“Rusty skeleton” goes before planners

The “rusty skeleton” that’s loomed over Garden Grove Boulevard for years may finally be getting a second lease on life. A new version of the ill-fated project will go before the Garden Grove Planning Commission when it meets on Thursday, March 21.

AMG & Associates is proposing to revive the abandoned structure as a 394-unit affordable senior housing project – called “Garden Brook Senior Village” – that includes 12,938 square feet of ground floor commercial retail space.

The project is located at 10080 Garden Grove Blvd., west of Brookhurst Street. That’s at the eastern edge of what’s considered the Korean Business District. The commission meets at 7 p.m. in the council chamber in the Community Meeting Center, 11300 Stanford Ave.

Don’t spend St. Patrick’s Day or  night in jail

The Garden Grove Police Department will have additional officers on patrol on St. Patrick’s Day to stop and arrest those driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

That beefed-up patrolling will be in place from 5 p.m. Sunday to 3 a.m. Monday across the city. The traditional Irish holiday is observed by many through drinking liquor.

According to the California Highway Patrol, one person was killed and 48 others injured in DUI crashes in California on St. Pat’s Day in 2018. In 2017, 59 people were killed nationwide in drunk driving accidents over the St. Patrick’s holiday (March 16-18), accounting for 37 percent of all traffic deaths.

Celebrants are urged to use a designated driver, take public transport or call a ride-sharing service to avoid legal troubles and possible injury or death.