Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: October 2012

No sunshine for Reyna as he blows off Santa Ana business owners

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, 2012 Elections, Elections, Karina Onofre, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 40 Comments

It’s bad enough that Santa Ana City Council Ward 5 candidate Roman Reyna is supporting every single tax increase measure on the November ballot.  But yesterday he actually was the only City Council candidate to blow off and skip the Candidates Forum hosted by the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, at the Delhi Center.  And to make matters worse, I am told that he was a no show because he feels he has the election in the bag and he doesn’t need to “waste his time” showing up to meet business owners and voters.

Wow.  This from a guy who has never held a job in the private sector, as far as I can tell.  His last job was at the Santa Ana YMCA and before that he worked at the Santa Ana Boys and Girls Club.  Both are non-profits.   Continue reading→

Solorio Scholars Program seeks applicants for class of 2013

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

For Immediate Release: October 4, 2012

For More Information Contact: Carol Chamberlain – office: (916) 319-2069, mobile: (916) 804-5355

Solorio Scholars Program Seeks Applicants for Class of 2013

Central Orange County high school seniors from Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana
encouraged to apply for college application help and fees

SANTA ANA, CA — The Orange County Leadership Fund announced that this year’s application deadline to become a “Solorio Scholar,” a program created to inspire more high school students from central Orange County to apply for college, is October 31, 2012. Continue reading→

U.S. Rep. Sanchez to keynote at Career College of CA graduation

Posted on by Posted in Education, Entertainment, Loretta Sanchez, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN LORETTA SANCHEZ TO GIVE KEYNOTE SPEECH AT CAREER COLLEGE OF CALIFORNIA GRADUATION OCTOBER 5TH

More Than 300 Guests Will Celebrate at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana

Santa Ana, California – October 3, 2012 – Career College of California is holding its fall 2012 commencement exercises at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana on Friday, October 5th at 7:00 PM. The keynote speaker will be Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, currently serving her eighth term representing Santa Ana, Anaheim and Garden Grove in the U.S. House of Representatives. More than 300 guests are expected to attend the graduation ceremony to celebrate 40 graduates from the following programs: Business Office Administration, Medical Assistant, Medical Front Office with Billing and Coding and Paralegal. Continue reading→

¡Adelante! program reducing dropout rate at Santa Ana College

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 4, 2012
Contact: Judy Iannaccone , Director, Communications , Phone: (714) 480-7503, e-mail: iannaccone_judy@rsccd.edu

Santa Ana ¡Adelante! Reaps Benefits for Local Students

Lumina Foundation Investment in Latino Student Success Key to Our Economic Future

(Santa Ana)—In its second year, the Santa Ana ¡Adelante! program is showing signs of significantly enhancing student success at Santa Ana College (SAC). In fall 2011, 1,094 Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) graduates entered SAC as the first cohort of students to benefit from this effort to boost student success and graduation rates. Of these students, 754 students have persisted and remain enrolled in their third semester of classes this fall. This represents 68.9 percent of the original cohort. Continue reading→

Feds award $250K to Santa Ana College to help veterans

Posted on by Posted in Education, Federal Government, Loretta Sanchez, Military, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 47th Congressional District
PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 28, 2012
MEDIA CONTACT: Adrienne Watson, 202-309-0825

SANCHEZ ANNOUNCES $250,000 GRANT TO SANTA ANA COLLEGE FOR VETERANS UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) announced today that Santa Ana College has been awarded $250,000.00 in grant funds for the Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) program. The funds will help military veterans receive the skills they need to successfully continue their educations beyond a high school diploma or GED. Continue reading→

OC Labor Fed failed to review Benavides’ and Sarmiento’s outsourcing history

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, David Benavides, Labor, Orange County, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 9 Comments

The OC Labor Federation says it’s highly opposed to elected officials contracting-out city services to private companies. It’s a top principle of theirs and for example drives the OC Employees Association’s political campaign against the City of Costa Mesa’s current city council.

But — the OC Labor Federation endorsed both Santa Ana Councilmember Benavides for Mayor and Councilmember Sarmiento for re-election. Hello — don’t they know this Council has been privatizing like crazy!  Not just graffiti and landscaping services a couple of years ago, but this year alone they contracted out parking management services and street sweeping services. Hundreds of thousands of dollars and dozens of employees jobs given away to for-profit companies. This may not be all bad, but labor leaders claim it is. Continue reading→

Downtown Santa Ana Art Walk set for this Saturday, Oct. 6

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

It is time once more for the First Saturday of the Month Downtown Santa Ana Art Walk, this Saturday, Oct. 6, starting at about 7 pm.

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.

Here are a few highlights of this Saturday’s events and happenings: Continue reading→

Themgoods blading goods grand opening set for 10/5

Posted on by Posted in Business, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Themgoods Distribution, a retailer of blades and related supplies, is celebrating their Grand Opening on Friday, October 5, 2012, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 305 East 4th St. #103, in Santa Ana.

The Grand Opening takes place right before the Strange Creatures Premiere at the Yost Theater.  Continue reading→

Free Discovery Science Center admission for kids with Eco Challenge

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

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County, Community Alert:

Recycle and Get FREE Entry to the Discovery Science Center!

SANTA ANA, CA (October 3, 2012) – The City of Santa Ana and Waste Management invite residents to take the Eco Challenge on Sundays throughout October and November for free admission for children! Continue reading→

Benavides endorsed by more unions

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, David Benavides, Elections, Labor, Politics, Santa Ana 7 Comments

Orange County’s “First Responders” Back David Benavides for Mayor

Earns Support of Police, Sheriffs and Firefighters Based on No-Nonsense Attitude Toward Public Safety

Santa Ana, CA– Applauding his commitment to public safety throughout his career in public service, the Orange County Coalition of Police and Sheriffs (OC COPS) and the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 3631 announced their support of David Benavides for Mayor.

“On the City Council, David has worked to increase the safety and quality of Santa Ana’s neighborhoods by providing law enforcement with the tools they need to fight crime on all fronts,” said Kerry Condon, Chairman of OC COPS, that represents the collective voice of thousands of sworn public safety officers serving throughout Orange County. “His no-nonsense attitude toward crime and criminals throughout his career in public service has earned our trust and respect.” Continue reading→

Video footage of Santa Ana’s mayoral candidates at a Sep. forum

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Elections, George Collins, Lupe Moreno, Miguel Angel Briseno, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Roy Alvarado, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Santa Ana mayoral candidate George Collins is best known in town for one thing – he always brings a video camera along, wherever he goes.  He brought his camera early in September to the Connect to Council Santa Ana Council Candidates Forum.

The footage of the Council candidates was marred by poor sound, which was the fault of the event organizers and the facility, not Collins, but his mayoral candidate footage came out pretty sharp.  You can see it atop this post. Continue reading→

Reviewing Mayor Miguel Pulido’s accomplishments

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Arts and Culture, Elections, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 15 Comments

It seems like many of our readers have forgotten how much Santa Ana has improved under Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido’s leadership.  Rather than try to make the point myself, I am excerpting a recent article from the Santa Ana Sentinel, by Omar Avalos Gallegos:

 Editor’s Desk: Why I’m Voting for Pulido

It’s apparent that some people need more detailed explanations as to why Pulido should remain mayor.

People need to either A) be informed of what this mayor has done over time or B) be reminded of what this mayor has done over time. Continue reading→

2012 Candidates Forum to be held tonight at the Delhi Center

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Business, David Benavides, Elections, Entertainment, Eric Alderete, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 16 Comments

Don’t miss the 2012 Candidates Forum that will be hosted today,.from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, by the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, at the Delhi Center, which is located at 505 E. Central Ave., in Santa Ana.

Think Together’s Director, Randy Barth, will be serving as the forum moderator.  The forum is supposed to offer a business perspective.   Continue reading→

SAUSD children to try to set a reading record on 10/4 at Heninger Elementary

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

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 2, 2012

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

Santa Ana USD children to join the Bug Squad and help set world reading record on October 4, 2012 at Heninger Elementary School

Event: Dressed in their fun pajamas and antennas, hundreds of pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students at Heninger Elementary School will join 2 million children across the country in listening to the popular story book Lady Bug Girl and the Bug Squad provided to the school by the Pearson Foundation. Read for the Record is a national event, which promotes quality early childhood education for at-risk children ages 0-5 and reading to help close the early education achievement gap. The media is invited to attend the record-breaking reading event which is part of the national Jumpstart’s Read for the Record campaign. Each child will take home their own copy of Lady Bug Girl and the Bug Squad by David Soman and Jacky Davis thanks to a donation of 400 books by the Pearson Foundation. For every book read online as part of the Read for Our Schools campaign, the Pearson Foundation will donate a brand new copy of Lady Bug Girl and the Bug Squad to children in need. Continue reading→

Santanero Zine wants you to zombify Santa Ana’s mayoral candidates!

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Arts and Culture, David Benavides, Lupe Moreno, Politics, Santa Ana 16 Comments

Santanero Zine, a publication written by members of the artist community in Santa Ana, is having a fun contest just in time for Halloween, the Dia de los Muertos and the upcoming Nov. 6 General Election.  Santanero would like artists to submit their paintings/drawings of any mayoral candidate of their choice as a zombie.

The deadline is October 25th. Along with their submission, artists can include a 40 to 50 word bio and/or their contact info. Continue reading→