Cookies

A Los Angeles resident allegedly stole three cookies from a Newport Beach Subway as he attempted to take cash last week, police said. Newport Beach police arrested Edward Rendon, 32, on suspicion of robbery near the 2700 block of Newport Boulevard at 6:30 p.m. Friday, an official said. Police said Rendon entered the store and asked for three cookies before slipping an employee a note demanding cash. The employee refused, and Rendon allegedly walked away with the cookies valued at $3.75.

Deepa Bharath Dorothy Smith was everyone's grandma. Her arms were always open and her gracious heart was always welcoming -- be it her daughter and her friends or granddaughters and their friends. Dorothy's cookie jar was always filled to the brim with fresh oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies and everyone knew the "routine" when they walked in the door. They grabbed a cookie, took the glass of milk she handed to them and sat down to talk. To Dorothy, the generation gap was as good as a myth.

There were two annual occasions celebrated in Costa Mesa's Donald Dungan Library on Saturday. The local alumnae club of the Pi Beta Phi fraternity commemorated Dr. Seuss' March 2 birthday and marked 100 years of the fraternity's literacy push by inviting local kids to read, eat and compete. At a cluster of tables amid the bookshelves, volunteers clicked on a stopwatch for 30 seconds while an elementary schooler read as far as they could through a Dr. Seuss tale. They then passed it to the next student in line, who tried to beat the mark.

Barry Faulkner One could point to a rejuvenated offense, a comparative break in the schedule or the cumulative hard work of those involved in a program destined for success. But there are those who believe the Corona del Mar High football team's four-game winning streak began in Coach Dick Freeman's kitchen. Kathie Freeman, Dick's wife, in an attempt to lift the spirits of a coaching staff sapped by an 0-3 start, whipped up some chocolate chip cookies for the coaches to enjoy prior to the Sept.

Robert Tighe worked right down the street from Amos' Sunset Boulevard store years ago, and he can still vividly recall the taste of the fresh- baked chocolate chip cookies there. "I spent almost all my money on those cookies," Tighe said. So imagine the Newport Beach resident's surprise when he walked into the Cannery Restaurant for a Sunday brunch and sitting at the table, signing books, was the man behind the cookies, Wally "Famous" Amos. Tighe was thrilled and bought two books just to collect a signature, and to talk cookies and Hawaii with Amos who has lived in the town of Kailua, on the island of Oahu, for the past 29 years.

Stacking racks of homemade sugar cookies decorated with colorful frosting flowers and hearts, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church member Don Farmer said he was happy to give up his Saturday morning to do something good for others. “You need to give back to the community,” Farmer said. “God has been good to us, and we’ve been blessed. It’s good to give back.” About 2,000 people turned out at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach on Saturday to volunteer for tasks ranging from decorating cookies to cleaning up local beaches.

Once upon a time there was a magical dreamland with cascading chocolate fountains, sea-foam green vistas, glittery walkways and a pretty blond princess waving her wand at the castle gates. Everything in the magical world was deliciously sweet -- swirled lollipops, creamy caramel, whipped fluffy icing, and moist and chewy snicker doodle cookies -- and that made its inhabitants happy. This fairy tale, dreamt up by the mother-and-daughter team of Sondra and Allyson Ames, came true in the fall when Wonderland Bakery opened at the Bluffs shopping center in Newport Beach.

Andrew Edwards Cookies and cinnamon rolls are Danielle Winchell's business. Not doughnuts, as the surname might imply. Cinnamon Roll Fair, a Balboa Island bakery, opened in late March. The tiny shop is owned by Danielle and her husband Greg Winchell. It started because Danielle needed more kitchen space to expand her other home-based cookie company. "I had a part-time business doing cookies, and I needed a kitchen to expand my clientele to corporate accounts."

COSTA MESA — It's not every day that you get to share warm cider and cookies with your neighbors. But for residents of the Halecrest community, it's at least an annual event. Linda Brumbaugh and Leslie Connell took another neighbor's idea of getting residents together and transformed it into the popular "cider on the corner" get-together to celebrate the holiday season. The event at Parnell Place and Loren Lane reminds Mike Brumbaugh, president of the Halecrest Homeowners Assn.

STEVE SMITH Some organizations deserve their reputations, others get a bad rap that they never seem to shake. Nordstrom is a good example of an organization that deserves its good reputation. Its employees work hard every day to earn their reputation over and over again by offering all the elements of a good shopping experience. The phone company -- pick one -- is a good example of an organization that has achieved legendary status as an evil empire but one in which, from my experience, is not deserved.

In the middle of 1,000 Orange County Girl Scouts at the Bren Events Center in Irvine on Saturday, about a dozen Daisies - those in kindergarten and first grade - crowded around a mock front door made out of cardboard. The girls, mostly 5 and 6 years old, were about to practice their pitch. "We're going to be showing you how to sell Girl Scout Cookies at someone's house," 11-year-old Isabelle Lindstrom said. She knocked on the faux door before leading the younger girls in a chorus of "hello" and quizzing them on what they'd say when asked about their favorite cookie.

There were two annual occasions celebrated in Costa Mesa's Donald Dungan Library on Saturday. The local alumnae club of the Pi Beta Phi fraternity commemorated Dr. Seuss' March 2 birthday and marked 100 years of the fraternity's literacy push by inviting local kids to read, eat and compete. At a cluster of tables amid the bookshelves, volunteers clicked on a stopwatch for 30 seconds while an elementary schooler read as far as they could through a Dr. Seuss tale. They then passed it to the next student in line, who tried to beat the mark.

A steady stream of customers and curious onlookers Wednesday afternoon made their way inside a building adorned with cake-shaped UFOs. Once inside the Blackmarket Bakery - and past the vintage bicycle bearing a sign that says "powered by butter" - they found themselves surrounded by decor that Blackmarket founder Rachel Klemek calls "retro-industrial but still comfortable. " "We just want it to have a good feeling and to be someplace where your 5-year-old son could be here, your 30-year-old cousin or your 70-year-old grandma," she said.

A Los Angeles resident allegedly stole three cookies from a Newport Beach Subway as he attempted to take cash last week, police said. Newport Beach police arrested Edward Rendon, 32, on suspicion of robbery near the 2700 block of Newport Boulevard at 6:30 p.m. Friday, an official said. Police said Rendon entered the store and asked for three cookies before slipping an employee a note demanding cash. The employee refused, and Rendon allegedly walked away with the cookies valued at $3.75.

I just had to write to express my gratitude for your writing the article ( "No cookies for these Girl Scouts," July 18) and shedding light on the actions of leaders as Girl Scout Troop Leader Monica Serratos. I find it amazing to witness the plethora of sweets available for children to consume at every turn, like after storytime at the Mesa Verde Library or during playtime at the Costa Mesa Community Center's play group that I attend with my 4-year-old son. It's frustrating.

Whether you remember selling them door to door as a Brownie or buying them from the office Girl Scout mother, most everyone can admit to sneaking a box of Thin Mints (preferably one chilled in the freezer). But one Orange County Scout leader says that tradition is a bit too sweet. Monica Serratos of Ladera Ranch and her Daisy Troop 2753 will display a Girl Scouts 100th anniversary "cake" made of fruit at the Orange County Fair on July 27 as part of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America centennial celebration.

Like little tasty somethings straight off the pages of a children's coloring book, these French macarons come in hues not normally found in the edible color spectrum. Showing off shades seemingly inspired by Crayola - a sunny yellow lemon, rosy raspberry or pastel violet cassis - the display case at the newly opened 'lette Macarons is awash with the colors of cookies. The Fashion Island store, which is the Beverly Hills-based company's fourth and its first in Orange County, is near Nordstrom.

COSTA MESA — Bernadette "Miss Bernie" Loeffler celebrated her 90th birthday Thursday by coming to work at Kaiser Elementary School's snack bar just like she has done for the last 15 years. After all, somebody has to make sure the kids eat no more than two cookies. "I love them," Loeffler said, in her faint Boston accent. "They are all my cookiefaces, as I call them. " The Costa Mesa resident celebrated her milestone birthday with cake and presents from her colleagues, handmade cards and hugs from students, and a colorful birthday banner hung over her snack bar. "She's a trooper," said Kathi Doran, the nutrition services cafeteria manager.

Stacking racks of homemade sugar cookies decorated with colorful frosting flowers and hearts, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church member Don Farmer said he was happy to give up his Saturday morning to do something good for others. “You need to give back to the community,” Farmer said. “God has been good to us, and we’ve been blessed. It’s good to give back.” About 2,000 people turned out at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach on Saturday to volunteer for tasks ranging from decorating cookies to cleaning up local beaches.

A group of 11 sixth-grade girls at Newport Heights Elementary has decided to give back to their school before they go on to seventh grade. Their medium? Thousands and thousands of cookies. The girls of the Students Thinking About Youth (STAY) club spend their spare time baking at one another’s homes, then bring the sweet treats to bake sales after school and at sporting events. “It’s really fun because we all get to hang out while we make cookies,” said Kate Hefner, 12. Each girl has her own responsibility, including cash management and trash collection.