Yorba Linda Catches Breath and Tidies Up

Now that all the famous politicians and foreign dignitaries have rolled away in their stretch limousines, this leafy bedroom community on Thursday caught its breath, reflecting on the historic event that brought upon it world attention--and a few headaches.

“I’ve lived here for 41 years, and this is the most commotion I’ve ever seen. But it was real wonderful. A once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Jennie Fae Sprague, 75.

Standing in front of her wood-frame home two blocks from the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace, Sprague said visitors, journalists, police and stern-looking Secret Service agents filled the streets on Wednesday.

“People were parked everywhere. Someone took my spot just like today,” she said, pointing to a car in front of her house.

Wilted flowers, coffee cups, empty soda cans, half-eaten doughnuts and other debris covered Yorba Linda Boulevard and side streets near the library. But city officials said the cleanup effort was simple, requiring a 12-member cleaning crew about three hours.

“It really hasn’t been that bad,” said David Gruchow, the assistant city manager. “Nobody predicted the size of the crowds, nor which direction the line would go, but it wasn’t too difficult to clean up.”

Gruchow said city crews spent a few hours removing street barricades, detour signs and orange cones to reopen Yorba Linda Boulevard.

Gene Lanzi, 27, was happy about the road clearing and the end of intense security around the library.

While the increased security measures were in effect, “it took me about 30 minutes to get to my house from Imperial Highway,” said Lanzi, a computer programmer. Usually it takes less than a minute, he said.

Lanzi, whose back yard borders the backside of the library, said many curious visitors tried to sneak into his back yard for a better view of the funeral services. Some even tried jumping onto his neighbors roofs, he said.

“I’m a people person, so the crowds didn’t really bother me all that much. Some people around here were pretty upset,” he said.

One group of Yorba Lindans definitely not upset by the visiting masses was local business. Mihn Huyna, the owner of Station Donut, said she sold more coffee and doughnuts in two days than she does in three weeks.

“Very many people wanted coffee. It was cold outside. The line went from here to the parking lot outside,” Huyna said.

The biggest beneficiary of the sudden infusion of cash and people seemed to be nearby Yorba Linda Flowers.

“We’ve sold everything from single roses to a $700 bouquet ordered by Van Cliburn,” said employee Rhonda Boyd, 34. Around the clock, Nixon well-wishers purchased flowers to lay at the Nixon memorial, she said.

Notables such as former President Gerald Ford, the Emperor of Japan and the King of Norway had flowers ordered through the small shop, Boyd said.

On Thursday, as this city of 57,000 returned to normalcy in appearance, Yorba Linda’s soul and perception of itself had been forever changed.

“I think from now on, we will be the memorial for Richard Nixon,” said Mayor Barbara Kiley. “That will be a very serious responsibility that every single mayor and council member in the future will carry.”