Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana’s playgrounds, volleyball courts and tennis courts to close
March 31, 2020 - Civic Affairs, Disease, Emergencies, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Sports, Youth Activities - No Comments

The City of Santa Ana is closing its playgrounds, volleyball courts and tennis courts beginning Wednesday, April 1, in order to prevent gatherings and protect the public from COVID-19. The City has already shuttered its enclosed parks, recreation and other facilities and canceled all programs and classes except the take-out senior meals program. Those include:…

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The County of Orange has launched an Economic & Business Recovery Call Center
March 31, 2020 - Business, Disease, Emergencies, Orange County, Santa Ana - No Comments

Effective March 30, Orange County Community Services has implemented a call center to meet the needs of businesses impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Economic & Business Recovery Call Center will offer information and resources to help Orange County businesses navigate the current economic climate. These resources will support businesses with challenges such…

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Santa Ana businesses can get help from a Small Business Incentive Grant
March 31, 2020 - Business, Civic Affairs, Emergencies, Santa Ana - No Comments

The City of Santa Ana is offering a grant of $2,500 to $5,000 for Santa Ana-based microenterprises through the Santa Ana Small Business Incentive Program. Applicants must qualify for the Small Business Incentive Grant. Details are available at www.santa-ana.org/SBIP. Eligibility Qualifications The program provides a reimbursement grant for eligible businesses on a first-come, first-served basis. Grant…

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Understanding Santa Ana’s moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures
March 31, 2020 - Business, Disease, Emergencies, Housing, Real Estate, Santa Ana - No Comments

The City of Santa Ana has created webpages in English, Spanish and Vietnamese to help residential and commercial tenants understand the City and State moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The webpages include frequently asked questions, a sample letter that renters can use to advise their landlord of their inability to pay…

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Thai Viet Phan for the Santa Ana City Council

Help stop COVID-19!

Teen calls 911 while hiding from burglars in her home

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042
JHallock@ocsd.org

Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840
EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Deputies Arrest Two Suspects in Residential Burglary Following 911 Call

ROSSMOOR, Calif. – (July 28, 2014) – On Monday, July 21, 2014, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residential burglary in-progress in the Rossmoor community. As deputies arrived, two male subjects fled on foot from the rear of the residence, jumping over fences onto the property of adjacent homes in the neighborhood. After coordination of responding deputies, two male juveniles were detained and taken into custody for residential burglary.

The informant to the Sheriff’s Department was a 14 year-old female who was inside the residence when the two male juveniles attempted to make entry through several doors and windows. The 14 year-old hid inside a bedroom closet and called 911, providing dispatchers with information about what was occurring, ultimately leading to arrests of the two suspects. The quick actions and calm demeanor demonstrated by the young informant led to an immediate response and arrest of the suspects. Continue reading→

Playground design day at Willard Park set for July 31

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Kaboom Design Day at Willard Park

 

KaBoom! and The Illumination Foundation are co-hosting an event from 4-8 pm at Willard Park this Thursday, July 31, 2014. Willard Park community (parents and kids alike) are invited to drop by and give their input on a new park they are planning.

The goal of this event is to give local residents a voice in the design and to be able to express their community’s needs. Continue reading→

Free Shakespear play at Santa Ana’s Birch Park set for July 31

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Parks and Recreation, Plays, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

A Midsummer Night's Dream at Birch Park

Join the City of Santa Ana in partnership with Shakespeare by the Sea for the 3rd Annual, Shakespeare in the Park event.  They will present “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare on Thursday, July 31, 2014 at  7 p.m., at Birch Park, located at  210 N. Birch in Santa Ana.

Admission is FREE and for the whole family!

Bring your picnics, blankets and beach chairs along with your friends and family to settle in under the stars for a night of classic entertainment in the City of Santa Ana.. Continue reading→

Fundraiser for SAUSD School Board candidate Aguinaga set for August 15

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Anaheim, Cecilia Aguinaga, Education, Entertainment, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD 2 Comments

Cecilia Iglesias campaign event

Cecilia Aguinaga is hosting a fundraiser and silent auction to benefit her campaign for the SAUSD School Board on August 15, 2014, at Las Palomas Restaurant, located at 400 South Euclid St., in Anaheim, from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Cecilia was born in Jalisco, México and immigrated to the United States in 1978. She has lived more than 35 years in Santa Ana. Cecilia and her husband Armando have two sons (Ramsey and Allan) and a daughter (Sylvia). Ramsey was a police officer for the Santa Ana and Los Angeles Police Department, Allan graduated from the Culinary School of the Arts, and Sylvia graduated from University of California, Berkeley, is teaching for the Los Angeles Unified School District and is currently working towards her masters degree. Cecilia and her husband own a business in Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Santa Ana artist arrested after he tried to beautify our downtown

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Crime, Santa Ana 11 Comments

Tony Pedraza Utility Art Box work

Local Santa Ana artist Tony Pedraza was arrested and charged with a felony for merely painting a utility box mural that he felt would enrich and beautify the city, according to an online petition page that is asking that all charges against him be dropped.

The OC Weekly reported the details of what happened to Tony:

Tony Pedraza, a young muralist and painter from SanTana, painted the gunmetal gray caja after noticing other utility boxes in the city’s downtown were being decorated through a city-commissioned art beautification program. Three days into his own project, a police officer approached Pedraza and asked if he had a permit; Pedraza answered no. Continue reading→

The OCTA now says they have to include HOV toll lanes on the 405 Freeway

Posted on by Posted in OCTA, Orange County, Transportation Leave a comment
Great LA Times photo: SR-91's Lexus Lanes

Great LA Times photo: SR-91’s Lexus Lanes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 25, 2014

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713; Eric Carpenter (714) 560-5697

I-405 Project to Deliver Measure M Promise, Caltrans Intends to Phase in HOV Lanes

OCTA to add one regular lane in each direction between Costa Mesa and Seal Beach

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority was informed today by Caltrans that the I-405 Improvement Project should include the Measure M commitment of one regular lane in each direction and add high-occupancy toll lanes at a later date.

With Caltrans selection of the project alternative, OCTA can now begin delivering the board-approved Measure M improvements as promised to voters. Caltrans intends to pursue funding for the high-occupancy toll lanes that will be added to help speed up commutes in one of the most heavily traveled stretches of freeway in the nation. Continue reading→

Surveillance video catches several Santa Ana cops beating up a suspect

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Rojas, Crime, Police Brutality, Santa Ana 9 Comments

They say that police often reflect who their leaders are and if that is true then we need to start pondering what is going on at the Santa Ana Police Department. Surveillance video caught three Santa Ana police officers beating the heck out of a meth addict and suspected burglar, who according to witnesses was on the ground and not resisting at the time.

Olivia Arzate, the suspect’s mother, said her son’s face was all scratched and full of bruises, as were his hands, legs and back as a result of the beating, according to KTLA. Continue reading→

Assemblywoman Grove to speak at the Santa Ana Republican Women Federated meeting tonight

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Republican women

The Santa Ana Republican Women Federated are hosting a celebration of their 60th anniversary tonight, July 25, 2014, at 7 pm, at the Ebell Club of Santa Ana, located at 625 French St. in Santa Ana.

The speaker will be Assemblywoman Shannon Grove. Continue reading→

Grantburgers’ New Chile Relleno Pretzel Burger ranked top OC Fair food item

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, Food, Orange County Fair Leave a comment

Grantburgers’ New Chile Relleno Pretzel Burger

Grantburgers’ New Chile Relleno Pretzel Burger Ranked Top OC Fair Food Item for 2014

Best of OC Fair Food Named During Concessionaire’s Cup

Costa Mesa, Calif. (July 25, 2014) – Amid all things fried or on a stick, it was a spicy, loaded burger that won the Best of the Best award in the 2014 OC Fair Concessionaires’ Cup Contest. Grantburgers’ new Chile Relleno Pretzel Burger made it through four rounds of judging to be the top food item in the annual contest held July 18.

The 70 entries submitted by Fair food vendors were first judged on a set standard for Gold, Silver and Bronze rankings. All Gold-ranked items were then judged on creativity and originality for the Special Rosette round and these items were further judged based on value for menu price in the value round. Judges included The Bikini Chef Susan Irby, Foodie-A-GoGo Blogger Rich Manning, Chef Lindsey Smith Rosales of Laguna Beach’s Nirvana Grille and Master Food Preserver and OC Fair demonstrator Ernest Miller. Continue reading→

IT worker charged with using social media to reach out to minors to molest them

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Michael Theodore Mordaunt

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: July 25, 2014

Case # 14WF2704

LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKING PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF MAN CHARGED WITH USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO CONTACT MINORS TO COMMIT LEWD ACTS

WESTMINSTER – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA), Cypress Police Department (CPD), and Garden Grove Police Department (GGPD) are seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a man charged with contacting underage victims through social media with the intent of committing lewd acts. Michael Theodore Mordaunt, 45, Cypress, is charged with 14 felony counts of contacting a child with the intent to commit a specified crime, five felony counts of lewd acts upon a child, two felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, two felony counts of meeting a minor with the intent to engage in lewd conduct, one felony count of possession and control of child pornography, and a sentencing enhancement allegation for substantial sexual conduct with a child. If convicted, Mordaunt faces a maximum sentence of 27 years and four months in state prison and mandatory lifetime registration as a sex offender. He is out of custody on $300,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned Monday, July 28, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster. Continue reading→

USAgain launches an OC clothing drive to support job seekers

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Santa Ana 3 Comments

USagain

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Clothing Drive to Support Job Seekers

USAgain announces a clothing drive to support the mission of WHW (Women Helping Women/Men2Work), empowering disadvantaged job seekers to succeed.

Santa Ana, California (July 7, 2014) – USAgain, a local textile recycling company, announces a clothing drive to support one of WHW’s employment support programs, providing business clothing to empower disadvantaged men, women and teens to achieve economic self-sufficiency through employment success.

WHW has been serving men, women and teens in the Orange County Community since 1993. Based in Santa Ana, the organization has served more than 50,000 people since its inception. “WHW has played an instrumental role in equipping men, women and teens to seek gainful employment. This year was a record-breaking year, serving over 6,500 people and the clothing that is donated truly does change lives by equipping our job seekers to look professional, which is a critical part of securing the job,” Robyn Williams, director of programs at WHW, said. Continue reading→

Turns out those creepy dolls were a kind gesture!

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Orange County 4 Comments

Creepy San Clemente Porcelain Doll

NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042
JHallock@ocsd.org

Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840
EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Investigators Locate Person Responsible for Porcelain Dolls

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. – (July 24, 2014) – On Thursday, July 24, 2014 Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators began pursuing information related to reports that several porcelain dolls were left on porches of homes in the Talega community of San Clemente. Based on initial reports, the porcelain dolls were left on porches over the course of the last week. Though initially there was not a specific criminal component being pursued, Sheriff’s investigators immediately dedicated time and resources in attempt to resolve the issue and identify the person or people responsible.

Investigators immediately began examining the dolls in attempt to locate any evidence as well as meeting with the impacted families to determine similarities or commonalities amongst the group. Following conversation and questioning of several parents, information was learned that focused on a female adult who lived in the local community and attended church with many of the impacted families. Continue reading→

Receive 4 Angels tickets for free and meet pitcher Garrett Richards on 7/26

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Charities, Entertainment, Environment, Orange County, Waste Leave a comment

Eco Challenge

Receive Four Free Tickets to an Angels Game & Meet Angels Pitcher Garrett Richards on Saturday, July 26, 2014

Bring your household hazardous waste, e-waste or gently used clothing for priority access.

(Portions Courtesy of OC Waste & Recycling)

OC Waste & Recycling, in partnership with Discovery Science Center, Goodwill of Orange County, and Angels Baseball will provide free disposal of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) on Saturday, July 26, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Bring your favorite Angels memorabilia for an autograph with Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards. The first 200 cars to bring household hazardous waste, e-waste or gently used clothing will have priority access to meet Garrett Richards as well as the opportunity to choose between four free tickets to that night’s Angels game or four free general admission tickets to the Discovery Science Center (while supplies last). Continue reading→

5th Annual OC Safe Schools Conference set for July 30 through Aug. 1

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Education, Garden Grove, Orange County Leave a comment

OC Sheriff Badge

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Arthur Cummins, Ed. D, 714-327-1071, Orange County Department of Education

Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714-904-7042, Orange County Sheriff’s Department

COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA (July 24, 2014) – In response to the Sandy Hook tragedy and other incidents of violence in the nation, there has been a call to reduce gun violence and protect children and communities. Many agencies have realized the importance of creating safer school climates and have proposed solutions, such as hiring additional school resource officers, counselors and mental health professionals, and promoting collaboration between schools and law enforcement in developing comprehensive emergency plans, which include hands-on training.

Orange County law enforcement agencies and educators have responded to this call to action. The Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (OCIAC), which is operated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) have launched the School Assessment Project, a united effort to collect information from every school in Orange County to ensure the safety of all students. The data being collected includes school emergency plans, evacuation routes, maps, and other details that will be provided to first responders during school emergency situations. Continue reading→

Women accused in death of Kim Pham found guilty of voluntary manslaughter

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Candace Brito and Vanesa Zavala

Candace Brito and Vanesa Zavala have been found not guilty of the second-degree murder of Kim Pham, who died outside a nightclub in Santa Ana earlier this year. The two defendants, however, were both found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, according to the OC Weekly.

Pham’s family weighed in on the verdict with this comment on their Facebook Page: “Verdict: Both defendants are GUILTY of voluntary manslaughter.” Continue reading→