THE CROWD loved Melody Ebner and “Taylor Nation” at Eastgate Park (Orange County Tribune).

Taylor-Made: The free summer concert at Eastgate Park in Garden Grove on Thursday was one in a series, and definitely one of a kind.

It was a performance by Taylor Nation, a “tribute band” fronted by Melody Ebner of San Diego. In case you’ve been on the International Space Station – or even if you haven’t – the real live Taylor Swift is the biggest thing in popular music since Michael Jackson.

Some “tribute bands” are just average imitators, but wow, this was just about an Event with a capital E. Ms. Ebney dressed, sang, danced and played guitar with the same voice, spirit and flare as the real article and a huge crowd – the biggest I’ve seen since the summer concert series began – appreciated it (see photos front page).

So, thanks to the City of Garden Grove and the Community Foundation which organized and paid for all of this merriment. It wasn’t exactly the real Taylor, but – based on turnout and the crowd of sing-along, arms-waving fans – it was darn close.

No Travis Kelce, though.

Money Well-Spent: Hannah Shin-Heydom is not exactly a household name in Orange County, but she is a hero in Stanton, or should be.

That city manager just got a raise from the city council, and a good decision it was to reward a leader who has helped lead the charge for a wave of gleaming new development along Beach Boulevard that is going yards towards reversing the city’s wobbly image.

She doesn’t want the credit, pointing instead to the city council. But as she solves problems, the next big problem for the city council will be to figure out a way to keep bigger cities from poaching her.