Annual Compost Giveaway
On February 22, the Recycle Brea team held the Annual Compost Giveaway with the City’s franchise waste hauler, Republic Services. The event was held at Tri-City Park with an estimated 40 cubic yards of compost available for Brea residents to take for free. The Recycle Brea team is working toward their goal of providing free compost for the Brea community year-round. For more information or for upcoming events, follow the City on social media or visit our website.
Bitter/Sweet Opening Reception
Earlier this month, over 200 guests joined the Brea Gallery in celebrating the opening reception of their newest exhibition, “Bitter/Sweet.” Visitors enjoyed live jazz music, drinks from natural wine shop Maison Fox, and charcuterie boats from Lady J Charcuterie. This in-house exhibition, inspired by Reed Van Brunschot’s artwork, created a space for guests to explore the duality of human experience, reflect on life’s bittersweet nature, and participate in engaging conversation sparked by this exhibition’s diverse artwork.
In conjunction with the exhibit, the Brea Gallery hosted Fresh{AIR} on February 22 and 23 from noon to 5:00 p.m. This artist-in-residence program allows visitors to engage in conversation with artists, inquire about their process, and witness the artists working in real time. During those days, artists Reed van Brunschot, Yulia Gasio, and Alison Chen, created in the Gallery, and noted poet Brian Sonia-Wallace, provided a personalized poem to each guest visiting during Fresh{AIR} weekend!
Regular gallery hours are Wednesday-Sunday 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Sister City and Friendship City Visits
In January, The City of Brea was excited to welcome two of our Sister Cities, Anseong, Korea and Hanno, Japan. Then in February, we welcomed our Friendship City, Namyangyu, Korea. All three delegations included their students and chaperons interested in learning about the City of Brea. Each group experienced life in Brea and were able to connect with their host families that had similarly aged students at Brea Olinda High School and Brea Junior High. Our visitors were able to tour the City in the Brea Trolley to see the Brea Civic & Cultural Center, Brea Museum, Olinda Oil Museum, and the Brea Mall. Connecting with our Sister Cities and Friendship City on these visits deepens the relationships that has developed over the years. We look forward to continuing the cultivation of unity among both of our Sister Cities and Friendship City.
New Roll & Release Class
Brea Fitness has introduced a new Roll & Release class, offering members a chance to stretch, unwind, and improve mobility every Thursday at 12:00 p.m. at the Brea Community Center. Led by instructor Mary, the class utilizes Yoga Tune Up® therapy balls to target muscle tension, promote circulation, and enhance flexibility through self-myofascial release techniques. Since its launch, community feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with participants noting reduced stiffness and improved recovery. This class provides a guided opportunity to reset both body and mind, making it a valuable addition to the weekly fitness schedule.
Business Spotlight
The City of Brea continues to welcome businesses to the community to help with the economic development and future of Brea. Here is one of our newest business that has recently opened.
Little Elephants, a Montessori-inspired indoor playground, has officially opened in the Embassy Suites Retail Court. This vibrant, kid-friendly space is designed to engage children and parents alike through interactive play and various activities to exercise the body and the imagination.
The playground features a thoughtfully-curated selection of toys that are rotated regularly to keep activities stimulating. Notable features include a modern play structure with a ball pit and slides, a sensory play area, a library, a toy car track, and separate zones for infants and toddlers
Small Business Workshops
The Community Development Department partnered with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to host an informative lunchtime webinar for small businesses and entrepreneurs titled, Access to Capital. This session provided insights into various funding options, including traditional bank loans, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, and alternative financing solutions. Nearly 40 business owners gained knowledge to successfully navigate their financial opportunities and access the resources needed for growth and longevity. The City proudly offers these valuable opportunities to support and strengthen the local business community.
Following the success of the Small Business Clinic hosted in late 2024, the Community Development Department will host a second workshop on March 19, 2025 from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. Entrepreneurs seeking personalized guidance on their marketing, operations, or financial needs are encouraged to schedule an appointment to meet with a one-on-one industry expert. The Small Business Clinic is available by appointment only, and interested business owners can secure a meeting slot by contacting the Economic Development team.
Community Development Staff Updates
The Community Development Department is proud to celebrate an outstanding achievement by Community Development Specialist Jaquelyn “Jackie” Salgado. Jackie was among only five Master of Public Administration students in California awarded a prestigious scholarship to attend the League of California Cities City Managers Conference to get an inside look into the profession early in her career.
As a City Management Fellow at California State University, Fullerton, Jackie continuously demonstrates a strong commitment to public service, leadership, and professional growth. This well-deserved recognition from the League of California Cities reflects her dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence – both as a professional and as a student.
Congratulations, Jackie, on this incredible accomplishment!
Go. Serve. Brea.
The Brea Special Events Division is launching a brand new, year-round, city-wide volunteer initiative that includes, Go. Serve. Brea., a community-wide service day that is replacing the previous Love Brea event. This year’s event will continue to bring a positive impact to the community and partner with businesses, the faith community, and sponsors through in-kind donations. The service day will be taking place on Saturday, April 26.
Employee Gym Renovation
At the end of 2024, the Civic Center's Employee Gym was closed for a much-needed update. Thanks to a grant that was awarded to the Brea Police Department, the funds went toward enhancing the gym equipment and refreshing the facility located on P2. Members of the PD's Health & Wellness Unit spearheaded this effort and dedicated the grant funding to make this project a reality.
The Public Works Department also took the opportunity to refresh the gym with a fresh coat of paint and helped with the logistics of setting up the new gym equipment. The gym equipment that was selected was chosen to serve the same functions, if not more, than the previous equipment.
We are excited for staff to use the new equipment and encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Netting Extension
Construction is underway to extend netting at Arovista Park. This project is designed to prevent errant golf balls from traveling into the Arovista Skate Park. The project is located between Brea Creek Golf Course and south east of the Arovista parking lot. All eight poles are set in place and secured. The next steps are fastening the net along with its corresponding hardware. Each pole measures 60 feet and weighs nearly two tons. The additional netting will provide an extra 300 feet of protection against balls hit in the direction of the skate park. The completion of the project is expected for the end of February.
Keeping the Keys Workshop
Over 60 seniors attended our “Keeping the Keys” workshop this month designed to help senior drivers on the road for as long as safely possible. In partnership with AAA and the Brea Police Department, this free, hour-long workshop covered topics on how driving changes with age, how to safely adapt driving, how medications may impact driving, and vehicle safety, comfort, and fit tips. After the workshop, the Brea Police Department held a Q&A session and all attendees left with a resource packet and giveaways. Another session will be scheduled later this year.
Upcoming Special Events
The Brea Special Events Division will be hosting their annual Pet Expo on Saturday, April 5, at the Brea Community Center from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. There will be K-9 demonstrations by the Brea Police Department and Anaheim Police Department which will feature a drug sniffing drill, dog obedience and a bite simulation. This event provides the Brea community an opportunity to shop, adopt, and learn about pets and pet care. We encourage all pet lovers to attend the Pet Expo.
The annual Spring Craft Boutique will feature over 200 vendors selling one-of-a-kind seasonal and year-round gifts, décor, art, jewelry, and more on March 14 and 15 at the Brea Community Center. There will also be specialty coffee and dining options for purchase. Off-site parking for both events will be available at Crosspointe Church. The Brea Trolley will provide transportation to the Brea Community Center and back.