Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: December 2012

Drop off items to help the homeless at Chapter One: the Modern Local today

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Entertainment, homeless, Restaurants, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Hygiene kits for the homeless

Santa Ana’s Chapter One: the Modern Local restaurant is serving as a collection site today, Dec. 16, at 11 am, for items to donate to the local homeless.  Chapter One is located at 227 N Broadway, in Downtown Santa Ana.  Click here to like them on Facebook.  The event was put together by Elsy Mejia and Maria Mejia.

“Passing Out Smiles”

In the struggle to find food and a safe place to sleep, homeless people find it difficult to acquire basic items such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, and toothbrushes–things we probably take for granted every day.

Without these items, simple hygienic activities such as brushing their teeth or washing their hands are not only challenging but often out of the realm of possibility. Continue reading→

Celebrate the “Holiday with the Critters” at the Santa Ana Zoo tonight

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Family, Nature, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Holiday with the critters

This Saturday night, December 15, from 5:30-8 PM, it’s the annual “Holidays With the Critters!”  Come celebrate the holiday season with us at the Santa Ana Zoo.

We had a blast last night doing the Dreamnight event, and now we’re ready to do it all over again for you and your family!
The Zoo entrance and Farm area will feature live entertainment, exciting animal presentations, sparkling lights and holiday decorations, games, holiday storytelling, fun interactive crafts, five “treat” stations with big prizes including an additional “prize” station, and more! Frolic in the snowflakes flurrying around the front entrance. Santa Clause will be there so the kids can give him their wish lists. Continue reading→

Can Solorio take Correa’s State Senate seat in 2014?

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Claudia Alvarez, Democratic Party, Elections, Janet Nguyen, Joe Dovinh, Jose Solorio, Julio Perez, Lou Correa, Politics, Santa Ana, Tom Daly 9 Comments

Jose Solorio no mustache

Jose Solorio no longer has to fly to Sacramento every week to do business in the State Legislature, having termed out as our Assemblyman in the 69th Assembly District.  Reportedly he has his eyes on State Senator Lou Correa’s seat in the 34th State Senate District, which will open up in 2014.

Solorio was just elected to the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Education, where he was quickly appointed the Board Vice President.  He might be the most overqualified School Board Trustee in Orange County – but it is great to see him leading a new Latino majority on a board that once was almost lily white. Continue reading→

New Trustees installed on the Rancho Santiago CCD Board of Trustees

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Arianna Barrios, Claudia Alvarez, Education, Jose Solorio, Larry Labrado, Nelida Mendoza-Yanez, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees 2013

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2012

Contact: Judy Iannaccone , Director, Communications Phone: (714) 480-7503, e-mail: iannaccone_judy@rsccd.edu

Four Trustees Installed on the Rancho Santiago CCD Board of Trustees, Officers Elected

(Santa Ana)— On Monday, December 10, at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) Board of Trustees, four newly elected trustees were sworn into office. They include Claudia C. Alvarez representing Area 5, Arianna P. Barrios representing Area 7, Jose Solorio representing Area 1, and Nelida Mendoza Yanez representing Area 3.

The installation ceremony featured a number of community leaders administering the oaths of office and serving as witnesses. Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas issued the oath of office to Alvarez. Orange Mayor Tita Smith administered the oath of office to Barrios; her father Russell Barrios served as witness. Judge Salvador Sarmiento issued the oath of office to Yanez; Senator Lou Correa served as witness. Correa administered the oath of office to Solorio. Continue reading→

New Year’s Eve 2013 parties and events in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Costa Mesa, music, Restaurants, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Original Mike's New Years Eve

UPDATE: Click here for info about the 2014 New Year’s Eve events in and around Santa Ana.

Original Mike’s is hosting a New Year’s Eve Bash that will feature “Balance” in the Main Room, along with DJ Rico. DJ C-Los will be in Studio 51. They will have a Guest DJ. Champagne Toasts at Midnight.

Here are a lot more great New Year’s Eve parties and events going on in and around Santa Ana this year (if I did not list your event please send me the info): Continue reading→

The SAPD receives a $177K grant to improve traffic safety

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

Santa Ana Police Department

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES GRANT FOR SPECIAL TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND CRASH PREVENTION

The Santa Ana Police Department has been awarded a $177,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on our roadways through special enforcement and public awareness efforts. The grant received by Santa Ana will aid in the city’s ongoing effort to improve traffic safety and the quality of life. Santa Ana Police Department will use the funding as part of an on-going commitment to keep our roadways safe through both enforcement and education. Continue reading→

City of Santa Ana notice of City Council reorganization

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Elections, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana Downtown Orange County Community Alert:

NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION

SANTA ANA, CA (December 12, 2012) – At a Special Meeting of the Santa Ana City Council held on December 11, 2012, the City Council reorganized as follows: Continue reading→

SAPD DUI checkpoint set for this Saturday, 12/15, at 2100 N. Main St.

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

SAPD DUI Checkpoint

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory:

Police Department conducting DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Saturday, Dec 15th 2012 7:30- 1:30AM in the area of 2100 N. Main St

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Saturday, December 15th, 2012. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 2100 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA. Continue reading→

Jose Hernandez to serve as President of the SAUSD School Board

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Cecilia Iglesias, Education, John Palacio, Jose Hernandez, Politics, Rob Richardson, Santa Ana, SAUSD 10 Comments

SAUSD School Board

Re-elected and Newly elected Board Members Officially Installed 

Mr. Rob Richardson and Mr. Jose Hernandez will serve another term on the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education after being re-elected by the voters of the Santa Ana community. They will be joined by newly elected Board Member, Ms. Cecilia Iglesias, and current Board Members, Dr. Audrey Yamagata-Noji and Mr. John Palacio. Mr. Richardson, Mr. Hernandez, and Mrs. Iglesias were installed during the December 11, 2012 meeting of the Board of Education. Continue reading→

City of Santa Ana wins top Public Works projects APWA Awards

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

APWA

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County Community Alert:

Public Works Projects Noted For Innovative and Collaborative Approaches: Santa Ana Wins Top APWA Awards

SANTA ANA, CA (December 12, 2012) – The City of Santa Ana will receive three 2012 Project of The Year Awards from the Southern California Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA). The city was honored at the APWA’s 13th Annual Awards Luncheon in Lakewood, California, where public agencies are recognized for their outstanding capital improvement projects and public works programs. Continue reading→

The SAPD arrests a doctor who had child porn on his computer

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Dr. Pete Thomas

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory:

Santa Ana Police Detectives arrest Doctor for possession of Child Pornography

The Santa Ana Police were made aware of child pornography images on a doctor’s computer after a technician discovered the images while servicing the company computers. The doctor’s computer was seized. Detectives conducted an extensive investigation and found over 1,000 images of child porn and data that linked the doctor, Dr. Pete Thomas of Coastline Podiatry in Santa Ana to the computer. Continue reading→

Tinajero selected unanimously as the new Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Planning, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 29 Comments

Sal Tinajero and Eric Alderete

In the end, Santa Ana Councilman David Benavides realized he was outnumbered and so he sucked it up and made the motion tonight to select his colleague, Council Member Sal Tinajero, as the new Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem.

The rest of the fading Team Benavides tucked their tails twixt their legs and followed suit – one by one they all seconded the motion and finally Mayor Miguel Pulido, who was so horribly attacked by Benavides during this year’s mayoral campaign, announced that, by proclamation, the clear choice was Tinajero.  And just like that the “Santa Ana Spring” was over. Continue reading→

SAPD detectives make arrests in 1995 cold case murder

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Detectives make arrests in 1995 Cold Case Murder

  • Arrestee: Gianni Anthony Van LKA Costa Mesa
  • Arrestee: Diane Tran LKA Irvine
  • Arrestee: Norma Patricia Esparza
  • Suspect: Shannon Ray Gries LKA Colorado (Currently listed as Fugitive)
  • Suspect: Kody Tran LKA Irvine (Deceased)

On April 16, 1995 Gonzalo Ramirez (12/06/1970) was kidnapped in Santa Ana. His body was found in the City of Irvine the next day. He was wrapped in fabric, and had been stabbed numerous times. Continue reading→

Blanket, scarf and sock drive to benefit the homeless set for this weekend

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Entertainment, homeless, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A Blanket/Scarf/Sock Drive to benefit the homeless, sponsored by the Mental Health Association of Orange County, has been set for this weekend, December 15-16, from 8 am to 5 pm, at Lillie King Park 500 W. Alton Ave., in Santa Ana.

Complimentary Hot Chocolate will be served and the event will be hosted by two Santa Ana high school students that are making a difference  For more Information/Pick Up contact 302santana@gmail.com or call (714) 478-3732 – (714) 492-0200.