New Santa Ana | Monthly Archives: March 2014

SAUSD Trustee Cecilia Iglesias announces her campaign for the 69th A.D.

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Cecilia Iglesias, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Unified School District Trustee Cecilia Iglesias Enters 69th District Assembly Race

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2014

ORANGE COUNTY, CA – School Board Trustee Cecilia “Ceci” Iglesias kicked off her campaign on Wednesday at the Mexicanisimo Restaurant in Santa Ana. With a large coalition of supporters, Iglesias enters the race as the leading Republican for the seat.

“My campaign is about putting our community first and not letting the Sacramento political establishment dictate what is best for the residents of Santa Ana, Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Orange,” Iglesias said. “My goal is to reach out to all residents of the 69th District to tell them that I will work to represent our entire community, regardless of political affiliation.” Continue reading→

Student at NOVA Academy Charter school arrested after making death threats

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Education, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory

Student makes death threats at School suspect arrested

On 3-17-2014, at approximately 7 PM, the principal at NOVA Academy Charter School (1010 West 17th Street) called the Santa Ana Police Department to report that one of the school’s students had sent threatening emails to his ex-girlfriend, who is also a student at the school.

The suspect, a 16 year old sophomore, mailed the ex-girlfriend stating that he had a “hit list” of people who he was going to shoot at the school and added that he was going to recruit other students to help him carry out the planned shooting. He made no threats to the ex-girlfriend but mentioned that he was tired of being bullied. Continue reading→

Westminster man to face trial for soliciting the murder of his wife

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13CF0340/13CF1025: March 17, 2014

HUSBAND TO FACE TRIAL FOR 2004 SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES CONSPIRACY-MURDER BY SOLICITING MURDER OF WIFE

SANTA ANA – A husband will face a jury trial tomorrow for the 2004 solicitation-murder of his wife. Magdi Faiz Girgis, 61, Westminster, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder, one felony count of conspiracy to commit murder, and one felony count of false imprisonment by violence, and sentencing enhancements for murder for financial gain and murder to prevent testimony. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility. Opening statements are scheduled to begin tomorrow morning, Tuesday, March 18, 2014, in Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Irvine man to face trial for raping two women in Irvine and Newport Beach

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, irvine Leave a comment

Picture courtesy of KABC

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 11HF1885: March 17, 2014

MAN TO FACE TRIAL FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO WOMEN IN IRVINE AND NEWPORT BEACH

SANTA ANA – A man is scheduled to face trial tomorrow for the sexual assaults of two women in Irvine and Newport Beach. Travis Dewayne Batten, Jr., 31, Irvine, is charged with two felony counts of forcible rape, one felony count each of assault with intent to commit a sexual offense, assault with intent to commit a sexual offense during the commission of first degree burglary, sodomy by force, sexual penetration by foreign object by force, dissuading a witness by force or threat, kidnapping to commit a sex offense, and first degree residential burglary. He also faces sentencing enhancement allegations for committing sexual offenses during the commission of a burglary and tying up or binding a person. If convicted, Batten faces a maximum sentence of 176 years to life in state prison. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, March 18, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. in Department C-27, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Learn how to watch the cops at a CopWatch seminar on March 22

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Interested in direct action and applying it in Santa Ana? Are you down for self-defense and self-determination? Want to help out in the checkpoints, community/school workshops, community patrols, etc…? Tired of facebook, voting, fake politicians and want to take it to the streets? Do you want to know what it’s all about and how to do it?

Then Copwatch Santa Ana might be for you! The seminar is set for Saturday, March 22, 2014, from 6 to 8 pm at 313 N. Birch St., in Santa Ana. RSVP on Facebook here. Continue reading→

ACLU to speak about homelessnesss in the OC on 3/18 in Costa Mesa

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Churches and Religion, Costa Mesa, homeless, Santa Ana 1 Comment

In Orange County, thousands of persons experience homelessness in a given year. Many remain homeless because they cannot access affordable housing, permanent supportive housing, medical care or benefits. Due to the lack of year-round emergency shelter, many homeless individuals are forced to live in public spaces and face criminal penalties for engaging in necessary activities – like sleeping in public – that are a direct result of their homeless status.

Join Heather Johnson, ACLU SoCal staff attorney on the Dignity for All Project, and community members for an important discussion on homelessness in Orange County and learn what you can do to help. Continue reading→

5K Run/Walk in memory of ret. SAPD Sgt. Centanni’s son who died in Afghanistan

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Military, Orange County, Santa Ana 3 Comments

2nd Annual Centanni-Cottle Memorial 5K Run and Walk

On March 24, 2010, Marines Sgt. Major Robert “RJ” Cottle and LCpl Rick Centanni were killed by an IED in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Cottle was a Police Sergeant from the LAPD, who left a wife and one-year old daughter and Centanni was the 19 -year old son – and only child – of Jon Centanni, a retired gang unit sergeant from the Santa Ana Police Department. Continue reading→

The OC DUI Task Force will be looking for drunk drivers on St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock (714) 904-7042, Gail Krause, (714) 623-8940

Designate a Sober Driver on St. Patrick’s Day

SANTA ANA, Calif. – (March 15, 2014) — With St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and the Orange County “Avoid the 38” DUI Task Force are reminding drivers not to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than 269 people were senselessly killed nationwide in crashes involving drunk drivers during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday from 2007 to 2011. Those fatalities were preventable. Continue reading→

Learn how financial peace can change your life at 10Ten starting on 3/23

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Churches and Religion, Education, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Newsong Church of Santa Ana, which is known as 10Ten, is hosting a life-changing class called Financial Peace University, taught by Dave Ramsey and the FPU teaching team on video and coordinated by Jossh Gladness that will help you to achieve your financial goals by showing you how to eliminate debt, save for the future, and give like never before.

You will be challenged and motivated to make a plan for your money and change your family tree forever. This changes EVERYTHING! Your money. Your story. Your life. Learn God’s ways of handling money with Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University! The average turnaround is $8,000 in just the first three months!

Class Information: Continue reading→

Celebrate Los San Patricios tonight at El Centro Cultural de Mexico

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Historical, Latinos, mexico, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Join El Centro Cultural de Mexico for their 5th Annual San Patricios commemorative and educational event.

They will have Keltic/Irish and Indigenous/Mexican food, folk music from both cultures and a documentary about the San Patricio struggle.

The Saint Patrick’s Battalion (Spanish: Batallón de San Patricio), formed and led by Jon Riley, was a unit of 175 to several hundred immigrants (accounts vary) and expatriates of European descent who fought as part of the Mexican Army against the United States in theMexican–American War of 1846-8. Most of the battalion’s members had deserted or defected from the United States Army.
Continue reading→

CHP Amber Alert – Four kids abducted in L.A.

Posted on March 15, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Enrique Felix

CHP Amber Alert

FOUR CHILDREN WERE ABDUCTED IN LOS ANGELES, CA. THE SUSPECTS ARE POSSIBLY DRIVING A DARK COLORED CHRYSLER PT CRUISER.

THIS IS AN AMBER ALERT MESSAGE FROM THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL.

A CHILD ABDUCTION OCCURRED ON MARCH 14, AT 12:30 PM, IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. THE CHILDREN’S NAMES ARE JUSTIN FELIX, A 5-YEAR-OLD HISPANIC MALE, ENRIQUE FELIX, A 7-YEAR-OLD HISPANIC MALE, VERONICA FELIX, A 1-YEAR-OLD HISPANIC FEMALE, AND JANETH FELIX, A 1-YEAR-OLD HISPANIC FEMALE. Continue reading→

Aging adults still run Santa Ana even though the population is much younger

Posted on March 15, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Neighborhood Associations, Phil Bacerra, Planning, Santa Ana, Seniors 21 Comments

People over 65 make up only 6.8% of the City of Santa Ana, according to the U.S. Census – but they still rule this town.

Here’s how that works. Take a look at the Santa Ana Neighborhood Associations – they are mostly made up of adults over 45. The average member is closer to 65.

We live in the youngest city in Santa Ana. Over 30% of our population is under 30! There are 56,000 kids enrolled in the SAUSD’s K-12 schools (source – SAUSD)- and that does not include the Santa Ana schoolchildren who go to private schools or are in the Garden Grove Unified School District. Continue reading→

WEConnect free ObamaCare and Resource Fair set for 3/15 at Santa Ana High

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Health and Medical, Loretta Sanchez, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 46th Congressional District

ADVISORY, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2014

MEDIA CONTACT: Barb Solish, 202-226-8373, Barb.Solish@mail.house.gov

REP. LORETTA TO ENCOURAGE COVERED CA ENROLLMENT AT SANTA ANA RESOURCE FAIR

Garden Grove, Calif. – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), continuing her effort to connect Orange County residents with in-person, bilingual enrollment services, will speak at the WEConnect Health Care Enrollment and Resource Fair at 9:00 a.m. TOMORROW, Saturday, March 15, 2014 at Santa Ana High School, 520 W. Walnut, Santa Ana, CA,92701. Continue reading→

Newport Beach teacher from Santa Ana charged with abusing over 400 snakes

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Education, Newport Beach, OCDA, Pets, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 14CF0670: March 14, 2014

SCHOOL TEACHER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR ANIMAL ABUSE AFTER HOARDING AND IMPROPERLY HOUSING OVER 400 SNAKES

SANTA ANA – A Newport Beach elementary school teacher is scheduled to be arraigned Monday for animal abuse after hoarding and improperly housing over 400 snakes. William Frederick Buchman, 53, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of animal abuse by a caretaker. If convicted, Buchman faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison. He is out of custody on his own recognizance and is expected to be arraigned Monday, March 17, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

More measles cases confirmed in Yorba Linda and in Mission Viejo

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County Leave a comment

Seven Confirmed Measles Cases in Orange County

(Santa Ana) – The Orange County Health Care Agency has confirmed seven cases of measles in Orange County in 2014, which is consistent with an increase seen throughout California. The most recent cases spent time in public locations in Orange County while contagious.

“We expect to see additional measles cases in Orange County, increasing the likelihood that you and your family may be exposed to the disease,” said Dr. Eric Handler, Public Health Officer for the County of Orange. “These new measles cases underscore the importance of making sure that you and your families are up to date with the MMR vaccination.”

Potential exposure locations and times include: Continue reading→