Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: January 2012

Pulido’s lawyer gets dragged into the Santiago Creek bike trail melee

Posted on by Posted in Bicycles, Civic Affairs, Miguel Pulido, Nature, Parks and Recreation, Paul Walters, Politics, public works, Santa Ana 55 Comments

The battle to finish the Santiago creek bike trail that currently ends under a bridge, just south of the Main Place Mall and Memory Lane, in north Santa Ana, took an interesting turn today as various letters and emails that were requested by the bike trail proponents were emailed by Santa Ana City Clerk Mary Huizar to an email list of media, bloggers and trail supporters.  I loaded the documents into Google Documents and you can see them for yourself at this link.

What this all boils down to is a belief by the handful of residents who don’t want the bike trail that they would be better off by denying public access to the trail, with a fence.  There demands are a bit tough to make out by pay special attention to the letter sent to the City of Santa Ana by their attorney, Mark Rosen.  You remember him, he was an elected member of the Garden Grove City Council and he is Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido’s lawyer, which strikes me as a bit of a conflict of interest.  But there he is now representing the NIMBY neighbors. Continue reading→

Check out the January Family Fun Days at Westfield MainPlace

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Business, Entertainment, Family, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

January is a time filled with traditions. During this month’s Family Fun Days, at the Westfield MainPlace Mall, they’ll explore how other cultures celebrate the New Year and read classic folktales. They have chosen great books that capture some of the most wonderful traditions.

Join them for stories, snacks, and crafts on these dates in January: Continue reading→

Mark Jacobucci’s art to be featured at JWA’s community focus space program

Posted on by Posted in Airplanes, Arts and Culture, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

Trabuco Harvesters by Mark Jacobucci

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 11, 2012

Contact: Jenny Wedge, (949) 252-5182 (office), jwedge@ocair.com

ARTIST MARK JACOBUCCI FEATURED IN COMMUNITY FOCUS SPACE PROGRAM AT JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A selection of paintings by Laguna Beach artist Mark Jacobucci will be on display through January 30, 2012 in the Thomas F. Riley Terminal as part of John Wayne Airport’s Community Focus Space Program. His artwork can be seen on the departure (upper) level near the security screening areas and on the arrival (lower) level near baggage carousels 1 and 4. Continue reading→

Sanchez releases statement on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

Posted on by Posted in Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Santa Ana, Women 4 Comments

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 47th Congressional District
PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 11, 2012
MEDIA CONTACT: Adrienne Watson 202-309-0825
SANCHEZ RELEASES STATEMENT ON NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), a member of the Congressional Caucus on Human Trafficking, today released the following statement acknowledging National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Continue reading→

Solorio to give keynote speech at Career College of CA graduation on 1/13

Posted on by Posted in Education, Jose Solorio, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

For Immediate Release
For additional information: Kayla Caceres, Director of Communications, Career College of California, 714-243-8635

STATE ASSEMBLYMEMBER JOSE SOLORIO TO GIVE KEYNOTE SPEECH AT CAREER COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA GRADUATION ON JAN. 13th
More Than 300 Guests Will Celebrate at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana

Career College of California, based in historic downtown Santa Ana, is holding its Winter 2012 graduation ceremony at the Bowers Museum at 7:00 pm on Friday, January 13. State Assemblymember Jose Solorio will be the keynote speaker. Many of Friday’s graduates have already started new careers in their field of study. Continue reading→

Solorio bill aims to keep low student test scores private

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Education, Jose Solorio, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Solorio Bill to End School Incentive Programs that Publicly Humiliate Struggling Students Passes First Committee

AB 1166 Passes Assembly Education Committee with Bi-Partisan Vote

SACRAMENTO – State Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim) today presented to the Assembly Committee on Education AB 1166, a bill that would clarify that a school cannot include any information on a student identification card — or any object that a student is required to carry at school — that reflects their performance on standardized tests or course grades. The measure passed out of the Committee on a vote of eight to one. Continue reading→

Orange County Rental Assistance waiting list to open on Feb. 15

Posted on by Posted in Disabled, Family, homeless, Housing, Orange County, Seniors, Working Families Leave a comment

Orange County Rental Assistance Waiting List to Open
Opportunity for Section 8 Housing Assistance for Very Low-Income Individuals, Families, Seniors, and Disabled in Orange County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 11, 2012
CONTACT: Karen Roper (714) 480-2805

(Santa Ana – CA) The Orange County Housing Authority (OCHA) will open its Waiting List to accept pre-applications for housing assistance from February 15, 2012 until February 29, 2012. The Section 8 Waiting List is the only opportunity for very low-income families, seniors, disabled persons, and individuals to obtain a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher. Due to the limited number of vouchers and the large number of people that applied, the last time OCHA’s Waiting List was last opened was November 2005. The February 2012 Waiting List opening may be the only opportunity for Orange County residents to apply for many years to come. The Housing Choice Voucher Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and enables OCHA to subsidize monthly rent payments for qualified applicants who live or work in 31 cities in Orange County. The Cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Santa Ana operate their own housing authorities and have separate waiting lists for their residents. Continue reading→

Loretta Sanchez offering free workshops on federal aid for college students

Posted on by Posted in Education, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Youth Activities Leave a comment

This January, U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez is offering  a series of free workshops on federal aid for students.

Academic advisors will meet with parents and students to provide assistance in filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and will discuss scholarship opportunities.

A college degree is critical for young people entering the competitive job market, and its value is worth more today than it has ever been. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the various resources available to help you finance your education! Continue reading→

Back to Natives receives $7K grant from O.C. Community Foundation

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Green, Nature, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
CONTACT: REGINALD DURANT, DIRECTOR OF RESTORATION, (949) 335-8655
BACK TO NATIVES RESTORATION

BACK TO NATIVES RECEIVES $7,000 GRANT FROM ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR VOLUNTEER HABITAT RESTORATION PROGRAM

IRVINE, Calif., January 10, 2012 – Back to Natives Restoration, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit public charity has received a $7,000 grant from the Orange County Community Foundation (www.oc-cf.org) to support its Volunteer Habitat Restoration Program.

Back to Natives is collaborating with the City of Santa Ana at the Santiago Park Nature Reserve, where student volunteers will perform habitat quality monitoring, remove invasive plants and plant native plants. Volunteers will learn about the importance of biodiversity and habitat restoration as they perform meaningful community service to improve the Reserve for both wildlife and humans. Volunteer dates are listed on Back to Native’s website, www.backtonatives.org. Continue reading→

Will the owner of the Seabirds food truck open a restaurant in Santa Ana?

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

Could the vegan Seabirds Food Truck be coming soon to Santa Ana – with a brick and mortar location?  The O.C. Register’s Fast Food Maven is reporting that Stephanie Morgan, owner of Costa Mesa’s vegan food truck Seabirds, told her several weeks ago that she is scouting locations in Orange County to open a brick and mortar restaurant!

“No leases have been signed, but Morgan confirms she’s been looking at spots in downtown Santa Ana and at the Anaheim food hall.” Continue reading→

Will U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez get a free pass this year?

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Anaheim, Democratic Party, Elections, Federal Government, Loretta Sanchez, Orange, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez lost her campaign money in the Kinde Durkee scandal – but it may not matter. Her new 46th congressional district “encompasses most of Santa Ana, parts of Garden Grove, Anaheim, Westminster and Fullerton. Previous drafts of the maps gave the area, which is home to Disneyland and a heavy population of immigrants, a slight Republican edge,” according to the L.A. Times.  The district is 45 percent Democrat and 32 percent Republican, according to the O.C. Register.

And the “latest maps, keep the Latino voting population nearly the same as in her current district, but edge out some of the Asian American voters by splitting Little Saigon.”  Not to worry if you are a Vietnamese American voter in the O.C.  I hear that Congressman Dana Rohrabacher is going to retire in a couple of years.  His new district includes a big chunk of Little Saigon.  It is quite possible that the seat will end up being represented by a Vietnamese American some years down the road. Continue reading→

Back to Natives teams with the U.S. Forest Service to teach restoration

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Green, Nature, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Tustin 3 Comments

The United States Forest Service & Back to Natives Restoration Present a…Restoration Training Program

13 Days in 2012

Back to Natives Restoration, in a cooperative agreement with the Cleveland National Forest, is providing hands on habitat restoration training over the course of 6 weeks beginning on February 16. Each training session will focus on specific aspects of the restoration process. Learn native and non native plant identification, proper site entry/exit protocol as well as mechanical/physical abatement techniques to reduce soil disturbance and possible weed seed germination. Continue reading→

Does the Velvet Lounge have a pee pee problem?

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Bars, LGBT, Santa Ana 2 Comments

The OC Weekly named Santa Ana’s gay bar, the Velvet Lounge, the #1 gay bar (in a tie) in Long Beach and Orange County, on Dec. 31.  But our friends at the Santa Ana Sentinel have a problem with the Velvet Loungers:

There is a recurring littering problem happening outside of the gay glub “VLVT” near the corner of Fourth & Ross streets. At the end of any given night clients of this club use the sidewalk near 410 W. Fourth street as a makeshift restroom.

That’s right, apparently the Velvet Loungers are apparently peeing all over the place – in public!  No bueno! Continue reading→

Check out tonight’s First Saturday Art Walk in Downtown Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Bars, Entertainment, Fashion, music, Restaurants, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Check out Downtown Santa Ana tonight for this month’s First Saturday Downtown Santa Ana Art Walk.  Arts, crafts and live entertainment centrally located at: Second Street Promenade (2nd & Broadway) & the East End (3rd & Spurgeon).

There is always something new to see, including: Continue reading→

Live music at Raices y Cultura, at Mexicanismo on Jan. 12

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Dance, Entertainment, Latinos, music, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The AMX Crew will be rocking the house @ Raices y Cultura, featuring Arthur Capone; Iemsk Kelevra; Armando Negrete; FirstGeneration SantaAna; and the rest of the AMX Crew, on Thursday, January 12th at Mexicanisimo, located at 2323 W. First Street, in Santa Ana.

This will be a night to demonstrate Hip Hop’s cultural aspects.  Featuring live acts AMX Crew, Endz, Edifica, Roverso and S Leeo, Michelo Els, and UTK.  And a special performance by Brake Dance with Battle Holex Crew, art by UTK and Zulu Kings. 8pm-2am, 21+ $5 cover charge. Continue reading→