New Santa Ana

Best pizza in Santa Ana?

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Food, Restaurants, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Rafael’s Pizza

Every Friday night is Pizza Night at my house and over the years we have tried just about every pizza joint in Santa Ana, but hands down our favorite is Rafael’s Pizza, located at 128 W. MacArthur Blvd., near Main St., in Santa Ana.

The owner of Rafael’s, Rafael Dibernardo, has owned the pizza shop for 25 years as of this month. Overall it has been open for 38 years. It was previously called “Rubino’s Pizza.” Rafael’s pizza is simply amazing.

Here is how a few customers on Yelp have described it:

Continue reading→

2014 OC NAACP Juneteenth Celebration set for June 21 in Garden Grove

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in African Americans, Entertainment, Garden Grove, Orange County 1 Comment

The 2014 Orange County NAACP Juneteenth Celebration will be hosted on Saturday, June 21, 2014, from 11 am to 6 pm, at the Elks Lodge located at 11551 Trask Ave, in Garden Grove.

This is the African American Independence Day. The event will feature “Lakeside” Captain Mark Wood Jr.

Free Fun for the Whole Family
Vendors, Games, Good People
Food and Beverages

The event includes: Continue reading→

Find out how to create your legacy through writing from June 16-20

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Entertainment, Literature, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

A workshop on “Creating Your Legacy Through Writing” is set for June 16-June 20, 2014, from 12 pm-2 pm at the Garfield Community Center, located at 501 N. Lacy, in Santa Ana.

This is a FREE bilingual writing workshop for seniors (ages 55+) with Sarah Rafael García, author of “Las Niñas,” with a special lunchtime reading on Friday, June 20, 2014 at 1 pm (open to the public). Continue reading→

Who will replace Janet Nguyen in the First Supervisorial District?

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2015 Elections, Chris Phan, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Politics, Vietnamese 3 Comments

Chris Phan and Carol Quyen Ngo

It appears that the vultures are already circling in the 34th State Senate District where Democrat Jose Solorio got blown out in this month’s Open Primary by Republican Janet Nguyen. It wasn’t close but Solorio will now advance to the November runoff – and no one at this point thinks he has a chance to win. The politicians have taken note of the blood in the water and at least one of them, Garden Grove Councilman Chris Phan, a Republican, is telling everyone that he is all in. The special election to replace Nguyen after she packs her bags for Sacramento will be held in February of next year and it will be a winner take all election – no runoff! Continue reading→

Art Mania set for tonight in Downtown Santa Ana

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Come celebrate with the biggest names in the City of Santa Ana during Art Mania at the First Saturday Art Walk, this event was put together by Konsept to showcase the coolest of them coolest, over 20 vendors, live music and the worlds most sexiest people. The event is set for tonight, Saturday, June 7, from 6 to 10 pm.

Art By:

・Roger Eyes R
・Fernando The Artist
・El Vago Mago
・Beverly Salas
・James Fratzke
・Sean Robertson
・Charles Balara
・Will Eudave
・Jouvon Michael Kingsby
・Aaron Alvarez
・Mike Ziobrowski
・Salima Allen
・Kenos One
・Ritchie Kong
・Amy Rodriguez
・Randy Jim
+ Many More Continue reading→

Councilman Reyna to launch his mayoral campaign today

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Entertainment, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Santa Ana Councilman Roman Reyna, looking to unseat ten-term Mayor Miguel Pulido in the November election, will kick off his mayoral campaign Saturday pledging to stamp out “backroom deals” and increase City Hall transparency, according to the Voice of OC.

Reyna’s fundraiser features most, but not all, of his Council colleagues and will be held at Original Mike’s, at 100 South Main St., in Santa Ana, at 11 am today, Saturday, June 7. Be careful. Original Mike’s received three health violations in April, including “Lack of/Unsanitary/Condition Walls/Floors/Ceilings.” And they received six health violations in March, including “Evidence of Vermin Activity/Presence of Animals/Insects.” Yum!

He is holding the fundraiser on Garage Sale weekend so most of his supporters likely won’t be there. Continue reading→

Abducted child found in Victorville

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

AdvisoryDetectives locate child in Parental Abduction Case

Update: The mother and child were located at a movie theater in the city of Victorville. Both have been taken into custody/care of CAP-Homicide Detectives and returned to Santa Ana. Suspect/mother was booked into SAPD Jail for Child Abduction. The child has been return to her father.

SANTA ANA, CA (June 6, 2014) – On 06/06/14 at approximately 8:30 am, SAPD officers responded to a local motel at 2600 N. Main reference a possible parental abduction. Continue reading→

Irvine mom sentenced for sexually assaulting two teen boys at her house

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, irvine, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12HF0546: June 6, 2014

44-YEAR-OLD MOTHER SENTENCED FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO UNDERAGE TEENAGE BOYS WHO CAME OVER TO HER HOUSE

FULLERTON – A 44-year-old mother was sentenced today to three years and four months in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration for sexually assaulting a 14 and 16-year-old boy who came over to her house. Nicole Ethel McMillen, 44, Irvine, was found guilty by a jury Oct. 16, 2013, of four felony counts of lewd acts upon a child and three felony counts of oral copulation of a minor under 16 years old.

Between Jan. 1, 2012, and Feb. 28, 2012, McMillen had sexual contact with 14-year-old John Doe #1 who was over at her house to play with his friends. McMillen maintained a “fun” home where many children spent time with her children participating in activities which included watching movies or playing video games. Continue reading→

City announces special City Council Meeting on homelessness

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, homeless, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: City of Santa Ana Announces Special City Council Meeting on Homelessness

On Thursday, June 12th, the City of Santa Ana will hold a Special City Council Meeting on Homelessness starting at 4:00 pm in the Council Chambers (22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA). The Special Council Meeting will serve as a work study session to review the history, policies and opportunities related to addressing homelessness in Santa Ana and throughout Orange County.

The official meeting agenda is available here. Continue reading→

SAPD searching for mom who took her child and may be headed for Las Vegas

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Rachel Ashley Marks

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Detectives Ask for Public’s Assistance in Parental Abduction Case

SANTA ANA, CA (June 6, 2014) – On 06/06/14 at approximately 8:30 am, SAPD officers responded to a local motel at 2600 N. Main reference a possible parental abduction.

The investigation revealed that the father, who has sole custody of the missing child, was with the mother of the child last night. All three spent the night at a motel. When the father woke up this morning, the mother had left the room with their daughter in violation of the court ordered child custody agreement.

It is believed the mother may be on her way to Las Vegas where she currently resides. Continue reading→

Dance production man caught video recording underaged girls

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # TBA: June 3, 2014

OCDA AND CPD SEEK POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF DANCE PRODUCTION COMPANY EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH RECORDING VIDEOS OF UNDERAGE GIRLS AND POSSESSING OVER 1,000 CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IMAGES

WESTMINSTER – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Cypress Police Department (CPD) are seeking potential additional victims of a dance production company employee charged with video recording underage girls in a dressing room and possessing over 1,000 images of child pornography. Paul Michael Barbour, 33, Long Beach, is charged with one felony count each of possession and control of child pornography, possession for sale of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, cultivating spores with the intent to produce a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct and a sentencing enhancement allegation for possessing more than 600 child pornography images with more than 10 images of a minor under the age of 12. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison and six months in jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster. The time is to be determined.

At the time of the crime, Barbour was an assistant director and a master of ceremonies (MC) of a dance production company in Cypress. Continue reading→

An SAUSD high school student with perfect attendance will win a new car on 6/7

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in automobiles, Education, Entertainment, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2, 2014

Contact: Deidra Powell, Chief Communications Officer, (714) 558-5555 Office, (714) 673-4995 Mobile

Media Advisory: Saturday, June 7 Car Giveaway

One High School Student with Perfect Attendance Will Win a 2014 Chevy Sonic!

Event: One lucky Santa Ana Unified School District high school student, who has had perfect attendance all year long, will be the winner of a brand new car as part of the Perfect Attendance Car Giveaway promotion courtesy of Bruce Hamlin, Owner of Guaranty Chevrolet, located at 711 East 17th Street in Santa Ana. Every year, Hamlin hosts a celebration in the Guaranty Chevrolet showroom for nearly 800 eligible high school students. “The main reason we do this is to help the community. The more students that attend classes daily, the more educated the student becomes. Those are the people that become good citizens and therefore help the community. I feel its beholden on the businesses in each community to help keep our communities strong and safe.” said Hamlin. Continue reading→

Drive by shooting in the Park Santiago Neighborhood?

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 9 Comments

Graphic courtesy of CrimeMapping.com

Crime is rising even as scores of yuppies are moving into Santa Ana’s Park Santiago Neighborhood. It has been a rude awakening for those who were expecting a vibrant city, not one awash in criminal activity.

This struck particularly close to home on June 4, at 7:19 pm, when there was allegedly a drive by shooting at the 900 block of E. 19th St, according to CrimeMapping and a commenter on the Park Santiago Nextdoor website. Continue reading→

Fundraiser for Cecilia Aguinaga’s School Board campaign set for 6/5

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Cecilia Aguinaga, Education, Entertainment, Santa Ana, SAUSD 4 Comments

Cecilia Aguinaga, a leading candidate for the SAUSD School Board election in November, is hosting a campaign fundraising reception on June 5, from 5 to 7 pm, at The Avocado restaurant located at 2525 N. Grand Ave., in Santa Ana.

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and Santa Ana Councilman Vincent Sarmiento are headlining the fundraising reception. Continue reading→

The O.C. Register appears to be doomed

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Business, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Aaron Kushner‘s grand plan to become the Rupert Murdoch of southern California jumped a bit closer to that shark today as Freedom Communications announced it’s scaling back the recently launched Long Beach Register from a six-day publication to one.

The Orange County Business Journal reports today:

Freedom Communications Holdings Inc. in Santa Ana announced it will shift its Long Beach Register from a standalone newspaper published six days a week to a weekly that it plans to deliver to about 61,000 area households on Sundays. The change is planned to take effect June 15. The weekly publication also will be bundled with the Los Angeles Register—which Freedom launched in April—and delivered subscribers in Long Beach on Sundays.

Continue reading→

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