Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: February 2017

The SAPD is conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday night

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Fri, February 24th, 2017, 9:30PM to 2:30AM, 500 W. Warner Avenue

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, February 24, 2017. It will begin at 9:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 500 W. Warner Avenue, in the City of Santa Ana.

The primary purpose of a DUI Checkpoint is to deter impaired driving, not to increase arrests. All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI / Drivers License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as ensuring drivers have a valid driver’s license. The DMV reports that unlicensed drivers are 4.9 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than a licensed driver. Continue reading→

Public art installation will honor the tree that marks Santa Ana’s birthplace

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

The Calliotree: A Santa Ana Civic Art Project

The Calliotree is a public art installation being created at the tree that marks Santa Ana’s birthplace.

The City of Santa Ana was founded in 1869 with a man in a tree. Our founder, William H. Spurgeon, climbed a Sycamore tree to survey the land, and fell in love with it. Continue reading→

The Costa Mesa Police Dept. is conducting a DUI checkpoint on 2/24

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Costa Mesa Police Department

Advisory: COSTA MESA POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT

COSTA MESA, Calif. – As part of the Costa Mesa Police Department’s (CMPD) continued commitment to reducing injury and fatalities caused by impaired drivers, a sobriety checkpoint will be conducted by CMPD’s Traffic Unit Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, from 8:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. within the city limits.

The checkpoint will be clearly marked and vehicles will be selected for further screening on a pre-set basis to ensure objectivity. Motorists will be greeted and given information about impaired driving. Driver’s licenses will be checked and trained officers will direct suspected impaired drivers to a secondary area for further evaluation. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) classes, other expenses that can exceed $10,000. Motorists can expect a slight delay driving through the checkpoint. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man convicted of a felony hit and run that killed a young man

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https://youtu.be/X-r1VYA3btc

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 15CF2502

Date: February 22, 2017

DRIVER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF NARCOTICS CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR HIT-AND-RUN CRASH THAT KILLED PEDESTRIAN SITTING ON SIDEWALK

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A driver under the influence of narcotics was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in state prison yesterday for hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian sitting on a sidewalk. Ramon Horta, 56, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty to one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated with a sentencing enhancement for fleeing the scene of the crime. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution and his driver’s license was suspended for three years.

At approximately 1:10 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2015, Horta drove a van while under the influence of narcotics, traveling at approximately 30 mph while approaching the intersection of McFadden Avenue and Cedar Street in Santa Ana. The defendant slowly veered the van to his right and drove over a curb onto the sidewalk. The defendant hit and ran over 24-year-old Marcello Bisarello, who was sitting on the sidewalk. Continue reading→

Gourmet mini burger restaurant opening in May across from the MainPlace Mall

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Remember the restaurant formerly known as Pat & Oscar’s that has been vacant for some time, at the shopping center across from the MainPlace Mall? Well the landlord finally found a new tenant – Burgerim, a mini-burger chain that started in Tel Aviv, Israel, according to the O.C. Register.

Burgerim is an international fast casual burger franchise that sells gourmet mini burgers. You can choose from a twin, trio, or party pack (16) of their 2.8oz mini burgers and customize each one. They offer “tons of variety in patty flavors, buns, unconventional toppings, and savory sauces,” according to their website. Continue reading→

SoCalGas launches a Winter Rebate Program for ecobee Smart Thermostat users

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SoCalGas Launches Winter Rebate Program for ecobee Smart Thermostat Users

Natural gas conservation program offers select customers with ecobee smart thermostats up to $50 in rebates

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Feb. 21, 2017 – Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced a rebate program designed to help customers who have purchased and installed an ecobee smart thermostat conserve natural gas this winter.

The program, called the SoCalGas Advisory Thermostat Program, offers enrollees up to $50 in rebates while helping them reduce their natural gas costs for home heating. It is active now through Mar. 31 of this year. Continue reading→

How to get a free Mardi Gras Grilled Chicken Salad at Muscle Maker Grill on 2/28

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HAPPY NOT-FAT TUESDAY! MUSCLE MAKER GRILL OFFERS FREE MARDI GRAS GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD TO WELL-WISHING GUESTS ON FEBRUARY 28

Rapidly Growing, Health-Focused Fast-Casual Brand Celebrates Mardi Gras with FREE Guiltless Entrée

HOUSTON, TX (February 16, 2017) – To help health enthusiasts celebrate Mardi Gras, without baring it all, Muscle Maker Grill®, the rapidly expanding fast-casual restaurant brand, promoting a healthy lifestyle by offering nutritious alternatives to traditional dishes, today announced that it will offer one FREE Mardi Gras Grilled Chicken Salad to any guest that wishes a Muscle Maker Grill employee a Happy not-Fat Tuesday on February 28th.

Committed to providing healthier fuel for your active lifestyle, Muscle Maker Grill locations will let the good times roll without the regret this Mardi Gras with its Mardi Gras Grilled Chicken Salad (390 calories,11g carbs,44g protein): Cajun seasoned grilled chicken breast on a power blend of romaine, spinach and baby kale with turkey bacon, tomatoes, onions and low carb salsetta dressing. Offer valid at participating locations. Continue reading→

High density rentals lead to parking woes in many Santa Ana neighborhoods

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Traffic cones in a Santa Ana Neighborhood

There has been a lot of recent discussion on building more Affordable Housing in the city of Santa Ana, but we also need to look at the quality and standard of housing currently being provided in our city. An article from last year, described the housing conditions in the Lacy Neighborhood:

“Isabelle Lopez, her husband and their dog live in a tiny room, perhaps 130 square feet, in the impoverished Lacy neighborhood in the Orange County city of Santa Ana. The room has cardboard walls, which Lopez’s husband painted white to provide at least an illusion they were solid. On those walls, she has tacked family photos and a large reproduction of a painting titled Angel de la Guarda, surrounded by cutout paper butterflies.” Continue reading→

Police officers lined up at the OC Coroner’s office in Santa Ana to mourn the murder of a fellow officer

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana 2 Comments

There was a commotion in Santa Ana today as the body of Keith Boyer, a 25-year veteran of the Whittier Police Department, arrived at the O.C. Coroner’s office, located at 1071 W. Santa Ana Blvd. Our readers reported that police from various agencies turned out to honor Boyer as a police helicopter flew overhead.

Earlier this morning dozens of police officers from different agencies formed two lines to honor Boyer, as his body was wheeled out between them and placed into the Orange County Coroner’s white Chrysler van at the UCI Medical Center in Orange, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

A Garden Grove man stabbed two with a sword during a domestic dispute on Sunday

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There is a reason police officers hate responding to domestic disputes. They never quite know what they are going to run into. Case in point – Tam Hyunh, a 20-year old man, was arrested this Sunday just after 6 p.m. at a home at the 9700 block of Acacia Ave., in Garden Grove, after he attacked and stabbed a man and a woman with a sword, according to the O.C. Register.

Reportedly Hyunh attacked the man, who was not identified, with a sword, in front of the house and family members had to separate them. A woman was stabbed in the leg during the melee.  Continue reading→

Santa Ana Literary Festival set for March 4 in DTSA

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Downtown Santa Ana invites Authors to Take Over Their City

“Boca de Oro” festival brings 100+ Literary Artists for Downtown Santa Ana takeover

SANTA ANA, Ca — On Saturday March 4th, Downtown Santa Ana will be transformed into the Literary Capital of Orange County. Over a dozen art galleries, restaurants, historic buildings and secret spaces will double as houses of letters for literary fans to connect with local and regional writers.

“Our region is a wealth of writers and readers,” said Madeleine Spencer, festival organizer and downtown business leader. “We opened our downtown campus to celebrate local literati, and curators seized the opportunity.” Continue reading→

The family of a young man killed in Santa Ana last week needs help to pay for his funeral

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Drugs, Gangs, Santa Ana 11 Comments

The family of Jamie De Castilla Campos, an 18-year old alleged Santa Ana gang member who was shot and killed in a homicide incident that occurred at around  10:40 p.m. last Sunday in an alley in the 600 block of East Pine Street, is trying to raise the money needed to pay for his funeral.

The SAPD suspects that Campos was killed during a botched drug deal. Continue reading→

Rally to save ObamaCare set for 2/25 in DTSA

Posted on by Posted in Democratic Party, Health and Medical, Politics, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Our Revolution: 46th District Healthcare Action Rally

“We must stop Republicans from repealing Obamacare. But we can’t just play defense. We need to guarantee health care to all as a right.” – Senator Bernie Sanders

Over the week of February 19th to 25th, Congress will be in recess and our Representatives will return to their homes and local offices all over the nation. With so much at stake, now is the time to let our legislators know where we stand as a community on the issues of Medicare for All, Medi-Cal, Social Security, the Affordable Care Act and Universal Healthcare. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana Library will screen a documentary about migration from China on 2/25

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City of Santa Ana

Community: The Santa Ana Public Library Presents / La Biblioteca Pública de Santa Ana Presenta: Reunification – A Film by Alvin Tsang

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 20, 2017

The Santa Ana Public Library Presents: Reunification, A Film by Alvin Tsang

SANTA ANA – Presented in partnership with the ‘Memories of Migration’ grant project, a special screening of the breakthrough film Reunification will be presented at the Santa Ana Public Library as a free presentation for patrons of all ages on Saturday, February 25 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. The event will take place in Meeting Room A, on the second floor of the library building. Continue reading→

Four SAPD police officers rescued three from the Santa Ana River today

Posted on by Posted in Public Safety, Santa Ana, Water, Weather 1 Comment

1st Street and the Santa Ana River

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Four SAPD Officer Rescue Three From The Santa Ana River Bed

Summary: On Saturday, 2-18-2017, at 12:30 p.m., Officers were dispatched to 1st Street and the Santa Ana riverbed reference several subjects screaming for help. Upon arrival, officers located three people in the center of the riverbed, a female adult and her 8-year old child struggling to stay above water as well as a male who had jumped into the water in an attempt to rescue the woman and child. Four SAPD Officers entered into the water and were able to successfully extract the three out of the riverbed, at which time they learned another child was still missing. Continue reading→