Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: April 2010

Dia del Niño/Children’s Day to be held in Santa Ana this Sunday

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Civic Affairs, Culture, Latinos, mexico, Orange County, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Dia del Niño/Children’s Day, is a tradition celebrated in Mexico and in many parts of the world-a day when communities honor their children.

Dia del Niño/Children’s Day will be held in Santa Ana on April 18, from 11 am to 5 p,. at 3rd and Bush, in downtown Santa Ana.  Call 714-277-7183 if you have any questions, or send an email toa elcentro.events@gmail.com.

We, at El Centro Cultural de Mexico, would like to extend this special day to all children, families, cultural groups, community resources and businesses in and around Santa Ana, in an effort to bring together communities of diverse cultures, promoting global understanding and celebrating our multicultural nation through play, the arts, and literacy. Continue reading→

The Road Less Traveled anounces new workshops, lectures, events

Posted on by Posted in Business, Health and Medical, Nature, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Spring is here and we have a number of workshops, lectures and events that celebrate the season!
To register: email us, call us @ 714.836.8727 or buy an RSVP on-line.

Classes for foodies

April is filled with a number of workshops designed for sustainability, health and wellness involving food – please see our store for more info.

Fermentation 2-Tonics, Vinegar and Yogurt (4/18, 1:30-3:30PM): Snacks, samples and cultures included.

Ayurvedic & Organic Cooking (4/24, 12-2PM): Using spices as medicine.

Foraging & Preparing Wild Foods (4/24, 3-6PM): Learning to eat from the wild-recently seen on KCRW’s Good Food! Continue reading→

New Alfredo Amezcua Facebook page seeks 30,000 members

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Elections, Latinos, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

A new Facebook group is calling itself “Alfredo Amezcua 30,000 Strong,” and asking members of the community to join their campaign to elect Amezcua as our next Santa Ana Mayor.  They currently have three members.

Here is what they have to say on their Facebook page:

Our main objective is to motivate Santa Ana’s young (18-35) to come out and vote for change on November 02, 2010. By joining you are committed to motivate 5 fellow residents of Santa Ana to vote for CHANGE! As a fellow Santa Ana resident I urge you to join and lets show the establishment that we have the PODER, not them.  YA BASTA QUE NOS VEAN LA CARA DE CANGREJOS! Continue reading→

City of Santa Ana collects $500K via business license tax amnesty program

Posted on by Posted in Business, Civic Affairs, Santa Ana, Taxes Leave a comment

Forgiveness is Good Business in Santa Ana

April 5, 2010

Forgiveness, it seems, makes good business sense.

Since enacting a business license tax amnesty program at the beginning of February, the City of Santa Ana has collected more that $500,000 from 1,300 unlicensed businesses that did not report or underreported business tax.

“We sent out letters to about 15,000 businesses that may not have known that they need a license to do business in the city,” said Christine Duarte, Treasury Manager for Santa Ana. “This is all about coming clean with the city.”

She estimated there are about 25,000 businesses operating in Santa Ana.

Anyone transacting and conducting business in Santa Ana is required to obtain a business license. Collected fees go into the city’s general fund and are used to support public safety services such as police and fire. Continue reading→

Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s Open House is this Friday

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

California State Assemblyman Jose Solorio cordially invites you to attend our: District Annual Spring Open House.

Friday, April 16, 2010, from  1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

At: District Office, located at 2400 E. Katella Ave., Suite 640, in Anaheim (Just west of the Katella exit off of the 57 freeway)

Drop by to say hello and discuss state and legislative issues with Assemblyman Jose Solorio and staff. Continue reading→

2004 Mexican Independence Celebration In Santa Ana Held On 9/11

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Culture, immigration, Latinos, mexico, Santa Ana Leave a comment

There was a big hulabulloo recently in regards to the Mexican Independence Day celebration in downtown Santa Ana that was scheduled to take place on September 11th of this year.  The Orange County Register used its platform to stir the pot and throw red meat to the scores of bigots and racists that make up a good chunk of their readership by questioning whether or not the event should take place on the 9th annivesary of the terrorist attacks.

My question is:  Where were the folks at the Register and the others so steadfastly opposed to this event being held on that day back in 2004, when it was held on September 11th of that year?

I think that it is quite clear that the Register and company are just jumping on to the bandwagon of hate and anger that we are seeing in our country.  They are simply trying to seize upon this climate that we have seen created by right-wing extremists and their friends in the media like Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh.

 With this constant nasty vitriol being aimed at healthcare reform, immigration reform and anything President Obama supports it doesn’t take much to stir these folks up.  Just knowing that a Black man is in the White House is usually enough to many of these folks blood boiling. Continue reading→

Orange County Imagination Celebration, from April 17 to May 23

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Education, Entertainment, irvine, Orange County, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Poster Winner: Monique Nguyen, 12th grade, Los Amigos High School, Garden Grove USD.

Orange County Imagination Celebration

OC Public Libraries joins in April 17 – May 23, 2010 for the 25th Anniversary of Imagination Celebration. Experience the power and colorful creativity of theatre, dance, music, film, literary and visual arts brought to you by an exciting collaboration of professional arts organizations, cities, schools, libraries, universities and community venues.

All branch libraries will display art by local children, and some branches will have art materials available so you can create art during your library visit. Be sure to stop by your favorite library during the festival, and check out the many other wonderful events all over Orange County. Find out more about Imagination Celebration here.

Building a Creative Community In Orange County – The Imagination Celebration has played a major role to spark imagination and creativity in an entire generation of Orange County children. Thanks to Arts OC and the Orange County Department of Education for sponsoring Imagination Celebration.

Here are the Featured Events: Continue reading→

Great Park wants kids to picture the park

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, irvine, Nature, Orange County, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Orange County Great Park Corporation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 12, 2010
CONTACT: JENN STARNES 949-724-6574

Great Park Wants Kids to Picture the Park
Free Imagination Celebration event gets kids to discover the park through arts, gardening and ecology crafts

IRVINE – The many aspects of the Orange County Great Park will come into focus with “Picture the Park,” an activity-filled event that helps kick of OC’s Imagination Celebration. The free family fun event is designed to entertain ages 5 – 12, but families are encouraged to create functional art together at numerous activity stations.

In the Farm & Food Lab, UC Extension Master Gardeners will encourage junior gardeners through art and planting projects. Team Kids will be on hand to demonstrate the water cycle and provide recycled-art craft activities. Other activities throughout the Park will encourage kids to “Picture the Park” through crafts. Continue reading→

La Mission movie playing at the Block of Orange

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Culture, Entertainment, Latinos, LGBT, Lowriders, Orange, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 1 Comment

 Have you heard of a movie called “La Mission?”  It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009, to much acclaim.  The privately financed movie stars Benjamin Bratt  and is written and directed by his brother, Peter Bratt.

The movie explores the lowrider culture in San Francisco, while delving into a story about a young man who comes out of the closet, to the chagrin of his tough father, who is raising him by himself.

“La Mission” opened this week in Los Angeles, and is now playing at the AMC Theater at the Block of Orange, located at 20 City Blvd. (BUY TICKETS) (714) 769-4288.

Here are a few excerpts form an article in the L.A. Times about this movie: Continue reading→

Mayor Miguel Pulido meets with downtown merchants to plan Cinco de Mayo event

Posted on by Posted in Business, Civic Affairs, Culture, Santa Ana 20 Comments

Picture Courtesy of the Miniondas Newspaper

Santa Ana dentist Dr. Art Lomeli was one of several downtown Santa Ana merchants who met with Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and Santa Ana City Manager Dave Ream to plan this year’s Cinco de Mayo festivities, according to the Miniondas newspaper.

This had to be an awkward experience for Lomeli, who is actively campaigning to oust Pulido and replace him with local attorney Alfredo Amezcua.  Another merchant who was at the meeting, Sam Romero, is also part of Amezcua’s “SACrED” organization.

This year’s Santa Ana Cinco de Mayo festivities will start on Saturday, May 1, and continue on May 2.

So why is Cinco de Mayo important both to Mexicans and to Americans?  Here is a great summation of the history of Cinco de Mayo: Continue reading→

Cambodian New Year Celebration, Wat Khmer, in Santa Ana, on April 11

Posted on by Posted in Cambodians, Federal Government, Santa Ana, Seniors Leave a comment

Khmer version of the “Show The World We Exist” Census PSA by UCI’s Cambodian Awareness Organization.  Actor: Phanith Sovann.  Song by: Phanith Sovann.  Filmed by: Bossakara Sokhom & Mory Men.  Edited by: Mory Men.

Don’t miss the Cambodian New Year Celebration, Wat Khmer, in Santa Ana.  Sponsored by the 2010 U.S. Census.

Date: Sunday, April 11, 2010

Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm

Location: Senior Citizen Center Continue reading→

Veterans Conference set for June 5, at Santa Ana College

Posted on by Posted in Lou Correa, Santa Ana, Veterans 4 Comments

On behalf of Senator Lou Correa, Undersecretary Rocky Chavez, California Department of Veterans Affairs, Santa Ana College and The American G.I. Forum Education Foundation, I invite you and your family to the Veterans Conference:

A Celebration of Service – Providing Answers to Veterans Issues

Saturday June 5, 2010 from 10AM to 6PM

Santa Ana Community College, located at 1530 W. 17th St., in Santa Ana

The event is open to the public with information and resources for veterans and their families Continue reading→

Sneak peak of new anteater exhibit at the Santa Ana Zoo this weekend

Posted on by Posted in Education, Entertainment, Nature, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Enjoy a sneak peak of the Santa Ana Zoo’s new Tierra de las Pampas exhibit this Saturday!

Lots of fun coming up at the Santa Ana Zoo this month, including:

  • April 10: Zoo-B-Que and Tierra de las Pampas Sneak Peek!: 11am – 2pm.  Sneak Peek of new exhibit.  Members get FREE train rides, music, crafts, BBQ hot dogs, opportunity drawing and extra discounts. Model Train Show at the Santa Ana Zoo this weekend.  Train layouts by Del Oro Pacific Modular Railroad. Operation Lifesaver will have givaways for the kids to teach rail safety, on Saturday only. Ride the Zoofari Express train (did you know this is the old train from Santa’s Village?). Continue reading→

Calacas teams up with SolArt for Mexicali Relief, after 7.2 earthquake

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Charities, Latinos, mexico, Santa Ana, Working Families Leave a comment

Courtesy of our friends at Don Palabraz:

In Southern Cali, last week’s Easter earthquake was a slow and easy roller. But to our hermanos in Mexicali where the epicenter of the 7.2 tremor was, the devastation took much more of a toll. Locally, SolArt and Calacas culture and clothing store will be collection donations to take down across the border this weekend. If you are in and around the Santa Ana area, you can drop off things like bottled water and toilet paper at Calacas during their operating hours all day Sunday. The store is located at 324 W. 4th Street in Santa Ana. Or you could drop an email those provided to the flyer above and arrange for a drop off with SolArt volunteers who will actually be taking the donated supplies down to Mexicali on Sunday.

New Facebook group asks Congresswoman Sanchez to co-sponsor the Dream Act

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Democratic Party, Education, Garden Grove, immigration, Latinos, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 1 Comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez dresses up for the Tet Festival but won’t co-sponsor the Dream Act

A new Facebook page is asking Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez to co-sponsor the Dream Act.  Here is what they are saying online:

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is running for re-election this year and has refused to co-sponsor the DREAM Act once again. Every year that students have met with her, its the same story…that she will not co-sponsor. Ms. Sanchez has referred to a DREAM student as “selfish” for wanting to fulfill his professional DREAM. We are tired of Loretta NOT representing the community. It is time that our voices are heard once and for all! Enough is enough!! If you live in her district and demand that she support ALL students, please join this group.

Loretta Sanchez represents the 47th Congressional District, which encompasses the Southern California cities of Santa Ana and Garden Grove and portions of Anaheim and Fullerton. Continue reading→