Senior Vaccination Clinic
This year’s Senior Flu Shot Clinic offered many seniors the opportunity to protect themselves before the start of the flu season. In collaboration with Albertsons Pharmacy, various vaccines to fight off the flu, RSV, pneumonia, COVID-19, and shingles were successfully administered to seniors who attended the event. Each attendee received a Wellness Bag filled with valuable health resources and information made possible by our generous community sponsors. The event had to be scaled down this year, with no health screenings or vendor booths, due to the construction at the Arovista Park and use of the parking lot for the construction. We are grateful for everyone's patience and understanding during these temporary adjustments and are looking forward to returning the event to its full capacity.
Halloween Costume Exchange
The Brea Resource Center hosted its annual Halloween Costume Exchange earlier this month. Staff partnered with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints during their Community Service day to collect gently used costumes. The Brea Resource Center also received donations from local families in the community. The Brea Resource Center successful donated a total of 200 costumes taken by 75 families in our community, making it one of our largest donations to date. I’m so proud that the City of Brea has these programs that are available to the community and kicking off the holiday season with so much generosity.
Small Business Clinic
Recently, the City of Brea partnered with the Orange County & Inland Empire Small Business Development Center to host a Small Business Clinic in Brea. The Small Business Clinic was an opportunity for local entrepreneurs and business owners to receive one-on-one consulting with professionals about their immediate marketing, operations, or financial assessment needs.
The clinic was a great success, with appointments filling up quickly. Following the event, many participants expressed gratitude for the insights gained and the personalized support they received, highlighting the importance of such initiatives in fostering local business growth and resilience. The City looks forward to hosting similar events in the future and is proud of this partnership, which allows us to offer valuable resources to our community.
Community Development Specialist
The Community Development Department is pleased to announce the promotion of Jaquelyn “Jackie” Salgado to the position of Community Development Specialist. Jackie initially joined both the Community Development and Management Services Departments as a student volunteer in May, and then became a part-time Administrative Intern in June. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at California State University, Fullerton. With nine years of private sector experience, Jackie is now focused on gaining public sector experience, particularly in affordable housing programs. She is eager to continue developing her skills in communication, presentations, and teamwork. In her free time, Jackie enjoys camping, hiking, baking, and painting. Congratulations, Jackie!
Business Spotlight
The City of Brea continues to welcome businesses to the community to help with the economic development and future of Brea. Here are a couple of businesses opening soon.
Founded over 40 years ago, Mor Furniture, located in the Brea Union Plaza, is dedicated to reliability, convenience, and affordability. With more than 37 locations across the West Coast, Mor Furniture offers stylish, modern furnishings at an affordable price. As an industry leader, they’ve mastered the art of delivery, offering three options to suit different lifestyles: doorstep delivery, in-store pickup, or their signature white glove service. Clients can enjoy a personalized experience that perfectly fits their needs.
Shake Shack is set to open soon at the Brea Gateway Center, bringing its iconic, flavorful menu to the community. Beginning as a hot dog stand in New York City, Shake Shack has gained an international following for its cuisine. With delicious burgers, crinkle-cut fries, and hand-spun milkshakes, Shake Shack offers a modern twist on classic American fast food. The new Brea location is set to be a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.
Employee Training
The City offered its employees a training opportunity to enhance essential skills for managing various modern-day customer service encounters. Presented by Western Youth Services and funded by the OC Health Care Agency, this training emphasized proactive strategies for effective communication and customer service support. The City is dedicated in providing ongoing opportunities for its employees to advance their skill sets and continue providing quality service to the community.
Pastel Society of the West Coast
The Brea Art Gallery hosted the opening reception for 99 Voices in Pastel, a collaboration between the Brea Gallery and the Pastel Society of the West Coast, on Saturday, October 12. Patrons enjoyed an evening of art, refreshments, and music provided by Night and Day DJs. Founded in 1985, the Pastel Society of the West Coast has grown to become the second largest pastel association in the United States. This exhibition is now open for the public through December 6, featuring work of nearly 100 international pastel artists, presenting a variety of subjects. Over 30 awards have been granted to exhibiting artists resulting in over $6,000 in prize money awarded by the Pastel Society of the West Coast.
Additional exhibition elements help round out the audience experience. Visitors can learn about pastel history with a visual timeline of important dates, send greetings from the West Coast by designing their own custom postcards, and immerse themselves in the medium through an informational and demonstrative video montage.
The Big Game Centennial Celebration
On Saturday, October 26, the Brea Museum & Historical Society commemorated the historical “Big Game” at the Brea Sports Park, with assistance from the Community Services Department. On October 31, 1924, several baseball legends came to Brea to play an exhibition game which included Babe Ruth and Walter Johnson, a Brea resident. The exhibition game brought crowds of baseball fans to the city and put the small town of Brea on the map.
The centennial celebration of the “Big Game” featured games with Brea Girls Softball, Brea Little League, and the “Big Game” between Generals Baseball and Brea Olinda High School’s Baseball team. The day included an opening ceremony, pancake breakfast, vendors, and a special visit from Randy Jones, a retired San Diego Padres and Cy Young Award pitcher, who threw out the first pitch. This event was made possible through partnerships with the Big Game Centennial Committee and many community partners including, the Brea Museum & Historical Society, Brea Little League, Brea Girls Softball, Brea Olinda Unified School District and the City of Brea. And thanks to the Public Works Parks Division, the fields at the Sports Park were in pristine condition.
OC Workforce Solutions
The Community Development Department recently had the opportunity to tour the Orange County Workforce Solutions site in Brea, where they explored the diverse resources available for job seekers, youth, and businesses. Located at 675 Placentia Ave., OC Workforce Solutions is part of a nationwide system of American Job Centers and the American Job Centers of California (AJCC) workforce system. These centers create and open pathways to long-term employment that allow individuals to build a future.
OC Workforce Solutions is dedicated to empowering community members by providing essential tools, knowledge, and support to help individuals achieve their career goals. Their no-cost services include skills assessments, information about job opportunities, training programs, referrals to support services, and free access to technology and workshops. Businesses can also benefit from these resources, which include counseling for companies at risk, workforce development training, and labor market information to help businesses navigate today’s workforce.
The City is honored to host OC Workforce Solutions in Brea. By connecting individuals and businesses with essential support, OC Workforce Solutions plays a vital role in driving economic growth and improving the overall well-being of our community.
Brea Special Events Inspires the City of Garden Grove
The City of Garden Grove attended the 2023 Brea Fest and expressed interest in learning more about the process of planning an event of this magnitude. Over the last year, Community Services Supervisor Kristin Steyerman and Community Services Specialist II Ashley Reid have advised the Garden Grove team in the creation and planning of their brand-new event. On Friday, October 4, the City of Garden Grove debuted Foods of Garden Grove Live and the Brea Special Events team was invited to attend. It was great to see similar aspects of our very own Brea Fest, as well as how Garden Grove made the event their own. I am proud that the City of Brea is able to collaborate with other cities and share ideas on how to best serve our communities.
Tracks at Brea Signage and Educational Efforts
There are a couple projects in place intended to improve awareness, as well as education, on the Tracks at Brea trail. The first project was done with Girl Scout Sophia San Filippo, who presented her idea to the Parks, Recreation and Human Services Commission, to provide location indication markers on The Tracks, should someone need assistance. Sophia worked with several City departments to plan and complete this project. Each trail marker is color coded to represent different location segments. This project served as Sophia’s Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest award a Senior Girl Scout can earn. Public Works is currently in the process of placing the trail markers on The Tracks. Thanks to Senior Girl Scout Sophia San Filippo for her hard work on this project.
Another addition to the Tracks at Brea trail is new safety signage. Staff worked to provide educational signage in regards to wildlife and pedestrian safety. The signage is intended to make trail users aware that wildlife may be on the trail and to be aware of their surroundings. There is also new signage pertaining to bicycles and e-bikes which is meant to caution patrons about sharing the track space.
The new signs and trail markers provide QR codes to the City’s website where more information is provided. The hope is that the new additions to the Tracks at Brea trail will provide ease and education to the patrons who travel through The Tracks.
Brea Fitness' Pure Strength Series Becomes a Permanent Fixture
The four-week Pure Strength series, with certified trainer Alyssa, attracted a dedicated group of participants each Thursday evening. The high-energy, Boot Camp style class combines suspension training, weights, and more to help participants push their limits and maximize results. Alyssa’s ability to modify workouts made it a favorite class which offered a challenging yet accessible workout for all fitness levels. Due to positive member feedback and the class's popularity, Pure Strength will now be a permanent addition to the fitness schedule. Join Alyssa on Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. and experience the class for yourself.
Teen Zone Sneak Preview Dances
In late September, the Brea Community Center hosted a spaced-themed Jr. High Sneak Preview Dance. Nearly 100 seventh and eighth grade Brea Jr. High students were in attendance. Two weeks later, 150 Brea sixth graders enjoyed a western-themed Preview Dance. These events are a great opportunity for students from across Brea to mingle in a fun and safe environment. The events had dancing, food, video game tournaments, and various competitive activities for all to participate in. The next sixth grade Preview Dance will be held on December 13.
Holiday Tree Lighting
The Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Thursday, December 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the Brea Civic and Cultural Center. The community is invited to attend to meet Santa and his reindeer, enjoy performances from local elementary show choirs and Brea’s Christ Lutheran Choir, and witness the lighting of our Civic Center tree decorated with Christmas lights. There will also be an assortment of local vendors for holiday shopping needs, and an opportunity to purchase the City’s annual ornament. This event is great to attend and see the community come out together to celebrate the start of the holiday season.