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Wednesday, March 31, 2021

A first look at the newest Bosscat Kitchen, now open in Old Towne Orange

When Rod’s Liquor closed on Jan. 31, 2020, Old Towne Orange lost a beloved landmark, a community treasure since 1949. So its owners, the Fraser family, reached out to Bosscat Kitchen & Libations to strike a deal in hopes it would help preserve the neighborhood.

Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former location of Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. The popular restaurant/bar was a pioneer in the forefront of the craft cocktail movement in Orange County and already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston. Dining tables have been fitted with period piece plumbing fixtures. (Photos by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former location of Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. The popular restaurant/bar was a pioneer in the forefront of the craft cocktail movement in Orange County and already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston. A sitting area just outside of the whiskey room offers retro seating to customers. (Photos by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former location of Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. The popular restaurant/bar was a pioneer in the forefront of the craft cocktail movement in Orange County and already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston. Bird cages hold liquor bottles in the window of the whiskey room. (Photos by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former location of Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. The popular restaurant/bar was a pioneer in the forefront of the craft cocktail movement in Orange County and already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston. Retro fan/light fixtures give a bespoke look to the whiskey room. (Photos by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former location of Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. The popular restaurant/bar was a pioneer in the forefront of the craft cocktail movement in Orange County and already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston. Horse and buggy style upholstery are used for seating in the main dining room.(Photos by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former location of Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. The popular restaurant/bar was a pioneer in the forefront of the craft cocktail movement in Orange County and already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston. The whiskey room includes a table using oak that used to be the original floor of Rod’s Liquor. (Photos by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former location of Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. The popular restaurant/bar was a pioneer in the forefront of the craft cocktail movement in Orange County and already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston. (Photos by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former location of Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. The popular restaurant/bar was a pioneer in the forefront of the craft cocktail movement in Orange County and already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston. The dining area contains the ice machine door that was a part of Rod’s Liquor. (Photos by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former location of Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. The popular restaurant/bar was a pioneer in the forefront of the craft cocktail movement in Orange County and already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston. (Photos by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former location of Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. The popular restaurant/bar was a pioneer in the forefront of the craft cocktail movement in Orange County and already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston. An original neon sign commemorating Rod’s Liquor was used in the whiskey room. (Photos by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former location of Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. The popular restaurant/bar was a pioneer in the forefront of the craft cocktail movement in Orange County and already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston. A photo of how the front of Rod’s Liquor back in the day hangs on one of the walls near the bar. (Photos by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former location of Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. The popular restaurant/bar was a pioneer in the forefront of the craft cocktail movement in Orange County and already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston. The dining area contains the ice machine door that was a part of Rod’s Liquor. (Photos by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former location of Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. The popular restaurant/bar was a pioneer in the forefront of the craft cocktail movement in Orange County and already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston. New signage outside shows Bosscat’s branding. (Photos by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former location of Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. The popular restaurant/bar was a pioneer in the forefront of the craft cocktail movement in Orange County and already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston. The front entrance area offers an open-air style experience for diners complete with gas-pump replicas as part of the decor.
(Photos by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations Orange has opened in the former Rod’s Liquor on Chapman Avenue in Old Towne. Owners John “JT” Reed and Leslie Nguyen, pose at the restaurant, Bosscat already has locations in Newport Beach and Houston.
(Courtesy of Wales Communications)

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Bosscat proprietor John “JT” Reed said his wife, co-owner Leslie Nguyen, fell in love with Rod’s at first sight, grabbing his arm so hard she made a bruise. “Her first thing was, ‘We want to keep it all. I don’t want to change any of it,’” said Reed of her immediate attraction to the place.

She told him they should “gently layer the Bosscat brand on top of” what was already there. “As soon as she said that it made so much sense to me,” Reed said.

Bosscat opened Tuesday, March 30 and for those who have not yet gotten a chance to check it out, here’s a sneak peek at its new look and info on what to expect from the menu and the atmosphere.

Background: Initially, Nguyen and Reed were a bit hesitant to make a move because they were concerned locals might think outsiders were trying to change Rod’s too much. But the Fraser family encouraged them to dig right in. The Frasers had previously turned down other buyers who they felt weren’t a good fit.

“We’re really happy we teamed up with Bosscat and I think they’ve done a fantastic job,” said Rick Fraser, former Rod’s Liquor owner.

“The liquor store has meant so much to the community,” said Rick’s son, Rod Fraser. “To have that in here and kept in place, I think it’s going to go over really well with everybody.”

The look: How do you remodel a place that was once a horse-drawn buggy repair, a gas station/auto shop and then an ice house/liquor store? Nguyen, a style whiz, worked with a local firm, AO Architects, and Platinum X Construction to preserve as much as possible. Luckily Bosscat’s brand is rustic and industrial in a retro, almost steampunk, way that meshed with Rod’s.

She repurposed part of the original floor into a big common table. She took spigots and conveyor devices from the building’s auto shop days and transformed them into stands for high-top tables. She added special touches, like an antique pedal sewing machine and gold hanging bird cages that display premium whiskey bottles.

Faux gas pumps are still out front. The ice machine door dominates the dining room. Two of Rod’s neon signs have been set in places of honor. Photos of the Fraser family are mixed in with photos of Reed’s family, who were also restaurant owners in New York state.

The layout will be much more comfortable. Architects took a 1,000-square-foot liquor store and expanded out to the walls, creating a 5,000-square footprint by removing the storeroom and pulling out the loft to reveal high ceilings with skylights.

Now there’s an open kitchen, a 1,300 square-foot patio created from the drive-through, a dining room, a bar, a whiskey room for private dining (seats 14) and a “library” for private dining (seats 4-6). Full capacity is 150 seats but Bosscat will go slow and remain at 25% capacity inside through the end of April.

You’ll still know you’re in a Bosscat if you’ve ever been to the Newport Beach or Houston locations. Blue leather banquettes, steel, dark wood and copper cocktail shakers at the bar all give it that cozy, lived-in feel.

The new owners spent more than $1 million for the reno but they’re keeping the actual number close to the vest. Rest assured they didn’t overspend on velvet curtains and formal furniture. Still, there are tasteful bespoke touches like a lovely Victorian-style couch and a few Persian rugs.

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The vibe: Authentically retro. The brick walls are real and the recycled wood comes from the building itself. There is even a woody scent that comes with age and cannot be replicated. Could it be that the walls are infused with small whiffs of 1920s cigarettes and cologne? A perfect setting for sipping gin and whiskey.

A few nights before opening, passersby could not stop gazing into the windows. Their presence and all the pedestrian traffic of Old Towne should keep the scene lively.

Food: Chef Charlene Doan will work under the tutelage of Executive Chef Peter Petro. Corey Muir is the brand’s regional chef. The comfort food menu will be identical to Newport’s with the same pricing, $38-$42 per person, with a drink included. But new items will be added. Owners will be gathering feedback from locals and adding dishes and drinks accordingly. A cocktail named after Rod’s was already in R&D before the opening.

Drinks: Bosscat has been a pioneer in the craft cocktail movement in Orange County. But its drinks aren’t fussy. “Our cocktail program was never meant to be mixolology,” Reed said. “Matt Sharp, our bar director, always had a very clean and very clear vision with a lot of pre-Prohibition style cocktails: pretty simple, very neat, very approachable. That makes a lot of sense when you look at the history of this property.” Of course there’s wine, and taps will always be local so look for Chapman Crafted and other favorite brews.

What to wear: Casual but cool. Anything you would wear on date night.

Family friendly brunch: Bosscat is known for its craft cocktails and the crowd is typically 25-45, but since Orange is home to lots of families, the restaurant will start brunch early on the weekends. That’s the best time to go with the kids and order favorites like the “Donut Burger” and Fruity Pebbles French Toast. Fresh treats from Miss Mini Donuts, Nguyen’s delicious side hustle, will be sold.

Info: 118 W. Chapman Ave., Orange, 714-716-1599, bosscatkitchen.com. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday for brunch, 3-11 p.m. for dinner; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday for brunch, 3-9 p.m. for dinner.

The last word: Reed, who grew up in a small town in upstate New York, was inspired by Old Towne. “One of the first times that we looked at the space, it gave me a lot of pride because my hometown had a hometown America feel, and this was the one of the first locations I really felt that,” he said. “I felt the community support. And at first it wasn’t necessarily a positive thing, like ‘Why are you here? Why are you putting Rod’s out?’ But, you know, they just really wanted to make sure that we were coming here to be authentic and to help the community.”

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A first look at the newest Bosscat Kitchen, now open in Old Towne Orange was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

City of Hope Orange County lands $50 million gift from Lennar Foundation

The size of the gift Lennar Foundation just awarded City of Hope Orange County is eye-popping: $50 million.

Made public on Wednesday, March 31, the money represents the biggest gift yet in the three-year-old effort by City of Hope to bring its expertise in fighting cancer to Orange County.

It’s also the second-largest donation in City of Hope’s 108-year history. The organization has been known for its hospital and research center in Duarte, but the move into Orange County is part of an expansion that will include a specialty hospital, two outpatient treatment centers and a planned network of services that will be closer to home for Orange County patients.

Annette M. Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County, called Lennar Foundation’s donation a “gift to our children” because of the future possibilities it unlocks. Walker spoke on a conference call that included Jon Jaffe, co-chief executive officer and co-president of Miami-based homebuilder Lennar Corp., and City of Hope’s chief philanthropy officer, Kristin J. Bertell.

“The impact of this gift is going to be felt for generations,” Walker said.

The 4th Floor Infusion area of the future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The patient and family arrivals area for the future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The lobby of the future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The reception area of the future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The patient care room of the future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The exam room of the future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The future 190,000-square-foot Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County will be located on 11 acres at Five Point’s Great Park in the heart of Irvine. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The Porte Cochere shown at night for the future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)

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Bertell said Lennar Foundation’s philanthropy follows a $100 million award to City of Hope made six weeks ago by its own research director, Dr. Arthur Riggs. Riggs has earned his wealth through pioneering work at City of Hope that includes development of the technology to create synthetic human insulin for diabetics. The research center in Duarte has been renamed the Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute after the researcher, who has contributed more than $310 million over his three-decade tenure at City of Hope.

Walker and Bertell said the gift from Lennar will enhance the care provided to patients at the Orange County facilities and possibly spur other local donors to make their own stake in the Irvine project. Naming rights are in play: the 190,000-square-foot outpatient center set to open next year is now known as the Lennar Foundation Cancer Center.

City of Hope’s outpatient center in Newport Beach, which opened in January 2020, was the first piece in the cancer care provider’s planned $1 billion investment in Orange County.

Though Walker said it is too soon to say what specific cancer-related services will be supported by the $50 million donation, she termed it “transformational.”

“A gift of this magnitude is going to touch all parts of that cancer center.”

An unspecified portion of the money will go toward research and development of precision medicine to prevent, treat and cure cancer. Lennar is helping to launch a new partnership between City of Hope Orange County and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami in Florida.

City of Hope officials believe the relationship with Miami-based Sylvester Center, which serves an economically and racially diverse population, will help researchers get a better understanding of the health care inequities in Orange County, including some that have been exposed by the pandemic.

“We’re excited to help bring about equality in health care,” said Jaffe, who lives in Orange County and was a 2004 recipient of City of Hope’s “Spirit of Life” award.

Jaffe suggested his company’s gift was made possible by its ongoing relationship with City of Hope and the partnership with Sylvester. He said Lennar made similar financial support to the University of Miami health care system.

“It was only a natural extension of our partnership for Lennar to step up,” said Jaffe, whose Lennar Corp. office in Irvine is in a building next to the cancer treatment center, all part of the FivePoint Gateway campus near the Great Park.

City of Hope Orange County has set a goal of raising $300 million by 2025, when the hospital is expected to open. Bertell declined to disclose how much of that money is in hand, but said contributions so far have come from about 12,000 donors and that overall fundraising will beat the stated goal.

“We’re very confident we are going to blow that $300 million away,” Bertell said.

Another gift in the range of the amount contributed by Lennar Foundation could include naming rights for the cancer-centric hospital that will be adjacent to the Irvine outpatient center. Walker said conversations with potential donors have turned more “serious and significant” as construction in Irvine has advanced enough for City of Hope Orange County to show what’s underway.

“We believe the gift from Lennar will inspire all the people we’ve been talking to.”

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City of Hope Orange County lands $50 million gift from Lennar Foundation was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

What to expect when Six Flags Magic Mountain reopens

Ride enthusiasts who show up to Six Flags Magic Mountain on reopening weekend can expect their favorite coasters to be running with longer-than-usual socially distanced lines and half-full ride vehicles as employees adjust to the new normal of running a theme park.

The message here is simple: Be patient. Most of us haven’t been in a theme park in over a year. Enjoy it. And remember many Magic Mountain employees haven’t been to work in a year either and they have a ton of new procedures to master. Be kind. Don’t complain. And have fun. No matter how long it takes to get on Tatsu, Twisted Colossus or X2.

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Six Flags Magic Mountain will be one of the first California amusement parks to reopen on Thursday, April 1 — joined by Legoland California in Carlsbad, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Universal Studios Hollywood (April 16), Disneyland (April 30) and other California parks will return at later dates.

The Valencia amusement park will reopen for season passholders and members today, April 1 and Friday, April 2 before swinging open the gates to the general public on Saturday, April 3.

California theme parks have been closed since March 2020 under COVID-19 health and safety reopening guidelines issued by the state. Magic Mountain held a series of drive-thru events without coasters or rides during the pandemic closure.

California theme parks can reopen on April 1 with rides and attractions provided the counties they reside in reach the red/substantial tier 2 risk status of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s updated Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

Magic Mountain’s advance reservations for April 1 and 2 had reached capacity and April 3 was mostly booked before Los Angeles County was cleared to move from the red to the orange tier. Magic Mountain could release additional reservations under the increased capacity limits.

California theme parks can reopen at 15% attendance capacity in the red/substantial tier 2, 25% capacity in the orange/moderate tier 3 and 35% capacity in the least-restrictive yellow/minimal tier 4.

What is Magic Mountain’s maximum attendance capacity? Park officials won’t say, but Magic Mountain would run out of parking long before the park hit capacity. And Magic Mountain has a lot of parking.

Magic Mountain drew about 3.6 million visitors in 2019, according to Themed Entertainment Association/AECOM. The Mountain moved to 365-day year-round operations in 2018 — meaning the park attracts just under 10,000 visitors on an average day.

Magic Mountain’s maximum capacity is approximately 65,000 visitors, according to the Park Database, which collects data on the attractions industry. Magic Mountain could allow in just under 10,000 visitors at 15% capacity and just over 15,000 at 25% capacity, based on the Park Database estimates.

Regardless of the capacity levels, expect Magic Mountain to feel a little empty by design when the 260-acre park first reopens. The goal is make visitors feel safe and comfortable as they adjust to the new normal.

Single-day visitors, passholders and members will be required to make advance online reservations.

Advance reservation — limited only to California residents — will only be available online at the Magic Mountain website. Zip codes will be verified online and IDs will be checked at the park entrance. No tickets will be available at the front gate due to the state’s COVID-19 mandates. Reservations will have staggered arrival times designed to reduce crowding at the front gate.

Regular visitors will be greeted by a new arrival procedure. Visitors will walk through a tunnel where temperatures are automatically checked without any need to slow down or stop. A walk-thru security screening area will employ blade-like metal detectors that don’t require visitors to remove their belongings from their pockets. Any visitors who trigger concerns at the temperature and security checkpoints will be directed to secondary screening areas.

Once inside the park, visitors will find COVID-19 health and safety reminders everywhere they look.

Do the Six signs will remind visitors to follow the now-familiar COVID-19 health and safety protocols with required masks, social distancing, enhanced sanitization, hand washing and cough covering. The sixth reminder: Have fun.

Ground markers will keep parties socially distanced in ride queues. Plexiglass dividers have been added to front gate turnstiles, cash registers, food pickup areas and anywhere visitors and employees might come in close contact.

Most of Magic Mountain’s major rides will be running, though six attractions won’t reopen as soon as the park returns. The Batman coaster is getting painted while the Crazanity pendulum swing and Whistlestop Train kiddie ride are undergoing maintenance. The Looney Tunes Lodge play structure and Jammin’ Bumpers bumper cars don’t lend themselves very well to COVID-19 restrictions. The Tidal Wave water ride will remain closed.

A few attractions with indoor queues — Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom drop tower, Justice League: Battle for Metropolis dark ride and the Apocalypse, Superman: Escape from Krypton and West Coast Racers coasters — will employ outdoor queues.

Most rides will load every other row or limit one group per ride vehicle to maintain social distancing. Families and groups will be seated together in consecutive rows.

Riders who lose their masks will be provided new ones. Plus the park will sell themed masks.

Despite the capacity limited crowds, expect socially distanced ride queues to look a lot longer than normal. Magic Mountain’s operations team plans to run as many ride vehicles as possible to offset the lower ride capacity levels due to social distancing. Ride operators will be watching loading issues closely during the opening weekend and will make adjustments to improve load and wait times.

Rides will be sanitized frequently — which will likely slow load and lengthen wait times.

Front-of-line Flash passes won’t be sold when the park returns, but will be available soon.

Additional tables have been set up throughout the park to facilitate increased outdoor dining. Eateries with indoor tables have moved the seating outdoors. The Full Throttle Sports Bar will not reopen immediately.

Capacity will be limited in shops and not all retail locations will be open based on the limited daily attendance.

No character meet-and-greet opportunities will be available when the park first reopens.

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Man charged with smuggling after Southern California crash kills 13

By ROBERT JABLON | The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — A Mexican man was charged Tuesday with coordinating a smuggling effort that left 13 people dead when their overloaded SUV was struck by a big-rig after crossing the border into California.

Jose Cruz Noguez, 47, of Mexicali, was arrested Monday night as he crossed into the United States at the Calexico Port of Entry. He appeared Tuesday in federal court in El Centro and faces conspiracy and smuggling charges involving serious injury or placing lives in danger, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office.

He was assigned federal public defenders and ordered held in custody, the statement said.

Prosecutors say Cruz organized a smuggling run in which 25 people were crammed into a 1997 Ford Expedition that drove through a hole cut in a border fence on March 2.

The vehicle was driving through California’s agricultural Imperial Valley when it was broadsided at an intersection near Holtville by a tractor-trailer hauling two empty trailers, authorities said.

The crash site was about 125 miles (200 kilometers) east of San Diego.

Seventeen occupants were Mexican — 10 who died, including the driver, and seven who were injured. Nine had major injuries, including two Guatemalans, authorities said.

The youngest victim was a 15-year-old girl who was treated for major injuries.

The Border Patrol has said surveillance video taken about 90 minutes before the accident showed the Expedition and a Chevrolet Suburban drive through an opening in the border wall about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of the crash site. The Suburban carried 19 people, and it caught fire for unknown reasons on a nearby interstate after entering the U.S. All escaped the vehicle and were taken into custody by the Border Patrol, which said it was not pursuing either SUV.

Cruz was taken into custody after another suspected smuggler was arrested at a California border station two weeks after the crash. That man said Cruz had offered him $1,000 per passenger to drive the sport utility vehicle that crashed, but he declined, according to the criminal complaint.

The alleged smuggler claimed he had known Cruz for several years, had crossed the border illegally six months ago, was living in El Centro and had started working for Cruz by driving immigrants from El Centro to Los Angeles, according to the criminal complaint cited in the U.S. attorney’s office statement.

“According to the associate, Cruz oversees the transportation of individuals who are in the United States illegally to stash houses; collects smuggling payments from family members or sponsors; recruits drivers; and scouts for the presence of law enforcement,” the statement said.

Last Friday, the suspected smuggler made a phone call to Cruz that was secretly recorded by law enforcement agents during which Cruz confirmed he was involved in the March 2 smuggling operation and had collected money, according to the criminal complaint.

“Further, Cruz stated there were 60 ‘Pollos’ – his term for customers – in the two vehicles and the driver was going to make $28,000,” the statement said, citing the complaint.

“These smuggling networks seek maximum profit by moving as many people as possible across the border with zero regard for their safety and well-being,” acting U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said in the statement. “Cramming dozens of people into eight-passenger vehicles and driving recklessly to avoid detection shows an utter disregard for human life. We will find and prosecute smugglers who use these methods and cause such tragic and avoidable deaths.”

Cruz didn’t enter a plea at Tuesday’s hearing. His arraignment is scheduled for April 27. He could face 20 years or more in federal prison if convicted.

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Pfizer says its Covid-19 vaccine is 100% effective and well tolerated in adolescents

By Lauren Mascarenhas | CNN

Clinical trial results of Pfizer/BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine showed its efficacy is 100% and it is well tolerated in youths ages 12 to 15, the companies said Wednesday.

Pfizer/BioNTech plan to submit the data to the US Food and Drug Administration as soon as possible for expanded emergency use authorization of the two-dose vaccine.

In a Phase 3 trial of 2,260 participants ages 12 to 15 in the US, the vaccine elicited strong antibody responses one month after the second dose — exceeding those demonstrated in people ages 16 to 25 in previous trials, Pfizer reported. The vaccine is currently authorized in the US for emergency use in people 16 and older.

Researchers observed 18 Covid-19 cases among the 1,129 participants who were given a placebo, and none among the 1,131 volunteers who got the vaccine. The data has yet to be peer reviewed.

Pfizer/BioNTech added that the side effects seen in the young teens were similar to those seen among 16 to 25-year-olds. Common side effects include pain at the injection site, fatigue and fever. The participants will be monitored for protection and safety for two years after their second dose.

Those comparisons to the older population are important, because researchers are building off of the knowledge they gained in the adult trials.

Researchers can define a number of antibodies that are a correlate of the protection seen in adults, and then look for that level of antibodies in pediatric participants to know that the vaccine is providing protection. That’s why the Covid-19 vaccine trials in children and adolescents have generally required fewer volunteers than the adult trials.

“We share the urgency to expand the authorization of our vaccine to use in younger populations and are encouraged by the clinical trial data from adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15,” said Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. “We plan to submit these data to FDA as a proposed amendment to our Emergency Use Authorization in the coming weeks and to other regulators around the world, with the hope of starting to vaccinate this age group before the start of the next school year.”

Dr. William Gruber, Pfizer’s senior vice president of vaccine clinical research and development also noted last week that the vaccine could be ready for this age group by the upcoming school year.

A return to the classroom isn’t the only factor at play. Health experts have emphasized the importance of protecting as many people as possible through vaccination, as more infectious Covid-19 variants continue to spread throughout the nation.

“We all long for a normal life. This is especially true for our children,” said BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin. “The initial results we have seen in the adolescent studies suggest that children are particularly well protected by vaccination, which is very encouraging given the trends we have seen in recent weeks regarding the spread of the B.1.1.7 UK variant.”

Pfizer recently told CNN that the safety demonstrated in this adolescent trial helped the company make the decision to begin testing its vaccine in younger children.

A separate Phase 1/2/3 study of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in children ages 6 months to 11 years launched last week, when the first children ages 5 to 11 received a shot. Pfizer/BioNTech plans to begin dosing 2 to 5-year-olds next week and work its way down to participants ages 6 months to 2 years. The company aims to enroll 4,644 children in the trial and expects results by the end of 2021.

Moderna is also testing its vaccine in adolescents and children, in two clinical trials of children ages 12 to 17 and those ages 6 months to 11 years.

Experts anticipate Covid-19 vaccines won’t be available for children 11 and younger in time for the upcoming school year. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said those younger children may have to wait until the first quarter of 2022.

Dr. Buddy Creech, director of Vanderbilt University’s Vaccine Research Program and an investigator in Moderna’s pediatric trials, estimates a Covid-19 vaccine could be available for high-risk kids 12 and older by July or August, but likely won’t be available for children 11 and younger until November or December, at the earliest.

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Pfizer says its Covid-19 vaccine is 100% effective and well tolerated in adolescents was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

Here’s what’s in President Joe Biden’s infrastructure proposal

By Tami Luhby, Katie Lobosco and Kate Sullivan | CNN

Now that his massive coronavirus relief package is law, President Joe Biden is laying out his next big proposal: A roughly $2 trillion plan for improving the nation’s infrastructure and shifting to greener energy over the next 8 years.

He is set to unveil the effort, dubbed the American Jobs Plan, on Wednesday at an event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — the opening move in what’s expected to be a months-long negotiation with Congress.

The nation’s infrastructure is sorely in need of repair. It recently earned a C- score from the American Society of Civil Engineers, which said an additional $2.6 trillion in funding is required over the next decade. But Biden is also pitching his plan as an investment to benefit communities of color, rural Americans and others burdened by decay or lagging modernization.

The infrastructure spending plan is the first of a two-part proposal to help the nation’s economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic. The President is expected to unveil his package focusing on the “care economy,” including investments in education and child care, in coming weeks.

The President plans to pay for this part of his recovery package by raising corporate taxes — a core campaign promise the administration says would raise more than $2 trillion over the next 15 years.

Here’s what we know so far about Biden’s infrastructure proposal, according to the White House.

Transportation: $621 billion

Funding improvements to roads, bridges, railways and other infrastructure has been a central piece of Biden’s recovery plans. He has said that it will create “really good-paying jobs” and help the nation compete better.

Biden would spend $621 billion on roads, bridges, public transit, rail, ports, waterways, airports and electric vehicles in service of improving air quality, reducing congestion and limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

His proposal calls for allocating $115 billion to modernize 20,000 miles of highways, roads and main streets, and $20 billion to improve road safety for all users. It would fix the “most economically significant large bridges” and repair the worst 10,000 smaller bridges.

Biden would also invest $85 billion to modernize existing transit and help agencies expand their systems to meet demand. This would double federal funding for public transit.

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Another $80 billion would go to address Amtrak’s repair backlog and modernize the Northeast Corridor line between Boston and Washington DC — the line Biden relied on for decades to get home to Delaware — as well as to connect more cities.

Also, the President would funnel $25 billion to airports and $17 billion to inland waterways, ports and ferries.

Biden is also proposing to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles with a $174 billion investment in the electric vehicle market. It includes giving consumers rebates and tax incentives to buy American-made electric vehicles and establishing grant and incentive programs to build a national network of 500,000 charging stations by 2030. It would also replace 50,000 diesel transit vehicles and electrify at least 20% of yellow school buses.

Home care services and workforce: $400 billion

Biden would provide $400 billion to bolster caregiving for aging and disabled Americans.

His plan would expand access to long-term care services under Medicaid, eliminating the wait list for hundreds of thousands of people. It would provide more opportunity for people to receive care at home through community-based services or from family members.

It would also improve the wages of home health workers, who now make approximately $12 an hour. One in six live in poverty, the administration says. It would put in place an infrastructure to give caregiving workers the opportunity to join a union.

During his presidential campaign, Biden said he would devote $450 billion to allow more older Americans and their families to receive care at home or in their communities, as opposed to nursing homes and other institutions.

Manufacturing: $300 billion

Biden wants to put $300 billion toward boosting manufacturing.

Under his plan, $50 billion of the money would be invested in semiconductor manufacturing and another $30 billion would go towards medical manufacturing to help shore up the nation’s ability to respond to a future outbreak.

Some of the funds would be carved out for manufacturers that focus on clean energy, rural communities, and programs that give small businesses access to credit. About $20 billion would be used to create regional innovation hubs that would support community-led projects.

Biden is asking Congress to include $46 billion that would be used to make federal purchases of things like electric cars, charging ports, and electric heat pumps for housing and commercial buildings that would boost the clean energy industry.

Biden has already signed an executive order aimed at boosting American manufacturing. It set in motion a process that would change the rules regarding federal spending on American-made goods, equipment, vehicles and materials for infrastructure projects — with a 180-day deadline that comes up in July.

Housing: $213 billion

The plan would invest $213 billion toward building, renovating and retrofitting more than two million homes and housing units.

Biden is calling on Congress to produce, preserve and retrofit more than a million affordable and energy efficient housing units. The plan would also build and rehabilitate more than 500,000 homes for low- and middle-income homebuyers.

The proposal would eliminate exclusionary zoning laws, which the White House says inflates housing and construction costs. Biden is calling on Congress to enact a new grant program that awards flexible funding to jurisdictions that take steps to eliminate barriers to creating affordable housing.

Homes would be upgraded though block grant programs, extending and expanding home and commercial efficiency tax credits and through the Weatherization Assistance Program.

Research and development: $180 billion

Biden is calling on Congress to invest $180 billion to advance US leadership in critical technologies, upgrade the US’s research infrastructure and establish the US as a leader in climate science, innovation and research and development.

His plan would also aim to eliminate racial and gender inequities in research and development and science, technology, engineering and math. Biden is calling on Congress to make research and development investments in historically Black colleges and other minority-serving institutions.

Water: $111 billion

Biden’s plan allocates $111 billion to rebuild the country’s water infrastructure.

It would replace all of the nation’s lead pipes and service lines in order to improve the health of American children and communities of color. The White House says replacing the pipes would reduce lead exposure in 400,000 schools and childcare facilities.

The proposal would upgrade the country’s drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems, tackle new contaminants and support clean water infrastructure in rural parts of the country.

Schools: $100 billion

Biden calls for $100 billion to build new public schools and upgrade existing buildings with better ventilation systems, updated technology labs, and improved school kitchens that can prepare more nutritious meals.

Another $12 billion would go to states to use towards infrastructure needs at community colleges.

The President is calling for an additional $25 billion to help upgrade child care facilities and increase the supply of child care in areas that need it the most. The plan also calls for expand a tax credit to encourage employers to build care facilities at places of work.

Digital infrastructure: $100 billion

Biden wants to invest $100 billion in order to give every American access to affordable, reliable and high-speed broadband.

The proposal would build a high-speed broadband infrastructure in order to reach 100% coverage across the nation. The plan would aim to promote transparency and competition among internet providers.

Biden says he is committed to working with Congress to reduce the cost of broadband internet and increase its adoption in both rural and urban areas.

Workforce development: $100 billion

The President would allocate $100 billion to workforce development — helping dislocated workers, assisting underserved groups and getting students on career paths before they graduate high school.

It would provide $40 billion to retrain dislocated workers in high-demand sectors, such as clean energy, manufacturing and caregiving.

It would invest $12 billion in programs to train the formerly incarcerated, create a new subsidized jobs program, eliminate sub-minimum wage provisions and support community violence prevention programs.

The proposal would also funnel $48 billion into apprenticeships, career pathway programs for middle and high school students and job training programs at community colleges.

Veterans’ hospitals and federal buildings: $18 billion

The plan would provide $18 billion to modernize the Veterans Affairs’ hospitals, which are on average more than 40 years older than a private sector hospital, according to the White House.

It also calls for $10 billion to modernize federal buildings.

Here’s how Biden plans to pay for it:

Corporate tax hike: Biden would raise the corporate income tax rate to 28%, up from 21%. The rate had been as high as 35% before former President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans cut taxes in 2017.

Global minimum tax: The proposal would increase the minimum tax on US corporations to 21% and calculate it on a country-by-country basis to deter companies from sheltering profits in international tax havens.

Tax on book income: The President would levy a 15% minimum tax on the income the largest corporations report to investors, known as book income, as opposed to the income reported to the Internal Revenue Service.

Corporate inversions: Biden would make it harder for US companies to acquire or merge with a foreign business to avoid paying US taxes by claiming to be a foreign company. And he wants to encourage other countries to adopt strong minimum taxes on corporations, including by denying certain deductions to foreign companies based in countries without such a tax.

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Here’s what’s in President Joe Biden’s infrastructure proposal was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

City of Hope Orange County lands $50 million gift from Lennar Foundation

The size of the gift Lennar Foundation just awarded City of Hope Orange County is eye-popping: $50 million.

Made public on Wednesday, March 31, the money represents the biggest gift yet in the three-year-old effort by City of Hope to bring its expertise in fighting cancer to Orange County.

“The impact of this gift is going to be felt for generations,” Walker said.

The 4th Floor Infusion area of the future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The patient and family arrivals area for the future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The lobby of the future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The reception area of the future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The patient care room of the future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The exam room of the future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The future 190,000-square-foot Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County will be located on 11 acres at Five Point’s Great Park in the heart of Irvine. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)
The Porte Cochere shown at night for the future Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County. (Rendering courtesy of City of Hope Orange County)