Pacific Progressive

Busting Through the Orange Curtain - OC Pride 2010 - August 14

Last year, OCEC brought Pride back to Orange County with a "Picnic in the Park."  This year, join OC Pride at the Verizon Amphitheater in Irvine for "Busting Through the Orange Curtain."  This year's event features live entertainment, family fun including crafts and face painting, and booths featuring both vendors and community groups.

Buy tickets, become a vendor and get more information at OC Pride 2010.

Smart Gardening - May 15

What does it take to be a Smart Gardener?  Knowledge – and application of that knowledge – about irrigation, soil care, pest control, energy and wildlife.  Sound complicated?  The Master Gardeners will simplify it as they provide tips for you to save time, money and create a healthier garden.   If you want to be a Smart Gardener, attend this workshop.

The Orange County Great Park Garden Workshop Series, led by the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County , is part of a program designed to introduce community members to the Farm and Food Lab, where they can learn about sustainable home gardening practices for a healthy lifestyle.  

Garden Workshops will be held from 10 AM to noon at the Orange County Great Park Preview Park in the Farm & Food Lab.  The Orange County Great Park is located off the 5 Freeway and Sand Canyon in Irvine .  For more information, please visit to www.ocgp.org or call 949-724-7420.

Call Vector Control and Tell Them No Private Pest Control Companies

 The Orange County Vector Control District (OCVCD) helps to control little critters who carry diseases.  (These animals are called "disease vectors" because they move the disease around, hence the name.)  If you have a problem with a dead bird and there is West Nile Virus in the area, you call Vector Control.  Same thing for a neighbor who won't take care of their pool which is now a mosquito farm - call Vector Control and they will work with the neighbor so you don't have to.

A plan is being considered to privatize rat control services. Currently, if you see rats around, Vector Control will come out and give you (for free!) traps and bait and show you how to properly use them. They will also help you find the openings the rodents are using to get into your house and show you how to close them off.

These services are paid by an assessment of about $6.98 per year per residence in the County.  Taxpayers are able to get a lot for their $6.98.

Now, some members of the Vector Control board want to let private extermination companies (Terminix, Orkin, Truly Nolen are some common names) provide the rat control services. The plan is to send the companies out on calls to homes to provide the rat control services to the home owners.  Then, the pest control company can then sell the homeowner services to control pests on the inside of the home.

Smell a rat?  Does turning Vector Control into a marketing company for private pest control companies sound like a bad deal to you?  Call and write your representative on the Vector Control District. Each of the 34 incorporated cities has a representative. If you live in the unincorporated areas, your rep is Supervisor John Moorlach.

The representatives for each area are listed.  If you have a relationship with them, please use that to tell them "No to Private Pest Control Companies."  You can also call, fax and write them at the Vector Control Board.  Sending faxes works very well because it creates a paper trail of who objects and carries more weight than an email.

Orange County Vector Control District (OCVCD), 13001 Garden Grove Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92843

Phone 714-971-2421 949-654-2421  Fax 714-971-3940

Aliso Viejo - Mayor Phillip B. Tsunoda 

Bird Classes at Great Park - April thru July

For Orange County residents who have always wanted to know more about the winged creatures in their backyard, the Orange County Great Park will be offering a rare opportunity this spring.  The Great Park is presenting a new workshop series featuring two different birding courses – one aimed toward those looking for an introduction to birds as well as an advanced course for individuals who have had more experience.  For course one, “Birds of Orange County” will take place April 20 through May 25, 2010, at 7:00 to 9:30 p.m., at the OC Great Park Corporation Office.  The more advanced “More Birds of Orange County” will run from June 8 through July 13, and will take place at the same time and location.  These evening classes will also include an exciting daytime component in the form of field trips.  Taught by Victor Leipzig, Ph. D., the workshops will be easily accessible to a wide audience for ages 18 and older, as admission and parking is free.  Registration is required for each course, and can be obtained by e-mailing [email protected]

The new course offerings will expose residents to the enormous diversity of the local bird population, as well as highlight the role these birds play in sustaining our natural resources.  In addition to learning to identify various birds ranging from raptors to hummingbirds, workshop participants will gain knowledge of birding tools and resources and bird anatomy, ecology, and reproduction.

Dangerous Liaisons, Global Citrus, Amphibians and Reptiles - April to June at the Great Park

“Sustainable” is a hot word right now, but what does it really mean? In Southern California we face many challenges to creating a sustainable world, and understanding those challenges is the first step toward sustainable living.  The Orange County Great Park Natural History Lecture Series offers new insights into our Southern Californian environment and ecosystem, delivered by experts in a relatable format.  The free lectures begin April 8th and run through June 10, 2010. 

The lectures will be held at the Great Park Conservancy, as part of their commitment to natural history education and creating a Great Park .  Visit the Orange County Great Park web site at www.ocgp.org for more information and directions. 

Thursday, April 22, 7:00 p.m.

Dangerous Liaisons?  When Cultivated Plants Mate with their Wild Relatives

Presented by Professor Norm Ellstrand, University of California , Riverside

People have genetically changed the plants we use for food and fiber for thousands of years.  New scientific techniques have produced plants whose genetically “engineered” traits are spreading to nearby wild plants.  Learn about this topic, so central to the Great Park agricultural and ecological missions.

Thursday, May 13, 7:00 p.m.

Citrus Goes Global

Presented by Dr. Tracy Kahn, University of California , Riverside

Citrus is so important in California ’s agricultural heritage.  The University of California , Riverside has one of the most extensive living collections of citrus in the world with over 1,000 different types.  The extraordinary diversity includes “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.”  Come “taste” the diversity!

Youth Job Fair in Irvine - April 24

Irvine Youth Employment Services is hosting a free Youth Job Fair on Saturday, April 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Lakeview Senior Center. Employers will be on-site conducting interviews for full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal and permanent employment opportunities. The event will also feature a Job Fair Boot Camp from 7:30-8:30 a.m. for individuals interested in developing a job fair strategy. 

Applicants are encouraged to dress professionally, bring a resume or listing of paid and/or volunteer experience, Social Security Number, and list of three references in order to complete employment applications. Employers are seeking to fill a wide range of positions in the areas of retail, administrative, banking, customer and food service. Employment opportunities are geared toward youth ages 15-25; however candidates of all ages are welcome to attend. 

The Lakeview Senior Center is located at 20 Lake Road, Irvine. Pre-registration is recommended but not required, for applicants who have not previously utilized Irvine Youth Employment Services. For additional information or to pre-register, call (949) 724-6740 extension 7 or visit www.IrvineYouthEmployment.com.

Tool Time Gardening Workshop - May 1

Okay, okay – there are some trusty standby tools that you need in your garden.  And then, there are the cool tools – the ones that take your breath away, that you don’t want to live without, that you see in your dreams.  The Master Gardeners will discuss and demonstrate tools for home gardens.  Be there!

The Orange County Great Park Garden Workshop Series, led by the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County , is part of a program designed to introduce community members to the Farm and Food Lab, where they can learn about sustainable home gardening practices for a healthy lifestyle.  

 Garden Workshops will be held at the Orange County Great Park Preview Park in the Farm & Food Lab.  The Orange County Great Park is located off the 5 Freeway and Sand Canyon in Irvine .  For more information, please visit to www.ocgp.org or call 949-724-7420.

The Backyard Orchard - April 17

**** Update - April 7 - This workshop has been postponed. The new date and information will be posted when it becomes available.

Not enough room in your backyard for an orchard?  With a little planning and know-how, it could happen. Learn about the varieties of fruit trees suitable for backyard growing and how to plant and care for them. The Master Gardeners will provide tips for fruit trees in small gardens.   Valuable information…ripe for picking!

The Orange County Great Park Garden Workshop Series, led by the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County , is part of a program designed to introduce community members to the Farm and Food Lab, where they can learn about sustainable home gardening practices for a healthy lifestyle.  

Garden Workshops will be held from 10 AM to noon at the Orange County Great Park Preview Park in the Farm & Food Lab.  The Orange County Great Park is located off the 5 Freeway and Sand Canyon in Irvine .  For more information, please visit to www.ocgp.org or call 949-724-7420.

Tomato Time - April 10

You could plant from dawn to dusk and still not plant every variety of tomato!  Whether you are a novice or a pro, you’ll enjoy learning about tomatoes:  the many varieties, their culture, diseases and pests, growing in the ground vs. growing in containers – and finally, how to use them.  Come hear the Master Gardeners on the “A to Z” about tomatoes. 

The Orange County Great Park Garden Workshop Series, led by the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County , is part of a program designed to introduce community members to the Farm and Food Lab, where they can learn about sustainable home gardening practices for a healthy lifestyle.  

Garden Workshops will be held from 10 AM to noon at the Orange County Great Park Preview Park in the Farm & Food Lab.  The Orange County Great Park is located off the 5 Freeway and Sand Canyon in Irvine .  For more information, please visit to www.ocgp.org or call 949-724-7420.

Grow What You and Your Family Like to Eat - Spring Garden Workshops at the Great Par

Ready to dig in the garden again?  The Orange County Great Park launches its spring 2010 Garden Workshop series with five exciting classes to show you how to cultivate a garden in your backyard.  Whether you are a novice or a pro, you will enjoy learning the “A to Z’s” of growing tomatoes, the cool tools you’ll need to garden and the varieties of fruit trees suitable for backyard growing.  The five free Saturday morning workshops are from 10 a.m. to Noon, March 13th through May 15th.

“We are excited to kick off our 2010 spring garden workshop series,” said Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation. “While we are preparing to open community gardens, we are educating the community on gardening.”

The Orange County Great Park Garden Workshop Series, led by the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County , is part of a program designed to introduce community members to the Farm and Food Lab, where they can learn about sustainable home gardening practices for a healthy lifestyle.  

Garden Workshops at the Great Park Food and Farm Lab (all workshops 10 a.m.-Noon):

Grow it NOW: Warm Season Vegetables - Saturday, March 13

Ready to dig in the garden again?  Now is the time to plant warm season vegetables to feed your family over the summer months.  The Master Gardeners will give you the information you need to choose your crops so that you can follow the #1 rule: plant what you and your family like to eat!  Yum!

Grow it Now - Warm Season Vegetables Workshop - March 13

Ready to dig in the garden again?  Now is the time to plant warm season vegetables to feed your family over the summer months.  The Master Gardeners will give you the information you need to choose your crops so that you can follow the #1 rule: plant what you and your family like to eat!  Yum!

The Orange County Great Park Garden Workshop Series, led by the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Orange County , is part of a program designed to introduce community members to the Farm and Food Lab, where they can learn about sustainable home gardening practices for a healthy lifestyle.   

Garden Workshops will be held from 10 AM - noon at the Orange County Great Park Preview Park in the Farm & Food Lab.  The Orange County Great Park is located off the 5 Freeway and Sand Canyon in Irvine .  For more information, please visit to www.ocgp.org or call 949-724-7420.

Bill Lobdell and Hugh Hewitt - The Intersection of Religion, Politics and the Media: Does it Harm or Benefit Society - March 20

Two major Southern California personalities – both noted authors with opposing positions on religion – will join us for a discussion on what happens when religion, politics and the media intersect.  The discussion will be moderated by Americans United member Rich Gillock and will be followed by Q&A with the audience.

William Lobdell is an award-winning journalist, author, blogger, speaker, college lecturer and media consultant.  He is a faculty member at the University of California, Irvine, where he teaches “Religion and the Media” and “The Internet, Blogs and Politics.”  His memoir about finding and then losing his faith is chronicled in the book: “Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America — and Found Unexpected Peace.”

Hugh Hewitt is a law professor and broadcast journalist with a nationally syndicated radio show.  Professor Hewitt is a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School, and has been teaching Constitutional Law at Chapman University Law School since 1995.  He is the author of eight books, including two New York Times best-sellers.

The event is sponsored by Americans United and will be held at the Irvine Ranch Water District at 2 PM on Saturday, March 20. 2010.  For more information:

www.au-oc.org  or email: [email protected]

Fax:  714-515-4248 Call: 714-299-4551 or 714-957-0748

The Irvine Ranch Water District makes meeting rooms available as a service to community groups.  Use of a meeting room does not constitute endorsement of the cause, group or views by the Irvine Ranch Water District.

$1.2 Billion in Stimulus Spending in Orange County

This information is published by ProPublica.

OC has received over $1.2 billion in stimulus spending.  Even though  many local electeds needed to grandstand that they wouldn't take stimulus money, they did. The money kept OCTA busses running, students going to college, built roads, and created jobs.

Here is the Top 10 OC Stimulus Projects

1. $76.8 million to OCTA including $7.6 million for operations 
2. $60.7 million to Hensel Phelps Construction for building Bachelor Enlisted Quarters at Coronado Naval Base
3. $50 M to Sapphire Energy for renewable energy research and development of Sapphire Integrated Algal Biorefinery (IABR)
4. $47.8 million to CalTrans for highway planning and constructino
5. $32.9 million in Cash for Clunkers - $2 billion of stimulus money was used to extend the program.  Tom's Truck Center - South County received $1.3 million, Oremor of Tustin - $1.2 million, DWW III Co - $1.1 million.  An complete list of dealers is here.  The names listed are the corporate names, not the dealer names on the signs, so a little digging will turn up which car dealers benefited.
6. $19.3 million to Santa Ana Unified School District
7. $17.6 million to Capistrano Unified School District
8. $17.5 million to Garden Grove Unified School District
9. $15.2 million to Anaheim Union High School District
10. $13.2 million to the County of Orange

The full list of Orange County recipients is here.  

Fate of 6000 Orange County Transit and Construction Jobs in Gov's Hands

The California Legislature passed Solorio-sponsored legislation (AB 11 X8) that allows the California Transportation Commission to sign $410 million in agreements with local transportation agencies allowing them to seek state reimbursement later for projects they jumpstart today. The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) asked Assemblyman Solorio to work on the bill in the Assembly while senators Bob Huff and Lou Correa advocated for AB 11 X8 in the Senate.

The bill passed with broad, bipartisan support.  The bill now moves to the Governor's office for his signature.  Fax a letter or call  the Governor to ask him to sign the bill and bring much needed jobs to Orange County. Gov. Schwarzenegger can be reached at 916-445-2841 (phone) and 916-558-3160 (fax).  Public pressure can get the Governor to sign this much needed bill.

Money is included for Positive Train Control, GPS based satellite control system for trains which can stop a train if a red signal is ignored and bypassed.  Positive Train Control is now required by federal law because of the Chatsworth crash in 2008 where a rush hour Metrolink commuter train collided head on with a Union Pacific freight train. 25 people were killed in the crash.

The breakdown of the over 6000 jobs that could be created if Governor Schwarzenegger signs the bill are: 

• 522 jobs for the Fullerton Transportation Center Parking Structure
• 297 jobs for the Tustin Rail Station Parking Expansion
• 828 jobs for the Sand Canyon Avenue Grade Separation 
• 2754 jobs for the Metrolink Service Track Expansion and Grade Crossing Improvements
• 424 jobs for the Orange County Metrolink Fiber Optics Installation
• 1328 jobs for Positive Train Control

Great Park Snow Day and Great Skate

From the Daily Titan at Cal State Fullerton