Art Pedroza

Industry peers recognize the OCTA for “Best Practices”

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in OCTA, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 27, 2013

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713/Eric Carpenter (714) 560-5697

Industry Peers Recognize OCTA For ‘Best Practices’

OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson requested unprecedented peer review in his first 100 days

ORANGE – A first-time review by professional peers in the transportation industry found that the Orange County Transportation Authority has established several industry “best practices” when it comes to the agency’s work in health, safety and environmental compliance.

Each year, OCTA undergoes an audit of its health and safety practices to ensure that the agency complies with all regulations and creates the safest atmosphere for its passengers and employees. When CEO Darrell Johnson assumed leadership of the agency earlier this year, he decided to take that a step further, requesting that for the first time OCTA undergo a peer review led by the American Public Transportation Association as part of his first 100 days plan. Continue reading→

Where to find free Thanksgiving meals in Orange County, for the needy

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

There are a number of local charities and organizations offering free Thanksgiving meals this week in and around Santa Ana. Here is a list of the free meals we were able to identify:

The Santa Ana Salvation Army Temple will open its doors to offer all in need this holiday season a warm, turkey meal on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013, at 11 am. They are located at 1710 W. Edinger Avenue, in Santa Ana. Contact: Major Horta- (714) 545-2937.
100 Turkeys for FREE! and 5 baskets of food for a Thanksgiving Dinner set for Wednesday, Nov 27, 2013, from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm at the Anaheim Marketplace Anaheim, located at 1440 s. Anaheim Blvd., in Anaheim. 50 Turkeys will be handed on Monday November 25, 2013 and the other half on Wednesday November 27, 2013. A Thanksgiving Dinner Raffle will also be held! 5 Families will be taking home a basket filled with food for a Thanksgiving Dinner. Call 714-999-0888. Continue reading→

Santa Ana transplant Karina Onofre running for the 74th A.D.

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, irvine, Karina Onofre, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 16 Comments

Karina Onofre

From the OC Politics Blog

Karina Onofre ran for Ward 5 on the Santa Ana City Council last year as the sole challenger to Roman Reyna, who beat her by over 12,000 votes according to Smart Voter.

Now Onofre, who recently announced on Facebook that she was going to law school, has instead decided to run for the 74th State Assembly District. And apparently she now lives in Irvine, according to her Facebook page. Continue reading→

Santa Ana holiday trash schedule announced

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Santa Ana, Waste Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: City Reminds Everyone About Holiday Trash Schedule

SANTA ANA, CA (November 25, 2013) – During the upcoming holiday season, regular trash, recycling, and green waste collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week. So, this Thanksgiving, regular Thursday trash pickup will be on Friday, and Friday’s regular pickup will be on Saturday. For Christmas and New Year’s, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday collections will similarly be delayed by only one day. Continue reading→

There were over 320 crimes reported in Santa Ana during the week of Nov. 11-17

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

There were over 320 crimes reported in Santa Ana during the week of Nov. 11-17, 2013, according to our friends at CrimeMapping.

Here is how the crime trends broke down:

75 Assaults
63 Thefts/Larceny
39 Drug/Alcohol Violations
36 Motor Vehicle Thefts
35 Vehicle Break-Ins Continue reading→

A Chapter One & C4 Deli Phillippines Relief Night set for tonight, at 8 pm

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Entertainment, Food, Restaurants Leave a comment

Chapter One: the Modern Local & C4 Deli are hosting a Relief Night to benefit the victims of the recent mega typhoon in the Phillippines, on Monday, Nov. 25, 2014, from 8 pm to closing. Proceeds from ALL Food and Beverage Sales at Chapter One: the modern local will go to the Relief Fund.

Chapter One: the modern local is located at 227 N. Broadway, in Downtown Santa Ana.

Music provided by dj ello, dj hybrid, and special guest.
Raffle. Money, gift cards, food prizes. Continue reading→

Christmas at the Orange County Zoo set for Dec. 14

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Nature, Orange, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Christmas at the OC Zoo is set for Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, from 10 am to 4 pm, at 1 Irvine Park Road, in Orange.

Come celebrate Christmas at the OC Zoo! Visit with Santa, listen to story time with Mrs. Claus, make fun kids crafts, and get your face painted. See the animals receive treats hidden inside Christmas trees and gift boxes. Continue reading→

Holidays with the Critters set for Dec. 7 at the Santa Ana Zoo

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Nature, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 1 Comment

“Holidays with the Critters” & “Winter Zoobilation” at the Santa Ana Zoo

Come one, come all to the Santa Ana Zoo’s annual holiday family festival “Holidays with the Critters” on Saturday, December 7th from 11 am – 2 pm, rain or shine. The event is included with the price of admission and FREE for Zoo members.

Additionally, throughout the month of December, the Santa Ana Zoo will be transformed into a winter wonderland called “Winter Zoobilation” with special holiday entertainment each weekend for all to enjoy. Continue reading→

Suspected burglars arrested after they jump down a 10 story hotel

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Officers arrest suspects for burglary after they scaled down 10 story hotel building

Officers responded to the Mobile Gas station reference a report of a beer run. The clerk advised that the 2 suspects (males in their early 20s) had been involved in an earlier beer run at about 520 PM and had returned at 620 Pm to do another.

Following the second theft, the clerk followed the two suspects and saw that they entered the Embassy Suites at 1325 E. Dyer. Working with hotel management, officers located the room where the suspects were partying on the 10th floor. Continue reading→

Johnny Rockets has landed at the MainPlace Mall

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Business, Food, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Johnny Rockets has landed at Santa Ana’s Westfield MainPlace Mall, on the lower level, by JC Penney. Click here to check out their menu. Be sure to sign up for their e-club to get special promotions by email and text messages.

Here is what they had to say on the MainPlace Facebook Page: Continue reading→

Learn how to create a school garden on Dec. 14 at Jerome Park

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Education, Entertainment, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

CREATING & SUSTAINING YOUR SCHOOL GARDEN (CSYSG) WORKSHOP

Attention Orange County Teachers, Parents, School Staff, Administrators, and Volunteers wishing to begin or enhance a School Garden program

WHEN: Saturday, December 14, 2013 ~ 9:00am-3:00pm
WHERE: Jerome CommUnity Learning Garden (central Santa Ana)
WHAT: School garden teams of 2-4 are encouraged to attend. Teams may include teachers, parents, volunteers, school administrators, and other supporters of your garden program. Continue reading→

Man convicted of embezzling over $110K from a Santa Ana church

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Churches and Religion, Courts, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13CF2428: November 22, 2013

TREASURER CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR EMBEZZLING OVER $110,000 FROM CHURCH BANK ACCOUNTS

*Defendant laundered money through an Indian gaming casino

SANTA ANA – A treasurer was convicted and sentenced today for embezzling over $110,000 from church bank accounts. Fiatala Manu, 47, Lake Elsinore, pleaded guilty to one felony count each of embezzlement by fiduciary of trust, money laundering, falsifying records, and sentencing enhancements for property loss over $65,000. He was sentenced to one year in jail, two years of mandatory supervision, and was ordered to pay over $113,000 in restitution. Continue reading→

Ex Garden Grove cop convicted of forcibly sodomizing three women he had dated

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, OCDA Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 10WF2451: November 22, 2013

POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON FOR FORCIBLY SODOMIZING THREE WOMEN, WHOM HE HAD BRIEFLY DATED

SANTA ANA – A police officer was sentenced today to 12 years in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration for forcibly sodomizing three women, all of whom he knew in a dating capacity. Jesse Andrew Green, 36, Huntington Beach, was found guilty by a jury Sept. 6, 2013, of three felony counts of forcible sodomy. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on one felony count of rape.

At the time of the crime, Green had been a police officer with the Garden Grove Police Department since 2006. The defendant also worked for the Calexico Police Department from 2004 to 2006. Continue reading→

SAPD arrests suspects who used a blowtorch and tire iron to assault victims

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Officers arrest robbery suspects who assault victim and witnesses with blow blowtorch and tire iron

UPDATE: Officer have learned the suspect arrest Fortino Rueda provided a false name to arresting officers. He used the name of a family member and he has now been identified as Peter Saul Rueda (31) Santa Ana. He has been charged with additional charge of PC 529(a)(1)False Impersonation

Police Department received numerous 911 calls of a large fight 800 North Fairview. Officers found the Victim (42/M) parked his truck loaded with garden equipment, at the location before entering the donut shop to purchase coffee and donuts. A witness (victim’s coworker) drove into the same parking lot to notice the three suspects (M/33 -F/34-M/unk) stealing garden equipment from the victim’s truck. The witness blocked the suspect’s vehicle to prevent escape. Continue reading→

Girl scares off a possible abductor with a stick, in Corona del Mar

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Newport Beach, Orange County Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PRESS RELEASE #112113b: Nov. 21, 2013

Subject: Suspicious Circumstances

At approximately 11:20 a.m. on November 20, 2013, a 14-year-old female was sitting on the front stairs of her residence in the 600 block of Iris Avenue in Corona del Mar, when a green Subaru wagon drove by, The vehicle passed her residence, then reversed its direction of travel and stopped in front of the home. The driver remained inside while the passenger exited the vehicle and approached the female, asking for directions to a nearby fast food restaurant.

When female said that she could not help with directions, the passenger stated that he had a map in the vehicle and encouraged her to return to the vehicle with him. When the female refused, the passenger became persistent. Out of concern for her safety, the female armed herself with a large stick that was nearby. The passenger then returned to the vehicle and told the driver to leave the location. Continue reading→

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