City Circus Update

Councilman Dave Leckness wrapped up his year as Mayor Hee-Haw with a video, “State of the City,” which aired during the Dec. 5 council meeting. The cackling will continue, but not from the center seat. Councilman Frank Ury was selected to become mayor for 2012. Councilwoman Rhonda Reardon will replace Ury as mayor pro tem.

A primary message of the video was Mission Viejo residents like Mission Viejo. Does any other city spend so much effort telling its residents they should like where they live?

What residents don’t like is City Hall, not the city itself. Those paying attention see wasted tax dollars and an arrogant council majority. The parties continue, with a bloated staff of 150 employees focusing on frills while shortchanging residents on essential services.

City Hall administrators direct a handful of gullible shills to do their dirty work. Anyone asking for accountability can expect to be maligned – not by city employees – but by lackeys who read prepared scripts at the public microphone. A trail of emails (discovered through requests for public records) demonstrated City Manager Dennis Wilberg pressured Saddleback Valley News and the OC Register to censor articles and letters to the editor that are critical of City Hall. SVN and OCR readers will not see balanced coverage on Mission Viejo city government.

A blurb in the Dec. 9 SVN made reference to the city’s financial health, with “a surplus and reserve funds” but no mention of declining revenue, the enormous debt, increased operating costs and four straight years of deficit spending. When comparisons to previous years aren’t favorable, city spinners change the benchmarks or make irrelevant remarks about other cities.

The next opportunity voters will have to raise City Hall standards to those of the rest of the city is November 2012. Changing the council majority (Dave Leckness, Trish Kelley and Frank Ury) can be achieved by removing Ury, who is up for reelection in 2012.

In Memoriam

Community members are mourning the loss of Tom Speiss, who died on Dec. 4 at age 63. His life story and a guestbook can be found at http://www.diamondtom.com , “Remembering Diamond Tom.”

Mission Viejo residents got to know Tom when he sang at restaurants and clubs throughout Orange County. His performances during Mission Viejo Tea Parties, 2009-2011, included patriotic songs and Neil Diamond hits. Listeners complimented him, saying he sounded “just like Neil Diamond, only better.”

Tom was a patriot, Vietnam vet, family man and successful businessman. Friends who learned of his passing commented on his talent, success and kind-hearted nature.

Throughout Tom’s battle with pulmonary fibrosis, he said his doctors recommended singing as good exercise for his lungs. After he had a lung transplant and recovered from life-threatening pneumonia, he was back on the corner at La Paz and Marguerite, singing and entertaining Tea Party attendees on April 15, 2011.

Family members and friends gathered to remember Tom and celebrate his life on Dec. 9.

Non-government Events

Following is a sampling of events and activities that are not funded by taxpayers or promoted by the Nanny State. Please support private enterprise and non-profit groups.

Moore’s sewing classes: Brother/Baby Lock, Mon., Dec. 12, 10:00 a.m.; Multi-Needle Magic Patches, Tues., Dec. 13, 6:00 p.m.; Sew Fun Club, Mon., Dec. 26, 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Sew Fun Club, Tues., Dec. 27, 9:00 a.m., 25390 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, (949) 580-2520, http://www.moores-sew.com

Newport Beach Boat Parade, Wed.-Sun., Dec. 14-18, go on a party cruise or ride on one of the participating boats, 5:45 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Newport Landing, 309 Palm St., Newport Beach, (949) 675-0551, http://www.christmasparadeboats.com/

Kaleidoscope Holiday Concert on Fri. Dec. 16, 7 p.m., presented by Newhart Middle School. Kaleidoscope’s Iceless Ice Skating Rink’s schedule can be found at http://gokaleidoscope.com/f/events.html . 27741 Crown Valley Parkway, Mission Viejo, http://gokaleidoscope.com

“Socks for Heroes,” benefit for Marines in Afghanistan, Fri., Dec. 16, 5 p.m., On Target Indoor Shooting Range, 27692 Camino Capistrano, Laguna Niguel, (949) 348-0352, http://www.on-targetrange.com

Christmas Program, Cirque Noel, the Renaissance, Fri.-Sun., Dec. 16-18, 7:30 p.m., Mount of Olives Church, 24772 Chrisanta, Mission Viejo, (949) 837-7467, http://moochurch.org

Create a Holiday Fairy Garden, Sun., Dec. 18, 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., 31720 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, (949) 493-3920, http://cottage-home-and-garden.com

“This Wonderful Life,” through Dec. 24, Laguna Playhouse, Moulton Theatre, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (800) 946-5556, http://www.lagunaplayhouse.com

“The Science of Gingerbread,” through Jan. 1, kitchen science, decorating demos and award-winning gingerbread houses, Discovery Science Center, 2500 North Main Street, Santa Ana, (714) 542-2823, http://www.discoverycube.org

Movies, Edwards Kaleidoscope Stadium 10 in Mission Viejo, 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy, (949) 582-4020, get show times, watch movie trailers, see what's coming soon at
http://www.moviefone.com/theater/edwards-kaleidoscope-stadium-10/32/showtimes

Roger’s Gardens, “The Artisans of Christmas,” Christmas 2011, now open and ongoing. Roger’s Gardens, 2301 San Juan Hills Road, Corona del Mar, (949) 640-5800, http://www.rogersgardens.com

Political and Government Events Calendar

Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Engineering and Operations on Mon., Dec. 12, 9:00 a.m., Finance and I.T. on Wed., Dec. 14, 9:00 a.m., Board of Directors on Thurs., Dec. 15, 5:30 p.m., 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://www.mnwd.com/board-of-directors/agenda.aspx

ACT for America, Mon., Dec. 12, guest speaker Mano Bakh, former officer in the Shah’s Imperial Iranian Navy. The meeting will be held at the Norman Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.

Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees, regular meeting Mon., Dec. 12, 7:00 p.m., 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano, agenda and supporting documentation are published on the website 72 hours prior to a meeting, (949) 234-9200, http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com

Orange County Board of Supervisors, December meetings: Tues., Dec. 13, 9:30 a.m., and Tues., Dec. 20, 9:30 a.m., Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100. No meeting on Dec. 27. http://www.ocgov.com/ocgov/Government/Board%20of%20Supervisors

Orange County Republican Christmas Party, Tues.., Dec. 13, VIP reception begins at 5:30 p.m., general reception at 6:30 p.m., includes food and beverages. State Senator Bob Huff will give an update on Sacramento. Newport Beach Country Club, 1600 East Coast Highway, Newport Beach, RSVP to (714) 453-0900, http://ocgopaction.ning.com/events/ocgop-christmas-celebration

Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees annual organizational meeting, Tues., Dec. 13, 6:15 p.m., 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us

Santa Margarita Water District meetings: Finance Committee Meeting on Dec. 16, 7:30 a.m., and Board of Directors will meet on Dec. 28, 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com/about-us/meeting-agendas.html

Patrick/Green/Orozco Annual Family Christmas Concert, Sun., Dec. 18, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. Free concerts are held Sundays, except when otherwise noted, and are open to the public. Doors open at 1:15 p.m., and concerts begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Concert schedule is subject to change, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://events.nixonfoundation.org/concerts

El Toro Water District meetings: Engineering, Finance, Insurance Committee on Tues., Dec. 20, 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Dec. 22, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The office will be closed on alternate Fridays (Dec. 2, 16 and 30). ETWD, 24251 Los Alisos Blvd., Lake Forest, (949) 837-0660, http://www.etwd.com

The 2011 Holiday Festival of Trains at the Nixon Library, through Jan. 2, 2012, Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 464-1161, http://events.nixonfoundation.org

South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, January meeting date TBA. Meeting times unless otherwise posted: open session convenes at 5 p.m.., followed by adjournment to closed session, open session reconvenes at 6:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m., adjournment by 9:00 p.m. Ronald Reagan Board of Trustees Room, Room 145, Health Sciences/District Offices Building, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, (949) 582-4999, http://www.socccd.edu

Saddleback Republican Assembly does not meet in December. SRA’s next meeting will be Jan. 19, 2012. For information call (949) 360-1717.

The Buzz

Reminder from Mission Viejo Chapter Leader Bruce Mayall: ACT for America meets Mon., Dec. 12. Guest speaker Mano Bakh, former officer in the Shah’s Imperial Iranian Navy, will discuss the Islamic Republic’s threat to the world. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and the meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. Location is the Norman P. Murray Community Center, Sycamore B Room, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo.

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The Mission Viejo Planning Commission will meet Mon., Dec. 12, 6:30 p.m. Commissioners will select a new chair and vice chair for 2012. Terming out of office is Rick Sandzimier, Councilman Dave Leckness’ appointee. Sandzimier has been serving as interim chairman since the October meeting when fellow commissioners demoted Bob Bruchmann for his abrasive comments toward other commissioners and the public.

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From DickMorris.com , Dec. 9, “The Fast and Furious operation is a gift that will keep on giving. For years and years, the weapons we injected into the US-Mexican arms trade are going to be surfacing on the streets of both countries, often endangering or killing the brave men and women who are charged with enforcing the laws and protecting us.” Morris posted a petition demanding U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s resignation: http://dickmorris.rallycongress.com/5716/fire-holder/

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The Capo Dispatch provides a link to view new maps for proposed trustee areas: http://capistranoinsider.typepad.com/files/cusd-district-maps.pdf . The issue will be discussed during the Capo school district meeting on Dec. 12, 7:00 p.m., at the district headquarters, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano.

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The deadline to turn in signatures to Stop AB 131 is approaching. The effort would put the California Dream Act on the ballot and allow voters to end taxpayer-funded tuition for illegal alien students. State Assemblyman Tim Donnelly is leading the signature drive. Last week Donnelly wrote, “Please continue gathering signatures and send in completed petitions no later than Dec. 30.” Signature gatherers may also take completed petitions to the OC GOP headquarters, 1422 Edinger, Suite 110, Tustin. Call (714) 453-0900 for directions and other information.

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Updates on other petitions: The initiative to ban payroll deductions for political spending will be on the November 2012 General Election ballot. If passed by voters, this “Payroll Protection Initiative” would prohibit unions and corporations from automatically deducting money from employees’ checks for political purposes. In another petition drive, Stop SB 48 didn’t get enough signatures to qualify. Supporters had only 90 days to gather signatures to overturn the mandate signed by Gov. Jerry Brown for inclusion of “gay history” in K-12 social science textbooks for public schools. The pro-family organizations that supported Stop SB 48 have submitted an initiative to the Attorney General to put a measure on the ballot. More information can be found at http://www.stopsb48.com

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The latest GOP presidential nomination poll as of this writing is Gallup Tracking, ending Dec. 10: In percentages: Gingrich 33, Romney 23, Paul 9, Perry 6, Bachmann 5, Santorum 2 and Huntsman 2.

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To have a politically correct Christmas, enjoy the original version of “Have a Happy RamaHanuKwanzMas!”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p91GXkQ-Sas&eurl=http://www.redstate.com/stories/archived/a_politically_correct_december_25th