Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: irvine

Local Santa Ana brewery crafts the official “Anteater Ale”

Posted on by Posted in Bars, irvine, Planning, Santa Ana, Sean Mill Leave a comment
Brandon Fender, owner of the Good Beer Company

Brandon Fender, owner of the Good Beer Company

When Sean Mill heard that the UCI Alumni Association was trying to find a local craft brewery to develop an “Anteater Ale” he immediately thought of a new business that had been approved by the Santa Ana Planning Commission he serves on.

Mill is himself an anteater and as it turns out so is Brandon Fender, the owner and founder of the Good Beer Company – a craft brewery that has opened in Downtown Santa Ana.

Fender started brewing his own beer, at home, as a hobby but he grew to love the process so much that he opened The Good Beer Company, in Downtown Santa Ana, on September 2014.  He has a degree in Sociology from UCI but taught himself how to make great beer. Continue reading→

Irvine Mayor Pro Tem Lalloway selected as the OCTA’s Board Chairman

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Jeff Lalloway on the OCTA Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 12, 2015
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Eric Carpenter (714) 560-5697

Irvine Mayor Pro Tem Lalloway Selected as OCTA Board Chairman

Director Donchak will serve as vice chairman of the board

ORANGE – Irvine Mayor Pro Tem Jeffrey Lalloway was unanimously selected today as the new chairman of the Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors.

Lalloway served as the OCTA board’s vice chairman for the last year. He replaces outgoing Chairman Shawn Nelson, also the county’s Fourth District Supervisor, who remains on the board. Continue reading→

OCDA seeks additional victims of Irvine-based company that sold bogus chips

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

OCDA Seal

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 00753194

Date: January 9,2015

OCDA SEEKS PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF COMPANY ACCUSED OF MAKING MILLIONS SELLING BOGUS PRODUCT NATIONWIDE

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of an Irvine-based Internet sales company accused of selling a bogus car performance chip nationwide. In a civil consumer prosecution filed by the OCDA, GFORCE CHIPS (GFORCE) is accused of committing unlawful business practices and engaging in false advertising by selling a sham product marketed as a legitimate after-market car performance chip. The case was assigned yesterday, Jan. 8, 2015, for all purposes to Department C-16, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

GFORCE is owned and operated by 31-year-old Ravi Ghataode. Continue reading→

Suspected DUI driver crashes during pursuit by Sheriff’s Deputies

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, irvine, Orange County Leave a comment

OC Sheriff's Department

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org

Suspected DUI Driver Crashes During Pursuit by Deputies

LAKE FOREST, Calif. – (January 10, 2015) – On Friday, January 9, 2015 at approximately 10:30 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s deputies initiated a pursuit of a 2002 Ford Explorer in the area of Toledo Way and Serrano Road. The driver of the vehicle was suspected by deputies of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Deputies pursued the vehicle for approximately (5) minutes through the cities of Lake Forest, Irvine and Mission Viejo. The pursuit terminated on southbound Trabuco Road near Carlota Road, Mission Viejo, when the vehicle was unable to negotiate a curve in the road and collided with an embankment.

As a result of the collision, the 18 year-old female driver was ejected from the vehicle and suffered life-threatening injuries. She was transported to a nearby hospital where she remains in grave condition. A 20-year old male passenger in the vehicle sustained moderate injuries and remains hospitalized; an 18 year-old female passenger in the vehicle sustained minor injuries and was treated and released from an area hospital. Continue reading→

$151M in tax credits available to Santa Ana businesses

Posted on by Posted in Business, california, irvine, Santa Ana, Taxes Leave a comment

Santa Ana Tax Credit

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: Santa Ana Businesses – $151 Million In Tax Credits Available Through State Program

Santa Ana, CA (January 8, 2015) – On Monday, January 5th, The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) opened the California Competes program and began accepting applications for businesses that want to add jobs in California. The state will provide $151 million in tax credits this fiscal year to small, medium and large companies across the state.

Last fiscal year, GO-Biz awarded $28.9 million to 29 companies that are planning to create 6,000 jobs and invest more than $2 billion in the state. Continue reading→

Newsong Church is moving their Irvine services to 10Ten in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Dave Gibbons, Entertainment, irvine, Santa Ana 3 Comments

10Ten Church

Newsong Church is consolidating their Sunday services and some of our ministry activities to their Santa Ana campus.  This is big news as they have been around for twenty years – in Irvine.  That campus will now be used for training and events.

Newsong acquired what used to be Santa Ana’s historic First Baptist Church last year and renamed it 10Ten, a play on words as they are located at 1010 17th St., in Santa Ana.  The church is now full – while it was literally dying when it was First Baptist.  This merger of the two Newsong churches will be a real boon to restaurants in Santa Ana as the congregation is bound to have lunch in the area after church services.

The first combined services at Santa Ana are set for this Sunday, December 7, 2014, at 9:00 and 11:00 AM. This will be part of their preview phase in Santa Ana. They say that a Grand Opening will be coming soon.  There will be a prayer breakfast and preview tour of the facility on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 8 am. Continue reading→

Orange County 2014 Veterans Day events

Posted on by Posted in Military, Orange County, Veterans Leave a comment

Labor Veterans Day Event

Anaheim
2014 Veterans Day Ceremony
Saturday, November 8, 10:00 AM
Anaheim Veterans Monument, 241 S. Anaheim Blvd.

Brea
What: City of Brea Veteran’s Day Ceremony
When: November 11, 2014
Where: Brea War Memorial Brea Civic & Cultural Center 1 Civic Center Circle
Time: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

Costa Mesa

“Veterans and Labor – Partners in Service,” a special Veterans Day event, is set for Nov. 11, 2014 at the Orange County Fair & Event Center (88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa). For more information, check out the Veterans + Labor website by clicking here.

Continue reading→

Republican who once promoted Prop. 187 is now backing Roman Reyna for Mayor

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, David Benavides, irvine, Lupe Moreno, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Republican Party, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 18 Comments

Rosario Marin and her GOP pals

Rosario Marin, who worked for Gov. Wilson during the Prop. 187 campaign, is now promoting Roman Reyna

Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Monday that repeals unenforceable provisions of Proposition 187, the two-decade-old measure that sought to withhold public services from immigrants in the country illegally, according to the L.A. Times.

Ironically Santa Ana Councilman Roman Reyna announced today that Rosario Marin, a Republican who served as President George W. Bush’s U.S. Treasurer, would be the keynote speaker at a Reyna for Mayor campaign reception on Sep. 23.  Marin worked as Governor Pete Wilson’s chief of Legislative Affairs for the Department of Developmental Services starting in 1996 and in 1997, she was named deputy director of Govern Wilson’s Office of Community Relations. In that position Marin had to defend the administration’s support for Prop. 187, according to Wikipedia. Continue reading→

Irvine lawyer convicted of planting drugs in a school volunteer’s car

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Education, irvine, Lawyers, OCDA, Orange County 1 Comment

Kent Wycliffe Easter

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: September 10, 2014

Case # 12ZF0153

ATTORNEY WHO PLOTTED WITH WIFE CONVICTED OF HAVING SCHOOL VOLUNTEER ARRESTED BY PLANTING DRUGS IN HER CAR

SANTA ANA – An attorney who plotted with his wife was convicted today of having an elementary school parent volunteer arrested and falsely imprisoned by planting drugs in her car. Kent Wycliffe Easter, 40, Irvine, was convicted by a jury of one felony count of false imprisonment by deceit. This was a retrial of the case, as a former jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, finding 11 to one for guilt. He faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison at his sentencing. The date of the sentencing will be determined tomorrow at a hearing at 1:45 p.m. in Department C-45, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Co-defendant Jill Bjorkholm Easter, 41, Irvine, pleaded guilty on Oct. 30, 2013, to one felony count of false imprisonment by deceit and was sentenced to one year in jail and three years of formal probation.  Continue reading→

Orange County DUI Task Force announces Summer/Labor Day DUI crackdown

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Anaheim, Crime, irvine, Orange County, Tustin 1 Comment

OC DUI Task Force

Orange County Sheriff

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Orange County DUI Enforcement – Summer/Labor Day Schedule

SANTA ANA, Calif. (August 14, 2014) – The Orange County ‘Avoid the 38’ DUI Task Force is announcing its upcoming enforcement operations for the Summer/Labor Day Holiday DUI Campaign from August 15 through September 1, 2014. The following schedule of operations, dates, and locations are provided for media release:
DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoints:

  • City of Irvine: Fri, August 15, 7:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m.
  • City of Stanton (OCSD): Fri, August 22, 6:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
  • Cities of Cypress, La Palma, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach (Multi-Agency): Fri, August 22, 7:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m.
  • Cities of Irvine and Tustin (Multi-Agency): Fri, August 29, 7:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m.

Continue reading→

Orange County 2014 4th of July Fireworks shows

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Family, irvine, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana, Tustin, Youth Activities Leave a comment

2014 Santa Ana 4th of July at Centennial Park

SANTA ANA: Join the Mayor & City Council for family style fun and a spectacular fireworks show at the City of Santa Ana’s 2014 Independence Day Celebration at Centennial Park from 4-9:30pm. The Independence Day celebration will feature live performances by the Rockabillys, Mango Band and Santa Ana High School. The celebration will feature a History Walk with costumed characters from our nation’s history educating children, a kid’s zone play area with three bounce houses and games, civil war cannons and recognition of our Armed Forces. The fireworks show will begin at 9pm. Bring a picnic basket or enjoy the various food vendors throughout the park. Admission is free and guests are encouraged to arrive early to find a spot in the park.

CITY OF ORANGE: Fred Kelly Stadium at El Modena High School, 3920 Spring Street, will be the site of the 19th Annual 3rd of July celebration which will be held on Thursday, July 3, at 4:00 p.m. The celebration includes live music, interactive games, entertainment, delicious food from local non-profit groups, a patriotic musical performance by the Orange County Master Chorale that leads up to a spectacular fireworks show. Tickets are $7.00 per person, children ages two and under are free. For information call (714) 744-7278.

ANAHEIM: Canyon High School, 220 S. Imperial Hwy. “An American Celebration” will be held on Friday, July 4, in Anaheim Hills. They will start the day with the “Firecracker Run 5K/ 10K at 7 a.m. at the Canyon High School track. This will be followed by a Pancake Breakfast from 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. with the Yankee Doodle Dog Show at 10:00 a.m. at the high school. A parade will start at 5:00 p.m. at Canyon High going down Santa Ana Canyon Road ending at Pinney. At the park, food booths will be in operation from 3:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. with entertainment from 6:00 p.m. – 8:50 p.m. A firework display will start at 9:00 p.m. Continue reading→

Tustin lawyer/former cop convicted of embezzling over $469K due to gambling

Posted on by Posted in Crime, irvine, Lawyers, OCDA, Tustin Leave a comment

Wayne Martin Fong

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: July 2, 2014

Case # 12CF3427

DISBARRED ATTORNEY/FORMER NYPD OFFICER CONVICTED OF EMBEZZLING OVER $469,000 FOR GAMBLING

SANTA ANA – A former vice president of a title insurance company pleaded guilty today to stealing over $469,000 from his company to spend on gambling. Wayne Martin Fong, 51, Tustin, pleaded guilty to a court offer, over the objection by the People who requested a state prison sentence, of seven felony counts of grand theft, five felony counts of money laundering, sentencing enhancements and allegations for causing over $100,000 in loss, aggravated white collar crime over $100,000, property loss over $200,000, and transactions exceeding $50,000. Fong was sentenced by the Honorable Robert R. Fitzgerald to six months in jail, five years formal probation, and must pay $309,000 in restitution.

Fong was hired in 1999 by Fidelity National Title Group (Fidelity) as the Associate Counsel and Vice President. He was responsible for working with and overseeing contracts with vendors who searched for and obtained missing assets for the company. Continue reading→

Former teacher who molested 17 kids could be released soon

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Alan Thomas Rigby

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # M-10354 & M-11042: June 26, 2014

CHILD MOLESTER/FORMER TEACHER WITH 17 KNOWN VICTIMS TO BE RELEASED INTO COMMUNITY WITHIN 72 HOURS OVER VIGOROUS OBJECTION OF OCDA

*The People have argued to have the respondent civilly committed as a Sexually Violent Predator

SANTA ANA – Over the vigorous objection and arguments of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA), a child molester with 17 known victims will be released into the community within the next 72 hours. Alan Thomas Rigby, 66, of Irvine, has been in a state mental hospital for 16 years, where he was committed after serving 50 percent of a 19-year prison sentence.

At a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) probable cause hearing today, Judge Kimberly Menninger found that probable cause did not exist that Rigby is likely to engage in sexually violent predatory criminal behavior upon his release. The standard of proof for probable cause is whether a reasonable person could entertain a strong suspicion that the offender is an SVP. The OCDA argued to keep Rigby civilly committed as an SVP and believes Rigby still poses a danger to the community based on his past crimes and propensity for sexual assaults against children. Continue reading→

Irvine mom sentenced for sexually assaulting two teen boys at her house

Posted on by Posted in Crime, irvine, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Nicole Ethel McMillen

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12HF0546: June 6, 2014

44-YEAR-OLD MOTHER SENTENCED FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO UNDERAGE TEENAGE BOYS WHO CAME OVER TO HER HOUSE

FULLERTON – A 44-year-old mother was sentenced today to three years and four months in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration for sexually assaulting a 14 and 16-year-old boy who came over to her house. Nicole Ethel McMillen, 44, Irvine, was found guilty by a jury Oct. 16, 2013, of four felony counts of lewd acts upon a child and three felony counts of oral copulation of a minor under 16 years old.

Between Jan. 1, 2012, and Feb. 28, 2012, McMillen had sexual contact with 14-year-old John Doe #1 who was over at her house to play with his friends. McMillen maintained a “fun” home where many children spent time with her children participating in activities which included watching movies or playing video games. Continue reading→