New Santa Ana | Monthly Archives: June 2013

Catch the OC Fair Express and get into the Fair for only $3!

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Costa Mesa, OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

Save a Busload on The OC Fair Express!

The Orange County Fair is on July 12, 2013 through August 11, 2013 and the best way to get there is on the OC Fair Express! The OC Fair Express provides direct bus service to and from the fair from nine convenient locations for just $2.00 each way. You can catch the OC Fair Express any Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the fair starting July 12, 2013.

All OC Express customers also receive a coupon good for $3 Fair Admission—that’s up to $8 off. So skip traffic and save on parking and admission with the OC Fair Express! Continue reading→

The SAPD has reportedly shut down their Strike Force/SWAT Team

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Rojas, Civic Affairs, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana 11 Comments

The Santa Ana Police Department’s decorated Strike Force, which acted as the city’s SWAT team, has been disbanded, by Acting Chief of Police Carlos Rojas, according to an insider who tipped us off this evening.

I am told that Chief Rojas is calling this a budget move but the truth may be more sinister. Rojas called the Strike Force into a meeting recently and he told them essentially that they had not accomplished anything and that he had heard that they were talking about him behind his back. He told them no one at the SAPD thought the Strike Force was a good idea, which I am told is untrue. He apparently also belittled them and their past successes.

Continue reading→

Free 4th of July celebration and fireworks show at Centennial Park today

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Family, Military Leave a comment

Celebrate Independence Day early, at Centennial Park in Santa Ana. Visit the park on Sunday, June 30th, for a fun filled day of live music, food, and patriotic entertainment, starting at 4 pm. The celebration will be capped off with a fireworks show at 9:00 pm!

The event features: Continue reading→

Santa Ana daily crime report for June 29, 2013

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

This is our newest feature – a daily crime report for the City of Santa Ana, courtesy of our friends at CrimeMapping.com.

The information below pertains to crimes committed on June 29, 2013. As you will see, there is never a dull moment in Orange County’s Downtown – Santa Ana.

Type Description Case # Location Agency Date Map It

SAMC Violations2013-18081200 BLOCK N BROADWAYSanta Ana Police6/29/2013 9:06:00 PMMap It
Vehicle Theft2013-180772200 BLOCK W 14TH STSanta Ana Police6/29/2013 9:05:00 PMMap It
Domestic Violence2013-180752200 BLOCK W LA VERNE AVSanta Ana Police6/29/2013 7:47:00 PMMap It Continue reading→

OC Pride Festival set for August 10 in Downtown Santa Ana

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Arts and Culture, Dance, Entertainment, Food, music, Santa Ana 8 Comments

The Orange County Equality Coalition (OCEC) is once again hosting the Orange County Pride Festival in Santa Ana, on August 10, 2013, from 12 noon to 10 pm, on Fourth Street, between Broadway and Ross in Santa Ana, CA.

The free festival will be a full day event from 12pm to 10pm in order to accommodate time for festival goers to enjoy all that the event has to offer. There will be hours of high energy performances on the main stage, over a dozen DJ’s playing various music selections in two dance areas, hundreds of exhibitor tents, a beer and wine garden, a family friendly Kids Club, interesting and educational workshops at our Rainbow Symposium and delicious food from local vendors. Continue reading→

Gay marriage could be a big financial boon to Santa Ana

Posted on June 30, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Business, Courts, LGBT, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Orange County Clerk-Recorder, Hugh Nguyen, will begin performing gay marriages this Monday, during its normal business hours at its offices in Santa Ana, Fullerton and Laguna Hills offices, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Orange County will be prepared to issue same-sex licenses at its normal business hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the main offices in Santa Ana, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at branch offices, an office spokeswoman said.

Gay marriage could be a huge boon to Santa Ana businesses, particularly those in Downtown Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Free family festival at Santa Ana’s OCCTAC today

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Family, Food, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center is hosting a free family festival today, June 29, 2013, with student performances, games, food, art activities, a book give-away, drawings and more.

It takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the center, 2215 N. Broadway. The nonprofit combines arts, academics and creative therapies to serve at-risk youth. Click here to RSVP on Facebook. Continue reading→

NE Santa Ana Major All Stars to face off against Tustin Eastern today

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Baseball, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Come out this morning at 10 am to the South Sunrise Little League on Prospect Ave., between Chapman and La Veta, to support the Northeast Santa Ana Little League (NESALL) Major Team All Stars. They are facing the tough Tustin Eastern Major Team All Stars.

NESALL’s Major Team All Stars have been terrific this year and this should be a thrilling game with lots of home runs. Continue reading→

S.A. High School’s Wrestling Team wants to sell you some fireworks

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Education, Santa Ana, Sports Leave a comment

Santa Ana High School’s Wrestling Team is selling fireworks once more for the 4th of July. This is their annual fundraiser and they really need the money to buy wrestling uniforms & shoes, pay tournament fees and travelling expenses for county & state competitions.

WHAT: SA Wrestling Firework Stand Fundraiser
WHERE: Fairview & McArthur, SA (across Calvary Chapel HS)
WHEN: July 1st, 12 pm-10 pm / July 2nd & 3rd, 9 am-10 pm / July 4th, 9 am-8 pm Continue reading→

SAPD to honor Sgt. John Aguilar, who died in the line of duty in 1998

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory:

Police Department will be dedicating a plaque and portrait to Sergeant John Aguilar who died in the line of duty 1998

Details: Sergeant John Alfred Aguilar grew up in Santa Ana, so it was only natural that he returned to his community as part of the Santa Ana Police Department. He dedicated himself to ridding his neighborhood of drugs and helping out the people in his community whenever he could. John began his law enforcement career in 1978 with the Orange Police Department, often working undercover purchasing narcotics. In 1984, he joined the Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement. Assigned to the Clandestine Lab Unit, John participated in raids and seizures of many labs as well as numerous undercover operations. Continue reading→

John Wayne Airport’s 4th of July travel tips

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Airplanes, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2013
Contact: Jenny Wedge, (949) 252-5182, jwedge@ocair.com

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT OFFERS IMPORTANT TIPS FOR FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY TRAVEL

SANTA ANA, Calif. – John Wayne Airport (JWA) anticipates a busier-than-normal travel period from Friday, June 28 through Sunday, July 7 during the Fourth of July holiday. Passengers are reminded that fireworks are prohibited and should be left at home.

Visitors to JWA during this holiday period should be aware of ongoing construction activities around the Riley Terminal, exercise caution when navigating Airport roadways and follow posted speed limits. Continue reading→

Woman gets life after whacking off her hubbie’s penis and disposing of it

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Catherine Kieu, 50, Garden Grove

A Garden Grove woman was sentenced to life in state prison with the possibility of parole for cutting off her husband’s penis and running it through a garbage disposal. Catherine Kieu, 50, was found guilty of torture and aggravated mayhem in April for the July 2011 attack, according to CBS News.

Kieu was convicted on April 29, 2013, of torturing a man, with whom she had a romantic relationship, by cutting off his penis after tying him to his bed following an argument. Catherine Kieu, 50, Garden Grove, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of torture, one felony count of aggravated mayhem, and a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a knife. She faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison with the possibility of parole at her sentencing June 28, 2013, in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

The deadline to start paying for five year tax defaulted property is 7/1

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in OC Treasurer, Orange County, Santa Ana, Taxes Leave a comment

OFFICE OF THE TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR
SHARI L. FREIDENRICH, CPA, CCMT, CPFA, ACPFIM

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2013

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

Deadline to Start Installment Plan for Five Year Tax Defaulted Property is July 1

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari L. Freidenrich, states that July 1 is the last day for an owner of real property to initiate a Five Year Installment Plan for property that has delinquent taxes outstanding for five or more years. The property owner must qualify to enter into an Installment Plan by meeting certain criteria. All property that has been tax defaulted for five or more years may be subject to tax auction by the Treasurer-Tax Collector unless they are currently on a Five Year Installment Plan. If these tax-defaulted properties over five years do not have an installment plan initiated by July 1, the only way to avoid the tax auction is to pay 100% of the taxes, penalties, and fees levied on the property prior to the date of the next tax auction. Continue reading→

425 pound gang banger who grabbed a child and sniffed him is sentenced

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Courts, Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 2 Comments

A 56-year-old man, accused of grabbing a 10-year-old boy and sniffing his arm, was sentenced to 32 months in prison Thursday after pleading guilty. Victor Joseph Espinoza of Santa Ana, who weighs 425 pounds, pleaded guilty to a false imprisonment charge. His rap sheet includes a conviction as a gang member, according to CBS News.

CBS also reported that “In exchange for his guilty plea, charges of street terrorism and a sentencing enhancement for gang activity were dismissed.” Continue reading→