Happy New Year, Town & Gown friends! However you celebrate, I hope your winter holidays were peaceful and joyous (and fun!).

It’s a time of new beginnings at City Hall. Our new mayor, Dan Slater, will be facilitating his first City Council meeting this month. Citizens have re-elected Councilmember Arianna Barrios in district 1 and Councilmember Kathy Tavoularis in district 3. Finally, two new elected officials from Orange join the ranks: Councilmember Denis Bilodeau from district 4 and Councilmember John Gyllenhammar from district 6. Chapman is looking forward to working with each of them.

If you’re looking for a fun event on Saturday, January 14th, I hope you can join me at the Miss Orange Scholarship Pageant at 6pm in Memorial Hall. Local young women who work or go to school in the City of Orange will compete in the pageant, which has been in existence for over 85 years. Many former Miss Orange winners have been Chapman University students – one of this year’s contestants is! The winner will not only receive a scholarship to pursue higher education, but will also be named the May Festival Queen at the Orange May Parade later this year.

Miss Orange 2023 Contestants

Miss Orange 2023 Contestants, including Chapman student Kassidy Aslay (2nd row, left)

As we embark on 2023, I wish you good health and happiness. I hope to see you at a Lunch at the Forum event this year.