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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Youth Activities

Summer Youth Activities

Dream Act press conference in Anaheim on Nov. 30

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Arab Americans, Churches and Religion, Civil Rights, Education, Entertainment, immigration, Latinos, mexico, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities 1 Comment

Orange County DREAM Team’s Banner Holding for the DREAM Act in Santa Ana, CA. 11/28/2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 24, 2010

Contact: Aura Vasquez, 714-931-6045, aura@occcopico.org or Vanessa Martinez, 714-767-9860, vanessa.clue@gmail.com

Top Faith and Community Leaders “March for the DREAM” with Orange County Congregations, Families, and Students

Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO), in partnership with the Orange County DREAM Team (OCDT) and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE OC), will hold a “March for the DREAM” in support of the DREAM Act, providing a pathway for citizenship and higher education to college bound immigrants and those serving in the US Military. OCCCO, CLUE, OCDT, and their partners urge Senators to show moral leadership and vision when voting for the DREAM Act.

WHO:

  • Bishop, Dominic Luong, Diocese of Orange
  • Dr. Jose Moreno, School Board President of Anaheim School District
  • DREAM ACT Student Testimonies
  • Community organizations including Los Amigos of Orange County and the League of Women Voters
  • Anaheim Union High School District
  • Other clergy and top religious leaders from Orange County
  • Chaired by: OCCCO Leaders Jan Meslin from Tapestry Unitarian Universalist Congregation and Annan Aboul-Nasr from the Islamic Institute of Orange County

WHAT: “March for the DREAM” – Families, youth, and clergy from Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, and Unitarian congregations throughout Orange County will gather together for a march from St. Boniface to Anaheim High School to hold a press conference in support of our immigrant youth. As communities of faith, the march to the school symbolizes putting our faith into action to stand in solidarity with students and urge Senators to support the DREAM ACT.

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010 – 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm, press conference starts at 2:45 at Anaheim High School.  Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

WHERE: Starts: St. Boniface Catholic Church, 120 N. Janss Street, Anaheim, CA 92805
Ends: Anaheim High School, 811 West Lincoln Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92805

VISUALS: Clergy, students, families marching and standing together, with signs saying “ready to serve”, “we want the American DREAM”, and “I want to be a teacher, lawyer, nurse, doctor, etc.”

MORE INFORMATION

Thousands of hard working young people who were brought to the United States as infants or children can now be locked up in federal detention centers and deported to a country they’ve never known. The DREAM Act could stop the injustice by giving students who have grown up and graduated high school in the United States the opportunity to earn legal status college or military service. For almost 10 years immigrant youth have been fighting for the passage of the DREAM Act. As people of faith, we support the DREAM Act because we believe in protecting the dignity of every human being, especially that of our children.

BACKGROUND ON PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO) is an interfaith network of 22 member congregations and civic groups representing 50,000 families in eight cities throughout Orange County. OCCCO was established in 1985 and is a current member federation of the PICO National Network – the largest faith-based organizing network in the nation, representing more than 1 million families across the United States.

Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice of Orange County (CLUE OC) provides spiritual leadership in the movement to achieve economic justice in Orange County. We seek to achieve a California with a moral economy where workers will have just wages and safe working conditions. We also seek the removal of barriers that hinder full participation of low wage workers and immigrant families in society and the workplace, including the reform of our immigration system. CLUE Orange County is one of 13 affiliates of the statewide network CLUE California

The Orange County DREAM Team (OCDT) is an organization composed of students, allies and community members, who advocate for the rights of undocumented students of all nationalities and is also dedicated to the passage of the DREAM Act.

Help Mexican orphans at the El Jugueton dinner and toy drive on Dec. 3

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Entertainment, mexico, music, Santa Ana, Working Families, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Love to All, Inc. is a non-profit organization committed to ending the cycle of child homelessness in Mexico by assisting orphanages and the children they support.

Join them on Friday, December 3, from 7:00pm – 11:30pm, for the El Jugueton Toy Drive, located at 2035 N. Main St., in Santa Ana.

Ticket are $35 dollars and will include food and entertainment till 12pm for the event.  Entertainment includes a performance by Relampago del Cielo, a non-profit cultural arts organization which supports the study and preservation of traditional Mexican performing arts through our music, folklore and dance.  Also performing is the Rhythmo children’s mariachi band.

Remember, this program is to help the kids!

Also, there are corporate sponsorships available for $250. This includes your business being advertised as a sponsor on the radio, on our website and other promotional items.

Please call for more information on ticket sales at 818-635-3159.  Click here to RSVP on Facebook.  Click here to buy your tickets online.

Next Common Ground Open Mic night on Dec. 2, at the VAALA Center in Santa Ana

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Common Ground is hosting their next Open Mic night on December 2, from 7:00pm – 9:00pm, at the VAALA Cultural Center, located at 1600 North Broadway (closest cross-streets are Broadway & 17th Street), in Santa Ana.

Show up – speak out – invite others! Doors open at 6:00pm. Open Mic sign ups by 6:30pm. If you would like to sign-up, please show up early. The show starts at 7:00pm.

Lineup TBA.

Common ground/sân chơi chung: connecting communities through creative expressions. We are a collective of community members, artists, and activists committed to cultivating positive and safe space for artistic growth and community empowerment.

Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

Please sponsor a Santa Ana TKO youth this Christmas

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PLEASE SPONSOR A TKO BOXING YOUTH!!

FOR ONLY $5 OR $10 YOU CAN HELP PUT A SMILE ON A TKO MEMBER THIS CHRISTMAS!

WE ARE REQUESTING DONATIONS OF A GIFT CARD(S) TO THE PLACE OF YOUR CHOICE.

TKO is proud to say that after 17 years, our all-volunteer staff continues to offer our cost-free, after-school program to over 100+ at-risk youths daily by giving them a safe and structured place to gather. This year we have a record number of high school age youths…. and hope that with your donation we will be able to give them each a small gift card.

Cards may be sent to:

TKO BOXING CLUB
P.O. Box 28541
Santa Ana, CA 92799
or call Mary Lara at (714) 336-3361 for pick-up.

Your donation is tax-deductible.
Non-profit tax i.d. no. Non-Profit #33-0872050

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

More opportunities to help the needy in Orange County, this holiday season

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Churches and Religion, homeless, Santa Ana, Women, Working Families, Youth Activities 2 Comments

My son Joey spent the day helping to feed the needy at Santa Ana’s Salvation Army, along with many of his friends from Godinez High School.  I am so proud of them!  But when I got a call today from a reader looking for more opportunities to help the needy, I did not know where to send him.  Luckily, State Senator Lou Correa recently published a list of charitable organiztions.  I added to  it.  Here it is – this my friends is what Thanksgiving is really all about:

Garden Grove

  • Grandma’s House of Hope (GHH) – GHH distributes food, gifts, and toys to hungry children and their parents during the holiday season. Contact Lori Solomon at lori.grandmashouse@gmail.com for more information.

Orange

  • Promesas de Yahweh Ministries (PDYM) – They provide grocery bags to people in need every weekend at their new location: 1622 S. Main Street, Santa Ana, 92707 (corner of Main and Pomona).  To volunteer, please call (714) 404-0029.
  • Mary’s Kitchen –  They provide food and services to the homeless of Orange County, California.  Click here to find out how to help.

Santa Ana

  • Veterans First, Thanksgiving at the Veterans House on Manor – Veterans First is serving dinner to homeless veterans at four locations on November 25th from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Please contact Beau McGaughey at beau@veteransfirstoc.org for more information.
  • The Wooden Floor – Each year, The Wooden Floor, previously known as Saint Joseph Ballet, provides gifts for 375 underprivileged youth at its annual student holiday party. Please contact Susie Forbath at Susie@TheWoodenFloor.org for more information.
  • OneOC, Spirit of Giving – The Spirit of Giving is a service learning project where 1st grade students are taught the importance of community service. Please contact Shannon Reyes at sreyes@OneOC.org for more information.
  • Mercy House Living Centers, Holiday Adopt-a-Resident Program – Please contact Ashleigh Anderson Camba at ashleigha@mercyhouse.net for more information.  (714) 836-7188.
  • Official No One Left Behind – They collect food and give it away to the needy at the Delhi Center, on a regular basis.  For more info contact Joyce Hall at 714-973-1982, or email her at officialnooneleftbehind@yahoo.com.
  • Catholic Worker – Click here to see their Volunteer Schedule.
  • The Salvation Army Santa Ana Corps – Click here for volunteer information.

County of Orange

  • The Orange County Toy Collaborative – The Orange County Toy Collaborative provides holiday gifts to children from low-income households. Please visitwww.ocgov.com/volunteer.asp for more information.
  • Orange County Toy Collaborative – Operation Santa Claus distributes donated gifts and toys to underprivileged youth during the holiday season. Please contact Jane Dawson at Jane.Dawson@ocgov.com for more information.
  • Military Children’s Charity, Inc. – The Military Children’s Charity distributes toys to American Servicemember’s children. Please contact Cherie Navarro at cnavarro@militarychildrenscharity.org for more information.
  • Orangewood Children’s Foundation – The Orangewood Children’s Foundation distributes gifts to current foster youth, former foster youth, and low-income families throughout Orange County. Please contact Lupe Barerra at Lbarerra@orangewoodfoundation.org for more information.
  • Providence Community Services – Providence Community Services distributes gifts to needy children who would otherwise go without during the holidays. Please contact Adrienne Davalos at adavalos@provcorp.com for more information.
  • WISEPlace, Adopt-a-Resident – Please contact Cindy Ruiz at cruiz@wiseplace.org for more information.
  • Corazon, 2010 Community Christmas Party – The community of Cumbres and Pedregal are hosting a community Christmas fiesta. Please contact Julissa Espinoza at office@corazon.org for more information.
  • Orange County Rescue Mission – Various locations – click here to see a list of them.  Click here to find out how to volunteer.
  • Second Harvest Food Bank – Located in Irvine.  Click here to find out how to help.
  • Orange County Food Bank – Located in Garden Grove.  Click here to find out how to help.
  • Home Aid Orange County – Located in Irvine.  Check their website for a great list of organizations that serve the needy and the homeless.
  • For other County services for the homeless, click here.

SAPD partners with ABC7 and Southland Firefighters Spark of Love Toy Drive

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SAPD Partners with Spark of Love Toy Drive

For the last eighteen years, ABC7 & Southland Firefighters have come together to bring smiles to children and families in need. The Spark of Love Toy Drive benefits children who have lost their homes to fire, whose parents are unemployed, live in underserved communities, are in the foster care system and/or are hospitalized. With the love and support from sponsors, donors, and volunteers children will be able to enjoy a new toy this holiday season.

This year’s toy drive will run from November 19th thru December 24th. As in previous years, a new unwrapped toy or sports equipment can be dropped off at any local fire station or sponsor location. Firefighters from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties along with Los Angeles City Fire will collect toys and distribute them to under-served children in their local communities. In the last four years, over 2 million toys have been collected and distributed.

How to Donate

You can donate online with a credit card through the California Community Foundation (CCF). All proceeds will go to buying toys or sports equipment for the children.

And starting Friday, November 19, you can also drop off your new, unwrapped toys or sports equipment at your local Fire Station or CVS/pharmacy.

For 18 years, ABC7 and firefighters from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, along with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, have joined forces to run the “Spark of Love Toy Drive”. This campaign collects new, unwrapped toys and sports equipment for the under served children in our communities. Toys collected in the respective counties are distributed locally. Last year alone, “Spark of Love” collected over 500,000 toys within all five counties and we want to top that total this year, so please help the firefighter’s ignite a spark of love in a child’s heart.

Join Garth the Elf for Stuff-A-Bus events

This year there will be four Stuff-A-Bus events. On four days in November and December, from 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., you can help ABC7’s Garth Kemp (dressed as a giant elf) stuff a bus full of toys.

On Friday, Dec. 17, Garth the Elf will be at the Honda Center in Anaheim

View an interactive map and get directions to all the Stuff-A-Bus locations

Friday, December 17
ABC7 & Southland Firefighters
“Stuff a Bus”
5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Honda Center
2695 East Katella Ave.
Anaheim, 92806
(818) 863-7220

Book about Santa Ana High School wrestling team makes a great Christmas gift

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Looking for a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer?  How about a copy of “A Saint in the City: Coaching At-Risk Kids to Be Champions,” by Scott Glabb?

In A Saint in the City: Coaching At-Risk Kids to Be Champions, Glabb shares his inspiring wrestling experiences from years of coaching the boys of Santa Ana High School with little hope for success, let alone a bright future. They had no prayer of a win, but Coach Glabb roused his athletes to bravely overcome their disadvantages to raise their school from being the pariah of Southern California wrestling to one of the most respected athletic programs in California.

A Saint in the City openly describes the crime-ridden lives of athletes who didn’t even hope for more until they started wrestling and found a coach who stirred them to greatness. Through Coach Glabb’s reflections and his athletes’ own words, A Saint in the City chronicles the tribulations and triumphs of one team that wrestled for victory.”

Here is an excerpt:

“With time running out, he had to chase his man down at the center of the mat before locking up again. His opponent blocked his move, maintaining his lead with less than ten seconds left. José lunged in for a front headlock and used all his strength, calling on all his hours of training and conditioning. I watched the final second tick away as José became a national wrestling champion.

220 pages – $18.99 (paperback).  Christmas special: Only $15 if you buy a signed copy directly from Coach Glabb.  For a signed copy, call Glabb at 714-609-6607, or email him at glabb@prodigy.net.

You can also buy this book online at www.sawrestling.com, or on Amazon.com.

Free flu shots in Santa Ana on Nov. 23, at Northgate Market

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AltaMed offers free flu shots to keep families healthy.

Tuesday, November 23rd, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Northgate Market, located at 230 N. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92703 (OCTA Bus #43).

AltaMed, a non-profit health care organization, is hosting free flu clinics so families can stay healthy during this flu season. This year’s seasonal flu shot includes the H1N1 vaccine.

During the free flu shot clinics, families can learn more about AltaMed’s programs and services, receive health insurance enrollment assistance, health tips and advice on when to use emergency rooms.

Families will also have the opportunity to enter into raffles and win prizes at select locations.

Refer to the attached FLYER or click here to read the flyer in Spanish.

For more information on AltaMed’s Free Flu Clinics, please call 1-877-462-2582

Free day at the Santa Ana Zoo today!

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Sunday, November 21 is Free Day for Santa Ana residents!

If you live in the city of Santa Ana, the third Sunday of each month is a free admission day for the Santa Ana Zoo. Bring your family to come visit the anaimals, roam the gardens, maybe even ride the train and carousel. Come see what’s new at the Zoo!  The Santa Ana Zoo is open 10am to 4pm.  (Proof of address may be required, up to 4 per household).

New Poison Dart Frogs (Dendrobatidae) are now in the Observation Outpost!  Come check out these little bright yellow frogs. In the wild, they have a poison which is accumulated by eating ants, mites, & centipedes, and the poison is sometimes extracted and used on arrow and dart tips by South American native tribes.  These frogs are indigenous to rainforests and wetlands of Central and South America.

We have some giant pumpkins growing in the area behind the goat yard in the Crean Family Farm!  (Thanks to volunteer Ronnie for doing such a great job with that garden!).  Drop by the Zoo November 20 & 21, 11am – 3pm to meet and talk to UC Master Gardeners. Get info for gardening enthusiasts, kids can learn a little something about agriculture, and you can ask them questions about the demonstration gardens.

Santa Ana Zoo has great volunteer opportunities!  Consider joining us to help educate school age kids, be a docent, drive the Zoofari Express train, help with special events, or even animal care. Throughout the year we have a variety of volunteer positions available.
See our website to learn more about volunteer opportunities, and join one of the best volunteer teams anywhere!

OC Fire Authority needs over 35K sq. ft. of storage space for the Toys for Tots program

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Santa Ana Police Foundation

Greetings!

Chief Paul Walters has asked for our help.

This is a note from his Adjutant:

ABC-TV- 7 and Orange County Fire Authority called. They are in a huge bind and have to vacate the warehouse they are in and need from 35,000sf to 50.000 sq. ft. from now till the end of January when they get the toys out to the kids of Orange County. It sounds like a huge request I know; is there any way we can do that? Please let me know if we can help or are we dreaming?

Anthony Bertagna
Adjutant to the Chief of Police
Media Relations – Public Information Officer

ABertagna@santa-an.org
(714) 709-2043
office: 714/245-8029

Friends, I am on vacation in about 15-minutes for a week. If you can offer assistance, please contact Mr. Bertagna directly at the numbers and/or eMail above.

(Please copy me as well)

William Cunningham, Santa Ana Police Foundation, info@sapdf.org

The Christopher Yates Variety Show is coming to the Santa Ana Public Libraries starting tonight

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The Christopher Yates Variety Show is coming to the Santa Ana Public Libraries this week, starting tonight at the Main Library.

Join us for an entertaining evening with Christopher Yates as he presents his medieval variety show.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010, at the Main Library @ 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010, at the Newhope Library @ 4:00 p.m.

Christopher Yates is a graduate of the Wellington Performing Arts School, New Zealand, he has been performing professionally since 1991. Christopher has performed on five continents in three different languages. He performs a diverse range of shows. He has specialized in creating unique multi-disciplined performances and characters which can be tailored to suit any theme or event (from theatre to family carnival to corporate).

He has appeared on a host of stages in a multitude of venues for clients as diverse as The President of Venezuela to BBC studios and for the San Francisco 49ers football team. Originally from New Zealand, Christopher returns to the United States from an Australian tour that included entertaining at the Lord Mayor’s New Years Eve Party at the Sydney Opera House as well as a highly successful tour of the United Kingdom and Venezuela.

Christopher offers everything! Whether it’s storytelling, juggling, comedy, roving on stilts, medieval, pirates and more, Christopher works the crowds like no other. No matter what the age, he wins everyone’s hearts. And with commanding presence on stage he is one of the few entertainers who thinks on his feet and has both the talent and experience to alter his entertainment to fit the crowd’s changing mood.

Christopher Yates brings to his entertaining a very attractive personality. Ever pleasant, laid back, relaxed, yet always well organized and reliable – Christopher never fails to deliver top results.

Free month of training at Toyama Karate-Do Martial Arts in Santa Ana

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Toyama Karate-Do Martial Arts is offering a free month of training and a uniform to new students.

Take advantage their programs such as Karate Kinder Karate Kick-Boxing And Dynamic Martial Arts.

2021 S Main St
Santa Ana CA 92707
Primary: 714 436-1095

Toyama Karate-Do is a Dynamic Martial Arts Program that has been serving the City of Santa Ana since 1991. They are the best at providing Dynamic Youth Martial Arts Programs to enhance the lives of students by helping them achieve discipline, confidence, and better focus.

Click here to see their Facebook page.

Santa Ana YMCA grand opening on Nov. 20

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It’s been a long time coming, but Santa Ana finally has it’s very own YMCA! Located next to the new Segerstrom High School, it’s set up in a prime location.  Grand opening on Nov. 20, from 10 an to 2pm, at 2100 W. Alton, in Santa Ana.

Let’s show our support to keep this venue open and operating for all of our kids, and let’s get our kids involved so that they can meet other kids of the community, build they’re confidence, & get involved with more activities!

  • Fun Activities
  • Games & Prizes
  • Bounce house
  • Free food & drinks
  • Radio Disney & Local Entertainment
  • Free soccer clinic in the new soccer arena
  • Every child under the age of 12 will receive a free soccer ball (while supplies last)
  • Free drawing for a chance to win a Nintendo Wii
  • Sign up for FREE classes being held Nov. 21st-24th!

Check out the NEW Aquatics Center & Soccer Arena! Register for programs – swim, soccer, afterschool care and more!

Click here view the website!

Click here to view the grand opening flyer

Santa Ana YMCA Bill Night will prep young adults to be leaders

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California YMCA Youth & Government Santa Ana YMCA Delegation 63rd Model Legislature/Court would like to cordially invite you to the YMCA’s Annual Bill Night, on Wednesday, December 1st, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

City of Santa Ana’s Council Chambers, located at 22 Civic Center Plaza, in Santa Ana.

The YMCA Youth and Government Program is committed to preparing our young adults to become the next generation of leaders in business, politics, education and community activism. Youth participants discuss issues facing California, as well as ways to implement solutions through legislative and judicial process.

Bill Night is a hand-on learning experience where participants have the opportunity to promote a bill that they are passionate about. They will present to a panel of local community members who will select the most debatable bill to carry on to a five-day government experience in Sacramento. There students will role play as elected officials and take over the historic halls and chambers of the State Capitol and Supreme Court. The YMCA is the only non-profit organization that is able to take over the Capital and debate on the Assembly and Senate Floors.

For more information or if you would like to RSVP, please contact Roman Reyna at the YMCA (714) 865-9118 or rreyna@ymcaoc.net.

Fall Scholastic Chess Tournament returns to Great Park

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOVEMBER 15, 2010
CONTACT: JENN STARNES, 949-724-6574

Fall Scholastic Chess Tournament Returns to Great Park

American Chess Equipment teams with Park to host free tournament.

IRVINE – Parks are a great place to exercise, but at the Great Park you can give your brain a workout, too. Kids in grades K-12 are invited to come and play a stimulating intellectual game of chess while making new friends at the 2010 Staser Fall Scholastic Chess Tournament on Saturday, November 20th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Registration is free, and the tournament is hosted at the Orange County Great Park in partnership with American Chess Equipment.

The Annual Staser Chess Championship was created by Miley Staser, a senior citizen, to give students throughout the Southland an opportunity to meet over a chessboard, enhance their learning and life skills and make new friends. The free tournament is open to students of all skill levels in grades K-12.

The tournament has found a unique home at the Great Park, where students compete in historic Hangar 244. Players can also relax after a challenging game by taking a spin on the new Great Park Carousel or a ride in the Great Park Balloon.

“Chess strengthens confidence and improves communication, along with being a fun game for all to enjoy,” said Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation. “We’re pleased to see the Great Park emerging as a new chess venue for Orange County and Southern California.”

All players will be separated into sections by grade level, and will play against every person in their section during the course of the tournament. Medallions will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place players in each section of each grade. All players will receive a certificate of participation.

“Chess is an instructional aid that is part of the process of learning,” said Dewain Barber, American Chess Equipment. “Chess assists in memory, logic and analysis which are key components to the improvement of any student’s ability to think.”
Space is limited, and pre-registration (by 6 pm November 19) is highly recommended. For more information about the chess tournament, please visit www.ocgp.org or to register, contact Dewain Barber at (714) 998-5508, or via email at amchesseq@aol.com

About the Great Park

The Orange County Great Park, with its 1,347-acre master plan, is the focal point of the redevelopment of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. The Great Park is currently 27.5 acres and includes an iconic tethered helium balloon that rises 400 feet in the air, providing an aerial view of Park development. A $70 million development plan to expand the Park to more than 200 acres is currently underway. The plan will build out a core section of the Park for the most immediate and wide-ranging public benefit, including the initial components of the sports park, a 114-acre agricultural area, and an art and culture exhibition space. For more information, please visit www.ocgp.org

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