Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Nature

Fairhaven enters Garden Show, marks first ever Memorial Park to enter

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Thoughts in a Garden

FAIRHAVEN BECOMES FIRST MEMORIAL PARK TO PARTICIPATE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SPRING GARDEN SHOW

SANTA ANA, Calif. – April 30, 2013 – Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary became the first memorial park to participate in the historic Southern California Spring Garden Show at South Coast Plaza. To honor the show’s 2013 theme “The Garden as Art,” Fairhaven’s entry is a tribute to Andrew Marvell’s famous 17th Century poem Thoughts in a Garden.

“We selected this work based on its use of the garden as a metaphor for life in all of its depth and complexity,” said Fairhaven Grounds Manager and project designer Jay Rodriguez. “Our goal for this display was to enable viewers to experience life’s many emotions, including peace, conflict, love and loss.” Continue reading→

The Santa Ana Zoo shouldn’t be handed to organizations that lack diversity

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Latinos, Nature, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Santa Ana Zoo 9 Comments

The financially struggling city will seek proposals early next year for a private entity to take over Santa Ana Zoo operations,” according to the O.C. Register.

Sooner or later the City of Santa Ana is going to have to cut the Santa Ana Zoo loose.  “There seems to be consensus that the city-owned zoo should be privatized. But very much in play has been who would run it: The Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo (which made its public pitch last year), the Discovery Science Center (the subject of recent rumor), or some third entity,” according to Frank Mickadeit over at the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Celebrate the “Holiday with the Critters” at the Santa Ana Zoo tonight

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Holiday with the critters

This Saturday night, December 15, from 5:30-8 PM, it’s the annual “Holidays With the Critters!”  Come celebrate the holiday season with us at the Santa Ana Zoo.

We had a blast last night doing the Dreamnight event, and now we’re ready to do it all over again for you and your family!
The Zoo entrance and Farm area will feature live entertainment, exciting animal presentations, sparkling lights and holiday decorations, games, holiday storytelling, fun interactive crafts, five “treat” stations with big prizes including an additional “prize” station, and more! Frolic in the snowflakes flurrying around the front entrance. Santa Clause will be there so the kids can give him their wish lists. Continue reading→

Watch Star Wars under the stars at the Santiago Park Nature Reserve on 9/28

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Family, Movies, Nature, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

We have all probably seen the original “Star Wars” movie many, many times. But this Friday, Sep. 28, you can watch it again – under the stars, at the Santiago Park Nature Reserve, at 7:30 pm, courtesy of the Santa Ana Naturalist Program.

Gather around the Santiago Park Nature Reserve fire pit and bring your own blankets, hot dogs, marshmallows, skewers, blankets, warm clothing and hot beverages. Punch, water and popcorn will be provided for free by the Santiago Park Nature Reserve staff. Continue reading→

Watch Disney/Pixar’s “Up” at the Santiago Park Nature Center on Friday night

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Family, Movies, Nature, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Watch the hit Disney/Pixar movie “Up” this Fridaynight, August 31, from 7:30pm to 9:30pm, at the Movie Night and Campfire at Santa Ana’s Santiago Park Nature Center., located at 600 E. Memory Lane, just east of Santiago Park.

Also, mark your calendars, Saturday September 15th is the Inner-Coastal Watershed Cleanup, from 9am to noon. The Santiago Park Nature Center will host a Creek Cleanup for the 16th Annual Inner-Coastal and Watershed Cleanup. The event will begin at 9am and end at noon. Continue reading→

$9 million for new O.C. bike trails, but not on Santiago Creek’s trail

Posted on by Posted in Bicycles, Nature, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana 22 Comments

“More than $9 million of federal dollars will be spent to add 28 crucial miles of bike lanes and trails in Orange County, an effort to better connect the region’s bikeway system,” according to the O.C. Register.

That is great news, and Santa Ana will draw some benefit from this expenditure, with new bikeways along 1st St., Chestnut Ave. and Newhope St., and new bike crossings along the Maple Bike Trail.

However there will be no money to complete the Santiago Creek bike trail, which abruptly ends after you pass the MainPlace Mall/5 Fwy. overpass.  Read more about that here and here.   Continue reading→

Meet Bobby Wilson, of the Angels, at the O.C. Zoo on July 7

Posted on by Posted in Baseball, Entertainment, Family, irvine, Nature, Orange County Leave a comment

Bobby Wilson of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to Visit OC Zoo
Park visitors wearing Angels gear July 7 get free entry to the OC Zoo and half-price train rides.

by Marisa O’Neil, Public Information Officer on 6/27/2012

OC Parks and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have teamed up to provide children and families with a wonderful event.  On Saturday, July 7, at 11 a.m., Angels catcher Bobby Wilson will make a special appearance at the OC Zoo and all visitors wearing Angels gear will get in free. In addition, all visitors wearing Angels gear will get half price rides on the train at www.irvineparkrailroad.com. Both offers are good all day long. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Ecology Day Camp offers scholarships

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Education, Family, Green, Nature, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 2 Comments

Santa Ana Ecology Day Camp Offers Scholarships

Contact: 714-292-2899; info@eco-es.com; www.eco-es.com.

The owner of a local Ecology Summer Day Camp is offering a limited number of scholarships and discounts for the 2012 program near the border of Santa Ana and Orange.

Students in the camp—open to ages 6-14—will learn the fundamentals of environmental science as they explore habitat of the Santiago Park Nature Reserve (on Memory Lane, between La Veta and Main streets). Topics covered will include: introduction to the local native ecosystem; basic scientific and ecological principles; examination of microscopic organisms in the park and its creek; conservation importance (energy, water, resources); and reasons and ways to avoid pollution while protecting the environment. Continue reading→

Historic Resources Commission to allow testimony on orchard alternatives

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Development, Nature, Santa Ana 8 Comments

City of Santa Ana, Community Alert

Community: HISTORIC RESOURCES COMMISSION TO TAKE PUBLIC TESTIMONY ON ALTERNATIVES FOR THE SEXLINGER FARMHOUSE AND ORANGE ORCHARD

SANTA ANA, CA (June 13, 2012) – On Thursday, June 28, 2012 the Santa Ana Historic Resources Commission will take public testimony on alternatives that could be used to preserve the Sexlinger Farmhouse and Orange Orchard. The property, located at 1584 E. Santa Clara Avenue, was recently placed on the Santa Ana Register of Historic Properties by the City Council. The property owners, Concordia University and Lutheran High School of Orange County, objected to the historic listing and on June 12, 2012 submitted a letter of intent to demolish the house and remove the orange trees. The property owners had previously submitted a proposal to develop the property with 24 new single-family homes, but this project is now on hold pending a 240-day waiting period during which alternatives to the demolition will be explored. Continue reading→

City Council approves historic designation for the Sexlinger Orange Orchard

Posted on by Posted in Development, Historical, Housing, Nature, Orange County, Santa Ana 4 Comments

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 7, 2012

Contact: Jeannie Gillett, SOOC Coordinator,  714-296-4642

Santa Ana City Council Approves Historic Designation for One of Orange County, California’s Last Orange Orchards

SANTA ANA, CA (June 7, 2012) – The Santa Ana City Council voted 4-1 in favor of placing the Sexlinger orange orchard and farmhouse, a century-old farm, on the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties at its meeting on June 4, 2012. The designation provides Santa Ana-based Save Our Orchard Coalition with an opportunity to raise the funding needed to acquire the property and preserve it. Continue reading→

Summer nature camp open house set for this Saturday, 5/26

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Education, Entertainment, Environment, Family, Nature, Newport Beach, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Youth Activities Leave a comment

** MEDIA ALERT **

CONTACT: Lori Whalen, Director of Education, Environmental Nature Center, lori@encenter.org, 949-645-8489

ENC PRESENTS Summer nature camp open house

WHAT: The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) will host a Summer Camp Open House to showcase its eight-week summer camp. The Open House is free to attend. Continue reading→

The Save the Sexlinger Orange Orchard Coalition receives a $10K donation

Posted on by Posted in Development, Nature, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana 2 Comments

SAVE OUR ORCHARD COALITION
P.O. Box 10038, Santa Ana, CA 92711-0038
PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 11, 2012
Contact: Jeannie Gillett, SOOC Coordinator, 714-296-4642

The Metabolic Studio Supports Legal Defense Fund for Landmark Orange County Orchard

SANTA ANA, CA (May 11, 2012) – The Metabolic Studio has made a generous grant of $10,000 to the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society on behalf of Santa Ana-based Save Our Orchard Coalition for support of the organization’s legal defense fund. The coalition is fighting to preserve the Sexlinger Family Farm, the largest remaining intact orange orchard in the city of Santa Ana, located in Orange County, California. Continue reading→

You can assist Back to Natives at Santa Ana’s Santiago Park nursery

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Come assist Back to Natives at our Nursery in Santa Ana’s lovely Santiago Park! We will be propagating and caring for native plants that will be used for habitat restoration or to help raise funds for our environmental education and habitat restoration programs.

Depending on what needs to be accomplished, you may be seeding, transplanting, weeding, watering, organizing, building displays, constructing a demonstration garden, etc. Bring gloves if you have them, or borrow ours. Wear sunscreen and a hat, bring a re-usable water bottle filled with water. CLOSED TOED SHOES ARE REQUIRED! Continue reading→

Santa Ana City Council should vote to change racist chicken ordinance

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Latinos, Nature, Pets, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 5 Comments

I was pleased to read in the O.C. Register that Santa Ana Council Members Sal Tinajero, Claudia Alvarez and David Benavides voted, as the Public Safety Committee, to change a city ordinance so that residents may keep chickens in their backyard, provided they are at least thirty feet from any neighbor’s property.

Deputy Santa Ana Police Chief Carlos Rojas, who oversees field operations as well as animal control, said his staff looked at a variety of issues, and contacted both Orange County officials and the Centers for Disease Control. Like other city officials, he said he wasn’t sure why the 100-foot standard was adopted, according to the O.C. Register.

Well, the law was ridiculous and it was designed to keep chickens entirely out of our backyards.  It was passed years ago when white City Council members regularly used city ordinances to punish Mexican American residents, who often kept chickens in their backyards, having come from rural traditions in their home country.  Some of our residents are still clinging to the old racist ideals.  Just look at Tim Rush’s comments at this link. Continue reading→