New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Santa Ana

Santa Ana targeted for advanced West Nile Virus prevention measures

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OC West Nile Virus Human Infection Map

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: ADVANCED WEST NILE VIRUS PREVENTION MEASURES TO BE CONDUCTED IN THE CITY OF SANTA ANA

SANTA ANA, CA (September 5, 2014) – Orange County is currently experiencing the highest level of West Nile virus infection in mosquitoes ever recorded in the county. West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Infection can cause severe illness and permanent disabilities, and in rare cases, can result in death.

Despite collaborative efforts with the Orange County Vector Control District to reduce mosquito-breeding sources, expand education to residents, conduct aerial surveillance for out-of-service swimming pools, and intensifying immature mosquito control, the rate of infection in both mosquitoes and birds remains abnormally high. Continue reading→

Library to host a free screening of a movie about a U.S. Veteran with PTSD

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Military, Movies, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

Santa Ana Library screens When Can I Come Home

City of Santa Ana

Community: SANTA ANA PUBLIC LIBRARY CONTINUES SEPTEMBER PROGRAMMING WITH FREE SCREENING OF “WHEN CAN I COME HOME”

SANTA ANA, CA – As part of the Cal Humanities War Comes Home: Finding Peace at the Home Front series, the Santa Ana Public Library will have the following free events during the month of September introducing challenges faced by veterans and the realities of war.

Saturday, September 13, 2014, the library will be screening When I Came Home, winner of the NY Loves Film Best Documentary Award at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. When I Came Home follows Herold Noel, an Iraq war veteran who becomes homeless in New York City after returning from combat with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). After the screening there will be presentations by representatives from the Volunteers of America and US Department of Veterans Affairs. The screening will be held from 1:30 pm – 5 pm in the Santa Ana Public Library Meeting Room A. Light refreshments will be served. Continue reading→

City Council’s ongoing attack on Mayor Pulido comes up empty again

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, OCDA, Politics, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 10 Comments

Tinajero, Martinez and Benavides

Santa Ana City Council members voted Tuesday in closed session to release to the public the city attorney’s report on Mayor Miguel Pulido’s property swap case on Sept. 30 if District Attorney Tony Rackauckas or the state’s political watchdog don’t file criminal charges against the mayor by then, according to the Voice of OC.

What is this all about? In 2010, members of the Pulido family traded a parking lot they owned to Rupen James Akoubian, owner of NAPA Orange County Auto Parts, in exchange for a house in Westminster. According to the public assessor’s appraisals, the fair market value of the house was more than twice as much as the Pulidos’ lot, according to the Voice of OC.

The family later transferred the house solely into the mayor’s name, and he ultimately sold it for nearly $400,000, netting a $197,000 profit. Meanwhile, Akoubian’s store received a $1.35 million, no-bid city contract to supply auto parts to the municipal vehicle fleet.

So did Pulido break any laws? Let’s look at this point by point: Continue reading→

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

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Entertainment, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

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

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Santa Ana, SAUSD, Youth Activities Leave a comment

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→

Santa Ana man arrested for felony hit and run in DTSA

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

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→

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

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Democratic Party, Entertainment, Jose Solorio, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

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

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Youth Activities Leave a comment

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 September 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza 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 September 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza 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 September 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza 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 September 1, 2014 by Art Pedroza 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 September 1, 2014 by Art Pedroza 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

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

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 September 1, 2014 by Art Pedroza 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→