Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Author Archives: Art Pedroza

2014 Summer/Labor Day Avoid DUI campaign resulted in 793 DUI arrests

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

OC DUI Task Force

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

SUMMER/LABOR DAY AVOID DUI CAMPIGN – FINAL REPORT

SANTA ANA, Calif. (September 2, 2014) – The Summer/Labor Day Holiday DUI Campaign crackdown on drunk and/or drugged drivers has ended and resulted in a significant number of DUI arrests countywide over the past 18 days. The enforcement was part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, to save lives and make our roadways safer.

From 12:01 AM Friday, August 15, 2014 through Midnight Monday, September 1, 2014 officers representing 38 county law enforcement agencies have arrested 775 individuals for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. In 2013, 793 DUI arrests occurred during the same time period. Tragically, there was a death attributed to an impaired driver on Labor Day in Huntington Beach. Last year there were 4 alcohol and/or drug impaired related deaths during this same time. (**NOTE: These numbers are only provisional with same agencies yet to report**) Continue reading→

Santa Ana High School to celebrate its 125th birthday on September 6

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Santa Ana High School

Santa Ana High School Turns 125 Years Old

Santa Ana High School Marks 125th Anniversary Celebration of Excellence and Tradition

THE EVENT: Santa Ana High School celebrates 125 years of excellence in a special program to take place in front of the high school, located at 520 West Walnut Street, on Saturday, September 6, 2014 beginning at 9:00 a.m.

As one of the oldest schools in the region and the oldest school in the district, Santa Ana High School is known for its cultural richness and tradition. Known as the Saints, the school prides itself with the slogan “Once a Saint, Always a Saint,” meaning no matter when you graduated, you are always a part of the Santa Ana High School family. Continue reading→

SAUSD high school students drinking milk in contest for up to $40K in prizes

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BERRY NUTTY CRUNCH

California School Districts Vie for $40,000 in Prizes in got milk? Breakfast Challenge

Individual students can win up to $1000 via social media

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. –The California Milk Processor Board (CMPB), the creator of got milk?, has partnered with 15 school districts across the Golden State to present its seventh annual Breakfast Challenge to launch the new school year and remind students to fuel up with the most important meal of the day. Studies have shown that eating breakfast helps students do better in mathematics and school overall. Breakfast also boosts vitamin intake, helping increase energy and focus.[1] The Breakfast Challenge, which runs from August to October, encourages daily breakfast consumption with milk at school through a friendly competition between school districts. The school in each district (or group of districts) with the greatest increase in breakfast participation will win $3,000 towards student activities.

“Research shows that students who eat a healthy breakfast are more attentive in the classroom and do better in school,” says registered dietitian, Dr. Wendy Bazilian. “And feeding our students breakfast with milk is key to supporting their success.”

The 15 participating high school districts in the 2014 got milk? Breakfast Challenge are: Continue reading→

Man arrested when explosive substances found during investigation

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

Juan Jesus Martinez

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Suspect Arrested for Possession of Substances Identified as Precursors to Homemade Explosives

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. – (September 2, 2014) – On Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at approximately 12:45 a.m., Orange County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic violence incident at a residence in the 100 block of Fairlane Drive, Laguna Niguel. During the course of the domestic violence investigation, deputies observed numerous weapons, military ordinances and potentially explosive substances. The Sheriff’s Department’s Hazardous Device Squad (HDS) responded to evaluate and collect the items. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man arrested for felony hit and run in DTSA

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Guillermo Velasquez Flores

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Arrest made in Investigation of hit and run vehicle

SAPD Traffic Investigators locate vehicle and suspect in Felony Hit and run case

On 9-2-2014 at approximately 1200 PM Traffic Investigators located the vehicle and suspect in the area of Willits and Raitt in the City of Santa Ana. Suspect was taken into custody without incident.

Guillermo Velasquez Flores was taken to SAPD and questioned about the traffic collision. Based on their investigation, Traffic Investigators arrested suspect Guillermo Velasquez Flores, for CVC 20001 Felony Hit and Run, the suspect was booked into the SAPD jail. The case will be submitted to the Orange County District Attorney for formal charges.  Continue reading→

Daughter to be charged with the shooting murder of her 96-year-old mother

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Christine Marie Reynolds

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: September 2, 2014

Case# 14WF3283

DAUGHTER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR SHOOTING-MURDER OF 96-YEAR-OLD MOTHER

WESTMINSTER – A daughter is scheduled to be arraigned today for shooting and murdering her 96-year-old mother. Christine Marie Reynolds, 71, Rossmoor, was charged today with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in state prison. The People will be requesting she be held on $1 million bail at her arraignment this afternoon in Department W-1, West Justice Center, Westminster. The time is to be determined.

At approximately 4:15 p.m. on Aug. 28, 2014, Reynolds is accused of using a firearm to murder her mother Gretchen DeStefano by shooting her in the head in their Rossmoor home. Continue reading→

Solorio’s 34th S.D. campaign to launch with “Super Saturday” on 9/6

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Democratic Party, Entertainment, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment
Jose Solorion and DPOC Interns

Team Solorio with Key Supporters

The Jose Solorio campaign for the 34th State Senate District is hosting “Solorio Super Saturday,” their Fall Campaign Kick-Off, on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, from 9 am to 2 pm, at their Campaign Office, located at 1325 W. Warner Ave., in Santa Ana.

The Fall campaign kick-off will include breakfast snacks, lunch from Maggiano’s, precinct walks, phone banking, lawn sign pick up and deliveries, and DJ music. Continue reading→

Back to School photo contest at the SAUSD

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SAUSD Welcome Back

The Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) is conducting a Back to School Photo contest.  They want to see their students’ back to school first day photos.

Students are asked to post their photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #IAMSAUSD. The best photos will win cool prizes. Continue reading→

The SAUSD’s Superintendent welcomes students back to school

Posted on by Posted in Education, Rick Miller, Santa Ana, SAUSD 1 Comment

SAUSD Superintendent Dr. RIck Miller

One of my complaints about the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) over the years has been that they communicate via phone for the most part and don’t usually email the parents.  But today is the first day of the new school year and the SAUSD’s Superintendent, Dr. Rick Miller, sent out an email to parents with useful information for the new school year – including the introduction of the district’s new smart phone app!

Here is Dr. Miller’s Back to School message:

Greetings,

I am Rick Miller, Superintendent of the Santa Ana Unified School District. I hope you have had a good Labor Day Weekend with your family as well as a restful, productive summer. I am looking forward to working with you as the new school year begins on Tuesday. Continue reading→

Reception for OC Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen set for 9/4

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Entertainment, Hugh Nguyen, OC Clerk-Recorder, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Hugh Nguyen, Orange County Clerk-Recorder

Hugh Nguyen, the Orange County Clerk Recorder, is hosting a private reception on September 4th, 2014, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

The event is sponsored by First American Financial Corporation and will be held at their offices, located at 1 First American Way, in Santa Ana.  Reception Location- Main Conference Room.

Please come and hear the innovative changes underway and Hugh’s plans for the future of the Orange County Clerk- Recorders Offices. Continue reading→

SAPD looking for DTSA hit and run vehicle

Posted on by Posted in Accidents, Crime, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Santa Ana Hit and Run Accident

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Investigation looking for information on hit and run vehicle

On 9/01/2014, officers responded to the scene of a traffic collision involving a sport utility vehicle and a passenger car at the intersection of North Broadway and West Santa Ana Boulevard.

At about 1852 hours, a 2000 Nissan Xterra driven by the registered owner was traveling north on Broadway with his wife riding as passenger. As the Nissan drove through the intersection at Santa Ana Boulevard, it was struck by a passenger car traveling west on Santa Ana Boulevard. Continue reading→

Tokyo Bento now open at the CityPlace in north Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Business, Food, Restaurants, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Tokyo Bento combo

Tokyo Bento has arrived in Santa Ana.  They offer Japanese lunch boxes at affordable prices and are located at the CityPlace, at 2775 Main St., in Santa Ana.  You can like them on Facebook here.

Tokyo Bento is a fast casual restaurant chain, serving core Japanese flavors with unique dipping sauces featuring global influences. A Yelper described them as ” It’s basically Flame Broiler set up with the Chipotle assembly model.”  Another Yelper had a worse comparison –  “Yoshinoya meets Chipotle. Yoshinoya for the Americanized Japanese food, Chipotle.” Continue reading→

Ward 2 candidate Mirna Velasquez earns OC Labor Fed’s co-endorsement

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Labor, Michele Martinez, Mirna Velasquez, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Mirna Velasquez

The Orange County Labor Federation’s granted their COPE (Committee on Political Education) General Election endorsements to the three incumbents running for the Santa Ana City Council – Michele Martinez (Ward 2), David Benavides (Ward 4) and Sal Tinajero (Ward 6) but they also endorsed Ward 2 challenger Mirna Velasquez.

All of these incumbent candidates are Democrats and OC Labor tends to stick to the blue party.  But Velasquez, the last time I heard, is a Decline to State voter.  That she received a co-endorsement is pretty astounding and a good sign that she is indeed an electable City Council candidate.

Mirna’s bio: Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s poor schools result in low family friendly big city rating

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Family friendly CA cities

Santa Ana did not fare very well in a new study of the most family friendly big cities in California by the Estately Blog.

The report mentioned a few upsides: 5th lowest crime, 7th shortest commute, 9th most affordable housing market, 4th biggest children’s population.

But the downsides are significant: 5th lowest number of preschools, 4th lowest number of daycares, 5th highest cost of living.  And check out the low GreatSchools Score: 5 out of 10.

Continue reading→

Lunch with SAUSD School Board candidate Andrews set for 9/21

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Education, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Shuntele Andrews Leave a comment

Lunch with Shuntele Andrews

Supporters of SAUSD School Board candidate Shuntele Andrews are hosting a “Lunch with Ms. Andrews” on Sunday, Sep. 21, 2014, from 12 noon to 2 pm, at 3617 W. Woodland Place, in Santa Ana.

The event will be hosted by Estella Ruiz Matthews at the home of Joe and Isabel Ruiz, and will feature homemade Mexican food. Continue reading→