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Why Is This Not News? Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl has been a prisoner of war since 2009: http://supportbowe.org/ What will it take to bring this young man home and reunite him with his family? His name should be known to every American, but his captivity is not in the news. Here’s a summary from the website: http://supportbowe.org/the-story-of-bowe-tuesday/ On June 30, 2009, militants belonging to the Haqqani network, an Afghan insurgent group allied with the Taliban, took 23- year-old U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe R. Bergdahl captive. This ill-fated day was a Tuesday. Time practically stands still for a prisoner who fears for his life every day. Bowe’s captivity has evolved into weeks, months and years. The idea of BOWE TUESDAY came about as a way to raise public awareness. For more than two years, giving Bowe Bergdahl special acknowledgment each Tuesday, the day of his capture, has been practiced by his supporters. However, it is clear that greater awareness is needed. One of Bowe’s supporters said, “Have you ever noticed on Facebook, all the different people who you don’t know whose profile pics pop up? … What would happen if every Tuesday, a significant number of the profile pictures on Facebook featured Bowe Bergdahl? That would get people’s attention, and people would want to know who Bowe Bergdahl is. People who aren’t aware that America has a soldier who is being held as a prisoner of war would find out about Bowe.” The next step in the BOWE TUESDAY movement was to translate it to Facebook. It’s a powerful means to raise awareness when many people feature Bowe’s picture as their profile image all at the same time. Whenever his profile picture appears in a “People You May Know” list, people who are friends of friends will see a message about Bowe. Some supporters have chosen to feature Bowe on their Facebook cover picture. Here are images to use as a cover photo from the Artwork & Image File. Please join BOWE TUESDAY for one day a week until Bowe comes home. Right-click on the image and save it to your computer. Be sure to click on the image to enlarge the picture to save the best image possible. Many of Bowe’s supporters who use Twitter have taken the idea of BOWE TUESDAY one step further by using the following set of hash tags several times during the day each Tuesday in their tweets: #bowetuesday, #Bowe #Bergdahl, #POW, #supportbowe. Thank you to everyone who joins this weekly effort to bring Bowe Bergdahl home |
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ACT! for America The Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT! for America will hold a General Meeting on Mon., July 9. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m. Bring a friend. This is a great opportunity to share your concerns with others. Bill Warner, Ph.D., director, Center for the Study of Political Islam, will be the featured speaker. His topic will be “Gentle Persuasion – Opening Closed Minds: How to Convince Skeptics that Political Islam is a Grave Threat to America.” Over the last 50 years, Muslim Brotherhood front groups have convinced many Americans that Islam is a misunderstood and benign religion of peace. This deception is part of their plan to overthrow our Constitution and replace it with Shariah, Islamic law. But, people who try to educate others about the true history, doctrines and goals of political Islam, are called racists, bigots, hatemongers and Islamophobes. Imagine if you could effortlessly open almost anyone’s mind and persuade them that political Islam is a wolf in sheep's clothing! Dr. Warner has spent years convincing skeptics that political Islam is a grave threat to our security, our rights and our values. He has used his strategies to convince public officials and religious leaders to defend our country from political Islam and shariah. Dr. Warner will explain what to do and what to say to convince others that political Islam is a grave threat to life, liberty and happiness. What You Will Learn:
Dr. Warner has been a university professor, a businessman and the author of a dozen books. Some of his titles are Shariah Law for Non Muslims, The Sources of Islam, A Two Hour Koran, and The Hadith. He is the director of the Center for Study of Political Islam and the publisher of "The Bulletin of Christian Persecution." He is a dynamic and compelling speaker. Dr. Warner will speak and demonstrate specific scripts and techniques for about 50 minutes. Then he will answer questions for about 30 minutes. A $5 donation is appreciated to help cover our meeting costs. The meeting location is the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Sycamore-B Room, Mission Viejo. Sign up for our ACT! for America chapter announcements at www.act4oc.org |
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Stop This Rip-off Below is information about more deception and deceit by your local Investor Owned Utility (IOU for short) electric utility company. From a message by Ana Montes of TURN, The Utility Reform Network: Did you know that SDG&E wants to collect your money in advance —like a prepaid credit card? Yes, you can get service without a deposit, and if you think it sounds too good to be true, you’re right. If you agree to prepaid service, SDG&E will eliminate many rights you currently enjoy:
These protections give customers as many chances as possible to negotiate payment and keep their lights on. Without them, you will stay in the dark, without power, until you pay again. Join us on June 27: all SDG&E customers deserve first-class service! The California Public Utilities Commission is holding public hearings in San Diego. Please join TURN and other consumer groups in speaking out against this proposal. If you can’t, e-mail the CPUC at publicadvisor@cpuc.org, or send a letter to the CPUC Public Advisor at 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. Thank you for taking the time to make your voices heard!” Joe Holtzman |
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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. Sawdust Art Festival opens June 29 on the festival grounds, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., 935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-3030, http://www.sawdustartfestival.org Mount of Olives Church, “Share – Food Collection,” Sun., July 1, bring non-perishable food items and place them in marked bins around campus, collecting for South County Outreach and Southwest Community Center, Mount of Olives Lutheran Church, 24772 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 837-7467, http://www.info@moochurch.com Exhibits, “Sacred Gold: Pre-Hispanic Art of Colombia,” through July 1, “Faberge, Imperial Jeweler to the Tsars,” through Jan. 6, Bowers Museum, 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714-567-3600, http://www.bowers.org July 4 Spectacular, Music of The Eagles, Wed., July 4, 8:00 p.m., Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Irvine, (714) 755-5799, http://www.pacificsymphony.org/main.taf?p=9,5,6,6&ProductionID=8858 Concerts at Lake Mission Viejo: Allen Stone on July 7, Three Dog Night on July 21, Hunter Hayes on Aug. 4, Leon Russell on Aug. 18 and Hanson on Sept. 1. Concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. and are limited to lake association members and their guests. Call or visit the website for information, 949-770-1313, ext. 311, or http://www.lakemissionviejo.org Pageant of the Masters, July 7 through Aug. 31, 8:30 p.m. performances, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (800) 487-3378, http://www.pageanttickets.com “Taming of the Shrew,” through July 8, American Coast Theater Company, Vanguard University. Show times are 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Lyceum Theater, 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, (714) 619-6424, http://www.actctickets.com Fun with Chalk, the 13th annual Street Painting Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15, featuring re-creations of the Old Masters and original works, all by noted artists from all over the world and all created on the asphalt surface of the Bell Tower Community Center in Rancho Santa Margarita. For more information see http://www.funwithchalk.org Mariachis at the Mission on Sat., July 14, 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., second and fourth Saturdays each month, free with paid admission to the Mission, Central Courtyard, Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 234-1300, http://www.missionsjc.com/ |
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Political and Government Events Calendar “Shattering the Glass Ceiling,” meet former Secretary of Commerce Barbara Franklin, Mon., June 25, 1:00 p.m., lecture and book signing, free admission for the event, Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://events.nixonfoundation.org South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, Mon., June 25. 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, https://www.socccd.edu Orange County Board of Supervisors will meet on Tues., June 26, 9:30 a.m., Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100. http://egov.ocgov.com/ocgov/Government/Board%20of%20Supervisors/Meeting%20Schedule Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees, Tues., June 26, Board Workshop at 3:00 p.m. and Regular Meeting/Budget Approval at 6:30 p.m., district office, 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234. The next regular board meeting will be on Tues., June 12. http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/ Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees, Public Hearing on Wed., June 27, 7:00 p.m., CUSD’s 2012-2013 proposed budget, 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/ Santa Margarita Water District Board of Directors will meet on Wed., June 27, 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com El Toro Water District meetings: Engineering, Finance, Insurance Committee on Tues., June 26, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., June 28, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ETWD, 24251 Los Alisos Blvd., Lake Forest, (949) 837-0660, http://www.etwd.com/ Concert at the Nixon Library, Sun., July 1, Huntington Beach Band. Doors open at 1:15 p.m., and concerts begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Concerts are free and open to the public. Schedule is subject to change. Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1161, http://events.nixonfoundation.org/concerts/ Meet President Abraham Lincoln, Tues., July 3, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Richard Nixon Presidential Library. Bring the family to the free series of educational presentations on five great American presidents, plus First Lady Pat Nixon. Interactive Q &A, photo ops, children’s activities and refreshments. 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org/ai1ec_event/meet-president-abraham-lincoln/?instance_id=347 ACT for America, Mission Viejo Chapter, will meet on Mon., July 9, 7:30 p.m., featured speaker will be Bill Warner, Ph.D., director, Center for the Study of Political Islam. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and the meeting begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. Program to be announced. ACT meets at the Norman P. Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Investment Committee on Wed., July 11, 9:00 a.m., Citizens Advisory Committee, Thurs., July 12, 9:00 a.m., Engineering and Operations on Mon., July 16, 9:00 a.m., Finance and I.T. on Wed., July 18, 9:00 a.m., Board of Directors on Thurs., July 19, 5:30 p.m., 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://www.mnwd.com/board-of-directors/agenda.aspx Saddleback Republican Assembly does not meet in July or August. The next SRA meeting will be on Thurs., Sept., 7:00 p.m. Guest speaker will be John Moorlach, Orange County Supervisor, Second District. SRA meets on third Thursdays at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Jacaranda Room-B, Mission Viejo. For information call (949) 360-1717. |
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The Buzz Stop the Vegas-style billboards. Mission Viejo residents are strongly reacting against a proposal to create a signage zone from Avery Parkway to La Paz, allowing JumboTron-style electronic billboards. The proposal comes from Colby Durnin of Kaleidoscope, and it has the support of at least three council members: Frank Ury, Trish Kelley and Dave Leckness. Cheering the proposal from the sidelines is Wendy Bucknum, a lobbyist who has announced her council candidacy for the November election. To view a website opposing the sign proposal, go to http://stopthetackylights.com/ *** Kaleidoscope, which opened in 1998, has been charitably characterized as an “underperforming” retail center. From its initial financing with redevelopment money to its 2010 foreclosure and beyond, the center has had a high turnover of tenants. With access and parking as obstacles to shopping, suggestions for making the building a financial success include changing it to office space. The signage proposal from Durnin appears to be a last-ditch effort, placing 60-foot by 20-foot digital billboards on all sides of the building. Despite the outlandish proposal from a desperate owner, no one should be surprised that the out-of-touch Mission Viejo council majority supports his visual assault on the community. *** Smoke and mirrors? What’s behind City Hall’s big push to rezone portions of the city with regard to fire maps? When the council started talking about rezoning 3,000 Mission Viejo homes to Very High Fire Hazard areas, residents voiced their concerns about potential negative impacts on insurance rates and property values, plus fines if property owners don’t comply with reducing fire risks. The city council voted during its June 18 meeting to adopt the newly coined description, “special fire protection area.” Where did the council get such a phrase? The Fire Authority lumps the two descriptions together as one and the same. No resident should fall for such deception, approved with a 4-1 vote, with Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht dissenting. The only debate is whether the terminology is outright deceit or a half-step toward renaming significant portions of the city to Very High Fire Hazard areas. The biggest difference between the Fire Authority’s goal of naming the zones Very High Fire Hazard areas and the city council majority’s response of “special fire protection areas” is the number of homes involved. Approximately 15,000 homes are in the latter category, which should make an additional 12,000 homeowners feel very “special.” *** When residents have opposed rezoning to Very High Fire Hazard areas, they’ve cited city and county negligence regarding vegetation near their properties as being the primary source, if not the only source of increased risk. The Mission Viejo city staff, particularly Keith Rattay, has been obsessed for years with trees and shrubs to the point city-owned property is overplanted and then neglected. Rattay has spent enormous sums of taxpayer dollars on Mission Viejo’s status as an Arbor City of one-million trees. If anyone should be cited for creating fire risks, it is City Hall. *** Capo Trustee Ellen Addonizio was Saddleback Republican Assembly’s featured speaker at its June 21 meeting. She addressed the district’s $50-million deficit and described how CUSD changed rapidly from having a balanced budget in November 2010. When union-supported trustees were elected to the board, the new majority’s first steps were to restore pay cuts to the union members who had empowered them. Trustees who support the union are Gary Pritchard, Lynn Hatton, John Alpay, Jack Brick and Anna Bryson. Up for reelection in November are Pritchard, Alpay and Brick. A fourth seat is in play, following redistricting, which includes portions of Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, Ladera Ranch and Coto de Caza. *** Fun With Chalk has a new location. Since its beginning in 1999, approximately 200,000 visitors have experienced the yearly street-painting festival. On Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15, the event will be held for the first time in Rancho Santa Margarita. The hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and admission is free. Enjoy the artwork, professional art demonstrations and entertainment, along with moderately priced food and beverages. The location will be the Bell Tower Community Center and Parking Lot, 22232 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita. For additional information, call the hotline, 877-WECHALK or go to http://www.funwithchalk.org |
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