THURSDAY

Boys’ basketball

Orangewood 42, Tarbut V’Torah 39

Rancho Alamitos 66, Garden Grove 48

Santiago 62, Los Amigos 57

Bolsa Grande 58, La Quinta 50

Padre Pio 58, St. Monica 41

Girls’ basketball

Orange 36, Santa Ana 34

Segerstrom 59, Westminster 35

Magnolia 45, Century 25

Rancho Alamitos 60, Garden Grove 39

Bolsa Grande 48, La Quinta 33

FRIDAY

Boys’ basketball

Westminster 74, Orange 27

Western 61, Pacifica 57

Magnolia 46, Century 41

The diocese said Friday that escrow proceedings had closed on its $57.5 million purchase of the property, which will become the site of a long-sought cathedral for Orange County’s nearly 1.3 million Catholics.

The sale of the sprawling property in Garden Grove was critical for the financially ailing Crystal Cathedral to help pay creditors and emerge from federal bankruptcy protection.

“Our goal is to preserve an already cherished religious landmark and to enhance its worship use for Orange County Catholics and all people of faith who may be inspired by this wonderful, now Catholic, cathedral,” Bishop Tod. D. Brown said in a statement.

The sale of the building designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson could mark an end to the storied televangelist ministry broadcast that came crashing down in hard times.

The building’s glass-paned walls that let worshippers see the sky is the backdrop for the church’s “Hour of Power” televangelist program, which is the source of 70 percent of the church’s revenue.

Many churchgoers opposed the sale of the building to the diocese, preferring an alternative presented in a bidding war by Orange County’s Chapman University that would have let the ministry continue to use the site. But church board members and founder Rev. Robert H. Schuller decided in the end they wanted to keep the building as a house of worship.

Experts say the ministry will need to work to rebuild its identity after losing its iconic home. There will be a period of transition. The ministry can continue to use the glimmering church and other campus structures for up to three years while diocese officials prepare the site for Catholic worship.

For example, the church will need a central altar and a baptismal font, diocese officials said.

The Crystal Cathedral sought bankruptcy protection in 2010, citing a drop in revenues following the recession. A message was left at the church Friday seeking comment.

“Well, it was a fake wedding, but a real proposal,” said Tammy Tran of Garden Grove.

Tran thought that she and her boyfriend, Bao Mai, would just be playing pretend in the mock traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony, a part of the Tet Festival that took place over the weekend.

However, during the “wedding” ceremony, Mai surprised Tran by getting down on one knee and asking her to marry him.

Much later, in a real wedding, of course.

“I was pretty surprised,” said Tran as Mai stood by, smiling, “I didn’t know he was going to do that.”

The 31st annual Tet festival took place in Garden Grove Park over the weekend, marking the Lunar New Year. This year is the year of the Water Dragon, thought to a prosperous symbol of the time to come.

Mai and Tran participated in the ceremony, which held at the festival’s cultural village.

The village area hosts traditional activities and displays so that Vietnamese history can be passed down to younger generations or viewed by other cultures.

“Ceremonies for weddings are held in the spring, because the harvest is done, the weather is nice and it is a time to celebrate,” said Luong Tran, “wedding party” member, “this wedding is staged to remind young people of what is was like back in Vietnam.”

The Tet Festival is put on by the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California.

According to event Chair Victor Lieu, around 700 students volunteered to run the festival, from taking tickets to doling out snacks.

“I don’t know how many hours have been put into this,” said Lieu, “I mean, for each person? Maybe the grand total is a few thousand.”

This year’s festival also had a human Chinese Chess game, where actors or volunteers were the games pieces, moved by players seated high above in lifeguard chairs.

Hieu Pham, of Boy Scout troop 997, was part of the chess board.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before, not even when I went to Vietnam,” said Pham.

Most of the Boy Scouts admitted that they did not play much chess, Chinese or otherwise.

“I’m just excited to be volunteering,” said Andy Pham.

According to Carol Jacobs, city manager, the council must fill the vacancy within 60 days, which means a deadline of April 1.

The city council has the option of filling the post by appointment or by calling a special election. The matter will be on the agenda of the Feb. 14 city council meeting in order for the members to give city staff direction on how to proceed.

Based on precedent and the cost of a special election, it’s likely the council will choose to fill the vacancy by appointment. Royce himself was originally placed on the council in 2005 to take the place of the late Harry Dotson.

To most people, the term “historic” applies primarily to battlefields, cathedrals and log cabins. But local history is being remade on Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove as one of the first McDonald’s in the United States is demolished to make room for …. a brand new McDonald’s.

“This is the third time we’ve build a brand new restaurant,” said Patti Widdicombe, a co-owner of the company that owns and operates six McDonald’s in Garden Grove.

Located south of Lampson Avenue, the original store opened its doors on March 23, 1957. Roland and Amee (known to most people as Gene) Widdicombe spent $60,000 to buy the franchise for the first such eatery in all of Orange County, and only the 10th in the nation.

“My parents were concerned because even now, $60,000 is a lot of money,” said Patti. But they took the leap of faith and began selling hamburgers for 15 cents and fries for 10 cents.

“The only other fast food place in town was the Pink Spot,” said Gene, who turns 93 this month. That eatery was on Chapman Avenue, east of Brookurst Street on what is now the site of a Wendy’s hamburger store.

The original store has no drive-through and no seating, although the Widdicombes established themselves as innovators by being the first franchise in Orange County to offer outside seating.

In 1974, the original building was gutted and rebuilt with a dining room, a drive-through and children’s play area. After more than two generations, it’s facing the wrecking ball this week.

“We have a lot of good memories of this place,” said Gene. “Many young people worked here and earned the money to go to college and start families,” said Patti.

Construction will soon begin on a 21st century McDonald’s that will bear little resemblance to its two predecessors. Gone will be the golden arches and the playland, the plastic and the stucco.

The new building, which will be somewhat larger, will have stone facings and boast two drive-through lanes. “Seventy percent of our business is now in the drive-through, so we want to increase our capacity to handle that,” said Patti.

The interior of the store will feature more modern seating and lighting, along with other contemporary amenities. But in a touch of “back to the future,” the design will include some nostalgic touches from the Fifties.

“Our competition these days isn’t just from other hamburger chains, but also from places like Chipotle and Panera,” two “fast and casual” chains which offer a different environment than the classic fast food eateries. Reflecting those changes, the menu is being updated as well.

During the time it takes to construct a new McDonalds, the Widdicombes have arranged to farm out their employees to the other five stores they own. “No one will be out of work,” said Patti. In fact, the new larger store will eventually create 25 new jobs.

The whole enterprise is expected to cost about $2.5 million and take at least three and a half months to complete. It’s a bit of a burden and a risk, but the Widdicombes are expecting that their location across from the planned Great Wolf water park-hotel will bring big dividends.

They’re betting that there’s a boom coming along Harbor in the 21st century, just as Disneyland created one half a century ago.

He only coached one year at Garden Grove High, but Joe Hay made an impact that resonated for years after he left.

Hay, who led the Argonaut football team to the Garden Grove League championship and then on to CIF Southern Section’s Southern Division Finals in 2009, passed away in his sleep last week.

He was 41 and was working as a physical education teacher at Doig Intermediate School in Garden Grove this year.

The news of his death rippled through the local community like a shock wave. Students and staff at Grove and Doig were notified; Facebook pages and news sites filled up with expressions of loss, grief and appreciation.

“It was an honore to have met you,” posted one person on the www.ggjournal.com website. “You’ll always be an inspiration to the rest of us. “ Another wrote “We will always have us in our hearts and we will never forget you.”

Hay took over an Argo program which had tied for the Garden Grove League title the year before. But although favored to win a second straight crown, the Argonauts were struck by tragedy when – in the late minutes of a 9-0 win over Westminster – one of their players collapsed and died. The team dedicated the season to Kevin Telles and finished the regular season undefeated at 10-0.

With Sean Young at quarterback and Zack Huff keying the defense, the Argonauts advanced to the Southern Division championship game against La Mirada. Despite being hampered by injuries to Huff and other key players, the Argonauts led the Matadores in the early going, but then lost Young to an injury.

Despite ending up with a 49-27 defeat, the Hay-led Argos made history. It was the first time since 1945 that Garden Grove had made it to a CIF football final. Hay was selected for many honors, including a Coach of the Year accolade.

Of the 13-1 season that came up just short of a title, Hay said “I’m extremely proud of these guys,.Every one of them.”

To the surprise of many, Hay stepped down in April of 2010 for what is believed to be health reasons.

Offensive coordinator Willy Puga took over and guided the Argonauts to another 13-1 season, this one ending with a 31-30 victory over Beckman in the CIF title game.

Hay remained as an instructor at Grove, then transferred to Doig in 2011. Before becoming the Argonaut coach, he had been an instructor at Hare Continuation High School.

A “Celebration of Life” memorial will be held for Hay next weekend.

According to Alan Trudell, spokesman for the Garden Grove Unified School District, the family has scheduled the event for Sunday, Feb. 12 from 4-7 p.m. at the American Legion Post at the Balboa Peninsula at 15th Street.

There will be a short service at 4:30 p.m. following by comments from family and friends about how Hay influenced their lives.

South Coast Repertory transports audiences to Martha’s Vineyard in  “Elemeno Pea,” a biting new comedy about the rich behaving badly, now playing on SCR’s Segerstrom Stage in a West Coast premiere.

Molly Smith Metzler’s play features a pair of sisters: down-to-earth Devon and status-seeking Simone, who works as a personal assistant to wealthy Michaela Kell. Michaela is the trophy wife of a successful advertising executive. The sisters are planning a get-away  weekend in the Kells’ gorgeous beachfront mansion.

Soon, though, a marital crisis brings Michaela scurrying to her beach house, much to the dismay of Devon and Simone. Within minutes of the girls’ arrival, Michaela relates how she and her husband have had a fight, and she’s counting on Simone to help her keep from becoming ex-wife number two.

The ensuing chaos brings to light old wounds and explosive secrets that turn everyone’s worlds upside-down.

Amidst the verbal warfare, the play depicts an authentic and touching portrayal of a sisterly bond, with the two siblings dancing and mugging together in one moment and drawing blood the next in their often funny scenes. The imperious drama queen Michaela stands out as her moment of truth is both cathartic and sympathetic.

In upstairs/downstairs fashion, the handy man, Jos B., gets off some of the best lines as he speaks truth to power. Also hilarious is Ethan, Simone’s disreputable boyfriend, a wealthy scapegoat straight out of an updated F. Scott Fitzgerald story.

“Elemeno Pea” marks the Southern California directorial debut of SCR Artistic Director Marc Masterson, who gave the play its world premiere when he was still serving as head of Actors Theatre of Louisville.

Cassie Beck makes her SCR debut as Devon, a role she originated in the original Louisville production. Melanie Lora (SCR’s “Misalliance” and “Collected Stories”) plays Simone, and Katrina Lenk (SCR’s “Caucasian Chalk Circle”; Off-Broadway’s “The Miracle Worker”) portrays Michaela. Two men round out the cast: Jamison Jones (SCR’s “Doctor Cerberus,” TV’s “24”) is Simone’s boyfriend, Ethan, and Jonathan Nichols (SCR’s “Anna in the Tropics”; Lincoln Center Theater’s “Measure for Measure”) is the put-upon caretaker, Jos-B.

Playwright Metzler is a New York native whose play “Close Up Space,” starring David Hyde Pierce, is currently playing at The Manhattan Theatre Club. A graduate of NYU and The Juilliard School, Metzler is also the author of the plays “Carve” and “Training Wisteria.”

The play’s artistic team is comprised of Ralph Funicello (set design), David Kay Mickelsen (costume design), Lap Chi Chu (lighting design), Cricket S. Myers (sound design) and Jamie A. Tucker (stage manager.

Director Masterson says: “I am amazed by Metzler’s ability to tell a great story. Her characters are people you care about, and she has a gift for smart and funny dialogue. I can’t wait to share ‘Elemeno Pea’ with our audiences.” The production plays in Costa Mesa through Feb. 26.

.

Boys’ basketball

Rancho Alamitos 77, La Quinta 60

Garden Grove 47, Santiago 34

Los Amigos 52, Bolsa Grande 48

Western 63, Yorba Linda 55

Pacifica 67, Kennedy 61

Girls’ basketball

Rancho Alamitos 58, La Quinta 47

Los Amigos 68, Bolsa Grande 30

Kennedy 44, Pacifica 26

Yorba Linda 64, Western 29

According to Alan Trudell, spokesman for the Garden Grove Unified School District, the family has scheduled the event for Sunday, Feb. 12 from 4-7 p.m. at the American Legion Post at the Balboa Peninsula at 15th Street.

There will be a short service at 4:30 p.m. following by comments from family and friends about how Hay influenced their lives.

Hay, 41, died last week at home. Most recently a physical education teacher at Doig Intermediate School, Hay is best-known in the community for his 2009 season as the head football coach at Garden Grove High School, where he led the team to the CIF Southern Division finals.

It was the first trip to the finals for the Argonauts since 1945.

Joe Hay

The first incident took place on Friday, with a robbery reported at a motel in the 9800 block of Garden Grove Boulevard. Two suspects were traced to a location at Westminster and Beach boulevards in Westminster, where a two-mile vehicle chase ensued, according to police.

The suspect vehicle turned northbound on Van Buren Street from Bolsa Avenue in Midway City, then crashed into a parked car. Police say the suspects then fled on foot northbound into a neighborhood of homes.

A search that included K-9 units and helicopters failed to locate the suspects. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Investigator Farley at (714) 741-5877 or (714) 741-5704.

The second incident took place on Saturday. A black Cadillac CTS, which had been reported stolen on Friday in Anaheim, was spotted Saturday by an off-duty Garden Grove police officer at Euclid Street and Chapman Avenue.

On-duty officers found the car on Katella Avenue, and a pursuit began. The Cadillac raced along at 100 miles an hour, said police. The car momentarily evaded officers, but when it turned into a housing tract, it struck a parked car at 9142 Alwick.

The Cadillac drove in reverse and rammed into a pursuing Garden Grove police car. The driver of the stolen vehicle then sought to drive away, but the vehicle crashed through a fence and went into a backyard of a home on Alwick.

The suspect then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, jumping over fences and running through backyards on Alwick Circle and Laurianne Lane.

Garden Grove police, joined by Orange County sheriff’s deputies and Anaheim police (with a helicopter) set up a perimeter and the suspect was captured in a backyard in the 11000 block of Lauriane Lane.

Arrested was Ronnie Armstrong, 20, of Buena Park. He was booked into Orange County Jail in Santa Ana for assault with deadly weapon on a police officer, possession of stolen property, felony evading and hit-and-run.