Photo by Igmar Rodas
Apparently it is illegal to sit in a blanket in a public space in Santa Ana, according to homeless activist Igmar Rodas. He says that he several homeless people he knows have been told this by SAPD police officers.
Our local ordinances are passed by our City Council. Past City Councils have used such laws to harass the homeless for many years. Sadly our current Council appears to be asleep at the while on this and many other issues. Continue reading
Photo by Igmar Rodas
Erica Alonso’s body was discovered off Ortega Highway, approximately 12 miles east of Interstate 5, on April 28. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department ruled that her death was an overdose and it was not a homicide even though no one can explain why her vehicle was located in a residential complex in the city of Aliso Viejo, approximately 1-2 miles from her home in the city of Laguna Hills while her body was found elsewhere.
Today there was a rally in her memor in front of the Santa Ana Library at Ross and Civic Center, according to photographer Igmar Rodas. Supporters are asking that anyone who might know more about Erica’s death call 714-647-7055. Continue reading
A man who likes to wear sports team caps has robbed two local banks in the Cities of Orange and Santa Ana in the past week, according to the O.C. Register.
The man robbed a Farmers and Merchants bank at 1220 E. Katella Ave. this Tuesday at around 4 p.m. The Orange Police responded to that crime scene.
The man is reported to be between 25 and 30 years old. He stands about 5′ 11″ and weighs about 150 pounds. He walked into the bank wearing black sweater, blue jeans and a black Miami Heat sports cap with an orange bill, according to the Orange Police. Continue reading
City of Santa Ana
Mayor Miguel Pulido will present Paul Riordan, Founder and President of the Achievement Institute of Scientific Studies (AISS), with the Exceptional Citizen Award for his outstanding service to the City of Santa Ana at Tuesday’s City Council Meeting
A retired Santa Ana Unified School District educator and administrator, Paul Riordan taught chemistry and math at Santa Ana High School for 38 years. With a strong dedication to education and our community’s youth, he founded the AISS program in 2001. AISS provides academically gifted high school students who are economically disadvantaged an opportunity and incentive to intensify their studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The first AISS pilot program consisted of six sophomore girls from Santa Ana High School. These students participated in 120 academic seminar hours in industry workshops involving digital imaging, laser medicine, computer-aided design, optics manufacturing and engineering research. At the completion of the program, the students were accepted into universities such as UC Los Angeles, UC Irvine, Columbia, Chapman and Yale. Continue reading
Water Drought Briefing & Recognition Event
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez
As you are aware, the state of California continues to face one of the most severe water droughts on record.
In fact, the 2014 water year was the third driest year on record in terms of precipitation in California. Unfortunately, our state is now entering its fourth consecutive year of drought. I applaud the commitment of California residents by reducing their June water use by more than 27 percent – but more work remains to be done.
As your representative, I am working diligently with my colleagues in Congress to find solutions to the drought. Last month I co-sponsored H.R. 2983, the Drought Recovery and Resilience Act of 2015 which would address innovative water financing, improving infrastructure and water management, planning for future droughts, and other important factors. Continue reading
2200 lbs. Collected During Eco Challenge Event to ‘Keep Orange County Clean & Green’
Local Community Donates E-waste, Household Goods and Gently Used Clothing for Priority Access to Meet Angels Alumni Chuck Finley
Santa Ana, Calif., August 26, 2015 – Discovery Cube Orange County and OC Waste & Recycling teamed up with Goodwill of Orange County and Angels Baseball for the final Eco Challenge Day collection event of the year on Saturday, August 22, 2015 at Discovery Cube Orange County in Santa Ana. An estimated 2200 lbs. were collected from the event. Past events have collected over 10 tons of e-waste and gently-used clothing. This year there free certified paper shredding was available, in addition to disposal services for e-waste, gently used clothing, and household goods.
The Orange County community was encouraged to participate and donate e-waste, gently used clothing, and household goods. Every participant had priority access to meet Angels’ alumni Chuck Finley and the first 150 cars to bring their items to recycle received four free general admission tickets to the newly renovated Discovery Cube Orange County. Continue reading
Photo by Igmar Rodas
A car accident involving two vehicles occurred this morning at about 9:30 a.m. in Downtown Santa Ana where Fifth and Santa Ana Blvd. merge at Ross St., by the Federal Appellate Court. The impact was so severe that one of the vehicles was flipped on its side, according to freelance photographer Igmar Rodas.
Emergency crew had to use the jaws of life to free the injured female driver in the flipped vehicle. There was a large presence of Santa Ana police doing traffic control and investigating the accident. Continue reading
Vista Heritage Charter Middle School Is the First Charter Middle School to Open in Santa Ana
SANTA ANA, Calif. – August 28, 2015 – Vista Charter Public Schools, the operator of a high- performing school in Los Angeles, will host a Grand Opening for Vista Heritage Charter Middle School on Friday, August 28, 2015 at 10 a.m. at 2609 West 5th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703.
The event will mark the opening of the new middle school in Santa Ana and the first charter middle school in the history of Santa Ana. The ceremony will feature remarks by Orange County Board of Education President Robert Hammond, Vista Charter Public Schools staff—Vahe Markarian, Lauri Martin and Eduardo Rodriguez, and other guest speakers. Join us for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Tours of the school will follow the ceremony at 10:30 am. Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 26, 2015
Contact: Deidra Powell, Chief Communications Officer, (714) 558-5555, (714) 673-4995
Media Advisory: Groundbreaking for Highly Anticipated SAUSD Sports Complex
What: Celebrate the ribbon cutting of the highly anticipated Santa Ana Public Schools Sports Complex. With an anticipated cost of approximately $15 million, students of the Santa Ana Unified School District will have a sports complex to call home. Although the Sports Complex is located behind Santa Ana Valley High School, located at 1801 South Greenville Street in Santa Ana, it will be jointly used by Santa Ana schools. During the celebration, there will be 27 individuals inducted into the inaugural SAUSD Wall of Fame. All honorees were selected because of the significant contributions that they made in the area of sports in the Santa Ana Unified School District. A list of the honorees is included below.
Who: Members of the SAUSD Board of Education, staff, students, athletes, coaches, parents, and community members, and honorees inducted into the Wall of Fame. Continue reading
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 46th Congressional District
STATEMENT, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 26, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Morris, 202-225-2965, Emily.Morris@mail.house.gov
REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ STATEMENT ON WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), released a statement commemorating Women’s Equality Day, on the 95th anniversary of the 19th Amendment which guaranteed America’s women the right to vote.
“On the 95th anniversary of the 19th amendment we reflect on the women whose dedication and vision shaped our history for the better but recommit ourselves to ending the inequality women still face in the workplace and the military and attacks on women’s health. Continue reading
City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County
Community Alert: SECOND TIME FOR 5K RUN AT SANTA ANA’S HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
The public is invited to attend the City of Santa Ana’s free Plaza Wellness celebration on Saturday, August 29, 2015 in Downtown Santa Ana at French and Fourth Street from 8am to 12pm. Plaza Wellness has something for everyone including a Health Fair, VIP Basketball game and Zumba activity.
Plaza Wellness will begin promptly at 8am with a free 5K race. The scenic route highlights some of Orange County’s most historic and recognizable buildings including the Old Courthouse, Spurgeon Tower, and the Second Street Promenade. This year’s course also heads out to the Santa Ana Stadium.
Free, on-line registration is available at www.santa-ana.org/parks/wellness5Krun/. On-line registration will close on Wednesday, August 26th. Same-day, on-site registration will be available starting at 6:30 am on the day of the race. Everyone is encouraged to register on-line for an opportunity to receive a free t-shirt while supplies last. Post-race refreshments and healthy snacks will be provided to all race participants. Continue reading
City of Santa Ana
Community Alert: COUNCILWOMAN MICHELE MARTINEZ’S ANNUAL COMMUNITY ADDRESS
Join Councilwoman Michele Martinez for her Annual Community Address on August 26, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. at the Santa Ana Senior Center at Birch Park. Councilwoman Martinez will provide an update on the current state of the City and provide details about exciting, new projects.
The presentation will be held at the Santa Ana Senior Center located at Birch Park at 424 West 3rd Street in Santa Ana. Validated parking will be available in the parking structure located at 3rd and Birch. Continue reading
The City of Santa Ana is going to arraign thirteen people on Oct. 15 on charges in connection with a controversial raid at a medical marijuana dispensary where Santa Ana police were caught on hidden video purportedly snacking on pot edibles, according to the O.C. Register.
The defendants are all represented by Anthony L. Curiale, a Brea-based attorney. The defendants are going to plea not guilty at the Orange County Superior Court.
The defendants were cited for suspicion of unlawful operation of a medical marijuana collective. If convicted of the misdemeanor offense, they face up to 6 months in jail or $1,000 fine. However, the Santa Ana City Attorney’s Office can reduce the charges to an infraction that doesn’t carry any times behind bars. Continue reading
The Green Party of Orange County presents “Calling All Rebels: The Moral Imperative to Revolt,” hosted by KPFK 90.7 FM’s Andrew Tonkovich, on Sep. 20, 2015, starting at 5 p.m., at the Delhi Center, located at 505 E. Central Ave., in Santa Ana.
After the event there will be a 1 hour Reception for Chris Hedges in a smaller room at the Delhi Center. Tickets will be $100. It will include Cheese and Wine. Only 70 tickets will be available. Chris will be at the event signing books. at 6 p.m.
Maria Sanchez-Avalos
The Garden Grove Police Department arrested a couple from Santa Ana, 27-year-old Salvador Beltran and 23-year-old Maria Sanchez-Avalos, on suspicion of breaking into at least 20 cars in Garden Grove since May, on Friday, according to the O.C. Register.
The couple is suspected in a number of vehicle burglaries in the parking lots of a 24 Hour Fitness gym on Chapman Avenue and an LA Fitness on Valley View Street, according to the GGPD.
Investigators say the couple allegedly took wallets, purses, cellphones and credit cards from cars of people working out at the gyms. Sanchez-Avalos is apparently Beltran’s common-law wife. Continue reading