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Farewell, Gloria Gloria Heer passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 13. Gloria’s many acquaintances throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties knew her as a dedicated community servant and volunteer. Her accomplishments include leadership in numerous county and state organizations. Gloria was born in Los Angeles, and she received her AA degree from UCLA and BA from USC. Gloria and Warren Heer married in 1949. Gloria is survived by her husband Warren, daughter Linda Heer O’Connor of Mission Viejo, son George Warren Heer, daughter-in-law Melissa Heer and two granddaughters, Megan and Allison Heer, all of Rancho Santa Margarita. Gloria generously supported schools, community projects, organizations and charitable causes. She received many awards and recognitions from national, state and local societies. Prior to moving to Mission Viejo upon Warren’s retirement, Gloria’s work in Downey, Santa Fe Springs and Commerce brought numerous awards, including a park named in her honor in Rowland Heights by the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors. Gloria also served on Mission Viejo’s Community Services Commission. Friends of Gloria knew her as a gracious lady who quickly responded to help others. As an example of her compassion, Gloria and Warren took in two cats when their owner became terminally ill. Gloria delighted in getting together with family and friends, and she lived an exemplary life of kindness to everyone. A memorial service will be held at Fairhaven Memorial Services on Sat., Feb. 2, 2:00 p.m., in Mission Viejo. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Gloria Heer Scholarship fund, which can be sent to: Gloria Heer Scholarship fund |
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Council Agenda Overview Following is a sampling of items on the Jan. 21 city council agenda. Closed Session
Four Presentations: Ury, AYSO team, recycling winners and OCTA I-5 widening report Open Session
Public Hearings
Old Business
City Manager Report
City Attorney Report
Council Member Cathy Schlicht’s Comments
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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. Open House and Preview Events at private schools: Santa Margarita Catholic High School on Tues., Jan. 22, 7:00 p.m., http://www.smhs.org . Abiding Savior Lutheran Church and School on Sat., Jan. 26, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., http://www.abidingsavior.com . Carden Academy on Thurs., Jan. 31, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., http://www.cardenacademy.com . Entrance exam at St. Michael’s High School on Sat., Jan. 28, 8:00 a.m., call (949) 858-0222, ext. 237. Concerts at Soka: Aliso Niguel High School Solo and Ensemble Concert on Tues., Jan. 22, 8:00 p.m., and the Spanish Brass Quintet on Thurs., Jan. 24, 8:00 p.m., Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://www.performingarts.soka.edu “Footloose,” Concordia University Theatre, Jan. 24-26 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Jan. 27 at 2:00 p.m., 1530 Concordia West, Irvine, (949) 854-8002, http://www.cui.edu/ Big Bucks Bingo, Wednesdays, 6:15 p.m. early bird and 6:45 p.m. regular games, Mission Viejo Elks Lodge, Marguerite and La Paz, Mission Viejo, (949) 830-3557. Car (CARe) Show and Poker Run, San Juan Capistrano, Sat., Feb. 2, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 for general admission. Family-friendly event, view more than 400 vehicles, proceeds benefit SJC Rotary projects. San Juan Capistrano Community Center and Sports Park, 25920 Camino Del Avion, San Juan Capistrano, http://sjcrotary.org/carshow Neil Simon’s “Chapter Two,” now playing through Feb. 3, Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, (949) 497-2787, ext. 1, http://www.lagunaplayhouse.com Tet Festival, Feb. 8-10, organized by the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California, annual lunar new year event, live entertainment, food, fireworks, Garden Grove Park, 9301 Westminster Blvd., Garden Grove, (714) 890-1418, http://www.yelp.com/biz/tet-festival-garden-grove Holiday Ice Rink in Spectrum. Outdoor rink is open through Feb. 18. Skating lessons are available. Check the website for schedule. Giant Wheel Court, Irvine Spectrum Center, (949) 748-8280, http://www.skatespectrum.com |
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Political and Government Events Calendar Santa Margarita Water District Board of Directors meeting on Wed., Jan. 23, at 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees’ meetings have been moved to Wednesday nights. The next meeting will meet on Jan. 23, 7:00 p.m., 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/ Orange County Coastal Coalition Meeting, Thurs., Jan. 24, 9:00 a.m., the topic will be the 2013 Environmental Policy Outlook, Newport Beach Public Library, 1100 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach, contact Andrea Toscano, (714) 955-0600, http://ocgov.com/civicax/inc/blobfetch.aspx?BlobID=23169 Orange County Board of Supervisors will meet on Tues., Jan. 29, 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 Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting “if necessary” on Tues., Jan. 29, 6:30 p.m., and regular board meeting on Tues., Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m. , 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/ Meet Larry Elder, live KABC radio broadcast from the Nixon Library, Thurs., Jan. 31, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 3641-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT for America will hold a General Meeting on Mon., Feb. 11. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. The meeting starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m., Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. Meet Oliver North at the Nixon Library, Tues., Feb. 12, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. North discusses his book, “Heroes Proved” in the East Room, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org Saddleback Republican Assembly, Thurs., Feb. 21, 7:00 p.m. SRA meets on third Thursdays (except in December, July and August) 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 The OC Grand Jury has extended the application deadline to Fri., Jan. 25. The Superior Court of Orange County is seeking applications from qualified individuals interested in serving on the 2013-14 OC Grand Jury. Applications are available online at www.ocgrandjury.org *** City Manager Dennis Wilberg’s Jan. 18 weekly newsletter was only two pages. That’s down from six pages -- several fluff writers probably had to take a week off to recover from exhaustion. Wilberg says city hall’s Farmer’s Market is changing from Fridays to Saturdays, starting Feb. 23. Despite all the hoopla and advertising at taxpayer expense, the subsidized weekly market “has issues.” Having the weekly parking lot party on Fridays at least didn’t pose a parking problem with the library closed Friday mornings. The circus production (must see to believe) known as the Farmer’s Market will now conflict with library hours. *** Big changes are in store for Mission Viejo during 2013. As an example, city watchdogs alerted residents before the November election that the council majority would vote for electronic billboards on the Kaleidoscope building. The billboards are coming. Check out No. 19 on the council agenda for Jan. 21. *** Also note on the Jan. 21 agenda a pay raise for city hall. With the number of unemployed residents, tax increases, foreclosed homes, failing businesses and dwindling city reserves, it takes a lot of nerve to think government employees should get a raise. *** From a report out of the Jan. 14 Planning and Transportation Commission meeting: Commissioner Steve Spillman didn’t want to give up the center seat. He was touting himself for chairman after completing the last year as chair. The adults on the commission didn’t agree with him, and Bill Ernisse is the new chair. *** Greg Raths of Mission Viejo says he’s running for Congress. Here’s his website: http://www.gregraths2014.com/ *** Saddleback Valley News’ free delivery ceased on Jan. 18. Gone are the days of unread SVN issues stacking up in driveways. The new publishers want residents to pay for SVN as part of OC Register subscriptions. A steady stream of new reporters can’t cover the city, but they find their way to city hall and get caught in the spin cycle. While SVN lately has improved, it still has no opportunity for uncensored input from residents with letters to the editor on local issues. SVN gave City Manager Dennis Wilberg veto power on what goes into the paper, and the hamstrung paper declined. This blog covered the exchange between Wilberg and SVN administrators resulting in a SVN reporter being transferred out of Mission Viejo after her investigative reporting caught city administrator Keith Rattay in lies. City hall is one of SVN’s few major advertisers following the blackout of real news. *** City hall’s shell game has a new chapter: keep the data out of public view. What happened to the budget workshop? In the backup material for the Jan. 21 agenda item under Wilberg’s comments, item after item talks about cutbacks “because of the recession.” The cutbacks are in the areas of infrastructure, maintenance and essential public services. When the council majority does not demand accountability from Wilberg, residents can expect decline. Meanwhile, Wilberg’s party continues, including more money for the bloated city staff. Another example of the shell game is the focus on a highly visible slope – at the expense of other slopes, of course. Public employees are responsible for accurately describing the city's financial position to the Council and the public. Somehow, that does not seem to be happening in Mission Viejo. |
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