Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: August 2012

Santa Ana’s Downtown Art Walk set for this Saturday, Sep. 1

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Bars, Entertainment, Food, Movies, music, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Labor Day weekend is here and if you are having a “staycation” how about heading to Downtown Santa Ana, this Saturday night, Sep. 1, for the Downtown Santa Ana Art Walk?

Come to the Art Walk to enjoy arts, crafts and live entertainment centrally located at: Artists Village – Second Street Promenade (2nd & Broadway) & the Santiago Arts Colony (Santa Ana Blvd. & Poinsettia).  There is always something new to see !  Downtown Inc. encourages artists of all medias to participate in this event.  For more information or to list your event, contact: claudia@downtown-inc.com, (714) 547 – 6100 ext. 205.  WWW.DOWNTOWN-SANTAANA.COM.

Highlights of this Saturday’s Labor Day Weekend Art Walk: Continue reading→

SAPD to conduct DUI checkpoint this Saturday, 9/1, at 2000 W. First St.

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT-Saturday, September 1st, 2012

In a cooperative effort with the California Highway Patrol, the Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Saturday, September 1st, 2012. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 2000 W. First Street, Santa Ana, CA. Continue reading→

The SAUSD reports improvement on 2012 STAR test measures

Posted on by Posted in Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

SAUSD Academic Scores Continue to Climb on 2012 STAR Measures

SANTA ANA, CA – August 31, 2012 — Students in the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) continue their upward trend of improvement on the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) measurements according to results recently released by the California Department of Education. The STAR is administered to students in grades 2-11 and used to determine how well students are achieving state-adopted content standards in English-Language Arts, Mathematics, History-Social Science, and Science. Continue reading→

SAPD contracts with Central Parking for parking enforcement duties

Posted on by Posted in Cars, Public Safety, Santa Ana 7 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Community: Police Department Contracts with Central Parking for Parking Enforcement Duties

In an effort to provide more efficient and effective services to the community, the Santa Ana Police Department has contracted with Central Parking System, Inc. to assume some of the City’s on-street parking enforcement effective September 4, 2012. Continue reading→

Palacio and Amezcua are driving the so-called “Santa Ana Spring”

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Eric Alderete, John Palacio, Miguel Pulido, Myriam Tinajero, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Valerie Amezcua, Vince Sarmiento 17 Comments

It has become increasingly obvious that the so-called “Santa Ana Spring” is actually a collection of Santa Ana politicians with different axes to grind, who have come together as their mutual petty hatreds have temporarily converged.  This alliance is a shaky one at best.

The drivers of this movement are failed Santa Ana mayoral candidate Al Amezcua, who resigned from the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Education a few years ago, after he got caught living outside of the area he was elected to represent; Santa Ana Unified School District John Palacio, who survived the recall of his close friend and ally Nativo Lopez; Santa Ana Councilman Vince Sarmiento – who is bitter because he didn’t run for the 69th Assembly District and who has designs on the Santa Ana Mayor’s office; Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez, who was soundly defeated by Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido back in 2008 – and who did poorly again this June as a candidate for the 69th Assembly District; and Council Member David Benavides, who is embroiled in a controversy regarding allegations of infidelity and divorce. Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s artists know they can’t trust mayoral candidate David Benavides

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Arts and Culture, Churches and Religion, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 23 Comments

When word got out that Irvine’s Newsong Church was in escrow to buy the landmark Santora building in Downtown Santa Ana, the artists community in our Downtown Artists Village area erupted.   

A group of artists concerned about the sale of downtown Santa Ana’s Santora building to Newsong Church said that City Councilman David Benavides’ attendance at the church’s services should preclude him from serving on an ad hoc committee examining the sale, according to the Voice of OC.

The Voice of OC also reported that “Some artists suspect that Benavides, who is a real estate agent, has a financial interest in the sale. They question whether Benavides is representing the artists’, the city’s or the church’s interests on the committee. He appeared in a video about the building and the city made for the Newsong congregation.” Continue reading→

Watch Disney/Pixar’s “Up” at the Santiago Park Nature Center on Friday night

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Family, Movies, Nature, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Watch the hit Disney/Pixar movie “Up” this Fridaynight, August 31, from 7:30pm to 9:30pm, at the Movie Night and Campfire at Santa Ana’s Santiago Park Nature Center., located at 600 E. Memory Lane, just east of Santiago Park.

Also, mark your calendars, Saturday September 15th is the Inner-Coastal Watershed Cleanup, from 9am to noon. The Santiago Park Nature Center will host a Creek Cleanup for the 16th Annual Inner-Coastal and Watershed Cleanup. The event will begin at 9am and end at noon. Continue reading→

Ward 3 Council candidate Alderete to host a fundraiser on 8/29 in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Entertainment, Eric Alderete, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana City Council candidate Eric Alderete, who was endorsed yesterday by the Democratic Party of Orange County, is hosting a fundraiser this Wednesday, August 29, from 6 to 8 pm, in Santa Ana, at the Benton House, located at 2311 N. Benton Way. Continue reading→

Advanced Sterilization Products volunteers to paint O.C. women’s shelter

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WISEPLACE AND ORANGE COUNTY UNITED WAY TO WELCOME ASP

ASP Volunteers to Paint Orange County Women’s Shelter

SANTA ANA, Calif. (Aug. 28, 2012) – WISEPlace and Orange County United Way (OCUW) join in welcoming volunteers from Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), a Johnson & Johnson Company focused on developing infection prevention solutions, August 29, in a day of community involvement and volunteering. The volunteers will dedicate an afternoon painting the exterior of the WISEPlace facility. Continue reading→

OC Film Fiesta features free films and music from Sep. 1-16

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

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: OC Film Fiesta Features Three Weekends of Films and Music Free Fest Celebrating Orange County’s Cinema Heritage Runs Sept. 1-16

The 3rd Annual OC Film Fiesta

returns to Santa Ana September 1-16 for a three-week cinematic celebration of Orange County’s multicultural heritage. Presented by the City of Santa Ana, the 2012 OC Film Fiesta takes place in Santa Ana’s vibrant downtown Artists Village.

The OC Film Fiesta presents an award-winning selection of feature films, documentaries, short films and activities for a diverse audience of families, students, artists, professionals and lovers of cinema from throughout the county. Continue reading→

Ruby’s Diner and Farmer’s Market now open at the John Wayne Airport

Posted on by Posted in Airplanes, Food, Orange County, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 28, 2012

For More Information, Contact: Jenny Wedge, John Wayne Airport, 949.252.5182, jwedge@ocair.com

Sarah Cody, HMSHost, 240.694.4403, sarah.cody@hmshost.com

RUBY’S DINER, RUBY’S TO GO AND FARMER’S MARKET BY LAGUNA CULINARY INSTITUTE NOW OPEN IN JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Three delicious new dining options are now open for business at John Wayne Airport: Ruby’s Diner, Ruby’s To Go and Farmer’s Market by Laguna Culinary Institute. Operated by HMSHost, all three venues are located between Gates 8 and 9 and opened to the traveling public on August 27, 2012. Continue reading→

The Orange County Democratic Party endorses Benavides for Mayor

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Eric Alderete, Myriam Tinajero, Politics, Santa Ana, Valerie Amezcua 44 Comments

Apparently the Orange County Democratic Party Central Committee endorsed the following Santa Ana candidates yesterday:

  • Loretta Sanchez for United States Congress (Re-Elect)
  • Councilman David Benavides for Mayor
  • Eric Alderete for City Council
  • Valerie Amezcua and Myriam Tinajero for the Santa Ana Unified School Board
  • Jose Solorio, Nelida Yanez and Mark McLoughlin for the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Education Continue reading→

Fiestas Patrias event in Santa Ana set for Sep. 15 and 16

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Food, Latinos, music, Santa Ana 5 Comments

CALLE CUATRO FIESTAS PATRIAS 2012 COMMERCIAL BOOTHS AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SANTA ANA, CA (Aug 22, 2012)- The 34th annual Calle Cua­tro Fes­ti­val, a two day cel­e­bra­tion com­mem­o­rat­ing Mexico’s inde­pen­dence, will take place at the famous Calle Cua­tro, 4th street, in Santa Ana on Sept 15th and 16th from 11am-10pm. MX LIVE Enter­tain­ment along with the City of Santa Ana along and Exi­tos 93.9 are pro­duc­ing the fes­ti­val which is con­sid­ered the biggest Mex­i­can inde­pen­dence day cel­e­bra­tion in the world out­side of Mex­ico. It will include live music and pre­sen­ta­tions by Latin Grammy and Bill­board Per­form­ing Artists. In pre­vi­ous years the crowd has enjoyed per­for­mances by Fobia, Gus­tavo Galindo, Ozomatli, Ceci Bastida, and more. Fies­tas Patrias also fea­tures a free 2 hour parade, fes­ti­val food, beer gar­den, car­ni­val rides and games, and com­mu­nity entertainment. Continue reading→

Mexican and Chicano Art at the Muck – opening reception on 8/30

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

Mexican and Chicano Art at the Muck – Gallery Opening Reception: Open Your Eyes/ Abre Los Ojos – August 30-November 4

Opening Reception Thursday . August 30 . 6:30 PM.  Special Performance by Ballet Folklorico Monte Alban at 7 PM.  Curator’s Walk Through November 1 . 6 PM.

To celebrate Fullerton’s Sister City of Morelia, Mexico, guest curator and celebrated artist José Lozano selects revered Mexican and Mexican–American art centered on the state of Michoacan from private collections in Southern California. Continue reading→

69th A.D. candidate Tom Daly didn’t buy a candidate’s statement

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Anaheim, Jose Moreno, Labor, Santa Ana, Tom Daly 4 Comments

Tom Daly, the Orange County Clerk-Recorder who was accused late last week of committing sexual harassment in the workplace, didn’t buy a candidate’s statement for the November General Election. Obvioulsy Daly felt at the time that he had the victory in the bag. Now that appears to be in question.

Daly has been losing support among area Democratic leaders for the past month. The sexual harassment accusations will hurt him even more as many in his party were not happy that he won in the June primary to begin with. Continue reading→