New Santa Ana | Monthly Archives: November 2014

Demonstration in support of 43 missing Mexican students set for Dec. 3 in Santa Ana

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, mexico, Santa Ana 3 Comments

The Colectivo Tonantzin is hosting a demonstration in Santa Ana on December 3, 2014, to send a message that Santa Ana is in solidarity with the people of Mexico who are still trying to figure out what happened to 43 missing college students. The event organizers want to send “two powerful messages to Mexico: To the people of Mexico, you are not alone. To the Mexican government, the world is watching you.”

The event organizers reported on Facebook that “On December 3rd, 2014, we will go out into the streets and demand the US government to abide by the Leahy Law and to stop military assistance to the Mexican government, which flagrantly violates human rights with total impunity!”

The event will be held at 4pm at Sasscer Park, located at 4th St. and Ross St., in Santa Ana. Continue reading→

One driver killed and another injured in an early morning accident in south Santa Ana

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Santa Ana Leave a comment

One driver was killed and another suffered traumatic injuries in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Flower Street and Segerstrom Avenue at 3:55 a.m. on Sunday morning, according to the O.C. Register.

There was one driver in each car and no passengers. The male driver of one car died in the accident while the other driver was taken to a local hospital. The drivers’ identities have not been released by the police. Continue reading→

Annual Patchwork Show set for Sunday, Nov. 30, in DTSA

Posted on November 29, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Crafts, Entertainment, Family, Food, music, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 1 Comment

The Patchwork Show will be taking place once more in Santa Ana this Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, from 11 am to 5 pm, in Downtown Santa Ana. Over the years, Patchwork has grown from a small parking lot craft fair into multiple locations including street festivals and large indoor marketplaces. All Patchwork Show events are FREE to the public.

The Patchwork Show features 160+ local vendors selling diverse handmade goods (see our gallery for a closer look), curated food trucks, DIY stations to get your craft on,food artisan area, live music and rotating services like photo booths, bike valet and gift-wrapping depending on the location and season.

Vendors are selected through a jury process and feature clothing for men, women & kids, handbags, accessories, jewelry, art, ceramics, garden finds, home goods, plushies, crochet & knit items, pet gear, kits & patterns, bath & body goodies and more!

Continue reading→

Holiday Mixer and Toy Drive to benefit KidWorks set for Dec. 10

Posted on November 29, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Entertainment, irvine, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 1 Comment

Kia Motors America is hosting a 2014 Holiday Mixer and Toy Drive on Wednesday December 10, 2014 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.

In lieu of an admission fee, please bring 1 unwrapped toy (value $15) benefiting KidWorks (Santa Ana). Continue reading→

Fairhaven Memorial Park’s Annual Holiday Memorial Services set for Dec. 17-18

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

“Always in Our Hearts”: Fairhaven Memorial Park’s Annual Holiday Memorial Services

Join Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary for its annual free holiday memorial service, Always in Our Hearts on Dec. 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. Dedicated to families who have encountered a loss, the two-day service offers an opportunity to honor and cherish loved ones. This special program provides guests with the chance to mingle with others who also have experienced a loss and a place to find comfort and support during the holiday season – a time that may bring up memories of pain and grief. Hope for Healing Hearts Ministries Pastor Randy Hill will present a message on “Hope for the Holidays.” Continue reading→

Black Friday DTSA deals are on all weekend!

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Business, Deals, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ryan Smolar, Consultant to Downtown, Inc., (213) 268-4924, info@downtown-inc.com

Shop Black Friday in Downtown Santa Ana

Downtown Santa Ana is OC’s “Shop Local” Headquarters this Black Friday Weekend

Downtown Santa Ana’s eclectic mix of independent clothing stores, record shops, restaurants and craft beer establishments are offering incredible sales, deals and cool events this Black Friday weekend.

“DTSA is an unexpected hub for unique gifts, deals and a great shopping experience” said Ryan Smolar, consultant to Downtown Inc., “where else can you buy special release albums and sneakers, get 40% off both suits and and street clothes, enjoy live and cultural performances and checkout handmade goods from over 200 local makers?” Continue reading→

Free Black Friday workouts today at Gold’s Gym in Santa Ana

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Deals, Health and Medical, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Gold’s Gym will open its doors for FREE workouts on Black Friday, so bring your friends and family to work off those extra holiday calories.

Food for thought: The average Thanksgiving feast contains more than 3,000 calories and 229 grams of fat…so this is a great chance to burn off the holiday bulge. Continue reading→

Benavides has received more gifts than the entire City Council

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Santa Ana 13 Comments

Black Friday is just around the corner and I’m sure Councilman David Benavides is eagerly awaiting to see what gifts will be coming his way this year. According to Benavides’ Form 700 filed with the FPPC, he raked in close to $900 in gifts in 2013. Benavides haul was $545 greater than the next Councilmember on the list, Vince Sarmiento, who received $340 in gifts.

Here is a breakdown of the dollar amount of the gifts reported on the Form 700’s of all Santa Ana elected officials: Continue reading→

OCDA seeks additional victims of former teacher’s aide who had sex with a teen

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Education, OCDA, Orange Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14NF4345

LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKS PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF FORMER TEACHER’S AIDE CHARGED WITH ENGAGING IN UNLAWFUL SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL

FULLERTON – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) are seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a former teacher’s aide charged with engaging in an unlawful sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl. Richard Nolan Green, 28, Yorba Linda, is charged with one felony count each of unlawful sexual intercourse, lewd act upon a child, and oral copulation of a minor under 16 years old. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of four years and four months in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. He is out of custody on $100,000 bail and is scheduled for continued arraignment on Jan. 6, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department N-3, North Justice Center, Fullerton.

At the time of the crime, Green was a teacher’s aide for troubled youth in the Orange Unified School District. The victim in this case was not a student in the class where Green was teaching. Continue reading→

Liquor store clerk arrested for selling losing lottery scratchers and cashing in the winners

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana 1 Comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14CF3866

Date: November 25, 2014

LIQUOR STORE CLERK ARRESTED FOR ILLEGALLY REDEEMING WINNING LOTTERY SCRATCHER TICKETS AND KNOWINGLY RESELLING LOSING TICKETS TO UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS

SANTA ANA – A liquor store clerk was arrested today and will be arraigned for illegally redeeming winning scratcher lottery tickets and knowingly reselling losing tickets to unsuspecting customers. Francis Bou Karam, 34, Newport Beach, is charged with one felony count of grand theft, one felony count of computer access fraud, and 23 felony counts of forgery with sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and loss over $65,000. If convicted, Karam faces a maximum sentence of 18 years and four months in state prison. Karam is being held on $150,000 bail and must prove that the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. The arraignment date and time is to be determined.

Between Jan. 1, 2013, and Nov. 13, 2014, Karam worked as a clerk at Craig Liquor in Santa Ana. At the time of the crimes, Karam is accused of scratching off a small portion of lottery ticket scratchers, without purchasing them, to determine if they were winning tickets. This type of fraud is known as “pinning.” He is accused of redeeming the winning tickets for cash from California State Lottery (CSL) and reselling the losing tickets back to customers. Karam is accused of redeeming $50,000 in cash from winning lottery tickets and defrauding the CSL and unsuspecting customers of $100,000, which represents the combined retail value of the winning and losing lottery ticket scratchers. Continue reading→

Man convicted of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death in a Santa Ana alley

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12CF3351

Date: November 24, 2014

MAN CONVICTED OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES STABBING-MURDER OF FORMER GIRLFRIEND IN SANTA ANA ALLEYWAY

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today of stabbing and murdering his former girlfriend in a Santa Ana alleyway. Luis Antonio Garcia Morales, 26, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of special circumstance murder by lying in wait. The sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon was found true. Morales faces a sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole at his sentencing Jan. 23, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-35, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

On the evening of Nov. 13, 2012, Morales arranged to meet with 21-year-old Maria Isabel Cerrillo, with whom he had a previous romantic relationship, by pretending to be someone else. The defendant met his ex-girlfriend in an alleyway in Santa Ana, murdered her by stabbing her repeatedly, and then fled the scene. The victim died from multiple stab wounds. Continue reading→

Emerging Non Profit Dance Company to Perform at the Patchwork Show

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Dance, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Media Contact: Kaitlin Wright, (661) 350-7541, kaitline13@gmail.com

Emerging Non Profit Dance Company to Perform at Local Santa Ana Art Festival

Recent 501(c)(3) incorporated company, Embark Dance Theatre (EDT) will share modern dance with the community at the Patchwork Show on Nov. 30th.

Brea, CA — Nov. 25, 2014 — Orange County residents can catch a performance by dance company, Embark Dance Theatre (EDT), at the Patchwork artisan craft festival in downtown Santa Ana on 2nd and Sycamore St on Sunday, Nov. 30th. The Patchwork show gives local crafters, designers and artists a place to share their artisan crafts with the community and for the second time, Embark will add their creativity to the event.

Performing a 25 minute set of original choreography, Embark hopes to expose the community to modern dance and invite people to explore art in a uniquely accessible way. Continue reading→

U.S. Rep. Sanchez to visit the OC Children’s ARTS Center on Tuesday

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Education, Loretta Sanchez, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 1 Comment

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez to visit the OC Children’s ARTS Center on Tuesday

OCCTAC President Dr. Ana Jimenez-Hami is looking forward to welcoming Ms. Sanchez to explain our comprehensive community services approach and to discuss the needs of the families attending our Center for arts-based education and therapeutic and family services.

Congresswoman Sanchez is committed to facilitating job creation, reducing crime, supporting quality educational opportunities and increasing access to affordable health care for everyone. Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s Unum Sunglasses releases their new polarized aviator style collection

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alex Flores, Business, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Unum Sunglasses Releases New Polarized Aviator Style Collection

Popular fashion eyewear available in two colors and suits varying ages and tastes

November 24, 2014

(Santa Ana CA) – Unum Sunglasses announces the release of a new Aviator Style collection to join its brand of fashionable eyewear. The new collection is the second product released by the company which launched with its Wayfarer style sunglasses in the summer of 2013.

Aviator sunglasses are popular with the military and on university campuses, and are known for the signature curve of the lens that slightly wraps the temple of the face. Suitable for both younger and older crowds, Aviator sunglasses offer customers two color options, ‘Nocte’ – a classic black lens, and a midnight blue shade called ‘Frigus.’ Continue reading→

Santa Ana to receive another $1.5M in active transportation state funding

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in california, Santa Ana, Transportation 1 Comment

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (CTC) AWARDS CITY AN ADDITIONAL $1.5 MILLION IN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING

SANTA ANA, CA (November 24, 2014) – The City of Santa Ana was recently awarded an additional $1.5 million in Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 1 funding for two more projects by the California Transportation Commission (CTC).

“Keeping our roadways safe for all modes of transportation is a major priority for the City. This is great news for the City because when combined with the six projects approved in August, it means the City will receive a total of about $4.8 million dedicated to bicycle and pedestrian improvements,” said Councilman Vincent Sarmiento. Continue reading→