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Free Speech Picnic Support First Amendment rights by attending the Free Speech Picnic on Sat., Feb. 8, 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. Meet at the picnic tables in C. Russell Cook Park, 27100 Calle Arroyo, San Juan Capistrano. From SOC912’s announcement: FREE SPEECH is one of our most dearly held First Amendment rights! Unfortunately, it is being threatened! Let's together bring light on this issue! This is a joint effort of Tea Party and conservative groups from Orange County. Recently, the City of San Juan Capistrano majority on the City Council banned newspapers on public property . . . behind closed doors no less. Why did they do this? Because one of the newspapers (Community Common Sense) exposes this City Council majority's often misguided and detrimental votes for the citizens of SJC, costing them much money. Speakers include Deborah Pauly, City Councilwoman of the City of Villa Park and radio host of That Radio Show; Walter Myers III, Ph.D activist; Evan Sayet (comedian); Karen Siegemund of Rage Against the Media. Dr. Gina of the former Dr. Gina Show (Politichicks, WND, etc.) is our keynote speaker. Visit Dr. Gina's new website, Smart Life with Dr. Gina, and watch her on Fox News. Come learn about the Neighborhood Legislature initiative - bringing representatives closer to the people - in California. They will have an information booth and opportunity to sign the petition. Bring your friends and family. Bring your lunch and enjoy the event with other like-minded Patriots! Playground for children at the park, too! Rain or shine! |
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Council Meets on Feb. 3 The Mission Viejo City Council Agenda for the Feb. 3 meeting can be found at http://dms.cityofmissionviejo.org/sirepub/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=2180&doctype=agenda The following summary was forwarded by a Mission Viejo watchdog: Residents are encouraged to take time and read through the Consent Calendar Items (Agenda Items No. 1 through No. 6). Item No. 5 is an amendment to the library hours. The library is a public facility offering public services, and it should be open during the Christmas holiday week. There are two items under Old Business: Item No. 7: Banners for Active Military Personnel. This item has been below the radar. The recommended action is to Display the Banners on Alicia Parkway, east and west of Marguerite – primarily on Alicia over the earthen dam. Item No. 8: Contract to Host the 2014 ITF (International Tennis Federation) Wheelchair Doubles. The 2013 ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tournament was not a success, and the City Manager wants to bring it back and host the event again in November. For the recent event that concluded on 11/11/14, a $55,000 budget ballooned into a $239,350 extravaganza with the city picking up a $96,369 tab. Please carefully read the staff report and study the Master Financial Summary. The Staff Report is the best spin city hall could put on this financial fiasco. The city has other projects on hold that would actually serve the residents. We should not be throwing away tax dollars on an event that benefited primarily the ITF and its professional players. Total ticket sales for the week of the 2013 tournaments were $9,825 while the event cost more than $34,000 per day. To view the backup materials on the agenda, click on the blue links. If you cannot attend the meeting but would like your comments to be part of the public record, e-mail your comments to City Clerk Karen Hamman, asking for inclusion in the public record: KHamman@cityofmissionviejo.org . Don’t forget to reference the Agenda Item number in your correspondence. |
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Bucknum Campaign Update Wendy Bucknum is running for a council seat in the November 2014 election. On her most recent Form 460, campaign finance statement, donations she reported through 12-31-13 were largely from special interest and out-of-town donors. After paying herself $3,000, her year-end balance is $7,598. Bucknum is a professional lobbyist in the housing industry. When she was a council candidate in 2012, her employer’s website touted her award-winning lobbying skills. When this blog published the links to Bucknum’s awards, her employer’s website was quickly scrubbed. Mission Viejo residents can get the idea about Bucknum’s vision for the city by reviewing her Form 460 report. Financing her city council campaign are apartment developers, a real estate attorney, John Saunders (is he the owner of the property that formerly housed Unisys on Jeronimo Road?), builders associations and Roger Faubel, who was the P.R. agent when Sunrise proposed high-density housing on the Casta Del Sol Golf Course. Here’s the complete list of donors on Bucknum’s latest report: John Kurzet, Professional Community Management, $1,000 Properties at risk for development of apartments include the Casta Del Sol Golf Course, the Unisys property on Jeronimo Road, school sites that are no longer needed by the school district and so on. For those who still don’t understand why a housing lobbyist wants on the city council, check back next week for Part 2. Readers will find out why a housing lobbyist attends “community events” every day of the week – morning, noon and night – and every political meeting to pick up endorsements from her “clients” (your elected officials who are selling their votes). |
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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. Laguna Beach Music Festival, Mon., Feb. 3, through Sun., Feb. 9, world-class music, events and dining, including concerts in the Laguna Playhouse. Co-presented by Laguna Beach Live! and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, (949) 715- 9713, Laguna Beach, http://lagunabeachmusicfestival.com First Thursday Art Walk, Laguna Beach, Thurs., Feb. 6, 6:00 p.m., member galleries throughout Laguna Beach, including the Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive at North Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-8971, http://firstthursdaysartwalk.com/ A Hidden Vine on the Lake, wine tasting, Fri., Feb. 7 (every Friday evening), 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., featuring “Cabs from across the globe.” A wine specialist introduces six high-quality wines, paired with cheese, charcuterie and a chocolate treat, 27772 Vista del Lago, Suite B-15, Mission Viejo, (949) 916-4810, http://www.ahiddenvine.com/wine_tasting.html WineWorks, live music every Friday, happy hour Tues.-Sat., check the website for wine tastings and other events, 26342 Oso Parkway, Suite 103, Mission Viejo, (949) 582-0026, http://www.wineworksforeveryone.com/tastings-events.php Tet Festival at the OC Fairgrounds, Fri., Feb. 7 – Sun., Feb. 9, presented by the Union of the Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California, celebrating the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. Hundreds of booths, traditional foods and live entertainment, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 890-1417, http://tetfestival.org Concordia University Concert, “When Harry Met Mary,” Sat., Feb. 8, 11:00 a.m., family concert features the music from Harry Potter, Mary Poppins and other magical favorites, Concordia University Irvine, 1530 Concordia West, Irvine, (949) 854-8002, http://www.cui.edu/AcademicPrograms/Undergraduate/Music/tabid Mariachis at the Mission, Sat., Feb. 8, 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.; second Saturday of each month, 26801 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 234-1300, http://missionsjc.com Soka University concerts, Pacific Symphony on Sun., Feb. 9, 3:00 p.m.; Dale Kristian and Bill Hutton, “The Glorious Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber,” on Sun., Feb. 23, 3:00 p.m. Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://www.performingarts.soka.edu La Vida Drum Circle, Fri., Feb. 14, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m., group meets on the evening of every full moon (Feb. 14, Mar. 16, Apr. 15, etc.). Drummers should bring their drums. Firewood is appreciated for the bonfire, Aliso Beach, Aliso and Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 275-7544, http://www.lavidalaguna.com/things-we-dig/ St. Kilian’s Recycling Drive, Sat., Feb. 15, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, held on the third Saturday of each month. Organized by Knights of Columbus; acceptable items include aluminum, paper and plastic. No glass or cardboard. Lower parking lot, 26872 Estanciero Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 472-1249, http://www.stkilianchurch.org Cabrillo Playhouse, Sun., Feb. 16, 6:00 p.m., “Local Sunday Sessions,” every third Sunday, three local musical acts, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente, (949) 492-0465, http://cabrilloplayhouse.org Holiday Ice Rink, Irvine Spectrum Center, private and group skate lessons are available, open daily through Feb. 17, Giant Wheel Court, Irvine Spectrum Center, 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine, (949) 753-5180, http://www.skatespectrum.com Mount of Olives Church SHARE Food Drive on Sun., Mar. 2, (first Sunday of each month) helps families in crisis, http://moochurch.org/share . Mount of Olives Church, 24772 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 837-7467, http://www.moochurch.org/ |
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Political and Government Events Calendar Orange County Board of Supervisors will hold a regular meeting on Tues., Feb. 4, 9:30 a.m., Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100, http://ocgov.com/cals/?ViewBy=7&CalDate=1/15/2013&EventDateID=89649 Santa Margarita Water District meetings: Board of Directors on Wed., Feb. 5, at 7:00 p.m.; Engineering Committee on Fri., Feb. 14, 7:30 a.m.; Finance Committee on Fri., Feb. 21, 7:30 a.m.; 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com Rush Limbaugh Club of Orange County will meet on Sat., Feb. 8. Breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m., and the program runs from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The group meets on second Saturdays of the month. The breakfast is $15.00 or attend the program for $5.00 to cover costs. The club pays for first-time attendees' breakfast or attendance fee. Casta del Sol Golf Clubhouse, 27601 Casta Del Sol Road, Mission Viejo, (714) 235-1430, http://rushlimbaughcluboc.com/ Free Speech Picnic, Sat., Feb. 8, 12:00 noon, C. Russell Cook Park, 27100 Calle Arroyo, San Juan Capistrano. Organized by Tea Party and other conservative groups in response to the ban of newspapers from city property in San Juan Capistrano. Visit SOC912’s website, http://www.meetup.com/SOC912/events/157855872/ Nixon Library, Sun., Feb. 9, Valentine’s Day Concert, baritone Hershel Green, Doors open at 1:30 p.m., and music begins at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on Tues., Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m.; 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/ Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet on Wed., Feb. 12. A Special Meeting will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and the Regular Meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. The board meets at the district office, 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/ OC Veterans Advisory Council, Wed., Feb. 12, 6:00 p.m. The council meets on the second Wednesday of each month. Veterans Service Office, Conference Room A/B, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building B, Santa Ana, https://cms.ocgov.com/gov/occr/occs/veterans/advisory/default.asp Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT! for America will hold a General Meeting on Wed., Feb. 12. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m., at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Engineering and Operations on Tues., Feb. 18, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Finance and Information Technology on Wed., Feb. 19, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., MNWD Main Office, 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://mnwd.com/board-of-directors-2/ Capistrano Valley Republican Women Federated, Wed., Feb. 19, bus tour to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library instead of a regular meeting, leaving Strands Park in Dana Point at 9:00 a.m. CVRWF meets on third Wednesdays of most months. Call (949) 240-6799 for reservations, http://cvrwf.org SOC912 will hold a joint meeting with Saddleback Republican Assembly on Thurs., Feb. 20, 7:00 p.m., at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. Guest speaker will be Loren Spivak, who founded “Free Market Warrior” in 2009 in an effort to make a positive difference in American politics and economics. http://www.meetup.com/SOC912/events/161553102/ Saddleback Republican Assembly, Thurs., Feb. 20, 7:00 p.m. SRA meets on third Thursdays (except in July, August and December) at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. For information call (949) 769-1412. |
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The Buzz An item on the Feb. 3 Mission Viejo City Council agenda involves the controversy of the November 2013 wheelchair tennis tournament. Last July, the city staff recommended that the council approve the use of the city-owned Marguerite Tennis Center to host the tournament (referred to as “ITF” – International Tennis Federation tournament). No one should get the idea ITF is a charity or the tourney warrants taxpayer funds. In addition to allowing ITF to use the city facility at no charge, the staff asked for $55,000 – which was supposed to be reimbursed through sponsorships and ticket sales. *** The ITF tournament has cost $239,000, and bills are still surfacing. For unexplained reasons, the city is paying a significant portion of the bills. City employees were also involved in fundraising (“getting sponsors”) – likely on taxpayers’ time, e.g., shaking down local restaurants for a total of $45,000 in meals for the 125 so-called guests connected with the 36 professional tennis players. Is the entire package not a gift of public funds? Orchestrating the train wreck is City Manager Dennis Wilberg, who now says he doesn’t know how it got so expensive. The only council member who is tracking costs and asking questions is Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht. Incredibly, Wilberg is asking the council on Feb. 3 to host another ITF tournament this year. *** What if city hall were limited to providing essential municipal services for its residents? If that happened, the city could downsize from 275 employees to approximately 75 to run a contract city of 95,000 residents. A tax reduction should follow, or the city could return excess taxes to residents, as has been proposed by City Commissioner Steve Magdziak ( http://www.ccsense.com/2013/09/city-should-return-surplus-to-residents.html ). Mission Viejo residents are getting no value by having city hall inappropriately dabble in health fairs, a failed grocery market in front of city hall, a wide variety of classes that compete with schools and private enterprise, and constant city hall parties. All it takes to end the city circus is three responsible adults on the council. The next city election is Nov. 4. *** Another proposal on the Feb. 3 council agenda, No. 7, should be rejected if residents speak up. Some military veterans want banners depicting military personnel on light poles in Mission Viejo. The city already has hundreds of banners, costing tens of thousands of dollars each year just to put up and take down. Regardless of the subject matter on the banners, they collectively create a junky, cluttered look that degrades the scenery, distracts drivers and gives an impression of low economic status. The target site of the banners is alongside Lake Mission Viejo – the city’s most photogenic feature. Residents who have heard of the attempt to add banners have suggested the veterans group should find another way – a more meaningful one that actually helps the military and their families. A Vietnam vet said, “If you want to show appreciation for a vet, visit one in a hospital.” *** Campaign finance reports were due on Jan. 31, causing a flurry on political blogs. Some reports weren’t available online at the time of this writing. If Facebook comments are reliable, Robert Ming has more than $100,000 on hand for his OC Board of Supervisors campaign. Ming’s opponents are Frank Ury ($30,000 on hand) and Lisa Bartlett ($50,000 on hand). In the 73rd Assembly District race, Jesse Petrilla raised more than $100,000 for his campaign. By comparison in that race, Bill Brough has $29,000 on hand. Mission Viejo residents can vote in Ming’s Fifth District Supervisorial race and Petrilla’s 73rd Assembly District race. *** Attend the Free Speech Picnic in San Juan Capistrano on Sat., Feb. 8, noon until 3:00 p.m. Attendees are invited to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy patriotic music and energized speakers. The location is C. Russell Cook Park, 28202 Calle Arroyo, San Juan Capistrano. http://www.meetup.com/SOC912/ *** Save the date, Thurs., March 13, 6:00 p.m.: Attend the 2014 OC Friends of NRA fundraiser while supporting the future of the 2nd Amendment. The location is Laguna Hills Hotel, 25205 La Paz Road, Laguna Hills. For additional information, call (714) 368-0451 or email mdavis@nrahg.org http://www.friendsofnra.org/Events.aspx?sid=5&sc=CA |
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