Have a Merry Non-government Christmas

Contrary to the drummers at city hall, community members do not need government intervention to celebrate religious holidays. Here’s a sampling of events. They don’t offer free admission, but remember that government events cost everyone, including those who don’t attend.

“Greetings”
Comedy about what happens when Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Age beliefs are mashed up. Runs through Dec. 19 at the Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; additional show at 8 p.m. Dec. 16. $18 to $44. 949-489-8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org

Sawdust Art and Craft Festival
Winter Fantasy, 170 artists, four outdoor cafes, fine art and crafts booths, open weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 92651, 949-494-3030. sawdustartfestival.org

Lake Mission Viejo
Activities for Lake members: Santa arrives at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, followed by a beach bonfire, crafts fair and stage shows. Boat parade begins at 6:15 p.m., and the Santa line closes at 7:45 p.m. 949-770-1313, www.lakemissionviejo.org

‘The Holiday GEM’
One More Productions starts a holiday tradition with this musical revue running through Dec. 12 at the Gem Theater, 12852 Main St., Garden Grove. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. $25. 714-741-9550, ext. 221, www.onemoreproductions.com

“A Christmas Carol’
The annual holiday show runs through Dec. 26, Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; noon and 4 p.m. Sunday. Call for ticket prices. 714-708-5555, www.scr.org

Fiesta Navidad
Mariachi los Camperos de Nati Cano return for the annual holiday show in the Ren‚e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 7:30 p.m. $30 to $95. 949-553-2422, www.philharmonicsociety.org

“Sister’s Christmas Catechism”
The holiday edition in the “Late-Nite Catechism” series runs through Dec. 13 at Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. 7:30 p.m. Monday. $35 to $55. 949-497-2787, www.lagunaplayhouse.com

Christmas Fantasia 2010
Students from Vanguard University’s music department present a seasonal program in the Ren‚e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. 8 p.m. $25 to $60. 714-556-2787, www.ocpac.org

‘The Eight: Reindeer Monologues’
A cast of rotating performers guarantees a fresh spin every night on the comedy now running for its seventh holiday season through Dec. 21 at The Chance Theater, 5552 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim Hills. 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call for ticket prices. 714-777-3033, www.chancetheater.com

County Lobbyist Ordinance Redo
by OC Supervisor Bill Campbell

[Editor’s note: In November, the OC Board of Supervisors rejected a proposal to establish basic registration requirements for county lobbyists. Supv. Campbell proposed that anyone who receives more than $1,000 a month to influence county officials would have to register on a quarterly basis. Campbell wrote the following response in his Nov. 24 newsletter.]

Lobbyist Ordinance Redo: The Board had an extensive discussion of an alternative version of a proposed lobbyist registration ordinance brought forward by Supervisors Pat Bates and Shawn Nelson. Under this proposal, almost all citizens who advocated for anything with a County Supervisor or their staff would be required to register as a lobbyist in the County. I asked County Counsel some hypothetical questions about typical citizen concerns to see if they would then have to register as a lobbyist. Under each of the following examples, the individuals would be declared to be lobbyists and would be required to register as such:

• Representatives from a not-for-profit come to my office and request a park fee waiver for a fundraising event
• Members of the Lincoln Club meet with a County Supervisor to ask them to support the County’s lawsuit challenging the deputy sheriff’s union’s 3@50 retroactive pension
• Homeowners in an area that are concerned about the development of a senior living facility and meet with me to share their concerns, either pro or con

If I’m at an event over the weekend and an individual comes up to me and says "Hey I like that article in the paper last week where you said you wanted Orange County food service businesses in the airport, not some out-of-towners. I really like that and you ought to support that"

I also gave County Counsel the following example:

What happens if the County is in negotiations with the deputy sheriff’s union and I’m approached by a deputy sheriff and he tells me that he can really use a raise and would appreciate it if I would support an increase in pay for deputy sheriffs, what happens then?

According to County Counsel, unless the individual is acting as a representative of the deputy sheriff’s union, they would not have to register as a lobbyist.

My primary concern with this new proposal is that once government starts to label the average citizen as a "lobbyist" and requires them to register as a lobbyist, citizens would be less inclined to meet with their elected County Supervisors to express their concerns. Thus, we would lose a principal way of how we learn what is important to our constituents. As I shared with my colleagues, when the founding fathers wrote the First Amendment to include a citizen’s right to petition their government, I don’t think they intended to require citizens to then have to post their name in the local town common.

As a result of the Board’s discussion, we directed County Counsel to return to the Board with a revised ordinance early next year.

Volunteer Exposes Animal Shelter

Last week, a former volunteer blew the whistle on the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter. Dianne Doyle sent the media her letter, which appeared on Brad Morton’s Dispatch, http://missionviejodispatch.com/animals/animal-volunteer-accuses-shelter

Among Doyle’s statements, “We are instructed to lie to the public when we are asked why we have so few dogs by saying we have a high adoption rate when in reality it is because they turn away so many dogs by owners wanting to surrender them or by the public who find stray animals.” Doyle also reveals the shelter’s high euthanasia rate, which is contrary to the shelter’s public image of a no-kill facility.

Immediately jumping into the fray on the Dispatch was Sharon Cody. Cody and her minions launched personal attacks against Doyle. As a problem for Cody, many Mission Viejo residents have firsthand experience that support Doyle’s remarks. How many community members have been turned away when they tried to take an animal to the shelter? The place is half-empty, and it does not provide services as advertised. One of the biggest problems is Cody herself, according to the volunteers who have worked there. Cody, who has attended public meetings and attacked anyone who disagrees with her, is widely known for her abusive comments and attitude.

A former animal shelter volunteer commented to this blog, “My wife and I volunteered at the animal shelter because we love animals, but was impossible to work there. We had a run-in with Sharon Cody, and we didn’t go back. Animal lovers should connect with the private shelters, where they can make a difference and be respected for their work.”

Modjeska Shelter Has Remarkable Record

Modjeska Ranch Rescue is a non-profit animal rescue organization based in south Orange County. It operates as an all-volunteer rescue dedicated to finding great homes for neglected and abandoned animals.

The organization was founded by Russell and Teresa Taylor in 2001. They opened the door of their heart to helping the helpless and ended up opening up their home for abandoned animals. Since 2001 this couple, in tandem with community support, have placed more than 6,000 animals into new homes. The success rate of this rescue is amazing. To learn more about the Modjeska Ranch Rescue, go to http://www.modjeskaranchrescue.org

On Nov. 27, volunteers in Mission Viejo held a garage sale fundraiser for the rescue. The need for funds is ongoing, and anyone who can help with a donation or animal care should call (714) 649-2007.

Help the Marines

Those wanting to help the armed services can bypass the bureaucracy. The Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA offers a wide range of programs for Marines, Sailors and their families stationed at Camp Pendleton, and donations keep the programs going.

Mission Viejo resident Ann Hagerty began raising awareness two years ago by collecting money for Thanksgiving dinners for Marine families. Ann raised funds for the Camp Pendleton YMCA and told residents how to participate in a direct and simple way – just write a check. The Armed Services YMCA also sponsors after-school programs, bicycle giveaways, transportation, recreation and support groups. To find out about other programs the YMCA sponsors, go to www.camppendletonasymca.org

YMCA Executive Director G.B. Brown writes, “With strong support from the community, we are able to continue our mission of enhancing and improving the quality of life for our military families.”

Donations may be mailed to Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA, Box 555028, Bldg. 16144, Camp Pendleton, CA 92055-5028.

The Buzz

With past elections as the basis of comparison, Mission Viejo’s turnout for the General Election on Nov. 2 was a big improvement. This year, 61.4 percent of the city’s registered voters participated. In the most recent midterm election, 2006, Mission Viejo’s turnout was 54.6 percent.

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When asked why they didn’t vote, some Mission Viejo residents said candidates at the top of the ticket didn’t inspire them to go to the polls. On the Republican side, voters complained that Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina were trying to buy their way into office, and both candidates failed to build grassroots support. Some Democrats who didn’t vote said campaigns became too negative, and top office-seekers were unlikable.

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Save the date: The Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT for America will meet on Mon., Dec. 13, at the Community Center. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the meeting runs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Orientation for first-time attendees begins at 7:10 p.m. The featured speaker will be Jim Horn, Retired Foreign Service Officer. His topic will be “Islam and Corruption in the American Government: Why Our Government is Failing to Protect Us from Infiltration and Terrorism.”

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According to reporter Norberto Santana, Jr., Orange County is still the “Wild West of Lobbying,” http://www.voiceofoc.org/countywide/county_government/article_b94ffe48-ec91-11df-abbd-001cc4c03286.html Santana wrote in his Voice of OC post, “Orange County supervisors on Tuesday [Nov. 9] voted to remain the state’s only large county without any kind of registration requirements for lobbyists.”

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Terry Francke, who serves as the open government consultant for the Voice of OC, sent a warning to the city of Lake Forest with regard to destroying email records, http://www.voiceofoc.org/countywide/who_says_you_can_t_fight_city_hall/article_d5f504dc-f1b2-11df-8a5e-001cc4c002e0.html Cities’ routine destruction of their email messages raises a question about open government laws. Franke wrote, “… before long, these practices are going to be challenged in court. … Californians Aware is on the record as cautioning the city of Lake Forest that it will sue to stop execution of a proposed policy authorizing the routine destruction of most email every 90 days. That city has put such plans on hold until they can be more carefully considered. One way or the other, CalAware is committed to going to court if necessary to halt the wholesale destruction of such key city records.”