Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: April 2014

Martial arts seminar set for this Sunday at the Wiseplace in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Santa Ana, Sports, Youth Activities Leave a comment

SCMAC

The Southern California Martial Arts Championship Kick-Off will launch with a martial arts seminar this Sunday, May 4, 2014, at the Wiseplace in Santa Ana, at 1411 North Broadway.  There will be referee instructions for the current World Karate Federation tournament rules and regulations.

SEMINARS:

  • Kumite (Sparring) Techniques for competeing at national and international level
  • Kata (Forms) Learning the correct Focus, Stances, and Movement to demonstrate strong kata techniques
  • Kobudo: (weapons) Basic concepts for using traditional Okinawan Weapons.

This event is open to the public and all are invited to attend and participate. Continue reading→

Santa Ana cops to crack down on Cinco de Mayo cruising

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department
Advisory: Police Department – Cinco de Mayo (Monday, May 5th) cruiser enforcement

In an effort to provide a safe environment and minimize the impact on our local neighborhoods, the Santa Ana Police Department will be deploying extra police personnel to deal with the influx of cruiser activity experienced on Cinco de Mayo (Monday, May 5th).

In years past, the City of Santa Ana has contended with large crowds, congested roadways, criminal activity, and quality of life issues that affect our residents, businesses and visitors. Therefore, to mitigate these issues, an increased police presence, lane restrictions and road closures will be in effect in the areas of Bristol Street from 17th Street to Callen’s Common, Main Street from 17th Street to Dyer Road, Edinger Avenue from Main Street to Raitt Street and Harbor Boulevard between Westminster Avenue and Edinger Avenue. Continue reading→

Fundraising reception for OC Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen set for 5/1

Posted on by Posted in Hugh Nguyen, OC Clerk-Recorder, Sean Mill, Tustin Leave a comment

Hugh Nguyen Fundraiser

A fundraising reception for OC Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen will be hosted by Sean Mill and Tina M. Estrada on May 1, 2014, from 6 to 8 pm, at the home of Carlos Velasquez, at 2335 Portrait Way in Tustin.

The event will feature special guests OC Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and OCDA Tony Rackauckas. Continue reading→

You could win a free bike at Bike to Work event on May 7

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

Santa Ana Bike Ride to Work

City of Santa Ana

Community: PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVING & EARN A CHANCE TO WIN A FREE BICYCLE AT UPCOMING ‘BIKE TO WORK’ EVENT MAY 7TH

SANTA ANA, CA (April 8, 2014) – The City & OCTA invite everyone to participate in Bike to Work Day on May 7th. The event begins at 7am at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center and will include a blessing of the bikes ceremony before biking to City Hall at 8am. This event is being held to encourage residents to be active, bike to work, and promote healthy living. We are very excited to have Jax Bicycle Center participate and partner with the City to give participants an opportunity to win prizes including two bicycles. Continue reading→

High wind warning in effect through Thursday

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

Santa Ana wind damage

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: High wind warning in effect through Thursday, contact Public Works to report windstorm related service requests

The City of Santa Ana has experienced high winds with gusts reaching between 40-60 MPH since Tuesday, April 29, 2014, with a high wind warning in effect through Thursday evening. Since Tuesday, City of Santa Ana Public Works Staff have been continuously taking action to address the high volume of public service requests ranging from tree limbs and debris on roadways to providing traffic control.

Members of the public are encouraged to contact the Public Works Agency Dispatch Hotline at (714) 647-3380 to report windstorm related service requests such as but not limited to tree related debris on roadways and traffic signals not functioning. The Public Works Agency appreciates the public’s patience while they attentively provide service response and will continue to work through the week to address the hundred’s of service requests. Continue reading→

2014 Santa Ana May Day March set for May 1 at Sasscer Park

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, immigration, Labor, Santa Ana 4 Comments

2014 Santa Ana May Day March

The Santa Ana 2014 May Day March is set for May 1, 2013 with registration at 2 pm at the corner of 4th St. and Ross St., with the March starting at 3 pm, at Sasscer Park, located at 500 West Santa Ana Blvd., in Santa Ana.

May Day in Orange County!
Families Without Borders: Human Rights Not Broken Ties

SANTA ANA – The movement for social justice in Orange County will once again demonstrate its growing strength and diversity Thursday, May 1 in downtown Santa Ana. Hundreds of community members and allies will convene on this International Workers’ Rights Day to demand national and local solutions that expand human rights for all regardless of immigration status. Continue reading→

Supervisor Janet Nguyen takes a pass on improving OC restaurant health ratings again!

Posted on by Posted in Health and Medical, Janet Nguyen, Orange County, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

Janet Nguyen at Anqi

Here we go again.  The Orange County Supervisors are finally admitting that they blew it when they set up our current restaurant health rating system – the only one in Southern California that does NOT include letter grades for restaurants.

The board voted 3-1, with Supervisor Janet Nguyen abstaining, to send a plan back to staff for some tweaking. A majority of supervisors want signs in the window that make it more obvious to customers if a restaurant has passed or failed an inspection.

Restaurants that pass would get green signs, ones that fail would have a red sign in the window, and a business that has been “conditionally” passed, but requires a re-inspection, would have a yellow sign. (Source: RSM Patch)

Continue reading→

Carlos Rojas appointed to head the Santa Ana Police Department

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Rojas, Civic Affairs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Acting Chief Carlos Rojas

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: Newly Appointed Chief of Police Rose Through the Ranks

SANTA ANA, CA (April 29, 2014) –After an exhaustive nationwide recruitment and interviewing process, City Manager David Cavazos has appointed twenty four year veteran Carlos Rojas as the new Chief of Police for the City of Santa Ana. Rojas has served as the Interim Chief of Police since March 2012.

“Chief Rojas has had a long outstanding career in law enforcement and performed exceptionally as the City’s Interim Chief of Police for the last two years. Crime has continued to decrease under his leadership and the City is very proud to make this appointment,” said City Manager David Cavazos. Continue reading→

Annual Silent Art Auction to benefit Santa Ana Wrestling set for June 5

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Charities, Entertainment, Santa Ana, Sports, Youth Activities Leave a comment
Santa Ana Art Auction to help SAHS Wrestling
MC Gallery will host its 2nd Annual Silent Art Auction on June 5, 2014, with proceeds to benefit the Santa Ana Wrestling Program and the Santa Ana Athletic Foundation.
This year, the goal of MC Gallery is to raise funds for Summer Camps, team trips, uniforms and other much needed practice equipment. The auction will include works of
art by well-established and seasoned artists in Orange County and Los Angeles County.

Continue reading→

Burglars targeting homes in north Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 9 Comments

Park Santiago Burglar

Neighbors in north Santa Ana’s Floral Park and Park Santiago neighborhoods have been buzzing about an increase in burglaries in their areas over the past few weeks.  This comes just after the Santa Ana police officers got a new contract and, I am told, that the City Council has extended an offer to their current Temp Chief of Police, Carlos Rojas.

The City of Santa Ana generally looks out for these neighborhoods as they are filled with VIPs, including Mayor Miguel Pulido, who lives in Floral Park, and Parks and Agency Director Gerardo Mouet, who lives in Park Santiago.

One suspected burglar, pictured above, has been seen zipping around Park Santiago on a motor bike and he was even followed by a resident, who asked him if he lives here.  He threatened to call the police but left after the concerned resident invited him to do so. Continue reading→

Daly and Nguyen agree when it comes to opposing Latino voter turnout

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Carlos Vazquez, Cecilia Iglesias, Janet Nguyen, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana, Tom Daly 5 Comments

Janet Nguyen, Scott Baugh and Tom Daly

Think about it. Tom Daly, a career Democratic politician who is representing the 69th Assembly District – the most Hispanic legislative seat in Orange County, and Janet Nguyen, the Republican County Supervisor who is running for the 34th State Senate District, are both in the same hot seat. Both have been challenged by popular Latino candidates. Daly is facing off in the June Primary against SAUSD Trustee Ceci Iglesias while Nguyen is being opposed by a college Trustee, Jose Solorio, who previously served in the 69th Assembly District.

I know for a fact that Solorio is thrilled that Nguyen is in the race as she is so corrupt that it is going to be easy for him to slam her in the mail. He won’t do that now as he will hold his fire for the November General Election. And as we wrote earlier this week, Solorio is very busy overseeing a massive Latino voter registration effort in Central Orange County.

Nguyen could not have been pleased to see Iglesias get into the race against Daly. Iglesias will bring out the Latino vote and they will surely vote for Solorio, not Nguyen, in the 34th State Senate District. I don’t see much crossover vote for Nguyen from Iglesias supporters. Not after what she did to CalOptima, the public agency that oversees health benefits for OC seniors. Continue reading→

Weebles Coast to Coast coming to the Discovery Science Center from 5/24 to 9/7

Posted on by Posted in Education, Santa Ana, Science, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Pack your bags for a 50-state adventure in the new exhibit WEEBLES Coast to Coast, coming to the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana from May 24 to Sep. 7.  Discover America alongside everyone’s favorite wobbling characters and learn about U.S. geography, history and culture.

Visitors can plan their “trip” with a giant U.S. map and a touch-screen kiosk featuring the country’s geographic regions, important state facts, national landmarks and popular tourist destinations. Murals of beautiful American landscapes provide the backdrop for engaging play areas that represent different regions of the United States.

Kids will get the chance to: Continue reading→