PLACENTIA
A local effort to save Placentia’s last orange grove suffered another serious blow Wednesday, when a petition drive fell short of the number of signatures needed for a November ballot measure urging the city to buy the $2-million orchard and preserve it.
Marie Mascias, deputy city clerk of Placentia, said Wednesday that the group Preserve Our Past collected 1,929 valid signatures--171 short of the 2,100 needed for an initiative on the general election ballot. Once the petitions are submitted for counting, there can be no more signatures turned in, she said.
Bulldozers started clearing the 94-year-old orchard Tuesday. Developer Carl Quinn of HQT Homes of Tustin said the trees, too old and neglected to bear quality fruit, will be turned into firewood.
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