Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Author Archives: Art Pedroza

Directory of 2013 Santa Ana fireworks booth operators and locations

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Fires, Santa Ana 2 Comments

NESALL Little League Fireworks Stand

There are 75 fireworks booths selling safe and sane fireworks in Santa Ana this year. Each booth is operated by a local charity. Chances are you know many of these or even belong to some of these organizations, which include local schools, youth sports teams, churches and temples.

The Santa Ana Public Information Officer, Jose Gonzalez, has provided us with a list of the booth operators and their locations so that you can go buy your fireworks from the charity or non-profit of your choice. This is a big deal for many of these organizations. They rely on this money to fund their programs.  Please be sure to be safe!  Click here for a great new article on fireworks safety.

Here is the 2013 list of Santa Ana Fireworks booths – this is a New Santa Ana exclusive: Continue reading→

Public Works Director goes to El Monte and won’t be our next City Manager

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Gerardo Mouet, Michele Martinez, Paul Walters, Politics, Raul Godinez, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Raul Godinez

Santa Ana Public Works Director Raul Godinez will depart Santa Ana to become the new City Manager of El Monte on July 15 at a salary of $195,000, according to OC Political blogger Thomas Gordon. (Gordon is a member of the OC GOP Central Committee and a past Santa Ana Mayoral Candidate).

Godinez was thought to be the leading candidate to become Santa Ana’s next City Manager, but guess what?  El Monte retained the services of executive search firm Bob Murray & Associates, the same company tasked with hiring a new City Manager for Santa Ana.  So they found Godinez a job, but not here in Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Get a great deal from KFC on National Fried Chicken Day, on July 6

Posted on by Posted in Food, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Did you know that National Fried Chicken Day is coming up on July 6, 2013?  KFC in Southern California is offering a 7 Piece Drumsticks & Thighs Bucket for only $5 on July 6, 2013 in honor of National Fried Chicken Day. Southern California KFC locations include Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura, San Bernardino and Riverside counties only. The coupon above must be printed and presented upon ordering. Coupon only valid on July 6, 2013!

Fritters have existed in Europe since the middle ages. The Scots, and later Scottish immigrants to the southern United States, had a tradition of deep frying chicken in fat, unlike their English counterparts who baked or boiled chicken. Continue reading→

Pick up an OC Fair coupon at the Library or at City Hall, for 7/26

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, Family, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OC Fair Logo

Orange County Fair, Press Release

Media/Press Contact: Robin Wachner, Communications Department (714) 708-1543.

The 2013 OC Fair Celebrates Orange County Communities with “Summer In The Cities” Promotion

Costa Mesa, Calif. (June 28, 2013) – The OC Fair is celebrating the spirit of the community with its new Summer In the Cities programming, which includes local entertainment, exhibits and discounts for residents.

On specific days, representatives and residents from cities in Orange County will lead Fairgoers in a Community Flag Salute and singing of the National Anthem at 12:30 p.m. in front of The Hangar. Also, residents of the featured city can enjoy discounted Fair admission with their Summer In the Cities coupon, available at their local city hall or library.

The 2013 OC Fair Summer In the Cities schedule is: Continue reading→

Catch the OC Fair Express and get into the Fair for only $3!

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

Save a Busload on The OC Fair Express!

The Orange County Fair is on July 12, 2013 through August 11, 2013 and the best way to get there is on the OC Fair Express! The OC Fair Express provides direct bus service to and from the fair from nine convenient locations for just $2.00 each way. You can catch the OC Fair Express any Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the fair starting July 12, 2013.

All OC Express customers also receive a coupon good for $3 Fair Admission—that’s up to $8 off. So skip traffic and save on parking and admission with the OC Fair Express! Continue reading→

The Santa Ana Problems Facebook page takes off!

Posted on by Posted in Blogs, Santa Ana, Social Media 6 Comments

I have been following the Santa Ana Problems Facebook page for awhile and I noticed that their likes have really taken off this month.  They now have 21,517 likes and their activity has really heated up.  They currently have 49,671 people “talking about them.” Our own Facebook page has 400 likes, by comparison.

What I love about Santa Ana Problems is that it depicts, warts and all, what living in Santa Ana is like – particularly for those who don’t happen to live in the nicer parts of town. Continue reading→

The SAPD has reportedly shut down their Strike Force/SWAT Team

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Rojas, Civic Affairs, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana 11 Comments

SAPD SWAT

The Santa Ana Police Department’s decorated Strike Force, which acted as the city’s SWAT team, has been disbanded, by Acting Chief of Police Carlos Rojas, according to an insider who tipped us off this evening.

I am told that Chief Rojas is calling this a budget move but the truth may be more sinister.  Rojas called the Strike Force into a meeting recently and he told them essentially that they had not accomplished anything and that he had heard that they were talking about him behind his back. He told them no one at the SAPD thought the Strike Force was a good idea, which I am told is untrue.  He apparently also belittled them and their past successes.

Continue reading→

Free 4th of July celebration and fireworks show at Centennial Park today

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Family, Military Leave a comment

Celebrate Independence Day early, at Centennial Park in Santa Ana. Visit the park on Sunday, June 30th, for a fun filled day of live music, food, and patriotic entertainment, starting at 4 pm. The celebration will be capped off with a fireworks show at 9:00 pm!

The event features: Continue reading→

Santa Ana daily crime report for June 29, 2013

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SAPD arrests suspects

This is our newest feature – a daily crime report for the City of Santa Ana, courtesy of our friends at CrimeMapping.com.

The information below pertains to crimes committed on June 29, 2013.  As you will see, there is never a dull moment in Orange County’s Downtown – Santa Ana.

Type  Description   Case #   Location   Agency  Date  Map It

  • Disturbing the PeaceSAMC Violations2013-18081200 BLOCK N BROADWAYSanta Ana Police6/29/2013 9:06:00 PMMap It
  • Motor Vehicle TheftVehicle Theft2013-180772200 BLOCK W 14TH STSanta Ana Police6/29/2013 9:05:00 PMMap It
  • AssaultDomestic Violence2013-180752200 BLOCK W LA VERNE AVSanta Ana Police6/29/2013 7:47:00 PMMap It Continue reading→

OC Pride Festival set for August 10 in Downtown Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Arts and Culture, Dance, Entertainment, Food, music, Santa Ana 8 Comments

The Orange County Equality Coalition (OCEC) is once again hosting the Orange County Pride Festival in Santa Ana, on August 10, 2013, from 12 noon to 10 pm, on Fourth Street, between Broadway and Ross in Santa Ana, CA.

The free festival will be a full day event from 12pm to  10pm in order to accommodate time for festival goers to enjoy all that the event has to offer. There will be hours of high energy performances on the main stage, over a dozen DJ’s playing various music selections in two dance areas, hundreds of exhibitor tents, a beer and wine garden, a family friendly Kids Club, interesting and educational workshops at our Rainbow Symposium and delicious food from local vendors. Continue reading→

Gay marriage could be a big financial boon to Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Business, Courts, LGBT, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Orange County Clerk-Recorder, Hugh Nguyen, will begin performing gay marriages this Monday, during its normal business hours at its offices in Santa Ana, Fullerton and Laguna Hills offices, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Orange County will be prepared to issue same-sex licenses at its normal business hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the main offices in Santa Ana, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at branch offices, an office spokeswoman said.

Gay marriage could be a huge boon to Santa Ana businesses, particularly those in Downtown Santa Ana.   Continue reading→

Free family festival at Santa Ana’s OCCTAC today

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Family, Food, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OCCTAC Family Festival

The Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center is hosting a free family festival today, June 29, 2013, with student performances, games, food, art activities, a book give-away, drawings and more.

It takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the  center, 2215 N. Broadway. The nonprofit combines arts, academics and creative therapies to serve at-risk youth. Click here to RSVP on Facebook. Continue reading→

NE Santa Ana Major All Stars to face off against Tustin Eastern today

Posted on by Posted in Baseball, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

NESALL Major Team

Come out this morning  at 10 am to the South Sunrise Little League on Prospect Ave., between Chapman and La Veta, to support the Northeast Santa Ana Little League (NESALL) Major Team All Stars.  They are facing the tough Tustin Eastern Major Team All Stars.

NESALL’s Major Team All Stars have been terrific this year and this should be a thrilling game with lots of home runs. Continue reading→