, Building and Safety, and Code Enforcement divisions is kicking off. Themed “Plan–Build–Beautify,” the campaign kicks off with a social media giveaway to win a 48-quart Igloo cooler, $10 Home Depot gift card, and DIY and City items. “The city wants people to know that if they’re planning to build in Garden Grove, or are committed to keeping our city beautiful, the city’s Com ..read more

MAYOR STEVE JONES speaks at Thursday’s “State of the City” event at the Hyatt Regency Orange County (OC Tribune photos). By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune With a “Back to the Future” theme, Garden Grove Mayor Steve Jones arrived in a DeLorean, clad – initially – like Marty McFly at Thursday’s “State of the City” event  at the Hyatt Regency Orange County. Making his final address as the city’s top elected official – he’s “termed out” – Jones reflected on the community’s birth, growth and future. “Twenty twenty four is a milestone year,” he said. “We’re celebrating the 150th annivers ..read more

THE STATE of the City event Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove (OC Tribune photo). As a history buff, I never tire of trying to convince people of the connection between their past, the present and the future. That was done rather adroitly on Wednesday at the annual “State of the City” event held at the Hyatt Regency Orange County. Held jointly by the City of Garden Grove and the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce, the event included the usual accolades for civic dignitaries and public servants. The keynote speaker was outgoing long-term Mayor Steve Jones, and he took ..read more

THE FORMER Food Giant and Walmart market at Katella Avenue and Euclid Street in Garden Grove (Tribune photo). Long-time Garden Grove residents will remember it as a Food Giant supermarket. More recently, it was a Walmart Neighborhood Market, since closed. It may soon have a new life. At the April 18 meeting of the Garden Grove Planning Commission, a public hearing will  be held to convert the now-vacant structure at Katella Avenue and Euclid Street into a new religious facility. As proposed, the 46,287-square foot building would be repurposed as FreedomHouse OC, accommodating church ser ..read more