Tag Archives: news

by | September 12, 2011

San Clemente remembers 9/11

San Clemente held its own memorial ceremony yesterday for the victims of the 9/11 attacks. Nearly 100 people attended the ceremony at Semper Fi Park. The beautiful knoll with its spectacular ocean views was an ideal locale for the city’s tribute to those who died in the attacks on New York and Washington and in the skies above Pennsylvania.

Memorial for 9/11 at San Clemente's Semper Fi Park

Marines, soldiers, and sailors were all represented as bagpipes played and then a moment of silence was observed.

See the slideshow at San Clemente Patch.

In other parts of town, a small crowd was gathered at the American flag at Poche’s and S.C. Rider Supply held a 9/11 Benefit Bike Wash.

See another slideshow of San Clemente observances at the Register.

Also around the county were a 5K Walkathon in Irvine, a Day of Remembrance in Tustin, and the dedication of a new monument called Semper Momento at Heisler Park in Laguna Beach — among many observances.

Never forget.

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by | May 3, 2011

‘Orange County rebuffed again,’ says the Bee

Dale Kasler at the Sacramento Bee gloats at first but eventually gives us a break. Sacramento’s got a right to gloat. We would do the same.

Anaheim has been jilted again.

The Kings – like the Clippers, Grizzlies and Hornets before them – said no to Orange County.

What looked like a done deal pretty much unraveled when the NBA agreed to give Sacramento another chance. And I think that was a good move for the sake of the game and the league. Ripping a team away from a city can be traumatic.

Henry Samueli, operator of the Honda Center

Henry Samueli offered the Maloofs $145 million in incentives to relocate the Kings to Anaheim. KEVIN SULLIVAN / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER FILE, 2009

Anaheim sure gave it a good try.

When it became clear that the NBA was interested in giving Sacramento another shot at keeping the team, billionaire Honda Center operator Henry Samueli nearly doubled the offer to $145 million. The package included a $75 million loan to the financially pressed Maloofs.

But the Anaheim effort ran into multiple obstacles, including stiff resistance from Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss. The NBA’s relocation committee advised the Maloofs to stay put.

…

The 18-year-old Honda Center was built with the NBA in mind. The Los Angeles Clippers were on the verge of moving there in 1996, until owner Donald Sterling had a last-minute change of heart.

In 2001, both the Vancouver Grizzlies and Charlotte Hornets took a long look at Anaheim before settling on Memphis and New Orleans, respectively.

So good for you, Sacramento. You’ve got another year, at least.

Also see previous posts on the subject.

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by | May 1, 2011

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall comes to Dana Point

Vietnam Wall Memorial traveling exhibit

Dana Point VFW Post 9934 is proud to host the American Veteran’s Traveling Tribute, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The wall will be in Dana Point from May 11-16, 2011.

From the VFW post website:

The Memorial is dedicated to Vietnam veterans and it honors all service men and women of the U.S. military forces. The traveling memorial was created as a service to those who might never travel to the Nation’s Capitol to experience “The Wall” first hand. The 240-foot long, eight-foot high faux-granite replica, contains the names of more than 58,000 Americans who died or are missing in action in Vietnam. To see the Memorial, to touch it, and to experience its magnitude offers unforgettable moments of reflection and healing to thousands of visitors. The exhibit is free and will be open to the public 24 hours a day during the visit to Dana Point.

This is a unique opportunity for us locals to be able to see this renowned and inspiring traveling exhibit. Don’t miss it.

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by | April 29, 2011

Save Trestles

The battle over preserving the San Mateo Creek and San Onofre from the Transportation Corridor Agencies is far from over in spite of the 2008 Coastal Commission ruling. Using a website at relievetraffic.org, they are doing their best to win over public opinion.

San Mateo Creek

The TCA’s argument is based on relieving traffic and providing an extra disaster exit. But the whole point of the toll road is to spur development which would most certainly happen. We will wind up with twice as many traffic lanes and twice the population.

Fortunately, there are some very fine groups fighting the good fight to preserve what little non-paved environment we have left. Chief among these are the great folks at Surfrider. Visit them for up to date news and information plus some cool surf photos and vids.

Also see Friends of the Foothills, a Sierra Club group; and SaveTrestles.com.

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by | April 28, 2011

The case for education. Pity it has to be made.

Cal State Fullerton President Milton A. Gordon and protestors ending a 4 day sit-in

Cal State Fullerton President Milton A. Gordon smiles at cheering students moments after he signed their "Declaration to Defend Public Education," held aloft by student David Inga, last week. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times / April 21, 2011)

After a 4 day sit-in to protest budget cuts and advocate for increased spending for education, Cal State Fullerton students met last week with president Milton A. Gordon. Gordon signed the protestors’ “Declaration to Defend Public Education,” which was chief among their goals and the protest ended peacefully.

Recently, L.A. Times writer Hector Tobar talked with several protestors and his column is an interesting read.

Cal State Fullerton is not Berkeley. It’s not where you go to be an agitator. But these are tough times. And the rebels of Fullerton say budget cuts and fee hikes forced their hand.

Of course, some will scoff at both their actions and their cause. We have lost our way these days when it comes to valuing education. And that shortsightedness will without question cost us dearly. Providing the best education possible for all citizens (all residents, actually) is essential if we are to remain a great nation.

From the students’ Declaration:

We, the students…of California’s public schools, colleges and universities, call upon the people of the state to recommit and reinvest in public education as the principal foundation of a democratic society

…

The failure to support an accessible, fully funded public education system will condemn many Californians to perpetual poverty and second-class status

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