Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Author Archives: Art Pedroza

The SAUSD celebrates five nominees for prestigious Congressional U.S. military academies

Posted on by Posted in Education, Lou Correa, Military, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

March 2, 2018 – The Santa Ana Unified School District is celebrating a precedent in the District where five current and former students have been nominated to the prestigious Congressional U.S. Academies. “This speaks to the caliber of students that we have in this District. This prestigious nomination ultimately affirms the student’s impressive achievements, such as remarkable leadership abilities, scholastic aptitude, and extracurricular talents,” said Valerie Amezcua, President of the Santa Ana Unified School District. Continue reading→

Amazing video of the Santa Ana River Trail before and after the homeless were removed

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, homeless, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Chairman’s Homelessness Update: After Clearing the Riverbed, Orange County Invests in Long-Term Solutions for Homelessness

Santa Ana, Calif. (March 2, 2018) – Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Andrew Do provides the sixth edition of his weekly update on the continuous and consistent progress in addressing homelessness.

SANTA ANA RIVERBED: BEFORE AND AFTER

The County delivered on its promise to motel-shelter all those living on the riverbed. Here is an aerial view of the riverbed before and after sheltering over 700 homeless individuals: Continue reading→

Orange County extends the availability of 400 emergency shelter beds for the homeless

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Santa Ana, Calif. (March 1, 2018) —Orange County will be extending the availability of 400 emergency shelter beds for the homeless.

On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved funding to keep the Mercy House Living Centers, Inc. Armory Emergency Shelters open through April 15, 2018. Continue reading→

City of Santa Ana allocates $70, 000 in grant opportunities to artists and art organizations

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Civil Rights, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: City of Santa Ana allocates $70,000 in grant opportunities to artists and art organizations – Apply by May 3, 2018

For over 200 years, Santa Ana has had a rich art and cultural presence in our region. Our city has always been a place of intersections, where cultural diversity dwells amidst historic beauty. For the funding cycle of 2018-2019, the City of Santa Ana has allocated $70,000 and invites artists and art organizations/cooperatives to dive into our local history, showcase our diverse residents, highlight our architecture, and explore our natural beauty to celebrate the local community in a variety of mediums: Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Writing, Poetry, Music, Dance, Fashion, and Culinary.

The Santa Ana Arts and Culture Commission supports projects that will enrich and invigorate the City of Santa Ana’s arts and culture landscape, improve the quality of life for its residents, and stimulate its economic development. Individual artists and ar ts & culture cooperatives and 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply. Continue reading→

Garden Grove police investigators shot and killed a man in Santa Ana last night

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Garden Grove Police investigators shot and killed an unidentified 31-year-old man last night at a 7-Eleven parking lot in Santa Ana, at 1700 E. Dyer Road, according to the SAPD.

The police investigators had been conducting surveillance on the man who was wanted on a no-bail warrant for violating his probation terms, according to the Garden Grove police. Continue reading→

Free summer kids’ opportunities Jamboree event at the Discovery Cube this Saturday

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

JAMBOREE AT THE CUBE

Parenting OC returns to the O.C. Discovery Cube for its 12th Anniversary Edition of their FREE Kids’ Summer Opportunities Jamboree event on March 3, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.. This is an all ages free family event!

This year, Jamboree will have special guests, along with games and many new exhibitors featuring family travel destination spots, summer camps, and school information. Continue reading→

Free Art & Literary Festival set for this Saturday in DTSA

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Second Annual “Boca de Oro” Orange County Art & Literary Festival in Downtown Santa Ana this Saturday, March 3rd

On Saturday, March 3rd, artists, writers and poets will meet in Downtown Santa Ana for the Second Annual “Boca de Oro” OC Art & Literary Festival, and offer an enticing mix of keynote presentations, literary readings, poetry slams, panel discussion, author workshops, book signings, music, performances, and visual art experiences. Continue reading→

The CHP is looking for a hit and run driver who caused a fatal car accident at the 55 Freeway on Saturday

Posted on by Posted in Accidents, CHP, Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

A hit and run driver who caused a fatal car accident on the 55 Freeway last Saturday afternoon, at about 2:25 p.m., is now being sought by the CHP, according to the O.C. Register.

The suspect was behind the wheel of a white sedan, headed south on the 55 Freeway, when he cut off a 2015 Mazda 6, causing that driver to swerve and crash into the side of a 2010 Toyota Sienna. The Toyota then careened into a 2017 Honda Pilot which went on to slam into a center divider. That Toyota also hit the center divider and proceeded to roll over several times. Continue reading→

3rd striker facing life in prison after police pursuit, carjacking and injuring an SAPD K9 police dog

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, irvine, OCDA, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Case # 18HF0329

Date: February 28, 2018

THIRD-STRIKER PAROLEE CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ON PEACE OFFICER AND CARJACKING AFTER INITIATING PURSUIT AND INJURING POLICE K9 THAT APPREHENDED HIM

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A third-striker parolee was charged today with aggravated assault on a peace officer and carjacking after initiating a pursuit and injuring the K9 that apprehended him.

Defendant: Antonio Padilla Jr., 37, Palm Desert

Charged today with the following counts: Continue reading→

UCI Jumpstart’s Literacy Fair coming to Santa Ana’s Heritage Museum on March 3

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

UC IRVINE’S JUMPSTART LITERACY FAIR TO BRING BOOKS TO LIFE TO ENCOURAGE

EARLY CHILDHOOD READING ON SATURDAY, MARCH 3 AT HERITAGE MUSEUM IN SANTA ANA

The program works with early childhood educators to reduce achievement gaps for children in underserved communities

Families from across Orange County are expected to attend UC Irvine’s Jumpstart’s free annual Spring Literacy event on Saturday, March 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Heritage Museum of Orange County at 3101 W. Harvard St., in Santa Ana. The exciting event supports the development of literacy through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities, readings from children’s authors, activities such as making your own balloon rocket car, science experiments, and other STEAM related activities to encourage an interest in reading among preschool age children.

Jumpstart will give more than 1,000 free books to children who attend the event. Nurses from Santa Ana Unified School District will be present as well to provide free basic health screenings for children. Children’s author Annie Banannie, who brings stories to life with her unique balloon storytelling, will also be at the event. Continue reading→

Candidates may sign up now for the 2018 O.C. Election Academy workshop

Posted on by Posted in 2018 elections, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: Orange County Elections Invites Applications for Upcoming Election Academy

In 2010 the Registrar of Voters launched the Orange County Election Academy, an academic program designed to teach participants about elections in Orange County, California. This award winning, one-of-a-kind elections education program, is open to the public at no cost. The comprehensive curriculum is particularly beneficial to those individuals interested in voting, running for office, and the elections process in general.

The Registrar of Voters is currently accepting applications for the 2018 session, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, March 28, 2018. The program will be conducted at the Registrar of Voters, 1300 South Grand Avenue, Santa Ana. The curriculum will encompass all election management functions including candidate filing, campaign finance, ballot creation, election security, communications and more. Continue reading→

Homeless man arrested after police find a woman’s body at Talbert Regional Park

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, homeless, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Costa Mesa Police Department

Advisory: Man arrested after police find woman’s body in Talbert Regional Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 28, 2018

COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) arrested a man today after the body of a woman was found in Talbert Regional Park.

At approximately 7:10 a.m., on Feb. 28, 2018, CMPD Dispatch received a call from a man advising he had found a female’s body in the Talbert Regional Park area. Police officers and detectives responded to the Talbert Nature Preserve, at 1299 Victoria Street, and located the male caller, identified as Daniel Correa, as well as the female’s body in the brush area nearby. Continue reading→

Man charged with stabbing and murdering a man in Costa Mesa

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA Leave a comment

Case # 18WF0485

Date: February 28, 2018

MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR STABBING ACQUAINTANCE DURING DISPUTE IN COSTA MESA

*Defendant was out of custody after posting $60,000 bond for two 2015 cases

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was charged yesterday with murder for stabbing his acquaintance during a dispute in Costa Mesa.

Defendant: Jasper Bear Belknap, 21, Azusa

Charged on Feb. 27, 2018, with the following: Continue reading→

Kiddie Academy now open and enrolling in Santa Ana

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Kiddie Academy® Expanding Footprint in Orange County

Kiddie Academy®, the leading provider of comprehensive education-based child care programs, is expanding its footprint in Orange County with its newest location in Santa Ana.

“We are so thrilled that we are growing to provide our unique services to more children in Orange County,” said Joseph Haikal, owner of the Kiddie Academy® coming to Santa Ana in fall 2018. Haikal already owns well-established academies in Tustin, Irvine and Huntington Beach. “This is a really exciting time for us and we look forward to introducing our well-trained, attentive staff to local area parents and their children. In the near future, we look forward to assisting local children in developing the confidence and self-esteem necessary they need to meet the challenges of tomorrow.” Continue reading→

The new O.C. mental health facility will be located in Orange

Posted on by Posted in Andrew Do, Crime, Drugs, homeless, Orange, Orange County, Public Safety Leave a comment

Homeless Response: In 24 months, Orange County will open $26 million mental health facility

O.C.’s first publicly-owned mental health treatment facility

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 28, 2018) — With its largest homeless encampment now dismantled, Orange County is moving forward with a $26 million investment in the county’s first publicly-owned mental health treatment facility, to be located at 265 S. Anita Drive, in Orange, CA.

On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of an office building in Orange that will be renovated into a treatment center for people with mental health and substance abuse problems. Continue reading→