Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: April 2012

Santa Ana mother and son convicted of plotting to kill a jewelry salesman

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Garden Grove, Lawyers, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: April 4, 2012
Contacts:
Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486 

Case # 06CF0633: SON CONVICTED OF PLOTTING AND MURDERING JEWELRY SALESMAN WITH MOTHER AND STEALING HIS CACHE
*Mother sentenced to 25 years to life on same charges

SANTA ANA – A son was convicted today for plotting with her mother and murdering a Santa Ana jewelry salesman while robbing him of his cache. Ricardo Dagoberto Diaz-Nivarez (pictured above), 27, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury April, 4, 2012, of one felony count of first degree murder. Diaz-Nivarez faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison at his sentencing May 18, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

SAPD Easter cruiser crackdown set for this Sunday, April 8

Posted on by Posted in automobiles, Civic Affairs, Latinos, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Easter Day – Police Enforcement Activity

In an effort to provide a safe environment and minimize the impact on our local neighborhoods, the Santa Ana Police Department will be deploying extra police personnel to deal with the possible influx of cruiser activity expected on Easter (Sunday, April 8th) and Cinco de Mayo (Saturday, May 5th). Continue reading→

Take the $7 Angels Express train to any 7 p.m. weeknight home game!

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Entertainment, irvine, Orange County, Santa Ana, Sports, Transportation 1 Comment

Take the $7 Angels Express to Any 7 p.m. Weeknight Home Game!

Last season, the Angels Express provided service to 46 home games, and had more than 20,000 boardings. This popular service has returned for the 2012/2013 baseball season, with service along the Orange County Line to 50 home games. 

New for 2012/2013:

  • There will be service from the Inland Empire for all 13 Friday night home games.
  • Trains will hold after Friday night games, allowing riders to enjoy the Big Bang Fireworks.
  • The Angels have some new, exciting players, including Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson. Continue reading→

Gallegos convicted of sexually assaulting 8-year old on Christmas Eve

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: April 2, 2012
Contacts:
Susan Kang Schroeder,  Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

Case # 09CF3141: MAN CONVICTED OF CHRISTMAS EVE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF 8-YEAR-OLD FEMALE RELATIVE INCLUDING ORAL COPULATION AND RAPE AND/OR SODOMY

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old female relative, including oral copulation and rape and/or sodomy, on Christmas Eve while family members slept in other rooms. Jorge Miguel Gallegos, 38, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child, two felony counts of oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child, and one felony count each of digital penetration of a child under 10, lewd acts on a child under 14, and dissuading a witness from reporting a crime. Gallegos faces a sentence ranging from a minimum of 55 years to life to a maximum of 66 years to life in state prison at his sentencing May 11, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-36, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Free health screenings at CVS in Santa Ana on April 20

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

FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS AT CVS

Come into CVS during National Minority Health Month to assess your health with quick and convenient screenings.

Events will be held in the top 10 U.S. cities every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in April from 2–6 PM. Select stores only. Continue reading→

Did Daly remodel his records building without approval by the Supervisors?

Posted on by Posted in Orange County, Santa Ana, Tom Daly Leave a comment

Editor’s Note: This post was submitted to us by an anonymous source who calls himself “Honest Government.”

After much speculation as to what in the world is Tom Daly doing with the building at 433 Civic Center Drive, we can now tell you that Tom Daly has built a “Records Center” at the money eating building he bought almost four years ago. From what we can tell it might be a move to have something to show for more than 10 years at the helm of a lack luster career as Clerk-Recorder. But the real kicker is that he has built his crown­ing achievement with no Board approval and ap­parently no actual contracts. The vendors have been paid and now the de­partment is busy retroactively creating contacts to make this look all legitimate possibly before going to the Board for approval.

Since Daly has no original ideas, it appears that he took a play out of the good old boy’s remodeling play book. A play that got several O.C. Public Works officials in hot water. Daly has disregarded County policy in the past and can’t claim ignorance—read about it here. Continue reading→

Free songwriter workshops, with Quetzal, at El Centro Cultural de Mexico

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

You are invited to a free songwriter workshop / Un taller de composición de canciones gratis with award-winning musicians / con los músicos premiados – Queztal Flores & Marta Gonzalez of the band, Queztal, Presented by Arts Orange County & El Centro Cultural de Mexico. Continue reading→

Santa Ana receives grant to expand computer classes at the library

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

Community: DIGITIZING YOURSELF INTO THE INTERNET COMMUNITY

SANTA ANA, CA (April 3, 2012) – The Santa Ana Library has been awarded a grant by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. The grant, entitled “Digitizing Yourself into the Internet Community,” will enable the library to expand its current basic computer classes with brand new courses taught by experts. These classes will help Santa Ana residents build the skills necessary to participate fully in the digital world. Continue reading→

Sonia Rubio Carvalho is the new Santa Ana City Attorney

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Latinos, Lawyers, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Community: Santa Ana Names BB&K Attorney as First Female Hispanic City Attorney

Sonia Carvalho Begins Duties in Unique Hybrid City Attorney Role to Save City Money

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Santa Ana City Council has named Sonia Rubio Carvalho as the city’s first-ever female Hispanic city attorney, hiring her to fill a unique hybrid position aimed at saving the city thousands of dollars in the long-term.

Carvalho will be a contract employee but perform all the duties of an in-house city attorney, which will save the city from paying her health and retirement benefits.

“I am honored to take on this unique role with Santa Ana, and I applaud them for thinking outside of the box and exploring a cost-savings business model,” she said. Continue reading→

Correa to host free 2011 income tax prep event on April 3

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Garden Grove, Lou Correa, Taxes Leave a comment

(SANTA ANA, CA) — State Senator Lou Correa and State Controller John Chiang are partnering with Cal State University, Fullerton (CSUF), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the OC Financial Stability Alliance to provide free 2011 income tax preparation assistance.

The tax assistance workshop will take place on Tuesday, April 3rd from 1:00 to 4:00pm at the CSUF Garden Grove Campus in Room 150, 12901 Euclid Street, Garden Grove, CA 92840.

“Filing taxes can be a confusing and time consuming process, leaving many people at a loss for what to do,” said Senator Correa. “So many of our families need assistance filing taxes in order to get a tax refund, which is money that returns directly to our communities and supports the local economy. Because of the current economic conditions, it is important that we ensure hardworking taxpayers have access to free tax preparation services and receive the benefits they deserve.” Continue reading→

Property tax payment deadline is next Tuesday

Posted on by Posted in Orange County, Santa Ana, Taxes 1 Comment

OFFICE OF THE TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR SHARI L. FREIDENRICH, CPA, CCMT, CPFA, CPFIM
P.O. BOX 4515, SANTA ANA, CA92702-4515
http://bos.ocgov.com/octaxbill

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2012

Contact: Shari L. Freidenrich, (714) 834-7625, Treasurer@ttc.ocgov.com

Property Tax Payment Deadline is next Tuesday!

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich today reminds Orange County taxpayers that the second installment of property taxes is due no later than Tuesday, April 10, 2012. Payments not received by Tuesday, unless they have a United States Postal Service stamp on or before April 10, will incur a 10% late penalty fee. Current second installment secured tax receipts are approximately 1% ahead of the same time last year with $38 million more in property taxes being received. Total secured tax receipts are $71 million ahead of the same time same year. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Arts update from the CSUF Grand Central Art Center

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Santa Ana Leave a comment
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
Meet our current Artist in Residence working in Social Practice, Jules Rochielle. She will open the AIR store front studio space as a platform for recording individual thoughts on democracy through personal stories and local histories.  Artist Silvia Mantilla  Ortiz will be collaborating with Rochielle throughout the evening. http://grandcentralartcenter.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/jules-rochielle-portable-city-projects-artist-in-residence-gcac/
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS Continue reading→

Free admission to the Bowers today, including a cherry blossom festival

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Asians, Entertainment, Japanese, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Sunday, April 1, 2012, 10 AM – 4 PM

The Bowers Museum offers free admission to the museum on the first Sunday of every month. Be one of the first people to see our newest visiting exhibit: Sacred Gold: Pre-Hispanic Art of Columbia.

Free to attend.

Limited to 250 tickets per hour and 1500 tickets per day for specially ticketed exhibits. Continue reading→

Help to set the world record in cloth diaper changing, in Santa Ana on April 21

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Family, Green, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Great Cloth Diaper Change World Record Breaking Attempt – Belly Sprout and Celtic Cloths Host to Local Santa Ana Site

Cloth diapers have come a long way in the past ten years, and The Great Cloth Diaper Change event serves to raise awareness of cloth diapering and create some added buzz and excitement too!

To do this, several people in the cloth diapering movement, including Belly Sprout and Celtic Cloths have joined forces with the nonprofit Real Diaper Association to participate in the second annual Great Cloth Diaper Change international event taking place the day before Earth Day on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Continue reading→