New Santa Ana

Help paint a mural by Roberto Del Hoyo at Santiago Park this Saturday

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Editor Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The City of Santa Ana is looking for volunteers to help at the Santiago Park Mural Painting Day and Celebration this Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Santiago Park is located at 2535 N. Main Street, in Santa Ana.

Muralist Roberto Del Hoyo is the artist previously commissioned by the Pepsi Refresh project that produced the beautiful El Salvador Park All Star mural last July. Painting of the mural is under the direction of the noted muralist Del Hoyo.

The dedication and ceremony and celebration start at 4 p.m., to 5 p.m.

The location of the mural project is adjacent to the Bike Trail under Main Street as you exit the park and approach the Discovery Science Center.

Contact Anthony Novella know if you have any questions, at (714) 571-4239.

Click here to see the event flyer.

Great Park Asks: “OC can you play?”

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Editor Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Irvine, Orange County Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JANUARY 13, 2011
CONTACT: JENN STARNES, 949-724-6574

Great Park Asks: ‘OC CAN YOU PLAY?’

Visitors can play a tune on Park’s hand-painted piano.

IRVINE – Whether your piano talents are closer to Chopin or Chopsticks, the Great Park wants to know: OC, Can You Play? Come play the piano and participate in a public arts happening at the Orange County Great Park, presented by the Pacific Symphony Orchestra. OC Can You Play? is a free interactive installation that encourages visitors to tickle the ivories on one of 20 artistically enhanced pianos placed at iconic destination locations across the county. The public piano project kicks off January 16 and runs through February 6.

“The mix of music and art in OC Can You Play? is a perfect fit for the Great Park,” says Larry Agran, Chair of the Orange County Great Park Board Corporation. “Bringing art of all kinds into a public space is a key part of the Great Park vision. Events like these are a stepping stone to the Great Park becoming OC’s new home for the arts.”

The piano used at the Great Park for this event was decorated by Irvine artist and teacher Tom Brown, and features a landscape reminiscent of the El Toro area’s agricultural heritage. The Great Park Visitors Center also houses a photography exhibition by The Legacy Group titled Phantoms Phorever: Art + Language at MCAS El Toro. On the way to the Great Park Visitors Center, guests will see the Palm Court and Squadron Complex under construction, which will house artists studios and an art gallery, slated to open in mid-2011.

OC Can You Play? is designed to promote by the Pacific Symphony’s “Year of the Piano” project, which features a season of top pianists. All of the OC Can You Play? pianos are donated by presenting sponsor Yamaha and supporting sponsor Kawai, and the Piano Technicians Guild is providing significant support in preparing and tuning the pianos. Local Orange County artists donated their time and talent to paint the pianos, which will be donated or auctioned after the event.

The piano will be in the Great Park Visitors Center during normal operating hours, January 16 through February 6. The Park is open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Parking is free. For more information go to www.ocgp.org or www.pacificsymphony.org/occanuplay

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 go to www.ocgp.org.

About Pacific Symphony

Pacific Symphony enriches the human spirit through superior performances of symphonic music and community engagement. Pacific Symphony, celebrating its 32nd season in 2010-11, is led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, who marked his 20th anniversary with the orchestra during 2009-2010. The largest orchestra formed in the U.S. in the last 40 years, the Symphony is recognized as an outstanding ensemble making strides on both the national and international scene, as well as in its own burgeoning community of Orange County. Presenting more than 100 concerts a year and a rich array of education and community programs, the Symphony reaches more than 275,000 residents—from school children to senior citizens.
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Renowned anthropologist Dr. Wade Davis to speak at the Bowers on Jan. 23

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Editor Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Santa Ana 2 Comments

National Geographic’s Explorer of the Millennium, Dr. Wade Davis, who is a renowned anthropologist, writer and filmmaker, will be speaking at the Bowers Museum on Jan. 23, at 1:30 pm, about the pending disappearance of 50% of the world’s 7,000 languages. Here is additional information about this event:

THE WAYFINDERS – WHY ANCIENT WISDOM MATTERS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Wade Davis will present the subject of his recent book; a startling examination of indigenous populations and global climate change.

Davis fears that 50% of the world’s 7000 languages may disappear in our lifetime, along with their values, myths, and the meanings they embody.

This lecture was first presented at the prestigious Massey Lecture for CBS

Wade Davis is a noted TED conference speaker!

Learn more

Sunday, January 23 at 1:30 PM

Book Signing at 3:00 PM

Member $15 / Non-Member $30

Sponsored by the Bowers’ Collectors Council and Bead Society

bowers.org/tickets

for more information education@bowers.org

or call 714.567.3677

KOCE Video of Los Amigos attack on the Santa Ana City Council

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Editor Posted in 2010 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Civic Affairs, Elections, Latinos, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 22 Comments

KOCE’s David Nazar has apparently bought into the unfounded allegations and slander that were pitched by the Los Amigos of Anaheim at their recent press conference, against the Santa Ana City Council and SAPD Chief Paul Walters.

Nazar’s report will air, according to the Santa Ana Coalition for Better Government, whose leaders don’t live in Santa Ana, this Thursday, at 5:30 pm and 11 pm, on Channel 8, in Santa Ana.

Nazar is the only minority employed by KOCE’s Real Orange. The rest of their news team is all-white. It is small wonder then that they are going after the all-Latino Santa Ana City Council and Mayor Miguel Pulido.

I already debunked the silly Los Amigos’ complaints in a previous post. And I wrote about their press conference at this link. Suffice to say that their spokesperson, Francisco Barragan, had no answers when I showed up and questioned his complaints.

Why did any media show up to this event, which was orchestrated by failed Santa Ana mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua? Simple. He hired former L.A. Times reporter Jennifer Delson to serve as his publicist. She was there at the press conference. I caught her whispering orders to the Los Amigos Chairman, Amin David, and to Barragan.

Check out the surprised look on Delson’s face, in the picture above. When I showed up to the press conference she panicked. She shut down the press conference when I asked one too many questions that Barragan simply could not handle.

As for Amezcua, he literally ran out of the room once I started asking questions. In fact David called out his name, wanting him to speak, but Amezcua had already flown the coop.

Why doesn’t Amezcua just accept that he lost? In fact he lost badly! I would prefer to see him offering solutions instead of his endless gripes. Too bad KOCE fell for this B.S.

Pure Game uses soccer to help underprivileged kids succeed

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Editor Posted in Charities, Santa Ana, Sports, Working Families, Youth Activities Leave a comment

A friend of mine named Tony Everett has spent the past year developing Pure Game, a unique platform that infuses the game of soccer with a character-building curriculum for youth. Pure Game uses the most popular sport in the world to deliver a life-changing message of growth and empowerment. Soccer breaks down barriers of culture, language, and mistrust. It creates a great opportunity to build relationships and establish trust. As this occurs, the kids he works with begin to feel comfortable and cared for enough to engage in a relationship with them. It is then that they are able to help them reach their full potential and make good choices that reflect the beautiful truth of who they are.

For the last couple of months, they have seen an incredible opportunity to work in Santa Ana’s inner-city. Children there are regularly confronted with gang violence, domestic abuse, child abuse, and many other dark and criminal distractions. They are faced with tough decisions regarding whether they should give in to peer-pressure and propagate the status quo or take the high road and risk standing out. Unfortunately, the apparent benefits of giving in, as fleeting as they are, can be quite seductive. For many of these kids, gang and criminal activity are the only way they actually feel like they are a part of a community that embraces.

Robert is a participant in KidWorks, an organization Everett partners with. He is a perfect example of the kids they are trying to reach. Robert is a mischievous 10 year old boy, full of anger and really fiery. He is always on the verge of being kicked out of KidWorks, but desperately needs to stay. A couple of weeks ago, he was raising a ruckus as usual. The receptionist warned him to behave or he would be asked to leave, and possibly not return. His sidekick that day, Jose, heard the warnings and chimed in. “Robert, you had better stop or you’re not going to be able to play Pure Game anymore.” The thought of not being allowed to play soccer with them caused Robert to consider how his actions can affect his life. His desire to be a part of Pure Game was enough to convince him to stop what he was doing and start changing his ways. The staff at KidWorks took notice. Even in its infancy, Pure Game is making a difference.

On November 3, 2010, while sitting in one of his many coffee shop offices, Everett realized Pure Game has the potential to influence the lives of many children this way. There is real darkness in and around places where children like Robert live, and they need the light of hope to shine into their lives. With strong role models and servant leaders creating a loving, caring environment, these kids can begin to step into the truth of who they are; beautiful beings, created in the image of God, containing eternal, infinite value, significance, and worth.

Sitting in that coffee shop on a warm California day he realized how transformative and far-reaching Pure Game could be. Everett gathered a team of capable and passionate individuals who could help make this dream a reality. They wrote out a plan that involved the inevitable; leaving the comfort of Everett’s full-time job to tackle this challenge head-on.

Since Pure Game is a non-profit serving the most underprivileged children in Orange County and beyond, the families involved are unable to bear the financial burden of keeping them up and running. So in order to move forward, they need people who are willing to partner with them financially. They have calculated a need to raise $60,000 by April 2011. Without it, Pure Game can’t be anything more than a spare-time hobby for whoever is involved.

Today Everett is asking for your support in several ways:

• A onetime donation – Click here
• Ongoing monthly financial support – Click here to send an email so Everett can send you a package
• Prayer – Click here to send a confirming email
• Introduction to corporate sponsors – Send contact information by clicking here

Your contribution to Pure Game will ensure that every week kids with few options are being cared for, having fun, and acquiring skills and strengths that vastly improve their chances of having a happy and successful life. Everett and his staff will make every effort to ensure that your contribution provides the greatest possible benefit to the children Pure Game serves.

Pure Game is a registered 501c3 charitable organization. Your sponsorship is deductible from your taxable income as allowed by law.

Santa Ana resident Tim Whitacre releases his plan to reform the OC GOP

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Editor Posted in 2012 Elections, Republican Party, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana resident Tim Whitacre, who is challenging Scott Baugh for the Chairmanship of the Republican Party of Orange County, today released his five page plan to reform the OC GOP.

Click here to read Whitacre’s entire plan. Here is an excerpt from Whitacre’s plan:

The WHITACRE “ALL IN” Plan for the Republican Party of Orange County Central Committee

To Reform and Reorganize the way the Party conducts its mandated business in a manner that motivates all Members to excel in their Elected Positions; to Re-engage and Reconnect with its Volunteer Clubs and Base; to Reach out and support & educate Local Elected Republican Officials; to Retake and hold all elected offices in Orange County currently held by Democrats.

ETHICS AND INTEGRITY

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice (greed), ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” – John Adams, Address to the Military, October 11, 1798

“Written and unwritten codes of principles and values that govern decisions and actions…knowing the difference between right and wrong and choosing to do what is right….Adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty…The state of being unimpaired; soundness…”

We must begin with ethics and integrity. We can accomplish any worthwhile and honorable task as long as we NEVER compromise our ethics and integrity; first as individuals and then united as a Party. As evidenced by the fervor in which ordinary Republicans and other disenfranchised Americans have been leaving their Parties in disgust and registering ‘Decline to State,’ we only need to look at our failed leadership across the nation to see why.

To use an old cliché: “They didn’t abandon the Republican Party; the Republican Party abandoned them!” Our problem isn’t the Democrats; our problem is entrenched leadership that has lost its compass heading and has become tone deaf to The People who they were elected to represent.

Locally, as a County Party Central Committee, we have all observed what many perceive to be a lack of ethics and integrity when it comes to adherence to our Bylaws by our current Leadership: We had the unprecedented Carona debacle that utterly decimated us in the eyes of the public (i.e. Carona was assured an endorsement for his monetary contribution months earlier); we had two voter registration scandals resulting in fraud (i.e. against advice, Leadership twice hired the same out-of-state firm for voter registration which falsely registered people as Republicans without their knowledge and consent.); and, we have observed preferential treatment of selected Republican candidates by Leadership while other fine Republicans were cast aside (i.e. most recently the Irvine City Council election this past November).

Americans United Meeting: The religious right, stronger than ever

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Editor Posted in Churches and Religion, Entertainment, Irvine, LGBTQ, Orange County, Republican Party, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Eddie Tabash, the National Legal Chair of Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU), will be speaking at the next meeting of the Orange County Chapter of the AU, on the topic of “The Religious Right, Stronger Than Ever,” this Saturday, January 15th at 2:00 pm, at the Irvine Ranch Water District, located at 15600 Sand Canyon Ave, in Irvine.

Tabash is an outspoken advocate of religious freedom, including equal rights for atheists, and for gay rights in America.

Tabash will be speaking on the clear and present danger to our Constitutional Democracy from the religious right. This presentation will focus on the resurgent power of the religious right and the looming threat of theocracy in America. Among the examples that will be given to demonstrate this dangerous march toward religious tyranny will be the assault on gay rights, along with other instances of the attempt to undo our modern secular state.

For more information contact Steph Campbell, (714) 299-4551, or e-mail orangecountyau@yahoo.com. There is no charge for admission and refreshments will be served.

O.C. Real Blues Festival 2 coming to Olde Ship British Pub on Jan. 15

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Editor Posted in Entertainment, Music, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Fresh off his “Entertainer of the Year” win at the recent 20th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards, Orange County-based bluesman Papa J announces the Real Blues Festival of Orange County “2,” set to take place Sunday, Jan. 15, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am.

The enigmatic harpist-vocalist is presently in the studio recording the follow-up to the band’s Gotta Keep Movin’ CD, with a February targeted release date. Come hear some of the new tunes at the Olde Ship British Pub, 1120 W. 17th St., Santa Ana, this Saturday, January 15. No cover. Info: (714) 550-6700. Music starts at 9 p.m. and lasts till 1 a.m.

Papa J (real name: Jeffrey Hudson) received his plaque and walked the L.A. Music Awards’ Red Carpet in November at Paramount Studios in Hollywood with famed record producer Eddie Kramer, musicians Tommy Shaw (Styx), Jack Blades (Night Ranger) and other luminaries from the entertainment world. Prior to that, the Garden Grove-based musician organized, promoted, and performed at the first “Real Blues Festival Of Orange County” in October, which featured a solid lineup of some of Southern California’s best blues acts. In between there was great national and regional exposure tor the ageless musician in publications including USA TODAY, OC REGISTER, LA TIMES, OC WEEKLY, and AMERICAN BLUES NEWS, to name a few.

“Coming up on sixty years of age, PJ still bounces on stage every night with the energy of a guy half his age,” writes Casey Reagan of AMERICAN BLUES NEWS. “A showman by nature and musician by instinct, Papa J’s stage presence and energy is undeniably huge to anyone who’s seen him perform. From his contagious smile to his gut wrenching blues, he puts a thousand percent into making every performance mean something special to every person watching and it sure works on me,” concludes Reagan.

www.bluesgonesouth.com www.myspace.com/bluesgonesouth

Nominations sought for 2011 Santa Ana College Hall of Fame

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Editor Posted in Education, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Santa Ana College (SAC) Foundation is seeking nominations for its 2011 Hall of Fame honoring outstanding alumni achievement. The deadline for nominations isFriday, February 25, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.

Introduced in 1955, the SAC Hall of Fame documents the contributions made by more than 170 outstanding SAC alumni in many fields. The SAC Foundation welcomes nominations of any alumni who have made significant contributions to their profession and/or to the local or global community. Recipients will be honored at an induction ceremony on Friday, May 20, and will also be recognized at the college’s spring commencement ceremony.

The selection criteria for this honor are:

Graduation from Santa Ana College or completion of a minimum of 30 units of coursework at SAC;
Documented distinction and achievement through professional and/or personal efforts since leaving Santa Ana College; and
Recipients must be available to attend the awards ceremony and commencement.

Last year’s inductees include:

Dr. Ruben Barron, a retired educator, who has dedicated his life to supporting education for immigrants, and improving the California educational system;
Mark Lowry, the director of the Orange County Food Bank;
Joel Ohlgren, J.D., a retired lawyer and former member of the International Insolvency Institute delegation the United Nations Commission on International Trade; and
Karen Gardner Richards, a retired teacher with 37 years of service with the Tustin Unified School District.

Nomination forms can be obtained by contacting the foundation office or by visiting www.sac.edu/foundation. For more information, call (714) 564-6092.

College District teams up with O.C. Marketplace to help small business owners

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Editor Posted in Business, Costa Mesa, Education, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Contact: Judy Iannaccone
Director, Communications
Phone: (714) 480-7503
e-mail: iannaccone_judy@rsccd.edu

Rancho Santiago Community College District and OC Market Place Team Up to Help Orange County Small Business Owners

(Santa Ana)—In December, the national unemployment rate was 9.4 percent, down from the previous month’s 9.8 percent. With 15.1 million unemployed individuals nationwide and limited employment opportunities, many people are launching their own small businesses. According to research by the U.S. Small Business Administration, only two-thirds of all small business startups survive the first two years and less than half of them last four years.

“What we hear from many of our small business clients is that they struggle to find customers so necessary for their success,” said Enrique Perez, Rancho Santiago Community College District’s assistant vice chancellor of educational services. “For many new businesses, opening a storefront is not feasible, but access to new customers will make or break an enterprise.”

Thanks to a partnership forged by Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) and the Orange County Market Place (OCMP), small businesses and entrepreneurs will be offered access to 25,000 potential new customers every weekend. RSCCD is hosting a free informational meeting to introduce the new program on Thursday, January 20, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the RSCCD District Offices Board Room, located at 2323 N. Broadway in Santa Ana. Registration for this event will begin at 1:30 p.m.

The program is tailor-made for businesses that offer products and services that are commonly used and have a reasonable gross profit margin. The OCMP offers face-to-face sales and marketing opportunities as well as the opportunity to test market new products. The launch program includes:

A range of pricing options for vendor space at the OCMP.
Operational support, including set-up and tear-down assistance, premium locations, booth design, and more.
Business workshops providing practical tips to guide small businesses to success, and one-on-one confidential business consulting offered at no charge by the Orange County Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Business & Entrepreneurship Center—economic development programs of RSCCD.

Each participating new company referred to the OCMP through the RSCCD program, will receive a $1,000 scholarship in the form of a credit towards the company’s first months space rent.

Interested individuals are encouraged to register by contacting Martha Payan Hernandez at (714) 564-5218 or e-mail payan_martha@rsccd.edu.

About the Rancho Santiago Community College District

The mission of the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is to respond to the educational needs of an ever-changing community and to provide programs and services that reflect academic excellence. Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College are public community colleges of RSCCD, which serve the residents of Anaheim Hills, East Garden Grove, Irvine, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and Villa Park. Both colleges provide education for academic transfer and careers, courses for personal and professional development, customized training for business and industry, and programs to train nurses, firefighters and law enforcement personnel.

About the Orange County Market Place

The Orange County Market Place, America’s premier outdoor shopping event, is held each weekend at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, except during the annual Orange County Fair in July and August. The Market Place features nearly 1,000 vendors in an outdoor setting with a wide variety of products and services, including homemade crafts, gourmet foods-to-go, baked goods, jewelry, clothing, toys, sporting goods, kitchen gadgets, collectibles, perfumes, linens, home decor, electronics, luxury used cars and much more.

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The Leaders of the Santa Ana Coalition for Better Government PAC don’t live here

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Editor Posted in 2010 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Have you heard of the Santa Ana Coalition for Better Government? They are one of the organizations behind this week’s ridiculous Anaheim Los Amigos press conference that consisted of unfounded innuendo and slanderous attacks against Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, the Santa Ana City Council and Santa Ana Chief of Police Paul Walters.

I took a look today at the website today and found these stated goals:

Identify viable candidates for mayor and city council who are pro-business and encourage the development and growth of small businesses.
Support identified candidates with finances, volunteers and in-kind resources.
Create a pool of viable candidates by providing training and workshops to educate and enhance their capability for conducting successful campaigns.
Support nonprofit groups that promote the city’s progress by continuously incrementing the profile of three sectors: business, arts and education.

It turns out this organization is not a community-based organization. It is a political action committee. It is headed up by Dr. Art Lomeli, a resident of wealthy Orange Park Acres, and John Acosta, a resident of Anaheim. They are both allies of failed Santa Ana Mayoral candidate Alfredo Amezcua.

Now let’s dissect those goals. The first one is silly. Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and every single Council member is pro-business. They all support development – it is ironic that this coalition even mentions development as Amezcua and his allies have repeatedly sued the City of Santa Ana to STOP developments, some of which have included affordable housing.

As for training political candidates, why would a candidate want to take advice from this bunch? Amezcua spent a quarter million dollars last year and he lost badly to Pulido. Lomeli got blown out of the water a few years ago when he ran for the Rancho Santiago Community College District. Acosta has not won an election since before most residents of Santa Ana were born. Please! How silly.

What have any of these people done to support the arts, business or education? I have yet to see any concrete proposals from ANY of them to that end. In fact their website has NOTHING to contribute – no ideas, no proposals, nada. In that, it reflects Amezcua’s campaign, which also failed to propose even one good idea.

So who are these non-residents of Santa Ana?

Lomeli owns a dental practice in Downtown Santa Ana. He is also one of 35 business owners in the Downtown who has signed a petition to stop the Santa Ana PBID – an assessment that has done wonders to clean up, market and improve our Downtown area. Lomeli is also a landlord as he rents space out in his building.

Acosta served on the Santa Ana City Council many years ago. He retired recently, but worked in construction his whole life.

I think this coalition needs to change its name if its leaders are going to be non-residents of Santa Ana. And residents of our city should think twice before contributing to them. They have no ideas and are simply mad that their candidate, Amezcua, got blown out last November.

A day in the life of Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Editor Posted in Civic Affairs, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 4 Comments

I met with Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido today at noon, and we had a chance to discuss the Artists Village, amongst other topics. In the course of our conversation Mayor Pulido shared his schedule with me and gave me permission to discuss it here. Remember that Mayor Pulido is a part-time Mayor. Here is how he spent this morning:

8:30 am: Met with City Staff to discuss the Go Local Project
9 am: Met with Roy Alvarado and George Collins to discuss the Harbor Blvd. Corridor
9:20 am: Met with Shirley Grindle to discuss the Bike Trail near the Discovery Science Center and Santiago Park
10 am: Met with Dennis Lluy, David Leon, Ryan Chase, Gil Marrero, Irv Chase and Councilwoman Michele Martinez to discuss the direction of nightlife in the Downtown, and the dance ordinance
10:20 am: Met with Gary Kutscher, Angie Rowe, and Scott Baugh to discuss the O.C. Marathon
10:40 am: Met with Ray Estrella and Robert Maniaci to discuss a Veteran housing project
11 am: Met with Jody Johansen and Chris Roelle to meet and greet the new FBA President
11:20 am: Met with Armando de la Libertad to be introduced to a Santa Ana resident who is a CAD designer who designs skateboard parks
11:40 am: Met with Carlos Benitez to discuss projects related to the Federacion de Clubs Guerrenses
and 12:20 pm – Spoke on the phone with Charmayne Bacon and Ken Brown re Climate Communities and USCM

Many city staffers were involved in these meetings, including Jill Arthur, SAPD Chief Paul Walters, Gerardo Mouet, Mark Lawrence, Jay Trevino and Lt. Mike McCoy.

What a day! And Pulido still has an afternoon full of additional appointments to work through.

We are fortunate to have a Mayor who can spend so much time on city business. Mayor Pulido made it clear that he is available to talk to anyone who wants to meet with him with regard to city business. If you want to meet with him contact Becky Magallon, at City Hall, at BMagallon@santa-ana.org. She is an Executive Assistant to City Manager Dave Ream.

Artists and arts organizations networked at the Santa Ana Arts Forum on Jan. 12

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Editor Posted in Arts and Culture, Education, Santa Ana, Women, Working Families, Youth Activities 1 Comment

There was a very good turnout at this evening’s meeting of the Santa Ana Arts Forum. There were representatives there from the California Arts Alliance; El Sol (an arts charter school); the SAUSD; the Kidseum; the Bowers Museum; Cal State Fullerton; the O.C. Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center; the Nomads, a new Theater group; the Breath of Fire Latina Theater ensemble; AVASA, representing the Santora Building/Artists Village; and the Wooden Floor, which used to be called the St. Joseph’s Ballet Center. The meeting was held at the Wooden Floor.

The meeting was moderated by Cindy Nelson, who works at the Santa Ana City Manager’s office; and Gaby Lomeli, who is the City of Santa Ana’s arts liaison.

The only media member there, in addition to myself, was Adam Elmahrek, of the Voice of OC.

CSUF Professor Mike McGee spoke about how much his arts students are in demand in industry, particularly in animation, and he also said that curators are in big demand. One of his former students, who curates at the Bowers, was there as well. (If you have not been to the Bowers to check out their new Ben Franklin exhibit you are really missing out!)

In general the meeting was an opportunity to network. But some of the artists who were there also had a lot to say about current issues affecting them. Many independent artists, actors and speakers were also there. Some spoke about the need for funding and jobs. Others spoke about the importance of helping to keep Santa Ana’s kids out of trouble.

It was great to hear about the success the folks at the Wooden Floor are having. Many of their students are going on to Ive League colleges – some are going to be doctors, others are opting to be architects or engineers. Only one attends a private school. The rest are public school students!

Nelson fielded a few tough questions, including a query about whether or not developer Mike Harrah has to provide a certain number of spaces for galleries at the Santora Building. No, he doesn’t, said Nelson, who verified that he is a private owner and the city has no such arrangement with him.

One of the AVASA members asked Nelson if the City of Santa Ana could post information making it easier to figure out the parking situation in the Artists Village. Nelson agreed to look into that. I think that is a good idea!

I am not sure what is in store for this Forum in the future, but I did learn a few things tonight and it was nice to meet many of our local arts leaders. Santa Ana has a lot of talented people working hard to advance the arts in our city!

O.C. Young Democrats meeting this Thursday, Jan. 13, at Bistro 400 in Santa Ana

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Editor Posted in Democratic Party, Entertainment, Politics, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

The Orange County Young Democrats are meeting this Thursday, January 13, from 7 pm to 10 pm, at Bistro 400, which is located at 400 W. 4th Street, in Santa Ana.

They will be unveiling a new speakers series highlighting young progressive professionals in Orange County. Their first speaker will be Katherine Reedy, who is the new Communications Director of the Orange County Business Council.

The 2011-2012 Executive Board Elections will also be announced along with updates on the State Convention and the CYD Member Chartering process. Its important that all OCYD members be aware of these up coming events.

Click here to RSVP on Facebook.

Santa Ana Arts leaders to meet today at the Wooden Floor

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Editor Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment Leave a comment

The Santa Ana Arts Forum will meet today, January 12, at 5:30 p.m. at The Wooden Floor, 1810 North Main Street, Santa Ana.

The Forum is open to Santa Ana-based arts organization leaders interested in sharing information and exploring collaboration.

It is sponsored by the City of Santa Ana Community Development Agency. Click here to see the meeting flyer. For more information, contact Gaby Lomeli.

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